13 Weeks... Our 2nd Baby

How far along? 13 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: at the Dr, none. at home 2 lbs! I'll take it! My OB told us we need to start gaining weight and encouraged my husband to let me eat what I need... ahem.. "Mc Donalds is good for her, let her eat Mc Donalds". lol

Maternity clothes?  I do LOVE my liz lange maternity Tees! I also am obsessed with my new Gap maternity leggings.. they're thicker, softer and so comfy! other than that... I'm in regular clothes.. my jeans are getting a little too snug to button so we're using the hairband trick.

Stretch marks? No, started using coconut oil, it keeps me from going dry.

Sleep: no sleep. I'm so tired yet wide awake. 

Best moment this week: last week I thought my nausea was fading, but it came back with a vengeance. Today, I'm on day 3 of no nausea, dizziness or headaches. It's life changing. I feel like myself again!! 

Miss Anything? Sleep and food.. real sushi.

Movement: no. Dr thinks the "movement" was nausea.

Food cravings: Nacho cheese, Doritos, Vietnamese BBQ pork sandwich, Vietnamese food.. Vietnamese everything! I'm also obsessed with pears, grapes, watermelon, banana and oranges.

Anything making you queasy or sick: raw meat.

Have you started to show yet: yes. there's a bulge.

Gender: not sure yet. I have a feeling it was a girl... but not sure.

Labor Signs: none.

Belly Button in or out? IN. 

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving! I'm making ham!  

Guest Post: Arianna at ariannaknowsbest

Hey Everyone!

I'm so excited to have Ariana over at ariannaknowsbest guest posting for me! Arianna is a full-time mom and a fashion-lover, world traveler, animal lover, and family woman extraordinaire. She loves to cook and bake, travel to new places, share great fashion finds, and spend time doing crafts and projects at home with her kids. She’s got a crazy busy life, but she wouldn’t have it any other way! Follow her blog HERE

Please enjoy her post:

My name is Arianna, being that I’m a full-time mom and part-time blogger (Arianna Knows Best), I thought with the holidays right around the corner, I’ve started to think about what to get my husband and decided that I might do things a little differently this year. I’ve been brainstorming some ideas for gifts that we can both enjoy (maybe without him knowing it!) and wanted to highlight some of these gift ideas.

Even when you've been together for years, finding the right holiday gift for your significant other can still prove to be quite difficult. If you're finding that your gift-giving well of creativity has run dry, then perhaps it's time to try something a little different. This year, why not try giving a gift that both of you can enjoy? Here are five ideas you might want to consider.

Five Gifts That Benefit You Both

Kitchen Gadgets

Are you tired of having the sole responsibility of handling dinner? If so, get a gift that makes the man in your life actually want to cook! A good way to approach this is by getting him a kitchen gadget that appeals to his sense of masculinity. New carving knives for the Christmas roast, a set of meat cleavers or even a grill may well prove irresistible. Plus, while he's playing with his new toys, you get to kick back, relax and wait for dinner!

Tropical Paradise

Pine trees are usually found in cold places, and who wants to be reminded of that when the weather outside is frightful? This year, ditch the traditional Christmas tree and swap it out for a palm tree. Surprise your other half this Christmas with a vacation getaway to someplace warm and sunny, like Miami. Instead of huddling around the fireplace drinking hot cocoa and wearing ridiculous sweaters, you could be relaxing on a sandy beach in your swimsuits and drinking Pina Coladas.

“Guy Time” Bonding

With all of the stresses of work, sometimes it can feel like your husband needs a little push to spend time getting away from it all. Take this as your opportunity to drop a big hint by giving your husband a gift certificate to someplace fun and manly. It can be a sports game, go-kart track or a round of putt-putt golf. The benefit to you is that you get the house to yourself for an entire day!

