Half Way There!

So we're half way there... 20 weeks down and 20 to go! Below is my picture taken at 20 weeks 3 days... but get this... I had a doctor appointment yesterday and measured at 26 weeks!??!?! Crazy, huh... the doctor said it is no big deal and that it could be because my uterus is tipped different, I had a growth spurt, or I just have a big uterus?! Who knows! We know baby isn't overly big because the ultrasound showed baby growing just on track... this could make for a BIG pregnancy!?

21 Weeks with the twins... for comparison to my singleton... that is measuring 26 weeks?!

How far along? 20 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 15 lbs +
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Stretch marks? None, so far!
Sleep: Still the same... waking up lots to pee which makes sense now since my ultrasound. The tech said the baby's head is way down and resting on my bladder.
Best moment this week: Getting to see our baby at the ultrasound!
Movement: More and more everyday! Starting to feel the difference from the kicks and punches.
Cravings: Hmm.... soup from the bakery, with a hard roll still. Nothing else new the past two weeks.
Gender: BOY!!!! We found out at our ultrasound last week. We went into the ultrasound and told the tech that we did not want to find out the gender and then a couple minutes into it ... there it was! Boy parts for all to see! :) I did later ask if they could just confirm the gender so they put the it in an envelope for us to look at later when we got home. We waited until we went to bed and looked and saw just what we thought, a boy. I am really happy we did end up finding out. I think that the opportunity I had to go through some emotions was good before the baby came. Now I can take time to get ready and be more prepared and be ready and excited to welcome another boy. Because just to be honest... I was really thinking it was a girl so the shock was good to get over!
Labor Signs: I had a little bit of a scare the other night and I think it just ended up being growing pains. I had my doctor check my cervix yesterday at my appointment and so far so good! All closed!
Belly Button in or out? Still in!
What I miss: Energy... but I honestly think that is missed because of trying to potty train and parent two 2 and 1/2 year olds and not being pregnant!
What I am looking forward to: Nothing really related to my pregnancy but I am so looking forward to a weekend away in the cities with my mom! We have not gotten away alone since before the boys were born. I can't wait to have girl time, go out to eat and best of all... SPA DAY!!!!!!!!!! :) It will be great!

This last weekend we got away to celebrate my Grandma Gerrie's 75th birthday! It was a great time with family!

Going for a ride on Papa's hay wagon! We all JUST fit! 

Grandma with some of her girls... and Jason! :)

Papa and Max sitting on the porch at the cabin!

Papa with Luke and Max!

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Our family... all 5 of us! :)

18 Weeks!

WoW! I can't believe I'm 18 weeks already! Seems like this pregnancy is really flying by so fast! I think that is one of the benefits of having other children while pregnant... it just goes by faster!

The board says... 18 weeks, baby is 5.6" from crown to rump. (A sweet potato) 

I'm sorry, but that seems crazy to me... already that long!? Super exciting!

The bump is really starting to BUMP! And just so I know, for future reference looking back on these pictures, I think I look lots bigger in person?!

How far along? 18 weeks 3 daysTotal weight gain/loss: I figured I better document this because I will be mad that I never did... so far... 13 lbs... that seems like a lot and I think it's a little more than average or recommended but I just feel better when I eat... so, yeah.
Maternity clothes? Ah, yes... maternity clothes! I forgot how comfortable you are! I am officially wearing them daily! I still have a mix of shirts but I am now in my maternity pants and it's hard to go back! :)
Stretch marks? Curious to see what will happen this time... so far so good though!
Sleep: I tend to wake up between 3-4 am every night for a bathroom break and have trouble getting back to sleep after that. Best moment this week: Caleb got to feel the baby kick last night!Movement: Really starting to ramp up... the baby definitely has it's busy and quiet times... starting to figure out when that is more regularly.

Cravings: Hmm.... soup from the bakery, with a hard roll. Mexican. Really... junk... that's bad I know! AND... to trump all the junk... I have really been craving salad!?Gender: We don't know and won't! And that is final... I think! ;)Labor Signs: None yet, thank goodness!Belly Button in or out? In, but it's looking a little distorted and stretched out.What I miss: I miss not feeling so, well round when I see myself in the mirror before I take a shower... I almost think... wow... how much longer do I have to get how much bigger! Ha!What I am looking forward to: My twenty week ultrasound on October 24th! Just excited to see baby again! Also looking forward to being out of that stage where you feel like you're showing but to the rest of the world you pretty much just look like you just left and all-you-can-eat buffet...

