TTC Update

So, AF finally showed at the beginning of the month. It was really short and light, just like when I got pg with Lexi. I was totally convinced I was pg for, like, a whole day, but BFN's don't lie. And honestly now that I look back at my chart, I'm not convinced I actually O'd. My body tried to O twice, but my temps didn't stay up steadily and I had no O pain. I also only had a 5 day LP, a new low, even for me. But, as I said, after 17 months AF finally showed and with her brought a new beginning. 

This month has been a little wacky, but is looking promising. My temps have been all over the place. Super low (96.7) at the beginning and now super high (98.4) after O. (And TMI, but talk about waaaay too much EWCM! 10 days worth that I had to wear a pad for because I was soaked in a matter of hours! Yuck! I definitely did not need Pree-Seed this month! I haven't had that much since before I started BCP in college! Bleck!) I also had really clear O pains on the right so, I'm 99% sure that I actually did O. KJ and I had good timing, so now I just need my LP to hold out long enough that my little eggie can make it down in time to have a real shot at a BFP. 7dpo today and my temps are still way up! Keeping my FX for a New Year's Day BFP!

And now comes the fun part! The excited anticipation of if-I-got-pregnant-this-month-my-EDD-would-be.... September 15! Mine and KJ's dating anniversary!

*le sigh* wouldn't that be nice!

September may actually be a busy month for us. Some good friends of ours got engaged a few weeks ago and are talking about a September wedding. We're thinking KJ might be a groomsman, so we might have to work a RCS around their wedding! Haha! Lots of couples we know are getting engaged lately. KJ's youngest brother got engaged this past summer, and so did his one cousin. Then, his middle brother just got engaged on Christmas. Lots of weddings coming up in the next two years! 

In other life event news, my sister announced on Thanksgiving that she's pregnant and due "sometime" in July. I'm really happy for her as they've been "trying" for a long time (4 or 5 years of not protecting, which, come on, is not really trying...). This will also be Lexi's first real cousin that she'll get to grow up with and spend holidays with. (KJ's oldest (step) brother has two girls, 15 and 16, who are very self absorbed and we see them about once every other year, so I don't really count them) Anyways, my sister basically has no idea how far along she is. She said going by her LMP her EDD was July 5 making her 9w when she announced at Thanksgiving. Well, she went in for her first scan a few days later and was only measuring 7w3d. Cue PgAL freak out on my part! So, that pushed her EED back to July 19. Baby had a pretty strong HB of 150, so that's promising at least. She had another scan on Christmas Eve and baby was wiggling away apparently, but she didn't get a pic nor did she ask how the baby was measuring. She said her doctor said she was 12.5w (going by LMP obvs) but that her EDD was still July 19 (making her 10w3d at the time)... Sounds like she has a super stellar doc!! I told her that made no sense and that she really needs to get things straightened out with her doc! And I know that not everyone is as uptight about these things as I am, but for wanting a baby and "trying" for so long, she has a very "whatever" attitude about it all. I mean, at the very least, you should know how far along you are! Two weeks is a big difference!! Ugh!!

But anyways, I got a BFN this morning, but at 7dpo I'm just taking it as a "please try again later" FX for a BFP soon!!

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

18 Months! A Year and a Half!!

Wow! My little Lexi is a year and a half old now! It's hard to believe. You know, on one hand, I think of her and it's like she's been the same little girl all along. But then I look back and she has changed sooo much! I made a 2014 calender on Shutter Fly using her pictures from this past year, corresponding to what age she was on that month last year, and she was so tiny just one year ago. She really didn't get "big" until about 12-13 months. Like, that's when she crossed over from being an infant to a little girl, a baby to a toddler. Crazy!

Not a lot of smiles this month, but at least she let me takes some this time!

