No pic.. I'm that far behind...
We are at long last getting our paneling painted so it's chaotic at our house (We're staying with friends). So this week it just is what it is.
How far along? 34 weeks (plus some). 8 weeks left max.
Total weight gain: 24 pounds and quickly rising
Maternity clothes? Yeah.
Stretch marks? 1 OR 2
Sleep: Hips starting to hurt again.
Miss Anything? Sleeping comfortably.
Movement: Yep. A lot.
Food cravings: Anything fatty and creamy. I'm in the danger zone and giving in a lot.
Gender: It's a girl.
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Oh my aching hips!! At 34 weeks and 6 days, after being in the car for three hours- I started swelling. Here we go hot summer and big pregnant.
Belly Button in or out? Out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Exercise: Not much this week honestly...
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Highlight of the week: Eating. A lot. I'm out of control.
Looking forward to: Getting my new pregnancy exercise dvds. Hope to finish off these next two months well.
May 23, 2013
May 16, 2013
Happy Anniversary Sleep!
Exactly one year ago today Claire went to sleep like normal and woke up.... in the morning.
We got our first glorious full night of sleep when Claire was ten months old.
It's been a year! It's so wonderful!
We got our first glorious full night of sleep when Claire was ten months old.
It's been a year! It's so wonderful!
May 15, 2013
Toddler Tidbits: Language
Watching a toddler's brain develop is a pretty overwhelming experience.
People say their kids are geniuses because their brains(the kids' brains that is) are growing SO QUICKLY and efficiently that they are all pretty much geniuses compared to us.
Claire literally has new words every day. After months of just wishing she would say mommy and envying other kids who would sing songs and say words- she has had a serious language burst.
Like... explosion.
Currently... She says so much it's silly to even "list it" in a post format. But here are some higlights:
"Nope"- she's just started saying this and it's really cute
"Yes"- She used to say "yea" and now it's maturing into a full out yes
"Chee"- she has just started calling herself "Chee" and occasionally "Chees" as in, "Chees bow"- patting her hair clip
"Bra"- frankly I couldn't leave this off the last because I am absolutely flabbergasted that she knows this word... I mean... how often have I said "bra" in front of her? Not often friends.
But today mine was showing just a little and she said, "Mommy's bra". Woah... Yep. Little sponge.
"Umblella"- It never rains here. We are in a drought. We went to Chic Fil A and it was AMAZINGLY sprinkling. A worker came to our car with an umbrella and TWICE I said, "Look Claire! Umbrella!" And now she loves the word and says it all the time... in context.
"Berrrback"- Apparently I must say "Be Right Back" all the time because this is a new game for Claire.
She will come into a room and state firmly that she'll "berrback" and then she will march out and get a baby doll, or a pretend cup of water. This continues for a very long time.
"We're homme!"- Apparently I also say this every time we pull up to our house. And often I say, "Home sweetie!" and one day I heard a little voice saying this in the exact tone I do. She even says it when we're about a block from our house in either direction.
Not much going on over here except marveling at how magnificent the young human brain is!!
People say their kids are geniuses because their brains(the kids' brains that is) are growing SO QUICKLY and efficiently that they are all pretty much geniuses compared to us.
Claire literally has new words every day. After months of just wishing she would say mommy and envying other kids who would sing songs and say words- she has had a serious language burst.
Like... explosion.
Currently... She says so much it's silly to even "list it" in a post format. But here are some higlights:
"Nope"- she's just started saying this and it's really cute
"Yes"- She used to say "yea" and now it's maturing into a full out yes
"Chee"- she has just started calling herself "Chee" and occasionally "Chees" as in, "Chees bow"- patting her hair clip
"Bra"- frankly I couldn't leave this off the last because I am absolutely flabbergasted that she knows this word... I mean... how often have I said "bra" in front of her? Not often friends.
But today mine was showing just a little and she said, "Mommy's bra". Woah... Yep. Little sponge.
"Umblella"- It never rains here. We are in a drought. We went to Chic Fil A and it was AMAZINGLY sprinkling. A worker came to our car with an umbrella and TWICE I said, "Look Claire! Umbrella!" And now she loves the word and says it all the time... in context.
"Berrrback"- Apparently I must say "Be Right Back" all the time because this is a new game for Claire.
She will come into a room and state firmly that she'll "berrback" and then she will march out and get a baby doll, or a pretend cup of water. This continues for a very long time.
"We're homme!"- Apparently I also say this every time we pull up to our house. And often I say, "Home sweetie!" and one day I heard a little voice saying this in the exact tone I do. She even says it when we're about a block from our house in either direction.
Not much going on over here except marveling at how magnificent the young human brain is!!
May 14, 2013
33 Weeks Almost A Week Behind
Wow. This is getting absurd. This is my 33 weeks post exactly one hour before I am 34 weeks. Sheesh.
But I'm not quitting! This picture is me at 33 weeks and 6 days and 22 hours. Nice Georgia. Nice.
How far along? 33 weeks (plus some). 8 weeks left max.
Total weight gain: 20 pounds and quickly rising (20 pounds as of Wednesday when I "became 33 weeks"). Now it's more but that's for the next post...
Maternity clothes? Um. Yeah.
Stretch marks? Do I have to look?
Sleep: Good.
Miss Anything? Breathing deeply and easily. All of the sudden I feel seriously pregnant.
Movement: Yep. A lot. And lately she's started sticking a little foot straight up into the middle of my stomach. It's actually really sweet and endearing.
Food cravings: Krispy Kreme donuts. Blizzards. All things bad and not good for you. I haven't been to eat these foods but I've been eating an unhealthy amounts of ice cream from the fridge, chocolate chips and gummy bears. You could say I'm out of control.
Gender: It's a girl.
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Breathless. Winded just being.
Belly Button in or out? Out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Exercise: Not much this week honestly... I've even been missing my walks because it's getting too hot by the time we're up and around.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Highlight of the week: Eating. A lot. I'm out of control.
Looking forward to: Visiting my grandparents soon.
But I'm not quitting! This picture is me at 33 weeks and 6 days and 22 hours. Nice Georgia. Nice.
Total weight gain: 20 pounds and quickly rising (20 pounds as of Wednesday when I "became 33 weeks"). Now it's more but that's for the next post...
Maternity clothes? Um. Yeah.
Stretch marks? Do I have to look?
Sleep: Good.
Miss Anything? Breathing deeply and easily. All of the sudden I feel seriously pregnant.
Movement: Yep. A lot. And lately she's started sticking a little foot straight up into the middle of my stomach. It's actually really sweet and endearing.
Food cravings: Krispy Kreme donuts. Blizzards. All things bad and not good for you. I haven't been to eat these foods but I've been eating an unhealthy amounts of ice cream from the fridge, chocolate chips and gummy bears. You could say I'm out of control.
Gender: It's a girl.
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Breathless. Winded just being.
Belly Button in or out? Out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Exercise: Not much this week honestly... I've even been missing my walks because it's getting too hot by the time we're up and around.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Highlight of the week: Eating. A lot. I'm out of control.
Looking forward to: Visiting my grandparents soon.
May 13, 2013
Toddler Tidbits: Toddler Beds, the president and boxers
Today Claire played outside.
She brought me her little squeaker shoes we swore we would never own (but now love), had me put them on her then firmly stated, "Ou-side".
She then proceeded to play independently and quite happily outside.
Coming in and out of the screen door. Bringing me handfuls of mint to sniff, since I have her sniff all plants and new food so she thinks this is normal.
Please do not inform her otherwise.
She carried her naked baby doll around and had her lounge in the sun, lay in the grass etc.
And I just sat. I enjoyed the silence and alone time... No. Seriously I just read blogs. And seriously reveled in the awesome alone time.
Especially because in the early days after Claire was born I did not know what I had signed myself up for. Being a mommy is hard.
Being a mommy of a newborn is an all consuming day and night time job. It's like being the president where you never have one minute off to walk around the house in your boxers and watch HGTV. What I mean is, there's no "off time" for mommy.
So to imagine myself at this point- with a happy, independent child playing outside safely and happily- was impossible.
And to top it all off, she just came in and asked for help in closing the screen door behind her because those are the rules (bless her) because she's responsible and obviously doesn't take after her mother.
She then came over and brought me baby and signaled that baby was sleepy. She took my hand and led me to her new big girl room and laid baby on bed and covered her with the blankie "shh-ing" her the entire time.
