23 Weeks

This week brings number 23!  Another week gone by...  Nothing too new or exciting this week.  Next week we go in for another appointment and will have more to share.  Everything continues to go by smoothly and Lincoln enjoys "cuddling" with my belly and his little brother.  

This week, baby is the size of a mango

Baby bump..."popped" more this week & carrying high

How far along: 23 weeks
Total weight gain: Around 5 (depends on the day)
Maternity clothes? Some maternity, some "regular"
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Between thunderstorms, my bladder, and a 3 year old...not much sleep here
Cravings: Grandma Schut's lime jello with pears and cherries in it
Pregnancy symptoms this week: Charlie horse...yikes!
What I miss: Lunch meat...especially dried beef!
Belly button: In
General mood: Happy
Movement: Yes, he likes to kick in the tub
Embarrassing cry of the week: Grey's Anatomy...that's a given
Excited for: Next week's appointment to hear the little heartbeat again

22 Weeks

This week marks week 22 of this pregnancy.  Time goes so much faster the second time around, we are too busy keeping up with Lincoln to realize how fast it goes.  A couple weeks ago we got to watch our healthy little BOY on ultrasound.  He was super active and already a little peanut for our tech who could barely get a measurement before he started doing somersaults.  Looks like this one could give us a run for our money...yikes!

 

This week, baby is the size of a spaghetti squash

 Ultrasound Pictures:

 It's harder to see in this picture, but in 4D he looked JUST like Lincoln as a baby!

 

Baby bump

 

How far along: 22 weeks
Total weight gain: 2-3 lbs. from my "pre-baby" weight (I lost a lot during the 1st trimester...darn morning sickness) 
Maternity clothes? Sometimes
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: At least up once a night to go to the bathroom, more if Lincoln wakes me up :)
Cravings: None
Pregnancy sypmtoms this week: Tired, very mild occasional heartburn
What I miss: When everything in my closet fit
Belly button: In
General mood: Excited
Movement: Still little flutters often
Embarassing cry of the week: Louisville beating Duke in March Madness...and I'm not even a fan of either
Excited for: Maternity shopping this week!

Lately..

It's clearly been much too long since I have last posted...and so many changes and exciting things have happened since.  Here is a little glimpse at what our last few months have looked like.

This December wrapped up my last semester in the classroom (huge sigh of relief)!  I took my last finals and enjoyed some much needed time off with Lincoln.  In January I started the first of three clinicals for school.  I was fortunate to get all three rotations in the Sioux Center area, which has put an end to my commuting.  Another huge blessing!  I spent three weeks at the Sioux Center hospital, 5 weeks at the Orange City Hospital, and have just began my 6 week clinical at ProActive Physical Therapy in Sioux Center.  Time has flown through these clinicals and I have learned so much.  I am very anxious to get licensed and practice on my own!  I will graduate in mid-May and take my board exams in early July...lots of studying to do in the meantime!

Christmas Festivities:

Troy, Lincoln and I at the Christmas Tree Farm with my in-laws.

Visitng Santa and Mrs. Claus

Lincoln and his new tractor

Santa hand-delivered a Christmas present!

Opening his stocking at Grandpa and Grandma Schut

Troy and I with our stockings at my parents house

Lincoln and cousin Braxxton...the best attempt at a picture of the two of them

Our biggest and most exciting news came this winter when we got to announce we are expecting baby #2 on August 7!  Lincoln is thrilled to gain a little brother this summer.  More on this pregnancy to come...

My sister Courtney came home for the weekend to celebrate her and Troy's birthdays in early March.

 

Also in March we spent a night at the Ramkota hotel in Sioux Falls with Troy's family.  They have an indoor water park in the hotel where Lincoln spent over 5 hours straight of swimming.  We had to drag him out of the pool for a slice of pizza...and again when it was bedtime.  He was absolutely exhausted, but loved every minute of it!

 

 



 

Easter 2013: dye, candy, Easter eggs, family, and good food...

 Lincoln loved hunting for Easter eggs this year.  We came home with a basket full of goodies and way too much candy!

 Lincoln and cousin Braxxton's Eater buckets.

 

Me and my not so little "baby" anymore...love him!

Day 12 & 13

Day 12: Good friends (old and new).  I love my friends, whether from high school, college or recent friendships.  They have been great ears, lots of laughs, and the best friends I could as for!

Day 13: Warm house.  I love that I can come home at night to a warm place to sleep (especially with this cold weather...brr)!  We all take it for granted!

Thankful!

I may be a few days behind but wanted to share my thanks this month.  I promise to do better!  I have so much to be thankful for and never take enough time to reflect on it so here it goes...

Day 1: Lincoln.  He is a ball of fire, always keeping us on our toes with his sense of humor and witty little personality!  We are always amazed at the the little man he's becoming the new things he's learning.  We are never quite sure what's going to come out of his mouth but can guarantee it will usually make us laugh.  I will never hear enough of his sweet "love you mom".

