20 weeks down, 20(ish) to go!!

I cannot believe I'm already halfway...or likely more than halfway...through this pregnancy!  I say "more than halfway" because my doctor already predicts I won't go 40 weeks.  I'm cool with that.

I missed the post from the last doctor's visit before Thanksgiving, which is kinda sad cause it was a big one. I had a sonogram to determine gender and found out we're having another beautiful little girl!  I'm stoked to say the least.  Cory is...well...going through the ordinary stages of grief.

Denial - "The whole baby is the size of an avocado...how can they possibly tell there's not a tinker down there???"
Anger - "But I did everything the Internet said to make sure it would be a boy, gosh darn it!!!"
Bargaining - "Maybe someone else will be having a boy who really wants a girl and we can just trade."
Depression - "I'll never have anyone to play catch with or teach how to arm fart."
And finally, Acceptance - "I guess another girl isn't so bad...as long as she's fun like Savannah is." 

I'm already starting to envision what it'll be like in a few years when they're both bigger.  They'll share a room with bunk beds, we'll have salon parties and fix each others' hair and nails, and they'll be the best of friends (some of the time anyway).  It's gonna be so fun!

Yesterday I had a regular appointment, my first without a sonogram, and everything checked out perfectly.  I was measuring exactly 20cm and her little heartbeat was strong and content-sounding.  We (my doc and I) discussed the results from my bloodwork for the quad screening I'd done the time before, and I'm happy to report that all of those numbers were great.  And that was all she wrote for the 20wk appointment.  I'll have another sonogram at 28ish weeks where they'll check all of "her" anatomy and Dr. Daum promised that he'd do his best to try and locate a penis for Cory's sake. ;-) 

While I'm updating, I don't want to leave our first little miss out.  She had her 18-month well check last week and her doctor was very pleased with her growth and development.  She's right in the middle of the pack on weight and height (24 lbs, and...I can't even remember how tall).  Her vocabulary grows every day it seems and she's just getting too smart for her own good.  She's also really starting to get that little defiant toddler 'tude.  As I write this, she's in her room pitching the slightest of fits because she doesn't want to take a nap. Little stinker.  Guess it's all just part of being a parent though.  I've been learning those lessons in abundance here lately, but will keep the details possibly for a different post.

Again, one of these days I'll remember and find the time to take a belly pic to post with all these pesky words.  I mean, who likes books without pictures, right?

I'm back!

Hi folks.  I know, I know.  I haven't posted since MAY.  I didn't even write about Savannah's first birthday or my high school reunion or anything that's happened since MAY.  But I'm turning over a new blogging leaf, I hope.  I really want to try and write about this pregnancy like I did the first time around.  For one, I've really enjoyed going back through those posts and seeing what things are the same or different now.  I've forgotten a lot of things too, so it's nice to have the refresher.  And........I really don't want this baby to live with an excessive amount of second-child inequality.  Wish me luck with that.  I've already almost completely stopped taking pictures of Savannah.  There may be no hope for #2.  But alas, I shall try!

So, I had a check-up today.  From the beginning, we've had trouble nailing down a due date.  Based on my LMP, I'm due May 2, 2012.  Based on the 7wk (give or take) sono - which was done because the initial sono indicated that I wasn't as far along as my LMP indicated, meaning I ovulated late - I'm due May 6, 2012.  That would make me roughly 11 1/2wks.  Today's sono showed that baby had caught up a little with the LMP due date prediction making me more like an even 12wks.  So my doctor decided to more or less split the difference and say I'm due May 4.  One way or another, somewhere around the first week of May (or earlier, fingers crossed) we'll have a new little stinker under our roof.

Things today looked good on the sono.  The nuchal fold measured well within the normal range which is good.  At my next appointment, I'll have the Quad Screen which will further assess the probability of genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities.  The heart rate was nice and strong - a little faster than last time - at 169bpm.  The placenta was low and touching, but not covering, the cervix (marginal placenta previa).  The sonographer said this is fairly common in early pregnancy and we'll keep an eye on it.  She tried really hard to see if she could identify the gender, but baby wasn't really cooperating.  Luckily though, we'll confirm it at my next appoitment on November 17!  YAY! 

Other than that, there's not much to report.  I haven't gained any weight despite this oversized spare tire I'm hauling around under my shirts.  I'm not surprised though.  I haven't really been sick like I was with Savannah, but I have absolutely no appetite.  If I didn't have feeding Savannah as a reminder to feed myself, I'm not sure I'd ever think to eat.  But that will probably change in a couple of weeks when I reach the second trimester.  I hope so anyway. 

