15 Week Pregnancy Questionnaire

How far along are you? 15 weeks and 2 days

Total Weight Gain? I think around 5-7 pounds (seems to fluctuate)

How big is the baby? somewhere between the size of an apple and an avocado 

Maternity Clothes? Not yet, but I actually really like maternity clothes so I won't mind at all when the time comes to pull them out. 

Sleep? Waking up some at night, but still sleeping pretty well on my stomach or side. I am occasionally napping during the day but I'm not as exhausted as I was during the first trimester. 

Best moment this week? My doctor's appointment to check on the baby and hearing that little heartbeat (the best sound!). I also had a surprise ultrasound, so I loved getting to see our baby's face at this stage. He/She looks so much like James to me. 

Movement? I think I am beginning to feel some movement, but I definitely don't think this baby is as active as James was at this point (maybe personality differences already?). In fact, at James 15 week ultrasound he was moving everywhere and this baby was still and sleeping. :) 

Food Cravings/Aversions? All my aversions are behind me now! I am feeling so good at this point. My cravings are really similar to my cravings with James. Even though I have always been a dessert person, I really could just take them or leave them right now. And I am craving "real food." Just like with James, I love brick cheese, crackers, salads with lots of meat and blue cheese dressing (it's pasteurized, I've checked!), bacon, fruit, and salty things. 

Morning Sickness? My "morning sickness" at night was the last thing to go, but around the 12 week mark the morning sickness was really behind me. I only occasionally feel bad when I am just really exhausted, but for the most part I am feeling great. 

Gender? Our doctor really surprised me yesterday when she offered to do an extra ultrasound to check on the gender early. I mentioned when we were talking that we had found out  the gender at 15 weeks with James, and she said "Well, do you want to go check now?" I was shocked, but, of course, said "Yes!" I did have the surprise ultrasound, but the umbilical cord was covering the necessary parts and this baby was sound asleep. So, unfortunately we didn't get to find out but I did get to see the sweetest pictures of his/her little face. We will go back for the planned anatomy scan in 3 weeks! We are all making our predictions around here though. James: he is still adamantly insisting this baby is his "girl-ta" and nothing else, Kassi: Definitely have been feeling it's a boy the last few weeks, and Stephen: changes his mind every day but today he says "boy." So, we will see in 3 weeks. But, honestly, we (well, besides James) really do not have a preference. I will be so excited either way. 

What I'm looking forward to: Our next ultrasound in January and finding out the gender of the baby and beginning to call the baby by name; finding a fun way to announce the gender of the baby to our friends/family. We have thought about waiting until everyone is in town for James' 3rd Birthday but we would have to wait 3 weeks for that, and I'm not sure if I will be able to wait that long. We will see... :)

Here is my 15 week "bump" picture. It's not too apparent yet but I can definitely see the change.  I think I took pictures every week with James from this point on, so I thought I'd go ahead and take the first one with this baby. I'm sure I won't be as diligent about doing it every week, but I want this baby to have some pictures inside Mama's tummy as well. :)

Our Ride on the Polar Express

We are lucky to have a railroad right in our neck of the woods which is so perfect with a train-loving little boy! Nana and Grandpa treated us to a ride on The Polar Express. It was so much fun! There was a story read aloud, singing of Christmas carols, chocolate milk and cookies, and when we got to the "North Pole" at the end of the ride Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his elves boarded the train to talk to everyone. Here are a few pictures from the night:

Outside our "new" house before heading to Polar Express. James
will forever be calling our house "our new house", I think. :)

Sitting on the steps of a train before boarding our train. 

Taking in the sights of the North Pole. 

The Whole Gang! I love this picture! 

Chocolate CHOCOLATE chip cookies (with chocolate milk too!) 

He hugged this elf for a long time after she told James that
she was working on a train in Santa's workshop for him! 

This looks like he is happy about Santa but actually Santa and Mrs. Clause
snuck back up behind us for this picture. James is smiling and licking his lips for
the cookies and milk that were coming our way further down the aisle.
(He doesn't know Santa is in the picture - hopefully we aren't awful parents for this!)

Christmas/Advent Activities :)

Blogger is suddently letting me upload pictures again. I don't know how long it's going to last, but I'm going to try and post away for as long as I can until it forces me to make  a new blog.

Every day I have included a different Christmas activity in James' advent calendar boxes. I didn't take a picture of all 25 activities but here are a few of the fun things we've done with him so far this Christmas season. 

