15 Weeks WITH a Picture!

Pic #1 is me right now at 15 weeks!  Pic #2 is me 14 weeks with Caroline.  Huge difference!!

How far along: 15 weeks!

 How big is baby:  The size of an apple!  Awww….

Weight gain/loss: 1lb.  Although I keep forgetting to step on the scale in the mornings, and I purposely don’t weigh myself after I’ve eaten.   

Stretch marks: Not unless you count the previous ones. 

Maternity clothes: Yes!  SO much more comfortable since I quit doing the “rubber band trick” with my pants.

Sleep: Good! 

Food cravings or aversions: No aversions, but I can definitely tell you what I AM craving.  For the first time in my life, I want ICE CREAM.  Not just any ice cream – but SOFT SERVE VANILLA.  Just writing about it is making me want some.  I usually do not like ice cream very much and don’t eat it but maybe 2 or 3 times a year on random occasions.  But I could eat it three times a day right now.  So, so, so good.  And don’t’ ask me why it has to be soft serve, but it does! 

Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy.  They have a 50/50 shot of being right!  I think it is just now dawning on me that we could find out SOON! 

Movement: YES! Usually only when in bed or sitting really still.  I love it!

Belly button: Positively innie.  But the more food I eat, the flatter it gets.  Awful!

What I'm loving: The thought that I could potentially find out the gender soon!  It kinda snuck up on me and I’m surprised it’s already here!

What I miss:  Not being on a hormonal roller coaster every second of my life.  I can be perfectly happy one second, and needing to cry the next second for no apparent reason.    I’m also prone to getting angry in about 0.1 seconds. It’s embarrassing how quickly I go from fine to ON FIRE.  I have take deeeeeep breaths and decide if it is hormones or something actually worth being angry about (9/10 it’s hormones!) 

What's different this time: Honestly, since I cut out my crazy amount of diet cokes, I can say it’s definitely different this time that I pee SO MUCH.  Don’t get me wrong, I went a lot with the girls, but every hour I’m running to the bathroom.  It’s obnoxious.  I now “get” the whole “pregnant women have to pee all the time” gig.  Apparently we need to be sucking down enough water to drown a whale….which is what I do.  I’m constantly drinking water.  Good for me, right?! 

(It seemed hard to see with my flowy shirt on, but I put it up for good measure.)  Excuse how tired I look!  Caroline woke up at 4:30am and decided she wasn’t going back to sleep! (Whose kid is she again?  Can’t be mine!) My mother will also have a mild heart attack that I’m not wearing lipstick…sorry Mom!

Happy Birthday, Judd!

Today is my wonderful husband and my best friend’s 27th birthday!  It’s hard to believe we’ve been together 7 years – but they’ve been the best 7 years of my life!  I couldn’t have hand-picked a better Daddy for my children.  He is so loving and playful with them.  If there were ever 2 girls to have their Daddy wrapped around their fingers, it would be Caroline & Amelia.  They just look at him with those big eyes and he’s done for!  They love their Daddy!

On that same note, I couldn’t have hand-picked a better husband for myself.  He has put up with a lot from me in the years we’ve been together – and I like to think that I’m much easier to deal with now than I was several years ago!   We laugh SO much together.  It’s one of my favorite things about him – his sense of humor!  We always have fun, and I love that about him!  He has made me so much more laid-back than I used to be.  I can say, without a doubt, that he has made me a better person.  I like who I am when I’m with him.  I hope we have many, many, many more birthdays to celebrate together.  I can’t (and don’t want to) imagine life without him! 

The girls and I are beyond blessed to have him.  We love you, Judd! 

14 Weeks! Second Trimester!

Second Trimester!!!  YAAAAAY!  Here's an ultrasound photo from when I was almost 13 weeks...

(Head is to the left and if you look closely, you can see baby's BRAIN!  S/he is also sucking that sweet thumb and has its legs tucked up.)  Sidenote:  The last 2 ultrasounds, baby has been sucking its thumb!  How cute!

How far along: 14 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a large lemon!  How cute!

Weight gain/loss: 0lbs.

Stretch marks: Except for previous ones, nothing yet - but deep down I know they're coming!  They always show up right at the last minute when I think I've beaten them...

Maternity clothes: Yes!  I had to wear a regular pair of jeans the other day and nearly died from being so uncomfortable. The maternity shirts make me look less fat and more pregnant whereas regular shirts do the exact opposite.  Rest assured I'm wearing maternity shirts.

Sleep: Good!  Especially since I already know how "not good" it is at the end of pregnancy! ;)

Food cravings or aversions: No real aversions that I can think of.  Chili doesn't make me want to puke anymore and that was really it.  I crave different stuff all the time, but I've definitely noticed an increase in my love for sweets.  Desserts of all kind!  However, that could also be because of my recent love addiction to Pinterest....

Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy.  They have a 50/50 shot of being right!  I'm starting to feel BOY myself.  It may just be wishful thinking though because we can't come up with even ONE girl name that we both like and agree on.  On a positive note, we have come up with about a million boy names that we like, we just have to narrow it down. 

Movement: YES!  I was in bed the other night and baby was moving all over the place.  It felt like s/he was pushing its (I hate calling my baby an 'it' because I don't know the gender yet...) body against me.  It wasn't super strong and Judd couldn't have felt it or anything but I did!  I love it!

Belly button: Positively innie.  But the more food I eat, the flatter it gets.  Awful!

What I'm loving: Second trimester!  Hoping I get a lot of energy back this trimester.  I've totally been lacking in the energy department.  Also, I really like pregnancy during the 2nd trimester.  I feel pregnant but not so pregnant that I feel like a total whale, and I'm usually not uncomfortable yet.  I really have decided that I enjoy pregnancy.  The first time around, I hated not knowing what to expect - but I enjoyed it a lot the 2nd time around and I think I'll start to enjoy it more with this one now that I'm feeling better.  :)

What I miss:  Having more than 2 pair of jeans that fit. 

What's different this time: I'm still fighting for energy! With both my other two I was feeling much better and pretty normal by now.  But I'm optimistic that it's coming!

So we forgot to take the picture yesterday...oops.  If you've been following my blog long you'll remember I frequently had trouble remembering to take pictures with Caroline, too.  Maybe I'll take one tonight and post it separately! 

Prayers Please

I'd like to ask you to pray with me for my sister and her sweet family.  They lost their baby last week, but are finding peace in the only perfect place it can be found - the Lord.  Her post says it better, so please go read.  And pray.  Please pray for comfort!  Thank you!

Little Moments with the Laneys: He Is Faithful

13 Weeks!

How far along: 13 weeks!

How big is baby: The size of a plum!

Weight gain/loss: -1.5lbs

Stretch marks: Except for previous ones, nothing yet.

Maternity clothes: Yes, mostly!

Sleep: pretty good!

Food cravings or aversions: Chocolate! Sweet food! I could eat desserts all day!

Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy. They have a 50/50 shot of being right!

Movement: Yes, a few times a day! It's very light and fluttery. I love it.

Belly button: Positively innie.

What I'm loving: Feeling the baby move! Can't wait for it to happen more often!

What I miss: Not having to pee every 5 seconds. ;)

What's different this time: I'm bigger this time around for 13 weeks than I was with either of the other two. It makes me wonder if I'll be even bigger in the end! You always consider yourself huge in the end and assume you couldn't possibly get any bigger, but I wonder if this means ill be huge! Ha!

I'm going to start taking pictures next week I think! :)

FREE Baby Sling OR Nursing Cover OR Carseat Cover!!

If you're looking for a baby sling or just want to try out some new ones, here's a promo code for 100% off!  You DO still have to pay shipping which is $11.95.  It's typically a $40 sling, so it will save you a decent amount of money!  Your total will be $15 unless you remove the "size exchange insurance" from your cart.  Just check the sizing page and pick the one you need.  This would also be a great gift for a baby shower for just $12!

Go to Seven Slings

Pick out the sling you want and the size you need.

Enter code:  VALENTINE    in the code box in the shopping cart and it will deduct your entire cost of the sling!  You can also use that code towards the ($72 orig.) gift sets and bring the total to those to $5 + shipping.  Great deals!  Enjoy!

If you're looking for a nursing cover, go to Udder Covers and pick out your nursing cover!

Enter code:  FREE  in the code box in the shopping cart and it will deduct your entire cost of the cover!  You still pay shipping which is the same at the other website (?) and in my area was $11.95.  I can vouch for these nursing covers.  I have two (both were free!) and I loved them.  :) 

If you're looking for a carseat cover, go to Carseat Canopy and pick out your carseat cover! 

