The Frazier Family!

Sick big sister...

2012-01-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

So I officially went into labor at one of the worst times...God knows best but I still wonder how this was the best. But I do trust him!

Wednesday morning my mom had to take Tommi to the dr b/c her eyes were puffy and she was running a fever. So we wanted to see what was up. Well come to find out what I thought was probably some sort of allergic reaction or something simple was an ear infection and strep...both firsts for my little gal.

So this meant antibiotics and no visiting mommy and monkey sister in the hospital! My heart was seriously torn out of my chest...I was a mess! I dreamed of the day my girls would meet and how it would be in the hospital and never in my wildest dreams did I think my big girl would not be able to meet her little sister.

Thankfully I have the most amazing mother who took Tommi on and nursed her back to health as close to as well as I could as possible ;) No one can do it like the actual mommy hehe

So Thursday was kinda a blur for me. Tommi did get to come to the hospital and visit me in the waiting room...we took Miley to the nursery and then changed clothes before picking her back up. So I got to see Tommi and love her! She was REALLY sick and I hated not being with her! But we did survive.

Friday we were released from the hospital but I made sure to talk to the pediatrician before bringing Miley home to a sick big sister. He said basically lots of hand washing and trying to stay out of faces. He said all we can do is the best we can, babies have been coming home to sick siblings for years.

So we were able to have our girls meet on Friday...I wish I had it on video! Tommi was instantly in love and all about her sister! It was amazing!

The next couple days were tough keeping hands washed and Tommi away from Mileys face as much as we could. I didn't' expect her to be SO in love with her..esp since she was not feeling the best still.

Well Tommi has now recovered nicely and is doing great! Thank you Jesus for healthy kids! Miley did not get sick and that is the MOST amazing blessing ever! I can not be more thankful!

We are still battling with meds twice a day till Saturday but every dose is one less that we have to do!

I tell this all with the best memory I can...b/c a newborn and a sick toddler leaves little room for other thoughts.

I have no idea how we could have done it with out my mom...I can not express how thankful I am for her dealing with lack of sleep and a sick toddler (who is not good when she is sick...she is mean!) I honestly hope I can be half the mom my mom was and is when my girls have kids!

Monkey sister...

2012-01-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

is FINALLY here!!!

Miley Jade Frazier made her grand entrance on January 19, 2012 at 3:08am!

She weighed 7lbs 4ozes and was 17 3/4 inches long...which I think is wrong but it is hard to measure a newborn so I will cut them some slack.

Her birth story is VERY quick...

I started having contractions about the time we were putting Tommi down for bed at like 930pm and they were just like all the braxton hicks I had and random and varied in intensity. So I went on...around 1030 they were less comfortable but still very sporadic from 2 mins apart to 15 mins apart, so I figured I would take a shower and wait for them to stop. They never did...so around 1145pm I texted TJ and said that I think I needed to start timing them b/c they were pretty intense and seemed to come in a pattern now maybe.

Sure enough they were 5 min apart. They just continued to get more intense. I kept putting off calling my mom b/c I was so scared they would stop. TJ finally had me convinced I needed to call at 1245-ish. So she left about 130am. She called me not too long after and said I needed to just suck it up and head to the hospital these were too intense to be sitting around the house. So I listened and we called TJ's mom to come up and stay with Tommi. When I got up to get the final things together they moved to 2 or 3 min apart. So his parents finally got here and we left as quick as we could...it was around 215am.

I don't remember the car ride much but TJ was most definitely speeding haha We got to the hospital and they got us in quick and I got into a room at labor and delivery. They got me hooked up on the monitors at 240am to monitor my contractions. They checked me and I was 7 to 8 cm dilated and fully effaced, so they started to put my IV in and started asking me questions so I could get the epidural I was so lovingly begging for :) Well that did not last long they had just gotten the IV set and my contractions were causing my stomach to do all kinds of weird things (ended up being my uterus pushing a baby out on its own) and I told the nurse I had to push. She went down to check me and called immediately for the dr. Only seconds later I felt something funny that then burst. They told me not to push but my body was doing it not me. So they got the dr in there and by the time he was set up I had one push and then my body delivered my sweet girl. (I told them as they got set up I could not do it with out a epidural it was crazy! But I had no choice!)

Not long after we got to the room the nurse looked at TJ and said "Sir you need to sit down your color is horrible" so he sat down and they gave him a Pepsi. I said "No way this is the last thing I need!" Well he did not miss the birth...he heard I was about to have her and he was by my side holding my hand! So thankfully he got to see it all and be with me. He was doing better by that point, we have no idea why he got low blood sugar, but thankfully the nurses were the best and took care of us both.

Miley had a super short umbilical cord so TJ had to cut it before they could even hand her to me. Which was very different...

I'll write more another time about Miley and the hospital and all the craziness life threw at me. But it is 10pm and I NEED to get to bed b/c my babies are sleeping and I need to take advantage of it!

I do and don't...

2012-01-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

I want to go into labor and have this baby SO bad but then again after a day like today I don't.

Tommi woke up with a fever of 102 so I gave her some Tylenol thinking ok she is fighting something but will be ok. But then while sitting at the drs office I noticed her eyes were swollen...right above her eyelids/below her eyebrows. So she couldn't open her eyes totally. I let it slide thinking ok it has something to do with not feeling well. But they seemed to get worse as the day went on.

She didn't eat much today at all. Like maybe 2 chicken nuggets at chick-fil-a and some pretzels. Then a bunch of blueberries this evening.

Well I talked to my mom who I trust with helping TJ and me make judgement calls on what is worth worrying over. She said to wait until Tommi got up from her nap and if her eyes were not better to call the dr. Well the stinker slept from 2:30 till 5:45!! So the drs office was closed! But when she woke up her eyes looked even worse. They look almost like someone who had an allergic reaction to something and their face is swollen but for her it is just her eyes. Very weird. She says they do not itch or hurt and they are not red at all.

She is a bit off but I think she is battling some kind of cold...she has a fever and just feeling "off". But acts pretty normal, super cuddly and wants me but nothing weird. She is also sleepy...but I think again that is just part of the crud.

So as much as I want to be in labor I want it to hold off so she can get better! Ugh! I know others can take care of her but I like to be there for her when she needs me!

I gave her some benadryl before bed so hopefully that will help her eyes and I will not have to take her in tomorrow. But if they are not better in the morning I am taking her into the dr to get checked out. With the impending delivery I need to know what is going on so it doesn't get worse. If it is an allergic reaction I have no idea what could be causing it b/c she has had nothing new to eat and I'm not using anything new in the house.

Being a parent is hard!

40 week appt..

2012-01-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

I had my 40 week appt today...I am technically 40 weeks and 2 days. But I had to see one of the drs who is chronically late. My appt was 11am and I got called back about 11:20 so that wasn't bad but then we sat in the exam room for another good 30 min before she came in ugh! Tommi came with me b/c I figured it would be a standard quick check of heartbeat and measurement. I was gonna deny being checked for progress. But since TJ only had one job this morning he met me at the drs office.

When they called me back the nurse didn't ask if I wanted to be checked I guess since I am past my due date it is standard. I know I could have denied it but whatever.

Well thank God TJ did come b/c Tommi would have been hard for me to handle by myself. So the dr checked the heartbeat and measured my belly and then after checking my progress and stuff she wanted to check the fluid levels (by u/s) and do a NST (non stress test) to make sure baby was content. So we ended up being there for almost 2 hours total! Not cool. According to this dr I am almost 3 cm and 80% effaced but that is all a matter of opinion I think, so who knows if I have made any difference in the last 2 weeks. She also said she was gonna try to loosen my membranes to move things along...so I guess she did when she was checking me. It didn't hurt at all like people talk about. But I know the only way it will move things along is if Monkey is ready.

Tommi did really well through it all until the end she was getting restless while doing the NST but thankfully TJ was able to take her out to distract her. But I am so proud of her for handling it all so well. She cracked us up asking all about the jelly on my belly during the ultrasound and NST.

So the dr told me that since I'll be 41 weeks Monday she feels we need to induce...which I wanted to deny but she went on to tell me how by that point the risk of c-section is the same as a regular delivery and blah blah. I just went with it, with hopes that I will not make it to Monday. So while getting my u/s done she called to set up the induction but the hospital said they are too full on Monday and Tuesday so Wednesday is the day they have to put me in. I was happier about that b/c that gives her one more whole week to do it by herself. The dr told me to call the hospital Monday and see if they can fit me in but I'm not planning on it. I am set up and scheduled for Wednesday so that is what I am going with. The later I can make it the better off I am...as long as Monkey is safe.

But I am praying harder than ever that I go on my own before then...even THIS week would work for me :) So any prayers will help...I DO NOT want an induction. Though they may try breaking my water before any meds are used I still just would rather just go into labor naturally. So it is a wait and see game.

I will be shocked if I make it to next Wednesday but it is all in Gods hands!

Huge...

2012-01-17T19:04:00.000-08:00

I took my weekly pictures this evening. When you give my husband a camera he can't help but take a million pictures so I always end up with a bunch of random weird ones.

Figured I would share one of his random ones of the massive size of my 40 week woman!

I have my 40 week dr appt tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my guess for when Monkey will be here...I'm not changing it but I don't think she will be here tomorrow. It would be very nice though!

Weird child

2012-01-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

Tommi is officially weird!

While in the bath Tommi was very upset with me b/c I was washing her hair. She hates it...some baths she does great and some baths she flips out like I'm torturing her. Well tonight I was torturing her.

She was crying and trying to calm down, when she all the sudden got really upset again. I asked her what was wrong and she said "I had an accident, I just peed." I told her that is ok b/c she is ok and tried to make her laugh by telling her I used to pee in the tub too. She was devastated! She said "I don't like peeing in the tub, I wanna get out!"

Most kids pee in the tub and don't care. Well not my Tommi Jolene! :)

Tonight was a tough night...she was so tired EVERYTHING irritated her. She went to bed REALLY well with out complaining b/c she was just so ready to sleep. The best part of her being tired is she is very cuddly! So she ended up in bed a little later than normal b/c TJ and I were really enjoying the cuddles! :)

Due...

2012-01-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Today was my "due date" only 5% of people have their babies on their due date so I was not expecting to go into labor today.

So I felt pretty good today...emotionally and physically. Physically I have my pains but I think I was more uncomfortable with Tommi than I have been this time. I have alot less pressure which could be a good thing or a bad thing. But they say first-time babies engage earlier than 2nd and so on. So I am hoping the lack of inner thigh pressure is due to her just not dropping in until actual birth.

My mind is still here and there. I have myself convinced I will not go into labor anytime soon but then again am disappointed when it doesn't happen.

My mom said today she believes it will definitely be this week...I PRAY she is right!

Tommi is now telling me often "I want to meet monkey sister." "I can't wait to meet monkey sister." etc. It breaks my heart b/c all I can tell her is "soon" well I have been saying that for how long now? And how much longer will I be saying that?

It is so funny how I can be the voice of reason for others who are in these shoes but when it is my turn I'm just like everyone else. SUPER anxious and impatient!

Tommi has been a booger lately with a total attitude and just exercising her opinion. So I am hoping the birth of this child turn will be a turning point. What cracks me up is the thing that usually causes her to tantrum is PUTTING CLOTHES ON!!! She wants to be naked all the time so when we go to leave the house she doesn't want clothes on and if she agrees to it, it takes forever to get the "right" outfit. Over all she is amazing! Today was the first day in over a week Tommi has eaten half way normal. She has been bird eating for over a week and today ate a normal lunch and dinner! Yay!

Tomorrow we have no plans to keep us busy. I have been racking my brain to come up with something but I got nothing.

Day before...

2012-01-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well I am officially due tomorrow! I was kinda hoping I would go at least a day early so I didn't have to deal with the everyday questioning and comments. But that is not the case.

I am an emotional mess with emotions bouncing from happy to sad in a matter of minutes! I went past my due date with Tommi and expected to be better this time since it was kinda expected that I would go over.

I guess today was just extra hard b/c I was so nauseous all day and having pretty strong contractions, not consistent but strong. Plus I just felt really emotional...like I just wanted to cry. Which I did and it actually made me feel better.

Tomorrow Tommi and I are gonna do our normal Monday routine and hopefully just enjoy the day together. Hopefully I can keep my mind off things. I have to remember to take this one day at a time!

Everyone...I mean everyone has their guess on when she will come. Most say it will be this week...and I'm begging the Lord please let it be this week! I can't be mad if I don't go this week...b/c the Lord knows her perfect birthday.

Dr appt is Wednesday...with one of the drs I am not a huge fan of so it would be nice to not have to go to my appt but I can only dream :) If I do go it will be another date day for Tommi and I so either way it is good...either extra time with my first babygirl or meeting my second babygirl for the first time.

I am doing my best to be positive!!!!

Carseat...

2012-01-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

So I've been meaning to install monkey's car seat base in the car for a while now. Finally we got it done today. TJ and I both felt confident in installing it b/c we have done it a few times and each time it has been checked by a car seat specialist and it was done right. Plus I can easily install Tommi's new seat with ease and I know what to look for to make sure it is installed right and is tight enough.

Well I guess it has been a while b/c we went to install it and it was not as easy as we remembered. We could not seem to get it tight enough. We have it tightened to the max and it still moves more than it is supposed to.

We are gonna try some different adjustments tomorrow but I have to go out to the fire dept on Monday and hope the car seat specialist is in so I can get this thing in there right.

I'm a nervous nelly about car seats. I am all about having it installed as well as I can! If I'm gonna have my babies on the road I have to have them as safe as possible.

Now lets all hope I don't go into labor this weekend so that I can get this done on Monday and put my mind at ease.

With my crazy hormones raging I am SUPER worried about this. Now I am regretting waiting so long to get this done. I am sure I can get it done before I have her but it is just another thing I have to do so it is just annoying.

My vent for the day :)

Overposting...

2012-01-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

If there is such thing as over posting I am guilty. I write on here far too much but it is my outlet. I usually write on here just to get my feelings out and not annoy my mom or TJ with saying the same thing over and over. But I still vent to them too. :) So this is one of those get my crazy head feelings out.

As I sit here on the computer in complete silence with Tommi peacefully sleeping in her bed and TJ on his way home from dipping. I can not help but think 2 things..."I am so ready to have this little girl in my arms and bond with her." and "I am not sure I am really ready for this." So both ends of the spectrum.

I was reading an e-mail that I got this week about the 39th week of pregnancy. It had a list of signs that I'm getting close to labor...well I have in some way experienced all of them. So it really got me thinking...well ok come on labor start up and holy crap this is really gonna happen SOON! Soon being loosely used from days to weeks...but everyday is one day closer! Crazy!

I have been so exhausted the past couple days. I usually am not in bed earlier than midnight and that is "early" for me. The past 2 nights I have been in bed at 1030 and 11. And I've been back to taking naps when Tommi does, which I had not been doing.

So basically my mind is all over the place!

Pep talk and encouragement

2012-01-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

I can not be more thankful for the amazing people who surround me...not always literally but they have my back.

This morning my mom gave me the peptalk I needed. I am kinda discouraged b/c my body is showing tons of signs of go but no official green light. I'm not very good with change so for me I think...lets just get this over with so I can adjust and move on with my "new" life. But my mom who totally understands and basically reminded me of what I say to all first time moms...ENJOY IT! You will miss the belly, you will miss the movements, and most of all you will miss the simplicity of life. She also told me to assume I will not have a baby till my due date so if she comes early then it is a special surprise. <---I was JUST telling a friend this only a month ago!

So I am done being disappointed! I am not looking past my due date...I think the fact that I could still be pregnant in 2 weeks is what is getting to me. But I can't fear that I just have to make it to next week and go from there! Thanks to my mom who took care of me at this point with Tommi and again this time! I am so blessed! (Lets see if I'm saying that when she is "living" with me for a week or so after Monkey is here but for now she is the best haha)

Only moments after getting off the phone with my mom Tommi walked up and said "Mama can I lay next to you?" I had been planning on getting up after I got off the phone...but nope not gonna happen. I am gonna embrace this time that I can get all the snuggles I want. So of course I moved right over and she laid next to me. Then looked up at me and said "Mommy I love laying with you!" I love her so much!!!! She has been super cuddly today and even when I'm in the bathroom she comes running and wants to hug me or just have me hold her (yeah I have had to turn her down on that one...holding a toddler while peeing is a bit odd haha)

Then I got a text from my soon to be sis in law, Heather, she told me she was thinking about me and hopes I am doing well and staying comfy! I feel so blessed to have so many not only waiting on Monkey to get here but thinking of me and loving me!

I am blessed!!!

39 weeks

2012-01-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

39 week appt was today...

nothing exciting...babygirl is just chillin. I have far too good of an environment for her. Her heartbeat was 137bpm and my measurement was on track. He did another pelvic and nothing has changed since last week. The dr said the cervix was still high. So monkey is just hanging out and enjoy her last days/weeks "attached" to me.

