Our Saturday Adventure

We headed up to Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis to have a little family reception for Matt's second cousin. He's getting married in September in Korea. She was so nice, and it was nice visiting with his family. Lauren and Ethan got to play together, and Carter always loves being around family. We were back in a building, so didn't explore much of the park. It was fine with me, as sitting outside in the shade and breeze felt great! Matt did go down to fish with a couple of guys though. They came back much earlier than expected, only because Matt's hand was bitten pretty badly by a german shepherd! It was on a (loose) chain, and suddenly just came at Matt. He put his hand out for a little protection, not thinking the dog would actually bite him. It clamped down and he's got a pretty deep hole in the palm of his hand, another gash in his palm, and bite marks on either side of his middle finger. The owner never apologized, or even pulled back on the chain when the dog started to charge! Even though I know how docile Orion is, he's a big dog and can scare the bejeezus out of anyone. So when I have him for a walk and someone is going to pass us, I always tighten up my grip and the leash so he can't move far from me. Some dog owners are just ridiculous! Anyway, Matt didn't think to get the owner's name and number (since she's liable for any damage) or even check to see if his immunizations are up to date. His hand was sore last night but didn't look too bad. I might make him go to Prompt Care today just to be safe. You never know...

17 Weeks: Grow Team Grow!

So, I'm 17 weeks along. I look much further, and get wide eyed-looks and silence when people find out I'm not due until December 5th! If you remember, the doctor did move my due date nine days later at my first ultrasound. I'm not going to be very surprised if the baby caught up to that original date when we have the next one! But who knows... it could just be that everything is stretched out in there from the previous two. If you ask me, I look at least 28 weeks! Even the dental assistant kept asking me if I was really only four months along!


(Yes, seriously... these are the two 17 week pics! Man, I'm HUGE compared to with Lauren!)

I've been feeling pretty good. Tired, but we've also been busy. I think a bit of nesting has kicked in -- either that or I'm just tired of looking at the little bit of clutter! I swear I pick up toys three times a day, even though I know they'll just make it back out of the bins! But I've been trying to clean everything, even flipping mattresses. I just wish I had the energy to get it all done! Eventually... that's what I tell myself. :)

Here's what's going on with baby: "As you’ve come to expect, there’s no shortage of growth and development this week: your fantastic little bean stalk has added yet another half inch to their overall height-- making them nearly half a foot long! Their little limbs have reached (or are within one week of) their relative proportions, and will continue to grow evenly with the rest of the body after this week. Reactive listening has begun for your baby, even though their ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional. Meanwhile, different parts of their astonishingly complex brain are developing to process your little one’s hearing and other senses, (you know, sight, smell, taste and touch). Mind boggling factoid of the week: if you’re having going to have a little girl, her ovaries have already produced millions of primordial egg cells, which, within a few weeks, will develop into actual eggs! Phew… just wait till she’s a teenager eh?"

And with Mommy: "Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help."

Only 16 more days until the ultrasound... have you voted yet?

Shoes

I have been looking for shoes for Lauren for quite some time now. The problem is finding some with soft enough soles to be flexible when she walks. You'd think it'd be a little easier, seeing as how all kids her age need those! But... everytime I tried a pair of shoes or sandals on her, she wouldn't walk or even try to walk (and she's quite the walker!). So I found a pair of Keen sandals -- they have toe protection, but will be cool in the summer. Plus, they're waterproof and are machine washable! We got them today and I put them on her to try around the house. After a very short hesitation she was walking all around with no problem. She can even stand back up on her own when she does go down. I'm very pleased! :)

A Little Humor

Haha, cracked me up!

Vote for Lauren!

