16 Weeks (August 5, 2017)

I'm a little late in posting but I was 16 weeks on August 5, 2017.  I'm not approaching 19 weeks, so I'll have another growing picture soon.

I've been feeling little flurries in my tummy and been eating a bit healthier the past couple of weeks.

16 week photo

Proud mama moments

As a parent, I constantly think how to raise my kids with good values, being kind people, grateful for things they have.  I do have to remind myself that they're only 5 and 3, so it's a continuous work in progress.

We've recently started giving an allowance to the girls.  If they help clean up or clean up their mess, they get rewarded for their hard work.  Usually, it's a dollar or two, depending on what they did.  I even bought them a wallet to help them save their money.  It started because Ania has a wish list of things Santa is going to get her.  Well, I told her, if she saves her money, she may be able to buy things she wants herself.

The moment came this past Sunday at church.  The morning of, the girls helped clean the house, so both were given an allowance of $2 each.  They put the money in their wallets and let it be.  At church, they bring their wallets because they see mommy brings hers.  So at the time of collection, we usually give the girls something to put in the basket, but this time around, both decided to put money in the basket from their wallet.  No asking, they just wanted to do it.  That moment made me so proud!  I'm a proud mama to two beautiful girls <3

It's a BOY!

Talk about surprise!!  I didn't pay attention to cravings and feelings.  When I heard the heartbeat, baby had a beat of 160 and with old wives tales, it's a girl.  Both girls had around the same heartbeat, so I thought, nice we're having another girl!  These days, they have a test called the NIPT that checks for chromosomal defects and with turning 35 at the time of delivery, it was recommended that I take it.  So, I get my blood drawn and in exactly a week, we get the results.

It was definitely not a romantic setting.  We were in Denver eating dinner at a German restaurant and my phone rings.  It was Santa Fe, so I knew it was the results and pick up the phone.  It's the test results and going through how baby is healthy and results are normal.  Last question she asked me, do you want to know the gender?  I said, "sure".  You're going to have a healthy baby boy.  My response, "Wow!  Ok, thank you."  That's it.  That's all I could get out.  The phone hangs up and Tom is just sitting there waiting for me to tell him what happened.  I asked, "So, I know what we're having, do you want to know now or do you want me to do some gender reveal thing for you?"  He almost looks annoyed with me, so I tell him.  Tom gets a bit emotional and tells me he needs a minute.  He's quiet then gives me a hug and tells me, "I'm so thankful we're having a healthy baby".  We tell the girls and Ania is excited because she thinks a boy will even out the family and tells me that we need to have another boy and well be even boys and girls.  Cameron wanted a baby sister...she's coming around and starting to say she's going to share her clothes with her brother.   

It's definitely going to change the dynamic and we are truly blessed that God chose you to be part of our family.  We wish you luck putting up with us, LOL.  Just kididng, you'll probably give us a run for our money.  

12 weeks

We made it to 12 weeks!  They say all pregnancies are different, and ain't that the truth.  This one has been completely different from Ania and Cameron.  Some new symptoms that I haven't experienced before:

• No morning sickness, just exhausted and tired
• No sweets, at all!  I've tried to eat dessert because it sounds good but afterward I feel so sick.
• All about fruit.  I'm not usually a fruit person, but I've been eating nectarines, melon, mangoes, and papaya like nobody's business!
• Meat, meat, meat!  I've been eating insane amounts of beef.  I didn't want chicken for awhile, but it's come back on the menu.  
• Fast food requests.  I've become that preggo that asks her husband to go out and get me burger and fries, tacos, etc.  I've tamed myself but the thought crosses my mind daily. 
• Milk is refreshing.  I've been feeling thirsty and nothing seems to quench that thirst except a glass of cold milk.

 12 week photo

Since I've been feeling pretty good, I've been able to exercise.  I'm still running, but tamed it down a bit to 2/3 miles of run/walk.  I lift light weights, stretch nightly, try an do planks, and I sit on a balance ball for work.  I feel like with no alcohol and sweets, my weight has been steady.  

Chinese Gender Predictor

Let's see.  As per the Chinese Gender Predictor, we're having a girl:

8 Weeks

We've reached 8 weeks.  We had our first ultrasound and so far everything is looking good.  Our next appointment is around 12 weeks.  Since I'm turning 35 this year, I have to go to the Santa Fe location to do all the genetics testing.  Fun times!

I've just been really exhausted and wanting to sleep every minute.  Tom has been amazing in picking up some of the slack with my lack of energy.  We haven't told the girls yet, but we will soon.  I wanted to wait for at least the ultrasound.  I've also been eating constantly because if I don't, I get very bad headaches.

The 8 week side profile

 8 week Ultrasound.  This made it very real!!!

Here we GROW again!!!

I'm back to blogging.  Why?  Because we found out we were preggers with baby #3!!!  I guess what they say is true, in this day in age, 3 kids is the new 2.  I'm surprised myself because we were so confident that we felt balanced with our two baby girls.  After coming home from a work vacation, Tom kept mentioning another baby.  He's been having dreams and there was an urge of wanting another.  It took some time to convince me because everyone was out of diapers, we gave everything away and I just didn't know if I was ready...Friends told me it's like night and day.  One day you're completely 'zen' with the family you have and then the next day you wake up desperately wanting to add another to the family.

So here we are.  Baby Gramza 3 on the way.  We're still at the early stages with me being 7 almost 8 weeks along.  We haven't told the girls yet as we are waiting to have an ultrasound.  We found out after we got back from Disneyland, but then I had to leave for Houston for a work trip.  So it didn't really set in.

There it is.  At least Tom was with me this time and I didn't have to text message him the results ;)

 Dim photo, but here is a 'bump' photo at 6 weeks.

At least I can say Baby Gramza has already ran a half marathon (but I didn't know yet!).  So far, I haven't really felt morning sickness.  Nauseous at times, but after I eat I feel fine.  I'm ALWAYS thirsty and doesn't seem like I can quench my thirst with cold water, juice or milk.  I've been eating a lot of meat, salty and spicy food, which I'm also not too keen on leftovers.  So far, I've asked Tom to get me Pappadeux's, and tacos from a local shop here in town.

So here we grow again!!