13 weeks

How far along: 13 weeks

Maternity clothes: Sometimes. About half the time. It's usually a maternity top with reg jeans or a regular top with maternity jeans. I have no bump. I swear. But I can see that things are moving out of place like they did last time. The top of my belly sticks out further than the bottom just like last time early.

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: I can't get enough. Meaning, I am getting enough, but even if I slept for days it wouldn't feel like enough. I need a nap.

Best moment this week: It's been a rough week. We're on mandatory at office overtime and I haven't been able to spend time doing anything else but working, sleeping and failing my early 1 hr glucose test. Yes, it's really early to be taking this test, but because I'm heavier at my start than I was last time, and I'm trying for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) my doctor is being extra cautious on the things that could affect baby's size.

Movement: Very random. There isn't one thing I can do that will surely make me feel some movement. But I'm still feeling it at least once a day now.

Food cravings: No cravings to speak of. But....

Food aversions: I have plenty of aversions. Add garlic and mushrooms to the list. I will throw down on a bowl of raw veggies and ranch dressing. Please! But cooked... Gross. And then the house smells like you're cooking for days and days later.

Gender: Still TBD. I did take the Panorama testing (similar to the newly popular Harmony test) on Monday this week and results should be in within 10 business days.

Labor pains: Nope. I think I'm still sleeping on my stomach a little too much, but I'm trying to make a conscious effort not to do that. My body feels a little achy and I think that's from not being as active. I need to get some more time in stretching.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Cuddling with my boy :( Lately, he's been on a daddy fix. Only wants daddy to put him to bed, or take him to the potty etc. I don't know if it's because I've been down a lot and working the rest of the time. Cliff has been picking up the slack in the childcare department, but it doesn't feel nice at all.

What I am looking forward to: Feeling the new baby kick for REAL. Like the big, move your belly and make you jump kicks! I know... I'll regret that later. :)

Weekly Wisdom: Nest now, not later. I've had small periods of no nausea and bouts of energy. I'm using them up while I have them... Because I've noticed, they are following by a few awful days after that. Caleb's birthday is coming in less than a month now and I have SO MUCH to do before then!

Milestones:Welcome to 2nd trimester! That didn't take long. Baby is not only swallowing and making sucking motions now, but he/she has a functioning urinary tract and is peeing out some of that amniotic fluid now.

12 weeks

Hey what's this... Looks like a deserted blog with no posts for a year and a half!? How does that happen!? How does time move so fast like that and it gets away from you completely!? Oh wait, that's life with toddler. ;)

Well, welcome back if you're reading this. And here's a big surprise... We're expecting!! I've got another running tally here since we didn't announce until just this last week. Actually, I didn't start writing this all out until 10 weeks...

How far along: 12 weeks.

Total weight gain/loss: +.6

Maternity clothes: Not yet. At 10 weeks I hadn't gained much but I hate wearing my pants buttoned. It's like light period cramps all the time on my lower belly. Just makes me feel gross. 12 weeks today and I don't care what the scale says... My belly feels hard on bottom and I'm tired of the pressure from jeans and pants. Break out the maternity clothes.

Stretch marks: none.

Sleep: Lots of sleep. I'm in bed by 8:30 most nights and up around 7. Mostly out the entire time, but sometimes I'll wake up in the middle of the night and be up for 2-3 hours.

Hi Baby!

Best moment this week: a tie. Between meeting my new doctor and feeling what I swear are baby's first movements. I know it sounds crazy but at least 5 times I have felt what I think was baby. Yes, I'm gassy, but I know the difference. Or at least I think I do! I switched Drs so that I can hopefully have a better birth this time and I LOVED the feel of his office and everything we learned when we were there.

Movement: see above!

Food cravings: none.

Food aversions: Onions. Salsa. Anything from the crock-pot really.

Gender: TBD.

Labor pains: Just RLP. If I stand really fast, sneeze, or cough too hard, it feels like stretching in my pelvis.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: My energy. I've been much sicker this time than I was with Caleb.

What I am looking forward to: 2nd trimester and getting rid of the nausea. I threw up maybe once or twice with Caleb but I remember being nauseous all the time. Could be maybe I've forgotten a little bit but I feel like I've been WAY more sick this time with both the nausea and the vomiting :/

Weekly Wisdom: You know the warning your Dr.s give you about birth control and antibiotics. It's true. :) Beware... Or you might get a little surprise!

Milestones: Baby's first blog post! That's a milestone right?! (Hi Mom!) Baby's ears are now in place and he/she is just over 2 inches long now. No longer looking like a squirmy tadpole, he/she looks human now!

ice cream cone cupcakes

I made cupcakes! And honestly, I'm a little more impressed with how my pictures of them came out rather than the cupcakes themselves. lol Here was my Pinspiration.

The website didn't really give any details on the how-to and I figured out a few things to help make these along the way.

 

Practicing using my focus selector! I kinda love the little hearts on the pink ones :)

15 mos

[life with a toddler] I love this picture <3

Reasons my kid is crying... he can't find bubble guppy.