Home Theater

Another gift that the man in your life will love is a home theater. Get a new LCD or 3D TV, install surround sound speakers and a new wi-fi capable Blu-Ray player. You can even consider getting a subscription to one of those DVD-by-mail rental services to ensure you've always got something different to watch. Black Friday always has great deals on electronics, with many places offering as much as half off original prices! This provides a great opportunity for both of you to spend some quality time alone “at the movies” without the noisy chewing and prying eyes of other theatergoers!

Dual Gym Membership

Have you been lifting more desserts than weights this holiday season? Has your daily exercise been consisting mostly of walking to and from the refrigerator? If so, you might want to consider giving the gift of a dual gym membership. You could even enroll in a six-week fitness program to help you get back in shape together while having fun and getting back into the shape you were in during your “dating days.”

It's often hard to find the perfect gift for your special someone, and they probably feel the same way. This year, make it easier on yourself by giving them something that you can both benefit from!

12 Weeks... Our 2nd Baby

How far along? 12 weeks 2 days

Total weight gain/loss: So far, none. I find out on tuesday if that changes!

Maternity clothes? Gap was having an additional 30% sale, I picked up some T-shirts ($3-5!!), but I'm still wearing regular clothes.

Stretch marks? No, started using coconut oil, it keeps me from going dry.

Sleep: Exhausted, Landon's going through a sleep regression. He's been very talkative in his sleep, lots of tossing and turning AND he likes to wake up around 3 Am and cry until we sit with him. This mama is soOOOOo tired!

Best moment this week: I think the night nausea is starting to fade!! 

Miss Anything? Sleep and food.. I have almost zero appetite. 

Movement: I'm still feeling some nudging and swirling. It makes me happy!

Food cravings: I wish!! I like oranges, pears, and grapes. currently need a little cola to help ease the nausea. I do like Burger Kings original chicken sandwich. Anything with rice makes me happy. I can eat cooked sushi every day.

Anything making you queasy or sick: the thought of eating my own cooking makes me feel nervous. I cook for Landon and my husband to eat everyday but I don't want to eat it. Touching raw meat makes me want to cry.

Have you started to show yet: yes. theres a bulge.

Gender: not sure yet. Had a dream it was a boy. 

Labor Signs: none.

Belly Button in or out? IN. 

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Looking forward to: We have our 12 week screening this week. I can't wait to see the baby. We've been shopping for our baby, picked up a little stuffed animal for our sweet loves. 

Landon is 17 months

Weight: 23.5 lbs and 33"

Health: After his last set of vaccinations, he caught a mild cold... It lasted about 5 days. With 6 new teeth coming in, that really threw a wrench I'm our month! 

Diet: he's a great eater. It's hit or miss with this new addition of teeth... Some days more than others but he will usually devour what is offered.

Social: he's been having lots of play dates with my sister. They really enjoy their time together. Went to the zoo with my brother and his wife.. He really loved it! He's been really developing his "pretend" personality.. Where he fake coughs, ease drops then laughs.. The cough thing is really making people nervous with flu season. 

Crying: We get crying when he is not interested in staying with people that isn't me... Or being dropped off. He loves visitors and will leave with you, but forget leaving him with you. 

LOVES: Balloons, bottles with lids, eating snacks, Mickey Mouse club and his new batmobile. 

Clothes: size 12-18, some 18-24. Shoes 5 1/2. He has officially stopped wearing onesies now that he is potty trained. We still wear diapers size 4 or pull ups in size 2 T.. But we wear training under wear size 2T.. 

Milestones- Pottytrained, In diapers when he sleeps and outtings. Self feeds all meals... Pretty much mastered his gymnastics class and got promoted smh now he has to attend class alone. Cleans up his toys and he has routine jobs.

Words:

"Boo" for anything Halloween

Cow and moo

Cat

Dog

Duck

Bird

Hello

Bye bye

Mama

Dada

Ba (grandma)

Pap pap (grandpa)

Tree

Water

Milk

Baba (for drinks)

Snack

Treat

Done

Poo poo

Leiah

Book

Ball

Dinosaur "dine "

Come on

Please

Go

No no

Shirt

Shoes

Socks

Up

Down

signs: eat, milk, more, all done, please, help

Travels: Booked a trip to NYC & PA ! So excited!

