Bump 26 weeks

A good friend (Meghan) and I are having babies together!
This is a picture of us at the shower. You're both girls, and we're so excited to have babies so close together!

How far along: 26 weeks 3 Days
Total weight gain/loss: 14 (I'll find out the official weight gain next week)

Maternity clothes: Maternity jeans, long shirts, maternity shirts, long dresses

Have you started to show yet: Yes
Stretch marks: Nope!
Sleep: Not so great this week. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm wide awake and stay up for at least 2 hours 

Food cravings: Still can't get enough sweets
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada
Best moment(s) this week: Friend shower (photos below) and spending time with Nana

Worst moment(s) this week: My grandpa Jr. (your great grandpa) will have surgery tomorrow to remove a cancerous tumor, we will find out more information tomorrow

Miss Anything: Wine, and wearing normal clothes
Movement: Yes, except this week you were not as active. I think you had a growth spurt
Belly Button in or out: In...ish
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and a little nervous
Weekly Wisdom: I got nothing this week

Looking forward to: Working more in the nursery (a few updated nursery photos below)

In Other News...

Daddy and Grandpa Baker at the Diaper Party (which was also Grandpa's 60th birthday!)

Center Pieces made by Abby

Cake made by Emily

Food was done by Mia and Emily

Tutu! 

Diaper cake

Nursery Update...

This weekend we got a new lamp, curtain rod and curtains. Nana also brought us this rocking chair. She used this for me when I was a baby! I will be painting it white and recovering it before you get here.

Curtains open, and of course Reece!

I have to end this post with a cute photo of Daddy and Reece...

It was a rainy Sunday, so while I worked in the nursery your daddy and Reece took advantage of the lazy weather and cuddled. You dad did take a break from his movie marathons to hang your curtains, then I continued to work in your room. I can't wait to finish your room and show take the final photos!

100 day countdown

In celebration of the fun day yesterday I wrote up 

100 things I'm looking forward to as a Mom

(Some of these won't happen for several years and I know they will be hard for me to deal with. However, I know they are healthy, grownup realities and I'd rather see you move on then stay home forever - it will be healthier for all of us!)

1. Seeing you for the first time
2. Watching your daddy hold you for the first time
3. Becoming a family
4. Hearing your cry for the first time
5. Holding your tiny hands
6. Kissing your chubby cheeks
7. Seeing you smile
8. Cuddling on the couch
9. Hearing you “tell stories”
10. Watching you kick your legs
11. Seeing you and your daddy take naps on the couch
12. Taking pictures of your beautiful face
13. Watching you discover your fingers and toes
14. Seeing how you and Reece will get along
15. Getting you out of your crib
16. Listening to you giggle
17. Smelling your hair
18. Showing you off to family and friends
19. Teaching you right from wrong
20. Seeing you roll over for the first time
21. Watching you learn to hold your head up
22. Putting your feet in the grass for the first time
23. Kissing your boo boos
24. Comforting you when you’re sad and don’t even know why you’re crying
25. Taking joy in watching your dad fall in love with another woman
26. Teaching you about Jesus
27. Showing you how to be a good wife
28. Allowing you to become the person God designed you to be
29. Your first Christmas
30. Going for walks
31. Letting you try new foods
32. Exposing you to music
33. Teaching you how to cook
34. Letting you have responsibilities around the house
35. Reading books
36. Making crafts together
37. Making your daddy’s favorite meals together - just because
38. Watching you smell flowers
39. Looking at your one tooth grins
40. Teaching you colors and shapes
41. Tea parties
42. Movie nights
43. Making forts
44. Making messes and not cleaning them up right away
45. Teaching you how to do laundry
46. Watching you learn to ride a bike
47. Giving you ice cream for the first time
48. Going on a family vacation
49. Taking you to the zoo
50. Watching you crawl
51. Teaching you the alphabet and numbers
52. Mommy & Daughter dates
53. Daddy & Daughter dates
54. Playing games together
55. Your first day of school
56. Watching you and your daddy dance
57. Sidewalk chalk and bubbles
58. Watching you do homework on the kitchen table
59. Praying as a family
60. Packing your lunch boxes and hiding notes in it
61. Watching you run off the school bus
62. After school snacks
63. Listening to you play by yourself
64. Helping others as a family
65. Seeing what kind of friend you’ll be
66. Picnics on the living room floor
67. Leading you to Christ (hopefully!) 
68. Lunches in the backyard
69. Popsicle stained grins
70. Baking Christmas cookies
71. Teaching you the real meaning of Christmas
72. Summer cookouts
73. Watching your eyes light up when you see the Christmas tree for the first time
74. Looking at Christmas lights
75. Playing in the snow
76. Family traditions
77. Teaching you how to be grateful 
78. Apple picking
79. Seeing the world through your eyes
80. Showing you how to be nice to animals
81. Baking apple pies 
82. Seeing you as a big sister
83. Shopping dates
84. Teaching you to eat different foods
85. Watching your sporting events
86. Teaching you to win and lose gracefully
87. Learning to let you go 
88. Spa days
89. Teaching you how to drive a car
90. Seeing you off to your first job
91. Seeing you graduate high school
92. Seeing you graduate college
93. Watching you fall in love to a man other than your father
94. Seeing what career path you’ll take
95. Watching your daddy walk you down the aisle
96. Helping you move into your first home
97. Talking to you about the struggles and joys of married life
98. Making new traditions
99. Seeing you start your own family
100. Our relationship growing into a friendship

Letters to baby #17 - 100 day countdown!

Exactly 100 days from now is your expected due date (July 31)! 

