15 months

My sweet big baby had her 15 month birthday yesterday.  That meant today we got to go in for her 15 month check up and a couple shots.  She did really awesome, making her momma really proud.

At Reagan's two month check up, a whole year ago, she was a fat chunk.  I loved her rolls for the record.  All that good mommy milk made her top the growth scales and she was a shorty.  Today is a much different story.  She is a VERY active girl, and because of that she was 20 lbs 10 oz making her in the 17th percentile in weight.  She took a growth spurt and jumped from the 20th percentile in height to the 68th.  She's a tall skinny model baby.  What's funny though, is that I still see her as my chunky girl.

She's is meeting all developmental markers well.  She uses a few words, hey and bye being her favorite!  She picks up things and carries them, she stacks blocks (in our house, she prefers bowls), and she self feeds (though not very successfully with utensils).  She is already exhibting her "spirited" personality with her bedtime refusal.  Her doctor gave me some reading material and the behaviors she's showing are very characteristic of two year olds... I"m not looking forward to those terrible twos!  We discussed bedtime at length, and when the doctor was telling me that we, as parents, take too much credit in being the child's safe place, that they can associate the crib as that safe place, Reagan shook her head, quite fervently, no.  It was as if she was saying, "uh-huh, my mom is my safe place."  We all found this quite amusing.

In just a couple weeks, Anna will be having her two month check up.  I am really dreading it; it helps that Reagan has taken her binkie.  It soothes her after those scary shots.  Anna isn't really the best at self soothing, either with a binke or a thumb.  She's just not into it.  We'll pray that she'll be just as tough as her sister was today.  I'm so in love with my fuzzy headed little girls.  I can't believe my babies are already 15 months and 6 weeks.  The time is flying!

Pinterest Inspired

I'm obsessed.  Pinning during feedings and pumping, while going on walks (Anna in the sling, Reagan in the stroller--it's a rare moment when I have a free hand...ha!), during naps, and after bedtime.  It's made me want to clean, decorate, photograph, and craft.  Here's a sampling of the Pinterest inspired ideas we've tried at home.  I've done a few projects with my school babies as well, but don't seem to chronicle it with photographs like I do with my kiddos at home. 


Fine Motor Skill Practice

Reagan loves pipe cleaners and as long as I'm near to play with her, I think there is nothing wrong with her playing with them.  We used a colander and put the pipe cleaners through and she'd pull them out and we'd repeat the process.  To keep a toddler entertained, it takes a lot.  She seemed to really enjoy this!  I would try to get her to sort them by color after she removed them, but that was a little advanced right now.  We'll build on this activity in the future.




Father's Day Crafts
 Brent made his daddy the cutest saw card.  Since my husband comes from a sawmill family, we felt the saw was very appropriate!  David really liked it.




We had to include the babies too, so I had an extra canvas left over from the 2 pack I bought we Reagan made my mom's mother's day gift.  With a little finger paint and mod podge, we made a gift from all three of his sweet kiddos for his office.





Mom's Day
Being two years pregnant and thinking I would have a newborn on Mother's Day, I almost forgot my mom.  Truthfully, I was hoping to get a picture of all the grandbabies for her, but since Anna had her own ideas about when she was to arrive, I ended up making a footprint canvas from Reagan for my mom.  Grandma loved it.



Finger Painting
We've tried several different times at finger painting, and surprisingly Brent really enjoys it still at 7. We did store bought paints in ziplock baggies.  It made for no bathtime afterwards which was a plus.  However it didn't hold Reagan's attention very long at all.  Brent wants to do it all the time though.  Which is kinda nice since he can gather the materials and do it himself. 

Yesterday we made our own finger paints.  With 4.5 cups of boiling water, 1 cup of cold water, and 2 cups of corn starch + a little food coloring we had our own unique goopy finger paint.  Brent really enjoyed making his own colors, and the coloring we bought at Target had a variety of colors you could make on the back of the package.  His favorite was chocolate moose.  It looked just like pudding.  Reagan loved the texture of the paint and making the paints look different by using a fork to paint.  The paint is thick so we had to let it dry overnight, but it drys to create a really neat 3-d effect.  Brent and I decided we may use it to create a landform map of his granddad's house since he has lots of ponds, it would be "more interesting" than just our street! 



Gifts
Pinterest has really cute ideas for gifts.  Teacher Appreciation week was my first week of maternity leave, and I had no baby, so I actually got to see Reagan's teachers to give them their little token of our appreciation.  After being home with two babies, I have a new found appreciation for daycare teachers.  They make kindergarten look easy!  It also gave me a little time to prepare some ideas for Reagan's last day party, though I did have a baby by then to bring to celebrate summer with the toddlers. 


Now...
I'm currently working on a project I'm super excited about.  Hopefully it will turn out as anticipated.  This isn't a project with the kids, so I have to work on it in the little spare time I have.  Since it is a surprise, I'll have to post pictures later!  The babies are both sleeping (miracle!), so I'm going to attempt to work on it now.  I'm sure I need to be cleaning, but crafting is so much more fun!

