today

Today was a good day. 

Blakely didn't sleep great last night, but luckily she slept in until 6:50am.  She woke up happy.  Dad left for bible study as soon as she woke up, and we went into the living room to snugle and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She drank her bottle and watched some more Disney while she ate a piece of jelly toast and peanut butter toast. 
Then we did lots of playing.  Her new thing is "asking" me to come with her somewhere by stretching her arm out to me from 10 feet away.  She gets SO excited when I come.  She leads me around the house and yard pretty much all day.  We played in her room- She loves me to empty her pink piggy bank so she can put all the quarters back in.  She also likes to turn her noise machine on to "twinkle little star" and dance to it. 

Then we put makeup on.  She loves to empty out my makeup bag and open and close anything she can manage.  She also takes each of the brushes and "uses" them all at least once.  Which means she just rubs it somewhere on her body.  She spends half the time digging into the makeup bag, and the other half sitting on my lap putting her makeup on.
She went down for a nap around 9am- asleep by 9:15 and slept for about an hour.  Dad needed to mow the lawn, so we all went outside and picked purple flowers- aka: weeds.  She waved at the neighbors, birds, squirels, and each passing car. 

Then our friends Katie and Hudson came over- Hud is a few months older than B.  We played outside for a little while, then came inside.  Blakely loves Hud, but he doesn't love her.  She gets beat on a little bit, but she is tough, and persistent.  She never stops offering him toys and trying to get him to play with her, despite getting hit and having toys thrown at her. 
We had frozen pizza for lunch with homemade ranch dressing.  Blakely learned to play "ring around the rosies" and she LOVED it. 
They left around 12:30, so B had a bottle and went down for a nap.  She didn't fall asleep until 1:15ish, and only slept for about 45 minutes- but still woke up happy. 
We ate a snack of strawberries and yogurt, then loaded up to go to the grocery store. 
We went to two stores- and Blakely was pretty good- she was happier since I let her wear my pearl necklace.  She loves the attention she gets from older people and cashiers at grocery stores. 
We came home and while I put groceries away she pulled out about 20 wipes one by one.  Lovely.  She knew she was guilty, too.
Then we went outside and played.  She discovered that my drink wasn't water, and she drank half of my pina colada smoothie- She is one person I don't mind sharing with though.  She would take a big drink, then start walking away to play and get about 3 steps and come back for more until it was all gone. 

my smoothie, rock collection, and Henry

We went to the back yard and she went up and down her slide over and over.

Then we got some stuff ready for supper and came outside to grill chicken until dad got home. 
We had country music on, so she walked around picking grass and rocks and stuff and doing a little dancing in between.
She ate a bottle at 5:30 since supper wasn't ready yet.  Thus she didn't eat a great supper.  She decided she no longer likes broccoli, so she ate a little bit of bread and a few bites of chicken that I forced, and some cheese.
Then she was a little fussier than usual so we headed to bathtime. 
Then she drank a little more milk since she didn't eat much and we played with blocks and read a few books, then headed to bed around 7:30.  It took her about 30 minutes to fall asleep- with one small episode of standing and crying.  And THAT was our day! 

*P.S.  We finally had her 15mo checkup and she was 19lbs 5oz (5%) and 32in (70%)

*I also had a followup ultrasound- and Henry had a growth spurt!  He is already 4lbs (yikes!) So it looks like I'll be pregnant for another couple months afterall!

31 weeks

Almost. Well I made it past 30! For some reason to me that is the biggest milestone. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that if this one goes anything like last time I am less than 5 weeks away from having this kid. Yikes.

I definitely don't remember feeling this pregnant with Blakely. Henry is under my ribs and makes it very hard to bend over or really even sit on the couch normally. I have constant heartburn and acid reflux. And though I thought I had all those symptoms with Blakely, I now know I did not!

All of a sudden he is just constantly on my bladder. That coupled with my overprotective husband who hounds me to drink more water NONSTOP, I can't make it through an hour on the bike at the gym without stopping at least 3 times to use the bathroom. Literally. I am sure all the people think I either have diarrhea or I am just fake working out. :)

I can do an hour on the bike- going pretty vigorously- but I can't make it up a flight of stairs without feeling like I'm gonna die. What's up with that???

I'm having lots of contractions and I think even some back contractions- which I never had with B and they are painful! Anyone else have those pre-labor?

It finally dawned on me this past week that we don't have a baby room. I'm not sure why, but I just never got the urge to decorate or prepare I guess. And i just really didnt think about it. So we have no dresser no crib no clothes. So I guess the pour guy is just gonna sleep in the pack and play for a while cause I'm not buying another crib!

We are getting more and more excited about having a boy. I think he will spend the first few months of his life in
nothing but a white onesie. And I am so looking forward to not having any confusion on his gender! I love getting Blakely dressed up cute and stuff on occasion- but I also feel this pressure for her to always look cute in public. But the fact is, she drools like a faucet, refuses to wear a bib at meals, and likes to play in the dirt. So cute clothes just aren't that frequent. Stephen has already made it clear that Henry will not be dressing "cute." And I'm fine with it!