Maybe someday soon I'll get around to taking a belly shot, but for now, I'll just leave you with this precious pic of Big Sister swinging at the park (2 months ago). :-)

Do you see what I see?

My guess is probably not. 

For instance here, you'll see my beautiful baby girl on the day she turned 11 months old.


May 2, 2011

But I see something more along these lines (at least when I'm not wearing glasses or contacts).

It's the best representation I could make, but in reality, I wouldn't even be able to tell that she has eyes or a mouth.  Crazy, right?!  Well, it's all going to change tomorrow after I have LASIK.  Goodbye blindness, hello 20/20 (or better) vision!!  I can't wait!!

In other news, I had a FABULOUS first Mother's Day.  I got a Kindle which is great, but that was only the beginning.  Cory got up with Savannah and cooked me breakfast and then unveiled the shirts he'd crafted for all of us.  Here are mine and Savannah's shirts...

Cory made himself a jersey to wear during his soccer game that afternoon, but unfortunately it was white...and the team we played was wearing white...so he had to stick with the traditional jersey.  But kudos for the effort and creativity!  I look forward to pulling this shirt out of a box of keepsakes someday and reliving the sweet memories of my first Mother's Day with Savannah.  It couldn't have been any better!

Who knew?!?!

I never thought I'd manage 2 blog posts right here on the last day of the month.  But sure enough!

I wanted to give you an update after my last post about my to-do list.  I've actually gotten to cross a few things off!!  Here's an abbreviated list with some of the items I've completed:

1. Put pen to paper and make an actual to-do list
2. Blog about it
3. Cross fingers that Savannah sleeps long enough to let you blog about it
4. Uncross fingers...it makes typing hard
5. Wash bottles
6. Clean up the kitchen from dinner last night (I know, eww, gross)
7. Sweep the tile (which is half of my whole house)
8. Mop
9. Vacuum
10. Dust
11. .........

YAY ME!!!

Last-ditch effort

I didn't want to let the month of April expire without even a single post.  Yes, I'm aware that I missed blogging about Savannah's 10th month, but I'm sure none of you even noticed.  I did take her picture with the big pink bear, and I have been taking notes of things for her baby book, but I just never had time to sit down and type it out.  That's kinda the subject of this blog ... time.

Do ya ever have that good ol' fashioned feeling that there just aren't enough hours in the day?  That's been my life since I started my business last month.  Oh, it's not that I'm swamped with clients booking sessions or anything right off the bat (although I haven't been disappointed in the response I've gotten either).  I just feel like things keep getting added to my to-do list, and yet, nothing ever seems to get marked off no matter how busy I keep myself.

Here's my to-do list at the moment (updated 5/1/11 @ 2:19pm):

1. Put pen to paper and make an actual to-do list
2. Blog about it
3. Cross fingers that Savannah sleeps long enough to let you blog about it
4. Uncross fingers...it makes typing hard
5. Wash bottles
6. Clean up the kitchen from dinner last night (I know, eww, gross)
7. Sweep the tile (which is half of my whole house)
8. Mop
9. Vacuum
10. Dust
    Seriously, my house is a wreck.  I didn't feel that "clean house" sufficed.
11. Clean master bathroom
12. Install Savannah's big-girl carseat
13. Refresh the laundry that's been in the dryer for 2 days
14. Fold and put away said laundry
15. Refresh the laundry that's been in a laundry basket in the closet for the better part of a week
16. Fold and put away that laundry
17. Apply for the 0% interest CareCredit card that we'll use to pay for my LASIK.
18. Do a happy dance that I can apply for credit in my own name again since I'm self-employed now and not technically unemployed  Half-serious aside: I think it's crazy that "stay-at-home mom" doesn't count as an occupation to credit companies or provide evidence of financial means.  I mean, geesh, how do they think we have the ability to stay home and not work in the first place.
19. Scan images of the subject release forms from yesterday's photo session
20. Start editing pictures
21. Finish editing pictures
    Yes, it's two different items cause I never get to do it all in one sitting.
22. Post preview on Facebook
23. Post a blog about the session
    Follow Still Reality Portraits if you don't already!
24. Create disk to send to clients
25. Design and print a label for the disk
26. Fill out copyright release form
27. Package and ship pictures to clients
28. Make my own back-up and close out clients' file
29. Make changes to website to help it hit on Google (BIG undertaking, so I'll leave out the gory details)
30. Make blog button for my readers to add to their sidebar
31. Design and send "refer a friend" cards to my clients
32. Finish designing Savannah's birthday invitations
33. Order invitations
34. Shop for birthday party
35. Order smash cake
36. Finish scrapbooking her first year
37. Make birthday party tutu and shirt
38. Make 1-year portrait tutu (to match with Abigail) :)
39. Fight back tears over the length of this to-do list
40. Stop writing to-do list

Ok, I'm leaving it at that.  Believe me, there's more, but I've overwhelmed myself and feel it's better to stop while I'm, well, not exactly ahead, but not completely buried either.  And this list doesn't even include other things I have to do eat, sleep, and be like a wife/mom ... let alone anything I might want to do like read for book club or heaven forbid sit down and relax (or catch up on reading my friends' blogs).

