My Bella Reese - 19 Weeks

I'm almost to the halfway point of this pregnancy and I've yet to write any updates. :/ Then again, I'm quite the slacker when it comes to blogging, but I do have an adorable 11 month old keeping me quite busy. :) 

Anyhow, yesterday Arabella Therese (Bella Reese, Bella, Ari, etc.) began her 19th week in my womb. During the first trimester I experienced a lot of nausea, a little vomiting, and tons of exhaustion. This really caught me by surprise because my pregnancy experience with Gavin was flawless. I was rarely sick and mostly felt amazing. Well, for my second time around I've felt more pregnant. But, once I changed my prenatal vitamin to one that has ginger and entered the second trimester, I've felt great. Although I'm still exhausted, I'm confident that has something to do with chasing my sweet boy around all day. :) 

With Arabella, I definitely think I began showing sooner and personally think that my tummy is way bigger at this point than it was for Gavin. I'm happy to report that I've only gained 5 lbs. (at this time with Gav I'd gained 12!) so I'm hoping that I can keep my overall weight gain to a lower number (with G, I gained 37 lbs.). I originally planned on delivering at a local birth place and had hoped to try a water birth, but I decided to switch to a doctor and deliver au natural again at the hospital. I was unhappy with a few things at the birth place and am satisfied with my decision to switch to a doctor.

When it comes to movement, I have been feeling flutters for around 2 weeks now, and just yesterday I even felt a few kicks! I am so very happy that I am able to feel baby girl move. :) It's still just as amazing as it was when I was experiencing this with Gav. Our next ultrasound is on February 12th and I am so excited to see my sweet baby!

As for food, in the first trimester I had more aversions than I care to remember. I rarely wanted to eat anything, but was always hungry! Recently, I've had a huge sweet tooth and have been craving ice cream, strawberry nutragrain bars, peanut M & M's, and frozen raspberries and blueberries. Another yummy (and terribly fattening!) item I want all of the time is an order of cheddar peppers and ranch from Sonic. Mmm mmmm. I'm trying to keep my cravings satisfied, while also trying not to over do it

I think my biggest issue right now is comparing this pregnancy to my last, and keeping my worry to a minimum. I know that every pregnancy, just like every child, is different and I really need to stop comparing Bella to Gav. Although, Gavin is an incredible kid (and was an incredible infant) and I'm hoping his little sis follows in his footsteps. As for the worry, I am confident that I can do this but sometimes I don't think that I'm qualified. I just keep telling myself that I can be a great mom to two kids under two years old. I can be a great mom AND wife. Will it be difficult? Yeah, probably. But you know what? I know how blessed I am to be pregnant again and how blessed I am to be living this life. So my plan is to take everything one day at a time, breathe, and just enjoy the ride. 

(And because I can't help myself, here's a picture of my sweet boy. :D)

 

No. 5 - Graduate From College

On December 15th, I submitted the final assignment of my undergraduate career. :) Last week, I received an email confirming that I have met all of the requirements and will be receiving my diploma shortly. I have earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice. :D

It took me six long years, but I finally finished my undergraduate journey at Regent University. During this time, I became engaged, got married, was pregnant, had a baby, am pregnant, and moved six times. I've grown so much over these years and my life is drastically different from 2007.

 March 2007 - Feels like a lifetime ago!

I have so many mixed emotions about completing my undergraduate studies. Of course, I'm so very excited to wrap everything up and to finally have a college degree. More than anything, I am thankful that I found what it is I am passionate about and the field that I am called to be in. But at the same time I am truly sad. I loved taking classes, and these past two years allowed me to dive into my criminal justice curriculum. I miss the challenges, the papers, the interaction with my professors and classmates, but most of all I just miss learning.

With my sweet son turning one in a month and a half, and my precious daughter arriving in this world in June, I am definitely in a different season of learning. And I love it. While I miss school, I know that my educational journey is not over. Until then, I'm embracing this time with my amazing husband and son, and awaiting Arabella's arrival.

In May, my family and I are heading to Virginia Beach so that I can participate in Regent's commencement ceremony. I will finally get to wear that cap and gown, meet fellow classmates and professors, and have a very surreal moment that I have been waiting for since 2007. :)

Baby #2 is a...

On Saturday, Keith and I headed to a local ultrasound facility with the hopes of finding out the gender of baby #2. I made it to 16 weeks on Thursday (1/10) and I was beyond anxious to find out. On Saturday morning, I woke up at 4:30am and just layed in bed wondering if we would be able to find out. Would it be a another sweet boy? Would it be a precious girl? Oh my gracious, I was dying to know! 

