Making Memories

Yesterday Jason and I enjoyed our first Baby/Toddler Time at the library here in Lockport. The group meets once a week for a half hour. There were about 15-20 other mommies there. I was able to meet another mommy of a 13 month old, she was very nice and easy to talk to. I hope to meet other women in the weeks to come and make new friends. Jason enjoyed the activities. We sang songs, did some dancing, listened to a story, and read a story just the two of us. It was fun! Jason loved the hustle and bustle of the little ones wiggling around as he watched. I know some day he will be one of them, for now, he sits in my lap. Just yesterday evening, as we were sitting and playing in the living room as a family, I said aloud, "How did you get so big?!" (Referring to Jason, of course.) These past 6 months have just flown by, it is true when everyone says, "They grow up so fast." For now, I am enjoying making memories with him every day in small ways and Baby/Toddler Time at the library is one way and it sure is fun! :)

Vicarage Begins!

Here we are in Lockport, Illinois about a month or so into Brian's vicarage...time sure has passed quickly! Brian is enjoying his experience here, workingwith Pastor Hein, and getting to know the members of St. John's Lutheran Church. We were warmly welcomed mid-July and we continue to be greeted with smiles and hugs every week. :) Brian works Tuesday-Sunday, and he has Monday off. They have two divine worship services here on the weekend, one on Saturday evening and one on Sunday morning followed by Sunday School and Adult Bible Study. He also has various meetings in the evening throughoutthe entire month. Like I said earlier, he is thoroughly enjoying his experience here! We are very blessed with this incredible vicarage placement.

Jason is now 6 months old, where does the time go?! He is growing and changing every day. At his doctor's appt this past week, he weighed 14 lbs 2 oz and was 26 1/4 in long. His weight is still in the 2 percentile but he is in the 23 percentile for his height. :) The doctor encouraged me to feed him a little bit more, I already thought this child ate a ton! We are introducing him to rice cereal and other solid foods, such as apples, bananas, carrots, green beans, squash, and the like. He is a good eater, but he LOVES his bottle. He can hold it on his own most of the time these days, sometimes he is a bit lazy and mommy or daddy has to hold it. He recently rolled over, which we are so thrilled about! He will get stuck on his tummy and then holler for us to roll him back over to his back or pick him up altogether. He is SO ready to crawl and move around on his own, he just has to get the hang of it. Once he is mobile, I know I will have a fast little guy on my hands...I think I'm exhausted now-a-days...wait until he can really move! He is ALL BOY! Loves to rip paper, throws things on the floor, and wants to get into everything he is not supposed to. Loves to make himself heard through squealing and the like (which can be interesting to handle in church!). He is an easy baby to please, hardly fusses unless he needs something, he is all around a very happy baby. No teeth yet, though he puts everything in his mouth on those gums. He now likes bath time. No words yet, but he imitates sounds we make and even giggles. We adore him.

And me...? I keep busy with the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry, the errand running, OH and taking care of Jason. :) I stay plenty busy! I don't know how working women with kids do it. Whew! I have talked with the preschool teacher here to volunteer some of my time on Mondays at the preschool if she would ever need it. She appreciated it and will let me know on an as-needed basis. I also hope to get involved with the women's bible study once it begins this fall. There is a story time at the local library that includes Jason's age group; they meet once a week on Thursdays and I hope to take Jason and meet other moms! I continue to sell AVON, though it is slow at the moment. And I am working on Jason's scrapbook. I just started, a project in progress. :) And I think that about wraps it up for The Flamme's! Here are some pictures taken recently. Enjoy!

Jason's favorite is apples :)

"Splish, Splash, I was takin' a bath"

Jason and Grandpa Flamme

It's Been Awhile!

Hello Friends!

It's certainly been a LONG time since I have written a new blog post. My goodness!

Jason is now 3 months old, soon to be 4. He is growing and ever changing every day. He is doing wonderfully and our world has been tremendously blessed through him. He came into our lives 4 weeks early, but he has been healthy, happy, and a true joy. He is just learning to get his hands to his mouth and keep them there. He is on the verge of giving us a good laugh, and he smiles at us all the time. :) He has not lost his stepping reflex...early walker?! He is a good baby, very happy most of the time.

We are moving to Lockport, Illinois for Brian's vicar year on July 16th. We will be at St. Paul's Lutheran Church there. We are blessed to know we will live in a 3 bedroom house. We desperately need the space to stretch out. Our one bedroom apartment is a bit cramped right now, everyone says it looks like "Baby Land." We are excited for this new chapter in our lives!

Jason and I are headed to Colorado for a week beginning tomorrow. We will be visiting Grandma and Grandpa Werth, Auntie Stephanie, and cousin Lily. :) We are excited for our trip, though I am a bit stressed over making sure everything is packed and thinking about how he will handle the plane ride. :/ It will be nice to go home. We will certainly miss Daddy though!

