{Hannah}: 33 weeks + a sick brother, again

I don't have a lot of updates for Hannah, but I do have more prayer requests {see very end}! We will go for our next checkup on Ethan's birthday: his checkup is that day, his doctor is in the same building, and I want to kill two birds with one stone since it's a bit of a commute now. After that, our 36 week ultrasound is Oct 5, and then I have weekly appointments. At that point, I will probably switch to Monday updates and post after my office visits (I know you all wait with bated breath - the posts coming two days later will be such a challenge!). I'm glad I've been so diligent with this for Hannah. She may be our last biological baby, and it's been awesome to look back and compare this pregnancy with the last one - I know I'll look back over these later, too!

Ethan, on the other hand, has decided the weekend would be a fun time to be sick - again. And, again, I'm not sure if this is just a teething issue (6 at once does some damage) or if he is viral. We have no snot, sneezing, or coughing (yet), just some gross diapers, higher temps, and lethargy. Today was full of yuck and bad smells and discomfort - as soon as I picked him up from childcare at MOPS I could smell him, and it was downhill from there. Food, pedialyte, Tylenol, and rest seem to have helped!

Pre-MOPS, in his hipster-jeans cuteness. (I didn't notice the puffy eyes at the time, but they didn't go away all day.)

Post-MOPS, during our resting time & movie marathon.

Anyway - hopefully we will have a quick recovery overnight, and a great day tomorrow!

Now for the Hannah updates! Hannah is the size of a junior tennis racquet (19") and likely around 4.5 lbs.

She feels about like a tennis racquet, too, with her feet in my ribs as I try to put shoes on/take shoes off.

How far along? 33 weeks! ~7 to go!
Maternity clothes? Yes. 
Stretch marks? Hopefully nothing new, I'm out of my lotion and haven't gotten more yet!

Sleep: We have entered the phase where I wake up every night for the bathroom, and probably don't stay asleep more than 3 hours at a time. #babyprep

Miss anything? Good sleep!
Movement: Always!!
Food cravings: was craving Greek food and got some Tzatziki and pita to try to fix that, but was still disappointed because our surburban HEB doesn't carry falafel (WHAT?!).
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not currently, unless I eat too much (easy to do, running out of room).
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? Tired.
Looking forward to: Rest this weekend! Even if it is forced by an unwell kiddo. 
Prayers this week: I have been praying daily to give my anxieties to the Lord. Hannah is now head down, but she still moves around a LOT (the whole body), so that stir anxiety, even though we do still have time. And, without too much detail, I had to have a procedure done last year (after Ethan's birth, before this one) that could affect if/how I dilate and deliver, which is scary. If I think about it too much, I will start to get anxious and just have to pray some more. There are so many doubts and fears with pregnancy alone that it's easy to get caught up in the anxieties and lose sight of the beauty of it. I've been using several verses to pray over myself and meditate over to calm these fears and remember Who holds both me and this baby girl! Any additional verses you think I may not have considered would be awesome.

xo,

Elizabeth

{Hannah}: 32 weeks

This week was exciting! Ethan went to MDO, I super cleaned the house while he was there, and I really feel refreshed. Weeks of pulling double-duty on the parenting front had really worn me out. I actually wanted to cook dinner! Ha!

I also struggled with my heartburn on Monday - it was so severe that I didn't sleep almost at all that night. I tried to keep my head elevated and sleep, which is just not comfortable. I tried couches, beds... Nothing helped. I figured that the iron pills were probably the culprit, as nausea and heartburn are a common side effect, and I've had small bouts with each since I started taking them, despite already being on a prescription heartburn medication. I talked with my nurse at the doctor's office and we decided to keep me on the same iron pill, as this one has the least severe GI effects (ha!!!) but to change my heartburn medication. My new one is $6/day instead of $6/bottle... Not loving that price tag, but I'm not confined to eating toast, milk and Cheerios, either. By the time Ethan came home from MDO on Wednesday, I had the new meds in my system and I was a new woman! (And sleeping at night! Yay!)

As for Miss Hannah, we get to see the doctor in 3 days! We won't have our last ultrasound for another 4 weeks/two more visits, but we know she's breech (head-up, should be head-down), so we would really appreciate you keeping us in your prayers until she turns. It's pretty easy to tell where she is because she kicks my hips constantly! I've decided to have faith that she WILL turn!

Just in case you're wondering, bottoms-first births aren't pleasant. 

This week, Hannah is the size of a scooter board, and weighs around 4 lbs (probably more, we make big babies around here!).

Don't you want to go back to elementary PE now?

