24 weeks & all things baby!

24 weeks
This pregnancy is going by so fast! I can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant. Since it's been so long since my last post, I'll have to do an update on the past few months. Unfortunately, my sickness didn't end until about 16 weeks, and I've had 2 bouts of nausea since then but not near as bad as in the beginning. About a week or two after that ended, my appetite dropped off dramatically, which is fine with me:) Although, I've been a little more hungry the past 2 days. I'm hoping that won't last! I struggled for awhile with my expanding belly and all the comments about it. I've been very ready to get past that in-between stage and actually look pregnant. I pretty much switched to all maternity pants by about 16 weeks. I got so excited last week when the lady at my pharmacy asked me if I was pregnant !

I started getting up 3x a night to use the bathroom at about 8 weeks and thankfully it's gone down to 2! I've had some hip pain for the past 2 months. My chiropractor says it's just from my expanding belly and things growing and stretching in places they never have before. All in all, I've had a good pregnancy and no complications, so if that's all I have to deal with, I'm happy:)

Silas has been going with me to most all my appointments, which I'm so glad he's been able to do. I asked my mom to go with me to one, since I knew she wanted to. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat at my 14 week appt. For some reason, I got more emotional over that than seeing it on the ultrasound. Everything seems to be going well. At my appointment this week, the Dr. gave me orders to do the glucose test in about 3 weeks. After my next appt. at the end July, I start going every 2 weeks!!!

I thought I started feeling movement around 14-15 weeks, but that's so much earlier than they say so I wasn't sure. At 16 weeks, I was laying on the couch one afternoon after work and felt 2 distinct thumps. It was so exciting! I love feeling the baby move around. It's probably been my favorite part of being pregnant so far. The past two weeks the movements have gotten much stronger and feel more like "rolling" than little "thumps". Silas got to feel the baby move on Father's Day (22 wks), which was very exciting. He says he's waiting for an alien to pop out because it feels so weird:)

On June 10th (21 wks), we went for the sonogram to find out the baby's gender. I hadn't told anyone but Silas, but since about 10 weeks I've had this "knowing" that the baby was a boy. It was the weirdest thing ever, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. I even started referring to it as "he" and "him" without even thinking about it. We asked Silas' mom, dad, and sister, my mom and dad, 2 sisters, brother and future brother-in-law to come. I was glad they all came because most of them have never seen an ultrasound. Everything was going great... the baby measured to the day, weighs 15 1/2 oz, plenty of amniotic fluid, heartrate 154... Then the technician says, "Well, I think it's a girl." And we all just froze. I thought, well you're wrong:) No one knew whether to get excited, and then a minute later she says, "Oh wait, I think it's a boy." Everyone let out a gasp! The technician still acted very unsure of whether it was a boy, though. Needless to say, I left very dissappointed. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to tell people. As we were walking out, she explains to us that the baby was in head up, bottom down, and facing me position (frank breech), which is the worst to see the gender. Thankfully, at my last appointment my dr. said she could get us another one since I have a thyroid condition. Although, she wants me to wait until I'm 32 wks... so 8 wks to go!

We went and registered for baby stuff last night. I'm so glad I have a husband that's interested in picking all this stuff out. I thought I was prepared; had my checklist and everything:) But it was quite overwhelming! There's so many different options it's hard to know which is best. The bedding we had picked out was on clearance and they only had one left, so we went ahead and bought it. It's actually the first thing we've bought the baby so far. I'm planned to have my first shower the first weekend in August and another one the first weekend in Septemeber, which I'm really looking forward to. So far, not much luck in the name department:( We've still got time, but it makes me a little anxious when I think about it. Picking a name is super important!

20 weeks

16 weeks- Mother's Day

12 weeks

We're Back... and with great news!!!

