23 Weeks

23 weeks in and baby girl is STILL super low. I thought I felt her kick my ribs about a week ago and actually got excited that there was a possibility of her moving up a little. I don't believe that has happened though. Not too much has changed. I have gained a few more pounds and now can't seem to fill myself up with food...I'm always hungry!

We go back to see the Midwife on the 13th.

Cooper's doing great. He can now say that he's two while throwing what looks like gang signs to show his "two" fingers. He also knows the baby's name, but don't think you can get it out of him. The few people who have tried already only got a sly smile from him as if to say "I'm not supposed to tell you!"

We are gearing up for Cooper's 2nd birthday....I'm sure we'll be amazed and surprised with all of the new things we get to learn, do, and enjoy.

21 weeks

21 weeks down, 19 to go...hopefully! I've been feeling pretty good. I began running again. I am now doing about a mile 3 times a week along with some strength training, and my yoga/pilates/tai chi classes. I feel GREAT physically.

The baby is really low....meaning really pressing on my bladder. If I remember correctly, I carried Cooper pretty high for the majority of the pregnancy. Oh the differences.

Cooper is doing great. He's almost 2! I think we are on the edge of getting 2 yr molars which I'm not too thrilled about. I'm actually dreading the molars, although I will be happy if they can come in before the baby arrives. He is learning his colors and knows almost ALL of his animal sounds. It's great to watch him put together his puzzles so quickly and know that he continues to learn.

We've entered into some tantrums and fits. He really is my strong willed child. We are trying to have an open mind and really keep learning as we go and not become TOO frustrated....oh it is hard though!

Sonogram @ Week 20!

We're 20 weeks along with Smith Baby #2 and man am I showing! It's very true that you show faster with baby #2 than you do with your first kiddo.

After debating over the subject of finding out the sex of the baby or not, we decided it would be best to find out. ALTHOUGH, the one thing we wanted was for it to memorable, and it was. Since we actually knew the person doing the ultra sound (Randell's Mom), we were able to enjoy the experience very much. We are 90% sure that Smith Baby #2 is a GIRL!!! We are glad we found out so that I can buy all the pink things in the world.

The baby is moving a lot these days. Sleep is interrupted frequently with trips to the bathroom. Cooper loves giving the baby kisses and saying "I Love You", which is the sweetest thing in the world.

A Quick Update

A quick update from the Smith Household:

I am 14 and a half weeks along. I still can't do that well with food yet. It's not that I'm throwing it up, but nothing sounds good, looks good, or tastes good to me. I keep trying to push food down me but I don't think I'm doing a great job of it. I have to date gained 3-4 pounds after loosing 9 in the beginning. I'm sure my Midwife will not be too thrilled, but again I CAN'T eat!

Cooper's growing, talking, and becoming much more of a fun toddler. He is able to communicate almost all of the time. The potty training is going really well. We have a potty chart that has stickers ALL over it these days. He's still in diapers, but I have a strong feeling that come this summer we'll be done with diapers for a month or so!

We have gone back to the specialist concerning his WBC and unfortunately found out that the count has plummeted right back down. Cooper's still healthy, so we are continuing our bi-monthly trip to the specialist for a finger prick.

Randell still has a job! YEAH!!! His company went through another round of layoffs about a month ago. Please keep him and his company in your prayers. It's a wonderful blessing that he works for such an amazing company and we'd really like to keep it that way.

We've posted new pictures to the site. Go and check them out!

9 weeks - 31 to go!

I am getting into my ninth week of this pregnancy and have already had my ups and downs. Mood swings have happened, but I'm sure not to the intensity as they will within the next 31 weeks!

I don't seem to have "morning sickness", instead it's an "all afternoon into evening" sickness! If I can be in bed by 8, then I'm normally doing great. Eating dinner is hit or miss. I'm actually going to attempt cooking meat tonight to see how well I can take it! Randell has been GREAT with cooking and cleaning in the evenings.

I have not gained weight. Instead I think because of my lack of appetite throughout the day, I've now lost about 8 pounds. I'm not too sure how my Midwife will react to that next week, but I can probably safely assure her that I will gain all of it back PLUS another 40lbs most likely!

On a "funny/sad" note....the other day I had a mom from MDO come up to me and say "Oh how cute, you're already showing!" I wanted to punch her! I wanted to say "I'm only 8 weeks along! This is just Cooper weight that's never gone away." Instead I smiled and said thanks, even though I was brewing inside. As if she didn't remember with her kids, a baby at 9 weeks is the size of a lima bean! Moms that have gained enough weight to show by then need to be put on a diet! I know that I'm not showing and if others think that my skinny self is showing, well then so be it!

I go see the Midwife next Wed. I'm very excited. We'll get to hear the heartbeat for the first time.

On a different positive note. We took Cooper to his regular appointment with the hematologist a few weeks ago to see where his WBC counts were at. The counts came back at a 2.1 (normal range is 2-7.8). This is the FIRST time we've had a count this high since we found out about his neutropeania. We'll be going back to the doctor for yet another test on Feb 2nd. We're staying positive that his counts will continue to increase and that it wasn't just an illness!

Our Growing Family

I've decided that I want to track this pregnancy a little closer than I did with Cooper. Since I'm home and have the time (thank GOD for naps!), I figure I can focus a little more on spreading the exciting and not so exciting news of my pregnancy.

We went to visit the Midwife last Monday. With Cooper we used a regular OBGYN Doc. He was great, we loved going to his visits and talking with him. We felt really comfortable about the pregnancy and labor(all natural). Although, when the time came for me to be in labor and deliver, my doctor was out of town! So, of course, we were stuck with a doctor, who was great, but still not MY doctor. A lot of things happened during Cooper's labor that I think would have been handled differently if my doctor would have been there.

SO, we have chosen a midwife, same group practice, but a midwife. She is awesome. A little side note about her is that when we went to our first appt with Cooper's pregnancy, she was the one to check on me and did the first heart beat. When we saw and heard it, she called Cooper a "Bump of Stuff." To this day, that's why we call Cooper "Boss"!

Obviously we're not too far along in this game yet. I get to go back and visit with the midwife in Jan. I'm so excited. A great positive thing also is that their office is VERY inviting to children. They encourage that the siblings come to all appts, no matter how active they are, so they can feel apart of the process as well.

So, to this date we are about 6 weeks or so along, I haven't really gained any weight yet (thank the Lord!), but I already feel "fat" in some regular clothes. It's amazing with Cooper's pregnancy I was excited at the first point of me "showing" even when I really wasn't. Now, I'm trying to prolong me having to wear maternity clothes. We'll see how long I can make it.

I have stopped on the half-marathon training for now, for the main reasons that I don't want to do anything to harm this pregnancy. I am still very strong in my yoga/pilates and regular weight lifting and cardio training. I plan to get right back into training for the half-marathon once the babies born. I'll have a few months to train before the Rock N Roll marathon.

The hangover-type sickness is here and doesn't look to be leaving anytime soon. I wish it would and I think Randell wishes it would too. We've eaten out the last two days mainly because cooking and our "healthy" food doesn't sound good to me AT ALL!!! I'm craving sour limes and cheese enchaladas already.

And now for a nap!

A Smith Update

To Catch You Up On Things.....

Cooper has been inconsistantly using the potty for about a month now! We're so excited. Granted it is not as consistant as we'd like, but I think it's a step in the right direction. He gets SO excited when he does go, because he gets to help flush the toilet. He jumps up right after going pee and claps his hands. Oh the little joys in his eyes!

We have been battling teething molars and bronchitis with Cooper for the last 3 weeks. I didn't know teeth could prove to be such a battle! He is finally getting over the bronchitis and now his bottle molars are moving up....ugh!

We are still seeing the specialist every week or so for check ups. Nothing has really changed in one direction or the other which is both good and bad. The doctor does not see the need at this time to do more extensive testing though since Cooper is still healthy. I did just find out though that because of Cooper's condition, we qualify for free umbilical cord banking for future Smith children.

Randell will be working on a cool project beginning within the next few weeks all by himself. He is very excited as it will help expand his knowledge of public works!

I am still working at MDO on Tuesdays/Thursdays. It is a lot of fun and very challenging. I have also started a new Stay At Home Moms Playgroup on the Northwest side of SA. There is already a great group of moms involved which helps to keep Cooper and me busy on M/W/F!

Even though it's November....the weather is not as cold as we would like it, but it's perfect weather to have the windows open and take an afternoon walk.

Don't forget to check out new pictures.