Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Cravings

Wahoo I'm almost halfway through this pregnancy! I think it's definitely gone by a lot faster this time around. I'm half way into my second trimester, and I finally feel, almost, like my old self again...minus the growing belly. It's been really weird the past several weeks after the morning sickness let up, I didn't feel pregnant at all--its been great, but now that my belly is getting bigger and more stretched out, I definitely feel pregnant.

I am SO excited to meet this little guy! Since I am no longer nauseous all the time my appetite has come back with a vengeance. I have been craving all sorts of junk food. Like chips and crackers, and juice. Not so much chocolate, but sour things like sour patch kids. I gave Stephen some for his stocking for Christmas, and I'm pretty sure I ended up eating two thirds of the bag. I felt guilty about it since they were Stephens, so I bought him a new bag, I had good intentions, I swear, but by the time he got home from work that day there was only a third of the bag left for him.

Seriously, chips. I can't get them off my mind. I hardly ever buy chips for this very reason; they'll be gone within a day or two and then I feel guilty and fat for eating them all. Also, tacos. I've been craving tacos a lot lately--just the hard shell, simple beef tacos or better yet, one made from Doritos! Oh that sounds so good....I may have to have Stephen make a Taco Bell run tonight... Despite my unhealthy cravings I really do try to eat healthy, and I don't cave in to those craving all the time, as much as I want to. In fact I marinated a few steaks for fajitas tonight, yum!

I get the question, "So are you nervous to have another baby, especially being so close in age?" All. The. Time. So let me tell you, NO! I'm not nervous about having another baby, sure it'll be an adjustment, but we'll all get a new routine that works for everyone and we'll all be happy. Zander will be a great helper and big brother, and Stephen and I will have to work a little more around the house and lose some sleep here and there, but that's life.

What I am nervous about is going through labor again. I don't know why, but it freaks me out a lot more than it did the first time. I am planning on doing a natural birth again, so I'm sure that's half of it. The other half, I think, is now I know what to expect when going into labor and remembering how much it hurt and thinking "I'm never doing this again" makes me nervous. I'm hoping all will go just as it did last time, because Zander's birth was perfect--I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm nervous that I might wait too long before going to the hospital and not making it in time. It's about a 25 minute drive to the hospital, so you can see why I'd be nervous about it. There's only one change I'd make from last time, actually two: (1) do not get my membranes swept ever again, and (2) do not pack a hospital bag. Seriously, I only used two things out of the bag I packed--my slipper socks, and my robe. I used nothing else; I didn't even eat the chocolate I brought for my recovery. Obviously, I'll bring a bag, but there won't hardly be anything in there. The hospital provided everything I needed last time.

Zander. He's such a boy. I love his guts, but lately he's been driving me crazy. I don't know why, it could be because I'm pregnant, but I don't like to pin my faults on my hormones. He's somewhat gotten past the biting, and now he's on to pinching and scratching. My hands and wrists are covered in tiny scratches, scabs, and bite marks. I have no idea what to do about it. When we tell him no or that hurts he just laughs. Most of the time I don't think he means to hurt us, but he doesn't understand the word "hurt" or "ouch" that's funny to him so he continues to do it. I can't get through to him, so I'm hoping it's just a phase and he'll grow out of it soon.

He loves to be outside. He lives for our little walks around the neighborhood in the afternoons. It's been so warm here; it's been perfect for little outings. He never wants to go back inside the house because there's so much to explore. I'm anxious for spring so we can spend more time in the yard. He loves to throw things down the stairs too; it's his newest favorite game. He also loves to read his books especially if they're interactive like flap books or touch and feel. He's becoming so independent all on his own, and it's nice that I can give him a simple task like "put your shoes in the closet" or "close the door" and he'll gladly do them. I've also noticed that he likes physical touch; he is happiest when Stephen and I tickle him, or throw him on the beanbag, or chase him around the house,  or roughhouse with him, etc... He can play by himself all right, but I think it's a good thing he's getting a little brother soon to pal around with in the the next year and half.

My life is great; there isn't anything I would change. I love being a stay-at-home mom to one little boy. He is my world. And I have the absolute best husband. He works hard everyday to provide for us, and looks forward to walking through the door to see Zander every night. It's so cute, Zander is now giving kisses and hugs when you ask him to. Stephen and Zander already have a special bond and I love that.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Zander Update

Zander is growing like a little weed! I can't believe how fast it goes by; every time I watch him play and I look at his hands and feet I can't believe how big they have gotten. He's become a little firecracker--always getting into things, constantly reaching up in drawers, counter tops, and table tops that he wasn't able to reach before. Not only that, but if he can't quite reach for something he'll grab something to stand on so he can reach it.

He loves to stand on a chair in the kitchen while I am cooking or baking so he can see what's going on. He has a need to feed his curiosity and he'll stop at nothing until he's satisfied.

He has finally mastered going down the stairs, so the gate is finally coming down this weekend.

He no longer likes us to carry him outside to the car; he wriggles free so he can walk and find rocks and other things to play with.

He recently had two molars cut through. what a nightmare!

His first word was kitty.

He loves books!

He has learned to drink from a straw.

He has learned to throw things away in the garbage can....then take them out and play with them.

A few weeks ago he started eating part of a day old sandwich from off the floor one morning. He chewed on it for a while, then I saw him spit it out in his hand and put it in my purse.

He is such a tease, and is always making us laugh.

Last Sunday I had him in primary with me and he tripped and fell hitting his mouth on the bottom of the bench I was sitting on. two of his upper teeth went through his bottom lip. Poor boy. he had blood dripping out of his mouth so I rushed him to the bathroom. He didn't cry for very long though. He's pretty tough; he's had a number of accidents recently and they don't seem to really phase him. As long as he can still play.

He loves containers. Anything with a lid on it will entertain him for at least an hour. He's really smart too, the other day he was playing in the messy Tupperware drawer pulling containers out. He was able to find the right lids to every container on the floor and put them on. I have all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes and he matched every one correctly. I was pretty awed by that because it wasn't something I had really taught him.

He loves to help me with chores; especially unloading the dishwasher and vacuuming. He also likes to throw things away and get things out of the pantry for me.

We are excited to see what new things he'll learn next. This stage is getting to be really fun because he's starting to imitate and copy me and daddy. He's very chatty and still loves to follow the cat around the house.



Hardware Ranch

Our first family trip of the year was to Hardware Ranch last weekend. I wanted to take Stephen and Zander up there because that's where we used to go every Christmas growing up. Mom and Dad took us to the ranch for a sleigh ride to see the elk then we'd go ice skating and look at the lights at Temple Square.

It was pretty cold when we got up there and a lot of the snow had already melted from the big storm we had over Christmas, so instead of riding in a sleigh we were in a wagon. Zander loved the snow, but we couldn't let him play in it too long before we got on the wagon. We don't have a winter coat in his size either so we ended up using the 3T coat Becky sent us. It kept him warm!







After seeing the elk we had lunch at Maddox in Brigham City. My family loves this place and I've been dying to take Stephen ever since we were married. Anyway, it was a fun outing, Zander did really well, and it was just nice to be out as a family.

Happy New Year!

We found out on New Years Eve....