Jenna 1.6

Turning 18 months was extra special this time around because it came with a little mini-party.  We decided to give Jenna presents on her half-birthday instead of her real one since she was born so close to Christmas.  It's easier on our wallets and spreads the fun around a little for her.  Her real birthday won't have presents, but it will have family fun and a "favorite foods" type dinner, which can be just as nice.  Don't worry, Baby J will get two birthday celebrations too!  Anyway, I decided to make a couple cupcakes since she wasn't allowed to have cake for her actual birthday (egg allergy that she thankfully grew out of!)  Aaaand since I was making cupcakes anyway I figured, why not make them Frozen cupcakes?  

I'm a big weirdo that actually loves doing stuff like this so...I know there are a lot of articles about moms that go overboard with Pinterest stuff and childhood is magical enough on its own and such.  I totally agree.  If you don't love it, don't feel pressured to do it.  When it comes to bringing healthy snacks to t-ball, I'm definitely going to phone it in.  "Here's an apple, kid.  No, it doesn't have your team logo cleverly carved into it.  You're fine."  When it comes to cupcakes?  I can't help myself.  It's just too much fun to pass up.

I mean, come on.  Look at that face.

Age: One and a half!  As Jenna would say, "WOW WOW WOW!"
Milestones:  She's learned to kick the ball around.  She's not SUPER interested in it, but she'll kick it back and forth a few times.  She's also started singing!!  She sings her own little versions of Let It Go and God Is So Good.  There's also a couple other songs that she'll chime in on...my favorite is when she says "yessir yessir" during Baa Baa Black Sheep. She's also started playing imagination games which has been a SUPER fun new development!
My Favorites: Having picnics with her, seeing her play with family members, holding hands, singing with her, and whatever this little walk is.
Her Favorites:  Sitting in confined spaces (boxes or U-shaped things), FaceTiming Asher, coloring, praying (we have to pray about 10 times every meal), holding my hand...she walks up to me and says "hand?" and then wants to just walk around the house together.  As I said before, this is definitely one of my favorite things too.  She also loves to have picnics and tea parties, putting gloves/socks on her hands, and helping me bake.  Oh, and music!  Not to mention, Aunt Jost, Grammy, and Poppy, who she got to spend lots of time with this month!
Surprises: I was just really surprised that she's playing imagination all of a sudden!
 It feels like such a big kid thing to do. 
Other Notable Moments: She experienced her first tornado, major flash flood, AND {weeny} tropical storm.  That should count for something!  I'm sure she was barely aware that any of it was going on, although we did run up and down our covered porch holding hands a lot during the tropical storm (which, truth be told, was mostly a drizzle.)
Looking Forward To: Heading up to Illinois for a bit...I can't wait to see her with her little cousins and spend time with the rest of our family up there!

I turned on Frozen and she was so entranced...she stood there with her hand on my shoulder for the full first 10 minutes.  Also, FYI: this picture was achieved by reaching my right arm around my back contortionist-style.  Apparently you can do anything when you're determined to capture a precious memory.  And that little hand on my shoulder?  Yep. Worth it.

Picnics with Poppy

She LOVED this little car at the Children's Museum!  Especially cute because there's a classic Weber home video of me at the exact same age hanging out in a similar-type car aaallllll Christmas morning. Like mother like daughter.

The whole family!

Praying before we pretend to eat, of course.

