Giveaway Winner!

Let's all take a second to admit, who doesn't love giveaways?! I know that being a mommy of two on a budget, there's nothing I love more than deals, coupons, and giveaways!  

We have chosen our random winner for last week's Wit & Wander Etsy Shop giveaway! I apologize for the delay in the announcement of the winner!

Thank you to ALL who entered! We had over 20 different entries! The winner of (3) FREE downloadable prints is Codi Talbott! 

Please check your email for instructions on how to proceed!

Until next time! 

- Brandi

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A few DIY projects for those who aren't very DIY...

I don't consider myself the most crafty person, however, I certainly enjoy DIY projects!  

Being a mother of a 3 year old boy, and preparing for my baby girl's arrival in just a few weeks, any planned crafts or tasks have to be short and sweet! I am either propping my swollen feet up, chasing my toddler all around the house, nesting in the nursery, spending time at my home away from home (my OB's office) or doing normal household chores, so extra time is very limited! However, being on a tight schedule, doesn't mean that you can't still complete a few do it yourself (DIY) projects!

I have always enjoyed arts and crafts, such as paintings (and by paintings, I mean doing those adorable finger paintings with my toddler), scrap booking, and attempting a few Pinterest tasks for my daughters nursery. I have said from the beginning that I wanted to create as many things for my daughter's nursery as my creativity and time allowed.

I recently made the decision to want to make my daughter bows, LOTS of bows! I bought the ribbon and quickly realized that no matter how many YouTube videos I watch, I will never be able to make them look right, so I quickly gave up on that! I still had a desire for bows, and headbands with having my first girl!  

My lot of goodies from Hobby Lobby

After making a few trips to a few different stores, Hobby Lobby seemed to be the answer to my lack of bow making skills! They have pre-made flowers and bows, both individually or in packs, some which are already prepared for the clip to just be slide right through the back, they are ready to go! Others, you actually have to do a little bit of manual work, and break out that glue gun!  I was able to get a few packs of little bows, as well as two large packs of assorted flowers/bows, and both white and black ribbon covered clips.  

Project in the making!

While this task may seem a bit on the amateur side, it was the perfect amount of simplicity and achievement that I could get during my tight and busy schedule. 

While these may not be purely handmade, they are unique in the sense that you won't see them around as often as the large selection of bows from Target (that are always on sale 3 for $5, which I may or may not fall victim too!). 

A few of my favorites!

My son enjoyed watching me make them, as he got to pick which one we were going to make next. Then, as a grand finale, he decided to put them all in my hair, at once! Gotta love little boys!

I think he enjoyed this part the most! :)

I was quick to bounce into my next "DIY Express" project after quickly accomplishing this fun activity! I also purchased from Hobby Lobby, a pink onesie, and a white tshirt for my son and daughter, as well as iron on's featuring "Little Sister" and "Big Brother" images.  These will be featured in a photoshoot once I get home and settled with both children! I am very excited to fill that little pink onesie with a beautiful baby girl! 

You will certainly be seeing these bows and onesies again, I'm sure! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead! 

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Our first giveaway!

Let's all take a second to admit, who doesn't love giveaways?! I know that being a mommy of two on a budget, there's nothing I love more than deals, coupons, and giveaways!  

This week we have partnered up with Megan, the owner and designer at the Wit & Wander Etsy Shop! Her shop features beautiful creations that will add a beautiful accent to any home, bedroom, nursery and more! Perfect for everyone! Her creations adds joy, creativity, and quirkiness to everyday life with clever instantly downloadable digital prints to brighten up any space! 

The winner of this giveaway would receive (3) prints of their choice from the Wit & Wander Etsy shop, FREE! 

Enter below for a chance (or chances) to win!  The winner will be announced on July 18th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


If you have any entry issues, or giveaway questions, feel free to comment on this post! Good luck! 

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Red, White, and...Baby?

A little late making this update but my last update was lengthy in itself that it took a while!

