Luke is One Week Old!

Luke is one week old today.  We are all doing well, but I would like to ask that you pray for him as he has developed jaundice.  His levels were fine leaving the hospital, but at his newborn appointment on Monday, they sent us back over to the hospital to have them retested.  They were borderline, so we fed him like crazy (hoping to flush out as much as we could) and went back 24 hours later.  They have dropped, but the doctor still wants us to go back tomorrow to make sure they're falling rapidly enough.  He is so very, very sleepy and difficult to wake when it's time to feed him.  It often takes me 45 minutes to an hour to get 15 minutes worth of feeding into him.  Considering I'm aiming for once every 2.5 hours during the day and 3-3.5 at night, you can imagine it's been a long couple of days!  Still, we are getting a decent amount of rest and Audrey is handling things remarkably well.  Her sleep hasn't been disturbed at all and though we've had a few bad behavior incidents, I wouldn't call any of them out of the ordinary for her 2.5 year old self! Pray all that continues and that his levels fall and he becomes a more alert eater.  And yes, pray for poop.  How often do you get a request like that?! 


Pics are up in the gallery!  Enjoy! 

Luke Edward Sinyard's Arrival

Last Friday I had my 37 week check-up and was diagnosed with preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure that can only be cured by delivering the baby.)  It wasn't super high, but considering I always run very low, my doctor was concerned.  He put me on bed rest and scheduled an induction to begin on Tuesday evening.  

I was not a happy camper.  I called David as soon as Audrey and I got in the van (we'd figured he could skip this appointment - oops) and started blubbering about how I didn't want to be induced and was fearful that Luke wouldn't be ready.  As I'd written in earlier posts, the doctor had already discussed an induction with me, but that was for 39 weeks, not 37.5.  Those final days can make a huge difference in lung development and weight.  Moreover, I was nearly 100% convinced I wouldn't need to be induced and would go before then, especially since the doctor had said he would strip my membranes at 38.5, which sends most second-time moms into labor within 48 hours. 

SO, 37.5 weeks had me stressed for sure.  Not so much because I wouldn't be ready, but because of the induction process itself.  Great for the blood pressure, no doubt.  David calmed me down and said he'd be home to help me as soon as Audrey woke up from her nap.  I spread the news to our parents, spent $200 stocking up at the grocery store, ran by Goodwill to drop stuff off, and swung by to get an oil change.  After that, AJ and I headed home to finish packing everyone's bags for the hospital.  When David got home, I gave him a haircut and then cleaned out the fridge.  (I gotta confess - I am terrible at the bed rest thing.)  I did take it much easier the following few days, squeezing in stuff here and there amid lots of lying around.  My mom came out on Monday and I snuck away for a pedicure.  The one major pro of a scheduled induction is that you have an exact date by which to finish everything...including that all-important pre-delivery pedicure.  Monday night after a quiet dinner at home, we treated Audrey with a trip to the frozen yogurt place and let her eat as much as she wanted.  Considering it was nearly freezing outside, that wasn't a lot.  We came home, got her ready for bed, and I tucked her in.  It felt like the end of an era.

By Tuesday, I was over the bed rest (even my lax version) and sent David off to work promising I wouldn't stroke-out as I scrubbed the toilets and ran to Target.  He wisely came home at lunch that day to keep an eye on me and attempt to make me rest.  We soaked up our last hours as a family of three playing and then all taking naps. David's parents came to pick Audrey up around 4:30 and take her back to their house.  I was so emotional watching her go.  Though we were obviously ecstatic to bring Luke home and make our family complete, there is definitely a sense of mourning over knowing your only child/baby's role is changing.

