England Tidbits

 Here's Stace, entertaining the locals...

...and here's our beautiful girls in Somerton's medieval market house.

 Cora made money in England doing little jobs, to earn money to buy more Legos. Nan paid her to peel the potatoes for our Sunday roast dinner - she peeled them all! Our little sous chef also helped with the carrots.

 It's been fun seeing our new niece or nephew in utero, since we didn't see Euan as a bump. About eight weeks left until he's a big brother! Jenny is carrying off pregnancy beautifully.

Stace was thrilled to buy Cora her first Yeovil Town replica shirt. Since he moved away 10 years ago, Yeovil's football club has moved into and through the Football League, to the level of the Championship, which is one division below the Premiership.

39 weeks, plus a few days

Hello, here we are, Duckie and me, still intimately connected. I had a doctor's appointment today, and for those of you who want the nitty-gritty details, I'm dilated 1 cm (same as my last appointment 10 days ago) and effaced about 50%. This isn't exactly news that indicates labor is imminent.

If the baby hasn't arrived by next week, I'll go in Monday, a few days after hitting 40 weeks, for a non-stress test to make sure the she's still thriving. It's a little early still to be talking about scheduling an induction, but I imagine that would happen late next week if Duckie insists on staying inside.

I'm definitely ready to be done with feeling sick, heartburn, and aches. I was sick again this morning. I'm also struggling to breathe, as Cora has again shared a cold with me. At least we know that we are surely in the last days, or week or so, of pregnancy! I'm very much looking forward to holding and kissing this precious baby girl.

Showered at Stroller Strides

On Friday morning, Cora and I were showered with love after our last-for-a-while Stroller Strides class.
As you probably know, we've been Stroller Striders since Cora was about five months old. I've loved the friendships we've made, the routine, and the great workout.

The program recently went through an ownership change, and I'm so pleased with the new owner, Amanda, and the work she's done to rebuild the membership. Every Friday after class, she hosts a moms' club, with planned activities, which has been bringing in new moms who aren't (yet?) taking part in the workouts.

Today, the after-class activity was a party for me, Cora and Duckie! In the top photo, the kids all colored a congratulatory poster for us. We had drinks, cookies and cupcakes, and even some great gifts. Such a special morning!

A special thanks to my friend Michelle, who has become a dear friend to us since she joined almost two years ago. She became an instructor a year ago, organized many moms' nights, and has been the constant as the program has transitioned over the past few months. She also took most of these photos!

The last photo shows me and Cora just after our workout. It was a little funny, at our last class for a while, we didn't get to take part in the group workout.

Just after class started, when we were at our first stop (for some strength training), Cora told me she needed the toilet. Back to the park we went, and by the time we used the toilet and backtracked, we were never able to catch up to everyone. I am now walking much slower than I used to, and I have to stop for breaks to rest my aching shins. But at least we did complete the circuit!

Assuming Duckie doesn't come too early, I have some little projects and things-to-do I'd like to accomplish in the free time I'll have with us not going to class. And, hopefully we'll rejoin everyone when Duckie is around six weeks old. I must say, after observing for almost three years, none of my Stroller Strides friends who've had second babies have managed to get back into the Strides routine. We'll just have to see how it goes, as I know it will be harder to get out of the house with two little ones, and the hot summer approaching... If nothing else, there will be the Friday morning playgroup!

One of God's Greatest Gifts...

... family.

My dad took these shots of us on Easter. In retrospect, we should have tried harder to get together a month or two ago, as my belly was more "cute" then and less - um - huge.

Lately, I get a wide range of comments on how I'm carrying. Duckie is just straight out in front, and I'm told I don't look pregnant from the back view. I have gained less weight this time than last (thanks, Stroller Strides!), so the rest of me, particularly my face, isn't as big as last time. But the belly! My, oh my. But when you put a 7-pounder inside my petite frame, it's got to go somewhere, right?

Consider these the official 37-week photos; I'll be 38 weeks along Thursday, which will put me at full-term, medically speaking.

I've felt better Tuesday and Wednesday this week, but the prior week wasn't the best. Lots of common late-pregnancy complaints cropped up, and I was generally uncomfortable a lot of the time, not to mention the resurgence of morning sickness.

Yesterday and today, I've concentrated on eating a lot more, and more often, like I did early on, to keep the sick feelings away.

We got some amazing, excellent news today, news so happy it made me burst into tears. (Being this pregnant will do that to you!)

For months now, our hospital, with lots (all?) of the other area hospitals, banned children from visiting patients because of the H1N1 virus. I had been hoping that with my due date in the spring, presumably after flu season, the policy would be lifted in time for our delivery.

