Hands, Foot, Ouch!

My kids seem to stay sick. They have had everything from Roseola, ear infections, viruses, and Mila even had the flu at six months. Nothing has compared to what Max has been going through the past few days. Hands Foot And Mouth Disease. My happy, non crying baby has turned into a inconsolable squealing crybaby. His cute baby feet have turned into painful bumps and blisters.

His hands and even his mouth have these unpleasant bumps too. There is no treatment for this illness so there was no way I was taking my son to the pediatrician. I do not want to risk infecting another baby.

Max has had dose after dose of tylenol and motrin to help with pain relief. He just turned six months a few days ago. I am so glad we were able to bring motrin into the mix. It seems to help a lot more than the tylenol.

We are on day four of a seven to ten day illness. He is slowly improving and even flashed a few smiles this morning.

On a better note, Max went to the helmet Doctor last week. We call the Prosthetics & Orthotics office the helmet doctor at our household. Max is doing great. We did a rescan and his numbers are unbelievable. I mean really the helmet doctor could not believe his progress. The numbers do not lie
but we did not need to see data to know our son's head is now round. Max went from off the charts severe to now slightly flat. In fact, the helmet doctor said he would be happy with the results if we were finished with the helmet wearing. We are only on week five of what we thought was a three month journey.

I, of course, said let's be done with the helmet. His head looks great. Unfortunately, it is recommended to continue. Max's head has grown so fast that he has to get another helmet. This is only the second time this has been done at the Prosthetics office we go to. I asked for an award for fastest progress but haven't received one yet.

Although the HFMD has been awful, I am so so glad my son no longer has a flat head. The helmets truly are amazing.

Christmas Gifts for Mila

Is it crazy that I am already done shopping for my toddler daughter? Shopping for her is just too easy and too much fun!

As soon as I saw these Disney Vans I had to have them. It was almost impossible to find them in a toddler size 7 but luckily I found them here. Shipping from Australia was actually free and the conversion rate made these shoes about $38, which is actually cheaper than they sale them in the US. So excited I found these. I like them so much I would totally wear these myself. I have not started my search for Women's size 7 quite yet :-)

These adorable Princess shirts are for sale at Old Navy.  I actually found them in store for $3.99.

I have mentioned my doll obsession in an earlier post. I totally bought this for me, Mila.

18" DollHouse

 What is a dollhouse without furnishings? I found this cute desk at Walmart.

And lastly another gift that may be for me more than Mila, but I know she will enjoy it. Lincoln Logs! I loved these as a kid. They bring back great memories. Building with her will be pretty entertaining. I love seeing Mila use her imagination and play make believe. So much fun!

Christmas is going to be a blast this year. Mila will be two and a half. I so look forward to seeing her light up on Christmas Day!

An Eskimo, Frankenstein, and An Our Generation Doll

Mila made a pretty darn cute Eskimo. She was unsure about Halloween at first but quickly warmed up and, I am confident in saying she had a great time. Mila enjoyed handing out candy a lot more than trick or treating herself. She got really excited when she saw kids coming to the door. "More friends coming" was her favorite thing to say. We allowed Mila to eat three suckers and two packs of smarties. She loved the candy. What kid doesn't right?!

Max was his usual happy self on Halloween. No surprise there. This kid is pretty awesome. He gave out lots of smiles. Only one parent commented on his helmet and she shared a story about how her daughter had to wear leg braces. I have had a few other people randomly speak to me shopping only to tell me how adorable he is. The helmet thing has been just fine. Easy peasy and Max's head is becoming more and more round. Yay!

I have been  obsessed with dolls lately. I started Christmas shopping and as much as I would love to spend the hundred and twenty dollars on an American Girl doll for my two year old daughter, I know better. The Our Generation dolls at Target are super cute and only twenty bucks! I decided to give Mila one for Halloween. Yes, my child got a Halloween present, but I think it was more for me. Well, Mila loved the doll. So much so, that my husband joked that we now have a third child to dress and put to sleep. Audrey-Anne, the Our Generation doll, had to go with us to the neighborhood Halloween festivities. Mila wanted to push her all the way back home in her stroller. That made for a long walk back. Mila wants to feed the doll. Mila wants to dress and undress the doll over and over again which requires help from Mommy or Daddy. Maybe I should rethink the Kendra doll I already got her for Christmas!

