Thanksgiving- 17.5 weeks
22.5 weeks
25.5 weeks
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Belly Shots
I'm not sure that I would call it "cute" or "little", which is how many people who have seen me described it, but whatever it is, it is growing! Some updated belly shots....
Thanksgiving- 17.5 weeks
Thanksgiving- 17.5 weeks
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Belly Baby Shots
Some updated shots of Belly Baby
November 30, 2010: 18 weeks
January 17, 2011: 25 weeks- Just a profile shot of baby sucking its thumb.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Some things I don't want to forget
There are no two ways about it. I have not been good about posting to this blog.
Today, I went to the doctor and was reminded of the fact that I have less than two weeks remaining before I begin my third trimester. Um, what? With the exception of two somewhat difficult weeks in December, this pregnancy has flown by. Third trimester? Visits every two weeks? This is crazy. I can't believe we are already at this point!
So here are a few things that I want to always remember about this pregnancy. This will be completely uninteresting to anyone else. This post is strictly for me. Feel free to read on, but point is- I know this is of no interest to anyone besides me. But it is my blog journal, so I write what I want!
1. Cravings
At first, it was all about In-N-Out. Literally. All about it. I completely and totally craved hamburgers. No french fries, no milk shakes. Hamburgers. That was it. Since then, it has become OJ. I need OJ. Every single morning, I need a huge class of OJ. Loving sweets, though I am not sure that is pregnancy related at all. Repulsed by chicken, bell peppers, and edamame- three of my most favorite foods. Love eggs, which I usually detest. And otherwise, all about fresh fruit.
2. Baby's size
Baby seemed to be measuring a bit on the bigger side for a while. I had an ultrasound today (1.17.11- 25 weeks) and baby weighed in at 1 pound 14 ounces. It is about 13 inches long. For the past few ultrasounds, the baby has been putting its hands in front of its face when the tech goes near its face. Funny.
3. Night owl
This baby is a night owl. It is active for much of the day, but especially from around 6pm to 6am. I have been awoken a handful of times already by this little one.
4. Heartbeat
So baby's heartbeat has been as follows:
18 wks- 160
20 wks- 158
21 wks- 155
22 wks- 153
24 wks- 148
25 wks- 156
Apparently, there is zero truth to the heartbeat determining gender theory. If there were truth, these numbers are all over the board, I am not sure what it would even mean.
5. Gender
Speaking of gender, I am 99.9% certain there is a little guy in there. Adam has no guesses- he is too concrete and doesn't play my games. Rylie changes her mind on an almost daily basis of what she wants. Hopefully I deliver on the right day for her purposes!
Today, I went to the doctor and was reminded of the fact that I have less than two weeks remaining before I begin my third trimester. Um, what? With the exception of two somewhat difficult weeks in December, this pregnancy has flown by. Third trimester? Visits every two weeks? This is crazy. I can't believe we are already at this point!
So here are a few things that I want to always remember about this pregnancy. This will be completely uninteresting to anyone else. This post is strictly for me. Feel free to read on, but point is- I know this is of no interest to anyone besides me. But it is my blog journal, so I write what I want!
1. Cravings
At first, it was all about In-N-Out. Literally. All about it. I completely and totally craved hamburgers. No french fries, no milk shakes. Hamburgers. That was it. Since then, it has become OJ. I need OJ. Every single morning, I need a huge class of OJ. Loving sweets, though I am not sure that is pregnancy related at all. Repulsed by chicken, bell peppers, and edamame- three of my most favorite foods. Love eggs, which I usually detest. And otherwise, all about fresh fruit.
2. Baby's size
Baby seemed to be measuring a bit on the bigger side for a while. I had an ultrasound today (1.17.11- 25 weeks) and baby weighed in at 1 pound 14 ounces. It is about 13 inches long. For the past few ultrasounds, the baby has been putting its hands in front of its face when the tech goes near its face. Funny.
3. Night owl
This baby is a night owl. It is active for much of the day, but especially from around 6pm to 6am. I have been awoken a handful of times already by this little one.
4. Heartbeat
So baby's heartbeat has been as follows:
18 wks- 160
20 wks- 158
21 wks- 155
22 wks- 153
24 wks- 148
25 wks- 156
Apparently, there is zero truth to the heartbeat determining gender theory. If there were truth, these numbers are all over the board, I am not sure what it would even mean.
