Welcome....Riley Carlton Dickens!

Here is what January 19, 2013 looked like for us:

Smuggling a basketball to the hospital.  Oh wait!  That's our kid in there!

Waiting, waiting, waiting....don't remember if this is before/after the epidural.

The epidural made me itch like a baboon!  I couldn't scratch my face enough!

 

Riley makes his debut!  7 lbs 11 oz and 19 3/4 inches long!

Proud daddy with Riley

Me getting my first look at Riley

"The Thinker"  What a precious boy!

 

Bennett meets Riley--our 2 precious boys!

I swear between putting B to bed Friday night and seeing him late Saturday afternoon he had to have gained 10 pounds and 4 inches!  He's such a big boy now that his brother is here!

Thank goodness for cheap hospital entertainment--balloons and a closet!

 

Life is still an adjustment getting used to 2 babies under 2--one who physically needs you and one who emotionally needs you.  We are stressed, tired, and tired (oh, did I say that already??), but we're also beyond fortunate at the safe arrival of Riley, the love Bennett already has for his brother, and the fact that we have so many friends and family who are willing and able to help us out!

 

 

Baby Dickens #2--Month 9

Month 9???  What the heck---already???

I honestly can't believe that we've reached the day where we're about to welcome baby #2 to our family.  Jeff says we can really call ourselves a family when he arrives since it will be more than one child. I told him we were a family when it was even just us! 

This has possibly been the most interesting month.  Here's why?  (To help understand these blurbs, you need to know that my "day that I move to the next week" is on Friday.)

Week 36--Saturday night I woke up with a terrible pain right in the middle of my chest at the top of my rib cage. Thought it might be heartburn, so I tried some Tums.  Nope.  Thought it might be my blood sugar since I cheated and had 3 Oreos.  Nope (it was 84--well within range!).  Out of thoughts.  Couldn't get comfy in bed, so I moved upstairs to the recliner and at least got a little bit of sleep.  Woke up at 5:30am to throw up, feel slightly better, and then feel the pain move to my right side. Basically rested all day Sunday thanks to an absolutely amazing husband (who took care of B when he was sick himself).  Monday I called the dr. just to let them know what was going on and they asked me to go to Labor & Delivery to get monitored.  Of course, by this time I was feeling better and all the monitoring/ultrasound checks came out good, so I was free to go!  (Side note:  at my 35 week checkup we found out that the baby was breech, but he flipped head down by the day after Christmas--my 36 week checkup....ultrasound  on this Monday showed he was still head down--yeah!)

Week 37--boring! normal.  Checkup was good.  Head still down.  Good to go.  2nd week of not seeing my doctor since she was gone during the Christmas holidays and I was ready to get back to my normal visits.  Only thing interesting about this visit was I had to take B with me, which was fine as long as he had food to occupy him.  (Thank you raisins that he has to pick out of the box....a great time consumer!)

Week 38--Finally saw my dr. again and she couldn't find "any presenting body parts" during my exam.  HUH???  Ultrasound confirmed what I thought---he was breech AGAIN!  (I knew I was feeing the roundness of his little head in my right rib area again!)  Sunday we realized I'd dropped.  First sign:  Jeff noticed.  Second sign:  I was able to easily bend over towards the front, an action I hadn't been able to do for about 2 months!  When Jeff noticed I'd dropped when I was pregnant with Bennett, my water broke within 12 hours and Bennett arrived less than 7.5 hours after that, so we were in a mad rush on Sunday to finish any and every little thing that we could possibly fix, file, cook, clean, take care of, etc. that day!  We were whooped!  I hardly slept that night because I could feel light contractions, so when I woke up I called the dr.  The dr. on call said that since I was breech at my last appt that I needed to go check into the hospital.  So...got B ready for daycare, all instructions for him finalized, bags packed, and headed there.  Dilated 2 cm.  Head down (Yep--I knew that too b/c in church on Sunday he was literally using my uterus like a hamster uses a wheel!  Talk about not having a clue what the preacher spoke on...)  Contractions 3, 4, 10, 7, 4, etc. minutes apart....maybe dilated to a 3....get sent home.  Not much action the rest of the day, so I followed orders to walk and drink a lot of water.  All that got me was a lot of bathroom visits and a lost shoe/sock from my walking partner in the stroller!  Tuesday--not much action at all.  VERY disappointing after all the excitement from Monday, but oh well!  Weds--Dr. appt.  Was really hoping she'd say I was ready to go to the hospital, but no such luck!

