Baby To Do {3 months to go}

THREE MONTHS TO GO? Excuse me? My due date is 3 months from today. That's only 13 more weeks of pregnancy {give or take}. Cue excited panic! After the very busy and exhausting month of December, I kind of deemed January as Baby Prep Month. I've been nesting like crazy and have baby on the brain BIG TIME. Aside from our vacation to Colorado {which we are currently on}, we have had a pretty low key month so it was the perfect opportunity to really focus on this to do list and get things CHECKED OFF!

DONE!

✔  24 week prenatal visit & glucose screen - I had my appointment on January 11th and was happy to pass the glucose test and hear a healthy little heartbeat. 

✔  Start tracking baby's movement - this little man is an active one! I use a baby kick app to track his movements once a day and so far he's hitting that 10 movement mark within minutes on a consistent basis.


✔  Work out the details of maternity leave - My last day at the coffee shop where I work once a week will be on April 1st {sad face} and I will not be returning after baby, it'll just be too tough. As far as Tzu Tzu Sport goes, we have an awesome team of chicas who can easily do the things I do while I'm having this baby. Our office is so close and I can bring Ziggy, as well as do some things from home. So I don't really have a set timeline for a "leave", I'll just do my best to find a new rhythm after baby is here. 

✔  Pre-register at the hospital - We are all signed up so they are ready for us whenever Ziggy is ready. I also signed up to take another tour of the Birthplace at the hospital. I know I was there with Kenley and everything was great but hospitals really freak me out and I feel like seeing it again and being there again will help ease my mind. I mean, it's been 3.5 years and I'm pretty sure I was blacked out for most of that hospital stay. 

✔ Study up on circumcision (if necessary) - This will be necessary and has been read up on. I know for sure it's something we want to do and something we will do right away {tear! poor baby!} and after talking to insurance, sounds like will be something that is mostly covered. 

 

✔  Get hospital & coming home outfits for baby - I bought a couple of super cute and comfy jammie outfits from Baby Gap for the hospital. April/May in Minnesota is tricky because we could have 5 feet or snow or it could be 75 degrees, so I figured it'd be best to have a couple options to dress for the weather. I also ordered a custom name hat and swaddle from Boco Baby which arrived and are so much cuter than I could have ever imagined!!!!! 

  

✔  Make a "Labor Day" plan for Kenley - As I mentioned, this is one of those things that has been keeping me up at night. Not because we don't have wonderful family and friends who are willing to help but because there is just no way of knowing when or how labor will start and happen. I want to labor at home for as long as I am able and want Kenley to head out as soon as things get started. She is so excited about her baby brother and I want to keep this experience as fun and stress-free as possible for her. Depending on little man's timing, she will go to my dad's or Jason's dad's house with two of my besties on standby if we need any help logistically along the way. Whew, it's a relief to at least feel like there's some kind of plan. 

IN PROGRESS

◊  Start pregnancy safe workout routine - I got on a workout roll after the new year and got in some kind of workout for 11 straight days, then got sick and it all fell apart. I'm anxious to get back in a groove after our trip.

◊  Reach goal of walking/running/biking 400 miles - It's likely this goal will not be achieved...so far I'm at 91.46 miles. {308.54 left to go, yikes!}

◊  Talk to Sara Jayne about maternity, hospital & newborn shoots - We have our maternity session booked for early March and I'm so excited! The hospital and newborn shoots we'll have to nail down once little man is here {or close} but I am starting to browse some ideas and inspiration!

◊  Find Sprinkle outfits - The 4 dresses I mentioned in my last baby to do post from asos were all terrible. I was so bummed. They were either way to big, way too long or way not flattering. So I sent all of them back and started from square one. Thanks to some awesome sales on Pink Blush & Motherhood recently, I was able to order a few others to try.


◊  Hostess gifts for Sprinkle hosts - I know what I am getting for the incredible ladies hosting my Sprinkles and have one of the items purchased! I'm really excited about these gifts and will have to remember to share after they receive them.


◊  Put together a Big Sister gift for Kenley - I know all the things I want to include in her gift, now I just need to start collecting them {without her knowing}.


◊  Find outfits and plan details for maternity shoot - We have our date and location set for the photos, now I just need to figure out what we are all going to wear. I have an idea of the look and feel I'm going for, so it's just a matter of picking the ensembles.

◊  Make hospital packing list and pick up anything we need - I have the list all put together so it'll be easy to pack everything up once we get closer to D Day.

◊  Work on the nursery - The big stuff is DONE! Now it's just a matter of organizing and decorating!

PAST DUE

◊  Attend a TC Bump Club Workout - Still haven't made it to one of these. Hopefully soon!!!

◊  Create financial plan & beef up savings - This should be super high on the priority list, but still just hasn't happened.  

◊ Schedule some prenatal yoga classes - Yoga is so good for the body and mind and I need to get some classes in ASAP!

◊  Figure out Child Care - This stresses me out big time. I am lucky to have a flexible work schedule and an office where I can bring my kiddos. However, working with TWO kids will no doubt be very different than working with one. Jason and I need to take some time to figure out what life with two will look like and how we will manage our day-to-day, especially now that he has a new position and since Kenley will be done with school 1-2 weeks after Zigster arrives. 

LEFT TO DO

{weeks 24-28}

◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout
◊  Develop birth plan . 

{weeks 28-32}

◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout

◊  28 week prenatal visit

◊  Go on babymoon!

◊  30 week prenatal visit

◊  Schedule professional house cleaning

◊  Work on nursery

{weeks 32-36}

◊  Attend TC Bump Club Workout

◊  32 week prenatal visit

◊  Take maternity photos

◊  Celebrate baby at Sprinkle!

◊  Send Sprinkle thank you notes

◊  Finalize outfits & ideas for newborn shoot

◊  34 week prenatal appointment

◊  Unpack and wash baby gear, pump and bottles

◊  Finish nursery

◊  Pack for the hospital

◊  Pack Kenley's bag

◊  Build phone tree for baby announcement

weeks {36 -BABY!}

◊  36 week prenatal visit & group B stress test

◊  Design birth announcements and address/stamp envelopes

◊  Baby laundry

◊  Buy any remaining baby items

◊  Install car seat

◊  37 week prenatal visit

◊  Make freezer meals

◊  Rest & Relax!

◊  38 week prenatal visit

◊  39 week prenatal visit

◊ HAVE ANOTHER BABY!

Mentally Preparing for Two Kids

A LOT, and I mean A LOT, of thoughts go through a pregnant woman's mind every day. Many are irrational, many are legitimate and many we are just glad no one else can hear. I thought that with the second pregnancy my mind would relax a bit as I now know what to expect when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth and the whole newborn thing but that's not really the case. 

This time around I am in such a better place emotionally, despite my hormones. With Kenley I was working full time out of the home at a job that really was just not for me. It impacted my life A LOT and required me to return to the office just 6 weeks after Kenley was born. It was hard and stressful and did a number on me during those precious, chaotic and cloudy first weeks that are tough as it is. While I know transitioning from one to two will be far from a breeze, I feel so much more relaxed knowing I have a job that's flexible and a boss who is family. Of course, feeling more relaxed doesn't mean that I don't worry and stress about what life will be like. I think of what a production it is to get out of the house with just one very competent three year old and I don't know how we're ever going to leave with two. I worry about my time management. I worry about having a fussy baby. I worry about being home all day with two kids, alone. ALL DAY. ALONE. I worry about never losing the baby weight. I worry about having a healthy baby. I worry about my marriage , not because I don't think we can handle it but because I want to be sure Jason and I have quality time together and don't lost sight of the US.  I worry about getting Bells Palsy again. I worry about finances. I worry about breastfeeding. I worry about losing my damn mind, which maybe I already have.

Call me crazy, call me naive but one thing I don't worry about is Kenley adjusting. Welcoming this new baby boy will require a transition phase for all three of us as obviously we will have to adapt to a new daily life. I know there will be highs and lows and I anticipate struggles here and there. BUT, I do not worry for one second about Kenley feeling jealous or resentful or behaving negatively as a result of her brother. We have been talking to her since day 1 about the things that baby will do, how things will be different, etc. She is SO EXCITED about this baby. She is also such a little helper. Kenley would honestly rather spend her day out running errands or helping me clean the house than she would playing with her toys. Of course, she'll have to play nicely with her toys when baby comes, which she does now, she just prefers to be by my side doing whatever it is that I am doing. So I'm anticipating a little shadow who is just happy and excited to be a part of her baby's life. Maybe I'm way off base but I feel like I know my kid, know that she's secure and happy and know that she will transition with little issue. I guess time will tell. But for now, this is one thing that just does not appear on the worry list. 

My biggest worry, does include Kenley however. I'm a planner and not being able to have a set plan is hard for me. But, truly, there is just no possible way to know when and how labor will go down {unless I have a planned c-section which currently doesn't seem at all necessary} so all I can do is have a basic plan set and hope that everything works out, which seems so easy to most of you I'm sure but when you are Type-A the "hope for the best" notion prompts serious anxiety. I just have this fear {potentially and probably an irrational one} that I will go into labor or my water will break and it will play out like a movie scene where everything happens super fast and Kenley will be here watching me scream bloody murder and will become terrified and scarred for life and will resent her baby brother for causing her mother so much pain. OK, irrational, definitely irrational. I KNOW that labor doesn't happen that fast. I KNOW that our parents are ready to be on call and will come get Kenley as soon as we need them to. I KNOW that I have two incredible girlfriends who have offered to come to the rescue if we get in a bind. I KNOW that Kenley is super go-with-the-flow and won't be at all rattled about being shipped off somewhere on the fly. This is just the thing that keeps me up at night as my mind runs through all the scenarios and possibilities. 

Before I got pregnant, I assumed I would have a hard time accepting the fact that Kenley isn't my baby anymore and would be emotional about adding a second kiddo but that hasn't really been the case. Kenley is so independent and smart that I kind of feel like she hasn't been my "baby" for a while now. Of course, she will ALWAYS be my baby but I am just so stinkin' excited about this baby boy that I feel completely at ease about their positions in my heart. If anything, I am overwhelmed with positive emotions and often find myself crying at the thought of seeing Kenley holding her baby brother or the thought of Kenley getting to have with Ziggy what I have with my brother.

I guess that's it. This post kind of went nowhere but it feels good to just let it flow out of my fingertips. And now is the time where you all tell me I'm not crazy. I'm not, right? I probably am. But just lie to me.

Terrific Tuesday

Completely and totally ripping off Erin's post from last week {sorry friend} because life is pretty terrific right now thanks to things both big and small, a couple of which are the following...

A road trip. I think most people would dread being in a car for 12 hours {especially with a toddler} but I cannot wait. I love road trips and always have and cannot stinkin' wait to drive to Colorado {tomorrow} to see my ENTIRE family. My cousin on my dad's side is getting married on Friday and my grandpa on my mom's side just turned 90, so her side is all coming to town for a birthday party. It'll be crazy to have both sides of my family in Colorado at the same time but it is going to be a weekend filled with so much fun and love - I can't wait to get in the car and get going! 

Wildcats. A lot of people can't relate to being a super spaz sports team supporter but for me it's a regular part of life and always has been. Personally, it isn't necessarily the sport of basketball {though I love it} or the Arizona Wildcats {though they are my favorite}, it is the tradition of it all. Cheering for this team alongside my hubby, reminiscing about past seasons and games and favorite players is what is so fun for me. And since it isn't a hometown team, it is something that is just ours. Yes, it's just a sport and in the grand scheme is something very small but to us it's something that helps to make our life special.

Libby, BFF. There are people in the world who just GET you. My best friend and I are so different in so many ways and yet she always knows the exact right thing to say to me no matter what the circumstance. She understands my sense of humor, my brain, my passions, my fears and even when she can't relate, she knows just how to make me feel better about everything and builds me up in just the right way. I would very truly be lost without this human.

The Kid. While being a mom is absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done it is without question the best. Kenley's little face is the light of my life. Hearing her say "I wuv you mom" is the best part of every day. And, even when I want to pull all of my hair out and check into a hotel, being her mom is the most terrific part of my life, hands down.

A Promotion. On Monday, Jason will be starting a new position with his company and I am so excited for him. He loves his job so much and is so good at it which makes me so happy both for him and for our family. Change is always a little scary but we feel really confident that this move is going to be a positive one. So proud of you babe! <3

{bump two} 26 weeks

 Mom :: 22lbs // Baby :: appx. 14inches & 1.66lb {a scallion!}

Baby is inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid and can hear us talking!
98 days til Due Date!
Less than 100 days?! Late April is going to be here before I know it!

 I had a teeny little photo-bomber during bump pics this week. 

#heartexplosion

I feel like all I've been doing during this 26th week is shopping! Thanks to some great sales, gift cards and returns I have been able to pick up some things for myself, Ziggy and big sis Kenley too! I've suprisingly been spending a lot of time looking at maternity clothes, which is funny because I bought maybe 4 maternity items with Kenley all of which were on the fly and two of which were tank tops. BUT, I was pregnant primarily in the summer and therefore was able to make a lot of my non-maternity clothing work for the season. With my cousin's wedding {this weekend!}, two Sprinkles and maternity photos all on the horizon it is necessary for me to find some clothes that are not sweatpants and Jason's t-shirts. I had ordered some super cute dresses from asos right after Christmas, but not a one of them worked. womp womp. I was so bummed. 

More recently I've found a few things on Pink Blush Maternity and a dress from Motherhood that caught my eye and should be arriving on my doorstep any second. Let's hope a couple of these work for a couple of these events, otherwise I might actually be arriving in sweats. 

Thoughts?

And I just have to show off the couple of outfits I've picked up for my baby boy! Whoever said shopping for a little boy isn't fun is crazy! I am having a blast! Sure, all baby stuff is adorable but I love picturing my little man in these tiny jammies and outfits.
   
I just can't handle it!

Also worth noting - we set up the crib and got the rest of the furniture in the nursery! I finished up the dresser and am so excited about how it turned out!

And, I got the closet all finished up and also got a little cube storage shelf unit for by the rocker. Now it's time to unpack the baby boxes and get to organizing!

I am waiting on a lamp and a couple more decor pieces to arrive before I start decorating. It's killing me not to put up what I have, but I know I need to wait until I have it all to be sure it all works and fits where I want it. Things are getting real over here!


A look back at the past 20 weeks....

And 26 weeks with Kenley.

 I want a tan.

Holly Jolly

Hey, remember Christmas? Ya know that holiday that was A MONTH ago? Yeah, I'm just now recapping it because I am that awesome of a blogger. I contemplated just passing it by but I have some really cute photos of Kenley that I just can't resist sharing. Christmas around these parts, to be frank, is exhausting. We have 8 parents between the two of us so the movie Four Christmases is true life for us, except we like our families and actually had 7 different Christmases when you add in extended family. It's fun for us and important to us to see our families on or right around Christmas but it means a lot of running around, poor Kenley was so excited to open all of her presents but then didn't have time to play with anything because we'd have to pack up and move to the next one. OK, I shouldn't say poor Kenley, homegirl was spoiled. I just mean she didn't get to tear into every new toy and play with it, but I suppose we're teaching her patience.

Even though we were spent when it was over, this past holiday season was an awesome one. We had so many fun things planned and it was so magical with Kenley. This year she really understood it all and was so excited about every last thing. She even cried when we told her Ralph the Elf had to go home to the North Pole. The spirit of the holiday truly is revived with a little one, putting her to bed on Christmas Eve and waking up with her on Christmas morning was absolutely the highlight of my holiday. 

Along with your typical gift wrapping and cookie baking we also met Santa and decorated cookies, went on a real life reindeer sleigh ride, Kenley had her very first Christmas program at school where she spent more time making sure the other kids were performing than performing herself, spent lots of time with family and friends, enjoyed our friendly elf Ralph and got the best gift in the entire world...a baby brother! 

 

T'was a wonderful end to a wonderful year. It is so surreal to me that next Christmas we will have an 8 month old baby boy with us!