Birthday Girl!

It's so hard for me to believe that our sweet little luC is 2 today!  She is such a little spunky breath of fresh air.  Except for when she's not.  Trust me, you don't want to make her mad.  But she has the sweetest heart. juC has been having a lot of melt downs lately when she has something he wants, and as soon as he starts crying she nicely gives it to him.

She loves:
Her baby brother
Playing with her dollies
Singing songs
Her blankies
Making a mess during meal time
Yo Gabba Gabba
Juice
Spaghetti
Going outside
Driving me nuts when we go to the store
Coloring
Giving hugs (that might be my favorite on the list)

Kitty Thursday--Christmas Edition

Typical cat...thinks she's a gift to all.

My New Normal

After luC was born, I didn't leave the house by myself with my 2 kids for months.  I'm talking months, and months, and months, and months, and months, and months, and more months.  I know.  BUT, in my defense, any time luC made even a peep of a cry, jC would have a completely ridiculous meltdown.  She would have been done with her crying for 10 minutes and jC would sometimes still be freaking out about it. So the thought of going out with the two of them alone was absolutely the most stressful thing imaginable.  It was a hard time (as documented here)

Which is why I'm utterly proud of myself.  (don't judge me for being proud of myself.)

December 3 was a day I was dreading.  December 3 was the day that I would be alone with all 3 kids for the first time.  I was SO very lucky enough to have juC home for 2 weeks, (with a visit from my helpful parents in there), and have juC's parents here for 2 weeks.  Having help for the first month (minus 2 days) of cC's life was amazing, and the thought of going at it alone was petrifying.  (don't judge me for feeling this way, not everyone is as awesome as you are.)

So imagine my surprise when I found myself not only going out with all 3 kids out of necessity (taking jC to and from preschool), but also out with all 3 kids enjoying some unseasonably warm weather.  And as I walked along with cC strapped to me, pushing luC, and jC riding along in front of me I had an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and happiness.  December 3 wasn't the easiest day in the world, but it also wasn't the hardest.  I actually survived.  Which led me to believe I would actually survive the days that followed.

3 kids is my new normal and it still blows my mind.

All about the birth

So as not to shock anyone with the ending, I will start there....where baby cC was born.  Right there in our master bathroom bathtub.  Yes, it was a water birth. Yes, it was planned.  Yes, I'd do it again.  And yes, the more I read about hospital births vs. home births, the better I felt about my decision.  Admittedly, I thought people who had home births were crazy.  So one of two conclusions can be drawn.  1) They are not crazy.  Or 2)  They are crazy, thus making me crazy, too.

Now, on with the story...

It was Monday, November 5 and I expected NOTHING that day. My estimated due date was November 7, and since jC was born on his due date, and luC 5 days "over due", I only assumed that cC would at least meet his date as well.

jC usually has preschool Mondays but it was a teacher work day. So after I took him and luC with me to my weekly chiropractic appointment at 9:30 am, we headed to to my favorite children's consignment store about 25 minutes away. They have a play area for the kids so I very slowly shopped for what I was looking for, letting them play...until they started leaving the play area and playing with merchandise. As we drove back home I was having contractions but felt like Braxton Hicks. Since we'd been out and I hadn't been drinking water I figured that was why since that's usually when I get them.

We got home, I fed the kids lunch, ate lunch, emailed someone from craigslist about a king size headboard I was interested in and wanted juC to pick up with in the next couple days, put the kids down for quiet time, realized I was having more "Braxton Hicks" so I drank a ton of water. In an effort to stay on top of things until the baby came, I did a couple small loads of laundry. I was still having the contractions after drinking all that water, so I ate thinking maybe it was because I hadn't had enough to eat. (I only had one sandwich for lunch, which is so unlike my 2 sandwich lunch self)

A little after 2 I thought that the contractions seemed a little stronger than Braxton Hicks but other than that I didn't feel any different.  I have this thing where I expect every labor to be the same.  luC's was different than jC's, so I assumed that this labor would either be just like jC's, or just like luC's whose labor starting with my water breaking. 

