NEW BLOG!

Please note this important change in my blog.  For ALL further blogging updates and posts, please visit jenniferfreitas.blogspot.com.  This is my blog's new home for hopefully the next couple of years!  A full explanation of the change can be read under my first post. See you there! : )

Thanks,
Jenn

Pregnancy Weeks 35, 36, & 37

It seems as though I've maxed out my free photo storage on this blog and will be posting belly pics on Facebook from this point on until I get set up with a new blog.  I'll be sure to post about that and give the link to my new blog.  New baby, new blog, seems to go hand in hand : ) I'll keep you all posted.


Week 35 - I was having two full days of contractions lasting from 15-20 minutes apart.  The kind that wake you up in the middle of the night and make you want to count, just in case.  I was really hoping that these weren't the real deal, seeing as though it was a bit early, but I wasn't going to dismiss it, seeing as though I did have Judah 3 weeks early to the day.   The contractions did finally stop (for just over a week).
     Thursday Timm, my dad, and I all went to check out a house Timm had seen Wednesday and loved.  We all liked it too so we actually put a bid on it!  We didn't finish negotiating the price for 6 more days, kinda crazy, but we'll see what happens from here.  It would be nice to have a house finally, with the two boys.
     I did have a doctor's appt. this week where I weighed in at an impressive 178. Yikes! Oh well. I did ask to be checked seeing as though I had all those contractions and he said I was only the tiniest bit dilated.  He did not tell me about effacement or anything like that.  So all I knew was that I probably wasn't going to have my son within the next couple of days, which was good, because I had a big day planned the following day.  On my big planned out day I ended up going to my grandma's house and having her cook myself and some visitors a nice big chicken dinner for lunch.  It was great to see my family and some extended family for the short time that we did.  She sent us home with a big potato dish that we froze for later, so that was nice. Also, that same day we ended up going to a birthday party.  So needless to say, a long day and the last day we'd be traveling that far.

Week 36 - Surprisingly, no contractions this week and no appointment.  I was feeling pretty much like I did every other week with of course the horrible back pain of turning over from side to side in bed.  Leg cramps have kicked it up a notch this week though, but still nothing as terrible as when I was carrying Judah, those leg cramps were bad! At 36.6 days, I was waiting for it happen, to have the baby, seeing as though that was the exact night I had gone into labor with Judah. But alas, nothing!  I was kinda glad, but here we are in April where I know I am having the baby THIS MONTH!

Week 37 - I can't believe it but I'm here, in my 37th week. I had Judah when I had just turned 37 weeks to the day.  Currently I am just about 37 weeks and 4 days.  Its crazy to think that I actually might reach 38 weeks let alone 39 weeks and 1 day, which is when my C-section is scheduled.  But, if our son wants to wait, then so be it.  I'm totally okay with him developing as much as possible.  I really do think that he will weigh more and probably be longer than Judah was when he was born.  At least, I weigh more this time around!
     I did have a doctor's appointment this week and surprisingly my doctor did not check me, nor did I ask to be checked, figuring he knows what he is doing.  Also surprising, was the fact that I didn't gain any weight! I actually think I may have either lost a pound or was just under the 178 mark. So here I am well into my 37th week, clueless if I have dilated anymore and just waiting as each day passes wondering if this is the day.  I will say I am on my 4th day in a row of irregular contractions.  I did not have this many contractions with Judah so I am betting my body is just prepping for the big day a little extra in advance this time.  One unfortunate piece of news I found out is that my doctor will NOT be in next week!  What a bummer!  This would be the second birth of mine that he's missed if I go into labor next week. So either it has to be tomorrow or the scheduled C-section date for me to have him deliver my baby.  He did express to me though that he truly does want to be there, but since there is no predicting my baby's arrival, there really isn't much either of us can do about it.
     I did decide to update about the pregnancy a little earlier than normal though, just in case I didn't make it much longer.  With Judah's pregnancy I last updated at 35 weeks, so I'm glad I got to go a little bit past that this time, so far.  I may do an individual update for weeks 38 and 39, if I make it! :)

Currently 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant with baby number 2.  Having 4 days of irregular contractions and now just...waiting!

Judah's Latest Accomplishments

It seems as though Judah decided overnight that he was going to expand his abilities.  He is now able to do so many things that would make any parent proud.  

