39 Weeks Baby #2

May 22, 2016

How far along? 39 weeks
Stretch marks? still coming on strong
Sleep: can't fall asleep at night and I've been waking up really early and not able to fall back asleep (aside from the 3-5 times I wake up during the night)
Exercise: short walks with the dogs, too much pelvic pain
Best moment this week (or the past few weeks): getting to spend our last few days/weeks as a family of 3 with our silly big girl.
Movement: Baby sister is always moving, especially at night.  She isn't slowing down at all
Food cravings: not much
Anything making you queasy or sick: eating too much
 Have you started to show yet: I've had numerous people ask me in the past few days when I'm due (and then if they need to have the hospital on standby. ha. ha.)
Gender: baby sister!
Labor Signs: lots of braxton hicks and one or two painful contractions, but nothing consistent
Symptoms: oh the pelvic pain!  It has been so bad the past three days that walking or standing (or getting up from sitting) is extremely difficult
Belly Button in or out? flat
Wedding rings on or off? off
Happy or Moody most of the time:
The overwhelmed/terrified feeling of having two kids hasn't left, but Charlee is so excited about her baby sister that it's hard not to be excited too.  I'm not ready for the sleepless nights, crying, breastfeeding, etc., but it will be a lot of fun welcoming this new little girl into our world.  (I'm not looking forward to the 80 degree weather for the next week or so though.)


Dear baby sister,
Not much longer until you are on the outside.  I feel like I have been pregnant forever, so it's hard to believe that we are exactly one week away from your due date!  Each day, your big sister Charlee gets more and more excited.  She can't wait for you to come out and to teach you lots of fun things.

You are still quite comfy in there, so I don't see you coming out on your own anytime soon.  You're stubborn like your big sister and she was 8 days late.

We are so excited to finally meet you!  (And to hopefully have a name for you.  Although Charlee has been calling you Dr. Anna (from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood) or Oh-hee (no clue) or the new one today was Jen.)  We  have a few ideas, so hopefully we'll pick something that fits you perfectly.

Love you, little peanut.

Love,
Mommy

38 Weeks Baby #2

 May 15, 2016

How far along? 38 weeks as of May 15
Stretch marks? They are coming on strong now.  She is stretching my stomach so much that the stretch marks are getting serious.
Sleep: I miss sleep. 
Exercise: short walks. As much as I would love to take long walks with the dogs, I feel it if I push myself too much. 
 No more BarreAmped for me.  While I don't have ab separation, the nerve pain in out of control and it hurts to do much of anything some days. 
Best moment this week (or the past few weeks): We took Charlee to the zoo on the 15th, the BIG zoo (MKE).  She was so excited!  She talked about it all day.  We saw a baby giraffe and her mama and Charlee called her "baby sister giraffe" and "big sister Charlee giraffe."
Movement: Baby sister loves to move all the time!
Food cravings: cake and ice cream
Anything making you queasy or sick:not really
 Have you started to show yet: the belly just keeps getting bigger and bigger.  I don't really know how it is possible
Gender: baby sister!
Labor Signs:more Braxton Hicks and period like cramping
Symptoms: pelvic pain (holy crap, my poor pelvis), ab/nerve separation pain, my right foot is swollen all the time, varicose veins on my right calf, exhaustion
Belly Button in or out? I feel like I have no belly button anymore!  Not in, not out
Wedding rings on or off? off
Happy or Moody most of the time: Last week started out pretty rough.  I've tried to be pretty transparent when I talk to people about what's going on, so I will continue. I've had depression this entire pregnancy, but I've been able to manage it until last week.  I've been very overwhelmed with the thought of having to care for an infant and a toddler.  Couple that with the crazy amount of pain, and I was a mess.  Lots of crying and Andrew stayed home from work one day to help out.  My OB put me back on my antidepressants and it seems to be helping.  I'm hoping it will help with the PPD right away too.  It was hard to adjust with Charlee and I didn't start medication until after she was born, so hopefully this will help with the transition.
We've been having a lot of fun with Charlee the past few days/weeks and enjoying our last few days as a family of 3. She is at such a fun age and makes every day pretty fun.


Dear baby sister,

Not much longer until you are officially here!  Charlee is so excited for you to come.  She practices taking care of her baby dolls.  According to her, you are going to be called "Dr. Anna" or "Oh-hee."  We are still working on names, so hopefully you won't have to get used to either of those names.

As excited as we are for you to come, part of me is not quite ready for you to come out.  I am going to miss all of your big kicks and punches.  I will not miss your big head in my pelvis because that hurts all the time, but I'll miss the kicks.  You are an active little girl and I think you will really give us a run for our money soon.  Charlee was pretty laid back, still is, but I think you are going to be the opposite.  I wonder every day who you will look most like.  Charlee thinks you will have blonde hair and blue eyes like me.  I wonder if you will look like your big sister (who looked JUST LIKE your daddy when she was born).

Love you sweet girl,
mommy

March 2016

March was quite a month for us!  We tried to pack in a lot of adventure into our days because soon baby sister will be here and it will be harder to get out and about.

We had a few nice days and spent them at the park.  This little big girl is a pro at the slides.

Looking at the dogs walking while out on the deck.

Pulling the wagon home from the park.

Playing the piano while I sewed.

We visited Daddy at work.

Back at the park with my little climber

Helping rake leaves from last fall in the yard.

 I made an object matching game for Charlee.

 Playing at Keva sports center with friends!

 Matching more letters

We baked a chocolate swirl cheesecake for Daddy's birthday.  Charlee is an excellent mixer.

 goofing off in our Easter masks

 counting and matching letters.

 seeing the tiger at the zoo!

 pretending to be a kangaroo

 Charlee and I took a trip to Milwaukee to visit the Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

 She liked driving the train.

 visiting the "bank" at the museum.

 Driving the bus to Marquette!

 Planting and playing with blocks.

 Driving the truck and sorting rocks.

 We did some experiments with baking soda and vinegar and even made some volcanoes!

 Making sea creatures on the window.

 Playing in a water bead and fish sensory bin

 Someone got a new bike helmet for her bike!

Looking for Easter eggs in the backyard

 Aunt Brittany and Uncle Dan got Charlee a new doggie for Easter.

 Playing with Walker at Keva

 Being a monkey on the rings at Keva

 I finally finished her letter wall in her room.  She loves the big C!

Irish dancing at the library