Week 25!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!
It's been a COLD, SNOWY couple of days but here we are in week 25. 

We got back on Tuesday from an amazing trip to Ft Lauderdale & Disney World which I hope to write about this weekend. We really had the very best time & it was our last big trip as a family of 4 before baby comes. 

We are quickly approaching the 6th month of pregnancy and the 3rd trimester which is BANANAS!!!!

Overall I'm feeling good and proud of myself for managing 3 FULL days at Disney World. 

Moving right along. Fatter. Happy. And getting really, really, really excited. 

How far along? 25 weeks - the baby is the size of a cauliflower!

Total weight gain/loss: Per usual, my weight is coming on fast and fierce. I'm now up 18.6 pounds. Typical is 17 so I'm not in a bad spot. Not a good spot. Haha... I'll lose it post baby, right?!

Maternity clothes? ALL the maternity. 

Stretch marks? None yet.

Sleep: Not bad - but some CRAZY dreams. 

Best moment this week: Hands down, DISNEY WORLD!!! 

Have you told family and friends: Yup

Movement: All of the kicks. They are pretty constant now and I love it.

Food cravings:  No but I'm just always, always, always hungry.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I'm mostly okay with the nausea minus the random bout! 

Gender prediction: My baby BOY!! 

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? Flat?

Wedding rings on or off? Just my wedding band.

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week was really lovely - we had the best vacation and came home to snow and bitter cold but it's been great. I do find myself not quite as patient as normal with the kids and i'm trying to contain that. 

Weekly Wisdom: TIME IS FLYING. Start thinking about the baby's room.

Milestones: I had our trip to Disney as a mid-point and that after this trip, it was all about the baby. We are really moving fast!!!!!!! I have an ultrasound next Friday and I think this may be my last one? 

Week 23

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS!!!

Quick and to the point... we are making major strides in this pregnancy and I'm feeling half decent, half pretty yuck. By the end of the day, I'm short of breath and can't help but collapse into bed. BUT - overall, I'm excited and ready for the next 16 week or so of pregnancy. It's all going too fast. 

The best news?? MY BEST FRIEND HAD HER BABY BOY THIS WEEK!!!!! She hasn't disclosed details yet but he's healthy and happy and perfect. Melanie & I are 4 months apart and have been best friends since birth. We didn't know if her baby was a boy or girl... and low and behold, a baby boy has arrived on January 17th - meaning our baby boys will be 4 months apart!! JUST LIKE US. It feels like fate and magical and I love it so much. She had a really long, tough labor & delivery and I'm just so proud of her. She's an amazing warrior and now a first time MAMA!! 

It was a great week celebrating Benny's 6th birthday (I'll update his post today / tomorrow) and we are getting excited for our last family trip pre-baby to DISNEY WORLD!! SOOOO.. I won't be here for week 24, but I'll be back for week 25!! :)

xoxo

C

LARGE AND IN CHARGE.

How far along? 23 weeks - the baby is the size of a Grapefruit!

Total weight gain/loss: I feel HUGE. I haven't weighed myself in 2 weeks. And next week we'll be away soooooooo... I'll jump on the scale the week after. 

Maternity clothes? All the time. My dear friend Adrienne gave me a bunch of her maternity clothes and I finally got around to digging them out of the garage, washing them, and now they're all staples in my wardrobe.

Stretch marks? None yet.

Sleep: Waking up early and sometimes often but I think I'm getting fairly decent sleep.

Best moment this week: My baby Benny turning SIX and MY BEST FRIEND HAVING HER BABY BOY!!!!! 

Have you told family and friends: Yup

Movement: Lots of kicks. AND.. on the morning baby Gerchberg was born, I watched my belly dance (from the outside) - I love that.

Food cravings:  None this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick: My nausea is still off and on. Frustrating. Plus heartburn has entered the picture. Cool.

Gender prediction: My baby BOY!! 

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? Flat?

Wedding rings on or off? Just my wedding band.

