She Turns 2 Today! (& I Feel Old!)

 -Gracie Jo-

Exactly two years ago today you were placed into my arms and my whole world changed in a million beautiful ways! It’s hard to believe you’re already two. Sometimes when I watch you sleep I still see you as my little newborn baby girl. 6lb 3oz, bald, and beautiful! I so vividly remember the first time you made eye contact with me, the first time you walked to me, and my absolute favorite- the first time you told me you loved me. Seeing you for the first time changed my life in my so many wonderful ways. You made me a mother, in more ways than simply giving you birth. Over the last two years you’ve forced see the world in breathtakingly new ways. You’ve given me a level of peace, grace, hope, and patience I never knew I had in me. Being your mother is the most gratifying and rewarding opportunity I have ever been given. Thank you for being my little princess. Happy 2^nd Birthday my sweet Gracie Jo!

Love & Kisses,

Mommy

Casper, the (un)Friendly Ghost.

Blame it, I guess, on these really, really cold temperatures we're having in Phoenix right now! (Seriously... my heater wants to run all day? Not saying this with any glory, but I'm a Phoenix girl. I'm not use to freezing all night in bed, let alone- having to wear clothes??). Lately, all I can think about is summer. Laying by the pool with Gracie, getting a tan!, getting toned up a tad for bikini wear, and having a super cold beer and/or margarita (or 2) while basking in the sun. Oh wait, that's right! I'm pregnant! I'll be an extra 25lbs (if I'm lucky) and I'll probably be egg-white-WHITE! My last pregnancy I found out I was pregnant on June 9th, so I still had the whole summer to (while making sure I stayed hydrated & not over heated) play in the sun! Loosing that initiate ten pounds from morning sickness = me wanting to LIVE in a bikini that summer.

So I guess I'm saying this summer, I'm still going to be out there, in my bathing suit (with a tank top that won't be removed of coarse) and I plan on taking Gracie swimming as much as I can and getting a little vitamin D while basking in the sun a tad. This summer's goal is to not look like Casper, the friendly ghost, when it's time to head to the hospital!

9 Things I Learned From...

This is a list I came up with about a year and a half ago, after I had Gracie. It's 9 things I learned about pregnancy, after having gone through it. I thought I'd grab it & re-post it as a way to kind of remind myself & any reading. Enjoy!

• No two pregnant woman are the same.   So often I found myself comparing me to everyone else. Why did their baby kick so soon? Why am I so much bigger/smaller? You can ask questions like, when did you start feeling pregnant? But the truth is, its different for everyone. I knew I was pregnant before I ever took a test & I think I was literally 2 weeks into it. I've known people who didn't know until they were 7 months! (crazy, I know.) Some people gain 100lbs & others, like me, gain 22lbs. My doctor told me to eat what I wanted, just not to go crazy, and I did, & gained the 'perfect' amount. Others, eat extremely healthy & still pack that baby weight. Some of us are just real lucky. Either way, the weight comes off. Most of it... if you're lucky!

• Its definitely a transitional time, so take advantage!   Having a baby is a big change in your life. There is so much preparing to do & life changes to make. This is the perfect opportunity to work on other parts of your life that need mending or changing. Most of my changes were on the inside.

• Pregnancy is gross.   It can be anyways. Like uhhhh, laughing too hard and peeing just a tad in your undies. Ya, it happens a lot if you've got a sense of humor & a very sensitive, almost always, full bladder. And yes, women toot. Quite often too when you're carrying a baby. I'm just glad Jason had a great attitude & sense of humor about it all.

• You're not Wonder Woman, but you're not recovering from a 20yr coma either!   Some woman use pregnancy as an excuse to do virtually nothing! Wussies! Unless you're put on bed rest or told to take it easy from a doctor, you can work, you can clean, you can even exercise. I worked on my feet for 10 hours sometimes when I was 9 months pregnant. Sure, my back was sore, my feet ached at the end of the shift, but you know what, it was great exercise & being on your feet, walking around, is actually really good in that last month. It helps move the process along. I'm a prime example.

• You'll never receive so many massages in your life.   If you're lucky I guess. Jason rubbed my feet and/or back every single time I asked. No matter how worn out he was from work or basketball. He was amazing! And I was spoiled!

• Buying baby stuff is as addictive as crack!    Or so I've been old. I guess I wouldn't entirely know. Be patient. I was in such a hurry to start buying that I decided since I didn't know the sex of the baby, I would do neutral things. Well, when I found out she was a she, I was disappointed by the small amount of pink things I had. I was sad that I hadn't waited & went with a pink themed baby room. And that's another thing, try and wait until after your baby shower, you never know what you might get for FREE!

• People will never be this nice to you again.   People always wanted to talk to me. Ask me questions, touch my belly. I felt so special. Like I was super unique. The only pregnant woman in the whole world! Ha. Doors were opened. People offered to carry things for me. I am finding out though, people are still super nice when you're carrying around a super cute baby girl! =) Until that super cute baby turns into a raging angry 2 year old throwing a tantrum at the grocery store, then get use to the eye rolling & just let it go...

