16 Weeks

Size of Baby: An Avocado

Cravings: Not really many cravings different from what I already mentioned. I really am liking the sour things.

What is Different this Time Around: More headaches than with Hope or Haven. I also think I have some sciatica acting up already. Makes it hard to walk sometimes.

Symptoms: Nausea (although I think it is finally starting to decrease), headaches, baby flutters (getting stronger), Braxton Hicks, backache, easily sunburned (found that out the hard way), irritability.

Appointments: Just had a doctor's appointment last night. Talked with the doctor about some questions that I had, and she definitely reassured me that she is a natural childbirth doctor who will not intervene with the natural process unless absolutely necessary for the health and safety of mother and baby. Listened to the baby's heartbeat and it is 140. This is lower than Hope and Haven ever were. Maybe it's a boy after all. We set up our next appointment for May 17. On this date we will have the ultrasound, probably the last, but will request that gender remain unknown. Can't wait to see the little one again!

Quick Update

Haven calls herself Haybin now.
She says "Wowie!" and it sounds so cute.
Hope loves to sing and talk to herself when she plays.
Also when we tell her something and she gets excited, she starts talking about herself in the third person.
She loves to tell stories.
She is also very good about helping with chores around the house.
I just started a Ransom Box today, for when she leaves toys out. They go in the Ransom Box and she can pick a card of a chore to do in order to get one toy back. Right now she is very excited and motivated to do chores so she can earn her toys back.
Haven likes to sit on the potty but has not experienced actually using it yet. Hopefully that day will come soon.
The girls love to play together. They especially love running and squealing with each other. I think it must be their favorite thing to do together.

That's about it for now...

Fifteen Weeks

A friend of mine has been posting about her pregnancy on her blog, and I like her idea so I'm going to copy her (hope you don't mind, Damie...).

Size of Baby: An apple

Cravings: Sour things, pickles (sounds very cliche), cheese. Most of the time I don't have a craving for something until I hear something mentioned or see it somewhere, or a picture of it. Then I crave it until I get it. Sometimes the actual taste is not the same as what I was craving, or my stomach turns once I eat it.

What is Different This Time Around: Much more nausea. I was fatigued for the whole first trimester, not sure if that was just pregnancy, or having two little girls to keep up with at the same time. I'm feeling more energy now though, thankfully. Our house is looking much more live-able now that second trimester is here. I have different cravings than I did with Hope and Haven. I think I craved sweet things a lot more with both of them. Also, no salt craving this time around. With Haven, I had pica for salt. I would eat it by itself... Not so this time around.

Symptoms: Almost constant nausea, double sneezes, Braxton Hicks contractions, and small baby flutters.

Appointments: April 19 is the next OB appointment. Just a normal prenatal visit. Nothing special... I think the ultrasound will be at around 18 weeks. Oh, and for those who might be wondering, we are not going to find out gender until the baby is born. We like the suspense and surprise. 

Dreaming

I had an awful dream this morning...

Hope, Haven and I were down at the river with my mom and my sisters. We were sitting down on these bleachers that were set up on the water. I saw a friend of mine planting a tree down by the water, so I went over to see what she was doing because it looked really interesting.

I looked over to where Hope and Haven were with my mom, and saw that Haven was submerged under the water. I watched as Hope ducked under the water to try to help Haven, but then she couldn't come back up for some reason.

I ran down to where they were and pulled them both out of the water, looked up at my mom and asked, "What is wrong with these bleachers?" Suddenly, the bleachers I was standing on gave away and sank to the bottom of the river. Also, the bleachers that my mom and sister were sitting on gave way and fell into the river as well.

I was treading water, trying to keep Hope from sinking and looking up at this wall, at the top of which were more bleachers with many people sitting there. I held Haven up, saying, "Someone hold my baby!" Hope kept sinking under the water while I tried to get someone to help me with Haven, but nobody heard me or wanted to help.

While we were still in trouble, treading water... I woke up.

The Many Faces of Haven

Contemplating her dinner...

Mischief?

Gotta love that tongue :)

Happy face

Thoughtful

What big eyes you have!

Blurry...

Scrunchy smile

There's that tongue again...

These are post-haircut photos. See the baby bangs?

Sweetie

So serious

Laughing

So happy...

Serious as she talks on the camera lens cell phone.

Making Cornbread Muffins

Hope loves to help in the kitchen. Our kitchen is not very "kid-friendly" so it is usually off limits, unless Hope is helping me with something. She's getting much better at following directions and keeping her grabby hands to a minimum.

So, about a week ago we made some cornbread to go with our dinner. Hope helped me to add all the ingredients into the bowl and stir it all up. Then she helped me pour out the batter into the muffin tin.

Of course, the best part of helping to bake is the end result and being able to help consume it!

Welcome, Welcome...

For those of you who may not know... I am a Seventh-Day Adventist. Every Friday is spent in preparation for the Sabbath, which starts at sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday. I am not always able to do everything that I want to get done in preparation for the Sabbath. But as the sun sinks below the horizon, I stop my preparation and begin to welcome the Sabbath.

Some of the things that we've incorporated into our time of welcoming the Sabbath are lighting a few candles and playing a special Sabbath song. I love the feeling of knowing that we can rest from all our labor and leave our weekly worries in God's more than capable hands. Having these few special things to welcome the Sabbath with helps to set it apart.

Sabbath is a time of rest, a time of re-creation, a time to re-connect with God in a meaningful, special way. I don't rest on Sabbath because I believe it saves me. I rest because God knows I need it and has asked me to remember it. I know that He desires to spend this time with me.

As I sit here this Sabbath evening, I have peace in my heart. "Welcome, welcome, ever welcome, blessed Sabbath Day!"