November 2014 – Peanut Smiles

Baby #2 26 Weeks

November 25, 2014December 14, 2014 peanutsmiles

Little Babes,

You’re definitely growing in there. There is no question that I look pregnant but, yesterday was the first time someone that I hadn’t told I was pregnant asked me when I was due. Kind of surprising it took 26 weeks for someone to say something. This week and maybe a little of last week, I’ve noticed my belly has changed from soft to hard. I have a more difficult time bending over and know that it is only going to get worse. I also have felt changes in movement this week. Activity level still seems comparable to Lexi, but now instead of just feeling kicks and punches, I can feel general movement, particularly when one of your body parts (like an elbow) is sticking out. I can’t identify which body parts they are, but i can feel you trying to squirm around.

Other than that, things are pretty uneventful. I feel good. I’m sleeping pretty good assuming I have a pillow under my leg while I’m on my side, which is close enough to feel like I’m sleeping on my stomach. No food cravings or aversions. I am starting to feel like I get full really quickly these days. Heart burn is in moderate shape. It flares up here and there but isn’t a daily occurrence. Still feeling like you’re a little boy, although Lexi solely refers to you as her sister. I’m loving scolding hot showers!

Thanksgiving is in two days so enjoy your feast little one!

Love,

Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2 25 Weeks

November 18, 2014December 14, 2014 peanutsmiles

Dear little nugget,

These weeks start to blend together for me. When Tuesday rolls around, I’m often questioning what week of pregnancy this really is. Unfortunately, I usually think I’m further along than I really am. This morning I was wondering, am I 26 weeks today?

Over the past week, I think you’ve shifted your position a little as I’m starting to feel and actually see kicks and movements from the outside. There is still a lot of internal kicks, but refreshing to have a little break from you kicking my stomach. With this shifted position, Daddy was also able to feel you thumping around this week too. You seem to be most active late in the evenings, between 10 and midnight. It hasn’t kept me from sleeping yet, but it is definitely the time you move the most and it feels the strongest.

I also think you had a growth spurt this week. I gained 3 lbs in the last two weeks and when Lexi and I went to swimming lessons yesterday, my swimsuit was significantly tighter around the belly then it was last week.

This week also brought some sickness to our house. All three of us had pretty nasty colds that took each of us down for 3 days. We all still have some lingering affects but for the most part are back in working order. And holy cow, does it stink not being able to take the strong medicine to help you feel better! Suddafed should not be taken for granted. Although, I was very impressed at what a difference a couple of Tylenol’s will do for you considering they aren’t very strong. This week also got disgustingly cold! Like 1 degrees cold–which also sucked all the humidity out of the air making it very dry. Usually, it doesn’t get this cold until January so I’m hoping that we’re getting our taste of it now and January/February will bring mild temperatures. I’ve been wearing Daddy’s jacket since it is the only one that can be zipped right now, and it doesn’t have a lot of room to spare. It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months. I’m really hoping I don’t need to buy a winter maternity jacket. They are so expensive and will only get worn for a short period of time.

This past week Lexi has been telling us that you are a sister. She obviously has no idea what that means but it has been consistent. If we ask, are you going to have a brother, she says, ‘No, sister’. I still have strong feeling that you are a little boy. We do have a boy name picked out but not a girl name, we’ve talked anecdotely about girl names but never definitely settled on something. I also haven’t pushed it or brought it up cause I don’t think it is something we’re going to have to worry about.

Other notes, sleep seems to be going well as long as I prop my leg up on a pillow. No major cravings or aversions although there have been a couple moments where I would like a glass of wine after a long or stressful day. Yesterday, I had my first real stint of heartburn. It lasted all day and was just not a good feeling. I dug out my tums and am prepared for when it strikes again.