However, as we get closer and closer, with no change in policy, I was getting really concerned. Cora has been so excited about her sister coming; she kisses my belly and talks to and about Duckie all the time. I didn't want her to be kept from her sister for days after she arrived. And, logistically, it would have made things complicated if Stace and Cora couldn't spend hours with me and the baby in the hospital room.

On Monday I wrote a letter to the hospital president, urging him to change the policy. I noted that two hospitals in the area (at least) are allowing siblings to visit their moms in the maternity ward. I received a quick email back saying that the hospital is reviewing it... and today, I got an email saying that the policy will be changing back, this week. The Centers for Disease Control said this week that pediatric cases of the virus have not risen in the past six months, according to the email from the hospital.

Stace and I are both so relieved! It's an answer to a frequent prayer of mine lately. Having a second child is so different from the first, in that I have so much more to think about this time around with how Cora will take everything. I can't wait for her to hold her sister, and I know she can't wait, either.

Just today, minutes before I got the great news about the change, Cora and I drove past the hospital and she said, "that's the hospital where Duckie will come out!"
She then asked if she would come in the hospital when Duckie comes out; I didn't know how to answer, and just said, "I hope so!"
Then she asked, "What's 'Hope so'?"

As I tried to explain I got a little teary. Then, we got home, I checked my email, and the floodgates opened. And for good reason.

Last Hurrah?

We're only a few weeks away, give or take, from Duckie's arrival, so Stace and I seized the opportunity this weekend for one last child-free getaway.

We spent Saturday night in Manhattan Beach, which welcomed us with GORGEOUS weather. It was truly stunning. Oddly enough, plenty of times in the summer, it can be hot as Hades in SClarita, but you go to the coast and it's cloudy and cool enough to need a sweatshirt. But here we are in March, and the sand was hot enough for me to keep on my sandals.

The second photo here can be my official 36-week shot...

On Sunday we lazed around and then headed for the beach. The water was too cold for swimming, but it was great to relax near it. We did a bit of shopping, too, stopping in some little boutiques and a few furniture stores. Stace is just about done with the list of house projects he was aiming to complete before the baby comes. So, next in our sights is a new television and new living room furniture.

On Saturday, we had dinner with our dear friends John and Linda. They are Cora's godparents, and their daughters were our flower girls. We haven't seen them as much the last year or two as we used to, so we really enjoyed reconnecting at a "grown up"restaurant, the kind with table linens and a great wine list.

And earlier on Saturday, we cheered on Melanie as she performed in her first paid acting role, as the princess in The Emperor's New Clothes at a children's theater near Universal Studios. It was fun watching her sing and act, and even more fun to watch Cora watching her. It was the first time Cora has seen her perform.

A full Thursday

Thursday is normally a fairly low-key, unscheduled day for us, but that wasn't the case this week.

Cora was way overdue for a haircut (see first photo) so after breakfast and a bit of house-straightening, we headed over to the kids' haircut place in Newhall.

I asked the stylist to cut her bangs a bit shorter than last time, since they grow so very, very fast and don't feel confident in my bang-cutting ability (other than my own).

Cora wasn't all that friendly to the stylist, even though she is super and we've seen her quite a few times now. Then we went to the park for a MOPS play date, and Cora was very unhappy that I refused to stand in the hot sun and push her on the swings. So, we didn't stay long. It was a good excuse to get home and napping, because we had a big afternoon planned.

Cora had to get up early from nap to get ready for the hospital's Tyke Hike sibling class, a free class to help little ones learn how to hold and care for their new siblings. Getting up early is not her strong suit (takes after mom there) so it took her a while to warm up, but she ended up enjoying the class a lot.

Cora and a handful of others watched a video about new babies (NOT on the birth process!) and then learned how to scrub their hands, hold a baby, and diaper a baby.
The class is normally longer, with a tour of the maternity unit, but because of the H1N1 virus, hospitals in the area aren't letting children into the wards at all. I'm holding out hope that the restriction will be lifted before Duckie makes her entrance. We'll see. If not, I'll be able to go downstairs to visit Cora, but she won't be able to meet her sister until we go home.

After the class, Cora went to play at Grandma and Grandpa's house while Stace and I had our tax appointment. Then, we went to their house to celebrate Grandpa and Auntie Mel's birthdays.

Early Spring

The top photo is of Cora, the angel child, today after Stroller Strides.

We've had a couple of new mommies joining us on our walks, and Cora has taken great interest in their babies. Today, Cora entertained this sweet baby girl, and after class, was loving up on her. She used her own coat as a "blankie" and covered the baby's feet so they wouldn't be in the sun.

