31 Weeks & Growing...

And we are officially on the single digit weekly count down! ;)  Everything's going great... I'm actually sleeping really well, feeling great, just tired... but other than that, no complaints here!  I'm loving all the movement and I know I will miss it so much after I deliver.  I do think he has changed positions.  When he was completely breech, I was very uncomfortable.  I feel like I can breathe a lot easier now and he's not kicking my bladder so much.  He had the hiccups really bad today and they felt really low so I'm hoping that means he's turned a bit... We will see!  I don't have a doctor's appointment this week - I rescheduled for next week so I didn't have to take off any more work.  These every other week appointments are so inconvenient - especially when it's weight check, blood pressure check, heart beat check, out the door ya go!

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 Harrison is over 16 inches long and weighs over 3 lbs now.

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He's heading into a growth spurt this week.  He can now turn his head side to side and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as fat accumulates underneath his skin.

The Fair....

I figured I would have such a great post about the fair since C is old enough to enjoy it this year but........... not so much!! haha!!  He hated it... hate might be an understatement.  First of all, he is terrified of cows.  I really don't know how this happened but all of a sudden he started freaking out any time he saw one on TV or heard the "moo" noise.  He makes this pitiful little face and noise and runs to me.  I thought for sure that if I introduced him to a real cow that maybe all would be well... I mean the kid LOVES dogs and cats so I thought we would be good to go.  Boy, was I wrong.... we took him through the dairy part right when we got there and it started off great.  He was just looking around at all of them and we were talking about it UNTIL one of them "moo'd" and it was OVER!  I guess once a cow moos they all feel the need to moo..... well, once that started he was in pure panic mode.  We had to put that stroller in reverse and bail! lol 

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I'm not sure why we thought taking him through "Old McDonald's Farm" would be a good idea after this but we sure did.... I guess I was thinking that maybe just the cows freaked him out and other animals would be fine!  Nope.... the goats were good, he liked visiting with them... and then we got to the llamas, camels, horses, zebra, and what do you know.... another cow... and we had to get out quick.  He wanted no part of it.  Last year he LOVED the animals... this year I'm pretty sure it gave him nightmares all night!  I think he is going through a phase where really big things or loud noises just scare him.  Either that, or he's a big chicken just like his momma!! 

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We strolled on over to the carousel so he could ride it for the very first time and I was really excited about this!  Put him on the horse... everything was wonderful.... Until, it started moving and the horse started going up and down.  He wanted off immediately! haha!!  I couldn't help but laugh so hard the rest of the ride as I held him and he enjoyed going around in circles (as long as he was in my arms and NOT on that horse going up and down) about how funny it is that we plan for things and sometimes they go completely opposite from what we think!  Here we thought we would have a great evening at the fair looking at and feeding the animals, riding some rides, and strolling around enjoying our baby... and instead, the animals scared him to death, he wanted NO part of the rides (smart boy), and it was 98 degrees outside and I'm almost 8 months pregnant! LOL!  Corey and I laughed so hard as we exited the fair, about 30 minutes after getting there and $40 later.... I wouldn't have changed a thing - memories with my family are the absolute best!! =)

 He did enjoy a fair corn dog and some nachos! =)

 All is well... Ride hasn't started yet...

And now I want mommy to hold me as we go around! =)

This is a picture from the fair last year... thoroughly enjoying the animals! hehe