Happy or Moody most of the time: This week, we celebrated Benny turning six, Melanie had her baby, and it snowed the most gorgeous snow this morning so right now? HAPPY! 

Weekly Wisdom: I can't control the weather so stop stalking the weather app on my phone (ha)

Milestones: No major milestones but holding Melanie's baby yesterday gave me all the feels. I can't wait to snuggle you, my sweet baby boy. 

22 weeks!

I'm late again but not because I didn't think about it!
I was in NYC on Friday with my mom & her friends for a taping of The View and lunch - which meant no work / no computer time.
BUT - I'm here! 
And I'm always, always, always thinking of you - my sweet baby boy. 
I find myself often cradling my belly without realizing. 
Today is Benny's 6th birthday - and the best gift I could give him is YOU (in roughly 4 months). 
We love you so much - now only if we could officially agree on your name:)
xoxo
Mama

How far along? 22 weeks on Friday. Baby is a coconut! 

Total weight gain/loss: I went to NYC on Friday for a taping of The View - which meant in EARLY train - which meant no time for a silly weigh in ;)

Maternity clothes? I'm living in maternity. 

Stretch marks? Bio Oil! No stretch marks.

Sleep: Not awful - my back pain (sciatica) is a getting pretty rough but I am able to turn over in bed easily so I call that a win.

Best moment this week: Today is Benny's 6th birthday - last night we had a little party at the house with family and neighbors. It was so sweet and easy and fun but I couldn't help think that at all the birthdays starting soon - you'll be right there with us and I simply can't wait. 

Have you told family and friends: Yup! 

Movement: I feel you buddy. You aren't kicking me all the time but just enough to let me know you're there :)

Food cravings:  Not really. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just when I think I'm over the nausea hump, it creeps back in. I'm starting to forget what life without nausea feels like which is a bummer (haha)

Gender prediction: My boy.

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? In but may pop.

Wedding rings on or off? Just wedding band.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Mostly happy this week.

Weekly Wisdom: I can't believe Benny is 6 today - I feel like HE was just in my belly... so I'm trying to enjoy you living quietly and sweetly inside before I get to snuggle you out here.

Milestones: No major milestone but I'm excited that we are getting towards week 24. That is viability week and we're almost there. :) 

21 weeks!

Good morning and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I can't believe it's officially 2019. That sounds insane to me. 

We had a great winter break and New Years celebration (though truthfully I'm so happy to be back to a normal schedule / routine). 

I missed my 20 week update because I had my ultrasound that morning. I was really nervous going into it as with both other pregnancies, there was some abnormalities found along with Placenta Previa which was the reason for the two C-Sections. 

BUT...low & behold...it was a great ultrasound!!! No complications found, no placenta previa, baby looked great and was moving ALL around. I left there feeling really great and happy and ended up taking the day off of work to just lay on my sofa and watch Netflix. 

I'm going to try and post a 2018 update this week but I'm so looking forward to this next year. 

I gave myself a word....something to just live by. And this year? It's the word GRACE.

As in, give myself grace if my house is a mess / the kids haven't had a bath today / everyone is cranky / we have brownies for breakfast. It all moves so fast and I need to just enjoy it. 

xoxo

Courtney

How far along? 21 weeks today. Baby is a Pomegranate or an Endive! 

Total weight gain/loss: I'm up 12.8 pounds. Normal is 8-14 pounds at this time so I'm hovering towards the top end but still in the normal range. 

Maternity clothes? Almost all maternity is needed - my belly is now BIG!

Stretch marks? Bio Oil! No stretch marks.

Sleep: My sleep has been a bit more solid lately... I have some CRAZY dreams and my eyes aren't shutting by 7 PM anymore so I call that a win!

Best moment this week: New Years EVE! We had a small party at our house with just family and best friends and is was really sweet and really easy and really fun. I'm looking forward to this year - lots of changes, lots of good things.

Have you told family and friends: Yup! 

Movement: YES YES YES!!!!!!!! Not all the time and not consistent but somewhere leading up to week 20 is when it really started.

