Grateful. Warning: Sappy Content

Grateful...

So I don't know if this is from having Stella and becoming a Momma or these crazy preggo hormones; but do you ever sit back and think about how grateful you are? Don't get me wrong there are definitely days where I am pissed off at the world and think why me? Lately, I can just stare at Stella or get so caught up in a moment when the three of us are out doing something fun, or really anything for that matter and think 'damn, things are good and I am so lucky'. Whatever we are doing, we are making memories together.  I just feel that I have so many things to be grateful for.

I have a best friend whom I have been with for almost 13 years. 13 years!! I can honestly say things still feel new. We still make each other laugh, we still act like kids together, we still flirt and be silly with one another, we still do all the things we did when we first started dating. I am so grateful to be in a marriage that feels so strong, and nothing could knock it down. Each day, I look forward to him coming home (yes, some days it's to pass over the munchkin so I can get something done :) ). Now there are two of us, waiting for him to get home. He is a great husband, and an incredible father. Any woman that wants to put their hubby up next to mine- I dare you ;) 

I have a beautiful, healthy daughter whom I would walk through fire for. Becoming a mother has been the most precious gift I could ever receive. Let's be honest, it's not all roses. The worry that comes along with it, is something I never ever prepared myself for. I really don't think anyone can prepare themselves for the worry and anxiety that comes along with becoming a parent. I am grateful for Stella. She makes me be the best I can be. Her presence has shown me who and what I am in this world. I am a mother. I am the best mother I can be. I am wife. I am the best wife I can be. I am me.  The family we have created and are still creating is something I will forever be grateful for. 

Grateful. 

Random things....

Friday was such a perfect day. Stella and I had a mommy, daughter lunch date together at Jimmy's which was followed by a soft serve cone also at Jimmy's. We sat at a picnic table and enjoyed our lunch, ice cream cone and each other's company. We then went for a nice long walk around town. It was just a nice day. except for the sweat dripping down my back after our walk-nothing a quick jump in Stella's baby pool wouldn't fix ;)   It's so much more convenient if we have to or want to eat on the go we can now. Her food intake is not just pureed mushy foods from home. She enjoyed a grilled cheese while we were out to lunch on Friday. And this girl does not like to be fed; she likes to feed herself. Miss independent. 

This weekend flew by, even though it was pretty low key. Stella and I took a ride to Carter's for- yep, you guessed it- more jammies. Some of the 9 monthers are not allowing her legs to fully extend when she stretches. I can't believe I was on the hunt for 12 month pajamas. They looked so freaking big in the store. As soon as we got home I washed them so she would have a clean pair for that night, hoping they would shrink a tad. So they are a little more than a little big, but she has growing room :) Nothing looks more uncomfy than tight jammies. The feet on them look like flippers. Granted- she does have tiny feet. She is still wearing 3-6 month shoes and is no wear near growing out of them. 

Nothing is sweeter than a freshly bathed baby, slathered in baby lotion, in clean jammies. That is my jam! Simply the best. 

Our Monday morning grocery shop was another success. Thank goodness for food. Food cures any bit of boredom. Today it was Italian biscuits. I can honestly say, I don't miss shopping alone one bit. But I'm also not sure how I am going to do it with two!! It is going to be game on! I may have to call in a three ring circus. 

Dinner was great. Grilled lemon and tomato cod, with zucchini tots and steamed broccoli. When Stella and I eat fish which is usually once a week, Rick get's his red meat fix in. Anyway, dinner was great....but dessert?!

It is so funny when something like this is put in front of her. She first looks at you with that is it okay if I touch it? look. She then pokes it with one finger to test it out. i guess to make sure it doesn't bite. Then a one finger touch turns into a poke and so on. Once the mouth gets a taste of the sweetness, it's all over. She literally ate the equivalence of my one bite. It was more for the thrill- and it was such a pretty doughnut. 

The playroom's construction is underway. The room is 3/4 painted and one chair to Stella's table and chair set is painted and put together! Woohoo! Nap time is valuable lately. ;) 

Last but not least..this bath time quick pic... no words.

