2 Months Until DDAY!

Hey Y'all,

My due date is in exactly 2 months. WHAT? When did that happen? I feel like that has been the theme of this pregnancy. I feel like this pregnancy has gone by SO fast. I do however remember Ruby's pregnancy going by fast and then feeling like the last month lasted 10+ more months. I'm wondering if that will happen this time around or if this 1 year old walking, climbing, slobbering, eating, pooping, machine, I mean daughter of mine will help pass the time. People always ask if we're ready and I can speak on behalf of Ben and myself that our answer is always absolutely not. We do have everything we need....somewhere in our house. :) We even have some newborn diapers left over from Ruby.

I feel like during your first pregnancy everything is so new and so exciting. Not to say that we aren't excited this time around, let me make that clear. We are so excited. It is different though. Honestly, I'm not able to sit around and day dream about what life will be like with a new baby. I don't have the time to look up info on my baby apps about pregnancy symptoms or baby development at this stage in the game. Stella's nursery is still in fact the office/play room/Moose's room when we leave the house. When I was pregnant with Ruby I think we had the nursery all set up with a few months to spare. The funny thing is that I don't think we even had Ruby sleeping in her crib for the first 3 or so months.

Ruby had her first birthday party last weekend. It was so much fun! I don't think Ruby fully understood that all of our friends and family were here for her. She enjoyed her time though, especially with all her cousins. I did however have my first episode of mommy guilt. It was the funniest/eye opening thing. After all of our guests were gone and Ruby had gone to sleep for the night, Ben and I were sitting on the couch relaxing with our feet up and Stella started moving up a storm. I was like oh my gosh, I almost forgot about you Stella. I was so busy that I hadn't remembered feeling her move at all during the day. I feel a little ridiculous saying that since Stella hasn't been born yet, but the truth is, you feel a bond with your baby before that happens. Every move, every kick, even the not so fun symptoms reminds you that you are pregnant. Honestly, it is a feeling that I wish everyone (even my husband) could feel at some point in their life.

There are things that I think to myself that I will do differently or the same with Stella. Now, I do know that some things you really just can't control. I also know that every baby is different. I can't wait to find out how Stella and Ruby are different and the same for that matter. Sometimes I think Ruby has been SUCH an easy baby. However, what if Stella is even easier. Or what if Stella is so much harder. What if she doesn't sleep well, what if she doesn't breast feed well, what if she is colicky, what if she wants to be held all of the time? These are some fears of mine. I wouldn't mind holding her all the time, but I don't think Ruby will let that happen. Something that I think I will try differently is to pump more once Stella is successful at breastfeeding. To be honest, Ruby stopped breastfeeding around 9 months. It made me sad, but at the same time, it was so nice to bottle feed. I wish I would have had breast milk stored up instead of buying formula. I know they call breast milk liquid gold. I have to say the same for formula. It's expensive!

Anyway, those are my thoughts at this stage in the game. It's looking very rainy out right now, but the weatherman told me it is supposed to be 40 and sunny after this. That calls for one thing. Getting outside! Ruby and I both need a break from being inside! I will put on my rain boots on to avoid the mud and Ruby and I will go for a stroll.

P.S. one more random thought. I despise being late. However, since having Ruby, I'm almost late for everything. I haven't figured out yet that it takes an extra 15 minutes to pack up her diaper bag, which I usually forget the essentials anyways, and load her up into the car. Not to mention putting her coat, shoes, and socks on. I'm fearful that once Stella comes along and it is just me at home that we will never make it out of the house. I'm absolutely amazed that anyone with multiples does this. I will take any pointers you may have!

She loved her cake! 

Thank God for rails. 

Love her! 

Random Thoughts

*As of yesterday, Ruby is officially off the bottle. While some kids have a hard time giving up the bottle, mine definitely has not. To be fair, Ruby was never really attached to the bottle. In fact, the last month or so, she didn't really have the desire or the "time" to drink a bottle. She would have one in the morning and maybe drink about 6 oz. of formula. Then, one at night of about the same amount. Ruby is not one to sit still unless she is in her high chair. The girl loves to eat. She now drinks whole milk from a sippy cup during meals and drinks water from a sippy cup when she is playing.

*There are days where I realize I only need one ingredient from the grocery store. This pains me to no end because that means I usually have to bundle Ruby up, get her in and out of her car seat to run into the grocery store for ONE item. I'm really lucky if I can get this item at the dollar store in town. If not, we drive into Buffalo to get it. I think that someone should develop some sort of business for mom's like me. (Momnesia+Preggo Braino=No braino) This business or grocery store would have someone deliver to you the item that you need so that you don't have to bundle or wake up your kids to get something you forgot. Now, if this ever comes about please tell me about it. If you steal my idea and make millions...I want half.

*We had Ruby's 1 year well visit on Monday. Poor girl does NOT like going. She doesn't like getting her diaper changed on changing tables and will SCREAM until you pick her up. So, when the first thing the nurse does at the doctor is have her lay down on the padded table to measure her, she screams and it just sets the mood for the rest of the visit. Ruby's doctor however is AMAZING! She is so good with Ruby. Ruby is in the 55% for weight and 5% for length. She is a short stack. :) Oh yeah, her head is in the 72%. Too much adorableness.

*We had dinner with some friends from MOPS last weekend. Ben's mom, dad, and our  nephew, Zander came to watch Ruby while we ventured out. It was SO nice because the dinner was at another house in Maple Lake. We always have to go into Buffalo for anything that we do, so it was a treat that we were able to walk to our dinner fun. Earlier in the day we went to a friends house to pick up an elliptical. We left Ruby with her grandparents and when we got home she was giggling away with her Grandma Kathy. She barely noticed that we even came through the door. She loves her Grandma Kathy and Papa Dennis. She always takes a little while to warm up to Dennis, but she usually always comes around. :)

*I'm 29 weeks pregnant, but I feel like I'm 36 weeks. I'm so excited for baby number 2 and still a little sad thinking about Ruby having to share me. I also question if I will ever make it out of the house.

*Ruby usually sleeps from 7:00 at night until 7:30 in the morning. Straight through. She's been doing this for about three months. I've definitely become selfish of my sleep. In 2.5 months I will be on here bragging that I got 2 consistent hours of sleep.

*This weekend if the weather is ok, my mom, Ruby, and I are heading to Fargo for the weekend. The following weekend we will be having Ruby's official first birthday party. It is Minnie Mouse themed.

*There are SO many things before having Ruby that I said I would never do. I now do them or have done them. One thing I said would never happen is that I would never let our living room turn into a play room. Yeah, that definitely happened. Right now we have three bedrooms upstairs. Ours, Ruby's, and an office, which will eventually be Stella's room. We have toys in Ruby's room and then a TON in the living room. Our basement is unfinished, but sometimes I dream of the day that it is done just so we can have a play room or area for all the toys.

*The Iditarod is in 30 days. I can't wait! I hope that Alaska gets some good snow between now and then! The Yukon Quest is starting this weekend. It is a different 1,000 mile race in Alaska. For those that don't know, I'm kind of a geek when it comes to dog mushing. I love it and find it absolutely fascinating.

*All done with this post. Kudos to those of you that read my random thoughts. :)