I decided to share this pregnancy update through my blog because posting it directly on a facebook status just seemed odd. And honestly, some people really don't care (which is perfectly ok). Although..I will share this blog link on my facebook so I guess I am completely contradicting myself. At least you will have to click on the link to see it and it isn't just thrown in your face...ok, ok moving on.
So for the last week I have had some painful contractions and cramps. I remember having uncomfortable Braxton Hicks contractions with Eli and so I had been brushing them off as "normal". I am definitely one of those people that thinks "Oh I am being such a baby. Stop complaining and tough it out." which isn't always the best attitude to have. Yesterday I left school as soon as I could because I felt AWFUL. As in, I couldn't get comfrotable, my stomach hurt, and most worrisome, my back would hurt everytime I would have a "Braxton Hick" contraction. I came home and voiced my concerns to Carlos and I forced myself to sit down and not play with Eli, as hard as it was. I wasn't worried per se but I was curious as to why I was so uncomfortable not really thinking I was having REAL, true contractions.
Fast forward to today. I started having some lower cramping like menstrual cramping which we all know is not necessarily good. I had a scheduled doctors appointment for a regular checkup and because my pain wasn't as bad as yesterday, I didn't leave work early and rush to see my doctor this morning. I made it to my doctors office and told them that I was having some cramping and some discomfort but I had chalked it up to being humongous and tired and being 33 weeks pregnant. They said they wanted to check me just in case and to run a fFN test if they found dilation/effacement and if there was significant progress they would send off the test to the lab. Well she checked me and in an almost surprised tone I heard, "Oh yeah. You are a centimeter and a half dilated and about 25% effaced."
Cue immediate panic. Good thing I brought it up right?
Now, I understand that 1.5 centimeters is not HUGE progress and I could stay there for weeks but (to me) that kind of progress at 33 weeks is extremely scary. I was admitted into the hospital at 2cm with Eli and in labor. I know every pregnancy is SO different but it doesn't make it any less terrifying. At this point we aren't sure what the next steps are. The doctor assured me that no bedrest is needed right now. They get the test results back that will tell us if labor is possible in the next two weeks and I guess we will discuss things from there. The doctor did say I need to rest when I get home and asked if I was able to sit most of the day while teaching (um are you kidding me??). I am gonna try...I really am. Because now all that matters is keeping Luke in as long as I can. I want to make it to 37 weeks SO BADLY. Do I think I am gonna make it to 39 weeks? Honestly, no way. At this point making it to 37 weeks is my goal. It is my ultimate job at the moment. Please for for us and our little Luke that he cooks just a little bit longer :) Tomorrow I will update with test results and what they mean. For now, it's relax time and trashy TV.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Marriage: How times change!
So I sit here with a massive headache and instead of going to bed like my husband is sternly telling me to do, I am choosing to post a new blog entry. My goal is to keep up with this thing a little better because, like previously mentioned, it does relieve some stress or anxieties I feel from day to day. And these "day to day"'s are pretty intense lately.
At almost 32 weeks pregnant I still feel fairly good. This pregnancy is just so different from my first. It is alot easier in ways but in others, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I know what to expect, I know what a "true" contraction is, and I understand how huge I am going to get. But to run after Eli while trying not to make this dang hernia worse, have enough energy to be a somewhat normal person, and be a good wife...that is hard. I am currently feeling most guilty about not being the best wife I can be. Carlos has had to take on alot of mommy duties as well as manage his daddy duties. I just can't do certain things like bathe Eli or rock him to sleep because I need to rest and truthfully, it is plain uncomfortable. My back hurts to bend down and the way Eli lays on me for me to rock him is just plain awkward. Not to mention, Luke probably doesn't enjoy his older brother already pinning him down so early in life.
In understanding how much Carlos does for me and our family, I realize God blesses us with people everyday and He definitely blessed me with a man who is the most incredible husband and amazing father. I can't imagine one moment without him...he has given me such a precious gift with our two boys and he has lived everyday choosing to create memories with me. There is nothing sweeter in my life than knowing we get to go on this journey of life together...and that we get to raise our two sons together. My goal as his wife is to make sure he knows this and that I show him this as much as I can. Nothing is more important to me than my family. As a working mom, I think things get pushed to the back burner and priorities get muddled. Carlos and the two boys take precedence over anything in my life. Sometimes I have to slow down and remind myself that our marriage comes first. No matter what. It comes before work, it comes before money, it comes before our children. What a powerful thing it is to understand that a happy marriage creates a happy family. That without that foundation, things can start to fall apart. I am so incredibly, amazingly, and overwhelmingly blessed to share my life with my soulmate and partner in crime. It is unrealistic to say that I won't take moments for granted or that I won't have to remind myself many more times to put us first, but I hope that I can always realize and admit that I need to slow down. Tough truth: MARRIAGE CHANGES AFTER KIDS. You have to become more creative with your time, more patient, understanding, and willing to share your vulnerability. I have never expressed so many fears, triumphs, laughs, tears, and emotions as I have with Carlos since becoming a parent. It makes you REAL. I have realized what life is about, what matters and what doesn't. Lately, as Carlos and I take our few minutes to talk in bed before sleep, I say "Did you ever imagine we would be here 7 years ago?" And the answer is always yes. As much as our lives and our relationship has changed, we know that this is where we are supposed to be...that God's plan is much more powerful than either of us could have ever imagined. So Carlos, if you are reading this, know that I love you more than anything. That you are my saving grace and the better half of us. Our family is thriving and is happy because of what you are able to give us and the decisions you have made. Although our time is stretched between 10 million different things, you are my #1 and that has never changed.
