Pregnancy: Week 14

I feel like this pregnancy is flying past. I cannot get over how much God has truly, truly blessed me with a relatively easy pregnancy. I can't say I feel like running marathons, but this is so different and it's amazing. We are approaching the due date for our sweet angel baby. I'm trying so hard to focus on this amazing blessing I have growing in my body instead of what we don't have. I don't even want this child to feel like they were a "shoulda woulda coulda" baby. Never ever. God's plan is too awesome for that! 

Our holidays were amazing. We were able to spend so much time with friends and family simply unwinding an enjoying the holiday season. My mom prepared a FEAST and I was able to stuff myself. The baby was definitely loving green bean casserole. MMM MMM Good.

How I'm feeling: Heartburn is the pits. Most things I eat are giving me heartburn... that includes dairy. BOOOO. Erick literally just said to me I haven't found much that I WANT to eat. That's the big thing. I'm more eating because I need to fuel my body not because I'm wanting to stuff my face.  I'm pretty sure I would be a candidate for a constant burping commercial. How lady like!

How I'm changing: My bump has started to grow more. Nothing too exciting though. I haven't been gaining weight so I can't really blame that! Hopefully I'm ALL belly like Landree. So far, my blood pressure is staying down. Hopefully I can keep it that way! 

What I'm eating/Cravings: I'm in a weird food funk. When I'm hungry I gorge myself but when I'm not, nothing sounds good. I just literally ate a cucumber and Italian dressing that sounded AMAZING but the taste of my breath after I eat nearly kills me. I want all cold things if possible. We went to dinner as a family over Thanksgiving and I may have eaten my huge salad... and my moms. Baby likes greens! But, sadly I don't think the baby likes dairy or corn. I have been staying away from them. The couple times I've had corn I thought my stomach was going to explode. When we had turkey on Thanksgiving... I felt like I was eat chalk. NASTY. 

Landree: Still thinking it's a girl. She's planning all of the things she is going to teach him or her. We found out she can't go to the main anatomy scan ultrasound so we are going to take her to Tiny Toes at some point. I'm pretty sure even a random man in the grocery store knows that she is going to be a big sister.

Weight Gained: 0 lbs... and that includes Thanksgiving. Yes mom, I'm eating. And no... not puking. Just apparently getting exactly what my body needs and fueling it with the good stuff. 

Workouts: 40 minutes of cardio... usually elliptical about 3-4 times a week. 

Biggest Thriller: Being able to eat Thanksgiving dinner without having severe heart burn! Winning!

Size of the Baby: A box of Crayola Crayons

Pregnancy: Weeks 11 and 12

It's the last couple weeks of the first trimester...

We started the week having a check up with my OB. Not going to lie... I was still nervous. When we first started to look for the heart beat, she couldn't find it. My heart skipped a beat, but we went through it with Landree so.... I took a deep breath. Dr. V could tell I was nervous so she prayed and then tried again. There it was just on the complete opposite side and low! Strong as strong could be. WAHOOOO! Heartbeat is in the 160s. I go back right before Thanksgiving for hopefully more good news!

How I'm feeling: Heartburn. That's all I can say. Lots of it. No matter what I eat. I had heartburn with Landree, but definitely not this early. Oh well. I'll take it. I feel like I'm coming out of the sleepy funk and trying to function. Poor Erick has taken on more things when he's home and when he's not... well, Landree and I are in bed by 8:30pm. FOR THE WIN!! I'm not above putting her in my bed with some Magic School Bus so I can roll over and get some sleep. Hey... at least it's educational. Other then that, I feel amazing! Definitely a polar opposite pregnancy. Is it weird that sounds are getting to me? The sound of someone burping or farting literally makes me want to gag! Landree about killed me the other day.  The smell of goldfish or cheez-it's? Don't even come near me. Disgusting. And brush your teeth while you are at it.

