week 6- Baby 2

I am 6 weeks and boy to I know it!  I have had a rough week.  This week I have had many food aversions. They are so bad that I can't plan out a weeks worth of dinners because I never know if I will actually be able to eat it.  We have ended up going to the store every other day after I can figure out what I can stomach.  I don't remember having so many food aversions when I was pregnant with Miss Ava.  Although, even though I was pregnant this time last year, that pregnancy is a blur.  I remember being nauseated, but I don't remember it being all day.  Another difference is that I could eat Cheerios and that would help me feel better when I would be nauseated.  This time there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of anything that really works and takes the nausea away. 

Last night I was really sore in my abdomen.  I am sure those were round ligament pains.  It feels like your stomach has done a workout and let me tell you, there have been no stomach workouts over here! 

I had one night of very painful heartburn.  Thought I was having a heart attack.  It hurt really bad. 

I feel like such a bad mommy.  I don't feel like playing much and I just want to hold Ava and hope that she is ok with just hanging out with me on the couch.

I feel like a horrible wife because there has been NO cleaning coming from me.  I mean NONE!  I have no energy and get sick feeling.  Poor Curtis!  But he is doing an excellent job of picking up my slack! 

At 6 weeks until you see that baby on an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat, you wonder if you really are growing a baby.  I find comfort in the nausea because it is a reminder that there is a little someone growing in there, but wish I could be handling it better than I am.  I am truly thankful for this little life and to God for giving us another opportunity to parent.  But, I will say, I am ready for the 2nd trimester to come.  I am ready to have some energy back and not feel so icky.  I am sure Ava and Curtis are ready for that, too. 

Ava is 7 Months old

Ava Elizabeth

7 months

July 5, 2013

 

 

Ava is 7 months old today.  She is discovering more and more every day.  She is such a pleasant baby.  She can entertain herself for quite a long time.  She hardly cries unless she is hungry or tired or being laid down instead of being held.  She is still super cuddly.  Mommy has spoiled her with holding her during nap times and she doesn't want to go to her crib for naps without a fight.  So, we are trying to get back into the naps in our crib routine.  I just love holding her when she is sleepy and I realize that she won't always want to be held and cuddled.  She is somewhere over 17 and a half pounds.  She wears size 3 diapers and is in 6-9 month clothing.

 

Ava is growing her first tooth.  I keep trying to snap a picture of it but I haven't had any success.  She has handled teething like a pro (so far...).  She puts her thumb in her mouth and plays with this new thing in her mouth.  She has also discovered that her mouth and roof of her mouth can make a new noise and so she smacks all the time.  It is loud and she does it at inappropriate times which can be quite embarrassing.  She isn't crawling yet, but she rolls around everywhere.  She rocks on her hands and knees but hasn't put them together on how to get around.  Her favorite places to roll-the wires of the tv and shoes.

 

She loves to play.  Whether she's bouncing like a crazy woman in her bouncy chair or playing with her stacking rings, stacking cups, elephant, baby doll, and caterpillar she keeps herself very busy.  Her favorite stuffed animal would be her elephant that we got from a student of mine (Thanks Annabelle!) and she LOVES her rings.  She hasn't figured out how to stack them on, but she can take them off like a pro and chew on them. 

 

 

 

She likes to suck her thumb and hold her lovie blankie also from an old student (Thanks again Annabelle) When I am holding her as she falls asleep she likes to twirl my hair.  So sweet. 

 

 

She eats stage 2 foods and gerber puffs.  We also give her yobaby yogurt.  She has oatmeal in  the morning and I don't think she is a huge fan but I give it to her anyway. 

 

 

She sits in a high chair and a shopping cart.  That has made shopping so much easier.

Some of my favorite things about this month:

~how happy she is in the morning when I get her. She kicks her legs and giggles.

~listening to her talk to herself in the crib

~her sweet voice

~she giggles and chuckles when she gets picked up by someone because she loves to be held

~how happy she gets in her bouncy seat

~her face when she hears songs like Jesus loves me.

~her temper when you take something she wants but can't have away

~her smiles during prayers

~how she makes changing her diaper near impossible

 

Here are some other cute pics:



It's for real!!!

We went to the doctor today. I am 5 weeks and 4 days along. Baby has a due date of February 24. So, it is actually happening. I'm excited but scared all at the same time. 241 days to go!!!

Week 5 Baby Number 2

I am in week five! Only 242 days to go!  Tomorrow we go to the doctor to confirm that I am having another baby.  I think after 4 positive pregnancy tests it is pretty clear, but I still like the doctor to give me  confirmation. 

I am not feeling too many symptoms yet.  I am a typically tired person, but I will say I am much more exhausted than I normally am.  I find myself sleeping every chance I get.  Needless to say, the house is a mess and dinner isn't always prepared, but I've gotta get my sleep.  I have also had a craving for  big, juicy steaks and I've had a couple moments of nausea.  However, I am not completely sure if I was nauseated or just hungry. 