I am a little disappointed there was no change from last week esp since I have been having tons of braxton hicks and cramping. But the dr said it is normal to stick at this point till actual labor starts esp with 2nd children.

I did get my "final" pedicure this evening...I have been meaning to get a pedicure for weeks but it just hasn't worked out. Since we had nothing going on this evening I told TJ lets just go do it so I can check it off my list.

Today was nasty cold and rainy so we did not get the car seat base set in the car. I need to move Tommi's seat to behind the driver and put monkeys on the passenger side. Hopefully we will get it done soon so I can continue to check things off my list.

My body feels like it could go anytime but my mind has me convinced I'll make it to my appt next Wednesday. Just praying VERY hard I'm not pregnant in 2 weeks. Guess it is all wait and see now!

Better....

2012-01-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

She slept pretty good last night...only woke up once at 2am to "cuddle". She woke up at 8 and I brought her to bed with me and she slept till 1030! We needed that so bad! She didn't cough much last night but when she sat up this morning all the yuck that had settled in her throat started moving and caused her to cough a bunch. But after she was up for a bit it stopped making her cough. She was pretty congested today but it didn't bother her as much as it bothered me hearing it haha

She was still a bit grumpy today like she didn't feel the best. So I let her nap in my bed with me when it was naptime. She woke up from nap a whole new girl! She was so refreshed and feeling good. She was playing and dancing around while I was making dinner. I kept warning her she was gonna get coughing but it only made her cough a little...her cough sounds SO much better and is not painful! YAY!!!

I do not think I have been so thankful for Tommi to be her crazy self in all her life. She is dancing around and acting like a chicken right now!

We are still not 100% but every hour she is improving! Thank you Jesus!!!

I am feeling a bit crazy. I am so overly nervous about going into labor...I guess I didn't have so much to worry about with Tommi. It was just TJ and I so I could get up and go anytime. This time I want to make sure it is "real" and then get Tommi taken care of. It is a bit overwhelming for me. If I am gonna have her this week going into labor tomorrow or Wednesday would be PERFECT! Mom is coming up and then I would feel SO much less stressed b/c heck when Big Mama is here I'm totally forgotten :) It would be the best way to not disrupt life too much. But God has a plan and technically I'm not due for another week.

I feel like this has all snuck up on me...how did we get to 39 weeks already?!?

Not yet....

2012-01-08T13:17:00.000-08:00

I'm not ready for this baby yet.

With Tommi being sick and me noticing the impending delivery signs, I believe I'm kinda panicking. I need life to be at a "calm" before the storm. I need to get a good night sleep just one more time. I need to be in a good place.

I'm not any of that just yet. Tommi is sick and still wants "mama" all the time (for some reason while being sick Tommi has picked up calling me Mama all the time instead of her normal "mom" or "mommy") Neither of us is sleeping well due to (i think) her steroids making her antsy and not be able to sleep well, plus the cough which keeps her up making her want me. I need to just have a day to clear my mind. I thought this coming week would be "party week" for Tommi and I. We would make many trips out to...Chick-fil-a, the mall, Target, the park, and anything else fun I can think of weather permitting. But nursing her back to complete health is about the only thing I'm worried about now. I need her to be 100% or at least 90% so we are both ready for the crazy life that is about to start.

Of course here I am worried about going into labor this week and it could be another 2 weeks before I have her. I highly doubt it will be 2 weeks but you never know!

Potty Trained

2012-01-07T16:35:00.001-08:00

I stressed so much about Tommi potty training, but now I have to say it is one of the most amazing things ever. She is SO good about it. She has had her days that she slipped up but for over a week now she has been doing so well. I have found she likes to hold it for a couple hours sometimes but as long as she makes it to the potty I'm ok with whatever. She loves trying "new" pottys or at least seeing the bathroom everywhere we go so if we go out that helps.

So she is officially potty trained completely...just in time to give me a month break from changing diapers. haha I'll take it!

Now lets hope she does not "regress" when monkey comes...I don't think she will b/c she hates diapers so much. She still has to wear them at night but she is growing to be ok with that...if she wakes up in the middle of the night she will call for me to come take her to the potty so lately she has been dry in the mornings b/c she goes in the middle of the night.

On a monkey note...my due date is only single digits away!! Eek! So soon!!! I think I'm a bit in denial with Tommi being sick I have not had alot of time to think about it. I have faith the Lord is gonna allow me to hold off till Tommi is totally better so I can focus on monkey.

Tommi and 38 week appt

2012-01-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Well Tommi had her follow up this morning and her oxygen levels were 97...PRAISE THE LORD! So VERY good (a healthy child is about 100). Her lungs sounded clear...another praise! Her upper chest/lower throat still have crud, so they gave us some steroids to help treat the swelling in there and help make the cough less painful. It will not get rid of it, but will help it be less painful for her. The cough has to just run its course. So lots of fluids and keeping her comfy is all we can do otherwise. But I can not express how thankful I am for the better/good report.

She is still in need of major prayers b/c she is really not feeling good and the cough is so painful it breaks my heart. But God is good and I'm so thankful for the progress we have made so far! Definite answer to my prayers!!!

She keeps telling me "Mommy, I don't feel very good!" :( and whenever she feels a cough coming on she comes running or cuddles really close. But I think the mommy cuddles do help (*big smile*) I have to admit I really like having healing powers...or so she thinks.

I also had a drs appt, my 38 week appt...late in the 38th week. I saw Dr.S...who I don't really like. She is "rough" and just not my type.

But Monkey checked out good. Her head is down...low, her heartbeat is strong, and my belly is measuring right on track.

They asked if I wanted a pelvic exam...out of curiosity I said yes. I know it really doesn't mean that much, esp since I hardly made progress with Tommi till I was in labor. Well I was 1 to 2 cm (she said just enough to call it 2cm) and 70% effaced. So things are on there way...it could be tonight or a couple weeks. I am praying I can get my "big girl" better before the "little girl" comes. I also have a little more snuggle time I need to get in before I have to be shared :)

As I was leaving Dr.S stopped me and said "I'm on duty next Friday, if you haven't had baby by then would you want me to schedule an induction?" I told her "No, I'll just wait it out." But heck no is what I really wanted to say. Seriously? I will not even be at my due date, it is Friday the 13th, I want to go into labor naturally, and only God knows my baby girls perfect birthday. I think the dr was a bit shocked b/c when she asked if I was over it yet. I basically said I was b/c it was getting tough with a 2 year old and being this pregnant. But I'm almost 39 weeks pregnant few are not over it at this point...esp when they have another little one. I still am loving my pregnancy and I'm not "over it" per say but I am getting tired and kinda uncomfortable at times. Otherwise I feel really good.

Unless these braxton hicks get stronger and turn into real contractions, I have another appt next Wednesday, with Dr.N who I really like!

Sick...

2012-01-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

So Tommi has had a cough for a couple days but it was only at night and when she was running around. I chalked it up to dry weather and the change of temperatures so often.

Well last night before bed it got worse so I gave her a low dose of Delsum which helped for a little while but then she was up a million times. Her cough would wake her up and she would want me to just check on her. At around 4am she called for me b/c she said she had to go pee, which I figured she was just awake and had to go so she wanted to go. Well I picked her up and she was SUPER hot. I took her temp and it was 101.4. She said she was thirsty so I took her out to the living room to get a drink and due to her crazy cough we snuggled up in the recliner and went to sleep. We slept off and on between coughing. So basically neither of us got alot of sleep.

Today we laid low and basically snuggled all day. She wouldn't let me out of her sight or more than a couple feet from her for long. She seemed to be doing ok other than coughing like crazy. Poor thing even coughed enough to make her self throw up. It was not cool but I figured we would ride it out and see where things went.

She went down for nap for about 40 min before coughing so much she wanted to be with me. At that point I brought her to my bed to see if I could get some rest out of her. She tried to sleep but had little luck with the cough. Finally after watching her cringe and cough enough I called the dr and the nurse said due to her age there was little I could give her to help her rest but I could bring her in and they would check her out if need be. So I decided that would be best for my peace of mind and maybe to get her some relief.

So 430pm we went to the dr and she did pretty well not flipping a lid too much and actually let them look at her. Well the dr heard some yuck in her lungs so they did a oxygen test and her numbers were 92-93, they informed me at 90 they put kids in the hospital. He did a blood test to see if it was bacterial or viral and it was viral. He diagnosed her with bronchiolitis or RSV.

She has to go back in the morning to see if her numbers get any better and if they drop anymore they will have to admit her. For now I am supposed to push fluids and keep her comfortable as possible. Hopefully the numbers get better b/c I really don't want to do the hospital thing. I am the only one in this family who needs to be hospitalized anytime soon.

I looked up about bronchiolitis and it is most common in those under 2, non-breastfed, preemies, males, those in daycare, kids from homes with smokers, etc. Every one of those is NOT Tommi. So how my kid gets this is beside me. She picked it up somewhere but who knows where.

I have a drs appt tomorrow which I planned to take Tommi to but definitely can't now. So TJ is supposed to meet me in town to hang out with Tommi while I go to my appt. That is if all goes well at her appt and I can go to mine.

For now I am hoping for a better night tonight...which is not likely but I can hope!

Tommi has LOTS of prayers coming her way and I know the Lord can touch her! I NEED her healthy for the arrival of her little sister!!! This is supposed to be a really exciting time!!

Monkey belly

2012-01-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

I wish I could get a picture of my belly when Monkey pushes out on the side b/c it is all round then this random "growth" off the side (usually my left side) I assume it is a knee b/c it is perfectly rounded. She does it quite often. If I put my hand on it and push it lightly she will stop but I have come to love it. It is not the most comfortable thing b/c it really feels like she is about pop a hole out the side. But it is too cute and really a signature move of hers. I do not remember Tommi ever doing that on the side. I'm going to continue to try to get a picture but we will see. I definitely wanted to note it b/c I will love remembering back on it.

So my wish for the birth of Monkey is the earliest of the 11th, which gives me a week. I am hoping she avoids Friday the 13th. But comes no later than 25th, which means I have 3 weeks to go. If I picked her birthday I would say either the 12th or the 18th.

I am getting super anxious and scared out of my mind...all in the same moment!

Spoken

2012-01-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

While doing my daily devotions...I really was "moved" and spoken to by the 2 verses that were part of my devotion.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I have read this verse so many times in the course of my life. I actually have a towel type thing in my kitchen that hangs from my stove with this verse on it. But it really was huge for me today. Just how no matter the bad things that happen the Lord has a plan for us and knows where we are going and it will be good. Right now might not be the best but my future is bright and that is a promise. I like that...I love things that can be promised to me...b/c few things in life can be. But knowing my future is in the Lords hands makes daily life and struggles ALOT easier.

The other verse was...

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I don't want to be like those in "the world". I want to be different, I want others to see me and want to know what I have that they don't...that being the Lord.
I also LOVE hearing about God's good, pleasing, and perfect will. Right now I am bouncing back and forth on the timing of this child, I potentially love the age difference in my girls b/c Tommi can be so helpful, understand, and sweet. The excitement in her face of being a big sister is priceless, it is almost like she has a job she is SUPER proud of. But I also wonder 'was it long enough?' between them. Tommi is at a tough age. She is VERY opinionated, sometimes bossy, and a handful. We are potty training, testing our limits, and just learning about being independent without being too independent. It seems to be a tough time to have a newborn on top of all that. BUT God's timing is perfect. He planned monkey at the perfect time in his will...he knew long before I knew that she would be born in this time and it was HIS will. I can trust that...my will is NOT perfect but his is! He didn't promise me that it wouldn't be tough or that I wouldn't feel defeated. He only said his will is good, pleasing and perfect.

I feel like this has really given me a peace about what is to come. I can not worry about the future and how I will do it with 2 kids. But I can focus on now and know it will all be good! I just have to put my burden on him and he will take care of us.

Also...I anyone who reads this PLEASE pray for a dear family to me,the Kiser's. The father was TJ's baseball coach this summer and I got to know his wife and daughter this summer at games. His wife had been battling different types of cancers for many years now and the Lord finally took her home. She was one of those woman I want to be just like. She had the brightest spirit and fought a VERY long and hard fight. I know she is out of pain now and feeling very good. But she left behind a wonderful husband, 3 grown children, a grandchild, and a community who loved her dearly. I feel even more connected to this family b/c the daughter who I got to know this summer has a little boy who is 6 months younger than Tommi and is pregnant again due in March. So in the midst of being pregnant she lost her mom, her best friend, and grandmother to her children. So this hits really hard at home for me. Just pray for them in this hard time. They are a truly amazing family!

Mixed reactions...

2012-01-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

In only a matter of a week I have heard:

"Wow you don't look 9 months pregnant."
"You are so tiny for 37 weeks."
"You are all belly."

and

"You sure there is only one in there?"
"You look like you are about to have a litter."
"You look like you are gonna pop any minute."
"Now that is a 9 month pregnant waddle."
"That belly is huge." OK so that was my dad and he totally said it lovingly and not the way it sounds but it was funny.

I do not take offense to ANY of it. I don't like hearing the comments about having twins b/c I really don't think I'm that big. But I do not take comments to heart b/c sometimes I think people lack something to say so they don't think before they speak.

It is funny I get such mixed reactions.

Ready?

2012-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Ok so I guess I'm pretty much as ready as I'm gonna be. I still need to pack some final things for me and TJ and also pack Tommi a little overnight bag (she will be staying in a hotel with my mom). Which technically I could get that stuff done in the midst of contractions if need be.

Come to think of it I need to move Tommi's car seat and install the baby one also.

I have been saying how unprepared I am emotionally and honestly scared at times. But looking at it...I will live and I will make it through. My girls are gonna thrive and life is gonna be amazing with 2 kids. Yes it will be stressful...esp in the beginning but I got the hang out it with Tommi, so I will get in the swing of things again with this one.

I have been feeling really good compared to the constant inner thigh pain and pressure I had with Tommi at this point. Sometimes laying in bed or riding in the car I can forget I'm pregnant (for a VERY brief moment). I have back pain with driving due to the angle I have to have the seat and if I'm sitting on a hard chair or in a certain position for a long time. When I get up from bed it takes a bit to get all the joints moving and I have some major lower belly pain. But then after I get rolling then I'm good. I struggle to pick up things off the ground which cracks me up. I also struggle when getting up off the floor...another laughing moment b/c I have never felt so helpless in all my life.

But I am definitely ready to have my lap back so Tommi can sit with me and read books and not be off to the side in a strange position. I am also ready to be able to pick Tommi up and carry her with out being totally defeated and in pain. It really has become very hard to carry her...I try to have TJ do it as much as possible but sometimes she doesn't go for it.

I will miss pregnancy very much as I did with Tommi, there is NOTHING in the world like watching and feeling your baby move in your belly and knowing you have taken part in God's most amazing creation ever...the human life. But I also want to remember how hard things got in the end with a 2 year old and the normal tasks of daily life.

I still think I'm gonna go overdue this time too.

Accidents....

2011-12-30T20:36:00.001-08:00

Tommi has been doing SO good with potty training, pee and poop. She will usually go when we ask or just tell us when she has to go. Well yesterday I made a quick trip to the grocery store and TJ stayed home with Tommi. Well she came to him and said she had to pee...so he told her to go sit on her potty and he would be there in a second. Well she walked out of the room and said "I'm all wet" She was at home and had full access to a potty, what in the world? She kept saying she was sorry afterwards. So she was not happy with herself.

Then today we went out to dinner and she peed when we go to the restaurant and before we left I asked if she had to go and she said no. So I didn't force her since it had been such a short time (45 minutes-ish) we went to Walmart afterwards and I went to the bathroom when we got there. I should have made her come with me but she said she didn't have to go so I didn't make her. Well we walked around a bit then she was looking at toys and she said "uh-oh" we look over and she is standing with a puddle at her feet. She again said "sorry mommy" and when I asked why she didn't tell me she said "I just didn't." I told her if she is not gonna tell us when she needs to go then we will have to put her bike away and she can get it back when she is not having accidents anymore. Not trying to punish her but she isn't gonna have her reward for potty training if she isn't gonna do it. We have told her that we are not returning it just putting it away till she is better about telling us she needs to go. So she is not really upset, more disappointed but does understand.

She is TOTALLY against wearing diapers again and says she loves wearing undies. She even said after I put her diaper on her for bed, "I don't wanna wear diapers again." I reassured her that she doesn't have to wear them again during the day, just at night like normal. But she does need to tell us if she needs to go.

She says she will do better...I sure hope! If it was just at home it wouldn't be so bad but if she is gonna have them in public I'm in for real trouble!

I'm hoping these are isolated incidents.

Baby pool

2011-12-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

I thought this was alot of fun with Tommi so I did it again with Monkey. I had an original one but now that we know it is a girl I figured I'd do a new one for birth date and all that!

Appointment

2011-12-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

The appt went well...they didn't do a pelvic exam as expected but checked the heartbeat and fudus height. I have no swelling and Monkey was moving like a beast so all is going well!

