Meet Our Newest Princess, Miss Aubrey Violet

There was a ray of sunshine, on a winter morn

the day our baby girl was born.

At 6 a.m. on January twenty eight,

Our little princess arrived, exactly one week late.

Seven ponds, 2.6 ounces to handle with care;

Twenty one inches and a head full of hair.

Soft as a whisper, so precious and sweet;

Tiny perfection from her head to her feet.

Her big sisters loved her the moment they met.

Mommy and Daddy called her Aubrey Violet.

We love her so much! We are so happy and overwhelmed with her cuteness. God has blessed us, again.

Baby Two Blues- Am I the worst mom ever?

Baby #2 is coming and I am not ready. I feel awful that I am not-- guilty really.

10 days until her due date and we have done the small things. Hospital bag is packed, coming home outfit chosen, name picked (we even had it embroidered on her coming home/hospital outfit).

However, other than purchasing a double stroller, no other major changes have been made. The furniture isn’t assembled, the painting hasn’t been done…

But that is not the part I am talking about. I am not ready because I am not ready for my baby to not be “the” baby anymore. Is that terrible?

I have heard of second baby guilt and have seen lots of blogs about how moms feel bad for not being able to do as much for their second child because they have to split their attention (i.e. not taking as many pictures or documenting as much for baby number 2). I am sure that guilt will come, too, but right now, it is all about my first baby.

She is only 19 months old and I feel like she hasn’t been the baby long enough. She is the center of attention and the center of my world but I suddenly remember every time she wanted me to sit on the floor and play but I didn’t or every time I yelled at her for not listening. I second guess everything- could I have spent my mommy and Emme time better? 

As we get closer, I hold her tighter and more often (even though my little girl would already rather run free), but I am running out of time. We are about to rock her little world by bringing a baby sister into it. How is she going to feel? Is she going to know that we still love her just as much as before? Is she going to be sad when I can’t hold her because her sister can’t hold herself? Is she going to know that she will always be my baby, even if she isn’t the only baby? Is she going to understand why we have less attention to give? Did she get enough time to be the littlest one?  Is she ready to be the big sister?

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t that I don’t want Baby #2 (we aren’t telling her name until she is born) or that I don’t love her because I do. Very much. I am just not ready, today.

Keep the THANKS in Thanksgiving. Celebrate it, don't shop it.

 I have heard a lot about keeping the Christ in Christmas, but before we even get to December’s holidays, we are losing Thanksgiving! 

I am going to feel so old saying this but I remember when Thanksgiving was about a big family meal and  actually GIVING THANKS.  Everyone packed into Grandma and Grandpa’s house (or whoever was hosting), said one thing we were thankful for that year, before eating turkey and pie. My brother and I split the wishbone and made a wish. We watched football and overate, as a family. There was no shopping on Thanksgiving. Stores weren’t even open, so that employees could enjoy their turkey and football. 

Now, Thanksgiving is becoming about getting good deals on stuff that you probably don’t need. But how good is a deal if it destroys the meaning of Thanksgiving.  Rather than “thanks,” the holiday is becoming about greed and stores are placing their bottom line before their employees, families and traditions. Toys R Us is open at 5pm. Isn’t that dinner time?  Soon other stores will be following suit, each opening a little early in an attempt to beat out the other and soon, stores will all be open on Thanksgiving and slowly but surely, we will lose Thanksgiving all together. 

Is it really necessary to shop on Thursday? Can’t we trample each other for sale items the DAY AFTER we give thanks for all that we have, like we have done every other year? 

I know it is impossible for everyone to have off from work on Thanksgiving and I know that not everyone can get together with their families, but we can still save Thanksgiving.

This year our family Thanksgiving is rather small. My grandmother is not in the best of health and a large family Thanksgiving just isn’t possible. A large portion of family lives far and airfare is outrageous but my husband and I intend to start our own traditions and stay out of the reach of those who are intent on destroying the holiday all together.

A lot of people are saying that after dinner they are just sitting around, doing nothing so why not get a jump on shopping. Well, instead of doing “nothing” -do something.  At my house, this year we will start the tradition of building a gingerbread house with the kids, from scratch. This year we are making a log cabin, but every year we will build a different style house and decorate it differently.  If you don’t want to dedicate that much time, you can just build a boxed one. 

While coming up with this idea, we came across several others:

Write a letter to Santa with your kids. Remind them to THANK Santa for all of the gifts they received last year and report on things they did during the year. It will make a nice reminder to read back when they are older.  

Play a game. If you have a big family and it is nice out, play some touch football as a family. If not, try a board game marathon. 

Decorate the Christmas tree or hang your stockings.  (Maybe even make ornaments for the tree- CRAFT TIME!)

We got free place mats from the local grocery store (GO WEGMANS!) where kids can draw what they are thankful for this year.  I don’t see why this couldn’t be done on regular paper. 

I know a lot of things are Christmas related and may seem “cheesy” to some, but you can always watch a movie together or read a book. The point is to celebrate Thanksgiving, not shop it.

