Aviela the first month!

A one month update for Aviela!  Avi pretty much spends most of her days sleeping.  I wake her during the day when she needs to eat but otherwise let her sleep.  She has had some fun adventures already in her first month!  We took her to the movies while Zuri was taking a nap and she slept the whole movie. We took her to the zoo and she woke to eat but otherwise slept most of the time.  She has accompanied me to the gym and sat by and watched me workout at the community gym in my new neighborhood, which is nice because she can't go to my regular gym until 3 months.

She has been on her first official flight, so two legs of flights, from Denver to Wichita and back.  She was at her first tournament and was a pretty good girl, sleeping most of the time!

Sleeping wise at night it has gone pretty well so far but I know it can all change quickly so I don't want to be too excited.  She usually sleeps for 4-5 hours at night then 3 more and then is up for a bit in the morning.  Which is kind of hard because then Zuri wakes up and I have to try to manage both kids at once and I want to give Zuri her alone time too.  

Zuri has been excellent with Avi.  She loves to say "Baby Sister!!" and gives her kisses.  This morning she kicked her in the head (on purpose) when she "Baby Sister cryin'".  Then of course Avi was really crying and then so was Zuri because I told her to not kick people.  Great fun!  

Zuri wants to "hold baby sista" and have her sit next to her a lot...

Zuri sitting in Avi's chair and trying out the pacifier..

She is just starting to coo but has only smiled a few times.  She does like a pacifier and a lot of times it will help stop a crying spell.  She also seems to currently like riding in the car.

Staying at my parents house is definitely been helpful with adjusting to two kids because I can have help if she is screaming while I am trying to help Zuri with something. 

One month has flown by!!

Here are some pictures from Aviela's early days!

Here she is at her 2 week doctors visit!  She was up to 7lbs and 8oz and still the same length.

Grandma Topper holding Avi at about a month old!

Potty Training Zuri

A little delayed posting about potty training but definitely a major milestone has been met!  Last year I attempted potty training Zuri, prior to her second birthday.  I followed the 3 days stay at home and have her go around naked.  She would hold her pee and was not interested in going to the potty despite having a lot of success getting her to go on the potty.  It was definitely too early and her communication wasn't great either.

Fast forward to May of this year.  There were a lot of changes going on with moving and starting school.  At school they sit them on the potty quite frequently.  The potty is low and easy for her to get on and off.  I decided that we would go ahead and try to potty train her since she was starting to like sitting on the potty (again-she had gone through a time where she would not sit on the potty).  We had talked a lot about it and how she could wear underwear and she was starting to be very interested in wearing underwear.  I told her to wear it she had to go pee on the potty.

Monday she goes to school so I started potty training on Tuesday.  I figured it would give us three good days before she went to school again on Friday.  Day 1 I let her pick out her underwear.  She was excited.  She wore them but continued to hold it as long as she could and then pee in her underwear and didn't seem to be too bothered by doing it.  The same thing happened day 2 and day 3.  I was unsure of what to do.  Everything and everyone says do it for 3 days.  Friday she had school and I was wondering what I should do since she was obviously not potty trained.  But the school had told me to "not turn back once I start."  So I packed a lot of clothes for her and was prepared for lots of messes.  It was also a day where I was to come back a bit later for a Mother's day party.  I came back and she was still in her same pants because she was holding her pee.  While reading a book together at school she peed in her pants.   But low and behold the rest of the day she started peeing in the potty and telling me "mama pee potty!"  We would run to the potty and she would go!  Then we went out to dinner that night and she peed on the potty and then needed to poop.  UGH!  She screamed and screamed but eventually went.

From day 4 on she would always pee on the potty.  It was like a flip was switched and voila!  Pooping on the potty was a different story.  She would hold it and tell me she needed to poop but would go days without pooping.  Then she would go in her diaper (nap time or bed time) or she would go in her underwear but this upset her or she would sit and SCREAM on the potty and I would have to hold her until she went.  And after a month of this she now is fascinated by going poop in the potty.  She is still a little scared of going to the bathroom in public places, but of course she has to go every time we are out!  She has done a great job of using the potty and telling us even while she is playing that she needs to go!

Very glad we didn't stop after day 3!  I really think going to school the two half days a week helped her see other kids doing it and realize she was supposed to go too!

We used a reward system of candy the first few days and then only offered her something if she took a poop.  Now we don't have to reward her, although she still wants a cookie sometimes after pooping, but she really wants cookies all the time anyway!

Labor Story for Aviela!

At my 38 week appointment I had not dilated or effaced.  I didn't have an appointment at 39 weeks.  Wednesday we went bowling and took Zuri to the park.

 On Thursday night  which was 39 weeks and 3 days around 10pm I started having contractions.  Non painful contractions.  It was quite entertaining have the stomach hardening without any pains.  I didn't have braxton hicks early on that I know of so this was different.  Around 1230am I started getting some painful contractions, but nothing too bad.  It did keep me up, but I was sleeping between the intervals.  I wasn't timing them because they were not super painful.

I woke up Friday morning with more painful contractions.  They were coming at about 8 minutes apart, I only timed them from about 6am until 730am.  I got up with Zuri and had to get her ready for school.  It was kind of entertaining to do while having contractions.   I told Pedro I thought I was likely going into labor but he went back to sleep and said to let him know.  I brought Zuri to school and had my mom go with me just to show her where the school was located in case she had to pick Zuri up.  I told the school my mom might be picking her up because I thought I was in labor.  They said that I looked pretty good to be in labor.

