Isabella, you little stinker!!!

This morning was just like normal: wake up, give kids breakfast, something to drink while I take my vitamins and get myself to wake up by washing dishes, etc etc.

Isabella asked for some water in our special light-up cup (you know, one of the ones you get at the concerts at the fair). Isabella and Connor were sitting at the dining table chit-chatting about this and that, arguing about something (like usual) and laughing REALLY loud about silly things (like usual). Ofcourse...as usual, I had to remind them that Daddy was sleeping and they needed to shush it a little. They're still cracking up about something and then next thing I know Connor just walks away.

I asked Connor what happened (as I noticed his fruit cup was still full). He said that Isabella swished some water in her mouth and spit it into his cup. YUCK. This whole time Isabella is cracking up and is just happy that now, she gets to eat the fruit cup. Yeah, you know, so it doesn't go to waste. Ingenious! Ofcourse, I had to quickly remind her that wasn't a nice to thing to do, yada, yada, yada.

Anyway, a few minutes later I picked up the light-up cup she was using and drank from it. As I'm doing this, she's just laughing and just had this sly look on her cute little face. After I finished drinking, I asked her "What's so funny?" In between her snorts, she tells me that she was swishing the water in her mouth and spit it back out...back in the same water cup I just drank from!!!! Ugh, GROSS!!! Then she had to add a little detail and again through her snorts, "Haha, I made you drink my slobber lemonade!!" HAHA, real funny. You little stinker!

*Don't worry, I will get her back*

Kids say some of the funniest things sometimes...

CONNOR

We were driving by Dove Creek Church yesterday and Connor noticed the banner they have posted in front of the church.  It said "FREE FAMILY FAIR FESTIVAL"... 

C: "Look Mom, that church is having a carnival on August 13th!"

M: "Oh cool, maybe we should go.  That sounds like fun!"

C: "You know Mom, I don't know about going to these free events."

M: "Why would you say that?  I like free events."

C: "Well you know, they say it's free, but all they really want is your money."

(I'm just about as shocked as you can be hearing this coming out of my 7-year-old son's mouth)

M: "Oh really, why do you think that?"

C: "Because every time we go somewhere that's free, they make you spend money there by making you buy things or if you want to do anything."

M: "Yeah I guess that's true, come to think of it."

Funny kid...

ISABELLA

So Isabella and I were snuggling on the couch this morning and talking about things we want to do for the rest of the week.  We're planning to go back to the Mid State Fair on Friday with Daddy (we went yesterday to ride the carnival rides while Daddy was at work) and the kids are super excited to go back.  Well Isabella fell in love with this nail polish set called the "Migi Nail Art" set that a vendor was selling at the fair.  She really really really wants them for her birthday...which isn't until September.  But there was just noooooo way I was going to spend $25 on a set of nail polish for her 5th birthday.  Mind you, I thought it was pretty cool too, but handing out that much money for something incredibly overpriced (and those who know me, I have a tough time buying anything without a coupon to begin with!) is just insane to me.  So Isabella was trying to reason with me and trying to persuade me to buy the nail polish...

I: "Mommy, I really want the nail thing.  Didn't you like it?"

M: "Yes I really liked it too.  But it was kind of expensive."

I: "Well you can get it for me for my birthday."

M: "You're right, I could, but I don't think so..."

I: "Well maybe I can give you 10 kisses and then you have to buy it for me."

M: "Really? 10 kisses huh?  How about 10,000?"

I: "Oh Mom, come on, I can't do that."

M: "Why not?"

I: "Ummm Mom, I can't count that high!"

LOL!  :)

Happy 3rd Birthday to my little girl!

I just can't believe it. Our little girl is now 3 years old. Today is a big day! She turns 3 AND it's also her 1st day of preschool. Happy Birthday Isabella dear!!! We love you so very much!!!

I love my kids...

They are just the most sacred things on this earth. I look at them and wonder how they got to be so smart and so darn cute. Can't help but think that they are just the most beautiful kids in the world. :) I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm their mommy either!

Happy 2nd Birthday Isabella!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my baby girl who turned 2 years old today. OMG, where has the time gone? I remember the moment you entered this world and completed our family. It makes me so sad knowing that in just a year, you're gonna be in preschool.

Our little Goombah, our little booger, our little princess, our crazy monkey...we LOVE you more than words can ever say. Your brother adores you so much that he would give his left leg to save you from whatever ails you (and you little girl would take that leg and hit him on the head with it). You're a little feisty being which only makes me wonder if that's a permanent trait 'cause you try so hard to be just like your brother.

You are the most beautiful girl I have ever set my eyes upon. And honestly, it's not just because I'm your mother that I'm saying that, it's because it's true. Everyone stares at your pretty face and the luscious curls on your head and takes the time to stop me anywhere we go to tell me just how beautiful you are. You have such a good heart, even how little you are, you already know how important love is and how to show it.

Some day you will be old enough to truly understand all the things that I am saying now. You are the most amazing daughter and I thank God for having Him give you to us. We love you and wish you the best birthday today!

Daddy's little girl...

4 days later and I'm still waiting for Connor to "freak" out. But no, he's been absolutely wonderful. He always says "Hi Isabella" and wants to kiss her and be close to her all the time. It's just wonderful to see him be such a great big brother!!! My hubby is staying home for a month so I am so thankful to have him around. He has been such an emotional mess since Isabella was born. There must be something about having a little girl...Daddy's little girl. It's so wonderful to have our family be complete. These past 4 days have been sooooooooooooo great. I am so happy!!! :)

Welcome to the world Isabella!

Happy Birthday Isabella!

My Birth Story

Around 1:30 am on the morning of Sept 8th (which is a REAL strange coincidence, since this is exactly the same time labor began when I was pregnant with Connor), I felt the need to poo. I had been pooping more than usual for 3 days in a row, so I had a feeling labor was gonna start any day now. Anyhow, I go to the bathroom and right after I'm done, I just felt really anxious. My hands felt really clammy and it felt like there was a chill going through my whole body. I drank 2 full glasses of water and started having contractions. I just felt like I was freezing cold and really anxious. My heart was beating super fast and I started feeling nervous. I called Jeramy at work at around 1:45 AM and told him what was going on. I didn't want to go to the hospital quite yet because I was just so unsure about what was going on...even though I had that feeling. I just KNEW it was time. So I told him I'd call him back. I started timing the contractions and they were like 10 mins apart. I was a little bit hesitant though since I wasn't experiencing any REAL pain yet. About 20 mins later, I called him back at work and told him I think it's time. He had already called his parents (who live right down the street) and they were just waiting for my phone call. The doctor told me to just go into the hospital, considering my history of a quick labor...better safe than sorry. I was really nervous about the whole thing and even then, that whole epidural idea was starting to look really good (even though it wasn't in my birth plan). Isabella was moving like crazy in my tummy too so that's why I was just thinking I was just feeling uncomfortable. But then again, my stomach kept tightening up for longer periods of time which wasn't normal, so I guess it was time!

J's parents came over and his dad brought me to the hospital while his mom stayed with Connor at the house. I think J's dad was more nervous than I was! We got to the hospital at around 2:30 and got into a room right away. At that point, I wasn't feeling clammy or nervous anymore. J's dad to go pick J up from work (since he had carpooled) so I just sat there thinking "PLEASE GOD, don't let this baby come anytime soon". Well, I think God was listening intently at that time since Isabella took her sweet a$$ time! LOL!

By the time J got there, my contractions were 5 mins apart and I was still 4 cm dilated. I had gone to the doc a few days ago and was measured at 4 cm, 80% effaced so in the back of my mind, I was gonna go from 5 cm to 10 cm in no time, just like I did with Connor. Boy was I wrong!!!

Dr. Yin was going out of town that day so she stopped in at 6:40 am to see how I was progressing. She offered to break my water to speed up the process but I refused. I figured it had only been 5 hrs so no big deal. I'll probably be pushing in another hr, right? WRONG! I’m kinda bummed Dr. Yin didn’t deliver my baby, but then again, oh well. Around 8 am, I was finally 5 cm dilated. By that time, I was already over the whole waiting process. My contractions subsided and were sporatic by that time. They went from 5 mins apart to 3 mins apart then 8 mins apart, then all over the place. That’s when I thought…”Could this be false labor?”

The nurse came at 11 am to ask if I wanted to have my water broken by Dr. Storrer (the doc on-call). I refused. I just thought that my body would progress naturally by itself, but by noon I was so tired of waiting already (yes, I have no patience) so I told them that we’d go ahead and rupture my membranes. Dr. Storrer came in at 1 pm and broke my water with this long “knitting” needle. (It’ll be awhile before I start knitting again, that’s for sure! LOL!). It was the yuckiest feeling ever. This huge gush of water came and it just felt like I kept peeing my pants for like 2 hrs. YUCK. At 3 pm, I was 6 cm dilated.

