Done with the 1st Trimester!!!! WOOHOO! (13w4d)

I am FINALLY done with the dreaded first trimester of this pregnancy, and BOY am I glad! :) I was much sicker this time than I was with Brodie, and tired to the umpteenth degree. I'm sure having a one year old didn't help with the tiredness factor ;o)

My morning sickness is GONE! It was almost a "here all day every day" to "gone totally forever" overnight change. Of course I can't find the day that it stopped now, but I'm going to say around October 25th (at about 10wks2d). I'm SO grateful that I'm feeling better because that has resulted in a LOT more housework getting done and a LOT more food made.

I had a check up with the OB Tuesday (at 13w2d).  It started out a bit scary because Dr. Lasting couldn't find Kit Kat's heartbeat even after 5 minutes of searching meticulously with the Doppler. He said he thought the baby was hiding and said that he wanted to do an ultrasound to get a good reading. Well, that freaked me out right there because I thought something was wrong. I had to go back out into the waiting room until the ultrasound machine was available and just wait wait wait. When Dr. Lasting finally got me on the table for the ultrasound and fired it up we immediately saw a very squirmy and active baby on the screen. Kit Kat wouldn't stay still long enough to let Dr. Lasting get a heart-rate for more than 3 or so seconds! Dr. Lasting even seemed surprised at how active the baby was being. I mean, I'm talking kicking me repeatedly, waving his/her hands up and down, and completely squirming out of the ultrasound shot! I guess the reason that the doctor had such a hard time getting a heart beat (in addition to squirming baby) was because Kit Kat was hanging up near the top of my uterus (just below my belly button) instead of near the pubic bone like most babies. Also, my placenta is apparently anterior, I have a thick uterine lining, and I have a tilted uterus. All of those facts combined with squirming just made too much of a distance between belly and baby to get a good read. He said next time should be easier, because Kit Kat will be bigger and the heart will be bigger as well.

I'm so glad the ultrasound was a good experience, and that everything is alright with baby. I've never had an ultrasound at this stage so it was very cool to see how the baby looked at 13ish weeks. Dr. Lasting got a head/abdomen measurement of the baby while he had the ultrasound on and said Kit Kat was measuring right on track at between 13-14wks.

In terms of me, I'm doing well on the pregnancy front too. I gained 3lbs (making me at -3 lbs from starting weight) which is a good indicator that my appetite is back and I'm not nauseous all the time. My blood pressure was 128/80. Oh, and Dr. Lasting measured my uterus and I'm already at 16cm! The second he touched my stomach he exclaimed, "Oh ya, you are DEFINITELY showing!" He let me feel where my uterus was (it's like a hard ball that goes from my pubic bone up to a few inches below my belly button). I love my doctor and how chill he is with everything.

I have another check up appointment in a month (Dec. 8th to be exact). At that point I'll be 17w4d and at that time we will schedule the 20week anatomy/sex reveal scan with either Dr. Lasting or Pomerado. We are going to have whoever does it write it down on a card and we are going to open it on Christmas morning (if possible). I asked Dr. Lasting if we could do it before Christmas and he seemed pretty on board with it :) Just another reason I love him. <3

Oh one last thing. For the past 8 days (Since Nov 2nd, when I was 12w3d) I've been feeling the familiar little flutters and popcorn pops occasionally. :) I was hesitant to believe I was feeling Kit Kat move since I was so early but there is no mistaking it. The feeling is very unique and distinct. I personally think it's because of the way my uterus is angled, and because of it being my 2nd pregnancy with a feisty baby. In fact, just while writing this post s/he gave me a nice strong flutter. This is when I really start to get excited about pregnancy because I can verify daily if my baby is doing OK and be reassured that they are by kicks and punches.

I'll write when there are more updates but for now, that's where we are at. I have been taking biweekly pictures since 8 weeks but I'm not too pleased with my belly yet so when I have a bump bump I'll post one. The biweekly pics (so far at 8,10, and 12wks) are more for the progression collage I'll do after I give birth. :)

Til next time,

~Heather

13 Months

Brodie turned 13 months old on Nov 2nd and is really starting to show his personality. No longer is he a "baby," but instead he is turning into a little boy with his own thoughts and ideas about what should be happening in our house. I'm going to keep this short and sweet since I think Brodie is going to wake up for the day in a few minutes. So, in pictures, here is what we've been up to this past month:

 "Cooking"

Learning to feed himself




















Practicing brushing his teeth




















Picking pumpkins

Carving pumpkins















Dressing up for Halloween

And learning to walk!!!!! That's right, Mr. Brodie Cole started to just take off and go all by himself (like at least 10+ steps multiple times within an hour) on 11/6 (last Sunday). I guess that technically happened 4 days after his 13 month day but it's very notable so I'm including it. :-P I haven't been able to get a good picture or video of it yet since he is very independent and decides to take off when and where he wants. I'm sure I will get it eventually!

It is SOOOO much fun being in this phase of motherhood. Brodie is talking a ton and really being an awesome child! :) I'm loving it.

