5 months and Merry Christmas

We got a wonderful Christmas present today...a healthy baby! Our 5 month ultrasound went smoothly. The baby looked wonderful, which I am forever grateful for. The heart, organs, stomach, spine, etc all looked wonderful. The baby is about 8 oz. right now and has very long legs! Baby was stretching those long legs out and doing yoga poses. So, the first half of pregnancy has officially flown by!

I am still feeling really good. I have gained a couple of pounds and starting to show a little at nighttime, but my doctor doesn't even measure me because (from previous pregnancies) she knows I will not measure "on the charts", so she has decided  not to worry about it. We had to do all sorts of growth restriction testing with Hunter- and she decided not to measure with Trent, and all was fine. So she is having the same approach this time around. She just sums it up to "this is just how I carry pregnancy and everyone is different." She just focuses on the growth of the baby, which the baby is right on track!!

She saved the bottom half of the baby for the end of the ultrasound. I covered my eyes, and she just giggled as I was so anxious! Along with the anxiousness comes lots of excitement!! Scott has thought girl from day one, Hunter thinks boy, and I go back and forth. Maybe my instincts will kick in after the hussle and bussle of Christmas!

We have so many Christmas blessings to be thankful for. God has blessed us with more than we will ever be deserving of! Going through the sickness and death with my mom, I truly realize that health is the foundation of your life- your existence! So, if we are all healthy...that is all I can ask for! This Christmas, I am over joyed with the health of my THREE children! We have been super busy with the holiday festivities. Parties, parties and more parties! Gift exchanges with the kids, train rides, Zoo lights, cutting down our Christmas tree, and much more!

We do Christmas Eve morning at Dad's house, which will be bittersweet because this is the last Christmas that Dad will be in his house. Dad is ready to simplify his life, we are happy for him- but it will still be a bittersweet Christmas in my mom and dads house..."my" house! I do a lot of work for Christmas Eve, I shop ALL year for Santa presents for all my siblings. I do the work that mom used to do, and let me tell you...shopping/wrapping for 18 people is WORK! But, it is worth every second to carry on the traditions! Then, moms side of the family comes to dads house for a gumbo lunch! Then, we celebrate Christmas Eve dinner with Scott's family. I am SO happy that we reserve Christmas day just for our little family, at home, just being with each other! We will make breakfast, open gifts, go on a walk, play with gifts, and just enjoy each other!! Looking forward to my last Christmas with just my 2 boys!

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so thankful, so grateful, so appreciative for my family. My boys, my husband, the baby in my belly, my siblings/spouses, my dad, all the nieces and nephews, and all of Scott's family! I deeply miss my mom during the holidays, Zsa Zsa will always play a big part of our gatherings. Her recipes, traditions, and most all- her spirit will forever be part of our holidays! We enjoyed our last Thanksgiving as a family of four! Next year I will have THREE turkey's to love on! Most of all, I am thankful for our health...that is the biggest blessing that I am most grateful for! We had a memorable day!

4 Months

4 months pregnant with #3! Time seems to be on super speed, especially with the holidays coming up. This pregnancy is continuing very smoothly, which I am SO grateful for! I hold my breath each ultrasound, my heart races until they tell me "baby looks good!" Then I can breathe and enjoy the ultrasound. Today was my 16 week ultrasound. It was so much fun to watch baby bounce around, suck its thumb, reach for its feet, put its arms over his/her head.

She told me to cover my eyes when she had to measure the thighs- so I put a towel over my face. She gave me warning every time she got close to the genital area. I love not finding out the gender- it brings this whole new level of excitement and anticipation! It is totally not my personality to do this, but I decided to take on the challenge and glad I did.

I can feel baby move at random times throughout the day, especially at night. I will call the baby "bean" for now! Bean has a great strong heartbeat and all measurements look right on track. The organs look good, such a blessing that I literally thanked God for the second she told me!! More good news- my cysts are almost gone. She is not worried about them at all! She said they reduced significantly and no longer "on her radar." Such a wonderful appointment. My next appointment will be at 20 weeks. I will enjoy Thanksgiving as I am forever thankful for my babies!

