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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

18 Week Bump Check

18 Week Bump Check
December 31, 2013



how far along:  18 weeks

size of baby:  according to the bump a sweet potato, about 5.6 inches long and weighing 6.7 ounces.  Baby is starting to move all over the place, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, yawning and swallowing. 

maternity clothes:  Yes, wearing my smaller maternity jeans, my favorite maternity leggings and a couple maternity shirts quite often.  Makes me feel more comfortable than squeezing into my normal clothes. 

weight gain:  5 pounds.  One pound than I gained at 18 weeks with Lola, but I started out 2 pounds less, so I guess I’m okay with that.  ; )


symptoms: Feeling good! Starting to get bigger and bigger!  

looking forward to:  Our ultra sound in a couple weeks!


exercise: Still doing The Pregnancy Project, but not as much as I would like to. Hopefully I kick my butt in gear soon!


cravings/aversions:  Well, still not eating as well as I would like to. Hopefully the the second half of my pregnancy I will be a lot more motivated to, especially since it’s the New Year! 


movement: Starting to feel little kicks and jabs!! So excited, it never gets old!  

sleep: I still can do that half on belly, half on side position, but that probably won’t last long. It’s the most comfortable for me though. Definitely can’t lay on my back anymore without feeling sick. 


gender: Either a girl or boy! ; )


worries:  Trying not to worry about anything, it’s all in Gods hands. 


what's different this time:  Still very similar! This is the week I had my first pass out last time, and luckily no signs of that. Knock on wood! 


milestones: Umm… Making it 18 weeks without any pass outs sounds pretty good to me!


best moment this week: Celebrating New Years with great friends! 


     


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

16 Week Bumpdate!

       16 Week Bump Check
December 17,14




how far along:  16 weeks


size of baby:  according to the bump an avocado, about 4.6 inches long and weighing 3.5 ounces.  Baby can now hear my voice, is growing hair, lashes and eyebrows and is forming taste buds.

maternity clothes:  Yes, I started wearing maternity pants around 12 weeks although I still fit into my regular jeans they are sooo much more comfortable on my growing uterus.  


weight gain:  0 pounds.  I got the flu a couple weeks ago and actually lost about 4 pounds but I gained that back and now am at my normal weight. 

symptoms:  Feeling a lot better! Around 13 weeks my nausea went away, so that was amazing. I get a little dizzy if I stand up too quickly, but I had that last time as well.  I broke out around 13 weeks, but that went away, so that is good news. Other than that.. I’m feeling pretty darn good and actually forget that I’m pregnant quite often. 

looking forward to:  Seeing the baby again! 


exercise: I just started Tracy Andersons pregnancy videos and I love them. I’m avoided running and all that jazz this time around, but I’ll be anxious to get back to that after this little sweet pea arrives.  


cravings/aversions: Now that the nausea is gone I’m not AS picky, but the pickiness is definitly still there, still not a fan of eggs, but I think I’m going to force myself to eat them soon. Of course I crave all the unhealthy things like bagels and pretzels and all the lovely carbs. Oh and of course cookies, but hey it’s the holidays. ; ) Going to give them up after the new year though, need to start eating better for this little, gal, guy.  


movement:  Starting to feel little tiny jabs here and there!  


sleep:  Good, I’m starting to feel a little nauseous if I lay on my back, which I know I’m going to have to stop doing anyway. My uterus doesn’t look that heavy, but I guess it is! LOL


gender: Jake thinks girl, I think boy, dad thinks boy, mom thinks girl, Sister thinks boy, Jane thinks boy, Nikki E, thinks girl, and those are the guesses I can remember. lol


worries:  Trying not to worry about anything, it’s all in Gods hands. 


what's different this time:  So far a very similar pregnancy, I guess the only difference is I keep forgetting I’m pregnant because I’m a lot busier.  


milestones: In our second trimester! 

best moment this week: Starting to feel the baby!!





Friday, December 13, 2013

Finding out, AGAIN!