White Pumpkins & Photos

I had two things in mind when we went to a local pumpkin patch on Saturday. One was I wanted lots of photos which I succeeded at. Of course, they are not perfect by any means. They turned out pretty well considering my daughter is in the no picture taking phase and my son is just five months old. It would have been nice to get a family of four photo but that just did not happen.

The second thing I wanted was a white pumpkin. White is the new orange at least when we are talking about pumpkins. White pumpkins are everywhere. I see them in home decor stores, on pinterest, and in magazines. I am not sure why I thought they may be hard to come by. I thought I possibly would not find one of these albino pumpkins. I was wrong. There were plenty. I must have influenced my daughter by talking the white pumpkins up. She was immediately drawn to them. Mila pointed and showed me where all the white pumpkins were. When it was time to pick out pumpkins, Mila chose three white and just one orange pumpkin. The small white pumpkins she chose are called baby boos. How cute!

I researched white pumpkins on the internet and found out some interesting facts. Although they are a bit pricier than their orange cousin, they are easier to carve. The skin is less tough and a knife should go right through it. Also, I am sure they are easier to paint. We are not into carving quite yet but I know Mila would love to paint one of these ghost pumpkins.

The white pumpkin is simply just a different variety of the fall favorite. White pumpkins can be substituted for orange pumpkins in many recipes. The texture and taste are similar. Here is a recipe I came across that I definitely want to make.

ROASTED WHITE PUMPKIN SOUP RECIPE

Prep time:  15 mins

Cook time:  1 hour 30 mins

Total time:  1 hour 45 mins

Yield: 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups white pumpkin (about a 5 pound pumpkin)
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves finely minced garlic
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra
• ¼ cup dry amontillado
• ½ heavy cream
• Salt & pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Half and seed pumpkin. Slice each half into quarters. Place on baking sheet cut side up then drizzle with olive oil; add salt and pepper. Roast for about 1 hour, or until pumpkin is lightly brown and tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from oven and cool. When pumpkin is cool enough to handle, remove skin and set aside.
2. Add ¼ cup olive oil, garlic, and onion to stockpot; sauté until onion is almost translucent. Add amontillado and cook for about 3 minutes more.
3. Add pumpkin and stock to sauce pot. Add salt and pepper to taste; simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Using an immersion blender, purée mixture until completely smooth. Add cream and mix well. Adjust salt and pepper as necessary.

White pumpkins have been around for a while. I feel like this year they are the popular choice. White goes a lot better with my decorating style. White pumpkins will be an ongoing Halloween purchase at my household from now on. Orange pumpkins are so yesterday!

My Pity Party is over.

In just a few days, Max has completely adjusted to his KinderBAND. He has no problem at all with the helmet. I am not even sure if he realizes he has it on.

Max has only slept in the helmet for a couple nights. The first night he seemed to toss and turn more than usual but last night he slept like a champ.

My husband and I are the ones having a hard time getting used to the whole head device thing. I overheard my husband telling Max he was sorry that he had to wear the helmet. I quickly said to my husband that we are the ones having a hard time with it. Max is fine. It is the truth. This is the same happy baby from last week. He is not complaining at all.

After running into a neighbor yesterday, I quickly realized after explaining everything to her about plagiocephaly and torticollis that she did not feel sorry for baby Max, she felt sorry for me.

I then started thinking about my other neighbor, the one who lives directly across the street.  I remembered that her twelve year old daughter was going through her twentieth surgery that very moment. The twelve year old girl's lungs were functioning at thirty five percent and this is a life threatening surgery. 

Like I have said so many times before it could be so much worse that a fixable cosmetic imperfection. I am one blessed Mommy. No one should feel sorry for me including myself.

Helmet Head & No Tears Shed

We went yesterday to pick up Max's kinderBAND helmet. All sorts of emotions ran through me. I was excited for this process to finally begin. I was sad that my sweet baby boy has to wear a helmet on his head for three months and I was scared Max was going to be miserable with his head covered by this huge piece of plastic.

I have to admit all in all the experience was a good one. Max seemed to have no problem at all with the helmet as you can see and although a couple of times I felt a tear forming, I managed not to shed a tear.

By Monday my sweet boy will be wearing his camouflage head device for twenty three hours a day. The helmet only comes off for cleaning. The thought of this is still frightening. My boy has so much hair and it is going to be covered up almost all the time. I love running my hand through his hair and rubbing his forehead. I am not going to be able to do that for three entire months. And those kisses I always give him on his forehead, they are going to have to be postponed for three months too. I feel the tears coming again but I am holding back.

The fact is Max's head is flat and not just a little flat. It is off the charts flat. This is the right decision. There is no way I am going to look back at this experience and think I wish I did not do it. If I did not do it and this boy was teased in middle school for having a funny shaped head, I would totally regret not getting the helmet. I am doing the right thing but it is still hard.

People are going to stare and question what is going on. They are going to assume something bigger and worse is going on with my son. They may even think I am a crazy mom that does not want my kid to get hurt. I am going to be judged and my son is going to be judged. That is hard for me. Taking Max to the park is going to be an entirely different experience next time we go. Going out to eat, to the mall, or just a stroller walk around he neighborhood is going to be different.

I have heard some really great stories from other moms with helmet heads. I hope to have a great story to share as well. This could open up a conversation with someone I may have never met. This could bring women and friends into my life that otherwise would not have been. I just hope for questions instead of stares. I hope for sweet smiles instead of cruel judgement.

This is just the beginning of Max's kinderBAND journey. To be continued ...

Fall Favorites - Toddler Girl & Baby Boy

Sparkle High Tops

Flannel Top

Dance Hoodie

Owl Pajamas

Halloween Pajamas

Yoga Pants

Brilliant T-shirt

Owl Stretchie

Adidas

Blue Camo

Talk to My Agent

Carolina Panthers

Halloween Sleep And Play

Genius

Bears Stretchie

Team Mom

Cool Baby

Camo Overalls

I could shop for these two everyday. I never thought shopping for two children could bring me more joy than shopping for myself but it does. This Mom thing is nothing like I imagined. Way better :-)

Tummy Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics formally launched a "Back to Sleep" campaign, instructing parents to put babies to sleep on their backs during their first year. The campaign has been hugely successful. Since it started in 1992, the SIDS rate in the United States has been cut in half. That is pretty awesome, however there has been a dramatic increase in babies with plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome. About 13% of healthy infants have a funny shaped head these days. Max is one of those babies, Sleeping on his back has undoubtedly lead him to get a flat head. I will for sure take it as the alternative could be far worse.

I did not realize how important tummy time is until I had a son with a flat head. I think a lot of new mommies don't realize it either. Maybe it is assumed that tummy time could be dangerous or the threat of SIDS outweighs the benefits of a strong baby. I mean it actually does, right?

Baby Center states other benefits of tummy time besides preventing flat head. They are:

1. It helps strengthen the baby's neck, back and trunk muscles. Babies need strong muscle groups in order to sit, crawl, and walk.
2. Babies who spend time on their bellies look at the environment around them with different perspective. Even before they are crawling, they can explore their world by rotating their head and rotating their bodies in different positions. This may ultimately help with cognitive development.
3. Tummy time also helps with visual development as your baby learns to track movement and focus on objects,
4. Babies who spend more time on their bellies are less likely to develop torticollis. Torticollis is when the neck muscles tighten and pull the head in a specific direction.

Parents.com and many other sources recommend introducing your baby to tummy time around three to four months. Oh no. Not when your son has a flat head. We have been doing tummy time with Max since around two months or before. Of course my husband and I were there to catch his bobble head when it fell.

This kid is now a pro at tummy time. Sadly his head is still flat, but his torticollis is almost completely gone and it is pretty awesome to see how strong a four month old baby can be with lots of time spent on his belly.

Max's great big baby muscles have helped him master rolling over too. Max can go from back to belly no problem. We like to think he is advanced since this is a five to six month milestone. He sure did feel accomplished when he learned this trick. So much so that on his four month birthday he kept us up for hours because he wanted to practice his new trick all night long. Back to belly and then stuck until Mommy or Daddy turned him over. Back to belly and then stuck until Mommy or Daddy turned him over. Back to belly and then stuck until Mommy or Daddy turned him over. He was like a broken record, but he was so proud of himself and that was the cutest thing. Eventually with all that working out he crashed and slept until we woke him the next morning. Thank God!

As strong as this kid is, it wouldn't surprise me if he is walking at ten months. I think that is a good thing!

Cookie Monster

This girl cracks me up. She is funny! I love seeing her personality come out and boy has it the last month or so. I could watch this video a hundred times. I may have actually. It makes me laugh every single time. My husband and I may have a class clown in the making.

