Prenatal Yoga

Why didn't I do this with Ethan?!  Who knows.

So, about a month ago, I researched prenatal yoga in the area.  I found two studios in Denham Springs that offer classes.  One was in the middle of a transition of owners and the other was right down the road from work.  They offer a class on Wednesday at noon, so I decided to sneak away from my desk and go try it out at lunch that week.  I absolutely fell in love.  It gave me an hour away everything and focus on me and baby.  I immediately grabbed the STEAL they had on Groupon and have been going regularly for the past four weeks.

What I love is that it's a small class - usually me and one other girl, but last week another two ladies tried it out (and, it was still an intimate class).  We start each class with a little recap of something good and bad that happened with us and baby over the last week.  Then, we move into the stretching.  We do some strengthening moves, including kegals, and then use the last 5 minutes or so of class to meditate.  After class, I grab a soup and salad from the DeAngelo's across the street and then come back to work feeling balanced and happy.  With the regular stresses of work and the bigger stresses of building a house, I need this time away (albeit brief).

I'm super excited to be able to FINALLY go to their Saturday class this week.  I have a video at home somewhere that I could use, but I don't really have a nice quiet place to do it at the house.  I wish I did because I would do it every.single.day.  When we finally get to move into the new house, I'll have that space for the final months of this pregnancy - which will probably be when I need it the most!

Two years old, so many changes

Wow.  It has been more than six months since the last time I blogged.  It definitely doesn't feel like that much time has passed.

So much has changed and happened in the last six months.  Actually, the bulk has happened in the last two.  Let's take a little trip...

Back around February/March, we had Ethan checked out for speech delay.  I even went as far as getting his hearing checked, just in case.  Everything with that test came back fine - as I knew it would.  The kid understands every single thing we say.  He follows directions extremely well.  Once we ruled that out, we coordinated with the Early Steps program to get him tested.  What we found out was that he did have a speech delay, but no delay anywhere else.  This meant that he was not qualified to participate in the Early Steps program.  However, they were very helpful with information on getting Ethan some speech therapy on our own - which is what we've been doing since the end of March.  He has absolutely flourished with Ms. Hope.  We have enrolled Ethan in Mother's Day Out, which will start in September.  We are all very excited to see how much more he opens up and improves his vocabulary once he is interacting with other children on a daily basis.  Ms. Hope thinks that we won't need her much longer once he starts that.  He is almost up to speed with where he should be as it is.

Back in March, I also got my first visible tattoo!



Uh, yeah it hurt like hell.


I absolutely love it, and it fits under the band of my watch, so I can cover it nicely at work when needed.  The "E" is for Ethan, of course.  I left enough room for at least one more initial, possibly two more.  There are a few meanings behind it, and I waited more than a year to do it just to be sure.  Dandelions are a symbol of childhood, and I can remember constantly looking for them in my parents' field.  I'd pick them and blow as hard as I could and make a wish.  In that same innocent spirit, Michael and I prayed and wished for God to bless us with a child.  He answered our prayers, and we have prayed for him to answer us again.  Which brings me to my next bit of news....

WE'RE PREGNANT!

 

See the baby? ;)

Yep!  Due March 25th!  We're having a Spring baby just like we hoped for!  We are so incredibly excited and cannot wait for Ethan to be a big brother!

With this baby, we are leaning towards finding out what we're having.  The main reason for this is because we are about to start building our new house, and will have roughly 2-3 months in the house before baby arrives.  I won't have all of this extra time before I get uncomfortably pregnant to paint and decorate.  Plus, with a toddler running around, it's highly unlikely that I will be wanting to decorate anything more than what is already there once the baby arrives.  Plus, I kind of want to know what the other side feels like.  There was so much excitement and anticipation with Ethan and not knowing.  I'm curous to know how different those emotions are with knowing.  Will I feel more connected to this baby?  Will my anticipation be greater?  I don't think that either will be the case, but it will be fun experiencing this pregnancy in a slightly different way.

Speaking of building the house...  We decided (for several reasons) to keep our first home together as a rental property.