 Judah has become a fork using master!  He loves to use his fork to eat anything and everything and since doing so, it seems as though his taste buds have expanded too.  This makes mommy's life so much easier on so many levels!

Judah now also loves to use straws!  He thinks its the coolest thing when we go out to a restaurant and he gets to drink from Mommy or Daddy's cup.  Usually what we are drinking is a little bit sweeter too.

The ABC's are coming together quite nicely for him as well.  I believe he only skips D, H, I, and sometimes Z.   He even likes to help sing the very ending of the song and has his own little rendition that ends with "next time won't you sing with mommy?"

One of Judah's favorite things to do now is tackle really long words like "calculator" and "refrigerator", which he surprisingly says very clearly and articulately.

Not only has Judah been expanding his vocabulary, but also the length of his sentences.  His longest sentence to date is "I love you, so much!"

He always knows how to hold a book the correct way and never holds it upside down.  Additionally he likes to "read" books and recite all the words he knows.

Along the same lines Judah loves to sing and sing the actual lyrics to songs.  So far is greatest achievement is singing "I stand alone on the...b-i-b-l-e."

As far as being a helper, Judah has a favorite task that he even requests to do, throwing away his own diaper!  He does this task successfully each time, but will sometimes get distracted by other things and not return to finish getting dressed : )

Lastly, but definitely not least, Judah has figured out how to use his toys in more correct ways.  There is one particular toy that has five little animals that pop up when you either slide, press, switch, turn, or flip the little knob.  He had struggled with this toy for a long time, but one recent day he manipulated them all with the greatest of ease, making it look like he had done this many times before.  He amazes me!

Pregnancy Weeks 31, 32, 33, & 34

Week 31 - I had my prenatal check up this week.  Timm actually went with me for the first time this whole pregnancy and got to hear the baby's heartbeat.  (We remember hearing Judah's heartbeat the first time.  We couldn't stop imitating the whooshing sound all night.)  Judah was with us too and when he saw the fetal doppler he freaked out and cried worse than he does with shots.  I think he was nervous the doctor was going to "hurt" mommy but everything ended up being fine.  He is not a huge fan of medical equipment for some reason.  As for symptoms I have been experiencing very bad back pain, the sensation of being out of breath all the time, extra tired, slightly emotionally blue, and very hungry.

Week 32 - My energy level seems to have taken a turn for the worst.  I've been feeling slow, lazy, and tired.  Must be my body working extra hard on growing the baby.  This week too has been incredibly busy and I've been missing Timm a lot.  Knowing how busy he is makes me slightly nervous to handle raising a toddler and newborn alone for the six weeks he'll be in school until the Summer break comes.  The Lord is gracious though and would not give me this challenge if He thought I could not handle it though.  For that I am thankful and encouraged.

Week 33 - This week was rather eventful and filled with odd pregnancy symptoms.  It started with getting my prenatal check up at 33.2 weeks.  This will be the last check up I'm allowed to bring Judah, since they'll be checking for progression from here on out.  As for symptoms the top of my belly hurts so bad, as if I have a bruise or pulled muscle.  The sensation is an odd burning feeling and worsens when I bend over.  Timm thinks its my muscles stretching a part to accommodate the growth of the baby, he's probably right. I will be glad to be relieved of this pain soon though.  Another odd symptom I have been having is waking up with a headache on the left side of my head every single day.  It usually fades throughout the day, but is quite annoying. It has since gotten better and I feel no headaches in my current state of 35 weeks, but it was a little nerve wracking when my doctor suggested I see a neurologist if it didn't get better, seeing as though headaches are one of the main signs of pre-eclampsia.  Thankfully, that is not the case.
     As far as being tired, I am able to "crash" on a moments notice if you show me a bed. The strangest thing in the world has happened to me during this pregnancy and that is the space between my two front teeth has been closing up.  After 28 years it decides to stop having a gap. Pregnancy related? I have no clue, weird though. Also, my head has been super itchy and I haven't changed anything about my shampoo too recently.  I changed it like 2 months ago, but its only been itchy lately.
     Also, my birthday was this week.  28 years old!  I totally don't feel it.  It is odd because every year since 2009 I've been pregnant at some point.  Wondering, how long this trend will last!