My Gender Reveal

In the morning morning my left me a dress a dress that he bought and sent me a text that said to be ready at 630 and I would find out more then. 

So I got dressed (in a dress that he got for me to wear) and my parents and grandmother and baby drove me around until we arrived at The Vintage restaurant. Josh had planned a gender reveal dinner complete with pink and blue wrapped chairs. 

In the corner was a big cardboard box that said "Boy or Girl?" on the front with a question mark balloon holding down the lid. 

 Everyone at the restaurant was looking to see if the baby was a boy or girl, but we decided to make them wait and order dinner first. But after we ordered, I stood next to the box...lifted the lid...and out came...

PINK BALLOONS! It's a girl!  

Looks like a lot of the gender predicting old wives tales were wrong. 

We are happy to have a little sister, close in age, for Emmelyn to grow up with. Can't wait to meet her!!

 

When Should Children Learn About September 11

This morning when I was driving my 8 year old step-daughter to school, I asked her, "Are you doing anything for September 11th in school today?" and she looked confused when she answered "No, I don't think so." So I asked her if she knew what September 11th was and she said, "Yeah. Isn't it Halloween?" She had no idea what I meant by September 11th. It must be a say for candy or presents, right?

I gave her a very brief summary of what has happened and she just said, "Wow!" She wasn't afraid or worried just a little shocked.

I was shocked that she was so completely unaware. I know she is only 8 and maybe the school thinks she is too you to learn hear about terrorism and I don't expect her to understand the economic or political affects of such a tragedy, but it isn't necessary to scare a child with potential dangers on American soil in order to pay tribute to a day that I think is far more relevant to their lives than anything currently found in a history book.

During that time, rescue workers and every day people, risked their lives to save people they didn't know before that day. Heroes were made from some of the greatest acts of humanitarianism that this country has ever seen. We ask them who their heroes are but they are completely unaware of the bravery and selflessness of the people who sacrificed themselves on September 11 to save the lives of others.

I don't expect them to hear high jacking details that will keep them from ever wanting to get on a plane again, but following the terrorist attacks came the biggest surge of American patriotism that I have ever experienced in my lifetime. There is an significant lesson to be learned about how no matter how big or invincible you may seem, you can always be knocked down and the importance of banning together to stand back up.

Maybe 8 is too young, but I think that they should at least know the importance of today and if told correctly, September 11 isn't just a story of plane crashes and terrorism but of heroism and patriotism.

Regardless, today is an important day that should be remembered by all Americans. God Bless the families of those who were brave in the face of danger and God Bless America.

Boy or Girl: Gender Predictors

In 3 weeks I find out the gender of Baby #2 (hopefully then I will have something better than #2 to call him/her), but I thought it would be fun do gather some gender predictors in the meantime and see which ones end up being accurate. I don't know if even that will mean anything. THey really all have a 50/50 shot, right? Pretty good odds!

This is actually a reasonable sample size of the crazy number of gender predicting old wives tales are out there. 

Your body:

Shape of Belly: Carrying a low, smaller belly that sticks straight out is a boy. A high, big round belly is a girl. This is tough because I don't really see either of these traits in my belly, this early. My belly is smaller than it was with my little girl and definitely not as round, so it may just be my eating habits, but I am going to go with BOY on this one.

Skin: Is your skin dry (boy) or oily (girl)? I am going to give another point to BOY on this one. I have been needing a lot more lotion lately. 

Hair: Is your hair dull and brittle (girl) or full and healthy (boy)? My hair didn't get full and bouncy like I imagined when I was told that pregnant women have great hair but when I was pregnant with my daughter, my hair was a disaster. This time it is pretty much the same. So I am going with another point BOY. 

Face shape: When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means you're going to have a girl. If your face is long and narrow, it's a boy. I am having a hard time believing that my face would slim down during any pregnancy, but it definitely isn't as round as last time, so again, I am going BOY on this one. 

Shape of Legs: If your legs have gotten really big, you are having a boy. If they stay in shape and lean, you are having a girl. Hmmm... well, my legs haven't gotten any leaner but they haven't gotten any bigger either. These are kinda hard. I am going to give my first point to GIRL. 

Leg Hair: If the hair on your legs has been growing faster than normal, you might be having a boy. I feel like I need to shave all the time so BOY gets another one. 

Nose: This one is really weird but if your nose is growing and getting wider you are likely to be having a boy. I think this one is really out there but I am going GIRL. 

Boobies: If your left breast is larger than the right breast, it's having a girl. If the right breast is larger, it's a boy. I have an obvious GIRL point here.

Eye Test: 

The eye test is when you pull down the skin under your left eye if you see a V or branches in the white part, you're having a girl. I don't know if I am understanding this one completely but my eye is just white, so BOY, it is. 

Your habits/symptoms:

Cravings: Are you craving sweets (girl) or salty foods (boy)? I didn't feel like I had any cravings last time or this time, really. I didn't need anything specific. A little bit of both, I guess, this is a DRAW.

Morning sickness: Are you having morning sickness (girl) or feeling great (boy)? I had some with this pregnancy but with my daughter I was sick as a dog, so BOY gets another one.