Helping mom bake = getting to lick the spoon

Tea parties with Grammy

22 Weeks

How far along? 22 weeks

Maternity clothes? Still MOSTLY hanging in there, pants-wise...BUT I've been wearing some other cute maternity things thanks to the Stitch Fix box I got this week!!!  Everything is so soft and comfortable (including the shirt in my photo!) and I'll be able to wear them ALL still after I have Baby J.  You don't have to keep any of the things they send you if you don't want, but I ended up keeping them all!  AND they sent me the dress I'm wearing for Jacob's brother's wedding this month and it is so comfortable I could honestly sleep in it, but it's also totally cute.  By the way, Stitch Fix?  Not just for maternity clothes.  I highly recommend, it's so fun. PLUS if you use my referral code, (linked TWICE times for your convenience) I get a discount on my next box! [wink wink!!]
Sleep:  Pretty good...although I had a few nights where I was a full-on mouth breather due to pregnancy congestion.  It was pretty attractive.  Plus, waking up at 3 a.m. with a mouth drier than California (zing! I read the news!) is never pleasant.
Best moment this week:  My parents arriving!!!  Jenna and my mom were just CRACKING each other up in the backseat the whole drive home from the airport and it was sooo sweet seeing Jenna and my dad having a little play picnic together the next morning!  Jenna's completely obsessed with them. She's going to have an absolute blast this week.
Miss Anything? Cold turkey a little bit...my parents brought down a bunch of new recipes they've been using and one of them was for a turkey and cranberry wrap that really made me drool juuuust a little bit.  I'm making it the second Baby J pops out!!
Movement: LOTS!  I can even see my stomach jump a little when she kicks really big.  She kicks a lot right before we go to sleep so Jacob always gets some quality Baby J time in then, which just warms my little heart.
Food cravings: None that I can think of...man, I've been so boring craving-wise this time around!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Have you started to show yet: Most definitely.  I felt huge this week, and it never helps when Jacob bumps into my belly on accident haha.
Gender: A girl!  It's so fun to think about her and Jenna playing together and sharing a room someday...and picturing what Christmas is going to look like with Jenna, Asher, Baby J, and SOPHIA (discovered to be a girl this week!)   
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? My mom says it looks like the top of an acorn and I think that she is pretty spot on with that assessment.
Wedding rings on or off? On, yay!
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!!! 
Looking forward to: Jenna's halfie birthday this weekend!  We decided to give Jenna birthday presents on her half birthday instead of her real birthday since it's so close to Christmas...easier on the wallet and more fun for her, I think.  We've been having a blast picking out fun things for her!  We still have a few more little things to pick up that will probably all be Frozen-themed since she's obsessed with Ana right now...I can't wait for her to open them!!

21 Weeks

How far along? 21 weeks

Maternity clothes? Still no!  Although the buttons start to dig in a bit after wearing them all day and I can't comfortably wear jeans after I eat.  Come to think of it...that was mostly true before I was pregnant too. 
Sleep:  Good!  I'm pretty dependent on my naps.
Best moment this week:  Spending time with Aunt Jody!! She came down to visit and we had lots of fun visiting Kemah, playing games, eating at the Chocolate Bar, and just chatting and hanging out at the house.  It was a fantastic weekend!  It was also really cool to see how God has provided for us this week through this whole flooded car situation.  It's really been above and beyond anything I could've planned or hoped for.
Miss Anything? My brain.  I'm starting to have quite an influence on Jenna...her new favorite game is looking into her toy purse, saying "keys??" and then pulling everything out until she finds her keys.  Then, she puts it all back, closes her purse, and does it all over again.  It's so flattering.
Movement: Lots!!! I love it so much.
Food cravings: I cut waaay back on my desserts this week and it was rough!  Trying to stop eating desserts?  Difficult.  Doing it while you're pregnant?  There are no words.  Good thing I was able to make up for it with a GIANT piece of cake from the Chocolate Bar this weekend!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, feeling good!
Have you started to show yet: Yes!  I'm feeling quite pregnant this week.
Gender: A girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Somewhere in between
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy, although with occasional mood swings.  I got pretty irrationally irritated with Jacob on Sunday morning when he was getting Jenna dressed for church.  Although, to be fair he WAS trying to match red with pink.
Looking forward to: My parents coming into town!  I can't WAIT for them to have time with Jenna!!

20 Weeks

How far along? 20 weeks...the doctor said my baby is 13 oz and right on track growth-wise!

Maternity clothes? Not officially, although my regular t-shirts are starting to make me look really squat.  I really don't have that many cute summer clothes in general and then limiting things even more by being pregnant is starting to feel a liiiiiiittle rough.
Sleep:  Better!  I've been sleeping basically upright, which helps a lot with the congestion.  I did feel extra tired this week though after the Memorial Day flooding madness.  I still feel like I haven't fully caught up on sleep.
Best moment this week:  Getting to see Baby J!!  It just makes it all so much more real!  I don't know how much you can really tell this from an ultrasound, but I think she looks like Jenna!!

This one is Baby J at 20 weeks...

...and this is Jenna at 20 weeks. 

Don't you think they look alike??  I guess I haven't looked too closely at many other ultrasounds, but I feel like you can tell they're sisters!  And then there's this one of Baby J, which I DEFINITELY think looks like Jenna did as an infant:

Granted, it's just her nose and mouth, but STILL!