Around 5 pm, the nurses checked me again and I was 7 cm dilated. WOO HOO! I walked around some to try to progress my labor and the contractions were coming on strong by then. I was still able to deal with the pain so it wasn’t a big deal, but I just kept thinking “What if I stay at 7 cm for several hours then 8 cm for a few more hours? I wouldn’t be able to handle that!” They had offered to give me pitocin earlier that day and I refused. I have just heard WAYYYYY to many horror stories about it, so no way. They had offered me an epidural at 5 pm and I refused then, but by 6 pm, the contractions were just getting stronger and stronger so I finally gave in and asked for one.

The anesthiologist Dr. Sherman was one funny guy. He was like, “It took you to get to 7 cm to figure out you wanted an epidural? Sheez. Don’t worry, this is gonna be the best ride of your life. You’re gonna wanna have more babies after this.” HAHAHHA! Other than the epidural shot (which was the most painful thing I’ve ever had to endure, plus the fact that I was getting contractions at the same time…”Don’t move” they said, I wanted to punch them), the whole epidural idea was a GREAT one. I was squeezing J’s hands soooooooo hard, I almost broke them! I was crying so hard by then. I was thinking what a mistake! But when the drugs finally kicked in…HOLY MOLY! I was in heaven. I can’t believe I waited that long for an epidural! I felt like I was in LA LA land. So for the next 2 hours, I just laid there as happy go lucky as can be. Actually, I was pretty happy and smiley all throughout the whole day, so I must admit I’m pretty damn proud of myself.

Anyways, I started feeling some pressure in my butt area right after they gave me the epidural. I couldn’t feel a damn thing anywhere in my lower half though. My legs, my butt, my waist area were all numb. They kept asking me to move (which was kinda dumb on their part, don’t you think?!?) and I thought I was but I barely moved. I did alright though considering. Makes me real thankful for having a normal, healthy body. I can’t imagine what it would really be like to be paralyzed! The nurse checked me at 9 pm to put an internal monitor in and that’s when she realized the baby was already at a +3 station. She kinda gave me a freakish look and said “OMG! The baby’s coming!” Next thing I know, Dr. Storrer came in along with 2 other nurses and they told me to start pushing. They had a hard time telling me WHEN to push since my contractions were coming in waves at 1 min apart. I pushed once (or what I thought was pushing, I couldn’t feel a darn thing!) and Isabella’s head came out. I didn’t realize what was going on until Jeramy started crying and everyone started yelling “SLOW DOWN! She’s already out!” Dr. Storrer didn’t think the delivery part was gonna be that fast, she hadn’t even put on her gown yet and gotten their medical table out yet. After they got everything laid out, they told me to push again and Isabella was completely out.
The doc laid her out on my belly and she just looked amazingly beautiful. She had vernix all over her face and body, and we were all gooey from touching her…but she just looked perfect. Just perfect. Anyways, I thank God for having such a beautiful, normal healthy little girl. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. We are so happy to have her here. Our family is now complete!

What's going on with...

So I technically had my appt yesterday but they cancelled it when I got there, because the doc was delivering a baby at the hospital. No biggie, except it would have been nice to know beforehand before wasting gas. Oh well. Anyways, I saw the doc today and apparently I've dilated even more. I am now 4-5 cm dilated, still 80% effaced and the baby is at -2 station. She keeps saying how surprised she is that I haven't delivered my baby yet. Well, I think that Isabella's pretty smart for not wanting to come out. It's warm and cozy in there! LOL! I have been feeling contractions here and there, some are pretty scary considering I have been feeling some back pain with some of them...but nothing regular. I have been pooin' a lot more than usual too so I think the baby's just pushing on my intestines and it's just getting really cramped in there. I just hope that once I do go into labor, that Jeramy is home. I'd rather have him take me to the hospital than anyone else. My inlaws and all my friends have been kind enough to offer to drive me to the hospital, if need be, but there's something about the idea of my own husband just being there in my time of need. I just wonder when it's all gonna happen? I wonder if it's gonna be in the middle of the night like Connor or during the day while I'm out and about? I can't believe I'll be having this baby in less than 2 weeks. NUTS! I am so excited though. I can't wait to meet little Isabella. I am contemplating whether or not to call her Izzie or Bella, since Connor keeps calling her Bella. I don't know why this is even a big deal but I think it's important that we take Connor's "opinion" into consideration. I love how he talks to my belly and gives it hugs and kisses. It's not too often that Jeramy has touched my belly or talked to Isabella, which kind of makes me sad but oh well...what can I do? I can't force him. I think there's just something about it not being "real" to him until the baby is actually here. It kinda makes me sad too that he hasn't really taken the time to videotape or take pics of my belly, so I had to hire a professional to do it. But then again, it's like pulling teeth with that man to get him to take ANY pictures anyway. I had my maternity session last Friday and it went great! I hired my friend's sister in law and it was her 1st time taking photos of a pregnant chick, so we were both new at it. She usually takes wedding photographs and I like her style, so I was all about being the guinea pig for her. The session lasted 3 1/2 hrs. We were supposed to go to Montana de Oro beach in Los Osos but it was too foggy so we ended up driving around to find cool places to get photos done. We went to this placed called La Familia Ranch and then out to Avila Beach (which there was a Shark Watch warning for the day). I think the photos will turn out pretty good!! She's sending over the CD with all the pics in a few days. I'm pretty excited. I felt like a STAR for a day. LOL!

