17 weeks and a Birthday Boy

The last few weeks have flown by! Probably because we spent over 2 weeks away from home. Brady and I drove up to St. Louis on June 9/10 with my Mom. Eric flew up to meet us there a week later. My sister had Matthew Paul Bierman on May 31st. I had to get my hands on that baby :) It was wonderful to spend time with them and I even watched Matthew all night one night by myself so they could sleep. He has acid reflux so they were extra tired and stressed. He's doing great now though. Eric came up and was able to go to his first Cardinals game for a guys night. We had Brady's birthday party. And just lots of family time. It was wonderful.

Is Brady seriously 2!?? Eric and I look at him every day and can hardly believe how big and smart he has gotten. When I remember that he just started walking last November, I am stunned by how much he's changed since then. He certainly doesn't look like a baby anymore. He says about 3 new words every single day. He just picks them up so fast, it's incredible. He says lots of sentences and phrases now instead of just single words. "Here comes Daddy" "Daddy's home" "Where's our girl(sugar)?" "It's all better" And his favorite... "Go outside and play" Love it! He's also picking up a lot of things from books and shows. When we left St. Louis to drive home it was 5 am. He pointed out the window and said, "Look, it's the moon" I've never said that. But I know it's on Bubble Guppies. I'm getting a lot stricter about what's on TV while he's in the room, even if it annoys Aunt Allison ;)

We did a race car birthday for Brady our last day in St. Louis. Brady took a short nap, so he was a little cranky. But he loved his cake, cars, and power wheels :) Eric and I have been dying to give it to him for months now! I can't wait until he gets the hang of it and cruises all around our cul-de-sac and yard.

I really wasn't planning well when I picked our dates to go to St. Louis. I was gone for 16 days and that made me a week late for a baby doctor appointment. I also ended up in the ER with a bladder infection :/ And bladder retention. I assumed I had a uti, but when the antibiotic my doctor called in for me didn't work, they sent me to the ER. I peed to give a urine sample, and then they did a bladder scan. I still had half a liter of urine in my bladder. Not good! Especially since I thought and felt like I had emptied it. I got 2 prescriptions - another antibiotic and one to stop bladder spasms - had to go buy a maternity support band to hopefully help hold my belly off of my bladder, and was told to see a urologist when I got home.

Ever since my gallbladder surgery, I have been very vulnerable to uti and bladder infections. 3 in 6 months! Which makes no sense to me, because I am drinking SO MUCH WATER! No soda, no tea, no nothing else. And I pee constantly, never holding it. I drink cranberry juice so much the taste has actually grown on me! I had a doctor appointment scheduled for today, but had to reschedule for Monday since Dr. Doan had 2 women delivering at the same time and 4 more in labor! Yikes! On Monday, I hope to make sure my infection is gone, figure out what's up with my bladder, and *possibly* find out the sex of the baby. I'm not holding my breath on that last one. She might make me wait 3 more weeks. Which is fine by me. Of course I want to know, but I'm not rushing. Everyone around me sure wants to know though ;)

There are several things we can start doing before we know the sex. One, sell the bed in our spare room and get a smaller bed for that room aka the new nursery. And two, organize and rearrange our room to make space for the treadmill my wonderful Aunt gave us :) I am so happy!! I was doing so great with my walking up until June, and then you know it's Houston so it's hot as hell. Now, I can walk whenever I want! Not dependent on the weather and I can walk during Brady's naps. Woohoo! We're getting a TV for our room for my birthday. Which, don't remind me, I'm going to be 27. That just doesn't sound right?!

 

 

Let the Pregnancy Posts Begin :)

We are so happy to share that baby Weisinger #2 is on the way :) Due December 5, 2013! I am so excited to have a newborn at Christmas time. 2 of my favorite things :) I'm 14 weeks pregnant. We found out on Easter morning. We had been trying for 3 months. Unlike when we found out with Brady, I was sure the pregnancy test would be negative. We had decided to only try for 3 months and then take a break (I'll explain later), and since it was the third and final month, I didn't want to get my hopes up too high and end up very disappointed. Well, luckily that didn't happen! I was shocked instead! Eric checked the stick, that's just sort of our tradition. I could tell instantly by the look on his face, huge smile, that it was positive. I was nervous and totally stunned!

