•  A 3 year olds mind is all about “ME”(as in them) as hard as it can be on somedays to try and make Pella understand that the world doesn’t revolve around her…in her mind it does.
• When having a child that suffers from severe constipation from 8 weeks old  and still at 3.5 struggles, I’ve learned it takes an intense amount of patience and constant encouragement to make going #2 a comfortable “okay” thing. I never pushed the toilet training with her, she picked up the pee part pretty quick by 2.5. She has been using the potty for #2 for about a month and half or so, and sometimes it takes her 10 minutes, and other times 40 minutes…regardless of how long it takes her, I am right there encouraging her, and letting her know Im there. 
• NEVER wake a sleeping baby/kid.
• A schedule or routine is key to having some kind of balance, at least in our home it does.
• Some days I am beyond both physically & mentally exhausted, but its not about me anymore.
• They will eat when they are hungry. I kind of gave up fighting my kid to eat, and feeling like im forcing her to eat. I’ve noticed when she’s hungry she always asks me to eat, even if its not when I am offering her meals. 
• When my child pushes me to my breaking points, I have to walk away for a moment, take a breathe, cry for a second, and tell myself I am blessed to have this kid in my life, not everyone is as lucky and blessed to have a child. 
• TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY.
• When my kid is melting down, I’ve found that changing the environment or distracting her with something else seems to be a great quick temporary fix!
• Let kids be kids. meaning they should be allowed to dissect things, make messes and indulge in their little world of chaos. 
• Its the little things in life. cliche as it gets, but couldn’t be more of a true statement when being a parent or even a toddler! 
• Having to co-parent is HARD.
• You can never tell your kid you love them too much! 
• Opinions are like assholes, everyones got one! I dont care what other moms say or do, I respect their opinions and thats that. 
• Never turn down help. If someone offers to watch your child so you can have a date night, or run to target solo… DO IT.
• Make time for your significant other. My life seems to be consumed with my kid more often then not, but I still try to make it a point to spend some one-on-one with the hubs. 
• Plan ahead. couldnt stress that one enough
• DO NOT tackle a major “home construction project” while pregnant. EVER.
• When I’m having a bad day , I seem to find peace when I watch Pella sleep. I can just stare at her, run my fingers through her little head of hair and feel instant LOVE. 
• Get down on your kids level. I’ve always had the best interaction with my daughter while being down on her level, sitting or laying on the floor with her playing whatever it is she insists on doing… its a bonding time like no other. 
• Missing your kid can be a blessing in disguise! Say you went on a weekend get-away or even a night out on the town sans the kids, when you feel that “missing feeling” it makes you appreciate your chld THAT much more. 
• Cherish everyday. 

I recently had a photo session shot by the lovely new mama Rylea of Love Letter Photography.
I am actually really happy with how these turned out, given Im pregnant, and MUCH larger then normal. It was a reason I didn’t do a maternity session with Pella, I felt so BLAH and I regretted not having had done a maternity session. Enjoy!

I may sound a little vain in this post, but as I’m approaching 8 months pregnant I am really missing a few luxuries in my opinion!!!!

1. Having no HEARTBURN! my heartburn has been getting the best of me day in and day out!
2. Being able to BREATHE
3. Sleeping soundly NOT having to pee 3,4,5 times a night
4. Coffee, by Coffee I mean like more then one measly cup a day, I cant wait to resume my morning and afternoon cup.. shit maybe pickup a 3rd cup in there somewhere!
5. NOT living in a construction zone, like I’ve previously posted we are heading into month 4 of our addition and it’s beginning to drive me a little batty at the thought of all the transitioning thats going to be happening at the tail end of this pregnancy.
6. Being able to SEE my lady bits…. its not like its a luxury per-say but it is nice to be able to have all my body parts visible!
7. Normal sex. and by normal I mean just being able to breathe, and not feel like a weighed down ship anchor
8. My body, everything about my body has been changing and will continue too for the next few months… I’m okay with it given I haven’t gained THAT much weight yet. I gained over 60 pounds with Pella, but I’m going to be honest, I didn’t give 2 shits what I ate, and wasn’t active! Im just over feeling “heavy” bearing the weight, and the plumping up of everything on body! Theres days my pelvis  feels like its going to give out from under me, my back has shooting pains, my feet like I’ve been on an airplane for 15+ hours, and having to use a pantyliner everyday…over all of it!
9. My patience/energy, I like to think of myself as a patient person, but with the overall exhaustion of being pregnant and parenting a 3.5 year old, I KNOW my patience has worn thin. I snap much quicker, cry much easier, and get heat flashes like a menopausal old woman bc my blood begins to boil quicker then ever before.
10. My nightly appetite. I enjoy eating. It’s been a little annoying that come dinner time I’m honestly NOT hungry. I make myself eat at dinner for obvious reasons, one being that I am housing a tinny human in my body and she needs the nutrients!

