So bleesed to make it to 18 Weeks!

Well, here I am, 18 Weeks, and counting! Praise you Lord, for allowing me to carry this sweet baby for 18 weeks so far, and thank you this wonderful blessing! I can't wait to see how much longer you allow mt to have this sweet blessing! I've known two sweet ladies to have miscarriages in there early second trimester, and it amazes me how wonderful how they are handeling it! They thanked God for what they had, and are going on with there lives, not like it hasn't happened, but learning from it, and using it as a witnessing tool! :))

How far along are you? I am 18 Weeks, and Counting!

How much weight have you gained? 6 pounds still! I am finally ok with saying my weight... I started out at 215, and now I'm at 221! I think for being my weight, I'm doing good! At 18 weeks with Elijah I was already at 233!!! WOW!

What are you craving? Yoo-Hoo's, pizza, and fruits! :))

Having any mood swings?  Of course I am, I let my emotions control sometimes, but I see afterwards that my emotions too charge and I ask God to forgive me. I sometimes can catch it before happens, which helps a lot. I cry sometimes.. But that is normal for me! lol

How's your sleep?  Eh, I have my good and bad nights. I try so hard to stay on my side, but soemtimes I wake up in the middle of the night on my back. I hurt sometimes in my lower back, and sides, but that's all for now. Nothing a nice warm bath or shower doesn't usually fix :)
       Dreams? Oh my gosh! my dreams have been so weird! One dream I had was Elijah was suppose to be in bed with us, and I couldn't find him, and I thought he rolled off, or me or Matthew was squishing him, and I woke Matthew up from sleeping, (I was still half asleep) and asked him where Elijah was, and he looked at me and said, "think about it baby" and I was like pulling th covers up, looking under the covers, then it hit me, he hasn't really slept with us at night since he was 3 months old and he was in his bed. That was an awful dream!!

Been feeling baby move? Oh yes! She gets hiccups, and daddy pokes her and she tries to move away or poke back! I can't wait til he can feel her move!

Gender? Monday will confirm or deny our thoughts- Yall should know her name on Monday!

Belly Button? Innie! :))

Labor signs?  Nope! I had some cramping on Saturday night, went to the ER and found out I have a bacteria infection, and a UTI. :/ I had to get my meds changed for the bacteria infection because it was making me really sick! I though my morning sickness finally hit! But, it was the meds! Now lets hope I'll get better and feel better!

Best moment this week? Just feeling her more and more! And Matthew actaully getting me a lot of yoo-hoos! Seeing my face clear up a bit! I knowing I have a lot to look forward to this week! :)

Any weekly wisdom?  Just follow your heart. Start your baby regristry soon. Make a list of what you know you need. Put everything on your regristy, even if you don't think someone will buy it. Maybe some friends will go in for a big item you need. Make sure if you have a baby shower to either do it yourself or don't have a part in it. I wish I did mine myself, not that the person is doing a bad job, but we just don't see eye to eye on everything. She's doing a good job, but she's a photographer, has two kids, helping a friend, out, and I'm trying to make sure everything is turning out good, and since we both wren't going good on cummincaion we started kinda fighting, and I hate fighting with a good friend. Now we are good. :))

Milestone for this week? Just making to to the end of March! Knowing April is literally right around the corner!

Next appointment? April 18, 9 am, I will be 21 Weeks! :))

Ultrasound? Only 4 DAYS!!!!!! AHHH!!! This week has been a drag, knowing my ultrasound is right around the corner! I have to pay some bills tomorrow, and help a friend find a dress, Friday I have a potluck kinda thing to go to! Saturday I'm hoping to get in the yard, then we invited some friends from church to come over and we will have pizza and strawberry short cakes, and lemonaide! :) Then sunday is Church, then It will be MONDAY!!!!! So, since I have a lot going on I hope it goes fast! We will see!

