Thanks!

I appreciate the emails and the comments I got regarding the nausea. Obviously, the nausea (for me) didn't mean that labor was imminent... at least not yet. But I was sick enough that my doctor called in a prescription for Zofran - which I never have used before. So far, it is working. Yet I am still a bit nausceous.

We are playing the waiting game. It dawned on me today how seriously close her arrival is - 2.5 weeks isn't a long time at all. Yet, every minute seems to drag by! I am hormonal on all levels - impatient, antsy, agitated and yelling at the poor dog way too much. I am hoping that all of this agitation is alleviated when she arrives... We shall see.

Thanks again everyone. I am so happy that I can post something on my blog and know that many of you moms are ready and willing to respond right away with advice and/or encouragement. Thank you, thank you!

Oh, the Nausea

I was not ever sick at all in the beginning with either Noah or with this pregnancy. But, starting last night, I have been sick as a dog with what I assume feels like first trimester nausea yet I am now 37 weeks pregnant.

My friend next door just had her third via c-section last week and she said she had it and it is your body's way of "cleaning itself out." But this stinks! I slept maybe 2 hours total last night from discomfort and sickness and I have been weak with nausea all day.

Any of you other mom friends out there ever have this? If so, how long does it last and why is it happening? What'd you do for it?

36 Weeks Appointment

Today I had my weekly appointment. And despite the major contractions I have had the past few days - regular, at that - Ellyotte is still happy and content to remain where she is! There is no sign at all that she's making her descent any time soon (don't want to get graphic, but my doctor is doing the "check" to see where we stand).

My friend, Amy Hall, said today "Are you really ready for her to be here?" And I responded that yes, I am definitely ready but I don't really desire for her to be here any earlier than 21 July. I just WISH it were the 21st already!

I love the planning one can do around a c-section. We have my mom, dad and sister coming out for her arrival (Mom and Dad will come a few days early to be with Noah and give me and Dan some time together) and then Kelly comes the day after her arrival so she can be here at our home with Noah until we come home from the hospital a couple of days post surgery.

Then my mother in law, Carol, will come out the first of August once my mom leaves and hopefully we will have a few more of my girlfriends and maybe even my sister-in-law, Annie, come out in August at some point. So, all that to say, I am happy to be able to have her arrival and our visitors planned out; something you obviously cannot do when you are waiting to go into labor!

And to be honest, I don't mind having these next few weeks to spend exclusively with "my boys." Noah's world is about to be rocked and I am enjoying snuggling and playing with my little man as much as possible. And hopefully Dan's schedule will continue to ease up so we can have some down time together as well. We have a lifetime ahead with Ellyotte so I want to be able to enjoy the two men in my life and not rush this precious time.

We have another appointment next Tuesday so I will provide another "Ellyotte update" then!

36 Weeks

I don't think I can get much bigger! This baby's getting ready - and so am I.

Is it time yet?!

I SWEAR that I feel like this baby is going to fall out of me at any moment. Maybe that is TMI, but it is true. Several times now, I have awakened with a start thinking that my water has broken! Obviously that hasn't happened and I am most likely dreaming but it is a scary feeling.

She's locked into place and although she moves her body all around like a wiggle worm, her head is locked and loaded. I had my 35 week appointment today and my doctor checked and I am less than a centimeter dilated and she's still way high. But despite those two facts, Ellyotte is giving me a run for my money in the flattening-of-my-bladder-and all internal organs department!

My blood pressure and weight gain are all still good and on track. But we haven't had a day in weeks that has been cooler than 101 degrees here in Louisiana so that hasn't helped the bloating that I have been experiencing. And the other thing that is frustrating is the inability to fall asleep at night! Each time I settle down into bed, my legs start twitching. I guess that's due to her position as well but it is so annoying! There are nights that I just lay in bed till 2 am waiting for sleep to come.

All in all, I am still doing very well and while it seems like I have been pregnant for years this time around, we are definitely in the home stretch. I start seeing my doctor weekly. Noah is more than ready too: he's been patting my belly and asking if it is time for Ellyotte to come out! He doesn't understand why his mama is the size of Shamu the Whale!!