Well, Lexi had a huge milestone this month!! She's finally talking!!! She finally started to say real words about two of three weeks ago. Here is a list of her words so far:

Yuck /y

Yum /y

Yes

Duck /y

Car (ka)
Dog

Ball (ba)

By 

Wow (wawha)

Block (boc)

Drumm
Elmo (Em)

Pop (pawp)

She's getting so many and adding a new one pretty much every day or two! "Pop" was her new one today. Last week she got a drum as a gift and has been playing with it a lot. On Christmas she pointed to it from across the room and said "ma drumm"! It was very clear and everyone heard it. I was so proud that she's finally reached this milestone. 

Other milestones this month, Lexi has become an expert climber. She climbs all over the couches, stacks things to get up higher,  and scales the stairs like they're nothing. She loves to dance, and expects me to sing for her every time so she has something to dance to lol! She loves Daniel Tiger and Elmo (Netflix really needs to get the second season of DT going, because I know every episode of season 1 by heart!). She's getting better with the fork and spoon. If I walk away from the table she'll try to poke something herself, but if I'm sitting there with her she wants me to do it for her. I need to be better about saying no to simple requests like that. I know I'm not doing her any favors by babying her.

Lexi is up to 12 teeth now also. A third molar came in, top right, and her bottom left canine is through now. We are also down to BFing just two times a day now.

One thing that we really need to work on is Lexi's socialization. She's become such a Momma's girl and really seems uncomfortable in social situations. I take her to story time every Friday and ever since Halloween (she has a cold that week, so we didn't go that day) she's been awful there! All she wants to do is sit on my lap. She never wants to sit with the other kids or join in with them. When ever the teacher or one of the other kids comes up to her to say hello, she flips. She either puts her face in my chest and whimpers, or she flops and cries. Then after story time and we're reading books on our own, she might get a little adventurous and curious and want to explore, but she has to be holding my hand the whole time. She pulls me along where ever she wants to go. If I try to encourage her and say "Why don't you go and check it out by yourself? I'll be right here watching." or try to release my hand from her death grip, she plop on the floor and cries. And of course, we're in a library, so I need to keep her at least somewhat quiet. I don't know what to do with her sometimes and I feel like anything I try is the wrong thing. I'm starting to really not like taking her there because I know it won't go well, but I know avoidance won't solve the problem. I need to find more activities and kids for her to play with. It's hard finding IRL friends :(

Lexi got a lot of nice gift for Christmas. KJ and I got her a play kitchen from Ikea (where else!) with some accessories, a wooden train set (also Ikea), some Daniel Tiger toys, among other odds and ends. She also got some musical instruments, clothes (quickly moving into 24m already!), a doll with hair you can brush (she loves to brush hair! She's more interested in the puppy that came with the doll, though!), and a doll stroller. It was a really nice Christmas all around :)

Lots of Love,
KJsbabe

I Think of You

I think of you Little One. I think of you every day. You are in my heart always. You are not forgotten. Three years now since we said goodbye and I still miss you. I still remember how hard it was to let you go and say goodbye. I still have a special place in my heart where I tuck you away and keep you. You are with me everywhere and always. I miss you Little One. Today and every day, I miss you.

Until we meet again,
I love you,

Mommy

17 Months!

17 months! That seems so old! I have an almost one and a half year old :) 

Lots of stuff has been going on this month! Lexi's big milestones are running and pretend play. This girl runs all over the house and she's a quick little thing! Her favorite is running around necked after her bath! lol I have to literally catch her to put her diaper and pj's on. 

She's also been doing a lot of pretend play, which is cute to watch. She offers her sippy to her Daniel Tiger and Little People dolls. I made a little bed out of one of her small shoe boxes for her Daniel Tiger, and she'll "put him to bed" and tuck him in with a little blanket. Adorable!! We play Little People a lot together and she mimics my play with them. It's funny, the one we call "Mommy Doll" does a lot of play laundry! Haha Guess what chore I do the most! For Christmas KJ and I got her a play kitchen from IKEA (where else!), so I think that will be really good to promote more pretend play. 

