State of the Uterus: 26 Weeks

How far along? 26 weeks.

Due Date: January 6, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: I have gained about 10 lbs so far.

Maternity clothes? Yep, pretty much all the time now.

Sleep: I've been falling asleep on the couch watching TV in the evenings before I even make it to bed. Waking up to pee sometimes, but overall sleeping pretty well.

Best moment this week: It's been kind of a tough week for my family and me, but it always makes me happy to feel little Reid move around in my belly.

Movement: Almost constantly. He seems very strong, just like his brother.

Food cravings: Still wanting sweets, and occasionally something spicy. 

Food aversions: No aversions this week.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: I've had less Braxton Hicks contractions this week, maybe because I've made an effort not to do too much. Just trying to relax and enjoy this pregnancy without stressing myself out unnecessarily.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Not peeing myself. We're not talking full on pants-wetting, but pretty much every cough or sneeze results in a little trickle. 

What I am looking forward to: Making it to the third trimester, and everything that follows. We are almost into October and fall is my favorite season, so I'm pretty excited.

Milestones: According to whattoexpect.com, baby's eyes should now be open when he is awake, and his brain activity has kicked into high gear. Not only can he hear sounds from outside the womb, but he can respond to them.

Please excuse my just out of the shower look.

On an unrelated note, I want to thank you for the thoughts and prayers throughout this difficult week. My "Nana" went home to be with the Lord last night. My dad tells me she slipped away peacefully, which is a relief, but of course we are all sad to see her go. I will be traveling to Phoenix this week to attend the funeral and to spend some time with my family. Thanks again for all the love.

Praying for Nana

I keep trying to think of something clever, or funny, or interesting to write, but I'm struggling. Many of my thoughts right now revolve around my 86 year old "Nana" (my Dad's mom) whose physical health is quickly deteriorating. She had a heart attack last week when my parents were here visiting, which definitely changed the tone of the rest of our time together. Apparently Nana recognized the symptoms she was having and knew it was her heart, and since she was alone, she called 911. An ambulance came and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she had emergency double bypass surgery. We weren't sure she would make it through the long surgery, but she pulled through.

Nana, last summer when we all had a great visit in Michigan

Since then, she's had a lot of ups and downs. It was days before she could handle being off the ventilator, but once they removed it her blood oxygen level plummeted and her heart rate dropped, so she had to go back on it. Being intubated gives her so much anxiety that she has to be heavily medicated to keep her from pulling the tubes out, so she isn't awake very often right now. As if that wasn't enough, all the medications she's on have to be filtered through her kidneys, which were weak to begin with and are now starting to fail. She has also developed jaundice over the last couple days.

She has been firm about not wanting to be on dialysis or a ventilator for life, and has signed a do not resuscitate order. She doesn't want any "heroic measures" taken from here on out. My dad, brother, and aunt are there with her now, and this morning they are meeting with her doctors to get some more answers and talk through her options.

I realize that at 86 years old, this is just so much for her body to deal with, and it doesn't seem to be handling the treatments very well. She is a fighter, but she's only as strong as her mortal body, and I know we won't get to keep her here on Earth forever. It's so bittersweet to think that this might be the end. I don't want her to be in pain or to suffer, and I know that the love of her life is waiting for her in heaven. So even though I don't want her to die, I know that something far better than this life awaits her. If you can spare a prayer, dear readers, please send one up for my Nana.

Wordless Wednesday: Million Dollar Smile

State of the Uterus: 25 Weeks

How far along? 25 weeks!

Due Date: January 6, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: Nearing the 10 lb weight gain mark.

Maternity clothes? Yep! I've gotten a lot of "oh, you're so small for 6 months!" comments, but trust me people, this belleh is growing.

Sleep: The last couple nights I've slept so well I woke up with drool on my face, haha.

Best moment this week: Being able to spend time with my parents! We had a fun visit, and Colin very much enjoyed having them here, too! He started calling them Pepa and Mamaw (rhymes with Grandma, which he couldn't quite say).

