Pumpkin Patch!

Last Friday afternoon we headed out to the pumpkin patch. We ended up with no pumpkin, but got some cute pictures while we were there.

 Happy Halloween, y'all!

Tooth fairy brings a tooth.

We were pretty sure Saylor wouldn't go to kindergarten without any teeth, but then again, we were starting to wonder :)! This morning, as I was feeding her breakfast, there it was... her first tooth. I will say, it made me a little sad. I love that sweet, gummy grin!

It's her bottom left and it looks like the one beside it is getting ready to pop through, too. I imagine we may have a few teeth by her first birthday, which is in just a few weeks.

Bye bye, sweet gummy smile. We will certainly miss you! Just knowing you have a tooth, makes you look like such a big girl. We love you, baby girl.

18 weeks!

Today, I am 18 weeks pregnant with Baby B. And next week we find out if the little pumpkin is a boy or a girl. I can't believe it! I am getting really excited! We are doing a gender reveal cake at Saylor's 1st birthday party (next Saturday), so we are waiting to announce until then. Stay tuned :)!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  18 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  will know at the doctor next week

Maternity Clothes:  No maternity clothes yet.

Best Moment this week: Feeling Baby B move

Gender: We find out next week!

Movement: Few flutters in the early morning

Food Craving:  cheese, bologna sandwiches

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly

Sleep: I sleep pretty good with the exception of the crazy dreams!

What I am looking forward to:  Finding out the sex next week!

Belly Button:  In

Stretch Marks: None yet. 

Symptoms:  Headaches have been better this week. A few mornings I have woken up feeling nauseous, but for the most part, I feel pretty good. 

Dedication service, con't...

I posted earlier this week about the girl's dedication service at church this past Sunday. It was really a wonderful service and we are so blessed to be surrounded by friends, family and a wonderful church. The girls did great, even with Saylor fighting a serious cold and ear infection. Thank you to our family for sharing this day with us!

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

-Deuteronomy 11:18-21

17 weeks!

Yes, I do realize I have been super bad about taking weekly pictures of myself with this pregnancy :). I did a much better job with Saylor, but life is just busier these days. I am hoping to take one this week or next, before I get half way through. I have felt good this week, just more tired than usual. Hosting events while preg is a bit more taxing! I am sleeping good, with the exception of crazy dreams, and feel pretty good most of the day. Headaches still come and go quite a bit, but my doc has me taking excedrin migraine, which really helps. 

Two weeks from today we find out what we are having. I am thinking girl... hubs is thinking boy. We are having a gender reveal cake at Saylor's 1st birthday party (3 days after we find out), so I am excited about that. I am also wondering how in the world I am going to keep it a secret for 3 days! We have a boy name we are pretty set on, and a long list of girl names we are discussing. We decided to put that topic to rest until we find out what we are having :). 

Here is what Baby B looks like at 17 weeks:

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  17 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  down 1lb (can you hear me cheering?!) 

Maternity Clothes:  No maternity clothes yet.

Best Moment this week: The girl's dedication at church

Gender: We find out in 2 weeks!

Movement: Few flutters in the early morning

Food Craving:  crushed ice, purple gatorade

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly

Sleep: I sleep pretty good with the exception of the crazy dreams!

What I am looking forward to:  Watching my belly grow, finding out the sex, getting nursery ideas!

Belly Button:  In

Stretch Marks: None yet. 

Symptoms:  Some nausea here and there, killer headaches

Parent Child Dedication recap

We had a wonderful weekend full of family and now I am completely exhausted. We had the girl's dedication at church this past weekend, so family arrived to town Saturday afternoon. We spent the day hanging outside and then took all 11 of us to Mellow Mushroom for dinner.

Sunday we hosted a brunch at our house then headed to church for the service. The service was very sweet and it was a very special time for our family. We committed ourselves to raise our children in a Christian home, promising to raise our children with Christ in the center of our lives. I pray our girls will grow into godly women, trusting and turning to God, loving Jesus, and building their lives around His promises. It was a wonderful afternoon and my heart swelled as we stood on the stage, committing our family to grow in our understanding and trust of our Lord Jesus.

"that I may walk before God in the light of life." - psalm 56:13

Pictures to come :)!

16 weeks

I seriously cannot believe I am already 16 weeks pregnant! Having another baby around the house completely takes up my time and I hardly realize I am pregnant most days [except the days nausea comes out to play]. People are right when they say 2nd pregnancies go by so much faster!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything looked great. I had lost weight since last time I was there, so the doctor told me I needed to start gaining. I contemplated whether or not to stop at Chick-fil-a on the way home for a chicken biscuit treat! The heartbeat was 150bpm... which still has me thinking girl. My husband is thinking boy, so I guess one of us will be right ;)!  I head back in 3 weeks for the gender ultrasound. Exciting!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  16 weeks 1 day

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  down 1lb (can you hear me cheering?!) 

Maternity Clothes:  No maternity clothes yet.

Best Moment this week:  Haven't had any movement this week

Gender: We find out in 3 weeks!

Movement: Nothing this week

Food Craving:  crushed ice, purple gatorade

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly

Sleep:  I am beat most days, so sleep has been okay

What I am looking forward to:  Watching my belly grow, finding out the sex, getting nursery ideas!

Belly Button:  In

Stretch Marks: None yet. 

Symptoms:  Some nausea here and there, killer headaches

11 months!

Happy 11 months, sweet Say!

11 months?!? Say it ain't so! This year has been the fastest and absolute best of my life. I cannot believe we are one month shy of your first birthday [cue momma breaking down!]. I am pretty sure you are the most darling little girl in the world.

You are an absolute joy and are so much fun to be around. You definitely have grown into your own personality and are quite hilarious. You are laid back and so easy going, which we are so thankful for. You have a little temper in you as well (we see it when mommy tells you no and you act like I broke your heart, ha). You love to play and love trying to figure out how things work. You love to turn pages in books and fill up baskets and bags full of toys. You love to hand mommy toys all the time and help me with laundry :). 

You have decided that you don't want to scoot around anymore and have taken to full out crawling on all 4's and pulling up on things. You are so precious when you come crawling around the corner to the kitchen to find me.

You still sleep like a charm. You go to bed each night at 8 and wake up each morning between 7 and 730. You take 2 naps during the day... one around 9am and the other around 2pm. You usually sleep about 2 hours. When you are tired, wherever you are, you take your blanket and lay on the floor. So sweet.

You love toys and love to play and are definitely ready to jump in with the big kids. You love to watch people, especially kids, run around and play. You talk to people wherever we go and love when people play with you. 

You love bath time! 

You weigh somewhere around 21 pounds and have grown so much. You are in size 3 diapers and are wearing 12-18 month clothes. 

You are a great eater and eat whatever we are having for dinner. You still take 4 bottles of formula a day and drink water in a sippy cup. We just introduced whole milk to you in a  sippy cup and you love it! Your schedule:

8 oz bottle with rice cereal when you get up

8 oz bottle after morning nap

protein/vegi/yogurt for lunch

8 oz bottle after nap

dinner - you eat whatever we are eating

6-8 oz bottle before bed

This past year has been the absolute best year of my life. You brighten every single day. You are my sunshine. I love the precious way you cross your feet when you sit down to play or ride in the car. I love the sweet way you lay your head in my lap when you are sleepy. I love walking into your room in the morning and seeing you so excited and smiling. I love your giggles. I love hearing you say "mama." I love you, sweet girl, and can't wait to celebrate your precious first year. I love you to the moon. 

You are smart. You are beautiful. You are loved. 

Love you forever, Say. Happy 11 months!

If...

This is going around the blog world :)

Fill in the blanks....

If I were to get pregnant again...I am pregnant again! 

If I could have any job in the world...I am doing exactly what I love. I love being at stay at home mom. Would love to plan weddings on the side, if time allowed with littles. 

If I had a day to myself... I would read a book in the sunshine. Get a pedicure. Who knows what else. 

If I could get married all over again...I wouldn't change a thing. Our wedding day was absolutely perfect.

If I could live anywhere in the US... I wouldn't live in Columbia! This is the hottest place ever, ha!

If my girl would have been boy they would have been named... Baker. We'll find out in a few weeks if baby #2 is a girl or boy, and if it's a boy, Baker it will be. 

If I could have any talent in the world...I would sing!

If you met me in real life... Most of you know me in real life :)! 

If I could go back to school and get a different degree... Considering I don't use my degree, I'm not really sure.

If money was no object... I have no idea!

If I could meet one celebrity, it would be... Carrie Underwood

If I could shop at only one store the rest of my life...Nordstrom

If we were to get another pet it would be... NO more pets at the Branch household for awhile. We are currently at capacity with 2 dogs and a cat!

If I could go on a trip right now... I would go to the mountains and enjoy a lovely fall weekend. 

If I had to choose between a house cleaner and a personal chef...  I enjoy cooking more than cleaning, so i'd go with house cleaner. 

If I had the option of plastic surgery.. yes please! Body changes post baby are no joke!

iphone photo dump friday.

We have enjoyed a wonderful week of fabulous fall weather. Looking forward to a weekend of burning pumpkin scented candles, decorating our house for Halloween and being at home. Happy Friday [and weekend!] to all of you!

15 weeks and a few other things

Today,  I am 15 weeks pregnant with Baby B, and this pregnancy is completely flying by! I am starting to show a little bit and am getting excited about finding out what we are having sometime within the next month.

Sean and I went to Bald Head Island this past weekend for a few days and enjoyed some down time. It was so nice to be able to relax, sleep late and nap! I felt like my body was re-charged when we got back. We should do that more often :)!

Some special people are really on my heart this week. I am lifting you up in prayer. Also, my wedding photographer, and a sweet friend of mine, Kellie Kano (www.kelliekanophotography.com), is back in the hospital this week. Please keep her in your prayers. She has two darling little fellas awaiting their mommy's return home.

We started a new Mom's Bible Study at church yesterday. I was refreshed at the promises, we as young moms, have. No one... not God, our husbands or our children expect us to be perfect moms. We are challenged to rely on God and his mighty power to guide us as we raise these little beings to walk in His way.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

- 2 Peter 1:3

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  15 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  not sure, will be at the doctor next week

Maternity Clothes:  No maternity clothes yet.

Best Moment this week:  I am feeling the baby move every now and then. So much earlier this time than with Saylor!

Gender: Don't know yet

Movement: Flutters here and there

Food Craving:  crushed ice, cinnamon toast

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly

Sleep:  I am beat most days, so sleep has been okay

What I am looking forward to:  Watching my belly grow, finding out the sex, getting nursery ideas!

Belly Button:  In

Stretch Marks: None yet. 

Symptoms:  Some nausea here and there, killer headaches