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Some info on sweet baby for the 18th week! :)
From head to rump baby is 5 1/2 inches long! :O and weighs almost 7 ounces!!! Ears are in final position. Girls uterus and fallopian tubes are in place. Boys parts are noticable but they could be able to hide them at an ultrasound :/

Well, I'm just excited I've made it this far. Lets pray for a healthy, not shy baby on Monday! My baby shower is also coming up, so everyone is waiting on a confirmed answer on girl or boy so they can start shopping. My baby shower at home seems like a lot of people are coming, so I hope and pray for both we have great turn outs, a greta time full of food, lauging and just really enjoying seeing all my friends (here in Missouri) and friends and family (In Georgia)

16 Weeks

17 Weeks

18 Weeks!

Not only am I 17 Weeks, My son is 17 Months today!

My son is the love of my life! He lights up my world. He brings a smile to my face, makes me laugh, and can always cheer me up! He's so smart, always has been. He's such a goober too! He can be the funniest little boy you've ever met! He can be mean too though- don't let his cuteness fool you!

He talks all the time! He says, ease- please, daddy, mama, nana, banana-nana, thank you, bless you, cuse me- excuse me, no, oh toodles, ball, big, doggies, side- outside, bye bye, elmo, cookie, paw paw, baby, woof- and so much more! I know there are words that I'm missing.  He can tell you what a monkey says, and if you ask him, what does a sheep say, does a sheep say bahhh? He will go bahhhhh hahaha, then ask him does a horse say nah? He will say nahhhhh. He's learning stuff everyday! It scares me how much he's learning! I've already been told he's a few months ahead of himself! And, knowing that he uncle- Matthew's brother- tested border line genius, I am like, ummm.... Will that be Elijah?

Elijah weighs about 25 pounds and is about 31-32 inches tall! He loves the schedule he is on, and helps mommy out so much. He throws his own diaper away, throws all trash away, picks up his toys, eats very well for all three meals. He usually lets me do some chores without really getting in the way,  with the exception of the dishwasher! He loves trying to close it, take forks or spoons out, and loves getting in the way. He loves playing with his magnets on the fridge when I'm cooking, or sitting on his stool. He knows when mommy is sad, or really upset with him.

Some people say I'm too hard on him, I don't think I am. I think I'm teaching him. I don't want him to turn out- I hate to say it this way, but turn out like my brother. My brother has gotten better over the years, but he used to hit my mom, he hit me, he would scream and yell at her, disobey her, he broke two pair of her glasses in one day, he never listened. It didn't matter if she would bribe him, try to be nice to him, she even put him on meds, and it didn't work. Doctors said, oh he has ADD, ADHD, all these words that just mean to me you have an out of control kid, and we want to shove a pill down there throat. I don't want my son to be like his uncle lane. My brother though, is a loving man now. He still has anger problems, but he loves me, loves his step kids- although he would never call them his step kids- he loves our mom and dad so much, and I know when something happens to either one of them I will have to be there for my big brother, and hold him, and help him. When something sad happens his anger will sometimes come out. It makes me cry just thinking about it. I love my big brother, Lane. I did learn a lot from him, it might be things that I don't want to do, or things that I don't want my kids to do, but he's taught me. He's taught me how to be kind, forgiving, and loving too- and that is what I want my son to be! And he's pretty much grasp it so far! haha!

My son means so much to me, and I will always teach him. I may not be an attached parenting type of parent, but I'm not all about tough love either. When my son cries because he's in trouble I want to cry! When he's sent to his room because he's in trouble and he cries, it breaks my heart. He gets put in time out, either on his cars couch or in his room. He's down to one nap a day now, and sometimes he needs Elijah time-that's what I call it- and mommy needs mommy time, and he gets sent to his room. I hope to keep this up, for when the newest member of our family gets here, so if he's being too loud or really fussy, he will have Elijah time. I want him to try to understand that mommy and baby need bonding time, but mommy and Elijah will have bonding time too. I could never push my son out of my life after having this baby! I will do my best to find a balance! I have awesome friends who have more than one kid, and I'm sure they can help me out, give me mommy advice, or a few pointers, as long as I remember to ask, and not attempt to try this two kid parenting alone.

