20 weeks(19 picture too)

19 week picture

How far along: 20 weeks
Size of baby: Baby R is the size of a banana
Total weight gain: 8 pounds
Maternity clothes: Yes-they are much more comfortable. I can still wear a lot of my normal t-shirts! I also found a whole bag of maternity clothes in the crawl space last night and I was sooo excited. It was like Christmas all over again!
Gender: It's a boy-Mr. Laekan Harper
Movement: This boy is a mover and shaker. As soon as any caffeine hits my mouth he is all over the place. He likes to be active at night. I am still waiting to be able to share the movement with Justin and Taegan-it isn't quite hard enough yet.
Sleep: I am sleeping great!
What I miss: Don't miss anything. Although the other day I was super stressed and really could have used one drink....

Cravings: Not much this last two weeks.

Symptoms: My back is becoming a problem again...ugh!!! Other than that I have been feeling very well and staying healthy-knock on wood!!!

I have been super stressed this last week with lots of stuff to do around the house. I think I am already nesting and that is a bad sign-I still have half of this pregnancy to go. I did get a ton done on the list and hope to keep working on it. Just seems like as soon as I cross something off I add two more things!

Christmas 2010

We had a busy, but fun Christmas this year!!! I love having family time with each family and this year was no different. We started our Christmas Eve out at Justin's parents. All three girl grandkids were there and ready to decorate cookies and make party hats! Taegan did a lot of the sprinkling of the cookies-because the other two weren't quite old enough yet. She loved helping.

She got real good at it and even started putting multiple colors on one cookie!
Then she got to help Grandma Becky cut out some cookies.

We spent the morning and afternoon there. Nap wasn't very successful for any of the girls that day and then we headed to my mom's side for about an hour. Taegan got to help cut out and frost cookies there as well!!! She was a pro by then. We headed back to Grandma Becky's to get ready for church. Taegan did pretty well in church(usually she is in Sunday school, but they didn't have that on Christmas Eve). Then we swung by home to get some more things and take our annual pictures in front of the tree.

I am so blessed to call these two mine.

She was ready to go open presents!!!

Back to Grandma Becky's we went to eat and open presents. We got started opening presents at 8:45 or so and finished at 11!!! WOW those girls got lots of good stuff this year. We were all exhausted and ready to call it a night. We packed up and headed home-only for Taegan to fall asleep before being able to put out her special Santa cookies. So we did it for her:)

So pretty!

Passing the time before presents with Kinsley.

An attempt at a group picture-this was take 6!

Getting into the presents-she was great this year!

The end result was a naked Taegan riding on Kinsley's new trike with Kinsley helping:)

Christmas morning we spent at home with just us three. That is our favorite time!! We had so much fun watching her see what Santa brought her and just relaxing together! She loved the presents this year.

Her stocking all laid out in a line.Here she is with her new Doll House from Santa-this is her favorite right now!

We headed over to my parents after finishing at our house and had more fun!!! Taegan knew what the presents were all about and didn't want to eat breakfast because she was ready to open away!!! We managed to get her to eat some. She got spoiled there as well-what a lucky girl!! She was done opening all of her presents and then we had one last surprise...

A train table!!! She played and played with this.

My Grandpa came over for lunch and then we all took a nap:) What a wonderful holiday season we had this year. Laekan was also spoiled as well...Justin and I can't say thank you enough to our parents for loving us and treating us so well. We truly are so blessed to have them in our lives and supporting our decisions. We love you all!!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas-I can't believe it is over already.

It's a....

BOY!!!! We are so excited to share that we are adding a boy to our little family. He will be named:

Laekan Harper Ross.

We are over the moon with excitement and so very nervous to take this new journey. I would have to say that I am more nervous than Justin is, but nevertheless nervous. I have NO idea what to do with a boy and this will all be a new journey. We had planned on taking Taegan with us to the ultrasound because it was going to be a surprise to our families. I got super nervous she would slip and say something so I had a friend come watch her while we went.

The baby is looking great-very healthy and very active. I however, have placenta previa and will be monitored very closely for the remainder of the pregnancy! I made a huge mistake by googling that and now am on edge constantly about it! I just have to put faith in God and let him take control, I am just not very good at that yet:(

We ended up telling our parents the night of the ultrasound for one because we were super excited and for two I was a bit stressed about it. It was supposed to happen on Christmas, but they were surprised none the less. Both sets of parents are super excited and can't wait to meet Laekan!!!

Kasiska Christmas

Every year we go out to Grandma's in western Kansas to celebrate Christmas with all of Justin's moms side. We went 2 weekends ago now and had a blast. It is so much fun to have 30 people in one house and have everyone stay the night! I know it sounds crazy, but it is some crazy fun. Taegan had a great time this year playing with all the cousins-she fit right in. Once she overcame being shy-there was no holding her back. We just loved watching her interact and play.

Here she is with Kennedy and Brooklyn getting ready to open presents.

Waiting very patiently on her presents.

