Our Pumpkin is a Chinese Cabbage (28 weeks)

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. (www.babycenter.com)

Emery has become quite the little kicker in her 28 weeks, especially in the morning and evenings. This morning she decided to get going at 5 and went hot and heavy for a good 1/2 hour nonstop! Doesn't she know I'm still on summer break??? ;o) Kidding of course, I wouldn't change it. Chase has also finally felt her kick, in fact he has felt her several times including the time he was laying in my lap and she kicked him on the back of his head. He thinks it's hilarious, I wonder if he really "gets" it. I think he does!

Saturday at 1:00 we have our 3D/4D ultrasound and I can't wait!!! I'm not sure who is more excited out of our bunch. I am doing it at Peek A Baby and they have a big screen in the room so everyone isn't trying to watch the tiny computer screen... did I mention I can't wait????

On other news, I won a free pack of write-on SafetyTats which is pretty awesome! They had a contest and picked 20 entries (comments) out of over 60 and mine was one of them. Totally cool! Also, Chase earned his new belt (green stripe) at karate last night, so look for that post/pics soon! Guess I should also get a new belly pic going since my husband told me that my belly is huge last night when we were going to bed... thanks honey, I know you meant it in a good way and I love you too!!!




***I am grateful for
1) 28 weeks!
2) getting to see Emery on Saturday, I can.not.wait!!!!!
3) hump day, always a fave
4) my grandpa is out of the hospital!
5) Chase did great at Karate and earned his new belt
6) An Extra, because Stellan is doing a little better and will be headed to Boston soon!!!

My baby isn't a baby anymore.

Today I received Chase's school supply list and immediately broke into tears. How can my baby possibly be old enough to be going to school? He was so excited that we had to go shopping right away. I have a feeling that the first day is going to be rough for both of us. Here's our little guy picking out his school supplies for the very first time, where does the time go?





***I am grateful for
1) bedtime
2) firsts
3) sleepy toddlers that finally go to sleep
4) school supplies (because he is so excited even if it makes me so sad)
5) our 4D ultrasound is one day closer!

Please Pray for Stellan

Stellan and his family desperately need your prayers. Please click above to read his story and updates.




***I am grateful for
1) prayers
2) my healthy little boy
3) my healthy little girl
4) what little bit of summer vacation we have left!
5) kicks

Our Pumpkin is a head of Cauliflower!

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle. (www.babycenter.com)

Yay for the third trimester (well some say not until 28 weeks, but we are going with 27 since it's my blog)!!! Emery seems to be doing well and I had a very non-eventful (just like I like 'em) OB appointment yesterday. I was measuring 30 weeks but Chase is proof that really that means nothing. Maybe Emery is just aiming to be bigger than her big brother was since he was only 6.1 when he was born. ;o) I had my GD test done and will get a phone call if there's an issue and if not we'll just review it at my next appointment. I'm hoping for no phone call since no news is good news!!! My next appointment will be on August 18th, which happens to be the day I go back to work... ick. On the 1st is our big 4D ultrasound and I can't wait, now I wish I would have scheduled it for this weekend, but we really wanted to give Emery and extra week of growing so she'd be a little plumper for the pics. Besides, I know the 1st will be here in no time!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week, we are busy recuperating from Disney!!!




***I am grateful for
1) 27 weeks!
2) 3rd trimester
3) 4D ultrasounds (can't wait)
4) hopefully good GD results
5) big brothers and little sisters!

Disney World 2009 - part of it anyway!

I really don't think I could ever post about everything we did at Disney this year. We did so much more than last year and thoroughly enjoyed every single park. The biggest downfall was that apparently this time of year is the time when all the Brazill.ian tour groups are there and I'm pretty sure that every teenager that lives in Brazil was in one of those tour groups. It probably wouldn't have been quite as bad, except that they are totally rude to the point that they would literally push Chase and Mads if one of them happened to be in the way. I hate to say it, but we lost it on more than one occasion with these teens and their only response was, "no speak English." Not something to do/say around a pregnant woman and her child (niece). Anyway, on to better things.

I was actually quite shocked when Duchess to the kids on Splash Mountain as their final ride and they both loved it. I figured for sure my niece would be terrified because she is not a big fan of thrill rides/scary stuff, but apparently if you throw her over a waterfall she is quite happy. ;o) Chase just loves to ride and is all about roller coasters. I should have known he'd love it.

Really there wasn't anything that Chase didn't like, although he did respond to Snow White's Scary Adventure by saying, "That wasn't so bad, but we are NEVER riding it again!" That was probably as close to scared as he came.

