On to a New Year

Christmas 2012 was a success. We ate, we drank, and we were mostly merry. We handled our first Christmas without my mother-in-law with grace, just as she would have wanted. A tear or two may have been shed but we carried on and while no Christmas will ever be the same, we are moving toward a new sense of normal.

With an immediate family of over 30, I was nervous how the Peanut would do with the noise at my grandma's on Christmas Eve. But in true family style, she rolled with the punches and of course, everyone enjoyed seeing her. She received a new wardrobe for Christmas and after 3 loads of laundry, it's almost all washed and put away. We asked our family and friends to hold the toys, and while they did restrain, we got enough where we needed to buy a pseudo toy box for her. And by pseudo, I mean I ordered this one from Amazon. The husband checked a few things off my wish list and I think I surprised him with a few gifts of his own. Our family spoiled us as usual. 

 The week before Christmas, the Peanut decided that she would start to roll, and not just from belly to back but back to belly and all around. Now she wiggles and scoots and rolls all over the place. I'm going to have to invest in a rug pretty soon because she no longer stays on her play blanket. Bedtime has been a challenge since she has started to roll because as soon as I put her in her crib, she flips to her belly. Which would be fine, if she didn't bury her face in her sheet. So needless to say, it's a constant game of rolling her back over until she figures out she can turn her head to the side. She's getting great at sitting up.

2012 was an emotional year, a lot of ups and downs along the way. In February we found out we were having a girl, we both turned 26 and took a mini vaca to Boston in March, in June we celebrated our first wedding anniversary and watched two good friends get married, and in July our daughter was born and my mother-in-law suddenly passed away.  In August we shared a moment with two of our best friends when they got in engaged and I went back to work in September. We saw an Oriole's playoff game and another set of two great friends get married in October and the Peanut experienced her first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Next week the Peanut turns 6 months old. Here we go, leaping into a New Year! I have big plans for 2013 and I hope 2013 has big plans for me.

Food and Cookies

What a busy weekend the Facini clan had. My work Christmas party was Friday night so good friends of ours came up to hang with the Peanut while the husband and I enjoyed a night out. She loved hanging out with Aunt Jerica and Uncle Brian! It was nice to enjoy an evening with M. In the beginning, we tried to do date night once a week but life gets in the way and priorities take place and date night falls to the way side. But we've been trying to get some one-on-one time lately. I remind myself daily it's important to keep our relationship lively, our Peanut will have a family of her own one day. 

Playing while Mommy and Daddy are out

Saturday morning we went to breakfast in the City. I LOVE breakfast and and I LOVE the city so it was a double treat for me. If you're ever in Baltimore and can't get into Blue Moon (because it's almost impossible to get into Blue Moon) check out Teavolve. Great breakfast cocktails and yummy food to go with. You will not be disappointed. Saturday night we took the Peanut to our first playdate. Our friend's little girl is just 8 days older than A. It's surreal how two babies so close in age are so different. It was a lot of fun to see them interact with one another.

Our blue-eyed girl at breakfast

Sunday my sister-in-law came up and we spent the day making Christmas cookies. My husband requested peanut butter balls and I'm pretty sure I've gained 5lbs just from those darn things! Soooo good. If you are a fan of Reese's, peanut butter balls will be a holiday favorite! The Hot Cocoa cookies weren't bad either, but they needed more cocoa despite what the recipe calls for. And, we made the traditional Hershey Peanut Butter Kisses. All-in-all a very busy, very delicious weekend. 

Hershey Peanut Butter kisses and Hot Cocoa Stars.

Early Christmas Gift

If you asked my friends to describe me in one word, that word would probably be inpatient. So you should not be surprised when I tell you we celebrate Christmas early in our house. Or, at least we used to. This year we're celebrating Christmas on Christmas, I think.

Confused? Don't be. Here's the back story. Three years ago the husband (who wasn't actually my husband then) and I were still living with roommates. My best friend and her boyfriend, actually. We got a massive blizzard right before Christmas. We were all stuck in the house and going stir crazy. I begged and begged and begged the (now) husband to give me my Christmas present early. When the weather finally broke (5 days before Christmas), my best friend and her boyfriend headed to his family's to exchange gifts. The husband went upstairs to his secret hiding place, got my present, came back downstairs, stood in front of me and proposed. I, of course, happily accepted and have been insisting we celebrate Christmas on the 20th every year since.

The real reason I like celebrating Christmas early with him is because we always travel South for Christmas, so we never wake up in our own beds in our own home for Christmas. Christmas is special to me, he is special to me, ergo I want a special moment with him at Christmas. But surrounded by 35 of my closest family members on Christmas eve and our immediate family on Christmas Day, I don't get that special moment. Don't get me wrong, I love celebrating with our family. It's just something about soaking up Christmas alone with him, in front of a lit Christmas tree, that gives me the warm and fuzzies.

Now to the real point of the this point--yes, I know I've been rambling for three paragraphs now. We are celebrating Christmas in St. Mary's again this year but we're not taking all of the Peanut's gifts down. It's too much to lug back and forth, especially considering she's going to get a ton of gifts (it is her first Christmas, after all) and we'll have hers and ours to bring back up. So the bouncer that we bought her for Christmas is staying put in Baltimore. I've been relentless about my husband putting it together so she has a chance to play with it before we head South. FINALLY, He put it together last night.

 Non-plussed? You betcha. Oh well, there's always next year :)  

Ps. The real spirit of Christmas is not lost with us. Next year we're going to do Advent with her so she too understands Christmas is not just some obligatory gift giving holiday. 

Christmas Traditions

The Peanut turned 5 months old on Wednesday and while we were all smiles and giggles  because our little girl is growing by leaps and bounds, she is still stuffy and congested with a terrible cough. This is day 5 of the amoxicillin so hopefully we're on the downward swing of this nasty cold.

She can now roll from her belly to her back and vice versa. She has great neck control but still  hates being on her belly. She is back to waking up once in the middle of the night (somewhere between 2-4am) and loves to talk, smile, and laugh. Our dog, Tuck, is her new best friend and she giggles and giggles and giggles at him. She's mastered eating with a spoon and prefers sweet potatoes over squash and applesauce and pears over any veggie. This week we're going to try green beans.

We put our Christmas tree and decorations up last week and she is mesmerized by the lights. So in the spirit of Christmas, I stole (that doesn't sound right does it?) this from another blog I read (ps. check it out), but I thought it might be fun.

1. What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?
This is a bittersweet Christmas for us. This is our first Christmas as a family of three (four if you count Tuck and we do) and our first Christmas without Matt's mom. As you can imagine, emotions are running a bit on the hot and cold scale, some days are good, some days are not as good as others. We had the customary baby's first Christmas picture (looking for a photographer in the Maryland area? Check out luluedward.com) and have decked the out out in Christmas decor. The Peanut got her very own stocking, too.

