Baby Number 2 is...

Today was our long-awaited ultrasound! I've been waiting for this day for a loooooong time. 

It was in the afternoon, which made me antsy and anxious all day long. But we made it!

We brought Savannah with us, who had no idea what was going on, and just kept saying "oh cool!" to everything the doctor pointed out. After a while, she began to get worried about me, and she came over and held my hand. It was so sweet of her.

Then, the big announcement came:

Baby number 2 is a.....

(profile)

BOY!!!

We are SO excited! I would have been perfectly happy with either. I wanted a girl because my sister and I are 11 years apart and I always wished I had a sister while growing up, but I also wanted a boy because I want the experience of raising a boy plus their personalities are so different from girls. I just think it will be so fun to have the opportunity to raise both a boy and a girl!

 (eyes, lips and nose)

I'm also excited because I love buying Savannah clothes, and I'm excited to explore the world of little boy clothes. I have been itching all day to do some shopping! The nice thing is, I bought a lot of the big stuff that you need for a baby in gender neutral colors, so they will work for a boy too, so all I really need are clothes! 

And I have spent way too much time today on pinterest looking for nursery ideas. I actually want to re-do both Savannah's and the baby's room, so I have been having way too much fun browsing for ideas!

 (view of the head and face from a top-angle)

(Spine)

I had a really strong feeling this baby would be a boy. I first had my suspicions with how different this pregnancy has been. I have been so sick, and my body is so tired all the time. Much more so than when I was pregnant with Savy. But I also had this feeling that it was a boy. Anytime I pictured Savannah meeting the baby for the first time, I would picture him as a boy. I don't know, maybe it was a weird maternal instinct thing?

(arm, with the hand and fingers on the right)

Anyways, the ultrasound looked really good. Everything is where it should be, and growing right on track! The doctor said he was measuring about the 39th percentile, so he will be like Savannah was when she was born, but his measurements put him within a day or 2 of his due date, so he is perfect! He's breech right now (which I already knew because this kid kicks me in the bladder all day long...) but he said not to worry because we still have a long way to go, and most babies turn themselves the last month. (Savannah was in position for months. And she dropped about a month before she was born. She was just as ready to be born as I was wanting her to be!)

 (this one is self-explanatory...)

The hardest thing to do now will be to decide a name. I'm super picky with names, especially boys names. I want all my kids to have unique names, without them being "weird". At least I have 19 more weeks to figure one out! So if anyone has a suggestion, feel free to let me know!

(foot. It's really fuzzy in the picture, you can see it better on the DVD)

In other pregnancy news, I finally packed on a few pounds. 3 to be exact! I still think it's weird that in 21 weeks of pregnancy, I've only gained a total of 4 pounds, yet my stomach is HUGE! Granted, I'm only 3 pounds away from what I weighed when I was 39 weeks pregnant last time. Which I'm a bit ashamed to admit... Also, I have to do my glucose test next month. Yuck. If anything makes you never want to drink a sugary drink again, it's the glucose test...

My sciatic nerve has actually been feeling a bit better, but my lower back and hips always hurt. I've been doing yoga, and making Bryant give me a massage every single night, and that seems to help.

I'm still having super weird dreams. But thankfully, no nightmares, like I would get while pregnant with Savy. Most of the time, they are actually really awesome, and I'm sad when they end.

I'm also craving the most unhealthy food. For a while, I craved salads and melons. But lately, I've been craving anything fried. Grilled cheese sandwiches, corn dogs, onion rings, you name it! JCW's and I have become close friends these past few weeks. And the old pregnancy classic, ice cream. In fact, I made Bryant go out just to buy me ice cream this afternoon (he brought back doughnuts too. He knows me too well...) He's been such a good sport lately. He's really picked up the slack I've created in housework, and he deals with my hormone-induced mood swings like a champ. I love that boy.

I just can't stop looking at the ultrasound pictures. I'm so excited! 19 weeks and counting until we meet our little boy!

Our lazy weekend

Today is just one of those days.

The kind where I don't want to do anything.

I spent 7 hours straight running errands yesterday. I left the house at noon, and didn't get back until 7. I was exhausted.

And I'm still exhausted! I went to bed so sore and I think I fell asleep before I had time to take my glasses off. When Bryant came to bed, I woke up briefly and realized they were still on, took them off, then fell back asleep.

Toting around a highly energetic toddler and a big old belly was just too much for me I guess. 

