36 Weeks - Less than a month!

That's right people, less than 1 month until the big day! At my appointment this morning things checked out great. Baby is head down, yay! My heart rate and blood pressure were perfect and baby's heart rate was 140. Although I don't think that we will be having our baby too early, my OB just said she for sure wanted me to keep the baby cooking until 37 weeks, so bake baby bake.

Along: 36 Weeks
(Above is 16 weeks and 26 weeks...crazy to see them next to each other and show just how much my body has changed over the last 9 months)

I don't THINK I can get any bigger!

Size: It's great to know that baby's Kidney's and liver are now developed along with most of the basic physical development, which means that the next 4 weeks or so baby can focus on putting on the chub. At this point baby is roughly 6 pounds, about 18 1/2 inches long and will put on about an ounce a day from here on out!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Up 34 pounds. Yikes.

Gender: ???????

Movement: This baby is still rocking and rolling. 

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty good, although I have been waking up here lately to go to the bathroom at least once a night. I've also just started to feel more tired, but I'm hoping for some super Mommy energy soon, so I can get everything that I need to get done before the baby comes. 

Cravings: Let me just say that when sweet potato fries and a large amount of ice cream sound like a perfectly acceptable lunch combination, you may have a problem. 

Symptoms: Heartburn and nausea have been my only real complaints here lately. 

Best Moment of the Week(s): TWO girls weekends in a row was just what this Mommy needed. Although it was hard to leave me girl, I even cried the first weekend, it was great to have some refreshing time with both my girlfriends and family before Luda Bean makes his/her arrival. There was plenty of shopping and seafood in Annapolis and beach time in Wilmington. I really have been blessed to have some pretty spectacular women in my life and I am loving that I am getting to walk through some of the same stages of life with them. 

Goals for the next Week:
1. Rest, but stay active...if that makes sense.
2. Read! - I have really struggled with setting aside time for reading and it's something I want to work on since time will seem even more limited with TWO littles.
3. Pack freezer meals for Baby's birth month.
4. Pre-register at the hospital and pack the hospital bag.

Soon-to-Be Mom of Two

A Mom of two. It's hard to believe that in 35 days, give or take and who's really counting, I will be a Mom of two! There are days when I feel like there is no way I will be able to handle having two kiddos under 2, especially when my sweet and sassy baby girl is running wide open; she definitely gives us a run for our money. It's on those tough days and there were several this week, 1 of which involved me sitting on the steps having my own little melt down while Em ran around screaming and I couldn't help but think about how exhausted I was, that all I can do is ask for grace. Grace from the Lord and confidence from him that I can do this, that he is equipping me to be not the perfect Mom or Supermom, but the godly Mom who was picked for Em and for the Bean. With that being said, I am working on accepting that grace and realizing that I'm not perfect and that's okay.

I know I have said this before, but when I found out that we were expecting baby #2 I went through a wide scope of emotions. Excitement for what was to come, but fear of the unknown. How were we going to handle going from double-teaming to man-to-man defense? How were we going to make sure that we gave each of them the one on one love and attention that they deserve? Questions came piling in, but one answer prevailed, the Lord. God picked Shawn and I to be the parents of not just our sweet girl, but to her brother or sister who is to come and this of course is not a task we take lightly. In doing this He is affirming in us not only the ability, but the trust to raise these two sweet babies and any future babies that He sees fit in blessing us with. Not that we are already planning or anything! ;)

So, with prayers on top of prayers we are facing the challenge ahead relying on the Ultimate Father to guide us as we bring another miracle into the world. The love that I have for sweet Emerson is immeasurable and with each day that passes in our countdown to #2 I become more and more excited to meet our Luda Bean. After Emerson was born we felt like she had always been there, a part of us in some way. Once Bean arrives I know that those feelings will be the same. I can't imagine my life without these sweet babies and the joy that they bring me.

