11 Weeks

11 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Baby Center):

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

How far along: 11 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: nausea, heartburn, tiredness, food aversions, cravings, laziness

Sleep: pretty good; I’ve been craving sleep lately.

Food Cravings: (this is just today; they change) jelly beans, saltines, chocolate

Measurement: inches

Movement: none yet! This will apply more later.

Labor signs: ditto above

What I miss: energy

What I’m looking forward to: having energy and the ability to clean my house.  Also looking forward to my doctor’s appointment next Monday.  I’m pretty sure I’ll get to hear that little heartbeat!

Milestone: I am feeling better than last week, so I’m hoping I’m on the upswing of the nausea, and I’ll feel the end of the first trimester soon.

Thoughts from the Girls: nothing this week

Video Phone

Joanna (on the phone with Mamma): I'm a ballalina!
Mamma: You're a ballerina?
Joanna: Yes, see? (and she rubs the phone on her leotard)
I die laughing.

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Mark 11:9

We begin Holy Week. Jesus has entered the city on his donkey, and the palm branches are everywhere.

Natalie LOVED her palm branches!

And she was RIVETED to the bell players. Great job, guys!

This was the 8:30 service, so there wasn’t an abundance of children there. As the processional hymn played, Rev. Jim came walking up the aisle and grabbed Natalie’s hand. They walked together to lay their palm branches on the altar. It was just too sweet.

Joanna was there, too, but had gone to sit with Mamma and Pop, who are way cooler than Mommy and Daddy any day. Sadly, I didn’t get any pictures of her with palm branches.

I will however, leave you with some pics from the last Palm Sunday:

What a difference a year makes.

Some Natalie Faces

From dinner last night:  

Which, sadly, she didn’t like very much.  :(

Cute girls at tables

This week the girls started eating a few meals like this.  It is just too cute for words. They antagonize each other a little bit, but are mostly too busy eating.  I like it that they just get up when they’re finished (or finish each other’s meal!).  At dinner, I like us all around the table, but this is nice for breakfast or lunch, when I’m often cleaning up in the kitchen. Friday Lisa and her girls came over for a picnic at our house!

Is that not the cutest thing ever?! Love this one!

I asked Joanna to turn around and give me a smile.  This is what I got: Then I asked Anna.  Much better!

I didn’t get a good smiley pic of Miss Emma.  I think she was playing behind me.  :)

You can’t really get the full impact of Joanna’s outfit in these pics, but I must say that she chose and put on her own clothes that morning.  She just loves her purple sweatpants and “TUS” (VBS) shirt.  Later that day, she and I ran quickly to the shoe store just to look around, and she topped the look off with sparkly zebra print slipper shoes.  Love that girl.

Want

So I’m sitting here listening to Joanna sing to herself and Matt mow the lawn, knowing I should get up and do something, but I just cannot.  So I’m drooling over at www.ohdeedoh.com.  I’m loving several things about this picture.  Love the quilt (not necessarily that quilt, just the idea of one) on the bed.  Love the name on the wall.  And love love the little tent over the bed.  I’m thinking I’ll need to attempt a DIY version at some point (especially since this one’s $99 at Land of Nod – another place to drool).  I think the girls would just love little tent canopies over their beds!  I also love the green on the walls.

Last time I looked I couldn’t find my camera cord, or I would show you what the girls’ room looks like currently.  Found it.  Here you go:

Partially to get ready for baby #3 and partially because I just like moving furniture around, we rearranged the girls’ room.  If you were to face the crib, you’d see the green dresser to the left by the closet.  I’m going to clear it out for the new baby’s clothes, blankets, bibs, burp cloths, etc., and the girls will share the tall brown dresser.  We moved the changing table to the living room.  I personally love my changing table, and I love how it works in the living room!  I may actually need to move the toddler bed to the middle of the room when Natalie sleeps there to prevent her from playing with the window blinds (Joanna knows not to.)  The cords will all be tied up, of course; I can just see her banging the blinds against the window and possible damaging something.  We’ll be getting a twin bed for Miss Joanna, and it will go against the wall where the chair is now.  It just looked too bare in there without something, and the girls like sitting here.  We’ve measured and are pretty sure it will actually fit!  I have lots of work to do with regards to wall decor.  I’m going to prime and paint over my failed attempt at a mural on the far wall.  :)  I’m pretty sure we have wall paint left over.  Although, I am pondering a new color for the room.  (I’ve pretty much hated this one since it went up.)  I would love a new color, just not the work involved.  We’ll see.  I think once we have a name for #3, I want to either paint or hang names for all the kiddos above or near their beds.

