Easter Weekend 2017

Easter weekend was a good one.  We took Joanna bowling for the first time, had our church Easter egg hunt and most importantly, Sunday church service.  We ate, played, cried over the Easter bunny (JoJo, not Vivian), ate some more and really enjoyed our beautiful weekend we had.  Of course, the kids highlight was seeing their baskets filled with Easter goodies.  I know they won't remember these days, but we will.  So fun! 

Joanna 22 Months

Boy, I have been a slacker on updating this blog.  Sorry Joanna for being able to document each month for you I did with Vivian.  Life with two kids I suppose.  Well, before you turn 23 months, here's an update on the soon to be 2 year old.  Eek!  I CANNOT BELIEVE my sweet babe is about to turn 2!

Stats: 20.4 lbs, not sure how tall you are.  Shoe size toddler 5, but I think you move to toddler 5.5-6.  Size 4 diapers.  Clothes 18-24 months in tops and dresses, bottoms 18 months and also wearing 2T leggings that are slightly loose.

Sleep:  Wake around 7am (if you wake before 7, I don't come get you until 7am), Nap 1 - 3/3:30 (always wake by 3:30pm...there are days you wake around 2:30, but I leave you there until 3pm), bedtime go up at 7...sometimes 7:15pm...and you are in the crib by 7:15-7:30pm.  You take up to an hour to fall asleep.  

Bedtime Routine:  Brush teeth (which you hate), you currently love looking at the pictures of The Adventures of Milo and Otis, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  Go into your sleep sack, take a sip of water, lamp off, box fans on, I sing (and you sing along with me which is the sweetest thing EVER) Baa Baa Black Sheep (favorite song), Silent Night, Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves The Little Children and You Are My Sunshine.  You go in your crib, I give you your dalamation puppy, and tell you 'night night, I love you, sweet dreams, I will see you in the morning.  Good night sweet darling'.

Eating: You love pasta with marinara sauce (really most all pasta), multi-grain cheerios, strawberries, smoothies, sweet potato fries, spinach leaves, chicken nuggets, hamburgers (you will not eat it if it has cheese), soup, all desserts and sweets.  

Favorites:  You love nursery rhymes!  You try to sing along and sway you head back and forth...so cute.  Baby dolls, running/playing chase, swinging, sliding  (you aren't afraid of going down the big slides at the playground), the beach, rocks, lizards, frogs, dogs, playing with your cash register, and taking whatever Vivian has away from her.  

Dislikes:  Diaper changes, being told 'no', riding in the shopping cart for too long, leaving some where fun, having to wait (you have zero patience).

Speech:  You can say, 'mama, dada, dog, bird, peppa, more, ball, baby', to name a few.  You understand every single thing we say.  When you want to do something one more time, you hold one finger up and say, 'more' for just once more.  When you want an m&m it is the cutest thing hearing try to say m&m...you stick your tongue in and out with words coming out.  Love it!

I can already tell you're going to be the little comedian in the family. You love trying to make us laugh.  The cutest thing is when you tilt your chin to your chest then look up with your eyes, moving them around.  It's hilarious!!  

You have 'smiling eyes' as Memom calls them.  When you smile, your eyes smile as well.  When I take your picture you go 'cheeeezzee' and tilt your little head to the side.  

When you hug, you give the biggest hugs.  You love giving Vivian hugs in the bath.  When I pick you up from church nursery or if I leave the house without you and come back, and when you see me or daddy, you open your wide and scream 'mama or dada' and hug us tightly.  So adorable seeing the excitement.

We love you so much sweet darling.  This has been a quick 22 months!  You are acting more and more like a a toddler each and every day.  I can't imagine life without you baby girl. Love you always always!!

Counting Down The Days

While pregnant with Vivian the day before turning 39 weeks, I was already at the hospital, Cervidil in place, monitors hooked up and knew she was going to born the next day thanks to Pitocin. Not so much with this pregnancy.  We are just waiting for Joanna's arrival on her own time.  Honestly, I hate waiting and not knowing. I have a feeling I will go past due.  Past due and getting bigger.  Oh, boy!

I feel this labor and delivery will be completely different than Vivian's since this entire pregnancy has been different.  From not having gestational diabetes this time, Joanna had a choriod plexus cyst which is now gone, Joanna constantly moving and I rarely felt Vivian, I've gained more weight this time, I have not worked out with this pregnancy like I did with Vivian's, haven't slept as well, no swelling this time, tested positive for Strep B with Joanna.  So true that not every pregnancy you have is the same.

I have been soaking up these final moments with Vivian being the only child.  Enjoying our one-on-one time together and enjoying only getting one kid out of the car. Ha!  I think she's knows something is about to happen because she's been waking up between 4:30-5:30 am for a week now.  I think she wants as much mommy time as she can get. I can't wait to see how she reacts to her baby sister.  She loves kissing my belly and saying, "Jo,Jo."  I had to take her with me to a couple of ultrasounds and when she saw her on the monitor she screamed out her name.  So adorable.  I know they will be inseparable.  

I still cannot believe I'll be a mommy to two little girls.  Never in my wildest dreams thought this would happen.  More so happen so quickly.

Until Joanna decides to arrive in the next week or so, we are going to have a lot of fun going to the park and beach, blowing bubbles, coloring, eating ice cream, shopping and anything else our heart desires.  We are looking forward to meeting you Miss Joanna Grace!!!     

Day 2 of waking up at 4:40 am

Mother's Day

Mother's Day might have been a wet one due to tropical storm Ana, but it was a laidback one.  I woke up feeling much better after getting crazy sick on Wednesday night which one me a trip to the hospital for fluids on Thursday.  It took a few days to recover, but so happy I felt better for Mother's Day.

Vivian woke up at 5:30 am!  5:30!!!  Sleep regression?  I have no clue.  I got her in bed with me to cuddle for a little while...that only lasted 30 minutes.  I was starving anyway because of not eating much due to being sick, so her and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  French toast?  Yes, please! Vivian had her pancake and OJ.

  

After our full bellies, we got dressed for church.  She did so well sitting in the church pew.  Proud mama. Afterwards,  I planned on taking her to the aquarium but it was raining cats and dogs.  Not the best of days to go.  Instead we came home and finger painted.

  

After a morning of play, we crawled into bed and Vivian took an almost 3 hour nap.  She was wiped out!

That afternoon we laid around and I opened my cards and present.  Brian got me a Lily Jade diaper bag.  Love that it doesn't like a diaper bag :) A little more stylish than my Skip Hop bag I had with Vivian. 

For dinner, I wanted Cracker Barrel again LOL!  Roast beef, green beans, sweet potato, collard greens and biscuits.  Yummy!  Not ashamed to say I ate all of it.  

I am so blessed I'm the mommy to the sweetest little girl.  Next year I'll celebrate this day with two sweet angels.  Thank you Vivian for making me a mommy.  I love you oh so much!!!      

Fresh Strawberry Cobbler

I took Vivian to Lewis Farms to pick strawberries today and it was so much fun.  This was the first time going, which is crazy, since we've been in Wilmington for over 7 years.  Better late than never I guess.  Definitely more fun going with your child than by yourself anyway.   Worth the wait, that's for sure!!

Vivian loved putting the strawberries in her bucket.  She looked so cute!  She wore a little outfit that her Nana made her and she rocked pigtails for the first time. Such a cutie pie!! 

Picking your own strawberries is cheaper than buying them in the grocery store I think.  It helps cutting out the middle man :) An almost full bucket only cost $8.25...not too shabby...vs paying $5 for a small container at the store.

After picking strawberries, we got an ice cream treat.  A cup of strawberry ice cream for Vivy and a strawberry milkshake for me.  However, after Vivian polished off her ice cream, she went to town on my milkshake.  Good thing I love her!     

With all the strawberries we couldn't possibly eat alone, I had to do a little Pinterest search for recipes.  I found a cobbler and a muffin recipe that looked delicious.  I decided to make the cobbler first and make the muffins tomorrow.  I will still have plenty left over to eat alone or make smoothies with. You can't go wrong with strawberries!

Disclaimer:  I may or may not have ate half this cobbler tonight.  I'm sure it will all be gone by tomorrow :)  I blame the pregnancy! 

Here are a few pics before sharing this amazing recipe.

  

Fresh Strawberry Cobbler, recipe from here 

Ingredients

3 cups fresh strawberries, diced
½-3/4 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375.

In a medium bowl, add strawberries and ¾ cup sugar.

Stir to coat strawberries in sugar and set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Add in milk, vanilla extract and melted butter.
Stir until combined. A few lumps are ok.

Grease a 9-inch casserole dish.

Pour batter evenly into dish.

Spoon strawberries evenly on top of batter. Do NOT stir.

Baked for 35-40 minutes or until golden.

Serve warm or cold. In my opinion, warm cobbler is the way to go!! 

Enjoy!

22 Months Old

Happy 22 months to this cutie pie!!  Girlfriend, I cannot believe you are 2 months away from turning 2 years old!!  Hard to believe.

You are the busiest little girl!  You are so independent outside the home.  Shopping, walking anywhere, parks.  But at home, you are attached to me like a leech.  You are rarely in a separate room from me.  Only way I can get away is letting you play on the Kindle...aka, peppa.  Mommy has to do what she has to do!

You FINALLY learned how to climb onto the couch without assistance.  You love jumping on the couch, chair, bed, crib.  

You had a big month of moving into your new house.  You finally adjusted and say, "home" when we pull into the driveway.

You still love swinging, balls, bubbles, riding your push car and being outside.  One of your new favorite things is playing in the front seat of the car.

You won't lay down to take a nap.  Mommy has to drive you in order to get you to sleep.  You nap for only an hour.  Once in a blue moon you'll go longer.  

Your not big to eating lunch and dinner.  Thankfully, you do eat breakfast.  We mostly snack throughout the day.  Your beverage of choice is still water.  Such a good girl and you absolutely love apples.  That is definitely our favorite fruit right now.

Your favorite song is "If Your Happy and You Know It."  Absolutely melts my heart watching you clap your hands, dance around and say, "Hooray!"  

You know how to throw a good tantrum.  There have been many times we leave a store with you kicking and screaming.  Mommy has to carry you out like a sack of potatoes.  

You loved being held at the most inconvience times for mommy, like cooking.  I know you just want to see what mommy is doing. 

I know your going to be an AMAZING big sister next month.  I cannot wait to see how you love baby Joanna.  It will be the sweetest I know!

We love you so much baby girl and I could not imagine life without you.  We love you love bug!!