22 weeks

This was taken as we were packing up to come home from our family vacation on Lake Winnie Tuesday morning. We had a really fun and relaxing trip... pictures coming soon :)

watering flowers

Grandma Ruth dropped off her flowers for us water while she was out of town with grandpa Tim for a few days. Ashlyn took her watering job pretty seriously and likes to water them a few times a day. This was Saturday morning while she was still in her PJ's.

Getting every last drop!

They smell yummy...

21 weeks

I just got back from the doctor to see how Baby L is doing. Everything is looking good! My reflux has been under control for the last three weeks and I'm feeling GREAT! I've got my energy back for the most part too :) So far I've only gained 5lbs which the Dr said was "awesome".  My goal is to keep it under 30 and at this rate it should be attainable. I gained 30ish lbs with Ashlyn and felt great so I'm hoping for a repeat :) Blood pressure is nice and low like usual and baby's heart beat was in the 150's. Baby has been kicking a lot lately and seems to have a bit of a schedule already. I always can feel it when I wake up, after lunch and when I'm laying in bed at night. Joe has felt it already a few times too! Ashlyn still doesn't really get it that there is a baby in mommy's tummy yet. We tell her all the time that she is going to be a big sister and that there will be a little baby in the house soon but I don't think she will understand until it's really here :)

 

2 yr check up

Ashlyn had her 2 year check up last Thursday and everything looked good! She's a happy, healthy and chatty little girl. She got her MMR shot and it didn't go over so well. She cried from the time she got the shot at 10:00am until about 2:30pm. Thankfully dad was in the house doing paperwork the day so she went back and forth from mommy to daddy getting hugs and kisses and lots of snuggle time. I felt so bad for her, she only took a half hour nap and just kept saying owie, owie, and it hurts. She seemed fine Friday for the most part but started to get a fever like the Dr thought she would and it peaked Saturday and Sunday at 103.5 degrees (unmedicated). She's still running a little warm but we've been giving her motrin and lots of fluids. Poor little girl just isn't herself :(   Thankfully we don't have to go back until she is 3!

Stats:

length ~ 34.5 inches (70%)

weight ~ 29.7 lbs (80%)

head ~ 19 inches (70%)

She is predicted to be 5' 7" tall when she is 18, same height as her mommy!

Dells

Last weekend we went to the Dells with the Loula crew (G&G Loula and the Bode's). We stayed at the Kalahari and it was awesome. This place had everything! Indoor/Outdoor water park, movie theater, indoor theme park and more! They even had live baby tigers that you could watch daily. Ashlyn had a blast at the water park. She wanted to swim all day every day. More pictures to come :)

On our way back to our room for nap time.
The rhino was in front of the main lobby.

Hippo water fountain

Taking a break to share a smoothie with dad.

Running through the water.

four wheeler

We got Ashlyn an electric four wheeler for her birthday. She likes driving it around the yard.

2nd haircut

Ashlyn got her hair cut for the second time. She had fun and thought she looked pretty cute after :)

chewing on a comb to pass the time...

looking good!

Ashlyn's birthday party!

We had her party on her birthday, Friday July 9th at our house. It was very hot and humid with no breeze. Thankfully the kids had fun and so did Ashlyn! She got so many nice things. Hard to believe she's two already!!

Getting a push from Gabbie

Sharing the slide with Chloe

The kids enjoyed exploring the bean field

Ashlyn's pedicure from mommy :)

Yummy cupcake cake

Trying to blow out the candles with mostly spit...

don't worry, none got on the cake!

Chloe

Connor

Happy 2nd Birthday Ashlyn!

Happy birthday Peanut, we love you!

~ Mom and Dad

Baby Genius?

I just came across this article and it made me feel a little better about the months that I was suffering. The last two weeks have been symptom free (knock on wood!). Just thought that other moms that are going through it would appreciate the 'pros' of feeling like crap day in and day out.

"It seems counterintuitive, but researchers keep finding reasons to give morning sickness a high-five. The nausea and vomiting of pregnancy correlate with lower risks for miscarriage and, later in life, breast cancer. And in one recent study, the offspring of moms who had morning sickness scored higher on IQ tests. “Morning sickness indicates that proper hormones are being made by mom and baby, that the baby’s growing and developing,” says Laura Riley, M.D., a fetal/maternal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “I see it as a good sign.” "

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great weekend!  We spent a few days on the lake, grilled out with friends, went on lots of boat rides, watched fireworks and went to the St Peter parade.

Saturday night Ashlyn got to see fireworks for the first time and loved it. She would say neat, cool and boom-boom. It was really fun to watch her enjoy it and the first thing she asked the next morning when dad got her out of bed was "fireworks?!?"... she wanted to see more!  We went to the St Peter parade and Ashlyn had fun collecting candy dancing to all the music.  

at the parade

swiming in the lake

Daddy playing with Ashlyn

Ten Fingers and Ten Toes

We had our BIG ultrasound for Baby L this morning and everything looked great!  It was so exciting to see the baby jump around and move its arms and legs. Just like I thought, baby was measuring a week bigger  (I'm 18w 2d and baby is 19w 1d) which is just fine. I guess I'm good at growing big babies ;) Heartbeat was 155bpm. Baby was being a little shy but we have an idea of what it is but we're going to keep it to ourselves for now.... sorry! :)))  We are just so happy that baby is doing well and is healthy!

Tiny feet, too cute!

3D pictures

A Fish Named Ashlyn

Ashlyn is in swimming lessons and she LOVES it!
You'd swear she is part fish... she just can't get enough of the water!

Jumping off the diving board with the help of her teachers.
She would do this over and over if they let her!

Breakfast with Sheepy

On a rainy morning I made Cream of Wheat and toast for breakfast.
Ashlyn loves it and wanted Sheepy to sit by her.

Want some?