cloth diapering for baby #2

check out Our Nest In The City for my most recent post about the downside (finally some balance, you're probably thinking!) of my favourite thing - cloth diapers! I've been really one-sided, because honestly, my experience had been one-sided until now. But they don't last forever as I thought they did (naive?), so they won't be saving me as many thousands as I'd thought.... $500-$1000 is still a lot of savings, but less than I thought, so I may buy more, and a different kind....

Check it out for deets!

baby mobile idea

we already have one... but for anyone interested.... i found a beauty FREE mobile download. just add a branch + string :)

Thanks, CHILDREN INSPIRE DESIGN!

https://childreninspiredesign.com/content/free-download

12 weeks today!

first trimester, peace out!

I won't miss you. You are by far the worst part of being pregnant. Scratch that... stretch marks are... but you are dang close! Even with Diclectin this time around it was hard... Nausea was kept at bay once I started taking it (and will SO be taking it from day one with the next pregnancy for sure) but the fatigue was so limiting. Actually, Diclectin heightened fatigue probably 2 fold as it's the most common side effect of the drug. Which was pretty hard before Brad's Paternity leave (only in Quebec does the baby daddy get 5 weeks ON TOP of my one year of Maternity leave!), but is now not a problem since my sainted husband is doing nearly all of Lily's morning feeds and letting me sleep. I'm a lucky woman :)

But, that said, his pat leave is winding down at the perfect time... my energy has been slightly back to normal and in about a week I'll stop taking Diclectin which will hopefully result in even less fatigue, and not result in nausea...

Thought so far:

1. when you have a baby at home, the 1st trimester's worries (of potential miscarriages, specifically) seem less powerful. I'm thankful to have had Lily as a constant distraction during this season as last time around I had a lot of trouble keeping faith that God holds all things together in his perfection.... that He is in control...that he would provide the grace we need if a miscarriage was our lot... and all of that. I like to think I've grown spiritually since I was pregnant with Lily, but I do believe her as a distraction was also part of my not-so-stressed state this time.
2. I can not WAIT for this summer and the second trimester. I know I'll have more energy. I will be at the best part of my pregnancy in the best part of the year - Spring and Summer!! Once the 3rd trimester rolls around and my body is hotter than an oven (and we all KNOW I'm not taking about appearance because lets face it - it's the opposite hehe!) it will be Fall and the temp will be oh-so-perfect... oh God's timing with this pregnancy was beautiful!
3. Lily is increasingly autonomous now that she's sitting by herself, which is nice that I don't have to be with her every second of her awake time. Especially key for those gross-feeling days. On the other hand, she's getting HEAVY (almost 19lbs!) and carrying her little body around is taxing me like no other. Hope she either walks soon or energy comes back to me...
4. i LOVE being a mom. and i CAN.NOT.WAIT for another babe.

200

In 200 days {give or take} I'll have another baby.

I have a thing for numbers, so when I saw my baby ticker on the right say I had 200 days to go, it made me smile. Such a smooth, even number. I'm almost done my first trimester, tired as heck, and in love with Lily and Momhood like no tomorrow. Another one? Yes please. Can't wait.

See you in 200 days baby boy/girl.

Oh and roughly 56 days we'll find out the answer to that last question :)

another MM travels the globe...

OK so not the GLOBE. But the continent :)

With Lily in the oven, we traveled twice to Africa, and once to Spain and France. She would have quite the passport if it were required for the unborn to carry them. For Baby #2 it's not looking like we'll do much over seas travel, but this baby will and has hit the USA pretty hard before her/his November birth day. 

We just got back from an enormously encouraging trip to Chicago for the Gospel Coalition conference (will definitely be blogging in time, on Our Nest in the City about that) and in just a few short months we'll be taking up residence in Louisville, Kentucky for all of June and July as Brad studies there for his MDiv at Southern Seminary. 

I'm so excited for Louisville! Brad will be in classes pretty much all day Monday-Friday, but it's an amazing city, where I actually know a few people already, and have lots to explore with Lilygirl. The seminary where Brad will be studying even has an on-campus clinic for students (and their families) where I can get as many ultrasounds as I want for $5 a pop! Not bad considering in most places in the USA, it's over $100 if you don't have coverage (and we won't since were not American, other than travel insurance). We can't wait to find a church down there and get connected to the community. The temptation when you're in a place for a short time is to just keep to yourself but that's not "us" and definitely not our plan.

And something tells me traveling pregnant to Louisville will be far easier than Africa and Europe, so I'm definitely game!

pill popper

I caved. I'm taking it. And only one thought keeps wizzing through my mind.

what was I thinking not taking this sooner!?

I'm loving Diclectin, a drug perscribed for pregnant women to combat nausea. I'd been recommended it by my doctor and other mom/pregnant friends while I was pregnant with Lily but I resisted. I thought I knew better. I was also a bit proud. Seem familiar? Yep. Same as when I thought I would never get an epidural. How pregnancy and childbearing humbles us! 

There are few side effects of note, and the most significant one is fatigue. Like a pregnant women needs more of that, right? But honestly, even the fatigue which is added to my existent fatigue is nothing compared to the glories of feeling perfectly normal every morning. Added bonus, now that my nausea is gone, I no longer feel the urge to vomit when most smells or tastes come my way. Including the smell and taste of coffee. So that's helping :)

One drawback is the price. We have fairly good coverage with our health insurance, provided through our employer, but for some reason Diclectic isn't covered. Nnormally we'd get 80% off prescription meds but we have to pay the full $140/month for this wonder-drug. Thankfully I waited until my 8th week to start taking Diclectin, so I'm only planning on taking it for 4 weeks, and by the time I'm done, I'll be in the second trimester and likely not experiencing nausea anyhow. There may be a few painful days in between, but I'm not getting another month's supply of it, knowing my nausea dissipated at about the 12.5 week mark with Lily.

My advice? Do what's right for you. Trust yourself and your doctor. 

But be very aware of ego and pride. Because they can be very powerful forces in decision making for pregnancy, childbearing, and parenting. And pride is an ugly, ugly thing.

and psssssssssssssst! it comes before the fall.

{prv 16:18}

heart-stopping

Grey's Anatomy last night blew my mind. Not talking about how the usually-drama-packed series turned musical (that was just plain awesome). No, I'm talking about the baby that was delivered at 23 weeks because her mom was in a serious car accident, making delivery imperative. 

Seeing a 1lb baby delivered to LIVE stopped my heart. I have friends who work in the NICU (neo-natal ICU) of children's hospitals too, and they have confirmed, that it's indeed possible. At 23 weeks, a baby can be delivered, and live.

It just struck me how resilient little babies really are. How beautiful they are, even when they're only a pound. When you're pregnant with a baby, and are 23 weeks along, you feel so far from being a mom. My sweet friend Jamie is 19 weeks as I write this, and is barely showing, but in a few weeks, if she had to deliver that baby (with medical help, to be sure!) it could live. I'm just amazed by that. Astounded. 

It also breaks my heart, and my being to the core, that a baby's life can be terminated up until 37 weeks (full-term), in the womb, in Canada. 

Thoughts swirling around in my head: 

Babies are resilient. 

Life is so valuable, but can be taken swiftly and easily.

Pregnancy is an awe-inspiring thing.

I'm already a mom of two. 

Even if it doesn't feel like it, I have children.