Birthday Ultrasound!

Best Birthday Present ever!
A picture of my healthy growing baby! 

 I had a wonderful birthday weekend filled with from Friday night girls night, Saturday Date Day with my man, Sunday family day, to dinner with my in-laws Sunday night! But nothing was better then the 1/2 hour we spent getting our 3rd ultrasound Monday! 
Baby Reece is perfect! The tech was able to see all the parts and they were all in the right places! All the measurements are great and baby is growing right on target! Heartbeat was 163, and she made a gender prediction for Mike seeing he will be gone for the gender ultrasound (I have been sworn to secrecy until our gender reveal party)! Baby was pretty still compared to how much movement we saw last time, but she moved my tummy around and it made our peanut turn and hide from us... so cute! It looks like peanut was sucking their thumb in most of the pictures that we got :)
I spent the afternoon napping today which was so amazing! Now I am waiting to see what Mike and Jenna are making me for my birthday dinner, then its a cuddle on the couch kind of evening with my 2 1/2 favorite people!! 

Thank you to everyone for your birthday wishes and for everyone who has been so supportive through my pregnancy this far! This is such a special time for us, and I am so glad that everyone is a part of it!! 

Belly Bump 3- 11 weeks- 2nd appointment

How far along? 11, going on 12 weeks!! 

Total weight gain/loss: 8 ounces... Ya I know that was my reaction too! I had them weigh me again. My midwife says with how sick I was in the 1st trimester I was probably loosing and gaining at the same time (I am a human lava lamp)! She says it is completely normal :) She also said she can feel my uterus right on my tummy which is apparently a good thing, because it means baby is in the right spot and the bump is all baby :)

Maternity clothes? Yes and no. My mom got me a bunch of cute tops and stretchy pants which I love! I have bought some stuff too, but don't have to wear just maternity stuff yet... it is more comfortable though :) 

Stretch marks? Nothing new

Sleep: Sleep is great these days. I can finally stay asleep in the morning as long as I want! I still need occasional naps though.

Best moment this week: Mike and I went to our 2nd appointment with the midwife, and all is going perfect in the baby making world! She was able to hear baby's heart on the Doppler 160-170 range :) We talked mostly about my birth plan, and it reminded me why we picked this midwife! She does for every client the things Mike and I have decided we want so far! 

Have you told family and friends: At this point everyone knows... It is funny seeing the reaction of people who don't know when the notice the bump :) It makes me so happy every time I get to say, "Yes, I am pregnant!" 

Miss Anything? Energy! There are some days that I am great and then days... like today that I have to nap or I will not make it. 

Movement: No feelings of it yet, but it was amazing to see how much baby moves around on the ultrasound last week! 

Food cravings: Steak! Tri-tip, New York Strip, Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon, Steak Quesadilla, Steak and Eggs... you get the point! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of anything minty or menthol 

Gender prediction: I thought by this point I would have some strong desire for a gender, but it isn't there... so none right now... just a healthy Reece Baby!! 

Labor Signs: Way too soon for this question 

Belly Button in or out? In where it belongs!

Wedding rings on or off? On and currently too big :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Generally I am still in euphoria. But if I have another emotion it is crying, and never about anything important... I can literally cry just to cry...

Looking forward to: Girls Night with my best girls on Friday, Saturday Mike is taking me out for my Birthday, Sunday Birthday with my family, and then Monday for my birthday Mike and I are taking the day off to see our Thing 3's 3rd ultrasound!!!! Not to mention... MY 2ND TRIMESTER!!! 

Ultrasound #2 and a due date!

We had our 2nd ultrasound this morning with the Maternal Fetal Specialist! She took a whole CD full of pictures for us, did lots of different measurements, found our baby's heartbeat (170 nice and strong), and even was able to get video of our little peanut squirming around (active little one for being only 11 weeks)!!!!

Oh and gave us a due date of August 18th!

My 1st Trimester Must Haves

As I am getting further into my 1st Trimester and feeling better I decided to make a list of 10 things that got me to this point, so that maybe someone else going through the same thing can find help!

