tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25992068496776923362024-03-12T19:55:01.052-07:00our little lifethe goings on in our life...nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936935080610076003noreply@blogger.comBlogger738125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-51703312943821577502015-02-02T23:38:00.001-08:002015-02-02T23:38:09.895-08:00Test post from phone...<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pOD-2C_pUU8/VNB63tRWGsI/AAAAAAAAFc0/U0aIovzPGT0/s640/blogger-image-146376655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pOD-2C_pUU8/VNB63tRWGsI/AAAAAAAAFc0/U0aIovzPGT0/s640/blogger-image-146376655.jpg"></a></div>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-63800776164595574122014-07-30T22:38:00.004-07:002014-07-30T22:58:26.533-07:00Baby #2: 20 weeks (June 25, 2014) & 21 weeks (July 2, 2014)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14774844993" title="04-2014-06-25 10.10.49 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="04-2014-06-25 10.10.49" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3858/14774844993_431a947153.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14754968405" title="14-2014-07-26 23.51.14 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="14-2014-07-26 23.51.14" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/14754968405_841afa3ee2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have been really slacking on writing my weekly posts, so I missed 20 weeks, but got 21 weeks! </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14731968566" title="12-2014-07-26 23.52.27 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="12-2014-07-26 23.52.27" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14731968566_96b1557ae1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: No one is mistaking I’m pregnant
these days! Getting big! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> A Pomegranate! 10.5inches long and
12.7 oz. Baby continues to gulp down amniotic fluid and practice breathing
motions and its taste buds are working! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cravings/Aversions:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Everything sounds good.
Trying to be better about eating healthy because I’ve been in a convience
rut…just wanting food NOW instead of taking the time to prepare a full meal. LOOOVING caprese salads lately though... </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14774845113" title="13-2014-07-07 16.52.36 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="13-2014-07-07 16.52.36" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14774845113_e20ba81100.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> FULL ON kicks. As
in – baby is a trapeze artist flipping around in there. Grant can feel the
movements from the outside. Still trying to get Edrie to feel them. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Seeing
our kids interact. Been thinking more and more about their relationship and how
exciting that is going to be to see. Edrie is sooo excited to be a big sister
and I can’t wait to see her in that role and how our family evolves with more
than one kid to focus on.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Still feeling like it’d be nice to
fit into my clothes. I might need to make an underwear/bra/top shopping trip
soon. Almost all of my t-shirts are only long enough to cover my belly button
and my strapless bra cuts off my circulation. I pulled out a few pairs of
underwear that seemed so huge from when I was prego with E and put them on. It
was like breathing a sigh of relief.. apparently I was squeezing into my non
prego pairs a bit too long. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> Feeling pretty confident
everything will be ok. Still a bit concerned about how I will do working up
until the end as it is already a bit rough after my stretch. Just sore
tailbone, swollen feet, etc. Trying to dispel all my worries about pre-term
labor…they are mostly in the back of my mind and I haven’t had much pain from
my surgery site so I’m hoping it will hold strong and not give me any troubles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Feeling
baby’s BIG kicks. Edrie’s placenta was anterior so I don’t think I ever felt
her in the way I feel this baby. Its so much more pronounced. I LOVE IT. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: No big complaints. I wish I was
more active – feel a bit lazy lately and I think that is mostly due to how busy
we are and me not taking the time to walk/run. Maybe a change is in order soon.
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Continue to sleep well. Tonight I
feel asleep putting E down and now its 3am and I can’t fall back to sleep. Most
nights I have no issues though! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Like I said – its awesome. Baby is
such a mover and shaker we saw full on flips when we had our ultrasound last
week. Can’t wait for Edrie to feel some!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Bump:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> My belly button is almost flush…I
think I am still in denial that I am pregnant sometimes. I felt so weird when I
was big in the beginning I still have a hard time getting over that and feeling
‘legit’. Probably also due to my major distraction from the pregnancy (i.e.
Edrie and house)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Tastebuds !! Getting SO
BIG! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Names:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Thought I should mention some names
we are considering. So far our top girl names are Aela (pronounced A-la) and
Miri. I love them both but thing that Aela sounds better when paired with
Edrie. I might play with the spelling so it makes more sense. Grant likes Miri
better but likes them both. For boys we are pretty stumped and our choices
change often. Current top runners are Alden and Cohen. We would like to use the
middle name of Eugene for a boy but no real middle name thoughts for girls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Having
Grant feel baby move. That is always so special. He is not one to get too
attached before baby comes, but I’ve noticed a general difference in his
acknowledgement of the pregnancy lately…must be how big I’m getting. More belly
touches, more comments on his ‘pregnant wife’ etc. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ultrasound: </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">We had our 20 week ultrasound last
week and it was SO MUCH FUN to see the baby. It feels like it didn’t even
happen. Everything in life feels like that lately – maybe that is a message
that I need to slow down. Anyway… Baby was an acrobat and was folded in half
tucked REALLY low most of the time. I remember Edrie’s 20 week ultrasound being
difficult too. I had to move in all sorts of different ways for the sonographer
to see the different organs and he never was able to determine sex. Things were
exactly the same for this babe… I think my babies like to sit low and breech.