38 weeks 2 days

 

She offered to induce on Monday, but we said no.  She offered to induce the next day--we said yes, but the hospital had no room at the inn!  :(  Then, she said she was working Saturday, so we jumped on it!  Looks like baby Riley will make his arrival on Saturday, January 19th--unless he decides to come sooner, which we're totally okay with! 

Baby Dickens #2--Month 8

8 Months--Oh My!

32 Weeks

I'm told at least every few days that I don't look very big for being 8 months pregnant, which I'm very thankful for, but it feels like I expand more and more every day!  I honestly think it's keeping up with a VERY busy 15 month (almost 16 month) old (notice his hand in the bottom right of the pic??) that's keeping me this small.  I don't have time to think about snacking unless I'm hungry at school!  When I'm home, it's all about Bennett---which I'm glad for since it won't be all about him for much longer!

Riley definitely lets me know that he's a force to be reckoned with!  He is active, active, active!  I get jabbed in the ribs, the cervix, the side, the front, you name it!  He's not particular to one area--he likes to get around!

I got a lovely sinus/allergy infection at the beginning of month 8 and my abs got a workout due to all the coughing I did over a 3-4 day period.  Sadly that's the only exercise I've done--with the exception of taking Bennett to the park at the school up the street!  Sorry Riley--I'm just exhausted!

The key word for this month is EMOTIONAL!  It was going to be "tired", but emotional is definitely a better option!  I've been extremely more emotional during this pregnancy.  I think it has to do with just life in general, but I'm definitely moodier, cry more, and have absolutely ZERO patience!  I'm lucky that Jeff is still hanging around!  Every time he tells me it will get better once Riley gets here I go into "It's not the pregnancy causing this!!!" mode--but dear goodness, I sure hope it is!

Two weeks before Christmas Bennett and Jeff got sick with the stomach bug. I think the only reason it bypassed me was that I was on anti-biotics for my sinus infection that lasted 2 weeks!  I was never so tired of seeing/cleaning up bodily fluids from others than I was that week!  All I wanted was the Clorox fairy to visit for 3-4 days straight and just get our house germ free!

At my 34/35 week checkup we had the last (I'm guessing) ultrasound!  Riley was a movin' and groovin'!  Good news:  due date still the same, fluid levels good, and he's weighing between 5.5 and 6 pounds!  Bad (well...not bad...just not as good) news:  his head is sitting on my right side.  Yep--could've told them that since he stretches quite often and it moves up to my rib cage! So he's breech and I told the dr. that if I have a c-section, I want everything "tied up" while they're in there!  Gotta get those plans started!  Got some great profile pics of him and he looks just like Bennett!  It makes it a little more exciting that he'll be here in a few weeks!

Christmas = Thank. God. It's. Over.  There were no major anythings this year, but I was (and still am) completely exhausted.  That and having B home from daycare for 2 weeks is going to make for a not very restful 2 weeks off.  He'll go one day a week so I can catch up on scrapbooking, but that's about it unless I get a babysitter.  Problem is:  I have TONS to do at home and that means a babysitter can't watch him at home.  Dilemmas, dilemmas!

Hopefully we'll get B moved into his new room by the time my break is over.  That's the plan anyway--fingers crossed!  It takes me an hour to do what Jeff can do in 10 minutes--I'm so tired of being fat and tired!  :)

I Just Don't Know...

...good God, where do I even begin on what I just don't know???  If I was the type of person to simply just take each day as it comes my life would be SO much easier.  Instead, I focus on things I can't change, am not in control of, etc. and it kills me!  I know every single thing on this list will work itself out because even though I have trouble major issues letting go of control, I do realize in my head that it will all come out okay!  (I just can't get my "today brain" to realize that at the moment!)