(We went and bought her a potty seat to start potty training. She thought it was a steering wheel for a while, and I don't know exactly what she's doing right here...)

So today I am taking it easy. There are still a few errands I could run, but they aren't a priority. I have homework I could do, but I think I'll work on it after some lunch and a nap. There is cleaning to do, but I'm not expecting any company this weekend, so it's going to wait until Monday. 

It's 1:00pm and I'm not even in a rush to get Savannah in the bath and dressed. I have asked her repeatedly if she wants a tubby, which is normally one of her favorite parts of the day, and she just keeps telling me, "No! Bed! King!" Which means she wants to lay in her crib and watch the Lion King (her newest obsession. She crawls around the house growling, and pouncing).

This pregnancy feels so much harder on my body. I thought it would be easier because my body has already done it, but I'm just so sore and tired All. The. Time. By the beginning of the 2nd trimenster, I started getting my energy back and I was feeling great, other than some mild morning sickness and sciatic nerve pain. But once school started up again a couple of weeks ago, my energy level has gone back to 0. I'm back to needing a nap to get through the day, and if I don't get one, I'm crawling into bed by 9.

But I am loving how much this baby wiggles and kicks. Even when he/she kicks me in the bladder while I'm in class, which makes me hobble out of there as fast as my chubby, swollen legs can carry me. And we get to find out Tuesday what we are having! Any bets on what Baby Stokes will be?

 I was at Babies R Us yesterday and I decided to wander around the newborn clothes. It was making me so excited! I have been excited this whole pregnancy, but I think until now, I was so preoccupied with being sick, and juggling home, toddler, and school that I didn't give myself the time to really process that I'll have a tiny newborn in my arms in 4 1/2 months. It's just now been hitting me and I keep looking at pictures of Savannah as a baby and remembering those first few months and how amazing they were. It's really gotten me excited! I can't wait!

Anyways, I just thought I would pop in and write something, mostly because I'm stalling from going and blowdrying my hair... I'm so lazy sometimes.

Happy weekend everyone!

(P.S. My post-baby survival kit post had the most views I've ever had on this blog! And so many people pinned it on pinterest! I was amazed and feel so honored!)

Post-baby survival kit

One of my good friends is expecting her first baby (about a month before mine! I'm so excited!!!) anyways, we recently got into a Facebook conversation about what to expect after the baby arrives, and I started to recall all the little things you may need, but that nobody really tells you about. While  I was at the hospital, My cousin's wife brought me a big bag with "post-baby survival items". A lot of the stuff that was in there, I thought "why do I need this?" And wouldn't you know it? I used everything in that bag! I was surprised by the recovery process, I didn't realize that it would take as long as it did, and I wasn't expecting a lot of the "side-effects" of giving birth. I found that I was spending a lot of time on the couch and having to send Bryant out several times a day to the store for things we hadn't thought we would need. So I've come up with my own list of post baby survival items.

*Disclaimer*

I had a doctor-assisted birth in a hospital. I also had an epidural and was given an episiotomy. I breast fed for 6 months, until my daughter self-weaned and I co-slept with her for 6 months. I understand that the recovery period and side effects are different for different styles of labor and delivery. And my parenting styles and decisions are different from everyone else's. This is just a list I compiled based on my own experiences. They are in no particular order, and make sure to talk to your doctor first about using anything.

Witch Hazel- I had an episiotomy. This was probably the hardest part of my recovery because, lets face it, stitches in that area are no fun. The nurse who assisted me my first night in the hospital recommended witch hazel. You can find pads called Tucks Pads at the pharmacy. I would put 2 or 3 on a pad after every bathroom use. To make them even more soothing, stick them in the fridge!

Ice Packs- again, for the episiotomy. Plus, you will be really swollen, and this help lessen the swelling. While at the hospital, the nurses would give me latex gloves that were frozen. Genius!

Pain Relief Spray- I forget the brand that I used, but ask the nurse for some. They will have it there. It basically just makes everything cold and numb. You can also find this in the pharmacy, usually in the first aid area, by sunburn creams and sprays.

Depends Diapers and Overnight Pads- NO ONE prepared me for how much you bleed after delivery. The nice thing about pregnancy is you don't have a period for 9 months, but you more than make up for that during the 4-6 weeks after having a baby. I'm not kidding guys, it took 6 weeks for me to stop bleeding. The first 2 weeks were the worst of it. After that it lessens, but its still annoying. This is because your uterus is going back to its original size, and its getting rid of all that extra tissue. While at the hospital, the nurses will give you these crazy HUGE mesh underwear. ASK FOR EXTRAS when you leave!!! Also ask for extra pads. They are unbelievably huge, and kind of awkward to wear, but they are nice to have. After that, I recommend wearing those depends diapers. It sounds silly, but its a lot easier than changing a pad every hour. Also, keep in mind that breast feeding helps speed up your uterus to getting back to its normal size, which will speed up your recovery time. It's a win-win for everyone!

Lansinoh Cream- if you plan on breastfeeding, this stuff is a life saver! They will give you a small tube at the hospital (if they don't, ask for some) this small tube is all you need. A little bit goes a looooong way. Breastfeeding for the first time can be a challenge, and possibly a little painful if you aren't latching correctly and this will keep you from cracking and getting raw. Before you leave the hospital, ask to meet with a lactation specialist. Remember that if you are breastfeeding correctly, it may be a bit uncomfortable at first, but it shouldn't hurt. Also My daughter had extremely dry lips her first week or so, and I found putting a tiny bit on her chapped lips helped a ton too!

Snacks- I did not bring any snacks and that was a huge mistake! If you are having a baby in a hospital, they generally don't allow you to eat. I had Savannah at 9:20 pm and by then, the kitchen and grill at the hospital were closed. After having gone through labor, I was STARVING! The nurse was kind enough to find me a sandwich, some chips and some cookies, but I wolfed it down and was still hungry. I paged the nurse around 3 am begging for food, and all she could get me were some Lorna Doons. I fully plan on bringing several snacks this next time!

A stool softener- I know this is getting into uncomfortable territory, but I'm just being honest. All the medication they give you after having a baby, plus your body going through a major change really quickly, will make you constipated, if you have an episiotomy, going to the bathroom could be painful. Stool softeners will help!

Water!!!!- Be sure to drink TONS of water post-delivery. You will be a little dehydrated (ask your hubby to feed you ice chips while in labor. I was surprised how thirsty I got!) and you need to replenish your body. They say that labor is like a marathon, and you wouldn't go through a marathon with no water! Also, if you choose to breastfeed, I found that keeping a tall glass of ice water with me while I fed my daughter helped a ton!


Just a few more tips:

     The first few weeks are an adjustment. Especially with sleep schedules. Be prepared to get up several times during the night to feed you baby. This wasn't as bad as people made it out to be, at least in my opinion, I co-sleep with Savannah for about 5 or 6 months. This was nice, because as soon as she began to fuss, I could feed her, while staying in bed and laying down. I would try to doze a little bit while she ate. During the day, I tried to sleep when she did. Keep in mind that most babies sleep around 16 hours a day their first couple of months. Take advantage of this, and grab a nap when you can. (This will be harder with two kids, I'm sure, but its still worth a try!) When they are awake, keep in mind that they don't demand much. If I had to get something done, I had to learn not to feel bad about placing her in her swing or on a blanket with toys, while I cleaned or whatever. To keep her entertained, and so that I could better keep an eye on her, I moved her to wherever I was. That way we were still connecting and bonding, but I could get things done.

     Take it as easy as you can the first week. If you have friends or neighbors who want to make you dinner, arrange in advance who will bring what and when. Also, it's a good idea to make a few meals that are easy to freeze and store until you need them. And if you are like us, keep some of your favorite delivery food places on speed dial. Also, pick up some paper plates and plastic cups. That way, you cut down on dirty dishes. As for housework, enlist your spouse to pick up some of the slack, or a friend or relative. The day I came home from the hospital, my mom had caught up on all our laundry for us! It was so nice! If you don't have anyone nearby to help, let the nurses know before you leave the hospital. They can arrange for a nurse to come over and help!

     Speaking of nurses coming to help, some hospitals offer a program for a nurse to come visit you in your home after the first day or 2 back. They will bring you some information on basic baby care, lists of pediatricians in your area, a list of play groups, story times, support groups, lactation consultants, etc. it's so helpful! Plus it's a great time to voice any questions or concerns you may have. Ask about a program like this while at the hospital.

