38 Weeks

Friday marked 38 weeks in my pregnancy.  Can't believe only 2 weeks left!  But I am totally ready and totally prepared.  Christmas decorations are up, all presents are bought and wrapped, babies room is ready (didn't have to do much)  I have back-up plans for Rylee with back-up plans, my bags are packed, and a dwindling to-do list with not much on it.  I feel ready.... so only if baby was ready now too :)

Many have asked now how my body is feeling.  The mornings I feel great - like I could honestly handle another month of this but as the day progresses I get more sore and "huge" feeling.  By the end, I'm praying to God that he allows the baby to come tonight b/c I don't know how my belly can expand anymore and how my hips and pelvic area can take any more pressure and aches.  But I'm sleeping still pretty good through the night so I'm thankful I get that to rejuvenate me.   

I still consider myself very lucky.  I hear stories from friends and family and count my blessings that I'm still very healthy and so is baby.  I'm also able to stay active and do most things I do when I'm not pregnant. For example... I can still do a sit-up!  Just no running for this girl :)

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Last time around it was fun to see how I grew... this is my progression.  Oh how the last 4 weeks brought about the most change :) 

14 weeks

18 weeks

22 weeks

  26 weeks

 30 weeks

 34 weeks

38 weeks

34 weeks

I'm 34 weeks along!  Its amazing how much better I feel about myself when I compare to my last pregnancy.  I think not having ice cream every night and the constant pizza and pasta cravings have helped a little bit :)  That and I'm chasing around an almost 18 month old.

But life has been great.  Baby is really starting to give me some powerful kicks. I still love the feeling but he could back off a bit :)  He also tends to roll over my bladder at the most inconvenient times. Usually when I'm miles from a washroom.  Sleep doesn't come easy at night anymore, but I figured God is just putting me into training for when baby does come.

My tummy is definitely growing though.  Each day I wake up feeling pretty good about myself only to end the day thinking could my belly stretch any further!!!  This kid seems like he's going to pop right through.  And to think 6 more weeks of growth... could be interesting.

And here are some family, maternity, 18 month (in a couple days)  photos a dear friend of mine took.  She did such a great job and I'm in love with these!
Laura Kleffman Photography

30 Weeks

My sister told me I have started to waddle.

I don't believe her.

I'm only 30 weeks along.

I may waddle a little at the end of the day.  I mean, I've played babies, thrown around a 30 pounder, gone for walks and bike rides, played on the floor all day, cleaned a tiny bit and sat awkwardly reading tons of books while my sweet 30 pounder puts pressure on my bladder.  But it can't be that much right?

oh... but it might be.

Sad.

But I guess that's what happens.  But here is to only 10 weeks left!  And now I'm starting to say thank goodness as this baby is a rocking and a rollin in my tummy.  Even causing some discomfort. But I love the feeling again of feeling an actually human being playing in your tummmy.  I actually dearly missed that feeling after Rylee was born.  Especially since out of habit I'd rest my hand on my belly and just felt a squishy tummy instead.

But here is baby boy at 30 weeks.

And if the constant moving is any premonition of what he'll be like when he joins us... I am getting no sleep what-so-ever!

You can start praying for me.

26 Weeks

I've said it before and I'll say it again... this pregnancy has been flying by.

And this time... at least not yet... it's not even a thank goodness.  I feel very blessed (correction)... extremely blessed to have had an easy pregnancy so far.  I mean no pregnancy goes without it's aches and pains but lets be realistic.  There is an actual human forming and growing inside of you.

Steve has been wonderfully amazing though these last 6 months.  So far the timing has worked out perfect for us to get pregnant.  However, the hard part only begins from now on as he starts up not only one but TWO classes while holding a full time job. Yes he's busy, but he also works hard to prioritize keeping family at the top.

So here's to only three months remaining!  Praying it's as easy as the first six.

(unlikely I know, but a girl can dream.)

The Announcements

I did it again.

I threw out my back. 

This is the second time this pregnancy that I have done this. I'm guessing I should be happy that I have this instead of the endless morning sickness a couple of friends of mine are enduring... at the moment however, I'd take the porcelain throne.

Before I knew the exact moment, however, this time one day it eventually just got worse and worse and then I ended up rolling out of bed  the next morning begging Steve to take a sick day so I could lie motionless on the couch. 

I did end up mustereing up enough energy to make the twist, grab my phone, and call the Chiropractor which by the way is fabulous!  Eastview Family Chiropractor with Dr. Erlandson.   Highly recommend him.

Anyways, the Doctor did his work, Steve is in charge of Rylee all day, and I have orders to lay low with no physical activity so I'm catching up on work and those videos that I wrote about yesterday in my post.  

So here are the remainder of the videos of us telling our family of the beautiful baby that I love so much even though he's literally a pain in my back.

Announcing to Ab and Ryan.

We just celebrated Rylee's 1st birthday at our house with all our friends and were cleaning up right as a big storm came.  Heather who is holding Rylee new we were pregnant b/c I had to mysteriously miss out on her birthday party.  I LOVE Abby's confused look in the background :)

Announcing to Mom and Dad

I found this idea on pinterest.

Get it?

Frame of us - WE

The letter R - ARE

Jar of Prego - Prego aka Pregnant.

I thought it was a very cute idea.  Turns out it was a little hard for people to catch onto.  We told my Mom and Dad this way along with Beth and Scott (Steve's brother and wife).  Scott refused to be "uploaded" to the internet and Steve has us telling Beth on his phone so I don't have those videos. 

I personally 2 things about Mom's video.  1. The fact that she made fun of the photo I was giving her in the "gift" for Mother's Day. and 2. Her reaction.    Dad on the other hand just didn't quite ever really catch on :)

Announcing to Rick and Iris

This was my favorite way to tell someone we were pregnant.  However, Rylee didn't quite play along as planned. In fact, Iris was probably getting annoyed with us with how we persisted to have Rylee show them her belly.  See, on her belly which you can kind of see, we wrote "Mommy's pregnant!"  This was perfect timing as she was just learning at this time where her belly button was and was obsessed with showing it off.  Turns out she is obsessed with a certain duck even more.

That's it.  That's all of the videos.  I love looking back at them and I can't believe how much Rylee has changed!!  

Baby Dus 2 Video.

I thought I was WAY overdue in posting the videos of us telling our family about the new baby on the way.  So I started to download then I realized how long it took with our simple connection.  So until then you only get one video.  The first one.  

I was down at my sister Jena's only weeks after Steve and I found out we were pregnant.  Steve wasn't with me so he skyped in for the big news.

It's A...

Boy!

Rylee gets a baby brother and she is excited!

Actually she has no idea and as you can probably figure care less at this point.  But I got her to look excited for the photo :)

We are trying to add brother to her vocabulary.  Right now she actually does pretty good and says bah-dah.  She does have baby down though.

But we are excited and ready to embark on the adventure of having a boy.  I even bought a boy sleeper already.  I couldn't help myself. And of course I'm already thinking of how to manly the nursery up.  Thinking and easy color change such as change out the yellow curtains and baby crib sheets.  Other than that we've kept it pretty neutral.

Most importantly though the baby is healthy.  Ultrasound shows a healthy developing brain, heart, and spine.  They also look at many other things and when the ultrasound tech explains I totally understand.  But now... not so much.  They are watching baby boy's kidneys as the right is enlarged.  It is a fairly common thing and Rylee had the same thing.  So we'll go back in 4 weeks and get another ultrasound to double check it's developing correctly.

Here are photos from the ultrasound. 

And the same photos which show what in the world you are looking at. 

And I think we already have a name picked out... at least for now.  But that will be a secret until Mr. Baby Boy comes to join us in this world.

Baby Just Tebowed

Our baby just Tebowed!

Can't wait to tell you all the sex of the baby.... must tell family first :)

Boy or Girl... One Week

The combination of this weather, baby, and Rylee, my energy feels like it's literally being sucked out of me.  I even took a nap yesterday by accident.  I never take naps.  I wish I could but I seem to never be able to fall asleep.  Too many things and too many to dos running through my head.  But yesterday, after putting Rylee down I went to go just put up my feet as my legs and back are pretty achy right now from pregnancy, and I fell asleep checking my email on my phone. I woke up to drool about to run down my lip and a dry sheet ball tucked under my upper thigh resulting in my leg becoming completely numb.

