Still Pregnant

So I was 36 weeks two days ago and had my first doctor's appointment her in the USA. My dad drove us to Dallas Wednesday and we moved into Paula's house. I met Paula while I was working at Predisan and we have had lots of fun staying with her. The appointment was Thursday morning and unfortunately, the ultrasound technician was sick so I was unable to have an ultrasound still. I did see my doctor which was most important!

Dr. Salter is wonderful. I met him at Predisan also, during one of the brigades. I translated for his surgeries and observed a couple of them. He was super nice and offered to attend me in my next pregnancy, after I told him my story. So he gave me his information and when I found out I was pregnant in June, I let him know! It was great to see him and have some questions answered. He has a very calming effect! My blood pressure was still low and they tested my urine for protein too (there was none). So that is GREAT. He did not do an exam, so I don't know if I've started effacing or dilating yet, but he did measure the height of my uterus and said I was measuring small. It could be though that the baby is already low, dropped, or just sitting low. At every other appointment I was right on track so it doesn't worry me. His heartbeat was 160!

Now I just have to figure out last minute details, where the hospital is, maybe tour it, and figure out the whole insurance business. Since I delivered Leyla in Honduras I really do not know the processes here in the US at all so some of it is a bit overwhelming. But I am confident things will go well and I couldn't have a better doctor!

I have felt a few things that I didn't feel with Leyla, like hip and general pelvic pain or soreness. It makes me wonder if he has dropped, is in the process, and if that means I may have started dilating OR will dilate on my own. I don't know what to expect since I was induced with Leyla before I had started dilating on my own! I am excited though to find out, I have my next appointment WITH ultrasound on Wednesday. :)

I told her to "smile for Daddy" in order to get her to smile, and it worked! So, this was for you Marcos!

35 weeks...at home in Nashville!

Oh goodness I am getting really bad about updating. Well, we are in Nasvhille and have been here since just after Christmas. We have had lots of fun but I've spent WAY to much money already and still have 2 months  to go!
So far I've bought ALL the baby's things, clothes, blankets, bedding, and a few rattles. I tried not to go overboard but it still seems like a lot!
For Leyla and me, of course we had to buy winter clothes - so I have spent a bit on maternity clothes and long sleeve shirts and sweaters for her. I bought a few nursing tops too, for later. We bought a computer also, so that was a bit pricey! Probably the most expensive thing I bought. I had to get my licensed renewed and my bank account switched to something that worked better for us. We bought Leyla a baby doll, some books, and a few videos to keep her entertained. Mom had bought her some puzzles, playdough, and a dollhouse, which she LOVES. And I guess I've been eating a lot too! So from now on I'm going to try not to spend anymore money unless it's on groceries, until Marcos gets here and then I can blame him if we run out, ha!

 We had lunch with Mauricio at his restaurant - this picture really makes me look like I swallowed a watermelon!

 Leyla and her mommy-me at Mama-Dena's house.

 playing badminton in the yard at daddy-dee's house!

 playing tea party and birthday party at mommy-me's - one of her favorite things to do!

eating spaghetti at Fazoli's! yum!

I always end up slacking on maternity pictures; tried to take one every 4 weeks and I think I've only gotten a 4, 9, 12, 19, 28, ad 34 week picture! OH well. Anyway, I think I am pretty big but still not as big as I was with Leyla at the end. I was sticking straight out with her! So I've got at least 2 inches to go with this one. I am starting to get really tired now and am not able to put my shoes on comfortably. Now I'm starting to think about post-pregnancy and how I will shed the weight. I did nothing with Leyla and the pounds just came off, thanks to breastfeeding. But I am afraid I have gained so much in the last few weeks just from being in the USA that I may have a harder time losing it all. We'll see how it goes, but, I will definitely have to exercise some just for my own health and energy. I HATE running but I know that exercise gives you more energy instead of zapping you of it - it is had to get started though. I have always liked to do core exercises and when I found out I was pregnant I had found some great routines that I tried to do a couple times and then stopped because of the pregnancy (they were too intense). I think I will go back to those routines afterwards. I definitely feel out of shape, and not just because I'm pregnant!

Next week, we will be driving to Dallas for my first appointment with my US doctor, at 36 weeks - then it'll be wait, wait, wait!

Preschool Craftiness

Another idea I had for Leyla was to buy a box and label it "CRAFTS" and then stuff it with all kinds of paper, markers, glue, glitter, and fun craft stuff. I looked up a TON of activity ideas on Pinterest and pre-school teacher websites and was inspired. I have made her a few activities and we have done several. I was extremely happy with the result because she really pays attention, enjoys them, is learning, and is distracted for a good while from the TV!

Here are a few of the activities I have made her that are my favorites.

 This is her felt faces book. I wanted to make felt faces and found this book design on Pinterest. It was too cute. I had to sew it all by hand because I don't have a sewing machine, but it really wasn't that difficult and turned out super cute. There is a pocket pouch for all the different pieces - I simply cut out a bunch of pieces that could be used for eyes, ears, mouths, noses, hair, hats, etc. There are four faces: one green, one orange, one white, and one brown. The green and orange are obviously for making silly monster faces :)

This is another one I spent a lot of time on. I made several different colored shapes and used them to form images like the one shown. I took pictures of each one and then cut and pasted them onto index cards, laminated them, and put them on a key ring. The shapes are laminated and have little magnet strips on them. The idea was to buy her a magnetic clipboard or dry erase board so that the pieces would be easily contained (like for use on the plane...). For now she just uses them on a cookie sheet. There are several images: caterpillar, butterfly, train, boat, sun, flower, house, clown, fish, castle, etc.

 I just made this one a few days ago and Leyla loves it. She was so excited she wouldn't stay in her seat! She kept jumping up and down every time she matched the letters right, saying "It fits! It fits!" All I did was draw on one half of an index card, a letter, and on the other half, images that began with that letter. Then I cut them in two pieces randomly to make "puzzle" pieces. She recognizes the A and B, but she names all the pictures, and fits them together easily just looking at the shapes - she is really good at puzzles.

I love this one! I took old bottle caps - we drink way too much coke and save all the bottles under the sink, so I had several to use (Marcos takes them to the mountains or recyces them). All you do is cut out images in foamy and glue them to the bottle cap. I had to make a stamp pad because I couldn't find one with multiple colors, but the stamps work really well! Pretty amazing, that simple to do. I made shapes and letters ABC and numbers 123.

These are two Christmas crafts we did today, on the fridge. Reindeer with her foot and hands, and a Christmas tree with her cut out hands.

The past month or so...

It has been about a month I think since I updated, so this is going to be a long one!
I tried to update a few weeks ago but had exceeded my upload limit, so, I have been trying to fix it and was only just now able to.

#1: First, Leyla had her 3rd birthday and got exactly what she wanted: a Tasha Backyardigans piñata and cake. She had so much fun! I tried to put her down to nap before it got too late, so she would be in a good mood for the party, but she wouldn't sleep! I put her to bed and she played in her bed. Then when she came out she had changed entirely out of her clothes and had chosen the dress to wear for her party.

I made her a Tasha cake that I thought turned out really well! I was very happy, and I only came up with  the idea on a whim, when I couldn't decide what kind of cake to do. The main problem was she wanted a pink cake, but the  character Tasha is not pink! So I made a pink on the inside cake with pink accents in the icing. She was happy.

#2: Now, in baby news, I am now 29 weeks and in 3rd trimester! Hard to believe, but I am getting  more and more anxious and ready for this baby to be here. I can't wait to get to the US and relax somewhat, shop for the baby, and enjoy being with family and friends. These pictures are from about 27 weeks.

 This is his sweet little face! If you turn your head to the left, you can see it. Where it says "carita," right  underneath are his eyes, then his chin is on the right. I think the cord is running right in front of his nose, because there are a couple odd-looking stripes there.

 Pretty straight bones!

#3: Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! I don't know why some pictures won't rotate, even if I've saved them, but anyway, here is Leyla helping to decorate the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving lunch! I made a turkey and dressing, and we went to Joann and Dwight's to share a meal with some other friends. It was all very yummy.

  She put all the ornaments in the same spot, on the same branch.

