Weeks 23-25 and Thanksgiving

Here I am behind again! Second trimester is flying by! I can't believe we are at the 6 month mark. Little man is moving, moving, moving. Just last night I told James I could feel the baby on 2 sides of my belly at the same time. He must have been stretching out while throwing a few kicks and punches. If I'm laying down we can watch my belly jump when he moves. I have to be honest..that is WEIRD! :)

This is 24 weeks. We were on the road to Wisconsin so see my parents for Thanksgiving.

     We made the 12 hour drive up to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving this year. It was really nice to spend time with my parents. We also go to see my grandparents, some aunts/uncles and cousins too! We had a great time! Lots of food, aggravation, Uno, and cold weather! I didn't take a ton of pictures, but here are some:

On the canal behind my parents house. It was frozen if you can't tell :)

Penny loving the ice

I just watched from afar...no one wants a preggo girl falling on her butt

Maggie and Lucy loved the ice too

Werre side Thanksgiving

Love me some Amber

Us with mom and dad

Of course we couldn't miss out on some black Friday shopping! We seriously need a Menard's in TN. That store is a Lowes on steriods.

James bought "toys" for his shop/shed. I bought tupperware and toys for Penny :)

All in all, we have so much to be thankful for!

21 and 22 weeks

Can't believe I'm moving closer and closer to 6 months!! Time is just flying. I guess because Thanksgiving and Christmas haven't happened, March seems so far away. But really, it's not! After Christmas time will really start to fly! I am really enjoying the second trimester. I feel good and have good energy. Just this past week I have been having back pain/ muscle spasms which are so not fun. It's a sad day to sit on the couch and realize you cannot get comfortable :( I'm hoping my doctor has some good tips when I go next week. I have been craving meat everyday. Hamburger, steak, chili....not chicken though. I can eat it, it just never sounds all that good. I also realized I have eaten kiwi almost everyday the last couple months. First it was grapefruit, now kiwi. Kiwi helps build strong bones so maybe that's why the doctor said baby Zeke was already showing strong bone development at our sonogram a couple weeks ago? 

We started making a plan for the nursery and getting it ready to paint. I have picked out a crib and rocker/glider I like we just haven't bought anything yet. I like to think about it a for a good week or so before I commit. Can't wait to post pictures once we get something going!

That's all the news in baby world :)

Camping trip!

Second post today! Trying not to get too far behind! I wanted to post some pictures from our camping trip we took 2 weekends ago. It was a fun, funny, cold time! James and I went to Land Between the Lakes in KY. We've had it reserved awhile and then the shutdown happened and closed the park. We didn't think we would be able to go but it opened up just in time! I had checked the weather on Wednesday that week...sunny, 70s. Sounded good. Well on the way there that Friday I decided to look again. I didn't think it would change THAT much in 2 days but apparently it did! "Oh crap James it's going to rain overnight...and be cold"...hahaha.
We get there in time to set up the tent before it got dark. Then we got firewood to make dinner and warm up. The firewood sucked. It was burning more like coals...just blackening and turning grey without actually flames. It was dark by then and we were cold and hungry. Luckily we had our coleman camping stove and made warm mac n cheese with our roasted hotdogs. James had originally rolled his eyes at all the blankets I packed for the trip, but in a few short hours he was very thankful for them. Normally James is hot, all the time..24/7. And I'm always cold. When James wears shorts, pants, 2 shirts, a hoodie, 4 blankets, plus our sleeping bags and is still cold...it's REALLY cold. It rained from sometime after midnight til 10 am.

 Penny was with us and woke me up at 4:30. She was cold too so we let her snuggle between us. I think it was like 48 degrees that morning.

After we got up and ate, Penny got the shivers! She was so pitiful and we felt kinda bad she was so cold :( 

Watching us play cards...lol

When the rain stopped we got a much better fire going than the night before. We decided to eat more hotdogs and smores now in case we couldn't that night. 

She loves to pose 

The sun did come out so we explored the park and went fishing. We wanted to do their elk and bison prarie drive at sundown, but it just kept getting colder and more windy. It was going to get to 38-39 that night so I said forget that! We packed up before we did the elk and bison drive so we could go home after that. 

                                                           

James big catch lol

And mine lol

the fishing dock we found was the only warm spot that wasn't super windy!

Pretty drive through the park

Can't go without a picture by the sign!

She's too good at this...or she was happy to be warm 

"Look away, I'm hideous" (Harry Potter movie quote :) )

Wild turkeys

Elk

Mom and baby

Really pretty!

Sun going down!

