And she shall be named...

As many of you already know, when I was pregnant with baby #3, we were team green, so we had two names picked out for the baby pretty much from the beginning of the pregnancy:

Reid Joseph or Emerson Mae

Because my momtuition is terrible, I of course, thought that it was a girl.  But it wasn't just me... even Bob's dadtuition was broken too {and he had a 100% sucess rate going before Reid was born!}  I'm pretty sure Carter was the only one that thought it was a boy.  And maybe my sister, Kristi.  Anyway, you can imagine our surprise when out came our healthy baby boy, Reid Joseph.  :)

Well, just two short months after Reid's birth, my dad died very suddenly.  We were shocked by this terrible news.  Reid has my dad's name as his middle name {Joseph} and I'm so glad my dad knew that before he passed.  I've always felt that Reid was meant to be, but especially after we lost my dad.  Reid came to us at the most perfect time and we are so thankful for him.

Throughout my pregnancy with Reid, Bob and I talked about a 4th child briefly, but decided to table the idea until after Reid's 1st birthday {ya know, which was 2 weeks ago, mind you.} Well, when Reid was just 8 months old, we got the surprise of a lifetime... this pregnancy.  We found out on the morning after my dad's birthday.  It was a very emotional weekend, to say the least.  {You can read about it here.} We discussed names, but I wasn't so sure about using Emerson for a girl... it wasn't an automatic thing, by any means.  We had lots of names on the table, both boys and girls, and we wanted to just wait and see what we were having before we decided.

Well, when that day came and we found out we were having a little girl, we just knew it had to be Emerson Mae.  {You know, once I actually accepted the fact that we were having a GIRL.  I totally thought it was a boy.  Again, my momtuition is TERRIBLE. Ha!}  We certainly feel as if this baby girl was meant to be too.  Having a surprise pregnancy just 8 months after having Reid and finding out on my dad's birthday weekend and then a few months later finding out that it's a baby girl!?! Seriously?!?

I almost feel like we were always meant to have her.  That she was always meant to be ours.

That we were always suppose to have Reid Joseph AND Emerson Mae.

So, there you have it.  Our baby girl has a name. And we can not wait to meet our little Emmie Mae.

WW: Bumpdate {Weeks 6-20}

I started this tradition with Reid and just kept it going with this baby as well {I almost feel like I've been pregnant this entire time anyway, so why not?}  Like many of you already know, my belly pops out right away.  That'll happen when you get pregnant with your 4th baby just 8 months after popping out your 3rd.

Apparently.

So, here's my bumpdate.  The first 20 weeks.

I  love how you can tell the exact week I broke my phone {between 14 & 15} and had to borrow my sister's old iPhone 4 until the new 5s comes out.  My pictures with the 4 look very.... green? Overexposed?  Something.  Can't wait for my new phone, that's for sure! Also... gotta love my lazy girl curls... I haven't straightened my hair myself since... I can't even remember {week 17 was courtesy of my hair dresser.}  I gave up.

And, oh yeah, the bump.  It's big. :)  For comparison, here's my first 20 weeks with Reid. I think I look slightly bigger this time, what do you think?

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Over Halfway There {and ultrasound update!}

I'm not quite sure what my problem is this pregnancy {oh wait, I work full time and have 3 kids... that's right ;} but I have been totally slacking on my pregnancy updates.  I haven't done one since I was 16 weeks.  Oops.  So let me catch you up... I hit 20 weeks last Thursday.  Yep, {over} halfway there now.  I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by!

Here's my latest belly shot:

A lot has happened since my last update.  We went on a wonderful family vacation.  Carter started kindergarten.  Brynn started preschool {with her amazing GG}. Reid turned ONE.  And, oh yeah... 

WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!

I wanted to briefly discuss our anatomy scan with you.  We had a level II at MFM due to my pre-e with Carter and Brynn and my high risk status with Reid {remember that "little" cervical mass issue I had? Good times.} Overall, things went really well.  Baby girl looked PERFECT.  Everything was exactly where it was suppose to be.  Ten tiny fingers. Ten tiny toes.  Here's a cute little profile shot of her...

...and one of her sucking her thumb!

Ha!  So cute!

What they did find was an isolated echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) on her heart.  This is something that we also dealt with with Brynn and Reid, as well, so we were not overly concerned that she had an EIF on her heart. I actually expected it.  I had level II anatomy scans with Brynn & Reid as well {but not Carter} and the doctor even said that sometimes the EIF just runs in the family. Had I had a level II with Carter, we might have even seen it on him as well. Also, considering that MFM has one of the most advanced level II ultrasound machines available, EIFs are a fairly common occurrence {because the images are so clear.}  So yeah, just the EIF.  No other markers and everything else looked absolutely perfect, so we're just focusing on that.