It was fantastic to watch, and the other moms were all commenting on how Cora will make a great big sister.

Later in the day, I took Cora with me to my OB appointment for the first time since we told her about the pregnancy, back around 11 weeks. She was very excited about hearing Duckie's heartbeat, and truly seemed to understand what she was hearing.



On Sunday night, before bed, we got out the DVDs Stace made shortly after Cora's birth. One showed me pregnant, and then hospital footage and photos (nothing graphic, don't worry!), and the other showed highlights of her first three months. Tonight, she asked to watch again the one of her in my belly. I am so excited about having her meet her baby sister!

In other news, Cora had her first dentist appointment today. It didn't go all that well, other than the good news that she did open her mouth enough for the dentist to get a good look at her teeth, and she has no cavities. She wasn't very cooperative with the tooth polishing; hopefully we'll have better luck in six months.

These tree photos were taken over the last few weeks. Our seasons are interesting; we had the liquidamber next door, with the gorgeous fall leaves still attached to the branches, just yards away from another tree in full spring glory. The flowering tree is the ornamental plum outside Cora's window, and it's beautiful right now.

30-Week Update

I've reached 30 weeks! 10 to go! Well, nine to go, if you're reading this on Thursday.

I've not been feeling as great the last week or two as I had the prior month, but I'm still feeling pretty darn good. A bit of heartburn and frothiness here and there, and, sadly, the morning sickness has come back a bit a few evenings this week. And, like I had with Cora, hip pain when I'm in bed and need to turn over.

Still, I'd say that overall I'm feeling a lot better now than I did with Cora.

Duckie is moving a ton these days, lots of big movements that feel like she's completely turning over! According to my weekly Babycenter.com update, she is about three pounds and almost 16 inches long. So no wonder I've got this belly! I'd still say I'm carrying lower than I carried Cora, and right out in front (just like with Cora). When I sit down, I really feel my belly on my lap.

The last week, I've been feeling the Braxton-Hicks contractions, just an overall hardening of my tummy. I never noticed them with Cora, so that makes a change.

And a name story: For many months, Cora has found the following words to be hilarious, and calls them her funny words: "eggy" and "pooey sooey." At breakfast yesterday, she was being goofy, and said, "Eggy!!" and laughed. Then she said, "What if we called Duckie 'Eggy' when she comes out of your belly?" I said something to note my surprise, and then she suggested "Pooey Sooey."
This came out of the blue, as she and I had not been discussing names. So, for all of you who think it might be cute to let Cora have a say in naming Duckie, I think not.

We were blessed with a visit from my high school friend Trahnel, and her daughter Calla, this week.

Trahnel and Mike moved to his home state of Kentucky the summer Stace and I got married, so we've been long-distance friends a while now. Noah is almost 6, so he's in school and stayed home with Dad.

Calla, who's almost 4, and Cora had a great time playing together and we all enjoyed catching up.

Calla and Trahnel had spend the day at Disneyland before visiting us, hence Calla's awesome face paint.
And Cora's pretty hair-do is from our trip to the salon for a bang trim. She immediately took out all the flowers, but has left the little twisty pony tails in.

The weather this week was back to normal for us, so Cora had a good amount of park time. We met some friends on Monday, and Cora had fun with her Lightning McQueen cars in the sand. She's still playing with them all a lot; at the moment she's covering the big red Lightning pillow toy with a blanket and moving him from the toy stroller to the bed. Thankfully, she is also playing with her bears and dolls a bit more, too.

Cora has been using the word "cool" a lot, but of course for her, it comes out, "tool!" It's really cute.

I had my 28-week appointment this week, and all is well. I now start going every two weeks! It's true what everyone says, that pregnancy goes by faster the second time around. Last time, we were going to our labor classes, spending lots of time reading up on pregnancy and babies, researching gear - it occupied so much more of our time. Duckie is moving a lot more now, with those powerful moves that feel like your stomach is being turned upside down.

In other news, Cora and I have caught the cold Stace had at the beginning of the week. We can't complain, we're all generally so very healthy, but I do hope to get past it soon. We have fun plans for Sunday night and Monday to be well for!

25 Week Update

I had a third ultrasound Tuesday afternoon, and also had my blood drawn after drinking the sugary drink for my glucose screening test.

The ultrasound was scheduled because at our December u/s, the baby was measuring 5 days smaller than my April 22 due date. This time, the baby was measuring 3 days smaller than the due date. That's not a real concern, as they don't change your due date unless you're a week or two different. We all know that babies come when they're ready, not on their "due" date!
This ultrasound tech confirmed that she is indeed a "she."