At the encouragement of Mandy, I entered Lauren in a cover model photo contest for Parents Magazine. I found out about it yesterday and had to submit photos by today, so hopefully I got some cute enough ones! Check her pictures out and be sure and rate her as high as you feel she deserves! I, of course, will be giving her all fives! :) You should also click the "recommend" to the right of the star ratings. None of this actually affects the judging, but it probably looks good to have been rated high and been recommended. Be sure to click all four photos. Thanks, and good luck, Lauren!

http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=218100919

I'm not really expecting to win, as there are over 75,000 entries -- but I think Lauren is cute enough! :)

Carter's Vacation, Day Two

Wow, what a full day! He didn't want to get up this morning because of a late night last night, but they needed to be to the zoo by 9am. Carter and Grandma Cindy grabbed a donut on the way (he also ate an apple and an orange) and made it to the zoo. Carter had fun -- he rode the log ride, the train, and the merry-go-round. He wanted to ride on the "couch" on the merry-go-roung... why not an animal going up and down? Who knows... :)

After leaving the zoo, the whole group (two of Cindy's coworkers, their daughters and granddaughters) went to Clara's Pizza. Then off they went to Marilyn's house to swim! Last year Carter had so much fun, but he's become much more comfortable in the water this year. Cindy said he would go down the slide, but only if someone would catch him at first. After jumping off the side and then the diving board, he exclaimed that he liked going underwater and began sliding by himself. Lately at the pool he has been going underwater more, even keeping his eyes and nose open!

They headed home to rest a little before heading back down to Hoagland Days. They caught the demolition derby, which Carter seemed to enjoy. While riding with Matt, he often tells him to bump cars or will tell me I need to pass someone -- I think he's been playing too much Mario Kart Wii! He did tell Cindy that he was tired and wanted to go home at one point, but was fine. They played some bingo and had ice cream and sno-cones before heading home. Tomorrow, he'll sleep in as late as he needs! Sounds like he's having a great time. :)

16 Weeks

I'm 16 weeks along today and feeling pretty good. I've noticed that I've been a little more tired the past few days, but it's mostly after being busy or the end of the day. I still have way more energy than I did a couple weeks ago! I have started to feel some baby movement -- just little flutters here and there. It started this past Wednesday night, and mostly happens (or is more noticeable) when I'm lying still. I've gained a total of 2.5 pounds and have been trying to eat well. I haven't run or done real exercise for a while, but I do keep moving with my kids. I've also been to the pool once a week for the past four weeks. Not that I do a lot, but being out and moving a bit with Lauren does me good. I've got a nice little tan going on my upper body! :) Things are going well with both baby and me, and I hope they continue to do so.


(First pic is me today; second pic is me 16 wks with Lauren. I look bigger this time, but my shirt was also much more flowy.)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop."

And with Mommy: "The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being. Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently."

Dogs

Anyone want a dog? Seriously... Emmy is on her last leg and Orion's on my last nerve!

Carter's Vacation, Day One

We called for a report on how Carter's first day out of town went. He ran some errands with Grandma Cindy in the morning and spent time at Hoagland Days in the afternoon/evening. He lost his baseball hat, but did get it back. He took it off in the porta-loo and someone from the information desk happened to go in after him. So when Cindy checked with the desk, they had it there! Carter also participated in the greased pig contest. He was in the third heat of the 3-year olds and did well! We weren't sure if he'd be scared or not, but he was excited about catching a pig (I tried to talk it up all week!). Aunt Roi, Marty and Erin were there to watch too -- Marty and Carter snorted like pigs! Cindy said he seemed to miss opportunities to grab a pig, almost like he was a little scared, but eventually did grab one and put it in the middle square. It was just after another little boy did it first! I'm glad he had fun. :)

We'll check back in tomorrow to see how the second day went. It's supposed to be a busy one!