After they left, we showered and called the hospital to find out if they were ready for us to check-in.  As it turned out, they were slammed with deliveries that evening and told us to call back at 7:30pm.  We ate dinner, watched TV, and did a few last minute non-necessity things that kept us busy.  When we called back at 7:30pm, they still weren't ready and this time took down my number and said they'd call me.  FUN.  Again, the stress, anxiety, and waiting was just what the doctor ordered for high blood pressure.  The phone rang at 9pm and we were told to head up.  With the car already loaded, we took a minute to lock-up and make sure everything was in order.  I can't tell you how good it did my Type-A OCD heart to know that every room was spotless, every laundry basket was empty, and everything on my list was done.  Maybe there was a little up side to the whole induction thing.  Before walking out, we took a moment and prayed together, knowing that whatever lied ahead was going to need God's grace.  We nervously talked and laughed (it's hilarious to me how chatty David gets when he's anxious) on the way to the hospital.  We joked about how late it was for us to be out and how completely weird it felt to be walking in to the hospital pain-free and slowly this time.

We completed the registration process and walked back to our delivery room (again, very different than the painful fog of Audrey's arrival.)  I changed, climbed into the hospital bed, and then the nurse came in and hooked me up to the fetal monitor, blood pressure monitor, and IV while asking a million questions in her thick accent.  She checked my progress and I was 3cm and 50% effaced.  I had been 2cm and 50% at my 36 week appointment a week and a half prior, so that wasn't as much progress as I'd expected.  Though I'd sort of hoped we'd go straight into pitocin to speed things along, my doctor had written up the order for me to receive an oral Cervidil pill first.  I took that at 10pm and uncomfortably lied there listening to Luke's pounding heartbeat on the monitor and the moans of several women on the hall attempting natural labor.  As you might guess, there was zero sleep for either of us with all of the commotion.  

At 4am, I still was not in a regular contraction pattern.  The good news was that meant I wasn't in much pain.  The bad news is that meant labor wasn't starting with just the Cervidil.  However, more good news came with the nurse discovered I was 4cm and that meant they could begin pitocin.  Although I'd already given myself "permission" to have an epidural with a pitocin delivery (the drug makes contractions much closer and more powerful than natural labor), I had considered waiting until I was 6cm in the hopes that an epidural wouldn't slow things down.  However, feeling as exhausted as I was and having lied there for six hours listening to screaming women on the hall, I took the charge nurse's advice and went ahead and requested one.  I gotta confess, I don't regret it a bit.  The anesthesiologist was wonderful.  Though David thought he was a bit too relaxed (at one point he joked that he'd already had his screw-up of the night since he'd had to redo one), I thought he did a great job putting me at ease and getting the job done.  By 6am, I was numb from the waist down.

Then came the scary part.   A side effect of epidurals is that they can cause a drop in blood pressure.  Shouldn't have been an issue considering mine was high, right?  In fact, that was another reason I decided to go with one.  I figured that being in intense pain certainly wasn't going to help my numbers and that if the epidural actually caused them to drop a bit, that was a good thing.  The nurse hung around and watched my readings for nearly fifteen minutes after the anesthesiologist left.  The moment she walked out the door, I told David I felt light-headed and nauseous.  Suddenly my monitor alarm began going off and read 80/40.  David scrambled to press the nurse's button and find me something to get sick in.  Several people came rushing in, straight out of scene from ER.  One pushed ephedrine into my IV, the other handed me a vomit bag, and a third began rechecking my pressure.  Within 60 seconds, I felt better again, though David may still be trying to recover.  They gave me more IV fluids, which made me unbelievably cold, and the nurse stayed with me for awhile until she was sure my dramatics were over.  

We waited some more, attempted to watch a little TV, and rested.  They didn't start the pitocin until nearly 7am.  At 7:30, my OB came by to see me and let me know he'd be back in an hour or so to break my water.  When he returned at 9am to do so, I was only 6cm and getting impatient.  I'd been there nearly 12 hours and I'd only progressed 3cm!  Turns out I didn't need to worry.  The nurse told me to call if I started feeling pain or pressure.  A little after 10am, I began feeling each and every contraction and it was unbelievably agonizing.  David called the nurse and told her he thought my epidural was wearing off.  She came in, checked me, and reported my epidural wasn't wearing off, but that I was just ready to have a baby!  I'd gone from 6cm to 10cm and the baby had fully dropped in just over an hour.  They paged my OB, who walked in the room at 10:30 and began setting up.  Shortly thereafter, they told me to push.  Less than fifteen minutes and three contractions' worth of pushing later, at 10:56am, I looked down and saw Luke born.  What a glorious sight.