I hope everyone had a great fourth of July celebration weekend!  Being almost 8 months pregnant, (possibly further along), in the heat and humidity in North Carolina in July, I was very worried about what my options would be as far as taking Bentley to a few different festivals and celebrations!   I decided to pick a small town, just one town over, to go for a couple of hours to check it out and see what they had going on. Bentley was all dressed up in his cute Fourth of July outfit, and I sported a red, white, and blue maxi dress (my pregnancy favorites!). 

Having a little boy, Bentley noticed a large lot full of cars for the car show, and instantly insisted that we go look.  We parked the car on this hot day, (I didn't even check to see what the temperature was, I was too scared), and headed over to the lot. Bentley spent a good 30 minutes checking out each car, inside and out, posed by his favorites, and we headed over to see what else was in store for the day.  

While we made our way from the car show, just across the street to the field where the festival continued. I stopped for a second, and woosh! A gush of fluid came out, and standing there as shocked as I was, Bentley looked at me and said, "Mommy, was that baby Brittan?" Startled and 

unsure of exactly what just happened, we made our way back to the car and called my mother.  I told her everything that happened, and she said that I needed to notify my OB. I called them, and spoke to the OB on call, who suggested that it was important that I come into the hospital to get checked out to make sure that it wasn't my water breaking.  He assured me that if I came in, it would be a very quick verification process, and I would be on my way, with the least amount of interruption in our plans as possible. 

We sat in the car to cool off while I decided exactly what I wanted to do, whether to go now, or wait just a little bit, when we decided to go ahead and head to the hospital to get checked to have it done and over with. I really didn't mind the interruption in our plans, it was a good break from the heat! 

Bentley was heartbroken to leave, because he wanted to stay and watch the parade, (which he kept referring to as the Disney World parade, LOL). But when we went to leave, the small town already had the roads in and out blocked off, making it nearly impossible to leave. I called my mom who said that as long as I wasn't having labor pains, that it was best that I just turn around and wait it out because sitting in traffic was making me nervous and stressed out.  So we turned around and found a great parking spot, and a sitting spot in the shade, where we sat and watched the parade! Bentley was so excited to see all of the different floats, cars, animals, and especially the candy that was being thrown! 

I have to insert a "please excuse me while I brag about my child" here sentence for this next part! Bentley and I were seated close to the road for the parade, (as was everyone else), and Bentley was loving getting the candy as they were throwing it out. The first time that the candy didn't quite make it to the grass, Bentley walked up to the edge, and stopped, and looked both ways, and yelled back, "Mommy, there's no cars coming." And I assured him that it was okay to get the candy and come back. I was so proud of him for doing that since I hadn't mentioned anything about "looking both ways" and other mommy reminders during the parade.  Towards the end of the parade, one of the
participates, again, threw candy that didn't quite make it to the grass. Bentley walked up to the edge and stopped because there was still other people in the parade coming down. The float stopped, and waved for Bentley to go ahead, and he turned around and said, "Mommy, is it okay?" While he may not have understood how proud I was of him for the way he responded, and acted during the parade, and all of the times that I look silly, stopping and looking both ways 17,000 times with him, I knew my mommy rules were finally being put to use! I would say he was amazing for a three year old, running after candy!

Waiting for Fireworks!

After the parade, we headed back to our hometown. We picked up my mom, (so in case my water did break, she would have a way to have her car and take Bentley back home), and we headed to Chapel Hill. The doctor did a few quick tests, a quick ultrasound to measure the remaining fluid, and stated that it wasn't my water, and sent me on my way.  

We had just enough time to come home, grab a few hamburgers and hot dogs, and head back to the festivites. We had a horrible time finding parking, since most of the people had been there all day, and we were just now coming back for the fireworks. We ended up finding a spot, and we quickly ran (well he ran, clearly I waddled), and found a good seat.  Bentley was so sweet, holding my hand, during the fireworks saying how happy he was, and how much he loved the fireworks and me. At one point, he leaned over and said to my belly, "Don't worry Peanut. It's not thunder, it's just pretty fireworks. They aren't scary."  That's when I knew that my little man was ready to be a big brother!

