18 Months

Emma Kate is slowly but surely turning from a baby into an independent little toddler.  I'm reminded how it seemed like while we were in the hospital with Emma Kate, Harper totally grew up and I know EK is not far from that!  Of course we are biased but we think she is super smart and of course very, very sweet :)

We had a crazy busy October but full of fun fall activities!  We made a trip to the zoo, pumpkin patch, trick or treated multiple times and had a quick weekend at the beach!  EK did end up dressing as Elsa for most of the halloween activities (though she calls herself Anna).  She of course had a great time eating candy at all opportunities.  We actually went to the UK football game on Halloween but there were so many people handing out candy that I think the girls had a great time still.  We went down to Pawley's Island where Andy has a client for a whirlwind trip.  It was chilly chilly but we still had a great time!  Harper is our beach girl and 50 degree weather at 7AM couldn't hold her back!  Emma Kate took a little time getting used to the cold sand but after a couple hours on the beach each day she was loving it and would always ask to go 'back to beach'! :)

She is extremely talkative, we understand most of what she says though I'm sure strangers think we're crazy.  She is still pretty darn laid back but occasionally will have a diva moment.  We went shopping for shoes and the man helping us brought out three pairs of tennis shoes, same sizes but different styles.  He asked if she wanted to put the first one on which she agreed to.  He then pulled out the next pair (purple) which she immediately began to swat out and said NO!.  Same reaction to the third pair (pink).  And finally he brought out the matching shoe to the first one (teal) and she says YES!! and sticks her other foot out to let him put it on.  He says umm... 'how old is she?? I'm sorry for you and your husband!' hahaha.  Girl's got an opinion and I'm ok with that! :)

She is so polite, loves saying please and thank you, even to Harper.  The only time they typically get in a tiff is when Harper tries to snatch toys from Emma Kate and occasionally in the car.  When someone tries to take a toy from EK she waves her hand wildly yelling no no no! haha.  And in the car, it never fails, one always wants the thing the other has.  Overall though, they do a wonderful job of sharing and being sweet to each other.

She is doing great at school, loves going every time which is wonderful to see :)  She's still pretty shy, will typically say Hi to strangers but in general does not want to be held by people besides me, andy and our nanny.  Although I will say, she has really developed an affinity for her Aunt Olivia :)  She also loves, loves Claire Bear.  Anytime we go outside and see claire's house she immediately starts pointing and saying Clairebear...always wants to go visit!

EK loves to take pretend naps, will lay down on a pillow and say Night night, then pop up and says I'm awake! Her pretend sleep face is pretty funny, super scrunched up little eyes.  She also does this kind of frowny, concerned face occasionally that we're trying to get her to do on command b/c it is hilarious!

She's working on some molars, is drooling a ton and basically always has a finger in her mouth feeling her gums.  The left bottom one is so close to breaking through so I'm sure it will be here before long.

She still naps twice/day but I'm thinking she will be cutting down to only 1 soon.  She is still quite the eater, not picky and typically finishes most everything on her plate.  I'm not sure how much she weighs right now but she's pretty solid! haha  She's wearing mostly 2T now.

She is not daring at all, very cautious and actually very rarely gets hurt because she will ask for help if doing something wild or just not do it at all!  I feel like most parents with two say their first was more like this and the second was wild but not at all in our house.  I think in the college years EK will look out for Harper and Clairebear ;)

 First time bowling! they loved it

 My sweet fam at Cam and Christie's wedding!

 poor EK under her sissy's hugs

 date night with mom while Dad and Harper went to a game

 our nanny took these pics! so cute

 pretend sleeping face

 Elsa relaxing on some pumpkins

 bag around the neck freed up her hands for maximum candy holding

 halloween party at school with Clairebear

 wild!

 One of us is not like the other... :)

 beach baby!

19 Weeks

We are getting super excited to have our anatomy scan next week - always nice to get a good peek at baby girl and make sure she's doing ok! :) (And that she is indeed, a baby girl!)  She has been moving a ton, Andy got to feel his first kick this week which was neat.  Harper loves to try to feel too but she hasn't been so lucky yet.  Seeing her be a big sister this time around is so neat... she really is so excited.  If baby commercials come on she will yell 'moooooom come look at the baby... and then went I come in she says awwww isn't it soo cute?! we're going to have one of those!'  Emma Kate continues to love all babies, loves to rock and feed her baby dolls.  When you ask her to wake the baby dolls up she pries their eyes open so we may have to work on that ;)

