Anastasia 15 mo stats and pics

This post is a little late, but better late than never!  At Staci's 15 mo appt, she got 2 vaccinations and impressed Dr E with all her sign language skills.  She is still right at/around the fiftieth percentile for both height and weight--and twentieth for head size.  She got Mommy's head size which isn't altogether a bad thing! We still have plenty of brains, that is for sure. ;)

Height: 30.5 inches
Weight: 21lbs 13oz

Thanks to my awesome photographer friend Mandy at Mandy Leonards Photography, we have some adorable photos to share!

This last one is my absolute favorite! I love that squishy, devious smile <3

Big News

Everyone who frequents this blog already knows, and Max and I are looking for a fun way to tell long distance family. so, here it is!

No one was more shocked than me to see that line pop up on the pregnancy test! I tested because I was planning on drinking wine that evening, and since my cycles hadn't become regular yet (in fact, I only had one) I figured it was a good precautionery measure.  I was so surprised I walked out to tell Max, and couldn't utter a word.  I ended up just handing him the pregnancy test.  He jumped up and hugged me, and I just started giggling.  With everything we went through to get pregnant with Staci, I did not think there was any chance we would ever have a surprise pregnancy.  Obviously, I was wrong! 

I did have a little bit of spotting a few days after the positive test and went into the doctor for some bloodwork to see what my levels were doing.  the first level came back at 156, and the second was 397.  It more than doubled in 48 hours which is fantastic, and faster than the doubling time from when I was pregnant with Staci.  

We went for an ultrasound on Wednesday, 7/14 and I was measuring 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant, so exactly where I thought I was.  we got to see the heartbeat and even got to hear it for a little bit.  The heart was beating at 120 beats per minute, which is just about perfect for how far along I am.  I think the heart rate will go up over the next couple of weeks. If it stays low, I will be thinking boy!

In the ultrasound above, the baby is on the right and the yolk sac is on the left. 

So far, I have been feeling pretty nauseous for about a week.  I ordered some psi bands and got them today, they seem to be helping a little.  Basically, they put pressure on an accupressure point that is supposed to disrupt your nervous system's recognition of nausea.  I'm glad to be feeling some relief!  When I was pregnant with Staci I used the b-natal therapops and those worked well, despite the icky too sweet flavor of the cherry I had.  This time I got the green apple flavor but they are still too sweet and not all that effective with this pregnancy--which is unfortunate.

Other than nausea, I have been outrageously hungry and it seems if I am not shoving food in my mouth I'm nauseated.  So, I might be gaining a lot more weight with this baby--I'm hoping I don't! I am also exhausted.  Pregnant and breastfeeding my 15 month old is really wearing me out.  yawn.

Although there are some unpleasant symptoms, I am so thrilled to be expecting again!!  My babies will be about 23 months apart, which is how far apart my brother and I are. I think it will be perfect.  I can't wait to find out of this is a boy or a girl!

I won't be sharing this on facebook for a while, so please no comments there quite yet.  But most people that read this blog already know, and the ones that don't are family so we decided to go for it! ;)

How do you DO it?!

Since having a baby, our house has become increasingly neglected.  Increasingly more disorganized.  Increasingly more, well, just plain dirty. *hangs head in shame*  Seriously though, I can not find the motivation to keep our house 'company ready'.  And I have a sixth sense things are only going to get worse! I have talked about starting FLYLady on here before, and I did start it.  I never made it past the first week. 

I've been like that with a few things in my life. The diving team, my college major... but mostly when I decide to do something I jump in with both feet.  I guess that's why I'm struggling with this so much. I just can't seem to commit myself to a daily routine. 

Which brings me to the title of this post--how do you do it?  How do you keep the house clean while wrangling a toddler who instantly unfolds what you just folded, pulls out what you just put away, dumps things all over the floor, and then wants to read a story?  I am at a loss!

15 Months Old

Dear Staci,

You are 15 months old!  Not a day goes by that you don't make your Dad and I laugh and leave us in a state of amazement.  You are so much fun at this age!  You are walking everywhere but still falling quite a bit.  You love to dance, and when we ask you to, you sway back and forth complete with your own song.  It goes kind of like this "eh eh eh eh mm mm mm".  You love to give hugs and say, "ahhhh" as you dole them out.  You give these hugs to Lovey, Shania, Rascal, your friends Bella and Veronica, and of course Mommy and Daddy. 

We went to the Zoo yesterday and had so much fun! You absolutely loved the dolphin show and practically jumped up and down the entire time.  You clapped and laughed and squealed as they performed for you.  You were your normal fearless self and made friends with everyone around us, making sure to tell everyone 'hi'.  It was very hot, but you didn't complain at all.  It was hard to get you to stay in the stroller and we had a few battles when Mommy got too tired to carry you any farther, but we made it through.  Eventually, you fell asleep and Mommy loved watching you sleep for a little while.

