Alexis is singing about getting married in the temple. She is wearing a dress clutching her piggy bank and really getting into the dancing. Then she bows at the end and says thank you piggy. It is cracking me up! I just need to document it so that when she tries to run off with some guy covered in tattoos on the back of a Harley with a sign say Vegas or bust, I can pull this out and remind her that even as a 3 year old she had a better head on your shoulders! hahaha.

Kicking is good!

Megan is a little fire cracker. When I first started feeling her move it was only when I sat down, reclined and then waited impatiently for her little flutters and kicks. Now I feel it almost constant. Standing, walking, sitting, she is so strong too. It surprises me a lot and I love it. Sometimes it feels like she is tickling me, others she is kicking her legs, or pushing with her hands. I feel her roll and can tell when she is moving to a new spot. I am so happy that she has moved out of my pelvic area, that was getting really painful. I love that my belly is getting tight, especially when she is moving. I pray that she keeps growing stronger and bigger everyday. We are fasting for Megan to be healthy and strong this Sunday. Please if you can will you include us in your fast.

Alexis has taken to the baby clothes a little to much. She carries them everywhere, wants to take them to the store and to people's houses to show them. She is especially in love with the mary lamb blanket from Grandma Shirley. Today she was upset that Megan's little dresses were hanging in her closet, I told her get used to it. Megan's room has a small closet but it has shelves in it and no where to put a clothes rod (plus it is where the games, tax stuff, vacuum and other things that would normally go in a hall closet if we had one). So I will just put both girls clothes in the one closet. They will be sharing a room when Megan is old enough to sleep in a big girl bed anyways.

I am really excited about having another girl. I thought I would be a bit down if it wasn't a boy, but I am not. Alexis is really happy to have a sister and loves all the pink things we have. Britt is happy now too, he said he felt like he got kicked in the stomach when we found out, but now he is good. I love when they both talk to her. As for the next ultrasound we both feel very good that everything will be perfect. We may not even do the amnio if everything in the ultrasound looks good. We will see.

Grandma Shirley

Grandma Shirley came over last night and spoiled the girls. Alexis got her song book add-ons and has been singing the new songs none stop. She just took the book over to daddy and said"Grandma Shirley got me this." It is funny because when we ask her who's mommy she is, she insists that she is not Britt's mom. She is just her Grandma Shirley. Too cute. I love that both Grandma's live so close to us. I lived close to mine growing up and really missed that when we moved away. I hope we don't have to move far away from them ever. This song book is one of the things Grandma makes for all the grand kids and I was almost impatient for Alexis to get old enough to get one. We sing from it nearly daily and it has filled the void of nursery singing time. I was very impressed with Alexis last night. Grandma included the song the kids are learning from the primary program and as I was singing it Alexis knew a lot of the words already. We have a very talented singing teacher in primary, if after only 1 month a 3 year old is learning such a long song.

Thank you Grandma, We love you!!!

Family fun day!

We had a very fun day Friday. Ok well part of it was really fun. Britt had to take his truck into the shop so Alexis and I followed him to Seattle to pick him up. While we were up North we exchanged my maternity garment tops for a smaller size in Bellevue and then took Alexis to a park. Britt drives by it when delivering cars and has been dying to take Alexis there. It is in Kirkland and she was so excited when she first saw it. Britt and Alexis ran around like little children...wait Alexis is a child. We played there until Alexis had an accident. Unfortunately Britt didn't realize that and picked her up to run her to the bathroom and soaked his sleeve. Awww the joys of parenting. So we left and lucky for us Alexis has decided that she has to bring clothes with us when we go places. Britt on the other hand just had his g's and a coat. So we stopped at a fabric store and bought a sweat shirt, it was too short in the arms but at least he had a shirt. We then went to Whole Foods and bought some groceries. Yummy! Traffic was terrible at 5pm on a Friday so we had a lot of time to talk about baby names and decide on her name. finally. Here are some pictures from that and my 20 week. I know I am 21 today, but it is hard to keep up. I will try to take a 21 week self portrait.

Alexis kept racing Britt up and down the slide and he caught her and then got stuck getting out.


She was a pro at this and didn't fall once.


Loved the tire swing

Made it across all by herself! She was unsure at first.


Alexis found this giraffe costume and insisted in fit her perfectly.....

Not some much in the back, lol.

Spa time with a green gel mask.

I know it doesn't show my tummy really well but I love Alexis in the picture!

I think we have chosen a name.........

