Special day

I had every intention of writing yesterday after our doctors appointment but needless to say that didn't happen. Feeling so sick, major headache, and in bed by 8:30 definitely contributed to no post yesterday.

But....BABY LOOKS WONDERFUL!

My appointment was at 1 yesterday afternoon and my stomach was in knots all day waiting for the appointment. I could not relax for the life of me. I tried laying down, reading a book, watching TV. I let my hubby take care of Mady yesterday. We took a trip to Target...anything to get my mind off the appointment. Ugh. 

Finally it was time to leave and a complete sense of peace came over me. I knew people were praying because I could feel it. I got to the doctors and just knew everything was going to be ok. Thankfully we didn't have to wait long and the ultrasound tech came to get us. As soon as she put that wand on my belly and I saw my baby, I just smiled. Then I saw the little flicker on the screen...there was his/her heart beat. Everything measured exactly accurate to my due date and the little peanut looked great! I held Matts hand the whole time and just kept squeezing it because I was just so excited and relieved. 

Then we had to wait a little while to see the doctor which was amazing! My experience with Mady's doctors were horrible. No personality, no bed side manner, nothing. I felt stupid asking questions and this time around I had no problem voicing my concerns and she was wonderful in answering all my questions. 

Matt and I decided to have a repeat C-section for a few reasons and the doctor agreed completely. I was thankful we were on the same page. They take repeat C-section patients at 39 weeks so this little babe will be born at the end of June which to be honest I am very thankful for. Because this little ones due date is our wedding anniversary and I really did not want to share that day. Just being real....haha.

So all in all yesterday was a great day! Of course, they printed us out about 10 pictures but I am too lazy to post them this morning. They are hanging nicely on our refrigerator where Mady's little curious hands cannot get to them.

So thank you to everyone who prayed for Matt, I and the baby yesterday. Your prayers were definitely felt. 

Now today can be a great day celebrating my birthday!

Anxious Thoughts

I am an anxious person by nature. I think about all possible scenarios in a certain circumstance and always believe the worst is going to happen. It is really hard for me to control. I let my mind wander way too much some days. 

Being pregnant just adds to those anxious tendencies. I have such a fear of miscarrying. Some days it can consume my thoughts and the craziest thing can bring those thoughts on. I had a great pregnancy with Mady but that does not guarantee that this one will be the same. I feel like I know so much more this time around and I long for the naive, 1st time mom thoughts. Sure, last time, I was just as nervous until I saw my little baby on that ultrasound machine. I remember not being able to hear her heartbeat because my own heartbeat was so loud in my ears. 

Tuesday at 1 pm cannot come soon enough. I am so anxious to see my baby. To see it growing. To see/hear its heart beating. 

But the thing is I have had no signs of possible miscarriage. No loss of pregnancy symptoms(more like the opposite), no bleeding, no cramping...nothing but still my mind plays game with itself. 

My greatest fear is that the ultrasound tech will measure the baby and it will be significantly behind or have no heart beat. Just being honest here. I have a hard time getting excited for this baby until I see that he or she is ok. That they are alive in there and growing.

My husband and mom probably want to kill me with the amount of time I talk about my fears because honestly it can get out of control. I need to trust that the Lord has a plan for this baby, whatever that may be. I pray for this baby daily that it is growing healthy and safe. It is all I can do besides take care of myself which I must admit is difficult this time around while chasing a very energetic 2 year old around.

So if you think of Matt and I on Tuesday, the 27th, specifically at 1 pm would you just say a quick prayer for us. For peace and that everything would be ok with the precious little one growing inside of me. 

I promise to report back after the ultrasound...whatever the outcome is.

Positive thoughts, Positive thoughts...

Gobble til you Wobble

This years Thanksgiving was very different from previous years. It was the first time it was not spent with family but instead friends. I did miss my family a lot yesterday but I was thankful we had such a great day with fun people.

It was a low key Thanksgiving and I was truly thankful for that. With the way I have been feeling lately and my lack of clothes that currently fit, I was grateful for some leggings, sneakers, and a zip up sweat shirt. We all brought a few side dishes and/or a dessert and lovely Linda made the turkey. It was delicious! I was actually hungry and able to eat some of the deliciousness food so I was thankful for that.

Of course, I have no pictures of this thanksgiving because some little girl, who's name I will not mention, broke my camera a few weeks ago and we have not replaced it yet. Ugh! Anyways...we had a buffet style and all sat around to eat while the kids ran around like crazy people...oh wait that was just my child. 

After dinner, the guys went into the other room to watch football and the girls sat at the dinner table and talked for the next 2 hours while the little ones played and went outside. 

