It's Snowing!

Finally, after being stuck inside for 3 days, we wake up to something other than dirty, rain, sleet and ice! We had beautiful thick powdery snow! Reagan has only seen snow one other time, which was during my baby shower, and she really didn't get to play in it. So today we went out several different times to have fun. Since I uploaded so many pictures, I will let the pictures do the talking. Believe it or not, I really did narrow them down. I just thought her expressions in so many of them were priceless.

Love her excitement in this one.





Love this one,


and this one.











She could have swept the snow for hours, she thought that was so fun.








Throwing snowballs with Paw Paw!









































"You got me!"





























"Soooo coooolllddd"

We had so much fun out there today, Reagan loved it! The only thing that would have made it any better is if Darrin could have been there. He is so much more fun than me and he would have for sure made a snowman! Who knows, maybe we will get more next week. (not that I am really hoping for it.)

2 1/2 Years Old

I was going to wait until the 6th to actually post a 2 1/2 year blog, but really, what's 3 days? I think we have hit what may be called the "terrible two's" a week or so ago. I haven't really had to deal with a lot of time-outs in the past, the only time she would usually have to go is when she was playing a little to aggressively. She doesn't necessarily hit or try to be violent, she just is too much at times and doesn't understand personal space. She is constantly hugging a little to hard, or just wanting to be too close. So for that, she goes to time-out. However, lately she has been having to go quite often for whining or just being impatient or bossy. I can't tell you how many times this week she has broken down and started crying/whining for no reason. Or how many times I have heard "mine," or "I want it," "Reagan do it," "I don't want any," or "no."

I was thinking it was because I have been playing around with her nap schedule, which could equal the fits, but then I was unsure. She does tend to throw the fits later in the evening when she is winding down for the day. I was thinking it was just her knowing a baby is coming, sounds silly, but I have read toddlers sense things like that and behavior can change, but I was unsure. And now I am thinking maybe it is just her age. (or maybe it is just because we have been stuck indoors for the past 3 days and we are driving each other crazy!) Needless to say, she has been a little hard to deal with this past week or so.

Other than that she is such a sweet and loving little girl. She loves to snuggle, she loves to hug and kiss on me and she tells me she loves me soooooo much.

She says, I'm sorry, thank you, please, and excuse me often without being told to.

If you ask her when her birthday is, she will tell you, August 6th.

She can count to 12 and almost to 15. After twelve, it's fourteen, fourteen, thirteen. (or whatever comes out, all she knows is that there is a "teen" at the end.)

She has gotten a lot better with her abc's (thanks to Super Why) she will start off good then once she hits H, I, J, K, L ,L, L, O, P she gets a little stuck. She does recognize a few letters, R is one of them. That is what I am going to start really working on next is letter recognition, if there are any great tools out there or ideas you have seen, let me know. I know there are tons of different ways to teach them, I just was curious if there was something you found and loved.

She LOVES Super Why, thank goodness for DVR because lately we have been watching a lot of it.

She is now at a point that she will watch TV in the car. The only movie she really cares to watch is Toy Story, but it has totally changed our car rides. It's almost as if she is not even back there. Before I would hear, "Mommy what's that? Mommy who's that? Mommy, whats that guy/girl/car doing? Snack?" It was constant questions and drove me nuts, now all I hear is the move, with still a few questions. "What's Woody doing?" "Where'd the girl go?"

We are also at the "I want to do everything myself phase," so we get frustrated quite often. (by we, I mean her and I) She wants to put on her clothes (the wrong way), put her shoe on (the wrong foot), whatever it is she says, "my do it!!" and always resists help. Which is frustrating because usually I am trying to go somewhere and then it leads to a meltdown/fit.

She talks non stop and so inquisitive. She is always asking, "Whats that noise?" "What are you doing?" "Whats that sound?""Whats that smell?" Even through books and TV shows the entire time she is asking questions. "Why's he doing that?" "Why is his mouth like that?" "Where did the girl go?" "What's that?" "Why's she crying?"

She talks about her baby brother, she hugs and kisses my belly. Saying "Hi baby brother." Love you baby brother." "Come out baby brother."