It was glorious.

Besides the numbness.

Another thing that is glorious is next Monday we hopefully find out the sex of our baby!!

This pregnancy has been flying by.  I'm not sure if it's Rylee keeping us busy or the summer activities but we feel like we just found out we were pregnant a couple weeks ago... okay well a couple months ago.  I mean I haven't even put the videos up of us telling our families yet on our blog.  (adding that to my long to do list)

But I'm very excited to find out.  Finding out means operation planning and preparing can begin.  We think the nursery will stay the nursery for the new baby and Rylee will be moving into our office which is now a conglomeration of dressers, a desk, a non working printer, bedding, and stuff I'm suppose to be selling on craigslist or ebay for my parents but I keep forgetting.  Needless to say it will be nice to have this room actually be something.

This room drives me crazy.

We've had a lot of people ask us what we think we'll be having or if we have a preference.  No on the preference.  But Steve thinks we are having a boy, which he thought that last time.  He thinks the Dus's produce boys as his dad and his grandpa are from a family of all boys.  In fact our niece was the first girl in a very long time.  Even steve's cousins are all boys.

I however, think Steve is just one of those daddy's that God made to have all girls.  He'll be much better with our daughters in the teenage years or even the drama years that come before that when girls get a little caddy.  Sometimes I think God made me to have no emotions.  I just say deal with it. Where Steve actually will.  So, he's blessed with all daughters I think.

But who knows.  We'll see.  IN ONE WEEK!!!

So for pure enjoyment I put a poll on the side of this blog.  Vote whether you think we'll be having a boy or girl.  In the meantime, enjoy the photos from the weekend.

Thursday we went to an outdoor live concert in Woodbuy.  After seeing this pic of Rylee... we are wondering who now has the bigger belly, Mom or Rylee.

And I for some reason LOVE this photo.  Two cute little butts.

Friday Steve had off work so I put him to work at home and we cut down some branches.

I also put Rylee to work and we washed some cars.

Then Sunday Steve's Godparents came into town!  They might be the sweetest people I've ever met.

18 weeks

18 weeks!

This belly is coming along. And starting to show a bit more.

Everything is still going extremely well.  I'm feeling great and not as tired anymore.  The heat just causes me to take more AC breaks which I'm fine with.  It's a good excuse to get out of some manual labor.

This last week it was even a little fun to get in a bikini (never have said that!) to show off the cute little belly bump.  I figure I have about another month of feeling cutsie before the Ugh... blah... pregnancy feeling sets in along with the widening backside.

The only thing is I am in need of some new clothes.  All my other maternity clothes were for winter and I need some summer.  I went to the MOA today to find a cute maxi dress and came home empty handed.  So if you know of a cute place let me know!

14 weeks

14 weeks along!  Well just over if you get technical. And sometimes it's nice to be... it makes the 9 months go faster.

We started taking belly pics last go around with Rylee at 14 weeks.  You can compare here. I'm not really showing but it's amazing how much more I'm showing this time around than last.  My body has also remembered the aches, pains and shifts way faster as well.  But I believe as a whole I'm feeling way better this time. 

These are the questions I answered before as well so I'll answer them again.  

How far along: 14 weeks

Due date: December 6th, 2013

Were we trying: Yes.  God has double blessed us not only with a baby but on getting pregnant the first try again.  There are so many that don't get this blessing so we feel very very fortunate.

How are you feeling: Pretty great...now!  I've had no issues with food this go around.  Everything has tasted good.  From about week 6-12 there were a couple smells that made me sick.  Coffee, Steve's cologne and Rylee's poopy diapers.  So I had a really good excuse to make Steve change all the diapers there for a bit.  But unfortunately he was gone quite a bit and she was teething.

The only thing is that I'm very tired by the end of the day.  This tiredness has made me a little sick but I'm managing better now.  The mint toothpaste didn't help as well.  Thank goodness for different flavors. 

Will we find out the sex: Yes.  Even Steve has changed his mind on this and wants to find out.  I told him we didn't have to this time and thankfully now he does!  

