Love.

I am in love....
with the two baby squirrels that nest in a tree outside my front window. They're probably 4 inches long, and the cutest things I've ever seen.

Prenatal appointment yesterday went well. Every thing's normal. The possibilities of a VBAC aren't likely :( But, if I have to schedule she said they would most likely be fine with scheduling my section at 37w4/5days. Which is right in the middle of Karl's spring break. That would be so lovely. And then Daddy and Baby's birthdays would be very close. Karl's is April 11, and we're hoping for April 9 with little Evie. The last few weeks are the worst weeks (for me anyway), so I would be totally extatic! So, I've gained 5lbs so far with this pregnancy, and apparently I should have gained about 10 by now... oops. I think I had already gained like 15 at this point with Ethan... haha. But, what can ya do?

a long week...

Thanksgiving week was long - but really nice. Karl's uncles from Oregon were here for the weekend before, and it was nice to see family that you don't see often. My grandparents and parents was chaos per usual - but I wouldn't have it any other way. We got to tell every one that we're having a girl, which was really fun! When we got home from our weekend in Indiana, Collin and Ciara (and their too cute roommate) came by for a bit, and I loved chatting with them about what's new in their life.... So all in all it was busy, but GREAT!

Now I've had some down time to just relax (before our next super busy phase, more on that later) and think...
I'm realizing how content I am this time around being pregnant. I'm not glorifying my "months" by always jumping to the next one higher (I personally think you're only tricking yourself. I am 18 weeks and 4 days exactly), I'm not dwelling on symptoms (in fact I'm enjoying them - as much as one can), I'm not wearing maternity clothes, and hyper-extending my belly to look bigger (..people do that). I'm not concerned with due dates, or my high-risk complications. I'm not dwelling on every fetal movement, or lack of. Every pre-natal test, and ultrasound.... I'm just happy. I'm happy to be pregnant. I'm not in a rush to get it over with. I'm content in the fact that the Lord will take care of me and Evelyn-to-be. All of these things were not so with Ethan, and it probably wasn't healthy. But, my anxiety did drive me to learn a lot - and that's probably what's enabled me to be so content with this baby... it's good. God is good.

As the before mentioned: we have a busy phase coming up. We're painting the nursery, moving Ethan in to it, removing layers of wall paper from Ethan's room, painting his room, moving him back, setting up Evie's nursery, getting wall paper down from our room, painting our room, getting family pictures... hopefully just in time for Christmas (very busy with our 4 places we have to be) then new years, then Ethan's first birthday party in Indiana, then his second-first birthday in Michigan and that brings us to the middle of January. Can you believe it! Time is flying! I don't know how we do it all!

EVELYN DEE LORENE!

It's a GIRL!!! We couldn't be happier. Funny thing is I've said from the beginning that I thought it was a girl.
Thank the Lord everything we've been praying for is coming true, she's healthy, she's not (AS) huge (as Ethan), no signs of anything wrong at all! She's only measuring a few days ahead, and is very calm.

So here's to Evelyn Dee Lorene!

will we find out?

My full diagnostic ultrasound has been moved up a week to this Monday. I have ants in my pants! I will only be 17.5 weeks - so I'm not quite sure if we'll find out the gender this time... but here's to hoping! Being the research nut that I am, medical studies with a transabdominal ultrasound with "decent" equipment (level II, the perinatal office I go to has top notch) after week 14 with a fetus in favorable position, they were able to correctly identify approximately 85%. Considering the quality of ultrasound equipment, and our past experience with the sonographers, and finding out that Ethan was a boy at 17w5d - we're praying we'll know in a few short days! Will it be Owen or Evelyn (or Olivia - that's the name I want, but Karl's currently not budging).

I tried getting some cute fall pictures of Ethan, and all he did was give me faces. It's true, I don't think I got one "good" picture... but I still love my little stinker.

mowhawk!

This is my boy.

(it will eventually come off, but I couldn't resist leaving it like that when I was buzzing off his mullet)

The camera died before I could get another picture, and he fell asleep. But, a better one is to come, because this does not do his cuteness any justice.

Ethan had his 10 month ped appointment today...
He weighed in at a whopping 21lbs! My chunk-a-love!
We've been struggling with him throwing things off of tables
(today he shattered a glass candle - scary!)
and we got some great, and reassuring advice on "discipline" for our little bugger.
Reassuring because Doc H. said is totally normal for his age to be "testing" us, and it's not a sign of defiance, or purposeful disobedience on his part - but more just feeling things out... figuring out what's ok and what's not.
Being that we don't agree with the whole spanking thing at this age (also strongly discouraged by Doc. H) he suggested a firm "no" or "don't touch", and whisking him to a "naughty spot" for 30 seconds to a minute of "alone time" (aka glorified way of saying time-out) after a warning.

So, let's hope this helps! It's not a HUGE deal at home, but I doubt if you had us over you'd want our little angel throwing your things across the room :)
Other than that, he had his poor toe annihilated, poking him for blood work, and a flu shot to boot... I hate hearing him scream like that...

After our appointment, we came home to a pleasant surprise invitation to dinner with Kasey's family. Thank you Kasey - it was amazing! Which was such a blessing, because I was dreading the idea of cooking tonight. It was such a lovely time, I love all the Simon hugs, and Amelia - ooh I could just eat her up! Ethan was in a mood after a skipped nap, and his lovely shots so we didn't get the amazingly cute play-time pictures I had hoped. But, I did get a picture of my kid being a bully haha. So here's that.

15 weeks pregnant with #2

It's almost embarrassing to show you this picture... because I look like I did when I was 5 months pregnant with Ethan, and I'm only 15 weeks. But, in my defense, I have only gained 2lbs and am actually weighing in less than my pre-Ethan-pregnancy weight. Anyway, here is the first of many belly shots.

Shut ins...

So, Ethan and I hid in the dark watching TV and cuddling during Halloween this year - attempting to ward off trick-or-treaters...

Karl was at a party with his D-group guys and I wasn't even about to attempt to handle the dogs and the baby by myself... So, no cute pictures of Ethan in a cute little costume. I wish, but next year.

Speaking of Ethan, I can't believe my baby is just 9 weeks away from being ONE! I know that sounds like a long time, but it goes way faster than you think. But, I'm not sad - in fact the longer he's around, the more deeply in love I fall with him. He's such an amazing little boy, and I love watching all his little silly things come out in his personality... the best is when he leans in to give you a hug... Ohhhh... my boy.

So, I had another prenatal appointment today - and I'm yet again growin' a big one. Measuring 18 weeks at 14w5d. My dreams of a VBAC started slowly slipping away after talking with the midwife about it. But, I'm still praying for it - and will have a formal consultation on the issue after my next ultrasound. A little over 3 weeks until we (hopefully) find out the baby's gender.. yay!

One thing I am thankful for during this pregnancy, and changing care providers, is that I'm not being treated like a high-risk pregnancy - or at least not as much as I was last time. I have to have more ultrasounds, and more testing, but I only have to go in every 3-4 weeks like normal pregnancies (with Ethan it was every 2 for the first half, and every week until the 3rd trimester, and then TWICE! a week until delivery)... I guess although the circumstances aren't any different as far as risk - being treated more normal makes me feel more normal, hence less stressed out. It's good. I like my midwife.