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Merry Christmas / 30 weeks

30 Weeks

Christmas Day!

Braylon opening his first present from Santa!

Mommy getting some lovin' from her little boy.

CCutie pie on Christmas Morning!

Watching Papa try to plow snow with the tractor. Thank goodness we didn't have anywhere to go!

Opening his presents Christmas Eve.

K-State Basketball game on Monday night.

Ready to go sledding for the first time!

Opening presents at Grandma and Grandpa Meyn's.

Opening presents at home before we left for the week!

Hope everyone is having a safe and Merry Christmas. I know we are. We are having a VERY White Christmas. This first I can remember like this. All of our Church services were cancelled and my parents can't ever remember that happening. Needless to stay we are stuck inside for awhile. I just feel bad for those who weren't able to spend Christmas with their families because of the snow.

I am 30 weeks exactly today. I feel like I am getting very large and that Avery is running out of room. It hurts when she moves now. I have been having some on and off contractions so I have been trying to take it easy. I will be talking to the doctor about it at my next appt. Other than that I am sleeping as well as can be expected. I just can't believe that I only have 10 more weeks to go!!!

Pictures

28 weeks

Braylon, Boston and Bouncer looking out the window waiting for uncle Ryan to come home!

Braylon opening his first present of the season!

Braylon and some of his second cousins!

29 Weeks/Christmas Baking

How far along? 29 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? 5 pounds as of my last appt (last Tuesday).
Maternity clothes? Oh, yes.
Stretch marks? No new ones, I think but I have a feeling they are coming. I have been feeling a lot of stretching this week.
Sleep: Not the greatest, but I'll take what I can get.
Best moment this week: The week being over and starting my week long vacation!
Movement: Oh yes, you can see and feel her moving! I was starting to get a little worried the other day because she wasn't moving very much, but luckily that didn't last very long.
Food cravings: none.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Lots of Braxton Hicks, but nothing more.
Belly Button in or out? Top is out, bottom is in.
What I am looking forward to: Heading to Hanover and Centralia tomorrow for Christmas. I get the WHOLE week off!!!
Weekly Wisdom: It takes a lot of stomach muscles to sneeze. I have been sneezing constantly for the last two days and I am so sore. Ah I hate colds.
Milestones: Making it in to my final trimester!!! Not too much longer to go before we get to meet our beautiful little girl.

So, I can't get any pictures to post right now. I'll try again tonight.

This past weekend my family came to see us in KC. My mom, sisters and I made cookies all day Saturday while the guys went Christmas shopping. I had a blast hanging out with my mom and sisters. Braylon liked helping out also. He loved my mom's Kitchen Aid Mixer, anytime he heard it come on he was in the kitchen. Then later that night aunt Rosie helped him decorate some sugar cookies.

On Sunday we headed to Silver Lake for our Feldkamp Christmas. Braylon had a lot of fun playing with his little cousins and opening his first present of the year.

Braylon has been afraid of Santa for quite some time. He wouldn't go near him last year, so I have been working with him this year so that I could get a picture. Wednesday night we went to the mall in hopes of getting Braylon's picture with Santa. We did!! There was NO line and we got right in. Braylon didn't like it by any means, but he wasn't screaming or crying. :) I think it was a success!!

We are heading to Hanover tomorrow for a few days and then to Centralia next Wednesday for the rest of the week. Chris, Braylon and I are looking forward to a nice, relaxing week with our families.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas!!

(I'll try and post some pictures tonight!)

Funny Story

Ok, so I think this proves that kids love their aunts and uncles more than their parents. :) Just joking, but man last night sure could have changed my mind.

