Well, it’s been just over a year since the last time I’ve written on this blog. It’s really for my personal kid memories and keeping track of little things I want to remember. Since the last update, we started homeschooling, I turned 30, then a few days later a chunk of our house was crushed by trees from hurricane Michael, we moved in with Jonathan’s parents, then I stayed with my parents for a while, then we moved into a rental, then said rental got terrible fleas everywhere, then it was foreclosed, we found out we were expecting again, we moved in with Jonathan’s parents and then we moved home just in time for Genevieve to turn two! It’s been a whirlwind year…and that is only a tiny bit of what I can put here. There’s more! I’m grateful for the journey, regardless of what a rollercoaster it has been these past few months especially!
Since I’m just now getting around to this post, at almost half way through my pregnancy, it will probably be long so I can catch up on the details I’ll want to remember. Surprise surprise, in the middle of flea and packing due to foreclosure craziness, we found out we were expecting our third child! I had honestly thought that I kept getting sick due to the stress of having to pack the kids up into one room, or outside for the day while I had to treat the house for fleas…or take what felt like all of our house to Jonathan’s parent’s house to be washed. (The fleas were the worst before the laundry access, so I had to do laundry elsewhere for a few months.) I had honestly struggled with remaining at peace in the midst of these crazy circumstances that completely disrupted our lives. I felt like I was trusting God and looking to him, but my body was a wreck. I felt the strain between my heart, and the physical stress of keeping our family from being covered by fleas, especially when they got in my car, and things not working out for us to move home when we needed to. I was very happily surprised to find out that the reason for at least some of my physical symptoms was not stress, but pregnancy! What a blessing in the midst of a chaotic season! It wasn’t easy to pack and move twice while being in my first trimester, but thinking about our new baby was a happy distraction. Now we are home and trying to piece together our routines again, and also getting ready for baby.
It’s a BOY! We found out a few weeks ago, to my utter shock. Both Jonathan and I had mentally prepared for life with three little girls, but are so overjoyed to welcome a son. In many ways, he is a gift and answer to prayers in ways I can’t currently explain. God spoke so clearly to us while we were away, and going through all of that crazy. In the midst of it all, he was preparing us. We know He heard us, and has answered some prayers in amazing ways. Maybe down the road I can share those stories.
For now, we are so thankful and excited to be settling back in and thinking about life being totally changed again come December. We can’t wait for you little boy! Now, if only we can find a name!
How big is baby: the size of a pomegranate
How I’m feeling: I’m feeling a lot better now than I was at the beginning. The nausea and exhaustion was very real. Thankfully, I have felt better since about week 11 or so. I still get a little sick at night, but the daytime sickness has subsided. My energy has come back a little more, but I definitely have to take more breaks than I’d prefer. After we moved back home, and had Genevieve’s birthday party, I was completely wiped out for days. I’m sure it was partially because I 100% unpacked and set up the house in less than a week while Jonathan was out of town, and executed a birthday party….eeek. I know I overdo things, but I actually do hold back from what I’d like to get done in a day. I try to take a break after lunch between kid chasing, chores, projects, errands and working some here and there. It’s hard for me to have physical limitations, especially on my energy during pregnancy. But still, I feel so much better than I did with either of the girls, and things are going well, so I can’t really complain!
Weight gain/ clothes: 5-7 lbs. I’m not exactly sure what was my starting point, so I’m counting from my normal weight. Everything is about the same as with the girls. I jumped up a little quicker this time, but that is probably due to the fact that my sickness didn’t last quite as long, and my appetite returned sooner. Thanks baby boy!
Symptoms: Fatigue, a little indigestion, some nausea at night, the usual pregnancy aches and pains.
Sleep: Sleep is a lot better now that we are back home. I generally wake up once early morning. Then Genevieve, my little morning person, is up around 5:30. I don’t really sleep past that, so I have to be careful to go to bed at a decent hour…which is hard to do when your husband is a night owl!
Diet/ cravings/ aversions: Thankfully, baby boy let’s me eat most everything. At night, I have to eat pretty light…mostly veggies or a light salad if I want to feel ok. Other than that, I make sure to snack on some fruit throughout the day to keep my blood sugar up. I do have to be careful about blood sugar for sure! I forgot a snack last Sunday morning and ended up having to go and ask Preschool to bail me out with some fruit snacks! Ha!
Movement: I am just starting to feel him kick some. I love that part at the beginning, and then I don’t appreciate so much at the end when baby gets so much bigger!
Exercise: Well, I definitely counted moving and all that entailed as exercise. I also count running after my two kids and playing with them. We have gone on more walks lately and I’m trying to do some strength training once a week if I can help it. This week, I weeded our garden plot, tilled it and planted some veggies (yay, finally!), so I definitely counted that as my strength training this week.
What I’m looking forward to/ best moment this week: I don’t have much to put here, other than just getting back to a normal rhythm of life. I’ve thought about how we’re going to squeeze our soon to be three kids and a guest bed into two bedrooms! Ha! It’ll be very tight, but we’re excited about it.
Mood: Great really. I’m mostly just relieved to be home, and I’m appreciating all the small things one usually takes for granted. I’m grateful to be having a son and all that entails. Sometimes I get restless if I get trapped at the house waiting on construction workers all day, but we have plenty to keep us occupied and busy these days for the most part! We’re so excited about you baby boy!
ONE YEAR! I still almost tear up whenever I think about the circumstances of this sweet soul’s birth and all God has done in me. I love how uniquely and specifically God orchestrated they days of their birth to be in perfect accord with who he designed them to be. My sweet, gentle Genevieve is still quite the same as the tiny babe I first held on that calm, soft rainy night of her birth. Her kind, gentle eyes locked onto mine and she’s looked at us the same way every day since. She is such a gift! It truly amazing to get to love my two girls, and feel how I love them with the same intensity, but in different ways. She is the happiest, most contented little angel girl…with the exception of bouts of teething. We love her to pieces and I can’t imagine a more perfect second-born. Throwing her first birthday was such a special thing for me to plan as well. She came home from the hospital in a tiny little soft lavender onesie and her room has a peaceful French botanical feel, so it just seemed right to carry all of that over into her party. I did the same for Elle’s first with her bright sea foam blue coming home onsie and oceanic feeling room. It’s like the perfect celebration of their sweet first year of life before moving on to so much growing up.
Speaking of growing up, Genevieve has changed so much since her last update. (Note for record’s sake: At her one year check up she weighed in at 19 lbs and 30 inches.) After we came back from a trip to Jacksonville for my friend Ashley’s wedding, she decided to walk, take a bottle and be perfectly fine with people other than myself. The day before she turned 11 months she took off walking and has been almost running every since! She’d been close since her 10 month mark, but I think she needed the extra time to find the confidence to take off on her own. And that she did! She decided she was ready for independence all at once, and became so much happier all around. I was beginning to wonder if she’d ever feel comfortable without me next to her, but she just needed her own time. I think we were both relieved to have a little more independence from each other. Not having to nurse for extended periods before every time of sleep was huge for me. I loved that time we had together, but the freedom has been a very welcome change. We’ve really seen her personality blossom the past few weeks and it’s like she’s found herself. She toddles around the house confidently, chasing her sister or exploring with toys or in corners around the house, knowing she can always run back to my side whenever she wants. And she does. She’ll come running back to my arms with the biggest grin and give me the sweetest in-between Eskimo and open mouth kiss that there ever was. Her love is so tender and gentle. The softness she possesses makes you fall in love with her. She’s always “sharing” what she has or patiently waiting for my attention. It’s like she’s just happy to be with us, near us, watch us, and hear us.
