Baby Lowery #2: 10 Weeks

I started documenting my pregnancy journey with Holt at 10 weeks, so that's where we will start with this one too. It is so fun to look back on what was going on with my first pregnancy---if you want to take a look too, just click HERE :)

It's also kind of interesting to see that they are already a tad different. I can probably attribute that to chasing around a toddler with this pregnancy, but I also know every pregnancy is different. I feel like I'm way more nauseous and tired this time around. It's more like all day sickness, and then it gets even worse around 4pm and on into the night. I haven't been sick yet, which I know is a HUGE blessing, and I also know not feeling good just comes with being pregnant. But I'll be honest, I am so ready to feel like myself again. You kind of forget how bad you feel those first several weeks of the first trimester.

For the most part, Holt has been really good. He is able to play by himself very well so I can lay on the couch if I need to (which is multiple times a day at this point).

We went to the doctor Friday (10/16) to double check if we were expecting twins, but found out there is only one baby in there! He or she had a heart rate of 170 bpm and was squirming and moving those arms and legs everywhere. It was so sweet! Ultrasound machines blow up the image and magnify the baby, so while the baby looks pretty large, in reality it's only about 3 cm (or right over an inch) long----I find it so amazing that something so tiny has a heart beat you can see and can move and squirm all over the place!


How far along:  10 weeks
Maternity clothes: some shirts and definitely already busting out the leggings. No shame.
Stretch marks: I made it my entire pregnancy with Holt without stretch marks on my belly, although I did get a few on my hips and inner thighs. I'm hoping the same thing happens with this pregnancy!
Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good. And I try to take naps when Holt naps, although some days are better than others. I still feel tired all the time though. Ready for my energy back!
Best moment this week: Seeing our baby on ultrasound!
Miss anything: I miss being myself. I'm ready for my energy back and to not feel like puking every second of the day.
Movement: Too early, but I think I have a posterior placenta this time (as opposed to anterior with Holt) so hopefully I'll feel some baby kicks earlier than last time!
Food cravings: MILK. I've been drinking at least 2 glasses of ice cold milk everyday. I can't seem to get enough. Other than that, nothing really sounds good….except macaroni and cheese sometimes.
Food aversions: Everything. I don't want coffee again, I don't want anything to do with tacos (unlike last time), I don't want chicken unless it's fried, I can't cook because I can't deal with smells (I can hardly open the fridge). So I really haven't been eating much except cereal, bagels with cream cheese, some eggs, macaroni and cheese….basically dairy.
Have you started showing: I feel like I am! I feel like I already look like I did at 14 weeks last time. It's not really a "bump" yet, it just looks like I ate too much.
Gender prediction: Based on the fact that this pregnancy is already quite a bit different than Holt's, my initial thought is girl. However, I also know I'm chasing a 14 month old this time which can make it different, so it may be a boy and I could be wrong! Hopefully we will find out around Christmas!
Labor signs: No
Belly button In/Out: In. It never popped with Holt, it just went flat. So I'm anticipating the same thing this time.
Rings On/Off: On
Happy/Moody: Probably more moody so far. Just from the fact I don't feel good 24/7.
Looking forward to: 2nd trimester!

Baby Lowery #2

Yep! #littlebabylowery2 is on his or her way and will grace us with their presence next May! We are beyond thrilled to have a new little sibling for Holt and a new little baby entrusted to us to raise up as a strong man or woman of God.

I found out I was pregnant on Friday, September 11th. I thought it fitting we found out about this baby on September 11th. On a day that marks such tragedy for our country, we got to experience the joy of anticipating a new life coming into this world!  Daniel had to work a half-day that day, so I took the test while he was at work. I was about a week late, but I honestly wasn't expecting to be pregnant. We had only been trying for a month! But there it was---faint, yet plain as day. Two blue lines on the test! I could hardly wait for Daniel to get home!

A few weeks prior, on a trip to Houston, I bought a shirt for Holt that said "Best Brother" in hopes that he would get to wear it sooner rather than later. I put that on him so that when Daniel walked in the door, he would see it immediately--and he did! He just started laughing and couldn't stop! He was so excited!

I called my doctor's office that afternoon and was told to come in sometime in the next week for a blood test so they could check my hormone levels. I went in on Tuesday, and my levels were at 3500. They told me to come back the next week because they needed to be at least 10,000 before they could see anything on ultrasound. I went back in the next Monday and they told me my levels were good enough for an ultrasound so we scheduled an appointment for Thursday, September 24th.