Everything looked good, but we have to go back next week to try to get a few
more views of the heart and kidneys. She tried to check sex just for the chart
and to be sure the anatomy looked good, but she couldn’t even see that! I was
tempted to find out what we are having, but I guess it doesn’t matter! </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14568533707" title="08-2014-06-28 16.27.07 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="08-2014-06-28 16.27.07" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2918/14568533707_5018f25b66.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14731969066" title="07-2014-06-28 16.26.55 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="07-2014-06-28 16.26.55" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/14731969066_66149264f1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14568318709" title="09-2014-06-28 16.27.01 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="09-2014-06-28 16.27.01" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/14568318709_174cfe5379.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14568534087" title="06-2014-06-28 16.27.13 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="06-2014-06-28 16.27.13" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14568534087_89d322070c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14568291110" title="05-2014-06-28 16.27.20 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="05-2014-06-28 16.27.20" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14568291110_2b354231d4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-21935270517091506072014-06-25T08:18:00.000-07:002014-06-25T08:18:09.046-07:00Baby #2: 18 weeks (June 11, 2014) & 19 weeks (June 18, 2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14300406588" title="2-2014-06-22 23.07.34 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-06-22 23.07.34" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5318/14300406588_871ab8229f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14300546987" title="1-2014-06-12 19.32.50 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="1-2014-06-12 19.32.50" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/14300546987_47706e926d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't get a chance to write a post for 18 weeks, but I did (remarkably) take pictures! (pregnant with Edrie at <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/04/18-weeks.html">18 weeks</a>)</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14486985125" title="3-2014-06-22 23.13.34 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="3-2014-06-22 23.13.34" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/14486985125_f0eddb112b.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: If this is what 19 weeks looks
like… what is 38 weeks going to look like? I feel good, but am slightly
concerned about the belly size. (ALTHOUGH, I’m over being TOLD, “you’re bigger
than my friend who is due next week” as if that is something you should ever
say to anyone… )I do like how all three of us are in this picture though. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> A mango! 6 in, 8.5 oz</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cravings/Aversions:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Been really into fresh fruit
still and loving deli sandwiches… I know those are supposed to be off the list,
but I feel ok about eating lunch meat when I can just as easily get sick from
spinach or a food cart. Otherwise, LOVING the small sips of Grant’s beer I take
here and there. Really looking forward to a cold one when this kid is on the
other side! </span>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> More discussions in
public about the baby and feeling more and more ‘legit’ in my pregnancy. I was
big so early I felt weird, but now I’m feeling like I can own it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Nesting
in our new house (fingers crossed!!!) Really starting to think about what I
want to gather and get and take out for this baby. Its all going to be a
cluster in the last few weeks of the pregnancy, but I feel ok with that. I’ll
be less ok if we aren’t back in the house… </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fitting in clothes. Feeling like
much of what I put on these days is tight in the wrong places. My hips/butt
must be enlarging because even some of my yoga pants feel uncomfortable in the
butt. Often, I feel like symptoms like this kind of evolve so maybe it will
improve??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> 20 week ultrasound coming
up and I’m really nervous they will find something. The last thing we need
right now is a pregnancy complication. Beyond that I am REALLY looking forward
to seeing the baby again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Working.
When I was pregnant with Edrie we moved early in my second trimester from the
Midwest so I didn’t work at this point or further. (And I didn’t have to go
back to work until she was 6 months old…) I’m starting to feel the strain after
work. My tailbone is SO SORE by the end of my two-day stretch that I can barely
sit down and my feet have been very sore. I also think I need to purchase come
compression socks to help with my lower leg edema. They are all normal
complaints of pregnancy, but just not something I am familiar with because I
took it so easy with E. I think I need to do better with self-care…resting at
work between pt cares, putting my feet up a bit in the middle of the night
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>help with the edema, icing my
feet/tailbone between shifts and after, buying the socks. I’m hoping if I work
at it a bit I can feel better. I felt pretty rough after just one night this
week and it made me start to worry I wouldn’t be able to work all the way
through. That would be quite the kink…(<a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/04/19-weeks.html">edrie at 19 weeks)</a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Really good. Other than the things
I feel during/after work I’m mostly just big. Some general exhaustion,
heartburn, etc, but mostly just big and good. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> No real issues. My carpal tunnel
has been better the past few weeks so I think I’m sleeping better. I also have
that pillow when I need it. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Kicks are getting MUCH bigger. I’ve
felt a few on the outside so I’m just holding my breath until Edrie and Grant
feel one. Edrie is going to be so excited when that happens!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Bump:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Just big. Okay with it, but pretty
big. People are mostly really gracious and don’t say much about it, but I get
the occasional person who likes to scoff and be amazed I’m not having twins.
I’ll be interested to see how much weight I’ve gained since my last
appointment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Getting coated in vernix
and growing hair! Baby is mostly proportional and has all its parts..now just
needs to GROW and develop all those parts! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Feeling
baby kicks from the outside of my belly. Pretty amazing to have a human being
growing inside of you! </span></div>
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<br />nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-42492455875019180452014-06-13T23:02:00.001-07:002014-06-13T23:02:14.934-07:00Baby #2: 17 weeks (June 4, 2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14417242135" title="2-2014-06-10 22.19.26 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-06-10 22.19.26" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/14417242135_c5c5e12480.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> An Onion! 5 ounces… I feel like we
are really having a growth spurt lately</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> Nothing is
really bothering me or not. I guess I’m craving more greasy/bad for you food
than anything else, but still eating and enjoying lots of healthy stuff too. I
did notice that potato chips do not sit well and at this time with Edrie I had
wicked heartburn, which hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe this baby will be a baldy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> The big belly. Its
seriously getting SO BIG. Having some growth spurts lately. Also had a few
uncomfortable and emotional days making me realize I still have a long road! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Summer
pregnant!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No worries about sucking
it in!! HA!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m over alcohol-its been so long
I’m realizing I don’t even miss it anymore. I’m back to coffee daily… kind of
wish I’d kick that habit. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> Had a few days were I
haven’t felt as many kicks and started to really worry, but I’ve always been
happily surprised by a kick. When I check the heartrate with the Doppler its
always right there. I’m doing that less and less – maybe every other week or so
since I can feel baby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Feeling
good like I did with Edrie – just everything is happening sooner – bigger,
carpal tunnel, etc. Glad to be avoiding the heart burn though! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/04/17-weeks.html">Pregnant with Edrie at 17 weeks</a></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Good, most days. I had one day last
week where I felt like I remember feeling toward the end of my pregnancy with
Edrie – like I couldn’t push my belly out of my lungs. Just really full and
tight up high. Must have been a growth spurt day, because I’ve been feeling
better. Days like that scare me because I still have 5 months! I’m also trying
to start thinking about what we will need/want before baby comes and what the
nursery will look like. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Not actively or fully waking but I
think my carpal tunnel is affecting me because my hands are numb in the morning
and I don’t feel well rested. I bought a snoogle body pillow to help position
myself a bit better and am going to try arnica cream and ice to see if they
help. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Love feeling baby move and its
still very obvious kicks! Helps me feel more connected and a good reminder of
why I’m so big! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Bump:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Still big and getting bigger. Its
definitely firming up which I appreciate…not a big fan of huge, squishy belly.
I’m full time in maternity clothes and loving that – they are so comfortable!
