Monday, December 28, 2015

Baby H: Week 22 (times two)

It was officially Christmas week around here and I'm constantly thinking to myself about how lucky I am to have everything I do. My husband and our sweet Mark boy plus a healthy pregnancy with baby boy #2 is really all I can ask for. Sometimes I feel guilty that I'm not giving this boy the same attention I did for Mark but he sure is starting to make me not have a choice. His movements are so much more often and so much stronger than Mark's were and I feel them all over my belly. I swear the other day he even had hiccups already!

I think I've officially hit the pregnancy stride that is second trimester and I'm thrilled about it. Sure I've had a few nights of not so good sleep (which might also be from a toddler with a cold) and my low back sometimes hurts depending on how much I've tried to do during the day but on a regular basis I'm really feeling great. Still no stretch marks or swelling and I can occasionally fit into some of my non-maternity tops which is always a self-esteem boost. The one negative thing that seems to be lingering is not being able to stomach too much spice. My head tells me I want it but it disagrees with my body, that's for sure. Whether it's heartburn and a stomach ache the same night or all the way to throwing up the next morning I sure hope it doesn't stick around after this boy arrives. 

Interestingly enough I've started to crave everything citrus just like I did right around this time before and Mark has been happily sharing Cuties with me since they're basically all I can get right now in the middle of winter. I also seriously crave sugary cereal and while I've always been a big dessert gal, ice cream has been the front runner lately. I probably ate the baby's weight in party potatoes and homemade mac n cheese from Christmas dinner and the leftovers but I'm counting it equal to all the alcohol I couldn't consume. Logical right? With all that said however I'm avoiding the scale and it's actually quite freeing. I do plan on being better about what I'm eating after the holidays are all over but I figure I'd be doing the same thing pregnant or not so enjoy little boy.

The last few days we've made some great progress prepping the house for our newest addition and I even did some serious work on the quilt for this little boy that's the same pattern as big brothers just a different color scheme. I can't wait to share! The room that will be Mark's big boy room is officially empty and as soon as his dresser arrives we're going to switch him and make the nursery a blank slate. I have supplies for a crib sheet and changing pad cover in line at the sewing machine and hope to find curtains and other decor items soon. We'll need to get his crib ordered and buy a new mattress and we'll have some major items checked off the list. 

In less than 4 months this boy is going to change our lives forever, making me a momma for the second time and a permanent boy momma, giving daddy his newest little sidekick and turning Mark into a big brother instead of our baby. We sure can't wait to smooch you little man!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Baby H: Week 21 (times two)

This week was a big one in that it held our long awaited anatomy scan. Ultrasound days are by far my very favorite, getting a peak at the babe in my belly is always such a treat and this one was no exception.

Babe was quite the bundle of energy during the whole scan which made it so much fun. The scan started with baby's head under my left ribs and within ten min had totally flipped head down. I felt all the movements as this little one was trying to escape the probe and stay hidden but we thankfully got a look at everything we needed. There was one point where the tech had the screen filled with fluid and rapid fire feet kept popping into the screen all over the place! Heart beat was 145 which is only one off from Mark's at this point which I thought was fun. We confirmed my suspicion that my placenta is posterior this time since I've been feeling this baby way more (and much earlier) than I did with Mark. And as odd as it sounds we were thrilled that this one is measuring smaller than big brother, right around 60th percentile.

As far as momma goes I'm up about 13-14lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight which is close to what it was last time but it feels like this bump is waayyyy bigger this time around. I have two pairs of maternity jeans (one skinny rolled pair from Old Navy and one pair of jeggings from Gap) that I basically live in and thankfully have a good mix of non-maternity tops and sweaters to mix in with my maternity pieces making getting dressed fairly easy. I have a couple outfits planned particularly for the festive holiday nights and our anniversary which is making me feel great self-confidence wise instead of enormous. I'm trying to avoid wearing my leggings and more comfy dresses for a while since I found myself so sick of the few things I could actually fit in at the end of pregnancy. In other news my SI joint on my right side has been literally killing me lately and I'm getting the odd stretching sensation where my belly button ring used to be that I had with Mark too. My appetite is starting to reach teenage boy status which is perfect for the upcoming holidays I'm just hoping I don't feel to miserable yet after stuffing myself.

