20 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size Of Baby: 14 ounces (this is actual per the 20w ultrasound today!), approximately 10 inches long, about the length of a banana

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 2  pounds since the last doctor visit

Maternity Clothes: This week I'm thankful for stretchy pants, and dresses!

Best Moment This Week: Feeling my lil due move inside and KNOWING that was a baby! That whole 'you feel it sooner with your second (or third baby) thing, didn't work this time around!

Gender: It's a BOY! We're keepin our one and only lil princess, and Kellan gets a lil brother to pick on (I mean love on)!

Movement: Oh yes. They're not very frequent yet, but I've felt a few jabs and kicks...and let me tell you, that's one of the coolest feelings in the world!

Food Craving: Today...Reese Peanut Butter Cups, but sadly, I didn't fulfill it :(

What I Miss: Life is good. I'm happy and blessed, what more could I ask for!

Sleep: Sleep is wonderful...at this point, I'm sleeping so well. I fall asleep really well because I'm tiiired, and in the morning, I'm ready to go! I know this won't last long though.

What I Am Looking Forward To: Feeling more movement from the littlest K!

Belly Button: Innie
Symptoms: Right now, other than a growing belly, I don't have ANY pregnancy symptoms, weird huh?

Today we got to see our handsome guy again! It was our 20 week ultrasound. How in the world can we be half way there...he is going to be with us before we know it! He's healthy, and happy, and we're in love. The ultrasound tech said he was actually measuring 20 weeks and 6 days...I'm thinking he's gonna be a big guy (keep in mind KB was 8lbs 8oz). All my other babies measured on time during their ultrasounds! Oh boy.

Isn't that the cutest lil face!

Feet

Keaton's older sister has been curious (and vocal) about this baby growing inside me. A few days ago, in her matter-of-fact manner, she told me that she knew how the baby got inside me. When I asked her how, she just pointed inside her mouth. Of course! I ate the baby! :) Ahh, the innocence.

We also had a conversation yesterday about how the baby comes out. I knew, I just knew this conversation was coming, not sure when it was going to happen, and didn't really prepare what to say, I figured I could just wing it. So here's how it went down:

K: But how does the baby come out?
Me: Hmmm...well, Kerrington, that's an interesting question, what do you think?
K: I don't know!
Me: Well, it's kinda complicated. There are a couple ways that babies come out, but for me, it comes out down here (and I motion to, well, you know).
K: Oh, but, how?
Me: (Wishing that would have sufficed, but not surprised it didn't) When it's time for the baby to come out, I go to the hospital and I push, like this (picture me acting like I'm pushing a baby out), and the baby comes out!
K: Oh (annnndd she is distracted by something else and moves on...thank you Lord!)

I bet we'll revisit this, but for the first time, I was pleased. She asked some questions, but wasn't too nosey, and my vague answer sufficed. Whew!

A Marine Graduation

We had the distinguished opportunity to attend a Marine graduation today. All I can say is 'Wow!'. You can't leave a place like that and not feel more proud to be an American!

Our dear friends, so much so we consider them family, invited us up to Fripp Island where their son, Jeremy was graduating from a 12 week Marine boot camp. This is not any ordinary family.. Ed and Carol Smith are two amazing people. They're genuine, kind, loving, compassionate, and funny! Their 'Team' consists of four boys and one girl. Drew had the opportunity to grow close to this family when they took him in as an intern at church for a few summers. They accepted me when I came in to the picture, and well, the rest is history.

We love them, and were honored to be invited to attend Jeremy's graduation and spend the day with them afterward.

 

Brigg General, Kyle, Carol's mom, Ed, Jeremy, Carol, Melissa, Mark, Sean, and an Officer

Not only did he graduate, he was a distinguished graduate, finishing at the top of his company.

 

Handing over their flags

Beach Day!

One of my favorite things to do (that we don't do enough!), is on a whim, head to the BEACH! We hadn't planned for this today, but after waking up, and seeing it was going to be a beautiful day, I suggested it, and we were all in!

 

Kerrington and Kellan are getting older now, so they are able to enjoy it so much more (see pictures!). We weren't sure Kellan remembered exactly what we were talking about, since he was so young the last time we were at the beach together. It didn't take him long to figure it out though, he was lovin it all!

 

The birds...he loved chasing the birds!

 

Kerrington was busy making 'food' for the birds to eat.

A lil bubble action, if you please!

My hunk!

Pure joy! We say it every time, but we can't believe we live here!

What a goof!

Ok, official posed picture time...

Gazing at the beautiful ocean!

My babes...love seeing things through their eyes!

Last day of preschool!

 

Today was Kerrington's last day of preschool! We can't believe that the school year has flown by as quickly as it did. It's been a year of blessings as we have watched our baby blossom in to a little girl! She has learned so much, and grown and it has been such a joy to see.