She then signaled I should turn off the light.
She then climbed in her big girl bed and waited while I adjusted things.
Then she closed her eyes.
She is now in their napping and I'm out here marveling in the awesomeness that is a toddler who is growing more and more into a girl.
I want to write this down for posterity.
So that in two months when I become the president (nay... dictator...) of a new small little baby and I can't even take a minute to myself to pee much less shower- I want proof that those days end and that these awesome days exist.
And that some day we will be back here.
*In the spirit of full disclosure- not even 30 seconds after posting this she began the long game of opening and closing the door (the baby gate keeps her in). Still.. it was a nice fleeting moment.
She brought me her little squeaker shoes we swore we would never own (but now love), had me put them on her then firmly stated, "Ou-side".
She then proceeded to play independently and quite happily outside.
Coming in and out of the screen door. Bringing me handfuls of mint to sniff, since I have her sniff all plants and new food so she thinks this is normal.
Please do not inform her otherwise.
She carried her naked baby doll around and had her lounge in the sun, lay in the grass etc.
And I just sat. I enjoyed the silence and alone time... No. Seriously I just read blogs. And seriously reveled in the awesome alone time.
Especially because in the early days after Claire was born I did not know what I had signed myself up for. Being a mommy is hard.
Being a mommy of a newborn is an all consuming day and night time job. It's like being the president where you never have one minute off to walk around the house in your boxers and watch HGTV. What I mean is, there's no "off time" for mommy.
So to imagine myself at this point- with a happy, independent child playing outside safely and happily- was impossible.
And to top it all off, she just came in and asked for help in closing the screen door behind her because those are the rules (bless her) because she's responsible and obviously doesn't take after her mother.
She then came over and brought me baby and signaled that baby was sleepy. She took my hand and led me to her new big girl room and laid baby on bed and covered her with the blankie "shh-ing" her the entire time.
She then signaled I should turn off the light.
She then climbed in her big girl bed and waited while I adjusted things.
Then she closed her eyes.
She is now in their napping and I'm out here marveling in the awesomeness that is a toddler who is growing more and more into a girl.
I want to write this down for posterity.
So that in two months when I become the president (nay... dictator...) of a new small little baby and I can't even take a minute to myself to pee much less shower- I want proof that those days end and that these awesome days exist.
And that some day we will be back here.
*In the spirit of full disclosure- not even 30 seconds after posting this she began the long game of opening and closing the door (the baby gate keeps her in). Still.. it was a nice fleeting moment.
Happy Mother's Day
Mother's Day was once just about telling my own mother and grandmother that I loved them. It was just about sharing a tidbit of thanks for years and sacrifice poured in to me.
Now that I'm a mother myself, one would think that it would be about me. My recognition. Me as a mother.
But really it's about you.
Without you I would not be a mother.
Being a mother is sacrifice.
It is saying good bye to free time and freedom of travel and movement.
It is love and giving.
It is pouring out completely to someone who does not know sacrifice is being made.
But it is so much receiving.
It is watching home videos I've taken and being surprised to hear myself laughing so much. Deep laughter from the heart, full of joy and happiness. Because you bring me great joy.
Your tenderness, your sassiness- honor me and challenge me in ways that cut deep.
When you mimic me: cooking in the kitchen you turn your little hands around imaginary knobs as you busily cluck away- jabbering and going from one room to the next. When you mimic me and think no one is looking and cuddle your plastic little baby doll, feed her, kiss her and hold her over the potty and exclaim, "Good gurl!" as I do to you...
When you do this I am honored and touched more than any award or tenure could bring.
When you do this I know why women give up their youth, selfish ambition and pre-baby bodies. It is because this is the greatest joy.
It is because this is living.
I'm thankful to you on this day...
because you make me a mother.
Happy Mother's Day daughter of mine.
Now that I'm a mother myself, one would think that it would be about me. My recognition. Me as a mother.
But really it's about you.
Without you I would not be a mother.
Being a mother is sacrifice.
It is saying good bye to free time and freedom of travel and movement.
It is love and giving.
It is pouring out completely to someone who does not know sacrifice is being made.
But it is so much receiving.
