Exciting News!

Weeks 4-6

I found out July 19 that I was going to be a mommy again!  I had taken two tests earlier in the week because I had been pretty tired and had that same familiar soreness in my boobs, but they were both negative.  Then I spotted on Thursday, the day I normally “start” so I figured I wasn’t.  (This really made me realize how people can go a while without realizing they are pregnant)  When Friday and Saturday rolled around and the spotting went away, I thought maybe I should test again.  It was one of those things where I really wasn’t expecting that second line, but there it came!  It was light, but it was there.

My mind probably had fifty different thoughts run through it before it all soaked in… “Oh my goodness, boy or girl, my hands will be full, how exciting!” Then a big smile broke out and I couldn’t contain my excitement.

This pregnancy was different in the fact that I couldn’t let my excitement overtake me and immediately begin Googl-ing baby clothes, furniture, and names.  I had another little one needing my attention J  I know Norah Kate will be a great big sister!  She knows just what to do with her baby dolls.  In fact, this month has been so weird because she picked out a baby doll at Target that she insisted on getting that said “Little Brother” and then one night when me and Matt were laying in bed she poked my belly and said “baby” that was definitely out of the ordinary!!  I think she definitely knew before I did!

How do I feel?

Great!  I actually was more tired the week or two before I tested.  When we were at Steinhatchee, it felt like all I wanted to do was sleep.  Now, though, I feel fine.  I am kinda used to a normal baseline level of exhaustion… but it definitely isn’t like it was with Norah Kate.  With her, it felt like I could sleep for days, I felt like a zombie.  I was working nightshift then though and I think that had a lot to do with it.  I have gotten nauseated twice, but it quickly went away with a snack and a carbonated drink or sweet tea.  I stayed nauseated with Norah Kate, I didn’t throw up but a handful of times, but all I could eat was watermelon, mac & cheese, fruit cups, and tomatoes.  This time, I truly don’t feel very different.  I think on most days I feel better than I have in a year!

Cravings?

Fruit (pineapple, blueberries, watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe), Sweet Heat BBQ chips, FRIED CHICKEN with ketchup and hotsauce (I could eat this for every meal I think) and oatmeal.  I have fallen in love with the oatmeal at work- with brown sugar and strawberries and blueberries… yum!

Weight gain?

None… yet.  I know this will come quickly though.  I gained most of my weight in the first two trimesters with NK.  I already feel like I look bloated though.

Other noticeables?

Peeing all the time, thirsting for water, weird, weird dreams….

We can’t wait to welcome our little bundle of joy in March!!

 

 

The Terrible 22 Months

I have dreaded this blog post for quite some time now... the point where NK has reached her terrible two's.  Eek!!

Unfortunately my child has zero patience and a horrible temper. However, I know this is all part of her growing, learning, and testing her boundaries.

We have starting hitting, biting, saying "No!" in response to almost any instructions given.  She pitches fits at bedtime and for a few weeks REFUSED to sleep in her crib, or really sleep at all in general.  Well, I don't know about you but dealing with a  cranky two year old when you both are exhausted is practically an impossible task.  She melts to the floor when she don't get her way, and whines for things she wants after you tell her no. 

For instance, she wakes up at 8 am wanting a sucker.  "Mama, sucker!  Mamaaaaaaa, sucker! Sucker mama.  Peas.  Suckerrrrr!!! Waaaaa!"  Well, the suckers are for special, special treats, not for breakfast.  So I continue to tell her no. And she continues to cry.  So I walk outside on the porch while she is rolling on the floor whining.  Then suddenly it stops (I only left her in there for a few minutes, basically to let her know she wasn't going to get any attention for that behavior, I had already tried distraction multiple times with failed attempts.)  When I walk back in she was singing a different tune, she was fine.

I have also had to leave a grocery cart full of groceries in the middle of Walmart recently.  She was out of control.  She was leaping over the side of the buggy, running from me, wanting me to hold her then when I would hold her, she would wrestle out of my arms.  It was disastrous.  I was so mad. I just picked her up, walked out, and left.  I probably shouldn't admit this, but if I could have left her there and KNEW she would have been safe, I might would have, just until I cooled off for a minute.  I am a terrible mama.

Part of all this has made me realize just how impatient I am, and how quick tempered I am.  You know how you see those parents with the kids that are sitting stone still in the buggy, or in the restaurant, or church, those kids that have the most laid back temperament and always seem to be on the best behavior.  Haha!  I just wonder what their secret is???  Seriously!  I think it has a lot to do with the temperament of the child and parent.  Norah Kate is a very busy, active, smart, independent little girl and I am not very laid back, and have pretty high expectations for how my children are supposed to act in public so therefor, my child usually acts like a heathen.  Most days I feel like I don't know what the heck I am doing. 

