The Brannans

Sunday, May 14, 2017

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!

Monday, May 1, 2017

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.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Bumpdate #2 {25 Weeks}

How far along: 25 weeks {See Levi's 25 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby: cauliflower

Total weight gain/loss: +11 lbs

Sleep: still good!

Exercise: Ran a 5k race and Ryan ran his second half marathon last weekend. Staying active :)

Cravings/Aversions: No real cravings- just hungrier these days.

Movement: Lots of movement all day long!

Labor signs/symptoms: Started getting heartburn about two weeks ago. Popping Tums (and daily Zantac) like candy.

Best moment: We had a great visit to New Bern to see Mimi and Papa and are grateful for this beautiful Easter Sunday. He is Risen!

Looking forward to: Third trimester!

What I miss/What I'm loving: I miss sleeping on my stomach but I'm loving my growing belly.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Bumpdate #2 {22 Weeks} & Levi {22 Months}

Canaan's profile {and same nose as his mama!} at 20 weeks

How far along: 22 weeks {See Levi's 22 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby: spaghetti squash

Total weight gain/loss: +8 lbs total

Sleep: is great :)

Exercise: I'm running less now because I started feeling frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions at 18.5 after heavy exercise. So Levi and I usually take a 2-3 mile walk (almost) every day instead of running. The doc checked to make sure the BH were not causing me to dilate and assured me that it is normal to feel them earlier and stronger the second time around. I just feel better taking it a little easier.

Cravings/Aversions: Sour gummy worms!
Movement: Been feeling lots of movement from Canaan- he's an active little guy just like his big bro. Ryan got to feel him kick for the first time at 21.5 weeks.

Labor signs/symptoms: n/a

Best moment: Great anatomy scan at 20 weeks! We got to see little Canaan and all of his perfect parts. So relieved and thankful to God that he is healthy and growing!

Looking forward to: Seeing Mimi and Papa in New Bern over Easter week!

What I miss/What I'm loving: Loving feeling him kick and move around in there! Also loving this time with Levi as our only child. We are soaking up every second and really savoring our time as a family of three-- adventuring and enjoying life together.

Levi is now 22 months-- two months away from turning 2!
Size: 27+ lbs, size 7 shoe, size 6 diaper, size 24 month or 2T clothes
Likes: Trucks (especially "Dada's white truck" and his slew of little toy trucks), choo choos, keys (aka making the car go "beep beep"), taking Finley to Clemson Ext., going on walks, the zoo (his favorite are the giraffes by far and talks about them often), Mickey and the Roadster Racers, sleeping with stuffed animals (Mickey, Blue Bear, Dog Dog and Mr. Giraffe), checking the mail and watching the trash truck, bird watching, loving/harrassing Finley (aka "dog dog"), listening for fire trucks (aka "woo woo trucks"), police cars and ambulances. Favorite foods are chips, pizza, peanut butter filled pretzels, noodles, and go-gurts-- you know, the healthy stuff.
Dislikes: Mostly not getting his way-- when we take our keys away from him, when he can't go outside, when he can't have his paci (which he affectionately calls his "baa" and can only have when its bed/nap time.)
Milestones:
~pee-pee'd on the potty for the first time on Feb. 24 and has been going every night before bath. He's just practicing for now- not sure yet when we will go full steam ahead.
~knows about 8 shapes and about 10-12 colors and can identify all kinds of trucks properly (dump truck, trash truck, monster truck, mail truck, school bus, big trucks/semi-trucks, tractors, etc. His love for trucks is strong.)
~sings and does the hand motions to "Deep and Wide"
~saying countless new words and phrases but my favorites are:
"where did it go?" often sounding like "wha dit it doe?" :)
"silly mama/dada/haha/dog dog"
Sleep: Sweet angel is still my champion sleeper and I pray little bro will take good notes ;) He still goes to bed around 7:30 pm and ever since the time change, he has been waking up around 8:30/8:45 am (about an hour later than his norm). He naps anywhere from 1.5-2.5 hours every afternoon--usually averages about 2 hours.

Trucks on trucks on trucks every.single.day.

Buds.

Safety second ;)

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Bumpdate #2 {17 Weeks}

It's there, I promise ;)

Is that not the cutest little boy you've ever seen or what?!

How far along: 17 weeks {See Levi's 17 week bumpdate here}

Size of baby: Size of the palm of my hand

Total weight gain/loss: +3 lbs

Sleep: Sleeping well with fewer trips to the bathroom now- hooray! I'm trying my hardest to start sleeping on my side but somehow I always manage to wake up on my stomach.

Exercise: Running 3-4 times a week {usually 3-3.5 miles each time} and Levi and I take a 1-2 mile walk together every morning :)

Cravings/Aversions: I can eat again!! No more nausea and no real cravings or aversions right now. I do feel like I'm hungry more often and definitely need more snacks to keep my blood sugar from dropping.

Movement: I felt first flutters at 15.5 weeks!

Labor signs/symptoms: n/a

Best moment: Finding out the Levi is going to have a LITTLE BROTHER!!! Canaan Barnes Brannan. :) Canaan named after the promised land, "the land flowing with milk and honey" {Numbers 14:8} & Barnes in honor of Ryan's precious and beloved "Poppy," Robert Barnes.

Looking forward to: The anatomy scan in a few weeks to see baby Canaan's growth and development.

What I miss/What I'm loving: Don't miss much of anything at the moment- just thankful to be feeling well. I'm loving that both of our boys have biblical first names and middle names after amazing men of God in our lives. The meaning and sentiment behind each of their names holds a special place in my heart.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Jesus Calms The Sea

Our church recently launched an awesome new ministry called Moms Connect where moms of all ages gather together twice a month to be refreshed by the Word and to fellowship and pray with other moms. During our first meeting together, the story of Jesus calming the sea was presented from Mark 4:35-41.