When trying to schedule my appointment for next week they didn't have any openings except on Friday at times that really didn't work for me. I have to work around Tommi but ended up having to go with the most convenient time of my choices which was 11:45am. I will probably just have to end up taking Tommi and hoping that she behaves and isn't too thrown off. Then we can just go grab lunch out somewhere.

I just don't understand how they are the ones who expect me back weekly but make it seem like I'm being the difficult one when we struggle to find a good time for my appt.

I have set my mind that next week when I schedule my appt I will tell them the only times that work for me are Tuesday after 3 or Wednesday mid morning. B/c my mom will be up and she can watch Tommi. If they want me to see a dr they will work around me! haha I swore I'd never be that person but when you are 38/39 weeks pregnant (which I will be) I am allowed to be difficult...just for this short time in my life :)

Well 37 weeks has been pretty kind to me. I feel really good and am just trekking along. I am still wanting to make it to my due date or very close to it if possible...I don't think I'll be having her early but who knows.

I will be glad to be able to cuddle and have Tommi on my lap comfortably.

37 week picture...

Feeling...

2011-12-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

...overwhelmed! I feel like I have so much to do and so little time. When I actually write it down there is really not that much to get done but I can not help but feel like I'm drowning. Poor TJ has heard it so many times but when he asks "Well what can I do?" I say "Nothing." b/c if I don't do it I will not feel satisfied or it is just something he can't handle b/c well he works all day. He is helpful when I need him...and I am SO thankful for this!

I feel like I need to get my "list" done so I can just relax and not worry about anything when I finally do go into labor.

I'm just straight up scared to be a mom of 2. Some days I can barely handle one, how in the world am I gonna handle 2 kids?!?!

Maybe the problem is I'm scared...out of my mind!

Anyone who wants to add me to their prayer list please do. Just to set my mind at peace and help me handle one thing at a time and not stress. I want SO badly to enjoy these days few weeks...b/c Tommi deserves the best mommy I can be and I know I will miss being pregnant.

37 week dr appt tomorrow evening!

More Christmas...

2011-12-25T17:41:00.000-08:00

This morning we had Christmas as a little family...It was nice. As Tommi unwrapped her gifts all the wrapping paper had to be in a little pile...we couldn't make a mess...weirdo!

She got...
-A car DVD player
-Head phones for DVD player
-Mickey Mouse DVD
-Caillou DVD
-Open Season 2 DVD
-Dora Guitar
-Candy in her stocking

Then we went to TJ's grandparents for a dinner get together and from there left for my parents house for a few days.

We had Christmas soon after getting to my parents house with my parents, brothers, and their ladies and wow are we all spoiled!

Tommi got...
-A giant doll house
-Mini van for dolls
-My own Leaptop
-A couple outfits
-A super fancy dress
-Froggie jammies
-Some Berenstain Bears books

Tommi definitely has been spoiled this Christmas...I hope she doesn't mind a break from presents for a while! I think we are maxed out on space for stuff!

She also got a Minnie Mouse bike which was not a Christmas present but might as well have been. It was a potty trained present.

Tommi did GREAT on the trip down...we put in a movie on her DVD player but she was so tired she could hardly pay attention and kept asking us to switch DVDs. Finally we put her Christmas music CD in the DVD player and let her listen to her music on her headphones. She crashed with in minutes and slept for an hour and a half! Which basically the only reason she woke up was b/c TJ and I needed to stop to pee and move our legs. I was a bit concerned b/c it had been over 2 hours since she used the bathroom but when we stopped (with a little walking around and bargaining to make her try) She went to the bathroom and had no accidents!!! Yay! We had a minor accident when we got to my parents but that was due to busy with all the excitement and drinking a bunch right before we got there. But she only went a little then caught herself and went to the potty! I'm SO proud of her...she is doing SO well!

Big potty...

2011-12-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

So this is totally something only a mom can celebrate but...Tommi pooped in the big potty tonight!!! (with a kid potty seat on it but no stool and not a kid potty)

We were at church and I knew Tommi had to go poop so I kept reminding her and even used some bribing to convince her to try. She kept saying she didn't have to go. Then we were sitting in church and I asked her if she wanted to go back and try and poop and gave her something to throw away...she is a little obsessed with the trash can in our nursery b/c it has a pedal to step on for it to open, weird child...but it worked.

So we went back and she of course made me wait in the actual nursery while she was in the bathroom. I kept peeking in on her and asking "are you done?" She would say "No mommy, I'm gonna be fine." I was just worried she would decide to jump off the potty before she called for me. But after like 10 min of her being in here I was getting worried she was just playing games. Well she soon called for me and sure enough she went...a bunch! Funny how something so simple can make you feel so much calmer. I was so relieved she went so I didn't have to worry about her having an accident.

I'm just so proud of her b/c she has only pooped in her little froggie potty at home and for her to poop on the big potty with her feet just hanging was a big change!

On a totally different note...Tommi was a TOTAL pistol yesterday to the point I was gonna return her presents if she continued the craziness. She had to sit with me for majority of the time at TJ's grandparents and watch all the other kids play and hang out presents (her favorite thing to do)

Well she turned it around BIG TIME....She has been amazing today. Of course she has had her normal 2 year old test the limits moments but seriously she has been so good. I finally feel like I have my sweet little girl back! She listened and behaved so good today! I am just so proud of her. She heard it over and over about how proud I was so maybe this will motivate her to continue.

I am learning in the process of it all...choose the battles wisely and try to let her make the decision with choices. I am trying not to "force" anything on her. I wish I knew what it was that turned her around so I can remember if we go through another spell.

Yay tomorrow is Christmas...even though it has been for 2 days now at our house! I'm just excited to give Tommi our presents to her and REALLY excited to travel down to see my family!!! I am beyond excited I get to go down to Va Beach...not for presents but just b/c I love my family! Plus this is really our "last hurrah" before monkey makes her appearance!

I have gotten and am getting some great stuff for Christmas but really it would have been the perfect Christmas if Tommi continues to have the time of her life!

Christmas presents.

2011-12-24T12:01:00.001-08:00

I like to list all the stuff Tommi gets just to look back and remember how spoiled she is.

Last night at TJ's grandparents Tommi got...
-Poingo
-Books to go with the Poingo
-A cute cupcake dress
-A sweatshirt/jacket
-Berenstain bears movie
-Princess book with mat and figurines
-$50 for savings of course
-Snowman PJs
-Mr. Potato head clothes

Today at TJ's parents she got...
-An easel
-Cinderella storybook
-Goldilocks and the three bears storybook
-Love you forever book
-The Original Mother Goose book
-Doll for her dollhouse (she will get tomorrow from my parents)
-Stuffed dog purse
-The Land Before Time DVD
-The Lion King DVD
-Giant coloring pages and crayons

I think that is all for now. Definitely some awesome stuff esp for a girl who LOVES books so much and coloring. She is SO excited!!!

The best part is she did not only enjoy getting gifts but she was ALL about handing them out! Such an amazingly giving and sweet girl!

TJ and I got some awesome stuff too and we definitely don't have an excuse not to go out on a few dates this year b/c we got gift cards to eat out! Including a "date night" pack to see a movie and go to dinner with free babysitting from TJ's sister (like I'd ever have to pay anyone to watch my girls haha, I always have a line of people who want to watch Tommi and Monkey will be the same way). The conditions are that his sister has to watch them when we go out...no one else haha. She cracks me up. It may have to wait till I am comfortable leaving Monkey but will be used definitely...we are gonna need some time to ourselves at least one night this year :)

Over taken

2011-12-23T20:20:00.000-08:00

BY TOYS AND BOOKS!

We had Christmas at TJ's grandparents house with the whole family. Tommi got some really nice stuff...no toys that will go to waste which I am glad. :) But I realized when we got home that I do not have room for all these books/toys. I need to go through all her stuff and just box it up till a later time and stuff can definitely be donated.

I know she is gonna get more toys tomorrow and Sunday so I need to make room. I wish I was better at organizing so I could come up with a better way to do things but for now I have no idea how I'm gonna fit all this stuff in our house and still have things look half put away.

Between the pregnancy nesting and emotions I'm going crazy around here!

DO NOT...

2011-12-22T20:27:00.000-08:00

...asses the size of someones baby...esp to her face when she is 9 months pregnant.

I had 2 different people today ask me how big the drs thought the baby was. Based on the u/s we had last month and the e-mails I get I am assuming she is about 6 lbs so that is what I say. At 32 weeks she was 4.5 lbs so 6 lbs sounds right 4 weeks later.

So I am saying she is about 6 lbs and should be around 8 lbs (at 40 weeks) give or take an ounce or so. Well both of these women kinda got big eyed and said (not in a mean way) something about carrying a big baby.

Think into this ladies...my first baby was 7 lbs 7 ozes (so about 7 and a half pounds) and usually 2nd, 3rd, etc. babies are bigger than the one before if carried to the same point. Plus I was an ounce off from being 8 lbs and TJ was 2 ounces off from being 8 lbs. So it is pretty expected I will have at least close to an 8 pounder if not right on.

I honestly would rather give birth to an 8 lbs baby than a 6 lbs baby. Little babies "scare" me! haha The average baby at full-term is 7.5 lbs so I'm pretty average with the size of my babies!

Today has been a VERY emotional one...honestly the silliest thing got me going and I couldn't snap out of it for a while. But that is life for now...I'd rather deal with a day of not feeling well emotionally than physically not feeling well.

All the Christmas' start tomorrow evening with our Christmas at TJ's grandparents house...Tommi's first words this morning were "Is it Christmas?" Then this evening she was talking all about Christmas and telling me "I love Christmas!"

Oh yeah...This morning when I woke Tommi up to go to TJ's aunts house, she was having a fit about something. So I told her if she didn't behave I was gonna give all her presents to some other kid who was acting right. She got serious and said "Give my toys to Titus, he will share with me!" NO WAY!!! She is too stinkin smart!!! All I could do was laugh and move on.

Potty talk...

2011-12-22T19:17:00.000-08:00

One of these days I will finally stop talking all about potty training but I like to document all this b/c it will be fun to look back on and remember surviving it b/c there have been times I swore I was not gonna make it.

Today we had a pee accident...but I think she did it b/c I was not paying attention to her and honestly she wanted to be naked! haha She laughed about it then started saying sorry. I told her it is fine but I just want her to be able to get her bike and piano...since I flipped it on her and me wanting the same thing she wants I think she felt like I was not mad just disappointed. But I still think it was a learning fluke. Hey 99% of the time she does go in the potty so I'm happy and no accidents while "out" in almost 2 weeks so I'm happy!

Tommi did great this morning when she stayed with TJ's aunt. She told her when she had to go and was great! Yay!!!

She pooped in the potty today too and none in her undies! When we were at TJ's grandmas for dinner she kept grabbing her butt like she had to go. So finally she told me she had to go poop...so we rushed to the toilet and she pooped like a quarter size turd. She said she was done but I just don't think she liked that her feet didn't touch the ground. I asked her needed to go home and use her froggie potty. She said yes...so I kept a close eye on her while we cleaned up then headed home. When we got home she pooped at least 6 different times in her potty just little poops at a time. I wish she would have just gotten it all out but at least she is not doing it in her undies. So poop has been a success and I'm SO happy!!!

I have debated what potty I'm gonna bring to my moms b/c Tommi really does love her blue potty but I'm thinking since she will only poop in her froggie potty as of now I am gonna bring that one and not try to force anything new on her until she is confident about going.

She still makes me wait in the hall while she poops which cracks me up. This evening I refused to go out b/c I thought she was trying to mess with me and put off going to bed by saying she had to go. So I just "hid" my face with a book. That worked thank goodness.

I love her and am finally feeling the "relief" of having a potty trained toddler. I'm less nervous about it these days and love the lack of diaper changes and worrying about having diapers with me every moment. The change of clothes I put in her diaper bag last Thursday is still there un-used so that is pretty awesome!

The booty shake...she REALLY enjoys being naked!! :)

Appointment

2011-12-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

I had my 36 week appt. Nothing exciting...actually quite boring. Dr came in and checked the heartbeat and my fudus height then did the strep B swab. Everything looks good.

He gave me the go ahead for going to VB over Christmas! Yay! I just have to take a copy of my records like I did last time when I went to Chase's OCS graduation at 37 weeks.

I made my next appt for next Thursday at 230pm but really should have asked if they had anything before 130pm or after 4pm b/c of Tommis nap. TJ will be off work so he can put her down but knowing him he is such a push over when it comes to her and she is a con artist I figured I needed to call back and change it. Well I tried to call and my phone was screwing up. The stinking lady was rude about it too...now I feel like a loser calling back. Ugh! These weekly appts make it hard to get the times I need!

So all is boringly good...which is the way I like it!

Pictures...

2011-12-21T19:25:00.001-08:00

So I finally took my 36 weeks picture...I look a bit tired but that may be a combination of the paleness of winter and actually being tired :)

Success-ish...

2011-12-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Well today was a pretty good day for potty training. I kinda bugged Tommi today about pooping but this evening after my shower she kept walking into the living room. I finally stopped following her and said whatever, she will poop in the potty when she is ready. Well to my surprise she did not poop in her undies in the living room (well actually a drop) but she came back to our room and I asked if she wanted to "hide" in her room and go to the bathroom and I'd come back in a minute. She went with it and sat on her potty in her room and "Mommy I'm done, I pooped!" YAY!! She did!

Then after getting home from TJ's parents house, she "hid" under our kitchen table. I didn't think she would be going again but she did a little but wanted to get it off her butt immediately. She went in the room right after and pooped in the potty some again...then not too long later she brought her potty out in the living room and went again while I read to her. So she only had a little slip up...but I'm ok with that we are making progress. She seemed like she forgot there for a minute.

She is SUPER motivated by getting her bike...so lets just hope things continue on this good path! She did great peeing today...haha such a mom thing to say!

Tomorrow morning I have my dr appt and Tommi will be staying with TJ's aunt and cousin. I really hope she doesn't act goofy and not go to the potty when she needs to. But they are used to a toddler so I know it will be ok...I am a bit nervous but that is just how I get when I leave Tommi with someone anyway but potty training adds to it. Esp with the poop thing.

36 weeks...

2011-12-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

Well I've hit the 9th month! Amazing to think it could be less than 4 weeks before she is here! I'm pretty excited...super nervous about handling 2 kids but thankfully mom will be here some and January is a slow month at work for TJ so he will be home more in the beginning.

Overall I'm feeling really good. I am not sleeping great but that is due to this allergy/cold/cough stuff I've been fighting. It only affects me at night and makes me have a dry throat and cough. But I'm definitely sleeping alot better than I did with Tommi at this point. I remember waking up with sore hips with her but I have not had that problem this time...I'm very thankful for that! It may be b/c I am more active during the day with the ups and down and moving around with Tommi or b/c I just have some good sleeping positions that work.

I laugh everytime I get up off the floor of the bathroom with Tommi b/c I feel almost like my body doesn't work right. But I guess if you gave someone a beach ball to connect to their abdomen and told them to get up it would be tough on anyone.

I really am loving life right now as far as pregnancy. Yeah I'm kinda getting over not being able to move that well and having to think deep into my outfits but I have had such a great pregnancy I am just so thankful for the miracles in my life!

I'm not a cryer but I just teary eyed as I sit here talking about my pregnancy and the sweetest little voice said "Mommy can I come sit next to you?" Then she climbs up and lays her hand on mine as I type! She has such a sweet heart and the love of cuddling is AWESOME!!! I love my girls so much!!!

I'm super duper excited for Christmas...I can not wait to give out presents to everyone. I just think it is so fun! Esp for Tommi b/c she is gonna be so excited with all the presents she is getting! If I got nothing for Christmas my Christmas would still be complete just knowing so many people love my babygirl so much and want to make her face light up!

Listening...

2011-12-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

This one of those times I wish I lied to Tommi and said Santa was watching her so maybe she would learn to behave. But since we are not going that route I am stuck to "real" parenting. (No offense I'm really just venting)

But Tommi has been on this not listening spell. I don't know how she compares to kids her age b/c I'm not around many of them. But I typically thought she was a good kid and I was succeeding at parenting. I have been feeling like such a failure these days. The look from the cashier at Walmart when Tommi didn't listen when I told her not to stand up and grab something out of the bag made me feel even worse. Look lady I promise I am in control (I think) but I was trying to pay for my stuff and move on so I didn't make a scene.

I'm a bit frustrated but this too shall pass! I think she is a bit bored these days b/c we have not been doing alot. I have tried to limit our outings and also with it being cold we are stuck inside alot. Plus the stores are so busy I'm not big on going out without help.

Potty training is going well. We had no accidents today! I have learned if I need Tommi to use the potty b/c we are leaving or I know it is has been a while, I offer to read her a book while she sits on the potty. It works great! She is such a nerd :)

Today I think TJ and I accidentally made her hold her poop in :( We were trying to get ready to go out and she kept grabbing her butt so we were trying to get her to go in the potty...offering to "hide" the potty or read to her etc. And she refused. I know she had to go...but hopefully she will tomorrow and not in her undies.

