Enduring and Laughing

I've said it once and I will say it again, pregnancy removes all forms of dignity.  It just does, at least the way that I do pregnancy.  When I was pregnant with Lily I hid nothing.  Why should I?  Sugar coating what I am going through doesn't make me feel any better and frankly, I would rather be real.  Really real.

Monday was one of those days that was just so awfully miserable that now all I can do is sit and laugh. Oh and blog about it.  After you hear about my day, you might be wondering, "Why Bethany? Why would you share all of that, its embarassing!"  Yep, it is.  Yep it really happened and Yep, its all part of the miracle of my pregnancy.

Monday started off like any other day, over the toilet.  I don't know what it is, but there is no matter of crackers etc. that keeps me from having to throw up right when I wake up.  I have accepted the inevitable and just decided to chug some water in the AM.  That way the experience isn't miserable, just   well, who am I kidding, its still miserable, but at least it is over quickly.

So I finished that, had some breakfast, took Lily to the doctor and by noon I was HUNGRY and nauseous.  This whole pregnancy I have been craving good chips and salsa.  I have resisted for the most part out of sheer terror of what that will taste like coming back up.  I succumbed on Monday and had chips and salsa.  I was like a kid in a candy shop, just couldn't stop eating it.  Well I am sure you can see where this is going.  Within an hour of completing my Mexi-binge, I was over the toilet.  I was right.........not so great coming back up.  So, there went lunch.

Dinner time rolled around and I made stuffed peppers, one of my favorites BM (before Monday).  I was so hungry and feeling so lousy because I had sacrificed my lunch, that of course, I enjoyed a nice size helping of dinner topped off with a few gummy bears.  This is when it got epic.  I got so sick that not only did I throw up everything possible over the span of 30 minutes, but I threw up so hard that I wet myself.  There, I said it.  Embarrassing.  I popped tiny blood vessels in my face around my eyes and peed so hard that it went through 2 layers of clothes and left a tiny puddle on the floor.  Ah, pregnancy rocks (said with so much sarcasm its dripping with it).  It was simply a horrible day and horrible night.  Bob came in to the room with this sympathetic look on his face.  He sat down on the bed with me and held me while we both broke into a fit of laughter.  Seriously, did that just happen?  Oh yes, it did.

My Little Girl

So many of my posts have been short and sweet little updates into the Longmire life.  Frankly I am shocked that I have been as blogger regular as I have.  I am still in shock that I actually got my Christmas Cards out this year!  Yes, everyone, you will get a picture from us, but don't expect too much writing (like none), addressing, stuffing and putting stamps on cards was a task in itself. Whew!

All of this to say, its been a while since I really talked about my precious little girl.  I LOVE her and so many times I just feel like this spectator in her world watching as she learns and expresses herself.  Sure, it seems like right at 2 a switch got flipped that instantly transformed her from a compliant little love bug into a ...... well.... a 2 year old.  I refuse to use that cliched phrase everyone uses for a two year old, but it has been very fascinating to see this independent, defiant and precocious little girl emerge.  When I am not feeling frustrated and wanting to pull my hair out, I just love it.  She is growing up, testing her limits and learning.  It's special, its real and I get to be the director for this stage called Lily Grace's life.  I could not have a better job.

Lily is simply a precious being.  She loves in big ways.  We will be driving in the car and I will look back and say "Lily, I love you" without missing a beat she quickly smiles and says "I wuv you too Mommy!"  It simply melts me.  She loves all things Veggietales and is starting to sing all of her songs even when there are no Veggietales around.  She loves the "Clap your hands" song and requests it frequently as well as "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" and "The Wheels on the Bus."  When Mema or I get out the guitar Lily simply lights up with excitement.  What joy! She adores helping me in the kitchen and loves "tastes" especially when it involves something sweet.

This past week we made 3 batches of chocolate sauce to give as gifts.  From unwrapping the chocolate to testing the finished product Lily loved her role in it!

She loves her Daddy right now and tells me everyday, "Daddy tickle you (me)" and "Daddy throw you (me)."  When Bob rides in from work, he always makes it a point to spend a good 30 minutes literally throwing her around and tickling her.  He launches her from the middle of the living room to the couch and she LOVES it.  It is so precious that he prioritizes her, he is amazing-but thats a whole other blog.

Verbally Lily is just off of the charts.  She is talking in full sentences these days and carrying on long and involved conversations with really anyone who will listen.  My Dad always is amazed at how much she talks.  She just doesn't stop.

Lily is still convinced that she is having a "Brother, Sister, 2 babies" even though we have told her over and over again that there is only one baby floating in Mommy's tummy.  Occasionally we will ask her and she will say "Brother."  We find out on January 11th what the sex of this baby is, so we will see if Lily has an "in" with the baby.

Lily is all things wonderful and frustrating which is exactly how she should be.  Right now she tends to pull out the worst sides of her toddler self with me.  So of course when I send her somewhere I always warn people about what they could encounter.  She always is a perfect dream for other people which, at first, made me a little bummed, but then I realized that I must be doing something right.  Successful parenting is when your kid knows that they can test the boundaries (c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y) with you, but when they go anywhere else they better be on their BEST behavior.