Much love, 

Brandi

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Are we there yet?

I thought my last post was eventful, man, I didn't know that the next few weeks would mean some major lifestyle changes ahead...

As most pregnant women nearing their third (and final) trimester are required to complete a glucose tolerance test, I went in blind, expecting the same results as my previous pregnancy with Bentley. I failed the one hour glucose tolerance test, (GTT) with him, and it was deja vue. I was told the same day that I needed to come back for the three hour GTT, with fasting from midnight until after my test.  I drove to my OB, starving and missing my morning coffee, and sat down for the first of four blood draws. I got to know the phlebotomist very well by the end of this experience! She mentioned to me that this would be the first of four sticks, and that if I wasn't feeling good after drinking the horrible drink, that they had a room that I could lay down in. I down the drink like a champ, and started the countdown to the first 1 hour mark. I sat in the waiting room, playing games and watching videos on my phone, when before I knew it, my alarm went off to go back for my second stick.  She took my second tube of blood, and sent me on my way. Shortly after returning to the waiting room, I started to feel sick. I remembered those famous words that she told me early on, "If you throw up, you have to do the test all over again another day." I literally walked to the back of the office, mumbling, "I will not puke. I will not puke." I let her know that I wasn't feeling well, and she sent me to a room to take a nap. I fell right to sleep, not having my morning coffee was already taking a toll on me.  She came into the room and tapped me on my arm, and drew my blood again before I knew it.  Back to sleep I went!  It was minutes later that my nurse came in, sat down and sighed...  I knew what that meant. That sigh.... She rubbed my leg and said, "Sweetie, you have gestational diabetes." UGH!  I kept my cool while she went on her lesson about the issue, and what the future would hold for me, and a bunch of other stuff that I am  not even sure I listened too, and sent me on my way.



I got into the car, and called my mother, and LOST it. I started crying about how I didn't have this problem with Bentley, and I don't even know what to do about it yet, and how I felt like I somehow have done something wrong, and everything else that goes through an emotional pregnant woman's brain!  She had gestational diabetes while pregnant with me, so she explained to me a little more about it, (which is probably everything the nurse said), and told me to stay calm. Little did I know that on this day, it would mark the week from hell ahead...

A few days after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I had my first OB appointment to discuss the plans, met with my nutritionist, and had blood sugar meter training. They mentioned that since my blood sugars were very high during the GTT that I was going to have my numbers closely monitored to see if I would need oral medication or insulin to control it.

I spent the next few days pricking and poking my finger, for what seemed non stop. I spent a few days using the advice from the nutritionist, and checking my levels all day, and then it was back to my OB office for a follow up. When going to see her, she stated that she was worried about my high levels, and started my on an oral medication to aid with keeping my sugars in their targeted range.

I was also told that in my appointment, that I showed protein in my urine and that since I was already diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure), that I needed to do a 24 hour urine collection. (Seriously?)  That came back with an elevated level of protein but not quite high enough to be in preeclampsia range.  So I am in the clear with that...for now, anyway.

I think Brittan wanted me to know that she's already going to be a handful!

This update alone made me exhausted since it's action packed! Reliving it is even exhausting! :)

More details with pregnancy updates, fourth of July celebrations, and 'Mommy's Favorite' coming up!

With much love (and exhaustion),

Brandi

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A bundle of updates!

So, hello from the crazy, non-stop, life of a pregnant mom of two! I have been distant for a while, because of some expected and unexpected events going on. But first, let's get to the update on my little princess!

Brittan at 13 weeks and 4 days

Last update from me, was back in February when we found our by our DNA testing that we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. I had another ultrasound shortly after to be able to see the baby, knowing for sure that it was a girl! I was very excited! I was happy to learn that my mom had felt the same feelings I had, when it came to thinking it was a girl, and had already started making baby girl items!

