10.30.2011

16 Weeks & Counting

At our ward Trunk or Treat, I went as a bump in the road!



This second time around has proven to be really rough on my body.  My neck and back are constantly hurting so bad that I have headaches every day.  But the worst part is my sciatica.  I got pregnancy related sciatica at about 6 months with Londyn, but I started getting the same pain around 13 or 14 weeks this time.  Some days, it is so painful that I can’t move.  To help with the pain, I have been stretching 2 or 3 times a day, doing squats and lifting free weights.  I should be more active, but this is the best I can do at the moment.  On the bright side, I have noticed a bit of relief and I hope it is a product of all the stretching.

We went to our first appointment with the OB/GYN this week and feel really good about Dr. Weghorst.  He is Chief Medical Officer at the Providence Newberg Medical Center, where we also had Londyn and he has been delivering babies for a very long time!  He eased most all of my fears and concerns after the numbing experience with Londyn’s birth.  I don’t think anything could make me feel 100% about laboring another baby but I think I’m in the right direction by putting my care in the hands of a board certified MD versus a Nurse Midwife this time.

10.28.2011

UPDATE: Bedtime Blues

Yesterday was all about preparing for the dreaded bedtime routine (or non-routine) and my planning  paid off because... we all got more sleep last night! 

After receiving lots of suggestions from women in my ward who responded to my desperate plea for help, I decided to take her mattress out of the crib and put it on the floor.  I set it up like a real bed and gave her a pillow.  When she saw it, she called it her big bed and couldn't stop jumping on it. Who knew a mattress on the floor could bring a kid so much joy!  I also got a door knob cover for the inside of her bedroom, so that she would have to stay in her room when she got up out of bed.  

We then spent the evening over at my sister's house, hanging out with the cousins.  Jen (10) and Sam (8) made a big deal about their "big girl beds" and let Londyn climb in them and lay on them.  Just what she needed!

When we got home, it was 7:30pm and the fun began!  I started with a sippy cup of milk with 1.5 mg of Melatonin.  Then it was time for jammies, books, prayers and songs.  Londyn laid on her makeshift bed the entire time and even fell asleep while I was singing.  I then slowly got up and tiptoed out of her room.  The minute I had the door closed, I heard tiny footsteps to the door.  Then, the wriggling of the doorknob.  Once she realized she couldn't open it anymore, the crying began.  She kept saying "Open door!  Open door!"  My heart started to break... but I stuck to my guns and went downstairs to do the dishes.  By the time I was finished... there was silence.  I snuck upstairs and stood outside of her room.  I could hear her breathing on the other side of the door, so I know she fell asleep on the floor... but hey, she fell asleep!  What a relief!  To top it off?  She slept until 8:15am!  When I opened the door to get her, she jumped on her bed and said, "Big girl bed... like Jen and Sam!"  

Our little girl is growing up way too fast!


Now that we know Londyn is ready for a big girl bed, Andrew converted her crib into a daybed and she is stoked!  I know we've still got a long way to go in the bedtime department, but this little bit of progress gives us hope!


10.27.2011

Punkins

Yesterday was an inservice day at PCC, so we got to have Andrew all to ourselves… all day!  We started the day off with a doctor’s appointment and then headed to Baggensto’s Farm.  We took Londyn to Baggensto’s last year for her first pumpkin patch experience.  She had way more fun this year because she could do everything!  We got to do a  kids hay maze, see goats and chickens, dig for potatoes, play on the playground and take a hay ride to pick out our pumpkins.  Andrew and I each picked out a larger pumpkin and Londyn got to choose two baby pumpkins.

It was such a treat to have Andrew home for the day!

I never know the method Lulu's madness, but she felt it was necessary to go around kicking all the pumpkins.  Maybe that's her secret to picking the perfect pumpkin?  Not sure.











Before dinner, Andrew carved his pumpkin and Londyn decorated hers with markers and stickers.

*more pictures to come of Andrew's finished creation.