Here are my "I Just Don't Know's"

• How am I going to have time to shave my legs before delivery if my water breaks at school?  Yes, this is seriously a worry! With Bennett, my water broke at home on a Sunday, so I had time to hop in the shower, make myself presentable, and get to the hospital!  I was also in labor only 7.5 hours, so I'd better focus on a game plan with #2 almost here!
• How are we going to have 2 kids?  I know I thought the same thing when I was pregnant with Bennett and I know it will become a new normal---but it's not here yet, so I wonder...
• I've been a little a hell of a lot more emotional this pregnancy.  Will I make it post-partum without meds?  Already prepped the dr. on this one, so at least I'm not in denial!
• How is Bennett going to react when baby #2 arrives?  The only major thing we're doing is changing his room before then.  I'm not taking away the bedtime sippy cup or anything else major b/c that's enough of a biggie I think!
• Work a full time job with 2 kids under 2???  I only know it will probably be my sanity saver!
• How will I give enough attention to both kiddos?
• How will I ever have a clean house again?  Seriously?  I'm outnumbered here 3-1 when baby #2 gets here!  (Not that a girl would be neater, but maybe she'd have a "dirt aversion"! )
• How will I be able to show the world how crazy I am about all of my boys without sounding like one of those raving lunatic moms?  I am literally THRILLED to have 2 boys, be a mom of boys, etc.  I SUCK at fixing hair (come on...just look at my own hair!) and have no tolerance for girl drama, but on the flip side, I know I'll have more ER visits on my checklist than Barbies!
• How will I ever be able to get enough kisses in before they realize it's not cool to give mommy kisses?  You'd totally understand my reason for asking this if you could see Bennett snuggling on me, ready for bed, looking up at me with pursed lips, ready to give me a slobbery smacker!  Melts my heart EVERY time!

I'm sure there are more, but I have so many things on my mental "To-Do List" that I can't think of any more at the moment.  :)

Baby Dickens #2--Month 7

Welcome to Month #7!

Just the other night I told Jeff that I didn't feel like this pregnancy is lasting as long as Bennett's did.  His response?  "Well, since you were almost 3 months pregnant when we found out, you've technically only known for 4 months!"  THAT definitely puts it in perspective!

My Halloween shirt!  I love it and will have to make sure it gets lots of wear!

27 weeks 5 days (close enough to the 28 week mark!)



Maternity belt note:  not sure if Riley is sitting differently than Bennett did or if I'm just hooking my belt differently due to the velcro issue I mentioned last month, but dang!  That belt is pressing on my belly more and making it more uncomfortable.  I'm going to have to look into this b/c I definitely need the support!

I officially started feeling bigger this month.  Tying my shoes, shaving my legs, bending to get laundry out of the dryer---yeah....they're harder now!  My legs are always feeling like I need to stretch them, but actually sitting and being able to do the stretching depends on the day!  Other than these minor things, I'm feeling great! 

Bennett still loves to tackle me if I'm lying down somewhere, and I think Riley's getting done with it!  B better watch out--Riley may take some revenge one day!

My doctor's appointments are now every other week and while it's annoying simply to go in, get weighed/measured, tell the dr. how my blood sugar readings are, it's always fun to hear Riley's heartbeat!  I really would love another ultrasound to check him out, but I'm fortunate that because we're both doing well I don't need one.  Count my blessings, right?  Definitely will!  :)

Although I forget to check my blood sugar half the time because I'm so busy, I'm doing well on the times when I do monitor it, so yeah! 


I love this pic that we took when we took B's 15 month/Christmas card pics: Bennett really is just pointing at my belly, but we'll just pretend he's pointing at his little brother! I like the other one of me too and am so glad to have a few more prego pics since I haven't taken as many this time around due to the sheer busy-ness that is life!  Nothing says "normal" like the pic of all of us--sums up life sometimes!



Baby Dickens #2--Month 6

Hello month #6!

Hello end of the 2nd trimester!  Wait!  Say WHAT?!?!  Oh dear goodness, it's getting close!

24 weeks (and a few days!)

I'm tying this literally 4 days after month 6 ended and I feel like I have no clue that the month even passed!  That's how busy we've been here in the Dickens household!  I think this is why...

I'm still feeling great!  I brought out my maternity belt and have been wearing it religiously since it definitely helps keep my posture better and the back pain isn't as bad when I do.  The only problem...I really wore it down last pregnancy and the velcro has started to curl on the right side where I close the belt, so it rubs during the day.  But it's minor!

I had and failed (again!) my glucose test.  I didn't just fail.  I failed with flying colors.  Apparently the # to get is 135 and I surpassed it with 176.  I'd already told my dr. that if I failed the first one, I didn't want to do the 3 hour test and that I'd follow the diet and monitor my blood sugar levels.  It's worked great so far and had helped again on the weight gain.  In the 2 weeks since I failed I haven't gained any weight (don't worry...baby has b/c I've changed shape again!), which is the reason I like monitoring my blood sugar--it keeps me and my eating in check!