Baby Bump: 13 weeks

So my list of DIY projects right now is simply out of control. One that I am working on is a framed chalkboard for myself to document the weeks to take with the bump pictures. Clearly by it's absence in this picture, it is not done yet. I really hope to have it done for next weekend. So excuse this boring ass bump picture #1 and it's shitty quality ;)

How far along: 13 weeks

Gender: Not sure what's brewing inside....we will find out Sept. 15 :)

Weight gain: 3 lbs

Maternity clothes: Not yet. Still living in my Loft colored shorts and loose tanks. 

Stretch marks: No

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Sleeping okay. Was never a great sleeper anyway. 

Best moment this week: Finally entering the second trimester :) Adios to morning sickness! And we took a family trip to our twelve week ultrasound and saw the little bean having a dance party in my belly :)

Worst moment this week: Coming home to a mess left by the dog...after a 15 minute trip to the market! It was meltdown city over here. 

Miss anything: Not being tired during the day. I usually hit a slump around 2-3ish.  And a frosty beverage on a hot Summer day. 

Movement: Nothing yet. 

Cravings: Anything sweet... Fruit, fruit and more fruit. 

Queasy or sick: Feeling good!

Looking forward to: Beginning to plan Stella's 1st birthday party! 

11 months...Say what?!?

Dear little miss Stella,

     This has been such an amazing month. I feel like our Momma- Daughter relationship has grown so much. You make me laugh every single day. I really cannot believe my little baby is going to be one next month. You've made this past year one of the best years ever. I tell you all the time but you are beautiful, smart, so loving, curious and you are definitely a girl who knows what she wants!  I am enjoying my time with you more than you will ever know. And no matter how big you grow, you will always be my sweet baby girl.

Love you to the moon and back,

Momma

xoxo

Weight: Not totally sure. We will find out in one month. If I had to guess, I would say somewhere around the 20 lb marker!

Height: 

Appetite: Your appetite is very much the same as last month but I would say has gotten better. We have changed our milk schedule a tad so you are taking in more whole foods. We still eat all three at the kitchen table. Many of the times, we have the same foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lately your favorite foods have been pickles, yes pickles, nectarines, yogurt, pasta and still avocado! Your milk intake is some where between 12-16 ounces a day and you love love love water! You still are not much of a juice fan, much do enjoy sipping on my lemonade :) Water is drank throughout the day and especially with meals. We are still working on the milk in the sippy cup but it is definitely not as easy as I was hoping! When I said game on last month I should have meant it more! What a challenge this is. And how can I forget?!  You are drinking cows milk, no more formula! 

Clothing Size: You are in both 6-12 and12-18 month clothing. Some items are bigger on you than others. All of your pajamas are 12 months! Lastly, your shoes are still 3-6 months and are still wearing size 4 diapers!! Momma is getting excited for fall clothing! I always loved a baby in cute hats and puffer vest!

Milestones: I feel like so much has changed and you have learned so much. You are buzzing around incredibly fast in your walker, you are taking a few steps on your own to either daddy or I, you say momma, dada, nananana, and when you're tired you whine what sounds like night night. When you want something or see something you yell 'ABA' or 'Ah' as you point at it. You can identify so many things such as your toy lion, Momma's hair, your belly, Mickey and Minnie in your deck of cards, your Blankey,  your cup, your piggies and Ellie. I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting. You don't and probably will never crawl. But if you want something bad enough you will do something that looks like the army crawl, you scooch on your belly.  You can finally drink out of a straw!

Thoughts: Stella... I love you so so much. 

