The Tike at 14 months & Mommy at 2 months!

I still can't believe I'm pregnant.....well I can because I'm reminded of it almost every hour during the day, but I seriously stand amazed that we're going to have another blessing from God in arms this spring. I honestly feel like we've been running from one place to another this past week and am really hoping this week is a little more low key. It always seems if Adam doesn't win and get a victory Monday our week is super short with him having 1 off day and expecting us to cram a lot of things into that day. Unfortunately they lost yesterday against Adam's former team the St. Louis Rams. Adam played really well, however the team seems to be struggling. Adam is playing lights out lately and seems to be really enjoying knocking over people! He royally pancaked a guy during the last game! During the games I always have to tell myself not to get to emotional during the games because I am pregnant, but sometimes it's a little easier said then done. Anyway, I wanted to give a quick update on how everybody is doing and growing!!!

The Tike @ 14 months:

-Is a blast and rarely leaves Adam or I sitting around twirling our thumbs!!!

-Jr is always on the go...usually running down the hall, grabbing his shoes, trying to eat them, and then taking off to conquer climbing the stairs. He still has no idea how to go down them and despite our attempts to try to get him to slide on his belly, he just tries to turn around and walk down. Will continue to work this on a daily basis!
-Loves the "Itsy Bitsy Spider!" Will take the frog/radio and push the button/turn the knob until the song comes on. He's really good at doing all the signs to the song too. So cute!!!
-Has a ton of hair, just like Mommy & Daddy. However, it's straight just like Grandpa Joe's.

-Understands a lot of what we say. Heard me whisper "take a bath" to Adam last night and he just took off for the bathroom. Stood at the door and signed bath and looked at us and wondered by we weren't coming. Time to spell words!

-Can read and recognizes 80+ words and images. He'll either say and sign what it is or just sign the word.

-Says a lot of words such as mama, dada, dog, ball (pronounces it dall though), stay (compliments of Mommy telling the dog to stay), hi, bye-bye, hello, duck, cheese and many more.

-Loves to make animal noises. Is really good at roaring like a lion and hooting like an owl!

-Signs a lot of words. Probably around 80+ words.

-Is very good at asking for things and always signing 'please' when he really wants something. He likes to sign more and all done too.
-Jr is combining his signs now too (usually two, but sometimes up to three words together). More...Please! More...Milk...Please!

-Loves sitting on the couch with M&D and reading his books. He then likes to get over to the edge (while M/D hold onto his feet), climb over it and grab his mega blocks out of the wagon next to the couch......such a boy!

-Jr likes to dance to music and is always bobbing his head and shaking his behind when he hears music, especially when the ipad commercial comes on!

-Does pretty good at gym daycare while Mommy is at basketball practice. Always does really well with one particular lady.

-Loves Spencer his babysitter. She does great with him and he's always happy when she comes to watch him a couple times a week!

-Still a 2 napper and sleeps at night from 8:30 to 7:30, however doesn't get out of his crib till 8 to eat breakfast.

-Loves his Teddy! Teddy has to join us a couple times for breakfast, but usually stays in the crib and snuggles with Jr during naps and at night!

-Loves to read/look at his picture books. Doesn't really like when you read to him; he just wants to learn words and show you what he knows.

-Loves being outside and running around!

-Is doing great at the Little Gym. Loves to run around and climb on everything. Especially loves the bubbles at the end. Signs bubbles like crazy and then chases them all around.

-Jr is really trying to do a forward somersault all by himself. He gets into the position and just needs a little boast to get over. We're constantly doing this in living room.

-Is really good at giving hugs and kisses! So sweet!

-Is just a great kid and melts Mommy and Daddy's heart just watching him grow up every day.

Here's a list of words Jr recognizes/reads and can sign, say, make the noise or all three:
-cheese
-duck
-blueberries
-ball
-leaf
-the #1
-flower
-t-shirt
-milk
-tricycle/bicycle
-fish
-cat/kitten
-shoes
-apple
-car
-stars
-rabbit/bunny
-girl
-boy
-socks
-truck
-cup

-train
-airplane
-teddy/bear
-dog
-butterfly
-lion
-zebra
-horse
-tiger
-goose
-pig
-chimp/monkey
-guinea pigs
-calf/cow
-chicks
-fox
-owl
-baby
-clap
-bib
-book
-ears
-eating
-hi
-nap
-head
-mouth
-nose
-tongue
-cheek
-key
-rattle
-smiling
-feet
-toes
-fingers
-hands
-wave (bye-bye)
-baby
-bath
-hat
-dog
-pet
-arms up
-touch your head
-hair
-combs
-comb your hair
-drum
-chin
-pointing
-bubbles
-kick
-kick the ball
-teeth
-clap
-smell
-flower
-blow
-ride
-mommy
-daddy
-hello
-please
-all done
-light
-outside
-does simple commands: give doll a kiss, point to the girl, get your ball, lets take a bath, say please/more, let's go for a ride/outside, etc.