Bedtime Blues


Londyn has always been an angel when it comes to sleep.  She started sleeping through the night when she was 3 or 4 months old.   She always goes to bed at the same time each night without any hassle and takes 3-4 hour naps each day.  We have been SO blessed!

Well, the time has come… every parents’ nightmare when their child refuses to go to bed.  She has always loved her crib, so transitioning to a toddler bed has never come up… until recently.  Last weekend, we were busy with several events that resulted in Londyn going to bed around 10:30 or 11pm two nights in a row. Every night since then, she has made it crystal clear that she is not going to bed.  We have tried books, a sippy cup with milk, prayers, rocking and singing, a bath and even sitting beside her bed for hours… waiting for her to calm down.  When she was younger, we would let her cry it out and she would soon fall asleep on her own.  But now, she climbs out of her crib and opens her door yelling “daddy… Daddy… DADDY!  I climb out!”  Finally, Andrew came up with the genius idea of slipping some Melatonin in her sippy cup.  30 minutes later (10PM), she finally went to bed.  After going to bed exhausted, we were surprised to wake up at 6am this morning to Londyn up and out of her room, roaming around the house yelling “I climb out!”  Hoping she would fall back asleep, we put her in bed with us.  WRONG.  She just wiggled her little body around, tossing… turning and making sleep pretty much impossible. 


Long story… long, we will be getting a toddler bed and door knob covers ASAP.   

-        An overly exhausted mom

Birthday Bliss

Since Andrew had drill on my birthday weekend, I didn’t get to celebrate with him until last weekend.  But it was well worth the wait.  He kicked me out of the house for an hour to drop Lulu off at my parents’ house and do whatever I wanted.  When I was finally allowed to come home, I was welcomed with a trail of rose petals to the kitchen.  Our dining table was beautifully set with flowers, silk napkins and china.  He served his signature meal, caprese and pasta with sausage marinara sauce.  A new addition was a tobasco sauce infused strawberry spinach salad.  I know what you’re thinking… tobasco sauce… say what?!  It was actually fabulous, just the right amount of kick!  The icing on the cake was the goblets of sparkling apple cider.  Yummm!

He also gave me a funny card, 20 cans of DC and my current guilty pleasure – skittles.  After dinner, he took me out but I didn’t know where we were going or what we were doing.  We ended up at the movie theater and I was surprised to find out that we were seeing Footloose!  I have been wanting to see this flick ever since the previews came out, but knew that it was not Andrew’s kind of scene.  He was a trooper and although cheesy, we loved it!


The next morning was Sunday and we all slept in until 10am!  Then Andrew started off the morning with my favorite, a maple doughnut!  Then he made a big hot breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs.  Best part?  I didn’t have to lift a finger!

It was a great 25th birthday because the Mr. made me feel pampered and special!

10.19.2011

25

Last Saturday was my 25th birthday and I wasn't really forward to the day because Andrew had drill all weekend and most of my family was at the BYU vs. OSU game in Corvallis.  I threw myself a pretty big pity party the entire week prior, but when the day came- I wanted to enjoy the things I did have that day. 
Lulu and I didn't have an agenda for the day, so we did some of my favorite things!  Our first stop was Costco, where we were able to hit up all the samples- some of them twice... shhh don't tell!  Usually, we're in a hurry and the chaos of Costco gives me anxiety, so we don't get to fully enjoy the samples experience.  So this was a treat!  Following Costco, we headed to the mall.  I got a few items at Motherhood, did some window shopping and then watched Londyn play at the indoor playground.  
While some of my fam was at the football game, my mom was watching 6 of the grandkids.  She took us all out to Red Robin for a birthday dinner.  Going out to eat is hands down, my favorite thing to do!  When we arrived, they were already seated and showered me with hugs and gifts!  My nieces Mary and Jen made a fabulous cupcake bouquet and my niece Kaylee gave me a cute container filled with candies!  Aren't they just the cutest?



So although I didn't get to spend the day with my man, I most definitely felt loved.  

I am really looking forward to this weekend, because Andrew is going to celebrate my birthday with me!