Pregnancy weeks 9 to 11

11 weeks today! I'm inching towards the end of the first trimester and couldn't be happier. A little before 9 weeks the nausea started to subside and I felt pretty good up until a couple days ago. I'm still not as sick as I was with the girls at this point, but feeling nauseous on and off throughout the day. If I let myself get too hungry, that's when it sets in the most. Gas is still a problem and my chest is still sore.

I found the heartbeat at 8 weeks and 4 days on my doppler (which I was surprised I found it that early). I've been listening to it almost everyday since then and it's so reassuring, Today at 11 weeks exactly, I heard the baby move! That was so exciting to hear. It sounded like a little *bloop* sound.

I'm eagerly awaiting my next appointment in 6 days. Even though I've been hearing the heartbeat for a couple weeks, there's something more reassuring about the doctor confirming it. I'm going to mention that I'd like to have the 12 week NT scan and hopefully schedule that. I told my doctor before that I didn't want to do any of the first trimester screenings, but realized that I'd be missing out on another sono! I'd love to see how much the baby has grown and make sure everything looks healthy so far. I'm sure they'll schedule my next appointment for four weeks later at 16 weeks. Then we'll hopefully be able to find out the gender two weeks after that at 18 weeks! Eek! I'm dying to know what we're having. My gut says boy, only because I'm not as sick as I was with the girls. I've still felt crappy, but haven't thrown up at all at least. Avery is really hoping for a baby brother and my husband is wanting another girl. I MIGHT say I'd like a girl a little more only because that's what I know and we have everything we need already for another girl. Although, a little boy sounds exciting because it would be all new to us! Boy or girl, they'll fit perfectly into our family and I can't wait to meet them. I'm so grateful and blessed that God chose another little soul for our family.

Pregnancy weeks 4-8

Here we are again! God has blessed us with another beautiful gift. I decided that I better document this pregnancy like I did with the girls, or I'd regret it! My due date is February 3rd. The first trimester is going fast and slow all at the same time. I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks and 3 days so it was super early! I'm now 8 weeks and 3 days. I had a feeling that I was pregnant, so I was so excited to see that positive test. This little bundle was very much prayed for and wanted after two miscarriages (one at 7 weeks in December & a chemical in March).

As for symptoms, my first sign that I was pregnant was sore breasts. I normally don't get sore before my period at all, so that was a clue for me. At 4-5 weeks I had cramps and a lower back ache as well. 5 1/2 weeks brought slight nausea and only got worse at about 6 1/2 weeks. I've been feeling pretty crappy since then! Also, the GAS. Oh my, the gas! It hurts! Today was actually the first day that I've felt pretty good. I'm certain that wont last long.


I've been trying to find the heartbeat with my doppler for a few days with no luck. Hopefully I can find it within the next couple days. I'm dying to hear it! We did have an ultrasound at 6 weeks and 6 days and saw a beautiful babe with a heart rate of 130.

My next doc appt is at 11 weeks and 6 days (July 21st). I'm looking forward to it and hoping that I can get another sono.

We have an announcement...

We couldn't be happier to announce that we'll have another sweet blessing joining our family in February!

Elise- Five Months Old (August 2013)

At five months old, Elise:

-is gettin up on all fours! Crazy.

-still exclusively breastfeeding. She knows the word milk for sure!

-has been scooting around, getting where she needs to go. She started crawling the day before she turned 6 months!

-still sleeping in the travel pack n play in our room, getting up to nurse in the night

Elise- Four Months Old (July 2013)

At four months old, Elise:

-Weighs 15.1 lbs and is 24 3/4" tall! 

-Showing off by pivoting all the way around while on her belly! Slow down baby doll!

-loves bouncing in her jumperoo

-loves to pull hair

Forever.

Wow, it's been so long since I've updated my blog! I'm kind of sad that I didn't keep up with Elise's monthly posts and really didn't write down all of the specifics of each month like I did with Avery. Oh well, life gets in the way. My sweet Avery just turned 4 on May 5th and my wild child Elise just turned 1 on March 27th. Insane. Here are a few recent pictures:

Elise- Three Months Old (June 2013)

At three months old, Elise:

-wears 0-3 and 3-6 months clothing, size 2 diapers, and size 0 shoes
-loves to smile and is cooing more
-loves to watch big sister
-likes to sit in the bumbo
- is exclusively breast fed. She nurses about every 2 ish to 3 hours
-sleeps through the night in her bassinet in our room. She goes to bed around 10:30 and wakes up about 6 ish to eat and goes back to sleep. Yeah, I'm blessed!

So behind!

I'm so behind on updating my blog! Elise is going to be 7 months old tomorrow! SEVEN. That makes my stomach turn a little! I really need to keep up with her monthly posts...but those of you who have two children, know how it goes! Here are the girls last night:

Elise- Two Months Old

At two months old, Elise:

-wears size 0-3 & 3-6 months, size 1 diapers, & size 0 shoes

-weighs 12.4 lbs and is 23 inches long

-rolls from tummy to back (at 7 weeks 1 day)

-loves her Baby Einstein play gym

-sleeps a good 7 hours every night. AWESOME!

-still has blue/gray eyes

-is still very fussy. Her smiles warm my heart, though!

-is fascinated by big sister!

Elise- One Month Old

At one month old, Elise:

-wears size NB diapers, newborn & some 0-3 month clothing

-smiles and it melts my heart! 

-was breastfed for the first week and then got exclusively pumped breast milk in a bottle for three weeks and is now back to being exclusively breastfed.

 

-loves getting a bath

 

-is sleeping through the night

 

-weighs 8lbs. 14oz. (at 3 weeks old)

 

-is a more "high maintenance" baby I should say haha. She's a fusser!

 

-loves to be held <3 p="">

Elise's Birth Story

***I started this post when Elise was a month old...she's now almost four months old! I'm a little late, but you could say I've been a bit busy!***

I'm FINALLY going to post Elise's birth story! I really can't believe it's been a month since she was born. Insane. Anyway, I'll get right to what went down on March 27th:

Actually, I'll start with saying that I talked to my sister in law a few weeks before my due date and she mentioned that a lot of women go into labor on full moons. So, we looked up when the next full moon was and it was March 27th. I told her that I bet Elise would wait until then to grace us with her presence, and sure enough she did! I actually looked up the exact time of the full moon and it was 5:27 a.m. so I jokingly told my mom the night before "I'll talk to you at 5:30 a.m.!"

On March 27th I woke up at about 3 a.m. with cramps and contractions. I wasn't sure if it was the "real deal", but I couldn't seem to go back to sleep, so I took a bath. The bath didn't really help and my contractions were getting stronger. I gave my mom a call and sure enough it was 5:30 a.m.! I told her that things were definitely happening, but I didn't want to go in too early. I rested on the couch trying to get a little sleep (which didn't work) until 7:15 when I called my mom to come over. The only thing that was helping the contractions was the birthing ball! I called my husband to come home from work and we headed to the hospital at about 9:00. On the way to the hospital (about 45 mins away) the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and lasting about 30 seconds.

We got to the hospital and they monitored me in triage. At 10:50 they checked me and I was 3 cm "soft & stretchy" and about 70% effaced. The contractions were 3-5 minutes apart and starting to be more painful. At 11:45 I was already 5 cm with a bulging bag of water, so they took me up to labor and delivery. By the time I got up to labor and delivery they checked me again and I was already 7 cm! I couldn't believe how fast it was going! I got an epidural at 12:35 (which I kind of regret doing now, because I was already 7 cm and I think I could've done without it). At about 1:30 I was 8 cm and by 2:30 I was getting ready to push!

The first push I did, we could see her hair! I pushed about 3 more times and she was out! Elise Faith Boucher was born at 2:42 p.m. It was so different from Avery's delivery where I was completely numb, but this time the epidural really didn't work on the left side too well. So, I could feel it all on that side! It all went by sooo fast! I got a small episiotomy and stitches, but it wasn't bad at all. I am so blessed that everything went so well this time! I told my husband that if it would go this well every time, I'd have 10 babies! I don't think he'd agree to that haha ;)

Elise Faith is here!

Elise Faith

7 lbs. 4 oz. 20 " long

March 27th, 2013 2:42 p.m.

We are madly in love!

Birth story & details to come...

40 Weeks

Belly Measurement: 43 1/2"

Hello, March 25th! I've been looking forward to seeing you! So far, you're not very exciting. Still no baby yet. I don't think Elise got the memo.

39 Weeks

Belly Measurement: 43 1/4"

Weight: 152 lbs (+19 lbs total weight gain)

Well, here we are! 39 weeks and 4 days today and baby is still cozy! Wednesday night I had some really sharp pains on the right side of my belly to where I was just miserable so I called my doctor's office and they told me to go in to the  hospital to get it checked out. So, my mom and my husband took me there (45 min drive...blegh) while my dad watched Avery. We took our bags just in case! They monitored the baby's heart rate and movement and checked me. I was 1-2 cm, so a little more than the 1 cm I was at my last doctor's appointment. Of course once we got there, the pain subsided (go figure!). So, they had me get up and walk around for a bit and then they would re check me. Well, once I started walking around the pain started again. It turned out to just be muscle pain. What?! I guess my belly is just at full capacity and can't take much more. It was quite painful where I didn't even want to walk or move around. They re checked me again just to make sure if there was any progress and I was still 1-2 cm and about 60% (halfway) thinned out. So, we went home and hoped that we didn't have to make the drive there again that night ha!

Yesterday at my doctor's appointment, I skipped getting another cervical check because I knew there wouldn't be any change from just the night before. The doctor came in and asked if I was interested in being induced to which I declined (but really wanted to say "HECK NO!"). There's no way I'd do another induction, unless it was absolutely necessary, because of my experience with Avery's induction. I could've stayed at the hospital the other night and just gotten induced (which is crazy to me because I'm not even at my due date yet!). He then said "That's fine, your pregnancy, your choice." That's what I like to hear! I was afraid he was going to try to pressure me to do it like they did with Avery. It was a really quick appointment. He listened to the heartbeat, measured me, and sent me on my way. My next appointment is next Thursday (so 3 days after my due date) and they'll do a non stress test also. So, we'll see if I make it to that one. Hopefully not! I feel like a ticking time bomb. I'm not too much of a fan of the unknown and it's a little nerve wracking (ok, a lot nerve wracking) that it could really be at any moment. 

Hopefully, my next post will be a picture of my sweet Elise in my arms!

38 Weeks

Belly Measurement: 43"

Weight: 149 lbs (+2 lbs since last appointment, 16 lb total weight gain)

I had my doctor's appointment today and I'm 1 cm dilated. That's better than nothing! At least I know my body is making "some" progress. I've still been having cramps and lots of braxton hicks contractions. I'm hoping that I don't make it to my next doctor's appointment in a week! It can't hurt to hope, right?

Maternity Pictures

These were taken at 35 weeks and 5 days. I love how they turned out!