A New Year and Another Week...16

Monday- January 2nd, 2012

Happy New Year!!!  Wow, 16 weeks!  Time is really starting to move fast and my belly seems to be growing at a rapid pace.  I'm beginning to get more uncomfortable by the day.  I don't sleep much at night.  I can't seem to make it longer than 70-90 minutes without getting up to pee.  I guess these babies are prepping me for  life with a newborn, I mean 2 newborns!  Luckily, I'm able to get in a good 1.5-2 hour nap every day which I feel like is my saving grace right now.  If I don't get the nap, I'm barely hanging on by 5pm.  A new happening this week is that I started to feel the babies moving, like REALLY moving.  I've been feeling the "flutters" or "popcorn popping" for a couple weeks and was very excited to start feeling the little jabs.  I can't tell one baby from the other, but it does feel quite different from when I was pregnant with Ryder.  I'm also beginning to have a lot of back pain, which I knew was coming because I had that with Ryder too.  Luckily, Joe has been wonderful at back rubs, foot rubs, rib rubs... just lots of rubs!  Work is getting more difficult but I'm hoping to work until 30 weeks.  My OB says I might want to lower my expectations.  But until I'm told otherwise, I'm going strong.

This week also starts a new year with new hopes for the future!  Ryder is going to turn 3 this year!!  WOW!  When did my BABY stop being a baby??  It really happens sooo fast!  He's really turning into quite an impressive little guy, full of personality.  He has a great sense of humor and is ridiculously smart.  He is constantly making us laugh.  With his great sense of humor also comes a little mischievous side as well.  You might say he's a typical 2.5 year old boy, but I think anyone who has spent much time with him knows he takes it to the next level.  But I'd be a liar if I said I didn't absolutely love that about him.  He constantly keeps us on our toes.  In spite of his mischievous side, he's got the biggest heart!  Every day when I pick him up from school, he goes around the room and gives EVERY kid in his class, his teachers, and the director a hug before we leave.  He constantly rubs my belly and tells his sisters he loves them.  I'm truly amazed at him.  He's been the brightest thing in our lives for the last 3 years and I can't wait to see how he transitions into the roll of BIG BROTHER.  Closing 2011 with a smile and a sigh of relief and looking to 2012 with a lot of hope and many dreams for our expanding family!  Happy New Year!