Another Boy!

On February 14th, Ben and I found out we are having another boy! I was totally shocked, and instantly in love. It made my heart so happy! And I don't know why! Maybe because I've been longing to bond with this baby, and he was tired of me thinking he was a girl this whole time!

After we had the ultrasound, Ben and I went out to eat lunch. We went to the Cottonwood Grill. All Ben could think about was what this little boy's name would be. We were listing names right and left. Finally Ben said there were no names that he liked. And then we were quiet for a while. When Ben spoke, he mentioned the name John. I had just been thinking of the same name at the same time! I was thinking John the Beloved, and he was thinking of John the Revelator. (Same person!) The name felt right, so it is sticking. We like the name John Tanner Perkins. Tanner after John Tanner who gave all his wealth to the church.

This is sure one special little boy!

16 weeks, 1 day

19 weeks, 1 day

20 weeks, 1 day

These pictures aren't very glamorous. I keep taking them at night when we need the flash! Ew! 

Baby John has been kicking a lot lately. I stayed up late last night, and I really enjoyed his cute little nudges intermittently. That has to be the best part of being pregnant! 

A Third One Around the Bend

Before I get into the details, there are some things I want to note about being pregnant.

#1- 13 week belly and 20 week belly don't look very different. One may be a bit firmer, but there is some serious bloating between week 13 and 20. Just sayin...


#2- When you have your first baby, 40 weeks seems like 47, with baby number 2, 40 weeks feels like 40 weeks, and when you plan on baby number 3, 40 weeks feels like 20 weeks. Let me illustrate:

Baby #1: feels like it takes 47 weeks to get here
Baby #2: feels like 40 weeks
Baby #3: feels  like 20 weeks

Time perception changes. It flies. Fast!

So, now that I have alluded to the obvious, and if I didn't already tell you, we are expecting baby #3!

When will our little surprise be arriving? On or around July 13th. A summer baby! My very first one not born in the chilly months.

Since you don't want to do the math in your head, I am 13 weeks and 3 days.(Thank you for asking!) That means that the first trimester has come and gone, and with it came and went the morning sickness and the sluggish mommy. Well, maybe just the morning sickness. Haha... Ben and I are thinking that we will have a little girl, and cannot possibly imagine this baby being a boy. But, since we all like to compare, I felt much sicker with Eve. I mainly suffered with severe heartburn, which I didn't get with this one. We will just have to take this on a case by case basis. We will find out the gender of our little one on February 14th. Yeah, I thought it would be the best V-day present too! The appointment is in the morning so there is still time for a hot date later.

Today I had my second doctors appointment. Since I was 13 weeks, I was anxious to hear the baby's heartbeat, knowing that once I knew the baby was okay, that the danger zone had passed. It took the doctor FOREVER to find the heartbeat. She kept picking up my heartbeat. The baby seemed to be moving a lot, which tells me I might have an energetic spark on the way. I was grateful for that because even though she couldn't pick up the heartbeat, she knew the baby was moving around. I feel much more at peace.

Now, I owe you an ultrasound picture. I need to post the one of my little gummie bear that was taken around 9 weeks. So I will get on that. And I am sure that I have a nice pregnancy test picture lying around somewhere too.... Hooray, my favorite. (gross!!! haha... just kidding.) All for the sake of memories.

To be continued....

The Final Belly Pics!

This is very delayed, but in an effort to finish things that I start, here are the final pregnancy pictures, and a peak of my little girl. Eve came on December 16th, 2011, 5:32 pm, 8lb 12oz, 20.75"

38 weeks, 2 days

38 weeks, 2 days

39 weeks, 3 days

39 weeks, 6 days

40 weeks, 1 day, on the way out the door to the hospital

Waiting to be admitted!

Week 35 and 36

Well, I have a lot of apologies to make to my little girl! I really haven't written much about my pregnancy! Things have been smooth sailing really. Just getting harder to walk around without needing to sit and take a breather. She has been comfy and cozy! And the most active at night. I lay in bed and she just goes to town with the wiggles. She also gets the hiccups a lot.

Week 35 I spent in Las Vegas with Grandma Shauna! I had a great time, and really loved not having to make dinner and do the dishes for EVERY meal! Ahh... that is pregnant lady bliss. I did do some shopping while there. I went to Ross to look for a coat because I was cold. I ended up leaving the store with toys for Jacob, blankets for Eve (and the cutest bath towel!), and 3 maternity tops. What was I thinking going in to a Ross? haha... I guess it meant I didn't go and buy all of it at WalMart, which is where I stopped next. Oh heaven help me!