     Don't expect to be "super-mom" and that your baby will be perfect. Being born is kind of a crazy experience for a baby if you think about it. Suddenly there is light, and sounds are louder, and there is air and heat and cold. It can be confusing and scary. I was so unbelievably lucky to have a calm baby, who fully embraced her new surroundings. But not every baby is like this (I have a feeling that since I had such a good baby the first time, that this next one is going to be a wild child!) Just remember to keep your cool and practice patience. Find techniques that work for both you and the baby. For instance, Savy hated being swaddled. She would get fussy and wiggle and move until she was out of that blanket. However, she loved being in a frontal baby carrier while I walked around. She liked to be close and cuddled. Play around and see what works for the both of you.

     If you find that you are being overwhelmed and stressed out and frustrated, find someone who is willing to take the baby for you for a few hours and get out of the house. It's just as important to take care of yourself as it is the baby, and those first few weeks after birth are a hormone nightmare. If you feel like you have the "baby blues" and just cant seem to shake them, call your doctor immediately.

Then there is the issue of learning to breastfeed. Just remember, that even though the instinct is there, they still have to learn how to do it, just like you have to learn how to feed them. Some babies latch right away and do beautifully, others, like Savannah and I, take a few weeks to get it down perfectly. If you choose not to breastfeed, that's your decision, but just remember that it really is the best thing for both you and your baby. I breastfed for 6 months and really wished I could have gone longer, but between an inconsistent work and school schedule, my milk supply was dwindling, and once Savannah started solids, she became disinterested in it, and began to wean herself. After that, I just couldn't keep my supply up as much as I had hoped. But now that I'm not working, and I've cut my school time in half, I am fully looking forward to breastfeeding longer!!! But remember, it is ultimately your decision. You know whats best for you and your baby. There is a lot of pressure out there to exclusively breastfeed, but if you can't, or if like me, you can only do it for a little while, don't let people make you think you are being a bad mom.

     My #1 piece of advice is to not worry. Labor and delivery is tough, but its not nearly as bad as some people try to tell you it is. If it really was so awful and terrible, people would only have 1 kid! The more relaxed you are, and the more educated you are going into it, the better your body will react and the easier it will be. I had a really great birthing experience because I went in with no expectations. I know a lot of people put together a very specific birth plan, and thats fine for them, but I felt that I just wanted to be comfortable, and I didnt want to be worrying that everything wasn't going "exactly my way". I just let the doctors and nurses do what they do best, and I asked lots of questions. If you do have a specific request, make sure you let them know ASAP. I was feeling ready to push and the nurse kept telling me it was too early to push and I was only at an 8 when they checked me a half hour before. When I finally told her that I needed to push now, she agreed. Low and behold, I had jumped the last 2 centimeters and that baby was ready to come!

     I attended a 4 week birthing class and there was one girl who was so scared of labor and delivery that she left the class crying several times. As I was getting ready to leave one class, I saw the nurse that was teaching, pull her aside and I will always remember what she said: "It's better to be prepared for the worst and realize it wasn't that bad, but if you stress too much about it, you will make it harder than it should be" Remember that this is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have in your life, so see it as a good thing, and not something terrifying!

Sooooo, yeah, there is my list. I hope that it at least helps 1 person out there.  I'm by no means an expert, seeing as I've only gone through 1 labor so far, but I hope it contributes in some small way. If anyone else can think of anymore tips or things to add to the list, leave it in the comments so other people can see them as well!

Also, here is a post I wrote my last couple of weeks while pregnant with Savannah about what to expect during pregnancy. If you're interested, click HERE

That time I cried in the mother's room.

Today was a really hard day. 

I'm not exactly sure why, or what set it off. It just was one of "those days." I woke up this morning  feeling fine. I've been having these really crazy, but fun dreams the last few nights, and last night I dreamt that my parents reveled that they had A beautiful apartment they had lived in when I was born, and had continued to own it, even though none of us children knew about it, and my parents decided to give it to Bryant and I. 

I woke up hearing my little girl yelling for me, and even though I was a little sad that I had to leave that beautiful apartment with the amazing view, I was excited to give my baby hugs and kisses good morning. 

Bryant had stayed up late reading (I know because when I had to get up to stretch my legs at 1:30am, he was still reading...) So I let him sleep in. I changed Savannah's diaper, got her some peaches for breakfast, (even though she ate ALL my blueberries from MY plate) and then I hopped in the shower, got ready for church, then got her in the tub and ready.

For some reason, this is where I started to get cranky. I'm not sure why. Well, I can take a guess that It was just stupid pregnancy hormones... but I wasn't happy anymore. I suddenly felt stressed and upset. 

