Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Unanswered Questions

From countless people, I had the same questions over and over about being pregnant for the second time and with a girl this time. I thought I would break it down for my friends and for future reference for my sweet Caroline (hoping that she gets to experience it someday).

With Andrew: I was pregnant all over, and I didn't get that round pregnant belly until the last few weeks. I got sick many mornings right after breakfast, but then I felt fine all day long. I nibbled my way through the day, and that kept me from sleeping at my desk or getting sick again. I first felt Andrew's fluttery movements around 21 weeks, and a few weeks later, I began to have Braxton Hicks contractions that continued regularly throughout the pregnancy. I didn't wear maternity clothes until about 6 months, but I could still wear regular shirts until the very end. My belly didn't have that round pregnant look until the last few weeks. I ran until I was 5 months pregnant, and then we walked regularly up to (and including) the day my water broke. At 39 weeks and 5 days, I labored (unsuccessfully) all night and then had a C-section. Andrew was delivered at 9:11am. He took a few seconds to cry, and he weighed 7 pounds & 13 ounces. The recovery was extremely painful and walking took a lot of effort and time. Eventually, I was back to walking an hour a day with Andrew in the stroller.

With Caroline: I was pregnant out front (mostly). I immediately had a poochy tummy and bigger boobs, which my doctor attributed to the "estrogen dump" when the baby's sex was assigned to female at 10 weeks. With that sudden growth spurt, I was thrust into maternity clothes right then. I was nauseous ALL the time and nothing seemed to help; however, I never once actually got sick. Around 15 weeks, the sickness stopped, and I started to feel Caroline's flutters. She never stopped. She moved often and with a good amount of force. I had Braxton Hicks from about 22 weeks until the end. I ran until I was 6 months and then I didn't exercise very much at all. My pelvis was sore most days, so we only walked a couple times a week (followed by serious heating pad usage). My maternity shirts BARELY fit over my belly by the end because it was all out in front. At 39 weeks and 1 day, I arrived at the hospital 2 hours before my scheduled C-section, and the doctors delivered Caroline safely at 8:54 am. She weighed 7 pounds & 1 ounce and screamed the second she was out. The recovery has been a great deal easier, and walking (although very slow) feels pretty good.


With Both Babies: I followed my gut and my cravings and tried not to stress about the weight I gained. Both babies needed lots of ice cream, candy, and chocolate. I enjoyed a few sips of wine here and there, napped as often as possible, and went to bed very early. I packed on exactly 30 pounds with each baby; however, the weight looked and felt very different. Both pregnancies yielded beautiful healthy babies. :) You can see the final belly shots for each baby. For Andrew's pictures, I wore blue shorts and with Caroline I wore red. Caroline seems to poke straight out!
:)
Anne

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Just a few weeks ago...

Just a few weeks ago...
  • Andrew's hand was tiny in mine.

  • Andrew was so young.

  • Andrew needed me for everything.

  • Andrew was my baby.

Around 9:45 on December 8th. the nurse handed me Caroline.


  • Caroline's hand is tiny in mine. Suddenly, Andrew became enormous.

  • Caroline is so young. Andrew is a big boy.

  • Caroline needs me for everything. Andrew seems so independent.

  • Caroline and Andrew are both my babies.

A few weeks ago I worried about so many things. Now I have my two beautiful, healthy, loving, needy, tiny, babies... and I couldn't be happier.

Welcome to life with children, or as Uncle Jason told Andrew upon his arrival to the big, bright world a few years ago, "Welcome to the Jungle."

:)

Anne

Monday, December 13, 2010

Andrew's Last Hurrah

For Andrew's last weekend as an only child, we decided to hit of few hot spots. To start the weekend, we ate at Andrew's favorite restaurant, Amigo's, where he dined liked a King. He feasted on their finest offerings of beans, rice, chips, and ice cold lemonade. While there, he blessed the bathroom with one final poo, and announced to all the restaurant goers and servers what a wonderful job he had just done. Although I sat there looking embarrassed, everyone else seemed to be genuinely happy for him. He may have even had a high five from a stranger.

On Saturday, we packed up our snacks and our shades and headed to the best place on earth, the zoo. Andrew had been begging to take Daddy to the zoo since our last trip. He even snuck the request into our nightly prayers. We decided what better time to walk several miles than with a toddler and someone whose 9 months pregnant. :)

Chris gave me my birthday/happy Caroline present early (a Flip Video camera), so we were able to document our fun in a whole new way! (Unfortunately, I don't know how to upload the new videos... ) We passed the penguins and the baboons on the way to the gorilla enclosure, and we stopped for a few Andrew and Daddy photo ops.












When we reached the gorilla (or Gradilla as Andrew says), we realized very quickly that he wanted nothing to do with us. Andrew said the Gradilla was too sad, and I tend to agree.

Next up, we had some of the coolest experiences in the Giants of the Savannah exhibit. Many of the animals share a large open space and interact with each other freely. With free roaming animals, we were bound to catch some gold.

The best part of the whole day had to be feeding the giraffes. Andrew and Daddy got to share some delicious leaves with some super tall friends.


We had fun the rest of the morning at the zoo seeing the big cats, amphibians, and reptiles. Then we headed home for a much needed nap. Make sure you pay close attention to the slide show... we got to see some serious tortoise-on-tortoise action. Full-throttle. I was a good girl, so I didn't take a video. (That would verge on tortoise porn, and I think they deserve some dignity.)









After our lunches and naps, we bundled up and headed to Santa's village. Last year, we waited in line forever for Santa and then had to "persuade" Andrew to sit on his lap. (Last year's picture is first, and bless the sweet elf who caught the millisecond that Andrew sat on Santa's lap.)

This year, we arrived early to check out all of the elves' huts and wait for Santa's arrival. We came prepared for the line with snacks and a lawn chair for me, super preggers.

He is another slide show showing all the fun "shops" we visited while waiting for Santa.





After exploring Santa's village, Santa finally arrived by fire engine, and the mayor officially opened Santa's Village by turning on the Christmas tree and all the lights. Here's Andrew after eagerly waiting to see Santa. We needed no persuasion this year.



What did he ask for? He wants a mower and a weed eater. I hope Santa was listening... I guess we will find out soon enough! Last year, he asked Santa for a baby "sisser", and we all know how that turned out. Andrew must be a really good boy.

:)

Anne