Mady was somewhat of a terror. She gets so excited to play with toys she doesn't have and to play with Linda's kids that she would not eat or listen to really anything Matt or I told her to do. By 4:30, I had had enough and we packed up and headed home all the while Mady is crying because she is so sad to leave. She finally crashed in the car. Praise Jesus! 

When we got home, I was beyond ready to put her to bed. She was so cranky! She made it until 6:30 until Matt and I both had enough of the constant whining and crying for no reason. Matt and I watched some football before I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 and the hubby was getting ready to go to work because he is awesome like that. 

I was in bed by 8:20. Exciting night I tell ya! I tried so hard to, at least, stay awake until 9 so I was not up at 5 but no such luck last night. My body was exhausted and I was so nauseous, I figured sleep was the only way to help with that. 

This is the first year also Matt and I did not head out Black Friday shopping and with the way I am feeling right now, that is fine and dandy with me. I did some shopping online at Kohls and that's about it. However, if I am feeling better later, I might try to convince the hubby to go out later. We shall see.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and thankful Thanksgiving!

7 weeks and this baby is kicking my butt!

7 week and 2 days...

and...

I am feeling awful!

Man I thought I had it bad with Mady girl well this Baby # 2 is proving me wrong. Very wrong.

So beyond tired that I go to bed at 8 pm and usually sleep when Mady takes a nap.

Then I am awake at 5:30 am...vicious cycle I tell you.

Nauseous all day long (although the worst is into the afternoon and dinner time..yuck!)

Something sounds so yummy one day and then if I think about it the next day it makes me want to throw up.

My sense of smell is out of control.

I cannot tell you how many times I ask Matt if he smells that and he looks at me like I am a crazy pregnant lady and usually the answer is "nooooo...."

Right now I will never eat waffles or gold fish again....you can guess why. 

Water is the only drink that sounds good. 

The only craving I really have is anything potato. Fries, chips, mashed. Different from Mady because I LOVED chocolate chip cookies and milk. 

So yeah this baby is kicking my butt but I am so thankful for this little blessing inside of me. I cannot wait until the 27th of Nov (the day before my birthday) to see this little baby on the ultrasound machine. I am super anxious about it. I just wan to see its little heart beating and then I can breathe a sigh of relief. 

7 weeks 2 day down....many, many, many more to go.

Extra thankful this year...

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I have been thinking about all the things I am thankful for this year. Sometimes it is so easy for me to focus on the negatives about this holiday season compared to previous ones but I am determined to look at the positives because oh my goodness, there are so many!

1. Although we aren't traveling home for Thanksgiving, we are having Thanksgiving with some fabolous and wonderful people in our community group. We are so excited to be able to spend the day together and enjoy some yummy food and company. I am truly thankful for the people in our community group. I finally feel like I have some real friends in this area. 

2. Of course for my Matt and Mady. They are my world and I am so thankful I get to be their wife and mommy. 

3. For our cozy apartment. After everything we have been through with the apartment from hell this year, I am extra thankful for an apartment that is CLEAN and does not smell and is a perfect fit for our family right now.

4. I am thankful for special memories I can create with Mady with I am a stay at home mom right now. Some days it is so beyond frustrating but I would not change it for the world. I am thankful for a husband who does and is doing everything he can to provide for our family even when it is difficult.

5. I am thankful that I have food in my fridge and pantry, clean clothes in our closets and dressers, warm sheets on our beds, and the ability to turn on and pay for the heat when we need it on a cold night. I really have been thinking about this lately. I am truly blessed. We may not have a lot but we have everything we could ever need. The Lord continues to provide for our family.

6. I am thankful for my family and in-laws. I do not know what I do without my momma. She is my best friend (besides Matt) and I don't know if she realizes how much she truly means to me. I hope Mady and I one day share the same bond me and my momma have because it is so special.

7. Most importantly this year I am thankful for the new life growing inside of me. Yes, we are expecting baby A # 2 due July 6, 2013(which is the day after our anniversary.) This puts me at 7 weeks today. I know this baby is going to bring our family so much more love and happiness.

busy weekend

This past weekend we headed up to New Jersey to celebrate Mady's birthday with our families. We drove up on Saturday morning. Nice and early at 6 am since Mady likes to get up before the sun. I was glad we left so early though so we were able to spend most of the day there. She was so excited to see my parents and brothers. You can tell she truly loves them. 

My mom and dad took her to birthday party for my cousins while Matt and I went through our Christmas decorations that are stored at my parents. We don't have a lot of room in our car so we had to take a minimal amount but that's ok. It's just for one year...

