18 Weeks

How far along? 18 Weeks

Baby's size? Sweet potato

Weight Gain? As of last week I had lost 5 pounds.  I hope all the walking in New York City and Boston helped me maintain that

Maternity clothes? I can still wear my dresses but I can do maternity clothes as well

Stretch marks? I've gained and lost weight so much throughout my lifetime so I've had stretch marks since high school. Yay me.

Belly Button in or out? Should stay an inny like last time.

Sleeping? I sleep like a dead person these days.  But, I dream about Josh leaving me and/or Julia's love life on a nightly basis

Foods I am loving? Still no cravings

Foods I'm hating? Pretty much everything

Movement? More and more flutters.  Felt a kick yesterday

Best moment this week? Finding out Dos is a girl

Symptoms? I'm going to be sick forever!

Gender? GIRL

What I miss? I'm good this week. Not really missing anything yet

What I'm looking forward to? Feeling more and more kicks.  Also, finding an OB when we get settled

Milestones: Starting to get a visible belly

Emotions: Still scared to death about moving

Friday's Letters

Phew, we finally made it to Friday!  I'm starting the countdown now when it comes to work and moving.  I'll be honest, I'm freaking out.  100% freaking out.

 

Dear Gamecocks:  Oh, I love to hate you.  You gave this pregnant mama a heart attack with your shenanigans last night.  Please don't do that again.  Thanks.   (They won, by the way).

Dear Aunt JCC:  I hope you don't get mad at me for posting this but, seriously, you were hands down the cutest damn child on the planet.  I hope Dos is this adorable.

Dear Future:  Please be kind to me?  I'm so scared and worried about everything falling into place about this move that I'm about to go crazy.  I just want everything to fall into place like it's supposed to.  Nothing has to be perfect, just a little easier.

Dear Packing:  Don't make me crazy having to do all this this weekend.  

Dear Dad:  Since I know you read now, guess I'll have to communicate this way.  Stop acting like a child.  We're moving, trying to do what's best for our family.  Quite giving me the silent treatment because you don't agree with it.  We've already cut Josh's mom out of our lives.  Please don't think for a second that we won't do the same with you.  

Dear long weekend:  I couldn't have planned my two (okay, 3) weeks notice any better, could I?  Woo hoo for one extra day of rest.

Dear Little People's Learning Center:  I hate that we had to stop bringing Oliver after today.  Believe me when I say that I am devastated.  I cried leaving him and I'll cry again after today is over.  I love y'all and am so sad.  You will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart because you took such good care of my boy while he was so young.  Thank you again.  

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy the nice long days off, if you're able.  See y'all!!  

Game......

Cocks!!!!!!!!!!!

Well folks, it's that time of year again.  My favorite time of year.  Some people love Christmas?  Not this chick.  Nope, not me.  It's all about football.  College football in particular.  Knowing that our friends at ESPN College Gameday are now a part of our lives again for the next four months has me giddy with anticipation and excitement!

Our South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Vanderbilt Commodores tonight at 7:00 p.m. for the opening game of the much anticipated 2012 season.  We're hoping for big things, people.  Big, BIG things!  In true Gamecock style, Oliver is decked out all day in his Carolina finest and we are keeping him awake at least long enough to watch kickoff so he knows the craziness that he has been born into.  He has technically been alive for one game but he was 16 days old so I'm thinking that doesn't really count.

Not amused

Hopefully y'all won't hate me if I ever get a little football crazy on here.  I promise I'll keep it to a minimum and will most likely reserve the craziness only for game days.  It's just such an exciting time of year for the Branhams!!  There's still a part of mommy that secretly wants Oliver to play football in high school. 

And, just for ha has, this is apparently the new face that Oliver has learned to make.  This kid kills me.

It's a.....

Girl!!!!  I swear, I should play the lottery or become a psychic!

Don't ask me what we're looking at here.  I'm still in a state of shock, I think.  She said something about three lines and the arrow is pointing to those and it's a girl.  I'll take her word for it.

So, I guess I can introduce to the world Caroline "Cece" Cooper Branham.  I wish I had gotten Josh's face because it was priceless.  Both of us are still in complete shock about it being official.

Since I just had a gender scan, I didn't meet with the doctor or anything.  This is a total aside and I apologize for the TMI but did any other mommies out there get red, VERY painful lumps on or under their breasts?  I'm sorry to be so blunt but I can't think of a more polite way of asking.  Seriously, I may die from the pain.  I got one last time around and it just went away...something about an abscess?  All I know is this thing woke me up at 2:00 a.m. and I had a terrible time falling back asleep!

Okay, sorry about being so personal.  But I thought maybe one of y'all could help me?!?!?

 

Sometimes and Always

Hope everyone's week is going well so far!  We have a plan in place and will be heading north on September 9th.  Yes, we are crazy for leaving so quickly.  BUT, Josh and Julia both got jobs and we need to get our butts in gear if we want to be moved and unpacked before they start!

Anyway, I'm linking up with Megan.   Y'all know the drill by now.

Sometimes Time seems to be creep by so slowly and I feel like a day we have been marking off the calendar for will never get here.

Always I have to remember to just be patient.  Good things come to those who wait, right?

Sometimes I am so thankful for Oliver's wonderful daycare (seriously, I cry every time I drop him off knowing he won't be going there anymore after this week).

Always I love seeing his smiley face when I pick him up.  Ha ha, he's too lazy to "crawl" to me so he just lays there and squeals.  

