Decisions, Decisions.....

I *finally* got around to ordering fabric swatches earlier this week for us to look at for the crib bedding we will be having made for baby boy. We are still planning on going with the crib bedding I previously posted as our inspiration, but for now, plan on changing things up a little bit from the exact fabric combination used in that custom bedding. Below is a little inspiration board I put together with all of the fabrics that are currently contenders for the bedding we will have made. The swatches have shipped and will hopefully be in our hands by the weekend so that we can start making some progress on getting baby boy's room decorated in the coming months. Fingers crossed that we love what we see and don't have to start from scratch!

20 Weeks 5 Days

I've gotten a *little* behind on taking and posting belly pics lately, but here is a pic I took this morning. At 20 wks 5 days I have definitely popped a lot more since the last pic back at almost 18 weeks. Little baby boy is growing big and strong for his mama and daddy! (and big brudda too! See Hudson sneaking in for a blurry appearance in the second shot, ha! It's kind of spooky looking!)

20 Weeks

I've finally hit the 20 week mark, which means I am officially halfway there to meeting our little boy, woohoo! Just feeling so very blessed right now and I am truly trying to enjoy this pregnancy as much as possible. Not much to update this week except that baby boy is definitely starting to get much more active and I am loving feeling his little movements more and more each day!

Here is what is going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Potential Crib Bedding

Here is my inspiration pic that I *think* we are using to have baby boy's crib bedding made....I may make some adjustments, but it's the overall look we both like unless we find something different we love more during the process. I've already found someone to make the bedding, so now I just need to order some swatches before we get the ball-a-rollin' to make sure that I love all of the fabrics together in person. Oh, and there is the same orange color in the striped fabric as well it's just a bit difficult to see in this photo. I will post the fabric swatches later along with some other potential candidates as well. :)

Hudson's "Silly Face"

Isn't it the cutest silly face you've ever seen?!?!?! I just love this sweet little boy! 

FLASHBACK - Kaboom Town 2009

On Friday July 3rd, we decided that we would go watch fireworks at Kaboom Town again this year, but due to our past experiences there with all of the insane traffic that goes along with actually parking at and going to Addison Circle for the event, we just could not muster up the energy to actually go to Addison Circle to watch the firework show. Instead we decided to go to dinner at Grand Lux at the Galleria and then headed back over to the Addison area to view the show from a bit further of a view. We found a nearby parking lot and watched from the trunk of my car. (glamourous I know!)  It was hot and sticky, especially with the 3 of us sitting in the hatchback of the Murano (we stopped at a nearby Target as an afterthought to buy chairs, but they were completely out of lawn chairs, ha!), but even with the heat and all the firework show turned out great and Hudson really loved it! He learned how to say fireworks too and said it over and over and over again that night and again the following day when we went to a friend's house for a Fourth of July party as well. It's safe to say that Hudson loves him some fireworks now and even insisted on participating in the lighting as well, yikes!  

I didn't bring my camera to Kaboom Town, but I did take a few really bad shots with my iPhone instead. Here they are in all of their glory, lol!

Week 19 - Fun Mama-to-be Fact

How far along? 19 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: Thankfully, the scale has not gone up since my last check-in almost 2 weeks ago. Thank goodness! 

Maternity clothes? Yes, but still wearing some non-maternity clothes and everything maternity that I have is a bit larger to where I can probably wear them the entire pregnancy or at least until the weather cools off!

Stretch marks? Not that I can see, but I am hoping that they are nice to me!

Sleep: Still pretty good, although I did sleep for a LONG time Friday night and last night and also took a 3 hour plus nap this afternoon, so the long work week must have been hitting me hard come the weekend. 

Best moment this week: Finding out the gender and that we will be having another adorable little boy, but most importantly, that he looks to be completely healthy and thriving just as he should be. The ultrasound went fabulously on Monday and my blood work came back with remarkable results. We could NOT be happier!!! God is good!

Movement: Yep, more and more this week. Especially after I eat and a lot in the evenings and of course, when I lay down to go to sleep at night. I LOVE it though and it is already starting to get more and more frequent and stronger by the day. I think David should be able to feel him soon if not now already!

Food cravings: Same stuff really....nothing too odd or anything. I have been craving salads and fruit like crazy though which is definitely a good craving to have!

