Fashion Friday: The Big Day

Unfortunately, I didn't really have time to snap any good photos of Emma at the wedding, but my brother's girlfriend managed a few. I'm hoping my sister's photographer got some smiling poses, but we'll have to wait and see!







This is hard work!


Hangin' with Pop-pop



The Beautiful Bride


Emma's Hot Grandma!
(She's going to kill me, but I couldn't resist. Isn't she hot?!)

The Big Tease

So nothing much going on here. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if it really will be another 3 weeks. Besides lots of Braxton Hicks and feeling like the baby is about to fall out, there is really no sign that this baby is anxious to come out. Yes, I'm totally hormonal and exhausted, but hey, I'm 9 months pregnant. And for now, I'm trying to enjoy every day and not think ahead too much.

I'll leave you with some fun hospital photos of our adventures this weekend. Hopefully the next time, it will be the real deal!

False Alarm!


Time to go home...

Labor Update

So I'm still in false labor. Went to the doctor today, and nothing has changed. Still 2-cm dilated, and my cervix is pretty high. My plug is definitely gone.

Only mild cramping today and no real contractions. So we wait. Doctor said not to be surprised if I go in the next day or two, or in the next two weeks. Not quite what I wanted to hear, but I appreciate his honesty.

The good news is that I am now 37 weeks, which means I can resume normal activity and not worry about "pushing" it. If the baby comes, it comes. So at least I can stay busy while I wait.

Stay tuned. Hopefully I can post some photos of the wedding tomorrow. Maybe I'll even throw a hospital shot in there. But for now, folks, I'm going to bed!

Where do I start?

Well, it's been a very exciting weekend for us to say the least. Not even sure where to start.

I guess with Miss Emma. She did in fact go down the aisle. Well, more like sprinted down the aisle, but she made it down. Once she was holding my hand, I thought we were okay. But then she saw beautiful Auntie Jenni coming down the aisle with Pop-pop, and thought it would be appropriate to meet her half way and give her a huge hug, all the while yelling, "Auntie Nenni!!!" I can laugh now, but at the time I was totally cringing inside. Everyone, of course, thought it was so cute/funny, and thank goodness my sister was such a good sport.

After that, Emma sprinted out the back door to my mother-in-law, who graciously kept her out while she ran around outside. She did peek in once, only to yell, "Mommy, what 'cha doin'?" and then ran back in again to walk down the aisle with me at the very end.

So we made it. Not quite the "slow slow" walk we've been practicing for weeks, or the methodical petal throwing I was sure we had down. But the girl is 2, and she is Emma. So we take what we can get. She looked adorable, which was really her main job!

The rest of the night was a blast. Emma hung out with my sister-in-law and was totally overtired by the time 8:00pm approached, so I kept her busy while my in-laws threw food down their throats and took her to our hotel. Apparently she went down okay for my mom-in-law, but was up around 5am. At least that's what I was told. I wasn't exactly there to greet her when she woke up. Nope...I was at the hospital.

So, I'll save you all the reading to tell you there is no baby. Yet. But I am 2-cm dilated and 70-percent effaced, and have a million signs that this baby is coming SOON. I have lost my mucous plug and my contractions have been on and off for 2 days now. But let's get back to the hospital...

I admit that at the wedding, I may have overdid it a tad. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to dance and it was my sister's wedding. After all the stress of everything, it felt good to let loose. Still, a couple of times my body was telling me to chill, and sometimes I listened. But sometimes the song was just too good to pass up!

Anyway, I felt fine until around 1 am at the hotel, when I started getting mild contractions. At first, I wasn't sure what they were. With Emma, I had the menstrual cramps and contractions throughout the day, but then my water broke and there was NO mistaking that I was in labor. This was different.

Once they started getting regular and my legs started getting shaky, I knew it was time to call the doctor. My brother's girlfriend pulled Jeff from the after-party in the hotel lobby, and I have to say he immediately went into "go" mode. The doctor wanted me to go to the hospital to get monitored because of my fast delivery with Emma. So off we went, after a very long week. (At least my hair was done, and I had pretty toes!)

Once we got there, my contractions were pretty regular and getting stronger. They checked me, and determined I was 2-cm dilated and about 50-percent effaced, so they kept me for monitoring. For the next few hours, I contracted about every 2 minutes. I really thought this was it. And so did my sister. She was all upset and didn't want to go on her honeymoon. It was so sweet, but after MUCH convincing, she went. She hated it, but she went.

After about 4 hours, they checked me again, and I only effaced a little bit more. Jeff and I were then ordered to walk around for an hour. So there we were: pregnant lady with fancy hair, tired eyes (with fake eyelashes!), and flip flops, escorted by a very handsome man in a tux. We hadn't slept for 24+ hours.

Anyway, I'll speed this up a bit. After our walking, my contractions started to spread out and eventually stopped. I stayed for monitoring for a few more hours, while Jeff went to the hotel, picked up Emma, and got her situated at home. I wanted to go home so bad, but Jeff and the nurse thought it was best for me to get some rest and eat, and be at the hospital just in case the contractions started up again.

Jeff came back to the hospital around 12:30 pm, and we left shortly thereafter. I thought for sure we'd be back that night. But here we are, 2 days later and still no baby. It's fine with me -- we're still a day short of 37 weeks -- but the waiting is driving me a little crazy. I know, I know, I'm not even close to my due date, but when I'm getting contractions every 3 minutes for 45 minutes straight, and then they just stop, it gets annoying. Especially as I try to figure out what to do with Emma and rush to get everything ready around here for our new little one.

