28 weeks (01/28/13)

Here we are again--- in the home stretch!  We have entered into the 3^rd trimester.  Holy cow!!  I was filling out the pre-registration forms at the doctor’s office yesterday and about had a panic attack.  81 days to go…  That’s coming up faster than I thought!!

Lindly and I are doing very well.  I felt her at the gym this morning for the first time.  Yes, I am still at the gym 5-6 days a week and loving it.  I feel really good, and it helps with my sanity.  Plus, I think it will keep me in better shape for delivery and losing the weight afterwards.  Lindly usually just hangs out while I’m exercising, then starts dancing on our way home.  My belly is moving around quite a bit, as Lindly is quite a pusher.  She stretches a lot and pushes a lot.  It feels like she’s dancing and doing gymnastics when she’s not trying to push my belly and make it even bigger.  I don’t need her help with that or trying to get my belly button to stick out even further!

I had my glucose test yesterday.  I won’t know the results for a few days, but I’m going to assume all is well unless I hear differently.  My blood pressure was lower than normal, which is good, and I hope it stays that way.  (It got high at the end with swelling when I had Carson.)  I was told my weight gain is perfect, which made me feel really good.  Dr. Moulton measured my calves to make sure one isn’t bigger than the other (can indicate major issues), since I’m taking potassium to help with leg cramps. 

My appointments will now be every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then I will go weekly.  The reality of a baby here soon is starting to set in, and Cj and I are trying not to completely freak out.  We are very excited, and Carson is asking how many night-nights until she gets here.  Wow… time sure flies when you’re having fun!  I’m getting close to wanting to be done, even though I am enjoying many parts of this pregnancy.  I’m just not quite ready for her to be here…

I am measuring about 5 days ahead of schedule.  Hopefully that means I may just go a few days early and not that I’m having another big baby.  I’d really like to have a little princess.  But, I’d be more than fine with happy and healthy; that’s much more important.

Smiles and Blessings,

Cj, Danie, Tanner, Carson, and Lindly J

24 weeks (01/11/13)

There isn’t too much to update at this point, as our appointment is next week.  Dr. Moulton thought he should go on vacation this week.

As you can tell from Carson’s picture, we are having a princess!!  We are SO excited!!  I think Cj is also partly relieved…  no chances of a surprise later in hopes of some pink. J  Tanner is a little concerned, as he’s worried about the teenage years.  I told him he’ll be long out of the house before then, and poor Carson will be left to deal with her.  He seemed to feel a little better after that.  My thought is that he’ll be able to use this adorable little girl to woo the girls when we take Tanner to college in a couple years.  Oh, yeah – I fully expect this to happen.

I got to see my belly moving a lot yesterday at work, which was so neat!  I’m not sure what music Lindly was listening to, but it must have been pretty good!  Cj was lucky enough to see my belly move last night, too.  Whenever Carson would look, she would quit moving.  So, he poked my belly a couple of times, but she wouldn’t listen.  Typical little sister!

As you can see, I am growing and growing and growing.  You can thank Cj for my cute outfit today.  He was nice enough to dress me in his clothes. J

Take care, and we’ll talk again next week!

Smiles and Blessings,

Cj, Danie, Tanner, Carson, and Lindly J

20 weeks (12/05/21)

I am going to start by apologizing to those of you who wanted to find out and I told you that Cj would tell.  After Cj and I talked yesterday, he didn’t want to share the news with anyone if he couldn’t share it with me.  I have a lot of respect for my hubby for that, and I greatly appreciate it.  Well, last night I asked Cj to tell me if we’re having a cowboy or a princess.  It was very important to him for me to know, and he was so good about not telling me with Carson when I didn’t want to find out then, either.  This time, it was my turn to compromise.  So, yes, I do know the sex of the baby, and no, I’m not telling yet.  We are going to announce to our families on Thanksgiving first, then we’ll see about letting our close friends in on the family secret.

Baby and I are both doing quite well.  We’re still exercising in the morning, and I feel really good.  I’m starting to feel the extra weight, and this belly gets heavy sometimes.  My size and weight are both fine, and I’m measuring right on time.  Baby is measuring about 2 days ahead of schedule, so hopefully that means an early birth rather than another big baby.

It was fun to see a happy, healthy, VERY active baby during the sonogram yesterday.  The sonographer kept having to chase the baby down and push on my belly to get the pictures she needed.  And, as soon as she’d un-freeze the screen from taking a photo, baby was in a completely different position.  It was quite entertaining, and I could clearly feel a lot of the movement.  We saw sweet little feet with 10 little toes, and we got waved at a time or 2 from precious little hands and fingers.  Such an amazing experience!  Carson did go with us, but he became uninterested after about 5 minutes.  He played on his computer after that and was anxious to see Dr. Moulton, especially since Dr. Moulton does a magic trick of pulling off his finger. J 

Baby’s heartbeat is strong and steady and all measurements are showing perfect on the scales. 

