Who needs sleep anyway?!

Wait...I need sleep! It has been a rough couple of weeks. Charlotte goes to bed very late (often after 4am) and Ella wakes up very early (sometimes 6:30am) so needless to say we are very tired in this house. It is getting easier with the constant feedings and diapers that you sort of forget by the time you have a toddler, but poor Ella is having some mommy issues because she wants to be close to me also. So here are a few things I've learned about having two children:

1. People will tell you that you should have waiting until the older one was older. Thanks for that one. I honestly don't believe there is a right time for having kids, you just do it and it works because it is life. Back in the day I doubt people told families that they had too many children or had children too close together so it kind of blows my mind that anyone thinks they get to have a say on these choices now. Just saying...it is rude people. Just rude.

2. When one is eating, the other will ultimately want to eat. It is better to just feed them at the same time, especially if a toddler claims they are not hungry because they will wait until you can't move to decide they are starving to death.

3. Carve out time for just you and one of the kids. It is hard, but worth it.

4. Meltdowns will ensue. Just deal with it and try to move on...or leave the house. Leaving helps...as does sleeping.

5. Commiserate with your significant other. This is a big one. Thank God for my sweet husband!

So there are my top 5 tips or at least things that you need to keep in mind. Love every second of it. Ha! Or just survive. Isn't that all we can do?

And then there were four...

Welcome to the world, Charlotte Jean!

We became a family of four on November 5, 2013 at 12:21am when our sweet Charlotte Jean was born. She was 7lbs 10oz and 20 inches, also known as a big baby! We were told my whole pregnancy that she would be small but she proved them wrong! She is anything but small, she is a big and beautiful personality that has the lungs to let you know what she wants.

Here is Charlotte's birth story for those of you who like birth stories (because I love them!):

I had a doctor's appointment the morning of November 4th and the doctor had said I was only 4 cms and probably wouldn't go another week, but scheduled my induction for 11/12/2013 just "in case" which scared me because that meant a whole other week of being pregnant. I had been very uncomfortable and still was battling feeling nauseous and having major pain from a split pelvis. We came home and decided to call my mom to come over since she had several days off in a row and that way we would have someone here to watch Ella. My mom left work early and made the drive from Spokane.

I had a few pains and contractions, but nothing too exciting the rest of the day. Then my mom got here and things started to get more painful. After the contractions became closer together we decided to head in to the hospital. It was about 8pm and I was watching the Monday Night Football game of the Giants and Packers and was a little upset that I couldn't finish he game. Especially because Aaron Rogers got hurt so it was an interesting game!

We got the hospital and they admitted me. The contractions got stronger and I requested to sit in the bathtub the same as I did with Ella. I didn't want drugs and just wanted to go as natural as possible. It got harder and harder and I finally told Brad that I couldn't do it anymore. I felt like no one was listening to me as I was saying I couldn't do it...and then I started pushing without me even knowing it. The nurse semi-freaked out because I was still in the tub and they didn't want me to give birth in the tub so they pulled me out and I basically threw myself on the bed and started pushing. The doctor on call was Dr Fure. He is a very no-nonsense man and was taking his time. The nurses kept making me stop pushing because he wasn't ready. Finally after 15 minutes of pushing and stopping out came Charlotte perfectly red and screaming. She came out with her hand up by her head so it wasn't the most pleasant experience, but she was healthy and perfect! They have a new policy where the mom is the only one allowed to hold the baby for the first hour, so for an hour I sat holding my sweet baby as she cried and wiggled. I fed her and then they came in to give her a bath. She hated the bath. Poor thing!

We were then taken to the recovery room and it was very late/early in the morning I guess at this point! Not much sleep happened that first day. Brad went home about 5am and Charlotte and I were alone in the room. She didn't like to be put down so I held her all night. The nurses would come in and comment how perfect she was, that she was a great eater and had the most wonderful hair!

Finally the next day Ella came to meet her sister. She immediately knew it was her baby sister and wanted to hold her. Ella yelled at the nurse when she came in to take the baby's vitals and told her it was "my baby!". She held her and kissed her and then was ready to run around and get into everything in the room. Oh the life of a toddler!

We came home that Wednesday and had a nice quiet day with my mom here and Ella at daycare. When Ella got home she cuddled with me and her sister and wanted to touch and look at Charlotte. She shared her stuffed puppy and also shared her ability to cry like a baby too. Apparently when Charlotte cries Ella also needs to cry.

Well we are over a week as a family of four and it has been difficult but worth it. Charlotte is a sweet baby that is apparently a night owl who likes to make sure everyone else is awake too. Ella is having some jealousy issues but overall has been very good with her sister and with adjusting to not being an only child. So the new adventure begins!

