Way Back When-esday!

I cannot believe we are already at the end of April....here are some Way Back Wednesday shots from 05 06, 07, and 08!

Date: April 30, 2005
Age: 2+ months

Date: May 2006
Age: 1 year, 2+ months
(This is Allie and Brooklyn at Emily and Luke's baby shower for Zoe!)

Date: April 2007
Age: 2 years, 2+ months (BUT STILL WAY TOO YOUNG FOR BEER!)

Date: April 2008

Age: 3 year, 2+ months

*Here are the Shout sisters (Zoe, Allie, Allie, and Brooklyn with baby Callie on the way!). See the last post on Easter to see the girls this year! What a difference a year makes!

Easter Update....better late than never

Whew! You would have thought it was Christmas with all the Easter celebrating that went on the weekend of the 9-12th. First, on Thursday, Brooklyn's class had an egg hunt and Easter party in the afternoon. The kids were primed and ready to go!

Then on Friday, Emily and Zoe came over to dye Easter eggs. The girls had a great time and the eggs turned out beautiful.

We moved our Family Easter Celebration to Saturday (since Sunday is so crazy with church on both ends of the day). We had a great afternoon with family and friends (and another egg hunt!).

On Sunday morning, the very tired Easter bunny brought Brooklyn a basket with lots of fun stuff, including chocolate bunny pops that she decided to eat in my bed. :-)

And we went to church...

...two times! This picture below was taken of all the "Shout Sisters" after the Easter Sunday Shout Service. If this new baby is a boy, he will have to deal with not just Brooklyn, but FIVE big sisters (Zoe, Brooklyn, Allie, Allie, and Callie).

Week 12- Headed out of the first Trimester!

Week 12 started off great, because I ran out of prenatal vitamins and had to wait until Tuesday for a refill. So, I had a brief break in the never-ending nausea. :-)

I had a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon where I got to have an ultrascreen (*see note below as to what this is). I did NOT enjoy having to drink 32 ounces of water right before the ultrasound and then having the sweet technician press down on my belly, bladder, and uterus for 45 minutes. However, I did enjoy the entertaining show as my 2 inch baby swam, danced, waved, and stretched for the camera. It was amazing the detail in its little body at such an early age, and I just marveled, once again, at the miracle of life. Results were good- no signs of anything abnormal so far- and I will have more blood work at 16 weeks just to rule out other defects or problems. The baby's heartrate was 165 (very strong) and my blood pressure was 112/60 (yay!). Side note: I weighed myself before and after the screen because of the amount of water I had consumed, and after using the potty TWICE, I lost 2.9 pounds. :-) So, my doc was pleased with my weight gain this trimester (about 4 pounds). I hope to get my ultrasound pics scanned in my computer so I can post them. They are truly incredible. The technician did not feel comfortable giving me an official guess on the sex of the baby this early...however she said she "felt more girl than boy." But, don't go start buying anything pink just yet...we'll find out for sure on June 3rd. :-)

Because of the nausea, my doc also recommended that I start taking Zantac. She thinks that the nausea is triggered by heartburn and reflux. After taking it for two days, I can already tell a difference, so I am hoping this is my ticket to a normal life again. I even feel good enough to exercise tonight after work, so I am hoping this feeling lasts. I am so not ready for "shorts/skirts weather" yet.

Craving this week: Eggs and buttered toast (oh, Lord, just thinking about it now makes me want to pull out the skillet)

(*What Is Ultra-Screen®?Ultra-Screen® is a First-trimester prenatal screening protocol designed to provide patient specific risk for Down Syndrome, trisomy 18 and other chromosomal abnormalities. Ultra-Screen® combines ultrasound measurement of the fluid accumulation behind the neck of the fetus (nuchal translucency) with maternal serum markers and is the earliest and most effective Down Syndrome screen available. How Is Ultra-Screen® Performed? Ultra-Screen® consists of a combination of ultrasound exam and a blood test performed between 11 weeks 1 day, and 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. The ultrasound demonstrates a fetal heartbeat and determines gestational age. Then, the amount of fluid accumulation behind the neck of the baby, called nuchal translucency (NT) is measured. The blood sample is analyzed for two chemicals called free Beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A(PAPP-A) which are normally found in the blood of all pregnant women. The results of the ultrasound exam will be combined with the results of the blood test to estimate a specific risk for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18.)

