Our Little Pumpkin Girl Returns

Dear Michela,

Do you remember last year's photo?

  

You loved sitting in that pumpkin!

This year was a different story.

 After a few minutes you realized the pumpkin wasn't so bad!  

You didn't want to stand in it, but sitting next to it was okay!

Actually, the pumpkin was kind of interesting!

I love you baby girl!

Mommy

Nap time fun

Dear Little Pea,

As promised, I painted my belly to look like a pumpkin.  Actually it's a Jack-o-lantern.  It's not perfect but I think I get a pass since I can't see the lower half of my belly.   Today we are 34 weeks and 3 days.

I love you little pumpkin!

Love,

Mommy

Thank you Daddy!

Thank you for going along with what you thought was Mommy's insane idea.  I think the rain gutter bookshelves look great!  This morning I took all the books off of the shelves.  Later I helped Mommy put them all away - actually Mommy sat there while I did all the work!

Love,

Michela

Playdate

{This picture has nothing to do with the letter.  I just think it's cute.}

Dear Michela,

You are napping now so I thought I'd send you a quick letter about our play date today.   Every Thursday morning we get together with a group of moms (and one dad) for a play date.  This week was our turn to host.  You are one sharing and laid back little girl when you want to be.  You have no problem sharing your toys with the other kids.  You even started pulling toys out of your toy chest and handing them out to your friends!  I hope you are always this welcoming to friends and willing to share your toys with others.

Another cute thing you did was show empathy for a friend who was crying when her mom used the restroom.  When the little girl started crying you automatically walked over to stand next to her.  Then you looked at me and started whimpering.  When her mommy came out of the bathroom she picked up your friend and you gave a big smile and patted her mommy on the leg.  It was as if you were saying, "Oh good, you're back!  She really missed you!"

You showed the same empathy when we went to get our flu shots earlier this month.  You had your shot first and did a great job!  You cried a little but you were fine 30 seconds later.  Then we went up to get a flu shot for Daddy and me.  You watched when Daddy got his flu shot and said with a little whimper, "ohhh, Daddy."  You then touched the spot where you were given your shot and sighed.

You are one sweet little girl!

I love you Michela Grace!

Mommy

Nursery wall decor

Dear Little Pea,

I have been working on your room a bit and finally found a solution to decorating.  I really like wall decals but the ones I like are super expensive.  So I found a blog (several actually) that showed me how to make fabric decals!  This is something I can do!

Yesterday, Michela and I went to Joann's Fabric and Craft store to buy fabric.  I found 5 different patterns that I liked and bought half a yard of each.  I spent $9.50 for the fabric.  Last night I used scratch paper and made bird patterns then pinned them to the material and cut them out.  So far you have a family of birds - 2 parents and 2 baby birds that will go above your crib.  I also made 2 flying birds that will go on either side of your window.   I plan on making more birds to go on your window wall along with flowers that will go above your changing table.  Today during Michela's nap I cut out a big sun to hang above the family of birds and started hanging!

I first taped all of the pieces on the wall to make sure I glue them in the right places.  Once I was happy with the arrangement I started gluing.  I still need to glue the sun rays but here is a picture of the progress above your crib.

For the glue, I am using 1 tablespoon of corn starch mixed with 1 cup of water.  Once the corn starch was disolved, I heated it until the mixture was opaque and the consistency of shampoo.  It works and it's free because I have corn starch and water already!  :)  I used a small inconspicuous place on the wall to test out the decal to make sure it doesn't peel the paint when I remove the decals.  It works and wont ruin the walls! YAY!

I think your room is going to be super cute!  I can't wait until it's completed and you are snuggled in your crib sleeping.

Keep growing strong little one.

With all my love,

Mommy

Dear Michela,

You have been in your big girl bed for nearly 2 weeks now and you are sleeping well!  Most nights you sleep through but there are still some nights you wake up once.  You used to just yell out when you woke up, now you come looking for me.  I love it when you sleep through the night but I admit it's pretty cute hearing the little pitter patter of your feet when you come into our room.    If your door is closed when you wake up you walk to your door and softly knock while saying, "hello"!

If you want to see a pregnant mama move lightning speed, fall out of bed.  Last night you fell out of your bed for the first time.  I was asleep in bed when I heard you hit the floor and start complaining.  I don't know how I moved so quickly but I managed to get to you before your complaining turned to crying.  You weren't hurt, just shocked.  As soon as I finished kissing your head (to make sure I kissed any place that had a boo-boo) I put you back in bed and you fell fast asleep.  I think the whole ordeal was more traumatic for me than it was for you.

Tell me, how on Earth did you manage to find the one opening to your bed while you were sleeping?  The opening is at the foot of your bed and only one and half feet wide!  You must have been a crazy sleeper last night!  I even bought the extra long bedrail to help prevent such falls!  All well, I guess it happens to the best of us.  I'm sure you'll fall out of bed at least a few more times in your life.  I'm glad Daddy and I bought a bed that's low to the ground!  :)

I love you big sister!

With all my love,

Mommy

This picture was taken when I took my monthly belly shot for your sister's book.  I think it's apparent that you have a nice seat when I hold you these days!  :)

Monthly Check-in: 32 weeks

Dear Little Pea,


Things are still going well with us.  Our new fun symptom happens to be heartburn.  Yippee!  Last week I woke up with heartburn three out of seven days!  Luckily it doesn't hurt, it just feels like a bubble is in my throat and I burp a lot.  Tums help for a little while but I'll have to take tums every couple of hours if I wanted the heartburn to be gone all the time.  We see the doctor on Friday so I'll ask her for suggestions.  I read that drinking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar will get rid of heartburn.  I tried it, it was gross, and it didn't work any better than tums.