Here are a few photos of our first week together:

Getting Ready for Baby #2

So...hi! I haven't written in a long time and life has gotten away from me. We are expecting baby #2 any day now. Like literally, any moment she can make her magical appearance and I'd be very happy to meet her! This pregnancy has been less than blissful which is why the very long and much overdue blogging break.

First off, I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness. I couldn't keep anything down including water or as everyone who thinks it is just an upset tummy would suggest saltine crackers. Nope. My body hated all things and I think I threw up about 100 times a day. I had to go in twice a week for fluid infusions and my arms looked like a drug addict. I also looked like hell as I was reminded on a daily basis by people. It got so extreme that my lovely daughter would go to her little potty and pretend to barf. She also would barf in her play bowls, and sinks. Yes. Daycare I'm sure thought it was lovely.

I had HG for about four months with nausea for the rest of the pregnancy. I still gained weight because if I was hungry I had to eat RIGHT AWAY or risk gagging for hours. It was awesome.

So getting past that, I am officially due on Halloween which is less than a week away. Hooray for maybe being almost done with this pregnancy! I haven't been able to use most shampoos, lotions, soaps, or deodorants with scents because they make me gag. Poor husband also has had to change his choice of fragranced items. I'm sure he is excited to finally use his giant bag of reject soaps that now lives on our back porch because I can smell them through the bag.

We are expecting another sweet little girl! Ella will be a sister and I can't be more excited for her! I always wanted a sister so I can't wait for her to have a built in friend for the rest of her life, or at least I hope so! Ella is a bit bossy so her little sister will need to fall in line quickly or else Ella will tell her what is up...poor thing!

We had photos done by Coates Photographer so here are a few of my favorites:

 

We also moved to a new house during all of this lovely barfing, so we are in a bigger house with more rooms and a lovely backyard! Very excited and exhausting for this pregnant lady. I feel blessed to have a lovely home and almost two lovely little girls!

 

So that's the update so far...more to come and hopefully some photos of a sweet little baby girl to be joining the family soon!

Chicken Quinoa Chili - Shhh don't tell the hubby!

I love making chili, and this past week the weather has been feeling like fall so I decided to make some chili using what I had on hand. It came out great, and with a few hidden ingredients that we will not tell the hubby about, it was also pretty good for you!

Here is my Chicken Quinoa Chili recipe:

Ingredients
1 tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves put through the garlic press
1 medium onion diced
1/4 cup finely chopped carrots (use a food processor to get 'em good and fine)
1 lb ground chicken
2 tbs tomato paste
2 tbs chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
2 cups chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 cup quinoa
1 can kidney beans

Directions
Heat the oil in a large soup pan. I use my spaghetti pan because I love how big it is! Add in the onions and cook until they are soft, then add the garlic and carrots and let cook for a few minutes until it really smells like garlic. Add in the chicken and cook on medium until the chicken is no longer pink. Now lower the heat a little and add in the tomato paste and spices and stir until it is combined. Add the broth and tomatoes and raise the heat until the mixture is boiling. Add in the quinoa and the kidney beans and let boil for 5 mins. Lower the heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes, but letting it go for 20-30 minutes is best because the quinoa soaks up the flavor and the chili gets good and thick just how I like it!

To serve top with cheese and sour cream and eat with chips or cornbread. You get some unexpected veggies with the carrots that I so sneakily (is that a word?) hid, some nice fiber with the beans, and of course all the goodness of the quinoa which dear hubby claims he hates but he gobbled up the chili anyway. Little baby girl also slurped up the chili so it is kid approved since I left out a lot of the heat that most chili has. If you want to knock your socks off you can add jalapeno and chili powder but we have a little one at home so we keep it tame.

I only got one photo before we ate it all...and so excuse the rubber ducky under the table! Ha!

 

Memory Lane: Reliving My Biggest Pregnancy Issue

I am quickly approaching the one year anniversary of becoming a mother! As it gets closer and closer I keep reliving all of the memories of pregnancy from the first positive test, four months of throwing up my insides, the first kicks, the waiting a week past her due date, and finally the fast and intense delivery. It was all wonderful. Well mostly wonderful, with the exception of what I like to call My Biggest Pregnancy Issue. It is the issue that shouldn't have been on my mind every time I went into the doctor to hear the heartbeat, receive the exciting handouts about what the baby was doing now, and to blissfully count down the days. It caused a deep depression, an obsession, and a black mark on my whole pregnancy. It was weight gain, and not that I alone obsessed about my growing butt or the clothes that got tighter, but that every. single. check up. I was told I was fat.

Yes I said it - fat. The midwife that I oh so delightfully had to have for months would look at my chart, cluck her tongue, shake her head and say "Honey, you are very overweight. Your baby will be a million pounds because you are fat." I think every woman out there, pregnant or not, just had their mouths drop to the floor. Yes I had gained a few too many pounds. In the end I had gained about five to six pounds over the "recommended" amount to gain, but according to this horrid excuse of a midwife I was a worthless blubber of a whale that was going to have to have my giant child ripped from my huge body.

