18 weeks

WOOOHOOO:) Summer in the south has hit and although I'm sweating within seconds of being outside and its kicking my tail, I'm thankful that the really rough pregnancy months will be in the middle of winter this time!! Squirt is definitely moving alot more-just small thumps throughout the day. My belly is starting to get in the way-I bump into stuff alot. Bella LOVES to give the baby belly hugs, and anytime we talk about the baby she runs over and pulls my shirt up-yes, even when we are in public:)


WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU
You may be waiting anxiously for your baby's first movement, known as "quickening." You want to know that your baby, who's been quietly maneuvering around since seven weeks, is big enough and strong enough to send you a message. Many women find this barometer of their baby's well-being very reassuring. Typically, you will feel the first small rumblings of fetal movement between 18 and 22 weeks (or later, in some cases). If you have very strong abdominal muscles, you're very overweight or your fetus is "hiding," you may fall on the late end of the scale. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel fetal movement as early as you will in successive pregnancies. Most likely, though, junior will make his or her presence known within this next, exciting month. Early fetal movements may feel like soft tapping, or "butterflies," just above the pubic bone.


WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY
Your baby has grown to 14 centimeters crown to rump. Adding two ounces in just one week, your baby tips the scales at seven ounces. Baby's limbs are lengthening, and at last, body length is catching up to head size. Bones are still malleable but are beginning to ossify.

I KNEW Squirt was growing-I've been waking up at 3am STARVING!!! I most definitely have my appetite back:)

Bella's Bday Party

Bella's Sponge Bob Ice Cream 2nd Birthday Party!!!!

These are totally out of order....

The infamous "One Shoe Lou"

Opening presents

Playing bashful the night before her party

Exhausted lil lady getting some lovin from Pop

Hanging out in the heat with Mama

Digging in to the icing:)

YUMMMMMMMM

Her new haircut that I loooooooove

Scrambling for some sprinkles off the table

Got a lil hot so she decided to strip

My two favoritestestest people

Outfit numero dos-running around like a lil boy

Mi familia (Papa, Mom/Nana, Mama & Bella, Pop, Uncle Popeye, Daddy, Grma) Photo by Uncle Buddah

Sucking on that lip!!!

PAARRRTTTAAAAYYYYYY

Bella enjoying some sprinkles with Nana

Peeking in her castle

Bella's Guys making ice cream

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY ISABELLA GRACE!!!!

Oh my chica!! I cannot even begin to believe that you are TWO YEARS OLD!!! It seems like just yesterday I was feeling YOU kick in my stomach and run from the Doppler:) And then you were born-the greatest day of my life!! I never knew I could cry tears of joy so hard just upon meeting someone-you were absolutely beautiful and have been everything I could have ever dreamed of.

We have loved surviving your firsts. The first year was quite a trip for Mama and Daddy since you were our first and we were so scared! There were many times I wished there was a machine we could just plug you into and it would tell us what was wrong and how to fix it-but that doesn't make parents. YOU Madam have made us who we are today and we have loved every second of it. I'll never forget the first time you crawled-for Daddy of course. You didn't really practice much, you just did it-alot like everything else you conquer in life, you just go after it and kick some tail on the way!

Then came the second year and you walked-again, for Daddy:) We loved your little zombie wobble:) I love watching you grow into your own little person. You have the silliest sense of humor and you just think you are hilarious! You have a very physical sense of humor just like Daddy. I love watching the two of you run into walls and fall down giggling:) I love watching ya'll fall in love with each other over and over again-its truly beautiful and makes my heart bust at the seams. You have the sweetest little voice but a very powerful set of lungs LOL I love when you very sweetly say, "Mama??" and I reply back, "Bella?" and you just smile.

You change every single day. Whether its learning a new word and saying it a zillion times or starting a new silly that cracks us all up. I could literally just sit and watch you wander thru your day and love every minute of it-you amaze me. Daddy and I never knew we could love such a little person this much-but you have a HUGE personality and make every person you meet smile. You touch people in such a special way-you are already making a difference in people's lives. You have SOOOOO many awesome people that are totally in love with you-happens when you are the only grandbaby (trust me, I've been in your shoes-it rocks!).

I know you are going to be an amazing big sister. You are such a helper and love to do things for other people. You are VERY tidy to an extreme. I know you'll love your little brother or sister so much and they will be so lucky to have you in their life! I can't wait for the 2 of you to meet. You will always, forever and ever, be Mama's first baby!!!

I love you Bella Bean!! Thank you for the 2 greatest years of my life! You make being a Mama so much fun!!!

XOXO

Great Appointment

I had a great appointment today and Anthony got to go with me and hear Squirt's heartbeat-VERY fast!!! Lil stinker is just like big sister and runs from the heartbeat wand:) VERY VERY VERY strong heartbeat-still one of my favorite sounds. Squirt has definitely been moving alot more just this week.

We will find out pink vs. blue on August 12th at 3:30. I think I'm going to invite my grpa to come with us since his bday is August 13th:) Along with Ben and Bella, of course!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SQUIRT'S BIG SISTER!!!! I love you baby girl!

Safari Fun

We went to the Wild Wilderness Animal Safari in Gentry last week and Bella had a BLAST!! Last time I took her she just kind of took everything in. This time she kept trying to get out of the car to see the animals and anytime she saw a new animal she would get excited and say, "HIIIII!!!!!" We spent alot of time in the petting area which she loved even more-especially the brand new baby tigers.

