Not Again…

On February 17th, at 32 weeks and 2 days, I finally had my follow up appointment with Dr. Samson and learned that I do, unfortunately, have gestational diabetes again. Cressey weighs 5 pounds 4 ounces (75th percentile, and only one more ounce than HG weighed when she was born at 36 weeks), and her abdominal circumference was in the 95th perecentile. Through my tears, Dr. Samson tried to reassure me that nothing I did caused this, so I have to keep repeating that to myself. Now I’m on a strict diabetic diet and am testing my blood sugar four times a day. So far, I’ve been pretty on target with my levels, so I hope to cut back to testing two times a day soon. And I’m looking at the bright side of slowing down weight gain in this last trimester too! I got these cute profile pics of Cressey that day. At least one of us was laughing! Her heart rate was 155, good and strong.

Two days later, I saw Dr. Neblett for my check up, and he was really happy with my low blood pressure. Because I was upset about my gestational diabetes news, he reminded me of how hard it was to get this baby girl here so not to worry about her weight- it was already predetermined, and she would be just fine and healthy. While he was listening for her heartbeat, she kicked him right in the doppler machine. He laughed and said, “I think I’ll just step away now!”

Thirty-three weeks has brought a TON of hiccups, night and day. While I was laying in her bed one night, Cressey started up the hiccups, and HG was able to feel them. She thought that was so funny!

I’m also noticing numbness in my arms at times, which apparently is common around this time in pregnancy due to your tissues retaining fluid. My feet are still swelling late in the day, and it’s getting hard to get a full, deep breath. I feel awfully full!

We’ve been discussing Cressey’s arrival date, and I’m really stuck on an even day since April is an even month and 2016 is an even year. That got us talking about HG’s birthday being odd as May 25th, so now she refers to herself as an “odd baby.” Not quite what we meant but pretty funny to hear!

Grandparents’ Day

Last Friday, Helen Grace was proud to show her grandparents around St. Agnes for their annual Grandparents’ Day. They were invited into the classroom to see a picture slideshow with an audio overlay by HG, play with a neat photo app on her iPad, were given a handmade button, took a survey about their childhood, and got to see all of her projects around the classroom. Then, they went to the art classroom to contribute to a collaborative art piece, and of course, they had to stop by the book fair in the library. ($$$$$$) Afterward, Granddaddy and Spiffer checked out HG, and they headed back to their house for an afternoon of lounging on a pallet in the den and then some playground time (to which they rode in the convertible). Big day!

THIS.

Will you be my Valentine?

Our whole Valentine’s weekend was perfect- laidback and full of special times. Friday night, HG spent the night with Spiffer and GD, and John and I celebrated Valentine’s a little early with one of the best steaks we’ve had in a while at Mesquite Chophouse.

On Saturday, we slept in a bit, took lunch to Spiffer and GD and picked up HG, had an afternoon puttering around the house (working on Cressey’s room), went to mass, and had Mexican for dinner.

On Sunday, Valentine’s Day, HG had slept in our bed with me and woke up bright and early at 6 a.m. She couldn’t wait to dive into her gift, so we started off the day in bed, watching her light up with every little gift and enjoying the plate of candy breakfast she made us. We rallied for a family brunch at Bosco’s at 11, and then we came home for some downtime. Grandma came over late afternoon to pick up HG for a date night since she’s out of school on Monday for President’s Day and will be at her house for the day.

What a great, laidback weekend with the ones we love!

Starting the V Day celebration before the sun came up…

The girl read every word of her card out loud. I still have to shake my head sometimes at the vast improvement in her reading (and confidence) in the last two months.

Who doesn’t love a breakfast of M&Ms, Skittles, Reeses PB cups, and Hershey bars?

The selfie stick might have been the best and worst gift ever! “Say cheese!” We might have created a monster.

Working on cards for grandparents

Family pic with Cressey before we head to brunch

A day shy of 32 weeks

More selfie stick action with Grandma on the way to Bosco’s

HG said she chose to sit on the Toohig side of the booth because she had a hard head like the Toohigs and not a soft head like the Moores!

Just when I feel like she might be done with me and cuddles with mama, she asks to come sit in my lap. She’s been doing that a lot in the last week or two. She’s starting to learn she can’t sit/fit on my lap with her back to me, so she’ll turn and face me and lean against my belly. She’ll sit like that for a while with her arms wrapped around me. And has wanted to cuddle at a few dinners out lately. (She used to only do that as an attempt to get away with not finishing her food, but now she’s done and just needs some love.) Maybe she senses her world is about to change. Today she sat next to me and watched the band play for a long time- even went with me on a bathroom break and came back for more!

She is obsessed with my booties, and after much searching, I finally found a kids’ version. They came in the mail yesterday, and she’s in love. Barely taken them off! She asked to be twinkies today, and I was happy to oblige.

Here is her door with all her Valentine's hearts. We started February with her jumping out of bed to see her new heart, but while she was still interested, she was less enthusiastic about waking up to see them after that first week!

Toohig Tidbits: February

While making corn dip for a Super Bowl party, she tasted a bite and said, “Now that’s just a bowl of goodness.”

Ms. Louise has been full of compliments for her lately at the barn. She tells John/me that she is so grown up and mature, very calm, and a great listener.

I’m noticing this more often lately, but on the way to school on Feb 8th, she did not want to watch a movie. She wanted to ‘talk,’ and talk she did for the next 45 minutes!

She set up an obstacle course for GD and Spiffer. When GD jumped over a pillow, she said, “Not bad for an old man!” She and Spiffer were talking something they needed to tell/teach Cressey, and HG said Spiffer could do it ‘if she were still around then!’

Helen Grace told me this weekend that my tummy was getting bigger. “And your booty too, mama!”

For the first 14 days of February, I am adding a heart to HG and John’s doors each day with things I love about them. HG is gettin into the spirit too and has added a few hearts to John’s door.

We got to see Selena Kate and meet Archer!

Super Bowl party at the Browns means stunts for HG and Addie

Morning peepers…John found these two like this one morning as he was about to leave for work.

Fat Tuesday was a really fun day at school with king cakes, Mardi Gras masks, and a parade around school throwing out beads. She came home dropping all kinds of Mardi Gras knowledge (and how it corresponds with Lent), and we had to Google some of it to confirm! She (and SAA) is teaching us a lot!

Ash Wednesday

Dinner at Fazoli’s with GD and Spiffer is always a hit.

Sweetest voicemail ever- while I was in Jackson for Em’s shower