 2. Were you told the truth about Santa Claus by your parents or did you find out another way? AND do you plan on lying to your kids?
 I had an older brother so I found out pretty quickly Santa wasn't real. And yes, Santa will be coming to see Ava this year. Although, we plan on making sure she understands the real meaning of Christmas and that giving is better than getting. 

3. Real tree or fake tree?
Fakity, fake, fake. I'm very allergic to any type of Christmas tree...evergreen, spruce, fir. So a fake tree it is for us.

4. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve, Morning or both?
 We spend Christmas Eve at my Grandma's and split Christmas morning with my mom and Matt's family (this year my mom will be spending Christmas morning at Matt's house with us) and then spend the day after Christmas (usually) with my dad. So there is a whole lotta present opening.

5.What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch? And favorite Christmas song to listen to?   
Home Alone is my favorite Christmas movie. I can watch in any time of the year and it puts me in the Christmas mood. I don't have a favorite Christmas song, really. I do LOVE the old school Christmas music from the 20s-30s-40s-50s.

Christmas Wish List

My husband told me I need to expand my blog, that as much as he loves our Peanut, my blog is apparently boring him. So in an effort to diversify my blog, here's my Christmas wish list. Obviously, just a wish for an item or two :)

A Massage

My shoulders and neck could use some stress relief.






Pearls from Tiffany's 

I'd kill my husband if he spent this much money on me at Christmas but a girl can dream...







Charms for my Pandora bracelet 

 I need more colorful ones to add to the many silver I already have.





Fun nail polish

 I'm kinda into getting my nails painted now.












This Scarf- in Mint

 I love the loop look but I'm not crazy about this color/pattern but it's the only one I could get in a picture.












Trench Coat by Michael Kors

 Every year when Fall starts, I say I'm buying a coat similar to this. Not once have I bought one. Definitely another wish list item. Michael Kors isn't in our price range this year, either.












Leather Gloves and Handbag from Coach

 Ahhhh. It's nice to internet shop.











Of course I could go on and on, I love books of any kind, I'd love a jogging stroller, some new cook books, any sweater from the Gap, a new work suit, a new pair of heels, a new countertop. But all I really NEED, I already have. An awesome husband and a happy, (mostly, we're battling an ear infection and head cold) healthy, Peanut. But it doesn't hurt to dream!

25 Rules for Mothers of Daughters

I posted one for Dads a week or so ago so I thought I'd post one for Moms. The Peanut turns 5 months on Wednesday so more about her, then.

1.  Paint her nails.  Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up.  Teach her to care for her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

2.  Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes.  Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you...then let her be herself.

3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet Mr. Right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own. 

4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.

5.  Encourage her to try on your shoes and play dress-up.  If she would rather wear her brother's superman cape with high heels, allow it.  If she wants to wear a tutu or dinosaur costume to the grocery store, why stop her?  She needs to decide who she is and be confident in her decision.

6.  Teach her to be independent.  Show her by example that women can be strong.  Find and follow your own passions.  Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself-not just your husband or children.  Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be.  Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.

7.  Pick flowers with her.  Put them in her hair.  There is nothing more beautiful than a girl and a flower.

8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.

9. Give her good role models- you being one of them. Introduce her to successful woman - friends, co-workers, doctors, astronauts, or authors.  Read to her about influential woman - Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. Read her the words of inspirational woman - Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson. She should know that anything is possible.

10. Show her affection. Daughters will mimic the compassion of their mother. “I love yous” and Eskimo kisses go a long way.

11. Hold her hand. Whether she is 3 years-old in the parking lot or sixteen years old in the mall, hold on to her always - this will teach her to be confident in herself and proud of her family.

12.  Believe in her.  It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need to believe enough for both of you.  Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college.  Remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.

13. Tell her how beautiful she is. Whether it is her first day of Kindergarten, immediately after a soccer game where she is grass-stained and sweaty, or her wedding day. She needs your reminders. She needs your pride. She needs your reassurance. She is only human.

14. Love her father. Teach her to love a good man, like him. One who lets her be herself…she is after all wonderful.

15. Make forts with boxes and blankets. Help her to find magic in the ordinary, to imagine, to create and to believe in fairy tales. Someday she will make her 5 by 5 dorm-room her home with magic touches and inspiration. And she will fall in love with a boy and believe him to be Prince Charming.

16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.

17. Teach her how to love- with passion and kisses. Love her passionately. Love her father passionately and her siblings passionately. Express your love. Show her how to love with no restraint. Let her get her heart broken and try again. Let her cry, and gush, giggle and scream. She will love like you love or hate like you hate. So, choose love for both you and her.

18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her - even if it sounds or looks horrible.  Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and headbang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics - like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite - like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer - or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.

19. Share secrets together. Communicate. Talk. Talk about anything. Let her tell you about boys, friends, school. Listen. Ask questions. Share dreams, hopes, concerns. She is not only your daughter, you are not only her mother. Be her friend too.

20. Teach her manners. Because sometimes you have to be her mother, not just her friend. The world is a happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.

21. Teach her when to stand-up and when to walk away. Whether she has classmates who tease her because of her glasses, or a boyfriend who tells her she is too fat - let her know she does not have to listen. Make sure she knows how to demand respect - she is worthy of it. It does not mean she has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence. Also make sure she knows which battles are worth fighting. Remind her that some people can be mean and nasty because of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help her to understand when to shut her mouth and walk-away. Teach her to be the better person.

22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words; she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than I told-you-so. Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

23.  Mother her.  Being a mother - to her - is undoubtedly one of your  greatest accomplishments.  Share with her the joys of motherhood, so one day she will want to be a mother too.  Remind her over and over again with words and kisses that no one will ever love her like you love her.  No one can replace or replicate a mother's love for their children.

24.  Comfort her.  Because sometimes you just need your mommy.  When she is sick, rub her back, make her soup and cover her in blankets - no matter how old she is.  Someday, if she is giving birth to her own child, push her hair out of her face, encourage her, and tell her how beautiful she is.  These are the moments she will remember you for.  And someday when her husband rubs her back in attempt to comfort her...she may just whisper, "I need my mommy."

25.  Be home.  When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you; welcome her.  When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news; embrace her.  When she is lost or confused, she will search for you; find her.  When she needs advice on boys, schools, friends or an outfit; tell her.  She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor - where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile; be home.

The One About Thanksgiving

I had to the luxury to have off all last week. I had so much fun at home with my Peanut. I thought I'd get my house in a like-new condition or at least close to spotless  but boy was I wrong. Playing with blocks, singing socks, dancing around and practicing tummy time left little room for house cleaning. But that's okay, 10 years from now she won't remember this week probably, but I'll remember we spent a few days just the two of us bonding. And I'm okay with that. It made me wish I could stay home with her more often. However, we've gotten accustomed to having a roof over our heads, food on the table, and clothes on our back.

