January 2, 2017 by Stephanie

Christmas 2016

This space is a place to be a scrapbook of sorts for my family. I want to remember this Christmas because there were so many good moments.

15230778_10154534552491005_7550759032530800250_n

I want to remember riding in a limo with my family to go look at Christmas lights around town. I want to remember how George went nuts because he was car-seat free.

15625580_10154619884911005_483604072674629818_o

I want to remember how excited George was when we put the Christmas tree up.

I want to remember that despite George having a fever and a respiratory issue, we managed to make all Christmases with very little tantrums.

15776982_10101317724132641_883559072198479322_o

I want to remember how emotional I was singing in the choir and seeing the congregation sing Silent Night in A Capella during the candlelit portion.

I want to remember how George was very involved with his Nativity set and getting everyone like his Paw Patrol Pals and tractors to see the baby Jesus and Yo Mama (George’s name for Mary).

1203160941a

I want to remember how I started to unpack and decorate the house then put most of the decorations back because George was climbing everything to get to the Santas-that are all breakable.

I want to remember that George got his first electric train, and that my grandpa (who is obsessed with trains as well) was there to see George’s face.

1224161112

I want to remember that George helped pass out presents, but then tried to open everyone’s along the way.

I want to remember that the first gift George opened on Christmas day, he tore off a small piece at a time and had to put each piece in the trash bag before pulling off another small piece.

I want to remember our first annual cookie decorating for our neighbors.

15774791_10101317724347211_2351274882979852771_o

I want to remember making my mom’s Breakfast Surprise for the first time on Christmas morning.

I want to remember that George had to play with every toy and read every book before going on to the next present.

15776921_10101317725814271_158153479968662545_o

I want to remember that his favorite gifts were cheap tractors and a Thomas the Train puzzle.

I want to remember cousins at Christmas in matching get ups-jammies and public service.

15826206_10101317724471961_3978563857221806056_n

I want to remember the moments in between the craziness.

December 30, 2016 by Stephanie

Most Popular Posts of 2017

This year the blog took a backseat to our every day life. And while I do miss the writing and sharing, I am not upset that I am being present with my family. I am not leaving this space, but I know that it is not a priority as much as it used to be.

14572383_10101217424414081_7293241051655481293_n

So thank you for coming back to my blog when I do write!

Here are my most popular posts this year.

Baseball Cupcake Holder-I wrote this actually in 2015 for something we made for George’s first birthday. Pinterest has made this post widely popular.
Heyyyy, Hey Baby!-No surprise here. This is when we announced our baby two news.
Oh Hey Friends-I wrote about how it is hard for me to maintain friendships when you have small children.
How We Found Out-I am really trying to keep up with sharing about all things baby. I love that I have all that for George, so I want to make sure I share things like how we realized we were pregnant with number two.
If These Hospital Walls Could Talk-It’s hard to believe that George’s hospital stay was this year. It seems like so much has happened in the time since. This post made me cry all over again.
The Phone Call I Don’t Want-This was a really difficult post to write because of so many things.
Start Spreading the News-I was so excited about this post. I still watch these videos of telling our family we are pregnant again.
Not Every Day is a Good Day-I was really proud of this post. It was giving me permission to not be perfect. “Parenting is beautiful yet messy, complicated yet natural, lovely yet trying, empowering yet terrifying, and oh so humbling.”
Baby 2-Twelve Weeks-Everyone loves a good baby update apparently.
George-22 Months-HIS HAIR! I miss those curls. This is the last update before he turned TWO!

This time of year is a great time to reflect on the year. These are just a glimpse at things that happened, but they were all pretty big moments or realizations for us this year.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing these moments with us!

December 22, 2016 by Stephanie

Baby 2-15 Weeks

How far along: 15 weeks and 5 days (It is hard to get pictures when Tom is not home to help!)

Sex of Baby W: We wont find out for another month.

Weight gain: I am down to a total 4 pound loss.

Size of Baby W: A hass avocado or a yellow canary

Maternity clothes: I do wear the belly band almost every day because I can’t button most pants. I have worn a couple maternity tops this last week, but I can wear most of my winter clothes still with no problem since they are roomier. I did have one of my students ask if I was pregnant because she could tell I did not “look” the same. She said it much nicer, but basically she insinuated that I was fat.

Baby items: I didn’t buy anything this month, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some Christmas gifts coming baby’s way this weekend. I told myself I couldn’t buy anything else until we know the sex of the baby.

Stretch marks: Nothing yet. I really need to do a better job of applying my lotion though. Whoops.

Belly button in or out: Still in. I have a feeling though that this pregnancy will differ from George’s that eventually it will be out. It is flattening out a lot faster this go around!

Sleep: My sleep is going pretty well. I do usually have to wake up at least once to pee, but I generally don’t have any issues getting back to sleep. I am also sleeping on all sides but my belly at this point.

Best moment the past few weeks: George went with me to our 13 week ultrasound for all the testing. First of all, he was an angel while there. Secondly, he waved to his little sibling when he saw them on the screen. I about burst into tears right there. Then he insisted on having his own picture of the baby which he then carried around ALL day that day.

Worst moment the past few weeks: This last Friday we had some really bad freezing rain, and I fell at our sitter’s. I have several bruises on my face and legs as evidence. Then it took us almost an hour to get out of her neighborhood due to all the ice accumulation. Thanks to her neighbor’s kindness we got out without getting hit! All a miracle really since I watched a Fed Ex truck take out two mailboxes as it slid too close to comfort right at me. Getting stuck in the car is one of my worst nightmares. So being an emotional wreck after falling and then making no progress on an icy street was not my best moment this month. But on the plus side, again George was an angel through this whole ordeal.

Miss anything: Blogging. I just do not have the energy to devote to it and get stuff done around the house after George is in bed. Heck, most days, I don’t have the energy to do stuff around the house.

Cravings: Still marinated mushrooms–I eat 4-5 jars a week. My appetite is all over the place. I am just hungry all the time, but things will sound good one minute and then not the next minute. My boss makes fun of me daily because every time he passes my office I am eating something different.

Movement: I think I felt some movement on Sunday at church. It’s still hard to tell if it is the little canary or just my stomach doing it’s rumbles on it’s own.

Symptoms/how I am feeling: I am just exhausted, and the holiday madness doesn’t help either. I have been having some belly pains, but every time I ask about them, they say they are normal. My doctor said that it is just my uterus growing, and it is more common when I haven’t moved in a while. I get them mostly when I am sleeping, so that make sense. I have had a little acne, but no where near what I had with George. I guess there is still time though. It’s weird to say, but here lately I honestly forget that I am pregnant for most of the day. I remember with George, I was consumed by the pregnancy. This time I think I just have so much more going on and with not having appointments every two weeks it is easy to just keep going on as usual. Hopefully here soon with this ever growing belly and some movement in there, it can be more in the forefront!

Looking forward to: This Christmas. George is at an age where he doesn’t quite understand the meaning but everything is so magical. It is fun to watch everything through his eyes. This year we are also starting some traditions for our family which I am excited about.

You can read about George at 15 weeks here.

December 1, 2016 by Stephanie

Moving on Up

My big work news is that I recently got promoted to Assistant Director in our office.

1130161418

This was big, y’all, in so many ways. BIG.

Let’s take a step back to the last time that I was pregnant and was job searching.

I have never shared this publicly, but I had received a job offer when I was 8 months pregnant. At the time, I thought this job was just the perfect fit for me, so I was on cloud 9. However, when they realized my timeline with giving birth, the job offer was rescinded.

This is possibility one of the biggest blows I have ever received. I remember coming home that day after getting that call and just being numb.

