Too excited for sleep!

Last night was challenging to say the least. Auria was throwing fits left and right for now apparent reason and then she continued to do so in her dreams which meant fists and feet to Mommy & Daddy's faces as she tossed and turned, arguing with us... in her sleep. Thankfully I am not working today so we've had a chill day at home so A & I can both recover from yesterday's drama. I was fully intending to take a nap with her to get some rest since I do have to be awake and functioning to teach class tonight but as I laid her down I got an email on my phone saying the item I ordered has been delivered. Hmmm, what item and why didn't I hear a knock? And why didn't Edward bark when someone was that close to the house? I had no choice but to go investigate!

I got to the front door and opened it up but I didn't see anything. I opened the storm door (is that what they're called?) and then I saw it, resting against the side of the house... MY BIRTH POOL!!! [Yes, it's just a little kids fishy pool.]

Woohoo! Ah, it's so exciting to have that piece of the getting-ready-for-baby puzzle here and ready to go! Of course, there are still other things we need to be fully prepared but this is helping make things feel more real and now I'm so excired I can't possibly take a nap! If my back weren't hurting so much I'd probably use this burst of energy to get Auria's baby clothes from the basement to start sorting through what we may use and what we should get rid of but.... I feel like my back is going to snap in half just sitting here so that ain't happening today. Actually, perhaps I'll use this time to call up a couple of preggo-friendly chiro's and see how much it might cost for a few adjustments. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for sharing in my excitement ;)
Laters!

Third Trimester... Already?! #27weeks

The last few weeks have been so busy with the holidays, a surprise house guest, and my dad's emergency stay in the hospital! We had a great Christmas together, despite Pop-Pop being stuck in the hospital. We hit up all of the usual family stops over the course of a week or two and we did our own family celebration on Christmas Eve morning. I know that goes against all of the "rules" of Santa but it was the best chance for us to have time to actually enjoy some time together. Plus, besides "Ho, ho, ho", Auria still doesn't really know anything about Santa or care anything about him (and frankly, neither do I) so we took advantage of what was quite possibly our last year of flexibility on that front.

Our New Year celebration consisted of the normal 9pm bedtime routine. I set my alarm for 11:45 so J & I could wake up and toast with some sparkling grape juice and have a midnight smooch. Then we went back to bed. We live the crazy life ;)

Since the holidays have come and gone we're now transitioning to getting focused on creating a new office space in our lower living room so we can create a playroom for the girls. We're also trying to sort out a play for the kids' bedroom. And i'm just trying to wrap my head around the reality that in +/- 13 weeks we will have a newborn again! WHOA!

I know people (especially my husband) think it's crazy that I am constantly surprised but how close it's getting but since I stay so busy with A, work, Bradley classes, and the rest of life in general, I don't have as much time for it is sink in and feel totally real like I did when I was pregnant with Auria.

I'm starting my next Bradley series tongiht. I'm not sure how long I'll wait before I begin another one because this one will finish right before our due date. I'm really excited because it's a packed class and it's full of ladies that are expecting around the same time I am. I'm hoping that means we'll have an even stronger connection and it will definitely be a different experience for me to be teaching now from this prospective. I mean, I've been pregnant and gone through natural childbirth before -obviously- but it's a little bit different now that I am preparing again myself, and I'm in for a different experience this time since it's:
1) A different baby and each childbirth experience can be completely different, even with the same momma.
2) We're not planning the same hospital experience as we had before so there are new unknowns with that alone. And if all goes as planned I'll to have a water birth this time!

Anyway, it's definitely exciting that this time after my class series is over, I won't just be waiting to hear from my students about their births - I'll be waiting to share my new one, too!

In the mean time I'm trying to focus on enjoying the last of this time with my sweet girl as an only child.

Sometimes it's hard for me to think about because it's all either of us have known. I'm absolutely thrilled about welcoming our new family member but it's difficult for me to imagine how I'll still have the time to show A how much I love and adore her while sharing my attention with her baby sister. It will all work out but for now we're going to be sure to enjoy the last few months of just us two girls... & Daddy, of course!

I'm feeling better and better about how she's going to react to welcoming the baby. She's usually very interested in babies when we are out somewhere and see one. She is usually pretty calm and gentle around them and she always says "Awww, baby!". She's even been practicing baby-wearing with her Ergobaby doll carrier. It's gonna be so adorable when we're both wearing our babies ♥

Well, I was hoping for a better update than this but my girl wants to play so I must answer the call. Hopefully there will be more before Waverly arrives! ;)

Green Means Go (and other stuff). #23weeks

We used to have a DVD player in the car, but it was within kicking distance so it is no longer functioning. I'm totally fine with that because I like for A to be able to check out the scenes of the world as we ride from place to place. Anyway, since the DVD players demise she's found a few games she likes to play such as "Big Trucks", where she points out every big truck she sees as we drive down the highway. Another recent favorite it "Green Means Go", which consists of A looking out for every traffic light and making sure the light is green so we can "Go!". When they're red she yells "Stop, Momma!" and then we wait until it turns green again, at which point she will proudly announce "Greeeeeen... means go!".

