Sleeping baby

We took the pacifier away about 13 days ago. Before that we would do a breathing treatment then she would give the parent not going upstairs a hug and go upstairs straight into her crib get her pacifier and blanket and go to sleep. Now everything is the same but I'm the one that takes her upstairs every night and I rock her for a few minutes before she goes to sleep.

I love sitting in the chair with her head resting on my chest. I love the way I can feel her body start to relax and her breathing get steady. I love the way if I stop rocking before she is ready for me to stop that she will move her body so that the chair continues to rock. We don't sing songs or read book ( that is done other times) we just sit there soaking in the love.

I have started to look forward to bed time at night. I know at some point she won't want to cuddle anymore but my baby is already growing up so fast I have to cherish the little things and this is what I'm cherishing right now!

Giving up the Pacifier

It is hard to quit an addiction. It is even harder when it is not your idea to quit that addiction. Alyssa used a pacifier to go to sleep at night and during naps. She never used it at any other time and Chris and I had talked a few times about taking it away and we never did.

After a talk last week we knew that we either had to get rid of it very soon or we were going to have to wait until after the baby came. I said I wanted to do it while I was still out of school so that if she didn't like it I could sleep during the day or at least take it easy.

We started on Friday night. She only cried for 10 minutes and then went to sleep. We thought
"wow this isn't bad". That night I went to check on her and found out she had gotten sick from dinner and was covered in throw up. We spent the next 2 hours cleaning her up and her throwing up 5 more times. I wanted to give in and give the pacifier back but Chris made me hold strong.

On Saturday she cried for 15 minutes very hard and then went to sleep. On Sunday it was 10 minutes and not as hard. On Monday it was only 8 minutes and even less.

Tonight Chris is gone for the night so it was just me for bed time routine. She cried for 10 minutes and went to sleep. She then woke up 45 minutes later and has now been crying for about 30 minutes. I have gone up and rubbed her back and rocked her, finally she just has to cry. I hope she falls asleep soon and she is just off her routine with Chris gone.

18 Weeks

How far along? 18 weeks

Total weight gain: About 5 pounds. That is about 5-7 pounds less than this point with Alyssa.

Maternity clothes? Yep but I do still wear some no maternity tops and I am wearing a size 14 skirt that fits okay. I really like dresses right now, pants are uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am actually sleeping though the night again I don't have to get up to pee. But when I wake up you better get out of my way. I wake up with backaches a lot of mornings though.

Best moment this week: Seeing the baby on ultrasound today and hearing the heartbeat.

Movement: I feel the baby almost every night now.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: none

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting more shallow.

What I miss: Being able to enjoy a whole show or movie without having to go to the bathroom.

What I am looking forward to: Starting the nursery and buying clothes

Weekly Wisdom: Leave it in the hands of God he knows what he is doing.

Milestones: Well according to my weekly updates the baby is the size of a bell pepper and is 5.5 inches long and weighs 11 ounces. The doctor said he weighs about as much as a soda can right now.

It's a BOY!

Today we went for our big ultrasound. The baby looked very healthy and was very active the whole time we were in there. He kicked and punched and moved all around. He is measuring ahead of schedule and is laying transverse in my uterus. I also have an anterior placenta. This is not an issue now but if it doesn't move correctly can be an issue later but they said everything is fine for now.

I have spent the afternoon looking at cute boy things and can't wait to get started on his room.

New Beginnings?

Tomorrow afternoon I have an interview for another school district in St. Louis. This district is known for its issues and the state has just taken them over. I am going on interview but have already said I won't take any position except for Early Childhood. If I could get Early childhood that would be amazing because then my salary would be much higher than at Head Start. I would start Aug 2 which would be nice too since I still haven't been able to get unemployment and I don't want to drain our savings before the baby even comes. That money was supposed to be for once I had the baby and was on leave.

I have also applied for the community college and would love to get on with them as well. The nice thing is I can do both and once bring in a little more money and do a job that my kids could come to. It would help build up that savings and it would help us finish those projects around the house that we want to do.

But I'm putting the cart before the horse. First I have to get these jobs which will be interesting interviewing when I really can't hide the fact that I'm pregnant. I put on my suit jacket and it bulged at the bottom. I guess I will wear it unbuttoned.

Wish me luck!

Swimming pools and Donkeys

Yesterday our friends asked us if we wanted to join them at their grandparents house for a day of swimming and food. We said sure.

So after Alyssa took a three hour nap we headed off to the house. Once there we spent a wonderful two hours in the pool. Alyssa enjoyed splashing and getting out of the pool to get the ball that was thrown out of the pool. She also realized that she could get out of the pool get a snack and then get back in the pool and splash some more.

After two hours in the pool we went to see the peacocks and donkeys. Alyssa did not like the peacocks and when they started making noise she freaked out. She really liked the donkeys and wanted to pet them.

We then went inside for a wonderful dinner and some ice cream then home.

It was a wonderfully packed weekend with lots of family time and nap time.

Happy 4th of July

It is a day to celebrate the birthday of America. It is a day to celebrate our freedom with family and friends eating hot dogs and hamburgers and wearing red white and blue.

For church this morning I made sure Alyssa was wearing her blue and a cute skirt. Me I get to church and realize I might be one of just a small few that has on no red, white or blue. It is amazing that as a mom I can make sure my daughter has it but don't even think of myself.

We came home from church and got to spend an hour with my mom before she took off to head back to Arizona. Then it was nap time for me while Chris and Alyssa played. There are so many times where I lay up in bed with a huge smile on my face as I listen to the two of them play. It is such an amazing sound to hear.

I came downstairs and Alyssa helped me make brownies for tonight. Her favorite part was licking the bowl clean. She had chocolate from head to toe and the biggest smile on her face. I took pictures but my camera battery died so no uploading them until tomorrow.

