How Brenna got ready for the new baby

We had lots to do to get ready for a second baby.  Two major things that needed to happen was 1) Brenna needed to lose the pacy and 2) transition to a big girl bed I didn't want her to associate the baby with taking either away so pretty soon after we found out we were expecting we started transitioning.    

While napping in her crib one afternoon, the pacy fair came and left her a little story about how she was taking her pacy and giving it to some new babies that needed them and she left her a little koala as a gift for giving her all her pacys.  When she woke up, she was sad...

But it didn't take long for her to come around....

And now for the big girl bed...

So many of Brenna's friends were going to be big sisters right around the same time.  Here is Brenna, Maddy and Audrey graduating from their Big Sister Class at Jupiter Medical Center.  

About my pregnancy

My last pregnancy post was way back in April when we let the world know we were expecting again.  My second pregnancy was very similar to my first but everything was just amplified.  I felt sick with Brenna but never actually threw up.  I threw up a lot with Lilia.  I was tired with Brenna...I was more tired with Lilia (maybe because I couldn't rest like I did the first go-around).  I was very happy to have started this pregnancy 15 pounds lighter than with Brenna and just like that one I gained about 35 pounds.  So getting that 15 pound head start really helped me out once the pregnancy was over.

7 Weeks

12 Weeks

I couldn't wait to find out whether or not we were having a girl or a boy.  I really didn't have a gut-feeling about it and when asked which I was hoping for, I knew that either option would cause mixed emotions.  A girl would be awesome.  I love to do the girly things and I have all the girly baby stuff from Brenna and I just feel like I'm well suited for girls...But if it's a girl, I knew I would be slightly disappointed that Brett didn't get a boy to do all the Daddy-Son bonding stuff with...not that he can't do the same things with girls but I would have felt disappointment if I didn't have a girl to do Mommy-Daughter things with so I would be a little sad about that for him.  Now if it were a boy, while I'd be very happy to have the experience of 1 of each, I'd be sad to not have another girl because I LOVE my girl so much and I would so love for her to have the experience of having a sister, something I always wished for.  And I knew Brenna wanted a baby sister badly (she would cry if we told her it might be a boy).  So truth be told, I was probably 51% wanting a girl and I think Brett was completely 50/50.  

The day of our ultrasound appointment, they do all sorts of measurements and it takes a long time before they actually get to the gender part.  The ultrasound tech seemed to take forever and when it was time for the gender reveal, she said something like "What did you say you have at home again?" And I said a girl and she made a face like "uh oh" so I immediately knew that it was another girl and felt excitement and happiness.  Then she confirmed it and said it was definitely another little girl on the way.  I was looking at Brett's face to try and see how he felt and he was happy too.  I think he acknowledged that it would have been cool to have had a boy but he was 100% excited and on board for another little girl.  Plus we have our nephews, Nick, Alex and soon to be Jaden to fill up any of the male bonding time that might be needed.

I spread the good news via text "Princesses and PMS, here comes another girl!"  

I didn't do maternity pictures the first time around and I've been so lucky to have met friends who happen to also be wonderful photographers so my friend Lauren, of Lauren Donovan Photography took these pictures of us right before we welcomed our little girl.

I'm back!!!!

Well I'm back.  It's been 9 months since my last post and I'm so sad I haven't posted more.  I really could care less if anyone reads this but I want to look back and remember this precious time while our little ones are young so I am going to try my very best and update this on the happenings of our last 9 months.  There are oh so many...thus why I haven't had time to update in the first place!!!!  So apologies for anyone who actually subscribes to this blog as an rss feed because I will probably clog up your feed in the next week or so with tons of posts and pictures about the family!

Brenna, All About You At 3!!

Happy Birthday, Brenna!  You are 3 years old today!!!  What a year it's been.  You have definitely grown up so much this year.  And we have hit so many milestones.  I'm so proud of you how well you've done in so many different areas. 

For starters, the Pacy Fairy came and you completely said goodbye to your pacies that you loved so much.  By 2 1/2 you were Pacy Free and you really handled it so well.  Only a few tears at the very beginning.  I thought this transition would be much tougher than it was.  The Pacy Fairy left you a letter and a little bear and you still talk about them and know who gave them to you.  The dentist could really tell a difference too.

Then you found out you were going to be a big sister.  You insisted from the very beginning that you would be getting a little sister and if we even mentioned the possibility that it could be a baby brother, you would break down in tears.  Well you were right, you are getting a baby sister and she will be here soon!  I know you will be a big helper once she arrives...just as long as she doesn't take your stuff because you will tell me "Mommy, I don't want to share."  This could be a problem....

Our next big step was getting your big girl bed.  Bye-Bye Crib.  You loved your crib and slept really well in it...never once did you climb out, couldn't quite figure out how some of your friends could climb in and out...you needed a little boost.  You've done beautifully in your bed. It took about a week where we had to reverse the lock so you couldn't run out when you wanted to, and you were not happy about that but it wasn't long before you slept in your bed all night by yourself.

