12 Weeks

12 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

How far along: 12 weeks

Pregnancy symptoms: nausea, tiredness, headaches

Food Cravings: salty things like fries and potato chips, beef jerky, plain bagels with cream cheese

Food Aversions: most everything

Sleep: As long as my poor husband sleeps on the couch, I sleep very well.  I’m usually up 2-3 times and sometimes wake up much earlier than I’d like, but each time I get up to pee, I am able to go right back to sleep, and I think I sleep pretty soundly.  But I feel guilty Matt is on the couch.  :(

Measurement:  40 inches around

Movement: I feel things that could be babies moving, but are most likely not since it’s still so early.  But it stops and makes me think for a minute!

Labor signs: nothing yet

What I miss: I miss having energy to pick up and clean.  I miss the reduced sense of smell.  I miss not feeling nauseous.

What I’m looking forward to: I’m looking forward to my 12 week appointment on Thursday!

Milestone: 12 weeks seems kind of milestone-y, even though it’s not quite the end of the first trimester.  Though I really could be 1/3 through this pregnancy; that’s kind of scary.

Thoughts from the children: The girls talk about the babies a lot.  It’s so fun to have them engaged in what’s going on!

Doctor’s visit: I have an appointment on Thursday.  I may update then or wait until next week.

Other thoughts: I woke up yesterday feeling pretty good, as far as things go.  I was nauseous but it wasn’t debilitating, and I felt pretty rested from the weekend.  So I got a lot done around the house.  It was exhausting but I managed to really do a lot of picking up and vacuuming.  Matt had to help me finish up, but it feels so wonderful to have the house at least a little bit cleaner for a little while.  It won’t last long enough, but I’m going to enjoy it.  Today though I woke up just feeling awful.  I haven’t been able to keep much down, and I just want to lay on the couch and moan.  :)  Thankfully the kiddos are all at school for a few hours so I really can rest – no fixing food and changing diapers.  Those are the smelliest jobs.  :)  I have noticed that I tend to feel good on Mondays and like total crap on Tuesdays.  I have a feeling when I work hard on Monday morning I pay for it on Tuesday.  But maybe it’s just a fluke.

Baby-related projects:

• I need to start working on the maternity clothes situation.  DONE!  I got them all hung up and crammed in the closet – feels good to have a few choices of what to wear in the morning!

Roses

Even with as little attention as I give them, a couple of my rose plants still manage to produce flowers from time to time.  YAY GOD!!

Joanna with her “Joanna Rose” plant that he received for her 1st birthday!

This is my most hearty plant – five blooms at one time!!  One for each of us.

I know my roses could be absolutely amazing if I’d spend any time on them at all.  Life is like that in a lot of ways.  :)

Super Kids Day!

Last week Joanna had Super Kids Day at school, and I got to go up and hang out for about an hour! (Well, minus the 10 minutes it took me to find her!)  My mom came over to watch the littles.

She was having a little snow cone break when I found her.

After her group finished their snow cones, they did some more games.  I followed along with my camera like the mommy blogger stalker that I am.  :)

Getting her wristband marked:

Egg race:

Joanna rocked this game.  She had to keep a ball between her knees and bounce to the cone and back.

Potato sack race!

Some kind of weird tennis-like game.  The girls were terrible at it.  :)

But such a look of concentration!

Similar look here.  :)

On this one they had to roll the blue ball and try to just move the yellow ball.  So it was almost like a cross between bowling and golf.

The classic spin around the bat and run to the cone and back game.

She’s going down!

Dizzy.  :)

I had to leave after that, but I snapped a picture of her sweet group – cutie pies!

I’m glad I got to go and watch a teeny bit of Joanna in her element!

Before I found Joanna I found her teacher and another K teacher and we chatted for a minute.  They shared something with me that made my proud mamma heart just swell up!  Joanna had shared it with me too, but hearing it from an adult makes it more real.  So to tell the whole story… On Wednesday evening we had our last children’s choir rehearsal of the season, and each class did something for the parents.  Joanna’s class I think basically took turns having little solos (I missed it, so I’m not exactly sure what the format was).  Apparently Joanna and Anna sang a little duet of the song they had sung on Sunday, Master Builder.  The next morning, I suggested to Joanna that she might share with her class (they have “share time” each morning) about how she sang in front of her choir with her friend.  Well, she did, and Mrs. M asked Joanna to sing for the class.

AND SHE DID!!!!  She sang by herself in front of her whole class a SONG ABOUT GOD!!!!!!!

