Halloween

The best part about having kids on Halloween...

The Truth about Pregnancy

The truth about pregnancy...at least my pregnancy

There are so many people that walk around and love being pregnant.  I (gasp) do not.  It is not that I do not enjoy the end result- I cannot wait to hold my baby girl in my arms.  I just do not like being pregnant.  Of course by saying this out loud, I am sure I am offending some people.  I know there are people out there saying/thinking, "Well, at least you can get pregnant."  To this I respond, yes, God has blessed me with the ability to not only have one unexpected pregnancies but two.  It is all about God's timing here because this has been the craziest year so far in our marriage.  However, I do not feel that I should hide my true feelings...I don't like being pregnant.

My mother-in-law bought me Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy, I laughed so hard that I cried.  I can relate to this book.

My boobs are already huge when I am not pregnant.  They grew a whole size within the first month, 32E is not easy to find nor is it cheap.  Who wants to buy a bra that you will only wear for a month before you grow again?

Speaking of buying, maternity clothes are just plain awful.  I HATE maternity clothes.  They are literally tents.  A friend of mine just had her second son recently and I loved to call her and talk preggo talk.  I remember a conversation about our maternity clothes and wondering what were we thinking the first time around?  My first born was born five years ago but still, the clothing is god awful.  Jeans are always in style but the shirts look like big tents.  Maternity clothes are meant for ladies in their last months and that is it.  They also are not meant for women with small frames and big boobs.  I am sorry, but spending $200 on a pair of jeans for something that is going to fit me for 3 months is just insane.  I love reading the blogs that say, just expand your wardrobe that you currently have.  Great theory except all my shirts look like I have porn star boobs now.

I worked my ass off (quite literally) to get in shape.  Unfortunately, all that is completely gone.  I tried so hard to keep up my workout regiment when I found out I was pregnant.  However, I would throw up, go to the gym and then spend the rest of the day on the couch exhausted and nauseous.  With Will in Charleston and me at home with our 4 year old alone 24/7 for 3 months, this was not possible.  And if you think working out at home is a possibility, I have tried (many times) but it is just not feasible.  So with all this lack of exercise, I have gained weight and put stress on my body where it does not belong. People think I am crazy when I say I want to get back into the gym by 4 weeks postpartum.  Honestly, I do not care what they think.  I know that I am miserable and I know my cure, daily exercise.  I will seriously strap that infant to my chest and walk on a treadmill.

I wake up all the time to pee.

I cannot even eat a salad because it makes me nauseous all night.

I don't have the pregnancy glow.  In fact I have the complete opposite, my face has turned into a pizza.

My emotions are all over the place.

I cannot find a comfortable position to save my life.

We are not even close to being ready for this baby.  She has a crib up in her room with all the dresser contents in it because I do not have a dresser.  I went to buy a rug and Groupon has "Extra Fine Print" which messed my purchase up.  There is a glider but no cushions- those are in Charlotte.  Also in Charlotte is our carseat, pack-n-play and hopefully a few other baby things that have not surfaced since our move.  There are no diapers in this house that will fit her when she is born.  I really want to do cloth diapering this time around but moving expenses and paying for a baby to be born has eaten away at our finances.

I stress too much as you can see when I am pregnant.

I have four more weeks to get my act together...only four.

Why don't babies come by stork?

Our week in pictures

Wow, this week has been crazy and it is still not over!  Here are some pictures-

Bryce finally got a hair cut and I hate it.  Please don't tell me it is cute because I told the lady to use scissors on top and instead she buzzed his whole head.  We will be purchasing some hats till I can fix it again.

I hit 35 weeks tomorrow!  One month left!

Cousins came to visit!

Aunt Dottie is one awesome Aunt and jumped on the big balloon with the kids!

Look at that head of curls on my niece!

Of course we had to visit the Boone Hall Plantation Pumpkin patch.  They would not let us in for free even though our last name is Boone too.

Finally!

The day has finally arrived!!!

No, not baby day...however, that day cannot come soon enough. 

I am talking about today, Friday, October 19th being the day that Cook-Out finally opened their doors in North Charleston, SC! Hubby is not ecstatic about the work load heading his way but that is ok because this wife is so proud of her hubby! Plus being pregnant and craving the most delicious, mouth-watering burger you could put in your mouth has everything nothing to do with my excitement.