Now Alyssa is down for a late afternoon nap, I have worked on cleaning out the bedrooms upstairs to start the nursery and Chris is working on the stairs for the deck. When Alyssa wakes up we will pack the car up and head out to a good family friends house.

There we will eat and laugh till our bellies hurt and then enjoy fireworks from all over the St. Louis area from one location. I hope Alyssa will be able to stay awake to see the fireworks, though I'm not sure she will care.

Happy 4th everyone and stay safe!

16 week update

This pregnancy Pregnant with Alyssa

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain: About 4 pounds. I'm happy with it and know it will start to go up but hope fully it stays slow.

Maternity clothes? Yep but I do still wear some no maternity tops and I CAN put on my old jeans I just can't sit down with them on and they are SUPER uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am actually sleeping though the night again I don't have to get up to pee. But when I wake up you better get out of my way.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move today!

Movement: For the first TRUE time today. probably a few times over the last 2-3 weeks.

Gender: unsure will find out on July 20th my motherly instinct says boy.

Labor Signs: none

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting more shallow.

What I miss: a good drink every now and then. I could have gone for a Margarita tonight.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the gender and starting the nursery

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy today and don't worry about tomorrow.

Milestones: Well according to my weekly updates the baby is the size of an avocado and is 4.5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces.

Zoo

I have titled a blog Zoo before but that is what we did so that is the name again! Each time we go to the Zoo it gets more and more fun because Alyssa knows more and more. This is the 3rd or 4th time we have taken her.

Today we went and she thought every animal was a puppy and LOVED waterfalls. Every waterfall we would see she would ooo and awww over.

We got there a little after 8 so we could do the children's zoo for free. She liked seeing the fish and birds. She got to pet a guinea pig and goats. We saw the pigs and they were playing and eating cardboard boxes. Alyssa watched them for a few minutes and the yelled at them "No no no" she didn't like them eating the cardboard.

She enjoyed seeing the birds and watching the sting rays. She loved running around the zoo and watching the people.

By 11 am it was hot and there were a lot of people there so we left. She took a nap in the car and then we went to eat. After we ate we had to go to home depot for some things and Alyssa ran around charming everyone in home depot.

At home she took another good two hour nap and then went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. By 7pm she was ready for bed and so is Mommy.

*Side note* I loved going to the zoo today but this pregnancy is going to be harder and harder as the summer goes on. By the time we left the zoo I told Chris I felt like I was waddling. He asked if I wanted to know the truth I told him sure and he told me I was. It was also hard to hold Alyssa for too long because I would have pain on the underside of my belly.

*Another side note* I for sure felt the baby kick for the first time today. I have been having feelings for about 3 weeks at times that I thought, it might be the baby but never For sure. Today at lunch we were sitting there waiting for our food and I felt the baby for sure 5 or 6 times kick me. It was great! I can't wait until I feel it even more.

I love being a mom

Today Alyssa got up at 5:30. That is so not fun! But when she comes in climbs on the bed and gives you a big smile you can't help but smile back.

At 8 we were ready for a nap and we both took a two hour nap. When we both woke up I took a shower and Alyssa played. After the shower I came down and started to fix a picnic lunch for Alyssa and I to take to the park. While I was fixing the meal she dropped a can of soda on the floor and it exploded all over so quickly I picked up the most liquid part and off to the park we went.

At the park I got a blanket out and we sat on the grass and ate our lunch while watching other kids play and the cars drive by.

After we ate we played on the playground for about an hour then left to come home. We came home to ants on the soda so I had to clean the kitchen. Alyssa tried to help but it wasn't working so I put her down for a nap and she slept long enough for me to get the whole house clean.

She woke up and we have since been eating a snack, reading books and making each other laugh.

It is so great to be a mom! Tomorrow it is the zoo with Chris and Alyssa. I can't wait!

16 weeks

16 weeks. Today I am 16 weeks pregnant. It is nice to be this far. I was so nervous when I went to the doctor on Tuesday. I was sure something was wrong, I still hadn't felt the baby move and still didn't feel good. As soon the doctor found the heartbeat and it was beating a wonderful 156 beats per minute I felt a sigh of relive. The doctor gave me a new prenatal hoping that it would help make me feel better(so far it has!).

I came home and started to look at bedding and cribs and other things on line.

This pregnancy has gone a lot faster than with Alyssa. I can't believe that in less than 20 days we will know what we are having.

I hope that this pregnancy keeps ticking along and that this baby will be here before we know it. I can't wait for December, yet at the same time I am enjoy the time with just one child before we add another.

16 months

Alyssa is 16 months almost 17 months and I think that this is the most fun she has been yet! She is talking more and more each day and has the best facial expressions and personality.

She has decided that giving her angry face is her newest thing. She wrinkles up her eyebrows looks out the top of her eyes and pouts her lips. We laugh at her every time she does it so now she does it when she wants to make us laugh.

She has started to give kisses and hugs more freely though Chris and I still compete for kisses. Some days she will give kiss after kiss where other days if you get one you are lucky.

She knows what a dog(puppy), elephant, bird, lion and chimp says. She also knows where her nose is. She knows the first verse of "If your happy and you know it" and will clap her hands to the song. She also knows "Ring around the rosie" She turns in circles and says "ringa ringa ringa" until she falls down.

The park is her favorite place to go and as soon as she sees the park she gets so excited she starts to clap her hands and scream it is cute to see. At the park she knows how to climb up the equipment and go down the slide all on her own.

Her favorite foods are mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. She will eat just about anything but if she could pick she would eat potatoes and mac and cheese all day everyday.

This month she has gotten to see all her grandparents and even her great grandma and grandpa.

July will be a calmer month and I can't wait to see what 17 months brings.