Lastly, you are 100% potty trained!  Yay!!!  This was a lot easier than I anticipated (for once something was easier)...you did a great job.  We introduced the idea around 2 and you weren't quite ready but a few months in and you pee pee'd on the potty like a champ.  It took another 2 months to conquer #2 but overall you caught on so fast and you rarely have any accidents.  Even at night, you will call for mommy if you have to go.  We really lucked out here, thanks for throwing us a bone in this department, boo boo!

You still go to Holy Spirit Lutheran Preschool and just started in the 3 year old class.  Now you go to school on Tues,Wed, and Thursday.  Mommy works while you are at school so we can play together during the times you are home. On Monday we have dance class and on Fridays we go to storytime at the library.  Our days are filled with fun activities with some TV time and book time sprinkled in there too. 

Your favorite shows right now are Dora the Explorer and anything Princess related.  You like many different books (we are at the library a lot swapping our books and DVD's).  Mommy has to read the princess ones because "you're a girl" and Daddy reads the other ones.  You like to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  You have such a cute high and squeaky voice. 

You are a really big helper in the kitchen. You like to make smoothies with Daddy and bake cookies with Grandma Joann. 

You like to talk like a grown-up.  You get in this moods where you are the mommy or the teacher and talk to daddy and me like we are the kids.  You might say "Mommy, did you drop that toy on the floor (even if I didn't), you can't do that mommy, you're making a mess, you need to clean it up.  And tell my baby you're sorry, you stepped on her foot (even if I didn't) and you hurt her. Tell her you are sorry, Mommy, alwight?  Alwight, Mommy?  Did you hear me?  I'm talking to you"

As you can tell, you talk A LOT!  You can have a conversation about anything and it's fun teaching you things and watching you learn and retain.

Personal space:  This is big for you with your friends.  You don't like running hugs from friends and you don't want anyone to grab your hand without asking first.  You are affectionate but you just don't like to be caught off guard.  You need to feel like you have control in the situation.

We love you sooooo much!!!!  I can't wait to see what year 3 brings! 

Here we go again!

In case you missed our recent facebook announcement....


Yep, we are very happy to announce that our family is growing!  Brenna's new brother or sister will arrive around October 16, 2011.  We are very blessed and lucky to be expecting especially since I know that the process of growing one's family does not happen so easily for everyone.  With Brenna, I got pregnant right away.  With this one it took slightly longer than immediately so it did give me a little bit more understanding for anyone who feels the disappointment in wishing they were pregnant.  So we are very thankful and I am trying my best to savor this pregnancy knowing that this will most likely be my last.  Sooo, how am I feeling you ask?

LIKE CRAP, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ASKING.

I am not one of these people that love being pregnant.  In fact when people tell me "oh I just love being pregnant", I think "really?  come on...are you serious? do you want me to punch you?"  In fact some of my friends are on baby #3 in less than 4 years and I honestly don't know how they are doing it.  Did they have very easy pregnancies?  Are they as tired as I am all the time?  Do they feel nauseous morning, noon, and night?  Have they had to get up from bed to puke?  No?  Just me?  Ok then. 

But at least I know what to expect this time around.  I feel pretty much exactly the same as I did when I was pregnant with Brenna only slightly less crazy. I still feel very hormonal but not as straight up crazy as I did the first time around...probably just because I know what I'm feeling is normal.  Another difference is that while I was nauseous all the time with Brenna in the first trimester, I never actually vomitted.  This time my dinner has come back up to say hello quite a few different times and I hate throwing up.  So disgusting.

I am hopeful that by week 14, my nausea will be gone and my energy back up.  That's what happened the first time so fingers crossed that I'll be feeling a lot better soon. 

Brenna is excited and insists on 2 things:  1) that she has a baby in her belly button and 2)  the baby will be a girl.  If we tell her that we don't know if it's a girl or a boy she breaks down and sobs that "Nooo, it's a girl"  Hmmm, she'll either be super excited or heart-broken. 

But despite not feeling well, I am truly so excited and happy to be expecting again. I found out I was pregnant after I had gone to NYC to visit Schecky for the weekend.  I tested when I got back and to my happy surprise, I got the 2 little lines 3 different times. So I went to the library and got a bunch of children's books about being a big sister and expecting a new baby in the house.  When Brett got home from work, I told him that Brenna had picked out some new books from the library that she wanted him to read to her.  He got it right away from the first book he pulled out and was very excited.  Yay!

Our little blueberry at 7+ weeks


Our little "large plum" at 12 weeks



2011 will be the year of the baby boom, with my brother, Jeff, and his wife, Jackie, expecting a baby boy in early August.  Cheers to new babies!!!