22 Weeks...

I'm doing fine in my whole pregnancy. I am growing as I should, I have another appointment on Monday. I have only gained 3 lbs. so far. I had a rough first half of pregnancy. I think I'm doing pretty good at the moment. I have less than 18 weeks to go. I can't wait to meet this beautiful baby girl.

"At 11 inches and almost 1 pound (about the size of a spaghetti squash), your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. 

If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."

-From www.Babycenter.com 

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It's a Girl...

So I had an ultrasound today. I was excited. Kris and my mother in law were not able to go with me, so I decided I didn't want to find out without them. I wanted my tech to write it down for me so my friend could put together my gift bag (which she thought was awesome). Well I get there and we are looking at the baby and he didn't tell me he was going to the groin area so I saw everything, cuz I didn't look away. So I knew what I was having. Then a few minutes later he told me that I was not that far along (I'll be 17 weeks Friday) so he didn't want to tell me right now. I will "find" out at my next ultrasound. What's funny is there is definitely NO doubt what I am having. I saw the "cheeseburger" as the techs always call it. But he also wouldn't give me a "guess shot" either. I'm not a happy camper he didn't look there long enough to even try to give me a guess. But I know what I saw cuz he was there long enough for me to see it. I am most definitely having another beautiful baby girl. Her heart rate went down to 147bpm. Low for a girl but James' was 167 throughout my pregnancy. I will have another scan soon as he couldn't do the whole anatomy scan cuz baby isn't old enough. So I will have my complete confirmation soon.

Now for some photos:

James Michael

So James was born on April 5th 2012. Sorry it took so long to post but better late than never, right?!

So I will share my birth story:

Tuesday night, April 3rd, around 10:30pm I started to have some uncomfortable contractions about 10 minutes apart. I started timing them for a while. Around 1:30am on Wednesday I finally called the midwife on call, contractions were at 3-4 minutes apart and gaining some strength. She said to come on in and they will check everything out. We called mom and said we were gonna drop off Taylor. We told her to stay home until morning and we know more of whats going on. So they stayed home and slept. When we got there, they monitored James and then checked me out, I was at 3cm at 2:30am. So they had to clean the tub room before I could go in there. I was planning a water birth. So for the moment I was rotating on a birthball with a heating pad on my back, which was killing me. Kris was so calm and helped me in breathing through the contractions.
Finally around 5:45am, they had the room ready but they wanted to check me before we moved rooms. I was at 5cm, yayayay. Getting there. So we went to the other room and while waiting for the tub to fill I was having hard contractions. Finally the tub was filled and I got in and it was ohhh soooo soothing, but Kris and I were soooo tired. Around 7am Kris' mom called to check on us and tell us they were dropping Taylor off at our friends house and they would be on their way. When they arrived Kris went to rest for a bit, while mom took over coaching. Then the midwife came in and checked me again I was only 5 1/2cms two hours later. Then the contractions started tapering off. So I got out of the tub to see if I could get them back. It worked for a bit. Then they started to get about 10 minutes apart and then around 5pm they all but stopped. I really wanted the midwife to break my water but she refused. I asked my nurse to call a different midwife, the one I had seen since week 6, Barb, she is just soooo awesome. The great thing was she was right across the parking lot so she came over to talk to me. She could see that Kris and I were exhausted and she suggested we go home get some rest. With her being the one to tell us it would be better to go home, I was so much more comfortable. She also gave me some advice on natural induction. Well then after talking with her for about 30 minutes, we all left. Mom took Taylor for the night. Kris and I got some dinner and slept for almost 12 hours.
Around 2pm on Thursday, mom brought Taylor home. While she was there I told everyone, "I wasn't going to go in til I felt the need to push." Kris and mom agreed and mom said that I would know when it was time. Then about 4pm I asked Kris if he minded if I took a nap. He said "no problem". So I went to sleep. Then at 5:50pm, I was awakened from my nap by what felt like an explosion on the top of my stomach and it hurt soooo badly, I woke up screaming. Then I ran to the bathroom, still screaming. Kris called his mom to ask what could possibly be going on and she told us to call the midwife. He called her and left a message and she called us back and when she called back, I was in sooo much pain with every contraction (which I didn't think were contractions cuz my stomach was not hardening and it was only in my groin area of my hips). Kris described my demeaner as the exorcist. She said to definitely come on in. I stood up and realized that my water had in fact broke.
We called mom and told her we were dropping off Taylor and heading to the hospital. They said ok. When we got to their house, dad came over and asked how I was doing and at the time I refused to talk and he saw my face and said he understands. Then off to the birth center we go. We got there at 7pm and I was not able to do much. I got out and only made it to the car next to ours. I was soooo super shaky. Then mom and dad showed up while I was still in the parking lot. Dad went and got a wheelchair for me. They told me they needed to monitor James for 20 minutes before I got in the tub. Every contraction he would move away from the monitor. UGH. They also couldn't get my BP because everytime they would push the button I would have a contraction and they would have to stop it. At first, Lois (the nurse) was coaching my breathing while Kris, mom and dad got everything situated and together. Then Kris came over to rub my arms and encourage me to calm down. Mom was my breathing coach. I felt like I couldn't go through with it without an epidural but of course I had my wonderful coaches helping encourage me. Then all of a sudden I had the need to push and I couldn't fight. Mom said "you can't push yet, you still have your cloths on". The Caitlyn (my midwife) said "at the end of the next contraction, I'll pull your pants off", it ended, she pulled and looked down and said "you need to push". Four pushes later at 7:31pm on April 5th 2012, James Michael was born at 7lbs 12oz, 19inches long.
I was sooo happy I was able to do it naturally this time around. It didn't go as planned but it was great. I was in labor for an hour and a half. So much better than 8 days. And true enough, the pain from SPD did go away almost instantly. I was so happy to not be in pain anymore.

