Christmas 2011

We started celebrating Christmas a little early this year. Since Sarah and Brandon left on December 20th, we had Christmas here with my family on December 17th. We had good food, opened lots of great presents and met up with Raven and Jeremy for a movie afterwards. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a MUST SEE. After the movie, we all went by the Browns for a game night. We introduced Mafia to my family and they LOVED it. Good times. Amazing people. :)

On Christmas Eve, my dad joined us (and my mom/Brittany) for dinner. Jon made an amazing roast. I'm so jealous of his skills in the kitchen. Someday I'll be able to cook like him! Then the girls opened presents from my dad. Kennedy is one blessed little girl, let me tell you!

Christmas day, we all headed over to Chris and Rebecca's to celebrate with the Schultz side. We got to see their beautiful home and enjoyed each other's company. We laughed the whole time and girls were spoiled with more great gifts! I'm really looking forward to our Schultz Family Trip to the Dells in January!!

Today? Well we decided to sit back and enjoy each other. We played a lot of Kennedy's new board games multiple times and laughed A LOT. I love our little family. We had such an amazing Christmas with our family and friends. I know I say it all the time, but we are so blessed!!!!

Dream

I have been praying that I would have a dream about my grandma since she passed away March 15, 2010. It might seem weird, but I want to 'see' her one last time. Well early this morning I finally had that dream!!!!

My friend and I were in Hallmark together (fitting, since she used to work at Hallmark) looking at something in the front of the store. My grandma suddenly came up on the side of us to look at something. I spotted her short pixie hair and realized it was her immediately! I frantically started hugging and kissing her!!! I kept saying, "Is this real?! Is this a dream?! I hope this is real!!! I love you so much!!" She just kept smiling. But the strange part... I don't remember her speaking in my dream. She eventually just sort of disappeared.

I got what felt like, two minutes with her, but all I did was rejoice and love all over her the entire time. I've been REALLY missing her the last few days. The holidays just aren't the same without her. :'(

I'm excited to reunite with her in heaven... and I can imagine I'll be feeling somewhat like I did in my dream :')

Complete Opposites

Kennedy and Presley are already turning out to be complete opposites in many ways. Kennedy puked after each meal... and I'm not talking spit up. It was straight up smelly vomit. Presley never spits up/pukes. Kennedy never put anything in her mouth. Presley puts EVERYTHING she touches in her mouth. Kennedy scowled at people who weren't familiar. Presley welcomes strangers with a big smile. Kennedy went down for bed every night without a peep. Presley fights her sleep to the death.

Presley fighting her sleep is really starting to get old. Jon and I take turns every night popping her nuk back in her mouth. She wants it in, but her hands keep taking it out. I also noticed how often she tosses and turns when she goes down. Whether I rock her into a deep sleep or just put her down awake, she fights it! If anyone knows me at all, they know I'm not very welcoming of change. This is hard for me! I feel like I've done it all, but she still seems to have a hard time at night. Naps are completely fine. I don't even rock her and she crashes on her own. Presley is an easy baby who is happy 90% of the time. But that other 10% is a girl who is super high maintenance. I have no idea where that came from..... ;)

How do I fix this?! Or is it just a phase that will pass? Help!! :)

Catching Up

I feel like I'm always catching up on here. I really need to be a more disciplined blogger!

SO! Presley is over four months old now and is such a happy baby. She's been rolling over since two months old, sleeping through the night at three months, and likes to put her hands (and everything else) in her mouth. Kennedy wasn't like this at all and being the germaphobe that I am, it drives me INSANE. I spend most of my day gently pulling her hands away from her mouth... but apparently she doesn't get it! ;) I'm resorted to think she's teething because drool and insatiable gnawing seem to come with the territory. Kennedy didn't pop her first tooth until nine months old and I never detected any signs of teething. This little girl is very different already. I hope to see a tooth soon, so all of this craziness is worth something!

Kennedy is four-and-a-half going on 14. She's unbelievably smart... not only academically, but socially too. She's been able to detect Jon's sarcasm for a long time now, and isn't afraid to return the favor. She keeps us constantly laughing. There are times when her attitude is all in good fun, but can also verge on the side of sassy too. I have to be quick to correct her. Mama don't raise no sass mouth. ;) Other than her hilarious sense of humor, she has the biggest heart I've ever seen. She is so loving and continues to be the best thing in Presley's life. That baby is captivated by Kennedy. She knows just how to make Presley laugh and LOVES being her big sister. I'm so proud of her. She is turning out to be a really amazing kid.

Thanksgiving came and went in a flash. We hosted my side of the family again. My Dad, Aunt Susie, Aunt Mary, and cousin, Ashley, joined us too. There's never a dull moment when we all get together. It was a lot of fun!

We celebrated Christmas early this year because Sarah and Brandon had to leave right before the holidays. Their first stop was Virginia to spend some time with his side of the family. And then on January 2nd, they're off to Japan for the next three years. They were living upstairs with my mom and Brittany for three weeks leading up to their departure, and I'm so glad they had it worked out that way. We saw them every day, sometimes multiple times, and enjoyed every minute of it. Except when Sarah and I got into few arguments... but isn't that what sisters are for?! They left a few days ago for good. I know I'll see her this summer, but saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. We've never lived far from each other, so this is going to be quite an adjustment. I'm not worried about her at all though... Brandon takes very good care of her. I'm just sad I won't have my sister close by anymore. :(

Alright, enough of the tears... God allows everything to happen for a reason. I just need to suck it up now! ;)

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Family Pictures!

November 5, 2011

Moving Right Along...

I can't believe how bad I've become at blogging! Things have certainly changed around here. We now have a THREE MONTH old (tomorrow) and she is changing every single day. About three weeks ago, I decided to make a few changes to Presley's routine...

ONE: I hated co-sleeping with her. I don't disagree with people doing it, but I personally didn't care for it. I allowed for it to happen because I knew it was the only way to keep Presley sleeping (and to keep Mommy sane). NOW she sleeps on her own at night. She still wakes up once, but sometimes sleeps through the night too!

TWO: I eliminated the swing. I used to get 3-4 hour naps out of her in that thing. I knew from past experience that I needed to break the habit quick. So I brought it downstairs to the basement and pretended like I never owned one. I'm happy to report we both adjusted well. :)

She's growing so fast! At her 2.5 month check, she weighed 11lbs 2oz and was 23in long. She's starting to take longer naps and sleep a little longer at night as well. Also, I'm very thankful her tummy issues are gone. Rarely will she cry because of a stomach ache and praise the Lord for that. I felt terrible seeing her cry in pain!

Kennedy is doing AMAZING in school. Each day she grows more and more. I love hearing the teachers (on multiple occasions) tell me how kind and caring she is to the other students. Looks like we aren't doing half bad at this parenting thing! ;) Kennedy is still an amazing big sister too! She loves all over Presley and I enjoy seeing them play together. It's heartwarming watching Kennedy read to her and call her, "Little Sweetie". I LOVE being a mommy to these two girls!!

Life.Is.Good.

Bottle Time

I'll admit, I've been worrying in anticipation of returning to work and breastfeeding at the same time. How would I possibly pump enough supply for the times I'd be working? I thought it may be easier to give up and resort to the organic formula we made for Kennedy, but quickly realized that would just be plain STUPID. Breastfeeding has been PERFECT from the moment she was born. It's the best thing for her and it's free too! ...why would I want to stop that?! A few friends encouraged me to keep going as well. I didn't REALLY consider stopping, but the thought certainly crossed my mind. Then yesterday, after talking with a few co-workers, I knew I needed to introduce the bottle now so she can get used to it before I go back to work in October. Well... she did AWESOME!!! At first she just chewed the nipple and looked at me like I was nuts. After about a minute and a half, she sucked on it and realized she was getting something out of this foreign object. She finished 2oz quickly. I burped her and returned with another 2oz ten minutes later. She literally gagged on it. What was different?? I noticed this bag of milk was much more yellow in color and was from the very first time I pumped. Maybe it tasted different because it had the remnants of colostrum in it? Either way, I wasn't discouraged. Today, I fed her a second bottle. It was almost 5oz. I pump this much every time and figured this must be what she eats, right? Wrong. She ate close to 4oz and the rest went down the drain. WASTED LIQUID GOLD! At least it can be replaced at no cost. ;) From now on, she'll be getting at least one bottle each day so she doesn't forget.

HUGE victory for me... and Presley. It's time to start praying the rest of my worries away! Now we just have to conquer going down for bed/nap on her own and self-soothing with a pacifier. Stay tuned.

The Girls

I am TERRIBLE at keeping up with this blog! I suppose having a newborn attributes to that.

Presley is a little over one month old and boy, time is flying by! On one hand, it feels like she's been here for MONTHS, but on the other, it's moving along quickly. She still seems to be a gassy baby. Her tummy aches come and go, but usually hit in the late evening about every other day. It's so hard to see her in pain and know that I've tried everything to make her feel better - and nothing seems to work. I noticed early on that my boobs seems to comfort her though. Obviously they are used to nourish my child, but it's cool to see how comforting they are when she's in pain. The only downfall? My nipples feel like they are going to fall off by the end of the night. I wish I could get her to take a pacifier! It can be frustrating... I can be completely exhausted... but I quickly realize that 'this too shall pass'. I'm never frustrated with her, only the situation and the fact that I can't make it go away. Poor girl. But all-in-all, she is a SUPER EASY baby. Since day eight, she has only woken up once at night to feed. YAY FOR ME! She is such a little cuddle bug too. (My favorite.) I will admit that this stage is certainly my least favorite, but I'm still enjoying every minute of it. I cannot WAIT until she smiles on command. I was talking to her yesterday and I thought I got a half smile out of her. I was elated! I'm loving that she's focusing so much on things too, especially faces. She's such a little peanut!

Kennedy is an amazing big sister, by the way. She hugs and kisses her all the time and when she is around her friends, she 'shows' her off. It's very endearing. Often times, I find her down on Presley's activity mat with her, talking to her or reading to her. It melts my heart. Not only is she my little helper, but she really is a proud big sister. The other day I thought to myself, I LOVE saying 'the girls' whenever I reference our children. I'm still in awe that we have TWO kids! I'm so thankful for these two little blessings. I can't imagine life without them!!

Adjusting

Life has been very different for us the last eight days. We brought home Presley after only one day in the hospital. I felt great and decided I wanted to be in the comfort of my own home. It's been so wonderful ever since. Kennedy has taken her role as the big sister very seriously and is there to comfort and love all over her. I noticed that she also has become protective of her. If Presley is sleeping, Kennedy is the first to make sure she can breath easy and is safe. Well obviously Jon and I make sure she's good too, but it's adorable to see a four year old care so deeply for someone else. Kennedy is also very proud to show her off to everyone. It melts my heart.

Physically I feel GREAT! The fact that I didn't tear really sped up the healing process. At six days postpartum, I had already lost 20 of my 21 pounds gained in the pregnancy. I was pretty impressed! I owe it all to breastfeeding. Speaking of, Presley latched on right after birth and never looked back. She was a PRO right out of the womb. Total praise report, as I didn't have the same experience with Kennedy. My milk came in on day three and hasn't stopped flowing since. My new normal: a nursing tank and breast pads. I'm also still trying to figure out how to time her feedings around running errands. I forgot how tough that is! I can't just pick up and go anymore.

Presley had her six day check up with Dr. Claudia (the doctor who delivered her), and everything looked great! She was very impressed by Presley maintaining her weight and latching so well. I have to say, I'm one thankful Mommy!

