Just Pictures!

So instead of rambling in this post for 15 paragraphs, I’m putting pictures!  Most of these are on Facebook, but as Deda lovingly reminded me, not everyone has Facebook.    These are for you, Deda!  I love you!

(She was determined she was going to blow the pool up by herself.)

The many faces of Amelia.

“Hm.  This part isn’t so bad…”

“AHHH!!!!”

Most of these were taken Easter weekend.    I was burned (click link to see a picture of my crispy legs) to a complete crisp from this day and we took ZERO pictures on Sunday morning because if I remember correctly, I cried from my dress rubbing my legs.  That day was miserable.  So all we have are pictures from the Easter Bunny coming a day early.  Because our Easter Bunny is cool like that…and my kids don’t know the difference yet.    Have a good weekend!

23 Weeks!

How far along: 23 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a pomegranate…  These are interesting! Ha!

Weight gain/loss: +11-12lb depending on the day.  Hoping this gain slows down some in a few weeks or it’s not going to be pretty.

Stretch marks: Same as before.

Maternity clothes: Yes.  Except my big baggy t-shirts.  They are, by far, the most comfortable thing I own.  However, I feel that way whether I’m pregnant or not. 

Sleep: Not bad.  I’m still sleeping through the night just fine but my hips and pelvis wake me up aching.  I’m stuffing pillows everywhere they will fit but I can only stay on one side for an hour or so before I need to roll over.  Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows that rolling over requires some effort.  So I’m waking up about once an hour to roll over.  I also grunt when doing this.  Loudly.  

Food cravings or aversions: Still lots of sweets.  I’ve been forcing myself to lay off the chocolate a bit because I was gaining weight at a really fast pace.  Yikes.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Lots of movement.  Mainly from about 11pm-7am while I’m trying to sleep. 

Belly button: Flat. Gross.

What I'm loving:  My tailbone pain isn’t as bad this time.  I’m so relieved for that.  Also relieved that after my last post, I finally happened to run across a solution while shopping for living room furniture that we can’t afford decided to take action on the girl’s bedroom situation. 

It may not be this exact one, but it’s a staircase bunk bed.  Caroline is just too little to climb a ladder, and I ran across a similar one to this one the other day and thought it would be perfect for the girls.  I could put the rails on Amelia’s bed and Caroline can get up top.  The rail holding the top mattress in has to be a tall one and the stairs have to have a 4th step so she can make that step.  I’m happy with this solution!  We will probably keep the bottom bed a full size.  That way we only have to buy one new mattress/bedding.  Plus, they may eventually want to sleep together.  My sister and I always did.    This will also leave some space in their room since their room is kind of small to begin with.  Amelia can continue sleeping in the crib until she’s ready.  I’m not going to totally push it since Walker will sleep in our room for a while anyway.  De-stress the situation.

What I miss: Seeing a lower number on the scale that I worked so hard to achieve!  But I know I can do it again!

What's different this time:  The quick weight gain.  I usually gain very slowly over the entire pregnancy.  This time, I didn’t gain much at all in the first trimester and I’m packin’ it on in the second!  Hopefully the third will at least be slower…

Sorry, I don’t have a picture this week.  We forgot to take one and I’m looking all kinds of grungy today so that’s not happening.  I’ll be sure to take one next week – I know you’re all on pins and needles. 