Sibling Love

I expect every woman pregnant with their second child fears that the oldest will be jealous, maybe even dislike their baby brother or sister. This was a huge fear of mine.

Mila was only twenty two months when Max was born. My husband and I did a pretty good job talking about the baby coming, reading her books, and just generally preparing her for a baby brother.

I guess it paid off because Mila loves Max so much.

Never would I have thought there would be no jealousy. I am sure the sibling rivalry will come but for now it is all hugs and kisses for these too.

I think Max really likes Mila too. He gives her all kinds of coos and smiles.

It is so cute when she imitates him. Mila realizes she is not the baby anymore and sometimes wants to be a baby but in the sweetest cutest way. Mila will put her hand in her mouth like Max or mimic his crys and laughs. She even wants me to hold her like a baby and feed her a sippy cup. She totally plays this up. It doesn't worry me the slightest bit.

Have I mentioned how blessed I am? I love these two so much. There are really no words for it!

And just because I have not posted a selfie lately. Here you go. Happy Wednesday folks. It is going to be a great day for me.

Tailgating With Two

This went down this weekend. My husband and I took both kids to an NC State Football game to tailgate! I had my doubts and even said to my husband that he should go without us.

After both Mila and Max were dressed, there was no way I was staying home. They looked adorable and I wanted to show them off!

It took a good thirty minutes to pack up. We had a diaper bag, bouncy chair for Max, Mila's chair, a cooler, snacks... It seemed never ending and like a lot of stuff but we had it all ready to go.

I wasn't sure how we were going to get both kids and all that stuff to the parking lot a good half mile from where we parked. Luckily my husband had a great plan and threw it all in his huge hockey bag. We had to break a few times on the hike to our tailgating spot, but we made it and I am so glad we did. Mila had such a great time and so did my husband and I. I am so glad I decided to go for it. Two children aren't stopping us! Max was a perfect baby too. Good times!

 Not sure if this Mama is ready for a hockey game with two!

My Boy Has A Flat Head.

This guy has a flat head.

It could be so much worse than torticollis and a flat head.

Torticollis is a condition in which the head becomes persistently turned to one side, often associated with painful muscle spasms. We noticed right away that Max was always looking left. I think my husband mentioned it the day we got home from the hospital. Our pediatrician didn't think torticollis was the issue but we quickly realized that indeed it was.

Because of the constant left tilt, Max has a flat spot. Plagiocephaly is the fancy term for it. The good news is that plagiocephaly is a very common, very treatable disorder. While it causes flattened appearance in a baby's head, plagiocephaly has no known medical repercussions. This is purely cosmetic and can be fixed with a helmet.

Physical therapy has been a success. The torticollis is almost completely cured. Max looks right! He tracks toys and seems to move his neck and head around freely. The flat head however is not corrected. We just recently had him measured. He didn't mind at all.

Just because it is treatable doesn't mean this has been easy. This has been an emotional roller coaster that I am finally feeling at ease about. I don't think any Mama wants their child in a helmet for twenty three and a half hours a day for months but that is the decision we have made.

Max's measurements were off the chart. He has extreme brachycephaly. We knew his head was bad, but I was still thinking mild to moderate. It was so hard to hold back the tears at the Prosthetics and Orthotics office but again, it could be so much worse than this. I am so incredibly blessed to have a healthy baby boy. Even with a funny shaped head, he is so cute! We go back for a helmet fitting in about a month and then it takes a week to make the helmet. I cannot wait for this guy to get in that helmet and for his head shape to be normal.

Introducing Max

It is going to take a while to catch up. First thing is first. I had a healthy baby boy. I have enjoyed every minute of maternity leave and summer break with my newborn son. Blogging was put on the back burner as I adjusted to life as a family of four.

Max is the sweetest guy. He was born at a whopping 8 pounds and 14 ounces on May 26th at 5:11 p.m. 

Labor was a full day of work. My day started at 9:30 a.m. and finished around 5 p.m.. It was a totally different experience than I had with my daughter. I was supposed to be induced and scheduled to come in. It was weird knowing the exact date my baby was going to be born. It was hard to sleep the night before knowing that I would have two children in just hours.

We arrived at the hospital that morning but no beds were open so we waited. The hour and a half wait to get a room felt like forever. The good news was I was three centimeters when the induction was scheduled, so no pitocin for me. The doctor broke my water. About forty five minutes later my contractions began. Light at first but became strong very fast. I requested the epidural and by the time I received it, the pain was miserable. With my daughter the epidural took a while to take. The doctor put me on my side, the one that wasn't numb and it worked. I was not so lucky with my baby boy. The same thing happened. I could feel pain on my left side. They even tried the epidural again but no change. I knew at that point, it wasn't going to work.

Pushing for an hour and twenty minutes feeling everything was the most pain I have ever been in. I know having a baby isn't supposed to be a cakewalk. Mila was exhausting. I was in labor for twelve hours with her and pushed for two hours but the experiences were total opposites. The pain with my daughter was manageable, just mainly tiring. The pain with my son is what childbirth is all about. It was the real deal. I know somewhat now what my mother went through, what my grandmothers went through, and what all of those crazy women that choose to have a natural childbirth go through. I wanted that baby out so bad that I almost requested a c section and that is one of my biggest fears. It was such a relief when I finally got to hold my handsome little guy. It still amazes me how the pain was instantly gone as soon as he was out.

As agonizing as it was, I would do it all over again. He is perfection, and I am so totally blessed. I thank God everyday for giving me two beautiful and healthy children.

Maternity Pics

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our maternity shoot. So glad I did it and have pictures to show Max when he is older.

Ready For Baby

I am at that point where the baby cannot come soon enough. I know a lot of women go late and I shouldn't complain quite yet, but I am going to.

My feet are gigantic and they hurt. My back hurts. It is hard to sleep. Getting up and down has become a chore and I miss playing with my toddler daughter. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband that rough houses with her, bounces her in his lap, and does all the thing I want to but just can't. Mila has definitely become a daddy's girl.

I was lucky that Mila came ten days early. I remember it so clearly. The night before I was so uncomfortable that I asked my husband to massage the pressure points to induce labor and he did. I also ate an entire pineapple. I went to bed afterwards and didn't expect anything to come out of it.

The next day my friend came over so we could spend the day together. During that pregnancy, I wanted frozen yogurt all the time and I wanted it that afternoon.

Right before we were about to walk out the door, I felt a gush of liquid. It was not like I expected or had seen on television. It was just enough to wet my shorts and not some huge puddle on the floor. I really thought I just peed on myself and did not think my water just broke. We were taught in birthing class that water breaking at home rarely happens and it almost always is something happens at the hospital.

I still wanted frozen yogurt so we continued to Yopop. It wasn't until we were on the way back home that I actually felt a contraction. It was manageable, so I still was in denial and thought it was Braxton Hick contractions. About an hour and a half later, they were definitely getting stronger. I called my husband and said he needed to get home. I think he was in disbelief too as we had a couple false calls prior.

By the time he was home, I knew it was time to call the doctor. She told us to come in right then, so we grabbed our bags and were on the way. When we reached the hospital, I could barely get out of the truck. I remember rocking back and forth with my arms on top of the 4runner trying to get some relief.

We headed into Labor and Delivery after that contraction and as soon as I stepped on the elevator there was another gush. I knew for sure this time that this is it. We are having a baby!

About nine hours later, we had the most beautiful gift, a baby Mila.

My doctor has already told me not to expect the same results with this baby, but I cannot help but think the 13th could be the date. My husband has hopes of it being on Mother's Day. I have no problem with that day either.

I keep thinking about all the women that have there babies one and two weeks after their due dates. I truly have sympathy for those women. I may even become one of those women. Come on baby Max, I am more than ready to meet you!

And for no other reason other than I just want to, here is a picture of my daughter. I feel so incredibly blessed to be her Mommy.

An Anxious Pregnancy

Research has shown that up to thirty three percent of women experience clinical depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during pregnancy. I never thought I would be one of these women.

Here are some of the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

• Excessive worry that's difficult to control
• Irritability
• Tension/muscle aches
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Feeling restless inside
• Fatigue
• Poor concentration

I admit I was a little anxious with my first pregnancy. I mostly worried about if the baby is going to be okay or will I be okay during and after delivery.

My anxiety is at an entire different level this time around. I am mostly worried and anxious at work. The worries are still about the same thing and that is keeping my baby safe.

It started a few weeks ago in the cafeteria. I was pushed by a student in the cafeteria while doing duty and lost it on the six foot sixth grader. He was horse playing with an eighth grader and I was pushed. Luckily, there was a trash can in front of me because I was collecting trash and dismissing tables. The trash can caught my tummy. Although, I almost fell in, the injury was not bad. Maybe even nonexistent.