After I lost my mucous plug yesterday morning, the doctor and I thought we were on our way. But again, here I am. Sure, it's 5:30am and I feel like making a lasagna and I woke up with menstrual cramps, but at this point, I don't know what to think. Either way, the doctor wants to see me today and check me out. I was supposed to see him on Friday morning before the wedding, but he had a delivery, so I only saw a nurse. Wonder what my internal would have revealed...

I have to give a HUGE thanks to my wonderful family, who were unbelievable this weekend. We are so blessed. So thank you first to my mom- and dad-in-law, who took care of Emma during the entire wedding and after; to my brother and his girlfriend for watching Emma and getting no sleep as we went to the hospital; and to my mom and dad for basically "standing by" the last few days as we wait for our peanut to arrive. And, of course, to my sister and new brother-in-law for being so understanding about my two very unpredictable kids!

So that's we're we are at. Say some prayers for us, and the next post just might be announcing our newest addition. Or it might just be me complaining. We'll just have to wait and see!

Fashion Friday: Last Days of Summer

Oh, and say a little prayer for us. My sister's wedding is today!!! Hopefully Baby B stays put, and Emma walks down the aisle!

Finding My Mommy Groove

When Emma was first born, I had a hard time. The first two weeks, everything seemed to come pretty naturally. After all, she just ate, slept, and pooped. But once other elements started coming into play -- how often to feed her, thrush, nursing troubles, and lots of opinions -- I started to stress out. I had NO idea what kind of mother I wanted (or needed) to be.

Do I feed on demand? Do I let her cry it out? Do I try these sleep "patterns" I read about in books? How long should her naps be? Do I trust the nagging instincts about her tummy, or am I overreacting? Allergies -- do they exist in infants? Does she have reflux, or am I imagining it? And how about vaccinations? Are they causing huge problems like autism, or are they protecting my baby from getting really sick?

And then I did the worst thing I could have done. I read a million books, asked a million questions of people, and googled until I could no longer google. In other words, I overloaded myself with information...none of which gave me any sort of answers. Just more questions. And more doubts.

I felt guilty for not being 100 percent sold on "attachment parenting," yet I didn't want to let Emma cry it out either. I wanted to trust my doctor, who told me to space out her feedings no matter how much she indicated she was hungry, but I ended up getting sick to my stomach every two hours, when I KNEW she was hungry. Was I a horrible mom for giving her a pacifier? Should I stop nursing when she clearly isn't enjoying it and I'm wasting away on a very strict diet, or do I stick it out because someone tells me "it's the best thing for her?"

Every time I turned around, it was a new question, a new research finding, a new opinion on what "good" mommies do. Quite frankly, I was pretty darn lost. I was confused. At times, scared. Why didn't I just "know" like every other mom who seemed to naturally take care of their child? Why was I so insecure? Honestly, I would say I felt like this for the first year of Emma's life. That didn't make Mommyland very fun most of the time.

But as I prepare for this new child, I am so thankful for all of those questions and doubts. They made me search hard and deep about the kind of mom Emma needed, and even more so, the kind of mom I wanted to be for all of my children.

The largest lesson I have learned is that kids are not "one size fits all" and that each one requires special attention based on who they are. I also learned to trust those good old "mommy instincts" Jenny McCarthy talked about on Oprah the other day.

Emma was not a cuddly baby. At all. She loved her crib at 2 weeks, and NEVER wanted to be swaddled. She liked her space, and still does to this day, so babywearing probably wasn't the best option for her. And I definitely knew co-sleeping wasn't for her either, but I also learned it wasn't for me. Jeff and I enjoy our bed, and we cherish the small amount of alone time it gives us.

I also decided that I do not want my baby to cry it out. First of all, it went against every instinct I had in me. If my baby cries, I want to hold her, comfort her. Emma was so active, that she really just needed a longer soothing period to fall asleep. Some may have thought I spoiled her -- and still do -- but I know my baby, and I know what works.

I also really believe in schedules. I like schedules because of my personality, but I also learned it works for Emma too. Am I too strict? Maybe, but that's my Mommy style, and I can honestly say I'm okay with it. Emma doesn't skip naps EVER, and I work around her. To me, that's what I am supposed to do. Before I know it, naps will be gone, and my baby will be in school. I can handle staying at home for a few hours so she gets her much-needed rest. To me, that is more important than any errand.

I hate junk food. Emma doesn't get it. She gets all-natural most of the time, and sugar is avoided unless it is in fruit or once in a while, a milk-free cookie. Some may think I am somehow horrible for not giving her chips or fried food for pure enjoyment, but why in the world would I give her something that I know isn't good for her? Sure, it's hard and takes more work (and money), but it's worth it to me. Her allergy issues only make it that much more important.

TV is avoided at all costs, but I don't think it is "evil" either. Emma gets about 20-30 minutes a day (at most), and once in a while, a family movie at night if all 3 of us are home together. As long as it teaches her something, I can deal with a little bit every day.

Outside time is very important to our daily routine and so is physical activity. Unless she is sick or it is raining, we always find time to run around or at least go for a walk. Fresh air goes a long way!

Discipline is a must. I try to avoid "no" and give "creative directions," but hitting or other aggressive behavior gets a time-out on the naughty chair. Emma knows right from wrong, and she knows when she's been "naughty." When her time is up, we talk about it, and she usually tells me what she's done wrong before I can. She says she's sorry, we hug, and it's over. Until the next time of course! Either way, she needs consequences, and I am sticking to it. I'm not perfect -- I do yell more than I'd like -- but I am avoiding spanking for as long as I can. Emma is very physical, and I think it would only add to the problem instead of solve it.

I have learned to ignore the non-spoken, but obvious opinions others have about the way Jeff and I raise Emma. Before, it literally drove me crazy to think someone might think I was doing something "wrong" or that I was catering to her too much. But now, I can officially say I found my "mommy groove" with Emma, and that gives me so much peace. What's even better is that Jeff and I are in total agreement.

Of course, God -- in His awesome sense of humor -- is now giving me another child, which will probably throw all of this out of the window. Which is exactly why I wanted it down on "paper." I am curious to see how much my style changes as I juggle two very different kids.

I do want to say that I am still open to new things. Hoping for more cuddles this time, I plan to try out babywearing with this baby. Maybe not all the time, but much more often. I think it will be good bonding, but also more practical as I try to get stuff done. I also intend to try my hardest to nurse for at least a year (Emma was only 6 months), provided we don't have major stomach issues.

The real question is will I get lax on some of these issues, or will I stick to my guns? I am interested to see. But either way, I can confidently say I am excited about this new Mommyland adventure.

I figure that if God thinks I can handle another child, then I can. I just pray that I can have more fun and less worrying this time around.

Stay tuned... :)

Fashion Friday: Baby B in Action

Baby B pulled his or her first all-nighter last weekend at Aunt Jenni's bachelorette party, where he/she danced up a storm downtown and got several rubs from complete strangers. Needless to say, finding an outfit that was somewhat trendy -- but not ridiculously expensive -- was quite the task at 8 months preggers, but I think I managed okay. And if I've said it once this pregnancy, I'll say it a million more times -- thank the Lord for ballet flats!

With a 4am return time and a 2-year-old that wakes up at 6am, there wasn't a whole lot of sleeping going on, but we did have a whole lot of fun!

In fact, it's probably safe to say my kids live it up more inside the womb than outside of it. This wasn't Baby B's first rockin' night. Thanks to fun Aunt Jenni, we also attended the Goo Goo dolls concert a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of that, but I did wear this awesome shirt from my generous (and very stylish) friend Mama C-ta.

Now that I think about it, this baby also traveled to LA in its early gestational months and ate at The Ivy! (Of course, this was all part of a work trip, so it really wasn't as glamorous as it sounds...)

Not to be outdone, Emma went to Disney in my first trimester and also traveled to DC. She too danced all night at my girlfriend's bachelorette party and her wedding when I was 7 months along. (Yes, I now own TWO maternity bridesmaid dresses!)

I actually think I may live it up more when I'm pregnant than when I'm not. Something tells me this won't change once Baby B arrives.

But at least I can have a glass of wine!

It's Official...

I can no longer see my toes!

Fashion Friday: Posing with Great Great Grandma

Okay, so these really aren't Fashion Friday photos, BUT it's been hectic here this week, and I've really been meaning to post these pictures.

As most of you know by now, we currently have 5 generations of women alive in my family. So naturally, we wanted to name our little girl after her Great Great Grandma Emma.

Here the are the two of them just a few weeks ago when we paid Grandma a visit at her new nursing home. Emma did pretty good, and especially liked the birdies they have in the lobby...just like Grandma knew she would.



As you can see, she even sat on Grandma's lap and gave her a few kisses. I love that we got a few pictures of this. I know Emma will treasure these some day as much as I do now.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Better Late Than Never...

Yes, Emma's birthday party was almost a month ago, but I really want to get some of the details down for her benefit.

Like any fun holiday, Emma ended up with a monster cold. Fever, running nose, no sleep. All the night before her party. The day of her party, she took the shortest nap she has ever taken and had a 101 fever. I wasn't too confident that it was going to be a fun day.

BUT I have to say, she did so great. She didn't seem to mind that her nose was running or that she had no sleep under her belt, so I let her do everything she would have normally done -- swim, run around, etc.



She was on Tylenol most of the day and her nose was pretty raw, but as far as her mood, she was in pretty good shape.

I caved in and did an Elmo theme because she loves him so much, but mostly because I got all the decorations for free. My Great Aunt gave them to me about a year ago, and it seemed silly to waste perfectly good table cloths, plates, napkins, and banners. They were nice quality and colorful. I simply had to buy a few balloons and a cake, and we were all set.



Food was simple burgers and hot dogs, and everyone else brought a side dish. AND it was at my Mom's and Dad's house. (Thank you both by the way!) I have to say I really didn't have to do much at all... this is the way throw a party I tell ya!

I kept the guest list to immediate family and great grandparents, but somehow Miss Emma still ended up with a zillion gifts. She is truly blessed to have a family that loves her so much! (And so are we, of course!)

She can now help Mommy sweep the floor and vacuum. She has a new buddy (Heidi the Hippo) from Build-a-Bear, her very own sleepover bag for Grandma's, a bike, and lots of new gear for her baby. So far, we've only put together the baby bed, but we plan to put out the baby high chair and stroller when Baby B. comes so Emma has someone to take care of too. At least that's the plan...







