3/24/13

Random Winter 2013 Pics

I had some cute pictures I just had to post.  The most recent ones (today) are the first few.  Despite the fact that it's supposed to be spring - it sure doesn't feel like it.  We just got another 6 inches of snow between last night and today.  On my days off it's hard for me to get both Little Bear and Shadow outside in the snow.  So, I'm definitely ready for the warmer temps.  Both boys LOVE being outside.
Little Bear giving Brother Shadow some love 
Brother Shadow patiently allowing Little Bear to use him as a back rest while reading a book
Little Bear watching Nikita roam around
Little Bear really enjoyed the Trumpeter Swan - he even honked at it after it had honked

As soon as lunch was over Little Bear was done with the zoo - he had missed his morning nap and it was showing

Pouring more milk on his cereal

Brother Shadow using Little Bear's coats and hat for cuddling

Most recent snow storm - we got about 6 inches by the end of the storm

Little Bear stuffing his face with beef tacos - we ordered 2 and they were both gone except for the tortillas

spending some time at the mall and having fun watching all the people on the lower level

Loves playing with his hard hat

Little Bear the foreman giving orders to carpenter Shadow

roots of some kind that my dad got out of our washer drain - YUCKY!!!!

18 Weeks Pregnant

Another week has gone by and I'm now 18 weeks.  Little Cub is now approximately the size of a mango (6 inches and 1/2 pound).  I've really felt more movement this week.  So cool!  Neurons are now connected between the brain, muscles, and cartilage.  That's why I've felt more movement.  I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm not always sleeping the greatest, but at least I can usually get a nap on the days I don't work.  I thought I'd put up a picture of me when I was pregnant with Little Bear as well, just to show the comparison.
18 Weeks Pregnant with Little Cub
18 weeks Pregnant with Little Bear

3/17/13

17 Weeks Pregnant

I forgot to take a picture last week - sorry.  But, here I am at 17 weeks.  I actually think I'm starting to feel Little Cub moving around a bit.  I got to hear the heartbeat again this week when I took Little Bear in for his 15 month check up.  Little Bear's doctor is also my doctor.  However, my doctor no longer does deliveries, so I'm going to the same midwife that I went to last time.  Anyway,  at the end of Little Bear's appointment, the doctor was kind enough to get out his doppler and let me hear the heartbeat.  It is such sweet music to my ears.  Despite the fact that God continues to reassure me that everything is OK, I still allow some fears to creep in.  I guess that's not too surprising, considering where I work and my history of having a miscarriage.

This week Little Cub is around 5 oz and about the size of a sweet potato.  I LOVE sweet potatoes, but I can tell you right now that I love Little Cub way more even though we haven't met face-to-face.  This week the nerves are forming more complex connections, the hearing is growing more acute, and Little Cub is mastering the art of yawning.  It's so amazing to me how all that is going on inside me.  Truly a miracle!!!

I haven't been sleeping the greatest the last couple of weeks.  However, since Little Bear was kind enough to give me his cold, I've had to take a little Benadryl at night so I can breathe.  Which, in turn has helped me sleep better.  I finally got some sudafed - which is on the approved list my midwife gave me and also some saline packets to wash my nose out with.  I don't know if you have ever tried that, but it really works!  I actually felt like I could function this afternoon instead of just exist.  I'm also taking vitamin C and vitamin D.  I increased my vitamin D to 8000iu/day for a few days like my doctor suggested before when I had a cold early on in this pregnancy.  Despite the fact that my immune system isn't working as well since I'm pregnant, I'm hoping to kick this cold as quickly as possible.
I think I'm starting to show more now - I feel like I just popped out in the last couple of days

3/10/13

First Haircut

So, today was a big day!  Papa Bear has been needing to get his haircut for a few weeks now.  I've been contemplating about getting Little Bear's hair cut, but just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Well, since Papa Bear was going today, I thought it would be a good opportunity to have Little Bear's done as well.  Little Bear sat in my lap and watched while Daddy got his hair cut.  Then, Little Bear sat in Papa Bear's lap and got his own penguin apron.  Parker - the barber had a bit of a challenge on his hands.  Little Bear didn't want to sit still.  He still managed to get Little Bear's hair trimmed up and looking much cleaner.  This Mama Bear cried, of course.  I did manage to save some of his hair (his handsome curls) to put into his baby book.  All of his curls are gone now, but I'm sure they'll come back.  I forgot to get a picture of the final look.  I'll hopefully post one soon.