At almost 32 weeks pregnant I still feel fairly good. This pregnancy is just so different from my first. It is alot easier in ways but in others, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I know what to expect, I know what a "true" contraction is, and I understand how huge I am going to get. But to run after Eli while trying not to make this dang hernia worse, have enough energy to be a somewhat normal person, and be a good wife...that is hard. I am currently feeling most guilty about not being the best wife I can be. Carlos has had to take on alot of mommy duties as well as manage his daddy duties. I just can't do certain things like bathe Eli or rock him to sleep because I need to rest and truthfully, it is plain uncomfortable. My back hurts to bend down and the way Eli lays on me for me to rock him is just plain awkward. Not to mention, Luke probably doesn't enjoy his older brother already pinning him down so early in life.
In understanding how much Carlos does for me and our family, I realize God blesses us with people everyday and He definitely blessed me with a man who is the most incredible husband and amazing father. I can't imagine one moment without him...he has given me such a precious gift with our two boys and he has lived everyday choosing to create memories with me. There is nothing sweeter in my life than knowing we get to go on this journey of life together...and that we get to raise our two sons together. My goal as his wife is to make sure he knows this and that I show him this as much as I can. Nothing is more important to me than my family. As a working mom, I think things get pushed to the back burner and priorities get muddled. Carlos and the two boys take precedence over anything in my life. Sometimes I have to slow down and remind myself that our marriage comes first. No matter what. It comes before work, it comes before money, it comes before our children. What a powerful thing it is to understand that a happy marriage creates a happy family. That without that foundation, things can start to fall apart. I am so incredibly, amazingly, and overwhelmingly blessed to share my life with my soulmate and partner in crime. It is unrealistic to say that I won't take moments for granted or that I won't have to remind myself many more times to put us first, but I hope that I can always realize and admit that I need to slow down. Tough truth: MARRIAGE CHANGES AFTER KIDS. You have to become more creative with your time, more patient, understanding, and willing to share your vulnerability. I have never expressed so many fears, triumphs, laughs, tears, and emotions as I have with Carlos since becoming a parent. It makes you REAL. I have realized what life is about, what matters and what doesn't. Lately, as Carlos and I take our few minutes to talk in bed before sleep, I say "Did you ever imagine we would be here 7 years ago?" And the answer is always yes. As much as our lives and our relationship has changed, we know that this is where we are supposed to be...that God's plan is much more powerful than either of us could have ever imagined. So Carlos, if you are reading this, know that I love you more than anything. That you are my saving grace and the better half of us. Our family is thriving and is happy because of what you are able to give us and the decisions you have made. Although our time is stretched between 10 million different things, you are my #1 and that has never changed.
For our last anniversary I made a slideshow of the last 6 years and it was pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I may end up making a still photo "love story" one day but for the purposes of this blog, here is a super duper (and I mean extremely) condensed version :)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
So I took a little blog hiatus...
Well the last time I attempted to write on here, Elijah was 10 months old. I actually wrote a draft and never posted it because I couldn't get his 10 month photos to download. And that marked the 3 month hiatus from blogging on my end. There was (and is!) so much going on that I had to let some things fall by the wayside and unfortunately, blogging was one of them. But, I am back! We shall see if I can get back into the groove of this thing. I really enjoy blogging and it is a stress reliever for me as well. I like to think that by sharing the honest (and sometimes ugly) side of motherhood and parenthood as Carlos and I encounter it, it helps other parents relate...or at least makes them chuckle. So this blog post will be rather lengthy. We have a lot to catch up on blogland! Here goes...
So first things first. I am still very much pregnant. I am currently almost 28 weeks along and the third trimester really seemed to creep up on us. I can't believe that in a matter of a few months we are going to be parents of TWO. And not just parents of two...parents of two BOYS. Lord help us. Boys are amazing though and although very energetic, they are truly mama's little angels. When we found out we were having a boy (Luke) people CONSTANTLY asked if I was upset because he wasn't a girl. Really people?? Does it matter? I think it is such a sad question...its almost as if having two of the same gender is a tragedy. I could not imagine having it any other way and I am SO excited to be the mommy of two wonderful, bouncing, energetic, and loving baby boys. As for trying for another one to get a girl...well quite simply, NO THANKS. We are done. I love being a mom but two is enough. We have always decided that four was the family number for us and now that it has become a reality, we hold strong to the belief that its still the right thing for us. I want to delve a little bit into some things that have been on my mind about this whole "mom of two" thing but let's get to that in a bit. I still have a lot to talk about people.
