LAST WEEK OF THE SECOND TRIMESTER!

Tis' the season to be thankful!  Since we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I have so many things to be thankful for including my family, friends, health, wonderful career, plenty of food for my belly, a house and of course, this amazing blessing on the way!  I cannot be more grateful in life and having God watch over me and the start of my new family.  I'm a little behind in posting so here is an update on our lives.....

2 weekends ago, we went to the Marone Farm for our annual deer hunting trip.  Unfortunately, I did not get a deer or even got the chance to shoot my new rifle.  Such a bummer!  Curt got a doe and the some of the other members in our group came away with some nice bucks.  I think I over-worked myself on Saturday as my legs were so tired and sore from walking!  I took it easy on Sunday and mostly just posted and did very little walking.  We had such a wonderful weekend hanging out with people and eating way too much food and of course sharing some great laughs! 

My friend Mandy, had her beautiful baby boy, Hayes Dean!  I couldn't be more ecstatic for her and the Marone family!  He is so precious and I'm looking forward to meeting him!

We left Thursday morning for the farm to celebrate Thanksgiving with Curt's family.  It was a fun weekend.  Spent a lot of time in the kitchen doing the dishes but got to spend time with the fam :)  We went to a movie on Thursday night.  The girls went to Breaking Dawn Part II and the boys (and Jenny) hit up the new James Bond movie.  Friday, Curt and I went to Marshall for a bit but didn't get too much.  I was looking for a new washer but the one I wanted of course, wasn't the one on sale that day!  Go figure.  Friday night we celebrated Eric's confirmation and had some amazing DQ cake for dessert.  Yum!  Sunday, we went to church and then left after dinner.  The weekend just seemed to fly by way too quickly.

Onto the baby.....
Junior has been busy moving around like crazy.  I was starting to wonder if it would change as Wed through Friday I felt really no movement all day.  Then Friday night things started to change.  He was on the go all night it seemed or at least every time I got up to go to the bathroom.  I can totally tell the change as my belly has obviously gotten bigger so now I can feel him so much more when he moves around.  Lately, he has just been a little acrobat!  But I have to admit, that I love feeling him move around.  I guess it just gives me some reassurance and let's me know he is ok.

Sleeping has been ok but I have to switch sides it seems constantly throughout the night.  I always tend to be wide awake at 5am and then can't get back to sleep.  Guess that is God's way of still preparing me for the baby's arrival. 

I've been chugging water like crazy and especially during the night as I feel so dang thirsty when I get up to go to the bathroom.

My back has been starting to get really sore so I've been going to a chiropractor to put everything into place.  Since my belly is getting larger it is pulling the lower back muscles.  Some days seem to be ok and tolerable and other days I just want to come home and sit on the couch and ice! 

No real cravings yet but I have noticed changes in my eating.  I no longer can eat large meals as I seem to get so full and tight and just feel awful for the next 5 hours.  I have to eat smaller portions and really stop going back for seconds as that is where it is killer!  I think I'm hungry but the belly just can't fit any more food in.     

Next we will be working on the nursery which I'm getting very anxious for!

I have a doctor's appointment this Thursday and have to do the diabetes test.  Not looking forward to it and hoping everything comes back OK. 

Our little guy is growing so much every day as my belly does too!  Baby Engels is the size of an eggplant this week!  He is also learning right side up from upside down.  He's been a busy guy.  During the day, I really don't feel very many kicks.  Sometimes in the morning but lately, he has been waking me up 1-2 times in the night kicking away.  Last night was a 5am wake up call.  I laid awake until 6 feeling him kick my belly.  I guess he is preparing me for what is to come and all the sleepless nights I'll have when he arrives.  

I haven't had many complaints since this pregnancy started.  Lately, my lower back has been bothering me.  I went to the chiropractor last week and felt ten times better.  Going again today to hopefully help get everything in alignment. 

