Five On Friday! {A Link-Up}

Hitting a new first with a five on friday link-up with the wonderful ladies of  a. liz adventures, carolina charm, hello! happiness, and the good life blog.

{one}

soaking in every spare second of time with just my girl as she will be joining the ranks of big sister any day. (though hopefully not until after Valentine's Day).

{two}

this polar vortex can move along now. snow I do not mind. cold, wind and ice everywhere - no good. especially for this pregnant girl with no balance and a baby toddler in my arms at all times.

{three}

cannot wait to spend some birthday gift cards on some new clothes for me after bambino arrives. all of these cute pins, and idea boards are making me itchy for some fun non maternity clothing.

{four}

need to learn how to accessorize outfits with things other than scarves. I love the look of big statement necklaces but never quite sure how to wear them.

{five}

this weekend we will be preparing away. deep cleaning the house, finishing up the big girl room for the official switching of beds (from ours to hers). and getting the last minute baby gear prepared. I will be so happy and less anxious about baby deux's arrival when this is completed. HAPPY WEEKEND.

So What Wednesday

Today I am saying so what if:

The weather is crappy outside. it has been. it's winter. it is to be expected. I am enjoying the occassional snow day and the long afternoons inside to do new things with my girl. We are preparing for our new addition. (which could come soon says the doctor). We are painting, doing crafts, coloring, and occassionally venturing outside for a sledding session. We drank our first hot coco with marshmellows, made cookies and muffins, and attempted our first movie. We are just enjoying the closeness of one another during this cold season. Our days with just one girl are coming to an end and we are trying to squeeze every minute out of the day to enjoy her to the fullest. I am sure our new adventure will be just as much fun with lots of laughter and joy, this season of easy afternoons and lazy evenings will be a thing of the past!

Happy winter.

(Though if I hear one person comment about how hot it is outside this summer, they may get a swift kick to the throat, just saying).

Almost Current (30 Weeks)

Thoughts on 30 Weeks (currently I am 32 weeks):

Dr Appt update as of Friday January 10^th. Baby is still measuring on the smaller side. Scheduling an ultrasound to check fluids and growth for next appointment.

Still feeling great. My belly seems bigger this pregnancy to me, however I am measuring much smaller - how does that happen?

Having fears of my water breaking at any moment. I am not ready to meet this baby yet. I need time to prepare myself and  I would like a healthy newborn, so praying we can hang on until at least 34 weeks.

Nursing is still going strong which is one of the hard parts about this pregnancy. It is now causing contractions - intense contractions and well I am on medications and monitors to STOP the contractions so I can see this ending not so well. Emotionally or physically. I still keep hoping and praying my daughter will wean herself. The less traumatic the better for both of us.

Still need advice on a double stroller. My preference is the Baby Jogger GT double. However is side by side better or tandem. Any moms out there with 2 under 2? or two 2 and under (as my daughter turned 20 months last week and will be hopefully 21 or 22 months when baby #2 makes their appearance). That being said she is tiny, think the size of a 12 month old.  Advice is greatly appreciated, in regards to the stroller issue. What works best for this age range? Activity? Storage size is not an issue for us however.

 

Still Catching Up (Weeks 24-29)

Weeks 24-29:

I am getting closer to real time and also closer to d-day. I am having the same complications as the previous pregnancy, lots of contractions, preterm labor scares and dialation. I have been put on modified bed rest with instructions to only be up to fix meals and shower. (I try really hard to follow these rules however I have a 19 month old). We do lots of playing on mommy and around mommy. I am still working (behind a desk or at home in bed).  I am being monitored closely.

C still nurses (though we have managed to reduce the sessions from 7 to about 3, occasionally 4) I categorize this as a win. I feel much bigger than when I was 29 weeks with my first pregnancy. I feel like I am carrying more out in front of me and not so much in the hips. Weight gain is about the same. Currently I am on two drugs to prevent preterm labor/ reduce the chances of it. Both are safe to be taken while nursing. Obviously not nursing is the goal but my doctor is perfectly okay with reducing and not causing stress to both her and I.

We have yet to prepare for baby #2. At this point in my first pregnancy everything was done and we had our baby shower the following weekend. I did pull out bins that needed sorting through and baby items that need to be moved and washed. It will get done. We have the basics, car seat, bassinet, and moby wrap.  At least the baby has food (me), a place to sleep, and a place to ride in the car. The basics are covered right? I do need advice, what are the best double strollers. I have been researching and researching and cannot make a decision. I need advice from someone who has used one.

Our to-do list has been growing and we are gearing up for a couple of busy weekends working on big girl room and nursery overhaul. I cannot believe that I will be (most likely) having a baby next month (in February)! My due date is not until March but the doctors stop the drugs at 34-35 weeks since their effectiveness drastically drops. My first pregnancy, C was born the day after. I anticipate a similar situation. However, that being said there is no guarentee. Baby could stay in place until 40 weeks. You just never know.

 

Weeks 21-24

The husband and I have been busy planning away.  Financially as well as physically. Where will big sister sleep? Currently she sleeps next to her mommy, in her mommy's bed. While I love this now I know soon it will get uncomfortable and disrupt our sleep. But do I transistion her now? Or when it gets uncomfortable? I do not want her to feel displaced at all.

How will we afford that second daycare bill? Man, daycare is expensive and call me particular but you had better have some outstanding credentials to stay with my prize all day every day. No Tom, Dick or Harry is ok for me. I want education and the more of it the better. And I want people, lots of people and children around. The more the merrier (this is from too many crazy news stories probably).

The belly is growing now. You can physically see the baby jumping away in there. Hand here. Foot there. I can even grab the hiney if positioned just right. But this babe is so different from big sister. Calmer. Less rolly poly more kick jab punch. Awake at different times and no hiccups yet. C had them constantly everyday all day (poor thing).

My weight gain has been slower this time, which does not surprise me with the way that C nurses still. My belly seems higher to me, and rounder. I have yet to compare pictures. This is all from memory.

I am finally comfortable telling people I am pregnant. I have hit viability. My baby has a chance to live if born now and that always eases my mind.

Just a few more months until we meet our sweet second child. I still cannot believe I am getting the chance to get another tiny human.

Week 20: Still catching up

Week 20:

I go to a maternal fetal specialist every two weeks and my ob every four weeks. The maternal fetal specialist does ultrasounds every visit. It has been amazing to see our sweet baby growing right before our eyes.

Big sister almost always accompanies me to these appointments. She sits next to me on the bed and stares in wonder at the screen repeating baby over and over. It lights me up. That and she scolds the doctor or ultrasound tech for touching my bare belly. She constantly tries to pull my shirt down.  She is going to be an amazing big sister. She kisses my belly and when prompted will point out the baby in mommy’s tummy. Sometimes the baby is even in her tummy. However this new baby has not stopped big sister from nursing, it may have even turned up her desire. She still nurses between 5-7 times a day. Let me remind you, I work full-time outside of the home. She goes to daycare for 9.5 hours a day and still manages to get up to 7 nursing sessions in. Advice on weaning welcomed. Aversion has set in. This breaks my heart since it makes something I enjoy feel awful in a weird way. It mostly only affects me if I cannot see her (in the middle of the night) or if she is having one of those will not unlatch nursing sessions (most often when she isn’t feeling 100%). Recently I have read that aversion can be linked to dehydration too so I have been trying to drink massive amounts of water. I still have hopes that she will self wean. I have attempted on several occasions to reduce the number of nursing sessions. SCREAMS. That is what I get and I cannot handle it so we are on her schedule for the time being.

Thoughts on being 20 weeks (more than halfway there if this pregnancy follows my last). I cannot believe how fast everything is going. Still amazed I am going to have another baby.  Both my husband and I are feeling more and more blessed!