Makes up for the discomfort that pregnancy brings! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Turning cartilage into
bone and starting to make sweat glands!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> When Edrie
asks to ‘cuddle with my baby’ its so cute. She wraps herself around my belly and
talks about the baby and how she wishes it would come out. She is fully
convinced it’s a girl… gonna be a bit of a turn around if it’s a boy! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-39720946412962917152014-06-13T22:58:00.001-07:002014-06-13T22:58:21.474-07:00Baby #2: 16 weeks (May 28, 2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14230650838" title="1-2014-06-10 22.13.19 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="1-2014-06-10 22.13.19" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/14230650838_c50ace8e1b.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> An Avocado! 4.5inches and 3.5
ounces! Getting bigger!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> I’m just
really into food. I want to eat all day. Still figuring out what works for
lunch and I NEED to work on making dinners more. The kitchen in this apartment
sicks me out and doesn’t encourage cooking. Plus, we can’t grill here – we have
to get food to grill at the house so we aren’t doing it very much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> Feeling
legitimately pregnant. I was so big so early I almost felt like I was faking
it. Now it feels more warranted. I also love that Edrie totally gets this whole
thing. She’s still wrapping her head around why baby can’t come out, but she
totally gets that we are having a baby and that its already impacting her/our
life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Getting
to enjoy our new house with all FOUR of us. I can’t imagine how different it
will feel to be in our house this time around. Its going to feel so clean. I
never decorated or did much with Edrie on the floor because everything felt so
impermanent and dirty. I think it will feel much more homey and CLEAN. Can’t
wait. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Not really. Feeling good about
coffee again so I can’t really complain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> Been more worried about
something big and bad showing up at the 20 week ultrasound. Or something
happening after that. I think that has a lot to do with my work – I just see
all the possibilities and I know they are rare, but I don’t know what we will
do if something happens to us. I already always feel like we are maxing out our
stress level. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Just
that I’m bigger than I was with her and its hard to think specifically about
this babe. All day is all about Edrie so my evenings are the only times I have
think on baby and half the time I’m too tired, other days I’m at work, and then
there are the rare nights I spend searching double strollers, dreaming up a
nursery. <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/03/16-weeks.html">Pregnant with E at 16 weeks.</a> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Good. Still having numb hands and
night and they feel tight and puffy in the morning. I better start knitting for
this kid or my hands will be incapable! My tailbone is really tender feeling –
which is new for me. I was really emotional mid-week…ups and downs come out of
the blue when I’m pregnant. I HATE thinking about having another
c-section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just tired of
surgeries. It will be my third abdominal surgery in 3 years and with more kids
that number will just keep creeping up. I had an appointment and had the same
conversation I’ve had with the OB before and she confirmed that if I go into
labor and its quick and baby is ready to come out before they get set-up for a
section she will deliver me, but there is no safe way to labor with that scar at
the top of my uterus. I’ve seen what happens when a uterus ruptures and baby
outcomes are not good. Mama outcomes are bad too. Just hard to think about
surgery every time you want a baby. In general, my biggest risk from that scar
is preterm labor and that really freaks me out more than the idea of a
c-section. I just need to pray baby doesn’t realize the scar is there. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> No complaints! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> About halfway through this week I
started feeling legitimate KICKS. They are not super often but they are
unmistakable. I’ve been snacking on popscicles and frozen blueberries in bed at
night and baby really starts getting going when the cold hits. So funny. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Bump:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> BIG and round. People at work just
laugh at me. I must have the weakest abs in all of history. I’ve been thinking
about how I’m going to work on that more after this baby is out </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Has finger and toenails!
Is covered in lanugo and has tastebuds!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Big kicks…
keep ‘em coming babe!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-81796268365119557782014-06-13T22:48:00.000-07:002014-06-13T22:48:15.148-07:00August 2013: The Meenderings Come to Town<div style="text-align: center;">
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I almost died when Jess called to tell me she had a conference in Portland and that she was bringing her whole crew! We hadn't seen eachother in YEARS and I'd yet to meet Grifynn! We had a great week together - we spent a windy day at the Oregon Coast, some great dinners out (that we survived with 3 kids!), and even had a reunion BBQ with our old UO Crew. I so wish we got to see them more, but we always vow that after our kids are grown or at least older, we will make more trips and visits! You can scroll through the pics above to see our full week! </div>
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-51588937916554674582014-05-30T00:17:00.000-07:002014-05-30T00:19:13.435-07:00Aug 2013: Camping at Timothy Lake<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9827862625" title="IMG_2019 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2019" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/9827862625_fb6f6af5bc.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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I'd never been to Timothy Lake, but I AM IN LOVE. I seriously can't wait to go back there and I hope when we do we have a kayak or canoe, because it was all I could do to resist stealing a boat to go out on the beautiful water! Grant and Ethan had the idea to spend a weekend camping out here...I was skeptical because they didn't really know where they were going and they were going out early in the morning and us ladies were meeting up later after they secured a camp site (there are no reservable spots here). Anyway, long story short - I thought I was going to run out of gas alone in the car with Edrie in the middle of the woods without phone service, but we all eventually found eachother and had an amazing weekend! I'm kind of obsessed with the pictures from this trip so bear with me... </div>
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she is happiest when we are camping and she can be off-leash all weekend! </div>
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I'm in love with the foggy early morning lake. So perfect!</div>
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-40927082386896940392014-05-29T23:25:00.003-07:002014-05-30T00:19:13.432-07:00Aug 2013: Jill's Bachelorette<div style="text-align: center;">
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Jill and I met in FOURTH grade. Its hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that we have been friends for so long, but its true. She is a tried and true friend who knows me better than most and still puts up with me. We can still laugh so hard it hurts and cry at the drop of a hat. I was lucky enough to get to go to her wedding festivities last summer. We spent a weekend in a fabulous beach house with all her closest girls for her bachelorette party. It was my first weekend away from Edrie and we were still nursing so it was kind of hard, but we all had a great time! Scroll through the pictures above to see the fun! </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-73371605796361482982014-05-29T22:53:00.001-07:002014-05-30T00:19:13.438-07:00July 2013: Oxbow Dinner Date<div style="text-align: center;">
back to an attempt to get the blog<span style="color: #0000ee;"> up-to-</span>date...</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812904124" title="IMG_1831 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1831" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9812904124_a73c0325ea.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I fell in love with <a href="http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/oxbow-regional-park">Oxbow Park</a> on the Sandy River last summer - its close enough to home to spend the day or evening there, but also feels like a little retreat. The only bummer is that Olive can't join us there. Anyway, one evening last summer we took our little grill, some dinner fixings, and ourselves out for dinner on the river. It was magical. I hope we get to do it again this summer...</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812899225" title="IMG_1821 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1821" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/9812899225_d12a69ffd7.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812899885" title="IMG_1822 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1822" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9812899885_4d96fdba13.jpg" width="300" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812985283" title="IMG_1836 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1836" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/9812985283_c215c3c76c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-21752213687088411452014-05-29T00:18:00.000-07:002014-05-29T22:22:17.096-07:00Baby #2: 14 & 15 Weeks<style>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">I never got around to
