14 weeks, Crazy big belly, Lots of mud, Tons of fun

Holy cow! Life has been in full speed recently. Two Thursdays ago, I had two doctors appointments-one with my knee doctor and one with our baby doctor. Both went great and said I could start running and I could do the warrior dash. So far, this pregnancy has been just like with Brigz. It has been easy and I have been feeling good.

On Sunday, I woke up spotting. My doc said not to worry unless it got worse. On Monday, I woke up bleeding. A lot. I thought I was having a miscarriage. Besides almost losing Brigz, this was one of the scariest times of my life.

We rushed to the ER and after lots of test and an ultrasound, they determine the baby is great and I have placenta previa. It will hopefully move and I will hopefully not bleed and cramp the whole rest of my pregnancy.

So needless to say, I didn't get to do the warrior dash which I have been wanting to do sooooo bad:( but it was so fun going to watch and see everyone else do it. Corey's family came in and some of them came out to our house along with some of my besties and we had pasta and had a really good time Friday. Saturday morning came a little early! My parents and Joelle and Rob brought their campers an camped out. My dad ran in my spot. Corey was dressed as a redneck and his cousin Eric wore all camo. It looked so fun and I was so sad I couldn't participate!! There will be more races:)

Corey's dad came in this weekend and I think Brigz is gonna be sad when he wakes up from his nap without his Popz. They are two peas in a pod. Im mad i didn't get any pictures of the two of them. We had such a great weekend. We don't get many visitors in the boonies and we LOVE having people out so it was pretty special to have so many people come out this weekend.

Here are a few pictures of life recently.

A lot to talk about

There is sooo much to talk about!! First of all, we had our first ultrasound yesterday! I am so amazed at how the baby's little body is already developed. It was nice to see all the staff that was there for my pregnancy with Brigz too. They all remembered us and they liked seeing Brigz. Plus, Brigz told all of them he "lubs" them about a million times.

Sweet little profile

Whole little body

Little foot on the bottom

The baby was very different than Brigz was. Well he/she looks just like Brigz ultrasound, but the baby was calm.....weird. The whole time I was pregnant with Brigz, it was always such a disaster trying to get his heart beat because he was a crazy person in there. He didn't sit still for two seconds. They would always comment, "wow, this is one active baby"! Which has translated into one active toddler! So maybe baby #2 will be a little on the calmer side. Give his/her mommy and daddy a break!

It was pretty interesting because the doctor there hadn't heard about our labor/birth experience with Brigz. After we talked with the genetic couselor and she took all the information down about Brigz birth, the doctor came to speak to us. He finally gave us some long awaited information about that last dreaded week of pregnancy. He told us that he thinks, without a doubt, that my placenta failed. Why? Who knows. It is unclear why a healthy 23 year old would have a faulty placenta, but it happened. It could have been due to early preeclampsia, or some unknown reason. But basically that means that this baby and my placenta will be watched like a hawk towards the end. I also have to take all these loveley pills to help my blood flow through my placenta better and keep me healthy. It was really hard to hear him talk about the stress that Brigz must have been feeling. He said that the fact that he was born so skinny, yet so long, and 3 days past my due date says that he was cut off of nutrients by my placenta. How sad is that that his own mamma's body failed him. It makes me feel terrible. I can't even think about his poor little body in there fighting and not getting what it needed from mine. It is awful. It makes me so sad.

But next baby will hopefully not have to go through anything like that...

all the things a have to take

In the mean time, Brigz has been keeping my tired butt very busy! The spring is so beautiful this year! So warm! We spend every chance we get in the sunshine- swinging, riding his vroom, and going for walks! He is so much fun right now. I think I say that with every age (except the 15-18 month temper tantrum phase... not near as much fun). He is so talkative and tells us the funniest things! Right now, he loves everything. I never realized how much I ask him, "do you love that"? until he says it about everything now! He always says, "I just lub swinging" or "mommy, I lub you". Corey and I get told we are lubbed about 200 times a day. Not kidding. He says it about every minute. It has yet to get old.

I love how pretty it is here. The sky, some green is showing up, our trees- it is so peaceful.

We have started a cloth diaper adventure. Pregnancy isn't good for me because I get obsessive. For real. I start deep cleaning my house right away and searching for the things we need for the next baby. I read everything possible trying to always get the things that will fit us best. I added up the cost and we have spent roughly $2000 on diapers. rediculous. So I am obsessive stalker cloth diaper websites and getting lists of things going. I have about 10 diapers already that we are trying on Brigz to see which kind we like. There are so many options... so many brands... it is very overwhelming. I am determined to like them because it will save us so much money. We will see how it goes with a newborn though. My best friend thinks I'm nuts. She reminded me of how many diapers we went through with our boys in the first few weeks of life and how we had both said, "people who do cloth diapers are nuts. Our washers would break". soooo we will see how it goes!!! It will be awesome if they work and we can use them for baby #3 also.

