29 months

Mateo is really hard to photograph right now...

Well, actually in a lot of aspects he is really hard right now.

I know becoming a big brother is a big change, so I try to have grace.

His eating is terrible. He only will drink milk if it is chocolate milk. He doesn't like yogurt with pieces anymore. If he is mad he will throw full bowls on the ground. Etc, etc, etc...

Naps are continually being shortened. A normal nap is now 1.5 hours. He goes to bed around 9 at night and sleeps about 12 hours. He wants the door open when he goes to sleep. Normally we shut it when we go to bed, but if he wakes up and realized, there is a lot of screaming until we come open it again.

He can be super sweet with his sister, but is not to be trusted. He BIT her fingers last week! I was so mad...

Baths have been a struggle for a few weeks (thankfully he put up no fight today, only because I said he could watch Cars after). He pooped and peed in the bath and has been freaked to go back in.

When mom was here we watched Planes with Mateo and he loved it. He started noticing every plane in the sky and would constantly say 'plane' and 'fly.' The next week we showed him Cars and the next week Cars 2. It is so cute how obsessed he is with them. It is funny once you are aware, how much you see them. His aunt gave him a stocking with McQueen and Mater. He always is saying 'Een' and 'Toe Mate.'  Grandpa had recorded a Cars book for him last Christmas and he was not very interested, but now he reads/listens to it the entire day.

Mateo now climbs out of his bed. Actually, I do not mind very much. He knows when he has to sleep he needs to stay in. He comes out of bed when he is ready and stands at the gate and calls me.

He has also gone upstairs or downstairs alone a few times to play, which actually was nice to not have to drag him along with the baby.  Yesterday it was cute at first, but later a mess, I came down and he had found 'breakfast.' A bowl of corn in the fridge. He was sitting nicely at the table eating it, which I was fine with. BUT when I was on the phone, he started strewing handfuls around the living room!  That was less cute.

I can't even remember all the words he says how. It is all coming together finally! It is pretty funny how he mixes the languages. Good thing both of his parents understand both.  This week he said 'Ik wil walken' (I want to walk, but he said it in Dutch with a 'Dutchified' English verb).  Now when he copies what we say it actually comes out the right way. He discovered the microphone his daddy has, so he likes to sing while daddy plays.

Helping with Liora's 1 month photos

Singing Happy Birthday

1 Month

 

 

 

 

 

Newest Photo Book

I am actually tired of seeing the projects I ordered today. I guess it is good I have to wait 3 weeks to see them...

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

3 weeks

Wow, I actually am on my computer! Hubby took tomorrow off, so today is a relaxing evening. He is playing with Mateo, the house is cleaned thanks to my household help and Liora is actually not crying this evening! Time to catch up. I am actually trying to finish up my pregnancy journal photobook on Shutterfly, but I keep getting distracted.

Today Liora had her hearing test and passed with flying colors. I also asked if they could measure her, so her latest stats are: 4.25 kilogram = 9.369 lbs/52 centimeter = 20.47 in. Up a pound in a week. Go us!

She is eating every 2 hours and sleeping at night  normally a 3-4 hour period, then 2-3 hours.

I hope to take some nice photos of her tomorrow. I have actually filmed some this week instead of photos, because they just are not working out nicely.

What did I say about relaxing? It seems that time is over. Time to feed a now-crying baby and make a bottle for the now-whining-little-bit-older toddler.

Today

Should be on some Pinterest fail board...

Mateo 28 months

This was another big month. Not only was grandma here for 3 weeks, but Mateo became a big brother! He is a good big brother. He likes to give his sister kisses and hold her for no longer than 10 seconds. He always checks where she is hanging out and double checks when we go out that she is going with us. He still has a hard time with her name, but we know who he is talking about.

Poor kid has been inside more this month than the past few months. He LOVES being outside, even if it is cold and raining.

His vocabulary is exploding. Every day I am hearing new words. I feel like I am reliving my past. I am his interpreter, like I was my brother's when he was young. I know what Mateo is trying to say or what words he says for certain things.

He loves all things to do with transportation. Cars, trains, busses, trucks, bikes, boats and planes (He love the movie by that name). He also loves monkeys and elephants. Surprising in how many things they appear. We even bought a monkey and an elephant chocolate at the bakery.

