16 Weeks

How far along? 16 Weeks.  Have missed a few weeks of blogging, but that's no surprise given my blogging track record :)
Symptoms: Nausea is basically gone, except I seem to have picked up quite the gag reflex.  Like last time, my toothbrush has become my enemy.  I gag every time I brush my teeth.
Total weight gain/loss: +5
Maternity clothes? My regular clothes still fit, pants are getting pretty tight.
Sleep:  I have been going to bed early and sleeping like a rock!
Best moment this week:  Nicholas started giving me big bear hugs when going in to get him in the morning or after a nap.  Its so cute!  Also, we upgraded to a bigger vehicle so now will have plenty of room for Nicholas, new baby, Daisy, visitors, and anything else we feel like taking in the car!
Movement: Yes, have been feeling movement for the past few weeks.  I think if I was pg for the first time, I would't know what I was feeling, but since I am familiar with the sensation, I can recognize it this time.
Food cravings:  Nachos!
Gender: Our Anatomy scan is scheduled for 9/17, so in just a few weeks!  We do have names picked out but are still noodling on the middle names so I'll hold off on sharing those for now.
Labor Signs: none.
Belly Button in or out?  in.
What I miss: A nice cocktail after a long day of work.
What I am looking forward to:  We are going to WI this weekend for my youngest cousin's wedding!  Will be nice to see the family and catch up.  Hope to get some relaxing done too since there will be lots of other people around to chase after Nick.
Milestones:  Have had 2 OB appts since last time I posted as well as the NT scan which was normal.  Met with the MFM (maternal fetal medecine) folks at the hospital since I have a few issues (previous pre-eclampsia and spina bifida in the family.)  So far, I really like all of the doctors at the hospital and the OB practice.  Well into the second trimester now and amazed at how much more relaxed I am about things this time around.

11 Weeks

How far along? 11 Weeks
Symptoms: Pretty good this week.  Felt queasy one day but that was pretty much it.  Nicholas and Josh were in Pittsburgh this week so I have gotten to do lots of relaxing which has been nice.
Total weight gain/loss: +3
Maternity clothes? My regular clothes still fit, pants are getting pretty tight.
Sleep:  I have been going to bed early and sleeping like a rock!
Best moment this week:  Ventured out into the city by myself today to meet an old friend for lunch.  While I miss my boys, it was nice to have some "me" time.  Oh, and getting to go to Georgetown Cupcake :)
Movement: Nothing yet.
Food cravings:  Pasta.
Gender: Won't know for another 9 weeks or so.
Labor Signs: none.
Belly Button in or out?  in.
What I miss: A nice cocktail after a long day of work.
What I am looking forward to:  My boys coming home on Monday.  I miss them!  I can't wait for a hug and a kiss from my NickNick! 
Milestones:  1st OB appointment is this week.  Need to talk to the doctor about a few things, namely the possibility of getting pre-eclampsia again and finding out if there is anything I can do to prevent that from happening.

10 Weeks

How far along? 10 Weeks
Symptoms: Much better this week- The nausea seems to be gone but I am feeling like I am coming down with some kind of cold.  Always feel like I could use a power nap!
Total weight gain/loss: +2 or 3
Maternity clothes? My regular clothes still fit, pants are getting pretty tight.
Sleep:  Like a baby, but already getting up to pee 1-3 times per night.
Best moment this week:  Nicholas and I had some mommy and me time today- we went shopping and got his haircut.  It was fun to have some 1:1 time with him.
Movement: I know that I can't possibly be feeling the baby yet, but I do feel something from time to time.  Probably just gas, haha.
Food cravings:  Anything cheesy.
Gender: Won't know for another 10 weeks or so.
Labor Signs: none.
Belly Button in or out?  in.
What I miss: A nice cocktail after a long day of work.
What I am looking forward to:  Dr appt next Monday.... hoping to hear the heartbeat on the doppler.
Weekly Wisdom: I'm amazed at how much more relaxed I am about this baby then I was with Nicholas.  I think it is comforting to have an idea of what is coming.
Milestones:  Getting past the 1st tri nausea.  Hopefully it doesn't recur!

Baby makes 4!

On my 34th birthday, June 7, 2012, I found out that I was expecting baby #2!  Talk about a surprise!  I had stopped taking birth control that month and assumed that it would take a few months for us to conceive as it had with Nicholas.  Well, I guess my body and fate had other plans.  This baby is due on Valentines Day, 2013.  I am going to keep this blog private for a few more weeks until we are ready to go totally public, but wanted to get it started so that I can start posting weekly updates.

