Thursday, April 30, 2015

#babybutlernumerodos is 34 Weeks!

Growth: 8 1/2 months pregnant! American Pregnancy Association says Kade is “Most likely somewhere around 17 ½ inches (44.5 cm) long and weighs around 5 to 5 ½ pounds (2.3 to 2.5 kg). He has also begun to fill out with the formation of fat under his skin. This is an important part of development because these fat stores will help him regulate his body temperature once the baby is born.The central nervous system is continuing to mature, and the lungs are well developed.”

My Symptoms: I feel GREAT! I honestly do not remember feeling this good last pregnancy, but I think a lot of it has to do with mindset too. I am so THANKFUL for this sweet baby and that has kept me focused on the blessings of pregnancy for sure. Plus, I’m busy with Jase and that is keeping me preoccupied. Honestly though, if it weren’t for this big belly, I think I would forget I’m pregnant because I really feel that good. As much as I loved my sweet kiddos when I taught, is it SO MUCH BETTER being at home this pregnancy and being able to create my own schedule. Jonathan is a HUGE help with Jase and around the house too, so that whole combination makes life pretty easy. The only symptom I can even think of is that I am starting to get more emotional. Noticing some faint stretch marks above my belly button. My skin is so thin there and he is pretty much all right there so I’m sure they’ll get darker. Last time they didn’t appear till right before and faded pretty quickly after. No swelling, leg/foot cramps, back aches, etc. And I have never really experienced the baby kicking me in the ribs, heartburn, or shortness of breath because of the way I carry. BUT, my belly button is scary looking and I do wonder if they might bust through there!

Weight/Baby Bump: About 21 lbs total. Still all out in front. You can barely tell from the front, but…

When I turn sideways though, BOOOOOOM!!!! Ain’t no denying it then. Torpedo belly in full force!

Gender: Sweet little fella.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly. The new workout pants are the bomb. I do wear some regular clothes too. Fashion is really low on my priority list, so basically I just try to not look like a scrub.

Movement: Running out of room! Movements are very intense and almost breathtaking. It is the craziest thing!! So, so cool!

Sleep: Sleeping decent, but I am alternating sides more often throughout the night. I nap while Jase naps during the day  if I need it. That means I’m not as productive, but, priorities. Let’s just say that everyone benefits when Mama gets a nap!

Cravings/Aversions: We ate Zoe’s Kitchen this weekend while in Texas! YUMMMM!!!! That was definitely a highlight.

Appointment: No appointment this past week. I got off schedule a little when I had to go get checked before flying out to Texas, but pretty soon I’ll start going every week! Getting real, folks.

Accomplishments: I finally registered!! I took Jase to Target and Babies R Us with me earlier this week and it turns out I need way more than I realized. I registered way late so may not get anything on it, but at least I’ll have an idea of what we need to get.

Best Pregnancy Moment of the Week: We had such a wonderful week! We spent the weekend in Texas with our Advofriends and family, celebrated Braylon’s 2nd birthday with him, and had a park day with Vann & Dana.

Work Outs: I aim for body pump twice a week and yoga twice a week, and chasing Jase around in between.

Thoughts: Everyone has been so encouraging and loving this whole pregnancy and it really means so much. I appreciate everyone’s encouragement and PRAYERS more than they know.

We are so excited to be holding our sweet baby sometime in the next 6 weeks. I know it sounds cliché, but for real, this pregnancy has FLOWN by! How in the world is it already MAY?? I am so excited for newborn snuggles and that that sweet newborn smell!  So thankful for the opportunity to raise a champion man for the Lord.

Also, getting anxious/excited to see Jase as a big brother too. I keep talking to him about it. Not sure he gets it yet…ohhhhh, but he will! This should be interesting.

Feeling at total peace about labor and delivery, especially knowing I’m going to have some extra support this time from an awesome L&D nurse who will know my goals. I have a feeling how its going to go this time…but know the Lord might totally surprise me! Excited to see & honestly looking forward to it. No rush, though. I know every week is crucial to Kade’s development, so trusting God to send him at the perfect time.

Goals for next week: Order bedding. Start working on nursery. Plan Jase’s 2nd birthday party.  Start  getting out newborn goodies & think about loading the car seat in the car and packing a hospital bag! Fill out the online paperwork for the hospital. Whatttt?!?!

