Two under two

It's crazy. Chaotic and stressful and wonderful all at the same time. It's amazing how two tiny people literally take up every single second of my day! But I love them. 

That being said-Annabelle is 4 weeks old. It feels like she is much older then that already, but at the same time it's crazy to think she's 4 weeks. If that makes sense. She is the sweetest baby, now that we've figured out her tummy problems. Probiotic drops have saved our lives over here-we now are getting some sleep and she is much happier when she's awake. She's in the 95%+ for height, weight, and head circumference. She's in 3 month clothes and anything with feet attached on them she's almost out of too. She's our chunky dark baby and her eyes are looking like they may turn blue too like Thomas's. Baby girls are so much fun. She has way too many dresses and headbands and adorable blankets. Auntie Allison got her the blanket and red headband in this picture and I think they're my most favorite. She's definitely a spoiled little girl. 

I've had a really hard last two weeks with my body recovering-a few ER trips, mastitis, infections...I think the worst is over now so I'm hoping my body heals the way it's supposed to from this point on. I'm still breastfeeding even though I think about quitting daily after all of that. I'm SO grateful to be back in Utah. I literally could not have survived without the help of my mom. She's kept my little house and family running, food in our fridge and on our table, and saved me from a few melt downs (and also listened to a few). She's driven me to the doctor and watched the babies and I am just so so grateful to have such a wonderful mom. I hope I can be the same to my children. 

Adjusting to a new baby has been tough but we are making it work! Thomas loves his "issy" (sissy) so much. Maybe a little too much. Except when she cries. He's always been really sensitive to other kids when they get sad, so when she cries his eyes well up with tears and he gets the biggest saddest frown and cries too. It's adorable. He's slowly getting used to her, and also watching lots of TV these days. We need some play dates set up soon for his sake. He just seems so big these days. He's talking and saying all kinds of words, or trying at least. If he wants something he says "eeeeese" (please) over and over again until he gets it. He's starting to put words together, knows most of his letters, loves counting with mom and dad, and is most definitely hitting the terrible twos full force. He goes through multiple emotions in seconds, from sweet to sad to crazy to angry. 

He loves comparing his body to annies body, like his hair and hands and toes and especially noses. He runs to find her first thing in the morning, usually waking her up, laughs at all her grunts and sneezes and noises, if he hears her anywhere and she's not in the room he runs to find her, he loves trying to give her her binky, and he loves sharing lots of blankets with her. Like on her head and face. He doesn't love having to share mommy and daddy, he has become extra clingy to us and afraid we will leave him at grandma and grandpas houses, and he always wants to sit on my lap when I'm nursing. Which is quite a challenge. He's adjusted better then we thought and I am just so excited to see them hit the ages when they can play together. This mom of two thing is so hard but definitely worth it. JT gives me lots of breaks and pushes me out of the house sometimes. He's the best. Tomorrow he turns 26 and we can't wait to celebrate his birthday! 

Annabelle Grace

After not sleeping much the night before little Annie came, we got a call at 5:30 telling us to be at the hospital by 6:30. We got up and ready and Thomas stayed sleeping, thanks to my mom who came over early to be with him. He woke up and ate breakfast with her then went to my parents house with all his cousins. I guess he was an angel and napped great so I am thankful for that! Anyways. 

We made it to the hospital and got all checked in. They put my IV in, which made me almost pass out. I am such a wimp. Needles make my blood pressure drop like crazy, it went down to 70/30!! After I came out of that, they started the pitocin and shortly after the doctor came in to break my water. SO much liquid. With Thomas, my water broke after my epidural so I didn't feel any of it. It made me grateful that my water has never gushed in public. 

My last huge belly picture of pregnancy with Annabelle. 

I thought it would take awhile for painful contractions to start, but by 9ish I was at a 5 almost and I literally felt like I was dying. JT handled my meanness like the good husband he is and pushed on my knees through every contraction, trying to talk me through them and help me despite me constantly telling him to stop talking. He is the best. I love him. After about half an hour of really painful contractions the anesthesiologist finally came and started me on the epidural. Anyone who can go natural is amazing. I however never will. 

Things progressed really fast from there-I was at an 8 by 10, and when she came to check me at 1040ish I was ready and at a 10! She called the doctor in and Annabelle came at 11:18 am, after 4 pushes. Somehow I got a 10 pound 2 oz 21 inch long baby out like it was nothing. I ripped a tiny bit. After one push she was already crowning!! JT got to cut the cord and the doctors and nurses were all in shock and taking guesses on what she would weigh. Nobody could believe how smoothly my labor went for such a big baby. 

I am so thankful for this labor experience. Thomas was so hard, pushing three hours and having him get stuck. This experience was the complete opposite and she was so much bigger then he was. The recovery has been easy too, almost no pain. She's started latching to breastfeed today, again something Thomas and I really struggled with. I'm hoping these are all good signs that she will be an easy going baby. We are so in love with her! I'm anxious to get home and see how I can handle life with two little ones. 

It's baby day

Baby will be here today. Im feeling all kinds of emotional about it. Mostly worried for Thomas and how he will handle all the changes headed our way. He's almost two but I still consider him very much a baby, he is so small and I feel like he just got here yesterday. Two years has flown by. I hope we can handle this transition as smoothly as possible. And I also hope he develops a love for his new sister. I'm so happy they will grow up close together in age and be buddies, but finding a balance and system that works has me all kinds of worried. Despite all the worry, I cannot wait to meet our little girl. I know she is meant to be apart of our growing family and I am so thankful the Lord has trusted us to be parents of another sweet baby. Getting pregnant this time happened SO fast, and I know she's ready to be here and be ours. 

