No, it wasn’t from that AMAZING Trident Fusion…or the Boston Creme Dunkin Donuts…or the cup of coffee with International Delight vanilla creamer (my hubby did earn points for brining all of those home the other day ). I think it’s just what they call, “nesting.” It is 1:15pm and I have:

* Gotten the girls completely ready & fed them both breakfast, snack, & lunch
* Vacuumed
* Dusted (which I absolutely HATE)
* Finished three loads of laundry
* Unloaded the dishwasher
* Cleaned the bathrooms
* Homeschooled Lilli
* Read the girls a book & put them down for a nap (big yay!!! for the girls, who didn’t fight me on this one!)
* Brushed Nicki
* Balanced the checkbook
* All this and I even got a shower in…and brushed my teeth…WOW!

Anyone want to place a bet as to how long this burst will last???

I had a routine OB appointment today and Baby Clarke is doing well The heart rate was 147 and at the next appointment, they’ll be able to tell me if Baby is a boy or girl…woo hoo! I gained a healthy 5 pounds during my first trimester and my blood pressure was normal - both pleased the doctor. So far, so good!

Here’s the latest with Baby Clarke
*You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns (but don’t panic if you don’t yet). She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb!
*Your baby’s legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head.
*And you’ll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often!
*His skin is very thin — so thin blood vessel are visible. It’s covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning “down.” This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy.
*The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in your baby’s brain haven’t developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing. Fingernails and toenails are growing.
*Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.
*All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches (10.1cm) long and may weigh 2.47 ounces (70gm).

Oh, and just for fun…how cute are these baby porcupines?!

Now that my second trimester is underway, every day seems to be better I have no nausea, have more energy, and can actually cook dinner without wanting to pass out! Woo hoo!

This morning has been especially awesome…the girls and I woke up around 7:30, ate breakfast & got ready for the day, homeschooled, and thought it was a good idea to head out “into town.”

By 10:30am we were at Apple Blossom Mall, which I’ve probably only been to maybe 4 times in the year and a half we’ve been in Winchester…what can I say, I will always be a Tyson’s  & Garden’s gal.

Motherhood Maternity was a huge success…no pun intended and then it was off to Border’s, where Lilli & Corinne each got to pick out a book.

We were home by 12:30pm, ate lunch, and now the girls are taking a well deserved nap.

What a busy morning! But the girls and I really enjoyed our time together…and are now looking forward to Papa getting home from work later on
Now, I am going to take advantage of my quiet time: kick my feet up, continue to knit a baby blanket I’ve been working on, and turn on an episode of Little House on the Prairie (or as we say, “L-HOP”)

Psalm 118:24
“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (NASB)

My heart is pounding, hands shaking, my mind is just jumping from one thought to the next, and I just can’t seem to hold back the tears. Why? It’s not the pregnancy hormones, I can promise you that. But it has everything to do with pregnancy.

I was googling for baby pictures for what was going to be my 14 week baby update and came across abortion pictures. This has happened before during my previous pregnancy posts, but I trained myself to look the other way (how easy…just to look the other way). This time, I was convicted to look at the reality of what our country allows to happen to unborn children who can’t stick up for themselves. Just from having some general idea of what abortion is and how it is performed, I am, and have been for some time now, pro-life. But after reading a paper written by a registered nurse (please note that there are graphic pictures) here, I fully understand how and when the many ways an abortion is performed. Actually seeing (and not just having a general thought about) post abortion pictures…it first made me so mad…and then a terrible saddness came over me! I just want to pick the baby up, cuddle him or her, put their little arms and legs back together, and tell them everything is going to be alright. But I can’t…and I can’t persuade the mother to change her mind…those pictures are over and done with.

So what do I do? I can’t change others; I am responsible for only my actions. So, I’ll pray…pray…and pray.

