Wednesday, January 26, 2011
1st Haircut
At just over 27 months old, I finally got my baby her haircut. I wont lie, I had to hold back tears. It took an entire bag of M&M's to get her to sit on Daddy's lap while Miss. Jen cut her hair. She was really "scared" as she put it but once it got started she was good to go. We officially cut off all the baby hair *sniff* Oh, & if anyone is trying to find the key to my daughters heart, its definitely M&M's. She will love you forever!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Happy 7 months baby girl!
Has it seriously already been a month since I made my last "birthday" post for Miss. Gianna?? Geesh!
Every month that goes by Gianna gets alittle more difficult to take pictures of. She cant seem to sit still for the couple of seconds that it takes for me to snap a picture. This month was definitely a challenge. It was the first time she actually wanted off the chair and wasn't going to stop trying until she accomplished her goal. This was also the first time that she noticed there was a giraffe sitting next to her, she even thought it was pretty funny. I think she mistaken the giraffe for a teething toy though!
Here is my happy, content, precious, snuggly, active, food loving, ears pierced, 2 teethed little 7 month old:
This giraffes foot is yummy and she thinks its hilarious
The answer to the above question was, "No". So she started yelling at me. The End.
Every month that goes by Gianna gets alittle more difficult to take pictures of. She cant seem to sit still for the couple of seconds that it takes for me to snap a picture. This month was definitely a challenge. It was the first time she actually wanted off the chair and wasn't going to stop trying until she accomplished her goal. This was also the first time that she noticed there was a giraffe sitting next to her, she even thought it was pretty funny. I think she mistaken the giraffe for a teething toy though!
Here is my happy, content, precious, snuggly, active, food loving, ears pierced, 2 teethed little 7 month old:
I thought Id include a couple other pics just for giggles:
Determined to get ahold of my camera strap
Determined to get ahold of my camera strap
This giraffes foot is yummy and she thinks its hilarious
Please can I get off of this chair??
The answer to the above question was, "No". So she started yelling at me. The End.Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Heartbeat
Today I had my regular OB check up on the baby. Rick came home from work to stay with the girls so I didnt have to take them out in the cold and rain. Even though Daddy was home I decided I would give Ava the option of staying home with Daddy or coming with Mommy to "check on the baby". Its not very often that Ava and I get time together by ourselves. Its important to me that all our kids always get alone time with us even if its just a quick trip to the store or doctors. They love (& deserve) that one-on-one time so much!
Anyways, appointment was great! Lost a total of 5lbs so far and babys heartrate was in the 160's! Any guesses on what the gender is?? If I remember correctly, I think the girls were always in the mid-low 130's. The old wives tale would say higher heartrate, girl and lower, boy.
We are all looking forward to the "big" ultrasound!
Anyways, appointment was great! Lost a total of 5lbs so far and babys heartrate was in the 160's! Any guesses on what the gender is?? If I remember correctly, I think the girls were always in the mid-low 130's. The old wives tale would say higher heartrate, girl and lower, boy.
We are all looking forward to the "big" ultrasound!
Friday, January 14, 2011
A few months back a friend of mine introduced me to this blog, http://www.kellehampton.com/, when she sent me the link of an amazing birth story (because really, what Mom doesn't love reading birth stories??). Kelle Hampton's daughter was unexpectedly born with Down Syndrome (you can read her story here, http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html).
I cant tell you how many tears I cried while reading her birth story.. they were not all sad tears. Many of them were tears because I was able to relate on some level.
When I was pregnant with Gianna, we chose to have the NT Scan performed. We had the same test done when I was pregnant with Ava. Ill be honest, the only reason I agreed to the test was so I could have another ultrasound. At 12/13 weeks pregnant the baby looks so much like a... baby. Its really exciting to see the miracle of life at that stage, arms and legs developed, fingers forming, eyes, nose, all the baby features are starting to come to the surface, the ones you spend months daydreaming about. With Ava we got back perfect results. Which I assumed, why wouldn't we? I was only 21 years old, in all seriousness what are the chances of me having a baby with DS given my age.
