27 weeks

We turned 27 weeks on the beach! We took a little baby moon (next post) to Key West:)

Parker this week:  still crazy and active as ever. always at 930 pm. Philip was amazed at how wild he is in there. It is making us both a little nervous at what this means for his attitude once he's out of the womb. We know we lucked out with Ainsley's amazing sleep habits- but are really getting anxious about this one's lack of sleep in there:)  He is as big as a cucumber this week- 15 inches and 2.2 lbs. He can recognize my voice by now:)  It is also the last week in the second trimester!  me this week: I have still been taking the Diclegis medicine every night to help with my nausea. I tried not taking it several nights and was sick as a dog the next day. My OB office has just been giving me samples, but they have run out and now my insurance is refusing to pay for this medicine. soo, we will see how things go trying to transition to not taking the medicine anymore (i will spare you all from my rant on insurance companies and how frustrated I am right now).  I had another week of no puking! Several bouts of nausea, especially on the planes. still struggling with sleeping- but I slept so much better on vacation that I woke up elated in the mornings:)  I managed not to eat too unhealthy on vacation and even got in lots of walking.  this post isn't that exciting, but hey, I'm keeping up with my weekly pregnancy posts so I think that counts for something:) 

26 weeks

Thursday we turned 26 weeks! I went to the doctor since I wrote last. It was an uneventful appointment. He said things look good and that my next appointment would be the dreaded glucose test. yum :) 

singing her ABCs while playing her 'jingle bells' 

Parker this week: measuring around 9.2 inches and 2 lbs! (about as big as an eggplant). His eyes are starting to open and he can see bright light. His brain is continuing to develop. I saw him on an ultrasound at work and he was yawning and stretching. each tiny little movement felt so exaggerated on the outside. I was relieved to see he wasn't doing kung fu in there, which is what I feel like he does the majority of the day.  me this week: hallelujah we had a week with no puking! sleeping is still very rough, causing morning nausea but what can you do when you just can't sleep. How about go to Florida:) Looking forward to our 'baby moon' mostly for sleep and more sleep:) Having anxiety about leaving Ainsley though. It's just so hard to leave. I know she is in very good hands with people who adore her, I just hate not being with her every day.  We have finally ordered baby furniture. We have one piece in and love the color of the wood. I am working with a friend on making bedding for us. Things are moving slower this time around but we are getting it done:) 

her baby had a hat on so she needed a hat too 

helping daddy wash mommy's car 

daddy got her a slide and 'pool'! 

happy fifth birthday to Jax! 

feeding all her animals birthday cake 

Guest Post / 25 weeks

Aunt Ellen texted me this morning asking where my week 25 blog post.  oops… i mean we didn't even take a pic. sorry Parker:(  It was a long week over here with several mishaps and hormonal moments. One of them being Ainsley breaking my lap top, or what I thought was broken, for several days. it wouldn't turn on, charge, nothing. then once I had my apple appointment made and was on the phone with customer service- it pops on. so we're back up and running:) But now we have our first guest post EVER. From my sweet and thoughtful, Aunt Ellen:) Her words touched my heart (and got me emotional for the 6,947 time this week) and meant so much to me right when I needed them the most. So I humbly post her blog this week and thank her for taking the time to keep me up to date when I fell behind.  ____________________________________________________________________________ Week 25
Hello to all. This is Amanda's Aunt Ellen guest blogging for my sweet niece this week. Not only is she the best mom/wife/daughter/niece/cousin/friend I know she has the heart full of love for all she encounters.

I got to meet her and Ainsley for breakfast on Sunday. (Truth be told I cherish the times I get them to myself the most.) So much fun and so many laughs. Who knew that this little tomboy who grew up with all the boys would turn into such an amazing lady. She is the sunshine and joy for so many of us that we sometimes overlook her gentleness, the look of pride when she sees Ainsley do something new, the pure excitement of seeing her best friend for the first time in months, the best hugs EVER (she never stops hugging first), the looks her and her loving husband share when they think we aren't watching. 

She learned from the best-her parents are the parents of TV shows but they are not fictional they live this way in real life. Imagine Leave it to Beaver meets Everybody Loves Raymond.
So dear niece just know that you are loved by so many and know that we all count ourselves blessed to have you in our lives and are grateful for all you do.
Oh by the way week 25 was just one week closer to having Parker join into all the fun, the laughter, the tears, the ups and downs but constant real-deal life of being Amanda's child. Don't worry I will constantly remind him how lucky he is that God chose him for this life. 

for Parker:)

24 weeks!

24 weeks! i love the number 24, so why did it curse me so bad this week?! 

Baby this week: he is weighing at 1.5 lbs and 8.5 inches long- I feel like that's big. I got to see him at work this week:) he has flipped into head down position and sure enough his long legs have made a home in my right ribs. 

His face is formed along with eyebrows, eyelashes and hair (all white because he has no pigment yet). 

