Monday, December 31, 2012

2012

After a day of shopping for the last sales of the year with my generous and caring momma...After being treated to a delicious steak dinner for Mommy and Daddy, bread for Kay (*sigh*), and milk for Keira...After trimming 20 toes and 20 fingers, getting two little squeaky clean girls into their cozy, warm jammies and into their beds, we are finally ready to ring in the new year. What a year it has been! I am exhausted just thinking about it.

As a family, we have grown in so many ways. We have grown in number as we welcomed our sweet Baby Keira into this world.  This precious little angel is the biggest and best blessing in our lives. I couldn't have wished for anything more. She is absolutely perfect and the easiest baby EVER. I am one lucky, lucky mommy. She has made 2012 one of the most memorable years of my life, and I will never forget that day 14 weeks ago in September when I first laid my eyes on her. Love at first sight. 

We had to say goodbye to a family member in our spunky little Lexi. I still think about her all the time. I wonder how she would be with my girls. She would have protected them and guarded them to no end. Which brings me to our second new family member this year, Teddy. Oh Teddy boy. He protects the kids alright. He is right there in their faces NON STOP. One thing he doesn't protect - their toys. He thinks every single thing that lays on the floor is his to chew. He is a maniac, but he is our maniac and we love him. 

After only working half of the year, I am blessed that I was able to spend so much time with my family. It is time I will cherish for the rest of my working life. It was a special time whether we were just sitting watching tv, making forts out of cardboard boxes, or visiting the aquarium. Being home everyday is something that I did not take for granted. I loved being able to manage my household, make dinner, but most of all being there for my children. Playing with, encouraging, nurturing, and just plain loving my children has been the highlight of my year.

I learned so much about love and life this year. More than I could ever express on this blog. I have changed. My husband has changed. My daughter has changed. The most important thing is we are changing together, growing together.

My hopes and desires for 2013 are to continue living a life full of happiness and love. However, I want to begin sharing it on this blog again. I miss documenting our milestones and our minutiae on this blog, and I intend to begin blogging regularly again this coming year.

So here's to another year! May you and your family be blessed with love and happiness! 


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Birth Story

Baby Keira is almost 3 weeks old, and I couldn't be happier. She is an amazing addition to our family. Big sister Kay is loving on her new "baby" and we are adjusting to our new life at home. 

Baby Keira's birth was so incredible, and it was a moment I never want to forget.

At the end of August, I was about 33 weeks pregnant and I returned to my classroom to unpack and start setting up for another school year. Until this point of pregnancy, I had been feeling great! I had a little heartburn, but other than that, I enjoyed every waking moment of my summer with Kay. When I returned to work, it took a toll on me. 

After less than a week with my new class, I took an emergency trip to see my Dr. after I had been having a ton of contractions and I had a scare that my water had broken. She immediately put me out of work to rest. I had such mixed emotions. I was happy to be able to rest and take care of this little baby, but I was bummed to not be setting up the new school year with my class. 

Well, two days later, I started having this uncontrollable itching... I am talking severe itching that kept me up all night. It was all over my body. I couldn't understand it! After some googling and worrying, I called my Dr. She wanted me to go to the hospital to have my blood work taken to rule out a condition known as cholestasis. Well, after a day in triage on the monitors, I was diagnosed with cholestasis, a liver and gallbladder condition that can affect your unborn baby. I would be seeing my high risk Dr. again and I would be monitored closely for the next week or two until I could be induced. It was scary for me and my little babe.

Thankfully, I didn't have to worry too long! My body must not like being pregnant past 35 weeks. Three days later, I started having contractions and I went into labor. I had been at the Dr. that afternoon and I was contracting the whole time I was there. I was 35 weeks and 2 days... the exact same day of pregnancy that my Kay was born. How insane is that?!? 

After contracting all night, we left for the hospital around 6:00 am on Wednesday, September 19th. We arrived in triage when the nursing staff was switching shifts. All I wanted was to get checked and to head to labor and delivery! I was starting to contract like crazy, and I knew my first labor was fast and furious. After almost an hour, I was checked and I was 5 cm dilated! We moved quickly to labor and delivery after that! 