When I had my gallbladder surgeries in November, I was in and out of the hospital for quite a while. That made taking my birth control pretty difficult, so I just stopped. Once I got home and healthy, I asked Eric if he wanted to go back on or just stay off, since we were discussing trying for another baby soon. We decided I would not go back on, but we wouldn't start trying until I felt healthy and totally normal again. Fortunately that wasn't too long.

When we tried with Brady, we really just went off birth control and said “it'll happen when it happens”. So I never tracked my cycle, ovulation, or any of that. I knew I was irregular ish, but certainly didn't know details, until we started trying this time. From December to March, I had 29, 32, and 27 day cycles. Thank GOD (and my friend Lauren for suggesting) I used ovulation tests, because that was all over the place too. We were fortunate to get pregnant with Brady in only 5 months, not having a clue about any of that.

We leave Houston and recruiting duty in the dust in May of 2014. I didn't want to PLAN to be pregnant or have a tiny newborn during that move. If it happened, we would deal, but I didn't want to do that intentionally. I originally wanted to have another baby when Brady was 3 ish. But that would put us due right around moving. I realized, I just wasn't up for that again. Having a due date in the fall of this year, would work very well though. Brady would be almost 2 ½ and we would have several months here to get into the swing of things before moving. For me it was this, or waiting to get pregnant until well after we moved. Waiting until then seemed like waiting too long. But I knew it was truly in God's hands. All we could do was try, and see what happens. I prayed for God to let us be pregnant again if and when it was right by His plan. And I meant it. If we didn't get pregnant, we would make the most of our last year in Texas with fun trips

I am super thankful to be in the 2^nd trimester now. From about 7-13 weeks I was incredibly tired. Zoned out, can't focus my eyes, or think straight tired. I felt so bad for Brady, although he hardly notice. He's such a trooper. We still went on our regular outings for play dates and such, but around the house I was just useless. This last week, I've found myself trying to play some major catch up on house work. My husband is so thankful to have clean socks again ;) My nausea was so minimal this pregnancy which was NICE! It wasn't all that bad with Brady either, considering there are women who lose serious weight from all the sickness. But I had more nausea and food aversions with the first. This time around, there were a few times I knew I was hungry and needed to eat, but nothing sounded good. That's the worst of it. Thank God! My headaches were bad last week but have lightened up now.

I've had two appointments and both went very well. Everything looks perfect so far. I hope to find out what we're having around 17 or 18 weeks so I can get busy on my new baby to do list. But I'm really being patient and not rushing things. I enjoy this stage of wondering. It won't last forever :)

                                  

                                           Our surprise Easter morning :)                                      

                                               Ultrasound at 8 weeks

                                                          13 weeks                                

                                                           14 weeks

Jamming

Sunday, we went to the Strawberry Festival in Pasadena with Eric's parents. There were lots of vendors, great food, games, and fun stuff for kids. Brady was tired and stayed in the stroller most of the day, but we still had a great time. And of course we bought a bunch of strawberries. Karen invited us and asked if I would make jam with her. I had no clue how to make jam, but I really wanted to learn. Turns out it's easy and a lot of fun! I will definitely try to do this every year if I can. Eric took some good pics :)

We boiled and sterilized all the jars and lids. Cleaned, cut, and mashed up the strawberries. Measured out 7 cups of sugar for each batch... :0 Then boiled the sugar and strawberries. Add a tablespoon of butter, and one packet of pectin (turns it into jelly). Jar it up and you've got jam! It turned out absolutely delicious and I have several jars to give to family. Karen and I had a lot of fun and I'm so glad she asked me to join her.

 

 

Easter

I have been looking forward to this Easter for several months. After realizing Brady would be able to participate in egg hunts, I couldn't stop planning! I got him a special shirt from Etsy, planned his church outfit (complete with a bow tie :), got all the goodies for a hunt here at home, and planned out our weekend. 

