A challenging day

Abigail was a little challenging today.

First, she wanted nothing to do with her breakfast. So we caved and finally set the plate on the coffee table desperate to get her to eat something to start off her day.

Then, I ran an errand with a friend this morning so daddy took Abby to the park. When they returned home, she was refusing to lay down for her nap, constantly claiming she needed to potty. But she'd sit there forever and nothing would happen. I think someone was delaying her nap on purpose ;).

After sleeping for a solid three hours, she woke up very emotional. She couldn't seem to pull it together. She even passed out from crying so hard because mean-old-mommy put clothes on her! After that whole ordeal, we went to the beach and had a great couple of hours.

When we got home a little later, she again decided that she wasn't going to eat dinner. We ended up showering and relaxing later, and that was wonderful. We also got to video chat with my sister, which was great.  But the poor girl decided to cry when I said it was time for bed (which is very unusual for her). Honestly, I considered bringing her into my bed and letting her sleep with me. We never do that, but it was awfully tempting! But I was in so much pain & I haven't been sleeping well, so I needed to get her down so that I could relax and try to feel some relief. 

Days like these can be challenging, but they also remind me of how great I have it most days. These days are rare for us. We are extremely Blessed to have a happy and pretty easy-going kiddo. She's always very strong-willed and can be a bit stubborn, but I wouldn't change that for the world. I think she's going to grow up to do great things and I'm excited to watch with pride. 

Oh, and did I mention that tonight was the second night in a row that as I'm walking out of her room at bedtime, I've overheard her saying, "thank you Jesus." MELTS MY HEART! How precious is that?! I must be doing something right :).

My payment

It's 3am and I am unable to sleep. I'm uncomfortable, my back hurts, and my heartburn is really acting up...pregnancy sure can be glamorous ;).

I read an article a bit ago about stay-at-home mom's and their "worth." It talked about how a lot of stay-at-home mom's feel the need to compare their days and hours to day cares and such to show "the money they are saving them and how valuable their time is."

It got me thinking...isn't my time at home with Abigail payment in itself? Getting to be there when she says each new word or phrase, being there hug and kiss her when she feels pride in achieving something that she feels is worth celebrating, and being her rock for when she's needing a little extra TLC. There's timess where out of nowhere, for no apparant reason, all she wants is to snuggle on my lap. Although I know Dan loves his job, I also know that he would kill to have some of these special moments with her. Time is something we can never get back. As each moment passes, we're all getting older and we can only look back on the memories we've made. I am so grateful that I'm able to stay at home at this point in our life and raise our daughter. Being her "person" in life right now is worth more to me than any amount of money.

I love my little girl :)

Shoutout to my Folks :)

Today is one of those days that I'm feeling extra thankful. 

I am so grateful to have two parents in my life that have always taught me to stay positive, stay strong, and to do everything with optimism, love, and a joyful attitude. My parents have been extremely supportive of my life and I am so grateful for that. 

When I wanted to pursue something in school, they supported me. When I wanted to get a new job, they were happy for me. When I got married, they made sure to make that one of the best days of my life. And when I had Abigail, they were her biggest fans and made me feel so proud of what I had created and accomplished. They still make me feel like I'm a great mother and wife, and their validation means so much to me. Having their support with this pregnancy has been a Blessing, too. I love that they trust in Dan and I to make our own decisions, and are there beside us if we ever need them. I'm so thankful to have grown up in a stable household with a family that loved and supported me in each stage of life. They are still this way with both my sister and I. Having role models like that in life sure makes being a mother easier. If Abigail and Isabelle grow up respecting and adoring me half as much as I do my own mother, I will be so happy.

Not only are they great parents, they are wonderful grandparents. Abigail loves them so much, and I know Isabelle will too :). Whether it's a quick "hello" on FaceTime, or a visit to their house...she loves her time with Mimi and Grandpa. 

Knowing that they moved up to Washington to be closer to Lindsay (my sister) and I gives me such comfort in day-to-day things. There such a safety and reassurance for me in having my parents close by. Living in a separate state from them for four years was tough for me! I'm not at all ashamed to say that I rely on seeing my parents often. 

So mom and dad....I can't thank you enough for being my biggest cheerleaders through life. You are both so amazing and I'm so happy to have you as my parents and friends! I love you so much more than I could ever begin to explain.

(Sorry this was so jumbled and if it seems as though I'm rambling. I'm tired and am battling a headache tonight...but I felt the need to get out what was going through my head) :)

A full heart

People so often talk about how "difficult motherhood is." Sure, there are challenging days. And there are definitely moments where you find yourself contradicting your words, your parenting beliefs, or your rules just to make a specific moment in time easier. It's a lot of work to teach a tiny little human to grow up with manners, respect, and Grace, while still mixing in the normal everyday silliness that they so naturally have inside of them. And not to mention the attitudes and tantrums that they are capable of. It is definitely a full-time job of its own.

But as a lay in bed tonight thinking of my little Abigail, all I can think of is how much better my life is because of her. I definitely go to bed feeling more exhausted than I ever have before, but that's because I had a day full of moments, memories, laughs, and sure, some struggles...all of which with a little girl that fills my heart with joy and love. Getting out of the house to do anything simple, whether it be to play at the beach for an hour or even going to the grocery store, all take a lot more work than before having her. But it seems so small in comparison to the happiness she brings me with her witty remarks as I'm pushing her in the shopping cart, or when I see that huge smile on her face as she runs along the sand. It doesn't take much to please her. A few crackers to snack on, some rocks to play with, and a mommy who sits and engages with her is more than enough to keep her fully entertained and excited. How could I ever complain about that?! That's all I need to fill my afternoon with happiness. In ways, life is much simpler now that I have her. I appreciate the little moments so much more than I would have prior to becoming a mommy. 

