Spring Landscaping

This past Saturday, Jake and I were able to get out in our yard and start a landscaping project we've been wanting to do for a long time. We have 4 trees in our front yard that the previous owners had put mulch around. However, by the time we bought the house, it was already in dire need of re-mulching and 4 years later we've finally gotten around to it. We got two of the 4 trees done and hope to get the other 2 done sometime soon. We had several bricks left over from our brick patio we put in last year, so we not only mulched around the trees, but made a little barrier around the trees with the bricks. Here are a couple pictures of the trees we landscaped around.

The centerpieces at my birthday party had real tulips in them, so I kept them in soil until I could plant them and was able to plant them here on the corner of our yard. The flowers have all fell off and soon I should be able to pull the dead stems away from the bulb and wait for them to come back pretty next Spring. I'd also like to get a couple yard ornaments of some kind to put in this landscaping to spruce it up a bit.

Yay!! Its Friday!!

As usual, I'm thrilled that its Friday!! We have a pretty busy weekend planned, which is pretty typical for us.

Tonight we have Bible Study at church where the topic of the evening is " How could a good God allow suffering?" Should be very interesting. I'm looking forward to it.

Tomorrow, pending the weather cooperates, we will hopefully work out in our yard. The grass needs mowed again and we have 20 bags of mulch in our garage that we've had for 3 or more weeks, that need to go out in our landscaping and playground. Between the rain and storms lately and being so busy, we haven't had a chance to do anything in our yard other than mow once every week and a half or so. The weather forecast doesn't look promising for tomorrow, but I'm hoping since they are saying "scattered" showers, they won't hit us.



Then Sunday is church and celebrating Mothers Day. Unfortunately, this Mothers Day will be bittersweet. The bitter part of it is we're missing a Mother/Grandmother this year. Its been 2 weeks since my Grammy passed. I've been doing alright, but there hasn't been a day that has gone by that I don't think about her. In fact its usually several times a day. I think I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she's gone. I have mostly good days but occasionally there are times when I feel sad and miss her so much.  We are planning on visiting her grave on Sunday and then having lunch together.

The sweet part is, I get to spend Mothers Day with my lovely Mom and I got her a pretty awesome gift, so I'm hoping that will lighten her spirits some, since I know this Mothers Day is going to be so hard for her. She's going to love the gift and I can't wait to give it to her!! (I would tell you what it is, but I'm not sure how often she checks my blog, so I'll wait and tell you after Mothers Day).

I'm also excited that Mother's Day this year will mean so much more to me now that I'm about to be a mother. I couldn't be more excited about becoming a mother. October can't get here soon enough. :-)

16 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

A close-up.

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Size of Baby: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. About the size of an avocado.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I've gained 6 lbs total so far.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity pants and some maternity shirts.

Gender: 2 more weeks and we'll be able to find out. We have our ultrasound scheduled for May 18th, at 3:30!! I can't wait!!

Movement: I think I've felt a few little flutters here and there, but I'm not completely sure.

Food Cravings: No real cravings yet.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night.

Sleep: Not sleeping great. I'm super tired and fall asleep easily, but I'm having to get up a couple times a night to use the restroom.

Symptoms: Having to use the restroom often. Other than that, no real symptoms.

Best Moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat at my 16 week appointment this past Monday.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the baby's gender on May 18th, and feeling him/her move.

16 Week Baby Appointment

I had my 16 week baby appointment this past Monday. Everything seems to be going great. The Dr. said I look to be measuring right on target and the baby's heart-rate was in the 160's this time; just a little slower than last month when it was in the 170's. She said the old wives tales would say its a girl, but we'll get to find out the gender for sure on Wed. May 18th, at 3:30. So just 2 more weeks away!!! I can't wait.

My mom got to go with me this time and it was cool to have her there with me. She loved getting to hear the baby's heartbeat!!

I believe my next appointment (20 weeks) is on Friday, June 3rd!!

15 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 15 Weeks and 3 days

Size of Baby: 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces, about the size of an apple.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I've probably gained around 5 lbs or so.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity pants and some maternity shirts.

