Wes is Two!

Well, clearly I haven't been keeping up with the blog. This isn't something I fret about, but I was just chatting at lunch with some friends and hearing them chat about their own blogs made me think it would be fun to start up again!

Now is as good a time as any since we just celebrated Wesley's second birthday! We had just a few close friends over to help us celebrate. I did a safari theme, for no real reason other than I thought it would be fun!

I had a basic table set up for food with animal themes: tiger tails (orange candy dipped pretzel sticks), hungry hungry hippo dip (hummus), baboon bananas and fruit (fruit salad with a honey lime dressing), jungle juice (punch), and elephant snacks (peanuts and chips). We also had cupcakes and served burgers.

 

Our friends were sweet enough to let us borrow their bouncy house for the unseasonably warm day!

 Opening his real toolbox with Nana

The futility of being a mother,

by a not very good one.

I put the block back in the container for blocks.
I take it from the pantry, behind the shredded coconut, precariously placed next to the open sugar
And I put it back in the box with shapes in the side meant to fit it and it's brothers
And tomorrow it's in the freezer

I make a well balanced dinner I know you won't eat
A second less balanced dinner
And then defrost the chicken nuggets
(With fruit, ok? Relax.)

I put the shoes back on the shoe rack, and count 11
I put the shoes back on the shoe rack, and count 10
I put the shoes back on the shoe rack, and count 11. Thank you.

Laundry
Dishes
Diapers
Kisses

I put the block back in the container for blocks.

CIO stands for cringe inducing obstacle.

I am dead.

Scratch that.

I am tired. That's all. Not nearly as bad as dead. I think. I can't remember.

I genuinely thought I knew what being tired was before I had a baby. If I could go back 9 months to warn me...I probably wouldn't, because what would be the point of that. Live on in blissful ignorance, past me. Live on.

My baby hates sleep.

Scratch that.

My baby hates me.

Scratch that.

My baby doesn't hate anything, because he's an infant. But he isn't very good at sleeping, which means suddenly I'm not very good at sleeping, which I used to be very good at, I think. The memory issues are real. What part of your brain dies first when utterly sleep deprived? I wish it was the part that told me I was tired, but apparently that's one of the last. The first was almost definitely the part that held patience, and smartness, and words. "The itsy bitsy bug thing went up the wet whatever."

We're going to start sleep training this weekend. I hate this. I know it's certainly not the worst thing ever, and I keep reminding myself that a crying baby is better than an incapable mother, but this is truly a point I didn't think we'd come to. I have advice coming out of my ears. All given with love, of course, but still. And encouragement. The amount of encouragement I've received could soothe even the angstiest of teenage girls. But me? Over. It.

When it comes down to it, the point is right now I don't have the energy to care for my baby. He's sitting in his crib right now, refusing to nap, because I'm refusing to spend half an hour rocking him to sleep, and I'm here on my computer, and I just don't have the *ability* to deal with him anymore. He is wonderful. He is the light of my life. He is slowly killing his mother. So I need something that will work fast. And he'll cry. And I'll cry. And it will be awful, but then, please God, then it will be better.

General Update :)

Obviously, I haven't been keeping up with my updates much lately, but I did want to take the time to dump the photos here (which, I am very proud to say, I HAVE kept up with) and note a few general fun pregnancy things :)

Things have been progressing quite smoothly. So smoothly, in fact, that my doctor didn't see a problem in postponing my bimonthly check up an extra week to spend an extended time in Georgia for the holidays. With that, plus with Andrew being T-6 complete (YAY!), we've had quite the little vacation and, what's more, is we've been able to travel together! This is kind of a big deal for us. The past couple of holidays I've typically had to drive alone at least one leg of our trip, which would have been awful this far along.

I am definitely hitting the uncomfortable season of pregnancy I've always heard so much about. Baby just doesn't seem to have enough space in there. My stomach is small, but my appetite is huge, heartburn is pretty frequent, and my maternity clothes are actually becoming a good deal too tight-I just can't seem to justify spending any more for these last couple of months! Which means I'm basically living in PJs and sweat pants with small breaks for real pants when absolutely necessary.

We had an incredible Christmas with our families (seriously, we are soooo lucky to have them live close and enjoy one another's company enough to combine lots of holiday affairs). Everyone was incredibly generous, per usual, which makes an especially big difference this year as we save for all the much needed baby items.

Oh, I should mention our guest appearances in week 29's photo. These are a couple of guys in Andrew's class who just happened to be over when we were taking our weekly pic and wanted to be involved. They took their sign holding job *very* seriously, but I promise, they really are happy to be there ;)

26 and 27 Week Updates

This has basically become a bimonthly thing, but I've managed to keep up with weekly pictures at least. I do reserve the right to revert back to weekly postings at any moment :)

26 weeks, 4 days

How far along? 27 weeks, 6 days today; 26 weeks, 3 days at time of most recent photo 

How big is baby? Baby is the size of a head of cauliflower

How am I feeling? Generally good. My muscles are fighting with my exercise levels a bit. I should probably slow down, but my weight gain numbers disagree.

Cravings? Chocolate!

Stretch Marks? Still nothing clear, though I do have a pretty obvious linea nigra.

Sleep? Pretty much the same. I'm sleeping well and some nights I won't even have to get up to go to the bathroom (this is rare). But when I'm up, I'm up, whether or not it's at 6 and I don't have to get up til 8. 

Movement? Yep. He's a roller

Looking Forward to? Andrew being done with T-6's! Hopefully by the end of the week if the weather stops cooperating! I'm excited to get some baby stuff done with his help. We have to paint the changer and put together fun things like the stroller, pack and play (both of which are an early Christmas gift from my parents!), swing, and bouncer! 

What have been the highlights of the week? Andrew did his cross country trip (which was fun for him but a bit boring for me:)). We got the the Christmas tree up which is VERY exciting, and I watched my first screening of Elf this season.

24 and 25 Week Updates

How far along? 25 weeks, 6 days today; 25 weeks, 3 days at time of most recent photo 

How big is baby? Baby is the size of a zucchini

How am I feeling? Pretty good. Some days my body is feeling more loose and uncomfortable, like my joints just aren't fitting together quite right. I'm finding that sometimes even walks need to be slowed down, which is a pain.

Cravings? My appetite has curbed just slightly. Still loving everything except Japanese.

Stretch Marks? I think I might be seeing the beginnings of a couple, but I'm not sure :/

Sleep? My sleep has been ok, but I'm pretty consistently finding that my eyes are wide open around 5 or 6 no matter when I go to bed. I'm hoping these surges stop now, but resurface once the baby is born :)

Movement? Still a decent bit. Some days are busier than others in there.

Looking Forward to? Thanksgiving and my baby shower!! So glad we get to be around family to celebrate the holiday. I've been in Georgia for about a week already and Andrew's coming in this evening. And I get to see so many amazing friends this Sunday at the shower! 

What have been the highlights of the week? Hanging around Georgia is always a pretty good time. I've been helping my sister prep for the shower, went up to Atlanta for a quick visit to the Apple Store and tried a yummy new restaurant (where I ate an entire plate of tater tot nachos...), and I've been working out and hanging out with my parents at home.

22 and 23 Weeks

22 weeks, 3 days

 

How far along? 23 weeks, 4 days today; 23 weeks, 3 days at time of most recent photo 

How big is baby? Baby is the size of a grapefruit! 

How am I feeling? Still pretty sleepy, but good. My anxiety has also increased a lot over the last few weeks, so I'm taking some time to try to relax.

Symptoms? Pretty much the same. 

Cravings? Everything, always.

Stretch Marks? Still none.

Sleep? Same, though I'm LOVING my maternity pillow!! I had to sleep without it this weekend and I missed it so.

Movement? Yep-he's a mover! Pretty much the same amount of activity.

Looking Forward to? Andrew not having to go to work next Monday :). Followed by a doctor's appointment Tuesday and my trip back to GA.

What have been the highlights of the week? We had tons of fun this past weekend going to the Wounded Warrior 8K in Franklin, TN. The area was gorgeous and we got to visit with some great friends.

I also got one of these babies in the mail last week:

                                       

I'm so so excited!!