The Weekly Bump

{Thirty-One Weeks}

Feeling very LARGE.

The whole top of my belly feels like it's bruised on the inside from all the kicks it's taken.

My right ribs will never be the same.

I feel little elbows poke out (which I LOVE) mostly on my left side by my hip.

I feel little heels and knees on my right side up closer to my ribs (or IN my ribs).

Rolling out of bed can hardly be done without assistance.

Rather than focusing on all the negatives of pregnancy, I like to focus on the positives:

SO much easier to eat cereal in bed (everynight) when you have a belly to rest your bowl on, I don't even have to lean forward at all, I just stay in my reclined position and enjoy my built-in TV tray.

Extra support for Harlo when I sit her on the counter to do her hair. I know she's not going anywhere with the belly securing her back.

This belly catches virtually everything I drop from my mouth.

Harlo enjoys playing peek-a-boo with my belly, which is fine when we're at home.. not so much when we're out at a public restaurant.

It acts as my built-in alarm clock. Every morning at about 7:30 she'll start moving around in there, which is hard to ignore with an already squished, completely full bladder.

My midwife appointments are every 2 weeks now.

I hope these last 8 weeks go by as fast as the rest of my pregnancy has gone.

I am hoping to get the nursery set up this weekend, it's been quite a nightmare so far.

My Aunt Marjie

{Harlo and Marjie, early 2009}

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, My Great Aunt Marjie passed away. A few weeks ago she fell and broke her back and she was in a lot of pain. As hard as it was to think of Marjie not being around anymore, I couldn't stand the thought of that sweetest lady being in absolutely any pain. I definitely have mixed feelings about her passing, but I know she's in such a better place, where she's eating all the coke and mint milano cookies and ice cream she can handle! I'm sure she still insists on taking Asprin, too. I knew Marjie couldn't live forever, but I was just so hoping she would live long enough for my babies to remember her, and know her. I know she's probably squishing and holding my baby in heaven right now preparing her for her new life with us.
Marjie is the only Grandma I have ever known, she taught us what it was to be loved by someone besides our parents and she really taught me how to love as a mother, a sister and an aunt. I think about Aunt Marjie every single day in how I react when Harlo does something naughty, or when I snuggle her to sleep, I think about her anytime I get to love on my nieces and nephews. Marjie never had any kids of her own, but she really was the best mom anyway. She is the best, most loving woman I've ever met in my life. We'll miss her more than words can describe.

My Sicky Chicky

Last weekend, Harlo started acting not quite herself. I couldn't decide if it was her teeth, or if she was really coming down with something.. well by Sunday she started feeling warm and by Sunday evening she was having a full-blown, shivering, cold chill fever. This was a "mothering first" for me, I've never had to tend to a fever before, so I was super nervous. Luckily our doctors office has a night clinic that I was able to call and make sure I was doing everything right. By Tuesday her fever was still at 104, so they said to bring her in. He said it was probably the flu, but if she was still fevering that high by Thursday, bring her in to check for infection. She would not eat a SINGLE thing, and was throwing up mostly any liquids she drank. The entire week she (or Brady or I, for that matter) never slept longer than an hour stretch. On Thursday her fever spiked up to 104.5 and they said to definitely bring her in for a catheter to check for a UTI or kidney infection. It was awful! Luckily it was really quick, and I think it may have been harder on me than it was on Harlo. My baby was such a big girl! She layed so still and was so brave. Still makes me tear up thinking about it. Her urine did show signs of infection, so they gave her a shot to jump start the antibiotic. Poor Harlo, it was such a tough day. I always say that my first week of motherhood was the hardest one yet, but after last week.. I may be changing my tune. There is absolutely NOTHING harder than having a sick baby and not being able to do a thing about it.
A few days later, they called back with the results that it was definitely a kidney infection, so I was so glad I took her in. Her antibiotic had kicked in and Sunday she started eating again. Today has been the first day she's really acted back to her normal, silly self.
Harlo has so many people who love her so much, we've had so many friends and family calling to check on her and sending their prayers. We appreciate everyone's help getting through the week, it was definitely a tough one! Uncle Richard (my boss) made sure I wasn't worried about coming in to work and would call and check on Harlo daily, Nana Ruth... there is not enough words to say about this lady, but what would we do without her? On top of her calls and prayers, she made sure we had dinner and that Harlo had coloring books and things to do in bed, she came to give me a break and cleaned my house, we are just so SO lucky to have her. She had all sorts of Aunties calling to check on her and provide me with moral support. Of course Pops is always there to lend a helping hand, running whatever errands I needed. Most of all, Harlo has THE best Daddy. I seriously don't know how we lucked out with him. He had been up all night, thrown up on, had to get up early for work, brought us (me) lunch everyday and managed to get out of work wherever he could to be home with us. I really try to never take for granted how helpful Brady is, how supportive he is of us. I know that not all dads or husbands are like that and I always, always try to make sure he feels appreciated. Not only do I not know how I would do any of this without him, I would never want to.
I'm feeling very blessed these days, and EXTREMELY blessed that my baby is back to normal. It was actually a good refresher to how demanding a newborn is, up in the night, liquid diet... maybe this happened at this time for a reason. =)