Bella & Daddy on a lion-as always, pointing "Take me THERE!!"

Feeding a baby pig

On a gorilla-yep still demanding LOL

BOPS!!! (Bella's combined word of bunny and hops)

Checking out the baby pig on a leash

Hi monkeys!!

And once again, pointing:)

Bella playing with the goats:)

16 weeks=4 Months WOOOO

I'm doing great and so is Squirt coming in on 16 weeks! I have my next OB appt on Monday and my LITTLE brother will get to come with me and hear the heartbeat!

16 weeks!!! Sorry for the shadow and different pic look-we used a different camera cuz the other's batteries were dead. Love our painting tape? And my hair is in a ponytail-I'm not sporting a mullet!!! LOL

13 wks-yes its been a while since we did pics-SORRY!!!

16 week belly-actually gotten quite a bit bigger and firmer, more formed. Hard to tell because of the shadow

13wk cheese monkey

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

For some women, nasal congestion and nosebleeds are an annoying side effect of pregnancy. This is due to altered levels of hormones, which may cause the mucous membranes in your nose to swell. Increased blood volume and softening of the tissues also contributes to this. Unfortunately, it may continue throughout your pregnancy. A vitamin C deficiency may cause nosebleeds, so an increase in your consumption of vitamin-C-rich foods may help. Do not use nose drops, other than saline, unless recommended by your care provider.

DEFINITELY got that going on here!! I had it with Bella too and even went to my ENT because it was driving me nuts. She said, "I can tell you EXACTLY when this will end-2 seconds after you give birth." She was right!! It was freaky how much better I could breathe and wasn't stuffy immediately after Bella's birth.




WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Weighing in at all of three ounces, your little one is now 12 centimeters crown to rump. Baby's head is now held high, and limb movements occur in a coordinated fashion. The eyes have come closer together so that they face forward, and the baby begins to blink. Tiny toenails are beginning to form. On an ultrasound, you may catch sight of the sucking reflex as your baby sucks his or her thumb. And that's not all you may see: Gender is now recognizable, if you have an extroverted fetus!

WOW still so tiny- 3 ounces!!! Amazing how a 3 oz human can take up soooo much space!!! Wonder if I have a mega placenta like last time that weighed in at over 2 lbs just by itself! The OB said it was one of the healthiest he had ever seen tho:) We did get to see Squirt sucking on a thumb at the 13 wk ultrasound. Next one will be either Aug. 11 or Aug. 18. We've felt more movement this week-nothing real strong but Ben was even able to feel a bit of a flutter when he put his hand on my stomach last night. I LOVE this part-I'm actually looking pregnant instead of like I ate too much for lunch and starting to really feel the baby. Its going to be awesome finding out pink or blue next month!

15 Weeks and feeling GREAT

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

When will you "show"? At 15 weeks of pregnancy your uterus is just popping up above the pubic bone. You are at a very in-between stage right now. You may not yet look pregnant to the world -- or you may have already popped out. There is a great variation in the time your pregnancy becomes visible. This usually occurs between 14 and 20 weeks. If this is your second or third pregnancy, you are probably "showing" sooner than a first-time mom because the muscles of your abdomen are a bit more lax, and the uterus tends to fall forward more easily because of the relaxation of the supporting ligaments.

WOOHOO good to hear!! Its weird because with Bella I showed VERY early and with this one I'm just now at the tail-end of the whole "Is she pregnant or just fat?" stage. I'm ready to pop!!! I love preggo belly:) So I'm the exception-showing later with a 2nd pregnancy, but finding that alot of the moms online are also having the same experience. I think maybe we are too busy with toddlers, running around and not consumed with eating for 2:)

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Baby's skin is very thin, and blood vessels can be seen underneath. The skin is covered with a fine, fuzzy hair called lanugo, which will not fall out until your baby nears full-term. The heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day. This week marks a period of rapid growth, so get your rest!

Ya hear that??? I NEEEEED to rest:) So YES, I'll print this out and use it as evidence any dang time I wanna nap LOL

I PROMISE to post belly shots tonight!!! We had a crazy week last week tearing down shelves in the computer room. We only have one left to tear down. I've already got one completely sanded. Then we have to sand the walls (horrid painters before us left tons of drips), prep and then most likely paint on the Saturday that we leave for Eureka Springs so it can air out while we are gone. The room has already opened up alot-I HAVE to take some before and after shots.

Be sure to check out Bella's blog next week as we have TONS of stuff going on this week and lots of Kodak moments:) Friday we are going to the playgroup's potluck and then swimming. On Saturday we are going to the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari- sounds redneck but its super fun and Bella loves the petting areas. Sunday we are going to a Naturals game-Dora is gonna be there!!! We are getting lawn seats by the playground this time so Bella can run around and have fun. I'm already dreaming of my nachoes!

July is a SUPER busy month for us! The weekend of the 12th we are going to Eureka Springs to celebrate our anniversary (Bella will have a slumber party with Nana). The next day Anthony will get here. Then I get to take him to B&N with playgroup and then to my OB appt that afternoon and he'll get to hear the heartbeat. Then BELLA'S 2nd BIRTHDAY!!! And her party that weekend. The next weekend I'm going on a Mama Trip to Branson and Ben is doing a day hike with the Boy Scouts so Bella will get to have a Nana day.

done rattling, will post pics later