ten reasons I'm afraid to have a girl

It's official.  We are having...
. . . . 
 . . . . 
  . . . . 
   . . . . 
    . . . .
to wait until the birth to find out the gender.  
Sorry!

I'm excited and petrified all at the same time.  I like to be super mentally/physically prepared for everything as much as is humanly possible, and waiting on the gender of our second babe is sure to be a challenge.

Hubby wants to wait - and am I now officially on board!  Er, as much as a control freak can be.

I figure we did it my way the first time, and it will be interesting to change it up a bit this pregnancy.

As I've been pretty open about, I've always pictured myself as a 'boy mama.'  I see myself as the 'alpha female' in the house.  I've loved my experience with Cormac, who is more and more 'boy' the older he gets.  Climbing on everything, jumping on everything, letting out gutteral boy yells constantly...and yet so, so, so affectionate and sweet.  He is a kisser, a hugger, a snuggler, a total lover.   I would adore another little boy.

However, there are things I could get really excited about if it is a girl, though, too.  I love girl clothes, girl decor, and almost all things girlie.  I know little girls who seem sweet, balance and normal.  Plus, from all I have heard girls are much easier when they are little {albeit harder when they reach the pre-teen/teen years.   But all in all, having a girl worries me more than it excites me.  Just being honest.

So we'll see.  God knows better than me what will be perfect for our fam.

'Til then, here are some girls and things about girls that scare this lil mama...

1. Honey Boo Boo.  So they say that having a girl 'steals the mother's beauty.'  Hmmm...

Source: imgfave.com via Jessica on Pinterest

2. Snooki

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest

3. This picture.  I think it is supposed to be cute and make you want to have a little girl.  It has the opposite effect on me.  Makes my skin crawl.  Can we just let little girls be "kids" and not "miniature women?"  Eeesh.

Source: etsy.com via Lauren on Pinterest

4. The cost of prom/homecoming/dance classes, etc. etc. etc.
5. The cost of weddings.
6. The teenage years.  This is when I will have to get used to my baby that I birthed telling me how much she hates me and I "don't understand" which I probably won't.

7. The 'mommy issues' she will surely have.  I'm sorry, but even those who claim their mother is 'perfect and amazing' have 'mommy issues.'  Their issue in particular might be 'delusion.'

Source: someecards.com via Audrey on Pinterest

8. Watching her get her heart broken by boys I know are not worth her time anyway, but can't tell her that because it would only make her despise me. 'Nough said.

9. Being suspicious of every man that looks at her.

10. Mean girls.  Hopefully she wouldn't be one...but surely she will have to deal with them.

The only thing that restores my faith in having a daughter is reading Little Women or Jane Austen novels.  Surely my daughter will turn out like Jo March or Elizabeth Bennett, right?

Riiiight.

g

{christmas cousins}

I had written a whole post about Christmas traditions.  It was beautiful and enthralling.  Then I got hellaciously ill, then Christmas happened, then post-Christmas happened...and the moment for that post past.   Sigh.  Next year.  :)

So instead, I'll just share one of our new traditions - the 'cousin pic'!  Now that there are two sweet babies around during family gatherings, with more surely on the way, I really want to be able to look back and see how they grow throughout the years.

And remember their sweet Christmas pajamas.  Jammies.  Cozies.  However you say it in your house.

So here are the two babes we have so far - Cormac and Emmie.  

Aren't her cheeks amazing?

And just because I feel this photograph encapsulates the aftermath of Christmas celebrations for toddlers...here you go:

Merry Christmas!
g

one year ago : christmas

I love looking back on how much changes in only one year.

I can hardly believe this tiny thing was my baby boy 

just last Christmas!

He couldn't help me decorate the tree, but he seemed intrigued by the lights...

One of these were supposed to be our Christmas photo last year...but I  was a major slacker and never actually sent one out.

Doesn't my bald baby look thrilled to be wrapped in lights?  Pretty sure this is one photo idea he will make fun of his mama for years down the road...

And this year.  

He was able to clomp around in the mud while we cut down our tree. 

Oh, and he ate some mud, too!  

Despite the mud and the lack of pretty Christmas snow, our traditional tree-cutting outing was still really fun!

Hubby did most of the work.

Not our official Christmas photo...but I swear we got a couple good ones and I actually did order cards this year.  Maybe they will get mailed by New Years???

Cormac also "helped" me decorate the tree this week.  It was cute to watch him try.  Now to train him to not pull the ornaments off the tree...