My mom and dad just bought Tommi's bike for potty training but if she doesn't get the hang of this poop thing I can't give it to her. She knows it is at my parents house and we will be there in a few days so this could be interesting. Also traveling with a potty training toddler for the first time will be interesting!

Exciting news...the year I thought I would be totally behind and stressing. I have ALL my Christmas shopping done and wrapped and I'm totally relieved. I am waiting for one more gift for TJ's grandma to get here but it is supposed to be here tomorrow or Thursday. I sure hope so b/c we are having Christmas with his grandparents and cousins on Friday.

We have 4 Christmas' going on...so starting Friday evening life will get very exciting! Friday night at TJ's grandparents house with ALL his cousins and their families, Saturday lunch time with TJ's parents, sister and her family, then our little family Christmas Sunday morning (which is basically just for Tommi b/c TJ and I didn't do gifts this year...I know it is bad but we would rather save money), then Sunday evening (I think) with my parents, brothers, and their ladies!

I have done no pictures recently....I need to get a pic of my lovely figure. But for now I will just let you all enjoy a very good depiction of how nuts my child is...we have been naked alot with the potty training and Tommi was running through the living room doing "high knees" and wearing my awesome zebra socks! I have some really cute shots from the front but since the public can view this I will not post those...her butt is enough nudity.

Something beautiful...

2011-12-20T10:53:00.001-08:00

While at TJ's volleyball game last night Tommi said to one of our friends daughters Lyric, who is 10. "Wanna see something beautiful?" Lyric said "sure" Tommi reaches in my bag and pulls out my photo album and turns to a picture of herself and shows Lyric. All Lyric and I could do was laugh!

At least she has confidence :)

Breathe!

2011-12-19T20:03:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days...the days where I was so ready for naptime I could hardly wait.

It started with Tommi eating breakfast then demanding a cookie. We hardly ever have cookies in the house but with the holidays we have more than enough. I told her not until after lunch...well she went in the kitchen and opened a tin of cookies we just got. I told her to put it back...well she looks right at me and shoves the cookie right in her mouth. I immediately made her spit it out and go into time out. This was definitely a moment I couldn't help but want to laugh but had to be serious.

Then after shopping at Target Tommi refused to try to potty and I knew she had to go. So I got all the stuff loaded in the car and brought the "car potty" into the store...assuming I would put it on the toilet and she could use it but no she had to use it with the baggy in it on the floor. Good gracious...I gave up and let her.

We got home and were getting things together to have lunch and I hear "Mommy I'm wet!" WHAT?!?! You have not had an accident in almost a week and you just went a bunch 45 minutes ago and have had nothing to drink since!! Sure enough she peed all over herself and the floor. I had to bite my tongue and go on.

The attitude was full force the rest of the day...not wanting to sit on the potty even when I know she had to go but refused to put a diaper on. She demanded everything and was just plain mean. The nap only lasted an hour, when 2 hours is needed. Which of course added to the attitude. By bedtime she had lost tons of privileges and I was SO ready to put her down!

A little humor for the day...while on the phone with my mom Tommi was dancing around grabbing her butt like she had to poop. She kept walking behind the recliner and if I said something about it she would come out laughing. TJ had come home and was in the bathroom where some how both the in door pottys ended up. Grr! I finally figured it out...I'll get the car potty. So I asked her if I got the car potty if she would go in it. She agreed so I got it and when I brought it inside she didn't want it in the extra bathroom she wanted it behind the recliner where she likes to hide and poop. Well thankfully she went...YAY!!!! haha I just had to find so much humor in her pooping behind the recliner. If that is the only way she will poop on the potty I'll go with it...for now! But guess only time will tell.

She ran herself ragged this evening at TJ's volleyball game so thankfully she knocked right out after I put her down!

So now the day is finally over and I am VERY relieved! I am trying not to rush the days by but today NEEDED to be over.

Pottys..

2011-12-18T20:25:00.001-08:00

Here are the pottys we have been using and my so far reviews...

We have 4 pottys total...Oh how fun potty training is!

The froggy potty...
The original potty that she learned to use the potty with at home. Used to be her favorite!
http://www.target.com/p/Fisher-Price-Froggy-Potty/-/A-13764601

Review: Great first potty. Tommi is able to get up and down, on and off very easily on her own. Easy to clean and empty.

The blue potty...
My parents suggested this one b/c we had one like it growing up. http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=537132&parentCategoryId=85180&categoryId=86184

Review: It is wonderful. Tommi can climb up and down by herself and since it fits on the big potty there is no clean up or emptying. It allows her to use the big toilet but feel comfortable b/c she has something to put her feet on. Tommi insists on using this when we are at home ever since she got it. Tommi also loves the handles on the sides so she can "hold on" while using it. Plus it folds up easy and can just store right next to the toilet. We have not used it as a floor potty but had we gotten it before the froggy one we may not have 2 pottys at home.

The car potty...
We needed a potty since we travel so far to places...and sometimes have emergencies or if a potty is not available this one is. With a trip to VB coming up we need something if a rest stop is not close...or too dirty for her cute hiney :)
This was suggested by another mom friend. It has absorbent bag like things that they pee or poop in and you just throw it away like a diaper. Plus it doubles as a seat for the big potty.
http://www.target.com/p/Kalencom-2-in-1-Potette-Plus-Red/-/A-11145114

Review: So far I love it! It is perfect for our car and Tommi feels comfortable on it. Plus it is not too big to carry in its bag when really needed.

The princess seat...
Our travel seat to put on public bathroom seats to make it easier for her little butt to sit on them.
http://www.target.com/p/Disney-Princess-Folding-Potty-Seat/-/A-11246567

Review: I don't really like it. When I pick Tommi up and place her on it, it moves and that can be really annoying and causes the problem we had tonight and "pinches" Tommis legs. Honestly I wish I had not gotten it but I was desperate at the time and it will be used just isn't as good as I'd hoped. It does fold up nicely and I can put it right in the diaper bag in its personal little vinyl bag.

Don't judge...

2011-12-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

This has been on my mind alot lately. I look at other moms and see some that are flustered and others who are as cool as can be.

I have come to find out some of this has to do with the day they are having but also has to do with personality. There are moms who can hold it together when their whole world is falling apart...but other moms look at them and judge and assume they have the perfect kids or they are just super mom. But they are battling their own things we don't know about.

I have had comments made when I am feeling flustered that "Tommi is so good", "Tommi is so well behaved", "I hardly hear her in church", etc. Yes I have a great kid, BUT she is most definitely 2 years old. We have battles, BIG ONES! She can not be quiet to save her life sometimes, she has a major tude, I can not force her to do what she has her heart set on not doing, and makes me want to just give up and walk away sometimes...Yes I feel defeated by a 2 year old. She is so smart it is almost a bad thing. It is rare that I can pull the wool over her eyes...I have to be careful b/c she picks up on my feelings, emotions, etc. No matter if I act like all is good she knows when I'm weak and attacks :) Every trait that is bad is also a great thing. She asks tons of questions, which in turn makes her know more than a kid who doesn't ask. So her talking is due to wanting to know (everything) most of the time. Her attitude is showing she is not a push over and stands up for herself which in years to come will come in handy...I admire her for it!

So as we have entered potty training she has been a hassle. Yes she has been "easy" but not really at the same time. No I am not having to clean up accidents all the time but if she doesn't want to pee when it is convenient for me then she won't, she is on her own clock and I have to listen to her.

She told me the other night I was the moon and daddy was the sun. (I have NO idea what she was talking about) But TJ and I laughed b/c she is most definitely the sun and we are moons or planets just revolving around her.

Tonight when at the church dinner I was SO frustrated with Tommi and not peeing. I just didn't understand why she couldn't just pee using what we had...Does she not know I'm almost 9 months pregnant and pulling up undies and tights and getting up and down off the floor in a bathroom is NOT what I want to be doing?!? Can't she see how hard this is for me? In all this time, I was losing my mind...but I kept it together the best I could b/c well I had to. The world does not need to see my frustration with something that is so little in the scheme of things. Some one else looking in sees a woman who is just tired b/c she is pregnant when in reality life was very tough in that moment...I almost lost it!

No kid is "easy" it is all how we present it to the world. So that woman who seems to have it all together may not...so don't judge her! And that mom who looks like she is losing it...is in no way "less" than the other mom...she just deals different. Most of the time I am the mom who looks like I'm about to lose it haha I'm ok with that b/c I just remember "It won't be like this for long!" Before I know it potty training will be over and will be a distant memory (at least for a little while). This pregnancy will be over so soon and I don't wanna miss a minute!!!

Really?!?!

2011-12-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

So we had our church Christmas dinner tonight. Which was VERY interesting to say the least. Tommi told me she had to pee but when we went the little potty seat thing I had bought her was not wanting to stay on the seat right while I pulled Tommi's dress up and put her on it. So it would pitch her legs when I put her on the potty. Finally I got it right and even then she acted like she didn't have to pee. She told me again and I tried to bargain with her to sit on it but she was not having it. I could tell she really did have to go. So I finally went to the car and got her "car potty" and brought it in for her to pee in. Which she did a bunch! She really had to go...poor thing. But I'm glad she held it. I am thinking I may just have to start carrying the "car potty" with me if we go into public places so I know for sure she is comfortable and will not make a million trips to the bathroom.

But potty training is going great! Tommi does SO well telling us when she has to go. I rarely have to ask her unless I really need her to go (i.e. when we are leaving to go somewhere or at naptime) Poop is still a work in progress...we had another accident today. But that will come in time!

I did tell Tommi since she has done so good and we are so proud of her she can get the Ariel swimming doll at Target next time we go. But the bike and piano are on hold till she will poop in the potty also. She told me "Mommy you're the best!" That might have been worth it all. She LOVES hearing how proud people are of her :) It is really cute to see the pride in her face when we talk about her being a big girl!

So in pregnancy news...While in the bathroom at church I had a few people ask when I'm due again or how much longer. Well one lady asked and I said "I'm due in 4 weeks!" She said "I doubt you will make it 4 more weeks...I was never that big with my kids." She has 4 grown-up children...so I am thinking she probably doesn't remember b/c I don't think I'm THAT big. I mean I look close to the end but wow I don't look like I'm gonna pop...well I don't think I do.

But it did get me thinking if I were to go early I do not have things packed and ready. I just have my mind set that I have a full 4 weeks left but that may not be the case. I need to at least have majority of my bag packed. So I guess I need to get crackin on that just so I don't feel unprepared.

I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow! How crazy!!!!

Issue?

2011-12-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

So we had a very good day again...no pee accidents. But Tommi was grabbing her butt all morning and I knew it meant she had to poop. But no matter how many trips we took to the bathroom she wouldn't go. Well right before nap she was playing with TJ and started hiding. Well it was bound to happen..."Mommy I pooped in my undies" Great Tommi! I didn't get mad just asked her to sit on the potty to see if she had to go more. She didn't sit long enough to even see if she had to. But you can definitely not force a 2 year old to stay on the toilet with out it seeming like punishment so she got up.

Well anyway...we even wore undies around the house some today and she did great. My only concern is she was drinking and made many trips to the potty but didn't pee much each time. So I am worried about a UTI...she says it doesn't hurt when she pees but who knows if she telling the truth.

Before church while I was showering Tommi was running around and TJ was in the other bathroom using the bathroom and Tommi came in with a little pen size flashlight that had poop on it and said she had some stuck in her "venus" and got it out with the flashlight. A bit weird since she said she didn't poop on the floor anywhere and we couldn't find any.

She peed before we left for church at 6 and then kept saying she had to go a few times while at church. But never did go until we were home and she went in little spurts (all one sitting) but she would go some and stop then go some and stop. I really hope she is not getting a UTI!

So other than the pooping she is doing WONDERFUL! I'm so proud of her! She knows she has to keep not having accidents to get her bike, piano, and Ariel...all the things she has been promised if she potty trains haha But my debate now is since she is pee trained does she get these things or should we all wait till she is poop trained too?!?! I think I may get her the Ariel on Monday when we go to town b/c it is a small gift and just tell her how proud of her I am. Then she can get the other presents with a little more time of doing good.

We ordered a potty for the car that came today...so now when we are driving she wants to stop and try and pee in it every 5 minutes. The joys of a 2 year old and how new things excite them!

On a side note...Christmas is ONLY one week away!!! Time is flying by too fast! I am almost done with shopping just a few minor things to buy but nothing I can't knock out this week.

I have my 36 week dr appt on Thursday...I'm hoping they will still say we can go to VB for a few days. If not I may cry...actually I will b/c I have these plans of having Christmas with my family and seeing my bros and dad probably for the last time before I'm a mom of 2 girls!! Plus not sure I can explain to Tommi if we can't go down b/c she is pumped!

I think Tommi is more excited about giving people presents for Christmas than getting presents! She is SO my daughter...she can not keep a secret for long esp when it is about a present! hehe This is why I have had to hide what I have gotten almost everyone so she can't blab :) I just love her sweet, thoughtful heart! Another trait that is JUST like her Big Mama...she would rather give than receive! We all wish we were that way and say we are but when it is obvious to the people around you it is truly from the heart!

Losing it...

2011-12-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

So things are going great with the potty training. Tommi and I ventured out to "town" today, which includes a 25 min drive one way. So we peed before leaving and made it to Target just in time to hear "I have to go potty mommy!" So we went in and it was a false alarm. Then we get to walking through the store "I have to go pee-pee!" So we turned right back around and another false alarm. Finally we got everything we needed or at least looked for it, at the check out "I have to go pee-pee" I told her just to hold on and we will in a min. She did hold on and peed, only a little but I was still relieved! I was over the false alarms!

Then we headed to Wal-mart figuring I had a bit b/c she was not drinking and we could make it home with out another bathroom trip. WRONG! As soon as we got there she said she had to go. I told her to wait we were gonna look for something then we would go. Oh no that is not the way it works. She kept saying "I really have to pee-pee!" So I figured we needed to go. And yet another false alarm. So we finished shopping and at the check out she said she needed to go again...I believe this was b/c we had just bought a travel seat cover thing for when we go to public toilets. She barely peed but she did produce something. haha

We made it home with no accidents! Yay!

This evening we went to grab a quick bite to eat and rent a movie. Well we made 5 trips to the bathroom in a matter of about an hour! Only one was productive! I almost lost it with the requests...but she insisted and I can only put her off so long.

So we had another accident free day...but I think she had to poop this evening just couldn't make herself go on the potty. Since she has been on an every other day schedule (weird for her but she has not been eating or drinking as much this week...not sure why) So lets all pray she is successful tomorrow!

I ordered a potty for the back of the car today which will be here tomorrow. This will be another weight off my shoulder b/c I will not feel like I have to find her a potty ASAP when we are driving. But it may lead to more stops for a bit b/c everytime she gets something new she likes to try it out over and over!

This child is crazy...I sure hope this false alarm phase is over by the time I have to venture out alone with Tommi and Monkey in a couple months.

BY THE WAY....I'm due in ONE month!!! Woah! So soon! I'm REALLY anxious but really nervous too. I can not wait to meet my babygirl but still am not sure how I'm gonna do with two children!! Life is about to change big time and I'm not sure I'm ready but ready or not!!

Also...I was a little thrown off how hard things have been leaning over and I remember it being hard with Tommi but not this hard. Well I looked at pictures and I'm definitely bigger now than I was at 35/36 weeks with Tommi. Plus I'm dealing with a toddler on top of it all but still I am definitely looking like I did at full term with Tommi. Not feeling full term but definitely looking it (at least for me I am)

Potty and allergic reaction!

2011-12-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

Another great day! We did have one accident but I'm still happy with just one.

Tommi went all day with no accidents at home...I did not have the courage to venture out, plus I was not feeling the best so I wasn't in the mood to get dressed to face the world :) But we did not have an accident till we went to TJ's grandmas for dinner, where Tommi actually did pretty well. She did tell us she had to go a few times but they were false alarms. While playing under a table with her cousin, Tommi pooped in her undies. Grr! On a positive note...I didn't have to change her whole outfit only her undies. But still changing poopy undies is not as easy as poopy diapers...but we survived and I'm just hoping she will learn soon to tell me she has to go poop. From what I have read kids usually poop train before pee...but of course my kid is backwards!

Well when TJ's mom brought Tommi to me her face was super red. After closer investigation she had welts all over her face...like a serious allergic reaction! I got her changed and then checked her face again and it only had some red marks left. She has a few scratches where the welts were so I am wondering if her cousin scratched her and she reacted to something on his hand or under his finger nails. Definitely weird...esp since she did not eat anything new. TJ's mom said it could have been the newspaper she was playing with but I have no idea. I gave her some benedryl before bed and put allergy cream on it. Hopefully it was a freak thing and will not happen again b/c it definitely freaked me out!

We went to the church after TJ's grandmas to help with some stuff for the Christmas play and on our way there Tommi said "I have to pee mommy" OH CRAP! I was not prepared once again but we were still close to home so I stopped at a restaurant parking lot and was gonna have her pee in a cup in the back of the car but she refused. So I took her in the restaurant (fast food place) and she barely tinkled. We made it all the way to the church...25 min drive. She said she didn't have to go when we got there, but when she did tell me she asked if she could do it in a cup...which was a crazy adventure. We went to the bathroom at least 5 times b/c she wanted to pee in the cup...every time it was a little tinkle. I finally got her on the toilet and she went...thank God!

We got home in one piece also with no accidents...she told me right after we left she needed to pee but I told her to just wait till we got home b/c I didn't think she really had to go. She likes to use it as a control thing I have found. So as long as she has not just drank she is gonna be ok. She likes to tell me only minutes after I leave her room in the evening that she has to go as a scheme to get out of bed...and I can not deny her b/c well maybe she does have to go. What a stinker!

My lesson learned...I need a potty in the back of the car and I also need a travel potty seat cover type thing so she is more secure on the big toilets. I have some paper-ish covers but they are a pain. A girl in my mom group told me about the perfect potty for the car and it doubles as a travel seat for the toilet. I'm gonna check at Target tomorrow to see if they have something similar to what she suggested but if not I'm ordering it.

I'm trying to learn to chill out some b/c I am SO annoying when we leave the house asking her every 5 min if she needs to go.

Also I'm super relieved to say TJ's aunt is gonna watch Tommi when I have my drs appt next week! Yay!

Day 3...

2011-12-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

Tommi had NO accidents!!!

I did have to empty her potty at least 25 times due to little pees here and there, which I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad. Well I know it is good...but a hassle when you are 8 months pregnant and getting up and down from the floor.

We did get dressed and venture out to TJ's parents house for dinner. I honestly expected an accident since she seems to think undies equal she can forget to go potty. But she did great. We were gone for about an hour and a half and she peed in the potty at their house twice!

I'm excited she is getting the hang out of it but hope she will learn to space things out more as time goes on. I really need to get out sometime, I do not like being cooped up so much! It is possible we may go out tomorrow to Target to get somethings we need. I'm a bit nervous so we will see if I can actually get the courage to do it.

I have found potty training is stressful b/c there is no right way. Every kid is so different and if your like us it can start before your prepared. I'm forever worried she is gonna have an accident, even though it is not a big deal at all when she does. Plus everything I've read has said it could be months before the accidents stop...I'm really NOT prepared for that...esp in public! I can handle one accident but what if she does it a few times while we are out. Maybe I'll have to invest in some training undies for trips out "just in case" b/c I'm most definitely not doing pull ups, they are glorified diapers and Tommi hates them!

So things have been going REALLY well but I'm still so nervous to see how things go. Honestly I'm just an emotional mess. On top of it all I'm not feeling my best...I am battling yet another impending sickness. Praying it doesn't progress any further b/c that will only add to my load right now.

I worry too much into the future too. Next Thursday I have a drs appt and I still have to find someone to watch Tommi and I'm nervous about asking someone to watch a potty training toddler. I guess I just have to hope she will be doing better by then and will not be such a handful. This is when I wish my mom lived closer or TJ's mom didn't have to work...b/c leaving such a task with her grandmothers is not a worry for me. I guess my only option is to ask TJ's aunt Connie to see if she can do it...as long as she is available she will not care. Guess we will see...why I'm stressing now is just crazy!

Late night pee...

2011-12-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Tommi just woke up at 11pm and said she needed to go pee. Sure enough she had to go. But I was hoping we would not be doing all this yet. I hardly have the energy to do it during the day, now the up and down at night too! I sure hope not!

Day 2

2011-12-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

Day 2 of potty training was stressful and interesting but we had a little more success.

Tommi still insisted on no diapers. She did wake up wet which was to be expected. So with out going through a total play by play of the day here is what went on.

I discovered undies give Tommi the ok to pee. I do not understand it! So after 2 little accidents, she ran around in only a t-shirt till nap time. Basically due to the fact I didn't have time to get all her undies clean and I ran out of pairs for her to wear. Well as long as she had no undies on she did great! I brought the potty into the living room so it would be there to remind her. Plus she would not go back to the bathroom when I asked so I figured whatever lets bring it to her.

She sat on the potty alot so I was happy about that. When she went down for her nap I did put a diaper on her b/c she hates pull ups. But she woke up dry and peed in the potty a little bit after waking up! YAY!

Finally her undies were clean by this time and since she had just peed I figured she would be good. Well only minutes later she peed in her undies, I got her changed and into clothes to go to TJ's grandmas for dinner. We talked all about her telling me when she had to go and we would go quick so she didn't miss out on good play time with her cousin. Well while playing she had another accident, she did ask to go to the potty after that but it was too late. Thankfully I packed extra leggings just for this reason. After leaving we had to run to the grocery store and to get gas. In that time she never went in her undies. As soon as we got home we sat on the potty and she peed! I left her with only her dress on and she sat on the potty a bunch of times and did little pees...so she knows.

After a while Tommi was playing and came out from behind TJ's recliner crying, she said she had pooped and was tore up about it! I felt so bad for her. She was so upset. But I didn't make a big deal I cleaned her up and cleaned up the mess (which was in the top to her blocks so that made it much easier) I told her all she had to do was tell me and she seems to understand. This was the first time we have really talked about pooping so hopefully she will be better next time.

She succeeded the rest of the night with no accidents! Yay! So the key is NO undies. Hopefully she will get it and then we can start wearing clothes again haha. This would be easier in the summer when we don't have to bundle up to go outside.

So I guess in the long run things got better and she is understanding her body more. But I sure am worn out...with ups and downs all day of emptying pee and wiping her and cleaning up accidents (which were VERY minor today so mainly just on her and not the floor)

I would not recommend potty training at 8 months pregnant but I guess it is just how it works! We have dirtied 2 diapers in 2 days...I like the sound of that!

I'm just praying really hard this continues to get easier b/c I'm tired!

Potty training?!?!

2011-12-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

I'm about as shocked as they come that I am using the words potty training and Tommi in the same sentence.

So Tommi has been completely against potty training. To the point she says she is gonna show Monkey how to pee in the potty but she is gonna still wear diapers. If I ask if she wants to try on the potty she totally flips and does not want anything to do with it.

Well last night she was running around naked before her bath and peed a little on the floor. When we were waiting for the tub to fill up, I asked her if she want to try to pee on the potty. To my complete surprise she sat on her potty and PEED! I thought ok she did it but like all the other times she would not do it again for a while.

This morning she called and told Big Mama about her peeing so she could get her dollar. Then she decided she wanted to put on undies. I went with it and she didn't pee for the longest time...we even made a quick VERY nervous trip to the grocery store and post office. I asked her a bunch of times if she had to go and she refused saying she didn't. When we got home I got her to sit on the potty for all of a few seconds then she was off to watch her daily Barney (Yeah never thought I would say my child watches it but she loves it) anyway, while watching Barney she stood up and had a puddle under her. She kept telling me sorry and HATED being wet. So I cleaned it up and changed her into a new pair of undies (she insisted to keep wearing undies)

Nap time came and I put her diaper over her undies in case she went while sleeping. She woke up totally dry and asked to go to the potty. And she actually went!!! She was super excited! Then a couple hours later we were making dinner and I noticed a wet spot on her undies. She had accidentally gone a little and didn't tell me. So we changed her yet again into new undies. After dinner we headed out to TJ's volleyball game and I put a pull up over her undies just in case during the car ride. We got to the YMCA and I tried sitting her on the potty to see how it went, she didn't go. She then started playing with one of her friends at the game. I asked her every time I could if she needed to go and she said no. But after a bit I checked and she had gone, so I took her to the potty to take her undies off b/c I didn't want her sitting in wet pants. She was mad I made her stop playing so that is why she didn't want to tell me she had to go or that she had went.

We went to Walmart afterwards...yeah we like to push limits...but we had to go to get her more undies b/c she is gonna keep this up 3 pair is not enough. She was SO excited to pick out new "big girl undies". I asked her while we were shopping if she needed to go and to my surprise she said yes. So we went and sat on the yucky public toilet...but SHE WENT! Yay!

Thankfully I had thrown the other 2 pair of undies in the washer before we left so I got those dry as fast as I could b/c she was panicked she didn't have any to wear when we got home.

So before bed she tried to go one more time but couldn't go. So she went to bed with a diaper over her undies. Lets see how tonight goes. I can for see being called for ALOT so she can try and go potty. But I guess we will see.

Honestly as much as I've been stressing her resistance I am NOT ready for this now. I'm due in 5 weeks and do not really have the energy for this but I'm not gonna stop her b/c maybe it will work out well. I just hope if this is a success that she will not regress when Monkey comes.

So I guess only time will tell...

Monkey sister...

2011-12-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

Tommi has been all about her sister this evening. First she came up and was hugging my belly while I was sitting on the couch, while doing this she told me "I want Monkey sister to come out." I asked her why and she said "B/c I miss her."

Then she was taking a bath and randomly said "Mommy, can Monkey sister come out? I really love her." I told her it will not be long. She said "I'm gonna share ALL my toys with her!" With all emphasised:)

I sure hope she feels this way when her sister gets here. I love her hearing her talk about her excitement and tell me how she loves her sister already!

Monkey has been doing all kinds of shifts and funky movements today. For a short bit I actually had a belly button b/c she was pushing out on both sides of it making it like a valley in the middle. It cracks me up! I'm cherishing every moment and movement b/c I know how much I'm gonna miss it.

I'm not feeling the best body wise today...my back has taken a toll today and I'm having alot of pain in my inner thighs. But this all happen with Tommi too esp on days I am on the move alot. So nothing a little R&R can not fix!

On a totally different note...I think I'm getting sick! I am achey all over! I do not wanna get sick!

Looked back...

2011-12-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

...at my blog from when I was 34 weeks pregnant with Tommi and I was on the ball with her. I had my bags, TJs bag, and Tommis bag all packed for the hospital by this point. This time...I only have Monkeys (mostly) packed but that is only b/c Tommi found out her sister will be naked when she is born and she insisted we had to get her clothes together. But otherwise I'm totally unprepared if I were to go early. Maybe I'm putting it off b/c I feel like it will cause me not to go early. But I am not doing all that stuff till after January 1st b/c I don't want to think about it yet. I wanna be pregnant for another full 5 weeks and 1 day from today at least....that would put me at January 14th and I can handle that.

Just a note:
We went to the mall tonight to get an ornament for Tommi and brain storm a bit for presents for the nephews. Tommi wanted to hold both TJ and I's hands and jump/swing/hang as we walked. After a while I had to finally say to TJ when we got to the As seen on TV store, where Tommi loves to play with all the toys..."you hang out with Tommi and let her play, I'm going out and sitting down." My lower stomach and upper thighs hurt from the weight and braxton hicks were getting more common. Sitting down was a miracle! I felt so much better!

I have been feeling so good lately and able to keep up with Tommi (most of the time) but tonight my body was not agreeing. After we came home and I was able to relax I feel a whole lot better...my legs and stomach are sore but I can deal with that.

I have said this a million times but I am SO glad we waited a full 2 years before getting pregnant again...I don't know how moms with kids close together do it.

Santa...

2011-12-07T20:18:00.001-08:00

After reading a blog by a friend, I remembered what Tommi told me the other day and it cracked me up.

First off, we have been having the debate in our house on what to do with santa. Well not a debate just discussing the decision on how to handle him. TJ has always felt it was a lie to tell her santa brings her gifts, where I was not totally sure b/c I thought santa was a fun idea. But as I have thought about it I realized I want to emphasize Jesus' birthday more and take all the credit for the presents. So santa in our house is kinda just a guy who is around at Christmas but totally on the back burner until Tommi has more questions later of how he ties into it all. But I am not explaining anything till she ask about him. But somewhere she did hear that santa brings kids presents and comes to your house on Christmas. Well Tommi told me "Mommy I do not want santa coming to my house...I don't like him!" I told her he is not coming so she has nothing to worry about.

So I have been telling her Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birthday, family, and the fun decorations. She LOVES decorations....but I'll talk about that in a minute. I'm not totally sure how to explain why we give presents other than that Jesus wants us to give presents to those we love as his birthday present. Tommi didn't ask for more explanation so I was happy about that...b/c that is a strange concept for a 2.5 year old.

When I first told Tommi Christmas is Jesus' birthday and she got teary eyed. I asked her what was wrong and she said "We need to go to heaven and make him a cake...but how do we get there?" My first thought...WOW I have an amazing little girl who loves making others happy and of course loves any reason for cake. I am proud. But I found out while talking to her she was totally serious and wanted an answer. So I told her one day we will have a big birthday party and make him a cake in heaven but until then we are gonna stay here and make him a cake and we will enjoy it as a family and just sing to him. Another bullet dodged...it is tough having a 2 year old who is full of questions and expects a "real" answer. But in the same moment I LOVE it!

So on to decorations...this will be TJ and I's 6th Christmas as a married couple. Well we have never had a tree b/c #1 I didn't feel it was needed and #2 we have not had the space. Well this year I really wanted to have one b/c Tommi is old enough to notice and I think it is a fun tradition, so in a nesting mode we figured out a way to move things around so we have room for a small tree(well 6ft but slim). Well I had NO idea what was to come...Tommi got SO excited and thanks us daily for her tree and ornaments. I did not expect that one...I knew she would notice but not to the point she has, it is almost magical. So setting up our tree and putting ornaments on it was a family event and SO much fun! My lost love for Christmas was totally found when I watched her eyes light up as we set it all up. Then came the Christmas lights...we never talked about them then when others around us put them up we would put them out to her...ANOTHER magical moment! She lit up!!! Tommi loves admiring all the lights every time we drive at night! I just have to say Christmas has a WHOLE new meaning for me. The simple joy of a child is SO amazing!!!

I'm not a big Christmas person...I always thought it was kinda annoying how you are expected to give gifts when you have no idea what to get someone so you just buy to buy. Now I'm really putting a bit more effort into it and less worried about spending the right amount of money on everyone. If I give what I know they will enjoy or need and feel happy about it then it is just right. Some people are still hard to shop for but I am starting to worry less and just let it all work itself out.

Christmas is gonna be SO much fun this year b/c Tommi is really starting to understand and get excited about it!

One last funny Tommi moment...we were in the car with my mom and my mom was telling Tommi how we are going to her house at Christmas and she will have lots of presents to open. Tommi asked what was in the present and mom said toys so she will have to wait and see what they are. Tommi got super disappointed and said "But I wanted books!" hahahaha Seriously!?!? What 2 year old gets disappointed about toys b/c she wanted books. But that is all she tells me that she wants for Christmas....books and a dollhouse. I love it!

Tommi and her tree...excuse the cup, she would not put it down but wanted a picture taken of her and the tree :)

34 week appt...

2011-12-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

So I had my 34 week appt today. Monkey is doing great, head down and happy as a clam! The dr didn't tell me the heartbeat but it is there and beating nicely!

So that is the happy part, here comes the vent. So I had been seeing the same dr every time and he is always on time, give or take a min here and there but that is normal for a dr. Well this time I went with another dr that I had only met once before, well low and behold as I sit in the waiting room the minutes keep going by. I had mom there hanging out with Tommi and so that helped but still frustrating. Well as I sit there I find out I have 2 people in front of me to see the dr and they had been waiting over an hour...GREAT! It took all I had not to reschedule and leave but since I had mom and I really didn't want to go back out there this week I stayed. An hour after my appt time...I get called back, I go back and wait another 15 mins only to see the dr for all of 5 minutes of which 3 of those minutes she is wasting time talking slow and asking me dumb questions. "Look lady, I have had a baby before I know what is going on stop babying me and check her heartbeat so I can leave." I am usually very patient but if you don't seem to care about my time I sure do not care about yours! Esp 4 of the other 5 drs can see me on time every time you are just too slow and can't keep up!

So finally we got to leave and get lunch and go home. I just hate it b/c this day was supposed to be 20 min at drs office then mom, Tommi, and I could enjoy our girls day together and take our time hanging out, not rushing to eat and get mom home so she can leave. Grrr!

So I have my next appt at 36 weeks and will find out for sure if I can go to VB for Christmas. Thank the Lord it is with a dr who is on time and knows what he is doing! No more female slow poke drs for me...I'm sticking to my faves for the rest of the pregnancy. If the woman have to deliver my baby I just hope they are on time b/c I will not wait on them. The OB nurses are qualified to deliver for me. I sure hope Dr N, Dr W, or Dr B are there to deliver her so I can feel relaxed and taken care of.

Now time can slow down b/c I'm not ready to be done with this pregnancy!

Singer...

2011-12-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

I may have a singer on my hands! Tommi LOVES singing! She will sit in the car and make up songs just to sing, it is great.

