Finally -- A Picture

So here it is, folks. My pregnant belly. Here I am last night with my friend, Ellen, who is 36 weeks, due with a little boy late July.
I am now 27 weeks and feeling pretty good. At my 25 week appointment, I was measuring 31 weeks, so following doctor's orders, I have cut sugar out of my diet to see if that's the culprit. Considering I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, it has not been easy. No desserts of any kind, no sweet tea, no juice, no sweet cereal. It has been 12 days, and I have 10 more to go before I see the doctor again. I am so anxious to see if it has helped any!
The baby seems to be doing well. Heart rate in the 140's. Very very active still. Also, I felt the hiccups for the first time the other day and heard it say, "mama...what's up with this no sugar thing?!" haha. Poor thing probably went through withdrawals like I did! Other than one or two trips to Charleston to see family, we are pretty much lying low until the baby comes. We were supposed to leave this past Thursday for a 10-day trek around the mid-west, visiting friends and family in the Chicago area and Iowa, but we decided to cancel last minute b/c I am having some discomfort after sitting for more than 20 minutes and the doctor said I would have to get out of the car every hour. That would make for a very very long car ride! So, perhaps we will make the trip another time...with two children. Hmmm. Maybe.
Can't wait to meet this little baby! Only 89 days to go!

June Update

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

I totally have writer's block. So much is going on, and I have so much to say, but it's just not happening. Here's an attempt at blogging, so bare with me if it's horribly written.
We had a roommate in June, who was absolutely wonderful and so good with Charley, that I wished she could have moved in permanently. However, she went off and got married and spoiled my plan. Actually, we've been waiting on this wedding forEVER and are so happy for them, that I guess we will settle for a visit every now and then.
The second week in June was our annual beach trip with my family. We had a great time chasing Charley around in the sand, eating good food, and relaxing (although relaxing doesn't happen much when you have 8 children in the house). I may post some pictures when I get some from my mom and/or sisters, because mine are pretty doodooish.
As for Charley, she's growing so quickly and learning new things every day. One thing we are in the process of teaching is that the world does not revolve around her. She didn't have to learn this concept, she came out of the womb thinking this, just like you and me. Most of the time she's a sweet heart, but cross her, and sin will rear its ugly head. How can such a sweet little thing who has only been shown love and who has never been exposed to violence, anger, etc, etc, be so defiant and selfish? Because she was born with a huge need for a Savior, a concept that most modern day psychologists and parents, for that matter, would scoff at. However, nothing will convince me otherwise. So don't even bother arguing with me if you disagree. D and I love her so incredibly stinkin much that we hope we can teach her to love others before herself, serve them, and reach a level of maturity that she can say "no" to herself as well as hear it from others. Some books I have read/am reading/intend to read on this subject are, first and foremost, The Bible, followed by "Child Training Tips," "Don't' Make Me Count to Three" "Parenting by the Book" and "Shepherding a Child's Heart." All based on scripture. Especially the Bible one. :)
On another note, we think Charley will be walking before sisbro comes. She has three months, give or take a couple weeks, and she's pulling up proficiently, starting to cruise, and is able to walk pretty well when holding our hands. It will happen when it's supposed to.
She loves laughing and talking jibberish, although she does have a vocabulary of about 10 words. Her favorites being "ut-oh" ball" "bye" and "dada." When we take walks, she likes waving at the cars going and saying, "bye!" She loves reading books now, but has her favorites, so we end up reading the same ones over and over and over again. She's still pretty shy and stoic in public, but occasionally will ham it up and flirt with people who give her attention. Her sleeping routine is still pretty much the same... still napping twice a day, although they vary in length and if she misses one, it's not detrimental, she usually can hang in there, pretty agreeably, until bedtime (mommy is usually more tired than she is).
So that's it for now! Looking forward to seeing what she will learn and do as a 14-month-old!