1. A support System! Obviously my husband is my main support person (that is why the picture of us), but I have a great group of friends and family who take care of me. I have a few girlfriends that I can count on getting a text from at least one of them each day checking on me, and just knowing someone cares and having someone to complain to can be so uplifting! My husband has taken on the roles of mom, cook, and maid some days so that I can just rest! My family has been great about helping with Jenna, and helping me find food I can eat! And my management staff and team at work has been amazing about working around how I am feeling and taking care of me while I am at work! Get a good support system it makes everything better!  

2. Chex! I eat gluten free, so your normal saltine crackers are not an option. I wanted something that I could keep in a baggy with me and keep on my night stand. Chex has been my thing! I found that the honey nut is not to flavorful to set off any food aversion, but there are lots of flavors to choose from if honey is not for you!

3. Tums! I have never had heartburn before (other than pregnancy with Jenna) , but certain foods set it off without warning. The Tums smoothies are definitely the best, and way less chalky!  I have a regular sized bottle at home and they make a purse sized one for on the go. If you find no relieve from Tums my midwife said that Zantac is safe for baby and last longs, so check with your provider to see if it will work for you.

4. Prego Pops! My sweet friend Megan surprised me with a pack of pops at our last play date.  They are great when you need something, but are not ready to eat! They are also great if you crave sour stuff! You can get them at Motherhood and Natural Grocers

5. Water! I can’t get enough! My midwife explained that there are a few reasons that water is huge need during pregnancy. I wanted to share them, so I did some research, and this link WATER explains what she told me much better then I would! I'm a smart water snob, and found that Costco carries the big bottles that last longer in packs for ½ the price as I was buying them at other stores individually. I love their water, but also love that you can wash the bottle and reuse it multiple times without it getting damaged like most brands. Then I can have water with me all the time!

6. Banana Popsicles! I am not sure why, but one night in the middle of a nausea spell I asked Mike to get banana popsicles… and they help so much. When you are too sick to think of a food to eat, but have to put something in your stomach to help, these work. They are cold, and quick to eat, and don’t have a lot of flavor. The 1^st time he got the box with cherry and root beer in it, because that is all he could find. After looking other places we found that Fred Meyers has just banana ones!

7. Chewy Prenatal! Prenatal vitamins are so important, but are hard to swallow when not feeling well. I still have the prenatal that I was taking while TTC, but on off days having something on hand that I don’t have to swallow is so helpful! They have DHA, folic acid, Iron, all the other good stuff, and most importantly they taste good!

8. Renew Lotion (and soap)! So it may be the winter and not pregnancy but my skin has been dry, and I want to stay super moisturized anyways to help my skin with the growing it will be doing. However I cannot do strong smells. Renew is a Melaleuca Brand and it is recommended for all kinds of skin conditions. It is Gluten free which is awesome, and it is not scented!  So I can be soft without making myself gag J

9. Your Pregnancy Book and Your Pregnancy for the Father to be Book! Mike and I wanted to get a book set that would help us understand some of what is going on, help us be prepared, help me with working out safely, and help him with being a good support! These books are so helpful and we have enjoyed reading them together. I got mine at the Ada Library and his at Hastings, but have seen them most any store that carries books. 

10. Downton Abbey! Or any slow paced show sweet show. I was so sick one night, and the idea of watching an action movie was exhausting. Mike suggested Downton... I wasn't sure I would like it, but ended up loving it. Its a great cuddle up and relax kind of show. Find something that can take your mind off of the nausea while keeping your spirits up! 

Great Weekend!

Mike started the 3 day weekend by spoiling me rotten! He took me out to a nice dinner...which alone is sweet, but he got there early and had it set up so that I could come straight from work and the minute I sat down they gave us our appetizer :) If you have ever been pregnant you know how sick you are asking to get if you wait to long to eat!! Then after dinner he gave me presents :) A Snoogle (a giant pregnancy pillow to make sleeping easier), and some colored maternity pants (because I was sad that I wasn't going to get to wear all my cute colored jeans while I was pregnant), and the sweetest letter about how excited he is to have a baby with me the only woman he has ever really loved :)  It was the perfect pick me up to my hormonal day! 

Saturday we went Shopping and bought our crib (I am so excited I will post pics when it is delivered), and spent the day together just enjoying life...and eating a lot :)
That night we got our kiddos back, and took them to The BSU Basketball Game! It was a blast! Mike and Jenna have gone a few times, but this was our 1st time as a family! The kids were so into it, and BSU won at the very last minute! 

