Happy birthday my sweet 3 year old

3 years ago today, my baby girl was born. I can't believe A has been with us for only 3 years. I can't remember life without her! She's brought so much happiness, joy, love, and much more! God blessed us with a sweet and perfect child!

Birth story: A was due on July 22, 2010.. I just knew she'd come early and she was going to be this big long baby... I mean I was huge, therefore she had to be big too, right? I told everyone she was going to be 23 inches long, she was all over my belly....

A was due on a Thursday.. I worked the week she was due because I didn't want my maternity leave to start before I had her. I worked half days all that week, and then would go home and nap. I worked Wednesday  till 1, and came home and napped. My aunt and 2 cousins were coming into town and I knew I'd be extra tired that night. I woke up around 4 and started having contractions. I had no Braxton hicks contractions, and didn't know if this was the real deal or just a fake out. I was timing the contractions and they were getting closer together very quickly. About 5:30, we headed to dinner and I told everyone that I was going to being my bag just in case.. We lived about 30 minutes from the hospital.... And that was on a good night in Nashville traffic. During supper, the stupid waiter kept talking to me and bothering me.. And loved annoying the crap out of my during big contractions. After dinner, I decided we better just head to the hospital because if I went home, we'd have to go back shortly.

The hospital was so busy that they checked me straight into labor and delivery without checking to make sure I was in true labor. Around 10, they asked me if I wanted to get an epidural or walk around... I chose the epidural and tried to get a good nights rest...

Around 6am the doctor came and broke my water.

I started pushing at 12:00pm... And my sweet baby girl was born at 12:25 pm on her due date! There's a 1% chance of that happening! Sweet baby was only 7lbs 2oz and 19 1/2 inches long.. My little short baby! She was and still is perfect! Such a sweet girl!

I can't believe our baby is 3! Best 3 years ever!

My baby girl through the years!

 

23 weeks

 

How far along? 23 weeks

Sleep? pretty well.. I've been more worn out lately and I sometimes sleep through the night, but most nights I get restless.. tossing and turning

Maternity Clothes? yes, I wear maternity shorts and regular and maternity shirts

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? Nope, just eating too much junk food! Candy is my weakness

Miss Anything? Things are starting to get tighter so at times it can be a little uncomfortable

Movement? yes! I love feeling nameless baby brother kick!

Size of the Baby? grapefruit

Morning Sickness? Nope... I feel great... I got a bad sinus infection and had to take antibiotics and after 2 weeks I feel a lot better!!

Gender? Baby Boy! No name yet! Daddy won't agree to my name! I like to call him nameless baby brother

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? more than I would like! I have no time to exercise or do much so I've became lazy!

Belly Button In or Out? half.. it was like that after I had A and sometimes it hurts!

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? excited... Daddy comes home in a few days!!!  

Best moment in the last week? Packing!!! We are headed to Alabama and will pick up Z this week!! It's been over 400 days of deployment and less than 40 days of us being together!! We are beyond ready to start this new chapter in our lives in Texas, and then a family of 4!

Looking Forward To? The day we pick up Z from the airport

I had to add this adorable picture of A on here! She's almost 3 and growing into such a beautiful little lady! She got a pair of wedges and she loves them!!!!

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year! This is the last holiday without Z and we couldn't be more than exctied to finally have him home!

I am beyond proud to be a wife of someone in the miltary and to have someone serving overseas. You can't truely understand deployment unless you have personally been there. I am so thankful for each and every man and woman who has served, serving, or will serve our country. I'm even more thanful for my husband and what he has done this past year...

Our 4th of July was spent out by the water in Texas. My sister, brother in law, neices, mom, dad, A, and I went to a hotel where my sisters family was staying and swam and cooked out. We played all day, took a nap, and then watched fireworks! It was such a great day and A loves playing with her cousins. They are all so sweet and we are so glad we get to spend a few years with them! 

We are headed to Alabama to pick Z up in a few days! A and Z are both beyond excited to see each other. I am excited to see Z.. but I know they have missed each other a lot!!!

Love this beautiful little lady!!!

Hope everyone had a great 4th and weekend!

