Halfway to Another Little Piece of My Heart!

Today, marks the halfway point to Baby Cox #2's arrival! Wow... time flies, doesn't it?! I cannot believe we're here... 20 weeks today!! And in exactly ONE WEEK from today we'll get to see our precious little one for the second time and we'll get the opportunity to take a peek at the goods and see if we are going to be celebrating with sugar and spice or snails and puppy dog tails! I will honestly be OVER THE MOON with either! And yes, Justin and I have both had our feelings, but they change as much as the Texas weather, we think boy one day and girl the next and sometimes switch it up within the same day. There is only one person who knows and so far His lips are sealed... another lesson in patience, no doubt! :)

In comparison, this pregnancy has been SO different and in SO many ways it has been so much the same. I truly believe that the majority of the differences are related to my mental, emotional and spiritual state of being more than any thing else. I don't really want to get into that too much here because I don't quite have the words yet... but I will and in time I will share, because if nothing else I want to be sure and remember this milestone as a part of my life's journey.

The things that are the same are my cravings... Schlotzsky's and Chipoltle and in that order. I want them weekly and actually if I were honest I WANT them daily, but only allow one or the other weekly... Other cravings include sour candy which are not my friend after I eat them... causing me to RUN for the bottle of Tums quickly... but then again there are very few foods that don't cause me to run for the bottle of Tums. It's a part of pregnancy that I've grown to embrace... especially since I've found the new Assorted Fruit Flavored Smoothies... thank you Tums makers for giving me another option... Peppermint was becoming a little gag-a-licious!

Size wise I think I'm showing faster and carrying lower and maybe carrying a little wider... like through my hips and bootie area and not as much in my belly. Or that could just be at the stage I'm in... only time will tell!

I've been in some pain... but I have to keep reminding myself that chasing a two year old is a lot different than sitting behind a desk... so some aches and pains are going to happen! Not to mention birthing the nearly 10 lb melon head of a first child... I am still paying for that one! :) If I had one HUGE complaint and one that I jokingly asked my doctor to remedy for me it would be the...

PSYCHO DREAMS!! And I mean PSYCHO! I have been attacked by feral cats, a den of cobra snakes, a herd of deer... etc. I have run from robbers and gangsters. I have hurt friends' feeling by bringing my VERY sick child over to their house. I have cried like I have NEVER cried before when Justin told me he wasn't the father of my baby and the list goes on... I have a new one to add to the CRAZY list nearly every night! It is ridiculous! And I have no idea what the deal is with getting attacking by groups of animals/reptiles... maybe it's foreshadowing the feeling I will have in taking care of two kids... BUT honestly, having TEN kids would never scare me as bad as being attacked by a group of feral cats... NEVER! So vivid... so real... so scary! And I realize a bit funny... and yes, I am sure in a few years when I look back at this entry I'll laugh, but for now I'm not laughing... I'm ready for these dreams to take a hike!

On a more serious note I am THRILLED, ECSTATIC, BEYOND EXCITED for Baby Cox #2 to officially join our family this summer. He or she has already carved out a special place in my heart, one that I thought didn't have room for anymore love... BUT then it happened... Baby Cox #2 came into our lives and my heart started growing... making more room. And alas Baby Cox has taken another little piece of my heart! (any Janis Joplin fans out there?)

And teaching Caden about being a big brother is making my heart BEYOND full. He's really starting to grasp the concept of Baby Cox and it is SO sweet and exciting. Today, we were at the park swinging and I said, "Caden, where is Baby Cox?" And he said, "Mommy's tummy!" YES! We're getting it. And he touches Baby Cox and kisses Baby Cox and even pats Baby Cox ever so gently. And ANYTIME we talk about Baby Cox, Caden makes sure to remind us that we are going to take Baby Cox to the "pool" this summer! He cannot wait to take his baby brother or sister with us to the pool... not sure where this came from but he's been saying it since the day we told him about Baby Cox. So, when we pray for Baby Cox, that is our prayer, "That we will be able to take Baby Cox to the pool as a family of four this summer." And I think that about sums up our prayer... that at the end of this we'd all be healthy and well enough to enjoy some time at the pool... what could be better than that?! Gotta love the faith of a child...

And now for the part you've all been waiting for... the BELLY PICS!

I took a self portrait at 18 weeks and haven't gotten around to posting it... it's pretty bad, but who am I to have shame these days... :)

And at 20 weeks... up close and personal...

And from a distance...
I am BURSTING at the seems thinking that in only one short week I'll see whether my little stinker is a HE or a SHE and we can FINALLY give that he or she a NAME! Won't that be lovely?! Typing/saying Baby Cox #2 or Baby Cox is a CHORE! :) It will be a treat indeed! Of course, it will take some re-learning on Caden's part... he's just gotten Baby Cox down... and then it will be something knew! :) Poor guy... being a big brother is tough stuff! :)

We've got lots of fun things coming up this week to keep us busy... so THE BIG DAY will be here before we know it! Until then, stay tuned for some exciting Valentine's Day posts later this week! Caden and I are having a fun, Valentine's Day theme day today and the hubs and I have a Bachelor Date tonight on the couch! Sounds like the perfect day to celebrate love to me!!

Happy Half Birthday Baby Cox #2! We love you and ALL your little flutters too! :)