Last night we got home from a weekend in Centralia at about 9:30, so Braylon was probably tired since it is past his bedtime. But he has NEVER done this before. As soon as we pulled into the driveway he just starts throwing a HUGE fit. His exact words, "I don't want to go home. I go to Ryan's." He was so pissed the we were at home and not at his Uncle Ryan's house. It took us probably 15 minutes to get him calmed down. He just kept screaming at us that he wanted to go to Ryan's house and nothing was changing his mind. Through all the tears that were shed, it was still pretty cute! At lease once a week he says that he wants to go to Ryan's house, but never on our way home and not quite to this degree. I told Ryan that he is just going to have to take him home with him next time. :)

Just proves that Braylon LOVES his Uncle Ryan!

25 Weeks!

How far along? 25 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? According to the doctors office 0lbs, but according to my scale 4lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? No new ones, I think ;)
Sleep: This week? BAD. With Braylon being sick, having to get up to go to the bathroom, and having to change sides every hour because my hip starts hurting, needless to say it is lacking.
Best moment this week: Seeing Avery move under my shirt. She is just getting stronger and stronger every day.
Movement: Oh yes, Chris and Braylon have felt her. She is packing some good punches lately, but I can also just feel her rolling over in long drawn out motions. I like those better!
Food cravings: Nothing really, I just LOVE to eat! I get so hungry all the time now.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nothing!
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow. Its starting to look less like a belly button.
What I am looking forward to: Making it to my 3rd trimester in a couple weeks!
Weekly Wisdom: Only 5 weeks till Christmas!!!!! :)
Milestones: I guess having Chris and Braylon really feel her move. Watching her move!

Sinus & Ear Infection

Well, Braylon is at home with me today with a sinus and ear infection. He started running a fever last night, so Chris set up an doctors appointment for this morning. Sure enough he has a couple of infections. Explains the many many sleepless nights. Hopefully the antibiotics start to kick in and we are able to rest well today and tonight. He is acting completely fine right now. I am kind of hoping he is going to want to snuggle later on. I don't just get to spend the entire day just him and me very often.

My doctors appointment went great yesterday as well. Braylon was the doctors little assistant and got to hold the Doppler and help her get Avery's heart rate. He was so excited. She did an amazing job making him feel SO important! I am measuring a week big, but no biggy. I just love getting to hear her heartbeat!

1st Snow Sighting

We had our first snow sighting this morning! There was just enough snow to cover the ground and vehicles. Braylon was super excited about it. But, him and I didn't get very much sleep last night and we are EXHAUSTED. He decided to be awake from 12:30 to 5:00 this morning. I am completely dragging at work right now. He kept complaining that his teeth and tummy hurt. He has a head cold (goopy eyes, running nose, cough), so now I am concerned that he has a ear infection. I'm not sure why else he would be complaining about his teeth. He hasn't ran a fever yet, so we are going to see how today and tonight go. I am just hoping he is my fantastic sleeper tonight. I NEED some rest.

I have a doctors appointment today! It was supposed to be last Tuesday, but my doctor got called into surgery and cancelled all appointments. I am excited to hear Avery's heartbeat and be assured everything still looks great!

Hopefully this nasty weather doesn't stick around too much longer and it is a nice weekend. This is our fist weekend home in over a month! I am very excited about that!!!

23 Weeks!

The Black-Suited Spiderman!

Me at 22 weeks. Braylon didn't want his mommy to have her picture taken.

How far along? 23 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? Not for sure, I think I have finally gained a pound or two.
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? No new ones. ;)
Sleep: Wasn't going so well this week. I am having to turn over about every 2 hours. :(
Best moment this week: Feeling Avery getting stronger and stronger!

Movement: Oh yes, Chris could probably feel her move if he left is hand on my belly all day. :) Just haven't timed it out right yet!
Food cravings: I LOVE Orange Juice! (not really a food, but I love it!)
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nothing strong enough to worry about.
Belly Button in or out? Getting more and more shallow.
What I am looking forward to: Having Chris feel his daughter move!
Weekly Wisdom: Only 7 weeks till Christmas!!!!! :)
Milestones: Only 17 weeks to go. It is crazy to think about, because I have known I was pregnant for 19 weeks now and it has flown by. Avery will be here before we know it!

