17 and 18 Weeks (and Weekend)

Here are my 17- and 18-week belly pictures! I mentioned that I'm not going to post bare belly pictures (and I'm not), but what I will do is wear one of the "gathered" shirts that I own (I have about four). I think that will help standardize the pictures. And I promise I don't wear brown shirts with black gym shorts out in public (17 weeks). I put the shirt on right before I took the picture (although I would consider wearing such an outfit to Walgreens...).

16 Weeks (for comparison)

17 Weeks

18 Weeks

This past Friday we babysat our friends' daughter Daniella (she is 10-months old) while her parents went out to dinner. It was interesting watching a 10-month old and 16-month old...they both wanted to be held (by me) most of the evening, so my arms were tired by the end of the night. Sydney kept wanting to take Daniella's pacifier in and out of her mouth.Saturday Sydney ate lunch and swam on the back porch. I didn't get any pictures of her in the pool...

Navy Update

I am getting a lot of questions regarding my last day in the Navy, when we're moving, etc., so I will post a much-needed update!

My last day in the Navy is officially June 1st. Two weeks from today! I can hardly believe it. There are a few more things I need to do, paperwork-wise, in order to complete the outprocessing (in addition to the paperwork that can't be completed until June 1st), but things are moving right along!

We are scheduled to move the week after the 4th of July weekend. We're still working out all of the details, but that gives you a good idea. As I'm sure you deduced, there is a month between when I get out of the Navy and when we move. Sydney will stay in daycare during that time so I can get take care of the last-minute moving details and start to pack/organize things we'd rather the movers not touch. I also need to do some house purging, things I've been putting off for a while now and that I KNOW will NEVER get done if I don't do them before we move and have another baby. I refuse to let that happen.

Speaking of baby, we will have an ultrasound June 2nd to (hopefully) find out the sex! Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?

Mother's Day and...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I am so thankful for all of the wonderful mothers I know (especially mine!). We had a very uneventful day (and weekend). Last year we went out to dinner for Mother's Day on Saturday, and planned to do the same this year. However, my friend Aubrey (who was on my ship for a little while in 2008) was in town, and we were able to visit with her and her husband on Saturday. We visited so long Chet and I decided to pick up food instead of going to a restaurant (which was just as good, especially since Sydney was in bed by the time we ate). On Sunday we went to church, came home and napped, and then went to the mall just to get out of the house and walk around. Sydney played in the mall play area (sort of), and she and I rode the little train that goes around the mall (Chet claimed he couldn't fit into the train car, so he stayed with the stroller). All in all it was a great day!

Aubrey, Sydney, and Ashley (we were all looking a little rough -- Aubrey just came from the beach, Syd was in a diaper...again...and I just looked like I needed a shower)

Chet and Sydney gave me flowers for Mother's Day, and will also give me a charm once we know the sex of the baby. That's right! In case you didn't already know (or couldn't tell by the counter at the top of the blog), we are expecting Baby #2! He/she is due October 22nd, which means I am already 16 weeks (and two days) along. I have been feeling great (no morning sickness to speak of) and last week I started feeling the baby move a little. I've only had two OB appointments so far. The first was at my 10-week mark, and the second was this morning. I asked the doctor (the same one I had with Sydney) what she thought the sex was. She said she didn't have a strong feeling, but that the way I looked (which I think was a nice way of saying "chubby") and the fact that she found the heartbeat with the Doppler right away makes her think it's another girl. However...I didn't look full in the face when I was pregnant with Sydney AND, around the 16-week point in my pregnancy with Sydney, the same doctor had a hard time finding the heartbeat with the Doppler and swore it was a boy. So there's no telling what this little one is! I've learned by listening to and talking to other women that there is really no way to tell, even if your pregnancy is exactly the same or completely different from the last one. We'll just have to wait and see! Speaking of that, I should know this week when we are having the gender-ultrasound, so I will keep you posted (I think it will be close to June 1st).

Sydney wore the most precious Sailor dress to church. This was the best full-body shot we managed to take of her that morning.

Sydney and Mommy (she refused to wear a bow in her hair)

Flowers, Cards, Balloon

Sydney Playing with the Balloon (I promise she's usually dressed)

Mother's Day Charm (once we know the sex)

I just started taking belly pictures this week. Here I am compared to my pregnancy with Sydney. I've decided not to take bare belly pictures this time around...new baby, new tradition. (There are two pictures because Chet couldn't get rid of the shadow in the second picture, but I like it better when my left side is toward the camera.)

16 Weeks

16 Weeks (shadow)

16 Weeks with Sydney

Grant's Visit

Grant left today, but we had a really good time while he was here! We ended up going to the beach yesterday, as planned, and then went out to dinner afterward to a local seafood restaurant. We rented another movie last night, ("Unstoppable"; it was good). We miss him already!

Sydney watching the royal wedding while eating breakfast (the boys' choir was singing at this point; also, she has a scab on the side of her nose from skinning it earlier this week)

Before Dinner Saturday

Sydney was less willing to cooperate here