How I'm changing: I started to show much earlier, but I think it's kinda evened out for the time being. I have no reason to feel nervous about it. I noticed that I'm drinking INSANE amounts of water. A gallon a day easy! Definitely by the end of the day you can notice the bump more. I've been living in leggings. While I can still wear pre-baby things, they just aren't sitting right and I'm not so much for wearing pants low and having my butt crack flapping in the breeze so maternity it is. My boobs... oh dear golly. Ginormous. Painful. Awful. Don't touch. By the end of the day a bra is the worst thing EVER.

What I'm eating/Cravings: I can only think of two cravings!! And, it's nothing I would send Erick out for, it just sounds so good! EVERYTHING buffalo and UNSWEET tea. MMMMM. Little by little I'm putting more protein in my diet. I've been trying to find a balance. But, I will say that, this baby is showing it's Japanese side. It doesn't like when I eat dairy. It tastes good when it's going down, but my stomach just churns and churns afterward.  Not going to lie... I've eaten a lot of carbs in the past week!!! I'm just eating as I can. Whatever sounds good, I go with it. Chicken is still a negatory. Give me all of the salt!

Landree; She's determined that it's a girl. She keeps telling people that she is a big sister and the baby is coming in May. She will tell you a whole list of things she wants to do with them. Oddly enough, she has started coloring rainbows on everything!! I keep telling her, this baby is mommy's rainbow.

Weight Gained: 0.5lbs

Workouts Happening: Still going... easy cardio but need it!

Biggest Thriller: Hearing the strong, strong heartbeat and conquering the fear of going to the doctor
on my own.

Size of the Baby: Army man toy

Twelve Week Bump Picture

Pregnancy: Week 9/10

When I looked back on pregnancy with Landree, I realized how much I didn't document. I was so busy being sick that I missed these small moments. Our family is so far away so this is the perfect way to document this amazing journey.

Sweet baby, I am so nervous this week. If all goes well at the appointment, I'm documenting this at 10 weeks and 5 days. I feel completely different this time around, but with enough signs that I'm pretty sure that everything is progressing. 

My morning sickness hasn't been near as bad this time. It actually scared me because after you have one pregnancy, you compare everything to that. Wrong! Although I've had some, it's been more of just straight nausea and not wanting to eat. We found out yesterday, the baby apparently doesn't like a mixture of the Reidsville Christian coffee time special of cake and orange juice! Coffee? Outta the question. Nasty! 

Sweets actually haven't been that appealing to me. While I've eaten some, it hasn't been a craving in the least. With Landree I didn't want anything to do with ANY vegetable for about the first 15 weeks, but this time it actually sounds good. And cold meals... yep I'm weirdo.

Energy has been lacking, but that's ok. I've given myself grace and at least laid down when Landree does. She has been absolutely amazing and even calling me the "best mommy ever" even when I felt like I was really slacking. Erick, is out of the world amazing. While he is drowning in the amount of work they have right now, he has been so amazing making sure to pick up the slack where I know it's been. She got to experience a true "little" baby this week when we got to meet sweet Kallie for the first time. She was amazed!

Workouts... what are they? Early on in pregnancy, I did two workouts, both of which resulted in heavy spotting so, that came to an end. I'm hoping at my appointment tomorrow they give me the go ahead to even do yoga or something... or it's going to be a long long long 6 months.

Not going to lie, I'm terrified. Absolutely positively terrified. Tomorrow (10/24) we go for our appointment that basically clears us through the first trimester. This was the appointment where we found out Peanut wasn't going to make it. I can't believe it's been 5 months since we heard those words. All I can do is lean on our faith and let Erick be strong for me. I pray when we walk out of those doors it's a smile and we can finally announce, our rainbow is on the way.

Update on appointment: Diagnosed with PTSD. Boo. The doctor couldn't get over what a different person I actually was and what a ball of stress (to put the words kindly) I had turned into since the miscarriage. I actually was thankful for that diagnosis that I wasn't completely out of my mind. I got my C Section date already scheduled. WAHOOO!!! I also got put on a baby aspirin to hopefully keep the blood pressure at bay. At the end, she offered to let me hear the heartbeat on Doppler. She did warn me though it's often hard to find at that age and don't be nervous if I didn't. She also offered for me to decline... Erick said we need to try. Two seconds in... bam. I laughed... I cried. God is so good.

