Christmas Card 2011

We still have 2 more hours of Christmas day remaining...so from our little growing family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Birthday Jesus.

26 Weeks

Emmy Belly

Nora Belly

• Weight gain? 22lbs, I think.  I don't really want to know.  I'm sure 80% of the US population gains weight during the holidays, but only pregnant women have it tracked.
•  Stretch marks? None that I can see :)
• Belly button? Starting to stick out JUST a little at the tip top.
• Gender? a baby sis for Emmy! 
• Cravings? No, and I've actually put myself on a little diet.  Old fashioned oats w/ cranberries for breakfast, greek yogurt for a snack and a chicken and spinach salad at lunch (topped with cheese, fruit, veggies and a handful of grape nuts....it's pretty filling). Then I let myself eat whatever I want for dinner.  My stomach size is definitely small right now, so I never have THAT much for dinner anyway
• Latest hormonal outburst? Hah, yeah.  Just today- I yelled and Chris for no reason at all.  I later blamed it on the leftover ill-feelings from road rage that occurred on the way home.
• Vomiting? . Early on I was nauseous (subsided around 14 weeks), but no vomit from me.  Although there were many times I wish I could have.
• Feeling prepared? I think once the holidays are over, we will definitely start feeling more psychologically prepared.
• Names? Nora Lee
• Random pregnancy side effects? I tried reading a passage aloud at Sunday School this past week and I swear it took 3x the effort to read and process and then finally spit it out.
• Maternity Clothes? OH YES.
• Work? Yes, will work up to D-Day.
• Horrifying picture?  See above.  Seriously, wait until my 29 week update and you will see that the 26 week Nora belly is about the same (if not bigger) than the 29 week Emmy belly.

Santa 2011

Oh my, how far we have come in a year when this happened.

So proud of my little babe who marched right into Santa's house, sat on his lap and told him that she wanted Woody for Christmas.  She even gave him a smooch on the cheek.

Anticipation of the Unknown

Exactly fifty two weeks ago Chris and I had just gotten in a really big argument about......well, I don't know.  I don't remember because it was probably something not even worth arguing about.  Chances are I wasn't even mad at Chris or at a situation. Anxious thoughts had filled my head because I had a feeling that something was wrong inside of my body.  My pregnancy symptoms had disappeared too quickly and it wasn't the end of the first trimester yet.

Fast forward to this day and this post and our suspicions were confirmed.

Tomorrow (almost a year later from finding out about our 1st miscarriage) I will head to the doctor's office for a 26 week appointment.  I am so thankful that my anticipation of the unknown is different this time around.  As I feel the kicks, jabs, punches and rolls I know that Nora is currently thriving inside of me. All I *worry* about this time around is how my cervix is holding up.  No biggie really.  If it's bad, might have to go on bedrest.  If it's good, then life continues as it has the past 26 weeks.

I am sitting here trying to come up with some great conclusion.  But I have none.  I am just so happy to know that baby girl is alive and active.  I can't wait to see her tomorrow on ultrasound and hear her heart beating.  It's pretty much the best early Christmas present a girl could receive.

Life Lately

Here is your warning-

THIS IS GOING TO BE A BORING POST!  But, it is about our lives at the moment and it's journaling for journaling's sake.

Things going on at work:  I am a senior engineering tech at Samson, just celebrated by 5th anniversary and Samson just celebrated it's 40th anniversary.  Small side note (sarcasm): Samson just got bought by KKR and a few other companies for $7.2 billion.  Yes, that's a B in front of the "illion".  Seriously? I can't even fathom that much money.  All things are the same at work for the moment.  The deal is supposed to close on December 23rd.  If that happens a pretty nice bonus is coming my way.  If for some reason it doesn't go through, a small "sorry we put you through all that worrying" retention bonus will still be granted.  I am contemplating going back to school this fall.  I only have 24 hours remaining (so, that's only 8 classes which means 2 years max if trying to work part time and do school part time).  It's almost been 3 years since I was last in school and I know I need to just go back and finish.  There's only so much more I will be able to do in my current job.  And let's state the obvious, having a Masters in Petroleum Engineering will pay out just a little bit better than my current tech job.  It's not all about the $, but I can't lie- I welcome the thought of having enough $$ to go to every KU home basketball game :)

Things going on at Chris' work:  Not quite as eventful.  They keep firing people in the Tulsa area to cut down on overhead.  For a global company (well, the parent company is global), I just can't believe they haven't found any other way to cut down on OH.  He has been with APAC for 3 1/2 years and for the most part enjoys it.  I don't always enjoy his work schedule, but such is life.