Carter's Big Day

Carter went to the dentist this morning for his bi-annual checkup. He got his teeth cleaned, fluoride treatment, and his first set of x-rays. Dr. Roberts said everything looks great -- teeth and gums are super healthy, and we're doing a great job at brushing. Carter is starting to brush his own teeth, but either Matt or myself will check and do a final brushing. One thing did show during his x-rays though -- he has an extra front tooth! It looks like a little sliver of a tooth, and they said they'll deal with it when it starts to push out. His bottom (permanent) teeth looked pretty close to his baby teeth, so I wonder when he'll lose those. Looks like experts say at 5 or 6... All in all, a great visit!After his dentist appointment, we took off to Castleton to meet Cindy and Grandma Goodspeed. Carter is going to have a little vacation at Grandma and Grandpa's house! He was very excited about it. :) We had lunch at Olive Garden and then did a little shopping at Castleton Square Mall. Lauren and I headed for home and Carter went back with the grandmas. I'll keep you updated on how his vacation goes!

The Mommy Quiz

So I took this quiz this morning to see what kind of mom I am. Hmm...

You scored as a Military mom

You are the military mom and you certainly wear the boots around your camp! You can't stand the thought of raising spoiled brats and you are not afraid to put your foot down. You make sure that your children are well equipped to live strong independent lives when they grow up and in fact you see this as the whole reason you are a parent in the first place.

Military mom 81%
Do-it-all Mommy 75%
Party animal mom 75%
Zen momma 69%
Stay-at-Home mommy 56%

Interested in taking it? Click here.

A Break from the Heat

Wow... what a nice day today! The perfect day, and the perfect break from the heat and humidity! I've got the windows open and the A/C off -- fresh air is wonderful. :) I'm loving 73 degrees in the middle of June.

Ants

We have ants in various places around the house and it's driving me nuts! I can't figure out where they're coming from or what they're after. They travel along the baseboards, so I sprayed those with some stuff (with no kids around, then wiped down). Seemed to help the problem there. This is in the living room! My thought is they're coming from the front door, but I don't know how. And there's no food or anything to tempt them -- I even cleaned the hardwood floors yesterday! They were also in Carter's room, coming in under the baseboards (which is also the front of the house). After spraying last week I haven't seen them again. Anyone have thoughts as to why they're here and how to stop them?

The Weekend

We took off to Dayton, Ohio, Friday afternoon and drove through rain most the way. So much rain that it seemed I was driving in a fog! Ran into stopped traffic through construction in Cincinnati trying to make our way to I-75... Only went 20-25 mph at the most on I-275, but were stopped for the most part. More construction on I-75! What usually takes us 2:15-2:30 to get there took about 3 hours! Antsy kids and a grumpy, hungry Mommy -- but we made it to the hotel to meet my parents. Grabbed a quick (and not so great) dinner, got ready, and we were off to see Amber get her Associates Degree in Physical Therapy -- with Honors! I can't tell you how proud I am of her. I talked to her many times where she was so tired she didn't even know what day it was. Working full-time, sometimes third shift, and going to school full-time. She did it, and should be so proud of her accomplishment.

After the graduation we headed back to the hotel and went swimming for a little bit. When the chlorine was just too much for our eyes, and just too late for the kids to be up any more, we headed up to the room to go to bed. The next morning would be a busy one getting things ready for the party. It was a good party with lots of food, and it was great visiting with the family that could make it. My prayers are with my cousin, who had an emergency appendectomy on Friday night. We know what she's going through and hope she makes a speedy recovery!

On another note, I feel like such a horrible friend. Sam's first birthday party was Saturday and I had to miss it. I really wished I could've been in two places at once, or at least have the two events close enough to make it to both. I hated being put in that position! Mandy, I hope you know that I truly wanted to be there to celebrate with you. You and Sam mean the world to me, and feel just like family. I'm truly sorry that I couldn't be there!

We drove home last night with no rain or traffic jams, and had a good night's sleep in our own beds. I think the kids are happy to be home, even though they had fun playing with their cousins. Travelling, especially with kids, takes a lot of me and I'm glad we have the day at home together today.

Today is an important day -- I wish Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Especially to my dad, Norm. I couldn't have had a better father raise me. He was always there for me and taught me so much. He continues to be a great dad and an even better grandfather. How my kids and I adore him! To Tom, who did such a great job raising Matt, and has been a wonderful father-in-law and grandfather. We always have so much fun! And to Matt -- I couldn't have a better partner in life or a better man raise our children. You're an amazing father and the kids and I love you!

15 Weeks

15 weeks along, and done with the first week of second trimester. I can definitely tell a difference in my energy levels! My ears are finally(!) almost drained of all the fluid, and I've been getting dizzy much less the end of this week. I've still been getting headaches quite often, but just try to drink plenty of water and get some rest. Even though I've looked pregnant, I officially "popped" this week! The belly is much rounder and firmer now. One day I just felt bigger! I've only gained 1.5 pounds so far. :)


(First pic is now... second pic is with Lauren --15 Weeks)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")"

And with Mommy: "You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

If you're having amniocentesis, it'll most likely happen between now and 18 weeks. This test can identify hundreds of genetic and chromosomal disorders. If you're getting very anxious while waiting for the results, it may help to know that most women who undergo amniocentesis get good news about their babies — bringing welcome relief from their worries. Don't be surprised if you and your partner are feeling a little stressed out these days. Many pregnant couples worry about their baby's health and how they'll handle the changes ahead. But with physical discomforts on the wane and energy on the rise, this is also a wonderful trimester for most women."

I will be having the AFP quad screening in a couple weeks, but not an amnio unless there's something indicated from the screening. The ultrasound is on July 14th, and hopefully the baby will show us the goods! Keep voting in the poll on the left side of the blog!

Old Wives Tales

So I was watching a baby show on Discovery Health this morning and was intrigued. A midwife was using different methods (basically Old Wives' Tales) to predict the gender of the unborn baby. On one mother, she did a couple and then they had their ultrasound to see if the prediction was accurate -- it was! I don't believe in all of them, but I thought just for fun I'd use a few of them to see what my prediction is. Don't use these to sway your vote in the poll... go with your gut! My gut feeling has been changing lately, but it could just be more of a hope. :) I can also tell you that many of them were wrong for both Carter and Lauren.

• Ring test: hold a ring over your belly to see how it swings. It swung side to side, indicating a boy. When held over my hand, it swung in a circle (a girl); when held over Carter's hand, it swung side to side. Verdict: BOY
• Gregorian calendar: uses my birthdate and date of conception. Verdict: BOY
• Chinese Lunar calendar: uses my age at conception and month of conception. Verdict: BOY
• First word of previous child: if the previous child's first word was mama/dada, next child will be that gender. Verdict: GIRL (However, before this was opposite -- Carter said dada first and then I had a girl. Lauren said mama first...)
• Mayan's ancient method: age at conception and year of conception -- if both are odd/even it will be a girl. If one is odd and one is even, a boy. Verdict: GIRL
• I took a little quiz full of old wives' tales -- it's prediction: 77% Boy, 23% Girl.

Guess we'll find out in four and a half weeks. Well, maybe... if the baby lets us. HA! I'll be posting my weekly prego blog tomorrow with a 15-week picture!

Bread

Don't buy Market Pantry bread from Target. I was there last night and needed a loaf of bread (among other things) and they were out of every kind of regular bread except Market Pantry. So I got it - most the other MP things are good. I don't like it -- at least not as toast anyway. Might be fine for a sandwich, but as toast it's super flaky and dry. Too many crumbles, too much mess. Blech.

Preschool

We got our commitment letter from St. Charles Preschool today. This is a great school and we absolutely loved it when we visited -- all of us, including Carter. We knew he'd get in, it was just a question of whether he'd be in the morning or afternoon. It has his class written as "P3A", so I'm assuming that means "preschool-3 days-AM". I'll call the office just to be sure, but I'm excited that it appears he got the last morning spot! :D Carter was very excited about school! He even asked if he'll go tomorrow! He starts school on Wednesday, August 13th, and will be there Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-11:30am. It will cut our summer a little shorter than we're used to, but it will be nice having Carter relieve some energy somewhere else for a bit. ;) For those interested, you can check out his new preschool here.