Many asked why we stayed so quiet about it... fear. A few of our prayer warriors have known because honestly... I needed them! But, otherwise we have stayed quiet because although I know God is good, I didn't want to jinx it. Please... just keep us wrapped in prayer filled love!

St Augustine Adventures: Day 6 (Fort Matanzas)

Our vacation was wrapping up, but we were given the best news! The ferry was open again after Hurricane Matthew to take people to Fort Matanzas. This is literally 8 minutes from where we were staying, so we had to go! It ended up being one of the best adventures that we had the entire week!

We ended up getting there RIGHT when it opened. Shockingly, there was already a line at the gate that they were just opening. As soon as we pulled in, he dropped me off at the door so I could get us FREE tickets. Yes people, free. It's a free boat ride and a chance to see dolphins up close.  The first family in front of us ordered 13, so I'm glad we did.

We walked down and waited for the boat. I stood there while they ventured down to the water. My husband told me I needed to check out all of the shells (mussels? oysters?) at the water's edge. It was SO neat to see!

You could capture the most amazing views just standing on the water's edge.

When we hopped on the boat, I was lucky enough to get a left side seat. This is the amazing fort. There were just the perfect amount of cloud cover so you weren't sweating the moment you stepped on the boat.

Yes, this is our little princess Landree. This is the best picture I got out of ten of her.  Apparently everything else was entirely more fascinating then her mama taking pictures. 

These are some of the incredible views of the lower level of the fort. Although you can't see in the picture, there were actually dolphins right near that boat!

Our tour guide when up the ladder to put up the flag for the day.

Going up is another story... if you afraid of tight spaces, it's a little rough. Suck it in and do it. It's a very small later and partially enclosed area to get to the top. If my three year old can do it, you can too. Don't be a bonehead. It's the beach, but cmon. Wear some tennis shoes. It makes it much much easier!

This picture is my most favorite of the trip. My husband is simply amazing. This gentleman was a vet and was telling my husband about how he still had bullets in his leg from his service. He wanted to go to the top, but didn't think he would make it. His family basically ditched him. What did my incredible husband do? He made sure that he made it up AND down. It made his entire trip and I actually found out RANDOMLY that he had been talking about him at other places around town. This is what paying it forward is all about. This man gave so much so we can have all that we do. A helping hand means everything. 

This is my crew. The loves of my life and my world.

Two hours there... and time for the beach.

We truly had amazing adventures. We decided it was time to put in some more beach time. Last year we met an amazing family, The Knight's. Truly... amazing people. Mikey and Jana have loved on us and Landree to no end. Did I mention Jana and I were the hottest babes on the beach? Erick has been an amazing friend and mentor to Erick with always just having the best wisdom. Jana. Where do we begin? She is one of the best mamas I know and just the most genuine and honest person I have ever met. Can we discuss her cakes? One you go Jana-cake, you never go back. To say that God put amazing God-loving people in our path for a reason? Understatement.

We decided to wrap up the day with some shelling. We found these bags online (3) for two dollars... I couldn't pass them up. It's an easy way for her to grab what she wants, and I'm not stuck carrying it for hours on end!

We are almost done with our amazing trip... I can't wait to show you how we wrapped it up! So thankful we were introduced to such an amazing place.

Florida, we are praying for you during Hurricane Irma!!!

St. Augustine Adventures: Day 5 The Alligator Farm

While I could write a thousand words about our second trip to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, I think pictures are so much better then words. It's an amazing place! For those that have another zoo or science center membership, OR AAA (among other discounts) make sure you ask! Our family was able to go for under 30 dollars and it was an amazing experience! 

So, when we left, I got a sweets craving. I was told by multiple people to try Dessert First Bistro. It didn't disappoint, although more pricey then I expected it to me. Needless to say, Landree enjoyed it!

Hopefully we will have day 6 posted before the end of the year!  :-p