Movement: Oh yes. I've even seen my belly move a couple times already!

Food cravings: Bring on the desserts! Funny story: One evening when my parents were here, I said that pie sounded really good. Mom suggested that maybe Dad should go pick up a pie from the store, and I responded, "No, it's okay, Dad. You don't have to cater to every pregnant whim I have." He started laughing and said, "uh oh, she said the word 'pregnant.' Now I have to go get her a pie." And he did, and it was glorious. The end.

Food aversions: At this point in my pregnancy, I basically just LOVE FOOD. No aversions at the moment, and I can pretty much eat a grown man under the table. Yesterday Mom and I went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch, and I shamelessly ate a ton of chips and salsa, followed by chicken enchiladas and rice. So. good.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Still having Braxton Hicks contractions, but at my last appointment, my doctor did a quick cervix check. It's still "thick and closed up tight," which is definitely good news.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I really do miss being able to carry and chase around my very active 20 month old son. Colin pretty much never stops moving at this age, and it isn't easy for this pregnant mama to keep up! 

What I am looking forward to: Getting Reid's wall letters in the mail from a dear friend who has done an amazing job on them!! Look for a review of her Etsy shop in the near future. :)

Milestones: From whattoexpect.com: Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air.

SmartBones Review & Giveaway!

Show of hands: how many of my blog buddies are dog owners? Just kidding, don't raise your hand. Or do, but I won't see it. Anyway. This review is especially for those of you who have a four-legged fur-baby in your life. When a SmartBones marketing rep contacted me recently about reviewing their new line of rawhide-free dog chews, I was eager to let Ellie try them out!

So, why rawhide-free, do you ask? Well, rawhide is essentially leather, and it's not exactly easy to digest. Rawhide can also present a choking hazard, and as if those weren't reasons enough, some rawhide bones are treated with chemicals that can be harmful to your dog, and to the environment in the long run.

SmartBones has two new products, both of which are made from great ingredients like chicken and vegetables. They are completely rawhide free, but they have a similar texture to rawhide. Chewing these treats are great for your dog's dental health, so that's a nice added bonus!

For the purpose of this review, I received one package of chicken flavored SmartSticks and one package of peanut butter flavored SmartChips.

SmartSticks and SmartChips both have real chicken filets on the inside, and chicken or peanut butter flavored vegetable chews wrapped around the outside. As soon as I opened the packages, Ellie knew they were for her. She sat impatiently as I teased her for a minute or two. You know, just long enough to take this photo.

When I gave her the first treat, a peanut butter SmartChip, she dug right in! The chew actually smelled just like peanut butter. I imagine it tasted pretty good to my Ellie girl, as she devoured it in a couple minutes!

 

After finishing her SmartChip, Ellie jumped up and put her paws on the kitchen counter where I had left the treats, hoping for more. I let her have a chicken SmartStick, which she seemed to enjoy just as much as the SmartChip. I'd say these were a huge success!

Do you think your pooch would enjoy these yummy treats? Good! Because the awesome people at SmartBones want to give 1 package of SmartChips and 1 package of SmartSticks to not one, but two of my fabulous readers! You can enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Sorry, international friends, but this one is only open to US readers. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

State of the Uterus - 24 Weeks

How far along? 24 weeks, aka 6 months. Holy crap! Only 15 weeks until baby Reid's eviction date. We're scheduling a c-section for 39 weeks, if I make it that far this time.

Due Date: January 6, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: I keep forgetting to weigh myself, but I think I'm still up about 8 lbs total. We'll get an official number at the doctor's office tomorrow morning.

Maternity clothes? I am exclusively wearing maternity pants, and mostly maternity tops, too.

Sleep: I am having a lot of trouble falling asleep most nights, but thankfully last night I slept like a baby (figuratively speaking, of course. We all know babies don't sleep).

Best moment this week: Finishing the nursery, except for the wall letters that will go above the crib. A dear friend will be doing those for us. I can't wait to show you once they're done!

Movement: Still feeling movement every day, but some days I feel him more than others. I am also feeling movement up above my belly button now. I wonder if he's still breech?

