Do you have a second shower?

I've been thinking a lot lately about what's to come in the next few months.  There are quite a few logistical problems that I'm going to have to tackle.  For instance, how on earth am I going to grab Bella out of her crib with a big belly?  Then there's also the fact that I technically can't pick her up after a few months of pregnancy.  Pretty sure that that won't be happening, but I'll do my best.  Then, I thought about what I'm going to do with Bella when I go to the doctor's office.  The best idea I could come up with was take the stroller.  I looked at my mom when she mentioned this and laughed in disbelief.  I thought, "How am I gonna fit a normal size stroller in that tiny little room!?  Is she nuts?"  Then she suggested I take her umbrella stroller.  That should fit ok, but I can't just leave her on the floor, the doctor will trip over her.  She'll fall out of the chair if I sit her down.  I can't hold her because the doctor needs to get to me.  Then there's the carrier.  No, its heavy.  Not gonna happen.  Stroller it is. 

Out of all of these thoughts that have come up, though, one sticks out in my mind more than the rest.  Do you have a party for a second baby?  Especially one who will be born so close to my first.  I would say yes, but that isn't really a universal belief.  And if I do have a shower, how do I go about having it?  I don't really have anyone near by to throw me one, which is fine.  I do live in BFN north Dallas.  So, I just asked my mom if we could throw a party at her house.  Essentially, my mom and I threw the party.  I did all of the invites and what not because she didn't know a lot of my friends and she invited a few of her friends and provided food, cake, etc.  This time around it seems silly to even do that much.  Its my second baby, so I shouldn't want a shower, right?

There is also the fact that it is unlikely that I will need anything for this baby anyway!  I already have a ton of stuff.  Especially if this baby is a girl.  I won't need toys, bedding, clothes, a car seat, etc.  All I really need is a second crib and a duo stroller for convenience.  Even if this baby is a boy, I will need some clothes, but buying a wardrobe isn't quite as daunting as buying all of the equipment and toys that a baby needs.  So where is the need for a baby shower?  Well, I tell you what.  Personally, why the hell would you NOT celebrate EVERY BABY!  Babies are awesome and they are totally worth throwing a party for.  Who cares about the presents, the baby gives you an excuse to get together with friends and say "Yay, we're having a baby!  Isn't that awesome?"  Cook out, talk about future plans, all the crazy things that you're about to endure!  Even cooler, I heard an idea of having a gender announcement party.  I thought that it would be really cool...if I had the patience to wait to tell people.  Besides, some of the people I would want to invite would probably not be able to make it down anyway. 

So, whether I will actually have another baby shower, I do not know.  But I'm not saying it definitely won't happen.  And what if it were you?  Would you want another shower?  Or something of the sort to celebrate the new baby?

About a month ago, I lied...unintentionally!

A month ago, today in fact, I wrote about having more babies and when was the appropriate time to do so.  WELL, little did I know that I was in fact pregnant again.  I would not find out for another 4 days, but that doesn't make it any less true.  I figured that once things got back on track and we could start trying again, it would take a few months.  That's not uncommon for women.  So I thought that maybe after the summer we'd be pregnant again.  HA.  Somebody had other plans.  But, there's nothing wrong with that.  The more I thought about it, after Bella was born, I thought that I would prefer having kids pretty close together.  Like between 18 months and 2 years.  That was a huge decision for me because Bella's first year has been pretty difficult so far. 

When the time came to choose birth control, I told my doctor I wasn't worried about it.  We figured we'd start trying to have another baby over the summer (which began 2 days ago....).  She figured that's great, go for it!  Well, a week after that, after visiting Melanie, an all to familiar visitor came back.  Thanks for that dear :)!  I thought, "Ok, now you have to be careful if you want to wait a little longer to have a baby."  That didn't happen, but I still didn't think that I'd get pregnant so quickly.  Once my birthday rolled around, I was supposed to get another period.  It didn't come.  Took a test.  Negative.  Waited 2 days.  Nothing.  Took a test.  Negative.  FINALLY, almost a week after I missed my period, I bought another set of tests.  The first one had a faint line.  I took another.  Guess what?  Faint line.  I started to get excited.  I called my doctor and told them what was going on, so they set me up for a sonogram which was today. 

For the 3 weeks that followed the positive tests, I started getting nervous.  Not because I was gonna have two babies 15 months apart.  More because I thought something could be wrong.  I had no reason to think so at the time, and I honestly haven't had any reason to think so in the past 3 weeks.  But still, I stayed cautious.  I decided a couple people HAD to know, so I called them.  And then as I saw some people in person, we went ahead and told them as well.  Now, we have a heartbeat.  I'm measuring just as I thought I would be.  My first OB appointment is set.  I know there are no garauntees that everything will be ok until after your first trimester, but seeing the heartbeat is always a really good sign. 

