So at the beginning of the year, I mentioned we had a goal to get a bigger car this year.  Though we didn't mention it at the time, it was primarily because we were hoping to have a 4th child this year, and the Kia only seats five.  The goal was to sell the Kia for a good price, and get something used for cash at a really good price by the end of the year.  So, toward that end Gary has been watching car prices on line.  We figured we were looking for a used van with around 100K miles on it.  Something this is still in good shape though, that I can drive for at least a few years till it wears out.  It'll only take a few years more to pay off the student loans, then we could move up in car.


So last week, Gary found a few promising leads - both minivans and SUVs.  So we spent the first part of the week doing school in the car and at the dealerships, while Gary talked and test drove vehicles.  Tuesday night he found what I think was a steal.  But they wouldn't take a personal check or an Electronic transfer from the bank, so we got on the phone with Powernet on Wednesday and worked out for them to mail a check.  Everything was taken care of so this past Tuesday, a week after the fact, we went back signed all the paperwork, and said good bye to the Kia.


Even though we both agree now, buying a new car was a mistake, the Kia was a great car.  It never gave us any trouble.  It's been a safe and reliable vehicle.  I would have been content to drive it for several more years, if it wasn't for the size and need to fit more car seats.  Ruth was a little sad to see it go.  I admit I was a bit sentimental too, but mostly I was just glad to get this to do checked off my baby list.


The new car is a khaki and hunter green, 2003 Mercury Mountaineer and it seats 7.  It's got a lot less mileage than our 2009 Kia Sportage did (those trips to see the family add up quickly).  It also has backup sensors, which is something neither of us has ever had before in a car.  Another bonus for us is that it has a tape deck and a cd player in it.  We've been talking lately about needing to find some way to copy all of our old singing tapes to cd.  We don't get to go to so many PB meetings up here, and so we haven't had a new singing cd for the car since 2013.  We are looking forward to pulling some out tomorrow for the ride to Church.  We did have to give up the Aux line that I used to play the ipod over the speakers, but all that stuff is on cd, so I can always pull those out to rotate in the car.  It's got alot of great pluses for us since our car was a basic package and this had more luxury items, like more comfortable seats (that are also heated) and side mirrors that heat and defog/deice themselves.  Nothing we needed, but I imagine it will be nice if we are still in PA this winter.  This car is an all wheel drive, which will also be a needed improvement over the Kia this winter.  The car also runs quieter, I think, than the Kia did with less road noise.  I drove it for the first time yesterday.  it's a little bit slower to stop being bigger and heavier, but other than that I was surprised how nice it drove.  I didn't have any trouble parking or backing out which is something I worried a bit about.  Gary also replaced a windshield wiper, and this morning carried it by our local mechanic.  He changed the oil and looked it over, and we should be good for a while.  The BIGGEST plus so far though, is that Britt and Ruth both desperately wanted to sit in the very back, so we moved them back there, and it's AMAZING just how quiet it is to drive somewhere now.  Gary and I can carry on our own conversations even.  The only real downsides are that we have a little less luggage and storage space than I would have hoped for, but we really couldn't beat the price at all.  And we can always put the topper on the top of the car for trips home.

So I'm definitely feeling movement now. I thought I might have felt movement, July 5 and 12. See on Sunday evenings, we typically go stretch out on our bed, flip on the AC and I read aloud to Gary, while the kids have popcorn and a movie in the living room. Since I was still those two times I thought I might be feeling movement. But at just shy of 15 and 16 weeks, I thought it might be early. I know though that I've been feeling movement from the baby this week. Since I've not had the crazy morning sickness it's made it feel a little more real. This baby (and maybe it's just because it's early) isn't as active as the others were, I feel some rolling, but not much else. The baby also seems to prefer my left side, as that is where I usually feel some movement shifting around.

Since I'm having trouble seeing my toes and my belly button is pretty flat, I decided on Sunday it was time for a belly picture. I was 17 weeks and 4 days. Of course I was pleasantly surprised that I don't look that big in them. I'm still hovering around the weight I was when I got pregnant, I'm up a pound, and since apparently weight fluctuates up to 2 lbs a day, that's not really anything.  I'm still tired off and on, but I'm mostly back to my normal self now.  My headaches have mostly gone away too, so I've not been sick since my last report.  Now mostly, any tiredness and headaches are straight up a result of the heat.  We've not had too much heat this summer, but occasionally when it's warm, and I'm somewhere and the air isn't moving much like up at the YMCA for swim lessons I get light headed and feel wore out.  We are really looking forward to our ultrasound coming up in a little more than three weeks.

I'm starting to sport a baby bump, and Gary noticed two nights ago that my belly button is starting to stick out a little.  I feel like I'm really big to only be 15 weeks along, but I've only gained 2 lbs so far. Since I weighed in at 147 lbs.  I should have taken a picture yesterday when I was dressed up to go to town, but I haven't taken a one yet.

Yesterday was my appointment with the midwives.  At my first appointment I met one who had three kids was a bit older and had been delivering babies for 30 years, but was newest to the practice.  This time I met a younger lady, who was really great with the kids.  She was very apologetic, the office staff goofed up and left me sitting in the waiting room for over an hour.  She let the kids work the doppler.  She told Britt to squeeze the gel so it looked like a Hershey kiss.  Ruth got to turn on and hold the speaker box, and then she showed Britt where to put the microphone part.  All while she held Rebecca up next to me on the table.  They were so excited to hear the heartbeat which was nice and fast.  I'm measuring a little on the large size, but everything looks good.

I've had almost no morning sickness this time.  I counted up in my planner and I've only been sick 7 of times and all 3 of the days that I actually threw up were on days that I had unbearable headaches.  It's been really nice to have basically no sickness, let alone not that all day, every day nausea that is only somewhat relieved by actually throwing up.  The trade off has been incredible exhaustion.  When the kids were gone, I took a nap almost every afternoon, since they have come back I've got to laid down a few days when Ruth and Rebecca have laid down at the same time, while Britt has reading time or plays Mario or MathBlasters.  I feel like it should have let up by now, I'm well out of the first trimester, where tiredness is suppose to be more of a big deal.  The midwife yesterday suggested that I take Vitamin B Complex when I get up and again at lunch to help give me a pick me up, till I'm feeling more myself.  So I may start that again.

Gary won't be able around his work schedule to go for an ultrasound until the last week of August, so they scheduled my next appointment to be that week as well, 6 weeks out.

We are super excited to announce (and of course surprise everyone we know) with the news that today we are 10 weeks pregnant. We printed out this picture and put it in a little gift back with some sweets from Hershey and gave them to our parents when they were up for Britt's baptism this past weekend. It's got to be one of the funnest ways that we have announced a pregnancy. I love announcing babies, so MUCH fun.