My neighbor had her baby girl (their 3rd child) yesterday via c-section. I went by to meet baby Molly today and to say it was surreal is an understatement. She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and it was wild to see her in the flesh when just 48 hours ago, her mama was waddling with her in her belly. I teared up a bit when I met her because it became all the more real to me that in less than a month, Ellyotte will be here too.

Noah's been doing well. We are still going through some terrible two spurts but he's such a sweet boy. He loves his big boy room and bed so much and has gotten fabulous at entertaining himself even more. He also is 100% potty trained - yay! We honestly didn't have to do much other than let him run around naked a lot and watch us use the potty. He got the hang of it just fine. The only hurdle we have had lately is that he wants to go #2 in the BACKYARD like the dog! Ugh. That is so gross and can be a real battle when he wants it to be. He's still using a pull up during the day when we go out into public but will most always tell us when he has to go and rarely has accidents. Go Noah!

Things are going well - just suffering a bit in the heat and Dan's ridiculous work schedule. He's been working 15+ hour days for weeks now and it won't change till next week. But once he's done with this big inspection (that will go through the weekend - he hasn't had a weekend off in about 4 weeks...) he will have some time off awarded and we will get to have some "family time" as the three of us before baby Ellyotte arrives. I am looking forward to that BIG TIME! I miss my husband :)

35 Weeks!

On one hand, I can say that this pregnancy has gone by fast. But on the other, not so much. It has been in the 100s+ each day here in Louisiana and the humidity is stifling. But that's to be expected in the Bayou. The wildlife is loving this heat, too: about 7 miles from our home, a 12 foot gator was caught and killed cruising the boat ramp in the Red River. AHHHH! And snakes are everywhere - I am so petrified that Piper is going to get behind our shed and find one and think that she can play with it... My family dog, Tootsie, did that when I was 10 in Troy, Alabama and poor thing lost the battle with the water mocasin.

My sweet girlfriend, Season (who is due with her second one - Baby Keegan - in September), told me that I looked not only tired but really bloated yesterday. Leave it to your closest friends to be completely honest! But there is nothing I can do for this bloating when it is hot as Hades outside.

I have said it time and again that this past month has been extremely difficult for me. Part of the reason for that was because I had discontinued a medication that I had been on for years and the withdrawals were unbelievably overwhelming. My doctor called me to check on me yesterday and although I had been feeling completely hopeless and exhausted this time last week, I could honestly say that - starting Monday - I am back to my "old" self. Praise God. Dan couldn't be happier too; he's been the biggest worrier when it comes to my happiness and health this pregnancy.

Speaking of my husband.... What a wonderful man I married. I am tearing up right now thinking about him and all the selfless things he's done for me, Noah and Ellyotte lately so that we are as happy as possible. He is Noah's best buddy and I cannot WAIT to see what a sucker for our baby girl he's gonna be. He already loves his "daddy/daughter time" when he gets to talk to her each day and watch/feel her move about.

He's working INSANE hours these days. Last week, Noah went from Saturday - Friday without seeing his daddy once; despite Dan working 5 minutes from home. He's been under an enormous amount of stress at work and it has been tough around here as I have been trying to deal with the flooding mess/repairs, prepping for E., taking care of Noah AND teaching a course for TU. All without my husband around.

On Friday, when he got off of a very long shift, he walked through the door with an arm full of flowers! Just because. He thanked me for being patient and being a good "military wife" and taking care of our boy despite being 20 months pregnant.

The rest of the weekend he spent making sure I was rested - he got up at 7 both mornings with Noah and let me sleep in, he sent me off to see a movie with girlfriends while he took care of Noah, he took us rocking chair shopping (we moved the "Gucci" rocker to Ellyotte's room and Noah got a big boy looking chair), then he took us to dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. He mowed the grass, moved furniture back into one of our destroyed rooms, cleaned the house... he went above and beyond this weekend. I am truly thankful for my husband.

It is hard to believe that in just over a month, we will be holding Baby Ellyotte. I have most of her clothes washed and ready for her, she's got diapers galore, and her room is so beautiful. We just need her in it now! I will set up the bassinet in our room soon - I look forward to having her sleeping in our room for those first couple of months.