Yes, I'm Pregnant

I know, I know -- I have been really really slack this pregnancy with updates and pictures. Here is what's going on and what has gone on over the last 23 weeks.
I found out I was pregnant in late January, and since everyone asks, yes - it was planned. I use the term "planned" loosely, since anyone can have their own "family plan," and God can do what he wants regardless of that. So, I guess it would be more appropriate to say, "Yes, we had the desire to have another baby at this point in our lives." We are very excited, of course, but I'm pretty aware of the fact that football season, Halloween, Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas of '09 are all going to be a big blur as we head into the adventure of having a newborn and a barely walking (hopefully) toddler.
Since I had a great (or not-so-great) story about how I told Donald I was pregnant with Charley, this go around I wanted us to be together instead of me finding out and then botching up a fun plan. So, when I took the test, I sent Donald in the bathroom to get the results. He was in there for a little longer than it should have taken, and then he came out of the bathroom scratching his head (literally), and holding out the stick saying, "What does that mean??" He got my answer when my eyes popped out of my head at the sight of the "plus sign." Apparently I didn't send him in there with directions on what to look for.
So, my first doctor's appointment was February 2nd, and they did an ultrasound the next day to determine my due date since it was a mystery (it was slated September 24th). The first trimester was a little bit harder this go around. I had about three weeks of nausea around supper time and was good-graciously tired. However, everything cleared up around week 10, which was fabulous, and yes, I realize how wonderful my pregnancies have been compared to some women. To say that I only had three weeks of yuckness is definitely a blessing in my opinion.
I started feeling the baby move really early -- for sure at week 15, but had some questionable flutters at 14. Donald felt the baby move on the day I turned 20-weeks. This baby definitely has some moves and is much more active than I remember Charley being. You can already see my belly jumping sometimes!
I had my second ultrasound about a month ago, and as I posted earlier, everything looking great and we decided to not find out what IT is. I went again last week, and the doctor says I am measuring 26 weeks (and I'm only 22). Hmm. She gave me the "no sugar" shpeel that she gives everyone, so I'm really trying to do better. Really.
I still don't have a great pregnant-belly shot. I'm pretty sure I know why -- when I was pregnant with Charley a. I simply had more time on my hands and b. I was working, which means I actually looked nice most days of the week, where as now, I usually have my walking clothes on all day, and I'm lucky to get a shower. I told Donald the other day -- "next time I actually look somewhat presentable, remind me to take a pregnancy shot!". It hasn't happened yet. But, to give you an idea, I'm much bigger already than I was at this point with Charley. That's pretty typical with 2nd pregnancies...especially close-together ones. Let's just say that strangers felt comfortable asking me the typical pregnancy questions like, "when are you due?" at 14 weeks, and no one asked me that until I was like 24 weeks with Charley. Also, I got a full-fledged outtie around week 16 or 17, and that didn't happen until week 30 last time. Here is a picture of Charley and me at the beach -- you can kinda see the belly. She's sitting on it, which is actually very helpful!

Being a Mom Means...

Momhood has definitely changed my perspective on many things and has caused me to acquire new habits. Here's just some of the things that being a mom means to me, which of course won't apply to every mother. Everybody experiences and interprets things differently, so some things you may be able to relate to, and other things, well... you'll just think I'm crazy.

Being a Mom Means...

Having a new relationship with your washer and dryer.
All of a sudden thinking those toddler leashes look like a good idea.
Being out in public and suddenly realizing, "That's baby snot on my shirt." (or spit up, food, or you fill in the blank).
Waiting to put your "nice outfit" on right before you leave in hopes to avoid getting food, snot, spit up, etc., on it.
Melting when your baby smiles.
Finally understanding why your parents worried about you.
Constantly picking up lint and debris off the floor and/or fishing it out of your baby's mouth.
Calling your husband at work to let him know the baby finally had a poopy.
Texting your closest friends to let them know the baby finally had a poopy.
Surprising yourself by having the ability to read, sing, play, or even smile when you're so tired you can't see straight.
Being envious of your daughter's perfect tan.
Answering questions correctly on electronic toys every now and then so that the toys don't think your baby is a complete idiot.
Hoping that the last baby that was in the swing at the park wasn't sick or didn't have a leaky diaper.
Absolutely loving when daddy gets home.
Hoping that sand and dirt are good for the digestive system.
Wishing your child never got sick or hurt.
Hating tile or ceramic (hard-as-brick) bath tubs.
Knowing that God must have had you in mind when He created your child's need for a nap.
Parking next to the cart return.
Not really thinking twice about picking something out of your baby's nose, but being absolutely repulsed if someone else does it.
Being completely grateful to God for the opportunity to be a parent, and trying to never take it for granted.

I could come up with a bazillion more, but I'll stop there. Here's a recent picture of Charley... too cute not to post.

My Bday and Mother's Day

So Donald and I have our anniversary, Charley's birthday, my birthday and Mother's Day all lumped into a little over two weeks. Not to mention two nieces' birthdays in the mix. Our September baby is going to have the privilege of having his or her birthday isolated from everything else that's going on.
I like looking at "then and now" pictures, so I thought I post some of last Mother's Day and Birthday vs. this year's.

My Birthday 2008. Wow. Clearly I am on prescription pain meds and haven't slept in about four days in this picture. But look how cute and tiny Charley is!!

My Birthday 2009. Oh the bliss of a one year old who sleeps 12 hours a night! I think that's a real smile that I have on!

Mother's Day 2008. "I think I'd rather be sleeping." Mother's Day last year was a really hard day, but so joyful at the same time.
Mother's Day 2009. This year, Mother's Day was simply joyful.

First Birthday Party No. 2

The following weekend, Charley had a first birthday party with her friends and family in Greenville. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and watched round 3 of Charley's discovery of cake, and it's official -- she likes it...a lot. (round 2 of cake-eating was during her photo session with Kim). I think three pieces in one week will be enough for the entire year as far as we're concerned! We don't want her to acquire her mother's sweet tooth, although it runs thick in our blood and she's probably destined to be a sweetaholic.

My sister and her family came down from Lookout Mountain for the occasion... Thanks guys!
For lack of creative birthday cake ideas, I got the "bright" idea to copy her birthday napkins. If my mom wasn't there to help make all the different colors,
I think the project would have taken forever.

First Birthday Party No. 1

While Donald was in Kenya, his family helped throw Charley a first birthday party in Charleston. We were both excited that she got to celebrate her big day with the Rose Family. It was here that she had her very first cupcake, which she absolutely inhaled in under 3 minutes. Thank you Auntie Metrie, Frenchiemama, and everyone else who helped make this day special for Charley.