60 Days to go...

Hard to believe we are in the home stretch with baby #2. I can't believe I am eight months pregnant already! The last two months seem to go by so slowly though with the anticipation, nerves, etc. And although I've already been down this road once, its still scary for me. Especially since this pregnancy is so different from Jayne's...I kind of expect delivery to be different to (although I really hope not b/c Jayne's was really a piece of cake!).

I had my check up on Monday and we are still measuring right on track. I've gained about 17 pounds so I'm definitely gaining more this time around since I only gained 20 total with Jayne. Baby is head down and will most likely stay that way. He or she has been in this position for weeks now but I could never figure out if I was feeling a butt, head or feet etc. So I finally remembered to ask the doctor and I've definitely been feeling feet in my ribs (not totally comfortable as you can imagine). I thought the baby was head down b/c when he/she hiccups I was feeling them in my lower belly, but honestly I was so wrong with what I thought I was feeling with Jayne that I didn't trust my own instincts! Its fun to know whats what =) The baby will still pivot around but shouldn't completely flip since he/she is too big now.

I got a little more nervous this week when a friend of mine delivered her baby 7 weeks early. It kind of kick started me into nesting mode *just in case*. I've got a pile of clothes to wash (girl newborn stuff and a few generic outfits we had from Jayne), the closet is beginning to be organized and I have a list of things we need to buy before baby arrives. I'll probably start packing my bag and baby's bag or at least making a check list in the next week or two. We also have to get our plan in place for Jayne and a "what if" plan in case Jared is out of town. Yikes, I don't even want to consider that but he will be traveling a little in January & February so it is a possibility, especially if baby comes early.

Speaking of Jared's work schedule...he is now working from home when he is in town. He bought a desk for the playroom upstairs with his Christmas money and brought home all his files and stuff last week so he has been working hard to get that room set up. It will definitely be an adjustment for all of us, but so far this week has been pretty good. Jayne definitely wants to see daddy a lot but I can usually distract her with toys and its nice to see him when he takes breaks. It will also free me up to be able to run errands or go to lunch during Jayne's nap time since he'll be at the house while she sleeps. I think I might like having him home!

- T -

We had a wonderful Christmas, and we hope you did too! Jared & I woke Jayne up around 7:30am...I changed her and he got her milk ready. We knew if she went downstairs before eating she wouldn't eat a thing since she would be so distracted. Jared "christmasfied" the house turning the music on, lights, fireplace etc. And he was armed with the video camera as she & I came down the stairs. Jayne's face was priceless. I will never forget the look of pure delight on her face and the smile that light up her eyes. And the first thing she went to??? Not the kitchen standing there ready for her or the bright pink chair from Grandma Jeanee...but her stocking with a little plush Elmo sticking out of it! She LOVED Elmo and pulled him right out and danced around with him!! The video unfortunately is too long to post, but it will be something we will cherish forever!

We let her open the first present and then we each took turns. She opened about half her presents and then was just overwhelmed and not interested so we saved the rest of her presents for after naptime. Jayne played for hours with her little kitchen. She loved the food and pots and pans and now walks around the house going "cook, cook" and loves getting her Daddy "coffee"! As much as we missed the hustle and bustle of being with lots of family and running from one house to another, we enjoyed just hanging around our house all day (most of the time in our PJs!!). It was very relaxing. I made a yummy roast from Jared's aunts recipe and it was delicious. We ate around 3pm and then afterwords we tore down Christmas decorations. Your heard me...tore it down. By 7pm there was not one stitch of Christmas stuff left in our house. I admit...it made me sad. But being eight months pregnant and exhausted I jumped on board with Jared & his mom pretty quickly. And it does feel good not to have that hanging over our heads for the next week or so!

Monkey Bread!!!

 Please excuse the tired looking Momma...this pregnancy is wearing on me or so I notice from all the pictures of myself lately =)

 Hugging Elmo...the pink chair behind her was a gift from Jared's mom. Jayne loves to sit (or climb!!) on it and will sit and feed Elmo a bottle. She is going to be a great big sis!