Sleeping is optional after you have a baby right?! The truth is, I have never been one to sleep a lot, so the transition hasn't been hard at all for me. The only time it's difficult is when Presley is having a hard time passing gas and I can't do much about it. When this occurs, it can take hours for her to calm down. We have had a few nights where she's done great though and felt no discomfort. I get sleep and that makes for one happy mommy!

Jon has off the next two weeks and we're really looking forward to spending family time together. He already has a trip to the Blue Harbor Resort planned and maybe an outing to the zoo and Jump Zone too! Kennedy has been so wonderful, but I still want to make sure she knows that she hasn't been 'replaced' and that we'll always have time for her too. I started crying when I looked at her yesterday and told her I loved her a million times. She looked at me like I was nuts. I had over four fantastic years with her and I started to feel guilty for not taking the time I wanted with her this week. I have to realize that the baby is eight days old and things will increasing get easier. Presley will start sleeping longer and I'll have more free time with Kennedy.

Another thing that makes this time emotional for me is missing my grandma. It's tough knowing that she'll never stop by and hold her, kiss her... spend time with her. I had the BEST times with my grandma and I wanted the same for her and my children too. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew if she were a girl, I wanted to incorporate grandma's name into the baby's name. Mae is Presley's middle name, which is also my grandma's middle name. They also have the same initials. PMS. Poor girl. But after a friend suggested that name I fell in LOVE with it. Hopefully she won't be teased too much. :)

Life is good and we couldn't be more thankful for everything He has provided us with!!

Presley's Birth Story

Preface

Our daughter Kennedy was not born naturally. In fact, I was induced, because I had hypertension. Contractions were ridiculously painful with Pitocin, so I got the epidural shortly after. I decided that things were going to be different the second time around. I took amazing care of myself while pregnant with Presley and only gained 21 pounds. (I gained 39 with Kennedy and didn't take care of myself at all.) Jon and I took Bradley classes and prepared ourselves for a natural birth. It was the ONLY way I wanted it. I believe those classes, along with the knowledge of my awesome friends, really equipped us for the challenge. I also found the most AMAZING doctor in town who believed and supported everything I wanted. We were ready to have this little girl!


Presley's Birth Story

The last week and a half of this pregnancy were the toughest for me. Physically I felt fine, but the anticipation of her arrival was KILLING me. I went in on August 1st for my 38 week check up. I wasn't going to have her check me, but decided I wanted to know if any progress had been made. I was 2-3cm and 70% effaced. While she was in there, she asked if I wanted my membranes swept. I replied, "Sure?". It HURT, but I knew if this worked, I might have the baby sooner. She was extremely hopeful. I went home and cleaned like a mad woman... just in case baby decided to arrive that night. I had many contractions, most of which were 5-6 minutes apart for quite awhile. I went to bed and they stopped. Then Braxton Hicks contractions were prevalent over the next few days, which did nothing but irritate me. I kept thinking, stop teasing me... either stay in or come out already! Finally by August 6th, after much prayer, I had peace about everything. I knew God's hand was in every single detail of this, and I didn't need to worry at all.

August 11, 2011

I woke up and realized I was still pregnant. It's funny, even with the peace I had, I still woke up every morning and thought, if I stand, will my water break?? Well it didn't. I felt great physically and went to the zoo that morning with Raven, the boys, Amy and Eden. We just finished our lunch when my doctor's MA called me. She wanted to know if I were interested in going in that day, because she had to cancel my appointment a few days prior. I asked her what she could do besides tell me I'm still pregnant. She suggested sweeping my membranes again and I immediately replied, "I'll be right there!". Forty five minutes later, Dr. Claudia told me I was 3cm and 80% effaced. She swept my membranes and exclaimed, "Let's have a baby tonight!!". (I love her.)

I went home and did some last minute things around the house. Around 5pm, I started feeling contractions. Because I had been 'teased' before, Jon, Kennedy and I decided to run to Target for a few things. My contractions started becoming more intense, causing me to stop and lean on something in the aisles. We hurried home and I started logging my contractions in my phone. The were coming anywhere between 2-7 minutes apart. Our plan all along was to go to the hospital when they were consistently four minutes apart, lasting for one minute, for an entire hour. I called Sarahbeth to come over just before 10pm. I breathed through every contraction, mostly done standing up, leaned over the counter and rocking back and forth. It was the most comfortable position I could find. Contractions continued to intensify and were 4-5 minutes apart when I called Dr. Claudia at midnight. She told me we should start making our way to the hospital. I told her we'd meet her at 1am. Brittany came downstairs to sleep on the couch while Kennedy continued to sleep. We all caravanned to Columbia St. Mary's Ozaukee. Behind us was Sarahbeth in her van, my mom in her car and Sam in hers (who jumped in line on the freeway). Jon called it my entourage. Contractions were intense the entire 35 minute drive. I started making low-tone noises as I breathed through each one.

August 12, 2011

We arrived at the hospital at 1:15am. I preregistered that morning and Dr. Claudia told them I was on my way, so it was nice to be greeted by name and taken to my room immediately. They had a copy of my birth plan in my chart and knew I didn't want to be checked or continuously monitored right off the bat. Apparently the nurse read over that part and told me she needed 30 minutes of fetal monitoring for my chart. I was irritated, but because she told me I could stand through the contractions, I obliged. Sam acted as my doula and was ready to throw down for me. I told her it wasn't worth it and that I'd give her what she needed. But after a few contractions and baby not cooperating, I told the nurse to take me off the monitors. I knew the baby was fine and explained to her that if it's going to take another three hours to get the 'numbers' she needed, it was unnecessary. She was NOT happy and decided to call my doctor. All of us rolled our eyes when she left the room. What WOULD she do if I couldn't be continuously monitored?! Nurses and their protocol. Boo.