Week 34 - Just 3 weeks to full term (37 weeks, which is exactly when I had Judah) and just 5 weeks 1 day until my scheduled C-section. Once the one month mark hits (in about a week) is when I'll feel like there is a real countdown. Although, anything can happen at anytime, as I have already found out.
     My main symptom this week is MY ACHING BACK! I honestly feel like my back legs and groin are going to all fall apart at a moments notice.  Turning in bed is next to impossible and I'm beginning to feel extra warm these days, could be hot flashes I'm not sure.  Sleeping through the night has gone out the window from this point until who knows when, leaving me extra tired during the day, and with Judah only taking one nap a day, it leaves me little time to sleep unless I let every household chore go by the wayside. Again, I know this is temporary, but will be glad when my new baby boy starts sleeping through the night and I get sleep again : )

I am officially 35 weeks and 4 days today!  

Three weeks and 4 days, or less, until I meet my brand new baby boy!

Please Meet Fiona: My New Niece!

Timm and I would like to introduce to everyone the newest addition to our immediate family, Fiona Marie! We are so beyond thrilled to have her in our lives, and we are more than excited for her parents to experience the wonderful adventure that is parenthood.  Fiona is the daughter of Timm's sister, Julie, and her husband, Andrew, making her Timm's & my niece and Judah's first ever cousin.  I truly hope Judah and Fiona and all the future cousins will grow close together.  Timm and I  got to meet the bundle of beauty last Sunday where we each got a chance to hold her for the first time.  It was a fun and funny time.  Here are some of our memories : ) (All photographs are courtesy of Andrew, the daddy.  Thanks, Andrew!)

Judah meeting his cousin for the first time.  Doesn't seem too sure what to think, yet.

Seems as though he approves : )

Here Timm is holding Fiona.  Don't worry, he hasn't contracted any strange illnesses; he just had a cold. 

"Judah, this is a baby, your new cousin, Fiona! Say hi!" 

Here we are as a family adoring the new bundle.  Please don't mind my attire,
I don't normally dress in extra tight Christmas pajamas at family affairs.

Here Judah is trying on Daddy's mask as a hat.  Silly boy.  

Judah wants to be just like Daddy, all the time : ) 

Finally back into my normal clothes; it was my turn to hold Fiona.  She's so cute! 

Pregnancy Weeks 27, 28, 29 & 30!

My belly at 32.3 weeks.

Week 27 - This week marks the beginning of my third trimester. This is going way back now, but symptom wise, I think I was feeling pretty good.  I had a few friends stop in this week so that kept me company and kept those pregnancy blues away.  The hormonal blues have definitely crept up on me this pregnancy and really its no fun, for anyone. But this too shall pass.

Week 28 - This week I had my prenatal check up and glucose test.  I had been psyching myself out with drinking the glucola drink for the month that it was sitting in my fridge.  When it came time to drink limondex, after my breakfast of two scrambled eggs on a waffle and a small glass of milk, I decided to chug it.  The drink turned out not bad at all and oddly enough I almost enjoyed it.  Luckily I passed my glucola test with flying colors.  I weighed in at around 165 this time and got to have another ultrasound.  Mind you this ultrasound was on one of those old machines so, not very clear.  I did like how my doctor commented that he was getting so big that he didn't fit in the screen anymore! : )

Week 29 - This week along with past weeks, marks just how bad my back pain has become.  It feels nearly impossible to turn over from side to side.  I usually feel fine during the day, but the pressure from the baby must really weigh on my back when I lie down. (Now as I write this at 32.3 weeks, its getting hard to even shift positions while standing, whether it be putting my socks on or stepping in and out of the tub to shower).

Week 30- This week was a week of symptoms.  I have had the worst restless legs.  Sitting through a movie is near impossible without having to get up and walk around or stretch my legs out and turn my ankles or anything to keep my legs moving.   I also have been experiencing mild leg cramps.  With Judah my leg cramps were horrible to the point where when I got out of bed I could hardly walk.  Luckily this time around I only need to bend my feet back to relieve the pressure only on occasion rather than every night.  I have also had major pressure from the baby when he decides to get cozy in a certain spot on either side of my belly.  The pressure is almost painful, especially if I'm trying to stand up since he feels like he's right under my rib cage.    
     The most significant symptom that has started is Braxton Hicks contractions.  I am not sure I got them this early with Judah, but I do get them whenever I sit up, which is exactly the same way I got BH with Judah.  The sensation is odd since your whole belly tightens. When I first started noticing them I didn't think that it was BH because of how much pressure the baby has been putting on my belly, but I thought to myself that he couldn't make my entire belly this hard, so I figured BH must have started!

