Some friends from church and MOPS invited us out for a playdate at their ranch yesterday. Eleanor and Avery were very excited to see the new baby horses that had been born just a day before.
Ella pushed this shopping cart all the way out to the barn... And then the kiddos stood around gaping at the horses, climbing on the fences and running around. On the way back to the house, each child waited eagerly (and not so patiently) for a turn in the stroller to take a ride. Here Ella is running back to get her shopping cart! We had a great morning out at the ranch with good friends. The kids had a great time bouncing on the trampoline, too, and playing ring around the rosy. Ella was singing, "Rosy rosy rosy" all day long afterward. :)
This is what greeted us this morning when we awoke. Ick! Yesterday was sunny, 65 and slightly windy... and it's felt like spring around here for about 6 weeks. I know it's normal to have snow this time of year, but I definitely wasn't expecting it after the beautiful weather we've had. I was shocked.
This week I've slacked on blogging because we've been BUSY! My pregnancy nesting instincts have kicked into high gear and I've been organizing and cleaning everything I can get my hands on. On top of that, Seth is still studying away and I was working hard preparing for a talk I gave at MOPS on Wednesday. They asked me to speak about organic foods, why to eat them and where to get them in Sheridan. It was a neat experience, but I'm glad to have some extra free time again for a couple of days.
In between this crazy schedule we've taken lots and lots of walks in order to take advantage of the beautiful weather we've been having. Plus, walking really helps me decompress from any other work I've been doing.
The amount of comprehension Eleanor seems to have these days is amazing. We've always read a lot to her and she loves books, but these days she's even more passionate - and she remembers things for a long time!
A few nights ago we read a couple of stories from her Baby Bible and I thought they were probably way over her head... until after reading about Bartimeaus being blind (and not being able to see camels or trees) and Jesus healing his eyes so he could see. Eleanor looked at us and said, "No, see deer?" We explained a little more about being blind and not being able to see anything. She nodded and said, "No see camels, no see deer. Jesus help!" Wow. Now she talks a lot about Jesus, Amens and help. Wonderful.
Her favorite books right now are I Spy books. She LOVES to look at the pictures and point out objects. She remembers them really well, too, it is another place where I'm often blown away at her memory.
Now, I have to admit I've not posted this earlier because my intention was to get a cute picture of our wiggly girl reading to post with it... unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) the weather this weekend was gorgeous and we spent a lot of time cleaning things up, organizing, doing yard projects, working on vehicles and cleaning the garage... and thus no pictures. I'll get there soon. :)
Today we need to celebrate! Eleanor wore big girl undies all day today (except for naptime) and didn't have any accidents! We were away from home a lot today, too.
I'm not fully convinced that this is the end of our training period yet, but it was a great day on the potty.
Each morning as I get ready for the day, Eleanor comes into the bathroom with me. She loves to pull the chapstick out of my makeup drawer and put it on (and on and on and on). Then she pulls out another variety and puts it on (and on and on).
Seth captured this moment of mess and dress up hilariously: Ella's love for shoes continues with a passion. Her favorites are this pair of Mommy's: She calls them "Mommy's clicky shoes," a phrase she learned from Gracie.
Almost every morning Ella climbs into my lap and asks to see the pictures on Hannah's blog of herself and Gracie painting. She says, "paint all over, peas!" She also asks often to paint. This is of course just fine with me, except it is hard to keep her from painting her tummy. :)
Here are two sweet girls having fun with paints. Just a side note, it is so interesting to me to watch the difference between Eleanor and Avery in creative activities. Part of it has to do with Avery being a year older, and a lot has to do with Avery having much older siblings (I think). Ella just goes to town, squishing and smooshing paint, pens and stickers everywhere. Avery is very careful about drawing small lines and painting carefully. She doesn't mix colors, either, whereas Ella mixes and mixes and mixes. It will be fun to see how these two continue to develop.
In some ways this pregnancy is simply flying by. People have told me that happens the second (and third) time around since other children take so much of our time and energy, but I only sort of believed it. :) So, month four has come and gone and we're working toward half way done!
Consolations: This month was a roller coaster of emotions, but in general I felt magnificently better. I'm amazed at how fast I was able to forget constant nausea and vomiting as I feel "normal" again.
As is expected of the second trimester, my energy levels have raised significantly. I'm loving the new-found energy.
With the subsiding of nausea, I've been able to get back on my wheat-free, dairy-free, yeast-free, sugar-free diet. And, I feel GREAT! When this pregnancy began, I had a goal of sticking to my special diet in hopes of gaining a little less weight, keeping my energy up and just generally feeling better. It turned out to be impossible for me while I was so sick, and it was hard to begin the transition back, but I am so glad I did.
A return to moderate running. I am so proud of my body this time around and it's ability to continue to run here and there. I'm still not on any real schedule, but I head out when I feel like it and time allows. Two weekends ago I took an 8 mile run that felt fantastic. Since then I've only gotten in 2-4 miles, but I'm very happy with that. We're also walking whenever we can.
Eleanor tells me often, "Baby, Mommy's tummy!" Usually this has something to do with not jumping on my stomach, my avoidance of some food, or the fact that she can't climb me - but, sometimes it's just because. She is always excited to see pictures on the internet of babies inside the womb and although I still don't think she really understands we'll be having a baby come to live at our house in several months, we're getting there. She wants to have a sister most times she's asked, although the occasional brother response sneaks out here and there.
