Toddler Easter Basket

Kylie's third Easter basket at 2.5 years old included:

• sidewalk paint
• watercolor paint
• two Easter themed stamps I found at Target
• a package of Annie's fruit snacks
• three Reese's peanut butter eggs
• the books Little Lamb and Miss Rumphius
• Eeboo brand puzzle I found at our local bookstore
• Grimm's Wooden Rainbow toy (I think it's just the "small" size, as opposed to the Mini or Large).

Pregnancy #2: 32 Weeks

It's still unreal to me we are getting so close to becoming a family of four! I am getting really anxious now for both labor and delivery and also managing two kids! I think the thing that scares me the most is envisioning keeping up with a toddler while running on infant sleep!

This last trimester of pregnancy has me quite tired again, but I have been finding energy to power through just out of necessity I think. There is so much I need to get done before the baby gets here; finish the nursery, organize closets, make space in the living room for baby gear, organize the basement, prepare some freezer meals. I guess nesting has presented itself a bit early, probably because I know it's going to take right up to the due date to get all of this done! As a consequence of this, my feet have been aching pretty much round the clock these last few days because I am trying to get so much done. Add Daylights Savings to the mix and today I just don't even want to move! At least the heartburn/indigestion has let up. Speaking of that, I feel like I might have "dropped" a bit, but I really have no clue. I didn't even notice it myself with Kylie. But I did notice I have had less heartburn and I was having a bit of hip pain the other day and I read that could be a symptom of engagement. So maybe, but really who knows! I have been seeing "stars" here and there, which I don't remember happening as frequently with Kylie but it only seems to be if I go from laying down to making large movements (like bending down to pick something up) and my midwife wasn't too concerned since my blood pressure hasn't changed much.

I had a 32 week ultrasound last Friday and got lots of fantastic news, as well as some fantastic pictures! The ultrasound was scheduled to check my low lying placenta which is now 4cm away from my cervix which means I can try for a vaginal delivery again. I am soooo happy about this!! Baby is head down and they estimated her weight to be 4lbs 1oz. I'm really interested to see how big she will be when she comes out because if she really is already 4lbs it seems like she might be significantly larger than her sister who came out at only 5lbs 10oz. The tech did say her femur bone measured pretty small and she might be small like Kylie and I am lengthwise but she didn't give us any percentile or crown to rump measurements. I'm hoping to remember to ask the doctor about that at my next appointment. The tech also seemed impressed at how well the baby was making breathing movements, so that was pretty cool. It seems like both times she has mentioned something that implies the baby is developing somewhat advanced, which makes me wonder if I will go early again. But I really didn't think I was going to this time, based on my conception chart showing a due date of May 8th (where the midwife gave me a due date of May 3rd). I'm really getting anxious to see how it will all play out. Will she come early? Will she come late? What will labor be like this time? Will it go faster? Will I know that it is labor? So many unknowns, and in some ways that makes me crazy! But I also know how fast time goes and I'm not going to wish away any of this pregnancy, especially because it might be my last.

Pregnancy #2 UPDATE! and Bump Photos :)

I've wanted to do this post for so long now I don't even know where to begin! Pregnancy #2 is definitely a lot more tiring since I have a toddler to keep up with! But all in all I have lucked out again with a pretty easy pregnancy so far. I have definitely had some heartburn, (as with my first), but a tums will take care of it. I think I have gotten at least one new stretch mark right next to my belly button. It's hard to stay sitting down on the floor to play with Kylie for long periods of time, especially after supper when my stomach is extra full and I have had sore feet a handful of times, but that is about the only thing I have to complain about. My only real concern is that I have a low-lying placenta, so I have to wait until an ultra sound scheduled at 32 weeks before I will know if it has moved up enough for a vaginal birth. I am really, REALLY, hoping it has/will, because I am a little terrified of having a c-section, but it is really out of control so I guess we will cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

Baby girl #2 LOVES to move around in there, and as anyone who has been pregnant knows, it is the best feeling ever! I could just sit and watch my belly move all day! She will pretty much be moving anytime I am sitting or lying down. I can feel her a lot if I am driving in the car, but the most active times are when I am lying down while Kylie naps or when we are sitting in the recliner for story time before bed.