Some catch-up

Gran came over one day last week and let Joanna listen to her MP3 player.  She really loved it! One evening I decided to start sorting Maternity clothes that have been loaned to me.  Some of this is wintery and I won’t get much use out of it, but there’s lots and lots of stuff I will use!

My friend Amanda called it “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Maternity Pants.”  I think so.

Last Friday from our trip to the Chinese buffet:

In which Natalie eats her first egg roll, and loves every minute of it!

Joanna mostly ate fried cheese and frozen yogurt.  It was a treat day, okay?

The girls were so good; I was just as pleased as could be!  I could tell we really haven’t been out to each much lately, Natalie was almost too distracted to eat!

I have some pictures from last Wednesday: play day and dinner with our friends the Ege’s, in from out of town.  I’ll put them in another post.

Daily whine

As soon as I stand up, I'm really planning to upload some pics from my camera and do some real updating of the girls. Until then, I'm going to whine. It's just been one of those days, you know?
Yesterday one of our toilets went out of commission. Sadly, it was the "guest" one that we use all day, that's set up for the girls to be in without too much stress. So we trucked through the terribly messy and not particularly safe master bedroom/bath to go potty today. And we couldn't go during Natalie's afternoon nap without waking her up. Yay. Did I mention I'm pregnant and go to the bathroom a lot? Then about halfway through the day, the master toilet stopped working well. It was still useable; it just drained very slowly.
This morning I got sick and had an audience to witness. They were pretty sweet. Joanna literally studied the whole event and asked questions. Natalie quietly rubbed my back. I sure to love my girls!
I've felt pretty bad all day. My energy's been okay, but the nausea was pretty strong. I've been able to eat, which is good, and I made myself fix the girls their meals, which was hard. I'm not claiming they were well-balanced though. :)
I did manage about a 15 minute nap today, which is better than nothing! Also, the sci fi channel aired a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" marathon all day today with good episodes. I thank them. I think that is part of why I'm still alive.
Matt called about 3:30 to tell me his car had been hit in the parking lot by a person with no insurance. Yay.
It now looks like the toilet problem in the middle bath is totally fixable by Matt. His brother came over earlier (wonderful man -- thank you Uncle Mark!) and helped, too.
I am so tired. I think Matt's going to run to the store for me later for some Sprite and jelly beans. Ooooo, maybe some chocolate chip cookie dough, too. I could probably make some from what I have around here, but that would require way more energy... and dishes.

In other cute news:
I have to get a video of Natalie talking on the phone. Until then, here's a basic transcript of her talking to Gran today:
Me (holding the phone): say hi to Gran, Natalie
Natalie: adbabadasheoubablawhoia
Gran: Oh, well hello Natalie. How's your day?
Natalie: eahoudaliababa slaoudiabaha
Gran: Well, I love you very much.
Natalie: amedisheyou hababa
Me: Say bye bye to Gran
Natalie: bye bye
Oh man it's so cute. I can't tape it and hold the phone and everything, but I'm hoping to get some help and record it. It would make Scrouge smile.

10 Weeks

I will put the picture in when I get around to taking it. :)

10 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Baby Center):

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

How far along: 10 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: nausea, tiredness, nausea, lethargy, nausea, food aversions, cravings

Sleep: pretty good; sometimes I have trouble falling asleep or getting back to sleep. I try not to really wake up at night… no talking, etc.

Food Cravings: (this is just today; they change) jelly beans, Sprite, thin mints, oreos, chocolate chip cookies (clearly a well-balanced diet)

Measurement: still haven’t gotten the tape measure…

Movement: none yet! This will apply more later.

Labor signs: ditto above

What I miss: energy, the desire to do anything

What I’m looking forward to: next doctor’s appointment in 2 weeks – want to hear that heartbeat! Also looking forward to getting a real bump (sort of, anyway). And looking forward to the end of the first trimester… whenever that may be.

Milestone: double digits on the weeks along!

Thoughts from the Girls: ummm… I can’t think of any right now

In the last post...

Were two baby pictures of my mom. I think they both really look like Natalie. The first really looks similar in face shape and coloring, I think. In the second, I think it's the expression, mostly the mouth, I think. Something about it says Natalie to me.

Does this look like anybody you know?

Tell me what you think, and I tell you who it is.  And who I think it looks like.

Jessica

is too nauseous to meal plan for the week.
is too nauseous to pack away the raw meat in the fridge.
is too nauseous to clean out the fridge.
is too tired to pick up the living room.
is too tired to get Joanna ready for bed.
is too tired to do laundry.
Will sit here for a while.

My Friday

Shopping with Gran
Found the girls' Easter dresses at $6 each
Bought a maternity pattern -- we'll see!
McCall's patterns are $1.99 at JoAnns right now.
Lunch at Cafe East (Chinese buffet)
We all stuffed ourselves and the girls were FANTASTIC!
Home for a nap for everybody (well, everybody who naps anyway)
Then the grocery store for some yummy fruit
Also found my Slim Fast cans on sale; haven't been able to find them at all for months
Goooooood day
Pics to come.

9 weeks

This is my best preggo shot so far, I think.  The secret?  Take the pic on Sunday when I’m dressed for church instead of Monday when I usually spend all day in my jammies.  :)  So, for the record, this shot was 8 weeks 6 days.  Although, according to my conception date… 9 weeks.  :)  He he he.

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Baby Center):

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

How far along:  9 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: tiredness, nausea, cravings, spotting, abdominal discomfort (usually when I stand up)

Sleep: pretty good.  I had so much trouble falling asleep last night – hate that!  I also wake up to visit the ladies’ room a lot during the night

Food Cravings: (this is just today; they change) pancakes, fast food little hamburgers, fries, frozen pizza (cooked)

Measurement: still haven’t gotten the tape measure…

Movement: none yet!  This will apply more later.

Labor signs: ditto above

What I miss: energy, for sure

What I’m looking forward to: 20 weeks for the big ultrasound; going through some maternity clothes.  I LOVE having friends that aren’t currently pregnant but have been!  I have NO summer maternity clothes of my own.  Also looking forward to the end of the nausea faze.  Blech.

Milestone: 9 weeks is when I had my first ultrasound with Joanna; it was also my first doctor’s appointment.  I like that they see us earlier now, even if it’s just the nurse.  I felt so alone and like I didn’t know what I was doing with #1!  I guess that’s not really a milestone, I’m just nostalgic

Thoughts from the Girls: Joanna mostly says she wants a baby brother.  I love that she’s big enough to sort of understand what’s going on.  Natalie is of course totally oblivious.

Gotta love the “sitting on baby sibling” pictures:

 

Some Ducks, The Park, singing, and Enchiladas

We stopped at my mom’s on the way home from school on Tuesday, and we went out to feed the ducks.

This was Natalie’s first time as a big kid. She mostly really loved it.

She has a very silly face here! She kept calling the ducks “puppy! puppy!” It was too cute.

That evening we had our regular enchilada night at Grandma’s.

We go every two weeks, and it’s sooooo yummy! Joanna is definitely a fan.

Friday we met with several friends at the park for playday. It was such a gorgeous day: cool in the shade, warm in the sun, bright, clear – gorgeous!

Logan and Natalie swinging:

Anna was pushing Natalie and Aidan was pushing Logan on the swings. Such good big sibs! Just after I took this picture, Joanna fell on the kid in the orange. Oops.

There was this great big field and little row of hills (for biking, I guess?) that the kids loved playing on. Natalie sitting in the field, watching the big kids. She had a great time walking around everywhere at the park. I LOVE that she is walking!

Joanna is in the middle, in black: Anna and Joanna, with Natalie in the middle. We met this little girl at the park – she loved Natalie!

We had such a great time playing and we all came home so tired! And unfortunately, with a little sun on our faces.

Tonight Joanna put on one of Matt’s t-shirts and said she was going to Women’s Ensemble practice. I guess it’s a choir robe. I just love that kid!

Oh, and last night, I caved and sent Matt out for a hamburger and french fries at 9:30. It hit the spot so perfectly. I just couldn’t concentrate on anything until I got my junk food!