In celebration of this special day your daddy wrote you a letter:

My sweet baby girl, your mother and I cannot wait for your arrival. The nursery is almost ready, we have started getting the house in order, and have started letting your big brother smell some of your belongings so your arrival is not too much of a surprise. We are both very excited to have you join our little family. It brings me joy to think of our lives together, and to watch you grow into the wonderful young lady I’m sure you will become. I pray that you come into this world strong and healthy, and that your mother and I are up to the challenge of raising you to be a loving, compassionate, and caring Christ follower. 

We both love you very very much,

Love Dad

Bump 25 weeks

How far along: 25 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 13 (probably much higher by now! - dang sweets!)

Maternity clothes: BellaBand, maternity jeans, long shirts, and some maternity shirts

Have you started to show yet: Yes - umm see photo above
Stretch marks: Nope!
Sleep: Great! I wake up to roll over then fall fast asleep again. I can't sleep in very late on the weekends - I hope that doesn't go away too soon. 

Food cravings: Sweets! M&Ms, cakes, cookies, fruit
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not at all
Best moment(s) this week: Scheduling our anniversary trip! Having our first shower (photos below)

Worst moment(s) this week: My grandpa Jr. (your great grandpa) went into the hospital for possible gall bladder pains and they recently found out he has a tumor on his liver. We find out more information Monday (tomorrow).

Miss Anything: Just the usual - my evening glass of wine... 
Movement: Yes! You are a very active and strong little girl!
Belly Button in or out: In...ish
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and excited!
Weekly Wisdom: Two words - panty liners! 

Looking forward to: Our friend showers next weekend!

In Other News...

Two nights after getting home from work this week I've found that I have thrown away my mascara. I am not sure why I keep doing that but I'm now nervous to end my make-up routine!

We got the vents cleaned this weekend. Reece had to stay in his cage and was not very happy to be segregated from the "guest!"

Fogwell Family Shower! 

Your grandma Baker was so sweet to make a yummy chocolate fountain bar! You REALLY enjoyed this!

PINK rice crispies! 

PINK punch!

Taco Dinner Bar

We also celebrated your grandpa's 60th birthday!

Letters to baby #16

Either the oatmeal was expanding in my belly or last night you had a big growth spurt! You made my belly feel really TIGHT and my insides feel very CRAMPED this morning! I'm not at all upset with this new feeling, it's an adjustment AND a reminder that you're growing!

Last night while I was laying on the couch watching TV with your daddy, I put a cup of water on my belly so we could see just how active you were being. Your dad laughed when he saw how much the cup was wiggling! We also saw that my belly was a little lopsided at one point. I think you were poking your bottom up in the air! 

Every time I feel you kick and wiggle I am overcome with joy as to what a miracle you are and how incredibly blessed your dad and I are. You've already made such an impact on our little family and we haven't even kissed your sweet cheeks yet. I can't wait to see who you look like, what you sound like, who you act like (I hope you have my temper - shh don't tell your dad!) and what you will do that will make you - YOU! 

We love you so much baby girl
Love, Mommy

Bump 24 Weeks

How far along: 24 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: 13

Maternity clothes: BellaBand, maternity jeans, long shirts, and some maternity shirts

Have you started to show yet: Yes
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Great, I roll over a couple times a night and my belly feels heavy. I just prop it up on my body pillow and fall right back to sleep.

Food cravings: Sweets! M&Ms everyday after lunch
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Best moment(s) this week: Going to see some friends I have not seen in a while, your daddy and grandpa setting up the crib! Not wearing my heart monitor anymore!

Worst moment(s) this week: Learning I have Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). I don't believe it's very serious. I meet with the cardiologist next week to discuss next steps. 

Miss Anything: Wine, beer, margaritas, mixed drinks...
Movement: Yes, and lots of it! I was laying on my side today and it felt like you were waiting to float down to my right side, then JUMP as hard as you could, then your head would hit the middle of my belly! You seem to kick on my right side.
Belly Button in or out: In, and SHALLOW!
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I've been much better this week! Less grumpy days and more happy days!
Weekly Wisdom: Do yoga

Looking forward to: Our first shower is next week!

Bump 23 Weeks

You can't really see how big my belly is, but it's there!

How far along: 23 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 13

Maternity clothes: BellaBand, maternity jeans, long shirts, and some maternity shirts

Have you started to show yet: Yes
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Great, except I woke up at 4 am one morning ready to clean and do laundry. If my "nesting" has set in already I'm doomed. 

Food cravings: Sweets!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada
Best moment(s) this week: Going to see my Nana and Papa Tom! Trying gluten and not having bladder pain!!!

Worst moment(s) this week: I had a couple grumpy days...

Miss Anything: Wine, beer, margaritas 
Movement: Yes, lots of wiggles! 
Belly Button in or out: In, and very shallow, everyday when I look down it keeps getting shallower, and shallower! 
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Most of the time I've been happy except I did have a few grumpy days when everyone and everything made me mad. Then I'd be sad - for no reason. 
Weekly Wisdom: Do yoga, or little stretches. 

Looking forward to: Your daddy putting the crib together this upcoming weekend, and hopefully finding some fabric to recover your rocker, which used to be mine!

In other news...

We went to visit Nana and Papa Tom over the weekend. We always enjoy going down to see them!

Saturday, Nana and I bought two maternity tops, two pairs of pants, and a dress! 

We went to Jersey Cafe for lunch

where I (intentionally) tried gluten for the first time in 9 months...delicious

Daddy and Papa Tom worked on the deck

Saturday night we went to a bonfire at Uncle Mark's

Then on Sunday I made breakfast for everyone, we went to church then we celebrated Nana's birthday! These are some of her coworkers friend's, children. She LOVES being around kiddos!

Kicks on Video!

Of course when I got the camera out you stopped kicking as much, but I did manage to get some little moves! Just look at the freckle on my belly, and don't blink!

The song is called American Baby by Dave Matthews...I thought it was fitting