Take care little nugs,

Love, Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2 24 Weeks

November 11, 2014December 14, 2014 peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

Six months down and four to go until we get to meet your sweet little face. This week has brought a new level of discomfort. You’re getting much stronger and your kicks and punches have become uncomfortable and make me a little nauseous at times when you get me in the right organ–specifically the stomach. I still wouldn’t describe them as painful but there are moments of surprise when my eyes get wide from one of your kicks. At this point, movement still feels like kicks and punches and haven’t gotten to the whole body rolls yet. I still haven’t had any official heartburn to report which I will happily put off for as long as I can. The belly is getting big enough where it gets in the way when I bend down or try to put my socks on, but it doesn’t prevent me from doing these things yet. I can still sort of sleep on my stomach. I’m able to position myself where I am half on my stomach and half on my side, which as been satisfying my comfort need in wanting to fall asleep on my stomach, but then am perfectly happy to roll on my side or back once I am asleep. I’m also able to sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom. So overall, sleep feels pretty good. No major cravings or aversions at this point.

After being home from vacation for a whole week, it feels everyone was able to get back into a routine and Lexi is sleeping through the night again–eating like a maniac and just generally being her sweet self. Daddy was out of town over the weekend in Green Bay for a Packers game so Lexi and I went to the Children’s Museum, had a fun movie night and got her first haircut.

Let’s keep these posts uneventful little nugs. No need to repeat your big sister’s drama and send me to the hospital in excruciating pain with kidney issues.

Love,

Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2 23 Weeks

November 4, 2014November 13, 2014 peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

(sorry little babes, I forgot to take a picture this week)

Today we had your ultrasound and am happy to report that you appear to be a very healthy baby. Your heart, brain, stomach, diaphragm, arms, legs, kidney, umbilical cord all looked great. You had your hands in front of your face so we weren’t able to get a good 3D picture of your face but that is Ok. I was just thrilled to get more confirmation that you are healthy.

They also confirmed that my suspicions were correct and your spine is against the outside of my belly. So all that movement I’m feeling inside is you kicking my organs around. It isn’t painful but it is a very usual feeling and not super comfortable. Your heartbeat was a 163 and your measuring about 1 lb. 7 oz, which is about 7 oz above average. Also, according to your size they say I’m about 24 1/2 weeks–but that could just mean you’ve recently gone through a growth spurt and they’re keeping my due date as is.

Dr. G said everything looks healthy with mama, blood pressure is good, I’ve gained 10 lbs. which is right where I should be and everything looks good!

Outside of your ultrasound, we’ve had a pretty low key week after returning from Hawaii. Daddy and I have been working to get back on a regular sleep schedule, getting Lexi back into her routine and getting up to speed on everything at work again.

So grateful you’re healthy little nugget!

Love,

Mama

Alexis Monthly Posts, Lexi

Lexi 1 year 11 months (23 months)

November 4, 2014February 8, 2017 peanutsmiles

Dear Lexi,

What an eventful month this has been, and I’m afraid, I don’t have too many pictures or things to report as Mama and Daddy were in Hawaii for 2 of the 4 weeks. Thankfully, that wonderful grandma of yours went above and beyond in volunteering to take time off of work and watch you for Mama and Daddy. I knew you would be in great hands with her but was very nervous leaving you for such a long time. I wasn’t sure if you would recognize that we were gone and feel abandoned or if it wouldn’t cross your mind. For the most part, I think you did fantastic. You didn’t ask about us and had lots of fun with Grandma, Papa and Auntie She-She, but there were some minor side affects to your behavior once we returned home. There were lots and lots and lots of hugs and kisses and snuggles for the days following, which was awesome. On the down side, I did think you felt abandoned to a small degree as you had several wake ups in the middle of the night crying for mama. As soon as I went and got you you put your head on my shoulder and went to sleep. We’ve worked through this and I think you’re in a much better place now, but still feel bad if we made you feel abandoned.

On a related note, Mama and dada were gone for 12 days and although we had a great time, it was just too long to be away from you. The last two days, I just wanted to be home and see you. I did pretty good for the first 6 days and then each day got a little tougher as I missed you more and more.

Favorite moments

One of my favorite moments this month was seeing you at the airport when we came home. Grandma texted me and said you were out in the car so I ran out to see you and you had the biggest smile on your face and were kicking your legs in your car seat and exclaimed, MAMA!!!! I picked you up and you have me a HUGE hug and just nuzzled your head into my shoulders. I brought you inside to see Daddy and you pointed and gave Daddy a big hug. You quickly came back to mama, and kept nuzzeling your head into my shoulder. I definitely teared up when I saw you and heard your little voice call my name. Your extensive love for both of us continued for several days with lots of hugs and kisses.