Miss Anything?  Nope.  We bought a bunch of yummy deli meats to make subs this week, but I toasted mine and they were sooo good!
Movement: Definitely!  I'm still feeling her really low, but maybe that's normal?  I have an OB appointment on Monday, so I'll ask.  I love that Jacob can feel her kicking too!
Food cravings: I've been eating bananas again, which is just a pregnant thing for me.  Mostly, I've just been wanting sweets but I'll have to try and eat more fruits and yogurt because somehow I don't think Oreos are great for the baby.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No, I've been feeling great!
Have you started to show yet: Yes...I'm not going to lie, I REALLY don't feel that cute this time around.  I started working out again this week because I definitely slacked off during my sleepy first trimester and then because the weather outside is so beastly.  (Ugh. Houston.)  Hopefully I'll feel a little better about myself after getting a few workout videos in every week!
Gender: Definitely a girl!  I have photo confirmation with a little arrow pointing towards her business and everything.  I feel like that's a little indecent and those ultrasound shots will never see the light of day.  You're welcome, Baby J.
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? A lot out, and I can push it all the way out really easily, which I do whenever Jacob is least expecting it lol
Wedding rings on or off? On!  Although sometimes I take it off for a little bit because my finger starts to feel a little hot and claustrophobic...
Happy or Moody most of the time:  I was an emotional wreck this week!  It all came to a head on Thursday, which just HAPPENED to be my last day of work and just HAPPENED to be Dan's last day of living with us.  Add to that being extra tired AND being stressed because I found out last minute that Jenna wasn't allowed to come with me to the ultrasound AND Jacob couldn't get off work AND oh yeah, being pregnant...it was rough.  I tried to keep it together because I didn't want to be the crazy crying pregnant lady but that ended up making me very morose and cranky.  I think my crowning moment was when Jacob and Dan were chatting in the kitchen about how they were sure we would see each other again soon for one thing or another and I very sullenly said, "Doubt it."  I gave myself a little bit of a time out after that.
Looking forward to: Visitors!!!  Our whole month of June is so jam-packed with fun and I can't WAIT!  Time has been moving sooooo slowly for me, so I can't believe it's almost finally here!!

19 Weeks

I know I'm a full week late posting, but between my birthday and Memorial Day and all of Houston (including our cars) flooding, I just could not get around to making my chalkboard.  In any case, better late than never!!  And I threw in another picture to make up for being so late. :)

How far along? 19 weeks

Maternity clothes? No, it's amazing!  What if I went my whole pregnancy like this?? Just kidding, I don't know if that would actually be a good thing...
Sleep:  Not great! That classic pregnancy congestion kicked in just enough to make me wake up in a complete panic several times a night because I wasn't getting enough air.  A humidifier has helped, but mostly I just have to sleep with my mouth open right now.  Super sexy.
Best moment this week:  My brother got engaged, which was pretty great.  Also, my birthday was on Saturday, which was very fun and relaxing.  BEST of all, when we were walking around the mall, Jenna HELD MY HAND!  Which is a HUGE deal because she HATES having her hand held, yet there I was...walking around the mall with her tiny little hand in mine.  It was the BEST birthday present ever!!
Miss Anything?  Nope,
Movement: Lots!! Jacob started to be able to feel the kicks on the outside, which is SO fun!!
Food cravings: None, I've been pretty blasé about food this week.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, I feel great!
Have you started to show yet: Oh yes.
Gender Prediction: Girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Mostly out!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  This has been a pretty happy week, although I did have a few weepy moments.  
Looking forward to: Baby J's 20 week ultrasound!!  It's on Friday and I can't wait to get a get close look at my baby girl!  And have the gender confirmed again...I know the blood tests are like 99% accurate but I think I'll feel SURE she's a girl once we see the ultrasound! 

Jenna 1.5

Age: One year and five months
Milestones:  Overhand throwing!  She's pretty good at it, we have a lot of fun passing the ball back and forth, either rolling or throwing.  None other than that, but we brought her to a park and she started climbing around all the equipment which felt like a milestone!
My Favorites: Her faces!! Every day she cracks me up with her reactions to everything around her.  The other day, we were trying to feed her carrots but she was not having it.  Jacob put some taco meat on top and mixed the carrots in to try and get her to eat them...it worked for a little while but then she took a scoop with her spoon and only got a piece of carrot.  She stared at it, shook it off her spoon, and then TOTALLY stared me down with her eyes almost completely squinted and her mouth pursed up really small.  Her face sooo clearly said, "I can't believe you tricked me!! Don't. Do that. Ever. Again."  It was amazing.  I love her excited face too.  Although really, it's more of a whole body thing.  She gets total happy feet and she shakes her hands band and forth or pushes them under her chin.
Her Favorites: Rocking out in the car, putting keys in and out of locks, Frozen, her koalas ("kla-la"), taking naps, dancing around, snuggling up under blankets, FaceTiming with her cousin Asher, and coloring!  She really hasn't done that much of it...I had her draw with a pen in a card a couple of times, but that's it.  Still, she asks to color almost every day.  We definitely need to get her some crayons!  She also LOVES reading.  It's the first thing she does every morning and honestly how we spend most of our days.  At one point I was making dinner in the kitchen and things were suspiciously quiet in Jenna's room so I went in to peek at her...she just was reading.  She just sat quietly and read for a half hour.  It warmed my heart so much I actually got a little teary...I just really felt like she was such a kindred spirit.  
Surprises: How much her personality is coming out!!  She is so silly and loving and playful...she loves tickling us (a.k.a. saying "tickatickatickaticka" while putting her hand on our arm/leg/back/etc.,) she loves feeding me and making me drink water, she peeks around corners and under tables at us giggling the whole time, she picks all of the nuts off of banana nut muffins and says "ucky" each time, she imitates us if we're being silly, she pats her baby doll on the back and goes "shh shh shh shh," and she decisively greets everyone we pass in grocery stores and restaurants ("LELLO.")  She's such a little person!
Other Notable Moments: She's been clicking her tongue when she's really excited about something, like Jacob coming home or eating cottage cheese.  She also tried to change her own diaper.  Miss independence!