I simply love her.  Today we went to the doctor and she was perfect, cooperative, and sweet.  So much so that the Doctor and the Nurse specifically came into the room and told me that my daughter was the sweetest toddler they had seen in a very long time and that they simply couldn't wait to see her again.  They told me she was special.  I smiled and nodded,

I knew that already.

Santa STAMPEDE!!

Yesterday was a great day.  It desperately tried to start off horribly by waking me up at 12:30AM to throw up, but I didn't let it beat me and it turned into a great day.  Grace Jessup and I are just flat out determined to run through our pregnancies, or as long as we possibly can.  I think its been great motivation for me especially when I feel like nothing else but the couch will do.  There is something ultimately rewarding about throwing up, putting your clothes on, pushing the baby for 4 miles and then making it home.  Don't ask me how, but it helps.  No, running doesn't make me feel like a million bucks, but mentally I have this whole new strength when I run.  

So, of course, as I was perusing the Denver race list I ran across the Santa Stampede 5k/10k and decided, after my 8 miles last weekend, that I was going to do the 10k.  After all its only 6.5 miles.....no biggie!  I couldn't wait till yesterday!  Unfortunately, not only did my morning get started off to a wretched early start, but, without too much detail, I am dealing once again with the dreaded constipation that comes with my "glow."  Trust me, don't do pregnancy like I do.  It stinks (literally).  All of this makes for a seriously demoralizing start to any day, let alone the start of a 10k run.  I am so defiant though, and I had this firey woman that came out yesterday morning saying, "Okay, so you want to be nauseous and constipated?  You do that...........I am going to go and kick a 10k's butt."  OOOO I was hoppin' mad.

Bob rode his bike to the race and met Lily and I there.  We huddled inside one of the warm buildings while I donned my Santa hat and race number.  You can see I was ready to go!  After a few minutes of waiting, we went out to the shoot waited for the countdown. 3...2...1....and I was off!

I was determined to run the race in under an hour.  Guess with all the body drama and the fact that I didn't have to push a 30 pound kid, I felt empowered.  I got about a mile down the trail and had to pull into a restaurant to tinkle, yeah, I wish it would have been the other thing, but no such luck.  So I left about 2 minutes there.   Oh well, I knew a full bladder was going to slow me down.  And yes, I went before the race.

  

Lily thoroughly enjoyed taking part of the oranges as well as playing in the leaves while she and Bob waited to see me a few miles down the road. 

Here we were, just about at the 5 mile marker and I was feeling good and strong.  I was simply determined to meet my goal and seeing Bob and Lily was the motivation I needed.  Me and the baby waved furiously and kept on truckin.  Almost there!

I rounded the corner for the finish line right around the 57:30 mark and easily scooted my way across the finish line at 57:43.  Whoo Hoo!  Who says pregnancy has to slow you down?  Not this Momma!

A Very Special Day

I just love my family.  I have said it before, but there are moments almost daily where I am reminded of just how utterly blessed me, Bob and Lily are.  It truly is wonderful.

My Aunt Jayne called me and asked if she could take Lily to the mall for a special Christmas treat.  So this Tuesday I gladly sent the munchkin with her Great Aunt and took some much loved Mommy alone time.

Jayne really went all out taking her to the mall to build her very first Build-A-Bear.  I have several videos of her in the shop and I just am simply amazed at how much fun she had.  Lily made her very first bear, meet Sparkles.

Apparently Lily picked out all of the clothes and helped the lady put Sparkles heart inside, give her a bath and then get her dressed.  Sparkles ears light up and she truly is a special creature to Miss Lily.

After her Build-A-Bear experience, Aunt Jayne took Lily for a ride on the carousel horses/carts and then to the BIG event!  Lily met Santa for the first time!  How precious is that?

You can tell she was fairly indifferent to the big guy, but she didn't cry and apparently had a roaring conversations with Good Ole Saint Nick.

The afternoon finished with chicken nuggets and french fries.  What could be better?

By the time I got Lily all that she could talk about was Aunt Jayne this and Aunt Jayne that.  It made me smile so very big.  There is just something so powerfully special when other people love on your child.

Merry Christmas Lily, you've got lots of people that love you dearie!

What Child is This

Yesterday was a special day.  A very, very special day.  One that we have been looking forward to for a couple of months now.  We got to see our second little miracle baby, in the ultrasound flesh.  Due to some insurance issues, we did not schedule any pre natal appointments until yesterday.  I have used December 10th as a beacon of hope during this seemingly unyielding time of sickness.  When I woke up in the morning I instantly had this, "YEAH, it's here!" moment.

Truthfully, I had this funny dream that I was going to go to the doctor and they were going to tell me I had a phantom pregnancy and that there was no baby in there.  The nausea was all going to have been for naught.  I know, it's crazy........welcome to pregnancy.  Bob of course, was super worried that Lily's prediction of "brother, sister, two babies" might actually be true.  Thankfully within 2 minutes of being called back we had the confirmation that yes indeed, there is a baby in there and it is only 1.  AHH, sigh of relief and joy.  God is good.

The baby is in great health and all of its little measurements look good. He (I think its a boy) was kicking, holding hands and moving like crazy.  The baby is measuring about a week further along than I thought I was so the doctor changed my due date to June 14th, 2013.  I gained a whole week of pregnancy in 3 seconds.  Whoo Hoo.  

God is good and we are excited to keep growing!

12 Weeks

It's here! The end of the first trimester.  Do you have any idea what this means? I'm cookin' a baby!

When I was pregnant with Lily I anticipated the day that I turned 12 weeks like none other.  Primarily because everyone says that miscarriage rates are much lower once you hit the 12 week mark and, here is my favorite part, morning sickness is hopefully on its way out the door.  Sadly I still woke up sicker than sick today, but it's a milestone, and I have high hopes that I only have a few weeks left of the endless relationship with my toilet.  I am all about indoor plumbing, but having your face in the potty takes away all pleasure.  Gosh its yucky.  What I really cannot wait for is the day when food actually sounds and smells good.  Oh will that be the day!

Current food aversions: red meat and onions.  

Little Miss Lily has been getting in the baby spirit by playing the baby Jesus in her very own nativity set.  I found her like this the other night before bath time with her blankie and everything.  So super cute. She talks about the camels and wisemen, the sheep and shepherd and even "fankises, goad and mryh."  What a smartie.

The Big Switch

Lily went from her crib to a toddler bed this week.  It was a big move and I was a little nervous that we might have some issues.  Boy was I wrong.  She did absolutely fantastic and has completely blown Bob and I away.  She is getting so very big and growing up so fast.

We tried the first time during nap time on Sunday and she slept for 2 and a half hours straight.  Not a peep.  We even snuck in and took a picture.  No way that is comfortable.

When nap time was up we opened the door and let her crawl out of her bed.  She came into the living room with the biggest smile and a huge sense of pride.  So precious to see.

Since Sunday she has been an awesome sleeper and we haven't had one problem.  I am so thankful that Aunt Heather encouraged me to make the change before Lily attempted to crawl out of her crib.  She loves being a big girl and sleeping in her big girl bed!

Conifer Christmas Parade!

I LOVE Christmas time.  I have seriously been waiting for December to get here for .....well.....roughly 3 months.  Not only because it is Christmas month, but because as of December 6th, I am 12 weeks.  Bye Bye first trimester. WHOO HOO.  No, I still feel yucky, but it is a milestone anyone who has ever had a baby understands is BIG.  Yeah for December!

We brought in the Christmas month in true Christmas fashion with the 30th annual Conifer Christmas Parade.    I simply love the town of Conifer.

I grew up there, my old church is still there and so many of the people from my childhood are there.  When Mema and Papa suggested it, we couldn't resist taking part.  We planned on it starting at 12 noon and hopefully finishing before we had a complete toddler melt down.  Once we got up the mountain, though, we discovered that the parade didn't even start until 1:30.  Oh dear.  Well, we decided to chance it on the hope that the stimulation and promise of horses would assuage Miss Lily.  Thank the Lord for Mema.  She can make life happy for even the most tired of toddlers.  By the time the parade was started, Lily had a cookie in each hand and was smiling like no other.

We saw over 40 floats including, reindeer, music, presents, dancers, old cars, nativities, donkeys, dogs and countless BIG trucks.

Camp IdRaHaJe-Went every summer as a kid!

My old church- Represent!

This Grandma got run over by a reindeer!

Lily was mesmerized the entire time and let me tell you, the candy haul that my daughter pulled in would rival any trick or treating session.......hands down.  WOW, I am pretty sure we have enough sugar in our house to allow her to have one piece every day until next Christmas.  No kidding.  Lily loves fire trucks right now, and the final float of the parade was a big yellow fire truck carrying none other than Old St. Nick and Mrs. Clause.

By the end of the parade she was completely glassy eyed and a little zombie-ish. Oh the girly was tired.    We pulled her back to the car and quickly loaded her up to take her home.  She made it down the winding mountain road before she crashed, HARD.

30 minutes later we made it home.  Unfortunately, it was 4PM by then and we just couldn't let her sleep any more.  Calamity, calamity.  There is really some wisdom behind the "don't wake a sleeping baby" theory.

We took her to the grocery store, then set up our Christmas tree, played, made a Lily taco, ate dinner and promptly at 6 put her to bed.  What a day she had!

For those of you who have anxiously been awaiting a "belly" picture, here is the first.

Honestly, I think I still just look chubby, but its baby chub so it counts.  Today was a special day and I thought it a perfect time to take the first picture.

We might just have to make the parade a yearly tradition.  Lily loved it and it was such a great way to ring in the Christmas season.