Just had to share some sweet photos of the boys with their newest cousin, Eli. While the guys were in Montana Rach and Eli stayed with us a couple nights and the boys just LOVE Eli and loved that they were staying here! 

This one cracks me up... I think I must have told Luke not to touch Eli!!!

SO sweet!!

Love how all three are in their own world here!

 Crazy to think that pretty soon I'll have three babies!!

Pictures...

So I have a lot of pictures but not tons of time... so here's a speedy update, in pictures!

The other night the boys were playing outside with me and I sent Max in because he was cold. I knew that Caleb was in there doing bookwork at the kitchen counter but I figured Max would just be busy playing with toys... nothing for him to get into to...

Well much to my surprise I walked in about fifteen minutes later to a disaster! As Caleb was obliviously engrossed in his paperwork Max was running around the house with a full (now empty) bottle of baby powder... just having a blast flinging it EVERYWHERE!!! There was almost a white haze when I walked in... and I said to Caleb as calmly as I could... "do you see what is happening behind you?!?!" He turns around and says... "oops, no." Well... it is just a good memory now... and Luke joined in right away too as you can see! The pictures really don't even do it justice... ha ha!

We got away for our six year anniversary in September!! So fun! We just went the cities and shopped, stayed in a hotel and ate lots of good food! I got a haircut which was beyond needed and it was fun to be away and have the time to go get it done! 

Eating out at the Cheesecake Factory! Yum!

My anniversary present... along with getting spoiled all weekend... a second band for my wedding ring!

The only picture of us from the weekend... and really... a not so great one...

These pictures below are from the second weekend in September. We went up to my mom and dad's cabin in Mason to celebrate my brother's birthday! So fun!

Max, Nevaeh and Luke!

Papa's hay wagon... all done now!

These two are partners in crime!!

Nana's gourds!

Just in case your are not aware... we are movie stars! Ha! We filmed a commercial and took pictures for print ads for Essentia clinic. It was fun, actually!

Did I say it was fun?! I meant exhausting! Ha!

The boys in sweaters from great grandma Clara!

Billboard that is in Duluth... haven't seen it in real life yet. 

My puff paint pumpkin!

The boys said they wanted to be babies... like Eli! :)

Sweet go-cart their dad got them!

My fall mantel... believe it or not... the banner is still up!!

Daddy's boys... night before Caleb left for Montana! He's home now though!

Phew... done! :) Now to do my 18 week update!

16 weeks... a little late!

I am a little late at my biweekly update... this picture was taken at 16 weeks 5 days, but I got it done! :)

Sorry about the scowl and the awkward arms... I couldn't figure out what to do with my arms?!

So the "Mexican" themed board is in honor of my friend Dawn. When she was pregnant with her first she mistakenly said her baby was the size of guacamole at sixteen weeks instead of an avocado and we have never let her live it down since!

As far as my questionnaire thing I did at 14 weeks, not much has changed really! But I guess there was enough to document either way...

How far along? 16 weeks 5 days

Baby Size: Baby is the size of an avocado

Total weight gain/loss: hmmm... this will be a question I would just rather avoid! :) So far I would say gain... no other info is necessary! Ha!

Maternity clothes? I am still wearing regular jeans but I officially am done buttoning them all the way! It is just too uncomfortable. I did put on a pair of maternity pants the other day and my body sighed with relief. I think it's time but I just don't have many pairs of maternity pants/jeans that fit me. All the ones from my last pregnancy are quite large because I bought everything in anticipation of blowing up to the size of a house! 

Stretch marks? Not really... I mean I have a couple from last time that are still there. Weirdest thing... I got stretch marks AFTER I had the boys. Like as I shrunk back down. I did read that can happen but it just doesn't seem to make sense!

Sleep: Sleeping ok... as far as pregnancy. 

Best moment this week: Had an doctor appointment the other day and got to hear the heartbeat again!

Miss Anything? I miss not feeling FULL all the time. I just feel like I always just ate a big meal!

Movement: Just starting... and starting to get a little more frequent.

Food cravings: Salty & Sweet... lately I am into Starbursts and Mexican food.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Have you started to show yet: Yes. Belly is sticking out more and more. 

Gender: Our plan is to not find out! We'll see if I can stick to my plan in 4 weeks! 

Labor Signs: No... my prayer is to have no signs until after at least full term!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Mood? Good... normal?

Looking forward to:  Can't wait to be able to feel the baby move more and have it move to the point where others can feel it when they put their hands on my belly! Love that!

I have a ton of family updates I have to make too so I am working on another post I will get out tomorrow for that!

14 Weeks

So I am officially out of the first trimester and on to BIGGER and better things... so they say. Below is my picture comparison of 14 weeks with one (second pregnancy) and 14 weeks with twins (first pregnancy). Crazy difference, I must say. Makes total sense, but it's just interesting. 

I'm bummed that my newer picture is so blurry but that is what you get when you are running to get there for a self timer and a camera that I think was about to fall! So I didn't think that I was going to do a questionnaire type thing with my pregnancy because I don't know how much will change if I update every week but I thought I would maybe do them every once in a while... as things progress for the sake of keeping track!

How far along? 14 weeks 1 day

Baby Size: Baby is the size of a lemon

Total weight gain/loss: hmmm... this will be a question I would just rather avoid! :) So far I would say gain... no other info is necessary! Ha!

Maternity clothes? I am still in my jeans and buttoning them... until after supper and then I just have to unbutton them to get comfortable when I sit. Thinking I will be needing some maternity pants in the next few weeks. 

Stretch marks? Not really... I mean I have a couple from last time that are still there. Weirdest thing... I got stretch marks AFTER I had the boys. Like as I shrunk back down. I did read that can happen but it just doesn't seem to make sense!

Sleep: Sleeping ok... as far as pregnancy. 

Best moment this week: Starting to feel movement.

Miss Anything? Nothing at the moment!

Movement: Just starting...

Food cravings: Salty & Sweet... lately toast always hits the spot?!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I made some type of seafood pasta the other day and I just about LOST it with the smell... turned me off for the rest of the day.

Have you started to show yet: Yes. Belly is sticking out more. I can still wear certain things to hide it, but overall anyone who knows me can tell. I am just thicker overall.

Gender: Our plan is to not find out! We'll see if I can stick to my plan in 6 weeks! 

Labor Signs: No... my prayer is to have no signs until after at least full term!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On... waiting to get my original wedding ring back this weekend for our anniversary. Caleb got some work done to it so he has been waiting to give it back to me until our anniversary!  

Mood? Good... normal?

Looking forward to:  Actually looking forward to having a belly, even though I know I will regret that as soon as it's really here. Also looking forward to the future of a growing family, being "done" and moving on and watching our family grow, meeting the baby... and just knowing what it is... it just might kill me to wait! :)

13 Weeks

Right off the bat... sorry no picture. Nothing has changed since my last picture so I thought it was irrelevant. I did want to update quick though..

- Started feeling baby move this week!!!!! I really thought there was no way, but it was undeniable after a while. I looked it up and "they" say that second time mom's can feel movement at 13 weeks. So I'm going with baby and not gas!
- Sorry, that was really my only reason to update! :)

I will post a picture next week and I have an unbelievable comparison picture to post of me at 14 weeks with the boys. It will BLOW your mind. I couldn't believe the difference myself! I will say that is the one marked difference so far, besides feeling better overall. I can't believe how much slower you grow with a singleton?! At first I felt really big with this one... just bloating and being a second pregnancy my uterus was ready to inflate it seemed like automatically. But now, I feel like I'm waiting to get into maternity clothes and so far I'm still buttoning all my pants? I am not saying my belly is little, trust me. But I am saying I can tell there is only one in there! Maybe a petite little girl?! Who knows! :)

Also, just some rambling... but I have been thinking and praying for my dear friend Dawn... she is moving next week... to NORTH DAKOTA! And I am going to miss her terribly! I also am "extra" sad because we are both pregnant right now and I love having her to talk things through with and laugh about and really... laugh at ourselves! I am just so thankful for phones! We will be talking a lot, I'm sure. But Dawn... I just want you to know that I love you dearly and am praying for you, Mike, John and little Baby M. Know that even though we will be 12 hours apart our friendship will never change. Thanks for being there for me over the last 10 ish years and for being such a beautiful example of consistent, Godly, loving friendship in my life! Can't believe I'd ever say this, but I can't wait to go to North Dakota...... so I can see you!