We had such a fun time even though we were cold! It was so nice to get away for even just a little bit! Anyone else camping in the cold? I think we need to start saving for a camper lol!!

Hannah

Playing Catch Up! Weeks 18-20

Better late than never is a good phrase for this post! Did not realized I was so behind. My brain feels like a marshmallow lately so maybe that explains it. Here we go!

A lot has happened in the last 3 weeks!!! We found out we are having a baby BOY!!! I will do a separate post on finding out the gender when I get the pictures from it. A good friend of ours took photos for us at the party which was awesome because we didn't have to worry about trying to carry around a camera! In other news I can finally feel some movement going on inside. Not enough that James can feel it on the outside, but I can feel little Zeke rolling and twisting around inside. It's still hard for me to recognize yet but I know it will get stronger as he grows. Speaking of growing...the doc is guessing he may be a big boy because he is already measuring almost a week larger than normal...um YIKES? James thinks it's cool...me on the other hand is saying hey...I have to push this guy out!! We shall see how big he really gets though! I feel great and can't complain about anything pregnancy related so that is a huge blessing!! Healthy baby, healthy mommy! I can't wait to start working on the nursery!

16 and 17 weeks

Today marks 17 weeks! I forgot to post 16 weeks so they are both here!

I can't really tell much of a difference when I look at these two pictures but boy do I feel one this week. I woke up Saturday morning and told James..."umm, my belly was not this big before I went to bed last night!" I super excited to actually notice change, but a little freaked out how much my body is going to change in the weeks ahead.

Right now I am super thankful for leggins. I've always been a fan, but now they are the best thing ever. I have several pair of jeans that still fit me but the fact that leggins don't push on my bladder is heaven on earth right now. I am also feeling really good lately. I can go days without feeling like a nap must happen or I won't make it through the day. I can't believe the difference in energy now compared to the first trimester...it really does get better! I am also just so tickled the baby can hear us now! I bet he/she can recognize our voices. That would be neat! Our dog has never been a huge barker unless someone is at the door but I read that the noise actually startles the baby now....however, they get use to it and are more likely to be able to snooze right on through it once they are born. Good news!

This time Saturday I will be in Wisconsin with my sister in law for a belated wedding shower for her and TJ. I am thrilled we are flying instead of driving, and I am really really excited to see my family! James will be at home with dog-duty (haha) and starting a bathroom reno project. Can't wait for the weekend!!

Hannah

15 Weeks!!

Yesterday marked 15 weeks! I just never posted it on here yesterday! So here it is!

I look forward to Wednesdays since they mark a new week for the baby. I wish I could see/hear the baby everyday! Thankfully I go back to the doc next week! I can't believe we find out the gender also in just a few short weeks. I'm feeling pretty good lately still! I finally think my belly has a little pop to it. I get bloated like every night after dinner so then it really sticks out. I read that I should start feeling the baby in a couple weeks, now that should be exciting! Other than that we are just trying to take all of this babyness in and enjoy everything! I am really glad fall has arrived and the weather is getting nicer. I am not excited about the winter though...pregnant or not I am not a fan of the cold. :)

I went to Knoxville this past weekend to visit with family. Mom and Dad came down too so it was very nice to see them too! We all stayed with Sarah and Nat, including Penny who had a much harder time keeping up with Avery than before! Last visit Penny wore her out, this time it was the opposite. Silly pups. We went to a West High football game Friday night. That is where they both teach, and Nat is also one of the football coaches. High school football is so intense in east TN!! The rebels won too so that made it even more fun. It rained all day Saturday so we just did some good Knoxville eating! 

I get to see even more family in about 2 1/2 weeks! Going up to Wisconsin with Sue Ann for a late wedding shower. And we are flying instead of driving! YAY!!!!

14 Weeks!

Today marks 14 weeks!!

And I don't think my belly really grew much this past week?! still just looks like a eat a lot of doughnuts lately or something. I know it's coming though so I shall enjoy it while it lasts. I finally feel a little more normal during the day than before. I can actually be/feel productive rather than feeling like I need to go lay down all the time. That has been a very nice change. I am currently ADDICTED to popsicles...the skinny ones that come liquid that you freeze. Yummy. Poor James was hoping I would want to get ice cream all the time. Instead I say "no, I'd rather have a popsicle. or two." haha. Maybe next month?! 

I am super excited that we are going to Knoxville this weekend to see my sister, Nat, my mom, and dad!! We are going to watch one of Nat's football games that he coaches, maybe go hiking...definitely eat Aubrey's and lemon cookies. I'm just thrilled to see some of my family! I know wild Penny will be glad to see Avery (Nat and Sarah's puppy). 

Hannah