She was extremely good about opening the gifts, and even made sure Daddy was a part of the whole experience by walking across the room to show him EVERY.SINGLE.GIFT. After a few minutes of this, we convinced Daddy to come sit by us so we wouldn't be there all day. We also had two potty breaks during present time, so a huge thanks goes out to my very patient family!

I was a little worried Emma was going to be all shy and goofy when we sang Happy Birthday to her, but of course, that was a silly fear. She literally sat there with this smirk on her face and kept looking around the room as if to say, "Yeah, this is for me...keep singing people!" She actually made us sing it to her twice, AND it would have continued if I didn't put a stop to it! So much for shy.







I bought a regular Elmo cake for everyone else, but made a dairy- and soy-free cupcake for the birthday girl. (I wish I would have gotten a better picture...before the sprinkles melted into the frosting!)



You can find the recipe here. And man, these were so yummy. Had I known they were going to taste so good, I would have made them for everyone. I highly recommend them for kids with allergies (and without!). I did substitute the soy milk with coconut milk. (You could use rice milk too, but I figured the coconut would add more flavor).

I made this buttercream frosting, but had to use Smart Squeeze Fat-Free Margarine (squeeze bottle) because it was the only non-soy/non-dairy butter substitute I could find locally (at Super Kmart... go figure!). Unfortunately, the frosting wasn't very thick, but it tasted good, and I topped it with multi-colored sprinkles. I am definitely making these again!

Emma was pretty pooped by the end of the night, so we actually ended up leaving earlier than some of our guests, but I knew she didn't feel well, and it was past her normal bedtime as it was. Meltdown mania began as soon as we got home, and it was a rough night, but we survived. Unfortunately, her cold didn't go away until 10 days later, which means she was also sick for her actual birthday. Such is life. At least I know she had a great time at her party. In fact, she often asks if she's getting another one soon. With presents of course.

So I think it's safe to say she completely understood the concept. Maybe a bit too well. Christmas should be lots of fun this year!

Fashion Friday: Just the 3 of us...

And Miss Queenie all by her cute self...

Optimism

As most of you know, I am one of those women that love being pregnant. If it wasn't for the constant worrying AFTER our little ones enter the world, I'd have like 5 kids. There's just something about proudly showing off that belly and the miracle of something growing inside of you.

And really, it's a good thing I love being preggers so much... otherwise I might be tempted to create a third-trimester complaint list that looks something like this:

1. heartburn that somehow results from everything and anything I put in my mouth
2. peeing every three seconds
3. an internal body temperature of 150 degrees
4. the inability to sleep through the night thanks to numbers 1-3 and the fact that someone is winning a gold medal for tumbling in my stomach
5. backaches
6. zero energy
7. sore feet
8. cramping toes and calves
9. the inability to keep up with a very fast and wiggly toddler
10. forgetfulness that is really starting to boarder on insanity
11. hormones that turn me into someone I really don't like after 5pm (okay more like 3pm...)

Yep, I am very grateful that none of these applies to me and my jolly belly!

Another Shoe Contest!

Yeah! Check out this new contest from Steph and Vincent Shoes. The fall styles are pretty darn cute!

Here's hoping I win this time!

These are a few of her favorite things...

For the record, here are a few of Emma's current favorites, most of which are slowly driving me insane. Yet, there's nothing like that smile and squeal any time she is able to experience any one of them. I just keep telling myself that there will be new favorites soon. Right???

Favorite saying: "Daddy/Mommy, what 'cha doooooin'?"

Favorite song: Down in My Heart (sung by Bob and Larry of course!)

Favorite shoes: hot pink Crocs (still...)

Favorite book: Sophie and Sam (a.k.a. "Sophie and Sam: When to Say 'Yes' and When to Say 'No'") We must read this at every potty break and before nap and bed time. She especially likes the stories about Lola and Lucy.

Favorite food: watermelon (even though she seems to get a rash around her mouth every time she eats it, so we're taking a break.)

Favorite toy: Smooshy (a pink 'beanie' bear that she has suddenly grown very fond of, even though she's had it since she was born.) Of course, she still loves Minnie and baby!

Favorite thing to do: it's a 3-way tie between jumping up and down like a nut ball; going to the park; and "checking e-mail," which is really looking up Mickey or Elmo on the computer. Why oh why did I ever introduce her to this???

Fashion Friday: Brown is so the new black...

You'll be noticing a lot of brown in Emma's wardrobe this fall. I'm so drawn to it for some reason. And brown and pink... well, you just can't go wrong!

No Instincts

So when I was pregnant with Emma, I was sure I was having a boy. Not sure why, but I was certain of it. I was drawn to blue and "boy" things, and had my mind set on football games and a huge appetite. The only indicators of girl were the fact that "Emma" just sounded so natural to me. Like I was meant to have an Emma. That, and my two dreams that revealed girl. Of course, I ignored those signs and was totally floored to hear "It's a girl" when Miss Emma arrived. I was so excited, but felt so silly for calling this poor baby a "he" for the 9 months she was in my belly!

So on to this baby...

Again, our girl name (Kendall Faith) just feels right. But maybe it's because I can picture a sweet face and bouncing pigtails more easily now. Either way, it sits well with me, and I know it is the perfect name if we have another girl.

