15 Weeks

I haven't posted much about little pineapple. I just haven't had the time like I did with Gabby, but that's because I am chasing around after my little peanut right now.

I am 15 weeks (was last Friday) and I am actually feeling pretty well. It's a bit of a weird stage. I am too big for most of my regular clothes and too small for my maternity clothes. mostly because this baby is a little butterball and just going straight out, I carried my weight a bit different with Gabby. It also could be that my starting weight was a lot lower with Pineapple than with Gabby, but who knows.

My diabetes is in check. I was put on Glyburide (just a low dose) at night back on May 1st and that is really helping my fasting numbers in the morning. I am able to control the rest with just diet and exercise. I am cheating a bit here and there, but really it's hard not to sometimes. Because I am on meds my Midwife is having me see an OB that she co-manages with a lot. They are considering me "higher risk" just because of the meds. I met with my nutritionist a few weeks ago and she said that they might have to increase my meds or possibly switch me to insulin around week 26 or farther in the pregnancy. That's when your insulin production increases in a normal pregnancy, but when you have gestational diabetes your body can't make all that it needs. So I am praying that my body can still keep up and that diet, exercise and the little bit of meds I am on will be enough. If it doesn't it definitely increases my chances of a c-section, but hopefully we can avoid that.

My energy level is finally back to normal again and I don't feel like I am going to fall asleep at 8pm every night. Its nice to have my energy back because I can actually play with Gabby now when she wants to do something at night or on the weekends.

Big Sister

 
I am feeling a little bit of movement here and there but nothing huge as of yet, but it's still really early so I am not worried. I can't wait until June when I can hear the little one's heartbeat again.

Breastfeeding Tips from the Working Mama

So this week on the Breastfeeding blog hop it's all about Breastfeeding Tips! Check out the Breastfeeding blog hop at The Slacker Mom and check out the fabulous co-hosts: The Gnome’s Mom and Happiness Redefined!

Since we are out of the breastfeeding game at the it took me awhile to figure out what my tips would be to those mama's out there that might be needing them, so here goes.

1. Reach Out! that was one of the things that I did that I am so glad I did. Whenever I had a question I called my LC at the Ped's office, or I reached out to the Le Leche group, Kellymom or my friends that were nursing. All these things helped me so much. When I was first nursing I was having trouble with her and an over supply. She wasn't able to latch on when we first started and it was difficult. With the help of the LC I was able to get her to latch on, try a different hold and Gabby and I continued on our journey of nursing.

2. Don't be too hard on yourself. I think too often I kept feeling like I was doing something wrong or not a good mama because I was trying bottles. Whatever you do, however long you nurse it's what works for you. No one can tell you any different. If you need to supplement, supplement. If you need to use a nursing shield do so, if you need to co-sleep, then co-sleep. Do whatever you can do to make things work.

3. Nurse where you are comfortable. For me the first few months I had Gabby next to me in her pack n play, I didn't feel comfortable co-sleeping (it just wasn't for us), but I was able to reach out pick her up, nurse her and put her back down without having to get out of bed. It was the best thing ever. As she got older we moved her into her room and I nursed her in the glider - also comfortable! at least for me. Another thing I want to say is if you are comfortable nursing in public - do it, don't worry about others being uncomfortable, nurse wherever you feel like you can.

What are some of the tips you have for other nursing mama's?

Wordless Wednesday

We have baseboards!! SO excited

Railing into the loft

Baseboards in the hallway

Gabby's window trim & Baseboards

Gabby's closet

Loft 1/2 wall capped

Manic Mommy Monday - Nap Time

I know it's late in the day, but it's still Monday, so I can still post this ;) Another week of Manic Mommy Monday.

This last weekend was another fun filled family weekend. Both my Dad and my FIL aren't up to par with being able to do things outside and around the house. Long story for both of them if you really want to know email me. So we were down at my folks on Saturday. Gabby does really well sleeping there. My lovely parents put up curtains in their 3rd bedroom and we put her pack n play there and she sleeps from  like 7 until 5:30. So it's not like she CAN'T sleep in her pack n play. However this weekend is just another example of how Mike and I can't get this girl to sleep. Saturday was no exception to this phenomenon that has gone through our house.

If we could just get back to this little angel sleeping during the day

This is how nap time went on Saturday. Gabby was finishing up her lunch.

Mama: Gabby, after lunch it's nap time.
Gabby: No Nap!
Mama: Yes Gabby when you are done eating it's nap time. If you don't nap then we can't go outside and play later this afternoon.
Gabby: No Nap!
*Mama gave up on explaining what was going to happen..... Gabby finishes up lunch, we get her cleaned up and I took her upstairs. We read a book and I tried to get her to lay down with me in bed.