I did have a little car accident last week. It is pretty embarrassing...I drove into a pole in a parking lot!! No distractions! I was not on phone, I was not talking to the boys in the back seat. I just cut a corner too sharp and nailed the pole! It did some damage to my car, a tow truck had to come get my car. Scott was out of town, so my dad came to pick us up. The boys were with me. They were fine. The airbags did not come out, but it was a hard jolt! I called the doctor, and she didn't seem concerned because my body didn't have impact with anything. I followed up with her that Monday, and baby bean was fine- thankfully! I was worried sick at the thought of me hurting this baby because of a stupid, careless mistake!! I now have a rental car for a couple weeks. Scott is probably the sweetest husband in the world. Although he has made fun of me and rolled his eyes, he has not made me feel bad once! He just said, "well girl, mistakes happen and I certainly don't love you any less- even though you drove your Lexus SUV into a light pole!!" I know it sounds awful, but we are thankful that no one was hurt. Scott and I went back to the parking lot for me to show him the light pole...well, actually it was not a light pole. It was a handicap parking concrete pole! I told Scott, "oh, I guess I was about to park in a handicap spot? At least I prevented a parking ticket!!" Hey, laughter is great medicine and we tried to make light of the situation! 

I continue to feel great and staying busy. I am loving these days with my boys! It is so cold outside- so cold and rainy for the past week. I like it because it actually feels like the holiday season, but I am missing the sunshine! Life is good right now, real good! Happy Thanksgiving! We have SO much to be thankful for! Baby bean and my sweet boys, we love you!

Bun in the Oven

Yep! Bun in the oven, and we couldn't be more excited!!! I am a little over 13 weeks and feeling great, thankfully! Baby #3 is DUE MAY 14, 2014.The first trimester flew by with my boys keeping me busy. I am so grateful to have felt good throughout the first trimester...no sickness, no fatigue, nothing. Obviously, I don't want to feel sick but at the same time- I kept wanting confirmation from the doctor! We waited so long to tell people until I knew, for sure, I was pregnant and all was good! Well, after 2 ultrasounds...it's confirmed! There is officially a bun in the Monteverde oven!

Baby is looking healthy. I have 4 cysts on my left ovary, which they are monitoring. One of them is pretty big, but at today's ultrasound, it is showing signs of "calming down!" The cysts are really no risk to the baby- they can just cause pain for me. I have heard the pain is pretty intense, I am SO happy that they seem to be reducing in size! I have had a few days of feeling crampy...not painful, just a steady feeling. However, those feelings are starting to go away. All in all, no complaints.

Big news...we are NOT finding out the gender of this baby. In case this is our last baby, we want to experience not knowing the gender. I am already so 'gitty' thinking about labor, and the excitement of not knowing what blessing is in store!

Hunter and Trent are 22 months apart, and Trent and baby #3 will also be 22 months apart in age! We are VERY happy with the age difference between the boys, and I sure hope that it feels as natural this time around! With the holidays around the corner- this pregnancy is going to fly by. I am going to make the effort to adsorb every moment and embrace these days with my boys. We are open to having 4 kids, but we are not committed to 4. So, we are approaching this pregnancy as "this may be our last." My goal is to soak up every minute of this pregnancy. It's all a "chemistry" thing for me....if our family chemistry feels "complete" then we will be done. We will play it by ear and be grateful for each moment and each blessing!

I REALLY could not be more excited! This feels so right, so good! It is such a blessing, and I am so humbled! I LOVE that my kids will be close in age and experience each phase of life together. We are happy happy happy!

Happy 3rd Birthday Hunter

3 years zoomed by! Sept. 13, Hunter turned THREE. He went to school on his birthday, and he was so excited that all the kids sang to him at Chapel time! Scott took off work early, so we headed to Chucke Cheese! We played games and ate pizza. Hunter had a blast on his special day. The next day, we celebrated by having a Super Hero party in the park. My sweet boy LOVES playing outside, so he was a happy camper. Running, eating, sweating, and playing hard with a cape flying behind him....he really enjoyed his party!