In this story, Jesus and his disciples are on a boat when a great windstorm arose on the sea. The men panicked at the sight of the waves and the water filling the boat. Meanwhile, Jesus is asleep below deck. They were so overwhelmed by the storm that was about to overtake them-- forgetting momentarily that Jesus (!!) is with them on the boat. Jesus was asleep, yes, but not unconcerned with their peril. We learn quickly that He was asleep with plans to emerge at just the right time.

The men awakened him saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Perhaps we've asked God the same question. But Jesus rebuked the wind with His voice: “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and Jesus asked the men, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

As I've let this passage marinate in my mind over the last few weeks, I can't help but fall more and more in love with the practicality of this lesson for our lives today. No, we will not find ourselves on an actual boat with Jesus in a windstorm. But what if the proverbial storms we encounter on a daily basis are opportunities for us to trust His great power and practice great faith? Through life's rough seas we are faced with two choices: we can panic like the men on the boat or we can, by grace, seek Jesus and claim His perfect peace.

What I love about this story is that Jesus is already on the boat. He's not on land somewhere, far away from these frightened men. He's simply below deck. What a beautiful truth: Jesus is already on the boat with us. He is ever-present and near to us with no plans to let us perish. The same loving God who leads us by still waters is the same Captain who leads and guides us through tumultuous seas.

God promises in Isaiah 43:2 that He will be with us when we pass through the waters and they will not overwhelm us. Though at times it may seem we are in uncharted waters or that our life is somehow off course- we can trust that Jesus is at the helm. Just as it was for the disciples on the boat; those who trust in Christ as Lord have absolutely nothing to fear.

The wind and waves obey Him. Oh, what joy and peace we can experience in the midst of the storm when we obey Him too.

Myrtle Beach's 65th Ave-- my favorite, most peaceful spot in the world.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Bumpdate #2 {13 Weeks}

Well, here we are again folks! By God's goodness and grace, we are expecting another little Brannan baby due July 30, 2017! We are so excited to grow our family and can't wait to see Levi become a big brother.

From day one, this pregnancy has been totally different than Levi's. I feel like I had every symptom in the book first trimester with him (nausea, fatigue, soreness, etc.) and this time my only symptom has been nausea in the evenings. My nausea was unrelenting with Levi and nothing seemed to help. This time it hits me every day in the early evening around dinner time and I have a hard time forcing anything down. Thankfully it's manageable and the Lord has been merciful to spare me of any crazy symptoms since I have a toddler to chase this time around! I prayed for that specifically before I was even pregnant and He has been gracious to answer that prayer.

Just bloat right now but I know that bump is coming!

How far along: 13 weeks {See Levi's 13 week bumpdate here}
Size of baby: peach
Total weight gain/loss: +3 lbs
Sleep: Sleeping great --- 8-9 hours a night with a few bathroom breaks :)
Exercise: I plan to keep up my usual running routine 4 days a week {about 15 miles a week right now} for as long as possible.
Cravings/Aversions: Give me all the vinegar!! I went through this phase with Levi too. Pickles, salt and vinegar chips, collards with apple cidar vinegar... I want it all... with a glass of orange juice.
Movement: n/a
Labor signs/symptoms: n/a
Best moment: We had our 12 week appointment last week and heard the heart beat-- 150 bpm. The time before it was 176 bpm.
Looking forward to: Gender ultrasound on January 31st!!
What I miss/What I'm loving: I'm loving Levi saying "Baby!!" when I ask him what's in my tummy. It's the sweetest thing ever. I'm also doing the same pregnancy devotional journal that I did with Levi called "Waiting in Wonder." I'm excited that both of our kids will be able to have these prayer journals as keepsakes one day. What I miss: eating normally!

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Levi {19 months}

Size: Wearing mostly 24 month clothes (and I'm starting to buy some 2T things), size 6 shoes, size 6 diapers, weighs 25 pounds

Likes: Mickey everything. Loves hitting the ball with his bat and getting in his "batting stance." It's pretty stinkin' cute. Playing basketball with Daddy. Climbing on all furniture. Loves taking showers-- or as he calls them, "sharers". Giving hugs-- seriously my favorite thing ever. Loves his new golf set he got for Christmas. His new favorite song to dance to is JT's "Can't Stop the Feeling" and requests it all day. He also really loves wearing his pajamas. He would wear them all day if I let him. He loves "choo-choos" and pointing out every truck he sees... especially "Dada's truck."

Dislikes: Resists the car seat sometimes and now sits in a normal seat instead of a high chair when we are at a restaurant.

Milestones:
~As of 18 months old, he can now eat dairy!! He is now free of all food intolerances and has a normal diet-- thank you Lord!!!
~He knows all of his animals and sounds. He learned by taking all of the wooden animals out of Noah's Ark. He can also name Noah!
~Working on colors
~Robust vocabulary and learning new words all the time
~Has all of his teeth, for now (2 year molars up next!)
~Now tells us when he has gone #2 and needs to be changed. ;)

Sleep: Sleeps 7:30 pm - 8:00+/- am and naps 1:30 pm - 3 pm. If I'm lucky he will nap for 2+ hours but it's usually around 1.5 hours. After we read, pray, and sing a hymn, I lay him down and he always says "night night Mama" and I melt into a puddle every.single.time. When we got home from Colorado he had some trouble readjusting after the weird schedule, napping on the go, time change, traveling, etc. and fought going down for naps and bed and woke up in the middle of the night a couple of times. Thankfully after about 4 days of CIO, he finally snapped back into his normal sleep routine. :)