 I decided to start timing the contractions at about 3 pm, and they were ranging from 2 to 4 mins apart. I got the kids up, and then texted juC at about 3:15 and jokingly said I didn't think he'd make it to work the next day, then told him I was having contractions but didn't really think it was anything. Then I texted my midwife to tell her, but again said i don't think its anything but wanted to let you know just in case. About 3:30 juC asked if he should come home. I said probably sooner than later just in case. Then because the kids were driving me nuts, I said that yes he should come. 

When he got home I was skyping with my mom, who had called at 3:55. I told her that I wasn't sure but I think something was going on. I got a load of laundry and took it upstairs to fold and put away and then laid on the bed to rest for a bit. I told juC to go ahead and make dinner. We had chicken tikka masala from Costco in the fridge. When I went down for dinner around 6, the contractions were definitely stronger, but I was still thinking there should be more side effects or something. We ate dinner, I cleaned up a bit in our bathroom, then I put jC to bed while juC put luC to bed. At about 7 juC and I got the bedroom prepped for everything. Then I got in the bath tub to try to relax. The contractions were getting a bit stronger.  It all felt surreal, and I was mostly just going through the motions of getting things ready even though I wasn't convinced it was happening.  My midwife kept me updated about where she was and kept saying she'd come check on me to see if I was in labor and I kept telling her no, it was fine.  

(This was my last "belly shot", taken at 7:03, whilst I was having a contraction and trying my hardest to stay in a standing, upright position.)

My midwife and assistant got here around 7:45 pm. Soon after I got out of the tub...cant remember why. I still was saying I wasn't sure what was going on and if it was really happening.  But my contractions were definitely getting stronger and I was having to work harder to breath through them.  It was probably around 8:20 that there was a little bit of blood and I was finally like "OK, this is really labor".  I got back in the tub and after a couple intense contractions it got really intense!  juC was sitting at the edge of the tub timing them, and the midwife and her assistant were downstairs. They heard me when the contractions got much more intense and came to see how things were progressing.  I had done pretty good with not "vocalizing" (screaming), like I did with Lula, but when it got to that point, I definitely started getting louder.

I had a super intense contraction where I could feel pushing...not me pushing but my body pushing.  During this time I was on my knees, with my arms resting on the side of the tub, and putting my head down on my arms when I had the contractions.  When my midwife came in, she said I was fine how I was, but because of the position I was in, I'd have to catch the baby myself because they wouldn't be able to reach him.  For some reason the added responsibility of catching the baby seemed too much, so I turned so my back was to them so they could catch the baby. After I moved the contractions came one after the other and my body took over with pushing and it was soooo intense and so surreal. My water broke sometime soon after pushing.  I remember thinking it was weird that I felt something pop and it took me a second to realize what it was. 

 It was the most intense pain ever, and I remember saying "I can't do this!" because, you know...I had a choice at this point. What I'm assuming was about a minute later, cC was born at 9:08 pm.  When he came out apparently his body came up front towards me instead of back towards them (which is what normally happens) so I scooped him up, which I never thought I'd do.  It's kind of amazing to actually get to be the first one to hold him, since my previous two were first held by the midwife at the hospital that delivered them.  
I'm still in awe about how fast it all happened!!  And one of the most amazing things about natural birth...once the baby is out, that intense pain that you imagine couldn't possibly be any worse is just gone...
And it was probably good that I didn't really know for sure it was happening so I could go about my day normally.

Having a baby, in my house, in my own way was absolutely amazing.  juC joked that he wanted his money back because the midwives didn't even do anything, I did it all myself.  (They obviously DID do stuff, like take care of me and the baby after his birth.  And getting me to calm down a bit when I needed a reminder to do so during labor)  There was no checking to see how far dilated I was (Thank goodness, that's one of the worst parts of labor).  There was no one telling me it was time to push.  No sitting in a hospital bed in one of the worst positions to birth.  No one telling me when to push and counting me through it.  It was all me, all my body.  Even though I had luC naturally, this experience was completely different.  I was so aware of every part of my body.  So aware of how amazing it was that my body was doing the work and knew what to do.  So aware of every single aspect of the miracle that childbirth is.  Seriously, how amazing is it that these little humans grow inside you, and one second they are there, a part of you, and the next, they are out in this world. 