On a side note, in real time I am 30 weeks today. Preparations for baby #2 are underway. Advice on the best double strollers for a smaller toddler and a newborn are appreciated. There are so many to choose from. Also advice on transitioning to a big girl bed are welcomed.

Let's start from the beginning

Pregnancy Notes Weeks 4-20                     

We found out I was pregnant, Friday July 12^th.  My first OB appointment was August 14^th. During the exam the doctor was a little concerned that my uterus felt so small. She was doubtful there was a viable pregnancy. She brought in her trusty ultrasound machine and took a look. Sure enough there was one beating heart and baby measuring right on track. 8 weeks. We did not announce our pregnancy to family until I hit the 12 week mark, and then we did not announce to friends, coworkers, acquaintances until close to 20 weeks. We had a few complications and I was unsure we would make it to viability. It is easier for me to process things internally. Once we hit 20 weeks I felt much more comfortable announcing.

 

Here we go.. Baby #2...

 

I hope to publish the rest of my notes that catch us up to today (currently I am almost 30 weeks).

SSW

It has been a while so why not on this frigid Wednesday join up for a So What Wednesday!

 

 

This week I am saying so what if:

 

• I laid in bed an extra 15 minutes. It is COLD outside and that is one of the first things I do, go outside to tend the animals. I am over winter.
• I am from the WAY northeast, and I do not like cold. There is a reason I moved south.
• all of my laundry is clean, dry and folded. It has not been put away yet.
• I am so thankful that this Friday I am off. Yay for altnerative work schedules.
• I am 29 weeks pregnant and have not yet started preparing for baby.
• My child is trying to potty train herself at 19 months old and I am not ready. She is still my baby. However, since she is so determined we will be in full on potty training mode soon. Sigh.
• I look at my blog frequently because I love the pretty design. I could not be happier with Jessica from Diamond Doll Designs. She is amazing.
• Thrilled that regular TV programming is coming back. Not that I have time. Thankful for DVR and the occassional snow day.

Head over and link up.

 



Twenty Fourteen

There is something about even years. I LOVE them. Is that odd? (chuckle).

2014 is going to be a big year for the W family. We are growing by one (soonish). My actual due date is the end of March however things seem to be progressing as they did with Baby Toddler C so most likely we will be having a baby NEXT MONTH. I cannot believe it. This has been the fastest 7.5 months of my life. (That I had every intention of documenting on this blog and well that didnt happen). A new year and a new start.

I am anxious, excited, filled with wonder and fear.

I am most anxious about how C takes this new adjustment. She is our world currently (and knows it). I am hopefully that she has been raised, thus far, to be generous and caring. She loves to momma her babies and adores our animals. I hope this caring nature falls onto her baby sibling. I pray she isnt resentful or too jealous. I hope she still loves her mommy as she did before baby arrived. Is this a silly fear?

I am anxious about leaving my baby girl over night. I have not left her for more than a few hours (for work) at a time. Never overnight and never with anyone other than her father. This terrifies me. Like to the point of "Can I just have this baby at home?" No seriously, can I? I hope Baby #2 comes after the safe point and no NICU stay is necessary. I pray the delivery is smooth and we are allowed to leave as soon as possible.  Most of all I pray for health for both baby and I.

All that being said, I am excited to start this next journey of our lives together. I am excited to watch my daughter become a big sister. I am a big sister and I loved and adored it, actually still do. My little sister was my favorite toy :) She still is, even though she is a momma to three handsome men now, she was and will always be my little sister.

Of course I am excited to see my husband welcome a new member to our family. He has become such a wonderful caring father. Our daughter adores him. It warms my heart and I cannot wait to see this happen again (and again Lord willing).

So cheers to a bright 2014.

New!

The New Year brought a NEW blog design. Jessica from Diamond Doll Designs did an AMAZING job. I could not be happier. She was so easy to work with and so quick! She came up with the perfect design, with very little information from me.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Now to work on lots of posts. So much to catch up on and so much new going into this new year. I cannot wait to jot it all down.