Christmas Time

Dear Stella,

It's a few days before Christmas and I have to tell you that I am already excited for next year at this time because you will be with us celebrating your very first Christmas. However, this is the last Christmas that your Dad and I will spend alone and I don't want to take that lightly either.

We were always bad about waiting to open gifts. I was determined this year to do the whole she-bang. You know, wake up in the morning to open our stockings, open each others presents, and spend time just the two of us. It's so hard to wait when it is just the two of us because we have ZERO self control. So yes, I caved and gave your Dad his present a few nights ago and he gave me mine. Then today, I let him open his stocking. I'm horrible at Christmas with him but I promise not to be with you. Santa will only come Christmas day anyway so it will force us to wait.

Your Dad and I can't wait for your arrival so we can share our traditions with you. Christmas at Lifechurch is my favorite, I have a feeling you will LOVE the drums. You will more than likely hear them this year (we like to sit close). Every year we will take you with us to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree. While we are there we HAVE to have the hot chocolate and apple cider. We will come home and spend the day decorating while Dad hangs out on the roof. I don't even know what it is that he does up there. ;) Then, we will take you to look at Christmas lights (my favorite). Don't worry, hot chocolate will be involved in this too. Your Dad has been particularly nice this year about Christmas lights, he has already taken me 3 times! I hope you love the lights as much as I do.

You are already so loved as the majority of our family have wrapped gifts for you too. I think this is crazy because you aren't even here yet but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside to know that you have family so excited for your arrival.  I know I am too.

Our Christmas card 2012

Love,

Momma

Week 20 Update

I've been reading a ton of "Mom" blogs lately and one thing I wish I would have done sooner is keep track of some of the things that are occurring on a weekly basis. Other Moms have done this and I found it really neat to see how things are changing. I guess it's never too late to start.

20 weeks 5 days

Cravings: This week I have craved Mcalisters Deli country potato soup. I've eaten it 3 times already. Rut Row elroy. I have also taken a liking to their tea which makes Stella either really happy or really mad. Either way, I feel her the most after I have a little tea.

Aversions:I still have not been a huge fan of anything meat. Before being pregnant I was borderline vegetarian and completely fine going weeks without any kind of meat. However, being pregnant has made this 100 times worse.

Special Moment: We felt Stella kick this week! We were so excited. Since then, I have felt her kick multiple times a day and I'm loving every minute of it.

Symptoms: Feeling a little like I can't breathe. I don't know if she is taking more of my oxygen or what but I have been having mini panic attacks at night. No bueno. I can definitely tell she has grown this week too. Her Daddy said this week " Your belly is bigger" , he better watch it.

I'm Feeling: Great! Christmas is around the corner and we can't wait to celebrate with our families. All the presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree.

What we've done to prepare this week: I hung all of the clothes she has already gotten.  Buying small pink hangers was the best feeling in the world. This kid already has a section in her closet. We are in for trouble. I also ordered her bedding and can't wait to receive it!

Stella's First Kicks

Dear bouncing baby in my belly,

I felt you kick!! I have been able to feel you move for awhile but this week was a little different. It started to feel like I could feel a small poke every now and then. Yesterday morning I just woke up and was being really still because I swore I could feel you moving around. I put my hand on my belly and felt a little nudge. I quickly woke your Dad and put his hand directly where mine had been. We had done this routine a few times that week because I was just certain he would be able to feel from the outside but we weren't having very good luck. Then he felt it! He was so excited he wanted to share with the world almost immediately.

Since then, I have been able to feel you kick quite frequently. I think you must be having soccer practice in there or something. Everyone says I better enjoy it while your legs are still little because later those kicks will become a little more painful. For now, I find it as a relief to know you are OK in there. Keep on kickin' pumpkin!

Love,

Momma

Ridiculous Moments

Dear Stella,

I love you very much but you are making me SUPER crazy. I can’t believe some of the things I have done…or not done in some cases. Here are some funny moments that have happened throughout my pregnancy thus far.