When it came to Gianna's test results, I didn't give it a second thought. In fact, I didn't even call the office to see if my results were in, I wasn't worried about it. It wasn't until my next OB appointment that my doctor told me our chances for our baby having Down Syndrome were 1 in 5. I was shocked. I didn't have any idea what to think or say, so I just cried. It was an emotional couple of days of doctors calling me and wanting to know how Id like to "proceed". I always told myself that regardless of what any of these tests said Id never get an amnio. The way I looked at it is, the results wouldn't change my mind (I must say though after being told my chances like that I knew I needed to know for sure!). Just to be clear though, Id never abort my baby. Sure, a baby with Down Syndrome has never been in my plan but I do have faith that God has a much bigger plan for me than I have for myself so I have to trust in Him. Rick and I decided that we would opt for a procedure called CVS. The CVS was very similar to an Amnio yet very different and because I was still within the time frame I was more comfortable with this procedure than an Amnio. After days of crying tears of sadness, fear, nervousness, uncertainty, hurt, any feeling you can think, I probably had it at one point or another. I finally got over my pity party, went as far as looking for support groups with children that had Down Syndrome, reading about these amazing children, I was finally able to feel that if this is what God had planned for me I was totally ok with it and would feel blessed that God chose me to be a Mother to one of these children that have so much life in them and would bring so much happiness.
On Christmas Eve 2009, we got the phone call from the Genetic Counselor at University of Michigan Hospital letting us know that our baby only had 2 sets of 23 chromosomes and did not have Down Syndrome and had two X chromosomes (ITS A GIRL!).
Ok.. totally getting off track.. Nellas mom has set up a "Nella's ONEder Fund" with the National Down Syndrome Society to help raise money and awareness for the cause in honor of her little Nellas first birthday that is approaching. Please take a moment to watch the video on her latest blog post.. it truly is touching!
I cant tell you how many tears I cried while reading her birth story.. they were not all sad tears. Many of them were tears because I was able to relate on some level.
When I was pregnant with Gianna, we chose to have the NT Scan performed. We had the same test done when I was pregnant with Ava. Ill be honest, the only reason I agreed to the test was so I could have another ultrasound. At 12/13 weeks pregnant the baby looks so much like a... baby. Its really exciting to see the miracle of life at that stage, arms and legs developed, fingers forming, eyes, nose, all the baby features are starting to come to the surface, the ones you spend months daydreaming about. With Ava we got back perfect results. Which I assumed, why wouldn't we? I was only 21 years old, in all seriousness what are the chances of me having a baby with DS given my age.
When it came to Gianna's test results, I didn't give it a second thought. In fact, I didn't even call the office to see if my results were in, I wasn't worried about it. It wasn't until my next OB appointment that my doctor told me our chances for our baby having Down Syndrome were 1 in 5. I was shocked. I didn't have any idea what to think or say, so I just cried. It was an emotional couple of days of doctors calling me and wanting to know how Id like to "proceed". I always told myself that regardless of what any of these tests said Id never get an amnio. The way I looked at it is, the results wouldn't change my mind (I must say though after being told my chances like that I knew I needed to know for sure!). Just to be clear though, Id never abort my baby. Sure, a baby with Down Syndrome has never been in my plan but I do have faith that God has a much bigger plan for me than I have for myself so I have to trust in Him. Rick and I decided that we would opt for a procedure called CVS. The CVS was very similar to an Amnio yet very different and because I was still within the time frame I was more comfortable with this procedure than an Amnio. After days of crying tears of sadness, fear, nervousness, uncertainty, hurt, any feeling you can think, I probably had it at one point or another. I finally got over my pity party, went as far as looking for support groups with children that had Down Syndrome, reading about these amazing children, I was finally able to feel that if this is what God had planned for me I was totally ok with it and would feel blessed that God chose me to be a Mother to one of these children that have so much life in them and would bring so much happiness.