 October 4, 2013


Today I found out that I was going to be a Mother of two. What a wonderful, exciting and a little ( probably not as much as I should be) nerve-wrecking feeling. This time finding out was a little different than the last. Last time it was more of a surprise.  Jake and I were more like, well if it happens it happens, kind of thing and It happened quick and we didn't expect that at all! This time we couldn’t wait for another baby and in September decided to actually “try” for number two. Last time I took the test I was already 5 or so weeks pregnant and the test was positive right away. This time, I was miss impatient and took a couple test way too early. The first two were negative and even though I knew it was early there was a little disappointment. I felt pretty silly being disappointed considering we JUST started trying. Well, I took the 3rd test on October 4, (about 5 weeks pregnant) and it was positive!!! I had just waken up from a dream that I took a test and it said positive so of course I had to take one and see what would happen. It was about 4 in the morning and I was half asleep, but curiosity got the best of me. The test read positive right away and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had convinced myself that it wasn’t happening this time and that there was always next month! I was sooooo excited my hands were shaking. I wanted to wake Jake up and tell him right away, but I wanted to do something cute, so I decided to wait.  I had ordered a shirt off Etsy a couple weeks prior that said "only child" with an x through it with "Big Sister" written underneath and was going to put it on Lola and show Jake as soon as we got pregnant. I know, I was a little too excited.  Well, it hadn’t come yet, so I decided to make my own! I went and got one of Lola's plain white onesies and designed the lovely message myself. Yes, it was early, but I had so much adrenaline running through me there was no way I could go back to sleep.  So I decided to make Jake pancakes and bring Lola out in her lovely homemade shirt while he was eating. I video taped it with my phone, it’s pretty cute. I handed Lola to Jake and it took him only a second to realize what her shirt said and he said "What?! Are you pregnant?!” tears starting to form and I said “Yes” =) and then there were tears and hugs and a whole bunch of happiness. Since it was about 6 am I put Lola back to bed and we went on with our day, with happy & thankful hearts. 


I hope you know how excited we are for your arrival Sweet Pea, 
You are a dream come true. 
Mommy and Daddy love you SO MUCH!












Friday, November 8, 2013

A Letter to Lola





October 21, 2013


Dear Lola,
     I can’t even put into words how incredible this last year has been with you in our lives. I have always dreamed of having a daughter, but never could I have imagined she would be as beautiful as you are, inside and out.  My love for you is greater than you will ever know or understand, at least until you have a child of your own one day. Anyone that knows you at all, knows you already have such a sparkling personality. You have the ability to put a smile on the face of any stranger. You make your father and me two of the happiest, proudest parents that this World has ever known, and you’re only one!

One year old, I still can’t wrap my head around that. It has been a whole year since I heard that first mousy cry and seen your beautiful face for the first time.  Since then, your father and I have been on the best journey of our lives. We absolutely have adored watching you grow from a tiny, fragile newborn into an independent, smart, silly (almost toddler).  I feel so blessed to get to spend each and every day with you and cherish every moment of it. You amaze me daily. I love watching your little mind work and I am in awe. You are spunky, you are stubborn, you are sweet, you are so many wonderful things.  When you are asleep I miss that mischievous little smile, you know the one you give me when I tell you not to do something, but you just really really want to do it anyway.  Or that curious little mind of yours that loves to get into any and everything. And even your hot headed little moments, because we know you have those as well. You are a determined little thing, a woman who knows what she wants and I have a feeling you are going to keep me and your father on our toes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 I wish that we could hold onto your youth forever. I know that you are growing faster than we can keep up with. Soon you will have morphed into a beautiful woman and have amazing children of your own to adore. This letter will never be enough to describe the love we have for you. I hope you know how wonderful life is with you in it and how much you are loved.  You have made our lives complete and for that I thank you so so much, sweetheart.


Love your mommy & Daddy

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

10 Weeks


Pictures to come, although I look exactly the same as I did at 10 weeks with Lola Rae. Hoping to come up with some kind of idea for this little bean soon!                    


how far along:  10 weeks


size of baby:  according to the bump  a prune! Now He/She is about 1.2 inches long and weighs about .14 ounces. The body length will almost double in the next three weeks. 

maternity clothes:  nope 



weight gain:  0 pounds.  This week will be my starting point.  I’m actually 3 pounds lighter than what I weighed at 10 weeks with Lola.  I gained a total of 33 pounds with Lola and this time around I would like to gain no more than 30, but we shall see how that goes. ;)

symptoms:  Most of the fatigue is gone, thank goodness. The nausea really kicked in around 7 weeks and peaked around 8. The last two weeks I have noticed it already getting a little better. The last time it went away around 12 weeks, so I’m really counting on only two more weeks of it. I forgot how not fun feeling nauseous all the time is.  I guess I didn't have a one year old to take care of last time. ; )


looking forward to:  feeling like my normal self and not so nauseous or fatigued.  