My sweet hubby (who happened to look and feel like death with the flu) and my mom were with me. I was able to get my epidural and get comfortable for an hour or two. Then, I was ready to push, but I had to wait for almost another hour so I could get two rounds of antibiotics. With a 35 week baby, they wanted to wait as long as possible for me to get these meds. When it was time, my Dr. broke my water and Baby Keira was here 5 minutes later! I am lucky with pretty fast labor and relatively easy deliveries.


It was such an exhausting two week stretch, and I was so thrilled that our baby was here safe and sound. The second she was placed on my belly, I knew she was perfect. She looked SO big compared to her sissy and she looked strong and beautiful. She had a full head of black hair, a perfectly shaped head, and smooth skin! She was simply AMAZING.

The joy I felt when I heard the Dr. say, "It's a girl!" was so overwhelming. I just started crying. I was so happy that my Kay would have a sister!

The past three weeks have been busy. They have been filled with love and sweetness. They have changed my life. Welcome to our family Keira Jane.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

It's a ...

GIRL!

Sweet Baby Keira arrived Wednesday, September 19th! She is an amazing addition to our family and I am in heaven over here. SOOOOO much more to come, but I wanted you to get a glimpse of the cuteness.

Keira Jane 
5 pounds 13 ounces
19 1/2 inches long
12:42 pm



Monday, May 14, 2012

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has come and gone. I still can't believe I am a mommy celebrating such a special day. I enjoyed a special morning with my two loves.


After a morning spent hanging out at home, we headed to the Mansion on Main Street for a special Mother's Day brunch. I love all things brunch. I love eating breakfast and then eating lunch right after. What is better than that? It was a gorgeous day, and we got on our Mother's Day best.




As we arrived at brunch, I was treated to a lovely pink rose and a complimentary mimosa. I couldn't enjoy my mimosa though, so I had a nice hot cup of decaf coffee. We had a nice time at brunch. Kay didn't eat a lot, but she sure LOVED her strawberry shortcake.





This Mother's Day, I didn't get to see my own mommy. I will make it up to her. Mother's Day isn't the same without celebrating her! I can't tell her enough how grateful I am for her. From taking care of me when I was sick to taking care of Kay when I am sick, she is always there for me, helping me, and making my life easier. She taught me the meaning of love and sacrifice. She has shown me the way to be the mommy and person I want to be. I love you Mom. I hope you enjoyed your Mother's Day.

And to the little girl that made me a mommy, you are such a special little person. I am so grateful that I am your momma, and I love being your mommy. There will never be a more important job in the world.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

16 Weeks

Not much new has changed around here. I had my Dr. appointment last night, and I heard the thumping heartbeat of this darling baby! It never gets old... that wooshing sound you hear on the doppler. Steady heartbeat in the 150's ... just like my Kay.

At 16 weeks...
* My sweet baby bump is growing. (Not so) slowly but surely it is starting to show.

16 Weeks
* My highlight this week...I felt my baby move for the first time! At night watching tv, I am starting to feel the flutters.
* Honestly, not much else has changed from last week. I am just counting down these last 29 school days so I can get in total baby mode.

I can't wait to see Kay as a big sister. We bought her a little baby doll, and she tries to feed it a bottle. It is adorable until she spikes it off of the floor. I guess we have some work to do before October... "Do nice to the baby."

Friday, May 4, 2012

18 Month Well Visit


Kailyn had her 18 month well visit, and it was the fastest, easiest appointment by far! We took our sweet girl to this appointment with no questions, no worries, nothing. It felt good. When we arrived, I was ready to weigh her. I would have put money down that she was at least 27 pounds! Nope, I was wrong...

At 18 months...
* you only weigh 23.5 pounds (you made us work for this measurement because you were not happy about sitting on the scale)! You are still a little thing! You are 32.25 inches tall. 34% for weight and 67% for height. Tall and slim. Go girl!

*you are just the sweetest, funniest little girl around. Today, you learned "ring around the rosie" and watching you spin in circles and "fall down" might just be the highlight of my week.... uhhh maybe even my month. *Thank you Lisa!