Let me also say that she does not act this way without getting in trouble.  We always try distraction and speaking in calm, firm voices first.  When that don't work we do time out or .... well you know.  Time out hasn't been very successful, she just gets up crying and comes to me... I re-direct her back to the chair but usually spend more time re-directing than her actually sitting in timeout.  I swear she cries harder over time out than a spanking. 

The only time she really gets a "spanking" (more like a swat on the diaper) is when she is doing something that is going to hurt her after being told no, hitting, and biting.  Those are absolute no-no's.  I always explain why she is getting in trouble.  Like the other day when she hit me with the wooden spoon.  She had been told no several times for going after Hoss with the spoon and had it taken away from her, well she somehow got it back and I was sitting on the couch and WHACK... right in the back of the head with the spoon.  Boy, she knew she was gonna get in BIG trouble as soon as she did it.

I know I am making it sound like she is terrible, but really she is not.  We have more good days than bad.  I call the bad times my "Bad Mommy Days"  where it just seems like God is testing my every ability to be a parent.  I praise her way more than I scold her.  For any and everything, for when she does something by herself, for when she does something sweet, for just be sweet, and mot important when she is behaving. 

Along with the "Terrible 2s" has also come some very sweet moments.  She now tells us she loves us and misses us.  She gives tight, squeeze hugs.  The best and sweetest kisses.  She tries to share her suckers and cookies.

She can sing her ABCs "A,B,C,D,E,J"- It's a start :)
And count to 10- 1,2,3,4,5,7,9,10.

She knows her body parts, has started peepee-ing in the potty some, can put on her own shoes (and usually on the right foot!) and is trying to put on her own shirt and pants.  She "reads" Llama Llama Nighty, Night.  I have been reading that book to her since she was in-utero so she really does almost know it word-for-word.

She says "Amen!" after the blessing and night time prayers.  She says "Bless you!" when someone sneezes and says "Thank you, your welcome."

She is the absolute sweetest, smartest little girl I know... and while there are days where I could hang her up by her feet, any time she isn't with me I miss her SO much.  It is just way to quiet when she isn't here or when she is sleeping.

I know that the "terrible twos" is just a phase, and it is going to teach me to be a more patient, better person.  I also have a higher respect for single parents too and military moms.  I could NOT do this by myself.  There is no way.  I am just trying to learn not to sweat the small stuff, be as patient as I can, and give her as much cuddly, TLC time as I can during this time in her life.

Funny faces with mama!

This sweet face could never be bad :)



This hardly ever happens!!

Big girl didn't even cry when she got her flu shot!

Styling with her Hello Kitty jammies and pink Crocs!

Week 6-8

How do I feel?  Tired.  Haha!  This too shall pass. It is HARD work growing a baby!  I was grateful, and thought I was going to be lucky, when I was tired a couple weeks ago.  Some days I will be fine, and others I can't hardly put one foot in front of the other.  I have occasional nausea, but nothing too bad.  I haven't had to stop what I am doing or take any medicine for it.  Usually I just get nauseated if I get too hungry.  Which I am hungry every 2 hours or so.

I am still running, and plan on continuing until either Matt or my body tells me no more.  Matt will probably tell me no first.  He isn't too crazy about it, but everything I have researched has said it is safe if you were used to doing it before, which I was.  The doctor said it is fine too.

I went for my first appointment on my birthday!! What a great birthday present!!  The little blob was there and the heartbeat was nice and strong at 156 bpm.  That is such an amazing sound.  I feel so blessed that God is going to let me be a mommy again.  I feel that there is no greater privilege! 

I am taking my One A Day prenatal vitamins.  I took those with NK and they didn't make me very sick.  I am trying to drink plenty of water, because that is something they stress to you at the doctor, but I will be honest, it is hard.  I like water, but remembering to drink 48-64 ounces is the difficult part. 

My cravings aren't too random... chicken and hot sauce, Kit Kat bars, sweet-tarts, orange juice, Chic-Fil-A salads.  Mmmm.  I LOVE the side salads from Chic-Fil-A with the Berry Balsamic dressing.  Yummy.

I will go back to the doctor September 19 for my next check up! 

8-10 Weeks

While, we still haven't made it Facebook official, we have told our family, friends, and co workers.  We are so excited about baby #2!!  It still seems  surreal.

How is mama feeling?  Bloated... I feel like I am constantly carrying around a food baby  But oh well.  It just means things are growing.  I haven't gained but a pound or two.  & Very tired... I am so sleepy.  When I am at work though, I actually feel better.  I guess because I am too busy to be tired, or nauseated.  On my days off though, I feel like all I could do is nap. Ha! Which is impossible with a 20 month old ruling the roost!