writing a post last week. But it was more of the same – gradual increase in
size, gradually feeling less queasy and starting to feel some flutters! </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14109641188" title="2-2014-05-28 23.58.50 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-05-28 23.58.50" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/14109641188_45ecea4cce.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Continue to get bigger! Feeling
more like I’m not totally HUGE for how far along I am, but maybe I’m kidding
myself?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> An Orange! About 4 inches crown to
rump! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> Feeling SO
MUCH BETTER! No real issues with food. I’m eating more regularly and not as
ravenously, coffee is back in the rotation full force. A barista asked me if I
wanted my latte decaf…I scoffed. Baby can deal so mama can survive ;) I still
love fruit, but no other big cravings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> People asking more
and more about baby – they must be confident I’m pregnant. Talking and thinking
more about plans, names, nurseries, and deciding we won’t find out the sex. It
feels good to have that decision made! Oh and I went maternity clothes shopping
ALONE on Mother’s Day and it was SO nice. I got a good starter wardrobe that
feels much better than I felt before. I got a pair of skinny jeans and a swim
suit. I never had a swim suit when I was pregnant with Edrie, but I’m excited
to feel covered up when I take E to the river and pool this year! I also
snagged a few tanks and a skirt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> HOLDING
THIS KID! One of my best friends had her second last week and I’m dying seeing
her as a mother of two. Can’t wait to be in that boat. I’m really excited to
see Edrie as a big sister and to do the newborn thing again with Grant. The
sleeplessness sucks, but the squishy newborn that has no real opinion will make
up for it. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Just the drinking. Its so hard for
me to not have A DRINK when we go out or when its been a long day. Everything
else I don’t really ascribe to – I still eat lunch meat occasionally, still
have coffee, etc, so its just alcohol. Soon I’ll miss being able to see my
lower half, but that’s not yet an issue. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> That we won’t be back in
our house in time for baby or in time for us to feel settled before the baby
comes. It would not be the end of the world, but it would make life less calm.
This apartment is totally doable, but not ideal and making room for another
living being would be difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Feeling
more and more like I remember being with Edrie. I feel great. I know it’s the
second trimester and everyone feels good, but its good to feel good! (Pregnancy #1 <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/03/14-weeks.html">14weeks</a>/<a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/03/15-weeks.html">15weeks</a>)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Really great. Huge, but otherwise
good. And I feel like my face is already puffing out. SCARY. I’m also feeling
like carpal tunnel is coming back. I had it bad with Edrie and it started by
waking up in the middle of the night with numb hands. I had a few instances of
that this week so I’m not looking forward to that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Great… sleeping great during the
day between shifts and when I flip back I sleep well at night. I took a nap
while Edrie napped in the stroller today and it was seriously amazing. Just an
hour makes such a difference. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> DEFINITLY feeling little flutters.
I have to be focusing and they are small, but there. SO FUN! Can not wait for G
and E to feel them. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Bump:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Its starting to get firm on the
bottom as my uterus grows out of the pelvis. Makes it feel less like chub and
more like BABY! </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14295738334" title="2-2014-05-26 16.58.55 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-05-26 16.58.55" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/14295738334_c81883b89e.jpg" width="375" /> </a></div>
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both my babes...she is going to have a nice resting place the bigger I get!
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Baby is breathing
amniotic fluid in and out of his little lungs now! So mature of it! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Feeling
baby move has been so great. I haven’t felt as connected to baby because I’m
more distracted and don’t have as much time to dream, but the flutters remind
me someone is in there. I like the reminder!! </span>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-42587717414217355742014-05-11T23:33:00.002-07:002014-05-11T23:33:39.681-07:00Baby #2: 13 weeks<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14163537281" title="2-2014-05-11 22.53.21 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-05-11 22.53.21" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/14163537281_a1724538cb.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Don’t think I’m getting any
smaller!! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> A peach!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> Feeling
better, maybe?? The last few days I haven’t been as senstitive to what I eat
and haven’t felt as crappy after eating. I am still liking more fresh food. In
fact, someone had a jamba juice at work this week and I can’t stop thinking
about it. Getting one tomorrow! Coffee still sounds gross. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> Talking more about
baby and plans. Thinking about whether we want to find out the sex. Edrie
giving baby hugs. Its feeling more real. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> 2<sup>nd</sup>
trimester! A real baby bump and getting some clothes soon so I don’t feel so
frumpy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">I would love a good cocktail or
blended margarita. As soon as this kid is out I think I’m getting a blended
margarita with chips and guac!<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> Being a NICU nurse, I think
I fear the worse. I keep thinking that now in development is when the intestines
move from outside the body to inside and I just really want them to end up
inside! A little nervous our house won’t be done in time, but I am trying to
remember that the nursery doesn’t have to be perfect and that all babies really
need is a boob and clean diapers with a few blankets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Still
bigger and can’t believe how much more challenging pregnancy is with a kid to
take care of. I’m so big that a woman in the elevator at work told me she knew
the baby was a boy and when I responded I’m only 12 weeks she laughed and then
her and a friend got off and I could hear them talking about how huge I was for
12 weeks. Granted… I’m EXTRA big after a 12 hour night shift… for those that
don’t know…working at night makes people bloat. I get so bloated and gross by
the time I’m going home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Better. Loving the reassurance of
the Doppler to check on baby whenever I want. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Maybe not as exhausted, but I still
want as much sleep as possible. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Movement:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Thinking I might be feeling
something, but not totally sure. I’ve been trying to carefully assess, but when
I stop to do that I feel nothing so hard to say. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bump:</b> Thinking I’m going to go
shopping this week… my poor husband is not a fan of that idea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> 2<sup>nd</sup>
trimester!! That’s such a huge milestone!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Getting
back into prenatal yoga! I went most of my pregnancy with Edrie to this great
class at Matt Dishman Community Center and the same teacher still teaches so I
went back this week and loved it. I need to get a sitter lined up so I can keep
going because it starts before Grant gets home. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-82446166992376584372014-05-08T00:25:00.004-07:002014-05-08T02:22:30.742-07:00Baby #2: 12 weeks<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14132756012" title="6-2014-05-02 21.43.38 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="6-2014-05-02 21.43.38" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/14132756012_ac43caaea4_z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Still looking big and generally
feel a bit frumpy and embarrassed. I like having a baby bump, but this early it
just makes me feel like I wasn’t thin to begin with. Hoping things even out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> A plum! Since we saw baby this week
I know that he was specifically 6cm from crown to rump – about 2.3 inches! It
is so crazy, because if you look at the ultrasound pictures it looks so much
bigger than that! We could count fingers and see it moving all over. It
continues to work on finishing forming all its major body systems and has lots
of reflexes developing this week. <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> Still into
most of the same things. I can eat anything, but nothing really sounds good.