Enter code:  SEVEN   in the code box in the shopping cart and it will deduct your entire cost of the carseat cover!  You still pay shipping which in my area was $12.95.  It is cute fabric on one side and minky on the other!  Super cute!!

Lots of freebies today!

12 Weeks!

How far along: 12 weeks!

How big is baby:  Still the size of a lemon/lime. 

Weight gain/loss: -2.5lbs

Stretch marks: Except for previous ones, nothing yet.

Maternity clothes: I need some.  My problem is, with Caroline, I didn't need any yet and my winter clothes from Amelia are all huge because I was ready to pop by then.  Hoping to get some pants and a few versatile tops this weekend!  The maternity tops definitely make me look pregnant and not just fat. 

Sleep: Pretty normal. Get up to pee once or twice, but that's fine!  I pretty much sleepwalk in there anyway.


Food cravings or aversions: Craving ANYTHING.  After not eating so much last week - I'm coming back with a vengeance this week!  I'm pumped about this weekend for many reasons, but one of them being all the delicious food that I plan on eating.  Target cookies, Longhorn steak, Deda's pork loin, and all the yummies that go with it.  So.  Excited.

Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy.  They have a 50/50 shot of being right!

Movement: Definitely!  I've been feeling it for about a week that I know is FOR SURE baby.  This past Sunday I sent my sister a message that said, "I just FOR SURE felt baby move!"  I don't feel it a lot, but it definitely happens a couple of times a day where I know it was for sure baby.

Belly button: Positively innie.

What I'm loving: Feeling the baby move!  Can't wait for it to happen more often!

What I miss:  People not staring at my stomach...ha!

What's different this time: I really have no clue what's different this time.  I think I felt Amelia move around this time so I don't think that's different from her - but I didn't feel Caroline until 21 weeks so it's DEFINITELY different from her!

Double Stoller Recs?

Okay folks.  I need some expertise.  I know most of you that read aren’t commenters.  But PLEASE.  If you, or your friend, or the stranger that passed you on the street have a double stroller that you kind of like, really like, or even hate – please let me know!  There are several different kinds and I totally don’t know what I want but with 3 kids 3 and under I’m without a doubt going to need one if I ever want to go anywhere besides Walmart again. 
There’s the side-by-side….

The name pretty much says it all.  The kids sit side by side.  Supposedly the positive of this kind is that the steering is easier since the weight is evenly disbursed. 
Then there’s the sit & stand…

Someone sits in the front, and the older (or less lazy) kid stands in the back unrestrained.  This usually works best for older kids that don’t really like to be confined.
Then there’s the one I’m leaning towards but I’m just not sure about…

The Chicco Cortina Together Stroller.  My infant carseat will snap into it in the front or back seat.

And when baby gets out of the infant seat they can both sit front and back – but the heaviest kid HAS to be in the back for the steering to be equal. 
I’m leaning towards the last one, but I’d love opinions.  If you have specific strollers that you recommend, please list them!!

11 Weeks

How far along: 11 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a small lemon!

Weight gain/loss: -4.5lbs thanks to the most terrible stomach virus ever known to man.

Stretch marks: Except for previous ones, nothing yet.

Maternity clothes: Some.  The pants are way more comfortable if I can find the few pair that fit.  I really need to go get some jeans and a few tops.

Sleep: Pretty normal. A little worse this week because of this stomach virus.

Food cravings or aversions: I honestly haven't eaten since Sunday night. All food has been averted. I ate my first real meal tonight. I've never been so hungry in my life.

Gender: Not sure yet, but everyone is calling boy.  They have a 50/50 shot of being right!

Movement: Not yet!

Belly button: Positively innie.

What I'm loving: Well, I didn't love the stomach virus, but because of the fear of dehydration I had to go get checked out and we heard the heartbeat with the Doppler. Love that sound!

What I miss:  this week? Eating with no reservations.

What's different this time:  Well, I've never had a stomach virus pregnant and it definitely is not fun. Although its not fun not pregnant, either. I know that's what the entire post has been about - but it's seriously been the worst week of pregnancy so far! My mother in law (who has been a total lifesaver this week) has had my girls to hopefully keep them from getting sick. Judd got sick today so she's keeping them another day or so. This bug would undoubtedly put them in the hospital with dehydration. I'm so thankful for her! Pray we get better soon!