Tired Doesn't Even Begin to Explain...

We've been two weeks at home: Reagan, Anna, Brent (on occasion) and me.  Oh my goodness, I never EVER knew what exhaustion was before.  I was really tired when I was at home with Reagan.  She wanted to nurse constantly, she was really super needy,and I was a first time mother who knew nothing about babies.  I thought I needed to watch her... Watch her sleep, suck her binkie, play in her gym.  I don't know what was going to happen if I didn't watch her, but I realized this time around, Anna wasn't going anywhere if I placed her in the pack 'n play or in the crib without my eyes on her. Now, I still can't take my eyes off of Reagan during her waking hours, but it's justified.  She's into EVERYTHING!

Our schedule is starting to fall into place.  I can't get the babies to nap at the same time, but if I do, I feel like I need to take advantage of that time with laundry, dishes, and cooking.  When Reagan is up, she usually needs a playmate, and right now that's me (unless Bubba is here!).  When Anna is up, she usually needs a diaper or a boobie, and guess what, that's me too.  Between all that neediness, I spend most of my days, reading board books, changing diapers, picking up cheerios, doing puzzles, feeding a baby (while checking e-mails, pinning ways to keep my toddler busy, and looking at Facebook), singing songs from Nick Jr. and Baby Signing Time, and dreaming of 5 consecutive hours of sleep.

However, I love being home with my girls and their Bubba.  It is the busiest I've ever been.  I'm beyond tired.  I am just trying to soak their smallness in.  I know in a few short months Anna won't need me in all her waking hours, Reagan will be able to vocalize with actual words her dissatisfaction with her 8 o'clock bedtime, and Brent will be back in school (so will I, but that's another post for another day) as a second grader.  These times are precious.  So despite the fact that I'm just depleted of energy, I know that this is a time that's fleeting.  It will be over all too soon.  There's much to look forward to, but I'm not wishing the present away.

Anna's Debut

Two and a half weeks ago we welcomed Anna Caroline into the world!  She never wanted to make her debut on her own, so at my 40 week checkup we scheduled my induction for Monday, May 14.  My blood pressure was a little elevated and with my history with Reagan, the doctor thought it would be better to go ahead instead of waiting on the baby to decide... She may never have!

On that rainy Monday after Mother's Day, we took Miss Reagan into to daycare and went to the hospital.  They took us upstairs and finally by 10 o'clock they started the pitocin.  By the second cup of chicken broth and David's lunch break around noon I was feeling some pretty strong contractions, so without hesitation, I got the epidural.  I thought about taking a nap, but by the time the nurse came in to check our progress around 4ish, it was to push.  Three sets of pushes, the doctor came in, and on the last push... TA DA! we had a baby. We had two names picked out prior to the baby's arrival, but once she was here we decided on Anna.  She's the spitting image of her daddy.  Anna weighed a tiny bit less and was a tiny bit shorter than her sister at 7 lbs. 5.5 oz and 20 3/4 inches.

Recovery was MUCH better this time.  I remember crying because I didn't want to ride home in the car after Reagan was born.  This time, I sent everyone home, I tended to Anna in the hospital alone and I felt great!  I was just so happy to hold this baby, this unplanned miracle in my arms.  She was absolutely perfect.  I enjoyed our private time in the quietness the hospital room.  And while there was no rest to be gotten, and it certainly wasn't home, I treasured those private alone moments.  With your second it's different.  I want my girls to have some personal time, and that is totally an effort, but it is important for me as it is for them.

I have loved my private moments with Anna as Reagan is finishing this month in daycare.  I hope that she will enjoy the time at home this summer and hopefully stay a little more healthy than she has in daycare.  Brent is looking forward to staying at home with us a couple days a week too.  He excitedly told me he'd look on Pinterest for some craft ideas for us. 

I'm incredibly blessed.  I have a husband who is absolutely crazy about our babies, a little boy who accepts me as his "other" mom, and two little girls who prefer my arms over any others (for now...Reagan is very quickly becoming a daddy's girl).  Now that Anna is finally here, I can't imagine how life was before her debut.  Our family feels complete.

Pregnancy Hormones!

I know I've talked a little about all the minor complications that my pregnancy with Reagan held.  The beginning was rough, the morning sickness lasted all day long forever, and the swelling and high blood pressure ended it.  It was not a fun ride at all. 

This pregnancy has be MUCH more pleasant.  I guess the Lord knew I couldn't chase around a growing baby/toddler and have a complicated pregnancy.  I never got morning sickness, so far, at 36 weeks, I haven't had any swelling, and I feel great other than the crowding around my lungs that are causing me a little trouble catching my breath.  My "baseball" belly as Reagan's daycare teacher is much more akin to a basketball, but for the most part, all my weight gain has been belly.  Someone asked me yesterday if I ate because I just didn't look big enough to be ready to deliver a baby, I eat, but I don't pig out... So I'm not that waddling pregnant lady who looks like she's have quints and delivers a 6 pound baby.  I am, however, waddling :)

Yet, I am much more emotional with baby number two.  EVERYTHING gets me.  I can't listen to the radio, watch TV, see a daddy and his little girl in the grocery store without getting all teary.  I heard "It Won't Be Like This for Long" this morning and I had to sit in my car and compose myself before I could go into work.  I watched a special on bipolar children on Discovery Health and I had to spend longer than I actually watched the show praying for those children and my own.  And yesterday in the grocery store I saw this little girl of about 3 shopping with her dad.  She was pushing one of the little carts and she looked up at her dad and said, "But daddy we aren't holding hands!  Why aren't we holding hands?"  He smiled at her and said because she had to push her cart.  It was the sweetest thing... I can just see Reagan shopping with her daddy the same way.  I can't even imagine how my love will grow as I share it with two.

Our house is going to be full of lots of fun girl hormones as the little ones grow, but it's also going to be filled with laughter, fingernail polish, daddy dates to the grocery store, hair bows, and good times I'm sure.  I hope one day I can share with my little girls all the love we've had for them since before they were here.   Despite the heartburn, the nausea,  the fear that each cough will cause you to pee your pants, and the hormones!

Motivation

I have had a lot of trouble getting motivated today.  I have had 3 days off this week for Spring Break (I am going in tomorrow and Friday for teacher workdays to prepare to be out for the remainder of the year when this baby arrives), and today is the only day that I've had no plans.  I let David and Brent take Reagan to daycare this morning, so for the first time in a year, I'm home alone.  While I miss my baby girl, I think I probably needed a break today.  I feel a little guilty for saying that, but I think it's probably important for my health (mental and physical--especially right now) that I take a little time just to breathe.

I need to be working on laundry and the nursery and take a trip to the grocery store.  Instead, I used a Shutterfly gift card and made Reagan's 1 year album and took a shower.  A LONG shower without hearing Reagan whining from her high chair outside the bathroom door, as I do most mornings, or hearing her yelling over the monitor to come get her out of her crib.  Again, I miss my girl, but who knew an uninterrupted shower would feel like a luxury!?

Today marks 36 weeks with baby girl number 2.  I'm getting so excited about meeting our newest little one.  I can't wait to raise my little girls.  I realized probably when Reagan was just a few days old, that being a mother is my most important work in life.  God has blessed me with a wonderful career and a faith that is strong.  He has also shown me that my work begins here at home.  I can't put other things (work, people, "stuff") before my children, and that realization is something I'm very grateful for.  In my own life I've seen so many children feel and left neglected, some that others would never notice that were being over looked, and I look at my blue eyed baby and my protruding belly and promise my girls that they won't be those children.

I'm pretty nervous about the responsibilities that two babies will bring, but I've been overwhelmed and nervous before with life events, and I've never been given anything I can't handle.  Yesterday, I was driving past my church and on one side of the sign it read, "God doesn't make mistakes," and on the other it read, "God provides for needs not wants." As I drove, I thought about the little kicker in my tummy.  I think she was a needed addition to our family.  A playmate for her sister, another companion for Brent, a little person to teach her mommy and daddy even more about true love.  While the timing certainly wasn't my own, I am sure it was in the plan.  As I worry about how we will provide for our family, I know that we may not have everything we want materially, but our needs will be met.  What we need more than anything is to grow our family in love. 

I think I may have found my motivation!

Shhh! Everyone's asleep!

My princess has been a co-sleeper since she was out of her Rock 'n Play Sleeper at about 4 months.  While I was nursing, it was more for convenience, especially after I went back to work.  Once she didn't need a late night feeding, it was because I (yes, me) missed her and liked having her close.  Plus, the split floor plan of our home seems to put a bit too much distance between our room and hers.

Lately, with my growing belly and just being overly uncomfortable (not to mention having to get up to potty a few times a night), I've been trying to get her to sleep in her crib.  I decided that I needed to trust God to keep her safe, there's nothing unsafe in the crib with her, and I needed to allow my body and the baby growing in my tummy as much restful sleep as possible.  This was NOT happening with a nearly one year old tossing and turning and kicking in the bed.  I never thought our king sized bed could feel so small.  So, Reagan's been sleeping in her crib half the night or so.  She wakes up usually around 12 or 1 and I hear her on the monitor, and I try (not too hard) to get her back to sleep, but most of the time she spends the rest of the night snuggled between Mommy and Daddy.  Last night she slept until 3:30 in her bed.  I checked on her around her usual wake up time, and she was snoozing away.  I think if I didn't work, I'd be a little better about getting her to complete the full night in her bed, but most nights during the week, I just don't have the energy to be up with her and then be teaching my kindergartners.  I'm proud of the progress we've both made lately!

Right now, Reagan's brother is happily tucked in his bed (and at 7, we're just now getting him to stay in his bed all night!), my husband is snoring from the couch, and Reagan is sleeping under her favorite muslin blanket in her crib.  Baby in my tummy is wide awake and my eyes are heavy.  I'm thinking about seeing how large the king sized bed feels with just me and my pregnant tummy in it!  In just a few short weeks our house will be a little more crowded, but so full of love.  It's a happy thought for this Mommy.