I'm feeling heavier and Riley is definitely a mover!  He's so different from Bennett.  Bennett would roll around and my belly would make waves.  Riley uses my uterus as a punching bag!  One night Jeff and I just sat and watched the punches come for a few minutes!  I truly can't wait until he's here because I wonder how much the boys will be alike, and pray how they'll be different!

My favorite moment being pregnant and teaching elementary:  I had a random kindergartener at Nottingham see me walk by, touch my belly and say "Hey!  You have a baby in there!".  I looked at her and straight faced said "No, I'm just fat!".  Well, I didn't fool her at all because she looked at me and just plainly said, "No, it's a baby!" and kept on walking!  All the adults around just laughed!  It was a classic kid moment!

Baby Dickens #2--Month 5

Welcome to month 5!  I'm now almost out of regular shirts to wear, but trust me, I'm trying!  My ruched shirts will get old fast!

20 weeks 4 days



This month has just been busy.  Simply busy.  Transferring schools as well as from jr. high to elementary has been an enormous change!  I think I'll eventually like it, but at this moment, the jury's still out!  One thing I am sure about is I love the kids--thank goodness that's the case!  It means I'm still right where I need to be!

I'm feeling a little bigger now, and finally, around week 22, I feel that I really look bigger too!  My back isn't hurting as much any more, but I think it's because I'm back at work and not lugging around my 13 month old all day!  Plus, we've taught him how to climb up the stairs as well as back himself down and that is truly the biggest help of all!  Luckily neither B or I have gained much weight (him since he started walking it all off and me because I'm running around all day going crazy at school!).

I was supposed to have my gender/anatomy ultrasound right before the 22 week mark (past the 20 weeks, but I tried to keep it at the same time as my monthly checkup!  They called 2 weeks before and asked me to come in earlier in the day, which wasn't possible due to teaching and the only  available appointment was after 22 weeks.  By the time I finally got to the week of my appointment we were bursting with anticipation!  Then....to make it better, Jeff had class that evening.  That meant he couldn't find out with me and I decided to wait and find out together--but it was at 10pm that night!  Killer!  I had the ultrasound tech put the info in an envelope and told her that I cheat...so make sure to tape it up well!  She even made me close AND cover my eyes during the ultrasound!

Here are the results:

Jeff???  Are you cheating???

Drum roll please.....

Boy????   Girl???

It's a boy!!!

Yeah!!!  And we'd conveniently bought matching Big/Little brother t-shirts right after finding out I was pregnant!  Thank goodness I didn't have to return it!

Bennett's excited about getting a little brother too!

Well, we say excited!  Let's hope he doesn't squash his little brother like this paper!

Baby Dickens #2 can now be officially known as who he will become:  Riley Carlton Dickens!  Riley is just a name we both agreed on (during pregnancy #1) and we liked it for both boy or girl.  We kept calling the baby Riley Boy or Riley Girl.  Now we know--yeah!  Carlton is Jeff's middle name.  The spelling of Riley might change--but then again it might not, who knows!

Bennett still loves running at me when I'm lying down and although I don't mind it, I have to make sure to watch it for Riley's sake! Hopefully we'll find some ways to play without being too rough--but I know that might be too much to ask for with an active 13 month old!  We'll do our best!

I got rear-ended on my way to work during Week 23, which earned us an extra ultrasound to check on little Riley even though I felt okay with just a little lower back pain.  It was worth it though--anything to know that the little guy is doing well works for us!

Hey there Riley Boy!

Baby Dickens #2--Month 4

I'm starting this month's blog off with pictures that should have been in the first blog about Baby Dickens #2, but somehow just weren't!

July 4, 2012--almost 12 weeks

14 weeks

 And....now we're caught up!  Here's BD#2 at 16 weeks:

Sadly, I don't remember what went on with me/my body during month 4 except for the fact that I was definitely growing!  Let's just say that this time around, I didn't waste any time getting out the maternity wardrobe and I was quite happy to have my old, stretchy friends back in action!  Not long after finding out I was pregnant I did buy a few more tops because I remember being really tired of the same ruched ones I wore just over a year ago!  No splurges--just sales!

I did get out the body pillow sometime in month 4.  I really haven't felt the need for it yet, but it just feels good to sleep with all wrapped around me and the belly!  It will be nice to have it keep me warm this winter!