exercise:  Hmm I have kind of been in a slump lately. Not running as much as I would like to, but hoping to pick that up soon, since I’m starting to feel better.  I did run a 10k when I was 8 weeks pregnant and had a decent time, especially for wanting to puke during the race. I had a half marathon at 9 weeks and you can just say I took that one real easy. Right Nikki? Wink Wink.


cravings/aversions:  Lots of aversions. I used to eat eggs every morning for breakfast and lately I have a hard time even making them for Lola, but hopefully that will go away, because I need my protein! I have just been really picky and I hate it. I hope that goes away soon!! 


movement:  nope.  I first felt Lola at around 16-17 weeks so of course that is when I expect to feel this little bean. 


sleep:  Fine, other than the fact that I get up to pee about 2 times a night. I’m not used to that. My little angel lets me get plenty of sleep every night, so I am just thankful for that and enjoying it while I can!  


gender:  Currently thinking boy, for no reason at all.  We are not finding out the sex with this one either, it’s just too awesome of an experience. Plus, we would be more than thrilled with either sex.  I know I want to have a boy some day, but I'd LOVE a sister for Lola, especially close in age. Time will tell! 


worries:  Trying not to worry about anything, it’s all in Gods hands. 


what's different this time:  I’m glad I kept a journal with my last pregnancy. It’s nice going back and seeing how I felt each week. So far both pregnancies seem to be very similar and I’m curious to see if it stays that way.  Obviously this time around I can’t just lounge around if I’m not feeling very well, I have a very active one year old to take care of. Luckily, she is a very easy kid, for the most part and loooves her sleep. Whew! 


milestones: Heard the heartbeat and saw the cutest fetus in the World, wiggling around. 


best moment this week:  Seeing our future son or daughter pop up on that screen. Your heart just falls instantly in love. & Hearing the heartbeat, of course.  It’s such a comforting and magical sound. 












Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Special Announcement!



                    Baby number two is due 6-3-14!! We  are so so so so excited!!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Lola- One year old



Lola Rae
One Year


I can’t believe how much things have changed in only a couple months. You have turned into a little girl, not a baby anymore. You are active, you are clever and you are the silliest. Where do I even begin?

At your one year check up you weighed in at a whopping 16 pounds and 27 inches. You are certainly our little peanut.

Miss independent. That is who you have become in this past year. You like to do things on your own, you like to get to places on your own and it makes me proud, yet a little sad at the same time.  You don’t want to be carried around, you’re not a fan of just being held.  I miss those days when I could hold you in my arms like a little baby and rock you. Those are moments are few and far between. If I’m lucky I’ll catch you when you are really really sleepy and you’ll let me rock you for a little bit. I mean, for the first 6 months of your life you were constantly held, and I’m so glad I soaked up those moments when I had the chance. Now, you are constantly on the go go go!


You are definitely on the move, but not walking yet. You can make your way around any piece of furniture in a flash.  You just are not confident with yourself enough to take those first couple steps.  I am in no hurry however, you can take your sweet time little girl. You can now really take off on your walker. You are so happy and proud of yourself when you cruise around the room with that thing. You can stand on your own for a couple seconds. Usually you don’t realize you let go, but when you do, its PLOP on your bottom.

Nursing. I’m not sure how I got so lucky, but you sort of weaned yourself.  My goal was one year and you stopped 5 days before your birthday.  At 9 months you started only nursing about 4 times a day, then 10.5 months only about 3, then around 11 months only morning and night and then 11.5 only morning and then 5 days before your birthday, it’s like you just forgot about it and woke up and never asked for it. I think my milk supply was slowing decreasing with the pregnancy and all, so that probably helped out a bit. Yes, it made me sad, but not as upset as I thought I would be. The fact that we will not share in that bonding experience anymore and you are getting older and more independent makes me sad.  And yes, I love nursing, but knowing that I will get a little break before this next baby comes along is pretty nice.  I’m just thankful for the bonding time we had and that you are happy and content with the whole situation.

You love to eat, nobody believes how much you can eat until they see if for themselves. I guess you stay so tiny now because you are so active.  Dr, says you will be a petite little thing, but there is nothing wrong with that. ;) Your favorite foods are bananas, eggs, strawberries, blueberries, and zucchini. We started giving you whole milk and you love it, so we lucked out there as well. We try to feed you as healthy as possible and all organic, you are food spoiled for sure.  We need to stop eating out so much, when you see a server walk by with a food tray you lose your cool, I think people think we starve you.


You’re a goofball. You have SO many funny faces. You are so animated, I have no idea where you get it? ;D My favorite is your sweet/shy face you make when you tuck your chin into your chest and look up with those adorable pouty eyes. Oh my, you can certainly get whatever you want with that look.