Anyways, Bryant then hopped in the shower, and we were all ready to go to church a couple of hours early (for once!) 

By the time we made it to church, I was suffering from a headache. Then I was angry because, once again, we chose to sit in the back on the hard chairs, which hurt my hips and my back really badly. I had been worried all morning because church begins at a new time for us now, and it's right when Savy's nap time is. The first half of Sacrament meeting, she did really well. She laid in Bryant's arms, then requested me. A few times I thought she had fallen asleep, but she hadn't. 

I was still feeling kind of ornery and mad. I decided that I needed to put those feelings aside, and just enjoy listening to people bearing their testimonies. The first few were wonderful. But as more and more people got up to speak, I began my old habit of comparing myself to everyone. While everyone talked about how wonderful their lives were, how great and well behaved their children were, how blessed they were because they live the gospel so perfectly, suddenly the thought "there's nothing like testimony meeting to make you feel so inadequate" crossed my mind. I don't even know where that came from! It just sprung up in my thoughts. I didn't mean it, of course, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't feeling pretty low. "But, my child can be so wild and crazy... but, I'm trying so hard to live the gospel but I never feel like I will be as good as sister-so-and-so..." I kept thinking to myself.

It was horrible.

I was choking back tears because I was angry with myself for not being someone who could get up there and say the same things those people were saying. I was placing these people on a pedestal, instead of just letting the spirit of peace and true testimony fill me up.

Then, something set Savannah off...

The little girl sitting a couple of chairs next to us, decided to sit sideways on her chair, putting her feet on the chair next to Savannah. For some mysterious reason, forever unknown to me, Savannah began to point her finger in the girls face and yell "NO! NO! NO!" and then tried to shove the girls feet off the chair. When I went to stop her, Savannah collapsed in my lap and sobbed hysterically.

I rushed her out into the hall, where she continued to sob uncontrollably. Of course the doors to the cultural hall were wide open, and I saw that half the population of the room was staring at us through the wide double doors. I bolted to the lobby. There were a group of women all standing in front of the mothers room. I was praying no one was in there and this wasn't the line to use it. Thankfully, the door was unlocked and the room was empty. 

I ran in, shut off the lights and tried to get Savannah to calm down, but she refused. Instead, she laid face down on the floor and cried even louder and harder. I KNEW everyone in that lobby, and possibly everyone trying to enjoy a peaceful fast and testimony meeting, could hear her.

This was my breaking point. I think on any other day, I could have handled this situation a whole lot better. But not today. I slumped in the nasty, stained and uncomfortable rocking chair and joined Savannah in her hysterical cries. 

After about 10  minutes, she finally stood up, and realized that the room had a sink in it. I allowed her to wash her hands multiple times (one of her favorite things to do) and then bribed her with candy that I told her was in my bag, still in the other room. She seemed happy enough.

However, as pregnancy nature calls, I had to run to the bathroom. 

When I stepped out of the room, we saw Bryant, who had come to wait for us in the hall. I handed Savy to him and told him I'd be right back. As soon as I began walking away, Savannah had yet another meltdown. This was when the other ward was just letting out for the day, and everyone was clustering in the halls and the lobby, once again, all staring at my crying toddler, and my puffy, red eyes.

Once I came back, we rushed off to go teach our class. Only to find that we had no class to teach. Most of our kids have gone on to primary, and the remaining ones were re-combined into the younger nursery. We were told we weren't being released, but that we could go sit in the back of primary sharing time instead (uh, yeah right, I'm not sitting in the back of primary if I'm not needed). I told the nursery leader that I'd rather go to class, and she said "well, I guess whatever you feel is best..." in a disapproving manner. She then said that we would have another class by the middle of the year. I told her I don't want to teach nursery by then, because I will have a newborn, and won't even be able to attend church for several weeks. She replied "well, we will just keep you listed as teachers, and we can discuss this again when it gets closer."

Once again, I was on the verge of tears. How many times do I have to tell them that I'm NOT bringing a newborn to a classroom full of children, where it's guaranteed that at least 2 of them are sick? "Alright, we will talk about it then" I said with a lump in my throat.

We then were debating if we should just go home, but Savannah ran into the nursery just as fast as her little legs could take her. We decided that as long as she was happy, to let her have some time with other kids. We then went to class, where of course, the only 2 chairs left were the hard ones that hurt my back, and they were shoved in the alcove where the window was.

