Year in Review: 2013

I know it's a little past the New Year, but I wanted to post some highlights from 2013:

• We finally had some family photos taken as a family of 4. These were also Lucas' first professional photos (at 13 months.)
• We found out we would be moving in the summer, and that Steve would eventually teach at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
• We took one last trip to Disney World before our move.
• Steve turned the big 3-0!
• We found out we would be moving home to Colorado and Steve would be a student at Colorado State University once again!
• We announced that we were pregnant with Baby #3 due in October.
• We all safely arrived in Colorado in June.
• Steve and I celebrated our 7th anniversary with our first getaway in 4 years.
• Christian turned 4.
• We sold our beautiful home in South Carolina. (No blog post- it was very bittersweet and under rough circumstances.)
• We welcomed Noah Levi to the family October 9, becoming a party of 5!
• A new decade for me, I turned 30 as well.
• We celebrated Christmas 3 times! (1, 2, and 3)
• Lucas turned 2.

2013 was a very busy year indeed! Lots of blessings, some hardships, but overall a wonderful year! Can't wait to see what 2014 holds for us.

39 weeks and Happy Birthday to Noah Levi!

On the evening of October 8 around 7:30 pm I began to have my first "painful/non-Braxton Hicks" contractions. Half an hour later at 8 pm my contractions became consistent every 5 minutes. In the past I haven't had false labor, so I knew this could be it. Though the contractions weren't super painful, they were consistent so we had a couple of Steve's fellow grad students come over to "watch" the boys (thankfully the boys were already sound asleep.) At 10 pm we leisurely went to hospital. My mom drove up from Denver at this time to relieve the girls that were watching Christian and Lucas. Checking in I was 5 cm dilated. By 11 pm I was 6 cm and they admitted me. Somewhere in there (I lost track of time at this point) my contractions became intense and I was already 9 cm. I ordered a spinal block to get some temporary relief which was thankfully granted. By now we were just waiting for my water to break. After waiting for about an hour my spinal was beginning to wear off and my OB broke my water. Things progressed quickly after that and after 3 or 4 pushes (and I could feel A LOT by now) little Noah eagerly made his way out like a pro. Noah Levi was born at 1:28 am October 9th (39 weeks) weighing in at exactly 7 lbs and was 20.5 inches long. He was warmly greeted by big brothers Christian and Lucas and we have had lots of family visiting and helping (yay for being home in Colorado!) Noah immediately took to breast feeding and has been pretty alert at times. As expected, differentiating between night and day has been a bit of a struggle. We are so thankful for another beautiful, healthy baby boy! God is so good!

 Christian's first reaction, "Ohh, he's cute!"

 The 6 grandchildren on my side of the family. (5 boys and 6 kids in 5 years!)

Getting ready to head home!

Compare: Christian's Birthday 2009
Lucas' Birthday 2011

38 Weeks

At this past Wednesday's weekly doctor appointment baby's heartbeat was a steady 125 beats per minute. I was 50% effaced and 3 cm dilated, but no predictions on when the baby will arrive. This has officially become my longest pregnancy of the three, so I keep thinking that baby will be ready ANY day now. In the meantime, he is active and stretching as much as he can in the little tummy space that is left.

 Feeling like a pumpkin these days....

Compare: 38 Weeks with Lucas

37 Weeks

Hooray! We have another full-term baby! Last Thursday's doctor appointment was uneventful (in a good way) and baby's heartbeat was 125 beats per minute. I am feeling lots of pelvic pressure, stretching ligaments, and general shortness of breath, but am hanging in there otherwise. In a couple days I will be 38 weeks (Lucas was born at nearly exactly 38 weeks,) it will be interesting if baby boy #3 makes it the longest. Time will tell!

Compare: 37 weeks with Christian (Just for fun!)
37 weeks with Lucas

36 Weeks

Somehow it is already past mid-September. And I am already 36 weeks along in pregnancy #3! I always find it hard to believe that I had Christian at 36.5 weeks much to our surprise. We are hoping baby #3 will hold out until at least 38 weeks like Lucas. At Wednesday's OB appointment the baby's heartbeat was 135 beats per minute. He is in the correct position with his head down, and everything is looking healthy. Last weekend I experienced quite a bit of pelvic pressure. Looks like this little guy is making his way down for a delivery in the next few weeks. I am currently 25% effaced and 1 cm dilated. I can't believe that in less than a month we will be a family of 5!!