Polar Express Movie Night and Popcorn!

Made a Gingerbread House (out of wood) at Lowe's!

Rudolph Donut (James did not want to be in the picture!)

pipe cleaner candy cane craft! 

Rolled a ball covered in red paint over a white candy cane outline! 

James' First Hot Chocolate ever (complete with whipped cream!)
The Verdict: He said he likes cold chocolate better. :)

Lots of Singing! Here is James singing "I want a hippopotamus
for Christmas!" on his "stage" :)

New Blog Coming Soon...

I have been trying to figure out how to add more pictures to this blog but apparently the only way to do that is to pay a monthly fee which I want to avoid, so hopefully soon I will have a new blog up and running will plenty of space for posting more pictures. I have tried to work on it several times but between watching another two year old this week, James having some kind of stomach bug and cold, and Stephen and I sick as well it just has not happened. But keep watching for that new link to be posted soon... I have lots of Christmas-y pictures that I want to post of James working on Christmas Crafts, playing in the fake snow at the McWane Center (the best we can do in warm Alabama!), and our very fun ride on the Polar Express with Nana and Grandpa.

I read a post at Mom Heart Online that I loved this morning about perfectionism vs. pleasure during Christmas. For someone that has perfectionism sort of ingrained in me, it has been a hard (but good!) lesson to unlearn or, better, yet, for the Lord to help me overcome. It is a work in progress so I always love a good reminder of just enjoying the moment (even in the messes) with our children. Praying I would lay down perfectionism this Christmas and just enjoy the people in my presence. Here is an excerpt that I really loved:

As moms, we can't have both perfection and pleasure! If we’re going to see their eyes light up and their hearts filled with joyous, childhood memories; then something has to give, because nothing robs happiness at Christmas faster than a mom whose goal is perfection.

The richest moments are carved out in the pleasure, not in the perfection.

It isn’t possible to have "perfect" anything with children -- and even if we could attain it, we'd have to achieve it by stealing joy from the ones we ultimately are trying to bless.

When it comes to Christmas, we need to remind ourselves that perfection is not important. In fact, it does not even contain a hint of how Christmas began.

Travel back with me, to the night the King of Heaven and Earth came to dwell among us...

Mary, giving birth in a stable - where is there any perfection in that, dear moms, who've experienced the intensity of childbirth?

Joseph, not able to provide a humble hotel room - where is there any perfection in that, for the men who love to provide for their wives?

Brand-new, infant Jesus, wrapped in old rags for meager efforts of warmth - where is there any perfection in that, to have your little one shivering in the cold?

God's plan was never perfection and nothing has changed in the last two-thousand years; child-like pleasure in the blessings of the moment is still the heart of God for our families

You can read the whole post here.

Letter to Santa

This year I have been including a slip of paper which lists a special Christmas activity for that day in James' advent calendar. Some days are more exciting than others, but he enjoys opening the next door each morning to find a piece of candy and some type of activity that he will take part in. I thought that we could just keep it simple for today's activity and write a letter to send to Santa. Santa is definitely not the focus of Christmas around here, but Stephen and I both grew up "doing Santa" and we have continued that tradition so far. I let James dictate what he wanted included in the letter, and boy did he ever have a lot to say! If you have followed our blog for a while, you will remember that our son is just not a fan of Santa. We have a picture of him bawling on Santa's lap his first Christmas, and last year the only way we could get a picture was when Santa was off duty and James sat in his chair without Santa Claus! And after our letter writing experience today, I am pretty convinced that a visit to see Santa will not be included in our list of Christmas festivities for this year either. His letter really made me laugh and I wanted to share and record it here on the blog. It's funny to see just what's going on in their little heads in regards to various topics when given an avenue to express themselves - sometimes I don't listen enough and I'm thankful for when I do and I understand him better! Apparently Santa Claus has really offended our little man!! (Hopefully he doesn't sound like a meanie - I just could not stop laughing as he was coming up with this stuff and telling me what he really thought about Santa!)

