32 Weeks

32 Weeks

 

How far along? 32 weeks and 0 days.

How far to go?   56 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 BUT C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH! So really I have 7 weeks and 1 day left.

Baby? Sally is probably 3 1/2 lbs. about the size of a cantalope.  She is about 16.7 inches long.  She is definitely taking up a good portion of my uterus right now.  From this point on Sally will be growing the fastest she has ever grown.  She has finger and toenails now and if she has any hair, it should be there by now.        

Maternity Clothes:  Lately I just want to wear my jammies and loose tshirts or tank tops.    

Stretch Marks: I am noticing them a little on my stomach and elsewhere...

Pregnancy Symptoms: I have to use the restroom often.  I also have been having major middle back pain, heartburn/indigestion, hip pain, breathlessness, slightly nauseous, few headaches, sore lower abdomin, some periods of itchiness on my tummy (especially around my c-section scar, and some other unmentionable pregnancy symptoms.

Sleeping:  I wake up often on my back and then I wonder how long I have been laying that way.  I toss and turn a lot and have to go to the bathroom quite frequently.  I am often hot while sleeping so I don't sleep with many blankets, sometimes none.      

Best feeling this week:  Normal glucose results and playing with Ava and being reminded of how precious these lives are

Movement: Sally Jean moves a lot.  Her existence in my belly is very noticeable.  She rolls, kicks and hits.  Last night she got be in the ribs.  I swear it was so hard, I could hear the kick.  Sometimes it feels like she is kicking on one end and punching on the other end all at the same time.  She also makes weird, frequent movements in my lower abdomin.   

Cravings/Aversions:  chocolate and peanut butter....nothing really healthy.  I really want some root beer, too.   

Belly Button: In, but it is a little more pushed out than normal.

What I miss: I miss sleeping on my stomach.  I miss not feeling so huge and heavy when I walk around.  I miss not feeling like I might bust when I bend over to pick things up off of the floor.   

What am I looking forward to: I am looking forward to having her room done...if that ever happens. 


I went to the doctor the day after Christmas.  I saw Dr. Wicker.  He is the one who delivered Ava via c-section and he will be the one to deliver Sally via c-section, unless she decides to come early.  I told him I felt huge and he said I was measuring right on target.  He also said that all my blood results and glucose results were normal.  At this point in the game, I am 168 lbs.!  YIKES!!!!  That is a lot of weight.  I have never weighed that in my life and hope to lose it as quickly as I can.  It didn't help that I gained so much weight after I had Ava.  I hope that I can get back to walking more regularly once I am given the okay and that I can begin making much healthier, safer eating and diet choices.  

Author and Perfector of Our Faith

The Author and Perfector of Our Faith 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith.  He is writing our faith story.  That is how I read those verses today. 

I am always wondering about what story do I have to tell.  What is my great testimony? What is my faith story?  Truth is, I don't know.  Fact is, it is not done yet.  Jesus is still writing it and perfecting it.  What I have failed to ask myself as I have wondered about my faith story is, Am I writing this story or is God? 

The answer to that-I have spent most of my life getting in the way of letting God write my story.  It's a control thing.  I think that I have to plan out every aspect of my life. I think that I have to know exactly what is going on.  I think I know what is best for my life.  But where has that gotten me?  Nowhere, really. 

Instead, I am constantly seeking this huge story.  I think my faith story has to be extravagant.  Some unforgettable, life-changing sequence of events that makes me this memorable person who changed so many lives.   

The truth of the matter is, my faith story may not be anything extraordinary.  I look at Katie, who is over in Africa.  I don't know her at all.  But her stories I read on her blog are amazing, moving, and make you want to be a better person. You should check her blog out: http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/    That may never be what my faith story looks like.  But I need to remember that is okay.  I tend to minimalize the job that God has given me-to be a mommy to Ava and my little one who is on the way.  And parenting is a tough job (and Ava is only a year old).  I don't want to just be Ava's mom, but I want to make sure that Ava is being shown by example how to be a godly woman.  In this world we live in, that task is daunting.  Downright scary. And I am so imperfect.  I fail at godliness daily.   Maybe my raising of Ava and Sally are going to be a big part of my faith story.  I don't know.  But I am learning that is doesn't have to be some huge story that captivates everyone.  I just need to captivate God and I need to allow Him to do the writing and perfecting of that story. 

30 Weeks

30 Weeks

 

How far along? 30 weeks and 2 days.

How far to go?   63 days

Due Date: February 24, 2014 BUT C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH!

Baby? Sally should be about 3 pounds. She should be about the size a head of cabbage. She is approximately 18 inches and 3.2 lbs. according the the What to Expect app.  However, I am wondering if my baby is a bit bigger.      

Maternity Clothes:  I basically live in my Maternity Skinny Jeans and boots.  I also love my cotton long sleeved shirts from Target's maternity section.   

Stretch Marks: I am noticing them a little on my stomach and elsewhere...

Pregnancy Symptoms: I go to the bathroom a lot! I am having a few headaches.  My lower abdomen hurts at times.  I sometimes have sharp pains there.  Definite backaches all over my back, especially my left hip.  I am very forgetful and sleepy.  Not a lot of energy is coming my way.  There are a few other things going on that I won't mention on here....embarrassing!

Sleeping:  I have noticed since recent events have come and gone (haha) I am able to rest much better now.  I have to sleep on my side and am finding myself more comfortable on my left side.  Getting from one side to the other is comical I am sure for my husband to watch, but annoying when he is asleep and I am moving and shaking the bed as I roll way one to the other.     

Best feeling this week:  Getting my 3 hour glucose test over with...and now we wait....

Movement: This little lady hardly ever needs me to do a kick count because she moves so much.  I feel her so well.  I feel like I feel her much better than I did Ava.  I am wondering if it is because my placenta is in the back of the uterus this time instead of the front like it was with Ava.  Or, is Sally just measuring bigger than Ava did.  I hope it is my first idea rather than my second idea. 

Cravings/Aversions:  Sweets, bread, and I am enjoying mangoes. 

Belly Button: In, but it is a little more pushed out than normal.

What I miss: I miss not worrying about if I am doing anything or not doing enough of something that could be hurting or helping Sally.   

What am I looking forward to:   I am looking forward to seeing Sally from head to toe and counting her fingers and toes and meeting a healthy, well developing little girl. 

The 3 hour glucose test was not fun.  I know it is not the worst thing to have to do in the world, but I would rather not have to do it ever again!  You have to fast for 10 hours before hand and then they draw blood for a fasting blood draw.  Then you drink a nasty, sugary drink (just like the one you do for the one hour screening). You have 5 minutes to drink it. Then they draw your blood every hour from the minute you finished the drink.  So, you get a total of 4 blood draws and you just pray that the person drawing your blood is good and gets it the first time.  3 out of 4 times I got my favorite person who draws blood in the lab.  I was also told I look like I am about to pop and that I looked like I was having twins since I have 9 weeks and 6 days left to go.  NICE!

Ava's First Birthday

Ava Turned One!

 

Ava's birthday party was on December 7th, 2013 and it was a success.  I was worried that it wouldn't be special enough, because we didn't go all out.  I only got balloons and toule to put around her high chair as decorations.  We also had pictures of her around the kitchen table and rolling through on the TV.  Curtis and I made owl cupcakes, chicken salad with crackers, chips and salsa, Turkey and Cheese sliders, cheese and pretzel sticks, lemonade, water with lemons, various sodas and coffee.  My mom made Ava's owl smashcake.  It turned out perfect!  The whole thing.  We had family and some close friends there.  We kept the guest list small, but it was perfect.  She loved all the attention. 

 

Ava wore a Lolly Wolly Doodle dress. It was green with white polka dots.  I pinned a red bow on it to dress it up a bit more and she was supposed to wear a red head band, but that didn't last long...shocker. 

 

 

She went with me to get her balloons from Party City.  She got to watch them blow them up and she kept saying "oooooooh." The ladies there were surprised she wasn't scared of the noise because most kids her age are.  But, Ava is fearless of most things. 

 

 

She got to play with her big cousins and get held by lots of family and friends on her party day.  She didn't show much interest in opening her presents.  She wanted to walk around.  Mommy opened most of them with the help of her niece, Maddie.  She gots lots of cool new toys and cute clothes.  Mommy was super excited about the new toys because mommy was getting bored with the same old toys we have been playing with the past year. 

When we sang "Happy Birthday" to her, she sat in her chair looking at everyone confused and somewhat bashful.  We put the cake in front of her and at first it looked like she was going to dive in, but she took her merry, sweet time.  She liked the taste of it and really enjoyed the oreo cookies on it.  One time I took the cake plate away to see what she would do and she was not in favor of me doing that.  After it felt like an eternity for her to demolish the cake, we took it away.  Aunt Kelly and Daddy took her for a much needed, immediate bath.  Aunt Kelly got bath duty for the encouragement she gave Ava to wash her hair with cake and icing all over her hands.  Mommy was a basketcase as the mess kept mounding.  I am a little OCD with mess.  Mommy and daddy were pleased to see there were no allergic reactions to the cake.  We worry about these things, because we hadn't exposed her to that stuff.  We were waiting on her first birthday, but we still don't want to fill her belly with junk.  I want her to get to liking fruits and veggies first before she likes the unhealthy stuff. 

 

 

Ava was spoiled with gifts and love on her special day.  I am so thankful for those that came over to our house on their Saturday afternoon to watch a one year old open presents and take FOREVER to eat some cake.  It meant so much to us that they would want to be a part of her special day. 

 

12 Months

12 Months

 

My dear, sweet Ava is 12 months old now.  We have been blessed to have her in our lives for a whole year now.  I can't believe it.  I was pretty emotional over it, and being 28 weeks pregnant doesn't help with the emotions.  While we were waiting to give her a birth minute kiss (I know...dorky) Curtis and I were looking at her 1st month pictures.  It is so amazing how much she has changed since then.  It seems just like yesterday we were meeting her for the first time.  Oh, how I love that little girl. 

 

Ava is growing by leaps and bounds.  Her one year checkup is on the 13th, so I don't have official weight and growth measurements, but she seems to be doing well and growing.  She is wearing 12-18 month clothing.  She is in size 4 diapers.  She is still drinking 3 bottles per day with 8 ounces of formula and/or milk.  Often we do half in half in each bottle.  So far we have seen no milk allergy, but she doesn't seem to be too big of a cold drink fan.  We are still struggling with food.  I think it is mostly a mommy problem.  I want to give her big people food, but I worry because she doesn't hardly get any of it into her mouth.  It either ends up on the floor or in her high chair seat.  It leads me to think she isn't getting enough nutrients.  So I feel better when I can feed her myself the baby food.  Right now, it just seems easiest over me worrying.  I hope her doctor can point me in the right direction here and I hope Ava is growing as she should so I will know that what we are doing is okay for now until she is more open to eating chunkier food.  She is also still not a fan of holding her bottles, and I admit, I still enjoy giving those to her.  I worry about when little sis comes and me having to give them both bottles, but I don't want Ava to grow up too fast.  I just don't know if it is something I should be pushing or not. 

 

Ava is a full time walker and has gotten so fast this past week.  She sometimes looks like she is about to take off running.  It's pretty cute and she is such a toughie.  She falls and gets right back up, no fuss.  She has learned at the beginning of her birthday week that she can get up without needing mommy, daddy, or a chair to help her.  She just pushes off the ground. 

 

She made a trip to Ohio during her 12th month for Thanksgiving.  She adjusted well to her schedule there and the long car ride.  She was very happy even when she missed her naps.  She is a trooper and so flexible. 

 

Ava likes to say baby and bye bye.  She says mamee and dada for mommy and daddy.  She still doesn't say it without being prompted.  Sometimes she will say all done.  She is constantly babbling and talking (in her own way).  She is so expressive...not sure where that comes from ;)  Her mommy's side of the family is extremely expressive in all they do.  I love when she is really trying to tell you something and she gets this serious look on her face and her eyes are real big and she is nodding at you as she "talks".  She loves to play peek-a-boo.  She has discovered she can hide behind the curtains and play peek-a-boo with us.  It is cute.  She still likes to sit in her bouncy chair and go crazy in that.  Not sure when the cut off date for that is, but she still likes it and sometimes it allows mommy and daddy to eat without being interrupted.  She has also learned to use her brush to "brush" her hair. 

 

She is catching on to the concept of "No" and she listens when she wants to.  I have been surprised with the small amount of time she spends trying to get into the Christmas trees.  She will attempt occasionally, but she does it a lot less often than I anticipated. 

 

She has been upgraded to a transition car seat.  I don't think she is going to make it to 2 years sitting rear facing because her legs are getting so long. 

 

This child usually has a smile on her face.  When she doesn't, it is either because she is super tired or something didn't go her way. 

 

Her nighttime routine is still effective.  She has become so wiggly during story time.  She enjoys the stories, but wants to move around the chair too.  She loves mommy's voices as she reads and loves when the book has a song involved. 

 

Things I have loved about this month:

~Her constant babbling

~Her serious talking face

~Her giggles

~How she has to have something in her hands when she is walking around

~Her love for tupperware

~How she sucks her thumb and play with my hair with her other hand

~How she likes to hold hands when she is eating and sitting in her carseat.

~She finds things in Disney movies humorous

~How she is such a ham!

~She doesn't mind sitting to put on shoes...I think she feels like a big girl

~Her open mouth kisses

~When she just walks up to you while you are doing something and gives you a hug







28 weeks

28 Weeks

How far along? 28 weeks and 6 days.

How far to go?   days to go!

Due Date: February 24, 2014

Baby? Sally should be about 2.5 pounds and 16 inches long. She should be able to hiccup, cough, practice breathing, and suck now.  She should also be dreaming during the REM cycle of sleeping.    

Maternity Clothes:  I am in maternity clothes all the time now.  I LOVE my maternity skinny jeans.  

Stretch Marks: I have a couple on my belly and other places...:(

Pregnancy Symptoms: my hunger never seems satisfied, I don't feel like anything I eat converts to energy, tired, sleeplessness, braxton hicks, sciatica on the right side, and a few unmentionables.

Sleeping: I have not been sleeping as comfortably. I get up atleast 2 times per night to go to the bathroom. I toss and turn....this little booger lays right down on the bladder.

Best feeling this week:  Sally kicking me so hard it hurt...just a reminder that she is in there and growing and active. Hearing her heartbeat.  Her heart rate was 136.

Movement: She is a mover and a shaker.  I haven't had to sit and be quiet to do her movement counts because she moves a lot.  She is loving the bladder.  Lindsay, the midwife, said she isn't head down, which doesn't surprise me.  The girl seems all over the place.    

Cravings/Aversions: I am craving much of what I don't need to be eating. 

Belly Button: In.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night and not be in pain when I am sleeping. My hips start to hurt when I lay on my sides too long. Unfortunately, laying on your sides in the recommended way to lay instead of on your back.  And there is no possible way I could sleep on my belly...there's a big bulge and a sweet baby in the way. 

What am I looking forward to:   Figuring out what we are going to do with Sally's room.

This week I was screened for gestational diabetes.  I failed.  My numbers were 143.  I can't remember what the cut off is for pregnant women.  I was extremely upset over the news and cried and pouted most of that day.  I now have to go to the 3 hour screening to see if I actually have it.  That is scheduled for 8:45 on the 16th of December.   

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Ohio

We had a wonderful time in Ohio for Thanksgiving.  This was our first road trip since Ava has started walking.  On our way there, she wasn't too thrilled and I was worried it was because of her new car seat, but really I think it was because she doesn't like being confined now.  She did a great job on our way home, though. She didn't fuss at all!  We were really proud of her.  She enjoyed showing all my family her new skill at walking and getting into everything!  She also showed them how she likes to drop to the ground when something gets taken from her or she doesn't get her way...little turkey.   She slept wonderfully at nights and did great during the days when she didn't always get her normal 2 naps.  Mommy and daddy were tired...those little legs can wear an adult out! 

Ava in the car seat on our way there!

The ride there was a little yucky.  It snowed almost the whole way and the wind was really scary.  I was seriously worried the car may tip over.  It didn't help to see a semi-truck tip over and thankfully, the guard rail saved him from falling over the mountain.  I was glad to get out of those mountains.

Anyway, it was so great to be with family.  I LOVE my parents and siblings, but I also love my extended family in Ohio.  It is amazing how we can be so far away from each other, yet have such a close relationship.  I wouldn't trade them for anything!  We were able to laugh and enjoy each others company and while one very important person was missing, our grandpa, we were able to laugh and tell stories about him. Thanksgiving evening, we watched OLD home movies of all of us.  It was awesome to see our grandpa right there in the middle of all the kids playing.  He was a great grandpa and he is dearly missed.  Looking around at all of us while watching those movies, hearing all the laughter, I couldn't help but think of how proud he is of us and how he was looking down at us so glad we were together and he was probably thinking, as he use to say, "Yep, Look at what I started!"

Ava sitting in a high chair that has also sat 18 other grandbabies and great grandbabies

On Friday, I got to see my aunt Candy and Uncle Ken, my mom's sister and husband.  It has been a long time since I got to see them.  They got to meet Ava for the first time.  She had a great time walking around their big, really cool house! It is a old horse stable converted into a house...really neat.  I use to LOVE playing over there.  It was funny to hear her and mom talk about their childhood and I was so thankful I got to see her...it has been too long! 

We headed back on Saturday instead of Sunday because we were worried traffic would be horrible on Sunday, which I am sure it was! As always, it was hard to say goodbye and tears were flowing in all three cars.  We stopped at our usual Bob Evans before crossing the Ohio State border and we got some pictures of the kids in front of the wagon that is dressed up for Christmas. At one point, Ava needed a diaper change, and I did not want to stop. We were about an hour away from home, so I got the bright idea to change her in the car seat.  Would not have been so bad if there hadn't been poop hiding in there.  I will NEVER do that again!  It was awful, but, needless to say, it did get done! 

Ava and her cousins in front of the wagon at Bob Evans. 
The house in the background is where Bob Evans use to live. 

 

 

We had a great time and I am so thankful to God for keeping us safe and allowing us that time together.  Now, time to get ready for Ava to turn 1!

Ava playing on our way home

She's walking!

As of November 17, 2013 our little girl, Ava Elizabeth, became a walker.  It has been bittersweet.  While I am thankful that she is growing and developing like she should, it also means my little girl is growing up.  She never ceases to amaze me.  Every day she surprises us with something new she has figured out.  I am extremely proud of her. She is my precious girl and has been such a bright, shining light in our little family. 