My knee is doing so much better. It still gets sore, but I think I should be able to successfully run (by successful I mean without looking like weirdo with my lopsided limp) next week. Then it is max running so that we can kill it in the warrior dash in may! 

Wow. Preggers #2.

This pregnancy is very different. First of all, I think I could eat all day every day. Well at least I feel that hungry. But after 4 bites in over it and grossed out. I was NEVER hungry with Brigz. I had to force down meal replacement shakes because the thought of food grossed me out.
Second, I never had cravings with Brigz. I thought pregnant woman were making up the craving thing. With this baby, every other minute I want something different. Things I don't typical like either. To list a small few: Alfredo, Reese's, pickles, French dip, dions sandwich with Greek dressing, Chinese food, Caesar salad, cheese, pinto beans, tortillas, and so much more.
Fourth, I am exhausted. And I get nauseous at the end of every day. I don't remover feeling so drained. My house OCD has come to a pause. The hubs has been helping so much. Well in between his sickness (aka pregnancy sympathy symptoms). He had it all with Briggy too.
And most of all, my belly is already big. Like as big as I was around 16 wks. So that's 6 wks ahead of brigz.

It's weird because with Briggy I had no idea what I was in for. With this baby, we know how cool it is. Don't get me wrong, the thought of a newborn sleep schedule scares the bejeezies out of me!! But we have an idea of how things will be. We have an ultrasound next week and I'm so excited!!

Just when you think life can't get full of any more blessings, God gives us another.

We just recently announced on the FB that we are welcoming another little Bell into the world this year. Excited? Yes! Scared to death? Yes!

You should call me Fertile Mertyle because literally both babies happened on a "maybe we should think about getting pregnant... Oh im already pregnant" plan. Brigz was my idea so corey picked when he wanted #2. We found out about a month ago when my prego test made two extremely pink lines. We once again tried to keep a secret til 11 weeks but it didn't happen.

Yesterday was our first apt and we met with our awesome doctor. We will have a scheduled c section around oct 28 at the new hospital (about 1.5 hrs away, but worth it for a good doc). We were able to see our little "boomerang" as our close friend Matt called it! The baby looks great and we saw Gods little miracle right on the screen- that little fluttering heart. So awesome. Just like with Brigz, i feel great! A little sleepy, a little nauseous and a ton hungry (never had with brigz), but in general i am one of THOSE people that loves being pregnant. Weird i know. We can't wait for another baby!

Lately we have lots of exciting things happen. Briggy turned 20 months old and we think we have made major progress with fit throwing! He has been such a sweetie lately! He listens better and life is so much fun again. There were a couple months in there that I think he lived in time outs and Corey and I pondered why God thought we were cut out for children. Which made me so sad because our days used to be so great and over night they switched into grouchy, winey, kicking, scratching, head banging, screaming fights. BUT I think we are good now. Keep your fingers crossed!

I love looking at him. Especially at night when I am rocking him to sleep and I can look at all his little features. He is so snuggly and sweet and big. He is talking so much and growing so fast! I get so proud of him and how fast he picks up on things. He is just perfect.

Now onto the least fun stuff. My stupid knee. I found out next week what is wrong with it. In the meantime I am trying to not notice how insanely beautiful it is outside and try to shove my intense cravings for a log run out of my mind. Running is my therapy. Is need to run. So being pregnant, with a 20 month old, and not being able to run is slightly close to torture. But I'll be fine. I hope. If I need surgery, I can't have it done until after the baby. So please say some prayers that I won't need surgery! Thanks!

New baby, yelling toddler, good ol LBK

We are leaving Lubbock and as usual my heart hurts. This time, for more reasons than the norm.

Our sweet niece, baby Linley Jaidyn Hogle, was born Wednesday night at 8:50 and weighed 8lbs 3oz and was 20.5 inches long. Though she is perfect, she still had to be put in the NICU for complications with breathing due to inhalation of meconium. So her brand new mamma and daddy barely got to see her before he was wheeled off:( but she is doing great now and is absolutely precious! She has little chubs that I could kiss for days! Her mamma is one heck of a trooper and her daddy is doing a great job taking care of them both.

