.31 weeks.

According to this Alice is now the size of a pineapple which seems about right, it certainly feels like I'm playing host to a pineapple these days. Today also marks the official 8 week mark until Little Miss Sister joins our family, which despite my recent complaining I am actually quite excited about.
Our baby shower aka "baby-que" is going to be on August 11th {scheduling wise it was the only weekend that worked} and I've spent much of the week fine-tuning the decorations and details - it's going to be fabulous! Working with fonts, although the ultimate in dorkiness, is a sure way to get me out of the pity-party doldrums of pregnancy and it's definitely helped change my attitude. Whatever works I suppose! 



 

.4 years ago today.

Four years ago Portland's record high temperature was broken, the sun felt like it had landed directly onto the surface of the city and our rarely humid metropolis felt as damp and muggy as the South.
Over 14 months went planning the perfect day but of course on the day in question a million things seemed to go "wrong". The weather for one, having an outdoor ceremony & reception was just what I had always wanted but I failed to think of what the climb up and down the hills to the garden would do to my grandparents battling knee & hip issues, the flower girls were without petals to throw because they were left in a cooler {we improvised by plucking a few from the gardens grounds}, the ring blessing that I was so pleased with incorporating ended up taking too long because an overzealous friend required 5 solid minutes with our wedding rings to say a million hail mary's, the hand-fasting cords that I had made were left on my coffee table though we didn't realize that until mid-way through the ceremony {my best friend and maid of honor scurried away from her spot by my side and pulled a miracle with some extra ribbon from the party favors}, since we hadn't planned on it being so hot we didn't have enough bottles of water and had to send a guest out at the last minute to get a couple of pallets, and this is to say nothing of the fact that the car carrying my entire clan of in-laws {including mother of the groom} got lost on the way to the ceremony and we started almost an hour late.
All of that being said it was the happiest day of my life. It was the day that lead to the best years of my life and allowed us to build a family that is the source of all of our pride, love, and happiness.
And although so many little things didn't go as planned, today I went down to our basement to look through the storage box of wedding related stuff that I've kept and as pear-flavored jelly beans fell on my feet and cream colored flower petals were swept aside so that I could get to one of our leftover wedding programs I was flooded with only happy memories. The excitement of the day and blissful happiness are really what I think of first, as for the things that went wrong...we laugh about them almost daily now.

.link for the youtube version.

I leave you with the quote that we had printed inside of our wedding programs:

"The goal of life should not be to find joy in marriage,

but to bring more love & truth into the world.

We marry each other to assist in this task"

~Leo Tolstoy~

 

.Pregnancy ranting.

You know those women that love being pregnant? The Earth Mother types who just seem to "glow" and relish in the so-called wonderment of creating life? Yeah, I'm not that person. I hate it. I love that I am having a child and I want her to stay inside and "cook" for as long as she needs but seriously, I f**king hate every single second of pregnancy. I did the last time as well.
I just simply don't think that I am built for such nonsense; the hormone fluctuations make me super nauseous, my torso is so short that I can painfully feel EVERY SINGLE MOVE this child makes, I can't breathe, I have GERD that burns like the fire of a thousand suns, I'm bloated, I pee a million times a night {no matter the trimester} - you get the idea....it aint pretty folks.
And honestly it pisses me off. Because I'm like that. When things don't go the way I want I get angry instead of sad. Before I had Amelia I always envisioned myself as one of those previously mentioned Gaia-type women and my reality both times has been a much more miserable "just get this over with" situation. With Amelia it made me sad and I was depressed that my reality was so different than what I had pictured, I actually cried about it a lot {which, if you know me is not something that I do - crying pisses me off}. This time I'm not battling the sadness/let down that I had about it last time. But I do still have this hair trigger annoyance over the whole thing.
I find that the further along in your pregnancy you are the more often well-meaning folks ask how it's going and they kind expect that sweet "it's just so magical and empowering" response. My response is always something along the lines of "I'm so done. I was done shortly after conception. I hate being pregnant with every fiber of my being and I want this child to be fully developed so that it can get the hell out of me". That response always makes people uncomfortable though.
So, until August 23rd I'll be the pissed off mini-whale hanging out in the pool...if you see me don't ask how much I'm loving pregnancy.




 

.Prep work.

We have exactly two months left before Alice comes home and things are starting to come together. The crib/changer has been ordered and should be here in a week or two, the co-sleeper is ready to go, and the floor of the nursery closet is pretty much covered in boxes of things waiting for her arrival.
I'm waiting until early August to go through clothes and wash them because it just doesn't seem needed so soon but still - it's getting a bit more real/exciting each day.
I'll try to post some pics of the nursery with it's new furniture/configuration in a few weeks or so when most everything is put together.

 

.Rules for mothers & daughters.

It is my firm belief that all wonderful things on the internet already have been or will be put on Pinterest. Case in point: this fantastic article written for the blog Diapers & Daisies {check 'em out!}. I have re-written the 25 totally amazing "rules" out here for you {in case you aren't the link reading type} but the original post along with the adorable photos can be found here. 


1. Paint her nails. Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up. Teach her to care about her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

2.  Let her put on your makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you...then let her be herself.


3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp.She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet mr. right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.


4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.


5. Encourage her to try on your shoes and play dress-up. If she would rather wear her brother’s superman cape with high heals, allow it. If she wants to wear a tutu or dinosaur costume to the grocery store, why stop her? She needs to decide who she is and be confident in her decision.


6. Teach her to be independent. Show her by example that woman can be strong. Find and follow your own passions. Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself- not just your husband or children.  Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be. Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.


7. Pick flowers with her. Put them in her hair. There is nothing more beautiful than a girl and a flower. 


8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.


9. Give her good role models- you being one of them. Introduce her to successful woman- friends, co-workers, doctors, astronauts, or authors.  Read to her about influential woman- Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. Read her the words of inspirational woman- Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson. She should know that anything is possible.


10. Show her affection. Daughters will mimic the compassion of their mother. “I love yous” and Eskimo kisses go a long way.


11. Hold her hand. Whether she is 3 years-old in the parking lot or sixteen years old in the mall, hold on to her always- this will teach her to be confident in herself and proud of her family.


12. Believe in her. It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need you to believe enough for both of you. Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college…remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.


13. Tell her how beautiful she is. Whether it is her first day of Kindergarten, immediately after a soccer game where she is grass-stained and sweaty, or her wedding day. She needs your reminders. She needs your pride. She needs your reassurance. She is only human.


14. Love her father. Teach her to love a good man, like him. One who lets her be herself…she is after all wonderful.


15. Make forts with boxes and blankets. Help her to find magic in the ordinary, to imagine, to create and to believe in fairy tales. Someday she will make her 5 by 5 dorm-room her home with magic touches and inspiration. And she will fall in love with a boy and believe him to be Prince Charming.


16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.


17. Teach her how to love- with passion and kisses. Love her passionately. Love her father passionately and her siblings passionately. Express your love. Show her how to love with no restraint. Let her get her heart broken and try again. Let her cry, and gush, giggle and scream. She will love like you love or hate like you hate. So, choose love for both you and her.


18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her- even if it sounds or looks horrible.  Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and headbang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics- like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite- like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer- or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.


19. Share secrets together. Communicate. Talk. Talk about anything. Let her tell you about boys, friends, school. Listen. Ask questions. Share dreams, hopes, concerns. She is not only your daughter, you are not only her mother. Be her friend too.


20. Teach her manners. Because sometimes you have to be her mother, not just her friend. The world is a happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.


21. Teach her when to stand-up and when to walk away. Whether she has classmates who tease her because of her glasses, or a boyfriend who tells her she is too fat- let her know she does not have to listen. Make sure she knows how to demand respect- she is worthy of it. It does not mean she has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence. Also make sure she knows which battles are worth fighting. Remind her that some people can be mean and nasty because of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help her to understand when to shut her mouth and walk-away. Teach her to be the bigger -the better- person.


22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words: she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than I told-you-so. Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

23. Mother her. Being a mother—to her—is undoubtedly one of your greatest accomplishments. Share with her the joys of motherhood, so one day she will want to be a mother too. Remind her over and over again with words and kisses that no one will ever love her like you love her. No one can replace or replicate a mother’s love for their children. 

24. Comfort her. Because sometimes you just need your mommy. When she is sick, rub her back, make her soup and cover her in blankets- no matter how old she is. Someday, if she is giving birth to her own child, push her hair out of her face, encourage her, and tell her how beautiful she is. These are the moments she will remember you for. And someday when her husband rubs her back in attempt to comfort her...she may just whisper, "I need my mommy."

25. Be home. When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you: welcome her. When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news: embrace her. When she is lost or confused, she will search for you: find her. When she needs advice on boys, schools, friends or an outfit: tell her. She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor- where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile: be home.









 

.Father's Day 2012.

We had a great Father's Day this year. The weather was gorgeous and the kid was in a fantastic mood all day. Daddy got to sleep in while Amelia & I wrapped his gifts {a new table saw & some shirts...how "Father's Day" is that?!}and made breakfast {waffles, bacon, & eggs}.
We spent all day outside playing in the kiddie pool, sandbox, and running around the yard which was perfect. My dad came over in the late afternoon to join in the fun and we had a big dinner and a great time. Here are a few photos of the day. Enjoy!

.Reading with Papa after a long day of playing in the sunshine.

 

.Good Dog, Jax.

.Amelia & Jax in a world of their own. As a side note: because the two canine loves of her life are an Aussie & Rottweiler, Amelia finds dogs that have tails totally weird and suspect. 

I'm sad to say that a wonderful {four-legged} friend died yesterday. Our very good friends David & Abigail had to say goodbye to their sweet old Rottweiler Jax yesterday. It's always sad when a beloved pet dies and of course Jax is no exception. He was the sweetest calmest dog I have ever met and was truly a big marshmallow wrapped up in a giant package.
It's in part because of Jax that Cheyenne & I are lucky enough to have David & Abigail as such close friends {we met at the dog park and quickly realized that not only were our dogs the perfect matching of personalities but so were we humans} and he's the example that we hold all other large breed dogs to. He was indeed very special and we're going to miss him.


 

The most wonderful time of the year...according to Josie.

This Friday is the last day of school for local youngsters - aka our dog's very favorite day of the year. As much as Josie loves her own child, she H-A-T-E-S other children. Since we live right across the street from an elementary school {see photo} you can imagine the amount of grumbling we hear Monday-Friday from September-June each year.
Of course, Summer comes with with it's own "issues" for Little Miss Anti-Kids {the proximity of the local public pool, for instance, or the near constant circles through the neighborhood made by the ice cream man} but by and large it's a much quieter more peaceful time in our house
Speaking of the pool, it officially opens on Monday the 18th {they wait until school is out before they open for the season} and let me tell you folks, my very sore bones could really really use a few hours of floating weightlessness {not to mention my toddler needing to get out her tons and tons of bottled up winter energy}.
Two days after that is the Summer Solstice and we can all say hello to summer! Woo hoo! Can you believe that this Autumn & Winter lover just said that???

.As always, click on the image to enlarge. This is an aerial view of our street - you can see our house there in the middle with the elementary school & it's playground directly across the street. The third arrow shows you were the pool is in relation to our house. 

 

.What the what?.

We have just 75 days left as a family of three.
75 days left before our whole world permanently changes {for the better of course}. 75 nights left of sleeping for more than two straight hours. 75 days left of Amelia being an only child with her own room and not having to share toys or attention. 75 days left of our cat & dog having some peace & quiet. 75 days left until our hearts open up and swallow a whole universe worth of love.
And that just - Blows. My. Mind.

 

.Pissing my money away.

As I mentioned yesterday I got my results back from my blood-work and my sugar levels are fantastic and I am in no way in danger of getting gestation diabetes. However, I am anemic. My doctor called today to go over that in a bit more detail {her nurse is the one that called with the basic results yesterday}. I let Dr. Barrett know that I have ALWAYS been anemic and am usually turned away when I try to donate blood even though I take a daily prenatal vitamin every day of the year {pregnant or not}.
Apparently, she wouldn't normally mind but since I'm having a cesarean {aka major abdominal surgery} and will have blood loss from that and the lochia I have no choice but to start taking insane amounts of iron & B-complex in addition to my daily regimen to try and get my iron levels at a healthier level.
For reference {should there be a preggo reading this I've included the links to the exact brands that I use} this means that I am now taking:

1 prenatal vitamin {taken at night}
2 DHA supplements {taken at night}
1 iron supplement {taken in the morning}
1 B-complex supplement {taken in the morning}

this basically means that I now have the most expensive urine ever. I feel like I should get some kind of reward for that.


 

.Glucose results.

My results are back in from last weeks test and I am happy to report that I am in no way suffering from gestational diabetes! Woo hoo! I am however a bit anemic - but since I run a bit anemic every single day of my life, pregnant or not, it's nothing to worry about other than trying to up my iron intake a bit.
Now that I am in my third trimester {well, I will be tomorrow} my appointments have moved to every two weeks, so my next one is on the 15th. I'm sure it'll be pretty routine with nothing much to report but of course I'll keep you updated.
Otherwise there's just not that much to report in general. My pregnancy is pretty uneventful {knock on wood} and Amelia has been pretty great {for a two year old}. We're just in the "calm before the storm" phase of things right now. We have 78 days until Alice gets here {what? how?!} so we're just kind of gathering everything together and making preparations where we can but otherwise just relaxing and enjoying our last few weeks as a family of 3 {well 5 if you count Josie & Sully}.