Dear Santa,

This year Mama and Daddy said I don't have to sit on Santa's lap because it's "fuzzy from your red pants." Also, because I got really scared when you said "Ho Ho Ho" to me at a "estaurant" (We went to eat at Izzo's with Stephen's family last Christmas) and Grandpa told you to drive across the street (Grandpa did tell Santa two of his grandchildren were scared, but not to drive across the street! ha!). Maybe if you are nice to me, I will come see you with the new baby from Mama's tummy next year. I have been a good  boy this year but sometimes grumpy. I would like another helicopter, please (as he whirled his Harold the Helicopter in the air). You can come down our chimney and bring us presents. And please blow Mama's exercise thing to Africa, because I want to (My mom let me borrow a step box to get some exercise during this pregnancy and apparently James is not a fan of me doing it!)!

I would love a green bouncy ball, a scooter and a tricycle, Jake and the "Everland" Pirates boat, Little Einstein's Train Choo-Choo, Instruments, and Toby - I want two Toby's (as he drove the other across his track!)

Love, James

Limited...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! We have had our decorations up for a few weeks now, and over the weekend we also decorated with a few lights on the outside of our house for the very first time! This year James is at such a great age and it has just been so fun to begin the countdown to Christmas with him and do advent activities with him each day. Christmas becomes even more special when you experience it through the eyes of a child! Here are a few pictures of our decor, but I'll spare you pictures of every little nook and cranny that has a candle, christmas candy jar, or a seasonal potholder! (Actually I won't post any pictures for now because I'm getting the message that I'm out of space a-gain - not sure what I'm going to do about that! But stay tuned...)

I just wanted to blog that in the midst of all the fun and wonder of Christmas, it's also easy in our American culture to feel burdened this time of year. I have been feeling especially burdened and limited the last few days. I have been recognizing my financial limitations, my time limitations to try to squeeze in everything that I would like, and my human limitations to fix things or change circumstances in my own strength (of course, this has always been the case but a lesson I constantly have to learn) - just to name a few! It's funny the way that all the preparation for celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace often becomes a time that is anything but peaceful in our hearts when we allow it. Or when we lose sight of what the decorating, baking, or gift-giving is really all about.

I have read two wonderful perspectives on Christmas recently on other blogs that I frequent often, and I was so encouraged as I was reminded, once again, that the focus of Christmas isn't about me or my efforts but completely on HIM. I just wanted to share a few excerpts and pray that they will encourage you as well if you too find yourself feeling a little less than peaceful this time of year.

From Femina:
And while each of us has celebrated Christmas through the years in a number of different situations, it is the very difference that is so powerful. Some of us are celebrating this Christmas while grieving. Some of us are celebrating in the face of loss, in the face of fear, in the face of sorrow. Some of us are celebrating this Christmas with new believers in our families, with repaired relationships. Some of us are celebrating this Christmas alone, looking forward to a time when there are people who want us, need us, and depend on us. Some of us are celebrating this Christmas tired, worn out from the hardest year we’ve ever had. Some of us are celebrating Christmas in awe at the number of blessings that have been poured out on us this year.

But this is the beauty of Christmas. Christmas did not just come to the world once, in Bethlehem. When Jesus came into this world, into that manger, He came for all time. He came came for us this year. When we are celebrating Christmas, we are acknowledging that here, now, we have a Savior. We are celebrating the presence of our Savior in the situation we are currently in. We are celebrating that our Savior did not just come to people once. He came to us all, now.

So I look fondly at that mess of a Christmas last year, and while I would like to throw away all the ornaments and start over, I rejoice. Last year, we had a Savior. This year, we have a Savior. Forever, we have a Savior.

So look around you this year. Remind yourself that your Savior came to you here, and He came to you now. Grab all the stuff you can, and throw a party. And if you don’t have any money this year, grab the old newspapers and make some decorations. And if you have money this year, act like it. This is Good News, people, not old news. This year, like all the years before us, and all the years ahead, we have a Savior. And that is the best reason to party that I ever heard of.

From Mom Heart Online:
The Christ Child in the manger, He takes on the garment of fragile flesh to release us from being beasts of burden. I think of this often, when I feel Christmas as a weight, burden that I'm sagging under for weeks. Whenever Christmas begins to burden, it's a sign that I've taken on something of the world and not of Christ.

Christmas comes to us like the Cross -- asking nothing of us but embrace. So I lay down the expectations and the efforts, the perfectionism and performance, and I simply wait for His coming.His blood does all the work. He shed it to release us from burden-- so we embrace a peacefulAdvent...

I am limited this Christmas, but He is able - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

He is able this Christmas and every other day. Just resting in that truth brings comfort and peace to my weary heart.

Stephen's Birthday Celebration (in pictures)

Thankful for the opportunity to celebrate another year with YOU!