This Pregnancy...

(I hope this isn't coming as a total surprise to anyone! If so... surprise!)

I thought, having done this twice before, there wouldn't be too much new this time around. Boy, was I wrong! I have experienced every symptom in the book and then some this time around. Not only that, but despite going into the delivery room in pre-pregnancy jeans both times I went in to delivery my kiddos, this time, I moved into maternity jeans at 19 weeks (and was ready for them long before that, but I was stubborn).

Below is a (very blurry) picture of my belly at 19 weeks and 3 days. Quite a difference from 19 weeks last time! I dare say I'm already as round as I was nearing the 3rd trimester last time (and I've still got almost 9 weeks before I get to that point!). But, as James and I joke: "I may actually look pregnant this time around!" At the very least, I won't have to convince nurses at the hospital I'm full-term and they don't need to freak about pre-term labor.

Anyway, all goes well with this little one. :-) Ultrasound put the due date as March 24, 2013 and the tech pointed out a little nub during the 13 week ultrasound that indicates this little one is most likely a boy. We'll be confirming in a few more weeks. I have my 20 week appointment next Tuesday and I should be able schedule the ultrasound shortly after that. However, I already bought a little vest and tie set (too cute and too reasonably priced to pass up!). It was only on clearance ($3) because the pants were missing from the set.

Drove by the hospital I'll be delivering at this time around. We'll take a tour after the holidays are over to get a much better idea of where everything is, but for now I have a general idea and I'm content with that. I really like the doctor I've been seeing. He's very easy to talk to and always gives me 100% when he's in the room with me, even when I know he's running behind. He's young, probably the least experienced in the clinic I'm going to, but I trust him and he's 100% behind my choice to do a VBAC (aka, no repeat c-section unless I choose).

For those of you that didn't get to see this on Facebook (I think I posted it to a more private group and not publicly), here's a nice little profile from the 13 week ultrasound, complete with little hands and legs. Baby Smith is on his (her?) way!

Well, I suppose that's all. Expect another update in 2-3 weeks with the latest ultrasound and news. :-)

Halloween 2012

I know, it's early, but we won't be Trick or Treating around here, so the Trunk or Treat tonight was it for us. We bought the girls' costumes a few weeks ago, getting a great deal on both of them. Unfortunately, they were both a touch too big and my sewing machine broke (joy). I was able to fix Cadence's but there was no way I could make the machine cooperate long enough to hem Megan's skirt (and no way I was sewing THAT by hand!)

We also painted pumpkins again this year, but since we stripped the girls down to just their underwear I'm not posting those pictures online. Still, they had a blast painting the over-sized pumpkin we got from the pumpkin patch and the girls got a kick out of the silly face I painted on once their paint had dried.

The Trunk or Treat at our church was fun. The girls had a blast playing all the games and then going through all the trunks to get their treats. They filled their little $1 pumpkin pails almost to the brim! :-) It was unexpectedly cold, so the girls had to layer. Long-sleeved tees and thicker stockings under their skirts and they still kept shoving icy fingers into my hand and Megan's nose was bright pink by the time we finally left.

Anyway, as always... Pictures! :-) Megan had taken off her little matching velvet crown and Cadence was holding the "fur" shawl rather than wearing it, but they looked adorable nonetheless. Even better, we can re-use these costumes when we go see Disney on Ice in 2 weeks. Ignore Cadence's "smile" in the first picture. We captured some real ones from her in the last 2 (also, ignore the crayon on the front door and the mess behind Cadence in the last picture... or else).

The Zoo (Again)

The girls and I needed out of the house and I wasn't keen on just going down to Walmart again. So... why not use the zoo membership now that it's cooling off again? It was still pretty warm, 80-something and muggy, but not quite summer temperatures, so totally doable! We packed PB&J sandwiches and some juice and went out for most of the morning.

The girls are starting to know the zoo pretty well. As we drove, they listed all the animals they wanted to see. Unfortunately, also on their wish list were cats, dogs, and dragons... While the zoo still has the dinosaur exhibit going on, there were no dragons. We saw the Halloween decoration being fixed. The zoo has a Halloween thing going on (costumes allowed and trick-or-treating at different exhibits), but only on the weekends. So maybe if James is off this Saturday we'll check it out...

Anyway, pictures! (Megan can't keep those fingers out of her mouth)

Pumpkins 2012

Had to flea bomb the house today. The threat of cold sent them running to safety in our house. Safety no longer, mwahaha.

So, while James worked, I picked up the worst of the mess so cleaning after we got home would be easy. We got the girls dressed and headed out the door (once the cats were safely tucked away, that is) and on to a nearby pumpkin patch. It wasn't nearly as grand as Dewberry Farm with all it's amazing attractions, but it was free and it had a jump-house. And, personally, I preferred their pumpkin selection.

We briefly wandered the pallets of pumpkins before the girls noticed the bouncy castle. I wasn't sure they'd be interested. The last time we'd attempted it, Cadence screamed, but that was over two years ago, so...  Anyway, they loved it.

They lost interest once other people joined them, that darn shyness rears its ugly head again. They might've been fine if it was just the other kid, but a mom climbed in to coax her toddler to play. Anyway, we went back to picking out pumpkins. The girls found several nice, plump round pumpkins but frequently insisted they were too large and finally settled for little round pumpkins about the size of a baseball or softball. To make up for it, James and I surveyed the selection to find an oversized one. We actually bought a bigger one than I intended, but I think the girls will enjoy painting it when we get around to decorating it (since we paint instead of carve pumpkins for now).

Sadly, no pictures of me this time. I'm feeling unpleasantly plump lately (Gee, wonder why that is). Actually the real reason is we didn't spend that much time at the pumpkin patch and these are pretty much the only pictures I thought to take. James is in by a fluke. We bought the girls' Halloween costumes, which will also be used when they go see Disney on Ice for their birthday next month (Well, a week before their birthday). Very much looking forward to that as well.