Introducing...

Canaan Barnes Brannan

August 3, 2017 
5:27 p.m.

7 lbs 8 oz 

20 and 3/4 inches long 

perfect.

monkey from big bro

proud Aunt HaHa

the boy who made me a mommy

that smile!!

my 3 guys

sweet visit from Aunt Meg and Isaac

Home sweet home as a family of 4!

"I'm the big brother" :)

Canaan meets Finley

Both boys at 11 days old 

Both boys at exactly one week

Bumpdate #2 {37 Weeks}

Levi's "cheese" face :)

How far along: 37 weeks {See Levi's 37 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby: Large cantaloupe {weighed 6 lbs 7 oz per ultrasound at 36w4d}

Total weight gain/loss: +20 lbs

Sleep: My leg cramps are gone thankfully but still up a lot to use the bathroom and eat my nightly snack of Tums for heartburn. This child better have some hair!! ;)

Exercise: Been walking as much as I can around the neighborhood and just generally staying pretty active with life and Levi. 

Cravings/Aversions: Oreos and milk. Running out of room for big meals. 

Movement: Canaan is active but things are getting pretty tight in there! He gets the hiccups every night and my whole belly jumps each time. 

Labor signs/symptoms: At 36w4d I was 3 cm and 50% effaced. Feeling frequent and strong BH contractions. 

Best moment: Seeing him on ultrasound last week. My belly is measuring a few weeks small so they wanted to check growth. He is measuring right on track (about 4 days ahead actually) and is head down and hopefully ready to meet us soon!

Looking forward to: Seeing this precious child! I can't wait to see what day the Lord chooses for his birthday, who he looks like, and how Levi takes to being a big bro!

What I miss/What I'm loving: I'm excited about birth and have been praying and thinking about it constantly. I'm ready to get this show on the road. It's super hot outside and I'm just ready to hold my baby in my arms instead of in this big ole belly :) I'm looking forward to our new normal and transitioning to life with two little boys, nursing again, getting back in shape, and saying goodbye to the crazy pregnancy symptoms. 

Levi {2 years}

Size: 28+ lbs, 75% for height, wearing 2T and 3T clothes, size 6 diapers, size 7/8 shoe

Likes: Paw Patrol and Puppy Dog Pals, his water table, swimming, cars/trucks/airplanes, riding his red motorcycle and blue truck

Dislikes: haircuts, eating vegetables

Milestones:
~cutting his two year molars now
~preparing to get rid of the Paci-- gonna be tough :(
~memorized his first verse: 1 John 4:8 "God is love."
~Can count to ten
~knows all colors and shapes
~has memorized several books we read regularly and sings lots of Bible songs from memory
~has his very own big boy room in the new house!

Sleep: Still sleeps 7:15/7:30 pm to 7:30 am and naps anywhere from 1-2 hours in the early afternoon. He sleeps with a bunch of stuffed animal "friends" and is still in his crib. Planning to keep him there until Canaan is ready to transition from the rock n play to the crib :) 

Bumpdate #2 {33 Weeks}

How far along: 33 weeks {See Levi's 33 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby: Size of a head of lettuce. At 31w5d Canaan weighed in at 3 lbs 13 oz

Total weight gain/loss: +17 lbs

Sleep: Charley horses have been waking me up every night for the last two weeks. This happened with Levi around this time too. I usually get up and go straight to the bathroom and put my foot on the cold bathroom floor to help it relax-- such a great little trick!

Exercise: Chasing Levi and walking 

Cravings/Aversions: Sweets maybe? I've been wanting dessert more than normal so I'm indulging while I can :) 

Movement: All day and night! Very thankful to feel his little kicks and jabs. His feet are in my right side (also like Levi was at this time) and he is head down. Praying he stays that way! 

Labor signs/symptoms: Braxton Hicks are more frequent now especially after long periods on my feet. 

Best moment: We had a great week at the beach last week with the Brannan fam- our last vacation as a family of 3. In between the rain and clouds we had a good time at the pool and on the beach. It was sweet to see Levi playing with his cousins, having a blast with (and being spoiled by) his Mimi and Papa, and throwing rocks in the ocean and jumping in the pool. It's hard to believe Canaan will be on the beach with us next year!! 

Looking forward to: My next appointment this week. 

What I miss/What I'm loving: I miss my energy. I'm very tired these days-- keeping up with a 2 year old at 33 weeks pregnant is no joke! I feel great in the morning and then crash after lunch time. I try to rest when Levi is napping so I can get a second wind for the afternoon and evening. I'm loving our new house and church and can't wait to start our women's summer Bible study this week! 

Bumpdate #2 {29 Weeks}

29 Weeks at New River Church

How far along: 29 weeks {See Levi's 29 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby:  butternut squash

Total weight gain/loss: +14 lbs 

Sleep: Just fine but wake from heartburn or to use the bathroom usually once a night. 

Exercise: Packing and chasing Levi are my cardio at the moment. :)

Cravings/Aversions: None really-- just chugging water all day every day

Movement: Canaan rolls and kicks most hours of the day. Grateful for the constant reminder that a little life is growing inside of me. 

Labor signs/symptoms: Still dealing with heartburn, back aches, and frequent nose bleeds. :( Definitely starting to feel more fatigued. The move/transition to Lake Wylie + third trimester= exhausted. 

Best moment: Passed my glucola test at my 28 week appointment and Canaan was measuring right on track. 

Looking forward to: Being settled in our new home and decorating the nursery and Levi's big boy room!

What I miss/What I'm loving: I miss my energy and being able to run but I'm loving that we are now 11 weeks away from meeting this sweet baby boy!

Gamecock graduate

On Friday my little sister will walk across the stage and receive her degree from the University of South Carolina. I'm not sure where all the years have gone or how they have passed so quickly, but we are so very proud of her and the woman of God she has become. We've been so fortunate to have her live with us during her senior year and get to see her every day. It has been nothing short of providential that God would allow us this quality time together before we both embark on separate journeys in different parts of the state. She moves to Charleston in a few weeks to start PA school at MUSC. I know no one is more proud of her than our dad smiling down from Heaven. 

I got to take her graduation pictures last week at the Horseshoe-- it was a beautiful day on campus to capture her last week as a USC student. Here are some of my favorites:  

Two of her dearest college friends 

Pi love <>

Graduation Day: 

Congratulations, "HaHa!" We sure do love you.