Sometimes I think to the beginning of my pregnancy and remember how I used to say only boy only boy only boy.  

Always I'm just hopeful for a healthy baby. Okay, secretly I'm hoping Dos is a girl.

Sometimes This kid is just too silly for words.

Always I remember how truly blessed I am and I pray for my friends who are trying to get their sweet baby.

 Sometimes I get sad that my dad isn't the kind of dad others have.
Always I'm thankful for the stepdad I have been blessed with, even if our relationship wasn't always the greatest.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!! 

Weekend photo dump

Woo we have had a very whirlwind weekend. We had to come up to Massachusetts for logistic stuff and to have two interviews for Julia and Josh. Hopefully I can say this with certainty that they both got their respective jobs!!!!

We took a break to take quick trips to Boston and New York City. When I say quick I mean quick. We did sneak in a Fenway Park tour which was amazing and I loved seeing Josh and Julia's faces when they first saw Times Square. Now, to see photographs of our adventures!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

17 weeks

How far along? 17 Weeks

Baby's size? Turnip

Weight Gain? I lost 5 pounds.  What what!! 

Maternity clothes? I can still wear my dresses but I can do maternity clothes as well

Stretch marks? I've gained and lost weight so much throughout my lifetime so I've had stretch marks since high school. Yay me.

Belly Button in or out? Should stay an inny like last time.

Sleeping? Pretty good although my dreams are weird

Foods I am loving? Nothing. I hate that I get no pregnancy cravings

Foods I'm hating? Still everything

Movement? Flutters and slight kicks

Best moment this week? My scary trip to the OB turned into a good one because we got to briefly see Dos' heartbeat and his/her blobness

Symptoms? Still extremely sick to my stomach.  When will this madness ever end?????

Gender? We find out on August 29th at 11:00 a.m.

What I miss? I'm good this week. Not really missing anything yet

What I'm looking forward to? Finding out the gender.

Milestones: Starting to get a visible belly

Emotions: After deciding to move, I've been excited but scared to death.  I think moving has made me extra emotional lately

As promised...

What's happening

So, it's refreshing that I can finally come clean with what's been happening in our neck of the woods lately. 

 

We did a lot of soul searching, family discussions, etc. and came to the conclusion that moving to Massachusetts is what is best for our family.  I am beyond terrified yet excited at the idea.  My children are now going to have their grandmother within arm's reach and they will have what I never did....grandparents just around the corner. 

 

So, where are we now?  Aunt JCC got a job today (yes, she's coming too...I would never leave her behind.  She's my favorite person and I won't leave her behind), Josh has a prospect and I may actually have a job working at the same place as Aunt JCC.  She's going to be a preschool teaching assistant and I spoke with her new boss today and it looks like she wants to meet with me as well. 

 

We will pack up our South Carolina lives at the beginning of September and head up to Yankee land.  This may turn out to be a complete disaster but we are at least trying. 

 

I've been a little quiet lately and trying to keep this information close to the vest because, quite frankly, I didn't want anybody at work to know it because I just don't want to hear it.  This is our decision and nobody can judge what we think is best for us!

 

I'm thinking it might be interesting to blog about moving three adults, a baby, two dogs and two cats almost 1,000 miles from one end of the East Coast to another.  What do y'all think?

 

In totally unrelated news, Gamecock football begins in 6 days.  6 days people!!!!  College Football Season is the most wonderful time of the year!  Gooooooooooo Gamecocks!!!!



Trip to the doc

I started having cramps and pain about 4 yesterday afternoon. I tried the whole lots of water, getting rest yada yada. That didn't seem to work.

Long story short I went to the OB today. I'm telling you, being pregnant is no joke sometimes!!!! Thankfully I just have a little infection and everything should be okay. I got to have an ultrasound and I was secretly hoping they'd tell us what Dos is but alas she did not. Boo. I've also got a partial previa right now but the doctor seems to think that'll correct itself over time. I had one with Oliver as well so I'm thinking it'll probably follow the same pattern.

I had told Aunt JCC I was going and she literally sprinted up to the office hoping to get to be there for the big reveal. I just love that girl let me tell you.

So I'm taking it easy tonight while my wonderful Josh takes care of Oliver. I definitely seem to have pretty difficult early pregnancies.

More and more I'm thinking Dos is a girl. I guess we have seven days until the big reveal!!!!!

Hope everyone has had a good week so far!

Sometimes and Always

Hey everybody!  Thanks so much for the amazing feedback on yesterday's post.  I really decided to try and show my flaws and y'all made me feel so great from the comments!!

I'm linking up with the lovely Megan today.  Go on over and say hi!  She just found out she's having a little girl.  Can't wait to find out what they name her!!

Sometimes I get so frustrated I want to punch holes in walls.
Always I realize that's not a grown up way to handle things so I take a step back and breathe. 

Sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking about what will happen in the future.
Always I try to remember that everything happens for a reason and that I can't be so OCD about things.

Sometimes My baby goes to bed at 6 p.m.
Always He sleeps until after 7.  Phew, crawling really must take it out of a little guy, huh?

Sometimes I still find amusement in the mustache app.
Always Okay, I ALWAYS find amusement in the mustache app.

Sometimes I have a bad day and worry all day that the other shoe is going to drop at work.
Always Daddy or Aunt JCC send me videos like this and all is forgotten.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!!  Let's do this week up right.