Big meals usually make me feel pukey after, but I’m so hungry I usually want to
eat a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main gist: I’m
mostly into fresh fruit and am generally famished all day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> Loved getting to
see that baby had all four limbs, is growing on schedule and everything appears
healthy at this point. I think it looks just like Edrie did at 12 weeks, which
is fun to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also
obsessed with using the Doppler at home. Lainey sent me hers to borrow and its really
addicting… The first time I used it I took a video… HR 158-160s and when we had
our ultrasound it was at 150. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Moving
into the second trimester – hoping for less emotional, exhausted, urpy days.
And feeling a bit more like I can tackle all that is required of me while we
remodel our house and live in this tiny place! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">My energy and coffee. I wonder if
coffee will honestly ever taste good again. I’ve tried to force it down a few
times for the caffeine and had very little success. <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> That something big will
show up at the 20-week ultrasound. I also started to worry a bit about having
another c-section. Sounds really unfun to have surgery again. Feels like its
happened too much already in my life. I did talk about that with my doctor some
this week. She said the decision is totally up to me, but that if something were
to go wrong it would be life-threatening for me and the baby. We’ve had some
kids in the unit with similar bad-outcomes and I know its not worth the risk. I
spoke with her a bit about what would happen if I went into labor before the
scheduled c-section. One of my biggest reassurances has been that she already
dealt with my uterus in a very emergent situation and saved it so I want her in
there again. No one else! She assured me she would come in, even if she wasn’t
on-call to do my surgery. Her quote was, “You and Me, we’ve been through
something. I’d like to see you through.” She said she would give me her cell
when it got closer. Big sigh of relief.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> Feel
like I am saying the same thing as the last weeks, but mostly just BIGGER, more
tired, and more urpy. The nausea is minimal compared to a few weeks ago and I’m
hoping it will continue to dissipate, but the last few nights I’ve fallen
asleep either sitting at the table after dinner(!) or as soon as I put Edrie
down with my clothes still on. Did I mention she doesn’t nap most days? It
feels like a marathon. I also continue to feel a bit less connected to this
pregnancy – also something that is evolving and that I think is a result of two
things: (1) having Edrie to take up most of my thinking space and time I don’t
daydream and think as much about baby. The house reno is distracting too (2)
After our loss I feel a little more vulnerable, like things are more likely to
go bad. When I was pregnant with Edrie I felt so confident all would be fine. <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/02/12-weeks.html">Edrie's pregnancy at 12 weeks</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Reassured after another positive
ultrasound – everything looked just as we’d expect at this stage and the doctor
tried to help me look positively on my showing so early. She said my body just
remembers – and that is a good thing because I had a smooth pregnancy last
time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sleep:</b> I want more. Night shift is
the worst and I’m about to start a stretch of three in a row…<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Movement:</b> Anxiously anticipating! My
doc said most of her second time moms start feeling flutters in the early weeks
of the second trimester – so hopefully, soon! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bump:</b> Definitely in need of some
more summery clothes for the bump. It was in the 90s last week and I was at a
loss when I had to attend a baby shower and a work function. I felt frumpy and
underdressed at both. Excited for skirts and dresses and simple clothes this
summer!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Mini Human! It has
basically all the structures and organs it needs – they just need to gain
complexity and girth in the next 6 months. That blows my mind – 6 cm human! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Definitely
the ultrasound – so fun to see baby. I can’t wait til our 20 week! Feels like a
long time to wait to see baby again. I think we will try to get a sitter for
Edrie so we can really focus! </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
these are the ultrasound pics from baby #2... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14132383311" title="7-2014-05-02 21.48.02 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="7-2014-05-02 21.48.02" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/14132383311_859f36389d_z.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14112526796" title="2-2014-05-07 23.42.59 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-05-07 23.42.59" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/14112526796_7f884821a3_z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Check out Edrie's <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/03/12-week-ultrasound.html">12-week Ultrasound</a>... don't they look similar??</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/5495586124" title="12 week ultrasound by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="12 week ultrasound" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5260/5495586124_fb674c6b59.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
This was my first try at the doppler and I found baby's heartbeat... amazing, huh?!?!<br />
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-68763992442738065852014-05-08T00:07:00.001-07:002014-05-08T00:13:31.591-07:00Baby #2: 11 weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/13949043929" title="4-2014-04-25 01.08.56 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="4-2014-04-25 01.08.56" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/13949043929_bed958df0e_z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: belly looking a little less like
complete bloat and maybe more uterus? Still pretty huge, considering! People at
work are straight up asking if I’m pregnant – you have to be pretty confident
to do that, right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> lemon! That is getting pretty big!
Babe is pretty much fully formed – just lots of growing/fattening-up to happen.