Well, this blog was going to be about Elijah being 17 months, I think I covered most of that and more! I hope you enjoyed it, as much as I enjoyed writing it! I hope I did not offend anyone, or make you think of me as a bad mom- or friend for that matter!

17 Weeks- Bible Back-up

Well it's been a wonderful week! I have hit the 17th week mark! I feel sweet baby moving all the time, she baby sometimes has hiccups! I love it! I love feeling her baby move all the time, and love feeling her baby hiccup!

Please forgive me for saying her all the time. Force of habit! I promise I'm not trying to predict my future or stop whatever God has in store for me! Matthew helped me out so much the other night, when someone upset me, and reminded me about how God sent Gabriel to Mary- who was not even pregnant at the time, and told her what (son) and who she was pregnant with,& that she would name him Jesus!(Luke Chapter 1:26-31) How is that any different than what I'm going through? Not enough information for you? God also went to Abraham and told him that he and Sarah would bare a son, and name him Isaac. Abraham laughed at God because of there age, and question if it was possible for his wife to even bare a child- this was before she was pregnant,  but God still blessed them with none other then a BOY- named Isaac. (Genesis chapter 17:15-17) God not only said it once, but said it yet again to Abraham, three angels appeared to him, and said once again, this time in front of Sarah, that they would bare a son, but Sarah laughed inside because she knew she was too old, passed the age of baring- then God called her out on laughing in her heart, and asked her if anything was to hard for the Lord? Then said once again, at the time appointed I will return at the course of life.(Genesis Chapter 18:9-14)  God sent Gabriel to Zechariah and told him he would have a son and he shall call him John, and he didn't believe God's promise, and because he didn't believe him God said he would be mute until the day his son was born. (Luke Chapter 1)

I am not trying to call anyone out, or say that I am right about the gender of the baby growing in my belly, but I do think it would be kind of odd that God gave us the name of our first born in a dream,  about 6 months before I conceived, then gave us a name for our second child less then a month before conceiving. I've never had to look in a baby book, I've never really had to think too much on a name, and have always knew that once I got Elijah's name it was the perfect name for our child. His middle name was a bit hard to think of, I could never think of a middle name, but the month I conceived a middle name came out of no where! Literally- so I say it was God! I said his name all the time when I was pregnant. Did I doubt God? Yes, I did! A few weeks before my ultrasound I started thinking, well what if this is a girl? I'm in trouble, I don't have a name! Then Matthew said the same thing around that time! I haven't really doubted this child. I have people saying well, the heartrate for a girl is typically high! Well, they said heartrate for boys were low, Elijah's was always 150-160! This baby is 140-150! I'm so sick of hearing wise tales, well boys you don't show as much, girls you pop right out- well that may be true in this case, but I'm not a wise tale type of person. My kids always seem to not be statistics! Which I'm more proud of them ever! I love my kids, even the one in my belly! I only wish people would be like well, God has truly blessed you, or that's awesome! I promise by no means am I trying to predict my future, take God out of my life, or try to run my own life. I rather God take over, that's why I think we are pregnant in the first place! 3 days before we found out we were expecting I was calling it quites! I wanted it to be God's plan, I wanted my life, my kids to be on his time, and I truly think they are! I'm learning so much, with my son, and being pregnant. I'm eating more healthy now, exercising more, and just more active in general. I'm learning to hold in my anger, and all my emotions. I try to hold back my yelling, or fussing in front of him. Which I think is a great thing, because I was exposed to my parents fighting all the time, or them yelling at my other siblings, and I think it really scared me in life. I don't want to hurt my sons emotional values, or set him up for failure in life. And when he's older I'll tell him how me and daddy found out about him! How we got his name, and the day we found out! I want nothing but the best for my kids, and I think if I show them how to eat healthy, and how to have healthy relationships then it will set them up for a wonderful future!