Third Baby Syndrome

I’d heard of it before but just never really, fully understood it.  Now I do. 
I’ve done nothing.  Absolutely, positively, nothing. 
We will be moving Amelia & Caroline into a room together, and I’d honestly like to have all of that worked out and settled by the time he gets here – but have I done anything?  Well, no.  The crib is still set up in Amelia’s room and Caroline’s full bed is still up.  That’s part of the problem.  I don’t really want them sleeping in the same bed together because Caroline is a terror to sleep with.  Not to mention, when one pees out of her diaper – you gotta get them both up.  Same for stomach virus, etc.  Blah.  I really want to put two twin beds in there, but Amelia isn’t quite ready to leave a crib.  So therein lies my problem.  I’m going to have to take the crib apart (too big to fit through the doorway) and put it back together in Caroline’s room.  But it won’t fit in there without getting her a smaller bed.  And then, I’m going to need that crib back to put back in Walker’s room.  He will most likely be in the room with me for the first few months, but it would be nice to have the crib in his room for naps.  So apparently we need a 2nd crib…again.
Our swing died on the last kid and we have to get a new one.  We are swing people.  We would die without it.   
We also have to totally swap around car seats.  Caroline will be getting a new one – (leaning towards the Britax Frontier…opinions?) and Amelia will move into Caroline’s current seat.  Then Walker will have the infant seat.  So we’ve gotta do that.
I also desperately need a double stroller.  I think I’ve decided on the Chicco one since my carseat will just sit down in it.  I made it with 2 without the double stroller, but 3 would be really difficult.  Caroline still rides in a stroller when given the opportunity so I think the double is our best bet.  We’d have the double + the umbrella stroller for when all 3 need it.  Wow.  We’re going to look like a posse of small children.  HA!
Unless he’s going to sleep with cutsey pink damask crib bedding and curtains, I’ve got to do something to the kid’s nursery, too.  I’ve done nothing more than look on the internet about two times and left with nothing. 
So here I sit.  Thinking about how Amelia came so suddenly at 35 weeks.  That’s 12 weeks from tomorrow.  And I’ve done nothing.  Hopefully Walker will stay in there longer than Amelia, but because of my situation with her, I feel the need to be totally prepared by the time I reach 35ish weeks…if not sooner.  So anyway.  There’s my worry for the week. 
Any suggestions for the sleeping arrangements or car seat recommendations for an almost 3 year old that weighs 36lbs?  Or just tell me to hush and it’ll be fine.  I realize that babies are born every single day that don’t have their nursery set up or whatever – but the planner in me is having a minor freak out today.  You can carry on with your life now. 

22 Weeks!

How far along: 22 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a papaya…?

Weight gain/loss: +10lb.  Yes, you read that correctly, unfortunately.  I’ve gotta lay off the sweets. 

Stretch marks: Same as before.

Maternity clothes: Very much so.  As a matter of fact, the size medium shirts that fit really well a few weeks ago are suddenly getting tight.  They still fit, but I feel like I’m doing a lot of tugging to keep them down.

Sleep: Well, my actual sleep isn’t bad – I’m not waking up to pee anymore which is great.  But do any of you ever have such vivid, wild dreams that when you wake up you feel like you haven’t slept well at all?  I’m doing that just about every night.  I dream the CRAZIEST stuff.  Twice this week I’ve dreamt that I was in a car accident and I woke up as the cars were flipping over.  In one of them, as I was plunging to my death in the car, I was saying to myself “Open your eyes, Kacie.  It’s a dream – just open your eyes!” and suddenly my eyes shot open and I was panting and my heart was racing!  It was crazy!

Food cravings or aversions: SWEETS, SWEETS, SWEETS!  Chocolate, ice cream, cookies, donuts – seriously.  I’m not usually a huge snacker, but it’s all I can do these days not to eat cookies for a meal.  I try to fight the cravings, but if I wait more than a few days, I’m DESPERATE for something sweet then I pig out when I finally get some.  Kinda defeats the purpose of holding out!

Gender: We got our 3rd look today – DEFINITELY a boy!  He is totally not shy. 

Movement: This kid never sleeps.  The girls were always active, but they never really hurt me with their jabs and stuff until the very end.  This kid is brutal.  (I can already hear some of you laughing saying he’s doing a roundhouse kick there. )  But seriously, he really must be doing something kung fu-like because he hurts me!  He’ll move so much at night that I can’t go to sleep until he settles down.  I don’t see this as a good sign…

Belly button: Flat. Gross.

What I'm loving:  Had the big anatomy scan today.  He is healthy!  I’m so glad!  He weighs about 1lb, 1oz which is just a little above average (but not by much) and he’s the cutest thing ever with properly functioning kidneys, heart, bladder, etc.  He is laying exactly the way I thought he was, diagonally, with his head on my left side and his feet stretched up into my right side.  That seems to be the way to go in my uterus since he’s now the 3rd tenant to live in there and lay that way on that exact same side.  I’ve never really felt kicks on my upper left side because all of my kids seem to put their feet on my upper right.  Kinda weird!  I enjoyed seeing him on the u/s today.  He’s so cute!

What I miss: Bending over and rolling over in bed without pelvic pain!