They placed him on my chest and I immediately realized God had answered every fervent prayer I'd uttered over the last 9 months and especially few days.  His lungs were clearly healthy and his weight and size were not an issue at all.  At 8lbs 13oz and 20.5" long, he'd surpassed his sister in size.  I cannot imagine what would've happened if we'd waited much longer to have him!

We watched as the nurses cleaned him up, took his footprints, and gave him his eye drops.  They handed him back to me and I checked him over.  He was a masterpiece, for sure, complete with fuzzy blond hair and two dimples.  My dad came in and held him and visited for a few minutes.  All too soon they whisked Luke away to the nursery for his bath and shots and I focused on scarfing down the most delicious turkey sandwich I'd ever eaten in my entire life.  Or maybe I was just that hungry and hadn't hold cold deli meat since June.  After I ate, they moved me up to the post partum floor and David and my dad took turns keeping an eye on Luke through the nursery glass as he got his first bath and shots.  He came back in the room and had his own version of the best turkey sandwich ever before I took a shower and then we all fell asleep for a blissful short nap.  

Later that day, David's parents, Audrey, and my mom came up to visit.  David went out to get Audrey and bring her into our room.  It was really important to me that she meet him by herself first so she could feel special.  David carried her in and she silently began looking around frantically.  I pointed over at the bassinet.  David let her lean in and took a good look at her new little brother.  She wondered allowed why he was so still and then declared how cute he was.  She gave him the teddy bear she'd made for him and then came and sat with me on the bed.  David placed Luke in my arms and we talked about him and snuggled.  We took pictures for a few minutes before letting her introduce him to his Nana, Grandmom, and Granddad.  AJ fussed over his blanket, hat, and socks and gave him kisses and pats as he got passed around.  When she started getting squirmy, we knew it was time to say goodbye and sent everyone on their way.

The next 24 hours were kind of a blur of nursing sessions, check-ups, tests, eating, and a little sleep.  We didn't have any visitors on Thursday, which was great because we had at least 15 various hospital staff come by on top of handling a lactation consultation, circumcision, and check-ups of my blood pressure.  Contrary to what I thought (and what my still-swollen legs show), it doesn't immediately come down in the hours after giving birth.   It takes days and even weeks for everything to return to normal.  Still, the doctor was satisfied with where it was holding, so at 4:30pm, we loaded ourselves and our 29 hour old son in the van and headed home.  Though we could've stayed longer, I couldn't imagine a third night in the hospital and all the interrupted sleep that would entail.  Determined not to short-change the child on his second day of life, we took plenty of pictures of his homecoming while we waited on David's parents to bring Audrey over.  When they arrived, we visited for a few, took more pictures, and then said goodbye and ate dinner.

That night, though only two days ago, is also already a blur.  Being his second night, we were prepared for the "second night delight" phenomenon where there is a lot of crying and nursing, but he still did better than expected.  We got short shifts of sleep and woke up to face our first full day as a family of four.  

The first few days at home have been going very well.  We've had a few visitors and made some great memories.  Audrey has been doing great with him and we've actually been getting decent sleep.  Last night we got one three hour shift and two two hour shifts - literally more than in Audrey's first few days of life combined!  Luke is nursing well and only slightly jaundiced.  We have his newborn appointment in the morning, so we'll feel better after that I'm sure.  We survived his first sponge bath and have only been peed on a handful of times.  We are managing to keep Audrey from being too cuddly or "helpful" and are somehow managing this divide-and-conquer thing pretty well.  Of course, I did have my first break-down moment last night.  As I was tucking Audrey in (we're still trying to keep her routines normal and therefore take turns) Luke was screaming to be fed.  I looked at her and wondered if I'd hugged her enough that day and began sobbing my way through "He's Got the Whole World."  I realized it's going to be quite some time before any of my family gets my 100% again, but that that's okay.  We're covered in prayer, doing the best we can, and knowing God's grace is going to fill in the gaps.

So welcome home, Luke.  We are so glad you're finally here.  You're an amazing, adorable miracle and we're honored to have you complete our family.