So far, it seems like Genevieve is a very gentle, content child. She will happily play with one book or toy forever it seems. (this is totally new to me, since Elle has always bounced from one thing to the next and moves at an extremely rapid pace usually.) She gets very intent on whatever she has at the moment. When she wakes up, she doesn’t immediately want to play, but wants to greet us all instead. If she’s in the bed with me, she’ll turn over and crawl to daddy and won’t stop messing with him until he turns around and smiles at her. Her little face lights up with she sees him and she’ll give the cutest giggle you ever heard. Then she’s off to find sissy. Each of us get that sweet smile and laugh, and she seems so genuinely glad to see us and love on us. I will treasure that about her always. She’s careful. She watches us do something a few times before she’ll try it and seems to be very aware of what we do, who enters a room or the mood of the people around her. She eats carefully too! She take small, cautious bites and it very patient in between them. She rarely seems ravenous. (This is also a big change from my can’t-feed-her-fast-enough Elle. Ha!)
When Evie likes something, she really likes it. She won’t light up for just anything, but has definite likes and loves. One of these loves are putting on her clothes, shoes, bows, hats or anything else really. She gets so excited when I bring her the outfit for the day, or her pjs for the evening. She shakes her harms and her mouth goes wide open for an excited smile-laugh. She often brings me her bows and shoes and ties to put them on. I don’t think this is very normal for a baby, so I think it’s so cute! Oh and anything that can pass as jewelry is a total winner for her. Bracelets are a current favorite. She also LOVES anything Winne the Pooh. She loves puppies and her stuffed bunny. She really loves coming home, and will happily walk around “her space” when we get back from somewhere. Having the comfort of the familiar seems to be extra important to her. If she has been happily playing while I do chores or something in another room for too long, she comes to find me just to come hug my leg and smile at me. Then she will go back and play again some more. I mentioned she’s an angel before right? Goodness, she is just the sweetest thing.
I can’t wait to see her grow and develop through this next year. I wish I could freeze time right now. This stage is one of my favorites. I love the sweetness of babyhood, but nothing compares to this part to me! Especially for Genevieve, babies need so much of you up until almost one. This past year has been so needed and sweet, but it brings my heart so much joy to see her develop into a little person, but still be my cuddly little baby too. The bond Genevieve and Eleanora are forming these days makes my heart so happy as well. I love watching them chase each other, giggle, “talk” and love each other. Elle always asks “where’s Evie” when she’s not around and always wants to sit by her at the table. Evie goes looking for her if she’s not in the room and runs to her when she gets home from being out somewhere. She loves watching her play. They are such good compliments for each other. I can’t help but feel so very blessed by them. They are such sweet sisters, with the usual not-quite-so-sweet sibling dynamic moments of course!
Evie, my darling, we love you so much. Every single milestone has been just as special to me. Every moment just as cherished as the first time. I love watching both of you grow in your own perfectly unique ways. The Lord has used your life to bring peace into mine. You remind me of all the blessing that comes from a quiet heart of waiting on the Lord, the strength of returning and resting in Him and the radiance of a humble, joyful spirit. I pray your eyes always hold kindness and your heart always has the sweet, genuine and thoughtful love for others. I pray you always have a willing patience to wait on the Lord and the courage and brave heart to act on whatever he says at the right time. You are a treasure. I’m so blessed by your soul. I’m overwhelmed by the gentle love and calm contentment God has brought me in you. My heart wanted you and loved you long before I ever saw your face, and I will spend the rest of my days thanking God for the blessing of your life.
It’s just about a miracle that I have been to keep up with these updates, even if they are a week or so late every time. (You win some, you lose some right?) I think Genevieve just keeps getting more sweet and beautiful every single month! I’m so thankful for the gift of her presence in our family. Her big milestones this past month are a new front tooth, taking her first steps, freestanding, learning to wave hi and bye and starting to form words. It’s been a big month for sure! I love it when she crawls away and then she stops to turn around and wave “bye” to us. It’s the cutest thing. I’m dying inside when I look back at when she was born. I know I’m overly poetic and go way deeper than most into the meaning of things, but truly, truly, a new me was born with her. Through her life God has remade me and I’m forever grateful. I can’t believe I only have ONE MORE UPDATE until I share her ONE YEAR! It’s been quite the year, so slow yet faster than ever.