1.       While changing over the laundry I started the dryer. As I went to empty it later and fold the clothes I forgot to actually put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. Awesome.

2.       One night I poured myself as glass of milk. I walked to the refrigerator, opened the refrigerator, poured the glass of milk, and walked back to the living room to sit down and watch TV. All the while I left my freshly poured glass of milk on the counter and the fridge standing wide open.  Here’s your sign.

3.       Passed my exit not once, but three times. On multiple occasions.

4.       Cleaned all the dishes from dinner. EXCEPT I forgot that I had warmed corn up for the dinner in the microwave. This would have been OK had I actually put it on the table to serve it in the first place. I found it 3 days later. Can of corn 1, Kendra 0.

5.       Randomly forgot the code to our house alarm. We’ve had the same code since we moved in…last fall. I called Zach in a panic and said “Don’t make fun of me but I swear I can’t remember our alarm code, it just left me”.

Hopefully this portion of my brain comes back soon because I’m not sure how much more ridiculous things could get.

Love,

Momma

How Much Your Daddy Loves You

Dear Baby Stella,

I wanted to take a moment and tell you how much your Daddy loves you. When we found out we were going to have you we were both overcome with joy. I will never forget your Dad's excitement that day. I usually only see him that excited when we are waking up in the brisk cold of Colorado because he is ready to snowboard, except he was more excited than that. I’m the planner, so I set into planning mode. We needed to figure out our insurance, the nursery, the room situation, and all of the other logistics that go into having a baby. Your Dad is a “sit back and do what needs to be done-er” , if there is such a thing. I would often say “Zach, can you…?” “Zach, we need to…” and he would jump right on it. Now, what I didn’t mention is that although I am a planner, I’m not very decisive with my new pregnant brain. Well, let’s be honest. I’m not very decisive EVER. So, while I knew that I wanted the nursery painted gray, I didn’t know what shade. So I picked 3. Your Dad painted the different colors, we made our decision and he worked hard to get all the painting done.

3 shades of gray..poor Dad!

 

Your Daddy painting away!

 

 

Next, I wanted to redo a dresser for you. It was an old buffet from my Mother’s kitchen. I loved it and it was antique. I bought 2 different kinds of paints, a new glaze, special brushes, and wax. Once I had the dresser completed I loved it. Your Dad moved it into the nursery. The next day, I decided I didn’t love it in the nursery and he promptly removed it. (Sorry Dad!)

Lastly, we got our crib just in time for Christmas (Thanks Papa Don and Grammy)! We both loved it. Your Dad loved it so much that he put it together twice. After I told him to just put it together in the living room, we realized it wouldn’t fit through the nursery door. Rut Row. So he took it apart and put it back together in the nursery. You have such a handy Dad. Now that you had your new crib I decided that you needed a new dresser to match. I purchased the dresser and your Dad put that together too. He did all of this in the name of LOVE for you because by this point he was NOT loving me. 

Your Daddy and your crib.

 

I sure hope you like it after all that work I did! ;)

 

 

Love,

Momma

 

 

 

When The Saints Go Marching In

Dear Baby Stella,

Last night was one of my very favorite memories made with our amazing family. Your Uncle Conner, our Tonner Bear/Poopsie/youngest brother won the State Championship title in class 2A football. It was so exciting! I apologize for the jumping up and down, running around, and extra hot chocolate I may have given you. This night was really special for Conner and everyone there to watch. It was made even more exciting by the fact that Conner was player of the game. He had so much love and support there to watch. It really made me think of how blessed we are to have such an amazing family and how one day those people will be a part of your life too. I also secretly hoped that you would one day experience something that special in your life. Your Dad was a state champion twice in wrestling, Your Papa Don won state twice in football, and now Conner knows the  feeling. As the clock was ticking down, I was overcome with excitement and joy for him and for everyone who had watched him along the way. I couldn't make up my mind who to celebrate it with. Your Nana and Papa Kenny had come to watch, your Dad was with your Papa Don, and Your Grammy was close to the field so she could be heard with her noise makers. I decided on spending the special moment with your Dad and I'm so glad I did. When the last second ticked off the clock we jumped up and down, hugged and I think I even cried a little. What a special night. Next year, we will bundle you up and take you with us. I think you will be Uncle Conner's biggest fan.