Mateo is capable of sleeping in a normal bed, but he basically decides to do whatever the opposite is of what we want. If we put him in the crib, he wants to climb out, if he is in the big bed, he asks to sleep in the crib...I guess that is basically how everything is with him at this stage. He wants to be the boss.

Eating has been totally off.  One day he eats 3 pieces of toast, the next day he won't touch it. Yesterday he didn't want yogurt, today he had it for snack, lunch and took one out after dinner. GRRRR....I try not to be frustrated and forcing him doesn't work. Tricking him only works some times and takes so much effort.

2 weeks

 Look who's 2 weeks. Liora gained nearly a pound since birth! She is a professional nurser.  Her sleeping varies from night to night. Some nights she can make it 5 hours, others like last night she is awake to eat every 2 hours.

 

We think she can already smile. Maybe it is gas, since she has a lot of that, but she has defiantly responded when we are talking to her or making faces.

She is very alert and likes to look at her mobile or printed fabrics I hang for her to look at.

Her brother loves her and she seems to be adjusted to all his noise, because she sleeps right though it all and does not flinch when he shouts right by her.

Her first skirt and she does not seem happy about it.

Birth Story Pt. 2

After my relatively pain-free delivery, I had a few minor issues.

We had the first hour of skin-on-skin time, then Liora was weighed and measured, then she got to have more bonding time. She actually started nursing! Way to go little girl! For a long time. There was apparently some crisis in the maternity ward, so I stayed upstairs an extra half an hour. The whole time she was drinking!

Mom and my SIL had been waiting the whole day for the news and the OK to come. The showed up around 5:30. It seemed like I had just got in my room. I know my food had just arrived. By food I mean 4 slices of bread with 2 pieces of cheese and 2 slices of meat, a mini salad and a piece of fruit. I was ravenous! Thankfully I had asked mom to bring some food and she had chicken tandoori that I later ate.

Mateo was so excited to meet his sister. I feel like I was kind of out of it during that visit. I could not really hold Mateo, because I was still connected to the IV and I did not want to move around much, because I had not been cleaned up and the epidural was wearing off, so I just was not feeling myself.

Once I ate and they cleaned me up and helped me get into PJs, I felt 'the urge.' To me this was a VERY good thing! With Mateo I could not feel anything for a while and it made things kind of complicated. I really wanted to go pee, because I knew it meant I could get my IV out, I would not have to be 'emptied' later and just in general, the sooner, the better!

I was scared because of what happened with Mateo. Rightfully so.  Even though I had eaten and had something to drink and stood up very slowly (and then sat down to try again), I still passed out while on the toilet. Just what I did not want to do!!!  I walked very slowly with hubby and the midwife holding me, sat down, heard some tinkling which made me very happy and then I mumbled something and then I was off in some far away place, no idea where I was. When I came to there was another midwife and the bed was pushed to the door. I nearly passed out again just taking the 2 steps from the toilet to the bed. Kind of embarrassing, but I am used to passing out by now. Only this is the worst it has ever been. Hubby and my mom said it was really scary looking. That my head rolled back and then I suddenly jerked up. Thankfully Mateo did not see it, so he was not scared.

They decided to leave the IV in a bit longer for the extra nutrients or something, but it was out before bedtime. Yippie!

When the doctor came to examine me that night, she told me that I had a hematoma that did not look good. I am glad I could not see what it looked like. Every midwife that checked on me during my stay would comment on it. My doctor came specially to check on it a few times. She wanted it to go away on its own and was hoping she would not have to open it up. I am glad she made that decision! It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable at all. I had painkillers every few hours, so it did not really bother me.

Liora was born Thursday afternoon and we went home Monday morning.  By the time I left, the hematoma was down and spreading out.  I decided that getting an episiotomy is better than tearing! I think the doctor was able to put it in a less irritating spot or something, because although I feel discomfort, it is nothing like the first time. I could not walk normally for a month! By the time I left the hospital I was walking fine. A little slower, but I even stopped at the grocery store on the way home. Liora is 2 weeks today and I already have been on a few outings!

My experience is that the 2nd pregnancy is harder, but the birth/recovery is easier.

Birth Story Pt. 1

*Typical birth story warning*
**This may sound funny, but my whole birthing/hospital experience was in Dutch, so I am actually 'translating' my experience. Excuse me if something sounds funny**

As any of my readers know, I was 8 days overdue. Scheduled to be induced on day 9. I had REALLY hoped labor would start, but it didn't.

I actually was able to fall asleep fine. Hubby apparently had a harder time. However, I woke up around 5:00 and could not fall back to sleep. We got up at 6:30 to leave at 6:45. Everything was packed and I was not dressing to impress. I grabbed a bagel and later wished I would have made a huge breakfast.

We were told to arrive at 7:15 and were a few minutes late, but it did not matter. It felt so strange to be walking into the labor/delivery part of the hospital feeling no discomfort! We went to the receptionist (who was turned out to be our midwife for half of the day) and she showed us our room and told me she would come back in a few minutes after I changed and if I wanted, I could insert an enema myself. She showed up around 8:00.

First she did an exam (I was still at 3 cm) and tried to break my water (the doctor 'prescribed' this). However, she said there was not very much water by the baby's head, so she did not want to try too hard. The plan was if my water broke, labor could spontaneously start. That not being the case, she went on to get my IV in place for the Pitocin.  This turned out to be one of the most painful parts of giving birth! In spite of my veins being beautiful, they were not very slippery. She poked me 4x before calling her colleague to come help. Thankfully the 5th try it worked! I had bruises until a few days ago.

I think it was about 8:30 once I was hooked up to everything. My doctor was starting her shift I think, so she came in to examine me again and also tried to break my water, but did not succeed. Liora came out with some scratches on her head, so I think one of them scratched her head with the crochet-needle-looking tool!

At this point it was actually kind of boring. I had the fetal monitor on and another monitor to measure the contractions, my IV and the automatic blood pressure cuff, so there was no walking around for me. I was in bed, just waiting...no contractions. FINALLY around 10:00 I started having contractions. By 10:20, they turned down the dose of Pitocin, because it seemed like I may have started labor 'on my own' or 'with a little help.'

I told the midwife early on that I wanted an epidural (after having my membranes stripped twice, I was not sure I could handle giving birth. Those were the most 2 painful things of my LIFE!!! With Mateo it put me directly in labor, but with Liora it did nothing).  Contractions were fine and the midwife came around noon to say the anesthesiologist was on the floor, that maybe it was a good time for the epidural, because if they had to call him again, he may not be in time. I was at first hesitant, but said 'sure, why not?' It was about 30 minutes until he came and when he did I was READY! It is pretty scary to get one when you are having major contractions. They waited just until one ended, but still I had one while he was doing it. The nearly-instant-relief...aaahhhh, so nice!  Something I thought was neat was that my IV thing had this little connector, so the liquid I had to have while having the epidural, could just be plugged into the same tube as my Pitocin. No more pricking!

At 1:00 I was still 3-4 cm, having contractions every 2 minutes (but not really feeling them). I was getting annoyed at that point, that I didn't really seem to be progressing. Hubby was served a nice meal and I was advised against eating, should I need to push in the next few hours. I did eat some of the little snacks I brought. I then, believe it or not, dozed on and off for a bit. I was a nice, warm, floaty sleep that actually kept being interrupted by the blood pressure cuff and the monitors that kept sliding off.

At 1:30 the doctor came back and I was at a 4-5. at 2:15 they said I was a good 5, thin cervix, baby was descending and the head was forming, possible around 4pm. (I am reading off hubby's Skype updates to mom...)

20 minutes later they came in and said I could probably start pushing in 10 minutes! When they (intern and new midwife) left the room, Hubby asked "What does that exactly mean?" I answered, "I guess things finally started moving." Oh, I need to back up! I called them in the room, because I was starting to feel more than I had felt, so I was worried the epidural was wearing off even though Hubby assured me he could see the thing and it still had lots in it.  They checked and said that the epidural was fine and maybe I was ready to push.

They came back around 3:00 I guess. Earlier on they had already set up for delivery. When they came in they pulled out the leg things from the bed and said we would do some practice pushes, so we would be ready when the doctor came.