We packed up Wednesday after my husband got home from work and ventured the two hour car ride south where we spent the remainder of the week. We caught up with friends and family, found out two of our good friends will be welcoming a peanut of their own soon, took the Peanut to her first Christmas tree lighting, and attended an engagement party for our best friends. A great week for sure. It made us really miss being "home".

 This was the Peanut's first Thanksgiving and my husband's first Thanksgiving without his mom. A bittersweet day for him and his brother and dad. She was surely missed. The Peanut handled the mass of people (ie my family) great.She's finally gotten the hang of eating  with a spoon and is LOVES sweet potatoes. It's hard to believe next week she will be 5 months old.

We're decorating the tree tonight, super excited about that! Below is a pic of the Peanut and her cousin who is 2 months younger than her--yes, he is as big as she is.

50 rules for Dads of Daughters

I can't take credit for this but I love it! I had a rocky relationship with my dad growing up partly because I am a product of divorce. It wasn't until I was almost an adult that we found a middle ground and I'm happy to say that we're closer than ever now. I hope my daughter gets the benefit of having her father present every day and can look back at this list and say yes, he did do these things.

Here is the actual link http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters 

1. Love her mom.
2. Always be there
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you.
4. Savor every moment you have together.
5. Pray for her.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her.
16. Take her fishing.
17. Learn to say no.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful.
19. Teach her to change a flat.
20. Take her camping.
21. Let her hold the wheel.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too.
30. Never miss her birthday.
31. Teach her to roller skate.
32. Let her roll around in the grass.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday.
45. Learn to trust her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. The dating day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.”

4 Month Regression?

The Peanut's 4 month appointment was Wednesday. She's now 11 lbs 4ounces and 22 3/4 inches long. She's still a peanut. She got her second round of shots and with that came a 102.5 degree fever that varied for an entire 24 hours. My happy go lucky baby is missing and has been replaced by a very cranky, very fussy 4 month old.

Last night she woke up crying at midnight, settled back down, and then woke back up again at 3am screaming. We introduced solid food to her and I think she had gas pains. Poor kid, I've never heard her scream like that. Couple the gas pains with the teething and girlfriend has it bad right now.

The introduction into solid foods was fun. She wasn't too sure about them and she gets more on her than in her but I noticed improvement last night. She's starting to get the hang of it.

Other than the shots and last nights debacle, the Peanut is doing fantastic! Hopefully her smiley self returns soon.

Leaping forward to another week!

Baby's First Halloween

Halloween is a big to do in our house. Every year the husband and I dress up, last year we were Mario and Peach, the year before Batman and Robin, the year before that Fred and Wilma Flintstone... you get the picture. We love Halloween. Our annual party took the back burner for several reasons, poor planning, a hurricane, and the fact that we can't really rage with a 3 month old at home, haha. However, despite all of that we had a fantastic Halloween celebrating the Peanut's first Halloween. I originally wanted to dress her up as an elephant, we do call her Peanut afterall, but the hubby vetoed that idea. He wanted to dress her up as R2D2 or Yoda and...well, let's just say that didn't happen either. We settled on a sunflower and what a cute sunflower she was!

Next week marks her 4 month birthday and oh what a fabulous four month it has been. But I'll save all that for next month!

Happy Halloween!

Just Another Manic Monday

Mondays are even harder now that the Peanut is here and I have to wait 8 dreaded hours to go home and see her. Today will be even longer, I'm won't be home until 8:30 or so tonight. But, I spent an extra day at home with her last week, a stomach bug hit the girl. I won't go into the gory details because they are, well, gory. But she seems to be on the mend. Despite the stomach pain, she's been in a relatively good mood.

We bought a bumbo on Friday and she sits in it like a champ. She's rolling over a bit more and starting to use her hands to grab things- my necklace, my sweatshirt strings, the zipper on my jacket. Anything but her toys. We're working on it though. She's back to getting up at 2 and 5 but that may be partially because her intake has been limited due to the stomach bug. She talks and talks and talks these days. I told her the other day, I can't wait to know what we're talking about.

When we were at the doctors for her reflux follow up, she laughed like I've never heard her laugh before and I was so in shock of the laughing I didn't get it on camera. However, this past weekend she laughed at my mom like she did at me the day at the doctors. This time, I videoed it! (I'll upload it as soon as I get to a computer that will allow me to.)

We go back to the doctor's in two weeks for her 4 month check up and she'll start eating food. I can't wait to see her reaction. I'll be sure to have the camera ready.

A Dreary Monday

I love being a mom and I adore our little girl more than anything in the world, but (there's always a but) I wish someone would have or could have prepared me for the onslaught of emotions and anxiety that comes along with motherhood. Anxiety is a tricky thing even if your sure of something your mind can misled you. I feel like even though the hardest, most sleep deprived days are behind us, the anxiety hasn't really lessened for me. There are still days I have a hard time keeping food in my stomach, let alone finding an appetite. I asked my mom the other day when it's get better and I jokingly said, "16" and her response was "it gets worse then, she'll be driving".

I know all new mothers go through this and I'm sure with the second, should we decide to have another,  I will be more relaxed but I guess I just wasn't prepared for how crazy my mind would get. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Our girl is happy, healthy and thriving (with the exception of stuffy nose right now). I couldn't ask for more. Yet, my guard isn't ready to be let down yet.

If anyone asked me the hardest thing about motherhood, it wouldn't be the sleepless nights which are far less sleepless these days as our Peanut is sleeping through the night! It would be the worry. But then again, I should've known that comes with parenting. After all, I'm 26 and my mom still asks me to text her when I get home from the two hour drive from my hometown.

The weather lately certainly does not help. I'm already missing the sunshine of summer!

Roly Poly

Today is definitely a multiple cup of coffee day. The Peanut decided last night was not for sleeping. Daddy walked with her, I walked with her, and she was just not having it. Hopefully tonight is a better night. I'd like our happy, go lucky baby back.

Saturday she rolled over for the first time. What a cool milestone to be able to see for the first time. She tried for a week or more before she was finally able to get her hand out of the way and get all the way onto her belly. Of course, she was not a happy camper once she was there. She rolled over twice on Saturday but she hasn't rolled since. We had friends up and one of my good friends was able to video it for me since my phone locked up right at the moment she was about to go. The husband was at a baseball game so he wasn't able to partake in the fun.

The peanut is certainly getting comfortable with her voice, and I mean that in a good way. She coos and talks to us all of the time now. The other night she was in bed and talking to the picture on the wall. She's taking after Mom already.

Her medicine seems to be helping with the reflux and we've elevated her crib mattress to let her sleep easier at night (not that she slept last night but...). I can certainly tell when her meds are wearing off. We have a weight check appointment on Monday and I plan on mentioning it to her Doctor.

