February Photo Challenge

Lately, I have felt like such a slacker in the photo taking area and blogging. I like to blog and have oodles of picture of our family (really just Lincoln) but life gets busy and I don't do either. I have done a decent job of keeping up with my pregnancy weekly updates because I don't want the typical "2nd baby has no pictures" syndrome.

So I am going to try and meet this challenge of a photo a day in February. I am sure all of the pictures will come from my phone and some posts will have multiple days but maybe it will increase the amounts of photos on the blog.

So here goes nothing! Let's hope I can make it though the first week.

(Can I also add where is this year going?! February already?!)

First family of 4 photos

We ventured out this past weekend for family/ maternity pictures. It had been a gorgeous week of 60/ 70 degree weather but a crazy cold front came through Saturday and it was a cold 37 degrees for pictures. Lincoln was not having it at all! He was miserable and let us all know it.

We were able to get a few good shots that capture our time right now.
It is hard to see her leopard shoes but I love this picture.

The pink balloons were the only thing to get a smile on his face. That is until they popped or blew away. Then the real tears started.

Holy moly! 31 weeks, single digits weeks to go! Crazy!

And this is a true picture of how our pictures went. Shane and I trying to make the best of it and Lincoln was not happy with the whole process. The boy is like his daddy. He does not do cold temperatures plus posing for pictures.

I am hoping to get a few more with his cute big bro shirt that my mom made. But I am thinking we will save that for when he is feeling better (he had been pretty sick this past week) and we have warmer temps.

31 weeks

How far along: 31 weeks (Holy cow, single digit weeks to go!)

Size of the baby: Baby girl is the size of a pineapple.

Maternity clothes: Maternity clothes are in full force. I am ok with it but I hate feeling the need to buy new maternity clothes since I won't be wearing them for too long. I wish I could go to work everyday in my velour suit or pajama pants with my house shoes. I would be just as productive!

Gender: GIRL! Lola Claire!

Sleeping: Sleeping has been about the same. I get up a couple of times a night for the bathroom but I can get back to sleep. I hate sleeping on my side but it's not keeping me awake so that is good.

What I miss: Having a wide range of clothing options and the energy to work out.

Symptoms: I have had more and more headaches these last couple of weeks. I am not too stressed about them but it worries my mom and Shane. I try to take it pretty easy once I get home with Lincoln and the headache goes away once I get to sleep.

Cravings: Nothing in particular.

Best Moment: We haven't done anything too exciting this week. Just trying to make it another week. We did take maternity pictures on Saturday with Shane's cousin. Lincoln was being a toot so we didn't get too many great ones but we got a few. I will post my favorites some time this week.
We are finally going to buy paint for the nursery this coming weekend! I am super pumped about this!

30 weeks

How far along: 30 weeks (10 weeks until her due date! CRAZY!)

Size of the baby: Baby is the weight of a head of cabbage (about 3 lbs)

Maternity clothes: Maternity clothes are in full force. I am ok with it but I hate feeling the need to buy new maternity clothes since I won't be wearing them for too long. I wish I could go to work everyday in my velour suit or pajama pants with my house shoes. I would be just as productive!

Gender: GIRL! Lola Claire!

Sleeping: Sleeping these last few nights have been rough. I can't sleep on my back and sleeping on my left side tends to hurt my shoulder. I am also waking up more and more for bathroom breaks.

What I miss: Having a wide range of clothing options and the energy to work out.

Symptoms: I have started having some swelling of my feet and ankles at the end of the day. I pretty much come home and put my feet up to help with this. The dr confirmed that it is nothing serious since my blood pressure is normal and the swelling goes down after a few hours.

Cravings: Mexican food has sounded great but that is not anything abnormal for me.

Best Moment: We had a dr appt this last week and everything looks good so far. I have a bad habit of reading too many blogs of moms with extremely sad stories with their babies so it makes me nervous when I think of the "what ifs". It is a blessing to go to the dr and hear everything is ok and we are right on schedule.

28 weeks

How far along: 28 weeks

Size of the baby: Baby girl is the size of a head of Chinese cabbage (What?!) I do know she is measuring right on schedule and is about 2 1/2 lbs. I thought this sounded big for only 28 weeks since Lincoln was only a little over 6 lbs at birth. But the dr said it was average size for 28 weeks.

Maternity clothes: I have finally caved and bought some fall maternity shirts. I am excited to be in almost all maternity clothes. I am not one of those women who wants to wear her normal clothes as long as possible even if it means being uncomfortable. I would rather wear a huge maternity shirt and be comfortable without everything hanging all out!

Gender: GIRL! Lola Claire!

Sleeping: Sleeping is getting more interrupted with bath breaks and waking up uncomfortable. I have taken a nap almost everyday this Xmas break so we will see how well I survive when I go back to work tomorrow.

What I miss: Having a wide range of clothing options and the energy to work out. Everyone is posting and talking about their new resolutions to work out more and I would love to but I am so tired. I am making a promise to myself to at least take a walk, ride our stationary bike, or go to the gym and use the treadmill at least 3 times a week. I am hoping it will give me more energy.

Symptoms: I am definitley feeling the effects of this pregnancy full force already. My stomach gets really tight when I have overdone that day and I have the same sharp pains right under my left ribs on some days. Both can be fixed by stretching out and taking it easy, which is easier said than done with a busy, 2 year old at home. Overall, the symptoms aren't that bad and I know some women have it much worse.

Cravings: Apricot Sour Cream Pound Cake! OMG! My aunt made it for Xmas day and I forgot how much I love it! My mom made it again yesterday and I am thankful that I have to go to her house for a piece or it might be all gone already. Hmmmmm....I am thinking I "need" to go to her house now!

Best Moment: We had a doctor's appt on Thursday and we got to see Lola. She looks great and is measuring right on schedule. Her stomach bubble (a good thing) is still there so everything seems to be connected correctly. She was sleeping during the sono so we got to see her sweet face. She is currently head down and hoping she doesn't flip. Lincoln was breach from 24 weeks so I am taking this as a good sign. Another best moment this week: My mom and I went to the fabric store and picked out her fabric for her bedding. My mom will make her quilt and such so I needed to get the fabric ASAP so she would have some time. I am excited about her room. Now I can buy paint and persuade Shane to paint soon!

This is about the only picture I have of all of us including Lola. Not a great picture of everyone but it was the best I could get!

2011 in review

2011 was a good year for our family. No major life changing events (no moving, no new babies, no major surgeries, no deaths) and we all survived another year.

Here is a quick (as quick as can be for 12 months) of 2011:

February brought the crazy snow, ice storm to the DFW area. Lincoln was not a fan of the cold but we loved the 5 days off from school!

Valentines with this sweet boy!

Spring Break was spent with my foot propped up from surgery. Not looking forward to doing the other foot someday :(

Easter was spent in Abilene at the farm. This was a special holiday since it was the last one we spent there with our family. My grandparents have since moved so I am thankful that Lincoln had one Easter hunting eggs at the farm.

Lincoln's first haircut came soon after Easter. I was sad to see the curls go but he gets to looking pretty shaggy when it's too long.

Father's Day was spent at the lake. Lincoln's first visit to the lake and he seemed to enjoy it. It made his daddy's desire for a camper and boat stronger!

Cousin Camp in June created many memories. The aquarium, sprinkler fun, and lots of wrestling was had that week.

In early July, we took our family vacation to Ocean City, NJ. It was a fun week and a great trip. Wish we were back on the beach!

Lincoln's first trip to the beach. He was slow to warm up to the water but he loved "working" in the sand.

News of Baby #2 came late July. It was a shock to most and we were thrilled!

Loved sharing the news of Lincoln becoming a big brother!

A week in KS visiting Gigi and Pappy. His first time to ride a real waterpark slide and he of course loved it!

August also brought Lincoln's ONLY surgery in 2011. He had his adenoids removed which was not anything major. It has kept him somewhat healthy.

Back to school in August. Lincoln started his 2nd year at his fabulous daycare. His classroom is less "babyish" and he loves being there with his friends.

In September, we celebrated Lincoln's second birthday with a football tailgate party.

October brought all the Halloween and pumpkin fun. We loved visiting the Dallas Arboretum and will be going back next year.

Our cute puppy at Halloween

October also brought the news of having a baby girl!

(Shane wants everyone to know that this will be only time his precious baby girl's parts will be online!)

November brought a relaxing Thanksgiving in KS.

We also used that break to celebrate Shane's 30th birthday with a surprise party at his parents' house. 30 has done him well!

December brought sweet Christmas memories with this silly, energetic little boy!

Like I said, 2011 was a great year for us. I am blessed with a fabulous little family, a wonderful extended family and friends who are great. I can't wait to see what all 2012 holds for our family. I pray it is full of love and exciting news and anything else we can handle.

Happy New Year to you and yours! Make it special!