See ya later, 2011!

What a great year! I have enjoyed practically every second of 2011, but I'm really looking forward to all that is to come in 2012! For the last few years, it seems that life is just getting better and better. Makes it really easy to see all this time flying by!

Our 2011:

January: pretty low key; reorganized living room to make a play area
February: started working part-time
March: AF returned, Jeffrey's first limp, and we started the bathroom renovation
April: finished the plumbing replacement of all house pipes
May: Jeffrey takes swim lessons, I quit part time job, I turn 25
June: vacation to Florida, ridiculously long post-partum cycle finally over, left on road trip to Colorado
July: returned from road trip, transitioned Jeffrey to his big boy bed
August: found out Baby Boy #2 was on the way, vacation to Michigan
September: chose a midwife and finalized our plans for a home birth, Jony starts project in Dallas, trip to Dallas
October: the worst of the morning sickness :(
November: start feeling baby move, finally finish bathroom, Jeffrey turns TWO
December: found out it's another little BOY, helped finishing touches with my parents' farm renovation, started the process of re-doing the office to Jeffrey's big boy room

2012 has plans/potential to bring: a sweet new boy to make our little family of four (and a dog), new flooring in the whole house, a re-organized house to make room for each boy to have their own room and just as much happiness/joy (if not more) than the previous years before it!

21 Weeks

A little late, but there were more important things going on this past weekend :) There's nothing exciting going on in the pregnancy department- just moving right along. I'm feeling great, enjoying having some energy again and getting a little bigger. I've been sleeping great, eating normal and really just loving this stage of pregnancy. Gavin is proving to be just as active as Jeffrey (maybe even more?), and I love just feeling/watching him move, especially when he gets into one of his crazy times. When that happens, the movement is ridiculous with limbs poking up here and there and all over the belly. I'm quite certain Jeffrey didn't start doing that so early.

Gavin had a great Christmas and even got a few things: lots of Little Brother onesies, some other cute (tiny!) clothes, an awesome color blanket, a little toy, a book, and some Aden and Anais blankets. Not too bad for being in utero still!

Oh, Happiness!

I imagine it has to be truly hard to not have a fantastic Christmas when you have a child. Seeing it all through their eyes is the most incredible thing I have every experienced in my life. Ever since Thanksgiving, it's been amazing. Jeffrey was so fascinated and enthralled by all things Christmas related: the lights (!), cookies, Santa, our elf Felton, etc. He had a blast entertaining all of the family at our annual Christmas Eve get-together and showing everyone the true spirit of Christmas. Christmas morning brought bright eyes and awe as he saw his presents from Santa and throughout the rest of the gift-giving day. He had such a great time, and I don't regret for a second that the season is behind us. The anticipation of waiting for such a day is nothing in comparison to the memories that I now hold from it. I can, however, look forward to doing it all again with four little eyes shining bright with excitement!

Catching Up

I think having a person equated with the baby inside of me now has made me fully realize that there are going to be two of them taking over the house, which means substantially less time to just sit my butt on the couch. So, I'm adding to my To-Do list finishing up all of Jeffrey's photo books. Here my little boy is living the high life as a two year old with his baby books only up to 9 months up on the shelf. The likelihood of me finishing them once Gavin is born? Pretty slim. So, I'm forcing myself to just do it. I already have the photos uploaded since I put some on a share site every month for out of town family, so it's not really all that complicated. It was a nice realization to see how much Shutterfly has changed their process of making the photo books; I love the customization! I've wanted that for so long, so it should make it a bit more fun to slap these together. I just finished up the 9-12 months book, so only a few left to go. Depending on how many pictures there are from 1-2, that'll be either one or two books. Then, each birthday is getting it's own book. That'll get me all caught up until he's 3!

It's been so crazy looking back at some of these pictures from when he was so young. It's hard to believe that he was ever so small. It truly is amazing when you really force yourself to see how much they have grown. I'm glad that it's so much easier to handle since I know there's another one coming that gets to be itty bitty again (even if it is for just a short while).

20 Weeks!

In all of the excitement of finding out we're having another baby boy, it completely slipped past me that I'm 20 weeks now! Half-way! I feel like things are finally starting to move along now. That may be the holidays, Jony being home or the fact that I'm feeling normal again, but I'm happy with it. I'm so excited for live with my two little boys. Now that little one has a name and a future that's a little easier to fantasize about, I feel so much more connected to him. I did before, but it's so much stronger now. There's just something about using proper pronouns and proper nouns that really brings it home. He's also starting to move around even more, and it's become super obvious from the outside even. Just like Jeffrey, though, he's not a fan of letting his daddy feel.

