Time moves too fast

Time really has flown by this last several weeks, and I haven't had time to blog, or my internet has been down and has limited my access to the blog world! Over a month ago we found out that we are expecting a little girl. We decided to name her Gracie Mae. At the beginning of the year Jamie's beloved big Momma, Sadie Mae passed away. He also had a grandma on his dads side who passed right be fore Jamie and I started dating named Vergie Mae. We decided to name our little girl after these amazing women. I first heard the name Gracie in a book I was reading last year about some of the first African Americans to join the church in the mid 1800's. One of the women was named Gracie, and it really stuck out to me. She wasn't one of the "main characters" as you would put it, but the few times her name was mentioned I always had this great feeling and power behind the name... Any way that is where we got Gracie Mae's name from. Here is the questions I should have been doing each week...

Second Pregnancy: 27 weeks

Age of baby # 1: 22 months ( which means they will be 2 1/2 years apart)

How far along: 27 weeks and 5 days, but she is measuring a bit bigger!

How big is baby: about 2 pounds


Total weight gain:
10 pounds



Maternity clothes:
I got some pants and one new shirt, but I wear mostly the clothes I was before I was pregnant, and some from my first pregnancy.



Stretch marks:
Just what I already had



Belly button:
Innie. Stayed that way the first time, so I am pretty sure it will this time as well



Sleep:
Some days are really bad others better. I wake up at least three times a night no matter what though. Sometimes to pee, others to change sides because my hips and legs feel like they are going to break off, other times for no good reason but to wake up!!



Best moment of the week:
Cooling weather, has been sooo nice



Food cravings:
Not any big cravings just sugar!!


Food aversions:
None really

Symptoms:

Same ol Same ol, they just go in cycles from one symptom to the next



Movement:
Pretty active, hangs out really low so a lot of jabs to the bladder

Gender:
Girl... It is crazy to think about!



What I’m looking forward to:
Having the pregnancy be over... and great fall weather


What I’m nervous about:
So many things right now, not enough time to write...


What I miss:
A body that is not in constant pain


Next appointment:
September 13th



Comparison to Pregnancy #1:
Still so different, way more pain and tired as all get out!!

Well I better get to bed, hopefully I can write more about the goings of the James family later....

Changes...

Well there are to be a lot of changes going on in the James household, The main one being that I am PREGNANT with our second child. I am almost 13 weeks, and yesterday I got to hear the heartbeat, and I am telling you that sound never gets old. It is just an amazing sound.

I found a really cool thing on a blog entitled 7x7mommy.com where she is tracking her second pregnancy in a really cool way of a series of questions. I thought it was so cool, that I have to steal it!!



Baby is about the size of a lime

Second Pregnancy: 12 weeks

Age of baby # 1: 22 months ( which means they will be 2 1/2 years apart)

How far along: 12 weeks

How big is baby: About the size of a lime


Total weight gain:
1 lbs.



Maternity clothes:
For Mothers day Jamie got me a gift card for maternity clothes. I have been fine so far, but just today I put a Rubber band on my jeans to give me more room, so it might be about time for some pants



Stretch marks:
Just what I already had



Belly button:
Innie. Stayed that way the first time, so I am pretty sure it will this time as well



Sleep:
I have great days,and I have some bad days, where I just can't get comfortable. I feel like I hurt more this time then before in the abdomen, like things are pulling and tugging more... so some nights that gets in the way with sleeping. As well as I tend to get night sickness instead of morning sickness.



Best moment of the week:
Hearing the heartbeat! I was really nervous, because Jamie had to work so I was there by mysef. And you never know if there is bad news, especially this early on. With Julian the doctor couldn't find the heart beat on the machine and we had to have an ultra sound. That really scared me so to be by myself I was nervous there would be bad news and I would have to bear it alone, but all went well, the doctor found the heart beat right away!



Food cravings:
This week in particular has been chips, salty chips. I settled for Pickles, because even though they are not healthy in the sodium department, I thought they would be better than fried chips!!



Food aversions:
I have had a couple meals this week that I thought would be really good, and when I ate it, it really wasn't. Not that the food was bad, just that I ended up not feeling it! I hate that!! Especially if you are splurging on a not so healthy food (ie a cheeseburger) was not that great, very disappointed



Symptoms:

You name it I have had it. Nausea, constipation, heartburn, tired. Starting to be less often though



Movement:
Ok I know all the blogs say it is impossible to feel movement yet, but I swear I have felt fluttering. And it is not the constipation, I know what those movement feel like. This is something different, but nothing definite.



Gender:
No idea, but can’t wait to find out!



What I’m looking forward to:
Nice weather and swimming



What I’m nervous about:
getting more tired, with a very very active boy. My house has been a disaster many days early on because I was sick and had no energy to keep up with his messes.



What I miss:
Crazy enough running, but I am still working out 3-4 times a week, just can't run!



Next appointment:
June 22



Comparison to Pregnancy #1:
Complete 180. I was never sick with Julian or had any symptoms for that matter until the end of the second trimester when I got bad heart burn. But I felt great. And that has not been the case this time around

Giveaway time!

Another great giveaway!! Maybe this time I will win! ;-)
Click here to learn more!

Want to win a giveaway!

A friend from the good ol days of Brick Oven has a great blog about her journey for the pursuit of confidence, and she is teaming up with a great photographer for a giveaway! I am so excited to enter... and if you would like to enter check it out at
her blog here

Testimony

When I first decided to come to Utah, I felt like the main reason I needed to be here was to gain a stronger testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, away from family, and close friend (all mine went to BYU-I Idaho. I have had a good number of testimony building experiences while here, and I think the reason why the lord as seen fit to not let me leave this wonderful desert, is because I am not done working on that testimony. Testimony's are a constant "work" in progress of course, but I realized today that perhaps I have not learned everything I should and can from Utah. One such opportunity occurred today while I was surfing Pinterest. I came across this print

I clicked on it in hopes of being connected to website that would allow me to copy and save the image for future use. What I came across is something I will never forget. It was a blog of a mother of 6 who recently lost her 20 year old daughter who was on a hike here in Utah, and tragically fell to her death. As part of her blog the mother shared links to of her daughters story which aired on a show here in Utah called Mormon Times. It is not on BYU-tv, but is a Sunday program through our local news station. Her story touched me greatly, but more importantly her TESTIMONY touched me... The family has printed her testimony which was written in her journal one month before she passed away! If you would like to see her story on mormon times click here

But I wanted to share her Testimony that has really strengthen mine in the process...

Click here to read Laney's Amazing testimony

Hats, Ties, and Cars

Julian has a few obsessions as of late. Namely, Hats, Ties, and Cars. Julian LOVES to wear a hat, even if the object it not meant to be worn as a hat, Julian will put it on his head anyway, and walk around as if it was a hat all along. He also walks around with Jamies ties around his neck, and whenever he see's someone wearing a tie (or a hat for that matter) he yells out.. A tie, a tie. or A hat, a hat! Cars; this one is relatively new whenever he sees a car he has to yell car, and then touch the car. He likes toy cars as well.

All of this for the most part is funny and cute, but let me give you a few examples when this can be quite annoying lol. The other week I went to BYU to register for my run/swim race which takes place at the end of this month. Julian was with me, and there was a long line. Well of course like most college student, and especially at BYU, there is an abundant of student wearing... you guessed it, a hat or a tie. I was waiting in line for 10 min, and pretty much every second of the wait was joined with Julian yelling... A hat, a tie... The other example is that we live across the street from the church building so we just walk to church each week. In the parking lot are about 30-40 cars. It took us about 10 min just to walk through the parking lot, because Julian had to stop at each car along the way, touch it and yell.. A car!!

Like I said this makes me laugh and giggle usually, but every once in a while think you might have a breakdown if you hear the word, hat tie, or car again!

Here are some pictures of the many hats Julian enjoys!

Look at that face! That is a face that I can't help but love! I have been asking heavenly father in my prayers recently to help me remember to stop and focus on Julian and his needs through out the day, to really try to understand him. You see Julian has a whine that within seconds makes you want to shoot yourself! He is very independent, yet so needy at the same time, and impatient as all get out (he gets that from his dad) When he doesn't like what you have to say or don't respond quick enough he will hit you, and it's not just the "frustration" hit that doctors talk about, it is a true attention getting I am mad at you hit! Between all of that I have been struggling the last several months, at getting truly upset and mad at this little boy! To the point that it was taking over any positive. So the last several days I have prayed for the guidance and awareness to STOP and THINK and UNDERSTAND my little boy. The first day I just prayed for patients, BIG MISTAKE, when you do that the lord answers by giving all the opportunity to practice!!!

The next several nights I asked that I would be able to understand Julian, remember his limitations, and to be aware of his feelings and struggles. And the last several days I have found or rekindled a even stronger love for him! I always loved him, but the last several months I had been physically exhausted and my emotions so frayed that I had a hard time feeling all the love I really have for him! The last several days I have been able to stop and see I boy who is extremely loving. Who cares deeply for those around him, who loves to snuggle, even if it is for a brief minute in between his race. A sense of humor to boot, and a smile that could kill! I am absolutely in love with this little boy. He still has a whine that could bust an ear drum, and a mighty powerful slap, but I have learned to see past that to the heart of my son. I am learning to make those frustrating moment into better teaching moments.

Motherhood is hard work! I never expected it to be easy, I knew it was physically demanding, but the thing I think I was least prepared for is how EMOTIONALLY demanding it can be. But at the same time it is very emotionally REWARDING! You just have to remember to STOP, THINK, AND LISTEN!

There is a popular blog I follow entitled 71 toes The mom has a very simple sign in her entry way that reads "Love More" This has been my focus of the week, and I really want to make a similar sign for my house, so that I could always remember that there is always room in our lives to love more...

Mommy loves you Julian Thompson James!

Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales || Spoken Word

Saw this video on facebook, and it gave me goosebumps! It is a great poem about marriage

Falling behind!!

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! I realized that I am horrible at posting during big events/ holidays, the one time that my post probably matter the most right??

Christmas, was an amazing break for our family, especially Jamie. It was the first "real" vacation for him in almost two years. So needless to say it was way over due. A few days before Christmas we headed to California to spend time with my side of the family. It was the first time I have traveled with Julian, and Jamie, so I wasn't prepared for the amount of stuff we had, and this threw me all out of wack. Well to make a long story short,I not only left Julians Immunization card, which they check to verify his age since he flies for free, but I left his whole diaper bag, with his toys, snacks, diapers, and even some presents, in the car of the friend that dropped us off at the airport. Needless to say I was a wreck crying in the airport going through security. But all ended well. They let me pass with Julian (luckily he is on the small side so they believed me) and I had our friend send some of the presents to me. I had a bunch of wipes and diapers packed in suit-cases so that was good! Side note, if you ever need diaper and wipes they do sell them at the airport, at least the SLC one they did. In a package you get three diaper and a small thing of wipes, LIFE SAVER!!

It was really nice to relax with family we had Christmas Adam (the day before christmas eve, and Adam came before eve, therefore... ) this was a mini German dinner with Schnitzel since Christmas eve was a big German dinner at my omi's house and she doesn't do the Schnitzel she does the fish. This was great with my sister and her family and the cousins had a blast And then Christmas day was at home with my grandma and grandpa Fogleman, and Uncle Chris. That was great to spend time with them. Julian had a blast and is still playing with all the toys he received. Jamie was with us the first week, but had to leave for work, and Julian and I stayed a second week with my cousin who lives in NYC. It was great spending time with her, since we haven't seen each other in 4 years. We are six months apart and were really close when we were young. We had a great time and welcomed the new year in together!

Now that we are home it took me a couple weeks to get back into the swing of things. Julian had his 18 month check up and he is doing great. He is still on the lean side only in the 7% but he is gaining weight, and the doctor told us that in the next two visits or so, we can determine if that's just genetics, and he will be always be genetically lean. But his is growing tall in the 66% so above average. And the biggest hurray was that his head grew leaps and bound. Six months ago he wasn't even close to being on the charts with a head size in the .01% but now he is on the charts, on the low side, but nevertheless he made it on. We are really happy about that. That was the thing we were most afraid of.

Julian is talking up a storm. I am going to list all the words he knows, but I am sure I am going to miss a lot

1. water
2. night-night
3. dog
4. momma
5. daddy
6. couch
7. eat
8. no (still doesn't really say yes, says no for both)
9. bye
10. gentle (this is the word we use when he hits. He knows to wipe your cheek and say gentle)
11. banana
12. book
13.out
14. hot
15. cheese
16. please
17. Thank-you
18. yucky
19. stinky
20. ball
21. mine
22. cookie (blame jamie with that one)
23 brrr. (when we go outside and it's cold
24. Baby
25. Car
26. football
27. eye

That's all I can think off the top of my head, but there are more, especially since now he is starting to copy words that you say to him. His comprehension is even greater. He knows all the parts on his body and will point at them if you ask. He know about 10-12 different animal sounds, and knows what they look like. If he sees a cat he will go Meow, instead of saying cat. I can ask him to get me just about anything in the house and he will get it for me (ie diaper, cup, pillow, blanket ect..) He talks pretty much non stop, even if it isn't just gibberish. Still as active as always. We actually started sending Julian to Nursery a little over a month early. He was getting to distracting in RS. And the minute we dropped him off, he was off, and could care less about us! He is always happy when you are there to pick him up, but has no problem leaving you! Nursery has been a blessing, it is great to be able to really listen to a lesson again!

Well I think that pretty much sums up the last couple months... Until next time