6 months/Nook

Six months pregnant and all the "cute little bump" comments are slamming to a halt. Instead I am starting to get "you look like you're going to pop!" Well, that's nice, considering I still have 3 more months to go.

My model was back with her sign--she looks a little rough here because she'd been home with Daddy all day, but she would've been disappointed to miss another month of holding the sign (and I like having her with me in the pics :))We got Erin Adele's bedding! I found a set I really liked at Pottery Barn and my mother and mother-in-law were kind enough to get it for me! I am having trouble finding decorations to go with the red and white theme, but if I am being honest, I haven't really looked that hard yet. Since we have to get Elise's room situated (which that project hasn't even started yet), I am not really thinking about the nursery yet.

6 month stats:

• I am actually half the weight at this point in my pregnancy with Erin as I was during my pregnancy with Elise, so the "pop" comments are all the more irritating. I've been more careful this time around about sodium intake, which is REALLY helping with the swelling (in that I haven't had any yet--knock on wood!)
• I've been noticing, however, that I become short of breath easily, especially at work--I've got to work on posture to help with that. I have a short torso, so Erin doesn't have a lot of room and she makes me short of breath.
  
• I am carrying Erin MUCH lower than I did Elise. Elise was in my ribs non-stop, while Erin play soccer with my bladder. I can't decide which is worse.
  
• The OB informed me at my 5 1/2 month appointment that his guess is that I "make big babies". He wasn't guessing a weight yet, but said that I am measuring like there's a big girl in there. Great...
  

A quick blurb on Elise's love of the Nook:

I got a Nook for my birthday, and I swear the kid uses it more than me (mostly because my aunt loaned me an 18 book series in paperback to read and I am on book 14, but still). She has two books on there so far--I am going to "surprise" her on Easter morning with another. She can fully operate it by herself and loves it. Probably by the time she reaches my age, paperbacks will be a thing of the past...

Pedicures!

Tuesday was Elise's first pedicure. We went with Aunt Amanda because Mommy now has trouble reaching her own toes and it is FLIP FLOP WEATHER (WOO HOO!)!

I knew Elise would love it--she has wanted me to keep her toenails painted since before she could talk. After the first time I did it, that was it. She always wanted them painted. I kept her at bay this winter, but she also sensed the change in seasons, and had been asking me to paint them for a while.

We went to KC Nails in Marshfield--they usually always have walk-in appointments available, and Aunt Amanda had a gift certificate.

Elise (and her toes) is officially ready for Spring!

5 Months Pregnant/The Artist

Elise has turned into quite the artist for a 3 year old, at least to her parents' eyes. I took this picture--she drew Daddy's face. You can distinctly see the eyes, the nose, and the smile. She also made me an AWESOME birthday card--she drew Daddy, me, herself, and even a tiny little blob at the bottom of the page, who she said was "Mella". The pics on the fridge are definitely getting more detailed these days!

In other news, I am 5 months pregnant today. HOLY COW what a difference a month makes! I feel like the belly grows every day! As noted in an earlier post, we found out that the baby is a girl. And baby girl has a name: Erin Adele Jackson. We finalized the name yesterday, and I hit the ground running--asking a friend at work to embroider a burp rag for her (she made one for Elise, too). So now that it is in writing, it's official. Elise is okay with Erin, but said "we can name her Erin, but we'll call her Mella." Old habits die hard, I guess. And if you are wondering where my model is, well, she's been home with Daddy all day and her hair is a mess. I didn't even want to tackle that :)

5 month stats:

• Cravings have hit hard. I think I spoke too soon last month when I said they weren't really that big. I woke up at 4am this morning DYING for some peanut butter toast. I've been craving hamburgers with pepper jack and guac (opposite of my pregnancy with Elise--when I avoided hamburgers at all costs), and I am all about Cadbury mini eggs.
  
• Sleeping is becoming difficult. I am a stomach sleeper. I've made do up until the last few weeks, kinda sleeping partly on the growing belly and partly on my side. But that's all over. And I can't get comfortable with it.
  
• Erin is a SQUIRMER. The OB has commented any time he tries to get her heartbeat that she won't hold still long enough to allow it, and the ultrasound tech got tickled at how much she was cruising around in there. I feel her move some, but she's not strong enough for other people to feel--and still not quite strong enough for me to feel it regularly (so when I do feel it, I know she's giving it her all!)
• We are starting to check out stuff for the nursery. She's going to get Elise's furniture (it's a convertible crib) and Elise will be getting new furniture. So since she gets hand-me-down furniture, I declared that Erin should have her very own brand new bedding. I've got my eye on a few--once I pick, I will start getting stuff for the nursery.
• At this point in my pregnancy with Elise, her closet was half-full. I've been much more conservative this time. For one, Erin can wear all of Elise's hand-me-down fall/spring clothes (except at opposite sides of the year). For two, I just haven't found stuff I love. So far she has 2 nightgowns, her "going home from the hospital" outfit, and one other outfit. We got all that in Branson a few weekends ago--I haven't found ANYTHING in Springtown I like. Neon just isn't my thing, and it's very popular for babies now!
  

Gender Reveal

While for most people who read my blog, this is old news (since I posted it last week on Facebook), there are a few loyal readers that don't have Facebook and might not have already heard it through the grapevine, so here it is:

The ultrasound went really well. Baby Girl is a squirmy little thing (which we've known since day one since her heartbeat is always hard to pinpoint due to her wiggles), but that meant it was easy to get her in a position to see her lady parts. She was healthy and all looked well on the ultrasound. I have two more "monthly" appointments (March/April). In April, we will do labs and also set the C-section date. After that, I will start going every 2 weeks. It's hard to believe, but since Baby Girl will be coming a little early as a planned C-section, yesterday marked the halfway point for this pregnancy!

Elise was thrilled (and a little like "duh") when we told her the baby was a girl. She liked looking at the ultrasound pics (which I haven't scanned yet) and was able to point out features (which is sometimes a challenge for me! :)) We have been discussing names, but the other night Elise said "Let's just call her Mella, okay?" I have a feeling that regardless of the name we pick for Baby Girl, Big Sister will be calling her Mella!

4 Months Pregnant

Well, our little bean is growing like a weed (or so my weekly email reminder tells me) and is about the size of an avocado. Mommy feels a more appropriate measurement at this point is a cantaloupe, but I know that it's only going to get worse :)

Before I reveal the belly picture, I'd like to share a word about belly pics. For me, personally, I hate belly pics. I always think "do I really look that fat?!" when I see the pic, and it always gets me started on concern for my pregnancy weight gain (that has been the case with BOTH my pregnancies, despite the fact that I am doing very well this time around and am still at about -2lbs from start weight). However, I am really concerned about being fair to this baby, so since I did it with Elise, I am doing it with BabyJ2.

I am also conscious of making sure that Elise continues to feel special, even after a new little scene-stealer is introduced to her world. So keeping that in mind, she is going to be my "Vanna White" in the monthly belly pics.

Stats for 4 months pregnant:

• We find out in 2 weeks on February 16th (what a great bday present for Mommy!) what BabyJ2 is, as long as the little bean is cooperative. I have read many tricks, and plan to employ any and all as needed, to make sure that this Type A Mommy is able to plan!
• Daddy, Elise, and pretty much everyone else thinks we're having another girl. Mommy stands alone (except for a couple of her friends, who she suspects are just humoring her) in her belief that we'll have a boy. Her only reason for thinking its a boy is because this pregnancy has been opposite in every way possible from the pregnancy with Elise. We'll see.
• Name debates are in full-swing. And by full-swing, I mean that we all have our own ideas, and no one can agree on anything. Elise is determined that "her" baby girl will be named Mella. Daddy and Mommy are much more undecided on girl names. As for a boy name, we're a little more decisive, but I think that is only because Sean is so convinced the baby is a girl!
• There aren't really any solid pregnancy cravings this time around. I go in waves. I was on a huge grape kick. Then I went on a round of McD's biscuits (BAD CRAVING). There were two weeks when I was dying for ballpark nachos, but being as how I couldn't find any, that craving quickly passed. Now I am feeling applesauce and goldfish crackers call to me. The waves do keep it interesting, though. With Elise all I wanted were McAlister's (yes, that specific) pickles and Simply Orange OJ.
  

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I've been thinking for a while that I need to take the time and write down some of the hilarious things that this ham has been saying/doing in the last few months. I am finally taking the time this evening to do it!

The last few months have easily been my favorite so far with Elise. She was a gorgeous baby to cuddle, and she was super-fun to watch as she learned all sorts of great new things, but let me tell you: seeing her come into her opinionated little self in the last few months have been the best! I can't wait to see what the next few months have in store as she officially becomes a big sister (when the little peanut/lemon/bean, depending on who you are pops out).

Some of the more hilarious things:

• When you ask her about Mommy's protruding belly, Elise will inform you that "It is a baby, a girl baby, and her name is Mella". We have no idea where Mella came from, or even where the notion of the baby being a girl came from, since she told us in the beginning it was a brother. I think she's just playing both sides of the fence (wisely).
  
• Elise, just like her Daddy, has taken to quoting movies. She also loves to dance to "Kung Fu Fighting" while singing that phrase over and over and putting on some moves.
• When Elise came out of Sunday school this past Sunday, she proudly told her Poppy "I talked to Jesus today." When Poppy asked if she'd teach him how, she said "You can't talk to him."
• She is very big on bowing. She insists on walking up to communion on her own so that she can bow, and she also likes to bow after she sings a song. If you don't clap for the little diva, she will be sure to let you know you forgot. It's a good thing she got TWO microphones for Christmas. She uses them.
  
• When she leaves someone's house, particularly her grandparents', she will say "they miss me," trying to guilt us into taking her back.
• She also uses "I miss you" on Mommy or Daddy when she doesn't want to go to bed or take a bath (she'll wrap her arms around you and pout--she's getting good with manipulation). To a working parent already struggling with separation guilt, this is particularly effective (but only for a minute).
• Finally, that girl is good at pretend. I have tried a few times to sneakily catch her on video during one of her "play conversations", but I've been unsuccessful. The funniest one recently: she was playing with Snow White and Prince Charming. 'Snow White' said "I love you, Will". When I asked her if Prince Charming was Will, she got all embarrassed and said "NO, Mom." (she is good at talking to me like I'm an idiot, too). By the way, Will is one of our best friends, and she has a major crush on him.
  

I hope you enjoyed a few of these--typing them doesn't really do them justice, but I want to remember them in the future! These things tend to slip the mind, and while I doubt I'll forget how funny she was at this age, it will be nice to be able to read her examples!

Goodbye, 2011

2011 was definitely a great year for us. We got to watch our sweet daughter grow another year bigger (while we ourselves just felt another year older :)). And now, the annual "2011 in Pictures" Edition of the Jackson Blog!

2011 started out snowy! We had a great snow storm that Elise was so excited to play in. Unfortunately, Mommy had NOT planned ahead, and didn't buy snow boots. So we didn't get to play in it long, but Elise still had a great time (incidentally, I DID plan ahead this year and got her a snow suit with boots--and it hasn't snowed hardly at all!)

Speaking of boots, Elise had some big ones to fill when she cruised around the house in Daddy's boots. He celebrated the end of his probation with the Fire Department in August and still loves it as much today as he did when he first started.

Elise had a great time with Baby Link this year--they fight over their Mammy and Popa--but they play well together when they're not vying for their attention!

Speaking of babies, we were all very excited when Amanda and Rob announced the pending arrival of Baby Foster on Mother's Day! The annual Mother's Day pic has added one more grandchild (more on that later!)

A milestone for Elise: big girl bed! She transitioned really well and enjoys her big girl bed. Strangely, in order to feel "tucked in" these days, she wants the covers over her head. This made Mommy nervous at first, but if we don't do it, she pulls them up herself, and we haven't seemed to have any problems, so... I guess I'll choose my battles!

Mommy and Daddy both had their 10 year class reunions this year (see, feeling old). This pic was taken at Mommy's Family Picnic for the reunion, which was on 4th of July weekend. Elise was dolled up and definitely made Mommy proud.

Another big milestone for Elise: after SEVEN MONTHS of trying (and figuring out we probably started too early), Elise finally had 7 days in a row with no accidents, earning herself the awesome "castle" we'd had packed in the garage for most of those seven months. Make no mistake: she wasn't fully "trained" yet--it took a few more months for her to be to a point that we weren't having to count the days between accidents because they were so infrequent!

We took our first "just us" family vacation to Branson in September. We had so much fun that it will definitely become a semi-annual tradition! We stayed at Castle Rock Inn in Branson (indoor water park and bunk beds for Elise), went to SDC, and checked out the Butterfly Palace.

December 11, 2011, we were able to find out that "Baby Foster" was a baby boy! John Jackson Foster (Jack) took a while to get here, but we were all very happy to finally meet him.

Perhaps the most exciting thing to happen to our little family in 2011: we found out there was going to be another Baby Jackson arriving in 2012! We had been trying for a few months, but we were still surprised when we saw the + sign on the test! I am now 12 weeks along, and really excited to hear the heartbeat on Friday!

Our parting shot for 2011, my personal favorite photo of the year: Elise, driving a car while wearing a cowboy hat and pouring tea. It makes me smile every time I see it (I have it running on a slideshow at work)--and it reminds me just how blessed I am to have this little girl in my life!

God's Blessings to you and yours in 2012!