First Steps

Thursday August 22nd 2013 at 13.5 months....Trent took his first true steps! He walked across the room to his brother's arms! It was adorable. Hunter was SO SO proud and excited for his baby brother! He started clapping and screaming, "you're not a baby anymore, good job baby Trent!" Their love for each other is admirable and totally melts my heart! Trent has the sweetest walk with his arms up in the air. Way to go Baby Trent!! Your independence is growing and Hunter was right, "you're not a baby anymore!" But no matter how big you are- you will always be my baby!!

Farewell

Bye Bye blog world! My goal of blogging is to make a book, like a journal of their first year! I love Hunter's blog book, and I am DONE making Trent's- it looks great! Honestly, I dislike sitting behind a computer, so it is a relief when I am done with that book! Speaking for myself, I like to actually touch a book, touch pictures. It becomes more 'real' when the words and pictures are in my hands, rather than through a computer screen. In our technology driven world, we are loosing paper- and I can't help it, but I LOVE paper!! I know that book will be treasured one day. I will still post randomly, otherwise I will be busy livin' life with my boys! Until next time.......

You Know You're a Mom When...

11. You have been using an empty bottle of mascara for 2 weeks, and you never noticed
10. You have been wearing your workout clothes for 8 hours
9. You have an audience every time you pee
8. You have been touching food- all day!
7. You can be so mad and annoyed then one second later, singing and dancing
6. You have a sudden appreciation for baskets (to hide all the junk)
5. You know there is backwash in your drink, but you still drink it
4. You eat french fries in your closet
3. You dread the, once beloved, 5:00 hour
2. You can always find a way to feel guilty
1. When a simple "I love you Momma" are the best words you have ever heard!

Dear Trent, (Love Hunter)

This post is based on the questions that I asked Hunter, and I am writing down his responses. I am just letting him talk about sweet baby Trent! Here is the letter that he wrote:

Baby Trent,
You are MY baby. I'm your big brother. Happy birthday, you a big boy now. You ate cupcake, with yellow on it. I said I love you when you came home, I do love you. Mommy loves daddy. I hold your bottle and I like kissing your head. I have fun and we play catch with balloons. I tell you 'be careful' when you get off your bum-bum in the bathtub. I laugh when you dance. You laugh when I put all the pillows on you. I climb in your bed after nap. You wake up and I say "Good morning baby Trent." You do not like when I pull you. But I pat-pat your back and you smile. Love you, baby Trent.
Love,
Hunter

Trent, your brother loved you the second we brought you home. He innately protects you, and always makes sure you are okay. He is so proud of you, he genuinely wants you to do good. I love being in the other room, and I can hear you two laughing and playing. You truly complete each other, and you rely on each other. Hunter gives you the most spontaneous hugs and kisses throughout the day, everyday!

You just move along like you expect your brother protect your trail, and he does! The other day at Hunter's gymnastics class- I was watching Hunter on the balance beam. He stops walking across the beam, points and yells "Momma, danger baby Trent!" I turned around, and sure enough you scooted your way to an outlet, but of course, your brother is always watching you! It was so cute to know that Hunter will always have your back, even when it is his time to shine!

 Hunter will ask me "can baby Trent have a bite of this?" If I say yes, he will tear it up in a tiny piece and give it to you. Then, he watches you eat and tells me that he is 'making sure baby Trent doesn't choke!' Hunter is so loving, tender and unconditionally cares about you!

You look up to your brother, and you two are always with each other. You follow behind Hunter and try to do the things he does. The other day, Hunter pulled out his chair and sat down. Then, you did your funny crab crawl to the kid table, pulled out a chair and tried your hardest to get your leg on the chair to sit. Hunter, so gently, gets up and holds the chair stable for you and with the other hand he pulls you up on the chair. He tucked your chair in, kissed your head, then stood by the chair and told me "I'm gonna stand right here in case baby Trent falls." Oh my, Melt. My. Heart!! The love between you is admirable.

Your relationship will only grow through the years. It will have it's ups and downs, but always remember that the foundation of your relationship is love! Even when you argue in the future, know that your brother has been there for you from day one...watching, protecting, and loving you! We all adore you, Trent. You are surrounded with love!