24 Weeks - Nellie

How far along? 24 weeks...the size of an ear of corn!  Or a 1/2 gallon of milk or a foot long sub sandwich.  All items that I did not have in the house this week.
Total weight gain: 10.6 pounds
Maternity clothes? I've been living in dresses, maternity and non-maternity
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: horrible. i have to pee like 6 times a night and I can't seem to get comfortable. boo.
Best moment this week:  having an extra day off (Labor Day) with Mila
Worst moment this week: Mila has a little runny nose and it took me until 10pm last night to get her to to sleep. E X H A U S T I N G.
Miss anything? today I really wanted a sub sandwich. pretty sure that's because someone told me my baby is that size this week. eek.
Movement: not as much as I would like. I don't know if it's because my placenta is on the front (is it still?) but I only vaguely feel Nellie moving on the inside, never on the outside anymore.
Food cravings: a CUPCAKE.  I almost lost it on Tuesday night when Robert was at work and I needed a cupcake so badly I had to go to bed before I started crying!  I was reminded again that I have the best husband ever when I came home from work on Wednesday and Robert had cupcakes waiting for me in the fridge.

Anything making you queasy or sick? still nothing. hopefully I can hold out and make it through the next four months without!
Have you started to show yet: the bump has arrived. I definitely think my belly is bigger this time around, which is crazy since I haven't gained as much weight. But that shows you how weird/amazing the female body is.
Labor signs: no...thank goodness!
Belly button in or out? in but still looking REALLY weird
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy!
Looking forward to: staying in Laguna Beach tomorrow night with Robert to celebrate our 4th anniversary.  And it's kid free!  Well, Mila free :)

To check my stats from this week in my pregnancy with Mila, click here.

Mila's Proudest Moment

Tonight, about 6:50pm (a.k.a. juuuuuuust about bedtime) Mila said she "poo poo" and walked into the bathroom and wanted to sit on the potty.  She and I sat there for what seemed liked 45min and then she got up and there was nothing.  Then, for about four times, we went back and forth between the living room and bathroom because she still said she had to go.  At one point she asked Robert to come, then went to the bathroom, sat down and pee peed in the potty!!  Robert and I were shocked and ecstatic to say the least.  We definitely made a bigger deal about it then we did the last time and were cheering and shouting and Mila was SO proud of herself.

Of course she got a sucker and we spent the entire amount of time that it took for her to eat that sucker walking between the living room and the bathroom, cheering for her going pee pee in the potty.  By this time it was almost 8pm and it was well past bedtime.  We tried putting her down but she was just too excited and proud of herself.  I always rock her, in my arms, while standing up and sing a little song to her; tonight, the entire time she kept saying "mama, pee pee in the potty.  mama, pee in the potty!"  At one point she put both her arms up and yelled yay!  It took us two rounds of our normal routine to get settled down enough to go to sleep.  It was like she wanted to keep trying, she was too excited to stop.

It was seriously the cutest thing I have ever ever seen and I am SO proud of her. Not because she went pee pee in the potty, but because it was HER idea and she was SO SO SO proud of herself.  She was exploding with pride.

I never ever want to forget this moment.

23 Weeks & Dr Appointment - Nellie

I apologize for Roscoe looking like a weirdo

How far along? 23 weeks...the size of a mango!
Total weight gain: 9.6 pounds (yes that's 3lbs in the last week. don't talk to me.)
Maternity clothes? one maternity dress so far!
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: yay for good sleep this week!
Best moment this week:  getting great test results for my Quad blood screen
Worst moment this week: saying bye to Sissy in Chicago and knowing I won't see her until February :(
Miss anything? i'm actually pretty content right now :)
Movement: pretty consistent movement but not a lot at one time
Food cravings: this week I really needed some chocolate. but there was none in the house and I may or may not have cried.
Anything making you queasy or sick? still nothing
Have you started to show yet: the bump has arrived
Labor signs: no...thank goodness!
Belly button in or out? in but still looking REALLY weird
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy!
Looking forward to: buying something (anything?!) for Nellie! how have I held out this long?!

I had another doctor's appointment/check up today.  We went over the test results from my Quad Screening, which is the test done to check for Down's syndrome, Trisomy 13, spina bifida and something else I can't remember.  To be considered normal we needed to come in at 1 in 100 and 1 in 250 on each of the tests; the results came back at 1 in 10,000 so that's GREAT news! She measured my stomach and confirmed I'm measuring right at 23 weeks. She also gave me the order for the glucose test (boo) and we talked about pre-registering for the hospital.  Overall, a great appointment!

Upcoming Appointments
9/24 at 11:45am
10/16 at 4pm

To check my stats from this week in my pregnancy with Mila, click here.

23 Month Update - Mila

Hard to believe that we only have one more month left with a one year old!

We've been super busy this month with trips to both Kansas and Chicago within two weeks of each other.

First we went to Kansas to surprise my mom for her birthday and made the rounds to see two of Mila's great grandmas.

Then we came home for a week and then left for Chicago where Mila was a flower girl in a wedding of one of my closest friends!

She did great at the wedding and was the hit of the party at the reception afterwards, where we couldn't keep her off the dance floor!

While in Chicago we went to a Cubs baseball game, Mila included, and I can't figure out why we didn't take her sooner!  She LOVED baseball and was so excited every time someone hit the ball.  She would dance between batters and innings and went crazy every time a home run was hit.

Signature Moves: Anytime the phone rings Mila will run over, pick it up and put it to her ear and say "woah" (hello).  She also also started clenching her fists and shaking a little, which I can only think means she's mad. It usually only lasts for about 10 seconds though!  She loves to pretend that she is going "night night," only to then bounce up and shout "awake!"  Overall, she just loves being silly!