Over the Weekend

Weekends go by WAY too fast.... I cherish every little moment I get with Christian from Friday to Sunday night!!  We had a great weekend with this great weather!  Friday night we ordered Chili's to go and stayed in and watched TV.  Christian loves quesidillas and that's what he had for dinner- it cracks me up! lol  Saturday morning he woke up at 7:15 which is early for him so we watched a couple of his recorded shows.. Daniel Tiger and Sid the Science Kid (his two favorites right now... Sesame Street is also a favorite!)  After we had breakfast we headed to the Dean's to let the kids play outside together.  They had a lot of fun enjoying the cooler weather and then we headed in to play in the playroom.  Christian was more fascinated with climbing the stairs up and down! ha!  We went shopping later on for him some new shoes since he's grown out of all of them!!  We didn't really find any that we just loved so we are going back later this week to shop some more.  He is already in a size 7!!  I can not believe that!  He did get some cute new fall clothes though from Old Navy! =)  He also got a big boy haircut... It is soooooooooo stinking adorable but I can not get used to him looking like a little boy and not a baby anymore!!  If it was possible for him to get any cuter and to look anymore like his daddy, he definitely does now!  By the way... the child sits there and lets her cut his hair.  He doesn't cry or move around much.. he acts like a little adult!!  It is crazy how lucky we got with him being the best baby in the world.... Really praying for round 2 of that! ;)  Sunday morning me, Christian, and mom went to church.  Corey had to work.. boo!!  Church was amazing, like always... and then we went and grabbed some lunch and headed home.  C took the longest nap ever and I got some cleaning and laundry done!  Corey's mom and Jon came in town last night and we had dinner at Cracker Barrel.  I made a very exciting purchase while we were there... I have been looking for the perfect "something" to put in the window between our kitchen and living room FOREVER now and I finally found some super cute candle holders at Cracker Barrel.  They are copper and have sunflowers on them, which makes me very exited (it really is the little things).  Sunday night consists of football at the Iovinelli's... even though I feel like every night seems to consist of it somehow whether it's ESPN talking about it, an actual game on, or a recorded game... haha!  This is my life.. I am surrounded and outnumbered by boys! *and I LOVE it!* 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.... I just wish they would slow down!!! 

 waiting to get his hair cut 

 trying to lift weights like daddy

My mom sent me this picture... This is how he's spending his Monday morning... rough life! 

30 Weeks & Growing...

This week is the big 3-0!  Wow... it seems majorly surreal when you hit the 30s for some reason... I guess because it means you are in the single digit count down! ha!  It just seems beyond strange that we are already this far in pregnancy... however, I can not wait to meet the little guy!!! =)  This has not been a great week because I have been horribly sick with bronchitis.  I am starting to feel much better though!  Harrison is constantly on the move and I love feeling him!  Christian did the CUTEST and SWEETEST thing ever this week.... We have been trying to talk to him a lot about Harrison lately since he's finally getting old enough to kind of understand. He says bubba but that's been the extent of it until this.... We were talking to him about bubba and I asked him where he was and pointed to my belly, he put his little hand on my belly and rubbed it and then kissed it three times!!! Most definitely one of the BEST moments in my life!!! ♥

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 Harrison weighs about 3 lbs and is almost 16 inches long.

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No major developments this week... He's just continuing to grow! =)

H's Baby Shower

So, first of all, I didn't think I was even going to have a baby shower for Harrison since this is our second baby... My sister in law called me one day though and said she really wanted to throw me one so her and my mother in law put this together.  It was beyond perfect - from all the little details, the location, and the people there!  We are beyond blessed and Harrison is already so loved!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the shower..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 Weeks & Growing...

We had a doctors appointment this Monday and everything went great.... It was the appointment I had been dreading for weeks because it came with a shot.  Ugh... I hate needles and just the word "shot" completely freaks me out!  I was surprised the my blood pressure was perfect - it usually goes up when there are needles involved!  It was a short visit.  I've hit the 20 lb mark on weight gain which he said was perfect for this stage in pregnancy and my starting weight, blood pressure was perfect, H's heartbeat was in the 140's like usual, he's measuring right on, and he's constantly moving but STILL breech.  He has been breech this entire pregnancy and I'm just praying that he flips in the next few weeks.  I had my rhogam shot and I'm so glad that's over with... It really wasn't THAT bad but the medicine in those things really burn and it's not a "quick stick and over with" type of shot, unfortunately.  Corey talked to me the whole time though and that helped! =)  I am very much looking forward to my shower this weekend!!!  It's just a small, very closest friends and family shower, but I'm so excited to celebrate little Harrison and feel very blessed that my sister in law and mother in law went through the trouble of having me another shower even though it's not my first! 

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Harrison weighs about 2 1/2 lbs and is about 15 inches long.