And it is already moving around in there! I can’t feel anything yet, but SO
EXCITED for that to happen! <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> still
pretty urpy – mostly wanting fresh fruit and bland food. Living on bagels and
cream cheese and grapefruit. I still feel like I crave the food I ate as a kid
(I did with Edrie, too) – ramen noodles, Mexican, bagels, gummy bears, fast
food, etc. Trying not to be too hard on myself for my food choices, because the
puky feeling is SO UNPLEASANT anything to make it disappear is worth it. Its
weird – I constantly feel like I want greasy food from a restaurant but as soon
as I eat it – I’m sick. Especially anything thick with garlic – YUCK that
aftertaste will kill me! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> Love and
embarrassed by my huge bump. I was similar with E, but its just like – WHERE IS
IT COMING FROM? Hopefully I’m not huge as a house by the time its all said and
done. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b> Newborn
baby snuggles – carrying babe in the moby and just living up that very mobile
stage in the beginning when they are happy as long as they are with you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything? </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Its been a stressful week – I REALLY
could have used a drink. I did buy some ginger ale to help my tummy and that
feels kind of special?<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> That everything is okay in
there. With announcing everything, I always feel a twinge of…OH CRAP what if
something bad happens? Very excited for our ultrasound next week to be sure
babe is still well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Differences between pregnancies:</b> I
think I am more urpy this time and my exhaustion catches up with me more
quickly – I think both may be a result of having a toddler whose needs come
before my own. Its okay though – I still feel really good considering. <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/02/11-weeks.html">Edrie's pregnancy at 11 weeks</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Mostly excited and as if I am in
denial about how BIG this is going to change my life! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sleep:</b> As long as Edrie sleeps – I
sleep. But man she is struggling lately! My mom let me nap yesterday while she
played with Edrie – I didn’t set an alarm thinking Id wake in a bit… THREE
HOURS LATER! It felt so good and I must have needed it! <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Movement:</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not yet! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bump:</b> Can’t wait til its even
bigger and hard and has a moving babe in there! I was at Target this morning
and saw a really cute maternity dress – I refrained from buying it, but I am
excited to be pregnant in summer again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> FETUS! Our kid is no
longer an embryo and has entered fetal stage of development! So advanced!! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> Announcing
the pregnancy to the world on FB and instagram! I’ve been wanting to do that
for a few weeks, but we were being lazy about getting a good picture and being
sure our whole family knew first. Within minutes I got several texts and tons
of sweet comments online. It was a reassurance that this baby is very loved and
our family is so lucky to have lots of support, near and far!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2599206849677692336" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/13949154258" title="Screen Shot 2014-05-08 at 12.01.01 AM by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="Screen Shot 2014-05-08 at 12.01.01 AM" height="351" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/13949154258_5c161c8d74_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14136027564" title="Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 10.01.02 PM by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 10.01.02 PM" height="393" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14136027564_ec6381c376_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-39546707052094031322014-05-07T23:56:00.000-07:002014-05-07T23:56:31.660-07:00Baby #2: 9 & 10 weeks<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14112525996" title="1-2014-04-25 01.07.11 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="1-2014-04-25 01.07.11" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/14112525996_b3bf9fac5e_z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14132382521" title="3-2014-04-20 14.27.29 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="3-2014-04-20 14.27.29" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/14132382521_994c21588a_z.jpg" width="399" /> </a></div>
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I'm doing simple phone pics and posts just some day I look half-way put together each week. You can see that we rarely make our bed these days! I didn't write a post for 9 weeks, but had a pic. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photo thoughts</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: That is one big 10-week belly. I’m
embarrassed by how big I look. I know I got big early with Edrie and I don’t
have the flattest non-pregnant belly ever, but still! Beyond being a little
self-conscious, I am so excited to have another baby bump. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Size of baby:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Prune! Baby is over an inch long
and has working arm joints. Its so crazy that its kind of a complete little
being already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just super tiny! <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cravings/Aversions:</b> This whole
pregnancy I’ve been craving fresh fruit. Cold grapes are one of my favorite
things right now. Most food in general sounds gross, but once its in front of
me I can eat it. Although, Mexican food has had extra appeal…I could eat
guacamole all day long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
trying to give up coffee completely to avoid any chance of miscarriage, but
night shift was really rough without it weeks 6-8 so I started buying it again.
But it makes me want to puke. It sounds so gross. I feel like I’m force feeding
myself when I’m sleepy at work. If you know me well, you know this is insane
and totally unlike me. I usually want multiple lattes everyday! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm loving:</b> Edrie loving
talking to and about baby. “Do you have a baby in your belly?” “Did the baby go
pee or did you?” “HI BABY! I said hi to the baby and it said hi back!” “I felt
the baby move!” “I want the baby to come out” She KILLS me with the constant
dialogue and interest. She is really excited to be a big sister. Just this
week, Grant also started taking more of an interest in the belly and baby. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What I'm anticipating the most:</b>
Getting back into our house and decorating TWO kids rooms. Spending the fall
prepping for baby and having the holidays off with our family of FOUR! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Missing anything?: </span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really. The coffee thing was sad at first, but I think I
feel better without it. Especially with already switching back and forth
working nights, sometimes the high/low I can get from coffee adds to the crazy.
I feel a bit more even right now. Definitely going to bed earlier and wishing
my kid napped regularly though. I had a sip of Grant’s beer last weekend and it
was soooo good. I hadn’t missed drinking until that moment! <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Worries:</b> Still worried about losing
this baby. I think after a loss you will always feel a bit more guarded in
pregnancy. I was only 5weeks 3 days when I lost our other baby, but it hit me
hard. Its easy to think about how I’d be getting ready to have a baby in 8
weeks rather than 8 months if things hadn’t been different. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">Differences between
pregnancies:</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"> I’m
bigger! I also have had harder time connecting to the baby and pregnancy. At
this time with Edrie I was already convinced she was a boy and had all kinds of
notes and posts written. With this baby I’ve found it harder to get bump
pictures taken, write notes and just dream about what is to come. I think as we
settle into our life (which has been kind of crazy) that will all get easier. Edrie's pregnancy at <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/01/can-you-believe-it.html">8 weeks</a>, <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/02/9-weeks.html">9 weeks,</a> <a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/02/10-weeks.html">10 weeks</a>. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">How I'm feeling</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Worried and excited. Worried
because I’m already so invested and so are Grant and Edrie. We would all be hit
hard if something happened to this baby. My friend, Lainey is going to let me
borrow her Doppler – I think that will help give me some peace of mind. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sleep:</b> As long as Edrie sleeps I’m
sleeping great. Would love naps, but making do without. Earlier on I was having
an AWFUL time sleeping between shifts at work, but this week was much better. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Movement:</b> Not yet. Hoping I feel
this babe earlier than I felt Edrie. She had an anterior placenta so it was
always kind of hard to feel her. Hoping this babe is implanted somewhere else! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bump:</b> Getting bigger and
rounder. Using my bella band. Not always out of necessity, but it does increase
comfort and helps me look like I have less of a muffin top. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milestones:</b> Inching closer and
closer to the second trimester. Feel like I will be taking some deep breaths
when I get there. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best Moment of the Week:</b> All the
moments with Edrie loving the belly and baby. She kissed my belly yesterday and
