I don't know about you, but I can hardly believe that we are in week 29 of this pregnancy already! Third trimester is here, and I am visiting my midwife every other week. I'm measuring right on target for belly/baby size, and my weight gain is still definitely low compared to last pregnancy (although Christmas cookies have not helped at all, whatsoever). Overall, I feel good. Little 2P is getting bigger by the minute and continues to do plenty of flip flops to let me know he is healthy and strong!
Life has been so busy, which I'm sure contributes to the blinding speed of this pregnancy. Christmas preparations and celebrations, work responsibilities, studying for the EPPP (licensure exam for me). Oh, and watch for a blog post covering Mikayla's first birthday parties (!!). One happened just after Christmas in New Jersey, and the other will take place when we visit my parents in January, closer to her actual birthdate. Spoiler alert: this girl loves cake!
And the nesting? OH my my. Despite nursing a cold and sore throat for the past four days, I was upstairs yesterday clearing out drawers in the nursery and reorganizing the hall closet to make room for 2P's things. I have a TON of boy clothes, thanks to my dear sister passing along some of Elijah's clothes, and a few friends who also had boy clothes to give. My goal today, if I have the energy, is to do yet another clothing swap, putting away Mikayla's 9-12 stuff and pulling down the 18 month bin. And we will be ready to set up crib #2 as soon as we invite a friend over to help Joel move the mattress and box spring up to the attic, since we took the guest bed down a few weeks ago.
Phew!
This flurry of activity is, I'm sure, related to the start of the New Year and my closing in on the week 30 mark. In my mind, "after the holidays" and "January" have been the objects of my baby-prep procrastination. And now that those are actually drawing quite, quite near, the reality of having this baby soon is hitting me (well, us, if I may speak for Joel as well). Once we are into January, this baby will be here in just two months! Yikes! And I need to fit in a licensure exam and wrapping up loose ends at work before it all goes down.
Overwhelmed? Not at all...ok yes, a little...but with a supportive hubby who is finished with school (a Master of the Masters!), we should be able to get all these preparations knocked out in a timely manner.
Off to wash some diapers...and organize some baby clothes...and then collapse into a heap of sick tiredness for awhile. Stay tuned for "during" and "after" pictures of the nursery as it transitions from a one-baby room to a two-baby circus!
SDG!
(Almost) 11 Month Update
Our little girl is growing so fast! We are continually amazed and grateful for her joyful personality, her love for her parents, and her wonder and curiosity for life - even in our boring little house. We love being around her, and it is evident that she has such a loving heart already. She is definitely starting to show that she is a little person and not a baby anymore! Her introverted, laid back nature shows through (especially around groups of people), though she is certainly outgoing in the comfort of home. While we try to be careful not to allow ourselves to build her up primarily for what she does (more on that in a later post), we are blown away each day at what she is learning or doing. I wrote the first draft of this post two days ago, and when I revisited it, some achievements or milestones already seemed outdated! Here are some new things in Mikayla's world lately:
- She LOVES to hear music and singing. She has also started to dance on command, and has even started to dance spontaneously when her little Mozart cube plays.
- She knows who made her, responding to the question with an exuberant single hand raised upwards. Two hands thrown upwards shows how big she is.
- Mikayla regularly says mamma, dadda, and uh-oh, and we thought we just heard a "ki-gu" for "kitty" when Niko walked into the room.
- Speaking of words, she says "uh-oh" whenever she drops something on the floor as well as whenever she plain old feels like it. Take last Sunday for example. Our pastor just finished reading Romans 3:23, and Mikayla followed it up with an authoritative "uh oh!" Awkward. We are working on context.
- When asked what a cow and kitty says, she responds with "mmm" and "ah-wo," respectively. She can also pick her cow out of an animal lineup when we ask her where it is.
- She also just started with the "n" consonant sounds, which means "no" is on the horizon.
- Though Mikayla enjoys flipping through her board books on her own, she won't sit very still for long for us to read with her. I'm sure that time will come. Hopefully soon.
- She is cruising around on everything, including the walls, and has even started to walk while only holding onto one of our hands.
- Mikayla is fascinated by doors and light switches. Particularly the one big kitchen cupboard that she can reach: we were playing Ticket to Ride this afternoon over the din of her repeatedly opening and slamming it because, well, she can. No pinched fingers yet.
- She loves throwing her food onto the floor, even though she knows she will be disciplined. Most of the time she looks directly at us and still throws it on the floor with an "uh oh!" Yes, Mikayla, Romans 3:23 applies to that.
- Finally, Mikayla has never met a person or situation that didn't warrant a super cute wave. She doesn't always do it on command, and her favorite time to wave is when someone starts walking away after imploring her to wave.
21.5 Week Belly Progression
It's been about a month since our last belly progression pic, so I thought I'd post one. Mainly I wanted to offer proof that I do, in fact, get haircuts sometimes.
17.5 weeks with shaggy hair on October 16:
And today at 21.5 weeks looking far more chic and with way cooler lighting:
I promise the next belly pics will be in something other than a dress. I feel like it is a little hard to see exactly how the belly is progressing when I'm wearing something drapey. So next time will be jeans and a nice fitted maternity shirt so you all can be amazed at how I am all belly and so adorable and haven't gained any weight anywhere else, etc. etc. Because that is what's important here, obv.
Try to ignore that everything written to this point has basically reflected huge insecurities about how I look as a preggo mom. I am apparently working hard to overcome the emotional baggage of having gained 50 pounds with Mikayla and also having gone about 2 months without a haircut not long ago.
Also, please ignore Mikayla's Christmas presents in the background of the new belly pics. She isn't supposed to know about them and yes we are lame parents for hiding them in plain sight, and this is probably the first and last Christmas that this strategy will work, which works out since we are in a house without much closet space.
Anyway, thanks for checking in! Time to go Sabbath for awhile...
SDG
17.5 weeks with shaggy hair on October 16:
And today at 21.5 weeks looking far more chic and with way cooler lighting:
I promise the next belly pics will be in something other than a dress. I feel like it is a little hard to see exactly how the belly is progressing when I'm wearing something drapey. So next time will be jeans and a nice fitted maternity shirt so you all can be amazed at how I am all belly and so adorable and haven't gained any weight anywhere else, etc. etc. Because that is what's important here, obv.
Try to ignore that everything written to this point has basically reflected huge insecurities about how I look as a preggo mom. I am apparently working hard to overcome the emotional baggage of having gained 50 pounds with Mikayla and also having gone about 2 months without a haircut not long ago.
Also, please ignore Mikayla's Christmas presents in the background of the new belly pics. She isn't supposed to know about them and yes we are lame parents for hiding them in plain sight, and this is probably the first and last Christmas that this strategy will work, which works out since we are in a house without much closet space.
Anyway, thanks for checking in! Time to go Sabbath for awhile...
SDG
Just Don't Play "Butterfly Kisses"
I am super emotional this morning and I'm not sure why. Not really tired, not really stressed. Just...pregnant! And thinking about our little man ever since I woke up. The moment my eyes opened this morning, I felt him kick and I called him by name. Good morning, precious boy!
Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.
Also, I started to cry listening to Indelible Grace's version of "The Church's One Foundation". The line where "the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest" just got to me. I don't know, people, I'm just reporting the facts as I experienced them.
So now I'm sitting here just eating some breakfast (homemade raisin granola bars fresh from the oven; slightly crumbly, but oh so buttery and delicious) and every time I feel our son wiggling around in my belly, the emotions are almost overwhelming. I suppose these are the moments a second-time-momma ought to cherish and treasure in her heart. My firstborn is sleeping peacefully and it's just little 2P and me enjoying each other.
But as with most momma moments, this one is not to last very long. My sweet sister in law Becca is on her way to visit with her kiddos, AND sister in law Amy, who is by far the coolest aunt among us (sorry Becca...I've come to accept it already, personally) is planning to stop by this afternoon, too! Dinner is in the crock pot and granola bars are made, but do you think I look remotely presentable? Time to dash through the motions of making myself fit for company and then back down to do the same for this poor kitchen!
SDG!
Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.
Also, I started to cry listening to Indelible Grace's version of "The Church's One Foundation". The line where "the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest" just got to me. I don't know, people, I'm just reporting the facts as I experienced them.