There was a time that I felt guilty that I was pushing Em to grow up too soon. That I was going to miss out on time with just her by bringing another life into the mix. I'm learning that instead of focusing on what I was "taking" from her, I should focus on what is being given. A sibling, a partner in crime, a forced best friend, a shoulder to lean on. All the things that I am thankful to have in my siblings, she is going to get to experience and I am so excited for her to have that. There is nothing sweeter than when she wakes up asking about the baby, lifts up my shirt to expose my belly and kisses me right on the belly button. I hold back tears every time, knowing that her curiosity of my ever-expanding tummy will soon turn to love and amazement, and maybe a little frustration, when she finally gets to meet the baby behind the belly button. I also got to experience her holding a real baby for the first time this week and let me tell you, I was holding back tears. It was the sweetest thing and she was all about giving that sweet girl hugs and kisses.

In practical ways we are constantly talking to not only the baby, but to Em about the baby. About how her room will soon be inhabited by two little humans and that her Mommy will soon have another little blessing to love, hold and snuggle. We've given her baby dolls and talk to her about being gentle, touching the baby on the head and rocking the baby in her rocking chair. I'm trying to focusing on the important things, serving the Lord, being a loving, supportive wife to Shawn and the Mom God called me to be to my little ones.

Who knows how long it will take for me to get used to having two little ones to care for, but bathing in grace is definitely going to be part of that journey. For now, I'm loving on my family of three, while waiting patiently and excitedly for our number four to join us.

**I included some pictures from our Anniversary/Family/Maternity session with my super talented friend Abby of Abby Grace Photography. She is amazing at what she does and beautiful inside and out. We are so lucky to have her in our life, not because of the gift God gave her, but the gift she gives us of her friendship. Thanks again Abby for the beautiful images!

Happy Thursday!

34 Weeks - Only 6 to go!

It's crazy to think that the first time we saw our sweet Luda Bean he or she was measuring small at 6 weeks and here we are with just 6 weeks to go and our sweet baby is measuring "big". I'm 34 weeks today and baby was measuring at 34 1/2-35 weeks at my appointment this morning, maybe we'll have an August baby after all.  Baby's heart rate was in the 130s and my blood pressure and heart rate were both great. Needless to say with just 6 weeks to go I am glad that I have been able to have another healthy pregnancy, so far!

The bump makes the perfect pillow. 

Along: 34 Weeks

Size: The great news is that if I were to go into preterm labor, at this point babies born between now and 37 weeks generally do fine. And although they may have a few short term health problems, they usually do as well as full-term babies. With that being said, I want Luda Bean to keep on baking! As of now he or she is weighing about 4 3/4 pounds and measuring 18 inches long, about the size of a cantaloupe. Fat layers are filling out, skeletal bones are hardening and the central nervous system and lungs are continuing to mature. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Holy weight gain...up 30 pounds. 

Gender: Crazy to think that in 6 weeks give or take we will either be tied up or the Ludeker girls will be running away with it! 

Movement: Yes, yes, yes. Still have tons of movement going on. I commented to Shawn that when I was pregnant with Em she'd always sleep/lay still after a long walk or run, but this baby seems to kick it into high gear once I stop, as if he/she is saying, "Keep going Mommy!" I'm sure I'll need that encouragement once our Luda Bean arrives. 

Sleep: Still no complaints, other than the crazy vivid dreams. I've always been prone to "bad" dreams and when I am pregnant that all seems to intensify. There have also been several nights that I have woken up with cramps in my calves...the worst!

Cravings: No new cravings. Just trying to stay balanced and right now that means balancing my savory with all the sweet! Ice cream, please!

Symptoms: Leg pain, nausea, heartburn and the worst.My linea nigra returned in full force, a change in skin pigmentation on my abdomen due to hormones and my belly itches from my skin stretching. I am so glad that I have been using Belli Oil to help prevent stretch marks and keep my skin hydrated. I've also been having braxton hicks contractions, but nothing serious. Just getting me ready for the real deal. 

Best Moment of the Week(s): There haven't been any big happenings over the last two weeks, but every day I have just been embracing each moment for what it is. A chapter in our lives that will soon be coming to a close as we start a whole new adventure. It puts a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. The nerves are definitely still there and I am praying that the Lord will calm those nerves and help us all transition smoothly to our new roles. Mom of two, Dad of two and Big Sister, but we are definitely getting anxious to meet our Luda Bean.