On Christmas Eve 2009, we got the phone call from the Genetic Counselor at University of Michigan Hospital letting us know that our baby only had 2 sets of 23 chromosomes and did not have Down Syndrome and had two X chromosomes (ITS A GIRL!).
Ok.. totally getting off track.. Nellas mom has set up a "Nella's ONEder Fund" with the National Down Syndrome Society to help raise money and awareness for the cause in honor of her little Nellas first birthday that is approaching. Please take a moment to watch the video on her latest blog post.. it truly is touching!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
What I love about being pregnant....
I love....
Not having to change the kitty litter.
The select stores that have close parking spots for Expectant Mothers.
Being able to take a nap with the girls and not feeling guility for getting nothing accomplished.
Hearing the heartbeat. Thats one sound I cant help but to smile at every.single.time.
The questions I get from my 2 year old about the "baby is Mamas belly". Shes so curious this time around and insists on looking at pictures of my "big belly" when she and Gianna were in it.
The anticipation of going into labor and giving birth. I have been blessed to have 2 amazing births so far and I cannot wait to do it again!
Being kept up all hours of the night because of a baby that is playing inside my belly.
Ava rubbing my belly, looking at me and smiling and with the sweetest voice, saying "Baby in Mamas belly".
I even love all the bathroom trips I have to take day and night. It forces me to always be reminded of how blessed I am!
Always having a reason for some type of wierd late night craving and Rick always willing to go get it. Hes also never mad that by the time he gets home it, it no longer sounds good! :P
What do you love about being pregnant??
Not having to change the kitty litter.
The select stores that have close parking spots for Expectant Mothers.
Being able to take a nap with the girls and not feeling guility for getting nothing accomplished.
Hearing the heartbeat. Thats one sound I cant help but to smile at every.single.time.
The questions I get from my 2 year old about the "baby is Mamas belly". Shes so curious this time around and insists on looking at pictures of my "big belly" when she and Gianna were in it.
The anticipation of going into labor and giving birth. I have been blessed to have 2 amazing births so far and I cannot wait to do it again!
Being kept up all hours of the night because of a baby that is playing inside my belly.
Ava rubbing my belly, looking at me and smiling and with the sweetest voice, saying "Baby in Mamas belly".
I even love all the bathroom trips I have to take day and night. It forces me to always be reminded of how blessed I am!
Always having a reason for some type of wierd late night craving and Rick always willing to go get it. Hes also never mad that by the time he gets home it, it no longer sounds good! :P
What do you love about being pregnant??
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Nothing better
There are few things nowadays that dont make me want to cry. But my hormones arent to blame for this. See, from the moment we found out we were going to be expecting our second little girl back on Chirstmas Eve 2009 at just 12 weeks pregnant I had this feeling inside of me that I cant even put into words. I secretly wanted another girl (even though Rick and Ben are begging for a boy to share their woes with) and having two girls is better than I could of ever imgained. I often find myself daydreaming about them getting older and giggling in their room through the wee hours of the night, waking up in the morning to find them in one bed or both laying on the floor passed out. They will always have each other and my one hope for them is to be the best of friends and appreciate how lucky they are to have one another. I watch them play on a daily basis. Like, literally play together. Neither one of them like to share with each other, Gianna loves when Ava "reads" her books.. well actually Gianna really loves when Ava stops "reading" so she can chew on the book, there favorite thing to do together lately though is play on the activity mat together. Ava can get Gianna laughing like nobody else. Ava likes to boss her sister around. Likes to tell her all the things she can and cannot do. If Im right about Giannas personality the bossing around shouldnt be too big of an issue. Ava is the strong willed, determined stubborn big sister and even as a baby she was like this. Gianna on the other hand just loves to be loved on, smiled at, talked to and just played with.
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