20 weeks

How far along? 20 weeks

Sleep? pretty well.. I usually wake up once or twice for no reason. I can go throughout the night without going potty... but I just randomly wake up.. and it's hard for me to get back to sleep

Maternity Clothes? yes, I wear maternity shorts, but till wear regular tops

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? I've been enjoying some ice cream every day.. Whoops! 

Miss Anything? still missing the hubby.. but we only have 3 weeks left! Missing everyone in Alabama right now. Being pregnant and change don't mix well!

Movement? yes! I first felt him kick at 17 weeks 3 days! I feel him the most at night, but I'm starting to feel him throughout the day! I love it.. for now! I know one day soon I will be complaning but this will probably be my last pregnany, so I am try to enjoy it!

Size of the Baby? banana

Morning Sickness? Nope... I feel great... but think I'm getting a cold! Lovely

Gender? Baby Boy! No name yet! Daddy won't agree to my name!

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? more than I would like! I have no time to exercise or do much so I've became lazy!

Belly Button In or Out? half.. it was like that after I had A and sometimes it hurts!

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? lonely.. Ready for hubby to get home! 

Best moment in the last week? Well at lot has changed in the past few weeks! We moved from Alabama to Texas... I'm missing my friends in Bama..

I went to my 20 week doctors appointment on June 18 and had an ultrasound done. We did all the measurements and everything looked great and he was measuring right at 20 weeks. He wouldn't flip over, so we didn't get to see his face but we get to have another one in 4 weeks!

Looking Forward To? Daddy coming home in 3 weeks!!! We are missing him like crazy!!!

Moving on... Goodbye Alabama hello Texas!

This blog is currently being written in the middle of a storage unit...

Today today today is moving day!!!

Well I'd post a picture but I can't figure out how to do it from my phone.
Today the movers/packers are here to take our stuff from Alabama and deliver it to us in Texas. Excited doesn't even come close to how I feel!
We have 36 days till the hubby comes home and it's so close I'm already getting nervous! We (I) decided that it was better to go ahead and pack and move everything before he came home because who really wants to spend 14 months overseas away from your family and then have to pack and move everything! You're welcome honey!
I'm sad to be leaving all of our family and friends here in Alabama, but I'm more than ready to have our own house and be a family again.

Grateful and thankful doesn't even come close to how I feel about my parents letting us live with them for this year. I really couldn't have done with without them!

In other news: baby brother ( who remains nameless because daddy won't agree to my name) has been kicking up a storm! With A I was around 20 weeks when I felt her first kicks. With brother, I was about 17 1/2 weeks!! I'm not complaining.... Yet!
Have I mentioned that I'm over the moon ecstatic and well very nervous to have a boy! I'm not sure what to do with a boy but we will figure it out!!

Happy moving day!!

16 weeks... and it's a.....

 

 

How far along? 16 weeks

Sleep? ok... I haven't been getting a good "deep sleep" but I still get enough

Maternity Clothes? yes, but I did wear my skinny pre-pregnancy jeans last week!

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? none...

Miss Anything? still just the husband.. 7 weeks left!

Movement? not sure.. sometimes I feel something but I think it may be gas..who knows! ha

Size of the Baby? avocado/onion

Morning Sickness? Nope, but I've been getting headaches a lot more!

Gender? we know!!! Look at the bottom of the post!

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? since I became pregnant I've gained 10lbs.. that was all in the first 10 weeks.. I haven't gained any since then

Belly Button In or Out? in.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? Great!

Best moment in the last week? We found out what baby is!

Looking Forward To? Moving!!! only 3 weeks left!!! Can't wait!!!

 

 

We found out today that baby Mays is a.....

 

BOY!!!!!!

 

I went to my final appointment with my doctor in Alabama before we move to Texas and we did a "sneak a peek" ultrasound. I got to FaceTime with Z and we both got to see our son! I can't believe we are having a boy! We are over the moon excited!! We are all girls in our family so to have a boy just makes this pregnancy that much more special! A is SO excited! She has been saying it's a baby brother the whole time! We haven't picked a name yet... It's SO hard to agree on a name! I am still shocked and speechless! I just keep repeating "Oh my gosh I'm having a boy" over and over! We are all excited to welcome a baby brother in November! This little boy is going to be more spoiled than A and her 2 girl cousins combined!!!

 

Mother's Day 2013

Every year I'm reminded that I am blessed with a healthy beautiful little girl! I'm so grateful God chose me to be her mommy.. and that he chose me to be this little boy or girl growing in my belly's mommy also! I hated to not have the husband around but A and I got to enjoy Mother's Day with my parents.

My mom, A, and I Mothers Day 2013

 

A was dedicated at my church on Mother's Day. We were sad that daddy wasn't there to celebrate, but he was definitely there in spirits...and we recorded it so he will get to watch it later. 

A and I before church

 



After church, we went and ate lunch and then home for a nap. After nap, I decided we needed to go and enjoy the afternoon. I texted my friend, and we met up with her and her son, who A calls her boyfriend, and we went and played at the Splash Pad at our mall.

She loves her boyfriend!

 

Today, A and I got presents in the mail from daddy... My wonderful husband got me this beautiful necklace. He designed it himself.. from a picture I painted him at the beginning of his deployment. I LOVE it!!! It's perfect!!! 

 

 

 

Overall, I had wonderful Mother's Day and I'm so blessed to be the mommy of the most beautiful little girl and my son/daughter in my belly! I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!!!

 

FYI... Next Tuesday we should find out if baby Mays is a boy or girl!!! Can't wait!!!! 8 Days!!!



13 weeks

 

 

 

How far along? 13 weeks

Sleep? Every night has been different. Some nights I can sleep through the whole night, some nights I'm up for an hour for no reason. My bladder has a mind of it's own some nights

Maternity Clothes? yes, just because I don't want to try and force myself into my regular clothes and get my hopes up! I have 2 pair of maternity shorts that I wear a lot and I still wear my regular shirts and some maternity

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? none... I've been doing good with not going out a lot this week!

 

Miss Anything? my husband.. but he told me yesterday that he is coming home 4 days earlier than I thought!!! That's always a plus!

Movement? nope, too early

Size of the Baby? Lemon

 

Morning Sickness? Nope! Baby didn't like the Mexican we ate the other night.. but who's body ever really likes Mexican food right???

Gender? 3 more weeks!

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? not sure.. maybe 6lbs

 

Belly Button In or Out? in.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? Great!

 

Best moment in the last week? We went last Friday 4/26 to see my friend who is an ultrasound tech. Baby Mays had the hiccups and it was jumping up and down.. it was so neat to see such a little miracle do all of these cute little things

Looking Forward To? I have my next appointment this Friday. I'm excited to hear the heartbeat again and see about a gender scan in 3 weeks!

 

We have started packing everything in the house and are getting ready to put my parents house on the market and move them and ourselves to Texas. Z will be home in about 10 weeks so we are going to go ahead and move over there and get the house put together before he comes home. We are very excited and ready for June so we can move. We are going to miss all of our family and friends here in Alabama, but are excited to move on to the next chapter in our lives.

 

 

 

 

Profile of baby Mays... love that baby so much already!

 

Baby Mays' hand and arm.. Amazing that at 12 weeks you can see so much

12 weeks

 

 

 

How far along? 12 weeks

Sleep? Sleep is great! I get up anywhere from 7-8, usually take a nap when A takes a nap, then bed around 10. I wake up 1 or 2 times to pee.. IF I feel like getting up!

Maternity Clothes? some.. I have 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of shorts, and some shirts that I can still wear but I prefer maternity, they are just more comfy! This past week I had put on lotion and tried to get a pair of regular jeans on before the lotion dried and I ripped the jeans :( I was SO sad...

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? junk food.. which is not good!

 

Miss Anything? my husband :(

Movement? nope, too early

Size of the Babies? Peach

Morning Sickness? I am starting to feel better more often. I got really sick this past week and could barely move. I never threw up... but I went to bed at 8:30! It was BAD!!!

Gender? 4 more weeks!

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? not sure.. maybe 6lbs

Belly Button In or Out? in.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

 

 

Mood? Great!

 

 

 

Best moment in the last week? A and I went to Nashville this past week and got to see some of my favorite people! We had a blast, but are sad because we won't see them for a while. We are hoping they come to Texas in November when baby #2 is born!!

