SATURDAY MORNING CHORES

Luke is at the age right now, where he likes to 'help' with everything...
He particularly LOVES to be outside, helping in the yard.

I hope his enthusiasm for 'work' lasts a while. LOL... 

A SUCCESSFUL FIRST NIGHT

Last night was the first official night we tried Luke in his big bed. We had put him there a couple days ago, but just to see what he'd do, not really planning on insisting that he sleep there.
Last night, we tucked him in, and said prayers with him like we usually do, and then left the room and closed the door. After a few minutes, Luke came out of the room, without a word, holding his snuggle monkey, sippy cup, pacifier and night light (all things that he associates with bedtime). I took him back into the room, explained again that this is his new bed, and tucked him back in. By the 3rd time, he was pointing to the bed each time I explained that this is his new bed, and he seemed to start showing some more understanding. After about 20 minutes and 4 escape attempts, he was fast asleep in his big boy bed... and all without any fussing or crying. What a big boy.

He woke up and walked out again one more time a little later in the night while we were watching a movie, but also without fuss, allowed me to tuck him back in again.

I slept with one eye and one ear open all night, hoping he'd be ok... my baby is growing up so fast.
At 7am, he woke up, and instantly hopped out of bed, grabbed his 'bedtime goodies' and came to our room to jump all over us. I was so proud of him for how good his first night went, though it wasn't as fun having him in our room right after waking up. LOL.. usually we leave him in his crib for another 20-30 minutes or so, while we slowly wake up... I guess we can't have it all.

I'm so happy that he's showing such good signs of transitioning well, but at the same time my heart is aching just a little bit, that my baby is growing up so fast. I'm feeling like such a proud mommy today.

THE BIG BOY ROOM

 Jake laughs at me often, because I am a super 'ahead of time' planner.
I started shopping for furniture and linens etc for Lukes big boy room about 8 or 9 months ago... long before we were even trying for another baby. LOL... but, as a result, Luke has a really cute new room, that we were able to slowly pay for over many many months, so it didn't kill our budget.

We bought the furniture first (2nd hand), then the linen (on clearance), then the wall decor (ebay), and I painted the 3 canvases myself, and then finally, we bought his bed... so it was a slow progress, but it all worked out great in the end, and I'm really happy with the results.

A GOOD MARCH WEEK

It's been a week of 'milestones' and great weather

I've had a birthday, and officially entered the later half of my twenties...
26... Does that make me old yet? LOL

To Celebrate, we had a yummy family brunch at IHOP on Saturday morning, and then on Tuesday (my actual birthday) I had a picnic lunch/play date with my friend Tricia and Lukes little buddy, Adam.... the weather was GORGEOUS, and so perfect.
For dinner, Jake and I did burgers on the grill, and went to Dairy Queen for dessert.

It was just a regular weekday, but such a fun day, and then my birthday ended with news of the birth of my friends little girl, Ava Lynn Holloman.... she picked a GREAT day to be born on. Happy birthday to me and Ava.

The other 'milestone' reached this week, is that today, I am 14 weeks... that means I am OFFICIALLY into the 2nd trimester and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to be leaving the first trimester behind me. I haven't been on medication since the weekend, and it seems that my nausea and sickness is REALLY easing up earlier this time round, which I am SOOOO excited about.

So, no world phenomenons or big miracles this week... I just got a year older, the sun is shining a little warmer, and my belly is getting a little bigger... but it's been a GOOD week, and I'm happy about that :)

12 WEEKS

I'm 12 weeks today.
This morning I had my prenatal appointment, and finally got to hear my little parasites heart beat.
Everything seems to be going as it should, with a strong heartbeat in the 160's range. (Old wives tales say a high heart beat like that means it's a girl... who knows. LOL)

I'm still feeling REALLY yuck, and I'm throwing up more than I wish I was. I'm on medication that makes me feel almost as yuck too... I am groggy and drugged on the medication, and sick and vomiting without it... so everyday I just have to 'pick my poison'

I've lost 2lbs since my last appointment, but that's not too much so I'll catch it up when the sickness finally ends.

So all in all, everything is going as it should, but I'm one miserable mommy... I look forward to the coming months when the yucky part is over. Hopefully this little parasite cuts me some slack before 28 weeks which is when Luke finally decided to give me a break with the nausea.

We're excited though about the prospect of another baby joining our family.
So, for now I'm just trying to suck it up and tough it out.

Jake has been my Knight in shining armour... he has picked up all my slack and kept things at home running smoothly. I'm so grateful for all of his help and dedication. I'd be a total wreck right now if he weren't here to pick up where I'm lacking.
What a lucky girl I am :)

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

So the good news:

Luke is going to be a big brother in September.

The bad news:
This pregnancy started out really easy... well practically symptom free... very little fatigue and just about no morning sickness. Then, at about 6 weeks, I felt the all too familiar retching feeling in my stomach that I got with Luke, and it's been down hill since then...
I am back on medications that do little to nothing for the sickness, and struggling to keep down anything... solid or liquid. Throwing up 15 or more times a day is definitely not pleasant, and it leaves me feeling thoroughly wiped out and exhausted. I won't be surprised if we need to make another trip to the ER for IV fluids with this pregnancy. I feel like I'm replaying my first pregnancy over at this point.
Unfortunately this time, I have the added task of still needing to be functional so that I can take care of Luke. It's all proving to be quite a challenge.. and a miserable one at that.

Jake and I really want 3 children, but I'm starting to really hope that this one is a girl, so that we will have one of each, because then I think I'll stop there. Although I'm grateful for how easily we've managed to get pregnant each time, and that I have a healthy boy, with another hopefully healthy little one on the way, pregnancy is not a good experience for me. In fact, it's probably the most miserable experience of my life, and it takes a toll on my body that I never imagined it could. I love my sweet boy, and I know I will love this little one just as much, but I think I might be done after this. I can't imagine putting myself through this a third time. I had so hoped the 2nd time would be better, but so far that's proving to be wrong. I guess not everyone is built for pregnancy. I'd rather be a happy, healthy mother of 2, than an unhealthy, struggling mother of 3 or 4

So that's our exciting but currently miserable news.
Here's hoping it gets better soon...