Megan Michelle

It means mighty, strong able, pearl

I have always loved Megan and Britt was on the side lines about it. I didn't have to convince him very hard to name our girl this. We were talking out names the other night while in the car and I said Megan just like I always do and he said "Ok, I like it." I felt victorious!!! He kept trying to put Michelle in as the middle name for every name and so I let him have that victory. It could still change though over the next few months. I don't think it will though.

Alexis has been so cute lately talking to the baby. She says "hi cute little baby." She shows her things and even offered her a drink of lemonade. It is fun!

Gearing up for baby!

A lot of decisions need to be made when bringing a new baby into the family. What car seat, stroller, swing and other things to get. We sold Alexis's car seat to a friend when she was to big for it, so we are going to get this one! We will keep this one until we are done having kids. As for the stroller we have been using an umbrella type for quite awhile and that just won't due for a tiny baby, we are getting this double one. I loved my swing for Alexis, but sadly I let my sister in law use it and she gave it to Goodwill instead of giving it back so we need to buy a new one. I love that they are making ones that plug in and I found one that isn't $150! It is the same brand as my first one too. Look here for that. We are so excited to get our tax return so we can buy this stuff! Fun stuff. I washed up all my tiny newborn clothes yesterday and got them folded into the basket. I thought I had a lot more, but now that I look back I realize that Alexis was 9 pounds so I bought 0-3 month clothes. I washed them up too, but still only came up with 5 onsies, 2 gowns, a blanket sleeper, 3 dresses, 3 pant sets and a 3 one piece outfits. So I we will need a few more things, especially some pj's. I only have 2 newborn hats. It is hard to know what to get though, I guess it depends on when this baby comes as to what size we will need first. I plan on waiting until the summer stuff starts to go on sale. It will be hard though!

Press release #1

It has been a few days and I think I have come to the point where I can now safely talk about this. I still would really appreciate it if all of those who love us wouldn't ask us questions since we are still learning and will learn more in a few weeks. With that said I am eternally grateful that seeing a midwife provided me with the opportunity to see a specialist for my ultra sound. Had I not seen Dr. Maslow there is an extremely high chance that we would not have caught this and it could have sealed a very sad outcome to this pregnancy. I have found out that though statistically speaking it is not reported as often as it really happens because many babies are born without incident. The only cases reported in statistics are those found before birth. I am still very scared and upset that the plan that Britt and I so carefully thought about is most likely not going to happen in anyway. I love Nancy though as a care giver and we will still see her through this along with Dr. Maslow....who gets 2 of the best caregivers during a pregnancy?
Ok so our sweet little girl has a Velamentous Cord. It is a condition where the umbilical cord implants somewhere other then the middle of the placenta. This can be especially dangerous depending on that placement. Ours is at the edge, not as dangerous as some (some implant way off the placenta and/or across the cervix) and luckily my placenta is higher up and not close to my cervix. This is very dangerous during birth, it is like baby is growing in there with a little bomb and going into labor, water breaking and contractions can cause a vein to burst and death before the doctors even know what is happening. We will be having many ultrasounds over the next few weeks until they determine the baby is safe to deliver. They also are going to do an amniocentesis on the 17th. I am petrified as I hear it hurts and there is a risk for miscarriage. The reason we didn't have one on Monday, they like to do them before week 20 for situations like ours, is because we said that we are going to carry this baby as far as we can and so he put it further out to lessen the risk of miscarriage. I know that you will all forgive us for not running home and calling or telling you all. Monday was a very raw and emotional day for us and it is slowly getting a bit easier to handle. (Jenn this is why I am going to chill on the walks Britt and I decided that light duty is a must for me until little girl is born). I really wish time would speed by and that I can know how this is all going to happen. Most likely I will have to have a c-section and earlier then my due date. I will do anything to protect this girly and if that means I have to have the complete opposite of what I want for my birth plan then so be it. I actually feel better typing this out like I am passing some of the burden on to all who read this.

Finding out that this baby is a girl has been very different then what I thought it would be like, maybe finding out that there are problems lessened the joy and enthusiasm. That is why we didn't tell anyone until Tuesday what she was, we where still reeling with what it all means. We have a long and bumpy 20 weeks, take a few, to go and I am sure that you will all find me a basket case at some point. Every time I feel her move it is just amazing because I know we made it just a bit further. I think she knows my thoughts because when ever I start to wonder how she is doing, she moves and I know it is just for me. Life is full of ups and downs and I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and will help my through this. We are asking that you all please pray for a positive outcome. I think this will be the longest 4 months in my life.