Right now the songs that she loves singing that are not just random or blurbs from other songs are: Jesus loves me, Jesus loves the little children, Twinkle little star, Bringing home a baby bumble bee, Skidamarink, ABCs, and Hush little baby (which is our own little version) I am pretty impressed how she remembers the words to all her songs. (Exactly why if you say something in front of her and she hears it...know it is stored for life and will come out at any given moment haha)

One night Tommi told me to sing her a new song so I started singing Hush Little Baby. Well after the first couple lines I totally was lost and not thinking she would pick up on it I made a couple lines...well they stuck! She thinks my version is how the song goes now and that is how she sings it! Here is Tommi and my version...

Hush little baby don't say a word
Mamas gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
Mamas gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don't shine
Mamas gonna buy you a punkin' pie
And if that punkin' pie doesn't taste good
Mamas gonna buy you a twinkle star

In the moment it was all I could come up with...well now it just cracks me up. Seriously could I not think of something that at least rhymed :) I'm not good at improv as everyone can see! But Tommi loves and that is all that matters! Plus the actual words are weird (I looked them up later) so I like my version better!

She has the cutest singing voice and will not perform on command but if anyone spends more than an hour with her or rides in the car with her they will definitely hear it.

Tommi is still such an amazing little girl. I wish everyone could be a fly on the wall on a good day with her. She just has a way of saying things and her expressions that cracks me up. I have no idea how I can ever say no to her but I guess I have learned I have to. Oh and the hands on the hips attitude is totally adorable. It is not only when she is upset but she can just do it when she is making a point or anytime really! It is great! She can basically melt her daddy to mush with the way she asks for things sometimes. It makes me laugh b/c I know how bad he wants to say no sometimes but a sweet "Daddy will you hold my hands while I jump?" is hard to resist!

On a "bad day" she can really be a pistol but we are learning together how to deal and thankfully a day totally full of attitude and fits is rare. Usually a good nap or "time out" alone in her room fixes her right up.

With all the fun Tommi is I can not wait to meet little monkey and see all her personality...she will learn from the best! I'm in for trouble.

It is official...

2011-12-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

I think I am at the coolest place in my life so far!

I have such an amazing 2.5 year old who makes me smile almost (that is a big almost) every moment of the day. Plus I'm pregnant with another amazing kid! Being pregnant still is so amazing to me. I will be honest and say I look in the mirror (and sometimes windows) anytime I pass one. Not b/c I think I look so good or am vain, but b/c I am growing a human! That is just awesome in itself. I know I have done it before but I'm still amazed and in awe of the amazing gift and honor God has given me.

Things in life may not be perfect...I'll admit I can not wait to finally build a house and be totally comfortable. But why not embrace where I am?! I mean I am not only a mom to the most amazing little girl ever and have another one on the way but I am totally in love with my husband. Plus I am able to stay home and watch my babies grow up...that is really a blessing in this day.

I want to soak up every moment of life RIGHT NOW b/c in the blink of an eye it will all be over.

Plus on top of all that I have a super amazing family and the support of so many others who help make life a bit easier!

God is SO good!!!!

32 weeks

2011-11-26T18:22:00.000-08:00

We had our 32 week dr appt on Wednesday, which included an ultrasound! TJ came with me so he could see our little monkey too. It really was not all that exciting the lady did all the measurements and didn't show us much. She DID confirm we are definitely having another girl! I definitely felt some relief with that confirmation b/c I have everything ready for another baby girl.

All her measurements were AMAZING! She is right on track! Dr. Nelsen gushed about how "perfect" everything was and how I am doing a great job! YAY! TJ and I both got a kick out of the u/s tech and the dr going on about how perfect she was. I mean we know she is perfect but to hear it from them was cool :)

She is a little over 4lbs so we are on target for her to be 7.5 to 8 lbs (at full term). I'm good with that, not too little not too big!

I'm feeling pretty good. Normal 8 month pregnant pains and braxton hicks but otherwise pregnancy is still treating me very well! Even the 2nd time around I am so amazed at how amazing the human body when it comes to producing another human life! It is just cool and the fact I am able to do it again makes all the discomfort worth it!

Thanksgiving was this week and it was good. We were able to spend it in VB and had a blast. I was not able to eat as much as I'd like (I LOVE Thanksgiving food!)due to the limited space in my abdomen. But I definitely enjoyed all I had and my last Thanksgiving as a mom of 1!

I'm SO Thankful for my amazing life! I am SO blessed!

Fat...

2011-11-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

The other day Tommi was wanting one snack after another. I told her "You are gonna get fat if you don't stop eating." She looked at me totally serious and said "Like you mommy?" haha
I think I have been saying I look fat a little too much!

Today in the car Tommi was whining about taking her shoes off so I told her. If you take them off again I'm gonna smack your butt. (Yes I spank my child but the threats are very effective so it is rare) Tommi said "You can't spank my booty, I'm sitting on it!" haha Again is she really only 2 and a half?!?!

Thinking...

2011-11-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

While I was rocking Tommi this evening and I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with thoughts of how she will do with out me when I go into labor. She is still super pumped for the extra special time with Big Mama. But I think of how she still sometimes wakes up in the night and wants me to rock her and gets sad b/c she "misses me" when I'm not with her. Thankfully I know my mom will keep her distracted but I still can not help but worry. In my heart I know she will do great but I can't help but worry about my mommas girl!

Another thing I was thinking about is how things are gonna play out while I am in labor. If I could plan it...I would be able to put Tommi in bed for the night then head to the hospital and have someone wait here at the house till my mom got here. So Tommi can wake up to Big Mama and they can spend the day "playing" or doing whatever Tommi wants. She can visit me briefly if wanted then leave until I am about to have her. Then after I have Monkey, TJ can go out in the waiting room and get Tommi bring her in to "meet" her baby sister. Only after she meets her do I want everyone else to come in. Since Tommi LOVES showing her things off to others I want her to get to "show off" her little sister for the first time plus at that point she can wear her "Big sister" shirt with Monkeys real name to announce it to everyone.

I just want to make sure Tommi is the first to "meet" Monkey and also the one who is able to announce her name. If I have her in the middle of the night I would love to not let anyone come visit till the morning when Tommi gets there.

I do not want Tommi hanging out at the hospital while I'm in labor b/c I know how nervous hospitals make her and it is just not needed...esp with technology! I can keep everyone up to date on when things are getting "serious".

If my labor/birth is anything like last time it will go so much better than I expect. But I can't help but wonder when and how it will all play out.

Guess only the Lord knows and all I can do is share my wishes with those around me and then just trust things will go well for Tommi. I just can't help but have anxiety about it not only being my first time away from Tommi for an extended period of time (even if it is only a few hours) but her not being shocked or thrown off my things.

I've got about 8 weeks (hopefully) to pray hard things go well and I can be calm and let go of control :)

Large lady...

2011-11-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

So at 31 weeks I am feeling very large...I get mixed reactions from others. Some being shocked I'm not due for 2 more months others saying I'm so small. I feel anything but small. I wish I didn't know how much I have gained b/c it just bugs me. It is in the VERY normal range but I had a 18 lbs weight gain pregnancy the first time so I was a bit spoiled. But I guess it is my fault, I have not been as good about my eating this time. It is ok though b/c the drs have yet to comment about it and I know it is "normal".

Well here is the Monkey belly...

Tommi does not like the way my belly looks, she "checks" it daily and tells me "Your belly is weird" and "When Monkey sister gets here you will get your belly back" Thanks for the encouragement, jerk! My belly button is what causes the comments. It is no longer an innie, it is a flatie haha

Today Tommi helped me babysit a friend of mines little girl. She is almost 4 months old. My friend Lauren mentioned me babysitting and I thought it would be a good thing to see how Tommi does one on one with a baby and also see how I do with 2 kids. Well Tommi was such a huge help, getting things for me and just wanting to hold her and love her. She drew her pictures and "read" her books. I actually had a blast and feel much more confident that I can do 2 kids. I know it is gonna be tough at times but I think overall I will be ok. I have been SO nervous about managing 2 kids and still am but believe in myself a bit more now. We are still gonna have to do some work with the little things of how gentle she has to be with a baby but I think that will come. I lived through it with a rough big brother like Chase. So Monkey should be ok.

Tommi did tell me a few times to give the baby back to her mommy but that has just started us on the conversation of "I am Monkeys mommy too" So hopefully she will understand I can't give her back when she gets here.

Yay for a loving big sister!! I'm gonna try my hardest to enjoy the next 2 months as much as possible...as crappy as things are sometimes I still love pregnancy! Although I do not think I will go early, I am praying that I won't b/c I want to be at least out of the holiday season.

30 weeks

2011-11-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

30 weeks sounds crazy!

So I had my 30 week appt today! Everything was good...I'm measuring on target and she has a strong heartbeat!

Here is a lesson for my dr (a male)...keep your pregnant patient informed of EVERYTHING!!!!!!

I think I mentioned it last time that my dr had requested I see him at the next appt (todays appt). I was a bit thrown off but let it slide. Well today when scheduling my appt the front desk lady was trying to fit me in b/c it just so happens my 2 week appt is supposed to be the day before Thanksgiving. So anyway...she had to schedule an ultrasound (YAY!) and then my appt with the dr. Well again Dr. Nelsen suggested I see him so she was trying to squish me in since he is super busy. She made the comment "He is gonna be super busy on Wednesday but he said he wants to see you so he must have something he is monitoring or something" Well now that got me worried. I'm totally cool with seeing him every time but thought it was totally weird. So I worried and debated till I got home and I e-mailed the office to ask if I was being kept in the dark for some reason. The nurse called me back and said she talked to him and he thought I had mentioned I didn't want to see one of the other drs in the office and he forgot to write down which one so he thought he would just continue to see me so I didn't have to see someone I didn't want to. She said "You may or may not have had this conversation with him, he sees alot of patients so he is bound to get something mixed up." I had never talked to him about this but do have one dr in the office I do not want to see b/c she is NEVER on time. So I guess he just read my mind. But they said I'm free to see whoever. I do want to see him for this next appt b/c of the ultrasound. I totally trust him with making sure things are going well! But this is proof I read too much into things :)

So next appt he wants to do an ultrasound to get a good estimate of how big Monkey is! I am soo excited! I was thinking it would be so cool for Tommi to see but she has informed me she is NOT going b/c the ultrasound is "too loud" and it "rumbles". So thankfully TJ's mom is off work and can watch her. This is nice also b/c the only time I could get an appt is 830am....meaning leaving the house at 8am! Eek! Not cool when I have a little girl who likes to sleep. So I can just get her up as we are walking out the door and take her in her jammies and all to his moms house. No need to worry about waking up, dressing, and feeding a grumpy tired child. She told me after my appt I have to come pick her up and show her the pictures of "Monkey sister" though, so she is excited about it just doesn't want to be there for the "loud rumbling tv screen" Whatever Tommi! I'm super excited TJ gets to come with me too! Since it is hunting season they don't leave to go to the first job till 930 so he can come to the ultrasound then leave and meet his dad in time for work! Yay!

Tommi is in love with blowing "zerberts" on my belly! She thinks it is so funny and really gets into it. Tonight while I was putting her to bed, we were saying her prayers and while I'm praying I hear "One more zerbert mommy!" I stopped and said "Tommi we need to pray no zerberts right now" In which she responded "But zerberts are fun" I said "What about praying?" She very seriously said "Praying is good too!" I couldn't help but crack up! Note, after the last zerbert we had serious prayer...Jesus will understand!

Life is good! I definitely am feeling like I'm on the last leg of this trip but trying to love and embrace every minute I have left b/c I know it will be over before I know it and I will miss it!

Halloween

2011-10-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

This is the first year Tommi got the whole trick or treat thing which made it SO much fun! She has been excited about dressing up and getting candy for a week or so now. She even had the "trick or treat" saying down and knew that was how she got candy.

My SIL asked me if I could take my youngest nephew (he is 10)with us...Tommi heard her ask and has been super excited. She LOVES her cousin Sam...she says he is her best friend. He is so good about playing with her and including her in everything.

Well trick or treating was a success with very few incidents with Tommi being scared...which I'm super thankful for. Sam was such a help and made it so much more fun for Tommi to have a "buddy". She had a blast asking every house, "where are we going next?" Up here we have to drive from house to house and only go to friends and family, well with that it took us 2 hours! We were all worn out by the end but had lots of candy and had alot of fun.

After getting back to TJ's moms house to drop Sam off. Tommi wanted to stay and play some....so she spent over an hour running around playing with Sam some more. Then as we were leaving she asked if we could do it again tomorrow! haha If she doesn't sleep like a log tonight I'm gonna be shocked. She was SO tired but had such a great night!

She was a cowgirl...the outfit was supposed to "fit a 2 to 4 year old" but was just right on her. The hat needed to be bigger...it barely fit her head and she didn't want to wear it most of the time b/c it wouldn't stay on.

Not sure what is up with this face but I LOVE it!

Mommy, Tommi, and Monkey :)

At the first stop...TJ's moms. I love Sam's costume!

spacing...

2011-10-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

So I have NO idea what it is like to have 2 kids...and to be honest I think almost daily...Am I REALLY ready for this? Did I rush things? etc. But the truth is I'm 29 weeks (tomorrow) pregnant with my 2nd baby and have no choice at this point. Nor would I change it for anything in the world! This girl already has my heart!

But today while trying to get ready to head over to my MIL's for Sunday dinner I thought to myself. I think I spaced my children pretty well. It will definitely be tough b/c Tommi is most definitely my baby and still wants to feel that way BUT she is also so independent and such a help I think we are gonna be ok. As I was getting dressed she went in her room and grabbed her coat and shoes and brought them to me to help her. This sounds little but it is such a big help. I can definitely see myself saying "Tommi can you go grab me a (fill in the blank)?" She WANTS to help almost all the time. Yes sometimes she makes a bigger mess than I would but it is the thought that counts.

I'm just so proud of my little girl. She is growing up and just so much fun! Definitely hard to handle at times and tests my patients some nights but over all I am very thankful and very fortunate to have such a sweet baby girl!

She is so excited for "monkey sister". She talks about her all the time and wants me to have her now! I do not think she has the slightest clue how much life is gonna change but hey neither did I when I had her and she survived so it will be ok! :)

So I'm still flopping between "How am I gonna do this?" and "I'm gonna rock as a mom of 2." More the first but many have done it before me so I will definitely survive.

Too funny...

2011-10-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Since Tommi keeps me cracking up all day and I can't remember the half of it, I am gonna continue to write down when I do.

Tommi and I were laying in bed after she got up from her nap and my stomach rumbled/growled. She gasped and said "Monkey sister is saying something." I asked her what she is saying and she said "That she wants to come out now and ride the carousel."

Tommi went into her room this evening and picked out her clothes. She came back into my room and said sighed. I asked her what is wrong and she said "It has been a long day!" Wow Tommi and her tough life!

The things that go through her head amaze me.

Conversation

2011-10-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

Tommi just pulled up a chair and sat down in front of me.

Tommi: What's happenin, mom?
Me: I don't know what is happenin with you?
Tommi: I don't know, but I love you!
Me: I love you too!
Tommi: Sounds good...I'll talk to you later.

Seriously?!?! I love her!

Rash

2011-10-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago I noticed a rash on Tommi's face, right below her lip on the right side. I figured she is like her mommy and gets rashes that come and go. Like an allergic reaction to stuff. But since it had been there 2 weeks and keeping it dry and benadryl had not worked, I took her to the dr.
It is a fungal infection (ringworm type thing)....eww how gross. OK so it isn't uncommon esp in kids but yuck it just sounds gross. So the dr just said to buy some anti-fungal cream at the store and put it on her 3 times a day. I didn't think too much into it till I got to the store and anti-fungal cream is JOCK ITCH cream hahaha It had a pic of a mans groin on it! And I'm supposed to put this on my sweet little girls face?!?! I guess so! The dr said it may take 4-6 weeks to go away.

I'm just totally weirded out putting jock itch cream on her face!

Growling...

2011-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

While driving this evening Tommi said "Mommy why do bears grrrrr?" "Do you mean why do they growl?" She said "Yeah" I explained that is how they communicate and "talk" to each other. They don't just do it when they are angry, they do it when they are telling each other stuff, like ducks quack and dogs bark. She liked this answer, which I'm thankful for b/c I was not sure how else to explain it.

She asks questions I never thought a 2.5 year old would ever think of. She wants to know how everything works and why.

She also told me today while eating an apple that she was eating it so she could have lots of energy to play. Where did she learn food gave you energy I will never know but it is totally awesome.

I wish I could videotape our lives and conversations daily. I could never remember it all and it is definitely some good stuff. Her intelligent talking actually amazed a lady at the drs today who had her daughter there who was a month older than Tommi. She just couldn't get over how well Tommi talked and how well mannered she was....PROUD MOMMY MOMENT! I can't take credit for it all, I think she is just smart on her own but I do feel like I must be doing something right.

Another reason this post is named growling b/c Tommi growls alot now. When she gets mad she growls out of frustration but she also does it when she is trying to be silly. When she is being silly we act like it scares us and she tells us "Mommy I'm just pretending" or "Daddy don't be scared it is just me"

I love this girl....not sure how my heart can grow much more to fit enough love for the both of my girls but know it will! But I am praying Monkey is a little more laid back b/c 2 big personalities might be a bit much. But my mom did survive my big brother and I so it is do able!

28 weeks!

2011-10-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

I had my monthly appt today...due to not doing the glucose test last appt I had to do it today. Since I am the overbearing mother I am (I am not afraid to admit, I hate leaving Tommi) I took Tommi with me. I knew the appt was at 10am and by the time I had my appt and then waited an hour to get my blood drawn then got home I would have had to pack a lunch for her and feel guilty b/c I left her with someone for so long. I will say had my mom been up or TJ's mom had the day off I would have had no problem leaving her with them. I just feel bad depending on anyone who isn't her grandparent or super close. Even though she loves spending time with others and does so well that I can do it with out worry. Enough about that.

I talked to Tommi yesterday and this morning before we went, telling her all about my appt, how things would go, etc. She has a fear of strange men, so I thought meeting my dr might upset her and she also fears doctors offices so I had to have her prepared. I packed books to read, a notebook and pen to color in, and snacks just in case. Well she was a dream she listened like an angel and was far better than I expected. Thankfully they gave me the drink at the beginning of my appt so I wouldn't have to wait another hour after the appt. So after checking the heartbeat and fundal height like the standard appt we only had to sit in the waiting room about a half hour till I got my blood draw. Which when the lady who draws the blood saw I had Tommi with me she made a face b/c Tommi would have to stand in the hallway (3 ft from me). But I knew this was the case and knew Tommi wasn't going to run off and act like a nut just b/c I was not right next to her. So I got my blood drawn and we were done! Yay!

Since Tommi was such a dream I told her we could go to Chick-fil-a and play with the "town kids". TJ and his dad were in Harrisonburg working so they were able to meet us for lunch...which was a highlight for Tommi and I both. We LOVE seeing daddy during the day even if it is only for a minute or so. Anyway...Tommi was a bit of a handful while eating but was again a dream when it was time to play and actually for the rest of the day.

When they first called us back at the dr and the nurse was weighing me and taking my blood pressure. Tommi asked the nurse "Are you gonna take my monkey sister out yet?" The nurse was totally thrown off till I explained she calls the baby "her monkey sister" . It was priceless!

So I'm feeling good. I do have heartburn alot but some days are worse than others. Otherwise I feel really good, definitely feel like I'm waddling due to inner thigh pain from pressure I assume but I can deal. Monkey girl is CRAZY these days!!! It is the best!

Love

2011-10-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

I am figuring out how much Tommi really understands and puts things together. It amazes me!

This week both my brothers got engaged....I know I posted about my little bro but have not had a chance to post about my big brother. He asked his gf Heather to marry him on Saturday!!! The Llew crew is growing quickly!

So we have been talking alot about weddings in our house. Tommi is all about it! Wearing pretty dresses, walking down the aisle, when everyone walks down, where they stand, on and on.

Tommi has just started to notice and get that Mommy and Daddy had a wedding and likes seeing pictures from it.

At TJ's parents house they have a picture of him and me from the wedding and she looks over at it when we eat and says "Awe Mommy, you married daddy!"

The other day she was in the car and made 2 little animal figures kiss. I asked her what she was doing and she said "They are kissing like you and daddy!" I know she sees us kiss but it is cute to know she actually notices. She is so sweet!

So Tommi is now gonna be a flower girl X 3 this year! She is so ready! Also my little brothers fiancee asked me to be a bridesmaid (what an honor!) so I will be in their wedding and Tommi loves to talk about me being a bridesmaid.

2012 is gonna be an amazing year...Jan-my 2nd baby girl is born, April or May- my big brother is getting married, and June-my little bro gets married! I'm super excited!!!

Little brother...

2011-10-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Last night my little brother proposed to his girlfriend...I can not believe he is old enough to be getting married. (and this is coming from someone who was married when she was 20 haha) He is 23 so he definitely is old enough.

He is by far one of the most amazing men alive. I have always said the woman who ended up with him would be one of the luckiest girls ever. Well Katie is definitely very lucky! As is Luke (my brother) his fiance is a beautiful girl with a great family! And the best part about her is...she makes my little brother VERY happy! So how can I not love her!?!?

He had a super romantic proposal and after had a "party" for all their close friends to celebrate with them a little. I was not able to go due to it being on a Tuesday and I had just been down visiting. But since I got to see the ring and hear all the plans before I felt a little less left out. But I was definitely sad I missed it b/c I was sitting at home wanting to hug them both so bad b/c I'm just so happy for them!

So I'm gonna have a new sis-in-law...the first on the Llewellyn side!

Tommi is SUPER excited! She was jumping up and down when I told her last night. Then today while eating with TJ's parents she announced "Lukey and Katie are getting married and they are gonna have a baby!" hahaha Now I know kids are in the future but I don't imagine for a couple years at least. Tommi is just so ready to have kids to play with when we go to VB!

Tommi has it all planned out...Katie has to find a pretty wedding dress, then find a pretty dress for Tommi, and buy some petals so she can throw them down the aisle!...She is super excited to be a flower girl. It is amazing to hear her little plan!

So now Tommi is gonna be a flower girl twice this summer...Luke and Katie and our friends Chad and Liz. The weddings may only be a week apart so this could be interesting, esp with a new baby.

Yay!!!! I'm SOOOO excited!

Memories...

2011-10-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

I was on a friend’s blog and she was talking about the things she wants her kids to remember about her and their home. So it got me thinking and I found that the things I want my children to remember about me and cherish when they are older are actually pretty simple. They come A LOT from my own upbringing and the memories I cherish the most.

The lists may change with time and as I am a mom longer but for now here is my list….

The things I’d like my kids to remember…

• I loved the Lord and served him in my everyday life.

• That I was real…I was not perfect…I made mistakes.

• I loved their daddy with all my heart...and showed him!

• I was not ashamed of who I am! I danced, I sang (off key) and laughed at myself! (This one TOTALLY comes from things I love about my own mom)

• I was kind to others and treated people with respect.

• They were my focus…not the dust bunnies or the dishes that could be done later.

• That our home was a safe, comfortable, and fun place for them and their friends.

• No matter what…I am ALWAYS there and they can come to me for anything!

ABOVE ALL…
• I want them to remember they were loved beyond their wildest dreams…a God-like love. One they never doubted and was there no matter how many times they turned their back on it.

I hope my kids look back one day and say…Life was SO good when I was a kid! I want my kids to be kids…and totally enjoy it b/c it is such a short time in life!

I look back at my own childhood and no matter the tough times I had with friends, my brothers, and even my parents. I always loved being part of my family…I was actually proud to be a Llewellyn (and still am). We are the type of family people want to be a part of…even with all our crazy imperfections!

I hope one day my kids look back and feel fortunate to be part of our family. I know in someway they will but I want them to have pride in who their parents are and siblings.

27 weeks

2011-10-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Due to sleeping on my sides my hips are getting super sore. I do not like it! Grr! But can I still say I LOVE being pregnant.

So while taking my weekly pictures Tommi of course wanted to pose also.

Tommi's weekly pic...

and mine...

Dresser...and lots of clothes

2011-10-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

So I've been talking about needing a dresser for Monkey. So right before I ordered the one from Target, I checked craigslist thinking maybe I'd get a hit. Well sure enough I found one that was a dresser changing table combo for about $70 less than I was gonna spend on just the dresser.

So yesterday we went and picked it up! It was exactly what I needed and I'm super excited!

So today I got through the 3 big tubs in our hallway and am washing the NB and 0-3 month clothes and in the empty tubs I loaded up the clothes Tommi has out grown! I wanna have this all done so I am prepared and feel like I can just relax and enjoy the next 3 months to come of Tommi being an only child! Plus my back and hips hurt sitting on the floor too long so I know that will only get worse!

Tommi was such a big helper and LOVED looking at all the baby clothes. Of course she asked if she could try the stuff on but I think she is finally understanding she is too big and will never be able to wear it again.

When I packed up her baby clothes I only kept the non-stained, stuff I was sure I would use again. Well little did I know with 2 years of storage some stains would magically appear on the light colored stuff. So I threw away 1/2 a trash bag full of mainly onesies and bibs. According to my mom this is pretty normal. But with 2 loads of laundry, I believe she has enough stuff and beyond...but I will asses it all after I get it all put away and organized. But from the looks of the onesie situation she is still set!

It is a good thing I'm having another girl b/c Tommi really did not have many gender neutral clothes. I would be having to buy a whole new wardrobe.

I still want the next 13+ weeks to go by slow so that I can enjoy this pregnancy and the holidays! 2012 is gonna be a crazy awesome big year for us (more on that in about a week) so I need to enjoy the down time before it all begins!

Tommi is getting pumped to have a baby sister...I have an awesome helper on my hands!

26 weeks...

2011-10-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

This pregnancy is going by too fast! I feel so unprepared to be a mother of a toddler AND a newborn. But I guess I have no choice now. I am slowly trying to get clothes washed so when I do get her dresser I can just put the clothes away.

14 weeks sounds like a while but then other times I feel like 14 weeks is gonna fly by...or I just remember from being pregnant with Tommi how fast it goes by.

But I guess I need to focus on short term things to get done. Plus there is SO much going on in the next 3 months there will be alot to take my mind off of my anxiety.

So pregnancy wise not too much is going on; movements are getting stronger, I'm definitely starting to feel pressure from the weight on my pelvis, just the norm but I can say overall I feel really good! Thank the Lord for good pregnancy's!

Tommi is a nut as always...just today I was on the phone with my mom and Tommi was in the back singing, I didn't know till I got off the phone what the song was, well it was a made up song that said..."I love nail polish, oh i love nail polish" over and over. It was wonderful and had me in tears! She is so random and fun! This past weekend we were at my parents and one night as we were laying in bed she was talking NON-STOP about Luke and Katie getting married so they can have kids that she can play with and how Katie will look beautiful in her wedding dress...on and on. The funniest part is they are not engaged, she just found out they had to be married to have kids and she wants kids so she is planning there wedding before they are! haha I love her! So after all that I told her that we have to stop talking and be quiet, well she said "I try to stop talking mom but I can't" WOW! Finally she said "Fine whatever mom I'll let you go to sleep!" She is 2.5 years old right? Yeah and going on 13! I wish I had a tape recorder b/c she was a hoot...she comes up with stuff out of no where and all I can do is laugh b/c I have no idea where it comes from! Her little sis better be prepared!!

I love my girls and can't wait to watch them become best friends!!!

I pretty much have the basketball belly again...so thankful for good genes!

Unique...

2011-10-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Tommi has her own sense of style...and I secretly LOVE it!

Last week alone...

We had a day she wanted 2 "ponys" one on top and one in the back.

Another day, she picked out her clothes and though they matched I couldn't help but laugh b/c she is totally into fun colors and definitely has her own sense of what she likes! Her style most definitely matches her personality!!!

Appt...

2011-10-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

25 weeks today...

I had an appt last Wednesday, the appt was at 11. Well at 11:25 I went up and asked if the dr was just behind. The receptionist went back and said "You're next so it will be a min, she (the dr) is just a few minutes behind." Well I waited but when 11:45 rolled around I had had enough I was not just hanging out there when I had left Tommi with TJ's aunt Connie and I didn't leave lunch b/c I wasn't supposed to be gone long. So I told them I needed to reschedule. I knew it wouldn't be a big deal if I called Connie and told her but I was just so frustrated b/c I knew the appt was supposed to be a short one (weight, bp, and baby heartbeat check).

So I rescheduled and had my appt this morning. I was there a total of 15 min, my appt was at 9:45 and I was out by 10. Exactly what I had expected last week. But whatever. Monkey is good, her hb was 153 bpm and all is measuring on track. I guess to keep me on the track I was on they made my next appt in 3 weeks. I have to do the glucose test then...oh yeah! I'll live though. The drs office said I have gained 16 lbs but according to my scale I've only gained 10 lbs. That happen with Tommi too, plus either way I am on track gaining. As hard as it is to watch it go back up I'm happy!

Monkey is moving around like crazy and I can now see it from the outside (have been able to for a couple weeks) Nothing too exciting. Tommi was more active and her kicks were much harder but that may be b/c of the antierior placenta. I am finding it harder to breathe now but that is normal. Life is good!

I need to order Monkeys dresser so it can air out and get out the "new smell" and then I can start washing clothes and putting them away so I don't have to do it last minute when my back hates me even more than it does now. I have all her clothes here now (some were at my parents house)

Passy Free...

2011-09-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

How she "lost" the passy and all about our first day with out it...

Well last night we returned from TJ’s softball game and Tommi would not listen. I told her we need to wash our hands and get jammies on. Well she kept running off and doing other stuff. Finally she did but after many threats. So finally got her jammies on and at this point she had already lost all her cuddle time before bed b/c she was being so bad. So then she bucked and closed her mouth and acted up about brushing her teeth. So I told her I was gonna throw the passy away. Guess she didn’t think I was serious b/c she kept it up. Finally I finished and told her time for bed and go to her room. She pitched a fit and cried and pleaded but I was over her not listening. She told me she will listen but it was too late. After a bit of holding and comforting TJ and I laid her down and due to exhaustion she went to sleep with no passy.

I didn’t plan on taking it away so soon but I guess this is the best time. So in the morning when she asked for it I just said no she is a big girl and is ok with out it. We took a trip to the post office and I didn’t let her have it in the car either. She only whines for a few min then gets over it. So it has been easier than thought.

We got a package in the mail that was supposed to be for Christmas but I told her if she gives up her passys then she can have it now. I didn’t want the whole thing to be too traumatic. She agreed she wanted the package and no more passys. With out even knowing what was in the package. So when we got home she got to open the package and was SO excited it was a doll! So Harper (the doll) became the “no passy doll”. She told me she still needs to keep her passys safe in the cup but will not put them in her mouth.

Naptime came and she only asked for it a few times. She was not sure she was ready for this. But she took a good hour nap (not the best but ok)So far it was MUCH easier than expected.

Bedtime came and she kinda asked half jokingly for it. She told TJ right before bed "No passy daddy"

TJ and I both expected a total meltdown from her and a few days of pure chaos. But she has been soooo good and we could not be more pleased!

Day 2 and 3 have gone just as good if not better. She doesn't ask for it anymore. She is a bit grumpy but if I was giving up something I was addicted to I think I would be too. We also have caught her "sucking" or just holding her finger in her mouth in the car. But that was kinda to be expected.

She has not been as cuddly b/c she gets passys when she cuddles but I hope that will change with time as she is less grumpy and gets used to just hanging out with out her passy.

I can not express how proud of her I am! It is a bit sad b/c she is not a baby anymore when her passy but I LOVE IT!!!

Making pappy proud...

2011-09-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

We bought Tommi a spin tooth brush b/c she is such a pain about getting her teeth brushed, we had to try something different. Well she was beyond excited and is getting better about letting us brush her teeth! Yay!!

23 weeks

2011-09-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Well 23 weeks...my back is definitely not liking me these days but I'm dealing well. I'm dealing with braxton hicks daily that Monkey does not like at all. So as my uterus squeezes her she pushes back causing me pain in part of my belly until the contraction is over. Not cool. I have to remember when it happens and I yell "ouch!" or make a face to say it is a braxton hicks not a contraction. TJ says the word contraction scares him at this point. haha So other than my discomfort we are doing well...just growing a baby!

Tommi is still her crazy self! I can't even put into worlds how funny and sweet she is. Just her little comments and expressions are amazing! She has TJ and I cracking up at least once a day. Sometimes we laugh at the wrong times (when she is not being nice) but she is too funny when she gets serious and tries to tell us what is gonna happen. Life is never boring with her around.

Tommi had a run in with some sickness this week. A fever, clingy, not eating, and by today a rash. She acted "normal" just a little off. She is by far the best sick kid ever! I took her to the dr today and her throat looked pretty bad but was negative for strep (Thank you Jesus!) If the rash gets worse I will have to take her back in or if the fever keeps going for 3 or more days. But hopefully we kicked this sickness' butt! Tommi is one tough cookie!

Not sure if I have said this before but if Tommi doesn't teach anything to her little sis but how to go to sleep like her I will be one happy mommy! Tommi is by far the best child ever about going to bed and nap. Sometimes she tries to "fight it" but by the time we get to her room she lays down and goes to sleep like a champ. Then she sleeps 11 to 12 hours at night and 1.5 to 2 hours for her nap! I can not express how fortunate I am for this!

Enough rambling...the 23 week belly...

The cutest big sister ever!

Minus the passy...

2nd time....

2011-09-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today just about having a second baby girl and all. My mom has been wanting to get the girls matching outfits,etc. and it has really gotten me excited to dress them alike, like I always dreamed of if I had a sister. It will happen some...knowing the "big sister" it may not always work out b/c well she has VERY strong opinions on clothes. (I have heard she gets it from her momma)

Well while thinking...I kinda got excited to give birth again. I'm very nervous about how things are gonna work with Tommi and when I go in labor, who she will be with till my mom gets here, etc. But I'm trying to let go b/c well that is something I know for fact I can not plan...unless I'm induced which I highly doubt will happen. I just feel like I'm so much more prepared for enjoying the moments of labor and not trying to rush things.

