Closing and building...

I officially closed on my first house.  I bought the house back in 2005 and had lived there since.  A lot of changes happened in that house from living with Kory, living alone, Pedro moving in, getting married, having Zuri and now another baby on the way.  I was definitely a little sad to be moving out, but we are excited to start  fresh at a new house with a bigger family!

I would post a picture of our new house but I don't have one yet!  We have been told that closing will happen sometime between the end of May and the end of June.  We were also told about a month ago that it wouldn't be until August, so who really knows!

It has been a lot of work with our new house.  Going to the design center and picking out options, changing options because of their huge mark up on things, figuring out how to get things done that we want on our own.  Plus we need to look into furniture and other house things, which we haven't gotten too far on.  We want to get a lot done before the baby comes because it is already difficult scheduling times to do these things with Zuri, Pedro's work schedule and my work schedule.

One picture I have is of the awesome view we have from our loft!!

That open space area will always be open space because it is part of a wildlife refuge!

Here is to us moving on and moving up!

Zuri 2 years and 2-3 months

So many new things with Zuri the last 4 to 6 weeks.  Her language skills have really blossomed.  She can talk or repeat things that she was not doing before.  She can count up to about 16, however she always forgets 4 and sometimes she repeats a few numbers.  She loves counting.  She also knows what a circle is and will point out circles or tell me she is going to "go circle."  She still doesn't have a lot of FULL sentences but her sentences are getting better.  Words like "good morning mama" and "love you" are some of my favorites.  Zuri likes to say "Stella SIT DOWN!"  Or "mama read book".  We have been focusing on "please" and "thank you."  These make me laugh because she thinks if she says these that automatically she will get what she wants.  

Her adjustment to staying at my parents (nana and papa's) was ok.  I think she was confused about her room being moved from where she has slept here before but has realized where her room is now.  She wanted to carry her "blankie" around for awhile and still randomly does, which is something she has never done before but I assume she was/is just adjusting to a big change.  She loves that my parents have a big yard with nice grass for her to play.  She constantly says "mama outside!"  We took her to the park down the street to fly her first kite!

Zuri also has a new found love for Ashby.  She asks about her all the time and wants to hold her hand and be with her when we have gone with them to the Easter Egg hunt and Easter brunch.  

Zuri definitely understood the concept of gathering as many eggs as possible, pretty sure she had more than any other kid.  Luckily she didn't realize until after that they were filled with candy!

  Yes she had two bags full of eggs!

Easter Brunch!

Zuri and I also colored Easter Eggs for the first time!  She loved it!

One big event for Zuri is that she has started two half days of school a week.  She goes from 9am to 1pm.  She talks about school and tells me she wants to go, but then she hasn't been to excited for me to leave her yet.  But she doesn't want to leave school when I go to pick her up!  I wanted her to have a place where she is getting interaction, communication, active play, listening skills, new songs, sitting down and reading with other people, eating with someone other than me while there are distractions and other fun things for her!  The added benefit will be that when her sister is born that I will have some alone time two days a week with her sister.  I feel a little selfish right now having a few hours to myself (although that time is usually spent at the gym or doing work).  But I know that I won't feel selfish in a few weeks and I didn't want her to equate going to school with her sister.  

Zuri's first "trial day" which was only 2 hours.

Zuri's first real day of school.

Here she is doing puzzles one of her new favorite things to do, she is surprisingly good at them!

Zuri also loves going to the zoo.  Thankfully the weather has been getting nicer and so there have been a few perfect mornings for going.  She loves running around the zoo and looking at all the animals.  She can now say most of the animals and knows what they are when she sees them.  

Right now Zuri constantly surprises me with the things she knows and does.  She also loves singing and like every kid right now loves the song from Frozen "Let it go!"  

We have also had a few bed and nap time issues.  She wants me to read books over and over.  Then once I lay her down she tells me that she wants me to sing "E I O".  So, I sing Old MacDonald had a farm for a few minutes and when I tell her good night she gets mad and keeps yelling "E I O MAMA!!!"

I would say at this age we definitely get random tantrums that I don't have any idea where they come from and happy times that are equally surprising.

Now she has a few more changes to expect coming up soon.  A baby sister and another move into a new house!

Weeks #34, 35 and 36 with #2!

The lack of posts have been because of our crazy last month!  I got everything packed up and moved out of our house.  We were out on the 6th and had to have it cleaned on the 7th and closed on the 8th of April.  We moved in to my parents house and we had a bit of an adjustment period for everyone.  Plus the internet is not great where my computer is set up.  

The pregnancy has been going good.  I feel normal and then I SEE myself and realize that I am HUGE!  It really does make me laugh because when I am first pregnant I think I look so big, but now it is almost funny :)

34 Weeks #2

35 Weeks #2

36 Weeks #2

I had my doctors appointment this week (last one was a month ago).  The doctor said that I measured a week big (37 weeks) and that the baby is head down.  Her heartbeat was 155.  Baby A moves so much.  She also doesn't like when I sit down because she doesn't seem to have much room.  She gets squished up under my ribs, especially on my right side.  The doctor seems to think that this baby will be bigger than Zuri was but of course nobody knows until I actually deliver her!

I get funny looks when I go to the gym and workout and I am pretty sure I have been asked about a million times when I am due this last month, which obviously means that I LOOK like I should have already delivered.  Thankfully, I haven't and hopefully baby girl holds out until her due date or longer :)

The last month we have also checked out two hospitals and we are still undecided which one we will go to when I am in labor.  Each hospital has their upside and downsides.  I guess we really need to figure that out!  We are finally getting our stuff organized for the baby.  I was having some random contractions this last weekend so that made us think we really needed to get ready!  I have a baby shower with my team next Sunday so then I will know what is left to get for our little girl.  I have a feeling she will be born between the 9th and the 11th.

My biggest concern with having Baby A is mostly my worry about Zuri and her reaction to having a sister.  We are really attached and I try to explain she will have to share me with her sister but she obviously doesn't understand that.  I know most second time parents have this concern but I worry because Zuri isn't one of those kids that carries around babies and pretends to take care of them!  Hopefully she will love her sister from the start!

Baby Info:
Days pregnant:  258 days!
Days till due date:  22 more days!
Baby size:  18.75 inches and 5.75lbs crenshaw melon
Baby development:   Baby is gaining weight and getting rounder in appearance.  Baby is considered full term tomorrow.

32 Weeks #2

Looking quite large!  I had my doctors appointment yesterday and they said I was measuring small this week.  Definitely don't think that is really the case.  I am way bigger than my last pregnancy at this point, so not sure how I could be measuring small!  Especially since I have been measuring big.  Anyway, everything is looking good so far.  Baby A's heart rate was 135, she must have been napping, since this is the lowest it has been so far!

Working out and everything has been going good.  I have also been really busy with boxing up things in our house now that it is official (99% sure) that everything is moving forward for us to move.  We close on the 8th and so as of today that leaves me 10 days to get everything done!  Which is really hard with Zuri running around calling "Mama, Mama!" all day long.  Plus I have a lot of work for basketball to get done.

With basketball I have had a lot of new people asking what my plan is in my "current situation."  I ask them, what do you mean my "current situation??"  Then they tell me they want to know how long I am taking off or how I will be able to do anything once I have a baby.  I like to tell them that I also have a 2 year old and she is the bigger issue to getting things done as she can't come with me and just sit there!  Plus I have a husband that sleeps most days or is working, besides two days a week (actually one every other week).   I want to tell them that I am not the first pregnant person to work after having 2 children. Nobody said any of it would be easy, it is definitely an annoying question!  I also had another mom and daughter tell me they were "worried for the baby when I was jumping."  Really?  I told them then they really wouldn't like to see me working out or carrying boxes and other things because we are moving!


We toured one of the hospitals we are considering (St. Joes) and will visit the other hospital next week (Good Samaritan) and we are pre-registering at both hospitals.  Both are about 25 minutes away from where we will be living, so I guess depending on traffic and the urgency to get there that will help us make a decision of where Baby A will be delivered.

Needless to say there is so much to be done and so little time in regards to moving, basketball and the arrival of our new family member!


Baby info:
Day's pregnant: 227!
Day's till due date: 53 (oh my goodness!)
Baby size: About 16-18 inches long (large jimaca) and 3.75lbs
Baby development:Baby is plumping up-however will still gain half of it's body weight between now and birth.
Complaints: Heartburn :(
Looking forward to: Being able to get up off the floor easier!  It is hard changing Zuri's diapers on the floor then having to get up!  I am also looking forward to getting this move done and having my basketball "work/finances" stuff completed so I can have some "normal" time before A arrives!

29, 30 and 31 Weeks with Baby A (aka #2)

I have a comparison picture with the first pregnancy, but it is actually quite embarrassing how HUGE I am now!  Again, I swear I have gained almost the exact same weight, but my belly is WAY different this time, so I will spare the shirtless baby bump picture this time!  Not only is it huge out, but it is also wider.  It's pretty scary that I have two more months left with how big I already am!  I think I look about 3 weeks bigger than I did the first time.

31 Weeks and 3 days

30 weeks with Zuri

29 almost 30 weeks in Mexico!

Everything has been going pretty well.  I was having really bad heartburn in Mexico, but since being home it has been a bit better.  Sadly, I can't drink lemonade or any citrus drink without getting heartburn so I have had to eliminate that for the time being.  My stomach muscle still hurts after standing most of the day, kind of like it is being pulled.  Which obviously it is, odd that I didn't have it the first time around.

Working out has been going fine.  Stairmaster is definitely getting more difficult.  I guess I could always lower the level, but that would seem like giving up!  So, instead I just have to take a few more water breaks.  I have been tired in the afternoons, but that is nothing unusual.

Our schedule has been pretty busy with selling our house.  My calendar is a tornado of events coming up between the appraisal, packing things up, moving stuff to a POD, finding stuff for Baby A, figuring out what I might need while we are living in a temporary situation (no idea how long that will be!).  Besides doing stuff for moving, my basketball stuff has just gotten super busy with summer planning.  Then we have to do all the stuff for Baby A.  Including touring two different hospitals since we will be living right in the middle of the two, making a list of things that I need for the baby and trying to organize and buy things we might need.  Although we have another girl, there are still quite a few things that I need (and some things that I just want!!).  Trying to figure out how we will do with a stroller will also be interesting, since we don't have a double stroller and Zuri still rides in the stroller when we go and do things-like going to the park.  We have a wagon, but a dual stroller would be really nice to have.

Last time I had Zuri's room mostly ready to go.  This time we have NOTHING ready to go.  If anything we have a negative amount done since we are planning to be moving soon, assuming everything goes through!  It doesn't mean that I spend any less time thinking about this baby, I probably think more about her because she moves so much!  Way more than Zuri ever did.

I know this baby will have to spend a lot more time doing things out and about because her big sister will still need her fun times.  Zuri is extremely attached to me and so I'm a bit worried about Zuri's transition into having to share my time with someone else.  I know it will all work out, but I am hoping it is easier than what I am imagining!  But Zuri surprises me sometimes!

Baby info:
Days pregnant: 219
Day's till due date: 61!!
Baby length: 16.25-18 Inches
Baby weight: 3.3 lbs
Baby:  Gaining more weight this week and fat is filling out the skin (her's and mine! haha)
Day's till next doctors appointment: 7
Day's till hospital tour: 7 and 14

Mexico '14!!

We just went to Mexico for a week.  It was a great time!  Here is how our trip went.

We left around 10am on Tuesday, which I find is a great time to fly with Zuri because she isn't tired and is usually in a good mood.  Once we got to the airport and she saw the planes she was so excited.  She kept saying "plane! plane!".  We got on the plane and were told that a carseat has to be on the window seat.  Which is fine, but it also meant that I had to sit in the middle and of course on our room the arm rests didn't go up, so that was a bit annoying.  There were a few open seats and so Pedro went and sat in another row.  Zuri was in a good mood but kept kicking the seat in front of her.  Of course that is where a person was sitting.  The lady turned to me and told me she kept kicking her seat.  I told her that I was sorry but the more I try to stop it the more Zuri does it.  The stewardess heard her and told her to move to another open seat but she said she didn't want to.  The flight went well, she was constantly wanting to be busy watching movies, playing with stickers, reading books, magazines, singing, looking out the window, opening and closing the shades.  You name it, she wanted to do it.  At one point I let her get up and walk up to where Pedro was sitting and she walked back and forth for a little while.

We got to Mexico and it was CRAZY!  Definitely spring break time as it was really busy.  After letting her run around a bit we got to our hotel.

  The hotel was really nice, but the check in was kind of long after choosing aromatherapy for your room, pillow types and room scent.  I did this while Pedro sat and played with Zuri.

The first three days Zuri was sick.  She had a cold before we left but it seemed to have gotten worse.  She had a bad cough and just didn't feel well.  She didn't eat really at all the first three days.  The first two nights she woke up really frequently and would call for me and cry, so I didn't get much sleep.  I have no idea how Pedro could sleep through her yelling.  On the third day she actually woke up throwing up water and mucus.  She laid in our bed while we were getting ready and didn't want to get up.  You know something is wrong if she LAYS in a bed.  After getting ready I got her up and took her down to sit at our cabana at the beach.  Of course because this was a fun place she was ready to go.

  

She played a lot at the beach and loved to play with other kids.  Not all the kids wanted to play with her, probably because she was like Godzilla and kept breaking everyone's sand castles!  She also liked to steal people's shovels and buckets.  She definitely has "shovel" and "bucket" down as words.

Her language skills seemed to flourish down there and she was super happy after getting over her sickness.  She never ate much but that was because she wanted to go to the BEACH BALL.  Yes, she called it the "beach ball".  I tried to explain that was the ball she was given at the child care there, but she didn't quite care to differentiate between the two.  She was able to say things like: shower, monkeys, soccer, play, eat, Grey, Ashby, happy day, birds, drink, soda and even tell me what letters I wrote out (A, B, C, I and O).  She was really a fun kid and that was why we love bringing her places!

The food was really good but very leisure.  Luckily we had child care for her every night so we could eat alone.  That was also really nice.  We had sushi three times and ate at a few of the other places.  The last night we had a great meal, but we hadn't thought the menu looked great so we hadn't gone before that night, which was sad because it was really my favorite!  

Our days consisted of something like this:

Wake up around 8:30 and go eat breakfast outside

After breakfast go to the beach and our cabana.  Pedro played with Zuri for about 30 minutes while I got to sit and relax.  Then Pedro played beach volleyball and I played with Zuri.  Well I didn't play with her, I basically followed her around.  She never once went in the water, she only put her feet in the pool.  Zuri drank "soda" and I had lots of smoothies.  However, the smoothies gave me A LOT of heartburn, especially the pina colada's.  Then I would go and get Zuri some lunch, which they had out for kids, or I would go to one of the food places and get her something there and some chips and guacamole.  She would eat a little, if any and keep playing.  Then I would take her up to go have a bath and take a nap. The hotel was very small so it was about a 1 minute walk from there to the beach, so after I laid her down and made sure she was calm and sleeping I would shower and go grab lunch with Pedro, who was sitting down at the beach after having to stand in line for 40 minutes to get us a cabana for the next day.  We ate these delicious paninis and then I would go and sit on the balcony of our room and read while Zuri slept.  We had a swim up balcony, but we never really used it as that.  After her nap I would get her dressed and take her down to the beach to get Pedro, if he hadn't returned to shower yet.  After he got ready we would go back down to the beach and try to get Zuri to eat some dinner, although again she wanted to go to the beach or talk to other people and dance, instead of eating.  Then we would bring her to childcare.  She never wanted to go to childcare, but once she was there she didn't want to leave.  It was really awesome because we would tell them to order her some food to see if they could get her to eat and usually she would eat some while she was there, so that was nice.  After our dinner, we went to watch a show or something, unless it was time to get her then I would go get her and Pedro would watch a show.  Off to bed after that and the day would start over the next morning.  Zuri had an excellent time despite being sick.  Pedro loved how lovey she was with him and would always want him to come with us.

Random Big KISS!

The flight home was quite a disaster.  It was her nap time and she was so exhausted.  She literally cried for an hour before I finally told Pedro I was going to move to a different part of the plane.  After I moved it took her about 2 minutes and she was out cold for an hour and a half.  The people behind us were really nice and told us not to worry about it.  I wasn't really worried about it as there was literally nothing I could do, thank goodness I moved or she might still be crying!  After she woke up she was in a great mood and kept wanting to look out the window at the "plane!!"

FINALLY asleep!

It was a fun time, even with the rough start to the week. Pedro also learned that you should wear sunscreen while at the beach!