 I had a few concerns with my doctors, including my weight loss due to severe nausea. I was placed on a series of different medications to assist with the vomiting and nausea, and help at least level out weight wise. I had never experienced anything like this with my first pregnancy, with Bentley, so this was a whole new battle for me.  Then, on top of it all, my son caught a horrible stomach bug, and in the middle of the pregnancy, non-stop, vomiting, I had a three year old, vomiting with me. It was not fun!  I feel for any pregnant woman who has had to experience that, especially for a longer duration of the pregnancy. Mine eased up around 20 weeks or so, (at least that I remember!).  I had convinced myself that each day that I thought, "Hey, I haven't been sick!" the anxiety just made me run to the bathroom, so I tried to put those days behind me, and not even think about it anymore! 

Brittan at 13 weeks and 4 days, lady parts! :)

I also had a scare with preeclampsia where I was experiencing some near-fainting spells, seeing spots, and having swelling. After labs, I was cleared of preeclampsia (for now). I also had a very bad, and scary experience, where one night, after showering, I went to apply deodorant, and I had severe pain in my right arm pit. After feeling a lump, I decided to do a self breast exam, since it was nearby, and I thought I felt a lump in my breast. After running to Brad, telling him about the discomfort in my armpit, and the lump in my breast, he thought that I might have just been paranoid and feeling things that aren't really there. So I scheduled an appointment with my OB right away, and was able to be seen the next day. I explained my concern, and without getting into much detail with my dr, she wanted to go ahead and check a few things herself. She started off feeling my armpit, and then wanted to do a breast exam, and the words that gave me chills like no before, she paused and looked at me and stated, "I don't like what I am feeling." I instantly became nauseous, and numb all over. She prescribed me an antibiotic in case it was a simple infection, that could be cleared up, and I was scheduled for a breast ultrasound at a Cancer Center. Cancer. Cancer. Here I am, 24, recently married, having a baby girl with a three year old son, headed to this dark, dreaded building. 

Brittan at 19 weeks, look at her little nose! 

Of course, there's no such thing as an "easy" appointment at a place like that, so I was tense and on needles the entire time. Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone to watch Bentley, so  he tagged along. Leave it to a toddler to make an already stressful situation, even worse. In the waiting room, while I was signing in at registration, he was picking out a brochure, piece by piece, just tossing them across the room. Then once I was able to try to clean that up, while filling out paper work, I look over, and Bentley is squirting hand santizier all over the desk. Clearly, seeing the frustration and worry in my face, the sweet woman reassured me that I would be back soon. I was called back and sent into a room to change my clothes to prep for the ultrasound. The room was filled with scripture, and even had a diary, for people to write down stuff in. I was able to escape the dressing room, drama free with Bentley, and head into the ultrasound room. I talked to Bentley, and told him that he needed to sit in the chair and wait for Mommy to be done, and we would be able to leave. I lay on the table, and begin to pour sweat. I look over, and Bentley is spinning around in the chair, and although I wanted to say something, I decided based on his previous actions, I was going to pick and choose my battles and didn't want to cause a scene. Bentley noticed the ultrasound machinery, and wanted to know if we were seeing "Peanut" aka Brittan. I told him know that they were just looking at something else. And...without fail, the toddler approaches and looks up at the ultrasound technician and says, "Are you looking at her boobies? I want to look at her boobies. Why are you looking at her boobies?" At that point, I could have broke down in tears. I quietly, but sternly asked Bentley to please go have a seat. The ultrasound tech assured me that he was fine, and that so far, she couldn't see anything abnormal besides a swollen lymph node, but it was the doctor that would make the ultimate decision on the images. And just when I thought things were finally calming down, and I'm in the clear, (I should have known better!), Bentley comes running over, holding his back side, saying, "I have to poop. I have to go poop." He Thank. You. Jesus.