And finally we have made some big decision with the nursery/Mark's new room and hope to make some good progress before I go back into rotations. We decided to get the new baby a brand new crib and mattress and have Mark keep his own but the rest of the nursery furniture will stay for the new baby. We went and ordered Mark's new chair and dresser for his big boy room and unfortunately they will take longer to come in than I thought they would. Because of this we might not end up moving him as soon as I thought we would but I'm excited to start working on the decor items for the new nursery after the madness of Christmas is over. I've picked out a color scheme and have a good idea of what items I want to get for our new little one's space.

And because I'm picture obsessed but ultrasounds are all I have of this new babe, here's our comparison shot including the most recent profile. New sweet lips to smooch on in 4ish months!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Baby H: Gender Reveal 2.0

I say it again and again but I cannot believe we are blessed to be going through these same pregnancy milestones for the second time already! And what a more exciting event than finding out the gender of the little baby growing away in my belly.

I luckily didn't get the surprise spoiled during my anatomy scan from my OBGYN rotation and we filled out two cards that we gave to the tech to tell boy or girl. Since we were planning a get-together for the same day that complicated things with coming up with a reveal idea. J really wanted to find out at the same time as our families just like last time meaning I couldn't just do it myself. I'm lucky enough to have a fantastic friend who volunteered to fill cupcakes (from a box) with marshmallow creme filling (homemade and fantastic!) that she colored based on the card and then topped with white frosting. Thankfully this time around we only had to wait a couple of hours before finding out because I couldn't have gone much longer.

So after running around after my appointment we were home with a lasagna in the oven and our family (and us!) anxiously awaiting the results. We cleaned up from dinner and plopped Mark in his highchair thinking we could get him to smash a cupcake to find out if he'll have a brother or a sister. Well you'd have no idea that he loves squeeze tomatoes or pears or crackers like he can't control himself based on his reaction to the cupcake...


Baby H is a... BOY! Again!
A boy, another boy! Mark surely doesn't trust us that having a little brother will be loads of fun but I hope we can change his mind by the time the spring arrives. The thought of having two rowdy boys running amok makes my momma heart swell. I'll forever be the queen of our castle and I couldn't be happier even if it means my intuition was wrong this time. J is of course thrilled and is imagining all the trouble he can get into with his two sidekicks. Boys galore in this house for sure!
Baby H, just like for your big brother, knowing that you are our son makes us feel that much more connected to you. We are envisioning our life with you in it and it's so, so grand. You are making our family complete, making me a boy momma forever and we cannot wait to bring our second son into the world in 4 short months. xoxo Momma

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Thankful v20

Lately I've been thankful... 
[+] for walls filled with memories that can't be replaced

[+] for a warm house, good food and the ability to provide for our kiddos
[+] for wearing some dress clothes for the last time in a while

[+] for occasionally getting an answer right and feeling like a rockstar 
[+] for shenanigans, easy entertainment and lots of love 

[+] for a house decorated for the season and the start of new traditions
[+] for sharing a meal with those we hold close

[+] for running hugs and snotty, slobbery kisses
[+] for sharing mini scones even if it means I end up hungry

[+] for modern medicine to protect myself and the babe in my belly
[+] for lots of snuggles and eyelashes that tickle my skin

[+] for new "firsts" even if they turn my baby boy even more into a little kid
[+] for sunrises at the end of night shifts

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Baby H: Week 20 (times two)

It's been a really tough week and I've been a crabby, exhausted, sick mess. I mentioned last week that I was starting night shifts Monday night and happily (sarcasm noted) woke up with a sore throat, sinus headache and body aches Monday morning. Perfect! Add in the fact that it's hard to switch your sleep schedule no matter how good your intentions are and I was a hot, hot mess after a 12 hour shift Tuesday morning. My cold really only got worse from then on and after about 5 days I started feeling better but spending all those days snotty and tired and not sleeping well during the day were miserable. Thankfully I only have two more nights I have to work until this rotation is over and I can sleep like a normal person again because boy does this momma need it!

In better news this babe is turning into a mover and a shaker just like big brother was. I've just started to feel the movements from the outside and we've got plenty of rolls with stronger, quicker movements thrown in too. I haven't really noticed much of a pattern to when this little one is most active as it seems to just catch me by surprise but I'm noticing it more and more throughout the day (and night) and I love each one! I can't wait for J to be able to feel this baby and wonder if Mark will ever understand what's happening in my belly before the baby comes. Speaking of Mark, I have started asking him "who's in mommas belly" and always tell him it's the baby. We've also started telling him he's not a baby anymore and that he's a big boy which I realize he has no concept about yet but I figure it can't hurt!

We have the big 20-week ultrasound set for this coming Friday and I'll be 20w5d. I can't wait to get a good long peak at this babe and make sure s/he is growing right on track. We'll be finding out gender with our families just like last time and I hope all my OBGYN experience doesn't ruin the surprise during the scan. Thanks to a good friend we decided to go with filled cupcakes to reveal the pink or blue and are thinking about setting Mark in his highchair with one to smash to pieces.

Little one, we are just as close to meeting you on the outside as we are to the day you became ours and secretly momma hopes we meet sooner than 20 weeks from now. ;-) Every single day your tiny self crosses my mind more times than I can count and I can't wait till the day I get to hold you in my arms. I hope you're growing perfect and strong and healthy in there and know how much I love you even though we haven't officially met yet. Xoxo, your momma 

Monday, December 7, 2015

Baby H: Week 19 (times two)

One more week till we're halfway and I cannot believe it. It seems like time is just flying by and I have a feeling once the new year hits it'll seem like no time before there's a new baby in our arms. I'm up 9-10 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight which is about where I was the first time too. My appetite has decreased and I'm trying to make better food choices/eat less sweets in general lately. While everything ended up being okay in the long run, I hated how crappy I felt after my 20 week ultrasound last time so I'm hitting the ground running and hoping to avoid those feelings this time.

My body definitely isn't as happy this pregnancy as it was the first time which is complicated. I mentioned all the morning sickness/GI issues I was having in the beginning and now we've moved on to lots of aches and pains. My SI joint on the right side bothered me with Mark but two things are different this time. One I'm feeling it a whole lot earlier this time and two it's a lot more painful. One of my med school ladies worked on it a few weeks ago which helped but it's really been flaring up this week especially if I go from sitting for a while to standing/walking too quickly. I've also been having some low right belly pain on and off for a while now. At first it was feeling almost like cyclic ovarian pain (which is interesting because they noted on an ultrasound that there was a cyst on that side) and now I'm not sure if it's that or just low belly pain. It's always on the right side, I can point to exactly where it hurts and it's sharp and stabby. I took extra notice of it on Friday and was honestly a little nervous about it because it was pretty significant. Thankfully I was able to sit for a while, drink a lot of water and it ended up going away but it's definitely strange to say the least.

This coming week I start working two weeks of nights for my internal medicine rotation, aka 7pm to 7am and honestly I'm really nervous about it. I'm nervous that I won't be able to see my Marky boy as much as I want to. I'm nervous that I'm going to have a hard time adjusting to different sleep patterns. I'm nervous I'm going to end up starving without something to eat at an odd hour in the night. And all this complicated by the fact that there's a little one growing in my belly. I know there are plenty of working mommas who end up on night shifts and that I'll be able to figure it out one way or another but one things for sure I'm definitely not looking forward to the demands of it.

And speaking of being nervous, I have recently found myself thinking towards the end of April/beginning of May and having more anxiety/nervousness/fear than excitement/eagerness/joy and I hate feeling that way. My labor with Mark was so fast and I almost feel like I have a bit of PTSD about how the whole thing went down. Laboring to complete without any medication in less than 6 hours was dramatic for me and they say second babies come even quicker than the first. I'm anxious about being on a rotation when contractions start. I'm nervous about making sure Mark is taken care of should we need to run to the hospital. I'm scared I'll need something from J and won't be able to express it because I can't wrap my brain around what's happening to my body. When I find myself feeling and thinking these things I do my best to remember what a beautiful gift a brand new baby is, I try to remember that my body is meant to do this and I hope that going through it once before gives me wisdom to do it again but it's definitely unnerving to already be thinking these things and not quite know what to do about it. I know deep in my heart that everything will be okay in the end as long as this sweet babe and I are healthy on the other side I just need to be better about telling myself that in my moments of weakness. Being a momma has been the best thing that's ever happened to me and I am beyond grateful to get to do it again, no matter how I get there.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Baby H: 13 & 14 Months of Mark

One things for sure, this little boy of ours is basically our favorite human ever! He's so wild and independent and confident. He is full of spunk, can be so much fun and truly is a boys boy. It's been so awesome to watch him pick up on new things the last few months and I can't wait to see who this little boy will be.