Weight: She’s still somewhere around 18 lbs on our home scale. I feel like she’s an inch longer now, but I’m not sure.
Clothes: All the same things – I did get her 2 new things for her birthday, one of which is this precious outfit! When I saw the soft purple floral with cream and green, I knew it fit her personality perfectly! I don’t think she could be more darling!
Sleep: This month has been wonderful. She sleeps so well now and takes great naps most days! Her teething has come back in the last few days, but it hasn’t been nearly as bad this time and only makes her more sleepy – thankfully! Most of the time I will put her down in her crib after a little snack and she drifts off on her own…after quite a bit of tossing and turning, she ends up in a little ball…just like her mama sleeps! At night she’s still ready to go down around 7, which is a welcome change from the fight-for-your-life-and-stay-awake-at-all-costs routine Elle used to do! lol!
Eating: This girl loves food! She’s definitely over the squeeze packs and wants only what is on my plate. haha! She loves sweet potatoes, corn, peas, apples, avocado, green beans, tomatoes, oatmeal and anything else she can hold. I let her try some grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup the other day and she LOVED it. Puffs are a thing of the past, although apparently Elle likes them now. haha!
Mood: This girl is just the sweetest! I know I say it every time, but it’s true. She has this gentle softness about her that is so dear to me. She’s really such a happy girl as long as she’s with us. We’ve finally rounded a corner with leaving her. She doesn’t cry the whole time I’m gone anymore (or at least most of the time) thankfully! She still loves her mama. I have never known that another little human loves me quite so much. Of course Elle loves me too, but she really loves everyone. When Genevieve looks at me, her sweet smiles are all mine. She doesn’t look at anyone else quite the same. It’s so special and I wish I could bottle up those moments forever. I truly wish she could stay my baby. Elle was always blazing off to the next stage that I barely could catch my breath in-between her exuberance for all-the-things. I’m really savoring every single stage with Evie, and I’m thankful not to be progressing quite so fast with her. She definitely senses other’s moods as well. She can pick up on my stress or Elle if she’s hurt. She cries when others cry and smiles when they smile. She is very aware of others and when people enter or leave a room. I am curious to see this part of her develop. She knows when I hide a toy she was wanting and remembers where I put something I didn’t want her to get. Ha!
Loves/Doesn’t love: Genevieve still seems very drawn to music. She will listen to Jonathan play the guitar forever. She loves all kinds really. She doesn’t outwardly react or dance like Eleanora did, but she will sit and listen. She gets very intent on one toy and will be very upset if it is taken away. She loves walks, swinging, waking up in the morning and going to bed (just like me – haha!). She loves to push her walker around the house like she’s so big. She loves watching Elle play and looks for her as soon as she’s done nursing in the morning. Seh definitely has more fun when she’s around, but everything is always more fun with Elle. I think she could sit on my hip and watch Elle play all day long and be perfectly content.