Gracefulness: If you are graceful throughout her pregnancy, you are having a girl. If you becomes clumsy, you are having a boy.  I am having trouble with this one because I spilled everything when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was anything but graceful and I haven't started that yet, so if I went with the opposite it would be boy but it I followed the old wives tale it would be girl. I am going to call a DRAW on this one. 

Sleep Position: If you prefer to lay on your left side, you are having a boy. If you prefer your right side, it is a girl. I move around a lot at night but my husband claims that whenever he gets up in the morning I am on my left side, it could be because he is pulling for a boy, but I don't know, so I guess it is my left side and BOY.

Headaches: If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy. This is a huge point for BOY for me this tim around. My head is constantly throbbing.

Random Tests:

Previous kids: 

 If you have another child and that child's first word was momma, you will have a girl. If your first child's first word was dadda, you'll have a boy. Emme's first word was Dada but how does this one work if you have more than one child. Oh well, BOY.

Show me your hands: 

When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it's a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up. I read this one myself, but before I read the whole thing I held my hand out, palm down so I could follow along, so my best guess would be BOY.

String Test: If you dangle a needle on a string over your wrist (or some say belly) does it swing in circles or back and forth? Circles means boy and back and forth means girl. When I did this the needle swung back and forth rather quickly and forcefully, actually so team GIRL definitely gets the point.

Name that Baby: It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have a baby of that sex. I don't know about this one because last time we only had boys names lined up and we had a girl. This time we have only girls names. I am faced with the same problem as whether I am graceful or not, so I am calling another DRAW.

Bread: If you eat the ends of bread, it's a boy. If you eat the middle of the load, it's a girl. This has to be the most ridiculous one for me. I don't even eat the crust so you won't catch me eating the "butt" of the bread, ever. So regardless of my baby's sex, I think this one would turn out GIRL. (This one is probably the most random)

Time of Conception: The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be. Ummm..GIRL.

Chinese Gender Chart The Chinese Gender Chart allegedly has an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that (s)he conceived. This chart told me I was having a girl last time and it was right. This time it says BOY.

Mayan Gender predictor: If the year of conception and the mothers age are both even or odd, it is a girl. If one is even and the other odd, it is a boy. For me they are both odd, (but this test was wrong with my daughter). One point GIRL.

Toddlers: If a toddler boy expresses interest in a pregnant woman, she is having a girl. If he doesn't show interest, she's having a boy. I don't have any toddler boys so I can't do this one.

Fetal Heart Rate:  If the baby's heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy. The heart rate at our last appointment was over 140 but just barely. I think it was 148 or 143. Emme's was always in the 160s, so I think I am going to guess BOY.

Drano Test: This test involves peeing into a cup of Drano (as if you haven't had to pee on enough things already). If the mixture turns green, it is a girl. If it turns blue, it is a boy. 
***I recommend skipping this one. Drano fumes can't be great for you and it doesn't work anyway. My Drano started clean and finished pee yellow. 

Baking Soda Test: Again you need to pee into a cup...this time with baking soda. If the mixture fizzles, it's a boy. If it doesn't, it is a girl. My pee fizzled like crazy. Point for BOY.

Key Test:  This test involves someone putting a key in front of you.If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy. If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl. If you happen to grab the key in the middle, its twins! I went for the narrow part. GIRL.

Knife/Scissor Test: Have someone hide a knife and a scissor under 2 different couch cushions when you are out of the room. After they are hidden choose a seat. If you sat on/near the knife it is a boy. If you sat on or near/scissors, it is a girl. I sat no where near the knife and right next to the scissors so this test tells me baby is a GIRL.

That si a total of 9 points for girl and twelve for girl. Only time will tell!

Holy @#$% We Are Having A Baby!

Surprise! And when I say surprise, I really mean it.  My little girl is almost one and a half and we recently found out that we will be welcoming Baby #2 in January.

I had been feeling extremely tired and unusually naseous, but there was no way I could be pregnant (or so I thought), but just to be sure I took a test and just as I suspected, it came up negative. Chalked it all up to stress. When my symptoms got worse, I took a second test and a third and a fourth and a fifth...to the point where the check out girl at CVS asked "you know that you have to pee on these, right?"And then suggested I try the digital kind (which I did!). They were all freakin' positive! No way! Impossible! (Riiiight?) --Actually, the chances were 1 in 100 to be exact.

Apparently, there was no form of birth control capable of stopping this baby from being conceived. But we take our blessings when they are given to us and while every baby is a blessing, this little one has "God's plan" written all over it.

...Either that or my husband has the "Michael Phelps" of sperm!

* I am sure not sure who would blush harder at that comparison, my husband or Michael Phelps.

In all seriousness, we know that there are lots of people out there who are struggling to have children and we are very blessed and excited to be having another baby.  His or her big sisters are ecstatic. Well, Olivia is, Emmelyn just stared at the ultrasound screen, eating her cheesy puffs as if she were watching a movie, but she sure looks excited in her picture!

We are all already very much in love with our squirmy little peanut and are thrilled that our family will be growing by two (very little) feet in 2014.