 Making yummy cookies Christmas afternoon

 Thanks G & G for the tunnel/tent...(she was a little unsure of it at first and we bribed her by throwing Elmo halfway in...now she loves to climb through it!)

 
The best gift we got though was snow!! We woke up this morning to about 3-4 inches of white fluffy snow and it kept up until about 2pm today. We were a little worried for Jared's mom getting home on time but I think her flight was only delayed about an hour. I know she was anxious to get home and get settled before the work week! On our way to the airport and the way home we did a little post Christmas shopping with our gift cards. The stores were deserted b/c of the weather (but the roads weren't bad at all). So we got a ton done and even got home in time for naptime for me & Jayne and playtime for Jared (he got new video games for Christmas!). It's been a wonderful few days and we loved having Jared's mom here for Christmas. Now its back to the "norm" and getting ready for the work week =)

Our snowy house this morning!

Family picture

 When she got to this point she started signing "all done" and "help" to get out of the snow!

 Daddy making Jayne laugh...they have the sweetest love for each other!

- T -

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

From our family to yours....we hope you have a very Merry Christmas. May you celebrate the true reason for the season!

 

Luke 2:8-14

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

So, yesterday I get this email from my doctor. My OB, you know the one delivering our baby in just about two months??? Yeah, that one. He said is leaving the practice and wanted to let us know, so we weren't surprised. I would have been devastated to go to my next appt and find him not there. But he's that guy who lets his patients know. So after reading the first line of his email and TOTALLY FREAKING OUT...I kept on reading and found that although he is indeed leaving, he is only moving one floor up. Same hospital. Same insurance coverage. Just moving to a smaller group with more patient centered care, which is actually nice b/c the "old" practice has about 15 doctors and you never know who you are going to get, etc. The "new" practice is focused on your primary care dr. being the one you see regularly and they try their hardest to have your primary dr. be the one who delivers you. Which is awesome. We had ways around it last time with having our drs. personal pager number and cell phone...if only he hadn't decided to go away on a family vacation the week before my due date and if only Jayne hadn't wanted to make an early appearance ; )

He gave his 30 days notice and was set to start at the new group in January. He said he would be at my appt today at 415 at the "old" practice. Then I get a phone call last night from him. The "old" practice called, told him someone would be by to pick up his keys and not to bother coming in. I mean, really? Poor guy! Its Christmas time and he has to deal with all this drama. I guess they were scared he would take all his patients with him. Which, in our case is true since we only went to the other practice b/c of him in the first place. But anyways...we had a lot of back and forths yesterday and I canceled my appt at the "old" practice and will hopefully have my first appt at the "new" practice tomorrow or Wed. We only have to figure out how to get reimbursed for the money we've already paid towards the delivery. It should be a seamless transition, but who knows if the "old" practice is going to be grouchy about it all. Its' business, it shouldn't be a big deal. This happens a lot right??

Our Dr. is amazing and has already reassured us that he is our advocate and will make it work. They will work getting all our files and reimbursements etc for us, which is huge. I don't want to deal with that headache! Its enough to be this close to having our baby and switching practices. Oh well, life goes on =)

- T -

Whew, the past couple of days have worn me out! When we first started moving (before even one stitch of furniture was in our house) Jared mentioned wanting to have a large party. Large parties don't excite me. At least not hosting them...especially when its a mixture of friends, neighbors, family, church friends, work friends. Its just too many groups to keep up with and blend together and many times the party can become awkward. I tried to limit the amount of people so I wouldn't feel overwhelmed (selfish, I know), but my fun loving husband kept inviting people! Bless his heart =) So I wasn't excited, but he really wanted to do this so we hosted a Housewarming/Christmas party here on Friday night. And I admit...it was awesome!

We had over twenty people here and enjoyed great food, drinks and conversations. It definitely helped that we had some work friends who were also church friends and knew family who knew our Realtor, etc. It seemed like everyone mingled wonderfully and made the evening such a joy. We invited our next door neighbors who moved in last weekend. Jennifer is due with their second child in a couple weeks and they have a two year old son. Jayne LOVES Brayden and followed him around the house and the two had a wonderful time playing. (looking forward to many more play dates!!) We kept Jayne up until about 830 and she loved playing with everyone and hugging on everyone (and mooching food from everyone's plates!!). But she went down without a peep even though we were very loud! People left around 10pm, with the exception of family and we hung out talking for a little bit more. It was a great night and we might just do it again soon!

I don't have any picts of the party but here are some of Jayne playing with beans, her favorite new activity and one of me at 30 weeks...10 weeks to go!!!

- T -

Santa

Jayne liked Santa as much as I thought she would, he's great from afar! She smiled and waved at him...until I put her on his lap. It was all downhill from there!

2009

2010

It's amazing how much changes in one year.


- T -

Well good news...I passed the three hour glucose test so I DO NOT have gestational diabetes! I am so happy about this. The lab tech told me that my numbers weren't too high from the first test so it was probably just something I ate and she was right. Yeah!!! When the nurse called today to tell me she said "go out and have some figgy pudding or something!" Made me laugh!

Jayne & I didn't leave the house today and I think we are both a little stir crazy. It was just too darn cold here. We stayed in our PJs all day long =) Jayne was very whiny today and tested my patience (I didn't feel like I had much today to begin with!).  But tomorrow we are definitely getting out of the house NO MATTER WHAT. We are going to see Santa!! I'm very curious to see how she reacts to him this year. Last year she could have cared less about him. I think she'll cry bloody murder, but I'll still get that picture if I can. Everyone needs that "what the heck am I doing on this creepy old guys lap?" picture, right???!! And I have a few last minute Christmas gifts to buy/send, well that's the plan anyways!

Here are some pictures from Jayne's first baking lesson with Momma. She loved to dump things in the bowl and stir. I was proud of her for only getting a little bit of batter on herself and she never tried to eat any, which surprised me. Maybe she is more like me than I thought =)

- T -

What now?????

So I failed my glucose test from Wed. The way this pregnancy ahs been going, should I really be surprised???!! The drs office told me they would only call if there was an issue, so when I saw a missed call from them today...I knew. And I panicked. I know that many times women fail the 1 hr test and pass the 3 hr test, but still its scary when it happens to you. I'll covet your prayers over the weekend that my test Monday morning will come out negative.

I have to be at the dr.'s office at 830 after carbo loading all weekend (per drs. orders) and then fasting Sunday night. From what I understand they take my blood when I first arrive to get my fasting glucose level. Then I drink the nasty *higher* concentrated version of the drink I took Wed and wait an hr in the waiting room. Then my blood gets taken again. They do this THREE times!! I felt sick after the drink on Wed. Which is one reason they are having me come to the office in case I feel nauseous or get a headache or something since the drink is that much worse. Ewww, so not looking forward to this. The bad thing is Jared can't watch Jayne the whole time b/c of work stuff and finding a babysitter is so hard! Luckily he can watch her for a few hrs in the morning and then take her to his aunt & uncles house for the remaining time until I am done. (Thank you C & G...you are life savers!!)

Please be praying, I really don't want to go on any more meds!!!

- T -

Sweet “Big Girl” Jayne is a Year & a Half OLD!!!!

Eeek, where did the time go?? Although she will always be our baby, she is no longer a baby in the sense of the word. She is mastering and learning so much these days that I just can’t take calling her a “baby” any more. We are working on saying more words, potty training, sharing, using words instead of whining to get what we want, and following simple directions, etc.  She amazes me with what she knows and picks up on. She truly is a little mimic these days which can be both adorable and very bad when you see her do something or try and say something that might not be the best learned behavior! Here is some info on Miss Jayne…

Stats:

32.5" long...60%

21 lbs...7% (still our little peanut!!)