Comparison: Apparently I typed over this post. Boo!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

#babybutlernumerodos is 33 weeks!!

Growth: Whattoexpect.com says my little pineapple is  anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and could grow up to another full inch this week. He weighs more than four and a half pounds and is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week — weight gain can range from a third more to a full doubling before the big debut). With that much baby inside my uterus, my amniotic-fluid level has maxed out at 33 weeks pregnant, making it likely I have more baby than fluid now. He can differentiate night and day (closing his sweet little eyes during sleep) and is developing his immune system! Losing his wrinkles and looking more and more like a newborn. Grow, baby, grow!!

 

My Symptoms: Still feeling great! A few days this week I was pretty tired, but I also had a few days where I felt seriously awesome and had awesome energy too! This might sound crazy, but I even “feel” like I’m pregnant- no discomfort or anything. No “pregnancy symptoms” other than Braxton Hicks. LOTS of Braxton Hicks!!

Weight/Baby Bump: Still about +19 lbs. Bump is looking straight up like a torpedo!!  I think I look further along than I actually am, and people think I’m due any day (even though I have about 7 weeks to go still! That’s almost 2 months! Ha!). They always say “Wow, I bet you’re so ready.” I actually feel really great though and L-O-V-E being pregnant, so no rush here (yet).

Here’s the bump! And trust me, pictures don’t do it justice. It is waaaaay bigger in person!

Gender: Sweet little fella.

Maternity Clothes: Yep. I have no idea what I wore last pregnancy because I feel like I don’t have any clothes and I wear the same three things over and over. I did invest in a belly support band thing for when I exercise and it is really helpful. I got this one:

 

Movement: Sometimes I wonder if he’s going to punch through my belly button! No one around here is quite as interested in feeling all this movement as I am…it is seriously blowing me away! I can tell he’s starting to get cramped in there and I can see and feel him poking different body parts out. The doctor even said “Wow!” and  commented today about how much of a mover he is!

Sleep: Sleeping pretty well. Glad Jonathan is finally finished with the nail gun/compressor/hammer! He works on the basement at night after Jase goes to bed and it is SO loud upstairs. I’m just so thankful he is finishing it and doing such an awesome job that I don’t want to complain about the noise, but man, it was keeping me up. Glad he’s on to mudding the walls now…that’s a much quieter task!

Cravings/Aversions: I could eat Italian every day. Especially the salad! I have barely eaten any chicken this pregnancy. And I am all about a kale/banana/vanilla protein smoothie right now.

Appointment: I had an appointment to make sure it was safe for me to fly out this week. They checked my cervix and said it’s still long & strong, so I’m good to go!! (It’s just a quick trip.) At my appointment today my blood pressure was 110/65 and I was up about 19 lbs from when I found out I was pregnant. I am trying to see all of the doctors in the practice and talk to them about my desire to VBAC.

Accomplishments: I read about 4 childbirth books in the last 2 weeks & reviewed all of my notes/the workbook from Bradley classes. I seriously feel like I am in midwifery school or something & think I would make a pretty great doula with how informed I am right now!! I do feel so much more prepared this go round because even though I read all of this last time, I had no idea what to actually expect.

Best Pregnancy Moment of the Week: Seeing Dana & Vann. Learning some exciting news of an answered prayer from a precious friend. Going to the zoo with the Adams family to celebrate Braylon’s 2nd birthday. Getting the news that Chelsi is coming up for Jase’s birthday.

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Work Outs: I started some yoga classes this week at the gym. There aren’t any prenatal classes around me anywhere so I just modified the poses I needed to… and oh my goodness, I am LOVING it! I forgot how much I enjoy yoga. Still doing pump 1-2 times a week and want to start walking more.

Also doing lots of squatting & pelvic rocking to help my body get ready.

Thoughts: I just can’t WAIT to meet our sweet Kade!!!

Goals for next week: Order bedding. Start working on nursery. Register. (for REAL!) Plan Jase’s 2nd birthday party. Hopefully get Jon to break out of the basement long enough to freshen up on some good ole L&D stuff.