More updates and pictures to come...eventually.  :)  Until then, here are a couple of teasers.  The first is immediately after birth, the second is heading home, and the third is from his first sponge bath last night (after which Audrey started crying because she thought she was hurting him while helping me dry him off.  Let's hope she always cares so much!)

Thank you so much for your prayers and support in the past week.  Please, keep them coming!

Letter to My Firstborn

Dear Audrey,


Your time as an only child is coming to an end and, frankly, I find myself a little sentimental about it.  To think that in just a short time you will be a big sister and we will be a family of four is still difficult to wrap my mind around.  Never again will it just be the three of us.  Many people would say that you got the better end of the bargain:  32 months of having your father and me completely to yourself.  Over two and a half years of undivided attention, unshared toys, and uninterrupted interaction.  (For the most part.)


Still, the way I see it, Luke is going to have it pretty good, too.  When you go to preschool this fall, he'll have some one-on-one attention.  When you go off to school, he'll have me to himself most of the time.  When you leave for college (ugg), he'll get nearly the same amount of time ruling the roost as you did.  But more than all of that, he'll get our experience.  He'll get our confidence.  He'll get the benefit of our learned lessons, which we really owe to you.


So thank you, sweet girl, for being our first teacher.  Yes, we read the books and took the classes, but you...you were our first real educator.  And an amazing one at that.  You were patient and flexible with us.  You were quick to forgive and forget.  You were trusting.  Warranted or not, you believed we could do it.  You have taught us so much about parenting but an awful lot more about LIFE and LOVE and GOD.  Oh, the things God has taught me about Himself through you will never be taken for granted or forgotten. 

No doubt we still have an awful lot to learn from you and, soon, from your brother.  I imagine he's going to have all sorts of lessons in store for each of us as well.  I'm ready, Love.   You will be too.  Hang in there and keep being patient.  I know your world is about to change, but I promise, promise, promise that it'll (eventually) be for the best. 


Love you more than you'll ever know,


Mommy
xoxoxo

Similarities in Toddlerhood and Pregnancy

At nine months pregnant, I have come to a realization.  (Which is amazing, actually, since any thinking at this point is a miracle.)  My discovery is that my two and a half year old and I have quite a bit in common these days.  In honor of being full-term today, I've compiled a list below of the top ten similarities between us:


1.  Tantrums.  Though they can be brought on or aggravated by hunger and frustration, they often appear without warning and at the worst possible time.


2.  Mood swings and drama.  In addition to tantrums, we can both go from complete highs to bummed out lows in no time.  Or one second there are bursts of energy and the next we're lying down on the couch exhausted, wanting to rest and be left alone.  I haven't started sucking my thumb for comfort lately, but if someone suggested it would work for insomnia, I totally would.


3.  Bladdar issues.  Neither of us have a whole lot of control these days of when and where we have to go. Just be ready to get out of our way when we do and treat us to an M&M afterward.


4.  Lack of communication skills.  Though Audrey is quite the little talker, she often likes to make up nonsensical words and rhymes that no one understands at all.  Which is exactly what I'm sure I sound like to David most of the time, either from insanity or forgetfulness of basic English vocabulary.


5.  Need for naps and early bedtime.  I'm not sure who is requiring more sleep at this point.  She's still got the lead on actually getting more, though.  


6.  The inability to put on our own shoes.  One of us from lack of skill, the other from lack of breath and reach. 


7.  Klutziness.  Between my center of gravity having completely shifted and her still being relatively new (having only done it 17 months) to the whole walking/running/climbing/moving thing, neither of us should attempt steps without holding on to an adult's hand.


8.  Requiring regular snacks and meals.  We both need to be fed often to keep our blood sugar levels stable.  See #1 for what happens if we get hungry.


9.  Messy eating.  On top of having to eat often, I can't have a meal these days without wearing it on my "shelf."  I'm tempted to put both of us in bibs.


10.  Growth rate.  She's growing up, I'm growing out, but we are both getting so big so fast.  The difference is that she keeps getting cuter as she grows and I just keep getting, well...larger. 


And I'll leave you with one more good laugh at my expense.  This is a clip from one of my favorite shows, Scrubs.  Totally relatable right now.  Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

Updates and Prayer Requests:

• David's grandmother is doing better and is off the oxygen.  She'll go see her heart doctor next week for tests/plan of action, so pray for that.

• Audrey has been sick this week.  Again.  In the past six weeks, she's had a stomach bug and two colds, one that lasted nearly two weeks and both of which are accompanied by a terrible sounding cough.  She's on the mend now, but please pray that this will be it and she'll stay well.  We really need a healthy household and some good rest before Luke's arrival!  Operation "Living in a bubble" will begin after our mega play date this Tuesday.

• AJ's potty training and sleep regression issues are both better.  

• My insomnia is getting ridiculous.  I'm up for about 3 hours in the middle of the night most nights a week.  When I can sleep, it's interrupted by 3-4 trips to the bathroom or that will be the one or two nights a week Audrey still wakes up crying.  Please pray for rest!!!

This week's list...

1.  Being full-term.  This Saturday marks the 37th week of my pregnancy, meaning I will have reached full-term.  That could so easily be taken for granted, but when I stop and think about those struggling to conceive and the odds of miscarriage (approx. 15%), I praise God for that we've reached this point.  

2.  Friends.  This week, I've had multiple reminders of how blessed I am by the women friendships in my life.  One baked me "Hang in there" brownies (I refuse to admit how many are already gone), another has casseroles waiting to deliver to me for my freezer, and a third will be loaning me her bassinet for us to use downstairs for a few weeks.  I know these sweet ladies and others are praying and checking up on me continuously, and I am so very grateful.  

3.  Time with Audrey.  David and I declared last Saturday morning as special Audrey time.  We took her to the mall and let her make two bears at Build-a-Bear, one for herself and one to bring Luke in the hospital.  We also rode the merry-go-round, ate Chick-fil-A, threw pennies in the fountain, and got a cookie treat.  She was elated and we loved spoiling her a little bit.  Of course, as I told my Dad, if we really wanted to prepare her for what's about to happen, we should've just sat her in a corner and ignored her all weekend.  Oh well...she had a blast and so did we.  I know we'll cherish the time as one of our last "family of three" memories.

4.  Pez dispensers and the joy they bring.  We got Audrey one for Valentine's Day and she loves it!  It may well be the reason potty training has gone better this week.  Sometimes it's the little things.

5.  A pre-baby to-do list that fits on one page.  Most of the major, major stuff (car seat installation, packing my hospital bag) is completed, but what's left are about 12 things that fall into the "it would be nice, but it isn't critical" category.  That feels good.  It will feel even better to knock them out, so pray for a productive (but restful) weekend!  I need one more week and then I need a baby in my arms, so join me in naming and claiming it, y'all!

Happy Valentine's Day

This is the 12^th Valentine’s Day I’ve celebrated with my best friend.  Some years we’ve gotten dressed up and gone out to a fancy dinner.  Other years we exchanged very romantic handmade or lavish store-bought gifts.  There have been quite a few years we spent the day apart with him on the other side of the world for work.  This year, however, with a baby due in a couple of weeks, him having customers in town, and a sick toddler on our hands, these $1 boxes of candy were our gifts to each other.  Tonight we’ll bake cookies with Audrey, bathe and put her to bed together, and then cuddle up on the couch and watch our favorite show.  And that, to me, is the best and most romantic Valentine’s Day we could ask for this year.  On top of that, he let me have his box of chocolates too.  Awesome guy, that one.  I love you more than you will ever, ever know, David Sinyard.  Happy Hearts Day. xoxo

Thankful Thursday

Did you see below?  TWO new posts since last week's TT post?  If not, be sure you check 'em out!


I know you must be sick of hearing about my pregnancy, because I sure am getting sick of being pregnant.  I have been pregnant since June.  Late June, but still...JUNE, people.  However, now I'm in that "done-with-being-pregnant-but-really-not-ready-for-labor-and-a-newborn" phase.  However, they're mutually exclusive.  SO, guess I'd better get ready. Everything I do these days I find myself mentally checking off how many more times I'll do it/whether it was the last time I'll do it before he arrives.  The last haircut, one more carwash, the last time packing food bags, three more small group sessions, the last dinner with those particular friends, two more trips to the bank, the last time I buy such-and-such...it's kind of a fun game that seems to help me mentally.  If there is help for me mentally at this point, that is.  


Updates/Prayer Requests:

• I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow and will know how much, if any, "progress" has begun.  Please pray for a good word!

• David's Grandmother is doing better, but still has a long road full of more doctor appointments and testing and developing a plan.  Please continue to pray for her and the family members who are trying to guide her.

• After undergoing over two months of sleep regression issues (which are infinitely better, but still not back to 100%), the past few days have held potty training regression issues.  Audrey is still a far cry from what I would personally call potty trained because she never initiates...we just have to take her every hour or so.  She will hold it like crazy and would go 8-1o day stretches of never having an accident.  Lately, however, she's been wetting just a little 2-3 times a day and not telling us.  It's not a lot, but I know she can do better.  UGGG.  Please pray for her and us as we deal with that on top of whatever other issues are bound to crop up with her world shifting so much.

Here is this week's list:

1.  My women's Bible Study and our couples' small group starting back up.  After being on break since before Christmas, it is a much needed return!  Even if I'll only be there for 3 weeks and then have to take 3-4 weeks off, at least I'll be bringing them back an adorable mascot.

2.  Finding a good preschool for Audrey.  We chose one and secured her a spot there this past Tuesday.  Oy.  I had to go to Babies R Us immediately afterward to buy some things for Luke and help myself cope.  Still, I feel good about where she'll go and am excited for all of us about her beginning that new chapter come fall.  And, let's be honest, I am PUMPED about shopping for her school supplies.

3.  Quality sitters.  Be it grandparents, our favorite "Miss A", or a friend, it means the world to have someone you trust taking good care of your baby.

4.  Laundry.  There is only one time a woman looks forward to doing laundry:  just before a baby comes.  All those tiny new outfits, all that sweet smelling Dreft.  Ahhhhh.

5.  (Skipping song again.)  The full, bright moon tonight.  Gorgeous, no?  God is such a magnificent Artist.

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!  We have some fun things planned for Audrey to soak up our last days as a family of three, so pray we all stay well/sleep well/feel well and enjoy them!

January 2012 Recap

With Luke on the way, I know my blogging time is about to be shortened...not that you're getting a whole lot of great material these days anyway!  I've decided to try something new in the hopes that it'll be easier to update small chunks more frequently than attempting to do large, quarterly updates of news and pictures.  And since AJ's birth date is the 20th and I'm hoping and praying that Luke will be born at the end of this month, I figured that end-of-the-month recaps will be relatively close to their birth dates.  Of course, I won't likely make it on the actual last day of the month, but I figured as long as I get it in by the 5th of the next month, I'm doing pretty well.  


So, without further adieu, and with my apologies for the crude bullet point style and less-than-perfect grammar, here is the January 2012 recap of quips/quotes/other riveting news that did not make it into a Thankful Thursday or other previous post:

• We had maternity pictures done the first weekend of the month.  On a side note that only two of my readers will truly appreciate (AMP and MH), I have been growing my hair out for over a year, knowing that I wanted long hair this pregnancy.  I imagined how pretty and feminine it would look, especially in maternity pictures.  Being January, I'd hoped it would be chilly with low humidity and, therefore, my straight, thin hair would actually hold curl.  Alas, it was sprinkling that day and five minutes in, it looked horrible and stringy.  I kept thinking of the quote in "Little Women" where Amy says to Jo after she cuts off all of her hair, "You've lost your one true beauty!"  Because let's face it, when you're this pregnant and this large, your hair is just about all you've got going for you.  Oh well.  Look for pictures soon.  Stringy hair and all.

• We've been touring and researching preschools for Audrey.  Registration for fall begins in February and she'll be attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 - 1:30 beginning in September.  For a split second, I thought to myself, "Eight hours a week?!?  WHAT am I going to do with myself for eight free hours a week?  I'll be such a better wife and mother because of all that I can accomplish in that time.  I'll be able to focus more on Audrey and not worry about doing as many errands, as much housework, etc.!"  Then I remembered...I'll have a second kid by then.  No worries.  It'll only be 3 1/2 more years before I get that kind of time alone.  Piece of cake.