Now after about five appointments where I would leave in tears and sit in the bathroom down the hall having myself a "fat" ugly cry, I finally told my sweet husband my issue. He didn't really understand because of course they would track my weight gain and be concerned if I was "over" the average, but at the same time he saw the "fat" ugly cry and suggested I complain. Here is the thing. When you are pregnant your whole body changes, and really it should be celebrated because you are creating a new life inside of you. Yes, I probably had one too many cookies, but give me a break. I threw up for four months straight and after that I should be allowed to eat an entire Girl Scout cookie factory. They ended up giving me a very sweet midwife who never once in the last few weeks of my pregnancy comment on my weight. She just delighted with me in the final days and praised me for my birth plan detail, my perseverance through the summer heat, and of course told me how I looked beautiful.

Here is the thing ladies, if anyone calls you fat while you are pregnant you need to punch them in the throat. Okay maybe not be so violent, but don't have yourself a "fat" ugly cry in the bathroom down the hall of the doctor office. Instead, thank them for their rude comment, tell your baby that you love them, and then have a donut. Yes, be healthy, but also enjoy yourself. It isn't worth letting some jerk make you feel like a whale. Plus, weight can come off and on. It is your body, not some freak of a midwife who needs some bedside manner classes.

Oh and guess what midwife from hades - I lost all of the weight plus five more and counting. You on the other hand will always be a horrible, horrible, ugly person.

One Sick Baby

Unfortunately Ella is sick. The doctor kindly told me that she isn't "too sick" but she is sick. She has a fever and upset tummy and one big case of the grumps. For the past week we have been sitting on the couch cuddling and sleeping. Her little cry and whimper breaking my heart.

How in the world do mothers handle this? I feel like I am totally unprepared to deal with it. I am extremely lucky because she has not been sick like this before, but that doesn't make it any better. Sometimes when she is crying and nothing makes her stop I just want to give her the world. By the world I mean a wet washcloth, clean diaper, hair brush, or whatever random item she clasps on to and won't let go. Yes, my child has slept with all of the above and also a wad of my hair she pulled out, a bag of Goldfish crackers, and a spoon. I don't know why she feels the need to hold on to an object while she feels sick, but she does. Very strange, but for some reason comforting.

All I have to say is that my heart goes out to mothers who have sick babies, and an extra prayer to those mothers who have "too sick" babies.

A rare not-crying photo of the patient

Our International Trip!

We decided to take Ella to Canada for our fourth anniversary. It was a great idea, until we realized that Ella is not really a calm baby anymore. She is a moving monster these days and her idea of fun is not being strapped into a carseat while we wait in the line at the border. She cried both ways across the border, but needless to say they let us back in!

While in Vancouver, Canada we went to the aquarium. I had visions on seeing whales since the website proudly boasted that they had whales. Well they did, but one of the smallest whales. Boo. Oh well, I still saw a whale!

When traveling with a small child I have learned a lot, especially because I have never traveled with a small child before! Here are my top 10's:

10. Don't forget the snacks - cheerios or puffs are a must!

9. It is okay to over pack because it is when you are down to your last onesie that there is always an accident. Always.

8. Squeeze babyfood packets are made by a genius and are a great quick meal on the go!

7. Always check online to see if there are restaurants that have kids menus because even if you don't plan on having your child eat the food there, childrens menus always mean highchairs. You would be surprised how maybe places don't have highchairs.

6. Plan to drive around aimlessly because your child has finally taken a nap and you don't want to stop the car. Just plan on it.

5. Even in other countries/states your child is adorable and people will want to talk to you. Just smile and be glad you have a cute baby, even though it is the millionth person who wants to talk to you!

4. Always back a non-noisy toy in your bag for when the baby gets bored. If you don't have a toy, plastic bags work well also but are not non-noise. Just an FYI.

3. Don't count on anything late night other than waking up with your baby screaming. This is a great time to bring a laptop or tablet so you can watch netflix or read the news. You will feel old. You are.

2. Hotel cribs are just fine, especially when it means you don't have to lug your travel crib everywhere. Bring a sheet they have slept on and they won't know the difference!

1. Expect to be late and not get as much done as you thought. Babies apparently don't understand that the dolphin show starts in five minutes, or that it is one in the morning and screaming is not really allowed.
After four wonderful years of marriage I still feel like a very lucky girl! My husband is an amazing father, partner, and provider. He also is accident prone, which is a new thing. In the past month he has be in a car accident that hurt his back and shoulder, fell down in a parking garage and hurt his wrist, and most recently hurt his toe while chasing Ella. Yikes! Despite his less than graceful self, I love him! In honor of our belated anniversary here are some wedding photos! I always love wedding photos!