Current Words: Mila is now at the point where she is repeating pretty much everything we say (luckily nothing inappropriate yet!).  Whatever the last word of your sentence is is the word she will try to say so she no longer really answers questions, just mimics you!

She has started saying "thank you" on her own at appropriate times and "love you" when you say it to her, which is just as adorable as you can imagine.  

Favorite Activities: She has been much more into books, both reading and coloring, this month than months past.  

The two trips on the airplanes gave her quite some time to get used to the iPad and it's amazing how quickly she learned what to do and how to navigate through the different apps.  Anything outside keeps her entertained as well.  

To see all of this month's pictures, click here.

22 Weeks - Nellie

How far along? 22 weeks...the size of a spaghetti squash! Which I could not find at Trader Joe's; I'm not sure how this fruit sizing goes...pretty sure Nellie is not that big yet!
Total weight gain: 6.4 pounds
Maternity clothes? I've had to retire my non-maternity shirts so I've been living in dresses. I anticipate a switch to maternity clothes this week
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: I am actually sleeping good but then I wake up and feel like I haven't slept at all. Which is really annoying <------ same as last week :-/
Best moment this week:  paddleboarding with my love
Worst moment this week: my ankles are really starting to hurt, usually on the weekends when I am on my feet for long periods of time
Miss anything? laying around doing nothing
Movement: pretty consistent movement but not a lot at one time
Food cravings: none
Anything making you queasy or sick? nothing yet
Have you started to show yet: i feel like the bump has grown a ton this week!
Labor signs: no...thank goodness!
Belly button in or out? in but starting to look REALLY weird
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy. unless i'm hungry. then HANGRY!
Looking forward to: Chiiiiiicago!

Dear Nellie,

I picked out the fabric for your bedding last weekend!  This will be what I base the decorations on for your (side of the) room.  I'm so excited to get this party started :)

Love,
Mommy

To check my stats from this week in my pregnancy with Mila, click here.

21 Weeks - Nellie

How far along? 21 weeks...the size of a carrot! (I feel like the carrot is smaller than the banana?)
Total weight gain: 6.6 pounds
Maternity clothes? Nothing new this week but I am quickly going through clothes in my closet that are being moved to the "not until after baby" pile
Stretch marks? none (which is good since my "regimen" has been significantly reduced from Mila to Nellie)
Sleep: I am actually sleeping good but then I wake up and feel like I haven't slept at all. Which is really annoying.
Best moment this week:  feeling Nellie kicking on the outside of my belly!
Worst moment this week: I'm starting to get tired by the end of the day...not looking forward to that getting worse
Miss anything? nothing really right now
Movement: last Sunday I was able to feel Nellie on the outside of my stomach! No one else has felt her yet (Robert was asleep when I grabbed his hand)
Food cravings: none really...except I really wanted a piece of chocolate last night and Robert was at work and Mila was sleeping so I couldn't go anywhere to get any. TORTURE!
Anything making you queasy or sick? nothing yet
Have you started to show yet: there's a definite bump now, like a round little soccer ball.
Gender prediction: it's a girl!
Labor signs: no...thank goodness!
Belly button in or out? in but starting to look weird
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? I was kind of sad for no reason a couple of days this week. annoying.
Looking forward to: Chicago next weekend for Andrea's wedding! I am also DYING to go pick out Nellie's bedding.


Dear Nellie,

I was laying in bed last night and you were moving all over the place. I literally watched you kick from the left side to the right side, which I don't remember Mila doing.  You are also kicking SO low I thought you might dangle a foot out!

I think that is my new favorite time of the day; where I am just laying in bed, everything is quiet and it's just you and I (when daddy is at work). It's so special.  I think I was so excited with Mila that I didn't take the time to savor it, which I am making sure to do with you since things are so crazy now and I don't want to forget a thing.

Love,
Mommy

To check my stats from 21 weeks with Mila, click here.

20 Weeks - Nellie

How far along? 20 weeks...the size of a banana!  Halfway done!!!!  
Total weight gain: 5.4 pounds (according to my scale...doc says I've only gained 2!)
Maternity clothes? Just maternity shorts because I can't zip my regular ones
Stretch marks? none
Sleep: I haven't had a good night's sleep since I found out I was pregnant!
Best moment this week:  being in Kansas (currently) to surprise my mom for her birthday!
Worst moment this week: there really hasn't been a bad moment this week!
Miss anything? food tasting as good as it used to pre-pregnancy
Movement: just the quickening (movement that only I can feel); anxious for the kicks to get more prominent so Robert and Mila can feel it
Food cravings: just all my Kansas favs (but that's not pregnancy specific ;) )
Anything making you queasy or sick? nothing yet
Have you started to show yet: there's a little baby bump sticking out now. or at least Robert promises it looks like a baby bump and not a beer gut...
Gender prediction: it's a girl!
Labor signs: no...thank goodness!
Belly button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy unless I am hungry, and then moody!
Looking forward to: spending more time with my family and welcoming all the help with Mila


Dear Nellie,

You have a name!  I had become VERY partial to something else but when daddy threw this one out there I couldn't resist. It perfectly fits our preference for "unique but not too weird" and we just love it.

We have decided that you and Mila will share a room so I am anxious to start working on that.  You will likely share most of the stuff that Mila used and has since discarded but I think it's important to have some things that are only yours as well.

I felt you moving for the first time last weekend and it was a wonderful feeling.  Right now it can only be felt on the inside so it's like a special secret that only you and I are sharing.

Love,
Mommy

To read the post from when I was 20 weeks along with Mila, click here.