Last night, they did what is called a soft-opening in the restaurant business. It means they open the doors but don't announce they are open. It gives the restaurant a chance to work through any kinks in the system and the employees are not overwhelmed all at once. 

Of course we had to go by and visit. At Cook-Out, I can order a tray with nuggets as a side and feed Bryce and I for around $6, and that includes a milkshake! Another great thing, the meat at Cook-Out is delivered daily, which makes them even more scrumptious...

Bryce loves Daddy's work!

William, I am so beyond proud of all your hard work. Moving to SC has been a process but the reason we are here is finally open (if that makes sense). I love that you are willing to work so hard to provide for your family and give us what we need. I am so excited to see where this new road will take us! 

Happy first day!!!

Dinner Time

Help, I am drowning...

Drowning in a sea of boxes...

There are boxes everywhere in my house. E.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. The picture below is from a corner in our bedroom. If you look hard enough you can see that the closet is even full of boxes. Boxes even took over Bryce's playroom!

What's in a name?

First let me say that I am terrible at keeping up with this blog...  I need and want to get better!

What's in a name?

Naming our little girl has been so hard for me.  My poor husband just wants to know what to call her and I have been dragging my feet.  It was so much easier with Bryce.  Alexander was supposed to have been my middle name if I had been a boy.  Will and I both loved the name but could never agree on a nick name.  I liked Alex and he did not and he liked Lex and considering how much we were into Smallville at the time, it reminded me of Lex Luthor.  So Alexander became a middle name. 

As we were driving down to Oak Island for the annual Mewborn beach vacation, we came across a neighborhood called Rice Plantation.  Will looked at me from the passanger seat and said, "What about Rice?"  My response, "What about Bryce?"  We knew right then and there that our son had a name, Bryce Alexander Boone.  Will of course fought me on the spelling, he wanted an "I" instead of an "Y" and thankfully I won- Bryce you can thank me when you get older.

In 2007, before we knew if it was going to be a girl or boy, we had been thinking of names.  Of course we had a girl name that we loved, Madison Grey.  However, my sister-in-law beat us to the punch and had a girl first and since she had already claimed that name a year before, we graciously bowed down and let her name her daughter Madison, Maddie for short.  I am just kidding, we had nothing to do with it but my neice is the perfect Madison. 

This time around, I absolutely refused to think of names because I knew I would jinx us.  However, 2 months later, I still just don't know!  Of course I knew of a second boy name that I loved, Timothy Gordon, mine and Will's middle names combined.  I think I panicked when the sonographer annouced that the baby was a girl.  I was so scared when we were pregnant with Bryce, I had always been around girls and girl toys and bows my whole life.  Now I had to learn how to be a mom who played with trains and trucks and cars.  Not to mention, changing a boy diaper can be intimidating. 

I still cannot get over the fact that we get to have pink in the house!  Finally, some feminimity! 

Anyways, back to her name.  I love my daughter and love feeling her grow everyday inside me.  I get her for nine months all by myself!  What a blessing it is to be allowed such a thing.  I cannot blame Will for wanting to give her a name.  I feel like boys have such strong names, I wanted to make sure to give her something strong.  I also wanted a unique name.  Picking out the name of your child that he or she will have for the rest of their life is a huge burden!  I know we grow up with our names and we don't know anything different but that still does not stop us from liking or disliking it. 

I have spent so much time stressing over her name.  My baby name book was packed away and I cannot locate it and searching online is so much harder for some reason.  However, I have searched online.  I even found an inspiration name page that included Disney Princesses but that list was a complete flop.  I also have a list of names that I have made on my phone.  There were three names that we loved but never could find a good arrangement for them.  My husband finally gave me an ultimatum, I was not allowed to purchase anything for our little girl until she had a name (luckily at this point I had already purchased the crib).

I am happy to say I purchased the cutest pair of pink shoes and white tights with frills on the bottom for her the other day because we do have a name!  I am absolutely refusing to announce it just yet.  Sorry family members but I may just make you wait till the day she is born.  We have told Bryce his sister's name but he gets it confused so don't even both trying to pry it out of him! 