Goals for the next 2 Weeks:

Enjoy the next two girls weekends;
      Annapolis with close friends and Wilmington with my cousins!
Read as much as I can in my "free" time and sleep. :)
Continue to stay active; we walked or jogged a total of 14 miles during weeks 32&33.
      (Not a lot by any means, but I am still proud that I am continuing to keep moving.)
Finish up the final touches on the Kiddos room.

Dr. Luda! My OB asked if she wanted to come to surgery to be his assistant and she proudly said, "Yes!" Haha.

32 Weeks - Luda Bean Edition

Well, well, well, Luda Bean and I had quite the day yesterday. I'm not sure if it was something I ate or a little late onset morning sickness, I've been waking up nauseous every day for about a week, but I spent the morning in the bathroom starting at 0530 and was unable to keep anything down for most of the day. Thankfully Em was such a sweet girl and sat and played with her toys and watched Disney so I could rest as much as possible and try and drink fluids. I woke up this morning and was still pretty dehydrated, but I was able to make it to an OB appointment and the baby and I are both doing great.  My blood pressure was perfect, Luda Bean's heartbeat was nice and strong, in the 130s, and I measured right on track at 32 weeks. Needless to say I am glad to be back to my normal self and do not recommend a GI bug to anyone, let alone someone who is nearly 8 months pregnant! I know there were several people praying for me and I am so thankful because the prayers were heard and the Lord had me up and moving like normal by mid-morning, enjoying time with friends this afternoon and evening, and is continuing to keep our sweet boy or girl safe and growing healthy in my belly.

Along: 32 weeks, 1 day

My round belly makes the perfect seat for big sister!

Size: Over the last two weeks our baby has been growing, growing and since we will be hitting a growth spurt here soon, things are not going to slow down. Luda Bean can now move his/her head from side to side and those arms and legs are plumping up which explains all the strong movements we have been feeling. All the kicks and rolls are just signs of a healthy growing baby, so with each one I am thankful that everything seems to be going just as expected in there. Baby is weighing roughly 3 3/4 pounds and measuring 16.7 inches long and should gain about 1/2 pound a week from here on out. Baby has toenails, fingernails and could even have a full head of hair or peach fuzz already!

I'm really pulling off the whole, "smuggling sporting equipment," look. (32 weeks, 1 day.)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Real talk - I've gained more than I wanted to at this point in my pregnancy. With that being said I am up 26 pounds and will more than likely gain at least a pound a week from here on out, putting me at a total of 35 pounds give or take by the end. This is of course still considered a healthy number. If anything it just means that I am going to have to work harder to get back to where I started, but I'm hoping with double the motivation I will be able to get there, slowly maybe, but surely. Staying healthy for me, my hubs and my kiddos!

Gender: The anticipation is building! I really would not be surprised either way, which I think is a good thing. If I go in with that train of thought there will be no shock or let down. Not that there would be anyway. We just want a happy, healthy baby and Mommy at the end of delivery day!

Movement: I feel like Bean is kicking it up a notch. I pretty much can feel him/her moving at any given time throughout the day and I have woken up in the middle of the night only to feel our little Miss or Mister rolling around in my belly. I guess he or she is getting me used to those early morning wake-ups already!

Sleep: I've been pretty tired these last two weeks. Em has been on a kick of waking up at 0530 every morning. I keep hoping that it is a phase, but she seems to like the early morning wake-ups. Thankfully she has continued to be a good napper and is given me 2-3 hours in the afternoon to rest; most of that time I have spent napping myself here lately. 

Cravings: I love sweets and I need more coffee. Confession: I have been drinking coffee this pregnancy. With Em I was proud of myself and I cut it out completely in the first trimester and then slowly reintroduced it back into my diet. This go around, I have been allowing my self the guilty pleasure 3-4 times a week. I try not to drink it everyday, but it has definitely been hard because I have  been more tired than I was with Em. I've also started to get headaches when I don't drink it and I feel like I'd rather had a cup of coffee in the morning than go to bed with a headache and wake up with the same headache. 