Baby Checkup

I had a routine prenatal doctor appointment today. I'm 14 weeks and 3 days along. Dr. Weiler found the very strong heartbeat immediately and was pleased. She asked if I had any problems, and I told her that I'd been getting dizzy lately. It happened with Lauren, so I wasn't too concerned with it. It's been happening a lot more lately, though. I'm also battling some fluid in my ears. No infection, just a bunch of fluid that won't drain. I've been taking Sudafed and using a Rhinocort inhaler (though my sinuses aren't clogged at all -- it's just through them my ears should drain) since last Thursday with not much relief. So the fluid could be throwing off my equilibrium, making me get dizzy. I can continue taking the Sudafed for a week, so I'll go back to that.

Other than me dealing with dizziness, headaches, occasional nausea from the Rhinocort, and being HOT in this weather, everything is going well. Baby seems to be healthy and growing well -- as is apparent with my already huge baby bump! I'll start posting pics at 15 weeks. :) I was supposed to go back in two weeks for my AFP quad screening (alpha fetal protein -- looking for genetic disorders in the baby), but the lab tech is on vacation that entire week. So that is scheduled for three weeks on June 30th. My next checkup is supposed to be in four weeks with the ever-so-important ultrasound, but the ultrasonagrapher is on vacation that week! So I go in five weeks on July 14th. That means you've got an extra week to guess the sex of the baby! I'm not going to tell you what my thoughts are so I can't sway you one way or the other. I will tell you that I'm starting to doubt my original thought! Dr. Weiler said her gut feeling was that it was a boy, but it's going on nothing other than a gut feeling. This is the first time she's seen me this pregnancy too! I'll post a poll on my blog, so please vote! If you need to wait until you see a picture at the end of this week (to see how I'm carrying, how big I am, etc.) feel free! Just think good, healthy thoughts for the baby. :)

14 Weeks--Second Trimester!

Ah, into my second trimester. A lot less worry now, at least in general. I think I've been pretty laid back about the pregnancy so far. My worries are more about when the baby gets here -- will I keep my sanity? How will the other two kiddos react/behave? My hope is that they'll have each other to keep company and won't mind if Mommy needs to spend a little extra TLC with the new little one. Carter will be in preschool three days a week (half days) and Lauren's on a great schedule already, so I'm hoping things will be easier than I fear. I know they were with Lauren! Maybe this one will be as laid-back and easygoing as Lauren was as a baby. We can only hope... :)

Here's what's going on with baby: This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

And with Mommy: Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

I'm definitely showing now, and will start taking weekly pictures of the belly next week. Something to look forward to in upcoming blogs! I have my next doctor appointment on Monday afternoon -- just a routine check and listening to the heartbeat with the doppler. Then we'll schedule the next one four weeks later -- the big ultrasound!! Any more thoughts on the sex? Maybe I should start a poll... :)

Something New!

Lauren's birthday present from Grandma Robin and Grandpa Norm finally arrived yesterday (after being on backorder for a month!). She was very excited about her new chair, as she loves climbing on Carter's (whose was also a first birthday gift!). I put it together and let her explore. See how much fun she had?!

Splish, Splash!

We took Lauren and Carter to the Bryan Park Pool this past Friday. It was Lauren's first time in a swimming pool! She absolutely loves baths, so we figured she'd just be another water bug like Carter. Sure enough, she loved it! Matt took some pictures when we first got into the water -- you can see them here. (Don't look to closely at the unflattering images of myself!) The pics just show her getting acquainted with the water, the first couple of minutes. Then Matt and Carter took off to the big pool with the water slides. :) Lauren found a friend, or rather a little girl found her! She splashed around, crawled and walked in the water, squealed with glee, was intrigued by the waterfall, and had a blast! This will definitely be a favorite summertime activity.