This month, Jeff and I kept checking out the belly trying to figure out if it was a boy or a girl.  There are days we'd swear that it was a boy and others that it was a girl.  I have felt the exact same way now as with Bennett, and if you tell people that some say "boy" and others say "girl".  A lady at B's daycare decided it's a boy because B has been extra clingy when I leave him in the mornings and sometimes just plain 'ol grumpy!  Wow--and I'd taken all that to just mean he was hitting his separation anxiety phase!  My bad!

I still love being pregnant and seeing my body change.  Of course, it's stretching out faster, so I'm trying to make sure to watch what I eat.  I haven't had much time to exercise because school started for me and since I changed jobs to elementary dyslexia there is a LOT of changes I'm learning about!  I know it won't be long until I take my glucose test, so I've got to do what I can to make sure I'm as healthy as I can be!

Oops---We Did It Again!

June 29, 2012

Yep--we're pregnant again!

Thrilled--yes!  Nervous to find out when you have a 10.5 month old--heck yes!

This was definitely a shock because I actually just thought I couldn't lose the "I stopped pumping in April and my hormones/body is just going back to pre-baby" weight!  I even joined Weight Watchers on Father's Day!

But, 2 weeks later I needed to call my Dr. for something, so I decided that I would just take that last pregnancy test so I could answer a "NO" when they asked the pregnant question, and set about getting ready for the day!  Little did I know that when I looked down from washing my face that this is what I would find!  I just laughed and kept on going!  I kept it a secret all day and told Jeff when he got home--which was kind of fun to surprise him!

So...I really couldn't believe I was pregnant without knowing it myself, so in between test #1 and my dr. appt a month later, I took 2 more tests just to confirm it myself--and help it sink in!

July 4, 2012

July 12, 2012

Here's the fun part:  I had NO clue how far along I was.  I hadn't had a period since before Bennett was conceived, so I was clueless!  When I finally got into the dr. (a month later), we felt like we should have been on the show I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant when the ultrasound tech told us we were 13 weeks 6 days!  WHOA!

I made it through the first trimester with no problems--or knowledge that it even happened!  Guess I'll count myself lucky!  I just thought that being extra tired in June was a result of being a stay-at-home mommy with my little tornado Bennett since school was out!  At least there was another reason and I just wasn't that pitiful!

I definitely haven't been as good documenting this pregnancy as I was with Bennett's, but let's just say I've been a little busy with a 1 year old!  I only pray that we will be able to give Bennett everything he needs/deserves!  I know we will--just a rational fear of mine!  He's such a precious boy and I know he will be the absolute best big brother!  He has such a big heart and is so sympathetic to others.  We are so excited to see his personality grow and now we have another personality to add to our family!

7 months

Week 28

Wow! All I can say is that I only thought I was big! I've hit a new high and I'm afraid the waddling will start soon. Every time I feel it coming on, I fight it....hope Bennett doesn't get my stubbornness!!! I have had lots of people tell me I look tiny for 7 months, but it's still weird to see it all happen in front of your eyes!

I have started getting in our pool--started b/c it's still pretty cold water since our pool is only in full sun for about 4-5 hours a day--and love it because it lets the pressure off of my back/belly/etc. We had Jeff's niece's high school graduation this weekend and got lots of pool time on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to my sister Ashley for sending me her old maternity bathing suits. I have a feeling I'll be in our pool so much I might have to invest in one myself with all the use it will get!

Jeff's mom wanted us to take some fun belly pics this weekend at Maddy's graduation party besides our normal "Jeff & Steph" pic and this is what we got! (Ignore our double chins) No...Jeff has not gained a sympathy belly. He just has this great ability to push out his belly so he looks pregnant! What a talented dad Bennett will have!

Week 29

School is out!!!! We go on our trip to NYC next week, and now it's all about getting everything ready for Bennett's arrival (well, that, teaching summer school, remodeling the kitchen, and possibly doing an addition above our driveway). You know...minor plans!

The Saturday after school was out we went to the "Prepared Childbirth Class" at the hospital--you know....to learn whatever was absolutely necessary for the birth! Let me just start by saying that we both did learn a few things like when it's actually time to go to the hospital, where labor and delivery is in the hospital, etc. BUT (and this is a BIG BUT) it is absolutely NOT necessary to see videos of births--whether it's regular or c-section. REPEAT: NOT NECESSARY!!! I cried the entire way home because it was the first time I realized that this baby was just going to have to come out of me some other way. Thus began the "Stephanie Freaks-Out For at Least a Week" period. (Fun times for Jeff, don't you think??) :)

Week 30
We left for our "vacation/babymoon/late celebration of Jeff's SHSU graduation" the day I began my 30th week. We went to fabulous NYC because Jeff had never been and we got a great deal on flights/hotel (and we couldn't have been luckier with how it all worked out---look for another blog post on that!).

I also started teaching summer school that same week after getting back from our trip--nothing like earning a little bit of extra dough to help out when we adjust finances after Bennett arrives! I'm teaching from 8am-3:30pm with only a 30 minute break for lunch, so needless to say, I'm exhausted!

Monday, June 13th--Dr. visit and glucose test for gestational diabetes. Apparently the range is 140-165 for the glucose test and after drinking my fabulous orange drink I got a 165, which got me an invitation to the 3 hour test later that week! Bennett was the same this week--kicking, punching, and telling me hello all the time! When I lay on the couch in the afternoon my tummy sometimes looks like a river b/c of all he's doing!

Week 31
Thursday, June 16th--our kitchen cabinets came in with no prior notice, so my fabulous hubby packed up most of the kitchen (the dude is like the tasmanian devil sometimes) and I helped once I got home from school and talking with my maternity sub. What a night! Kitchen = demolition zone!

Friday, June 17th--3 hour glucose test. Passed the fasting test; failed the 1st hour by 1 pt (high range was 195 and I got a 196); failed the 2nd hour by a mile!! (high range was 145 and I had 216). Needless to say, my test was over and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which

did not make me happy! I'd actually been eating better throughout my pregnancy than any other time except when I've dieted! Talked to Ashley (thank God I have a registered dietician in my family!) and called the nutritionist to set up an appointment. Let the good times roll!

Saturday, June 18th--First baby shower for Bennett!!! Wow, is all I can say! It's amazing how much people show their support for you--and very overwhelming at the same time! We were literally "showered" with love and things for Bennett (and thankfully my mother-in-law was in town and could help me figure out where to put most of it!) Jeff's dad was also in town this weekend and helped him install the kitchen cabinets, and we're so thankful for that b/c the hard part is now done. Measuring for granite and installation of our new appliances happens next week!!

Tuesday, June 21st--meeting with nutritionist went well except for the fact that she never introduced herself, which hit a nerve with me! Anyway...I'll follow what she says I'm supposed to be eating, prick my finger 4 times a day and test my glucose, and then call my sister for everything else!

Week 32

We went on our "for sure last trip of the summer" and went camping at Canyon Lake with the Dunagans. It was SO relaxing and after all we've been doing we definitely needed it! We ate well, lounged like lazy lizards, and rented a little boat to get around the lake on our last day there. We stayed in cabins, so it wasn't "real" camping, but I loved it and Jeff really enjoyed being out in the wild for a little bit! He can't wait until Bennett gets older and they can go "real" camping without mommy!

Our "Jeff & Steph" pic---I didn't feel this big, but I guess pics don't lie!

Our group at the "beach" at the campground

View from the boat--isn't this water gorgeous?

This is the last picture of Amber and I looking alike because Claire is due in just a few weeks. Needless to say...this is definitely the best background for our belly pics!

Monday, June 27th--Dr. visit: I'm now in the period of "every other week" visits and will do this for another week or so. My blood pressure was high at the first check, so they had me lie on my left side and it went down a lot, which was good. BUT...I did get the warning to not do as much. Needless to say, telling this to Jeff makes him worry, and he is continually telling me to not do as much. Being me, I have a really difficult time with this, but I am trying (kind of!).

Month 6

We have both been so busy that I haven't taken the time to start the "Month 6" blog until now--halfway through month 6! I'm down to 14 days left of school, Jeff finished his last final tonight, and we're meeting with someone tomorrow to decide on the beginnings of our kitchen remodel (to be done by the time baby Dickens arrives!)

Week 24

Noticing more changes just in the way I'm holding myself and really appreciating the time I get when I'm able to do my pilates video to strengthen my core muscles--they NEED it! I'm loving the stronger kicks that I'm feeling every day and want to soak in every moment. I've been truly fortunate this entire pregnancy and am still feeling great, minus the small normal pregnancy pains (back pain, sleeping interrupted by bathroom breaks, etc. nothing new!)

Amber's baby shower for Claire was on April 30th, and I wanted to include the pic not only because it's cute, but because I never look decent when I post my belly pics. I decided everyone deserved a decent-looking me once in a while!