5. Gender
Speaking of gender, I am 99.9% certain there is a little guy in there. Adam has no guesses- he is too concrete and doesn't play my games. Rylie changes her mind on an almost daily basis of what she wants. Hopefully I deliver on the right day for her purposes!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Some Thoughts from an Excited Big Sister to Be...
Telling Rylie:
First, we had to explain to her that we weren't going to Kazakhstan to bring home the little girl and boy she referred to as her "big girl sister" and "baby brother." She was sad, but understood (as much as a three and a half year old can,) that this was what God felt was best for our family. We made sure she knew that they were getting a mommy and daddy of their own, but they wouldn't be in our family.
She has also known that Mommy has had a tummy ache for the past couple of weeks. We told her that on Friday we were going to the doctor to find out why Mommy has a tummy ache. So this is the conversation that followed:
Sara: We went to the doctor today to find out why Mommy's tummy hurts.
Rylie: Did the doctor make you feel all better?
Sara: Well, my tummy still hurts and we have to be gentle with it, but the doctor told us why it hurts.
I then show her the clearest of all of the ultrasound pictures.
Sara: The doctor put a camera near Mommy's belly and can you tell what she saw inside?
Rylie: (Mouth drops wide open and hands go to either side of her face,) There is a seashell in Mommy's belly?!?!
Sara: No, that isn't a seashell, but there is something in there. Does that look like a head? And there is a belly? Is there a baby in Mommy's belly?
Rylie: (Again, mouth drops, even wider, hands to side of face, and her eyes literally bug out of her face.) Oh my! Who is it?!?!
Sara: We don't know. Just that it is a baby, and you are going to be the baby's big sister!
Rylie then asked if she could keep a picture. We of course gave her one, which she put in her sacred princess picture frame.
If you ask Rylie, the baby talks to her and tells her that he is a boy. Truth be told, I don't think she cares one bit if it is a baby brother or sister, which is a good thing. Thankfully she is fairly easy to please!
Some follow up thoughts from Rylie...
Songs
On Saturday morning, Rylie woke up and excitedly told us the following:
"I have two songs I know to sing to the baby. Do you want to hear them? One is a good night song, and one is a morning time song." The songs, as always with our little songwriter, were adorable! Today, she shared the Happy Song, about how she loves the baby and he will be her best baby and she will be the best big sister.
Where Babies Grow
Rylie will tell you that she grew in my heart. It isn't something we talk about often, as opposed to Kazakhstan, which is a regular topic with Rylie. But she does know that she grew in my heart, as opposed to my tummy. Completely separate of that fact, I always tell her that I love her "with my whole entire heart." Leave it to Rylie to put these two together....
Rylie: Babies grow in hearts and tummys.
Me: Yes, lovebug. You are right.
Rylie: When a Mommy and Daddy want a baby, God decides whether to put the baby in the Mommy's tummy or heart. (For the record, I have no idea where she came up with this.)
Me: Uh huh. And where did God put you?
Rylie: In your heart, Mommy. And you love me with your whole entire heart. So when you wanted another baby, God said, "There is no more room in Mommy's heart for another baby, so I'll put this baby in her tummy."
Me: Pausing. (It is hard not to appreciate that logic from a three and a half year old. Of course there is plenty of room in my heart to love Rylie, this baby, and subsequent children, and Rylie will learn that if she doesn't already understand that. But I have to admit that I loved that logic on her part. So I just went with it.) You're exactly right, Rylie.
So far, Rylie is nothing but excited about her baby.
First, we had to explain to her that we weren't going to Kazakhstan to bring home the little girl and boy she referred to as her "big girl sister" and "baby brother." She was sad, but understood (as much as a three and a half year old can,) that this was what God felt was best for our family. We made sure she knew that they were getting a mommy and daddy of their own, but they wouldn't be in our family.
She has also known that Mommy has had a tummy ache for the past couple of weeks. We told her that on Friday we were going to the doctor to find out why Mommy has a tummy ache. So this is the conversation that followed:
Sara: We went to the doctor today to find out why Mommy's tummy hurts.
Rylie: Did the doctor make you feel all better?
Sara: Well, my tummy still hurts and we have to be gentle with it, but the doctor told us why it hurts.
I then show her the clearest of all of the ultrasound pictures.
Sara: The doctor put a camera near Mommy's belly and can you tell what she saw inside?
Rylie: (Mouth drops wide open and hands go to either side of her face,) There is a seashell in Mommy's belly?!?!