 Sunday was the playoffs which in the Reece House means Church and Football are the only thing we do! It was fun we had my best friend and her kids over and vegged out all day! Sadly my Pats lost, but I like the Broncos so I am looking forward to watching them play the Sea Chickens in the Super Bowl!

The kids had a sleep over and Monday was a much needed relaxing, clean up the house, watch my kids play, cuddle with my man kind of day! 

Happy Civil Rights day to all my fellow Americans! I hope your weekend was blessed, and full of reminders why living in a country where all people are equal and free is so amazing! 

Belly bump 2- 9 weeks

Maternity clothes? Yes... I received quite a few gift cards for Christmas, so I decided that it was a perfect reason to get a few things. Kade (the only other person who like clothing in my house) was so excited about this dress with a huge heart on it that I had to buy it ...even though it is a bit much for my taste :)

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Ummm... all the time lol! Mike has been so great about  taking care of everything going on when I need to stop living to sleep (or at least lay down).

Best moment this week: 1st Doctors Appointment! I will post more about the appointment separately, but it was truly perfect.

Have you told family and friends: Family and close friends know. 

Miss Anything?Days before having to eat every hour, but I have been blessed to have a husband who will go get food no matter the time of day and carry food in his pocket so I can eat in church :) 

Movement: Way too soon

Food cravings: Banana popsicles, toast, proteins with low flavor like eggs, chicken salad, and cashews. Nothing about chocolate is appealing, and I don't like anything with strong smells.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells... like all of them...mostly anything really minty (so I had to get orange toothpaste.. gross I know)

Gender prediction: It's funny! I tell Mike, "maybe I want a boy" and he says," I was just thinking a girl would be great"... I guess we have no idea we just want a baby!

Labor Signs: Way too soon for this question

Belly Button in or out? In where it belongs!

Wedding rings on or off? On! Actually as much as the rest of me is growing my ring is currently to big? 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Still ecstatic to be having Mike's baby!! But then for some reason unknown to me I can literally start crying for no reason some days. The other day I am standing in our walk in staring at my clothes, Mike came in to ask if I was okay, and I just started crying that I wasn't going to fit in any of my clothes anymore....crazy right!! Mike reminded me this just means that I get to go shopping but wow it was out of nowhere!

Looking forward to: My next ultrasound, and narrowing down an exact due date! 

1st Appointment

We had our 1st doctors appointment this last week! Mike and I took the day off, went to the appointment, then went shopping for baby stuff (which is weirdly so much fun).
This was our 1st appointment for the baby and with the midwife we decided on, so we went it not sure what to expect. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience! The office is so warm and welcoming, the staff was super nice, everything was done in one room (from blood work to the ultrasound), and we got to see our baby! Holding my darling's hand while watching that fast tiny heartbeat may have been the most breathtaking moment of our marriage so far! 

They gave us a few pregnancy books and magazines, a gift cards for a free nursing pillow, sling, and nursing cover, and a pregnancy journal. For every question we had they got us literature for us from what medications are okay for me to take, information on genetic testing, to making and sticking to a birth plan! 
We spent awhile just getting to know our midwife, and how their practice works. She partners with an OB that I get to meet also, so if for some reason something goes wrong I have both on Baby's Reece's team! 
They made my next appointment with their ultrasound specialist to get all the pictures of baby we want, and to get us an exact due date seeing I never started having obvious signs of "being a real girl". 
Until then we are starting to master this pregnancy thing! Mike does breakfast in the mornings and gets Jenna out the door, so that I can take my time and get ready in steps while eating :) Mike is "forcing" me to eat super healthy, rest a lot, and take fish pill, so his baby can have a big brain lol....And I am happily letting him take such good care of me and our baby! 

Telling the family!!

After we told the kids it is easier to let them tell family then to swear them to secrecy...

The next evening we had my little sister (our family photographer) and her boyfriend Josh over for dinner to tell them. They got to know 1st because they were not going to be over on our family night, and we wanted to borrow Grace's talent for a few pictures :)

 The next morning Mike's mom and sister Mandi came over for us to spend some holiday fun with them.

 We let the kids give them each a gift to tell them. They were excited,and my mother in law brought us to get the PF Chang's for lunch I was craving :) 

Then the next day was family day with my parents and 2 of my 3 other sisters. My mom's reaction was priceless she was so happy! My dad wanted details, my step dad gave me the best congratulations hug, and my sisters were as always supportive! 

