Henry's first party, birthday, and Thanksgiving

We have had a busy week here in our home!

Last Saturday we hosted Henry's birthday party - with about 30 of his closest family and friends! (ok, so maybe our friends). In order to be able to invite our friends as well, we only invited Henry's immediate family (i.e. his aunts and uncles, but not great aunts/uncles) I think this turned out well, and as far as I know, no one's feelings where hurt.

We had pizza for dinner - but it was before Henry's dinner time, so I just let him continue playing. The little beggar went around to everyone's plate - getting fed, then he'd walk away, chew, swallow, and go to the next person's plate! It was adorable.

During presents - he was entertained for a while, but he got stuck on one present and wouldn't leave it alone. So, as per usual for a first birthday, I got to open the presents myself. He got some great toys and super cute outfits! Which reminds me that I must start those thank you cards soon...

For the cake - he was a little timid at first - making his daddy try the frosting before he did. But then he discovered it was yum - and dug in. He did not get super messy, but it was cute none the less.

Overall, it was an amazing evening - we're so thankful for everyone who came and shared celebrating Henry's life with us! I am sad that my brother and niece weren't there - as they've decided their life is better without our family - but that's another story for another post.

On Wednesday - his actual birthday - he woke up and did his first official puke of his life. :( I think he and I have been fighting the same stomach bug - no fevers, just not much of an appetite and some other tummy issues. I got it first - but chalked most of the symptoms up to pregnancy. Then Henry - and on Thanksgiving night, poor husband got it the worst of all!

Since Henry was still sick for Thanksgiving (technically, not his first - but since he was only 2 days old last time, I'm calling it first) he didn't eat lunch, or really even try his thanksgiving feast dinner. He only would eat cheese. Poor guy.

Now that it's Sunday, our household is back to healthy normals! We're working on getting the tree up - so far Henry doesn't seem to even care that it's there - but we haven't put any of the pretty ornaments on it yet :)

Here's some pictures of Henry's party!





And as always, keep your eye out for these upcoming posts this week or next:

• Maybe Baby, 13+ weeks - first belly photo, and names picked out!

• Life after IF, dealing with being a proud mama, but not wanting to hurt your friends

Henry - 51 (almost) Weeks old

Tomorrow Henry turns 51 weeks old - and then next Wednesday (the 24th) he turns 1 year old!

Hmm... I got up here, now how do I get down??

It is amazing to me to think that at this time last year he was still in my belly. The rapid growth and change that infants go through the first year is crazy!!

Bottles: He had a couple weeks where he was doing awesome, and now he's drinking about 4 oz per bottle time again - so about 12 ounces a day. He gets half milk and half formula in these now - we had bumped it up to more, and he suddenly got some runny poops, so we backed off again. We'll try to add more milk soon to see if it happens again, or if it was caused by something else.


Solids: Henry is starting to develop a sense of taste. He does not like peaches. He won't eat peach flavored oatmeal, or peaches by themselves. He will eat the peach pieces from a mixed cherry fruit cup. If he's eating something, and you put something he likes better on his tray - he'll take the old food out of his mouth to put the new good food in!

Waketime Length: Same, usually 2 1/2 hours - sometimes longer

Naps: Same here - 2 naps a day, the first nap is an hour - then about an hour and a half in the afternoon.

Nighttime sleep: Stupid Daylight Savings time threw us off for about 3 days - but then he was right back on track like a champion! Still sleeping from 7:45pm until 7am.

Milestones: Henry isn't saying too many words - but he does try to mimic your sounds. He also is getting smarter with understanding what we say. He understands and follows the directions of "go get a book", "let's go eat", "bath time", and "let's go bye bye" It's so cute! He also got his toy snake yesterday when I told him to!

Daycare: Even better here - I set him down and he walks right away to the toys!!

We're having Henry's birthday party this weekend. We figured it would be better to have it before Thanksgiving weekend, so more people are likely to be able to come. We've invited a few family members and some of Henry's bestest friends ... and some of our best friends! We were going to make big pots of chilli - because that sounded perfect for a fall party. But - once we started adding up the cost of the meat and beans and sides - we decided just to spend a little more and order pizza! It'll be easier!

And just to get you thinking ... we've officially decided on boy/girl names for Maybe!! But that's for another post, another day :)

Maybe Baby - 9 weeks 5 days ... or later??

My wonderful husband was nice enough to take today off and go with me to our first official OB appointment today. Again - they had told me when she canceled our first ultrasound that she would try to listen for the heartbeat at this visit - but then she wouldn't because she said she's never been able to hear it at 9 weeks before. So I was annoyed with our doctor.

But then she felt my tummy - and estimated that it was feeling about 12 weeks instead of 9 1/2. So she decided we should have an ultrasound to make sure there weren't 2 Maybes inside!

Then, God blessed us with the ultrasound tech Joy - who just so happened to be sitting around doing nothing! We were so lucky to just get to move right into the ultrasound room instead of having to reschedule and come back next week!!

Don't worry - there is officially only 1 baby in there - but as per my usual baby breeding - Maybe is already measuring exactly one week ahead. My OB had said she won't change the due date unless it's 7 days off ... and it was exactly 7 days. So I'm not sure what we'll do there - I bet we'll discuss it next time.

It was so amazing and beautiful to see Maybe in there - flopping around, moving his/her little stumpy arms. The heartbeat was 163 - Henry's was always on the higher end too.

This pregnancy is starting to feel real ... and I am just so overwhelmed, excited, anxious, and grateful!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

A cute pic where you can see Maybe's little limbs!

A better facial profile pic - but I think that's the cord going up because Maybe's legs aren't that long yet!

Thank you God - for giving us this baby and letting us see him/her today!!

Henry - 11 Months Old

What can I say - this kid just loves life!! Especially being silly with his Daddy...

Maybe Baby - 7 Weeks

How far along? 7 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: -2, thank you morning sickness - but still +5 from preHenry.
Maternity clothes? Not yet!
Stretch marks? Not yet!
Sleep: Not too bad, just peeing once a night
Best moment this week: Getting to take a morning nap today - thanks husband!
Movement: Nope
Food cravings: Nothing, I'm really struggling with finding something that sounds good.
Gender: Hmmm....
Labor Signs: N/A
Belly Button in or out? Innie
What I miss: Waking up and not puking...
What I am looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat - that will set my soul at ease!
Weekly Wisdom: It's better to sit and feel good, than to clean the house and feel like crap!
Milestones: Each week feels like a milestone at this point!
Realization of the week: Puking is gross!

So, overall I'm doing good with this pregnancy... just feeling really rundown and sick. Thank goodness I only work in the afternoons, because mornings are awful for me!

I'm trying not to be a worry wort with every twinge and pain that I feel. They don't happen often enough to be a concern, probably just round ligament and stretching going on. My tummy already looks full though - but I know it's just leftover from the first pregnancy and bloating. But I definitely know now why women say they start showing immediately with the second baby!

We've still got 5-6 weeks until we're out of the first trimester and into the safety zone (or safer zone - because are we really ever safe?) - but I'm repeating this scripture over and over all day long:

Find rest, Oh my soul, in God alone. My hope comes from Him. Psalm 62:5

10 months and 3 weeks

I think for now, I'm going to alternate posts about Henry and Maybe Baby. I don't want to make a whole new blog - so they'll have to learn to share the spotlight already!

Today is for Henry! At the doctor for his flu shot - he weighed 22lbs - 12 oz. But that was with all his clothes on, and a wet diaper. So, it's not an official weight :) My little man didn't even shed a tear for his flu shot - he's so brave!

Bottles: Still rough times here. We're trying to give him 3 6oz bottles a day - but he's drinking maybe 10-12oz a day. I've started to mix 2 oz milk with 4 oz formula, to gear us up to the switchover (and to stop wasting expensive formula!)


Solids: Henry will eat almost anything we're eating - he loves food! Almost every night at dinner I have to stop him because I feel like he's eaten a ton, and he never ever gets too full to eat. He just keeps shoveling it in!

Waketime Length: Same, usually 2 1/2 hours - sometimes longer

Naps: Definitely down to 2 naps, unless we have a crazy day. To help out at daycare, his morning nap is shorter, I wake him up around 10:30.

Nighttime sleep: Same greatness here! Still averaging 7:45pm until 7am.

Milestones: Henry now has 2 bottom teeth - and he can walk!! He cruises all over - and can even turn around or walk in a circle and keep on going! He's starting to try to say some words, but besides dada and mom - they're nothing official. You can tell that he's trying to repeat the sounds you say though - it's so cute!

Daycare: Henry is doing awesome at daycare - his caregiver says he's adjusted really well. He only cries for a minute or two after I drop him off - and it's the best thing to see him reach for me when I pick him up!

We got fall pictures taken with his cousin Claire today - I'll post some of them as soon as we get the cd!

Henry loves spaghetti night! (good thing we have it weekly!)

Maybe...

Maybe Baby!

I've been saving the post I wrote about Maybe Baby ... and I'm going to publish it now because Nick and I are terrible at keeping secrets!

So scroll down to read the previous entry ... then come back up here!

I'll wait......

.........

........

So obviously, we are very very excited!

I understand why people wait until after the first trimester to tell people. I also understand the risk of 10-20% pregnancies ending in miscarriage. Too many of my dear friends have experienced this, but if that happens, I'm sure I'll need the support of my friends and blog-o-sphere.

My third blood test gave results of hcg levels over 1300, so finally no more needles for a while!

We'll have our first ultrasound next Friday, to make sure that Maybe Baby is in the right spot, and there should be a heartbeat by then!

The bottom line - is that God is good! We're accepting all prayers that Maybe Baby is happy and healthy in there - growing strong!

Henry tried hard to hold his Big Brother sign.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13