Over the weekend we went to the pumpkin patch.  I started thinking that when I was around 32 weeks pregnant with Michela I painted my belly to look like a beach ball.  Now that I'm 32 weeks with you maybe I should paint my belly to look like a pumpkin?  It's October after all! I just have to find the face paint I used last year to see if I have enough orange to paint my whole belly.  Maybe I'll do it next week.  :)


Now for our monthly update.


How far along?: 32 weeks! I can't believe we only have 8 weeks until our due date!  Yikes!

Total weight gain?: I think I'm up at least 20 pounds (total - not in the last 4 weeks), possibly more.  I have been on a baking binge with Michela so that has probably caused extra weight gain.  Oops!

Maternity clothes?: Yup.  I feel I should mention again, I hate my maternity jeans!  I wear them when it's cold outside but I hate them none-the-less.  I find myself wearing yoga pants instead of the jeans when we're staying home.  

Stretch marks?: Nope 

Sleep?: I would love to be able to sleep and not have to wake up to roll over.  It's an ordeal these days to get from one side to the next.  

Best moment this week?: Going to the Pumpkin patch with our family. Getting in and out of the train was a little work but we had fun.  We'll take you next year so you can enjoy it as an outside baby.

Movement?: Yes. I feel you kick and roll multiple times a day! Kick counts are going well.  You haven't taken longer than 10 minutes to reach the 10 kick minimum and most days you meet the minimum in 2-3 minutes!

Food cravings?: Thanks to the Geico commercial on Hulu I crave english muffins with butter and jam.  Not the worst craving but not the healthiest either.   

Labor signs?: Nope.  I do get a couple Braxton hicks contractions in the morning while nursing your sister though.  I'm not worried about it because they don't last all day or night.  Just one or two while nursing in the morning.  I think it has to do with being dehydrated in the morning.

Belly button in or out?: In but it's getting shallow.

What I miss?: Bending over and standing up from the floor effortlessly.  I can still do those things, it just takes a little more work and a few grunts.  

What I'm looking forward to?: Decorating your room.  All of your furniture is in the nursery. Now all I have to do is organize and decorate.   I'm also getting excited about painting my belly to look like a pumpkin.

Lets see how my bump has grown!

{before photo was cropped}

As you can see from the pictures, we are growing!  

Yesterday, I tackled a big box (car seat box) full of diapers, clothes, toys, and bottles.  I am very happy to say that the box is no longer in your closet and all the items now have home.  I'm not sure how many disposable diapers we'll actually use in the first week home but we have a bunch.  I also pulled a bunch of disposable diapers and will bring them to Nana this weekend.  Nana has a co-worker who is expecting a granddaughter about two weeks before you and I'm sure that baby could use some diapers.  Some of the diapers are still rolled from the diaper cake given to me during Michela's baby shower!  So all Nana has to do is arrange the diapers to look like a diaper cake.  She'll look like a super awesome person when she delivers the diaper cake to her co-worker!  :)

I love you baby girl!  I look forward to hearing your heart beat on Friday!  

With all my love,

Mommy

Choices

What to read?  What to read?

 

There are so many to choose from!

This book looks interesting!

Yea, I think I'll read this one.

Sorry Munchkin

Dear Michela,

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  Tonight before your bath you decided to sit on your potty and read a book.  Daddy and I could not get you off the potty.  I thought it was funny so we took a couple pictures of you.

I am under no delusions that you are ready for potty training.  We just have the potty out and practice sitting on it from time to time.  It's a good way to "air out" and read a book.

Love you,

Mommy

Growing up too fast

Dear Michela,

Today is October 1st and we have made some big changes!   Today Daddy moved the crib into your sister's room and your big girl bed into your room.  We want to make sure you have plenty of time to adjust to your big girl bed before your sister arrives in the next 2 months.

You took a nap this afternoon in your big girl bed for the very first time!  You didn't fall asleep in your big girl bed though.  I had to rock you to sleep and I only did that because you were getting extra grumpy as the afternoon progressed.  We attempted a nap earlier in the day but as soon as I put you in your bed you gave a huge smile and thought it was play time.  We tried for a good 30 minutes before I gave up.

Tonight we had better success!  It only took you 20 minutes to fall asleep in your big girl bed!  YAY! I folded the blanket and top sheet down so only the bottom half is covered.  Of course you fell asleep smack dab in the middle of the bed with your legs on top of the blanket and sheet!  Once you were asleep I lifted your legs and pulled the top sheet over you.  When I go to bed I'll cover the rest of you. Hopefully you will sleep soundly in your big girl bed and have happy dreams all night long.

I admit it's bitter sweet seeing you sleep in your big girl bed.  Last night I was a little emotional about that being your last night in the crib.  And today I wasn't sure if I liked seeing a big girl bed in your room!  On the other side, I like that your sister's room is finally coming together!  I just want both of my babies to stay babies forever!  You are still my baby, even in a big girl bed.  Here are some pictures of your completed big girl room.  I hope you like it and are comfortable sleeping in your new bed.

I like that there's only one spot where you can climb on and off your bed.  That is until you get really adventurous and go over the railing!

You can also see your new Ikea chair in the corner!

I think this is my favorite wall of your room (and it's the smallest)!  I made the butterflies out of scrapbook paper. 

Close up of the butterflies!

 Above your changing table I used foam rectangles and glued down photographs.  They are hung by ribbon, baby shower clothes pins, and butterflies.  

Close up of the butterflies that are embellished with little jewels.

Beside growing up and sleeping in a big girl bed, you got your first car today!  My first car was red too!  I think you love your new ride but I already caught you talking on your phone while driving!  That's illegal honey!

I love you big sister!  Keep growing strong but don't forget to stay my little girl!

With all my love,

Mommy