 

Lexi got her two left side molars this month. Boy was that fun! I thought the two on the right might be next, but they haven't made any progress in a couple weeks. Now it looks like either her canine or bicuspid on the bottom left is going to pop through next. 10 teeth total so far.

Now that Lexi is 17 months, the terrible twos are starting. Yeah, contrary to the name, the TT actually start closer to one and a half than two. Once they hit two, it's actually supposed to get better. I hear three is a real be-otch, though. Anyways, the tantrums are starting and they are becoming more frequent as the days pass. I've been really trying to stick to what I read in The Happiest Toddler On The Block, using toddler-eez and feeding the meter and whatnot. Some days are better than others, but I just keep reminding myself that it's a phase and it won't always be like this. *sigh* 

In an effort to teach Lexi manors, I taught her the sign for "please". She's still not talking, and sometimes she can get very demanding with her pointing and "Da-Da-Da!" So, when she starts getting demanding I ask her, "Can you say please?" And she rubs her chest and smiles. I'm trying to tech her the sign for "thank you", but she's not getting as easily as she did "please".

Lexi also loves to play hide and seek. She'll run away some where and giggle, and then I'll say, "Where's Lexi? Is she over here? Where did she go?" She'll stay hidden for a good couple minuets and the she'll run out giggling! 

 

Lexi is also a good helper around the house. She like to help me empty the dish washer. She'll pull out each piece of silver wear one by one and hand them to me to put away. Then she'll hand me each bowl and plate. We haven't broken any... Yet! After bath time at night she likes to help put her lotion on. She takes it from my hand and rubs it on her belly. She's getting really good at naming all of her body parts. I'll ask her where one is and she'll point to it. She gets shoulders and but mixed up and chin and chest mixed up. I can understand the chin and chest, but I have no idea why when I ask her where her shoulders are she pats her but! Silly girl! 

As I mentioned before, she's still not talking. She babbles all day, but no real words. She still says "No" and she's gotten better about calling KJ "Dad" or "Da-da" rather than just saying is nonsensely. Some times she'll kind of say "Mum" or "Mum-mum", but it doesn't usually seem directed at me. Sometimes it'll sound like she said a word or a phrase, but it's hard to tell if it was on purpose or just luck. These are usually one time occurrences. The other day I thought she said "cup" and "dog", but haven't heard them since.   

 Monthly pictures didn't go really well this time around. Every time I pointed the camera at her she cried :/

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Well that says it all right there. Not pregnant. For a whole day I thought for sure I was pregnant. Yesterday morning I got a shadow line on a wondof right about the ten minuet mark. It was one of those, you had to squint your eyes and hold it in just the right light at a certain angle to see it. But it was there.

I'm not crazy, right?? It's hard to see, but it's there, right??

So all day yesterday I had it in my head that I was pregnant. Of corse I immediately felt crampy and sort of more "full" in the ute area. I wasn't just maybe pregnant, I was definitely pregnant! And all I had to do was wait until this morning to test again to get a for real BFP. I was so confident, I dipped not just a wondof for testing, but an expired Clear Blue Easy, too.

Big old BFN's on both. Not even a hint of a shadow line on the wondof. 

So, I either had a very short lived CP or I got my very first evap line of some sort. I'm bummed. I have no idea what's going on in there. The only time I've ever made it past 10dpo is when I've been pregnant and I'm 13dpo today. I even took an OPK today because I read somewhere you could use one as an HPT. It popped up positive right away. So... Am I ovulating again? Or do I have like 5 HCG that's making it pop? Ugh, I wish I just knew one way or the other. I'm making myself crazy!!

I need to stop testing and take a step back. Even if I was pregnant yesterday, I'm not today.

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

Put down the peesticks and back away slowly...