I'm officially 32 weeks and 3 days today!

Baby Buys For Baby Number Two!

I just wanted to share some of the items that we recently purchased for our second baby including the double stroller that we decided to get.  Making the double stroller choice was extremely difficult, but for Timm and I who are on a budget, I found one that I think is fairly priced and fits most of our needs. (Major thanks to Grammie Freitas for this purchase!)  Although, it doesn't fit all our needs to perfection, nothing would be perfect unless the stroller was custom designed, and I'm really not sure where you could do that!  We did decide to go with another crib and dresser because we felt Judah was too young to be transitioning to a toddler bed at this point, and we wanted to keep as much as we could the same as possible to make bringing a new baby into the home as least stressful for him.  Yes, we did have to dish out a little more money now than most people just buying a toddler bed for their firstborn, but we know that these cribs can convert to larger sleeping areas, and the dressers are theirs until they one day move out and choose their own furniture.  But until then, this is what they get and I am sure they will be thankful. Without further ado, here are the three major items we recently purchased:

The Crib
This crib is called the Sorelle Verona Lifetime Crib.  We chose this one because it was not made of pine, but a stronger poplar wood, and it just looked absolutely beautiful in person.  We purchased this on the very last day of the Great Trade-In event, so we got a great deal on it.

The Dresser
We chose the Sorelle Verona 5-Drawer Dresser that stands tall and upright.  The reason we decided to go with this dresser was not only because it matched the crib and was not made of pine (a biggie for me), but because it had 5 full drawers.  Judah's dresser is the same design and I really love it because it doesn't take up too much space, and its easier for me to reach things post recovery rather than having to bend down all the time, with a lower standing dresser.

The Double Stroller
This is the most interesting of the three items that I will be featuring, not only because of its unique design but also because of its unique color, bright green.  So, the name of the stroller that we decided to go with is the Joovy Scooter X2.  It caught my eye because of its great reviews and its light weight.  Most double strollers weigh 30-40 lbs and this one weighs in at just 28 lbs.  I also chose this stroller because I really did NOT want a front-to-back stroller, since I read it can be uncomfortable for the older child, leaving him/her little room, and I didn't like the fact that one of my kids would be so far away from me, not to mention turning corners doesn't seem too fun. I also really liked this stroller because the seats recline almost fully, can fit through any standard doorway, and is compatible with an infant insert, so I can put my little baby in the stroller from nearly day one. I watched a video review of this stroller as well as read many written reviews and think that we will be very happy with this purchase.  Not to mention this company has excellent customer service, something to help give us peace of mind.

Perhaps after I have used these items I'll do a review on them, but for now I am pretty confident I will like them all.

Pregnancy update is coming soon.  I've been more tired and busy, so it's getting harder to do updates! Soon though, I promise : )

"TAR"

Judah has gone through many phases of liking things such as toys and books in his little life so far, but the longest lasting "obsession," if you will, has been with his love for the guitar, which he so lovingly calls "TAR!"  Everyday after Timm gets home from work Judah will run over to the door and acknowledge that his Daddy has come home, but immediately after the short greeting, Judah presents the same question without fail, "tar?" So, Timm will retrieve his acoustic guitar, which he has been diligently learning how to play better and better, just so that our son may get the most enjoyment out of the instrument as he can. The most beautiful thing about this encounter is that Judah must play his guitar alongside Daddy and sway to the music each and every time.  Now I will leave you with some pictures of their "jam sessions" together. Enjoy!

"Daddy, Tar?"

Here Judah is trying out Daddy's guitar.  For a toddler, he's quite good at strumming.

Judah getting into his classic rocker pose and of course in the appropriate attire.

Here Daddy and Judah begin another "jam session" together with Judah's new guitar from his Grammie.

Notice Judah's great form.

Here Judah ends with a rocking guitar solo.