Mommy @ 2 months pregnant with NBC:

-So far this pregnancy feels exactly like the other one, especially in regards to being nauseated and exhausted.

-I've seen the sweet lil pea 3 times. The first time on 8/27 the dr pointed out where the baby was implanted, but it was still too early to see a heart beat. So I simply saw a black dot. The second time we saw the pea was on 9/10. Saw the heart beat (100 bpm) and finally got a due date of 5/8/11! And the third time was 9/17. Lil pea was growing just like he/she is suppose to and had a strong heart beat of (115 bpm). We got our first officially pic of the pea then too!

Here's a quick little update on the major pregnancy points (going to try and do this every month):

How far along? 8 weeks  

Total weight gain/loss: no change  

Maternity clothes? Not yet, I do feel a little bloated and like I'm starting to show though. 

Stretch marks? No, thank goodness! 

Sleep: Is my heaven! I take at least one nap during the day when the Tike naps. If I don't, I can barely make it through the day. One day this past week we had been running around like crazy and I didn't get a nap or any sort of rest all day long...end result was me passing out on the couch in the middle of supper. Thank goodness Adam took the kiddo and I could just rest my body. Sleep seems to be the only relief I can get from being nausea.

Best moment this week: Everyday! Just praising the Lord that we've been blessed with another child!!! 

Movement:Not yet, probably not for another 8 weeks or so. I'm looking forward to this though, I loved feeling Jr move all around! 

Food cravings: NO! Right now, I'm literally forcing myself to eat:( Have found a little comfort in orange juice though.

Gender: We still don't know if we're going to find out with this one or not. We had such a fun time not knowing with the last one, but this time it's up to Adam if we find out if I'll be completely out numbered in this house or not. I think it's another boy, especially just because of how the pregnancy is going thus far. 

Labor Signs: Nope!  

Belly Button in or out? In. 

What I miss: Enjoying food! I wish I was nauseated almost all day, however it's a really good sign and am very thankful that everything seems to be going good with the baby.

What I am looking forward to: making it through another month! Then I'll finally be out of the first trimester! 

Weekly Wisdom: Eat when I can. Enjoy time with the Tike. And always, always take a nap or at least lay down during one of his naps! 

Milestones: Seeing the heart beat twice already:)

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands."- Psalm 138:8

We see God everyday ~ultrasound pics~

Getting NBC's heart rate

Measuring the baby

Jr's ultrasound when he was about the same age (6w6d)

It's hard to believe Jr was this lil at one time

Love this lil guy sooo much!

Teddy and Jr eating breakfast

Best friends!

On Friday we had an ultrasound and saw New Baby C! NBC has already grown so much since the last time we saw the little pea (exactly a week ago)! The heart rate went up from last week (100 to 115 bpm) and lil Pea is measuring exactly a week ahead from last time! Such a blessing to be watching a child grow up everyday in our lives and to watch one grow inside of me.

Jr has found a security blanket.....Teddy! Teddy makes him smile and he absolutely loves carrying Teddy everywhere with him.......hints why he's eating breakfast with Jr every morning! I do manage to put him away, so he can only have him when he sleeps, but the morning is always the hardest for him to give him up.

We feel very blessed and fortunate to have a very healthy and happy toddler and another little baby being formed by God inside of me.

Adam just played his heart out last night in a heartbreaking loss to the Texans. They were winning the whole game, but just couldn't hold onto a win in overtime. Tonight we sign papers to close on some land in Loveland, CO. We can't wait to see our home built and raise our growing family in the Midwest.

My next dr visit is Sept 30, by then I'll almost be 9 weeks along and Jr will be 14 months old!

" The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."- Acts 2:39

Quick Updates On Everybody!