We are officially Arizonans. We live in an amazing neighborhood in the west valley and we feel so blessed to be able to call it our home. For now we are renting but we plan to buy in the next year or so. Renting was just the easiest option for us as we made the transition from Austin to Phoenix. I am currently working for Litchfield School District (A district! Texas teacher friends...that is the equivalent of exemplary) and I get to work with my best friend!! It has been a roller coaster when you combine the pregnancy, leaving our home, starting new careers/jobs, and still trying to maintain a normal balance at home. I come home most days exhausted but I come home knowing that everything we have done and we continue to do is for our family and it is worth it. I miss AUstin and our friends terribly. Sometimes I forget that we don't have a Torchy's down the road or that we can't take Eli down to Zilker park for the day and it makes me a little blue. But then I think of how amazing it is to have my family close and our friends here who love us and support us. We made this move because it was the right financial thing to do...and we know that it was the only way we could afford a family of four comfortably. It is a HUGE transition period in our lives and there are still bumps daily that we work through but it is getting easier. Life is a series of changes and you either roll with them or you don't. We are rolling with them and so far we are very happy, blessed, and changed for the better. I think our marriage is stronger because we did this together...we have had to rely on eachother for support and a shoulder to cry on. We have had to learn how to manage our stress levels and make sure we prioritize our lives, regardless of what comes up. I love my husband more now than I ever have. He amazes me each and every day and sometimes (ok, ok probably more so nowadays with these damn hormones) when I snap or ask him to take on every single household chore, I realize all over again how absolutely, eternally in love with him I truly am.
Here are some pictures of the halfway decorated house. At some point in time I will post better pictures of a house that is cleaner and nicer looking. THere are no pictures of the upstairs because at the time of these photos, it was a total disaster. Hey, I'm an honest girl!
And speaking of deep, eternal love, Elijah is doing amazing! He is now a little over 13 months old and he is growing way too fast. I can't believe our baby is now a toddler! What happened y'all?!?!?! I seriously think I need someone to explain this to me. Everytime I look back at his baby photos, I cry. Carlos has to tell me to stop because I really get myself worked up and its so ridiculous! I love that he is thriving and becoming such a little man, but I miss those baby days. And one day when he is getting married or going off to college, I will be in shock all over again. Being a parent is such a blessing and a curse. And as bad as that sounds it is true. You unconditionally love your babies...but with every passing moment they get older and you know (in the back of your mind) that one day they grow up and they leave the "nest". It just doesn't seem fair. I know, I know. Life's not fair (blah blah blah) but I just want my little boy to stay my little boy. As a working mom it is hard sometimes because you feel like you miss so much of the day with them. Sadly, I spend more time with my second graders than I do with my own child. I hate that realization. It depresses me. But then I realize how much Eli loves his school and how much he has gained from it. I know that the time I do have with him is true quality time because I know it's limited until the next day when I get home. There are still pros and cons of the working/stay at home mom bit and for now, I still lean towards the working mom side for our family. But who knows, that may change and if it does, we have the flexibility to make it happen. For now I revel in the pure joy I see in my son's face when I pick him up from school and how he runs to me all wobbly, arms wide, grinning ear to ear, squealing. It is my happy place.
We have had a lot of changes this last year but what fun is life without change? I know that in the next year we plan on buying/building a new house and yes, inevitably, probably buying a bigger car (Honda Pilot anyone?) and I have come to the conclusion that life just isn't going to slow down in the near future. Sometimes this thought completely consumes and overwhelms me and sometimes I am able to step back and realize how blessed we are to be able to experience these life changes. God is so good and we are so blessed...good times and bad.
So first things first. I am still very much pregnant. I am currently almost 28 weeks along and the third trimester really seemed to creep up on us. I can't believe that in a matter of a few months we are going to be parents of TWO. And not just parents of two...parents of two BOYS. Lord help us. Boys are amazing though and although very energetic, they are truly mama's little angels. When we found out we were having a boy (Luke) people CONSTANTLY asked if I was upset because he wasn't a girl. Really people?? Does it matter? I think it is such a sad question...its almost as if having two of the same gender is a tragedy. I could not imagine having it any other way and I am SO excited to be the mommy of two wonderful, bouncing, energetic, and loving baby boys. As for trying for another one to get a girl...well quite simply, NO THANKS. We are done. I love being a mom but two is enough. We have always decided that four was the family number for us and now that it has become a reality, we hold strong to the belief that its still the right thing for us. I want to delve a little bit into some things that have been on my mind about this whole "mom of two" thing but let's get to that in a bit. I still have a lot to talk about people.