Just an FYI: Did you know that the youngest baby to survive was born at 22 weeks? Some women have abortions at 22 weeks. See, it just doesn’t make any sense…

How blessed am I to have such a wonderful hubby? VERY! Last night we were laying in bed & my stomach began to growl. I put it off for a while thinking I could sleep it off…but Baby Clarke wouldn’t have that. Thoughts of Super Sized McDonald’s fries filled my mind…that and a Big Mac (I’m sure many of you are saying, “ew” right about now). “Apparently I do love you,” said my smiling soul mate. It was 10:30 at night & Michael drove to the closest McDonald’s, which for us in the country is 10 miles away (for those of you who have lived in a city, you know driving even 5 miles seems like an eternity.) An hour later with a full tummy, Baby Clarke and I were happy…and we went to bed

Here’s the latest with Baby Clarke

* Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can’t wait to hear that first cry!
* Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy’s crystal green eyes, daddy’s laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma’s clear blue!
* Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
* Intestines move farther in to your child’s body
* His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
* The pancreas begins to produce insulin
* Your baby’s average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)
(Information courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

So I forgot to blog about Baby Clarke at 10 weeks…must be that infamous “pregnancy memory.” But I’m not forgetting to blog about week 11 because my first trimester is ALMOST OVER!! We all know what that means: no more nausea…or so I pray.

Here’s the latest with Baby Clarke

* Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
* Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child’s tiny feet are at this point.
* Hair and nails begin to grow
* The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
* Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she’s nestled within your womb.
* The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
* Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

I’ve been meaning to blog, really I have. But things around the Clarke household have been super busy…and crazy!

I am still nauseous, but only in the afternoons & evenings. This works out perfectly with Lilli’s school schedule that we keep to in the mornings. However, I have had to move the girls’ bath time into the morning, rather than at night. No big deal, really…it allows us to have more family time before going to bed.

Speaking of Lilli and her schooling - she’s learning to read one syllable words! Woo hoo! She had some difficulty at first, but gradually picked up on blending the sounds together, instead of sounding out each individual letter. It’s one of those things that just has to click to make sense. She also is learning punctuation. She knows a period “tells you when to stop talking,” a question mark “asks you a question,” and an exclamation (explamation…lol) mark “tells you to be excited or talk a little bit loud.” I’m having so much fun watching her get so excited when she learns something new….it’s amazing to watch her grow!

Corinne has Rotavirus. I thought she has had an upset tummy because her cuspids are erupting. But after a doctor’s visit, we found out the real reason. Not only does it stink (no pun intended) that her tummy hurts, but she has to stick to the BRAT diet. Imagine eating only bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast?! Not much variety, but I’m beginning to see signs of progress. Oh- and we’re thinking about buying stock in Pedialyte…lol.

Tubby massacred my shrubs in the front yard. Yes, the new shrubs we planted this summer. This was after he ate two different sets of my pansies, a phone cord (twice), and a baseboard (thank goodness Michael is handy!). I about lost it…but after doing some research on Labs, I found out that they are PUPPIES until AGE FOUR!! Ok - one down, three to go. They are also genetically predisposed to chewing - great, and chew when bored. BORED?! I am a stay at home mom, I brush his teeth, play with him outside, and he and Nicki have a (what seems to be) an endless supply of Kong toys! How could he possibly be bored?! But, alas, he is. Granted, I’ve had to work with Nicki on her “issues” - mainly barking non stop in an “I’m going to attack you if you come any closer” manner at any strager that comes close to our home (the UPS man has learned to stay in his truck and literally throw the packages into our yard…lol). She has gotten better about listening to us when we tell her to take a step back. This chewing thing is something new though. So, being that Google is my best online friend, I found other ways to “occupy Tubby’s boredom.” I ordered some sterilized bones & also filled their Kongs with peanut butter, yogurt, & carrots and froze them for a nice treat (I am amazed that Tubby can ACTUALLY get the carrots out!) So far, so good….

