Why You Don't Share Water With a Two Year Old

This glass of water looks so good to me...

 Today was the perfect summer day.  So, after naps Ella, Abby, and I packed our necessities and headed into the backyard for a little summer fun.  Ella was equipped with her sunblock, bathing suit, Goldfish snack, towel, and water shoes.  Abby had her swing and sootah (pacifier) and I had the camera, my cold bottle of water, sunglasses, and cell phone.  We were settling in for a day at the beach... um, backyard (the beach here is too cold to actually swim and I don't have the courage yet to venture on any big trips with the girls by myself).

Ella, of course, was amused by her pool for about .5 seconds before she started drinking the pool water.  Normally I would not care too much, but I had filled the pool when she was napping so it could get a little sun and warm up.  By the time our adventure started a fair amount of dirt was floating on top of the water, plus the pool had been hanging out in the garage for weeks.  So I did what any mom would do, I diverted her attention to MY water.

 But, I forgot to take into account that Missy Moo also had a snack of Goldfish that she was working on.  And as you know, those cheese flavored little fish make you thirsty!

Finally Ella had had enough and returned the water back to me. However, I lost all interest in the refreshing drink due to the school of goldfish floating around in my water.  Lesson learned: don't share water with a two-year old unless you want a little extra flavoring in your drink!

MIA...

I know, I know.  I have been missing in action this past month.  We have been really busy.

We've been hugging our friends.

Taking naps.

Eating bagels

Watching parades

Enjoying cotton candy

Enjoying the summer

Frolicking at the water park

Eating fro yo

Holding hands with my BFF

Practicing for school

Relaxing with momma

Chilling

Hanging with Grammy

Learning to dress ourselves

Swinging

Giggling

Holding our head high

Two Months!

Yesterday Abby turned TWO months old.

Skills: Super smiler, over-achiever at tummy-time, natural communicator, great at lifting her head and observing, starting to grab and interact with her toys, loves to watch and follow her mobile

Sleeping Habits: loves to be swaddled, occasionally takes a sootah (pacifier as named by Ella), down for the night at 8:30 and usually sleeps to 3:30 or later, excellent sleeper, has been sleeping in her crib since her first night home

Size: Abby has officially outgrown her 3-6 month sleepers; she is just SO long, other than that, she is lean

Abby at 2 months

Two Bath Day

Yesterday was a two-bath day.

First, Ella had to bathe to look presentable for her friends: Georgia, Ruby, and Pitt.
This occurred at approximately 8 am.
Said friends arrived at 9:30 ish and by 10:15 they were outside doing what little ones do.
My little one was all over and into everything.  She no longer looked so fresh and clean.

By lunch she had peanut butter and jelly twirled into her piggies.  Her hair looked like it had mousse in it, smelled like a pb & j sandwich, and was crunchy.

And to seal the deal that it was going to be a two-bath day, I gave her an ice pop after dinner.

Too cute

Crazy, sticky, smelly hair

Dirty Mush 

Purple water=  a REALLY, REALLY fun time 

Looks Like Summer

Swing, Ella 

Look at those white legs!

Awaiting Abby.. Part 2

(Just to let you know, I was 98% finished with this post and then it disappeared.  As a result, I am slightly grumpy)

Background:
Baby number two was due on 5/11.
5/11 came and 5/11 went.  No baby.
Midwife started to talk induction.
I pushed for sooner rather than later since Ryan's time off was slowly ticking away.
Midwife reluctantly agreed to set induction date at 40 weeks 5 days even though she preferred to wait to 41 weeks.
I was relieved since I was large and in charge.
Everything was uncomfortable, especially sleeping.

The day Before:
On 5/15 we assumed it was Ella's last day being an only.  We spoiled her rotten and were on the go all day long ~Bagels at Noah's, Sesame Street Live, and take out pizza rounded out the day.  We were all exhausted.  Yet, I could not sleep; too many questions were running through my head.

Would baby be a boy or a girl?  Which name do I really prefer?  Grace or Molly or Abigail or Kate?  Luke Ryan or Luke Matthew?  How do you spell Matthew?  Would labor and delivery be as difficult as before?  Would I break my tailbone?  Would Ella do okay without me for two days?  Would I do okay without Ella?

The Day Of:
At 4:30 I awoke to my alarm. This time around I was determined to look decent for post-delivery pictures. I straightened my hair and applied full make-up.  Gosh, I was foolish.

This is the best I could do considering I was 40 weeks, 5 days pregnant, it was 5:40 in the morning and I hardly slept the night before.  

6:00 am 

I was hooked up and receiving pitocin by 7:30.  At this time I was dialated to a 4.  I had contractions all day long but no pain.  Baby was still high and lying crooked.  We walked and walked and walked.  We watched HGTV and more HGTV.  Meanwhile,  they turned the pitocin up higher than normal (usually they stop at 20, but I was up to 26).  The contractions kept coming, but I felt very little discomfort and I did not continue to dialate. Time passed.  The doctor started talking about failed inductions and I was devastated.   They considered this to be a "social induction" because it was not medically necessary.  At 9:30 pm they sent us home from the hospital.  I actually was not as upset as I thought I may be, by now I was tired.   They said they would be more agressive with our Wedesday induction because it was now considered a "medical induction" since baby was a week late.  Odd how 36 hours can make a difference.  We left tired, disappointed, and laughing... this would only happen to us. 

So they sent s home with a new induction date and time~  Wednesday, 8:30 am.   

Sisters...

I think my girls look a lot alike... What do you think?

Ella

Abby

Ella

Abby

Thank you, Thank You VERY Much

This was me before babies.  Like most women, I was critical of my figure.  My arms were not defined enough.  My belly had a little roll when I sat down and was a little too soft for my liking.   Plus,  I did not have Kardashian backside.  Little did I know how good I had it.

