Countdown Begins!

Today starts week 25 of our pregnancy - we are 61% of the way there!! To help time progress, I think it's time to start counting down the weeks instead of counting those that have passed - 15 weeks to go! Yippee!!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Fun-day!!

When I asked Jordan where she wanted to go today, she said Kentucky. Since we hadn't packed for that trip, we agreed that we would instead take a trip SHOPPING! Jordan and I had a blast at Babies R Us! We kicked off our registry - and Jordan was a super big help picking out things for Baby Karter! She was a very proud big sister as we strolled the aisles for almost 2 hours!!... she definitely earned her nap today!!

This evening, Jordan, Daddy and Mommy colored and rode Jordan's bicycle through the house over and over - what a fun day!

Tomorrow = laundry and packing. Nope, still not headed to Kentucky, but Jordan and I will be going to Florida on Tuesday for an assesment with a nationally known and respected neurologist. Keep us in your thoughts - flying with a 2.5 year old has its challenges :)

Even if it's not bad, it doesn't mean it's good

Today's appointment was... interesting. I am 24 weeks into my pregnancy, and I've gained 20lbs (plus what the doc doesn't know about before my first appointment). That's pretty hefty if you're targeting 25-35 full term, which my doctor is... but it's no where near the path to 96lbs full term, which still pleases me a little. She did not tell me to diet, but she did tell me to slow down - and so it begins! I know that it's harder to lose than it is to gain, but for me, not gaining a good bit extra while pregnant seems impossible!

In other news, we'll be scheduling an appointment within the next couple of days so that we can meet the rest of the doctor crew who will be performing the surgery. I say "we", because this is one of the appointments that Jared will join me at. I am excited for him to meet my doctor and for us both to meet the others. (And I fully suspect that he'll be smitten when he sees my doc for the first time - she is very pretty, and some days, gorgeous).

My next appointment will be in 4 weeks on Oct 11 at 2:30p. Before then, I have to make it in for that horrible sweet drink test (gestational diabetes) and a follow up blood screening to make sure that things are still looking good. I don't remember pregnancy being this busy before! Then again, I didn't have a 2.5 year old last time around!

Less than two weeks ago, I flew to Texas for work. We flew to Kansas over the weekend for TJ's wedding. On Wednesday, I leave for work in Boston. Next week, Jordan and I will be flying to Florida. My back has started to hurt more, so I asked the doctor today when must the fun cease... and her answer...

- Stop driving to Strongsville everyday between 30 and 32 weeks - that's in 6-8 short weeks! (This means that I will have to work from home or go on leave - we'll see what HR thinks!)
- No more flying or making car trips >4 hours once I hit 32 weeks.
- No more traveling more than an hour from home by any method after 38 weeks. (This shouldn't be an issue; I plan to have a baby around 38 weeks, if not safely before).

Looks like we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas at our own house this year! Let us know if you'll be joining us!! The holidays are a busy time for everyone - so we'll be welcoming guests whenever you can make it, no matter the day or weather, to meet what is sure to be our next bundle of joy!

Well on my way to almost there!

Jared FINALLY got to feel Karter kick this weekend!

Before Jordan was born, Jared's presence made her kick like crazy. It wasn't uncommon for her kicks and punches to wake him up in the middle of the night if I rolled over to face him and my belly brushed up against him. (Yes, if you're bride gains 96lbs., you should expect that she will intrude on your sleeping space).

But with Karter, Jared has a completely different effect. Perhaps she is already a Daddy's girl, because no matter how much she's moving, she calms the second his hand gets near my stomach.

I am nearing the end of my second trimester with the start of Week 24. I don't care how others define it, because to me, Week 24 = 6 months pregnant and well on my way to being almost there!

I have a doctor appointment this afternoon and will hopefully have good news to share this evening!

J is for Jordan AND Jealousy

Jordan is excited for a baby brother (I know, it's a girl) and had an opportunity to practice being a big sister this weekend when we finally got to visit Cari Anne, Doug, and Baby Kelly in Kentucky! We had a GREAT visit - minus the 30 seconds when I held Kelly with Jordan watching and screaming "Take ME!" She did much better when I held Baby Kelly AND Baby Jordan (no more big girl, we are back to being a baby).

Karter/Haley isn't even here yet, and I've already learned so much -

(1) When things aren't going according to my plan, I can step back, relax, and realize that they are going exactly to HIS plan - and HIS plan was formed with the most thoughtful intentions, where as my plans often have no logical intentions. (I know, it shouldn't have take me 29 years to figure this out, but sometimes a dead fish has to slap you in the face a few times before you smell it).

(2) J is for Jordan AND jealousy, and we've got a really long road ahead! We hope you'll join us in our travels! (Long doesn't mean bad, it just means that we may never find that paved interstate that folks talk about - but, our feet are getting use to the gravel and mud so we're ready for the challenge)!

Jordan brushing her teeth, watching some morning cartoons, and getting ready for another fun day in KY - does this look like a baby to you?

Playroom

At one point, we had a very sophisticated home office. Over time, toys have slowly made their way into the office, and the room has been losing its identity. Jared and I gave in this weekend - moving the office to the basement and converting this space to a therapy and playroom for Jordan and Karter. (We still plan to change out some wall art and move the toy box from Jordan's room down to the playroom, but that is a BIG project for another day.)

Jordan loves her new space and is especially proud of the blue curtains that she chose and Daddy hung for her!

Way to go Big Sis!

Jordan had her first Botox injection this morning and had to be fully sedated (again). I just got a text from Daddy that our big girl did great! She is awake, drinking juice, and eating cookies. Now Karter/Haley/Baby #2 and I can breathe again - we are so super proud of the big sis!!

~ Thank you for the prayers and support ~

Jordan calls her Carter

Jared and I thought that we were 100% (or at least 95%) on calling our baby girl Haley Kaye. We even thought that Jordan LOVED the name. As it turns out, Jordan loves school and she loves her friend at school name Haley :) She won't budge from Carter for the baby in mommy's belly...

So now we're wondering...

Can we call a baby girl Karter? Does the K make it more femanine? Or is this like the boy named Sue?

We're thinking that if we go that route, we may need to rethink the middle name and use something more girlie...

Karter Elizabeth Rinker
Karter Anne Rinker
Karter Christina Rinker
Karter Haley Rinker
Haley Karter Rinker
Karter Alexis Rinker
Karter Grace Rinker
Karter Reese Rinker

Got an opinion or another idea? Clilck on "Comment" below and leave us your thoughts!