In my heart, I felt that this baby was a girl. Before I was pregnant, I had actually purchased a few items for the "way, way future" when "one day we'd hopefully have a girl. Keith actually had no idea what the baby would be, he was just hoping for an answer on Saturday! I never imagined I'd be pregnant again only 8 months after giving birth to the love of my life, Gavin. But, God absolutely, without a doubt knows what he's doing. :)

Without further ado, here's our gender reveal video. 

I am simply over the moon.

The first thing that we saw when the ultrasound tech began our session was #2's legs open and a perfect shot of their privates.

The tech said "Alright, there's her little legs."

My heart stopped. 

What did she say?! HER?

I cannot explain the joy I felt at that moment, but it was filled with laughs, tears, and pure happiness. Our sweet baby girl looks wonderful, and she's scheduled to make her appearance on June 27th.

Oh, and her name? 

Arabella Therese. 

:D

86 and 27

Source: Uploaded by user via Hilary on Pinterest

On Saturday, my sweet grandmother (Maw-Maw) turned 86 years old. Today, I turn 27. Our birthdays are two days apart, and each year I feel like we take a small leap together. She's inching closer to 90, while I'm inching closer to 30. While you'd think that my view of Maw would one of an old lady, it's definitely not. If anything, she's as young as they come. She lives by herself, does all of her housework, cooks, and functions fine. Not to mention, she still walks and talks with ease. Don't get me wrong, she struggles with arthritis and has many aches and pains, but my Maw is a hoss. :)

I spoke with her on her birthday, and she asked me if I was ready for mine. I told her that I was just exhausted from Christmas and New Years and was really not that excited. Plus, I'm inching my way to the end of my twenties...and I told her that I don't know why it's so bothersome. I honestly think that turning 33 will be easier than turning 27, 28, 29, and 30. And as ridiculous as I think my whining sounded, she agreed with me. She said she can remember these days and says it will get easier.

It's silly, small things like this that make me love this woman so much. She could have easily told me to zip it, but she didn't. :) On this 27th birthday, I feel very undeserving of the life that I'm living. I'm beyond blessed and abundantly thankful. Lord, thank you for my life.

 Maw and me, Thanksgiving 2012

A New, Exciting Year

Last night, Keith, Gavin, and I rang in the new year with some of our absolute favorite people. We spent the night eating delicious gumbo and potato salad (made by my sweet sis), playing Battle of the Sexes, watching the LSU/Clemson game, and ending the night playing a name-that-actor/movie game. All in all it was the perfect way to end 2012.

As we enjoy the first day of 2013, I can't help but think about what I'd like to accomplish this year. I don't like to make resolutions, because I know that they likely won't happen. Come March, they'll be forgotten and that will be that. However, I do like to make goals, put them in writing, and stick them on my vanity so that I can see them everyday. So, here's what I'm thinking for 2013.

1. Grow in my relationship with Jesus. Soak up His word and let Him lead the way.

That is all.

The way I figure, if I do this one thing, then everything else will fall into place. Becoming a better mom and wife, living a healthier lifestyle, tackling my 30 Before 30, following the cry of my heart...all of those things will happen. Why's that? Well, because when my spirit is fed, I thrive. When I study His word, my heart soars. And when I stop trying to control everything (which is extremely hard for me to do) all my worries fade and things just work out. :)

I pray that you guys are enjoying today, and that this year will be filled with love!

Moments to Remember in 2012

2012 was quite a year! While I wasn't the best blogger, I was busy finishing up school, being a mommy and wife, moving a few times, and overall just learning how to be a better me. This year was definitely filled with abundant blessings! 

January 7th - My 26th Birthday 

January 15th - Cabin trip to Ellijay, Georgia  

January 29th - South Carolina Baby Shower

February 29th - Gavin Josiah was born!

March 7th - Two year anniversary

(Gav was one week old, so this is what we did. :) )

March 15th - KC got his new job

April 15th - Moved back to Charleston 

May 13th - My 1st Mother's Day 

May 28th - Visit to Chimney Rock Park in Asheville, NC

June 17th - Keith's 1st Father's Day 

 (The only picture I have of them on this day)

June 22nd - Gav's first time rolling over

July 26th - Keith's 27th Birthday

August 31 - Trip to Gatlinburg, TN

September 8th - Moved back into our house :)

September 19th - Gav's first time crawling!

