Week 24: Egg Plant

Our baby is the size of an egg plant!

(I think at this point, people have just made up random fruits/vegetables. He is almost 2lbs and about 12inches long)

 

How many weeks? 24 Weeks

Gender: Boy!
Maternity clothes? Still fit in my jeans but definitely wearing maternity tops. And I basically live in sweats and have converted to leggings; which I never thought I would do.

Sleep: Uncomfortably and congestively (yes, I made up that word). Time for a body pillow.

Symptoms: Cramping, stretching, back aches, he decides when I pee, gagging, inability to form sentences, morphed tummy, major heartburn/acid reflux, etc.

Best moment this week: Feeling and seeing Kobe move.

Movement: Oh he moves like crazy. I can totally tell where his little hands and feet are. It's such a weird thing to watch! ...but I absolutely love it.

Food cravings: Just food.

Belly Button in or out? It's almost out...odd!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Names: Pretty sure it's going to be Kobe. We have everyone calling him Kobe, and his name has been written on a few things; for example, Lane's sister got him a book and wrote "Kobe" in it. It just fits.
Nesting/Preparations? What have you done? His room is cleared out other than some junk that needs to be organized elsewhere, but we have our new glider in there, and we're starting to stock up on clothes, diapers, and wipes. I think we're going with a bright blue and green (not completely set on the tone yet), white wainscoting, brown furniture, and monkeys. That's as far as we've gotten, but my mom's coming in February to help!!

Looking forward to: We get to check up on him January 25th with another ultrasound, and then my mom comes! ...and baby shower time!

 

**We had another appointment and feel a lot better about the cyst after discussing it with the doctor. He explained that it is common to find a cyst in the Choroid Plexus and it almost always it goes away. They just had to make note of it that it was there, since they have the technology to find them. If there was a heart defect or other problem as well (which our baby does not have) then there is potential for a developmental issue or soft marker for Down Syndrome. They are still going to check on it in a month but he expressed that he is not worried about it at all. Everything is measuring perfectly- our weight and growth. I also have my glucose screening at our next appointment...totally not looking forward to that!**



 

Lil' Monkey

I've always wanted to get my babies a bear suit...they're just so stinkin' adorable! We bought one the other day, and Lane picked out this cute monkey beanie. I noticed that he is drawn to the monkey-themed clothing for our little man, so I think we will be referring to little man as "lil' monkey." Lane is going to be such a good daddy. He may not like that I am sharing this but I thought it was cute; When I came home from work the other day he started talking about how much he just wants our lil' monkey to be here and he told me, "This is how lame I am. I picked up his little bear suit thing earlier and started holding it like it was a baby ~while showing me with his arms~" I thought it was hilarious that he admitted it to me because, let's face it, we're all guilty of doing silly things like that when we're home alone...most people just keep it to themselves. I hope our son grows up to be just like his daddy, because I'm quite fond of him.

 

Week 22: Papaya

 Our baby is the size of a papaya!

How many weeks? 22 Weeks

Gender: Boy!
Maternity clothes? I still wear my jeans/bottoms but I need to start shopping for more tops.

Sleep: When I do sleep, I sleep great. However, I am starting to get really uncomfortable already, and I already miss laying on my stomach!

Symptoms: Growing, cramping, back aches, bladder being kicked, gagging, inability to form sentences, movement, constant heartburn/acid reflux, etc.

Best moment this week: Every time I feel little man move; which is all the time! I still just smile and am so amazed by the whole experience. Also, finding out Kim is having...a boy! We all thought she was going to have a girl. It will be fun having a boy cousin (Kim's) and a girl cousin (Britt's) the same age, and another boy cousin only a year and a half older (Erin's).

Movement: We definitely have an active child on his way! I'm obsessed with feeling him kick/punch/jump/throw/squirm/dance, or whatever it is he's doing in there. So much fun! I found out piano music puts him to sleep, but he likes to dance to other music. Around 9pm he starts showing off...which means I will need to train him on when it's ok for "wild time" and when it's not ok when he makes his debut.

Food cravings: Just food.

Belly Button in or out? In but for not much longer!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Names: Kobe. We are 99% sure we're going with Kobe. As far as middle names go, we've talked about Dale. Lane likes the name Jay, but for a first name- I could do Jay for a middle name but not first. Sooo, Kobe Dale Larson?
Nesting/Preparations? What have you done? We cleared out the nursery but we've been throwing stuff in there lately so that's on my list of things to do again. So far we've just looked at nursery ideas online. Colors we've decided on are bright blue & green (Lane says Seahawks colors), and white. I would like a splash of orange. I'm thinking stripes with white wainscoting. My mom is coming in February to help!

