A celebration of sisterhood, sportsmanship, and a shared love for the game that has become a cornerstone of our family—basketball.
Basketball Mom
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Ava started swim lessons right after her third birthday and it was one of the best investments we'd made in ensuring she understood water safety and how to swim (of course). Fast forward three years and our girl recently enrolled in an aggressive eight session reminder course (she was out of the water for almost nine whole months) and Olivia started off in their tot course as well. As much as I love my home state, swim schools are seriously lacking here. That is part of the reason why it took us so long to get these babes in the water. I looked up five different facilities and I just couldn't seem to find a fit that felt right, so we focused solely on gymnastics. I tried to find some temporary contentment with just having them participate in something physical, but swim is truly a must for us. Since Justin is in USAREC, (non operational side of the Army) and we aren't assigned to the post here, free gym memberships are pretty common with recruiters. Thankfully, we live close enough to a YMCA that our family can take full advantage of the facility and all the classes they offer.
I was a little apprehensive at first... I wasn't sure if the structure was going to be the same (or as professional) since this wasn't their *job* per say? But I am happy to report that this has been the best swim experience I've had for my children thus far. They are in a separate, heated pool area that is really mellow - not overcrowded at all and solely for kiddos. The locker rooms, showers, and private entry are all nice bonuses that we didn't experience at our last swim facility. I appreciate the structure and the super hands on teaching from the instructors. Olivia has been absolutely killin' it! She is the only kiddo in her class to "bob" hum, and blow bubbles when instructed to do so. The back float is super easy for her and you can tell this isn't her first time being around or in organized classes such as this one.
Ava is picking up right where she left off. The back stroke is in full effect, she's breathing and using that control rather well, and she is able to swim from one side of the pool to the next. While Justin is at school, I think i'm going to wait to see what level the girls test out at and then put them in another aggressive swim course. Going every single day is so much more effective than once a week. At least for my kids. And this schedule has really allowed for us to do more with our day since its so early in the morning. I love it! For those that have recently thought about swim for your kiddos, I urge you to check with your local YMCA before dumping hundreds of dollars into a swim school. Even for non- members, the eight course class my kids are in would be $81 dollars, If I'm not mistaken? Totally worth it and extremely cost effective.
We also decided to put Liam in the baby/parent class here in August - he absolutely LOVES the water, so I know this will be a hit! I cannot wait to see how well that goes. I've got two little minnows and one little minnow in training. Seriously cannot rave enough about water safety, water exposure, and making sure your kiddos are swimming safely.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Olivia fell off the bed this morning. Writing that is like a punch in the gut. While laying next to the person that is suppose to keep her most safe in the world, somehow, she fell of of the bed. I woke to soft cries and as I took .5 seconds to wipe the sleep from my eyes, I realized Olivia was not in the bed. Panic mode was in full effect and I immediately found her on the floor. I hate these moments in parenthood. They are not for the weak. I ran to her, I scooped her up, and immediately started to comfort her. I have no idea what happened.. none. Justin and Ava ran into the room shortly after. I could feel the concern in Justin's voice and the panicked look on the face of our oldest. And the tears came falling. I nursed my sweet girl to see if the comfort would ease her cries - it did. When she calmed, I inspected her from head to toe.
I checked for bumps, I checked all of her limbs, and then immediately decided we were going to take our youngest babe into the ER for further evaluation. There are many things I am adamant about in this life - at the top of my list is the well being of my babies. It could be something as simple as a bump. Something as simple as a sratch. If I feel like medical attention is neccessary, I will always make sure my kiddos receive it. There has never been harm in double or triple checking a situation that involves the health of your child. Justin called his boss almost immediately after and we were in the car minutes later.
Olivia is completely fine. Thank god. Our ER trip took about an hour and she was evaluated by two different doctors and an RN. She was responsive, she hadn't vomitted, and her normal behavior didn't seem to chage after her fall. They deemed it unneccessary to perfom a CT or anything of that nature because she checked out OK. I was relieved. After filling out the usual paperwork, we were on our way.
