Tuesday, December 31, 2013

34 Weeks, Baby #2



How far along: 34 weeks

Size of baby: for weeks 33 to 36 (month 8) the baby is the size of a honeydew
Average size is 17.2-18.7 inches and between 4.2 and 5.8 pounds!!

Total weight gain/loss: +12.6
 (I had gained 27 pounds by this point with Olivia!)

Maternity clothes: My seasons are flip flopped from the last time I wore maternity clothes, so some of the winter stuff that I am trying to pull off is getting rather tight because I wore it at the beginning last time.  It's a good thing I don't go somewhere most days! :)

Gender: It's a boy!

Movement: Yes!  I told Michael he doesn't miss a meal.  He kicks or moves or whatever almost every time I eat.  I don't remember that happening with Olivia.  He does kick other times too, but it's not as scheduled.

Sleep: I can fall asleep shortly after getting in bed, and that to me is amazing after having months of that not happening!

What I miss:Ease of movement--everything is getting more difficult!

Cravings: fruit and drinks that aren't water--I drink so much of it that I get sick of it.

Symptoms: some restless leg syndrome and charlie horses, back pain, braxton hicks, shortness of breath, heartburn, and general aches and pains.  He tends to position himself somewhere on or near my bladder that sometimes causes sharp pains.

Fun Purchases: nothing :(

Surprises: Honestly, I am surprised that I have gained half the weight that I did last time, but I feel twice as large and that things are WAY more difficult this time (specifically bending over, but movement in general seems laborious).  I don't know how that could be?  I was super swollen last time, and (knock on wood) I haven't had any swelling this time. Oh the mysteries of pregnancy! :)

Best Moment this week: We have slowly but surely been checking things off of our list as far as unpacking and setting up goes.  This makes me feel good.  I wish I could do more.

*At this point with Olivia an induction was already scheduled.  Even then, it ended up getting moved up almost an entire week.  Yikes.  We are getting close!  I did a Target registry yesterday while wasting time during my "test".  It tells you how many days left until your "event".  41. Holy cow!*

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Speaking of my test... The nurse called this morning with my results.  Her exact words were, "Your labs look beautiful.  Go eat a candy bar."  Michael thinks I should have said, "I can't afford a candy bar because you made me do unnecessary testing."  Funny, but I didn't say it. :)  Hopefully we are done with the gestational diabetes obsession.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Doctor's Appointment

My doctor's appointment on Thursday went well.

My blood pressure was 112/80, which is "perfect".

According to their scale, I didn't gain anything from when I was there 2 1/2 weeks ago.

My fundal measurement was right between 32 and 33 weeks, which again is "perfect".

Logan's heart rate was 145.

I got blood drawn to check my iron levels and my thyroid.  Since those are "issues" I have, I have to have them checked every trimester.

I also went ahead and got the pertussis shot.  We all know that I am not a fan of extra shots, but the pertussis rate in Ohio is up by 20% this year.  Not only that, but having a winter baby in a cold state makes me a little nervous.  So I went ahead and did it.

My doctor's office was having some issues with scheduling due to the holidays.  I was having a hard time getting in for my two hour test, so they told me just to schedule it when I was in this time.  Before scheduling it, I once again discussed it with my doctor.  At my 33 1/2 week appointment with Olivia, I had gained close to 24 pounds and was measuring 38 weeks.  THIRTY-EIGHT!  Obviously that was cause for some further tests/ultrasounds.  But this time I have gained 12 pounds and am measuring right on track, so I'm not sure why I am having to do extra testing.  I reminded her that I am paying for all of this out of pocket, and that I can't really afford extra tests.  She was sympathetic, but said that I was still "at risk" because of my previous pregnancy.  My choice was to just eat a diabetic diet (which I'm sure would include a visit to a nutritionist) or get the test.  At this point I'm thinking the test will be cheaper and easier.  I am likely in the middle of the test as you read this! (Scheduled for Monday morning)

She has mentioned repeatedly that she can't induce me based on size of baby until 39 weeks (which I already knew).  That got me thinking that since she is so obsessed with Olivia's size that maybe she was planning on just inducing me regardless.  So I asked.  She said that wasn't the plan.  That we would continue to watch my fundal measurements and see how things go.  Who knows.  I might actually go into labor naturally this time?!? (Although, I am totally not against an induction.  I had the easiest time last time!)