Symptoms: My right leg is still giving me trouble. Between the spider vein/varicose vein that is forming on my shin and then occasional shooting pains of sciatica, this baby is definitely showing love to the right side of my body. Trying to rest, put up my legs and wearing compression socks are all on my list of things to do to help alleviate these symptoms, but rest and having a lovable, squeezable, ball of energy for a toddler, just don't mix. So I rest when I can and enjoy the chaos when I can't.

Best Moment of the Week(s): We had our BabyQ the Saturday before the holiday. It was a rainy day, but everything went perfectly; a small get together to celebrate our growing family. We are so blessed by all the love and support we have from family and friends. Luda Bean, you are one loved little guy/girl. Here are a few pictures from the "shower" day. 

The rain came down, but thankfully our party planners were prepared! Plus our girl knows how to dance in the rain!

Just over 30 weeks pregnant here.

"Prep" for # 2: Well Em has a big girl bed! Sleeping in it has not been successful, yet, but it is in kids room and it is so cute when she does decided to snuggle with her stuffed animals in it. The first night we put it in her room we tried to lay her in it for bedtime and it was a disaster! She screamed like we were leaving her alone in a foreign country. However, a few nights later she fell asleep in her car seat on the way home from a friend's house and we were able to successful transfer her to her big girl bed and she slept in it all night. Shawn, however, did not sleep. His remark was, "I feel like she is a newborn again. I'm so worried about her." Needless to say, we left the door open and set up roadblocks in the hallway as well as a nice safety cushion around her bed in case she fell out. She looked so little in that big girl bed and it was just another reality check, that time is flying by! We've also reorganized the kiddos clothes and I've washed and put out all the gender neutral apparel that we already have for Luda Bean to reuse. I was shocked at the amount of clothing we had accumulated in just 19 months! If Bean is a girl, there will certainly be no need for clothes, that is if we can make the seasons work!

Goals for the Next 2 Weeks:

Finish thank-you notes from our BabyQ.

Stay as active as possible with out overdoing it; hoping for 10 miles a week.

Finish reading "Sacred Marriage" and start "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters." 

 (Shawn read this book a while back and asked me to read it too.)

Finish up the Kiddos room. 

Watch, "The Happiest Baby on the Block" as a refresher for what's to come. 

Enjoy time, just the 3 of us.

Happy Friday and a Happy Early 19 Month Birthday to our baby girl!

30 Weeks - Rounding Third and Heading Home

I can hardly believe that we are already in the third trimester. As much as I want to meet our Luda Bean, I truly do love being pregnant and try to cherish the time that I have with our sweet baby on the inside. Just me and baby loving on each other. I know that life is going to be completely different for all four us come September (or August), so I'm just trying to make the most of every minute. Every minute I have just me and Em, just me and Shawn, just the 3 of us, just me and the Bean. 

Along: 30 weeks (as of yesterday)

30 weeks, 2 days - Post a week at FCA Camp and feeling every bit of those 30 weeks, 2 days!

Size: At this point baby is about 2.75 pounds and 15.75 inches long, roughly the size of a cabbage. Baby is continuing to practice breathing and is starting to have sleep/wake cycles anywhere from 30-90 minutes in length. From this point on baby will gain roughly 1/2 a pound a week, which will hopefully result is a chubby baby for us to love on. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: As of last Friday I am up 23 pounds.

Gender: As you know by now, we have decided to keep the gender a surprise. As the weeks pass and we get closer to meeting our new little one, the anticipation rises for whether we are going to have another daughter or son. I am so excited to hear Shawn say, "It's a __,", to see this sweet baby's face for the first time and swaddle our little bundle of joy in my arms. 

Movement: Our little Ninja baby is giving Mommy lots of kicks to feel and for the most part lots of kicks to see! I love feeling our baby move.

Sleep: I've definitely had a few nights where sleep as eluded me. I fall asleep fine, but wake up and have difficulty falling back to sleep. Thankfully Em has been taking longer naps in the afternoon, so on those days I have been able to catch a snooze when she does. If I don't, I just pray for energy. 

Cravings: Cravings or just food in general has definitely gotten the best of me. I feel like I am always grabbing for a snack of some sort. I've decided that over the next 10 weeks, I really want to be careful with the food that I am reaching for; trying to eat clean and make good choices, not just for me, but for Shawn, Em and our Luda Bean. 

