Poor, Poor Daddy...

Well, we FINALLY found out.  After 20 weeks of "patiently" waiting, we're having a…

GIRL!  Poor daddy is definitely out numbered now, but super excited.  It's actually really funny, because I was 95% positive we were having a boy.  In fact, I'm still a bit in denial.  With Annabelle I never really had a thought either way, so when they told us girl, I was like great!  With this one I've had a couple dreams, and just had the mother's "sense" that it was a boy. SOOOO to hear that we're having another girl, I could not believe it.  So much so we're going to double check at my next appointment.    ;-)  Thankfully, my midwife isn't completely annoyed with me, and agrees we can double check.

We had a really fun time at our gender reveal party.  One of my oldest and dearest friends, Katie, threw it for us.  It was a bit last minute, so we were so overwhelmed by all our friends that came out to celebrate with us.  Katie had us all vote on what we thought it was, then had me pop a balloon filled with either blue or pink confetti.  I was TOTALLY expecting blue, so it took my eyes a second to process I was looking at pink confetti.  Our faces clearly show how surprised we both were.  My friend Megan got some great pics of us.

I was a little afraid to pop this so close to my face. 

TRUE shock.  Could not believe it. 

So grateful for these through thick and thin friends.

Sweet Katie, our hostess. 

Thanks to all our sweet friends for coming to celebrate our little girl!  We can't wait to meet her!

20 Weeks

How far along: 20 weeks

Gender: We JUST found out!  We're having another sweet girl!

Weight gain: 5 lbs. gained.  Slowly movin up.  

Maternity clothes: No, but I might be making the transition soon. 

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Good.  Still have less energy then I think I should.  Trying to figure out if I'm deficient on something.

Best moment this week: Finally finding out the gender! 

Worst moment this week: Pretty good week! Not sure I can think of anything. 

Miss anything:  Having more energy.  It's getting old really fast feeling so tired all the time.   

Movement: Yep, more and more.

Cravings: Still have the cherries and chocolate thing.

Queasy or sick: Still battle with some nausea.

Looking forward to: Still waiting on that energy to come back...

19 Weeks

How far along: 19 weeks

Gender: STILL don't know.  This has to be a record for waiting the longest to find out.  I'll be 20 weeks before we know!  Brutal. 

Weight gain: 3 lbs. gained.  Thanks to a serious increase in appetite :-)  

Maternity clothes: Not really.  I put on a couple things, but still able to wear normal stuff.  I know at one point I will be so tired of wearing maternity stuff, so trying to wear my normal stuff as long as possible. 

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Good.  I haven't napped as much, but not becuase I don't need to but because I am tired of the house being a huge mess!

Best moment this week: Probably feeling the first big kick. I've felt it moving and squirming for awhile now inside, but this one I could feel on the outside loud and clear.  So fun. 

Worst moment this week: Still having some pretty bad nausea at night time to time.  Almost threw up a couple nights.  Hate it.

Miss anything:  We were at the lake this week, and I REALLY missed being able to enjoy a big ol margarita.  Crazy thing is they don't even sound good right now!   

Movement: Yep.  Baby is moving and shaking.

Cravings: Out of nowhere BBQ has taken stage front and center.  I could eat it everyday.  So random.  Cherries and chocolate still rank pretty high as well.  

Queasy or sick: Getting better...slowly.

Looking forward to: Still waiting on that energy to come back...

Mid-Summer Happenings

Any of you moms out there feel like your ability to formulate words and clever musings nearly vanish post kids?   Before kids I feel like I could type entire blogs using words.  I now struggle to put together a few sentences.  I rely HEAVILY on pictures to fill up my blog pages.  Hoping this is a temporary phase!  I haven't been very good at blogging for the past several months.   Life is just happening, and blogging is not making the priority list.  BUT, I'm starting to get a little caught up, so let's get some summer happenings down.

I cannot believe it's mid July right now.  I really can't believe it's mid-July and we got some low 70 degree weather this week.  What an unexpected blessing!  I know many of my Texas friends have shared in this sentiment this week, but it's an extra special blessing in our household.  I have talked about it a bit it in a few monthly updates, but our little one has some severe allergies.  Food mostly, but also environmental and seasonal.  She's allergic to eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts (she has an epi pen for nuts), chlorine, and about 100 other foods.  Seriously though, 100 others.  At one point we've been down to about 5 things she can eat.  I don't share this much on the blog, but come across more and more people that deal with allergies in their kids.  Not all are as severe as others, but the struggle is still there.  It's hard.  Really, really hard.  Especially when you have a kid that has to wear footie pjs all day, and can't ever go outside.  That's the reality we live in.  So hard watching your kid not being able to play at parks, or swim in pools, or go to friends birthday parties.

BUT, this is the road we're on.  We love our little one, and wouldn't trade her for anything.  She is one of the happiest kids you will ever meet, and loves to dance and play.  She doesn't yet realize anything is even missing, but there are days that are harder for her.  Days she cries at the back door wanting to go play so bad.  Or just wanting to go get the mail with me so she can go out for a second.  Breaks your heart, but trusting God, that one day this will pass.

And for those of you out there that are nearly leaping out of your chair with suggestions and solutions, know that this is a severe case.  I appreciate all the help, but we have tried more solutions then I can count, and nothing seems to really work.  If you haven't gathered, or don't know this about us, we are on the far holistic side of medicine.

So, our summer happenings are more on the indoor, stay at home side.  There have been about a handful of days I've been able to put her in regular clothes, and by "regular" I mean a onesie (so she can't itch her back or tummy) and leggings.  We usually have to tuck her socks in somehow so she can't pull them off and we have to try and keep her leggings down.  It's really an all out workout trying to make it all work, so that's why we resort to just keeping her in footie pjs.

BUT, here are some cute pics of our summer so far.

Grandma helping us up to the slide.

Grandman and Grandpa having some fun.

She loves the teeter totter!

We love our accessories!

As you can tell. ;-)

18 Weeks

How far along: 18 weeks

Gender: Don't know yet...and it's killin me!

Weight gain: 0lbs.  Just got back to my starting weight.  Thankfully.  

Maternity clothes: Out of nowhere my belly totally POPPED out.  I went from nothing to a big ol bump!  So weird!  BUT I'm still wearing normal clothes.    

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Sleeping good.  I can't nap everyday like I would like, so helps me sleep pretty hard at night.

Best moment this week: Feeling this sweet baby moving and squirming around more and more.  Forget how amazing that is.  

Worst moment this week: Still dealing with nausea.  So annoying. 

Miss anything: Still miss food.  A lot.  My normal diet is out the window during pregnancies.   

Movement: Yes! Feeling some kicks here and there.  

Cravings: I could eat cherries all day long.  That and these chocoalte chips by Enjoy Life.  They're dairy, soy, nut, everything free and SO GOOD.   

Queasy or sick: Yes and yes, BUT it's getting better.

Looking forward to: Still waiting for that boost of energy the second trimester is suppose to bring. I am not a nap person at all, but this pregnancy has me needing one every single day!  And when I say nap, I mean out cold for at least 2 hours.  I don't mess around.