BIG Changes

I took a 4 month hiatus from blogging, but I'm ready to get started again.  So much has happened.  The biggest news since my last post can be summed up with these pictures:

That's right...we're expecting baby #2!

So many people have responded in shock.  Guess what?  We were surprised too.  But we know that this is a blessing from God, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome this little miracle into our family this December.

I've decided to do monthly pictures with this baby since we are so busy chasing Aubrey (she's mobile).  Here are the first few:

 

 

 



So far this pregnancy has been very similar to my first.  Here's where I am so far.

How far along? 15 weeks

Total weight gain: 1 lb. I'm hoping I can really keep it down this time since I am already starting this pregnancy 15 lbs. heavier than I was with Aubrey. 

Maternity clothes? Yes.  It is just so uncomfortable to wear normal pants and shorts, and I already have maternity stuff so why not.

Stretch marks? Just a few on my sides from Aubrey.

Sleep: Like a baby.  I am too worn out at the end of the day not to sleep well.  I'm already having crazy pregnancy dreams.

Best moment of the month: Since it's still early it sometimes takes my midwife a minute to find the heartbeat.  Those few minutes waiting to hear something are so nerve-racking.  On my last visit Aubrey was with me when I heard the heartbeat and it was such a touching moment.  I can't wait to teach her how to be a big sister.

Miss anything? Caffeine

Movement: I know it's probably just gas, but I swear I keep feeling little movements here and there.

Food cravings: Ice Cream!

Food aversions: Mexican food is not my friend.

Gender: ??  We should be finding out either at the end of July or beginning of August.  I think we will have the gender reveal party at our house this time.  I really want to do it like this couple did:

I like the idea of us finding out the baby's gender at the same moment as the rest of our family.  I guess I will have to bring the piñata along with blue and pink confetti to my anatomy scan and let the technician secretly fill the piñata.

Labor signs: No.  Thank goodness.

Symptoms: My main symptoms have been some stomach issues and headaches.  Of course I am very tired, but with another little one, there is little time for napping (for me anyway).

Belly button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender of the baby!!  We don't care one way or the other.  We just want another healthy, happy baby.

 Speaking of babies, our first is growing so fast!

5 months

 

 

6 months

 

 

7 months

 

8 months

 

Here are her accomplishments:

• she is an expert crawler
• she weighed 18 lb. 1 oz. at her last check-up
• she pulls up on everything
• she can walk around furniture and stand on her own for 10 seconds
• she makes lots of new noises: smacking her lips, clicking her tongue, and sometimes growling  :)
• she can say "hey," "dada," "mama," "nana," and "bye-bye"
• she waves bye-bye when she wants to

I cannot believe how fast my little girl is growing.  We are so blessed.

 

 





She's Cereally Growing

My little one is another month older.

 

 

Here are her accomplishments:

• She weighs 13 lb. 10 oz. and is 24 1/4 inches long.
• She has discovered her feet and loves to play with her toes.
• Her fingers have become her favorite teether.
• She is starting to eat cereal (and boy is it a mess).
• She holds herself up very well while on her tummy.
• She is more attentive during storytime.
• She constantly laughs and loves to play peek-a-boo.
• She is a talker.  Although we cannot understand what she is trying to tell us, she has plenty to say.

We recently started her on cereal.  At first, we tried rice cereal, but it seemed like she really didn't like the taste of it.  So we switched her to oat cereal.  She is finally starting to get the hang of it.  A co-worker recently told me about a study claiming that infants do not possess the enzyme to break down grain until they are over a year old.  To me, this would explain how cereal constipates babies.  Here is the article I read: http://www.foodrenegade.com/why-ditch-infant-cereals/. 

When I asked Aubrey's doctor about it, she said she had not heard of any findings in that regard. Besides, the alternatives to cereal mentioned in the article above (egg yolks and liver) are just not realistic foods for a working mother to feed an infant. I just hope that I am making the right decision in giving cereal to her. I want her belly to stay full and her body to be nourished so that she is happy and healthy.  Any of you have any insight to offer?

Happy Hearts

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!  I know I sure did.  When I got home from work and picking up Aubrey, Eric was waiting on me in a suit and tie with flowers and chocolates for me and the little one.  (I love that he started the tradition of giving her flowers too.)  He took care of Aubrey and asked me to go upstairs and change into something pretty for our at-home date.  He made me a fabulous dinner by candlelight and agreed to watch a "chick flick" of my choosing on Netflix.

It's crazy to think that we found out we were expecting on Valentine's Day last year.  What a difference a year can make! 

Aubrey and I did a little photo shoot and gave Daddy a picture for his desk at work to remember us by.

Returning to work has been a pretty smooth transition since I planned for my first few weeks back before I left.  The kids all seem to have missed me.  Knowing that I have a job that makes a difference, that I love, and that I am good at has made going back more enjoyable.  Not to mention, Aubrey has the best care taker ever...NANA.

In other news, Aubrey has been a little fussy lately.  I've tried increasing her feedings and that doesn't seem to help.  Her doctor doesn't want her on cereal until she is 4 months, so that really isn't an option.  I don't see anything breaking through, but I think she may also be teething.  It's going to be a long few weeks until she is 4 months.  :-/