It is watching home videos I've taken and being surprised to hear myself laughing so much. Deep laughter from the heart, full of joy and happiness. Because you bring me great joy.
Your tenderness, your sassiness- honor me and challenge me in ways that cut deep.
When you mimic me: cooking in the kitchen you turn your little hands around imaginary knobs as you busily cluck away- jabbering and going from one room to the next. When you mimic me and think no one is looking and cuddle your plastic little baby doll, feed her, kiss her and hold her over the potty and exclaim, "Good gurl!" as I do to you...
When you do this I am honored and touched more than any award or tenure could bring.
When you do this I know why women give up their youth, selfish ambition and pre-baby bodies. It is because this is the greatest joy.
It is because this is living.
I'm thankful to you on this day...
because you make me a mother.
Happy Mother's Day daughter of mine.
May 7, 2013
32 Weeks
This is how our evenings have been. And with Claire completely diaper free- we get a big giggle out of these crack sightings.
She is tall and lean so her twelve month pants fit her bottom perfectly but come to her knees, and her 24 months pants are long enough but... well...
We are trying to enjoy the here and the now (the calm before the "baby" storm). We are trying to enjoy Claire and one another and how life is pretty "easy" at this stage.
And along with that...
Somehow now I'm slowing down in every conceivable way. This picture, yet again, is almost a week late and barely happened (as you can probably tell). It is of me 32 weeks and 6 days...
But it happened(by the hair of my chinny chin chin)!
How far along? 32 weeks. Modern medicine dictates that baby will indeed be here by July 10 at the latest! (Baby's the size of a squash).
Total weight gain: 18 lbs. I have been catering to my stress and an enormous appetite. At this rate I'll be gaining two pounds a week for the next ten weeks. That's horrifying.
Maternity clothes? See above...
Stretch marks? One... thus far.
Sleep: Good actually!
Miss Anything? Sleeping on my back (oh how I miss you so!). Iced Coffees.
Movement: This little girl has gone nuts lately! I think she's doing aerobics in there. This weekend I felt her hiccups for the first time with Jacob sitting right beside me. :) Actually his hand was on my belly feeling her move when we noticed the hiccups. SO SWEET!
Baby hiccups and little feet pushing out make all of the other annoyances melt away. Pregnancy is totally worth it and in perspective in that moment.
Food cravings: Chocolate and iced coffee and all things ethnic food. If we could eat Thai food every day I would be happy.
Gender: It's a girl.
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Achy hips and a sensitive spot on my lower left belly. And I've been getting seriously breathless and winded doing practically nothing- especially if I haven't had enough to drink. Also- throw in a few leg cramps...
Belly Button in or out? Out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Exercise:
As I said, I have been slowing down A LOT. I barely walked three times this week and it was a huge effort. I creaked and ached the entire way. And... I have started swelling. Not that you could notice or see, but that I can feel and barely tell around my ankles. But with the heat and weight gain coming I know it's inevitable.
I always wondered why people looked sorry when they knew my due date was in late summer. Now I totally and completely understand.
Totally.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy!
Highlight of the week: Getting Claire's big girl room ready AND their closets organized! I feel one step closer. If we can get a double stroller, a monitor, a glider and a new sound machine- then we're set! CRAZY!
Looking forward to: Painting our living room... because there's no time like when you're huge and pregnant to tackle huge projects. :)
May 2, 2013
Williams Syndrome Awareness Month
May is Williams Syndrome Awareness Month.
I had never even heard of this syndrome until some friends of ours had a baby around the same time we had Claire. Our friend's beautiful little boy has Williams Syndrome and because of this has several health complications.
It's one thing to read about a syndrome or watch a video- it's another to see a gorgeous little boy who struggles with health problems. And I can tell you so much how really beautiful this little boy is.
So here is to Williams Syndrome Awareness Month.
Go here to learn more about Williams Syndrome.
I had never even heard of this syndrome until some friends of ours had a baby around the same time we had Claire. Our friend's beautiful little boy has Williams Syndrome and because of this has several health complications.
It's one thing to read about a syndrome or watch a video- it's another to see a gorgeous little boy who struggles with health problems. And I can tell you so much how really beautiful this little boy is.
So here is to Williams Syndrome Awareness Month.
Go here to learn more about Williams Syndrome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