We talked a lot about how my pregnancies have been so different.  She asked me if I felt so much smaller this time and my response was "NO!"  I feel huge.  I know for a fact that I never got to the point with Olivia where most moms get of being so uncomfortable that I just wanted to be done.  I am slowly reaching that point this time around.  She kindly reminded me that babies gain the most towards the end and he could be gaining up to a pound a week from here on out.  I have a feeling I am going to be HUGE before all of this is over.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Christmas Day

(Sorry to still be talking about Christmas, but it was too much to put in one post!)

It's a good thing that we decided to open presents on the night of Christmas Eve.  Olivia slept until around 9:15 and then pretty much refused to come out of her room until around 10.  We ate breakfast and then headed downstairs.  We told her that Santa had filled her stocking.  Also, my mom got her a tricycle and wanted it under the tree, so that was there as well.

I took video at first, so there is no picture of it sitting under the tree.  Michael pushed her around for a little ride around the family room.  She got a tricycle for her birthday, and you may remember that she came out right away and exclaimed "It's a bicycle!".  Well, for whatever reason she has decided that this one is her motorcycle.  I honestly don't even know how she knows what a motorcycle is.

After the little ride it was time to dig into her stocking.
She got a new toothbrush/toothpaste, a Minnie Mouse cup, M&M's, fruit pouches, window clings, stickers, Elmo socks, Nemo fruit snacks, Minnie Mouse chap stick, and a pink rubber ducky.

After all the gift opening, we got ready and headed to Michael's grandma's house.  We had lunch there.  Olivia loved all the attention she got.  His cousin has two little girls, but unfortunately they were sick and at home.  Olivia didn't seem to mind though.

She got a basketball hoop from his uncle Scott, which she has already been playing with.  She loves the ones at The Little Gym, so this was perfect for her!

For whatever reason we ended up bringing her gifts from Michael's mom home with us and she opened them here.  She got lots of great things!
She got wall clings for her room, which have already been put up.  Once her room is all done I will take pictures and share, but the clings are of a tree (hello, for my little tree lover) with owls and such on it.

Once again she squealed "What is it?" with EACH gift... sometimes multiple times!

She got educational games

Tools for play doh

Books

A Princess Presto Wand!

A Nemo magnetic tin

Some clothes, an art smock, and a bath organizer

and her all time favorite gift from Christmas....
a trampoline!  It was a last minute add to the wish list.  I'm so glad I did too!
I'm not sure if she knew exactly what it was when she opened it.  But Michael put it together the next day and she is in love!  Not only is it fun for her, and a great way for her to get some energy out, but it is going to help with her jumping for sure.  She has used it every day so far, and multiple times each day.

She is certainly a bless little girl.  She didn't NEED anything, but she got some great gifts that will hopefully help keep her busy once baby brother comes.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas Eve-Gifts

After getting home from our excursion, Olivia wasn't feeling well.  She was complaining of a stomach ache, which never happens.  She was whiny, clingy, and pretty uncomfortable.  Our afternoon activity of building a gingerbread house got postponed.

Luckily, sometime after dinner things got better (I'll spare you the details!).  We decided to go ahead and let her open her gifts from us and the few we had from my mom.  Since she sleeps in most mornings, we were concerned that we wouldn't have enough time to eat, open gifts, get ready and get to Michael's grandma's house in time for lunch.  Even though Olivia knows who Santa is, she doesn't quite yet understand that he is suppose to bring her gifts, so it didn't matter much that we were doing it the night before.  In fact, I'm not sure she even knew Christmas involved gifts until I put some under the tree a few days ago!