Judah Translation, Special Names, & Songs

Translations

Judah is becoming absolutely amazing with his talking abilities.  There are a few words among his growing vocabulary that may be hard to decipher to the novice Judah listener.  Here are a handful of those words kindly translated for your future understanding: 

Bee-an-nana = Banana

Hello Di-dit-tee! = Hello Kitty

Ra-lo-va-lee = Ravioli

 Tar = Guitar
Tay-yon = Crayon
Pem = Pen
Dipe = Diaper

Special Names

Judah, through the past few months, has also begun naming his belongings.  I find these names to be unique and unquestionably adorable.  Some of his special names for his things are:

Bray = His favorite Blankie

Happy = Police Officer Lego Toy

Peep Peep = Little Soft Chickadee Toy 

Ouchies = Rolling Alligator Toy

Songs

Lately, Judah loves to sing a variety of songs in his own special way.  Currently he sings "ABC, ABC!" for the ABC song (occassionally he'll say EFG, but that's rare).  He also loves Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and only sings the words "Up Above" (I think that is his favorite line).  Finally he also loves to sing The B-I-B-L-E by singing "B-I-B-I-B-I!"

Pregnancy Week 23, 24, 25 & 26!

My 26.5 week belly!

Week 23 -This week Timm was off school and we were debating whether or not we wanted to work on the baby's room, since we would be switching our room with the one furthest away from the heater.  The switching needs to be done because we want our babies nice and toasty in the winter and cool in the summer since the A/C's would be in the same proximity as their rooms.   Although this was our plan, we actually ended up NOT moving around any furniture or packing up anything as expected since we really thought we would be purchasing a home very soon.  What would be the point of switching rooms if we would just be packing up everything anyway, right?  Of course we didn't find out until two weeks later, but we decided against the house after a rather revealing inspection, which showed a plethora of home improvements that were simply out of our price range.  So that was that.
     Pregnancy-wise this week was basically pretty standard.  I had no doctors appointments and no odd pregnancy symptoms.  The only things that were becoming more pronounced were the size of my belly and the need to pee everytime I changed positions, whether that be getting up from a chair or changing positions in bed.  This incessant need to pee kind of made me not want to move, because I knew where I'd be moving onto next - the bathroom!


Week 24 - This week I had my 24 week appointment and I need to say first and foremost, I LOVE MY OB/GYN DOCTOR!!!! We have been through a lot together with the two miscarriages, delivering Judah via C-Section, and now my new baby boy!  He is the friendliest, caring, most personable doctor I have ever encountered (as being my own personal doctor because I just so happen to absolutely love Judah's pediatrician as well!)  Anyway, the main reason why I am saying this is because I had written in my last pregnancy update that I would probably not be having anymore ultrasounds, but the topic of ultrasounds just happened to come up during my appointment he said "Just remind me next time and we can take another peek at him with our (portable) machine."  I was so happy when he said this because it would be such a treat.  My first ultrasound was on one of those older portable machines at 5 weeks 4 days pregnant and even though it wasn't a full on scheduled ultrasound tech administered scan, it still counts! Especially since I get a little pictures each time : )
     Well onto the results of my appointment.  The heartbeat was good, belly looked good, no weird symptoms, but wait, I weigh 160 pounds???? I still have 15 weeks to gain more weight!  Well I did weigh 170 lbs. with Judah so hopefully I won't gain too much more.  Although I might not be exactly watching what I eat as carefully as I normally would in terms of calories, I know that with pregnancy gaining weight is inevitable, but I do honestly feel as though my belly is just bigger overall with this baby than I was with Judah.  As for other symptoms, I am still continually peeing all the time and heartburn finally kicked in. (Lots of hair perhaps? Just kidding! Those old wives tales haven't really worked for me.)

Week 25 - This week has been the ultimate week of feeling emotional.  At a moments notice I will become weepy.  Before I was pregnant, I'd have a chance at keeping myself from crying if I felt it coming on, but now with being pregnant it is as if I have an on and off switch directly linked to my tear ducts.  I will say "Timm, I'm going to cry" and I do! There is just NO stopping it.  I had a good crying spell after not getting the house, not because of not moving, but because I knew we wouldn't have all the modern conveniences that we lack in the apartment when the baby comes, such as a washer and dryer.

Same 26.5 belly, just a little bit further view : )

     Symptom wise I can't seem to get full no matter how much I eat.  I get hungry after about 2 hours at the very most and if I don't eat something substantial I have that pit-like feeling in my belly until I eat again.  My baby boy has also been moving around like crazy, pressing against my belly so I can feel body parts, and his newest ability is hiccuping.  That constant little poking feeling from inside my lower belly is his head going up and down with his uncontrollable hiccups, which he seems to get quite often!

