Weekly Update: 23 Weeks

Baby girl is 23 weeks today! She is a little over a pound and almost a full foot in length. She is the size of a large mango.

She's starting to kick so hard that you can see my stomach move now. Landon has seen it, Christopher has felt her, Carter doesn't care. LOL Nah...I'm sure he would...he's just never in the right time at the right place.

I've been suffering from a terrible cold/virus/sinus infection/crud since Saturday night and am not feeling much better. It started with a terribly sore throat for 2 days. Now it's moved into constant blowing of green junk and coughing and sneezing and just all around feeling bad. I think I've run a fever off and on, which makes my heart race when I do (which scares me). My breathing is pretty labored (sick + pregnant makes for extremely bad breathing). I hope to get over this soon...with the help of no medicine (yay, pregnancy!). This is the first cold I've had since pregnant though which is so different than my last two...I lived with sinus infections.

I've got plantar fasciitis in my left heel. Big girls, unite! It basically feels like I am stepping down onto a knife with each step. I've done some stretching, icing, and used KT tape on it, which actually help for a few days. I think this is just something I've got to deal with until my little bird arrives and I lose some of this weight.

Next step...preparing the nursery!!!

(Psssst...we have a name!!!! If I've seen you in person, I've probably already told you. It's not a secret, even though Christopher wanted it to be. But I haven't figured out if I am going to announce it on here before she comes. Email or call me if you know me IRL, I'd be glad to share. A clever little announcement may come here too...just need to think on that a little bit more.)

Weekly Update: 22 Weeks (Late)

We're back from the beach and trying to get back into work mode. We had a great time at the Outer Banks (pics to come)!

Until then, here's a 22 week picture from last week. Baby girl weighs a pound now and is about 11 inches long. She's the size of a spaghetti squash (baby center email) or papaya (phone app).

Weekly Update: 21 Weeks

At 21 weeks, little bird is the size of a banana! She weighs about 3/4 of a pound and is about 10.5 inches long.

She is moving around and kicking all of the time, and it's getting pretty strong. Christopher nor the boys have been able to feel her yet but I don't think it'll be long before they can.

Feeling pretty good. Heartburn had gone away for about a week or so but has started to come back. Still on medicine for NVP, but the doctor wants me to try to taper down to one pill (from two), then none over the next month or so. We'll see how that goes...

We're leaving for the beach on Saturday and I'll be taking the week off from blogging so I'll update you again at 23 weeks!

Carter's 5th Birthday

My Carter Bear turned 5 this past Saturday! My little, soon to be middle, has grown up so quickly. He is such a cool, easy-going guy who had an interesting opinion about what type of birthday party he wanted to have.

Me: What kind of party do you want to have this year, buddy?
Him: Ummmm...a Frozen and Power Rangers one.
Me: Which one? Frozen or Power Rangers?
Him: Both!
Me: Both? Together?
Him: Yes! I want them all mixed up!

Okaaaaaay. So Frozen/Power Rangers it was! (People commented that the party theme was "so Carter.") I love matching colors and themes and the sort...I just had to let go of all of that this year and make it the most awesome "Frozen Rangers" party ever!

I got Frozen plates and Power Rangers napkins, a Mylar balloon of each with other blue balloons to compliment (I did find a common color between the both!) - all purchased at Party City. Goodie bags consisted of PR sunglasses (Party City), PR stickers (Party City), PR tattoos (Party City), Frozen activity book (Target $ Spot), Frozen puzzle (Target $ Spot), and Frozen stickers (5 Below).

I got creative with the food to make it more fun. Our menu consisted of:

• Mighty Morphin' Nuggets (Chick-Fil-A nugget platter with assorted sauces)
• Kristoff's Ice (blue jello cut into cubes)
• Samurai Swords (grapes and watermelon on skewers)
• Olaf's Noses (carrots and ranch)
• Olaf's Arms (pretzel sticks)
• Arendelle-Land of All Things Frozen (a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar)
• Blue Ranger Coolers (blue koolaid, as well as soda and water for the adults)

 After taking a few selfies with Daddy, Carter had a great time playing in our church's FunZone with his friend and cousins. He opened some great presents that really excited him like a soccer ball and goal (he's played with that EVERY day since) and a Power Rangers book bag (as soon as he opened it, he exclaimed, "I can take this to Kindergarden!!!). I have videos of the kids (mostly boys) singing along to the Frozen soundtrack I had playing in the background. It was such a fun day. I really appreciate everyone coming out to celebrate my sweet Carter Bear. And to those who weren't able to make it (for lots of understandable reasons), you were greatly missed!

