13 Weeks and Potentially More Than You Probably Want To Read...

Just a heads up, I'm feeling rant-y tonight. I'll try and keep it like the news and have the important and interesting things in the beginning and then you can skip to the end, there might be pictures.

First things first...pregnancy update:

13 weeks this week, going on 14! I have been slowly feeling better and better each day. I can feel my energy building and my overall sickness seems to, though a little slower, fading as well. My nausea prescription, is amazing. I would marry it if I wasn't already married...Tonight, I had my first "drop everything and go get it by whatever means necessary" craving. It was for Starbursts candy. Luckily I have an amazing husband who obliged and took us to go get them at like 8:15pm tonight, haha! Our next appointment is in the second week of September, and by then we will be in the second trimester already.

Gavin and Ryan are both doing well. Gavin is just getting so smart it is unbelievable. His brain is a little sponge and for the first time he repeated a word that I use frequently. I know you are all soooo curious on what that is! Kay, I'll tell ya.

It's "Kay." Instead of Okay, I usually just say Kay, and I must say it quite a lot because Gavin has started saying it. It is so cute! Of all things to repeat, that is probably the best, HAHA! He is so funny.

He is also still loving the word "no." We will ask him a question, and he will "think" about it and then just say "NO!" He is communicating better and better each day, he wants to talk SO BAD! He will say a "sentence" even though is jibberish, he says the same thing/sound each time for whatever it is he is trying to say. Lord knows what that is, but Gavin does I guess! He has been singing a lot which is cuter than cute, I have yet to catch it on video though! He also does this weird thing, he sing/yells/says, "Ohhwisssahhhhhhhhhhh!" and during the "ahhhhh" part his mouth is wide open and he sort of sign/yells it and shakes his head. It is hilarious, and I have no idea what he is doing or trying to say or sing.

I watch another little boy twice a week, I know I have briefly mentioned it. Well, Gavin has been picking up some not so pleasant habits of his...When this other little boy doesn't get his way, he throws himself to the floor and pouts, and Gavin started doing that this week. Gavin is going to be up for a rude awakening when he realized that kind of behavior is not going to get him very far in life. It will get him from his little spot on the floor, to his little spot on the corner. This other little boy whines when he doesn't get his way or when Gavin steals his toys (somewhat justified whining...) I HATE pouting, and I hate whining. So, unfortunately, this has been a little bit of a rough week in the learning curve for Gavin. I know that he is just modeling behavior he sees from the other boy and he doesn't realize necessarily he is being naughty, but he soon will.  As a side note, I will say that this other little boy is not a bad boy at all, he is very sweet and as well mannered as a three year old can be! He has some speech issues and isn't talking at all yet, so I know that also has a lot to deal with his behavior, it is hard when you can't physically say why you are mad or what you are mad at. So I get it, Gavin however, can (mostly) so his excuses aren't quite as justified, HAHA!

Ryan has been busy at work as usual, he is finally back in his shop and has been working later than usual which sucks. I feel like I hardly see him! It could be much worse though, and I need to count my blessings.

Ok, well, I guess I am getting to tired to go on much more from here...Here are a couple of the things that are on my mind, however lucky you, I am too tired to get into. I just need a little rant because they are bothering me in the news every day...

Manning: I not care about his gender identity, he can figure that out on his own time. Our government does not need to pay for his hormone medications. That is something HE can pay for on HIS time. For now, he is going to pay for the crimes that he committed against our country. He is a traitor who committed treason. His gender identity is the least of our problems. The real problem is that he was only sentenced 35 years. For aiding our enemies?!?!!?!? Even though this was a while ago, what if this information could have hurt my husband, or our brother. That shit is not forgivable and you better freaking believe that his gender identity issues is not a worthy excuse for what he has done. Stepping off soap box.

ObamaCare: I am literally reading the actually bill, and it is horrible. HOW? WHY? WHO? Do we have animals writing and passing our bills and laws!? That is the only acceptable answer for how this got passed forward. So many things wrong, I can't even get started.

Thankfulness: Lately, I have been in a state of mind where I am looking forward to the next thing, buying time until the next chapter, and I have to keep reminding myself to check back in to the current reality. I saw a quote that really sunk in and I need to live my life by this:

"What if you woke up tomorrow with ONLY the things you thanked God for today?"

And with that, I leave you...powerful isn't it?