Harlo Tidbits

May is my 2nd favorite month of the year. The weather is so fabulous and my roses have fully bloomed! And they are fabulous!! We've been going outside after Harlo's naptime and basking in the beauty. Itty loves it too.

Harlo admiring the roses:

Poor Itty needs a haircut.

Aren't those eyelashes to die for?!

And this is the kissiest face in the entire world! I don't know how I get anything done with her around!! I could just squish and kiss all day =) even with a messy face and one of Itty's hairs hanging from her chin ;)

• She loves talking on the phone, she has the longest conversations on the phone, she yells at people, then their fight is resolved because they say something hystical and she laughs and laughs! Then she'll tell them "I got-a-go!" and then they start telling her a really long story and she has to hold the phone with her shoulder to free her hands. These fake conversations go on for hours if we let them! So funny how much she observes, because she talks with her hands on the phone and there's no one else I can blame that one on.. that's all me.
• She loves Toy Story, she calls it "Hi Woody" and during the movie she has to point to the screen wherever Woody is all the while saying "mom! Woody! Mom, Woody!" just in case I thought I lost him. =)
• She doesn't like to be looked at while she potties.
• She loves blueberries and waffles.
• She's taking 1-2 steps at a time on her own, but wants to always get down and walk and hold my hand.
• She tries to feel the baby move in daddy's belly, but knows she's being silly!
• She loves kids! She is typically not a fan of strangers at all, but if there is a 10 year old girl anywhere, she immediately is flying out of my arms so they can hold her. So funny.
• She's such a mommy, she likes to feed me bites of food and share her drink with me. She gets the funniest look on her face when she feeds us things, like "come on mommy! drink it!" I guess that's what we look like when we feed her.
• When I do my yoga video she watches me and bends over, and then stretches her legs out, then puts her arms in the air. The other day Ali was doing a Zumba video over here and she was stomping around.. she loves the exercise videos.
• She is such a snuggle bug. She lets us (me) kiss on her to my heart's content. I love it!
• She loves when I "squish! squish! squish!" her leggies or I chickie her cheekies and neck. =)

Happy Mothers Day!

Mothers day is just so much fun! It's a day to celebrate the most important role in your life. This mothers day I'm feeling full (very full, actually) of happiness. I am so blessed to have such a healthy, vivacious little lady to love and squish on every single day, and I'm so lucky to have such a healthy little lady growing perfectly inside. To me, my life seems like the absolute picture of perfection. Well, of course it's not perfect, but it's a whole lot better than I ever pictured it would be, even with the hard times. Two little girlies and one cute husband who loves me very much seems as close to perfection to me as anything! I can't imagine my life any other way. I am so lucky to be a mother, which is why this day is so special!

For an early mother's day present (to myself) since I can't reach my feet anymore, I decided to treat myself to a fabulous mani-pedi.
I was just slightly worried that would be my only special mothers day treat, since I had told Mr. Miller 3 weeks prior exactly what I wanted and when to order it. Well I asked him if he had gotten anything yet and he said in a very stressed out tone, "when is mothers day?!" I said "B.. seriously? It's sunday! you didn't get anything I suggested? I made it so easy for you... you always say you don't know what to get so I tell you and then you don't do that either. I already got you your father's day present." I'm more of a cheap, but sentimental gift person. I love things that mean a lot, and cost a little. I had gone through and found a few perfectly sentimental necklaces and things to recieve from my husband for mothers day that he could choose which one he wanted to get, doing all the hard work for him. Don't get me wrong, Brady's a great husband and has always pulled through, but he does require very little guidance :) I knew he would think of something (probably electronic) so I began to try to guess what he was going to get me, "is it a laptop? no... oh! a new monitor for my desk at work? That's got to be it! Or maybe a cool new keyboard? It's not an ipod or something is it?"
By Saturday Brady had figured something out and he wanted to give it to me then. I am definitely one to celebrate all weekend, and since I had just gotten my mother's day mani/pedi, I thought I would let him give me my gift a day early. (because I'll be honest, I wondered what on earth he had come up with in 2 days that suited a mothers day gift..) so he handed me a little pink box and I was excited he had thought "outside of the box" because I knew any electronics could not fit in this, but I was also slightly worried about his choice in jewelry and hoped I loved it because I encourage this type of thinking on his part. So I open the box and...