It all happened the way I said I wanted it to.  I always told my midwife that my dream would be that I'd go into labor one afternoon, be fine, get the kids in bed, and have them asleep in their rooms when I gave birth.  I didn't really expect it to happen that way, but I'm glad it did.  Although, I think juC and I will both admit that one of the advantages to being in a hospital is having your children taken care of by someone else, so that when you are up all night after giving birth, you don't have to get up with kids the next morning.  

So, with all that said, I guess if I could sum it all up in one word, it would be...amazing!

To see a few more pictures, visit my private blog www.welikeadventures.blogspot.com

I still exist

Hi.  Remember me?  I'm the girl that hasn't blogged in months, and now there is a new blogger format, and I'm completely lost.

Remember how I'm pregnant??  (picture taken Sept 30)

I thought I should post given I'm one week +1 day away from my due date.  (Not that I'm counting.)  (Truth is I'm counting because I'm so not ready for this baby.  Not because I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore.) (I mean, yes, I cannot wait to see him, but I'm kinda nervous about my abilities to handle 2 crazy kids and a newborn.)  (And my kinda nervous, I'm my super nervous.)

Here is documentation of my fears, in no particular order.

--When we got our sweet cat, izC, jC was so super excited about it.  He loved her, but also kept his distance.  He followed her everywhere, and if he ever didn't know where she was, he was asking me.  He was super nice to her and super interested in her in every positive way.  Then the newness wore off.  Playing nice with the cat ended, and torture of the cat ensued.
My point?  As of right now, jC is excited about the baby.  Just mention the word baby and his response is "Awwww..."  And I'm sure he will be this way for at least a few days after the baby comes.  And then, I'm worried that the torture will ensue.  jC likes to pull izC's tail to see what will happen.  I can only imagine what he will do to the baby to see what reaction he will get.

--luC is a whole different ball game.  She's that kid that will just walk up to you or anyone and slap you out of nowhere.  And I'm positive that newborn babies will not be out of the running for such attention from her.  Not to mention she is that kid that gets into everything and knows what not to do with it, then does it.  I'm scared of what she's going to get away with while I'm feeding the baby/changing the babies diaper/and otherwise indisposed.

--After jC I had postpartum depression.  After luC, I had...jC.  I can't even tell you how much I cried for months after each of them were born.  How much I felt completely overwhelmed.  How much I wondered what in the heck I was thinking when I thought I could handle motherhood.  If I felt that way with one, then two, I can only imagine how it's going to be after 3.

--Sleep deprivation.  I remember it all to well.  And I can't help but wonder how I'm going to handle my responsibilities to 3 little humans that depend on me when I'm completely sleep deprived.  I guess all I can do is pray that this baby is a good sleeper!

--Giving birth isn't rainbows and butterflies...as anyone who has given birth is aware.  jC's pregnancy was MISERABLE, so I was just ready to get it over with, no matter how bad giving birth would be.  luC was late, so I was getting anxious, and was just ready to have her here.  I have a feeling this baby will be right on time.  And since I'm not miserable and have all the previously listed fears about having a newborn added, I just hope that I'm really ready to endure labor when the time comes.

Kitty Thursday

The cat is not out of the bag. I repeat...the cat IS NOT out of the bag.

Ok, seriously...I have turned into a crazy cat lady!

One of my fav's!

I'm one of those people that when I find a recipe that I really like, I make it all.the.time. And I'm most especially fond of ones that are super simple and easy to throw together. Actually, I think those are the only ones I even try.

This is one of my most favorites EVER. When my friend asked for the ingredients for it the other day, I realized it had been far too long since I've made it. I don't know what it is about it (because it is so simple) but everyone loves it. juC and I can eat it by ourselves in a matter of days!

Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

--1 box Farfalle pasta (bowtie), cooked per package instructions and run through cold water to cool off

--green grapes, cut into 4ths.

-- diced celery

--cashew halves & pieces

--Marzetti slaw dressing (I'm sure there are other slaw dressings, but this is usually the only one I find and the best I've tried)

--(optional) shredded chicken (When I do the chicken, I cook chicken tenders with some seasoning in the slow cooker for a few hours until it's super tender then shred it. Otherwise, we do grilled chicken on the side)

Mix all ingredients in the desired amounts, mixing in the slaw dressing last to get the desired consistency you want. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.

See, amazingly simple, and just amazing. Hopefully I don't eat it all before juC gets home for dinner.

Kitty Thursday

Kitty Thursday--On a Tuesday Night

It's a sad, SAD day when you realize that all you ever post about is your cat. I swear, I'm not a crazy cat lady!!

I am quitting my "job" blogging for Milan Maternity at the end of the month. I think that will open things up again for me to blog on my personal blogs the way I used to. The only good thing about that is that I won't look like a crazy cat lady anymore to the 3 people that read this blog.

Now, on to my cat....

Not only is my belly a comfy space for the little babe inside, but apparently it's pretty comfy from the outside, too.

Kitty Thursday

Kitty Thursday

Our bay-bay

I think almost everyone is aware now that baby #3 is a wee wittle boy. Poor little jC...he kept saying it was a girl, and was completely and totally convinced. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that he was one with the baby, and knew it's gender. But, when I did the needle and thread test (holding it over my belly, circle motion means girl, back and forth means boy) it said it was a boy. And since it was right with luC, I couldn't help but believe the needle over little jC. And the needle was right!

Something not many people know, though, is that I'm planning to do a home birth (don't call me crazy!!!) with this little one. Which means that this was the first (and probably only) ultrasound I've gotten during pregnancy. So seeing him was so, so amazing! There is just something about seeing that there truly is a baby inside of you that just blows the mind.

And the good news is that little jC took the news of this new baby being a boy quite well. And I'm even more excited than I was before to have a sweet little newborn in our home come November(ish)

Kitty Thursday

Kitty Thursday

Thank you, izC's tail, for ruining a perfectly cute picture.

Poppin' up

We are still getting used to and organized in our new house. It's partly been fun. But since we still have a large box full of random things sitting in our bedroom, it's been quite the process that I can't seem to complete. I've felt overwhelmed by it all.

On the positive side, I love flowers and have loved seeing what random flowers pop up around our new house that the previous owners planted. The only thing is, there isn't really much rhyme or reason behind where these flowers have popped up. I wish I would have taken pictures as they have come, but haven't. However, the most recent flower motivated me to.

Right outside our back door is a MASSIVE rosemary bush. (Which is a little surprising in itself.) I noticed something growing in the midst of it, and was surprised yesterday when I saw it was a calla lily.

I thought this was quite entertaining. But perhaps I'm easily amused.

Kitty Thursday

izC wants to find out about her family history, too.

If I could freeze time...

I without a doubt would.

With another baby on the way, I'm trying so hard to savor luC's babyhood as much as I can. In 5ish months, she will no longer be the baby in the family, and there is a part of me that mourns that loss for her. I know this time will pass all too quickly.

I have been so easily frustrated with my children these last few weeks, but I know that this time won't last forever, and it's images and times like this that I want ingrained in my mind forever.

Kitty Thursday

izC loves the new couch, too.

I'm in love.

When we moved into a house with a "formal living room" I knew that I needed just the perfect couch to go in it. For months I scoured Craig's list, trying to find the one. But, to no avail. Then when my sister was here, we went to one of my favorite antique spots, at which time I spotted the perfect couch. And lucky me, it was on sale. After sending a picture to juC to ask his permission, it was purchased. Then, as the cushions were getting loaded into my car, I saw that the antique dealer had left the "Salvation Army" sticker with the original price on it, for considerably less than what I paid. Oh well, I guess all that extra I paid was the finders fee...and I truly don't feel bad about the price I paid at all.