Week 26 - Although not completely over yet, I figured enough was enough, I have to get this latest pregnancy post up.  It has been a month!  So, as for this week, I would have had my update in earlier but I had the WORST pounding headache for three days straight.  I thought to myself "If I have this for one more day I'm calling the doctor!"  I just had to sleep it off and put a cold cloth on my head every night.  It seemed to help and I didn't even take any medication.  Also, I had been feeling nauseous, which is very odd.  So nausea plus headache was not awesome.  I was thinking, wow I hope this isn't pre-eclampsia! (That's me being paranoid.)  Thankfully I stopped feeling both nauseous and my headache was easing, but of course my back has been acting up again.  It is at the point now where I cannot stand on one leg and getting dressed is a challenge. My back and my inner legs feel so weak these days, I can't imagine three more months of feeling like this, but I'm sure I'll bare with it. So that's it for now.  At week 28 I'll be having another appointment and get to drink that lovely glucola drink to test for gestational diabetes.  Hopefully the results of that test will come out fine.  Just 12.2 more weeks or less now! Crazy!

I will officially be 27 weeks on Monday!

Judah's Train: 5 Steps to Fun

STEP 1: 

APPROACH THE TRAIN

STEP 2: 

PLAY WITH SOME COOL FEATURE OF THE TRAIN 

(such as the block shoot to the caboose)

STEP 3:
BOARD THE TRAIN

STEP 4:
MAKE A REDICULOUSLY EXCITED FACE BECAUSE YOU KNOW
YOUR MOMMY CAN'T SAY NO TO THAT

STEP 5: 

MAKE MOMMY PUSH YOU AROUND ON THE TRAIN

AS MANY TIMES AS HER BACK CAN TAKE IT

"Ralovali"

One of Judah's newest favorite meals is classic cheese ravioli smothered in Italian red spaghetti sauce.  His adoration of this new food has also sparked a love for its name, which he so excitedly calls "RALOVALI!".  So not only does Judah love eating this food, love saying the name of this food, but he loves wearing this food! : )

Eating "ralovali" takes great skill and balance.

Notice the strategic placement of food product in his hair and left ear.

New Years Sale & Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!

I am running a huge sale right now in my etsy shop Isaac & Rebekah!  You have the power and choice during this sale.  You can either choose 15% your ENTIRE purchase before shipping using coupon code: TAKE15OFF OR enjoy Free Shipping, no matter where you live in the world, with any purchase of $25 or more with coupon code FREESHIP!  It is that easy, you choose the code you want and no matter what you will save cash!  (This promotion will be running through the whole month of January! So keep updated on the latest listings before they are gone!)

Since I have opened I have added a lot of Discounted Jewelry from my previous jewelry shop as well as a collection of Cloisonne Earrings and a multitude of Cabochon Stud Earrings!  So please feel free to check that out!

AND NOW FOR THE FREE STUFF!

Isaac & Rebekah is holding its first ever giveaway!

Here is how to enter: 

 

1. "Like" my Facebook Page

2. "Favorite" my Etsy Shop

3. Comment BELOW THIS BLOG that you did those two things. 

Please leave your name, a comment that you entered, and the item you would like if you are the winner. 

(You may choose one item up to $10 in value!)

How is the winner be picked...?

 

I will be using a randomizing website to choose the lucky winner.  There is no favoritism here!

 

OFFICIAL RULES:

1.You can enter just once.

2. The giveaway will be open for ONE FULL WEEK 

(December 31 - January 6th).

3..You must have an Etsy account to enter.

4.Winner will be announced on January 6th.

Here are some possible winnings below!

GOOD LUCK & ENJOY THE SAVINGS!

Pregnancy Weeks 21 & 22

Week 21 - This was the week I went back for my, what I think was my, last ultrasound for this pregnancy.  Kinda sad, but at least there is nothing serious that I need to keep going back to get more ultrasounds for.  It was great to see him again and see how much he's grown even in just the past 3 weeks.  He looks a lot more "plump" and so baby like in the 2D ultrasound.  We had the 4D done again, just for fun at the discretion of the tech, and it is a little strange, but so intriguing at the same time.  

When you look at the 4D photos you will see there is something cutting across the front of his face and no it is not a gaping hole in his head, but probably the umbilical cord or an arm.  The other appendage you see to his left is his arm, whether it is left or right I can't quite tell.

One thing you can see clearly in this photo is how adorably cute his lips are!  They look a lot fuller than Judah's but I guess you never know until the baby comes out.  Just 3 1/2 months left!