The EXACT "mama bird" necklace I had loved months earlier was in it, except for he had customized it with the 2 little pink eggs. I am SO impressed, this is a huge leap for him because he is not the "sneaky, clever" type of gift giver. He has definitely gotten savvy at this gift-giving business. I was so excited and shocked, I cried. Definitely a necklace I will cherish forever!

The sneakiness didn't end there either.. this morning I woke up and went to get Harlo and climbed back in bed for a little mothers day snuggle session and B disappeared into the kitchen, he quickly returned with a bouquet of wild flowers (my favorite) in a cute little vase. Don't ask me how, don't ask me when.

That Mr. Miller... he's something else.

The Weekly Bump

28 weeks already?? I can't believe it! 28 is one of my "milestone" weeks and I can't believe we're already here!
I'm still feeling really good, just starting to get super awkward.
Rolling out of bed is quite the task.
She's pretty active all the time, but the mornings just as I roll over to check my clock seems to be the most active time.
I shot my very last wedding of the season last night.. don't know what I was thinking booking a wedding in my 7th month or pregnancy, but it was fine. A little swollen feet never hurt anyone!
I can no longer wear all 3 of my wedding bands.
If I even think about painting my own toes I get a swift kick in the ribs like "that's not happening."
I've been really at peace this week with the whole situation, not too anxious or nervous just happy and content.
I'm starting to get a little nauseous in the mornings again, but if I eat a good breakfast that helps.
I have a very limited wardrobe, my belly is outgrowing most everything.
I hate the part where you don't have too much longer so you don't want to buy anything, but you have hardly anything that fits! I better go get a few maternity dresses to tide me over.

Harlo Tidbits

(note: the reason Harlo is eating in every picture is because it's the only way I can get her to hold still for long enough to take a couple shots of her)

• She is pretty posessive of her "glanky" (blanky) That is the only thing she will not even talk about sharing.
• She is obsessed with "Ninows" (windows). The first thing she wants to do when she wakes up from her nap is go and open the blinds. After they're open she'll say "Hi Ninow!"
• She loves airplanes! She can hear them from a mile away, she immediately holds her hand up to mimick the sign of airplane and says "booooooon!" for the sound effect.
• Her latest favorite thing to say is "no way!" That is her answer to every single question you ask her. (if you're the one who taught her this, I would like to speak with you)
• She loves dancing to any sort of music she can find.. even the sound the car makes when you leave the keys in the ignition and open the door.
• Even though we've probably only seen Elmo's world one time, she knows exactly who Elmo is and if we turn the TV on, she'll say "Elmo?" (Does anyone know what time/channel Elmo comes on?? I can never find it!)
• She likes to try to put her own clothes on.
• She has learned how to scream and kick her legs and does it more often than I'd like to admit. =)
• She likes to read books to herself, much more entertaining than mommy reading. It's a little jibberish mixed with any word or name she knows.. "Abbi! Cracky? Dad. Yeah, daddy. Hello! Auntie? Hi Wiwo." as she flips the pages.
• When she bends over to pick something she'll make the "ughh...." noise I make when I bend over.
  
  For my record: I went to the hospital to see Aunt Marjie last weekend because she broke her back. My Aunt Jenine said "Cassidy, you have a little girl, don't you? How old is she?" I said "yes, she's 16 months" and she said "Marjie talks about her all the time! She is always talking about the woman with that beautiful little baby, such a pretty baby! And she's so smart! Absolutely melted my heart!

The Weekly Bump

I am officially in my THIRD trimester.
We have started the process to start the nursery... we've run into some technical difficulties, but we're getting there.
The baby gets hiccups almost daily. (taking after her sister... and her mommy)
Harlo thinks it's funny to pretend to feel her move, even though she never sits still long enough to actually feel the baby move.
The official pillow count is now six that I have to sleep with to get comfortable.
Bending over to pick things up has become quite a chore, bending over to pick things up while holding a 23 pound 16 month old.. next to impossible.
I cannot believe I'm already this far along, my weeks have seemed to go by like days.
Some days I am so anxious and excited for the little miss to join the party, other days I'm really glad she's tucked safely and soundly inside my belly.
There still is SO much I need to get done before she makes her debut.. with about 12 weeks or so left, I better get movin'!