But what if... What if that trash can wasn't there? What if that huge 6th grader fell right on top of me? What if the baby was hurt? I was pissed. I was pissed at the kids. I was pissed at my boss for putting me in that situation at thirty-five weeks to begin with. And this is the second time I have been pushed while pregnant in the lunch room.

My heart was racing, and I bolted out of the cafeteria after yelling "I am pregnant" and "I am done with this." I needed to get out of there before I did something I would regret. I remember thinking to myself, don't curse, don't curse.

I headed into my Principal's office and as soon as I sat down I was having cramps. They were scary enough for me to get checked out, but surely they were because of me being angry and not pushed by a sixth grader.

Everything checked out fine but I was not doing lunch duty anymore. One pregnant girl supervising a couple hundred students doesn't seem right to me anyway.

My boss made a huge deal out of me "putting them in a bind." She even went on to say "well what can you do?" I made it clear to her I did not want to do in school suspension either but her guilt trip and demanding attitude changed my duty from cafeteria monitoring to covering in school suspension for around seventy - eighty minutes per day.

I get I am just pregnant and I should be able to do everything I can do prior to pregnancy, but this not only made me angry but terribly anxious. I am now babysitting the bad kids for over an hour a day. They don't listen to me. They walk out without permission, start fights with each other, and even throw things across the room.

I would rather start maternity leave early than have to deal with these students. I am thinking about it at night and not able to go to sleep. I am even dreaming about it and dreading going to work. The anxiety is ridiculous and deep down I know that, but I feel like I have no control over it.

I lost it again after calling an administrator when the students were not listening in ISS and no one showing up. What if there was something really wrong? What if I needed to get to the hospital and I can't get in touch with anyone? I was almost as mad as I was when I was pushed in the cafeteria.

I am finally out of the duty that a pregnant woman shouldn't be doing anyway. It took two doctor appointments, two drug prescriptions, and finally a doctor note saying I can no longer do in school suspension because of the stress on the baby.

I just hope the stress is now over. Maybe it isn't some anxiety disorder. Maybe the situation was just wrong...and I responded like I should have. I advocated for myself.

I expect there will be some tension with my boss and I since I have gotten out of another duty, but I am to the point where I don't care. I shouldn't have to leave work early over what I think is a dumb unsympathetic decision by my boss. I have so much work to do that my counseling job actually entails. The countdown for our sweet new baby started weeks ago but now I have a countdown to no more working as well. Come on baby show up just a couple weeks early!

False Alarm

I spent a good half day at the hospital yesterday. I went in at 8:00 a.m. for my weekly check up and mentioned I hadn't been feeling the baby as much as I thought I should be. They immediately hooked me up to the monitor. I assume most pregnant women get hooked up to this machine at least once while pregnant. This is my fourth time for this pregnancy so far.

Electronic fetal heart monitoring is done during pregnancy, labor, and delivery to keep track of the heart rate of your baby and the strength and duration of the contractions of your uterus. What the doctor said would be a quick twenty minute hookup turned in to an hour and twenty minutes. It was a very long and uncomfortable eighty minutes.

The baby must have been sound asleep because the heart rate was pretty constant and there was still no movement. The doctor and nurse forced water down me. I am talking about sixty ounces or so in a matter of thirty minute. They also brought me juice, a pack of crackers, and chocolates trying to wake up the baby. This baby did not want to get up. I think my husband and I are going to have our hands full if he is sleeping during the day and up all night!

What the doctor did notice was that I was having contractions pretty regularly, every four or so minutes. I could feel the contractions but there was no pain. I am guessing they were just normal Braxton Hicks.

The regular contractions also happened with my daughter a couple months before delivery, so I was not alarmed at all. My body just has regular contractions. That time, with my daughter, the doctors insisted the contractions had to stop and gave me Terbutaline. After it was too late and I already took the drug, my husband did some research.

Terbutaline should not be used to stop or prevent premature labor in pregnant women, especially in women who are not in a hospital. Terbutaline has caused serious side effects, including death, in pregnant women who took the medication for this purpose. Terbutaline has also caused serious side effects in newborns whose mothers took the medication to stop or prevent labor.

What? And on top of that my heart was pounding. It was one of the scariest feelings I have ever felt in my entire life. Please if your doctors tell you to take this say No. I am still in shock as to what they were thinking.

