September: Promoted to Big Sister

September. What a month. Biggest excitement is that we got to announce our upcoming arrival this April. Baby number 2. So far things I have noticed as massively different with the second go around. By this point with Grace I had a pregnancy book I wrote everything down in.... and each ultra sound picture was cut apart and posted on the appropriate pages. This go around the ultra sounds are all hanging from the refrigerator and hopefully Grace doesn't wrinkle all of them. hehe. So I am using this post to write down the story so far, so I wont forget. It isn't a cute pregnancy book.... but we love this little itsy just the same.

 

 Here is the story:
I like to think God gets a bit of humor out of my so called "plans". I usually know exactly what I think will and should happen and He usually laughs and keeps me on my toes by planning something totally different.
My beautiful, amazing, independent, fierce, strong willed, curious first born came into this world knowing exactly what she wanted. She has taught me so much about genuine love, noticing the small sounds and sights, stopping to look at an ant on the side walk or waiting to feel the breeze on your face. She has also taught me about patience, patience when I tell her it's time to clean up and she crumples to the floor, patience when I remind her that she needs to sit in the booster, not in mommy's chair and she kicks her feet, patience when I want to go to the grocery store and she does not want to sit in the cart. When people first meet my sweet girl, they often say, I bet she keeps you busy! You. have. no. idea. Earlier this year if you had asked me if we were thinking of having another baby, I would have smiled and said, "Maybe someday... but for now have you met my daughter?" They would laugh and know exactly what I was talking about. I love my Grace with all of my heart and literally some days with all of my energy and strength.

God's first laugh. Sometime in March driving home from who knows where, it wasn't important, we pulled into our neighborhood and I started to cry. I have no idea why or where it came from but I could feel it. Our family wasn't finished and I needed to stop preventing God from doing his work. Three has been lovely, but it was time to be four.
With Grace we literally got pregnant the first month we tried. So of course my plans were in motion. Clearly the same would happen here and we would be having a baby in December. When I was late that first month I was convinced. I even went to the doctor and had blood work drawn, those silly tests at home were obviously missing something.

God laughed again, I have been running like it's my job these last months and have truly fallen in love with sweating, achy legs and eating healthier. I have loved getting a better body back after Grace then I had before her.... however my body was having a small disagreement with me. Turns out running can actually stop the "cycle" all together. I was late not by weeks but by months between each chance to get pregnant. It seemed like no matter what we were doing, my body did not want sync up and start regular cycles. I slowly stopped running. I still got out 3/4 times a week but each run was 2 miles at most, not the 7-9 miles I had grown accustom to. Even with giving up my long runs my body did not want to cooperate... so of course I made a plan.

 8 weeks.

Grace and I met with the doctor for a very, very long visit. I had no idea we would be there for 2 hours when I brought my tiny toddler with me. We came up with "a plan" and I of course was excited to know exactly what was going to happen. July 5th I would begin the process of infertility treatments. I was to take a pregnancy test to insure I was  not pregnant, then I would take some kind of pill to start the cycle, after that clomid would follow. Along with all this treatment there would be blood tests, ultrasounds, etc to make sure everything was working as it should. I was once again in control, and I knew what was going to happen.
July 5th came! Finally the day when my plan would begin. God laughed for a third time. A little plus sign showed up on that test. We couldn't believe it. Once again I was ready to start my plan and I again needed to realize I am not the one in control.

This pregnancy has been so different from Grace's in so many ways. The nausea is unbearable! I want to sleep all the time, except for at nights of course when I can not seem to find a comfortable position. Food in general does not appeal to me, until it does and then I am ravenous for everything.

 12 weeks.

Grace has been a gift through it all. We wanted to wait until I was out of the first trimester to announce our pregnancy, but once again God likes to laugh a little with our family. My belly popped out around 8 weeks. You may not notice but my 23 month old sure does. She immediately asked me if there was a baby in there. Of course we told her yes there was and that she would be a big sister. Without a second of hesitation she went and found her baby doll and brought it over to me. I thought she was showing me the baby but instead she lifted up her shirt and asked me to put the baby doll in there. We walk around like this most evenings now. Me with my belly already announcing to the world before I am ready to, HEY, There is a baby in here! And my sweet little mamas helper with a doll stuffed under her shirt.
Now we are at 12 weeks. My belly still continues to look huge (to me at least) People who are already guessing, always guess it is a boy. Who knows. I am pretty convinced it's another girl, but either way we will be so blessed. We got to see "Itsy" again yesterday and s/he was happy as can be. So much more calm then Grace was when we saw her at the same point. We are hoping it's a sign of a calm and peaceful number 2. :)

Ok now because I need to actually address what we DID this month, besides growing another baby that is, here are pictures of some of our favorite September moments. We had Grace's 2013 fall picture taken. We are so madly in love with this kiddo.

 

  

  

We have gone a couple Thursday nights and watched a free band play with Uncle Taylor. There are balloons and face painting! It was a lot of fun.

 

 We visited a pet store with Mimi and got a chance to look at all the animals!

 

  

Boppy, Taylor, Daddy, Mommy and Grace did the Electric Run when it came to Raleigh. We had glow sticks and ran through the dark. It was so much fun with everthing glowing!

Hanging out and playing with friends at various play dates.

Swinging is still a favorite activity... especially when Daddy does it. Daddy's are so much more fun. :)

Mommy and Daddy got to go on a fancy date night. Melting Pot AND a movie! We were out until almost 11!

Our first trip to a corn maze/pumpkin patch.

Always time to play with Mimi at Marbles. We had the whole place almost to ourselves! Which was great because my tiny tot wanted to do all the big kid stuff.

Sweet Grace,
Although moments of this month were trying, the majority of it was an amazing delight. You are talking so much these days. We understand 98% of what you are saying and you can follow and add to any conversation Daddy and I are having... which is very interesting. :) Half of the time you are talking in 3 and 4 word sentences, the other half you still use one word to get what you want. You have reached a new level of independence and being a big helper! I know can ask you to go get things for me and you run away and come back with socks or whatever else I need. You still love to test the boundries, but in general you want to do "good" and be praised for it. Now that my hormones are leveling out I am being a better Mommy, more patient and more fun. Thank you for baring with me this month. I love you so much.
xoxo
Mommy & Daddy
--------
Itsy Bitsy Baby,
This is my first love letter to you. There are so many things I would love to already know about you. What are you going to be like? Who will you look like? How will our family change once you are here? We wanted so badly to have you, and then when we finally found out we were pregnant I was a little scared. I don't know what to expect and I am learning that it's ok not to. When we saw you yesterday I realized my nerves were silly. No matter what you bring to our family, if you are more challenging then your sister, or if you are the perfect child, we will figure it out. I saw all five little fingers on your hand. I saw your tiny nose. You waved at us. I fell in love. I can't wait to find out if you are a boy or girl at the end of October. We love you tiny one. Our sweet baby I.
xoxo
Mommy & Daddy

August. The Sunshine is Out.

August. Such an amazing month. Our little peanut is growing up right before our eyes. We are so proud of her and in awe of the leaps and bounds she is making developmentally. We are learning a lot about each other (Kendall and Gabe) and how we handle parental challenges and a high spirited, energetic, larger then life, and knows what she wants, toddler. Things we would pass on to other parents.... laughing hysterically at inappropriate behavior (like screaming in the middle of a meal) will result in that same behavior occurring outside the house where it is not quite so funny.... Teaching your daughter to "boom boom" yes put her hands up and punch another person is very entertaining for Daddy at home, and not so entertaining when Daddy takes her to the Little Gym....... Last tid bit for now, Toddler's listen to EVERYTHING. We are no longer alone.... It is a crazy life entering this next phase of parenthood but we are ready for it.

Big leaps this month - we are in diapers now only when we sleep! The first day of potty training was very challenging. We went with a naked, stay at home for 3 days, approach. Full on, and get it done. Day 1 was pretty much one accident after another... yikes! But somewhere in the middle of the day she decided she did not want to be standing in her own pee and all of the sudden she was using the potty! We went on a vacation at the end of the month that really set us back, we were down to no accidents at all! Since we have been back from vacation, she is having one accident every day or two. We are hoping she quickly re sinks and we an get back to accident free! I love her backpack now, its filled with changes of clothes and extra undies. :) No more diapers to go!

We have been keeping this girl out and busy. Walks in the neighborhood and trips to the Cary Art Museum. Grace still loves going to the park and swinging. It is so cute to see her on the big girl swing now, although she still prefers I do all the work pushing. hehe. Glad that some things do not change.... at least not yet.