The advent of nesting urges. This meant I got our taxes done efficiently and quickly - I even enjoyed it this year. Most of my urges surround organization right now. But, also garden planning and seed planting - we have grow lights set up in the basement.
Desolations: Headaches. Tons of headaches - bad ones and I can't take anything for them. Thus, the return to my x-free diet.
The advent of the truly awkward, nothing in my closet fits right but maternity clothes look ridiculous, stage. This time around my pants are fitting pretty well still, but I'm having a super hard time with shirts. My tummy doesn't look cutely round and pregnant yet, but I definitely have much more of a tummy than normal. We're also just between seasons here, so knowing how many layers and what exactly is the most appropriate for the weather is tough, too.
A teething toddler who is incredibly fussy often. This is so unusual for Eleanor that I hardly know what to do! It is tough when I'm also feeling emotional and having a hard time keeping my energy levels to their maximum.
Baby continues to check out wonderfully and all seems to be well. I'm feeling tons and tons better these days, although I'm aware of tiring easily. This appointment was with my actual OB rather than his RN and it was nice to meet him again. The conversation naturally gravitated to my previous "difficult" labor experience, his first comment being, "Wow, you had quite a time of it didn't you?" And, his second - to Eleanor - "Yes, there is a baby in your Mommy's tummy, but it's not coming until September. And I think we'll stick to September because we don't want Mommy to go over her due date." (Mental hoorays!) He assured me once again that he won't let me go beyond 41 weeks this time, and if there are any signs of progression at the time I hit 40 weeks, he'll consider inducing me then. His main concern is the size of the baby, so we'll see as the time comes.
The one thing I find interesting with all this is how afraid I was the first time around of having to be induced. I so wanted to wait until my body knew it was time. I think the same thing is true this time, but I am aware of the benefits of having a slightly smaller baby. And, I'm always concerned with the problems we had with fetal distress... and a post date baby... and certainly don't want to experience that again. I just pray my body knows what it is doing and will get this little one to the correct developmental place and then naturally go into labor - and that this will happen right around 39 weeks. :)
It was kind of fun to take Ella to the appointment. She was enthralled with a huge poster on the wall that showed, to scale, fetus' in the womb month by month. She kept saying, "Babies Mommy's tummy!" and we had fun talking about the size of our baby and what he/she looks like. She also loved hearing the baby's heartbeat and thought it was very funny when baby moved and made static noises on the doppler (which was happening a lot - we have another active one, folks).
Also, about a week before this appointment I felt the first tiny pokes from this little one. Then I felt he/she again 2 days before. Now I'm feeling quite a few bonks and wiggles each day when I take the time to sit still for a while - usually in the evening, curled up on the couch with a book. It is very nice to have these reassurances of life, not that I've ever had any reason to worry... I just find I am worrying more this time around for some reason.
I'll get a belly pic posted for y'all here soon - but there still isn't much to show. I'm in the super awkward phase of being larger than my normal clothes, but still way too small for maternity clothes. I try on approximately 10 outfits every morning... I am definitely bigger than I was at this point with Ella, but I'm once again getting "thick" rather than "round."
We've had both a lot going on and a lot of down time lately. Unfortunately, the down time has either been spent in the car or sick, and thus the blog has suffered. Finally, however, I'm feeling mostly better and up for a day of blog catch up. If you are interested in what we've been doing, by all means, follow these links and read away. Mostly, they are for me and memory's sake. I chose to back date them since they include a trip to Oregon that I'd like to remember when it actually happened.
So, to begin, sorry Daddy, we don't have any pictures for this post...
But, Eleanor and I have been on a spring break trip to Oregon to visit family. Unfortunately, we came down with the stomach flu very early on in our trip and thus haven't done much more than watch Mickey's Clubhouse and lay on the couch. We're sorry to have missed so many people this time around - but you really wouldn't have wanted to see us! Hopefully we'll get another chance soon.
Today we're back off in the van for 2 days of driving to return to Sheridan. Please pray we don't spread our germs to our traveling companions, that I feel okay during the 18 hours of driving and that Eleanor has no re-occurrence of her sickness. Thanks!
So as this pregnancy's third month came and went, here were the highs and lows...
Desolations: Sick, sick, sick! I kept thinking my morning sickness would subside by the time I hit 12 weeks - and it didn't. Or, rather, it would for a couple of days, then I would start to do much more work around the house or with guests and it would come back with a vengeance.
Both the stomach flu and a cold.
A sick toddler and thus much less sleep than really needed.
Consolations: A few days here and there of feeling better. No more 24/7 nausea - instead more like 18 hours a day.
An ability to run again, at least a little bit.
A trip to Billings to shop - new clothes! - and thus the feeling of being prepared for the truly awkward pregnancy stage.
And then the kiddos stood around gaping at the horses, climbing on the fences and running around.
On the way back to the house, each child waited eagerly (and not so patiently) for a turn in the stroller to take a ride.
Here Ella is running back to get her shopping cart!
We had a great morning out at the ranch with good friends. The kids had a great time bouncing on the trampoline, too, and playing ring around the rosy. Ella was singing, "Rosy rosy rosy" all day long afterward. :)
And then the kiddos stood around gaping at the horses, climbing on the fences and running around.
On the way back to the house, each child waited eagerly (and not so patiently) for a turn in the stroller to take a ride.
Here Ella is running back to get her shopping cart!
We had a great morning out at the ranch with good friends. The kids had a great time bouncing on the trampoline, too, and playing ring around the rosy. Ella was singing, "Rosy rosy rosy" all day long afterward. :)