Hopefully though, I'll be able to knock some of this stuff out more quickly than I imagine in my head.  Send good thoughts of high productivity my way, please!!  And now that I've wasted a fair amount of time on this blog that could have been spent elsewhere, I'll bid you adieu.

Nine months

Man, I'm getting later and later with these monthly updates.  Maybe it's because this adorable little giggle bug is keeping me so insanely busy!


March 2, 2011

I probably said this last month, but really ... Savannah is all over the place.  In particular, she loves the fireplace, any and all electrical outlets (which have been baby-proofed for anyone who might be wondering), and the dogs' food bowl.  Pretty much if it's dangerous and requires Momma or Daddy to swoop in and change her course, she's there.  Keeps me on my toes, that's for sure.  Gone are the days of leaving her to play in the floor while I put laundry away or go potty.  So long good ol' days.  I'll miss ya.  But on the flip side, it is so incredibly fun to watch how she grows and learns every day.  She can breeze around the ottoman in the blink of an eye and is starting to get brave enough to let go and try to balance.  I have a feeling her first steps won't be too far in the future.

Two teeth are in the process of coming in.  We saw the first one Saturday and the second one today.  I guess technically, that should be part of next month's post, but whatever. It's cute and I'm gonna talk about it.  She hasn't gotten use to the feeling yet as evidenced by the neurotic way she sticks her tongue out now.  She looks like a kitten lapping up milk.  In out, in out, in out.  It always makes me laugh.  It's done a number on her sleep, though. Without fail, she wakes up at 4 o'clock and it's a miracle if she'll go back down until 6.  Hopefully that won't last much longer.  Momma's tired.

Cory and I took her to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens last Friday so I could shoot her 9-month portraits.  She was an absolute peach!  I couldn't be more pleased with the results.  Here are some of my favorites.

Such a pretty, pretty girl! 

Oh yea, and the crib got lowered when this happened the other day...

She is obviously so proud! 

Her well baby check on Monday went perfectly.  The doctor said she's lean and healthy weighing in at 18 lbs. 12 oz.  She's tall as far as the stats go ... 28 1/4".  She'll probalby level off though and everyone else will pass her.  After all, have you seen her Daddy and me?  She won't be breaking any world records in height that's for sure.  She's been introduced to more finger foods, but tends to be a little picky and won't warm up to things too quickly.  That's one area I hope she turns out to be nothing like me.  I want her to like more veggies than just green beans. :-)

I'll close with what might possibly be the cutest thing in the whole world ... a sweet picture of Savannah and her very best friend Abigail.  Abi's mom Kristi and I met up at the Botanic Gardens Tuesday so she could also get 9-month pictures taken. 

Precious, right?!  I know.  Don't gotta tell me twice!



Eight months

In honor of the Super Snow Bowl of 2011, Savannah donned her most festive fleece attire for this month's picture.

February 2

Since last month, this little girl is quite literally all over the place.  Her army crawl is perfected and now she's pushing up more onto her hands and knees.  I think the fireplace has some sort of secret gravitational property that only pulls babies toward it because it's the first place she heads when she's playing in the floor.  Can't leave her alone for a second or she'd surely be covered in soot.

Savannah also took her first plane ride about 2 weeks ago to go visit Gamma and Grrdad.  The flight to Amarillo was pleasant.  She entertained the sweet woman who sat next to me and didn't fuss at all.  The flight back to Dallas on the other hand, was a nightmare.  She was so tired and desparately needed a nap, but she is completely unwilling to sleep when there are new and interesting things to look at.  The exhaustion resulted in a meltdown of epic proportions midway through the flight.  To any random reader out there who may have possibly been on flight 324 that day, I am sorry you had the unfortunate luck of sharing that cabin with us.  She finally fell asleep a few minutes before our final descent.  Insert overly dramatic sigh of relief here.