She returned after speaking with Dr. Claudia and told me she wanted the nurse to check me. I hesitated, but thought if that's what doctor wants, I'll do it. I was happy to find out I was at 5cm. I HAD made progress that night. The nurse left the room and went two doors down to set up the birthing tub for me. During this time, I was leaned over a table, rocking back and forth and moaning through each contraction. They started coming closer together and of course, intensifying each time. After 20 long minutes, the tub was ready for me. We walked down the hall and I got in. I remember saying, "NO WONDER WOMEN BIRTH IN WATER! IT'S AMAZING!!". It felt so much better to contract in water. By this time it was about 2:40am. Dr. Claudia and Raven (my cute little photographer) arrived and greeted me. The contractions were on top of each other at this point and I could barely open my eyes. I needed to stay focused. Sam and Sarahbeth were both encouraging me and at one point, holding me up so I didn't have to lean back on the hard plastic tub. Their support, both physically and emotionally was so very appreciated and was just what I needed! Jon stayed back in the shadows, feeling like the girls really had it covered.

At 3:05am (25 minutes later), Dr. Claudia could tell I was in transition by the inflection in my voice and pressure I told her I was feeling. She told me to push a little if my body was telling me to do so. I was scared though! She also asked me if I wanted to reach down and feel the head. I turned down the offer. For some reason, that was too weird for me! She then told us that I was going to have this baby within the next 20 minutes. Because of hospital rules, I was not allowed to birth in the tub. She felt terrible making me get out and onto the bed, but knew she had to follow their rules. Jon said as I was getting out of the tub, he could see Presley crowning! Rather than make me go back to our room, Dr. Claudia told me to get on the bed next to the tub. She calmly called out for the nurses, "We're going to have a baby in here, I need some instruments!" The room wasn't set up for me to give birth because I was supposed to deliver in my original room. It was very dim and the atmosphere relatively calm. Jon was at my head encouraging me as I was on my hands and knees. I felt like pushing a little and heard a pop followed by a rush of water that broke all over the bed/floor. I apologized because I felt bad for getting anyone wet! Everyone laughed and told me not to worry! The girls lifted up the head of the bed and I clutched the top, still on my hands and knees. At 3:13am, I pushed (and was very loud about it) and her head came out. Five seconds later, I pushed again and the rest of her appeared!! The pain was instantly gone and I was elated! I exclaimed, "Is she still a girl?!" Dr. Claudia opened her legs and said, "YES!". I turned onto my back and she put her skin to skin to keep her warm. One nurse was frantic. She didn't have the warmer ready and said the baby was too cold to stay on me. Funny because her temperature was the same as mine: a warm 97 degrees. We decided she was staying on me. Boo ya, nurse Barb.

Dr. Claudia did the exam with her on my chest while Presley was still attached to the placenta. Jon cut the cord when it stopped pulsating. Presley latched on within 20-30 minutes after she was born and nursed on both sides. The entire birthing process was a DREAM. It was everything I had been praying for and MORE. The Lord had His hand in every single detail of the process and I was so overjoyed! All I could do was praise Him and cry. Dr. Claudia then delivered more good news. I didn't tear at all! I exclaimed, "PRAISE GOD!!". I was in awe of Him. I walked down to my original room and took a few pictures with everyone. Everyone left by 5am and Jon and I had this cute little girl to stare at. It was surreal. I had the EXACT labor/delivery I wanted and it felt so good!!


Now that I've experienced two very different birthing processes, I often wonder why women don't do more research when it comes to having a baby. Most hospitals and doctors make it seem like women can't handle child birth without drugs. Because I had Pitocin with Kennedy, I believe it's hard to overcome the medicine and still have a natural birth. But with an unaugmented birth, women CAN get through labor/delivery without medication. Your body knows when to contract, how often it should and how intense they come. It's what our bodies are MADE to do. I chose to take care of myself with this pregnancy because I didn't want to give the doctors any reason to believe I needed to labor before my body was ready to labor. I wanted her to come naturally when she was good and ready. I'm so glad we chose to do the research. I got to find out how easy it really is to give birth naturally. I'm not saying it was pain free, but it was SO BEARABLE!! I learned many techniques that helped me breath through each contraction. Of course I give all credit where credit is due... the Lord helped me through every step of the way. I'm so thankful for Him and thankful for the lovely family he has blessed us with!!

Presley Mae Schultz
August 12, 2011 at 3:13am
7lbs 8oz. 20in long

39 Weeks!

We're so excited to meet this little girl!!!!

38 Weeks!

Yesterday marked my 38th week in this pregnancy. It's been a wonderful pregnancy too! Despite the nausea early on until about the 18th week, there have been no backaches, swelling, blood pressure issues, or numbing. Quite the opposite of my pregnancy with Kennedy, actually. But I also gained 39lbs with her, on TOP of being overweight. I've only gained 15 lbs so far with this little girl and I'm very proud of myself for that. I weigh in on Monday... we'll see if I gained anymore the last week! (It hasn't been my proudest week of eating, let me tell you.)

I started feeling anxious about getting her out about five days ago. Not because I'm uncomfortable, I'm just excited to meet her! And a small part of me would love not having this big belly anymore too... oh and the constant peeing... that would be nice to get rid of as well. ;) I'm also anxious to see what her birth story is going to be like! Will my water break first or will contractions start right away? Morning or night? Short or long labor? We have everything ready for her arrival, now it's just a matter of waiting on the Lord. He knows when she'll be here and how she'll manage her way out of the womb. It's exciting to think about!! But also a tad scary. We're starting over, after four AMAZING years with Kennedy. I hope I remember what to do and how to care for a newborn!