Comparison: 33 Weeks with Jase

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Monday, April 20, 2015

Warm Lemon Water in the Mornings

A couple months ago I ordered The Food Babe Way and really enjoyed reading it. There are several things in the book I already knew, but I did learn a few interesting facts & tips. Not everything in her book is doable for me, but one of her really simple suggestions that I began immediately (and have been doing consistently for a few months now) is to start EVERY morning with a glass of warm lemon water. I add cayenne pepper like she suggests to Jonathan’s too, but skip that for myself (for now) since I’m prego. (I researched it and there isn’t any research to back one way or the other, so I figured it would best to avoid for now in case it’s too much for Mr. Kade.) I found a few other articles supporting all of the benefits of warm lemon water in the mornings and was blown away! It’s such a simple habit with numerous benefits for our entire body. Check out this article that talks about some of those benefits, and then pass it along to your friends who you think might would appreciate that list. I’ve already got Jonathan hooked, so working on my parents next.

We start every morning with a Spark/Rehydrate combo too, so adding in the lemon water has been a pretty easy addition to our regimen. Every night I set out 2 glasses with straws, one lemon, and the cayenne pepper. (I buy 7 lemons for the week and use 1/2 in mine & 1/2 Jonathan’s each morning.) I also invested in a citrus juicer, so I use that to get the most juice out of our lemons. I use water from our water purifier and fill our cup about 3/4 full after the lemon juice, and then use warm water from the tea kettle. (Not piping hot- just warm. I usually turn it on before I make our Spark/Rehydrate, and by the time I’m done it’s warm enough.) I add a dash of cayenne pepper to Jon’s and we both drink them down. We wait about 20-30 min to eat breakfast, but no longer. (That gives our supplements that are supposed to be taken on an empty stomach time to work too.) The straw really is important because the acidity can eat the enamel off your teeth, so don’t forget that part.

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{Big Berkey Filtration System ' target=_blank>This is the water filter we have. I purchased it after attending a seminar on environmental toxins and cancer prevention. I wrote all about it in this post.}

It literally takes less than 3 minutes, and for all those benefits, I’d say it is WELL worth it! Give it a shot for a month and see if you can make a new habit out of it.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Nutrition vs. Behavior in Children & Importance of FISH OIL for brain development

I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or dietician. I’m just a former teacher turned stay-at-home-mom who is passionate about education and nutrition. I’m a little bit of a nerd and really enjoy studying and researching nutrition, so I like to share what I learn with others. I recently came across a few articles that I enjoyed and I definitely wanted to pass these articles along to you guys.

I thought this was a really insightful article (you can read it HERE) about the link between boys’ nutrition and behavior. I’ve always known nutrition plays a huge role in our overall health, sleep habits, metabolism, immune function, digestion, ability to focus, etc. However, the more I read and learn, the more I am blown away at how powerful of a role it actually plays.  I remember studying this topic some during grad school as well, but I noticed the impact more on a first-hand basis when I taught for 5 years. There was/is a direct correlation between when the kids ate junk food/candy/dyes and their behavior/hyperactivity/attention span. This was true for both boys and girls. We studied the unique learning needs of boys in my Specialist’s program, and I know that boys often NEED the ability to more around while they are learning.  When I read to Jase, he plays in his room while I read aloud to him, and I know he is still “getting it.” That’s definitely not what I’m talking about here. The article states that “Boys have a 3 times higher need for essential fatty acids than do girls.” There are several other undeniable points to consider about properly feeding our boys’ brains. Parents with little guys, make sure you read that article. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate more essential fatty acids (EFA) and proteins, think nuts/nut butter, eggs, ground flax, and fish. I only have one kiddo so far, but he is an awesome eater. I found with him that incorporating those foods into their diet at an early age was really helpful. We used a method called Baby Led Weaning when Jase was 6 months old (no solids prior to that) to start feeding him real food. An old school thought was to not introduce high allergen foods (peanuts, eggs, etc.) until kids are older. Obviously you don’t give a baby peanuts because of the choking hazard, but after some research (articles like this one called How and Why to Introduce Allergens to Your Infant, based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics),we did introduce natural peanut butter and eggs fairly early with Jase. He loves them both and they are a big part of his diet, along with grilled fish & ground flax in his oats. That protein/EFA combo is so important, and especially for boys! (By the way, PRAYER was a big part of that method. We prayed any time we introduced new foods for no choking and no reactions and always watched carefully for both. I wouldn’t recommend trying to use the method without reading the book first. You can order it off Amazon here: Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide to Introducing Solid Foods - and Helping Your Baby to Grow Up a Happy and Confident Eater )

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Also, if you are looking for a supplement to run by your doctor (for kids 4+), look into this one.