I've not done a thing to try to prepare for this except I have starting pinning some ideas for Harper's new room.  Of course, the only thing she likes are bunk beds... 'wow, mom I love that ladder! it is so cool! I could sleep up there and my baby Katie can sleep down there!'  (Harper sometimes calls Emma Kate Emma Katie... and half the time just calls her Katie haha)

I'm also pretty stuck on baby names.  I wrote out a list the other day during lectures and Olivia informed that some of them are too 'basic'.... haha what does that even mean?! Harper likes the idea of Katherine, Katie, Elizabeth, Wreck it ralph..... lol

I'm still feeling great fortunately, ready to get a legit baby bump and not just feel frumpy in my tight pants :)

How far along: 19

Total Weight Gain: 8lbs
Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: good

Best Moment This Week: Andy getting to feel her kick :)
Movement: yes :)

Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: not really
Belly Button: lived in
What I Miss: not much
What I am Looking Forward to: anatomy scan!
Milestones: baby is the size of a mango

*Photo credit to Harper :)

18 Weeks

We're moving right along, currently 18 weeks!  Getting excited for Halloween tomorrow!  Holidays are so much fun with little ones.  Our girls have gotten a lot of use out of their costumes this year!  Harper got to dress up for dance class, her school party, trunk or treat and will get to one more time for actual Halloween.  Emma Kate also wore her dress to Harper's dance, her school party, trunk or treat and then again tomorrow!  Harper originally decided to be a tiger but after wearing it a few times decided that it was bothering her so for the last couple events, has just worn one of her Princess dress up dresses :)  Emma Kate got a duck costume b/c she loves ducks but she haaates the costume.  Instead, she loves wearing Harper's Elsa dress so that is what she has been wearing nearly 24/7.  She thinks it's Anna so if you ask her if she wants to wear her duck costume to the football game she says, 'NO! ANNA!'. haha! The girl has an opinion!!

The pregnancy is going great, knock on wood.  I feel fine, not too worn out, not sick.  I'm kind of getting to that awkward chunky phase where no stranger think I'm pregnant but I definitely have more pudge around my stomach.  Somehow am not in maternity clothes yet but I've been choosing my looser pants.  I've been feeling baby move around a bit, a lot more over this past week which is always so fun.  I cannot wait for Harper to be able to feel her... she will love it!

Harper loves talking to the baby, usually about Paw Patrol or whatever tv show she is into.  I found a picture of Harper kissing my big pregnant belly with Emma Kate and she thought it was hilarious.  She told me the other day, 'mama, your belly is sooooo big!'  thanks sweet girl.... ;)  Emma Kate loves babies in general, she loves to feed baby dolls, always interacts with other babies :)

We're starting to think about how we're going to shuffle bedrooms.  Right now we have 4 bedrooms upstairs but one is a really large bonus type room that has morphed into a playroom.  Thinking we will move Harper there and let the new baby have Harper's room.  But of course we want to get Harper pumped about that (and make her think it's her idea) and also want to have her moved well before a baby comes home and kicks her out. Hoping that's a smooth transition! I think if she gets to cruise pinterest with me for some ideas and feels included with the process it will all go well :)

How far along: 18

Total Weight Gain: 6

Stretchmarks:  Nope... fingers crossed

Sleep: Pretty great

Best Moment This Week: being able to sneak away for Harper's school halloween party!!

Movement: yes! lots of sweet little kicks

Gender: Baby girl!!

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button: innie

What I Miss: Not feeling fluffy ;)

What I am Looking Forward to:  date night tonight!! and halloween tomorrow!!

Milestones: Anatomy scan very soon!! prayers it shows a healthy little babe :)

It's a GIRL!

Well we bit the bullet and went in for the gender ultrasound!  Dates were looking like they wouldn't work out for all of our family to be able to make it for a gender reveal party so Andy asks at gymnastics one night, 'if baby belly can squeeze us in do you just want to go find out?'  After going back and forth for 15 minutes I finally agreed so we raced over there to get the scan in.

After a few minutes of a uncooperative baby with legs crossed, she freezes the picture and says there ya go!  It clearly was a girl so I shouted it out and immediately looked to Andy's face... not even a split second of disappointment :)  I'm sure he'd love to have a boy at some point but he really is the best dad to our girls and I'm sure # 3 will be no different.