Until then, I will enjoy my nights of uninterrupted sleep. :)

Blessings

On Saturday, my family and friends threw me a baby sprinkle... 'pump'ing me up for baby. They all went in on an amazing Medela breast pump and gave me $150 to spend on whatever else for baby. I had everyone I love surrounding me. We ate, chatted, they gave me advice on breastfeeding (since it didn't work so well for Kennedy) and prayed over me. I'm one blessed mommy. Thank you to all of the amazing women in my life who made me feel so incredibly special. I love you all VERY MUCH! :)

On a side note... I cannot stress how GREAT God is. I was thinking about the things we still needed for the baby and the time off I'd be taking from work... how was it going to work financially? I worried even though I know I'm not supposed to. Then this money from the ladies came in, which was totally unexpected. I did know about the pump, but either way, it really didn't matter to me. Turns out, the girls were even surprised by the love offering I received! -- above and beyond the pump. I thought to myself, this was the Lord showing himself true yet again. He was telling me, listen, I will always take care of my children. And reminding me not to lean on my own understanding. I think our flesh wants to do everything on our own and we forget to lean on HIM! I pray that the Lord would increase my faith daily. Less of me... more of Him.

Thank you again, ladies, for making my night so special. Even the ones who couldn't make it... I love you all!!

The picture above was my seat for the night. I love my friends, they're so awesome :)

Pressure

I went for my early morning walk and noticed that there was much more pressure 'down there' than normal. Usually this is the case at the END of my walks (and then it goes away), but this time it didn't stop and hasn't all morning. I'm not sure what this means. Obviously the baby is head down and ready to go, but why would the pressure be greater TODAY? I'm not counting on her being early, but it would be a nice surprise if she were! Not this early though... I still have three weeks and two days left! If she can hang in there another two weeks AT LEAST, I'd be happy. I've really pushed myself the last few weeks to get things done around the house and to just stay active... I didn't think that taking a break should probably be a necessary thing. I am 37 weeks pregnant, after all!

I guess that means I'm going to take it easy today!

Progress Makes Perfect

THE BASEMENT IS DONE!

I spent a couple of hours here and there the last few days and finally finished what I've been wanting to attack for months now. Instead of just going through the baby stuff, I decided to go through EVERYTHING. I got into every single Rubbermaid container and rearranged, relabeled and reorganized everything. I was able to donate three bags of baby things to a friend and throw out a bunch of other stuff. We got the swing and bouncer cleaned and it's now upstairs, ready for baby. Jon also organized some of his things and cleaned the inside of our washer for me. (It was dirty.) Front loaders can collect some grime, let me tell you! He took a load of crap to the dump last night too. Have I said how much I love when he's motivated?! I've been trying to get him to hop on the 'nesting' wagon for a few days now, so it got me SUPER excited to see him make progress. All he has left downstairs are a few boxes of his to rummage through and it'll really be completed.

After going through all of Kennedy's things, I realized I needed to purchase more than I would have liked. The seasons are a bit off when it comes to the clothing, so although I can use a lot of Kennedy's things, most I just can't. So I know I'll be needing a few 0-3 month outfits here and there for baby and a few other things. Like a baby tub, diapers/wipes, baby body wash/lotion, a changing pad and cover for the changing table, diaper bag and a co-sleeper. Hopefully I'll be able to purchase everything before she comes within the next three weeks. If not, I know we'll make it work. Although I will need diapers and wipes, either way.

My due date is in THREE WEEKS AND TWO DAYS! Crazy how quickly this pregnancy has gone!! We can't wait to meet our little girl! :)

Baby Clothes!

I've washed a total of three loads so far, all consisting of 0-6 month clothing and blankets/hooded towels/washcloths. I forgot how small Kennedy used to be! 3.5 weeks to go... I'm getting excited! :)

Preparing for Baby

For many weeks now, we've been doing little things here and there to prepare for baby. I still have an unbelievable amount to accomplish (or what feels like it) but we are on our way!

I've wanted to finish our office pretty much since we moved here - a year and a half ago... but paint was holding me back. I was unsure of which color to go with and too afraid to jump right in. So two weeks ago I just said forget it, let's go to Home Depot. I picked up a sample of yellow I thought I'd like, but then spotted a really pretty grayish green in a Behr pamphlet. I got home and the yellow looked like baby poop in our lighting. We didn't even put it on the wall, just decided to toss it. But I fell in LOVE with the grayish green color, called Scotland Road. Jon really liked it too! We spent the next hour taping off the room and picked up a gallon of Scotland Road the next morning. I had a short window of time (Kennedy had school for three hours) so I wanted to make sure it was completed before she came back. I had the room painted - top to bottom - in 1.5 hours. Not too bad for a preggo! It looked amazing too! We put up the new window treatment and what a big difference it was!

Next step? Putting together my scrapbooking desk I had sitting in boxes for over a year! Within a few days, it was set up, the top portion attached to the wall/drawers and filled with all of my stuff! This made me most excited. FINALLY... an area for me to do what I love and be able to leave out unfinished pages if necessary. It turned out GREAT too!

Thanks to my wonderful husband, our office was complete!!

A few days later, we had baby's crib put together and in Kennedy's room where they will share :) It looks awesome. We have the bedding, now I just need to pick up a mattress.

NEXT BIG PROJECT: Clean out and rearrange basement. Bring up all baby items we'll need and wash all of the 0-6 month baby clothes. I already have the special detergent... now I just need to set aside the time to go through it all. Not sure if all of this is considered 'nesting' as I am a little crazy already about things, but so glad it's getting done. I feel extremely accomplished.

Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Link!

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a wedding. The weather was just perfect outside and we were all excited to get the day started.

Hair was done by the lovely Stacy Schnurer at her salon 'The Chop Shop'. She made us all look stunning! Then we headed to the church to do makeup and get dressed. 3pm came fast and we were anxiously anticipating the walk down the aisle. I have to say, it didn't hit me that she was REALLY getting married until right before the music started and the doors opened. Brittany went first, then Giulia, and then Kennedy and I. She wanted to walk beside me while I held her basket and she threw the pedals. We got ten feet down the aisle and she looked up for the first time and almost dropped to her knees. SHE'S SO SHY. I told her she was doing a great job and not to look up... to just keep throwing pedals baby! She finished off the aisle and did an amazing job at that! I went up to my spot next to the girls and watched for Sarah. I didn't think I was going to cry... until the doors opened again and she came out. I couldn't hold it back. She was so beautiful... my little sister... a BRIDE. I was a proud big sister :)

The vows, exchanging of the rings, the sand, and a song... When I Said I Do... by Jeremy and I. It went well, I gave him a modest high five and walked back to my spot next to the bride. We prayed and they were announced husband and wife. WOOOOO HOOOOO!! They were married... it was official!! After ALL of the crazy wedding planning, they were finally married. Pictures at the church with family, pictures at the park and onto Potowatomi.