Symptoms: I've continued to have leg pain, mainly on the right side.  I'm thinking it is because I put a lot of weight on that side, always carrying Em on that hip. It's also the same leg that I am having trouble with my veins, which are starting to get a little painful. I'm trying at this point to remember my compression socks, especially at work and to put my legs up as much as possible. I've also had some sciatic nerve pain which could be a good thing, meaning that the babies head is getting in the right position to make the big debut!

Best Moment of the Week(s): Once again these past weeks have flown by. I can hardly believe just 10 weeks, give or take, until we get to meet our little Miss or Mister. To say the anticipation is building would be an understatement! With that we've had so much fun these last few weeks. We went on our family vacation to Nashville and it was wonderful. The drive was interesting to say the least and I definitely had moments of stress throughout the trip, but I love taking adventures as a family and wouldn't change the memories those adventures bring us for the world. Em loved the Grand Ole Opry, once we found her a place to dance, and we all left Nashville looking a little more country with our 15 pairs of boots. I also had the opportunity to serve at another FCA camp, Power Camp in Fredericksburg, this past week. I loved getting to use my nursing career in a different capacity. Em also got to be a camper for the first time and attended Power Kids. She played with other kids, made crafts and sang songs. I loved picking her up each day and seeing what fun thing she had created. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day as well since my sister-in-law and Mom are having a BabyQ for me and Shawn. I'm excited to celebrate this little Nugget with my friends and family and hoping that the forecast is wrong and we have at least a few dry hours!

"Prep" for # 2: So far I feel like we haven't really done anything to get "prepared" for being parents of two, other than get excited, but we did move some furniture around in the Nursery and in our room to get ready for Luda Bean's arrival. Since the plan is to have our littles share a room, we have make room for baby #2. I'll hopefully have pictures of our updated nursery in the next couple of weeks, along with some storage solutions for having two in one room. 

And that my friends, is a full on outie!

Happy Friday!

She's 18 Months Old; Where is the time going?

To get her to smile we have to say, "Show me your teeth!"

Our sweet girl, 18 months old. It's hard to believe that time is going by so quickly. I feel like I was just holding her in my arms for the first time and now she is running, talking, climbing, mimicking; all the things that make our lives so much more exciting. The amount of joy she brings to our lives is like nothing we ever expected and the challenges, although they seem daunting, have done nothing, but help us grow closer as a couple and as a family. She's a beautiful little girl who in less than 2 1/2 months will be a big sister. So, with that in mind we are soaking up having just her. Watching her closely as she explores and learns. Loving life with just the three of us and anticipating all that is to come when baby #2 makes his/her big debut; something we couldn't be more excited for!

Making a splash in her pool. 

Likes: Music. This girl doesn't just like music, she loves music. She loves to listen to it, sign along with it and dance. Hence while she had such a good time at the Opry; after we found her a spot that she could stand and dance around in that is. Sitting still is not her favorite. She loves to read books and some of my favorite little moments are just before bed time when she sits in my lap and lets me read to her. She loves to pretend, and we have tea parties and doctor check-ups almost daily. Dobby, Goofy, Minnie Mouse and now Donald are her favorite toys/babies to carry around. And speaking of babies, she loves to check on the baby and give the baby hugs and kisses. Her vocabulary is expanding and she loves to make animal noises. My favorite is her monkey impression. Tossing balls back and forth, blowing bubbles, playing in her car, climbing the playground and swimming are her favorite outdoor activities. She still likes having her pacifier, which we haven't decided when we are going to take away and she loves to snuggle, especially on the couch after bath time watching Disney with Dad. And last but not least, this girl likes testing the limits. She has this way of pushing to do what she wants, that is so sassy it's sweet. For instance, holding her food off her tray and looking me in the eye before she drops it and says. "uh oh!" All of course while having a look of shock on her face, like the food just jumped out of her hand! She definitely makes it hard for us to stay mad.

