Week 20 - March 26 - April 1, 2015

Hey My Little Love,

Well... we are 20 weeks along, you and I!  Halfway there!  Baby Center notes "Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel  - about the size of a banana."  However, we had an ultrasound on Wednesday the 3rd, and you are 12 ounces already... You are so active!  It took them 30 minutes to be able to see your gorgeous profile.  You had your hands up in front of your face like you were ready for a fight!

We have had a busy, fun week!  We took your sister to the zoo.  I can't wait until you can go with us!  She talks about you all the time and the things she is going to teach you and do with you.  One of a parents greatest hopes is that all their children will not only get along (which I'm not so worried about - I feel like you will probably just fight sometimes), but that they will develop a lifelong bond of friendship and closeness that will live beyond us.  I hope that for the two of you.  You have a pretty incredible sister, and I am certain you two will love and adore each other... even if you do fight sometimes!

Here is your mommy... with you growing inside of me like a champ!

We are working on lots of projects at the house to get ready for your arrival.  Keep growing strong.  Now that I can feel you moving around so much in there, you have to stay active so I know you are okay.  I love you my sweet boy!  I can't wait to hold you in less than 20 week! 

Love, Mommy

Week 18: March 12 - 18 & Week 19: March 19 - 25, 2015

My Sweet Boy,

Well... it has already happened!  I skipped a week!  What a crazy week it was too!  Week 18 was your sister's birthday - SHE'S THREE!!! And a trip to OH for Work and then your sister's birthday party!  It was a crazy week, so I skipped my little note to you.  Here is a glimpse of our fun :-)

We took our 3 year pics as well over that week, and guess what, you are in the picture too!  Just in my tummy!  

In Week 19, we have tried to get back into a small routine.  Mollie started back to school, daddy is home, I'm trying to get back to working a normal schedule, and daddy and I went on a walk this  morning  - we need exercise!  That is where we took my Week 19 pics!  We are almost halfway there!

You weigh about 8 1/2 oz, are about 6 inches long and are about the size of an heirloom tomato.  I love how they compare babies to fruits and veggies, but hey... whatever works!

I love you to the moon and back... keep growing strong and kick me!  I like to feel you moving around in there ;-)  

Love - Mommy   

Week 17: March 5 - 11, 2015

Hey Buddy,

This week has been kind of crazy!  We got home from Texas and went straight to Uncle Abe, Aunt Val, and Jimmy's house in Columbia, TN - about an hour away.  We stayed with them for a couple of days and then headed to IL for my work.  Mollie has been a trooper, as we have been from Michigan to TN to Texas and back and then to IL!  She has been my perfect traveling buddy... so have you, of course!  However, she is pretty much over it.  I head to OH this week - good thing she gets to stay at home with Daddy!

Not much to report except we are ramping up our theatre in IL and I am spending a lot of time there.  I took my pictures this week outside the theatre next to signs for the upcoming show!

I am so excited to meet you and so happy you are growing.  We missed your first appointment with our "Expect with Me" group because we were in TX, so I am excited to meet everyone in that class next time... in April!  This week is your sister's 3rd birthday... she is a St. Patrick's Day Baby, so I am sure I will have lots of things to report next week!  

I love you so very much... keep growing!  I get to hold you in 23 weeks!

Love~ Mommy

Week 16: February 26 - March 4, 2015

My Sweet Boy,

This week we (your sister and I) took a trip to Texas to meet your new cousin, Henry.  The two of you will only be about 5 months apart, so it will be fun to watch you grow up together.  We had so much fun!  It was a full week of hanging out with your cousins, Olivia and Lily and loving on our new little bundle, Henry.

We took the girls to the Celtic Festival and to the Indoor Water Place... your sister almost lost her mind at the water park.  She is a little fish, and this long winter has smothered her.  We have a pool, so we will spend lots of time in the water.  Your sister has been taking self-rescue and swimming lessons for the last year, and is quite the little swimmer.  She is excited to teach you and to have you join her in class!

It was funny that two of the days we were there, Olivia and Lily's schools were canceled because of snow and ice, and two of the days were 75+ degrees.  You can see the difference below:

You are growing really fast!  You can see the difference pretty dramatically from week to week!

Keep growing my sweet Maxon Edward!  We can't wait to hold you in 24 weeks!

