Sunday, May 17, 2009
Baby nursery contest
I recently entered Emily's nursery in a contest. Please contact me for voting information. Thanks!
Emily Grace has arrived!
MOTHERHOOD SURVEY - SECOND BORN
1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes…married for 2 ½ years
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I was overwhelmed with joy!
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Absolutely not!!!
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 26-27
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I took a pregnancy test as soon as I missed my period.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My mother-in-law, since she was the first person I saw the minute after taking a pregnancy test. Then I called Ryan at work to tell him.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes...I don't like secrets.
9. DUE DATE? May 9, 2009
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Off & on…it was really bad in the beginning, but then got better.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Regular coffee (that I had to give up), frozen yogurt, ice cream, fruit, chocolate, cheese, dried cereal, and sushi
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Nothing really
13. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX? *Girl*
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No way...I wanted a girl since I already had a boy.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
30 lbs. (10 lbs. less than I gained with my first pregnancy)
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew about it. Again, I don't like surprises.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No, praise the Lord!
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Riverside, CA
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? I was scheduled for an induction, which took place at 9:00 a.m. It went well, since I was contracting on my own and was already effaced at 3cm and dilated at 50%. My doctor broke my bag of waters at 1:20 p.m. I was 10 cm at 4:30 p.m. and Emily Grace was born at 5:00 p.m.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My husband drove my mother-in-law and me. My mom followed behind us.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My husband, mom, and mother-in-law were all my labor & delivery coaches. :)
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? I had Pitocin to help induce labor and one dose of Stadol (which I was told is similar to Benadryl or Tylonel) at 2:30 p.m. By the time I had to push the medication had completely worn off, but once I saw my precious baby the pain went away.
27. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD'S WEIGHT/HEIGHT? 7 lbs. 3 oz. 19 in.
28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? April 27, 2009
30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Emily Grace
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR SECOND BORN TODAY? She is 20 days old.
32. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST SAW YOUR BABY? I was in shock at first. I wasn’t expecting to deliver as soon as I did. I didn't think it would happen until 7:00 p.m. or later. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was, since I never got a 4D ultrasound and had no idea what she would look like. I immediately fell in love. It was such an amazing feeling to have a boy and a girl. I felt deeply blessed, content, and happy with our family of four.
33. WHAT WAS DADDY’S REACTION WHEN HE FIRST SAW HIS BABY? Ryan was also in shock at first, because of Emily's fast arrival. He was so thankful and relieved that she was healthy and also felt like she completed our family. He is still trying to get used to having a daughter, since he’s been around boys his whole life, but cherishes every minute he spends with her. He agrees that with me that she couldn’t be more perfect.
34. WHO WAS THERE FOR YOUR BABY’S ARRIVAL? Emily's daddy, Grandma Denielle, and Grandma Mary were there for the labor and delivery. Her Grandpa Tim, Aunt Teresa, Aunt Kaitlyn, Grandpa Allan, Uncle Kurt, and cousin Randi all came to the hospital shortly after her birth. Her Grandpa Tom was there for my labor, but had to leave and came to see her the next day at home.
Emily Grace's arrival
Gentle big brother
Proud big brother
First trip home
Welcome home Emily
Not quite a day old yet
Grandpa Tom "Mac" seeing his granddaughter for the first time
Grandpa Allan "YayYay" & Grandma Mary love their grandchildren
Love my baby girl
Little cuddle bug
Grandma Denielle "Aba" loves her grandchildren
Daddy washing her hair for the first time
Ethan pouting & not wanting his picture taken :(
Love her chubby cheeks
11 days old
1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes…married for 2 ½ years
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I was overwhelmed with joy!
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Absolutely not!!!
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 26-27
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I took a pregnancy test as soon as I missed my period.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My mother-in-law, since she was the first person I saw the minute after taking a pregnancy test. Then I called Ryan at work to tell him.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes...I don't like secrets.
9. DUE DATE? May 9, 2009
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Off & on…it was really bad in the beginning, but then got better.
