23 Weeks

23 weeks along.  The weeks keep passing by.  Some weeks seem to take forever, and some seem to fly by.  This one has seemed to take forever.  I still have two more weeks until my next doctor's appointment, 51 days until my baby shower, and still 119 days (17 weeks!) until Baby Farrah arrives. 


I'm a little stressed about Farrah's nursery, but I'm trying to trust that everything will work out in plenty of time before she arrives.  I'm a planner, and at this point, I don't even have a room I can start on.  I have it all planned in my head, and I am aching to start creating her special place.


Cravings: Food.  Sweets.  Sweet foods.


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Back aches, all the time.  Restless leg syndrome when relaxing on the couch in the evenings (annoying). 


Mood: You know those websites with photos of crying babies and the ridiculous reasons why they're crying?  Those just crack me up.  Well, I sort of feel like I could start one of those for me this week.  Crying because I interrupted Keane reading a magazine article and felt bad...I couldn't get the bottom crisper drawer to go back in the refrigerator...I got my feelings hurt when Keane didn't feel as bad for Lenox as I did...I took too much of Keane's lunch period when running an errand and felt terrible.  Seriously??


Missing: Being limber - you know, being able to reach for something in the back seat of the vehicle, or bending over to pick something up easily.


Break-down: See "Mood" above.


Excited for: The nursery.  And a free 16x20 print I just ordered at Shutterfly for Farrah's nursery that I got from Huggies!


Body changes: I took out my belly button ring because it was time, the skin was starting to stretch around it, and it was just starting to look weird to still have it in with such a pregnant belly.  It took me a few days to adjust to not having it, having worn it for the last 10 years, but I'm glad to have it out now.  I do hope the piercing doesn't close up, though I would probably be fine if it did. 


I ended up buying a few medium long-sleeved shirts because mine are all too tight in the belly area and it's really nice having clothes that I can breathe in.  I am noticing how much food/drinks/etc. I tend to drop, and what used to go on the floor unbeknownst to me, but now lands on my belly.  Also, when I'm cleaning or cooking, my belly gathers all kinds of stuff on it, making it hard to keep clean, ha.


Sleep: I had two terrible nights of sleep in a row due to my body being uncomfortable, so I starting putting blankets under my belly to give it support and it really made the world of a difference.  I'm beginning to see how a body pillow or those Snoogles would be worth it now.


Movement: I love feeling Farrah's thumps and kicks/punches.  It is always such a relief to feel her and I always try to just sit in silence and take them all in.  I decided to do that last Sunday morning, so I turned on our Willie Nelson record and laid in bed and sure enough, she started dancing.  I called Keane in there and right away he was able to feel (and then see) her kick for the very first time!

Kylie & Kaden's Birthdays

For Kylie's 9th Birthday (12/01/14), squeezed between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and basketball games, we took her and her friends bowling.  They were done after about 2 games, but they ended up playing three, and as luck has it, each one of them won a game!  Kaden also invited a friend over so the girls wouldn't pick on him...too badly.

Kylie got a make-up bag and a lot of new makeup she had requested, a Knot-A-Quilt set, and some Karaoke CD's.  We had also gotten her a password protected diary, but her friend Caitlyn got her one of those too (with some colorful pens).  She also got a water bottle with Jolly Ranchers from Riley.


For Kaden's 11th Birthday (02/20/15), he decided to have three friends over (Zeke, Drew, and Colin), and of course, Kylie needs a friend, too, right?  So she invited Riley.  Kaden also is having a swimming party at a hotel from his mom the following weekend.  We picked the kids up from school and went to Keane's nephew's very last home high school basketball game.  We then came home to his orange & camo birthday decorations and cake. 


He made out pretty well on gifts this year.  He had gotten some camo boots back in December.  He also got some clothes (4 shirts and a pair of jeans), a safety harness, a basketball, a Cardinal's hat, and two Xbox 360 games (football and basketball).  His friend, Colin, got him a Ford t-shirt, and Zeke got him a Chevy cap (needless to say, one of these was a joke), and Drew got him a bag full of goodies (i.e. candy and some silly sunglasses).


