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!!