10 Months

Bubbs,

Another month has flown by.  As usual, I can't believe how fast it has flown by.  You are such a happy baby these days.  I think you are a happy guy in general, but I also think that this is because you get lots of one on one attention all day long from your daddy.  We are blessed that we have the financial means for him to stay home with you!



You keep hitting your milestones like a champ.  I read other mommy blogs and you seem to be a bit ahead on some things and a big behind on others, so probably a good middle of the road balance there.  Lets start with food.  You LOVE your food now!  Your favorite things are probably sweet potatoes, bananas, and macaroni and cheese.  You also eat peas, beans, corn, lima beans (yes, you like them... at least for now!) applesauce, pears, peaches, etc. We like to give you small pieces of what we are eating so you sometimes get french fries, bits of chicken, bits of hamburger.  You pretty much eat whatever we put in front of you, which is nice.



You really respond well to being on a routine.  Here is your typical day:  wake up around 7-8 am, then have your first bottle.  Play for an hour and a half or two, then down for your first nap.  When you wake up, you have fruit and cereal.  Then play for a few hours, then down for nap # 2.  Wake up and have some lunch.  Play for a few more hours, and if you are cranky, you go down for nap #3.  Then wake up and have some dinner.  Then play for a few more hours, have a bottle and/or a tubby, and then bedtime.  You are a really great sleeper and usually sleep all night once we get you to bed.



We went on two trips this month.  First, we went to FL to visit Grandma Mindy and Pappy Keith.  You did great on the trip!  You took your first dip in the ocean (The Gulf of Mexico) and you seemed pretty happy about it.  You got to visit with lots of family and you especially liked your cousin Madison.  We spent some time at the Sponge Docks where there are lots of Greek restaurants.  ALL of the old Greek ladies were in love with you and complimenting us on how beautiful you are.  That never gets old :)



We also took a trip to Madison to visit Nana and Grandpa Larry.  Everybody there was so happy to see you and we had a really great visit.  You got to play naked in the kiddie pool that Nana bought you and you were pretty happy about that because it was very hot while we were there, over 100 degrees.  We had an adventure on the way home travel wise and ended up getting diverted to Dayton, OH.  As usual, you charmed everybody around us on the airplane and really took all of the travel really well considering that we were breaking up your routine, making you sleep in strange beds, etc.  We are lucky that you are such a good little traveler!



Most of your words still sound like da da da da.  When you are really mad, they sound like ba ba ba ba, and when you are upset, its ma ma ma ma.  We are hoping you start saying some real words soon, but we also love your baby babble.  We are making an effort to take the nuk nuk away during the day so that you can talk a lot.  For now, you just use the nuk at night, during naps, and sometimes when you finish your bottle (you are usually upset that it is finished.)



Speaking of bottles, you hold your own bottle now!  This was really nice on our trips because it frees up a hand for mommy and daddy.  Sometimes you need help tipping the bottle up all the way, or holding it with the top facing up, but you have the general idea.  You have also taken to the sippy cup now that we found you one with a straw.  This has been nice because with the extreme heat, we have been giving you water while we are out and about to make sure you stay hydrated, and a straw and sippy cup makes that much easier.



You seem to love life more every day.  You love to play games with Mommy and Daddy, and you love to try and pet Mason, although he seems to be loving you less these days, now that you have learned how to tug on his tail and ears.  We are moving to our new house next week and I can't wait to see you explore your new surroundings there.  Moving also means that Daisy will be joining us (she has been with Josh's dad in Pittsburgh for the past 2 months so that she didn't have to stay at the apartment.)  I'm sure that she is going to be very excited to see you, and you her.



Every day with you is a joy, and we are so lucky to be your Mommy and Daddy!  I love you Nicholas Jason :)

9 Months

My little love,

You are now 9 months old.  Mommy can't believe that you have been on the outside for as long as you were on the inside!!!  I sort of miss having you all to myself, but at the same time I love seeing the relationship you have with your Daddy, and with all of the rest of our family!



We have had a VERY busy month!  We packed up our whole house in Indiana and moved!  You and Daddy spent a week in Pittsburgh visiting with the family and then the three of us (and Mason) made the long drive from Pittsburgh to Boston.  You handled it like a champ!



You have a new room now (although it is temporary-- we are in an apartment until we move into our house next month) but you are pretty much back into your routine and sleeping through the night.  You are tearing the place up by crawling all over- you have pretty much mastered the art of crawling.  You are also pulling yourself up on everything including the couch, pillows, chairs, Mommy, Daddy, and even Mason!  You are really good at standing while holding onto something but don't seem too interested in walking yet.