Here's my bump at 24 weeks. Notice the walls are now painted!!! Jeff''s mom and Bill came after Easter to do this and I'm so excited that it's done AND like the color (I was worried because it's not a normal color we'd pick!) Thank you Deb and Bill!

Week 25

In a random conversation, I spoke to "the belly" and asked it what it thought it should be named. We'd been going back and forth with the name combo, and as Jeff heard me ask the belly this question, his answer was, "I thought we'd already decided!" Apparently we'd talked about it and I missed the FINAL word, but we now have it.....

We will welcome Bennett William Dickens in August!!!

We went to Cuero for Mother's Day this past weekend, and mom was the only one who wanted to wait and find out the name. I agreed not to tell her, but it accidentally slipped out at dinner one night! We ate outside because of the nice weather, and as we were talking, I got a BIG kick in the ribs. I normally talk to Bennett, so I said, "Bennett, did you like what dad just said/did?" As soon as I was almost done with the sentence, I realized what I'd done and was actually a little sad that I ruined it for mom! But....life happens!

I got another pre-natal massage, but went to my chiropractor this time and it was a little better. I still don't like lying on my side for a massage, but I need some relief from the back pain I have. Apparently something is pressing on my sciatic, so it's a lot of fun to go on our walks around the neighborhood. I bought a maternity support belt this afternoon to help with this problem--hope it works! It's very annoying because it's hard to stretch this area, and I'm trying my best to take care of myself!

I also have now had to buy a new bra: apparently your rib cage expands to accommodate your growing belly/stomach being pushed upward. Underwire is no longer my friend, so this will be fun! Underwire has been my friend, well, let's just say....FOREVER! The test run will be tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted! Here's a pic of the "goodies". Let's just say I'd rather buy baby stuff than this, but oh well!

Week 26

I decided to take a pic of my ever changing self while Jeff was gone, so this is the result that I got after a long day of teaching and tutoring for TAKS intervention. I think the belly literally popped out on a walk around the neighborhood. I know it didn't, but that's what it felt like! One minute I looked down and was shocked!

This was the weekend I went scrapbooking in Brenham with some school friends. Amy is also pregnant and is due in early October with baby #2.

Week 27

I think this is the first week that I have been really uncomfortable. I've noticed changes for a few weeks along the lines of sleeping, sitting, tying tennis shoes, eating, etc., but this was probably the week when the actual "out loud" complaining started. I really have no room to complain since I've had a WONDERFUL pregnancy, but it still continues to shock me when I can't do something normal any more!

Because of verbalizing these changes more, I also noticed I'm thinking more and more about what the next few months are going to be like. I no longer feel like my body is my own and although I LOVE feeling Bennett move around and love how I'm changing to accommodate him, it is scary to think about how much more I'm going to grow in the upcoming weeks. I do better when my schedule is full and don't have time to "think", so I pray that I will be busy up until Bennett arrives!!

Month 5

I'll probably say this EVERY month, but oh, the changes your body goes through! I've been so fortunate to be having a GREAT pregnancy. I have loved every minute of it--okay...the first month of body changes had me stressed out, but now I love them!

Week 20

This was a FUN week because we got to find out what we are having--boy or girl. Jeff wanted to know and I thought I wanted to wait, but the closer we got to it and the more we talked about it, the more I couldn't wait either! The big day came and we found out it is going to be a.........BOY!!! The 2nd pic has an arrow pointing to his little boy parts! Jeff goes "Are you sure that's not the umbilical cord???" The ultrasound tech assured us that she was correct!

We are SO excited! Jeff wanted a boy (of course...he would have also gladly accepted a girl!), and even though I didn't care, I was secretly leaning toward boy (51% boy....49% girl). I didn't even tell this to Jeff until the weekend before our ultrasound!

Baby is doing well and with the gender scan we also got the organ scan and it was amazing to see the 4 heart chambers beating. He must have been asleep at the beginning of the ultrasound, but by the end, he was awake and kicking like a mad man! He even raised his arms like "Yeah....I'm so glad you know I'm a boy now!!!"

We both like to talk to him and I'm starting to feel movement (although I've been feeling the same faint flutterings since Week 17) a little more. I can't wait until Jeff can feel it too--I want to be part of all the kicking stories I hear!

Week 21
Nothing really new here except the tummy has popped out a little more. You can't see it much in this picture because it happened literally the next day!

I'm starting to feel a little more movement, but only when I'm laying down. This is probably because I'm going 90 to nothing for the most part of the day and it's not strong enough to make me notice it during the day!