"Bi-per"

Looking Forward To: Her half birthday!  We decided to give her birthday presents on her half birthday instead of her real one since she was born so close to Christmas...we're getting her gymnastics lessons and some coloring books and I think a little Jenna-sized table for her to color at.  Either that or a little bookshelf because all her books are currently precariously stacked in a little basket.  I'm so excited!!!! It's going to be fun for mom AND baby!

"Peek!"

"Mom, stop trying to turn everything into a photo op."

Look at that face!!

18 Weeks

I'm going to kick off this post with some facts about pregnancy that also happen to sum up my week.

You know you're pregnant when...

      ...your belly needs its own pillow

      ...you pull a stomach muscle because you were laying on your side and sneezed

      ...you absolutely MUST wear a tank top under your t-shirts, otherwise the underside of your belly gets a nice little draft

      ...you can't tell the difference between pregnancy symptoms and the stomach flu.  Apparently.

And now you know a little more about pregnancy.  You're welcome for the education.

How far along? 18 weeks...baby is the size of a sweet potato!

Maternity clothes? Not yet! (double fist pump!!) Although, as stated above, it's imperative for me to layer long tank tops under everything due to belly updraft.
Sleep:  Sooooooo goooood.  I slept soooo soundly this week.  I don't why, I don't know how, but I absolutely loved it.  Sweet sweet week of thick and thorough unconsciousness.
Best moment this week:  Lots of time with friends that was centered around good food!  Between Mother's Day brunch, date night, and having various people over, it's been a red letter week.
Miss Anything?  Eating dough, a little bit but...honestly I really haven't been missing much!
Movement: Kicking like crazy!  Although all the kicks are really low.  Suuuuuper low...like, below where the actual baby bump is low.  Makes me wonder why I even have this bump after all, if the baby is apparently never even UP there! [from eating an entire package of Pinwheels singlehandedly? Maybe...]
Food cravings: Sweet things!  Well...I guess I can't really tell if I'm CRAVING sweet things or if I'm just always eating them because they're always around.  Darn my husband and his giant sweet tooth and his ultra fast metabolism.  And mostly...darn my compulsive baking and lack of self control...
Anything making you queasy or sick: No!! Thankfully, that weird heartburn/acidity went away and now that I think about it...the fact that last week began and ended by Jenna throwing up probably means I just had the flu.
Have you started to show yet: Yes!  
Gender Prediction: Girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still mostly out!  I've gotten a lot of people asking me about why I want my belly button to be an outie so badly...first, because it's funny that Jacob is so grossed out by it.  Second, because when else am I going to have an outie?! Third, I told this story during one of my blogs the last time around but...when I was a little kid, I had an outie. Then one day when I was around 6, I was sitting around playing with my belly button because why not?  And I accidentally pushed it in!!  It was so completely alarming and I was so afraid to tell my parents because I thought for SURE I would get in trouble and that it would probably pop back out eventually.  Well, it never did.  It took me until I was 25 to confess to my parents that I pushed in my own belly button (I didn't get in trouble...phew) and now at almost 27, it's my last chance for my belly button to pop out again.  I've been waiting 20 years for this to happen.  This is my moment.
Wedding rings on or off? On!!!! Oh please please please fit for my whole pregnancy!
Happy or Moody most of the time:  This was a happy week, for sure!
Looking forward to: We're hosting a parenting bible study on the book Entrusted this summer...it starts on Wednesday and I can't WAIT!   It's such a good book and I really want to dig into it this summer to make sure Jacob and I are equipped for some full-scale parenting.  I know what you're thinking...haven't you already been parenting?  And the answer to that is no.  It's pretty much just been about making sure Jenna stays alive, which we have been doing splendidly, I might add.  But now that she's mobile and getting opinions and a sister and stuff...it's bound to get more complicated.