Posing with our favorite OCS player. Go Conner!

 



 

 Right after the win!

 

 

We had shirts made! Go #22!

 

Big Mike, Momma, Uncle Conner, and Dad!

 

Great Uncle Bill, Cousin Allison, Grammy, and Papa Don

 

Grammy and her Poopsie

 



 

 

Love,

 

Momma

Almost 19 weeks or 20?

It was ultrasound day! Every time we have an ultrasound I get so excited that I am just like a kid on Christmas Eve the night before. I barely sleep, I wake up super early, and I am ready 30 minutes before I need to be. Now, if I can just train myself to be this excited when I plan to do an early gym session. These days, I'm not excited about exercising unless it involves going by Panera for a fresh bagel after. You have to bribe this fat kid.

Today was special because we were going to find out that our baby girl is for sure a baby girl, like by a professional. Yes, my worry kicked in as I stepped in the elevator and I thought, "Oh crap, I already ordered a ton of pink." But FORTUNATELY our little girl is still a little girl so I won't be rushing off to exchange everything. Zach said, "I'm surprised she is still a girl, if she was anything like her mother she would have changed her mind." I laughed because it's true.This ultrasound was also special because sweet Grammy and Papa Don got to see sweet Stella for the first time. It was so much fun having them there.

 Well we know our little girl is a little girl but she can't quite make up her mind if she wants to grace us with her presence in early May or late April. In our last 2 ultrasound appointments the doctor has confirmed that our sweet angel is measuring a little big for her due date. He says we could be having her a week earlier than expected. Which I guess is apparently normal. I think he's too scared to tell me her head is like her fathers and he would rather not let it grow anymore. But what do I know? Anyway, we have been trying to take pictures before every appointment. This weeks was especially Christmas-ee, which I love. My fireplace is my favorite part of our house. I can't wait to snuggle the sweet princess in front of it, even if we do have the AC going during the summer. We will keep our bad energy habits a secret from the Dad. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

Almost 19 weeks or 20? We will let the princess decide. 

What's in a name?

For most girls they dream of what they will one day name their children. I was definitely no exception. I kept a notepad in my phone of all the names I came across along the way that I may one day consider naming my children. Zach would laugh at me as I would take notes about why I liked them. I always had the perfect name for a girl and then the MOMENT happened. You know, the moment when you are in the grocery store and the Mom is screaming at her brat child that wants every toy in the store. Then she yelled it, she yelled THE name. It was MY name. The one I had been dreaming of naming my sweet little angel baby. It ruined it.

So I began to search for names that I loved. I have always loved old fashioned names. I have a niece named Hattie Belle, which I adore. Zach and I both really loved Stella. When I searched for what the name meant it seemed perfect. Stella means "Star" and to us, that is exactly what she will be.

Her middle name has even more meaning to me. For as long as I can remember my Great Aunt Ruth has been a HUGE part of my life. I have always considered her more like a grandmother. My Aunt Ruth is exactly the kind of christian woman I aspire to me. She loves the Lord and her family.She knows how to have a good time, shop til she drops, and I feel like every time we get together we are cheap entertainment for each other. We laugh SO hard. It was the small things that Aunt Ruth would do that I loved so much. My brother Jacob and I always loved the big plastic bubble wrap. We loved to pop it. Aunt Ruth would bring us this almost every trip she made to see us, which was often. We visited her too. She lived in Overland Park at the time. We would always go to Royals games, the pool, or shopping. Visiting Aunt Ruth was always such a good time for me and I still enjoy our visits, especially our special Branson trips.