The reception was beautiful! She had it on the 2nd floor in the Tribal Room. And what a gorgeous room it was. Very cool and cozy. We prayed before dinner, his dad (the best man) said his speech and then it was my turn. I had nothing planned (so unlike me) but decided that I like it better on the receiving end when I hear a best man or maid of honor just speak from the heart. It was short, sweet and to the point... highlighting that we had a love/hate relationship growing up, got very close the last seven years and how hard it was for me to let go of my baby sister. I told her to call me anytime day or night in Japan... that I'm always there for her no matter what. She cried, I choked up and we hugged and kissed. Then we raised our glasses in a toast to the bride and groom!

Dinner was good and the cupcakes/canolis were even better! Then their first dance as husband and wife, father/daughter dance and some moving and shaking on the floor. By 9 o'clock, this mommy of one and 36 weeks pregnant with the second, was POOPED! I sent her friends with the supplies I had to decorate their hotel room at Hotel Metro and left with Jon and Kennedy.

In the end, with all the crazy planning, details lacking, drama-filled, laid-back (missing the bride gene) sister... the day turned out just perfect. Sarah and Brandon were married and starting their lives together as one. I couldn't be happier for them ....now onto babies... in THREE YEARS PLEASE - after Japan!

I love you both and congratulations again!! :)

Maternity Pictures

Raven did a wonderful job capturing our emotions in each shot. I am 35 weeks today, but these were taken at 34 weeks. Here are just a few...

We are so blessed :)

Great Vacation

We were shopping at Walmart here. They had fun hanging out in the cart together!

Another one taken with my phone... I hate that it's a bit blurry, but Kennedy and Grace were so cute hanging out in bed coloring together!

One of my MANY finished pages. This was a favorite of mine. Thanks Sheena, the flowers are adorable!!

Kennedy and I drove down to Missouri last week to visit the Searcys. I really did have a good time, but for some reason, had a hard time just relaxing. Don't get me wrong, I did a lot of sitting, but often times, wasn't 'relaxed'. I was homesick... all I wanted to do was clean and be back in my everyday routine. I fought Sheena to let me do the dishes a few times so I could feel at home again! I hereby deem myself the WORST vacationer EVER.

Other than that though, we had a blast! Kennedy, Ethan, Grace and Taylor played extremely well together. They had their share of fights, tattle tailing and fits, but that's all expected. We visited them last summer and I really felt like the kids picked up where they left off. It was so cute seeing them play together.

I, on the other hand, came for one reason and one reason only. Ok, two reasons. I wanted to spend time with the Searcys and I wanted to scrapbook all week long. I did both and we had a lot of fun together. It was Sheena's personal goal to get me completely caught up with Kennedy's albums so I could just focus on Presley when she is born. I didn't COMPLETELY catch up, but I got sooooo much done. And I owe it all to her. She motivated me the entire week by setting daily goals for me. I never met them, but I came close! I told her I really was thankful for her nagging, even if I didn't seem like it in the moment. :)

I very thankful for the friendship I have with Zack and Sheena... and glad they live within driving distance now! Eight hours wasn't as bad of a drive as I anticipated. Can't wait to see them again!

4 year pics of Kennedy

Sarah's Bridal Shower!

It was a low-key sort of shower... very intimate, no weird games, and a beautiful bride excited for her upcoming nuptials. There was family, friends, food and laughter. Nothing better than that! Plus a few gifts to top it off ;) And what a gorgeous day it was... perfect for a shower. Mom, Brit and I decided on the Cudahy Public Library for the venue. They have a beautiful room they rent and reading is Sarah's favorite thing to do. It just made sense. About half way through the shower, Sarah presented me with my 'maid-of-honor' gift early... a Coach purse! I jokingly said I wanted a purse a few months back so she and Brandon went out and bought it for me. It's ridiculous how generous they are! Although they did tell me this was payment for everything I'm going to be doing for their wedding... too funny.

All-in-all I'd say we threw a very successful bridal shower. Sarah really had a good time and that's all that matters. Now onto the FUN part... bachelorette party next month! We'll see how a 35 week preggo can handle THAT fun task ;)

Sarah and Brandon - Engagement Pictures!

Last Wednesday, we headed down to the lake and then to Grant park for Sarah and Brandon's engagement photo shoot. It was great spending time with both of them. Because he lives so far and works crazy hours, I don't get to really ever see him. We laughed a LOT. Kennedy also had a blast. It was her first time down by the lake, so she kept herself busy by throwing tons of rocks into the water. She was pretty cute. She and Brandon became best buds pretty quickly too. That was sweet to see :)

I'm so happy they wanted ME to capture these sweet moments of them together. I'm excited for the wedding!!! Who thought I'd EVER say that?! Yes, it's been a very difficult road letting my sister go, but I know she's in good hands. I love you both very much... July 15th is coming quickly!!!!

Meet Our New Neighbors!!

We've lived in our house for a year and a half now, renting the lower of a duplex and we absolutely love it here! It's a great area, spacious, very nice living space, and includes a HUGE backyard too! There's only one problem... our upstairs neighbors. They aren't HORRIBLE by any means, but let's just say we never clicked as well as I could've hoped. I got to the point of almost hating them when I realized I shouldn't harbor hate/bitterness for anyone. I prayed that I would love them and in the meantime they find another place they like better. Just when I thought the situation could become hopeless and we were stuck with them forever, I got the best piece of news EVER a few days ago. They announced that they were moving!!! Of course the first thing out of my mouth was, PRAISE THE LORD. It's been so hard for me to look past their faults and love them anyway, but because of my obedience I really feel like I'm being blessed in this situation. Makes me think of James 1:2-4. I'm glad I was able to persevere through this trial.

