11/7

It has been a very long while since I have updated my blog. This semester is busy, busy, busy! I have this semester to finish and all of next semester before I am finished with my undergraduate. I will be graduating in May 2015. I can't wait!

Drake got a promotion at work. He is now a manager in training (MIT). This comes with a pay raise and more hours. For the first few weeks, he is working in the backroom. He is working 6-4 Monday-Friday. This means long days for him, which he is not used to yet. The kids seem to like having Dad home more often.

Xavier is learning so much. He sings most of the alphabet song (he still skips chunks). He can count to 5 in English on his own and also in Spanish with some help (he says gos instead of dos). He also shows the numbers on his fingers. We recently found out he is allergic to dairy, latex, and tropical fruits- including bananas. The last one is especially hard for him. He loves bananas and doesn't understand why we no longer have them in the house, or why he can no longer eat them.

Isobel is growing like a weed! She is now wearing size 12 months. I know she will be a year in a month, but that is a whole month away! I am not ready for her to be a year. She is walking everywhere now, trying hard to keep up with her brother. She has her two bottom from teeth in and her two top front teeth just broke through...yup at the same time. Poor girl!

Tomorrow I am taking the kids to a parade help by the university for homecoming. It should be fun :)

1/18

We have all adjusted to our new addition (for the most part). Xavier still has trouble with jealousy sometimes. If he feels that he didn't get enough attention he will poop in his pants, but only if he has his pull-ups on. I try to do activities with him throughout the day, but some days it just isn't enough. He is very helpful with his sister. He loves to help with diaper changes and feeding. If she is being fed with a bottle, Xavier likes to hold the bottle for her. He also likes to give her kisses.

Isobel is a month and a half now (6 weeks). She weighed 9 lbs at her last appt. (2 weeks ago). She is healthy and growing. She is awake more often now and is starting to play. Last week she rolled over from belly to back for the first time. She is starting to reach for toys now too. She is growing and learning so fast. She usually sleeps about 5-6 hours at night.

School started yesterday. It will be a tough semester. There will be a lot of reading and even more studying! I will definitely have to come up with a schedule this semester. Drake is able to stay with the kids while I'm at school. It wasn't as bad yesterday as he thought it would be to be alone with them.

Update 11/23/13-1/1/14

A lot has happened since my last post. We had a mellow Thanksgiving. We stayed home, just the three of us. We made all the fixing on our own for the first time. It was an adventure trying to cook everything at the same time in the same kitchen...it was actually kind of weird. I'm use to only having one or two smells in the house and not smelling all the food until arriving at my grandparents house. We all ate a little too much, so we walked down to the park to let Xavier play. I was also hoping this would help get labor started. (It didn't work).

My due date came and went with no signs of labor. I had my doctor appointment on the third of Dec. At about 4:30 I was dilated to 5. We went home and ate dinner and got Xavier ready to spend the night with Margo. My mom and Drakes family made their way down and got here pretty much as we went to the hospital. We left the house at 2:30 the next morning and at 3:55 we had a little girl. To read the full birth story of Isobel Miller click here.

I took my finals the very next week. It was challenging trying to study and focus on school with a new baby in the house! Luckily my mom stayed to help with that. She was able to keep Xavier busy so I could study while Isobel slept. This helped tremendously!! I got my results a week later- I passed all my classes!! Next semester is a little more laid back. I am taking 3 classes and a lab. I did this so I would have an easier time adjusting to going to school with two babies who need my attention. I was also able to fix my schedule so that I have no classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hopefully this will work with Drake's work schedule so that we won't have to take Isobel to daycare. 6 weeks is too young to be away from home! Drake will be home with the kids all day Mondays and Wednesdays, so my mother-in-law is coming down the first week of school to help us all adjust. 

Xavier loves his sister! He still doesn't use her name, he just calls her baby, sister, or baby sister. He always asks to hold her and gives her hugs any chance he gets. He is very helpful too. When she cries, he tries to give her her pacifier, even if I am already picking her up. When I change her diaper, X gets upset if I don't let him get her a diaper. He is still having a little trouble adjusting to the new baby. He doesn't get as much attention as he use to when he was an only child so he acts out. He yells at us and pees his pants. This was getting better, but then we went to visit grandparents and it got bad again. Hopefully it won't take too long for him to get back to his routine.

Isobel is a very attached baby. She loves to be held and cuddled and gets upset when we put her down. She is 4 weeks old today. At her last check up she was healthy and growing ( at her first check the doc said we might have to supplement because she lost a few oz). Luckily we didn't have to supplement and I am able to exclusively breast feed this time around. For tips on keeping up milk production click here.