October 23rd - Found out we're expecting baby #2

November 22nd - 26th - Louisiana/Texas Thanksgiving

December 15th - I finished my undergraduate studies!!!!

(This is how I finished most of my final semester)

December 25th - Gavin's first Christmas

 

I am very much looking forward to what 2013 holds for my family.

Happy New Year!!!

:)

More on Sweet Baby #2

***Hello, readers! It's me, Lindsey. Remember me? I hope so. I have been absent for quite a bit but am finally ready to break the silence. Today I am posting something that I wrote a month and a half ago. It's about sweet #2 and I am so sad that it's taken me so long to hit publish. I hope all of you are doing wonderful, and I will definitely be back soon. :) ***


I still can't believe it. I cannot believe that I'm going to be a Mom again...and so soon! It absolutely amazes me that we were graced with this blessing. Keith and I did not plan on having another child for at least a few more years, but God has other plans for our family. To be honest, I don't know why I even bother making plans anymore, because I know that God is control of my life, and I am not. This is so hard for be to grasp because I'm such a planner, but I'm definitely learning to let go. :)

I guess I should start from the beginning in my discovery of this pregnancy nearly two weeks ago. (The following may be a bit TMI for some people...consider yourself warned.)

Just like my first pregnancy, I was only a few days late and decided to take a pregnancy test to rule pregnancy out. I didn't have any pregnancy symptoms, but I didn't know what else to do since Flo had not shown up yet. So, I took two tests in the evening on October 22nd. They were both negative.

Just to make sure, I took another one in the morning to confirm the results since the hCG hormone is strongest in the morning. Well, this one was positive.

Holy. Moly.

I used a cheap pregnancy test strip and the second line was really faint, so I didn't think much of it. Gavin and I were heading to Wal-Mart later in the day to get an oil change for Keith's car, so I figured I'd pick up a box of better tests. When we got home, I took two...and they were very much positive.

I immediately began crying and felt joy and fear. Joy because I was going to be a mom again and would experience another pregnancy. Joy because a new life will be entering this world. Joy because Gavin is going to have a sibling. And fear...well, fear because I remember in great detail the pain of labor and delivery. I only experienced this with Gav 8 months ago and it's scary to think that this will be happening again so soon. More than fear, I was overwhelmed. Could I handle two kiddos that will be 15ish months apart?!

After I got over the initial shock, I started thinking about ways to tell Keith. He was traveling out of state for work and would be flying home that night. I called a few stores looking for a Big Brother onesie for Gav to wear, but couldn't find any. So, I made one with an iron-on template I had.

Then, to add to this I picked up two balloons, a blue one and a pink one, and tied them to Gav's stroller. We waited at Keith's gate for the big reveal.

Keith got off of the plane and came towards us looking confused. The first thing he said was "Why do you have balloons?" I shrugged and kept looking at Gav. I tugged on his onesie a little and Keith's eyes got really wide, he scrunched his nose, and said "Big brother? Are you pregnant?????" I excitedly said yes and we spent a few minutes hugging and talking right there at Charleston Airport's B gate. He didn't believe me at first, so I pulled out a ziplock full of pregnancy tests. :) (I knew I brought those with us for a reason.)

We definitely aren't the kind of people to keep this kind of news to ourselves, so we called our family. To be honest, the first few phone calls were extremely disappointing. A family member on my side and two on Keith's had very ugly responses to our news. I was in tears at their reactions and felt really awful, but thankfully other (nicer) loved ones were so happy for us and made us feel better. I will say that 2 of 3 of the rude folks called to apologize, but that's a totally different story that I won't be ruining this post with. :)

When we got home, Gav had a ball playing with the balloons and Keith and I sat a long time and just talked. We didn't understanding the timing of it all (still don't) but we know God has great plans for our family. We were not trying to get pregnant, and were actually taking steps to prevent this from happening, but God blessed us with this baby. I have my moments where I panick and think that I absolutely won't be able to do this again, but I'm soon comforted and know that I can, and I will.

As of today, I am 6 weeks pregnant and am praying for another wonderful pregnancy and birth experience. We are back in Charleston, and I'll be taking advantage of the local birth center and will try for another natural birth. I am anxious to meet my new little one and am excited to find out the gender of this sweet child. I'm also greatly looking forward to spending tons of quality time with Gav before #2 arrives. Our family is expanding very rapidly, and I am just very thankful for this life that I'm living.