Gabby: No Nap, No Nap, No Nap, NO NO NO NO - you get the idea
Mama: Gabby can we just lay down and have some quiet time.
Gabby: NO NAP!

Daddy comes in to provide relief, but he got just as far as I did.

It ended up that we had 30 minutes of fighting to keep this kid in bed. She hit her head on Mike's face - his teeth to be exact. When we ended up getting up, she actually ended up falling off the bed and hit her head a little. Luckily it scared her more than injured her.

Sunday she napped but that's ONLY because we had an hour long car ride from my parents house to my IL's house. I am really at a loss here, as I don't know what to do about nap time. So I am making a plea to all the parents out there that read my blog and I know I have a few of you, on what you would do.

Even at our house nap time goes like above, except I try to put her in her crib and she screams. We have tried to do what we did when sleep training her at night. We let her cry for 10 minutes, go in soothe her (she gets more pissed off at us), repeat. We usually stop after 30 or 40 minutes, so maybe that's our downfall, maybe we have to just keep going, but I really wonder is it worth it. I mean she gets a little cranky and acts up, but nothing major. But usually by Sunday if she doesn't have a nap she is exhausted and worse...so I need help!! Please give me any advice on what to do about this. We are going on like 4 months of this!

21 Months

21 Months

Weight

23.5lbs give or take

Clothing Size

18 Month Pants, 2T to 3T shirts

Diaper Size

Up and Up - Size 3 - Yep still in size 3

Feeding

She eats 2 breakfasts (Yep 2) one at home and one at daycare
Pretty much whatever they are feeding her at daycare and what we eat at home.
She loves: Banana's, Yogurt, Cheese, Bread, Peanut Butter, Apples, GoldFish, Cheerios, Her Dad's cereal (doesn't matter the kind), Applesauce, Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dogs, and Kielbasa.

Bedtime/Wakeup Times

Bedtime: anywhere from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Wakes up around 6am every day.
Naptimes: 12:30 to 2:30 during the week, refuses to nap on the weekends for us

21 Month Milestones* SHe is talking up a storm, we have conversations with her now.

* She has started asking "Why" a lot with thins

* She remembers people's names from school and repeats them all the time

* She helps her teachers and us at home clean up, dust, vacuum and anything like that

* She LOVES her shoes to the point that we had to bring in another pair to daycare because she is playing with them too much and getting them taken away now

* She is getting a little bossy - we are working on this with her friends at school

* She knows all the school mascot's names and what they stand for (Responsibilty etc).

*She still has barely any hair
* She is still missing quite a few teeth
* She is still in her crib and that's fine with me, we are leaving here there until she starts crawling out.
* She has started sleeping with a different doll/stuffed animal each night

Overall she is amazing me as usual with how her mind works and what she is thinking and doing every single day. I love her smile, it's contagious and just thinking about it makes me smile. She truly warms my heart and makes my life complete. I know she is going to be a GREAT big sister and really enjoy showing her brother/sister what she can do. I think we are going to be in trouble with these two.

Wordless Wednesday - Rainie's Bugs

I made the Pink Honor Roll for the Susan G Komen MN Affiliate from 2011 fundraising

Gabby and I on Race day

The Team for 2012 Rainie's Bugs

Manic Mommy Monday - Mother's Day

I haven't posted a Manic Mommy post in awhile and since I have some time over lunch today I thought why not - especially since it was Mother's Day yesterday!

If you haven't heard of Manic Mommy Monday's yet. Check out my blogger friend over at The Gnomes Mom who started this awesome blog hop.




Because of my AWESOME hubby! I was able to start my Mother's Day celebration on Thursday. Yep Thursday. He made me an awesome dinner of Gnocchi, Turkey Sausage, Peppers, Onions & Sun-dried tomato alfredo sauce. Needless to say I loved it! as did our little peanut!! We had a nice family meal just the three of us and then went out for a wonderful walk around the neighborhood.


Every year on Mother's day weekend for the past 8 year, my family and friends have done the Race for the Cure. A walk to help end breast cancer. It's hosted in the Twin Cities by the Susan G. Komen Foundation - MN affiliate and we have an awesome team called the "Rainies Bugs". It's named after my grandmother Lorraine. She was called Rainie Bug when she was a little girl so it's only fitting....Usually the women walk, and the guys go golfing. Well since some little kids are now in our mix the women made the men go golfing on Saturday instead of Sunday.