I am having bad dreams.  I remember having them with NK and I know it is probably something to do with hormones.  However, that doesn't make them any less disturbing.

I have officially lost my verbal filter.  If I think it, the words are coming out.  Ooops. Hopefully this won't get me into too much trouble :)  I had just gained my filter back from having NK.  I am a little moody, but most of my mood swings come with stress from school and I feel like they aren't so much pregnancy related.

I am still craving fried chicken and hot sauce.  Another craving has been peaches and cottage cheese.  This is a weird one because I have never cared anything about cottage cheese before.  And Doritos... not such a healthy craving but oh well.  Pregnancy cravings are crazy... because if I don't satisfy my craving nothing else tastes good or right.  A week or so ago I was craving a sub.  I swear I could have had the whole sub made with banana peppers, pickles, onions, jalapeños and oil and vinegar. Haha!

I haven't been able to Doppler the heartbeat at home yet, but I am trying not to panic.  I know some women can't until the are 13 or 14 weeks.  I will be grateful to be through the first trimester :)  Luckily though, I still have practically no nausea.  I will have waves occasionally from a smell or if I let myself get too hungry.

Spontaneous Beach Trip

Poor Matt has been so busy all summer with tobacco that he hasn't got to go on any of the trip with Norah Kate and I.  He mentioned a couple weeks ago that he may try to take off at lunch on a Saturday for us to go on a quick trip out of town.  I had been contemplating different places to go, thinking about Macon, or Atlanta to the Georgia Aquarium, or to close beach.

He started texting me at work last Friday wanting to leave Friday night!  Well, for anyone that knows me knows that I am not a spontaneous person... I have to have things planned out, but I thought "what the heck?"  So when I got off work at 7, came home, showered, packed, and loaded up and we pulled out of the drive way at 10:30pm.  We had no reservations and really no idea which direction we were headed... We decided to go to St. Augustine.  We got to St Augustine at about 2 am and started calling places.  Dumb me thought we could find a place no problem... well, after 5 call and "No Vacancies" I started to panic.  I really thought we were going to sleep in the car.  Not to mention NK woke up about this time and was ILL.  So crying baby, sleepy mama and daddy, and no place to stay = no beuno!

Needless to say we found a place at the Holiday Isle.  It was pool front with a king size bed, the lady at the desk said it would be a loud room, but I didn't care, it was a place to sleep.  We got unloaded and Norah Kate was wide awake and we didn't fall asleep until about 4:30... I can't remember the last time I stayed up that late!

We woke up the next morning and went to a breakfast buffet and then to the beach.  It was actually cloudy and a little cool (cool on the beach in August?  I know, right?) but seriously, the water was FREEZING!  Norah Kate LOVED the waves, she would run and chase them and giggle when they splashed her... but after about 30 minutes she wanted to go to the pool.  We spent about an hour in the pool then went in to get showers and go for lunch.

 

We ate lunch at Antonio's New York Style Pizza and it was delish!  Probably the best pizza I have ever had!  Then we went for ice cream of course and took a two hour nap.  Yep, basically all we did this weekend was eat, sleep, and lazy around, but it was awesome.





We went for supper at the Sunset Grille and it was yummy too, but NK was being WILD.  I felt like "that parent" at the restaurant that everyone is staring at.  My child was screaming, banging the A1 bottle on the table, throwing stuff on the floor... she was out of control, but we made it through without any injury to self, others, or property :)

The next morning we slept in again, and watched TV until check out.  It felt so good not to have a schedule or anything to do.  We are probably the only people I know that go on vacation and spend most of our time in the room, but Matt really needed that.  We packed up, checked out, and went to the outlet malls.  It was tax free weekend and everything was having awesome sales so I did some shopping!  I got NK some clothes for fall and for next summer for really cheap!  Matt also racked up at the Polo outlet.

It was a short, sweet, spontaneous trip, but it was great and we had a blast!

*18 months*

It is insane to think that my baby is now a toddler and is 18 months old!!  Kleenex, anyone?  She is so so so smart.  I know I shouldn't brag, but it's alright when it's  your kid, right?





She is running, jumping, and climbing on everything.  This has caused me to have several mini heart attacks.  Jumping off the couch, falling down the steps, almost falling off the bed, climbing on the dining room table (you've got to be kidding me <--- thoughts that went through my mind).  Luckily, no major injuries, just bumps and bruises.  She is just SO rough!

In the last month we have gone to St. George Island to the beach and to Steinhatchee.  She has gone on her first boat ride, went swimming in the ocean, had her first viral rash, and has started to pee pee and poop in the potty (not consistently yet, but we are working on it).



