19 weeks

How far along? 19 weeks.

Baby Hart is the size of:  An heirloom tomato.... strange one, huh?;)  But actually, according to our ultrasound, more precisely 10 ounces :)

Total weight gain/loss: 5 pounds gained as of last week's appointment!

Maternity clothes? Oh yes.

Stretch marks?  Not yet.

Sleep?  Going to the bathroom a LOT in the night...

Best moment this week: Getting to find out the gender!!

Miss anything? Unlimited amounts of caffeine.  We got to spend some time at my sister-in-law's house with her family, and she made AMAZING iced coffee.  Limiting my intake of that was not easy;)

Movement: Yes, loving it!  Jason thinks he felt it too but not 100% sure yet;)

Food cravings: I had chicken tenders at Ikea that I may dream about for months to come.

Symptoms:  Sciatica, weird crazy dreams, heartburn.

Showing?  Oh, yes... yes.

Gender:  It's a BOY!!!!! So excited for Silas to have a lil brother close in age, and dreaming of pulling out all his old boxes of clothes for the new baby to wear!!!

Belly button in or out? It's weird... like 3/4 out 1/4 in;)

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments? Adjusting to some news we learned about in the ultrasound... more on that in a bit.

Emotions:  Relieved to know the gender and so happy for another boy.  Fighting worry somewhat though for sure...

Learned this week: We learned some hard news in the ultrasound, but hopefully it will be something minor.  Our lil man has a 6th digit developing on his left hand, a sort of 6th finger.  There is bone in it, so it will mean surgery for him.  The extent of the surgery/surgeries will depend on how and how much it develops.  We're hoping that's "all" it is, but are going in on May 13th to see a specialists and get a high level ultrasound and some tests done to see if there is any other condition or syndrome connected.  They didn't see anything on our previous ultrasound that indicates there is something else going on, and hopefully these next tests and ultrasound will say the same.  Leaving any appointment with anything but good news is certainly not easy (and it didn't help that the doctor we saw that day was Mr. Socially-inept and had the opposite of bedside manner:P).

So thankful for:  The day and age we live in, and all the tools, equipment, and knowledge God has blessed us with in these times to help care for our babies!!

Looking forward to:  Getting some more answers to all these questions!

18 weeks

How far along? 18 weeks.

Baby Hart is the size of:  A bell pepper.

Total weight gain/loss: Still the 3 pounds I know of from my last doc visit, will get an updated weight check at my appointment on Friday!

Maternity clothes? Yep.

Stretch marks? Not yet.

Sleep? Ouch.

Best moment this week: Easter!!!

Miss anything? Being able to lay on my stomach. 

Movement: Yes, loving it!  Jason still hasn't been able to feel any yet, but hopefully soon!

Food cravings:  Still lotsa bagels and cream cheese.  Food in general, really;)

Symptoms:  Sciatica, uff da.  Lotsa back pain and aches.

Showing?  Well, clipping my toe nails yesterday felt like running a marathon, so yes.

Gender:  We'll find out this Friday as long as the baby isn't modest;)

Belly button in or out?  Both;)

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments?  Wishing for some chiropractic adjustments.  Missing my chiro in Chattanooga for sure:p

Emotions:  Excited, and so, so grateful.

Learned this week:  Where my favorite maternity hoodie was hiding the last couple weeks!  How we "lost" something in this tiny apartment is beyond me;) but I'm very glad to have found it:)

So thankful for:  A healthy pregnancy so far with this one, and all the way with Silas. I met a lady at church this week who had no living children, but 3 in heaven. 3 miscarriages in 1 year's time, and one was at 20 weeks along.  I cannot imagine.  I am so grateful, and so humbled.  Would you pray with this lady with me?

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender!!!!!!!!!! 3 days!!!!!!!!

17 weeks

How far along? 17 weeks.

Baby Hart is the size of:  An onion.  Not the cutest comparison ever;)

Total weight gain/loss: Still the 3 pounds I know of from my last doc visit, will get an updated weight check at my appointment next week!

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I've discovered that since I was employed at a school during my last pregnancy, I don't have a lot of good "stay at home mom" maternity clothes.  I have lots of nice pants and dress shirts.  So I'm wearing Jason's shirts a lot already;)

Stretch marks? Not yet...

Sleep: Sleep is definitely starting to hurt:/

Best moment this week: Not being able to get x-rays at my dental visit today.... one of the only nice rules of being pregnant;)

Miss anything? Being able to take allergy medicine.  The pollen here is unreal. 
Movement: Yes, lots of it!! And I even could feel it on the outside this week too!  Haven't gotten Jason to feel it yet, but hopefully soon!

Food cravings:  Sweets and french fries.

Symptoms:  Sciatica, still.  Feet getting unbearably sore after barely being on them.

Showing?  Yes, and today was the first day strangers out in public felt brave enough to congratulate me and ask how far along I was:)  The cruel side of me wanted to act aghast and say I wasn't pregnant, but I'm not really that cruel over-all;)

Gender:  Started thinking boy more this week.