Well, I know you've all been wondering where I was, and I'm happy to say that I am back blogging! Valentine's Day this year was wonderful... of course, because I got to spend it with my wonderful husband, but mostly because we found out we were going to have a baby!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited, and it's definitely something I've been looking forward to for a long time. I'm due October 20th and am currently 10 1/2 weeks. My first doctor's visit was a week and half ago, and all went well. I had my first sonogram last Monday. The baby measured 1 1/4 inches and was so cute! I've been sick since about 5 weeks. I'm able to keep food down, so I really can't complain. Hopefully, I'll start feeling better in the next few weeks as I end the first trimester. My friends have all told me to take prego pics even if I don't feel like it, because I'll regret it later if I don't. The one below is at 6 weeks. I guess it's my "before" picture. I'll do a separate post about how we told our families. That has definitely been the most exciting and most fun part of being pregnant. We excited and a little nervous about this next season of our lives!

Running the race

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

John "The Penguin" Bingham

In the spring of 2007, I started running, mainly to try to lose weight, because walking just didn't get my heartrate up enough. I would run on the levee by our house. It's so beautiful and peaceful up there, and I really came to enjoy running and ran my first 5k in February of 08. I was so proud of myself. A few years ago, I would've laughed if you told me I'd run a 5k. Shortly after, I started having so many problems with my feet, arches, and ankles hurting. I was also having some other health issues, so I had to quit. Later that year I found out I had Hashimoto's, an autoimmune thyroid disease, which explained the joint pains. Thank God for a wonderful endocronoligist who actually listened to me and payed attention to my blood work. He put me on medicine and got my levels down.

Around May of last year, I decided that before I died I wanted to at least run a half marathon. Don't you know that same week I had that thought a friend called and asked if I wanted to run a half marathon with her! I really wanted to but ended up being unable to because I was trying to get over mono. The past 2 1/2 years have been really difficult for me. But I've definitely learned to appreciate my body and all it does for me. I think we tend to take it for granted until it's taken from us. Well, I started back running last week and am really proud of myself. For me, I've had to learn that the miracle is that I started not that I finished. I do still have a desire to run a 1/2 marathon and have my sights set on one in October. Please pray that my body will cooperate with me, so I can keep up my running!

If there's one thing God's taught me through all of this is that we are stronger than we think and can do more than we ever imagined. Whatever it is your striving to accomplish in your life, just know that with God's strength you can make it!

"I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

All Grown Up

A few weekends ago, we went wedding dress shopping with my sister Caitlin, whose getting married next June. It was just my mom, her and I for the first 2 stores. Her best friend, Carley joined us later. The first place we went was Bridal Boutique, which happened to be where I got my dress from. We first walk in, and there is the "pedestal" with all the mirrors that you stand on when you try on dresses. I wanted to get teary-eyed becasue I remember standing there when I had found "THE" dress. It was an emotional moment for me and my mom. I told myself I couldn't start crying yet, it was only the first store and she hadn't even tried on any dresses yet!!! We really had so much fun. I'm pretty sure she found "the one". It's hard to believe that all my siblings are growing up. Thomas is driving (his own vehicle) and has a job. Danielle recently informed me she will be driving in 6 mos. (Permit only-thank God!) I never minded there being such an age gap between us until I moved away. It's been hard because I feel like I'm missing their "growing up" years, since they were still quite young when I got married. I'm really glad, though, that they do still include me in their life!

Silas' sister, Ashley just turned 20, also. Her mom threw her a surprise tea. It was so much fun to have an adult tea party! Mrs. Joy's friend, Mrs. Dory, did a "Tea Story" (for lack of a better term). She used various tea pots as symbols of how we are and should be as women. She also included some of her testimony. I just wanted to cry through the whole thing. She was so anointed, and I know everyone was truly blessed!


Caitlin and Carley

The Tea- Mrs. Joy did such a great job decorating.