He... 

[+] still sleeps 7:30-7:30 in general but with the holidays and him getting older we aren't always so strict about his bedtime. We try to make sure it's close but it's also nice to have the flexibility to stay out a bit later if something fun is going on. We're starting to transition him to just one nap which is a slow process but it's getting there. We try to keep him up longer in the morning (previously he was napping around 10 and we've gotten consistently till 10:45/11) and are letting him sleep as long as he wants for the morning, usually between 1hr45min-2hr30min. He's taking what's turning into a cat nap in the afternoon between 3:30/4 to help bridge the gap between his morning and bedtime. Ideally I'd like to get to noonish, sleep till 2 or 3 and then be up for the day but any progress is good right now.

[+] will go and find a handful of object by name now and it's awesome. He knows "ball" and will get whichever is in closest proximity. He knows J's childhood stuffed dog Tuffy and lovingly grabs him by the ear to drag him around. He knows "your lady" which is the blonde girl from his Little People garage and most of the time he grabs her car to go with. He also knows balloon, paci, the banana piece to his puzzle, Blue Bear and Reindeer (his other stuffed animals).

[+] consistently signs "all done" and not just for eating... getting out of the bath, wanting to be put down, and the cutest is when you ask him if he wants to nap, like he's all done with the day, "eat" especially when he's whining in the kitchen and banging on the fridge doors, "milk" when he's done with foods and wants a drink, and "more please" when we're giving him snacks (please just got added recently and it's the cutest!).
[+] will touch his head, hair, tummy, diap (aka diaper) and occasionally ears when you ask.  He also just recently started lifting J and my shirts if you ask him "where's daddy's/momma's tummy?". He'll also point to his nose and makes the cutest sniffing sound. He sniffs his feet if you ask him "do you have stinky feet" and kicks them furiously when he's in the bath tub or sitting in his high chair.

[+] searches for Ollie when you say his name and will give him big hugs and "pat, pat, pats" if you ask him to. He also gives his stuffed animals giant hugs too.

[+] grabs his shoes and stands by the door if he wants to go outside. He also reaches for the doorknobs if you ask him if he wants to go outside. We've been working on saying "open" when he stands near the door and he tries so hard but mostly just says a "p" sound.

[+] learned to stomp his feet and spins in circles with his arms stretched out. He also kicks balls if you tell him too and he's actually really good at it. He picks up dog hair fluffs and takes them to the trash can in the kitchen.

[+] knows how to blow air and we've been working on associating blowing with things that are hot. He helps cool down his food on his plate before he eats it and if you hold him while there's something on the stove he's usually blowing in that direction too.
[+] still isn't very vocal in terms of specific words but with everything else above we know his communication skills are on-par so while I'd love for him to start "talking" more I'm also proud of everything he can do. He is however constantly babbling it just has no association most of the time. He still makes the "da" sound the most and I think he's starting to connect dada to J. He also tries to say water, juice, hat, and hot and has actually gotten pretty good at saying Ollie. He's still never once said mama which drives me crazy but we're working on it.

[+] has been in serious teething land lately and I don't see an end in sight anytime soon either. He had two bottom teeth and four top teeth going into his birthday and officially he now has a bottom L molar to add to the mix. His top L and bottom R molars are both poking through the tiniest bits and I'm starting to see his two bottom lateral teeth beneath his gums. I seriously don't know what's with this kid and his out-of-order teeth but it's pretty funny that he only has two bottom teeth but has one molar already!

[+] can seriously put down some food sometimes. He still loves all fruits, yogurt, cottage cheese and apple sauce. He loves eggs, sausage and pancakes for breakfast and dominates anything pasta with his favorite being tortellini. He'll basically eat any meat we give him which is awesome because I've heard a lot of little kids don't like it. He drinks milk, water and diluted juice from both a sippy cup and a straw cup. Strange enough he really isn't a sweets baby, turns away after one taste of whipped cream, spits out marshmallows, etc etc which is great but very odd too.

We love you Marky Mark!

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