22 Weeks

So baby Seth wants to be a giant apparently. At my 20 week ultrasound they estimated him already weighing a whole pound! He's in the 83rd percentile. Hopefully he slows down a little bit, I don't want him breaking any records or anything. Ky weighed 6 lbs 15 oz when she was born at 41 weeks so I'm hoping Seth is around the same size, I really don't want to push out a 10 pound baby! But he is happy and healthy and the doctor says he looks perfect. My placenta is where it should be and my cervix is locked down tight :) 

In unpregnancy related health news I have a sebaceous cyst on the top of my head and had to have it lanced the other day. Getting a shot on top of your head is not fun. And I have a follow up appointment next week with a possible referral to a surgeon to get the cyst removed post baby. 

How far along? 22 weeks 3 days

How big is baby? Big. 1 pound already and almost a foot long!

Total weight gain/loss? 5 pounds

Maternity clothes?  I'm 50/50 right now. My jersey maxi skirts are definitely my best friends right now. I can only comfortably button one pair of my regular jeans right now.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Ok. I probably get up twice a night to pee since this baby has made himself at home on my bladder and hasn't moved.

Movement? Every night about 9 he starts kicking up a storm and now I am feeling him move throughout the day as well.

Food cravings? Milk. Now it's probably more like 3 gallons a week. And Oreos. Give me all of your Oreos!

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? Nada

Belly Button in or out? In, but its getting awfully close to being out...

What I miss? Energy. Not having to pee every hour.

What I am looking forward to? Feeling him moving more and more as he gets bigger

Best moment this week? Seeing baby boy at my 20 week ultrasound last week. He was being stubborn, of course, and didn't want pictures taken of his spine.

Milestones? 20 week ultrasound 

20 Weeks

My half baked post! I can't believe I'm already halfway through this pregnancy. This time it seems to be just flying by compared to when I was pregnant with Ky Bug.

How far along? 20 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a banana. About 10 oz and 6 1/2 inches

Total weight gain/loss? About 5 pounds gained so far, I think

Maternity clothes?  I'm 50/50 right now. My jersey maxi skirts are definitely my best friends right now. I can only comfortably button one pair of my regular jeans right now.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Ok. I probably get up twice a night to pee since this baby has made himself at home on my bladder and hasn't moved.

Movement? Every night about 9 he starts kicking up a storm and now I am feeling him move throughout the day as well.

Food cravings? Milk. Now it's probably more like 3 gallons a week

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? Nada

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss? Energy. Not having to pee every hour.

What I am looking forward to? My 20 week ultrasound

Best moment this week? Well, more like creepy moment of having one of the new teachers at the daycare come up and rub my belly with both hands for a good 20 seconds. Totally unannounced too.

Milestones? Halfway through this pregnancy!

Maybe We're Not Crazy After All

I have to admit there are times where I think Rex and I are absolutely, positively crazy for deciding to have another kid.  I mean, do we really have the time, money, energy, etc. to raise another child?  Kylie keeps us plenty busy. And she's been our baby for three years and this is going to be a whole new ball game for the three of us. Ky gets plenty annoyed with her younger cousin, Kaid, and she is stubborn and independent.

But some how being a family of four just seems right. A nice even number. Someone for Kylie to grow up with and sometimes terrorize and to share memories with. Two carseats in the back. Another stocking at Christmastime.  A baby for all of us to love on and wonder at and spoil. 

And then there are times like that above. Kylie and I babysat Kaid one night and she was sweet and helpful. She was beyond thrilled that they got to take a bath together and made sure I washed his hair properly. I cut her nails and naturally I had to cut Kaid's as well. They were allowed to watch one episode of Seseme Street before bedtime and Kylie insisted that Kaid lay down with her so they could share a blanket and cuddle. Pretty soon Kaid was out cold and Kylie would look down at him and then at me with this huge grin on her face.

And I thought, "Maybe we are doing something right."

So I'm Pregnant. Again.

I've been horrible about updating this blog. Like really horrible. So if you don't follow me on Instagram... Surprise! I'm pregnant! Like 19 1/2 weeks pregnant. 

This pregnancy has been so much different than Kylie's, which I knew it probably would be, but you never really know until it actually happens, right? 

First of all, it took us less than a month to conceive this lil nugget. We were in no particular rush, we wanted another baby but weren't going to stress over it. But yeah, about 3 1/2 weeks after my Mirena was removed baby #2 made itself at home.

Morning sickness. Yuck. I hardly had any with Kylie, but this baby did a number on me the first trimester. It didn't help that I spent the first part of this pregnancy during a a hot and humid Texas summer, so I found myself getting sicker as the heat got more intense. Luckily, the nausea dissipated as the first trimester came to an end. But even now I can barely stomach chicken, which has really been my only food aversion this time around. 

With Kylie we didn't find out her sex until about 20 weeks, where this time we actually found out at 13 weeks at our genetic screening ultrasound. It's a boy! And it'll be confirmed at my 20 week ultrasound coming up. So if our lil nugget stays a boy, he'll be Seth Judson Rexrode.

And boy, this baby can move already! With Kylie I had an anterior placenta so I wasn't able to feel her move until 23 weeks roundabout. This little guy started making his presence known at 15 weeks and has been kicking hard enough that Rex has been able to feel him already!

How far along? 19 weeks 4 days

How big is baby? The size of a mango. About 5 1/2 inches and 1/2 a pound.

Total weight gain/loss? About 5 pounds gained so far.

Maternity clothes?  I'm 50/50 right now. My jersey maxi skirts are definitely my best friends right now. I can only comfortably button one pair of my regular jeans right now.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? Ok. I probably get up twice a night to pee since this baby has made himself at home on my bladder and hasn't moved.

Movement? Every night about 9 he starts kicking up a storm and now I am feeling him move throughout the day as well.

Food cravings? Milk. I'm probably drinking about 2 gallons a week just by myself. 

Gender? Boy

Labor Signs? Nada

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss? Energy. Not having to pee every hour.

What I am looking forward to? My 20 week ultrasound

Best moment this week? Kylie having conversations with the baby. "He's funny, mama,"

Milestones? A couple more days and I'll be halfway through this pregnancy!

Almost 12 weeks

Dear Three Year Old Kylie

It's been awhile, and mama is sorry for that. Since your birthday was in the beginning of August and it is now October, I'm a little behind the times. You've been growing up so much lately and don't seem to be stopping anytime soon. 

You still love your books. Every night you choose at least three books for us to read at bedtime. Lately your favorites have been a collection of nursery rhymes, the Little Critter books, and a book about pirate piggies. 

Spaghetti, or "noodles" as you call it, is your favorite food. You ask for it every night for dinner. Though sometimes I can convince you to eat heart shaped pancakes for dinner every once in awhile. You love eating Eggo waffles for breakfast before school. And the other week you helped me make banana bread and you absolutely devoured it!

Aubrey, the little girl who lives next door, is your best friend. You get so excited every time we pull into our driveway and see her outside playing. You two love to jump on her trampoline, kick balls, swing, wear princess shoes, and walk our chihuahuas together. Y'all get along despite your age difference since she is five and started kindergarten this fall.

You're a great helper around the house. We will do the dishes together, wipe off the table, water the outside plants, and weed the garden. You love taking the dogs on walks (Coco and Mimi are your favorite ones to hold). You dislike putting your toys away though, and they slowly spread through the house if we don't keep up with it.

Pink is your favorite color, and you are constantly reminding us of that. You love dressing yourself and if your outfits are not all pink, they definitely have major pink elements in them. You wear your new neon magenta Crocs everywhere.  And you informed us that this year for Halloween you are going to be a pink princess.

You're such a goofy, love able little kid. You have your difficult moments, that's for sure, especially now that you have to do everything "by myself!" But you have the cutest little crooked grin, you randomly give us hugs and kisses, often tell us secrets (which is always I love you), and you love to cuddle when you are tired. You make up stories about your baby dolls and stuffed animals and cars and markers. You love helping me baby sit your cousin Baby Kaid. And I love everything about you, Bug.

Love, Mama

Dear Kylie

I keep willing time to slow down.  Everyday you turn into a bigger and better version of yourself.  I swear that just yesterday I put a little bitty baby down for a nap and today I'm trying to convince an almost three year old to slow down for just a couple seconds to grab a bite to eat.  I keep thinking that each stage you go through is the best, but then each time you grow up some, I find myself loving you even more. 

You are able to occupy yourself more and more.  Your favorite thing to do as of now is take all of your clothes out of your dresser and put them on the coffee table and couches.  You arrange each article of clothing just so and then you keep rearranging them.  Sometimes for even for an hour or so. 

Kylie Bug, you are finally making friends with the dogs, Nova in particular.  She is the only chihuahua allowed to sleep in your room with you and she is graced with kisses and hugs from you.  The other day you even shared your mango popsicle with her while sitting outside on the grass in the hot sun.

A couple weekend ago your daddy bought me a new pair earring and you were immediately smitten with them.  You were so heartbroken that you couldn't wear them and in a few short days you convinced your daddy to let you get your ears pierced so you could have earring like me.  Ky, you were so brave sitting in that tall chair all by yourself in Claire's, holding your pig, Yellow.  You chose a pair of sparkly pink hearts to adorn your little ears.  You held your daddy's hands when the girls pierced your ears, and you were so brave, Bug, only crying for a little bit afterwards.  More from the surprise of it than anything, I think.

At daycare you are known as Little Miss Sassafrass.  And Kylie, you come by that name quite honestly, let me assure you.  You sure are full of life and spunk and energy, and it's very noticeable to the people who spend their days with you.  You're extremely loyal to your friends, on the playground the other day, I dared tell one of your friends to go down the slide the correct way, and you rounded on me to "Leave my Kailyn alone, mama!" 

You choose kids that are just as spirited and wild as you to be your friends.  At daycare it is Kailyn, the rough and tumble little girl with four older brothers, and Riley a sweet but mischievous little boy.  You have become fast friends with our neighbors' daughter, Aubrey, despite a two year age difference.  You two love bouncing on her trampoline and swinging each other on our tree swing.

I love you more and more with each passing day, Bug.  I can't even begin to imagine life without you.  You bring so much joy and excitement (and I admit, a little frustration) to your daddy and mines days and we love you with our whole beings and then some.

Love you bunches and bunches,

Mama

Kylie Says

This past Saturday night I was putting Kylie to bed and before our prayer I always ask what she is thankful for, and this is what she said.

"I thankful for my daddy. I thankful for my earrings.  I thankful for cupcakes.  And donuts!"

Poor ol' me didn't even make the list.  Daddy always rates a number one spot on the thankful list.  I'll have to ask him his secret...