The rest of the day Mom and I spent making all the desserts for the party the following day. We decided to do just desserts so we made apple cider donut holes, mini apple and pumpkin pies, cupcakes, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting and apples/pears with caramel dip. Yeah...we like to go all out. Then we wonder why in the world did we say we were going to make everything?! Honestly because we would not have it any other way. It is the way I grew up having birthday parties. It's the best!

Later we headed to the mall to visit my brother and walk around. Matt and my dad were on goob duty and watching college football. I miss those times with my mom so much. I treasure them so much more now. It was a great but tiring day. Needless to say I was in bed by 9.

Sunday was party day! We spent the morning getting the rest of the food ready and setting everything up. I didn't have any decorations because honestly I had no time or energy and Mady had no idea.

 Dessert Table

 Mady girl enjoying her ice cream and cream!

 Opening presents. She got a George!

 She was funny with opening presents because she was into it but not too much. I think she just wanted to play with everything she got. 

 Princess story book!

 So serious...

 Finally, I let her "paint" as she says. She was excited!

 Mady and her Nana. Something was on my camera lens making the pictures look blurry or foggy. ugh

 Pop Pop, Nana, and Mady. I love the way she is looking at my dad. =)

Not my favorite pictures of me...at all but it is a cute family picture

It was such a fun day and she was spoiled with the awesome presents she got. Thank you to everyone who made it such a special day for our special little girl.

Monday and Tuesday were more of the same. Hanging out. Playing. Going for walks. The usual.

Except Mady dropped my camera on Monday while we were visiting my in laws and broke the lens so therefore I have no camera! Worst timing ever. 

But...

My birthday is in 2 weeks so ya never know

....hint, hint.

Mish Mash

*I have been awake since 4:45 am....and this has been happening for over a week now. Mady's internal clock is all messed up. She didn't go to bed last night until almost 9 (we had small group and got home later than normal) and STILL...she was awake at 4:45. Ah!

*We are headed to NJ tomorrow for the weekend and to celebrate Mady girl's birthday. I am so excited, as usual. Hopefully today and tomorrow go quickly bc I am ready to spend time with family and see my momma!

*Speaking of NJ, my parents got snow yesterday and I was so jealous. Mady would have loved to see it and play in it. However, poor NJ cannot seem to catch a break. I know a lot of people could have done without the nor'easter that hit yesterday. =(

*Mady and I haven't left the house much lately. She has been sick and I have been not feeling the best either. But, we went for a walk the other day which I haven't done with her in forever and it was so nice. Then it rained yesterday and we were stuck inside. Hopefully it's not too chilly today so we can head out and get some fresh air.

*It really annoys me when the Navy and my husband's civilian job both mess up his pay in the same week! It has been a frustrating week regarding that. And ya know, it's never an easy, "yeah no problem I'll take care of that right now" fix. You have to harass people to get the money you are owed. Can you tell I am annoyed?

*My birthday is on Thanksgiving next year. Random fact. 

*Mady and I watched Once Upon A Mickey Christmas yesterday.  She actually sat still for an hour and ate her lunch and watched the movie. It was really cute. Puts me in the Christmas spirit. Christmas is going to be so fun with her this year!

*I am so glad this election is over. However, I am really tired of seeing people posting nasty, and hateful status. I understand the person who many people voted for did not get elected but I still feel, especially as Christian, that you need to respect the President, whomever he is, and pray for him daily. I don't know why anyone in their right mind would want to be president so I am thankful that there are people out there willing to do the job and he deserves to be covered in prayer daily. It makes me laugh when people post status that the world is ending. End.of.Rant.

*We have to sing Jesus Loves Me after we pray at dinner time. Per Mady's request and I love it.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Life Lately

Figured it was time for another photo dump kind of post.

Mostly of Mady...of course.

 This was taken the day of the Hurricane. I had put on my boots to go check on our cars so when I got back upstairs someone else had to have a try. This picture just makes me laugh because the boot literally takes up her whole leg.

 Cuddling with Daddy watching something.

 My precious cupcake...picking her nose. Gotta love it. =)

 Mommy took the front of her crib off to convert it into a big girl bed. Mady decided she needed to bring all her toys in there. Thankfully she has transitioned really well! The first night was rough more so because she was afraid of the dark but once we got her a night light she has had no issues. She hasn't fallen out or really gotten out of her bed by herself. When she wakes up she still calls one of us to come get her. We just need to work on the 4:30 am wake up time. Ugh.

 Love driving the beep beep. 

 I decorated a little bit for her birthday. So this is what she woke up to and her response was "Happy Party!"

This picture was from our sickie day. She had just thrown up so I made her sit on a towel just in case she had to throw up again. Lots of cuddles and TV watching happened this day. SO glad she is feeling better.

The Sickies have invaded!

Poor Mady girl has had some kind of stomach bug for the past 2 days. Today she finally seems back to her old crazy, playing, out of control self. 

The past 2 days all we did was cuddle, cry (her not me) and watch T.D (TV) or moodies (movies). She basically laid on the floor or on the couch with me. I could totally tell she was not feeling good when she fell asleep on the floor and on me sitting up. 

Saturday she didn't get out of her pj's all day. We had to make a quick trip to Target to get some diapers, gatorade, and medicine and my poor baby just sat in the cart totally uninterested. She usually is fighting me to get down and walk. 

 

Basically this is what my weekend looked like...

Yesterday I could tell she had really bad gas pains and kept crying and wiggling all around to try to get comfortable. I felt so bad because there was nothing I could for her. I asked her if she wanted to get a hot bath and she just cried even harder so needless to say that didn't happen.

Hopefully today I can get something in her belly. She took two licks of that Popsicle above and was done. She did have 3 or 4 bits of a pancake last night and some gatorade but she has not been too interested in any food of any kind.

Now I am just praying Matt and I don't get this lovely stomach bug she had. 

Happy Happy!!

As you know, I'm sure, yesterday was Mady's Birthday! She likes to call it her Happy Happy!! She was too funny because all day long I asked her who's birthday it was and she said "NANA's!" No you silly girl, its yours!

The night previous to her birthday was her first night in her big girl bed. Although it was difficult, took about an hour, to get her to go to sleep, she slept through the night with no problems. I think she was more scared of the dark then the bed. 

She was up bright and early like usual. We let Daddy sleep since he just got home from work and we headed out into the living room. I had decorated a little bit for her with balloons and a happy birthday sign. When she saw it she said, "Happy Party!" Love that girl!

The day turned out pretty low key because Mady came down the a stomach bug. She hardly ate anything. I didn't realize it until after we got her favorite Chick-fil-a nuggets for lunch and she hardly touched them then proceeded to have a really, super nasty diaper and basically continued throughout the day. 

She opened her presents from Matt and I after lunch and played a little bit before her nap. We got her a Cinderella doll and the princess busy book which she loved!

She did get some special time with Daddy who took her to Target to get a night light for her room and then to the park. She was one happy girl!

When she got back, she had a present waiting her from my parents. Oh my goodness she loved what they sent her! Jack and Gus Gus stuffed animals and a puzzle. Her face was priceless when she opened them.

We had plans of going to Friendly's after dinner for ice cream and we were meeting our friends there but since she was not eating and having stomach issues I just made some cupcakes and our friends came here. It was such a nice night and Mady absolutely loves Franki so she was happy she was here. Poor girl ended up having an apple sauce and crackers for dinner. What a birthday dinner!

They were so sweet to bring Mady a present which was the Cinderella baby doll. Oh she was so excited yet again. She slept with her last night. 

She finally went to bed at 8 pm and woke up a few times last night I'm guessing now since she was not feeling well.

This morning she has thrown up once and is currently asleep on the floor. If you know my child you know how rare that is. Poor girl. 

We are celebrating with family in NJ next weekend and I know she is going to have a blast!

It was not exactly how I pictured her birthday going but hey that's life! No worries, once she is feeling better, you better believe we are making a trip to Friendly's for some belated birthday ice cream!

I'll have a two year old tomorrow...AH!

Tomorrow my Mady girl turns two. Specifically at 4:37pm but no worries we will be celebrating all day.

I cannot believe everything that has happened in the past year. It seemed like just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday!

Here is some of what happened in the past year...

Daddy came home from Deployment! Happy Days!

We moved to Virginia Beach. Not so happy days. (haha)

We celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, and Halloween!

We moved you to a big girl bed. (Tonight is the first night actually...didn't go as smoothly as I hope but whatever that's life)

Took many, many trips back to NJ to visit Nana and Pop Pop and MomMom

You love swimming in the pool.

You went to your first water park.

You learned shapes like circle, heart, square, star, and triangle.

You love watching the princess movies more specifically Beast, Addie, and Ho-Ho's (now in non-goob language...Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Snow White.)

More than anything else, you love, love, love Curious George!

We moved three times in a 7 month period. Ugh. But you were fantastic through it all.

You love to color and play with blocks.

You love the beach.

We're still working on the darn paci.

plus so, so, so much more.

You are the most fantastic 2 year old I have ever met. I never knew my heart could love like it does for you. 

I love you forever and always my sweet Madelyn.