Things going on at Emmy's work: (aka school).  School is ok.  We are on a wait list at another child care center close to downtown.  This is something that's on my mind constantly, but I need to be more persistent in praying about her getting into that school.  There have been some things that have happened at her current school that I am just not comfortable with.  Nothing that's a super huge deal, but just indicators of behavior that is allowed when parents aren't around.  Almost seems worthless to try to parent at home when the same things aren't being taught at school.  I realize that each child is parented different at home, but there are some common ground items (biting, hitting, talking back, etc) that you would expected to be addressed at school too.

Things going on in Nora's life:  She is currently breech and kicking the snot out of my lower area.  Her active times still tend to be at 2pm and 9pm.  I know she is active at other times, but I can always count on major movement during those two times.  I feel alot of little kicks and jabs from her, but rarely can I see my whole belly move because of her.  I remember with Emmy- my abdomen would move when she was having wrestling matches with herself inside my womb.  Also...Nora girl seems to have a bit lower heartrate than her older sister did.  Emmy's average heartrate reading was 155-165bpm.  The past few appointments, Nora's has been 140-145. Wonder if this is giving any insight to temperaments?

Things going on in Sally's life:  Sally lost Frank in early November.  She misses him and we need to get a companion for her.  She does enjoy human companionship slightly more now that he is gone.  But she is still weird and can still handle only small amounts of human love at a time.

Things going on at our house:  This will have to be a post all on it's own.  I hope I have taken enough pictures to do a time lapse journal on our backyard renovation.  Let me just say this though, my husband is amazing.  I knew he was handy, but I am coming to appreciate it more and more with his undertaking of this project.

Well, enough boring for now.  Just wanted to prove to myself I could blog something other than baby update.

24 weeks

Nora Belly

Emmy Belly

• Weight gain? ugh, probably up 20#.  BOO
•  Stretch marks? None that I can see :)
• Belly button? Starting to stick out JUST a little at the tip top.
• Gender? a baby sis for Emmy! 
• Cravings? Protein!  The insatiable hunger has struck!
• Latest hormonal outburst? Bursting out in tears in 0.2 seconds when a lady won Chopped that had about 10 adopted children.
• Vomiting? . Early on I was nauseous (subsided around 14 weeks), but no vomit from me.  Although there were many times I wish I could have.
• Feeling prepared? My illegal crib is up
• Names? Nora Lee
• Random pregnancy side effects? My Nails are FINALLY starting to grow.
• Maternity Clothes? OH YES.
• Work? Yes, will work up to D-Day.
• Horrifying picture? Any picture that captures my "looks 40 weeks pregnant" face would fit this category.
• Funny for the week:  Um...can't think of anything in particular.  But I did get a new phone, so I can't wait for the return of iPhone Fridays!

I don't want to forget

... That right now, my daughter is busy furrowing her eyebrows at daddy's "yucky" hands from doing backyard renovation work, wiping off mommy's kisses, yelling for 10 minutes after going to bed for us to come lay down with her, saying while in a public restroom "everybody going pee pee?", asking to watch Dora or Toy Story very morning, eating alot of ketchup, getting excited at seeing houses lit up with Christmas lights, wearing a size 6 shoe, de-robing at bedtime, singing Happy Birthday to no one in specific, loves to slam doors, taking her hand and tries to grab Nora out of my belly, running around nakey, so pleased with herself when she builds big towers with her giant legos, saying "you hear me?.....allllllll right?" and finally- I can't forget that she is growing into a little lady every day.