Week 22 - This is the week that my back started to hurt.  I will occasionally get sharp stabbing pains in my lower back and it is probably from a combination of lifting Judah and my poor posture.  At least I can fix my posture, lifting Judah I will just have to limit.  The backpain radiates into my tail bone but not quite as bad as it did when I was pregnant with Judah.  Another symptom that started this week was leg cramps.  Once again, with Judah, the leg cramps were horrendous.  Somedays I could not even walk when I got out of bed, but so far with this pregnancy it hasn't been unbearable.  I just remember to flex my foot backwards and it eases up pretty quickly.  Of course he has been moving like crazy as well!

Judah was so sick for a month but is finally starting to get better so that has been a relief to me since I was lacking great amounts of sleep and dishing out tons of money for doctor's appointments and Rx's, so I am thankful that is over.  I am just looking forward now to enjoying the rest of my pregnancy with Judah by giving him all my undivided attention while I can and it is such a pleasure.  I am so thankful to have him as my son.

I am now officially 23 weeks and 5 days today!

Judah's New Hair

We took Judah to get his first full fledged haircut today and it went quite smoothly.  We really had no clue how the haircut would turn out or what to expect with Judah's behavior, but just in case we brought out our "old faithful": MILK!  Surprisingly, Judah let the hair dresser (who just happens to be my stylist) spray his hair and start to cut, but after about 3 minutes in he started to fuss.  Once we got him his milk he was just fine and sat wonderfully.  The haircut lasted for over 10 minutes and I couldn't have asked for a better more well behaved little boy.  So proud of my handsome son!

True Meaning Behind Xmas

So we all know that Christmas is just around the corner.  Almost everyone is familiar with why Christmas is called what it is because we are acknowledging and remembering the birth of Christ.  But what about the term Xmas? Why is it the common abbreviation for such a momentous time of year? Is it taking out the "Christ" part of our holiday giving it a more secular-friendly name or is there more behind the "X?"

What I have learned through my time in college, particularly an art history course and from some online research, is that taking the Christ and any religious affiliation out of the word Christmas in the form of Xmas is actually a common misconception.  Believe it or not the "X" actually represents Christ's name in the Greek language with X being the letter "Chi." Christ in Greek is spelled: Χριστός (Khristós) which means "the anointed one".  Notice how His name begins with an "X."  You can also see "X's" used to represent Christ in other forms such as the Chi Rho, which are the first two letters of Christ in the Greek language.

I just wanted to share this little education with you in case you were ever wondering or thought that Xmas was more meaningless or offensive than informative or useful.  I personally like to call "Christmas" as is because I speak English and that is what is most meaningful to me, knowing that the full name of Christ be remembered on this upcoming special day of celebration and rememberance.

Merry Christmas!

My New Etsy Shop: Isaac & Rebekah

Hey All,

I wanted to share with you my brand new Etsy Shop. 

BACKGROUND
A lot of you already know that I used to run an Etsy Shop called "The Looking Glass Room".  I have since closed down that shop because I didn't think I could handle running an Etsy shop with two children (since I am now expecting again) or continue making the type of jewelry that I was since it could be very time consuming.  But I am pleased to say that after some time, thought, and support I decided to open a new Etsy store gearing towards basic jewelry that will not get tugged or pulled on by our little ones!  I was finding I could not even wear the jewelry I was creating, but now I am able to wear my adorable flower creations which are also very fun for me to make!

 

THE NAME
I decided to name my shop Isaac & Rebekah because that is the couple in the Bible my husband and I studied before we were married. Although I am busy and my life revolves mostly around my son and son on the way, I like to always remember that my husband was here first and this reminds me of that during those busy times. I like to support him through all his endeavors and at this time he supports me working on this shop. The day he needs my attention focused elsewhere will be the day I may move on from here.

THE JEWELRY & MORE
The jewelry you will find here is specializing in earring studs made from cabochon (resin flower charms) and fabric covered buttons.  You will find these studs in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors.  All of them are carefully attached to surgical steel posts and will stay securely in your ears.  Also, I have a variety of classic button studs, covered button rings, and discontinued work that will be going up shortly for a discounted rate along with many jewelry supplies.  Not to mention almost everything is under $10!