Tomorrow she turns the big 3 months old. She's already lost her newborn cry and has a much more distinct, louder wail. Here's to another leap forward. Our newborn will officially be an infant!

Holy Nightmare

Sunday night the husband and I had our worst experience as parents to date. We had to call 911. The peanut woke up from a nap gasping for air and then had another episode 10 minutes later. Talk about the longest 5 minutes of my life. Kudos to the ambulance, fire truck, and police cruiser that showed up in minutes. After almost 12 hours at the hospital, every test known to man came back negative (for more serious issues) and the Peanut was diagnosed with reflux. She is now on Zantac three times a day for an indefinite period of time. The doctors are hopeful that she will not need to take it forever though. Seeing her little lips turn blue was the scariest moment of my life. Of course, now I'm checking on her several times throughout the night to make sure she's breathing. Crazy? Yes, I know. Cut me some slack, she's the first one.

Our little monster is up to 9 lbs 11 ounces. The doctors are not so happy with her weight gain, it's steady but slow so we go for another weight check in two weeks. Hopefully the reflux medicine helps her eat a little better so she can pack on the pounds they want her too.

She's still not rolling over yet, but she is starting to really track objects and can grasp a small rattle if you put it in her hand. She has the Ooh and Aah sound down and tries to imitate your lips. It's quite funny.

All and all, life is good and the peanut is doing grand.

A Letter to My Daughter

Dear A:

In 2001 a hijacked airplane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another bound for the Capitol crashed in Pennsylvania, killing thousands and sending the United States into a tailspin. Months of devastation followed as we, Americans, had to rebuild our nation. The world as we knew it prior to that day has never existed since. Instead, hate, distrust, and intolerance has filled many as the hijackers were from a terrorist organization in the Middle East.

As you grow up I hope to instill into you that the act of a few is not worthy of discrimination of all. That discrimination will not be tolerated in our house, not by creed, color, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. As you grow up should you chose to fall in love and marry (or not marry) someone who is unlike you in all characteristics, I promise you that I will support you. Unless of course that person is not worthy of you. Your dad will probably say no person is worthy of you, but you get my point.

I hope to instill in you tolerance for all people and ideas. In this world you will not get along with everyone. There will be people that you will strongly dislike (I will not tolerate you to say hate in our house). But I hope we instill in you the skills and abilities to coexist with all people. Even if you don't like them or support their beliefs.

I hope to give you the confidence to stand up for what you believe in, even if those around you do not, or even worse if they do and chose not to stand up for themselves. I hope we give you the confidence to explore your ideas, chase your dreams and be open to new experiences and ideas.

I hope to give you the wisdom to make the right choices in life but should you stumble a time or two, I hope you know we will be there for you to lean on. That I love you unconditionally and though we may not agree with all of your choices, we will always support you.

I hope to teach you to give to the less fortunate. There will always be someone less fortunate than you. Count your blessings daily and when given the opportunity help someone in need. If only just a lending ear. I hope we teach you kindness. The world in which you were born is not a nice place and as you grow will probably not get nicer. There are people who are inherently evil. Be kind in action and thought. You never know whose world you might change with your kindness.

I hope to teach you to persevere. Life is not always going to be easy. There are going to be mountains to climb and some days those mountains are going to seem endless. Keep going and never get up.

I hope to teach you to believe in God and prayer. That anything is possible if you believe. That miracles do happen. That not everyone will support your faith, but be steadfast.

Most of all, I hope to teach you to love yourself, to be original, to not compromise who you are for anyone. That you can be and do anything you want to be and do. But do it as you.

I hope you know that the love I have for you today will never go away. 

Busy Week(end)

The past five days have been jam packed with activities. Thursday and Friday the peanut went to daycare for the first time. I knew I was going to be nervous but I definitely was not prepared for the wave of emotions that overcame me when I dropped her off. Monday, my first official day back at work, wasn't as bad as Thursday. I was SO thankful when my boss told me I could leave a half hour early to pick her up.

Saturday we spent preparing for her baptism and Sunday was her baptism. We had a great crowd for her baptism. She slept through the entire baptism, even with Father Ray attempting to wake her up by continuously pouring holy water on her head. Afterwards, we celebrated with food, cornhole and football. The ride back to Baltimore for St. Mary's was not so pleasant. A day of no naps and being passed from person to person left me with a very, very, unhappy two month old. I don't think I've ever heard her scream like that. Needless to say I was super excited for bed time last night. She slept from 9:30 to 4:00 this morning. Her longest stretch yet.

She's on the cusp of teething. She has turned into a little drool bucket and chews on anything near her mouth. She has started to hold onto objects that come across her path but hasn't quite figured out how to reach for anything yet.

She is growing by leaps and bounds!

Working Woman

That title could be a little deceiving....but, I am working again. My first day back was Monday and I was actually ready to come back to the world of adult conversations and being able to eat a full meal without interruption. Or I thought I was because when 2:00 hit I was ready to go home to my baby. Unfortunately, I didn't get home from work until close to 7:00pm. Thankfully she was wide awake and ready to play when I got home. I did get some pretty awesome flowers from her and the dog on my first day back. Lucky girl, I am.

Tomorrow is her first day of daycare, my mom watches her in the beginning of the week, and to say I'm nervous would be an understatement. I remind myself that most babies go to daycare and sooner than her. I was lucky enough not to come back to work until she was almost 10 weeks.

She is really starting to be able to track objects with her eyes and she smiles all of the time now. She laughs at herself in her sleep, but I've yet to be able to make her giggle. I can't wait for that. She can hold her head steady if you sit her up and she has good head control when she's on your shoulder. She loves the play mat and coos and talks to the animals that dangle. She's almost into 3 month clothes and I can finally keep socks on her little feet. She really is growing up.

She's had a bit of a cough the last few days. I'm keeping any eye on it, I'm paranoid about the whooping cough now. Particularly because last night I got an e-mail about it. Not that I think she has the whooping cough, but I'll definitely be keeping a close eye on it.

Well, wish us luck as tomorrow is our first day of daycare. Let's hope for a good day all around!

Our Peanut Is Not So Peanutty Anymore..

A had her two month appointment today and we found out our little peanut is not so peanutty anymore! She gained 3 pounds and grew 3 inches in a matter of a mere 4 weeks! She is up to a whopping 8 pounds 14 and a half ounces and 21 and a half inches long. My guess was 8.10 so I wasn't too far off.

We've had a great week, A and I. Well so far anyway. She had shots today so I'm not sure what tomorrow or Friday holds but the last several days has been wonderful. I have mixed feelings about going back to work on Monday. On one hand, I'm ready to get back into my routine and on the other hand I'm sad to be leaving her. I will  have to make the most of the time I spend with her in the evenings.

She is sleeping in one 4 hour stretch at night followed by a three hour stretch. Last night was rough, she made it through the first 4 hour stretch and then was up every half hour to 45 minutes after that. Hopefully tonight is better.