• Do not take advice & just pretend to listen to all the BS!   People told me so many scary things about being pregnant & labor. Fortunately, I never got myself worked up over it. I always saw it as another obstacle I got to overcome. Morning sickness. Check. Spreading of the hips. Check. Labor without epidural. Uhhh?. Labor with epidural. Check.

• Being pregnant = no dirty diapers.   Enjoy it. Cherish these short 10 months. (Ya, its not 9... fault advertising if you ask me!) Being pregnant is not near as much work as caring for a little one. Enjoy your sleep. It WILL be a long time before you know what its like to not be tired. But most of all, enjoy!!!!! This only applies to you in your very first pregnancy... if you're on your second pregnancy and your first is still in diapers, remember to call 'NOT IT!' as often as you can when the hubby is home, because dirty diapers are no fun when you're experiencing morning all day sickness. barf.

Dessert > Dinner.

So about the time I decided to start using this site again I found out I was pregnant. At first I told myself I would not constantly blog about being pregnant, because it seems like all pregnant people want to do is talk about how they are pregnant, which, even though I sound horrible saying this, kind of always annoyed me a little. But I thought about it a little, and since I'm not holding anyone at gun point, making them read the words I write, I will talk about my pregnancy as much as I feel like it here! I'm still holding to not complaining though. Actually, since I've never been 25lbs over my typical weight in the dead of the summer in Phoenix, I'm going back on my promise a little bit, and changing it to... I will not make a habit of complaining. Unless of coarse I develop pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or go on bed rest... then I will complain as much as I darn. well. please!

 

Today I was craving cake. Actually, I've been craving cake ever since Friday, when I got my hands on a small piece of chocolate cake. Today I went to the store and bought all the fixing to make one (not chocolate... rainbow chip with vanilla pudding & cool whip on top Mmm) & picked up a snickers bar while I waited for 20!! minutes in one of the only two open checkout lanes open. Oh course when it was finally my turn they opened up two more lanes, in which everyone behind me made a mad dash to the other lanes as if they were giving away free Jersey Shore DVDs to the next two people to check out (gross.). Typical luck. So now,  the cake is cooling, and I'm trying to figure out if I should eat it for dessert or just skip supper entirely. Decisions, decisions...

Happy Days.

I can't believe how quickly 2010 has come and almost gone. This year has been filled with so many blessed days. Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect, my family is not perfect, and I definitely had days this year when I wanted to pull out my hair, lock my daughter in her room, or just cry uncontrollably over something probably super ridiculous! I didn't actually do these things, but I'm sure their were a handful of days when the thought had crossed my mind. The thing is, days like these are so few and far apart, that I never actually remember how they started or how they ended. The days I remember are the ones that made me either cry from laughing so hard, or cry because just when I thought I couldn't possibly love my daughter more than I did that very second, she goes and tells me for the first time out of the blue, "Momma, I love you". Or the time I stubbed my toe really hard on the coffee table, and she bent down, kissed my foot, hugged me, and said "I kiss your boo-boo. I sowwy momma".  (I might get worked up just thinking about it again).

I remember as 2010 rolled in last year thinking no year could ever possibly beat how great 2009 was. Man, I was naive. Yes, getting married to Jason was wonderful and having a perfect 6lb 3oz baby girl placed into my arms was, at that moment, the happiest, most joyful thing I had ever felt. But it's a random Monday morning or Wednesday night when the feeling usually hits me hard. A wedding ceremony is great, but the moments I love most are when we're laying in bed cuddling, reflecting on a day's end, or walking hand in hand at the park trailing behind Gracie as she chases pigeons. The birth of my daughter is a day I will never forget, but it's when she comes up to me when I'm on the computer and grabs my hand insisting that I play 'tea party' with her right that very second. Or when she simply wants to share her cookies with me.

I know some years will be better than others, and some might be especially trying, but I feel like bad days, bad weeks, and even bad months are just here to remind us how wonderful all the good ones really are.

It's a New Day.

The smell/look of Mac & Cheese. Changing Gracie's diapers. Simply looking at the toilet. Watching the same Mickey Mouse episode with my daughter for the umpteenth time. Brushing my teeth. Hot shower. Reading a book. Seeing dirty dishes in the sink. Someone grilling outside...

This is just a very short list of the things that had contributed last week to my 'I think I'm going to be sick...' routine. I do not remember morning sickness coming on this strong with Grace. I was miserable, and I felt as bad as I look, which was NOT a good thing! Thankfully the weekend brought a much happier note. I felt about 70% better, which was enough to satisfy me. I can deal with the nausea, as long as it isn't handicapping me.

Now that I got that out... this is where my complaining stops! I will enjoy this pregnancy (like I did my last) and I will not complain about backaches, or weight gain, or the slow, painful shift of my hips the week before labor starts (ooouch!). I will enjoy the heck out of this experience, because, while not in every single physical aspect, this is a beautiful thing!! And I get to do it again!! =)

Let me change that just a little. I will only complain a tad when Jason & I are watching a movie and I see that he's got two free hands to give foot massages...

We're Got a Secret to Share...

Ok, so I'll get straight to the point...