My friend Katie watched B for us yesterday so me and Stephen could go on a date! She did awesome and we had a blast. It was low key- we went to Starbucks, bass pro, and taco bueno. Perfect!

On to the pictures!

Help. Me.

I need advice.  From anyone and everyone.  Blakely has entered into the worse phase ever (I shouldn't say that, cause I'll eat my words....)  I know it is magnified by her not feeling good the last couple of weeks, but I am really afraid this isn't just due to sickness, but is something we have to figure out how to break her of. 

She has really taken the whining and fit throwing to a whole new level.  She throws herself the biggest pity party constantly- half the time, I don't even know what it's about, I just hear her whimpering about something.  And it is just the most pathetic whine you've ever heard.  And THEN.  If she thinks I might not give her what she wants, for instance, if she wants something like a piece of ice from my drink, and I can't suddenly make the ice jump into my hand so I can give it to her (ie. I have to take the lid off and get a piece out that isn't too big so it might take an extra 4 seconds...) she FREAKS.  And I mean freaks.  Screams, writhes, real tears.  How does this girl do it?  I think she may be destined to be a movie star, cause her ability to cry is pretty impressive. 

She gets her feelings hurt soooooo easily.  It's ridiculous.  Today her "dog dog" (her favorite stuffed dog animal...) was on our banister.  I was cleaning up, and she was busy doing something ELSE.  NOT trying to play with dog dog.  So I picked him up to go put him away in her bed, and as she saw me walking down the hall she just fell a part.  It's the same as with the ice.  At this point, I feel trapped.  I would gladly give her the piece of ice she wants, or give her dog dog if she wants him, but now she's freaking out and I don't want to teach her that that is how you get what you want.  So do I then not  give her what I would have originally? 

One of our HUGE battles is dinner.  She will sit happily in her high chair for a little while.  Then she decides she's ready to sit on my lap.  Well, I know this is mainly our fault, cause we have let her sit on my lap before because the child needs to EAT. bad.  But anyway, now if I have any desire to eat my dinner without her on my lap, in my way, with her hands in my food, NOT eating it, just playing... Then I have to listen to screaming the whole time.  She won't even settle for Stephen's lap, or even just getting down and playing.  She HAS to be in my lap.  We attempted to put our foots down last night and make her stay in her chair.  It was so unpleasant.  Totally ruined our nice grilled chicken, and she got herself so worked up that she was choking and coughing from crying so hard.

So how long do I let a fit like that go on?  Until dinner is over?  Cause let me tell you...this child won't just get distracted...she will win the endurance prize as far as fits go.  She will scream until dinner is over and then some.  And is there anyway to get her to stop whining?  I don't feel like discipline works with her- she just doesn't get it yet.  What do I do when she throws a fit when I AM going to give her what she wants?  Still give it to her?  Or then don't give it to her because she is throwing a fit? 

I don't care if you are a mom, or a babysitter, or an aunt or WHAT.  If you have ANY thoughts, or books or anything PLEASE HELP ME. 

29 weeks

Well here I am! A few days late...

So this week I definitely turned a corner. I definitely started really feeling uncomfortable for he first time. I think it's mainly due to my 19lb attachment I have to carry everywhere with me. (Blakely, not Henry-though he's putting a toll on me too) I think she is going to have a rough time over the next couple months cause she is going to have to get use to not being packed around. It's just killing my back.

I went walking the other day- when I was preg with B I went almost daily- this time around I bike at the gym for exercise and I haven't walked in quite a while. Let's just say I could really FEEL the extra 20lbs belly I am carrying!

I am measuring small again- like I did with Blakely. (though you wouldn't know it by my weight gain!) It is a little unnerving, but not nearly as much as it was with her. At least we have some sort of idea what all this means this time. So the docs are keeping a closer eye on me from now on.

I didn't really talk much about it when it all happened while I was pregnant with Blakely- cause I was totally freaked out. So my memory is a blur. But basically around the same time in the pregnancy (25-30 weeks) I started measuring much smaller than I should've then went to see a Perinatologist (specialist) and B wasn't growing like she should. So eventually they decided she'd be better off out than in, so I was induced at a little less than 36 weeks.

So sure enough, the same thing started happening last week with this pregnancy. Luckily, we (and especially the docs) know what they are looking for and were already monitoring me closely anyway. So now they are just monitoring me even more closely.

I gave up sweets for the third trimester cause I was getting pretty out of control. I am regretting it badly but I am going to try to stick with it. I definitely find many creative ways to "cheat." Like eggo waffles for any meal or any time of day... Cinnamon rolls for lunch a few days ago..(but it really was my LUNCH!) or my 500cal Starbucks drink. :) but I am sure I am still eating less sweets than I did. I should've at least waited till after Oreos 100th bday...