Seriously, someone needs to take these things away from me. I want to pee on them all! Lol 

*sigh* So I'm 11dpo and I'm not pregnant. I've been testing all week and I should have gotten a BFP by now if I was going to get one. I'm honestly questioning if I O'd at all. I definitely geared up to, but my temps have been weird. They went up at first, like they're supposed to, but then they went down for a few days, and not in the implantation day  dip range. FF even took my CHs away for a while. Now they're back up an I don't really know why. I think my hormones are all messed up due to BFing still. Lexi caught a cold this week and so she's been wanting to nurse more that normal. 

So here are the options of what could potentially be going on:

1) My body tried to, but I didn't really O. My temps and hormones are all funky from BF. My body might try to O again, AF might show up finally, or I'm just in PP-BFing limbo. Waiting for Godot, if you will... 

2) I did O. The BFing is throwing my hormones and temps off. I am pregnant and will get a BFP in a day or two, but it'll end in a CP because I don't have enough progesterone (low temps mean low progesterone and high estrogen). BFing makes progesterone fluctuate a lot with milk production and let downs, and due to my MTHFR, I'm lacking in it to begin with.

3) I did O. The BFing is throwing my temps and hormones off. I am not pregnant, just having an awesomely long LP (my longest ever was 10 days. Before my D&C I was usually at 9 days, after I was at 7 days). I will get AF on Nov 6 giving me a perfect 15 day LP.

Right now I think #3 might be the best case scenario. Or #1 with trying to O again. But with my luck, I'm probably in PP-BFing limbo. Only time will tell, right?

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

16 Months!

Oh, my Lexi just keeps growing, and getting taller, and smarter! I love how she changes every day. Her big love this month is twirling! She spins round and round and round... I think she likes getting dizzy :) I got her some skirts to twirl in and she loves them! 

 

Lexi now has all 8 of her front teeth. 4 on top, 4 on bottom. Teething, so far, has not been bad at all. She's usually extra fussy for a day or two and then the tooth pops through and all is good again. From here on out, though, it's all canine teeth and molars... The best is yet to come! Lol Lexi has been fussy on and off for a little over a week and I think it started out as molars, but it's turned into a cold now. Her second cold ever. Poor girl has a runny nose and a chesty cough. It hasn't really effected her energy, though. She's just as rambunctious as ever. I've been giving her Hyland's Cold Tablets and they've really been helping. 

She kind of said "Mommy" the other day, but hasn't repeated it since. Still no real words other than "No". Maybe someday she'll talk!

 

Favorite books this month are "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" and "Lady and the Tramp". Ok, let me rephrase that, Lexi is OBSESSED with these two books... and only these two books! I officially have One Fish memorized and L&T isn't far behind! For an early Halloween present SMIL got her the movie of L&T and she about flipped the first time she watched it! She got so excited and then sat in her rocking chair and watched a good 45 mins of it, perfectly still! It really kept her attention. And really, of all the Disney movies she could be obsessed with, I actually really like this one :) The other day KJ found a Lady plushy at Walmart... it's her favorite! She sleeps with it every night and carries it around all the time. The only other toy she does that with is her Daniel Tiger plushy.

Oh Daniel Tiger! Lexi loves, loves Daniel Tiger! Seriously, best show ever.

 

KJ really has good taste when it comes to shopping. He picked this dress out for Lexi and it looks so cute on her!

 

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

Ask and You Shall Receive

You know, sometimes it takes a while for a prayer to be answered. And other times, God's like, "Ummm yeah, I was just waiting for you to ask...". Because apparently, all I had to do was ask!

I ovulated!! Woo hoo!! So we are officially TTC for #2!!

Lexi all of a sudden dropped down to three BFing sessions a day. I had a sudden return of CM that quickly turned into EWCM. And bamm! Positive OPK on Sunday! I had a temp spike today, so looks like I O'd yesterday. KJ and I had decent timing, so I guess we'll see what happens. I'm excited!! 