The bottom line is, we do have a name for her, I think...

Bliss

 

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Yesterday I was surprised by my husband when he showed up in Indian Trail after he told me he would be working all day.  My husband knows me well, I love surprises!  He has done several birthday surprises but this had to be the best surprise by far (or at least my raging hormones made me feel like crying from joy)!

Yesterday as we were all resting/napping, I looked over and realized my life is exactly what I want.  I had to snap this picture because I never want to forget that moment, that feeling.



My Dear Daughter

My Dear Daughter,

You are already such a princess and diva, so I thought it would be fitting to give you your first tiara!

Everyday you are getting bigger and stronger.  We are 23 weeks along, almost to the 3rd trimester, and you are about 11inches long.  You have a daily playtime around 3pm and if I am still awake, you like 11pm too.  I have no idea what you are doing in there.  I don't know if you are flipping, rotating, kicking, punching, etc but you make my insides tickle. 

I know you are going to be strong.  You are coming into this world at such a crazy time.  We are currently in the process of moving to Summerville, SC, which means tons of car travel.  You do not like me to sit up straight for too long.  For some reason you have made the lower part of my uterus your current home which makes it hard to have a seat belt feel comfortable. 

We do not have a name yet, I am sorry to say.  I have had many suggestions though but nothing seems to just click.  I knew right away with your brother.  I feel like I am letting you down already.  No name, no room design, I am such a terrible mom.  I am so excited to move to our new home so I can start to focus on you!

Bryce loves to try to feel you kick.  I am pretty sure you have refused to move for him but he loves to say that he has felt you.  Every night he curls up with the teddy bear he made for your gender announcement and listens to your heartbeat.  He is going to be such a protective and loving big brother.  I can only pray that he is going to be good at sharing his toys with you.

Little girl, I love you so much and everyday you are getting closer to be in my arms.  I cannot wait to see who you will become.  Will you look like me or your father?  Which personality traits will be passed on?  So much unknown!

We go for our first doctor's appointment in Summerville next week!  I cannot wait to hear your heartbeat again!

Love,

Mommy

Ultrasound Photos

Pictures of our little Girl!

Face



Head

Profile

 

Arm/Foot

No turtle shell this time around!!!!

Life Update

On July 2nd, Will headed down to start his job and left his pregnant wife and child behind...(honestly, it hasn't been as terrifying as I thought it would be- just don't tell William).  So after a week of only talking on the phone, Bryce and I decided to come down to visit Will in Charleston.

While in Downtown Charleston, we saw the Carnival Fantasy!  

Great memories!  

Bryce was so excited to see the boat Mommy, Daddy and the rest of the Mewborn Clan lived on for a week and was extremely excited to point at the "Whale's tail"!

We came in for a night and decided to stay 2, and of course I only packed one outfit for me...oops.  Problem solved with a little unapproved hubby shopping but Belk has some amazing sales right now!  I came out with 3 dresses all for the low total of $48 with a savings of over $150 (not that I would have bought them at full price)!!!  I tried to find some clothes at the maternity store in the mall but that is another post in itself.
Pictures coming soon!

Bryce was such a trooper helping me shop!

We were able to see "our" house in it's next phase- drywall!!!  It is really coming together!  It is starting to look more like a house verses a stick figure house.  This was also the first time Bryce has seen it and I still don't think he understands what is about to (hopefully) come in the next few months. 

Daddy and son in the foyer

Bryce smiling big in his room!

Checking out the back yard from our master bedroom

Looking from our eating area into the kitchen.  Living room is to the left, that space in the corner is my Large pantry!  Through the middle door frame is our dining room (What will I do with a dining room).

Gas fireplace!

I foresee so many memories of sitting on the porch as the children run in and out!

Screened in porch with the color of our siding.

One more picture to finish up this blog.  The view from Will's hotel room overlooks where his Cookout store will eventually stand.  He will be about 10 minutes from home.  They were laying the foundation today!

A Package

Today this package came in the mail and it was addressed to ME! 

I never get packages anymore. 

Bryce is always getting packages from his wonderful family full of fun things to do or movies to watch.  William also seems to recieves packages in the mail, little things he buys for Bryce or little things he gets for us but I cannot remember the last time I had a package addressed to me.

