Another Ultrasound Scare

Going into my 20 week ultrasound appointment I was pretty confident.  With Lyla that is when they told me "things were missing".   For a month after that, I freaked out for nothing.  This time around I knew that even if they said it again, I would be calm.

Wrong. 

The ultrasound itself was fine.  Eric and Lyla came along so during the entire scan Eric was singing songs and doing the alphabet with Lyla to keep her entertained.  She also thought it was hysterical to tickle my feet while I was laying on the table. 

At my next appointment, my doctor said I would need another scan because they wanted to see more pictures of the face, particularly the mouth.  That was all they said.  

By the time I got home I had convinced myself this baby had a cleft pallet.  I told Eric we would need to learn how to feed a baby with this problem and that it might need surgery.  I also decided that if this was the case then I hoped it was a boy who could grow facial hair to cover it!   So much for not panicking. 

A few weeks later...all is well.  The sane person in me knew this...but the crazy lady in me must have locked her up for a while. 

I Hope

I hope somewhere out there, there is a family who is raising their son to be respectful, kind, generous and loving.  I hope his father is teaching him by example.  I hope he loves his mama. And I hope that one day he meets my Lyla.

I hope that there are other parents like Eric and I who are raising their daughters be to kind, helpful, strong, dedicated, motivated and loving.  I hope my Lyla chooses these girls for friends.

I hope that Eric and I are setting a good example.  I hope she looks up to us one day and chooses to live a good and decent life.   I hope she loves us as much as we love her...even if it takes her having her own kids to realize it.

That is all.

Fashionista

I've never known a two year old with such great shoes.  I had to take a picture of some of them.  For the record, this is about 1/8 of them.

News Flash

The time has finally come to tell our baby news.  I actually ended up caving and telling my parents a little earlier than I wanted to because I felt so terrible and I wanted someone to complain to.  Is that wrong?

I made good use of Lyla's easel again and spelled out "big sister" on it.  I placed Lyla in front of it as if she (because she IS a genius) spelled it out.  I was going to have the picture printed and give it to my parents during one of our weekly dinner visits, but my plans don't seem to work out that well anymore.   I never printed the picture.

At my parents, I tried desperately to get both of their attention to show them the picture that was saved on my phone.  Already my second child was being neglected!   Every time I tried to show them, they would start playing or talking to Lyla.  Finally, seeing my frustration, Eric picked her up and distracted her.  It took a bit, but I got both Mimi and Pop to take a look at my phone.  I should have made sure they had their glasses on.  There was a lot of "what does that say".   Once their hooked on phonics worked, they were in shock.  Mom kinda just stared at me and then gave me a hug.  Dad on the other hand...the first words out of his mouth were "poor lyla".  What!?   I found out much later that me being pregnant causes my dad a great amount of stress.  So while this is good news, it also starts 7 long months of worry.   Being a mom now, I can't say that I blame him.

A few weeks later we met Bob and Sherri for dinner.  This time I actually did get the picture printed.   We gave it to them right away and they were very excited.  I think the picture (see below) caused a bit of confusion.   Bob asked, "but how do you know it is a sister?"  Whoops.  From then on, the news spread like wildfire.   I sent the picture via text to our friends and cousins and a few days later I told work.

There is something so exciting about telling this news, whether it is your first, second or tenth time.  Not that I will EVER find out how it feel to announce a tenth pregnancy.  Ever.  It is just such an exciting time for us and people are genuinely excited for you.  I don't even mind answering those same questions again.   Are you going to find out?  How are you feeling?  What are your names?   Though this time they added, "if it is a boy, are you done having kids?"   That's a weird one.  I don't have an answer to that one.  Now that I am feeling better I might not be so opposed to a third.  Ask me again in a year.

Anyhow, the news is out.  Full steam ahead.

Never Again

At this point in my pregnancy, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that I never want to do this again.  My 1st trimester is finally wrapping up and so far it's been misery.  I started getting sicker two weeks earlier this time (at 6 weeks) and my pants are entirely too tight already.   I have been luckier than most that I haven't barfed due to sickness but I feel like I want to 24/7.  Sometimes I think it would just be better to get it all out and spew all over myself but no suck luck.

I am exhausted beyond belief.  Not only is this pregnancy knocking the crap out of me, but so is my two year old.   Now when I come home from work I can't plop my ass down on the couch and pass out.  I am now on mommy duty.  The minute Lyla's eyes shut at night...so do mine...until I have to pee...8 times a night.

I know what you are thinking...it could be worse.   Yes, it could.  But right now, I am not seeing the bright side of anything.   I am tired.  I am sick.  I need to poop.  I want to look at food and not want to vom.

I tell Eric on a daily basis that this is absolutely horrible and I will NEVER do this again.

Until then, I'll count down the days until the peaceful second trimester.

Crazy Hair Larry

From the moment she was born, my Lyla had some crazy hair.  Here are "just a few" of the best hair moments.

Two Years

How is it possible that my baby girl is two years old already?  I know times flies but, wow.  I no longer have a baby in the house.  This makes me sad.   Really sad.  But we celebrated anyways.  I broke yet another one of my rules and decided to have a birthday party for her.  My rule (pre-baby) was one party for her first birthday and that was it.  I know I don't like having to go to the same kids birthday parties year after year and I didn't want people to feel that way about her.   Too late.   We invited about 30 people (just grandparents and cousins on my side, believe it or not) for a winter wonderland party at Mimi and Pop's house.  I went WAY overboard, per usual.

When party day came, only 11 people showed to see all my hard work...I mean to celebrate! ha. The flu bug was going around and hit everyone hard.  Regardless, we still had great time and the small turnout meant plenty of leftover goodies for us!

On her actual birthday, Mimi and Pop came over for dinner and homemade cake.  She LOVED when we sang Happy Birthday to her.

We were supposed to get together at our house with the Laxton family to celebrate Lyla and Coty's birthday, but for reasons not worth mentioning in this blog, we decided to meet at the Patio for a family dinner.  When the day arrived, it was our turn to get the flu so Lyla, who had a high fever, and I stayed home while Daddy represented.

A year in pictures.  Like I said...overboard. 

Winter theme.

Thanks Pinterest.

Bella was the only other kid there for Ly to play with!

B, Gram and Gramp all dodged the flu and made it. 

Getting ready to sing. 

My very homemade cake.  It was delish. 

On her birthday, Mimi and Pop came over to play with ALL of her dolls. 

And her bus.

Seriously loves the birthday song. 

This face....

More singing.  This time at Beebah's with cousin Coty!