As 1st Trimester comes to a close...

It's hard to believe that next week is moving week...moving as in, onto 2nd Trimester. I can already tell by the signs though...increased energy and A LOT less bloat. The headaches are fewer and farther between too. Phew!!

We had our 12 week appointment today and everything is great. Measuring right on track and baby boo has a strong heartbeat of 165 bpm. When we listen at home on our Doppler not only are we enjoying the sounds of the heartbeat but also all the rolls and wiggles going on inside. We decided not to have the NT Scan. I have talked with two different ladies that had two different experiences with it. One was told her results showed an increase/likely risk for DS (down syndrome), which caused increase stress and worry for 6 months only to deliver a perfectly healthy baby. The other was told her results showed a 1 in 3000+, which she was told by her doctor basically meant a negative result, only to deliver a handsome baby boy with DS. Neither opted for the amino due to the risk of miscarriage. For myself to know 2 people personally with drastically different outcomes from the same test it was a no brainer for us. Totally not worth the risk. We will love the baby that God gives us and we will have the 20 week scan that will test for the same thing so we are confident that if it shows something at that point we will have plenty of time to adjust and educate ourselves prior to our little bundles arrival. Either way we are the most blessed people on earth to be baby boo's parents!!

After getting the stomach bug last week and losing more weight then I should have because of it, my weight is exactly the same as it was last month. I guess that's a good thing. ;)  Speaking of stomach bug, we think we picked it up at Jump Mania (an indoor bouncy house type place). We went because that is where we were wanting to have Ethan's 3rd birthday but after picking up the lovely germs there's no way we are having a party there. Not only do I not want to risk my own child getting sick again but I would feel so bad if the other kids that come to the party ended up getting sick too because of it. No thanks...not worth the risk!! So back to the drawing board on deciding on the birthday party location. I'm wanting to have it some place other then home because I know if I have it at home then it will be over the top. Whereas, if we have it in public I'm limited to what I can do. lol.

My last post was all about our big boy. Well he is officially a BIG BOY!! He tinkles and poos in the potty without any issues or accidents. I couldn't be more proud of him. When we all got sick last week with that darn stomach bug, we had to take him to urgent care for dehydration. Poor guy couldn't keep anything down. :( All the nurses and doctors were shocked that he's only 2.5 years old and already potty trained. I was so proud. For tinkling in the potty he got his fish and fishing pole which is so fun to watch. It's a tub/pool toy with an electronic fish that has a magnet in his mouth and a real working fishing pole that has a magnetic lure and/or worm to fish with. The fish swims around the water and once he 'bites' the 'bait' he flails around as he is being reeled in. It's so cute! Then for poo'n on the potty he wanted a tractor. Well just any ole Walmart cheap tractor wouldn't do so we took an hour drive time round trip to a farm and home supply store to make sure we got the best tractor money could buy. :) He picked out the package that had (2) different John Deere tractors and (1) truck.

I received the shirts I had made for Ethan and 'Dada' to wear at the hospital. They are so cute!! I originally was going to surprise Dada with his but I suck at keeping secrets from him so once it came in the mail I knew there was no way I was going to keep it on the down low for 6 months. So I had to show him right away and of course he loved it. :) We also purchased our first 'baby #2' purchase which is only making the urge to shop that much worse. lol.

Life is great!!

Big boy in the house...

Since finding out we were expecting we have included Ethan in the news. Most conversations have revolved around topics about him being a big brother. We have purchased books regarding a new baby/being a big brother, all the ways that he can help as a big brother and then the discussion about how big brothers don't wear diapers and that diapers are for babies. Originally when we started the diaper conversation his response was, "No, E-ne (which is how he says his name...and I have no idea any other way to spell it...lol) has big diapers". In fact the rare occasions of him actually going on the potty had become nonexistent. Asking if he needed to go tinkle on the potty only brought on tantrums. OY! So I had completely just stopped asking, which in turn meant there no longer were any potty trips. I was beginning to loose all hope. Then on a whim, I searched for blogs regarding the potty training boys topic (stubborn boys specifically) and came across this one blog that actually was a craft blog but had a potty training experience entry. It was awesome! Her ideas and tips were amazing so I discussed with my hubby about how I wanted to try, as she put it, having a 'pee pee party'. I explained her experience and success with it but he was super skeptic. I can't really blame him since everything we had tried before can only be defined as failure.  One of the suggestions in the blog was to hid all his diapers but get newborn or size 1 diapers and when your child gets up the morning of the surprise 'pee pee party' you go to change their diaper, trying to put on the small one. With shock in your voice and action you explain they must have grown over night and are too big for their diapers now so now they will have to wear undies. lol. Genius!! I was so ready to dig out the size 1 diapers and give it a whirl.

Then on Monday, everything changed!! Ethan was helping me put laundry in the washing machine and of course it was a load that had mine and papa bear's undies in it. As he was putting everything in the washer he said, "Wash E-ne's undies?". Without giving it a second thought, I just said, "Nope, since you wear diapers, your undies are always clean...once you wear undies then we can wash yours with momma's and dada's". Maybe 30 minutes later he, out of nowhere, says, "Tinkle Tinkle" and takes off for the bathroom. Papa bear and I just looked at each other, as to say, "Whaaaa??". After he was done I told him, to go into the living room so I could put a diaper on him. His reply was, "No, momma, E-ne a a big boy, no diapers, get undies". I almost fell over.

He has worn undies ever sense. I still can't hardly believe it. Of course we have had a few accidents but just little tinkles where he just doesn't make it quick enough, but no soaking through, leaking on the carpet sort of accidents. I'm so proud of him. I think him "making the decision all on his own" was our secret. He sort of comes by that trait naturally...lol!! We are still putting him in pull ups over night...well to be honest...I enjoy my sleep. I know it's horrible to say but if he gets up at 7:30 and wants to play quietly until 8, I am ok with that but I can't expect him to hold his bladder until I get up. Baby steps for this momma. :)  It did however, feel AWESOME to pull all diapers out of the diaper bag and replace them with undies and extra clothes.

On another note...I can tell 2nd trimester is nearing because I'm feeling really good. My only complaint (because, we all know I always have to have one...lol) is some muscle pain in my back. It's almost impossible to sit in a dinner room table type chair. Unless I can sorta recline, I'm miserable. I don't know if it's just from bending over a lot with Ethan or what but it sucks. It's just on my right side right about where my bra strap is across my back. I finally decided I was going to get my heating pad out and put it to work, only to discover it no longer works. Ugh...just my luck. It's on my list of things to purchase ASAP! I've been battling a darn headache at the base of my neck too but I'm almost 100% positive it's from lack of sleep. Who knows...the two may be connected. I may have a massage in the near future.

Baby boo seems to be doing great. We rented a Doppler and it was delivered Monday. Of course we had to put it to use right away. Heartbeat was detected and going strong at 156. :) There is no denying sweet baby boo is growing like a weed. Here's a little belly series shot.

10 weeks on 8.5.12