Pregnancy 1 and Pregnancy 2

No that they're in a battle or anything... but you can't help but make your own mental notes/memories comparison between pregnancies.  

And there are already distinct differences between H's pregnancy and Baby Boy #2, even here at 22 weeks.

Obviously, we were delighted to find out we were expecting again.  

Our game plan was to hop the ol' baby train again when H turned 2, and after a few months, we were excited to find out that we were expecting again!

At first, it looked like an almost identical pregnancy only 3 weeks behind H's pregnancy.

Which, in my mind, worked out great - same seasons for maternity clothes and delivery (which meant avoiding those hot summer months).  

Beautiful timing by our Heavenly Father.

I didn't really realize I was expecting again - I had been traveling a lot for work and was naturally feeling a little tired and rundown between that and running around after H.

And then, at some point in St. Louis, I realized my schedule was off and promptly confirmed with a trusty test upon arrival home.

Major differences so far:

I carried H with an anterior placenta, meaning that he implanted on the side of my abdomen.  Baby #2 is the opposite - posterior placenta.  No major difference so far, just a heads up from this one that it wouldn't exactly be an identical 9 months!

With H, I was never sick or nauseous, I can distinctly remember the 3 times I did get sick, and they were for other reasons than morning sickness.

This one, however, has had me sprinting to the bathroom more than a handful of times.  More nauseous than really sick, but still.  Not cool. (Also why we thought it was initially a girl!)

I didn't feel H until around 20 weeks (partially because of the whole anterior placenta thing); this one I felt distinctly at 14 weeks.  Yep, 14 weeks.  It was faint but distinct - and they've been getting stronger every week.  I've even told Mr. Smith this has a whole lot more energy than H ever did.  (I may have said this nervously as well).  

Overall?  You learn with the second pregnancy to breathe.  

No, really.  Breathe, in and out, and relax enough to appreciate God's decision to chose you for his newest addition.  You know not to be seized with panic at every turn.

And although there are differences, it is still a miraculous act to play a part of.  And a joyful reminder that each one is created with a unique and special purpose from our Heavenly Father.  

Celebrating Mrs. Searson

I had the chance to help celebrate Mrs. Searson, a much beloved pal, with her Baby Shower recently.

Mrs. Searson has gone through her pregnancy like the champ she always is, plus she looks amazing.  

We can't wait to welcome Baby Boy Searson in just a few weeks!

Phi Mu sisters

Proud and excited Daddy!

Sweet nieces

Hostesses with the Mamacita

Mr. Smith Turns 30

Yes, it's happened.

My younger husband (by 11 months, let me emphasize) has joined me in the Third Decade Club.

To celebrate, we did a few special things for Mr. Smith:

Shipley Donuts for Birthday Breakfast

Dinner with moi at Satterfield's, one of his favorite restaurants

Gifts that were both hilarious and useful:  a new duck call from Duck Dynasty's Duck Commander, as well as a newly bought share of Dollar General stock (inside joke, maybe I'll tell you later), along with ones from family and friends.

And...  a little surprise for Mr. Smith from family!  After our dinner, we had several special guests waiting with an Edgar's caramel cake and boisterous singing as we walked in the door.

As someone who has always said he hated surprise parties... you're welcome, Mr. Smith. 

Parents and siblings, along with Mr. and Mrs. Carroll (& Baby Kirk) joined in on the fun.  

Official Cake Tester

He's mobile, folks.  Watch out.

Attitude.  

I'm trying to eat cake, Mom!

Future Prom Dates

Obviously, the above mentioned Mr. Attitude would not join in on the Baby Group Picture.  

The Happiness Project - What I'm Reading Right Now

I'm making my way through "The Happiness Project" right now, by Gretchen Rubin.

And by "making my way" I mean trying to catch 30 minutes of reading while shoveling in some lunch at work. 

So far, so good.  

I like what I see.

Gretchen sums up what we all find ourselves doing in those "off moments" - I have all the ingredients of what is suppose to make me happy, but am I?  Or why am I not happier with life?

She takes an initiative, pairs it with a month's time, then devotes a chapter to it. 

I'm about half-way through it, so I'll come back and chat later, but here's some of what has stuck with me:

"Act the way you want to feel."

And... I'm trying to take this and her other suggestions as actionable items for my own life:

I'm singing in the morning to wake up H, albeit badly.

I'm taking the time to be silly.

I de-cluttered some areas around the house that I had been avoiding eye contact with.

I'm pumped about her other chapters, as well.

As she quotes in the book, 'The days are long, but the years are short."

Amen, Sista. 

Let's start appreciating and enjoying it more.

Holiday Season - What a whirlwind!

I don't know about the rest of you, but the holidays were here and over before I could blink.  

This little man had an absolute blast!  It was so precious to see him actually "get it" now.

With some stunts with Daddy, of course.

Thanksgiving officially made "the bump" appear, but I don't regret it.

Not one bit.

I tried making homemade cranberry sauce this year, courtesy of Pioneer Woman's mad culinary skills.

It was a hit.

And then... I blinked and it was Christmas.  

H loved opening his presents, but with the usual 2-year-old attention span, it would get fixated on the very first gift he opened.  

Christmas Eve gifts at T and MiMi's House:

This Sugar Plum Fairy was not impressed with her cousin's craziness.

Not one bit.

PS - Isn't she gorgeous?  

Princess E will remain our only princess for a while!  

I'm confident she'll keep all the boys in line though.

After leaving the bikes at T and MiMi's (ahem), we headed home to go to sleep and wait for Santa!

Christmas Morning Breakfast

(that is not really coffee he's drinking, I promise)

We headed to PawPaw and DeeDee's for Christmas gifts and dinner that afternoon, after a fun morning putting our Santa gifts to good use.

And, following our tradition growing up, had a birthday cake for Baby Jesus!  

H loved singing the "Happy Birthday" song and eating the cake.

I love continue this tradition - it's an easy, fun way to reinforce the true "reason for the season."

Last Christmas as a family of three!

And this?

This is real life, peeps.

Real life with a toddler who screamed for his new Winnie the Pooh for the picture, and then a pregnant mommy to balance them both on her tummy for the picture.

Please note the progression of Mr. Smith backing out of the chaos.  Busted.