A little update

There's been so much activity going on in our little household, here's an update of some of the highlights...
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Our baby girl's nursery is painted. Thanks to nods from my doctor's office and Brooklyn's pediatrician, we made it a family affair. I had been obsessing over what colors to paint the room for over a month and finally as we stood there the night before buying the paint, we reached a decision, a creative agreement on what colors to paint. I wanted a two color scheme, but was having the hardest time deciding between purple and turquoise or two different shades of purple. And, then there are the color tones to consider and how to actually paint the room. We decided and painted two-thirds of the room from the bottom up a dark purple and then the remaining third of the room plus the ceiling a lighter shade of purple. With Brooklyn's help, we completed this task on a Saturday morning before lunch. The room now feels so warm and inviting and no longer our office, but the room where our new baby daughter will have just for her.
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Within a span of a week and a half, we celebrated my dad's, mine and my sister's birthdays - all separate celebrations. My dad's birthday is July 7, but we celebrated at a local seafood restaurant on July 12. It was one of the best times I've had with my family. We all had fun talking, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. It was such a wonderful evening, that none of us wanted it to end. We stood outside the restaurant for the longest time continuing our conversation and starting new ones. We went out again this past Saturday for my birthday. Again, a very nice meal, great conversation and great company. And, then yesterday, was our final celebration for my sister's 21st birthday. Kevin took the first official photo of her sipping her first legal drink - a cosmopolitan. I cannot believe my sister is 21 - makes me feel kind of old!!!
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We have finally decided (or narrowed down to be exact) names for our baby girl. I'll admit this has been quite the struggle. Poor Kevin, every time he would come up with a name, I would shoot it down because I didn't like the nicknames associated with, the meaning of the name, the sound of the name or the origin of it. I have been seriously very, very picky over what to name our new addition. With Brooklyn, the name just came to me, and when I mentioned it to Kevin, it stuck as we both just loved it and thought it would be perfect. We hadn't had that feeling with all the names we had come up with the new baby, until now. We have a good list and I don't know if we'll narrow it down to one or just wait and see what names best fits her after she's born, but I can tell you, I am so excited with the prospect of the ones on our list.
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This Saturday marks the beginning of my 30th week. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy seems to be flying by. When I was pregnant with Brooklyn, there is no way it moved this fast. Maybe it has something to do with being pregnant in the summer and the summer always flies by in our household, or maybe it has something to do with having a toddler already. I don't know, but it's flying by. When I look in the mirror, I can no doubt tell that I am pregnant, but it really depends on what I am wearing how much it shows. When I look at my friends that are pregnant or others that I know of that are pregnant, everyone looks so much bigger than I am. I never got too big with Brooklyn, and this baby is turning out to be the same way. At my 28 week appointment, I had only gained 3 pounds. I'm always amazed at this, especially this time, since my cravings have all been sweet and sugar-related! I only gained 17 pounds with Brooklyn and it looks like I might be on pace to do the same this time around. The baby is super active always kicking and moving. Her most active times are when Brooklyn talks directly to my belly button (the baby's ear as Brooklyn believes). It's sweet that they are building a bond even before she leaves my womb. It makes my heart melt to see how excited Brooklyn is and how much she wants to be a big sister.
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And, lastly, I'll leave you with a bit of fun news. One of my closest friends is in the hospital right now in labor. Her due date was yesterday, but after her doctor's appointment today, she was walked over to the hospital and admitted into labor and delivery. This will be her third child. I am so excited for her and can't wait to meet their newest addition. I'm sure it will make me long even more to hold my baby in my arms, but all in good timing, right!?