I just pray when all of it goes down my plan of letting Tommi "tell" everyone the name and I think if I can I may have her come in first so she can be the one to "show off" her new baby sister. I just want her to be as important in this as can be. Not that she will be left out b/c her and big mama already have plans to jump on the beds while I'm staying at the hospital haha I am reminded of this often :) Yet another reason I love my mom and think she was made to be a professional grandma!

This ended up longer than planned but I'm getting excited for this little girl! She is due exactly 4 months from today!

Big sis...

2011-09-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

If little sister is half as funny and curious about the world as her big sister we are gonna have a blast!

While sitting next to me on the couch, Tommi tells me..."My tummy feels funny...it keeps making noises that tickle." I could not help but crack up and she just looked at me serious for a min before laughing herself. It is so funny to see her become more in tune with her body. Recently she has discovered itching an itch. She comes to me all the time and tells me her back itches and asks me to scratch it. It is just funny to see her realize how to take care of things instead of just whining b/c she knows she doesn't like it but doesn't know how to solve it (makes sense to me but maybe not described well)

BIG MILESTONE: Tommi is starting to ask us to put clips and ponytails in her hair...clips most of the time. Her wild hair is starting to bother her when it gets in her eyes! I'm so thankful b/c she looks SO cute and like a little girl when she has her clip in.

I love my Tommi girl!! and my monkey girl! (she kicked me to remind me not to forget about her....like I can)

As I sit here Tommi just reminds me how grown up she is....she spilled some of her milk so she went over to the sink...pulled up a step stool and said "Mom would this be a good one?" As she holds up the dish cloth. I told her "No, is there a blue towel up there?" She looked around "Yes, mom there is, is it a good one?" It is sad to see her getting so independent but SO nice!!!

21 and 22...

2011-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

week pictures.

21 weeks

22 week...not the best angle and I look tired.

Name change...

2011-09-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Years ago TJ and I put together a list of names we likes for boys and girls. So far we used our top girl name with Miss Tommi Jolene. So when we found out this was another girl we looked back at our list and our 2nd favorite girls name (before kids) was thrown into the mix of the new names we liked. Well we did not agree on any of the new names so what was our original plan years ago went into effect. We both still liked the original name. The middle name was a toss up but we ended up wanting to go with the one we both liked the most (we agreed on a couple).

So baby girl #2 (aka Monkey) had her name. I really have fallin in love with it and it has become her. I even anxiously bought all the letters and have painted them. They only need ribbon for hanging…even though it is a good 18 weeks before they are hung. But they will be ready FAR before b/c I love crafts :) (I only have the letters for her first name)

So here is my problem…her middle name. Which I knew was kinda common but I hadn’t heard it in a while. Well what happens? Two people I know have given it to their little girl in the past month. Both as middle names but now I feel like a copy cat and feel lame using it. Not sure if I will definitely change it but it may happen.

I’m kinda disappointed by this but at least I have a few months to debate it.

So there is my vent…maybe my hormones are getting the best of me. But I kinda wanna cry.

ABCs

2011-09-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Tommi has been saying A-G for a while now. She likes to listen to me sing the ABCs all the way through but never has said them herself. Till last night at TJ's game, I was giving her a piggy back on the way up from the car. She just started singing them and kept going all the way through and then proceeded to keep doing it over and over!

I know she doesn't really know the letters but I'm super proud of her b/c this is a start! :)

Left out...

2011-09-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

Poor little Monkey is so left out compared to all the attention my pregnancy got with Tommi. I blogged weekly if not more. Now I'm a slacker.

Well I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow which blows my mind b/c that means my pregnancy is more than half over. It is flying by!

Nothing too eventful...my back hurts pretty bad, which I had with Tommi but with the extra stress of picking up a 2.5 year old I believe it hates me more this time. If it were not for the growing abdomen, back pain, and wild monkey planning her escape through my belly button multiple times daily, I hardly feel pregnant. Oh yeah and the gas...good gracious haha the joys :)

I swing from feeling huge to feeling like I'm hardly showing, mainly based on what I'm wearing. I know I have put on more weight this time by this point then I had with Tommi. But that is my fault b/c I have not been such a crazed healthy eater. I try but sometimes it is hard. I think I was only at a few lbs with Tommi where I'm at like 8 lbs with Monkey. Which is still good but I can tell I have some extra on the belly this time :)

Life is SO good! Tommi talks about her baby sister alot and is such a character. I love her SO much! But really hope Monkey is super laid back b/c two like Tommi would be a bit of a handful. Tommi may be small but rules things where ever she goes! I love her! She is so smart and picks up SO quick on things...a curse and a blessing!

Tommi and I with our 21 week bellies :)

Family...

2011-09-04T19:45:00.001-07:00

We were at church about to back out and 2 kids (teenagers) from a car parked next to us jumped out of their car real quick. The parents (just rolled their eyes at us and shrugged). We rolled down the window and kinda laughed and said "It's like a family or something." Which they responded "It won't be long and it will be you guys!"

It just made me smile b/c right now yes we are a little family but before we know it we are gonna be a bigger family with 2 kids to keep up with. Which just makes me smile and think how blessed I am to be a mom of an amazing 2 year old and another one on the way! I just love being a mom...it is by far the coolest thing ever, frustrating at times but awesome!

Wack!

2011-09-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

Monkey (what Tommi insists we call baby girl) FINALLY kicked TJ. I'm forever feeling one kick here and there. So by the time I tell him to come over she stops. Most of the movement has still been shifts and not as many actual kicks. Well tonight she kicked a few times so I told him to come try and see. Well she whacked him a couple good ones, actually the strongest ones yet! YAY!

I've been feeling her a while but for him to feel her is SO exciting to me!

Also have to share...while TJ was laying on the floor the other day Tommi went and laid on top of him with her cheek on his face and arms around his neck and said "I love you daddy" He looked at me and said "Yeah I think I can handle girls!" Tommi sure does love her daddy...I love watching them b/c she looks at him how I still look at my daddy. He is a super hero and can do no wrong. I'll admit I feel left out when she only wants to cuddle with him but I have to remember she has me all the time and her special time with him is limited! Plus he really is the cooler one :)

I love my little family!!!

Sweet daddy..

2011-08-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

I told TJ how alot of people on Facebook were saying they felt sorry for TJ b/c it is another girl. I know they are not saying it serious just basically assuming he wants a boy.

He said "I could not be more happy...I don't care either way...Tommi is the best thing in the world, and this one will be too!"

He never ceases to make me smile when he lets out his soft side :)

There is no doubt he will be taken care of now and forever! Boys just can't take care of their daddy like a girl can :) My daddy always said every father needs a daughter to take care of them!

Little Sister...

2011-08-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well Tommi is gonna have a little sister!

We had a big ultrasound today. I did find out I have an anterior placenta so that is why I have not felt this baby as much as I did Tommi. So that was nice to hear. Plus this baby is far less active...Tommi was full of energy every time we had an u/s this baby was very chill and let them get all the pictures they needed. She also does not like to be squished...I had a full bladder and they had to make me pee toward the end of the u/s so they could get the baby to move to get more pics.

Though TJ and I went into it thinking boy we soon found out it was most definitely not a boy. Didn't disappoint but I guess we didn't expect it. At least I didn't.

I still can not wrap my mind around another girl but I guess I still have a bit of time to get used to it! Yay for little girls!!

Just a note for my own records....The heartbeat was 136 bpm and she is weighing around 11 ozes. Basically all the measurements put her at around 19w5d but her legs are measuring 20w3d haha Another girl with long legs!

My big girl...

2011-08-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have not been talkin too much about her. She is a mess.

Today the baby was moving so I let her feel it and said "Baby is kicking mommy" she said "Mommy I don't want the baby to kick you, that is not nice"

I have to remind myself she is only 2, she already has the mind of a teenager when it comes to boys. She is currently obsessed with one of TJ's friends, Brandon Clark. She talks about him alot and will even tell me she has to get dressed pretty "for Brandon Clark". She calls him by his full name! haha She is a mess!

Her vocabulary amazes me! She is so smart and catches me off guard all the time with the things she comes up with.

This next baby is gonna either have to have a MASSIVE personality to try and out shine Tommi or be very laid back and listen to her like she expects everyone around her to. It is her world we just live in it!

Eased my mind...

2011-08-25T18:58:00.001-07:00

So I have been having pretty strong braxton hicks...never consistent or painful like labor but SUPER uncomfortable!

The strength had me worried b/c with Tommi they were never this strong till the end and never this early.

Come to find out if you have been pregnant before they are usually stronger. They are also caused by a full bladder (which I am guilty of alot b/c I forget to pee b/c I get busy haha) and the baby moving. Which I have noticed lately I will feel a little movement then as soon as they happens I will have a strong contraction. Which has caused me to think I was not feeling the baby much, when in turn I feel it pretty often it is just over powered by the contractions. Plus when the contraction happens the baby pushes out really hard making it even more uncomfortable in a certain spot.

My mind is SO much more at ease after reading this stuff in an amazing article I found online. I couldn't have survived pregnancy 20 years ago with out the Internet. It has saved me LOTS of phone calls to the dr in my pregnancy with Tommi and with this one!

My mom...

2011-08-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have NO idea how anyone can go through a pregnancy with all the worries, aches and pains, and just general pregnancy stuff with out the support of others. I have to say my mom is AMAZING! She is just so real about things but comforting at the same time. I remember saying that with Tommi and she was so great during that pregnancy too but this time it is different worries and so on.

She may not have been pregnant for over 23 years but she definitely remembers and can relate and that means so much to me. I just appreciate her so much. There is NO one in the world who can make me feel better about pregnancy and parenting things than my mom!

I never had a sister but my mom has been such a good stand in and I'm thankful for that. I think between my mom and I, my dad couldn't have handled another female in the house :) I love my mom!

Frustrated....

2011-08-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

This baby likes to worry mommy. I feel it maybe once a day with flutters and the 2 kicks I felt the other night. I have not felt a kick since and barely any flutters. This may be b/c my mind is not on feeling the baby and I'm moving all day with Tommi. When I do lay down for some quiet time I fall asleep :)

I know everything is fine but I just can't help but worry something is up. Only 2 weeks and we will see the squirming monkey on an ultrasound! I can not wait!!!

Starting month 5 this week! This pregnancy is FLYING by. I swear the baby will be here before I can even prepare.

18 weeks...

Tommi with her "baby" at 18 weeks...I love her!!

Flick..

2011-08-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I officially felt this baby kick tonight. I have been feeling flutters and movement for the past 6 weeks but tonight I got a few little "flicks" from the inside :)

Tommi and I were sitting in the very back of the car while it was raining at TJ's game and I got a kick. I told Tommi and she giggled and started kicking me. haha Of course the big sister has to out do her little sibling.

I was beginning to think I had an anterior placenta b/c I wasn't feeling more than flutters. So yay it's only gonna get stronger and I can't wait!!!

My poor back...

2011-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Between lifting and chasing Tommi around and sitting at ball games...my back is hurting so bad! I'm not welling to take anything, so a heating pad is the best I can do. I had pretty significant back pain with Tommi but I don't think it started quite this early.

My weekly belly pic...17 weeks. Not much of a "belly" yet but definitely looking "thick".

Make a guess...

2011-08-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

We find out on August 31st the gender so make your guesses now!!!

Almost 17 weeks...

2011-08-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

Just a pic of me from after church tonight...looking extra pregnant.

Maxi dresses....the most amazing thing EVER when pregnant!!! No waistband to cut you off and nothing to constrict the belly! Love them!!

16 week appt

2011-08-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

Pretty standard appt...checked weight, bp, heartbeat, and asked if I had any questions. I have gained 4 lbs and the baby's heartbeat was 140 bpm. I saw a new dr, Dr King, she is nice but too official. I want someone totally relaxed. If I had the choice I would deliver with Dr. Whitten again, I really liked him! So I guess only time with tell what happens with that.

While I was in the room a lady came into take my blood for AFP test, which tests for any abnormalities (down syndrome, etc) I wasn't planning on doing extra testing but since she came in to do it I just said whatever and went with it. Since it is just blood work no big deal. If anything is abnormal (not likely) they will send us to Martha Jefferson/UVA to do a high definition u/s.

Next appt is August 31st...and we will have the big u/s where they measure everything and we find out the sex! Yay! I can't wait. My feelings are a boy, actually I have NO feeling of girl. With Tommi I had NO idea but this one I can't even imagine it to be a girl. But it is definitely possible...now to wait 4 weeks! The last 11 weeks have flown by but I have a feeling these are gonna draw by slowly. Tommi says it is a "little girl", she has one in her belly and I have one in mine!

So overall life is SO good. Tommi is the best and pregnancy is going very well! We are SUPER busy with baseball and softball so we are on the go alot but Tommi loves it...even if it wears us out! Glad I have the energy for all this and actually love this busy life with our little "family" haha Thankfully fall will be alot more calm b/c winter it will all pick up with the holidays and a munchkin!

5 to 15

2011-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

So I have noticed growth mainly due to my clothes but I was looking at my weekly belly pics and really noticed how "thick" I've gotten. I have gained 4 lbs and from the look of things it has all gone to belly.

5 weeks

15 weeks

Braxton hicks...

2011-07-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

I mentioned my braxton hicks in my last post and since this is the best way for me to keep track of all that is going on with the pregnancy I thought I'd post about it here.

So I e-mailed my dr Sunday night b/c I had BH a few times that day. Didn't hear from them Monday but got a call yesterday from the nurse. She was asking me about any other symptoms I have, etc. And due to the fact I have been having some bad back pain she told me to come in and see the nurse practitioner. Well they took urine sample and checked the baby's heartbeat. All was good. She said it is pretty normal to feel them early with a second baby, it is just your body preparing for later. If there is any pain that goes along with them she told me to call again but otherwise avoid the heat as much as possible and drink tons of water.

So all is good with baby and momma! Still have my reg drs appt next Wednesday.

Heartbeat was 160

Quick...

2011-07-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

With Tommi I blogged weekly about what was going on. This time I have dropped the ball alot. But we have been super busy with baseball, softball, going to Hatteras for a week, playing outside, etc. Seems like we have been going non stop recently.

On to the pregnancy...things are going well. I will be 15 weeks tomorrow. Have my 3rd appt next Wednesday...crazy it is flying by so fast. I have had some back pain and discomfort but feel really good. Started feeling flutters around 13 weeks...which is fun. Still very weak but I love it! Started having braxton hicks the past couple days. I emailed my dr this evening so we will see what they have to say. I am not worried b/c they are not consistent and not painful. I am most definitely showing...still varies with bloating but it is a bump that doesn't go away!

Tommi...is a BLAST! Definitely a 2 year old with the "no"'s and attitude but otherwise she is still the most loving and amazing little girl ever. She loves cuddling and is so sweet. Most of the time she is an amazing listener and that makes me very proud! She is talking up a storm. Full on sentences which I didn't expect yet. Just crazy how smart she is. She expresses her emotions freely telling me when she is mad or sad. It is helpful but we are still working on how to express them with out yelling and biting whatever is in her hands. Definitely a normal 2 year old but we are working through it and I'm learning ALOT along the way.
She makes friends SO easy...ok well really she just tells people they are her friends and says "Wanna play with me?" and doesn't wait for an answer. She is still learning some kids do not want to play with her. But I love how bold she is and how sweet she is to her friends.

Life is good!!

14 weeks in Hattie this week!

I will post more pics later of Tommi and such!

Silly girl!

2011-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

I wish I remembered our conversations all day long. They crack me up! Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a big kid.

Tommi: Mommy I have an idea!
Me: What is your idea?
Tommi: I don't know, I'll tell you later!

While in the car driving...
Tommi: Mommy who are you talking to?
Mommy: hahaha I was talking to myself
Tommi: You are silly mommy...you were talking to Jesus!
As much as I like her idea better...I was talking to myself!

Tommi: I have pretty bracelets.
Me: How many do you have?
Tommi: Two
Me: No, count them and tell me how many you have.
Tommi: One, two, three....I have three!
Maybe it is normal for a 2 year old to count and comprehend but I think she is pretty smart!

Me: Tommi you need to be nice...no more bad mood.
Tommi: Fine mom!
Me: Nice Tommi...no tude.
Tommi: I didn't toot...I'm being nice.
Me: No attitude, be nice to mommy.
Tommi: Ok, be quiet mommy!
She did not get away with talking to me like this but I had to share b/c when did my 2 year old turn into a teenager?!?

She is learning to comprehend her feelings so when she is mad, sad, or happy she informs me. If she doesn't know what is bugging her and she is just being a moody 2 year old, she tells me she is in a bad mood! haha It cracks me up!