Purple Champs (Here is the link to the product page)

Purple Champs

Jonathan and I personally take Omegaplex- one of our my favorite products because of the immense benefits for pretty much every system in the body. This is also how I get DHA during pregnancy & breastfeeding. (Any time you are considering prenatals or supplements, you want approval from your physician first, so always check with them. You can take them the product info pages or labels like I did.) Hopefully they are recommending a high quality DHA supplement (in addition to a multivitamin with iron & folic acid) to aid specifically in the baby’s brain development. Super nerd alert: I recently read some of the research in this study and it further confirmed our need for a quality fish oil supplement, particularly during pregnancy and nursing. On page 13 of the research study, it says that “brain development starts early in pregnancy and is largely finished by two years after birth." That means we have a HUGE responsibility as moms because we determine their nutritional choices both in the womb and for their first 2 years of life. Unfortunately, most Americans are not consuming enough omegas in their diet alone and need to supplement. And even more unfortunately (you may want to do your research and check it out), all omega supplements are not created equal. That’s part of why we are so passionate about AdvoCare…the quality.

So, if you read all that, congrats on being super nerdy like me. Ha! Really though, I hope you found some of that info as interesting as I did. Feel free to pass it along to moms you think might be interested to check it out.

**As the disclosure on the article states, “THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT.” You definitely want to consult with a physician before taking supplements of any kind for yourself or giving them to your children.

#babybutlernumerodos at 31 & 32 Weeks!!

Growth: According to babycenter.com, “By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds  and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.” 

 

My Symptoms: I feel GREAT! Seriously, I can’t believe I’m 8 months pregnant and feel this good. I am definitely having a lot more Braxton-Hicks this time! LOTS of tightening around my belly,but it goes away if I change positions. So cool to think my body is practicing for the real thing! I have also been a little tired this week because Jon works in the basement late at night and it’s pretty loud. I also couldn’t take a nap a few days this week because we had too much going on. But other than that and being a little emotional (oh, HEY hormones!), I feel good. I don’t really have any of the symptoms it talks about on my pregnancy apps- no heartburn, swelling, constipation, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, or back pain. No stretch marks quite yet, but I know they’re coming because my skin is so thin and stretched so far already (especially around my belly button).

Weight/Baby Bump: I am up +20 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight as of 32 weeks. Gaining a pound a week like I’m supposed to from here on out will put me right at 28 lbs total, which is the same as in my first pregnancy. (I started losing a couple lbs towards the very end with Jase though, which is normal when you’re getting close.)  They are thinking Kade will be about the same size as his brother and he is measuring right on target. I am definitely carrying lower this time though and I feel like my belly looks right now at 32 weeks like I did at 40 weeks with Jase. I wanted to get some good belly shots, but these little mirror selfies don’t quite do it justice. Trust me, my belly looks WAY bigger in person!! And I’m starting to spread a little wider and gain other than just in my belly like I have been up to this point. I noticed it when I was trying on clothes the other day for our upcoming trip.

So crazy to think I’m 8 months and still have around 8 more weeks. I still remember the “aha” moment last pregnancy when I realized you are actually pregnant for 10 months and not 9!

(Please ignore my bed head and “I just woke up from a nap” face.)

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Gender: Sweet little fella.

Maternity Clothes: You know it.

I really wanted some more workout pants because I only have 3 pairs that I can wear that don’t cut off circulation. I couldn’t find any at Kohl’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, or Wal-Mart. (I will not wear cotton workout pants.) I finally found a pair at Target & they.are.awesome! (Be Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel if you’re looking for some.) They were in the maternity section, NOT the workout clothes section….duh! I paid more for them than I would like, but they are worth it. These are actual maternity workout pants and not just regular workout pants that I’m making work as maternity (like my other few pairs). Glad to have another pair to throw in the rotation. Now I need to find some of Jonathan’s t-shirts so I don’t scar the instructors for life when we do overhead presses! Smile 

Movement: I have a couple of videos, but they don’t do it justice. I have come to the conclusion that the way he is positioned plus think skin around my belly button means CRAZZZZZZY movement. I can see body parts sticking out and rolling all across my belly like waves. It is the craziest thing!! Sometimes there will be a major lump sticking out somewhere randomly. I always want Jonathan to come feel, but it weirds him out a little. He prefers them out of the womb. Ha! I also put Jase’s hand on my belly one day and Kade kicked/pushed really strong. Jase pulled his hand off and I could tell it freaked him out too. I told him his brother was giving him knuckles. I still don’t know that he “gets” it, but he always wants to pull my shirt up to look at my belly, and then wants to show us his and have daddy lift us his shirt to show us his belly too.

