Random thoughts

I have been rather slow with the updates the last two weeks. Actually I haven't been on the computer much. That is so not like me. However, Baby #3 has a mind of its own. I have been suffering from morning sickness the last couple of weeks. I thought all of that would over by now but I was not so lucky. The morning sickness has been mild but enough to take all my energy so all I can do is sleep. I had to drag out the relief band a couple of times just so I could function during the day and get some chores done. Of course the band does not keep me from throwing up but it will allow me to forget about the nausea and go about my day. I am now 18 weeks. Today we took a few pictures so you could see how much the belly was growing. The boys also wanted to play around with the camera so there are a few shots of Hudson and Ethan.

We are all about football right now. We had Matt's family over last weekend to watch the NFC championship game. Matt and Uncle Bob are still screaming about the Cardinals winning. We are already planning the Superbowl party for next Sunday. Right before the Superbowl we will have a birthday celebration. Hudson and Kara are both turning two. Hudson turns two on Feb 1st, and Kara turned two on January 17th so we are combining their birthdays. It just so happens that both kids love football so a Superbowl theme is perfect. Hudson already as a new Cardinals jersey to wear so he will be ready for the game.

Ethan is doing very well in Preschool and Karate. Yesterday his Karate instructor talked to us about moving Ethan up to the next Karate class. He has been improving his focus and trying really hard. In the next couple of weeks we will have a trial class and if all goes well then he moves up. The next class is 45 minutes long instead of 30 which could be challenge for an almost five year old. But the instructor believes that once Ethan is around the older kids he will actually pay attention more and learn from their behavior.
The weather has been chilly and it rained all weekend. I will admit right about now I am ready for spring and missing the Arizona sunshine. Not much else to report at this time, but I promise to do better about posting.





18 weeks


Ethan wanted a picture with the playoff towel.


The boys!

Photo by Ethan

Hudson always wants in the picture

16 Week Check up

I had another Doctor's appointment today. It was uneventful. I had to pee in a cup, weigh in, have my blood pressure checked, and then measure my belly. I gained three pounds since the last appointment but considering I lost a pound that visit I have gained a total of two pounds with this pregnancy. I keep getting the question "When do you find out what you are having?" I know have an answer, February 10th. It still seems a little weird to me that we are going to find out. It feels like I am cheating. But I kept the first two a surprise and Matt really wants to know so that is why I agreed to ruin the surprise this time. I still have a few mornings with nausea. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the boys wouldn't follow me into the bathroom and then want to know why I am throwing up. Nothing like having an audience at that moment. This week I started to feel the baby move. That still amazes me, even on the third pregnancy.....


This is my Samantha Harris pose


16 weeks


the orange tank top and black pants take two (16 weeks)

Playing in the snow

Yesterday we took the boys out for a drive and then to play in the snow. It was an adventure for sure. Hudson does not like the curvy roads. About half way to our destination he got car sick. Thank goodness he was dressed in layers! After he was all cleaned up we continued to the snow. The boys had a blast. Here are a few pictures.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas! First time in many years that I have seen a white Christmas. Of course the snow melted very quickly, but that is okay with me. I prefer it that way actually! To start things off we attended the Christmas Eve service at Applegate Christian Fellowship. Matt was so excited to take us because the service is outside in the amphitheater. I knew it would be cold but still thought it would be fun. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and due to the rain the service had to be moved inside. The sanctuary was standing room only. So we almost didn't stay, but as we were walking out the door they started putting chairs in the foyer. It wasn't exactly what we had planned but it still was a beautiful service that encouraged us to remember the reason for the season. Ethan loved singing the songs and Hudson of course could not help but dance. Once we got home it was time to leave cookies for Santa. Ethan had never done this before so he was really excited. I was quite surprised at how easily the boys went to sleep. Christmas morning I think I was more anxious than anymore. I couldn't sleep! As a matter of fact I woke up at 3, then again at 4, and 5:30. The boys didn't even get up until 7! Santa had left Hudson a tricycle that converts to a rocker when in the house and Ethan a Stars Wars Video game and board game. Hudson immediately ran to the tricycle, he sat on it, started rocking and shouting Wee!!!!!! Ethan was beyond excited with his games. He started screaming I always wanted this. Then all of a sudden Ethan ran over to the plate of cookies to see if Santa ate them. He was very happy to see that they were gone. Then it was back to the presents. Hudson opened one present and then wanted to just start playing with it. Ethan on the other hand was ready to rip open the next gift. However, I should add that Ethan was very happy with each gift. When all the presents were opened Ethan looks at us and says "This is the best Christmas ever!" After a quiet morning at home we drove out to Applegate to have Christmas dinner with Matt's family. The meal was wonderful and the cousins had a blast comparing presents. It was totally chaos as the kids opened more presents. But that chaos brought joy to all our hearts. Yes, it truly was a very Merry Christmas.