How far along? 32 weeks! ~8 to go!
Maternity clothes? About 85% of the time.
Stretch marks? No new ones since Ethan!
Sleep: Pretty good, as long as my heartburn is under control. 

Miss anything? Cooler temps
Movement: Always!
Food cravings: Satisfied my months-long PSL craving today. Is it just me, or are the prices going WAY up..?
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not anymore!!
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? A little more moody this week, but happy that mama got a break and got to take care of some chores this week - sans toddler.
Looking forward to: a BUSY weekend! A gender reveal, a birthday party, and a family dinner all on Saturday alone!
Prayers this week: Praying against temptation to be short-sighted and wish Hannah were here already. Homegirl needs to cook another 7+ weeks, and I can use that time to rest up! :)

xo,

Elizabeth

{Hannah}: 31 weeks + a sick brother

Well, this morning started with a scream. Ethan decided it was time to wake up at 6:30 (norm is 7-8, more 8 lately). Since it was still pretty dark, I did the usual: ignore. He started screaming and got out of bed so I went upstairs and was met with the smell of vomit. Yay! Happy Saturday! Austin came up, gave him a bath, and I went to work on the laundry/making the stench go away. 

(In case you're wondering, Febreeze did nothing. My YL Purification oil is in the diffuser and that IS helping.) We took him downstairs and snuggled for about an hour before breakfast. He's had waffles and yogurt and kept that down - I was working on the assumption that the puke was a fluke and he was probably not sick this morning. We had two stinky, messy diapers since breakfast and now are waiting it out.

The last time he got super sick was Austin's birthday - almost a year ago. We had to cancel our birthday plans and take him home after he puked on his GiGi. So of course, it's fitting that we are supposed to visit with some of my dad's family today that I haven't seen in years and, he's doing this! Sigh...

This was from this morning, after the initial puke but before the the other messes. 

And this is after the other messes. 

I can say that Hannah did not enjoy this cuddle session and kicked every organ I have, making mama pretty nauseated, too.

He's now playing with cars, so there's hope for us yet! We are (maybe foolishly) hoping this was just something he ate, and not a full-on stomach bug.

This week, Hannah is the size of a foam finger (Or Cougar Paw, Go Coogs!!).

How far along? 31 weeks! ~9 to go!
Maternity clothes? Not currently, but most of the time, yes.
Stretch marks? None yet!
Sleep: Pretty good!
Miss anything? Sleep :)
Movement: Always! 
Food cravings: None right now!
Anything making you queasy or sick? A little nausea from the iron pills, as well as Hannah's shenanigans this morning. 
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? Mostly happy, tired right now!
Looking forward to: the dozen or so celebrations we have in the next 2 months that will keep us busy as we wait for Hannah! (Birthdays, weddings, gender reveal parties, bingo night, and a pumpkin patch trip!)
Prayers this week: praying for our health currently. Hoping that this is not a bug, and if it is, that Austin and I don't catch it. 

xo,

Elizabeth

{Ethan}: 23 months old!

23 months with Ethan! One more to go until this little man turns two!

We noticed recently that when Ethan colors, he aims for the objects in the picture, which impressed us. He's still a scribbler, but he gets the concept.

Things he loves right now are minions (which he calls nini or nini-ga, no idea why he adds the 'ga'), Thomas the tank engine, and Sesame Street (specifically Elmo and Cookie Monster). That's kind of been the theme for a while, but you'll see it manifested in the pictures this month :)

xo,

Elizabeth

{Hannah}: 30 weeks!!!

We are about 75% of the way through this pregnancy, and it is so exciting! I got to hold a 3-month-old this week and it reminded me how rusty I am with little babies - I'm pretty used to my (comparatively) independent toddler! But I'm looking forward to some baby snuggles and some bonding (and lack of sleep...) in the months to come!

My app says Hannah is the size of a motorcycle helmet, which is appropriate, since I am starting to think it looks like there is a big ol' helmet in my stomach.

Do you see it?