And, guess what?  It rented out in SIX DAYS!! o_0  So, guess what that meant?  GTFO.  And, now here we are living with my parents as of July 6th!  Exciting, right?  It's not that bad.  It saves us in gas because we don't have to make a trip there every morning and afternoon to drop off and pick up Ethan, which is nice.  Dad cooks every night, so I don't have to plan dinner.  There are definitely some perks.  Plus, we're hoping to hit our savings goal by going this route.  A new house always means new things - even if you swear you're not going to buy anything new.  Plus, with this baby on the way, we will need a new crib for the baby or a new bed for Ethan.  Thankfully, his crib converts to a toddler bed & full-sized bed, so we'll have options.  And, who knows what we kept from Ethan that will need to be replaced.  I am praying that my breast pump won't make that list!!

So, that's about all I have time to talk about for now.  It's been a wild ride, and we are only just beginning.  I am planning to continue updating this blog with all the fun shnit that comes with being a Landlord (kinda - we hired a property management rep) and building a house on our own.  Oh, did I mention that?  We're not going with my company to build our house.  Oh, no.  We're doing it ourselves (with the help of one of our Superintendents).  Don't worry.  You'll get all of the juicy details as we go. ;)

Did you just judge me, Ms. Pediatrician?!

Yesterday was Ethan's 18 month check-up.  Everything went well for the most part.  Several things did annoy me - one being that the "well" area had no toys, but the "sick" area did.  How much sense does that make?  Wouldn't you not want to give the sick kids an extra place to share germs?  The receptionist also asked me how much my co-pay was.  I'm sorry to be "that person", but isn't that part of your job?  I didn't just walk in off the street.  You knew I was coming, and you already had my insurance information in the computer.  So, then we get called back.  The exam room was ridiculously warm.  I was sweating.  At our last pediatrician's office, they would turn on a heating lamp because we would have to strip Ethan down to his diaper.  There is no heating lamp in this office - it was just balls hot.  So, then the pediatrician comes in.  This is the 2nd time we've seen her.  The first time I chalked my unpleasant vibes up to the fact that they had literally just switched to an electronic system and were getting used to it.  That was over three months ago, which means those kinks are worked out.  This time we had no issues with the computer system.  No, this time is was about the pacifier.  Oh no, not that he had one.  The issue came when he threw it on the ground, and the pediatrician picked it up to wash it off.  After she washed it off, she said, "Is it holding water?"  To which I replied that all of his pacifiers want to hold water.  We squeeze them out and boil them regularly.  She made a face, and reluctantly gave it back to Ethan.  Then, on her way out of the room, she said, "Well, I guess it's better than the thumb."  Um, excuse me?  Did you just judge me for the functionality flaws of my son's pacifier?!  Something I have nothing to do with?  I even told her that if she knew a brand that didn't try to hold water, to let me know because I haven't found one yet - and we went through several different ones.

Seriously.  I am beyond sure that you see parents who don't give two rat turds about their kids every.single.day, and you want to judge my child's pacifier holding water?  Wow.

So, now what?  Do I bring him back?  Or, try out another pediatrician?  Decisions, decisions...

Letters to Ethan

My dearest, sweetest little boy...

There is so much I want to tell you every single day.  And, I do - even though you may not remember it now.  If there is only one thing I could teach you, it would be to love with all of your heart.  Love is the basis of all good things in life.  Without love, you are nothing.  The ability to show compassion and empathy for others is something this world is losing.  I want you to love yourself as a person, and I want you to value yourself.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Do not let someone else place a value on you - YOU determine your worth.  And, you are priceless.

Your smile illuminates your entire being, and it fills my heart beyond measure.  Your eyes shine with so much joy, and I never want you to lose that.  Happiness is something that money cannot buy.  You must first be happy with yourself.  Sure, money can buy things, but they do not make you who you are.  There will be times when someone around you may make you feel inferior because of what they have that you do not.  You are going to go through so many emotions as you grow up, but do not let them blind you to the bigger picture.  You are so very loved.  No matter what you own or have in possessions.

Daddy and I will always be here for you, and we will always love you more than life itself.  We spend so many days and nights being in complete awe of your beautiful little spirit.  We talk about how much we prayed for you, and how blessed we are that God entrusted you to us.  Love plays such a huge role in our lives and how we want to raise you.  We want to be honest with you, and show you who we are as people and as your parents.  I fell madly and deeply in love with your Daddy, and he with me.  Honestly, we are still madly in love, just like we were as two crazy kids dating.  No matter how embarrassing it might be to you, we will always show you that we love each other.  I will hold your Daddy's hand, give him hugs and kisses, and snuggle up to him on the couch.  I want you to know what love feels like and looks like.  One day, you will find the person who makes your heart smile and your soul sing.  Treasure them.  Treat them with respect.  LOVE them, and show them that love.  Be considerate when you argue, and do not hit below the belt.  And, if you do, be genuine when you apologize.  We all makes mistakes, my son.  It is how you handle those mistakes that show your integrity and humility.  If you ever hear or see Daddy and me arguing (although, I pray you never do), I want you to also see respect for each other.  Respect is just as important to any relationship as love.