Food cravings:  Every so often I'll get a quick craving (the other day it was fillet Mignon) but nothing too crazy.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I'm THANKFULLY about 95% over the nausea hump. It took a while. I'll still get waves here and there but nothing seems to bring it on.

Gender prediction: It's a BOY - confirmed at our 20 week ultrasound.

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? I think my belly button may pop with this one. It didn't with the other two but each night prior to showering, I notice it looking like it's going to pop. I feel like a turkey. 

Wedding rings on or off? I've been wearing my wedding band but I can't seem to get my engagement ring on :( 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Total 50/50. 

Weekly Wisdom: I'm trying with all my might to stop taking it all so seriously. In the morning, it sometimes takes my kids 45 minutes just to get dressed. And Benny is playing video games entirely too often. And I haven't been to the gym in two months. I'm constantly blaming myself for things but I'm just trying to BREATHE. This season of life is something I've been dreaming of since Benny was born... I just need to enjoy it because I know one day, I"ll look back on these days and dream of how easy it really all is.

Milestones: Everyone is telling me I officially POPPED (though I swore that happened a while ago?) - also the movement is just so good.

Week 19!!

Hi sweet friends!

Welcome to week 19. 

I'm looking forward to next week (Christmas, friends, family and my 20 week Ultrasound!)

On Sunday, I'm spending the morning with my best friend Melanie (33 weeks pregnant!) and I can't wait to just hug her and spend the morning talking / venting :)

I hope you all have a a Merry Christmas and I'll see you in a week!

xo

Courtney

How far along? 19 weeks today. Baby is a MANGO! 

Total weight gain/loss: Welp. I weighed myself. I'm now up 11.2 pounds. Send help. 

Maternity clothes? I ordered some pieces from Old Navy so I'm not squeezing my belly into tops that don't like it. I can't wait to try everything on. 

Stretch marks? Bio Oil! No stretch marks.

Sleep: Waking up several times but mostly falling back asleep quite easily. 

Best moment this week: I just love when Layla & Benny talk or ask questions about the baby. It's so sweet and unexpected and loving.

Have you told family and friends: Yup! 

Movement: Nada yet - come on baby, kick me!!

Food cravings:  Today is was Taco Bell. I have zero shame.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Yup. I'm still getting nausea spells - especially around bedtime and random other times. No fun. 

Gender prediction: It's a boy! 

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? In! 

Wedding rings on or off? OFF :( I started with swelling this week which is way earlier then my other two. The other night I couldn't get my rings off and my feet were really uncomfortable. I'm watching my salt intake but it stinks. I managed to get my wedding band on today which I love but I couldn't get the engagement ring on. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. Moody. Both. Equal. 

Weekly Wisdom: One step at a time. I felt like the beginning of the pregnancy, it was going SO SLOW. And now? I'm nearly almost half way through and feeling like I need to rush to prepare. So I'm trying to just take it day by day (week by week) and enjoy this pregnancy as it's most certainly my last <3 

Milestones: My belly is BIG. ROUND. And constantly being rubbed like a genie's lamp :) 

18 weeks.

I'm 18 weeks today. 

And I feel like poo 

The nausea is intense. And yesterday I dealt with dizziness. 

AND other then one time, I haven't really worked out since October. 

I just feel yuck but onward and upward. 

:)

How far along? 18 weeks today. The size of an artichoke or a sweet potato! 

Total weight gain/loss: Big nervous mama strikes again. I didn't weigh myself. But I did eat 3 cookies this week? 

Maternity clothes? I need them bad. I will try to shop this week. I need at least 2-3 more pants and 3-4 more shirts.

Stretch marks? Bio Oil! No stretch marks.

Sleep: I'm waking up early and I'm waking up to pee and I'm waking up a bunch but mostly I'm able to fall back asleep.

Best moment this week: I had two parent teacher conferences this week and while academically, both kiddos are doing great - I'm even more proud of the little people they are becoming - the overwhelming theme was KINDNESS. Both kids are sweet to their friends and helpful and just nice. And that's all I could ask for. I hope this new baby follows in their footsteps.