it was almost too much for this mama to take! </span></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-15954669385878704602014-04-26T00:23:00.000-07:002014-04-26T00:23:04.802-07:00Our Family Is Growing! <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14015634525" title="1-2014-04-23 22.49.45 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="1-2014-04-23 22.49.45" height="458" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14015634525_090efe64f7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We are very excited to share that we are expecting our second baby in November! Still doesn't feel real! Can't wait for Edrie to be a big sister and to see what it feels like to be a family of four! I'm so scared and so excited all at once! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/13992509276" title="2-2014-04-12 00.32.53 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="2-2014-04-12 00.32.53" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/13992509276_ea29fa1501_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
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This baby is very wanted and it has felt like a long time in the making. We decided to start trying for #2 last fall. We got pregnant immediately and were overjoyed. A week and a half later I got really sick and thought I had food poisoning. Turns out the pregnancy was ectopic - specifically, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_pregnancy">cornual ectopic</a> and I was bleeding out. I finally realized something was very wrong when my hands and feet numb. Grant rushed me to the ER and I had emergency surgery. I was lucky to be alive - by the time I got to the ER my blood pressure was 67/unregisterable, I had an unregisterable temp, and thready peripheral pulses. I lost 2500ml of blood. When I woke up the doctor told me I was lucky to have my uterus, but that she had to take a small corner of it and my left fallopian tube. I was transfused with two units of packed red cells and able to go home the following day. We were so sad, but also felt very lucky to have capable surgeons who could save me. That all happened early October - I had to take 4 weeks leave from work and it really took me a minute to recover. Losing that much blood will seriously wear a person out! Because of the scar at the top of my uterus we were advised to wait a few months to try again. My doctor assured me that people are just as fertile with only 1 fallopian tube, but with my first two pregnancies we got pregnant on the first try and this time took us three. And we got pregnant on the right side. So who knows! We got a VERY faint positive test on March 2nd (12 days post ovulation). Having an ectopic pregnancy puts you at risk for having more so we were to call the doctor right away to confirm the pregnancy was in the uterus. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14012432112" title="4-2014-04-12 00.39.01 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="4-2014-04-12 00.39.01" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/14012432112_9aaa55a851_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
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On March 10th (4w5d) we had an ultrasound and YAY! baby landed in the uterus.. it is just a ball of cells and all we could see was the sac, but we were glad that it was where it was supposed to be. Edrie came to the appointment and she kept asking "where is the baby?" </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/14012431182" title="3-2014-04-11 12.24.02 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="3-2014-04-11 12.24.02" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/14012431182_10530002d6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then came the long wait to see if baby continued to grow and develop. On April 4th (8w2d) we had another ultrasound and our first appointment with the OB. Thankfully, there was a strong heartbeat, but only fuzzy pictures. They did an abdominal ultrasound so you couldn't see much! Our doctor is the one that did my emergency surgery in Oct. She was really great then and since we've never had an OB we just stuck with her. Because of the part of my uterus she had to remove and the fact that it is a pretty rare surgery, I will have to have a scheduled c-section with this baby. Something I'm really sad about and still coming to terms with, but I know it is what will be most likely to have us both healthy in the end. We talked a lot about that at our first appointment and when she typically schedules those deliveries (39weeks). She is really great and easy going though-she said if I want to wait til 40 we can and that she will let me decide as much as possible. </div>
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Edrie has been really funny, especially since I started showing. She talks to the baby and constantly asks, "Is there a baby in your belly?" And for a few weeks if I burped or peed or did ANYTHING, she'd ask "was that you or the baby?" She loves to talk to the baby and will 'feed it' by holding food up to my belly button. "HI BABY" and then she will say in a very surprised voice "the baby said Hi back!" and also "the baby's moving, I can feel it" She is cracking me up and it is so fun! This is a little further apart than we had thought we'd have our kids, but it is super exciting to see the pregnancy through Edrie's eyes. In the last week or so she has taken a really big interest in little babies - wants to hold them, cuddle them, pat them. She is really good and gentle. I asked her today if she was interested because of our baby and she said yes, that she is practicing being a big sister! So funny! </div>
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I'll try to start posting weekly posts...but we all know how good at that I am!! </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-83854537904585893962014-04-17T00:20:00.002-07:002014-04-17T00:20:45.016-07:00July 2013: Blueberries<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812587835" title="IMG_1750 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1750" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/9812587835_a51b2dfc3a.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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We got another membership to <a href="http://www.klockfarm.com/">Klock farm</a> this past year. We stepped up our amount though. We were running out of berries mid-winter so we decided to get 100lbs instead of our usual 50. It was A LOT of picking, but its such a fun way to spend a summer morning its not bad. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812619076" title="IMG_1752 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1752" height="333" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9812619076_6c3400d987.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812591915" title="IMG_1759 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1759" height="333" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/9812591915_4ce16749cd.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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Edrie helped bag them up! </div>
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And a look back at the three years we've been picking... </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/6070393166" title="Blueberry Picking by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Picking" height="500" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6187/6070393166_bdab915ef8.jpg" width="375" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2011/09/blueberries.html">2011 </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/7862199370" title="IMG_7192 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_7192" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7862199370_cf1c197ce5.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://grantandnicole.blogspot.com/2012/08/blueberry-goodness.html">2012 </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812895985" title="IMG_1804 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1804" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/9812895985_15d7d38a33.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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2013 </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-27346231466675981522014-04-16T23:26:00.000-07:002014-04-16T23:26:03.583-07:00July 2013: Summer Days<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812597286" title="IMG_1742 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1742" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/9812597286_635654350a.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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This girl loves herself some popsicles, sprinklers and chalk. Quintessential summer fun. It was so fun to play with her all summer long. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812613906" title="IMG_1745 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1745" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/9812613906_9ac326c235.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812668383" title="IMG_1747 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1747" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9812668383_a446a2ba2d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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That little wedgie!</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812562335" title="IMG_1729-001 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1729-001" height="333" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/9812562335_0545713b43.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-30825263461404624442014-04-16T23:19:00.001-07:002014-04-16T23:19:57.583-07:00July 2013: Garden<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812550904" title="IMG_1717 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1717" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/9812550904_c39b0586a5.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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Maybe its not kosher to say, but I LOOOOVE our backyard. I guess because we designed it, it just has everything we need. I loved watching the garden boxes go from little plants to unruly beds of green and veggies. The figure 8 in the middle (on the left in this picture) is also a favorite. It gets a ton of sun and I have planted lots of perennials in there that I just love. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812549705" title="IMG_1719-001 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1719-001" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9812549705_2cbfed79bf.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Dahlias are a favorite. They remind me of twins I nannied for when I was in high school in college. They were our flowergirl and ring bearer and when they were just babies my mom and I took them to the Dahlia festival. I fell in love with them that day. Plus I just love bulbs and plants that are low maintenance but beautiful! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812551635" title="IMG_1721 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1721" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/9812551635_a32cd659ca.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812636343" title="IMG_1724 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1724" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/9812636343_8e9ebb3b2d.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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Our carrots were short and fat with a few curved ends....I forgot that we have a lot of rock in the bottom of those beds. No root veggies for us! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812643203" title="IMG_1728 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1728" height="333" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/9812643203_09e73fd432.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-86378005826404097632014-04-16T23:12:00.002-07:002014-04-16T23:12:51.444-07:00July 2013: Dan & Lindsey's Wedding<div style="text-align: center;">