Now, what you all have been waiting for! The weekly update! Pictures first!

This is sweet baby laying on her belly,

acting all sweet and innocent, which she is!

Heartbeat! 153 BPM!

17 Week Photo: Taken by my sweet husband!

How many weeks are you? I am now, as of today 17 Weeks and 1 day!

How much weight have you gained? Well the Doctors office says 6! I'm ok

What are you craving? Not really anything this week. Oh, wait, Pizza!!

Mood Swings? Well, I can get pretty upset about some things, and the past weekend I had two panic attacks. One on Friday, and the other on Saturday. All is well now. But I just need to stay calm. I don't want to go into labor too early because of stress, or panic attacks. :/

Sleep? Not so great. I try not to toss and turn, and that stinks, because I wake up with a headache, and with horrible shoulder pain! I do my best not to sleep on my back, and with my big pregnancy body pillow it does help, just doesn't help my shoulder pain.

Been feeling baby move? All the time, almost! She seems to be more active then Elijah ever was. I drank more caffeine with him, and rested more. This time I eat healthier, and drink decaf tea, sodas, and water- more water then anything! I eat more well balanced meals, and snack more this time too. She's had the hiccups, as I mentioned earlier, and I just can't wait til Matthew can feel her! I'm so sad that he can't feel her. He pokes at her, and plays with her, just to get her to move. It's adorable!

Gender ideas or confirmed Gender: Well I guess yall can tell now that I'm pretty sure she's a girl, but if I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, and I'm sorry! But, I am still pretty certain we are having a girl. Our ultrasound on last Friday she would not open her cute little legs. We poked, and wiggled her all around, and she kept her modesty- that's another reason we are sure it's a girl, Elijah had it all open and all hanging out. Lol!

How is your Belly Button? I'm still the same. It's still in! :-)

Labor Signs? Nope, not at all! :-) Give it another 21 Weeks and I should be about 38 Weeks, then lets start having labor signs

Best moment this week? It was seeing my sweet little angel on the screen! I can't wait til April 2 to see her again! :-) and finding out that one of my best friends is pregnant with TWINS!!!

Any Weekly Wisdom? I would have to say, this week, I would just follow your heart! If you feel in your heart that God is telling you something, then listen to him, and only him! If your husband, or spouse is in agreement with what you are thinking then I think it must be right! I may be all wrong, but we shall see.. And I will not gloat if I'm right! I will just be super excited that I am, and will have always known that I'm glad I listened to my spouse and my God!

Milestone for the week? This week milestone would be hearing the heartbeat, feeling her move more and more, and just being able to enjoy this part of my pregnancy!

Next appointment is? April 18, at 9 in the morning! So excited! I'll be 21 Weeks, and I get to hear the sweet heartbeat again, and seeing my favorite midwife yet again! I love Connie!

Ultrasound is when? It's coming up so fast! It's just not fast enough! April 2, at 10 am! Matthew gets switched to days that day, so lets hope he can still come with me, and enjoy seeing his second miracle in making!

Now just some information on the little hootie hoot. This week the umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger. Weighing in about 5 ounces, and about the size of a turnip! She's about 5 inches from head to bottom! She can move her joints and her sweat glands are starting to develop. Her skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone! All of this from Baby Center.com!

Elijah will be 17 months tomorrow! He's talking more and more, and has his own cute personality! I'll try to do a blog all about him tomorrow! The words he says, the phrase's he says and pictures of him! He's such a handsome little fellow! Looks just like his mommy 99% of the time, and acts like me too when I'm angry, or upset! He's getting more and more into watching tv, and loves Tom and Jerry!

Buck is still in the process of potty training, it's something that doesn't happen over night, especially with dogs or kids! He's such a lovable doggie though, him and Elijah get along wonderfully!

Well, I'm about to try to watch a movie with Matthew then I'm off to bed!

Sorry this blog is so long, and I hope I didn't upset or tick anyone off. I'm just trying to remind everyone of what was reminded to me! Please don't be mad, or upset with me, try to understand where I am coming from! 

It's growing and wont stop!

So for this post, since I almost forgot to put it up, I'm going to put up pictures of the last 3 weeks! Week 14,15 and 16! And we are going to see how big my bump has grown! Just because I think it's fun!

Week 14

Oh my goodness, Wk 15!!

Annd Wk 16!!! Holy Puppy dogs!

Well, if you ask me, it looks like a bog difference each week, but I'm interested into seeing what y'all have to say! I can't believe it's gotten so big! And, is it me? Or does it look like I'm carrying high?? Lets see if I can find a picture of my bump of Elijah, and do a small comparison, shall we??

This is me 16 Weeks with Elijah!! No Bump!!!

So, like I was saying! I will think what I want, but I'll let y'all do the talking! :-) Annd, now for the update you've all been waiting for! :-)

How many Weeks are you? 16 Weeks!

How much weight have you gained? According to my scale, 3 pounds!!! which I will forever trust! Doctor office scaled doesn't take off for clothes, they weight me after I eat, and have some water, so the weight is never right, if you ask me!

Cravings I'm having? Well this week it's been all about Yoo-Hoo's! Man, I've had like 4! they are so tasty! I can't get enough of them!

Mood swings?? If you ask my hubby, I'm sure he will say, "her hormones are in full swing!" And he's probably right.. But I really am trying to watch what I say, and how I say it! Trying to help myself be in good moods.. being positive, surrounding myself with positive people helps. :))

Sleep? ehhh... With my pregnancy body pillow it helps, but I still toss and turn. I find myself laying on my back, which is the only comfy position for myself, and I tell myself, you gotta cut this out! It's not good.

Been feeling baby move?? Yes, I have! I took a nice relaxing bath tonight, and she kept moving, which was probably for the best, because I was so tired I could have dozed off in the tub. Also, I turned my phones flashlight on, and put it up to my lower belly and felt her move away from the light.. felt weird, but awesome at the same time.

Whats the Gender? Well, as you all know, we are pretty sure it's a girl. I do hope to have that confirmed by ultrasound on April 2 around 10 am! You can start casting your votes via messaging me on facebook! that way I can keep record of who's right and wrong.. You can even guess a stubborn baby if you'd like, although I'm praying for one who wants to be seen and who off her parts to the world!

Where is that belly button of yours? Mine is an innie for sure! :))

Labor signs?? No way, no how! Keep this baby in til at least 37 Weeks! haha!

Best moment this week? That would be taking my 15 Week photo in the middle of the week and noticing a huge belly! I love it!

Any Weekly Wisdom or good advice? Drink plenty of water, and cut out your salt, or at least cut it down! You don't want swelling issues. I had those with my son. The issue wasn't salt, it was I wasn't drinking enough water. I was retaining it! So, if I'm not drinking water, I'm drinking some kind of decaffeinated fluids, I try to only have a small amount of caffeine a day!

Milestone for the week? I always have a problem with wisdom or milestone. I guess her moving more and more, is a good milestone. :))

Next Appointment is when? My next Appointment is in One week! On the 21 at 2 pm! We get to hear the heartbeat! That's what I'm looking forward too!

Ultrasound is when? April 2, at 10 am! :)) Like I said, please pray for a little healthy baby girl that doesn't mind showing off! lol!

Just some info on baby hootie hoot:In the next few weeks, baby will about double in size!((wonder if that means so will my belly or appetite??)) Baby is about 4 1/2 inches long & 3 1/2 ounces!! Legs are much more developed, eyes have moved closer to the front of baby's head, ears are almost to correct and final position, too! Baby hootie hoot is even growing toenails! ((AWW!!)) Baby's heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day, wow that's a lot for such a tiny being! So strong!

