Baby #3 | 22 Weeks

How far along? 22 weeks

Maternity clothes: Mostly sweats and comfies, but it's pretty much maternity clothes in the event that I need to dress like a human (work or grocery shopping).

Stretch marks? None

Sleep: Sleep has still been pretty great!

Best moment this week: Good weekend with my favs! Went to see the Garth Brooks sound check on Friday night, which definitely blew our expectations out of the water! (Not that we had low expectations for Garth, just that it seemed like more of a concert than a sound check.) If you've never seen him live, it's a bucket lister, let me tell you. I got some much-needed shopping done for the kiddos on Saturday. And then church on Sunday. I've been hesitant to say much about going to a different church lately, because I love our old church so much. But we've gone to a different one I think about four times now, and I love it so much too! It has amazing programs for the kiddos. Jose was going down and sitting with Holden in the walkers room and we finally left him by himself this past Sunday and they said he did so well! This was his first experience being by himself without anyone he knew, so I was pretty skeptical, but so glad it went well for him. Also, Jose has been getting so much done around the house! Mostly replacing all the trim and painting rooms that still needed painting, and our fireplace got a total face lift - which looks amazing - so once I can get in and furnish everything, I'll share some pix, but it might still be a bit (unless we win the powerball tonight!). The focus now is finishing Aurora's room (which has been a 2-year project) and getting started on Baby's room!

Miss anything? Okay, I feel like I say this every time and it totally makes me sound whiney or ungrateful. But does pregnancy just totally throw anyone else? I think I just feel like I'm constantly saying, "After the baby comes, we'll do this" or "I'll get back to that once the baby's here." I really hope that is never perceived the wrong way. My kids are everything to me and I so cannot wait to add this third little nugget. I just am always so... discontent?... when I'm pregnant. I don't even know if that's the right word. It's just that obviously the whole dynamic of our family is about to change - tremendously - and I just want to hurry up and get there, so I can figure it out. Also, I'm learning that, as much as I love to use the "But I'm pregnant" excuse, I actually hate it. I hate that I get tired so quickly and have zero energy to do anything. I hate that, while Jose is being all productive and getting shit done, I am not. Maybe my goal for the rest of my pregnancy will be to embrace this stage that I'm in. Crap, I said that out loud, so now I'll be held accountable...

Movement: Yes! Definitely lots of movement. 

Food cravings? Still nothing in particular, but I have good days and bad. I'd say I'm eating healthier for the most part, though.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Not anymore!

Gender prediction: It's a BOY!!! Honestly, we were going to be thrilled either way but, given that we did just get rid of ALL of Aurora's clothes, we feel like a boy will be better financially, lol. Also, Aurora has quite a few friends that live nearby and a boy will be the perfect playmate for Holden to grow up with. And I'm still trying to convince Jose that in a few years, the boys will be able to share a room, so the fourth bedroom can still be my closet a guest room, but I don't think he's quite sold on that one yet. 

Labor signs: None yet.

Symptoms: I've been past the sickness part for awhile, so now I'm just tired all the time, get out of breath pretty quickly, always fighting that constant starving/full feeling, feeling those kicks for sure though, and excited that we know we're adding another little man to this equation...

Belly button in or out? Still making it's way out there!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Mood most of the time: Honestly, I've been pretty moody these past two weeks. I also had a mental breakdown on Saturday about our Disney trip, and wondering if going with a 2 month old will even work, but tons of Googling has me convinced that we're going to be just fine. I've had a pretty bad cold these last few days, also, so I'm sure that's added to my unpleasantry a bit. 

Looking forward to: Disney!!! haha

Total weight gain: 17 lbs.

What I Don't Want to Forget...

Okay, one of my favorite things about blogging has definitely been the ability to look back and see how things were compared to how they are now, to relive some of our memories, things like that. I haven't done an update on Holden in awhile and have had quite a few people ask, so I thought I'd share a little about where he's at and where Aurora's at as well because God knows that little girl is growing up way too fast!

Holden is now 17 months and is doing so great! We haven't been down to Riley since August, I think, and we were told by his plastic surgeon that we didn't need to come back to see him for another year, which is awesome. We are going back in December to meet with an audiologist to double-check his hearing. Sometimes hearing can be an issue with Pierre Robin babies, but Holden hasn't shown us any signs of less than normal hearing. (Especially at night when he's sleeping and we have to creep by so that little dude doesn't wake up!) Feeding has been going good. The last time he had a swallow study was in July, which showed slight aspiration when he drinks ultra thin liquids (water, juice), and he penetrated once (where it looks like it's going to go down the wrong tube, but then comes back and goes the right way) with milk when he would drink too fast. But his doctor was still optimistic that he would be off his tube in October. We were super hopeful, but when we first told his SLP that he sees here in town once a week, she was a little skeptical. Unfortunately, I think Holden still has a little bit to go before he'll get his tube out, but he is still doing really well and we are okay with not rushing things. After all, feeding him this way has become so routine for us that it's not really anything extra at this point, but will also be a huge relief when we don't have to. Other than that, he's been eating all normal foods. He loves the usual kid stuff - pb&j, mac and cheese - and has started eating more vegetables, which he wasn't doing at all. He loves yogurt - LOVES ice cream - and, overall, he has a really good appetite and is gaining well above where he at least needs to be.