She is starting to track objects with her eyes and isn't quite so bobble heady anymore. Most of her newborn clothes have been retired and she's starting to react to toys. She is developing such a personality.

These past two months have been fantastic. I'm looking forward to the weeks ahead! With another leap forward...

Happy Two Month Birthday

Note to future self: do not let your small child take a nap at 7pm. Another note to self: do not wake your small child up at 8:30pm to have a bottle. She will immediately fall asleep and wake up for the day 4am. By 6am, she will be a hot mess because she is tired.

Aside from that, the peanut is growing like a weed (yes, I know, another cliche) and developing quite the personality! Unfortunately, she has her mother's temper.

I am stretching out her feeding times from 2 hours to 2.5 or 3 hours. Neither of us is happy about this but I'm trying my best to put her on a schedule. A happy baby equals a happy house. And not that she isn't happy most of the time, but at least her fussy times will be more predictable when she eats at regular times and naps at regular times.

Next week is my last week at home and while I'm excited to go back to work, I'm nervous for her to go to daycare for the first time. She is starting to recognize where she is and who around her...or more so, who is NOT around her, ie mom.

We took her to the State Fair on Monday and of course she fell asleep in the stroller. When she woke up, it was LOUD and there were so many new sights and she couldn't exactly see us through the mosquito netting and she freaked out. I'm worried this is going to happen. But, I remind myself, plenty of kids go to daycare and adjust.

Happy Two Month Birthday A!

Growing Peanut

Our little peanut is a growing girl! She's following toys with her eyes and smiling at toys and watching baby einstein and turning into quite the little chick! It's amazing how much changes week to week with her. Last week she hated the swing and this week she loves it!

I have three weeks left before I go back to work and I have mixed emotions. On one hand I'm ready to go back and establish a routine, on the other hand I'm going to miss mornings like this morning where she was smiley and cuddly.

The husband and I went on our first date night last night and while I missed the peanut, it was nice to spend some alone time together. I really enjoyed the evening.

I started back at the gym and whew! I am ridiculously out of shape. After 15 minutes, I thought my legs might fall off.

Nap time is over. Off to feed the peanut. Leaping forward to the next week!

Fussy Baby

This past Sunday was the first time the peanut screamed for no reason other than she wasn't happy. She cried, we rocked her, she cried we cuddled her, she cried we put her down, she cried, and finally I put her on my bed, she found the fan and stopped crying. She was not my child last Sunday. I'm not sure who possessed her body but it was not the smiling, happy baby I'm used to.

She has fallen into our evening routine with grace and it is wonderful. She's in bed by 10pm every night without a fight. The bath on the other hand is a different story. She screamed so loud and so intensely the other night, I pulled her out before I finished. She actually made herself hoarse. Last night, she sat right there and let me bathe away. The kid is so temperamental, I wonder where she gets that from...

The doctor gave me the go ahead to go back to the gym today and I'm super pumped. Monday, I head back to the gym for the first ass kicking work out. I have 3 weeks to lose 14 pounds. Completely doable. 

Week 5 brought a lot more smiling and a lot more eating...if only she would sleep a lot more :) I shouldn't really complain though, she gets up once in the middle of the night and between 5:00-6:00 for the day, which is certainly not terrible. And will actually work out once I go back to work. We'll have to be out of the house by 7:20-:7:30.

Other than that, we're growing by leaps and bounds! We approach week 6 with excitement and anticipation of the things to come!

Six Hours

Six consecutive hours. That's how much sleep I got last night. Or should I say, how long the peanut slept for. I can't even begin to tell you the last time I got six hours of sleep! Even when I was pregnant I didn't sleep that long consecutively. I woke up at 3:30 and checked on her just to make sure she was okay.

We're settling into a night time routine which I think is helping with the long stretches. A bath, a bottle, a book, a swaddle and then bed. Last night I topped her off with another ounce right before I put her down and I think that aided too. Regardless, I'm not getting my hopes up for a repeat tonight but it sure would be nice. Especially considering two nights ago we were up from 2:30 to 5:00am. I was praying to see eyelids for the longest time. Eventually, I just laid her down and she fell asleep.

She is getting so big! As cliche as that sounds, it's true. She hardly fits into the bassinet anymore and is already outgrowing her newborn clothes. I've seen a couple of real smiles and she imitates easy face expressions. Her own facial expressions are priceless.

She loves the car and the stroller and is always happy to be moving. Although, she will let me lay her down from time to time which is nice, she doesn't constantly need to be held.

I can't wait to see what next week brings!

Our Chunkster

The Peanut had a doctor's appointment to check her weight today and boy were we surprised! We knew she had gained a little bit away but neither the husband or myself could have guessed she gained so much. Well that's not entirely true, her grandfather was the closest to her weight gain. We took bets last night to see who would be closest. I guessed 6.2, the husband guessed 6.4, my mom guessed 6.5, her uncle guessed 6.8 and the husband's dad guessed 6.10. She beat us all, weighing in at a whopping 6.13! I was SHOCKED. 

The pediatrician also told us we were under feeding her so girlfriend is probably going to be really packing on the lb's soon. We go back again in September for shots. I'm already dreading that appointment. 

The rest of the appointment went well. We learned the birthmark on her forehead is called an angel's kiss and there is a matching one on the back of her head called a stork's bite. These apparently go hand and hand...who knew! 

I (actually my mom) had to stick a thermometer up her bum tonight to get her to have a bowel movement. What I thought was going to be a terrible experience was really not too bad. Within minutes she alleviated herself. 

Other than the issues with the bowels, she's thriving. Eating, sleeping, and pooping. A lot of all of the above, actually. I got my first real smile the other day...after making a couple noises at her I got her little face to light up. I think I smiled wider than she did! 

Tomorrow marks her one month birthday. What an awesome month it has been! 

Three Weeks

Ava turned three weeks old on Thursday. It's hard to believe in less than a week she will be a month old. I cannot remember life without her. Okay, that's a small lie. I remember what sleeping 8 hours was like, but I don't remember life without the smell of lavender and vanilla after a bath, tiny smiles, smelly diapers, 2am feedings, or the curling of a hand around my finger.

This past week, unfortunately, has been very trying. With a heavy heart, I'm sad to say that my mother-in-law passed away. Our daughter met her grandmother for the first time on Saturday and they spent a wonderful day together Sunday. And while she may never "know" her grandmother, we will make sure knows what a wonderful person she was. I'll try my best to carry on the traditions my husband's mom would at Christmas...ricotta cookies, monogrammed Christmas ornaments, etc.

The next few days ahead will be difficult, but we trust that the peanut has a special angel watching over her now. We find peace and strength in the fact that she is no longer suffering. If we've found one thing out over the past few days, it's that our daughter is very blessed to have a collection of family and friends who will make sure she never wants for anything and for that we couldn't ask for more.