Some of the words she says: 

uh oh, turtle, baby, bunny, momma, daddy, grandma, grandpa, house, mess, wet, outside, juice, bath, up, hot, brrr (for cold), Dora, Elmo, book, go-go (for wanting to go somewhere), stuck, shoes, boots, truck, choo choo, open, bubbles, cheese, that, this, rock (wants to sit in her rocking chair)

Words she says & signs together: 

more, please, cracker, help, all done

Words she only signs: thank you, night- night, water

She doesn't use multiple words together yet (like "Momma up" or "bye-bye daddy"), but the doctor said not to worry and she should start doing that in the next six months. I wouldn't even have thought about it but they give you this stupid survey to fill out for 18 month development and that's the one thing she doesn't do at all =)

Potty Training: 

The doctor was impressed that she will tell us when she has a "mess" or is wet and that she will sometimes wake up from a nap dry. She said although its early, these are signs that she is getting ready. We have a little Elmo potty seat that she sits on once or twice a day but she has yet to go on it.  She likes to pretend she went and grab toilet paper and wipe and flush the potty weaving by-by to whatever she thinks is in there! But I’m not focusing on that yet…just trying to get her used to the idea and wanting to use the potty. She is getting really good at telling us when she is wet or has a “mess” in her diaper. She will say the word and point to her diaper and grab our hands and lead us upstairs to change her. I’m hoping by 2 years old she will be potty trained so we have time. Plus with the new baby coming I don’t want to throw too much at her at once.

Sleeping: 

She switched up her schedule again recently…and I LOVE it! She goes to bed at 7pm and has been waking up at 8am!! She will usually play quietly in bed until 830 then I go get her milk and we snuggle in bed for a little. It’s my favorite time of day with her. I’ve moved her nap back to 1245/1ish and she’ll usually sleep about 2 hrs. It’s a great schedule and I hope it continues! I have no plans to switch her to a big girl bed for a long time. If it ain’t broke why fix it??!! Until she starts climbing out or around 2 ½ years old…then I’ll start thinking about it!

Clothes: 

She is still wearing 12 month pants, but has just moved into 18-24 month tops. The problem we have with pants is that 18 month length is perfect but the waist is too big and the 12 month waist is perfect, but then it looks like she is wearing highwaters!! Her 12-18 month shirts turned into little belly shirts and daddy didn’t like that! She still has tiny feet and wears 0-6 month socks, size 4 shoes. She is still in size three diapers. I had moved her up to size four but we were having some leaks since they were just a little too big so we moved back down. Maybe another month or so and she’ll be moving on up! She is such a little peanut!!

Jayne is definitely developing a little personality and is very adamant about what she wants or doesn’t want. We have a few minor temper tantrums each day where she either can’t communicate what she wants or doesn’t want to do something and she will throw herself on the floor and roll around. All the while she is staring at me to gage my reaction. Most of the time I just ignore it, sometimes taking all I have not to burst out laughing! She can be so darn cute =) My favorite thing she does now is grab our hands to show us what she wants or where she wants to go. It is so awesome to see her little mind working and realizing what she needs to do to get what she wants.

Jayne loves to play with paper (read: rip/tear/crumple paper). This can be good unless it is a book of yours or a magazine you have yet to read! She is beginning to enjoy drawing and coloring and I think Santa may be bringing her some crayons for her stocking!! She is also getting into playing make believe. She loves her dolls and stuffed animals and will put them in the baby's bouncy or swing and loves to rock with them in her little chair. I can't wait to give her her little kitchen for Christmas. I think she will spend many hours playing there! This time with her is so precious to me and I am enjoying every minute of it. She is our pride and joy, our little love bug, who loves to give hugs and kisses for no reason. 

Happy 18 month birthday, sweet girl, we love you so much!

Happy 18 months to my sweet Jayne!

 Hard to believe a year and a half has already come and gone. Stay tuned for an updated post on Thursday after her 18 month well-baby dr. appt!!

- T -

What we've been up to...

Let's see in the past couple days...I've taken a photography class, worked on our Christmas card & letter, hung stuff around the house, Christmas shopped, went to numerous stores looking for cheap wreaths and somehow still found time to be lazy!