We really didn't go overboard in the gift department this year.  My original plan was to get her some sort of dress up wardrobe/shelf and then have her grandma help fill it up.  But then I realized that A) she doesn't dress or undress herself yet, and B) she doesn't really even know what a princess is (even though her dress up wouldn't be all princess stuff--but you know what I mean).  That being said, I think I'm going to save that idea for her birthday when she's a little older and can get more use out of the stuff. So we just picked her up little things here and there.  She just got an entire new bedroom, which she is pretty happy about, so I'm calling that part of her gift. :)

 
Unfortunately most of what she got from my mom were things she already has, but she enjoyed ripping into the packages nonetheless.

She was very excited about this Nemo coloring/sticker book.

One of our traditions is to give a Disney/Pixar movie to grow her collection. This year we went with Tangled.  She's watched half of it so far.  I think she likes it?!

She kept wanting help opening each gift.  We'd start it for her, but make her do the rest.  She'd squeal "What is it?!" every single time!!

She got a book about being a big sister!

We get her an ornament every year, so that when she moves out she will have her own collection to start with.  This year I went with an Old World ornament.  It's a Santa, which I thought was fitting.  She has been talking about Christmas for MONTHS and has been into all of the decorations and symbols.

Another accidental tradition that we have going is to get her a snow globe each year.  I picked one up her first year on clearance after Christmas.  It was a baby's first Christmas one with the date.  So last year I got her one.  I was going to stop the tradition this year, but I found one on sale that was cute and got it.  I'm not sure we'll keep this tradition up though.  We already do pajamas, a movie, and a nice ornament each year.  We don't want her entire Christmas budget to be spent on "traditions", and since we will have another little one getting gifts next year...

She got a Laurie Berkner DVD.  After taking a class at the library, she fell in love with the My Energy song.  We got the DVD with that song on it.  It's more of a music video type than an actual movie.

She got Candyland

and a toy broom set that she has already used to sweep up the carpet with :)

And her favorite of the night... a cat!

It's one of those motion sensor ones.  It came with a toy and she was trying to learn how to make it pounce.

She went to bed a pretty happy girl! :)

Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas Eve-Pictures with Santa

Our December has been crazy.  We moved the first weekend, but didn't even get everything.  We attempted to get settled and move more on the second weekend.  It was our birthdays the third weekend and then before we knew it, it was Christmas.

I did get our trees up, and even decorated our new mantel.  That is about all that got done in the Christmas department.  I had a list of things I wanted to do with Olivia, but unpacking (while pregnant and constantly needing breaks) took over much of my time.

We knew we wanted to take her to see Santa.  Our options were Sunday the 22nd or Christmas Eve.  We decided to go on Christmas Eve, hoping that most people would still have to work.  Of course, this was not the case.  The line was super long.  Michael stood while Olivia and I went and ate.  By the time we got back he was pretty close.

We had been prepping her all morning.  I didn't think she'd have an issue with him, because she has been good around dressed up characters lately (Curious George, Clifford, etc).  Thankfully I was right!

She knew who he was and was pretty excited to be seeing him.  The issue was getting her to look at the camera and smile!

She has this little piece of skin hanging on her lip and every once in a while she starts picking at it.  That's what she decided to do in this moment.  Not the best timing, but she's not screaming bloody murder so I guess we'll take it! :)

We had to prep her a bit on the "asking for what you want" bit.  If you asked her what she wanted she would say, "I don't know".  So we started giving her options.  All things she was already getting, of course. :)  She decided she wanted a cat.  Perfect.  She was getting a toy cat.  But then she decided that since purple is her favorite color that it needed to be a purple cat.  OK.  So that's what she told him when he asked.  Then she laughed at herself.

She was thrilled to get a candy cane at the end too.  She keeps talking about sitting on Santa's lap, getting a treat, and telling him she wanted a purple cat. :)

After the pictures we decided to go out and take a quick peek at the huge tree.  She is in love with Christmas trees, so we told her she was going to get to see the biggest tree she has ever seen.

While we were there we took a quick look at the nativity and the trains.  It was SO cold though, and her legs were practically bare with those thin tights so we just stayed a minute.
Overall our outing wasn't too bad.  We had to wait about an hour and a half to 2 hours to see Santa.  We probably won't be going on Christmas Eve again, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! :)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

33 Weeks, Baby #2



How far along: 33 weeks

Size of baby: for weeks 33 to 36 (month 8) the baby is the size of a honeydew
Average size is 17.2-18.7 inches and between 4.2 and 5.8 pounds!!

Total weight gain/loss: +12
Even though I didn't do a blog for the last 2 weeks, I did weight myself.  Two weeks ago I was up to 11.6, but then last week I dropped down to 10.6.  I'm guessing the pound loss had to do with the move?  This week I gained back the pound I lost and some! :)

Maternity clothes: Yep, every day! 
 Gender: It's a boy! 

Movement: I feel him multiple times daily.  I don't really do kick counts.  I just make sure that I have felt him moving.

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping pretty good since moving!  I still wake up a few times a night to pee, but I don't have as much trouble falling asleep like I was.

What I miss: Being able to bend over!  There is a lot of that going on since moving (trying to unpack boxes or pick up stuff from the piles that have been made on the floor).  It is just not working for me.  In same cases, I have literally resorted to crawling around to move the items and then trying to get everything in one grab before standing up.  It is ridiculous!

Cravings:hmm... nothing that I can think of

Symptoms: heartburn/acid reflux, general feeling of being uncomfortable, back pain, and some cramping/pain/pressure--especially after walking too much or pushing myself too far.  My mind tends to think I am invincible and can do everything that needs to get done.  Unfortunately, my pregnant body disagrees... but by the time I realize I've done too much, it's generally too late.

Fun Purchases: I ordered a few baskets and some burp clothes with a Kohl's coupon that I had.  There is still so much more to get and be done before Logan's arrival.  It is sort of stressing me out.  But so far Christmas and moving to a new place have taken precedence.  Hopefully once we get past the holidays I will be able to focus more.

Surprises: nothing this week

Best Moment this week: It's not really baby related, but Michael and I were able to go out on a date for our birthdays.  Our friend Laurie offered to babysit and we jumped on it.  We haven't been out since a year ago on my birthday, and that was to his work's Christmas party so it wasn't even really a date.  It was nice to get out, but also a little strange because Olivia is just always with us!  I think she enjoyed our date night as much as we did.  She LOVES Miss Laurie!

Milestones: I am starting my 8th month!!!

Things I am looking forward to: I have a doctor's appointment today.  I'm always interested to see how things are going.


Monday, December 23, 2013

Happy Two and a Half Years!

Since I don't do the monthly updates on Olivia any more, I thought I'd go ahead and do a post today since she is technically two and a half now!

We don't go back to the doctor for another 6 months, but here are her at home stats:

Weight: 34 pounds
Height: 37 inches


She is wearing mostly 3T clothes.  She still has some 2T items from last year that fit. Most of the 3T fits well and has plenty of room.  Some fit "just right".

She is wearing a size 9 shoe with plenty of room.

She has declared her favorite color to be purple. She knows the favorite colors of mommy, boppa and Miss Laurie and likes to point them out frequently.

When asked her name, she likes to give her full name.  She also knows both Michael and my name (she says "Befame"), and when she found out Logan's middle name was going to be Michael she immediately commented on him and Boppa both having the same name.


She is very interested in our family numbers and dynamic.  It doesn't matter what we are talking about or where we are, she picks out the biggest item--could be a rock or a box or a Christmas tree--and names it Boppa.  The middle size is mommy and the small one is her.  We try to encourage that she adds Logan to the mix.  Sometimes she does, sometimes she does not.

Her stuffed animals are her favorite toys.  (Although, she does NOT NEED ANY MORE!)  She makes stories up for them, tucks them into bed, carries them all around, feeds them, and on and on it goes.


