Weekly Update - Nursery Inspiration

How far along? 16 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: It is sad but I think it's close to 15 at this point. I have gained a pound a week. Nearly 5 pounds last month.
Maternity clothes? Still a mixture but some of my favorite summer skirts are tight. :(
Stretch marks? Yep. But it's normal and I don't mind it much.
Sleep: I had the craziest dream last night. All I know is it required me to be IT and while I do this it's not really my strongest ability.
Best moment this week: Feeling some little flutters. Usually in the AM and sometimes on top of my bladder. I researched it a little and its called quickening and it's not kicking but the baby rolling around. I love this phase.
Movement: See above.
Food cravings: Nothing lately. I have noticed a new desire for pickles. Especially fried pickles. I never really liked pickles before so it's interesting to want to eat them on things. I found a random bottle in the pantry and thought to myself why aren't these in the fridge and what can I eat them with.
Labor Signs: Lets hope not!
What I miss: Bending over without feeling annoyance. Especially while doing laundry. For some reason this is getting super hard to do lately. But I have google researched it does not hurt that baby at all.
What I am looking forward to: We are doing a mother's day brunch at my house. I love brunch!
Weekly Wisdom: Start getting used to bending with the knees. It's good for strength building.
Milestones: I am headed towards half baked. Time seems to be going faster this time around.

So for those of you who don't know we are not finding out the sex this time. But we have now agreed on a color scheme since this will be the next room to paint. We will be reusing Sophia's dresser and crib. So it will be a dark cherry wood. We will likely not split colors like the below. I will probably have some sort of tree decals on the wall. I like the brighter yellow though.

Inspiration Picture - Not actually room and I am not the photo owner.

Inspiration Picture - Not actually room and I am not the photo owner.

Inspiration Picture - Not actually room and I am not the photo owner.

Inspiration Picture - Not actually room and I am not the photo owner.

Inspiration Picture - Not actually room and I am not the photo owner.

Weekly Update

How far along? 15 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I am thinking close to 10 total but I am not sure. I am gaining like a fright train unfortunately.
Maternity clothes? A mixture. Definitely maternity tights and pants.
Stretch marks? Yes. Getting Dark again and my Linea Nigra has made it's appearance once again
Sleep: Crazy dreams as always. I can fall asleep fast but I usually wake up about 3 a.m. and have trouble falling sleep or getting comfortable. The last two nights I had heartburn which I stopped with tums right away and was able to get to sleep again somewhat fast.
Best moment this week: So far after much debate about what family mini trip we would take, Sandro got us a condo stay in Panama City during memorial day weekend. (it's a birthday gift) Super excited.
Movement: I call it wishful thinking flutters but I think it's likely gas. Since half of the time it exits in one way or another.
Food cravings: The only thing that is kinda on my mind is German Chocolate cake for my birthday.
Labor Signs: Lets hope not!
What I miss: I am not missing much lately. The heartburn is somewhat mild compared to last time. I guess you can say cheese since I am limiting it. It seems to be helping with the constipation issues I was having.
What I am looking forward to: To hearing the heartbeat on Thursday for my regular appointment. Also some more flutters. I am scared that since my placenta is outside facing it may be awhile before I feel much.
Weekly Wisdom: It is true that 2nd time pregnancies you show quicker. Holy crap!
Milestones: Nada really!

So yes, I have been secretly saving images of me and my growing body for the last month or so. Just a few pictures but I thought I would share. I am not sad I am gaining a ton of weight or anything but it's just incredible how your body has a memory after 5 years and bam you look 5-6 months pg and you are only 4. Crazy.

12 Weeks

13 weeks

15 weeks

Juicy Details or maybe TMI for some

You are probably wondering about why I haven't updated my blog. I think honestly I have been going through some tough stuff. Well we really have been going through a rough patch. Let me just jump right in. In August of 2013 we got pregnant again. Of course we where scared but we where feeling very hopeful. I went into my first appointment at 8 weeks. We had a very strong heartbeat and thought things where progressing well. Two weeks later (close to DD's birthday) I started spotting. I was almost 11 weeks. We where told that the heart stopped beating at 8 week 1 day. It was gut punch like no other. I had already ordered a big sister shirt for Sophia. I was going to announce to the grandparents that weekend since it was her birthday weekend. This was not supposed to happen this way. We decided to do a natural m/c with drugs. It was quick and the recovery was even quicker. Not like the previous time but still gut wrenching. 

I knew in my heart that I wanted to try right away. But Sandro was hesitant. He was scared that it would take me straight into insanity. We argued about it but we also talked and sorted through our feelings. He is a very logical person and he felt that maybe it wasn't our destiny to have a 2nd child. He was perfectly content with just Sophia. I felt differently of course. I felt like there was a missing piece to our family and I wasn't willing to just give up. We come up with a plan. We would try at least twice more however we would have to get tested for genetic issues and clotting disorders. Also, if we did try we would have to be in the mode of lets just see what happens. I could not let TTC rule my entire life. We decided to wait until after the new year. We did go through the testing process and we both came up completely clean for genetic issues. The 3 m/c I had in the past where considered unknown. I also had no clotting issues that they can find but recommended that start a baby aspirin regimen as well as extra folic acid as soon as possible. 