I was not completely numb like with Mateo, but I could not exactly feel when the contractions would start, so the midwife told me when to push/breathe. We did a few practices before the doctor came in and then I just continued doing what they said. I know it sounds strange to some, but I could not feel that I was pushing. With Mateo the doctor said I was making no difference, I just had a red face, but apparently this time it was working what I was doing. I was starting to laugh actually because I was making pushing sounds and faces and it just felt like I was FAKING! The midwife, intern, doctor and hubby all were very encouraging! At one point the midwife helped push once and the doctor told me the head was there. After that the doctor told me suddenly "Don't push until I say. Do your 'puff' breathing." Then I heard *snip.* So glad I did not feel that! I think it was the next series of pushes that Liora was there!

She was born at 3:27. To me it seems to go very fast, but a few times they mentioned "how long you pushed." To me it seemed fine. She flooped out the doctor handed her to me and I said (In English, because you resort to your mother tongue under pressure), "The cord!" It was wrapped twice around her neck. Scary! The doctor very calmly took care of that and then she said "There's poop!" This again scared me, because I thought she had done it inside and would need to be sucked out. They were not communicating as much at this moment, because they were cleaning it up. I still thought it was inside and did not realize she was doing it as we spoke. A LOT! Like TONS! She was just wiped off and my stomach as well and she started all over again. At this point it was good there was an extra set of hands in the room to help change the gloves, hand some stuff, etc.

It seemed like I laid there with my legs up in the air forever, but I am so glad I did not feel what was going on. Since I had my baby, I did not really worry what they were doing. The placenta came out and was good and then I got some stitches. I actually do not know how many.

All in all, it was a very fine experience! Being induced went much better than expected!

Adjusting

Mom left this morning, so I think 'real life' will now begin. I have lots to blog about, but we will see when I get to it. So until I am back, here is a recent photo and a few precious video clips. Everyone asks how Mateo is doing. The videos show his best side! 95% of the time he has been great! He is just not into getting his photo taken, so we had a hard time getting a good one of grandma and her 2 grandkids or a family photo at our early Thanksgiving celebration.

 



This morning

 

Not impressed with her headband

3 days old

I have so much I could blog about...maybe I will get it is sometime, maybe not. Right now I am going to sleep. *fingers crossed* I skyped my brother and SIL and called my grandma, so I think my computer time for the evening is up. Tomorrow we go home after my doctor and the child doctor gives us the green light.

You can just SEE that mommy's milk came in

Finally feeling normal enough for a photo

My princess

Love, love, love

Loving on his sissy

She's here!

After my faithful blogging the last few days, it felt strange to not post last night, but I figured I should probably sleep (plus the computer died and I did not feel like walking across the room to plug it back in).

Without further ado.

We arrived at the hospital at 7:20 am. I was induced and everything ended up going better than expected. After being told around 2:00 that it would be 2-3 more hours, we were very surprised when less than an hour later they said I was ready to push!

 

 

We are doing well! Baby Liora is precious. She is drinking like a champ.

 

Mommy feels like this recovery is going better than the first time around. I have one major owie, but it is also getting better.

 

Here it is normal to stay in the hospital 4 nights, so I will be here until Monday. You may ask, 'What do you do all day?' I enjoy my time here, away from all my daily duties that will be waiting for me. Some time alone with the baby, then some time with hubby and grandma, or grandma only, a wonderful bed that moves up and down, food delivered on trays to me in bed, 24 hour medical/baby advice.

 

I could post much more, but for now I am going to attempt to sleep. Gotta get used to this waking-up-in-the-night thing again!

41 +1

So tomorrow is the big day! I am doubting now everything I did to get ready. Did I really pack what I needed in my suitcase? What should I not forget? What does mom need to know to take care of Mateo? Is this REALLY the name I want? Is the announcement how I like it? What if it hurts too much?

I've had too much time to think! Even though I still can't fully grasp that WE are having a baby girl, it is time. I am over-thinking things now. Time for her to just be here and we go from there.

Thank you everyone for all the kind words, thoughts, and prayers!

BIG update to come tomorrow!

Forty ONE weeks

Whodathought...here we are 41 weeks and no baby. I went to the doctor and shed a few tears there and a few after. The ones there were from the pain and the ones after were just hormonal I guess.