We are officially Arizonans. We live in an amazing neighborhood in the west valley and we feel so blessed to be able to call it our home. For now we are renting but we plan to buy in the next year or so. Renting was just the easiest option for us as we made the transition from Austin to Phoenix. I am currently working for Litchfield School District (A district! Texas teacher friends...that is the equivalent of exemplary) and I get to work with my best friend!! It has been a roller coaster when you combine the pregnancy, leaving our home, starting new careers/jobs, and still trying to maintain a normal balance at home. I come home most days exhausted but I come home knowing that everything we have done and we continue to do is for our family and it is worth it. I miss AUstin and our friends terribly. Sometimes I forget that we don't have a Torchy's down the road or that we can't take Eli down to Zilker park for the day and it makes me a little blue. But then I think of how amazing it is to have my family close and our friends here who love us and support us. We made this move because it was the right financial thing to do...and we know that it was the only way we could afford a family of four comfortably. It is a HUGE transition period in our lives and there are still bumps daily that we work through but it is getting easier. Life is a series of changes and you either roll with them or you don't. We are rolling with them and so far we are very happy, blessed, and changed for the better. I think our marriage is stronger because we did this together...we have had to rely on eachother for support and a shoulder to cry on. We have had to learn how to manage our stress levels and make sure we prioritize our lives, regardless of what comes up. I love my husband more now than I ever have. He amazes me each and every day and sometimes (ok, ok probably more so nowadays with these damn hormones) when I snap or ask him to take on every single household chore, I realize all over again how absolutely, eternally in love with him I truly am.
Here are some pictures of the halfway decorated house. At some point in time I will post better pictures of a house that is cleaner and nicer looking. THere are no pictures of the upstairs because at the time of these photos, it was a total disaster. Hey, I'm an honest girl!
The kitchen looking in from the family room
Other side of the kitchen and a nook for a small office space. To the right of the picture is the door to the garage.
The family room
From the front door. To the right is a guest bathroom and stairs. To the left is our formal dining area.
Looking out the front door. We have a park right across the street!
Our big front porch. Can't wait until it is cool enough to relax out here!
Our steps :)
Leo greeting everyone who comes to the front door :)
Stairs
Downstairs guest 1/2 bath
And speaking of deep, eternal love, Elijah is doing amazing! He is now a little over 13 months old and he is growing way too fast. I can't believe our baby is now a toddler! What happened y'all?!?!?! I seriously think I need someone to explain this to me. Everytime I look back at his baby photos, I cry. Carlos has to tell me to stop because I really get myself worked up and its so ridiculous! I love that he is thriving and becoming such a little man, but I miss those baby days. And one day when he is getting married or going off to college, I will be in shock all over again. Being a parent is such a blessing and a curse. And as bad as that sounds it is true. You unconditionally love your babies...but with every passing moment they get older and you know (in the back of your mind) that one day they grow up and they leave the "nest". It just doesn't seem fair. I know, I know. Life's not fair (blah blah blah) but I just want my little boy to stay my little boy. As a working mom it is hard sometimes because you feel like you miss so much of the day with them. Sadly, I spend more time with my second graders than I do with my own child. I hate that realization. It depresses me. But then I realize how much Eli loves his school and how much he has gained from it. I know that the time I do have with him is true quality time because I know it's limited until the next day when I get home. There are still pros and cons of the working/stay at home mom bit and for now, I still lean towards the working mom side for our family. But who knows, that may change and if it does, we have the flexibility to make it happen. For now I revel in the pure joy I see in my son's face when I pick him up from school and how he runs to me all wobbly, arms wide, grinning ear to ear, squealing. It is my happy place.
We have had a lot of changes this last year but what fun is life without change? I know that in the next year we plan on buying/building a new house and yes, inevitably, probably buying a bigger car (Honda Pilot anyone?) and I have come to the conclusion that life just isn't going to slow down in the near future. Sometimes this thought completely consumes and overwhelms me and sometimes I am able to step back and realize how blessed we are to be able to experience these life changes. God is so good and we are so blessed...good times and bad.
Gender Reveal/ Elijah's First Birthday Party
For sake of time, I am combining both events on one blog post. Being a mommy doesn't allow for a lot of down time so I take what I can get :)
So because this is our last baby, we decided to have a gender reveal party and not find out the sex of the baby until we could find out with some family and friends. We TOTALLY missed our family from all over, but especially in Texas. If I had several computers, I would have figured out how to get everyone on Skype to share the moment but my technological skills only go so far :) My bestie Ness, helped set up the entire thing and filled a box full of balloons so when we opened the box we would see either blue or pink balloons fly out. Everyone made a guess as to what Baby Saenz was going to be, ate dinner, and anxiously awaited the news!
It's a BOY!!!!
So blessed and happy!!!
There is the proof!
So much fun and so cute!
We already love you so much Luke!