A Great Weekend

I mentioned in my previous post that my hormones have been a giant roller coaster so when my Mom left Friday to go home for the weekend it came as no surprise to me that when the moment she walked out of the door crocodile tears flooded my face. The anxiety of being here alone with the baby (husband was still at work) for the remainder of the afternoon was terrifying. But, the clouds of darkness lifted up when my husband asked if we could drive south to visit family this weekend. His mother spent the first few weeks of the baby's life in ICU. She was cleared to go home and anxious to meet her first grandchild. As nervous as I was to take a two week old on a two hour car ride, I was grateful to see his mom and get out of our house.

I packed and packed and packed some more (we left the house with 4 bags) and early Saturday morning we took the peanut on her first road trip. The minute I saw the 'Welcome' sign, it was like the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders. Despite the lack of sleep, I couldn't even nap. I was so excited to be around family. Don't get me wrong, we have great friends up here that are like family to us, but nothing compares to being at my grandma's where the voice volume is comparable to a rock concert or hanging out at the husband's house with his parents and brother just chatting.

The husband and I even got some alone time last night. We left the peanut with my mom and made a trip to the local carnival for a funnel cake. Classy first date out, I know.

I was sad to leave today but there's always next time. It's nice to go home and home will always be where our family is...

On another note, the dog ripped into the peanut's can of formula and devoured the powder. $95 later ($65 for a consultation with the animal poison control center and a new can of formula)  and I'm still mad at the dog. At least he's preparing us for toddlerhood.

Two Week Birthday

We had our two week check up today and the peanut has packed on the lb's, or in her case, the oz's. She gained almost 11 ounces and is now a whopping 5 lbs 15.5 ounces. We go back next Friday for a weight check just to see if she is up to her birth weight of 6lbs 1 ounce. She hasn't grown any in length since birth but we're chugging right along. The doc said her heart sounded great and her lungs, well they worked well today too!

He okayed us for a full bath since her cord has fallen off and I'm super excited to see how she likes the bath. He also okayed us for a little lotion considering her skin looks like it's peeling off. Poor kid got my dry skin.

The last few days have been good. Good and exhausting. Last night she decided we didn't need to sleep, we were up and down from midnight to 6:30am. My mom took her at 6:30 for me and I got an hour and a half. That doesn't sound like a lot but when you've gotten a total of 45 minutes over six hours, an hour and a half is glorious! Tonight, she will NOT be taking a nap at 9:30. I don't care if I have to strip her down to her diaper, she will stay awake until at least 10:30.

The husband has volunteered for baby duty tonight, he is going to see the new Batman and figures he'll just stay up. I'm looking forward to a couple hours of uninterrupted sleep.

We start tummy time tonight, fingers crossed she doesn't hate it!

Until the next post, we're leaping forward to another day!

This Thing Called Parenthood

I usually update on Wednesday's because they mark her one week milestones but as she sleeps away in her tiny bassinet not 20 feet from me, I can't help but smile. These past 10 days have been fabulous, terrifying, anxiety ridden, wonderful, and filled with more love than one can possibly imagine. My whole world revolves around a 6 lb sweet smelling (most of the time), tiny toed, little girl. Motherhood has proven to be one of my biggest, yet best, challenges so far.

We've had a few issues with breastfeeding, first with the latching and then with the milk supply but with a few formula feeds, I think we've found a happy medium. She is a night owl, which has taken some adjusting on my part but when she (involuntarily) smiles at me at 2am, I can't help but melt.

My husband has been wonderful, albet a little timid of our peanut. But he has no problem pacing a crying baby for an unlimited amount of time. He chalks it up to his calming personality (insert eye roll). Then again, I shouldn't complain, I certainly don't handle her fussing quite as calmly as he does.  The other night he came up behind me and kissed my neck and it was the best feeling in the world. To be loved by a man that gave me the world's best gift is a blessing I don't take for granted. Not for one second.

My mom has been the biggest blessing (besides the peanut) so far. I'm pretty sure our house would have fallen down around us without her. She's constantly cleaning, doing laundry, washing bottles, sweeping the floor, emptying the dishwasher... the list goes on and on. She paces with me at 2am and is a great ear when I'm trying to decide if the peanut needs to feed again or is just overtired and fighting her sleep.

My hormones have been a little more than I expected. I have sudden urges to cry (in fact, I may have shed a tear or two writing this) and when I start to run empty, really empty, anxiety takes over and I feel completely overwhelmed. But like all things that seem insurmountable, they too pass. The forgetfulness is taken some getting used to, because I have the memory of a fish these days.

All in all, our introduction hasn't been too painful. With just the right amount of bumps along the course, the husband and I are getting a good grasp on this thing called parenting. We have our two week check-up on Friday. Hopefully good things to report after!

The One About Labor

I would never have guessed that my post on the 4th would be my last pregnancy post. I definitely did not feel like I was on the verge of giving birth when I wrote that post. Our party was a success, we laughed with friends, ate a ton of good food and played a ton of corn hole. I mention that because I tell everyone corn hole sent me into labor.

The sun started to set and I decided to brave the 90 degree weather to show the boys how the game was played. After two games (one win, one loss), I couldn't take the bending or the heat any longer. I came inside, propped my feet up and took in some television. Exhausted, I decided to skip fireworks. Around 11, I went to bed anticipating a day of cleaning ahead. America's birth wore me out so I just threw the dishes and platters in the sink. 

I woke up at 2am with contractions that I assumed were Braxton Hicks. Our room was miserably hot and my bladder was miserably full. I laid back in bed but the contractions kept coming, about 5 minutes apart and strong. Stronger than any contraction I previously experienced. I called the doctor and she said to wait two hours before going to the hospital. I talked with my mom through the first hour and a half and then the contractions started coming closer together, and much, much stronger. To the hospital we went. 

At 4am I was checked by the midwife and was about 3 centimeters dilated. It was game time. I was admitted and taken to a real room. After they hooked me up to an IV, my doctor wanted me to walk laps around the hospital to help speed up the process. Apparently first labors can last a VERY long time. Except, my first labor was an exception. One lap and 5 minutes later and my water broke. 

Fast forward to stronger contractions and an epidural (thank you Jesus!) and I was 7 centimeters at 8:30. 5 hours and 5 pushes later and a beautiful peanut was born. Weighing in at 6 lbs, 1 ounce and 18 and a half inches long, Ava Madeline was born with a full head of dark brown hair at 1:12pm on July 5th. She has her daddy's eyes and toes and her momma's nose and cheeks. 