After I got home, my house was a HUGE pile of packages to be opened, suitcases to be emptied, and a kitchen to be scrubbed! I nested, and nested and nested some more this week. It is amazing what a really heavy pregnant lady can do. I organized the bathroom vanity and set it up as a diaper changing station. (We are ready for the first bath and the first diaper change little one!) Then, I washed up the car seat cover, the boppy cover, the bouncer cover, and the swing cover. (Lets just say my washing machine was going non stop it seemed like. Especially after being sick the whole week before Ben's birthday, and then heading out of town, I was really behind on the laundry still!) I was also excited because I borrowed the cutest bassinet from my friend Suzie. Ahh! It seems so small, but I know she will be comfortable for 3-4 months in it. And it fits perfect right by my bed. So I washed it up, and its ready to go! And all of the newborn clothes are washed and ready to go too! So all that is really left is setting up the pack and play downstairs and getting it prepped for diaper changing.

This morning Jacob was so cute! I told him to say hi to baby sister, and he patted my tummy and said, "Baby sister!" After showering/bathing for church, he finally decided to try out the buttons on the bassinet mobile. I couldn't figure out what was making all the noise. So I looked into our room from the bathroom, and he was standing on the side bar, pushing all the buttons! Uh-oh! I was impressed that the bassinet stayed standing, so no worrying about it tipping. But I can see a curious big brother waking his sister... And it begins...

My last doctor's appointment was on the 16th. I officially weigh too much! I'm up to 171! Whew! My uterus was 35 cm, her heart sounded great and the doctor said she was head down. Its officially the home stretch. I can't wait to welcome her home! Really, I am just anxious for her to be here safe and sound. Too many traumatic things are happening to my friends around me, and I've heard enough to scare me into being induced. It's bittersweet though. She needs more time to grow, and so I will be patient, and anxiously do my kick counts with faith.

And now for your entertainment...

THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY TO PREGNANT WOMEN... or really just to me...

"Are you having twins?" (really lady?)

"Hey, that lady is hiding a basketball under her shirt!"

"You have a big fat belly."

-cute 3 year old from nursery

"Is this your first?"

ME: "No, I have one more, a boy"
"So you will have a boy and a girl. How old is your boy?"

ME: "2"

Followed by dirty look, which means "this lady is crazy.."

"Look at you with your cute belly."

"You look ready to pop."

Haha... its so interesting how many people talk to me about my pregnancy. I get such mixed opinions about Jacob being 2, and me being pregnant. People either think I'm crazy or smart. Guess I will find out, right?

And now for pictures...

25 weeks and 3 days

28 weeks and 1 day (My birthday!)

The pampered birthday girl with dashing husband...

Family Picture at Jacob's B-day Party, 30 weeks and 2 days

31 weeks and 3 days with big brother!

33 weeks and 3 days

Family Picture Outside St. George Temple

34 weeks and 3 days

35 weeks and 2 days in Palm Springs, CA

36 weeks and 3 days

Week 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Yep, this is how this pregnancy is going to roll... 5 week posts... I haven't been able to write as many posts, seeing as I have so much more to say about Jacob.

Here are some pictures for memory's sake... :)

23 weeks and 1 day

24 weeks and 1 day

See, I still think that part is important. My little girl doesn't want to hear all about how sick mommy feels on some days. Or how tight her tummy feels already. Or how round her mommy thinks her face is getting, as her belly grows. Or how uncomfortable things get sometimes, you know, like trying to bend over... or sleeping at night... haha... How did the belly get so big so fast? And will my belly seriously be getting bigger? Someone told me that each pregnancy was harder than the one before. They were a very honest true friend. Glad I had a heads up.

Tomorrow I will we 25 weeks, and its crazy to think that it will be 15 more before she is here! I bought her some more clothes during week 22, when I went shopping in South Carolina. It was so weird to shop for little girl clothes. I stuck to the basics. I had to make sure that I had something to bring her home from the hospital in. That was bugging me. It will be nice to have a baby shower, and then see what else I need before I go crazy!