Until next month:

~Heather

And now for something (or should I say someone...) new! :)

I wanted to wait until Brodie got his 1 year alone on my blog before he had to share the spotlight....

We are pregnant again! :) I found out on Sept 1st that we are expecting another little bundle of joy and although not totally expected (we jumped the gun about 5 months) we are extremely excited!

I'm due May 14, 2012 and am currently 9w2d pregnant. I've had 3ob appointments, 2 of which I got an ultrasound at. 2 weeks ago I had this ultrasound and the saw baby's heartbeat and baby measured 10mm.

Just 2 weeks later (today) I got this ultrasound and baby is doing great! This time baby was 23-24mm, had a great heartbeat, and was measuring right on track at 9w2d. I could even see little arms/legs. I have a check up appointment in a month.

I am feeling much more nauseous with this pregnancy than with Brodie. The nausea hits worst in the morning and around dinner time, with waves throughout the day as well. I haven't thrown up, but at times I think it would be better if I did. This nausea has resulted in me actually losing 6 pounds since I got pregnant, which I'm not complaining about. :P I started the pregnancy at 6lbs less than I did with Brodie so I don't have baby weight left over from him that I'm tacking onto this one.

I am also WAY more tired this time than last time. I attribute this to having to chase Brodie around and not being able to nap as much as I was able to with Brodie. This is also obviously a symptom of the first trimester, so hopefully both the nausea and tiredness subside in the next month or so! :)

This time we are going to find out the sex just to see how that experience is. We should find out right around Christmas and if it's before I'd like to unwrap the sex on Christmas morning. I'm totally thinking girl this time and Nick is thinking boy. I'd love 2 boys but the more I think about it I would love love love a girl too. I don't know what else to say except that we are very excited to be adding to our family again (and final time). Since this is my last pregnancy I will try to enjoy every phase of it and document it carefully. :) I can't wait to meet our new little one.


Until next time!
~Heather

A year of Brodie in pictures

As you know I've taken monthly pictures of Brodie. I compiled them into a collage so I could see them side by side. It's crazy seeing him change month to month!

Brodie is One Year Old!!!!!!!

My little baby is not so little anymore! Mr. Brodie turned 1 year old on Sunday. I can't believe that it's already been a year since I gave birth to my amazing son whose head fit in the palm of my hand. How far we have come.

Today we had to go to Brodie's 1 year check up. The stats are as follows:

-Weight: 19lb 13oz (up from 16lb 9oz at 9 months) and according to the doctors that puts him at the 10%tile

-Length: 30.5 inches (up from 27.5in at 9 months) which makes him in the 72%ile! Finally! We always knew he was tall and now he is showing it. :) He definitely gets that from his daddy.

-Head Circumference: 18 inches (up from 17.6in at 9 months) which is the 29%ile.

The doctor gave Brodie a thorough check up and said that he was healthy and looked like he was an active little guy with a super fast metabolism. I'm glad he didn't seem concerned about weight like the other doctor. He told me not to worry too much if he didn't like cow's milk (he hasn't been very interested). He told me to just keep trying and if he really doesn't take to it then just up his dairy intake via yogurt/cottage cheese/cheese instead. He also told me that I could substitute with soy if needed (in case Brodie demonstrates a lactose allergy). I also asked about introducing nuts/peanut butter because of Nick's sunflower seed allergy. He said it's ok because they aren't in the same family and that if I wanted I can introduce peanut butter between 12-18mo. Lastly I asked about middle of the night wake ups and he confirmed that I could let him CIO if he wakes up in the middle of the night. He told me to just go in there every 5-10 min and soothe him until he falls back asleep.

Brodie also got 4 shots today, my poor boy! He got Hep A, MMR, Pneummococcal, and the flu shot. He has been super tired all day (took a 3 hour nap and then an hour and a half long nap just now). I think he's trying to re-cooperate.

We had Brodie's birthday party on Sunday and were blessed to be around family and friends for good food, conversation, and company. He was spoiled with gifts (which he is playing with as we speak) and did so great during the party. He was happy and awake the entire time! Brodie loved his mini cake, loved playing with bubbles, loved all the attention, and loved ripping wrapping paper. 

 

Now for some recent milestones:

-Brodie is VERY close to full on walking. He will do 3 or so steps in between the coffee table and me, in between me and Nick, and walks like a ninja while holding on to walls/ anything he can get his hands on.


-Brodie has 6.5 teeth. The 7th one is on it's way in, just today breaking through the gums but not quite through through yet.

-He LOVES to talk and babble constantly. It's super cute that he thinks he is telling us things, I just wish we knew what he was saying!

-Brodie has also started trying to blow kisses. He has it all down except for pulling away his hand from his mouth.

-Brodie tries to put shapes in his shape sorter, tries to push buttons on everything, and is working out how to play all his new instruments. It's really cool to see him actually "playing" with his toys!

That's all for now :) Brodie's done playing on his own and I need to go change a poopy diaper! :)

Our family <3