A December to remember

this one may be one for the record books.

10th- Trevor gets his wisdom teeth removed. There goes $244 dollars of my Christmas Bonus.  (Thank the Lord we have dental insurance)

I'm going to take off work the 10th and 11th to nurse him back to health. And myself back to mental health...school has been crazy....and not the kids...

17th - We find out what flavor baby Howard is. Now the entire time I've had a feeling it's a girl. I'm not sure why... girls don't really happen in the Howard family.  I will be surprised if I'm wrong.  So much to the fact that I already refer to the baby as the girl name we picked to Trevor.  I can't imagine having a boy now that for 5 months I've "known" it's a girl. Only time will tell....

As far as I can tell I'm somewhere in the 17/18 week range and my stomach finally lost the muffin top look and has shifted to the mid-section.  It seems higher that I thought it would be. My size 7 pants still button fine but they are uncomfortable and restrictive. I haven't felt any fluttering movements but then again maybe I'm not realizing what they are.

22- Head home to see Mom, Dad, Michael, Tai, David, & Kaia!!!! I can't wait!

23- Christmas with my extended family in Conway.  ((hope there's some pumpkin butter under the tree with Super cousin Howard's name on it ))

24- Annual Rumker family Christmas Eve bash...complete with matching Christmas outfit picture, card games and adult beverages, and snack foods galore, and presents!!!

29- Christmas in Kansas City. Complete with football, beer, and Poppy taking an hour to eat. Sadly missing two key components this year. But nevertheless, an epic time will be had by all!


It's also weird to think that at this time next Christmas I'll have a 6 month old!

My baby...

no. I don't mean the one growing inside of me...

I mean the one I married.  After being up all night with him and "teeth, jaw, ear, face" pain, I made him a dentist appointment.

Dec 10th he'll have his wisdom teeth removed.

Thank goodness this happened before May. I can only handle one baby at a time.

Week 16

So my doctor and I are on different pages on how far along I am. Today I went to see him for what he thinks is my 16 week appointment. (I think I'm around 14w 6d) I HOPE he's right!

It took him a bit to find the heartbeat because baby H was doing flips around in my stomach. 

He looked at me and said, don't worry I'll find it.  I wasn't worried until he said that.

The baby's heartbeat was in the 150s. A bit down from it's 173 four weeks ago but still very much healthy and right where he wants it. 

I had to get a breast exam and pap smear.  Can I just say, I haven't had either in nearly 5 years (pre-marriage) It was a lot better this time. Still not fun. I guess I don't need to feel self-conscience because I will eventually be, you know, having a baby.

I really think my doctor is the best! He agreed to do my gender ultrasound on Dec 17th so we would know when we go home for Christmas!

Happy baking baby!

27 years ago today...

November 25, 1985 is the day my parents went to pick me up from the adoption agency. I was a few days over 3 months old.  I, of course, have no recollection of this day past the millions of times I've heard the story.  It's a story I hold dear to me because this day really defines me.  If it weren't for this single event; my life as I know it would not exist.  It's odd to think of who I might be if I was never a Rumker.  But in God's great plan I believe I always was meant to be a Rumker. Creator of life and author of my story which is one only he could have put together so seamlessly.

Most years I think on this day how lucky I am to have my family.  My supportive, organized, patient mom,  my dad who really is the softest rock I know, my driven brother who makes cute babies, and all my unique extended family. 

This year as I hold a tiny peach of a baby inside my belly my thoughts drift to my birth mom. I wonder on this day, did she know I was forever home? Did it give her peace? Talking to her as an adult I know she knew she was making the best decision for her and me.  But as a 20 something like me, I can't imagine the baby inside me belonging to another.

Today I am thankful.

week 14

It's been three months of living as a buffet.

My gag reflex is still crazy out of control.  Thinking about, or talking about certain things get it going.  Coffee is a big one.  If I even visualize a cup or pot of coffee I'm gagging!

I'm also hungrier than the last few weeks. But in the middle of a meal I can decide something no longer tastes right.  If my body tells me enough...the smart thing to do is stop.

I've been SUPER cranky this week.  I notice it mostly at school. (My poor kiddos)

I feel fat. Very fat. But not like I hate my body fat, just accepting the reality that it's changing but doesn't look pregnant yet.

I go back to the doctor in a week.  I'm looking forward to hearing that super fast (173 last time) heartbeat again and not so looking forward to the "duck beak" that awaits.

The "Big Brothers"

So three years ago when Trevor and I got our pups, we figured that by the time we got around to having baby they would be chilled out, lay around, lap dogs.  I can hear those of you who know Samson and Ezra laughing! So we tried to break the news that they would be getting a little brother or sister easy. This is what we got:

 What did you say????

Seriously???

 

 

Since they were less than excited, I decided they may need a little practice before the baby is born. So this morning we had big brother lesson #1. "Don't bite the baby". 

 

 

 

 

 

We're still working on lesson 1. Good thing we have until May.  :)

 

 

*No Teddy Bears were harmed during the making of this post*



November this far

...Trevor and I upgraded to iphones. I'm happy with it so far
...I'm starting to feel better.  The 2nd trimester has been nicer to me
...I survived the election season at school, listening to students repeat their parent's opinions wears me out. 
... I've been told today many, many completely crazy things as the election is over. Ah, living in rural Oklahoma. 
... I'm counting the days until Thanksgiving because it gets me closer to Christmas
... I haven't told my students I'm pregnant
...I've deleted over 50% of my 'friends' on facebook and blocked another good portion who post really annoying, whiny, or ignorant posts. It makes logging on much more enjoyable
... We have a boy and girl name picked...but they're both secrets.