Whew.

This weekend. Ohhh this weekend.

On Friday night we left Josie in the hands of her godparents to go back to my hometown for a wedding rehearsal and dinner. I played piano for the wedding and since it was a Catholic ceremony, there was a lot of music that is well known among the congregation but not so well known to me. Practicing that night really set in the nerves and my brain was spinning trying to be as prepared as possible.

The next day was the big day. 

Bride and Groom with their flower girl

We started the long day early getting there at 10:30 in the morning since hubby was a groomsman. My sissy came with to hang out with Josie and she saved us big time! Josie ended up getting yet another bad cold and was just miserable all day. It's not so fun babysitting for a sick kid, did you know that? Props to the good ole auntie. 

I rehearsed a bunch and made it through the ceremony without passing out in fear or running out of the church with my head down in shame. I was so relieved when it was done. I'd practiced so much in preparation but it never feels like enough. I loved playing the prelude beforehand and the postlude after (music I picked) but the in between stuff? When everyone's eyes are on the musicians? Nerve wracking. Anyways, it was fun. I"m so glad I was able to play for their wedding.

Afterwards I joined up with my sissy and Josie to play in the park before dinner, but Jo couldn't handle it for long and needed another nap. By the time we got her sleeping it was time to go back for dinner. Dinner, dancing, drinking a lot of 7 Up, and we were headed back to Fargo tired and ready for bed. 

Sunday, we woke up sick. All of us. So all day we've just slept, tolerated each other while trying to recover, and eating out. I know, I know, we had wedding food all weekend and then pizza and chinese food the next day, but none of us were in cooking mode, and I was completely fine with it.

This week, I have a few projects I wouldn't mind doing but we'll see how it goes. If we are still feeling miserable tomorrow, it'll be a low key day. I'm banking on a solid night of sleep tonight.

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Flashback pictures

Remember that wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago a month ago? They had a photo booth type thing set up in the corner and we volunteered to go first. Here are some pics my aunt has that crack me up! Like I said, we went first so we were the guinea pigs. We got way more pictures than others and I like it.

Flattering shot, eh?

Jo's smiling!! This is my favorite just for that reason.

I also adore this one.

My parents and sister! Love them.

Really, they are the best. Who else's parents are this crazy?

My papa and his four sisters. He's the second youngest and clearly the adored brother. They are hoots of fun!

Bride and Groom! 

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Baby #2 Update

How far along: 28 weeks

How big is baby: Eggplant Average size: 13.6 -14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb

Weight gain/loss: I think I am at 17-18 lbs. Doc said that was perfectly fine, I thought it seemed really high. I wouldn't be surprised if I lose weight or maintain at my next appointment because it seemed higher than what I was expecting, possibly due to some slight swelling or just eating beforehand. Who knows?

Maternity clothes: I bought another pair of maternity jeans and plan to wear them almost every day to get the wear out of them in these last few months. But really? We know I'll be living in them afterwards too. 

Stretch marks: No new ones!

Sleep: A teeny tiny bit better. I napped a little more but once I started doing some more exercise I found I wasn't quite as tired (imagine that) so the naps have slowed down and I've slept a little better at night. I'm only getting up once to use the bathroom at this point.

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: Watermelon, corn on the cob, ice water. So good! Sugar in general, just trying to keep that limited. As far as aversions, frozen veggies, peppers of any kind, tortilla chips

Exercise: I have done yoga a few times this week and just got a pilates video in the mail. I'm hoping I will be able to avoid braxton hicks (since I haven't had ANY yet...crazy) and keep my muscles stretched out.

Gender: Girl!

Movement: All day long now, sometimes I hardly notice, other times it's so distracting that I stop what I am doing and just feel this little miracle in my tummy.

The belly: I feel like I'm so much bigger than I was last time! But  I know that I am still too comfortable to be done growing outward, so there is still a long road of getting bigger ahead of me.

What I'm loving: Looking obviously pregnant but still being relatively comfortable.

What I miss: Being able to run, having more than one serving of caffeine.

Symptoms: Lower back pain, general fatigue, big belly... all worth it though.

The nursery: No changes yet!

What's different/the same this time: I still don't feel those braxton hicks. I'm definitely not swelling as much either. There has been a little water retention but nothing serious and I'm not uncomfortable from it.

Best moment of the week: Hubby really got to feel the baby move this week and it wasn't just a little bit! So often, she's going nuts in there and he isn't here or can't get over to my belly fast enough. He lights up every time he feels her which makes me so happy too.

Last appointment details: My doctor recommended Tylenol and riding bike for my back pain. Unfortunately I can't afford a bike trainer to set my bike up for indoor use and I can't really go with Josie during the day so that is out. She was glad that I was planning on doing yoga too. She also told me that I was measuring exactly at 27 weeks so we are right on. That's great news!

Next appointment: I'm at the point of going every two or three weeks and am officially in my 3rd trimester. I feel pretty good for being this far along and am so thankful! Next appointment is next Thursday.

Excuse the weird face, I never know if I should smile, look up, stare at the camera... it's just awkward. but notice the straightened hair because it rarely happens! 

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Want to leave a comment? Click on the title of this post and scroll to the bottom. You'll see the comment section there. Can't wait to read what you have to say!

Funny Girl

A few of the funny things that Josie is doing right now that I *really* don't want to forget:

1. Sometimes when she was fussing or crying in the past, I would fake laugh to show her that whining wasn't necessary or to distract her. She picked that up, and fake laughs at me all the time now. Most of the time, it makes me and everyone else around us laugh too, so we get the real laugh out of her shortly after. It really is hilarious. It sounds like she's half coughing half laughing.

2. Some of the words she's been saying come from nowhere. For example, we were at the cornfield with my mom and while she was picking corn, we were just playing in the dirt and grass. Josie looked up and said "trckta" and when I looked in the same direction, there was a tractor. How does she know what that is?? I checked with her other grandparents and they really haven't been teaching it to her either. She's good too, because she noticed one in a book a couple of days later. The other word that she threw out there yesterday was "water" when in the bath. I never say it, I always just say "bath" but she figured it out!

3. I've been working on getting her to communicate "more" if she wants more, and it is the funniest cutest thing. She focuses really hard and starts with the mmm sound so it sounds like "mmmmmmmoo?" I added the question mark because she always says it with a question since that is the way I say it to her when I am asking her to say it. She doesn't say it every time, but she has definitely figured out what it means! Next up, I would love it if she learned "please".

4. She's determined to walk down steps like a big girl but her tiny legs just can't stretch that far, so she now knows that if she just waits a second for me to come and help her, I'll hold her hand and she can basically fall down each step without actually falling over. She stands at the top and just grins at me with her hands up in anticipation. Then once we've reached the bottom, she looks at me like "yeah I did that!" and proudly walks ahead of me to wherever we are going. I'm thankful that she is learning to follow my direction and walk on her own, but she's not even 14 months yet! I don't need her to be such a big girl so soon...

5. She has two bottom teeth and two top teeth, and she's figured out how to use them to the max by nibbling on foods instead of gumming it up. I no longer have to break up her bread or crackers. Now I just hand it to her and she nibbles away. She also grins with a huge toothy smile at me afterwards because she knows its a "big girl" thing. She likes to "eat" apples and corn on the cob because she can nibble until her heart's content. The combo of her eating these huge foods and grinning with all her teeth showing really will melt a heart.

That's all I can think of for now. Hope you smiled at least once!

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