I love you, Ethan - whether I am here on Earth or somewhere in the great beyond.  Always.

Mommy

"I can do it myself!"

That is exactly what we're dealing with right now.  It is super cute and super sad.  I enjoy doing everything for Ethan, and now he's interested in doing so much on his own.  His thing right now is feeding himself.  Quite literally, he would not eat anything last night unless he had a spoon in each hand.  And, while we were giving him bites, he was steadily trying to do it himself at the same time.  So, we'd give him a bite and then he'd try to feed himself, over and over again.

He also likes to pick out his books every night.  If you try to pick one up to read to him, he fusses you.  So, we put it back down and let him grab the one he wants us to read.  Then, he wants to be the one to turn the pages. :)  His favorite book right now is "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear?"  I think we could read that five times a night and he still would not get tired of it.

I absolutely love being a mommy.  There is nothing sweeter in this world.  And, to be honest, I do not expect non-parents to understand.  There have been those who've made comments in regards to their capacity to love not being determined by whether or not they have a child.  They are absolutely right.  There are areas of the heart that they will never understand until they have a child - it is just different.
To quote another mommy friend of mine..."I don't think it 'determine's' how much you can love. The love for a child is just different. To love something that you carried and grew inside you for 9 months is different than any kind of feeling imagine able until you have been there. Loving something that is part of you, literally, is a different kind if love."
I put this out there because I remember the person I was before Ethan.  Part of me could see how a mom's life could be happily consumed with their child, and the other part of me wondered how they couldn't resent losing their freedom and "themselves" a little.  Now, I understand.  There is not much more of an explanation for it.

Letters to Ethan

My sweet baby boy,

I guess I can't really say that anymore since you are very much a toddler now.  But, truly, you will always be my baby.

Today is the first of two very difficult days... Your Great-MawMaw Sue passed away on Sunday afternoon.  Tonight and tomorrow, we will be celebrating her life.  This is the first time in quite a while that your Daddy and I have had to deal with losing someone as close to us and loved as much as we loved your Great-MawMaw Sue.  She was very sick.  She had been taken over by a terrible disease - Alzheimer's.  But, I want you to know something.  She loved you dearly.  She would always light up when she saw you.

One day around Christmas of last year, we were visiting with her.  You were around 5 months old.  Her mind had been slipping away from us for some time.  She had already forgotten who I was, and only remembered your Daddy occasionally, if ever.   But, she always wanted to hold you, regardless of who she remembered that day.  We placed you in her arms, and she held onto you so tightly.  She was smiling down at you, as she always did.  Then, her eyes lit up and she said, "I know who you are!"  Your Daddy and I agreed that there was no better Christmas gift than that moment.  We will hold onto it forever.

    

 

I want you to know that you have another guardian angel now. MawMaw Sue loved angels. We have no doubt that she is flying high with them today. She is watching down on you and loving you so very much. She has joined your Great-Granny Hilda, and they will always be with you.

 

Loving you more every day,

Mommy



My (almost) little toddler

April 30th?!  That is the last time I made a post here.  That makes me sad.  So much has happened since then.  Ethan is growing like a weed.  He will be walking very soon - his balance is awesome, but he hasn't figured out he could step forward on his own.

*sigh*  I wish I could keep him little.

Ethan has definitely started showing favor to men.  I think this is partly because of my dad keeping him during the weekdays.  And, Michael plays with him as much as possible every.single.day.  It is super sweet!  He clings to me for comfort, which I love.  And, he will still snuggle with me for weekend afternoon naps.  I hope those don't go away any time soon! :)

I am going to try to keep this blog updated more.  I currently have three blogs, so I pretty much just blog when I have a random inspiration for one.  Truly, I should be inspired to write more on this one.  I tend to update my Melaleuca one more, and now my weight loss one.  Maybe I avoid this one because it reminds me of how fast my little nugget is growing. :(

I need to update Ethan's baby book.  When I do that, I think I'll post some highlights here. :)  That is on my To-Do list for this weekend!