* you have have 12 teeth! You cut your bottom and top molars without much fuss, and you LOVE brushing those teeth. You are OBSESSED with Mommy's toothbrush and you make a beeline for my bathroom to get it every chance you get.

* you don't really have any favorite foods. You do love pears and pasta. You are trying more and more new foods, and this makes your mommy proud. Just the other day, you ate an entire dinner of eggplant parm. I almost dropped dead.

* you love playing outside. You want to ride in your wagon every chance you get. You hold on tight, and you wave to anyone sitting on the porch. Being outside makes you happy. The second anyone says "outside," you sprint to the backdoor....just like Lexi used to do.

* you walk around saying "Ma ma" ALL day! I love it. It is so cute. Your little voice is adorable. "Ma ma, Ma ma, Ma ma." I am one lucky Mama. Some other words you say "Da-Da (for Daddy and dog), Hi and Bye, and Hot. You definitely knows how to tell everyone to be quiet... "Shhhh" with your finger to your lips is your new favorite thing to do.

I can't believe my baby is 18 months old! Now, if only her hair will grow in the next 18 months...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Product of the Week - Makeup Brush Cleaner


It has been awhile since I have linked up to post a Product of the Week, but this one was too good not to post! So, I am linking up with Tiffanie and Aly to to share this stuff...


This Daily Brush Cleaner from Sephora is amazing! I love this stuff. I am not one to go the whole nine yards to clean my brushes. Too much of a hassle for me... I prefer to use them until they are disgusting then I just buy new. Hey... just being honest here.

Then, I bought my new beautiful UD NAKED palette. That is when I started to run into problems in the brush department. I didn't want my beautiful palette mixed up or ruined in any way, and I wanted to be able to wear each color without worrying the the last day's makeup was still on my brush!

One or two little sprays, a wipe, and you are ready for a fresh makeup application! I love the smell of this cleaner too. It is amazing to see what comes off your brush with each swipe. I love this product and if you want a fast way to get a fresh brush between each makeup application, then buy this. It won't put a dent in your wallet either.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Puppies and More

The past two weeks, I have opened up my home to these sweet pups. These darling 8 week old babies were so close to losing their lives, but they were transported here and now both are headed to loving forever homes.


This sweet boy with these sweet eyes is a doll baby. He is so gentle and calm. We let him run around with Kay, and we aren't worried. He never jumps on her or nips her. He just follows her around interested in what she is doing. This little guy is headed to the nicest, young family. He will have the chance to grow with their expanding family. Lucky dog! He has a little cough so I get to keep him and love on him until the end of the week! I will definitely miss him when he is gone!


This feisty one has already gone home to her new, loving family. She was a pip, and I loved her spunk. She was all puppy and she was the cutest little spitfire. She was so cute that she was only here a week before she went to her new owner, a vet tech. She will definitely get the best care and the most love with a mom like that!  

It feels so good to help these sweet pups find forever homes when their outlook was so bleak just a short time ago. I love volunteering for this rescue, and I love being a foster. It is a lot of work with a toddler, but it is so worth it and so rewarding. I love animals and I always have. I am so lucky to have the most understanding, supportive husband who not only agrees to let me do this, but he helps out so much (sometimes I think he does MORE than me)! Thanks Dave for helping take such good care of my pups!

Recently, we decided we are ready to look for a puppy of our very own to fill the void that our sweet Lexi left. After taking care of these pups, I am more confidence that I will be able to care for and train a puppy with my toddler running around. As we have been searching our rescues and waiting to find the right pup for us, I am shocked by the number of perfect pups that would make the perfect pets. I can't imagine that someone would buy a dog from a pet store. Before you shop... adopt! It does make a difference.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

15 Weeks

So excited to be starting my weekly posts! I am 15 weeks pregnant today! Let me tell you...that was the fastest 15 weeks of my life! I have been so busy the past few months with work, weddings, and showers that I am ready for a nice, long break to sit around and relax and soak up the joy of pregnancy.

