Dear Ella

Dear Ella,

Today is our due date (although the Dr's due date isn't until the 8th). Thank you for not coming during the hours when roads were icy and/or closed, I heard they were pretty bad. Your dad suggested several times we could just go to a different hospital if needed, but I was not going to have that. HAHA. Also, thank you for taking your time to make your appearance. I have definitely needed this time to mentally prepare myself. I am just so excited to meet you, my sweet daughter, and see what you look like! The most we’ve got left is about 2 weeks, whether you and I are ready or not! I love you very much and will see you soon…

Love, Mommy (and Daddy)

Here is a little update from my appointment on Wednesday:

I got checked for the first time and she said I was a "loose one" cm dilated. In other words maybe, 1.25 cm? haha. (in case you don’t remember I was a zero with Clara up until the day I had her. So this is definite improvement from last time!). She also said my cervix is really soft (which just means it's ready to go). Last week I had Titi while this week I had Theodorah. She even commented on how low Ella is and how her head is right in my pelvis. She said all I need are some contractions and things should progress well. Theodorah said she was pretty sure there was no way I’d go 12 days over like last time. I still feel like I will go past the due they have for me (which is the 8th) but who knows…. I also asked her how much she thought Ella would weigh and she said maybe around 7 lb 8 oz.

My friend Jessica, who has the same due date as me, just stopped by our house on their way to the hospital to have her baby! Her water broke tonight so her little boy Noah, Ella’s future friend-boy, will be here soon. Definitely makes everything more real!

Out taking our monthly pictures

18 Months

39 Weeks

Since we have been cooped up inside I had the idea to bring Clara's playhouse in from the backyard. Best idea ever!!!!!!!!

Snap Crackle Pop

Interesting post title, huh? This is what has been going on inside me the past week. There are times, especially at night, when I swear my pelvic bones are about to snap in half! Ahh!! This is all so new to me because I had absolutely nothing like this during Clara’s pregnancy. Night time is the worst (I pretty much scream when I get out of bed to go to the bathroom) and daytime I walk around feeling like I rode a horse for about a month straight. “This can’t possibly be normal” I keep thinking. There has to be something wrong with me…

Well, at today’s appointment I found out I’m not dying and what I’m feeling is pretty normal for second pregnancies. The good (and somewhat scary) news is that Ella has dropped down into my pelvis! (This never happened with Clara). The midwife said she is really low in there which explains why I've progressively become more and more sore down there. I've really felt a difference this week, like she is trying to make her way out of me. Eeeek! Titi (the midwife) said because she’s in this position it could help me not go overdo. But at the end of the appointment she reminded me, once again, that everything is so unpredictable and I could still be late. I am having an open mind and trying to tell myself it could be tomorrow or in 3 more weeks.

In other news, Clara is getting 5 teeth in at once (2 canines, 2 incisors and a molar). Jason did an AWESOME job speaking this past weekend at church. God is good! He also officially signed up for the Capital of Texas triathlon in May. This is the race I did the day after I found out I was pregnant with Ella! Jason sent me the link to my pictures from the race. I told him I couldn't believe I had Ella inside me then. Here they are: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=64198&BIB=1857&LNSEARCH=1&PWD=

As for now, we will be waiting for your grand entrance little Ella…..3 days or 3 weeks????

We were given Netflix for 6 months as a Christmas gift so Jason has been on a "Battle Star Galactica" binge the past week. My two little nerds watching BSG.... :)

"Kissing" my huge belly

38 Weeks

I haven't been putting up any bare belly shots this pregnancy. Maybe because it's not the cutest thing to see? I was feeling a little frisky and decided to take a "sexy" pregnancy picture. So here I am in all my pregnant glory. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.

Ready or Not

Nothing to report at this week’s appointment. Baby Ella is doing great and had a heartbeat of 130. My stomach feels completely maxed out so it’s crazy I could still have a few weeks left (although, oddly enough, I don’t really mind going late). Once again, they told me since I went two weeks late last time that it would be likely to go a little late this time as well. It’s so weird to me God already has the day planned that Ella will come into the world. And we just have to sit and wait…..

I officially closed my Etsy shop last week after receiving my 500th sale! It felt like the perfect time to close it. I have no idea when I will open it back up. Although I’m excited, the thought of taking care of two “babies” under the age of two seems a bit overwhelming and time consuming to say the least. I guess we’ll just have to see how long it takes for us all to settle into a family of 4!

Jason is currently getting ready for his message this weekend. He has officially been put on the “speaking team” for the high school ministry! I am so beyond proud of him. I never in a million years thought he would do something like this and actually enjoy it! (I don’t think he ever would have predicted this either). It is so exciting to see him passionate about growing in his walk with Christ and breaking out of his comfort zone. He is also going to an event this weekend called Acquire the Fire. It’s a huge youth conference in Houston for 2 days. He will be busy this weekend so Clara and I will have a lot of mommy/daughter time.

Clara has definitely been more “toddler-like” lately. I think she is definitely starting to explore and test being independent (aka doing what SHE wants to do). She has recently started running away from me if I tell her we need to change her diaper, go on an errand, leave a certain room in the house, give me the cell phone she found on the couch, etc. She will sometimes (okay, a lot of times) do what I call the “silent protest.” This involves her slowly laying down on the floor and just staying there. I guess this is her alternative to running away. I can definitely tell there will be challenging times ahead as she ventures into the infamous 18-36 month old stage. I have heard and read that at 18 months toddlers really start to see what they can get away with and test the limits. Oh goodness, am I ready for all this???????? I think I have to be…….

Book Babies class at the Library

Clara in her warm coat Grandma Grace gave her

The ladies in my bible study threw me a little baby shower. Very sweet...

Daddy took us girls out to Ichiban. Clara loved her first hibachi grill experience! (P.S. I was hesitant to put this picture up because I TOTALLY have a pregnant face. Clara's pose was just too cute so I had to post it).

FIRE!!!!!!!

Helping daddy in the garage

37 Weeks

The Last Month...

The past two months have been such a sweet time celebrating the holidays. Although they flew by and seemed crazy at times, I felt like we really got to enjoy ourselves as a family of three. We unfortunately didn't get to spend thanksgiving with extended family due to several things, but we did get to spend it with some close friends!

During December we got to see our Colorado family again. Clara loved hanging out with her cousins Mira, Micah and Misha. Misha was particularly good with watching Clara. This was amazing because it gave me, my aching pelvis and my back a nice break. Too bad they don't live closer so I could take advantage of them! ;) Last month, we also went to the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights with some friends. The girls rode in the wagon and loved it.

This Christmas felt extra special for some reason. Maybe since, in a way, it felt like Clara's first Christmas. Last year she really couldn't "participate" so much. This year she loved getting to open her presents and spend time seeing all her family. I don't think she really cared what was inside the beautifully wrapped presents, but more so the act of ripping something apart. We are so lucky to have all our family close by. We got to see all of them in a matter of 2 days! To top off December we visited Grandpa and Gramara in Austin. We got to see their beautiful new house and Jason and I got to go out on a date. Oooo la la...

Even though we are just days from Ella's due date I think Jason and I are in slight denial she's actually going be here soon! For me it feels like I should still have 3 months left. It's definitely surreal that we are going to have another child. And I'm not gonna lie, also a bit scary! But at the same time I'm so so excited to see what she looks like and how she will be her own little person. The midwife told me since I went so late the first time that I can expect to have her somewhere between 40 and 41 weeks. We shall see.....


Clara and Misha

One of Clara's gifts. An "activity table."


Cousins

Festival of Lights

Visiting Grandma in Lockhart

December clothing

16 Months

17 Months

30 Weeks

32 Weeks

35 Weeks

The Third Trimester Begins...

Yep, that’s right, I’m officially in the third trimester! And if you look at Ella’s baby ticker at the top of the blog you can see we’re less than 90 days until our due date. Eeeek! I seriously can’t believe how fast it’s gone by. It seems ten times faster compared to when I was pregnant with Clara. I know the next two months will fly with it being the holidays and that freaks me out just a bit! But on the other hand I’m super excited to meet Ella.

The month of October was busy with lots of fun. We celebrated Nana’s 80th birthday with a surprise party weekend. It was exciting to have family in town from all around the country. We hung out at Galveston one day with my “Colorado Family” and all the kids LOVED it. Clara had a blast chasing and “feeding” the seagulls. Later in the month we took our first trip to Space Center Houston, which of course she loved as well. She pretty much loves any place she can run crazy and not look back. Clara's new thing this past month is making faces. These faces usually occur when she's annoyed, mad, shy, etc. One day we were in Hobby Lobby and a lady in line said hi to her. She gave her the meanest look ever (furrowed her brows and scrunched up her nose and mouth)!!! I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel really embarrassed. I think this might be something we’ll have to work on in the future. HAHA!

Something exciting for Jason this month is he spoke/taught/gave the sermon (whatever you want to call it) at the high school church service! He worked so hard preparing and did an awesome job! I am extremely proud of him for wanting to be challenged and try something he never thought he could do. It makes me feel so lucky to have a husband who wants to grow in spiritual leadership and take risks. You go honey! He is also getting in shape for his first race since surgery! Him and a couple guys are planning to do a 5k next month.

What I’ve been up to: chasing a 15 month old, growing a person inside me, trying to finish Ella’s room and enjoying working on orders for my ETSY shop. I have almost reached 400 sales and this month marks the one year anniversary of opening my shop! I will definitely miss it once I have to take “maternity leave.” But it will be well worth it….. :)

22 weeks

24 weeks

27 weeks

13 months

14 months

15 months (she looks so much older!)

With Nana at Boo on the Boardwalk in Kemah

Galveston

Surprise dinner

My "great" aunt Cheryl

Cousins Austin and Ryland

LOVES playing outside and in the dirt

Little astronaut

Ella dressed up for Halloween

First Halloween to trick or treat!

First time to carve pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch