Smiling Through the Rain

I was thinking this morning while snuggling with my sweet pea in bed about all of the little things that I never want to forget about her.  You know, the things that are what make her unique. The way she entertwines her fingers through my hair for relaxation.  She loves to hold my hair when it's time to sleep or drink her milk. How she always says "ho-ho-ho" like Santa when she puts something on her head.  She'll call it a "hat", but often it's a bucket, pair of pants, or some other odd object lying around. When she covers her face with a towel or large hat so that she's unable to see as she walks around running into things.  This makes her giggle like crazy. The concern she has when a shoe falls off of her.  She'll wake up from fast asleep if her shoe gets knocked off and start saying "shoe" in a really concerned voice. Her absolute conviction about how things should be done.  This is not a child who will ever get picked on or p...

I had yet another very uneventful OB visit today with the exception of a 15 minute chase to find Deuce's heartbeat.  This didn't worry me at all because I always have to search all over my belly to find this little swimmer with my doppler.  In fact, this baby has been moving ALL over every ultrasound we've had.  Which is totally opposite of Paisley who was always still and I'd have to drink OJ to get her to move enough for the daily movement count at the end of pregnancy.  And we'd get hooked up to the NST every OB visit.  Yet she's never stopped moving since she entered this world. So, does that mean that this baby will wear itself out in utero and be super good in the outside world?!?  One can always hope...

We had a great trip to Vegas as usual and are absolutely exhausted now.  Even Miss Paisley slept all the way home on the flight and still didn't wake up until we got to our car.  We went to several shows, shopped, ate lots of really unhealthy food, and walked a million miles.  Now, on the bad side of things...   Paisley started running a fever on Day 3 of our trip first thing that morning.  Mom and I walked to the nearby CVS to get ibuprofen which I neglectfully forgot this time when I actually needed some.  She started acting pretty lethargic and out-of-it on the trip back to the hotel.  By the time we got back into the casino, she was looking really sick and I was getting pretty worried. We get up to the room and as I'm struggling to open the new thermometer I bought so I can check her temperature (also forgot to pack it), I glance over at her where my mom is holding her on the other bed.  Her lips are completely blue and she's as pale ...

Our plane leaves at 7:50 in the morning which means we have to get up freaky-butt early to make it to the airport, park, check-in, etc.  Luckily we only live 15 minutes from the airport and it's a direct flight! Tonight I finished packing and I noticed something very interesting has happened.  Paisley has taken over.  She and I share a suitcase and gradually, my stuff is becoming less present.  My carry-on has really been hijacked.  It used to consist of a neck pillow, light blanket, book or magazine, and lip gloss.  Now, it has diapers, wipes, snacks of various varieties, and toys.  It's also now an adorable paisley-print (of course) rolling suitcase with her name on it.  And then there is a tiny pocket in the front where I shove our passports, boarding documents, hotel confirmation, etc.  Let's keep our priorities straight!

Illness struck again.  Wednesday morning I woke up feeling a rumbling in my belly that just wasn't right.  I texted Aaron at work to see if he felt okay and he did.  So I got Paisley and I ready to head to the clinic, pausing about 20 times to sit on the toilet sure that something terrible was going to happen.  When it didn't, I went on in to work and did payroll for the girls.  While writing their checks, I had to rush to the restroom where some nasty stuff went down.  From both ends.  Excessively.  I'm sure you get the picture.  I immediately felt weak and faint, but finished my payroll duties and headed home.  I left Paisley with Aaron because I was a little nervous to drive with her even though we only live 5 miles from the clinic.  Plus, I didn't know if I could lift her in and out of the car. By the time I got home, I knew I should probably let my OB know so I texted her (remember we're actually friends).  She immed...

Aaron and I felt very committed to not finding out the gender with Paisley because we felt so blessed to be having a child that it just didn't matter whether it'd be wearing pink or blue.  And it was the best surprise ever!  Especially since everyone decided it was a boy (I carried her super low).  And to be very honest- I secretly wanted a girl BADLY.   My mom was divorced and I was an only child so we have always been extremely close.  I hope to have a relationship with my daughter like that. I had always thought that we'd want the opposite the next time around and really suspected that we'd want to know in advance.  Which is why it's a bit crazy to me that I feel just as set on having another surprise.  For one, I'm not a surprise person in any other situation.  I ruin gifts that I buy for others because I can't help but tell them in advance!  And the thought of a surprise party makes me nauseated.  But when it comes to somet...

 Loving a puppy at the clinic She thinks her daddy has the best job in the world.  She loves to follow him in patient rooms with her stethoscope around her neck.  :) Sure I can fit in this tiny bucket.  If I'm not wearing it as a hat... She has a pair of sunglasses on her head.  Hard to tell in the picture. This was my favorite picture from Christmas.  We had to blur Daddy out of it because he had a stupid expression!

I totally should have taken these pictures after I ate a TON of Mexican food last night, but I wisely did it beforehand.  My darling Baby Deuce has helped me gain 4 pounds so far.  Well, the baby may not have as much to do with it as the fact that I'm requiring about 4000 calories a day to survive right now.  Seriously.  I  L-O-V-E the whole "you only need 300 extra calories a day" during pregnancy bologna.  Yea right.  I'm eating 3 large meals a day, plus 2 snacks.  Because I'm starving.  And considering I've only put on 4 pounds at 14 weeks, I think I must really need it.  Right?!?   I swear I wasn't like this the 1st time, but maybe I just don't remember!  :)

Baby Deuce and I are now in our 2nd trimester!!!  Which seems impossible considering how incredibly looooooong my 1st trimester seemed to last with Paisley.  It was like I could hear every single clock in the nearest 100 miles ticking second by second.  Days seemed to last 3 times as long as they do now. Partly, this makes me happy because I'm calm and relaxed and just enjoying my pregnancy.  But then there is a huge part of me that adores being pregnant and I know this is the last time.  So, I don't want to rush it at all.   I look forward to the point when I can feel the baby move (which didn't happen until 22 weeks with P, so I may still have a while). My NT scan went great last week and they called me today to tell me that my bloodwork was perfect.  I had to call them back to get exact numbers because I'm obsessive about these kind of things!  I go back at the end of the month for my 2nd set of bloodwork and then March 3rd for m...