All day I have been watching my babe like a hawk. I have been internally beating myself up for this incident. I have been internally telling myself that I didn't deserve to have these beautiful babies if I couldn't even keep them safe from falling off the bed. I hate when I beat myself up like this. The truth is, it is a risk when you co-sleep. I know this. We had been laying on the bottom half of the bed because Ava came in during the middle of the night and she's not exactly the best bed sharer. Parents aren't perfect people. Having kids doesn't mean you all of a sudden know it all.
I have to remind myself of this when I'm completely tearing myself apart. I've cried more today than I have in a good while. I was co-showering with Olivia tonight and after I finished washing her, I just held her. I kissed her sweet cheeks and I took in her smell. It was in those moments that I realized I don't have many more of these moments left with her. She's going to be 10 months old this month and here we are having gone through her first (and hopefulyl last) bed fall, her first ER trip, and my first scary moment with her. All in one day. Babies don't keep. Savor and relish in all that they are every moment that you can.
♥- Leilani
I checked for bumps, I checked all of her limbs, and then immediately decided we were going to take our youngest babe into the ER for further evaluation. There are many things I am adamant about in this life - at the top of my list is the well being of my babies. It could be something as simple as a bump. Something as simple as a sratch. If I feel like medical attention is neccessary, I will always make sure my kiddos receive it. There has never been harm in double or triple checking a situation that involves the health of your child. Justin called his boss almost immediately after and we were in the car minutes later.
Olivia is completely fine. Thank god. Our ER trip took about an hour and she was evaluated by two different doctors and an RN. She was responsive, she hadn't vomitted, and her normal behavior didn't seem to chage after her fall. They deemed it unneccessary to perfom a CT or anything of that nature because she checked out OK. I was relieved. After filling out the usual paperwork, we were on our way.
All day I have been watching my babe like a hawk. I have been internally beating myself up for this incident. I have been internally telling myself that I didn't deserve to have these beautiful babies if I couldn't even keep them safe from falling off the bed. I hate when I beat myself up like this. The truth is, it is a risk when you co-sleep. I know this. We had been laying on the bottom half of the bed because Ava came in during the middle of the night and she's not exactly the best bed sharer. Parents aren't perfect people. Having kids doesn't mean you all of a sudden know it all.
I have to remind myself of this when I'm completely tearing myself apart. I've cried more today than I have in a good while. I was co-showering with Olivia tonight and after I finished washing her, I just held her. I kissed her sweet cheeks and I took in her smell. It was in those moments that I realized I don't have many more of these moments left with her. She's going to be 10 months old this month and here we are having gone through her first (and hopefulyl last) bed fall, her first ER trip, and my first scary moment with her. All in one day. Babies don't keep. Savor and relish in all that they are every moment that you can.
Photo Cred: Thee Bonnie Hussey
Monday, December 14, 2015
My toddler actually went down for a nap today, so this mama has a free moment to blog out this past week. And, yes. Sadly, Miss Ava has decided to completely kick her beloved nap time... and while it's taken a bit of an adjustment for our family, we are working out the kinks. I shouldn't say she's gotten rid of naps entirely, she just no longer prefers to go down at the "normal" time. We've had to push up lunch time so she eats prior to a nap, and now she goes down around 1-2.. but we don't allow her to sleep past 3pm. Sleeping past three means no bedtime at 8pm... and our bedtime routine CANNOT be changed. Ava gets the perfect amount of sleep at night when she goes down accordingly. I should probably write up a 2.5 year old update on my little girl, I'll make a mental note to do that sometime before Olivia arrives.