Now, my "gut" says boy because 1. these kicks are really, really strong and 2. My dreams have been boy. And while we're not set on a boy name just yet, our top choice at the moment -- Austin Bernard (my maiden name) -- is starting to feel right. So I am back to football games and a stocked fridge.

BUT...the last few nights I've had two dreams and both clearly showed I was having a girl.

What the heck? Do I have any maternal instincts in me at all?

Small Talk with Emma

Mommy: Emma, are you full? Or would you like some more eggies?

Emma: Noooooooo, I'm fine this minute.

Mommy: (blank stare)


Can someone tell this girl that she just turned 2 a few weeks ago? And the little attitude I detected in her tone really scares me. Oh does it scare me! :)

Fashion Friday: For Daddy...

Okay, so there has been some intense "discussion" around here the last week about the golf outing Daddy is supposed to go on tomorrow morning. The girls around here aren't too happy about this, and we don't exactly keep our feelings to ourselves.

However, after Daddy's peace offering last night -- a pedicure for Mommy tonight while he puts Emma to bed -- we felt it only right to provide our own peace offering.

So here is Emma in her preppiest outfit, showing (a little) support for Daddy and wishing him a good game. (And smiling as hard as she possibly can!)



Besides, who could stay mad at this guy:




*Pay no attention to the drink of water gone bad on Emma's shirt. It is an illusion.*

She can see!

So Emma had her first bang cut today. I won't go as far as to say it was her first haircut, since there wasn't much hair actually cut. But something had to be done about those bangs, especially with my sister's wedding coming up in September. Plus, I'd like to get her 2-year photos taken next week.

I wasn't sure where to go since we all know Miss Emma's personality, but then I spotted an ad for a new kid-friendly place super close to our house. I wasn't doing anything drastic -- we were just trimming some bangs so the poor girl could see -- but I knew I needed a place with lots of distractions.

I purposely scheduled first thing in the morning so it wouldn't be busy and ended up with a really sweet girl named Sarah that didn't seem clueless. Actually, I knew she'd be okay when she said that she often tries to convince parents that bangs don't need to start at the back of the head and that only a few are necessary. Bingo!

In fact, I knew I probably could have attempted this trim on my own since it was only a few bangs, but with Emma's many colics, I thought it was best to trust a professional.

So off we went this morning. We talked about it all morning, but I'm not sure Emma really knew what was going to happen. She loved the place at first glance though. There were toys and balls and a choo-choo train. When it was time to pick her chair, she didn't seem interested until I showed her the firetruck that she could drive and that had a bell. Plus it was in front of a TV.

She didn't want a cape on until I bribed her with some crackers and convinced her it was a bib. She accepted, and Miss Sarah started the trim.

About 1 minute later, we were done. Sarah was nice enough to put Emma's "lock" of hair in a baggie for me, although there wasn't much at all. I opted out of the first haircut photo and certificate because I didn't think it really counted. We'll do that next time.

Of course, then Emma didn't want to leave. We walked around for a few more minutes, playing ball and moving the cho-cho down the tracks. Then I finally convinced her that it was time to go home and play outside. She wouldn't say "bye" or "thank you" to Miss Sarah, but talked about her the whole way home and at lunch. Go figure.

Here are a few shots of our little experience this morning. Later this afternoon is our 24-month check up. I'm hoping a good nap will make this as easy as the haircut!

The Latest on Baby Seth

I just found out from my girlfriend that Baby Seth has started chemo. The tumor hasn't grown, but he is losing weight and has been running a fever. They also have him on a feeding tube. The most difficult part is that this couple's first child was very premature and had to have a feeding tube, so this isn't the first time they've had to deal with the fear or worry of losing a child.

Please continue to pray for Seth's healing and for peace for his loving parents and family. I can't imagine how hard this must be for them.

Fashion Friday: Baby B at 30 weeks

This Made My Day

http://www.sonnyradio.com/OverTheRainbow.html

(Make sure the Kleenex is nearby.)

To My Little Spitfire

Well Miss Emma, Happy 2nd Birthday! It's taken me about 4 months to get to the point where I can admit that you are actually turning 2 years old. Of course, you have given me more than enough clues that you are ready to turn 2. I, however, am still trying to get used to the idea.

Last year's birthday letter was a bit mushy—which is fine by me—but as I get to know your personality more and more, it only seems appropriate that this one be a little less flowery and more to the point.

I think the only word that could come close to describing you is "spitfire." You are one busy lady, and you definitely like things your way. You have an unfathomable amount of energy that begins the very moment you wake up...at 6am. No cuddling, no "easing into the day." Nope, you are up and ready to play the second those eyes pop open.

From there, our days are usually filled with lots of activity. You are extremely physical and love to play "Ring the Rosie," catch, and "Chase You." There are a few other crazy games you and your Daddy play, like running into a pile of pillows on his chest; flipping over his head; and tickle wrestling, but with Mommy's belly getting bigger every day, we save those for when Daddy gets home.

Outside is one of your favorite places to be, whether we are going for short walks to visit the porcelain "hop hops" down the street or taking a trip in your wagon to get the mail. Of course, you insist that we "snap, snap!" you in every trip and that you have at least one baby or other furry friend with you. You also love driving your Dora vroom vroom "to the store," only to quickly return with an "I'm back" and a big hug.

You have recently grown very fond of your sandbox, which keeps you busy for quite a while on hot days, as long as you have a couple of buckets of water nearby. Mommy especially enjoys these days, when she can sit and read a book or magazine as you play.