And now I have the perfect couch (for me) for our "formal living room". Or as I like to call it, our receiving room.

And I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm in love with it.

A family secret

(If I'm remembering this story correctly...) When my parents were first married, my mom made my dad a grilled cheese sandwich and she got in trouble for missing a key ingredient. A key ingredient she had no idea belonged in a grilled cheese sandwich. But according to my dad, a grilled cheese sandwich isn't a grilled cheese sandwich without sugar.

Yep, that's right. Sugar.

So from then until forever more, grilled cheese sandwiches were made in their household with a heaping spoon of sugar spread between the bread and cheese. I really don't know if this is a southern thing (my dad was born and raised in South Carolina) or a "my dad" thing. Either way, it's the best way to make and eat a grilled cheese sandwich. And it's come back to life in my house now that I have found that it's something my 3 and a half year old will actually eat. (He is absolutely the pickiest eater, alongside my daughter). So now that I have another lunch option for him, I'm slightly more than happy.

If you'd to try our families "Perfectly Sweet Grilled Cheese Sandwich", all you need is:

-2 pieces of bread

-spreadable Country Crock (or whatever is your brand of choice)

-slice of cheddar cheese

-a spoon FULL o' sugar

Make sure your pan is heated, and assemble your sandwich as your normally would for grilled cheese, but spreading the sugar to the inside of the bread that will be cooking first. After cooking, enjoy it's sweet cheesy goodness. I know it might sound simple (or to some even gross) but I promise...you'll thank me later.

Kitty Thursday

My sister loves me so much that while she was here, not only did she watch our kids so we could have a getaway, she tortured my cat so I didn't have to. Sorry, izC, but you needed it!

Kitty Thursday and a Giveaway

Play time!

And on a completely different subject: Milan Maternity (the company I blog for twice a week) is having 2 $100 gift card giveaways!!

GIVEAWAY #1: We're hosting our Mother's Day Makeover again and want your nominations. One lucky mom will be surprised this Sunday with a $100 Milan Maternity gift card! If you know someone who deserves a little pick-me-up, needs a maternity/nursing wardrobe update, or works hard and never takes time for herself, let us know! Tell us why you think this special woman deserves our Mother's Day Makeover giveaway. E-mail your nominations to service@milanmaternity.com.

A few rules/details:

-Nominations must be received no later than this Saturday, 5:00pm PST.

-You cannot nominate yourself (but read on, you're eligible for giveaway #2!)

-You can remain annonymous if desired (we can e-mail the gift card to your nominee if you have an e-mail address for them)

-The winning nomination will be notified by Saturday, 7:00pm PST.

-You may nominate more than one super mom

Giveaway #2: You can enter to win $100 gift card for yourself! Click here to enter.

Their clothes are awesome. And even if you are no longer pregnant, but are nursing, they have great maternity clothes that double as nursing clothes. Make sure you enter!!

The birthday

Yesterday was juC's birthday!!

I love birthdays. Love, love, love, love, love!! I love trying to find the perfect gift for someone. I love getting them cheesy little extra gifts. I love trying to figure out what to make for dinner, and making them the perfect birthday cake. I love putting up birthday banners/signs. I just love all of it!So I started planning juC's birthday well in advance. I knew what I was getting him for his birthday months before, and had it ordered and in the house about a month before. I knew I was going to make his favorite cake...red velvet cake, because I'd never made it for him before. I was trying my hardest to figure out a favorite meal to make him, but a few days before his birthday, he took the pressure off and said he wanted Cafe Rio for dinner.

All day long I got ready for him to come home from work. The kids and I were all set up in the dining room ready to surprise him. (And my sister, elB, too.)

When he came in and walked around the corner we yelled "Surprise!" and as you can see, he was totally surprised. Or maybe I had to get him to pose again because the first picture I took didn't turn out.

He and the kids enjoyed opening his presents.

His "big" present was a butler. My sweet juC loves setting his clothes out the night before...in a big clump on our bath tub. I wasn't about to try to put it together, so he got to open a piece of paper with a picture on it. Being so on top of things he got it put together last night...and then put his clothes in a big lump pile right beside it. But now he has the perfect spot to hang his shirt, pants, tie, and everything else, when he gets over his clothes clumping addiction.

I may kind of like making fun of him for getting "old". Clearly I know he isn't old, but it's still fun. So...I might have gotten him this card.

He loved it...I just know he did. And don't worry. I wrote in the card that I will love him in spite of his age.

After all the exciting present opening was done, we headed to Cafe Rio for dinner. Then came back home for some delicious red velvet cake with the most amazing cream cheese frosting ever. (I can't help but divert from this birthday post to talk about how amazing this frosting is. Anything that calls for cream cheese frosting, I use this recipe. Chocolate cake, carrot cake, red velvet cake...it's amazing!! Although it should be noted that this recipe makes a large amount, so halfing it is usually needed. Try it!! You'll love it!!)

juC's parents called on Skype just as I was getting the cake ready for him to blow out the candles so they got to participate in the festivities and sing with us and see him blow out the candles. I'm not sure what he wished for, but hopefully it was for a van for our family.

Hopefully it was a perfect birthday for my dear, sweet, loving, perfect husband.

Anniversary AND birthday

This past Saturday, juC and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We were lucky enough to be able to go away for a few days (thanks to my dear sister, elB). After little to no to debate, we decided to head to rural Pennsylvania. Why? Umm...not really sure. But it was great. We were in a teeny-tiny town, in this super cute place.

Not sure what the history of this place is, but it was divided up into different rooms and we were in a room up top at the far right. We had a kitchen, a living room, bathroom, bedroom, cable tv, and a mouse. It was wonderful.

As with anything juC and I do, I planned it all...in spite of me trying soooo hard to get him to plan something. While we were talking one night while on our trip, he tried to say he did plan stuff, and I said "Name just one thing you planned for this trip." To which he replied "I planned on not having fun, but you changed my mind." And that folks, is the reason I married this man 5 years ago. He is quick and witty and he lets me do what I want.

A couple of highlights from our trip:

As we were driving around doing nothing on the rural Pennsylvania roads, I spotted this place and said "STOP!" It was much like a place we have in my home town. I wish I had a picture to show you what we got but I haven't yet developed the pictures I took with the disposable camera I got (The one that juC fought tooth and nail to try and not let me get). I got a glorious hot fudge sundae here, and juC got a "medium" ice cream cone...that was about the size of his head. This place was great!

We were close to Shanksville, Pa...the location that Flight 93 went down on September 11, so we went to the memorial site. Amazing! As soon as I stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but feel a since of overwhelming love for each of the people that sacrificed their lives to save so many others. I couldn't help but think how amazing it was that the plane, headed straight for the US Capitol was brought down in the middle of a field...sparing the lives of so many. What an amazing miracle in that tragic day. Those people on that plane are truly heroes and I'm so glad we got to go to the memorial site.

For our anniversary dinner, we had troubles finding the perfect restaurant, and ended up finding the perfect place on accident. Obviously, the perfect place for a Cinco de Mayo anniversary would be at a Mexican restaurant, but we had Mexican the night before. After some frustration on my part in finding a good place, we ended up at a Chinese restaurant, and it was great. It was the "real deal" as juC called it. Again...no picture yet, as it is still on the forbidden disposable camera, but just know that it was a wonderful anniversary dinner.

And now, after all of that excitement, today is juC's birthday. I couldn't help but publicly remind him that this is the last year that he is closer to 20 than he is to 50. I love giving him a hard time about his age. (Especially after we had an intense conversation one time because he was convinced he was a year younger than he actually was.)

I'm doing my best to make sure that when he gets home it will be a wonderful birthday. I will have to post later to let you know if I succeeded.

Happy anniversary and happy birthday, my dear juC. Couldn't be happier that I get to celebrate with you! I think it would be especially awkward at this point if we celebrated either of those things with anyone else.