Hope everyone is having a fun and {mostly} 

stress-free holiday season so far!

g

{16 week bumpdate}

Sixteen weeks.  I feel, concurrently, like I have been pregnant forever and that I don't have nearly enough time until this baby gets here.   It is an odd feeling, but I am trying to just enjoy this second trimester, as I have heard that the third trimester of your second pregnancy is more brutal than ever. 

Rants {the crappy stuff}:

I feel huge, I have heartburn a lot, my back aches constantly, and sleeping is difficult.  Going through the same sleep issues I had last pregnancy, in that I like sleeping on my back, but am not supposed to while pregnant...so I wake up on my back various times a night and feel guilty and flip to my side.  It is a vicious, un-restful cycle.  Plus, despite being in my second tri and having more energy, I still feel completely exhausted at the end of the day, like I need about twenty hours of sleep to catch up.  I frequently wonder how I am even surviving the day.  Accomplishing all that I want to accomplish during the Christmas season, especially with the kitchen still a construction zone, is very, very difficult while pregnant and raising a toddler.  It will probably take me all week to decorate our tree, which we just cut down yesterday.

Raves {the happy stuff}: 

I just love it when Cormac insists on lifting up my shirt so he can kiss my bare belly after I ask, "Where is your baby brother or sister?"  It is the sweetest thing.
Heard the heartbeat again, and all else checked out well at my sixteen week appt.  No reprimands about my weight gain, thankfully.
Loving that people aren't afraid to ask about my bump anymore!!!

sweater and lace cami - target // leggings - f21 // nothing maternity...just one size up!

Weight gain: 11 pounds.  Surprisingly, I weighed the same at this point in my last pregnancy...which makes me feel slightly better about myself.  Pass the ice cream, please.

Nausea:  Still the occasional bout of dry heaving...but so, so, so much better!  

Skin: Still fine!  No crazy bad breakouts, itching, etc.  No real glow yet...however one of my friends told me I no longer look "green."  :)

Boobs:  I sometimes walk around in public with my bra unclasped.  Thankfully that bra is so dang tight it doesn't move an inch.  Finally understand the whole "18 hour bra" thing.  Need to go up another size.  That is all I will say about all that.  

Cravings:  Just loving all sweet things now!  Never was a die-hard dessert girl until this pregnancy.  Last night I ate the largest piece of cheesecake ever.

Aversions:  Nothing - can eat just about anything now, praise the Lord!  Although smells really get to me.  I have walked out of several restaurants solely based on how they smell.   I also have doused my husband {and surrounding areas} with Febreze on various occasions.

Exercise: Still doing pilates/yoga mix class once a week, and upped my gym visits to five days a week.  The weather has not been great for running outside with the baby/dog, but is essential for me to get out and do something, considering the chaos in the house due to the kitchen renovation...oh, and considering how much food I am eating.
Dreams: Had my first baby dream!  I dreamt I went to the hospital, which looked suspiciously like a nail salon, to have the baby, but then I blacked out and couldn't remember the labor or delivery.  I arrived back at the nail salon the next day, all spacy asking if I had had my baby and where was it?  The nurse/manicurist pointed to one of the pedicure chairs, in which sat a beautiful baby with huge blue eyes, just staring at me expectantly.  I knew it was my child, but wasn't sure if it was a boy or a girl.  So I walked over and unwrapped the blanket it was swaddled in, revealing...a girl!  

Clothing:  I have started to wear some of my maternity jeans...but they are still too loose and hang off my butt.  It's not cute.  So lately it has been a lot of leggings because I don't want to squeeze into my regular jeans anymore.  Shirts need to be either maternity or one size larger than normal.  Or extra long and stretchy.

Heartbeat: 140. Hmmm...much lower than last month.  

Baby movement: Nothing distinct.  I would be concerned except we heard a strong heartbeat this week as well as what the midwife said were "movements" (weird, quick swish sounds now and again) on the Doppler wand thing.  She thinks my placenta might be on the front of my uterus (???) which would make it harder for me to feel much movement.

Gender speculation: Oh gosh...now I think boy.  My motherly intuition is completely messed up.  I guess I have no intuition on this baby.  He/she will be a total surprise, even though all the old wives' tales seem to point to 'girl.'  So will we find out the gender at our ultrasound next month?  Initially I really wanted it to be a surprise at the birth...then I totally changed my mind.  Now Hubby wants to wait until the birth to find out.  AH!  I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO?!?!?

Baby names: Both boy and girl names chosen a while ago - with the middle names now decided on.  We will do the same middle name whether a boy or a girl.  

