LIFE LATELY!

I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve had a good ole’ fashioned life update around here, so I thought a Monday was as good a day as any to do so!

Our New Year’s Eve was really fun and mellow- we just stayed home and had my brother over (who was still in town for the holidays) and ate homemade chili, drank bubble (champs for the boys, sparkling cider for the babes and me) and played Trivial Pursuit until the ball dropped (I nearly didn’t make it to midnight, but figured I might as well). Cheers to 2019!!

I’ve been feeling better, in my pregnancy. We had our 20 week ultrasound, which I was really nervous about. It’s the big one. The one where Sam’s kidney had a blockage (ended up resolving itself, thankfully, but still lots of stress). The one where they couldn’t find Sophie’s stomach (and I had to go in every week for ultrasounds and travel to UCSF for a day of more ultrasounds, which all concluded in a “wait until birth and see” which finally concluded in a healthy perfect baby girl with a right-sided stomach! Unique but perfect!). So needless to say we were quite anxious. Results? Everything with Baby Boy is PERFECT!!! Everything is where it should be, nothing is blocked, he is thriving (measuring 4 days ahead!) and happy and moving like crazy and I COULD CRY I’M SO HAPPY. And I felt him kick so strongly today, for the first time. A good, good day.

Something interesting though, and explains why I haven’t been feeling much movement (yet): I have an anterior placenta. I didn’t have this with either Sam or Sophie, so I didn’t even know it was a “thing!” No healthy risks or anything, perfectly normal and healthy, just means the placenta is in the front, between the baby and my stomach, which makes it harder to feel the baby kicks. I have to lie down and I can feel them faintly sometimes on either side of my stomach or really low. So, ya learn something new every day! Ha! If you had an anterior placenta, too, when did you really start feeling the kicks? I’ve been told I still will, just as strong, but it’ll take longer.. So we’ll see!

Christmas break was rough on Sam and all of us, to be honest. I had this picture of what it would be, and it ended up being so much harder than I expected, that I kind of broke down a few times. It’s my own fault- I set my expectations too high, something I’m still learning and working on!!! We’re all a work in progress. The drastic change in routine, the spontaneity of each day, the unknowns (for Sam) really threw him off and made for lots of meltdowns and general irritability. He’s wired differently than most kids- the presents aren’t important to him. And that’s so beautiful, and something to learn from and be celebrated! But I found myself wishing he was as excited as his sister. Like I said. A work in progress. Looking back now, I see that. So we actually spread out our gift giving and Sophie opened her last present yesterday (ha!) simply because I could see them both getting overwhelmed with all of the STUFF. And it was actually really nice. And more special. For us, anyway. So yeah. Finding out our family’s dynamic and groove, and adjusting expectations and dreams accordingly. Next year will be better! I know it. ;)

Speaking of parenting and children, I just read this book (in 2 days!) and LOVED it. I recommend it to every parent, every grandparent, anyone who works with kids. It’s so insightful and helpful in seeing and celebrating each child’s unique energy and nature. SO SO GOOD. I found myself highlighting so much in it- and also, coincidentally Sophie and I are the exact same Type. ;) I coulda told you that before reading the book, but there were so many times where I was just reading about myself AND my daughter. Kind of crazy. In case you’ve read it, Sophie is a Type 1 (fun-loving) and Sam is a Type 4 (serious). Basically the opposite, go figure. :) There’s a lot more that goes into each Type, and the author does a great job of covering all of the bases. I really recommend it, and if you’ve read it or end up reading, please comment with your kid’s/your own type! It’s all so fascinating to me!

Alright. That’s all I got for now. Happiest Monday my friends!!! Let’s make this week a good one!

xo