Food cravings: I have really been wanting some ice cream. Might have to satisfy that one today.

Food aversions: Nothing in particular this week.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: I've had some more Braxton Hicks contractions this week. The worst ones happened while I was walking quickly through Wal-Mart for some groceries.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Not peeing myself a little bit every time I cough or sneeze. Yep, that's happening already. Sorry for the TMI.

What I am looking forward to: My parents will be here tomorrow evening, and they will be staying all week long. I'm so excited!!

Milestones: Little Reid is undergoing a ton of changes right now. His eyes should be fully formed at this point, and little sacs of air are forming in his lungs (all the better to cry once I'm born, Momma!). He has even developed fingerprints. Isn't that amazing?

In the beginning, it felt like this pregnancy was dragging, but now I feel like everything has suddenly sped up. We are already into September, and despite my early January due date, we are planning a scheduled c-section for late December. Most likely New Year's Eve, in fact! So we may be ringing in the new year with a sweet baby boy. Or, if he's like his brother, he may decide to come even earlier than that.

Honestly, other than a few minor annoyances, I don't really "feel" pregnant this time. I had a relatively uneventful pregnancy last time, too, except for the carpel tunnel and heartburn I developed at the very end. Thus far, the two pregnancies have been very similar. I am happy to be feeling movement on a daily basis now, because some days that's the only thing that reminds me there's a little person in there!

More to come. ♥

 

Wordless Wednesday: Boy Mom Moment

You know you're a boy mom when...

...your child starts scratching his little butt inside his diaper.

We won't talk about the other body parts he's been exploring. Ahem.

Paci Boot Camp

If you read my earlier post about deciding to wean Colin from the pacifier, then you know just how nervous I was about the whole thing. I tried to be optimistic, but felt deep down that he'd probably lose his mind without it and that I'd end up questioning our decision to do this now, rather than waiting until he's older. To my surprise, the beginning of "paci boot camp" went much better than expected... but then things kind of went downhill. Here's what happened:

Friday night: We did the usual bedtime routine: bath, jammies, milk, and some cuddle time. It was close to 8:45 before he started showing signs of being sleepy, which is a little later than usual but not by much. I laid him down with his puppy and blanket, turned on his white noise, and left the room. I stood outside his door and held my breath. But instead of the screaming I was sure I'd hear, I heard some soft toddler babble, and then silence. To my amazement, he was asleep within minutes. Did someone slip something into his sippy?!

Saturday morning: After one brief wake up at 3 am where Colin whined a little bit in his bed, he slept straight through until a little after 6, which is normal for him. In the morning, he searched his room for a paci, even looking under the crib in case one had fallen there. I carried him out of his room as he fussed and whined, but after some cuddle time with Daddy in the bed and a cup of milk, he seemed to forget about his plight.

Saturday nap: It took him a while to fall asleep, and he cried a little, but it was a tired cry, so I let him be. He finally settled himself and napped for an hour and 45 minutes.

Saturday afternoon: When he woke up from his nap, my mother-in-law took us out for lunch at Olive Garden. This was a huge mistake. Colin was an absolute mess at the restaurant, especially when we had to wait 15 minutes to get a table. Apparently 15 minutes to a toddler is an eternity. Hungry and still a bit tired after his nap, he screamed and cried, slapped me in the face, and refused to walk to the table. People were staring, and probably whispered to each other that I'm a horrible mother - and pregnant again, too - as I sat him in the high chair and handed him my iPhone to keep him occupied. Despite the frustrating outing, I stuck to my guns and didn't give him a paci. We survived.

Saturday night: There was a good bit of whining and crying before bed, and we had to lay Colin down several times before he finally allowed himself to fall asleep. It was pretty exhausting for all of us. Once he fell asleep, he was fine, but Momma's nerves were a bit frayed.