I told Britt today that just because we are having a girl and I have lots of Alexis's little clothes I will still want more. I only saved my favorites and most of them are fall and winter things. End of August Babies don't get too many hot summer days! So I will get to buy some fun matching summer outfits for the girls. He rolled his eyes at having the girls match, but when we go somewhere and they are both dressed similar he will love it. Little miss is moving a bunch while I type this so I think she likes the idea too!
Britt was so shocked when we where told it was a girl. She was showing us the area and said baby isn't being shy right now, see those 3 white lines? Britt said so it's a boy and both the lady and I said "It's a girl" at the same time. He is finally throwing girls names out and getting excited. I am relieved that we were able to find out so that he could adjust. If you have girl names throw them out, we are open for anything right now!!!


I have gained 9 pounds so far, the suggested weight gain for 20 weeks is 10 pounds. I feel good that I am gaining the right amount of weight. I have heard that girls like to make mommy gain lots of weight. Blood pressure is good and no sign of toxemia. Nancy took a vile of Britt's blood and is having it typed, I forgot to ask how long before that gets back. We have a big Ultra sound scheduled for February 17th to look at the baby in more detail, she was so low in my pelvis area that getting a look at her head and stuff was hard. She even tilted me back trying to get baby girl to come up, but she wouldn't. Just way to comfy down there. We really love the Perinatologist that we are seeing he is so kind and loving. I can see why Nancy works with him, he came out and got us in the waiting room and talked to Alexis. It was nice going to his Federal Way office because there was no other patients. In Tacoma the place was packed, standing room only. Of course that was a Friday and 3 doctors were in the office. Federal Way just happens to be closer to us too. We would still like some prayers sent this way for this little baby, she is so special to us and want everything to turn out just right!

I love feeling her move, it is so exciting!!!!

It's a girl.

20 weeks down, 20 to go!!

Some exciting things are happening this week! First we have our 20 week appointment with Nancy. Up until now we really haven't had any questions but we have a few this time. We are unsure what Britt's blood type is and will be seeing if we can get that tested. We would hate to have the RH factor and not know it, second we will be talking about my kidney's and the risk of toxemia. See when I was little I had scores of infections and the doctors were baffled as to why I got them so easily. They sent me to the hospital for some scans. I only remember seeing all the kids and how sick they looked, but they were all smiling. Those scans came back saying I had small kidneys and they must have had a harder time processing. Well my Grandmother had severe kidney problems even complete failure and was in preparation for a kidney transplant when she died. She developed toxemia during her pregnancy and while trying to save her life by aborting the pregnancy early in her 3rd trimester my uncle lived. Being that he was born in the mid-40's he is a miracle. She had problems with my dad also. So to be on the safe side we want to talk about this and make sure that we know all the symptoms and are well informed.
We also have our 20 week scan scheduled. We are most excited and can't wait to see what our baby looks like now. We haven't had an ultrasound since I was 12 weeks and can't wait to hear the heartbeat again. We will be taking Alexis with us, she just loves seeing the baby and hearing it! We will try and find out. We all know how babies are though so hopefully she/he will let us know!
Britt is going to California again this week, it really makes me sad when he leaves like this, even though I know it is guaranteed money on the paycheck. Sometimes I wish he had a desk job and didn't have to work 14 hour days and be gone for so long, ok I wish it more then sometimes. Right now his job is not as secure as it was 3 years ago. This isn't in the exciting part of the week though!

So stay tuned for results!

Almost 19 weeks photo.

Taken at almost 19 weeks. We will take one before the ultra sound next week too. I will be 20 weeks in Monday. The baby moves a lot. It is so fun and amazing to be able to experience all this. Britt is crazy with anticaption and every cute little boy thing he sees he wants to buy. I pull him back though by reminding him it could be a girl. When we ask Alexis if she wants a baby sister or brother she says sister. When we ask her what is in my tummy she says a boy. I don't think we are going to have to worry to much about her being disappointed. We just have to worry about Britt, I am sure all dad's want a son though.

Monday

Yesterday we had a little peek of spring. It was warm 60 degrees, sunny and beautiful. Alexis rode her bike and Britt and Aaron Schaub tore the railing of our front porch and started building a new one that might actually be strong enough to hold a prisoner, haha. Amy and the kids came over and we had pizza and played the Wii. A fun day and made me really excited for this spring and summer!