We are so thrilled to be having another little boy!!! I couldn't imagine our family turning out any other way honestly! There is something so special about little boys and their relationship with their mamas. I know it is so cliche, but its true. Is it kind of strange not knowing what it will be like to have a girl? Sure, but that feeling is so minute, so insignificant, that it has literally crossed my mind only ONCE. I can't wait to take my boys to their soccer games or their football practices (I am totally speculating here but if its ballet they want, I can't wait for that either!). Being the mom of two amazing, precious boys is such a gift and miracle (and yes, tiring). Let the adventures of dirt, bugs, and gooey things begin!
P.S. By date the grossest thing Elijah has done is put a cockroach in his mouth. Half alive. And I had to dig it out. Oh. My. Gosh. PUKE.
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For Elijah's first birthday, we had our wonderful family and friends over and really just drank and hung out (I didn't drink although I wish I could've!). It was such a fun day of celebration and love, acknowledging that our son had already been with us for one whole year! It has been the best, most life changing year of our lives. Our love for our little man is unsurpassable and it is amazing in such simple, little ways. Everyday I don't think it is possible to love him any more and the next morning comes and I am proven wrong once again. How big can one heart possibly get???
His birthday theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar and it was so cute (if I do say so myself). When he was a newborn, his amazing Godparents (and photographers) photographed him in a Very Hungry Caterpillar swaddling cloth and hat...it was such a neat connection to his party and the the picture of him in that outfit was featured front and center! To think he was ever that small...:(
To make it simple (being pregnant with a one year old is not easy) we had Jimmy Johns sandwich platters, sides, and cupcakes. I wanted to have some outdoor activities but it was way too hot. Even a pool in 110 is a little much for all the little ones who attended. Needless to say we had a blast and one day it will be so neat to share all the pictures with Eli. For the sake of everyone involved, I will not post even remotely 1/4 of the photos we took that day. Here are just a few that get the point across :)
Our big boy!
Made by mommy:)
Right before opening gifts!
Elmo!
Where has our baby gone??
Smash cake time!
Ah! This is so fun!
And now I am so over it.
Shortly after this photo, he went down for a nap. :)
Eli: 10 Months
I am getting really bad at keeping up with this. But there is so much I WANT to write, I just plain ol' don't have the time to do it. Between the resigning of my old job, finding another, packing up my entire classroom, having an almost toddler, everything else for this move (oh and being pregnant)...it's been a little crazy. But amidst the craziness, our little man has grown so much and does new things every day. He is the best thing in our day, each and every day. At 10 months old, he is doing alot. He turned 10 months on the 23rd so I will save what he has done the last couple weeks for his 11 month update. Here we go...
-He is still pulling up like crazy. He cruises all over the place and it is so cute to see him try to figure out how to transfer from one piece of furniture to another.
-He adds new noises and babbling to his baby talk every day. He says all the basic sounds like "mama" and "dada" and "nana" but all his other "words"are too hard to write out.
-He shakes his head no.
-He dances...not alot but he will get down when the mood strikes him.
-He pulls all the books and toys off the shelves and out of the toybox. Not sure if this is a milestone but its one of his favorite things to do :)
-Eli has a little personaity. And by that I mean, he is a little fireball. He has his mama's feistiness...and at times it shows. I am not saying this is a bad thing...but at times its, well, interesting.
-He loves to sit in a cart and shop.
-DVD's are his new "toys".
-He touches himself. Sorry guys but its true. And I can't get used to it. The doctor (yes I asked the doctor) said it is perfectly normal at his age. Lord, help me with a growing boy :/
-He LOVES Elmo...still. And I can't find an Elmo toy that sings (that is also interesting for a 10 month old) without spending a small fortune.
-Eli ZOOMS around this house on his walker. He is hilarious. He just smiles and drools as he races around :)
-He loves giving hugs and burying his face in your shoulder.
-That with a mobile child comes bumps and bruises. I hate it but it's just a fact of life.
-Eli is starting to slowly but surely turn into a toddler. We have to tell him no every once and awhile, distract him with another toy so he is diverted from doing what he isn't supposed to be doing.
-Sometimes, even if you don't thing you will, you just give in. It's silly things, like giving him the iPhone during dinner so you can take a bite of dinner. Or picking up the dropped/thrown toy off the floor for the thousandth time and not wiping it off. I am convinced that a little dirt is good for them. I am more concerned about the germs on a shopping cart honestly.
So on to pictures. Every month it becomes increasingly harder to get "good" pictures of Elijah because he is just so active and doesn't want to sit still. Here are the best we could get this month :)
**EDIT: I never posted this because I somehow lost the card with his 10 month photos on it!!! But at least we got the info :)
MILESTONES
-He is still pulling up like crazy. He cruises all over the place and it is so cute to see him try to figure out how to transfer from one piece of furniture to another.
-He adds new noises and babbling to his baby talk every day. He says all the basic sounds like "mama" and "dada" and "nana" but all his other "words"are too hard to write out.
