Storms

I'm skipping the 20 week pregnancy post today.  Yes, I'm half way.  Yes, it should be a big milestone.  But, nothing has changed since last week - baby is now the size of a banana.  My ultrasound is on Thursday, so I'll have more to share then!

For now, my heart is in a different place.  We had a nice little thunderstorm this morning, which made me stay in bed just a few minutes longer than normal.  I begged with the thunder to keep just a tad quieter as to not wake Tenley.  These were purely selfish motives, as I was not ready to get out from beneath the covers and get ready for work.  When I finally did give in to the alarm clock and after I dropped Tenley off at the sitter, I was driving to work to see a gorgeous sight.  I looked in my rearview mirror to see the dark storm clouds.  My back window was wet with the rain and it was tough to see through.  But as I looked ahead in the direction I was driving, I saw bright blue sky!  I couldn't help but smile thinking about how God has been working in my life and how this was such a great metaphor for my life in general.  So many times I've wanted to drive out of the dark places I was in, straight out of the storm.  When you're in the depths of the storm, you can never quite see the light- but you know it's there.  Today- I saw it.  In the form of a bright blue sky that held so many promises for the future.  Whether that be in the form of Baby #2, or rekindling relationships, success in jobs, or a brighter future with our Savior.  My mind raced back to all of the times that I was STUCK in that storm of dark clouds.  When Nick died, choices I made through college, bad decisions, etc. Where are you Lord?! I remember screaming.  He was right there all along, just on the other side of the clouds- calling out my name for me to run to him.  Run to the light.  I smiled driving into the light and leaving the past, the worry, the storms behind.  Today is a new day.  I don't know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.

19 weeks.

How far Along:  19 weeks, 3 days.
Total Weight Gain/Loss:  Well I'm sure I've gained a little, because I haven't been getting sick quite as often.  We'll find out at the next doctor's appointment.
Maternity clothes:  I'm in all maternity pants now.
Best Moment this week:  a stranger noticed I was pregnant :)
Movement:  Still haven't felt any movements since early on when I thought I was feeling something!  I'm waiting for the obvious ones!
Food Craving:  chips and salsa
What I miss:  Energy.
Sleep:  I've always tossed and turned a lot, but definitely more than normal now.
Symptoms:  I told Mike that I think I've hit a weird point in my pregnancy that I just don't feel very pregnant because I don't have all that many symptoms.  *same as last time.
Doctor's Update:  Just one week and one day til our ultrasound!!  Can't wait to see our sweet little baby!  He or she is the size of a mango right now :)

Here's what was happening with Tenley at 17 weeks:
How Far Along: 16 weeks, 6 days.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still at -15. Haven't gained anything.
Maternity Clothes: Still don't need them.
Best Moment this week: Work has finally slowed down, so now I'm finally getting a little break and am able to take care of myself better!
Gender: still not going to find out :) 
Movement: None. I'm hoping in the next couple weeks I should feel something!
Food Craving: None, I'm still getting sick every few days, so I have been really trying to be careful with what I'm eating.
What I miss: feeling like myself.
Sleep: I get up at least twice a night to go to the bathroom. Ugh.
What I am looking forward to: Our appt on the 27th!! It's the first appt Mike will be able to be at. And we will get to finally see the baby again!
Belly Button: In.
Symptoms: I still get sick every few days, but that's an improvement. I finally have some energy back on the days that I'm feeling better.
Doctor's Update: Haven't had an appt in a few weeks - next one is on the 27th. Can't wait!!

Here's what's going on with Baby #2 at 17 weeks!
How far Along:  17 weeks, 3 days.
Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I honestly don't know.  I had lost at my last doctor's appointment.
Maternity clothes:  Starting wearing some shorts and a couple tops, more out of comfort than necessity.
Best Moment this week:  I'm starting to tell I'm pregnant a little bit.  I can see a little bump.  Mike thought this morning that I popped a little bit.
Movement:  I really thought that I had been feeling the flutters of the baby, but I haven't felt anything in weeks, so I'm thinking I was imagining it or it was just gas :)  Oops.  We'll call it wishful thinking.
Food Craving:  Still popsicles.
What I miss:  I've been very tired the last few days.  Barely making it through the afternoon.  I'm ready for some good sleep and more energy.
Sleep:  Just this week I've started getting up once at night to go to the bathroom.  I toss and turn more than normal too.
Symptoms:  I told Mike that I think I've hit a weird point in my pregnancy that I just don't feel very pregnant because I don't have all that many symptoms.
Doctor's Update:  Next appointment is August 2nd for our ultrasound!  No we won't be finding out what we're having, but we can't wait to see baby #2 up close and personal!!

15 Weeks (almost..)

I went back and looked at my pregnancy journal from when I was pregnant with Tenley.  It's so interesting to read now!  This is what was happening at 15 weeks pregnant with Tenley:

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: -15 due to morning sicknessness

Maternity Clothes: I have bought some, but don't have a need for them yet.

Best Moment this week: Hearing baby Marshall's heartbeat!! Four weeks is so long to go without hearing it!!

Gender: We have the opportunity to find out in about 4 1/2 weeks, but we're not going to.

Movement: Little cute flutters!  I'm feeling these much earlier than I ever did with Tenley!

Food Craving: In the last few weeks I've craved Bob Evans Sausage Biscuits. Wierd I know, but it's all I ate for about a week. Lately, I haven't had many cravings.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night!

Sleep: I fall asleep quickly (which is a change for me) and sleep well until about 3am, but then I can't go back to sleep til about 6 or 7am.

What I am looking forward to: Feeling better and getting som energy back! I'm also looking forward to my next appointment.