And the park. Let's not forget about the park. The "wee slide" is by far your favorite part of our trips, but you also enjoy climbing up the steps and will even go for a short swing if other kids are threatening to use it first.

You are certainly not shy, but I wouldn't exactly call you friendly either. Strangers work hard to get you to flash a smile, but you usually just turn away or look right past them. I admit that I used to get upset about it, but now I know this is just your way. But for those you know and love, you are more than happy to share a quick kiss or hug, although most of us would like to hang on a little tighter and a little longer. You love to play with kids, and seem to prefer those who challenge you. Although you like your way, you also appreciate a little conflict. This makes Mommy very, very nervous…

What I would call our downtime consists of building towers with Daddy, reading books, and watching your beloved 30 minutes of TV a day. Your favorite shows include Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Wonder Pets, as well as your Elmo, Bob & Larry (Veggie Tales), and turtle (The Pond) videos. As active as you are, I know you would be more than happy to sit in front of the TV all day long. This is why you are limited to one show a day on my clock, if at all.

One of your very most favorite things to do is take care of your baby and Minnie. These are truly your buds. You make them meals all the time, take them for walks, rock them when they cry, put them "night night," feed them bottles, and bring them with you anywhere I'll let you. They are truly your best friends, and you love them with such intensity that my heart literally wants to burst. You are going to be such a great big sister. This I know for a fact.

You are extremely sharp and soak up new information like a sponge.
You can:

Sing your ABCs, as well as a dozen other songs

Recognize and name almost all of your letters

Easily count to 15 (although 13 is often missing for some reason)

Name your shapes and colors (although we often mix up red/pink and blue/green)

Communicate in sentences that blow my mind

And the biggie… go potty on the toilet! This one truly took me by surprise, but once you set your mind to something, I have a feeling there is no turning back. (At least I hope!) I wasn't expecting you to be in" big girl pants" before your second birthday, but then again, that is exactly why it happened. You often like to remind me that we run on Emma's clock, not mine.

Eating is still one of your favorite things to do, although you are getting pickier by the day. You love your whole-wheat noodles, beans, and turkey hotdogs from TJs, but lately, any other protein needs to be "dip-dipped" in ketchup. You like green beans, peas, and corn, but won't touch potatoes for some reason. You love fruit of all kinds, especially purple "bapes," '"nanas" and watermelon. You haven't had any real junk food yet, so your indulgences include the occasional banana cookie and Kix cereal. We typically stick to the good stuff, and you seem just fine with that.

You sleep as hard as you play. You take a 3-hr nap every day and sleep about 10-11 hours at night. This is like clockwork unless you are sick. Mommy loves this about you! HOWEVER, if for some reason you don't get all of this sleep in, you can be pretty darn cranky, and the rest of our day is a struggle. Mommy doesn't like this part, but I also realize I can't have it both ways. So a strict schedule it is!

I know I am still #1 in your life, but we certainly have our share of power struggles. You have taught me to be very creative when giving directions and have forced me to pull patience from places I didn't even know existed. In fact, you may be solely responsible for improving my prayer life! ☺

Truth be told, your zest for life leaves me with very little energy at the end of the day, but it is worth every second as God gives me glimpses of the woman you will become: Assertive, successful and energetic, yet loving, caring and passionate. A wonderful mix that only our Creator could come up with.

As the next year unfolds, you will certainly have a lot to deal with: A new little sister or brother, (hopefully) a new house, and lots of new milestones. But with your strength and determination, I know you will be just fine.

Mommy, on the other hand, might just need a few more snuggles to get through it all…

Happy Birthday, sweetie! I love you more than you'll ever know.

Remembering...

Exactly 2 years ago at this time, my water broke. Little did I know that just 3 hours later my entire life would change with the arrival of our Little Miss Emma.

More birthday posts to come...

THANKS AUNTIE NENNI AND UNCLE TODD!!!!!!!

In case you can't tell, Emma kinda likes this outfit... and so do I!

Potty Update

I thought I'd keep the title pretty straight-forward this time so that those of you who don't give a hoot about Emma's potty training can skip this. I realize it is really only of interest to 1. my family; 2. mommies who are either going through it or about to attempt it; or 3. mommies who want to laugh at (with?) me and remember those days! :)

So I have to say that we are doing pretty darn good. No more diapers around here except for during "night, night" times, which include nap and bedtime. And to be honest, even those are pretty dry.

She tells me every time she has to go and chooses either Emma's potty or Mommy's potty, whichever she prefers. Usually #2 is in Emma's potty, which I can't really blame her. Bearing down while hovering over the black hole doesn't sound too fun to me. I'd rather be closer to the ground! ;)

Anyway, the few accidents we've had have been at home and usually because she either 1. misjudged how long she could hold it (she told me, but then decided she could "pee pee later") or 2. didn't want to stop playing.

We haven't ventured out a ton, but I have decided to go all underwear, no diaper, even on outings. So far, so good. No accidents yet. She tried to go potty at Sam's Club for me, went three times at church (#1 and #2), went several times at a family party at my in-laws' house on Sunday, AND all morning today when my mom-in-law watched her for me. I'd say that's pretty good. She even got out of the bath tub the other day to pee. That's my girl!