We said our thanks to the Big Man because they think her kidneys will be fine. We worried her whole pregnancy about a complication with her kidneys and our prayers were answered. so grateful for that:)

We stayed with the owners of our house, who have become great friends. I think Corey and Dusty are cut from the same mold (well add 100 lbs and a foot to Corey and they r) and I love his wife Mari. they have two kiddos that are adorable and Brigz think they hung the moon. We had a blast!! but I failed to get even one picture.

Going to Lubbock is so bittersweet for us. We LOVE going and LOVE the city. It is quiet, small, polite, and just us. It feels perfect when we are there. I used to think it was from the memories from college there, but now I know it is the lifestyle that we miss so badly. BUT reality is we can't be there. Life is so good since we moved to Moriarty, but I think we will always struggle with feeling like our heart is in the LBK. If our entire family would pick up and move there, it would never be a question.

Brigz was a pretty good baby this trip. He officially hates his carseat, hospitals, and high chairs, but he is holding up. We are a little warn out from the ups, downs, highs, lows of the trip along with the absolute 19 month meltdowns that seemed very frequent. I'm officially exhausted. And done. In fact, in currently checking out on the trip home and writing this blog while he is freaking out in he back seat. Probably not the best plan, but I'm just spent. Don't judge me.

I'm so happy for my SIL and the awesome adventure they are about to embark on. Welcome sweet Linley! Brigz is excited to show you the ropes (although your parents should be worried about that!!) please pray that Linley gets to go home soon so her parents can love on her!!

Perfect day

I can't tell you enough how much I love sunny days. I am a total summer girl. And now with having a baby, I love being outside even more.

Yesterday we woke up, ate breakfast, at our neighbors, went to church (which was awesome as always), then went to my parents house. My grandpa was in town so we suckered him into the madness of Sunday Funday! I was so pretty outside. Corrales is so gorgeous all year around, but spring and fall are my favorite.

We rode dirt bikes, went for a run, then a walk, and watched the crazy babies totally run a muck around the place. Brigz loves the mini gator right now and he is such a dare devil! He wants to always drive and he floors it all around the yard. However, he does not understand the concept of steering, so we have lots of crashes.

Life feels so happy when we are outside in the sunshine surrounded by family and stuffed from the bug meal my mom spends all morning cooking. It doesn't get any better than that:)

This week, we are heading to Lubbock to wait for Miss Linley to be born. I am so excited to meet our sweet little niece.

Briggy is 19 months old today!! Here are some Briggy things:
-he is talking up a storm. But im not too sure how clear it sounds to everyone.

-he is on an anti eating kick again.

-he was doing so good, and has been on potty strike for three days. The future was looking bright with no more dirty diapers... But it's ok. We will get there.

-his day is not complete until he sees the cows. Corey loves this.

-I laid with him while he took a nap the other day, and it ranks up there with the favorite mommy moments. I just hugged on him and watched him as he slept. He has gotten so big and looks so grown up:(

-he slept binky free for the first time last night! It went with out a hitch, so we will see how it goes!

-he loves phones (hellos), tractors (tratews), motor cycles (vrooms), coloring, horses, balls, singing, his cousins, guitars, books, and swinging.

-we are having a hard time eating out lately. He is a little too crazy:)

-he makes life so fun! Even though he could live in time outs right now and gets them any and everywhere, the good times are really good. He is such a sweet, snugly baby. The love we have for him is so crazy. It is unlike anything u could ever understand before having kids. Happy birthday munchkie! We love you!

My Little Valentines

Corey and I went out for our Valentines on Saturday since we knew he would be out of town, so today has been a little depressing! Corey seems to usually be gone for things like birthdays and Valentines Day often; not sure why. Ever since he was involved with steer shows, there always seemed to be one on both occasions. You would think I would get used to it.

Not to mention that we don't ever seem to go very crazy on this day anyways. For such a mushy couple, we don't really do much. We do dinner and something fun, but no gifts, flowers, or chocolate. We do write eachother letters and I look forward to Corey's every year. He has never claimed to be a "romantic", but he has never made me question his love for me. He tells me often and plenty how he feels. And I am so grateful for a sweet guy like him. He is perfect for me. This is our eighth valentines day as a couple. I'm a lucky girl.

Valentines has turned into something fun for Brigz and I. He is my little valentine:) And today, I am able to watch my little niece Kenna that made my day special. She told me she loved me a million times- and Brigz, well we'll just say they didn't exchange too many kind words. They have a volition relationship right now. They love each other when they don't see each other.

So even though we miss Corey so very much, today I am thankful for my little munchkin. He sure does beat me up and yell at me a lot, but he still makes me a proud mamma.