For My Baby Girl

Tiny movements like tiny kicks
Tiny baby, a mother’s bliss
Can’t wait to give the tiny you
Huge hugs and lots of kisses too

What tiny dreams you might have now
I would understand someday, somehow
I dreamed last night, your tiny face
An angel indeed, made from God’s sweet embrace

How else would mommy know
How much her tiny little angel has grown
How else would mommy guess
If her little angel has some requests

I know that somehow you could now hear
Oh, what a thrill you will bring us here!!
Now hush my baby, it’s time to rest
Inside my womb, your own calm nest

My Girls

I don't say it enough, but I really have the World's BEST Daughter! I really do. The kind of girl that melts your heart by wanting to hold you when you're feeling down or tired and tells you "just put your head on my heart Mommy, I'll make it better." The kind of girl that wants to be just like you so much that she'll imitate your every move. The kind of girl that makes you laugh because there's no other response you can give when she throws you for a loop by saying "taking away my toys Mommy isn't going to work." The kind of girl that can be all girly with Mommy but then turn around and two seconds later be wrestling or using tools with Daddy. The kind of girl that can be super shy around everyone but with Mommy and Daddy she lets loose to dance, sing or share one of her funny faces.

How did I ever get to be this lucky to have such an amazing person to care for and raise? How did I get chosen to be her mother? I don't have the answers, but I tell you what, I'm in awe and full of gratitude every day for the chance to spend time with her. She has truly made me a complete person and has shown me how to live life to the fullest and how to have fun every single day, every single moment. And, I thought I was supposed to be the one doing all the teaching!

As the birth of our second girl is right around the corner, I often ponder what she'll be like. Will she be like her sister? What will she be interested in? And, the thought that has crossed my mind several times, will I ever be able to love her as much as I love her big sister, and will we share the same kind of bond? I don't know who she'll look like or what her interests will be, but I know that like her big sister, she will be mine and I have already fallen in love with her. I can't wait to meet and greet her into our family. And, heaven knows, she's going to have one amazing big sister. Oh, I can't imagine how my heart will grow when she is born, but I know it will. I will get to be a mommy to two little precious girls! I just feel so blessed.

Growing Up

I remember my first blog post. Brooklyn was two days shy of turning 5 months old. I reminisced and was in awe over how she was growing up and changing so fast and right before my eyes. It's always something that veteran parents warn you about, but it's not until you actually become a parent that you understand the full meaning of what they are saying. You really, really have to be careful not to take for granted your children growing up, because it happens so fast and in my case, without my even realizing it at times.

At the beginning of June, we started something new, but something that we wanted to tackle before the baby is born. Kevin and I had talked in great length about it and when the right time was to start, and we figured it would take a good amount of time to be set in place. It's okay to admit we were wrong. After only 10 days, Brooklyn was officially potty trained, and wearing her Little Mermaid panties. Of course, we're still in the process of doing a complete and total potty training, because she is still wearing, but not wetting a diaper during her nap, and then again overnight. We are charting her process through her Potty Chart which was an idea that we stole from my parents as the chart idea was something they did to encourage me to do chores when I was growing up. At the end of the week, she gets a special surprise to reward her for being a big girl! She's very aware of when she feels the need to go and will tell us whether we are home or in public. It's wonderful. And, it does give Mommy and Daddy a nice break of changing diapers before the baby is born. We couldn't be more proud of her.

Brooklyn has always been interested in music, from a very young age. She has staked her claim of favorite songs and bands over her two and a half years, and most recently her favorite is Maroon 5's Makes Me Wonder. Kevin and I have become a bit tired of the song as she requests we play it over and over again on the iPod. She loves to jump and dance to the music and tries out all kinds of new moves. She is quite the dancer. So, I guess this next part comes because she enjoys music so much, but she has really, really taken to singing. She sings songs all the time. They are not necessarily ones that we taught her, as she has really taken to making up her own songs, but whatever the lyrics, she's always singing or humming. She sometimes sings herself to sleep at night. She sings while we are driving in the car, usually along with the radio. She sings while she is showering or getting a bath. She really sings a lot. It's very sweet, and she has such a sweet singing voice, something she obviously didn't inherit from her parents.

On Tuesday, her and I went on a date to a late breakfast, shopping and a movie. It's amazing how she can carry and lead a conversation the whole time. While we were eating breakfast, I just looked at her and realized, holy cow, I really don't have a baby anymore, just look at her! She's just so much fun to be around and it's incredible to think that she's my little girl, my precious daughter. And, to watch her grow up is something both Kevin and I delight in. We loved holding her on our chests as a baby, but every milestone or new thing she learns, we're right there with her celebrating and encouraging it. We so blessed to be her parents and start every day with her, trying to capture every moment, because she really is growing up so fast!