Weight gain journal...

Month 1: 147 lbs
Month 2: 150
Month 3: 154
Month 4: 157
Month 5: 161
Month 6 appt: 167
Month 7 appt: 172
July 25: 178
August 7: 184
September 1: 188

Update on my Pregnancy

So I had my 37 week appt yesterday morning and had my 1st internal exam since the very beginning of the pregnancy. Apparently, I'm already 3-4 cm dilated and 80% effaced so I can technically go any day now. I was 4-5 cm dilated and 80% effaced for 3 weeks when I was pregnant with Connor and technically, I delivered 2 weeks early. Only because at my last ultrasound last time, I had my EDD changed from July 6th to June 26th (he was born on the 22nd) & when he was born, the pediatrician says according to his "Ballard age" that he was a week late (really long nails, dry skin, no blood or lanugo on him when born --- really "clean", really hairy, etc).

But anyways, my OB says that on average that the 2nd baby is born faster. She wants to induce me on Sept 14th because she doesn't want me to risk having the baby in the car. LOL! She keeps joking about how I don't wanna make front page news! My labor & delivery was a total of 3 hrs with Connor, only an 1 1/2 hr of it was at the hospital. I went from 5 cm at 3:00 am when we checked in at the hospital and went to 10 cm at 4 am... and I delivered at 4:42 am. So I'm scared that I might not make it in time!

I guess my point is this: I am hoping to have a 100% natural birth again (vaginal, no drugs, no induction, etc) but if induction means not risking having the baby in the car or at home, then should I go for it? I mean, I COULD have this baby any day now but is inducing really the right answer IF I don't give birth by the 14th? I don't know what to think considering I'm really against inducing in the first place. I am just getting paranoid now thta I might not make it in time to the hospital. And to think, the doc might just wanna induce to make sure she's getting paid. UGH!

4D Ultrasound...so cool!

Went to Central Coast 4D Ultrasound today to get a 4D done. It was really cool. Jeramy was really skeptical about seeing "4D" but he seemed to enjoy it as well. Too bad little Isabella didn't really cooperate. It would have been really cool to see her face or even her side profile. But the little stinker had both of her arms crossed in front of her face, so all we could really see was her nose and mouth. We could tell she has J's nose and my lips though...just like Connor. The ultrasound lady says she has big feet too...so does Connor! I'm really bummed we didn't get to see her facial features though. After looking at all the advertisements and stuff, I was really hoping I could compare the 4D to her real face when she's born just to see how similar it is. Just our luck huh!? Oh well, at least it was free! :)

I wonder if they're gonna look alike? That would be so weird if she came out with my features and J's coloring. But either way, she's gonna be so damn cute just like Connor is. Connor's so excited (well as excited as a toddler's gonna be) about being a big brother. I've been reading big brother books to him and always talking to him about how he's gonna be such a great big brother. I wonder if he even really gets it? It's really endearing though when he comes up to my belly and kisses my belly button. He talks to little Isabella and says "Hi sis" or "Hi Bella". I just love it.

It's a...

GIRL!!!

