Oh the joy of holding beautiful babies! There are many sweet friends and family who have had babies these past months, and meeting each one of them has been such a joy. And to see my friends and family become mommas and daddies, that has been pretty incredible too. Here is a peek of all the sweet tiny ones that have blessed this world this year:
My very first nephew, Jacob Scott Harris, was born in February, on his Papa's birthday. This was a very special little baby to me because my sister, Jennie, asked me to be in the room and take pictures of his birth. She did such a good job - she was so calm and focused. It was amazing to be there and witness such a sweet little miracle. I love this little man so much too! He's already grown from a tiny newborn squawker to a cubby, smily 6-month old.
Two other very special babies are the first twins to our family, Rylee and Emma! Their story seems to be straight out of a wonderful movie. My cousin, Sara, and her husband, Jon, hoped to get pregnant while he was home on R & R from Afghanistan in September. They certainly accomplished their goal, and two-fold! Jon made it home safely in January, and we were all excited to watch how these sweet babies' story would unfold. Their momma had to go on bed rest for just a few weeks before she was induced, but overall, she had a healthy pregnancy. They finally made their debut on May 10: Rylee was first out with tons of dark brown hair, but some problems that caused her to be in the NICU, and Emma was next at with a tinier little body, but more healthy overall. I finally got to meet them during Emily and Joel's wedding weekend, and when I first saw them, I immediately began crying. They are just so amazing and so beautiful! We have prayed for their safe arrival, and them being there just made me feel so thankful for them.
That same week that the twins were born, my dear friend, Kendel, had her baby boy, Cameron. She is one of the many moms that I get to share this year with as we all become moms for the very first time. He is a sweet little guy too, and I hope I get to be his babysitter next year when I am staying home with our little one!
Joseph is another little man born this year to my best friend of 16 years, Joellen. Though this was her second baby, due at the end of July, she was such a trooper through the heat and our 10 year high school reunion that she had promised to attend with me. He has the face of a Brown, and it's exciting to see another wonderful woman in my life become such a wonderful momma too.Ellery Cate was born to a sweet friend of mine and a first time mother, Heather, at the beginning of August. I was especially excited for her and her husband because she had been wanting to have a baby for quite some time before she finally got what she had hoped for: a precious little nugget.
Last but not least, another Norman High friend, Shannon, had her first just a few weeks ago. His name is Knox, and is tiny and squishy just like so many of these other cuties that are going to be born in the next year with Baby Valentas.And with the birth of each new sweetie, it made Chris and I yearn more and more to become parents ourselves, so here we are now, 12 weeks along, and bursting at the seams to share with you all what these last few months have given us.
3 Weeks - July 22
Well, we weren't really quite sure that I was pregnant when we went to Disney, but I started to feel different, like there was a bubble in my tummy, so we took a set of these pictures in case we were, to help us tell Chris's family. And it turns out we were!
4 Weeks - August 1
We really were pregnant! The day before we left for Hawaii was the earliest we could take a test and we were dying to do it...And this is our faces after we found out! (Yes, I peed on that stick...haha...)
couldn't believe it actually worked! I have been answering these questions every week since we found out, so here we go!
1. Total weight gain: +3 from my skinniest this summer...With my 10 year reunion and plans for Hawaii, I lost about 15 total, but had already gained some back from all the traveling.
2. Maternity clothes?: Nope!
3. Stretch marks?: Old ones, but no new ones!
4. Sleep?: Pretty sleepy...
5. Best moment this week?: Finding out we were FOR SURE pregnant!
6. Miss anything?: Not being able to exercise intensely anymore...Too tired!
7. Movement?: None
8. Food cravings?: Fruit mostly
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Nothing yet really...Everything sounds good to eat!
10. Gender?: Don't know...
11. Labor signs?: Definitely not!
12. Symptoms?: Very hungry all the time, and tired
13. Belly button in or out?: In for sure
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On for sure
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy and hungry...What better combination to go on vacation with!?!
16. Looking forward to most?: Seeing Janae and her girls, and telling them, even though we know it's early!
5 Weeks - August 8
1. Total weight gain: Probably still +3...Not sure since we didn't have a scale
2. Maternity clothes?: Nope! Still my "skinny summer clothes"
3. Stretch marks?: No new ones
4. Sleep?: Sleeping great on vacation especially with the time change!
5. Best moment this week?: Relaxing at the beach in beautiful Hawaii thinking about the tiny bean in my tummy.
6. Miss anything?: Kind of miss fruity alcohol drinks, since they are plentiful here in Hawaii!
7. Movement?: No
8. Food cravings?: Cheese and bread and seafood
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Airplane rides? Does that count? Gah...I hate airplanes!
10. Gender?: Don't know
11. Labor signs?: No way Jose
12. Symptoms?: Hungry hungry hungry...and sleepy
13. Belly button in or out?: In for shizzle
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On for shizzle
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy happy! What a beautiful place to be when you first find out you're pregnant! We took another test here, and it was positive too!
16. Looking forward to most?: Getting home, making our chalkboard, and starting to plan for this baby!
6 Weeks - August 12
1. Total weight gain: +4
2. Maternity clothes?: No siree!
3. Stretch marks?: None new
4. Sleep?: Good thing school stuff hasn't started because I am pooped!
5. Best moment this week?: Getting this chalkboard made and taking our first picture with it! :)
6. Miss anything?: Looking forward to losing weight, because now it's all gaining weight! And my cute summer clothes are starting to get too tight. Waaahhhh!
7. Movement?: None
8. Food cravings?: Cheese and bread still
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Not really
10. Gender?: Don't know!
11. Labor signs?: Nope!
12. Symptoms?: Tired tired tired and hungry hungry hungry...Getting used to eating smaller, more frequent meals!
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy except for when I remember that summer fun it almost over...No more swimming, vacationing, or sleeping in too soon.
16. Looking forward to most?: My birthday next week and taking "Prego" pictures for the announcement!
7 Weeks - August 19
1. Total weight gain: +4
2. Maternity clothes?: No, but skinny summer clothes are not doing it for me anymore...Moving on to my bigger clothes
3. Stretch marks?: No new ones still
4. Sleep?: Sleeping pretty good, but needing more now that school stuff has started.
5. Best moment this week?: Taking pictures with Loan at Target in the pasta sauce aisle. Got our first congratulations!
6. Miss anything?: Coffee. Especially this week with school about to start. I miss my Coconut Mocha friend.
7. Movement?: Does gas count? :) LOL!
8. Food cravings?: Still the things I love normally...Cheese, bread, desserts...
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: The thought of watching Magic Mike? Seriously though, almost naked dude body somehow makes me feel ill. TMI? Maybe. Sorry!
10. Gender?: Not sure...Kind of praying for a girl right now. Tee her...
11. Labor signs?: Nope
12. Symptoms?: Tired and hungry, hungry and tired...Feeling extra "poofy" too. Probably because of all the bday celebrating I have been doing.
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy thinking about baby...Grumpy about starting school. Feeling pretty lazy these days. Very unmotivated to do much of anything!
16. Looking forward to most?: Going to our first doctor's appointment and then telling our families next weekend! If only they don't guess first...Geez! I can't wait!
8 Weeks - August 26
1. Total weight gain: +5...Possibly due to all the delicious birthday foods I've been eating too! And we've been eating out a lot with school in full swing this week.
2. Maternity clothes?: No, but starting to look at my clothes and decide which ones hide my tummy best for now, until I can tell everyone!
3. Stretch marks?: None new.
4. Sleep?: Extremely tired, and still sleeping good. Side effect of school + first trimester. My poor husband!
5. Best moment this week?: Having the doctor say "You are definitely pregnant!" AND telling our families!
6. Miss anything?: Coffee and fruity adult beverages. There's a great need for both of these this time of year with school starting and birthday celebrating. Darn it!
7. Movement?: Nope
8. Food cravings?: Cheese, fried food, bread, desserts, sweets, sugar...
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Grilled meat. The thought of eating it sounds disgusting.
10. Gender?: Don't know...Is Baby V a he or she???
11. Labor signs?: Nooooo
12. Symptoms?: Same old same old...Tired and hungry. And I feel kind of like you do right after you get off a roller coaster. Kind of woosy all the time? Still figuring out how to eat regularly so this doesn't happen.
13. Belly button in or out?: IN
14. Wedding rings on or off?: ON
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy, yes, but feeling somewhat moody now too. Probably due to feeling fatter by the minute, totally exhausted, and totally useless.