Getting situated for his first haircut

Parker combing things out

Little Bear getting squirmy

Notice Little Bear's expression - he's not so sure about what's happening

Parker the barber gave Little Bear a comb to play with to help keep him occupied/distracted

Another gal that works at the shop, came over to help hold Little Bear's head still

Parker managed to not even cut Little Bear's ear with how much he kept squirming

And the curls are gone.

3/4/13

15 Weeks Pregnant


I'm glad to be past the first trimester now.  The first 10 weeks of this pregnancy were not fun! I had extreme nausea, but never threw up.  I had absolutely no appetite and ended up losing about 6 pounds.  I have an aversion to sweets and can't eat very much at one time or else I'm totally miserable.  I took some medication for a while to help with the nausea, but it made me really constipated.  So, I eventually took milk of magnesia which made me almost throw up.  So, I decided to stop the anti-nausea medicine and opt for the natural remedies my doctor suggested.  2 of those remedies are sucking on a lemon wedge for 30 seconds. The other one was to push ice water to the roof of my mouth for 30 seconds and then spit it out.  I tried both of these and they actually worked.  However, even though I'm no loner taking the anti-nausea medicine, I'm getting constipated again.  These things never happened during my pregnancy with Little Bear.  Who knows, maybe this baby is a girl.  We'll just have to wait and find out when the baby is born.  Yes, we are those people that are not going to find out the gender of the baby until the baby is born.  I love the anticipation it brings. I also enjoy seeing how frustrated other people get because they don't know what it is.  I've gotten to hear the heart beat several times and it is such sweet music to my ears.  I'm praying constantly for the protection over this baby who I will from now on refer to as "Little Cub."  So many things can go wrong during the development of an unborn child.  Believe me, I've seen first hand with where I work what the can happen and how truly a miracle the birth of a healthy baby is.  One thing I'm doing and what I even did during my pregnancy with Little Bear, is pray for specific things.  For Little Bear I prayed for a spirit of joy and contentment - so far God has answered my prayer.  For Little Cub, I'm praying for love and compassion.  There are many more things I'm praying for of course, but those are just a couple of them.  Right now the Little Cub is about the size of an avocado.  I had one on my counter and it was such a visual cue for me that Little Cub is already that big.  I have an ultrasound on April 1 to make sure all the parts are developing correctly.  I'm looking forward to that day.

I will try to post my pic once a week so you can see the progression.  So far I don't feel like I've popped out any sooner than I did with Little Bear.  I never lost all the baby weight from my pregnancy with Little Bear, so I think that's masking some of the pregnancy bump.  My clothes are getting uncomfortable and I need to pull out some of my maternity clothes.  The dress in the picture I just bought and will take my picture in it every week until Little Cub is born.

15 Months Old Already

 I can't believe my baby is 15 months old already.  He's so much fun to watch.  I'm just overall amazed at how kids develop.  I'm not going to brag and say that Little Bear is so advanced.  I just have never seen close up how kids learn and grow.  It's fascinating to me.  God truly is wonderful in how He put us together.  I just pray we as parents don't royally mess him up - but doesn't every parent feel that way?  The challenges are starting to grow as Little Bear grows, but so far I'm not drowning.  He's gotten pickier with his food.  Veggies aren't his thing unless they are combined with fruit and come in one of the pouches.  He LOVES those things.  He likes breads, pizza, tacos, sometimes mac-n-cheese, peanut butter and jelly, bananas, cereal, oatmeal, and whatever I'm eating.  He used to eat anything I put in front of him, but he has now become very selective. I've heard that's just a part of where he's at in life and that he'll eventually start eating more foods again.  I sometimes struggle with what to make for him because sometimes he won't eat what I give him and he just ends up having PB&J.  Oh well, something to figure out and work on.  He's starting to say "all done" and sign it at the same time.  He loves playing with my vacuum cleaner.  Even when he's at CC's, he immediately goes and grabs the toy vacuum cleaner.  So cute!  He also likes to grab the broom and "help" sweep the kitchen floor. Notice the gate in the first few pics?  We had to put something around the fireplace so we could actually use it this winter and not have Little Bear investigate the flames and get burned.  He loves to look through it and watch Daddy build the fire.

He was quite fascinated with the sticker I put on him for these pictures

What a handsome little face! Look at that round belly too



Notice his hair in these next 2 pics.  It's starting to get really out of control.  But, I just can't bring myself to cut it yet.  He's too young for a hair cut.  Besides, I like looking at the curls in the back and don't want those cut off

Any suggestions on how to tame the hair?