The kids were apparently pretty impressed, as was Mrs. M!  Joanna told me how Mrs. M pointed out to the class how Joanna sang the high notes and the low notes.  Mrs. M told me how beautiful and pure she thought Joanna’s voice was.  Sniffle… sniffle.  So proud of Joanna for being brave enough to do that!!  One thing that I have been so so so so so so so impressed with this year is how much Joanna comes home singing – from school!  Mrs. M gets it!  Music is so important to learning!!  And of course I’m so excited that Joanna feels safe enough in her class at school to do something so personal.  She’s a pretty confident little girl, but she doesn’t exactly seek to be the center of attention.

Some Pregnancy Stuff

This was over a week ago (I’m just so timely in my posting these days!).  I had such a craving for nachos and s’mores.  I dislike going to the grocery store these days, but it was either go myself or bathe and put the kids to bed so Matt could go for me.  :)  I braved the smell of the grocery store.  I picked up some Julio’s chips, some store-made guac, a dragon roll, and the s’more fixins.

I should have paid a little more attention and NOT eaten the chips and guac because I had the HUGEST most horrible heartburn in the middle of the night.  Oh it was bad.  The chips were really good, but I’m not sure anything is worth that level of heartburn.  Well, except babies.  Babies are worth that.  But not food.  :)

The next day I bribed Natalie and James with s’mores to clean the living room, and it worked!

They looooooved them!

I think my mother brought French fries that day as well, and James discovered they were pretty delightful dipped in guacamole.  :)

Every week when it’s time to take my weekly preggo pic (as in, when I am dressed and do not looked like a slob), I make Matt stand in my spot so I can get all the settings how I like ‘em, then we switch, and he takes my picture.  So I have a few of these…

 

There were a couple of weeks where I just put the camera on Auto and let him take the picture, but I really wasn’t happy with the results.  I’m addicted to shooting on Manual.  :)

Today is Sunday, when I would have normally taken my weekly picture to post tomorrow.  But I totally played hooky from church this morning which means I never got dressed.  So I’m going to try really hard to actually get dressed tomorrow and take a picture then.

Not this past week but the previous week – “week 10” – I actually had several days where I didn’t feel nauseous in the morning.  It was wonderful!  I could get things done and get some good food in me.  This past week though (“week 11”) has not been like that.  I’ve been nauseous absolutely all the the time.  I must admit that it is really wearing on me.  I mean, it’s totally worth it, but it’s hard.  It is so hard to do anything around the house or for the kids, and any kind of meal prep is just so very very difficult.  I finally took a Zofran this afternoon, and I think it took the edge off.  (I feel like blogging anyway!)  I really really just needed a break from the constant yucky feeling.  And I feel a little like I got it.

I have, for the most part, been sleeping well.  Unfortunately it’s because I kicked my husband out to the couch.  :(  I tried to let him come back, after I’d “caught up” a little, but I was awake for 3 hours that night.  I’m hoping we figure out some kind of system that works for us, but we’ll see!

I’m definitely complaining a lot, but I like to record this stuff.  I need to make it very very very clear that absolutely ALL of it is completely and totally worth the babies I’m carrying.  I am so so so so excited to have them in there growing, even with all the yuckiness that comes with it.  I’m really looking forward to listening to their little hearts beating this week at my appointment as well!  (And ask my doctor all the million questions I’ve come up with in the last four weeks.)  Pregnancy is such a crazy amazing thing, and I’m so thankful to be experiencing it again.

To end on a happy, sweet note:

I picked up a few all the twin books from the library last week, and the girls have been enjoying leafing through them with me.  I LOVE the look of concentration on this girl’s face when she “reads!”

Some extremely cute Jamesie Boy pictures for your enjoyment. :)

James brought home this butterfly he had made one day, and he really wanted to play with it instead of letting me hang it up.  So I made sure to take at least a quick pic in case it was destroyed.  :)

I love the get-ups this kid wears sometimes.

I can’t remember exactly how it came about, but James decided it might be okay to wear big boy underwear one day.  Fortunately I had some very gender neutral white ones in the closet. 

He could totally be an underwear model, am I right?!

It only lasted a couple of hours, but it was fun.  :)

I think this was last Sunday – Joanna was the train and James was the caboose.

LOVE them!!

James put on Joanna’s birthday crown, and he and Natalie built a Lego birthday cake for him to blow out the candles on.