What was in this package do you ask? 

Five little outfits for our baby girl!!! 

We just found out on Monday what we are having and my grandmother could not contain herself! Thanks Mama!

It is still hard to think that we will be holding a little girl in our arms by the end of this year. I get to have more than just a few things pink that hide in drawers in our house! I get to have a little girl dressed in pink from head to toe if I want to every day!  Poor William has no idea what he has gotten himself into.  Pink, frills, bows, tutus- I could go on and on and on and on....

Boy or Girl???

So the BIG day is finally here! The day we finally see our baby and the day we finally find out the sex of our baby!!!  I really wanted to do something special to announce the sex of the baby and I came across this fantastic idea of Building a Bear which is perfect because Bryce got to be involved and the baby got something!

Waiting for the ultrasound technician to come and get us!

Big Brother!

Waiting patiently for our turn.

Stuffing the bear with love!


Bryce really enjoyed washing and brushing the bear.



Putting on the outfit...Any ideas as to the sex yet?

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Home Sweet Home...Maybe

So after an amazing cruise to the Bahamas with my family (post on that soon), we came home to a lovely voicemail saying we were not able to qualify for the home loan in South Carolina, only because Will does not have a work history in SC (would love to know how people get loans for homes when they move from state to state).  The lender guy is an idiot and has not even informed us of this tragedy, it came from our builder!  So here we are trying to go through another lender as my husband gets ready to head off today to Charleston to start his new job tomorrow.  I was beginning to think things were starting to settle down.  This year has been crazy- February we found out we were moving, March we found out we were expecting, April finalized a three year ordeal as well as signing for our house, June was our cruise and Will's 30th birthday.  I really was beginning to wonder if I had titled this blog correctly for it seemed our Life in Limbo was going to settle down.  I was so wrong!!!  Baby is still due Dec 1st and now we have no idea as to when we will be in the house!  I do not handle stress very well and being pregnant only makes it worse.  My hormones are through the roof, I cry at everything, it is sad.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"- Proverbs 3:5

I have always had a hard time letting things go and relying on him but I know that the minute I hand everything over, the stress will just melt away.  I know God has a path for us all, I just wish I knew it!!! 

I hate being patient...

Twilight!!!

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Trailer

Seriously, CANNOT WAIT!

Still not sure as to why I love these books and movies so much, I just do!

Now, if Bryce can hold off from sending me into early labor (I will honestly put money on it if somebody wants to bet me) till after November 16th, it will be all good.  I would probably even be willing to labor through the movie...now that would be a story to remember!

16 Weeks

So yesterday after laying down for a much needed family nap, I called Will back into the bedroom and put his hand on my tummy (much to his reluctance) to let him feel the baby kicking.  I remember the time that I realized that what I felt was Bryce moving around.  It was Will's 25th birthday, June 26th, 2007.  We were at the beach with the Mewborn families for the annual beach vacation and that day was the sound day where we pack everything for an entire day at the beach and camp out till dinner time enjoying the quietness of the sound. 

A few memories from 2007

  (This was also the year my sweet sister who hated not being able to see the ocean floor bailed out of her raft because she had no paddle and it was drifting far from shore-Sorry Court you will never live that one down)

I remember standing there with my hand on my tummy wondering what I was feeling and having my mother confirm it was in fact our newly named son who was squirming around.  

God has given us another special gift that I do not feel worthy to receive.  I have felt so much disconnect from this pregnancy with really no explanation as to why.  I feel that we have so much to be thankful for right now, a big move with a new and bigger home, a new job which my husband has been secretly dying for, and a chance for me to become a certified yoga teacher.  Everybody has said the second pregnancy is not the same as the first.  With the first there is so much excitement.  I have felt so lost wondering when I would feel that connection.  Yesterday God answered my prayers.  I still have so many concerns but feeling that gentle nudge (soon to be harsh punches and kicks) gave me a little bit of peace.  

For all those who are curious, we find out the gender of the baby, July 2nd.  Not sure how we will share the news but I really want to do something special.  

Also, a few stats...

16.3 weeks

Weight gain: I think about 7lbs

Sick: Nope! Thank you Lord for the 2nd trimester, things are much better now!