Looking forward to: Christmas, my mama coming to help with the nursery, and baby shower!

 

*Side note: The doctors found a Choroid Plexus Cyst on little man's brain in the 20 week ultrasound. He told me not to worry about it (how can I not?) because these cysts usually go away by themselves around 24 to 26 weeks. He said it's about the size of his thumbnail; which he also said is small, and again, not to worry. He just wanted us to be aware of it because they will keep an eye on it. When I got off the phone with him I had to look it up and read more about it of course, because how can I just not worry? After reading about them, I understand they are common and that they usually go away by themselves. They are also found on healthy children and adults. Worst-case scenario, it could be a "soft marker" for Down Syndrome. I'm trying not to stress about it because everything else was perfect in his growth and development, and I love him so much already, no matter what, but I just pray that he will continue to grow healthy and strong. We are getting another ultrasound at the end of the month or beginning of January to check up on him. On the plus side, we get to see him move around again!

 

Make-shift Christmas Card

Since I make my life so public via blogging and Facebook, I did not send out Christmas cards this year. So here's our Christmas card for 2012. Next year I plan on taking at least one secret photo that I can put on our Christmas card for 2013!

 

 

December Bumps

Kim = 18 weeks-sweet potato

Gender: Boy or Girl? (Finds out in 1 1/2 weeks!)

Jannica = 20 weeks-pomegranate

Gender: BOY (Is he going to have a boy or girl cousin?)

Brittani = 22 weeks-papaya

Gender: GIRL (Girl=1, Boy=1 for the Mitchell girls)

ps. I love my family!

 

And the Larson Name Lives On...

 Yup, we're having a boy!

I would have been shocked if they said it was a girl, but sure enough, Lane and I both spotted lil' man's part before the radiologist even said, "Looks like a boy!"

I am in love with him. I love feeling him move. I love saying "him" or "my son." I am obsessed with his little hands and feet. I can't wait to kiss them.

First thing Lane and I did (after eating lunch of course because our tummies were growling) was go to Ross and pick out an outfit for him. We just got a set of onsies and Lane picked out some Nike booties. We're leaning towards KOBE for lil' man's name...so far!

Week 20: Small Cantaloupe

Our baby is the size of a small cantaloupe!

How many weeks? 20 WEEKS

Total weight gain/loss: UP 6LBS FROM FIRST APPOINTMENT.
Maternity clothes? JEANS STILL FIT. JUST STARTING TO PURCHASE MATERNITY TOPS.

Stretch marks? NOT FROM PREGNANCY YET.

Symptoms: GROWING, CRAMPING, DISCOMFORT, SMASHED BLADDER, GAGGING, INABILITY TO FORM SENTENCES, SPACEY, GAS...MOVEMENT!
Sleep: SLEEPING DECENT USUALLY. BEGINNING TO NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP ON TUMMY.

Best moment this week: OH MY GOODNESS...SO LAST WEEK I STARTED TO FEEL FLUTTERS THAT I KNEW WERE THE BABY. ONLY I COULD FEEL THEM FROM THE INSIDE, BUT LAST NIGHT I WAS LAYING THERE WITH MY HANDS ON MY STOMACH AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN...~SHWOOP~THE BABY WAS DOING SOMERSAULTS OR SOMETHING. I QUICKLY TOLD LANE TO PUT HIS HAND ON MY STOMACH AND THE MOVEMENT CONTINUED! WE JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SMILED AND KIND OF GIGGLED. IT WAS AMAZING!

Movement: YES! I WISH THAT EVERYONE HAD THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS!

Food cravings: CHEESEBURGERS, PIZZA, AND FISH&CHIPS
Anything making you queasy or sick: NOTHING IN PARTICULAR. I RANDOMLY FEEL SICK.

Have you started to show yet: FIRMING LIL' BUMP.
Gender prediction: I'M LEANING TOWARDS A BOY BUT REALLY, WHO KNOWS?!...I'LL TELL YOU WHO...WE WILL...IN 2 DAYS!

Belly Button in or out? IN BUT GRADUALLY PUSHING OUT

Wedding rings on or off? ON

Names: BROOKLYN ROSE (g) KOBE or QUINN (b)
Best Thing about being pregnant: JUST KNOWING MY BABY IS SAFE INSIDE OF ME, AND FEELING HIM/HER MOVE AROUND.

Looking forward to: FINDING OUT WHAT WE'RE HAVING...NOVEMBER 30TH (2 DAYS)!!