She is also still a lover of books.  She loves being read to, but she will also still just sit and read to herself for very long periods of time.  She spends the majority of her days "reading" books.

Not only does she love to read her books, but she loves to stack them.  She will flip through the pages of the book one page at a time from front to back.  Then she lays it on the stack.  All the books must be facing up and turned in the same direction.  If you lay a book upside down on a stack or sideways, she WILL let you know what is up (and then promptly fix your 'mistake').

All things animal and nature are still dear to her heart.  She clearly does not get this love from me, but I try to encourage and go along with it the best I can.


Her talking and verbal skills are still her strong suit.  There were 3 people at Thanksgiving that made a comment about how well spoken she is for her age and how clearly she speaks. Cashiers often comment on this as well.  Of course, her verbal skills and size mixed often makes people think she is at least 3 and they sometimes expect more from her than is appropriate.  (For example, asking questions that no young 2 year old would be able to answer, etc).

We have been working on the motor skills.  This last month or so we have really been focusing on jumping.  It started at The Little Gym.  I would encourage her to bend her knees together an jump with both feet off of the balance beam--of course, while holding her hands.  We kept up that momentum and practiced when we could.  All on her own one day she started saying "Bend your knees together and jump!".  She is getting better and better daily!  She can jump with both feet some of the time, but is still perfecting the skill. :)

Along those lines, I think I have mentioned it before, but it seems that one of her strongest love languages is words of affirmation.  She is definitely not one for physical touch!


She gets to watch a show are 2 a day.  She got spoiled while we were staying with her Grandma because we were able to DVR some of her favorites.  We will be' back to the old school ways now. :)  (Although we still haven't even moved our TV over yet, so she hasn't watched anything for 2 weeks.)  I let her choose what she wants to watch from a small list of choices.  She goes through phases, but some of her favorites are Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, Word World, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and Super Why.  As you can see, it's all basically choices that come from PBS.  Therefore, she isn't into the princesses, Dora, or Doc McStuffins yet (which are what half of the toys are in her age range these days).


Her eating can be summed up in four words: She is a toddler.  She would eat pasta every day if I let her.  She loves it any way it can come--with pesto, red sauce, alfredo, etc.   She also loves bread.  Ok, pretty much any carb! :) Hummus remains a favorite as well.  Everything else can go either way.  She will love it and ask for more and then the very next time she will say she doesn't like it.  She also will refuse to try many things that I make for dinner.  She loves applesauce, pirate's booty, and smoothies.

She still drinks almond milk.  She does get cow's milk when it is mixed into baked goods, but she has never had any to drink.  We have given her yogurt made with cow's milk, but she is very picky about it and much prefers the coconut milk yogurt.  She loves mac and cheese, but that is about the only cheese she will eat.  Even then it has to be certain kinds.  We got her baked ziti at a restaurant once and she picked off all of the strings of cheese.  She won't eat pieces of cheese or cottage cheese either.  I made her a grilled cheese for the first time a few weeks ago and she ate the crust, but not the cheese part. I guess since she didn't have dairy for 2 years she just doesn't like it.


She pretty much gave up her nap soon after we moved back to Ohio.  It makes me very sad.  I didn't expect her to nap until she went to Kindergarten, but I was hoping it would be until she was at least 3.  We still do a quiet time every day though.  Mommy needs it!

I know I said in the past that she was a very easy toddler.  Well, that all changed after she turned 2.  She started getting feisty.  It got exponentially worse after we moved to Ohio.  I'm not sure if this is the typical 2 year old phase that everyone goes through, or if this is just her true personality coming out.  I guess time will tell, but in the meantime we are doing our best to come up with the appropriate disciplines for her. I'm sure this is only going to get worse after Logan arrives.  So far, two isn't our favorite age. ;)

Even though she has become extremely strong willed and opinionated, she is still fun loving and silly.  She loves making people laugh and once she gets a reaction out of you she just keeps on going.  We thought we knew her personality and what/who she was going to be like, but she continues to change and keep us on our toes daily.