Belly Button: In. 

Symptoms: Just Tired! Still getting sick every now and then, but it's getting better.

Doctor's Update: My doctor said at my last appointment that I look great (big change from the last time she saw me when I was fighting back sickness in her office) and that I'm measuring just right and the heartbeat is right on track! Everything is great!

I'll be 15 weeks on Monday, so we're at just about the same point.  Here's some differences:

How far along:  14 weeks, 3 days.

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  0.

Maternity Clothes:  I've been wearing my maternity capris and shorts because they are more comfortable :)  Not too much need for them at this point, but some work pants are getting a little tight. 

Best Moment this Week:  Watching Tenley point to my stomach and say "baby!" and give him or her a kiss!

Gender:  We won't find out.  Best surprise ever! :)

Movement:  None yet.

Food Craving:  I had to laugh at my craving from my last pregnancy.  This time it's just popsicles and fruit.  I loved this last time too - I think it has something to do with it being summer and 95 degrees!

What I miss:  I really am doing pretty well.  Not a whole lot of sleepless nights yet.

Sleep:  I'm pretty tired when I get to bed so I haven't had any problem with sleep.  Every now and then I'll wake up early and be uncomfortable but I'll eventually go back to sleep.

Belly Button:  In.

Symptoms:  I've been tired.  I'm not really a nap person, but I'm finding I need a nap during T's afternoon nap lately.  I've gotten sick a handful of times but it's NO WHERE NEAR as bad as it was with T.  Thank goodness!  I'm not sure how I could have been that sick and chase a toddler around!  I have been getting heartburn already though.  My TUMS supply is increasing.

Doctor's Update:  My next appointment is on Tuesday, but my last appointment went well.  We heard the heartbeat, my blood pressure is perfect (what a relief!), and I'm measuring on track for December 16th, although because of how big Tenley was (9 lbs.) we will probably be looking at an earlier due date unless my body cooperates and I go into labor on my own, which is something I would really love!

We have some News..

In December we are welcoming a new addition to the Marshall Family!  We will be a family of FOUR!  While this wasn't exactly in our plans, we know that God's plans for us are for better than what we could ever imagine.  We are excited to complete our family with this little one!

We will not be finding out what we're having again this time.  We loved being surprised with Tenley and plan to be surprised again.  While of course Mike is secretly hoping for a boy - we will be thrilled to just have a happy, healthy little bundle.

I'm currently 14 weeks along and I've been sick a handful of times.  But if you remember how sick I was with Tenley- you'll be grateful that it's not that bad this time!  I've been tired, but chasing after a toddler while pregnant will do that to you.  I can feel things stretching and changing a little earlier this time than I did with Tenley.  My hips are a little sore already.  Our next appointment is next Tuesday and we look forward to hearing that little heartbeat again!

New Adventure.

I was hesitant to write about this, because once I started thinking about the reasons why I was hesitant I realized it's because of a fear of failure.  I'm worried I will let you down.  I'll let myself down.  But I decided that I need the accountability more than I need the fear.  So.... I started a new goal this week.  I've started running.  I'll wait for you to pick yourself up off the floor.  Yes, running.  Now let me be honest - I really can't stand running.  I've never been a runner.  This picture actually sums up how I feel about it.

But, there's this program called Couch to 5k.  It's for beginners and it starts you off slow.  It's a 9 week program and by the end of it I'll be running a 5k.  You run every other day, so that works out well for me so far.  I've only done one night of running. I started on Monday.  I thought it was pretty easy, but I was very aware of my body yelling at me "Hey!?  We don't run!!"  :)  I am not too sore, I stretched really well afterwards, because I knew if If was overly sore I wouldn't want to run on day #2.  So tonight will be my second time, and I'm strangely looking forward to it.  I want to prove to myself that I can do it and maybe along the way I'll develop a liking to running.  A love might be a stretch.

10 Lessons I want our Kids to Learn.

I saw a list on Pinterest of things that we should want our children to learn from us- my husband and I.  I decided that it's something that I really want to remember, so I wanted to blog about it.  Here's a simple list of ten things that I want Tenley and our future child(ren) to learn from Mike and I.  I think during our next date night we're going to talk about these things- which ones we do well, which need some work, etc.  I love how we are constantly striving to make things better.

1. Affection: I want our children to see us holding hands, hugging, kissing, etc.  I want them to know what appropriate affection looks like.

2. Saying “I’m sorry”: I want to be quick to use this phrase and I want my kids to hear me say it.  

3. Affirmation: This isn't my primary love language so I have to work at dishing out compliments and affirming language.  But I want our kids to hear us tell them daily how proud we are of them, or what a good job they did, etc.

4. Attraction: Our children need to know that my husband is pretty good looking :)  And vice versa!

5. Time: I think it's a great message for our children to see us trying to spend time together- one on one.  Whether that means stealing time away to go sit on the deck, or go on date nights, take a walk, etc.

6. Laughter: We laugh a lot in our house.  I want my kids to see that and to know that we can always make each other laugh.

7. Respect: Simple signs of respect.  "please" and "thank you", opening doors for each other.

8. Faith conversations: I pray that our children hear us talk about Jesus constantly!  That they know He is just as much apart of our household as they are!  We have already begun to pray with Tenley not just during meals or bedtime, but before we leave for the sitter every day, before a trip, etc.

9. The value of friends: I want our house to be well worn from the traffic of friends in/out of our house. We love having people over and as Tenley gets older I want it to be a house for all of her friends as well.

10. Servanthood: Always asking, “How can I help? What do you need to make life better?” Serving one another is seen in the daily, little things and there’s many opportunities to serve locally and abroad.