I woke up in the middle of the night about 3am because of a dream. My brakes weren't working right and I had mad skills of keeping the car from hitting stuff. I was doing donuts and skids that the professionals would be jealous of. Well as I was laying there not able to go back to sleep I felt a big kick from the baby. I put my hand there and the baby kicked again. It was so neat. I thought about waking Britt, but I didn't want him to be disappointed that I woke him up and then nothing happened. I didn't feel anymore but stayed awake for a long time just in case! I have felt the little bubbles and flutters but this time it was on the outside and moved my tummy. Wahoo!

My tooth broke during lunch and so today I get to have it pulled. I am really nervous since this will be the first tooth pulling I will be awake for. My wisdom teeth I was knocked out for. Hopefully it goes well.

A Sunbeam

The rocky start to Alexis primary years seems to be over. Last week she had a substitute, 2 actually, and they are sisters who are so sweet and loving to children. Alexis was just bubbling and happy. Even though I forgot and left her string cheese in her little bag that we made her and she ate it in sharing time, opps. This week I was sure to take out any snacks and just left her Book of Mormon and stake directory in. She has a newly called teacher Sister McGraw. Alexis was very happy when I picked her up and I was told she was good, talked a lot though, I don't think it was the candy she got either. I laugh at that because we can't get her to stop talking either. She talks quietly all through Sacrament meeting and through movies, nothing but sleep stops her and even then she talks in her sleep. Funny story about the stake directory: It is from last year and it is her song book. She walks around the house singing songs and giving talks from it. She brings it everywhere and it was that or her superman cape that I made for her. Somehow I didn't think the cape would go over very well during ward conference. Can you imagine a blond little girl running through the chapel from her pregnant mom? Ok I can too and it makes me laugh, but I really don't want the Stake presidence remembering me for that!

I am so grateful for our Primary Presidency. I can't imagine how hard it is to get teachers for these wonderful kids. I know that my Heavenly Father knows what calling is right for us and I am grateful for those who are willing to teach. I loved teaching primary and I know that if we except the callings we are asked to serve that we will be blessed and spiritually fed.

** I keep forgetting to get a picture of her already to go to church with her little bag. We are always late and the second we get home she strips her dress off. I will keep trying.

Planning

I have been in a dilmena pretty much since I found out I am pregnant. Nothing sounds good to me about 10 mintues after I start cooking dinner. So meal planning has been so out of the question! Most meats don't taste good either so I have been dreading cooking dinner. Leslie did a post about meal planning and 2 other cooking blogs I look at had posts so I took that as a sign. Maybe if I already know what I need to cook I will be more prepared to eat it! So we will see. I am going to make a interactive calendar with Alexis that has pictures and try and get her to help me plan so that she will eat it. We will give it try, It can't hurt right?

A friend

I have been meaning to post that Alexis has an imaginary friend, umm monster. She comes with us everywhere. The other day we stopped to get gas in the car and Breao, that is how the monster spells her name, got out. Well I must not have realized this, still not sure how I missed her getting out, and drove away. Alexis started panicking because we were leaving her monster. I being quick witted replied your monster jumped on the back of the car. That satisfied her. Tonight we were eating soup and she kept giving Breao tastes. It is very funny and cute. I wish I knew why it is a monster and not something more girly, but oh well. They have tea parties together and talk all the time. I have asked Breao to please speak more clearly though since Alexis still mumbles when she gets excited, or maybe she is speaking monster.

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam

I have been so excited for this and Alexis felt the excitement also. After sacrament we stayed in the chapel Alexis walked up and sat in a row with a bunch of other little girls, I almost cried watching her walk up there so big and yet unsure. Sister Barker introduced the new theme and Sister Richards sang the new song for the month. It is a beautiful song and caused tears to brim my eyes. She then released senior primary to get their classes started. The sunbeams were told who their teacher was and they all got to go in the primary room first. It was so cute watching them walk down the hall, Alexis walked to the nursery door and pointed to it and a few others tried to go in. We were able to get them to go in the primary room without any problems though! I peaked in on her during sharing time and she was sitting in her chair, not really listening though. After church she told us nobody likes her in class, they wouldn't play ring around the rosy or hide and seek. I asked if all the kids were playing hide and seek and she said "No just me mommy!" I asked what her lesson was on and she said something about being a naughty girl. I was sad that her first Sunbeams class wasn't amazing for her.
We are working on sitting and listening this week so that hopefully it will help on Sunday. I have also been playing the new song trying to learn it with her. Today we are going to go get some fabric and make a bag and buy her a Book of Mormon to take with her because she is big now. I am hopeful that next week will be better.