-He shakes his head no.
-He dances...not alot but he will get down when the mood strikes him.
-He pulls all the books and toys off the shelves and out of the toybox. Not sure if this is a milestone but its one of his favorite things to do :)
-Eli has a little personaity. And by that I mean, he is a little fireball. He has his mama's feistiness...and at times it shows. I am not saying this is a bad thing...but at times its, well, interesting.
-He loves to sit in a cart and shop.
-DVD's are his new "toys".
-He touches himself. Sorry guys but its true. And I can't get used to it. The doctor (yes I asked the doctor) said it is perfectly normal at his age. Lord, help me with a growing boy :/
-He LOVES Elmo...still. And I can't find an Elmo toy that sings (that is also interesting for a 10 month old) without spending a small fortune.
-Eli ZOOMS around this house on his walker. He is hilarious. He just smiles and drools as he races around :)
-He loves giving hugs and burying his face in your shoulder.
THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED
-That with a mobile child comes bumps and bruises. I hate it but it's just a fact of life.
-Eli is starting to slowly but surely turn into a toddler. We have to tell him no every once and awhile, distract him with another toy so he is diverted from doing what he isn't supposed to be doing.
-Sometimes, even if you don't thing you will, you just give in. It's silly things, like giving him the iPhone during dinner so you can take a bite of dinner. Or picking up the dropped/thrown toy off the floor for the thousandth time and not wiping it off. I am convinced that a little dirt is good for them. I am more concerned about the germs on a shopping cart honestly.
So on to pictures. Every month it becomes increasingly harder to get "good" pictures of Elijah because he is just so active and doesn't want to sit still. Here are the best we could get this month :)
**EDIT: I never posted this because I somehow lost the card with his 10 month photos on it!!! But at least we got the info :)
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Eli: 8/9 Months
Well, Elijah has inevitably turned 9 months. You may have noticed that I skipped his 8 month blog but his little brother/sister has been making me feel quite miserable lately so sleep took priority. Any mom can tell you that if you don't update things right away, the days blend together and you forget what happened when. So although I have 8 month photos, I won't be writing any milestones for 8 months because I can't remember if it happened at 8 or 9 months. Could I also blame that on pregnant brain?? Hey, I am usin' anything I can! So first and foremost, I want to say that the milestones between 8 and 9 months haven't even really been that drastically different. Of course with each day, Elijah grows a little more of a personality and learns little things like pointing and new sounds but honestly, it isn't like the first several months where they learn something HUGE every month. Now, to me, him pulling up and waving is a very big deal but to others, probably not. That being said, here are his 8 month photos in which he was NOT very happy but hey, you gotta take the good with the bad :)
As for his 9 month update, there are definitely some new things that our baby boy has learned to do! I can't believe how fast time has gone (and I know I say that every time I update, but it is true!). In 3 months, he will be a year old. WHAT?!?! That is absolute crazy talk. I refuse to believe that. I won't. And I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. So there.
-At his 9 month appt. he measured in at 30 1/2 inches long (97%) and weighed 22.4 lbs (75-90%). In even simpler terms: BIG BOY.
-He waves! Well, he waves when he wants to. He might just be stubborn like his mommy. eek.
-He points at everything. It is so damn cute!
-He is saying all sorts of sounds now. We get "dada", "dodo", "duhduh", "baba", "buhbuh", "vuhvuh" and occasionally I will get "mama" when he is really POed. But I am still waiting for true "mama" :(
-Eli is a screamer and squealer and likes to do fake laughs and cries. It is pretty dang adorable.
-He pulls up on EVERYTHING. And he takes walks with his walker toys. He is an official CRUISER!
-He loves to play with my iPhone and he actually likes the baby games. He is starting to touch the screen with a purpose (meaning he knows where to touch to make something happen)!
-We are sippy cup training. And although I should really add this in the 10 month update, tonight he actually drank out of the sippy cup for a few minutes!!! Until now, it has been throwing it, yelling at it, and tipping it over. We are making progress :)
-Eli is able to eat alot of table food now! We still feed him baby food but it is chunkier, thicker, and has alot more ingredients. He has had (table/finger food wise): chicken, pork, breads, pasta, sweet potato "fries", a french fry (that he grabbed from mommy), and all sorts of fruits and veggies. He is so cute eating it all with his chubby little hands!
-He has the pincer grasp down (he has been able to do this for awhile but he is a pro now!)
-Elijah loves to imitate us. He sometimes makes the same faces and sounds we do :)
-He picks the toy he wants out of his basket
-to wish for a mobile baby is a foolish wish. Once they are mobile, there is absolutely NO. STOPPING. THEM.
-you can never baby proof enough
-the floor can be perfectly clean and Elijah will find something to stick into his mouth
-you can never vacuum enough. EVER.
-owning animals is not as fun after baby. I still love the furry creatures but man, sometimes they are a pain!