After he told me they were moving my immediate thought was, I need to call my mom. Her and I always joked that it would be so wonderful if her and Brit lived upstairs. I know she wants to be back in Cudahy, closer to work again, but I wasn't sure if she'd want to make another move so shortly after settling in Oak Creek. After all, she's only been there a little over a year and a half and is still in a lease. I called and told her the exciting news and then had her call Verna, our landlord who was more than happy and actually excited to rent to my mom. They chatted for a bit and really hit it off! My mom came and looked at the unit, they discussed a few changes before moving in, and WAH LA! Come August 1st, my mom and Brit will be living above us!!! It all happened so fast and I'm still in disbelief, but again, so thankful for these awesome changes about to take place!! My mom is nervous for another move so shortly after my sister's wedding and right before our little girl is born, but I'm certain things will work out just fine.

Yay for being obedient, moving neighbors and our new neighbors - my mom and sister! :) Love you guys!

What a WONDERFUL Weekend!

About twice a year, my friends and I get to go on a weekend getaway -- courtesy of our AMAZING HUSBANDS!! And what do we do on these awesome trips?? Scrapbook!! Yes, it's true, we're pretty dorky... but I LOVE IT! A woman owns a craft house in Madison that holds 24 people and boasts a HUGE workroom for everyone to enjoy their crafts. We eat, sleep and scrap for 48 hours and it is WONDERFUL. Because I don't scrap at home like I should be doing, I take this time to get myself caught up. (Sad, I know.) I'll scrap recent things in Kennedy's life, but I could also go back two years and see events that were untouched. YIKES! But truly the best part of the weekend is just being with my amazing friends. Last weekend Raven, Sarahbeth, Kim, Julie and Heidi joined me and we had a blast. I laughed so hard Saturday night, I nearly peed my pants. I mean the kind of laughing where your stomach hurts! Normally Sheena and a few others will join us too, but unfortunately didn't work out this time. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT TIME!

Since I've been home, I've actually continued to scrap! I left there inspired, motivated, and with the realization that if I don't catch up now, I'll NEVER get caught up when the baby comes! In a little less than 11 weeks, we're going to have a newborn in our home! You know what that means... no more 'me' time. I don't mean for that to sound selfish either, it'll just be an adjustment for all of us. We're used to things being quite easy around here with a four year old! Our life is going to dramatically change... for the better of course :)

Can't wait to see what God has in store for us on this awesome ride! Now back to scrapping...

Birthday Celebration!

Rather than go all out with a party theme, bounce house and 40-some people, we decided to keep her birthday low-key this year. After all, does a child really NEED a blow out bash every year?? Umm, no. But I had to convince myself that! After her big party last year and about $500 later, I promised myself there wouldn't be a big party for #4. Jon had to help me stick to my guns, as I was starting to crumble a few months prior to her birthday.

May is always an iffy month when it comes to the weather and since it hasn't been all that great every year for her birthday, we thought it would be better our 'party' commence inside. Sure enough, the weather was awful, but our 11 family members enjoyed our grilled food on their laps, on the inside of our cozy home. Sheena was actually in town to work for Dr. Brown, so it was great having her here too! One, because she's a wonderful friend of ours and a perfect little helper... and two, because she has some mad cake skills. Yes, I totally took advantage of my friend while she was here. ;) After hours of hard work, the cake was finished and it was everything Kennedy had requested. White cake with chocolate fudge (well, chocolate buttercream) on the inside and stripes on the outside. She LOVED it!! She even helped us at the end with some decorating!

Her birthday was just perfect. Both families together, enjoying our time with each other. Kennedy got some pretty special presents too... she is such a blessed little girl :)

Happy 4th Birthday Kennedy!!

Yesterday marked a special day in Kennedy's life. She turned FOUR! Well I guess birthdays aren't that big of a deal, but we were all pretty excited to celebrate this milestone nonetheless!

Kennedy and I started off our day with haircuts. I was way overdue and she needed a trim badly! Besides working at a salon, our friend Stacy cuts hair on the side in her home. She watches her 2yr old niece, Kaya, as well, so she and Kennedy got to play in between her haircut. They always have fun together!

After that, we met up with Kim, Raven and Sarahbeth (and all the kiddos) for a picnic in the park! It was a little chilly, but still enjoyable. After we all finished our lunches, the kids were ready to play! But as we were walking towards the play area it started to rain. We were hoping it would stop, but it quickly turned into a major downpour. We all decided to make a run for the car! I'm sure we looked crazy running for shelter, and on the way, Kennedy was sobbing. We got into the car and I asked her what was wrong. She replied, "We didn't get to play!!! ...and now I'm wet!!" Poor girl. All she wanted to do was play with her friends on her birthday :( Sarahbeth opened up her house, so we headed over there to finish our play date.

In the meantime, Jon returned from work and started putting together one of Kennedy's special surprises. A life size doll house! Last year when my grandma passed away, she left money in two different investments for Kennedy. One was a very substantial amount, which we turned into more investments, and the other was a very small amount. I FINALLY dealt with the smaller one just a month ago handing in the correct forms they had been begging for, and the financial institute cut us a check for Kennedy. Being that it wasn't much and her other account would take care of her college PLUS, we decided to get her a very special birthday gift from Grandma Patty. Kennedy had been asking for a doll house for a while now but we knew we couldn't financially provide that for her. I took part of the money from grandma and made it happen. We read all the reviews online and decided this particular one, although more expensive than the majority, was made the best and even came fully furnished! We tried so hard to have Kennedy wait patiently while Jon hid out in the bedroom piecing this thing together, but after an hour of waiting, she started to grow weary. We finally gave in and showed her before it was completed. When she opened her eyes, she was in awe. What a special gift we could give to a special little girl :)

After it was completed, I watched her play and interact with her 'dollies'. It was very nostalgic for me! When I was about her age, my grandma bought me a Barbie 'condo', complete with the most amazing furnishings and Corvette I could have ever asked for. Yes, I was spoiled. I can admit that... now let's move on. ;) I remember dressing my Barbies and playing with them for hours. I have very fond memories of the time spent at my grandma's house. I'm so thankful that those memories can never be taken from me. I miss her so much...