We went on one last family date tonight as a family of three. We ate at pizza factory and then went to kangaroo zoo for the first time. Thomas was not interested at all when we got there--JT basically threw him on screaming. But this was right before we left. He left so sad because he didn't want to go. He absolutely loved it and went down all the biggest slides. 

It totally wore him out. He just laid here like a dead fish at one point because he was playing so hard. JT got quite the workout too. 

The hospital will call me this morning at some point and let me know when to come in. They have two c sections scheduled but I'm first on the induction list so it should be early hopefully. Why is labor so scary?! Even though I've done it once I am petrified all over again. 

Thomas is going to my moms for the day. Allison is still in town with her boys so he should be in heaven playing with them. JT will come home at night to sleep with him so I'll be there tonight and most likely tomorrow by myself if I stay two nights. With Thomas I ran a fever all throughout labor which is why he was in the NICU. I'm just praying and praying that doesn't happen again. I haven't slept much tonight which I expected. It's 330 and I'm hoping I hear from them in a few hours! Wish us luck. We're about to be a family of four. The real question is-will she be another ginger baby?? We shall see. 

Insomnia

Lately my average night of sleep is around 4 hours tops...and not 4 hours in a row. I don't know why insomnia gets so bad the last few weeks but it's no fun. I've been awake almost two hours straight now after getting up to pee a third time, and I have considered cleaning, packing, scrubbing my bathroom, and organizing baby things. All of which would wake my boys up. So instead I just have laid in bed wide wide awake. One more week!

Yesterday we went to the dinosaur museum with Allison and her boys. He loves those kids so much and they're great with him. He is usually pretty reserved but he has somehow gotten really comfortable really quick and just turns into a wild man. And I love it! They also wore him out Tuesday night so he slept in until 9 yesterday for the first time in his life. It was amazing...but of course I was awake by 6. 

I'm so happy we had a boy first so he could be close in age to some of his cousins. 

Last night my mom, Allison and I saw The Little Mermaid at the Hale theater in salt lake. It was so cute--I admit I got teary eyed in a few parts. My love for all things Disney is a little extreme. They did such a good job on that tiny little stage. We went to dinner at chilis after and just had some quality girl time. Sadly I didn't take any pictures but I'm grateful to have the mom and sisters that I do. I just wish Melissa could have been here too! Next time. 

T W O W E E K S

Yes that's right. Two weeks at the most until baby comes. I'm only freaking out a little bit. 

That's my big belly with Thomas cuddled up to it, watching Tarzan. Poor kid is probably watching more tv then he should right now but it's just exhausting doing anything! I have had no nesting urges which is sad because I could definitely use the energy. Sleep is about non existent and the contractions and cramping has been really fun. And just ask JT about all the hormones...I feel like I'm crazy most days! The end of this pregnancy has been really different and harder then it was with Thomas. We are all anxiously waiting for momma to be done being pregnant I think. 

We had a lazy 4th of July weekend--we had plans to go to Colorado with my family but I just wasn't feeling up to it the day of the trip. A 7 hour drive and lots of walking and site seeing didn't sound manageable to me, at least if anyone actually wanted me to be nice and enjoyable. We did the balloons in Provo Friday morning with jts family, then had a yummy breakfast and let the kids play. 

Saturday we didn't do anything until about 4 when we decided to be semi festive and buy poppers and some small fireworks and sparklers for Thomas. It was our most relaxed holiday ever and let me tell you it was awesome. 

My belly people. SO BIG. It's amazing what our bodies can do. 

Next Saturday we move to our apartment in the ghetto in Pleasant Grove. It will be like 3 minutes from jts work which will be nice. Hopefully baby stays put until then. 

Midway//Park City

This last weekend we went and stayed up in midway for a night. Jts friends dad has the cutest cottage townhome that he let us stay at for free. It was so nice and homey feeling and we are so grateful to matts parents for letting us use it! Baby will be here soon so we wanted to get away somewhere even if it was a quick trip before she comes. I wasn't the best at taking pictures, what's new, but we had so much fun and Thomas did awesome! Slept like an angel and wore himself out with all the fun we had. 

Dinner at cafe pizzeria, our all time favorite place to eat in Midway. The best caprese salad and wood fired pizza. I guess they have amazing breakfast too which we will definitely try at some point. 

Feeding the ducks. We tried swimming Saturday night and Thomas was not a fan. We need to take him more so he starts to appreciate it. It's about all I will do outside in this awful awful heat. 

The townhome had three rooms which was great since Thomas decided to sleep horizontal all night long. I went and slept in a different room and JT stayed with Thomas. Sunday we went into Park City for breakfast, walked through the Sunday silly market on Main Street, and took Thomas to the resort with the alpine slide and lifts and everything. We thought he would like the lift ride--nope. He wanted to jump off the entire time. So JT got off early and took him down the alpine slide (which he LOVED, and I'm so sad I didn't get to see!) and I did the rest of the hour ride alone sadly. I tried sitting on the slide carts but let's just say with my huge belly it didn't work so well. Baby needs to come out. 

Our one lift attempt picture. 

It was definitely gorgeous up there though, you can't beat the views from the lift. I love living so close to so many beautiful and amazing things. 

He begged to ride this then wouldn't even consider sitting on one of the animals. 

And this dog. This was the sweetest dog I've ever met. We need a dog again in our lives.