Jessica is craving:

-hamburger
-steak
-french fries
-chips, queso, salsa
-apples
-macaroni and cheese (the terrible Kraft kind)
-chocolate everything
-corn dog
-cherry limade
-Dr. Pepper
-pizza (greasy, delivery pizza)

The only things I've got in the house are apples and of course some assorted chocolate things.
It's taking most of my will power not to go get a burger and fries right now.
My will power is crumbling.

14 Months Old

Natalie...

-walks everywhere. When she falls, she gets right back up to walk some more. She still falls pretty often. She's the most sturdy in bare feet or Robeez, but can walk in all her shoes (even jellies!)

-LOVES to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" all the time. In fact, she often does her little motions for it during other music too. If you haven't watched the video I posted here, you need to DO IT NOW. It's sooooo cute. Other people (who are not her mother) have said so too. :)

-eats a pretty wide range of food but will absolutely refuse anything she just doesn't feel like eating. So there. Her favorites are bread (just about any kind in any form), fruit, spaghetti, and carrots picked out of chicken soup. She will also eat PB&J (yay!), unlike her sister. :(

-is just SO STINKIN' CUTE!

-LOVES riding the plastic rocking horses in the nursery like this one:

I mean, really really loves. There is just pure joy on her face when she's on one. She'll buck herself off one day, but it will have been totally worth it. I’m keeping my eye out for one.

-talks a lot, mostly words I can’t understand yet.

-loves her sister very much, even when Joanna’s beating up on her a little. :)

-Can sign more, all done, water, milk, clean up, please

-can say juice, no, bye bye, hi, and maybe some other things, I can’t remember. I remembered a few: puppy, whee!, thank you, Daddy, Mommy

-wears size 3 diapers, but we’re probably moving to size 4 for night soon.

-is mostly wearing size 12-18 month clothes, especially PJs and dresses. Most her her 9-12 month shirts and pants fit pretty well.

-weighs some kind of amount, I don’t know! I’d like to weigh her; I may turn her carseat around pretty soon if she’s hit 20lbs. She’s still pretty happy rear facing, but I think especially when it gets warmer she’ll be more comfy facing forward.

-is so very very loved by her Momma, Daddy, and big sister (among may others!).

Fun site

I need to pass along the link to this wonderful site I've been enjoying lately. It's www.ohdeedoh.com. It is basically a DIY site, full of children's rooms and gadgets. There are tons of new posts everyday to drool over. I'm loving it. Check it out.

8 Weeks

No real bump yet, but I know it won’t be long!

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Baby Center):

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

How far along:  8 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: tiredness (very tiredness), nausea, round ligament pain, spotting

Sleep: pretty good!  Except I always want more; I’m such a sleep junkie.

Food Cravings: soups/stews, popcorn, chocolate, fruit – mainly crisp, juicy apples

Measurement: (this one’s new from last week)  I’m planning to measure around the biggest part of my belly, which is a little below my belly button, but I can’t find the measuring tape.  Will update later.  I’m really going to get my mom’s measuring tape this week.  Apparently mine has vanished.

Movement: none yet!  This will apply more later.

Labor signs: ditto above

What I miss: Dr. Pepper, energy

What I’m looking forward to: 20 weeks for the big ultrasound, not that I want the time to fly until then; I just really love having a pronoun to go with Bean.  I think we’ll get to listen to the heartbeat at the appointment in 4 weeks.  LOVE that!

Milestone: Have a box of maternity clothes from Lisa waiting for me to need them!  Also we had our first ultrasound last Friday.  I blogged about it here.  Such a cute little Bean we have!

Thoughts from the Girls: I blogged here about the cute conversation Joanna started about the baby.  She’s pretty concerned about it falling out.  Don’t know where she got that idea.  Maybe she knows something I don’t about how quick labor will be?  :)

Party!

This afternoon we headed over to Bailey’s 3rd birthday party! Joanna and I rode with Lisa and Anna – it was fun! Here is Miss Joanna coming out of the bounce castle. You can see Bailey at the "window" to the right.

Joanna really loved playing in the sand box. Her favorite part was dumping the sand out. I’m thinking we won’t do this at our house.

We had lots of fun! Happy Birthday, Bailey! Back at home, Joanna with some of her princess duds. How cute is she?