The top photo is my 25 week shot from last week (I'll be 26 weeks along tomorrow, Thursday). The second photo is from the 25-week point with Cora. If you look close you can see that I'm carrying this baby a bit lower than I carried Cora. I can feel that difference - when I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor to read to Cora, I really feel my belly resting on my legs already.

In general, I'm feeling good. I've noticed I'm more tired again in the evenings, but I haven't started needing naps yet. And other than being quite sick the other night, I've been feeling pretty good in my stomach. Like always, just need to keep up my eating to keep the yuckies away.

I do know that when I do my Stroller Strides workout, or just go on long walks, I'm winded and tired so much more quickly than normal. I hope I can keep up with my workouts for the next couple of months!

20 Week Update (Caution, spoiler ahead!)

Look at our little baby! We had our 20-week ultrasound Friday and this is my favorite photo - see how Ducky's sucking a thumb? You can clearly see head, arm and hand, and foot/leg here.

Here's a nice shot of the head, body and spine.

A top view - see the head, eye sockets, hands and feet? A little alien-like, but very cool nonetheless.
And another nice overall shot, with head and body. These shots are all so much better than our first u/s with this baby, and I'd say better than our ultrasounds with Cora, too. (Don't forget to click a photo to see it bigger.)

So here I am Saturday at 20 weeks, above, and at 21 weeks, below, with Cora. Not a heckuva lot of difference, in my opinion. I've been feeling Ducky moving around for a couple of weeks now, though not strongly enough for Stace or Cora to feel it yet. I didn't feel Cora move until I was 21 weeks along.
I'm generally feeling good these days. I still have morning sickness most days, but it's infrequent and mostly manageable by keeping up my eating. I won't complain! I've heard of so many women who not only have really bad sickness, like needing IVs and hospitalization because they're losing so much weight, but have that same level of sickness throughout their pregnancies.

And now, for those of you who've read this far, a little bit of excitement: We found out at our ultrasound that Cora's going to get ... a baby sister! Though a boy would have been nice, we are happy in the long run for Cora. I think same-sex siblings can have such a special relationship - I need to look no further than Stace and his brother for proof of that. And Melanie and I have a great bond too, though different, since we are nine years apart.

At this point, Cora is getting used to the idea, you could say. She wasn't all that happy when we told her this morning, and after her nap, I asked her about having a baby girl, and she insisted she was, in fact, getting a brother. Oh well. The u/s photo looked pretty clear to us, and the technician noted that "she could be wrong, but she never has been yet."

So, onward toward decorating a girly room!

Babies, Dolls and Duckies

A heartwarming sight for those of you who know our tomboy well!

Cora seems happy and excited about the baby in mummy's belly, we're so glad to report. When we are out and about, she points out tiny babies to me. A few days ago at the car wash, another mom with kids asked Cora if she had any brothers or sisters. Cora said she had a baby, and referred to me.

Last week, I was reading to Cora before her nap and the Bible story showed Abraham and Sarah with their new baby, who I said they named Isaac.
Cora asked me, "What will you call the baby in your belly?"
I replied, "What do you think we could call it?"
She said, "Cora. Or Ducky."

A few minutes later she repeated her idea of calling the baby Ducky.

So, Ducky it is, at least for while baby is in utero. Hopefully she won't be too disappointed when we call baby something else when it's born!

Oh, and in the above photo, taken today, I asked her what her baby's name was, and she said, "Ducky." I have no idea where she got this name from.

Stace has been encouraging Cora to play with her dolls lately, since she seems naturally drawn (and Stace-drawn!) to trains and footballs. Today, when we came home from MOPS, she went straight to the doll and began playing with it. Progress!

Oh, and while I'm bragging on Cora, may I point out the above photo? Yes, that lower set of letters is from her own hand! Stace has been working with her, and when I'm in the kitchen she now likes to practice writing her name if she's not helping to cook. (Granted, she has a nice short name, but still!)

12 weeks

Figured I'd better get these posted before I hit 13 weeks on Thursday!

These two are from my pregnancy with Cora...

And here I am this weekend...

I feel like I'm showing more and quicker this time around, which is normal with second (and later) pregnancies. But, looking at these photos, I definitely was showing at this stage with Cora, too.

I'm feeling about the same as I have the last month or so. Much better than weeks 6-8, and still facing sick feelings every day. I've had a few rough evenings lately, when I've failed to eat enough or quickly enough when I get up in the afternoon from my nap. And the fatigue! I just don't know how I managed to work full-time last time around, I'm really needing my nap these days. I'm so blessed to be home, with a little one who still takes a solid nap every day, so I can rest too.