Hannah @ 1 Month (Novemeber 2010)

Hannah @ her two week check up was up to 7 lb 13 oz and measuring @ 19.5 inches long.

At one month of age she was:

wearing size newborn diapers

and newborn size clothes (Most of her Carters were very snug from the the start and Target brand was a little big)

She was exclusively breastfeeding and did not have a bottle till she was three weeks and a day old. She didn't have any formula until she was about a month old. She likes to eat about every three hours

She sleep downstairs in the pack 'n play napper, and I slept on the couch next to her so daddy could get some rest and she wouldn't disturb big brother Ethan. She goes down around 8:30 or 9 wakes up around 12:30 or 1 to be fed and again around 3. She sleeps best the first part of the night.

She loves to be held and rocked, it's her favorite thing

her least favorite things are getting dressed and getting a bath.

She can also lift her head pretty far up when lying on her tummy.

Milestones: She cooed for the first time on the 19th of November and clasped her hands.

She is already getting so big!

1 month

1st tub bath!

outgrowing her newborn size onesies

27 Weeks! Hello Third Trimester!

27 Weeks

How big is Baby? About two and a quarter lbs. About the size of a Chinese cabbage.

Total weight gain/loss: Home scale says about 110, doctors office scales says closer to 115.

Maternity clothes? I love my jean skirt that is so comfortable with a stretchy panel that goes all the way up to my bra! Basically everything I wear has to be maternity or bought in a size bigger if it is shirt.

Stretch marks? None so far, I don't know if it's the cocoa butter lotion or just good genetics. I use Aveno Baby lotion on my legs every morning and it makes them so soft. I would highly recommend to everyone trying it.

Sleep: I want to sleep on my back so bad but I know I shouldn't because it causes bad circulation. Every morning I try to "sneak" a couple of minutes on my back while I am still waking up. When I do lay on my side it feels like Hannah is kicking at the mattress and saying "Hey, I'm getting squished here!" I then roll over to my other side and she still is kicking like crazy.
Best moment this week: Turning 27 weeks and entering the third trimester! It is so surreal that I am 2/3 already done with this pregnancy. Buying the crib was another milestone that we accomplished this past Saturday.
Movement: Getting even stronger, she definitely has her patterns of being asleep and awake. She gets the most active around 9 at night and especially when I try to go to bed. She also starts kicking when you talk to her and say something like "Hi Hannah, are you awake in there."
Food cravings: I think she will have a sweet tooth! Ice cream is still a favorite
Gender: It's A GIRL and the girly things I am sure are going to be overtaking the house soon.
Labor Signs: Dr. says the hardness in my belly that I feel on one side may already be random contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Sadly already a full fledged outtie.

What I am looking forward to:Putting the crib together and getting her room painted.

Milestones: We bought the crib and the shower invitations have been sent out!

24 Weeks!

How far along? 24 Weeks

How big is Baby? A little over a pound and about a foot long.

Total weight gain/loss: I was 109.5 lbs on my OB Visit last Tuesday

Maternity clothes? What I wear most, especially in pants. I can still get away with some non-maternity tops if they are long and stretchy, like the three tops I picked up at Kolhs last weekend.

Stretch marks? None so far, I apply my cocoa butter lotion every morning. I didn't get any with Ethan so I am hoping this pregnancy treats me as well.

Sleep: I want to sleep on my back so bad but I know I shouldn't because it causes bad circulation. I can fall asleep pretty quick but sometimes wake up with the worst heartburn. Waking up at least once around 2 or 3 in the morning to use the bathroom is the norm.
Best moment this week: Having Ethan say "Hannah" and I reply "Yes, in mommy's tummy" and he smiled back like we were sharing a secret and said "Baby".
Movement: Getting strong everyday. I first felt little kicks around 16 weeks, now the kicks are so strong I can sit and watch my belly poke out where she is kicking.
Food cravings: DQ hot fudge sundaes, sweets, almost anything other than meats and pizza.
Gender: It's A GIRL, we found out at twenty weeks and two days. Her name is Hannah Grace Link
Labor Signs: Hope not for three more month! Every now and then a little pain in my lower belly, not sure if it's Braxton Hicks or ligaments stretching.
Belly Button in or out? Sadly already a full fledged outtie.

What I am looking forward to: Reaching the age of viability, getting to a least 30 weeks will put my mind at ease.

Milestones: We ordered the crib bedding. It's light pink, chocolate brown and lime green with zebra print. It has Hannah's name and monogram embroidered on it!

Gender Anticipation!

As with most couples expecting their second child, I always feel that their is more anticipation concerning the gender of the child the second go around. The first child everyone is excited about because it's the first and any grandchild of random gender is welcomed. The second time around I think the family is hoping to get a child of opposite gender of the first so the family can be "complete" and in turn have a matched set. Not that I blame family at all for the anticipation that I am feeling right now. I am about 19 and half weeks pregnant currently and feeling long over due for my ultrasound. Most people I know that are due around the same time that I am have known the genders of their future child for couple of weeks, but not me. :o( The specialist I have to go to is just being "old school" and due to the typical weights of most of the patients he sees being in the 220's they have upped the number of weeks that you have to be to avoid patients having to come back in for a second ultrasound.

Now trying to be polite with the very nice lady on the phone when I made my appointment, way back at 15 weeks, I didn't want to argue and say I was a very petite individual and you could have told me everything I needed to know probably last week. Instead I have patiently been waiting the five weeks and the anticipation has been building.

In the meantime the desire to have a girl to complete my "set" has been building as well. My husband and Ethan's Poppy David have also made their desire for daughter/granddaughter known. Matt is currently putting on the pounds right along with me and have cravings, sure signs everyone says that we are expecting a girl. Poppy the father of two boys and step-father to three more has said to be getting goofy expressions on his face every time he sees a infant girl or passes pink dress in a store.

I myself feel a pang of guilt when I pass by the cute girls clothes in the Babies R Us and feel a strong sense of longing, wanting to be part of the "mothers of a baby girl club" and for once be able to shop in that section of the store. However, before I am taken the wrong way, don't get me wrong I will love this baby no matter what its gender is and am foremost praying for its health before anything else. I just feel like I have reached my breaking point for waiting and need some reassurance on the health front and to get this gender mystery out of the way before it consumes us. Only four days left, I guess I can make it. Hopefully :o)

Happy New Year

Friday, January 8, 2010

This year I have resolved to take more time out and write about our little family and share our news with loved ones.

As 2009 came to a close all I could think about was how much Ethan has grown and how much more he can do this year as compared to last. He now wants us to read him books ALL the time and even grabs our hands to hold the books and turn the pages. He has entered a very cute, silly stage where he puts oven mittens on his hands to pick up his dropped crayons and says "Whoa!" when seeing the backyard covered completely with snow for the first time.

As much as I love seeing what he is going to come up with next, I have sadness that yes my baby is growing up. He is so independent and desperately wants to do everything by himself like getting into the van or leaving mommy and daddy behind without a second thought. When we visited a friend's church Ethan trouped into the two's room without batting a eye. I guess I should be happy he is so well adjusted.

I hope to share more of our family's news this year as adventures await us. For now here is a picture of my handsome boy, his first winter....


and this winter.....