 I was not tempting and I was only tracking when my period was. I did not think we had sex during my ovulation period since we decided mid month to just try but not try again. I only took 1 digital pg test in the first week of Feb (maybe a few OPK's) and low and behold it said I was pregnant. I was really scared and I wanted to cry. How could my body want this so bad yet wouldn't let me have this pg? It was very mixed emotionally and I tried not to get too excited. Since I have had two m/c with my doctor she had me come in early. I had my first appointment at 7 wk 3 days. We saw a heartbeat but the sac was oddly shaped. She told that it's totally fine. That sometimes it just looks weird. The HB was strong. She wanted to see me weekly, every Thursday at the same time. She wanted to put my fears at ease. I do love my new doctor. She is so vibrant and honest and I just think she knows how to deal people. 

So I went weekly. I did have one incident of spotting and of course my mind went to that place. She saw me two days early that week (week 9). I thought for sure it was over. Baby was just fine. No blood was in my uterus. No SCH to be found. It turns out a had a UTI. I never had a UTI before in my life. But apparently it can make you spot. Only when I was dehydrated and usually in the AM after multiple pee breaks. I had to start antibiotics but it was gone after a 10 day treatment. 

So far I have had 5 6 ultrasounds The last one was my NT scan. I got my blood report on 4/21/2014 and it says that I have nearly 1 in 6 billion chance of having a baby with downs. I have better luck winning the lottery. I felt I needed to come out of the closet my growing belly and the office rumors where creeping in. I waited now 10 weeks to tell the world it was time. I still haven't told Sophia but I know that is coming soon. I am sure she will notice my growing belly and start asking her inquisitive questions. Part of me is still scared but I a trying to have hope at this point and I need to let the world know. I hope that this gives up with those who are struggling. Trying to conceive after a/multiple losses is so very difficult. There are no words to the amount of worry and anxiety one goes through. 

No u/s pic for Week 7.

8 weeks

9 weeks  (skipped week 10, no good shots)

11.5 weeks

13.5 weeks

Pumpkin Patch visit for 2013

As always the expectation of a non dramatic outing seems almost impossible now of days. However, I always love to take Sophia for Photo Shoot locations and hope that she allows me to take a few pictures. She hates when I follow her around the camera. It has to be her idea or it's nearly impossible for her look at the camera and not yell at me for taking her picture. I am not going to lie, I am not above being bribing her. I just want to capture how beautiful she is. It is far more economical for me to take the pictures than get a photographer each and every time. 

She did pretty well for the most part and but of course the outing ended with a tantrum of the ugliest kind. Full meltdown. We went home instead of running any other errands for the day. She went down for a nap and sleep for like ever. So I got to edit and peace and also make this blog. I love my little Sophia Genelle. It was a fun morning even if I had to beg and bribe my child. I am sure of these days this shall improve.  

Screaming/begging me to stop taking pictures of her.

Face painting.

The only time she wanted to try the cutouts. 

Driving to town.

The bribe for letting me tak e her pictures.

Drinking and Driving

One more time before the Big meltdown.

Cayman Islands - 7 year Anniversary

Just a quick post about our Grand Cayman Islands trip. We decided to go there for the weekend. The trip is about 3 hours to Miami and then one hour to Grand Cayman. We left early on Friday afternoon and was in there by 7:30. The next day we had breakfast at a place called Eats Cafe. Breakfast was much cheaper than the hotel and delicious. The rest of the day we found different beaches to snorkel. We had three different off shore dives that where very beautiful. The island is flat and the snorkeling is amazing. That evening we had dinner at Morgan Harbour. Beautiful location but we were ATTACKED by mosquitoes. Our fault. It was humid day and the bay had no trade winds. The food was exceptional.

On Sunday morning we went again to Eats Cafe..again fantastic. Then we had early boat tour with Stringray Sailing. Due to be the slow season we where able to get a private tour. Just the four of us. They take you out to the sandbar where there was over 50 string rays. They explain how to act around them and what to avoid. They describe them as domesticated house pets of the sea. They are SO gentle and just love to rub up against you. Then we went to another reef that was best reef I have ever been to. So much to see.

Unfortunately our day ended here and we literally went straight to the airport after the snorkeling. While the trip was quick it was so fun getting to know Jo and hanging with them. Sandro and also had a little bit of romance and us time that very necessary in our marriage. It was a great weekend.

More Pictures here! :)

Texas State Fair 2013

Sophia loved the State fair this year. She was much more interactive than previous years. She rode a ton of the rides and eat her self silly. However, she did end up losing her lunch on the way home. It could have been a combination of too many rides and all that food or just her getting so upset when it was time to leave. We still have wonderful memories of the day and she did behave really well. She walked the entire time. No more strollers. ;) That was part of the deal. Tata did try to win her a smurf but the games that had them where very difficult. It made her sad but she got over it quickly!

Well at least she enjoyed her lunch!

It was nearly impossible to get a picture by bigtex. People like to hoard right in front of it.

Sophia's prizes won by Daddy

Sophia's collection of pumpkins: