Just checking in!

Things here are going very well!  The whole recovery thing is WAY easier this time around -- thank goodness because Tyler worked yesterday and he's there again today!  I dreaded the day that he would leave me, but honestly, as much as it's more work by myself, it's easier in lots of ways, too.  Scarlett and I have our thing down, so when she is being entertained watched mostly by Tyler, it throws her for a loop and her behavior disintegrates and her manners disappear.  Not fun.

I'm not gonna lie -- it was terrifying to watch Tyler drive out of the driveway -- but it made for an even better day!  I had been missing my Scarjo so much.  All last week, Tyler had maintained our regular schedule to keep Scarlett in her activities, but being away from her so much was really difficult for me.  I just kept trying to remember to appreciate my time with Poppy.

So staying home with two little ones is not much different than being home with one, but I think that's because Poppy is still so little.  She requires very little work other than time to just sit and nurse.  She's awake maybe an hour or two, but each day, she becomes more alert!  She looks at me and follows my voice.  Scarlett loves to get close and talk to her -- she freaks when Poppy "holds her hand," AKA baby wiggles when her hand happens to land on Scarlett's hand.  I love that Scarlett loves Poppy.  So far, there seems to be no jealousy issues!!!  Phew!

Tyler's home again all next week and we're going to try to all continue our regular routine together, so that I'll be used to going out and about with two babies!  Honestly, the most difficult part of this whole "more than one baby" thing is just trying to get ready.  I can clean (kind of!) and get both girls fed, cleaned, and dressed, but when it comes to putting on make up and straightening my hair, forget it!  I think it's because both girls can be involved/there when I get the other one ready, but to get myself ready, they're on their own!  Laundry is pretty tricky, too!  I guess I should just be using the moby wrap...!

iPod photo dump:

PS--Am I the only one on modg baby watch?!  I'm dying to hear what she names her little girl!

PPS--I need Lulu and Poppy pictures, apparently!  She's always around, but Poppy seems to be sleeping/nursing when she's here!  

So What Wednesday

• I have been listening to Christmas music since a week before Halloween.
• There is lots of baby weight going on and I am not stressed about it at all.  I'll really worry about it after the holidays...!  Yay for yoga pants!
• Lighting my home fragrance makes me feel like I really have things together.  
• Most of my days are spent dressing Poppy in Scarlett's baby clothes, taking pictures, and then comparing them.  
• Naming baby 2, "Poppy," pretty much makes me Kate Middleton's bestie.  (Names with two syllables ending with the -ee sound are all the rage in England!) 
• I'm not pregnant anymore, so now I can drink way more coffee than the mandatory one cup a day; what a long nine months!!!!
• When I'm not snapping pictures, I'm sniffing Poppy's head.  Babies smell so yummy! 
• I had a moby wrap with my first baby, sold it at a consignment shop, then bought another one with my second baby.  Never should have sold it; one of the only times Tyler was right about something...!
• This SWW is pretty much all about babies...sorry 'bout that!  It's what's going on in these parts!  Next week should be more fun!!!

Comparison pictures!

Deliriously Happy!

I have so much that I want to blog about, but when I get a free second, I'd rather brush my teeth!  So...my blog is a little lonely lately!  To spruce things up, I am adding some pictures of my favorite ladies!!!

Happy Voting Day!!!

Why?? (Baby 2's name)

Poppy Ballerina Smith

Now here's the back story!  

It started with Alyssa's name, Alyssa Kristina.  You'd never know that her middle name is Kristina if you're around my family ever because we always call her "Alyssa Louisiana."  It started from the very beginning and just stuck.

So when it came to naming baby 2, I started with naming her Poppy Marilyn.  Our last name is Smith, so her initials would have been PMS.  I was still okay with it -- she'll get married eventually!  But then Mary started calling her "Poppy Ballerina."  After a few days of hearing it, I decided that her middle name should be "Ballerina."  It's a girly, pretty sounding name and if is anything like "Alyssa Louisiana," it was going to stick whether I embraced it or not!  An added bonus??  The fun, craziness fits our family!

Tyler was easy to convince because he was happy that I'd moved on from Meggie Monroe, but as we got closer to her due date, he started having nightmares second thoughts!  At that point, it was a done deal, though!

So Poppy Ballerina is the name -- I had fun choosing her name!  I also love it because naming babies is so fun -- when else do you have such power a big decision to make that effects someone for their entire life?!

She's here!!!

Poppy Ballerina Smith arrived this morning at 9am! We are so in love, especially Scarlett!!! More details to come, but for now, we're just enjoying our newest little lady!

41 Weeks...??

Well, I didn't make it to 41 weeks, but I'm posting this anyway...look at how huge I was!!!  More news on baby 2's arrival to come...!

40 weeks 4 days -- this picture will make me feel accomplished in a few months...!  Haha!

Baby's size:  Just about 8 lbs and could be over 20" long -- what?!  Baby 2 get out!!!

Sleep:  Scarlett has been sleeping well, so that helps.  I'm just so dang uncomfortable!  Every time I roll over, my hips sound like what I would imagine a snake's jaw does when unhinging...it hurts!!!  

Maternity clothes:  I prefer sweatpants.

Food cravings:  Everything in moderation...if I eat too much I can't breathe!

Food aversions:  Nothing, really, just cooked broccoli...anything cold is consumable! 

Symptoms I have:  Pain everywhere, especially my sciatic nerve!!!  Ouch x 100!  ...Still I MUST remember this misery when I am sleep-deprived!

Doctor's appointment: My ultrasound last Tuesday showed a happy (chunky!) baby that is very active and healthy.  Couldn't ask for more...except for maybe a baby outside of my body!!!

Movement:  Lots of BIG movements -- they just happen less often!   (Yup, same.)  Baby 2 is folded right in half -- doesn't look comfy!

Belly button:  Flat and weird.  (Also still the same.  I don't remember such a wonky belly button the first time around!)

Gender:  GIRL!

What I'm looking forward to:  Meeting baby 2!  Seeing her face in the ultrasound made it so real; it's almost strange that she's not here yet because she's really a part of our family!  Scarlett goes around saying, "I love my sister!"  I'm pretty sure she says it because I give her positive reinforcement, but I'll take it!

What I miss:  Being un-pregnant!  I mean, really, being a week overdue is just wrong!  I feel like my life is on hold until she comes because everyday I think is the day.  I really am trying to enjoy and appreciate the quiet before the storm, but I'm getting impatient!!!

Scarlett is (unintentionally) so FUNNY!

When Scarlett tried to get onto the couch with her Princess Tiana and a blanket, she fell front-first onto the hardwood floor.  I was worried that she had hurt herself and asked, "Did you land on your chest??"  

Scarlett replied through her tears, "Nooo, on my nickels!!!"   HAHAHA!  Poor thing!

All the little ladies call their nipples, nickles, thanks to Alyssa Lou!  When she was younger, she asked Molly what they were called, and Molly told her, "nipples," but she heard, "nickels," so that's what they've been in our family ever since!


And just because I can't post anything without a visual, welcome to the longest bike ride ever.  We have a playground that is right around the corner from our house, so I had the bright idea to take out Scarlett's tricycle and go for a ride in the beautiful weather we were having a week ago.  It literally took us an hour just to get to the playground.  I'm hoping this Spring Scarlett will have the pedaling thing down.  Pain-ful!

Sorry it's sideways -- I thought I could fix it after uploading it to blogger.  Guess not??