And, did I mention IT'S A GIRL?? {Oh, I did?} When we decided to do the reveal, I knew I wanted the tech to include the "money shot" in the envelope with the gender announcement card because I just wanted proof.  And here it is.  The tell-tale "three little lines" indicating girl...

It's a pretty clear shot, but I will have them check again at my next ultrasound at MFM.  Ha! 

Okay, so while everything looked wonderful with baby girl, they did find something "wrong" with me.  {Of course!}  My cervix was measuring short.  The doctor said that this can happen if (1) you have a history of pre-term labor {I don't} (2) you get pregnant within a year of delivering a child {oops} and/or (3) you have big babies {I'm sorry... have they MET my monster babies?}  So yeah, I met 2 of the 3 conditions for having a short cervix {although I'm sure there are more reasons, those were just the 3 they mentioned to me!}

Anyway, "the average cervix" {what does that even MEAN?} is between 4-5cm. The MFM doc mentioned that they start to worry about any measurment under a 3 and they really start to worry with anything less than a 2.5.

I measured a 2.7.

I had to go back a week after my anatomy scan {so, 19 weeks} to have everything remeasured.  It was a bit scary when they started talking about bedrest, weekly monitoring {which I've done before} and progesterone shots. Thankfully, when I went back a week later, I measured a 3.1.  Whew!  And while that still makes me slightly nervous, my OB called me and said that she thinks the original measurement might have been wrong.  She also said that she's not too worried about me, considering I've had 3 full-term pregnancies thus far.  I really trust her judgement/opinion so I'll try my best not to worry about it anymore either.

My next ultrasound is at 28 weeks to check both the baby and my cervical length, so we'll reevaluate then.

Anyone else have experience with this? Care to share?

Pregnancy: 20 weeks  

Weight Gain: 7 pounds

Sleep: I find myself waking up randomly and then not being able to fall back asleep.  Let's not hope the pregnancy insomnia is starting already.  I don't think I can handle it for another 20 weeks.

  

Gender: It's a GIRL!  Check out the reveal post!

Names: I think we have a winner!  In the meantime, check out my name post here.

Feeling: Pretty good.  A little stressed out because work is CRAY CRAY.  But pretty good, overall.

Health:  Hoping the cervial length doesn't become an issue this pregnancy.  Also, my BP has been high at all of my appts, but it was super low at my last one.  It was really strange.

Movement: Moving around like crazy!

Belly: I'm feeling really big lately!  I plan to post my latest "halfway point" side-by-side collage soon, but, for reference, here are my side-by-side weekly belly pics of my entire pregnancy with Reid. 

Next Appointment: OB Appointment: Friday, October 4th at 23w1d.  Next ultrasound: Friday, November 8th at 28w1d.

WW: One.

I know I seem to say this no matter what birthday we're celebrating {and I think most moms are guilty of this too!} but I can not believe that my sweet baby boy is one today.

ONE.

Can you believe it!?!  I feel like he was just born.  That I was just announcing our wonderful news that I delivered a healthy baby BOY! That I just shared this wonderful experience with my very own sister as she delivered my niece on the same exact day!  How in the world is it possible that the birthday twins are ONE today!?!

For this post, I really just wanted to share pictures and link you back to a few of my favorite posts:

• Our "It's a...." Moment {announcing the arrival of our sweet baby!}
• Reid's Birth in Pictures {birth photography}
• A Birth Story. Or Two. {the birth story of Reid and my niece Aubrey}
• Reid's Newborn Session {umm, that's self explanatory}

Not sure how my sweet boy went from this: {just minutes old}

To this: {1 week old}

 

To this: {2 months old}

To this: {6 months old}

To this: {from his first birthday party on Saturday}

... all in the blink of an eye.

Happy birthday to my sweet, sweet boy.  A boy with the most contagious smile. A boy that has made one of the most difficult years of our lives so much brighter.  A boy that has the best personality in the entire world.  A boy that we love more than life itself. Our Reid Joseph.  Happy birthday, buddy!

And I'm also wishing a very happy birthday to my Auggleberry!  {Aubrey Jean}

You are so adorable and Aunt Jenni loves you so much, my sweet girl! But no one loves you more than your "little" Monster Man... you two will always be the best of friends! Happy birthday, Pumpkin!

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First Day of School!

There is so much I need to blog about... I've totally missed my last 3 pregnancy updates, I need to tell you all about my anatomy scan ultrasound {and the follow-up appointment} and I definetly need to talk about the fact that we had the birthday twins 1st birthday party this past Saturday and they will be ONE tomorrow!  AHHHHHH!

But what I really need to talk about with you today?  The fact that my 1st born baby went to kindergarten last week.  Sigh.  I just can't believe it.  I mean, HOW in the world is Carter old enough to be in kindergarten!?!