We spent Christmas at home. Xavier loved opening his gifts! We then spent the next week in Farmington visiting family. We had a good time (mostly). Drake and his dad spent 2 days replacing the radiator in his jeep, so they were pretty frustrated! Other than that the trip went well. We had safe travels both there and back. We got to spend time with our family and we got some good stuff for Christmas. To see pictures and read more about Christmas click here.

Update 11/22

I survived the week! Isobel let me take all my tests this week! Now I can relax and enjoy my break, well sort of. I will need to study a bit and do some assignments over the break. At least it isn't all due at once! I am 29 weeks now and impatiently awaiting the arrival of Isobel. I gained 2 more pounds and her heart beat is still in the 130s. It takes her about and hour now to get her 10 moves. My belly button is still not sticking out and I still have no swelling. This week I have been experiencing pretty bad sciatic nerve pain. It was so bad at one point on Wednesday I had to stop walking and sit down. My doctor gave me some stretches to do that helps some (mostly just in the morning). I think I was having some false labor contractions yesterday. The pain was worse than Braxton hicks, but not so bad I had to stop what I was doing. It went all the way around to my back and all over my tummy (not just the front/bottom). The pain lasted a minute or 2, then happened again 2 hours later. Nothing has happened since. We cleaned up her room and sorted her clothes this morning (finally), so we are all set and ready for her to come!

39 weeks!

Xavier got scratched on his cheek earlier this week. He was sitting on his own minding his own business and a little girl came and scratched him. It doesn't seem to be bothering him. He got to spend the day with mom and dad today. Drake was off of work and I only had one class. My class was during his nap, so he didn't even know that I was gone. He loved it that we were both home. He got to cuddle and play with us both. He even helped with little sister's room. Drake has to work all day tomorrow so mom and X get to do crafts all day. Look for those posts tomorrow night.

Family update 11/16

Wow it has been two weeks since my last post. It is the end of the semester and I have been extremely busy! Everybody got over their colds fairly quickly and luckily I didn't get it! We haven't been spending much time together as a family these past couple weeks. Mostly because I have been studying and doing homework, but also because Drake has been working. We eat dinner together when he is home, but that's about it.

Xavier has been spending a lot of time on his own (I feel terrible about it). But I still read to him when he brings me a book and play with him when he asks me to. I set aside one day of the week for mommy son time. We play, do art projects, and watch movies. This gives me a break and lets him know I haven't forgotten about him. I try to make this day on a weekend so that we get as much time as possible to do things between my studying. Last weeks art project was an "all about me book" that we made for daycare (they requested it). You can read more about it and see pictures here. This week we did a fall tree craft which can be seen here.

Baby girl is trying to escape! That's how it feels anyway. There is no more room for her in there. I am 38 weeks now, just 2 weeks away from the due date. She may come early, but I hope she waits until at least Thursday afternoon (after all my tests this week). I guess we will see. We got to check on her on Thursday. She is still head down and I am pretty sure she has dropped (the doctor didn't say anything about it, but I feel like I can breathe easier). Her heart beat was in the 130's and she is moving less. It takes about 40 mins for her to move 10 times now. I gained 2 more pounds from my previous visit. I still have not swelled at all with this one and the braxton hicks are getting stronger (I can actually feel them now). We are getting so close!

38 weeks

Update 11/1

This week we carved pumpkins and went trick or treating. For pics see my post titled Halloween.Xavier has been sick all week. It started with a runny nose last Friday. By Saturday afternoon he got a pretty bad cough. We took him in to urgent care where he was diagnosed with croup. We got him all his medications right away and the croupy cough subsided within a day or two. He still has a cough now, but it is more normal. He is still getting medicine twice a day- morning and night. His daycare gave me a blank booklet to decorate with him-all about me. I plan to put some pictures in it, let him draw/color in it, and maybe put some feathers or grass in it to represent outside (he loves to be outdoors).

Xavier also got Dad sick. Drake started feeling sick around Monday. That is usually how it happens. Xavier catches something at daycare and passes is to Drake almost immediately. Xavier usually gets over it within a week, but Drake usually stays sick for a few weeks. Sometimes I will get sick too, but usually not as bad as either of the boys. Hopefully this time follows that pattern!