And now the 2ww starts... I'll be testing early and often :)

So, obviously I'm not naive enough to think that we'll get lucky on our first try. And as I know all too well, pregnancy does not equal take home baby. But... It's fun to be excited and think about getting a BFP next week! Going by an O date of Oct 21, I would be due 7/14/14. Just two weeks after Lexi's second birthday! Perfectly spaced babies :)

Look at all of those dates! They could be mine! 

Now, we wouldn't tell any family or friends until 12w, after a good NT scan. So, we couldn't tell at Christmas. We'd have to make the rounds to family in January, like we did with Lexi. But that would be ok. I'd have to find Lexi and adorable "Big Sister" shirt or something to wear.

*Sigh* Look at me making plans... Oh, and the roller coaster begins! 

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

Other Things in Life

I know all I really wright about is Lexi, but she's basically the center of my world right now! But let's talk about what else is going on...

I've had two sinus infections in the last two months. Sucks ass! I blame all of the snotty nose kids who run around the playground and my not being vigilant enough with the hand sanitizer. I'm currently on day 11 of my second round of sickness and it doesn't want to leave. I always seem to get sick right around this week every year. It's always right before, during, or right after ALF. ALF was actually a week early this year and good thing too or else I would have been miserable! 

Sept 27-29 was ALF (Clarion U's homecoming festival) and KJ, Lexi, and I had a good time this year. It was kind of cut short because we didn't have anyone to watch Tucker and Colby. MIL was letting them out for us, but that really doesn't cut it with them. Aussies need attention and exercise, and we didn't want to end up with a hole chewed through our wall. But other than that, we had a good time at the craft fair. There's always so many cute things to see. I got some cute winter hats for Lexi, and also a new purple tutu. The parade was fun. It was Lexi's first and she slept though it! Haha ALF was definitely different with a LO. Instead of drinking the night away like we did in college, KJ went for some drinks with our friends while I put Lexi to bed in our hotel room. It was actually a really nice night. She went down without much trouble, I had a bottle of my favorite wine, watched "Say Yes to the Dress", and was asleep by 9:30.

The week of Sept 23-27 we had new siding put on our house. Well, the bulk of it was done that week. The construction guys are still actually finishing up some little things here are there. Our house was in desperate need of being resided and we finally saved up enough money to get it done. This project was a big reason why I continued to work for as long as I did. We needed the extra money in order to save up enough. But, after a week and a half straight of men pounding on the house all day long, it's finally done and it looks great! We no longer have the crappiest looking house on the block! Yay! We are also getting a new front door put in, but it had to be special ordered, so it's not in yet. We have an older house and so none of the doors or windows (or anything else!) are "standard" size. That should be in next week, though.

Before...


And After!!


 Sept 22 was mine and KJ's 6 year wedding anniversary. MIL watched Lexi for us and we celebrated by spending a day in Pittsburgh. An Ikea trip was in order, of course. I got a nice new display case for my ALF glasses as my anniversary present, and we picked up some Christmas gifts for Lexi. We went to lunch at Steak and Shake and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Yummm!! We had a really nice time just the two of us. It's hardly ever just the two of us any more and it was really nice to reconnect. We needed that.

 Sept 21 I ran a 10k in Clarion and did really well. I crushed my old time and had a new personal best of 47:02. 6th female finisher. Really, really proud of myself!! Three years ago when I ran this particular race (the 5k) for the first time, I made it my goal to do the 10k one year. It feels really good to have met that goal and get a PB in the process!