Now on to some pics:

This is me at 39weeks4days, exactly one week before I gave birth.

First pic by mommy, about 4 hours old 

Proud Daddy 

Hi Mommy 

 Milk Coma

Proud big sister

365 Project

So to help me get through my bedrest, I have decided to do a 365 Photo Project. I love this idea, I've been wanting to do one but just haven't started. The fun thing about it is that for the first part of it I have to be extremely creative because I can't leave my couch. I will be on bedrest until I give birth.

365 Photo Project is my new page so you can go and check it out. Here's a couple of photos from that blog.

30 days...

So as of now I'm on strict reclining bedrest. No walking, cleaning, standing, cooking, nothing. The only things I'm allowed to do is get up to pee, go to bed and take a bath, until I give birth to my little boy. I only have 30 more days. I am gonna make the best of it. I do believe (other than the obvious) that I am on bedrest, so that God can continue to teach me patience and to learn to rely on other people. I have a habit of relying on myself. I don't like to ask for help or anything like that. So Kris has given me some scriptures to read while I sit here on my couch for the next month.
Right now I do have a great support system with this whole situation. I hope that now, despite being on bedrest, this pregnancy continues to go quickly. So far, though it has thrown tons of curve balls at me, this pregnancy has gone so fast. I swear I just entered my third trimester and really I only have 4 weeks to go. Wow. I do think it helps that I have a toddler to chase after. Oh no, now I can't go and chase or play in her room with her.  I just made myself sad. It's all for the greater good. When finally he gets here I will be overly joyed with love. I pray that Taylor loves him as much as Kris and I do. It will be such a wonderful thing. I also pray that he is as easy as Taylor was as a baby. I do play to breastfeed again, and if I have the same over abundance of milk I will be sharing with Cassie, as she does not produce milk very well. I also will be trying my darndest to cloth diaper this little boy. I have almost everything I need. There a few that are very much needed I will soon be buying. I can't wait to be completely finished, so all I have to do is wait for him. Ooo I can't wait.

Lately...

So I know I've said it plenty of times, I need to do more photography and blogging. Lately it's been going crazy and been in a funk. I am at 32 weeks along in my pregnancy. It is starting to be very uncomfortable no matter what I do, but the end result will be TOTALLY worth it. I love this little man but he is driving me bonkers. I cannot wait, it has gone by sooooo so fast. I can't believe that I only have eight weeks to go. Oh well. Baby shower will be on my birthday this year!!!! So excited, I will post pics.

Third Trimester...

Alrighty, time I have to say is flying by!!!! I am now, as of this past Saturday, in my third and final trimester. I can't believe it has gone by so fast. Though these past couple of weeks have been a rather horrible roller coaster ride of emotions that I can't seem to control. My mom and husband are trying to help as much as they can. They keep telling me to talk it out and I should be alright. I love them so much. I am down to 11 1/2 weeks to go on my pregnancy.

Facts from my Babycenter app on my phone: This week the baby weighs about 2 1/2lbs and is about 14.8in long, head to feet.
Oh there are some things you read that describe how Braxton Hicks contractions are "supposed to feel", well I've been having them on a regular basis it seems and they are not anything that is discribed on the sites and in the books. Mine are rather painful, like actual labor contractions. I really wish I would stop having them but they come with the territory I guess.

This next week my sister in law is having a baby shower to celebrate her son, Ryan Jr. She is due on March 8th. We are so excited for her as well. Her theme is dinosaurs and the stuff she has gotten is just plain adorable. My mother in law is doing the shower for her and then mine.

My birthday is coming this next month and I can't wait. I will be 28 and thats when my mother in law is having my baby shower. I get two good things on that day. My theme for James is Noah's Ark. I just love it so much. I have found some of the cutest stuff for him. I have almost everything I need for him as well, I barely had enough stuff to actually make a registry but I managed. My register for those of you who are friends or family is on Amazon.com.

Well I was gonna upload a couple of pictures but my computer is being wonky, so I will come and edit this post later.

14 weeks...

Ok, so today I am 14 weeks along today. Wow flying by sooooo fast. I'm starting to feel flutters and yesterday and right now I felt actual movement. I can't wait to feel full on kicks.
A few excerts from What To Expect and Babycenter: ...Now the size of your clenched fist... ...Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb!... ...measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces...


These are from 13 weeks and 3 days. I absolutely love my new baby. Cassie and Mom went with me. It was great, a little uncomfortable, but ohhhh so great.

12 weeks, JBF sale, and 9/11...

This past Sunday was the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I love my country, but I couldn't bare to watch anything that had to do with 9/11, I seemed to purposely avoid everything I could that had to do with it. It seems sad and selfish. I just feel so relieved and overjoyed with it passing. It's a weird feeling that I can't explain. So I will tell you that though this government is kinda upside down and a lot of the people in this country do belong or deserve to be here. I do love my country more than any place in the world.

I love the serviceman and women that have fought and serviced, are serving, and have died, or retired for this country. I have the families from 9/11 in my thoughts and prayers.

Tomorrow, September 17th, I will be 12 weeks pregnant, officially in my second trimester. According to www.whattoexpect.com "...baby weighs a full half-ounce and is about the size of a large plum." OOOO, I can't believe how fast it's gone by. Yesterday I had a prenatal/midwife appointment. Everything is great, babies heartrate is 162 BPM. Taylor loved hearing the heartbeat and we recorded it for kris to hear! Oh it was so great to hear it, and she didn't have to look for it, as soon as the doppler touched my tummy it was there!!!

Here is what the baby could possibly look like right now:

THIS IS NOT MY ULTRASOUND, I FOUND IT ONLINE TO SHOW WHAT A 3D ULTRASOUND AT THIS TIME WOULD LOOK LIKE!

Also tomorrow, my mom in law (mom to me) and I will be going to a consignment sale called JBF (Just Between Friends). This isn't the first one we've been to, but it's the smaller one. Which is fine because we (Cassie and I) don't know the sexes of our babies yet , so mostly this trip is for my and Taylor!



8 weeks and Back Pain...

So today I am eight weeks along. I was getting dressed and realized I could not fit into my regular pants, so I had put on my maternity jeans. BLAH. I put on my shirt and realized again how large I look. I look so much further along than I actually am. Oh well, I guess what they say is true about showing faster in the second pregnancy. I mean it's great because I know that my baby is growing just fine, but still it seems kinda strange to show THIS early.

Oh I had my second midwife appointment this past Thursday. She did an exam and said everything looks good. While I was there I asked what I could do to relieve the back pain I've been having and she said simple exercises should help. She also discovered that the pain is being caused by my uterus being tilted. Meaning that it is leaning backwards towards my spine. I looked it up on google and it said that it should even out and correct itself by twelve weeks. Only four weeks to go. I'm hoping to survive until then.

My next appointment is on September 15th. Four and half weeks, which would make me eleven weeks and four days along.

Here is a picture of what the baby should look like right now: