Baby J- 2.0!

We found out a couple of months ago that we are expecting our second baby!! 

I honestly didn't think it would happen right away, especially after all I had heard about trying to conceive for the second time. But as we have found out, once God tells us we need to do something- He means like RIGHT now. Haha! I have such faith and a testimony in God's timing- I can't deny it! So I know without a doubt this babe is meant to be coming now. :)

The soonest I could test was a few days before our second anniversary. However, when we were trying for Tucker I tested earlier than I probably should have and got a false, then a very faint positive, and didn't get a strong positive until a day after my missed period. So because of this I didn't want to test "as soon as I could". I waited until July 13th- our second anniversary. I got up before Taylor to go to the bathroom to test. I wholeheartedly was expecting a negative. So imagine my surprise when that positive symbol showed up almost immediately!! And I was still one day early! I was genuinely shocked. I remember being so grateful in that moment and saying a silent prayer of gratitude for this new blessing. 

After I gathered myself, I took the positive test back to bed with me where Taylor still was trying to wake up. I said, "Happy second anniversary! I'm getting you a baby!" and I handed him the test. The look on his face was priceless!! He was so giddy and just as shocked as I was. And then his next response was, "We're crazy." Ha! And we probably are but we could not be more excited! 

I never filled out these questionnaires with my last pregnancy- I just rambled on about whatever my pregnant little brain wanted to say. But I've decided to start filling them out. I wish I had last time, so I could compare symptoms. I've been trying my best to keep a personal pregnancy journal as well, I know my future self will thank me one day! So anyway. I started filling these out at week 8 and have added a few questions of my own as weeks progress. I know most people won't read this and that's fine- this is more for me. But if you're anything like me and enjoy reading about other women's pregnancies then take a gander! :) 

*sidenote*- a lot of exciting changes have happened for us over the last little while. This poor blog of mine has been neglected but I will be doing my best to let everyone know what is going on in our life as of late soon enough!

So because my turn of the week is on a Monday, I'll fill these out and answer according to the previous week. 

How far along: 8 weeks and a few days. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am not sure. It's still packed away in a box somewhere. 

Maternity clothes: Do yoga or sweatpants and tshirts count? That's like my mom uniform ;)

Stretch marks:  Not from this one yet. 

Sleep: Mehhh. Busted out the snoogle this week and that has helped a little. 

Best moment this week: Seeing our tiny babe on the ultrasound and hearing that it looks healthy so far. SO relieving. We also told our families and closest friends. Everyone is very excited! 

Worst moment this week: We have been so busy this week and have lots more to do still. And a long car ride tomorrow that I'm not overly excited about. 

Movement: Not yet! 

Food cravings: Mostly savory things. Like burgers and salty ritz crackers. Cheese in all its forms. And plain Cheerios. 

Aversions: Yogurt. I cant think about it without getting queasy. 

Gender: Not sure yet. 

Labor signs: Definitely not. 

Belly button - in or out? In. 

What I miss: Being not-nauseous. And having more energy. 

What I am looking forward to: Feeling better! And telling more people! And finding out what this babe is!

Milestones: First ultrasound this week!

How far along: 9 weeks. 

(The next few weeks are silouhette pictures as there's not a whole lot to see besides bloat ;) This better captures the bump as of now. Eventually I'll have Taylor take pictures for me when I start to show!) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still not sure. Working on unpacking still...

Maternity clothes: Not yet. But my wardrobe is already pretty conducive to a growing body so it doesn't matter too much :) 

Stretch marks:  Not from this one yet. 

Sleep: Not too bad. The snoogle helps a ton. I have already been getting up like clockwork for a few weeks around 3-5 every morning to pee though. Booooo. 

Best moment this week: My sister in law Jessica got married! She was the most beautiful bride and I loved seeing her so happy. She's the best. 

Worst moment this week: The wedding was in St. George and it was SO hot. Like I was dripping with sweat. And I already hate being hot so I was struggling. Ha. Luckily I wasn't too nauseous that morning but it's a long day for a little babe and a pregnant girl so we were exhausted by the end of it all. At least it was fun! 

Movement: Not yet! 

Food cravings: Savory and salty things. But I'd never turn down a treat. I just have been getting fuller quicker and so that always catches me off guard. And then I get hungry quicker. Oh, the never ending cycle. 

Aversions: Yogurt still makes me wanna barf. 

Gender: Not sure yet. 

Labor signs: Definitely not. 

Belly button - in or out? In. 

What I miss: Having energy to cook and do other normal things.  

What I am looking forward to: The second trimester- hopefully I'll be feeling better and we can tell the world about this baby! 

Milestones: Baby's first wedding and trip to St. George! 

How far along: 10 weeks. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still wondering where my scale is...

Maternity clothes: Nope, not yet. But looking at dresses online because I know I'll need them and I have none. Long story short, we are pretty sure we accidentally gave a bag of our summer clothes and all my maternity clothes to the DI. Oops...

Stretch marks: None from this baby! 

Sleep: Terribleeee. The snoogle slightly helps but I'm already getting up twice a night to pee and test my blood sugar which I hate. I get too hot but too cold to be without a sheet and I'm never comfortable. Oh, the joy!

Best moment this week: We got all of our boxes into our house! Not yet unpacked, but they're in here so that is a step in the right direction! We got a few little things here and there that we needed and things are slowly starting to come together. And Tucker also starting walking "full-time" this week! And we finally got to see Tess and Luke who moved back a couple weeks ago! So happy to have our buddies back :)

Worst moment this week:  I think just the lack of pleasant sleep and nausea is really starting to wear on me. And all the hormones have made me pretty moody. Luckily Taylor is the most patient person in the world (when it comes to me) and I'm darn lucky to have him. 

Movement: Too early still, but I swear I get phantom feelings all the time. 

Food cravings:  I made no-bake chocolate-peanut butter- oatmeal cookies and they are absolutely sinful. But there's so much sugar. I have to be super careful about what I eat and watch my glucose levels. So I've been looking up healthy alternatives to them to see if it even exists 

Also, I had a huge craving for a crunchwrap supreme from Taco Bell this past week. Let's just say it totally hit the spot. 

Aversions: Yogurt. The smell of meat or onions cooking is enough to make me gag. Oh and this isn't food, but changing Tuck's stinky diapers is getting increasingly difficult. 

Queasy/Sick: (I added this question in) Nausea mostly all day. But I have acupressure bracelets that I bought from target when I was around 6 weeks and I wear them everyday and they are my saving grace. I seriously think they are a huge help. 

Other Symptoms: I'm getting really forgetful and it's super frustrating. I won't remember something unless j write it down. We went all the way to the store for a specific thing and then forgot what it was by the time we checked out. Hoping it doesn't get worse!

The diabetes and pregnancy hasn't been terrible yet. I think today I might be experiencing the first of what may be the insulin sensitivity. I am always paranoid that I'm not doing enough or the baby won't be healthy, etc- just like with Tuck. I have to often take a step back and remind myself that there's literally nothing more that I can do than what I'm already doing. So whatever happens is what happens. But prayer works wonders, too. :)

Gender: too early still! I think maybe girl? :)

Labor signs: nope!

Belly button - in or out? In!

What I miss: Sleeping restfully. 

What I am looking forward to: This weekend we are taking baby announcement pictures with my friend Hillary and then telling everyone next week! So excited!

How far along: 11 weeks. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I give up on this. Haha. Obviously this means we haven't found our scale yet. 

Maternity clothes: No but one got my eye on some pretty maternity dresses I want for later down the road. And some cute maternity jeans from H&M. 

Stretch marks:  Nope. 

Sleep: Still pretty rough. Getting sooooo tired too. I mean I already was tired but sometimes it hits me emotionally too. Haha. I've had to take a nap a few times this week. 

Best moment this week: We had a super fun play date at the splash pad with Luke and Tessa! The boys were super cute and afterwards we came and had lunch at our house and they were cute and funny. We love having buddies! We also had dinner with a couple from our new church ward who have a baby the same age as Tuck and are expecting another baby that will be not much older than ours! It's fun getting to know more people in our new area. 

Oh! And we took a drive to Salt Lake City on Saturday and took Tucker to see Temple Square for the first time. It was fun! And he loved walking around and exploring. I'm excited to take him at Christmas time!

Worst moment this week: This has been the most nauseous/sick week so far. I've had to cancel plans a few different times and I didn't make it to church because I was so nauseous. I haven't thrown up yet, but almost wish I would. The all day nausea is killer. 

Movement: Just in my head ;) 

Food cravings: This week was cookies. Haha. Gotta be careful. Also I wanted Taco Bell and pizza in the same day and knew there was no way I was getting both so I had to make a serious decision. I almost decided getting both. But we went with pizza and I barely ate any. My eyes have definitely been bigger than my stomach lately. 

Cheese and crackers have been hitting the spot. Also Doritos haha. 

Aversions: Yogurt. Eggs. Meat cooking. 

Queasy/Sick: This week has been the sickest yet. No throwing up, but I almost would rather feel some relief if I could. It's hard to be sick all day and not really 'look' like it. 

Other Symptoms: With my diabetes, I've been getting a lot of low blood sugar readings this week. I also switched insulins (stupid insurance company) and have been worried about that effecting me. So far I've been fine but it's still mildly stressful. Prayers are always appreciated on behalf of this hard part of pregnancy :)

Gender: Dont know yet. 

Labor signs: Nope!

Belly button - in or out? In. 

What I miss: Sleeping peacefully. And not feeling like I have to barf. And being able to go wherever without being sick.  

What I am looking forward to: Our next doctor appointment, finding out the gender, taking our announcement pictures today, and feeling better! 

Milestones: Baby has all its organs and really looks like a baby now! 

365 days with Tucker.

The day has come! Our sweet boy is ONE year old! 

At this point, he has already been one for over half the day!

I can hardly believe that 365 days have passed since I first met this little angel. I remember this day a year ago like it was yesterday. I was so stressed and busy with other things. I had just finished my last day of work the day before and though I would have a few good weeks to prepare. I had two appointments that day to be checked up on and was worried about the baby shower that was for the following day. I had no idea that my world was about to be rocked. Tucker ended up coming the very beginning of the very next day.

If I could, I would go back and relive that day ten times over. Laboring with him was the most amazing experience and I truly treasure those memories. I remember being so miserably pregnant but not fully realizing it until Tucker was here. Taylor would often say how truly happy and realieved I looked after he was born. Like all the pain was magically gone. I guess I wore it more on my face and demeanor than I thought. 

Seeing him for the first time set my heart on fire. He was so perfect and tiny and all mine. I felt a new sense of being. I was a mother. He gave me that. I was about to embark on the most challenging, amazing, and fulfilling journey in my life. Knowing him and who he is now, I know he was meant for our family. And was absolutely meant to come when he did. I don't think God makes mistakes. His timing is perfect. And Tucker was a testament to that. I needed him just as much as he needed me.

These last 12 months have truly challenged Taylor and I in many ways. There is no way around it- parenting is SO hard. You are constantly having to care for someone else's needs. Your needs are put second. Always. In the beginning, it was a total shock and turned our world upside down. Not only were we caring for this little baby, but we were caring for a little baby who needed to be on oxygen and a heart monitor. We couldn't really go anywhere and I didn't dare go anywhere alone. I had to learn to find happiness even when I was stuck in my home all day long. 

In this last year, Tucker has taught me so much. He has helped me realize: just how strong I am, how little sleep I can survive on, how patient I can (and cannot) be, how to be trusting, how to forgive, how to trust and rely on God, how to be humble, how to put someone else's needs before my own, how to love even more, and how to be a mother. I have never laughed, cried, or joyed as much as I have in this last year. Not only is it Tucker's birthday, but it is the anniversary of the day I became a mother- and I feel honored to share this day with him.

He has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives. If every baby we have ends up being like him, I might never wanna stop! So happy to be able to celebrate his life and look forward to all the fun and exciting times ahead that we will have with him.

365 DAYS WITH TUCKER LEVI JEFFERY:

W

We love you buddy boy!

At ONE year:

Tucker weighs about 23 pounds and is around 32 inches tall.

He wears 18-24 month clothing.

We are always saying how he is just days (or maybe weeks really) from figuring out walking. He is still pretty nervous and won't stand on his own if he can help it. We have gotten him to let go of support and stand alone, but as soon as he figures out he is not being supported, he will sit down. He loves his walker, however, and will crawl up to it all day long and walk around our apartment as much as he can.

He loves to clap and wave. He will clap if he likes something or if prodded, and he waves hi and bye (normally) when asked. He will flirt with strangers and wave to anyone that he sees and likes. He has started pointing at things as well.

He loves to play peekaboo. He will squat down behind just about anything and then pop back up to 'scare' you. He loves being chased by daddy and crawling in circles to 'find' him. 

He is mildly obsessed with baby einstein. I will put it on the ipad while I am making him his meals to keep him preoccupied for a couple minutes and then he will be so into it that he won't notice when the food is finally there! He waves at the little puppets and claps and smiles when he likes parts. 

We started him on whole milk a couple weeks ago because we were at the end of our formula and I didn't want to buy another and I thought he was close enough that it was fine. He loves it now! At first he was apprehensive about it, and didn't drink very much the first few days. Now he will down a bottle- even when it's ice cold!