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This week's major developments:  His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain.   This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

30 Day Challenge

Let me start out by saying that we are not going through any kind of marriage therapy classes, although it may seem so according to my last two posts being directed to "helping your marriage" - ha!  I am striving to become a better Christian and serving God the way He wants/needs me to.  I made a list of things that I need to do to become closer to God and live in His will for my life and my marriage always is a top priority for me.  So, as I do my studying whether it be in the bible, religious books or blogs, and ect I will share with you some of the wonderful things I find that seem helpful to all marriages! =) 

The link below will take you to a blog that I found that gives you a 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge - Very easy to do... really things that we should be doing already but sometimes struggle with!  Shhh... do not tell my husband this secret - He needs to think I'm just that wonderful! ;)

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/articles/30-day-husband-encouragement-challenge/

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” ~ Proverbs 31:26

Marriage Advice... Top 20:

I read this on a friends blog the other day and absolutely LOVED it!!  I have found myself going back and thinking about a few of these each day and wanted to re-post it so if you didn't get a chance to read it, you can... I think this is amazing advice for married couples, especially newlyweds!!  

1. Marriage is made up of two good forgivers. Because every marriage is made up of two sinners. (Romans 3:23)

2. At some point, you will have to learn that life isn’t all about you. (Philippians 2:3)

3. Don’t listen to women that tell you that passion fades…it doesn’t have to! (um…all of Song of Solomon)

4. Don’t give up. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13)

5. He wants a kind wife, not a maid or another mother. Be nice. (Galatians 5:22-23)

6. Give your husband the gift of your respect.  He needs it more than you know. (Ephesians 5:33)

7. Be mindful of your expectations.

8. Honor the Lord above all things. Colossians 3: 17

9. Find your worth and security in the Lord, and don’t look to your husband to meet all of your needs.

10. Be very careful about reading romance novels, they set you up for an unrealistic view of romance.

11. Real romance is finding that one spot in the crook of his arm to snuggle into, that shared look over the dinner table when the kids are acting crazy, and the way he fixes the leaky sink when he is dog-tired after work. (So true!!)

12. Love is about relationship.  The more I love my husband, and seek a relationship with him, the less critical and duty-bound I become.  It is similar to my relationship with God. 

13. Be thankful for the husband you have. Accept him as he is, not for what you want him to be.

14. Don’t compare!! Don’t buy into the game of comparing him with anyone else's husband.

15.The Biblically “normal” marriage is filled with joy, connection, laughter, and peace.  It’s not free of hurt feelings and conflict, but they know how to process their pain with one another so that they live more often in a meadow than at the scene of a train wreck.  This is not the average marriage, but it normal – -because it is a visible display of Jesus’ relationship with His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).

16. Your marriage is a testimony! “The #1 evangelistic tool in America (the world) today is a successful marriage, because it’s a living miracle!” – Dr. Joe Aldrich, former president of Multnomah Bible College.

17. Pray for your marriage. Pray hard.

18.I’ve heard that is gets better with age. (I do agree that it gets better every year..)

19. Where there is God, there is always hope. Even for the most broken marriages. “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

20. Marriage is commitment and sacrifice. But it’s also the best, most wild ride you will ever have with your best friend.

28 Weeks & Growing...

HELLO 3rd trimester - I can not believe you are already here!!  I'm getting used to being back to work and I'm not feeling as tired as I was last week. :)  Let me just add that I am absolutely loving my job!!!  I love teaching 6th grade so much... the kids are soo sweet and I feel like it's my true calling.  I also love my new teaching partner and we are doing some really fun things in science!  I'm not so much loving leaving my sweet baby at home but at least he stays at our house with my mom.  I mean, it really could not get any better!!  I am beyond appreciative of all she does for us! :)  The most exciting part of this past week was our 4D ultrasound... We LOVED getting to see little Harrison!!  He's cute as can be and looks a lot like his handsome brother in some of the pics.  When we were watching him on the screen we both thought he looked a lot like me but then when you look at his pics next to C's 4D, they really have a lot of similarities!  My next doctors appointment is Monday and I have to get a Rhogam shot - not looking forward to it at all.  I hate shots, a whole lot, but I am Rh negative and it is most definitely worth it for the baby!!  I guess this is my last appointment before the more frequent visits start.  Hard to believe.

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Harrison weighs over 2 lbs now and is about 15 inches long.

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This week's major developments:  He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes!  His eyesight is rapidly developing.

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 Sweet little legs

 

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 Harrison on the left, Christian on the right.... What do you think??