I will leave you with a few pictures from the last few weekends. We went to Manhattan for the K-State football game. Before the game the K-State Basketball team had their scrimmage and we took Braylon to it. He loved it and he got to meet some players and Coach Martin. We even got some autographs and pictures. Last weekend we went to Centralia for Halloween. We went into town and had dinner at John and Mary Jane Engelkens and then took Braylon trick-or-treating. I think he had more fun helping Mary Jane hand out candy.


We are headed to Manhattan tonight for the K-State vs KU game tomorrow. It is an early one, but hopefully K-State can come away with a win! GO CATS!!!!!

It's a ----/ 20 weeks!

It's a ............................

Wait for it..........................

GIRL!!!

How far along? 20 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss? 25 lbs lost ?? Not for sure, I have a doc appt on Tuesday.

Maternity clothes? Yes

Stretch marks? No new ones. ;)

Sleep: Decent, as long as I have lots of pillows.

Best moment this week: Finding out the sex of our little one!

Movement: Yep and I love it!

Food cravings: No food cravings, but I LOVE Orange Juice!

Gender: GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Labor Signs: Having some Braxton Hicks, but nothing major.

Belly Button in or out? Getting more shallow.

What I am looking forward to: Buying Pink stuff! :)

Weekly Wisdom: nothing

Milestones: I am half way through my pregnancy!!!

I ended up getting in to see the sono-tech earlier than Tuesday. I got in today at 3 o'clock. I was so happy that I was able to get in this week. I don't know why, but I was just really anxious to see the baby and make sure everything was ok. We left Braylon at Wanda's (the babysitters) so that the sono-tech would not get too distracted. As much as we were looking forward to finding out the sex of the baby, the most important was to make sure everything with the baby was ok. Braylon is in the stage where anybody that touches mommy is hurting her and he will start crying if they don't stop. He won't even let Chris give me a back or foot massage. It is kind of cute that he is so protective of his mommy. I know he is going to be the same way with his baby sister. We are so thrilled and can't wait to meet Avery Elizabeth in person in March. Everything looked great and she is extremely active. It was really hard for her to get some good pictures of Avery because she would not sit still!

To sum up the post...we are having a baby Girl, Avery Elizabeth, sometime around March 6, 2010!!!!! We are all very excited!

Bummed :(

I am so bummed out right now. My doctor's office just called and said they had to reschedule my sonogram because the sono tech went home sick. I have been waiting for tomorrows appointment for so long now. Now, I have to wait another whole week. AHHHH. I am going to be making daily calls into the appointment desk to see if there were any cancellations and hopefully I can get in sooner (they told me to do this). Not keeping my fingers crossed. So now we have to wait until next Tuesday at 11:30am for my sonogram. I know it is just another week, but I was so looking forward to seeing my baby and making sure he/she was healthy and growing.

I'll keep ya posted if I get in any sooner!

Pictures

Copying Papa Tailgaiting! My dad went to lean against the grain bins so Braylon had to follow. Made us all laugh.

Braylon and his new pal Woody. He puts Woody to bed with him, brushes his teeth and even trys to take a bath with him.

Me at 19 weeks.

19 weeks!

I am almost half way there. I can't believe how fast the first part of the pregnancy has gone. I remember when I was setting up all my appointments how far away October sounded and now it is here! I have been feeling great with the exception of a cold. It has been pretty pesky, but can't complain too much. We get to find out the baby's sex in 4 DAYS!! I can't wait! I am planning on drinking a big glass of OJ and having some M&Ms to make sure it is wanting to move. :)

How far along? 19 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? 25 lbs lost
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? No new ones. ;)
Sleep: Decent, It is getting a little more uncomfortable.
Best moment this week: Really feeling the baby move.
Movement: Yep! Can't wait for it to get stronger.
Food cravings: None
Gender: Don't know yet, but will in 4 Days!!!!!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Half in half out.
What I am looking forward to: My sonogram in 4 days!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Being sick and pregnant sucks. :( You can't take any good meds.
Milestones: Feeling the baby move. It is the best thing about being pregnant!

Braylon has been great. We are in the early stages of potty training him. We are working with him in the evening for now until he starts to "get it" a little better. He gets SO excited when he pees or poops on the potty. I mean SUPER excited. Mom and Dad just need to get a little better at this. :) Braylon is definitely in the copy everyone stage (words and or gestures). We are going to have to start watching what we say. This little boy is too smart for his own good. He can now count to ten, say his ABCs (mostly) and sing Ring Around the Rosie! I just love watching him grow and can't wait to see what he does next.

I will try and post a belly shot and a few of Braylon this evening or this weekend. Braylon HATES having his picture taken, so we don't get too many anymore.

17 weeks!!

I am 17 weeks today!

I have been feeling so much better and getting my appetite back. I am hungry ALL the time. I don't seem to get enough. It is so much better than despising food. :) I am cramping and stretching a lot, but the doctor says that's pretty normal to feel it more when you have already had one baby. Man, I don't remember stretching like this at all with Braylon. I am so worried about how big this baby is going to be. Chris was over 10lbs at birth and I do not want it to be that big. We shall see! :)

I found this questionnaire on a couple of blogs so I thought I would try and fill it out every week to help me track the pregnancy.

How far along? 17 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? 23 lbs lost
Maternity clothes? Yes, majority of them are. I need to go shopping to get some more!
Stretch marks? No new ones. ;)
Sleep: Good. Just up once or twice a night to pee.
Best moment this week: Braylon coming up to me and telling the baby "Hi" and laying his head on my belly. I love it when he shows interest in the baby on his own.
Movement: Not really, I sometimes think I can feel him/her.
Food cravings: None
Gender: Don't know yet, but will in 2 1/2 weeks!!!!!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In
What I am looking forward to: My sonogram in 2 1/2 weeks!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Your two year old will find a way to snuggle on your lap given the lack of space. :)
Milestones: Liking food again.

We will be heading to Manhattan tonight for the K-State game tomorrow. I am sure I will have some more tailgating pictures to share!

Catching up/New Look

As you can tell I have given the blog a little face lift. I was trying to clean it up and make it easier to read. Hope you all like it! I am working on a cool new header!!

Braylon Riding the train at the Seneca Church Picnic!
Our first K-State game of the year. We had plan on taking Braylon in with us, but he decided not to take a nap and was SUPER cranky come game time. So Nana Feldkamp took him home. But the kid LOVED tailgating!

Just chilling watching his movies. (Yes I have a thumb sucker)

All of us at Rosie and Josh's wedding dance.

The whole family!!!

Our little stud!!

Quick Baby Update(more to come)

Okay, I know I have been really bad about blogging lately. I just can't get the urge to sit if front of a computer when I get home (I sit in front of one for 8 hours a day). But I am hoping to get better at it again soon!

Anyway, I had my 16 week checkup yesterday and everything still looks good. I am still losing weight, I am at about 22 lbs lost. Doctor isn't too concerned about it since my uterus size is right on track (plus I wasn't a small girl to begin with;) ). The doctor found the heart beat right away and it was nice and steady in the 150s. She just put the doppler on and there it was, nice and strong. I LOVE that sound! I do not believe in the old wives' tale about the heart rate. Braylon's was always in the 150's and we know how that turned out. We'll just have to wait and see in 4 short weeks to find out if it is a boy or girl. I am starting to get really excited about finding out! I still think it is another boy, but everyone seems to think its a girl. We'll see who's right! We took Braylon with us to the doctor this time and he did NOT like the doctor putting the doppler on mommy. He cried and whimpered the whole time. The doctor said most kids his age are like that the first time around and it will get better so not to hesitate to keep bringing him.

I will try and get some pictures up tonight on what has been going on over the last month.

Different Second Time Around

Boy is this pregnancy different than with Braylon. I have not been feeling very well these past few weeks. I do not seem to like ANY type of food. Any thought of food makes me want to throw up. Oh and don't even get me started on the smell of foods. YUCK! Even though I don't physically get sick I feel like I am about to. I can't wait for this next week and half to be over so that I "hopefully" start feeling better. With Braylon, I didn't feel like this at all. I think garlic was the only thing that made me squirm with him. But this time around it is EVERYTHING. I have already lost 15 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. I just can't get myself to eat very much at one time. Oh and the exhaustion, I am tired all the time. Chris has been so amazing. He just lets me come home from work and lay down for the rest of the night. He (or my sister) take care of making dinner and dishes. It has been wonderful.

So, hopefully some of my energy will be returning soon so that I can get some pictures uploaded on here. I am feeling so behind right now.

Happy / Sad

Today I am both Happy and Sad. I am happy for my baby sister, Rosanna, who got married yesterday to a wonderful man, Josh. They both looked amazing. I will have pictures to post soon. Congratulations to the WINKLERS!!!

I am sad because I will be going to the Rosary of a friend and classmate tonight. My heart has been aching since Thursday for the Adams Family. Jason was a wonderful man, husband, father, brother, grandson and friend. He is going to be missed so much. Please keep his friends and family in your prayers during this very difficult time.

A week in Centralia...

Braylon and I have been spending this week in Centralia helping out my little sister Rosie get ready for her wedding on Saturday. Braylon has been enjoying his time on the farm with Papa. I think he has gotten to ride the tractors everyday so far. He LOVES this. I have been enjoying lots of rest. I have been taking 2 hour naps with Braylon everyday. It has been so nice. We have been busy getting ready for the wedding too. We can't wait for Saturday. It is going to be a beautiful wedding. We have been talking with Braylon about walking down the aisle to hopefully get him to do it. We plan on practicing with him on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We'll see if it happen or not.

I will have pictures to post from the wedding on Sunday! Lots of handsome pictures of the little man.

A Big Brother????

Yep, Braylon is going to be a big brother!! Chris and I are expecting baby #2 March 6, 2010!! We are so thrilled and everything is going well. I am quite a bit nauseous, but no throwing up. Thanks goodness for that. We will keep you all up to date on the progress. We are planning on finding out the sex in October so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Braylon!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Braylon! You are an amazing little boy and mommy and daddy love you very much.

Where does the time go?

Hard to believe that this little guy will be TWO tomorrow. I have so much to do to get ready for this weekend. We are having a nice BBQ with our families and then Cake and Ice-Cream later on with our extended families. It is going to be a Thomas the Train theme since Braylon is obsessed with it right now. I am attempting to decor his cake myself. Hopefully it will turn out OK. I'm sure he'll like it either way. I am getting his pictures taken tomorrow morning so I will have a new post all for the little Birthday Boy!

Last part of June

June has been a very busy month for the Meyn Family. Two weekends ago we went back to Hanover for Chris's 10 year class reunion. We had a great time catching up with all his classmates. Then on Sunday we headed to Centralia for my little sister Rosie's Bridal Shower. I think she had a very successful bridal shower. Tons of great gifts!

This past weekend we all headed to Wentzville, MO (St. Louis) to see our friends the Lickteigs. Dom and Emily just had a baby boy, Carter Phillip, on May 8th. This was our first time meeting the little guy. He was such a sweet baby boy. I think I only heard him cry once the whole weekend. No exaggeration either. Braylon absolutely LOVED baby Carter! That is all he wanted to do was see Baby Carter and give his binky. So cute. He was so sweet and gentle with him. I was quite surprised. Braylon is going to be a great big brother some day. On Saturday we went to a place called the Magic House in St. Louis. It is an indoor activity center. They had all kinds of things for children to do and learn. It was a lot of fun. Then later that afternoon Chris and Dom took Braylon swimming. Braylon LOVES the water and would have stayed at the pool all night. He wasn't very happy when Mommy made him go home. We headed back home on Sunday after lunch. Thank you Lickteigs for a wonderfull weekend!