How far along? 30 weeks! ~10 to go!
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? None with this pregnancy. I got a few with Ethan so I'm doubling down on the lotion this time!
Sleep: Pretty good!
Miss anything? Not much now, really enjoying Ethan's long naps and the energy I now have since I started taking iron supplements!
Movement: Always! I don't even have to think about kick counts, this girl is active.
Food cravings: Someone just mentioned French toast on TV, so, that.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Getting a little nausea and heartburn from the iron pills I'm taking, but it's only occasional so it's manageable.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: None :)
Belly Button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!.
Happy or Moody most of the time? Mostly happy.
Looking forward to: The end of October, when Austin's test is over! :) But seriously. I miss having spare time with him after Ethan goes to bed.
Prayers this week: I'm just thankful for Hannah this week. These Planned Parenthood videos really have the waterworks going this week for me, and I'm thankful for her life, for her health, and for the opportunity to be her mom. Yes, I'm sad for the babies who aren't being given the opportunity to be a son or daughter, but I'm hurting for the mamas who are put in situations where they think that is their best (or only) option, or who live with the burden of taking that path.

xo,
Elizabeth

{Hannah}: the nursery!

This video explains about how I feel about being done with Hannah's nursery:

Maybe not that dramatic, but still really exciting!

{credit}

bowtie frame made with MOPS group

'bonjour bebe' sign is a chalkboard from Kirkland's

L-O-V-E letters came unpainted from Hobby Lobby

burlap clip frame is from TJ Maxx

small white metal frame is from Marshalls

white blanket was mine as a baby

white pillow cover was made with leftover fabric from Hannah's bed skirt

nursing tote (in side table) was a shower tote in the Target dollar section ($3)

knobs from Hobby Lobby

lamp & shade from Target a few years ago

vase & flower from TJ Maxx

side table from Marshalls, repainted with Anne Sloane 'Old White'

knob from Hobby Lobby

blanket is minky with ruffles on one side, and a thicker cotton top

bumpers have horizontal (light) stripes

sheets from IKEA

crib skirt material came with the ruffles

{all but the sheets were hand-made by my mom}

the canopy was $11 (mosquito net) on Amazon,

and I added the ruffled burlap with a hot glue gun

Austin cut the boards from a pallet, and I secured them by

screwing each plank to a smaller plank.

lettering is just done with a sharpie!

Clearly very excited. Under 11 weeks until our due date, Hannah girl!

xo,
Elizabeth

{Hannah}: 29 weeks

I know this is a Hannah post, but this week has been amazing for Ethan! (Insert Kanye's 'Imma let you finish' meme here.) he has started to put more words together - forming sentences - spontaneously. I'm so impressed by him! He's said some two-word sentences for a while (all done; all gone; bye bye dada) but today he said "bye bye Daniel Tiger" and is repeating after me when prompted to add 'please' to items he is asking for ("crackers, please"). He even identified a star-shaped sticker as a "sticker star"! I have no idea where he is compared to other kids his age for vocabulary, but seeing this develop over the course of one week has been awesome. #mombragover

This is me at 28 weeks with both kiddos! (Left is Ethan, Right is Hannah)

I also found a much cooler, new way to track Hannah's growth. This week, she's the size of a Barbie convertible... And I'm about as comfortable as a woman with a Barbie convertible in her belly could be.

On Monday, I went in for my Gestational Diabetes testing, and really expected to pass. (I'm glad I re-read my blog on my pregnancy with Ethan because I totally forgot that this appointment takes so long. So I took some toys for Ethan to play with, and he handled himself really well!) I did end up "passing" that test, but I came back with an iron deficiency, which I didn't expect. I've been more tired lately, but I chalked it up to pregnancy, chasing a toddler, and watching Ethan solo more often than before (Austin is spending most evenings & weekends studying). So I was relieved to learn that there was more to it!  I'm a vegetarian, so sometimes it's easy to forget my iron (though we do eat a lot of spinach), but there are a host of other possible reasons why I'm iron-deficient. I received a prescription for iron pills, so I'm thankful that there's a solution for the problem and that the doctor found it!

How far along? 29 weeks! ~11 to go!

Maternity clothes? Yes! Or stretchy non-maternity clothes. 

Stretch marks? No new ones yet. *crossing fingers & applying lotion*

Sleep: Pretty good. Weird dreams continue!

Miss anything? Caffeine. Abundant caffeine. 

Movement: Yes!! She moves the whole belly around now!

Food cravings: Someone just mentioned French toast on TV, so, that. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? Despite taking my prescription for heartburn, I had a touch of it today, which is never fun. 

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On! All repaired and shiny. 

Happy or Moody most of the time? Mostly happy. Is tired an option?

Looking forward to: Seeing my family this weekend!

Prayers this week: Praying that the iron pills do their job & Hannah stays healthy! Also starting to pray for things to come at the end of this pregnancy: patience for me (if she is late), for a smooth delivery (!), and praying for peace that everything will work out. Austin's (huge) test is Oct 30, Hannah is due Oct 31: as long as she doesn't come ON Oct 30 we should be ok... ;)

xo,

Elizabeth