All About Baby...week 23

I've been berating myself that these "All About Baby" posts have been so, well, non-existent :( Every time something "new & exciting" happens in baby world - the real world (i.e. John, Seth, work, the house, a squirrel on the bird feeder) here on the outside sends a distraction my way. Which is not hard since I can go from one end of the house to the other 4 times before remembering what I ever set out looking to do in the 1st place! Here I go getting distracted just talking about distractions :) Well, there were only about 4 hours between the last sentence & this one, so here goes (you see what I'm talking about)...

We went to the dr. yesterday. I was anxious to give them my "sample" - Ella's sitting pretty low, so the pee-meter runs high these days (only to get higher I'm sure). Checked the weight - still doing good w.that. I have a goal this time around & it doesn't involve indulging or laying around (as if that's an option) like I did w.John. I was so proud of my weight gain that when I got back to work I treated myself to this new truffle butterfinger thingy (nothing special) and 1/2 a bag of peanut M&Ms :)

Seemingly normal as of late, we waited too long for the dr, but were thankful there were only a couple of questions & she got right down to business. Said Ella measured right where she should & we loved hearing the thump of her lil' heartbeat <3. I believe it was 152 this time. She kicked right when the doc was checking her heartbeat - the dr. asked if I felt it. "Oh yeah" was my response - I feel all of her lil' movements. She's very active, especially during the day - lunch time is usually when she kicks things off! As I'm typing, she's "boopin" me on my right side...she's in the same spot John always was - boopin' away. Praise the Lord that she's about 3 in. lower than he was - my ribs are so grateful!

Seth felt her for the 1st time in late May - he's felt her a few times since. The first time he felt her was awesome, she "booped" and he looked up at me w.those excited, smiling eyes - made me want to cry. My mom felt her this past weekend - its great to be able to share that. We've really enjoyed trying to get John excited about baby Ella :). I wish I could write how cute he sounds when we say, "Who's in Mama's tummy?" & he responds w. "Babiii". After some coaching when we ask "baby who" and he says "baby Ehhh" - so very heartwarming.

This weekend may mark the 1st of room transitions. We may shoot for a nap in the "big boy" room. Though bittersweet (more so than I can likely articulate), I'm tickled (severely overusing that emotion word these days) to start transforming the nursery. I already have lots of things for Ella's room & I never knew how much I really loved pink till I had a reason to buy some! I am so anxious to see her room put together - to create a space for her. While "working from home" last week, I found some moments here in there to be crafty. I painted her name letters for her wall & fixed a very sweet lampshade (w.ribbon/bows) for the changing table light. I'm partial, but I think they're precious & will post pictures when they're finally up.

I've told this to several people but I was 'tickled' that I got the bedding/accessories I wanted for her room. Lucky for me, I had saved the link of stuff I had picked out the day before we went for the ultrasound to learn John was not going to be the little girl I thought I was having.

So, I went back to that link a few weeks ago - lo & behold, not only could I not buy the pieces I wanted to buy, but it was no longer even made :( Not quickly discouraged, I contacted the manufacturer directly (via email) and within the hour someone emailed me back w.the name of an online retailer that may have still had some pieces left. So I contacted them, expressing my "urgency" and within minutes someone emailed me back & in a matter of about 30 min. - she added the items I requested online for me to purchase, I bought them & now they're waiting in the linen closet to be put up!! A little preview...from an online pic of the "Beach Cottage" line:

For Ella's room - I got the bedskirt, the diaper stacker, the window valance, the mobile & a pink sheet. It all goes well w.the yellow that's currently in that room, the glider cushions and the cubby shelves (w.the blue & green). As I said, pretty excited to see it all come together!

My next dr. appt. is July 19th & its the long one - glucose screening, blahhhhh :( Praying that it will just be a matter of drinking the yucky & them saying I'm fine. Amazingly enough, yesterday's appt was not even on our "radar". Didn't even remember I had it till I had a thought yesterday morning that there may be something on the calendar for the 21st. Spent days beforehand being anxious for John's pre-natal visits & having a hard time remembering these. A blessing in disguise though - there's no time to sit & worry or feel anxious this time around. Adding to my peace of mind & as I told Seth last night, I know this lil' girl is just a growing inside me & I have no doubt about it. After laying down for a few minutes last night and laughing at what felt like somersaults being turned in my tummy - Ella's gonna be something else, no doubt about it. I sure don't remember John being this active.

And in case you missed it (been sorta slack on these too), here's the most recent belly pic, taken at 21 weeks:


I'm sure I've "popped out" even more since this, I certainly feel like I have, but I know there's plenty of growing left to do!

We celebrated John's 2nd birthday this weekend & I left around lunch on Friday to get us home to Winston. It was just me & him & as we crossed over Jordan Lake, sun shining bright, I found myself a little overwhelmed thinking about my many blessings. Looking in the backseat at my sweet, sleeping boy (that lip pout when he's sleeping is hard not to reach back and kiss) and feeling blessed to celebrate another year of his life made my heart so full. Add to that, Ella was boopin' around at the same time & I thought, "man, life sure is sweet - got my 2 babies right here". I've got one to look at, hold & adore & I've got another to dream about, feel growing inside me & know that we're going to love just as much.

Then, I thought about the other reason this weekend was special ~ Father's Day. I have Seth who is an amazing husband, and an even more amazing father - I can't do justice to how wonderful a man I am blessed to be married to. Then I thought about my own dad & how fortunate I am to still have him here with me. I can't imagine this world without him and I feel thankful for the many blessings his presence brings to our family. He's one of a kind, can drive me crazy and a chip off the old block if there ever was one - but I couldn't love him more if I tried. And to see the way John adores him, well, I'm gonna need a tissue if I try to explain how full that makes my heart. And then I thought about all the other "fathers" I'm blessed with. I still have my Pappaw, I have another Pappaw in Seth's grandpa, I have a wonderful father & step-father in-law...more earthly "fathers" than I sometimes feel I deserve! As if I needed proof of how much my heavenly Father loves me - these abounding blessings are wonderful assurance...

Well, maybe it won't be so long before I write again - this lil' blog's certainly found its way to the bottom of the totem pole. But we're doing great, taking it one day at a time and soaking up the joys as best we can. We hope everyone's surviving the heat & having a happy & healthy summer thus far.

Please keep baby Ella in your prayers - pray that she continues to thrive, grow and delight from the inside out :) Also, keep our dear friends Chris & Erika close in prayer too - Baby Clark is about 10 weeks behind Ella! As 2 of our best friends, we couldn't be more TICKLED that Ella will inevitably be getting a lifelong friend just as we have in Chris & Erika. Bless both these babies and the families that are anxiously waiting to meet them!