26 Weeks

26 Weeks

How far along? 26 weeks and 0 days.

How far to go?  98 days to go!

Due Date: February 24, 2014

Baby? Sally should be about the length of a eggplant (15 inches) She probably  a little over 2 lbs.  Her lungs should be fully developed by now, but she isn't ready to breathe on her own. She may also be practicing the art of sucking her thumb.

Maternity Clothes: I am wearing maternity shirts under some button up shirts...of course the shirts are not buttoned up because of obvious reasons. I also enjoy wearing leggings and workout pants. When at home and have nowhere to go, I sport some pj's.   

Stretch Marks: I have noticed some but not on my belly....

Pregnancy Symptoms: hungry ALL THE TIME, weight gain,  leg cramps, pure exhaustion, breathlessness,  dry skin and brittle nails (ugh...where is that pregnancy glow?), hip pain, mild Braxton hicks (no tightening of the belly, but I feel my insides tighten), heartburn and indigestion, clumsiness, nasal congestion, uncomfortable sleeping, have to pee all the time.

Sleeping: I have not been sleeping as comfortably.  I get up atleast 2 times per night to go to the bathroom. I toss and turn....this little booger lays right down on the bladder.     

Best feeling this week:  Good visit with the doctor. Everything is progressing well. 

Movement: The girl moves.  Of course, this morning, I spent much of my time trying to be still and quiet because I hadn't felt her move in a long time.  I always get worried and stressed over that.   

Cravings/Aversions: I'm loving me some milk these days.

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out! Belly is about the size of a soccer ball.

What I miss: not feeling like I am going to bust open when I bend down to pick something up.

What am I looking forward to: I am looking forward to getting my glucose screening over with and hopefully getting good results. 

What a Lucky girl am I!!!

Being a mommy to an eleven month old and 6 months pregnant I am worn out...exhausted...beat...stick a fork in me...I'm done!  I try, try, try to get things done around the house,  but I can't.  Physically can't!  After Bible study and chasing around a baby all day...playing all day, keeping her out of cabinets (because no we still haven't baby-proofed the cabinets), trying to just laugh when tempers flare, saying the word "no" more yesterday than I have ever said in my life...I felt like I was quickly dissolving into a big puddle of nothing.  

Yet, there were still so many things left to do.  Thankfully, I had leftovers from the dinner from the night before so I didn't have to make dinner.  That was a blessing.  I had laundry to get done, fold, put away, carpets to vacuum, floors to mop, furniture to dust, baby to feed, floor to clear of toys so I could vacuum, dishes to be hand-washed and a load to put in the dishwasher.  I sat there thinking, "How does a family of three, with one of those being 11 months, make such a mess?" 

Then, as I was feeding Ava, she ABSOLUTELY refused her baby food, so I had to figure out what to try and feed her instead.  I sliced an apple into little shreds, cut up some cheese and cooked some peas.  I was glad that she wanted to eat that, but I am realizing that I am going to have to get a lot more creative with what I feed her.  I am actually going to have to cook meals...I HATE cooking...baking I L.O.V.E. but cooking...not so much.  I have been spoiled with the little jars of baby food that Ava would usually eat for me.  Maybe, though, with her eating more real food it will force me to eat healthier...here's to hoping.  

After all this, I just knew there wasn't going to be much of me left to get anything done.  Feeding a baby can be tiring, maybe torturous is a better word.  Anyway, I texted my dear husband for a favor.  I actually asked him if he would mind vacuuming for me when he got home.  I just didn't think...no, I knew I couldn't get it done. He texted me back with a sweet reply of "Of course!".  How blessed am I to have a husband who is willing to help out in such a way.  He worked all day, got home around 7, after driving through a yucky wintery mix through horrible traffic, had a lot to accomplish that day at work, came home and happily ate leftovers that he heated up himself, and helped put Ava to bed and then, after I was in my pj's and in bed, he went downstairs and vacuumed the carpets!  Ava and I are sure are lucky girls!!!!

Ava is sicky

My little one got her first bug.  We didn't know it for about a week, although signs were there.  You would think we would have thought something was up but we didn't. 

After days of Ava refusing to eat or drink her formula, I grew frustrated and took it out on her.  I felt awful after the fact and wish I would not have behaved in such an unloving way, but I did.  I felt even worse when I found out she was actually not feeling well.  Sunday night, I had thrown up.  I thought it was either something I ate or just weird pregnancy stuff.  Anyway, on Monday, I was still nauseous all day and Ava vomited just about her entire first bottle.  It worried me.  I wondered if there was something we had both eaten that could have caused us both to get sick.  The only thing I could come up with was cheese (which Curtis had and he was fine) or apple juice.  I threw away the apple juice.  Then, she ate minimally that day.  It was a struggle getting anything into her system.  However, she wasn't running a fever and she was playing perfectly fine so I thought she was ok.  Tuesday morning when I went to get her, there was vomit on her crib sheets.  Again, she was acting fine with no fever.  She just wasn't into eating.  I chalked it up to teething, because she was getting a new tooth and finishing up another tooth.  But the feeding just got worse and worse and as it got more horrible, I got more and more frustrated and didn't know what to do.  I got mad at her...an 11 month old, my baby girl.  Wednesday and Thursday there was a runny diaper and I thought then, something could be wrong or I could be doing this feeding thing all wrong.  I decided to make an appointment.

When we got to the doctor Friday, Dr. Hight said her tummy sounded very irritated and her throat was very red.  My poor baby and what a horrible mom.  I had been forcing my daughter with a sore throat and upset stomach to eat and getting mad at her when she wouldn't comply.  I remember actually thinking her lack of eating and fighting us with it was a  sign of defiance.  I teared up in the room with the doctor.  I felt horrible for not thinking she was sick and thinking that, instead, she was just being a bad behaved little girl. 

I was told to give her some Tylenol and Culturelle (probiotic) to get some good bacteria in her system.  I give her the Tylenol 15-20 minutes before she eats and it is going so much better.  I am also feeding her food before her bottles which has given us a little more flexibility.  She is doing much better and I am so thankful.  I am not forcing her.  If she doesn't want it, then ok.  She is going to be ok.  I just have to keep telling myself that. 

I have learned to not assume that she is being bad.  I know there are going to be times when she is older that she will do acts of defiance, but the way I handled what I thought was an act of defiance, is not how I want to be.  I want to be more understanding, listen and consider there could be something else going on. 

25 weeks

25 Weeks

 

How far along? 25 weeks and 0 days. 

How far to go?  105 days to go!

Due Date: February 24, 2014
 
Baby? Sally should be about the length of a celery stalk (13 inches)  She probably weighs about 2 lbs.  She can open her eyes under fused eyelids and can notice sounds and light.  Her brain is becoming more developed and intelligent. She sleeps about 80% of the time.  I notice with Sally that she is very active after I have eaten and when I am laying on my side to get ready to go to sleep.   
 
Maternity Clothes:  I am wearing maternity shirts under some button up shirts...of course the shirts are not buttoned up because of obvious reasons.  I also enjoy wearing leggings and workout pants.    
 
Stretch Marks: I have noticed some but not on my belly....

Pregnancy Symptoms: hungry ALL THE TIME, weight gain leg cramps, pure exhaustion, breathlessness, pulse beats harder and faster, dry skin and brittle nails, hip pain, mild Braxton hicks (no tightening of the belly, but I feel my insides tighten), heartburn and indigestion, clumsiness.

Sleeping:  I am sleeping more comfortably this week. I still sleep with my boppy.  I feel like I am not waking up as much to go to the bathroom.   

Best feeling this week:  Curtis being able to feel and see her move. 
 
Movement: Miss Sally is a mover and a shaker.  I have been feeling little kicks and punches.  I can even see the movement when I look at my tummy. What an amazing feeling. 

Cravings/Aversions:  I don't feel like I am reacting well to Mexican or too much dairy.

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out! Belly is about the size of a soccer ball.
 
What I miss: not feeling guilty over eating uncooked cake, brownie, cookie batter.
 
What am I looking forward to:   I am looking forward to figuring out what Sally's room is going to look like.  We have really slacked on this compared to Ava.  I had Ava's theme before I even knew I was pregnant.  Haha...so different with Ava. 



 

11 Months

Ava is 11 Months!!!!

 

One more month and we will be celebrating one year with this little lady!  I am in shock over this.  I have been guilty during her 11 months of looking back at her newborn photos and videos.  How I miss those little coos that she would make and those hours upon hours she would sleep.  How I only would have to worry about a bottle every 3-4 hours and no food in between.  While I love all of her and everything about her, I can't help but reminisce in those early days that really were sooooo easy!  I hope that I won't take a second of it granted with Sally. 

 

 

This month has gone by very quickly.  Ava has really grown this month and made us laugh at some of her silly new things. 

 

She dressed up in her first Halloween costume, as none other than an owl!  She was the cutest little owl ever.  It only seemed fitting that since that is the theme of her room and she has so many owl stuffed friends, that her first Halloween she be an owl.  We just walked around Lake Park with my parents, brother and niece Ashleigh and Ashleigh collected her candy since Ava is too young for that junk.  

Aren't I a hoot?

 

Ava has started taking steps from one person to the other.  She has a hard time, though, because she gets so excited that she starts bouncing and just falls on her bottom.  She is doing well at using one hand to hold my hand and walk.  It's pretty cute. 

 

Ava is trying to say things like: nite nite, bye bye, God, yay, clap clap clap

She also attempts to make animals sounds like: woof woof, meow, moo, baaa.

She still doesn't say mama and daddy discriminately.  :(

Ava loves Winston

 

Ava reading Brown Bear Brown Bear to Winston
 

She loves to listen to music and she will either bounce to it or sway back and forth.  Also cute!

She loves her push toy and pushes it all around the kitchen, around and around the table and into the living room.  We also got her a tunnel that she lies to crawl in and out of, especially when daddy is looking at her from one side.  She still loves all cords and wires.  She also loves the tupperware cabinet.  She has a great time pulling it all out and leaving it all over the floor. She loves to carry around these two plastic circles and she bangs them together all day.  I don't know.

 

 

This month she has been hit with a nasty cold and some kind of bug.  She freaked mommy out because mommy had been throwing up the night before and the next morning Ava spit up basically her whole bottle. That whole day I think she only got like a total of 8 ozs. of formula.   She was not the same after that and looked sleepy and threw up her food during the night and just wasn't her normal self.  It made me sad.  Luckily, she didn't have a fever but you could just tell she was not her normal self.

 

Ava has learned to do "silly face".  Oh my word, adorable.  It took her like 3 tries to learn what that meant.  Smarty pants.  I wish she was that quick to understand what NO meant. 

 

I was told in nursery she told another little boy "No no", when he was getting into something he had been told not to.  So...she is good at dishing it out, but not heeding her own advice....who else does she know that is like that?  Hmmmm.....

 

She picks EVERYTHING off the floor and eats it.  Ewww....it doesn't matter how many times I sweep or vacuum.  She finds something somewhere.  Daddy says maybe we should just throw her food on the ground and she would eat it then.  I am starting to think that may not be a bad idea...half of it ends up there anyway. 

 

Ava getting ready to eat

I am not sure what she is weighing these days...just hoping she is gaining the appropriate amount of weight.  She is wearing 12-18 months clothing or 18-24 months.  She drinks 3 bottles each day with 8 oz. in them.  She wears size 4 diapers.  Her headbands are not fitting her anymore. Her head is too big.  She has her 2 top and two bottom teeth and is working on the 2 teeth next to her 2 top teeth.  They hurt and she does bite...she just bit me as I was trying to get something out of her mouth and now my pointer finger has no feeling in it and is tingly...that can't be good....

 

 

  Some of my favorite things about this month:
~blowing kisses when we go bye bye
~sitting on my lap and really enjoying the books being read to her
~her excitement when we make voices when we are reading
~her silly face
~how social she is
~her intense look when she is really trying to tell us something but we have no clue what she is saying

Ava swinging at Squirrel Lake Park

 

24 WEEKS

24 weeks

 

How far along? 24 weeks and 1 day. 

How far to go? 111 days to go!

Due Date: February 24, 2014
 
Baby? Sally should be about the length and weight of a pineapple.  12.5 inches; 1.5 lbs. 
 
Maternity Clothes:  I need new clothes to fit in....I have one pair of jeans and even my "workout" pants are uncomfortable because they won't pull over the belly so they lay under it on my C-section scar.   
 
Stretch Marks:  Still am not noticing any

Pregnancy Symptoms: hungry ALL THE TIME, weight gain (because I am hungry all the time and Sally is growing), leg cramps, pure exhaustion, breathlessness, pulse beats harder and faster, dry skin and brittle nails, hip pain, mild Braxton hicks (no tightening of the belly, but I feel my insides tighten).

Sleeping:  I am sleeping more comfortably this week. I still sleep with my boppy.   

Best feeling this week: All those little movements from her.  Seeing my belly pop around from her. 
 
Movement: Lately, Miss Sally seems very active.  She moves a lot.  I don't know if I just feel her better because the placenta is on the backside instead of the front like it was with Ava.   
 
Cravings/Aversions:  nothing I want on a daily basis...

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out!
 
What I miss:   my clothes!
 
What am I looking forward to:   Seeing Sally and seeing for myself that she is ok. 
This week I contracted a bug or something.  I began throwing up Sunday evening and felt very nauseous all day Monday.  I woke up feeling fine Tuesday until I drank some milk.  Ava has also contracted a little bug.  Poor little dear. 



Motherhood

It's 3:57 am...Curtis' phone goes off with a text message at 1:45 am and here I am...awake...I need my sleep...desperately.  I go through this often.  The smallest of sounds will wake me up and I am up for the rest of the night.  The checklist going on and on in my mind.  All the things I have to get done and without any sleep...and then I am completely overwhelmed. 

