I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Halloween 2017

First holiday of the 2017 holiday season has ALREADY come and gone!  Crazy!  We started with a trick o treat in downtown Sand Springs a few days before the actual Halloween day.



She was SO excited to go!  She kept running through the house yelling at her Dada to "Hurry! Norah ready!"  She loved the cape the best.  I wanted to keep it pretty easy this year and cheap because of the baby, move and my ever dwindling energy level.  We scored our entire ensemble at Walmart/Amazon for all under $30 and involved no crafting from me so this idea was a win this year!  Next year with Scarlett we'll definitely step it up a bit.  Plus I think next year might be the last year we get to pick sweet Norah's costume ourselves!


Guthrie Green Photo Contest


She had such a fun time walking up to strangers and holding out her little bucket for candy she'll never eat.  We just loved watching her actually trick o treat this year.  So special!  This was her first year to really do it and we just couldn't believe we have a child that can participate now.  She was adorable to see in action.  She was all about it until we unwrapped a sucker for her.  Then she was "All done Mama".








We decided to stay in for actual Halloween night.  It was cold, sleeting and I'm almost 35 weeks pregnant with a 2.5 year old who is just as content to stay home!  We stayed put, ate pizza and watched Hocus Pocus!  Such a fun holiday, Happy Halloween!!!!!! <3

Thursday, October 26, 2017

34 Weeks: Scarlett Kay




About ONE month to go!  I just can't believe it.

This week we're making all the arrangements with utilities, housekeepers and such to get everything ready for our BIG move next week!  This past weekend we kept Norah home with us and enjoyed her time before the next 3-4 weekends get crazy with the move.  We went to the Farmer's Market, Oktoberfest, pumpkin patch and even let her stay up past her bedtime a few nights.  She's just so much fun and we're really trying to soak up quality time with her while we can.







I had my ultrasound at the high risk doctor done today to check out baby and my fluid levels.  Baby is the perfect size and no extra fluid!  But I did find out my lower uterine segment is rather thin.  Meaning the part of my uterus that the baby's head is against is pretty thinned out.  The biggest risk from that is a uterine rupture if labor gets to crazy, that thin area could tear and Mama can hemorrhage.  So what now?  The high risk doctor suggested no sex or CrossFit from here on out as to avoid early labor (BOO!) and moving up my c-section scheduled date by a week (38 weeks instead of 39 weeks) to avoid me spontaneously going into labor on my own and putting unnecessary stress on my uterine wall with contractions.

First, we definitely expected her to come on her own right at 38 weeks like her sister, so the date is fine with us.  I also have been really harboring guilt about not being able to attempt a VBAC.  I called all the doctors my insurance would accept and no one would agree to a VBAC.  Now armed with this knowledge, I asked the high risk doc about my first desire on wanting a VBAC and with the new news about my uterus how that would have played out.  He said I for sure am NOT a good candidate for it given that healthy uteruses often rupture during a VBAC.  It really made me feel 100% better about sticking with our c-section.  Much safer for Mama.  Next week I have another check up with my regular OB, so I anticipate a new birth date to be scheduled!!


Her sister's twin and still sporting her Dada's nose!  


My husband scheduled me my first prenatal massage with this pregnancy.  It was life-changing.  I forget how great it feels to put your huge tummy through that hole in the massage bed and have a professional rub your achy lower back for a hour.  Whew, it's heavenly.  Thanks love!!

I got us pre-registered at the hospital and went and got my flu shot/DTAP shot this week too.  I'd love to make a few freezer meals once we're settled in at the new place, but I think my energy will be better spent unpacking and getting us settled as much as possible instead.  If anyone wants to help our family out with the new baby, a housekeeper and healthy dinner meals would be FANTASTIC!!

Just ONE MORE MONTH. OMG!!




Sunday, October 22, 2017

33 Weeks: Scarlett Kay



Another week down, I feel like it's going by so quick!  I can barely keep what week I am straight.  This week I had a check up with the OB.  Norah has to accompany me now since she's home with me all day.  She does really well surprisingly.  She'll point to the office door and say "Doctor...Mama's belly?"  I always prep her by saying the doctor is going to check Mama's belly.  Now she remembers and asks me every time we get seated in the small check up office.  It's so funny!  She gets to hear sister's heartbeat too on the Doppler each visit.  Thus far Scarlett is doing great still.  The doctor did measure me this week about 1.5 weeks larger for where I should be at, so she's referring me to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor for an in depth ultrasound to check my amniotic fluid levels since I was border lined polyhydramnios with my first pregnancy.  Either I have excess fluid or Miss Scarlett will be bigger than Norah!




This week I got my first nursery decoration in for Scarlett's new room!  I love it!  I wanted to do something different than the letters I did for Norah's nursery, so when my friend referred me to this Etsy Shop I knew I found what I was looking for.




I'm still feeling like myself and hoping it keeps this way!  I really have had a great pregnancy so far.  The Braxton Hicks are definitely becoming more powerful.  A few times I had to stop talking, not because of pain, but because the pressure is almost catching my breathe.