Day 2: Troy.  He is a great husband and father to Lincoln.  He's patient, hard-working, helpful, and has a sense of humor that always can make me smile!

Day 3: School.  Although I sometimes I complain, I'm so thankful for the opportunity to go back to school.  I couldn't be more excited to finish up and start in a career I have such a passion for!

Day 4: Family.  I have been blessed with a great family and in-laws.  I love how close we are to every one of them.  We love spending time with our families and all the help they've been to us!

Day 5: Daycare.  Past and present, our daycare providers have a big place in Lincoln's heart.  He looks forward to going everyday, which has made it much easier for me leaving him.  They have loved him as their own!

Day 6: Frozen meals.  They're easy and fast and one less thing to worry about after a busy day.  I love getting them from my mom or taking the time with my in-laws to make weeks worth.  If you haven't done it before, there are blogs and blogs full of great recipes.

Day 7: Notecards.  I probably have gone through a dozen packs of notecards throughout the last year and a half of school but they're the best way for me to study.  We all joke we'll need to have a burn party after boards! :)

Day 8: Lazy nights.  We don't seem to have many of them lately, but a night at home with nothing to do but relax and play is the best!  Our activities, work, and homework have began to consume way too much time! I look forward to the study-free nights ahead!

Day 9: Clinical assignments.  This fall we did a 10-week clinical experience, and this spring is all clinical affiliation.  I am BEYOND excited and thankful for them all to be within 10 minutes of driving distance.  This means no more trips to Sioux City, less time on the road, and more time with my baby! 

Day 10: Sunshine.  It can make the coolest of days seem a little bit warmer!

Day 11: Out veterans.  I am thankful for my brother-in-law and all others past and present who have so unselfishly served our country!

Apple Pickers

This weekend we got to celebrate my mom's birthday at the Country Apple Orchard near Sioux Falls (or Harrisburg...I'm not really sure).  We met up with my sister and her little family and spent the day doing all things apple..and then some.  We weren't even in the parking lot and Lincoln's attention was stolen by the endless inflatables, train rides, pony rides, and farm animals that awaited him.  Little did he know we also got to go on a hay ride to pick apples and climb trees.  It was hot, windy, and packed with people but nevertheless fun!  We enjoyed delicious apple snacks after picking our own apples in the orchard. 

Others that day would disagree...as we left we met several ambulances coming into the orchard.  We were definitely lucky! 

Check out that scary story here: http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/runaway-horses-at-apple-orchard/?id=137277

 Riding the pony...he loved it!

 Talking to the sheep

 Checking out the train

 Patiently waiting for his turn with Aunt Amber

 The "mower ride" in Lincoln's words...can't trick him!

 Going to find some apples!

 Such a good helper!

 Walking with Granpda Schut in the orchard.

 Climbing the tree...right before fear set in (a first I think)! :)

 Grandma ,on the other hand, did not have fear.

 Fun day with my boy!

 Apples, carmel, and a Mt. Dew...mmm :)

Lincoln and his cousin Braxxton at Red Mango for birthday dessert later that night.  Lincoln bouncing off the walls and Braxxton sleeping so nice...hmm.

August Recap

All (as in 3) my posts this summer seem to have been "recaps" but this is my last one...promise.  Summer got away from me too quickly and we have been super busy.  Hopefully with school starting things will slow down a bit and I will try REAL hard to update more often :)

August consisted mostly of the Iowa State Fair and enjoying the last bits of summer!  We had a great few days at the fair again this year, and enjoyed much milder temps than last year!  Lincoln stayed busy the whole time and crashed each day on the way back to the hotel.  His favorite by far was the birthing barn and the big slide he got to ride with daddy.  In the birthing barn Lincoln made many animal friends and even saw a new litter of pigs being born!

August also marked the beginning of school for me...my FINAL YEAR!!  The first entire week of class we did a one week clincial to brushen up before jumping back into classes.  I got to do mine at Orange City Area Hospital PT department.  I LOVED it!  They have such an awesome facility and great staff.  I learned so much and hope to get back there for one of my "long-term" clinicals in the spring.  Soon after that, classes started and I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  It will be another busy semester, but my final one of classroom classes...thank goodness!

Here is our month in pictures (mostly of the fair):

 One exhausted little guy

 Coloring in the birthing barn

 Brand new litter of pigs

 We spent a LOT of time with this calf

 Picking out an animal with Katie after climbing the rope ladder

 Lincoln and 2nd cousin Katie

 Getting bigger!

"Riding" his horse :)

 The big slide...he was already saying "again" before he was done

 Clifford was a hit!

 "Bahh..."

 Checking out Jacob's pig

 Hanging out in the pig barn

Biggest pumpkin!

 I loved my free days to go up and see Amber and Braxxton!  I love being an aunt!

 Lincoln finally had the patience and desire to hold his "friend" Braxxton :)  Here he's showing Braxxton how to buzz his lips.

 Getting ready for Lincoln's first real tube ride at the lake...enjoying our last weekend there for the summer!

He was not scared at all, in fact Aunt Andee was the one who had to slow down :)