Sara: No, that isn't a seashell, but there is something in there. Does that look like a head? And there is a belly? Is there a baby in Mommy's belly?
Rylie: (Again, mouth drops, even wider, hands to side of face, and her eyes literally bug out of her face.) Oh my! Who is it?!?!
Sara: We don't know. Just that it is a baby, and you are going to be the baby's big sister!
Rylie then asked if she could keep a picture. We of course gave her one, which she put in her sacred princess picture frame.
If you ask Rylie, the baby talks to her and tells her that he is a boy. Truth be told, I don't think she cares one bit if it is a baby brother or sister, which is a good thing. Thankfully she is fairly easy to please!
Some follow up thoughts from Rylie...
Songs
On Saturday morning, Rylie woke up and excitedly told us the following:
"I have two songs I know to sing to the baby. Do you want to hear them? One is a good night song, and one is a morning time song." The songs, as always with our little songwriter, were adorable! Today, she shared the Happy Song, about how she loves the baby and he will be her best baby and she will be the best big sister.
Where Babies Grow
Rylie will tell you that she grew in my heart. It isn't something we talk about often, as opposed to Kazakhstan, which is a regular topic with Rylie. But she does know that she grew in my heart, as opposed to my tummy. Completely separate of that fact, I always tell her that I love her "with my whole entire heart." Leave it to Rylie to put these two together....
Rylie: Babies grow in hearts and tummys.
Me: Yes, lovebug. You are right.
Rylie: When a Mommy and Daddy want a baby, God decides whether to put the baby in the Mommy's tummy or heart. (For the record, I have no idea where she came up with this.)
Me: Uh huh. And where did God put you?
Rylie: In your heart, Mommy. And you love me with your whole entire heart. So when you wanted another baby, God said, "There is no more room in Mommy's heart for another baby, so I'll put this baby in her tummy."
Me: Pausing. (It is hard not to appreciate that logic from a three and a half year old. Of course there is plenty of room in my heart to love Rylie, this baby, and subsequent children, and Rylie will learn that if she doesn't already understand that. But I have to admit that I loved that logic on her part. So I just went with it.) You're exactly right, Rylie.
So far, Rylie is nothing but excited about her baby.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Super Baby
"Super Baby" at 12.5 weeks as he/she has been named by Big Sister, Rylie...
Scheduled to join us sometime in late April/ early May 2011!
Scheduled to join us sometime in late April/ early May 2011!
Monday, October 18, 2010
What about the adoption?
For a little recap...
We started the process to make Rylie a big sister in late 2008. First we thought we would become four in Kyrgyzstan. Quickly we realized our hearts were not remotely in Kyrgyzstan, our hearts were in Kazakhstan. So in February 2009, we started our Journey to Kazakhstan- Take 2. November 2009 brought us to Kazakhstan, but we didn't find our next little love in either Karaganda or Aktau. So back to Arizona we came less than two weeks after arriving in Kaz. In April of 2010, we learned about a beautiful little girl and adorable little boy waiting for a family in Ust, Kazakhstan. While we initially struggled with whether or not this was right for our family, these two little loves quickly found their way into our hearts. For the four months that followed, we planned for them. We shopped for them. And we fell completely in love with them.
It became clear that things in Kazakhstan were becoming increasingly bumpy. Delays, unprecedented court rulings. A process that once seemed so smooth and predictable was becoming anything but. We wondered what the future held for us. Would we ever be able to bring these two gorgeous little loves home? In August we decided that our anticipated travel date of November was way too far away to worry about these things. Three months is a lifetime in the world of international adoption. The country could close adoptions, things could resolve entirely, and anything in between. So we basically decided to surrender to the process and waited/ hoped for a sign to tell us what to do.
And so in late August, we got our sign: we were pregnant. But what did this mean? Was this a sign telling us: This is too much on your plate. You are not going to Kaz. Or, was this a sign telling us: Now you understand why you were traveling for toddlers when you initially started your process from an infant. What did this sign mean?
We wavered back a forth. Could we do this? Could we add three children to our home in the span of 4 months? Was this in any one's best interest?
That is what it came down to. Could we do it? Sure. Did we want to do it? Selfishly, yes. Absolutely. These two little kiddos in Kazakhstan are two of the most gorgeous children I have ever seen. They are apparently incredibly sweet and loving. Selfishly, I wanted them. I wanted to parent them. But was that best for any of the 4 little people involved? Probably not.