Must Haves: snacks, Mickey Mouse DVD

Teeth: looks like 13.5. 

This Kid is a regular comedian, he's an entertainer.  He knows the moves to itsy bitsy spider, if you're happy & u know it, he can march, spin & jump. Lol. I spend 24 hours a day with him and I never get tired!

Toddler Activities: Sweeping Pom Poms

This activity is a little challenging. If you follow me on Instagram, you can see a video of Landon sweeping pom poms.

I got this set at the dollar tree. We buy a lot of our activities at the dollar tree! 

I gave Landon a few pom poms and said "sweep" and showed him how to sweep the pom poms into the dustpan. This activity is very challenging for a young toddler. he has to use both hands and hand eye coordination. it takes a lot of concentration to do 2-3 different things at once!

He loved sweeping and would say "sweeeee" and ask for "more". at first, he would try to do this but need a little assistance.

You can see how proud he is when he successfully sweeps his poms!

We've had a couple weeks of this sweeping activity, we've also introduced large pasta noodles. but its not as easy as pom poms. He also loves to use the broom and dustpan sweeping stuff off the floor. its really funny.

11 Weeks... Our 2nd Baby

How far along? 11 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I started this pregnancy at 118. I've had 4 appointments where I've gained a few and lost a few but on Tuesday, I'm still at 118 lbs. I'm sure the weight will pile on in a few weeks.

Maternity clothes? Yes and NO. I can't lie, I never stopped wearing my Liz Lange maternity shirts, but other than that, still in normal clothes.

Stretch marks? No- but I've been using coco butter body spray and lotion. I'm so dry. This kid is sucking the moisture out of my skin. its terrible. 

Sleep: I'm so tired, but who can sleep with a toddler running around?? Sometimes I will nap when he naps.

Best moment this week: We had an ultrasound and saw the baby. We are were at 10 week but measured 12 weeks 6 days. It was very active. I even told my OB that I felt it at night, he said it wasn't possible until we saw the ultrasound.. he's now a believer.

Miss Anything? The sleep I got with my my first pregnancy... 

Movement: Yes, I think.

Food cravings: Not really. I like crisp fresh grapes... oranges, salad, and I went on an obsessive search for chili cheese burritos from taco bell. My husband was able to bring it home once.. just once. luckily I'm over it!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I have severe nausea from 4pm-midnight. It's mind numbing. I get dizzy and light headed. I started using PSI bands (like sea bands but for pregnancy) and I feel better. I didn't get this with my first pregnancy its overwhelming. 

Have you started to show yet: I do feel a little chunky.

Gender: not sure yet.

Labor Signs: none.

Belly Button in or out? IN. 

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Looking forward to: We finally got to see my mom this weekend after 6 weeks. she finished her last 2 rounds of chemo, with that and a round of colds between my mom, dad then Landon caught a bug.. we really couldn't visit her until we made sure everyone was in tip top shape.  Also my brother and his wife are having a gender reveal at dinner- We've been waiting for weeks to find out. So excited!

A Sweet Little Announcement

Well our little family is excited to announce that there's a little bundle of joy expected to arrive May 2014! 

Toddler Activities: Duck Week

I decided that at 16 months, we would start teaching Landon about different farm animals. He currently knows bird, dog and cat. 

I got these farm animal figurines at a learning store, but you can buy them on amazon, at Walmart and I've seen them at target. 

I also pull all of our books with ducks in them to read for the week. Any book with ducks in it works. So I introduced a few different ducks. 

Remember to ask questions and talk about ducks. "Landon, what is this? It's a duck", "a duck goes quack quack" etc

By the end of the day, he caught on about ducks, so we went to feed ducks at the lake and he loved it. Now he can tell the difference between ducks and birds... We also went to the pumpkin patch where they had ducks.. And he kept pointing and screaming "Duck!! Duck!!"