Norah Kate's 2nd Birthday

This year I decided to do a very laid back birthday party for Norah Kate.  Don't get me wrong, her first birthday was super special.  However, I was so stressed and so caught up in having a "Pinterest Party" that I didn't get to enjoy her special day.  I was too busy cleaning, cooking, making homemade decorations and party favors... so this year was different.



We had it on NK's actual birthday, December 29, a Sunday afternoon.  We invited immediately family, I bought pizza and a birthday cake from Walmart.  It was perfect.  NK had fun playing with her cousins and I got to enjoy her on her special day!

My sweet Norah Kate,
Mommy can not believe you are two!  I love you so very much and am so blessed to be your mommy.  You amaze me each day with your learning and growth.  You are so smart and so special.  You are very strong-willed already, but I know that means you are just going to grow up to be strong and independent.  I could not ask for any more special blessing than you and your daddy!  I never knew one little individual would make my heart smile so big!  I hope that I am the best I can be for you!

You are my whole heart!
Love,
Mama

Christmas 2013

Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays.  I just LOVE the spirit and the meaning behind it, along with all the decorations, hot chocolate and Christmas movies.  Let me just say though, Christmas is AWESOME when you have your own kids!  There is just something so magical about watching their innocent eyes light up over the lights, presents, music, and spirit of Christmas.

I told myself I was going to be DONE shopping for Christmas to actually enjoy the holiday (because shopping and crowd fighting is my least favorite part).  Surprisingly, I was actually done a couple weeks before Christmas. 





We woke up Christmas morning and saw all the pretty things that NK got from  Santa.  She was super sweet!  She was picked up every individual toy and exclaimed what it was.  My favorite part was when she picked up her book bag from Pottery Barn and said, "A bag!  From mallmart (walmart)!"  Haha!  It tickled me.

She immediately set up a tea party for her new babies at her new table and chair set!

Then we went to Nana's house where she got even more neat stuff!

Finally, we went to my mama's house (Granna-Mimi) and NK got a Barbie Jeep and more baby dolls!

This year was exceptionally special because our family from Florida came up to my parent's house, rather than us driving down there.  It was so much fun!  And also very nice not to have a 4 hour round trip to try to fit in the day.

We were super blessed!

 

Thank you Lord for this special holiday.  Thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for us and our sins.  Please help us always keep him the center of this holiday and remember the true reason for the season.  Thank you for my beautiful family and all my many blessings, that is the best Christmas gift I could ever think of receiving!

Little Miss Priss- The Big 2 Year Old!

Catching up on blogging while I can...

Norah Kate has changed so much in the last couple months.  It's crazy to think that just a couple months ago we were hitting the terrible twos head on.  With temper tantrums, fits, and outburst.  Now, don't get me wrong, we still have rough moments and days... but they are MUCH better.

I don't really know what worked though to be honest.  I think it was just a mixture of consistency, firmness, and a constant prayer of patience and strength.  I had to pray constantly to be patient with her and remember she is learning and changing.  I tried to spend more time showing her positive, loving attention, rather than waiting on the outburst or tantrums which required negative attention.

We bought a time-out chair which actually worked better than spankings.  I could pop her and it not phase her but instead tick her off worse.  Two minutes in time out was the perfect attitude adjustment.

Her personality is as strong as ever... She has discovered tattling ("Mama! Daddy/Hoss/Papa/Tyler do 'dat!"  What did they do?  "Hurt me!/Took my baby!/etc.").  Sometimes no one even touches her but she decides to tell on them.  She has started putting her hands on her hips when telling me things.  When giving her candy for going on the big girl potty, she asks in the sweetest, most innocent little voice "I hold it?" talking about the bag of candy.



Potty training is a slow progress.  We have good days and not so good days.  She actually does a lot better at day care.  Sometimes at home, we only go when she wants to go, then other days she will let me put her on the potty more frequently... I am not too stressed because even if I got her potty trained now she will regress when the baby comes.

She loves tending to her baby dolls, swinging and sliding on her swing set, playing hide & seek, cooking in her kitchen or helping me cook in my kitchen, watching Bubble Guppies, Dora, Paw Patrol and Mickey Mouse.

She is also at a little bit of a picky eating stage.  Some days I might be doing good to get her to eat a piece of cheese, yogurt, and some fruit, then other days she is eating everything in site.

Norah Kate is counting to ten, knows some colors and can help put her clothes on (and take them off, she runs naked a lot).

She currently sleeps in our bed (most nights).  She can sing a good portion of her ABCs, Jesus Love Me, Twinkle Twinkle, and Jingle Bells.

She is growing and learning and testing her boundaries and limits (and my patience) on a daily basis.  I know she will be a great big sister!

Note: I found this post and realized I never published it, but I must have wrote it right after she turned two!  So it is a little out of order.

A Short Hospital Stay

Well, I was officially admitted to the hospital overnight for the first time ever.  (Other than having NK, which wasn't because I was sick but because I received a little blessing!)

It started Wednesday at work with a terrible back ache.  Well, I am a pregnant nurse, so my back hurts 95% of the time.  I have gotten used to this dull ache.  As the day went on though, it seemed to get worse.  I just contributed it to over-doing it a little the last couple of weeks and tried drinking more water while I was at work in case I was dehydrated.

