"I chase seagull!!"

One of Evelina's favorite activities at the beach last week was chasing seagulls. When she would see one close by, she would shout "I chase seagull!!" and then get up and go. This one had half a brain and flew away.  

32 Week Belly Shots

32 Week Belly Comparison

I couldn't resist a belly shadow shot on the beach

I hope...

...Evelina is this happy with her big girl bed when we start the transition this weekend!! Fingers crossed. 

Summertime Yums

2.0 | 32 Weeks

How far along? 32 Weeks

Baby’s Size: Squash

Total Weight Gain: 24 lbs. I've lost a couple of pounds and gained them back since modifying my diet due to my gestational diabetes diagnosis.  

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Gender: Little girl #2!!

Movement: Still a crazy mover.    

Sleep: Hasn't been so bad for the most part.  Evelina still joins us in bed almost every night.  I'm still sleeping sans body pillow though, the bed can't support, me, Chris, Evelina and pillow. 

Symptoms:  It is getting more difficult to move around gracefully with my belly growing and growing.  I'm more achy when I wake in the morning or when I have to get up to use the little girl's room during the night.  On the flip side, I have more energy, my heartburn has subsided substantially, and I tend to not swell (except when I sit at work for too long) as much ever since modifying my diet due to gestational diabetes.  Eating fewer carbs and more healthy carbs definitely has it's advantages.  Of course, I have yet ANOTHER head cold.  It is really becoming ridiculous. 

Best Moments this week: Our family vacation to Ogunquit, ME.  The weather was perfection and we had a wonderful time with our family.  It was so nice to get away and "relax" before Siby arrives.     

Food Aversions: Nothing.   

Food Cravings: Sweets, of course.  Although I still get to indulge on ice cream after dinner, just not as much. Eddie's slow churned is my BFF; carbs are so much less than other ice cream!! 

What I miss: Eating what I want...when I want.  My meals are more regimented these days.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner with a snack about 2-3 hours after each meal.  I can't really graze throughout the day like I once did.  

What I am looking forward to: A big ice cream sundae or slice of chocolate cake!!  After Evelina was born, all I wanted was an Italian sub. I didn't eat any cold cuts when I was pregnant with her and even if I did, an Italian sub would have given me major heartburn.  This time around, I want Chris to bring me something uber-sweet to the hospital. 

What Else?  I was all doom and gloom when I was told that I officially had gestational diabetes.  I thought it would be a total hassle and difficult to manage, but once I had my first visit to the diabetes clinic, I realized it wasn't going to be so bad.  For the most part, it has been pretty easy to keep my sugars in normal range, and surprisingly, I can eat more than I thought I would be allowed.  I can still eat sweets if I'd like, but everything in moderation, of course. I have to test my blood sugars 4x/day and because I often forget, I set an alarm on my phone.  When Evelina hears the alarm, she often shouts "test sugars!!".  She is too cute.  The only negative is that menu planning takes up a lot more of my already limited time, but it will all be worth it for a healthy babe.

32 week photo is on the way, I just need to find some time to go through some vacation photos.  

The Elephant

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!”

-- Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg 

When planning Evelina's nursery, it was a given that owls would be one of the elements of her room considering the cute sheets I found with an owl/tree print.  This time around, I was stumped.  As I surfed Etsy for inspiration, I came across a few cute elephant accessories and thought they would be perfect.  I often think of my late Grandma whenever I see an elephant.  She loved them, and had quite the little collection of the creatures since they are revered for bringing luck to those who possess them.  I can only hope that Siby will be showered in good luck throughout her life with the presence of her elephants.    

A few of the elephant accessories for Siby's nursery: 

1. A cute elephant plush/pillow
2. An elephant mobile for over the changing table
3. A purple changing pad cover with elephants
4. An elephant lovie.  Hopefully this will be Siby's equivalent of Evelina's beloved giraffe lovie, "Gigi".  We plan to name her "Ellie"...I know, super creative once again. 

Of course, this doesn't mean that the room will be filled with elephants. It is just a nice touch to make it more fun for Siby as she grows.     

First Pigtails

Peering out the window while looking at the ice cream truck

Evelina Sings the ABCs

I was finally able to convince Evelina to let me take a video of her singing one of her favorite songs. I've tried to sneak up on her but she always catches me and wants to see herself via the phone.  So, this time around I told her if she sang for me, she could watch the video.  Worked like a charm!! She can be so easy to reason with...sometimes. 

In the Buff | Part II

If you don't like viewing bare pregnancy belly, this isn't the post for you.  

At 30 weeks with Evelina, I decided to do a buff belly shot and therefore thought I should do it again for Siby.  I was also curious since I feel and *think* I am larger this time around. 

Based on the photos, not only do I look bigger, but I look to be carrying lower and I'm much rounder toward the top then I was with the petite Evelina.  All due to a gestational diabetes pregnancy perhaps, or just the fact that 2nd babies are typically bigger?! 

30 Weeks with Siby

30 Weeks with Evelina

Evelina Tidbits

As Evelina's second birthday was approaching, it was becoming increasingly difficult finding time to write her monthly posts.  I'm happy I was able to keep up with it during her first two years, and I know I will look back and be glad I captured some of her milestones, new discoveries and habits.