Belly button in or out?  In.... technically;)  Getting less-in ;)

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments?  Adjusting positions of sleep a lot in the night.... all 2 of them;) Which side to crunch next, that is the question.

Emotions:  Super pumped and excited!  When I made my next dental appointment after mine today, I talked about how my hubby would have to watch my kid.... then realized it would be kidS! :)

Learned this week:  That I need a whole mocha-lotta more protein during pregnancy.  I've known I need more calories/more food/lotsa nutrients but I didn't know the main thing I need to nearly double-up on is pure protein.

So thankful for: The resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Saviour!!  I am so excited about Easter, I could bust!!!  What an amazing celebration of life, and I'm SO grateful that Jesus died and rose for my son and baby!!!

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender!!!!!!!!!! SO soon!!!!

16 weeks

How far along? 16 weeks

Baby Hart is the size of:  An avocado.

Total weight gain/loss: 3 pounds gained.

Maternity clothes? Still a hodge-podge of whatever I need to do to make it work;)

Stretch marks? Not yet;)

Sleep:   Been a bit better thanks to our neighbors above is being out of tome for a while;)

Best moment this week: Had a great 16 week doctor's appointment and got to hear that precious heartbeat again!

Miss Anything? Drinking unlimited amounts of caffeine.

Movement:  Yes, for sure now!!! Loving the little kicks!!!

Food cravings:  Food. Lots of food. Nice to not be nauseas anymore;)

Symptoms:  been feeling a lot better again! Still nasty sciatica, but feeling better over-all.

Have you started to show yet:  Yes, yes.

Gender prediction: Thinking girl just cause I've been so much sicker than I was with Silas, but that means it's probably a boy;)

Belly Button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments:  Adjusting my clothes a lot still;)

Emotions:  Very excited and happy to find out the gender earlier than we thought, in 2 1/2 weeks!

Learned this week: learned a lot more about Erb's Palsey, which Silas had after he was born for a few weeks, and the higher risks that puts Baby Hart #2 at.  A little unnerving, but trusting God!

So thankful for:  Being able to find out the gender sooner than originally planned, as long as the munchkin cooperates!:)

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender!!!! Can you tell???;);):)

Other highlights: I told Silas I felt the baby kick, and he signed "sorry"! Lol! Too cute:)

15 weeks

How far along? 15 Weeks

Baby Hart is the size of:  An orange

Total weight gain/loss: Thanks to our scale that's not working, I'll just be weighing in at the doctor;)  So we'll get this updated next week at my next appointment:)

Maternity clothes? A marvelous mix of maternity clothes/regular clothes/whatever else I need to do to make myself "fit" into anything.

Stretch marks? Not yet;)

Sleep:  Yeah.  Right.  Last week's comment still stands.

Best moment this week: Having an incredibly dear childhood friend come visit with her little girl!  So amazing and surreal to watch our kids play together, and think about how we played together at that lil age too!

Miss Anything? Peeing less often than my toddler.

Movement:  There were definitely times I think I felt movement and one time I'm 99% sure I felt him/her;)

Food cravings:  Been eating a lot of sweets lately.

Symptoms: Felt all first-trimester-y again this week, with the glorious puking and all:P  Been getting a bit more uncomfy too.... the ribs are starting to get taken over;)

Have you started to show yet:  Yep!

Gender prediction: Thinking girl just cause I've been so much sicker than I was with Silas....

Belly Button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments: Stretching a lot to get my ribs some room.

Emotions: Felt a little blah this week just from feeling sick again- thought that nastiness was behind me:P  Excited for the appointment next week though!!

Learned this week: That this second trimester may not be as easy-peasy as it was with Silas;)

So thankful for:  Being pregnant!! Even though it feels cruddy and I'm NOT a "good" pregnant lady, it's so worth it!

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender!!!! And our appointment next week... where I'll be asking the doctor if we can find out the gender a bit earlier than May 5th since we're seeing family and friends the week before!  Hoping he lets us!!

Round 2! 14 weeks

               

How far along? 14 weeks.

Baby Hart is the size of:  A lemon.

Total weight gain/loss: As of the last doctor appointment a couple weeks ago, 2 pounds gained. 

Maternity clothes? Somewhat- in the awkward nothing-really-fits-me stage :-/

Stretch marks? Not yet... except the couple lil ones leftover from Silas;-)

Sleep: HA!!  Sleep??!!! Whhaattt??  The pregnancy only wakes me up once in a while, but our apartment is super noisy at night- trucks outside in the city, clunky neighbors upstairs... it's a good time :P  Feeling quite prepared for the sleep deprivation of a newborn again:P

Best moment this week:  Feeling normal!!!  I was so sick the first trimester, but have felt totally golden so far in the 2nd!!  I forgot how good it feels to feel normal;-)  

Miss anything? Being able to wear clothes without it being an event;-)

Movement: Not feeling it yet, but so excited for it!!