We attended an egg hunt at church on Saturday morning. Eric decided that Brady needed to practice first, so he would know what to do. So cute! After a quick session, Brady had it down and scored a lot of eggs at church :) We got a lot of compliments on the basket my mom sent for him :)

We came home and grilled and then went back for church service that night. The next morning we were able to sleep in, then have our egg hunt at home. Brady grabbed about 5 eggs and then just wanted to play. So Eric and I had to go around and pick up the other 45763 eggs I had stuffed. Haha! Oh well. Then we had a big lunch with ham, devilled eggs, and all the fixins. My Dad was here in town and Eric's parents came over. Needless to say, Brady ate up all the attention.

I had a great visit with my dad. He was here for 8 days. We took Brady to Chuck E Cheese, to get a hair cut, to see the Easter bunny, and we went to old Katy to antique/furniture shop for my Dad's house. I'm headed back to St. Louis next week for my sister's shower. I absolutely love when my visits are back to back.

I made a point to have my new camera in time for Easter :)

Big Boy Stuff!

These last few months, Brady has turned into 100% toddler. Really since he started walking, it has been one thing after the other. He isn't a baby in any way anymore! He sits at the table with us in a booster seat in a chair. Feeding himself completely. He won't even really wear bibs anymore. He pulls them off like the Hulk if I put one on him. He walks every where, when I actually get to hold him or carry him, I realize how infrequently that happens nowadays! Brady's vocabulary has been growing and FAST! New and very popular words are sock, fork, duck, cow, puppy, apple, purple, and please :) He's always talking! His doctor said he's talking like a 2 year old. I'm so glad since he used to be shy about speaking. He would whisper new words until he was sure. So Brady! He is 35 inches tall and 23 lbs 10 oz. 95% for height and 7% (barely) for weight. My typical long and lean little man :) He's very healthy though and a better eater these days. Still picky, but better!

I can't begin to express how obsessed he is with cars! Not the movie, just the automobile :) All vehicles (trucks, vans, sports) are cars to him right now. And he can't get enough!! My mom got him several cars for Christmas, and while they were a hit at the time, his love for them has grown tremendously over the last month. I love the way he “vroom”s while he plays with them. Brady spent Saturday with his Nana and Grans, who got him the Cozy Coupe! It couldn't have come at a better time! He played in it all day and never wanted to get out :) I think it's safe to say Brady wore them out! They had a great day.

I enrolled Brady into MDO at our church for this fall. It doesn't start until September 4, but I'm already really excited. It may be called Mother's Day Out, but I swear I'm doing this for him not me ;) He will go to school Tuesdays and Thursdays from 930-230. He will get a Christian education and get all the benefits of having that routine. They will prepare him for Preschool and Kindergarten. He will have to get in the groove of me dropping him off, listening to the teacher, sharing and taking turns. It will be very different for us, but very good! And I was surprised how reasonably priced it was.

Since Brady has become such a big boy, Eric and I decided to switch his room around. We put a lot of his toys in there (so I could reclaim some of my dining room), got him a book shelf, took out the changing table, and just overall made it look less baby. We almost converted the crib to a toddler bed, but decided to hold off. I took a poll and most family voted that he wasn't quite ready yet. I also decided to hold off on fighting him to stay in bed and not play with all the toys I just put in his room...

With all Brady's growing up these last few months, Eric and I have thought a lot more seriously about baby #2. We might just be ready sooner than we thought :) But for now, I am really looking forward to a squishy niece or nephew to spoil and love on! :)

                             Daddy picked out the new decals for his Brady sign
                               "Brady's 3 favorite words.. Ball, dog, and car!" :)

Makin' Changes

I've been reading a book called 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. It's written by a Christian speaker Jen Hatmaker. She is very knowledgeable, kind, and FUNNY! Have I ever read a book that made me laugh like this?? No.Way. I've had to stop reading, so I could just sit and laugh for a second at something she wrote. It's really not a comedic topic... but she is so witty!