Here is one {of the million. ahem.} pictures I took before he headed off to school on the very first day...

HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S 12!!

He did so well though.  Bob and I drove him to school {more on that below} and he hugged us, gave us a kiss, and walked right in the front door without even looking back.  He was over the moon excited about going, so I knew we wouldn't have a stage-five clinger situation or anything.  But to not even look back at your mama on your first day!?! That boy!  It's okay though, I'm glad he was so excited that he didn't care about leaving us. 

One of the things Carter was most excited about in regards to school, was riding on the bus.  We headed to the bus orientation a week before school started, and they let the kids practice their seat belts and take a little 10 minute bus ride around town just to get used to it.

Clearly Carter wasn't excited AT ALL about it. ;)

So, when it came to the day before school starting and we had yet to get his bus assignment {a few friends hadn't received theirs yet either, so I knew there was a delay with the whole process} I decided to call the school.  Turns out, after 3 different phone calls to both the school and the transportation department, that they "forgot to assign Carter a bus."  True story. They told me they'd call me back before the end of the business day to give him a bus assignment, but, of course, that didn't happen.  {I wasn't holding my breath anyway... I already had made plans to drive him to school the next day: which was the first day of school.}  I explained to Carter that mommy and daddy were way too excited and wanted to drive him to school on the first day, and he was completely fine with not taking the bus that day. Whew!

After dropping Carter off at school, I made several phone calls again.  Finally, just as his first school day ended, we got him a bus assignment, a bus stop and pick-up times. I picked him up from school on his first day and told him he'd be taking the bus the very next day.  He was so happy!

So, on day 2 of school, we waited for the bus.  And we waited.  And waited some more.  

After 35 minutes of waiting {with about 15 minutes until school started} we gave up.  The bus never showed up to pick up our Carter Man.  Poor kid!  I felt terrible for him and I was, of course, so upset with the transportation people.  We drove him to school again and then I called right away to find out what happened.  Of course they blamed it on "technical problems with the bus causing it to be late to each stop" but I quickly responded that we stood out there for 35 minutes so I know we didn't miss it!  UGH.  They assured me that he could take the bus home and things would be fine, but this mama bear was so worried!  It would be his first time on the bus and what if it didn't stop at our house at all!?!  What if Carter got off on the wrong stop!?!  You don't even want to know where my mind went with these scenarios.

Thankfully, I got an email from Carter's wonderful teacher, who had been helping me get everything straightened out with the bus situation.  She said that she would personally walk Carter to his bus that afternoon and talk to the bus driver, telling her that he was new to the route and give the driver our address.  So, on the second day of school, Carter got to ride the bus home.  He was so excited and I was so thankful that he arrived safely.  {WOO HOO for awesome teachers!!!} The driver mentioned that she didn't have him on her roster at all {which is what I figured happened... the transportation department assigned him a bus, but never alerted the driver. Awesome.}but that she'd be sure to pick him up the next morning.

And then, lo and behold, on the 3rd day, Carter finally got to ride the bus to school...

My little man. Getting on the school bus. :::tear:::

Things have been going well since then.  We've had no problems with anything {except what my picky little eater will take to lunch everyday, of course!}  He absoultely loves his teacher and loves school in general.  When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was: recess, lunch or gym- he replied "being in the classroom!" 

That's my boy. :)

Actually, that's not my boy... I totally loved gym class the most! Who is this kid!?! ;)

The Reveal

So, as I mentioned before, my lovely photographer and good friend, Steph, talked me into doing a gender reveal session with her.  I was extremely hesitant, but I was finally talked into it when she said "....and you, Bob and all the kids can find out the gender together! It'll be fun!"

Sold.  Damn it.

Of course, once our families found out about the photo session, everyone wanted to be there.  Although I was a little upset at first {I totally had a "let's not make it a big deal" attitude} I can understand them wanting to be there.  If it were my sister doing this, I would want to be there too.  So I agreed under one condition... we were keeping it SMALL. {We have a tendency to let things get out of hand!} It was just immediate family... parents and siblings {with their spouses/kids}.  That's it.

I have to admit, I almost cancelled the photo session/dinner at least 100 times in the last 6 weeks, but everyone was excited and things were planned, so we just went with it.

I had an idea of what we wanted to do, but I have to be honest... I had no idea how to pull it off.  The week before the reveal is when we actually started talking about logistics.  Ha!  I knew my in-laws house would be the perfect setting because they lived in the woods, so my wonderful father-in-law took it upon himself to get things started.  He hung a rope between two big trees in his backyard.  He then threw a long string over the hung rope so that we literally just had to tie the box to it and pull it up.

Now on to the box...  on Thursday night, yep- the night before the reveal, Bob and I ran to the UPS store and bought a PLAIN 20x20x20 box.  I didn't want anything on it at all {not even decorations, colors, "boy or girl", etc}, and I'm so glad the store had a plain one in that size!  We then bought twine, rope and several kinds of tape and headed home to come up with a plan.

