Sickos

No not other people - us. The little one has had a cold and stomach bug over the last couple of days. And I have caught her fabulous cold. No, it isn't really fabulous. In fact it pretty much stinks.

Each day of illness has been long and tear-filled. Each night has been even longer and more exhausting than the day. I hate it when my baby is sick. I imagine (hope) that every parent feels that way. They are so small and helpless and they don't understand that there isn't always something mommy or daddy can do to fix it. So sad.

That being said...how in the heck are we going to do this when there are two of them?!?!?! I am barely hanging on and surviving with just one sick kiddo. What about when I have a sick kiddo and a newborn? Or two sick kiddos? Honestly, the only thing that has gotten me through the last few days is relying on the Lord to provide the strength I need to just make it through, one day at a time. That and the fact that my husband is a super team player, who is way more patient than I am, and who is willing to take an equal share in the grossness that is a stomach bug. I am so blessed to have him as my teammate.

Thank you Jesus for your sustaining grace and my husband. 

Happy New Year!

So it is now 2013. Jared and I rang in the New Year like an old married couple with a small child. We had a quiet dinner together as a family, then played for a while, read some books, and put Claire to bed. After Claire was asleep, Jared and I just hung out in our pajamas until midnight and then I promptly went to bed. We did celebrate official midnight with some ginger ale and a kiss. : ) So it was a pretty good night - even if it wasn't especially exciting or noteworthy.

I am now 26 weeks along and this is the year in which I am going to have my second baby. I can't believe Amelia's arrival is only three months away. I still have so much going on and to get finished between now and then.

26 weeks

Claire's second birthday is quickly approaching - I only have three weeks to decide on a theme, get decorations, and send out invites. Plus, my mom and dad both have birthdays before Claire's. We leave for a week in Florida and to celebrate Jared's sister's wedding in just five weeks. And then I will have about a month and a half before sweet, little girl #2 arrives. I still have to get bedding, wall decor, drapes, a changing pad/cover, a baby monitor, and diapers and wipes; in addition, the dresser and glider both have to be sanded down, repainted, and then moved into the nursery.

Once all of the birthday and wedding shenanigans are over it will be time to start thinking about preparing some frozen meals for after Amelia's arrival and then packing up a hospital bag and gearing up for the big day. Three months is going to go by in a hurry and I am not sure I am mentally ready for the daily activities of mothering two little girls simultaneously. Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to meet Amelia, but I am not in as big a hurry for her to get here and require arms to hold her and my undivided attention as I was when I was pregnant with Claire. Maybe I am wiser now than I was two years ago?

Anyway, I had a great 2012 and I am thoroughly looking forward to all the promise that 2013 holds. So many weddings and other exciting things on the horizon.

Birthday Celebrations

My birthday was pretty low-key this year. Pretty much everybody was busy or gone on my actual birthday, so Jared and I just went out to dinner with Claire to celebrate as a family.

The next night we had dinner at my parent's house, I opened presents, and then we went to the square to see the lights and let Claire ride the ponies (she LOVES a good pony ride). Here are some pictures of the birthday celebrations:

 

 

Later this same week Jared's parents kept Claire for us while we went to see The Hobbit and have dinner with some friends in commemoration of my turning 30. It was a pretty good birthday and it wasn't so terrible to turn 30. I think 30 looks pretty good on my if I do say so myself.

Turning 30

I think it is kind of fitting that this is my 100th post and today is my thirtieth birthday. I have definitely been making all of the requisite jokes, leading up to this birthday, over the last few months. You know the ones about having one foot in the grave and impending death, because life is pretty much over after thirty. ; )

To be honest I feel pretty much the same today as I have all this year and last year. The same as I have every year since I had a kiddo. Also, I don't have any lingering regrets (yet). I am where I thought that I should expect to be in life by this age. Except for the fact that I was counting on being gainfully employed (I wouldn't trade staying home with Claire, and starting next year Amelia, for anything). I have a career, even if it has been postponed, that I love. I have a wonderful, loving husband. I have a beautiful daughter and another one on the way. I am growing in my relationship with Christ and my family is happy and healthy. What more could I ask for?

I am so very blessed. I know there are days and moments when I take all of the things I have been given for granted, but today I am counting my blessings as well as my years. And I am here to say, "I am not scared of you thirty." I have achieved a great many wonderful things in thirty years and I cannot wait to see what the next thirty hold for me. So, happy birthday to me.

I was going to post a picture of myself and then realized that I don't have one. I could only find one picture of myself (without a baby, or spouse, etc.) that was taken in the last three years and I have braces in it. So you are stuck with just my words today. 

Comparison

I was curious about how my preggo pics would compare, so I pasted one from each pregnancy here:

Claire - 25 weeks

Amelia - 22 wks

Amelia - 26 weeks

I definitely look bigger this time around from these two pictures. Which is weird to me; because at my 20 week appointment with Claire the doctor told me I was measuring large and at my 20 week appointment with Amelia the (same) doctor told me I was measuring small.

Thankfully, my weight has been fine. In fact, I hadn't gained any between appointments the last time I saw the doctor (probably due to the vomiting that is still occurring). : /

So if you were morbidly curious about my bump this pregnancy compared to last pregnancy, my weight gain or lack there of, and my morning sickness, hopefully this post sated your need. And if you weren't...well too bad because I was. 

Amelia Jo

I have done a terrible job of documenting this pregnancy. I am not going to be mad at myself about it though; I have been living life and enjoying my daughter, husband, and our families.

It did not take nearly as long this pregnancy to get a noticeable bump, but it has (thankfully) not expanded as rapidly as I feared it would at first. 

I am definitely still pukey some days, but overall I feel pretty good. I guess I get to be sick off and on the whole time with this little girl too. I have a lot more energy than I did a month or two ago. However, after my recent road trip to Austin I have been having to play catch-up on my sleep. I have been taking afternoon naps and still going to bed before ten. : )

I am still a little small for a lot of my maternity pants, but if I use a Bella Band I can make them work. I also still wear some non-maternity pants with a Bella Band, but not very often (it just is not as comfortable). I think the Bella Band was one of the greatest inventions ever for pregnant women--that and Preggie-Pop drops.

My absolute favorite thing now is that I am feeling little Amelia wiggle, squirm, and kick on a daily basis. I think we are just a short while a way from Jared being able to feel her kicks too. He said he thought he felt something a night or two ago when she made a big move/kick. Really, in my opinion, baby wiggles are the only redeeming quality of pregnancy--it just is NOT for me.

Pregnancy with a toddler is a whole new ballgame and I am having to learn what I am and am not capable of each day. I am definitely glad that I am not having to balance work along with all of my other responsibilities this time around. Also, it makes me extremely thankful that Mimi and Juju live in town and love my little Claire bear. In fact, Juju took Claire to the local library this morning - so I have gotten some Christmas shopping, two loads of laundry, and this blog post finished. : ) Yay for grandparents and productivity. 

30 Days of Thankful: Days 22-30

So I kind of fell off the wagon towards the end of the month. I promise I was still being thankful, but I just didn't take the time to write about it. First we had the Thanksgiving holiday and family in town - and I wasn't about to sit at my computer typing when I could be hanging out with my family and eating delicious food. Then my mom, Claire, and I got the chance to drive to Austin and meet Claire's new baby cousin and my niece (I am officially an Aunt!). So I am going to try to make up for the days I missed as succinctly as possible.

Day 22 - This day I was thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had some great family time and some delicious food. It was an excellent day - except for nap-time, but that is neither here not there.

Day 23 - I was thankful that the in-laws had some tickets to the Ark vs. LSU game that they weren't using and Jared and I reaped the benefits. It was a really good game to watch. We lost - which was sad - but at least we didn't get creamed. Also, I should have put more layers on...it was cold!

Day 24 - I was thankful for a quiet day at home with Jared and Claire. We got our Christmas decor out and almost all put up. I got to listen to my Christmas music and get ready for the Christmas season.

Day 25 - This day I was thankful for a helpful, loving husband who took care of Claire and me while I was feeling pukey. So glad that he doesn't run and hide when the going gets tough. : )

Day 26 - On this day, I was thankful that we had a safe day of driving on our way to visit David and Ashley and Sutton - and I was thankful for the Cracker Barrel store which was a much needed distraction for Claire after a long day of driving.

Day 27 - I was thankful for the new baby-doll and stroller that entertained Claire for a good portion of the day, so that my mom could hold her new granddaughter. Claire was definitely more jealous when Mimi was holding baby Sutton than when mommy was.

Day 28 - This day I was thankful for getting some time to hang out with my brother and getting to watch him be a daddy to his new little girl. Also, that my mom and I got to babysit Sutton, so that David could go have lunch with his friend.

Day 29 - I am still thankful that my mom and I made the smart decision to get through Dallas on day one of our travel - on the way to Austin and on the way home. And that it was a really beautiful day. We got to take a walk with David, Ashley, and Sutton and enjoy our last hours with them before packing up and saying goodbye. We had a really great visit with them and the goodbye was definitely bittersweet. 

Day 30 - I was thankful that we got to spend some time with Dorothy and that Claire was such a super, duper traveler again. She really just goes with the flow and it is SO helpful. Also, I was REALLY thankful to get home and see my husband and sleep in my own bed.

I am so, so thankful for all of the blessings I have in my life. So many things that there aren't enough days in a month to list them all! The Lord really has bestowed favor and mercy on my family and me.