On the mend

It looks like we are finally getting well here! After a bout of colds that all three of us got, and then Nathan developing a very nasty stomach bug that knocked him flat and put him in the ER for 3 liters of IV fluids, we seem to be getting better. My cold is gone as is Gabe's and I think (fingers tightly crossed!) that him and I have avoided the stomach bug that is proving to be highly contagious.

Nathan is up and about and almost eating normally again, though still feeling weak. I think he's going to try to go to work tomorrow.

On other news, Elena has been going wild in my belly the last few days. A few times I wondered if I was actually getting sick, but it seemed to coincide every time with her very active movement and I think perhaps she was just using my stomach as a punching bag. She's much more active than Gabriel ever was and wonder what that says for when she is born! I kind of got a shock yesterday when I realized I have less than 4 months left of pregnancy. It seems so very short and I know that the time is just going to fly by.

Gabe has started 'clapping' as of 2 days ago. He does it with closed fists and interlocks his fingers when he does it, but it's still darn cute. He is also trying to mimic me saying 'Yay!' while he claps though it doesn't actually sound anything like 'yay.' This morning I got quite a surprise when he was playing with the puppy he got from my parents for Christmas (this puppy: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265219&CAWELAID=107520220). He was crawling on it and set off one of the songs it plays, which happens to be "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands." While I watched he sat up, stared intently at the puppy, and then started clapping! I admit it was one of those teary eyed proud mom moments.

Bedtime disasters? or blessings?

I always think it's funny how the best laid plans never quite work out. Even the little ones. Gabe's schedule was a bit off today from us being out and about and so he got quite a late nap. I figured it would push bedtime back but no big deal, because we aren't really strict on a 'set' bedtime anyway. But he woke up super cranky and fussy from his nap, and was clearly still tired, so I decided we'd just go ahead with his normal bedtime. Nathan gave him his bath and then we both dressed him and I gave him his bottle. I picked him up to burp him a little and about 3 seconds later - I got puked on. Gabe doesn't spit up much anymore, much less puke, so I'd forgotten what it feels like to be projectile vomited on. Nice and gooy and warm! So then came changing (him and me!) and back to holding him and JUST as I had him asleep...a knock on my door! A friend came over to show me the yarn she'd bought to make a sweater for my new little one, and also to borrow a movie. I knew she was coming, but had lost track of the time. As soon as Gabe saw her he was wide awake and all smiles, go figure. After she left (after showing me the beautiful yarn, I love it!) I decided to rock him a bit and see if he'd go back to sleep.

I'm actually glad he didn't go to sleep like I'd planned because otherwise I would have missed out on rocking him for awhile. It was just one of those wonderful, quiet moments that you just sit back and really take stock of your life and how blessed you feel. Gabe talked quietly to me for awhile, looked around the dimly lit room, and just seemed overall quite content. Eventually he rested his head on my chest and slowly drifted off and we stayed like that for a bit. It was just so comfortable.

Of course now he's in his crib crying, after I set him down he woke up (go figure) but maybe I'll just go back and rock him for a little bit longer. It's just so relaxing.

Surprised!

That's how I felt when the tech at my ultrasound yesterday informed me that...*gasp* I'm having a girl.

I asked her 3 times if she was sure. While she wouldn't commit to it 100% (not an exact science of course) she was 'pretty sure' it was a girl. She gave me 3 lovely shots of the girlie...parts...which I have examined throughly since the ultrasound (several times) and I can't see any boy parts so I think it must be true.

Nathan and I are very thrilled. I've always pictured having a little girl. Her name will be Elena Grace. :-)

Anticipation

With only two days left to go until I have my ultrasound, I'm getting quite anxious and excited. I cried at my ultrasound with Gabriel (yup, I admit it, I'm a total softie). It was amazing to see that little baby on the screen, see the heart beating and all his organs. It was truly incredible. When they told me it was a boy, I was a bit shocked because I really felt it was a girl, but then at the same time it just felt so right.

I'm getting so excited to find out if this one is a boy or a girl, and slighlty afraid I'll have a shy baby - I really do love to know ahead of time though I guess finding out at delivery would be kind of fun...in it's own way...hmm no I'm just lying to myself. I really want to know at the ultrasound.

I have no real guesses on whether this baby is a boy or girl, though just today I've been leaning more towards boy than girl, after feeling for awhile that it might be a girl. I don't trust my feelings either way since I was very wrong with Gabe. I don't honestly care. I would love a girl, I've always wanted a girl, but I will be happy with whatever God blesses us with. The advantage of another boy is I'll have everything I need!

If anyone has any 'guesses' feel free to venture them. You've got a 50/50 shot anyway!

So much to be thankful for

The holiday season is my favorite time of year. Not only is there Thanksgiving, but also my birthday, and of course my favorite - Christmas. I love this time of year. Hot chocolate, festive store displays, the smell of cinnamon and sugar cookies...

This year I feel so grateful, I look at my life and see just so many wonderful things to be thankful for. It's not perfect, but what life is? I feel in awe of all that God has done in my life. And I honestly feel so unworthy of it. I know I did nothing to deserve this blessed life, and yet He has given me so much. It's quite humbling.

Thanksgiving dinner at my inlaws was delicious and I'm completely stuffed. Gabe had a great time. He got to try mashed potatoes for the first time and loved them. He wasn't at all a fan of the turkey in a jar, but I took one bite myself and threw it out. Pretty disgusting. He also refused the sweet potatoes. He wanted nothing but mashed potatoes and applesauce.

The afternoon went so well, besides one mishap where Nathan backed into Stephanie's mom's car - thankfully it's just a little dent - and Gabe not being able to sleep well because there was just too much noise. He was happy though, loving all the attention everyone showered on him.

Here are pictures, and a video where Gabe had fun crawling to Pepsi:

Video: http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad146/elenaceline/?action=view&current=CIMG2975.flv

New Moon

Because I couldn't have said it better myself...

http://mamagriffith.blogspot.com/2009/11/movie-reviewdun-dun-dunnnn.html

I retired the records

Since I was in the hospital after having Gabe, I have kept records. It started because the hospital had me do it, to keep track and make sure he was peeing enough, eating enough, etc. I got home and continued to do it. I have to admit that I kind of love it. I the sort of person who actually enjoys filling out forms, so for me this was...sort of fun. And at first, very reassuring. I have a little notebook where I have recorded how many ounces he eats in a feeding and at what time, and tally how many wet and poopy diapers he has a day. I know for most moms this seems quite silly. But I enjoyed it. Of course, it probably caused more stress than anything else during the period of time when he was refusing to eat much. I now know that he was just slowing down a bit before a big growth spurt and there was nothing wrong. And now that Gabe is 7 months old, I had to admit to myself that it was a bit pointless. I know he gets enough to eat during the day and has plenty of wet diapers. He is healthy and growing. It was time to let go. It was surprised at how hard it was for me to do and even though I had been considering it for over a month, it took me until the day Gabe turned 7 months old to actually do it.

It's now been 5 days and I am actually glad I stopped. It wasn't time consuming or anything, but now that I'm not keeping those records I was able to pull out his baby book and start working more on that. I hadn't filled anything out since he was a month old. It's been really fun to update it, though I admit I guessed on more than half of the milestones because I just couldn't remember exactly when they happened. I ordered some pictures off snapfish to put in the book and I am so excited for them to arrive.