We did your 9 month checkup a few weeks early so we could do it before we moved and the doctor said you were "perfect."  You were 18 lbs, 6 oz and 27 3/4 inches long.  Everybody says you are a "big boy" when they see you, but really you are still kind of a peanut- you are about at the 25th percentile for weight and 40th for height.



You LOVE your food, especially things that you can eat on your own.  You love feeding yourself cheerios, all kinds of puffs, bananas, peas, etc.  We are slowly introducing you to new foods and letting you feed yourself when we are eating something you can easily mush in your mouth :)  You are eating 3 meals a day now and still taking about 3 bottles.  We have been giving you a sippy cup from time to time but you are not terribly interested in it.  We will have to work on that because you are supposed to be weaned from the bottle (and formula) by the time you are a year old.



You are such a happy baby.  You love to laugh and smile, and you are sooooo ticklish.  You love to play games with Me and Daddy.  You love to hold things that are not toys like the Desitin or the baby wipes container, or our keys.  You definitely know what you want and will purposefully reach for things that you are interested in.  You also really, really love Mason and Dasiy.  You light up whenever either of them come into the room and you love to pet them.  We are working on making sure you are gentle with them, but they honestly don't seem to care.  They love you too and are happy for the attention :)

   

You love to "talk."  You are always chatting and right now it sounds a lot like "ba ba ba ga go ga da da da."  The other day I handed you to Daddy and you said "da da."  Not sure if that was your first word or a mere coincidence, lol.  You also love to squeal and make vibrations with your mouth.  Oh, and spit bubbles too.  You LOVE to make spit bubbles.



We love watching you learn about your new surroundings.  You are very curious and spend a lot of time looking around when we go to a new place or see new people.  It is such an honor to watch you figure the world out.  The best part of my day is still getting home after a long day and seeing that big baby smile that you save just for me.  I love it so much, and I love you to bits!  You are such a blessing Nicholas and Daddy and I love you to the moon!

8 Months

NickNick,

You are now 8 months old!  We had a very busy month and you handled it pretty well.  We went to visit Nana and Grandpa in Wisconsin for Easter and then we went to MA to househunt for our new home and you were such a trooper.  As usual, you made friends everywhere we went.  People have literally stopped us in the street to tell us what a beautiful baby you are.  It starts to get kind of funny after awhile, because people tend to gush and gush about you, but we just happily agree and thank them.



Biggest developmental thing this month is that you are CRAWLING.  You started out a bit slow at it but you are now a champ.  You can get from one end of the room to the other in just a few seconds and you love to look back behind you to make sure me and Daddy are watching.  We have taken to making you a play area in the living room by blocking you in with the couch cushions to keep you safe.



You are also now sitting up by yourself which makes you seem like such a big boy!  When you wake up in the morning, you usually sit up in your crib and babble to yourself for a few minutes until we are ready to get up.  You are also learning that crawling and sitting up like a big boy leads to falling over and getting big boy boo boo's like bumps on your head.  You hit your head on the bottom of the jumperoo this weekend and you were soooooo upset.  Just a few cuddles from Mommy had you calmed down though :)



You are still eating everything we give you.  You are now on to the 2nd foods so are enjoying combinations of things like apple blueberry and apple cherry.  We have also been starting to give you some finger food like banana puffs, small pieces of banana, and puffs.  Took you a little while to figure out how to stick food in your mouth (which is funny because you stick everything else in there just fine!) but now you are getting pretty good at it.  Sometimes its nice to be able to give you a few puffs to play with eat so that Mommy and Daddy can finish their dinner.



You are totally in love with our dog Daisy and she is totally in love with you.  She is very good with you and sits at a distance for the most part, until she just can't take it anymore.  Then she inches her way over closer and closer at which point you get curious and stick your hands in her face.  She happily licks your hands, your feet, your face (gross) until Mommy and Daddy make her stop.  You are also getting good at petting our cat Mason and being gentile with him.



You went swimming for the first time at our hotel in MA a few weeks ago.  YOU LOVED IT.  You had a huge smile on your face and you and Daddy had so much fun playing in the water.  We intend to get you into swimming lessons soon after we get settled in MA and we are sure you are going to love that as well.



You still only have the two bottom teeth, but are definitely drooling up a storm so we are thinking there are more coming soon.  Your sleep got really messed up while we were in MA because we got you out of your routine but we also think that teething may be playing a part in you waking up a few times a night.  At first we were getting up and giving you bottles to calm you down but we have been trying to let you sooth yourself back to sleep which usually works.



This will sound like a broken record, but we love you so much Nicholas.  Literally the best part of our days are getting to watch you learn, smile, grow, and just be you.  You are the best thing that has ever happened to us, baby.  We love you!