15 weeks!

snow!

14 weeks

Thirteen and 14 Weeks

Clark's First Video

This is a test. It is only a test!!!

Twelve Weeks! Plum!

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of the baby's systems are fully formed.

1st cheerleading practice!

Clark's first haircut!

It was about time! His hair was getting pretty shaggy looking. He did not cry at all. He sat on Daddy's lap, and Daddy just buzzed the clippers round and round his head. He looks like such a little boy now!

Daddy's Little Helper

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 11! Lime!

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio of body to head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming - setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Purpose of the Blog

Nolan and I have been watching the new show called Modern Family. Last night was one couple's anniversary. He went all out for her, and she made him a coupon book for hugs. We were cracking up because often, I make Nolan gifts when honestly he'd rather get outdoor gear or bike parts.
But I started this blog about a month ago, so I could give Nolan an established blog for Christmas. He has wanted us to do a family blog ever since Clark was born, but I have been unsure of it. I figured out how to keep the blog for just friends and family, so I think it will be okay. Anyways, after last night's show, I am doubting this as a Christmas gift. I am envisioning Christmas morning with me getting everything I asked for and Nolan getting a card with a blog address in it. I have a month to decide it it is a bad idea or not. I just don't know. He REALLY wants a blog, but does he REALLY want a blog for Christmas?

Upward Basketball Cheerleading

I am a cheerleading coach again. I am coaching in the Upward league at Biltmore Baptist Church. We had a coaches meeting last night. It was basically me (the only cheer coach) and a bunch of dads there to coach basketball. My squads name is the Pom Poms. I have a ton of cheers, chants, and routines to learn. I started practicing today, and it was exhausting. This will be so different than coaching high school, but I am excited. I'm sure they will be precious.

Clark's 18 month appointment

I took Clark to his new doctor for his 18 month appointment. He is doing well. He is still 23 pounds. He is 50% in height, and he is still only 20% in weight. The doctor said this is not really a good indication of his size later on, so all is well. Who knows, maybe Clark will not be big like Nolan after all. I guess only time will tell. The only bad news was that he should be talking more. We knew this, but we did not know how the doctor would feel. There are so many opinions. Basically since Clark is a boy and the only kid in the house, that can cause kids to talk later. He grunts and points, and we know what he wants, so we give it to him. We have to quit doing this apparently. It stinks!
The plan is for the next two weeks to make Clark say a word or make a talking like sound (rather than grunting) when he wants something. After two weeks, we can then start asking him to say specific things. We will start small, like with just the beginning sound of a word, and then work our way up. Our hope is that this will just click in his head one day that using words gets him what he wants, and then I think he will start using them more. Our first night resulted in Clark screaming for twenty minutes until he just smiled, blurted out dog, and ate the rest of the meal in peace. I hate making him cry!!
Part two of the plan is to totally eliminate the pacifier. We had already reduced it at 15 months to sleeping and travel. Now it is bye bye pacifier! Tonight was the first night. I did not want to do it the last three nights because I was afraid he might be sore from his shots, and I had a cheerleading meeting. It took him an hour to fall asleep. We comforted him four times. I really hope tomorrow gets better for him, but I know it is for the best. I don't want to screw up his speech and teeth.

Week Ten! Prune!

With bones and cartalidge starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon legs will be too.)

Week Nine! Green Olive!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a doppler ultrasound device mightbe able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to like like...well, a baby!

1st appointment

The Davey Visit

Week Eight! Raspberry!

Your baby is growing like mad, putting on about a millimter everyday and continuing to straighten out in the trunk. Though you can't feel it yet, baby is moving those little arms, legs, and (now only slightly( webbed fingers and toes like crazy.

Week Seven! Blueberry

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about 100 new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

Oh, the sickness...

Whoever first called it morning sickness was an idiot. I am sick every second that my eyes are open. This has been a miserable two weeks. My doctor has called in some medicine, so I am hoping that will start working soon. I am having trouble imagining being this sick for the next six weeks.

Week Six! Sweet Pea

Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks and chin. Those little hands and feet- still webbed like paddles- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate.

Little Bear

This is the new winter suit we got for Clark. He really could not be any cuter in it. I love it! With one zip, he is covered head to toes including his hands if needed. He has been wearing it every day in his stroller, and he wore it tonight on a bike ride with Daddy at Bent Creek. Clark had lots of fun at Church today. He actually tried to hide from Nolan when it was time to go. He was playing xylophone with a little girl. We had a nice family nap after church today, and then I got to talk to my friend Carrie, who just had a baby girl about three weeks ago. It was a nice day, but now it is time to go clean up the garage.

A Big Boy Glass

Clark can drink out of a real glass now. He has done it before with thick drinks like smoothies, but today with two different styles of glasses, he drank some water. He is so happy about it. Today was a long day. Nolan has been out of town for three days, Clark refused to nap today, and I am in my first trimester of pregnancy. I really, really, really hope I experience the second trimester burst of energy this time around. With Clark I never got it, and I was always bummed by that. Clark and I went to Duck Duck Goose consignment today. I got Clark 6 sets of pajamas and a pair of overalls for $14. That is not bad since once set of pajamas is $20 at Belks. I'm glad Nolan is home, and we can enjoy our weekend!

Week Five! Apple Seed

Your embryo (looking kind of like a tadpole) is starting to form major organs (heart, kidney, liver, stomach) and systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive). Baby's presence in your uterus triggers production of hCG (the hormone detected by pregnancy tests)... which triggers production of other hormones like estrogen and progesterone... which trigger all those great symptoms you've probably been noticing!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

I went to my first connect group meeting tonight. Everyone was very friendly. I am quite a bit younger than the other ladies, but right now I just don't care. It is nice to be around people! Clark had his first non-family baby-sitter. In the past he has already been in bed when a sitter has come. She said he was very easy going, and they had lots of fun! He pushed the broom around for about twenty minutes and loved every second of it.

Here we go again...

Well, we just found out that number two is on the way. I am so excited and scared all at once. I love being pregnant, but I hate not being able to see the baby and how it is doing. I felt so relieved once I saw Clark, and I could see that he was okay. I will take the worrying and stress that comes with parenting to that that comes with pregnancy any day.
I feel good so far. Our due date is June 16th. I feel nauseous most of the time, but no vomiting yet. I am hopeful that this will be like my last pregnancy, and I will not vomit at all. I go the doctor for the first time on November 9th. The appointment lasts two and half hours! That is a long time.

In week 3, sperm meets egg, and voila: conception! Your little zygote sets off on a six-day trek through your fallopian tubes, dividing and redividing into identical cells as it travels to your uterus.
In week 4, now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) splits in two, becoming the embryo and the placenta. The amniotic sac and fluid are forming around baby, and will act as a cushion for the next eight months.