We had a total of 5 character meals (we cancelled one last minute because we were just too exhausted), attended the Polynesian Luau, and visited every park at least once (Magic Kingdom three times and Hollywood Studios twice). I can truly say we made the most of our vacation. I won't go into all the boring details right now, but I will leave you with some pics because let's face it, that's what everyone really wants anyway!!!

Daddy about to take Chase and Mads for a swim!

Aren't they cute?

Do you see a skull in this picture? We did, very creepy!

Chase and his fave, Mickey!

Mads and Stitch

Chase and Daddy posing for a pic for Aunt Candy, she loves Andy!

Can't you just hear the Star Wars theme now??

Such a multi-tasker, taking phone calls and waiting in line (looks so grown here)

Ready to ride Toy Story Mania!!!! Mommy's fave!

Chase and Pluto at Chef Mickey's

Mads and Minnie

Donald posing w/the kids

Pure Trouble!

I thought they'd be scared, they weren't! Shows what I know!A rare family pic taken at the Luau
Duchess and Mads at the Luau

Chase and Cinderella, he was head over heels!

Snow White's new Prince, she even left him w/her kiss

Duchess' fave!

I had to take this because "heart" OshKosh, so MouseKosh must be the next best thing

We didn't get to ride this last time, loved it!

Chase's 2nd fave!

Love the castle in the front!

Spectromagic Parade at Magic Kingdom

We have so many more pictures including all the ones that are on the photopass (taken by Disney). I'm not sure if I can get those now or if I have to wait for the CD. As you can tell I'm usually behind the camera, but there are plenty of me on the CD from Disney, so check back soon!




***I am grateful for
1) home sweet home!
2) a non-eventful appointment today (details to come tomorrow)
3) summer break isn't over yet!
4) three months from today is my due date, grow Emery, grow!
5) rain, maybe we'll actually get some????!?

We're back!

We are back from Disney World and as much fun as we had, it is oh-so-nice to be home! We went nonstop while we were there and it was totally exhausting and totally awesome (as Chase puts it). We did at least one thing at each park that we didn't do last year, if not more. We had a couple of bumps (lets just say do NOT go to Disney during July or the first two weeks of August, we'll go into more details later), but even those didn't detour us from having a great time!

I am now 26w4d and Jeff felt Emery move while we were there, which he loved. I have my next Dr's appointment on Tuesday and then on August 1st we have our 4D ultrasound... I can't wait!

I will try to get details and pics up sometime this week, I am so far behind on blogging and posting to others!

I would do some now, but the pillow is calling my name!




***I am grateful for
1) we are home safe and sound
2) a great family trip
3) fun memories
4) my own bed
5) Mollydogs, she really is one of the family!

My kind of birthday!

Just a quick update on our awesome Disney trip! We are having a blast and the kids are so happy. I bet I have been told Happy Birthday no less than 100 times already, not one person that works at Disney passes without saying it. In fact, we are also celebrating Jeff's bday because in their opinion it is close enough! I will say I'm totally exhausted by the end of the day, but hey being 6 1/2 months pregnant will do that to a girl! Speaking of pregnant, my ticker finally says 100 days to go, woohoo!!!!! Keep on growing Emery! Maybe I'll have time to post some pics tonight, but I doubt it since we are going to a birthday dinner celebration and then to the extended hours at Hollywood Studios. We just can't get enough of Toy Story Mania and Star Wars (no, I'm not riding Star Wars but Chase was finally tall enough this year and LOVES it - his words, that ride almost made me pee my pants)!!!!

~Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) birthdays
2) family time
3) vacation
4) Disney World
5) 100 days to go until we meet Emery!

Disney World here we come!!!

The countdown is on for our big Disney World vacation!!! This time tomorrow we'll hopefully be at the airport and waiting for our flight. Chase is beside himself with excitement and is telling anyone and everyone that will listen about it. We are pretty excited too! :o) We are 85% of the way packed and have a few odds and ends to tie up before we're officially ready to go, but nothing major. I'm sure we'll forget something, but isn't that usually how it happens?

I was talking to Chase earlier about why he was afraid of the frog at The Rain.forest Cafe and not afraid of Mickey and the rest of the gang at Disney and he said because he LIKED them. Guess that's good, I had worried he'd developed a new fear but I guess all will be well!

Have I mentioned that we are totally excited???? Wish us good weather, Jeff is not fond of flying to say the least so that will be the hardest part (especially if it's raining there like it's supposed to be)!

Hope everyone is having a great Thursday, we certainly are!!!!




***I am grateful for
1) vacation, wooohoooo!
2) Mickey and the Gang, they totally rock
3) packing is almost done
4) laundry IS done
5) the rain we got this week

Our Pumpkin is an Eggplant! (25 weeks)

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes. (www.thebump.com)

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture. (www.babycenter.com)

Emery has still managed to avoid letting her Daddy feel her, which totally blows my mind because this girl can kick hard! Of course poor Jeff does have to compete w/Chase for trying to feel, so perhaps that has been part of the problem as well. Chase is pretty excited about his baby sister and talks to her constantly, loves on her, and talks about what it will be like when she gets here. I'm thinking that part of our Disney World trip will have to be a big brother-to-be celebration trip for him (and my niece who is expecting a baby brother/sister in Feb. of next year - on her mom's side, not my brothers).

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On a totally not related to baby note, did anyone else watch MJ's memorial yesterday? I recorded it and went back to watch it (fast-forwarded through some) and will admit that I got teary eyed at some of it. I don't want debates, I have no clue what he was or wasn't guilty of and it is not my place to put judgement on him. That has already been done. However, it broke my heart for his family and friends. Brooke Shields and his daughter, Paris, nearly killed me to watch. I am so sad for his children, he was the only parent they ever knew. Also, when his brother sang "Smile" that was pretty sad. I'm hoping maybe the media will die down some now, as sad as it is, life does go on.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic hump-day!!!

***I am grateful for
1) 25 weeks!!!
2) big belly kicks.... a feeling like nothing else
3) Chase being excited :o)
4) ricecakes (suddenly want them quite often and Chase liked them too)
5) Friday we leave for Disney!

Happy July 4th! ( a little late)

We spent the 4th at the beach with Jeff's mom and dad and had a wonderful time. A friend/teacher I work with owns a beach house that we rented in Surfside and it is absolutely perfect. Just a short walk to the beach and w/in driving distance to Galveston. Has a great covered deck to watch the fireworks from in the evening and you get that awesome beach breeze. We went down on Friday and headed to the beach for a little bit that evening once PawPaw made it down there since he had to work part of the day. Then Saturday we drove over to Galveston and had a great lunch at Joe's Crabshack followed by dessert at The Rainforest Cafe. Then it was back to the Surfside for a little fishing before settling in to watch the fireworks. Sunday we did a little more fishing, one last beach walk (I stayed behind on that one to clean and totally missed Chase on his boogie board for the first time... grrrrr) and then headed home making a detour to stop and have dinner w/Duchess. I have to say it was a pretty great weekend! Enjoy the pics!

Building Sandcastles
(technically this is from the weekend before, I didn't take the camera to the beach this time!)

Chase and Daddy (my two favorite guys!)

A Family Pic (Chase is doing his Tiny Tiger face, so tough)

Memaw and PawPaw

Yummy Volcano Dessert, Chase was so excited!

Fishing w/Daddy (I love this pic!)

Chase's Fish (on Daddy's pole)

Yummy bread at Saltgrass (Mommy's fave) w/Duchess

Chase looks so red in the last picture, but today he's not even pink.... phew! Hope everyone else had a great 4th as well!!!




***I am grateful for
1) a wonderful weekend
2) those that sacrificed and made July 4th what it is
3) family time
4) making memories
5) Disney World is just days away!

Our Pumpkin is an Ear of Corn! (24 weeks)

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. (www.babycenter.com)

Now there happens to be a very important tid-bit that baby center left out on their little blip. 24 weeks is considered the "point of viability" meaning that if something should happen, Emery would have a very good chance at survival thanks to all of today's advances in the medical field. Of course we want her staying put for another 15 weeks or so, but it's comforting to know we have reached this point!!!

Emery can be quite the kicker at times, but the minute her Daddy tries to feel her she stops. His touch must be soothing! I have a feeling we'll catch her in action soon enough. Her valence FINALLY arrives (no more buying from that chick on ebay) and we'll be able to match the colors for the nursery now and start painting so we can get it set up. Sometimes this still seems like a dream, then I think wait, we only have 16 more weeks until her due date... that will fly by!

Chase is doing well, the two of us spent the night in Galveston on Sunday night with some friends and spend Monday at Moody Garden's Palm Beach. I love that place and swear if we lived closer I would totally get us a season pass. We had a very nice time and Chase really enjoyed it.

This Friday we will be heading to Surfside where a co-worker has a beach house that we are renting for the weekend of the fourth. Then a week from Friday we leave for Disney, I can't wait! I'm not sure who is the most excited!

Pics from our trip will be coming soon!




***I am grateful for
1) a nice weekend
2) a fun day at the beach w/Chase
3) 24 weeks
4) the point of viability
5) we actually got rain (not much, but it was a step in the right direction!)