2 and a Half Men

20 weeks today. We're half way there, and I officially am living with 2 and a half men. "Mennnn."
I still reach down, touch my belly, and get the warmest, sweetest surprise. It should have settled in by now I suppose, but I am still overwhelmed in the littlest of moments when I realize that it's ME that's pregnant. Oh how thankful I am.

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (The way your baby is measured changes now.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Bananas are a regular and a favorite around here, and reminds me of a very yummy non-chocolate desserts...Bananas Foster. Both Darren and Reece's middle name (and a precious 1 year old I know), that's what I'll call you this week, sweet boy...Foster.

You almost always kick when I'm talking about you, and now as I'm writing this. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that.

Thank you, thank you, Lord, for another day.

Vacation Celebration

In celebration of your coming and our 8th wedding anniversary, mommy and daddy went on a little trip just us (and you of course). Your big brother was in tender, loving (and spoiled!) care with his Grandmama. Oh, you are going to love her!

We both love the blue, blue water of the ocean.
It reminds me of God in it's power and majesty, beauty, and best of all, the peace it brings.

As soon as we got here, we headed straight for a view of that water.You will learn soon enough that Daddy loves fishing. This morning, he went fly fishing for redfish.

While I got up early, it was a relaxed start with breakfast for the two of us (me and you baby) in my jammies. As I munched, I thought about how daddy and I went fishing the day we found out we were pregnant with your big brother. When I was 3 months pregnant with him, we took a vacation (and him of course) at a fishing lodge. Oh how fun it is to be here again. I was so thankful to have the morning with you, sweet boy.

I was a lot cuter in my own mind than when I saw this picture daddy took of me (and you). But, I promised a belly picture, AND I am celebrating every day I get to carry you in there. I won't be wearing bikini's for long (or maybe ever again), but today at the pool, I did. ; )People are noticing that I'm pregnant now and often not afraid to ask when you're due. Others comment on how I've popped out, and almost always I smile, agree, and say "thanks!".

I don't want to gain a ton of weight, but I'm not worrying much about that. I love my bump, being poochy, and all those comments about how big or cute it is. I'm sure as the heat of the summer strikes and you grow and grow, that will be harder to appreciate. But, I hope and pray that I don't lose this perspective.
I am so thankful to have you, my little baby boy.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.

Mater

na-na-na-na 19...weeks.
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Oh I hope his hair is growing, Reece didn't have any for about a year, I think.
I can tell some great growth has been going on in there, sweet baby, because people are starting to notice my belly.

They glance down a lot. And every now and then a friend can't resist and will touch my belly. I love it all.

This week, I'll call you Mater. I love Mater, both WITH and WITHOUT the tuh. Kirsten says that I think just about anything is better by adding a tomato to it. Today, I agree with her. <3

Thank you, thank you, Lord, for another day.
Later, Mater.

Alexander

18 weeks.
"Head to rump, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His genitals are noticeable now..."

Noticable...I'll say!

Oh and my little wiggle worm, you are soooo busy. The dr told me where your head was but I already knew. Your legs kick and kick on the left. While you move around a lot, you typically kick on that side. : )

We're still no closer on a name, so this week I'll call you Alexander Graham. ; )

Thank you, Lord, for kicking legs, for boys, and for another day.

Official

Friday's sono made it official.He was a wiggle worm; Dr. H even used that term!

Other details:
- I gained 4 1/2 lbs total in the pregnancy so far. Dr H. thought that was good. ; )
- It was our first tummy measurement. He measuring right on track.
- The sono estimated Aug 15th, which 1 day after our due date. Reece often measured 1 day after too. Sometimes I couldn't remember if his due date was Dec 22nd or 23rd. He came right on time. I wonder if this little guy will.