Brittan at 24 weeks, VERY much a girl! 

glances up at the ultrasound technician again, and states, "I have to poop. Do you poop? Do you poop here or at home?" I had to excuse myself from the room, and shuffle a toddler, preaching about poop, while in a gown to the bathroom. And as expected, I just broke down in the bathroom. I finally was able to wrap things up there, and head back to the room. The ultrasound was finished, and now it was time to wait for the doctor. He came in, a little too happy, which made me wonder if he was always this happy, or if he was amused at the boobies & poop stories that I'm sure he had heard about. He stated that everything looked great, there was a swollen lymph node giving me some trouble, but other than that, I was in the clear!

Who doesn't love swollen
pregnancy feet?

Fetal monitor

I had a pretty successful May without too many complications, until just last night, I was having some major swelling, some odd fluid discharge, and contractions, so off to the Labor & Delivery we went! My mom tagged along with me, and they hooked me up to the monitor and did an exam, and determined that it was just normal discharge, with braxton hicks, cleared me of any worries, infections, etc and sent me on my way!

For those that are still reading after this very long update, I will wrap it up here, with two more updates coming very soon. 

Until next time...

26 weeks! 

Brandi, Bentley & Brittan <3

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The test of life, hormones and DNA!

This past week has been crazy hard for this soon to be mommy of 2. It's not often that I admit my struggles, but this week has really been a test of strength for me.  I feel like the last few weeks have all ran together, and I haven't ever stopped to sit, or sleep, (although we all know that we all have to sleep), it just seems as though my days are running together. For some odd reason, (cough, hormones, cough), last night when I came home, after 8 pm, did some laundry, did the dishes, cleaned up the house, bathed the toddler, showered, and got in bed, it was almost 11 pm. I end up just collapsing out of pure exhaustion, and was left in the bathroom floor, flooded with tears.  Sometimes it feels likes you just have to say, I give up. And that's exactly what I had to do. And not in a bad way!  I have to realize the importance of saying that some things really can wait, and knowing that I do have help this time around and I don't need to feel all of the pressure that I felt the first time with my first pregnancy.

We were also excited to find out the results of our Harmony blood test that we had done as part of our first trimester screenings. I tried calling this morning to check the status of the results, and was told that the genetic specialist was out of the office today. Then, I got a missed call from work although, but I wasn't able to answer, due to my phone being in my desk while we had our regional supervisor at work today.  I didn't recognize the number, so I simply just placed the phone back in my desk.  I decided to take the phone into the bathroom to list to the voice mail, and my heart immediately started pounding at a rate of 279207520523 beats per minute when I heard, "Hi, This is Jeanie calling from _______, I am calling with the test results from the Harmony testing. Please give me a call back at 704....."  WHAT?! But...you...I....thought....she wasn't in the office today?!  So I anxiously called back the number that she left on the voicemail, and got her voicemail at work, stating that she would be out of the office. Okay...now who is playing tricks on me?! I ended up after many attempts at the number going straight to voicemail, I decided to try to call back the number that she called from.  A sweet voice answered, "Hello?" I instantly knew it was her! Please don't sound like a crazy pregnant woman Brandi, PLEASE keep it together.  I told her that I was returning her call, and she had mentioned that she accidentally left the office number as a habit from always being in the office, but she was actually working from home today due to the incoming inclement weather. She proceeded to tell me that all of the actually screenings as far as down syndrome, and any chromosomes disorders were cleared at less than 1% of being at risk for them. She proceeded to ask if I had any other questions. "WAIT! Did the test say what I was having?" She sweetly responded with, "Oh yes....while nothing is 100%....wait, did you want to know you were having?" "YES, MA'AM!" I replied again trying to keep myself together.  She stated again, that while nothing was 100%, the test results came back with the chromosomes, and that it was 99.7% accurate that it was a girl. A GIRL.

A GIRL. A FEMALE. XX CHROMOSOMES!

I still can't wrap my brain around what she said. I anxiously replied, "Okay, thanks bye!" And hung up out of excitement. I ended up sharing the news with family and then posting it on Facebook. It's just amazing how quickly the unknown will turn into something so surreal.  It seemed like just yesterday I was having a "baby" and now it's officially Britton Kinsley!

We are so very excited, pleased, anxious, and every other word you can possibly imagine!  We have another ultrasound on Friday evening to see more pictures of our sweet baby girl. I can't wait to share with everyone. It's going to be a whole new experience going back and seeing what is actually our Britton.

Full of LOVE & EXCITEMENT,
Brandi, Brad, Bentley & Britton <3

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Happy Birthday Daddy!

After spending a great Valentine's day as a family, we had to just gear up and prepare for Daddy's birthday!  We started off by having a great breakfast together with one of Brad's favorite places to eat, and then we loaded up and headed to his surprise.  If I've learned anything in my almost three years of motherhood, it's NOT to tell your toddler anything you want to keep a secret, so I was smart enough to not even tell him where we were going!

Breakfast for Daddy's Birthday

We loaded up the car, and drove 45 minutes to Gastonia, NC to New Beginnings Ultrasound!  Brad was estatic as we waited to go back.  Once we did, we were both shocked to see how much the baby has grown in just a month. What looked like a little tadpole a month ago, now looked like a perfect little baby, with the perfect little nose, ten fingers, ten toes, and the longest little legs.

Our peanut with his/her long legs, they were facing the placenta.

Our peanut sucking his/her thumb! So sweet already!

A few days before Valentine's Day we decided to rent a fetal heart doppler that we can listen to the baby's heartbeat.  We would hear the heartbeat, and then you would hear the heartbeat fade as the baby moved away.  Brad wasn't aware that the baby could do such movements at this young fetus age.

He was in for a treat!  We watched peanut, toss and turn, and put her hands in front of her eyes, like some other little baby I know... (cough, Bentley, cough).  The ultrasound tech was even able to give us a "pretty good" guess at 12 weeks what the baby was gender wise, but we are keeping it under wraps until it's official!  Each time we've went to the doctor's and heard the heart rate it's always been between 160-172.  Bentley loves hearing the baby's heartbeat, so we were able to get him an adorable stuffed animal that he picked out, a giraffe, that they were able to record peanut's heartbeat on, and stick it inside the giraffe, so when he hug it, he can hear peanuts heart beat!  He has been in love with it ever since!

We have a busy week ahead, with an appointment tomorrow for our first trimester screenings, including the Harmony full DNA test, where we will get a definite answer to the sex of the baby, and an ultrasound to check for any issues.  Then Thursday is our 3 month appointment!  Expect an update soon!  :)

- Brandi

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Fast Forward...

So we have already had our first appointments for pregnancy #2, and as many of you know, Brad and I were going through a lot of growing, and adjustments while I lived in Maryland during my pregnancy with Bentley so while this is round two for me, this is really the full experience round 1 for Brad.

This pregnancy started off with a scary moment when I took a fall in the bathroom and went to the emergency room to be checked. It's always better to be safe than sorry.  They did some blood work, took a urine sample and did an ultrasound.  The ultrasound tech started off with telling me that she wasn't able to tell me anything because she was not the reviewing doctor, and yet she proceeded to looked concerned. She wouldn't tell me anything, which had me worried.  I went back to my room, and waited for the doctor to come in.  After what seemed like forever, he came in and stated that while my urine and blood work showed that I was indeed pregnant, the ultrasound showed nothing...at all.  So they said that I should have my blood work checked in a few days to make sure that my beta HcG levels were increasing as they should.  They said that if I was really early, that it was perfectly normal to not see anything, so I left there just antsy and waiting for a real answer.

A few days go by, and I had my follow up at the OB for my blood work where they confirmed that my numbers looked great!  As of now, things were back to normal (in the pregnancy life).  Little did I know that they were all just beginning because we were getting married!