• Audrey's imagination is flourishing these days and is cracking us up.  As often as we can, we bombard her with questions to get her thinking about the next part of a story she's telling or the next step in a problem she's thinking through.  One of my favorite examples was during bath time a few weeks ago.  She said she was going on a trip.  I asked her if she remembered to pack her suitcase.  She answered, "Yup!  Here it is!" as she held up her green bucket.  I asked what was in it.  "Strawberries," she answered, without batting an eye.  At least she won't go hungry.

• One Saturday morning, we went to get her up and then all crawled back into our bed together.  We laid there trying to get another minute's rest (futile, of course) and at one point I told her she was on my pillow.  She took her thumb out of her mouth and said, "Well, what do you want me to do or say about it?" and stuck her thumb back in.  I almost started a pillow fight.

• Speaking of thumb-sucking, we're trying to remind her not to do it quite as much.  I don't harp on it, because I think it's completely pointless to try and break that habit before her world shifts with a new brother, but every once in a while we'll remind her.  She's not at all interested in our nagging, though, and even told David the other night, "Don't look at me while I climb up on the couch behind you and suck my thumb, okay?"

• In the store the other day she came running up to me saying, "This is how I roll!  This is how I roll, Mommy!"  Such a ghetto saying from a two year old surprised me until I looked up and saw her rolling one arm over the other in a patty-cake/dance move motion.  Nice.

• I was doing some cleaning in the upstairs bathrooms using bleach.  David and Audrey came upstairs and David said, "Shew!  It stinks!" Audrey said, "No Daddy!  That smells good!"  That's my girl!

• She knows we've gotten super strict about our nap time and bedtime routines and expectations.  (Didn't think that was possible, but nonetheless...) Recently when David was putting her down for a nap, he was singing one of his usual songs.  As if she was anxious to get the inevitable over with she told him:  "Just do it, Daddy.  Just put me to bed.  Do it."

• We've also been trying to crack down on the whining and fake crying that comes out of that child's mouth each day, so we created a reward system.  I made a smiley face and a frowny face, laminated them, and created small circles attachable with velcro dots.  Each morning, she starts the day with three circles/dots on the smiley face (four if she slept through the night without crying.)  If she disobeys, whines, or does that awful fake cry for no good reason, she has to move a dot to the frowny face.  She can also earn more dots for good behavior, but we rarely do this because we want her to realize it's expected as the norm.  For every dot she has left on the smiley face right before nap she gets a mini M&M.  Then, we start fresh after nap time with three more circles until bedtime.  So far, it's been relatively worthwhile!  I must admit though that it's slightly disturbing how little it bothers her when she has to move a dot.  It's almost like she enjoys the distraction, I guess.  She'll immediately stop crying and say, "Okay" and then inform whoever is around that she has to move one.  Whatever, my little rule follower.  

• I ruined our set of place mats in the washer and told her we needed to get some new ones.  She promptly replied, "Bed, Bath, and Beyond has some with chickens on them.  Do you think you'd like those?"  What on earth?!

• On the monitor the other morning I heard her say, "Bbb.  Bbb.  Bbb.  Booger starts with B!"  At least I knew what was awaiting me!

• Her little brain is learning so much these days and lately she's been into similarities and differences.  Just making conversation at dinner one night without either food present, I asked her how a tomato and a strawberry were similar.  In a split second she answered that they were both red fruits.  (Yes, technically a tomato is a fruit.)  

• One a recent trip to Wal-Mart there was an alarm going off in the baby department that was driving me crazy.  I told her it was annoying me and then had to explain the word annoying several times.  A few minutes later, I brought up the awful sound again. "It's okay, Mommy," she told me.  "Just move on."  

We don't need to revisit her stomach bug, our awful colds, or the scary pregnancy cramping, but they were certainly also big moments this month!  For the much happier times we had in January, see these posts: Our Babymoon, Luke's Baby Shower, and joining our church. 