Language. You’re language is developing like crazy, both vocally and your sign language. The words you can now say are “ma ma”, “mom”, “da da,” “il-e” -Lilly, “Lola”, “ba-oon” -balloon, “dog”, “wow”, “woah” ,“no”,  “blah blah” -banana, “uh oh”, “du” -duck, “hi”, “boo”- book, “ball”, “nin-e”  (paci) and maybe more that I can’t think of this second.

You hardly ever say hi or bye, which is a little weird to me, but you looooove to wave hi and bye with  great enthusiasm and to anyone.

Words you can sign- milk, dog, eat, more, all done, drink, bath, baby, bird, duck, music, shoe (we made up a couple) , “where is it?” and “bonked your head”

You are such a happy baby. You love to squeal and giggle and when you smile your nose crinkles and your eyes get squinty. I love that face. You love being chased and tickled and you love to tickle your daddy. You two are soooo adorable.


Sleeping- Since 8 months you have been the perfect sleeper. You have always been a good sleeper, but around 8 months is when you started sleeping for about 12 hours straight. You go to bed around 8 and wake up around 8-9. You demand your banana first thing, so I give you a banana while you wait for me to make your breakfast. You eat and then play for a whole hour, then it’s ready for nap time around 10:30- 1-ish. Then you get up eat lunch, play play play and then you’re ready for your nap again around 2:30-3 and sleep till around 5.  You will start to lay your head down on things or sometime you will even crawl to your bed and pull out your frog and “nin-e”.  Or I will say “Lola are you ready for your nap?” and you get so excited, sometimes you will crawl to your room when I ask you that. You never fight your sleep, I lay you in your ned, give you your frog and “nin-e” turn your sleep sheep on the rain sound, tell you I love you and shut the door.  I seriously do not know how I got so lucky, but thank you, thank you, thank you little one. Now, will you teach your brother or sister how to do the same please? The only downfall, you will not sleep anywhere besides your own bed or your car seat. Traveling is sometimes a pain, because getting you to sleep in your pack m play is not always the easiest.  Sometimes I even wish you would sleep with us! Your father and me have tried to set up a pallet on the living room floor and lay you down with us but you will not have it, you love your bed/bedroom too much. You will fight sleep until we give up and put you in your bed and then you are out before we shut the door. Like I said, miss independent.


You’re my little explorer. You love to explore any and everything. If you have never seen the object before you must touch it and check it out.  You are a lot better about not putting everything you grab in your mouth and if it’s something you don’t think you should have in your mouth you take it out and hand it to me. You are also very good at listening to me when I tell you not to put something in your mouth or to take something out of your mouth. If you are heading somewhere you don’t think you are supposed to be going you shoot me a look to see if you’re going to get away with it.  And 90% of the time you will still head that way even though I tell you not to. Little Stinker. You’re pretty good at entertaining yourself. You can get lost in your own little World with just a couple bowls and spoons.  When you want me you crawl up my legs and say " say “mom” “mom” “mom”. Yes, when you want me you say “mom”, not “ma ma”. Not sure how that happened, but you’re too little to say “mom” already. ;(







Watching you grow over this past year has been the sweetest experience of my life and I cannot wait to see who you will be a year from now.

 Mommy and Daddy love you Peanut.





Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday, July 22, 2013

{Week 29}



Project 341 {Week 29}
 

9 Months

  9 Months
(7-21-13)
My little bitty baby girl is three quarters of a year old today, and she isn't so little bitty anymore.  I can slowly (but more quickly than I like) see the baby fading away and her moving closer and closer to being a toddler.  

Even though my baby is turning into a toddler and not so much a baby she is still my little Pnut.  She is shedding her baby fat and looking more and more like a petite little girl. She had her 9 month check up this month and my little girl weighed in at 14 lb 14 oz (5.57%) and 2 feet and 2.12 inches (6.52%) So, yeah, she is a shrimp. 
Even though Lola is teeny tiny, she LOVES to eat. She has been self feeding herself since she was about 6 and a half months old and is doing great at it. This kid loves to put anything and everything in her mouth anyway, so go figure she would be a pro at eating. She has never turned down a single thing, including brussels sprouts. Hopefully she will have an amazing pallet one day. She can suck down one of those food pouches in about 10 seconds flat. I still make her food, but the Dr. says she can eat more table foods. I have been giving her eggs, bananas, green beans etc. for awhile,  Im scared to try anything else, but I guess we need to venture out more. I mean, the kid still has no teeth or signs of any soon. Thank goodness, mommy is still nursing, about 4-6 times a day. She also does great with a sippy cup, that took her about 10 minutes to figure out, but so did throwing it on the ground and having mommy pick it up.
Along with eating, the kid loves her sleep. She will sleep about a total of 12 hours a night. 5-6 hours straight, nurse than another 5-6 hours. Plus two naps a day. I can’t complain. She needs to be rocked to sleep though, but I cherish those moments. She has her nights where for some reason she will wake up every couple hours just for me to rock her a couple minutes then passes out. Im guessing gas? 