Our first picture as Mr. & Mrs. Hughes (1-11-15)

On our honeymoon, I was in the midst of my first trimester sickness, which....well let's just say I have a beef with baby #2 already because I was not the littlest bit sick with my first pregnancy, so it hit me completely off guard.  We spent a week at Disney World and for being a newly pregnant woman, it was filled with water, snacks, nap breaks, and late starts in the morning. There were a lot of rides that I couldn't ride but it was the perfect opportunity for me to sleep in while my new husband hit the parks early for the trill rides that I couldn't ride.  Believe me, most people would be like...why would you want your husband to go without you? The extra sleep and the sweet treats he would bring back would help me last for the rest of the day.

Our honeymoon in Disney World

About a week after we got back from our honeymoon, we had our first 'official' OB appointment.  It was a packed house, it was myself, Brad, his mother, and Bentley.  We finally got called back and saw the doctor, who said words that literally sounded like gibberish because all I wanted to see what a little tiny spec that they called my baby on that ultrasound screen.  We finally were sent to the ultrasound room, where they got ready for the ultrasound.  (Warning, pregnancy TMI ahead...) I am probably one girl who totally hates transvaginal ultrasounds. Something about a big giant lubed up probe being shoved inside of you, is not comforting at all. All of the discomfort and awkwardness having a room full of people went away as soon as we saw what my toddler called a "little peanut" pop up on the screen.  She stated that everything looked great, and peanut was actually measuring a day ahead, although they kept my due date the same, as 9/1/2015.  Everything looked great, and as the ultrasound tech went to leave the room, Bentley yelled, "Wait, wait! You left it in there!" Haha!  The life of a toddler experiencing a sibling at his age, is the best!

Our little peanut at 7 weeks and 6 days (1-19-15)

Aside from the vomiting, the restless sleep, vomiting, headaches, vomiting, and more vomit, everything else has been a pretty "normal" pregnancy as they seem to call it.  When you are in your last few weeks of pregnancy and you are absolutely miserable, don't let it cloud over the rest of your pregnancy experience.  I was obviously miserable the last few weeks of my first pregnancy but who isn't?  My first pregnancy experience was a breeze.  This one...not so much.  I have had such great help at home with my precious sweet Bentley and my amazing new husband.  There has been one issue that has been reoccurring that started towards the end of my pregnancy with Bentley and that's the dreaded back pain. I finally caved in and made a doctors appointment with my OB because my primary doctor thought that the pregnancy was the reason behind my pain.  The doctor prescribed me muscle relaxers, and referred me to go have physical therapy done.

Peanut at 11 weeks 

My first appointment came for physical therapy when I was shocked to find out that it wasn't physical therapy at all, but a full chiropractor.  I had to listen to my poor body get twisted and cracked in ways that I never thought was possible.  At first I felt absolutely great, and went hard playing with my boy all morning.  Then around the evening time, I was doubled over in tears from the pain.  They told me it would get better before it got worse but for my optimistic brain, that meant, my existing pain would linger around a little bit, but it was far from that.  So for the next few weeks, I will be visiting my glorious certified back fixer upper 3 times a week, and then I will continue throughout my pregnancy.  Wish me luck!

Until next time...

Brandi, Brad, Bentley & 'Peanut'

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And the saga begins!

I wish I had some entertaining way of saying that I am already living the frantic life of a mother of 'two' even before my second is here!  I have been wanting to start this blog since our BFP (big fat positive), but I've been so busy with the holidays, the new year, a wedding, new job, etc....I just got extremely exhausted just by thinking about everything that has been going on!

As many of you already know, and could have easily figured it out...Brad & I are expecting baby #2!  We found out a few days before Christmas, really early on in our pregnancy, and decided to share the news on Christmas day with our friends and family.  A lot has happened since then and I am going to try to catch everyone up since I've even been too busy to post everything on Facebook! Now, anyone that knows me, understands just how big of a deal that is! LOL

I'll keep this 'introduction' short & sweet, as our little peanut is right now... be prepared to read about the behind the scenes details, the stories of motherhood, the trials of pregnancy, the battles of raising a two year old, the non-stop vomiting nights, the taco cravings, and the emotional outbreaks, as the Hughes grow by two feet!

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