Physically, I feel as good as you can this far along. I am really big because of bloating but am trying to stay inside in the a/c as much as possible to help that. Nights are the worst because she is laying on nerves that cause my legs to twitch constantly! My doc gave me some Ambien in a light doseage but it doesn't stop the twitching so I just don't take it. So most nights, I lay there till about 2 waiting to fall asleep. Not fun! But I really love the fact that I now need a nap during the day so most days, Noah and I cuddle up in our bed for his naps. He's my cuddle bug so I treasure those hours of uninterrupted, peaceful time with Noah.

I doubt Ellyotte will be coming early - Noah certainly did not. But in the event that changes, I will update you guys! My mom is coming out this weekend while my dad is in China so she can help me with Noah. Dan's in the middle of the biggest event of the summer for his work so he won't be home next week and Noah's school is out of session for the week. Thankfully my mom is free to come out and give me an extra set of hands. Yay! I can't wait for Jan-Jan to get here.

This Time 'Round

Whew... it was 103 degrees here in Louisiana yesterday... What were we thinking when we decided it was time to try for Baby Beall #2 last fall?! I certainly wasn't thinking of the heat. And it is wiping me out.

So, I think I have been pretty upbeat about my pregnancy woes this time around. However, I do have a few complaints. I just finished telling Dan that I have mentally and physically reached the end of this pregnancy. 34 weeks and I do NOT remember being this worn out last time. Maybe it was because I didn't have a toddler in the throws of the Terrible Twos? Maybe it was because it wasn't this hot in Hawaii in February? Whatever the case, I am just done with being pregnant and am so ready to hold our baby girl.

At this point:

I have had to retire my beautiful wedding rings. This time they fit till almost 30 weeks. Last time, I put them up at about 16 weeks! I so miss my diamonds :(

My favorite thing to do these days is to sit in a hot bath with tons of Ahava eucalyptus bath salts. But when I get out of that deep tub, Shamu beware! It takes soo much effort.

I have only gained about 25 pounds. Still more than I wanted to gain this pregnancy but half of what I gained overall with Noah. I am pretty proud and should thank Noah for making me chase him all day. Maybe that has helped!

I am super irritable... Like, I have decided that I want to get rid of our dog. I am not sure why Piper gets the brunt of my agitation but I want her out of this house! The dog hair, the barking, the annoying staring she does all day. I want no part of it anymore. Yet, I did go through this same thing when I was at the end of the pregnancy with Noah. Poor Piper! I am sure once Ellyotte's here and Piper's entertaining Noah all day that my attitude will change towards her again. Let's hope so - for her sake!

My cravings have sort of been non-existant this time. But I do crave Coca Cola constantly. Again, maybe because of the heat? I adore that drink whereas I haven't ever craved it before. And anything that smells of eucalyptus or mint or Pine Sol, I want to eat. Seriously I have thought about tasting my bath salts. Pica disorder, anyone?! I promise I haven't tried any of the three but I so have thought about it :)

Sleeping = not happening anymore for me. I have restless leg like nobody's business! My doctor gave me a low dose of Ambien but it doesn't help much. So I lay awake with a twitchy leg till all hours of the night. Dan actually woke up the other night around 2 am to TELL ME to go to sleep! I laughed out loud and replied: "You think I am staying awake for my health!?" He then told me to try harder to fall asleep... Men.

But with all the crazy aches and pains and constant needs to go to the bathroom, nothing can take away the excitement we have to meet baby Ellyotte in about 5 weeks. I can't wait to smell her, hold her, love her and know what her hair color is going to be!! (Just kidding... but not really.)

This has been a somewhat easy pregnancy and I am thankful. Stressful here at the end, yes. But that's not because of anything "Ellyotte" related - just extraneous life situations that are resolved in time and through prayer. I am truly thankful.

What a Day!

