The more time I get to have as a mommy the more important the little things become to me. In the next few weeks it will no longer be just Teagan, Josh and I. It will no longer be just Teagan and I. There will be a new addition. A new blessing. A new piece to my heart.
These last few weeks I have tried and am trying to make it a point to snuggle Teagan more and savor the just me and her time because that time grows short and I will soon have to make it a point to find that time.
The other night we had a string of Fall storms that had the personality of a good NC summer storm. When I got home with Teagan the storm had cleared and there was a warm steady rain coming down. The kind you dance in with your high school sweet heart and steal a kiss. The kind that helps you feel that sense of release when you run in it. The kind where you dance and twirl and puddle jump with your sweet toddler babe. No shoes required.
Dancing and twirling and puddle jumping barefoot was exactly what Teagan and I did while Josh watched and smiled. I think he watched and then went inside to start dinner because he knew Teagan and I needed that. I thought for a second to have him get the camera and capture the moment but then I decided against it. This was one of those moments in time that didn't need a camera to catch how special it was. My sweet girl had a smile plastered on her face. Her pants and shirt and hair were soaked and mine were equally wet. It was amazing. It was just the two of us. The rest of the world had disappeared into the background. It's a moment that I won't soon forget.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Term week!!!
Wow! We have reached a pivotal point in the pregnancy! On Thursday we will be full term! 37 flippin' weeks! That means, bring it on, Baby Bear!
We managed to get maternity pictures done before this little booger graces us with his/her presence. They were all really good and candid! I would rather have candid pictures over posed any day. Thankfully I have a sweet friend who offered to do them for us. Here are a few of our faves:
We managed to get maternity pictures done before this little booger graces us with his/her presence. They were all really good and candid! I would rather have candid pictures over posed any day. Thankfully I have a sweet friend who offered to do them for us. Here are a few of our faves:
We also took a few in the cow pasture, just Josh and I. It pays to marry into a farming family. The pictures were so funny they had to have a post all their own...trust me...
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A is for Apple.
How cute is this? She konked out after the Apple Festival and still had a death grip on those apples!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Checking Up!
How far along: 36 weeks
Weight gain: 28lbs total (Hello, far cry from the 70+ I gained with Teagan)
Baby's size: 5 1/2 lbs or so right now. Doc is estimating a 7 1/2-8lb baby
Baby's size: 5 1/2 lbs or so right now. Doc is estimating a 7 1/2-8lb baby
Sleep: Still able to get a full nights sleep. Occasionally I will get up once during the night but for the most part I'm sleeping pretty regularly. Thank goodness!
Clothes: I haven't bought anything new. Still truckin' along and getting creative. Mostly I have 4 outfits on rotation because I refuse to buy new clothes at this point.
Baby movement: Quite the rolly-polly! This baby really likes to knead my internal organs with their hands. Quite an odd sensation.
Baby position: Head down and face down. Let's just hope Baby Bear stays that way!
Cravings: random things that I haven't given into for the most part (thanks to my husband). This is definitely part of the reason I have only gained 28 lbs at 36 weeks. But, I won't lie, I did eat 8 Oreos and milk the other day at lunch...And OMGoodness NOM NOM NOM!!
Labor signs: The occasional "real" contraction mostly brought on by being overly tired or stressed. The Braxton-Hicks have definitely been getting stronger. Neither have been "productive". We are still "high & tight" as the doc puts it.
Inie or Outie: I actually have a little outie this time because of how Baby Bear is positioned. Not enough to be a full blown outie but it's there!
We had a doctor's appointment yesterday to check the size of baby. The game plan was to see how big the baby is now and see if we were going to have to schedule a c-section or if we were just going to let it play out. Thankfully, Baby Bear is only around 5 1/2 pounds right now and Dr. W doesn't think she/he will get over 8lbs. This means we are just going to let it play out. So, thankfully, there is no planned c-section and the waiting game begins. I am so excited about this! I told myself I wasn't going to stress and I wasn't going to get worked up but I have to admit I would have been a little disappointed if we had to have scheduled a c-section yesterday. Now, if we do get to the point where a c-section becomes necessary then so be it. The only reason that would be would be that baby doesn't drop or we get to the point they would need to medically induce. Dr. W told me we would try everything to prevent having to do another c-section. It was nice to hear. It was also nice to hear the comment he made about me being one of his more reasonable patients. I'm okay with just going with the flow. I only want whats best for me and for the baby. However we manage to get there.
Monday, September 19, 2011
In case of emergency...
We are almost to the finish line now but the question lingers: what will we do with Teagan while Josh, Baby Bear and I hang out at the hospital for a few days?
We pretty much have the game plan laid out for every scenario we could come up with. Who will pick her up, who will watch her, where she will stay, etc. What we haven't had until today was the official stuff done. Mainly, the medical release. If something were to happen to me or Josh or both of us while we are at the hospital or on the way there, etc then we need to make sure Teagan is properly taken care of. If she were to get sick and need to go to the doctor or Heaven forbid the hospital then we need to make sure the ones she is in the care of can actually get her the help she needs.
There are forms online you can print off. A few are pretty crappy or try and charge you but that is not necessary. Just make sure you read all of the information on the form you look for (we are using this one) and please get it notarized. Getting it notarized is a big deal and will make the form more reliable in the face of an emergency. Also, make sure you provide all the caretakers with a copy as well as the daycare/school your child is at.
Even if you aren't planning on leaving your child for a few days you never know what could happen. This is a wise move for everybody to make. We never know what can happen day to day and we need to make sure our children will continue to get the best care possible even if we aren't the ones giving it.
We pretty much have the game plan laid out for every scenario we could come up with. Who will pick her up, who will watch her, where she will stay, etc. What we haven't had until today was the official stuff done. Mainly, the medical release. If something were to happen to me or Josh or both of us while we are at the hospital or on the way there, etc then we need to make sure Teagan is properly taken care of. If she were to get sick and need to go to the doctor or Heaven forbid the hospital then we need to make sure the ones she is in the care of can actually get her the help she needs.
There are forms online you can print off. A few are pretty crappy or try and charge you but that is not necessary. Just make sure you read all of the information on the form you look for (we are using this one) and please get it notarized. Getting it notarized is a big deal and will make the form more reliable in the face of an emergency. Also, make sure you provide all the caretakers with a copy as well as the daycare/school your child is at.
Even if you aren't planning on leaving your child for a few days you never know what could happen. This is a wise move for everybody to make. We never know what can happen day to day and we need to make sure our children will continue to get the best care possible even if we aren't the ones giving it.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Dearest Baby Bear
Dearest Baby Bear,
My sweet babe, it's almost time. As I sit here writing this my eyes fill up with tears. I cannot believe the time to hold you is almost here. I've been aprehensive because I don't feel like I've given you the time I did your sister. I've been running around after her because she is a bundle of energy and most days I have to feed her and bathe her and help her brush her teeth! I've barely had time for myself but I've loved you since we found out we were being blessed with another sweet babe. As we grow closer to your due date my heart suddenly feels like it's going to explode with love. I long to hold you and nurse you and have you nuzzle into my neck. I can't wait to see you for the first time and tell you how much your daddy, your sister and I all love you.
I just want you to know we are all excited to meet you and hold you and love you. We do want you to hang on at least another week and a half though. We want you to ate least be 37 weeks please! We want to be able to take you home right away so you just take all the time you want!
Forever and Always,
Mommy
My sweet babe, it's almost time. As I sit here writing this my eyes fill up with tears. I cannot believe the time to hold you is almost here. I've been aprehensive because I don't feel like I've given you the time I did your sister. I've been running around after her because she is a bundle of energy and most days I have to feed her and bathe her and help her brush her teeth! I've barely had time for myself but I've loved you since we found out we were being blessed with another sweet babe. As we grow closer to your due date my heart suddenly feels like it's going to explode with love. I long to hold you and nurse you and have you nuzzle into my neck. I can't wait to see you for the first time and tell you how much your daddy, your sister and I all love you.
I just want you to know we are all excited to meet you and hold you and love you. We do want you to hang on at least another week and a half though. We want you to ate least be 37 weeks please! We want to be able to take you home right away so you just take all the time you want!
Forever and Always,
Mommy
A good friend can always make you cry, in a good way.
I have friends who know I've had concerns of sharing my heart with two. One friend came upon this poem and had me in tears but sums up my heart quite well. I thought I'd share it with you too. Just grab a kleenex before you read on. Trust me.
Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.
I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.
You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.
But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.
I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.
I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
Author Unknown
Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.
I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.
You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.
But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.
I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.
I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
Author Unknown
Monday, September 12, 2011
Night Terrors.
Imagine this: It's 12:34am and you've been asleep for a good hour and a half. Suddenly the monitor next to your bed is screaming the toddler version of bloody murder. The kind of scream where they are looking for you while something scary is happening and can't find you. You run into your toddlers room, pick them up from their crib and they continue to scream. They have no idea it's you that has just picked them up, is softly talking to them and rocking them and trying to make it better. They continue to scream and squirm and kick. All with a look of sheer terror on their face. They continue to call for you. They are screaming "Mommy, Mommy". You feel helpless. Your sweet husband comes in trying to help. Your toddler scrambles for your husband but continues to cry. They are confused and disoriented like they are worlds away. Finally they wake up and you take your child back. They nuzzle into your neck and you rock them and just hold them, stroking their head and their back and they you lay them in their bed and they fall right back to sleep. Now, you try and go back to sleep which takes about an hour because of the amount of adrenaline that was running through you the last 15 minutes.
Imagine that scenario around 3 times a week for the last month. We've finally accepted it is the inevitable Night Terrors. We've thought it for a while and now we are treating them as such.
I've researched the hound out of night terrors and this is the basic information I've come up with.
Symptoms: (Teagan has had all of these symptoms)
*increased heart rate, increased breathing rate and sweating
*happens 90-120 minutes after the child falls asleep
*child is frightened but can't be awakened
*child is disoriented, confused and unresponsive
*child does not respond to comforting
*episodes last anywhere from 3-30 minutes
Treatment:
*do not try to wake the child (this isn't something we've done yet. we get her out of the crib and at least hold and try to comfort her).
*make sure the child isn't hurting themselves (thankfully, Teagan doesn't thrash she just sits or stands up).
*wake the child 10-15 minutes before the expected episode or at least "disrupt" their sleep pattern.
We have started her 7:30 beditme back to ensure she is getting enough sleep (over-tiredness is a cause) and we disrupted her sleep pattern last night (we moved her in her crib so she was kind of awake but went right back to sleep) and she didn't have an episode. I called her doc just in case and hopefully will have an answer or an opinion by this afternoon. Hopefully we can continue this routine and the night terrors will go away. Have you dealt with night terrors? If so, we worked for you?
Here are some websites I looked at:
http://night-terrors-children.com/
http://children.webmd.com/guide/night-terrors?page=2
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/night-terrors
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/night_terrors.htm
Imagine that scenario around 3 times a week for the last month. We've finally accepted it is the inevitable Night Terrors. We've thought it for a while and now we are treating them as such.
I've researched the hound out of night terrors and this is the basic information I've come up with.
Symptoms: (Teagan has had all of these symptoms)
*increased heart rate, increased breathing rate and sweating
*happens 90-120 minutes after the child falls asleep
*child is frightened but can't be awakened
*child is disoriented, confused and unresponsive
*child does not respond to comforting
*episodes last anywhere from 3-30 minutes
Treatment:
*do not try to wake the child (this isn't something we've done yet. we get her out of the crib and at least hold and try to comfort her).
*make sure the child isn't hurting themselves (thankfully, Teagan doesn't thrash she just sits or stands up).
*wake the child 10-15 minutes before the expected episode or at least "disrupt" their sleep pattern.
We have started her 7:30 beditme back to ensure she is getting enough sleep (over-tiredness is a cause) and we disrupted her sleep pattern last night (we moved her in her crib so she was kind of awake but went right back to sleep) and she didn't have an episode. I called her doc just in case and hopefully will have an answer or an opinion by this afternoon. Hopefully we can continue this routine and the night terrors will go away. Have you dealt with night terrors? If so, we worked for you?
Here are some websites I looked at:
http://night-terrors-children.com/
http://children.webmd.com/guide/night-terrors?page=2
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/night-terrors
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/night_terrors.htm
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Did that really just come out of your mouth?
We have never spoken "baby talk" to Teagan. We have always spoken to Teagan as if she is an adult. I think doing this has really paid off. Within the last month or so Teagan has started on 3 word sentences. Josh and I are constantly amazed at what comes out of her mouth! We are so proud of her and pray she continues to learn at the rate she does and continues to have the love of learning that she seems to have had the last 19 mths.
Some of Teagan's common words and phrases: YUP (her all time favorite word), NO (her second all time favorite word), please, more please, eat eat, nanny (banana), milk, cheese, bread, water (wadda), bowl, cup, Amen, daddy's water, mommy's water, daddy "dink" milk, mommy "dink" milk, (seeing a trend here?), Daddy go work, Teegee (thanks to Matilda "Tilda" for that sweet nickname) go "skooo", nigh-nigh, baby, waddle-waddle (her penguin), book, Daddy do "knock-knock" (when Josh uses the hammer), Daddy go "beep-beep" (Daddy's going in his car) or Mommy go "beep-beep", Mamaw, Papaw, Buddy (I have an Uncle Buddy), Tilda (Her bff Matilda), Boz (her Aunt Kristina & Uncle Matthew's dog), Nick-Nick (gpa & gma's dog), Addie (Miles David's "dog/sister"), Miz (Miles), potty, bath, peace, ice-ice baby, elbow , knee, shoes, foot, eyes, noz (nose) and there are actually quite a few more that I probably should be better at keeping up with but my brain has run out of memory right now!
It's kind of bittersweet actually. The idea that my sweet baby girl is no longer a baby. She is talking and "reading" and becoming quite the independent toddler. I was looking back at my Teagan in my belly maternity pictures and it brought tears to my eyes. We have been so blessed with Teagan and now we are soon to be greeted with Baby Bear and we get to do it all over again. My cup is pouring over...
Some of Teagan's common words and phrases: YUP (her all time favorite word), NO (her second all time favorite word), please, more please, eat eat, nanny (banana), milk, cheese, bread, water (wadda), bowl, cup, Amen, daddy's water, mommy's water, daddy "dink" milk, mommy "dink" milk, (seeing a trend here?), Daddy go work, Teegee (thanks to Matilda "Tilda" for that sweet nickname) go "skooo", nigh-nigh, baby, waddle-waddle (her penguin), book, Daddy do "knock-knock" (when Josh uses the hammer), Daddy go "beep-beep" (Daddy's going in his car) or Mommy go "beep-beep", Mamaw, Papaw, Buddy (I have an Uncle Buddy), Tilda (Her bff Matilda), Boz (her Aunt Kristina & Uncle Matthew's dog), Nick-Nick (gpa & gma's dog), Addie (Miles David's "dog/sister"), Miz (Miles), potty, bath, peace, ice-ice baby, elbow , knee, shoes, foot, eyes, noz (nose) and there are actually quite a few more that I probably should be better at keeping up with but my brain has run out of memory right now!
It's kind of bittersweet actually. The idea that my sweet baby girl is no longer a baby. She is talking and "reading" and becoming quite the independent toddler. I was looking back at my Teagan in my belly maternity pictures and it brought tears to my eyes. We have been so blessed with Teagan and now we are soon to be greeted with Baby Bear and we get to do it all over again. My cup is pouring over...
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Things I'm lovin' on this Thursday.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Doctor's appointment.
We had a doctor's appointment yesterday, Baby Bear and I. I came out with a huge smile. It was quite the polar opposite of our last appointment. The last appointment I left feeling defeated and like I had tried so to keep the weight down for nothing. The idea of a VBAC seemed like it was slipping away. Then, BAM, yesterday happened. I got to see one of my favorite docs.
The prognosis is great. Dr. W and I discussed the VBAC option and basically we're playing it like a normal labor UNLESS we have the 36 week ultrasound and Baby Bear looks like he/she is going to be a whopper (basically around Teagan's size- 8lbs 10oz) and then we schedule the c-section. Which, honestly, Josh and I are both okay with. Like I've said before I would prefer to be able to deliver naturally but as long as the end result is a healthy baby and healthy mommy then it's okay either way. So, we are back to an extremely optimistic outlook on this labor/delivery! Hooray!
The prognosis is great. Dr. W and I discussed the VBAC option and basically we're playing it like a normal labor UNLESS we have the 36 week ultrasound and Baby Bear looks like he/she is going to be a whopper (basically around Teagan's size- 8lbs 10oz) and then we schedule the c-section. Which, honestly, Josh and I are both okay with. Like I've said before I would prefer to be able to deliver naturally but as long as the end result is a healthy baby and healthy mommy then it's okay either way. So, we are back to an extremely optimistic outlook on this labor/delivery! Hooray!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Sleepy mornings.
Some mornings Teagan gets up before we do. Okay, most mornings Teagan gets up before we do. Either Josh or I will roll out of bed, go get her and bring her to bed with us. Sometimes she snuggles up and sometimes she just plays with "Baby" and "Waddle Waddle" while she waits for us to get up. This morning she snuggled! She fell back asleep and curled up next to me in the crook of my arm and we both went back to sleep. It is the best feeling in the world. I can't wait to have one curled up on my arm and the other on my chest!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Settling back in or teeth?
Teagan had quite an August. Her world was basically thrown into a tailspin. I was gone for four days and then we went to VT and she was thrown completely off schedule. Her sleep and her naps mostly happened in the car and her world kind of got turned upside down. She has spent the last half of August trying to get back on track. This has been difficult for all of us.
Since we got back from VT Teagan has been crying out at night. It usually only happens once and she can typically be comforted by Josh or I going in her room and laying our hands on her back or chest. There was one night I was worried we had started the dreaded night terrors but thankfully that was just a one time occurrence. I hope.
Then today a runny nose started. A clear runny nose and a little fussiness. I looked in her mouth (after turning her upside down and tickling her) and think I saw a 2 year molar trying to make it´s way down. I´m not sure if this has any correlation to the night time crying out or not.
I hope it breaks through soon because the lack of sleep is getting to me and I feel so bad for her!
Since we got back from VT Teagan has been crying out at night. It usually only happens once and she can typically be comforted by Josh or I going in her room and laying our hands on her back or chest. There was one night I was worried we had started the dreaded night terrors but thankfully that was just a one time occurrence. I hope.
Then today a runny nose started. A clear runny nose and a little fussiness. I looked in her mouth (after turning her upside down and tickling her) and think I saw a 2 year molar trying to make it´s way down. I´m not sure if this has any correlation to the night time crying out or not.
I hope it breaks through soon because the lack of sleep is getting to me and I feel so bad for her!
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