Cousin Ashley

Last weekend (yes, I am that far behind!) cousin Ashley came to visit Chloe.

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Tracee also made the trip!

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Notice the emphasis on sharing?

It didn’t always work out but it was fun to watch.

Chloe is also turning into a cheerio stealer.

  

See…Sharing IS caring!

Beach Girl

Here are a couple videos from our beach trip a couple weeks back...

11 Months

*Yes, I am aware there are exactly ZERO photos in this post.  I promise to get you some shortly. Please hang tight for a day or so. *

thankyouverymuch.

Dear Chloe,
Today is your 11 month birthday.
My guess is you'll never really know how fast these months have gone by until you go through it as a mommy yourself.
This is SUCH an exciting time in your life and we love watching you learn new things.  You get so excited when you see we're impressed or proud of you for doing something.  Your whole face lights up with the biggest smile.
Lately you've really gotten to be quite the dancer and you can't help but bust a move to almost anything.  The Elmo theme song works everytime without fail...
"La la la la, La la la la, Elmo's world... he loves his goldfish...his crayon too..."
Your daddy is the best at singing you tunes to get you to shake it.

We can tell you are understanding more each day; you can point out a few animals, most specifically the crab in your Sea Creatures book.
You are becoming more interested in how things work and why things are the way they are.  You have a set of stackable cups that you have recently figured out.  We were so excited when you figured out they go inside of each other.  Your fascination with the remote has not waned; you love to push a button and see if you were able to change the channel or not...

You have a tooth on the top that looks like it will break through shortly and the other one isn't far behind!  The one on your upper right side is going to come in first it looks like.  I can't wait to see what you look like with 4 whole teeth!
You've hit one of the biggest milestones of your life this past month...you’ve gone from crawling/cruising into full blown walking.  You still put your arms out to balance you but you are more than happy to just walk around the house.  All.Day.Long.  You have even figured out how to stand up without using your hands!  That being said, I'm pretty sure I win the worst mommy of the year award...Why you might ask? Well, only one day before you turned 11 months, I let you kiss concrete with your face.  I'm not going to say a whole lot more on the subject because I've never felt so awful in my life, but you seem to have recovered 100%.  With the exception of the goose egg on your forehead.  It wasn't looking so good yesterday and I was afraid I'd wake up and you'd be completely black and blue. (It's not. Yet).  Let me tell you... I feel every little pain you feel magnified by 1000.  Once again, when you're a mom, you'll know what I'm talking about.
You do need to work on your respect for the word "no", however. Let's just say it's non-existent unless daddy says it. When mommy says it, it means to do something you aren't supposed to even faster.  Right?

In clothing milestones, you're just about out of your size 3 diapers, you're growing out of most of your 6-12 month clothes and we've put you in a few things that were from your cousins in Boston only to realize you hardly fit in 12-18 month sleepwear from BabyGap!  We're hoping it's because they shrank, not because you're really that gigantic (which you're not!)  You are also starting to wear shoes now since you're walking.  You're in size 4 shoes but your feet have baby chub and you almost need to go up a size just to get the shoes on!  
Have I mentioned you have the strength of a superhero?  You are currently dead lifting your activity table over your head.  *edited to add* You are now getting a workout by alternating pushing and dragging the table around the house.  Trying to work off the baby chub on your feet or something?

Love you baby girl!
It's not much longer that we can call you a baby!

Frequent Flyer

I think I am now considered a frequent flyer at my OB/GYN office.
Too bad I don't get a discount or any sweet perks.
Just a sweet nocturnal prize at the end.
I'm now having appointments every 2 weeks instead of once a month.
Then, after a couple of those, I'll be down to every week!
I really can't believe we're already at that point.
I am getting SO so SO excited.

My appointment today went really well, especially considering they told me that ...
I do NOT have Gestational Diabetes!!!
Actually all 4 of my blood draws came back completely normal.
Surprisingly normal. The midwife made a point of stressing they were LOW normal.
So good news.

I had a lot of anxiety about this appointment, I was worried I'd hear that I had GD and I'm just not ready for something else to be wrong with this pregnancy. Sooo today feels kind of like a milestone, it's the point of no return (as if we weren't already there!) and life only gets crazier from here on out. Our boxing queen Lauren will be here before we know what hit us.

But honestly, I can't help but think about how this is the last pregnancy. It's always in the back of my mind, these pregnancies really do go by in the blink of an eye, you wake up and your daughter is almost 11 months old. I'm only 25 and I'm just 3 months away from not ever feeling a baby kick me from the inside again. Oddly enough, that is pretty bittersweet for me.

Basically from everything they've been telling me, my labor with Lauren should be easier/faster than with Chloe...
Let's hope they're right.

As to whether or not my body will actually know to START the labor process is unknown. I have a good chance of another positive induction because Chloe's went so *ahem* smoothly. Riiight.

Also, if for some reason Lauren remains breech, the OB will give her a little spin around 36 weeks...
Here's to hoping we have a smooth ride from here on out. And to Lauren coming sometime in the month of October. No sooner. No later.

Oh...