So now I'm sitting here just eating some breakfast (homemade raisin granola bars fresh from the oven; slightly crumbly, but oh so buttery and delicious) and every time I feel our son wiggling around in my belly, the emotions are almost overwhelming. I suppose these are the moments a second-time-momma ought to cherish and treasure in her heart. My firstborn is sleeping peacefully and it's just little 2P and me enjoying each other.
But as with most momma moments, this one is not to last very long. My sweet sister in law Becca is on her way to visit with her kiddos, AND sister in law Amy, who is by far the coolest aunt among us (sorry Becca...I've come to accept it already, personally) is planning to stop by this afternoon, too! Dinner is in the crock pot and granola bars are made, but do you think I look remotely presentable? Time to dash through the motions of making myself fit for company and then back down to do the same for this poor kitchen!
SDG!
Go Team Blue!
She squirted warm goop all over my belly. She pressed the ultrasound wand down with a squish. And what should we see immediately on the screen but a clear view between 2P's legs. There is no doubt that Mikayla has a little brother!
Here are a few less-invasive photos of our son that we were able to bring home:
He had his little hands up to his face the whole time, as if sucking his thumb or, at times, together as though he was saying a little prayer. But we caught a glimpse of his precious face and, providentially, we were in the room with the new ultrasound machine, equipped with 4D capabilities! So we have a close-up, albeit slightly lumpy, photo of our little man. Isn't technology amazing??
In that first moment when we saw that it is a boy, his name sprang to my lips, and tears sprang to my eyes. Hello, my little son! The whole rest of the ultrasound session, as our wonderful technician narrated her measurements and pointed out organs and parts, I kept thinking, "There is ____'s little heart, beating strong and clear. And there are his tiny feet, and his hands. Look, ____'s spine is perfectly formed!" It struck me that this was the closest, most intimate view we could have of him. Even after his birth, we will only be able to look at him from the outside...but at this moment, we were actually exploring his whole little body, inside and out, beholding how fearfully and wonderfully he is made. What a sweet blessing to a momma's (and dadda's!) heart, to know that our child is healthy.
And of course, as soon as we left, my nesting energy and motivation kicked into overdrive as I began to visualize all of the preparations that we need to make for our son before he comes home. We can take down the guest bed this afternoon, right? Good thing I bought that crib bumper for $5; we can get the crib from Laurie and have the nursery set up by this weekend. Because it's so important that he have a place to sleep 19 weeks before he's born.
How grateful we are to the Lord for granting us this baby out of the abundance of His grace. Seeing his little form and face make it all so real that we will be welcoming him in a very little while. We can't wait to meet you in person, sweet son!
SDG
Here are a few less-invasive photos of our son that we were able to bring home:
He had his little hands up to his face the whole time, as if sucking his thumb or, at times, together as though he was saying a little prayer. But we caught a glimpse of his precious face and, providentially, we were in the room with the new ultrasound machine, equipped with 4D capabilities! So we have a close-up, albeit slightly lumpy, photo of our little man. Isn't technology amazing??
In that first moment when we saw that it is a boy, his name sprang to my lips, and tears sprang to my eyes. Hello, my little son! The whole rest of the ultrasound session, as our wonderful technician narrated her measurements and pointed out organs and parts, I kept thinking, "There is ____'s little heart, beating strong and clear. And there are his tiny feet, and his hands. Look, ____'s spine is perfectly formed!" It struck me that this was the closest, most intimate view we could have of him. Even after his birth, we will only be able to look at him from the outside...but at this moment, we were actually exploring his whole little body, inside and out, beholding how fearfully and wonderfully he is made. What a sweet blessing to a momma's (and dadda's!) heart, to know that our child is healthy.
And of course, as soon as we left, my nesting energy and motivation kicked into overdrive as I began to visualize all of the preparations that we need to make for our son before he comes home. We can take down the guest bed this afternoon, right? Good thing I bought that crib bumper for $5; we can get the crib from Laurie and have the nursery set up by this weekend. Because it's so important that he have a place to sleep 19 weeks before he's born.
How grateful we are to the Lord for granting us this baby out of the abundance of His grace. Seeing his little form and face make it all so real that we will be welcoming him in a very little while. We can't wait to meet you in person, sweet son!
SDG
Banana Baby (21 weeks)
According to people who know, 2P is about the size of a large banana this week. About 7 inches long and 11 ounces in weight. Although 2P has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few weeks, he or she has lots of room to wiggle around yet. And we are feeling it! Last night, with his hand just below my belly button, Joel felt kicks for the first time! When 2P has active spurts, he or she seems to be a little more consistent than Mikayla was. I remember sitting and hoping she would kick again so her dadda could feel it. 2P was not nearly so difficult to keep track of, kicking and flipping around probably 5-6 times within a few minutes so that Joel kept sayin, "ooh was that one? I felt that!" It's so much fun to sit and talk about whatever needs talking about, and be able to react together when we feel little 2P do a cartwheel. I love this part of pregnancy!
There are, however, parts of which I am slightly less fond. To this list I would add both fatigue and morning sickness, which have returned with a vengeance this week. The heck? At 21 weeks I should be enjoying my adorable baby bump while still feeling energized and nesty, not moaning and hoping Mikayla will understand why Momma just wants to lie on the couch today. And why no, she may not sit on top of 2P because it will only make things worse.
The Lord is gracious in this season of weakness, however. It seems that at the times when I feel most tired and most sick, my work schedule just providentially opens up, allowing me to rest. This week, for instance, just as I feel slammed with exhaustion and illness, I had only two appointments yesterday and two again today...one of which canceled, allowing me to be home all evening. What a blessing, to both me and my clients, since I doubt the words coming out of my mouth would be very helpful with my brain turned off (and oh, it is turned off when I feel this tired).
So little 2P, you are reminding me of the very beginning this week. Except now I know for sure exactly why I feel the way I do - there is no doubt of your presence as you wallop me in the bladder, tailbone, whatever your little tootsies can reach at the moment. And as you increasingly take up residence out in front of me. One client said just last week, "So, are you having twins or triplets?" I guess that means it's getting obvious? I know I'm not THAT huge though, simply by comparing my weight gain to where I was last time around. I have gained a total of 10 pounds and I'm pretty sure it all goes through the doorway before I do. Joel commented to me maybe a week ago, as I sat at the kitchen table, that if he didn't know I had a belly underneath the table he'd never know I was pregnant. Of course, it is also in his job description to say things like that...and he is experienced now in the art of managing a pregnant wife...but I'd still like to say there is at least a grain of truth to what he said.
And at least he hasn't asked me to scoop ice cream lately...
Tomorrow: Anatomy/gender ultrasound!! Tune in tomorrow for some (Lord and baby-willing) exciting news!
There are, however, parts of which I am slightly less fond. To this list I would add both fatigue and morning sickness, which have returned with a vengeance this week. The heck? At 21 weeks I should be enjoying my adorable baby bump while still feeling energized and nesty, not moaning and hoping Mikayla will understand why Momma just wants to lie on the couch today. And why no, she may not sit on top of 2P because it will only make things worse.
The Lord is gracious in this season of weakness, however. It seems that at the times when I feel most tired and most sick, my work schedule just providentially opens up, allowing me to rest. This week, for instance, just as I feel slammed with exhaustion and illness, I had only two appointments yesterday and two again today...one of which canceled, allowing me to be home all evening. What a blessing, to both me and my clients, since I doubt the words coming out of my mouth would be very helpful with my brain turned off (and oh, it is turned off when I feel this tired).
So little 2P, you are reminding me of the very beginning this week. Except now I know for sure exactly why I feel the way I do - there is no doubt of your presence as you wallop me in the bladder, tailbone, whatever your little tootsies can reach at the moment. And as you increasingly take up residence out in front of me. One client said just last week, "So, are you having twins or triplets?" I guess that means it's getting obvious? I know I'm not THAT huge though, simply by comparing my weight gain to where I was last time around. I have gained a total of 10 pounds and I'm pretty sure it all goes through the doorway before I do. Joel commented to me maybe a week ago, as I sat at the kitchen table, that if he didn't know I had a belly underneath the table he'd never know I was pregnant. Of course, it is also in his job description to say things like that...and he is experienced now in the art of managing a pregnant wife...but I'd still like to say there is at least a grain of truth to what he said.
And at least he hasn't asked me to scoop ice cream lately...
Tomorrow: Anatomy/gender ultrasound!! Tune in tomorrow for some (Lord and baby-willing) exciting news!