Anyway, I'm amazed at how fast everything is moving this time.  Symptoms that I didnt get until well after 10 weeks are already making their pressence known.  I had morning sickness (at night though) for the first time ever.  I had a very light amount of nausea with Bella, but this time I got to a point that I couldn't eat without feeling sick.  At 8 weeks, I look like I did at 15 weeks last time.  Granted that's alot of bloating, but my lord, I can't wear most of my normal pants anymore!  I'm still not quite as excited as I was last time, but its just nerves.  I think once 13 weeks hits, I'll feel even better than I already do knowing there's a heartbeat.  And then, of course, there's kicking.  I think that was my favorite part of being pregnant with Bella.  Of course, I never really got kicked in the ribs or anything like a lot of women do.  Bella was super good in the womb, then decided it was time to stir up some "fun" when she arrived. 

For now, I'm just gonna take it day by day and enjoy a whole new, yet familiar set of milestones (whenever they may come about this time).

Just don't feel like talking

I've decided I'm not blogging for one more week.  Not that its any big tragedy or anything, but everything I wanna talk about has something to do with stuff I don't feel like talking about yet!  So until next week folks.

I'm sorry Bella, I can't wear you all day!

I know I rant about my child a lot, but, let's face it, she is my life!  Well, now I need to get out some frustration about how clingy Bella is.  Most children reach a point where they want nothing more than to roll around on their own, eat their food themselves, and try to do everything on their own.  For many, that starts kinda early on.  For Bella, it hasn't started.  She'll play if I sit there for a long period of time and try to entice her to play with me, but for the most part, she will just go bonkers when I put her down.  Sometimes I worry that this is further hindering her hitting her milestones.  I'm not gonna beat around the bush or sugar coat it, she is at least a month and a half behind physically.  She just now started to sit up on her own for a short amount of time (and no, she cannot pull herself up to sit up). 

I have already coped with that and moved on (for the most part).  What I am concerned about is her inability to be alone for even a couple of minutes.  It takes a lot of effort to get her to sit on her own and she won't do it for very long.  I'm not adverse to holding my baby, but my God!  I can't do it every waking minute of every waking hour!  Besides the fact that I have back pain that is exaserbated by holding her and its really, really hot now outside!  Extra body in my arms does not = cooler!  So now I'm torn.  What do I do?  I'm not just gonna sit there and let her cry, but I also can't hold her as often as she wants if I am going to stay healthy (mentally and physically).  Any suggestions?

DAMN YOU HOT WEATHER!

Alright, summer just started and its already miserable.  I'm constantly congested, its boiling outside, and I am constantly wanting a nap.  To add to the chaos, cold round two has decided to attack my baby!  I can only hope that it won't be like last time.  Throwing up is no fun for baby. 

So what do I do to combat this evil summer?  Obviously, I am staying inside is my number one priority.  Its fine to get out every once in a while, but not for very long.  I am also downing ice water like my life depended on it.  In reality, it kind of does.  But the ice water is probably the greatest thing ever.  I also end up walking around the house with as little clothing as possible without being in just a bra and panties.  This is not something I would normally do if I were to go out because I do NOT want anyone seeing me in short shorts or a tank top (for the most part). 

I really, really like the winter, and, no matter how many times my mom talks about hating the snow and not being able to have a safe drive in winter weather, I am kinda deadset on moving north one day in the somewhat near future.  I need cold.  I really need cold.  If you think about it, it is far easier to keep warm than it is to cool off.  You can only take off so much to keep the hot weather at bay, but you can pile the clothes on until you can hardly move if you'd like!  So, if you can't find me, that would be because I am hiding in my daughter's room, the only room in the house that gets really cold.  I'll be sprawled out on the floor, contemplating pouring my ice water directly on me.

Oh Backpain

My back is killing me.  I'm about at the point that I can't take it anymore.  Bella isn't that big or anything but she's still getting the best of me!  I am avoiding all pain medications for the time being, so I have to find a new solution.

I thought "Ok, let's go get a message!"  HAHA, if I had the money to just say that and it be true then maybe I'd consider that an option.  I've also thought heating pads but I don't know how much I trust it.  I'm definitley not gonna use IcyHot, as much as I've loved it in the past.

No, I am looking for a more hollistic solution to this problem.  So, I am asking YOU what your solution would be!  Whatever will take the edge off the pain that I don't have to buy.  I'm attempting to save money.  If there is a food or some weird combination of household items that might help, please enlighten me!  I need relief!!!!!!!!!!