We found out this morning that we'll be having a baby girl. She weighs approximately 13 ounces. The doc says that the baby looks perfectly healthy and normal. So it's all good! We are very excited. She was so cute, yes even in the ultrasound! She yawned a couple of times and she was laid out lengthwise across my lower abdomen. She was holding her hands together and had her legs stretched out as if she was relaxing. As the doc says, "she's loungin". Oh, I can already see she's so much like her Daddy! LOL!It's funny because I was trying to force myself to not really care about the gender of the baby. I was even afraid of having a girl (maybe it's because I grew up with 3 sisters? LOL!). I was so set in having a boy because 1) it just seemed easier since I already "know" what to do. 2) it'll be cheaper since we kept most of Connor's stuff and there really isn't much for boys out there. 3) don't have to worry about having to wipe from front to back. LOL! Seriously though, I didn't really care whether or not it was a boy or girl. That is, until last night. I had a dream that we were at the doc's office getting the ultrasound done and the doc said it was a boy. I felt disappointed and woke up feeling sad for some reason. I guess that's when I realized, I really WANTED a girl. So I was really nervous and excited on the way to the doctor's (Dr. Cedar). I even text messaged all my closest friends and family. I told them to place their bets. $10 per bet...a good way for a stay at home mom to make some $$$. haha. Well, obviously I lost and NO I ain't paying shit. :) I mean...everyone bet on a girl. But then again, I think everyone had a pretty good sense about it because I told them everything...all my symptoms so far are opposite with what I had with Connor, I am not as bitchy & irritable as I was with Connor and everyone's saying how I'm "glowing". Not that I wasn't happy with my pregnancy during Connor but it has definitely been more relaxing now than it was w/ Connor. Maybe because we didn't know what to expect? Who knows?I didn't have any morning sickness with Connor but the sciatica from 3 months on was just horrible. So I prayed and prayed, asking for morning sickness any day over sciatica. But when the morning sickness came...oh my goodness, I wanted to die! haha! The sciatica hasn't been that bad this time around but when it hits, I am pretty much in a lot of pain. It sucks being in that much pain and trying to run around a little toddler! But Connor is so caring and affectionate, he takes care of his Momma!

It's positive!

So yes, it's confirmed. I am pregnant. For how long? Who knows?! It's killing me that I don't know when my baby's due. Why don't I know this? Well, it's a long story but here it is. (This may be too much info for some people, so just warning you now before you continue).

I didn't get my period back until April '05, when Connor was about 10 months old. I was lucky enough to get it that late, but since then, I had my period regularly which I never experienced before. I always had irregular periods pre-pregnancy so I never knew when to expect my period until "Surprise!" So anyways, it just so happened that the cycle started and the next cycle started within the same month...so yes, I got my period twice a month. Yes, you read that right. TWICE a month. It was insane. I would get my "1st" period at the regular time and that would last for like a week and it was heavy. Then 28 days later, I would have my period again. So this went on and on and on (what seemed like forever!) until October. Then in November, I had my last "regular" period and in December, I spotted for like 3 days.

So the confusion: do I state that my LMP (last menstrual period) was in November or December??? I had my first doctor's appointment on Feb. 21st, a month after I took some home pregnancy tests and got my original positives. It was driving me crazy that I had to wait that long to even get an appt but I guess it was their office policy to not see you until you were technically 8 weeks pregnant. Well, I got my nunu examined and the damn nurse practitioner couldn't tell how far along I was.

I had the ultrasound done on Feb. 28th and the tech tells me she can't tell me how far along I am. The doc has to be the one to do it..."office policy", she says. Office policies my ass!!!! I am sick and tired of waiting. I have been waiting a freaking month already and that's all you have to tell me? BITCH. Anyways, I know it's not her fault so let me just take a breather. Alright, I'm ok now.

Anyways, so yeah...I have to wait now until MARCH 22nd to find out anything!!! But let me tell you this, I was not expecting to see what I saw in the ultrasound. I was expecting to see a little peanut, something that didn't "look" like a baby. But guess what? It sure looks like a baby alright!!! It's so cute. The baby's heart beat was going 171 BPM. I don't know why but the whole thing was surreal. I guess I didn't really expect a "real" baby to be in my tummy already. Granted, with all the morning sickness/tiredness/insomnia/mood swings...I FEEL pregnant. I guess it just wasn't all that real to me until I saw the ultrasound. Crazy huh?!

Connor and Daddy were there to share the experience with me so that made it even more special. Connor was really tired and wanted to nap, so he was being really clingy to me. I went in the bathroom to change into my gown and he cried for me the whole time. Then I laid down on the gurney and he cried some more. Then he watched the TV screen and was in awe for like 3 seconds...then cried some more. LOL! He was out as soon as we got in the car.

Anyways, just wanted to share our ultrasound pic with y'all. How far along do YOU think I am? According to the calendar, if I'm counting Nov. 23rd as my LMP then I'm 14 weeks. If I count Dec. 20th as my LMP then I'm 10 weeks. Either way, I'm ready for this. I just wanna know when my freaking due date is. Maybe that would help me sleep better at night?? haha, yeah right...