I would like to continue documenting her development in some way without it being too time-consuming, considering Siby is due to arrive shortly.  There are endless tidbits of information that I could share, but it would result in another full-time job. So, instead, I may start writing "Evelina Tidbits" posts every so often, similar to this one.  I think a "Conversations with Evelina" post may be in the future as well.  Who can resist cute toddler talk? 

• Favorite sentence of all time:  "What's that?" or "What's that, Mama?".  She must say it about 1000 times a day.  Even if she knows what something is.  
• Teeth:  All 4 2-year molars have appeared!!  Yay!!  That means, she has a full set, although the molars still need to push through a little more. There is space between all of her teeth and I often wonder if the gaps will close once her teeth push through more. I think its time she goes to the dentist.  That should be quite the experience.  
• She lives and breathes so she can have a Flintstones vitamin everyday. She calls them "ryans". If she could eat the entire bottle in one day she would, she loves them that much.  Her color of choice is purple.  If Papa gives her one in the morning, she will try to convince me that I need to give her one in the evening as well.  Little does she know that Papa and I speak during the day.  Thank goodness she is *usually* receptive to the "one a day" vitamin policy. 
• She now sleeps with a pillow in her crib which she seems to enjoy...until she slips off of it in the night.  
• Favorite TV shows:  Elmo/Sesame Street, Wiggles and Thomas the Train
• Favorite songs to listen too:  Hot Potato, I like to Move it, ABC Song, Wheels on the Bus
• Evelina LOVES to sing and has an endless number of songs in her repertoire.  She sings some better than others. A few of her favorites include, the ABC song, Row Row Row Your Boat, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Ring Around the Rosie
• She will shake hands and say "Nice to meet you!" 
• She is a total rock-star when it comes to identifying colors.  
• She enjoys counting and will point to things and count as she points.  She can count up to 15 or so. 
• "I peepee on the potty!!" is one of her favorite and most enthusiastic sentences. She will take every chance she is given to attempt to peepee on the potty and she has been extremely successful in the evenings and at diaper changing time if she has a dry diaper.  She tries soooo hard to make pee come out, it is quite hilarious.  Many times she "thinks" she has pee'd because she tried so hard, but her potty is empty.  Even so, she still celebrates.  
• In addition to peeing on the potty, she is an expert toilet bowl flusher.  She waits patiently to flush the toilet after Chris or I have gone.  Luckily, she doesn't flush until someone has actually used the potty...our water bill thanks her for that. 
• She will lift up my shirt and yell "WAKE UP" to Siby.  She also has been giving my belly more hugs and kisses, and even referring to "Siby" in some of her little conversations to us.  It is quite adorable. 
• Thank goodness we decided to purchase a big girl bed instead of another crib.  Miss Lina climbed out of the crib 2 times over the weekend.  She was in the crib jumping and playing around while I was tending to some chores upstairs and all of a sudden she appeared!!  WHAT?!  So I put her back in the crib and asked her to show us how she got out.  After our vacation next week, the big girl bed transition will begin.  
• She likes to tickle so beware!!  Especially bare bellies after she has lifted your shirts.  
• She is a typical, exhausting 2-year old, testing boundaries, throwing frequent tantrums, not listening to us, and causing mischief at every turn.  Even though she challenges us everyday, she is so sweet and caring.  A sponge trying to absorb as much information about her world as she can. Gosh, we love her to pieces. 

 Now, I need to get better about talking photos again.  I'm really slacking. 

Funnies

A couple of my fave funnies from this past week:  

2.0 | 30 Weeks

How far along? 30 Weeks

Baby’s Size: Cucumber

Total Weight Gain: 24 ½ lbs. Yowsa...that is  A LOT of weight gain for 4-5 weeks.  I gained less than 30 lbs when pregnant with Evelina so hopefully it starts to slow down a bit from now until delivery. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Gender: Little girl #2!!

Movement: Lots and lots, she can be quite the crazy girl.     

Sleep: Hasn't been so bad for the most part, despite having another cold and Evelina having to join us in bed many nights.  It could be worse.  

Symptoms:  Some swelling, mostly on the left side of my body which I find strange.  Although, this week it isn't as bad, perhaps because the weather is a tad cooler (well, except for yesterday and today).  I also have another head cold, a common occurrence throughout this pregnancy. 

Best Moments this week: Celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary!!    

Food Aversions: Nothing.   

Food Cravings: Sweets.  Sadly, I must stop eating them and must cut out my favorite summer drink, Arnold Palmer's....unless it is a sugar free version which is never as good :-( 

What I miss: Energy and eating what I want. 

What I am looking forward to: Completely un-pregnancy related, our family vacation coming up in a couple of weeks!!   

What Else?  I failed both the 1-hour and 3-hour glucose tolerance tests, so I am officially a gestational diabetic.  :-(  I had a feeling that I wouldn't pass the 1-hour test since I was on the cusp while pregnant with Evelina and I don't feel that I've been eating as well with the pregnancy, but I didn't think I would fail the 3-hour test.  Needless to say, I now have to count carbs at every meal, check my blood sugar 4 times a day, and visit the diabetes clinic once a week.  Just another thing to add to my list of to-dos everyday, a list that is already runneth over.  What I have to keep telling myself is that it is all for a good cause, to ensure Siby arrives healthy and preferably NOT 9+ lbs. This may even be a blessing in disguise for Chris and I.  For the most part, a diabetic diet is structured the way that everyone should actually eat, a balance of protein and carbs without lots of sugar.  So perhaps, it will help with weight lose after Siby is born!!