Gender: We should be able to find out in 2 weeks, but everyone has been telling me they think its a girl, so I'll be really surprised if its a boy. The Chinese Gender Chart says its a girl too.

Movement: I think I may have felt a little flutter late last week, but haven't felt anything since then so I really don't know. I guess I should start feeling movement soon.

Food Cravings: No real cravings yet.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night.

Sleep: Not sleeping great. I'm super tired and fall asleep easily, but I'm having to get up a couple times a night to use the restroom.

Symptoms: Feeling a lot better now, but still feeling tired a lot and having to use the restroom often.

Best Moment this week: Spending time with Family.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the baby's gender and feeling him/her move.



Grammy

This past Thursday I received the worst news I've ever gotten. My Grammy had passed away. It was so unexpected as she had been doing so well for the last several years. She had a major heart surgery back in 2005 and had suffered 1 or 2 strokes, but had recovered from all of that and had been doing great. So it really came as a shock to all of us. She passed Thursday morning at home, in her chair, where my Papa found her when he came home from work that afternoon. I can't imagine coming home to find your wife, of almost 54 years, has passed away. To make matters worse, their 54 year anniversary was yesterday, the same day as the funeral. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. He stayed so strong over these last few days though. I know it must have been so hard for him. The paramedics said they think the cause of death was most likely due to her heart.

She was such a loving person and was always there whenever we needed her, no matter what. I have so many wonderful memories of her. As a small child my mom, sister and I would spend every Sunday afternoon at my Grammy and Papa's house. Grammy would fix us lunch after church and we'd play at their house for the whole afternoon. We would spend the night at their house on occasion and she'd always give us her undivided attention whether it be taking us somewhere fun or watching movies at her house. She would always fix us whatever we wanted to eat, even if both my sister and I wanted something completely different. :-)

As we got older, my mom would pick her up every Friday for lunch and they would go shopping together. During the summer my sister and I would get to go. Then within the last several years, I've had every other Friday off to go to lunch and shopping with them. Grammy didn't care where we went, she just loved being along for the ride and spending time together. We would sometimes go back to my moms and my mom would fix dinner for all of us and our families and when it was time for us to leave Grammy would always give us girls a hug and say she really enjoyed spending the day with us. I know she looked forward to those Fridays and so did we. Fridays won't be the same without her, but we plan to carry on the tradition. :-)

She was so excited about Ashlee and I being pregnant and would always rub our bellies and tell us to take care of those babies. I remember calling her and Papa to tell them the good news and when he told her I was pregnant, I could hear her in the back ground screaming with excitement. She loved kids and would always play with Landon whenever they were together. The thing I hate most is that this baby will never get to meet his/her Grammy. I know they would have loved her so much and enjoyed spending time with her. But they will know their Grammy with all the wonderful memories and stories we have to tell them.

I miss Grammy so much, but find peace in knowing that I will someday see her again in heaven.

Grammy and I this past Christmas.

Grammy and Papa with all their kids, kids spouses, Grandkids, Grandkids spouses and Great-Grandchild at their 50th wedding anniversary party in 2007.

My Mom, Grammy, Sister Ashlee and Myself on Mother's Day 2010.

Grammy and I at my wedding reception.

Grammy and Papa, Easter 2010

Me, at Grammy and Papa's house, wearing some old frames that my Grammy used to wear.

Myself, Grammy, My Mom and my sister Ashlee on Mother's Day 2009

Maternity Clothes Shopping

I've started doing a little maternity clothes shopping these last couple weeks and have come to the realization that they charge way too much for maternity clothes and there really isn't as much out there as I thought there would be. I just hate to pay so much for something I'll only wear a short amount of time.

Thankfully, I have been able to find some things on sale and I found a couple of good deals at an upscale resale shop in St. Louis called the Scholar Shop. I got a pair of khakis for work that were originally from Motherhood, with the tags still on them. They were originally $25, which really isn't all that bad, but I got them for $15!!! I also got this cute little tank top to wear this summer when its 95 degrees outside and I'm miserable. It looks like it is almost brand new and only cost $5!