As far as sleep, teeth and food; she sleeps consistently from 7p-6a and takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon, most days. She has 15 teeth and is working on her 16th; all she needs now are her 2nd set of molars. She's an eater, for the most part, although she has trouble with sauces because we just haven't given them to her. Some of her favorites are yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, most fruits really, green beans, corn, waffles, bread and fish. While we were in TN she had her first encounter with wild game, and she demolished alligator. We try and expose her to new tastes and flavors, but she still has her stable favorites.

Demolishing gator in TN!

Dislikes: She is not a fan of diaper changes. I'm not sure where we went wrong here, but she is always rolling or kicking her legs when we try to change her. You'd think she'd like having a clean bum. Being told no, having to come inside and getting in the car seat are also times that we can expect some act of disapproval.

Height: 32 1/2 inches

Weight: 24 pounds 7 ounces

Diapers: Size 4

Clothes: 18-24 month or 2T

Our girl is a ball of energy. She's a lover and a fighter, something that I think will serve her well, and I am so proud to call her my baby girl.

Snacking and watching Disney.

 

Weeks 26 & 27 - Round TWO!

Along: We'll be 27 Weeks on Thursday. I'm going for a mid-week post since I have the time to write today!

I thought it was time for a comparison shot...
From what I can tell I am a bit bigger and much more round with Luda Bean...or I could blame it on the lightening and the fact that I am wearing white. But seriously, who am I kidding, there's a healthy growing baby in there!

26 weeks, 6 days with Luda Bean

26 and 27 Weeks with EPL

Size: Over the last two weeks baby has been growing and so have I! During our last I was measuring right on track at 26 weeks which makes me feel like baby is going to be bigger than his/her Big Sister, since she consistently measured a week behind. The nerves in Baby's ears are better developed and becoming more sensitive to sound, so Bean is not only hearing my voice, but he or she may be able to pick up on the voices of those I am having conversation with, like Daddy's and Big sisters. Which is a good thing, because they both love talking to the Baby. Sweet baby's lungs are also becoming more and more developed as practice breathing is occurring with Bean breathing amniotic fluid in and out. By the end of the week Bean will be weighing roughly 2 pounds and measuring about 14 1/2 inches long. Our sweet baby's eyes are starting to open and shut and sleep is starting to occur at regular intervals...lets just hope those cycles are occurring as they should, awake during the day and sleeping at night. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I came in at about 20 pounds last Thursday. The pounds have definitely been rising, but I just keep telling myself that I am having a big baby. ;)

Gender: We're still having a lot of people that are guessing boy. At my last OB appointment Baby's heart rate was 137, which is lower than with Em's, so maybe that's a sign that we are having a boy, maybe not. Either way my guess is still girl. I think it would be so fun to have sisters growing up close in age, but I also think that having a baby boy would be whole new adventure for us. Either way, we are just so, so excited to give Em a sibling. Luda Bean we are so excited to meet you!

Movement: We are loving all the movements, a lot of which we can see. Sweet baby even had the hiccups for the first time this week! At least it was the first time I noticed them.

Sleep: Sleep is my favorite and most days I feel like I get a enough, but there have been a few days this week where I was just exhausted and couldn't sleep often or long enough!

Cravings: I think I am going to go with Nutella. I love really like it and have started the habit of putting it on my waffles in the morning, but it is just fine right off the spoon as well!

Symptoms: I've had sore muscles in my legs and feet and a bit of heartburn, but nothing major. 

Best Moment of the Week: These last two weeks have been so busy, we celebrated the holiday with my parents and Em had her first swimming experience in their pool, which she loved despite it's freezing temperatures. I passed my glucose test! YAY! And then over this past weekend I was in North East, Maryland serving as the camp nurse for FCA Leadership Camp. Luke, had asked me a couple weeks ago if I would volunteer and I loved having the opportunity to use my nursing skills for the Lord. We also have so many things that we are looking forward to this week and next, starting with Shawn and I going to a baseball game on Thursday and then next week we have our Anniversary/Maternity photography session with the ever talented Abby Grace Monday, a date night Tuesday,  we leave for Nashville Wednesday and our 5 Year Anniversary is that Friday! Busy, Busy, but so many things to be thankful for. :)

Happy Tuesday!