Most importantly, he looks great. We saw every part, including the umbilical cord which is amazingly thick. Dr H is pretty great with the machine, because seriously that guy was moving around soooo much I couldn't contain my laughter, which didn't help either. ; )

Reece was done halfway through and ready for his lollipop. He didn't ask Dr H any questions this time, but asked specifically NOT to hear the heartbeat. The sound creeps him out a bit, even though I told him how important it was and why it makes that sound. He's a cutie, and Dr H obliged. We saw that heart beating though, and it still makes time stand still a little.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.

2 perfect little eggs

In writing an annversary poem two nights ago, I glanced back at this past year on my blog. It revealed another piece to the story I hadn't noticed.

April 19th, just 9 days after the bean plant grew 2 sprouts,
I blogged...A little dove made it's nest in the tree in the backyard.
She flew away promptly when we were taking a look,
and revealed 2 perfect little eggs.

Two perfect little eggs. I broke into tears the other night when I saw the picture again and then read the 2 lines below. Somehow I had missed it.

And then today, I realized this. The title of the post was "#2 is number 1." We had gone to FW to see Dylan's baseball game. He's the 2nd of 2 children, 2 boys. And on that day, he wore the number 2 on his jersey.

I'm just sayin'. (but really, I'm just crying a big blubbery mess over here.)

Today at bible study, tears streamed down my face as I sang,
"Who am I"...
"Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are"

(I didn't include them all, here, but EVERY WORD hits home. Click here and take just a sec to read them again.)

Not because of who I am or anything I've done, Lord, but because of who you are and what you've done.
Lord, let me not be complacent about the miracle you have done here, the incredible love and grace you've shown us, and the joy and gratefulness I have because of it.

Thank you, Lord, that I am yours.
And, thank you, thank you, Lord, for another day.
My heart grieves for a friend that didn't get another one today.
Lord, catch them now; they're falling, and tell them who they are...they are yours.

Daddy's turn

Pete (no that's not his real name, see previous post) was moving around late tonight. I grabbed Darren's hand and HE FELT IT!
He felt you move, sweet boy.
I have a feeling I may call you a monkey man just like I did your brother.

Oh such a great moment to remember tonight on the evening before our 8th anniversary.
~~~
In other notes, somehow I gained 20 pounds in the past 3 days. I feel like I did anyway. Perhaps that growth spurt you were on last week, caught up with me. Even a friend I see often agreed I had grown. Well, you have grown, baby boy, and for that I am so grateful.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.

Sexy & Seventeen

This week I got my greys covered and a new sassy do.
I figured we were due for a belly shot and the timing was perfect.
Seventeen weeks.It truly surprises me how little my belly looks. From my point of view, it's much larger. And, I've already found myself rubbing it all the time...sweet baby boy.Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — his lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. He can move his joints, and his sweat glands are starting to develop.

With your little sweat glands progressing, I can think of no better, funnier name for you this week than Pete Schweddy. If that makes you turnip your nose, well consider this...'Bone Head' was another option. ; ) Hope that made a few of you giggle.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.

Daily dose

Still not craving much yet, although carbs, cheese, and fries usually sound the best. However, I've been eating pretty well, including a daily dose of a homemade smoothie.With Reece, I regularly got Strawberry Patches (no sugar or honey, add blueberry) from the Smoothie Factory. This time, I'm making my own.
Reece is a HUGE fan too, requesting one just about every morning.
To remember my morning delight, here's the usual recipe:

- unflavored protein powder
- 1 banana
- frozen strawberries
- frozen blueberries
- (sometimes) frozen pineapple
- (sometimes) flax seed meal
- splash of Valencia orange juice (fav o.j. it's even more delicious than Simply Orange.)
- a little water

That's your daily dose, little guy. I hope you like it.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.

Sweet Sixteen

16 weeks. Sooo sweet.

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too.

The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Avocados immediately make me think of Reece's first experience with them: Ralph A. Cado. Hmmm, I think I'll pass on that name this week. ; )

Instead, I'm celebrating this sweet sixteen with candles.
Baby, this week, you are my little Jake Ryan.

Thank you, Lord, for another day.