Compare: 36 Weeks with Christian (The day I delivered! And the same shirt- I didn't want to buy maternity clothes this pregnancy.)

36 Weeks with Lucas

26 Weeks

Little man #3 is growing rapidly these days! Here I am at 26 weeks. I am feeling well, but am beginning to experience some shortness of breath and exhaustion (especially when I am carrying an 18 month old up stairs.) I can't believe that I am almost in the third trimester (I am 27 weeks now) and I'm wondering when time will slow down...probably around my due date. ;o)

Compare: 26 weeks with Christian

25 weeks with Lucas

23 Weeks

I haven't been very good about taking baby bump photos for pregnancy #3, but here is one at 23 weeks. I saw the OB doctor again today (next time it will be a full 4 weeks before the next appointment) and the baby seems to be doing great and measuring right on time or slightly before. So thankful for another healthy pregnancy thus far!

Compare: 24 weeks with Christian (apparently I wear this shirt a lot.)

21 weeks with Lucas

22 Weeks

This pregnancy continues to fly, especially since we are in the midst of our transition to Colorado and are still unpacking and getting settled. I had an appointment in Sumter, SC at 19 weeks and the baby's heartbeat was 158 beats per minute. At 21 weeks I had a doctors appointment with my new OB in Fort Collins, CO. I am currently measuring about a week ahead. Now at 22 weeks we finally had the ultrasound with the big gender reveal! And the results are in....we will be a busy household raising THREE boys!! Baby boy #3 looked healthy according to the thorough anatomy ultrasound. His heartbeat was 150 beats per minute. Christian is a little unsure of another brother, but seeing that he and Lucas are enjoying playing together more and more I think that they will be best buds. :)

17 Weeks

If I thought my second pregnancy with Lucas flew by, I had no idea just how quick time could go this time around. It's hard to believe I am almost half way through this pregnancy! I have been so busy keeping up with big brothers Christian and Lucas, as well as trying to sell our home here in South Carolina, find a new place in Colorado, and deal with all the details involved in a military move.

I had an OB appointment at 15 weeks, everything looked good and the baby's heartbeat was 146 beats per minute. I also felt the baby for the first time on Wednesday at 17 weeks (there is nothing greater than feeling a baby's stirring for the first time.) I will have my last appointment here at 19 weeks and then see my new doctor in Fort Collins at 21 weeks. Not sure when I will have the big gender reveal ultrasound (they were adamant about not being able to do it at 19 weeks...much to my disappointment.) Otherwise, I am feeling great and have gained much more energy. Here is a belly shot taken on Mother's Day at 17.5 weeks:

Compare: 16 and 18 weeks with Christian

18 weeks with Lucas (same shirt and location!)

October Baby Surprise

God has a sense of humor, is truly all-knowing, and the Master planner, because we are expecting Baby #3 mid-October (October 16 is my actual due date.) Although a "bit" of a shock initially, we are becoming excited (and honestly a little anxious), to introduce another little one into our family. In many ways, the timing is perfect since we will be back home in Colorado, where help and support from family is more accessible.

My first trimester went pretty smooth overall (I will be 14 weeks on Wednesday.) I did have a little bit of evening sickness around week 8 when my stomach felt uneasy. Otherwise, I have just been tired, often taking naps when the boys take their afternoon nap, and trying to muster energy by the time Steve comes home in the evening. I had my first OB appointment at week 11. They did a thorough exam and ultrasound, and being a little farther along in the pregnancy, the ultrasound pictures were much clearer. My favorite part was seeing the baby's little froggie legs; he/she was all stretched out. The baby's heartbeat was a healthy 159 beats per minute, and based on the crown to rump measurements, he/she was measuring 5 days ahead. Considering I had both Christian and Lucas early, this may actually be another September baby. I will obviously be switching doctors this pregnancy, so I am a little anxious about how all that will work out with our move to Colorado, not to mention moving 1,500 miles across the country with two littles. Fortunately, it will be mid-pregnancy, so not too close to the baby's arrival date. Regardless, I am excited to have a Colorado baby! :)

How we announced the news to family back in February. This photo was taken at Downtown Disney when we were on our Disney World vacation:

Baby's ultrasound photos at 11 weeks:

My first belly shot at 13 weeks: