16 weeks

Please excuse this picture... but it was the best I could do by myself.  All you care about is the baby bump, right?  Not my head.  :)

Gratitude

This time of year, so many will voice what they are thankful for.  I wish it didn't take a holiday to get us recognizing what we are thankful, but let's be realistic.  It often times does.  I'm not an expert at gratitude.  I tend to not be optimistic unless it is about YOUR life, so many times, I just wallow in my perceived shortcomings. (READ: my focus is inward and not outward)

Today while chatting with my sister online, I was just overwhelmed with how much I love and cherish my family - almost to the point of tears.  (Could be the hormones... but hey.  I'll continue...) 

I thought about last Saturday when my mom, my sister and I went on a long-awaited shopping outing.  We had a most joyous time - they even put up with me and my sensitivity to smells right now - which is quite difficult this time of year.  (The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays evidently mean that everything must smell 20x stronger!) 

I thought about my husband who I am blessed to be on this journey to parenthood together.  He loves me in spite of myself.  I thought about my email exchange today with my 2nd mom (my step-mom) and a smile came to my face.  I always hear/read such encouraging words from her.  I thought about my sweet mother-in-law. 

I love this time of year... how festive it is... the cooler weather... the food... OH THE FOOD... (someone pass me a slice of pumpkin pie please)... the red cups at Starbucks... the sweaters... I could go on.  But the thing I LOVE the most about this time of year is spending time with my family.  It warms my heart. 

So today, I am thankful for my family.  The Lord has truly blessed me.  We may be quirky.  We may be slightly dysfunctional... haha.  We may not be perfect.  But we are family. 

14 weeks

Sorry... no growing belly shot.  Maybe in a couple of weeks when I don't just look FAT.

Here are a few of my thoughts so far...

• Indigestion 24/7 is AWFUL.  
• Hormones can do some weird things to your body... and it is different for every pregnant woman.  For me, I have the worst adolescent acne of my life.  And nothing can get rid of it. 
• Smoking should be banned...  Oh.  And so should flavored coffee.  These both send me over the edge especially at work when I cannot escape it!
• My brain has already been sucked up by the baby and according to hubs, so has his.  :)
• Something can sound really good to me so I will go to the store and stock up.  And then 9 times out of 10, the next time I grab for it, it tastes awful to me.
• I LOVE orange juice. 
• I could live off of dried cherries... the Sprouts kind.
• Salt is a beautiful thing.  Chips make the world a better place.
• Chocolate (especially chocolate CANDY) seems to have been removed from my diet.  I would have never guessed that one.  
• I crave pizza, breakfast tacos, sausage rolls, chips & salsa.  What in the world?  Where are the veggies??
• Why must food purchased at a restaurant/fast food joint or cooked by someone else always taste SO good but food cooked at home is less than desirable?  
• Why do body sounds (coughing, blowing nose) make me cringe and want to gag?  Oh wait... this is normal.  :)
• Why have I forgotten how to do my hair or makeup?  I can't seem to get the "tired" erased from my face.

All that said...

Baby Seels, mommy and daddy love you so much!  We are anxious to get through the next 6 months and be able to see your sweet face and hold you!

Baby Seels, mommy and daddy have our guesses on if you are a little boy or little girl.  We will be thrilled with either one!  Just can't wait to find out!  What a fabulous Christmas present!

Baby Seels, your Grammy/Granddad, Grandmommy/Papa and Gram/Pop are so excited to meet you!  (as are your aunts, uncles and cousins... and if Keely has her way, your name will be "Tink" if you are a girl!)


Baby Seels, I hope you have your daddy's sense of humor and love of sports.  Lets just hope you don't get my awkwardness................

Baby Seels, I KNOW you will have blue eyes but I hope that you have strawberry blond hair like me. And maybe be soft spoken like your mommy and Papa to drive your daddy crazy!!  Hee hee. 

Baby Seels, we can't wait until May for you to get here!  In the meantime, keep growing strong and healthy!!