25 Weeks and Counting

Last week's picture:

It looks like I've just stuffed a basketball up my shirt...but I assure you, I am only pregnant.

I was having a fairly decent day....I like seeing some color in my cheeks again.

Seriously can't believe I still have 15 more weeks with which to grow! *Sigh* I can only imagine how big I am going to get.

A Sioux Fan Amongst Us

I overheard Jason say:

"Didn't Daddy teach you never to be a SIOUX fan?!?"

I'll be honest with y'all. Jason was a little bit of a whiner when I told him to grab her Sioux jersey. :)

Happy Hockey Day!

Today is Hockey Day in Minnesota. Jason is v.e.r.y. excited....to say the least.

Everyone had their jerseys on.

We celebrated by having Jason's family over for some pond hockey out back. He is also going to a Gopher hockey game this afternoon and then tonight we have a Wild Hockey party to go to with a few other families.

Jason couldn't ask for a better day.

Or cuter kids.

20 weeks

I don't post too often about myself...especially pictures. However...

I am going to make an exception this year. 

The reason for this blog is to capture the growing up years of my kids...a way to preserve things.

And...well...with new little one on the way...I guess her story has already started. 

I remember I didn't take a lot of pictures when I was pregnant with Ella, due to the fact that I was so severely sick. In fact, I think there are maybe....maybe...a whole 4-5 pictures from the entire pregnancy. At the time, I didn't want to smile for anything, capture the moment, etc. Now, looking back I wish I would have just done it, no matter how much like death I resembled. So this time around, I decided that no matter what the day held, I would try to make an effort of getting more pics. Can you tell this is a forced smile? I can. Wasn't feeling all that well the day of this picture. 

But with trying to keep in the spirit of things and not disect this entire picture...here I am at 20 weeks.

(PS...I am actually 26 right now...but need to do a little catch-up...bear with me.)

(PSS....and sorry about the yellowishness in the pic, it is driving me crazy....it was in the evening when I finally got out of my jammies for the day and was up for doing this...hmmm...maybe I'll chalk my "sick" look up to the lack of natural light...now that's an idea!)

Love how my tank top doesn't even cover my tummy all the way. ;) Oh, the start of getting bigger....

Puzzled

Cora is really into puzzles these days. She can spend hours doing them.

There will be times that I will hear a little voice say "Hold my hand, mama. Help me." And off she leads to a puzzle.

She was very proud of herself the other day when she assembed this one all by herself.

Last piece going in...

Clapping for herself!

Had to throw this one in, not because of the puzzle, but because of the bow in her head. She takes this bow with her everywhere. E.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. It goes to bed with her, it comes to the store, it has become her best friend somehow. Luckily, it even manages to make it in her hair on occasion.

The infamous "pirate face"

So proud!

Cora's Funnies

So this girl...she cracks me up. On a daily basis.

This is her go-to "silly face", by the way.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...and well, this one doesn't disappoint.

Cora with her usual silly antics...Lily looking on with a "seriously, kid!" expression.

Anyway...on to some funny things I've heard her say recently:

 

After taking a swig from her sippy cup, Cora bursts out laughing..."My tummy ate my milk, Mama!"

 

Cora: "Mama, I big...you little"

Me: "Oh really...You're big and Mama's little?!?!"

Cora: (with a little eye roll) "No, Mama...You big...I little!" and then laughs hysterically.

 

We routinely have fighting at the table when it's time to pray. Everyone wants it to be their turn to pray. Good problem to have, really.  Cora's prayer yesterday (said in the cutest 2 year old voice ever):

"Dear Jesus,

Thank you for Grandma's house, thank you for Papa's house, and thank you for Nana's house.

Amen."

 

She loves to talk about the new baby. And she is fascinated with the ever growing bump. She constantly comes over to touch my belly. But she has to be able to touch my skin. (I can only imagine how embarrasing this will be if it happens in the middle of the store) and excitedly says:

"New baby, Mama....new baby!!"

 

She loves to be just like mama. She has an amazing ability to pick out something, no matter how little, to match with me on. It can be where she is bathed in head to toe in pink and I may have a tiny polka-dot of the color somewhere in the pattern of my clothes. She will notice and proudly say:

"Just like mama!"

 

 

 

LOve, LoVe, LovE this little girl. Even when she's in the depths of her two year old tantrums...

 

 

A Few (Pregnant) Details

Things are clicking right along...I'm officially 21 weeks pregnant and have made it to the half-way point. I know that may not seem like a huge deal for some, but for me...well, it's a milestone to celebrate.

As many of you know, I was incredibly sick with Ella. I had hyperemesis gravidarum with that pregnancy. It is the single, most difficult thing I have ever had to endure. I was very sick, lost weight, became dehydrated, admitted to the ER, and finally put on IV therapy. My Mom came down every week (with the exception of one, where my auntie filled in for her) for over 20 weeks to care for me while Jason was at work. I, literally, was unable to take care of my self with only the basic of needs.

Just a quick rabbit trail here, but I learned more from my Mom during those 20+ weeks than she will ever be able to understand. She wasn't feeling well at that time and was dealing with her own health issues. To see her serve, sacrafice, and take care of  me during her own hard time blessed my heart in ways I can't explain and I really saw Jesus shine through her. I was becoming a mother for the first time, and seeing her example of what a mother is, taught me about what it means to sacrafice for your children. It showed me how strong a love can be between mother and her child. It raised a bar in me, set the standards high, and I still work to reach it every day. I strive to be a mother like my own.

*sniff* (The memories are so vivid, even thinking about it all again, brings me right back to those moments in time. How hard they were and how much of a difference my Mom made in my life; physically, spiritually, and emotionally.)

That first pregnancy was something, that at times, I truthfully wasn't sure I was going to survive. Hyperemesis literally is likened to going through chemo treatments. In fact, I was on zofran, which is the drug given to chemo patients for the severe and dibilitating nausea that is experienced. It was as if, each day, I felt like I was dying just a little more...hoping that I would be able to hang on until the baby was born.

SO...a few  some  many people have been shocked off their rockers when they have found out that I am pregnant again.

There are a lot of things that went into making this decision, and let me tell you that this baby was indeed planned. We wanted this baby before this baby even came to be. I am desperately and madly in love with this baby. And I'm thrilled to be a mom to another eternal being.

There were lots (and lots and lots) of conversations with God that took place. Converstaions asking where He was leading, what He wanted for our family. In fact, these conversations started about 4-5 years ago...and that's how long it has taken me to come around. To come to a point of even considering going through a pregnancy again...

*To be contintued*