We've been 4 for one month!

It's been one month since our precious little girl joined our family (technically it was one month on Sunday) and I can't believe how fast time has gone by!

We had a checkup today, and Annika Charlotte (named after my grandma and Hubby's grandma) now weighs 10 lbs 5 ounces. She's up 2 lbs 1 ounce since birth.

We've already made many trips with our little one, including Trick-or-Treating with her big brother. Of course, she slept through the whole thing, and she didn't get to eat any candy.

We all went to the Santa Clause Parade on November 19. Again she slept through most of it, and she didn't see Santa at all, but Monkey really enjoyed the parade! He climbed out of the stroller so he could dance to every marching band and float that had music.

The biggest trip was a weekend (Girls only) trip to Toronto to watch my sister's volleyball tournements. Once again, our little snoozer enjoyed the trip her own way.

But she did get to have her picture taken with the champions.

We love how peaceful you are little one. It's such a great change from the ball of energy your brother is. I know you're still small, but I can't believe how much you've already grown.

I love you.

~A

~Week Twelve~

Yay! We're through the first trimester!

I've got a date for our anatomy ultrasound, but I still have to wait 5 weeks or so.

Pregnancy Highlights this week:

How far along are you?:

12 weeks and 1 day

Size of Baby S:

The baby is the size of a plum this week

Total Weight Gain/Loss:

-1.5 lbs

Maternity/Regular Clothes:

All my tops are regular clothes, and I still fit my normal clothes, but they're getting tight (especially my chef pants for class)

Gender:

I switch all day long whether I want to know or want to keep it a surprise. Either way we won't be finding out for over a month (if we find out at all).

Movement:

Nothing yet

Sleep:

Aside from last night (when I was up all night with a sick little boy), I've been getting lots of sleep, but it never seems like enough, and I'm still tired throughout the day. I've got more energy than I had a few weeks ago.

What I miss:

Cooking and eating chicken without being sick. Also greasy foods like pizza or anything fried...

Cravings:

Salty foods, like cheeses. This week in class we cooked Calamari, and I ate a whole bunch of that. I also enjoyed tzatziki, feta, and olives... (I'm loving Greek foods right now)

I also really like lemons, salads with spinach, and yogurt with granola.

Symptoms:

I sound like a trucker. Pregnant ladies could win burping contests without even trying...

Nausea with a lot of foods (coffee, greasy foods, most meats).

Acid reflux. I had to start taking Tums this week...

Itchy skin. I need my hand lotion!

I'm constantly thirsty.

Best Moment of this Week:

I had a great doctor's appointment, and they said that I was doing great. I didn't get to hear the heartbeat, because they don't have a doppler, but they were happy with everything else.

The clinic at the school is where I've done all my prenatal care so far, but they were going to refer me to a local family clinic, so hopefully I'll have regular care soon!

We're looking for a crib mattress and a new carseat for the baby, because we have pretty much all the other equipment (stroller, playpen with bassinet and change table, crib, toys, diaper bag...). I'm hoping to find some good deals soon. We're starting to stock up with diapers and wipes so that we won't have too many big purchases when the baby comes.

We're not planning on cloth diapering (although I would LOVE to) because we don't have our own washer and dryer, and I don't think I'll be making 3 trips a week to a laundromat when I've got an infant and a 3-year-old.

~A

~Week Ten~

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along are you?

10 weeks and 3 days

Size of Baby S:

Our little bean is the size of a prune

Total Weight Gain/Loss (Since Positive Pregnancy Test)

-1.3 pounds (crazy!)

Maternity or Regular Clothes:

Almost entirely regular clothes, although I bought a pair of maternity jeans which are SUPER comfortable...

Gender:

Don't know, and don't want to know until we get to meet the baby!

Movement:

Nothing yet, probably by the end of next month.

Sleep:

Good, but I can't sleep on my stomach anymore.

What I miss:

Cooking meat without feeling sick, having energy...

Cravings:

Wraps (specifically with hummus, spinach, onions, tomatoes, tzatziki, and olives), yogurt with oatmeal and fruit, milk, orange juice, tea...

Symptoms:

Nausea when cooking or eating any meat, especially chicken, beef, and seafood.

Almost constant exhaustion.

Dizzy and light-headed.

Dry, itchy skin.

Best Moment of this Week:

When we got to see an ultrasound! (twice) We saw the little heart moving! I'm really excited for the next one when we'll be able to see legs and arms!

~A

Guess How Much I Love You

Today I want to remember that (despite all the struggles of having a toddler who loves to destroy/play with everything in the house) I love my son more than I could ever describe.

1. I love snuggling with him in the middle of the night when the only one who can comfort him is me.

2. I love listening to him laugh when he gets tickled, or when he "fawts" (farts), or sometimes he laughs for no reason at all...

3. I love being led around our home, whether to read with him, or play, or just to come see what he's done.

4. I love his new phrases, like " 'top, hammuh time."(stop, hammer time) and "oh dee-uh"(oh dear)

I love his new words, like "teg-uh-saw-us" (stegosaurus) and "ah-wien"(alien)

I love his names for his aunt (Emi-yo), and his uncles (Jo-wah, Wy-an, Timmy, and Jemmy), and I can't forget his "uncle Daddy"

5. I love when he 'sings along' to songs on the radio, or joins us in singing at bedtime with "deedah deedah" for Jesus Loves Me, or "wooold" for He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

6. I love watching as he makes up games for his new toys, or he colours pictures, or he dances around the room to any music that plays.

7. I love hearing the manners we've tried so hard to teach him, like saying "bless you" to himself when he sneezes, or saying "thank you" when someone holds a door for him. I especially love when he says "thank you Mommy" when I put dinner in front of him.

8. I love reading any book with him, even if he only wants to see pictures... or hold it upside down...because for those moments, he wants to sit on my lap, and he'll only be this small for a little while

9. I love the way his bum sticks up in the air when he sleeps and he still sleeps while he sucks his thumb.

10. I love that his name for me is "mama." and even when he says "Nooooo mama" I can't be mad because I love that he knows I'm his.

I might have the same condition a friend of mine mentioned a few weeks ago. Sometimes when I look at my monkey my heart starts to hurt really bad, my eyes start to water, and I can't breathe well or talk much...

oh, little man... I love you to the moon. and back.

~A

(Linked to Top Ten Tuesday at ohamanda)

Quivers Full...

Lately I've been reading a lot about large families and the "quiverfull" perspective. And I like what I've been reading.

The article that got me started is called "The Case Against Birth Control" and it is very well supported by scripture. I'd like to take a look at some of the medical evidence backing some of the claims, but the spiritual evidence was overwhelming to B and myself.

Next, I found a NewsWeek article on the quiverfull perspective.

The Source of both these links was a blog that's really been educational, called "Raising Arrows". The Blog has a few articles that I really enjoyed, namely "Becoming Quiverfull" (parts 1-4) the whole section called "Large Family Living", and an article called "Enjoying Your Quiverfull" which talks about having peace in whatever number of children God blesses you with, whether it's none, sixteen, or somewhere in the middle.

I have a full quiver today, and if the Lord blesses us with more, than we will raise however many blessings he gives us.

-A

*I'm hoping to make this a regular topic as I go through my own research into what being quiverfull will mean for our family. Thank you for any insight you have about this issue.