movement & maternity clothes

I felt baby move for the 1st time on Sunday—I was 14 weeks 5 days. I think I have been feeling baby move since I was about 12 weeks but Dr. Reeves said it’s too early. I started wearing maternity clothes on Wednesday at 15 weeks 1 day.

riding toys

Pierce has learned within the last week how to ride on his riding toys and push himself along unassisted.

15 month breastfeeding milestone

We did it!! I am so proud of us!! My original breastfeeding goal was 12 months and when we reached it, I set a new goal of 15 months. I am so proud that we made them both and are still going strong!! We only have the night feed now. I'm not quite sure when we'll be ready to drop the last feed. Nighttime snuggles are my fave part of the day!!

Pierce is wearing size 4 diapers now.

my appt

went great!! All looks, feels, and sounds wonderful!!

Baby's heartrate was 160 BPM. Doc asked if it sounded like a girl or boy heartbeat. I said, "I don't know, you tell me, what do you think?" I asked if she believe in the old wives tale and she said no. Mark and I discussed how early in our pregnancy with P his heartrate was fast, but as we got further along it slowed down. She said that's exactly what it is supposed to do--lil' mammals have fast heartrates and as they get larger the rate gets slower.

I have gained 1 pound since my 1st appt which puts me at 1 pound total weight gain according to my doc's scale (2.5 pounds according to my own scale). All my blood work came back good--even my iron.

She did have my LMP correct but still kept my due date at February 19th. She said my dating u/s actually showed February 23 but when it is within 1 week they keep the original date.

Questions I asked:
Is it too soon to feel movement?? (I guess I'm just imagining it), I should start feeling baby in 3-4 weeks

Is it okay to continue to wear P in our ergo?? Absolutely--I can wear him through our whole pregnancy

I realize delivery is a long way away, I'm just getting nervous about lifting restrictions post c-section. I wanna be able to hold my P. What are the weight restrictions?? Don't lift anything heavier than baby and the carseat for 2 weeks. I can still hold P and even sit in the floor and let him climb into my lap and stand holding him this way--I just can't lift him directly up off the floor for 2 weeks. I so needed this reassurance--I wanna be able to cuddle my lil' man!!

So all is well and perfect!! Next appt is September 13.

We have already told our parents and siblings (told them the day after we found out we were pregnant) about our pregnancy. When we got home I called my dad (hadn't told him yet b/c when we told him we were pregnant with P he was constantly asking me when he could tell others b/c we wanted to wait a few weeks, so we waited to tell him this time when he could tell), grandparents, an aunt, and pseudo step dad. About to send an email with pics of P in his big brother shirt to other aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand,
basking in the glow of our magical relationship.
Suddenly I feel a kick from within,
as if to remind me that our time alone is limited.
And I wonder;
How could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you.
I watch the pain you feel at having to share me
as you've never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way,
"Please love only me."
And I hear myself telling you in mine,
"I can't", knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you.
I almost see our new baby as an intruder
on the precious relationship we once shared.
A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing,
I find myself attached to that new being,
and feeling almost guilty.
I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her--
as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change,
first to curiousity, then to protectiveness,
finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine.
The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times
we shared, just we two.
There are new times--only now we are three.
I watch the love between you grow,
the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how she adores you--as I have for so long.
I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments.
And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you,
I've given something to you.
I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love
openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as
you are, but equally strong.
And my question is finally answered, to my amazement.
Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you--only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time,
I now know you'll never share my love.
There's enough of that for both of you--you each have
your own supply.

I love you--both.
And I thank you both for blessing my life.

-author unknown

back from vacation

We're home!! We got home early yesterday evening. We had a wonderful time but are glad to be at home. Here is a slideshow of pics from our trip. Click on slideshow to see the full pic and caption. http://picasaweb.google.com/mandklowe/Texa...key=JpzCGWEgUJ8

Saturday we ate lunch and dinner with my mom, her hubby, and my brother who lives in Austin. We also spent the afternoon at his apartment pool. We had plans to go to Barton Springs but it was closed due to recent rain. We had a gorgeous view of downtown Austin and the capitol building from our suite.

Sunday, we had breakfast with my mom and her DH and then got a tour of my brother's biology lab at UT (he's 3rd in charge). We had lunch and then went to the co-op store to get P some longhorn gear for this year's football season. My mom and her husband then left to come back to the Dallas area. After an afternoon nap, we went to meet an online friend and her daughter at a local mall for a play date. I have to admit Mark and I were pretty nervous when we arrived and saw lots of kids older and bigger than Pierce playing. P has never really played with other children and spent a short while just standing, staring, and scoping things out before joining in. The slide was a big hit and was quite popular among all the kiddoes. After we left, Mark decided parents should watch their children more closely. He said he got tired of watching P and our friend's daughter run over by big kids. But they held their own and had a fun time. In fact, such a fun time was had, P didn't want to leave. I think my nervousness showed a bit as I carried around my camera hovering over P the whole time, but only managed to take a few pics. We are so happy my friend took the time to come and meet us (and for taking lots of pics). Later that evening we had dinner with my brother and stopped for ice cream at a local ice cream parlor.

Monday morning we were on our own again, as my brother started his work week. We had breakfast and a morning nap and then checked out of our hotel. After a local lunch, we headed to Lakeway which is about 30 miles west of Austin. We stayed at a resort and spa right on Lake Travis. Our hotel had a breathtaking view of the lake. We spent the afternoon at the 5 hotel pools which included a kiddie pool with a beach type entrance, lots of fountains, and a huge slide. We had plans to go to Hamilton Pool but again, it was closed due to recent rains. We had a blast at the swimming pools and P was very upset to leave. We had a delicious dinner and saw 11 deer on our way back to the hotel. We went to bed early. It's amazing how spending the day in the sun really zaps your energy.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast outside at the hotel overlooking the pool and lake. After a nap, we headed back to Austin for a quick lunch and then drove home. Thanks for looking and reading!!