 

 

Looking Forward To? Going to see one of my best friends Friday for an ultrasound! She is an ultrasound tech so we are going to go see her and see the baby! I'm excited because 12 weeks is when the baby actually looks normal and not like some random alien!

 

The picture on the left is with baby #2 at 12 weeks and the picture on the right is with A at 13 weeks.. I know the one with A is closer, but I feel like they are about the same size!

10 weeks...

10 weeks....

So I know I missed 9 weeks.. and I haven't blogged in 2 weeks... I'm tired and busy and well just lazy!

We had a wonderful Easter and enjoyed our day with my parents. We are really missing Z and are ready for him to come home! We have a coming home date, so we are counting down the months. We have counted the days since he's been gone and by the time he finally gets home... it will be over 400 days gone!!!
A is VERY excited to be a big sister and makes sure EVERYONE knows that mommy has a baby in her belly.

How far along? 10 weeks 

Sleep? It's ok.. I still don't fall asleep till around 11 and but I get to sleep in till 8 most days. Some days I need a nap, but most days I'm good.

Maternity Clothes? nope, not yet..using the rubber band trick

Stretch Marks? nope.

Cravings/Aversions? I craved Subway so I went and got it..and it wasn't good. I just want to eat junk food but I'm trying not to eat too much. I still don't want to eat plain meat.. mix it up as a casserole and I'm good but I dont' want steak or chicken by itself

Miss Anything? my husband :(

Movement? nope, too early

Size of the Babies? Kumquat

Morning Sickness? Not morning sickness, just feel queasy and nauseous a lot 

Gender? 6 more weeks!  

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? 4lbs:( momma likes to eat what can I say

Belly Button In or Out? in.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? Good.. get irritated but that's normal any given day! Ha

Looking Forward To? Going to see my best friend in Nashville in a week!!

I went to the doctors on Friday April 5 and everything checked out good. I could hear the heartbeat through the Doppler so that's good.. the baby has a strong heartbeat. Everything looked good.. just have to go get my blood work done.

I feel HUGE and I know they say you show a lot earlier with your 2nd one but gosh.. I feel like I looked like this with A at 20 weeks!!! Oh well.. I love having this miracle in my belly!! Please excuse my worn out look... I guess I should take these pictures in the morning when I'm refreshed..not right before bed when I'm worn slap out!!

8 weeks

 

 

How far along? 8 weeks

Sleep? yep! I go to bed around 11, maybe wake up 1 time to pee.. depends on if I want to be lazy or actually get up.

 

Maternity Clothes? nope, not yet

Stretch Marks? nope. anyone have any good lotions? The one I have I don't like

Cravings/Aversions? No cravings at all... Aversions..Chicken! Chick-Fil-a is nasty now! I'm so sad.. we usually go there at least 2 times a week (don't judge) and now it's just gross! I even had a salad with no chicken and it was just not appetizing!

 

Miss Anything? being able to eat something and not feel sick afterwards

Movement? nope, too early

Size of the Babies? Kidney bean!

 

Morning Sickness? Not morning sickness, just feel queasy and nauseous all day 

Gender? hopefully we will know in about 8 weeks!   

Labor Signs? Nope.

Weight Gain? not too sure yet, will know when I go back to the doctor April 9 

 

Belly Button In or Out? in.

Wedding Rings On or Off? On.

Mood? Tired, but happy most the time. I get irritated easily and I kind of just zone out a lot

Looking Forward To? April 9, my next doctors appointment. Ready to hear the heartbeat again!

 

 

And then there were 4...

If you haven't heard...

We are having another baby... baby #2.... another baby to love and tickle and play with!

I am beyond ecstatic, and A and Z are also so excited! A keeps saying " I'm going to be a big sister, mommy's got a baby in her belly" and then proceeds to pull my shirt up and look for the baby. It's the sweetest and cutest thing I've ever seen. She has been "asking" for a baby brother or sister for awhile, I always told her to ask daddy.

Z came home in February for his R&R after being deployed for 7 months (unfortunately he had to go back, but praying he will be home for good in July). You know, it only takes 1 time to make it happen, and I guess it was our time. God knows what he's doing and his plan is the best and only plan! I found out the morning Z was headed back to the airport, Feb.22. I was barely even pregnant, but enough to get a positive!! I took another one the following night, and yet again those pretty little words "pregnant" showed up.

 

When you're trying for a baby, and in the past you've had so many negative test... it's the best feeling in the world when the word "NOT" doesn't show up. It took us a year to get pregnant with A, so I saw a lot of negative test. Lots of heartbreak. Lots of tears. Lots of questions and whys. Lots of doctor appointments trying to figure out what was wrong. Little did we know that God had a plan and his plan...like always... worked out perfectly! With this one, well I know he's got a plan! Blessed and grateful and thankful are just a few words to describe it.

 

We finally got to tell everyone close to our family that we were pregnant, so we decided it was time to announce it to the world. You know, because nothing is "official" till it's on Facebook! Ha So we took some pictures and I made this cute little collage for our announcement. You know because Pinterest makes us "keep up with the Jones' " over every little thing we do!

 

 

Baby #2 will hopefully be here by or on November 5, 2013! If it's anything like it's sister..That'll be it's birthday. A was born on her due date. I'm going to try and do weekly updates on the "bump" but we shall see... I forget sometimes! Hopefully I can document this journey.

 

 

"But I want to be an only child"







She really does want a baby sister or brother, promise! I just told her to do a "sad" face. We love photo shoots!





Weekend Recap

We had a great weekend and enjoyed spending our Saturday with my grandparents are who down for the winter. Being a stay at home mom and my parents both being retired, a weekend doesn't really mean anything more to us than any other day. We are pretty boring people, but try to get out of the house everyday so that we don't go stir crazy and get on each other nerves too much!

Friday, we went to my friends house and A got to play with her friend PA. We are blessed to have a few great friends here, and I'm so glad A has a few friends to play with and annoy someone besides me. We were pretty boring and didn't do much the rest of the day... besides take a nap!

She was very excited to be at the Zoo

 

Saturday was a great busy day! We went to The Little Zoo that Could down in Gulf Shores. You may know it from seeing their show on Animal Planet a few years ago. We met my grandparents down there and enjoyed letting A feed all the animals around there.

 

 

She loved feeding all the animals, my child has no fears!

 

 

She got to touch a snake and a few other animals and fed lots of animals. A really has no fears and loves all animals. My in-laws have 2 goats, a donkey, and a horse so she is use to feeding them and touching them. She saw the lions and kept hollering "Hey Simba, Hey Nala".

 

We went and ate pizza after the zoo, then headed home for another nap... we love nap time!

 

snuggle time!

 

I love spending time with this sweet little girl! She is my best little friend!

 

Sunday, we headed to church! A loves going to church and playing with her friends! We are so blessed! We enjoyed lazy Sunday and... yep took another nap! Pretty sure we are some lazy bums! Ha







Giving this blogging thing a try...

I am going to try out this blogging thing again! I started one for a little while, and then I just got busy and never posted anything more! I can't promise I will have anything good to say, or that everything is spelled right, or comma will be in the right spot. #sorrynotsorry I have ZERO idea of the design or layout and I just tried to figure it out on my own...which probably makes it look even worse....Whoops!

We are not very exciting people... A and I live at home with my parents while Z is overseas serving with the Coast Guard. We are moving to Texas in June and will hopefully be reunited in July. I stay home and well... we just kind of do what we want to do! We eat Chick-fil-A AT LEAST once a week if not more, we shop, play, nap and anything else we can come up with.

 

This is our sweet little girl A. She will be 3 in July. She is my best little friend who is sassy and sweet all in one!

 

 

This would be my handsome husband and I. We have been married for over 5 years and although we both get on each others nerves and drive each other crazy, I don't think either of us would have it any other way (or at least I wouldn't).

 

I'm going to try and blog every so often, but I know it won't be daily or weekly. I get busy, bored, burnt out, or just lazy very easily, so we shall see if this blog last.

 

I guess that is all for now... I'll try to post again about Z's visit he home. He has been overseas for 8 months, was home for 20 days, and will hopefully be home for good in July. We had a great time, and hated to see him go back. It's hard being away from him for so long, but it makes us both stronger. I hate that him and A don't get to spend this year together, but we will be together again shortly!