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Regular coffee (that I had to give up), frozen yogurt, ice cream, fruit, chocolate, cheese, dried cereal, and sushi
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Nothing really
13. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX? *Girl*
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No way...I wanted a girl since I already had a boy.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
30 lbs. (10 lbs. less than I gained with my first pregnancy)
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew about it. Again, I don't like surprises.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No, praise the Lord!
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Riverside, CA
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? I was scheduled for an induction, which took place at 9:00 a.m. It went well, since I was contracting on my own and was already effaced at 3cm and dilated at 50%. My doctor broke my bag of waters at 1:20 p.m. I was 10 cm at 4:30 p.m. and Emily Grace was born at 5:00 p.m.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My husband drove my mother-in-law and me. My mom followed behind us.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My husband, mom, and mother-in-law were all my labor & delivery coaches. :)
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? I had Pitocin to help induce labor and one dose of Stadol (which I was told is similar to Benadryl or Tylonel) at 2:30 p.m. By the time I had to push the medication had completely worn off, but once I saw my precious baby the pain went away.
27. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD'S WEIGHT/HEIGHT? 7 lbs. 3 oz. 19 in.
28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? April 27, 2009
30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Emily Grace
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR SECOND BORN TODAY? She is 20 days old.
32. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FIRST SAW YOUR BABY? I was in shock at first. I wasn’t expecting to deliver as soon as I did. I didn't think it would happen until 7:00 p.m. or later. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was, since I never got a 4D ultrasound and had no idea what she would look like. I immediately fell in love. It was such an amazing feeling to have a boy and a girl. I felt deeply blessed, content, and happy with our family of four.
33. WHAT WAS DADDY’S REACTION WHEN HE FIRST SAW HIS BABY? Ryan was also in shock at first, because of Emily's fast arrival. He was so thankful and relieved that she was healthy and also felt like she completed our family. He is still trying to get used to having a daughter, since he’s been around boys his whole life, but cherishes every minute he spends with her. He agrees that with me that she couldn’t be more perfect.
34. WHO WAS THERE FOR YOUR BABY’S ARRIVAL? Emily's daddy, Grandma Denielle, and Grandma Mary were there for the labor and delivery. Her Grandpa Tim, Aunt Teresa, Aunt Kaitlyn, Grandpa Allan, Uncle Kurt, and cousin Randi all came to the hospital shortly after her birth. Her Grandpa Tom was there for my labor, but had to leave and came to see her the next day at home.
Emily Grace's arrival
Gentle big brother
Proud big brother
First trip home
Welcome home Emily
Not quite a day old yet
Grandpa Tom "Mac" seeing his granddaughter for the first time
Grandpa Allan "YayYay" & Grandma Mary love their grandchildren
Love my baby girl
Little cuddle bug
Grandma Denielle "Aba" loves her grandchildren
Daddy washing her hair for the first time
Ethan pouting & not wanting his picture taken :(
Love her chubby cheeks
11 days oldThursday, April 23, 2009
Coming soon...
I have been pregnant with my second child for almost 38 weeks, which doesn’t seem possible. Where does the time go? I have such mixed emotions about it, especially since this will probably be my last pregnancy. Here’s a recent update:On Thursday, April 16th my doctor said I was dilated to 2cm and effaced at 25%. I was having lots of contractions for the following couple of days, but fortunately made it through the weekend. Ryan was the caterer for my cousin Shannon’s wedding on Saturday, so it would not have been good timing. We prayed about it and thankfully God answered our prayers. =)
On Wednesday, April 22nd my doctor said I was dilated to 3cm and effaced at 50%. He gave me the option to schedule an induction for next week (once I’m 38 weeks and full-term) or according to him, "let mother nature take it’s course". I explained to him how well my induction went with Ethan, since I had a different doctor and asked him if he thought it would go just as well this time. Basically, I wanted to know if he thought my body was ready and would work with me, not against me like it did with my first induction. I was dilated and effaced with Ethan, but needed a little nudge to help me establish a regular contraction pattern.
He said he felt very good about it, especially since I’m petite and carrying a decent size baby of approximately 7 – 7 1/2 lbs. He agreed with me that it's probably not a good idea for her to get too much bigger, since I’ve been dealing with bulging varicose veins this pregnancy that are both painful and unsightly.
My induction is scheduled for this Monday, April 27th at 8:00 a.m. as long as a room is available. Thankfully, my family has been very supportive and will all be with me when Emily arrives. Ryan, my mom, and mother-in-law will be with me for the entire labor and delivery. I’m both very excited and anxious to meet my baby girl! It’s hard to believe that I will be a mother to not one, but two children in less than a week.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Preggo pics
A good friend of mine (our wedding photographer), Inma Ruggieri took my pregnancy photos last month. She did this on March 13th when I was 32 weeks. Her website is: www.sevillaphoto.com.
In the beginning of the photo shoot, Ethan struggled with me exposing my belly and refused to be photographed. In a whiny voice he kept saying, "Close the door mommy!" Of course, he was referring to my shirt. It was the funniest thing! :) He finally calmed down once Grandma Mary, Inma, and I sang songs with him.
I really like a bunch of photos that she took, but here are a few of my favorites...
In the beginning of the photo shoot, Ethan struggled with me exposing my belly and refused to be photographed. In a whiny voice he kept saying, "Close the door mommy!" Of course, he was referring to my shirt. It was the funniest thing! :) He finally calmed down once Grandma Mary, Inma, and I sang songs with him.
I really like a bunch of photos that she took, but here are a few of my favorites...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
My hard-working hubby
I am so blessed to have married a handyman. Ryan is such an amazing, selfless man who puts a lot of time and energy into home improvements for our family. This past weekend he definitely outdid himself with projects.
He has always been very artistic, which definitely showed when he got the idea to give the nursery an abstract bubble effect. Here is a brief list of what he recently did in Emily's room:
As for the rest of the house, here is a brief list of other projects that are either in progress or were completed over the weekend:
Ryan painting the circles with primer
Abstract bubble effect (first coat of paint)
Not quite finished yet...
Letters made by Amber, Teresa & Mary
Wooden ladybug that Ryan glued
Decor above the changing table
Wedding photo collage in hallway
Wedding photos in hallway
He has always been very artistic, which definitely showed when he got the idea to give the nursery an abstract bubble effect. Here is a brief list of what he recently did in Emily's room:
- He painted two different sizes of crown molding – one red and one black. His dad came over last weekend to help him put it up.
- He traced four different sized circles on the wall using paint cans, a bucket, and a soda can.
- First he painted the circles with primer, and then did one coat of Heirloom Red. He’ll complete the bubble effect this week by painting another coat of red and doing some touch-up work.
- He installed a clothing bar in Emily’s closet underneath the existing one. My fun project yesterday was hanging up the rest of her adorable baby clothes!
- He glued wooden ladybugs on the "Emily" wall letters and mounted a hook on the side of her crib for the diaper stacker.
As for the rest of the house, here is a brief list of other projects that are either in progress or were completed over the weekend:
- We finally got some of our wedding pictures printed and framed. Ryan used his creative eye and mounted them in our hallway.
- We found a beautiful oil paining of a vineyard that Ryan hung, which completed our dining room wall decor.
- He hung a mirror on the back of our bedroom door and bought green paint for two of our bedroom walls, which will contrast nicely with our existing tan colored walls.
- My laundry area in our garage will be completed soon. We made a trip to Lowe's, so I could pick out things to hang on my white pegboard (metal buckets for misc. items, white bucket for trash, paper towel holder, etc.). The only thing I need to do is label the metal buckets and buy a countertop laundry basket. Ryan enjoyed helping me make my side of the garage look as organized as his.
Ryan painting the circles with primer
Abstract bubble effect (first coat of paint)
Not quite finished yet...
Letters made by Amber, Teresa & Mary
Wooden ladybug that Ryan glued
Decor above the changing table
Wedding photo collage in hallway
Wedding photos in hallwayTuesday, March 10, 2009
Proud mommy
Ethan is growing up...(more pics down below)
I can't go to bed without expressing how proud I am of my son. As of tonight, he is officially a big boy! His bunk bed was brought into his room on Sunday and now, two nights later he is sleeping in it for the first time!
Here's a quick recap:
- Sunday, March 8th - Ethan's Grandpa Al, Uncle Kurt & Daddy knocked out his old window from 1951 and put in his newly stained bunk bed. Then they installed a brand new, energy efficient window. All of Ethan's baby furniture was moved into baby Emily's room, except his crib. We decided it would be best to keep his crib in his room until he's well adjusted.
- Monday, March 9th - We tried putting Ethan in his bunk bed for his nap, but he was scared that he would fall. As he pointed to the head and foot of the bed he kept saying, "Gonna crash, gonna fall off the bed." Ryan put his creative mind to work after finding some extra wood in our garage and decided to make a mini headboard and footboard. We went to Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores and purchased some batting and navy blue fabric. Then Ryan cut and wrapped them around the wood. He completed the project by using his staple gun. Ethan was very excited about them, but not enough to get him to sleep in his bed. His exact words were, "Ethan's bed safe now. Daddy fixed it."
- Tuesday, March 10th - I could not get Ethan to stay in his bunk bed for his nap, so he slept in his crib again. When it was time for bed I gave him the option of sleeping in his crib or bunk bed and he immediately chose his bunk bed. After several frustrating attempts to keep him in his bed, I was about to give up and put him in his crib. I even tried cuddling with him and promising him stickers in the morning, but nothing worked. We said several prayers asking God to comfort him and give him a good night's sleep in his bed. After his final escape from his room for the night I calmly put him back in his bed, whispered "goodnight" and "I love you" and closed his bedroom door behind me. He immediately cried for me, but I didn't give in. I stood by his door for several minutes and listened to him cry. I even heard him jump out of bed and try to open his door. He quickly gave up and within 5 minutes his crying began to fade. I figured he must have climbed back into bed and went to sleep, but waited 15 minutes to check on him. Sure enough, he was sound asleep in his bed surrounded by all of his animal friends and blankets. I am so proud of him that he was able to transition from his crib to his bunk bed only after two nights. I'm taking him to the store first thing in the morning to get him some stickers, since I must keep my promise. My big boy definitely deserves it. :)
The night before Ethan's bunk bed arrives
Ethan showing off his new bunk bed
Fire truck, helicopter, ambulance & police car drawer knobs
Ethan sound asleep in his bunk bed for the first time
Ethan sleeping peacefully in his big boy bedSaturday, March 7, 2009
A work in progress: Ethan's big boy room
Ethan watching daddy paint his "big boy" room
Daddy taking a quick break from painting Ethan's room
Fire truck night light we bought on eBay
Adorable drawer knob we ordered for Ethan's bunk bedwww.coolknobsandpulls.com
Adorable drawer knob we ordered for Ethan's bunk bedwww.coolknobsandpulls.com
Adorable drawer knob we ordered for Ethan's bunk bedwww.coolknobsandpulls.com
Adorable drawer knob we ordered for Ethan's bunk bedwww.coolknobsandpulls.com
Ethan's cute new wallpaper border for his "big boy" roomWe've been busy getting Ethan's big boy room ready before his little sister is born, so he'll have some time to adjust. I've been the one online bargain shopping, while Ryan has been the one doing the physical labor (although I have to give him credit for finding the cool knobs). Don't we make a great team? :) We never realized how much work can go into a toddler's room, but feel it is definitely worth it for our little man.