He can say: dada, mama, hey, no, uh oh, ball, dog, tickle, tucker, toe, (we say "tickle tucker's toesies" a lot) woah, oh wow, hi da

He loves other babies and small kids. He will crawl around during our church meeting and find the other little people to play with. Usually he's chasing the cute little girls ;)

Still taking two naps a day (sometimes one really long one depending on the day) and sleeping around 12 hours at night.

He loves going to the grocery store and sitting in the buggy, going to the park to swing, and swimming. He would dive in the deep end and swim away if we let him. He wants SO bad to be in the water that we have to keep such a sharp eye on him. We have taken him to the pool a few times this summer already and you can hardly keep him out of the water! We will probably have to get him in swim lessons come next summer!

He gives such nice loves, hugs, and kisses when he's sleepy or when he feels like it ;) and his little belly laugh still makes the world go round. 

We love this little boy!

The best has yet to come.

ELEVEN months!

Alright people, this is it. It's the last month of Tucker not being a one year old.
I will continue to remain in total denial for as long as possible.

Anywho- on to the present!

Tuck is ELEVEN months!

This month, Tuck:

weighs around 23 pounds (I sat him on the scale, so I don't know how accurate that was) and 32 inches.

he is wearing anything from 12 month to 24 month clothes. He is long and lean!

is the fastest crawler. He will get going so fast that he trips over his own hands. Terribly cute. :)

is still standing and furniture-walking like a champ, but is afraid to make the actual steps. This is perfectly okay with me, I just don't want him to be scared! He is fearless in just about everything else (jumping head-first off of anything). We bought him a walker as an early birthday present and he loves it! He has been walking with it no problem! When he walks, he tends to throw his legs straight around instead of bending them. Pretty cute, but doesn't make walking very easy :) I think in a couple months time he'll be cruising no problem. 

still takes two naps a day and sleeps like a champ at night! Sometimes I feel like he sleeps too much! Ha, I should count my blessings! If he sleeps longer into the morning then his nap schedule is a little off, but I'm praying he'll keep needing his second nap for as long as possible. :) 

is getting so playful. He loves to chase and be chased, be thrown into the air reallllly high, be tickled, wrestle with daddy, hold on to Taylor's hands and "run", play peekaboo or "where's "so and so"", and lots more.

his favorite word is still "dada" but lately he's been saying "daddee" instead- which I love. And he still says "mama" when he is frustrated or needs me. His new words are "hey", "oh wow!", "woahhhh", and my favorite "uh-ohhhh".

He's been a lot more lovey lately, too. I usually sit on the floor while he's playing and play with him when he'll let me. He'll come up to me and "hug" me or lay on me. And sometimes he'll even give me kisses. If I say, "gimme kiss!", he'll open his mouth and put it on my face somewhere. haha. very slobbery and very cute. He's also gotten a lot better at waving and giving high fives. And he's kinda stopped clapping- now he'll just put both hands out in front of him and wave them up and down. 

He`s learned (we don`t know where) how to pick up a phone (or remote or cup or anything really) and put it to his ear and pretend he`s talking on the phone. It is SO cute. If I talk on the phone, I usually put it on speaker phone and so does Taylor so we don`t know how he figured it out! He will even make noises like he is talking on the phone. I love it.

has been eating a lot more "big boy" food. I have been giving him pretty much whatever Tay and I eat (within reason), which is SO nice! We have a ton of baby food that is just sitting in the cupboard now because he would rather eat something else!

Some of his favorites are: 

-BREAD- I cannot keep this kid away from it! I swear, if I put the loaf in front of him he'd probably eat the whole thing. He love toast in the morning with his Grandma Juls' homemade raspberry jam (which is basically smashed raspberries- SO good), or even little sandwiches. He likes peanut butter and jam and grilled cheese. 

-cottage cheese

-little green bean bites

-roasted butternut squash

-oranges

-pears

-vanilla greek yogurt

-apple oatmeal

-potatoes

-mac n cheese (weak momma moment)

-black beans

-homemade chili and cornbread 

-homemade creamy tomato and spinach wheat pasta 

-"mexican pile" 

I have so much fun watching him eat and finding out what he likes! I love being in the kitchen and experimenting with different dishes. The last three on this list our some of our recent faves. I'll have to post the recipes- something I've not done but want to keep record of!

So lucky to be this boy's mama and can't believe he will be one year old next month! 

Due to the cruddy weather we've been having, his monthly pictures this month had to be taken at home- which is perfectly fine. So I took advantage of a messy mealtime to have a mid-day bath and got some pretty cute shots of my cutie.

Love you, bub!