I went to bed early Wednesday night and set my alarm to go to the gym before work on Thursday morning.  Well, I was really tired and reset my alarm to wake up just to get ready for work.  This really isn't anything new because the thought of going to the gym is a lot easier/nicer at 9pm than 4:30am!  When I woke up at 5:30, my back was killing me.  It hurt to move and to take a deep breath.  It was too late to call into work and I thought maybe by going I would "work the kinks out."  So I toughed it out.

By 10:00am I was in tears.  I was purely miserable.  My back hurt so bad I couldn't breath and I was having radiating pains in my abdomen (not like contractions, but a dull ache in my muscles).  I left work early (and let me just say this, I hated that part because it was a hellacious day when we were already short-staffed and had 4 nurses taking extra patients and I did NOT want to leave anyone in a bigger mess than they were already in!).  But I was not doing anyone, including my patients, any good.

I left work at 11:30 and went to OB to get checked out.  They hooked me up to the monitor and his heart rate was fine and I was not having contractions. THANK GOD!  They got a urine sample and checked my cervix.  I was still completely closed and thick.  Again... THANK GOD!  Everything seemed fine with Baby Boy!  They checked my vitals and my heart rate was up and I was running a fever.  Well, that explained the aches and pains.

I ended up with a bad bladder infection and had to get IV antibiotics and IV fluids.  I also tested positive for a flu-like virus!  Dang-it.  I had to stay over night to be monitored, have labs drawn, and get my IV meds.

I was really upset because I had Christmas shopping to do, Christmas presents to wrap, baking to do, and we were supposed to go see Santa Claus on Friday!!

I was discharged 24 hours later and am feeling much better.  Still a little sore and achey, but much better compared to Thursday!  Just sent home to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

This was a wake up call for me to slow it down though for sure.  I have been over doing it the last few weeks (which I hate to admit), and mainly because I have felt SO good during this pregnancy.  I mean, on most days, I really don't even feel pregnant.  I didn't really think anything about picking up extra days at work, or waking up early to go to the gym, or staying up late to wrap Christmas presents, write a paper, and do the laundry.  But, I am only 26 weeks pregnant and it is TOO early to even take any chances with Baby Boy coming early!!  He needs to bake for as long as possible!

I am so excited to meet my second little angel, but I can be patient enough to wait a while longer!

23 Weeks

I can not believe I am over half way through this pregnancy!  It is really scary/exciting/overwhelming!

I am so excited about having another baby, but naturally I worry about how NK will handle having another baby in her mama's lap.

BabyBoy is moving around like crazy.  He still don't seem to be as active as what Norah Kate was though, so maybe he will be more laid back :)

Our last ultrasound was the anatomy ultrasound and I was 21 weeks.  They estimated his weight at 12 ounces and he is most definitely still a boy!  He was measuring 20 weeks and 2 days which they said is normal.

My cravings still include fruit and cottage cheese, but also dark chocolate, hot chocolate, Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist, French toast, eggs, and bacon.

I feel great!  This chiropractor really helped my hip and back.  I have joined the Y because running is more difficult so I am mostly doing the elliptical, stationary bike, squats and lunges (without weights).  I still run some, but it just depends on how bad he is jumping on my bladder as to how well it goes.  So far I have gained 12 pounds which about right on target where I was at this point with Norah Kate :)

I am not near as tired or as moody as what I was the first trimester.

The only negative thing has been pee-ing on myself when I cough, sneeze, or laugh with a full bladder!!  I have been doing Kegel's like crazy but they aren't helping.  I can only imagine how bad it will be with future pregnancies!

I am starting to feel Braxton Hicks more and more... mostly when I work and I think it is because I don't drink enough water (yes, please, slap my pregnant hand... Drinking water is the biggest challenge!)

So far I have done nothing yet to prepare for this baby!  It is so different than with Norah Kate. By this point with Norah Kate I had a whole room full of decorations for her nursery, clothes, etc.  I also had her nursery mentally decorated in my mind and probably would have had her room finished had we been in our house.  I have bought BabyBoy a few outfits, a thing of bottles, pacis, and a few packs of diapers and wipes.  I know now that a newborn requires a lot less "stuff."  We will be just fine with a bassinet or Pack and Play in our room, a few sleepers, and some wipes and diapers! 

My next appointment is December 11 and I have my glucose test (yuck!).  I will 25 weeks then!  Amazing!  It is crazy to think about because then I will have one more appointment before it goes to every two-week appointments which will then make my pregnancy fly by even faster!

Funny Sayings from NK

Let me just tell ya.. this girl can talk!  She is really starting to get very expressive and it is quite hilarious to me on most days.  Honestly though, I am so used to her talking so good that when she does regress and whine and fuss like a two year old I get frustrated.

NK: Mama, I'm ready!
Me: Ready? For where?
NK: Church.
(This can be said on any given day, not just Sundays.)

NK: Hold you. (Translates into Hold Me).

NK: Show me. (Translates into Show you).  Yes we have pronoun confusion.