And don't forget to review the new pics in the gallery!  There is one for the Babymoon, the Baby Shower, and January 2012 (which is all play dates - we've had a lot of them the past few weeks!)  Enjoy and here's hoping that the recap for February 2012 will include Luke stories too!!!

Baby Shower for Luke

Last Saturday my sisters-in-law threw me a baby shower for Luke.  It was so sweet and made me feel very special and celebrated.  The theme was woodland animals and it was adorable.  They had decorated with a clothes line of themed onesies, a beautiful blue and green banner with his name, an awesome diaper cake made by my mom, and a wish tree with handmade cards for people to write messages to Luke.  The food was decoration in and of itself (see pics) and tasted delicious!  There was fresh fruit, petit fours, cheese balls and crackers, trail mix, little "acorns", mini cocktail pigs in a blanket, and a cupcake pull-apart cake.  We visited, ate, played games (none concerning my weight or size of my belly, thank the Lord!), and then I got to open presents.  Luke got some really great things and I know years from now he'll be thankful he doesn't have a million baby pictures of him surrounded by pink toys, blankets, etc!  Before each guest left, they got a gorgeous hand-potted pansy or flowering kale in a mason jar.

Every detail was so thoughtful and creative and I greatly appreciate all of the hard work and love that went into it.  We also appreciate everyone that came out and all of the generous gifts!  Be sure to check out the gallery to see it all for yourself!

Thankful Thursday

Prayer requests/praises/updates:  

• David's Grandmother was checked into the hospital last Friday.  After testing, it's been determined that she had pneumonia brought on by congestive heart failure.  They have cleared up the pneumonia and sent her home to regain her strength so they can do tests on her heart and figure out a plan of action there.  Please pray for her and her kids as they figure out how best to handle everything.

• Another good report at the doctor today!  I'll be 35 weeks on Saturday, which means:
37 weeks (full term):  2 weeks away  38 weeks (doc’s prediction):  3 weeks away  39 weeks (when the doc will induce if he hasn't come):  4 weeks away
Maybe they should, but right now those numbers aren't freaking me out at all.  As far as what's left that "has" to be done, I have to wash his clothes, install the car seat, and finish packing the hospital bag.  I know there is a strong possibility that I'm going to have a moment in another week or so where I stress about the window screens not being cleaned or the mattress not being vacuumed or the curtains not being dry cleaned like the first time around, but right now, I gotta confess:  I couldn't care less.  And frankly, with only 2 or 3 days this month where I don't have something going on, I just don't have the time.  
• We are finally, finally getting over our colds.  AJ is still a little "green snotty" after nearly two weeks, so pray it completely clears soon and that we stay well!

• Decent sleep seems to finally be reestablished for Audrey.  She doesn't cry or fuss at all when going to bed and only wakes up once per night very briefly about 50% of the time.  Naps aren't an issue, just shortened (1 hour and 30 or 45 minutes max.)  She still takes nearly 45 minutes to fall asleep at night, even though I have to wake her from her nap most days in an effort to curtail that, but it doesn't seem to bother her, so we're not worrying about it.  Just pray she sleeps through Luke's wakings when the time comes.  

And, finally, this week's list:

1.  An amazing baby shower last weekend.  My sweet sisters-in-law threw me one fine party and it was wonderful.  More details and pics to come soon.


2.  Warm temps and two trips to the park the last couple of days!  I gotta admit, I thought being this pregnant in February would mean not sweating, but no such luck.  Still, AJ and I have thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor breaks lately and I hope General Beauregard Lee was right today about a short winter.  Of course, if it's like this "winter", I'll take more of it!

3.  Naps.  Yup, I took two this week and they were glorious.  And, surprisingly, I slept better on the nights that I took naps.  Hmmm.  I honestly don't know what's gotten into me to be okay with chilling a little bit like that, but I know it's a good thing.

4.  This place:  http://www.inkfun.org/  Kind of a haul (45 minutes door to door for us), but really, really worth it.  Thanks, KT, for introducing us!

5.  Skipping a song this week because I'm too lazy to choose one and look it up.  So, my #5 is the amazing foot rub that my super awesome husband is about to give me.  Ahhhh.....  goodnight, all!