Sunday nap: Not good. Not good at all. We went to the 10 am service at church and swung by Cookout on the way home for some lunch. By the time we got home, Colin was obviously tired. For the first time in his life, he fought his nap SO HARD that he was crying until he was about to make himself throw up. We laid him back down and tucked him in countless times, and by 12:30, after about an hour and a half of this, I finally broke down into weepy tears. I went into his room, picked him up, held him close, and we cried together. I gave in and gave him the paci, and he was out within minutes. I felt like a big, fat failure.


By Sunday night, Justin and I had discussed the events of the weekend, and finally decided that while he's still teething (eye tooth #4 is now on its way in), we're going to continue to allow paci use, but only in his crib, during sleep times. Sunday night, we didn't let him have it until he was tucked in, and he went to sleep like a perfect angel. Monday night was also incredibly easy. I feel like we're close to being able to wean Colin from the paci, but right at this moment this Momma's heart can't take the cold turkey method.

How and when did you wean your toddler from the paci? Any special tips or words of advice?

Colin and his BFF, the paci.

State of the Uterus - 23 Weeks

How far along? 23 weeks!

Due Date: January 6, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: I've lost a little bit this week, so somewhere between 7 and 8 lbs gained so far.

Maternity clothes? Yes sir! This little mama is expanding pretty quickly.

Sleep: Twice now I have been awakened by kicks that were strong enough that I had to get up and pee right away! There is definitely a strong little boy in there, and it's getting harder for me to sleep through the night.

Best moment this week: Justin was able to feel a kick from the outside for the first time! That's a few weeks earlier than he was able to feel Colin the first time around. Pretty exciting! Also, just this morning I was able to see my belly move when Reid kicked (or punched?) especially hard.

Movement: As my uterus rises higher, and my little boy gets bigger and stronger, I am feeling movement all over the place. I love feeling him wiggle in there!

Food cravings: Anything pumpkin.. all the flavors of autumn. I am so ready for Thanksgiving it isn't even funny! I found some pumpkin spice Eggo waffles at the grocery store yesterday and I can't wait to try them!

Food aversions: Still red meat. I'll eat a hamburger, but it doesn't hit the spot like it used to.

Gender: It's a boy! Reid William Vaughan.

Labor Signs: None.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Having the energy to keep up with Colin. Yesterday he had a complete meltdown in Olive Garden, and hubby wasn't there with me. I had a really hard time getting the situation under control, and wore myself out carrying him around when he refused to walk.

What I am looking forward to: My parents are coming down for a visit the week of the 17th. I can't wait to see them!

Milestones: This has been a week of milestones for both of my babies. First of all, we chose this weekend to try and wean Colin from the paci. It has mostly been a successful venture, but today we had a huge fail at nap time. More on that later.

As for my little Reid, What to Expect says that "This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double." It is so amazing to me how fast he is growing and developing in there!

Bye bye, paci?

See that little family photo over there on the right sidebar? Notice Colin's crankypants expression? Well, here is the photo we took just before that one. Can you see why?

To get a better picture, we took Colin's paci away, and as you can see, he wasn't a fan. Our little guy has been using the pacifier pretty much since birth to soothe himself to sleep and find comfort when he's sick, upset or teething. I've never seen anything wrong with it, as it always seemed to do more good than harm, but lately he goes in search of one when he just seems bored, and fusses like crazy if he wakes up in the morning and it has fallen out of his crib. To be honest, it's been getting a little annoying.

When he moved up to the "Tods & Twos" class at daycare a few weeks ago, somehow his paci didn't make it to the new room, and the teachers had no idea that he had ever had one. He went the whole first week without it, naps and all, by the time I realized he hadn't been using it there. I probably should have tried weaning him from it then, but I chickened out. But the hubs and I have since come to the realization that if he doesn't need it at daycare, he shouldn't need it at home either. For consistency's sake, our plan is to start "paci boot camp" tonight. It may be surprisingly easy, or it may bring tears for both Colin and me. Only time will tell.

On Colin's first birthday, a sweet friend gave us a book by Karen Kingsbury called "Let Me Hold You Longer." If you read it, make sure you have a box of tissues first. Here are the first few lines:

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts.