I went to a few garage sales a couple weeks ago and found some fun things to decorate the nursery. I bought a mirror, a picture frame, a wood thing that holds flowers, and a little silver tea pot. How fun is that? Today I spray painted the frames, and started on the mirror when I ran out of primer. But I am sure excited about how they turned out. Now... if I could just get Ben to move the bed in the bedroom, I could make a game plan for her half of our room. (She will share with us until the Elders move out.)

For a sneak peak into my future nursery...
http://pinterest.com/walicia923/baby/

Can everyone look at pinterest even if they don't have a login? If you can't, then I highly suggest you join in the fun... but until then, here is at least one picture...

A cute bow holder! I got a Victorian looking frame from the DOLLAR STORE! Woo hoo!

It's a Girl!

Well, surprise, surprise... actually, I wasn't surprised! Not one bit. The only part that surprised me is that the ultrasound tech was checking out the baby parts, and I couldn't even tell what she was looking at! haha... so I have no official proof, although she did take pictures of every part south of my belly button... lol... But its a girl! Unless plans change, her name will be Eve Perkins. Short and simple. But that's not what I think her personality or figure will be like! ; )

Without further adieu.... here she is! A ton of profile shots... and her cute little toes! That's what I got to keep!

A profile picture. Not super clear, but I see a cute little nose!

Precious little face... this one is my favorite

You can see her hand by her face!

Not a good profile shot, but she's showin some leg!

Okay, in this one she kinda looks like a mermaid

Its always a relief to see two arms and two legs. Here are two feet!

More foot cuteness! Hope those toes aren't webbed! (sorry Ben...)

And since I didn't post enough pictures... here are two of me!

19 weeks

20 weeks, on the way to the ultrasound

19 weeks

Well, that was a big jump from 12 1/2 weeks to 19 weeks. The first trimester is over, and so is my worry, so the time is now starting to fly. There has been a lot of family events, a trip to Las Vegas and Spencer's Wedding, and that also made the time go by a lot quicker!

But here is what you missed!

Around 16 weeks, I felt the baby for the first time. It wasn't a flutter, but more of a tumbling feeling. This baby moves a lot! During the 12 week ultrasound I saw the baby move, and now I'm feeling every bit!

At 17 weeks I had another doctor's appointment. It was with Rita something or other. She is a Nurse Practitioner, and most likely the doctor I will be seeing for the rest of the pregnancy. I was tossed around at first due to the summer, and everyone going on vacation. So, now I'm more comfortable with the fact that I will see the same doctor. At this visit, she measured me, and we listened to the baby's heartbeat. She didn't give me any of that info though. I thought it would be on my after visit print out. : ( But she said I was measuring accurately and that the baby sounded very healthy. (Once she found the heart beat, it was loud and clear!) At this visit I asked the doctor for some new heartburn medication. I was taking Pepcid AC, and that only took the edge off. She prescribed Maalox, and it seems to work okay. I just cannot believe the night and day difference this pregnancy has been from Jacob. We think its a girl!

On July 13th, in my 18th week, Ben felt the baby kick for the first time! It was a good strong kick too. Ben enjoyed it, but said the pregnancy is more real for him when he can see whole body parts moving along my stomach, like an arm or a leg. haha... I was still glad I could share this with him. Its finally something he can participate in.

And that's about all.... I've been sluggish, and had terrible indigestion, and poor Ben hears about all of it. And Jacob lives through it. He can tell when mommy doesn't feel good. He likes to come up to me and give me kisses because I always smile and tickle him. It helps keep me going.

Next week is the gender ultrasound. July 28th! Only one more week, and we will know who is coming! Like I said, we predict a girl. But the Chinese calendar and other wives tales say its a boy. We will just have to wait a little longer. Ben's sister Noelle, who is two weeks behind me in her pregnancy, will find out what she is having on August 3rd. I am very excited to see if we are having the same gender.

Now, for pictures. I felt bad not taking more pictures with Jacob, so I've taken more belly pictures with this pregnancy. I learned that you don't mind taking more pictures if your face isn't in them. haha... so... sorry... you only get to see the belly.

14 weeks and 4 days

16 weeks

18 weeks and 1 day

Either I need to fix my screen resolution or I'm lookin pretty chunky! haha... it depends on the outfit, and whether or not it shows off "the bump." If I had more pictures then I would be able to determine if I am bigger than I was with Jacob. I think I'm looking bigger sooner.