The kids wanted to go sledding (or "sleighing" as Kaden says), but we weren't able to do that until after his friends went home.  We also made Kaden's birthday dinner, which consisted of chicken wings, ribs, cauliflower salad, salad, baked beans, and peach pie for dessert.

22 Weeks

I love that the weeks are coming and going, because I'm having a hard time doing anything other than nothing but counting down the days (only 126 left!) until our sweet baby joins us in this world, when we can have her in our arms, kiss her, and stare at her face, memorizing every single thing about her.

I love calling her by name, and I especially love hearing Keane call her by name.  McCoy's latest name for Baby Brooks: Tiger Goggle.  I think we'll stick with Farrah.

Farrah.  Farrah Oakley Brooks. 

I have been working very hard on our Baby Registry.  I have created one at Target, and I decided yesterday I may do one at Wal-Mart as well.  It has extremely overwhelming for me. 

So. many. baby. items. 

I don't want to overdo it on things we ask for or get.  I'm too practical for registries.  My sister has quite a few items we are going to borrow: swing, stroller, bumbo seat, boppy pillow (made by my mom), a pack and play with a bassinet, a carrier she hated, and a few toys.  We are registering for: a rock and play, high chair set, two different car seats (1 infant, 1 convertible), bottles, towels and bathing necessities, a diaper bag, an activity gym, breast feeding items (I get an Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump at Target through my insurance), diapers, wipes, clothes, and nursery items including a crib, mattress, sheets, dresser, camera monitor, rocking chair, bookshelf, side table, curtains, rug, lamp, baskets, changing pad and cover, and a wipe warmer.  I thought about making a crib mobile.

Do we need a bottle warmer?  I don't want a crib skirt, bumpers, or bedding.  I think I'm going to pass on the diaper pail and just throw the diapers away.  I wanted a doorway jumper but we don't really have a good doorway for a jumping baby, so we don't need that.  I'm going to get an exersaucer from a friend after her baby grows out of it.  Do we need a walker?  Although it has been a bit overwhelming trying to decide what we need, what we don't, and which of the endless options would best fit out needs, I am so anxious to begin our collection of baby items for Farrah!

Cravings: Late night ice cream.  Taco Bell's double decker taco-add sour cream.  Chocolatey chocolate milk.

Aversions: None.

Symptoms: Oh...RLS, back aches, trouble sleeping...

Mood: Maybe more irritable, and a little more emotional.  Nothing substantial.

Missing: Clothes that fit.

Excited for: It's really bothering me that I can't start on the baby room, yet, because we have a lot of work to do on the basement before we can even make room for her.  Part of me is considering starting on it A) with Kylie still living in the room (ha, that's a joke...kind of), or B) moving Kylie into her brother's room (that must be so fun, right!?) until we can move him downstairs.  I'm going to try to wait until April or May (at the very latest), so wish me patience.  I am such a planner, and I am close to purchasing some of her first bedroom items (crib, dresser, and curtains).  I have a little stash on a shelf in our hallway with her belongings so far.  I think I even have the paint color picked out.  It makes me so excited!

Body changes: My belly keeps growing rounder, slowly but surely.  It's getting harder to find something to wear.  I have a small tote of maternity clothes my friend, Kelsey, let me borrow, which has been a huge help, since I'm stubborn and determined not to purchase any maternity clothes.  However, I see now that a few items may be necessary to get through.  My undergarments are feeling tight, and by the end of the day I cannot wait to get into comfortable clothes so that I can breathe.

Sleep: Usually pretty good; however, last night was my first "uncomfortable" night of sleep.  I get so uncomfortable on my sides (my sides actually get tingly) and I so badly want to lay on my back but I'm not supposed to, so I just lay on my back for short periods of time.  I may have to blame some of my uncomfort on our feline baby who also calls our bed his at night, and for some reason wants to share my leg space.  I'm also finding it difficult to roll from one side to the other.  It's like I have to sit up to haul my baby from one side of the bed to the other, and then it takes a few minutes of adjusting our bodies just right so that everyone has a little room and comfort.

Movement: Same as before, I feel thumps quite low.  I sure wish my placenta wasn't in the front so that I (we) could feel her, but I can tell she's doing okay in there, and that's what really matters.

21 Weeks

I felt like at 20-weeks-along there should have been a big celebration for us!  When there wasn't, of course, I knew the following Monday would be our celebration - seeing our sweet babe and all!


It was so sweet - but it went by entirely too quickly, especially for a day I have long awaited.  The ultrasound tech told us the ultrasound would take approximately 45 minutes, and she was going to take about 50 photos for our doctor.  We literally were in and out in about 20 minutes!  I wanted to spend more time just watching our baby girl, but I'm blessed that there wasn't anything found to be wrong, and no concerns meant less time, so I know that I need not complain. 


We saw the four chambers of her heart (her heart rate was 152 bpm), her bladder, stomach, kidneys, fingers, feet, brain, legs, arms, and face.  Oh, and it was confirmed that she is definitely a girl!  Toward the end, we were watching her face and she leaned her head all the way up, turned it from side to side, turned and faced the camera directly, and then turned face-down, haha.  She was done being watched! 


I have gained a total of 11.4 pounds from the beginning.  My blood pressure at 20 weeks, 3 days was 114/71 (I have no idea if this is high, low, good, bad...).  Our baby is still measuring "a couple days" ahead, but they are keeping her due date at June 26.  She was head down, and the ultrasound tech said she can be in any position she wants right now.


I love her photos already and I can't stop staring at them.  She kept bringing her hands and arms toward her face and was crossing them in front of her.  The ultrasound tech said she was dancing, but everything was going so quickly on the screen this time that I couldn't really keep up with what she was seeing at times.

Cravings: Nothing specific, just food in general.  I have been finding myself sneaking in the kitchen and hurriedly making toast with sugar & cinnamon before the kids find me and ask for some, quickly scarfing down homemade chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk at night when I should be brushing my teeth, and thinking that a bowl of Fruity Pebbles would be the perfect end to my day.

Aversions: Nothing.

Symptoms: A little tired lately, and still having back pains.

Mood: Slightly irritable (maybe from being tired) and less able to concentrate toward evenings, which doesn't help for late basketball games which we've had a lot of as of late, or for our evening shows that take a lot of concentration, ha.

Missing: Taking hot, hot baths that steam up the entire bathroom.  Licking the bowl after making brownies, cookies, or cakes (no raw eggs, ya'll).

Break-down: None.

Excited for: Our baby, Farrah, to arrive in June (approximately 133 days).  And for her (second) cousins to arrive in May (Lee & Jacky's baby girl, Kinlee Brooke) and in August (Jordon & Amanda's newly announced expectancy).  My baby shower in 65 days.  And Valentine's Day tomorrow with my husband!!!

Body changes: I don't even try to button my dress pants, although they will button but I would soon unbutton them, so I just wear them with a belly band.  I haven't even tried on any jeans for about a month or so - I just wear leggings or yoga pants regularly.  Maternity clothes (pants especially, belly bands, too) are extremely weird to me.  It's a strange feeling to have my pants completely cover up my belly.  I'm sure the support is helpful, but I feel like I'm wearing a full body suit, and I'm having a little difficulty adjusting to it.  By the end of the day, I feel so restrained and uncomfortable that I swear off all maternity clothes...until the next day or two.  The long shirts are nice, however, as my regular shirts are beginning to ride up in the front, and nothing fits like it used to.

Sleep: Sleeping has been great.  I haven't even been waking up throughout the night (probably due to being so sleepy).

Movement: I feel her quite often, but it's still faint and very, very low.  We confirmed that I have an anterior placenta (it's located in the front of my uterus - between me and baby - as opposed to posterior placentas near the spine) which serves as a buffer for baby's movements for now.  I think I feel her underneath the placenta.  My doctor reassured us that we will be able to feel her when she gets a little bigger, and said it should be in the next week or two.

20 Weeks: Half-way!

HALF WAY!!!! (And only three days from our anatomy scan!)  A huge milestone in pregnancy for me.  Our little baby girl is 10" from head to feet (about the size of a banana) and weighs about 10 oz.  Everything is going really well in pregnancy for me, and I am enjoying it so much!  I'm to the point now where it's definitely noticeable when people see me that I'm harboring a human inside me, and I notice people looking at my belly when they see me, which is fun.  Although it's been winter and I usually wear a coat or sweater when I'm out and about, the days are near when I will be showing even more in short sleeves and less layers!


Cravings: Chocolate milk, chocolate cake, brownies, cookies...sweets and chocolate I guess


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Back pain particularly in one spot (left, middle back).  A lot of very interesting dreams.  The other night I dreamt that Keane took me to Six Flags and we were standing in line for a ride, and I thanked him for taking me but reminded him that I couldn't ride any rides while I'm pregnant...so we ended up just walking around the park, ha.


Mood: Excited all the time.


Missing: Flat stomach.  Shorter shirts fitting.


Break-down: None.


Excited for: Everything baby.  June 26 (due date).  The little bitty tiny package that arrived in our mailbox the other day and how my mind thought, "No way are the two shirts I bought in there," but indeed they were (that's how tiny babies' clothing is)!  [Enjoy Essential]  Baby leggings from [Baby Leggings] - got 5 pair for free, only paid shipping (which was $14.99).

Body changes: Growing a lot this week!  My belly is getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  And everyone keeps reminding me I have a long way to go!

Sleep: Not too bad lately.

Movement: I feel her thumping around in there, and I am beginning to feel the larger "kicks" from the outside too, but they aren't quite strong enough for Daddy to feel yet.  She is now beginning to kick in the same spot a few times, so I'm always staying prepared to feel her next movement!  She is quite active in the mornings once I get to work, and usually again in the late afternoon and early evening.  By bedtime, when I hope to feel her the most, I think she's already calmed down for the day.  I have been noticing her moving more at the kids' basketball games where there is a lot more noise!

19 Weeks

Dear Daughter,

I am really enjoying this time, you and I, while you're growing big and strong enough to enter into this world and into our arms.  At the same time, I cannot wait the {approximately} 147 days until we get to finally meet you, hold you, kiss you, dress you, hug you, and love on you!  You will be such a special one in our family, and you will be loved without limits.

Some people still say I'm not that big yet, but you're making your mommy feel huge!  Every time Kylie sees me, her eyes get wide as she stares at my ever-growing belly.  She is already one of your biggest fans.  We all are.

We have a small collection of items for you already!  So far we have three beautiful blankets that your Grandma McCoy made with love, one blanket I made in the past, a really soft blanket and lamb from your friends Kynleigh and Anistyn, two swaddle blankets from Aunt Bebe, and 5 pairs of leggings I bought you.  (Also, a onesie and t-shirt I ordered for you haven't arrived yet.)  Lenox lays on your blankets each time I get them out to re-fold them - I think he's going to like you, too!

Your big cousin, McCoy, has been cracking me up lately.  He finally received the gender reveal cookies I mailed to them 8 days prior, and he was excited to see the pink inside (that he already knew would be there).  But he's still a little hesitant to accept a new cousin into his life.  Today, he suggested that we name you Crocodile.  We won't, I promise.  I teasingly offered to name you Francis (McCoy's middle name), and it was rebutted with, "Nooooooooooooo, that's my name and I'm not going to call her that!"  He will love you, I promise.

I hope the next 21 weeks goes by quickly, because your mommy and daddy, brother and sister, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, and many others are so very excited to meet you!

With love forever and ever,

Mommy

Cravings: Ice cream.  Eggo waffles.


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Backaches.


Mood: Great.


Missing: Rolling over in bed with ease.  A flat stomach (but at the same time loving my baby bump).


Break-down: None.


Excited for: I will be so excited next Friday when I am 20 weeks - half way there!!! And we'll only be 3 days away from our anatomy scan!


Body changes: Growing more curves (thighs, stomach obviously...).  Hopefully maintaining a health weight gain, which I'll find out officially in 10 days.


Sleep: Or lack there-of.  I am trying not to sleep on my back anymore since it can block/limit the blood supply to the baby, but I'm not realizing how much of a back-sleeper I am.  My sides were going numb but Keane suggested I sleep with a pillow between my legs and that has helped.  I wake up every few hours to roll over (and usually pee).


Movement: On Monday, I felt faint "flutters" (gentle butterfly wings would describe the feeling exactly).  I still mainly feel what I consider a "thumping" from the inside.  I can't wait to feel all the movement on the outside so Keane can feel her too!

Gender Reveal

As soon as we were able to have a "Gender Ultrasound" after 16 weeks, I talked Keane into us paying the extra amount to find out our baby's gender.  I was a little hesitant because I knew in four weeks we would be having our 20 weeks anatomy scan, and finding out then.  But it's the best choice we could have made, in my opinion.  Firstly, we got to see our baby!  We hadn't had an ultrasound since 7 weeks.  At that time, Baby was tiny.  It didn't move (besides it's beautiful beating heart). 


This time, our baby moved!  It would squirm from one side of my tummy to the other, especially when the ultrasound tech pushed on my belly in attempts to reposition the baby to better see its "goods."  We got some neat photos of our sweet, sweet baby.  Seeing that ultrasound made everything so much more real, and so very sweet.

We saw Baby's legs, feet, hands, belly, stomach, heart, and FACE!!!!  The ultrasound tech said she was pretty sure what the gender was, but wanted to make real sure before she called it, which she later did. 

A GIRL!!!

The sweet tears came instantly.  It was surreal to me.  I had said that I thought it was a girl.  But after finding out that our baby was a girl, I realized that I had completely, 100% only imagined us having a boy, ever.  I was sure we would have a boy.  I was never, not for one moment, disappointed in any way.  Having a baby girl was an entirely new idea to me.  A daughter.  I seriously had never put much thought into what if I had a daughter.  I had only imagined me with a son.  And I honestly could not have been more happy.  As soon as I knew that sweet, moving baby inside me was our daughter, I fell even more in love with her.  I was her momma.  I had a sweet daughter, who will grow up to be a beautiful girl, and woman.  I will teach her about love and relationships, manners and kindness.  She will wrap her daddy around her little finger and around her whole heart.


I am so extremely happy to me a momma to a daughter.  And Keane is so very happy too!  He said he has broad enough shoulders to raise two daughters, and he does. 


We waited until we had a chance to tell both of the kids, and soon after tell our families.  Which turned out to be nearly two weeks!  It was a secret that just the three of us had, Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Girl Brooks!  Finally the long awaited day arrived and by that evening, we were all chomping at the bit to let the secret out.  We should have recorded Kaden and Kylie's reaction but we completely forgot about it until immediately afterwards.  We had them sit on the couch and open up their baggie with the cutest gender reveal cookies my mom (grandma) made for this special time!  She had made both pink and blue ones (sugar cookies with pink and blue on the inside) and gave them all to us so that we could share the necessary color)! 

On the count of 3 they both ate a bite of their cookie, and we waited the short and forever long moment while they pulled the cookie away to look inside.  Kylie screamed, "Yeeeeesssssss" with a mouth full of cookie, and Kaden's arms dropped to his side as he declared that Kylie always wins, haha.  He is still very excited to have a little sister, but naturally was hoping to have a brother/another boy in the house.  Kylie couldn't have been more pleased.

Then, we shared with our families!  We brought some cookies over to my parents and brother, and we FaceTimed Kimberly, Lonnie, and McCoy.  I had mailed them cookies but apparently didn't have enough postage so it didn't make it to them in time, but I bit a cookie and showed the camera at the same time my parents and brother ate into their cookie.  Everyone (mostly) expected a girl so nobody was really surprised necessarily, but very happy.  Then we took cookies over to Keane's parents and sister, Kelli (and niece Rylee) who had split guesses on the gender (Karen felt we were having a girl).  They were very pleased as well with the PINK results!

We then shared the news with our close friends and eventually we announced it on Facebook with this picture! 

Nuts or No Nuts?

It's really fun to be able to share our news with our families and friends!  We can't wait to meet our baby girl!

As for a name, Keane and I really like Farrah.  I love Farrah.  We also like Oakley.  We are still working on the middle name, and finalizing her first name.