2 Week Baby # 2 Thoughts

These 2 weeks have flown by with our sweet Colette. Thank you all for your congratulatory messages. We have been blessed with family and friends visiting, making us meals and taking care of things for us. We have it easier than most as my mom has been taking care of Max for us while we got adjusted to another little one. We are so lucky to have her here! I have time to post more, but I am enjoying the baby snuggles, naps and netflix (Orange is the New Black is so addicting right now). Here are some random thoughts 2 weeks in.

-Colette was a very sleepy baby the first 2 weeks. She's starting to wake up more and get a little fussier, but I think she's just gassy. Nothing we can't handle.

-She's in newborn sizes, but quickly outgrowing them.

-She surpassed her birth weight at her 10 day weight check at the doctor. She was almost a pound up from the week before. Up 5-6 oz from birth weight.

- We did newborn photos on day 11. Similar to with Max. She didn't cry/scream as much as Max did, but she was very awake for them.

-She was in newborn diapers, but the size 1's fit better to me so just using up what we have.

-She is such a great eater, it is SO much easier the 2nd time around. I have used lanolin ONE time... nope, not one time an hour like I was last time... ONE TIME TOTAL. It doesn't hurt at all. It came so easily at the hospital and it has been stress free. I am actually enjoying the break and love feeding her. With Max, I was alway afraid I was missing something because it took so long to feed and now I welcome the time.

-My milk came in over night on the 3rd night (it wasn't till day 5 with Max).

-She's eating every 3 hours just about. Sometimes earlier and it seems like she's at a 2 week growth spurt. At night I feed her around 10 and she's in her cuddler bassinet sleeping by 11. Then she's up around 1:30/2 and then again around 4:30/5. We are usually up for the day by 7/7:30 of course Max is up anywhere between 6:30-7ish.

-She has been very easy to put back to bed after the middle of the night feedings. David now uses a head light to change the dirty diapers so she doesn't wake up a lot. Works like a charm!

-We've been family napping (sometimes all in one bed, but usually separate) around 2/2:30 every afternoon and I am loving that. It's a great way to catch up on sleep and keeps me going till 11pm.

-I am loosing weight faster this time, but I didn't put as much on with Colette. I am eating a ton, always hungry and thirsty.

-Max is such a great big brother. He loves kissing on her and really doesn't try lashing out on her one bit (Hadley gets most of that-sorry girl).

-I love the my brest friend nursing pillow. It's like an inner tub, that straps on. Support on all sides.

-She sleeps in the cuddler napper that was in the pack and play. We take it out and put it securely in the bassinet my sister is letting us borrow. She didn't like that. Our swing isn't working the best but she likes it ok. She naps either on us or in the cuddler.

-She likes to be swaddled, but also likes her hands out sometimes.

-She's been out to dinner (lots of family in town) 2-3 times already and to a Father's day pool outing (good thing it was cooler and shaded). Going to be a long hot summer since she really is too young for any water.

-She makes grunting sounds a lot (sometimes a few hours leading up to a big poopy). She has plenty of dirty diapers and wet ones. I stopped counting after my milk came in and things picked up.

-The majority of her belly button cord piece fell off on day 8. 

-The recovery is night and day between a C-Section and regular birth. I am so glad I got to experience that. Sure I was a little sore, but nothing in comparison. I could walk up stairs, lift the baby, help change diapers and put on pants without it hurting. Anyone contemplating a VBAC (if your doctor approves) I would HIGHLY recommend it. I am just glad I went into labor as early as I did so I didn't have to stress about that. Birth story coming soon.

She's Here!

Our sweet Colette Reese was born Saturday night at 11:38pm weighing in at 7lb 1oz and 20 1/2 inches. I'll share the birth story later, but we had a successful VBAC and came home Monday. Everyone is feeling great! Enjoy a few photos while we enjoy our baby. 

Wordless Wednesday: flying with daddy

Baby Girl Sneak Peek Nursery Room progress

Memorial weekend we knocked out a major to do list item for baby girl. We had the work crew working hard for the day: Mom, David, Karen, Bill and David's parents brought lunch and painted some trim. So thankful for food, I was starving (you know, from all the work I was doing). I supervised at best and was playing with Max lol. This was the inspiration I found on pinterest. I'd say we came pretty close to stealing borrowing their ideas. They painted a neutral cream color on the upper walls (similar to what was in there, but freshened it up) and David added all the trim (crown molding, chair rail and frames). Then the purple was added (well before the trim was put up).