This pregnancy has been really new to my husband because for the first time he's been present for the entire journey, unlike with my first one.  He loves sitting on the couch with me in the evenings after Norah goes to bed and feeling the crazy kicks, contractions and heel drags across my belly.  He's amazed that she can kick so hard!  It's so nice having his help with mundane tasks like hauling in groceries, bending over to pick up the house in the evenings and removing old toe nail polish haha.

We also dug out the infant car seat this week and realized we never cleaned it before we stored it from Norah.  YUCK.  We had to wash the liner twice and I might have used half a dozen Lysol wipes on the frame getting all the old poop dust out.  So gross.  On the other hand it feels great to have her seat all ready to go and laid out.  We won't install it until after our move because we'll need to lay my back seat down to haul things from home to home, but it's still in my "Don't Pack Pile" and ready to go when we need it.  That's really the only thing we HAVE to have ready to head to the hospital.  In a few weeks I'll start putting together our hospital bag!  I can't believe it!





Lastly,  we squeezed in our maternity/family photos in this week!  We used the same family photographer as last year, and we felt like she did an amazing job!  We got a few with all three of us, then I changed into a few maternity gowns the photographer owned to do some solo shots.  I can't wait to see the final product!  I think it's so important to document these important times in our life's story, even though the price isn't cheap.  I wish my Mom had a few pregnancy shots of her when she was pregnant with my brother and I, but it just wasn't the thing to do at that time.  Plus, now that we have Norah I feel like we can never have enough family pictures.  I only have this girl under my roof for 15.5 years...and it sounds like a lot of time but I know better than that.  We'll never skimp on photos!


Gown #1

Gown #2

Norah wanted in my selfie! <3

Monday, October 16, 2017

32 Weeks: Scarlett Kay




SIX weeks until Thanksgiving.  SIX weeks until we're fully planning on Scarlett to make her own desired entrance into this world.  My water broke at 3:30 am at 38+0 with Norah, so we're so excited to see how Scarlett's birth story will compare.  I can't believe we are about 1.5 months away.  I keep typing this, but I just can't get over where all the time went for this pregnancy.

Scarlett is weighing around 3.75lbs and about 17 inches long.  Her little heart sounds strong and her kicks are even stronger.  For the first time ever, the kicks have been a tad painful.  I don't know if it's because how she's positioned or if she's stronger than Norah!  A few times I've had to move her foot out of where it was because it's so uncomfortable.  Simmer down Scarlett!  My baby app says I should expect now to gain about a pound a week and half will go to baby, wow!  This is where she really starts to pack it on, yay!!




This week we've got in full packing mode.  Our first home buying process is going pretty smoothly and moving right along therefore we need to get ready for the big move!  We close in about 3 weeks.  I'm really excited to have a room now for Scarlett because initially she was only getting a small corner in our room.  I can't wait to decorate her sweet nursery now!  We don't have any furniture yet for her, but we're working on it.


Loves babies!


Norah and I are enjoying are days together, just us two!  I'm really trying to live it up with her while I can before I'm couch ridden breastfeeding around the clock and sleep deprived.  She's so funny and spirited!  She gives kisses now to my belly and will point to my belly and say "baby!"  She's coming around!



Visiting the Philbrook


I'm still feeling really good so far.  I've been so lucky this pregnancy again.  (knock on wood)  I have some lower back pain, but nothing severe so far.  Still no signs of swelling, nausea or anything else.  Please keep this way!  I've gained about 25lbs so far and it's less then where I was with Norah at this point.  I'm really happy about that!  It's easier on my body for sure the less weight I gain along the way.  The Braxton Hicks are daily and getting stronger by the week.  My body is gearing up for sure.  I started prenatal yoga this week and that's really helped the everyday soreness, aches and pains.

Just a few weeks left in our old home, and a few more after that (hopefully) until Scarlett joins the family.  We can't wait!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

31 Weeks: Scarlett Kay


Another week down!  Baby girl is getting bigger quick.  Her movements and kicks are so strong.  I love it!  Put your hand on my belly at any time and you'll definitely feel her move.  I feel like I'm carrying her a little lower than I did Norah, so my back is feeling the weight of it all.  Thank you for heating pads and chiropractors!  I'm still hitting CrossFit 3-4 times a week!





Pistols while pregnant!


This week I've had Norah home full time now that I'm completely done with nursing school.  It's been great, but she's wearing me out during the day for sure.  It's difficult playing/sitting on the floor with her like I used to and even trying to squeeze us both into her rocker for bedtime is a struggle.  We just all don't fit! LOL Not to mention I'm SO tired of bending over to pick up toys/babies/snacks/water cups, you name it.  The pregnancy struggles are real this week. 


Big sister loves to practice!


Fair Food!

Sunday morning snuggles



We're finally into October now and I just can't believe she could be earth side next month.  Next. Month.  We feel so ready to meet her and more prepared then we felt with Norah.  We just can't wait to meet her!