Sleep: Sleeping well. Stayed up too late a few nights, but went to bed earlier than normal a few nights too. (As early as possible with the late night construction going on in the basement.) The nights I didn’t get enough sleep and didn’t get a nap, I was so easily irritated. Whew!

Cravings/Aversions: Craving sweets, unfortunately. Doing my best to avoid them.

Appointment: Got my teeth cleaned Monday. Mamas-to-be, make sure you get your cleanings and take great care of your teeth and gums. I have read that gum issues can lead to premature labor. I am a pretty big advocate of the full 40 (Lord willing) after studying the many benefits for the baby. (I know when you get close to the end you’re just ready to meet them, but thinking about all of those benefits makes it much easier to be positive up to that due date.) I looked back with Jase and it looks like I had him at 40 weeks and 1 day. I have read that most first time moms have an average gestation period of 41 and 1 day, and statistics show that subsequent pregnancies typically come a little sooner and quicker, though not always. Can’t wait to find out Kade’s BIRTHDAY!! I’m anxious to see when he comes!

My checkup on Tuesday went fantastic. (Jon came with me, but we didn’t have anyone to watch Jase so they hung out in the car and parking lot and played in water puddles.) My blood pressure looks good at 103/67, my weight was at +20 lbs, I’m measuring right on target, and Kade had a strong heartbeat in the low 140s. I really like all of the doctors and midwives in our practice, but I am specifically praying for one of two doctors to be on call, and I would be really happy with the one I saw today. I actually taught his three sons in middle school- great kids. He is super nice, very laid back & encouraging, and was really optimistic about VBAC. I left feeling very positive about everything. (I haven’t seen three of the other doctors yet this pregnancy- hopefully in the upcoming visits.)

I head back in another week because we are flying/traveling, so they want to make sure everything is good before we go and give me a copy of my file since I’ll be so far along. The doctor asked if it was for fun or work, and without hesitation I said “fun.” It’s actually more for work, but that was such a neat reminder at how thankful we should be for what we do with AdvoCare. It truly does NOT feel like “work” at all. Can’t WAIT to see everyone!!

Accomplishments: I ordered and read Natural Childbirth After Cesarean and Supernatural Childbirth. THANK YOU to everyone who recommended Supernatural Childbirth!! I think about 10 people recommended it to me before I finally ordered it, and I SO wish I had read it sooner. I definitely feel so encouraged after reading it and way less fearful. The Scriptures were especially encouraging. I had Jon read a few chapters too and he said it’s helped him pray more specifically for the labor, delivery, and the baby. If you know any mamas to be, anyone who is struggling with infertility, miscarriages, or fear of any kind (morning sickness, labor, etc.), this is a must-read. I wish I had read it before we ever started trying to conceive. The general theme of the book is FAITH over fear, and that has been a recurring theme the Lord has been teaching me anyway.

 

Best Pregnancy Moment of the Week: One day while Jase was napping, I decided to get a manicure and pedicure (for the first time since last summer), and it was AWESOME!!

Work Outs: I stretch when I can, try to walk at least twice a week, and try to make it to pump 2x/week. I really listen to my body though, and I don’t even think I’ve broken a sweat! Ha! To me, it’s just about moving, staying strong/mobile, and keeping my endurance. Plus, I sleep WAY better on days I work out. I do wish there was a prenatal yoga class closer to me. I have DVDs, but for some reason can’t seem to make myself do them.

Thoughts: I am praying that the Lord will let me know EXACTLY when to go to the hospital. I am concerned I won’t know when to go in and I don’t want to be too far along into labor. My gut tells me this one is going to go faster, and because I’m VBAC I don’t want to labor at home as long as I did last time. I am also praying specifically to be GBS negative this time so I can avoid antibiotics and an IV. I am also praying for our doctors/midwives/nursing staff. We feel most comfortable with 2 doctors specifically and really want Erin (my BFF Dana’s sister) to be working.