Anywho, like always, this week has been mega busy. More busy due to the fact that we are prepping for our trip to New York for the holidays. We've been on the go and shopping much more than I'd like (surprising, right?), and getting our travel gear squared away. I ordered a snowsuit for Ava from OshKosh.. only to find out that my toddler is indeed officially in everything that is 3T clothing.. including coats and heavier clothing items. I was floored, but we had to exchange it. We picked up some super cute festive clothing, the new snow suit, and various other items for Ava for her new size of clothing. We also bought her a new carseat for traveling purposes. Don't get me wrong. I ABSOLUTELY love our Chicco Nextfit Convertible Seat, but it is huge, heavy, and bulky.. not truly ideal for traveling. Since we made the decision to gate check her seat, we also had the risk of damaging her expensive seat.. I wasn't okay with that. After talking to a million traveling parents, reading online, and calling the airline for help.. we finally decided to buy an aircraft approved, lighter, more manageable seat for our travels.
We made a list of food items to pick up this week for our plan ride, and we loaded up Ava's tablet with fun movies, apps, and games to keep her well entertained during our airtime. We even purchased headphones specifically for younger tots. I love how comfortable they seems and Ava's ease with them. I feel like I've called the airline a million times just to make sure I've got everything correct. I was really pleased with the fact that there is such a thing as family boarding with this airline. With it being the holiday season, I was worried we wouldn't be able to sit together, but right after the A class folks board, they call for families! We will be boarding well before 100 other passengers.. that eased my worries a ton.
The last time I flew with Ava bug, she wasn't even 8 months old... can i just say how relieved and excited I am to be traveling as a family? I know having Justin with us will make this trip even smoother than I'm imaging. My main goal is to stay hydrated during the flight, keep my compression socks on to help with swelling and such, and walking as much as I can. I absolutely DO NOT want to go into labor while we are on vacation, so I will definitely be taking OVERLY good care of myself while we are away and during our plane rides.
Speaking of, I got to see my littlest girl this morning.. and it was just amazing. Seeing her weigh in at 5 lbs 3 oz was foreign to me.. due to the fact that her big sister nearly weighed that at birth. I truly think we are going to have a 7 lb 6 oz babe... and if that's so, she'll weigh as much as her mama did at delivery. I could tell the discomforts I've been feeling lately came on a lot sooner than I remember them with Ava. I had a photo session yesterday and got really low to get great shots of the baby boy I was taking photos of.. yeah, I'm paying for that today. I'm achy, I have a bruise, and I am so incredibly tired. Justin is pretty much off work for the rest of the week, so it's so nice to have his support and helping hands.
I have a 35 week OB appointment tomorrow, since I won't be in state for my 36 week appointment, and my fingers are crossed that everything will still check out amazing with my pregnancy. My biggest worry at this point for my pregnancy has been my potential gestational diabetes.. with my numbers being so excellent, Olivia's growth scans being so perfect, and the fact that I have no other risks.. I'm feeling pretty cloud 9 right about now. Here's to the last five weeks or so I have of pregnancy. I still can't believe how quickly these last 9 months have flown by, but I am most certainly ready to be a family of four.
Happy Monday all!
♥- Leilani
Anywho, like always, this week has been mega busy. More busy due to the fact that we are prepping for our trip to New York for the holidays. We've been on the go and shopping much more than I'd like (surprising, right?), and getting our travel gear squared away. I ordered a snowsuit for Ava from OshKosh.. only to find out that my toddler is indeed officially in everything that is 3T clothing.. including coats and heavier clothing items. I was floored, but we had to exchange it. We picked up some super cute festive clothing, the new snow suit, and various other items for Ava for her new size of clothing. We also bought her a new carseat for traveling purposes. Don't get me wrong. I ABSOLUTELY love our Chicco Nextfit Convertible Seat, but it is huge, heavy, and bulky.. not truly ideal for traveling. Since we made the decision to gate check her seat, we also had the risk of damaging her expensive seat.. I wasn't okay with that. After talking to a million traveling parents, reading online, and calling the airline for help.. we finally decided to buy an aircraft approved, lighter, more manageable seat for our travels.