I really could watch them play all day long. :)

Singing and Having Tea

Last Sunday the music ministry from our church put on a big production called God of Wonders at a couple of services.  It really was a HUGE undertaking, but I loved loved being a part of it!
The handbells (from the balcony) played the prelude with the brass ensemble.  If this had been a video, you would have seen me absolutely pounding those bells.  :)  Our little bells couldn’t really compete with the mighty brass.

The combined choirs including Chancel Choir, Sola Gratia, and the Men’s Ensemble sang and the brass ensemble and orchestra played.  We presented lots of songs, some together, some as separate choirs.  The children joined us on one song, so Joanna and I got to sing together!  I couldn’t see her at all.  :(  BUT I could see lots of people videoing with their phones and iPads and whatever else.  AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A VIDEO.

It was a pretty powerful service for me, and we got a lot of positive feedback that makes me think it was pretty powerful for a lot of other people too.  I was some special kind of exhausted at the end of it that’s for sure!
On Tuesday the three year old classes at Natalie’s school had a tea that they invited parents to attend.  My sweet Natalie, lining up in the classroom:

She was in kind of a strange mood.  She was more shy than usual and just not up for talking.  I’m not sure what was up, but I got some good snuggles, so it’s okay.  :)

My girl and me!

A couple of best buds:

They sang a song for us at the end.  Natalie was standing behind a couple of little girls the whole time.  Guess she’s not a spotlight-hogger.  :)

April Pence Birthdays

Saturday evening we went to Uncle Mark’s for cake and ice cream to celebrate birthdays in April!

The kids’ cousin Jenny turned 24, Daddy turned 45, and Mamma turned 75.  What a great month!!

The birthday crew:

It’s good they can share.  :)

The kids just love to play with family – Natalie is trying to avoid being tickled by Uncle Mark here:

Aunt Missy and Aunt Mindy were playing tug-of-war with James.

Somebody must have said something interesting…

There were so many cards to open!

At some point James’ jeans fell down.

Joanna tried to put them back on but just couldn’t, so Uncle Mark told her to bring him over, and she did.  I’m kinda thinking this should go in the wedding slide show folder, yes?

There was much wrestling on the floor with cousin Jenny.  Joanna is laying on top of Jenny, who is laying on her stomach.  Joanna grabbed Jenny’s legs so Jenny grabbed Joanna’s.  :)

It was such fun to celebrate with everyone.  Happy birthday Jenny, Matt, and Mamma!  We love you!!

11 Weeks

11 weeks

How Your Baby’s Growing (from Babycenter.com):

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, tiredness, bloating

Food Cravings: s’mores, baked goods like muffins and pastries (most especially a cream cheese Danish), “dinner bread” like the kind you get at a restaurant, Skittles

Food Aversions: salad, eggs (unless they’re in a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit), Cheetos, toast, peanut butter and jelly, most cold cereal; a lot of other things that don’t sound bad until I’m faced with the prospect of eating or smelling them  :)

Sleep: I had quite a few good nights but then some bad ones.  Poor Matt slept on the couch for me last night, and I was able to catch up a bit on sleep.

Measurement:  40 inches around

Movement: I feel things that could be babies moving, but are most likely not since it’s still so early.  But it stops and makes me think for a minute!

Labor signs: nothing yet

What I miss: I miss being hungry pretty much ever.  I miss not being nauseous, although this is better than a few weeks ago.

What I’m looking forward to: I’m looking forward to hearing the babies’ heartbeats next week!

Milestone: Nothing feels very milestone-y right now.

Thoughts from the children: text

Doctor’s visit: next visit is late next week

Other thoughts: I am really struggling with making it through the last few weeks of school.  It’s not exactly pregnancy related, but I’m just so looking forward to having a more relaxed schedule – getting to play outside in the evenings and sleep in if we need to.  I think 7 weeks left.

Baby-related projects:

• I need to start working on the maternity clothes situation.  Thankfully, I have quite a few “pre-pregnancy” things that fit, but the lack of organization of everything is messing with me!  I need to put away all winter clothes and clothes that are too small or getting very close.  I need to pull out any maternity clothes I think I’ll be able to wear before it gets cool again and put them with my “regular” clothes.  I’m not to the point I “need” maternity stuff yet, but it’s getting very close, and it will be less stressful if the stuff is out so I can find it when I need it!  The maternity clothes need to be sorted a bit as well.  I know I won’t wear smallish winter stuff.  Actually I won’t wear smallish stuff at all.  :)  Mediums just won’t last long enough to be worth taking up space in the closet.  They barely fit now.  I should probably just pass that size right along!