None the less I am truly looking forward to meeting our little baby girl! I don’t want to sound negative or vain, but maybe because this isn’t my first rodeo everything is more apparent! 8 weeks couldn’t go by fast enough!!! lol

We had our 30 week ultrasound today, which is also our last ultrasound until she is born!
I am NOT diabetic which was a relief to hear! My placenta previa has moved up off my cervix, also a relief! Baby M is approx 3lbs 10oz, which I’m sure is closer to just 3lbs since I know they shoot high with the weight guessing game. Shes head down, Dr says she most likely will stay that way from here on out, so its no wonder why I’ve been a little more uncomfortable then normal! So over all today was a good day. Pella had her 2nd day of preschool which seemed to go a little smoother than the first day. She also started OT (occupational therapy) again today, she jumped right into the swing of things with that, her therapist is going to work on her crossing the ‘mid lines’, some mouth stuff to strengthen her mouth up,  and more usage of her hands, and forearms since they seem weak.

Here’s a few photos of baby M at 30 weeks and 1 day.

I cant believe I’m posting about Pella’s first day of Preschool! I remember like it was yesterday that I was bringing home my newborn baby girl! Now, 3.5 years later we dropped off Pella at her new preschool! She was pretty excited this morning about waking up to get ready for school! She’s been telling everyone over the week that shes “going to ‘cool'” We walked her into her classroom where all the other parents were settling their kids into their first day, meeting and greeting the teachers, and giving the quick kiss on the cheek “goodbyes” to their kids as they one by one were sneaking out of the classroom. I took Pella’s backpack off and hung it on her hook, walked her to the table where they had play-doh set up thinking she was going to be ALL about that! I sat her down kissed her on the lips and said I’d see her in a little bit and to have lots of fun…. Well that went all sorts of wrong, her eyes filled up with tears, and she snuck out of her seat to grab me as I tried to sneak out! She was so upset, begging me not to “Leave her”. Luckily her teachers are totally accustomed to the “cling on” crying wrecks of tiny humans they can be! She had her death grip on me, as the teacher peeled her off me insisting she would have fun, and that Mommy would be back in a little bit to pick her up! That was my sign, I had to leave… me, nick and my dad scurried out of the classroom feeling that expected guilt for walking away from our distraught Pella! I bolted home literally so I could cry, I wasn’t crying about leaving my crying upset child at school, but more over the fact my baby is NOT a baby anymore! Now and for the next 15 years at least all shes going to know is “school”. This is my 3.5 year old blossoming before my eyes into a “KID” and into this beautiful, smart little girl who will be becoming who she is destined to be, and setting the foundation for her future getting an education. Its a bittersweet feeling. Her life existence thus far shes only ever known to have me be right by her side in everything she does! I’m sure in the next couple weeks she will be become more confident, comfortable and adjusted. When I picked her up she seemed in good spirits, she was sitting down at her table smiling, I walked into the doorway and she instantly bolted for me. Her teacher grabbed her and directed her how they dismiss each child when its time to go home. Pella put her backpack on, the teacher handed her daily art project and sent her off with a positive affirmation! When we got in the car the first thing she asked me was “why” I left her there. I kind of avoided answering that question, but rather kept it simple telling her, I didn’t “leave her”. She continued to tell me about her day, and the new friends she made…. All in all I’d say she had a successful first day of preschool!

Today is also Nicks 35th Birthday! and Pella’s first day of her second round of Ballet. Life is quite busy over here! I’m looking forward to being on the go,  and maintaining this schedule, as for me it will make the remainder of this pregnancy and construction project fly by! I don’t mind that one bit!

On my previous blog I left off with some recipes, crafts, stuff that inspired me, and most importantly debating at taking a shot at baby #2. Well that same week I posted that blog post, I literally wound up “PREGNANT”!! I knew the minute my AF was late, a miracle had happened! Fast forward to today, I am 29 weeks pregnant with another girl! I am thrilled to be having another little lady! I am most thrilled for my husband Nick, he has embraced Pella as his own from the day he met her. She filled a void in him from having lost his son 5 years ago, and now he will be blessed with a baby girl. I’m not sure if hes comfortable with me talking about his personal life and the loss of his son, but what I do know is that hes meant to be a dad. It fills my heart with happiness to know he will soon hold his daughter, and embrace her like he does Pella. Hopefully her birth will give him some closure to his past and the fear hes endured my entire pregnancy.  November is rapidly approaching, on top of being pregnant, Pella has her first day of Preschool Monday the 9th, which is also Nicks birthday! We started a master bedroom construction project back in June converting our one car garage into our new master bedroom, were are looking at completing this beast of a project at the end of this month! Pella still continues to have speech therapy, and occupational therapy, which once preschool starts will be a heavy load for her and I.  I dont mind the fast pace of life being pregnant, its flying by, but I hope time can slow down once my daughter is born. I am really looking forward to bringing home a new baby, to a happy stable environment, which is a 180 from when I brought Pella home. I am so lucky. I am also looking forward to blogging again, being a stay at home mom come the end of this month, I will hopefully have the time ti dedicate to writing again.