The doctor stripped my membranes again and moved my induction day to Thursday instead of tomorrow. I felt disappointed when I first heard it, but she said she thinks it is better if I can go in labor naturally. I agree! I was/am scared of being induced. She also said that she is the doctor on call on Thursday, so she would for sure be the one doing the delivery.  I am dilated to 3. We have to be there at 7:15 am on Thursday, so tonight is my last night of good, solid sleep and the chance to sleep in for a LONG time ;p

I didn't go to Spanish tonight, because I didn't feel like it or feel like explaining the story to everyone. I also told everyone Sunday that it was FOR SURE my last service, but there is another one tomorrow night...we'll see!

So what is a girl to do who is just waiting and waiting? Organize toys! Then take photos...

New Expedit on the left, books organized by series, toys sorted, toys thrown out, everything perfectly organized

OCD mom got ahold of Mateo's toys

41 week selfie



Another one with different lighting just because it makes me happy

Attempt at a creative shot

Baby Space COMPLETE

'THE stick' is hung. Good thing baby girl waited for this...hubby first thought my idea was very weird to hang it up, but thankfully, eventually, he got used to the idea. I have had the stick a few months. It was in the shower a few days, on the cabinet a few days, then thrown on the porch because hubby thought it was too dirty, then again upstairs, then finally I took it to my SIL's to sand it. Again it hung out downstairs and the past 2 weeks it was on the side of the bookshelf. I am happy with it!

I like how her space turned out. There are a few decorations in the car that will be added when we get home from the hospital.

40+6

Click photo to see post...

40+5

I thought to do another 'last family photo.' One day I will learn that as we are rushing out the door to church, it is not the best time. Mateo never seems to want to cooperate and the lighting is not good in the living room.  I guess the advantage of wearing mainly black is that

Something I have already learned is no matter what people say, your 2nd can come later than your 1st! Something I am waiting to see is if the labor really does go faster with the 2nd.

More bad lighting. I didn't realize how BLACK I looked. I feel like I am running out of clothing options...I have something picked out for tomorrow and hopefully that is the last maternity outfit for a LONG while.

40+4

I am feeling no signs of imminent birth! I think any opening there was has closed up and the baby has moved up and is thinking of staying there forever, or dissolving. Good thing that is not possible!

Today I didn't feel even a tiny bit of cramping or really any discomfort at all. I think all the help I have has totally relaxed me and my body sees no reason to give birth. 

What is funny though is that I am anxiously waiting and we know we are having a little girl ANY TIME, it still has not really sunk it. I guess that is normal, but in a few hours I could actually be holding MY little girl. We will be a family of FOUR.  Maybe that is why I have to wait a few days extra? Nah, I know it is normal, but the days just seem to take a long time, which is a good thing, enjoying the time with mom. I just wish she could be enjoying her granddaughter at this time as well!

I had planned 2 weeks ago that it was my last Sunday going to church pregnant. Surprise, surprise, I think I am going tomorrow. It is also communion and foot washing (that should be fun, haha).

Maybe little girl will show up on Veteran's Day? She will always have a free day for her holiday!

40+3

 *Exposed tummy photo below*

This morning I went to the doctor. She actually did not say how far I am dilated, but she did say she was surprised that we even had to talk about an induction date! It seems that little girl is very happy inside.

She stripped my membranes, but so far it is not having the safe affect as last time. I have not felt any contractions! With Mateo they started within minutes.

I was on the monitor for half an hour after and everything looks good. The midwife who was checking on me also said that there was very low contraction activity going on.

The doctor said there is a possibility she will come in the weekend otherwise I go in for a check on Tuesday and get induced Wednesday.

My hair got messed up from laying down

 

40 weeks 3 days



40+2

Getting a little tired of feeling overdue. I actually am feeling quite fine, even better than a few weeks ago! Probably because mom is here and is helping with everything, so I have lots of time to just sit and relax.

What I don't like is being unable to plan! I plan half days at a time...  Oh, and everyone keeps checking on me. Very sweet, but I almost feel like I should come up with something exciting to say. Each time it is, 'Nope, not feeling any different.'

Now each text message I sent I start with, 'No news yet. <insert message>'

Each piece of maternity clothing that I wear, I put in the laundry with the idea that it was the last time I will wear it.

I feel REALLY ready now for little girl. We figured out a scripture for her birth announcement and I found the missing piece to our baby monitor.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment at 9:00 am. I am hoping she will strip my membranes. She did it with Mateo and I went to the hospital a few hours later.

The 8th is my great-uncle's 70th birthday, so it would also be a special day to give birth.

Good night world...

40+ Weeks

Nothing special to report tonight...11:00 pm and all is well...I thought I was feeling maybe some cramping this evening, but it didn't seem to change into anything more serious. Headed to bed, planning on going into labor tomorrow on my good friend's birthday!

40 weeks // here and gone

It is 10:00pm and I have nothing to report. No photos either. Both of the day were bad. I want one tomorrow with mom. We went to Ikea yesterday and shopping in the Netherlands today. Walking induces labor, right? Waiting...

39 Weeks

I don't feel like much has changed from last week, except that it flew by! May the next 5 days fly by until mom arrives.

I didn't weigh for a while, but I was happy when I did this morning: Still at that 20 lb mark!  I measured my stomach today and it was 43 inches. 2 weeks before Mateo was born it was 47! I feel just as big, but I guess I'm not. THAT is good news.

Tomorrow is another doctors appointment.

I keep doing things for the 'last time' or at least I hope it is...ironing, dusting the living room, taking the car to the car wash, GROCERY SHOPPING (I plan to do a big shopping trip on Thursday when Mateo is with Oma), church, etc.

This afternoon I thought that *maybe* I was starting labor, but those symptoms have passed, now I feel my same, tired self. I keep telling hubby that we need to go to bed in time, because we may be waking up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. Although I am kind of doubting that it will happen that way. I don't imagine going to bed feeling fine and within a few hours waking up, ready to go to the hospital. I could see waking up and staying in bed or walking around a few hours before we have to go. We shall see!

I am already sorting out maternity clothes. Anything that feels too tight or that I don't love, is getting washed and folded. I am not going to wear those 40 skirts in the next 10 days! (*disclaimer* some are regular skirts that just stretch, those ones I will wear)

My main complaint is that I have some pain when I walk, so I have been pretty lazy. SOOOO happy (have I said this every post?) that my ring and shoes fit! I even have a jacket that shuts. Yippie.

27 months

Mateo is 27 months. Everyone says how much he has grown and how much older he looks. I have to agree! He is not easy to photograph. I snapped a very few shots on this chair and he said 'all done!' and jumped off.

 

Morning naptime is OVER. Boohoo...we are down to one afternoon nap and it is not any longer than before. 

 

Mateo drinks a bottle of milk in the morning and before bed. It is a sort of regression to be drinking out of a bottle, but I don't mind, since it means he is drinking a lot of milk. I am not a milk drinker, so it is hard for me to force him to drink it out of a cup.

 

His newest word that we figured out is "Ona." To him it means Elephant (Olifant). It does not really sound like the word in either languages, but it means something to him. Some other words he has said this month are "mess" "Annie, Josh, Jesse" and I KNOW there are more, but I am falling asleep. His words for "hand, help, hat, hair" all sound the same.  Oh, he says "mooi!" and the 4 word sentence, "en nog een ....." (and another ....)

We had a few rough days last week, but this week has gone better! I am sure he can sense that things are changing around here, so he is being testy as well.

I remember my nieces doing this. He talks the whole day about mama and papa. He shows what is mama's and what is papa's or tells stories of what happened (in his limited vocabulary) about us. It is very cute! Last night when I got home from class I saw that daddy hung up 2 drawings of Mateo's. He had written on it 'Ona-October 22.' This morning when Mateo woke up he went to the drawing and said, 'Papa! Ona! Mooi!' (repeat a few times...)

Oh, and what goes along with showing what is ours ('Mama shoes, papa shoes')...he says what is HIS! "Van mij!" (Mine!)  This morning I was upstairs and he was downstairs alone and I could hear him screaming, "Auto van mij!" Poor kid has a lot to learn about sharing...

His eating is sporatic. One day he will eat tons and rather varied, the next day he only wants meat and fruit (his basics), the next day he will eat veggies and potatoes, but all separate, the next day he doesn't care if everything is mixed. I try not to let it bother me. I know he won't starve himself. He says "eat" if he is hungry or he helps himself to a yogurt from the fridge. It is handy that he can serve himself, but I always make him ask first and then I grant him permission.

Next month Mateo will be a big brother!