Baby Hootie hoot seems to be doing just fine in this mommy's tummy. I still have some minor issues I'm working on. I'm washing my face every night and each morning, with Clean&Clear advantage, and it seems to be working. My face is clearing up, and feeling much softer. I haven't had any make up on in 3 days! I'm shocked, and surprised! I'm making a trip on Friday with a friend to the city, early that morning, and thinking going make up free. We shall see! I've stopped applying heat to my hair, and changed my shampoo, and conditioner to Dove Damage Therapy. It's made my hair so soft, smells amazing, and it seems healthier already! It's still coming out, but it looks healthier, I'm taking my vitamins, Matthew says baby is just taking my hair, that she will come out with lots of hair, unlike her brother! haha!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this. Can't wait to see all the feedback from it! I'm focusing on Elijah's scrapbook, and helping planning two of my own baby/diaper showers! It's so much fun, and not stressful to me at all! To the one who's really planning them, I can't speak for, I do hope they are having fun thinking of ideas, decorations, food, games, etc! I could do this as a job, because I enjoy it! Well, have a wonderful night, and rest of the week everyone!

until my next post.....

I'm one of those moms.....

I'm the kind of mom who listens to the nutritionist at the WIC office, that says my son, who is 16.5 months old needs 3 good meals a day, and at least one snack and 16oz of milk and only 4oz of juice a day. So with that being said, my son typically gets some kind of waffle, oatmeal, or eggs for breakfast along with a banana, or some strawberries and his milk cup. Then he gets lunch, which will consist of maybe a pb&j sandwich, ham sandwich, mac n cheese, sweet peas, ravioli, and a fruit of peaches, pears, apples, or mixed fruit, and either a few animal crackers, teddy grams, or goldfish, and usually he will eat all of it, and for drink he gets water. For his snack, after lunch, will either be a banana, cheese puffs, cookie, or apples, with less then half a cup of juice, the rest filled with water. Then dinner is typically what mommy has: chicken, pork chops, cubed steak, steak, then rice, mashed potatoes, mac n chesse, and either corn, green beans, sweet peas, cabbage, carrots, collards, ect, you get the picture, then he gets a cup of milk when he's done eating. He gets at most 4 cups a day, 3 at least. He doesn't go without, and I feed him all of this, bc it's best for him. He uses a spoon, fork- now, or his hands, we sit at the table, we pray, and eat. We laugh, bob our heads to the music, smile, and have a good semi-family time- daddy is typically at work during the week.

On pretty days, we go outside and play. To get him to come in, it's like pulling teeth. Nearly impossible! He loves, going outside! He loves exploring, running around, falling in the grass, and playing. I don't mind him going out, as long as I'm with him.

I always saw myself being the 'go by the book' kinda mom. I help my son learn. I don't push him by any means. If he seems ready for the challenge, I encourage him. That's why he says daddy, bless you, thank you, big ball, cookie, nana, pawpaw, ect. He knows where his diapers are, and who's on his diapers. He knows his nose, mouth, tongue, eyes, ear, head, foot, arms, and knows where they all are. He knows where his room is, where his bed is, and knows he has angels watching over him-always. He says yeah, shakes his head no, can throw away his own diaper, put his cup in the sink, open and close the trash can, he amazes me! He's doing things that 2 year olds do! Will number 2 be like her brother? We can hope so. Statics show that having kids close in age helps the younger one learn faster, we will find out!

My son is a healthy, happy boy. Does he have wants? Yes. I'm not buying him everything he wants. It's not good to do that. But is he spoiled? You better believe it, spoiled with love!

I'm done, I've been meaning to post this for a few days. I Had the blog thought one day that I looked at Elijah and noticed that, he's no longer a baby, he's my big toddler, who will soon be my big boy!