Happy 15 months to my all too awesome little boy who is growing all too fast! I used to watch your little eyes and hands try to figure out what was going on around you. I wondered what was going on in that little head... But now, you're starting to tell us and show us exactly what you're seeing and feeling. Now that we have you, I'll never miss out on seeing a bird or a ball while we're out together. You spot them everywhere. You remind me what it is to appreciate the little things that are happening all around us. I love you so much little man! <3

Caleb's First Birthday Party (cute as a button)

I absolutely cannot believe my itty bitty baby is turning one.  Before his party, while I was rocking and nursing him for his nap, I had myself a little moment realizing that all those parents that want to give you the advise to slow down and appreciate every moment, are so right. I feel like I have so many moments from this first year forever etched into my heart but it did go by so terribly fast.

We actually found this banner at Target and my mom helped me to coordinate it with everything by sewing some buttons that we had left over onto it. (I still have a few hundred buttons left over. I got them from Joanne's on sale.)

I LOVED his wreath for the front door. I kept it up for quite a while after his birthday party. I used regular twine to wrap it all first and then used fishing wire to string the buttons on. His invitations I put together on photoshop.

My husband helped make the button flowers. We used floral wire and an electric drill. Once I threaded the buttons through, he drilled the wire and held onto the "flower" part so they would stay closed. Not so bad! I also made the oreo button pops for favors and now have the homemade button frame at my desk at work. 

 

I LOVED the banner idea from the minute I saw it on Pinterest. And I LOVE how his banner came out. It's now in his scrapbook for when he's older and I can pull it out for his 30th birthday or something. 

The chalk board took a few nights to make. There were some things that were definitely going on the sign, but I didn't know how to line it all up. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and I got to use it in his 1 year photos, too! I did make his hats as well. You wouldn't believe how EASY those were. The base is a regular party hat (that you would buy in packs of 8 or 10) then you unfold it so it's flat and cut out fancy scrapbooking paper to make the designs/colors you want. There is ribbon along the bottom and the pom ball on top is just yarn. When you're done decorating seal it back up the way it was and wah-lah!

Button Garland. This was much easier than you would think. It's fishing wire and a circle hole punch. The time consuming part was punching out the circles - but you have to delegate some tasks to hubby right?! :)

I ordered his cake topper fondant pieces from a shop on Etsy. She made assorted buttons that we put on his smash cake and the top of the big cake. I think it was about $20 for all of them which wasn't bad if you ask me. I did have to do some mending on the letters when they came in, but it was really easy.

Baby boy wanted nothing to do with the cake and didn't get as messy as your typical baby does. He munched on his pretzels and was just as happy.

your handsome face: 12 months

While I was putting this last collage together, I have come to realized that these pictures have helped me to watch you become into a little boy this past year. I can remember vividly with every snap of my camera phone the odd faces you would make as a baby... but they have now turned into babbles, huge smiles, and sometimes a frown. Your face is just as handsome and captivating to me as it was the first time I saw it while you were still inside me... but you're a little boy now. Not just my baby, but a ball of energy and personality. You're someone, baby boy. And these pictures have helped me to capture you becoming one. I hope one day you'll appreciate them as much as I do.

12 months

12 months! One year... I can't believe I'm writing this post. Happy 1st incredible birthday to my little buddy. I love how you've changed my life and my heart since you've been in my life. I love you so very much and hope your day was so special and perfect. <3<3

I was going to put Caleb's "Dear baby" birthday letter here, but I decided to save it just for his baby book.

your handsome face: 11 months

Look at those little teeth popping through! We had a few challenges this month... With your first, and second, tummy bug... no fun! But also, some great firsts - like your first picnic, tooth brush, and stolen pair of sunglasses... oops!

11 months

Handsome boy, (or as I have learned to so fondly call you, my sweet booboo) Happy 11 month birthday. Only a few more weeks, and we'll be on to counting the years of your precious life rather than the months and weeks. Sometimes it feels like once you came into our lives, we have been running non-stop. Every time I think I can slow down and appreciate the "new you" that has emerged, you're off and doing something else and changing again. It's amazing really. I've never admired someone so much or wanted to know how their mind is working as much as I do you. It seems strange right? You're learning about blocks and balls and learning to crawl (and some day walk!) and putting together sounds and a few words, but I really wonder what you think of this whole world. Are you as in awe as I suspect you are? Every time you see a ball, even if it was just 10 minutes later, it's a cause for celebration! My 30 years says, yes, it's just a ball... but to you it's the best thing you've encountered all day. And you're so proud of yourself for finding it, and for holding it... and now, throwing it! I am just as in awe of your every move and milestone. Keep growing and learning my little angel. I'm so proud to be your mommy <3

I can climb on and off the chair by myself now!

Trying to escape the chair again!

your handsome face: 10 months

My little cuddle monkey. How is it possible that 10 months have passed since you came into my life? You're becoming more and more active and quite the entertainer. <3