Week 22
This was an extremely stressful week at school and I don't know if I would have felt crappy about my body this week normally or if it was all the stress, but I felt like such a blob this week! I even tried to dress prego cute this week to try to counteract the feeling! This was the week that Katy ISD announced its layoffs for teachers and even though that's an entire blog entry by itself, not a single teacher in my area had a good week.

My teacher pals decided to have a happy hour at the end of this horrible week and it was so much fun getting to just sit and chat outside of school---and NOT chat about school!!! After that, I treated myself to a reflexology appointment, which was pretty decent. I'm all about massage and reflexology, but I didn't like my first pre-natal massage at 13 weeks (they don't use enough pressure), so I was hoping to find something like reflexology to help take the place of it. I had a coupon for a new location in Katy and it was pretty good. (I truly love the lady back home who does it, but she's moving in May...) However, I still did something to jerk my back out of place and for the past 2 days I've been waddling like a 9 month pregnant lady because I just can't walk standing straight up right now. Truly stinks. Normally, I would schedule a massage right away, but instead I'm doing the best I can and taking my tylenol and smelling like a 90 year old granny with my Icy Hot!

April18, 2011: Monthly doctor's appointment for me. I've gained 13 pounds so far, and the doctor says I'm right on track. Freaks me out a little because I am now equaling my heaviest weight ever--the weight that I started Weight Watchers on 4 years ago! I know it's for something different, but unless you are one of those people like me who have never had it easy losing weight, you won't understand. Anyway...I got the approval to fly when we go on our trip in early June--with a warning to call the airlines and double check! Funny baby sidenote: when the nurse tried to find his heartbeat, he kept moving from one side to the next. She'd start on one side....he'd flip to the other....she'd try that side....he'd flip back. I'm just glad our baby has a sense of humor! If I had something pushing on me, I'd move too!

Week 23
Good Friday: April 22, 2011
We both got to sleep in b/c Jeff was working from Katy and waiting on a call and I didn't have school that day. I'm so glad for this b/c this was the morning that we were both able to feel the baby kick--from the outside!! I've been feeling lots more kicks at certain times of the day and would lay as still as possible to see what else I could feel and we finally felt it! It was so amazing!! Haven't felt it since (I'm writing this a day later), but I can't wait to feel more!

Baby Update--Up to Week 20

Well, I've still been feeling great, so there are no complaints from me over here. I've "heard" that I'm a bit more moody, but that no-named person is probably wrong!!! :) I haven't had any cravings that aren't more than my typical pre-pregnancy food cravings and boy-oh-boy is my body a changin'!

I'm going to go backwards since that's easier for me--pregnancy REALLY does take your brain cells and throw them to the wind! I have always made lists, but now it includes things like "Remember to cut your nails"! So pathetic!

Here is me at 20 weeks and 3 days--I changed shirts to see if there would be a difference--NOPE! I'm only purposefully taking pictures every 4 weeks. Any other pic is just a treat!

I truly love my growing belly! I used to wonder why pregnant women touch their belly all the time and now I know---it's just such a truly amazing, weird, fascinating thing to go through and for me touching/rubbing my belly makes me feel like I'm connecting with our baby. I love the way Jeff looks at me when I'm standing in the mirror checking myself out because I can tell he's just as excited as I am about our baby. God definitely created our bodies for multiple purposes and this one amazes me most!

Mom came up to Katy and went to the Katy Parents of Multiples garage sale with me the first weekend of April. I got some great buys that I'm super-excited about. Here is the cutest of the buys: Halloween! I HATE having to shop for/think of costumes, so, with the exception of a 1 year old costume, we're set! 2011: bumblebee; 2012: no clue; 2013: pumpkin; 2014: candycorn.

Jeff and I have been hard at work landscaping both our front and back yards to prepare for summer. I have a hard time not helping because I actually like doing it--it's just harder now. Here is me at 19 weeks 2 days laying the pavers for our backyard patio underneath the trees:

I went home to Cuero for Spring Break to spend some quality time with mom and dad and had a wonderful time relaxing. Jeff had to work, so he was in Katy. The last weekend of Spring Break was the Warrior Dash up in Conroe. Jeff participated (I'll have to make a post about that later), and after he was done, he decided he needed to tell the baby what he'd done. He is going to be such a great father!

Yardwork actually started the first weekend of March. Here is my lovely self before we went out and worked--so just pardon the hair and what not.