As of today, I have two healthy daughters. Life is good!
We are in the last quarter of our pregnancy. 7-10 weeks to go! I have done really well to not count down and I am not really doing that now. Since this is not my first baby I feel way more prepared for the pregnancy itself. I think the combination of going through this 3 years ago and also working in an office setting has also kept me more relaxed and less focused on the pregnancy. With Alexa, I was home quite a bit more since I was only working part time and of course it was my first. I used to focus on every little thing I felt or did not feel. I would research the craziest things and called the doctor several times as well. Of course we did have some real scares with Alexa so I had reason to worry as well. However this time I feel soooo much more relaxed. I LOVE it. Once we made it passed the 24 weeks marker and I am not having the symptoms I had with Alexa I knew we were heading in the right direction. I am now 7 weeks further along then when I started bed rest with Alexa and have no reason to think that will change.
At my last doctors visit I have gained 21LBS and measured a little bit small. This doctor was the last one I had to rotate through before delivery. He only delivers one day a week but I still wanted to meet him just in case that was the day. He is great and I really enjoyed my visit. He was however a bit concerned with my history and wanted a quick cervix measurement and growth check on Addison. The cervix measured 3.6, the normal range at 30 weeks is considered safe at over 3.5. So we are good there. FYI- with Alexa I was already shortening at this point below 3. Addison also measured between 29 1/2 weeks and 31 1/2 weeks on all measurements. So I guess the belly tape test (1 centimeter for each week) is not an exact science. I did ask the doctor about what I should be concerned with in terms of feeling her very low. He said that the nice, tight ab muscles that we have in our early 20's do not return after we have a baby. Therefore I will be feeling her lower this time around. :( I left the appointment feel good over all. I look forward to my ever other week appointments.
This month we also started with the baby nursery set up. Justin was a trooper and brought up the furniture. I had to help with the crib and have to say it was way harder than it should have been. We had it already assembled and had to carry it up 2 sets of stairs with turns. Fortunately we have wide stairs but it was still a comical event. Justin and I's large height difference makes carrying furniture a bit awkward. I think we are both glad it is up and done. So far the crib is put together with Addison's new bedding including her super adorable mobile and Alexa's sleep sheep. We also moved the glider from Alexa's room into our room and put together the changing table. I forgot how much stuff we used on Alexa. I am so grateful to have kept the majority of it. I had fun sorting bibs, burp clothes, and random odds and ends that I was either gifted or purchased with Alexa. I also went through the newborn and 0-3 month clothing. If it was stained and gross I threw it out, if it was good then I put it in a basket to be washed. I am going to wait until July before I start washing. Mostly because I don't have the motivation yet, but also because I have not figured out what I am going to do with the clean clothes. Hmmm!
My goal for this month is to have everything down on paper that I still have to do. My planning before my planning type thing. I just need to figure out what is left and then in July I can do the final prep work.
A little update on Alexa. She has become quite the social little girl. She has begun the early stages of reading and spelling. If we help her pronounce a word she can spell it. Example- C-C-C A-A-A-T-T-T She can spell CAT. I am not sure how to type of the sounds but she seems to be getting the hang of it. She also recognizes words that she has memorized on random signs. She has a GREAT memory and I think that will help her with reading. Justin swears the reason he is a good reader/ writer is because he learned to memorize sounds, sign words and grammatical rules.
Her new adult like phrases have us laughing constantly. She will say, "It's perfect Mommy" or "She's so cute." When she is doing something she is not suppose to she will put up her hand and say, "It's OK Mommy, You don't see me." Or if one of us are upset with something she is doing it will put her hand up, close her eyes and shake her head saying, "It's OK Mommy, It's OK." In the last week she asked if baby sister can come out and play and she also asked if her baby sister can sit next to her in the car. Such a sweet girl!
Alexa will also be transitioning to her 3 year old preschool room on the 24th. She is soooo excited and ready to go today. I asked her school if they would allow her to go early since all of her friends recently transitioned and I wanted to minimize the amount of change she will be going through in August. At first they told me no, but it appears they reconsidered. I told her when I found out that she is going to Galaxy. She decided she was ready to go right there and then. It was a rough few days to explain to her why she had to go back to Kaleidoscope for a few more days. Parent mistake I wont make again. :(
Alexa's favorite things include her baby dolls, with coordinating blankets and bottles, Mickey Mouse, Pia (Sophia). Her favorite accessories are her umbrella and sunglasses, worn together of course. She always makes sure her toe nails and finger nails are painted even if she does not like getting them trimmed first. She has just recently been able to recite her entire bedtime prayer on her own. She LOVES to hide from Daddy when he gets home and jump out to scare him. A few times she has actually really startled him. She wears size 6 shoes, mostly size 2 clothes is 35 inches tall and 26lbs.