So there you have it, Stella Ruth Sikes. I love it and I can't wait to put a sweet little face to my precious little Star. :)

Gender Reveal

Dear Sweet Baby,

This week has been one for the books! I kept a secret! A big secret! Your Dad and I were told that we could not find out if you were a boy or a girl until December 6th at our next ultrasound. However, I found out through a friend that we could know sooner if we did a 3D/4D ultrasound at 16 weeks. So we told your grandparents we were waiting until December and we went to the 3D/4D ultrasound. It was the week of Thanksgiving so I knew we would see everyone and we would be able to surprise them. This is a little bit of how our week went.

Monday: We went to stork vision for our first appointment. Your Dad and I were both SO nervous. I was chatty Cathy in the waiting room and your Dad was all focused on business (the way he does when he doesn't want to allow himself to be nervous). As we walked into the room a sense of calm came over me as I realized more than ever that whatever sex you were, we were going to love you SO much. That's when the lady showed us between your little legs. She said "You see there, right between the legs, there is nothing there. It's a GIRL!" I was overcome with excitement. I began to cry. Then she said, "Well, I'm not sure. I can't be positive. The baby doesn't want to move and I can only give you an 80 percent." Then she said she would like us to come back the next day and said I would have to drink some sugar or caffeine to get you to move more.

Tuesday: Tuesday was one of the best days of my life. I haven't had a caffeinated pop in 3 1/2 months or so. This day I had a small diet coke from sonic and felt like I could run a marathon. Apparently so did you because you were doing flips in my belly. We got so many good pictures of you. We also found out that 100 percent you were a little girl. I was thrilled! This day I ordered 2 cakes for your grandparents so that we could surprise them.

The Cake

 

Wednesday: I bought your first baby outfit from baby gap. I'm not HUGE on pink things, so I settled on a sweet pair of courdoroy overalls with tiffany blue polka dots and a matching head band of course! It felt so nice to buy something for you! This was the night that we also surprised your Grammy and Papa Don. Below are some of their reactions. This was so much fun that I cried when your Grammy cut into the cake. I was so happy that she was getting the grandaughter she always wanted.

Great Grandma Connie, Grammy and Papa Don before cutting the cake

 

 

Cutting the cake..It's Pink!

 

I cried..So Grammy cried too!

 

This was such a special night for both of us. We were so excited to share the news!

 

 

 



Thursday: It was a very Happy Thanksgiving. We spent lunch at your Grammy and Papa Don's house and drove to Barnsdall for dinner with your Nana, Papa Kenny, and Papa Phillip. This was when we were going to surprise my side of the family. Your Nana's reaction was priceless and I loved every minute of it.

 

I was so happy we kept this a secret! I enjoyed every minute of surprising everyone. We are so thrilled to be having a sweet little princess. :)

Butterfly or Baby?

Hello my little Burrito!

Something AMAZING happened this week. Since I have been pregnant I have had trouble sleeping. I wake up almost every night without fail around 3:30 and I stay awake until 6 or so. This usually causes extreme drowsiness all day and my days have been mixed with my nights to say the least. A few nights ago I was going through my nightly insomnia when I felt something amazing. It felt like little butterflies floating around in my stomach and it didn't go away. It just kept happening. I googled the next day to make sure I knew what I was feeling was my little prince or princess and not just gas. Everyone on google says the first time you feel your baby it feels like a butterfly or a tickle, so it must be true because google doesn't lie. I came up with a theory that once you arrive you will probably be wide awake from 3:30-6 so I better get used to this nightly routine. Either way, I will enjoy cuddling you anytime. Until then, you can continue to move around. At least I will be awake to enjoy it. :)

Love,

Momma

Pookie

Dear Sweet Pumpkin,

Today you are the size of a navel orange. Something sweet your Dad and I do every Sunday is read my baby bump and What To Expect Apps before we even get out of bed. He makes me read it aloud and then he gets excited and wants to talk to you about how you are growing. His favorite part is finding out what size of fruit you are. It's something silly the app does. We laugh often because it's sorta funny to picture a whole fruit in your belly. Well, at least I find it humorous.

Your Dad and I have very odd terms of endearment for each other, almost embarrassing. It started because Zach was raised in a family of 3 boys and a bunch of boy cousins. If you can imagine, it was hard to know how to treat girls or know what to call them if you were never really around them growing up. So that's how he began to call me Princess Face. Not Princess, not Sweet Princess, just Princess face. I thought it was kind of cute. I immediately responded by calling him my Pookie, always have.

You should know a few things about your amazing Dad and my Pookie. He is a Guy's guy for sure. There is nothing soft about him. Most of the time, he is a bull in a china closet. It scares the life out of me to think you are a little fragile girl that he could one day be playing with. Every week, I have a new bruise or bump. It's that bad. But I love him for it and God knows he tries.

For being this way, he is also sensitive. Not mushy, but sensitive. He HATES when I cry or when anyone makes me mad. He immediately goes into fix it mode. He's the one that loves to snuggle at night while I prefer my space.

He's the handiest man in the whole wide world. He can stain concrete, fix plumbing issues, install blinds and drapes, put together any complicated piece of furniture, fix a truck, and more. I mean it, this man is HANDY.

He's a caretaker. He always makes sure I'm taken care of. If I'm sick, he takes care of me. If I'm stressed he talks it out with me. If I'm hungry, he will cook for me. Granted, its usually oven pizza but hey I'm easy to please.

My favorite part about your father is that he is a man of God. His Dad and Mom raised him right. He prays with me, for me, and for you EVERY day. He introduced me to our church home and I can't wait for you to be a part of it.

I know that one day you will love Pookie just as much as I do. :)

Princess Face

Week 14 Baby Scare and God's blessings

This past week has been somewhat awful to say the least. Our little baby decided to give us a big scare. Although I won't get into the disgusting pregnancy details, Zach and I have spent two nights this week and have had an extra appointment with our Dr. On the way to the ER the second night, I prayed that God would send us the right Doctor and nurse staff to answer our questions, make us feel at ease, and find answers for us. All of that was answered and more. Not only did we have the BEST ER doctor that night, he sent us to an ultrasound tech that spent 20 minutes showing us our baby. Our first ultrasound was kind of a let down because we only spent 5 minutes or so looking at the baby. This time we saw the legs and arms moving around and doing circles inside my belly. It was AMAZING. Plus, he printed some pictures for us to keep. :) I feel so relieved that we FINALLY figured out what was going on with my body and we were able to receive answers to any questions we asked. Baby Sikes is right on track for our May 5th delivery. Although, the ultrasound tech said that his head was big. Imagine that. I just knew I would get a baby with my husbands head. Darn my luck. Now..can I schedule that C Section?

Hunka Hunka burnin' love..Baby's first Elvis experience

Dear Baby,

Last weekend I took you along for a little adventure. I picked up Aunt Donna and Mom in Coweta for a weekend getaway to Branson, I love it there (I really am an old soul). We made a pit stop at the famous Lamberts, home of the throwed rolls.

These women absolutely crack me up.

 

 

The ride up seemed so quick as we talked and caught up on everything. We talked about when you would be born, if you were a boy or girl, how much fun we could make your baby shower etc. There were a TON of laughs.

 

We met sweet Aunt Ruth and my cousin Brian in Branson. Mom made us spaghetti for our first night (I got to pick). The condo was beautiful and relaxing to wake up in. We shopped til we dropped, ate too much, and laughed more than you can imagine. The big reason for our trip was to see the famous Elvis impersonator, Tony Roi. Your great great Aunts were SWOONING over him. It was quite hilarious. You would have to see his moves to believe them so I've added a picture below. Besides, he could end up being related to us one day. Donna is set on making this happen.

 

 

 

 

 I'm sure that you had a good time. Mom told me on this trip that she could see my baby bump. I guess that means your growing up. Must be all that spaghetti and orange juice I'm lovin' these days. I can't believe you are already 14 weeks old in my belly. 2 weeks until we hit the 4 month mark and you celebrate your first Thanksgiving. I'm sure I'll feed you well and I won't even feel guilty about it. I've added a few pictures from our trip for you to laugh at one day.

 

Aunt Ruth (you COULD be named after her one day), Aunt Donna, Momma

 

 

Your Silly Great-Great Aunts

 

Nana, Aunt Donna, Aunt Ruth, Momma

 

 

Love,

 

Momma





Parmesan Cheese with a side of spaghetti

Dear Baby in my belly,

You make me cry, laugh, exhausted, hungry, and sick all within a matter of minutes. The newest symptom I feel from you is my strong craving to eat spaghetti LOADED with parmesan cheese every day. I'm sure your Dad is SO tired of pasta.

 It's a little ironic that the one thing that disgusts me is the one thing that we used to eat on a daily basis, ground beef. I can't even look at it. I can't smell it, cook it, or even look at a hamburger without running to be sick. Just last week your sweet Papa Don had us over for some football and hamburgers. That poor man worked so hard on our lunch only to have me begging for a grilled cheese instead.

Your Dad has been a complete trooper. He will take me to 3 different restaurants just so I can be sure I won't be sick by what is on the menu. He's the best. You are 11 weeks old inside my belly and I can't wait to see another picture of you and how you've grown. The next ultrasound we will find out if you are a boy or a girl. I'm very excited for that part as well. Although, I swear I don't care either way. I just prefer for you to be 100 % healthy and to have my head instead of your Fathers.

Love,

Mommy

Baby's First Ultrasound

First Ultrasound Day

 

From everything I have read it is pretty normal to think that for one reason or another something is wrong with your baby. I just knew that during our first ultrasound I would find out that I was mistaken and I actually wasn't pregnant or that we had lost the baby. My husband and my mom were both in the room when we heard our little baby's heartbeat for the very first time. It was AMAZING. Zach said afterwards, "You weren't kidding, there really is a baby in there." As if my past couple of weeks of morning sickness, sore boobs, and crazy hormones weren't enough proof. I left the Dr feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. We are so excited to meet our little bundle of
joy.

Wal Mart Bathroom...

Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am a Target gal. I despise Wal Mart with all of my being. However, the day I found I was having my precious baby I was in none other than a Wal Mart bathroom. Disgusting...I know. You see, what many people don't tell you about the GLAMOROUS side of pregnancy is that when you have to pee, you could literally do it anywhere. I had just purchased a pregnancy test and I just knew that if I didn't use it right then and there, I was going to miss my chance. Well, at least for the next 45 minutes when I would have to go again. To my surpise, it was positive. I had taken several tests in the last 6 months and they had all been negative. I remember wanting to scream, cry, laugh, and jump up and down right there in the stall. My excitement was put on a halt when I realized my husband would be in a meeting for the next 2 hours. I couldn't wait that long. I just knew he would be excited. I sent the emergency text...

Shortly after I received a phone call from a worried husband. I couldn't contain my excitement, I just spit it out. "I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!" He gasped with excitement, I thought he would faint. We chatted for a few minutes, decided not to say anything to anyone yet and hung up. I purchased two more tests, just to be sure. I chugged a bottle of water on my way home and took a second DIGITAL test. When the test appeared POSITIVE, I decided to break my deal with Zach and call my mother (I know, I'm awful). My mother and I both cried over the telephone. When Zach came home finally we were both smiling from ear to ear, we couldn't contain our excitement even if  I did have to find out in a Wal Mart bathroom.