I am still in complete shock over this.  Completely excited, but also worried.  Worried about money, time, and my ability to be a mother to two young children.  I am worried about the pregnancy and if I can keep up with Ava and praying for a healthy baby. But the thought of another baby also brings much excitement and happy thoughts. 
I can't believe this little one is going to be a big sister!

UP FOR ROUND 2

We are pregnant!...AGAIN!!!  I never imagined it would happen this fast after Miss Ava..infact there were thoughts that I may not have any other children (that is the fear and negativity that resides in me).  I never felt pregnant when I decided to take a test.  I wasn't even late with my monthly friend.  I just had this weird gut feeling.  On Wednesday I kept thinking about it and getting excited about it.  I woke up at like 3 am thinking about it and being excited.  While I was awake at 3 in the morning, I was thinking about it and my stomach like lurched.  It was like God was telling me "Mandy, you are!"  So Thursday morning I went back and forth trying to decide if I should go buy a home pregnancy test.  After feeding Ava her bottle, I decided to go get one.  We came home and I immediately took a test.  I remember thinking, God I know I am not, so when it says "NOT PREGNANT" can you please hold off my monthly friend until after we go tubing Saturday?  The timer went off and I walked into the bathroom and looked and it said PREGNANT!  I couldn't believe it. COMPLETE SHOCK I TELL YA!  I fell into the doorframe with some tears starting in my eyes and was like NOoooooo...really?!?  Then I said "Thank you, God." I looked around at Ava in her bouncy seat and told her she was going to be a big sister. 
Curtis and I had decided earlier that we were going to have this one be a secret until after the first trimester.  But I couldn't hold it in.  Within a couple of hours sooooo many people knew...I have such a big mouth.  But it was my secret to tell so who cares, right? 
So now the fun begins.  Praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby. 

Ava is 6 months old!!!!

 

What an absolute blessing these past 6 months have been watching this little lady grow.  Every day she brings such joy to everyone she comes in contact with.  She is very social unless she has just woken up.  It takes her a little while to get with it after a nap.  However, there are times when I get her from the crib and I see this:

Life does NOT get any better than this!   So as you can see, she is sitting up on her own now.  She loves to sit up and  play with all her toys.

 

 

She can entertain herself for quite a while for a 6 month old.  I am quite impressed and hope it is a sign to how attentive she will be in school for her teachers. 

This month she got to go to Ohio for her great grandmothers 90th birthday!  She was so good on the drive and during the trip.  She hardly took any naps and was still so pleasant.

 

 

She has also been going to the pool!  She seems to enjoy the water and doesn't mind it all in her face and eyes. 

 

She has been moved from the BUMBO to a highchair.  I couldn't take anymore of her bending over in the BUMBO and eating her toes while I was trying to feed her.  She does well in her highchair.  It is also nice because I can put her in that with some toys and she will sit there while I do dishes and clean the kitchen. 

 

Some of mommy's favorite memories about Ava's 6 months:

~sitting up  independently for the first time

~loving on mommy when she was crying because she was sad

~her sweet little voice

~her face when she tries a new veggie

~how cute and chunky she looks in a bathing suit

~her first temper tantrum when she got the remote taken away from her

~her cuddles before naps and bedtime

~her giggles at her silly mommy

~her excitement over a few, select songs

~how distracted she gets when she is drinking her bottles

 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from her 6th month:

 

 

 

How great the Father's love for us!

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1
How great is the love that our Heavenly Father has lavished on us, that He calls us back into His arms, even after we have wandered from Him?  Even while we are lost God is searching for us...He still sees us when we are far from Him.  He never lets go...His steady hand holds on tight to us, but we are the ones who lose our grip on His.  I love the story of the Prodigal Son.  I have been that person.  I have wandered (multiple  times) from God's truth and His perfect will for me.  I have said things that breathed death instead of life into others.  I have gossiped to be in the loop.  I have lied to cover up my shame.  I have watched things and sang songs that were not things that would help me be the best I can be for God's kingdom.  I have accepted lies instead of God's truth.  I have allowed myself to be entangled in fear, anxiety, and worry.  I have coveted what others have.  I have judged others instead of fixing the many problems I have....(these are just to name a few).  But God still wants me.  And every time I accept that my name is Mandy Alford and I am a sinner and I acknowledge my sins, God welcomes me home and wants to celebrate with me.  I know He is celebrating because I suddenly am at peace with myself.  I am holding tight to His truth. I am in a continual conversation with Him.  I sing praises to Him.  He is celebrating with me.  I am not deserving of this love that God so willingly gives to me and I did nothing to earn His grace.  But He doesn't care about that.  He just wants me...all of me.  And when I realize that -He celebrates.  And He wants you, too.  We bring smiles to His face and make His cheeks dance with laughter every time we grab on to His unfailing hand and allow His grace to wash over us.  What a glorious God! 

Father,
Thank you for the love you have covered us with.  Thank you for loving me even when I am unlovable to everyone else in this world.  Thank you for your perfect gift of grace.  Thank you for your son who took on my shame.  By His wounds we are healed!