Time to dig in!

She got some great presents and we were spoiled with a Texas Roadhouse gift card!!! I can't believe it is the week of Christmas and yet I still have some last minute things to finish up...ugh. I am mostly done, but it is those last minute things that I need to do!!!! I will be back with week 19 in a few days!

18 weeks

How far along: 18 weeks

Size of baby: Baby R is the size of a bell pepper

Total weight gain: 5 pounds

Maternity clothes: Most of my shirts are now if they are nice shirts and I am still using the belly band for my pants-although that is getting uncomfortable.

Gender: Find out the week after Christmas

Movement: The baby is moving a ton-I love feeling it move. I can't wait until Justin and Taegan can feel it!!!

Sleep: I am sleeping really well still. Taegan has some off nights that impact that, but overall I am still very comfortable and able to sleep.

What I miss: Nothing-I am really starting to enjoy this pregnancy and getting very excited!

Cravings: Nothing this week-haven't really been hungry that much?

Symptoms: After going to the chiropractor last week my hip and back pain have settled some. I am however still experiencing some, but it is managable! The huge news this week is that the toilet and bath in our main bath are back in working order and this momma doesn't have to walk 2 flights of stairs in the middle of the night to use the bathroom:)

We celebrated Christmas with Justin's extended family last weekend and I will be back tomorrow with some pictures and stories from that trip!!!

17 weeks

How far along: 17 weeks

Size of baby: Baby R is the size of a turnip

Total weight gain: 4-5 pounds...can't get the scales to agree!

Maternity clothes: Starting to wear more shirts because they tend to be more comfortable, and I am still using the belly band with my pants.

Gender: Find out after Christmas.

Movement: The baby has been very active this week. I have felt it at least everyday!

Sleep: Sleeping like a rock star this week, haven't even gotten up to go to the bathroom!!!!

What I miss: Not having any aches and pains after I do something. I wrapped presents for 4 hours Monday and could not move that entire night!

Cravings: Back on my grape kick....

Symptoms: I still have terrible hip pain and now lower back pain. Other than that I am feeling pretty good. Lots of energy to get things done-let's see how long this lasts.

Christmas in Kansas City...

My mom and dad along with Justin, Taegan, and I have started a tradition to do a trip to KC every Christmas season. We had to go a bit early this year because we are busy from now until Christmas. So we headed out yesterday to have some fun. We had to run some errands before heading to dinner and Crown Center, but we had fun!!! We had lunch at Noodles and Company and it is one of my favorites. While we were eating there we found a store called Kolache Factory and Justin and I were so excited to go see what they had. Justin has grown up with his Grandma making kolache's so he was eager to try one from the store and see. They had tons of different ones and he seemed to like them. Said Grandma's were better:)

After that we headed to Zona Rosa to shop some while Taegan and my Dad took a nap in the car! It was pretty darn cold out so when she woke up we headed out because I didn't want to bundle her up and shop with her. We did love Zona Rosa and will come back when it is nice out. We tried this place called Yogurtini-which was self-serve yogurt and toppings. YUMMY!!! We need one of those in Topeka.

Then we were off to dinner. We chose Jack Stack down by Crown Center...one of our favorites. We always eat too much, but it is just too good not to!!!

Here is Taegan attacking Mom after we were done eating waiting to pay!

Once we finished dinner we were off to roam around Crown Center and play in the walkways they have over the streets. This is Taegan's favorite thing to do. She runs and runs and runs. Just what she neeeded after a day spent mostly in the car for her.

Here she is on a fixture they have in the walkways getting ready to slide down.

And sliding down...this was her favorite thing to do!!!

Daddy and Taegan.

Sitting with Papa looking at the lights and watching the cars.

Taegan and Mommy.

We had such a fun day...after getting some fudge and popcorn we were on our way home! I can't wait to share this tradition with our new little bundle next year. Family time is so precious and we love sharing it with everyone!!!

16 weeks and Dr. Appt

How far along:16 weeks

Size of baby:Baby R is the size of an avocado

Total weight gain: 4 pounds...and that is at the Dr. office too:)

Maternity clothes: I am starting to wear a few shirts, but am still able to do my normal pants with the belly band.

Gender:Find out after Christmas

Movement:I actually just felt the baby move, but it is still nothing consistent.

Sleep:It has been a good week for sleep.

What I miss: Being able to walk normal-I am having some hip pains and it makes me walk like I have a serious limp. The pains come and go, but they sure don't feel good.

Cravings: Nothing really this week. I am off my grape kick and really just want to munch on food all day long. I don't let myself, but I sure would like too. Chips are being well liked this week!

Symptoms: Hip and back pain are becoming more of an issue. I am having more energy lately so I am working on getting stuff done. I was having a lot of anxiety this past week about the baby and was eager to see the Dr. for my checkup. The heartbeat was very strong and she said I was looking good!!! What a relief, and I felt the baby that night. Overall, I am feeling much better about it all. Just need to start enjoying it before it is over!!!