I have been so busy! And it just gets worse. I have a test every week until Thanksgiving break- talk about stress!! I can't afford to get sick! I have been trying my hand at organization this week. I have started making  a"dinner menu" for the week. I planned out dinners for everyday of the week and went shopping for everything I needed at the beginning of the week. I really liked it and will try to stay on top of it. It was nice knowing what I was making that day and knowing I had the ingredients to make it!

Isobel will be here in 4 weeks! That's right I am 36 weeks pregnant as of yesterday- officially in the third trimester! I have gained a total of 12 lbs. Isobel moves 10 times about every half hour. At the last check up (Tuesday) her heart beat was in the 140's. When the doctor felt my tummy to see where Isobel was, she noticed I was having a braxton hicks contraction. I didn't feel it at all. I had to take out my belly ring today because it was hurting so bad. I think it was starting to get infected. The bottom was red and hurt bad, even if it was barely touched. I am no longer a cool young person with a pierced naval. I have traded up to a classy young mommy. ;)

We also had a family night this week. Drake brought home chocolate covered peeps and Monsters University after work on Wednesday. We ate dinner while the movie started and then ate our dessert as the movie finished. We all enjoyed the movie and the family time. Xavier really liked the movie! and the peeps of course! Drake and I enjoyed each other's company (our schedules have still been off). I enjoyed all of these things as well, but mostly I liked that we were all together as a family.

36 weeks!

Family night

Update 10/25

I have been neglecting my blog lately. We have been very busy! Well, mostly it is just me that has been busy. I have been busy with school and Xavier's party. We invited all of his classmates from daycare, but none of them showed up. I still think it was a success. He loved all of his gifts and having his grandparents here. Pictures of the party are below.

I am 35 weeks pregnant as of yesterday. Only 5 more to go! Isobel is doing great! She is getting bigger every day (and crushing my insides in the process!). I have gained 12 lbs total and am measuring right on track. Her heart beat was steady and strong at 140 at our last visit. I have been feeling extremely thirsty these past few weeks. No matter how much water I drink, it never seems to be enough. My body is getting ready for her to be breastfeeding. That is my theory anyway.

This was 34 weeks

Xavier is now sleeping in his own bed again AND sleeping all night! We bought him a lightening McQueen poster for his room and had him help us rearrange it. We also got him a night light which I think helped the most! I did a stamp chart with him that he absolutely loves! We let him pick out the stamp and the color of ink pad. He chose a soccer ball and red ink. He gets one stamp for sleeping in his own bed and one for sleeping all night.

Drake's pumpkin spice beer is completely finished. The alcohol content is that of a normal beer. He is pleased with this and the taste. He says it is delicious. For more details you can visit his facebook page or website. So far he is the only one who has had some of it, but he is taking it to a party tomorrow night. He also started a batch of cherry mead. He will be getting more hours at work the next few days because a coworker's girlfriend just went into labor. This will be nice for his next check, but it also means Xavier and I won't see him as much.

Weekly update 10/6-10/11

Xavier has been sleeping in our bed for the past month. We let him at first, thinking it was nightmares or something. Now it is clear that it is just habit. We are trying to break this habit. Last night (Thursday, 10/11) was the first night using the cry it out method. We let him cry for about 10-15 minutes and then go and hug and comfort him and repeat the process until he goes to sleep. It took him an hour and a half to fall asleep. He woke up about an hour later. This time it was a little easier to get him to sleep. He went back to sleep about 15-20 minutes later. He woke up one more time around 2 (about 3 hours later). This time it took him an hour and half again. We did find out that he goes to sleep faster for Drake than he does with me. When I go into his room all he wants is for me to hold him and rock him. When I tried to leave he just cried. If I told him anything, he just cried more. When Drake went in there, he actually stayed laying down and went to sleep (after a few attempts at getting out of bed). He didn't wake up again until 7:15 this morning. Hopefully he does better tonight. We are trying a stamp chart to see if that helps (we couldn't find stickers). We also rearranged his room and bought him a lightning Mcqueen nightlight and a plush Thomas the train. Hopefully these help!

Drake is brewing some pumpkin spice beer. He has already put it into the second fermenting stage (or whatever the correct lingo is). He is super excited for it to be done. Two of his favorite things are pumpkin and beer, so we all see why he is so excited.

School is keeping me very busy! Somehow I manage to find time to spend with my husband and son, as well as keep the house clean and my boys fed. I have felt like super mom these past few weeks. It seems like I always have something to do, whether it is cooking dinner/washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning house, doing homework, studying for a test, or cuddling with my two favorites. I feel tired by the end of the day!