 We went to Tegus for my birthday and to take advantage of Black Friday sales. Here is Leyla posing with the big teddy bear at the huge Christmas tree in the new mall. She loved it.

 We bought her a little table and chairs that she LOVES; she sits there to color, paint, create, eat, and watch TV. It has been great for her, and just what I had in mind.

 I also bought her this new bedding set and a curtain (should have bought another panel...). It looks a little grown-up so it won't need replacing, plus it ties in all the colors I have planned for the room perfectly. Not sure still if we will be able to paint the walls, but, the baby's things will be blue and green, and the furniture will be white with accents. The bookshelf is the only piece we have so far, with the blue inside panel. Next up is a changing table and a cube shelf-bench for the other wall for toys and a reading corner. I plan on painting it white and the inside of half the cubes blue, pink, and green. Can't wait to get it all done!!

23 Weeks and Other News

Well, I am past the half-way point now! Incredible! Now that I am not working, I am busy making a few preparations for the baby and getting the house in order!

First, I finished the baby blanket :)

I made the giraffe first and the blanket to match. I think they turned out perfect! The blanket is thin with lots of breathable holes and is a teddy bear pattern. Of course, for Honduras, I didn't want a super thick blanket!

 
 October 17, Loyda had her baby! His name is David and he weighed 6 lbs and 2 oz. She was a week overdue and ended up having a c-section, but he was born healthy and she is recovering very well.

My next project: I had been wanting to do this for awhile and finally decided to just go or it! Here is the before and below is the after: 

it would not load the right direction!!! but, there it is. I had problems getting the oven door to stay upright but for the most part it turned out the way I wanted! Leyla has been busy making cakes :) Now the next project will be to make her some felt food! Her birthday is on Monday so I will post about that next!

Half-way there!

It is hard to believe I will be 20 weeks tomorrow. It has already gone by so fast! I feel like I started showing WAY soon (mostly because of the bloating, ha) but since I got in the 2nd trimester my waist hasn't changed too much. I was worried at first that my weight gain would continue but it has stabilized, thankfully. I have started feeling him move too! Just little movements - different from Leyla though! When I first felt her move I remember she had hiccups a lot, and her movements were like tiny punches. This one seems to "slide" from one side to the other in my abdomen, and I will feel hard spots low, below my belly button, but I only occasionally feel the little punches. It could be because I am feeling him sooner though. I don't remember exactly when I first felt Leyla move but I remember waiting for what seemed like forever and I know it was at least 20 weeks if not past - I've been feeling this one for a week maybe two now.

The latest picture I took at 19 weeks. Definitely got a bump, pants don't fit, and I'm up a bra size!

I made Leyla some play-dough this week to have some fun with her and help her learn her colors - we made such pretty little balls, pink, yellow, orange, green, and blue! We made a caterpillar, too.

Then Roger and Loyda came over and played too - and next thing I knew....

The two kids had a big green blob :(

 Roger helped me out by cleaning the pila, since Marcos had to go to the mountains and hadn't had time - so then he was tired, there was no electricity, and it was unbearably hot - so he was trying to rest and Leyla came along and decided to play doctor! She wouldn't leave him alone and kept giving him "medicine" and poking him everywhere. :)

It's a BOY!

I am 17 weeks pregnant and we found out at 15 weeks *surprise* that we're going to be having a boy!!

I was surprised that this little guy let us see so early (with Leyla we waited forever to know) but I was not surprised to find out BOY. I just had a feeling. So far I'm 2 for 2 guessing the gender of my babies!

I was hoping for another girl, just because financially it would be easier (I already have tons of clothes and girl stuff) and because I know what a girl is like. Now, having a boy, it will be like having a first baby all over again because it will be a different experience!

However, since I had a sneaky feeling it was going to be a boy, I had already gotten myself used to the idea. So I wasn't so shocked or upset. Then I started looking online for boy clothes and toys and they were so cute so I started getting excited. It will definitely be different and new but he will be a blessing. I know Marcos is excited and I am happy for him to have a son that he can share his love of the outdoors and adventure with! I am definitely going to have one girly little girl and a manly, sweaty boy! :)