Christmas Eve(Ethan's shirt says Dear Santa I was framed)


Leaving cookies for Santa


The boys


Hudson new tricycle

Wee! Wee! Wee!

Look at all those presents

The rubik's cube is baaaccckkk!

Ethan loves his POPCORN! Thanks Grandad!

Elmo Slippers

Elmo Legos

Stockings

Hudson is all about Elmo!

Jingle Baby (13 1/2 weeks)

Opening presents at Grandma and Grandpa's

I think the box was bigger than Ethan!

Ethan's Winter Mysteries

As I am sitting here watching the snow flurries fall, I couldn't help but chuckle as I was reminded of some of Ethan's comments. Until this year Ethan and Hudson had no idea what cold weather was like. They were used to the sun constantly shining. If they saw rain it was a treat. Since we moved to Oregon Ethan has come up with some funny questions/comments about the change in weather. You have to remember that this is a kid that spent the first four years of his life in the desert.

1.) The first time he saw the snow falling he ran to the window and said "Mommy is it Christmas?"

2.) If we are outside when it is foggy Ethan insists on holding his breath and sometimes coughs because he thinks it is smoke!

3.) One morning we were sitting in the car waiting for the windshield to defrost as it was covered in ice. So you can imagine how cold it was and I started talking. Ethan quickly says "Excuse me, something is wrong here, there is smoke coming out of your mouth." He was even more surprised when he noticed as he was talking the same thing happened.

4.) My personal favorite is the never ending question "Why isn't the sun waking up?" Ethan asks me this every time it is raining or foggy. He then tells me that he knows it is good morning time so he wants to know why he can't see the sun.

Of course I have tried to answer all of these questions. None of my answers seem to satisfy him. Kids just have a mind of their own.

First Trimester

My first trimester is nearing the end. Overall I can't complain. I only threw up once, took plenty of naps, and was to keep the nausea to a minimum. Today I had a nuchal translucency screening. This was strictly my choice to have the test done. They were taking measurements to determine if the baby was at risk for down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to the ultrasound they had to prick my finger to run some blood test. During the ultrasound nothing appeared out of the ordinary, bloodwork results will take about a week. The baby didn't want to cooperate this morning. The ultrasound tech had to work hard to get all the measurements. It was kind of cute that the baby kept waving his/her hands. I also had a 12 week check up with the doctor. This was the first time I actually got to talk with the doctor. It was a pretty boring appointment. They asked a bunch of questions then we tried to hear the heartbeat but we could only hear it for a brief second. Still a little too early. But I was not alarmed because I had the ultrasound in the morning to know everything was fine. They had to take more blood to check my thyroid levels to determine whether or not I need to continue taking the medication. Pretty basic stuff. Oh, I almost forgot not quite sure how this happened but I LOST a pound since last month. That would be my something different for this month because that never happened when I was pregnant with Ethan or Hudson. I am including a few ultrasound pictures in this post. Plus some new belly pictures. For scrapbooking purposes I take a picture in the same outfit every four weeks to track the growing belly. So you will get very tired of the orange tank top and black pants.

Profile


Nasal Bone


Hands

11 weeks

12 weeks

Winter Wonderland

The snow began falling on Saturday but then it was mainly slush. My Mom got an extra day on her vacation as her flight was not able to leave Medford. On Sunday the snow really began to fall. I didn't really notice since I was so involved with my football games. However, when we woke up Monday morning there was a blanket of snow on the ground. Of course this would be the morning that I have to be up bright and early for an ultrasound appointment. Thankfully it was just snow and not ice so the roads were not too bad. I have to admit it looks really pretty outside.

front of our house

Backyard

snow covered picnic table

more snow covered trees

around the cul-de-sac

on the way to the doctor's office

still on the way to the doctor's office