Today we played this game on the way home from work and she was so disappointed when she asked if there were more lights ahead and I told her there were no more. She hung her head down and said "Mommy, I'm sad...". It was so hard not to laugh at her. I mean, really, most of us adults love bypassing traffic lights (especially on Bardstown Road near the afternoon rush-hour), but not my sweet girl. For her it simply meant an end, far too soon, to her favorite game. But never fear, Mommy to the rescue! We made up a new game today - "Find the Stop Signs"! I bet you can guess how that game works. the new game is no replacement for "Green Means Go" but it was a good enough distraction to lift her spirits.

When we got home, Daddy was already here and we decided today was a good day to get out and knock out a bit more of our Christmas shopping. (We're getting closer but still not completely finished yet... ack.) It's kids eat free night at Mark's Feed Store so we decided to eat out and then head to good ole Target after that. This girl refuses to eat any kind of meat (which is ironic since I was a vegetarian before I got pregnant with her and once I got over my morning sickness I craved --and I mean CRAVED = had. to. have.-- Arby's roast beef sandwiches) so we usually just get her a couple of veggies for her to eat. Mark's got rid of the veggie plate on the kids menu though so we ordered a PB&J with green beans, and an extra side of corn. We figured Daddy would eat the PBJ after he polished off his fish sandwich. Apparently A was a very hungry girl because she ate every last kernel of corn on her plate, most of the green beans, and she even tried her sandwich... which she went on to eat half of! I bring you... baby's toddler's first PBJ experience.

[Get that PBJ, girl!]
We've tried to get her to try them before but she didn't trust us but today she was feeling adventurous I guess and she loved it. I think she would have eaten the whole thing if Daddy & I hadn't already eaten the other quarters. Anyway, I was super proud of my girl for eating her dinner so well, she got a little treat for dessert as we wandered through Target.

Going back to yesterday...
We had our monthly visit with our midwife to check on baby W. We talked about my fears/anxieties/thoughts/wishes/hopes/etc about this pregnancy, labor. It was a nice little counseling session. I'm realizing that there are a lot of things my tiny little brain is trying hard to process. Between the difference of our hospital birth experience (you can read the short and sweet version of A's birth here) vs. our plans for a home/water birth this time, the reality of welcoming the fourth member of our family, the adjustment of A going from only child to big sister, etc. It's a lot to think about. Just the way our whole lives changed when A arrived, it's going to happen again. In wonderful ways of course, but it's still hard to imagine all of the details. How will it all work out? I know it will work out just fine but the planner in me is desperate for a few certainties to envision.

Baby W measured right on track with our EDD and her heartbeat was strong in the 150-160's. I wish I'd had my phone on me while the midwife was getting the heartbeat on the doppler because A's face was precious when she heard the thumpity-thump. She got so excited and said "Way-ly!"... a precious moment I will keep locked away in my memory bank. It's always wonderful to get the reassurance that baby girl is doing well and growing as she should. And hearing her the heartbeat never gets old :)

Oh, and I've been really bad at taking belly pics this time. I'm glad I did last time because it's fun to look back, and I meant to be all cute and Pintrest-y with it this time but live just has not permitted the time for such creativity. So here's a shot a snapped between showering and the midwife appointment yesterday:

[almost 23 weeks]
Bless my sweet friends on Instagram for leaving nice comments on this picture but I feel frumpy and huge... already. It's all for a great cause, of course, but I'm certainly not feeling a pregnancy glow.

Ok, so that's enough recap. I have to join in on the night-time ritual before my princess falls asleep without a kiss from Mommy!

You should read this.

I saw these online today and I loved what I saw so much that I decided I should share...

MSN article - Home Births Rising and a related blog/artcile from Mayim Bialik (aka Blossom) - Why Women Shouldn't Fear Home Birth

[I've read a few other posts by Mayim and it seems we have similar views on many things parenting related (i.e. co-sleeping).]


*In case this needs to be said...
When I share things like this I am in no way suggesting that my choices/opinions are superior to others. I simply believe that women should be made aware of their options regarding childbirth. I just can't stand the thought of something that is such a natural, amazing experience being made into a scary, helpless situation. Sadly, it seems like the majority of women these days don't realize they have a choice beyond just showing up at the hospital and waiting for instruction.
Empower yourself - be informed!