And just so you don't have to take my word for it...here's what the internet says is going on:
Your pregnancy: 12 weeks
How your baby's growing:The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. How your life's changing:Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.You may begin to feel heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. Many women get heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, and those who've previously had bouts of heartburn may find that it gets worse. During pregnancy, the placenta produces a lot of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Particularly when you're lying down, gastric acid can seep back up the pipe, which causes the uncomfortable burning sensation. For many women the problem doesn't begin (or get worse) until later in pregnancy, when your growing uterus starts to push up on your stomach. The discomfort may range from mildly annoying to intense and distracting.

the family vehicle

We did it....we made that giant leap to "all American family." We bought a mini-van. I'll let you know how it goes.

Week 11...getting closer

I know I'm not getting closer to my due date...but I am getting closer to my first goal: the end of the first trimester (and hopefully the end of this nausea). Week 11 has been rough...I've had some pretty rough days of nausea, especially around the evening- after dinner time. I've been sleeping better, though, and only getting up maybe once a night to potty. :-) Brooklyn showed some real interest in my belly yesterday, pressing her ear up to it and claiming the baby was talking to her. She also decided that if it's a boy, she would name it Shoko and a girl, Nala. These are the dogs on Jon and Kate Plus 8. Needless to say, they are not in the running. According to Wii Fit, I did not gain any weight last week (yay!) but I am afraid to weigh myself this week because Lent ended on Sunday, and I have been pretty excited about eating fried foods again. I also had my first sweet tea tonight (and probably last). The baby wasn't digging it, so we're back to no caffeine again (which is definitely better anyway).

Here's what babycenter.com says is going on:
How your baby's growing:Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
How your life's changing:If you're like most women, you're feeling a bit more energetic now and your nausea may be starting to wane. Unfortunately, you may also be suffering from constipation (caused by hormonal changes, which can slow digestion) and heartburn (hormones again, relaxing the valve between your stomach and esophagus). Just remember, all this discomfort is for a good cause.Don't worry if nausea has made it impossible for you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or if you haven't put on much weight yet (most women gain just 2 to 5 pounds during the first trimester). Your appetite will likely return soon, and you'll start to gain about a pound a week.

Way Back When-esday!

It's been a while, but here is this week's edition of Way Back When-esday!

Year: 2005
Age: About 7 weeks old
*This was Brooklyn's first day of school....I don't know why SHE is biting her nails, I was the one who was a nervous wreck!


Year: 2006
Age: Almost 14 months
*This was her first "real" egg hunt on Easter Sunday (April 16, 2006)


Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 1 1/2 months
*She thought she was hot stuff wearing Mommy's t-shirt.


Year: 2008
Age: 3 years, 1 1/2 months
*This was about the time we had our house on the market so everything was cleaned off and put away all the time (ahhh, those were the days!). Brooklyn ate her breakfast at the kitchen counter....cereal out of the bag- no bowl.

Week 10 and other craziness...

The week has been crazy, as most weeks tend to be lately. It started out nice when Carolina won the National Championship Game on Monday night, and then Brooklyn insisted in wearing her Carolina t-shirt to school Tuesday morning.

I also forgot to post this picture from last week when Brooklyn went to the doctor's office with us. Who cares about a baby brother or sister? She was just excited that she got hot fudge on her ice cream this time!

Here's what BabyCenter.com says is going on at Week 10:

Your pregnancy: 10 weeks
How your baby's growing:Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

And here's what I say is going on:

*Still nauseous all day, everyday.

*I feel like I am getting larger by the day (and by the meal).