-getting pregnant with a 9 month old is not as fun as being pregnant the first time...mainly because there is no down time :/
-I love my family more and more each day.
Do you know what time it is??? PICTURE TIME!!!!!
Not a happy boy!
His look is so serious!
With Chico!
Aaannd, we are back where we started this little photoshoot...
Helping Daddy fix the house up!
Feeling mighty proud of himself!
MILESTONES
-He waves! Well, he waves when he wants to. He might just be stubborn like his mommy. eek.
-He points at everything. It is so damn cute!
-He is saying all sorts of sounds now. We get "dada", "dodo", "duhduh", "baba", "buhbuh", "vuhvuh" and occasionally I will get "mama" when he is really POed. But I am still waiting for true "mama" :(
-Eli is a screamer and squealer and likes to do fake laughs and cries. It is pretty dang adorable.
-He pulls up on EVERYTHING. And he takes walks with his walker toys. He is an official CRUISER!
-He loves to play with my iPhone and he actually likes the baby games. He is starting to touch the screen with a purpose (meaning he knows where to touch to make something happen)!
-We are sippy cup training. And although I should really add this in the 10 month update, tonight he actually drank out of the sippy cup for a few minutes!!! Until now, it has been throwing it, yelling at it, and tipping it over. We are making progress :)
-Eli is able to eat alot of table food now! We still feed him baby food but it is chunkier, thicker, and has alot more ingredients. He has had (table/finger food wise): chicken, pork, breads, pasta, sweet potato "fries", a french fry (that he grabbed from mommy), and all sorts of fruits and veggies. He is so cute eating it all with his chubby little hands!
-He has the pincer grasp down (he has been able to do this for awhile but he is a pro now!)
-Elijah loves to imitate us. He sometimes makes the same faces and sounds we do :)
-He picks the toy he wants out of his basket
THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED
-to wish for a mobile baby is a foolish wish. Once they are mobile, there is absolutely NO. STOPPING. THEM.
-you can never baby proof enough
-the floor can be perfectly clean and Elijah will find something to stick into his mouth
-you can never vacuum enough. EVER.
-owning animals is not as fun after baby. I still love the furry creatures but man, sometimes they are a pain!
-getting pregnant with a 9 month old is not as fun as being pregnant the first time...mainly because there is no down time :/
-I love my family more and more each day.
Do you know what time it is??? PICTURE TIME!!!!!
Long baby boy!
With his Chico!
He loves to pick at Chico's eyes...yikes...
My happy baby!
Yep. We have learned to do this. Not safe. But cute.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Pregnant!
Well my blog is a little behind. Ok, like a lot behind. But it's been pretty busy around the Saenz household and it got put on the backburner. I still haven't written Elijah's 8 month blog or uploaded his 8 month pictures but it is rough when I feel like puking all the time. I am come up with the solution that I am going to combine his 8 and 9 month blog post. I just couldn't get it up in time and it doesn't look like I am gonna have a whole lot any time soon :)
On March 24th, Carlos and I found out that we were pregnant with our second baby! Before I tested, I knew I was pregnant. I knew pretty much right after it happened (sorry if TMI)...as crazy as that sounds. I even told my good friend Jennifer and Carlos, that I was pregnant. I just had this crazy feeling that it had happened. Now, Carlos and I were not trying per se, but we weren't preventing either. We just put it in God's hands and whatever happened, happened. We feel so absolutely blessed that God is giving us another miracle to bring into this world and raise as our own. It was a little surprising how quickly it happened but God's timing is the best timing.
With Elijah, it took us 7 months of careful planning, timing, stress, and tears. This time, we just relaxed and let it be. Granted, ELijah and baby Omega (Carlos' current name for baby #2) will be close in age. Some people think we are crazy and wonder how the heck we are gonna do it. But I look at it like a great blessing. Elijah and his sibling are going to grow up very close to eachother. My sister and I are 10 months (yep. I promise it can happen) apart and we had such a great childhood together. We figured out that, because of when their birthdays hit, Eli and baby Omega will be 2 years apart in school but will still be able to be in the same building. I never thought I wanted kids this close, but I am so super excited about this! I can't wait to see how these two get along as they get older and what shananigans they get into!
Saying that, it is going to be hectic for awhile. Having a newborn is not easy. Having a newborn with a toddler is going to be downright hard. I am aware of this. I am aware of the lack of sleep I am going to get and lack of time I will be able to give to anything else. After I found out I was pregnant, I had thoughts like "Can I do this? What will this do to the family dynamic we have now? Is Elijah going to be ok?" I was so worried that I was taking something away from Elijah because I all of a sudden had to be selfish again to take care of myself. As time went on, I realized that, yes I can do this. We can do this. We are good parents and we love our babies. ELijah is going to be fine. Will it be different and will he need some extra love and care to get used to the idea? Yes and we can give that to him. Plus Carlos reminds me that at 47 the kids will be 18 and legally adults. Then we can travel! It's a little humor people :) And yes, this is it. We are done. Two children is what we planned on and we feel blessed to have that many. I can't imagine being pregnant with TWO kids. Being pregnant with one is hard enough!
