Fabulous fours.

Another lovely year has passed, and now I have a four year old.  Granted, I’m almost a month late posting this birthday post for Anna, but at least I’m posting it at some point, right?  I still get half a brownie point, I think. 

This year went by so quickly that I barely remember much of it with being pregnant, having a baby, losing a job, getting another (great) job, and just life in general.  I will say that losing my job and getting to spend nearly 5 months at home with my kids was probably the best blessing of my life.  Getting to spend that time with Anna and watch her grow into the precious little (big) girl that she is today was priceless to me. 

So, what’s new with Anna?  Well, she’s in a new school now and absolutely loves it.  She gets to spend some time with her brother there, so I think it makes her feel like the cool kid on the block. 

She’s well mannered and says “yes, ma’am” and “thank you” about 90% of the time.  The other 10% is spent on the ground screaming and crying, but that’s because she’s a moody little 4 year old with a very strong will, so I just roll with it and carry around a bible and crucifix to keep the devil away. 

She loves and adores her grandparents and cousins, and her favorite thing ever is to go to MiMi’s (my mom) house or stay for a few days at Maw Maw and Paw Paw’s (my in-laws) house. 

She’s hilarious and witty and very funny for a 4 year old.  Not cheesy, knock knock funny, but she seriously says things that will make you laugh for minutes.  Granted, I can’t remember any of them now because I fail, but just envision Jay Leno with less chin and curlier hair, and you have my daughter.

She’s very nurturing with her brother, very maternal with her baby dolls, and very loving with her dad and me.  She’s just a sweet kid.  I can’t say it enough.

Anna’s favorites:
Color: Blue
Food: Raviolis (yeah, I feed my kid from a can sometimes, sue me – I take what I can get with her because she’s a VERY picky eater) 
TV Show: Woody Woodpecker, Curious George
Movie: She’s not a big fan of movies – they don’t hold her interest long
Song: She likes whatever we listen to, so lots of old school music and electronica.  Quite an eclectic mix, I’d say.
Saying: She likes to say the word “actually” a lot.  “Well, actually, I don’t like those pants.”
Toy: She likes her brother a lot.  He’s her toy.
Person: Mom, dad, MiMi, Maw Maw and Paw Paw
Animal: Chloe although she calls her White Harley.
Snack: Chips
Drink: Milk, water, or sweet tea
Pastime: She loves jumping on her bed. 
Height/Weight: 40 1/2 (75% percentile); 36 lbs. (50th%)

So, we decided to do the low-key (we’re poor) thing this year and just have a little mini-party with just us.  We woke Anna up that morning with a showering of balloons.  She absolutely loved it! 


At this age we can get away with giving her $1 bills. 


Hey, I want in on some of that action!

I call this clutter corner.  I imagine every house with kids has this if you’re lacking a play room.  If you can find it in the midst of this chaos, her birthday present was a little scooter.

She was very excited!

 
And since I’m the world’s best mom, I was encouraging her to ride it without shoes or a helmet!

Then my brain kicked in, and I made her come inside and gear up before CPS came by to take her away.

We had a very low-key day for a very special little girl.  Happy birthday, sweet Anna Kate!  We love you so much!

15 weeks & Anna is THREE!

So, my little baby is now three years old.  I must say that this age is the most awesome and the most tiresome.  Her little personality is out in full-force.  She’s funny, smart, kind, caring, loving and just all around wonderful.  If you’re sick, she takes care of you by rubbing your head or giving you her Dot (lovey).  She can speak in full sentences now and is always saying the most hilarious things like, “I AM ROSE NYLUND!” or “Mommy, look I built the Castle of Grayskull (out of Legos)!”  She has an old little soul and will sit contently with me while I watch old sitcoms like Three’s Company, Good Times and Maude.  She’s a mini-me and typically follows me around wherever I go.  

Here’s her castle:


She’s a rough and tumble kid who likes to play in the dirt with the boys and run and jump like she’s an All Star Basketball player.  Then she’ll spend hours sitting at the table carefully applying her make-up, putting on jewelry, walking around with purses and pushing her baby dolls in strollers.  She’s a well-rounded kid, and I honestly have nothing to do with her coolness.  She did it all on her own!

Anna is also a fiery little girl.  She can go from  0 – 60 in 2 seconds and be happy one second and frothing at the mouth on the floor the next.  There have been times where I’ve contemplated having her exorcised, and Joe was convinced at one point that she was bi-polar, but the more I learn about three year olds, the more I learn that this is just par for the course.  You take the good with the bad.  And even at her baddest, Anna is pretty darn good.  We’re very blessed to have such a special child in our lives.

Anna’s favorites:
Color: Yellow or pink
Food: Hot dogs
TV Show: Dora or Wonder Pets
Movie: Tangled
Song: Anything by Katy Perry
Saying: “OHHHHHH, MANNNNNNN!” Like Swiper on Dora.
Toy: She loves her baby doll and her flower slap bracelet
Person: Mom
Animal: Chloe although she calls her White Harley.
Snack: Gold fish or Phineas and Ferb snacks.
Drink: Milk or sweet tea
Pastime: Playing on the playground, specifically slides
Height/Weight: 37 1/2”, 32/33

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Happy Birthday to Anna!
We celebrated Anna’s 3rd birthday on Saturday, October 15th.  For a while there, I thought Anna would be the only kid at the party since the day I chose conflicted with other family events, but the turnout was great, and Anna had a blast!