I got home and decided to call my doctor around 11am.  I told them the contractions were not consistent in time, just based on me estimating, since I still wasn't timing them!  I said they were painful contractions though!  They said I needed to come in right away to be checked.  I told them I would come in soon, but really didn't have any intentions of doing so.  I waited and some cereal and then Pedro and I went to pick up Zuri from school.  We stopped and got her some pizza (as per her favorite after school snack) and went home.  I ate a small piece and then we left to go get checked.  On our drive there we stopped to get coffee.  We arrived at the doctor at 2:40pm.  Contractions were still random  but painful.

When I went in the nurse checked me and said "Oh my!! you are 7cm!!"  I laughed.  She said you need to go to the hospital RIGHT NOW.  I said we needed to go out to the car to get our bags and stuff.  She said "NO!" She told me I couldn't even walk to the hospital that I had to be wheeled there.

I was wheeled into the hospital and they looked at me and said that I looked pretty good to be so far along.  I agreed.  I didn't think it would be soon since it was still not at regular intervals (still not timing them).  The doctor came in and commented that I couldn't be that far along since I looked so good.  She checked me and declared me to be 6cm because at 7 it would really be active labor.  She told me to go walk for 2 hours and come back to be checked.

The view from my room...

We walked the halls for 30 minute increments and had to be monitored for a few minutes then sent walking again.  Walking this time felt pretty good and it felt good to be standing during the contractions.  With Zuri walking was terrible during contractions so this was different.  After 2 hours she declared me at 6cm.  I was not pleased.  She told me to walk for another hour.  We did and came back and was declared to be 6cm!  Seriously?  Contractions were much more painful at this time and were coming more frequently.  Pedro left to go get some cookies for himself and they came back in and told me that they would break my water if I would like.  I told them I wanted to wait for Pedro to come back.  Pedro was gone forever and when he came back I told him they wanted to break my water, but I wasn't sure I was ready!  The nurse came back in at 645pm and told me they were about to have a shift change and they would be in at 7:15 to break my water.



At 7:45pm they came in and broke my water.  Then the contractions really came, super painful and frequent.  I told the nurse I would go get in the shower but this is as far as I got:

Around about 8:40pm the nurse came in and told me that I was still at 6 or 7!  Seriously demoralized at this point.  She told me I needed to get in the shower.  I told her I wasn't sure I could get there, it seemed so far away!  Pedro and the nurse got me to the shower.  I was in there for 15 minutes and really felt the urge to push.  I told them that I needed out and that I knew I hadn't been in there very long to have progressed much and if I hadn't progressed there was no way I was making it.  The nurse told me that the shower and standing really could have made me progress that quickly.



I made it to the bed and she checked me and said I was at 9cm!!!!  She suggested I go on my hands and knees.  At this point laying down did not sound good, so hands and knees I went.  It was painful and I told her I needed to push, she didn't tell me I couldn't.  About 3 contractions later she checked me again and I was at 10cm.  She told me I could push and told the doctor to come in for labor.  I was pushing while she was on the phone.  Two pushes and baby Aviela was born at 9:14pm.  It was so quick with the pushing that the doctor had just made it to the room as Aviela arrived!

Aviela Jaidyn Malave
Born on 5/16/2014

6lbs 13oz and 20.25 inches long


Zuri with her new sister!

She has been great with "Baby Sista!"

38 Weeks with Baby A (aka #2)

We are approaching the end of week 38.  Seriously, that means that a baby will be here probably no more than 2 more weeks and she will likely be here sooner.  Every where I go people ask me when I am due, which is a clear sign that it LOOKS like I should be due any minute!

I continue to say that I don't mind being pregnant and really don't even notice until I look in the mirror or realize I only have about one drawer of clothes that fit.  And even then I wouldn't say that some of those shirts really fit me much anymore! I'm pretty sure people don't want to unexpectedly see my lower (under) side of my belly, but I'm sure it happens a lot!  Thank goodness for my one really long maternity tank and my longer workout tanks that have elastic on the bottom.

We are guessing when the baby will come and I had guessed the 11th, which is tomorrow.  Not sure that is going to happen but I am getting more "mentally" prepared that the baby will be here soon.  As every parent says they worry about their first child no longer being an "only child." And Zuri definitely likes being with me every second, but I am sure she will adjust, as we all will.  I think I am getting more ready to meet her.

I am still worried about the first few months and I hope that she will be a good sleeper, but as I have always said I guess I should plan for a difficult time and hope that she will be an easy baby.  I am hoping we can figure out some sort of routine and plan because it is difficult with Pedro's work schedule and my work schedule, but I know we will figure it out.

This week I have had a baby shower, worked out, done a lesson, had practice, met with someone about our new house, had breakfast out with Zuri, went to a Mother's day event at Zuri's school and had a doctors appointment.  We also started potty training (which deserves a post of it's own!!!)  Nothing like a full week!   My doctor's appointment is the last appointment I have (kind of) until my actual due date.  This week I hadn't had enough water and so my "pee" test showed higher protein although my blood pressure was only 95/55 they still made me schedule another appointment just for a "pee" test and blood pressure check on Monday.  When I was checked this week I had not dilated or effaced.  Which I knew would be the case, I figured since I have had a few contractions I wouldn't have progressed any (with Zuri I didn't have any contractions that I knew of and then I was quite far along without knowing it!).

I'm trying to really enjoy the last few days of pregnancy since this will most likely be our last pregnancy, as we plan to have two children.  I really do not mind being pregnant and it is something I will actually probably miss (just not those initial sleepless nights with a newborn, or maybe we have some good nights this time!!).



Baby Info:
Day's till due date: 9!!!
Day's pregnant: 271 days!
Baby size: 19.75 inches (leek)  6.8 lbs
Baby is full term and will probably not grow too much more at this point, but is probably gaining some weight but slowly.

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!