Midnight ramblings & Writers Block

Baby W won't stop kicking and rolling and pushing long enough for me to fall asleep...so I thought I would see if I could come up with something to engage my mind and fill some time before W is ready for a nap again.

I suppose I could start by laughing at whoever gives the advice to sleep while you're pregnant because you won't get much when the baby is here...Yep. That's great advice. Say that to my inhabited insides. The baby is already here...and a little close for comfort.

Man, I've been hitting some killer writers block lately...Those of you who are used to at least a blog a week, I have been sorry.

I go through seasons when I can express myself so well with words. Then, slumps where I can't hardly say a thing to properly express the way I have been feeling...it's just like...a color or an expression. A picture in my head or one scripture or quote...can't tell you how many blogs I have half written right now. Even this blog was started and restarted a few times. = /

Sometimes, I tell Clynn, "I hope you can feel or see how I'm feeling because I have no idea how to say it." The ways in which he typically responds, communicates he does know. Most times. <3 Sometimes, less is more.

This is one of my favorite quotes I refer back to as often as possible. 

I think I will have to have Pace Made do it up in some calligraphy for our new apartment.

The reply is typically not the most needed...communication comes in many parts. 

Words are such a small portion of our interactions together.

So really...writers block may just be the universe telling me to listen a while.

Just Listen & Understand with more than just one part of me.

I want to understand with my heart AND my mind. 

(I know, most people look at that the other way around...I've always acted on the heart and I'm learning that many things do actually make sense in a logical way as well.)

I'll take some time to let it soak in, work it all out,

and I'm sure I'll be back with something soon. <3

With love and consideration,

Jaclynn

24 Weeks

Last bumpdate before we reach the third trimester! 
It really is true what they say about the second trimester going by SO QUICKLY.

Sorry about the super dark unedited photo! =/

This was taken with my husband's old Evo...you know? 

The coolest phone on the market just three years ago?? lol 

My phone broke and a new one is IN THE MAIL!

Luckily, this time, Clynn gets an upgrade too.

How far along? 24 weeks today. Baby is the size of an ear of corn and has about a 50% chance of survival outside the womb with extensive care!
Bravo NICU device inventors and operators.
(about 12.5 inches and 1.25 lbs)
Current due date: February 18, 2015
Total weight gain: 9 lbs
Maternity clothes? Belly Belt & fold over (yoga pant style) leggings. I probably wear black fold over leggings four days a week now. They're just SOO comfy and cozy for fall and my growing belly. PLUS, I know when I buy them that I can still wear them after W is born!

(I just don't quiet look like this in them right now. hahaha)

Stretch marks? Nope. I rub Belly Balm and/or Lotion on my hips and belly about three times a day now that I can feel my skin starting to work hard to keep up.

Best moments of the past three weeks: FINALLY getting our insurance drama taken care of. (Long story...but it hasn't been fun.) We are so grateful for Clynn's new job being able to have us double covered before the baby gets here! Second, we can now WATCH the baby roll and kick and push pretty much all day by just looking at my belly. It was a little freaky at first, but I probably spend about an hour a day just watching him/her move. <3
Miss anything? Nothing really other than having our own place. Just two more months! Getting our debts taken care of pre baby will definitely be worth the temporary lack of personal space.
A big THANK YOU to my in laws for giving us the opportunity to get caught up. <3
Oh! Also, I miss my pre pregnancy complexion. =P

Movement: More than I ever thought was possible to feel. Sometimes it just gets distracting and ridiculous...I think I might be pregnant with the Tasmanian Devil. If it's a boy, I think I will nick name him Taz. Where as it's fun, I am looking forward to W gaining more weight and running out of 'wind up' room. haha

Food cravings: PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE!!!! Olive Garden has the most AMAZING pumpkin cheesecake and whereas we've only gone to get it once so far this season, I think about it pretty much every day. My sister in law, Emelia, made a DELICIOUS pumpkin cheesecake yesterday and brought some home to share. MMMMM Also, Stacy's Pretzel Thins w/ original flavored hummus, dinosaur chicken nuggets, and pineapple. Once in a while, I start to crave foods I had in Hondo. or Guatemala...but I am careful to shut those down real quickly without too much whining or wishing for a plane ticket... =/

Have you started to show yet? YEP! 

Gender: TO BE ANNOUNCED THANKSGIVING DAY!!!!! <3 <3 <3

Labor Signs: I came close to getting in a car accident a bit ago and am certain I felt a contraction as a result of my sudden and extreme onset of anxiety. Other than that, no real braxton hicks, I don't think. Sometimes, the baby will push his/her legs out in one area of my belly and just HOOOLDD that position like he/she is trying to make more room. haha. That's not comfortable at all and I use those moments to breathe and think of them as "mini practice contractions".

Belly Button in or out? Mostly in. 

Wedding rings on or off? On. 

Looking forward to: Paying off all of our non long term debts in the next few months! Announcing W's gender on Thanksgiving Day. Deciding on an apartment complex. My new phone coming in the mail. Aaand the next time I get pumpkin cheesecake! 