The first thing we bought was the wallpaper border. We went to Vista Paint and fell in love with one, then came home to look online to make sure it was the one we wanted. We ended up finding it much cheaper online through a wallpaper website than in the store. Next, we bought Ethan's adorable drawer knobs online at: www.coolknobsandpulls.com.
After I searched online for weeks, we finally decided to buy two Home Expressions Cotton Reversible Comforters in navy/red at JCPenney for Ethan's bunk bed. They were on sale, plus I found a coupon code through Google. We bought his sheet sets (Fair Haven Stripe) online from Domestications. Not to complain, since I'm extremely grateful of the gorgeous bunk bed we were given, but it was not the easiest task to find bedding in an extra long twin size. The last item that we've purchased so far is the cute fire truck night light that I found on eBay for $10, including free shipping.
Ryan painted Ethan's room a calming shade of blue on Thursday before he went to work. I was amazed at how fast he did it. My husband is quite the workaholic. Ethan loves it! He now refers to his room as "amazing" and told his Grandma "Aba" (Abihider) today that "Daddy painted it, Ethan picked it". I had no idea how excited he was going to be over a new shade.
Ethan's Grandpa "YayYay" (Ethan's nickname for Big A/Allan) and Uncle Kurty are coming over tomorrow to help Ryan bring in his bunk bed through his window. Ryan has made several trips to Hemet this past month to stain the bunk bed a dark walnut shade, which looks really good. In order to get the bunk bed into Ethan's room, his old window has to be knocked out, which means the guys are installing a brand new energy efficient window! Soon we're going to buy wood blinds for it, which I'm looking forward to.
I definitely have mixed emotions about Ethan's transition from a baby's room to a big boy room. This is possibly the last night that he'll be sleeping in his crib. All of his furniture will be moved to Emily's room tomorrow. I feel sad that one chapter in all of our lives is ending, but happy that a new chapter is beginning. As soon as Ethan's room is finished we will start working on the baby's room, which I am very anxious to do.
Stay tuned for an update and pictures of his big boy room once it's completed...
The first thing we bought was the wallpaper border. We went to Vista Paint and fell in love with one, then came home to look online to make sure it was the one we wanted. We ended up finding it much cheaper online through a wallpaper website than in the store. Next, we bought Ethan's adorable drawer knobs online at: www.coolknobsandpulls.com.
After I searched online for weeks, we finally decided to buy two Home Expressions Cotton Reversible Comforters in navy/red at JCPenney for Ethan's bunk bed. They were on sale, plus I found a coupon code through Google. We bought his sheet sets (Fair Haven Stripe) online from Domestications. Not to complain, since I'm extremely grateful of the gorgeous bunk bed we were given, but it was not the easiest task to find bedding in an extra long twin size. The last item that we've purchased so far is the cute fire truck night light that I found on eBay for $10, including free shipping.
Ryan painted Ethan's room a calming shade of blue on Thursday before he went to work. I was amazed at how fast he did it. My husband is quite the workaholic. Ethan loves it! He now refers to his room as "amazing" and told his Grandma "Aba" (Abihider) today that "Daddy painted it, Ethan picked it". I had no idea how excited he was going to be over a new shade.
Ethan's Grandpa "YayYay" (Ethan's nickname for Big A/Allan) and Uncle Kurty are coming over tomorrow to help Ryan bring in his bunk bed through his window. Ryan has made several trips to Hemet this past month to stain the bunk bed a dark walnut shade, which looks really good. In order to get the bunk bed into Ethan's room, his old window has to be knocked out, which means the guys are installing a brand new energy efficient window! Soon we're going to buy wood blinds for it, which I'm looking forward to.
I definitely have mixed emotions about Ethan's transition from a baby's room to a big boy room. This is possibly the last night that he'll be sleeping in his crib. All of his furniture will be moved to Emily's room tomorrow. I feel sad that one chapter in all of our lives is ending, but happy that a new chapter is beginning. As soon as Ethan's room is finished we will start working on the baby's room, which I am very anxious to do.
Stay tuned for an update and pictures of his big boy room once it's completed...
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