As I said earlier, I'm finally in that pregnancy honeymoon stage! I'm really enjoying feeling good again and starting to be able to resume normal living. My little bump is starting to really come out to play, and I love being able to hold and love on my baby boy. Everyone is so excited about another little man in the family, and they're all talking about hitting the stores for Christmas presents for him. Not necessary, but it's not possible to tame excited grandparents!

This should be an amazing week of pregnancy- finally knowing it's a little boy, feeling great and celebrating Christmas with my awesome family! Last year with just three stockings hanging above the piano :)

The "To Do"s

It's a long list. Seemingly longer than when we were prepping the house for Jeffrey. I think that's mainly because we just moved all the crap that was in his room into our "office," or junk room with a desk/computer in it. This room is out of control and filled with way too much stuff than any normal family should own. Obviously, we never use any of it, so we'll probably be taking a hefty donation to our local donation shop. I'm excited about that. The "office" will soon begin it's transformation into being the coolest, totally non trashed out new big boy bedroom for Jeffrey. Gavin will be moving into the current nursery, which will be revamped, of course. In doing this, we have to move the actual office stuff into our bedroom. There are a bunch of catches with every step of this plan, and I hope that by starting now we can get it done by May. That's not really that much time, especially when you have a list this extensive/long. Wish us luck.

1. clean out stuff/donate
2. go through papers/files; organize, scan, shred, etc. (this one sucks the most, I think)
3. cut desk to new proportions
4. move small couch in bedroom up to farm
5. take down stupid random door into closet hallway in bedroom
6. put newly cut desk in new place
7. set up computers and office stuff in bedroom
8. final clean and clearing out of Jeffrey's new room
9. paint Jeffrey's room
10. build bed, nightstand, bookshelf and desk (yup, we're crazy. Cheap and crazy)
11. when finished, install furniture and other miscellaneous shelves and such
12. buy and install closet organization for Jeffrey's room
13. decorate Jeffrey's room
14. transition Jeffrey into awesome new room
15. paint wall in Gavin's room
16. install new shelves
17. decorate Gavin's room

It's going to be a lot of work, but we should end up with two awesome boys rooms that they'll both love. Our biggest issue is finding the time to actually do it, but it's a pretty good incentive to finish it before there are two boys to work our timing around!

Well...

Proving those OWT's wrong, this little one is all boy! Just like Jeffrey, it was the first thing that he showed when that wand went on my belly. I was so nervous the night before. Not having had an ultrasound yet this pregnancy left SO many potential possibilities in my head, and I was driving myself crazy. Thankfully, everything is completely healthy. He's weighing in at 12 ounces and measuring perfectly for our EDD of May 7th. He was moving around the entire time and would not calm down. So, we don't have the best pictures since they're a little blurry. What can you do? We'll have enough once he pops out! He's head down, and the placenta is in a good position. All signs point to go towards our home birth being a success. Strangely enough, I have an anterior placenta. I would have never guessed that since I felt movement so early, but I'm not too shocked since I have such an active little one already. Of course, this next one will be the same! It explains some strange movements when I'd feel flutters on the top and bottom of my belly and not the middle- ones that made me seriously wonder if I was two in there. Only one, though, and he's perfect. I'm so excited to meet my new little boy, Gavin :)

What will it be?!?

The BIG ultrasound is Saturday morning! Just a few more days to cast your votes on what you think is residing in that little bump!

Old Wives Tales:

• heart rate is greater than 140: GIRL
• belly is higher, but shaped like a basketball: GIRL/BOY
• my face is the same as pre-pregnancy: BOY
• age of conception + year of conception= even= GIRL
• Acne is definitely present= GIRL
• craving sweets= GIRL
• Jeffrey's first word was mama= GIRL (I'd never heard of this one, lol)
• Since I'm my parent's last child, I'm apparently going to have kids in the same order= GIRL
• Legs are still lean= GIRL
• extra moody= GIRL
• I eat the middle pieces of bread= GIRL (although I always have...)
• I'm clumsy= BOY (again, I always am)
• Jeffrey is interested in the baby= GIRL
• prefer to rest on my right side= GIRL (interesting because I did prefer the left side last time!)
• Daddy's gaining weight= GIRL
• Left breast is bigger than the right= GIRL
• the nausea stuck around a LOT longer= GIRL
• feet are colder while pregnant= BOY
• leg hair is growing the same/slower= GIRL

Gender Predictions:

JustMommies: GIRL
thebump Chinese Gender Chart: BOY
Labor of Love: GIRL/BOY
Babyman: BOY
Shettles: BOY
Ring test: says both, so I'm not a fan ;)

The final tally:
BOY: 8
GIRL: 17

Yikes. I suppose we'll see just how accurate these OWTs really are in 3 days!