Food cravings:  Bagels and cream cheese!  It was the only thing I could eat in the mornings of my first trimester, and I'm still loving it.  I've eaten a ridiculous amount of bagels and cream cheese the last couple months ;-)

Symptoms:  Sciatica, uff :P  But not puking anymore, which is nice ;-)

Showing?  Yes, but not in the oh-yes-she's-for-sure-pregnant-stage yet, so it can be a little awkward ;-)

Gender:  Thinking girl since I was so much sicklier than I was with Silas?

Belly button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Adjustments?  Adjusting my pants/B-band/shirt/etc. all the time ;-)

Emotions: Excited!!!  And so glad to be in the 2nd trimester!!!!

Learned this week:  That running through my last pregnancy was hard- but running through this one while pushing Silas in the jogging stroller will be MUCH harder ;-)

So thankful for:  Prenatal yoga!  I'm doing the same DVD I did when I was pregnant with Silas and it was and is SO helpful.

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender!!!  Cannot WAIT!!! :-)

Other highlights:  Trying to tell Silas about the baby in mommy's belly has so far only led to him trying to tickle me ;-)  It' great ;-)

A few of my favorite things...

   I can't believe Silas is 2 1/2 months old- time is FLYING!  I truly do enjoy and try to savor each moment; even the messy ones;)  I'm thankful that while being a mommy is definitely a learning curve, I'm learning more each day and feel a much greater grasp on this role than those first few weeks:)  Over these couple of months, I've definitely developed my favorites... those things that have made mommy-hood even sweeter and more manageable.  I figured I'd share those things here:)  In no particular order...


1. The floor gym:  If you've talked to me at all, or seen my pictures on facebook, then you're probably rolling your eyes right now thinking "Oh grief, here she goes with the floor gym again!";)  It's true- I'm in love;)  Of course there's the standard great baby essentials that help "hold" Silas like the bouncy seat and swing.  And they're definitely favorite things too.  But this floor gym has been a fave of mine and Silas' since day 1.  Ok wait, day 3 since we didn't exactly take it to the hospital;)  Silas didn't have to wait to grow to fit into it; and it serves different purposes and ages, since you can move the bar down for tummy time, and eventually when Silas can sit up on his own, the piano flips up for him to hit with his hands.  Ok, I'll stop;)  And yes... Ferdy loves it too;)

2. The Velcro swaddlers:  We've been avid swaddlers of Silas; and at first, Jason was the only one that was good at it.  Since Silas was so itty-bitty he didn't quite fit into his Velcro swaddlers and we used swaddle blankets.  I could never get it tight enough to last, and Silas always got out of it.  Now that Silas fits into the Velcro ones we have no more escaping, and I can proudly say I can successfully swaddle:)

3. PJs:  Oh the adorability of my lil man in PJ's!  Be still my heart.  Every morning I take his picture.  Seriously.  Every. Morning.  I'm about to blow up Facebook with an album of nothing but Silas' PJ pictures.  You will die of happiness:)

4. Stain Remover:  Enough said;)

5. The Sleep/Eat/Play Routine:  I've never wanted Silas to be on a "schedule"; I didn't want to force him into too much too quickly, and I myself don't want the rigidness of a schedule.  But I also got to the point where I knew it couldn't stay a total free-for-all.  So I began the Google search and found the "Sleep/Eat/Play routine" that Supernanny and the Baby Whisperer recommend.  It's a combination method of parent-led and baby-led methods.  Let me tell you, it has worked wonders.  There's no longer total guesswork on mommy's end, and it just seems to fit Silas' natural cycle.  It has made for a very happy baby and momma:)

6. Hooded towels:  Silas is becoming a bit more happy... err, happy might be a strong word... a bit more calm;) during bath time, but boy did it use to bring out the lungs in him.  Nevertheless, as soon as bath time is over, all is hunky dory once he's wrapped up in one of his hooded towels.  Not to mention the fact that he's uber cozy and adorable:)

7. Mirrors:  The baby swing has a mirror globe; the seat his car seat goes in has a baby mirror; his floor gym has a mirror.  And I have a little mirror I keep out for when he's not in one of those places:)  He loves staring at the mirrors; they work great for calming and entertaining him!

8. Facebook:  Nothing like being able to upload a bazillion pictures of my lil man and getting to "hear" everyone's comments to make this girl's day:)  It's also great to be able to change my status to a baby question and be able to quickly get so many different people's advice and feedback!

9. Baby Einstein:  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law got us this baby einstein toy that can hang from stuff like his car seat, and plays music and has lights.  He LOVES it, and it has served to calm down many car rides, and to entertain him in many waiting rooms:)

10. Changing his diaper:  Seems weird, right?;)  But Silas LOVES having his diaper changed.  We spend a lot of time hanging out at his changing table:)  If he gets fussy, I'll even fake change his diaper;)  I don't even have to take him to the changing table- I'll just pull up his legs and pretend to be checking/changing his diaper.  Instant happiness:)