21 weeks!!!!!!!

How far along: 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 9 1/2 pounds. Holy Moly I'm not sure how much longer I can post this!
Maternity clothes: Today I'm wearing a maternity top (that's so yummy feeling) and maternity skinny jeans. The jeans are sagging in the rear end but my normal jeans no longer button so I have to wear the bella band which I actually don't like.
Sleep: The pillow between my legs is helping but sometimes I have CRAZY dreams!
Best moment this week: Parker moved into his big boy room so the nursery is officially yours!
Movement: Much more this week :)
Cravings: I've enjoyed lots of pancakes. Weird since I don't normally like breakfast! Pretzels.
Gender: GIRL! Avery Madison Wise!
Labor Signs: No. Thank the Lord!
Belly Button in our out? In!
What I miss: Nothing this week. We're pretty darn excited about you!
What am I looking forward to? Your bedding and car seat cover coming in!
Milestones: None that I can think of!

20 weeks! Halfway Done Baking!

Not the most flattering picture... but you get the idea. You're in there and growing... as apparently is my face.

How far along: 20 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: It's Christmas. I'm going to take the week off from weight checks!
Maternity clothes: Today I did not wear maternity clothes but I did wear a maternity dress to Christmas Eve Service. Normal clothes are getting too snug and maternity clothes are too big. We're in an awkward phase!
Sleep: I've started sleeping with a pillow in between my legs which is helping me fall asleep.
Best moment this week: It's Christmas! I kept thinking that next year you'll be here!
Movement: Yes and I love it!
Cravings: Soup, Mexican
Gender: GIRL! Avery Madison Wise!
Labor Signs: No. Thank the Lord!
Belly Button in our out? In!
What I miss: Wine. I would have loved to have a glass of wine on Christmas Eve and Christmas.
What am I looking forward to? A quiet day tomorrow! The last 2 days have been crazy! Yesterday was Christmas Eve and today is Christmas! Your brother is so overwhelmed, he didn't open a single present! I think tomorrow, now that we're home, and things are quiet, he may dive into the pile!
Milestones: We hit 20 weeks! You're halfway done! (That is if you're full term!)


You may or may not have 3 Christmasy outfits already and MULIPLE Christmas bows. This one is my favorite! I sure hope you fit in it! The mud pie brand sizing is super weird.

You got an ornament today with your name on it. It made having you here next year seem more real. I also got a baby bijorn! I had one for Parker that I loved and I really wanted a new (fun green color) one for you since Parker spit up and pooped in his more times than I can count. I think he spent the majority of the 1st 6 months of life in it! I hope you like it as well!


We love you to pieces! Keep growing and nudging me! I love it!

Kicks, Boys and Bows!

Your daddy felt you kick for the first time last night! It was so precious! You must have really been into the Green Bay and Patriots game because you were just going to town cheering in there. Do I have a future cheerleader in my tummy? If so, then we're set... you've got 3 Clemson cheerleading outfits ready to be worn!

Exciting news... your brother is getting really close to saying your name! We've gone from "A B" to "Abby" to "Avie" I can live with "Avie" as a nickname if "Avery" is tough for a while but I wasn't so thrilled with the brief "Abby" phase since that's a common name... but it isn't yours! Parker has also gotten a little more interested in my belly. 2 nights ago, he was kissing you and blowing you strawberries. Of course, the sweetness only lasted so long and then you became an awesome "mountain" (more like a hill) to push his train across.

This has nothing to do with you but here's your brother... the world's worst hide and seek player. You should have the upper hand here. LOL

He has the "if I can't see you, you can't see me" mentality. I'll give you a hint for when you play hide and seek. Check the couch first then here... beside his bed.

Choo Choo!

Playing trains across you.

Giving you kisses!

 Now, we've got a "problem"......... I made you a hairbow holder.... and it's full. :) I've been a hairbow making queen lately! I took some advice and scaled a few back so you can wear them before you're 18. hehe. We're going to have to find an alternative solution to what to do with the rest of your bows! I'm proud to say, I've made them all! This is currently hanging in the nursery, which is still decorated in Parker's bedding until we move him into his big boy room on February 1st! Then this becomes "Avery's room" for good! Right now Parker has his "little boy room" and his "big boy room!"

This picture was before my 4 hour bow making session that completely filled the rest of the space (and then some!)

Close up of some pinwheel bows

My proudest creation! The curly ones!

Today we had a Happy Birthday Jesus Party! It's amazing to me to think that next year you'll be here to celebrate with us as well! Once thing is for sure... you already have 2 Christmas outfits to choose from to wear for the party with matching bows!!!! Man, are you fun to shop for!

19 Weeks!

How far along: 19 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: According to my scale (which I'm loving today!) +2lbs WHICH I know is totally wrong. I weighed myself at a friend's house the other day and I was still +5lbs. Thankfully, still all belly and boobs!
Maternity clothes: Today (pictured above) I am wearing both maternity tops and bottoms but I keep having to pull the pants up. The top is quite comfy though!
Sleep: Starting to have a hard time finding a comfortable position to fall asleep in but once I'm out, I'm usually out for the night!
Best moment this week: I felt you move from the outside once this week. That means we're getting close to daddy feeling you!
Movement: Yes and I love it!
Cravings: Still eating a lot of soup and baking. I'm note sure the baking is from pregnancy or just this time of the year!
Gender: GIRL! Avery Madison Wise!
Labor Signs: No. Thank the Lord!
Belly Button in our out? In!
What I miss: Nothing this week!
What am I looking forward to? Christmas!
Milestones: 1 week away from being halfway done baking you!

18 Weeks!

How far along: 18 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: +5lbs
Maternity clothes: Lately I've been wearing a maternity top paired with normal pants or maternity pants with a normal top but we aren't ready for both. I can still get into most of my normal clothes but they just aren't very comfy!
Sleep: Sleeping well but having weird dreams!
Best moment this week: I've enjoyed feeling you more this week!
Movement: Yes and I love it!
Cravings: Soup for breakfast and Mexican every chance I get!
Gender: GIRL! Avery Madison Wise!
Labor Signs: No. Thank the Lord!
Belly Button in our out? In!
What I miss: This week it's jumping in bounce houses with Parker.
What am I looking forward to? Christmas!
Milestones: We found out you're big! 8 inches long and 1/2 a pound! Go you! We had another ultrasound and you look perfect!


I've gotten some crazy good deals on eBay this week on new with tags gymboree clothes! We can't wait to put you in them! I also put the stroller together. Your brother LOVES it! I hope you do too! We've set a date of Feb 1st to be the day Parker gets kicked out of your room and becomes a "big boy." It makes mommy a little sad but I'm excited to start transforming his room into your room. Maybe I'll get daddy to take a picture today... man do I dislike maternity pics (not because I don't love growing you but I think I just look fat... it's a girl thing. You'll understand one day!) We love you! Keep up the good growth!

You're undeniably a GIRL!

Today I had a very cool opportunity to have an ultrasound at 3D Dream Images at Baxter Village! Since I have my OB ultrasound on Thursday, I was the perfect candidate to let the "new girl" practice on and "compare"! Of course, I wasn't going to turn that down! I went in with low expectations and came out with WAY more than I"ll probably get at my doctor's appointment on Thursday.

Well, it's official... you're most definitely a GIRL! I have 63 ultrasound photos, many of which are of your lady regions to prove it! You were amazing! Hopefully, you continue to be so good having your picture taken... unlike your brother who I STILL don't have a Christmas picture of! 2 different sonographers were there and you were an easy case to crack. As soon as they turned the machine on, your legs went spread eagle! Thanks, baby girl! It made the rest of the ultrasound so fun because I could stop wondering what you are and focus on things like your mouth yawning. Precious!

You weigh almost 7 ounces and are measuring at May 12th being your due date. They turned on the 3D which was a little weird since you're still pretty skeletonish but I think you look like nana! ....maybe because she has a small face and since you have no fat, you also have a similar look.

You moved all around and I enjoyed seeing you kick and spin. You liked having your hands behind your head. I hope you're as mellow of a newborn as you looked to be today. You looked peaceful but playful at the same time. I'm in love... even more.

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am that you're a girl! I started to question myself this week as your first monogrammed item came in the mail... I sorta started to freak out. Everything else has tags but that didn't! It was your name, in thread, none returnable... and now I'm loving it! Let the hair bow and dress making kick into overdrive! I've been paying attention to bow sizes on little girls recently.... yours are on the bigger side. haha. I don't believe there is a such thing as a hair bow that's too big.

Well here's what you've been waiting for.... my favorite of the 63 photos that they printed for me AND put on a disk! Sweet!

The 1st of many lady regions pictures! Note the 3 lines.... those are skin folds. It's a GIRL!

Waiving

Those precious little legs that give me an occasional nudge

Profile and spine

Precious little feet!

Sticking her tongue out!

Big yawn! Someone was sleepy!

Another check to the lady regions.

The only 3D image that looked human. Clearly I need to eat more coffee ice cream and snickers.... look at those ribs!

One last check to the lady region just so I could leave and not feel guilt any more about buying dresses! 

Pretty cool, huh!?! We have another ultrasound at the OB Thursday so I'm interested to see how different it is than this experience at 3D dream images. One thing is sure to be the same... you, my love, are a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!

16 and 17 week update!

Mommy was a huge slacker this week and didn't do the 16 week update so I'll combine the two! The weeks have run together anyways with so much going on with the holidays and traveling to Atlanta, we skipped a week. Sorry!

How far along: 17 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +4 1/2 pounds. The holidays weren't kind to mommy's waistline!
Maternity clothes: Not yet but we have moved into wearing the bella band for comfort! My boobs (sorry boys) also feel like they are about to EXPLODE. New bras are on our shopping list this week!
Sleep: Still sleeping well! I often fall asleep on the couch watching TV at night.
Best moment this week: You've been tumbling around and I feel you often but lightly.
Movement: Yes and I love it!
Cravings: I still want soup most mornings for breakfast... weird, I know. But isn't vegetable soup healthier than lucky charms anyways? Why not indulge?
Gender: GIRL! We'll know definitely Thursday!
Labor Signs: No. Thank the Lord!
Belly Button in our out? In!
What I miss: Tonight is girl's night.... I miss margaritas again.
What am I looking forward to? The ultrasound next Thursday!
Milestones: You're about 5 inches (a turnip) and weigh about 5 ounces according to Baby Center. We'll see if that's still true Thursday!

I definitely want to post a picture this week because the bump is undeniable now (unless I'm in a larger shirt) BUT I'm currently looking less than picture worthy. Tonight is girl's night and we're having an ornament exchange pajama party! How fun is that going to be!?! I hope you have wonderful girlfriends when you grow up to do fun nights like this! Tonight, when I'm dressed "down" in my Christmas jammies I'll have daddy take a belly picture and will post it. Love you bunches! Keep tumbling... it's fun for now.