26 Weeks

26 weeks and we are back home in Vegas. My back has really been hurting on and off this last week. I know a lot of it has to do with how much I did on vacation and also that I haven't been at the gym to keep my muscles as strong as they use to. Ariana and Alexis have been full of kisses and hugs for my belly this last week. Ariana is starting to wish that her brother was already here. She prays for him every night that he will be healthy and strong, and not to little to survive. Alexis prays for that too and also that I feel ok when I need to. It really touches my heart to watch as both my girls bond with their brother and he's still growing in my belly. He is already very much a part of our family. I'm 99% sure his name is going to be James Hunter Ashby. James after my Dad and Hunter because Alexis loves the name and has been begging since before we knew we were having a baby if it could be a boy and his name be Hunter. I hope letting her pick the middle name will be very special to her and him.

25 Weeks

25 weeks! I've been on vacation in Utah and am now in Vista (Northern San Diego) at my parents house. Its been a lot of fun and people now are openly acknowledging that they can tell that I am pregnant but I mean come on my belly is starting to get out there! This week from all the driving or I don't know what I am starting to feel really squished if I sit down for too long. Its much more comfortable to often stand of lay all the way down. Last week when I was 24 weeks Alexis was laying on me using my belly as a pillow and just feeling the baby kick. It was very sweet and she loves it! She loves when I let her try and feel him moving around. I'm glad she feels so connected already to her brother. I hope she continues to be so caring about him once he is here.

23 Weeks

I can't find a picture to go with this week but that's ok. I had a doctors appointment on July 1 and everything looks good. I've only gained one pound but the doctor laughed and said that's fine because the baby only weighs one pound now and its better to save all the weight gain for the end anyways. Plus I started about 5 pounds heavier than I did with Ariana so it really isn't a big deal (so he says) I think he's just trying to make me feel good that I started overweight and is just being polite about the whole thing. He took me completely by surprise when he pointed out that I start my third trimester in just one week. Crazy! Third trimester already? That came really fast! (but I never realised third trimester is actually the longest part of your pregnancy since you still have 16 weeks left!!) Still crazy how fast it is going.

22 Weeks

Gratitude

Sometimes life is hard, that's just how life is. When times get rough it helps a lot to look at the blessings that you do have. Just this morning I started making a list of people who have really helped me out A LOT over the pass few weeks and my heart is full of gratitude. My list is becoming very long and when I look at it I feel SOOO blessed. I am grateful beyond belief for the support and friendships I have. I am grateful for good health not only in me but with my pregnancy and children. I'm grateful for the talents that I have and that I can use them to help provide for my family. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me and is standing by me.

21 Weeks, Its a...

BOY!!!

Another week has gone by. Friday was our "big ultrasound". I've known for weeks that it was a boy but my girls didn't. 20 weeks is normally the first time I ever get to see my babies and a tradition that we've developed is that we find out what we are having but not at the ultrasound. The ultrasound tech prints a picture with what it is and we look at the picture at a nice lunch or dinner. My girls have really been looking forward to this tradition and I wanted to keep it up so I didn't tell them even when I knew what it was. This drove Alexis crazy!! (she's a like me, we don't like to be held in suspense just tell us now! Secrets drive us nuts!!)

Alexis has really wanted it to be a boy and Ariana wanted a girl. Ariana's reasoning makes me laugh. She wanted a girl because she has a baby toy that she loves that she is convinced she must share with a boy but not a girl. What is it? A stuffed yellow, blue and green giraffe rattle. If it was a girl she has a pile of "girl toys" that she doesn't want any more and is ready to pass to a little sister. Nice Ariana! : ) She wasn't really too upset that it is a boy. She has gradually been warming up to the idea of a baby. She's starting to talk about pushing it in a stroller and helping give it a bottle. Alexis can't wait on the other hand. From the time we started talking about maybe having a baby come she has been jumping with excitement. I think they are both going to be great big sisters. It will be nice having them be a little older and able to help more.

I've felt the baby moving a lot more this week. This morning I could even tell he was all curled up on the left side of my belly. I let Ariana feel it. She thought that was really wierd. I feel like I have started showing more this week and sleeping certain ways and exercising in some classes and on some equipment has gotten a little uncomfortable. Nothing to bad just enough to remind me that I am pregnant : )

Twenty Weeks

Twenty weeks! I can't believe I'm already half way there. Just ignore the fact that I look tiered in the picture (because I am). I know there still isn't much showing and I wish I had profile pictures from the girls so I could compare. Oh well. Its still exciting to be half way done. Bring on the stretchy pants, shirts and dresses because I'm sure I'll be big soon enough. : ) There hasn't been much change between last week and this week beside maybe gaining 2 lbs which is due in large part to eating dinner with friends, block parties and end of school year celebrations. YUMMY! Thank goodness food tastes good again! (or maybe not ; ) )