#fail

So much for my countdown to 2.  What-a-freaking-week! I had such good intentions of blocking out time each night to write a post to countdown to Madelyn's 2nd birthday. I thought it would be a nice little tribute to our one and only-right-now, but I was also looking forward to the reflection part for me.  Instead, we had a busy weekend of hanging out with friends and family, we had our kitchen and bathroom turned upside down while the wallpaper was stripped and the walls were primed, and then we've been busy with last minute Halloween and birthday prep! Even though I haven't posted each day, I have spent the last week reminiscing and reflecting. So, it wasn't a total fail I guess :) I'm looking forward to keeping up with something I started last year, and I plan to do annually. Each year on her birthday, Ill write a letter to Madelyn.  When she's older, and I feel ready, ill give them all to her. This idea I'll make sure I follow through on, no matter how busy I get!!  

Off to bed for this momma - 2 big days ahead! Tomorrow, we find out the sex of the baby, and Friday it's all about Miss M!! Hope you are having a great week!!

Xo

Countdown to 2!

How is it possible that my little munchkin is going to be 2 years old!? I've been completely nostalgic the last few weeks, looking through baby photos and watching videos. Each and every time, I cry. Happy tears... grateful tears... proud tears, that our little girl is a beautiful, happy and healthy, 2 year old. Then there are the few tears of desperation - PLEASE time, please slow down. I really try to enjoy all my time with Madelyn. I always do, but when a milestone like turning 2 roles around, I'm reminded of just how fast time has gone. I've found that last 10 minutes that we have at home each morning, where I feel stressed and rushing around, Madelyn knows just what to do to snap me out of my frantic motions and make me laugh or swoop her up for a kiss.  It's her subtle way of saying "slow down Mommy, take it in." I think the next 6 months will be a very special time for us, as we prepare to welcome our baby in the spring. We'll enjoy the holidays, and all the little moments in between, with a very curious and smart 2 year old knowing that these will be the last holidays and memories, for her as an only child. With how she's been acting recently, doting and caring for her babies, I have no doubt she'll make a wonderful big sister!

So, as we countdown to Madelyn's 2 year birthday, I thought I'd share my top 10 favorite things.  Either favorite specific memories, characteristics of Madelyn, or things about being a mom.

#10: MOMMY
After all, it was this precious little girl that made me a mom, and for her I'll always be grateful.

I loved becoming a mom and everything it has meant. From being pregnant, to the birth experience, and adjusting to life with a baby.  As the months passed, and Madelyn became more mobile, more expressive and dependent on me in new ways, I've increasingly enjoyed being her Mommy.  Now, as she tells story after story, and sings us songs as she gets ready for bed, each and every time she says the word, Mommy, its as if time stops. Just for a milla-second, everything stops because her voice is so sweet, and no matter what it is that she wants or needs, I'm delighted to give her my attention.  These days, she's become fond of the word "stop" so she'll even snap "stop, Mommy" and even that's cute too :) I'm sure in 10 or 11 years, things could be quite different, so for now, I'll take it, however she wants to say it. I guess there is something sort of special about your first, just because - they made you a Mommy!

Another little bundle!

I'm not sure if you read this post, but I shared how wonderful my 30's have been. At the time, I was pregnant, growing another little bundle, and I didn't even know it :)

 

Brian and I had an (almost) non-spoken understanding that we would have kids. How many, is up for debate but we both couldn't wait to be parents.  Without giving you more detail than you care for, conceiving the first time around, took 9 months.  It was a slightly stressful and very calculated process, before we had that positive pregnany test! So yes, when the question came up, the answer was "yes," we were definitely trying.

 

I know that all pregnancies are different, but I sort of expected getting pregnant to work the same for us, as last time.  We knew we were ready to start trying for baby #2 by the summer. I was mentally prepared for keeping calendars, etc., and suddenly, voila - we had a positive pregnancy test!just.like.that :) I didnt even tell Brian I was taking a test, because I didn't think for a milli-second that I was pregnant. I had an extra test, and one morning, I took it. Suddenly, I was staring at the digital reading - PREGNANT.  Huh? I proceeded to take 2 more tests a few days apart because I could barely believe it!

 

Our due date is March 27, 2014.  This week, I am 17 weeks! Maybe, depending on how I'm feeling, I'll share some bump photos along the way :) I can't believe I have a little one growing in my belly again. Since the pregnancy was a bit of a surprise, in some ways I still can't believe that Madelyn will be a big sister. Getting pregnant and becoming a mom was the blessing of a lifetime, I can barely wrap my head around becoming a mom to another little one. My heart feels so full.

 

A baby is such a gift and we feel so blessed to be expecting again! Every pregnancy is different in it's own way, and for me so far, this experience has been different but just as amazing! I had just a few weeks of nausea and other than that, I've felt great so far. I even requested to go to the Dr. off schedule because I was feeling so normal, I wanted to make sure everything was OK. I have days where I am so tired, I just want to relax, and others (like today) where I have lots of energy and just want to go,go,go! My goal(s) are to gain less weight, keep exercising longer than I did last time, and have this little munchkin before week 41 without being induced. We'll see how I do :) 

 

In just a few weeks, we'll find out what we're having, and we can't wait! When everyone is getting there little ones dressed and ready to trick or treat on Halloween (we'll be doing that too), we're making a quick visit to the hospital for our next ultrasound. Over the last month or so, I've decided it's a ________. I'm convinced, it has to be. If it's not, i'll be just as excited, obviously, I just pray for a healthy little baby.  I'm just so convinced, that I'm extra curious to find out if I'm right!

 

Ok... think it's time to sign off. Now, I am getting tired... but first I might need to have a little ice cream! Just a little ;)

 

xo

 

Have you missed us?

I can't believe it's been 3 months since my last post! Lets see....since the last post, we had a great little vacation, celebrated birthdays, had a last trip of the season to MV, announced our pregnancy (YUP #2 is due March 27th!) and for the last few weeks we've been busy LOVING fall!

We have some little house projects on the horizon, and a few plans for the nursery, so I hope to be back with more frequent posts! At least for now anyway, because I miss posting and sharing what we're up to!

Hope you are well and having a great Fall, too!

Xo