14 Weeks

Let the belly posts begin!  I've decided to go a different route with the angle of the pics this time around.  My goal is to get Matthew to stand under me with the chalkboard, but he won't cooperate right now.  Here's to round #2!

How far along: 14 weeks

Baby's size: a lemon - baby is about 3.5 inches long and weighs about 1.5 oz
Maternity clothes: I am wearing maternity jeans in the pic, but it's not a necessity yet.
Sleep: hit and miss - between frequent bathroom breaks and Mike's snoring, I'm awake more than I want to be.

Best moment this week: We've started reading Matthew's Big Brother book & he loves it!  He likes to point out the baby on each page.

Miss anything: sleeping on my stomach and having a normal appetite
Movement: I'm pretty sure I've felt movement a few times - can't wait to feel the big kicks!

Food cravings: orange juice, fruit, cheese dip

Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing specific, just certain smells
Gender:  Don't know yet, but should find out in a little over a month.  I've gone back & forth about what I think we're having, but can't make up my mind.  I've had 2 dreams that it's a girl and 1 that it's a boy - who knows!  I'll be happy with either!!!

Labor signs: nope

Symptoms: morning sickness (BOO!), exhaustion, headaches, and siatica

Belly button in or out: in - it never went out with Matthew
Wedding rings on or off: on

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but the exhaustion & hormones cause mood swings.

Looking forward to: Our 16 week appointment so I can hear that precious heartbeat again!

2013 Review

What a year 2013 was!  We celebrated lots of firsts with Matthew, took family trips, and welcomed new babies into the family/friend circle.  Here is a look into the highlights of our year.

1.  Mike and I's 5th wedding anniversary!  We spent the day in Hot Springs eating great food and getting a couple's massage.  Mike wasn't so keen on the massage part, but he went through with it for me :-)  It's crazy how fast time flies - especially after having kids.  It's been a wonderful 6 years and I'm looking forward to many more!  We look like babies in these pics!

2.  One of my best friends, Katie, had her first baby.  Sweet Eleanor Marie was born May 8th (1 day after her Aunt Lindsay's b-day) and is absolutely precious!  She looks just like her momma.  The pic is from Matthew and Eleanor's first play date and the Fall Carnival at Crestwood :-)

3.  In May, I celebrated my first Mother's Day!  I spent the day with my family and being pampered with love.

4.  Mother's Day is also the day that Matthew was dedicated at church.  It was such a special moment for Mike and I to promise to raise Matthew in the church and teach him about his Creator.

5.  We went to the beach with the Fleisher family in June.  While Matthew wasn't sure of the beach and sand, he loved the pool.  He was the cutest beach bum there!

6.  While at the beach, we celebrated Mike's first Father's Day.  We spent the day at the beach/pool and went out to eat that evening because it was also his birthday.  Matthew is lucky to have such a great daddy!

7.  In July, we went to Branson with my family.  Matthew was a trooper with all of our shopping.  I know we will make many more trips to Branson in the years to come.

8.  We also took Matthew to the zoo for the first time in July.  He loved it, but I can't wait to take him again because his love for animals has become an obsession.  We are waiting for the first warm Saturday to go again using our family pass!

9.  Matthew turned 1 in August and it was a huge celebration!  We had water activities in the backyard and the house was decorated in blue, green, and orange for our dinosaur themed party.  I loved having a house full of family and friends helping celebrate our sweet boy.  

10.  Another best friend of mine, Laura, welcomed her first baby in September.  Wyatt Andrew was born on September 4th and is one handsome little dude!  I know he and Matthew will be best friends.  I can't wait to see them grow up together, along with Eleanor :-)  All 3 BFF's are pictured below.

11.  On September 15th, my second niece was born.  Little Emily Kate joined her big sis Alli and is an absolute doll!  It's been fun watching how different the two girls are.  I know they will have a sweet, sister relationship.

12.  After Christmas, we went to Illinois to spend time with family.  It was even more special this time around because the entire Fleisher family was there for the first time since I joined the family.  While it was a quick trip, and a LONG car ride, it was an amazing trip.  Pictured below is the whole Fleisher family, Carlson family, and Grandma Carlson with her 8 great grand kids.

13.  Matthew is going to be a BIG BROTHER!!!  We found out we were expecting in early November and announced to family at Christmas.  We are thrilled to become a family of 4.  Fleisher baby #2 is due July 24th.  I'm anxiously awaiting early March when we find out boy or girl! 

Here's to 2013 being such a great year, and to 2014 being even better!  There will be lots of changes, but I know it will all be worth it.

Christmas 2013

So I am officially getting way behind keeping up with this blog!  Now that Matthew is into everything, I am exhausted by the time he goes to bed.  His bedtime is now my bedtime too!  We did have a wonderful end to 2013 (I will do my yearly review in another post).  Christmas was so different with a 16 month old compared to a 4 month old.  Matthew loved opening and climbing on his gifts.  We, of course, made the trip to see Santa and got a priceless pic!  This year we went to Bass Pro Shop to play in their Christmas area.  We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house.  Every year we have Christmas brunch before opening gifts - delicious every year!  Christmas morning, we ate breakfast as a family before opening gifts.  We then headed to Conway to celebrate Christmas with Mike's family.  Here are the only pics I got of our celebrations:

Told ya - classic!

Working on a reindeer craft at Bass Pro

Christmas Eve at my parents - love my little family!

Christmas morning breakfast

Matthew loved his tent w/ tunnel!

He's wearing the pj's I put in his Christmas Eve box.  It included pj's for Christmas morning, a Veggie Tales Christmas movie, and Christmas book.

The day after Christmas, the Fleisher family drove to Illinois to visit the rest of the Fleisher/Carlson side of the family.  It was an interesting trip because Matthew ran fever the whole time since he was cutting 3 teeth (1 being a molar) - poor thing!