Hope you all enjoy your summer!

Til next time,
Jen

33 Weeks

I am now 33 weeks along in my pregnancy. Insomnia has creeped in along with slight back pain and continued swelling...Oh, the joys of pregnancy. :) Heartburn? My best friend! I've started to experience carpal tunnel syndrome too-achiness in my wrists and hands (particularly at night).

This week our little peanut weighs a little over 4 pounds (much like a pineapple) and has passed the 17 inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood. The big news this week is lung development—baby's respiratory system is almost completely mature. That means if our baby was born this week, odds are he'd be a healthy bouncing baby with a just a little help from his friends (aka, the NICU). Our peanut can now detect light and tell the difference between night and day. Our baby will continue to pack on the pounds gaining around ½ pound a week from here on out.

I have started "nesting" a little bit, doing laundry for the little guy and organizing everything. I'm also more of a neat freak (I know, how could that possibly be?!). Brian is so ready to meet our son and so am I. :)

All for now...

32 Weeks

• Brian, me, and baby Flamme were honored with a very special baby shower at our fieldwork congregation, Zion Friedheim, in Decatur, IN



• Baby weighs about 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long (taking up a lot of room!)



• I am gaining about a pound a week (or am supposed to) and roughly half goes directly to the baby



• He will gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks



• He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair



• His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth



• He is swallowing, breathing, kicking, and sucking in the womb...in fact, he has been able to suck his thumb for quite awhile



• The baby has had hiccups and I have felt them!



• His kicks and movements sometimes hurt and sleeping is becoming a challenge but it will all be worth it. :)

31 Weeks

• Baby measures over 16 inches long.
• Baby weighs about 3.5 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt (try carrying 4 oranges).
• He can turn his head from side to side.
• His arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin.
• He is moving around a lot! It is a sign he is healthy and active. If you watch closely, you can see the baby move across mommy's belly. :)
• Mommy's legs, ankles, feet, and hands continue to be swollen.
• Mommy has started writing the baby letters as well as reading up on newborns.
• Mommy and Daddy are getting more excited every day to meet their little boy!
• Baby's cousin (mommy's sister is having a baby) is due in 4 weeks!

29 Weeks

Today marks 29 weeks in my pregnancy! Only 11 more weeks to go!

Since my last post, we all celebrated Christmas and New Year's. This year it was exciting to ring in the new year...the year we would add a little boy to the Flamme family. :) Christmas was celebrated in Indiana this year with Brian's family. We enjoyed spending time with them and sharing traditions. It was funny how often people said. "Next year's Christmas will be SO different for the two of you." We look forward to it, I'm sure it will be a blast with our little boy. We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year celebration, too!

Currently, I am a bloated, water-retaining mess, lol. My hands and feet are both swollen 24/7. My shoes are all tight and I can no longer get my wedding ring on or off. My sweats and my slippers are my best friends right now. Heartburn is a daily thing and exhaustion has set in again.

The baby is doing great. He is doing kicks and flips every day. I can really feel them when I lie down. Sometimes it can be painful, depending on where he kicks or punches me. :) It is fun to feel his movement though. Our little boy's brain can now control his breathing and body temperature. His skin is looking less wrinkled as he gains weight. He is around 3 pounds now and 15 inches long.

We are set to tour another hospital this evening-Parkview North. We will then decide between Dupont and Parkview North and register for free classes to get us ready for this baby. We are slowly organizing things around here for the baby. Tight spaces make us creative!

26 Weeks

• Baby boy weighs 2 pounds
• He measures 9-plus inches
• This week his eyes start to open
• If baby spots a bright light or hears a loud noise near my belly, he may increase his activity (such as kicking or punching)
• His brain is more developed and sophisticated
• Baby is now kicking a lot and moving around quite a bit!

25 Weeks

• Baby now weighs 1.5 pounds and is 13.5 inches long.


• Swelling has started in...my wedding ring barely gets on and off


• Baby's hands are now fully developed and he can feel the sensation of touch


• His arms and legs have grown almost to the size they will be at birth


• Baby's capillaries, the teeniest blood vessels, are now forming in your baby's blood giving his skin a pink glow


• The structures of his spine are now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings, and some 1,000 ligaments...sounds complicated!


• Next doctor's appt is December 20th for my glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes


• Enjoy the belly pic!

24 Weeks

Hey there!

This week marks my 24th week of pregnancy...or you could say 6 months! Everything continues to move along smoothly. It's been a pretty easy ride so far. Our little peanut is about 12 inches long now and weighs 1 and 1/3 pounds. This week alone he will gain about 1/2 pound! Things are starting to get a little more crowded inside the womb as the baby grows bigger and bigger. My ribs have started to hurt a little. Our little boy's ears are fully functioning now. He is getting used to the every day sounds inside the womb such as the beating of my heart and my lungs inhaling and exhaling air. He can hear our voices, too! I have read a couple of books to our baby already. His sense of balance is working now and he can tell whether he is hanging upside down or right side up. He can also feel me moving.