I hope you take the time to check out my new store and will "favorite" it, "like" it, or "follow" it to stay updated with the latest listings and promotions.  Thank you very much!

SHOP

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Pregnancy Weeks 19 & 20

Week 19 - This was the week of awful tiredness.  Judah and Timm both became sick and taking care of a whiny 1 year old who can't stop coughing at night will make anyone tired. I felt so bad for him all week, but we finally brought him to the doctor's.  Luckily what we thought was strep came back from the long distance lab as negative, so thankfully we double checked that.

Besides being tired I have felt really hungry often having to get up in the middle of the night to eat.  I have also grown significantly since Thanksgiving and not just from the food!   Speaking of food, this week I went out to eat twice and got dessert twice!  Such a decadent treat.  If you are out and about may I suggest the Brownie Obsession at TGIFriday's, I couldn't believe how good it was!

Week 20 - Speaking of sick, guess who is, me! I was surprised I didn't catch anything for as long as I did with two sick men in the house, but inevitably it happened and I am sluggish, tired, with my pounding head.  I am just wondering how moms of more than one child ever get by while being sick and taking care of their kids, its gotta be tough.  I give credit to those women, although I will probably become one of them!

So, I had to officially take my wedding rings off. How sad : (  I really don't like not wearing them, but the same thing happened with Judah.  My fingers swelled and I couldn't wear my rings for at least 5 months.  Some people are lucky and never have to remove their rings, but my body seems to retain water really easily, as you could see from my postpartum Judah pictures.  

This was also the week that I had my monthly check up with the doctor and he said everything looked great on the ultrasound and the heartbeat sounded great as usual.  I do have to go back for one more ultrasound because they could not get the profile shot of the baby or a picture of his heart.  I am definitely not complaining about getting another sneak peak at my baby boy : )

The most amazing part of this week is the amount of kicking I am feeling.  Timm has still not felt him from the outside, but he is moving like crazy.  I think Timm will be able to feel him soon because I thought for a moment that I saw him kick from the outside of my belly.  Once again, he moved to the lower portion of my belly and I could feel the solidness of him, even more-so this time.  I am pretty sure it was his back this time.  Very exciting!  Just 19 weeks or less!

I am officially 21 weeks today! I'll get a belly shot in before Christmas once I feel better : ) And maybe some more second baby boy shots too!

19 Weeks 1 Day Belly Shot

Here I am, nearly to the half way point of 40 weeks, which I won't be going that far anyway.  But, its just easier to think of it that way in my head.

Getting bigger!

Pregnancy Weeks 17 & 18 & Gender

Okay, so I'm a bit behind on my posts, but its been kinda busy so I'll do my best to update.  My memory might not serve me well, but I'll do my best!

Week 17 -This is where my memory is lacking.  Between being super tired and being pregnant, my memory has faded.  I know that this week was pretty relaxed and we visited with friends from Canada all weekend.  I must not have felt too miserable or else I'd probably remember.  I do know I've been craving spicy foods and have been extra tired, but that's really it!  One important thing is, the day I turned 17 weeks was the day I most certainly knew that my baby kicked and it wasn't some stomach gurgle : )

Week 18- So this was our big ultrasound week for the anatomy scan.  We of course found out the baby is a BOY!!!!! At the ultrasound I got to experience something that most people need to pay for and that was the "4D" ultrasound where you can see the outline of the baby.  Of course he is looking quite skinny and usually its done toward the end of pregnancy to get a "cuter" picture, but we were still really glad we got to experience this.  As for us, we are super excited because Judah gets to have a brother and we don't need to buy any clothes! 

 
I am also feeling TONS of movement, its great.  I even felt our baby boy move to one side of my belly and I could feel the outline of some part of his body; the area felt very solid.  This week I have been ridiculously tired, hungry, and well a little irritable.  Its hard to keep your emotions balanced when your hormones are going crazy.  I also feel like I grew a lot this week.  I also am starting to lose my balance whenever I squat down to Judah; I always end up falling right on my bum.  I am definitely noticeably pregnant now, but I can't believe I have so much more time to go.  I am not even half way, or I might be, who knows.  Getting there though.

As for the baby's name, we are deciding not to tell the name to everyone publicly, but privately to certain people.  It may come out publicly because we've already slipped a bunch, but we just ask if you know the name, please don't put it out there for the world to see, appreciate it!

I will officially be 19 weeks tomorrow!  I'll get a belly shot in soon!