I don't think we knew quite what to expect from this year as it was our first time at Growing in the Son. We thought it'd be great for Kerrington to experience some time away from home, get some social interaction, and hopefully learn some along the way. Wow. Boy, she did all that and so much more!

What has touched me the most is the relationship she formed with her teacher Mrs. Opal. I never knew how much of an impact a teacher could have on the life of my little one (and yes, it probably has to be due to the fact that this is our first go-around with all of this new school stuff!). Mrs. Opal has loved our baby and shown her so much over this year. I am so incredibly grateful she chose teaching as her profession, because it is her gift!

 

 

 

Here's our girl on the first, and last day of school!

 

 

 

Kerrington and Mrs. Opal. We'll never forget how special she is to us!

18 Weeks

It's time I start documenting this baby, right? Just because I haven't gotten around to documenting until now, doesnt' mean I'm less excited and thrilled to meet this lil guy, it just means I've had my hands even more full with two others to chase around! But without further adue, here's the first belly pic and pregnancy highlights for our lil guy:

 

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 Weeks

Size Of Baby: Almost 7 ounces, 5 1/2 inches long, about the length of a bell pepper

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained about 2 pounds 

Maternity Clothes: Using the Bella Band with my jeans, (which is a great invention), but also in maternity clothes, as we head in to summer I for see a LOT of dresses!

Best Moment This Week: Hearing Kerrington say the name of her baby brother, and receiving sweet lil kisses on my belly from both K & KB!

Gender: It's a BOY! We're keepin our one and only lil princess, and Kellan gets a lil brother to pick on (I mean love on)!

Movement: I'm feelin things here and there, nothin that I'm confident is a baby yet...can't wait though!

Food Craving: No major cravings this time around, as of yet. With two to chase around, it's a challenge to eat some times!

What I Miss: Missing the fact that I haven't documented this baby growing inside me up until now...with KB, the first picture I took was at 17 weeks, so I guess this isn't too terrible, right?

Sleep: Sleep is wonderful...at this point, I'm sleeping so well. I fall asleep really well because I'm tiiired, and in the morning, I'm ready to go! I know this won't last long though

What I Am Looking Forward To: Feeling baby kicks and jabs and sharing those with Drew and the kids!

Belly Button: Innie
Symptoms: Right now, other than a growing belly, I don't have ANY pregnancy symptoms, weird huh?



Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Here's what I'm thankful for on this special day...

 

 

 I'm thankful for MY mother. She's my rock, my best friend, my support, my help-in-need, my baby sitter, my shoulder to cry on. With out her, I'd be lost. I'm blessed with a fantastic relationship with her, not just now, but throughout my (almost) 30 years here on Earth. She's the kind of mom I hope to be with my kids.

 

I'm thankful for this trio, these generations of mother, daughter, grandmother, and granddaughter. I'm thankful that I have my own little girl now to Lord willing, show the kind of love I've received and to grow a relationship and bond that can't be broken.

 

 

I'm thankful for these three (you can't really see the lil guy growing in my belly). I'm thankful that God chose me to mother them. I'm not sure I deserve this honor, but I'm grateful that I have been entrusted with this duty.

 

Being a mom to Kerrington and Kellan has changed me in more ways than I could have imagined. I've been changed in every facet of my life...mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I've learned things about myself, some that have made me proud, and even more that have made me shameful. I've learned my strengths and weakness, and have been brought to my knees more than I could imagine through this journey. If you're a mom, I hope its easy to understand that all this has happened in just 4 years of mothering. I know there are many, many more years ahead, and that will bring a new set of challenges. I'm ready for it! Bring it on! This is my dream-come-true. I wanted to be a mom since I can remember and through it all, the joy and the pain, I will praise him for these treasures that call me "Mommy".  

It's a...

Kerrington and Kellan will be welcoming a...

 

 

in October! We are thrilled and quite surprised! Drew and I had ourselves convinced that there was a little girl growing inside my belly!

It was a neat visit...we took Kerrington with us to the ultrasound so she could catch a peak at the baby growing inside mommy's belly. She was a bit apprehensive at first (she's had some bad experiences at the dentist that have just ruined the poor girl towards all things medical). She calmed down though once that baby popped up on the TV screen! This picture above was one of the first screen shots we saw of our lil babe..and we even got to hear the heartbeat before we found out the sex. When the ultrasound technician moved down to the, ahem, area, it was really obvious! There was no question this baby was a BOY! Drew made a noise like, 'UH!', and I said, 'Is that what I think it is?'.

Kerrington wanted a baby sister, but she was still thrilled when she saw that baby on the screen. I don't think she'll care what it is..she's just so excited to have a baby to (help) take care of. She did mention to me on the way home that, "Um mommy? I think that when the baby comes, it'll be a girl".

We couldn't be more blessed and excited for this precious gift that is growing inside!