I think sharing WHY I am so motivated to VBAC helps them be more supportive.  Jonathan and I really want a large family. I don’t know what that looks like or how many, but I would prefer to be able to deliver them vaginally. Surgery always comes with a risk, especially when you start getting into higher numbers. And, although recovery from a  c-section wasn’t too terrible, the thought of not being able to pick up my sweet baby Jase for a few weeks (he weighs 31 lbs now & is 37”!) makes me want to lay on the floor and cry.

And although I’ve definitely been more focused on labor & delivery, I have started thinking more about life with two! Nursing (goodness gracious I’m not excited about bloody/cracked nipples and toe curling pain again), the lack of sleep in the early days, and of course that sweeeeeeeet newborn smell. Oh my WORD, we are so excited!!  I do need to do some reading because I feel like I’ve forgotten everything and need a refresher course, but I have time because I’ll be pretty much solely focused on nursing and snuggling that sweet little one for the first few weeks anyway. I really like Baby Whisperer, BabyWise, and Moms on Call and have found what works for us out of those and meshed them together. I think I am more of an attachment parent (with baby wearing, nursing, LOTS of skin to skin, naps on chest, etc.), but am also pretty hard core about a schedule. I like a lot of the BabyWise principles…eat-wake-sleep cycle & the schedule specifically. But I am definitely not a CIO person and thankfully we didn’t have to do that much with Jase. When I was able to get really consistent with our start time, wake times, schedule, nap with dark room, and focusing on full feedings, he started sleeping through the night when he was ready. He has been a GREAT sleeper ever since! And sleep is so, so important (for them and me!) so I am really thankful for what it has taught me about sleeping. I know some people thought we were crazy in the early days for being so rigid about the schedule, but I feel 100% confident in it and I feel like it paid off with Jase. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of sleeper this baby is and also to see how it works meshing two babies with different schedules together. I’m also going to have to probably loosen up some with the schedule so we can function, so I know that will be a major learning curve. We pretty much stayed home with Jase ALL THE TIME until he dropped to one nap a day. We’ll have to figure out a way to make it work this time because the baby’s sleep is SO important, but I also don’t feel like staying home all the time is doable (or fair to older children/spouse) as you keep adding to the family.

Basically my head has been swimming with thoughts and I have had BABY on the BRAIN 24/7. It has been consuming, but oh so fun! So thankful for this sweet little one and cannot WAIT to meet him. To see what he looks like. His size. When he is born. How he feels & smells. If he looks like his brother. So much excitement!!

Goals for next week: Finish planning for bedding. Start working on nursery when Jon finishes basement rooms. (No rush, baby will be in our room for a while anyways.) Register.

Comparison:

31 Weeks with Jase

32 Weeks with Jase

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Monday, April 6, 2015

Jase Update: 21 Months- 23 Months

Hey Jase-

Your last update was for 17-20 months. You turned 21 months on Feb 8th, 22 months on March 8th, and 23 months on April 8th. Man, you have grown SO much in these past few months and you are totally blossoming!! It is a JOY to watch! You are a full blown TODDLER now, and Daddy & I are having a blast watching you grow & learn so much. Your personality is so, so much fun and you are seriously too sweet. Just when we think you can’t fill our hearts anymore, you take our breath away with something else you are learning or becoming. And you’re testing some boundaries too, of course, so we are working on some “training.” Here’s a little of what you’ve been up to.

 

  • My VERY favorite thing is when you randomly come up to me or Daddy and say “Mama, hug…Daddy, hug.” And then you give us a BIGGGG squeeze! Melts my heart.
  • You also give us kisses and Daddy taught you to kiss on the cheek. You like for me and Daddy to kiss each other too, and you tell us to kiss sometimes after you give us each a kiss. You point at us and say, “Mama, Daddy, kiss!”

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  • You like to put all kinds of things in your pockets now. I love finding all of your treasures, & we definitely have to remember to check pockets before laundry now or else we end up with rocks in the dryer. Ha! This was your loot from one afternoon exploring.

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  • You LOOOOOOOVE to be outside and would stay outside all day, every day if we’d let you. Grammy bought you a bubble blowing lawn mower and that is your current fave. You take your job of “mowing grass” very seriously. Sometimes we see one of those “fits” when it’s time to come inside.

