17 Weeks

***No progress pic today***

How far along are you?: 17 Weeks, 1 Day -- At my doctors appoinment, Dr. Juhn  made it clear that while she respects the perinatologists opinion, she is not changing my due date to Feb. 9th. It's Feb 4th and that is that!!! She said the farther along in the pregnancy, the less accurate the measurements get and going off the calendar is the best way to determine due dates...Well okay, then, hey I'll take it!

Total weight gain: 10 pounds. I also recently receieved a copy of my medical records from Dr. Bu and will be able to compare my weight gain now with my first pregnancy....kinda cool! Bummer news, no records of the Harlie's actual birth in Dr. Bu's records...guess I need to contact Mercy for those.

How big is the baby?: 5 ounces and 5 inches long...about the size of a turnip.

Maternity clothes: Just about time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: Sleeping a little bit better...fewer times to the bathroom!

Best moment this week: Going for our gender scan and finding out that there's a 90% chance we are having a girl!!!  Peanut was tucked with her bottom to my back and her feet to her head. :-)  Kathy was only able to get one of the 3 views she likes to get to guarantee the sex...but she said it certainly looks like a little girl to her. We go back next week to hopefully confirm it's a baby sister on the way!

Movement: Feeling some flutters, primarliy at night and when I first wake up.

Food cravings:  Lot's of water! No new cravings this week. My nausea is almost gone (thank heavens!), and I've also found my cravings and aversions to be less extreme. Pregnancy is weird.

Food aversions: Hot Meat. Still.

Labor signs: No! But lots of twinges and aches....must be round ligament pain.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Sangria...darn you Autumn.

What I'm looking forward to:  Calling the baby by name and window shopping for baby girl! (or boy!)

15 Weeks

How far along are you?: 15 Weeks

Total weight gain: 8 pounds

How big is the baby?: 4 inches long, about the size of an apple

Maternity clothes: Just about time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I've been having intense dreams, almost nightmarish. Sleep is still interrupted and restless.

Best moment this week: When Harlie woke up and came out into the kitchen with a pink plastic comb and told me it was for her baby because she doesn't need it anymore.

Movement: I swear I felt something that felt like movement once yesterday, but it's still too early.

Food cravings:  CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Food aversions: Cooked fish

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  My friends

What I'm looking forward to:  The gender scan next Sunday and naming Peanut.

14 weeks

I know I skipped a week, but at 13 weeks we were on vacation in Tahoe:

Which was fun and exhausting and something I hope we keep doing every year.

The day before we left I had my 12 week check-up and I was able to listen to the baby's heartbeat (yay!) and meet Dr. Juhn. She was lovely and answered my gazillion questions with a smile, I was glad I felt so comfortable since the drive to her office is the worst ever. Alllllll the way down Sunrise Boulevard, until it dead ends...I'm not joking.Not sure if she'll actually be delivering my baby, as we might be switching to Kaiser, but I know I'm in good hands until then.

Then, 2 days after we got back from Tahoe I had my first trimester screening ultrsound. It was SO exciting to see our little peanut and he/she looked so BIG. She is only the size of my finger, but you can already see so much detail, it's amazing. The doc said everything looked great, but he is going to request that my doc change my due date to Feb 9th, since baby measured 13 weeks, 3 days on the ultrasound. This jives with the nurse practictioner's estimation of a Feb 8th due date, so I'm happy the baby is showing consistent growth. Here's a peek at Peanut:

And here's a peek of my 14 week bump. Doesn't look like I've grown much, but people at work have noticed and it's too hard to hide under clothes anymore, really.

Sorry about the no make-up-or hairstyle. Am LAZY!

No onto the fun part!

How far along are you?: 14 Weeks

Total weight gain: I weighed myself a couple days ago in the morning and it was still 7 pounds.

How big is the baby?: 3 1/2 inches long, about the size of a lemon

Maternity clothes: Not yet....almost time.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I feel like I might be sleeping a little bit better I had the best sleep of my pregnant life one night in Tahoe. Only got up 2 times to pee. And they had these glorious memory foam beds and a king size down pillow I spooned with.

Best moment this week: Seeing peanut in action for sure! He/she was so active kicking it's legs and moving it's arms up and down and in and out of it's mouth. Amazing! Bummer part is I found out I have an anterior placenta (it's in front of the baby), so I might not feel kicks as early as I had hoped.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: New ones this week were chocolate cake and chocolate donuts. Also craved cheese enchiladas and sushi again.

Food aversions: I basically have no desire to cook anything ever. It sucks.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Energy, lunch meat, egg yolk,

What I'm looking forward to: My gender scan on the 26th!!!!

12 weeks

How far along are you?: 12 Weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: 7 pounds. Although it's entirely possible that I've gained 4 pounds this weeks in carbs...I also didn't weight myself in the morning post-pee like I normally do, so we'll see what the scale says next week.

How big is the baby?: 2 inches long, about the size of a lime

Maternity clothes: Not yet.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I'm still tired all the time. I hit a major wall at about 2 pm. However, I have been going to bed a little bit later this week, like 9:30. :-)

Best moment this week: This morning, Harlie was snuggled up next to me and I said to her, "Mama's belly is getting big, huh?" Harlie then laid her head on my belly, then sat up and started rubbing her hand on it. She said "She likes it when I rub her. " So cute.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: New cravings this week have been egg salad and peach cobbler.

Food aversions: I guess it's just scrambled eggs that seem yucky to me now as far as eggs go. I also don't want soda anywhere near me, unless it has lemon in it. And meat it still blech to think about as well.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  This week it has been margaritas and white wine.

What I'm looking forward to: TAHOE!  Also my 12 week appt on Tuesday.

12 weeks

Harlie wanted to join in. :-)

11 weeks

How far along are you?: 11 Weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: 3 pounds

How big is the baby?: 1 1/2 inches long, about the size of a fig

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I'm not able to comfortably wear so many of my clothes anymore (jeans especially). I'm most comfortable in dresses and skirts with elastic waistbands.

Stretch marks?: No new ones, yet.

Sleep: I'm still exhausted all the time.  I go to bed between 8 and 9 most nights, and don't sleep very well at all, between bathroom wake-ups every hour and tossing and turning to get comfortable. Dreams are crazy too and I just don't wake up rested.

Best moment this week: Hearing how Harlie told Emelia at preschool about the new baby.

Movement: Not yet.

Food cravings: I can consistently eat and can tolerate bagels, cottage cheese, berries, cereal and peppermint tea. Sometimes bean burritos sound good. But my latest craving is Indian food. Had it last for dinner and it did not disappoint. Now I want it for breakfast. Also ice cream is something I consistently crave, but that's not any different from pre-pregnancy.

Food aversions: Most meat. especially chicken. I sometimes enjoy cheeseburgers, but not until I'm actually eating them. The thought of them makes me nauseous. Eggs are unappealing as well...and tuna fish.

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss:  Pepsi (sometimes I crave it, although sugary sodas make my mouth taste disgusting), and SUSHI!!!

What I'm looking forward to: The second trimester (more energy, less nausea) and the gender scan.

Another Twist and the Biggest Gift

Four years ago, on my 30th birthday I looked like this:

20 weeks pregnant with Harlie

 
 And today, I look like this:

11 weeks pregnant with "Peanut"

Yup! "Peanut" is Scott's nickname for the new little baby that will be arriving on or around February 8th.  I'm really getting excited as the weeks tick by, especially for that sweet newborn smell and a little playmate for Harlikins. When we told Harlie about the new baby, she didn't have much of a reaction at first but then she reached down and hugged my belly, putting her head in my lap. It was so sweet.  She wants a baby sister and when I asked her what we should name it, she proclaimed, "Little Crownie!"  Okay then, princess obsessed much?  It took her awhile to let her friends at daycare in on the news...she had told me she wasn't going to tell because it was a secret, but just the other day she spilled the beans and Jessica kindly wrote me an email to tell me about it:

So Emelia finished her snack early and was flipping through a book and saw a picture of a baby with umbilical chord/in utero. She asked "what is on this baby?!"

and it spurred a little convo on what babies look like when they are growing in the belly. Harlie sort of whispers "I'm going to have a new baby."

And I said, will you tell Emelia, too? And Harlie puts her hands in the air (like a gym ta-da) and says pretty loudly, "My mom has one of those. I am going to have a new baby!"

And I asked Emelia, "Did you hear that??? Harlie's mom has a baby in her tummy!" And Emelia says, "I already knew that! I found out at Christmas. It is going to be a girl with polka dots right here (she points to her head, like a head band)." 

haha funny girls.

 Austin was pretty surprised I think but since he has so many little kids in his family these days, he doesn't have preference for a girl or a boy...he's surrounded by them all!

We had our first doctor appt a couple weeks ago and Peanut looked great. We got to see the two hemispheres of the brain, the leg and arm buds, the umbilical cord and best of all the flickering heartbeat!  Here's a photo of Peanut at just about 9 weeks:

I've been so tired and soooo sick this time around.  I'm going to look around for a pregnancy survey to complete each week or so, because I think it will be fun to track my symptoms along the way.

I've gotta good feeling that this is the start of something beautiful. Life is a crazy wonderful adventure, I know that for sure!

First Haircut

Harlie decided it was finally time to cut off her long locks. No more did she want hair like Rapunzel's--she wanted her hair cut like Grandma's!

Splish Splash

Splurging the extra $15 for a family size Target pool, is totally worth it. Buh-bye, kiddie pool!
 

Now, if only I could hire a pool boy to drain, clean and refill it every day...gotta have dreams, man!
(The ending of this movie kinda cracks me up (she was FINE of course), but you just gotta love home movies!!!)