Motherhood...how it has drastically changed my life.  I no longer sleep through everything.  I can barely sleep through anything.  I am always exhausted...always.  Taking naps or having that rare morning when I get to sleep in no longer rejuvenates me, but leaves me more worn out and tired.  And when was the last time I sat down to a hot meal and ate without any interruptions?  At least not in the last 11 months. 

Now I have a little girl who is really showing some independence.  Yesterday was hard.  She was in a mood, I was in a mood, neither one of us was feeling good, we were both extremely tired from the very busy week and weekend we had, mommy had lots to do, Ava wanted to explore everything that she wasn't suppose to, Ava threw fits every time mommy took something away from her she shouldn't have, Ava would rear back every time mommy picked her up and would cry, leaving mommy feeling unloved, incapable, and lost.  And asking, God where are You? I need You, so bad right now!

But motherhood was never a promise to be easy.  In fact, even after teaching classrooms full of 7 and 8 year olds, I think being a mommy is even harder.  And while being a stay at home mom is such a blessing and I wish all who wanted to stay at home could, it is not easy (despite what others may say).  Sometimes I feel like maybe I wasn't made for this...what is the point?  Why am I here? 

Don't get me wrong.  I love being a mom!  I love Ava!  I am truly blessed by her life and the one that is on the way.  I find these children as gifts that God has blessed us with.  But am I doing it well?  Am I making God proud of the way I am raising and taking care of this little one? How am I going to do with 2 little ones under 14 months old?  Can I make it happen? 

I read tonight that motherhood is about nurturing, loving, protecting, instructing, creating a place at home that allows the children to grow and mature in their relationship with Christ and to help them grow a heart for God and teach them so they are able to one day leave my home and live their life with fullness and meaning.  It is so hard to do this and to feel like you are doing a good job with a 10 month (almost 11 month) old.  You basically do the same thing every day and hope that she is catching on to something.  But as long as I am doing this thing called motherhood with love, self-control, and not with selfishness, then I am honoring God. 

That's all I want...I want to honor God with what I do.  I want to honor God with the raising of these children...after all, they are ultimately His.  He has just given them to me for this time here on earth to do all those things mentioned previously. 

So, if you are on the motherhood journey and are feeling purposeless, lost, frustrated, afraid, etc., remember to just love and nurture those kiddos.  Protect them and cultivate in them a heart for God and God will pour down His blessings upon you and remind you how great your job as a mom is. 

22 Weeks

22 weeks!

How far along? 22 weeks and 0 days.  My doctor said I am measuring a little ahead of where I am.  Woo Hoo!

How far to go?
Due Date: February 24, 2014 ( will C-section a week earlier) In fact, Kathy, my mid wife is looking into scheduling that right now with Dr. Wicker.  Yay!
 
Baby? About the size of a papaya (10.5 inches and 12.7 oz.)  She looks more like a newborn but is a really thin newborn.  Sally should have more of a sleep cycle now- 12-14 hours. 
 
Maternity Clothes:  maternity pants and maternity shirts, leggings and regular shirts.     I need to go get a few things. 
 
Stretch Marks:  Oh goodness!  I sure hope not!

Pregnancy Symptoms: I can feel my pulse all over the place, achiness in my lower abdomen, backache, bigger appetite, breathlessness, big belly, hot flashes, little indigestion, COMPLETE EXHAUSTION, weight gain (depressing)

Sleeping:  I am sleeping with the Boppy pillow to my right and a smaller pillow to my left. 
I only sleep with one blanket and sometimes I don't even use that.  I get so hot at night. I like to sleep in tank tops. This week I have had a few nights where I got the urge to "nest" and woke up in the middle of the night and got to work. 

Best feeling this week: Oh that heartbeat at 146 beats per minute and hearing her kick on the doppler.  Also hearing im measuring a bit bigger than I am and we are looking into scheduling my C-section!!!!
 
Movement: Yes, the past couple days this girl has been a wild thing. There were a couple days that I was worried because I hadn't felt her at all.  I asked Kathy about that and she said that was normal.  At about 28 weeks you should feel at least 10 kicks in a 3 hour period during a 24 hour day. 
 
Cravings/Aversions:  mandarin oranges, pasta with alfredo sauce, PB&J sandwiches

Belly Button: In...but belly...sticking way out!
 
What I miss:   I feel completely lazy.  I have some energy but don't want to clean or organize anything this week!  
 
What am I looking forward to:   Besides meeting her, seeing how she and Ava will get along.  I hope that Curtis and I can teach them to love one another and that they will play well together.  Someone told me today to raise them almost like twins.  I can maybe do that!