Ok... check back next week for the 14 week bump update!

Big Brothers

As you've probably guessed... we are expecting! Our one little baby is due in March, March 17th. So a St. Patty's Day baby! At this point that is my prayer... to make it to the end! We are very excited and I am a little nervous... just praying that my body will do what it is supposed to do this time around!

The Proof!

We found out we were going to have another baby in July... Funny thing is, with the boys I can still tell you the exact day I found out... and with this one, I would have to look back on a calendar or something to figure that out. I think that is just pregnancy the second round in general. You are too busy with other kids to think about some of the details.

Trying to get the boys to "pose" with the pregnancy test... not so successful!

I took the test early in the morning, before Caleb and the boys were up. And when I got the boys out of bed I gave Max the test to hand to Daddy... it was a fun way to surprise him. However, Caleb was not surprised in the least. We had been trying and we were both anticipating a positive result. 

Here is a "letter" I wrote to the baby just moments after I took the test!

Dear Baby or Babies,

I just found out about you. Really only moments ago. My head is spinning. I haven't even told Daddy about you yet, he's still sleeping and so are your brothers. Mama just doesn't want to forget how this feels so I'm writing it down...

Anxious, excited, overwhelmed, joyful, scared, shaky, did I say EXCITED?!?!

We have been thinking about you, planning for you and waiting for you for quite a while now. I am just so pleased with how God works. You will learn soon enough that we have a Savior, someone who loves us beyond words that wants to take care for us. He has perfect timing and we do not. And He has decided we will hear about your arrival now...

You are due March 19th, 2013 but Mama is not holding her breath. If you are anything like your brothers you will be jumping the gun. So I will be patient, hopefull and super duper prayerful that you stay put. Mark my words now... I would like you to even be a tad overdue. I'm sure I wouldn't say that come 40 weeks,  but I hope my attitude is still the same then... the longer the better!

Well I just heard your brother Luke cry, thinking he might be ready to get up, Max too I'm sure. They will be so excited to meet you! I can't even imagine! I can't wait to find out more about you... like are there two more babies to love in there, just one? A girl? A boy? My prayer overall all is whatever you are, one, two three, boy, girl... is that you are healthy, that you are strong, and most importantly that this pregnancy honors God, because He is the one that gave it to us!!!

I love you little one(s)!!

Mama

This is my plan to document my pregnancy... take weekly picture updates as I go... 

So far my weeks have turned into TWO months! Yikes! In the picture above I'm 12 weeks 2 days. Things we know so far...
- There is just one baby. Confirmed by ultrasound at 7 weeks.
- My official Q1Q211Q1Q1 (oh yes, a little help from Max!) due date is March 17th
- We have heard a heartbeat by doplar at 10 weeks and we saw the heartbeat at the ultrasound too
- I am craving sweets, general junk food... along with...

- Starburts... any flavor, but some I crave more than others!
- BLT's!!! Love them with avocado too!
- Weirdest and probably one of the strongest cravings around 10 weeks... HOT STUFF! Like Frank's Red Hot Wing sauce, on just about anything! Just so strange because I have been the girl that mixes sour cream with mild salsa because I think it's too hot and I have now been eating jalenpenos with my husband at night!??!

- I feel bigger with this one than with the twins?! But I know with it being my second pregnancy it is typical to show faster and "expand" quicker!
- Overall I've felt really good. No severe morning sickness... really nothing compared to the boys. I only feel icky come late evening. But never close enough to even lose my cookies... so that has been great.

Excited to switch gears on here for a little while and document my pregnancy! I will obviously still be updating about the boys with pictures, etc. but I am going to try my hardest to be good about staying consistent with pregnancy updates. I was bad about it with the boys and it is still a regret of mine! So I'm hoping to update soon!