On the second night after returning from Hawaii, I was putting you to bed and you were not having it. You were very upset and trying to climb out of your crib. To help you settle down and actually lay down, I promised you I would lie on the floor and hold your hand while you feel asleep. Through your tears, you begged for me to sing twinkle twinkle. So there I lay on the floor and your little hand holding onto my pointer finger. After two rounds of the song you had stopped crying and were falling to sleep. I stopped singing and slowly pulled my hand away. About 30 seconds later, your little voice peeped up and asked to hold my hand and rolled over to the edge of the crib so your face was smushed against the crib slots. Once holding my finger, you requested more Twinkle Twinkle and it just broke my heart and I started getting very weepy. I felt so guilty for leaving you and causing you any anxiety that you may be experiencing. With my voice cracking and tears streaming down my face, I held onto your little hand made my way through the song and let you fall asleep. I’m not sure what it was about this moment, but I felt so vulnerable and responsible for you and just missed you so much–i just broke down.

The day after we got back also was Halloween. We’ve been attempting to practice wearing your costume throughout the month, but you just didn’t like it so I was a little nervous how the evening was going to unfold. We practiced trick or treating the night before upstairs. You went to each door in your costume and said trick or treat and than daddy or I would open the door and give you some candy. So that evening you were at least compliant in putt your your costume one. It was very cold and luckily, your winter jacket was the same color as your costume so we were able to put it on underneath to help keep you warm. Once the first round of kids came to our door, you wanted to go out with them and were all about it. Daddy took you to the first couple of houses and then came home. And then I took you out and we went all the way around the block. Oh my stars you were so cute and funny. The first house you went to with Daddy, you got a kit-kat and once it was put into your bucket, you looked up and told Lief and Karen, ‘Owww, that’s Mama’s!’. You did a great job saying trick or treat, and please and thank you to every house you went to. And in between houses you would have little conversations with yourself. You would repeat me saying, ‘What do you say?’, and then respond to your own question with ‘Tank you’. You held onto my hand the entire time and were just chatting away about the stars in the sky and the airplanes you could see. When we got to a street you would say, ‘Stop, ook for cars. No cars, et’s go!’ You would even comment about people’s grass and rocks by saying things like ‘Oww nice rocks’ as you walked over them. You were just too darn cute!!!

At the beginning of the month, you and I were outside and I was cutting all of our plants down for the winter and you were so good playing by yourself for at least an hour. You sat on the stones by the hose and played with a stick in the dirt. I think this moment sticks out in my mind because it was just another sign of how you’re growing up. Normally, you would be right at my side and wanting me to play with you, but you were so content on your own creating your own fun in the dirt. Your getting so big sweet one!

Notes:

You continue to do a great job of letting us know when you have to go poop on the potty.

You often get the word ‘you’ mixed up with the word ‘me’ For example, you’ll request to be carried by saying ‘Carry-you’

You love to watch youtube videos of airplanes taking off and landing. In fact, Daddy bribes you with this when you’re going down for a nap that you get to watch one when you wake up.

You love to read Curious George, watch the minions and Frozen.

You’ve gotten more adventurous in the tub and will lay down on your tummy, put your face in the water and will even attempt to float on your back. Overall, you love the bath and you love to take showers with me.

You LOVE to show Daddy how you look. If we put a new outfit on or do your hair, you request that we go and show Daddy how you look.

While at Grandma’s house, you helped papa with work projects like raking the leaves, you would go to the park and swing at least once, sometimes twice a day, you would go and look at the diggers in the park, you went to the pumpkin patch and to the Zoo. While at the zoo, you were watching the polar bears and saw one of them poop and yelled out ‘Ohhh Poo-poo!’ You also would watch Thomas with papa and play cards with him every night. You had tea-parties with Auntie She-She and Grandma T and had so much fun!