18 weeks preggo

How far along? 18 weeks
Maternity clothes? Mostly just jeans.
Best moment this week: Daddy coming home after 4 days in Boston for work.
Movement: Lots more moving this week!  I can feel her at different times of the day (versus just in the evening).  I can even see her little body poking out every once in a while.
Food cravings: Sonic ocean water
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing really.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody? Happy but tired.  Trying to get William to sleep through the night in his big boy bed.  Had leg cramps nearly every night this week (they started to happen off and on at 15 weeks and usually happen at night).
Looking forward to:  One more week before we head to the beach and until the anatomy scan.
Doctor Appointments: While Gordon was out of town I had a little scare and had to go in for a quick check up.  All was well.  Baby girl still looks good in there.  Still haven't started progesterone shots due to not getting insurance authorization.  

This was really taken at 18.5 weeks....we try!  Baby is the size of a sweet potato.

If the cerclage stitch is removed at 36 weeks I could very well have baby girl that day.  I could possibly be half way there!  Who knows?!?!?  I'm like a ticking time bomb....but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  

Fun at the Zoo

I've been really bad about doing our weekly updates.....maybe I'll catch up soon.  For now, I'll share one of William's favorite activities, the zoo!  When William was just a year old he cried when he saw the elephants.  Now, they're his #1 favorite.  He loves watching them get a bath!  During their bath time the trainers will give the elephants a snack when they do tricks.  William would stand and watch for hours if you'd let him.     

The monkeys, carousel and ice cream are also favorites. :)  This past trip the bear really caught his attention as well as the jelly fish.  Hopefully, Anna Grace will love the zoo as much as we do!    

Showering Baby Z

There must be something in the water......two of my co-workers (and obviously myself) are pregnant and all due within 4 four months of each other!  Lindsey Z's baby boy is due in just a couple of weeks.  This obviously meant it was party time!  LZ and I have worked together for 2 years and become great friends.  Our little ones love each other and I'm sure our new little lovies will too!  

We had the best morning celebrating Baby Z.  I personally love breakfast, so I thought this was an awesome baby shower.  Donuts, OJ, yogurt parfaits and breakfast casserole....yummy!  We can't wait to meet this precious little boy.  :)

Hot Diggity Dog 3rd Birthday

To say I have fun planning a party is an understatement!  This party was super easy to put together.  With a little bit of planning and help from family it all turned out perfect.  I have found that if I plan far in advance it all comes together nicely (with less stress involved).  It will be nice having William and Anna Grace's birthdays 4-5 months apart.  It'll give everyone a chance to recover from the crazy fun birthday weekends we tend to have!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from William's 3rd birthday party.  I'll do another post on the "birthday party details" for anyone that cares to know where I got things from.  I knew this was my last year to throw William a party without him having a real opinion.  So, I picked Mickey Mouse!  William loves "hot dog" but is slowly turning into a little boy and starting to show interested in Spider Man, Hulk and Iron Man.  .....let the super hero parties begin....next year...... 

William was in love with everything about "his party".  This little guy loves to have his friends over, so this was a much anticipated day.  

• Posing with Hot Dog and Papa
• Checking out the Hot Diggity Dog Bar
• Family of three, going on four
• He was one happy little boy
• Singing happy birthday
• Blowing out his 3 candles
• "Look Mama, it's my cake!"
• Laughing at his friends

{watching the balloon artist} {he loved his new big truck} {some of the guys} {William broke his plane and JB was figuring out the bean bag game} {playing on the new swing set} {tire swing fun} {family dinner at Dekkers} {fun with Friends} {being a superhero with Uncle G}

To this day, a month later, William is still asking me if he can have "his party" again because "it was fun".  He was so excited to take the leftover cupcakes and cookies to school with him on Monday morning.  His teacher said he told her all about his party.  This little boy loves having all his family around.  Uncle G is the best play buddy a boy could ask for, my parents brought his favorite puppy, Massy (aka "Fifi"), and everyone got to check out his fun new swing set.  He is such a loved little boy.  We can't say thank you enough to all of our friends that joined us.  We had the best day and I know that William felt extra loved!!!  There's nothing that makes a parent happier.  :)

Easter 2015

For the first time in probably 8 years we spent Easter in Midland.  We had an extra good reason for heading to West Texas this year.....baby Brecken had been born just 2 weeks before!  As always, we had a great time visiting with family, eating at my favorite restaurants and just relaxing.

