Elizabeth has some news to share...

Elizabeth has some news to share...

 

 

She is going to have a little sister!

Now, she is off to tell the world the good news!

20 WEEKS!

I am 20 weeks pregnant today!

With Elizabeth, I did a weekly update on how the pregnancy was going.  However, for this pregnancy I have been really busy with work and chasing around Elizabeth that I decided to blog about the "big milestones" of pregnancy instead of doing a weekly update.

So here are a few updates:

How far along: 20 weeks

Size of baby: Our baby is the size of a banana or cantaloupe (depending what you read) from head to rump.  He or she weighs about 10.2 ounces and is about 6.5 inches long (again, from head to rump)

Total weight gain/loss: Weight gain is 13 pounds (with Elizabeth, I had gained 12 pounds at this point)

Maternity Clothes: I wear mostly maternity clothes now.  I have two pairs of athletic shorts that still fit and my t-shirts for work still fit.  With my first pregnancy, I wore a lot of my regular clothes and ended up stretching them out, so I made sure to go ahead and purchase a few items so I don't stretch out my regular shirts again.

Ann Taylor Loft has an ever expanding maternity section and that is where I have purchased most of my maternity clothes.  I have 3 pairs of shorts, 1 shirt, and 1 dress from them.  I have also purchased 1 pair of shorts and 2 t-shirts from Motherhood Maternity.

Gender: We find out tomorrow!

Movement: Mostly when I am trying to sleep or laying on the couch.  I do get the occasional good kick or punch while I am at work running around.

Sleep: I am still sleeping sort of well.  I am not uncomfortable, but I do wake-up to go to the bathroom.

Cravings: Mostly breakfast cereals.  I am still really into Fruit Loops.  I occasionally crave hamburgers.  

Symptoms: Besides my weird eating habits, tiredness with extreme heat is my other main symptom.  

Best Moment this Week: Will probably be tomorrow when we get to see our baby!  Second, feeling good enough to run and walk again.  I have really missed running and I am so happy to get back into it.

Favorite picture(s) of today: Elizabeth and I went for a one-mile walk when I picked her up today.  These are pictures of us after the walk.

Weekend Recap

On Thursday evening, I had a gallery walk for my final project in a technology class I have been taking all year.  Ben and Elizabeth came at the end to see my presentation.  I was so happy that they came to see my presentation.

 

On Friday, Ben and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary.  My cousins, Jessica and Noah, kept Elizabeth over night for us so we could celebrate. 

We started the evening at Melting Pot and enjoyed cheese and chocolate fondue.  I am a member of the fondue club, and they sent us a certificate for a box of chocolate covered strawberries for our anniversary.

We enjoyed an overnight out at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City.  In the morning we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs, and muffins.  It was a great evening and morning out.

Saturday afternoon I had a hair appointment to freshen up my look for summer and the big wedding this coming weekend.

 Getting my hair done :)

 The "after"

Once I was done with my hair appointment, I needed to work on my cookies for Adam and Brigette's cookie table.  I am making Granny B sugar cookies for the cookie table.  They smelled so good and I did share a few with Elizabeth and Ben .    :)

On Sunday, I enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day.  Elizabeth got me a gift certificate for a massage and then Ben and Elizabeth took me to a great lunch of chocolate chip pancakes at Bob Evans. 

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful weekend!  Thank you to Jessica and Noah for keeping Elizabeth.  Thank you Ben for a wonderful 5 years!  And thank you Ben and Elizabeth for a great Mother's Day!

FIVE

Five years ago today, I married the best person I know. 

Ben, thank you for the best five years of my life.

I love the life we have built together.

I love our family, our home, and our relationship.

You are the best partner I could ask for.

I love you.

Dada's girl

I take a lot of pictures with Elizabeth and of Elizabeth.  When we are home by ourselves in the afternoons, it is a fun way to break up the time until Dad gets home from work or until it is time for dinner.

However, the pictures I like the most are those of Elizabeth and Ben.  She adores her Dada and thinks he is the most awesome. person. ever.  (Which, he is)  When he was out-of-town for work she asked where her Dada was constantly and would stare at his picture and yell out "that's my Dada!".  She is, for sure, a "Daddy's girl" or in our case, a "Dada's girl".

So, I was looking through photos on my phone last night and decided to blog about some of my favorite pictures of Elizabeth and Ben from the last few months.

 This was a warm day during the winter, Elizabeth dressed herself, 

and she went for a walk with her Dada.

 During this day, Elizabeth let her Dada pull her in the red wagon around the neighborhood.

 I love watching him read to her.

 Aren't they cute together?

 Last weekend we had dinner at Bob Evans.  

I asked Ben and Elizabeth to look at me and smile.

Ben smiled at me, Elizabeth smiled at her Dada.

Elizabeth has been home sick this week, but Wednesday night she was feeling better.

As evidence from tackling her Dada.

Ben just loves having a daughter and I love seeing them interact together.  

Ben, I love you.  

You are the most wonderful Dad.

Happy (almost) Anniversary!

A few notes

- ONE -

I am loving Fruit Loops right now.  All I want to eat for breakfast and dinner is fruit loops.  This is funny to me for a few reasons.
1) I usually don't eat cereal (only when I'm pregnant)
2) Fruit Loops is a kids cereal
3) You would think all that sugar would hype me up, but I just feel ready to start the day

- TWO -

Elizabeth has been sick with a fever, running nose, and horrible cough since Sunday.  Ben kept her at home Monday and Tuesday, but we sent her to the babysitter today.  I have been texting with Mrs. Vicki all day on how Elizabeth is doing and she keeps telling me she is great.  That makes this momma happy.

- THREE -

I have 6 1/2 weeks left of work.  That's it.  I am not returning to work next school year and I am staying home with both of my sweet babies (or sweet toddler and sweet baby).  I am kind of excited and kind of nervous.  I have had at least one job since I was 16.  I worked through high school and college, usually working two jobs.  I cut down to one job when I got married, and now five years later, I will be working at home.  Change is always hard for me, but I know that this change will be great for our family and a new adventure for me.

- FOUR -

I am loving the warm weather that is sneaking into Virginia.  It has gotten into the 70s this week and starting tomorrow it is supposed to hit the 80s.  This winter was so long and filled with lots of snow that I am so ready for shorts and flip flops.

- FIVE -

Ann Taylor Loft has a maternity section that I am loving!!!  I have ordered several pieces from there and I would like to pick up a few more (in case anyone wants to send me a gift card, ha!)  I have 3 pairs of shorts, 3 shirts, and 1 dress from the Loft and they just fit so perfectly.  It is my usual store to shop at when I am not pregnant and I am so happy they have added a maternity section.

- SIX -

We have a tree in our front yard that blooms with pink flowers in the spring time.  Well now all the pink flowers are falling off the tree and going all over my car and into our entry way.  It is driving me crazy!  I spent 10 minutes sweeping and vacuuming yesterday and then I open my car door this morning and a ton of pink flowers fall into the back of my car.  As I told Ben, these pink flowers are the bain of my spring existence. 

- SEVEN -

Next Thursday we find out if we are having a boy or a girl.  I am getting super excited!

Have a great Wednesday!

Elizabeth's favorite things

Elizabeth is in a phase of loving Minnie Mouse.  She has some very specific items around the living room that she must have everyday or that she plays with everyday.  I think we have done a good job on setting up a few "restrictions" (like no toys at the dinner table, no toys when going to the potty).  Otherwise, I think we would have Minnie Mouse around us all the time.

Here are some of her favorite Minnie Mouse items:

 The Easter Bunny brought her this backpack for our summer travels.  She loves it so much, she wears it all afternoon when she gets home from Mrs. Vicki's house.  I was worried she wouldn't want to wear it in the airport, but I think those worries have been put aside forever.  :)

Elizabeth has several plush Minnie Mouse dolls, but only one that sings and laughs.  My mom gave her this Minnie Mouse at Thanksgiving.  Her other plush Minnie Mouse dolls are much smaller (maybe four inches tall) and so she loves having the big Minnie Mouse to carry around.  

Some of Elizabeth's other favorite things are below:

 She loves her Mega Blocks that we gave her for Christmas.  I hear at least once a day, "Mommy, play blocks.  Daddy, play blocks." She loves to play with blocks by herself or with either one of us.  She really loves when we build high towers and then she knocks them down.

Elizabeth is also in love with her sunglasses.  These are not the exact sunglasses (her's do not have Disney Princesses on them).  But her's are pink and have sparkles. 

Well those are some of Elizabeth's favorite things.  What are your kids favorite things?  Or, what were your favorite toys as a kid?