He is still super active and an insomniac I have decided. You can see him moving just looking at my belly and he is happy to kick hard enough to let you feel him if you put your hand on my belly:) 

Me this week: 

For whatever reason- I have gone back to being pretty sick this week. awful nausea with occasional puking. I've been super tired this week too. Like close my eyes and i'm asleep kind of tired. 

Maybe all this growth he's doing is just wearing me out- who knows. 

Or maybe it's the fact that we skipped spring and are into full on summer temperatures around here. Almost 90 today. Gonna be a lonnngg summer in that kinda heat. 

We celebrated Mother's Day today! Ainsley pitter patterned down the hall saying "happy Mother's Day!" this morning thanks to her daddy prompting:) also Saturday I got a prenatal massage and it was heavenly :)

We had everyone to our house to celebrate- and all thanks to the men and Aunt Ellen for making such yummy food:) I was so tired from being up sick all night I could barely make my brain work to form a sentence. :) But it was a great day and so nice to be around family. 

MJ wearing cousins holding hands. poor anna beth is like 'this girl is wild' 

we are so lucky aunt rachel is crafty 

Me and mom never get a pic together :( 

Ainsley also got a new 'yard toy' courtesy of me sending her dad to meijer on an errand:) 

American Heart Walk at Keeneland ! 

23 weeks/Bday/Derby

Baby this week: papaya! It says he (me) is starting to pack on the pounds. I'm glad to have validation for gaining weight this week:) it also tells me he will double in size in the next month- yikes! 

I swear this child does not sleep. He is constantly moving, hiccuping, or shoving something (maybe a leg?) up in my right rib cage. Ainsley did that in same spot- it must be a comfortable spot to stretch out in. 

We have officially decided on the name Parker! We aren't official on middle name yet. 

Me this week: 

The puking is getting better! Only a few episodes this week and nausea not nearly as severe. If I could just sleep- I think I'd be doing a lot better:) my sweet husband did let me sleep until 9:30 Saturday and I felt like a new woman. 

We had a busy week this week full of celebrating Philips birthday (multiple times), hosting great grandma and papa, and the derby! 

The celebrations started on his actual  birthday. That morning ainsley was very excited to give him his gift she "helped wrap". Aka- covered the front in three sheets of stickers. It was his favorite Disney movie, Peter Pan:) and Parker got him some onesies (for himself). 

That night we had his friends over for a cookout and had such a good time. 

8 in the morning and papa covered in 'gifts' from Ainsley

Evans Orchard is open for the season! 

sweet friends swinging before Derby Race 

It was a very busy but fun week:) It was so nice having Philip off and home with us. Having him go back to work tonight was hard for all of us:( 

Praising God for sickness that is lessening and a baby that is growing:) 

22 weeks, anniversary, kites!

Last weekend we had such a good weekend. Philip was off for a bachelor party weekend, but ended up being with us more than I thought he would be!  We had a great weekend and the weather was beautiful :)  Friday we took her to Monkey Joe's then out to lunch. 

Saturday we went to the Kite Fest at Jacobson Park. She (we) had a bag of kettle corn while we watched the kites fly. She got to play in the bubble tent and was not happy when we had to leave the bubbles to go home. 

That afternoon we had the sprinkler on to attempt to grow some grass in a few area- and she discovered the fun and pure joy of playing in the sprinkler. Too bad Jackson wasn't out front to play with her. We also got to put up her bird feeder she picked out :) 

The tantrums are becoming fewer and the time outs more spaced out. She is such a joy to be around each day and watch her learn so many new things. 
so- 22 weeks! 

baby this week: he is weighing in around ONE POUND! about the size of a small doll. he now has eyebrows, eyelashes, and maybe some hair on his head:) he can see light and dark now. he is much more active than Ainsley was. of course my placenta is posterior this time, last time it was anterior and made it harder to feel her move. so maybe that's the difference? or maybe this kid just doesn't like to sleep like his sister does (please don't be true). 
me this week: I have had a pretty good week! some bouts of nausea but overall getting better. switching to gummy prenatal vitamins with no iron has definitely helped. hopefully the other lingering nausea will continue to get better! I gained several lbs this week, so clearly the nausea is getting better:) 

We also celebrated our anniversary on Friday. 5 years:) so hard to believe! The traditional gift for 5 years is wood. I got Philip a wooden wine rack with 'Overall set 2010' on it. It is hanging on the wall in the bar and looks great. He got me a beautiful wooden cross with a heart in the middle. And a new purse:)  We were able to celebrate the day by going to Keeneland for the last day of races, then out to dinner to a new steakhouse in town called Tony's. P won some money on the last race which always makes the day better:) And dinner was delicious (and maybe a little pricey). 

and some pics from the week : 

loves stickers 

stickers on Jax 

birthday dinner for KK! 

how she eats when grandma Joy babysits haha!