A Moment of Defeat

This morning was a bit trying for me as a mom. To fully grasp my feeling of defeat let me give you a bit of back story on my church going experience and decisions up to this point.

Mini Mac 2 - 18 weeks

Well, I suppose it's about time I make our exciting news blog official! We are overjoyed to be expecting baby number two.

Want to see more of our family photos from the shoot? Check them out here!

Although we discovered Mckenzie's big-sister-in-the-making status around week 5 of my pregnancy, we elected to keep the news quiet until after my sister-in-laws wedding. So, while a very few select friends were clued in, our families weren't informed until week 13, at Thanksgiving dinner. Shortly after, we informed out of town family and close friends via Christmas cards, followed by the obligatory Facebook announcement. And now, here I am finally posting the news for all of you to read. I should admit, in true "second child" fashion, I have been a little bit of a slacker on all things baby bump and pregnancy tracker and have used the delayed announcements as a crutch in doing so. However, with my pregnancy now in it's 18th week and our anatomy scan scheduled for this morning - which means a subsequent gender reveal post coming soon (hint, hint!) - I have vowed to figure out something fun to commemorate the pregnancy, starting today - since my new weeks start on Mondays.

While I haven't done anything cute like my chalkboard tracker with McKenzie, I have been snapping quick selfies in the mirror most weeks and, despite my denial of the fact, am starting to see a distinct baby bump forming.

I am not sure if it's all the work I put in to lose the baby weight after McKenzie, or that I announced the pregnancy so late that my mind is having a hard time catching up with the fact that I am as far along as I am, but I feel like I am having a bit of difficulty coming to terms with the weight gain and growing waistline more so than I did the first time around. But alas, I know it's to be expected and is good for the growing baby, so I shall continue to workout (something I wasn't able to do with McKenzie - so yay!) and make a conscious effort to graciously accept the necessary (but temporary) growth. With the holiday season coming to a close and the abundance of sweets and treats no longer in my face all day, I will attempt to curb these dang aggressive cravings with healthy alternatives.

This is getting long, so I will end with the preggo survey I did with Z and see you all soon for a fun gender reveal post.

How far along? 18 Weeks
Maternity clothes? I haven't pulled them out yet, although I never packed away my belly bands or Gap sweaters, which I have been wearing a bit this past week. 
Sleep: I wake up a few times at night for a potty break and have been having a tad bit of insomnia which leaves me exhausted during the day - thank goodness for toddler naps ;)
Best moment this week: We find out if this mini Mac is a boy or a girl today!!!
Miss Anything? Clear skin and the ability to end the day with an adult beverage.
Movement: A little bit here and there, but it's minimal for now.
Food cravings: Everything in sight?! But really, lemonade - but only the really sour kind and chocolate, lots of chocolate.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I get really bad hearth burn, but luckily the nausea went away around 14 weeks. This go around it was SO bad and literally anything would make me sick. Luckily, working out usually curbs any lingering nausea. 
Have you started to show yet: Ugh, yes! But I am still able to conceal it pretty well with close, not that I need to of course, I just hate this stage where people just think, "is she, isn't she"?!? At night, it can look quite pronounced though.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty even keel for the most part, but the swings are crazy. I get overly emotional about stuff pretty easily, happy, sad, mad, any emption at all.
Looking forward to: The anatomy ultrasound, the gender reveal photo shoot and the Stroller Strides gender reveal workout/party.

Not Another Rubber Chicken Dinner

Last night at Body Back I overheard a couple of the girls talking about getting sick of having the same old chicken and veggies every night. That reminded me of a really good buffalo chicken recipe that is not only delicious, but super easy too. So, of course, I butted into the conversation and shared my tasty twist on boring chicken. This made me realize that I have been TOTALLY slacking on the healthy recipe front and I need to refocus on healthy cooking/eating. 

I found, and made, so many great recipes before we move and really felt like I was getting the hang of that traditional stay-at-home mom, have dinner ready on the table thing. Then we had our quick-as-lightening move (seriously 3 weeks to pack an entire house?!? What were we thinking?) Well, I never got back into that house wife mode after we settled and totally gave into the out to eat and picking up dinner on the way home habits I was accustomed to before. Well it's time to get back on track, starting today. So here are a few of my favorite recipes, including the aforementioned buffalo chicken recipe - because I have a serious love for hot wings. 

Here Comes Fall!

Yes, it may still be sunny and 100 in the Valley of the Sun, but I officially have fall on the brain - and it's all Starbucks' fault! You see, I made my regular post Stroller Strides Starbuck stop this morning and was greeted by the highly-anticipated arrival of all things pumpkin! So, of course, I just had to indulge in a pumpkin cream cheese muffin - Liz, just pretend you didn't see that ;) Then, in true "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" fashion, my gears began to turn with thoughts of all things fall.

In addition to a plethora of pumpkin laden eats, drinks and treats there are a few other things that rank fall among my favorite time of the year. Although, I should probably admit now that each season brings something that, at some point or another, makes it my favorite time of year ... so make what you will of that. But, here is why I am ready to bid adieu to summer. 

My 2014 Summer Trend Picks

That's right, I'm back! And what better way to kick off my return to the blogger-sphere than a little fashion talk?! While we are in the latter days of summer, the 110+ temps this week in AZ tell me we are far from the days of legging and boots. So, I say, let's embrace the heat and extended summer styling with some of my favorite trends!

McKenzie is 8 Months

I have been so bad! I can't believe how behind I am on my blog and updates about McKenzie. I am working on  going fill in each month, with what I can remember. But that will take a bit of time, so I wanted to at least get the current month up. I actually feel like quite a terrible mom for not keeping better track of her milestones and everything. So much changes each month, week even, that I really should have been better about it all, but I have been having too much fun being in the moment with her (and getting some work done too) that I just never made the time. But, I decided if I make it simple enough and just jot down a few of the big things each month I should be more successful. So, let's begin - 8 months, holy cow! When did that happen?

2 Months Old!?!

2 months?!? Well slightly more than two months thanks to, once again, my delay in posting this. I was bad before, but now that I actually have this precious little one that gets the majority of my attention, I am even worse. Some days I look at her and she is still this tiny little nugget and others, I can't believe how much she has grown! 

As the weeks gone on, she stays awake more and more which means a few more fussy moments, but mostly she is a happy, smiley baby who loves to look round and take in all the new things around her. this complicates nap times a bit, because she doesn't want to miss a thing, but it is so fun to watch her discover new things in her every day surroundings. And she loves meeting new people. She gets the biggest smiles when they talk to her and pay attention to her. It's so fun!

Her 2 month well-baby visit came with a round of vaccinations (4 shots and 1 oral). She, of course, cried when they gave her the shots but calmed down and went to sleep pretty quickly. We got home, did her 2 month little photo shoot and she did great through that as well. It was about an hour later, mid-nap, that she got super fussy. She would wake from a dead sleep and scream in pain. So, we pretty much cuddled all afternoon/early evening on the couch. She'd wake up every 20 minutes or so screaming. It was heart breaking. After Mac got home (with some infant Tylenol) she calmed down and I took her for a run in the jogging stroller to get some fresh air. That helped a bit as well. She still slept like a champ that night and was fine by the next day - although I swear she kept watching me to see if I was going to stab her with another needle.

This month saw a few more baby sitters as well. I am working with AZ Spa Girls again on the Summer Spaaah Series which means I had to leave little nugget for 7 hours! Up until then, I had not had a problem leaving her with people, but those were just an hour or two at a time. It was very hard to give her to Chrissy for the night (even though she is who I get most of my parenting cues from). But once the event started I was so busy that it wasn't as bad as I thought. We also started our weekly play dates at Aunt Susans so I can get a few hours a week to focus on the things I need to do that week. We are so lucky to have such supporting and helpful people in our lives. 

2 months old: 
Weight: 9 pounds 14 ounces - 15th percentile (Birth: 6 lbs 14 oz) 
Height: 22.25 inches - 40th percentile (Birth: 21 in)
Head: 15.75 inches - 93rd percentile (Birth: 12.25 in)

Our pediatrician said she is still doing great and that with her movement on the table could roll over any day :)

MILESTONES
Smiling
Recognizes mom's voice
Looks for mom 
Strong neck
Strong legs

12 days old

FIRSTS
bath
Easter
trip to Tucson
Time being babysat (by Grandpa and Grandma Mac)

17 days old

LIKES
Tummy time so she she can look around and move her head
Bouncing
Daddy playing piano
Being in the sling/backpack
The car's air condition on full blast 
Practicing standing
Making faces

DISLIKES
The car seat
Being hot (she will seriously be fine with freezing toes, but the minutes I turn the air down she will scream)

20 days old

EATING
From day one McKenzie has been an excellent breastfeeder. I was worried when we had to start supplementing her with formula to help get rid of the jaundice, but she switched from one to the other effortlessly. Which then gave me confidence that giving her a pacifier would not derail our plans, so that came into play much earlier than I thought (and has been a life saver in many situations already). She has multiple personalities when eating, it really jsut depends on her mood. Most of the time she is kind of a lazy eater. She will eat for a bit, then start to nod off and realize she's eating so immediately wakes up and starts at it like she is starving to prove she is not ready to stop. Other times she is down to business and eats consistently for 15-20 minutes and then stops. Then we also have her excited eating where she is so excited at the thought of eating that she can't quite seem to get latched on - that's my favorite because she is just so funny! 

I have also started building up my freezer supply by pumping and at our appointment the Dr said to bottle feed her 1-2 times a week to get her used to feeding from a bottle and someone else for when she is being cared for by others. Apparently some babies refuse bottles. McKenzie doesn't seem to be picky though - she;s a little piggy and will take food however you want to give it to her. But, this gives Mac an opportunity to have some more bonding time with her - she is very much a momma's girl right now.

For a little bit there I felt like my life was just a constant 2 hour cycle and I was just waiting for the next 15-20 minute feeding to start, but it feels less and less like that each day. In fact, we have stretched days feeds to about 3 (sometimes 4) hours apart and her nights (which have always been longer) is about 4-5 hours apart.

24 days old

SLEEPING
In the early weeks, McKenzie spent the majority of her time sleeping.  Most of the time I had to set a timer and wake her up to eat (which probably accounted for the earlier feeling I mentioned) Then she started staying awake each day for the entire time between 1 or 2 feedings, but I'd still have to wake her up for the other feedings. Now she usually wakes up between 3 and 3.5 hours because she is hungry.

At night we have always been pretty lucky. From the time we brought her home, she was consistently sleeping an hour or 2 longer at night than during the day. The first time it happened I felt so bad, and set my alarm to wake her up like I did during the day, but the doctor said it was ok to let her sleep longer at night  so now she falls asleep around 11:30, wakes up around 3:30, goes right back down and gets up around 6:30  or 7. Since I am definitely not ready to get up at 7, after she eats we have our morning cuddle session in bed and sleep for another 2 to 3 hours. It's probably my favorite part of the day to be honest.

She is much more awake and alert now though. She likes to look around and see what's around her. From time-to-time she will just stop and stare at something (usually nothing more than a shadow or corner of a wall) for what seems like forever. I spend a lot of this time talking to her, holding her, bouncing her and recently, playing with her little arms and legs which she loves to move around so much. She also makes the funniest faces when she is awake so I love to watch her and make funny faces back. When daddy has her, they practice standing and funny faces too. Her little legs are so strong and she loves to be up on them. 

She spends most of her day time naps in her portable rocker thing and then nights in the bassinet by our bed. She's was not a fan of her swing at first, but is slowly getting used to it and dare I say, even starting to like it a bit :) The pack and play is still really just for changing her downstairs and her crib is just pretty for now although the change of scenery the few times I have laid her in it calms her down from a fuss - but not for long.

4 weeks old

Well I think that's all for now. I promise I am going to to be better about blogging and posting pictures to her Facebook Group (it's private, so if you want in just message me). I am pretty good about her Instagram, so make sure you are following her if you want pictures.