All of that aside, he is living up to my second-child-theory more and more each day! Boy is exhausting! He is all over the place, into everything, and hates napping, lol. He is the epitome of a sour patch kid - will bite you, then look at you with his big cheesy smile and pucker to give you a kiss. He loves going on walks around the neighborhood, idolizes his big sister, and is the friendliest kid you will ever meet. (But he will wait until you walk away to wave at you.) I'll show him my belly and tell him there's a baby in there, and he'll lift up his shirt to see where his baby is. When he gets excited about doing something, he'll say "Yah, yah, yah." Loves bath time, HATES bed time and still cries for a good 15-20 minutes when we put him down. He loves Zoey so much and I think she kinda loves him back. He loves dancing to Mother Goose Club, which is by far the most annoying kid's show out there, but it makes him happy, so we shall suffer through. I think his favorite time of day is when daddy walks in the door (if he's still awake). Boy LOVES his daddy. Mr. Holdy Man, you wear us all out, but you bring us all more join than we ever knew we could handle!

And then there's Aurora, who is now 8. Who actually was almost the same type of baby as Holden, but not so sour-patchy. Just super friendly and a people-person. I think it's pretty safe to say she was and is and probably will be my easy baby. From pregnancy to now, she's pretty much been a breeze. I'm sure I'll change my mind on that one once she hits her teenage years. She still has a little bit of that only-child sass left in her. But she's mature, a smartie who catches on very quickly, and when Jose's gone for work, I can totally count on her to help out with her brother (and maybe get distracted by the TV a couple thousand times in between). Maybe it's just because there's such an age difference between the two, but I swear this girl grew up the second Holden was born. Her big sister instincts kicked right in and, for the most part, she loves helping out with him. Sometimes she tries to jump the gun a bit - wants us to let her carry him down the stairs in the mornings, which I'm not ready for (maybe, like, if the house was and fire and she HAD to, but not every day), but she really tries to do whatever she can and I just love and appreciate her so much. I remember taking her shopping for her birthday a few months back and I was just so amazed at this little lady she's growing into. Don't get me wrong, she still has her moments, but she definitely makes me proud to be her mama.

At the moment (bare with me, this could all change by the time I finish typing this), she's obsessed with Squishies, loves doing anything artsy, loves talking (like non-stop, and says "like" and "literally" almost as much as me), loves the black shoes in the picture below because they have a slight heel, loves her white furry coat, especially loves them together, loves making her little brother laugh and being told she's helpful, says she'll cry if #3 is another boy (although, I know she'd grow to love him), loves watching Liv and Maddie and Bunk'd, and will start telling a story from three years before it began to five years after it ended (maybe kinda sorts like her daddy). She wants to be an actress when she grows up and star in a movie with Dove Cameron. :)

I already catch myself looking back on both these kids and how much they've grown and changed in their short, little lives. (And I know I will with #3 too.) And, while I want to bottle these moments up and keep them little forever, I also imagine what life will be like when all three are grown up, coming and going with their friends, and then with their own families and I just know that that's what life is all about. Also, because Jose and I will be free to come and go as we please by that time too. :)

Baby #3 | 20 Weeks

^ The best you're gonna get of me right now. ^

How far along? 20 weeks - Wait, what!? How did that even happen??

Maternity clothes: Basically wearing sweats and comfies as much as I can get away with these days. You can pretty much expect that from me from here on out.

Stretch marks? None.

Sleep: Sleep has been great!

Best moment this week: So this sounds bad. Terrible, actually. But Holden has had a diaper rash this week and hasn't quite been himself. Which sucks. But he's also been more snuggly than usual, which I just LOVE. Definitely my favorite part of this whole parenting gig is when your kids love on you. He'll pucker his lips and squeeze you and it definitely makes days I have to leave that much harder. Aurora can still be pretty lovey too, sometimes, which is the best because she's also so independent right now.

Miss anything? Just ready to get this family of five thing goin' on and figuring out what our new normal will be like. 

Movement: Yep! Jose even felt a kick the other night, too!

Food cravings? Nothing in particular.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Not anymore.

Gender prediction: Guys, I'm lost on this one...

Labor signs: None yet.

Symptoms: Nothing new. I've definitely been feeling better. Energy is better, but definitely not 100%. No more nausea. Belly's definitely growing. Peeing a lot... the usual.

Belly button in or out? It's making it's way out there!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Mood most of the time: So many mixed emotions! Still a little tired... super excited, but also a little nervous about how we're going to juggle everything, even though I know it'll all be fine!

Looking forward to: Ultrasound next Tuesday! Excited to know what this little sucker's gonna be!

Total weight gain: 14 lbs.