As I said in my previous post, we have been going through a lot in our home: travel, home flooding and the serious amount of repairs and cost staring at us, my Aunt Mamie's sickness is weighing heavy on my heart, being 8 months pregnant (a praise! but a struggle, nonetheless), and Dan is facing a very, very long deployment so we are trying to make some serious life changing decisions... Add Noah hitting the Terrible Twos with such ferocity that my head is spinning - maybe he senses Ellyotte's coming soon?

On Tuesday, I took Noah to school and on my way there, I started counting the number of contractions I had been having and their length and frequency. Suddenly, my stomach seized up in a painful and constant contraction. I called my doctor and she directed me to Labor and Delivery immediately. Keep in mind I am only 33 weeks along. I called Dan and he met me there.

I was a wreck: in pain, crying, desparate to keep Ellyotte where she was. They put me into a gown and into a delivery room and hooked me up to monitors. To make a long story very short, I obviously wasn't in labor. And Dr. Gomez said - after many hours of monitoring - that Ellyotte's report was "A+", but she was really worried about me. Even while talking to the doctor, I was weeping. I couldn't control my emotions and everything that had been going on in our lives came pouring out of me.

She insisted on keeping me till Tuesday night so Dan had to go get Noah from school and take care of the people coming to the house to start water damage repairs. The doctor also told me (after running many tests) that I had suffered a major anxiety attack that caused the contractions. She put me on a prescription for a fast working anti-anxiety med that is safe for use in pregnancy.

Unfortunately, that medicine turns me into a zombie so there is no way that I can take it on a regular basis. But what I am being forced by Dan and doctor to do is to slow down and take care of me - and essentially of Ellyotte. That's hard to do with an active 2 year old who is doing all he can to get negative AND positive attention as we prepare for a new baby! But given the scare we went through on Tuesday, resting and being more cautious and taking care of myself is my only option.

Giving up all my seemingly endless worries is a tough thing to do. I am a controlling personality so I want to make sure every facet of my life and others in my life are in order. So I am praying God starts to reveal to me how to "let go." Tough to do but very, very necessary for all of us!

28 Week Appointment

Today I had my 28 week appointment for Ellyotte. She's growing right on schedule, her heart rate is measuring in the 140s and I am scheduled officially for my c-section: 21 July 2010 at 0730! We are really excited to have her "birthday" written on the calendar.

I am feeling good - not sleeping very well lately because as soon as I lay down at night, Ellyotte wakes up and moves/kicks well into the night (hopefully not a sign of things to come!).

So far, I have gained 15 lbs, although I still don't know my weight since I asked the doctor from the get-go not to tell me. I am very thankful I did that because this time around, I am not obsessing and obviously am not gaining as much or as fast as I did with Noah (I had gained 35 lbs by this point with him).

I will have Dan take a picture of my belly and will upload it for you to see soon!

6 Months

As soon as I said "I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going by!" things started changing and slowing down for me. Just in the last few days, I have started to feel and look incredibly pregnant. The "glow" only lasts for so long before it is replaced with bloating and discomfort! I noticed my feet were swelling a little at the end of a really long day this past weekend. Ew! But, she's worth it.

By all accounts, I still feel really good. I am sleeping a bit less because she's moving around so much - especially at night - and because we are having some teething and sleep issues with Noah right now. But I try to "sleep when Noah sleeps" as much as possible. Sometimes that means papers that need to be graded add up extraordinarily and laundry doesn't get done right away, but I am trying to take advantage of any and all down time Noah allows me so I can give this new little one - and myself - some time to rest and grow.

I haven't been craving certain things too much. But what I do crave this pregnancy are: Subway sandwiches, pudding cups, SODA (I don't normally drink it but this time around, I am craving Coke and Dr. Pepper), bananas, corn, Eggos with peanut butter, and chocolate milk. Maybe not the healthiest of cravings, but at least I am being honest! And these last few days, my appetite has increased a lot and my tummy is tightening a bit too. I add that up to mean she's having a growth spurt - and my stomach is starting to look like she is as well.

We will have another doctors appointment next week and by my request, we are going to have an extra ultrasound done. We weren't totally happy with the pictures and (short) length of the last one we had so since we'd been given false diagnoses with Noah's feet last time around, the doctor is allowing us to have an extra ultrasound or two to put our mind at ease.