How fantastic does that look! Such a huge difference.

Curtains. They are a lavender gingham pattern and we have hold backs now so this pic is kinda hard to get the visual. Meredith next door gave us the sheer under curtains with butterflies on them. They match the bedding really nicely. The gingham ones are pottery barn blackout backed curtains and they are fantastic at blocking light. I love how we have the option to open them with the hold backs we got.

Custom closet David built from some Ikea furniture.

Crib is up! Now we just have to finish decorations, but I'm happy with the progress for sure! Feels like a different room, now if only the rest of our house was this nice!

Max's Potty Training Adventures!

This past memorial day weekend we decided that it was time to potty train Max. He is about 2 years and 3.5 months old. I wanted to document this for the next one and for my sister/friends to look at. 

How did I know he was ready? Well, around his 2 year birthday I bought him a little small potty and this seat insert you see in the pic. I read the 3 day potty training technique and took most of the concepts from there, but it was impossible for us to stay home nonstop for 3 full days with only a few weeks left before baby girl arrives. Back around when he was a little over 2 we read our Potty book to Max that we've had for a long time and shortly after we'd just start asking if he wanted to sit on his potty to go. Low and behold within a few days he'd start going #1 and even a #2 here and there. We'd ask him only when we were changing his diaper. We were giving 2 m & m's as rewards and that seemed to really entice him.  He is in the church preschool 2 days a week and I didn't want them to have to deal with him asking to go or worrying about him wetting his undies so we held off till school was out.  I was a little nervous starting it back up because he just didn't seem interested anymore. I'd ask if he wanted to try to go and tried to make him sit there every 15-30 mins, but he refused to go in and would lock the bathroom door and close it (with him on the opposite side). I do want to mention that we only used the toilet insert. The small floor potty we thought he might get confused and upset when we didn't have one when we went different places.  I was very surprised when he all the sudden said to me "potty" that morning and we ran in and he went. He pretty much just let me know when he had to go. I did of course ask every 30 mins and when I saw him sitting/squatting I made sure he wasn't trying to go.

Day 1- we were home most of the day, but Max and I got bored and went outside to water plants. Well the neighbor kids came over and started playing water guns and distracting Max and he went potty in his undies onto the sidewalk. He realized what he was doing and then wanted to come in to potty and change (so we put swimsuit on). No other accidents that day. We did decide to go cold turkey on the diapers during nap. I debated putting it on and I almost did, but I told him that he shouldn't go to the potty during nap because his bed and him would be really wet. I made sure to get him up as soon as I heard him peep (normally I let him lay there to see if he will go back to sleep) and he was dry! 

Day 2- everything was going well and he would potty and poopy nicely when he told us he had to go. We did venture out to my cousins house for dinner where he used their potty a few times, but did have an accident once. He doesn't go a lot in one sitting so it's just a matter of changing clothes so no biggie. 

Day 3- I think we were accident free. We did go to the pool and he had a disposable swim diaper on so there is really no telling if he went or not in that. 

Night time- I really didn't want to change sheets in the middle of the night so I held off and kept his regular diaper on at night (and still am). Surprisingly after night 4 he woke up the next day completely dry and asked to use the potty when he got up. He was actually surprised to be wearing the diaper. The past few mornings he was dry again when I got him up. Last night while reading books he asked to go potty (his diaper was already on) so we just took it off and he went. So definitely good progress. 

Outings-He has used the restroom at swim lessons to go poopy twice with Gigi, at the doctors office, at Lowes, Walmart (grossy), and a mexican restaurant. Is he 100% potty trained... yes and no I guess. I still think he could have an accident, but I'd probably say he's 90% there. I am very pleased with all our efforts (yay Gigi and David!).

Other Thoughts- Max is very verbal with us and talks a lot. I didn't have any doubt that he wouldn't be able to let us know that he had to go. We used m & m and skittles for rewards. When he went poopy the first few times we had a few bigger prizes like water toys for the pool (thanks Gigi). I did try to load him up with salty foods and lots to drink to encourage him to go. We bought the big boy underwear a few months back, but haven't really used them so we got them out and let him pick what he wanted. We also let him run around with just a shirt and undies all day (yep, even out in the neighborhood). 

We're very proud of our big boy and happy to say that most all the things on our checklist to do with Max before the baby is born has worked out! No pacci... check, big boy bed (still cries for a few mins at night).... check, potty training... check! Hopefully we won't have too many regressions once she gets here.