Things I want to remember: What don’t I want to remember about this month should be the question! I love everything about this stage. I truly have never felt more contented. This is not the future I imaged for myself last year, but man, it is so good. I love love love spending my days with these two precious souls. My perspective has made a complete 180 and now I can’t imagine anything more beautiful or fulfilling right now than caring for these girls. My heart has fallen into a steady rhythm in the middle of the minutia of our daily life. The sweeping, constant feeding, cleaning and keeping up with schedules has steadied me. I needed the simple, quiet and mundane more than I ever realized. I think that’s a bigger part of what I want to remember than the other things. I already know I’m going to miss this quiet place, so I’m trying to soak up every moment and not wish it away. I’ll miss the way Genevieve plays with my hand when she’s cuddling before bed. I’ll miss how these two are starting to play together, even if I have to get onto Elle about being rough or that Evie follows me around from room to room or that I never get to go to the bathroom alone. I’ll miss that I never go anywhere by myself, because I really do love taking them with me and exploring the world – even if that world is Publix or Target. I’ll miss Elle and Evie playing in my office while I attempt to get to some emails or editing, and I’ll miss how I really only get 30 seconds of work per two minutes of trying to keep them entertained with “hair salon” or “cooking” on the floor. I am definitley exhausted beyond belief and can barely fit in any work or keep up with the mountain of laundry/ cleaning. It’s a very busy kind of quiet. And it is very good. There is no one at the end of a long day that pays me for my hard work or says, “I can’t imagine anything better than today – thank you!” in so many words, but I have the eye of my Father, and He its pleased; That is more than enough for me.
Genevieve has blossomed into the most darling little person this past month. We had 2 rough weeks of teething where she was up from about 1-5 AM every night, but that’s mostly done for now! She is the sweetest, most easygoing, quiet, cute and pleasant little lady. She is pulling up on everything, crawling at light speed and trying to free stand! Gasp! I can’t believe how big she is. She still seems to feel most comfortable and comforted near me. I’m learning to be a whole new kind of mama for her. The other day we walked into a stairwell at church and she clenched her little legs so tightly around my side. I had a feeling I needed to start praying for courage over her as a newborn and I don’t think I was wrong. 😉 It’s fun to see how each girl reacts to different environments. Evie definitely seems more affected by her surroundings and seems more aware of others and moods. She learned to clap this past month and it’s so cute! She loves to clap for Daddy, Elle when she’s funny or when her food is really good. We really can’t imagine a more perfect little lady.
Weight: At her 9 month appointment last week she weighed 17.15 lbs and was 28 inches long.
Clothes: We’re still in all the same things as last month. This is a 1-3 month outfit in these photos though! Ha! It’s so sweet putting her in Eleanora’s old things. I’m trying to find a cute little outfit for her birthday though.
Sleep: She does really well with naps and sleeping around 12 hours at night when she’s not teething. If she’s not nursing however, she likes to sleep on her side or tummy in her crib not on me sadly. She sleeps cold whereas Elle always slept hot! Ha!
Eating: With almost four chompers now, she’s an eating champ. We’re moving to more table food in small pieces now since she’s lost interest in most everything she can’t feed her self.
Mood: This girl is so sweet! Her smiles are my favorite because she doesn’t just smile at anything. She definitely has certain things she prefers. She is so easygoing and will happily go along with whatever we are doing as long as she’s with me.
Loves/Doesn’t love: It’s so cute to see Evie develop definite loves, like red toys. When she sees her favorite stuffed bunny she lights up like it’s her best friend and gives it a huge hug. It’s so cute. Elle always treated her toys like she was the boss, lol! Winnie the Pooh still works like a charm when she’s fussy. She loves the hephelump and woosel song! Ha!
Things I want to remember: I feel like she’s really found her laugh this past month. She giggles at Elle all the time or when she’s tickled. I love the way she lays her head on my shoulder when she’s sleepy, and how she reaches for Jonathan and says “dada” when she wakes up in the morning. She is a total wiggle worm now and loves to be on the floor playing with Elle. Seeing them interact is everything I’ve dreamed of when I thought about having kids. She makes me want all the babies, but not really…but kind of. 😉 I hope I always remember how gentle she is and how she loves to be near the ones she loves.
Genevieve has turned into such a big girl this past month! The cuddly baby days are gone and we now have a big baby on the move! She started crawling and pulling up on things last week. The crib was lowered and we have moved a few things she likes to crawl after. She is so happy to be mobile. There is no sitting still anymore! She is so sweet and happy most of the time. She is a dream girl as long as she is with her people. Nothing much ever upsets her besides being left alone…so that doesn’t happen much. 😉
Weight: On our little home scale Genevieve weighed 17.4 lbs. She seems so much longer and leaner to me these days. (Here’s Elle’s update at the same age. It’s funny that everything I put down about her personality is EXACTLY the same! ha!)
Clothes: We pulled out all Elle’s old Spring things! I love this season! I’m loving her in creamy whites and florals. She still fits in some 6 month outfits but most are 6-12 month dresses and rompers.
Sleep: Overall Evie is a wonderful sleeper. Things haven’t been so great the last week with another bout of teething starting up, but usually she has two solid naps and sleeps 11-12 hours at night. However, the past week teething has been so bad and we haven’t slept much at all. Here’s hoping those top teeth pop through soon!
Eating: No one has ever accused these girls if not liking to eat! She can chew most table food now. I started making my own squeeze packs of foods, and I actually love making the different combinations. So far she loves the ones with banana, avocado, spinach and pear best. Sweet potato is another favorite, just like E at this age. She is doing really well with picking up her own food on the table. She will even snatch something off my plate if I’m not careful!
Mood: She has been so fun this past month. We are seeing more and more personality. She is very easy-going as long as she’s with me. We are starting to do better when she’s away from me at the church nursery and with babysitters. I am still by far her favorite though. She smiles and starts reaching for me whenever she sees me, even if she was happy! Haha! It makes her so happy to watch Elle play and always looks for her in the morning if she’s not up yet. (Elle also says, “Where’s Genevieve?” as soon as she wakes up too. So sweet!) Evie gets very into whatever has captured her attention and is NOT happy if you try to take it away. She definitely has favorite toys already! She will intently play with one toy for quite a while.
Loves/Doesn’t love: She LOVES moving around now! There isn’t much she can’t get into now. She’s not very fond of being trapped either. She is reveling in her new freedom. And I love that she is enjoying her new independence. I think this is helping her be a bit less clingy to me. Elle was always so independent, but I think Evie will need a bit more encouragement to take off on her own. I had hoped to wean soonish, but I don’t think she’s ready. Table food is going great but she loves to be near me always. She definitely loves having me comfort her, so I’m happy to cater to what is best for her. I’m sure she’ll spread her wings when she’s ready. She loves food, and will make a smacking noise and watch your mouth if she sees us chewing. Ha! She still LOVES music. It seems to highly effect her moods. We often turn something on when she’s fussy and she will (almost instantly) stop crying. She loves her sister. It is so sweet watching heir bond grow. They really love to play together now. She still loves her sling. I’m fairly certain she would stay in it all day if my back could take it. We’ve moved to the big girl seat on the stroller instead of the car seat and she LOVES it. We go on walks almost every day now that the weather is nice.
Things I want to remember: She has the cutest little, soft sing-song voice. She does this sweet “ahhh” sound. I love that she will caress my hair when she’s close to me. She smiles when she watches Elle ride her tricycle around the neighborhood. She has this cute little obsession with knocking over her wooden blocks. Jonathan or I will build a little tower, get her attention and she will get he biggest smile, often fling the toy she had to come crawl over and knock it down. It’s so cute. We also took her to the park to swing with Elle for the first time the other day. She loved it. It brings me so much joy to watch her gain independence and experience things. This is such a fun stage. This quiet, sweet dream girl has our hearts. I also can’t get over just how beautiful she is these days! Her darling little pout, deep blue eyes and rosy brown hair has me so in love. So far she seems to have a smaller torso and longer legs like me. Hands down she smiles like Jonathan and has his eyebrows and toes. We love you precious girl!
Once upon a time, a guy named Jonathan and a girl named Jennifer fell in love. They've had many adventures together and now they're starting another amazing one - raising little baby Blair in this crazy world. This is their journey...
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