Love~ Mommy

Week 15- February 19 - 25, 2015

My Little Max,

This week has been busy!  Your daddy has only been home for a couple of days and is leaving for over two weeks tomorrow... for EUROPE!  It is just me, you and Mollie!  Your daddy travels with Luke Bryan, he is a country music star.  He has been with him for 6 1/2 years.  Your daddy has been getting ready for that, Mollie is finally back in school after a week off due to snowpocolypse 2015, and Mommy is working away at Blue Gate Musicals.  I work from home, travel a lot, and work in the theatre, which besides you, your sister and your daddy... is my passion.

We took Mollie last night to meet up with one of her little friends, Keenan, for his 3rd birthday.  Mollie is about to turn 3 too!  She will be about 3 1/2 when you arrive.  I think you will be besties!

Here is my little bump this week... you keep getting bigger and bigger, and that is WONDERFUL!

Keep growing my sweet little boy!  We can't wait to meet you in 26 weeks!  

I love you, 

Mommy

Week 14 - February 12 - 18, 2015

Hey Little Man!

Yes! We found out that you are a little man!!!  Our very loved Maxon Edward Janiszewski.  We plan to call you Max.  Mollie is very excited and she talks about you a lot!  She gives you kisses (on my tummy) and tells you that she is going to change your diaper... maybe, and if you are hungry, she will feed you...maybe.  I don't think she knows that maybe means she might and she might not.  Ha!

Here we are (mommy and daddy) getting ready to do our genetic testing and to take the blood to find out if you are a boy or girl.  I knew... KNEW you were going to be my sweet Max!  Mommy (me) is 37 years old, so I am considered Advanced Maternal Age, but don't worry... I don't look it. ;-) Because of that, we are able to have genetic testing done to make sure you are healthy.  We also get to find out the gender.  We actually did this testing at 11 weeks, but we found out this week, so that is why I waited to post it.

Here are my baby bump pics.  You are growing really fast.  You couldn't tell I was pregnant with your sister until I was 1/2 way through my pregnancy. 

We also had the biggest snow/ice storm in years this week!  We called it snowpocolypse 2015.  We all think we are so clever. I love the pictures of your sister and her daddy... we all adore each other and now we have another sweet member of the family to adore... YOU!

We held a gender reveal party on Sunday, February 15, 2015, and had a lot of friends come celebrate with us!  Everyone chose what gender they thought you would be, and then took a picture with either blue or pink decorations.  We had cupcakes with blue M&M's in the center and released blue balloons from the basement to tell everyone that we were having a little Max!!!  We had a taco bar and a bunch of yummy snacks!  It was such a fun day!

OUR FRIENDS

MOLLIE & KEENAN

OUR FAMILY

THE FUN!

Keep growing strong, my love.  Can't wait to met you in 27 short weeks!

I love you... Mommy

1st Trimester - My Little Bean!

Well Hello Little Bean,

This is my very first letter to you!  I am writing backwards a little bit, because I didn't actually get your blog started until recently, so I am going to post the pics of my entire first trimester in this one post.  I won't be terribly long-winded in this first post since I have so many others to be a little more long-winded in...

How/When/Where I found out I was pregnant with you.  I was in Arcola, IL at the beginning of December.  I will share more about what I do with you later, but I just felt that you were there.  The funny thing is that I found out I was pregnant with your sister while I was visiting your Uncle Abe and Aunt Val when they lived in Chicago, IL.  Illinois is where I seem to find out I am pregnant.

Week 5: 12/11/2014 - 12/17/2014

Week 6: 12/18/2014 - 12/24/2014

Week 7: 12/25/2014 - 12/31/2014

Week 8: 1/01/2015 - 1/07/2015

Week 9: 1/08/2015 - 1/14/2015

Week 10: 1/15/2015 - 1/21/2015

Week 11: 1/22/2015 - 1/28/2015

Week 12: 1/29/2015 - 2/4/2015 (didn't take a baby bump pic, so one of Daddy and Big Sister will have to suffice)

Week 13 - 2/5/2015 - 2/11/2015

The main thing you should know is you are loved unconditionally and deeply already.  You are still forming and growing.  While I can't feel you or see that you are there quite yet, I know that you are.  I touch my belly and tell you I love you every single day.  We don't know your gender yet, but we will be elated either way.  I think you are a boy, but only time will tell.  ;-)

Love you,
Mommy