Clynn and I are SO SO excited to have W as a forever member of our family! We ask that extended family and friends be patient with us as we learn to share while staying within our rather private comfort zones. We love you all and have been so grateful for your concern and support. <3

With love,

The Wilkinson III Family

21 Weeks

We are officially over HALF WAY to meeting Baby W!!!

How far along? 21 weeks today. Baby is the size of a cantaloupe!
(approximately 10.51 inches and 12.70 oz)

Current due date: February 18, 2015

Total weight gain: about 5 pounds

Maternity clothes? Nope...well...kinda. I bought a new bra with no under wire. SO COMFY for my expanding rib cage. I also bought a small collection of size Large shirts at Rue 21. The mediums are fitting perfectly, so I figured I better be prepared for some more growth! Still using the hair tie trick on all my pre pregnancy jeans!

Stretch marks? Nothing yet! I am getting nervous though. I had a stretch mark nightmare you wouldn't believe! I have been mentally preparing for what may be inevitable and still keeping my skin as hydrated as possible.

Best moments of the past three weeks: Clynn felt a few big kicks at 19 weeks! One of my best friends had a super fun baby shower thrown by her Relief Society. I started crossing off items on the baby shopping list. Also, My big sister had her first baby a week and a half ago! Check out this winkin' cutie!!! We all just love her like crazy.

Adelynn Elizabeth

Miss anything? 1) I miss 'nesting' and the urge is definitely getting stronger. 2) When we lived in Renton, I would tan and then hot tub by myself almost every evening. It was such a relaxing way to end the day. I've been missing that too, now that it's getting chilly!

Movement? YES. TONS. Also, I always imagined the baby's kicks would be on my belly all the time...well...they're not. Baby likes to bounce off my bladder and miscellaneous guts all the time now. Woo!! haha

Food Cravings: Ice lemon water and all of my regular breakfast foods. I want breakfast for pretty much every meal. Whole grain English muffins with Peanut butter and strawberries or/and bananas on top, grapefruit, kiwi, any fruit (except melons for some reason), Babybel cheese with wheat thins, Mini Wheats with almond milk, apples and peanut butter, walnuts and fresh prunes (the refrigerated kind), Orange Carrot Naked juice, Lara Bars, and Cream of Wheat. (I also have the occasional craving for Ramen noodles, but I make sure not to have more than 2 packs a week now. I'm sure it's just the sodium I'm craving.)

Have you started to show yet? I think so. It's not super defined, but I definitely would be suspicious if I knew me. haha Definitely more so in the evenings. 

Gender: Still being patient. 5 more weeks until we can do a 3D/4D!

Rings on or off? On!

Looking forward to: Clynn starting his new job, school to start for me, Kelsie to have her baby, moving into our new apartment, more baby shopping, and getting to see little W on the ultrasound screen!!

Love,

The Wilkinson's

Update & A New Plan

Recent accomplishments:

Jaclynn:

1.) Promoted to the position of E-5, Sergeant. September 6, 2014 with about two months short of five years in service. I am now a non-commissioned officer with all kinds of new responsibilities I am learning to get the hang of! I watch out for 2-4 soldiers at a time and they've helped make my sergeant experiences, thus far, AWESOME. :) I hope I can make their lower enlisted experience even better than my own.

2.) Survived the first half of pregnancy! 

(21 week bumpdate this Wednesday!)

A pregnancy/labor prep mantra of mine <3

3.) Started the enrollment process for winter quarter at Green River Community College where Clynn received his AA degree. I'm hoping we can get matching ones! ;)

Clynn: 
1.) Promoted from "Magic Rules Advisor" to an official "Level 1 Judge"!!! This included a pretty rigorous test and a shadow judging at the Magic The Gathering Washington State Champion Tournament. It's mostly for fun, but he has studied hard and I'm so proud of him. ("Go big or go home" applies to being a nerd too!)

2.) Survived the first half of life with a pregnant wife. ;) <3

3.) Landed a SWEET job working at a window making warehouse. Full benefits, and lots of quick growth potential in the company.

The New Plan

As the military process continued to drag out, we soon realized that Clynn potentially missing the birth of our baby was becoming a reality. The options were revealing themselves as 1. Miss the birth or 2. Leave for 3-4 months VERY SOON after the baby is born. Obviously, we wanted to avoid both of those things. ONE DAY after this realization, Clynn was offered a job interview at a warehouse. The following week, he went, and landed the job no problem! This job buys us more time so we can make sure he doesn't leave until we're more comfortable and allows him to be here for the babies first sweet moments. As a result of the extended time allotment, he will be continuing his weight loss journey and has enough time to qualify for the Air Force weight requirements, so that's another option opening up to us as well. However, with my recent promotion, military life on my side is going very well and we agreed that only one of us would be in the military at a time and I'm coming up on the last year of my contract. If he enjoys the job at the warehouse and begins climbing the ladder and/or making significant progress with his Options Trading, we may just stay put a while and I may keep my job with the Army. We will see how things play out the next few months. :)

I will be starting school winter quarter and we have started apartment hunting already! We are hoping to save up more money and move into our new place around January 1, 2015. 

That's our update!

Love,

The Wilkinson's