I took this video the first morning of our potty training adventure. Just love his little voice.

Pregnancy # 2 Survey: Weeks 34-37

How Far Along: 34-37 (yup, major slacker here) I think with the sickness and stomach bug there were a few weeks where I didn't even know how many weeks I was. 

Size of baby: Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is about three weeks away. Scheduled C-section is June 13th. I can try for a VBAC if I go into labor on my own. I'll be 39 weeks and 3 days so let's hope she's early like Max was! Time to start guessing weights and days, maybe I'll get a poll going.

Total Weight Gain: 23/24 lbs. I am the same weight as I have been the past few weeks, I think because I lost my appetite with the stomach bug/other sicknesses. I was up about 4-5 lbs this point with Max last time.

Sleep: Still up to pee a few times a night (sometimes its almost 5 times), but sleeping pretty good with my pillows and falling right back to sleep.

Symptoms: Feeling pretty good still. She's starting to press on some nerves in the lower bladder region. I sometimes get shooting pains up the back of my leg region. Mostly at night.

Cravings: I am loving desserts

Movement: I think she's still head down. I feel feet in my upper right side and a butt middle left. I go to the doctor tomorrow for my checkup so hopefully they will know. So different this time as with Max we were constantly checking his breech position. We haven't seen baby girl since her 20 week ultrasound! She's moving so much in there I don't worry about her. 

**Update from 37 Week Doctor Appt** 
I was only measuring 34ish weeks when they did the tape measuring so they fit me in for an ultrasound. We haven't had one since 20 weeks so I was excited (hated that David was going to miss it). She is measuring just fine (I had this issue with Max at almost the same time so I knew not to worry).  She is measuring 37 weeks and 1 day and I am 37 weeks and 3 days so nothing to worry about. She is indeed head down, but facing up. They aren't concerned with that because about 90% of babies turn themselves during delivery. She's measuring right at 7lbs (or so they estimate). It was hard to see her face too much as she is straight up and down in there. Plenty of fluids and everything else looks good. Getting so close now!


Maternity Clothes: Yep, all the time. Dresses are easiest.

Best Moments this week: Getting baby girl's room painted, added all the molding (chair rail, crown molding, frames), custom closet and setting up the furniture.

What I'm looking forward to: Time is running out and I am in crazy list making mode to finish things up.

Milestones: This isn't baby girl related, but Max is doing so well with potty training. I have a separate post almost ready on this so I won't go into detail. This is a major check off our before baby girl  to do list. He's such a big boy and we are so proud. He's also doing so well at his swim lessons now.
 
To Do List: Need to pack our hospital go bags this weekend, nurse goody bags, finish decorating baby girl room, get last minute items for baby girl (ring sling, pacci, nursing pillow, etc..), thank you notes, finalize newborn photoshoot scheduling,  a few monogramming projects for baby girl and Max, put together swing, pack and play (changing station), car seat install, order photos from maternity/Max photoshoot, finish Max baby book (I know), give the house a good deep clean.

This is 37 weeks. Sorry, I don't have a lot of stuff from in between weeks.

Silly boy still going for my belly button.

Kisses for baby sister.

I think I'm smaller than I was with Max at this point. Could be the positioning of them since he was breech. She is definitely much lower than he was so not as much on top.

Looking at this very very dark picture, I guess I look the same. My face isn't as fat this time so that's good news lol.

Last Day of School

 Max's last day of school was a few weeks ago. He was pretty excited to take these pictures so I went for it. Gigi just came back from Alaska so he wore his new shirt.

They supplied them with bags so we had him carry his instead of his backpack which he uses at home and when we go out.

He's just so cute! He finally stopped crying when he went to school the month of May haha. He really got better and was fine, but it took longer than I thought. They had a water play day a few days before the last day and I met my sister and Hadley there. It's always nice to be invited to see what your child does when you're not there. He interacts really well and is a lot more independent. The teachers are fantastic and I'm glad he's going to go 3 days a week starting in August. This will be good timing as Little miss will be born in June and I'll be taking care of her while my mom is still running around with Max. When I go back to work Max will have started school for 3 days so it won't be as hard for mom to manage 2 kids all week.

 This was his official school picture! Can't get better than that so of course I had to buy it! 

  My buddy looks so much bigger now even though it's only been 4 months!