Kylie likes to kiss my belly a lot and gives her baby sister hugs. She also likes to use her doctor kit stethoscope on my belly. She likes her big sister books and I think has a good grasp of what's going on, but I just don't think she understands when it is the baby is coming. Since I'm due early May, I've been telling her the baby will be here in the Spring, but I think at this point since I have been pregnant for so long (especially for a toddler's sense of time) it is probably hard for her to understand. I think having the next ultrasound will help remind her of the baby inside and also I would like to go and show her the nursery in the hospital some time so she has some what of and idea. I'm pretty apprehensive about leaving her to give birth, because we have yet to do an overnight away. We don't have any family in the area so that makes it hard to practice. I would like to try at least once before its actually go time, but again, since our family lives two hours away I'm not really sure how we would do that. But we will get it figured out :)


Now for the BABY BUMP:

 13 Weeks

15 Weeks 

20 Weeks 

27 Weeks 

 

30 Weeks

 

IT"S A GIRL!

So we found out back on December 7th, but I just never got around to updating the blog! Daddy wasn't able to make it to our ultrasound so I made him this box to open with KyKy when he got home.

Hoping to do another pregnancy update soon!

Summer Fun

 4th of July

 Berry Picking

Spring is here!

Finally the snow is melting! It has been gorgeous the past few days, today too but it's a little windy and this was early in the day, so we decided to keep the hat on.

I LOVE THIS AGE!

Can I just say how much I LOVE this age :) Not that I didn't love all the months up til now but this age is just so fun. So much PLAY, so many HUGS, so many "thank you, mommy"s and "I love mommy"s and "mommy and daddy and Kylie and mommy and daddy and Kylie and mommy are family". GAH! THE BEST!

Also can I just say how sad it makes me that it all is going by so fast! SLOW DOWN!

And now for a darling picture taken on Easter:

Baby Shower, Diaper Cake

My sister-in-law is expecting a precious baby girl in April and a few weekends ago we threw her a baby shower! My baby girl and I had a blast preparing and celebrating such a wonderful event :)

My sister-in-law is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and of course I wanted to do something a little special for her gift, so I made a diaper cake. They are actually quite easy to make, because everything is so cute anyway! I rolled up the diapers while I watched "At Home in Maine", a documentary about home birth, and just assembled the goodies as I purchased them.

 This diaper cake includes: 

128 Size 2 Diapers

5 Headbands

4 Recieving Blankets

4 Pair of Socks

3 Bibs

3 Baby Toys

(praying doll, stroller toy that jingles and little elephant rattle toy)

2 Pair of Pants

1 Onsie

1 Package of Boogie Wipes

1 Bottle of Baby Shampoo

1 Tube of Butt Paste 

My mother-in-law also made some really sweet DIY details for the party include these darling washcloth puppies: 

 And these beautiful favors:

And of course I have to include some pictures of this cutie pie enjoying herself with her cousin :)

 As I said we had a fabulous time and really look forward the arrival of our sweet niece/cousin in ONE MONTH!!!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

One Year Photos :)

Photos I took of my daughter at one year old. 

9 Months Old Today

Baby Girl's First Easter Basket :)

5 Books: Where's Peter, Pat the Bunny, Fluffy Chick, Big Red Barn, Baby Love Springs

Super Puffs: Super Purples 

Bubbles

Toothbrush

3 homemade noisemaker eggs

Jemima Puddle Duck stuffed animal

Spring, Glorious Spring!

My baby girl enjoying the beautiful weather we had last weekend :)

Wishes for My Baby Girl

Throwback Thursday: My Lovely Baby Bump!

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: Haley J. Photography

Baby Girl's Nursery :)

We moved into our house TWO WEEKS before I had baby girl. So, it amazes me we even had anything in her nursery at all! But thanks to our amazing friends an family, it was painted and all put together by the time she came home. It was actually pretty much done before, except the changing table came in the mail the day before I went into labor. Thankfully, that got put up by her Papa while we were in the hospital. The only thing I have added since are the rug, the elephant picture, and the many stuffed animals she has received as gifts. 

Daddy painted the bookshelf the weekend before I went into labor (after I tried, completely failed, and begged him to fix it). I found the idea to make a bow organizer from a picture frame on pinterest, which turned out to be the easiest task ever, much more suitable for my pregnancy brain. And I used a baby bag from one of my shower gifts for the print. Oh and my mom gave baby girl the fairy decals for Christmas, so those are relatively new too. The only thing I want now is something to go over the changing table.

It might be a tiny room, but I sure love it :)