...wiping the tears...

Back to Kennedy's birthday. After dinner, we went to Kopp's for a scoop of deliciousness. We sat by the waterfall for a few minutes and then moved Kennedy's 'shivering' body to the car to finish our treat. It was so nice hanging out together, just the three of us. Sometimes it's just the little things :)

All-in-all it was a wonderful day with our family celebrating Kennedy's birthday. She had a great time and was very surprised by her doll house (which she's playing with now, as I write). I still cannot believe she's four. Time slips right by us sometimes. I pray that we never take her or the time with her, for granted. I love her sooooooo much!!!!! :)

Creative Cat

Kennedy is very good at any arts and crafts she puts her mind to. Whether it's coloring, painting, or simply putting crafts together, she enjoys every minute of it. I've learned to nurture her creative side very young, so we often do a lot of projects together. Just yesterday, we painted by numbers (one of her all time favorite things to do). I purchased a wooden shadowbox castle for her birthday, and of course, got excited and handed it to her three days early! She LOVED it! I did help her with the big areas, such as the grass, but she did the majority of it by herself. It's so fun to see her accomplish tasks/projects on her own. She's very proud! (The good proud, not the bad proud. Haha!) Her preschool teacher, Miss Dawn, once told me that Kennedy does not like to stop painting until it is PERFECT. I have no clue where she got that from?! ;)

I can't wait for more fun projects in the future!!

Goals

I have many goals I set for Kennedy in my head that I think would nice to be accomplished by a certain age... reading, writing, riding a bike without training wheels... and another one I considered a few months ago. I thought to myself, 'it would be nice if she could shower by herself by her 4th birthday'. We didn't really 'work' on this one because she was eager to learn. Kennedy is a VERY independent child, so the idea of washing her hair/body by herself was a pretty cool thing to her. I still help lather her hair, but she does the rest! Here's my disclaimer: I don't believe in pushing your children when they aren't ready, or having unrealistic expectations placed on them. But I do think it's good to encourage them! I work with her on things so she can excel and take it to whatever level she wants. For example, she can write her name by herself. It's legible, but needs TONS of improving. So we'll practice our letters together. I never push her though, because I can recognize when she's frustrated and needs to stop. I also read to her everyday. Just a few days ago, I saw her pick up a book and almost read it verbatim. She obviously memorized it, but this wasn't the first time I've seen that. Memorizing words is how reading begins! Besides working with Kennedy at home, I give TONS of credit to her preschool for all of her accomplishments. They truly believe in learning by DOING, interacting, playing... not just sitting them down in front of a book and worksheet. We're so lucky to have found Loving Start Preschool!

I can't believe she's going to be FOUR in just two days. Where does the time go?! :( I know we can't stop her from growing (even though we ask her if she can all the time), so I choose to enjoy every single day with her, not taking anything for granted. I look forward to many more milestones/accomplishments with her and the same for baby girl #2 as well!

25 Weeks

Saturday marked 25 weeks for me and pregnancy feels a lot different this time. I don't seem to be OR LOOK as uncomfortable as the first time. I gained a lot of weight with Kennedy and by 30 weeks was already swollen and extremely uncomfortable, so I've been really trying to watch it with this little one. I could do better though. I still need to exercise DAILY and make better food choices, but overall, it's a much better pregnancy. Also, my hair seems thicker and my face is SO MUCH clearer than the first pregnancy. I'm thankful for all of these things. And as long as I do my part, I know I'm going to have the labor/delivery I've been working towards... completely natural!

Speaking of natural labor... our Bradley classes ended yesterday and I'll admit, I'm a little sad. It was fun hanging out with Jon every Monday night and discussing what we want in my labor/delivery. We joked that we should tell my mom the classes haven't finished and keep Monday nights open for date nights! Ha! ;) But anyway, Coral Slavin was a wonderful teacher and JAM PACKED us with awesome information. I actually had a dream two nights ago about having this little girl. It was everything I wanted. I handled every single contraction like a pro, utilizing my relaxation techniques taught in our classes and the baby came quickly! Obviously contractions won't be pain-free, but I know that they'll be easier to take because I know how to control my body and relax. With Kennedy, I was induced. It's extremely hard to relax when your body isn't naturally contracting. As Coral said, I didn't even have a chance. So this time around, I'll be laboring at home for as long as possible. 4-1-1 is the rule. When my contractions are 4 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, consistently for 1 hour, we'll make the trek to Columbia St. Mary's in Ozaukee. Did I mention I have the best doctor in town?? Claudia Koch comes HIGHLY rated and pushes the boundaries when it comes to birth. Her mother was a midwife in Germany so Claudia knows exactly what a woman's body can do when it needs to do it. I have so much confidence in her. Now I just need to get me a good doula and I'm ready for anything!

I've been eager to get my hands on the containers downstairs for a while now. I kept everything of Kennedy's since birth, so it'll be nice to go through all of our things again and decide what we'll need right away and what can wait. One of these Saturdays I'll start going through it all and washing the 0-3 month clothes. Then we'll put the baby's crib together. Right now it's sitting in the box in our hallway. Can't wait to see what it looks like all set up in Kennedy's room! I'm getting more and more excited everyday!!

Picture: Cute preggos. This was taken at Marie's shower on Saturday, April 30th. Raven is 12 weeks, I'm 25 weeks and Marie is just shy of 31 weeks.