Fun facts from my labor and delivery:

The nursing staff and my doctor were fabulous

The epidural made it so I was no longer a bear-- it was not pretty for awhile

Should my husband bring a chocolate donut into the delivery room if we decide to have another baby, I will kill him 

An orange Popsicle is not a substitute for said chocolate donut

A sarcastic nurse is a fun nurse

The labor ball was not my friend
The epidural was my friend

My doctor was right, there would be no question when my water broke, I shouldn't have doubted her

Labor was not terrible and I'm very thankful it was only 11 hours
I couldn't have done it without the support from my husband and mom

I'm smitten with my peanut 

2...

Two weeks to go! Holy crap, two weeks to go! The white coat syndrome I'm experiencing at the doctor's is sticking around; I had the highest blood pressure yet yesterday but thankfully after a few moments of laying on my left side it went back down to a normal rate.

The Braxton Hicks contractions are getting stronger, in fact last night they were downright painful. Considering the doctor told nothing is happening (still) below the belt, I'm sure to have another week or so of these practice contractions. There's always next week I suppose.

The husband and I are hosting our last pre-baby party today to celebrate the 4th. It's odd (and exciting) to think that next 4th of July we'll be toting a peanut to fireworks.

Two weeks (or less) to go! Baby A will be here in no time!

3...

Well my blood pressure is still a wee bit high but I'm starting to think I have white coat syndrome. I check my blood pressure at home in the mornings and it's normal or near normal, as soon as I get to the doctor's it sky rockets. Luckily, they let me rest for a couple of minutes, take it again, and it's better. Still no headaches, or nausea or vomiting so I really do think it's just nerves as opposed to anything more serious.

Not too much has changed since last week. I'm feeling good, good and tired, but good. I'm getting anxious, and nervous and excited but mostly excited to see our peanut.  I copied this from another blog I follow so here goes:

How far along: 37 weeks today! 

Total weight gain: 28 lbs

Size and growth of the baby: Baby is now almost 7 pounds and is the size of a melon

Maternity clothes: That's the only thing I can fit into these days. It's getting harder and harder to find clothes that fit around my expanding belly, even my husband's shirts are getting too snug

Sleep: I am constantly changing positions, my hips hurt if I lay on one side too long

Best moment(s) of the week: Hearing her heartbeat at Monday's appointment, feeling her kick around 

Food cravings/aversions: Still on a sweet kick, in fact, I could go for an M&M cookie right now

Morning sickness: None

Symptoms: Braxton hicks occasionally 

Labor signs: I think she is pretty content for now, although, I've had some mild abdominal cramping 

Belly button in or out: It's been "out" for awhile and by out I mean it's no longer flat, it's not completely protruding yet

What I miss: Comfortable clothes

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting the peanut

What I'm not looking forward to: I'm super nervous about labor but I have to go through labor to meet the peanut so I try to not think about it too much. 

4...

My first weekly appointment was Monday and despite a small hiccup with my blood pressure (much higher than it normally is), everything was great. Thankfully, my blood pressure is back to normal today. The peanut's heartbeat sounded good and the doctor said nothing was happening below the belt yet. Our waiting game continues.

Her room is finally complete. All her clothes and sheets and towels and everything else she will need has been washed and put away. Her toys are in a designated basket and her grandparents are bringing up her bookcase this weekend so her books will have a home. Her car seat is in my car and her bags (one for each car) are in her room just waiting to go in their respective car.

I'm feeling pretty good. Some days are obviously better than others but for the most part I can't really complain. The back aches have gone away but I'm up pretty up every 2 hours or so using the bathroom. I get tired really easily, walking up and down steps, putting dishes away, cooking dinner. You name it and it makes me want to take a nap. As each day passes, I get more anxious and more excited to meet our peanut.
My clothes also get tighter, haha.

4 weeks to go!

5...

5 more weeks until the peanut makes her debut! My last shower was Saturday and her room officially looks like a Babies R Us store room. We are having an organizing party on Saturday to make some space for her, because as of now, there is no space. We're very lucky to have so many folks who care about us! My best friend from Florida flew in Thursday and it was great to spend some time with her before the shower Saturday. Her munchkins will have a new cousin soon and I think she is just as excited as we are.

The back aches have returned in full force. I seriously contemplated getting a pedicure the other day just to sit in one of the massage chairs. I haven't ruled that out yet... Sleep is still hard to come by so if she doesn't like sleep, at least I'll be prepared. I'm getting bigger and bigger by the day. My cousin, innocently enough, asked me Friday why my face was so swollen. I told my mom to take him aside and tell him that's not the most appropriate question to ask someone pushing 9 months pregnant. Thankfully the swelling comes and goes and isn't just a constant.

Another week has gone by and we're anxiously awaiting the arrival of the peanut!

6...

My doctor's appointment Monday went well, our peanut is in the 74th percentile and is head down.  It's just a waiting game now for her to make her grand appearance. As she continues to pack on the lb's so do I. My pregnancy weight gain is now at 28 pounds with six weeks to go. Eeks! 

Her kicks are definitely stronger and sharper these days, I spend a good portion of my night coaxing her foot away from my ribs. Sleep is elusive once again and rolling out of bed to use the bathroom every couple of hours is getting more and more difficult as I continue to get bigger. My back has started to ache again, too. (Thankfully, my husband is an expert in back rubbing) Currently, she is sitting on my nerve I have a very sharp pain radiating down my back into my butt. I've taken to eating smaller, more frequent meals. A normal size meal leaves me so full and bloated I am miserable for HOURS. 

Not too much longer and she'll be with us! For now, I'll continue to enjoy her not so little kicks. 

7...

Our little peanut isn't so little! At my sonogram appointment on Friday, the tech told us she weighs a whopping 4 pounds 9 ounces already. We still have 7 weeks to go and she has approximately 4 more pounds to gain. I was hoping for a 6 pounder! But, it was reassuring to know she is growing and growing well. My in-laws are certain she will have "their" nose. (I know I'm bias but she does have an extremely cute nose). In a short amount of time we will no longer be guessing who she looks like.

We had two baby showers this weekend and came home with a brand new wardrobe for the peanut, along with some other generous gifts. Her crib is piled high with the clothes that need to be washed but with another shower to go, I figured I'd wait and do it all at once. The dog is perplexed at all of the new items in "his" room and he even tried to claim a small pink bear as his. Thankfully, it was retrieved without much harm.

My belly is certainly getting bigger and she has been pretty active the last two days, not that she isn't always active but particularly active these last two. You can tell she is running out of room in there. Her little nudges and pokes are quite sharp. The Braxton Hicks contractions, while not excruciating, are happening more frequently and after a couple are quiet uncomfortable. But, I know they are nothing compared to the real deal.

7 short weeks away...

8...

My doctor's appointment on Monday went well, put on 3lbs and the Peanut's heartbeat was good. I have an ultrasound appointment on Friday to see what position she is in, etc. I can't wait to see how big she has grown as we haven't seen her since our 20 week appointment.