It turned into a group of 14 people from my family + a few members/friends of Mike. A Family affair, but they all had fun. Gabby and I stayed back since I left my clubs up at the lake. My dad couldn't go this year since he is laid up, so all the family signed a get well card for him (Thanks Guys!!) he should be getting it today. We had Gabby draw on it too ;)

While they went golfing Gabby girl and I went off to shop together. We met up with a friend of mine at this awesome consignment shop for maternity clothes. I found a bunch of stuff. For those in the Twin Cities area looking for maternity clothes - check out Bellies to Babies. Had a fun impromptu play date with my friend and her kids and went home for lunch. No nap for the little one - If anyone out there knows how to get this girl to nap on the weekends I am ALL EARS! She takes 2 hour naps during the week at daycare, but I can't get her to nap at home unless it's in the car.

Sunday I got up and was wished "Happy Mother's Day" by my awesome husband and beautiful little girl. The dog even barked at me, which I can only take to mean the same thing.

I got ready to head off to the Race for the Cure. We had a much smaller team and it was super crowded but we still had fun. There were about 50,000 people or so crammed into the streets surrounding the Mall Of America. It took us FOREVER to get to the start line but we made it and finished the race in about 2 hours or so. My family/friends and I have been doing this for 8 years and I think this was our last year. We are going to still fundraise -I will NEVER give that up. If you want to help me with my goal of $2,000 there is still time, just click on this link and donate. But we are going to celebrate my grandmother and all the other people we have lost and that are survivors with a BBQ at my place the week after Mother's Day and walk around the trails. It's the whole point is to raise money and celebrate the people we love, and we don't have to be a part of a group of $50,000 to do it. So we are making our own!!

I finished off the wonderful day (which the weather was so nice) by celebrating Mother's Day and my MIL's birthday at the IL's house. Mike, his brother and dad made an awesome meal of chicken parm with Zucchini. Mike made for me an awesome dessert - Apple Crostata from scratch. It was so yummy! and the walking the 3+ miles I had, I was able to enjoy it even with my Gestational Diabetes. So I was pretty excited. I wasn't over at dinner last night, and I wasn't over this morning so all in all it was a great feeling!!

I will post some pictures on Wednesday for Wordless Wednesday.

Wordy Wednesday - Plotting

Gabby's Bear Council where they are plotting to take over the world.

Those that follow me personally on FB have seen this, but I couldn't help but post it again on my blog. It totally cracks me up. I put two of the bears in a row for her - on her command and then she put the rest of them there. This kid is so darn adorable I can't believe it! Okay, okay I might be biased.

But lately she has been doing some cute and adorable things. This morning she was actually being a little snot and whiny so I told her to ask nicely for her yogurt and she looks at me and smiles and says "Nicely". Really?? What a smart alec.

She likes to tell me where things should be placed, if she doesn't want you sitting on the couch she will tell you. In fact this evening Mike was sitting in the glider reading her favorite book "One Fish, Two Fish" and I was sitting on the floor. At first I was sitting cross legged and then I bent one knee up. She took my leg and pushed it down so it would be on the floor and she could sit in my lap better.

Her language is exploding. I really can't believe all the words that come out of her mouth and it just amazes me. The other day she said "Mama beautiful" I about cried. She is even starting to count in English. She can repeat all the Spanish numbers as well, but in English she actually knows the numbers that come after the previous one.

I love how the only Spanish word she consistently uses is agua. She barely uses the word water. She signs all the time which again amazes me. I love seeing her little brain work and learn and how every day there is something new that she can learn.

Wordless Wednesday - Better late than never

Our new hardwood flooring in our entryway. I am totally in love with it.

View from the top of the steps going to the new area - eventually there will be a railing there

View of the hallway on the main level

Our bathroom with our old vanity. eventually we will replace it but not now

Gabby's room. with the final paint job!

It's a Numbers Game...

and I am losing. Yep that's right. When this pregnancy started I knew it was different. I had different cravings. With Gabby it was Mexican food, I couldn't eat chicken and I HATED yogurt - more really yogurt made me sick until the 5th month of pregnancy.

With this one I am loving sweets, carbs and yogurt. I can't get enough yogurt. People keep saying it's a boy because it's so different. I had morning sickness with this one and not with Gabby, my back is already starting to hurt, but not nearly as bad as with Gabby.

The same thing is happening with my GD. It could be that it's earlier in the pregnancy but with Gabby my morning numbers were awesome and ALWAYS below 95. With Pineapple, I have had one in two weeks that's below that number. My after meal numbers are pretty darn good with Pineapple but with Gabby I wasn't at good at watching them.

I called my nutritionist because she said if my numbers in the morning were high to give her a ring. I sent her all my number,she talked it over with my midwife and now I am going to be going on a med at dinner time to help lower my blood sugar.

Great! I know it could be a lot worse, but still, this is annoying that only at 11 1/2 weeks I have to watch this and take meds. Especially when I didn't have to do it with Gabby. just one more sacrifice I have to make for my beautiful little gummie bear. I will gladly do it.

Anyone with experience with this care to share?? I always love talking about this stuff and hearing others experiences.