So, yesterday I was ready to get out of the doctor's office after they assured me the baby was okay. Instead the doctor sent me straight to the birthing center.

I just knew I was going to be stuck there for hours. One of the first things that came out of my mouth was I am not taking that awful terbutaline. Last time it wasn't even a question. It was like here is the drug you need to take, so take it. I of course listened to them. They were my doctor.

I have a total different outlook on just listening to the doctor and trusting what they tell me to do. Denying the Glucola is just one other example. I am pretty sure the doctors get annoyed with me, but I don't care. I want what is best for me and my baby even if that means going against doctors' orders.

Thankfully, this time around I had a different doctor. Different doctor = different outlook. Thank God! Since my cervix was closed and I was not in pain, she let me leave.

I honestly wouldn't have minded getting to meet my baby boy a month early as long as he is healthy. The wait continues. Four more weeks to go.

The Good and Bad of Pregnancy.

The Good.

The Food. For me, it is Bojangles. The seasoned french fries, the buttery biscuits, the chicken tenders and honey mustard. I could eat it everyday, but I have the will power to stay away when not pregnant. When I am pregnant, I am supposed to gain weight, so why not?

The Pregnancy Excuse. If I want Bojangles it is because I am pregnant. If I want to stay on the couch all night and do nothing, it is because I am pregnant. If I cry at a movie or yell at my husband, it is definitely the pregnancy. I consider this all to be true but having the pregnancy excuse is pretty handy.

People are Nicer. People hold the door for you, let you jump in line, smile at you in passing, give up their seat for you, and even offer to hold your bags. I feel like people actually care about how pregnant women feel when they ask. This is something I will definitely miss after the baby comes.

No Period. I have the worst menstrual cramps, so skipping a period for over a year is awesome.

Sweats Whenever I Want. At home of course. Although, I have been getting away with dressing down at work now that I am noticeably very pregnant.

Ultrasounds. Any chance you get to see your baby is pretty great. We have seen our baby boy four times. Two were at the doctor and two were paid for. Well worth the money to get a glance at that sweet baby.

Baby Clothes. Pretty much buying anything for the baby is fun, especially tiny little outfits. I love thinking about my baby wearing the clothes in the future. He is going to be so cute it that is usually what I am thinking.

Nesting. Decorating is one of my favorite things to do anyway, so of course decorating a baby room makes this list. Even washing baby clothes puts a smile on my face.

Feeling Baby Move. It is pretty amazing knowing there is a life inside you. Those kicks and jabs are the best reminder of this. I love feeling the baby move. Around 8:00 at night is the best. He is all over the place, and it is so cool.

Knowing you will meet your baby soon. In six weeks we will meet our baby boy. The onset of labor may be scary, but knowing you are about to meet your child is a great feeling. I cannot wait until that car ride to the hospital.

The Bad.

Peeing All the Time. That baby is pressing on my bladder all the time making me have to pee all the time. I am getting up six to seven times a night. We should have stock in Charmin toilet paper.

Not being Able to Sleep. Maybe it is the getting up six to seven times or maybe it is the feeling like it is ninety degrees when it is really seventy. Getting comfortable at night is nearly impossible. I cannot wait to sleep on my back again.

Nausea. I was not sick with my first pregnancy, but this pregnancy got me. Certain smells, going up the stairs, brushing my teeth, no food on my stomach... I felt like anything and everything was setting me off in the first thirteen weeks. I even got sick just a couple of weeks ago. Not fun at all.

Swollen Feet. During my last pregnancy, my feet looked like they were straight out of a cartoon. This pregnancy they are not as bad but still swollen feet. It is definitely not a comfortable feeling. Can't wait to have normal sized feet again.

Pregnancy Brain. I for sure have it. I forget where I put my keys, purse, and shoes. I have even lost a few items I still can't find. Pregnancy Brain is For Real!

Shaving. I cannot see anything under my belly, especially my bikini line. I often cut myself and usually don't do a good job shaving. Who knew shaving would be something I miss.

Being Hungry. It seems never ending. Two hours after a big meal, I am hungry again. I have to pack two breakfasts to take to work. I feel like I have an appetite for a lot more that two.

Back Pain. I have back pain even when I am not pregnant, but pregnancy surely does not make it better. I am sure it does not help that I have a desk job and sit at my computer hours a day. I am so ready for the birth of my son and for summer to follow.