Yard Poops

This past Sunday, the boys were outside playing with our (girl) neighbor. Landon decided to come in but Carter stayed outside continuing to play with her. Doorbell rings. Little girl neighbor says, "Ummmm...Carter is peeing and pooping in the bushes outside." O_O

She makes a beeline for her house and I go outside to find Carter standing at the corner of our house with his pants and underwear around his ankles. He hadn't been wearing a shirt (we "man time" it around my house often) so there's A LOT OF WHITE BOY showing. In the front yard. Of our home. In a neighborhood. In the town of Cary. On the weekend when a lot of people are out and about.

Me:  "Buddy, what's going on?"
Carter: (bottom lip quivering, about to lose it)  "I couldn't make it inside."
Me: "Ok, buddy. You're not in trouble. Where did you go?"
Carter: (looking even more like he's going to lose it) "I lost it."
Me: "All right, buddy. We need to get inside. Come on inside now. Let's get cleaned up."

Imagine him shuffling across the entire front yard to the door with his pants around his ankles. And me trying not to die laughing.

I sarcastically told a friend, "My life is so awesome." She responded, "It kind of is, though." You know...she's right. It really is awesome. I wouldn't trade this for anything. Yard poops and all.

Weekly Update: 20 Weeks

I'm a few days later than promised with my 20 week update, but what a weekend (that started on Friday morning at 7am)!  I was busy running errands and prepping for Carter's 5th birthday (more on that in the next day or so), having his birthday party, and cooking/canning all of the veggies that are coming our way. I went non-stop all weekend.

I went for my normal (non "old girl") 18-20 week ultrasound last Thursday. Christopher and Carter met me and Landon there at the ultrasound center. The boys were really excited to see their baby sister. Christopher was a little tired as seen here in the waiting room.

Everything checked out okay and she was confirmed to indeed be a girl. :)  She was a busy little thing during the ultrasound, moving all over the place. The boys LOVED seeing her, especially when she opened her mouth and waved at them.

I also had my regular OB check-up this morning and her heartbeat was good and strong. And again, she was moving all over the place.

At 20 weeks, baby girl weighs about 10 ounces and is 10 inches from head to heel.  According to my weekly email, she is the size of a banana and according to my app, she is the size of a cantaloupe. And now, I am halfway through! Only 20 more weeks until I meet my little bird!!!

This wouldn't be a weekly update without the belly shot...

It's Ultrasound Day!

We're scooping up our boys this afternoon and taking them with us to my "normal" 18-20 week ultrasound so they can see their baby sister! Or maybe their baby brother...there's still that 5% chance (Christopher says not to hold my breath)! We told them last night and they are so excited!

I am 20 weeks today - the office half-way mark of pregnancy. 20 week update and ultrasound update tomorrow!

Shooting with Grandpa

Landon spent some time with Grandpa Bagley over the weekend working on shooting a pellet gun. He learned a lot from Grandpa, including safety (this is ALWAYS discussed), using the scope, and controlling your breath while shooting. They stayed out for hours practicing. I'll have to say, Landon is a decent marksman for 8 years old. He kept his Coke bottle that he was shooting at...he was very proud of all the holes and the few pellets that stayed inside!

July 4th, 2014

We loaded up in the van, picked up a cute hitchhiker along the way (aka my niece, Olive), and drove to my in-laws in VA on July 4th morning.

Later that afternoon, we drove up to Red Hill, which is Patrick Henry's home. Christopher used to go here when he was a child but it was my and the boys' first time. It was a perfect way to spend July 4th. We toured Patrick Henry's home, saw (and participated in) some cool demonstrations like a blacksmith and turning flax into linen. The kids were super excited about the nails they watched the blacksmith make and then were given straight from the water bucket. We ate some good country BBQ and hamburgers sold by the the local Lion's Club and church and listened to bluegrass on the lawn. Patrick Henry's 5th great grandson gave his famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech* and read the Declaration of Independence. The kids ran around playing games like Red Rover while we waited for the fireworks to begin. The boys really enjoyed the fireworks display (poor Olive sat in my lap covering her ears and closing her eyes tight).

We had a great time on Red Hill celebrating our country and hope to make it an annual tradition.

*Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!  ~Patrick Henry, Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention meeting at St. John's Church in Richmond, VA on March 23, 1775