*Received a Wii fit for my birthday, so I hope to stay pretty healthy over the next 30 weeks.

*No specific cravings this week- just want FOOD!

*Crazy dreams revolving around the Twilight books.

*Pregnancy mush brain moment of the week: Completely forgot about a staff meeting Tuesday morning until they called my office and asked if I was planning on attending.

100th Post...again

Blogger has once again taken on a life of its own. My 100th post has been placed down below in early March (since that's when I started writing it), but here is a link to take you there. :-)

My 100th Post....and Some Great News!

Way Back When-esday!

Come play with us at this week's Way Back When-esday!

Year: 2005
Age: 4 weeks
*Her umbilical stump finally came off (after a little help from the Head Start nurse), so Brooklyn got her first bath!


Year: 2006
Age: 1 year, 1 month
*Already so conscientious about her dietary habits. :-)

Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 1 month
*Riding on Allie's bike and having a blast with her "big girl helmet."

Year: 2008
Age: 3 years, 1 month
*Last year, Easter was so much fun, and Brooklyn was a PRO at collecting all her blue and pink eggs.

Way Back When-esday!

Lots of random things for this week's Way Back When-esday post!

Year: 2005
Age: 1 month old
*Brooklyn started smiling this week and hasn't stopped since!

Year: 2006
Age: 1 year, 1 month
*Brooklyn's first "hair cut"....I had to trim back the mullet/rat tail she had going on back there!

Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 1 month
*Ready for St Patty's Day at school, she was decked out in her finest green!

Year: 2008

Age: 3 years, 1 month

*This was her Easter Egg Hunt at school. She had a BLAST finding the eggs on the playground.

St Patty's Fun

Thanks to Aunt Misty, Uncle Joe, & Allie, Brooklyn had a cute St. Patty's shirt to wear on Tuesday!

Posing in front of her class's shamrocks.

With her "girlfriends" (Casey, Anna Grace, Brooklyn, Mary, and Sierra)

The whole class decked out in their green!

Hope everyone had a fun (and safe) St. Patty's Day!

Here's the story....and my 100th post!

So, I am so excited that this is my 100th post...and I have great news to share.
We are expecting baby #2 on November 1st! The "official announcement" was made Monday to family, but I have been journaling this experience from the beginning. Keep reading if you are interested in how it all began...well, how it began after the obvious parts. :-)

Week 5 (March 1-7):
After being about 8-9 days late, I decide to bite the bullet and take a Home Pregnancy Test. I bought it in the morning before work, sat with it in my car all morning, and then couldn't stand it anymore. I drove home for lunch, peed on the stick, and to my excitement, confirmed what I somewhat already knew since Brooklyn's birthday. I immediately called my doctor's office because they like to confirm pregnancies with a blood test, and to my surprise, they could see me that afternoon. So, I took a loooooong lunch and went to the doctor. Again, though I already somewhat knew I was pregnant, I was pretty surprised (and so excited) when the blood test came back positive as well. Chad did not know I was late (since I had some spotting the first day, he and I both thought I was getting my period and we were done for the month), so he was VERY surprised when I told him that evening. I was feeling some sharp pains in my groin area and side, so my doctor scheduled an ultrasound for Thursday of that week just to rule out an ectopic pregnany. I attended the ultrasound alone (no sense in Chad taking off for appointments NOW), but luckily the "sac" was where it was supposed to be, and it was confirmed I got pregnant from an egg in my right ovary (why that makes a difference I have no idea but several doctors mentioned that tidbit so it must be important). Since the embryo/fetus/not sure what you call it this early was about the size of a sesame seed, it was not visible in the ultrasound and there was no detectable heartbeat. But, I am assured this is normal. We are still waiting to tell people until my 9 week check up when we should hear a heartbeat and be assured everything is on track. My symptoms experienced this week were fatigue and sore chest. No cravings yet. :-)


Week 6 (March 8-14):

Sunday marked the beginning of week 6 (according to my calendar). I started the prenatal vitamins last Tuesday which ultimately for me means ALL DAY NAUSEA. It's inevitable. I had it for about 14 weeks with Brooklyn and attribute most of it to the prenatal vitamins. The fatigue and sore chest are still there, as well as some major bloating and some light cramping, which concerns me slightly. I have an appointment with the health educator a week from Monday (March 16) so I am trying to hold out calling the doctor until then. I think the cramping is a little normal, and since there is no bleeding, I am just trying to stay calm and relaxed. I am just praying the next three weeks go by quickly so I can hear that precious heartbeat and start the exciting process of sharing the news. My best cure for nausea found this weekend? A McDonald's double cheeseburger! That burger was so good I just did not want it to end! :-) I am hoping I come up with some healthier cravings later on. Otherwise, we are in for some crazy weight gain.

By the end of the week, I did call the nurse who assured me that cramping was VERY normal for this stage in pregnancy, and I should not be worried at all. I also had my health educator meeting and insurance meeting on Friday (they could see me earlier). All was great with the health educator (despite the cheeseburgers, I actually lost 0.2 pounds this week) and all was REALLY great with the insurance and billing lady, because our insurance is paying 100% of everything. I was shocked...and she was a bit surprised, too. I am so thankful for Chad's work and their insurance. This has taken quite a load off my mind!



Week 7 (March 15-21):

As I started a new week, I noticed two things: 1. My anxiety about this pregnancy decreased, but 2. my nausea has unfortunately increased. I have prayed to God to take away all my worries, concerns, and "what ifs," and asked that He just watch over my family (including this new little one). I am now just excited about my 9 week check up in a week and a half and REALLY excited about sharing this good news with everyone! :-) Unfortunately, I am feeling the same as I did with Brooklyn- all day nausea but just first thing in the morning vomiting. No fun, but at least I knew what I signed up for (and if I get as healthy of a baby as Brooklyn was, then no complaints here!). In an effort to stay in my jeans for a few more weeks, I have cut back from double cheeseburgers to single cheeseburgers (which actually saves 140 calories and 11 grams of fat right there). I have also been eating smaller meals every 2 hours or so in an effort to curb the nausea. Some days are better than others. My cramping is almost completely gone, but I do feel bits of twinges and small amounts of pain every now and then (which the nurse assured me was normal). All is good here and I can't wait to actually POST this on the blog (instead of updating in secret- ha ha!).


*Little bit should be about the size of a blueberry this week.


**Weird dream: I dreamed I started high school again but couldn't figure out my schedule or my locker combination. My analysis? Definitely has something to do with "starting over again" with a new baby. I've been there before, but at the same time, it's all new territory.




Week 8 (March 22-28):

Week 8 started off crappy. Sunday I was feeling so bleh all day. For something the size of a *kidney bean (according to babycenter.com), it sure is wreaking havok on my digestive system. But, as I told Chad, the more things feel like it did with Brooklyn (aka the more crappy I feel), the more confidence I have in this pregnancy sticking for good. :-) I think I am over cheeseburgers and apples. Right now its just maintenance....whatever sounds good, I am eating. The highlight of my weekend was a bacon egg and cheese ciabatta from Panera (I'm still dreaming about that!).


**Weird dream: I dreamed that I accidentally flashed everyone at church. Definitely weird, but maybe I have breastfeeding on the brain.


One week until I have my doctor's visit! I am so excited to get some assurance that everything is going well. I go back and forth whether or not I want to just go ahead and tell people, but I really want Brooklyn to be the first person we tell (and I just really want to do that when I hear a heartbeat and it's a little more "real.").


Week 9 (March 29+):
It's here! Week 9 has arrived, and I went to the doctor on Monday with Chad and Brooklyn. I picked her up from school, and in the car, mentioned that we were visiting Mommy's doctor and that we were gonna check to see if there was a baby in my belly. Brooklyn was pretty chill about the whole thing (and was excited that I let her have chocolate on her ice cream from McDonald's). She KNEW it was a special day. :-) We waited for an hour to see the doctor, and because we had Brooklyn with us, they let us go in for a special "sneak peak" ultrasound. At the ultrasound we saw the little *grape* with its two arms and two legs swimming around. It also had a very strong heartbeat of 175. Yay baby!

Brooklyn has decided that if it's a girl we are naming it "Big Allie" (after her god-sister) and if it's a boy, we will name it "Daddy." We'll revisit those later. :-)

We left the doctor and headed to Chad's parents to share the news. I, unfortunately, had to work that night, but after work, I met Chad and Brooklyn at MY parents' house to tell them. Brooklyn did a great job telling all the grandparents, and I think everyone was pretty surprised. We made some calls, and then headed home, happy and excited.

I told my co-workers on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning my Facebook page has "blown up" with the news. So, it's officially out, and now I can snack away happily at my desk and not just look like a fatty.

The nausea is about the same. I have tried to avoid cheeseburgers and leaned more towards fruit cups and apples, but the real thrills for me this week have been baked chips with ranch dip and ramen noodles. I also think I am gonna try a "sea band" bracelet for motion sickness...several women on my babycenter.com message board have recommended that for all day nausea.

Brooklyn said the sweetest thing last night to us. She said "I think the baby can sleep in my bed since we don't have a crib for it." And I said "With you?" And she said "No, I'll sleep on the floor beside her." That almost made me cry, because I have been so worried about her reaction, and just in 48 hours, she has been so excited and supportive. This baby is so lucky to have the best big sister!

Thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes, prayers, and congrats. It has meant a lot, and I hope you continue to pray for all of us as we charter these preggo-waters once again!

Much love to you all!

Daddy Daughter Dance

Lots of posts today, but this one is my favorite. :-)

On Saturday night, our church held its first ever Daddy-Daughter Dance. We all dressed up and attended with our "daddies" that evening, and it was such a great night. The little girls had a great time dressing up and dancing all night (and the bigger girls enjoyed watching). All the daddies were so proud and handsome, too.

Brooklyn and Daddy
Nanny and her Daddy (Great Grandpa)

Mommy and her Daddy (Grandpa)

Pinning Brooklyn's corsage

Zoe and her Daddy, Luke

Zoe, Allie, and Brooklyn in the picture booth

New Hairstyles

I never thought I would see the day (with such a bald baby) that I would be able to "style" my daughter's hair. Two of Brooklyn's current favorite styles are the french braid...

...And the waves that the braid makes when you take it out. :-)

Brooklyn's Birthday Bonanza!

Brooklyn's Birthday Week festivities continued after we held her "family party" on Sunday, February 22nd. On Tuesday (her actual birthday), Nanny picked her up from school and took her to Celebration Station. Then, she came home and opened presents from Chad and myself. She loved the Color Wonders and the apron we gave her, but her favorite present was definitely the big girl bicycle and pink helmet!

She has since decided that we have an indoor track and rides her bike around the downstairs every day. :-)

The following Saturday we held her "friends party" at the Greensboro Childrens' Museum. She had a great time with 13 friends and her Disney Princess Cake.

Playing with Daddy...

Eating her pizza lunch and, of course, cheese doodles....

It's been a busy time for us as a family....more posts coming!

Way Back When-esday!

Year: 2005
Age: About two weeks old
*She loved that papasan swing for about two more weeks, and then she would have nothing to do with it. :-)

Year: 2006
Age: 1 year (and a week or so)
*Chicken nuggets quickly became a favorite food of Brooklyn's (along with french toast sticks).

Year: 2007
Age: 2 years (and a week or two)
*This was one of the last pictures of Brooklyn with a paci in the car.....it went to just sleep time shortly after this picture was taken.

No pictures from 2008- so sad!

Brooklyn's birthday pictures from this weekend will come later, but I can't ignore that today is Way Back When-esday! :-)