Our routine: Thank goodness that waking up at 6 AM crap only happens once in a while now. However, you are like clockwork. I swear there is an alarm clock in your room that goes off at 6:45 each morning. After you wake up I bring you down into our bed where we watch a cartoon and you enjoy your first morning milk bottle and sometimes a small cup of Cheerios and I enjoy my morning cup of Joe. Around 7:15 or so we make our way into the living room and play for a bit. We eat breakfast together anywhere between 7:30and 8 o'clock. After our breakfast we brush our teeth together and head out for a nice morning walk. Of course we skip the walk on rainy days.  Not long after our walk do you go down for her morning nap. You usually go down anywhere around 9:30 and sleep for an hour and a half. This is when we head out if we are going out for the day sometimes for lunch, or after lunch. We both eat lunch around noon. I love our lunch dates! You take your second and last nap in the afternoon anywhere between 2 and 3 and sleep for another hour and a half.  We have dinner at 6 and bath time follows. After your bath we have some special playtime with Daddy and off to bed at 7:30. Our bedtime routine has been great lately. We relax in your glider and you drink your milk cap for the night and off to bed when you are done. In between your naps and meals we play, play, play! 

Your favorites: Lately your favorites have been being chased around the house in your walker, going out for walks, anything Mickey or Minnie, tubby time, rolling around without a diaper, your Blankey, reading books, especially turning the pages in the books and walking while holding onto someone's hand.

Momma’s Favorites: Some of my favorites lately have been the cool mornings for our walks of course, anything pumpkin, our ice cream and lunch dates, all of the new fall scents out, planning your birthday party, having conversations with you while we are driving and being able to be home with you each and every day. 

Happy 11 months baby girl....
xoxo

I'm in denial...

Is it really so? Did I really just mark a tentative date for Stella's first birthday party? I can't believe I am looking at invitation ideas for her party or color decor ideas. I can't believe she will be ten months tomorrow. Double digits baby. I feel like she has changed so much in the past month. Holy teeth.

When Rick and I first found out we were expecting with Stella, my original plan was to stay home until she was about 6 months and go back to work at the end of March. I cannot believe I was going to miss all of the magical moments that we got to experience together. I felt very fortunate to be able to take the entire year and spend each day with her. I can't imagine a day with out her. She makes each day unique. Not only have I learned a tremendous deal about her and her personality but she has taught me so much about myself that I never knew. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I have more patients that I thought I would have. that doesn't mean that i don't loose it sometimes- it's only human right? ;)  I am not a perfect Momma, but I do my very best each day to make her happy, encourage her, keep her safe and make her laugh. let's just say, i do some pretty ridiculous stuff to get a rise out of her.

I have two months left before I have a 1 year old. i feel in complete denial over here. I have been a Momma for ten months  twenty months to be exact now. They have been the best months thus far. There have been days with meltdowns, days I wanted to throw in the towel and days I could loose my shit. But because of Stella, those days are still some of the best.

I am incredibly fortunate to be able to stay home another year with her. I really thank one person for making this possible...my hubby. he works his ass off so i can stay home and raise Stella. For this I will forever be grateful. 

Bring on another great year. 

Life Lately...

So I have been kind of absent from the blog lately. One: we have actually been pretty damn busy with pool dates and friends; two: the first trimester lethargy is a real thing. Thank goodness it's on it's way out. After playing all day with little miss, I am literally whipped when she goes to bed. Her personality has really been making my days. She is such a goofball, and full of energy. We have been on a homemade popsicle craze lately also. I think it is safe to say that peaches and cream is one of her favorites. Vanilla yogurt, a bit of almond milk, pureed peaches and a few diced peaches...yummy! Pictures are getting harder and harder to capture of Stella. She is constantly moving, and will not look at the camera. And she is not old enough to bribe yet...damn.

here is a collection of pictures lately....

poolside...

Stella likes to enjoy her morning milk fix, in Daddy's spot of the bed...

enjoying big girl crackers (saltines) with Daddy in bed....i absolutely had to vacuum the bed before getting in it for the night..

peaches and cream popsicles...

playing peekaboo with her shirt...

she did it! she pulled herself up!

We have a pretty open upcoming week which is always nice. I am sure we will find some fun things to fill it with. 

One thing that I regret looking back on my pregnancy with Stella was not taking enough pictures of 'the' bump. I never knew how much I would miss it once it really was gone. I look back at few pictures from the end of my pregnancy and I forget how big my belly really was. So this time, I have made a promise to myself to take more pictures of the growing belly. Starting this week I am going to be posting one post a week documenting the journey of this pregnancy and little bean growing inside along with the growing belly!