My sister Eva found out on Christmas...sadly she opened her gift while I was off being sick and pregnant! But she has been checking on me and promises to love my baby more then all the other babies ever lol 

We skyped my Father and Mother in-law in Utah! My Father in-laws smile made my day, and his reaction was exactly what I said it would be... "It's a Scott" :)

The rest of our siblings live out of state, so we sent them a picture in the mail! 

I want to wait till after our 1st appointment to tell our grandparents, because they (my sweet grandma especially) will have more questions then anyone else. 

Telling Thing 1 and 2

We decided that the 1st people who should know should be the kids. We weighed the pros and cons to telling them now or later, and decided that telling them now was best for our family for some of the following reasons. 

• We know that "people" say telling kids before the end of the 1st trimester is not safe, but we know people who have lost babies all the way up to birth. We would rather tell them now, and be honest with them about how I am feeling, what is going on, and tell them like all life this baby is in God's hands to decide if it comes to earth or stays with him.
• Jenna and I are really close, and she knows when something is wrong with me. We felt like it was best to keep ahead of her questions or worry. 
• We didn't want me to start showing or have someone else tell them, and leave them feeling left out. 
• This is such an exciting time, and we want them to get to be as much apart of it as possible. 
• We really try to make Kade feel as much apart of our family as possible, but with us only having him every other weekend that doesn't always work. We didn't want him to find out after Jenna, or because someone else told him. We feel like he may struggle the most with a new baby, and wanted him to know he is just as much the baby's family as anyone!

Seeing it is Christmas Season we decided to play that into how we told them. We have a yearly tradition to get the kids an ornament and new pj's on our "Christmas eve" with Kade. 

We sat them down, and told them they have one last ornament to hang. 

I asked, "Jenna what year is it"? "2013", she said.  
Then I asked, "Kade what year will next Christmas be"? "2014", he said. 

Then Michael handed them this

They read it... 

And then their eyes got big, and they danced!

Safe to say they were pretty excited! Jenna wants a girl to play dolls with and Kade wants a brother to wrestle. Jenna kept asking questions about the babies name, and Kade was more interested in what the baby was making me feel like! It was such great thing to get to see their faces get excited for our future baby!
I am glad they get to be apart of this! 

Telling Daddy

So my hubby is the doer of all things Laundry in the Reece Home. I am an OCD cleaner who keeps my house clean most all the time, and I actually really enjoy doing it, but laundry ... not so much! So my sweet man over time just took it over, and without complaint I must add :) Seeing I know that most nights he moves a load of laundry in evening when I am getting Jenna ready for bed I added a present to the load in the dryer... and just waited....

Just folding clothes... then...

HIM: "Babe, what is this"?
ME: " Well I should have got short sleeve seeing
 our newborn wont want to wear long sleeves in August"....

HIM: "Wait are you pregnant"
ME: Smile and nod
HIM: "We did it"! He literally gave me a high five before giving me a kiss lol 

We spent the rest of the night wrapping our heads around everything that we needed to do in the next 9 months, and dreaming of all the fun to come!

Belly Bump-1

How far along? I am not positive. We found out we are expecting 2 weeks ago, so haven't been to the doctor to confirm yet. 

Total weight gain/loss: I have no clue! I honestly haven't weighed myself for months, so I will have to start with what I weigh at my 1st appointment :)

Maternity clothes? Nope, but scarfs are a must to cover up the only on me that looks pregnant!

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Is okay, but once I am awake (no matter how early) I am awake, and have to eat!

Best moment this week: Telling my hubby the news!

Have you told family and friends: Not yet, but we are planning how we will tell them... probably on Christmas

Miss Anything? Just my morning Coffee, but peppermint tea is my new love!

Movement: Way too soon

Food cravings: Eggs, Egg Salad, Eggs and Bacon, shrimp anything

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of beef! Luckily we stopped eating beef in our home years ago, but other people warming it up at work is so bad!

Gender prediction: Mike things boy and I think girl... big shocker right lol

Labor Signs: Way too soon for this question

Belly Button in or out? In where it belongs!

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: So happy all the time... I mean I AM HAVING HIS BABY! How could I not be lol

Looking forward to: Telling everyone!!