Week 18: Sweet Potato

Our baby is the size of a sweet potato!

(But much cuter)



How many weeks? 18 WEEKS

Total weight gain/loss: UP 4LBS FROM FIRST APPOINTMENT.
Maternity clothes? JEANS STILL FIT, BUT SKIRTS ARE A LITTLE SNUG. SO FAR JUST 2 MATERNITY SHIRTS.

Stretch marks? NOT FROM PREGNANCY YET.

Symptoms: GROWING, CRAMPING, DISCOMFORT, SMASHED BLADDER, GAGGING, INABILITY TO FORM SENTENCES, SPACEY, GAS...SHALL I GO ON?
Sleep: Uncomfortably

Best moment this week: DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS AND THINKING OF NEXT CHRISTMAS WHEN WE'LL HAVE OUR LITTLE ONE HERE TO SHARE IT WITH!

Movement: SOMETIMES I THINK I FEEL SOMETHING BUT I BELIEVE IT'S JUST GAS SO FAR.

Food cravings: CHEESEBURGERS, PIZZA, AND FISH&CHIPS
Anything making you queasy or sick: NOTHING IN PARTICULAR. I RANDOMLY FEEL SICK.

Have you started to show yet: YES! A FIRMING LIL' BUMP.
Gender prediction: I'M LEANING TOWARDS A BOY BUT REALLY, WHO KNOWS?!
Belly Button in or out? IN
Wedding rings on or off? ON

Your top two name choices: BROOKLYN ROSE (g) KOBE or QUINN (b)
Worst Thing about being pregnant: GAGGING AND SCIATICA.
Best Thing about being pregnant: JUST KNOWING MY BABY IS SAFE INSIDE OF ME.

Are you more scared or excited: SO EXCITED AND ANXIOUS!
Last time you cried over something ridiculous was: STILL THE WALMART INCIDENT. NOT MANY MOOD SWINGS YET.

You pee an estimated __ times a day?: 20ish
Weirdest dream you've had since pregnant?: BESIDES THE SMOKING WEED DREAM, I HAVE A SERIES OF RANDOM WEIRD DREAMS PRETTY MUCH EVERY NIGHT. I SHOULD MAKE A BOOK.

Looking forward to: FINDING OUT WHAT WE'RE HAVING...NOVEMBER 30TH!!

November Bumps

Kim = 15 weeks-Orange.

Jannica = 17 weeks-Onion.

Week 16: Avocado

Our baby is the size of an avocado!

 

How many weeks? 16 WEEKS

Total weight gain/loss: UP 4LBS FROM FIRST APPOINTMENT.
Maternity clothes? JEANS STILL FIT, BUT SKIRTS ARE A LITTLE SNUG. SO FAR JUST 2 MATERNITY SHIRTS. 

Stretch marks? NOT FROM PREGNANCY YET.
Sleep: OH NOT MUCH...ALREADY UNCOMFORTABLE.

Best moment this week: WHEN THE DOCTOR WAS KIND OF DANCING TO THE BABY'S HEARTBEAT.
Movement: NOT YET BUT THE DOCTOR SAID TO EXPECT SOME ANY DAY NOW!
Food cravings: ALL I WANT IS BURGERS AND PIZZA...BUT I'M BASICALLY EATING EVERYTHING.
Anything making you queasy or sick: NOTHING IN PARTICULAR. I RANDOMLY FEEL SICK.

Have you started to show yet: YES! I'VE GOTTA SAY, IT FEELS WEIRD HAVING A SWOLLEN/HARDENING STOMACH.
Gender prediction: NO IDEA.
Belly Button in or out? IN
Wedding rings on or off? ON

Your top two name choices: BROOKLYN ROSE (g) KOBE or QUINN (b)
Worst Thing about being pregnant: BARFING AND SCIATICA.
Best Thing about being pregnant: NOW THAT I'M SHOWING IT'S BECOMING REAL...ALL THE NEW SENSATIONS OF PREGNANCY MAKE IT EASIER TO FORGET ABOUT THE CRAPPY PARTS (SO FAR).

Are you more scared or excited: SO EXCITED AND ANXIOUS!
Last time you cried over something ridiculous was: IT WASN'T A FULL-ON CRY BUT I WAS HUNGRY, TIRED, AND IRRITATED AND WALMART WASN'T A GOOD PLACE TO BE. I DID MY BEST TO HOLD IN THE TEARS THAT WANTED TO COME FROM THE IRRITATION.
You pee an estimated __ times a day?: 15+ (7 JUST LAST NIGHT)
Weirdest dream you've had since pregnant?: I WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR SMOKING WEED. *DON'T JUDGE ME; I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM AND HAD NO CONTROL*

Looking forward to: FINDING OUT WHAT WE'RE HAVING...NOVEMBER 30TH!!

15 Week Belly

I'm kind of weird about numbers and so I'm not going to update in depth until next week (Week 16 = an even number). Until then, here's my belly... I popped a little bit a few days ago!

An update to our house

I wrote about this on our house blog, but I wanted to include it on here too. Lane had this idea and vision of building a desk and shelves around our fireplace. He didn't grow up the handyman that his grandpa, uncles and brother did, but I have to say, it must run in the family. He put his ideas to work and built this from scratch...he did a great job and it looks beautiful!

If you don't follow our house blog, here's what our fireplace looked like when we moved in:

Better yet, when we first looked at the house...

 



Week 13: Peach

So guess what?! My sister is pregnant too! That makes 3 little babies all within a month (Britt is due April 1st, I'm due April 19th, and Kim is due May 6th)! How crazy is that? Well my sister does cute updates on her blog, so I'm halfway copying her. I don't feel like being cutesy and creative yet. I had all these Pinterest plans for pictures and such, but I'm just not havin' it. Maybe later...?

Our baby is the size of a peach!

 

How many weeks? 13 WEEKS

Total weight gain/loss: DOWN 5 LBS BUT IT'S STARTING TO GO BACK UP
Maternity clothes? NO. JEANS STILL FIT, BUT OUTSIDE OF WORK/CHURCH I BASICALLY JUST WEAR SWEATS BECAUSE I'M CLASSY

Stretch marks? NOT FROM PREGNANCY YET.
Sleep: I HAVE SCIATICA AND BACK PAIN THAT KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT, BUT I SLEEP DURING THE DAY WONDERFULLY WHEN I HAVE THE CHANCE!

Best moment this week: HEARING THE LITTLE ONE'S HEARTBEAT
Movement: NO...UNLESS YOU COUNT MY STOMACH TURNING AND FOOD COMING UP?
Food cravings: PANCAKES! I WAS ALSO CRAVING CHOCOLATE CAKE EARLIER THIS WEEK SO I MADE MYSELF ONE.
Anything making you queasy or sick: WHEN I HAVE MEDIOCRE-to-BAD BREATH I GAG. OTHER THAN THAT, JUST ALL THE USUAL YUCKY SMELLS. I WAS ALREADY HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO SMELLS PRE-PREGNANCY SO NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED.

Have you started to show yet: A LITTLE...IT'S MORE OF A POOCH BUT I STILL LIKE IT, ESPECIALLY AFTER I EAT. I'LL SAVE MY "I'M FAT" COMPLAINING FOR LATER.
Gender prediction: LANE AND I KEEP HAVING DREAMS ABOUT OUR DAUGHTER, WHOSE NAME IS BROOKLYN. THAT PROBABLY MEANS WE'RE HAVING A BOY THOUGH.
Belly Button in or out? IN
Wedding rings on or off? ON

Your top two name choices: BROOKLYN ROSE (g) KOBE or QUINN (b)
Worst Thing about being pregnant: BARFING AND PINCHED NERVE.
Best Thing about being pregnant: IMAGINING LIFE WITH OUR BABY AND CONTINUALLY BEING AMAZED AT THIS PROCESS THAT GOD CREATED.

Are you more scared or excited: SO FAR, EXCITED...AND ANXIOUS!
Last time you cried over something ridiculous was: UMM..OTHER THAN CRYING WATCHING ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW (THAT'S NOTHING NEW), I WAS LONELY THE OTHER DAY WHEN LANE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND I CRIED LIKE A BABY OUT OF SELF-PITY.
You pee an estimated __ times a day?: 10+
Weirdest dream you've had since pregnant?: NOTHING WEIRD THAT I CAN RECALL, YET.

Looking forward to: FINDING OUT WHAT WE'RE HAVING!

 

I wish that my sister lived closer to join in on this fun, but at least Kim and I are able to do this: since we are due so close, we are taking a picture together the first Sunday of every month to watch our bellies grow! This is so fun to me!

First "Belly Pic"

I don't have much going on there; just a little pooch forming. My mom said I should still take the "before" picture, so this is as "before" as it's going to get...10.5 weeks. The stripes probably give the belly more of an effect anyway.

Oh, Baby!

I have this little one inside of me! Is that weird or what?

