19 weeks

19 weeks: Baby is the size of an heirloom tomato.Your baby equals a large heirloom tomato in size and weighs 8 1/2 ounces. (length: 6 inches, head to bottom) (source: www.babycenter.com)

Monday we had our regular appointment at the doctor.  Again everything is right where it should be and I can feel the baby often.  I'm not sure if the kiddo was sleeping again or if it's mellow (maybe?) but the heartbeat was averaging at 148.  Still seems pretty slow compared to Cade.

The real excitement is this coming Monday.  We'll be at 20 weeks and have our anatomical ultrasound at 8:00 am.  I can't wait to spill the beans to Cade finally and see our baby.  Plus I'm dying to know what the gender is!  Can't wait to say he or she.  I've never looked forward to a Monday more . . . C'mon Monday!!!

15 weeks 4 days

15 weeks - about the size of an apple

We had our regular appointment with the doctor today.  Little "Solstice" is 15 1/2 weeks along and doing great!  There was a strong heart beat averaging in the 150s; it was a little slower than Cade's tended to be, but just right.  All my measurements are where they should be and everything's great.  I can tell I'm in the second trimester because my energy levels are back up.  Feeling really good about everything!  Our next appointment will be in 4 weeks and the Gender/Anatomical Ultrasound is scheduled for February 4th.  I'm excited about that appointment.  We are going to take Cade and make a big deal about announcing to him that he'll be a big brother.  It's killing me not to talk to him about it now but this will be better.  Can't wait to see our little one!

First Christmas Program

Cade had his first Christmas Program last week at Tiny Hopefuls.  It was packed in the church so it was tough to get good video.  After we got home, we asked him (ok bribed) to sing his songs again for us in front of the Christmas tree.  Here's some videos from that night.  Enjoy.  :)

Cade was a grey donkey for the Christmas story, the first two videos.

Exciting news!

Drum roll . . .

We're having another baby!  The funny thing is--Cade doesn't even know what that sign says.  I asked him to hold it but we haven't even told him yet.  He was just excited that I traced around his hand.  We'll probably wait until the baby can kick him before we tell him. 

We went to the doctor last week and he confirmed with an ultrasound that there is a perfect little 'gingerbread' baby in there.  I'm due June 22nd (which makes me about 11 weeks along.)  There was a strong heartbeat and all the right measurements and forming body parts.  I practically had to beg Ross to let me post on my blog about this.  We are cautiously excited and know that 11 weeks is still not "safe".  I'm not going to post on facebook about the progress or any of the "your baby is the size of a fig" updates.  Those will be contained to this blog.  We're really hopeful that this baby makes it all the way and we're sure praying that "Solstice" keeps progressing.

School Days

Cade started at Tiny Hopefuls Daycare/Preschool this past June.  The school is tied to the church we go to and after several months on the waiting list, we were excited for him to begin.  The summer was a great transition for our little guy into a more school atmosphere.  He liked that only big boys could go.  Then on the first day for everyone in the area, he also started "school".  He is in the preschool class.  Next year will be pre-K and then the year after will be Kindergarten.  School consists of circle time and a short class time before lunch.  It's just the right amount of time for his short attention span.

He loves playing with his friends, especially outside on the playground.  He sings the songs at home even if he can't remember all the words.  And he loves being the line leader.  We're still working on writing his name but he is only three and a half.  Thankfully he'll actually sit down to work on craft projects now.  His favorite thing is his weekly alphabet bag for show and tell.  They can bring in anything starting with the letter of the week.  This week was "I" and it was quite the stretch to find something that would work.  We settled on an Ice cream scoop because actual ice cream would melt.

A few weeks into the school year, we got a note in his cubby that they would be doing school photos.  The flyer said "smiles guaranteed!"  Ross and I both thought there was no way the photographer would be able to get a good smile out of our guy.  He's become a very photo shy and actually gets grumpy about me taking his photo.  (I know, I know, I overdid it when he was littler.  It's a shame because he really is a cute kid.)  His teacher told us that it took over 10 photos before they were able to get a good one.  But, shockingly, they did!  We are still waiting to see how the group photo turned out.  Here's our little boy's first school photo:    

First School Photo - 2012

Update 12/04/12: we finally got his class photo.  This is both preschool classes combined.  His actual class is only half of these kids.  I know most of them but I'm not sure I could name them correctly.  I'm still in awe that they got him to smile.

Cade's in the front row with (L to R): Tanner, Jace, Coby, (Cade,) David and Joe.