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  • We are so thankful it’s getting warmer and we are soaking up this perfect weather.

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  • You have started taking showers sometimes because it’s hard for me to give you a bath. (I can’t lean my big pregnant belly over our tub, so Daddy handles bath duty.) You think you’re such a big boy in the shower, and as soon as you get out we wrap you in a towel and you wrap yourself around whoever is getting you out to keep you warm.

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  • You are also testing boundaries & sometimes have tantrums when you don’t get your way. We are working on that as well as your listening skills. Teaching you to say “yes ma’am” when you get instructions. Right now are biggest struggles are you throwing food on the floor, putting you in your car seat, sharing your car, trying to get you to leave somewhere when you’re not ready, and not giving you a snack that you want. When you make up your mind about something, you are REALLY focused on that and want your way. 
  • You like to sleep with 4 little stuffed animals: Mac, puppy, bear, and puppy. (I know, we’re super creative with names.) You can’t say your r’s very well yet and it’s so cute hearing you say “night night bay-ewr.” You like to tell them good morning and night night and pretend feed them at breakfast. Speaking of pretend, I LOVE seeing you use your imagination!

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  • You LOVE Veggies Tales! We had to watch a little more than I’d like over the last couple months to keep you entertained while you were getting breathing treatments. They are super cute, have an awesome message, and the music is awesome, so Daddy and I enjoy them too.
  • You really like to play with balloons and laugh hysterically when we blow them up and let the air out.

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  • We have spent some time painting & you really like it, but don’t have a super long attention span for it.

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  • You love for Daddy to take you on wagon rides around the yard and ask me to take you on walks in your stroller.

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  • You like driving your green car in the house. Definitely your favorite inside toy.

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  • Bubbles and stickers are your new jam.
  • You are obsessed with sitting in the driver’s seat of our trucks.
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  • You put up a pretty good fight when we put you in your car seat because you want to get in the front seat. We are learning the art of distraction. Still rear facing. Not sure when to flip you around because we know rear facing is safest and want to keep you that way as long as possible.
  • At our last doctor’s appointment, you weighed 31 lbs and were 35” tall. You are wearing 3T clothes and size 8 shoes!

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  • You are all caught up on your vaccines now.
  • We’ve been going to story time at the library, and one time you fell on a wooden couch and busted your lip. There was blood all over the place!! I try to stay as calm as possible because I know it’s going to happen, but I feel sick to my stomach when you get hurt.
  • Speaking of hurt, we had to remove the box spring and put your crib mattress basically on the floor because you have been pulling up on the side of your crib. I have blankets around to soften the fall in case you pull yourself over, and you did on April 2. It happened so fast! I had just laid you down to take a nap and you flipped over when I was walking out of the room. Your problem solver of a Daddy took care of it though, so you’re good now. We’ll start thinking about a big boy bed soon. Just don’t want too many transitions before the baby comes.
  • You love hanging out with your buddies! Watching y’all together is the most precious thing…

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  • We have had a tough couple of months with your health. You have had an ongoing cough /cloudy ears that has led to breathing treatments, a steroid, and 2 antibiotics. We finally got a clean bill of health at your appointment on April 1.
  • We went to the chiropractor twice and it really helped your ears and cough. I DEFINITELY prefer the chiropractor to antibiotics.
  • You have this hilarious fake laugh (I think you are copying your Dad’s fake laugh) that cracks us up!! You love to make people laugh.
  • You don’t like for your neck to be touched. (You get that from me.)
  • You like to run all over the place and want us to race you.
  • Your appetite varies. Sometimes you don’t eat a whole lot, but most of the time you eat like a grown man. Especially at breakfast!! That’s definitely your biggest meal of the day. I make something different most mornings, but you always get some type of eggs and either Ezekiel bread, oats, or homemade waffles.

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  • You like to drink water before bed & are now peeing through your diaper, so we stated putting on Pull-Ups over your diaper at night.
  • You like throwing pillows off the couch & snuggling with blanket to go “night night.”

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  • You like playing on slides at the playground.