19 weeks!

It is pretty incredible to think that I'm almost halfway! Life should fly by now, seeing as how Jony is back in Houston for good now! It will be so nice to have some help in the evening and to make sure that I'm eating better. It should make a huge impact on my energy level and how I feel. Although, thankfully, save for a blacking out incident this week, I'm feeling much better the majority of the time. I still have moments, but they're not terrible. If I just sit down and relax, it usually gets much better.

I actually have a bump now! Depending on the position of the baby, it's either just a little one or pretty big. I'm still getting used to carrying so differently this time around, and my midwife thinks that the baby is right in the front of the uterus. Strangely enough, I'm still fairly easily wearing regular jeans (although those days are becoming numbered, I believe), but I cannot fit into most of my regular shirts! I'm assuming that when the back gets pushed up towards the front is when I'm nice and large. It's pretty amazing to watch it shrink and grow, though. I'm also seeing movement quite a bit, so it seems I have another active little one on the way! The baby loves when Jeffrey is around/talking to it and will really flip and roll around, which makes me smile. I'm loving "seeing" interaction between my two kids already.

This is an exciting week for us- having Jony home AND finding out what our little baby will be on Saturday! Less than a week! Not to mention all of the fun holiday activities we have going on to keep us distracted!

Wordless Wednesday

18 Weeks!

I've got a little belly that's slowly becoming more and more obvious to people around me, and I'm feeling quite a bit of movement. My eating is somewhat normalized, and I actually feel hunger again. I still get exhausted super easily, but it's not as bad as it was. I feel like I'm actually starting to enter that honeymoon stage of pregnancy! It's constantly shocking how different these pregnancies have been!

I had an appointment with my midwife yesterday, and all is normal. I'm measuring a bit small (as I did with Jeffrey), but I did gain a pound. They found the heartbeat immediately at 148 hanging out right in the center. She said that probably explains why I'm feeling/seeing so much movement so soon. Her prediction is that it implanted towards the front, and she said carrying higher can impact it, as well, especially because I'm so thin.

Speaking of carrying higher, this has got to be the number one difference between pregnancies. I'm still wearing regular jeans- not even a belly band or a rubber band! It's strange because I'm starting to have to wear maternity shirts since a lot of my regular shirts are already too short. Quite opposite of last time, and I'm thinking it's the more expensive route. Thank goodness there are very few things that we have to buy for this baby.

Less than two weeks until we find out what the little babe is packing! I'm thinking about it constantly- SO excited! Jeffrey will be attending the ultrasound with us, and then we'll have a wonderful family day soaking in our exciting news.

It's the Holiday Season!

Now that we're officially in December, I've allowed myself to fully succumb to the Holiday activities. This year is already proving to be an amazing year with Jeffrey, as he's truly starting to understand that there is something special going on. He may not fully understand it all or what's going on yet, but he's getting it enough so that I figured I'd start some of our traditions that we plan to continue.

-an Advent Calendar: we're doing an activity advent. It's nothing fancy- just the activity written on some cards and placed on our wall, but it does the trick. Yesterday's activity was to set up our Advent manger scene, which we'll continue every day until Christmas. It has a sticker and a reading to do each day, and he was so excited about it today (the sticker was a tree :) ). Today, we read "The Nativity." I'm trying to kick it all off with the reason for the season before we really get into some of the other fun stuff.

-Elf on the Shelf: our little elf friend, Felton, showed up this year and captured Jeffrey's heart in a major way. It's only been two days, but Jeffrey gets so excited to find him and tell him that he's going to be good that day. He's also told him multiple times that he wants a dump truck from Santa (and Santa has gotten the message ;) )

-Angel Tree: we already picked out our little angel. There were no boys, but we chose a 2 year old girl who would like some board books. Sometime next week, Jeffrey and I will go shopping and choose a few good books (and probably a bit more, if I'm being honest), come home and wrap it and then take it back to put it under the tree. Last year, he helped give a 1 year old a gift, but I'm betting he doesn't remember.

We've already decked the halls and the outdoor lights were turned on for the first time last night. Jeffrey was in awe! We're already having to drive slow through the neighborhoods so he can see all the lights. We've even taken Jeffrey to see Santa, which didn't go over too well. He was perfectly fine talking to him about wanting a dump truck and his reindeer, but a picture? Not a fan! There are lots of fun activities, crafts and parties coming up in the next month, and I am so excited about every single one of them!