Confessions of a Part-time Mr. Mom
I (Joel) have the privilege of being home alone with Mikayla for four afternoons/evenings each week. It is incredible. Here are some thoughts that have been tumbling around my head during our times together.
-When giving your baby a bottle, make sure the top cap is on tightly, and that the cap isn't mis-threaded. You'll learn the hard way. Not that I know anything about it.
-I'm slightly nervous for when Mikayla enters the stage when we have to step up the discipline and instruction. We do basic "no" and other training now, but I know it will only get harder. As if it wasn't hard enough, I'm finding that it's next to impossible to say "no" or withhold from her. If it's this hard now, how am I supposed to say no even once in the next 18 years?
-What child doesn't like grapes or cheese? Mikayla devours avacados, plain yogurt (ew), and other seemingly strange foods, but refuses to touch these kid staples. Skins on, skins off; colby jack, mozzarella, or cheddar: it doesn't matter. I really hope she didn't inherit my picky childhood eating habits (I'm really sorry, Mom, I'm sure your stroganoff was delicious). At least Mikayla seems to like one type of Cheese.
-I now have even greater respect and admiration for stay at home moms. Their job is tough! And I'm only doing it four half-days a week, with one delightful little girl. Whenever Elizabeth gets to stay home full time, she has her work cut out for her. She isn't leaving a job to sit at home and eat bon-bons, she's leaving a tough job for a tougher calling. And with worse hours.
-Mikayla just might grow up to believe in ghosts. Her dinner time coincides with the neighbors' dinner preparation, and she loves hearing the cupboard doors slamming shut through the partition.She always looks around so expectantly, hoping to see the source of the sounds, but they remain disembodied.
-Before Mikayla came along, crying or babbling kids never bothered me one bit in church. But now that Mikayla is at the screeching/babbling stage, I am paranoid that even a tiny peep from her is as disruptive as a streaker at a baseball game. I have to keep reminding myself that Out of the mouths of infants...
-A child's laugh is the greatest, most beautiful sound in world. It can render the darkest of days and the foulest of moods inconsequential and utterly self-centered.
-People frequently talk about how having children gives you a new perspective on a lot of things, not the least of which is our adoption as sons and daughters of God. It's true. Related to my second observation above, this has affected our prayer: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matt. 7:11)
-When giving your baby a bottle, make sure the top cap is on tightly, and that the cap isn't mis-threaded. You'll learn the hard way. Not that I know anything about it.
-I'm slightly nervous for when Mikayla enters the stage when we have to step up the discipline and instruction. We do basic "no" and other training now, but I know it will only get harder. As if it wasn't hard enough, I'm finding that it's next to impossible to say "no" or withhold from her. If it's this hard now, how am I supposed to say no even once in the next 18 years?
-What child doesn't like grapes or cheese? Mikayla devours avacados, plain yogurt (ew), and other seemingly strange foods, but refuses to touch these kid staples. Skins on, skins off; colby jack, mozzarella, or cheddar: it doesn't matter. I really hope she didn't inherit my picky childhood eating habits (I'm really sorry, Mom, I'm sure your stroganoff was delicious). At least Mikayla seems to like one type of Cheese.
-I now have even greater respect and admiration for stay at home moms. Their job is tough! And I'm only doing it four half-days a week, with one delightful little girl. Whenever Elizabeth gets to stay home full time, she has her work cut out for her. She isn't leaving a job to sit at home and eat bon-bons, she's leaving a tough job for a tougher calling. And with worse hours.
-Mikayla just might grow up to believe in ghosts. Her dinner time coincides with the neighbors' dinner preparation, and she loves hearing the cupboard doors slamming shut through the partition.She always looks around so expectantly, hoping to see the source of the sounds, but they remain disembodied.
-Before Mikayla came along, crying or babbling kids never bothered me one bit in church. But now that Mikayla is at the screeching/babbling stage, I am paranoid that even a tiny peep from her is as disruptive as a streaker at a baseball game. I have to keep reminding myself that Out of the mouths of infants...
-A child's laugh is the greatest, most beautiful sound in world. It can render the darkest of days and the foulest of moods inconsequential and utterly self-centered.
-People frequently talk about how having children gives you a new perspective on a lot of things, not the least of which is our adoption as sons and daughters of God. It's true. Related to my second observation above, this has affected our prayer: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matt. 7:11)
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