Her nursery is slowly coming together. We bought her bedding and have started collecting pink items here and there. And Noah loves to go into her room and whisper "Shhhh, shhhh, baby sister's sleeping, shhh." It is precious! He's getting really excited and loves to hug my tummy and kiss it. He's gonna be a great big brother.

I think we will schedule the c-section at our next appointment. I will let you know which date we choose!

Baby Bump

Here I am in my 18th week of pregnancy - showing much more than I did at 18 weeks with Noah, but thankfully feeling just as good!

This baby is growing and growing! And with every little kick and movement, my heart falls more in love with this new life. I started feeling "him" a lot earlier than I did Noah; I am supposing it is because I know now what a moving baby feels like. And "he's" active!

I am carrying really high - a lot higher than I did with Noah. Still avoiding maternity clothing at all costs. They are NOT comfortable to me! But overall, I feel exactly the same as when I was pregnant with Noah, thus, I again think that this baby may also be a boy.

Danny comes home briefly next week after 8 weeks of training and will be home long enough for us to have our ultrasound. It is scheduled for Monday, 1 March 2010 at 9:30 am! We can't wait. Seeing your little guy (or girl) for the first time on that blurry screen is indescribeable. I cannot wait to see that sweet face and watch "him" do all the moving and punching I regularly feel at this point. Plus, we can't wait to know for certain if Noah's having a brother or sister! It will be then that we will begin transitioning our 2 year old to his new room and his new big boy bed. That should be fun (sarcasm intended!).

We just returned from our FABULOUS week in Breckenridge, Colorado and I could NOT wait to be back with my redhead. My heart ached for 6 days solid. It was tough! But it was a wonderful trip. I have lots to say about that trip and lots of pictures to post. However, I have 50+ papers to grade right now so that will have to wait till sometime this weekend!

Noah's 2nd Birthday Party

We had SUCH a fun day yesterday. Noah had about 15 of his friends and their parents over for a Dinosaur Party. We had cake, ice cream, gifts, and an all around good time!

It is WILD to think that this time last year we were celebrating 1 in Hawaii away from our family. We had fabulous friends who were there to party with us, but it isn't the same without at least one set of grandparents around!

Noah is definitely enjoying the perks of being the first grandchild - thus, the favorite so far! He received some wonderful gifts and tons of attention. His favorite gifts of the day was his trumpet (from my sister, Kelly), the Sound of the South band helmet (sent by the Troy University band director, Ralph Ford), new cowboy boots from Jan-Jan and Graddy, and of course, his new swingset from Graddy and Jan-Jan. He had so many things to play with - in addition to the incredible gifts from his friends - that Dan and I are going to wait till his actual birthday (12 February) to give him the basketball goal he is getting from us. He's a bit spoiled right now!

Dan has been gone since the first of January and will not be home "for good" till the first of April. But, since he's in training in Texas right now, he was able to drive 7 hours EACH WAY to be home for just 36 hours. It was a short weekend and incredibly bitter sweet - Noah and I miss him more than words can express - but I was so thankful to have him here to celebrate our boy's birthday. He is such an amazing father and Noah loves that man. It breaks my heart to have him gone - Noah ran from room to room the majority of today looking for his daddy.... Oh well, thus the life we have chosen in the military.

I am really excited about my annual girls' ski trip coming up this next week. However, I have NEVER, not once, spent the night away from Noah. Dan's mom is flying down from snow covered D.C. to stay with Noah while I am in Breckenridge (not skiing... thanks 'doctor's orders'... I am "too pregnant") and I couldn't be more grateful. She's taking a whole week of personal leave from work to do this for us so I can get away and I am so ready for the rest and laughter awaiting me, my mom and Kelly in Colorado. I have so missed being able to do the annual ski trips we do these past couple of years since Noah arrived and since we lived in Hawaii.