Ashley

The Girls

All of this makes me think back to that time in my life. Always wondering, how would my life turn out? Who would I marry? Where would I live? What would I end up doing? I sort of feel as if I'm on the other side, although I know I have a lot of years left to go. It's really a good feeling to actually begin to see "the plans God has for you" take place. I still look forward to what God has planned for Silas and I as a couple (and a family, one day) :)

4th of July Weekend

We had a very busy weekend, but it was so much fun. Saturday started with a 50th birthday party for my dad. My aunt and uncle were in from Houston, also. My dad's not used to being fussed over, so he kept saying we were "just wasting time and money". But you only turn 50 once, right? It was also my in-laws 30th wedding anniversay, so we had them over for dinner later saturday evening. What an accomplishment! We enjoyed some good stories and a few laughs from their wedding day. Sunday evening we had a BBQ at the church, and then headed up to the levee for the fireworks. It was a good weekend spent with good food, good family, and good friends. I hope we all can remember to cherish our loved ones because life is short.


Yum! Chocolate Doberge'


Mom & Dad

Make a wish!

The in-laws.

We set up a pool in the parking lot for the kids. They loved it.

Me, Jen and Grace. It's funny, a few years ago it was just the two of us. I guess we're "growing up" :)

Me and my little brother. He actually drove ME for the first time in HIS jeep. Such a cutie!

The girls. (Cadie Russo, Jen Anzaldua, Megan Huff, Caitlin Badeaux, Me, Danielle Badeaux)

Our group on the levee. There were a lot of us because the youth from the Church in Central came. They're a really neat group of kids, and it was good to see them all again.

Me and my sweetie

Youth Camp

I spent this past weekend with about 20 teenagers. I know, sounds scary, huh? I was a little nervous because I'm a "little kid" person, but I've definitely changed my mind. It was our church and Bro. Donnie Shaffer's church from Central. This is their 4th year doing this camp together. Even with only 12 hrs of sleep over the 3 days, being outside in the heat most of the day, overflowing toilets, and broken air, I had an amazing time. All the kids were so awesome, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I had so much more fun than I expected. God truly moved in their lives and mine.


These are the girls from our church (Cadie, Caitlin, Megan, and Danielle). We were all broken up into two teams, the blue and the red. Josh was our team captain. We were all on the blue team except Cadie.




This is one of the first challenges. Whoever pulled all the tissues out first won, and that would be the blue team :)

We played Pie-in-the-face bible trivia. Get the answer wrong and you get pied (shaving cream on a plate, not an actual pie). I wasn't getting the answer wrong!

As you can see, the kids had a lot of fun canoeing.

On Friday, we did a relay race. This is one of the challenges.

They had to hang 10 coathangers all in a line. Go Megan!

Harvest Church Youth

We had such an awesome time of worship.

The bonds of friendship.

Crawfish Boil and Early Father's Day

I've really enjoyed setting up the blog. I'm just going to have to stay up on posting stuff. Before I knew it, a week had passed since the last post. I've been, shall we say, "rebelling" against the whole Facebook thing. My family and friends keep pestering me to get one, but this blog has been a compromise :) I was so surprised the other day when I got out the tub, Silas said, "Look babe, I got a facebook page!" So my husband has succumbed to the peer pressure!

This past weekend we had a crawfish boil with our church family. It was hot, but we set up in the garage, which had a window unit.

My dad "manning" the crawfish pot. (Josh was taking a break!)

The one good thing about not eating crawfish is you get to watch the babies!!! Everyone laughed because I'm so white, and she's like 10 shades darker than I am.

Tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen!

The guys were throwing the football and hit the power line, which knocked out the electricity and all of the houses on Josh and Jeanine's street! It was back running before too long.

We celebrated Father's Day with Silas' dad on Sunday. I'm very grateful to have such wonderful in laws. We always have a few gut wrenching laughs, mostly because Silas and his dad have the same sense of humor and just feed off each other. I usually end up laughing more at them than whatever their laughing at :) (Silas says their actually usually laughing at me!)

Silas and his dad cooking the steaks. Yum!

Mr. Pete opening his gift, which was 2 knee pads. He can be a little difficult to buy for :)

A little something extra:

Going through difficult seasons is tough. God's been re-teaching me to lean on Him. We can't do it on our own, though we always seem to try, don't we? I've learned you never know what people are going through or struggling with, and that maybe I need to keep my eyes open and be a little more compassionate, forgiving, and not quick to make judgments.

Fortunately, I have my family to keep me smiling. :)