Names: This will be a secret again.  We have a lot of girls names we like but only one boy name which was ours from last time.

Most excited about: The sex and how Rylee will interact with the new baby.  We thought for a while she knew that mommy had a baby in her belly.  We'd ask, "Where's the baby?" and she'd lift up my shirt.  But then she did it to Steve once so I think she's a little confused.  But we do ask her to kiss the baby when she's by me and she does.  I have yet to capture it on camera...  it's adorable.  And sloppy.

How is Steve doing: Excited as always and very good to me.  He's helped out a ton in the midst of work and school when I wasn't feeling so well.  Poor guy doesn't get sleep himself.  But he'll have a little break with school in a couple weeks and then maybe the pregnancy will be enjoyed with rest a little bit more.

Back with Big News

Where's the Baby?!!

 

There it is!

Yep!.... we are pregnant!

And yes... on purpose.  :)

Baby will be arriving approximately around Dec 6th just 18 months after the birth of sweet Rylee.

We are obviously ready and excited to be embarking on this journey again.  Sometimes we think we are crazy but that's our life.

Here's to the crazy times.

Forget That!... And Relax

Yesterday turned out to be a grand day... even without the arrival of Baby D.  I started out the day sulking and being crabby.  Why?  Because I'm impatient and hate waiting!  Truly I hate it.  I actually tease myself (weird huh) quite often b/c God has put many people in my life who have tested me on this.

1. My younger sister... Constantly late and made me wait on her every morning before high school.  So many times I'd just want to leave without.   I didn't like her then but now I do.  Probably because I don't have to drive her everywhere :)

2. My best friend... God then gave me a best friend in college and you'd have to tell her we'd meet up an hour before the actually scheduled time and she'd still be late.  This has yet to change.

3. My husband... Although he's made vast improvements (because he's had no choice) he's always late because his mind wonders in different directions with his multiple tasks at once and he forgets to be on time.

I mean, I've mentioned this numerous times but I still feel great so I don't mind being pregnant.  I just simply can't wait any longer.  Really.  The waiting has been driving me bonkers.  So I decided to get over it and treat myself.  I took off work early, headed home, threw on some comfy summer clothes, grabbed my book, water and lawn-chair, and sat out for 4 hours reading and catching up on some snooze time.

I ignored all my to-do items that I felt needed to be done like I could probably mow right now and trim around our rock, maybe pick some weeds, dust, sweep, any general house or outdoor work.  But I said forget that... and relaxed.

I figured I wouldn't have that opportunity again for another 30 years now :)

Friends Episode

I've seen every Friends episode 2-3 times sometimes 10 depending on how many times it's been replayed.  So I find myself many a times comparing a situation in my life or an event that just happened to one that occurred on Friends.

Remember this episode?  

"The One Where Rachel Is Late"

The one where Rachel Green is so pleasant?  So uncomfortable?  Just a joy to be around? Where she goes to the bathroom, walks out and then feels like she has to go again.

That is how I feel that I am right now. 

Poor Steve....

But I do wear shirts that cover my belly. :)

The Perfect Time

The theme of our days this last weekend has been "Stay Active."  Because two things... to get me to go into labor and to get me to stop thinking about going into labor.  The more I sit the more I think.

So we've stayed busy and have gone for long walks, I even made Steve go on one with me at 9:30 last night, we play basketball, we do housework and go for bike rides. Long bike rides!  So long that I could barely get off the bike.  But usually have to hurry to get off the bike after all the pot holes that seem to jump out at me and force Baby D to put extra pressure on my bladder.

And we always find it extremely funny when I get on the bike so we had to take a photo.

But Saturday I did come to the conclusion that although I don't want to admit it, I could probably be pregnant a while longer.

Shocker right!  I don't like saying it.  It's painful to say but I had to be honest with myself finally.

I'm feeling great, sleeping well probably better than when baby comes, and I'm still mobile enough to do basically anything and everything. I just get a lot more winded :)  It's just the anxiousness of finally being able to hold my baby girl that is killing me!  But God's timing will be perfect.  Sometimes I just wish He'd listen to me a little bit more on my input of the perfect time.

Maybe someday He'll decide to phone a friend and ask for my input.