She had an interesting month with separation anxiety and would absolutely not let anyone except mommy or daddy hold her. Not even the grandparents. She would reach out for me and cry “ ma ma ma ma”.  She usually did okay, if I wasn’t in sight, but not always. That really only lasted a month and a half. She has recently gotten a lot better, but is definitely a mamas girl. 
Strangers love to comment on Lola's eyes and hair.  Most often we get a  “wow, she has a lot of hair!”,  “wow look at those big blue eyes”  “What, a doll!” You should see her daddy’s proud smile. It makes me grin when I hear people as they walk by and talk about what a beautiful baby she is. Proud mama, yup, sorry. 
She definitely keeps me on my toes. Sometimes she will do great with playing by herself on the floor, but for the most part, I need to be right there beside her. Her favorite toys are her balls and standing ball machine, or really anything she hasn’t played with yet. She pretty much wants anything that is off limits, remotes, phones etc. 
If there is a string or piece of dirt on the floor she will find it and put it in her mouth. Lets just say vacuuming is a daily activity around this house. 

She still has a pretty interesting crawl. More like an inch worm, but if she see something she wants she will get there. She pulls herself up on everything now.  Recently, I will go to get her out of her crib and she will be standing waiting for me. Or she will be sitting play with her “froggy”. In the middle of the night, when I go to get her she is on her belly, fussing. Too sleepy to sit up, I suppose. 

 I love watching her learn new things. I will ask her where certain objects are in her room and she has started to point at them. It makes me so giddy. Even the fact that she can point, is the cutest new development.  She won’t always point though, sometimes, for example I will ask where the dog is or da da and she will turn and look at them, but she knows what I’m talking about, which is so cool. 

Speaking of dog, she can sign for dog and say it! I’m pretty sure she said duck in the bath tub one day, but hasn’t said it since. She is an expert at ma ma and for some reason da da turned into ga da, but it works. When I say the word ball or book she likes to make a raspberries with her lips.  When I tell her “no” she just looks up at me and repeats “no” no” and I can’t help but smile at that sweet innocent face, so I’m not sure if she will ever learn what the word means, ; ) 
She has started to dance (bobble up and down) when music comes on, which might be my new favorite thing. She also can clap on command. If you start singing “If your happy and you know it” she will finish it up with a nice little clap. So cute. All of these things she likes to do on her own terms, so it drives me nuts when she is stubborn and won’t “show off” for me! haha Thank goodness for the video camera!

Lola is fascinated with bubbles in the bath tub. Most of the time she will try to eat them, go figure. The first time I made her a bubble bath she got some on her arm and looked at them with the most confused look. It was histarical. She has always seemed to enjoy her bath, but now that she takes one like a big girl it is probably her favorite place to be. She loves to splash and chew on her rubber ducks. Ill ask her where is the seals nose (her bathtub is a seal) and she will point to it.  She is not a fan of drying off. I usually try to distract her with the lotion bottle while I dry her hair and put lotion on. Once she is dressed she is a happy camper again. 


I’m loving this goofy, little personality she is developing. Watching her grow is honestly the neatest experience of my life and it just keeps getting better. 

Other cute random things she does
*Open mouth kisses (only for mommy and sometimes daddy)
*Smiles and kicks her legs like crazy when daddy gets home
*Loves to make any weird nose you can think of,  with her mouth
*Cracks up when I pretend to suck on her paci, then she continues to try and shove it in my mouth
* Fascinated with taking all of her books out of the basket
*Loves her “tweet tweets” above her bed 
*roars like a lion (that lasted a week or two for some reason)
*blows raspberries on my legs
*pants like a dog, when she gets excited
*’sings’ along with mommy (la la la) 
Miss Lola, mommy and daddy think you're the greatest.  Just keep being you :o).  Happy nine months my happy little girl!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Monday, July 8, 2013