I sat back there barely listening to the lesson. Instead, I was listening to the 3 women in the back gossip about so-and-so, and repeatedly complain that they couldn't hear the teacher (funny, I could hear her just fine. If they were hard of hearing, wouldn't they just move closer to the front?)

I took a few minutes to mull the day over. I was so upset and angry. I wasn't able to enjoy sacrament because my child was way over due for a nap, I felt like those in positions over me were not listening to me when I needed them too, and now I was angry that these women would rather spend the 3 hours of church saying really awful things about their neighbors, instead of learning about how to be a better one.

I was discouraged. I was done. 

When class let out, I asked Bryant if we could just go home.

I was so tired and emotionally worn out. 

On our way to pick Savannah up from class, Bryant pulled me into an empty room, closed the door and hugged me tight. I just cried and cried into his shoulder. 

After I couldn't cry anymore, I walked to the window and opened it. Letting the cold air wash over and freshen my face.

I felt a little better.

Once I cleaned myself up, we went to get Savannah. As soon as she saw us, she hurled the toy teapot she had in her hand at her teacher, reached up to me and asked for her "Baba" (bottle). 

It was definitely nap time. For her, and for me.

I came home, put her to bed, ate a sandwich, and then I went to bed.

By then, I felt so much better.

I don't know why I wrote about this. Maybe because I thought it would make me feel better to get my emotions out, but to be honest, I'm holding back tears once again. But I do feel much better.

Then again, maybe I wrote about this because I try really hard to make this blog positive, but sometimes, life just throws you one of "those days". And maybe someday, when I'm having another really bad day, I can look back at this and see how silly it was for me to have a really bad day for no reason, other than possibly some silly old pregnancy hormones. 

Next Sunday is going to be so much better, because I'm going to make sure Savannah gets an early nap, and I'll be sure to pack myself some snacks, just in case I get grouchy from hunger, and because I'm going to sit in the nice chairs for once!

The Best of My 2012

*This post has taken me DAYS to write! The joys of being a busy mommy...*

We had a pretty great year this past 12 months. I noticed a lot of other people were doing "highlights" of their year, so I thought I'd follow along and do my own!

March:

In early March, we traveled down to the State FFA convention to watch my brother Sawyer give a speech. It was a lot of fun!

We celebrated Savannah's 1st Birthday!

A few days later, we traveled down to Disneyland with Bryant's parents, brother Tyler, sister Chantel, his Aunt Sandy and his Uncle Steve. This was Savannah's 2nd trip in under a year!

In July, Bryant's parents came to visit, and we celebrated Independence Day!

We also had fun in Zion's National Park for the Macfarlane Family Reunion!

In August, we went to the Bushell Family Reunion!

We also attended our ward rodeo!

I also made the really tough decision to quit my job so that I could focus on being a better mom and a better, more focused student. Even though I miss my job and my friends a lot, I still think this was one of the best decisions I've ever made!

In September, we found out we were pregnant with baby #2!

In October, my parents moved and we decided to rent the top half of their old house from them. It's been so nice to have space! We not only have a real bedroom for Savannah, but we even have a spare bedroom! Well, for now... Baby #2 will be taking up that space in about 5 months. AND my kitchen and living room are two separate rooms! Wahoooo!

In December, we celebrated Christmas a little early with my family.

We celebrated my Dad's 50th Birthday by throwing him a surprise party!

And we traveled to California to visit Bryant's family for Christmas!

In between all of that, we had several play dates, fun at 7 peaks and the local pool, museums, movies, going out to dinner, and other fun things.

2012 has been really fun. It had it's moments where I was overwhelmed with school and work, but overall, the good moments definitely outweigh the bad.

I have very high hopes for 2013. I'm most looking forward to Savannah's 2nd birthday, my 4th anniversary, and this baby arriving (who may, or may not arrive on my anniversary!) 

I have no major resolutions this year. I looked back on last years post about my resolutions, and I found that I actually completed almost all of them. I was impressed with myself. But this year, I'm not going to promise myself anything big, like getting back into shape (I'm pregnant for goodness sake! I'm just going to get larger and larger over the first half of this year anyway.) or being super amazing at school (again, I'm a mother of a toddler and soon to be newborn.). I'm just going to make the resolution to do my very best. That's all I can expect from myself, and everything that my kids and my husband deserve.

Although, I would like to get the new baby's room painted... I guess I'll count that as a resolution.

So welcome 2013. So far, you're lookin' pretty good.