Sleep: I wish.  At least up 3x per night to use the restroom.  (How is it as soon as I become pregnant I want to lay on my belly???)

Cravings: this week has been about Bagel Pizzas! 

Movement: a little bit.  My dear, sweet, loving mother-in-law proceeded to say that if we felt something this early it was most likely twins.  I told her to bite her tongue. 

Gender: No clue!

What I miss: My regular bladder and my non-pregnancy hormones.  I cry at everything.  It is a tad ridiculous.  

Best thing this week: Feeling some movement and going to the gym for the first time in F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

Eventually I will get around to taking some progression pictures!

Heart Beat

Our baby's heart beat!!!!

Crazy things kids say

It still baffles my mind that Bryce is going to be a big brother in 28 weeks!  It also baffles my mind that he is going to be 5 years old.  I love the days now that he asks to talk at the dinner table or in the car, even if he babbles on and on and makes no sense.  I am not a fan of his hard of hearing though (my parents would say he gets that trait from me).  However, today I find him outside spraying down the house with a hose.  When I tell him to put it away, he says, "But Mommy, I want to be a firetruck."  I cannot help but love his imagination, even though our water bill may be a little higher this month...


(I would totally post a pic but my iPhone is refusing to cooperate)

Baby's likes and dislikes

I know 2 posts in one day might be a little much but the whole point of this blog is to remember things that I won't remember 10 years 1 year from now.  

Already, I am dealing with what this little one likes and dislikes.  Unlike Bryce, this baby does not want sweets.  I normally have a major sweet tooth and cannot go a day without having some sort of sweet.  However, as soon as my pregnancy symptoms kicked in (about two days after we found out), I did not want to eat anything, much less sweets.  My grandmother made my favorite type of cookie and Will and Bryce ate them all!  Will is so excited that when he wants something sweet, it is still in the house.  If you think I am kidding, I ordered 5 boxes of girl scout cookies and ate 3 boxes by myself in the first week and to top it off I was NOT pregnant.  I can handle them now but just don't really want them.  My poor brain is so confused.

I had a horrible reaction to some She Crab Soup while Will and Bryce were out of town for the weekend. I had a bowl a couple of weeks ago in Charleston and it was amazing and so smooth.  However, the one I got from the grocery store, had parts of the shell in it still and that was about the time that I lost everything.  I could not even look at the container that was still sitting on the counter for two days.  William had to come home and throw it out for me.  I never had to deal with such difficulties with my first pregnancy.  

This baby seems to like the healthy stuff.  Pretty much anything with veggies in it and yummy salads.  The one bad thing that seems to settle it all soda.  I used to drink a gallon of water daily and now I can barely keep water down.  I know I am not addicted but it makes me feel so much better after I have had an ice cold soda...

I wonder if William can bring home a soda fountain???

9 weeks and counting

Today we are 9 weeks along and it has been a rough ride so far.  Morning sickness is my worst enemy this time around.  Crazy how all the things that would make me feel better are just not possible when I don't have the energy.  I miss my gym!  I miss my yoga!

I also miss control of my emotions.  I am up and down like a roller coaster, all day, everyday.  I really do feel bad for anyone that deals with me.  Today I actually started to tear up while watching Disney's Mulan with Bryce.  REALLY???  

This pregnancy feels so different compared to when I was pregnant with Bryce.  I have had several people say that they just know it is a girl but honestly I am mixed.  I have always wanted a girl and I think it would be so much fun to dress her up and have some girl things in this house.  However, boy toys are new and exciting (at least to me) and Bryce has had some of the cutest clothes.  The following pictures are from Easter 2010, he was what my grandmother refers to as a "living doll."

He was telling us he was done at this point.

All I know is that I am ready for the second trimester to be here!  Hopefully by then the energy levels will return and I will not be so sick.  You know how they say milk coming out of the nose hurts, try cinnamon.  Plus we have a cruise planned in June and I am so ready!

In the beginning

Write a blog, me? Why not? I love reading all the other blogs out there and it makes me envious of the memories that I have forgotten about that all these other bloggers will have forever. Now, I have the best reason to write all these memories down...

We are pregnant with Baby Boone #2.

I hope that this blog will be a way to remember it all (even the morning sickness)!