Sept 15 was mine and KJ's 10 year dating anniversary. I can't believe it's been 10 years! We met my freshman year at Clarion, I was 18 and KJ was 21. We actually met my first day at school when I moved in. I still remember the first time I saw him, and no joke, I said to myself, " I wonder if I'll marry him?" I completely believe that when you find your sole mate, you just "know". We officially started dating three weeks later and have been together ever since. A week into dating I made my mind up that, yes, I would marry him. He didn't actually ask me until three years later, but I knew it all along! :)

Anyways, I ran the Sharon PD 5k that morning and did really well. 22:14 which is a new PB! I was also the 2nd female finisher. I got a nice plack... it'll got nicely right next to my dear rack... haha! Yeah, it's just a little "woodsy" for my taste. I hung it in our "rustic room". That afternoon, the three of us went to a weeding of our good friends. It was beautiful, but it was right in the middle of when Lexi usually naps. She was fussy the hole time. I didn't even get to see the ceremony because I had to take her outside. It was an outdoor reception, but it was very crowded. We tried to make the stroller work and it was just a great big mess. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more, but it was just not a good time for us. We left early and chilled out at home for the rest of the day.

I was having really good hair one night, so here's a good old bathroom selfie :)

Lots of Love,
KJsbabe

TTC Wannabe

I feel like I'm the only one who isn't pregnant or at least TTC. I want to be TTC so badly :( I'm ready to get pg again. I'm ready to get back on the journey to completing our family. The good, the bad, I want it. I'm ready for it. I know our journey might include more losses. I pray it doesn't, but I know it's a real possibility. I'm not naive enough to think that because I had one successful pregnancy that means I can't loose any more babies. But, my doctor and I know a lot more now than during my first two pg, so there defiantly is hope.

What's standing in my way? Breastfeeding. "Natures's birth control" can suck it.  I haven't had a real period for over two years. September 30, 2011 is my LMP. Yes, I had pp bleeding after I had Lexi, but other than that, nothing. I hate that my body doesn't want to cooperate. I hate that I'm one of the "lucky few" that the pp period won't come until we've weaned. Because the thing is, I don't want to wean completely. I love the BFing relationship that Lexi and I have. Sure we had some issues at the beginning. It took her forever for to learn how to latch and we both leaned on the nipple shield too much. It took 20-30 minuets just to get her to latch sometimes! We both worked so hard to get it right and then at 4 weeks old we were home free. We had a great rhythm. Then 3 months hit and I woke up with a clogged duct one morning. By that evening I had mastitis. It was awful. KJ was no help what so ever. I was literally and figuratively a single mom. I was taking care of a 3 month old while feeling like I was dealing with the flu, all by myself. But we some how made it though. I continued to pump at work. It was a relief and huge stress all at the same time. Relieve that I got a break from my awful job, but stress that I never was able to pump enough during the day. I absolutely did not want to resort to supplementing with formula, so I would pump around the clock. Pump when I got home from work, while feeding Lexi. Pump before I went to bed. Pump first thing in the morning, while feeding Lexi. I lived on lactation cookies. It was such a relieve, in soooo many ways when I finally was able to quit my job. I can't even describe how good it felt. It was like I could breath again. No more pumping. No more stressing. No more awful customers. I am so not cut out to be a working mom and I am so, so grateful that KJ's job allowed me to be able to stay home. Thank you Lord! 

Lord, you really do know best and your timing is perfect. If I had been able to keep my first baby there's no way we would have been able to afford me staying home with him. Same with my second baby. Literally at that time, KJ and I were both making together what he now makes by himself. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I don't know why I lost two babies. I don't know why it took so long and so much. I don't know why I was blessed with such a wonderful, sweet little girl. And I don't know why it's not the right time to TTC right now. But. I do know that the Lord's timing is perfect. I do know that He will bless me with a second baby when He sees fit. I cannot see the future. I don't know what is in store for me and my family. But. I do know that The Lord will answer my prayers. Wether yes, no, or not right now. My Lord answers prayers. 

"I prayed for this child, and The Lord has granted me what I asked of him."

I'm trying my best to be patient...

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

15 Months!

My little Lexi is 15 months today! She had a couple big milestones this month. First, she can climb all the way up to the top of the jungle gym at the park and then go down the side... Completely by herself! No help what so ever! She is such a big girl! I was really nervous to let her climb on her own, but then I kept seeing all of these other toddlers her size that couldn't be much older climbing, and I thought maybe she was big enough to do that, too. I don't want to be a helicopter mom and I know I need to let her do things on her own, even when it makes me nervous. When she climbs she gets this cheesy grin on her face and then when he makes it to the bottom of the slide she claps for herself.

The other really cool thing Lexi can do now is pick things out of her books. If I ask her to point to the puppy, she knows exactly what I'm talking about and points to it! She can pick out all kinds of things, animals, characters, objects (like household items and toys), shapes, numbers, letters, and colors. She still isn't saying much, but she understands soooo much! Books are still an obsession. Her favorite books this month are I Spy Little Numbers, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, The Library with Elmo, Big Bird's Nest, and Green Eggs and Ham. She also has this set of First Look and Find books: When I Grow up with Dora the Explorer, Ni Hao Kai-Lan (confession: I have no idea how to say this girl's name, so half the time I call her Kiki and the other half I call her "the little girl"), What's Going to Work? Teamwork with The Wonder Pets, and The Backyardigans. Lexi Loves those!

Lexi started saying her first word this month... "No!" Oh boy! Now when I ask her a question, instead of giving the "I don't know" sign, she shakes her head and says "no"... "Lexi, do you want your sippy?" "No". "Lexi, could you back away from the TV, please?" (She loves to stand with her nose pressed against the glass) "No". "Lexi, do you want to give daddy a hug?" "No". She will nod her head yes sometimes, but it's mostly no. Other than that, she's still not saying any words. She kind of said "yeah" yesterday, but I think it might have been a fluke.

I talked to the pedi about Lexi lack of words at her app. She said they really don't start getting concerned until 18 months. She said as long as there's evidence that she can hear, she can obey simple commands, and she's babbling that she's still in the "normal" range. So, Lexi has three months to start talking or else she'll get sent for a hearing and speech evaluation. I really hope she starts talking on her own soon. Developmentally she's never been "ahead" in her milestones and I'm fine with that. She's always hit them within the "normal" range, though, and it makes me worried that we're quickly approaching "behind" territory. I know every kid develops at their own pace, but that's much easier to keep in mind when it's not your kid who's behind.

 

Other notable things this month: Lexi is up to seven teeth now. Four on the top, three on the bottom. She also likes to dance and bounce. We have one of those small fold out foam couches for her and she loves to "jump" on it. She hasn't gotten to the point of her feet actually leaving the ground, but she's trying! 

 

Lexi's 15 month stats:

47 1/4 cm head

30 1/2 in long

23lbs

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

Sleep Progress

Well, it took all summer, but I finally have a child who naps. Thank god!!! Lexi has gone from, screaming when I tried to lay her down in her crib and only napping while being held, to napping a full 2 hours in her crib by herself. It's amazing!! I honestly don't know how we got here, so don't ask! I just kept trying with the solo napping and one day she just did it. I think it was a combination of her getting older, she has a solid daily routine, and just consistent trying.

The first time Lexi napped more than an hour I didn't know what to do with myself! I kind of just sat on the couch, looked around, and said, "This is weird! Why isn't she screaming yet??" I kept checking the monitor and even peaked into her room to make sure she was still breathing...

So yeah, never thought I'd say this but... I have a kid who naps!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

14 Months

 

 Lexi is 14 months old today and is getting to be such a big girl! She's still not saying any words, but her understanding of what we say has just exploded! I'll tell her, "Let's go upstairs and change your diaper." She walks over to the stairs and starts to climb up. Then once upstairs she sits down in our diaper changing spot! She totally understands what I'm saying and it's so cool! Also, when I tell her to say hi or by to someone, she waves. Her new thing is whenever I ask her a question like, "Lexi, where did I put my keys?" She puts her hands and arms up like "I don't know!" It's the cutest thing! She does lots of babbling and everything is still "da!". She'll point to something and say "da!" if she wants it or wants to know what it is. She's also a great helper. She helps when we pick up toys. She has discovered the kitchen cabinets and knows where her snacks are kept. She'll go in the pantry, grab her box of crackers, and bring it over to me. I'll get her one out, hand it to her, and then tell her to put the box back, please... And she does it! Smart, smart girl! 

 

 

Lexi loves, loves books. She's constantly bringing me books to read to her. It's mostly the same ones over and over again, too. "Dear Zoo", "Caterpillar's Springtime Day", "I Love My Family", "Five Wriggly Wiggly Caterpillars", "My First Counting Book" (Little Golden books), and "The Poky Little Puppy" are some of her current favorites. Another Lexi obsession are bracelets, purses, and really anything she can put on her arm (right arm only, never her left). She also loves to carry around her Ikea step stool so she can climb up on things and has a seat wherever she goes. Best $3 I've spent! We've also been going to the playground after our daily run and she knows where everything is and has her favorite rides. 

Some of Lexi's motor skill milestones this month have been stacking and building with blocks, pressing buttons (on her toys, my phone, the tv, her stuffed animals), and putting her sippy cup in the cup holder. She's also gotten more teeth! I forget if I said before, but she got her two middle top teeth on her birthday. Then about two weeks later she got her top right lateral incisor. And the middle of this month she got her bottom left lateral incisor. So, a total of 6 teeth so far. I keep waiting for the the other two incisors to come in. I was expecting them to come in in pairs, but I guess not.

My sweet little Lexi is getting bigger by the day! I swear some morning I go into her room and am like, "you defiantly got bigger over night!"

Lots of Love,

KJsbabe

Summer Running

Since becoming a SAHM I've gotten to do a lot more running this summer and I love it! Lexi and I go to the park every morning. I run and she naps in the stroller, and everyone is happy. :) I've been doing 5k's throughout the summer and have even ventured into a couple 10ks. My first two ever! Very proud!

Here's a summery of my summer racing:

May 15 - "Run Like an Animal"      27:06
May 19 - "Mission of Love"            26:11 First in my age group
June 8 -   "Friends of Buhl Park"     25:19 Third in my age group
June 22 - "Summer Fest Sweat"      24:59 First over all woman! Only the second time I've ever won a race!
July 13 - "Run for Your Heart"        51:10 My first 10k! Third in my age group
July 14 - "Hermitage Arts Fest"       25:05 First in my age group
Aug 18 - Hamot Mayor's Cup"        51:02 My Second 10k! Second in my age group
Aug 24 - "Race at Piston's Place"    25:04 First in my age group and ran with Lexi in the stroller


Next up, I'm doing a 5k this weekend. Then in September I have both a 5k and another 10k. There's one 5K I have my eye on so far for Oct. I'm still not hitting the 5k time that I'd like to be at, but I guess I'm more concerned with mileage at this point. I've been doing between 6 and 7.5 miles each day (depending on how many times Lexi got up during the night haha!). My goal is to do a half marathon at some point, but I know it won't be this summer. The Pittsburgh half is in May every year. So, while I would love to be pregnant again with #2 by that point next year, if not I'll be training for a half. I know I can do the mileage. Back when I ran XC in HS we'd do 10 miles in practice, so really at that point, what's another 3? I just need to get myself back up, both physically and mentally, to doing that kind of mileage. And I know it's a few years down the road, but after (and I hope am blessed with) kid #2 I'd like to do a full marathon. But, that's a long term goal. Right now I'm really enjoying dabbling in the 10k's.


Lots of Love,
 KJsbabe

One Year Photo Shoot

Our one good friends from collage started her own photography business last year about this time and she has taken so many beautiful pictures of Lexi and our family. I love, love her work! If you are in the Pittsburgh area, please check her out because she's amazing!! Carry Harris Photography

Here are some of our beautiful pictures from Lexi's one year photo shoot!




















Lots of Love,
KJsbabe