#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

Mini Guest Bath Update

Patience isn't one of my strengths.  I know it, and I own it.  Sometimes though, I just.cant.wait. That's sort of what has happened with our guest bath. I don't think I shared any of our bathroom pictures, because, why go there? We're lucky both bathrooms have white tubs and tile surround. So, that's a plus. Everything else in each bathroom is borderline unacceptable  It's funny because when we looked at the house, I didn't shutter the way first time buyers or snobs do, on HGTV when they're house hunting. However, once we were in the house, and these are the bathrooms you have to use every day, it's a totally different story. We can't do any major renovations right now, so it has to wait, and I have to deal.

My mom, the wallpaper stripping queen, graciously offered to strip the wallpaper in the guest bath, which already helped immensely. Then, after a successful outing at Mohegan Sun a few weeks ago, I literally twisted Brian's arm, and we stopped to buy 1 new toilet on our way home. So that at least is a start and makes using the bathroom, a little easier.  Then, I decided some paint and new hardware might be the trick to holding me over for a little while :)

So, last weekend I went to good 'ole Home Depot, picked out some hardware and got to work. I painted the window, door and vanity, and just tonight we finished putting all the new hardware on. I am thrilled with the little update! I think I am good now.... for a month or two ;)

Pretty big difference right?

BEFORE

 

AFTER

Favorite decade?

I started thinking about all of this, this afternoon.  While eavesdropping on two co-workers conversation, my thoughts quickly drifted off.  One of my co-workers, who is a curious -27, was on one of her daily tangents with random quesitons. She was asking a woman on our team, who is 55, what her favorite decade was - 20's, 30's, 40's? I didn't listen to her answer, because my thoughts went right to a baby picture of Madelyn on my desk. Granted my 30's are just barely underway, but so far this is definitely my favorite decade.

My 20's were all about discovery.  Most importantly, I was forced outside of my comfort zone, into a new environment and I started to become my own person.  Most who know me, know my college days, were not your typical college days. They weren't fun.  So, on to bigger and better and the first few years following college, were all about F-U-N, FUN! I essentially did whatever I wanted, when I wanted, and I really enjoyed my independence.  In a nutshell, my 20's were all about me, and having fun. I loved my 20's and I'm so happy I had all of the opportunities I did, that allowed me to make some awesome memories!

I kicked off my 30th year, pregnant. I was looking ahead at the end of the pregnancy and thinking, this is it... just a few more months of being so carefree, spontaneous and selfish.  I wont lie, I was nervous. I mean, there was a point in my early 20's where I swore I'd (maybe get married and) live on a farm with lots of dogs! So, I knew a lot was going to change.  But as I peer down my 32nd birthday next month, I can't be more excited and thankful for where I am, right now. Yes, I know it's still early, but I guess since having Madelyn so closely coincides with turning 30, the impact of this new decade is strong!

So far, my 30's have taught me about perspective and made me not take myself, too seriously.  So far, my 30's have been filled with JOY.  Plain and simple, pure and real, lots and lots of joy. I was lucky to have a great 1st pregnancy, a great 1st birth experience and an easy-going baby in Madelyn.  I have to give myself a little credit though, because (even I can't believe) the natural born stress-er in me, took it all in stride. I was calm and rolled with the punches, and I like to think, I still am.  I don't know what I'm doing, but I also don't read anything, not one thing about what we should be doing, or not doing.  In our house, we simply live.  Maybe that's why almost each and every day I'm awe-struck with joy. I really am one of those women who wishes there house was cleaner, life maybe a little more organized, etc, but I'm too busy living! I linger on Madelyn's laugh with a thread, I cherish when she tells me she loves me and gives me kisses, I beam when she asks me for cuddles before bed, and right now I'm crying because just thinking about all of this makes my heart so full.

Becoming and being a mom, is the best.thing.ever.  Hopefully down the road we'll be lucky enough to expand our family, but I don't want to think ahead or plan too much.... then I wont be cherishing the joy of right now!

Hope you all are well ~ XO

Oh Mmmm Geee - 20 months!!

Numerous times every month, over the last 20 months, I have thought - this is the best, and it can't get any better, but really, I mean it! While M has gotten a jump start on her "terrible 2's" and tantrums are a plenty, I am loving this age :)

Brian calls me a smother-mother, and quite honestly, he's right. I could hug and kiss Madelyn all.day.long, and I try. She's not shy though, so when she's had enough, she gives me a stiff-hand to the face :)  I just can't help it, I love her to pieces! I love her laugh, I love her expressions, I love how she says Mommy and Daddy, I love her spunky personality, and I even love when she throws a tantrum, trying to exert her independence.

In familiar settings, Madelyn is not shy. She loves to have fun, learn new things and play, play, play!  She does really well playing on her own, and exploring but she also loves company. She knows her friends by name, ones that she sees often, and others she many not see as frequently, she really loves her friends! In new surroundings with new people, Miss M is definitely shy.  I haven't gotten the full report about Brian as a child, but my mom tells me, that's just how I was.

Madelyn is in constant motion.  I guess I sort of expected it with this age, and sure she has her moments where she'll sit and hang (for like 30 seconds) but otherwise, we are on the GO! M LOVES being outside and playing in the water - ocean, pool, bath, you name it, she's a water bug. It'll be a fun summer outside for all of us, trying to keep up with her!

Here are some recent pictures of our little girl, looking so much older.  Another month, and lots more changes, we love you so much, pretty girl!!