She and her family change one big thing in their lives, each month, for 7 months. First, food. Only eating 7 food items for a month. She chose chicken, eggs, whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados, and apples. She can use salt and pepper and only drink water. Sounds like torture to me, but it really taught her just how much food she has access to, and how much of it she took for granted and wasted. The next month was clothes, she could only wear 7 items of clothing total for the whole month. Including shoes! (But not including underwear and such, gotta stay clean!) It goes on like this through possessions, media, waste, spending, and stress.

I'm not considering doing this whole experiment 100% or anything. (This girl will never give up coffee! Or facebook!) But it has opened my eyes to how much we have and changed how I think. Now, I've just got to change what we do. It's so easy to be focused on what we “need”. Funny how most of the things I say we need are truly wants. And petty ones at that. Eric and I have had a lot going on these last few months, and some of them are pretty big stressers. After reading this book, I feel like a fool for worrying so much. We have everything we need and more! And always do.

I need to be more grateful for this and start giving back. Our first step was becoming members of our church. We spent Sunday evening at church in the class to join and it was a lot of fun. We met some really nice people, learned everything we need to know about the church (I wasn't raised Baptist, so this was important!), they served a delicious meal, and we joined! We have two small groups that we are planning to attend and hope that one will be right for us. Being more involved and connected in church will certainly help us stay focused on the right things as a family. And Eric will be baptized soon. SO happy :)

The next step is giving. More. To other people. Who need it! We have a lot. And stop buying so much stuff. God doesn't want us here on this earth to hoard a bunch of crap for ourselves. None of which we can take with us when we're dead. Here, this says it better ;)

Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19-21)

That part really got to me. I surely do not want my heart to lie in a coach purse :/ Or to answer to God someday for being so selfish. Would we really buy the things we buy, do the things we do, or say the things we say, if God was in the room looking at us? Or just try and justify it as if you were speaking to Him..

There were so many other wonderful lessons in this book. I can't recommend it enough! I know it won't be easy to make changes, but we are really going to try!!

18 Months

Brady is almost a year and a half old. These last few months he has really taken off. Walking is the biggest development! I know every parent is thrilled when their child walks. BUT, if you wait 16 almost 17 months to see them walk.. It's something extra special. The joy and relief! We knew he could/would walk.. but felt like we were going to wait forever to see it happen. I was in the kitchen cleaning up and peeked in at Brady in the living room. I saw him take a few steps and sit down. I didn't say anything because it seemed like he was doing intentionally while I was out of the room. I kept secretly watching and he kept walking! I finally let him know I saw and approved :) Then took videos. It was absolutely wonderful. Now he walks everywhere and rarely stops :)

His speech has really progressed as well. Brady says, what's that/what is it? Thank you. Sit, good girl (obviously directed at Sugar or Gugar as he says :) Ball, Spoons, chapstick, Mr. Bear, and lots more. He understands EVERYTHING! I ask him if he is ready for a bath and he very happily runs to the bathroom. Hungry? He takes off to the kitchen :) He brings me his sippy cup when he needs a refill.

His eating has been great lately too. He's not nearly as picky and always eats a good amount. Eric and I noticed the other day that he has a little belly. It's definitely smaller than most kids', but we're so happy to see it! Brady loves to sit in a chair, hold utensils (ALL the time not just at meals), he's really getting attached to his Lion so Mr. Bear's got competition! He will even make a 'roar' sound. He hugs us a lot now and loves to sit in our laps on the floor. He's all toddler!

We celebrated our Christmas just the three of us yesterday. We are super busy next weekend and then leave for St. Louis the next week so it just made sense even though it's early. Brady was loving every minute of it. He loved ripping the paper and especially the bows. The funny thing is, if you tell yourself it's Christmas, it really feels like Christmas. We got up and started the turkey. When Brady woke up, we let him see his presents, ate monkey bread for breakfast, then tore into gifts. I cooked while the boys played. Christmas music was on and it truly felt like Christmas day. A few times I thought about something I may need from the store and thought “Oh they're all closed” LOL. Oh wait it's just December 9^th! Haha. Brady is so lucky because he still gets to do Christmas with Eric's parents before we leave and then Christmas in St. Louis. We're driving this year and taking Gugar with us so wish us luck! ;)