I think it's definitely time for a quick Carriker Clan update. Here we go:

Jacob:
-Is growing up so fast right before our eyes'.
-He signs close to 30-40 words and understands a lot of what we say, so much so that we are already spelling words.
-Has a love for learning!

-Loves to sign lion and try to roar!
-Has been super busy playing with Uncle Phil over the weekend.
-Walks backwards!
-Is a busy, busy boy.
-Eats in his big boy chair all the time now, since he tries to pull part of his high chair apart.
-Loves to read his books and will always pick them over his other toys.
-Has been to the dr's with Mommy a couple times to get her blood drawn.

Daddy:
-Just got his FIRST big WIN during Sunday Night football as a REDSKIN! WOOHOO!
-Is 1-0! What a great way to start the season!

-Is staying healthy and really enjoying being part of this organization.
-Busy with work almost every day and gets bombarded by the kiddo every night when he comes home.

Mommy:

-Is trying to soak up every moment of this pregnancy the good, the bad, and the not so pretty!
-My progesterone levels are low, which now requires me to take some progesterone pills and have to keep getting my blood drawn.
-I've been super nauseated almost every day, all day. I finally get some relief at night and that's usually when I feel the best and have the most energy.
-Every time the tike naps, I seem to be laying down for a little bit too. I don't seem to be able to get through the day if I don't lay down for at least 20 mins.

-I'm truly praying that everything goes well with this pregnancy goes well and can't wait to meet this little sweet baby this spring.


NBC (important dates):
-8/27/10: Mommy found out you were growing in her tummy!
-8/28/10: Mommy surprised Daddy by telling him that Jacob is going to be a big brother!
-8/30/10: Mommy and Daddy told close friends and family about the exciting news that you'll be here by the beginning of May!

-9/10/10: Saw you on the ultrasound. You're the size of a lentil right now! We were able to see your little heart beating at 100 bpm! We finally have a due date! You're expected to arrive May 8, 2011!

"From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth."- Psalm 50:2

Breaking News about NBC:)

God is amazing!!! Seriously, I can't even begin to say how thankful I am for this child that is being formed inside of me. I'm so happy to say I'm going to be the MOMMY to 2 this coming spring:) YAY!

I've blessed beyond belief and can't stop thanking God for this second child! I can't stop beaming inside and out. Not only is my belly growing, but so is my heart. August 27th was suppose to be a typical day that came and went, however God had other plans for the Carriker family. I'd not been feeling very well for a couple weeks and thought my body was having a hard time adjusting its hormones, so I scheduled an appt to see a dr. So Friday morning I figured I better take a pregnancy test since I'd not been feeling good and figured the dr would ask if I was pregnant and I wanted to be able to tell her, "No, I'm not pregnant I took a test." The test however didn't display what I thought I was going to see. After taking the dog out, I came back to check the test and to my amazement I saw this:



I about fell over in what the word said......PREGNANT!!! Seriously?! This is so amazing! What a perfect surprise from God! Oh, how our lives are never going to be the same! I stood there amazed at what the test said.......never would I have thought this would be possible, but one more test later after basketball practice reassured me that this dr visit was going to be more than I was expecting.



How am I going to tell Adam, is the next thing that came to my mind. I thought it would be fun to put Jr in a BIG BROTHER shirt and take some pics and put a lil note together for Adam that said....."Surprise.......I'm going to be a big brother!" In the end this is what we ended up emailing family and close friends to spread the great news about New Baby Carriker! Adam was gone at a pre-season game verse the Jets and didn't get home until early Saturday morning, so I decided to wait until Saturday afternoon to break the news to him. I was going nuts inside trying not to smile to much or say something that would bring up more questions about the dr visit. Nonetheless, my plan worked perfectly and Adam was super excited when he put it all together!

Thus far everything is going pretty well, I've switched my dr to a woman I feel a lot more comfortable with (so I've already had 2 visits and now 2 different blood drawings). I go in tomorrow for another blood draw. Their hoping to take all the blood work from the past 3 drawings and see just how far along I am since I just stop breastfeeding in July and they're not sure of an exact due date. All we know right now is that NBC should be here by the beginning of May! I'm scheduled to have an ultrasound Sept 24th to measure the baby, which should give us the best indicator of how far along I am. Nonetheless, we're super, super, super excited about this blessing and can't wait to watch our family grow by another 2 feet:)

"Shout to God with cries of joy." -Psalm 47