Gender: It's a BOY!!!!! We just found out for sure on Monday and are beyond thrilled to be having another boy and to see Hudson have a little brother to teach all about his favorite boy things. We've already started shopping, looking at names and everything like that too! In fact, I just received the cutest little striped Baby Legs for baby boy in the mail yesterday and am eagerly awaiting the first batch of new burp cloths I ordered from Etsy. Those are just a couple of things I ordered this week, hehe!

Labor Signs: Still a big fat negative, that would not be good! 

Belly Button in or out? Still totally in.

What I miss: My normal body temperature probably, ha! This week it has been all wonky! 

What I am looking forward to: My next appointment with my OB in a little over a week and shopping for all kinds of cute things for our little boy!

Weekly Wisdom: I can no longer sneeze or cough without the fear of having an unexpected sharp pain in my belly area, thus be very cautious when sneezing, coughing or even laughing from this point out because it only gets more painful the further along I get, ha! Such a weird little thing that happens..... 

Milestone: Finding out that we are having a healthy baby boy! We are so, so very blessed. 

19 Weeks

Another week down....I officially started the 19th week of pregnancy yesterday which means almost halfway through to meeting our little one! :) Actually, since I will most likely be having a scheduled c-section, I am probably at the halfway mark already. I cannot wait to meet our baby boy! Yep, we finally know that little Baby B is a boy and we could not be happier that Hudson will have a little brother and we will get to have TWO adorable little boys to spoil and dote on!

Here is what is going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

I 

Big Reveal - Team Pink or Team Blue

Team Pink???

OR

Team Blue???

Well, today was finally the day for the big reveal as we had our big ultrasound this morning and are beyond excited to share the news that Baby Brodt is a.......B-O-Y!!! Yes, indeed it was pretty obvious too, so I can think that we can safely say that we are officially on Team Blue once again!

Yep, you heard it right, there will be yet another little boy joining the Brodt household this December and we couldn't be any happier! I am sure that Hudson will be completely ecstatic to find out that he is going to have a little brother and I know that he can't wait to have a little playmate to play cars and trucks and dinosaurs with! Hudson was at Grandma and Grandpa's house this morning during the appointment so I haven't been able to see him or talk to him about being the best big bubby to his baby brother, but I have NO doubt that David is schooling him on everything he and his little brother can and cannot do and probably including everything up he can possibly think of up until about the age of 18, lol!

Everything else looked great as far as the baby's growth, organs and overall development and they did draw blood again to run additional screening for any potential concerns and Dr. W said that we should hear back the results on that by the end of the week if not sooner. So, everything went really well and as you can clearly see from the above sonogram photo, we are quite certain that we will be seeing tons more cars, trains, trucks and all things boy in our future! Oh how I wonder what adventures our little Brodt brothers will get themselves into someday, I can only imagine!!! What I do know is that it is probably more than safe to say that there will never be a dull moment in the Brodt household again! :)

18 Weeks

I officially hit the 18 week mark yesterday and am beyond excited that we have our big ultrasound appointment tomorrow!!! I will be seeing Dr. W tomorrow morning and will be having a full-anatomy ultrasound to look at all of the baby's organs, bones, etc. in great detail and will also hopefully, get to confirm gender as well. I will also have blood drawn for a second round of tests as well. Continuing to pray that all goes well, that baby is completely healthy and growing as it should be and whether we are on team pink or blue. I am sure that it will be an amazing appointment and I will be riding on adrenaline all day long, ha! 

So down to the nitty-gritty, here is what is going on with both baby and me this week according to BabyCenter.com 

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

FLASHBACK - Lindsay's Surprise 18th Birthday Party

My niece, Lindsay's birthday was last month on June 19th and my sister planned an awesome surprise party to celebrate her 18th birthday. We had a ton going on that day (Miss Harper was born early so we had a hospital visit planned that afternoon and I also attended Renee's bridal luncheon mid-day), so by the time we made it to the party we missed the "surprise" portion of the evening, but we still had an amazing time and Hudson had SO much fun playing on the gigantic water slide and swimming in the pool. Lindsay had quite a few of her friends there along with all of the family and my sister, Debbie, even ordered her the cutest turquoise and black fondant two-layer cake for her birthday cake. Not only was it super-cute, it was pretty darn yummy too! Happy birthday again Lindsay (albeit a month later, ha!) and thanks for including us in your fun birthday celebration, it was awesome! Here are a TON of pics......sorry, I just couldn't narrow it down because there were SO many good shots!