***We went and got material and a B of M, made the bag and she is in Heaven. She went and got a dress out of closet, mine from when I was about 5 that my mom saved, and asked if we could go to church. She carries it around and takes it out to read from it.

GWL

A plus to a private blog is that I can post things that we don't really want everyone to know!

Our friends from Alaska, who we love to go to Mexico with since that is where we met, are going to be in town at the end of February. Last time they were here we went to Great Wolf Lodge and they just called to see if we wanted to go again. We seriously have been 4 times already and love it. Alexis talks about it a few times a week at least and the day they called she was asking to go... she asks to go at least once a week too. I am not as excited as usual though seeing as I will be like 24 weeks pregnant and not able to do the slides, but ohwell. I was looking online for a maternity swim suit and wow they can get expensive. Lucky for me Target sells tops for $22. We had been trying to decide what Alexis could buy with her Christmas money from Collin and Damita and now we know. We will let her spend it at the Great Wolf! She is always asking for ice cream and slushy's and bunches of other things that are way over priced so we pass on them. This time she can have what ever she wants up to $25! Lucky girl! I am excited to see Dave and Jenny and the kids though. They are such nice people and I am so glad that my dad is so friendly and spends his time in the hot tub on vacation so that we could meet them! Britt and my dad are still hoping to squeeze in an Alaskan fishing trip this summer with them. It sure makes fishing nice when you have such good friends who live there.

Oranges=health update

I need to clarify something that Britt pointed out today. Earlier I posted about how mandarin oranges are keeping me healthy and then I got a sinus thing the other day. So he was disputing my science and I just have to say the science is sound I stopped eating them because they were giving me heartburn. I would like to point out that my sinus issue are almost gone now and I firmly believe it is because I didn't take any medicine for it. I used saline spray and used tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball by my bed at night. I do the same for Alexis and our colds last about 4 days and then we are on good to go. Britt also uses tea tree oil and his colds are short lived too. So we don't waste money on cold remedies anymore. There are a few other things like pressure points to relieve the sinus pain and help them empty too. I never thought I would be on the natural side of things like this, but it is so nice. Don't get me wrong there are still times when modern medicine is absolutely a must. I still believe in vaccinations and antibiotics too, I just think the are alternative ways to handle some things!

16 weeks

Today we had our 16 week appointment. Alexis got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time and was very excited. I will have to video how she says the baby sounds, it is cute. When I laid down she got on the bed and said "It's ok mom, it's going to be fine!" Then she heard the beating and said that's the baby. All day she has been telling me "my baby is making sounds" or "Do you hear that mom it's my baby!" I just love this kid and how funny she can be. She won't give up that she has a sister in her tummy. The other day we had her introduce herself so that the baby knows who is always yelling, crying, talking, etc...lol, and she laid down and started talking to her tummy.

My uterus is just bellow my belly button, right where it is supposed to be and the heart beat sounds great. Blood pressure good, glucose good. The big ultrasound is scheduled for January 27th. I have reconciled myself that Britt is dying to find out what the baby is, so we will find out as long as baby cooperates. I will not be heartbroken if he/she is shy! It is probably for the best since Britt thinks it is a boy so strongly, so if it is a girl he can switch tracks long before the baby comes.

He is getting a little wild with names though. I may have to name this baby by myself. Magnuson Britton Bergman is just not going to make the cut. Yes I understand that it is technically a family name and that he competes in the World's Strongest Men competitions but I just can't do it. He also has thrown in a Carmichael and of course Preston. All of these make me want to cry and it is the only time I think maybe it will be a girl and then it won't matter. I made the mistake of saying Magnum is as close to magnuson as I can get....bad, bad, bad. I really wouldn't name my child Magnum either. We will just have to wait until the end of January to see.

Aftermath of Christmas morning

She loves these, I wish they were easier for her to dress

First present she picked up

Christmas Eve

She was more excited about the guitar watch then the money.

She loves her cousin Caymon and insisted on sitting by him. She is checking the tag to make sure it has her name on it.

Christmas story with Grandma's nativity set

Cambree, what a sweetie!

All the kids, but Erin's, it was hard to get a picture of them all looking at me.

Eating.

This is what happens when you dump half a bottle of shampoo in the bath. It was a serious process to get all the bubbles to go away. Little stinker and she has since done it to another shower at a friends house, only she wasn't in it just doing the prep work.