This past weekend was very productive!  I must say, I was looking forward to a quiet weekend by myself.  Friday night, I traveled to Beresford with Mandy and her little girl, Addison to check out a shop.  We didn't have any luck finding anything so headed into SF and got to eat an amazing meal at Chevy's!  It was a great night and we had lots of time to catch up since a lot of it was spent on the road.  After the meal though, I was so full....I literally felt like my tummy was expanding.  Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night.  Saturday was a lounge in my pj's kinda day.  I made a homemade chicken wild rice soup in the morning and started to get all my Xmas decorations out.  Yes, I know....it's early.  It's not even Thanksgiving yet but I was starting to panic as when I'd have time to get it all done as the next three weekends are booked for us!  So I put on some cheery Christmas music and got to work.  It was a great day but by the end, I was totally exhausted.  It is a lot of work to do that all by yourself but it was a nice surprise for Curt!  I'm sure he is feeling lucky he doesn't have to help me this year.  Here is the tree!!!!

Sunday, I cleaned the house and did some baking for this upcoming weekend in which we will be heading to Wolsey for deer hunting.  I got the desserts made and in the freezer ready to go!

Curt went hunting West River with my Dad this weekend.  Turns out even though the deer count is down, they all got there deer right away.  Curt got a nice solid buck....but didn't realize it was a unicorn!  Oh well, works out for me as now I have an antler to make another basket! 

 

Well there you have it.....Our little boy is the size of a cantaloupe this week!  He is busy moving and growing inside my tummy!  I haven't had a crazy amount of movement going on, but when he moves, it is just so refreshing and a wonderful feeling to have.  I'm looking forward to him becoming more active and feeling more movement.  I guess it is just taking a little longer to feel since my placenta is on the anterior. 

I don't want to sound like a whiner but.....Leg cramps are supposed to be happening and man did I have a major one last week!  It woke me up from my sleep and the worse leg cramp I've had since HS.  My leg was so sore and finally today the pain is starting to go away although I can still feel the tenderness in my calf muscle.  Back aches are another issue that is common at this point and by the time I get home at night my back is killing me.  Just my lower back but oh it has been a challenge the past week.  I sure hope this doesn't last long but then again, my pregnancy has been so easy so I guess something has to happen to me :) 

This past weekend wasn't too exciting.  Saturday I had an open house and had a great time visiting with my friend Rachel on the phone.  It was a long over-due phone call and glad she got to keep me company since no one showed up to my open house!  Sunday, I had a Norwex vendor event and it turned out to be a good one.  I sold quite a bit of Norwex stuff which of course is always good and even had some first timers that haven't heard about it before!  It is always fun to try and tell people about the "miracle" cloths even if they don't believe me, they will eventually talk to someone and turn into a believer! 

I decided I am leaving the colors the same in the baby's room as the new bedding I found will match ok.  I'm getting antsy to start putting things together especially since I now have the crib and dresser hanging out in the garage ready to move into the room!  Curt has to put some trim up in the room that we stained awhile back and then he will get the big job of assembling the crib! 

My girlfriend had her twins last week, 2 healthy baby girls.  Darcy and I are going to go visit them this week and I will be meeting the girls for the first time!  Darcy was lucky to be Jo's nurse and got to hold the babies last Friday! 

Last week we had a break from birthing classes since it was Halloween so we are back in full force again for the month of November.  It seems this month will fly by and then the holidays will be here and before I know it, the baby will be here!  Yikes!  Just feel like I have so many things to get ready and organize yet. 

Volleyball is tomorrow night and so far we are undefeated.....I hope we can keep up with this winning streak!  We are anxiously waiting for Kelsi to come back as she had to take a couple weeks off to rest her knee. 

Curt did a little hunting back home this past weekend and his brother got a doe.  This week he goes out West River with my Dad and then next weekend we are off for East River (Huron area) with some friends of ours.  Should be a great couple of weeks coming up!

I think that about sums up the life in our household these days.....