Nicki had her first hot spot I saw a tuft of hair on her lower back and tried to brush it out. However, when I got near it, Nicki yelped and I realized there was more to the ball of fur. I took her to the vet, found out it wasn’t MRSA (thinking the worst…) but learned that dogs are over compulsive, and got her cleaned up…she is doing much better now
Other than that….here’s the latest with Baby Clarke:

* Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already!
* Most joints are formed now -  and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
* Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - Your infant may be fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears, and nose!)
* Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
* Average size this week — length 0.9 inch (2.3 cm), weight 0.07 oz (2gm)
(Information courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

I had my first prenatal appointment on Tuesday and everything is looking wonderful! I’ve felt as though I’ve gained at least 10 pounds, but I’ve actually lost 2 pounds since becoming pregnant. I can hardly think of food when I’m nauseous…thank goodness for vitamins. I had an internal ultrasound done and and we (well, not so much Corinne) were excited to see Baby Clarke on the sonogram. Baby Clarke’s heart rate was 180 bpm - that combined with my nausea & crazy-strange dreams, led the doctor to explain to me that my body isn’t used to the different hormones being produced and therefore, there is a strong possibility that the baby is a boy! Now I’m counting down until week 17 for a more accurate result
Here is the latest with Baby Clarke:

* Cartilage and bones begin to form - At the end of this week your baby will have already completed 1/5th of the journey ’til his birthday!
* The basic structure of the eye is well underway - The position is more “newborn” like already!
* The tongue begins to develop
* Intestines move out of the umbilical cord into the abdomen.
* Body grows and makes room - Two months along and this little one is growing inside and out by leaps and bounds!
* The fingers and toes have appeared but are webbed and short
* Baby’s length (crown to rump) is 0.61 inch (1.6cm) and weight is 0.04 ounce (1gm)
(Information courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

So much has happened this past week, but I’ve been too tired to get on here to post anything. Madness, I know! So I’m doing a recap:

We put up both Christmas trees (one family one in the living room and one mini tree upstairs for the girls) and decorated the house, yes as always, the day after Thanksgiving. Lilli was thrilled to put on her new “Green Eggs & Ham” ornament on her tree and I’m super excited because I just ordered my door wreath today (from the same person I get all my wreaths from: Abigail’s Bloomers - she has just wonderful quality handmade wreaths & swags; plus, she’s a real joy to do business with!) I’ve written out our Christmas card list and gotten gift ides, so all that’s left to do really is take our annual family picture.

Lilli is doing an amazing job with her homeschooling. She has enjoyed learning her sight words: “I” “like” “my” and “see” and especially likes reading her books to me (of course the only words in the books are the one’s mentioned ) One of her new favorite games is, “Find That Toy” where I select 3 or 4 letter cards, put them on the floor, and she has to go around her room, collect a few toys, and place them under the correct letter that they begin with. The trick is that she cannot use the same toy twice. She loves it!

Corinne, in short, is a ham. Her new fun thing to do is to put a blanket over her head, walk around, and the take the blanket off to see where she has ended up. I found her doing this in her crib the other day, but tonight was even better when I heard Michael and the girls upstairs roaring with laughter! She loves discovering new things. Corinne has also learned how to use a fork and spoon…she is so proud of herself!

Baby Clarke is still kicking my butt. My nausea goes away slightly during the day, but returns full force when I go to bed I’m at week 7 now so, prayerfully, I will only have 5-6 more weeks of this icky feeling left. Michael, as always, is a HUGE support. He has completely taken over when I need him to, gets the girls ready for bed, organizes the house, he even went grocery shopping for me (he hates the grocery store), and he does it all without complaining. What an immense blessing he is to me!
Here’s the latest development with Baby Clarke:

* Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby’s fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next “Karate Kid” movie!
* Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby’s first toy!
* Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving “footprints” on your heart!
* Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all “shift” soon enough into a more normal appearance.
* Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby’s body?
* Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won’t be dealing with teething pain!
(Information courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

Tubby had his annual physical. He’s a whopping 73.5 lbs!! What a porker! The vet said he’s in good shape and shouldn’t grow anymore, so if there is any Newfoundland in him, he only got the tail…poor guy. Even though he is shorter than Nicki, he can obviously hold his own (weighing 10 lbs more than she does!). Michael says he’d make a great line backer Then there’s Nicki - as always, she is just the smartest dog alive