pregnancy the second time around

In case you missed my thanksgiving post, I'm pregnant. Approximately 10 weeks along, with an estimated date of arrival sometime the end of June or early July. I find that this time around I am much less attached to the due date. With Asher I always knew exactly how many weeks and days I was based on that eventful "first day of last period" and the corresponding "due date". This time I'm more vague about it all because I realize more strongly how much of a guess it is. And since in Utah you have to be 37 weeks to have a home birth (more on that later) and I am prone to early delivery, my due date may be fudged a bit to give me a few days buffer zone.

Being pregnant this time has definitely been harder. I've felt more sick although I still haven't thrown up, so that's a plus. I have definitely had days where I wished I would if it would make me feel better. Tonight has been one of those days. The nausea also started a lot earlier than with Asher. I started feeling a bit queasy the day I missed my period. With Asher it didn't start until about 8 weeks. The biggest problem this time around is that most foods sound totally gross to me. But if I don't eat I feel more sick, so it becomes a vicious cycle. A few weeks ago I spent a couple hours making my yummy veggie enchiladas, only to take one bite and not be able to stomach any more. I'm a little chagrined to say that I actually begged Jared to go get me Wendy's and nearly cried I as so happy when he brought it home, frosty and all. It was delicious. How cliche am I?

I also embarrassed myself at the temple on Friday when I nearly fainted in front of a large room of people. Never had that happen before. Something about kneeling nearly did me in. Fortunately, the temple workers are dears and brought me some water and crackers.

Of course, even with all the first trimester woes, I am very happy to be expecting another little one. I know in a few more weeks I'll feel much better and the memory of these sick days will once again fade. I had my first visit with my amazing midwife Rebecca on Wednesday. Did all the paperwork and bloodwork and got to see our tiny little baby on the ultrasound machine. The baby's back was to us so it didn't look like much, but we saw that heartbeat fluttering away--a very wonderful sight indeed!

Asher of course has no idea what's going on. I am excited to see how he reacts to my growing belly and to see his understanding grow in the coming months. I am still nursing him and plan on doing so as long as I can. I did have more nipple soreness the first few weeks, but its actually gotten better recently. My supply has decreased somewhat but Asher is still definitely getting milk. I've just noticed that he is also eating a lot more solid food these days.

Everything does still feel a bit surreal. I will be really happy to get past the first trimester and hopefully start feeling better with more energy. I really enjoyed being pregnant with Asher. I hope I feel the same way this time around.

giving thanks: part 8

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Today I am thankful to be eating good food and spending time with my family. I am thankful for this wonderful country we live in. I am thankful for a home. I am thankful for love.

But today, I am most thankful that yesterday I saw a little heartbeat fluttering away on an ultrasound machine. And that little heart beats in the chest of the tiny little blob of a baby that will hopefully grow healthy and strong and makes its appearance in our family sometime in late June or early July. What a blessing!

giving thanks: part 7

1. I am thankful for the furniture my parents brought up from New Mexico.

2. I am thankful that that means we finally have a table big enough for all of us and guests. Dinner party!

3. I am thankful for the way Asher cuddles me when I rock him in our new rocking chair.

4. I am thankful for refried beans, one of my favorite foods.

5. I am thankful for all the yummy food I get to eat tomorrow!

giving thanks: part 6

1. I am thankful my husband made it home safely.

2. I am thankful for the yummy frites and waffles we had at Bruges.

3. I am thankful for good friends who invite us over for dinner.

4. I am thankful that my family is here to spend Thanksgiving with us.

5. I am thankful that Asher loves my parents and siblings so much.

week of thanksgiving: part 5

1. I am thankful for the many kisses Asher has been giving me lately.

2. I am also thankful for the hugs. Baby hugs are the sweetest.

3. I am thankful for a comfortable home.

4. I am thankful for the beautiful snow covering my lawn.

5. Mostly, I am thankful that my husband will be home tomorrow after 4 days away. I can't wait!

week of thanksgiving: part 4

1. I am very thankful not to be a single parent. Dealing with a 16 month old solo at church is no fun.

2. I am also very thankful for the wonderful sisters who offered to help take care of Asher while I sang with the choir.

3. I am thankful Asher will be 18 months in two months and therefore able to go to nursery during church. (Are you sensing a theme yet?)

4. I am thankful for naps.

5. I am thankful to have a little boy with so much personality.

giving thanks: part 3

1. I am thankful for a baby that is quite good at entertaining himself, even if he does make big messes in the process.

2. I am thankful for dishwashers and washing machines.

3. I am thankful for computers and the internet.

4. I am thankful that Ohio State beat Michigan today for the 6th year in a row! Go Buckeyes!

5. I am thankful that my little munchkin man is now 16 months old!

giving thanks: part 2

1. I am thankful for cheerios and steel cut oats--my two favorite breakfasts lately.

2. I am thankful for cozy socks. Costco has some awesome ones.

3. I am thankful for good sales. I got some great Christmas shopping done online yesterday at gap and old navy.

4. I am thankful for good tv. Not important, but very fun entertainment.

5. I am thankful that today is going to get into the 60's! Probably the last day it will be this warm this year. Tomorrow brings more snow.

giving thanks: part 1

Thanksgiving is one week from today, so I thought I'd spend the next week listing some of the things I am thankful for. It's been too long since I've done this in written form. Here goes!

1. I know I keep saying this, but I'm really, really thankful for how happy and fun Asher has been lately. He is a delight.

2. I am thankful for a husband who has been doing the dishes pretty much every day for the past 2 or 3 weeks. Plus, he's been doing the majority of the cooking too!

3. I am thankful I was able to get ALL the laundry done yesterday. Well I started it on Tuesday and still have a couple loads to fold today, but its all washed!

4. I am thankful that I eat a very healthy diet, so that when I occasionally NEED a hamburger and fries, I don't feel at all guilty.

5. I am thankful that an In N Out Burger is opening this week in Draper so that I have another option on those days I just need a hamburger. :-)

last week and a crazy story

I was not in the blogging mood last week. Other stuff was going on. I'll tell you about it more next week. (Don't I sound mysterious?) I must say again though that it was so nice to have my happy baby back. I swear he's been even happier than usual this past week. Except for the new tooth he's getting which has made the past couple nights not so much fun.

Anyway, Asher and I managed to get to the park one day last week while it was still above freezing. He had a lot of fun playing in the sand pit. Except for when this mean little girl came up and hit him! She was going around the playground trying to hit all the other kids. I had to physically block her like 5 times from getting to Asher again. Her mother finally made her go sit in the car.

Saturday Olivia had a dance performance downtown which was wonderful! I was lame and didn't bring a camera so I have no pictures. But we had a crazy experience after at Cafe Rio. We went and got lunch at the one on 4th South. We were sitting at the table closest to the door and the drink machine. The kids had finished eating and Jared and I were still working on our salads. Suddenly there was a loud crash. I looked to my right and a car had crashed right into the front door about 5 feet from our table! Glass and flown everywhere. It was all around our feet. I grabbed Asher out of the high chair to make sure he was fine. He was. Everyone was asking us if we were alright. We were. The employees quickly got things cleaned up and got us more food too. Word on the street is the woman hit the gas instead of the break when she was trying to park. Luckily no one was hurt. And very fortunately she hit the door instead of one of the many windows where there are tables right next to them.

The quote of the day? On the way home Isaac said, "Next time we go to Cafe Rio, can we sit in the back?"

reflections

Here in Utah the schools do this really fun talent show/competition every year called Reflections. Each year there is a theme and the kids can submit a drawing, painting, photograph, poem, dance, etc. They all must relate to the chosen theme. This year it was "Beauty is..." Isaac did a drawing and Grace choreographed a dance that her mom then filmed. Both of the kids entries are going on to the district! Last week their school had a little awards ceremony and they each got a medal. (Olivia's dance also is going on to the district but she goes to a different school so she wasn't part of this event.)

I'm so proud of these kids! They are very talented!




They had Grace's dance playing the whole time and Asher would not leave it! He loved watching it.

finally

(A picture from August)

The sickness has passed. Today my happy baby returned to me. I had forgotten what happy Asher is like after a week of sickness and ultimate crankiness. This afternoon he played and laughed and smiled. It was wonderful! I am feeling much, much better too. Thank goodness.

My mom (not that she's a doctor or anything) thinks we had the swine flu after all. Who knows. If it was, I say all the better because now we should be immune. Or maybe it was just a nasty cold.

so...

The house is cleaner and Asher is teething on top of everything else. Poor, poor baby. I think he's getting 4 teeth at once. He's been cranky, cranky all day long.

Feel sorry for us yet?

Please bless the sickness goes away soon and the teeth come in quickly.

sickies

Me and Asher have been sick for days. Pretty sure it's not swine flu, or even normal flu. More like a really nasty cold. Asher has had a fever the past two days but so far today is feeling much cooler. And he's playing more, so I think we are on the mend.

Being sick is the pits. Being sick with a sick baby is the double pits.

After days of doing nothing but laying in bed or on the couch, my house is now in shambles. Crumby, dirty, messy shambles. Somehow, even sick, Asher manages to make big messes.

I am SO ready to feel better. And even more ready for this house to magically clean itself. A girl can dream.

i think i found it

I think I may have found a purse in my price range that will work just great and is cute.
Long live Etsy.
What do you think?

UPDATE: I ordered it! So excited!

mini sessions!

I decided to give 'em a try.... check out the details here.