19 Weeks Pregnant!

How far along: 19 weeks pregnant! Due September 3rd!

Gender: Officially a baby BOY!!

Total weight gain: Up 8.5 lb.

Exercise: Unfortunately, my exercise plans for this pregnancy look very different. Between the subchorionic hemorrhage and now the complete placenta previa, I have been limited to just walking from about 12 weeks on. My goal is to walk at least 26 miles a weeks. This week I was able to get a couple 7.5 miles days in, which lightened the load for other day!

Maternity clothes: Still no maternity clothes. Just making other clothes work. It's hot here already, so I've been rocking dresses and workout clothes.

Miss anything: I definitely am missing my normal workouts. Working out hard is how I maintain my sanity and feel strong! 

Movement: This week has been filled with a lot more movement. Movement that Mckenna and Ronnie both can feel also, which is SO fun!

Have you started to show: This one is debatable. I think I look obviously pregnant, and to friends, family, and acquaintances (even people at the gym) they can definitely tell. But I don't think strangers know for sure. I just look like I carry weigh in my midsection.

Stretch marks: This is a tricky one. I never got stretch marks on my belly with Mckenna. But ever since puberty I've had stretch marks on my thighs, tush, and hips. They are very fine and you only really see them when the light hits them right. So there's a good chance that I got more with Mckenna, I just have no idea. My guess is I may be getting more as we speak, I just can't see them in comparison to what is already there!

Belly button in or out: It's in...and looks like a massive goiter in tight shirts.

Wedding rings on or off: On, when I actually wear them! I take them off for exercise, showers, and sleeping...and with my baby brain and pregnancy brain, I often forget to put them back on!

Sleep: I sleep like any other mom with a 3.5 year old and a 4.5 month old.

Labor signs: None. I'm hoping none for a very, very long time. But I am already having noticeable Braxton Hicks contractions already. I had lots with Mckenna and have a feeling this pregnancy is going to be the same way.

Best moment of this week: Seeing Mckenna feel her brother move for the first time. She felt a solid thump against the palm of her hand, and her eyes lit up. It was the sweetest thing to watch!

We Love You Already Briella Grace

We could not be more thrilled that our niece, Briella Grace, was born yesterday at 7:40pm at 7lbs 4oz and 20 inches long. We are so in love with the newest member of our family!! Mom, dad, and Briella are doing great. We have so many pictures of that adorable little love...but this one mid-pout, about to let out a big, old cry, is my favorite!! We love you already Briella Grace!

Thankful Thursday: Endless Energy & Alone Time

It's thankful Thursday time! We all have so much to be thankful for and we love to take this opportunity just to write down each and everything that comes to mind. Please take this time to share with us what you're thankful for as well. If you have a blog expressing your thankfulness, please share the link! Without further ado, here's what we're thankful for:

Mandi's List:

I’m thankful Ronnie and Mckenna can now feel baby boy move pretty easily. Watching Mckenna’s face light up at the feeling of the “bump” from her brother is such a blessing!! I love that their relationship can start before he even gets here!

I’m thankful for a hubby who seems to have endless energy (or at least endless willingness) to help me with things as I’m kind of lame lately. He’s always willing to pick up my slack (or my turn to feed in the night) when I’m simply too pooped to do what I should do!

I’m thankful for our support system. Day in and day out I am reminded of what wonderful friends and family we have. We have been gifted such incredible people in our lives that make life fun, even when life is stressful or hard. Our life always seems filled with so much joy and laughter, regardless of circumstances, thanks to the people who surround us!

Ronnie's List:

I'm thankful for my excited daughter. For the past few weeks, Mckenna seems excited every time I walk in the room or when she comes back to the office to say "hello". I must admit, it makes me feel pretty special. Nothing like her squealing "Hi Daddy!!" and giving me a big ol' hug.

I'm thankful for a wife that keeps me on track. Mandi is often the one who gets me focused on the stuff that I need to get done and kicks my booty back on track when I start to veer. I'm blessed to have such a great accountability partner and one who motivates me by seeing how dialed in she usually is.

I'm thankful for alone time. Tomorrow night, Mandi and I are staying at a local resort after a conference that I'm taking part in without the girls in tow. My mom is coming up from Tucson to babysit and I'm really looking forward to having some one-on-one time with my wifey.

What are you thankful for today?  

Happy (Belated) Easter

He is risen!!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Easter. Saturday we celebrated with my family. My parents and Josh and Chrissy came over, and we celebrated be eating entirely way too much food, hunting for eggs, and enjoying each others' company. Sunday we went to church and then headed to Ronnie's cousins' house for more food, hunting, and good company.

But in the midst of all the fun, I couldn't help but stop and reflect.

Usually Easter is a celebration of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, giving us our salvation and ability to be in relationship with Him!

While I celebrated Jesus dying for me, I also rejoiced in the fact that He rose again. HE ROSE AGAIN. He died and overcame death. This stuck with me, but for a reason different than typically celebrated on Easter. I found myself stuck on the fact that He actually overcame death. That fact is something that I don't sit and really think about often. If He could overcome death then why do I worry about anything in my life? We often talk about how big our God is, and how He can do anything. But it doesn't stop me from worrying about different things in our lives. But why? I serve a God who isn't even conquered by death. Certainly all my little worries and problems are smaller than DEATH.

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by awe and appreciation. I kept feeling so blessed that God provided this baby boy for us. He did what only He could do. Only He is responsible for creating life. I have found myself with several reasons to worry throughout our pregnancy, as we have had a few hiccups. But why? He overcame death. He can do anything! I found myself thankful that He healed the subchorionic bleed. I found myself prayerful, begging Him to also resolve the complete placenta previa. I always know in my mind and heart that he can do those things, but rarely do I stop to really appreciate the fact that He truly can because it is nothing to Him. It is like asking me to take a breath or blink my eyes. I don't have to think twice to do those things, they come easily. I just do them because I do them every day, all day long. Solving my little issues are that easy for Him. And I felt convicted yesterday that I don't truly believe that all day every day, like I know should. Instead I let worry creep in. I felt thankful that He is not only all powerful in theory, but in practice!

So happy resurrection day!! Rejoice that Jesus conquered death and live remembering He is all powerful in our lives.