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  • I’ve caught you pushing another kid a few times. We aren’t going to tolerate that and you get in trouble, but we are trying to find the balance of not intervening all the time either.
  • You are extremely independent! Wonder where you get that from? Sometimes you throw a little fit if you want to do something by yourself and we’re trying to help you.
  • You are like your daddy- really grumpy when tired or hungry! Who isn’t though, right? Fortunately you’re still a good sleeper and sleep 12 hours at night + a 2- 3 hour nap during the day.
  • Your vocabulary BOOMED this month. You are now saying a ton of words and even speaking in small sentences sometimes.
  • You love to help Daddy!! It doesn’t matter what he’s doing, you want to help.

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  • You can be a little shy at first when meeting someone new. But then sometimes you say “heyyy” to strangers when we are out. I guess it just depends on your mood. You like to tell people “Bye bye, see ya later, thank you.”
  • You just had your second hair cut and did a little better this time. Only 2 in two years…not bad!

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  • You love to help us clean. Vacuuming is your favorite, but you also help throw away trash and “help” with laundry. You can get the vacuum on your own, turn it on, and know how to use it. You even put it up when you’re done.

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  • You tell Daddy to pray at night and before meals. You bow your head and say “pray, Daddy…pray.” You bow your head but peek up with your eyes and loudly exclaim “Amen!” when we’re done.
  • You can spell your name, but your favorite part is “s, eeeeeee”
  • You like to strum daddy’s electric guitar.

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  • You are awesome about brushing your teeth. We’re still working on spitting out the toothpaste, but you try hard.
  • You have learned to blow your nose and let us know when you need a “tissue for boogers.”
  • You absolutely ADORE all of your grandparents. I mean LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. You talk about Papa all the time, and you cry when we leave Grammy.
  • You went to the Environmental Center with cousins & had a blast playing with everything.

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  • Aunt Jade & Grandma have been hooking you up with some of the cutessssst clothes!!

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  • We had snow & ice which meant lots of indoor playing and a couple days of bundling up to get some fresh air.

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  • You give us the cutest little “thumbs up.” It needs a little work.

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  • Your favorite snacks are organic yogurt, peanut butter on rice cakes, hummus, oranges, & boiled eggs. You also really like bars/cereal and sometimes throw fits over snacks. You’re not as great about eating veggies, but you still down some juice when I make it. (It’s pretty much all veggies.) Sometimes you even ask for juice and go get a cup for it.
  • We aren’t really potty training, but I have been talking to you about it more and you are definitely showing some interest. Before you bath I sometimes have you try to go on your little potty. You pooped in the potty for the first time on March 31st & pee peed in the potty on April 3. I was laughing so hard I cried! It just caught me off guard, but we celebrated big time! Since then you’ve gone about 4-5 times (#1 and #2), so we will probably start working on potty training soon.

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  • You can identify some shapes from your farm book- circle, rectangle, triangle, square, and oval. We are working on colors, letters, and numbers too. You know a few. A, B, C, S, E, Y for sure. You can somewhat count to 10. Sometimes you forget a few.
  • I LOVE these pictures of you!!! Such a little cowboy in your America shirt and boots from Dustin & Jade.

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  • You sure love your Daddy! He teaches you all kinds of cool stuff and spends LOTS of time with you. He is the BEST! You wake up hollering for him every morning and love to show him stuff during the day.

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  • You had ZERO interest in egg hunting at any of the 3 egg hunts you went to, but you really enjoyed dumping the eggs out everywhere.
  • Sometimes I bust out my camera because you just look so stinkin beautiful to me that I want to capture you right then. I don’t think the camera quite does you justice. And actually, just to take my mamarazzi to a whole new level, I really want video everything you say too. I am trying to memorize your sweet little voice and all the funny things you say and that laugh that makes my heart feel like it’s going to beat out of my chest.

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Goodness gracious, sweet boy, I LOOOOOVE being your mama!! You are one of the lights of my life and my heart is so full of love for you. It is such a joy and privilege as well as a calling and responsibility I take very seriously having an opportunity to raise you. I ask the Lord for wisdom every single day when it comes to training you up, and  I cannot WAIT to see the man you become because I feel so confident the Lord has GREAT things in store for your life. But for now, I am cherishing every moment with you. Soaking up sweet memories that I know will pass by so quickly. (Even the little tantrums.) Life is so, so much sweeter with you in it, Jase. I can’t wait to see you as a big brother. Love you more than words could ever say…