My mom came up to help with Holt at the appointment, and we all traipsed back there to see our new baby. Dr. Riche came in and told me my levels had jumped from 3500 to 25-30,000…..which could possibly be indicative of multiples (not always, it just depends on the woman). We always knew twins were a possibility, but having it (maybe) be a reality is kind of overwhelming and scary! Dr. Riche did the ultrasound and only found one baby, however since it was still so early and the baby is so tiny, it is possible he just missed the other one. Our next appointment is scheduled for Friday, October 16th and we will definitely know for sure that day if we have one or two bundles of joy!

Please continue to pray for us---a healthy pregnancy and a healthy mama. Also pray for us to prepare Holt for a baby brother or sister and a smooth transition for him (its never too early to start praying for that!).

Holt: 12 Months

The day has arrived. My baby is a whole year old. 365 days and 8,766 hours of life on this earth.

It has been a sleepless (somewhat), worrisome, chaotic, crazy, wonderful, blissful, joyful year.  A few weeks ago I wrote a post about 12 lessons I've learned in the last 12 months of motherhood---check that out here if you missed it!

*This month, we took him to the beach for the first time and to say he loved it is an understatement! He loved the saltwater, he loved the sand, he loved the food, he loved having all the family around to play with him---it was absolutely wonderful! I wrote a whole blog post detailing our week down there---read all about it here

beach baby

*About 2 days after we got back from our beach trip, Holt decided to start walking! I know he is way more mobile and it will require me to watch him more carefully, but I honestly love it! It's so much fun to have him toddle around.

*The weekend after we got back, my in-laws came up and took us to ride on the train from Van Buren to Winslow. Holt did pretty well and the scenery was beautiful! The next day we headed up to Fayetteville for the day and Holt got to play in the pool with his cousins! He had a blast playing with all of them!

Holt's 1st train ride

Looking out the window with LaLa

Handsome boy 

Arkansas-Missouri Line from Van Buren to Winslow

L to R: Daddy, Mama, Holt, PaPa, and LaLa

We had a blast with our cousin Sutton!

*The new water park in Fort Smith (Parrot Island Water Park) has "Tot Time" on Wednesdays from 8-9:30AM and we went to try it out! Again, I didn't take pictures (probably because I was busy trying to keep up with a busy 12 month old haha) but we went with our friend Lorna (and her mama) and Holt had such a great time! He splashed and walked around laughing, watching all the other kids run around and going down the slides. We will definitely be going back!

Weight: 21 lbs (50th percentile) 

Height: 29 ½ inches (50th percentile)

Favorites: *other kids of all ages *animals, especially dogs *walking *playing piano (or anything musical) *being in the water--swimming and splashing 

Milestones: *walking! *talking more--no new words, but he's making more noises *we started brushing his teeth and he loves it

Sleep: He has continued to be a bit of a crazy sleeper. When we were in Florida, he slept like a champ--probably because he wore himself out playing so hard. Since we have been back though, it's been a different story. He still takes 2 naps a day, but they have been shorter. Also, at night, I lay him down at normal bedtime (6:30PM) and he will just lay there for 2 hours before falling asleep. We are going to start a different bedtime routine and see if that makes any difference. 

Feeding: This kid is still an eating champ. He seriously eats as much as some grown adults! His favorite foods are frozen waffles, bananas, tuna (yep!), grilled chicken, string cheese, rice, Plum organics pouches, and Puffs. We started whole milk right before our Florida trip and it was an easy transition! He has a few ounces of milk first thing in the morning and right before bed. Other than that, he has water all throughout the day.  

He loves his Sophie-dog

when you're trying to pop four teeth, clothes are optional

yay for birthdays!

Love my little family

My dearest Holt,

It's hard for me to believe it's been a year since I first held you in my arms. Watching you grow over this last year has been such a joy---I am so proud of you! God made you perfectly for our little family and I can't imagine our lives without you. You amaze me everyday with your sweet personality, how adventurous and fearless you are, how much you love me and daddy, watching you explore new things that I take for granted--water and grass and sand and different foods, watching how your face lit up when you took your first steps. I pray you grow up to be a man after God's own heart and be courageous and have strong convictions, that you would have a good work ethic and that you would treat everyone, regardless of their differences, with love and respect. Words cannot express how much I love you Holt-man. You truly are a precious gift from God.

Much love,
Mama