15 months

We are celebrated Blakely's 15month birth (week) with being SICK.  Ugh.  And a week later, she is STILL sick.  This might be the worst one yet!  Last Saturday I hosted a shower for a good friend getting married, and of course, the day that she has to be out of the house for a few hours, she wakes up congested and cranky.  I felt so bad for her, cause I know she probably just wanted to stay home with her momma, but it was good for her and Stephen to get out together.  It's funny, Stephen kept her for a whole weekend a couple weeks ago, and had no problem.  He took her to Sam's in Topeka (30min drive) on Saturday and that's where he gained more respect for me as a mom.  :)  (not that he didn't respect me before..) But he couldn't understand how I get out with her every day.  He had a grocery sack for a diaper bag- which they tried to tell him he couldn't bring in (he did some arguing that if you can bring a purse, he can bring his "diaper bag").  It was fun hearing about their day. 

Anyway.  She got progressively worse over the next couple of days with runny nose, congestion, coughing, not eating or sleeping, and some CRAZY fussiness.  So finally I went to the doc Monday afternoon- even though her 15mo checkup was Wed.  Glad I did!  Turns out, she had an ear infection along with her cold.  Poor baby.  She seemed like she finally got a little better over the weekend, then she woke up at 4:45 yesterday morning and was BURNING up.  It freaked me out.  She had a fever of at least 102 (our thermometer stinks...) and had that pretty much all day.  The doc couldn't find anything, so I guess she just has some virus.  She still gets the fever when her tylenol or ibuprofin starts to wear off.  Needless to say, she hasn't been herself.  I hope it goes away soon!

I was sad to see that she was only 19lbs 5oz with all her clothes and shoes on.  I was really hoping for 20!  We are going to turn her forward facing in her carseat soon and I was just sure she had reached the 20lb minimum. 

oh boy. 

I guess because she is bigger now, more vocal and more mobile, being sick is worse than ever.  She is clingier than ever, throws HUGE fits if she even thinks I might say no to something, stomps her feet (who taught her that?!) and is a drama queen to say the least... The worst part is that it is so hard to decide when to be firm, and when to give a little since she doesn't feel good.  We have definitely been watching WAYYYY too much TV.  It's the only way I can get her to be still and relax- which she really needs to do while she's sick!  If I didn't let her sit on (yes ON) the table to eat, I am pretty sure her diet would consist of amoxacillan and tylenol.  She loves that stuff...  We have to hide it cause if she sees it on the counter she starts begging for it. 

waiting for dada to get home!

Other than this week, she has started eating a little better.  She will eat broccoli anytime we put it in front of her.  She loves bread, pears, bananas, grapes, and anything else that has no calories.  We try to trick her into eating fish sticks, eggs, grilled cheese- which works occasionally.  She has started to like PB and J.  I know you are suppose to wait until 2 years to give PB to her, but Stephen accidentally gave it to her at like 9 months and we've never had a problem, so I figure if she'll eat it, she needs it. 

sick sleepy baby

She is wearing anywhere from 9-12-18month clothes.  Except I recently got out a pair of her 6-12 month shorts and jeans that still fit her.  She is getting longer, but also skinnier. 

Stephen swears her vocab is not really expanding, and I'm starting to agree.  She doesn't say too many words, but she understands everything.   It's almost scary.  I told Stephen the other day she needed pants so we could go to the store, and Blakely ran to her room and got into her drawer and brought him a pair of pants. 

She loves to put makeup on with me, cook with me, clean with me... If it's something I do fairly regularly, she has her own version of it too.  Except fold clothes.  I have to put clothes away immediately or she will pull every folded shirt onto the floor.  She also loves to try to put my clothes on.  Particularly my undergarments...on her head. 

She has started kissing a lot more.  She doesn't just give them out freely, but every once in a while she will surprise you with a juicy one right on the mouth.  It's pretty gross and sweet all at the same time. 

She still plays fantastically with other kids.  I am always amazed at how calm she is around other kids.  She never throws fits, always wants to share her toys, and is always very nice to the other kids- even when they are mean to her.  And, yes, some are!  She gets pushed, hit, toys stolen, etc. all the time.  But she is tough!

Her sleep hasn't really improved.  She fights sleep like a maniac.  She goes to bed around 7:30 (daylight savings...) and wakes up around 5ish.  She takes two naps a day, usually one is an hour or less, and the other is 30 minutes.  Not really sure how she survives on so little sleep, but we are done fighting!

27 1/2 weeks

I keep saying I will post a belly pic, then it's a few days late, so I say I will the following week...and so on. So I'm just gonna do this one a few days late!

Someone was being a bit of a leach and wouldn't let me go to the bathroom, much less take a picture, without her on my hip. So it might not be the best one. I don't think I look very big in this pic for some reason- but I promise, I am. My friend told me just yesterday that I am "starting to look uncomfortable." I wasn't "uncomfortable" until she said that. :)

And of course, one of my little stinker...