16. Looking forward to most?: Telling our closest friends next weekend! A few know, but most don't! Hooray!
9 Weeks - September 2
1. Total weight gain: +6...Eating all the birthday goodness!
2. Maternity clothes?: Nope, but resigned several of my clothes to post-baby now. Boo.
3. Stretch marks?: No
4. Sleep?: Sleeping good still!
5. Best moment this week?: Telling our friends! They were so happy for us!
6. Miss anything?: Shopping for new clothes, since I have no idea where I'll be in October even.
7. Movement?: None
8. Food cravings?: Soda, sweets, bread, peanut butter, real coffee...decaf sucks!
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Dog poop and stinky dog breath
10. Gender?: Hoping for a girl!
11. Labor signs?: No!
12. Symptoms?: Tired, nausea in the morning, chest starting to be sore
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Half and half - most moodiness has to do with beginning of year school stress and feeling too "poofy".
16. Looking forward to most?: Getting our very first ultrasound on Friday! And telling some of my NHS family!
10 Weeks - September 9
1. Total weight gain: +7...Need to chill on the food
2. Maternity clothes?: No but shopping for them now! Makes me feel a bit happier!
3. Stretch marks?: None new still.
4. Sleep?: Been tossing and turning a lot at night, and waking up feeling hot and nauseous. :(
5. Best moment this week?: Seeing our tiny one for the first time! It finally feels real...We could hardly hold it together when we first saw it! It fluttered its little leg at us and we heard the heartbeat too. So special.
6. Miss anything?: Shopping still...What size will I be? And having to watch the amount of caffeine I have...I want soda more than ever!
7. Movement?: No
8. Food cravings?: Soda, sweets, bread
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Vegetables and salad! Ewwww!
10. Gender?: Nurse told us that the baby had a fast heartbeat (189), which often means a girl!
11. Labor signs?: No
12. Symptoms?: Tired, woosy, cranky, lazy, tight clothes
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Both still! ARGH...
16. Looking forward to most?: Telling the world! And both the Kansas and Oklahoma State Fair...YUM!
11 Weeks - September 16
1. Total weight gain: +7
2. Maternity clothes?: Bought my first shirts with Mom and Aunt Jayne in Hutchinson. Sara also let me borrow a whole tub of clothes that I can't wait to look through. And then when I got home, Chris has bought me a shirt too! So sweet...
3. Stretch marks?: None new
4. Sleep?: Waking up in the night to go to the restroom is totally annoying, since I normally don't at all.
5. Best moment this week?: Buying cute maternity clothes and hanging out with the Henry women all weekend.
6. Miss anything?: Caffeine in unmonitored amounts.
7. Movement?: No
8. Food cravings?: Bread, fried food, dessert, coffee
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Still vegetables or pretty much anything considered healthy.
10. Gender?: Don't know for sure still
11. Labor signs?: No
12. Symptoms?: Tired and hungry, and lazy and useless. Poor Chris. He's the best husband!
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Getting happier now that I am starting to look more pregnant and less just fat. Hooray!
16. Looking forward to most?: Telling my head principal and the rest of Norman High!
12 Weeks - September 23
1. Total weight gain: +7
2. Maternity clothes?: Planning on wearing some of my new shirts this week!
3. Stretch marks?: No
4. Sleep?: Allergies and having to go 2 times a night is kicking my butt. I have been taking naps almost everyday and/or going to bed at 10:00. I'm old!
5. Best moment this week?: Feeling the first breezes of fall...Come on beautiful weather, boots, and tights!
6. Miss anything?: Coffee every morning, feeling slim, even having the energy to exercise! WOW! That's crazy talk!
7. Movement?: No
8. Food cravings?: State fair food :), bread, sweets
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Random weird smells
10. Gender?: Still keeping my fingers crossed for a girl! But peeking at boy stuff makes me happy too.
11. Labor signs?: No
12. Symptoms?: Some cramping here and there as my uterus grows (sorry if that's TMI), tired, lazy, hungry, and often "hungry"
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy mostly now that I everyone knows and that I am looking preggo!
16. Looking forward to most?: Making it facebook official and telling the world! And now I can wear those cute maternity clothes!
Such a delight to share in your pregnancy. Thank you.
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