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I met Lindsey in college - we shared a love for crafts and a hate for General Chemistry. We ate sooo many parmesan garlic cheez-its while studying its a miracle we can still look at a box! She has been there for me through thick and thin - stood by me on my wedding day and on the day I had Edrie. I was so excited to be a part of her wedding day! She and Dan had a beautiful wedding and all the surrounding events were so fun! The weather was perfect and we had a BLAST dancing the night away! I only took a few pictures here and there, but the photographer did an amazing job capturing <a href="http://jennyhillphotography.com/main/2013/07/lindsey-dan-langdon-farms-wedding/">the day</a>!! </div>
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nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-49354890421176541182014-03-28T23:59:00.004-07:002014-03-28T23:59:32.623-07:00July 2013: Roseburg Trip<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812587303" title="IMG_1499 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1499" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/9812587303_3a4d536d60.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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We try to get together with the Newtons and Nelsons over Fourth of July every year. This past summer we headed to Roseburg and the Newtons hosted. It was one of the most perfect summer weekends! We spent one morning picking fruit and veggies that we used to cook with all weekend. Maddie and Edrie have been friends since birth, but this was the first trip they really could play together. SO FUN TO SEE! And I love these pictures of them in the field. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812505184" title="IMG_1497 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1497" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9812505184_a20176f90f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812511004" title="IMG_1508 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1508" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/9812511004_7ef7a8cba3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812592403" title="IMG_1509 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1509" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9812592403_60787ecf5a.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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Sister ate and ate and ate. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812580326" title="IMG_1719 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1719" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9812580326_126750cd1b.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9812582536" title="IMG_1723 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1723" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/9812582536_494b424b59.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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We went on walks and the girls held hands ... so sweet! I didn't get any pictures of little Natalie! She is about a year younger than Edrie and is just the sweetest - she was just starting to walk and she trekked all over the house! </div>
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Janelle arranged for one of her students to watch the girls so all 6 of us could go out. It was SO MUCH FUN! We went to a local winery and had some amazing wine and appetizers then headed to a great Italian spot for dinner. I hope we can do a repeat of that weekend again soon! </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-81901987392592892672014-03-28T23:45:00.003-07:002014-03-28T23:45:54.228-07:00June 2013: Randoms<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808733523" title="IMG_1634 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1634" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9808733523_b66cee8623.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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This is one of my all time favorite pictures - she looks so sweet and innocent! She was making father's day cards. Sister friend loves herself some art projects. She is her mama's daughter, afterall! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808628825" title="IMG_1660 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1660" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/9808628825_a01ddbe2f9.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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I can't remember exactly why they made me these signs but I think it was becuase I was getting sick and tired of working full time. I know lots of mamas do it, but working full time is such a struggle for our family. I started a new job last April and to orient to the new unit I had to work full time even though my actual job is part-time. It makes is a huge challenge with childcare and my schedule was different every week so we felt all out of whack. I kept these signs up for months and months - just so sweet and special. </div>
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And the rest of our randoms... </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-41061722136561836682014-03-28T23:39:00.000-07:002014-03-28T23:39:03.588-07:00June 2013: Beach Afternoon<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808781623" title="IMG_1696 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1696" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5344/9808781623_b50e3f0c94.jpg" width="332" /> </a></div>
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We had nothing planned one Saturday so we decided to head to the beach. It was gorgeous - the perfect summer afternoon. Edrie entertained herself with the sand and a new friend and we relaxed. I love that we are so close to the ocean again! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808719904" title="IMG_1701 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1701" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/9808719904_1b0cc868ce.jpg" width="500" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808711415" title="IMG_1708 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1708" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/9808711415_d1a76050ba.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-73424957526981630702014-03-28T23:35:00.001-07:002014-03-28T23:35:49.147-07:00June 2013: Lindsey's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808696194" title="IMG_1187 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1187" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/9808696194_a9f791ba4a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Lindsey is one of my best friends. We've been SUPER close since we met in General Chemistry in college. She's been there for all of my big and little life stuff. And so we were super excited to celebrate her impending wedding. </div>
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We did a bridal shower brunch followed by a wine tasting tour in 'vintage' bridesmaid/wedding dresses. We were surely the talk of the town! </div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-39176341135447958642014-03-28T23:23:00.000-07:002014-03-28T23:23:00.043-07:00June 2013: Giant Salad for Two<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808747443" title="IMG_1159 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1159" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/9808747443_301b6df354.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808681444" title="IMG_1153 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1153" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/9808681444_f2322117f1.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div>
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Everyday for lunch Grant eats a giant salad. He LOVES them. Even on the weekends he wil typically throw one together in a mixing bowl. Sometimes Edrie will chow down too. This day I caught them in the act and I just die looking at these pictures. SO FREAKING CUTE! </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808700464" title="IMG_1675 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1675" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/9808700464_72d368ddc8.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2599206849677692336.post-75796422162012788632014-03-28T23:18:00.001-07:002014-03-28T23:18:06.428-07:00June 2013: Date Night<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808725933" title="IMG_1116 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1116" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9808725933_08447d8633.jpg" width="333" /> </a></div>
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At some point last spring I was looking for a recent picture of just Grant and I and I couldnt find one anywhere. We used to take pictuers ALL THE TIME (see blog archives pre-Edrie), but now there is someone much cuter to take pictures of. We've been doing better the last year or so at going on regular dates so one night I had G's mom take our picture so we'd a picture that was recent. We're still pretty cute, right??</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsimmons/9808663714" title="IMG_1117 by nicole simmons, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1117" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/9808663714_28a09bef7c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14686853464317087883noreply@blogger.com0