William painted Easter eggs for the first time this year.  We had a blast, and of course, William had lots of opinions regarding what colors the eggs were.  #toomuchlikehismama

As you can see, this little boy is all or nothing with the camera!  He will either cheese it up or refuse to look at the camera.  Luckily, William was in a great mood on Easter.  Even without a nap he stayed cheerful.

It's hard to believe that we will soon be a family of four!  It's even harder to believe that Easter was my due date for the last pregnancy.  Time is just flying right by.  I still can't wrap my head around having a newborn in our home again.  ;)  It's exciting and scary all at the same time.  

Kisses for Brecken | Sweet baby | Grandsons and Cousins | 

Giving GG a check up | Walking into church | We are growing...family of 8.5 now!

We were pleasantly surprised when William handled me holding Brecken like a champ.  Over Thanksgiving, anytime I held baby Katherine William would have a complete meltdown.  Four months later, he could have cared less who I was holding and what the baby was doing.

We are so blessed to have all of these people that love us in our lives, to have our health and have the opportunity to spend time together.  Easter is the perfect day to remember just why we have all of these blessings.....Jesus!  

17 weeks preggo

How far along? 17 weeks
Exercise: For now, running after William is my exercise
Sleep: Feeling great in this department.  Staying up later and not napping during the day (when I'm off work).
Best moment this week: Fun family night in Galveston
Movement: I'm feeling her move a lot more (mostly in the evenings still).  Best. Part. Of. Pregnancy.
Food cravings: crackers, goldfish, chips/salsa, and blue ocean water from Sonic
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still not into eating meat. Still having headaches.
Labor signs: Still having the pelvic pressure but otherwise nothing new.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody? Happy
Looking forward to: Spending a whole week at the beach soon!
Other: Helped host a baby shower for a friend over the weekend and spent an evening in Houston for a birthday party and dinner at the park.  AND....Gordon felt baby girl move for the first time on Sunday, April 26th!

15 & 16 weeks preggo

How far along? 15 weeks
Best moment this week: Second trimester is here!
Movement: Some, when I'm sitting or laying down in the evening.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still nauseous at the beginning of the week but feeling much better by the weekend.
Happy or Moody? Happy and busy getting ready for William's upcoming birthday.
Other: William loves talking about Anna Grace.  When we are sitting on the couch he'll tell me he wants to see her (aka my belly).  He pulls up my shirt and rubs the little baby bump.  He says sweet things like "awww, she cute!" and then he'll cover my belly back up and say, "Night night, Anna Grace."

Baby is the size of an Orange

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain? Up 2 lbs in past 2.5 weeks (total gained 5 lbs)
Maternity clothes? Only one pair of jeans.
Best moment this week: 2 days off work this week.
Movement: About the same as last week.  Feel her in the evening.
Food cravings: Sweet tart jelly beans
Anything making you queasy or sick: Don't have a big appetite.  Unfortunately, the things I do want are carbs!
Belly button in or out? In but it won't be long before it's out.

Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody? Excited to have family in town.  My parents and Gordon's parents arrived to Houston on Thursday evening for William's birthday weekend.
Looking forward to:  Excited about the anatomy scan in a few weeks
Doctor Appointments: Seen by NP on Thursday.  Baby heart rate = 160.  Ultrasound done.  Mostly saw her back and profile.  I will be starting weekly progesterone shots soon.  My doctor will order medication, we'll wait for insurance approval and then it will be delivered to our house.  Gordon seems to think he should be the one to give me the shots.  :/

Baby can now hear my voice