--You are still nursing 3-4 times a day and once or twice at night
--You are finally falling asleep on your own.  On occasion you fuss a bit, and tonight you started crying :(  I got up to check on you, but you quieted down before I got to your door.  So, you must have been OK.

--You are wearing 12-18mo and 18mo sized clothing

--Your communications skills are excellent for your age.  You are speaking single words and combining signs left and right like 'milk, please' and saying 'up' but then signing 'please'. 

--Your signs include milk, please, thank you, mama, eat, and bath.  You have made up your own signs for 'fancy' and 'closed'.  I love that my 15 month old says 'fancy'!!

--You know where your belly button, mouth, nose, eyes, and hair are. 

--You have six teeth.

--It is difficult for Mommy to keep the house clean because you pull things out of cabinets, open them, and dump the contents out on the floor.  Or just take random things and leave them in random places!  I can't wait for you to talk so you can tell me where you put my mascara.

--You figured out how to undo the childproof cap ages ago. 

Mommy and Daddy love you, Anastasia.  Thank you for being a constant source of joy in our home.

...and we're back

Gosh it's been a long time since I've updated on here.  First of all, sleeping is going SO much better, and consistantly so.  This is the first time, ever, that sleep has been consistantly better.  I feel like she was finally ready, and because she was ready there was very little crying when we finally got to the point of laying her down awake and off to sleep.  Thank goodness! The past 2 weeks she has only woken up once or twice (mostly twice) but I will take it!
 
Secondly, we have a little walker on our hands!  She has just taken off in the walking department, going from just a few steps at a time to full on walking through the house--all in just a few weeks.  It's amazing how fast she learns!  She also can sign the words 'milk', 'please', 'eat', 'drink', 'all done', and 'more'.  She says 'up', 'mama', 'dada', 'hi', 'ki' (kitty), 'gee' (doggie) and has said lots of other words one time but those are her go-to words that I hear constantly.  She knows where her nose, eyes, hair, and belly button are and I'm hopeful to teach her some more body parts soon. 

Staci is going to be 15 months old tomorrow. She is officially a toddler.  I'm the mommy of a toddler.  WOAH.  MAMA.  but my gosh, I am loving every minute.  Being a mommy is so cool! ;)

oh so frustrated

To say my daughter is a bad sleeper is like saying 9/11/01 was a bad day.  I mean really, it is awful.  Last night was the first night in almost a week where she DIDN'T wake up for 2+ hours in the middle of the night.  I'd consider it a victory if it hadn't taken 2 hours to get her to go to sleep, resulting in her finally going down at 10pm.  It's currently 8:59pm and we have been trying to get her to go to sleep for over an hour. In that hour I nursed her 2 times, she got crazy upset in her crib while Max stood outside just trying to get her to calm down.  After just a few minutes she vomited everywhere, so I went in to help clean her and the room up at which point she asks for milk again. so, that's 3 times nursing now in a little over an hour.  Did I mention she is 14 months old? She can be completely calm and near sleep and the second I even get near her crib she erupts into a fit of screams.  Like, she's not just a little upset.  It's all out WAR to her, and she's not losing.  Strong willed doesn't even BEGIN to describe it. 

GAH.  I just had to get that out!

First Steps

Anastasia took her very first steps today!!!  I was making dinner while Daddy played with her, and I missed them.  Max SCREAMED, "MEEEGAAANN!!!" and I dropped everything and took the stairs 2 and 3 at a time. My heart was in my throat--I thought for sure she fell and hurt herself BAD or was choking or something terrible with the way he yelled my name. I got up there and he calmly stated, "Staci just took her first steps."  At which point I screamed, hugged her, and cried.

I cried for a few reasons.  1) I missed them.  I immediately felt like a horrible mother.  HOW on EARTH could I miss my daugher's VERY FIRST steps?! 2) Tears of joy.  I don't think I ever truly understood happy tears until giving birth.  What an amazing feeling. MY BABY IS WALKING!  and 3) a small part of my brain said, "HOLY SHIT! I REALLY HAVE TO BABYPROOF NOW!!"  and if you have ever tried to babyproof anything, you totally get that one.

Never fear, Staci did a repeat performance after dinner.  She can take 2-3 steps before she needs someone to catch her, but gosh--you gotta start somewhere, right? I am so happy I got to see it.  My baby girl is walking!  What a momentous occasion!

Dearest Staci,
  Congratulations sweetheart.  May those first steps be the start of some very happy feet for you.  Wherever they lead--be it to dance, to run, to jump, to spin in circles until you fall down, to far off places, may you always find yourself surrounded by love and laughter. My heart is so full right now. 

Love,

Mommy