I'm not feeling the greatest today. I'm uncomfortable and tired and just all around not feeling the best. I slept great last night so I can't blame it on a sleepless night but I am ready to head home from work and lay down for awhile. Besides today, I've been feeling pretty good. I had a burst of energy on Monday and did a ton of much needed housework. Perhaps the nesting has started already...

I have a baby shower Friday from the folks at work and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are hosting one on Sunday. We're sure to be loaded with a ton of cute baby stuff after this weekend.

We're headed into the home stretch with 8 weeks to go. Here's to hoping that the next 8 fly by... I'm ready to meet her!

9...

Week 30 has passed us and we're on to Week 31 which means we have 9 weeks to go. With three baby showers pending, we are gearing up for the Peanut's arrival. My ever expanding belly is well, ever expanding. Sleep has been hit or miss, some nights it's great, some nights...not so much.

I've had what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions a couple times but thankfully they don't last long. Last night I had a couple of pretty strong ones but within a half hour or so they were gone. Before my last appointment, I was checked out at Labor and Delivery to make sure I wasn't leaking amniotic fluid and found out that I was having a few contractions. Since they were minor (painless and not lasting more than 40 seconds), the Doctor sent me home. The ones last night were definitely stronger than the ones a couple of weeks ago, but they were fleeting.

Yesterday the baby moved pretty much all day, little nudges here, little kicks there. She must of have worn herself out because I've only felt a few here or there today.

I'm very much looking forward to meeting the (hopefully) healthy, happy peanut that has been hibernating for the past 7 and 1/2 months!

10...

Holy crap, we only have 10 weeks to go! I've started the bi-weekly appointments as of this past Monday (everything was peachy and her heartbeat was good) and will be getting a glimpse of the peanut again in two weeks when I go for an ultrasound, presumably to see what position she is in. Currently, her feet (or hands) are pressing against my ribs making it very uncomfortable for me to breathe. I gained 4 lbs last month which compared to the 6 gained the month before, I was pretty happy. She also told me I passed my glucose test with flying colors. I assumed that as I didn't get a call for the three hour test. Thank you God!

I'm tired all of the time again--granted I knew that would return and I have the patience of well, a newborn. My poor husband. My boss was nice enough to let me come in a little later this morning but I could still go home and go right back to sleep. Or my version of sleeping these days, which is an hour or two here, hour or two there.

To elaborate on last week's post, my primary care doctor advised that the tick bite was more than likely a deer tick but that testing for Lyme's wasn't necessary because it's difficult to get an accurate screening. I was a bit bummed. Not that I like having my blood drawn, but a negative test would have done wonders for my nerves. Regardless, I didn't develop a gross rash or come down with a fever of any kind so fingers crossed it was a tick bite that didn't (doesn't) evolve into Lyme's Disease.

So far so good with only 10 weeks to go!

Horrible Indigestion

Well I'm certainly getting an idea of what my lack of sleep is going to be like in the next few weeks. I woke up at 11:30 last night with TERRIBLE indigestion. Then again at 12:45, and again a little after 1:00. At 2:00 I broke down and took a Pepcid. I couldn't help it. It was either that or I was going to spend the remainder of my night watching 90s on Nick. I slept pretty well from 2:00-5:00 and was up again at 6:45. Although, I didn't get out of bed until after 7. I woke the whole house up, unintentionally. The alarm would've woken my husband up anyway had I not told him I was going downstairs. This morning was ROUGH. Even the dog didn't want to get out of bed.

The back aches have gotten better especially since I've started sleeping with the body pillow and for a couple of days this past week I slept REALLY well. At least 4 consecutive hours, which I was very happy with.

Sunday was an interesting day. I was taking a bath, shaving my legs, and came across a raised bump that looked similar to a scab. I realized after looking at it closer that it was a tick. I immediately panicked and called the on-call doctor who advised me to follow up with my primary care. I started sobbing. 11 weeks to go and now I have to worry about this?! Thankfully, the site where the tick was attached looks great and there was no bulls eye rash or any other accompanying symptoms of Lyme's disease, which I was of course convinced I had.

On an unrelated tick note, I've debated calling the doctor the last few days as her movement has really slowed down, but I'm wondering if she's just getting bigger and unable to move around as easily as before. I don't want to just call the doctor to call the doctor so I've been weighing my options for the last few days. I might just wait until my Monday appointment to bring it up. I'm sure she thinks I'm already crazy.

What a crazy past week. But only 11 weeks to go!

First Day of our Last Trimester

Today marks the first day of our last trimester, our family of two will soon become a family of three (four if you count our pup). This past week has been rough physically, the back pain has been rough and the indigestion has been super intense.

Sleeping has been...difficult to say the least. Some night I get a couple of scattered hours and some nights I get a consecutive 4 or so. I'm sure my body is just prepping me for the Peanut's arrival. Her kicks are getting stronger and more frequent, she is favoring my right side/ribs. Her feet (I'm assuming) are quite the little movers.

My bi-weekly appointments start after my next appointment in May. I can have another 4d sonogram in a couple of weeks to see what the Peanut looks like and considering we haven't seen her since Week 20 I can only imagine how developed she is now.

 My baby showers are scheduled and we have ordered the car seat so the wait for Baby A begins! Only 12 weeks to go!

Cauliflower Week

I receive those nifty weekly emails that explain the ands, ifs, and buts of a growing baby and baby bump. This week she is the size of a cauliflower, approximately, at 2 pounds 14 inches long. What I found most interesting in this week's email was a blurb about hiccups. Since Saturday I've felt rhythmic bumps that last about 90 seconds or so. I couldn't figure out what it was, it wasn't strong enough to be a kick and it was too patterned to be any other type of movement. Alas, the peanut has the hiccups. I can only imagine what she looks like in there hiccuping away.

Monday was my glucose test and while the liquid I had to drink wasn't terrible, the nausea afterwards was. ll. The doc hasn't called yet so I'm taking that as a good sign. I would hate to have to repeat that test again, it was not pleasant.

I've been sleeping okay lately. Still getting up at least twice to use the bathroom but the in between sleeping is pretty good. My back, with the exception of a few nights, hasn't been too sore lately. This morning I was a little stiff but the hot water from the shower cured me almost instantly.

The peanut's room is almost complete. Her furniture is assembled, all we need now is some decorations. The bassinet is hanging out in her room until she arrives. Last night the husband and I hear the dog rummaging around upstairs. My husband went to investigate because like a toddler, a quiet dog means he's up to no good and low and behold, the dog is in the bottom of the bassinet. I definitely predicted that a month ago when we put it together, I was just surprised it took him that long.

I'm rocking a prominent baby bump these days. In fact, I look like I've swallowed a basketball. A moving basketball that is, as she is definitely moving more and more these days. I enjoy sitting on the couch watching my belly bounce around. What fun she must be having. Other than a couple mood swings I've been feeling pretty great.

13 more weeks until we take the biggest leap of our lives and welcome the peanut. I couldn't be more excited.