Thanks for all the support and words of encouragement after the last post. I am trying to take one day at a time and take the good with the bad. On Friday I surprised myself and finished painting the hallway! It was quite a lot of work. I had to wash the walls, tape and then do the 2 coats. I got everything prepped before Katya went down for her nap and did the 1st coat while she was asleep. I did the second coat after she went down for the night even though I was really tired. I am so glad I did and got it over with. That is one project down and only one more to go (steaming the carpets) before Reagan gets here!
After a bit of trouble I got the floating shelves up in Reagan's room. They look really cute. I also got her crib mattress which Grandma and Baba T supplied the funds for. Thank you! There is not a ton left to do in preparation. I still have to get crib sheets (I bought some but did not like the way they fit and I am going to take them back). I am waiting for a really cute crib sheet at Babies R Us to get stocked, not sure when that will be. We will move Katya's changing table to baby's room sometime in March and install Reagan's car seat.
Today we went on a tour of the maternity unit at Emmanuel hospital were I will be delivering. Grandma and Grandpa came over and watched Katya for us which was really nice. It was good to get the run down on Emmanuel even though it was all pretty standard and what I would expect (i.e. 24hr rooming-in, length of stay). The main reason we did the tour is to know were the unit is and the basic layout. The L & D rooms were big and nice; they looked a lot like the rooms at Kaiser Sunnyside were Patrick was born. The post partum rooms are tiny! They are newer though and will work just fine. Craig even got a tip how to extend his bed space by opening a drawer at the end of his sleeping area for his feet. Hopefully Reagan will go along with the plan and arrive when Sharon is here to watch Katya. That way Craig will get to stay with me more and it will be easier on Katya since she will get to remain at home in her own enviornment (and our girl is a home-body!) I sure am getting excited for our baby to be born! Love and prayers, Brenda
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Woes and wonders
I know it is annoying to hear some one complain all the time. But it is so nice to vent about it now and then! So I apologize ahead of time and if you are not in the mood to listen to my woes, feel free to skip the next paragraph.
I am tired of being pregnant already! I did not think I would feel this way this soon. I still have a little under 3 months to go! It is not all bad; I love feeling my baby kick and squirm and I love daydreaming about what she will look like and how wonderful it will be to hold her in my arms. But I am always tired. I have insomnia; reflux; hemorrhoids; backaches (could be much worse); mood swings; nausea; food aversions; crampy uterus and headaches. Over all I just feel like it is really hard work growing a baby. Will I really want to do this again? Maybe some day. Maybe not. I had such a bad day on Tuesday; felt like garbage all day and was feeling really negative. And I felt bad about feeling bad, I mean what to I have to complain about? I don't have to work, I have the best family, a great home and my life is perfect right now. Fortunatly I had more energy yesterday and although today is not as good I am feeling much more positive.
It is wonderful to have Katya to remind me of the love and joy to come after 9 long months. Despite her being at a challenging age she is so fun. She makes me laugh everyday and comes up to me and hugs my legs or gives me a kiss. Her "no's" are really funny lately; they are loud and long, "noooooo" and have a certain inflection that is pretty cute. Yesterday she signed change diaper but as soon as I confirm "lets go change your diaper" it was "Nooooo!" and she started running off. I picked her up and in her frustration she came at me with an open mouth as if to bit my face. Of course biting is not acceptable behavior but it was so funny I could not help laugh and open my mouth back at her, which got her laughing. Here is a picture of her 'silly face' which she does when she hears or sees certain things, in this case the dogs playing.
Our prayers are with the Smith's this week, as they journy east for a new chapter in their lives. Love, Brenda
I am tired of being pregnant already! I did not think I would feel this way this soon. I still have a little under 3 months to go! It is not all bad; I love feeling my baby kick and squirm and I love daydreaming about what she will look like and how wonderful it will be to hold her in my arms. But I am always tired. I have insomnia; reflux; hemorrhoids; backaches (could be much worse); mood swings; nausea; food aversions; crampy uterus and headaches. Over all I just feel like it is really hard work growing a baby. Will I really want to do this again? Maybe some day. Maybe not. I had such a bad day on Tuesday; felt like garbage all day and was feeling really negative. And I felt bad about feeling bad, I mean what to I have to complain about? I don't have to work, I have the best family, a great home and my life is perfect right now. Fortunatly I had more energy yesterday and although today is not as good I am feeling much more positive.
It is wonderful to have Katya to remind me of the love and joy to come after 9 long months. Despite her being at a challenging age she is so fun. She makes me laugh everyday and comes up to me and hugs my legs or gives me a kiss. Her "no's" are really funny lately; they are loud and long, "noooooo" and have a certain inflection that is pretty cute. Yesterday she signed change diaper but as soon as I confirm "lets go change your diaper" it was "Nooooo!" and she started running off. I picked her up and in her frustration she came at me with an open mouth as if to bit my face. Of course biting is not acceptable behavior but it was so funny I could not help laugh and open my mouth back at her, which got her laughing. Here is a picture of her 'silly face' which she does when she hears or sees certain things, in this case the dogs playing.
Our prayers are with the Smith's this week, as they journy east for a new chapter in their lives. Love, Brenda
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
18 month check up
Katya had a well-baby check on Monday. She is now 25lbs, 10oz and 32.5inches tall. Following along a good growth curve, just above the 50th percentile. Dr. Oller was impressed with Katya's communication skills and warned me that she will be getting more and more testy in months to come. She also warned me that Katya will likely take out her frustration with new baby on me and not to let it make me feel bad. She got her last DTap vaccine and her first Hep A. She is a bit cranky from her shots and I gave her some Motrin and she finally fell asleep for her nap. She is so cute sleeping with her monster stuffed animal and a chick that Candace got her for Easter last year ("Mon and Cheep-cheep"). I love how she snuggles up with them, too cute.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Cute pictures
I am behind on uploading my pictures to a Kodak photo album so here are some cute shots for the time being.
Katya playing in the front yard on a cold winter day.
Sporting her new down vest daddy bought her at a REI sale.
Playing with mom's sunglasses.
Extreme close up!
Playing with fish puzzle while mom takes a rest.
Katya playing in the front yard on a cold winter day.
Sporting her new down vest daddy bought her at a REI sale.
Playing with mom's sunglasses.
Extreme close up!
Playing with fish puzzle while mom takes a rest.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Our little diaper model
Katya sporting her Fuzzi Bunz
Playing with dad in her Bumgenius
We are now in cloth diapers full time and it is going really well. I ended up getting more of the Bumgenius brand which are the ones that grow with baby. I liked both brands for different reasons but went with the 'one-size' diaper which should be super cost effective. They come with two inserts, a full size one that has a few snaps to shorten it when using the diaper at a medium size and a newborn insert for when you use the diaper at the smallest size. We are able to use the diapers for night time too by stuffing 2 regular inserts and 1 newborn insert in the diapers pocket. It is super thick but she is sleeping 12-13hrs and waking up dry. I am so impressed at how the lining of the diaper that is next to baby's skin wicks the moisture to the center were the insert is. Craig did not even realize that it was time to change a diaper because the lining feels dry to the touch. Yet when you pull out the insert you will find it soaked with urine (both brands do this equally well).
I am getting use to laundering the diapers after a little trouble shooting. I do a cycle on cold, a cycle on hot and then an extra rinse. I also have been rinsing the diapers really well before storing them in a diaper pail to decrease the smell. You don't have to do this but I have found that if I just throw the wet ones in the pail the bathroom smells like urine after a day. I wash every other day and don't want to deal with a smelly bathroom. The wet ones just need the insert rinsed and the poopy ones need the lining rinsed too. Rinsing poop is a bit time consuming but right now I only have to deal with that once a day. That will be very different when Reagan is born! I think I will put a contraption called a Mini Sprayer on my birthday wish list. It connects to your toilets water source and you can just spray off the diapers into the toilet which might be really handy with brestfed baby poop.
I am loving the style of cloth diaper, the pocket diapers, which are so easy to use. They are really cute too and Katya has a great assortment of colors. She is going through about 5-6 a day (as oppose to 4-5 disposable) and with washing every other day I am finding 18 diapers to be more than enough. Never in a million years did I think I would be a cloth diaper user! So far the switch has been great.
Playing with dad in her Bumgenius
We are now in cloth diapers full time and it is going really well. I ended up getting more of the Bumgenius brand which are the ones that grow with baby. I liked both brands for different reasons but went with the 'one-size' diaper which should be super cost effective. They come with two inserts, a full size one that has a few snaps to shorten it when using the diaper at a medium size and a newborn insert for when you use the diaper at the smallest size. We are able to use the diapers for night time too by stuffing 2 regular inserts and 1 newborn insert in the diapers pocket. It is super thick but she is sleeping 12-13hrs and waking up dry. I am so impressed at how the lining of the diaper that is next to baby's skin wicks the moisture to the center were the insert is. Craig did not even realize that it was time to change a diaper because the lining feels dry to the touch. Yet when you pull out the insert you will find it soaked with urine (both brands do this equally well).
I am getting use to laundering the diapers after a little trouble shooting. I do a cycle on cold, a cycle on hot and then an extra rinse. I also have been rinsing the diapers really well before storing them in a diaper pail to decrease the smell. You don't have to do this but I have found that if I just throw the wet ones in the pail the bathroom smells like urine after a day. I wash every other day and don't want to deal with a smelly bathroom. The wet ones just need the insert rinsed and the poopy ones need the lining rinsed too. Rinsing poop is a bit time consuming but right now I only have to deal with that once a day. That will be very different when Reagan is born! I think I will put a contraption called a Mini Sprayer on my birthday wish list. It connects to your toilets water source and you can just spray off the diapers into the toilet which might be really handy with brestfed baby poop.
I am loving the style of cloth diaper, the pocket diapers, which are so easy to use. They are really cute too and Katya has a great assortment of colors. She is going through about 5-6 a day (as oppose to 4-5 disposable) and with washing every other day I am finding 18 diapers to be more than enough. Never in a million years did I think I would be a cloth diaper user! So far the switch has been great.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Belly picture
Here is a belly picture at 28 weeks (7 months). That baby sure is growing! I have had terrible insomnia for about a month now. No matter how tired I am I have a terrible time falling asleep. I have taken half a Unisom a few times which really helps; I just hate to take medication too often. But I know it is safe and it is better than laying in bed until 2am every night.
Katya stuff
Katya's hair is just long enough to get into a ponytail. It looks so cute but it is too thin to stay in place.
Katya is pretending to talk on the phone now. It is so cute. She mainly says "Hi Baba" but also says "Hi Grandma." The other day I carried her a ways to the car and as I was buckling her in I was huffing and puffing a bit. All of a sudden she was blowing air, mimicking me; what a silly girl. Another thing I found funny: yesterday morning I was interrupted from eating my cereal to change a poopy diaper. While I was dumping and rinsing the diaper in the kid bathroom I noticed it was awfully quite upstairs (Katya usually stays on the same level as me). When I finished I came down stairs to find her on the couch, leaning over the arm to the end table were my bowl of cereal was. She had the spoon in her hand and was eating Honey Nut Cheerios, partly with the spoon and partly with her left hand.
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