One night they were all visiting me while on call and Harper's being kind of rambunctious in the call room... so in Andy's best threatening tone he says 'Harper, if we don't settle down I'm not going to be able to paint your nails tonight!' :)

Harper was excited to find out that it was a girl while in the ultrasound room but after we got in the car she says, 'but mom, I really wanted a brother.'  haha. poor kid!  As the ultrasound tech said... 4th time's a charm! ;)

Regardless, it is crazy to think of adding a 3rd girl but we are so excited to do just that.  I love having a sister and I think they are all super lucky to get 2 of them!! :)

courtesy of my photog, Harper :)

14 Weeks

I've failed to keep up with my blog as I promised myself but still am popping in to make a little update! We told our families the week after the wedding and of course they were just as excited.  The two people I've been really been nervous about sharing this with was our nanny and my work.  Fortunately our sweet nanny had seen my prenatal vitamins laying around so was expecting this and took it like a champ!  Work was also good, supportive (at least on the outside ;)).

One of the best people we finally got to really tell is Harper!! We were waiting of course to tell everyone else and then just wanted to make sure our 12 week ultrasound looked fine as well.  Over the last couple weeks we've been asking her if she wants another baby to come live with us.  Normally she says no, she wants a dog but when we told her baby was on it's way she was excited.  She is sure it will be a boy and wants to name it Jackson.  Not sure where that came from but she's insistent!  Emma Kate obviously has no idea about anything but fortunately she loves other babies.  Of course she may not feel the same when that baby is living in her house, getting held by her mama but she'll adjust :)

I'm currently working my last week of nights, EVER, which is the most exciting thing.  It's hard on everyone so I'm thankful at least that I'm going to have it all behind me before we become a family of 5.

I've felt great except of course for being tired but at this point I think it's more just from this busy week of work and not so much the pregnancy.  Our 12 week ultrasound went well, sweet little baby bouncing around in there, not cooperating for the tech to get the images she needed.  Heartrate was 166!

Andy is pretty anxious to find out the gender... he wants to know if we are only having girls or if he'll ever have a boy.  I'm sure we will only have girls and he will get to pay for weddings forever ;)  October is a super busy month so I'm not sure we'll be able to squeeze in a reveal party but hopefully we can manage it!


How far along: 14

Total Weight Gain: they say 1 at my appt earlier this week but the amt of eating I've done during nightfloat will definitely take care of that ;)

Stretchmarks:  Nope

Sleep: obviously horrible this week

Best Moment This Week: getting to hear that sweet heartbeat!

Movement: sometimes I think so, sometimes not

Gender: ???

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button: normal

What I Miss: nothing really

 What I am Looking Forward to:  finding out the gender!
Milestones: finishing 1st trimester!

12 Weeks

I've been so horrible at writing weekly but since we still haven't told many people no one has been asking me to do it.  It's hard to believe I am already 12 weeks but it has completely flown by!  After feeling pretty nauseous almost daily from 6-7 weeks, one day it just completely stopped.  I just felt like something had gone wrong but soon after that around 8 weeks we had our first ultrasound which showed one beautiful little babe with tiny little arms and a heartbeat of 150 bpm.  Even though this is the 3rd time it's no less miraculous each time to see that little baby for the first time.

So initially we thought we'd go ahead and tell our families but then we decided to wait until after Cam and Christie's wedding.  I've been feeling relatively great and not really showing so figured no one would catch on to me.

Speaking of their wedding, it was so much fun.  Christie was the most laid back, relaxed bride ever.  I truly think I was more stressed out worrying about how Harper was going to behave than her!  Fortunately, our two sweet little flower girls, Harper and Claire, made it down the aisle... very slowly... but they made it :)  By the time the reception rolled around, Harper and Claire were exhausted from their hard days work but surprisingly the life of the party turned out to be Emma Kate!  She had a blast on the dance floor and probably would have made it the entire reception had Harper not been so worn out.  We could not be more thankful for Christie in ours and Cam's life and are so happy to have her 'officially' in the family though she's been family to us for years!

Back to baby #3.... I just have felt it was a girl... pregnancy has been pretty similar to the others... Andy is destined to be a 'girl dad' and have lots of weddings to pay for ;)... but the other night I was sitting at Olivia's soccer game all by myself actually getting to watch the game and I just got this thought that maybe it will actually be a boy?? Andy is dying to know.  Obviously we are thankful for either but the planner in him is ready to find out.

We really haven't told Harper yet as we figure if she knows, everyone will know.  Some things I never considered are kind of just the logistics of 3 kids... ie, car seats!  Three will fit in my car but not Andy's and probably not our nanny's.  I'm terrified to tell her and just pray she won't find the idea of 3 totally horrible and overwhelming.  But we do rely on her to help pick up the kids from school/MDO so it's like, do we get another old car for her to drive? Upgrade my car and let her drive my current one?? crazy.  Of all the things to worry about though, I realize that transportation for babies is a pretty small thing for which I am thankful.

