Pitiful, huh?!

Maternity Pictures

Thanks to Matt I have some maternity pictures! He did fabulous!! Thank you honey!

Big Girl Bed

Something that I have not been in a hurry to do is to move Brooklynn out of her crib and into a twin bed. I knew that it was inevitable since Nolan will be needing the crib before too much longer. When we painted Brooklynn's room 2 weeks ago, we went ahead and moved the crib into the nursery/guestroom, so B has been sleeping in there. I got her bed painted and moved into her room. It was in there for a few days and B definitely noticed it and was excited. I never asked her to sleep in it - I had decided I was going to let it be her decision. So one night I was changing her to get ready for bed and started to walk her to Nolan's room to get in the crib and she asked if she could sleep in her "big girl bed" I was nervous but agreed. I told her she could not get up until it was morning. She agreed and crawled into bed. It was so crazy to tuck her into a real bed. I felt like I no longer had a baby but rather a little girl. She kissed me goodnight and I didn't hear from her again until she came into our room a730 the next morning. She has been going right down for her naps and sleeping great at night. I hope I'm not jinxing it by being so excited and proud, but I am. I hope she keeps it up!

Doesn't she looks so peaceful?!

30 weeks

I feel like I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While this pregnancy has FLOWN by, lately I have been feeling like I just may be pregnant forever. With my pregnancy with Brooklynn, I was so nervous about becoming a mother, part of me wanted to be pregnant for forever. This time, however, I know what it takes (although I know having 2 will be much more challenging than 1) to be a mother and darn it, I'm just ready for my little man to be here! We had a 3d ultrasound last week and it was absolutely amazing! This place gets the best ultrasound images I have ever seen! It was so great to be able to put a face with the name (and all the movement) and it made that much more ready to meet him.

I had my 30 week check up today. I have rotated through all of the doctors in the practice and today was back with my doctor. It was great to see her - even though I don't really feel that I know her all that well. I really do like her though, and have even thought how much smoother my first pregnancy may have gone had she been my doctor from the beginning. Everything was good...bp, urine, heartbeat, belly measurement (31) and um...weight. UH I hate that part, but however, it is part of the process. We are still on schedule for a VBAC. We are just keeping our fingers crossed and saying little prayers that my body will go into labor on its own. She will not intervene until 41 weeks. Oh good Lord - I beg of you please let something happen well before then. I just can't even imagine being pregnant for that long! But, I do desperately want the VBAC and will do whatever it takes to get it. I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks. Here's what the belly looks like as of today:

Thanks to my sweet husband for taking my direction and snapping these for me. I have already prepared him to do my maternity photos this weekend. :)

28 weeks

I made it! I feel like so much has changed in just a week...mostly my attitude. I just have been feeling sort of miserable this week. I feel like I'm getting huge and uncomfortable and yet I still have 3 months to go. I'm trying to stay positive. I am so thankful to be having such a nice healthy pregnancy this time. I had my doctors appointment Wednesday. As soon as I got there they gave me the yummy orange glucose drink and a timer set for an hour. I drank it (it really wasn't bad) and then went on with my normal appointment. (This doctors office is so efficient and organized - makes things so easy) I did gain 4 pounds - so I'm at 24 pounds. Geez. The Dr. told me I need to average a pound a week. Um, okay...This made me laugh a little because I wish I could control what I'm gaining, believe me! So I'll try to keep that in mind...as I stuff another strawberry poptart in my mouth. :) Other than that, everything went really well. My blood pressure is still great - which makes me very happy since I had issues with that last time. Then I had my blood work done for the glucose test and was out of there. I got the call yesterday (AT 5:00!) that my test came back normal! YAY -- no 3 hour test this time! So, my next appointment is in 2 weeks. I love going every two weeks - it makes time go by so fast! However, next Wednesday we have a 3d/4d ultrasound with an imaging place scheduled. I am SO SO excited to see what my little Nolan looks like! For now, here's a quick picture of what I look like this week...

What does a cow say?

Just a video of Brooklynn saying some of the animals sounds that she knows. Notice how pitiful the poor cat sounds! It makes me laugh so hard every time!

Whoa...That's so cool Mommy!

So Brooklynn is becoming more and more vocal every day. I feel like she has been talking for so long now but it's all really starting to come together. She is also a very curious little girl. She walks around all day asking, "What's that mommy?" and point to something that she isn't quite sure what it is (or she may know what it is and just feels like asking anyway). So yesterday when she asked about something (I can't remember exactly what it was) and I responded with the answer, she very seriously replied, "Whoa, that's so cool mommy!" I busted out laughing. It was so funny to me! And now, every time she asks about something and we tell her the answer she responds with how cool it is. Where do they get this stuff from... I love it! Every day I feel like something new and totally random comes out of her mouth! It makes me so very thankful that I am home with her to experience it.

Happy Friday!

Like Mother Like Daughter

My girl is starting young! She has had a camera in her face for as long as she's been alive. I'm sure she'll be teaching me a thing or two before too much longer! LOVE HER!

27 Weeks

Today starts my last week of the 2nd trimester. I am feeling really good considering I'm 27 weeks pregnant and I am constantly chasing a 2 year old. The 20lbs (YES 20!) that I have put on tend to bother me most at night when my hips and legs ache, but hey, thats part of it, right?! Nolan is very active (as you can tell from my last post) and is growing on schedule. Something to look forward to -- next Wednesday's doctor's appointment. I will meet the final doctor in my practice. I am a little nervous just because I have been told her will be the least on board with my decision to try to for a vbac. But, knowing this, will have me better prepared for his doom and gloom. Also, I will have my 1 hour glucola test...YUCK! Oh well...Here's to a good 27th week and end to great 2nd trimester.

10 kicks in 2 hours - HA!

Every time I go to the doctor I am asked about Nolan's movement. They nicely remind me that I should be feeling approximately 10 kicks/movements in a 2 hour period. This always makes me giggle a little. Here's why -

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This boy moves ALL the time! This goes on all day...and all night.

Already Behind...

So far, I'm not doing such a good job keeping up. Hopefully, with some time, I will get on a better routine at updating and doing so as events occur rather than letting time pass and having to do a lot of backtracking.

Since my last posts, we have had a lot going on... we had a family visit from Grammy, aunt Ashleigh, cousin Ethan, and cousin Robby. We had our 13 weeks check up at with Dr. Richardson. And then, this past weekend, we went to Hilton Head, where the big kids got to play at the Heritage Golf Tournament and the little ones got some quality time with Grammy. Also, Ethan got baptised in Waycross.

I did get some pictures of the cousins together but wasn't so good at getting ANY pictures this weekend. I used to have my camera flashing constantly and I lately, I have gotten sort of slack with it. I need to step it up!!

COUSINS:

BABY #2 - 12 weeks and 5 days:



MOMMY'S BELLY 14 weeks:

So...Let's get caught up

The biggest news right now is that we are adding an addition to our family! Baby Rio #2 is expected to arrive sometime in October. Our due date is October 13, 2010. Just in time to spoil his/her aunt E's big 21st birthday!! :) We are all very excited -- Well maybe Brooklynn isn't too excited YET. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a clue what we are talking about, but every time we ask her if she is excited to be a big sister, she adamently says "NO!" However, the child is obsessed with babies. Whether it's a picture on the computer or a baby on tv, she says "AW - HOLD" So, I am convinced that once she sees the baby and understands that it is forever her's to hold, she will be excited! I guess we'll see soon enough.

So far this pregnancy has been easier on me than the first. I haven't been sick - a little nauseous here and there - but nothing major. I have enjoyed being able to stay home this time around. It does make things easier. But, keeping up with an energetic toddler all day is enough to make me ready for bed about 8 or 9. Much to Matt's liking, I have managed to still cook dinner most nights, whereas last time, that was definitely a no-go because I was so sick. So let's say our prayers and keep our fingers crossed that this pregnancy goes smoothly from now until the end!

Those beautiful two pink lines we had been waiting to see!!


Here are the first 2 pictures of Baby #2 -- 9 weeks

I wanna blog!!

So for a long time now, I have wanted to start (and stick with a blog). I have actually tried repeatedly, but it has never stuck. I am not really funny or clever, but I figure this would be a good way to update our friends and family who we live far away from (and those close by) with the day-to-day happenings of our family's lives. I think it will be a neat way to keep a journal of events happening in our lives - something we as a family can look back on from time to time. Mostly, I just want to be one of those cool people who have a blog :) So...hopefully this one will stick and in a few years I will look back on this FIRST post and be proud and excited that I did it and stuck with it.

XOXO,
Afton