She does have a few quirks... The first being that we go #2 in stages. In other words, she doesn't like to continue her duties unless the potty is empty. I'm hoping this is temporary, as it makes the whole process long and sometimes, messy. She likes to bring toys with her, which is a little gross, but I'd rather her think the fun can continue than feeling like it is a total inconvenience. She also isn't crazy about washing her hands afterwards. Again, I figure one thing at a time, but I insist that we do it after she goes #2.

I honestly think it has become second-nature to her at this point, although I know we will still have our share of accidents as we start our usual errand routine. But as long as we have an extra pair of Elmo panties and some shorts, I think we'll survive this potty training thing after all.

Praise God!

Fashion Friday: Tennis Anyone?

We're going for it!

Well, tonight marked the beginning of big girl pants. Emma has been pretty good about telling me when she has to go to the potty, so I decided to take the plunge and see what happens. We are basically camping out at home for the next week to try and "seal the deal." ;)

Please say a little prayer for us as we venture into no-diaper territory! Also, any advice or words of wisdom are more than welcome...

My Belly at 27 weeks!

At long last, here are some belly shots. I took them on Saturday after the bridal luau we threw for my sister. Hence, the dress -- and tired eyes. I don't typically wear dresses (a.k.a. tents) while I'm preggers, but this one is so comfy, I may just sleep in it!

Anyway, still need to take some bare belly shots, but this should do for now. Can you believe I am entering my third trimester already? Crazy!

Fashion Friday: On the Bandwagon

So I finally gave in and bought Miss Emma a pair of Crocs. And she LOVES them.





I have always thought they were totally ugly, but I have to admit they are pretty cute on little feet. Emma is not exactly liking sandals at the moment, so this was my compromise. She puts them on all by herself and no fights to get them on... ever. I wonder if they have them in orange??? :o)


*BTW, I PROMISE to post bump photos before this weekend is over. Promise!*

The results are in...

And I officially do NOT have gestational diabetes. What?!! I know! Crazy seeing as there was a 90-percent chance I would get it again.

I'm trying not to be skeptical and instead, celebrate the good news, but I can't help but wonder if maybe they tested too early. With Emma I was closer to 30 weeks, but I know it is normal to test between 24 and 28 weeks. I'm going to chat with the doctor next week at my appt. about it all, so hopefully that will erase any doubt.

Maybe this will be my easy-going child after all... Hey, I guess anything is possible! :o)

Our First Trip to the Zoo

A few weeks ago, Jeff had a few days off, so we FINALLY took Miss Emma to the zoo for the first time. The day was perfect... a little bit cool in the morning so it wasn't scorching hot by the afternoon.

We got there bright and early, waiting for the gates to open. Little did we know the gates open 30 minutes before any exhibits do. So we walked around and had a snack as the precious minutes before nap time started to count down.

But once the exhibits opened, I swear the animals put on a show just for Emma. The baby polar bear took a giant leap off of a rock into the water. A tiger walked right in front of the window where Emma was standing. And one of the lions let out a mighty roar that even I had never heard. It was absolutely amazing to me. I can only imagine how awesome it must have been to our little lady.

We also went to the Children's Zoo, where Emma walked among some goats and brushed their hair. She petted a sheep, giggled at the loud ducks, and yelled at the horses to come closer. Every time we saw an animal, she kept saying, "More please!" She really did love it.

Unfortunately, she got worn out pretty quickly, so we had a quick (and somewhat crabby) lunch on a picnic bench at about 11:15am and headed home around 12pm. I have never seen her fall asleep in the car so fast. We were barely out of the parking lot and she was out. Even after the 45-minute drive home, she let me transfer her to her crib, where she slept another 2 hours.

As if that wasn't great enough, Jeff then shooed me out the door to get a pedicure while he stayed (read: also napped) with Emma. Life is good!

Here are a few photos of our trip. Of course, none of them compares to watching Emma experience it all for the first time. What a wonderful blessing to see such pure joy and amazement through the eyes of a child. If only we looked at God's creation through those eyes every day!


Passing the time before the exhibits open...



Mesmerized by the polar bears



A mighty roar just for Emma



Brushing a goat's eye...which he totally appreciated!



Laughing with the duckies

Fashion Friday: My Only Sunshine

When in doubt, everything seems to be orange, yellow, or pink. In fact, orange seems to be Miss Emma's favorite color. She can recognize it in an instant. Maybe that's why she was so easy to get dressed this morning... hmmmm...

If that's the case, you will be seeing lots more orange on Fashion Friday!

BTW, the lovely stickers accessorizing Miss Emma's shirt are for going #1 and #2 on the potty!

Prayer Works!

I don't have the results back yet, but I have to thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. Amazingly enough, my 3-hour glucose test went just fine. Not one ounce of sickness! Unlike last time, I was able to use the time to get caught up on some work and Bible study. I actually kinda enjoyed the time to myself.

Honestly, I don't care what the results are at this point... I really don't. In fact, I'm not sure I'll believe them if the results come back negative. But no need to dwell on what I can't control. For now, I'm just praising God for answered prayers. Why do we ever doubt?

25 Weeks and (Kinda) Counting

I've had this post ready to go since last Wednesday, but I was hoping to get a bump picture to post with it. And, yes, here we are almost a week later with no photo to show, but I figured it was time to post before I am actually 26 weeks!