So, as of now I am 8 weeks pregnant. I am already showing...way faster than when I pregnant with Eli. This does worry me a little. I wish my body didn't have to change so drastically but I remind myself that something so beautiful comes out of it and I calm down a bit. I am constantly nauseated which is not easy with a 9 month old baby. But my husband truly is amazing. He is carrying most of the weight around the household and has really stepped up to make sure I get the rest I need. I feel guilty because he is exhausted to but there are nights I just physically cannot get up to make dinner or put Eli to bed or wash bottles. Slowly, my body is getting used to this sickness thing and if I eat small things every hour or so, I can keep the vomiting under control. But if I let my blood sugar get to low, I am in trouble.
We heard the baby's heartbeat and it came in at 141 bpm. We saw the cutie pie and apparently my uterus is tilted upwards after having Eli and so it was a little difficult to get a good picture but baby Omega is healthy and growing! We were so thrilled to see our baby and can't wait to go through all the exciting next months with our little miracle. I can't wait to involve Elijah too. He is going to be such a great big brother...he loves being around other kids already (and seriously...they can be babies or 9 years old and he wants to "play"). All in all, we are blessed and we thank all our family and friends for supporting us and being so excited for the next step in our journey! Moving and getting a new job and being pregnant while being a mommy and good wife is going to be a challenge, but I pray on it every night and ask for strength. I could use prayers from ya'll as well...I am pretty sure I am gonna hit days where I feel very defeated and I will need the love :) And here...are some gems of the day we showed Eli his little brother or sister for the first time:
On March 24th, Carlos and I found out that we were pregnant with our second baby! Before I tested, I knew I was pregnant. I knew pretty much right after it happened (sorry if TMI)...as crazy as that sounds. I even told my good friend Jennifer and Carlos, that I was pregnant. I just had this crazy feeling that it had happened. Now, Carlos and I were not trying per se, but we weren't preventing either. We just put it in God's hands and whatever happened, happened. We feel so absolutely blessed that God is giving us another miracle to bring into this world and raise as our own. It was a little surprising how quickly it happened but God's timing is the best timing.
With Elijah, it took us 7 months of careful planning, timing, stress, and tears. This time, we just relaxed and let it be. Granted, ELijah and baby Omega (Carlos' current name for baby #2) will be close in age. Some people think we are crazy and wonder how the heck we are gonna do it. But I look at it like a great blessing. Elijah and his sibling are going to grow up very close to eachother. My sister and I are 10 months (yep. I promise it can happen) apart and we had such a great childhood together. We figured out that, because of when their birthdays hit, Eli and baby Omega will be 2 years apart in school but will still be able to be in the same building. I never thought I wanted kids this close, but I am so super excited about this! I can't wait to see how these two get along as they get older and what shananigans they get into!
Saying that, it is going to be hectic for awhile. Having a newborn is not easy. Having a newborn with a toddler is going to be downright hard. I am aware of this. I am aware of the lack of sleep I am going to get and lack of time I will be able to give to anything else. After I found out I was pregnant, I had thoughts like "Can I do this? What will this do to the family dynamic we have now? Is Elijah going to be ok?" I was so worried that I was taking something away from Elijah because I all of a sudden had to be selfish again to take care of myself. As time went on, I realized that, yes I can do this. We can do this. We are good parents and we love our babies. ELijah is going to be fine. Will it be different and will he need some extra love and care to get used to the idea? Yes and we can give that to him. Plus Carlos reminds me that at 47 the kids will be 18 and legally adults. Then we can travel! It's a little humor people :) And yes, this is it. We are done. Two children is what we planned on and we feel blessed to have that many. I can't imagine being pregnant with TWO kids. Being pregnant with one is hard enough!
So, as of now I am 8 weeks pregnant. I am already showing...way faster than when I pregnant with Eli. This does worry me a little. I wish my body didn't have to change so drastically but I remind myself that something so beautiful comes out of it and I calm down a bit. I am constantly nauseated which is not easy with a 9 month old baby. But my husband truly is amazing. He is carrying most of the weight around the household and has really stepped up to make sure I get the rest I need. I feel guilty because he is exhausted to but there are nights I just physically cannot get up to make dinner or put Eli to bed or wash bottles. Slowly, my body is getting used to this sickness thing and if I eat small things every hour or so, I can keep the vomiting under control. But if I let my blood sugar get to low, I am in trouble.
Oh, what's this...?
"Elijah this is your baby brother or sister!" Cue tears.
We are not very happy about this.
(Really, he was just VERY tired. Not a great time to get him to sit still and hold a picture.)
Now we are really upset. Poor little guy.
"But mommy...why?!?!" :)
Ok, I guess I love him/her. I get to be a BIG brother!!!
Or I could just eat the picture.
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