Currently I am 24 days post partum, and my figure has a ways to go.  Heck, I am not sure if it will ever remotely look like my body of old.  But, if it does, I can tell you, I will NEVER complain about it again.

In the meantime, my body is still transitioning from cooking an 11.2 pound baby.  My belly is slowly shrinking, but apparently not fast enough.  While picking up Ryan's Father's Day gift an older gentleman asked me about Abby.

"How old is your baby" he asked.
"Just over three weeks.  She was born May 19th."
"Oh, and I see that she is going to have a sibling soon."
And because I did not want to embarass the guy, I went along with it.  " Yes, soon."

And with that, the man made me feel like a giant whale.  Here I was with my newborn, had a conversation regarding my baby's age and someone mistakes me for being pregnant.  Awesome, just awesome.

Ella the Big Sister

Expecting Abby... Part 1

Right before heading to the hospital on 5/6

5/6~ My birthday~ 

May 6 was supposed to be my last day at work even though my official due date was not until May 11.  However, when I woke up I had pain in my left side that made it difficult to shower.  I stayed home.  My body had been telling me for quite sometime that it was preparing for the baby, so I really thought that I would be having a birthday baby.  Contractions came and they were 8 minutes apart, not too painful, but I definitely could feel them.  Considering I had INTENSE back labor with Ella, I did not know what to really look for. 

 Eventually we left for the hospital around 10 am in the morning.  Ryan and I wanted to get there before the contractions got too close because they say labor is faster the second time around.  The last thing Ryan and I wanted was to deliver at home or on the side of the road and with our luck, that is exactly what would happen.   

A better angle of the big belly

 At the hospital they monitored me for hours in the triage room.  Baby's heartbeat was fantastic and sure enough I was contracting pretty close together and regularly.  All the while I was able to converse with the triage nurse and Ryan.  However, for some reason or another, the nurse was concerned about the position of the baby and called in the doctor.  They used the ultrasound to determine that baby was lying posterior, which meant she was crooked.  Her head pointed towards my right hip.   As soon as they said this I cried.  Immediately in my head I heard the word c-section and was terrified.  However, they assured me that it was not a big deal and that most of the time these babies head on down as expected.  Then they discharged us because my contractions were between 5 minutes and lasting a long time, but it was not labor.  The nurse said she expected to see us later in the afternoon.  

Since it was my birthday and it was past lunchtime, we decided to grab a quick bite to eat.  I was MISERABLE.  My contractions were BAD and i thought for sure as soon as we finished lunch we would be back at the hospital, but then they stopped.  We headed home and unnecessarily canceled my birthday dinner out.  By then the contractions had stopped, and I was very uncomfortable (anyone would be with the big belly I had).    

 No birthday baby for me. 

Reasons Why I have Not Been A-Blogging

Life at our house is a bit chaotic and my blog has taken a hit.  Here is why...

1.  I had a baby.

2.  Abby was bigger than expected so my recovery has been slow.   Believe it or not, she was 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

3.  My free time consists of:

Laundry.  Right now I have THREE baskets to fold and put away and one GIANT load to wash.  And to think we have not even started cloth diapers yet.

Spending time with my TWO year old.

Nursing.  This is a full-time job in itself. 

Changing diapers... lots and lots and lots of diapers

Sleeping or trying to, at least

and once in awhile I might have the opportunity to take a bath....

Socks...

Missy Moo is developing her own personal style.  No longer can I pick out an outfit of my choosing.  In fact, yesterday I laid out an adorable Osh Kosh Bgosh jumper for her to wear.  It had stripes and flowers, her favorite.

Except when I arrived home yesterday she was wearing her old tired polka dot pants and purple ruffled shirt.  Same old, same old.  I must admit, I was disappointed (must be the pregnancy hormones).  I was so ready for her to be dressed like spring in a cute little jumper with leggings.  And I pictured her to look so put together with her new bang trim.

But, I guess I should get used to it.  Missy Moo DOES have an opinion when it comes to her clothes; I knew that the day she started requesting blue socks.... with EVERY SINGLE OUTFIT!

One day she even insisted on this fashionable combination:

Her right sock is Cookie Monster and her left sock is striped... And no, she did not get dressed in the dark~

Dad Pants

I am at the point of my pregnancy where EVERYTHING I wear is uncomfortable.  EVERYTHING.  My maternity shirts no longer cover my bulging baby belly.  Jeans are either too tight, the crotch hangs down low or both.   When you look at the picture below, you will understand how big and ready I am.  And, I am going to be completely honest with you, that picture was taken weeks ago.  Although I look like I am carrying multiples (think Kate from Kate Plus Eight), I am actually ok with my total weight gain.  It just all seemed to have piled out from my belly.

Anyways, I digress.  Like I was saying, NOTHING is comfortable, not even leggings.  On a rare occasion, like yesterday, I will come home from work and put on Ryan's pajama pants if he is out of town.

Think this:

As soon as Ella saw me she said, " Daddy pants."  And she continued pointing them out ALL NIGHT LONG.
Awesome because I really want to be reminded that I am the size of a BRONTOSAURUS and have to wear my husband's pants for even a little bit of comfort.

Happy Easter

Pre- Meltdown... Just Warming Up

"But, I want to do it MY way!"

Ok.  This might work. 

Where are the eggs? 

"More egg."

Ella, the egg-hunting professional 

It Is a Family Thing....

Poor Ella.  It looks like she has her mommy and daddy's dancing skills.

And in case you were wondering, she has started choosing her own clothes.   I can't take credit for the flower pants and the purple bunny shirt ensemble.