On the subject of eating, she enjoys finger foods so much that she hardly has the patience for me to spoon baby food into her mouth any more.  Definitely got that I'll-do-it-myself personality trait.  Who knows where she got it from, though. *wink*  If she ever cuts some teeth, I'll be able to give her more options, but we're still waiting for that day.  And, unrelated to eating, she's really started reaching for people...me in particular.  She's a little bit of a Momma's girl right now to say the least.  I don't mind one bit! :)

Our baby girl is growing up too fast.  Believe it or not, I've already started contemplating her first birthday festivities because it will be here before we know it.  In the meantime, however, I'm enjoying watching this little person be who she is...our mostly happy and giggly but occasionally moody first-born.

Resolutions

I've never really been big on New Year's resolutions, but for whatever reason I set a few this year.  I didn't agonized over what they would be, but as 2010 was coming to a close, several things had come to mind that I thought I'd like to accomplish this year - and in doing so - perhaps create some positive habits that will carry on long after the newness of the resolution itself was gone.

1.  Lose weight.

I know, so cliche, right?  But really, I had about 7 pounds lingering that didn't exist before having Savannah...and truth be told...I wasn't in peak physical condition prior to her conception.  But considering I gain 43 pounds during pregnancy, I felt fortunate that only 7 didn't disappear on their own.  So, on my birthday actually, I started following the weight watchers plan and am proud to say that I've lost 11 pounds in 6 weeks.  (Saying that felt a little too much like a bad commercial. lol)  If I exercised I'm sure I'd be a little further along, but I figure the running around I do toting a child is workout enough.  So....so far so good with resolution #1.  I'm well on my way to my goal since I instituted it before 1-1-11.

2.  Stick to a set budget.

Cliche again.  I can't help it though.  Cory and I are horrible with budgets.  We try and try, but always fail.  We are really bad about telling each other no when it comes to splurging on this or that.  But we have a few things we want to get paid off, so we planned and set a fairly strict CASH budget for ourselves.  It's the Dave Ramsey method, only I didn't waste money on his books, I just used my own smarts.  It's amazing how much money you can save by not indiscriminately swiping your debit card.  So far so good on this one too, and although it's early, I'm very hopeful about our success.

3.  Read one book per month (at least).

I hate admitting it, but growing up I definitely didn't have the love of reading that my mom and brother had and still have.  But back in the fall, at the suggestion of a friend from high school, I picked up The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  A teen-read, sure, but utterly fantastic.  Now, as part of my actual resolution, I'm working on the Twilight books, which are especially thrilling because I haven't seen the films.  No, I haven't been living under a rock, I just never saw the intrigue......until now. ;-)  I finished Twilight and started New Moon yesterday.  That's why I said "at least" since I'm ahead of my quota after just 10 days.  After Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, my list is empty...suggestions anyone?

4.  ???????

There is a fourth, but putting it out there for all to know kinda takes its meaning away.  So I'll keep it to myself, but know that I am also succeeding with it, just like the others. 

There you have it.  2011 is off to a great start for the Bakers!  Wishing all the best to you as well, faithful readers.

7 months



January 2, 2011

Really?  I mean, I know I sound shocked every month when this happens, but really?!?!  Seven?  Why do I suddenly feel like Savannah is on the downhill slope of her entire childhood?  Ok, that might be a bit extreme, but I do have new emotions about her literally growing up too fast.  Maybe it's because of all the changes she's gone through over the last month.

For starters, her personality is bursting at the seams.  This girl hardly ever stops giggling!!  She can be laying in the floor, several feet from any toys, and just bust out laughing.  At herself, at the dog walking by, at anything.  It's hysterical!  She is super ticklish, and I can really get her going by enlisting "tickle fingers."  It's a whole bit we do.  You'd have to be there, but trust me, she loves it.  Cory's thing is to bounce his head against her tummy.  Omg, she goes nuts when he does this.  In fact, I think I posted a video of one such session on Facebook sometime last week.  If you missed it go check out my profile. 

And, on her 7-month birthday (Sunday), she randomly started feeding herself a bottle.  Well, I say randomly, Cory laid her in the floor and just sat it there by her to see what she'd do.  And, what did she do, you ask?  She picked it up and started eating.  Without much incident I might add.  Such a big girl!

What else, let's see......

Still no teeth, but she's been sleeping better at night for the past week or so.  Insert Momma's sigh of relief here.  Oh, and, she's just about got the army-crawling thing completely figured out.  She can manage right now, but isn't efficient.  If something is out of reach, she'll eventually get there, but it takes some effort to coordinate her movements.  Before too much longer, though, I think she'll be well-practiced and well on her way to getting into everything.  yay.  ;-)

We had a wonderful first Christmas with her, but I plan on making those details a post of their own.  So for now, I'll leave you with these pictures.  :-)


Look what I can do! [said in her best Stewart voice]

Playing peek-a-boo under the laundry basket



What started out as play time...



...ended up as Savannah-taco time.  TA DA!