What's different this time:  Besides my weight gain and the insane amount of sugary foods that I can take down in one sitting?  I guess besides that, nothing is really different except for how big I am already.  I don’t remember being this big with my other two at this point.  Maybe I was, but I sure feel bigger this time.  Judd said I look bigger!

I have my gestational diabetes test next time (1hr) and I dread it.  Bleh.  That stuff is disgusting.  I also wasn’t paying attention and my appointment is at 9:30am – that’s going to be pleasant!  I’ll be trying not to puke the rest of the day!  I think that appt is May 9.  It kinda blows my mind that I’m already to this point. 

I’ve had some minor braxton hicks contractions that didn’t last very long and weren’t painful – but I’m trying to keep a close eye on them.  I’ve really been trying not to pick up Caroline quite so much because she’s 35lbs and gets pretty heavy!  My pelvis issues from the last two times are starting to flare up kinda early but I’m dealing with it.  I’m a little nervous though that if it’s already getting painful to do simple things like roll over in bed now, what on earth will it be like in 15 weeks when I (hopefully) reach full term?!  Anyway, those little tidbits are mainly for myself to remember so that when I am pregnant with #4, I can come back and see when it started with #3.  Ha! 

Hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Our (Temporary) Family Members

We got temporary new additions to our family on Friday morning.  I have to say, I think they’re the cutest little things I’ve ever seen. 

Sassy had puppies!  Duke is the daddy due to an unfortunate event.  Let’s just say he’s a sneaky little dude. Caroline is going to have so much fun playing with them.  I’ll be super sad to see them go when it’s time, but they’ll only go to great homes!

She’s being such a great mama!  I can’t imagine nursing 7 babies at once, but she’s pretty good at it!   She doesn’t leave their sides for very long. 

I’m slightly obsessed with this one.  He’s a dark yellow.  My dad tells me that’s called “fox red” in labrador speak.  Regardless, I think he’s beautiful!

I also have a soft spot for chocolates.  He’s a cutie. 

This little girl looks like Sassy.  Sassy is a light yellow…a lot this one! 

Seven little babies! 

Two of the blacks, and the two light yellows are females.  The chocolate, one black, and the dark yellow are male.  They are the sweetest little things. 

P.S.  If this is a controversial issue to you, please keep it to yourself and remember to be respectful.  I reserve the right to delete rude comments. 

21 Weeks!

My, my.  It seems like yesterday I was making last week’s post.  This is going by too quickly for my liking!  In 7 weeks I’ll be in the 3rd trimester…AH! 

How far along: 21 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a banana?  That seems smaller than a cantaloupe which was last week’s comparison…ha!  He’s roughly 10.5 inches long and 13 oz.  How about that instead?

Weight gain/loss: I didn’t weigh this morning…but I have a feeling it’s going to be baaaaaaad.  I’ve eaten a LOT of food in the last week.

Stretch marks: One (new) one.  Grossness.

Maternity clothes: Yep.  Kinda sad today because my “fat” maternity jeans fit really well.  *sigh*

Sleep: Great!  I’ve been sleeping through the night with no bathroom breaks.  However, my recent sunburn didn’t help my sleep much this week.  Every move I made in the bed was like needles.  (I told Judd I would rather give birth twice than go through a bad sunburn once…and I mean that!)

Food cravings or aversions: I crave food.  Anything I can get my hands on.  And once I start eating, I will most likely have seconds of everything that was on my plate.  I don’t think I’ve ever consistently eaten this much in my life.  I almost feel sick from the massive quantities of food I’ve eaten this week. 

Be right back…I’ve gotta go get another cookie…

Gender: Boy!  I have another ultrasound a week from today and I’ll get a third look…just to make triple sure. 

Movement: Big movements!  He’s moving all the time now.  He was a pretty calm-ish baby until the last week or two.  He’s gotten really active.  Some of his little kicks and rolls can be kinda painful!

Belly button: Flat.  Ha!

What I'm loving:  Honestly?  I love knowing what’s going on with my body.  Knowing what’s normal and not normal.  I didn’t really like being pregnant with Caroline because I hated the “unknown” and constantly feeling like something might be wrong from a sharp pain, etc.  I know what to expect this time (even more so than Amelia, because Amelia’s was so different from Caroline’s anyway.)  I like knowing!  Now, if only I knew I wouldn’t have this kid in my bathroom floor I’d feel a lot better.  Last time was a little too close for my liking… 

What I miss: Being able to take Ibuprofen during a really bad sunburn.  Seriously – I needed it desperately and had to take Tylenol instead…definitely didn’t work as well.

(My poor sunburned legs.  The pasty-pale, ghostly white color of my feet is my usual color of my legs.  Isn’t that sad!)

What's different this time:  I’m eating like a pig.  Do cows eat more than pigs?  Whichever one eats more – that’s what I’m like.  The amount of food that I’m taking down is astounding.  Even Judd looks at me with a worried face sometimes when I eat more than he does.  But I’m HUNGRY.  It’s like I can’t get full.  And when I do feel full, it’s a fullness that makes me feel sick.  There is no middle ground of just feeling full or feeling sick.  It’s one or the other.  Ugh.  I see this being baaaad when I go to the doctor next week.  And when he scolds me for my weight gain – I’ll really just have to suck it up because he’ll probably be right.  I need to step on a scale tomorrow to see how bad it is….or maybe not.

21 Weeks – Sorry for the color in this photo. 

2o Weeks with Picture!

Halfway there!  Actually, judging by my last two pregnancies, I’m over halfway there –but you get the idea.  I’m actually HOPING that I make it to 38ish weeks (if not more) this time.  It was so hard, especially with Amelia, to make them wake up and eat.  They were SO, SO sleepy.  Within about 10 seconds of eating, Amelia would be back asleep and it was nearly impossible to wake her. She seriously would have just slept for days without ever waking up to eat.   She was born at 35 weeks on the day, so she was a couple of weeks premature.  She also stayed jaundiced for a little longer, too.  I’ve read that babies born earlier tend to have these issues so I’m really hoping we can hold out longer this time, although there may not be anything I can do about it.

You may notice that the 19 week update never happened.  Sorry.  I got busy and after Sunday when I finally felt like I had time to do it, it seemed pointless since it was over halfway finished.  Anyway – on to 20 weeks!

How far along: 20 weeks!

How big is baby:  The size of a cantaloupe!!

Weight gain/loss: +6lb.  (This 1lb a week stuff has to stop soon or I’m going to be in trouble!)

Stretch marks: One (new) one.  Grossness.

Maternity clothes: All the way.  Including the underwear.  (If you don’t purchase maternity panties while you’re pregnant – you are totally missing out.  They feel SO much better.  Even if you think your regular ones feel just fine, buy a cheap pack of maternity ones and you’ll see what I’m talking about.  You’re welcome for the unsolicited advice.)

Sleep: Great!  I’ve been sleeping through the night with no bathroom breaks.  That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Food cravings or aversions: I’ve had a weird craving for apple juice lately.  As in, I had 3 glasses in one day.  I haven’t had a glass of apple juice in YEARS but while I was pouring the girl’s cups I decided I’d have one myself…and it went downhill from there.  I’m having to limit myself because I’m going to drink all of their apple juice!

Gender: Definitely a boy! 

Movement: Big movements!  I saw my belly move for the first time last night.  That is seriously SO cool.  I mean, to know that my kid just jabbed me so hard that my stomach actually moved and I could see it through my clothing amazes me.  Those same feet that will one day toddle around my house.  So cool. 

Belly button: Flat.  Ha!

What I'm loving:  The big movements.  That’s definitely my favorite part of pregnancy.  Also, I bought Walker his first outfit(s) the other day.  I went to a consignment sale with my sister and before I left I got some boy clothes.  Super fun.  Too bad he doesn’t have a closet for his stuff to go in yet.  It all ended up being stuffed in a drawer.  HA!  Third child syndrome.

What I miss: Nothing really.  I’m happy!

What's different this time: My face breaking out like a teenager.  Also, what is with my skin?  My cheeks have this unattractive blotchiness all over them.  I try to blend it in with my blush but it sort of makes me look like I have on clown makeup.  As long as it goes away when I have the baby I’ll be fine – but if that junk is here to stay I’m going to need some better foundation coverage.  Blah!

I’ll be going for my anatomy scan (what most people call their “BIG ultrasound) 2 weeks from today.  Please pray that he is healthy!  I tend to worry until that ultrasound when everything is checked out.  I appreciate your prayers!