A woman I met through MOPS, Erin, is a wonderful photographer and I found out she offered a "Moms" photography class for people, like me, who have a SLR camera but don't use it off automatic mode. Basically she teaches you to get out of your "green box" (you'll get that if you have a camera that's auto function is a green rectangle...if not, ignore me!!) And man did I learn a lot! Its going to take me some time to get used to adjusting my camera for the light and even understanding some of the terminology, but I am trying! I took a bunch of picts yesterday and some came out really cute, others not so much. But I was able to see what I did wrong and how to adjust it which is a start! I also schedule our newborn session with Erin, which I am so excited for. She is trying to expand her newborn portfolio and is running a special in the winter so we will be able to get some good ones of the baby, sibling shots and hopefully a few family as well. I can't wait!

I started getting Christmas cards in the mail a couple weeks ago and this really kicked me in the butt to get ours going. We have this tradition of having my dad take our family picture while they are here for Thanksgiving. So we spent about and hour or so in our cute little downtown taking pictures. We got a lot of good ones, but unfortunately it was so sunny (and I hadn't yet figured out the whole lighting thing on my camera yet) so we have sun spots over our faces. But I always have him take a TON so at least we have a couple to choose from and we did...so Christmas cards done! Next is the letter...we used to send this to everyone, then felt not everyone would really want to read it, so then we started sending it to family and close family friends. And every year we go back and forth on whether to not to actually do one for numerous reasons. I've been keeping a scrapbook of every letter/card since we got married and I love being able to go back and read them, so I think I will always want to continue this tradition if only for that reason! But anyways, we've got the rough draft done and just need to finalize, print and send it!

I hope to have picts of our house all decorated for Christmas soon. We still have to figure out how to hang the wreaths on the windows and then Jared has to set up the spot lights.Jayne has been pretty good about not pulling stuff off the tree...until this morning. She grabbed a ball off the tree and threw it. Yes, it shattered. Then while I was vacuuming that up the vacuum fell over knocking two more balls off the tree and shattering those!! Ahh, oh well. The joys of toddlerhood. We are ahving a Christmas party for our life group on Sunday and then our housewarming party next Friday so we will be busy around here for the next week or so. Stay tuned!

- T -

Counting Down

86 days to go (give or take)....love to watch the numbers get smaller and smaller. I don't love to watch my belly get bigger and bigger this time around. He he! This kid moves like crazy and his or her favorite time to "play" is right when I lay down to go to bed at night. I think the baby is laying transverse in there b/c I swear I feel punches on one side and kicks on the other. I spend lots of time watching my belly shake and jiggle from all the movement. It's an amazing miracle that I am so happy to be apart of for a second time! February can't come soon enough, although we'd better get down to finding a name b/c right now we don't have anything picked out. Yikes!!

- T -

Thanksgiving

I've started this post a million times and just never find the time to finish...so its nap time and I'm skipping my nap. Thankfully Jayne is not skipping hers =)

Thankgsiving in our new house was wonderful! I loved cooking in the kitchen...wait, scratch that....I love WATCHING food being cooked in my kitchen! My mom and Jared took charge and really did an amazing job getting things ready while my dad and I kept an eye on Jayne and helped when & where we could. We were supposed to have a houseful but at the last minute Jared's aunt & uncle decided to drive to Ohio and then our friends who were also coming got sick...well Chris did anyways so he stayed home in bed. Allison & Leah still made it and it was fun to watch Jayne with Leah. Normally when Al & Leah come over its during nap time. But Jayne did really well with Leah and "helped" Al change her diaper and play with her =)

Friday after Thanksgiving we got our tree and set out making our house all Christmasy. I Love our house at Christmas time and this year was doubly fun for me b/c I have a dedicated spot for my Christmas village! Surprisingly enough Jared actually got into helping me decide where to put things. He wont admit it, but he loves this village too!

Saturday we had some people over for the OSU game, but I didn't get my camera out for that. I was too busy chatting =) Oh, but Jayne did rock out in her red tutu for the occasion. I had to capture that of course! We also took our family pictures that morning for our Christmas card. I hope at least one or two will turn out but these days its all I can do to get Jayne to smile/look at the camera. My days of easy picture taking are over I'm afraid.

It was very sad to see my parents leave on Sunday morning. Knowing we wont see them until March is very hard and I cried a little after they left. Hopefully it will go by fast. We've been blessed to see them as much as we have this year...thanks for all your help this weekend!

- T -