Pregnancy progression

It's crazy to think that in just a few short months I'll be in my cozy nook of their bedroom, nursing and cuddling our new baby. 

Female bodies are so amazing. God gives you the gift of carrying a miracle for nine short months. Moms get to feel the first flutters, kicks, rolls, and jabs. The babies are calmed by a mothers heartbeat and voice. It's an amazing bond that you get to expierience, even before you get to touch them, smell them, and relish in everything they do. I put together some pictures of my pregnancy progression so far, as this is the last week of my second trimester. 

I cannot wait to meet her. I cannot wait to see if she looks more like me or tj. I cannot wait to hear her squeal at her brother in excitement. I cannot wait to hear her say mama. I cannot wait to study her face and every movement. I cannot wait to be a mom of a son and a daughter. 

Hello spring!

March, keep doing what you're doing. This weekend was so lovely. The sun was shining and we spent the entire Sunday playing outside. It felt so good not to dress in layers! Here's a little glimpse into our Sunday: 

We started off our early morning with a trip to the car wash to get the winter off my car. Jack was squealing the whole time!

Next stop- Playground! This will soon be Jack's playground for school next year!

Tj let me have a solo trip to target- woohoo! I originally went in for lip gloss but came back with clothes for me, Jack, the baby, and a present for T. Oh, and chalk! So it was back outside to decorate our sidewalk. 

Our Land of Nod bedding/pillow/diaper change cover came in so we washed them and put them in their place-- in love!

After that we went for an afternoon walk where Jack pretended to be a ninja turtle the entire time while collecting treasures. 

Aaaaand someone was upset to come in for the day! Hopefully the warm weather is here to stay!

Getting a little sappy... Blame the hormones

Getting all sentimental on you guys, sorry! I'm having a hard time with having a second baby. I'm worried about Jack and his feelings. I tell him every day, "You are my best friend." Or, " You are my favorite person ever!" Can I keep saying that with two? How do I not say that to him every day?

 

Jack Wilson Gilbert-

You changed everything. You turned me into a mom. You made me stronger and more independant.

And even though you will no longer be my only child, you will always be my first.

You're the first one to make me forget myself. You're the first person I ever said "I love you" to more than a million times in one day. You're the first human whose temperature I took, whose nose I wiped, and whose projectile vomit I was too tired to clean up and just sort of slept in.

 

With you, I made my first-time mom mistakes, like letting you roll off the bed onto the floor. Who knew you could roll?

 

Our baby's coming soon, and while you may not be my only child anymore, you'll probably be the only child who knows what it's like to have my undivided attention. Because how do I ever stop myself from thinking about you?

 

This realization gives me the guilts, but then again, your sister will have some advantages. I can't imagine she will ever be bored or lonely for long --  I can't wait to watch her watching you.

 

You. You were my first newborn, infant, toddler and preschooler -- and you're the one who continues to surprise me every day.  You're in all my thoughts and dreams, and every wish I make upon a star.

 

So when you're feeling frustrated because I'm nursing your sister instead of playing "fight the dragons" or playing cars, know that there is more than enough love for both of you, because of the ever-expanding place in my heart that you made.

You, you, you. You will always be my first.

 

Love,

 

your mama

Motherhood

Slow down. Open the windows. Make a cup of tea. Sip slowly and leave the unfolded laundry. Turn up the music and have a dance party. With minions! Heck, bring them to brunch, too!  Lay with your baby in bed. Give them snuggles. Let them help with chores. Grab take out for dinner. Have an all day pajama day. Savor life. Hold on to moments, they pass by so quickly. Let them eat chocolate pancakes for breakfast. Hoist them up on your hips. They are only little for so long. Watch them smile. Feel yourself smile back. 

-reminders to myself. 

Remember these moments

Today. In a nutshell. And it's only 1pm

Woke up to my husband yelling about the cat misbehaving all over the rugs/house last night. I get up on my ONE day to sleep in and dress/feed/make lunches for Jack because my husband is running late. Make my Thursday run to target and they are out of everything I need! Cool. Come home to start laundry and find out our dryer is broken! Drive to my parents to dry clothes. Come home around 1pm to finish cleaning up the house. Struggling to get some down time before I have to pick up Jack, so I get in the bed, turn the lights off, light a candle, turn on my favorite show, grab my Hershey bar and BAM! The electricity goes out! Can I get a  do over?!

Does anyone have one of these days where nothing is going right? Work and home are a mess and you're just trying to make it through the week. I've reached my breaking point. It can only go up from here hopefully!! Oh, and it's sleeting/snowing out. Boo. 

3 questions to ask your children at night

I want to start incorporating these questions into our bedtime routine with Jack. 

What is something that made you smile today?

What is something that made you sad today?

What is something you learned today?

1. It's helping him learn how to communicate. I want Jack to feel comfortable and to tell me or ask me anything- even when he's 16. 

2. It shows me how my son viewed his day. I want to know him better. Plus it will guide me in the right direction if he misunderstood or misinterpreted something the wrong way. 

3. I feel it will bring us closer together. In turn, he can ask me questions as well!