Brian and I are to tour a local hospital tomorrow. It's all starting to get very real! Somedays I am overwhelmed and others I am so excited to welcome this baby into our world. The double baby shower with my sister went well a couple of weeks ago in Colorado. We both received a lot of wonderful things and had a great turn out of friends and family. It felt great to be back home in Colorado for a week over Thanksgiving. The good-byes were very emotional this time...next time I see my family I will be a mom!

My sister and I at our baby shower

22 Weeks

Everything continues to go really well with my pregnancy! Thanks be to God!

The little peanut is moving around more and more every day (or at least I am feeling it more now). I'm so excited to meet him!

Looking forward to my trip to Colorado...3 more sleeps! Can't wait!

Here is a belly pic:

21 Weeks

I am now 21 weeks along in my pregnancy...so far, so good! Since I last posted, I have had my first ultrasound where the sex of the baby was determined. If you haven't heard yet...IT'S A BOY! :) My sister is also due to have a baby boy 1 month before me, so these cousins will be very close in age. We are having so much fun talking about our pregnancies and it's interesting to see how different they are. Everything looked good at the ultrasound appointment. The tech told us that he was 11 ounces and growing strong. It made me feel so much better to hear her say that everything looks great! Brian is ecstatic knowing he will be having a son. The name is a secret though Brian will tell you it is Peyton Manning Flamme. Don't believe him...it's not true. We do have a name picked out and we love it. Once we learned that we were having a boy, we got down to business and registered at Target. We had lots of fun looking at all the baby stuff, though I have to admit, I also stressed out a lot too. It's overwhelming, and you want to make sure you have everything you need for this new life you are bringing into the world!

Next on the agenda is a baby shower hosted by my mom. It is a baby shower in honor of my sister and me while we are home for Thanksgiving. I am anticipating this trip with so much excitement...I can hardly wait to fly out in 10 days!

Finally, enjoy the belly pic! :)

Halfway There!

Yesterday marked my 19th week of pregnancy which means I am halfway there! It's amazing how fast the time has flown and how much my belly has started to grow. It's fun to watch the growth from week to week. Unfortunetly, I don't have a new belly pic yet. My camera is out of juice at the moment. So until I get more batteries, you'll have to visualize me in your head as best you can, lol. I've definitely got a noticeable bulge though. Over this past weekend, I felt the baby move for the first time. It is very slight and you really have to pay attention to your belly. The other day I hadn't felt the baby until Brian came home and we were talking with each other on the couch. Then the baby started to kick-it was SO cute! Here is a little bit about baby this week:
Our baby's sensory development is exploding! The brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that the baby may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to the baby, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you. (I have read to the baby once.)
Our baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of the body now. The kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on the scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.
That's all for now. I hope to post a belly picture soon! :)

18 Weeks

Our baby's ears are now facing forward and are completely formed so she can actually hear us talking now. This week is also the beginning of ossification. And while that sounds like some long and involved paperwork you'd have to fill out, it's really a fancy medical term for the hardening of our baby's miniature bones. And that's a good thing. Our baby's nerves are making more and more complex connections. Her sense of smell, taste, sight and hearing are all developing. A substance called myelin, which makes nerve connections travel faster, is now coating our baby's nerves. Our baby now weighs between 5 and 7 ounces and is about 5½ inches long—about the size of a pickle from the corner deli. (I'm familiar with pickles, right? My regular accompaniment to a big bowl of ice cream? Just kidding.)
At about 18 weeks, I have begun to feel a suspicious flutter in my belly. The professionals call it "quickening," some call it "baby's makin' waves!" Within the next few weeks, those tiny bubbly feelings will become more obvious. And soon enough they'll be unmistakably identifiable—especially when I (and anyone within 10 feet of me) can see tiny feet, elbows and knees moving across your belly.

16 Weeks

It's official! I am now 4 months pregnant! Time sure has flown and by baby bump has seemed to grow by the minute! Here is a snippet about the baby from www.whattoexpect.com:
Your baby now weighs in at a whopping three to five ounces, and he's four to five inches in length. The bones that are now in place in his ears means he can probably hear your voice as you talk to your partner and pals and sing in the car. While he’s getting used to your voice, the tiny muscles in his body, especially the ones in his back, are gaining strength, so he can straighten out a little more. And thanks to his developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage. (Don’t worry, those frowns have nothing to do with the sound of your voice!) And his eyes are finally working, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light (although the eyelids are still sealed). Peekaboo!
I will soon feel the baby move....I'm so excited! :) I had a routine doctor's visit yesterday and heard the heartbeat as well as learned I gained a few pounds (but it's for a good cause!). The next time I see the doctor will be for my first ultrasound on November 1, and I hope to learn whether it is a boy or a girl! :) Then it's time to register for the little peanut. Everything continues to go well for me, more headaches lately, but still taking daily naps and putting my feet up often. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

15 Weeks

Today marks my 15th week of pregnancy!

