My Little Peanut

Annelise had her 18 month check up today - even though she's 19 months.  Oops, pregnant-brained mommy forgot to get her in to the doctor sooner.  

She weighed 22 pounds (10th percentile) and measured 31.5 inches long (25th percentile).  What a peanut!  The doctor says she is extremely healthy and highly advanced in her recognition, language and fine motor skills.  

Phew!

And, thank you ALL for your advice and direction on my birthing dilemma.  We have thought and prayed about it a lot.  Considering the fact that my first c-section was mainly due to being induced (I don't think my body was ready to have the baby) and the fact that my placenta ruptured (fluke) I'm going to chance the VBAC.  My doctor says its completely safe for me to try to go naturally and I intend to do just that.  I'm not in a hurry to get this baby out.

Now, I'll let you know if I change my mind in a few weeks. 

Oh the Dilemma

Went for another doctor's appointment yesterday.  I'm 33 weeks, measuring a healthy 37.  The doctor is fairly confident that due to the baby's measurements (on ultrasound) that she will be quite large.  Well, large for me.  8.5 pounds does seem big when you've only ever had a 6 pound baby.  She is encouraging me to schedule a c-section a week to ten days early.  I was hoping to go VBAC this time, but am now questioning that decision.  I have two weeks before I see her again. What to do, what to do?

Any thoughts from those of you that have gone before me?

Girls Playing

Day Two

I made it through yesterday without a glitch.

Ok, that's a lie.  I was totally exhausted by the time Matt got home.  And now I'm officially scared to death to have two children - and work from home.

I realize being pregnant - 33 weeks pregnant - adds a lot to the situation.  I have Alayna again today.  She's usually a dream.  But today, not so much.  I love her, but she's constipated, tired and I think she misses her mommy.  Add to that a 19 month old who wants to "help" constantly.

Yeah, I think I'm not getting much work done today.

Come swiftly Lord.

Um...Hi

I'm crazy, really.  Today is Matt's first official day back to work since summer started.  Its a long, sad day for all of us.  Annelise has already called for him twice, with a look of disappointment on her face when there was no answer.  School starts in two weeks, so teachers are back to work preparing.

Today is also the day that my sister Sarah heads back to college in West Virginia.  Leah (her twin) went along for the ride, so I am watching her 6 month old.  

Did I also mention that Matt's day started at 8 and won't end until 9?

Oh and our second car is at the mechanic having body work done, so I'm stuck at the house.

And...I borrowed my mom's carpet cleaner to try to salvage the rug in the our living room - since Annelise thought spilling a whole cup of black coffee on it would be a grandiose idea.

So, its 11:35 - I've already vaccuumed the floors, cleaned the rug in the living room, put Alayna down for a nap, snuck Annelise' teddy bear and blanket into the wash while she watches cartoons and managed to drink a glass of orange juice.

Phew!  It might be a long day.  But, a great taste of the reality that is going to hit me in 6 weeks. I have decided that starting the prayers now would be a great idea.

Why Hello 6 AM on Saturday

I haven't seen you in a while.  Although, I have a feeling we're going to get quite acquainted over the next few months.  Here's to hoping we get along well.

Friday Rain

After dinner tonight I swiftly marched into Annelise' bedroom and said,

"Mommy wants the next 45 minutes to herself."

Matt looked a little shell shocked, but responded with an "ok?"

I think he was hoping I wasn't on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  

Actually, I had just made myself a hot cup of chai and decided it would be perfectly enjoyed 

at my desk, in my office, watching the rain fall, while I blog.

So, here goes.  

Isn't he sweet?  Little Mason Oliver Williams was born to my best friend Lisa and her family on July 30th.  Here's to a "better late than never" congrats on my blog.  

Alayna Jay is getting so big!  Leah and I have been swapping kids lately, so she and Annelise are getting quite acquainted with one another.  Annelise LOVES her. 

 

I've nervous to even say that we hit a milestone...but Annelise pooped in the potty for the first time last week.  Mind you, she hasn't done it since.  But, it was a small step in the right direction.  I've already determined I'm not going to push her to potty train.  She's been asking to use the potty, so we've been allowing her to try.  I'm not naive enough to think that we can even slightly manage to get her trained in 8 weeks before this new baby arrives.  I'm very comfortable with the fact that I will have two in diapers.  At least one can tell me when they've pooped, right?

Did I mention that Annelise LOVES Alayna?  I found her in the exersaucer yesterday.  When I entered the room, she quickly bounced up and down chanting "Layna, Layna."  I guess that makes it ok?

And I'll leave you with this kind of sweet, kind of scary photo of Annelise, taken this evening. In her mischievousness, she brought me the digital camera, turned on and said, "Cheese."  So, I amused her by taking a photo.  I have to admit, she's pretty darn cute when she's being naughty - which is more often than I'd like.

Oh and lest you think I'm forgetting that I'm pregnant, um...no.  I'm 33 weeks, measuring 35, which means nothing I know.  This pregnancy has flown by and I have been so blessed with a summer that has been cooler than normal.  As I enter the home stretch, I must say, I'm feeling this baby's size much more than I did with Annelise.  The doctor says her legs are very long (in the 90th percentile!) and this past week she has given me every reason to believe she is going to be bigger than Anne's 6 lbs 13 oz.  Boo!

I'll leave you with this comical story.  Last night we spent the evening in downtown Holland watching the street performers that they have every Thursday night.  Its a great way to entertain ourselves (FREE) and get some exercise walking.  As we stood in a crowd of people, watching a performer, Matt witnessed two young girls staring at me.  Without breaking her stare, one leaned over to the other and said,

"Oh my, she - is - VERY - pregnant!"

AHA!

I admit, the majority of my AHA moments as a mother are not due to any particular strategizing that I have done.  In fact, most of them just happen.  Which is why my response is - AHA!