The bottom was easy.  I took some twine and criss-crossed it along the bottom of the box before closing it up {the box came unassembled} so that the twine came out of the 4 corners.  We then used packing tape to seal the bottom of the box and secure the twine so it didn't slide around and then tied it to a point so that we could hang my FIL's rope from there.  Easy peasy.

The top was a bit trickier.  We needed to figure out a way to have the box stay closed when filled with balloons and confetti, but open easily when it was time for the reveal.  We did a few practice runs before the session {not filled with anything, don't worry we didn't cheat!} and we came to the conclusion that masking tape worked best.  More times than not, the box opened without a problem, so we just went with it and hoped for the best.

I then spent the rest of the evening before the ultrasound blowing up BOTH sets of balloons {pink & blue} and cutting both sets of confetti {I just used rolls of streamers and cut them into squares.}  I made two bags of balloons and confetti... one pink and one blue... and headed off to bed.

On Friday morning, August 30th, we left for our anatomy scan {nervous as heck for a healthy baby!}  It was me, Bob and Carter, who was SO EXCITED that he got to come with us.  We did NOT find out the sex while we were at the ultrasound.  Instead, I gave the tech two cards and an envelope.  I asked her to put the correct card in the envelope and throw the other card away.  I then asked her if she could put the ultrasound picture of the baby's sex {I needed proof, damn it!} face down on top of the reveal card so that we couldn't see either through the envelope.

I was oddly okay with toting that envelope around with me for the rest of the day all while knowing that I had the fate of my little family in the palm of my hands.  I had no temptation to open it, what-so-ever.

We spent the day running errands and then ran home to get everyone ready for the reveal dinner and photo shoot and headed to my in-laws house around 4:30.  When my photographer/friend, Steph, arrived, we gave her the box, both sets of balloons/confetti and the sealed envelope.

She was the only one to know the sex of the baby before the reveal.  And as a close friend, I knew she'd have some type of reaction to whatever the baby ended up being, so I'm glad she had time to process the information before taking pictures :)

She headed to a closed room to fill the box and seal it up.  She then hid all the evidence so no one could see any unused materials.  My FIL headed outside with the box and tied it up there.  We awaited the rest of my families arrival and then went out back to do the reveal.

I know many didn't read a single word of this and just headed straight to the pictures below {cheaters!} but I'm glad I have it written down so that I can remember the day and so that anyone else that may want to use this set-up for their reveal has more of an understanding of how to do it!

Now I do have to add something... I totally, 100%, without a doubt thought that this baby was a boy.  So much so that I wasn't even going to blow up the pink balloons.  So as you look at the pictures below, you can clearly see the shock on our faces.  When I envisioned this reveal, I thought I'd run around and hug Bob and my kids and celebrate our new baby.  But I didn't.  Nope.  I just stood there, shockingly.  And I cried.  I didn't know what else to do... I just stood there and cried happy tears. You can see more of my reaction in the video of the reveal below, so don't forget to check it out!

Whew... this got long.  Anyway, here are the priceless pictures taken by my wonderful friend, Steph of Stephanie Glover Photography.  And I have to quickly admit something right here, in front of everyone...

Steph, you were right.  Thanks for talking me into this. ;)

So, without further ado, here is our reveal for sweet little IV.

Reid had to inspect the "money shot" ultrasound picture, just to be sure. I don't think he agrees with the tech's prediction at all... ;)

And I have to give a shout out to my Carter Man.  He was the only one who thought Reid was a boy and he KNEW, without a doubt, that this baby was a girl.  So much so that he refused to even talk boy names with me.  He just... knew.  So here is photographic evidence of Carter's gender guesses of both babies.  {And he was correct with Brynn too... 3 for 3!} My little smarty pants ;) He starts kindergarten tomorrow, ya know {AHHHHH!}

Here are everyone else's predictions...

And, as I mentioned above, we have the reveal on video!  My sister-in-law's wonderful boyfriend, Shane, happened to capture the reveal with his phone.  I didn't even realize it, but I am SO GLAD that we have it captured on video because the entire thing is still a blur to me.  I've watched it over and over and it still makes me tear up every time.  As you can see, I was in complete shock and just stood there and cried like a baby.  Ha! Thank you Shane!

 

{For some reason, I can't really get the sound to work that great, but I'll fix it as soon as I can!}

Oh, and you can also see that the one side of the box didn't open until later... so the confetti came out first and the balloons came out second, once the other tab opened.  Oh well.  It may not have been prefect, but it was perfect to us. <3  I also do want to talk to you about the actual ultrasound, but I'll include that in my next post.

EEEEKKKK, WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now on to names... ;)