First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst

But one day you will move away and leave to me your past

And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts."

We've already said goodbye to formula and bottles, to the little bassinet Colin used to sleep in, and to his sweet, out of control baby curls. Is the paci the last remnant of his babyhood? This thought makes me want to cry. Whew... good thing we'll have a tiny new baby to do all these things with all over again. :) 

More to come.

Mommy and Me

I recently came to the realization that I've blogged so much about this pregnancy lately that I haven't posted about my sweet Colin as much as I used to. Poor kid. :) So, for your reading pleasure, this post will be entirely dedicated to my firstborn son.

Colin was born via emergency c-section after 21 hours of labor on January 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm. He was 7 pounds, 8 ounces of pink, screaming perfection. I was smitten from the moment I laid eyes on him.

The first couple months were a huge adjustment period for both of us. Our nursing relationship was short-lived, but even after switching to formula, we still had plenty of good cuddle time while I fed him his bottles. Even though Daddy was a big help in those early days, I really enjoyed changing Colin's diaper and feeding him myself. I knew that I would soon be back at work, missing those feeds and diaper changes, and that our time together was precious.

In less than two weeks, Colin will be 20 months old. I still feel the same way now as I did then; that our time together, especially while he is this little, is limited, and therefore invaluable. He is learning new things every day, and his vocabulary is booming. Sometimes I miss that sweet, tiny little boy, but it is just so cool to be his momma during this stage in his life, too.

There is something incredibly special about a mother/son relationship. When he bumps his head and needs a cuddle, I'm the one he reaches for. If he pushes the boundaries and gets a stern "NO," he immediately bursts into tears and says "mama, mama" as if to say, "I'm sorry, I won't do it again." He certainly has his crazy toddler moments, but at the end of the day, he loves me to pieces, and it melts my heart. If I lay him down for bed and he just isn't ready to go to sleep yet, he throws Puppy out of the crib and yells "UH OH!" until I go back in. As soon as he sees me, he reaches for me and says, "Up!" How the heck can I say no to that? When he pulls that stunt, he usually earns himself some extra snuggles before going back to bed. Especially with a new baby on the way, I feel the need to love on my boy while we have still have the chance to spend some one on one time together.

By the way... when did my little teeny baby become a 30 pound giant? Just saying.

Linking up with Melissa @ Growing Up Geeky today!

State of the Uterus - 22 Weeks

How far along? 22 weeks!

Due Date: January 6, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: Holding steady at about 8 lbs gained.

Maternity clothes? Yep. I've had to retire many of my non-maternity shirts, because they're a bit too short! I love maternity pants with a small stretchy panel. If this pregnancy is anything like the first, the full-belly stuff won't work well for me until I'm well into the third trimester.

Sleep: I've been having some difficulty falling asleep sometimes, but once I'm out, I'm out... unless I wake up because I have to pee, which might happen once or twice a night.

Best moment this week: Finishing the assembly of the new crib and dresser!

 

 

It's kind of hard to see in the photos, but the crib and dresser are both cherry wood. We went with Storkcraft furniture this time around. Colin's furniture is by Delta, which is beautiful, but we had to deal with missing parts, and that was pretty annoying. This time, we had a much easier time putting everything together! Colin seems to like his brother's new furniture.

Movement: Feeling lots of movement, and still feeling the biggest kicks way down low, where my little Reid's feet are.

Food cravings: Sweets.

Food aversions: Still red meat. I've been eating a lot of chicken and turkey.

Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Still having some little aches and pains, and the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction, but nothing really painful.

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Being able to carry Colin around for long periods of time. Since he recently hit the 30 lb mark, it wears me out to carry him for longer than a few minutes.

What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery some more in the coming weeks. We need to start looking at curtains, crib sheets and dust ruffles. It's fun to shop for baby stuff!

Milestones: Baby should weigh about 1 pound now, and now has eyelashes, eyebrows, and possibly even some hair on his sweet little head, although it won't have pigment in it yet. I can't wait to see if Reid is a blondie like his big brother!