16 weeks

*please excuse my horrible morning face*

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 8lbs

Maternity clothes? Pants are strictly maternity now and I'm starting to wear a few shirts here and there

Sleep: Some days are good and some days are bad

Best moment this week:  Hearing baby chicken nuggets heartbeat at the doctor and scheduling the anatomy scan!

Movement: I feel little flutters here and there but nothing consistent

Food cravings: Chinese and pizza

Gender: Only 3 1/2 more weeks until we find out!

Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? Still normal

What I miss: Sleep

What I am looking forward to: The anatomy scan on March 5th!

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure to eat every 2-3 hours or else you'll feel REALLY sick!

Milestones: Grow baby grow!

Never say never

I always said I would never be THAT soccer mom who drives around in a minivan carting her kids to practice and movies and dances but alas, yesterday, I am now THAT mom.

After looking for almost a year for a car (yes, you read right, a year) and not finding the right SUV with enough cargo space for a humungo double stroller +1 that was in our price range, I have resorted to the only option left.......A V-A-N!

I have to admit, I kind of like it. It's a 2011 Kia Sedona. When I'm in it, I don't even feel like I'm in a van. We couldn't afford a spruced up model like we wanted. I mean, with another baby on the way and needing to move to a 3 bedroom as it is, we needed to be sensible with our money. We got just a mid model that has the awesome back up indicator, power windows, doors, etc. Most all the 'power' stuff and cd player is standard these days. We do have bluetooth, satellite radio, an i-pod usb port (which is one of the BEST things to me since I always listen to my i-pod in the car) and the option for sirius radio.

It's only be a mere 24 hours since owning the beauty and I already can't wait for my husband to wake up so we can go out on the town with it doing 'parent' type stuff.

So there you have it, I finally broke down and got a van. Since I'm pretty sure after this chicken nugget that we are done having kids, once I don't need ALL the room anymore, I WILL be getting my SUV with 3rd row seat, navigation and all those other perks!

Choices, choices, choices......

A blog is for letting out your feelings and/or chronicling your life, right? Well, I got some thoughts I need to put on paper and maybe you can help me sort them out..........all 10 followers of you!

I have been sick and home 3 days out of the last week. It really made me think about my decision of being a stay at home mom. I know there are pros and cons to that decision but I really think the pros may outweigh the cons.

My mom stayed at home with me and my siblings until we were all in school full time as did my mother in law with my husband and his siblings. I think it's good for mothers to do that and have that bond with their children if they can afford it financially.

At the point my husband and I are in our lives, I do believe we can make it work. I would still work part time for extra income and for me to get some adult interaction so I don't go crazy. But still, some part of me is hesitant to make the switch. I do admit, I love working. I love money and there are things my husband and I want to get in the next year or two, such as a house. If I decide to stay at home, that may put off that plan a little longer which may not be a bad thing.

I go back and forth on this and while I wouldn't make the switch until next year (yup, 11 months from now), I don't think it's too early to start thinking and planning for it if it's the right decision. I think with the new baby coming and the boys going to preschool in the fall, it would be great for me to stay at home and bond with our new chicken nugget!

Only time will tell............

12 Weeks!



How far along? 12 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 5lbs (but that may be less since I had the flu last weekend)

Maternity clothes? Just pants at this point and maybe a shirt or two
Sleep: Not so good lately. I'm just very uncomfortable.

Best moment this week: Having a repeat ultrasound and seeing that the SCH has cleared. I think that will be one of the best moments this pregnancy.

Movement: None that I am aware of. What I'm feeling is just gas, I'm sure! lol....

Food cravings: Every week, it's something different. Nothing really is consistent besides fruit.
Gender: Only 2 more months until I can find out!
Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? Still normal

What I miss: Sleeping all night without getting up to go to the bathroom
What I am looking forward to: Our gender ultrasound!

Weekly Wisdom: No wisdom this week! Just taking it one day at a time.

Milestones: Grow baby grow!

2nd Birthday Success

We had a great time celebrating with friends and family for the boys 2nd birthday. I still can't believe I have TWO 2 year olds! They are growing up so fast but I am loving every minute.

Jaxson playing with his Elmo balloons

Dipping into the frosting

Jayce dug into the cake. He loves his sweets just like me!

The end............playing with the boys and my niece, Shea!

We had such a great time. I can't wait for next year when they'll be able to tell us what they'd like for their birthday! And next year we'll be celebrating with a new baby brother/sister!

What a year

As always, we end the year off with the boys birthday. Obviously not something we planned but on this day, 2 years ago, I went in for my normal NST in the morning and wanted chinese for lunch. Little did I know that a few hours later, I'd actually be HAVING my babies!

It went something like this..................I was with my Mom and Dad because my hubby had to work in the morning (I was on bedrest) and he isn't a fan of chinese so my parents and I were just going to go by ourselves and drop me off at home when we were done. There was snow on the ground = snow banks and the chinese place was on a busy street and a car was trying to get out so we had to wait to get in. 2 cars were behind us stopped and apparently the 3rd car wasn't paying attention and it turned into a 4 car fender bender.

Even though I was just at my doctor's and just had some minor lower back pain, they wanted me to go in. I, of course, sat in ER F.O.R.E.V.E.R and they paged my doc when I was done there and he wanted me to go up to L&D to have another NST. I went up there and the nurse checked after I got settled in the bed and was told news that would change my life: "Oh my, you are 4cm dilated. We need to prep you for your c-section within the hour".

Immediate shock came over me, then excitement and then worry. I was 36w and 4d. I made it to the point my doctor wanted me to. I had my c-section scheduled in just 2 short weeks but I guess these boys were coming early.

I was prepped and ready to go. First was Jaxson Joseph weighing in at 5lbs 10oz at 5:49pm.

Next in line was Twin B, Jayce Roger weighing 6lbs 2oz and also born at 5:49pm (Yes, they WERE born the same minute 40 seconds apart).

And just like that, in a matter of an hour, I was the mother of two boys. It was a blessing to have carried them so long and be as healthy as I could for them. Looks like my work paid off! No NICU time. I was in the hospital for 4 days and off we went to be a family!

It was a New Years Eve I will never forget and in turn, New Years Eve will never be the same. We will always have a birthday to celebrate and good stories to share. We even made it our own family tradition to have chinese on this day since that is where I was headed when I went into labor.

As my boys turn 2 this year, I look back at all the accomplishments they've made for being preemies. They were both sleeping by 3 months and 6 months respectively (not an accomplishment but wanted to throw that in there!), they were both walking by 11 months and now they are talking/babbling up a storm. They learn new words everyday and we are just working on putting them together.

2012 will be an equally rewarding year for the new addition of a baby brother/sister in July! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us but if it's anything like he's blessed us with so far, it'll be a great year!

Happy New Year!