Now I know what you are thinking, they can’t take a job away because I am pregnant. That was my thought too. Rage and disbelief-and lots of tears. I consulted several of my mentors on the situation because I was in unknown territory. Because of their support, I attempted to fight the injustice I felt. After working through the institution for weeks, I was told that there was nothing I could do to change the outcome. Absolutely devastated. (And I am still convinced this is what put me on bed-rest that last month of pregnancy.)

There are still parts of me that are confused and angered by how it all went down, however, this job I have now never would have happened if I would have ended up in that position.

That awfully humbling situation was actually a Godsend so I could apply to work where I do now, and it allowed me more time with George after he was born. And that is time I never can replace.

Plus I LOVE MY JOB. This job I got instead. A job that is more perfect for me right now I do not believe exists. I get to work on some great initiatives. I have the opportunity to impact students more intentionally. I am using my background and talents, but I am being challenged to grow daily. And I work with some pretty amazing people.

So while it stung, I thank that Director for taking back that offer 2 years ago, because this is where I belong. That old adage, that things happen for a reason is so very true.

So back to the promotion.

This promotion is redemption for those twoish years (aka the worst job search ever) where I heard, “No, we are going in a different direction.”

This promotion is validating when the last time I was pregnant I was denied a job, and this time I was promoted while being pregnant.

This promotion gave me back my confidence that I lost after leaving Iowa State years ago. It reminded me of my worth as a professional. This was a triumph.

This promotion is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Assistant Director of Student Success has a nice ring to it.

November 29, 2016 by Stephanie

Baby 2-Twelve Weeks

How far along: 12 weeks

Sex of Baby W: No clue

Weight gain: I’ve lost 3 lbs, however there is a bump coming.

Size of Baby W: A lime or a Roborovski hamster. (I downloaded a new app that does the size in weird-but-cute animals.)

Maternity clothes: I do wear the belly band almost every day because I can’t button most pants. I wore maternity pants over Thanksgiving, but I am in that weird stage where they don’t really fit but neither do my normal pants. I don’t wear any maternity tops yet, but I am all about the baggy shirts and big chunky cardigans these days.

Baby items: I bought a crib sheet that was the exact color that I want for their room. Green and navy. Then I went wild saving stuff to my Amazon wishlist.

Stretch marks: Nothing yet. I am doing a really bad job putting on my belly cream though, so hopefully this doesn’t change.

Belly button in or out: Still in.

Sleep: My sleep is going pretty well. I do usually have to wake up at least once to pee, but I generally don’t have any issues getting back to sleep.

Best moment the past few weeks: Work has been going exceptionally well for me lately. I have a post coming soon (I think…when I can find the time.).

Worst moment the past few weeks: At my last doctor’s appointment, they didn’t check me at all. This is sooooo weird for me. I am so used to having sonograms and heartbeat readings or at least checking my lady parts at every appointment. I didn’t have one appointment with George where they didn’t check something else besides my blood pressure. I was just in shock that she just asked me three questions and then sent me on my way. In my head I was screaming, “How do I know that this little bean is still alive?” This is the part of a normal pregnancy I do not like! But I have to remember this is all a good thing.

Miss anything: Being able to hold George for extended periods of time. He doesn’t understand why Mama can’t hold him all the time. It breaks my heart. Working out-between the nausea and the exhaustion, I am lucky if I can get all my steps in a day never mind actually exercising.

Cravings: Still marinated mushrooms, but I have also been craving burgers something fierce. I have been able to tolerate salads a little more, but they still aren’t my favorite. I dislike most vegetables to be honest. Salty things (besides french fries) are also a big turn off. And no bacon for me!

Movement: I haven’t felt anything yet.

Symptoms/how I am feeling: I am not as exhausted as I was (meaning I am not consistently falling asleep on the couch at 7pm), but I am still fairly nauseous. I have started getting charlie horses in my calves-just awful.

Looking forward to: We have an ultrasound next week to check for any abnormalities. While there is some anxiety with what they are looking for, I am excited to see this little nugget again. It’s been 6 weeks!!!