At 6mo in Fetal Care -- Is She Already Rockin' Stelleto's??

What this tiny creature does in my belly -- Is absolutely beyond me! I don't know what her sweet face looks like, I don't know if she has curly hair like her mama or stright like Mady's, but I do know she has a personality unlike any of the rest of us in this family!

If I have to choose already, she is definitely my child. She has an attitude. Her sweet body will hiccup for several minutes until she finally gets angry, and after each hiccup she kicks violently! Therefore -- she's mine. However, she never sleeps!! Never while I was pregnant with Madelynne did she wiggle and kick so much, Annabelle is CONSTANTLY kicking me, and everywhere! I swear she is making snow angels in utero, but only while wearing some adorable baby stelleto's. Her kicks will have me buckle over in an instant. They're not always comfortable... I should probably slow down on the wheaties ;)

• She loves to eat. The moment I begin eating, she starts bouncing wild!
• She loves attention. I talk to her constantly, rub my belly and sing her songs and she loves them. She will wiggle around and get comfy and finally relax. We have our own times in the middle of the night after she wakes me for me to just lay in bed and watch my belly roll around. It really doesn't get any sweeter than these moments. These are the times that I missed the very most from my pregnancy with Madelynne. There isn't a more beautiful feeling than feeling your baby kick you, it's selfish that only I get to feel it and I cherish every moment.
• She is a big girl! As tiny as my belly is, each ultrasound has measured her quite large, I was so surprised! Even my last appt. at 24wks, the doctor measured her just above average. It gives me comfort that the amount of vomiting / nausea I am enduring, that she is actually getting adequate nutrishion to grow well.
• She is so, SO very loved.

We can't wait to meet you Annabelle Grace, keep cookin' as long as you need, and we will all see you before we know it!

XOXO,

Mama

She is Our Newest Blessing

A tiny miracle is about to bless our family, coming this fall!

I have been enjoying life to the fullest, looking around at all the beauty in the world and finally coming to terms and finding myself everyday thankful for our greatest gift in this life -- our Madelynne Marie. We were a family of three and it finally felt comfortable. We weren't out numbered, we could easily tag team our 2 year old. She had everything she needed and our house worked for us perfectly. We were thankful. Then, God gave me comfort in my tears, he granted us with the most amazing blessing in this world -- another sweet child to complete our family. The news to me came as the biggest shock, my mind raced and wandered in so many directions in that instant, I didn't even know was possible. Time stood still. The clock stopped and seconds felt like hours with all the thoughts / fears / dreams etc. that crossed my mind. In the same moment that I picked my jaw from the floor, I burst into tears. It's amazing how learning such incredible news can make you look at the entire world differently, yourself, your family, your home, society... God. It became my mission and promise to myself and the new baby that was holding on tight growing inside me, that I would do anything and everything in my power to give him/her the best chance to this life. I vow to love you unconditionally, kiss boo-boo's, hurt when you hurt, care for you, provide and nourish you to the best of my ability. I will pray for you, everyday. I felt the same overwhelming emotion the moment I read a positive test from Madelynne, I remember sitting in my bed (on my birthday), talking to my flat belly and promising her that I would be the best mommy I could be to her. Children make you want to be such a better person, you're their idle, their role model. It's MY responsibilty to teach and raise them to be the best little people they can be. That does not begin at the moment of their birth, but the moment you become pregnant. From the instant I found out we were expecting another little one, I became a mother of two. TWO! Wow, that sounds bizarre to me.. it will eventually become natural ;) 

We had a really rough start to this pregnancy, lots of scares and unknown's but overall, we made it thru the darkest of weeks and propelled right along.

16 weeks

At 16wks, I began having more complications that deemed additional ultrasounds necessary. The ultrasound tech we were 'Oo-so-lucky' to see (she's a total snot), did her usual, looking around, taking measurments, and hardly showing us anything. I had just faced all my biggest fears that morning, my heart was a nervous wreck... until I finally heard the most amazing sound of -woosh-woosh-woosh- Yes. The baby was just fine :) I relaxed and allowed her to finish. Finally at the end, I prodded, because I needed to know! "May I see the sex?" She immediately responded and told me it's too early, that she cannot say. "I don't need YOU to say anything, if you would just show ME, I would love to take a guess for myself, I promise not to paint a nursery yet!" She reluctantly obliged. One look is all it took and I peared over at AK's face, priceless. He smirked and pointed at Mady "This is your doing! You wished so hard for a 'baby siss-er' that you got your wish little girl!"

Later that week, again, our hearts sank. I received a call from my OB that early screening that had been conducted for the past several weeks, indicated we had tested positive for a Neural Tube Defect. Specifically for Spina Bifida. We were immediately scene with the Perinatology Unit @ CJW and met Dr. Christmas. He began another high-tech ultrasound with other nurses and gave us much relief that he did NOT believe our little one had Spina Bifida. He gave us options. We could find out at that moment by doing an Amnio specifically for genetic disorders, or we could take his advice, go home, and sleep sound. Because I was 16wks along, and termination was NOT a consideration, we choose to leave the office and enjoy a couple more weeks with only good results from the doctor, I didn't want an Amnio to confirm anything different to make me upset so early in the pregnancy so we waited and scheduled an appt. 4 weeks later for a follow-up. Before the doctor left, he sincerly spoke to us, and asked AK if there was anything he could say or do to calm our fears or answer any questions. AK responded "Dr. unless you can put a penis on that little girl, I think we are pleased with everything else you have given us today, thank you."

As much as her daddy tried to find invisible additional body parts on every ultrasound for weeks, our Amnio at 20 weeks confirmed with 99.95% accuracy, she is indeed, a sweet BABY GIRL!!

20 weeks

Our 20wk check-up was wonderful. Finally, we were getting to appointments where there was less and less to discuss and Dr. Hyde was pleased... except of course, with my weight loss. I had lost another 5lbs in 2weeks. But the baby looked great. I also had a follow-up with the Perinatologist that week. Ms. Annabelle was upside down, with her legs tightly crossed, her arms along each side of her face and she faced my spine... wide awake-- but not willing to move (again, she is SO mine!) Despite efforts of rotating my bed, switching positions and standing up, she would not move. Most measurements were taken that they needed and with the assistance of the 4D ultrasound (SUPER COOL!!!) Dr. Christmas was able to show us her sweet face. She was beautiful. Adorable. (And don't tell AK, but I think she looks like me!! Cross fingers!)
We also did further looking around to get another promised diagonosis of no Spina Bifida, but do to her positioning, it was tough to tell. I decided at that time, to allow the doctor to proceed with the Amnio to give us our 100% test results on Annabelle. He sent the test off for everything under the sun, and within two weeks, the hospital called with our results, that she was perfectly healthy and we have nothing to worry about. :)

25 weeks

I am now at a whopping, day shy of 25 weeks! I cannot believe how fast time has flown. Just yesterday I was picturing my family as three and now I blink and I am googling little girl nurseries for hours on hours. I couldn't be happier. I didn't know my heart could hold so much love for an innocent sweet child that I haven't met. I didn't know how lucky and utterly BLESSED of a person I am for all the things I have in this life. God has given me another child, he gave her to me because he knew I was what she needed and she was that small part of my heart that needed fufilling. My life is complete. My heart is so warm and full of love I simply want to shout it from roof-tops!! This sweet, healthy baby girl has a huge family and lots of wonderful friends that cannot wait to meet her. My job for now is to take care and cook her as long as earthly possible, as I will, she can take as long as she needs until she is ready to enter our lives and melt us all with her perfect disposition and personality.

I love her so much already. <3 <3 <3

I needed to runaway -- so my BFF kidnapped me to the beach

Andi deserves a life shout out. There is a reason she has earned such a title in my life, she is my dose of sanity in a way only a BFF can deliver. She keeps me grounded and reminds me of who I am. She spoils me rotten and loves me unconditionally -- I know it ... You can be jealous ;) 


So the winter has passed, spring was busy and now that the sun has come out -- life isn't slowing anytime soon. Our emails back and forth were progressively becoming shorter and few in between bc we're too busy. Any details were complaints about life and needing to escape, so finally before we both went postal, she planned a mini-vacay for us to RUN! It's our annual girl's getaway weekend, and because I am pregnant this year, we needed to find a non-alcohol oriented vacay. (that, and we're broke). So cashing in Marriott points for a suite on Va Beach was just what our sanity demanded!! A week later, with our matching Victoria's Secret Totes packed, we loaded up the car and were off!


To avoid the Friday afternoon traffic we choose to take 460 to the beach -- this meant I had to drive my NOVA friend thru fields and fields of crops / corn / beans and peanut fields. This in itself was hysterical to her somehow. Every time we passed another Ma & Pa shop that sells Virginia's Peanuts she about pee'd herself. I should have known better, before she met me, my dear-sweet friend didn't have a clue what a butter bean was, her eyes were quarters when we spoke language of 'Okra' and she was beside herself when I pointed out that THAT particular mason jar contained bacon grease :) Now, she is an addict for southern food, I WIN!  but the 50miles of crops was just a step too far to comprehend, thus served our hour long drive for comedy.


We arrived at the beach late that evening and immediately crawled in the bed. The next morning after enduring a breakfast offered complimentary from the hotel -- to a billion people at Va Beach for volleyball tournaments, we dressed and headed for the pool. I walked every step with fear, nervousness and terrifying adrenaline bc for the first time, I would be revealing my hard worked body in a bikini -- but 23wks pregnant! The moment we stepped to the pool and I realized the balls some of the other women had to wear string bikini's, I disrobed and strutted my stuff proud of my bump! From the on, the day couldn't have gotten better. We literally spent all morning/afternoon laying beside the pool, enjoying drinks being delivered to us and a light lunch. Does a day get any better than a bikini, lounge chair, drinks, kindle, ocean breeze, your BFF and NO kids?? No. That weekend, it doesn't. I was in heaven. 

That evening we treated ourselves to Captain George's with every intention of eating our weight in crab legs (as we always do). We immediately made a B-line for the crab legs, skipping any salad / appetizer, and devoured them ... this was only one plate, from then on, we slowed down. We spent the next 3hours simply talking, catching up and slowly grabbing more plates of food, but sadly, I do not believe we earned our $30 of food this year. We must prepare better next time. I think the sun ruined us from eating 26lbs of food -- or maybe it was our bodies saying "cut it out fattass -- you're not as young as you used to be, your metabolism sucks and you will be a whale tomorrow if you eat all that food!" 


We didn't leave without devouring the dessert buffet though, this was a picture of the plate that belonged to the one of us that is NOT pregnant -- this is also the second plate of the same concoction: (Mac N Cheese and Coconut Pie)

Driving home we decided to take the strip and see what all the young whipper-snappers were up to. People watch so you could say -- but from our moving car so we wouldn't have to exert any energy. While driving the strip I spotted an Ice Cream Shop .. then another, and another. I pointed every one of them out as my mouth salivated for a monster cup of ice-cream, even though my Zofran that helps morning sickness was quickly fading, I knew I would be sick soon... AND I had just finished eating at an All-You-Can-Eat buffet! Nothing sounded more appetizing though, as nauseas as I was, I would have done anything to get my hands on one.. but my will- power was fading, quickly. Finally. I snapped and said:
"I swear to god Andi!! The next Ice Cream Shop we pass, we're pulling over. Im puking and we're getting Ice-Cream!" She looked at me in horror and then cried laughing. Fortunately for us and the parking lot I would have lost my cookies in, we didn't pass another ice cream shop and I innocently drove us home.


Our weekend was perfect. It was relaxing. It was unproductive. Cheap and exactly what we needed. Times like these I always somehow feel guilty for taking out for myself, I miss my daughter and family when I am gone and feel selfish for justifying time away. I have a hard time spending money on myself and surely have a hard time justifying days away -- but the moment I return I remember exactly why I needed to get away. Giving myself, my own time makes me a much better mommy. A better person in general to be around. Everyone needs a life escape every once in a while, and it doesn't have to involve thousands of dollars and a trip to another country, but a day poolside with an ocean breeze and a great friend could be everything your mind needs to recollect and bring you back to your 'happy place'. I came home with a refreshed smile from ear to ear as I was greeted in the front yard with a screeching little girl say "MOMMY'S HOME!! I MIZZED YOU MAMA!!! KISSES??" Im so lucky to have all these wonderful people in my life, the ones that take me away when I need it, the little girl that misses me when I get home and the husband that greeted me with a clean house and dinner on the table! Man, Im lucky :)