I'm 9 weeks along and feeling every minute of it. The vomiting began a few weeks ago and has become a pretty regular (every-other-day) occurrence. I feel nauseous for a few hours in the morning, a couple hours in the afternoon, and sometimes at night. I have absolutely no energy about 6 days out of the week. However, I consider these good signs that the baby is growing! I have no real cravings yet, but McDonalds and french fries are about the only things that sound edible to me. This does not mean that I eat McDonalds all the time; maybe once a week. I do snack on those french fries at work though, that's for sure! My doctor told me I need to start forcing myself to eat little snacks throughout the day (easier said than done), since nausea usually comes with an empty stomach. He was listing off foods I could keep by my bed and eat first thing when I wake up: "Crackers, Oreos..." Okay, no need to go any further. I stopped listening at Oreos. Hey, doctor's orders!

Anyway, we love this little peanut so much already. The first ultrasound was so much fun! We got to see the little arms and legs moving around (does that mean our child will have ADHD?). It felt just so surreal. I'm due April 19th, 2013. ~Whew! Hopefully we're safe from having another May birthday!~ We're dying to know what we're having. So far we've cleared out the room across from ours; which was the office. I want to start decorating but it's early still, and it would be a lot easier if we knew what we were having. Soon enough though!

October 5th we get to hear the heartbeat! ♥

Vegas/Cali trip '12

I was able to go visit Erin, Russell and Rex in Vegas for about a week with Vicki, in the heat of the summer! I got to spend some quality time with this lil' guy...although he isn't so little anymore!

He's even crawling now; which means he'll probably be walking by Christmas at the rate he's going. Erin took me to the Hoover Dam bridge since I had never been. We were just posing silly.

She also had our meals all planned out and cooked for us! They got me addicted to the show "Downton Abby" while I was there. One night we went to see the water show at the Bellagio; which is always a sight to see! I always love spending time with Erin. We can just sit around and do nothing and it's entertaining.

My family has had a crazy few months and it worked out for me to go visit them in California the following week. While I was down there, our family grew! My sister got married! My mom planned my wedding in a short 3 months, and everything was absolutely perfect. She is quite the wedding planner because in just a couple weeks she planned Britt's perfect wedding at Crescent Bay Pointe Park in Laguna Beach. The setting was stunning, the couple was beautiful and happy as can be and our family was able to be there. I am so happy for them and that I have a new brother-in-law!

Lane was able to make it too!

Erin & Russell were down in Palm Springs so they joined us :)

We had a delicious and crazy dinner reception at El Torito following the wedding. It was so fun to see everyone!

Meanwhile, as I was enjoying family time in California, my husband conquered a triathlon (his first and probably only)! I am so proud of him. He decided to do it about a month before, and so he had about a month to train! I couldn't do it in that short amount of time, just sayin'. Way to go Lane!

 

DC/Virginia Trip '12 cont'd

After a couple days of touring DC area, Brady got a couple days off and we all went on a mini-road trip to Virginia Beach. We stopped at a little diner on our way for some good breakfast...and grits.

When we got to our hotel we had a little pool time before hitting up the beach.

Here's one of the cute entrances to the beach. There was a different theme for each little entrance.

Sand baby!

Miss her!

For dinner we went to another place on Lane's list from Triple D. This place was called Beach Pub and it had all-you-can-eat flounder. Lane was saving up the most calories for this place (although we ate a lot prior to). It was also pretty delicious. All the restaurants he chose from Triple D were so worth it!

.

It was one of those restaurants that provide you with crayons to draw on your place mat and they hang a lot of those pictures on the wall...so I found it appropriate to draw Guy Fieri, since he helped make it famous. I don't know if it made it on the wall, but I'd like to think it did.  ;)

During relax time, Leo and I had a little chalk therapy outside. Have I ever mentioned how cute this kid is?

We went down to the beach again that night and got some ice cream. There was a band playing in a little amphitheater, and some older couples were gettin' their grooves on so we found it entertaining to sit and watch. I was impressed with the town, it was pretty cute!

Leo got chocolate-wasted and grew a chocolate goatee. He was gettin' his groove on too.

Another cute entrance

Cute mama with baby May

Oh those boys...

Our time quickly came to an end. I don't like goodbyes, and not only did I have to say bye to my best friend again and favorite lil' Leo, but there was another cute face added to the sadness.

We sure do love this little Harker family. We built some great memories with them. It was like nothing changed since they moved (other than the addition to the family) and we already miss them like crazy. Thanks for the great trip, tours, hospitality, and memories Brady, Leah, Leo and May! We love you!