16 Weeks

Everything is going very well with baby Deuce. Visited the doctor this week and listened to the heartbeat (sounded like a galloping horse which is good from what the doctor said.) My discomfort is finally lessening. I've had almost two weeks of feeling pretty good--less nausea and vomiting, more energy, etc. (yay!)

We return to the doctor for the big sono in four weeks. The doctor will check everything with baby and share the gender.

As for gender predictions...totally scientific of course:

1. Olivia Newell (six year old friend in San Diego) says: definitely a girl
2. Chinese Gender Calendar (correct with Hayden): girl
3. Lisa: boy...obviously. I already had a girl.
4. Heart rate indicates: girl (faster for girl...slower for boy)
5. Bryan: girl...obviously. We make great girls.
6. Friend order: Newells-girl, Macys-boy, Chamness-girl, Woods-boy, Knightsteps-girl, Spences-boy, Woods #2-girl, Chamness #2--boy.
7. They say that differences in morning sickness can also indicate...there were some slight differences (less actual vomiting, but feeling nauseous for longer during the day and further into the pregnancy with this kid TMI?), but enough to indicate carrying a different gender? I don't know. I pretty much felt like poop for the 1st trimester of both pregnancies.

Cravings are very different as well. With Hayden I couldn't be around chicken. Couldn't cook it, couldn't walk past it in the grocery store, couldn't eat Chick-Fil-A; with Deuce the $1 chicken sandwich at McDonald's is my go to. I've also NEEDED Cheetos and Arby's original roast beef sandwiches with this kid (five for $5 on Saturday and Sunday), but haven't enjoyed hamburgers or Taco Bueno like I did with Hayden. (would love to share how I've craved yummy vegetables and fruit but that would just be a LIE)

Do you have any gender feelings, vibes, predictions? Leave them as a comment! We would love to hear your thoughts...

Planned to put a tummy shot on here, but can't get Hayden to press the right button. Maybe when Bryan gets home...

Tame the Mane

Most of the time her hair looks like this...

or this.

unless she actually leaves the clip alone so it looks cute like this. Unfortunately the clips are easily removed (by small, curious fingers) and the hair almost always returns to its previous unkempt appearance.

Today she sat still long enough for me to get a rubber band in it (and a bow, sorry dad)!

Her first "up" do. (it's lasted for hours so far!)

Quick Link

If you aren't a regular reader of our friend Lindsi's blog "A Little Birdie Told Me" then you are missing out. Hayden is featured in several pictures and a cute video from this weekend.

http://hancheys.blogspot.com/2009/08/texas-professionalsand-happy-birthday.html

Check it out!

A big girl now!

We finally got Hayden a "big girl" car seat. This one is supposed to see her through a year or two at least depending on weight and height...which shouldn't be an issue for her. She still only weighs 18 lbs. and must weigh 20 to face forward...of course our doctor just reminded us that the Department of Transportation has recommended that ALL kids should face backward until 2 years of age. Oh well. The dream that forward facing would make Hayden a happier car traveler (less screaming, please Lord!) will just be put off for another nine months...surely by then she will have hit the minimum weight requirement...or perhaps my eardrums will have grown callused.

Galleria Gazing

Bryan, Hayden and I met Lindsi and Patrick this past Saturday for some hamburgers at 5 Guys Burgers in the Galleria. (Honestly, we had forgotten it was tax free weekend until we got there. Fortunately the crowds weren't too bad yet) Before eating we enjoyed watching some ice skating.

Despite the apprehensive look on her face, she really seemed to enjoy scoping out the rink. Could she be the next Kristi Yamaguchi...? (not likely if she inherited her grace and balance from me or her father.)

Ambrosia

While Hayden and I were in Odessa for a weekend she had her first taste of Taco Villa. Now some of you know the greatness of Taco Villa (Amber C.) It is my absolute favorite place to eat while home (of ALL restaurants...not just fast food.) Hayden didn't get to enjoy my personal favorite--bean burrito with green sauce easy beans extra cheese--but Grammy did selflessly share a taco with her.

I think she likes it!

Thank you Lord for yummy Mexican food and family that shares.

When the folks are away--Grammy and baby will play...

BIG HUGS AND KISSES to Grammy for keeping Hayden for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of my birthday weekend. It was such a blessing to escape, I mean take a trip, and not have to worry about the kiddo. Here are some pics of their fun times together.

I know that Hayden loved her time with Grammy. (honestly, Grammy probably took her outside, Hayden's favorite, more in one day than Mommy does all week. I've said before I'm not really into nature, but honestly right now...I walk out into the heat and just want to throw up...I blame Deuce.)

Thank You Grammy, You are the BEST!

Thank you Lord for family...and weekend getaways!

Weekend AWAY...

For my 31st birthday I requested a weekend out of town...sans child. My mother quickly agreed to fly in for the weekend and watch the kid while our friends Lindsi and Patrick agreed to accompany us on the run down to New Braunfels for the getaway.

Lindsi did a fabulous post about the trip on her blog http://hancheys.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-birthday-lisa.html so you should check that out. I must admit that having consecutive days without parenting responsibilities was quite nice. Bryan and I, while we did miss sweet Hayden, were surprisingly relaxed and non neurotic about her absence. (Could have something to do with the multiple lists and schedules I left for my poor mother...)

A BIG thanks to Mom for her multiple day sacrifice and to Lindsi and Patrick who made the trip so much fun. Happy Birthday to me!!!

Had to add the pic of Lindsi and Pete in their traditional German garb. They modeled this at the yummy German restaurant where we ate breakfast the last day...the whole time we were photo taking the thickly accented German proprietor was frowning at us...apparently the price tag on Lindsi's outfit was 118.00. (thankfully it wasn't harmed in the trying on:)

Big shoes to fill...

This happens every morning...can you believe these are the first pictures I've snapped of this cuteness? Hayden helps her daddy each morning by getting his "work" shoes out of his closet and placing them on the tile floor in the bathroom. She then must check them for comfort and appropriate fit by trying them on herself. I couldn't pick just one so I've uploaded them all...

Thank you Lord for cute little helpers.

Still here

Nobody panic. We are all fine. My recent recalcitrant blogging history does not point to any major health or family issues...just general laziness on my part. (thanks to all the friends who called or emailed in concern) When Hayden is napping or playing solo all I want to do is sit down and rest...so I do. (we aren't real big into self denial around here.) Needless to say...blogging, house cleaning, etc. have been downgraded to only doing the absolute necessary. (not that the house cleaning was ever terribly high.)

I went to the doctor this morning and heard Deuce's heartbeat. Took the Dr. a few seconds to find it which were a little tense, but things are apparently progressing fine. We hit 12 weeks this Thursday, which I'm hoping will signal not just the beginning of the 2nd trimester but the ending of nausea, vomiting, poor energy levels, etc. (Oh, poor me; poor me.)

Hayden has been cutting multiple teeth this past week. Two in bottom front have come through and I can feel the starting of several molars both top and bottom, both sides. Poor baby girl. We've been doling out the Humphrey's teething tablets and the occasional application of the Oragel hoping that would help...may have helped her, but I can't tell they've helped me at all.

I'm planning to post several things in the next few days: Birthday trip without the kid, Hayden's weekend with Grammy, Gender predictions, etc. Stay tuned for all that and more! (Unless I collapse onto the sofa and don't move--then I'll get to these in a few weeks.)