Sniffles. I have had a stuffy nose the entire duration of my pregnancy so far. Because of my weaker immune system, I have also been sick twice. I just want to be able to breathe again.

The No No's of Pregnancy. I miss a good glass of wine, hoppy beer, sashimi, rare steak, and caffeine just to name a few. Counting down the days until I can eat raw tuna and have a nice glass of sparkling.

As bad as pregnancy may sometimes be, it is so worth it. I would give up alcohol, sushi, or any of the no no's for the rest of my life if it meant I would have a healthy baby. It is all worth it when the doctor hands over that perfect baby. I cannot wait!

Mila's Favorite Foods

It is really fun and also really frustrating learning the foods my toddler will eat and not eat. I never would have thought a couple of these would be her favorites.  

1. Cottage Cheese - I am not even sure why this stuff was ever in our house, because I certainly don't eat it. My husband picked it up from the store one day, I guess for himself, and it quickly became a must on our grocery list. This girl loves cottage cheese. I think it is for sure her number one on the list.

2. Hummus - One of my favorites and now one of my daughter's. I like hummus on crackers, pretzels, celery, and carrots. Mila just likes hummus. She licks it off what ever I giver her and will eat it with a spoon out of the container if I let her. I sometimes can get her to eat a hummus sandwich but she often opens that up and licks the hummus up. Silly baby.

3. Cantaloupe - This is our go to food when Mila says "No" to the food we have prepared for her. We usually always have one cut up in the fridge. We, Mila and her preggo Mama go through at least two cantaloupes a week.

4. Sweet Bell Peppers - This is a new find that Mila's babysitter mentioned and it is true. Mila loves red bell peppers, especially when she can dip them in ketchup.

5. Pineapple - I think pineapple is Mila's second favorite fruit, but she prefers cantaloupe.

6. Yogurt - Mila gets really excited for yogurt, but I am starting to think she likes to make a mess with it more than she likes to actually eat it. Last night she stuck her hand in the container, grabbed a handful and wiped in across the counter top. Not cool!

7. Broccoli - Mila will pretty much eat any fruit but hardly any veggies. Surprisingly, this is the one veggie she usually says yes to.

8. Oatmeal - She is definitely spoiled with the peaches and cream or blueberries and cream but Mila loves this stuff. She usually finishes the bowl.

Honerable Mentions

Fla-vor-ice - I have been wanting a lot of these lately. I was just sharing with Mila but she was getting more than I was, so I decided she can have her own. She is actually a pro at eating them. I was of course worried she might choke. I just keep a close eye on her and she is one happy girl for the duration of her ice stick.

Apple Juice - I usually mix apple juice with water but these juice pouches do that for me. I was impressed that she can drink out of a pouch at 20 months. Go Mila.

Dip - I don't consider dip an actual food but Mila certainly does. Every time we sit down for a meal she says dip. It is really cute but hard to find a dip for every meal. Mila will dip pretty much anything in ketchup and eat it, even pineapple.

Real Bunny vs. Man in a Rabbit Suit

I have never understood why so many people flock to the mall to get their child's picture taken with the Easter Bunny. It is pretty freaky to think about it really. I would be letting my daughter sit in a man's lap that I know nothing about. For all I know he could be a pedophile.

Usually a toddler's reaction to this ridiculous giant bunny costume is more fear that delight. This is also true with Santa Claus. I have rarely if ever seen a small child happy to be sitting in Santa's lap or the Easter bunny's. In fact there are tons of websites out there dedicated to this. Here are just a few Easter photos gone wrong I came across Funny Easter Pictures, Terrifying Photos of Giant Bunnies, 47 Easter Bunnies More Terrifying Than a Crucified Man Coming Back From the Dead. Unless you are trying to make it big by getting on one of the websites or you want to laugh about your child screaming and crying, I feel like you should just pass on torturing your child.

There are adults out there fearful of people in costumes. Masklophobia is the fear of mascots (people in costumes), Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns, and Xenohabilzoophobia is the fear of people in animal costumes. It makes complete sense that children wouldn't like mascots, clowns, the Easter Bunny or Santa. 

Instead of making my daughter suffer and sit in a man's lap in a bunny costume, I decided to get pictures of her with a real bunny. Mila absolutely loved the bunny rabbit and the pictures turned out great. I feel good about it. I would much rather show my friends, family, and the future adult Mila happy pictures than scary ones.