Have I mentioned...
...I failed my 1 hour gestational diabetes test!
Fabulous.
*Please stop to note the sarcasm*
Seriously.
Are you KIDDING me?!
Chloe and Lauren are complete opposite babies already.
Anyway,
I have to go back for a 3 hour test.
I didn't realize but my number was 144; I asked the nurse what their cutoff was and they said 130.
I thought that was just the cutoff to be safe and make the mom take the 3 hour test.
No; it sounds like 130+ means you'll most likely have gestational diabetes.
Greeeeaaaatttt.
We shall see...
I just don't want any more complications.
And I want my chocolate and sugar!
What's next... A C-Section? A 50 hour labor??

Wailer

This sweet angel is fighting her naps now.

Can you believe it?!

She’s currently screaming her head off in her crib.

She has thrown out all 8 (yes 8!) pacifiers in her crib 3 times now.

So I’ll just photoshop like it ain’t no big thang.

But inside I’m secretly dying to go in and cuddle her.

Some Pictures

I took Chloe to the beach with Gabby and Andrea this afternoon.

Chloe is a sand MONSTER.

I have a serious aversion to sand.

Here are a few pictures from this evening.

Chloe was of course RAVISHED and wouldn’t stop eating to pose for a picture.

I’m trying to get back into using my camera frequently.

I can see I need some practice.

I’m realizing I have very few pictures of myself lately.  I’m not entirely sure I want lots of them, but I feel a twinge of sadness when I realize I have what seems like 10 since Chloe was born!

I want to chronicle my pregnancy with Lauren better… and I want the girls to know who their mom was when they were young!

I’d just like them to remember me looking…

…a little more super-model-esque…

Does that make any sense at all?

  

Chloe looks confused.

This is her new favorite look.

While we’re out, instead of smiles, people get a big fat frown.

They’re not sure what to think.

Then she usually ends up pulling out the dimple card.

Not one but TWO.

Can someone please tell me…

How did she get TWO dimples?!

3rd Trimester

Turns out that today marks the end of my second trimester.
I can't believe we have made it this far.
I am honestly so SO so grateful.
We're 27 weeks today.
About 7 weeks ago now I was begging to make it to this point.
Lauren kicks frequently to remind me she's a-ok and I couldn't be happier.
Her favorite time to be active is late at night when mommy is trying to sleep.
She's about 2 pounds now and 14+ inches long!
I will be honest about one little teensy weensy thing, however.
I am in a LOT of pain!
I feel like my hips are splitting in two.
My back is constantly on fire.
It is the most painful thing on earth to get up out of bed in the middle of the night.
I felt the same way during my pregnancy with Chloe and it's part of the joy of pregnancy but MAN it makes for an uncomfortable mama.
It's so worth it.
I can't wait to meet little Lauren Rose.
Well, I can wait.
11+ more weeks.
Please no more than 13!

Fudge Walks.

So if yesterday was a big change from the day before, today has been a world of difference.
I promise we're getting video (as best we can), but Chloe can SERIOUSLY walk.
When she wants to.
She can take 30+ steps in a row to get where she wants to go.
Her little wobbly wilma legs are to die for.
She concentrates so hard on what she's doing.
Chloe, we are so proud of you!

Wobbler

Just a quick note.
So I don't forget.
I've decided that today is the day that we can dedicate to Chloe 'wobbly-wilma walking'.
No, she hasn't quite figured it out, but there has been a momentous change from just yesterday!
Today she can do between 4 steps and 10 steps unassisted.
Yesterday she had maybe 4 steps in a row all day.
She's also learned that she loves the little cart we have that she can push while she walks.
I've been trying to get her to use it for weeks and she'd just cry and fuss.
Today, she just took right off.
She can practically run with.
Until she hits a wall.
Then she walks sideways and pulls it behind her.
Yes. I know. You want pictures and video.
Good news.
I do have video of her walking behind her cart.
Bad news.
It's on the camera ;)
Come see for yourself the amazing wobbling baby!

Wedding Weekend

This weekend Kelly got married!

I got to be the pregnant matron of honor.

Sweet gig.

This weekend also signified the first time I’ve been away from this sweet face overnight.

Let’s just say that sleep is compromised when pregnant.

When pregnant and not at home, it’s a joke.

I was up every.single.hour for the last two nights.

As far as missing Chris and Chloe,

I was okay until the actual wedding.

There were babies and kids everywhere.

I got all smushy and sad.

So I decided to drink.

Gasp!

Sparkling Cider!

People probably thought I was drinking champagne.

ANYWAY…

Here are a few pictures from the pre-wedding girlie-ness.

I was sidetracked and busy the rest of the weekend.

Ahhh it’s good to be home.

 

 

 

Oh yeah…and here’s my new short hair all styled.

Yes. I have lost a good 6’’ of hair.

Everyone cry with me.

Beach Trip

Today Chloe and I went to the beach.

Chloe had a great time and managed to only inhale a few grains of sand.

Except for one thing.

Swim diapers are to only be used if actually swimming.

I’m pretty sure they’re not designed to hold back pee.

Only poo.

Lesson learned.

Pee will escape. 

I’m so sad all these pictures of her standing were blurry. Next time I’ll take the good camera.

Ok. Gotta run. Baby calls!