Above are the pictures of Noah's party from yesterday. I have a lot on my mind and heart this week as my boy turns 2 and hope that I can find some time to sit down and "write it out" on this blog. I have my quad screen for Baby Beall #2 this Thursday and will then schedule our ultrasound to find out the sex. I will be about 21-22 weeks when we finally find out but that is because I want to wait till Dan can be home (between TDYs) for the appointment. So I am thinking it will be about 1 March. That's okay though: it will give the baby some extra time to be good and ready to be immodest!

And as far as this 2nd pregnancy goes, I am doing well. Out of the exhausted phase that followed me into the second trimester and am still thankful I was never sick with this one either. I am carrying much higher than I did with Noah; I was well into maternity clothes by this point last time. But so far - and probably because I am chasing a wild toddler - I haven't gained any weight (I weighed myself for the first time in 4 months this week!). I still vow to not be told my weight at the doctor's office but I wanted an inward gauge for myself - but definitely not so I could fret over the numbers. I refuse to do that!

Like I said, this is an emotional week for me with Noah turning two. One was not bad for me at all but this one is really a struggle. So, hopefully I will be back to the computer desk soon. See ya then!

Just an Update

God's doing a number in my life these days. He's trying and trying to show me ways that I can become more patient (which I am not sure I am succeeding at yet) and He's testing me almost every minute. This separation time from Dan has NOT been an easy go this time round, unfortunately.

Dan was supposed to be boarding a plane to Afghanistan till 2011 in the next couple weeks... Praise God that he's only in Texas. I am reminding myself of that constantly. But, it is still trying to find out that AFTER he's done with this ridiculous training at the end of February, he's set to go somewhere else immediately afterwards for yet another month. So, I think my frustration right now lies in Noah's absolute confusion about where his daddy is right now and having to get used to Dan being gone for an additional month. Again, I remind myself that he's safe and a phone call away. Praise God.

This pregnancy is flying by! I didn't think it would - the exhaustion has been much different this go of it. Last pregnancy, I exercised all through my first trimester (I'm now in the 2nd) but this time around, my exercise seems to be a) chasing Noah and b) the daily "wok" we take Piper on at the end of the day (NOT strenuous!). I just can't get it together to put on my running shoes and hit the pavement!

My second term teaching for Troy University is now in full-swing. This time, I have almost 3 dozen students in my class and we are in week 3 of 9 weeks. It is hard grading all of the writing assignments they are turning into me, but I have to remind myself that I was the one who assigned them!! I love being able to teach from home - or wherever I have my laptop. It is a liberating and challenging experience and this time, I have some really awesome students: many are parents, working full time, some serving in Afghanistan/Iraq while taking my course, one in Italy, another in Korea, and several have already retired and are finishing their degrees or are about to retire in the next few months. It is a a humbling experience to be teaching so many who are far more accomplished than I.

I am teaching in the Political Science department for TU and I am signed on to teach for as long as I want, as many terms as I want; it is incredible.
I have an appointment tomorrow with my fabulous doctor - she's awesome: a civilian at a civilian hospital (I am so thankful to be seen off-base; don't want to ever have another baby in a military facility). I am looking forward to hearing our little one's heartbeat again. This doctor is way cool in so many ways: she's young, she's hilarious and she is a WOMAN! Whoo Hoo!

They weighed me last appointment with Dan in the room and I laid down the line: I said "do NOT say what I weigh out loud, and don't tell me what I weigh." So they had me turn around and didn't mention my starting weight. I made the decision after last pregnancy and the struggle I had to lose all the almost 50 lbs that I would never again do that to myself.

So, my doctor promised to not tell me my starting weight or my ending weight in July. I just asked her that if I started gaining too much or too fast that she point it out. I can't tell you the freedom I am feeling from not knowing and knowing that I won't know. I was obsessed with weight last time and still gained a ton. So it will be nice to enjoy it this time around and not be obsessive. I will eventually lose it so there is no point worrying now!

We had an ultrasound at 9 weeks but I won't have another one till February. I am going to wait till Dan is home to find out the sex so even though I am only a few weeks away from being able to know, we want to find out together. So hopefully we will get an appointment for the last couple of days of February. That was the appointment when we got the news with Noah that he had clubbed feet, so we are praying against that in advance this time around. That appointment for Noah led us to many nights on our knees praying against his clubbed feet - and what a miracle we received - but we are praying against a deformity like that from the start this time around.

I am signing off now - Noah went to bed at 6 pm tonight after playing HARD all day today. I spent a lot of energy trying to wear him out to keep his mind off of his daddy being gone so we are both weary! Here are the pictures from our trip to Mobile where we watched Troy vs CMU in the 2010 GMAC Bowl. We had a great time.

No, No, Hitting, and Total Aversions

Wow, what a hard thing it is to do to be in the beginning stages of a pregnancy and dealing with a TODDLER! I had heard that the toddler years - or the "terrible twos" - were nothing to laugh at, but come on!!! And add to that the fact that I have felt like a donkey kicked me in the face due to a nasty sinus infection and you have one hot mess of a Katie.

I haven't heard the word 'No' so much in the past 10 years as I have in the past few weeks in my house. I ask him for a hug first thing in the morning, I get a "NO, mommy," Dan asks him if he wants to watch t.v. with him and he gets a loud "NO, daddy." We can't get it right!

And the hitting?! Where did Noah learn that?! He thinks NOTHING of pulling his little arm back and slamming it into our faces - yes, faces - when he's mad about something. I cannot agree with Dobson's theory more: I have a "strong willed child." And he's violently strong willed.

It is so tough to figure out how to discipline him appropriately. We hate reacting to his hitting by spanking him but that is honestly the ONLY thing (coupled with a straight up crib time out) that will work. When his daddy spanks him on his bottom, it hurts his feelings so bad that he just whimpers (heartbreaking). But what else can we do?! We tell him "no hitting," we put him in time out, we spank when necessary, we pray.... what did you all do when you went through this phase? This is NOT okay at all.

It has been especially hard for me to parent lately because after recovering from an upper respiratory infection, travelling to Alabama for 2 weekends in a row, only to then develop the worst possible sinus infection - all while dealing with a different pregnancy than the one I had with Noah. There have been days that I wake up only to count how many hours till Noah's naptime and then bedtime! I feel so bad about that because my little boy has been seeing me at my weakest. But, a sweet husband who has allowed me to sleep tons and antibiotics are getting me back on my feet ASAP and just in time for the Bealls to visit for Christmas. Whoo hoo!

This baby hasn't made me downright sick yet (although I have had a few "episodes") but 'he' has given me exhaustion and aversions that I never experienced with Noah. If I go too long without eating in the early - late afternoon, I can forget it: I never catch up with the nausea. So I am constantly forcing myself to eat. And textures and consistancies are giving me fits this time around. I usually eat salad constantly and I cannot bring myself to eat salads at all. In fact, most anything I try to eat makes me nausceous. It is so foreign to me to be turned off by foods, but it is happening every single day.

The things I can't get enough of are Perrier, pickles, peanut butter, fruit and occasionally Taco Bell. And I have to nap at least once a day... which is hard to do now that my little boy is sleeping 13 hours at night straight and only napping about an hour - hour and a half. But I cannot complain: he does sleep at night allowing me to go to bed way early!

Dan's about to take off for 2 months to some training. He will leave right after the New Year. And my Term 3 course with Troy University starts the first of the year too so that will be a great way - along with Noah - to stay busy once he's gone. I will miss him terribly but anything is better than 15 months to Afghanistan. Praise God!

We have so much to be thankful for this Christmas season. Thank you for allowing me the chance to 'vent' about disciplining Noah and being sick with Baby Beall #2. We are overjoyed at the blessings that 2009 brought us; God has given us so much to be abundantly thankful for and 2010 will bring another incredible blessing in our 2nd born.

When I think about the road we were facing with Dan going away for 15 months and how he had to have immediate surgery that thus kept him from deploying, I cannot believe the way that God stepped in and answered our prayers. To think that he could be fighting a war so far away - something he hasn't been trained to do - brings me such humility because he was spared. And to think of the heartbreak that so many of our loved ones have faced this past year, it brings me to my knees with a thankful heart. God is good, all the time. Even when we don't understand His ways, we have to know that He loves us and wants only the best for us.