Three and a Half

You are a firecracker. Bright and beautiful, with a hot temper and no time to waste. Your auntie Keri calls you feisty (with all the love in her heart) and she's right about that. I guess you've always been that way, but as you become a little more comfortable in this big world, your pizazz and zest for life can become a little too much for your 3 1/2 year old body. You love to run with your head down and arms back, causing you to crash into corners and according to Jessica, your little playmates too at times. When you get mad, you sometimes pull my hair or kick me right in the stomach. You have strong legs my girl, and we are trying to work with you on coping with frustration a little bit differently. I have to laugh sometimes when after being scolded, you will softly whisper "I love you mommy." I can see you are mastering your manipulation skills. It may be cute now, but ask me how cute I think it is in 10 years. Lucky for me, the "I love you's" flow freely from your lips and while there was a time when your cuddles were a precious commodity, you have grown into quite an affectionate little lady. This is a trait you inherited from Daddy, and I'm so glad. I don't ever get tired of your hugs and kisses and pets.

You recently had a check-up with your new doctor. She's a nurse practitioner, actually and you really seem to like her and the doctors office. You stroll through the office like you own the place and hop right on the scale and let them poke and prod without complaint. This is a new development, since you used to be so shy around Dr. Wang. I'm hoping this new found courage doesn't fade when you get your next shot. Fingers crossed. I'm always excited when they take your measurements, to see how much you are growing. You weighed 37 pounds (85%) and are 3' 3.5'' (77%).  The doc is happy to see your growth is still proportional and says I should expect you to lean out in the next year. She says 3 and 4 year olds usually become picky eaters and their weight takes a dip. I'll be curious to see if this happens. You are such a good eater, I'm hoping that doesn't change too much.

You are tall and strong and still incredibly clumsy, but brave. You will cry over a three day old scab to garner attention but tripping and falling often doesn't faze you and you'll declare "I'm okay Mommy" as you dust yourself off. Did I mention we're trying to get you to slow down? You love to climb and stand on the tallest surface you can get to. You love ladders and rock walls at the park. Sometimes you ask for help but most times you just want to do it yourself. A lot of things you want to do yourself, but then there are times you still want help from Mommy and Daddy...you want to be SO big and then sometimes you want to be a baby and taken care of...maybe this is how we all feel at times.

Your hair is so long. It's never been cut and I think it might be time to take the plunge. Sometimes you want it cut and other times you want it long like Rapunzel and Mama. I'd love to cut it short because part of me thinks it will make you look a little younger and I can keep you my baby just a little bit longer. Although, I already see the changes in your face and how it's thinning out, and your cheeks are not as full as they used to be. I don't think I can even call you a toddler anymore. Time is flying by. I love your laugh. I love that when you are trying to act serious or annoyed you tilt your head down and furrow your brow. I love how your hands fall together across your belly and you hold them tight as you listen or observe.

Some things are still the same though. Pink is still your favorite color and you are a die-hard princess fanatic. Ariel is your favorite Disney princess and you love to pretend to be her during bath time or in the pool. Your favorite books are the Disney Princess Golden Books, Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy. Your favorite tv shows are My Little Pony and Bo on the Go. And your favorite pop star is Katy Perry. You know some of her songs by heart from just hearing them on the radio.  Some of your favorite activities are dress-up, setting up make-believe picnics and parties (there is always CAKE!), painting, caring for your babies, and going for a ride in your Cozy Coupe.You love to dance and "Shake your BOOOO-TY!" You are becoming more confident on your balance bike and have started picking your feet up as your cruise. It is fun to watch you figure out how to balance on it.

 

This picture above sums up so much about you. The messy hair, the pink hat Mama makes you wear, the tiny little dimples in your hands, that aren't quite gone yet, the way your fingers are tangled in what once was Horsey's fin. That smile, those lips and those two front teeth. The scratches on your arm...a result of your ultra sensitive fair skin...both beautiful and temperamental....just like you.

Love love love,
Mama

MVP

Austin's end of the season track banquet was last night and it was a pretty proud moment for him (and us!) because he came home with one of two MVP awards handed out for the JV team. It was a fun night and was great to see the cafeteria filled with so many kids and their parents  Florence and I were surprised that 3 different students had urged us at 3 separate times to go to the head of the line to get our food because parents were supposed to go first. We finally made our way up there and a polite young man (how old am I?!) handed us each a plate as we cut in front of him...so courteous! Go Lancers!

Accepting one of his three championship 1st place medals.

Accepting MVP Award

Harlie making friends..

 

The twelve medals that Austin earned this season.

BELOW IS A VIDEO THAT AUSTIN'S AUNT JULIE TOOK OF THE MVP PRESENTATION. PRETTY COOL WORDS FROM MS. COOK ABOUT AUSTIN!