I haven't even had much time to think about this sweet "apple" growing rapidly inside of me! This sweet apple that will hopefully go unidentified until he or she makes the big entrance into the world (hopefully we can stay strong and not give in)!

At 15 weeks,
Here is the belly shot...





* I am feeling great! I don't think I am quite getting my energy back yet, but I am starting to get used to managing while feeling like I can't lift one leg in front of the other. Teaching is one of the worst jobs for a pregnant woman.
* I have started to wear some of my old maternity clothes! What a relief! I hate having my pants digging in to my stomach by the end of a long day. My belly is definitely starting to protrude MUCH faster this time than last.
*  I have been eating a hell of a lot of oranges. and olives. Weird I know. Oh and let's not forget my current obsession with chocolate milk. I just make sure not to eat and drink these things together. I have been craving hoagies, and I am trying SO hard to be good and not give in! I am sure to just be craving them since they are off limits. Why does that always happen? When you can't have something you want it so much more.
* I have been getting up in the middle of the night 3 or 4 times a night to go to the bathroom. I have forgotten how much I despise getting up in the night!
* Everything else is pretty much normal as normal goes!

I can't wait to start really looking and feeling pregnant. I find it amazing to watch your body grow and change.

Monday, April 30, 2012

The Details




Yup, we are expecting our second baby! We are so excited. If you have been wondering why I have been slacking in the blog department, you can probably now put two and two together. I have been way too exhausted to get the computer out at night!

My due date is October 23rd! Yes, you read that right! My kids will be 2 years apart almost to the day! It makes me so thrilled... and a little nervous. I feel like I don't remember anything about having a newborn. I can't even remember any of the sleep/eating protocols ... is that normal?

On Sunday, February 12th, I couldn't wait another second so I took a pregnancy test after talking about possibly being pregnant with a friend at dinner that night. I almost dropped dead when there was the faintest pink line.

There it is. I thought ... hmmm.... that can't be right. So I waited two more days until I was supposed to get my monthly friend, and when I took the test on Tuesday Valentine's Day ... there it was clear as day.... pregnant! What a gift. We were going through such a hard time with Lexi (the following weekend, we had to put her down) , and this was such a gift ... a perfectly timed gift.

The past 14 weeks have been great! I have been feeling wonderful except for the extreme tiredness. Other than being tired, my allergies are once again getting the best of me. Other than that, I am thanking my lucky stars for two pregnancies with no sickness!

Thanks to everyone for sharing this exciting journey with us!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Ice Cream

It is a hot week. I mean H-O-T hot. Only one thing to do to cool off...






Think she liked her first ice cream cone?

Monday, April 16, 2012

Pancakes and Pajamas

This was our last weekend before heading back to work for the last leg of the school year. I had an uneventful, perfect week of being with my family. Kailyn walks around saying Mama...Mama...Mama all day. I think this week of us being together turned her into a full blown Mama's girl, and I love it!

Saturday and Sunday were both filled with birthday parties. Saturday, we helped our cousins celebrate their birthdays. It was a nice day with family, but we missed our Daddy because he was in a golf tournament.

On Sunday, we celebrated a little girl's 6th birthday with pancakes and pajamas. This was the cutest pajama party I have ever seen! From hand decorated pillow cases to build-a-bear stuffed animals, all the kids had such a great time at this party.

We had some delicious brunch when we arrived. The table looked gorgeous in spring colors and personalized milk jugs for the girls. Our girls were some of the youngest party goers so we had our own special set up. It made it so easy for us to get these sweet girls fed.






After we ate, the birthday girl's dad took care of us. He hooked our little ones up with a huge white pad of paper that was the hit with Kay and Addie. They used markers on that paper for 2 hours! The marker ended up on a lot more than just the paper, but we didn't mind as long as they had a good time. Even the big girls wanted to help the little girls decorate their paper. It was so cute. Look at this with my little Kay in the mix.


Look at Kay right in the middle of the action.


I can't believe this sweet girl is 6! When I met her, she was a little girl, and now she is a big school girl. She changed so much in 3 years. This pj party was just perfect for her, and I know she had a great time. I hope she made some special wishes that come true! Happy Birthday K!