I think her eyes might be turning green.

She weighs 25 pounds and I am buying her 24 month or 2T clothes.  Big girl.

Norah Kate still has her sassy (paci).  I almost had it taken away, except naps and bedtime... but then she got sick and it was the only thing that would keep her calm/happy.  Now we are back a square one with weaning her from it.

She has gotten to where she will put her hand down  my shirt in public and/or pull my shirt down and say "Boobie!"  This is not so cute, especially when she is making me accidentally flash people.  The joys of motherhood!

I have kept her on the go a lot this summer, mainly because I think she gets stir crazy at home... but sometimes she thinks we are supposed to always be going somewhere which isn't really easy when I am  full time student.

She is going through another clingy phase also.  She has to be right on top or under me, but I don't mind.  I have learned how to type papers and do research all while she is in my lap.

She is saying everything!  She will tell Hoss to "Sit!" and "Good Boy!"  When we were at Steinhatchee, she asked the waitress for "snack" and "fries" and "Thank you!"  Haha, she is most definitely an independent one.  She can pretty much repeat anything (thank goodness I don't have a foul mouth!) and once she learns a word she is really good a remembering what it means.  We are working on colors and she can count to five.  She missed numbers occasionally but it is so cute because she always adds a "Yay!" on the end.  She is starting to sing the words to songs... she was singing Rock a bye to her baby the other day, "Rock a bye in the top"  it was so precious!  When we say her prayers at night she says "Amen." 

My house stays a wreck half the time because she drags out quicker than I can clean up.  She is in to everything!  Her personality is in full bloom, all of the sweetness and diva-ness, and pure rotten  all together.  She is more sweet than anything though, but very strong willed... but I have said that from day one.  I think we are venturing into the "Terrible 2's."  Lord, help.  Oh well, with each phase there has definitely been more good than bad and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

 



I love that little girl more than anything!



Jacksonville Zoo

On Thursday, June 13, my mama, sister, NK and I packed up and went for a day trip to Jacksonville.  I had two things on my to do list for Norah Kate this summer: a trip to the zoo and a trip to the beach.  We wanted to do everything before it got too hot, well, we almost waited to long.

We left at about 9:00 for Jacksonville.  When we got there it was right around lunch time so we decided to go eat first.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, and it may seem common sense but the best part of their menu was their cheesecake.  Some of you may say, "well duh!"  But honestly, I have heard everyone rave about it so much that I thought their food would be good too, but it wasn't that great to me, and I am not a picky eater.  Norah Kate was WILD in the restaurant and was wanting to "saush" (salt) everything- which is weird because I rarely salt food at home.  She is getting a little more difficult in restaurants because she hates being confined... I learned to not even ask for a high chair and get a booth instead, and ask if they can bring her food our first.  One thing we did learn though is that she likes raw tuna.  She tore up my sister's tuna!



Anyways, after lunch Mama needed to get something from Pottery Barn so we walked what seemed like 3 miles in the blaring heat to the Pottery Barn.  My sister pulled up the weather to see what the high temp was going to be it I think it was something like 96 degrees with 10% chance of rain.  Not a cloud in the sky.

We got to the zoo around 2 and Norah Kate kept saying "It's hot."  I was like, "Yeah baby, I know."  I put her in my stroller, pulled mine and her hair up, and away we went.

You can tell it was hot and humid because we all had a little "shine" to our face.

 

The first place we went to was the lions den.  I don't think she could see them really well, it was so hot that were laying out in the shade on a rock.  Next we went to the giraffes.  She LOVED them!  That was her favorite part I think.  She would pat the rail and say "'Mere boy! C'mon!"  She would giggle and squeal.  While looking at the giraffes the bottom literally fell our of the sky, it started pouring!  At first I was disappointed but then it really cooled us off and ended up being a blessing.

 

We made our way around the zoo, and Norah Kate walked most of the way.  She couldn't really see what was going on when in the stroller.  I kept thinking she would get tired and want to be held, but no.  She liked the monkeys, the birds, and the otters.  She also liked the "Rogs" (frogs).  We never saw the elephants, so I was disappointed about that, but they were about to close up and I think had put them up for feeding.

 

 

 

After trekking 3 miles at the mall, then probably 3-5 miles at the zoo, we were tired, hot, and sticky, not to mention hungry.  I learned a long time ago to pack snacks, so I gave her a fruit cup and some water and she fell asleep I think before we even pulled out of the parking lot.

She had a blast and really did good!  She is an excellent car rider, and can tolerate her car seat for 3+ hours at a time.  I was one tired mama though when we got home!