I'm Pregnant!!!

Yes, those are my dollar store tests, and they work!

And we're thrilled! We started trying in July, and after a few negative tests, and some super unreliable periods, we decided to stop trying so hard. Instead of 'making appointments', we decided to stop tracking Aunt Flo, and just 'have fun'. And it worked, fast!  I'm not very far along, and I had a few doubts about telling people right away, but I don't like keeping things like this to myself, so I'm talking!

This will be our second, and last, child. I know this for sure, because I'll be scheduled to have a hysterectomy probably six weeks post-labor. I'll get into details about that later, but just know that its good news, because we've never wanted more than two kids (and no periods for the REST of my life... uhh, yes please!).

Anyways, from my calculations via the internet (and they were right on target with Gracie), I am due July 31st 2011, and am currently 6 weeks along.

We don't care if the baby's got hot dog or hamburger parts! I got my one girl and will be happy with whatever God throws in our direction.

Oh, and I can't forget...

These are from Jason. He came home early from work with these in hand! =)

 

It's Christember!

I guess I forgot to mention. I put my Christmas stuff up, the Monday before Thanksgiving. I was feeling good that morning I guess. I'm not one to get overly excited for the holidays, but I can definitely see that changing over the next few years. I'm getting to experience Christmas as a child all over again, through the eyes of my daughter. Pretty neat.

Gracie picked out pink garland, knowing Jason wouldn't be a fan, we settled on purple.

I made this xmas banner last weekend on a very lazy Sunday. Little did I know it would end up taking the whole entire day to finish! This is the mantle right above our fireplace. Our fireplace which no one can see, because of our TV stand that sits in front of it. (Our living room is set up super funky, so it made sense.) All this stuff will be coming down in the next few days though. We're putting up a 58" flat screen TV on the wall. I'm so excited for the fireplace to be exposed for Christmas!

I also just ordered Gracie's new toy box from amazon.com. Target wanted $59 plus $15 shipping. I got it bought and shipped for only $57. I'm feeling kinda savvy right now.

You Might Not Want to Read This...

I'm trying to throw 4 essay questions together this morning for a soc class I'm taking, but it's not easy when I can't get the smell of puke out of the carpet. Ok, rewind to last night 2am. Gracie is hacking and coughing for an hour straight! I get up to try and console her the best I can. Her cough is crackling and sounds painful (my poor baby)! I give her a little bit of Tylenol. It obviously doesn't sit well, and she starts coughing again. Then, as I'm holding her, she throws up. Just a little bit on my shirt. I hurry up and face her to the floor, so that, one: it all comes out and she doesn't choke it back up, and two: grosssss. She never spit up much as a baby, and when she did, it smelt like brand new baby, a smell I actually enjoyed. But toddler throw up is the worst! It's not like when I've had to take care of a drunk Jason throwing up, on an empty stomach, all acid and juices (and alcohol too) coming up. Sure it's gross and violent and projectile, but at least it doesn't make me want to join in. (btw; I've only had to take care of a that-drunk-Jason once in my life, and that was a pre-baby, pre-time-to-grow-up stage in our lives.) 

I love my husband very much. He woke up, cleaned the floor, and febreze'd the house while I cleaned up Gracie and myself. Then he rocked her to sleep. He emailed me from work this morning.

"I love you so much. I am sorry Grace is sick and not sleeping well. I'm glad I got to rock her last night though. I love her so much, she is so cute. Its fun to watch her turn into her own little person."

A couple nights ago.

  He's a really good dad, very patient and relaxed, he doesn't get stressed out easily, and he's not one to raise his voice and get angry. All in all, I think I did pretty good! =)

Now go eat lunch or something.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving! (And Happy Birthday to my beautiful little sister, who turns 24 years old today!!) Jason works until 3 this afternoon, so it doesn't quite feel like I'm waking up to Thanksgiving day when he's not here. I'm having Thanksgiving with my side of the family this afternoon (like a Thanksgiving lunch!), then when Jason gets home we're headed to his parent's house. I love living so close to both of our families, even if it does mean we're stuck in Phoenix for awhile. Today is a day to be especially thankful, so here are just a few things I'm thankful for.

 

My daughter - She's at the top of my list.

My Jason - He's right up there next to Grace.

My WHOLE entire family!!

God in my life!

Living close to family.

Memories.

Long weekends.

Giggles from Gracie.

Romance

Encouraging moments. 

Books.

Apologies & forgiveness.

Hot showers.

My health & family's health.

Being an American.

Having all five senses & all my limps intact. =)

Facebook -keeping me connected to family&friends.

Emails from Jason when he's working - Love him!

My Contacts - glasses give me headaches.

The Epidural - that's right!

Agreeing to disagree.

My caring, sweet little sister - who is 24 TODAY!

Gracie's naps.

My mother & motherinlaw's helping hands!

The digital camera - so many pictures of Gracie!

My boobs - hey, a girl can be thankful for whatever she wants!

Gracie's farts - They don't stink too bad, and they make everyone laugh! =)

A thousand more things! I mean, this list really could go on forever. I feel that blessed!