I was a bit disappointed with the gym party, overall, because I had to keep asking the girl to guide the kids in what to do, but I also worked at a gymnastics club (different club) for 6 years, and we ran our parties much differently (and better).  Maybe I was just expecting too much, but I shouldn’t have to ask the leader of the party to get the kids 15 minutes into the party (when they only had an hour of play time). 

Aside from the lack of direction from the staff there, the party room was decorated great, and everything turned out nicely.  The kids had fun, the parents had a good time chatting – it was a really good day. 

Here are some pics:
She’s super happy the whole morning…until we get there.

My good friend Allison made this precious banner!


That pile on the right is a bunch of hand-made super hero capes that I gave to the kids at her party.  It was such a fun project!  I wish I would’ve taken more photos, but this is what one of them looks like on:



My nephew is the cutest Super Man ever!

Joe missed his golden NBA opportunity.

Shirley Temple reincarnated!

Super mom and dad (and 15 week baby bump)



The photos below are from later that night.  Anna was so exhausted, but she still wanted to open all 2,000 of her presents!

Happy birthday, my sweet baby, we love you so much!
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15 week stats:

—  My glands are making more and more hormones all the time.
   
—  My whole body (except for parts of my scalp) responds to light touch.
   
—  My brand new teeth are under construction.
— Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple).

 
The details…

How far along: 15 weeks

Total weight gain: I have no idea, but based on the way my clothes are fitting, I’m probably up about 30 lbs.  Ick.  I’m scared to weigh myself. 

Sleep habits: I’ve actually been sleeping a bit better.  If I wake up in the middle of the night, I haven’t been having as many problems falling back asleep – even with Joe snoring in the background.  My mind is also a lot more relaxed, less anxiety, so I don’t “think” too much when I wake up.  This allows me to just fall back asleep without many issues.  My dreams have been super intense and super vivid.  (SAME AS LAST WEEK)

Maternity clothes: It seems like my bump has made an official appearance because the little bump I have now is not really disappearing anymore.  I’m in that horrible stage where I look bloated, puffy, swollen, fat, like I’ve gained weight, and I’m sure people who don’t know I’m pregnant are just going to assume that I’m eating too many biscuits at Cracker Barrel.  Oh well!  My bump will be here soon enough, and I’ll miss this time when I can still see and paint my own toenails!

Best moment of the week: Anna’s birthday party was pretty great!

Food cravings: I’m still on a sushi kick, but at this point I have to keep my hands away for fear of eating them I’m so darn hungry all the time.  I guess my body is kicking into gear since I spent the first 13 weeks basically disgusted by food.  I knew I’d eventually catch up.  Here I am!

Aversions: I could still eat my arm. 

Symptoms: Exhaustion at night (I’m snoozing by 8 p.m.).  I’ve had a few hormonal flare-ups the past week but nothing to write home about.  My skin is kind of glowing which I’m digging.  It makes up for my ever-spreading ass. 

Movement:  I’m not sure if I’m psyching myself out, but I could swear I’ve been feeling little pops here and there the past week.  I know the baby is just above my pelvic bone, and since that’s where most of the pops are located, I’m going to assume it’s the baby and not gas.  It’s probably gas. 

What I’m looking forward to:  I’m actually contemplating going to a 4d prenatal pics place to get a gender read on my baby.  I just can’t wait until 20 weeks.  No way, no how. 

What I miss: Clothes that fit right.

Next appointment: November 1. I finally got my flu shot!  Joe and Anna got theirs as well, so we’re all covered!

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Something a little serious…

I’ve contemplated whether or not to blog about this, but since this is going on in my life right now, I feel like I should be honest and open with everyone on here since it’s an issue that is SO important.

Back in 2009 after I weaned Anna from breast-feeding, I developed lumps in my breasts (that word makes me cringe, but I know it’s better than saying boobies or teats).  I went in for an ultra-sound and MMG and learned that the lumps were actually dense scar tissue from over-pumping (I exclusively pumped for about 3 months). 

Fast-forward to now.  My very pro-active OB suggested that I get another u/s to compare to my scans from 2009 – just to be on the safe side.  So, I did. 

The lumps that I initially had issues with have all but vanished, but the tech did find another spot of concern.  When the Radiologist came in to check, he didn’t seem too concerned and kept saying words like “benign” and “cyst,” but unless you get an all clear from a breast u/s, you leave feeling like you’ve just been punched in the gut. 

This is basically what it looks like on the monitor (note - this is not my scan, this is just one I found online):

No one wants to see a black hole on a breast scan, right?  It’s a bit alarming, but I typed in “benign breast cyst” and found this image, so that’s a bit comforting. 

Anyway, the Dr. said that he didn’t think it warranted immediate action and to come back in 6 months.  The date they scheduled me for is actually my due date, so we pushed it up to four months from now. 

However, after Giuliana Rancic’s announcement yesterday, I feel compelled to get a biopsy.  She’s only 36.  She has no family history other than an aunt.  She’s me.  Well, she’s hotter, richer and a few years older, but you understand what I’m saying.

Even if it turns out to be nothing, it will be worth the peace of mind.  And, if it does turn out to be more than benign, then early detection is key.  I owe it to my daughter, my unborn child and myself to ensure that I’m here as long as I can be, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep myself healthy for my children.

I think the minimum age for a baseline MMG should be changed to 30.  Plenty of women younger than 40 have breast cancer.  We live in a rose-colored world where we think breast cancer can’t touch us because we’re young, our family has no history, we take care of our bodies, we exercise, we eat right.  Don’t fool yourselves.  Cancer can happen to anyone.  And it’s up to us to make sure we arm ourselves with knowledge and take the necessary steps to get checked. 

Take that step today.  I am.