I can't help but laugh when our girls get together with Claire cause they all get wild!! so loud, so busy.  Hard to believe our house is going to be like that but through all the chaos, Andy and I truly could not be more thankful for the opportunity to be parents and be doing this together.

I don't have much of a bump unless I eat a ton of food and then I guess it's more of a food bump but I'm going to start trying to do regular pictures.  Here's my 'bump pic' from 11 weeks, Cam and Christie's rehearsal dinner (with the dynamic duo included) and a little pregnancy update!


How far along: 12

Total Weight Gain: 1-2

Stretchmarks:  Nope

Sleep: like a rock unless someone drops their bunny, kitty, horse, paci or gets their sheets twisted ;)

Best Moment This Week: celebrating cam and christie!

Movement: sometimes I think so, sometimes not

Gender: ???

Labor Signs: nope

Belly Button: normal

What I Miss: nothing really

 What I am Looking Forward to:  getting out of the first trimester
Milestones: finishing 1st trimester!

6 Weeks

I'm just a few days past 6 weeks from my count, have my first appt with the nurse tomorrow so am looking forward to that.  I am really looking forward to that first ultrasound though!!

Andy and I were joking about how we would tell our families this time as we feel like everyone would be shocked.... but then over the last 3-4 days, literally 6 people have jokingly asked me if I was pregnant.  Maybe this happens all the time and I'm just paying attention to it now?  Mom tried to share her margarita with me which I sniffed and said it was too strong... and then during sibling dinner they offered me a beer and all balked when I said I had a headache.  We are headed to Pops in the Park on Friday which from what I hear is a big winefest with music but Andy has already told all of his officemates that I'm on call :) Doing his best to keep it a secret!

We took family pictures this past weekend which, as all parents of toddlers know, is never the most fun activity but I'm thankful to have some updated ones of my girls.  We took one with a Big Sisters March 2016 on a chalkboard too so may save that  for a little announcement :)  I'm not really sure when my due date is - sometime either end of March or first of April.

I have felt pretty tired, maybe moreso than normal.  For whatever reason some nights EK sleeps great and other nights she wakes up yelling mama mama mama mama mama for 5 minutes or so.  Usually she finds herself a paci and settles down but it still makes for a longer night.  I've also felt pretty nauseous from time to time, often in the mornings but not getting sick fortunately.

How far along: 6

Total Weight Gain: none

Stretchmarks:  Nope

Sleep: good when no babies cry ;)

Best Moment This Week: finishing my last Sunday call ever! :)

Movement: not yet

Gender: andy is only coming up with girl names??

Labor Signs: not yet

Belly Button: normal

What I Miss: never feeling nauseous

 What I am Looking Forward to:  first doctors appt and ultra sound

Milestones: there's a little heart with blood flowing :)

4 Weeks

We are so, so excited to have just found out baby #3 is on it's way!  I had taken a pregnancy test after some urging from Andy even though I just knew it was a waste of time and money.  So when I looked over the little digital reading and there was a timer still going but next it it said Pregnant... I was like 'well, Andy....' and he says, 'what you're not pregnant?'  And I'm like... let me get the directions, surely a 'Not' is going to pop up next to the pregnant when that timer stops turning.  So I go rummage for the directions and he says, the timer stopped, it says 1-2 weeks! HA!  Modern technology is amazing!

Whoa! So Harper and Emma Kate will be both be big sisters!!!  Of course I am super, super early so no signs or symptoms of being pregnant yet, only the anxiety of wondering is it actually real and is everything going to be ok.

Based on my rough calculations, baby should be due around April 1st!  Life is about to get craaaaazy but as we've learned, totally worth it :)

My immediate feeling is, this is a boy but we will see!  Luckily by the time this baby rolls around, I will be completely finished with nights/weekends at work so that is at least a bit of a relief.

Here goes nothing!

How far along: 4

Total Weight Gain: 0
Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: no sleep the night we found out, of course Harper also fell out of her bed for the first time :(
Best Moment This Week: sharing this big secret with Andy!
Movement: nope

Gender: I guess boy!
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button: normal
What I Miss: nothing
What I am Looking Forward to: how crazy but awesome life is about to be!
Milestones: just a bunch of cells right now :) dividing and doing their awesome thing!