Baby talk- 12 weeks

12 weeks

I will try and post these earlier in the week, but due to the holidays I am posting this a little later.

Due to holiday food, my normal less than flat stomach, and getting close to the 2nd trimester, I am beginning a baby bump. It doesn't feel or look much like a baby bump to me, just belly fat. It is that awkward phase where you feel like people are just thinking you have gained weight. Ha!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 12 weeks

Size of baby: about the size of a lime

Total Weight Gain/Loss: about 1-2 lbs(maybe more since Chrismtas:o)

 Clothes: I can wear almost all my regular clothes.

Gender: scheduled to find out Feb 14

Movement: Not yet.

Sleep: I have been sleeping better this week. Before last week, I was sleeping terrible. I would fall asleep fine, but wake up in the night to go to the bathroom and not be able to go back to sleep. I still wake up, but am able to fall right back asleep.

What I miss: Caffiene. I am really missing my daily caffiene fix. I didn't miss it at all with Brady. I still allow myself a little, but not every day and not much at that, like 1/2 a coke or a small coffee.

Cravings: I didn't have any cravings with Brady really. This time I could eat fried rice all day every day. I also really wanted a good, big cheeseburger yesterday. Not a fast food one, a thick grilled one.

Symptoms: The nausea has seemed to have gone. Thank goodness!    I am still tired a lot. It usually hits me around 2-4 pm almost every day.  Other than that I am feeling much better this week.

Best Moment this week: Just enjoying Christmas and thinking about next year we will be a family of four at Christmas. Also, not having any nausea!

What am I looking forward to: My next appointment so Caleb can hear the heartbeat as well.

Birthday Celebrations

December 23, 2011

We started the day off with letting Brady open one gift as soon as he woke up. Brady was so sweet when he woke up. He yelled, "Its my birthday, today!" He was so very excited!

He got this little playdough set. He loved it!

I made him banana pancakes, his favorite breakfast. I don't like pancakes, but Brady told me they were
de-wicious(delicious)!

After that Brady and I just had a normal day at home playing, cleaning, and nap time.

I made cupcakes for Brady's birthday dinner while Brady was napping.

Around 6:30 we met my parents,my brother, Caleb's parents, Caleb's brother and his wife, my grandparents, and our friend, Taylor at Brady's restaurant of choice, Chuy's.   Noah was sick so Amy, Bryan, and Noah had to miss. Brady was really concerned about Noah.

He was a little excited.

We enjoyed yummy food, great company, fun gifts, and cupcakes. The waitress took one cupcake and lit the candle and they all came and sang to Brady. I wish I had a picture of his face.

Brady was so, so good. I think he really had a great time. He told everyone thank you and went around and gave everyone hugs. He was really, really good. I was proud. (He hasn't been that good since. We have to get back to some sense of normalcy, I think.)

This was a super easy way to celebrate his birthday on his birthday. No mess, no cooking, no clean-up, we could just all enjoy it. It was nice especially since the days following were so crazy.

We will be having a belated birthday party with Brady's friends some time in January. It is just too much in December. More on that when it happens.

The last of Christmas 2011

After church we went to Caleb's parents for Christmas with his family.

Caleb's family Christmas is so chaotic. Many don't show up on time, no one knows when or how things are supposed to go, and we are usually starved by the time the food is ready. Despite all that, it is always a good time. Caleb's family is great, the food is always really good, and everyone seems to have a good time. You just have to go through a little crazy to get there. It has become part of the tradition, guessing who will be late and what time we will eat.

To keep with the chaotic feel, someone passes out the gifts and everyone just opens them all at the same time. No one knows who the gifts are from or what anyone got.

At one point I was opening my gifts and helping Brady with his gifts and I looked over at Caleb and he hadn't touched his gifts. I asked him what he was doing, he said, "I am trying to watch everyone else open their gifts." I told him he has been around my family too long.

 Brady was a little more difficult by this point. He still did good, but he had his moments of tantrums and fits. I am certain he was worn out, but we still have to be nice even when we are tired.

Brady fell asleep on the way home from church that night, around 7-7:30. We put him in bed and he slept until morning.

We were all worn out.

This week we are trying to find homes for all our new toys, rest up, and get all the Christmas decorations down and put away.



Christmas #3

Christmas morning, we all got up and gathered under the tree.

All Brady asked for from Santa this year was a fishing pole and a balloon. Santa didn't bring a balloon, the excuse was that Brady got 2 balloons for his birthday Friday.

Santa threw in a few bonus gifts as well.

After Brady checked out all his gifts from Santa, he opened gifts from Mommy and Daddy. Caleb and I just did stockings for each other this year.

I fixed some cinnamon rolls and we all rushed around to get to church with Caleb's parents on time.

We made it and we have no idea how we made it on time.

Caleb's family Christmas next.

Christmas Festivities- 2nd Edition

After the extended family all left, Brady and Noah had naps, and Caleb arrived after working half a day, we started round 2 of Christmas at my parents.