Hubby feels: Went from excited to finding out the gender, to wanting to keep it a surprise.  Getting a ton done on the kitchen (it's nearly all operable!) so he is feeling less stressed about getting all the planned pre-baby renovations accomplished.

Bump progress:

                 
                    Yup...I just posted a bikini baby bump shot.

g

preggo vlogs #3 and #4

Another two installments of vlogs!  
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional vlogger, clearly.  (Is there such a thing???)
I don't "dress up" for these, and sometimes I don't do my hair.  I do not plan out what I am going to say.  I just talk.  I try to stay on topic.  I try not forget what I am talking about.  Enjoy!

This vlog was filmed at 10 weeks along.  That seems like forever ago.
It is the 'one where I speak of my mental state' - or how depression can be affected by pregnancy.  I even made it sepia-toned to make it look more sad.  Just kidding.  I was trying to distract from my pasty pale skin!



This is the 'one where my scarf takes over my life' - at 12 weeks, when things start to look a little brighter!

g

old wives tales...and cast your vote on baby's gender!

Well, folks...it's time to weigh in on Baby Two's gender.  

{source}

Take the blog poll on the top right sidebar for funsies!  We will find out the gender at our ultrasound January 7th...if Hubby allows it!

So...will Cormac have a little sister to watch over and protect?  Or will he have a brother to play with and fight with and compete with?  (Oh, I know that this will not predict their actual dynamic...just play along with my stereotypical gender role speculation.)  

Wants a bunch of Old Wives' Tales to confuse you and skew your judgement?

I thought so!  Below are all the ones that I've found on the good ol' internet....

Chinese Birth Chart: girl {there are different ones that say the opposite...I'm going by the one I used with Cormac...which was accurate.}

Ring Test: girl {with Cormac it said boy}

Toddler Interested in Belly: girl

Craving sweets: girl

Carrying Low: boy...but when I carried high I had a boy.

Skin Good/Same: boy...but with Cormac my skin was horrible

Increase of Moodiness: girl

Bad Nausea/Morning Sickness: girl

Mom's Beauty - Stolen! : girl

Big boobs: girl

Motherly intuition: girl

The Mayan Tale: boy

Dreams:  girl {well, I have had only one, and the baby was distinctly girl.  although some OWT's say you have the opposite!}

Previous Child's 1st Word is Dada: boy

Heart rate above 140 - girl

Daddy Not Gaining Weight:  boy {well, so far.  with cormac he did, so I'm not sure of the accuracy here.}

Mama is Graceful (vs Clumsy) : girl {can still easily do all my yoga poses!!!}

 So now you can vote...

and let me know of any old wives tales I might have missed in the comment section!!!    

g

st. maarten babymoon.

Ah, beautiful St. Maarten!

This was where Hubby planned our beach vacation, 

and I must say we both loved the island.

Perfect beach weather, felt safe, had no itinerary...

just complete relaxation.

I must say, vacationing in your second trimester is much more enjoyable than in your first!

My favorite things?

1. our hotel (nice pick hubby!}

2. staying up late, knowing I could sleep in the next day

3. the "classy" topless beaches, as opposed to the fully nude tourist attractions.

4. the way the islanders had no problem asking about my pregnancy

5. roundabouts

6. actually finishing a book in one day

7. relishing in all the food a gal could ask for - especially desserts!

8. have actual quality time with my husband

9. taking long, hot leisurely showers...without fear of a baby waking from a nap or being too tired to enjoy it.

10. not having to clean up after anyone.

*  *  *  *  *  

swimming at friar's bay 

me and my preggo belly {and new bangs!} - ready to hit the beach!

yummy beach drink!

view from our balcony at the holland house beach hotel.

view from the top of pic du paradis

at dinner one night.

sunset at mullet bay...pronounced {moo-LAY} unless you are from KY.

after a day at the beach!

walking down one of the alleys while shopping in phillipsburg

the island specialty - guavaberry rum drink

I could tell you it was just as much fun sipping "fruit juice" as it would have been drinking a ton of "guavaberry rum punch drinks" like the one Hubby is enjoying above...

...but then I'd be a big pregnant liar.  
:D

Anyway, we got back Thursday night and then it was immediately back to the realities of kitchen renovations and full-time mamahood.   Kiddo got a black eye {Jimmy's Johns booth table 1, Cormac 0} and I spent all day Sunday suffering exhaustion/dehydration.
Feeling great now - ready to tackle another week!

Happy Monday! 

g