She is a GREAT eater. I never have to worry about her eating or being picky. She will eat anything given her and eat all of it or even have seconds. There is only 1 thing that I have found that she won't eat which is pickles. If I have a pickle with my sandwich she will say, "Reagan not like it" and point to my pickle. Other than that I haven't found anything she won't eat. She will take a bite and say, "mmmm, a-lish-ous," or "mmmm, tasty!"

She loves to color.

She loves to paint her fingernails.

She loves to play with her babies and Gully.

She is a pretty good shopper. She will say, "ohh cute Mommy, that's so cute."

She doesn't entertain herself well. She is not one of those kids to play alone or occupy themselves, she has to have full attention and someone playing with her.

I wanted to get a journal to write funny things she says in and I still plan on doing that. I know that usually comments are only funny if you were actually there, of if you are her mom, so I won't bore my blogs with funny conversations. But a few nights ago she was trying to get my mom's attention saying, "Nonna, Nonna, Nonna, Nooooonna, Nonna your driving me crazy!" My mom and I both started cracking up, we had never heard her say say that. I guess I tend to tell her she's driving me crazy!

And lately I have noticed she understands when I am laughing at her and not with her. It's almost as if I am hurting her feelings. She will say, "noooooo Mommy, don't laugh!!" It's pretty cute.

Reagan,

I can not tell you enough how special you are to me. I love everyday we spend together and hope that I never forget these days. You are such a sweet, happy, caring little girl who already has so much love in her heart. You are so growing up so fast and constantly learning new things. You are so smart and you continue to impress me and others around you daily. You are so nurturing, observant, strong-willed and even a little dramatic. I pray that our relationship as mother and daughter only continues to grow and that you always know I am your #1 fan. You have taught me so much in the last 2 1/2 years and brought so love and happiness into our lives. As you come upon some changes in the next week or so, know that your Mommy and Daddy love you with all our heart and we can't wait to watch you become a big sister. Your little brother might not be so fun now, but in the years to come I know you both with share in some very special memories together. We love you and are so blessed to have you as our daughter.

Love you - Mommy & Daddy

37 Weeks and A Girls Dinner

Well once again, I left my doctor's appointment upset. I think for the past 7 weeks I have left there upset about something different. Today everything was great with baby boy, I am now dilated 2cm and still about 50% effaced. Sounds like everything is great and moving right along, right? Then my doctor tells me she doesn't think that she will be able to induce February 9th and my mood totally changed. Since 30 weeks she has said that would be the date, I have planned for people to come in town, arranged help with Reagan, Darrin has booked his flight here and I knew that I wouldn't have to worry about the labor because I would be under watch. I know these types of things you can not plan, but I am very much type A and I like, okay have to have a plan.

I knew it was hard to get the hospital to allow you to induce before a week before your due date, but since my doctor seemed to have no concern about them allowing me to do it, I had the date set in my mind. So leaving today unsure and with doubt, I was upset.

After my appointment I headed over to April's house, we had planned to take the kids to the Children's Science Museum for a play date. While the kids were playing, Darrin was trying to get ahold of me, his work wanted to send him to the Dominican Republic until Sunday. He needed to know if the date was going to be set or if we were going to have to push it back. Why he didn't go the past few weeks and they waited until this week, I don't know, but nevertheless, we had to decide if he would go or not.

My doctor called and she was able to approve the induction date. Everything is set for 7:30am on Wednesday February 9th!! Phew, what a huge relief! Now I just have to make it until Sunday and I will be one happy girl. Being away from Darrin for 3 weeks is way to long, I miss him so much and I am ready for the traveling part to stop. I ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week as he travels to the Dominican Republic and I wait out the last few days of being pregnant.

37 Weeks

Last night we got together for one last girls night (for me) for a little while. I love these girls and don't know what I would do without them. We talked for hours about hair, kids, fashion, life, play dates, work and more. I had such a wonderful time and I am so grateful for each of their friendships. Thanks for such a fun night, at our next dinner I will be able to have a drink with y'all! Wa-hoo, love you girls!






Now I plan on staying in all week in my pj's waiting for this cold front to pass. Rain, sleet and snow? Yuck, no thanks!

No More Naps

Well, it's official. Reagan is no longer taking naps during the day anymore. I thought I would dread the day, but it's really not that bad. I might be saying something totally different once her baby brother is here, but after a rough couple of nights, I decided to see what it would be like if I didn't let her nap. It seemed now matter when I would lay her down 2, 2:30, 3:00 and no matter how long I let her sleep 1 hour, 1 1/2 hours, 2 hours she was always up all night. It wasn't that she was terrible at night, she was actually happy and full of energy which was the problem, I couldn't get her to wind down, she just wasn't tired.

So I had to decide, either I let her stay up until 11pm every night and go to bed when we do (since she is still sleeping with us) or take away her nap, deal with a few fragile moments in the evening and put her to sleep around 9pm. I chose an earlier bed time.

I keep saying she is sleeping with us and that I will blog about that in another post, so let me explain (as best I can) for why she is in bed with us. Over the summer we went to visit family for two weeks in St.Louis and Iowa. We really didn't feel like taking a pack n play on the plane and Reagan had never even slept in one before, so we decided not to take it. Therefore she spent 2 weeks in bed with us. Then we stayed a while in Texas for the summer and even though she had a crib at my parents, she didn't sleep in it, she slept with us. So after 2 months of sleeping with us we had to try and get her back into her own bed. Once we got back to CA, we tried for a week getting her used to her crib again. She would scream and cry for over 2 hours a night before she either got to worked up, or before she fell asleep. We kept thinking, "ok tonight won't be so hard, they say it takes at least 4 days," but she never gave up. Then the next day she was a total grouch because she was tired and would fight me to take a nap. (in her crib) So, we gave up, and since then she has been co-sleeping with us. Or I guess really me since Darrin has been traveling so much lately.

Back to the naps. So for about a week now, we have done away with the naps and night time is wonderful. I start winding her down around 8ish, she takes a bath, we lay in bed and watch one episode of Super Why, she drinks her milk and before the show is over she is out. Usually it's around 9 and it's heaven. I then have some time for myself in the evenings and I'm not exhausted from the usual bed time routine. She is still sleeping in in the mornings and is usually up between 8:30 and 9, which I love.



Yesterday my dad and I took Reagan to the park, it's finally warming up a little outside. She loves to swing, it's the only thing she wants to do when we go. Doesn't she look so big? It's hard to believe she is just a few weeks away from being a 2 1/2 year old.

36 Weeks

Today we had yet another little scare. I went in for my sonogram and I didn't pass a section. The 4 main things they check for are: blood flow through the cord, fluid levels, heartbeat and breathing or diaphragm. Normally everything looks okay and we pass all the tests, but today he failed the breathing part. He is needs to be using his diaphragm and today after about a 30 minute sonogram, they couldn't see him using his.

I met with my doctor and she seemed concerned. Of course, they try not to worry you, but they have to tell you everything involved. Best case, he was just not cooperating and after more testing everything would be just fine. Worst case, he would have about a week to survive. I think she has me under really close watch due to my cord insertion, I read that still born is a high risk in these types of pregnancies.

She had me go over to the Baylor downtown for a stress test and to be monitored a little closer. They had me on a monitor for a little over 20 minutes doing a stress test. The were just checking the heartbeat, listening for movements and seeing how he responds to contractions. (I was having small contractions while in there. I couldn't feel them, but they told me I was contracting.) They did another sonogram and everything looked just perfect. He weighs around 6 pounds, they could see his lungs and diaphragm moving and the fluid looked great. I was concerned that this would be something that I would have to watch daily, but they said as long as I am feeling movement, no pain and everything remains the same with me, that weekly appointments are just fine. A good reading will usually give you reassurance for a week, so I will just see her again next Monday for a sono and a check up.

Today I did the GBS testing and she checked for dilation. I am about the same I was with Reagan at this point, about 1 cm dilated: 50% effaced and -3 station. He has dropped, she could feel his head, but still room to push him up.

We are still scheduled to induce February 9th, she said 38 weeks is long enough for her. That leaves just 16 more days! Ready to see this little guy who keeps giving us all these scares.