11/12 Week Update

Here we are again, with our weekly pregnancy updates! This is the last few days of our 12th week, and it seems like time is already flying! As I mentioned earlier, this time around I haven't been feeling well, and seem to have every possible symptom I could have. Well, not TOO much has changed however I have had some relief from a prescription for nausea and then taking different prenatal vitamins at night instead of in the morning. Our midwife suggested taking two children's chewable vitamins instead as they provide the same nutrients as a prenatal vitamin so I have been doing that. Overall it's helped, however it has had a weird side effect...You know how you always hear about weird food cravings/diversions(?) (I'm not sure if that is the right word, but food you used to like all of a sudden seems repulsive) and also how certain food gives you a weird taste in your mouth even though it has to be completely in your head because there is no way it could possibly taste like that? Well, with my vitamins, the after taste that I get tastes the way that raw meat juice smells. So for like 45 minutes after taking my vitamins, I am wanting to vomit because all I can think about is raw red meat and chicken juice in my mouth. NASTY RIGHT?

Luckily it goes away, and I feel much better throughout the day! I would much prefer that to feeling like throwing up literally 17 hours of the day! I feel like I am slowly getting some energy back, and I am sure that has a lot to do with not feeling quite as sick. I am hoping that each week will get a little bit better! I am starting to show a little bit, but it's probably still only noticeable to me. I feel way to bloated in my jeans so I whipped out the maternity ones and the leggings...oh joy!!! Actually, I don't mind them too much, it's almost like wearing sweats because they are pretty comfortable.

Gavin and I are finally over our colds, thank goodness!!! Ryan just finished up on the rifle range, and is doing well also! Not too much else to update...

Gavin's First Haircut

We finally caved. Ryan and I have been mentioning cutting Gavin's hair for months, and we have both been relunctant to do it. But it was finally to the point where Gavin's little curls were just a hot mess, it was tangled and fluffy and just needing a good trim. Nothing crazy!

I didn't want to take too much off because I love his cute little baby hair, and it was good that was my goal because he wouldn't sit still for me to do much anyways!

Here are some pics:

"Surprise!"

Even though I am about 99% sure all you who actually read this blog probably know already, but...

I've been waiting to officially announce anything until we actually heard the heart beat!

Today, we went it for our first official doctors appointment and had the first ultra sound. It was great. We are due February 26th, the baby measured a little big and the computer calculated a February 24th date, but our midwife (yes...midwife, I'll get to that later!) is sticking with the February 26th date..as if it matters, babies do not care about your little pretend due date. I'm just glad it isn't a leap year!

So far this pregnancy has kind of knocked me on my ass. I was not expecting this type of symptoms, as my last pregnancy was mostly a breeze. I have been so sick, so tired, and just so BLA. I threw up more than I ever did the first pregnancy within the first couple weeks. Luckily, I have been able to hold off the vomiting with mind over matter as I know that what is making me feel sick isn't what is in my stomach it's just my hormones. I also started taking my prenatal vitamins at night, which has helped tremendously. My midwife told me today that I could try taking two children's vitamins instead of the prenatal vitamins, as I would get the same amount of vitamins needed, but they are a lot less harsh. I will be trying that. She also gave me a prescription for anti-nausea, so I am extremely excited to see if that gives me some relief.  I've been so fatigued too which I never had as bad with Gavin. I have no energy to do anything. Somedays it is literally a battle to get off the couch. I have hated feelings this way, I feel like such a blob. I am very anxious for the second trimester to get here. Also, this baby better be a girl because I'm not sure if I want to sign up for this again, hahahaha!

So, back to the midwife comment, generally I would lean more towards a medical doctor for a majority of my personal health needs, it's a personal choice...That being said, with our last doctor, I was really disappointed with all of the pushiness for unnecessary tests, scaring you with "do not do this, do not do that's," and then leaning more towards medical intervention (i.e., pushing you towards c-sections, etc.) So I was thinking about alternatives, and then realized that it can actually be difficult to find a doctor who is willing to let you do a VBAC which is a natural delivery, after a cesarean. I am determined to deliver naturally, without a c-section this time, if I am able. Obviously if we have another breech baby I do not have a choice, but I do not want to be told I have to have a c-section just because a doctor deems it easier. SO....I was thinking a midwife might be our best bet. I was thrilled to learn that the Naval Hospital here has midwifery in the OB-Gyn department and was going to ask about that option. Well, I went in to start my process of getting into the OB-GYN department (stupid military hospitals and their processes) and I was seen by a Navy medical doctor. He told me that he would want me to try a VBAC and that the Naval Hospital in general was very supportive, if not, encouraging about it. I was very happy with this information. He told me that even though he was a family medicine doctor I could still continue to see him, however it all depended on the referral process with insurance, bla bla bla. Well, after I had my in-take appointment, they just assigned me to a midwife. So long story short, that is how we ended up with a midwife...I actually really liked her, and didn't get the "hippy" vibe that I was expecting. She seems like the perfect mix of natural and western medicine that I like. I very pleased so far!

Gavin has been practicing the word "baby" and says it like a champ! When I ask him where the baby is? he points at my belly. He obviously has no idea what any of it means, it is just his newest circus trick, but hopefully he will start to get it! When we ask him if he wants a baby brother or sister he just says yes and nods. Haha, too cute!