NK: (Lifts up my shirt.) Baby brudder in dere!  Hey brudder!

NK: (Hands me her baby) Hold her just a second, k?  I be right back. (Nodding her head the whole time).

NK: Yeah. Um (smacks lips like she is thinking... we are working really hard on "Yes ma'am")

NK: Eek!  A sizzard! (lizard)

NK: (in a deep, creepy voice) Dere's a 'pider in dere. (There's a spider in there!)

NK: Hossy! 'Mere! Sit! 'Ay down! Bood boy (good boy).

NK: Baby cryin'.  It needs a paci.

NK: Awe wee.

NK: You hurt?  I fiss it (I fix it/kiss it, not reallll sure because she kisses the "boo-boo".)

NK: Bwankwet (blanket)  Her "l"s are funny to me because she has a hard time saying them but when she does she really rolls her tongue out very dramatically.  My brother used to do the same thing.

NK: I get it.  (She says this with an insistent look on her face, while nodding, usually for stuff she knows she is not supposed to have like more candy, my make up, Hoss's food, etc.)

NK: Ew. Gross.

NK: I 'cared (scared)!  (She says this with a "scary" look on her face.)

 

The other day she was driving down the drive way in Matt's lap.  What's the first thing she does?  Tries to turn the music on of course!

We were at Mama's a few weeks ago (by the way, she still has not named my poor Mama... she calls her Granna and Mimi pretty equally, so we jokingly call my mama GrannaMimi.  We were joking that my next baby will name Mama, but for real, I think he will have to!)  Anyways, Norah Kate was watching the Wizard of Oz (very, intently, which was weird because she would not sit still and watch anything!) and she runs in the other room to get Papa.  Meanwhile, she runs across a bug.  Well, instead of freaking out my daddy is telling her to stomp on it.  She tries to stomp on it but couldn't because she was barefoot, so without being told she ran put her shoes on as fast as she could and then stomped on the bug.  Then she spit on it.  Oh. My. Goodness.  The funniest thing I had ever seen.  Of course I couldn't get my phone to record this event until the very end.  It was priceless!

Her new thing is "tattling."  For instance, I get on to her for something so then she runs to Matt and points a me and says "Ugh. Mama!"

NK: Dopen it! (Open it, she adds a "D" to open for some reason).

Me: It's cold in here, Norah Kate.
NK: Put your jacket on, Mama.

I know this isn't funny. And I swear I never thought kids really did this because it is a really bratty thing but it caught me so off guard that I didn't know what to think.. but NK has starting blowing "rasberries" (you know, sticking her tongue out and blowing making a spitting sound) when she doesn't get her way or get in trouble.  I hope we out grow this one fast!

Okay, last one.

Me: Night, night Norah Kate.
NK: Night, night.
Me: I love you.
NK: Lub you.
(The sweetest, most precious words any mama can hear :))



18 Weeks- It's a....

BOY!!!!!

 

 

I went for my ultrasound on October 17 and they are 99% sure its a little boy!!  The ultrasound tech's words exactly, "I am pretty sure that isn't going anywhere!"

 

We are so ecstatic to be having one of each.  While I would have been tickled with another little girl, it would have been sweet for Norah Kate to have a sister... every daddy needs a son, and I would have been disappointed to Matt's sake. :)

 

We are still discussing names... Matt is so picky when it comes to naming our kids!

 

Everything looked good on the ultrasound but I will get a more detailed anatomy scan for my 20 week visit in November.  I can't wait to see him again!!

 

How is Mama feeling?  Great!  I am still running some, but mostly walking.  Honestly I have been so busy with work and school that I am lucky to exercise two days a week.  I need to do better.  I have much more energy than I did, but come 8:30 pm and I am ready for bed.  I have no nausea and am starving 90% of the time.  I still have random cravings but my favorite thing to eat is fruit and cottage cheese. 

Cravings: Yummy!  I also crave fried chicken and BBQ a lot and get hungry for greens about once a week. 

Clothes: I have just started wearing some maternity jeans because they are more comfortable, but I can still fit into my stretchy skinny jeans and most shirts/tops.  Fortunately the style is blouse-y tops, so they are plenty big enough to grow over my growing belly!  I have gained 4 pounds so far, and I know that the weight gain is about to start piling up!  I gained 25 with Norah Kate :)

 

Hip Pain: My only complaint right now is pain down my right hip and leg.  I have started going to a chiropractor and I am getting some relief.  He uses a mixed method of adjustments, massage therapy, and physical therapy.  He said it is sciatic nerve problems created by the way the pelvis tilts to make room for baby. I can see his massage therapist on Wednesday and it is covered by insurance!  Best thing ever!!  I had the pain with NK but it wasn't quite as bad... but I always wasn't toting around a 25lb two year old while I was pregnant with her.  I bought a pregnancy pillow, but unfortunately it isn't helping much.

 

That is honestly my ONLY complaint.  I have been blessed with another healthy pregnancy!!

 

Over the last 2 weeks I have felt like bubbles are popping in my belly.  However, this week, I am feeling those very family kicks and nudges.  They are getting stronger and stronger every day!  I love feeling him move around in there... it is such a comforting feeling.