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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Bob's 2 week paternity leave

Bob's 2 week paternity leave is over. I have to admit, I kinda feel bad because there is not MUCH he can do for the baby since I am nursing, and Zara is so much more laid back than Ayla (or maybe we have it "more together" with #2 - I think a little of both) so Bob didn't need to do as much. So instead, he was quite productive around the house.
I called it his man version of nesting, he...
1. "quick-pickled" vegetables


2. Made some orange marmalade


3. Cleaned out the garage and BUILT a work bench.


4. Bought me some craft towers to hold all, scratch that- MOST, of my craft supplies


And
5. Made oven dried tomatoes (I don't have a pic of that, he ate them too fast)

But now he is back at work. We heard Facebook gives men 4 months of paternity leave... That's more than IBM gives mothers!
Think of all the household projects he could have accomplished!

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Friday, August 23, 2013

MITP: Music in the Park



Well another full summer of Music in the Park has come to an end. Ayla looks forward to this event ALL YEAR. Seriously. The patch of lawn in front of the library is the "music-in-the-park park". In February she was already planning her "blue dress" outfit!
It's also fun that friend and neighbor, Abrie, looks forward to it as much as we do - it helps to get there with a friend to stake out the coveted grass spot! (Even though MITP starts at 6:30, people start arriving as early as 3:00.)
It was so awesome that Ayla's old daycare pal Isaiah could come celebrate the last MITP with her.

These two picked up like they never lost a beat. At the beginning after a quick snack, Isaiah stood up and said, "Ayla, would you like to dance with me?" I was so sweet and so polite like some movie middle school moment!
Eat, wrestle, dance - repeat.
Dancing and kisses for daddy...

YouTube Video



The goodbye kiss and reaction deserves its own video...

YouTube Video



Abrie and Zara coordinated hair pieces ;-) note big sister in the lower right coming in for the smother.

Tosses by daddy

Loved our Latimer posse group this year!!
Other MITP recap pics from this summer...
Selfie with Grandma and Jerry in the background..


Zara's first MITP

Sisters

Ayla with neighbor and school friend Gideon...


Cute!

Gideon pushing Ayla in a car...

Dance moves...

Night before Zara was born... Oh why didn't I get a belly pic?

Taking care of joe...

Rolling on the new grass


Daddy's Birthday

I know this looks bad, but it's pomegranate juice, I swear.

Swinging with Joe



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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Double Vanity Project

Ayla's vanity area was pretty much original to the house and was due for a much needed remodel. So we turned it into a double vanity that is roomy enough for two girls to share!
The 60" vanity area is sandwiched in between a walk-in closet to the left and the bathroom/shower to the right.
Finished project

Original space...

The project
First bamboo floor

Subway tile

The vanity...
We ordered the whole vanity package from Amazon. It has its pros and cons but it was FAST and affordable in the look I wanted.


Carrara marble top. Glass tile accent splash.

We changed the cheap knobs to these pretty green and white polka dot ceramic knobs.

Custom mirror to ceiling, hung and trimmed.

Inspiration photo from Houzz

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Friday, August 16, 2013

1 week later...

Things have been a lot easier so far (knock on wood). Maybe the birth sets the tone.


Zara slept most of the week! She's had quite the life so far: eat, sleep, cuddle - repeat. She has been feeding well. And only 2 feelings a night which has Bob and I feeling much more refreshed in the morning!


Zara attended her first MITP and slept right through it!
Sister matching Tutus


At 1 week, I have 18 pounds to go to get back to my starting weight...


I was curious to compare 1 week from last pregnancy


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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Birth Plan

Well, I'm officially 0-2 for inducing my babies. Both pregnancies my Dr planned to induce and both girls decided they would come on their own.
Ayla's planned inducement was because of my gestational diabetes, Zara's planned inducement was because... Well I like to plan (and so does my Dr).
Thursday morning 8/8 I had contractions about 10 mins apart but they subsided and I went about my day. We even went to (maybe our last for summer) Music in the Park.


We knew we had to check in to the hospital at 7:30 AM.
So we went to bed at 10:30-11 for our last good night of sleep for a while... Right? Wrong. 2:30AM I woke up from contraction pains. I tried to ignore them and sleep it off. At 3:00 I decide to start timing. At 4:00 they were 7 mins apart on the dot and by 5:30 some 5 to 6 mins apart. I called hospital and they said to just stay home until the 7:30 appointment.
We came in and they hooked up the monitor and saw Zara had a beautiful contraction pattern. My doctor decided to come by and break my water at 9 instead of administering the pitocin. Once the water broke my own hormones kicked in even more. I went from 3-6 cm in 1 hour. I received my epidural about 10:30 and at noon my dr came by and said oh! You're at 10cm and her head is ready- let's have the baby! Zara Rose was born within 2 contractions about ~7mins at 12:29 PM. 6 lbs 10 oz. (7 more ounces than Ayla - that is 7 more ounces of cupcakes, cookies and ice cream that I couldn't have with Ayla's pregnancy)



Daddy did a MUCH better job cutting the cord and actually the whole process was SO much smoother than the first - Mainly because they actually believed I was in labor this time without having the Pitocin.
Speaking of which, when we checked in that morning I got to see the nurse who saved my life 3 years ago - I said, "are you Elizabeth?" When she said yes, I told her how amazing she was and that when she came on shift 3 years ago she was the only one who believed me, called the dr immediately and told the other nurses that I was going to have the baby within 30 mins!! Gotta love great nurses xo.
Pregnancy summary I gained 30 lbs on the dot, 4 more pounds than with Ayla. Time to start using the new Bob stroller!
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