Who knew that switching Annelise to her big girl bed would solve our bedtime woes?

We babysat Alayna (my niece) last night and needed to lay her down for bed before her parents got here.  Naturally, we used Annelise' crib.  Much to my dismay, Annelise grew very cranky earlier than normal and we needed to put her in bed.  

At which time we were faced with the dilemma.  Do we put her in the big girl bed?  Left without much choice, we did just that.  And would you know it?  She stayed there all night long.  No spankings.  No coercing from mommy.

For nap time today, she headed straight for her crib.  I quickly directed her to the big girl bed, which brought a joyous smile to her bright 19-month old face.  I love those moments.

It occurred to me several minutes ago that I did not have to check on her once, spank her or place her back in bed.  She's out cold, in her big girl bed.

What an AHA moment!

Bedtime Woes

She looks so sweet and innocent, doesn't she?  Don't be fooled.  My dear husband spent the better part of an hour trying to get her to nap in her bed today.  Disciplining your child in a God-honoring, consistent way is exhausting.  After 5 spankings and lots of crying, screaming and manipulation, she finally fell asleep.  I'm sure that the majority of parents reading this are snickering under their breath.  So, since you've been through it and obviously think its funny, any advice?

We've determined this is a battle we're going to fight and win, especially before our sweet Elliora arrives in October.

Double Stroller

So, I've seen a few posts about this on friends' blogs, but haven't seen much in solution.  I'm really the kind of person that needs someone to tell me, definitely, what they think is the best product out there and why.  What kind of double stroller should Matt and I purchase for our babies?  I've heard a sit 'n stand is the best - especially for active toddlers - like Annelise.  I found two Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand LX strollers on Craigslist for only $80 each.  Then, I wonder, is there a reason they are selling them so cheaply and so soon after they bought?

So, HELP!  Tell me what you think.  I'm all ears.

My Sweet Girl

 

I've tried for months to find a solution to Annelise' constant need of me when I have work to do from home.  She hates to be in a room alone and often requires much of my attention during the day, even if it means she sits on my lap while I type.  While we were on vacation, we decided to get her a new toy.  My mom bought her a small set of legos, which she took to very quickly. Who knew that a $5 set of blocks could solve much of my work-from-home woes!  She now plays very happily on the office floor, while I accomplish my work at the desk above her.  I even enjoy her frequent serenades, as seen in this video.

31 Weeks

Well, here is me at 31 weeks pregnant (nearly 32 weeks!)...

And here is me at 30 weeks pregnant with Annelise.  

I think I'm just a little bit bigger this time.  

I will see my doctor again tomorrow morning - and then every two weeks.  The last time I went to the doctor, she said I was measuring 3 weeks ahead, which I know means virtually nothing. But, a girl can hope, right?  I'm feeling great these days, other than the normal exhaustion that comes with your third trimester.  Running a vacuum is like running a marathon.  Although, I wouldn't really know what that feels like, but I can imagine.

The closer I get to my due date, the older Annelise seems.  When we left for vacation, she was communicating in one word sentences.  Since we've been back, she's been putting two words together and I swear I even heard her say "I want down" today.  She's growing up too quickly and I fear that she will seem even older the day I birth her sister.  What's that saying?  "When you're a mother, the days seem so long but the years go by so quickly."  I can resonate.

And We're Back

I love vacation.  Although, my dad and I were talking and both agreed that much of the joy that comes from vacation is in the anticipation of what's to happen.  I must say, the reality was more similar to the anticipation than it has ever been. 

Before we left for vacation, I managed to scrounge up enough money to get Matt a new set of golf clubs.  I'm pretty sure the garage sale set he was using was older than him (that's old for golf clubs).  Needless to say he was surprised and overjoyed.  The best part: I made the 30 minute trek to Grandville to purchase the clubs with a toddler (during nap time) and a 5 month old.  I must have been a site to see!  I paid for the clubs with cash too.  That felt great!

We vacationed at my sister-in-law's parents' cottage in Muskegon, Michigan.  This is the view of the channel that leads out to Lake Michigan.  It was a beautiful place to stay!

Papa and Granny with Annelise on the beach.  It was a little windy, but she was loving every minute of it.

Playing a "civil" game of Monopoly our first night at the cottage.  I won't brag, but I won.  Enough said.

I couldn't resist buying the cousins matching outfits.  Annelise is almost 19 months old and Alayna is 5 1/2 months old.  They ended up switching the underwear that went with the dresses because the 18 months were too big for Annelise.  That cracks me up!

She looks so sweet and innocent, doesn't she?  Don't be fooled.

Me, 31 weeks pregnant and feeling it.  I think I was taking a rest after our walk.

Uncle Matt and Annelise enjoying snack time by the pool.  

Aunt Leah taking the girls swimming. 

 

Annelise watching daddy and Aunt Sarah play beach volleyball.  PS - See that beautiful, purple sippy cup?  I got it on sale at Dick's for $6.99.  A little pricey for a sippy cup, but its a Nalgene and our new favorite.  She loves using it!

Matt, being the outgoing extrovert that he is, invited himself to play beach volleyball with a bunch of strangers.  He had a great time - and my sister even joined him!

I thought this shot was cool.  

1)  Could she be any skinnier?  Try not to hate.  

2)  Look at that form!  I hope she's playing college volleyball this year!

And last, but not least, the girls decided to do a little something for themselves this week. Since the guys spent the majority of the vacation money on golf, we decided a pedicure was in order. And boy did it feel glorious!  Here's mom and Leah enjoying their pampering.

As we return to reality (its so hard after such a long time away) we're anticipating many milestones in our future.  School starts in 6 weeks, we will have a new addition to our home in 9 weeks and life will be completely different after that.