This was just with my parents, brothers, sister, and our immediate families. My grandparents come by usually to watch the fun. (This might be my favorite part of Christmas.) I love my family. I love that everyone opens each gift one at a time while everyone watches. I love that we joke and laugh with each other. I love the memories that have been made through this tradition.  I love that when we got home, Caleb said he really had a lot of fun. I just love it all. 

We pass out all our gifts and put them in piles. Then we go around and open each gift one at a time. I love to see every one's reactions to their gifts. So fun!

Caleb, Brady, and I got some great stuff, including a new laptop, Keurig, and Leapster Explorer.  My parents always do to much. I am so grateful for them.

After gifts, we ate, of course. It was yummy, again!

Everyone played with their new toys and just visited until it was time to head home.

Noah was sick and had a rash on his legs so that is why he wasn't wearing pants.

 A few more rounds of Christmas to come.

Christmas Festivities-Numero Uno

We had a great family Christmas!

It was crammed into 2 long days. 

Brady and I got up Saturday(Christmas Eve) morning and loaded up my car with food and gifts. We sent Caleb off to work and headed to my parent's house around 10 am. The first event wasn't until noon technically, but we wanted to visit with my brother before everyone got there.

We all enjoyed a yummy Christmas breakfast/brunch with my Mimi's(my step-dads mother) and her side of the family.

The food was followed by gifts. I find it really interesting how different each family and/or family gathering differ in the way they do gifts. For example, at this particular yearly event, everyone just rips into their gifts all at once. It is crazy and chaotic. I have no idea what anyone got, but Brady and Noah. Ha!

Brady was hilarious opening his gift here. He got a toy rifle. He jumped up and down yelling, "I got  a gun! I got a gun!" It was so funny. He also got a bicycle from my Mimi. It is a little big, but he will grow. ; )

Brady did well and told nearly everyone thank you without a fight at this point. The only time he really gave me any trouble was around nap time, but he went down for a nap fine once a lot of people cleared out.

This is a terrible picture, but after the boys tested out their new riding toys, they immediately started playing  with the bat and ball from the dollar store that is always at my parent's. Ha Ha!

Christmas Festivities- number 2 to follow.

Merry Christmas!!!

From our Family to yours...

Here are some, uhm, less than perfect pictures so you can appreciate the above two a little more.

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday, Brady James!!!

Brady is 3 today!!!

It seems like only yesterday, we were walking into the hospital anxious to meet our sweet baby boy. 

He has been a huge blessing in our lives. I honestly don't know what we did without him. 

We love him more and more each day, even when we don't think it is possible to love him more. 

Happy Birthday sweet boy.

2008

2009

2010

2011

I will share our full day in a later post! 

Happy Birthday, little monkey! Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

...And we're back with all things Christmas.

We have been busy, busy. Christmas is in full swing! I am going to try to quickly get up to date.

Friday we joined some friends for a play date at a local bouncy place. The kids loved it! The momma's did too. I wasn't able to play on the bouncy things due to my current state, but I enjoyed watching everyone else. 

I did get nominated by the kiddos to take them into the Hurricane simulator. You can watch part of that experience here, courtesy of the sis. 

Saturday we had our yearly lunch for families in need with our group from church. We teamed up with the local program for abused women and children. We helped 3 families and 2 elderly women.  It went well.The families were so grateful. They were overcome with gratitude. Several happy tears were shed.  Brady did great! He was such a big helper. He really thought he was a big boy. He even walked out with the big boys when people would arrive to help carry in food and gifts. So sweet. I am one proud Momma!!!

My grandparents also moved  the last of their stuff to their new house around the corner from my parents. We hung out with them for a little while, before spending the night at home. 

Sunday was a typical  Sunday filled with Church and family.

Monday, I had my doctors appt. so Brady stayed with the in-laws. Caleb and I joined up with them after he got off work for a small friends of the family party. The food was so good! Brady was having a rough night and had a few meltdowns, which resulted in getting into trouble.

I will share my Facebook status the next day...
Last night Brady got into trouble. Caleb took him to the back room at his parents house. On the way, Brady says, "he is scared". Caleb asks, "why are you scared?" Brady replies, "because of the monsters". (it was dark) Caleb tells him monsters aren't real. Brady replies, "Micheal Jackson ISN'T REAL!!!"
True story.


Even in trouble, he is hilarious. 


Tuesday, we had a kid devotional/Christmas party. Brady has talked about how much fun he had since. They did a gift exchange and he got a Lightning McQueen car he loves! He was much better this night. When we got home, he said, "I wasn't bad, I was good tonight". 

Brady always volunteers to lead a song and a prayer. He amazes me.

Wednesday, Brady and I met one of my old bosses from work who is getting married and moving away in a couple weeks. I am so glad we did this. We had a great lunch. Brady and I grabbed some frozen yogurt and went to see Santa's reindeer afterwards, but before heading home and getting ready for church. 

For some reason, Brady kept asking to get his picture made with random things, so we did. I got so tickled at him. 

We have much more going on over the next several days, including a very special birthday!!!