We have been keeping up with our education and providing her with different experiences. One particularly rainy day we decided to have inside/outside time. We brought out the chalk and used black paper.

Blueberry picking was also a big hit in August. We got to see horses, pick blueberries right off the bush, and play with a bunch of our friends.

Uncle Taylor has continued to come by for a special dinner once a week, we see him on other nights too, but once a week is just Taylor with our little family. He does such a great job of making sure Grace feels loved and adored. She is so smitten with her Uncle.

Uncle Taylor also had his big 25th Birthday this month. We went over for dinner and cupcakes before his party started. We actually stayed into the party a little bit, but headed home before it got too wild. :)

Finally our summer vacation happened! We had to wait until the end of August so Gabe could join us for a few days! He had to work at the new job for 6 months before he could take vacation days and we hit 6 months in August. We have been so blessed by his job both financially and he actually LOVES what he is doing. God is doing great things for our family.

Myrtle Beach was gorgeous. We had not ever been before and we loved it. The sand was so soft, the ocean itself was actually calm enough to go out and enjoy in the afternoon AND when the wind would pick up it did not pelt you with tiny molecules of sand. We LOVED it.

The condo we stayed at had several great pools including this submarine in a toddler pool. Grace is climbing in the right hand entrance.

 The dug in the sand, built sand castles, collected shells, flew kites, it was great.

We also hooked up with Mimi's brother James and his wife Ines and son Maka. Grace thought everything Maka did was pretty hysterical. It was fun to watch them interact. One of our day trips included  heading to the Ripleys believe it or not aquarium.

Grace could have stayed in front of the giant fish aquarium for hours. She was so in awe of their beauty and the sheer hugeness of the tank. It was pretty awesome to watch her amazement.

The shark tunnel on the other hand we were a little more nervous about. She was not a huge fan of them going directly overhead. There was no way to really explain to her that it was totally safe so we just tried our best to act amazed and excited and she did pick some of that up.

The mermaid show was fun! Grace continues during bath time to kick her feet together and blow bubbles telling us she is a mermaid. <3

Back to the beach. It was seriously such a fun age to have at the Ocean. She enjoyed everything so much with such enthusiasm but had a healthy respect for the water itself. I was never concerned she was going to run into the waves and yet I did not have to be on top of her like a hawk. She enjoyed her freedom to wonder a bit and do her own thing. She is such an independent little miss.

 One of our times in the water, notice Daddy's grip on this girl. She was not going anywhere!

This little one is so lucky to have all these male role models of what amazing men are like. Above Daddy is building sand castles and below Taylor is taking her for a run down the beach. She is one loved little girl.

Another outing we made was to the Boardwalk. Grace got to ride on lots of little carnival rides. Just a few of them included the tea cup ride, which she LOVED to spin around and around (Daddy was feeling a little sick) and the carousel which Taylor and I rode as well!

Building with Boppy. They are scattered through but Grace and I actually went down on Monday with Mimi and Boppy. They were so helpful the first couple of days before Daddy arrived. I really have a lot of respect for single mothers. It is EXHAUSTING! Just keeping up with all of her energy and making sure she is pottied, fed, clean, and happy. Shew! So thankful for parents who are really there for us. I am one lucky and loved girl too. :)

One of our nights while waiting for dinner to be made, we had spent all day out in the sun. Can you tell this girl is just soaking up the love?

Sweet Grace,
It was another amazing month. I am pretty sure you have grown several inches. You are now able to reach things on the counters... how did that happen? So it has become more and more interesting finding hiding places in our little house. :) Oh you can also open all the doors now.... so shutting them and assuming you can not get in, is out of the window. Your communication is growing by leaps and bounds. You can keep up with our adult conversations and even add your own thoughts (we are starting to have to be really careful what we say!) you also inform me about other people and what they are doing. When you wake up first thing you always ask me, "Daddy home? Daddy working?" I love that you ask questions to find out what you want to know! You even still shock me with some of the things you know. One day you were pretend rubbing lotion into Daddy's legs and when you were done with his leg you looked at him and said "Oder leg Daddy" How in the world do you know what other means? We absolutely love you, your beautiful outside and even more your gorgeous inside. You are sweet, you are kind, you are intelligent, you are important and we love you.
xoxo
Mommy & Daddy