My heart is filled with so much love that at times it feels like it could burst. And to think we're adding to that with another beautiful little girl just makes me smile. Parenting can sure take a lot out of ya, but it puts way more back into my heart and I wouldn't change a moment of it. 

From One to Two

I'm laying here, in bed, feeling Isabelle move around in my stomach. I just got Abigail to bed a little bit ago after about an hour of much-needed snuggling on the couch. She isn't always that way, but for some reason tonight she just wanted mommy to hold her tight and close...and I loved it. 

As I lay here feeling Isabelle move, I can't think of how different my life will be once she's in the real world with us all. We will have two children. That's crazy to think about. But what's harder for me is accepting the fact that Abigail will no longer be my only baby. She's not going to have 100% of my undivided attention every day when daddy is gone at work. She will have to share me, and I will also have to share her. It's so exciting thinking that we are providing her with a lifelong best friend. Having a sister is one of the biggest Blessings that life can bring you. But for some reason I lay here feeling guilty knowing that I only have 9 short weeks with her...just her. 

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to meet Isabelle and for our family and love to grow. I know that the moment I meet this baby girl, I will love her just as I love Abigail. But I truly believe there is a special kind of bond and love between Abigail and I that no one will ever be able to take. She is the little girl that made me a mommy. She is the reason I am now a softer yet stronger, more loving person than I ever knew possible for myself. She may not be my "only baby" for much longer, but she will always be my "first." Becoming a mother has taught me that the amount of love I have in my heart is unmeasurable. And I know it will continue to surprise me as our family grows. I'm so eternally grateful to have Dan by my side through it all.

For the next nine weeks, I plan to continually treasure each moment I have with my little family of three (plus Charlie). We have a beautiful life and I'm so thankful I'm able to create such wonderful memories with Abby before she becomes a big sister. She amazes me each and every day with her intelligence, wittiness, silliness, and loving heart. She's such a beautiful little soul and brings me so much happiness. 

Although I'm in a lot more pain than I care to go into, I'm in no hurry for these 9 weeks to fly by. Each day that passes, though it may be uncomfortable, is a new opportunity for me to love on and soak up time with my first born :). 

I may not have this all figured out just yet....but I know  one thing for sure: becoming a mommy is what I was meant to do. God had this plan for me and I plan on making him proud. 

Some time with daddy :)

Dan had last weekend off, so we got to spend some fun time with him! We went to the zoo and also went to Belmont Park, where he & Abby rode on some little rides. She loved the rides at the park! 

Another Friday is now upon us, and unfortunately Dan works all weekend. Not sure what Abigail and I have planned, but I'm sure we will think of something :). 

In the meantime, I have an OB checkup this morning. I'm really excited for it actually. There's nothing better than a doctor confirming that you and baby are doing well! We're 30 1/2 weeks in....getting so close, and I'm getting so big!

Here's a few photos from our week:

2 weeks in!

We've been in San Diego for a couple full weeks now. We are taking full advantage of the sunshine by being outside as much as possible. We've taken many trips down to the park, the bay (we prefer the bay over the beach - much easier/safer with Abigail and also more dog friendly), a couple different trips to the zoo, and even a trip to the safari park! Abigail is loving all the time spent outdoors. I think one of her favorite things is "chasing Charlie" down the sand. 

Here's just a few photos from the trip this far:

As for me...I'm feeling pretty good.

Other than awful insomnia and crotch pain, my pregnancy is going really well! Baby Isabelle is constantly moving around, and her movements are getting so strong! We are in the 29th week of my pregnancy - almost the home stretch! It's crazy to think I still have ten weeks of growing to do! 

Dan is still working swing shift, keeping him busy from about 2pm - 1am. Meaning Abigail and I are getting lots of alone time. Our friends, Kendra and McKenna have definitely helped keep us company though, and I'm so thankful for that!

 By the time Abby has dinner and we get ready for bed, I'm pretty wiped out. Turns out being pregnant while spending the days out in the sun, chasing around a dog and a 2-year-old, can really wear a person out! I've been embracing Abigails 7:30pm bedtime ;). 

Because it hasn't been allowing me to post on here for a while, I'm feeling a little behind.

My sister had to undergo surgery this week to remove fibroids and polyps in her reproductive organs. No fun! They also discovered that she does in fact have endometriosis...which is a total bummer! Thankfully, it's not too advanced yet. She's been having pain for a while now, so I'm glad she finally has an answer as to why. She is doing well and is recovering at my parents house for a little extra help and support.

My mom has been over to our house many times to check on things, and is even doing a little cleaning and redecorating for us. Yes - I told her it was okay ;). My mom and I have very similar taste in most things, so I trust her! When she mentioned that she had a few ideas for sprucing up the house as a surprise for us, I didn't hesitate! She's pretty awesome and I'm so thankful for her!

Well, that pretty much wraps up all of the updates that I can think of. I will keep attempting to update a bit more often in hopes that it will let me upload new posts! I hope everyone is having a great day!