So, last Tuesday was my monthly OB check-up, and as is usually the case at this point in the pregnancy, it was a boring appointment. Weight gain is at about 13 pounds, heart rate is strong, and belly is measuring nice and big. That's about it.

The best part of this appt. was that I got in and out of there in 30 minutes! This has N.E.V.E.R. happened. I love my OBs, but so does everyone else, which is why the wait is usually ridiculous. I could get used to this!

I did get my order for my gestational diabetes test, so that's next on the list. At my request, I am skipping the 1-hour test because A. I don't think it's accurate, and B. I always flunk it, so I might as well go for the real 3-hour deal.

I'm not usually negative, but with the odds NOT in my favor, I'm assuming I have it again. This means I am also anticipating a horrible reaction to the test. When I did it early on in this pregnancy, it went fine, but then again, I tested negative. When I did have it with Emma, I had a pretty bad reaction. I'm assuming positive results mean total sickness for me. We'll see. I'm supposed to go for my test on Tuesday, so I'll keep you posted.

Baby is moving fine, but definitely not as much as Miss Emma. Maybe that's a good sign? I have to remind myself that this amount of movement is probably more normal.

Other than that, nothing else is really all that new with Baby B #2. In fact, this pregnancy is flying by. With Emma, I counted the days until I reached a new week, and now, boom... I'm 25 weeks already! I think part of me doesn't want this to be over yet because it might be my last pregnancy. Actually, let's not talk about that now. I'll just end up getting sappy.

I'm feeling pretty darn good and enjoying every minute of alone time I get with Miss Emma before she has to share me. It would be nice if she chilled out a little bit so we wouldn't have to fight for half the day, but that is the life of a mom with a strong-willed child. We do the best we can, and love them for every ounce of their determination. I'm curious to see what God has in story for me with this new baby!

Until then, here is a photo of my first baby that should have been posted on Friday. We left at 7am Friday morning for a short weekend get-away, so I do have an excuse. Sorry it's late!

Fashion Friday: Little Miss Independence

Update on Baby Seth

I've been wanting to post about Baby Seth for days, but I wanted to read through the email I got so I could make some sense of it. So, here is an edited version of the info I received from my girlfriend:

The doctors are all in agreement that little Seth has a cancer known as neuroblastoma. One of their doctors would like to see his scan again to decide whether or not they should start chemotherapy.

The positive thing about Seth's prognosis is that he is so young, and the crucial tests came back with the numbers the doctors wanted to see. Other than high blood pressure, the symptoms on paper give a positive picture. The unfortunate part is that when you see Seth, his belly is so obviously full, that there are concerns.

At this point, it is possible that Seth could be one of those babies who have this condition and then it actually slowly dissipates. The way to deal with this is to watch him closely, measure him daily, do scans weekly, and decide based on those answers if he is one of those 'miracles.' If in the midst of the waiting there is any significant change, they would most likely begin chemo.

The other scenario would mean doing the chemo now, with the hope that it would shrink the liver as well as the tumor. Although the lay person's response is usually to just do the chemo, the medical community believes that avoiding the effects of chemo are worth it if at all possible simply because there is proof that Seth could be a miracle based on his situation.

The family has asked that you pray for patience and energy as they wait for some answers. I will keep you posted on what I hear from my girlfriend. In the meantime, the family says: "…we will just be grateful for our little big-bellied babe. We all agree that it just makes him look more like his papa!"


We are praying Baby Seth!

Since we're on the subject...

I thought I might as well tell you that Emma is starting to NOT pee in her pants. Well, she is still peeing, but in the last 3 days, she has peed and gone #2 in her potty two times each!

The funny thing is that I wasn't planning on starting the whole potty training thing until after the baby was born, but Miss Emma had been showing signs of being ready. After talking to my mom I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

So on Saturday morning, we tried and she did it! She got a sticker and we made a really big deal about it. Yesterday morning, she peed, but we had to go to church, so I didn't push #2. But this morning, she did #2 again. We'll see what the rest of the week brings...

I'm not going to push it because at 22 months, she is still fairly young, but if she's acting ready, I also don't want to miss my window. We've had the potty out for her to "play" on for a while so we could have some discussion about the whole concept, and lately, she really seemed to understand more than before. Plus, her wet diapers have been spreading out, she has scheduled bowel movements, and she wants me to change her as soon as she goes #2. I don't think the pee bothers her at all since her diapers are so absorbent and I change her pretty often, so that may be our hurdle. Still, I figure one thing at a time. None of this was planned, so I'm not going to freak out about it or make it a big deal.

But...

How awesome would it be if I only had one diaper to change instead of two?!!!! I know they often revert after a new baby, which is why I was going to wait. But, I might as well try now that she seems open to it. I have to admit part of me is sad that this might really be happening. She's growing up so quickly -- but I know this is just the beginning of many stages that will make me miss those early days. Let's not even mention the fact that her birthday is almost a month away!

Both Jeff and I are really in shock at how fast it has all gone by. It's so bitter sweet how proud you are of them, yet want so badly to make it all stop. It's like when I peek in Emma's room and she "reading" her book to herself, pointing out pictures and naming them. I get these overwhelming feelings of pride and sadness. I want her do it by herself (especially so I can get a few things done), but part of me wants to run in there and read her the book myself. I can see how parents can smother their kids. It's just so tempting!

But I know there are times when I need to step back and let life happen. Even if it means letting my baby grow into a little person. There's always eternity!