Isobel is still moving like crazy! She really like to stretch out pushing my belly in opposite directions. It is very uncomfortable!! I am 33 weeks and 1 day today. Only 7 weeks to go! It is so crazy, I just can't believe it! I am very ready to see my baby girl!

This next week we will be preparing for Xavier's birthday party next Saturday. I still can't believe he is already 2! We will also check on Isobel on Tuesday :)

The Fair!

Sorry this post is so late, I had a busy week. We went to the fair last Saturday, 10/5. Xavier had fun. His favorite part was the little petting zoo that was there. There were llamas, cows, horses, sheep, pigs, camels, and alpacas. We all got to pet and feed the animals. Xavier didn't understand that the animals ate from your hand. He kept trying to hand the animals their food and eventually just started dropping the food into the pens. He finally let me help him keep his hand flat to feed them and he laughed when he felt their lips tough his hand. I guess he thought it tickled.

We also saw a puppet show. He would pay attention every now and then, if there was a loud noise or a song he recognized. For the most part he just sat in my lap and cuddled. We saw a live shark encounter too. This didn't keep Xavier's attention at all. We were sitting on bleachers and all he wanted to do was squirm and get down. Drake and I enjoyed the show (the parts we saw when X actually sat still).

Helping Mom and Dad feed

Our little cowboy in his cowboy boots watching the animals

Puppet show

Just cuddling

I couldn't get low enough and X is turning away...

I didn't get any pictures of the shark show. It was pretty crowded and Xavier wouldn't sit still.

Isobel-32 weeks

Yesterday (10/3) was 32 weeks. We are getting closer! Total weight gained is 10 pounds. Isobel moves like crazy! Her kick counts (how long it takes for her to move 10 times)  average to about 30 minutes. She is very active, or healthy, as my doctor calls it. I have been in maternity clothes for awhile now and I have no new stretch marks (not yet). I haven't been able to sleep very much lately (partly because Xavier refuses to sleep in his own bed). I usually wake up with my back and pelvis/hips hurting pretty badly. Sometimes I can barely walk to the bathroom. After a shower the pain subsides a little (enough so I can walk). My belly button is still in, but just barely.

Update on Isobel and Xavier

Today I had my 32 week check for Isobel (I will be 32 weeks on Thursday). Everything looks good and was right on track. My belly measures just about 32, which is where it should be. I gained one pound from my last visit 2 weeks ago. I have gained 10 pounds total so far for this pregnancy. Isobel has a strong heartbeat and was kicking the monitor away. She is a very active little baby. She is definitely growing! The bigger she gets, the more pelvic pressure I feel. It is also starting to get really hard to sleep at night.

Xavier got to hear his baby sisters heartbeat today. He said "Whoa! What's that? It's loud." It was really cute! He is moving up to the next room (toddler II) in daycare. He is getting so big! I can't believe he will be 2 in just a few weeks! He also has a bruise on his forehead. He was running in class yesterday and hit the top of one of the shelves. It was a pretty big bump yesterday. Today it is just a little discolored. Poor baby! Xavier is still not eating very much. He has been doing this for about a week now. He will only eat small things here at home, like banana with peanut butter and milk for breakfast or tortilla with peanut butter and nutella with juice for dinner. He eats very well at daycare, asking for seconds some days. I don't know why he won't eat at home. He still eats mac and cheese and hot dogs. Hopefully this phase passes soon.

Parade!

On Saturday (9/28) we went to our first parade as a family. Drake and I had never gone together and it was Xavier's very first parade. He seemed to like it OK. His favorite parts were the cars and horses. Like father like son. Xavier would point to any car that came by, even the ones pulling the floats. He was more excited for those than the floats themselves. Drake also liked all the cars (as you will see from the pictures, he was behind the camera). Neither of the boys payed much attention to the cheerleaders, gymnasts, or bands (which have always been my favorite part of a parade).

Xavier got some candy too. One girl walked up to him and handed him a bag of sour skittles. Who buys skittles for a parade? He was too occupied with the sucker he was already eating to really care about the skittles. It was a pretty clear day, so we all got sun burnt...oops! I forgot the sunscreen.

Tried to take a family picture, but Xavier didn't want to be a part of it.

Waving at the tractor

Looking tired

Waving to the pony

The Ballet

Part of the ballet...not sure what was up with the mouse thing...
maybe the rat king from The Nutcracker?

Excited about something after the band...I don't remember what it was.