Ultimately, we struck a deal with our agency: We gave them from September 20- October 20th to find a new family for these two kiddos. We were adamant that if they could not find a good family for them, then we were traveling. The chaos of our house, while not an ideal place to transition two children, is a million times better than them languishing in an institution. If on October 20th, they had not found a family, then we were going.
We got the call almost instantaneously. No big shocker- they found another family almost immediately. I won't lie- I think we both felt an equal sense of incredible sadness and relief. The bottom line though, is that these two gorgeous little babies are getting a family. In late November, their mommy and daddy will be in Kazakhstan to begin the process of bringing them home forever. And that is what this is all really about.
Adoption is definitely still in our hearts. It always has been, (from before we were even married!) and it always will be. We have no doubt that we will adopt again. Time will tell when and where. But for now, we are immensely enjoying this experience and this time in our lives.
Simply parenting a child is such an incredible blessing, no matter how the child comes into your family. We are overjoyed that we will get to welcome children into our family both through the miracle of adoption and pregnancy. We feel beyond blessed.
We started the process to make Rylie a big sister in late 2008. First we thought we would become four in Kyrgyzstan. Quickly we realized our hearts were not remotely in Kyrgyzstan, our hearts were in Kazakhstan. So in February 2009, we started our Journey to Kazakhstan- Take 2. November 2009 brought us to Kazakhstan, but we didn't find our next little love in either Karaganda or Aktau. So back to Arizona we came less than two weeks after arriving in Kaz. In April of 2010, we learned about a beautiful little girl and adorable little boy waiting for a family in Ust, Kazakhstan. While we initially struggled with whether or not this was right for our family, these two little loves quickly found their way into our hearts. For the four months that followed, we planned for them. We shopped for them. And we fell completely in love with them.
It became clear that things in Kazakhstan were becoming increasingly bumpy. Delays, unprecedented court rulings. A process that once seemed so smooth and predictable was becoming anything but. We wondered what the future held for us. Would we ever be able to bring these two gorgeous little loves home? In August we decided that our anticipated travel date of November was way too far away to worry about these things. Three months is a lifetime in the world of international adoption. The country could close adoptions, things could resolve entirely, and anything in between. So we basically decided to surrender to the process and waited/ hoped for a sign to tell us what to do.
And so in late August, we got our sign: we were pregnant. But what did this mean? Was this a sign telling us: This is too much on your plate. You are not going to Kaz. Or, was this a sign telling us: Now you understand why you were traveling for toddlers when you initially started your process from an infant. What did this sign mean?
We wavered back a forth. Could we do this? Could we add three children to our home in the span of 4 months? Was this in any one's best interest?
That is what it came down to. Could we do it? Sure. Did we want to do it? Selfishly, yes. Absolutely. These two little kiddos in Kazakhstan are two of the most gorgeous children I have ever seen. They are apparently incredibly sweet and loving. Selfishly, I wanted them. I wanted to parent them. But was that best for any of the 4 little people involved? Probably not.
Ultimately, we struck a deal with our agency: We gave them from September 20- October 20th to find a new family for these two kiddos. We were adamant that if they could not find a good family for them, then we were traveling. The chaos of our house, while not an ideal place to transition two children, is a million times better than them languishing in an institution. If on October 20th, they had not found a family, then we were going.
We got the call almost instantaneously. No big shocker- they found another family almost immediately. I won't lie- I think we both felt an equal sense of incredible sadness and relief. The bottom line though, is that these two gorgeous little babies are getting a family. In late November, their mommy and daddy will be in Kazakhstan to begin the process of bringing them home forever. And that is what this is all really about.
Adoption is definitely still in our hearts. It always has been, (from before we were even married!) and it always will be. We have no doubt that we will adopt again. Time will tell when and where. But for now, we are immensely enjoying this experience and this time in our lives.
Simply parenting a child is such an incredible blessing, no matter how the child comes into your family. We are overjoyed that we will get to welcome children into our family both through the miracle of adoption and pregnancy. We feel beyond blessed.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Thump Thump Thump Thump!
We heard a very sweet little sound today! The heartbeat of our little lovebug. We didn't know if we'd be able to hear it at this point as I am early in my 11th week, but were thrilled to hear it!
Next appointment is October 22nd- towards the end of my 13th week. God willing, everything will be fine. At that point, we will share our news with the rest of the world!
Next appointment is October 22nd- towards the end of my 13th week. God willing, everything will be fine. At that point, we will share our news with the rest of the world!
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