Cj and Carson haven’t gotten a chance to feel the baby kick yet, but we’re hoping it will come soon.  I’ll just have to have them close one night while I’m having dinner; that seems to be the busiest time of the night!

Photos will come next week, as I remembered to take a belly shot last night, but I forgot to bring the camera card today, and the sono photos are with my pregnancy journal.

If we don’t talk before then, have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Smiles and Blessings,

Cj, Danie, Tanner, Carson, and Baby J

17 weeks (10/25/12)

Nothing much to report at this time.  Baby is active and moving quite a bit.  In fact, she kept moving yesterday when we were listening to the heartbeat, so we kept having to find her again.  It was pretty funny.

I have felt quite a bit of movement, mostly in the form of pushes against my belly.  I have gotten 1 kick and 1 punch.  I am hoping for more pushes with my little dancer, rather than the kicks like I had with Carson (who was obviously born to play soccer like his daddy). 

The heartbeat is strong and steady, and my belly keeps growing bigger.  Sorry for the blurry picture; Carson was behind the camera. J  The belly looks bigger in person, so don’t be deceived by this photo.

Baby and I are still able to exercise, including running.  We even did the KC ½ marathon last Saturday!  We finished in 2:47, which is awesome!  I was able to run (jog) quite a bit more than I thought I could/would, and it felt great to be out there.  Very enjoyable, especially when I got to walk the horrendous hills.  

Carson keeps asking how many more night-nights (this is how we tell days in our house) until we see the baby and until she comes.  Yes, Carson is hoping for a baby sister, too.  He even tells me that we’ll go crazy if it’s another boy.  Ahh… he’s after my own heart. 

The big sonogram where Cj finds out if we’re having a cowboy or a princess is on Nov 15^th – just 3 weeks away!  Too bad Carson will miss it, as he will be in school.  He’s been to all the appointments so far, so I’m kinda bummed, and I know he will be, too.  Cj can share the good news of the sex, as long as I don’t find out.  So, if you don’t think you can keep it a secret, you don’t get to find out either!

Until next time,

Smiles and Blessings to you all.

Cj, Danie, Tanner, Carson, and Baby J

Bump photos (10/17/2012)

Happy Hump Day!

Before I go and make a Facebook announcement, I wanted to let y’all know what’s going on and give you a BIG family surprise!

We have officially left the first trimester, as of yesterday.  Holy cow!  We are 14 weeks and cooking.  For those who wouldn’t believe I could “bump” this early, see the attached photos.  I realized I can no longer wear my normal pants (please come shopping in my closet, Jill) and the belly bands were getting uncomfortable by the end of the day, so I am now wearing my maternity pants/skirts full-time.  I am still able to wear my regular tops… for now.

We are very excited about this new addition, and we are thinking Team Pink! J  As much as I love my hubby and my boys, I really don’t know if I could handle another one.  Plus, I’d love to have a little princess.  Carson and Tanner are excited about the new baby, and Carson loves to tell people that he’s going to be a big brother.  He has taken to calling the baby “butterfly” or “sea monkey” (from the “Smurfs” movie).

Our due date is April 2^nd, which is Sharon’s birthday.  While I’d rather not go the full 40 weeks this time, I would be honored to share that special day with such an amazing woman.

The baby had her first photo shoot at 9 weeks, 1 day, and Carson wasn’t really sure what to think, as it didn’t really look like a baby he would normally see.  The heartbeat came in strong last Wednesday, and I was lucky enough to get a recording of it on my phone.  Isn’t technology awesome??

As things continue to progress, we will keep you informed.  We have our next appointment on Oct 24^th, then the BIG sonogram 3 weeks later.  Let’s see how long Cj can keep the sex a secret, since he will find out while I want a surprise.  Should we take bets on that one??

Either way, we have great names picked out.  The baby girl will be Lindly Gray.  Lindly for my cousins Lindsay and Carly.  Gray was Sharon’s maiden name.  The boy will be Sawyer Ronald.  Ronald is baby’s grampa. 

Please keep a happy, healthy mommy and baby in your prayers.  Thanks for sharing this incredible journey with us!

 

Smiles and Blessings,

Cj, Danie, Tanner, Carson, and baby J

Carson's 3rd Birthday Party

Carson turned 3. WHAT?!? Where did teh time go? We had a great time with his Diego cake, even though it turned his whole face blue. Oh, well. You only turn 3 once. :) My best friend and her family even came down from Iowa for the party. She's the best!

Hayride

We went on a hayride with Grammy and our church. It got to be quite cold, but I was lucky enough to have Carson as a nice heating blanket on my lap. He had a great time! He liked getting to have s'mores afterwards, then we went out for pizza with Grammy. Yummy!


Carson's first s'more