Our little peanut is now the size of an orange! The baby is 4 to 4 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 1 3/4 ounces. At this time, the baby is starting to wiggle like crazy though I won't feel it for a couple more weeks. It may even begin sucking its thumb!

I myself find my bump growing a bit every week. I have gained a little more energy, though power naps are still wonderful! I am now starting to learn to sleep on my side; it will pay off later as I get better, I hear. I have always been a stomach sleeper so this should be interesting! Something special happening this week...my parents are coming for a visit from Colorado. I am so excited! I cannot wait to see them and show them Ft. Wayne. They will be here for an extended weekend. It will feel so good to have them here. :)

Here are a couple of pictures to share: Enjoy!

14 Weeks

This week marks my 14th week of pregnancy. Here is a little info about the baby:

Baby's now the size of a lemon!
Our adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine, and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys, and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over his/her body for warmth.

Something sad happened this week...my family dog, Bailey, was put to sleep. She was 14 years and 18 days old. Our whole family is sad...and mourning in different ways. My mom and dad were with her when her heart stopped beating, while my sister and I are miles away. I truly don't think this death will impact me until I go home for Thanksgiving and she's not there. She was a best friend and a dear family member, and I will miss her more than words can say. She meant something different to all of us. Each of us had a unique relationship with her. I have been out of the house now since I started attending college, and I have always wondered what Bailey thought. Why is she leaving? Where is she going? Is she coming back? Did I do something to send her away? And yet, Bailey would always greet me with a wagging tail and a million kisses. No matter how long I had been gone or even that I had left. She remembered me. It breaks my heart to know I did not get to say a final good-bye to her. When I last saw her in May...I knew it may be my last but I prayed it wasn't. I know she knows I loved her very much, and yet I feel as if she just didn't understand I had to leave home to live my life. Has any one seen the movie Hachi? The dog goes to the train stop every day to wait for his master to return and one day the master doesn't return because he dies. The dog still goes to the train every single day to look for his master, his best friend. He goes for years and years. Wondering where his master went. That's how I think Bailey felt...wondering where I went and when I would come back. Regardless, I love her and I will miss her and I know she was very loved and very happy while with our family. Good-bye, Bailey.

Welcome 2nd Trimester

I am now officially in my 2nd trimester and it thrills me! I'm ready to feel like myself again and have more energy! Here is a belly pic:

Clothes are beginning to feel even more snug and I change into my sweat pants as soon as I walk through the door! I am so thankful everything continues to go well with me and the baby. Thank you for all of your prayers. They mean so much to me. I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl in about 5-6 more weeks! :)

We're Expecting!

The secret is out: I'm going to have a baby! :) Brian and I are super excited about having a little peanut added to our family soon. Today marks 12 weeks for me and the baby. Hard to believe how fast time has already flown...seems like just last week I was at the doctor confirming the fact that I was pregnant. To the left, you will see a picture I took this morning of my baby bump. Here are some more highlights of the past 12 weeks:

~My family received a phone call to hear the news(due to the distance factor). Brian's family received bibs wrapped up in gift bags. You should have seen the looks on their faces. :)

~Shared the news with my co-workers at the daycare via a work meeting

~Symptoms? Headaches, nausea, back aches, acne, emotional highs and lows, and fatigue

~No longer tutoring...just working at the daycare

~Plans are in the works for a double baby shower at home in Colorado in November! My sister is also pregnant...due 1 month before me!

~Milestone: Last week, Brian and I heard the baby's heartbeat! Simply amazing...

~This weekend I bought my first maternity item for my new wardrobe at Kohl's and today shopped online for new pants due to my expanding waistline :)

The first 12 weeks have all in all been fine. It was not as bad as I was expecting, and I wasn't as sick as I thought I would be. Brian has been a great support system and is there when I need a shoulder to cry on (for no reason at all of course!). We're very excited about having a baby and we appreciate all of your prayers. We do hope to find out what the sex of the baby is eventually. Then I can go shopping! :) Our due date is March 25.

More updates to follow in the coming months...

June/July Happenings

Sarah Jacobsen and I on the 4th of July at a Tin Caps baseball game in Fort Wayne

It was HOT!

At the end of June, I attended "Wedding Daze," a seminary wives' event where we got together to talk about all things wedding! I finally put wedding pictures in my scrapbook to take along. Here are some snapshots of my book: