21 and 22 weeks

Here I am at 21 weeks and baby boy is the size of a 13 ounce pomegranate.  What was momentous about this week is that Travis was finally able to feel the baby move!  I love when Travis can finally share in the excitement of feeling the baby move because it happens so much later than when I start to feel the kicks, punches, and rolls.  With this pregnancy I felt him kick just before I hit the 13 week mark - super early!

This is me today at 22 weeks.  Baby boy is roughly the size of a 1 pound spaghetti squash.  What is most noticeable about this week?  My raging hormones!  I have been an emotional basketcase the last few days.  I break down and cry over just about everything that happens.  I am praying this sensitive phase passes quickly!

I have gained 16.5 pounds since the start of the pregnancy.

echocardiogram for baby #3

Some of you know that we had a bit of a scare after the mid-pregnancy ultrasound.  The day after our appointment I got a call from Kaiser saying they wanted me to come back and see a specialist based on what the radiologist saw on the images.  Apparently they were concerned that a part of his heart looked enlarged.  I made the first available appointment for an echocardiogram which was going to be a four day wait.  During those 4 days I had to wrestle with the thoughts of all the horrible possiblities and worst case scenarios.  I can't help but think of the worst.  However, I fought the urge to run to the internet and google search what an enlarged heart could mean.  I knew that my findings would most likely put me in a frenzy rather than calm my nerves.  So I waited and prayed.  We had many friends praying with us and for us.  It was actually a very heart-warming feeling to know that so many people were lifting us up in prayer.

On Tuesday afternoon Travis and I went to Riverside to meet with the specialist, Dr. Montgomery.  He made us feel comfortable right away by telling us that he already looked at the images and didn't see anything of concern.  That said, he still wanted to take a really good look anyways and make sure.  The echocardiogram wasn't much unlike a regular ultrasound except that it took much longer and the viewing screen was larger.  Dr. Montgomery explained a lot of what he was looking at.  He mentioned several times that baby boy was constantly moving and making things difficult.  I laughed and told him that was quite normal.  He is my most active baby in the womb.  He said, "You're not kidding.  This baby is all over the place!"  After a lot of "shop talk" between him and his assistant, he told us the news.  He said that the baby does have a very tiny ventricular septal defect.  It's a fancy name for a hole in his heart.  He said that the hole is so small (about 1 to 1.5 millimeters) that he thinks it will close before birth.  We will go back to see Dr. Montgomery in 4 weeks again to see if it closes on its own.  The good news is that he is really optimistic about the hole closing.  The bad news is that the VSD means that we have a slightly higher risk that baby boy has Down Syndrome.  Add that to my age risk and we are only talking about a 2% chance.  Travis and I feel so relieved with this news and we know that we will love our baby no matter what challenges we face with him.  We know that God is in control and he will make all things work together for our good.

We did get some pretty cute profile pictures of him while we were there.

Please keep baby boy in prayer over the next 4 weeks that the hole would close up and that we would have no complications with the remainder of this pregnancy and with the labor.  Thank you so much for your prayers!

lately lyla

Lyla is currently liking...

favorite food - mac and cheese and pb&j sandwiches

favorite toys - leap pad and cinderella dress

favorite movie - mulan

favorite book - bible stories book

favorite color - pink

favorite bible verse - "Jesus called them and immediately they followed Him" Matthew 4:21-22

How to get this look: headband and knit sweater from target.  jean jacket from gap.  black shiny leggings from american apparel and red boots from boot barn.

19 and 20 weeks

Here I am at 19 weeks when our son was the size of an 8.5 ounce mango.  We learned that nerve cells for his sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are developing in his brain.  Studies show that babies can hear sounds from outside the womb now, so it's time to play some music and talk to our baby boy!

And this is today at 20 weeks.  Halfway there - a definite milestone in the pregnancy to reach the mid-point of the journey.  Baby is about the size of a banana at 10.5 ounces and 6.5 inches long.  In less than 20 more weeks, we will be holding our new baby boy!

This is the ultrasound picture we got of the little fella today.  He was scratching his face in this image.  I get so excited about ultrasound appointments because I get to see the baby wiggle around doing his own thing in there.  And he sure does a lot of wiggling!  He is definitely a mover.  And we also got definite confirmation that he is a boy. 

*I have gained 15 pounds since pre-pregnancy, so according to my weight gain tracker, I can gain a pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy and still be on target for my goal.*

"I will only let daddy cut my hair"

I dread combing through Lyla's tangled mess of hair in the mornings.  Travis and I were hoping that her hair would smooth out as it grew, but it just seems to be getting more nappy the longer it gets.  She has only had two cuts since she was born and they were both just trims.  Her hair takes forever to grow, so were were trying our best to be patient and see what happens.  But, we decided enough was enough and it was time for a change.

BEFORE

(and this is her hair in a relatively tame state)

Washing up before the cut.  This is when Lyla said, "I will only let Daddy cut my hair". 

This was when things got tricky.  Lyla did not want to sit still and Travis had to do some precision cutting. 

Curls on the floor!

AFTER

Lyla got a cute little bob haircut.

She loves it.

meeting joaquin

Yesterday we drove down to Cardiff to meet handsome, little, swaddled-tight, baby Joaquin!  He was born at the end of October, but with all the sick germs going around, we weren't able to meet him until now.  It was so sweet to hold a newborn baby again.

Tallulah and Lyla are BFFs.  Tallulah even gave Lyla a friendship bracelet!

All the kids had a great time playing together.  They rode bikes and played with bubble wands.  They all wanted to hold hands when it was time to walk back to the car and say our goodbyes.

It had been way too long since we got to hang with this wonderful family.  In fact, we realized that the last time we got together was in June for Joaquin's baby shower.  It's just crazy how time flies and 7 months can go by in the blink of an eye.  We love those Bravos!

kawaii baby

My mom posted this photo on the right of Lyla dressed up in her kimono today.  She wore the same kimono almost exactly two years ago on this day.  I love to put pictures side by side and compare how the kids have grown and changed.  She is such a cute little japanese princess!

Lyla might be able to go to Japan this May with my mom...it would be such a wonderful opportunity for her.  We are praying that it works out and she can go on this amazing trip with her baaba and meet all of her family there.  But, we will miss her while she's gone.

15, 16, and 18 weeks

At 15 weeks, baby was the size of an apple.  We didn't know he was a boy yet, but I had a hunch.  I was already able to feel him moving a ton, so I thought there must be a big strong boy in there!

At 16 weeks, we knew we were having a boy.  Our son was the size of an avocado.  This avocado I held was gigantic and probably did not reflect the true size of baby boy.

Today I am 18 weeks pregnant and our son is the size of a sweet potato.  This time we measured the potato to make sure that it was close to the 7 oz. weight.  I didn't see a huge difference in visible growth in the last two weeks, but movements are getting stronger and it is getting harder and harder to sleep on my back (my preferred sleeping position).  I am supposed to be sleeping on my side now, so I better get used to it.  I have gained 12 lbs so far in this pregnancy.

Goodbye 2012 and Hello 2013!

Looking back at the past year, I would say that I can sum up 2012 as a year of illnesses for our family.  We got hit with a hellish stomach flu four times in the last 12 months.  One time even landed our entire family in the ER on Cody's first birthday (ok, that was technically 2011, but I still count that as the first attack of the vicious virus that plagued us during 2012).  Aside from the stomach nastiness, we suffered a constant barrage of colds, flus, sinus infections, etc. throughout the year.  I blame Preschool and Sunday school as the main culprits for exposing us to all these bugs.  But, what can you do?  Keep the kids stocked up with vitamins, constantly wash our hands, and PRAY.  Going into 2013, I will certainly be praying for good health.  Especially with the little bundle we are expecting to arrive in June!  2013 is going to be a great year. I can just feel it. Our happy family of four will turn into an even happier family of five! We can't wait to meet our little boy.  No matter what the year has in store for us, I know that the Lord will be there to guide us through it all. 

So, now is the time we all talk about resolutions.  I'm not one for making new years resolutions, but I do think it's healthy to set major plans for the year in my mind.  I have learned that when you set goals, you have to make them tangible and measurable.  So, here are my top 2013 GOALS. 

My physical goal is to stay in shape for the duration of this pregnancy and therefore set myself up to have a healthy delivery with no complications.  I plan to only gain a total of 35 lbs and to stay physically active all the way up to delivery day.  Based on my previous pregnancies, I believe this weight gain is totally healthy and manageable.  I think I gained 37 lbs with Lyla and about 40 lbs with Cody.  I will worry about setting a goal to lose the baby weight after the baby comes.

My spritiual goal is to spend more time in prayer and morning devotions.  I will set my alarm early and take my bible to a quiet room where I can devote time to specific reading and prayer time every day.  I have to say that this is currently an area where I am lacking because I really have a hard time waking up in the morning. 

Anyone else have big goals for 2013?  I would love to hear about them!