Have you told family and friends: Yup! 

Movement: Not yet and I'm eagerly waiting! I keep thinking I feel something but nothing significant yet.

Food cravings:  Eh... not really. Earlier this week it was an Italian hoagie. And today it's pizza.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Yes. It stinks. But I'm still dealing with nausea quite a bit, off & on. If I think about something / smell something / brush my teeth, the gagging is there in full force. ** Update, upon writing this I ate a salad and 1 1/2 pieces of pizza and feel like I want to puke everywhere. Pregnancy is awesome. 

Gender prediction: It's a boy! 

Labor Signs: No.

Belly Button in or out? In! 

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. We ended Hannukah with a great celebration at our house - all 10 kiddos exchanged gifts and it was a really sweet night. Grandma came on Wednesday and we love having her visit!

Weekly Wisdom: Having a baby is expensive. But worth it :)

Milestones: Nothing to report here...almost halfway cooked! :) 

Layla Turns 7 and a HALF!!!

My little baby girl, my darling, my first baby love...

Last night we went to dinner at Chick Fil A with two of our most favorite families - The Bellanos and Carreros - and while we were there, I watched you you play with your best girlfriends while stuffing french fries in your mouth and I couldn't believe how BIG you looked - just tall and gorgeous and mature. Sometimes it feels like your whole face has changed literally overnight. 

How you look... In my eyes, you are perfect. So tall and so thin - with fair skin, gorgeous long light brown hair and big blue eyes. You seem to grow everyday. Every time we run into someone we haven't seen in a while, they comment on how tall you are. Your teeth are so cute - they are slowly falling out and the new ones are so much bigger then your baby teeth - I just love your 2nd grade smile. 

Your Schedule....You are a busy bee but, maybe more then anyone, love to just CHILL. Give you a comfy sofa, a blanket and your Ipad and you could relax for hours. You wake up around 7 AM everyday (although if I can somehow split up you & Benny for the night - you'll sleep until 7:30 / 8:00 AM). You are almost always a joy in the morning - you don't care what you wear, you brush your teeth, get your own breakfast and promptly sit down to start your day. You enjoy school - you have a great teacher and sweet friends. This is the first year you're doing aftercare and you LOVE IT - right now you go twice a week but if it was up to you, you'd go everyday. You also do Yoga once a week (which you only enjoy sometimes) and art once a week (which you love). I asked the next after school club you wanted to join and you chose MAD SCIENCE which makes you the coolest. You also started gymnastics on Saturdays this past weekend and you loved it!! Otherwise, bedtime is between 7:30 - 8:30 PM. 

Your Likes....You loved your second year of camp this past summer - you LOVE swimming, dancing and singing the most. You love reading and writing and math. You love board games. You love Karaoke and doing make up with friends. You love wrestling Benny. You love your cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. You love NYC and trips to Florida. You love playing with your dolls / Barbies alone. You love Nutella, going to the movies, seeing your besties and laying with your mama <3 

Your Dislikes: You dislike sleeping alone, trying new foods, going to the basement alone, when Dada & I go on a date, when your friends are mean to you at school, when people lie to you. You HATE wearing socks and too tight underwear. You hate wedgies the most. 

Your Food: STILL SO PICKY. Favorites: Bean & Cheese Nachos (Las Margaritas), Cream Cheese bagels (from camp only), Kashi Cinnamon Harvest cereal, nutella, chicken nuggets, french fries, many fruits, zero veggies.

Your Thoughts: You are really discovering and absorbing the world around you. I love talking with you for hours - you'll vent to me about small things and big things and our relationship is really beautiful. It's maybe my favorite part of life. You are a joy to be around. 

The past 6 months have been a blast - camp, starting 2nd grade, meeting new friends, discovering new things (like Adventure Guides with Dada!), playing with friends in the neighborhood - the list never ends. You're still so little and I love this age. You are pure delight my dear and I'm lucky to call you mine. 

Mama

(Here are a few pictures from the past 6 months...)