We made a list of food items to pick up this week for our plan ride, and we loaded up Ava's tablet with fun movies, apps, and games to keep her well entertained during our airtime. We even purchased headphones specifically for younger tots. I love how comfortable they seems and Ava's ease with them. I feel like I've called the airline a million times just to make sure I've got everything correct. I was really pleased with the fact that there is such a thing as family boarding with this airline. With it being the holiday season, I was worried we wouldn't be able to sit together, but right after the A class folks board, they call for families! We will be boarding well before 100 other passengers.. that eased my worries a ton.
The last time I flew with Ava bug, she wasn't even 8 months old... can i just say how relieved and excited I am to be traveling as a family? I know having Justin with us will make this trip even smoother than I'm imaging. My main goal is to stay hydrated during the flight, keep my compression socks on to help with swelling and such, and walking as much as I can. I absolutely DO NOT want to go into labor while we are on vacation, so I will definitely be taking OVERLY good care of myself while we are away and during our plane rides.
Speaking of, I got to see my littlest girl this morning.. and it was just amazing. Seeing her weigh in at 5 lbs 3 oz was foreign to me.. due to the fact that her big sister nearly weighed that at birth. I truly think we are going to have a 7 lb 6 oz babe... and if that's so, she'll weigh as much as her mama did at delivery. I could tell the discomforts I've been feeling lately came on a lot sooner than I remember them with Ava. I had a photo session yesterday and got really low to get great shots of the baby boy I was taking photos of.. yeah, I'm paying for that today. I'm achy, I have a bruise, and I am so incredibly tired. Justin is pretty much off work for the rest of the week, so it's so nice to have his support and helping hands.
I have a 35 week OB appointment tomorrow, since I won't be in state for my 36 week appointment, and my fingers are crossed that everything will still check out amazing with my pregnancy. My biggest worry at this point for my pregnancy has been my potential gestational diabetes.. with my numbers being so excellent, Olivia's growth scans being so perfect, and the fact that I have no other risks.. I'm feeling pretty cloud 9 right about now. Here's to the last five weeks or so I have of pregnancy. I still can't believe how quickly these last 9 months have flown by, but I am most certainly ready to be a family of four.
Here's the best profile pic they could snag of our sweet Livy bean!
Happy Monday all!
♥- Leilani
Monday, November 9, 2015
Being that I will be 30 weeks pregnant tomorrow, I wanted to catch up on some of my email requests. My most requested topic (as of late) on this blog pertains to what we've purchased for baby # 2, so I decided to make a video about it. A lot of the questions I've received go more into depth about this subject as well. Some people have asked what we've saved money on with baby # 2, what items we already had that we didn't need to purchase again, etc. I have to tell you guys how disappointed I was in the lack of lists, videos, or blogs available for all things baby # 2 in the virtual world. Granted, if you already have a child, you are more than likely a lot more seasoned than the first time parent, but I do think it's equally important to share the journey of every pregnancy. I plan on making more blogs pertaining to our preparation for Olivia prior to her arrival, things we are doing to make this pregnancy special, and all of the things we plan to use with our second baby girl.
Not only is it something I can look back on, but it can also serve as a resource for all the parents who have asked and requested I share some of this stuff. The number one question I have been asked since starting our "Olivia buys" would have to be, "How much money have you invested on baby gear?" I think it's truly safe to say that we have spent less than $500 on everything we've needed for Olivia. The number one thing I've noticed with expenses is that some of our expenses for Olivia, were actually spent on Ava. Whenever we decide to incorporate crib sleeping, we plan on using Ava's nursery furniture for Olivia. The crib was never used as an actual crib ( I can count on one hand how many times Ava actually slept in there, so it is in super excellent condition).We also purchased a glider for Ava... that was also rarely used. She's got an espresso colored dresser, and a matching changing table for her crib. Ava will be upgraded to a twin bed when the time comes for that switch to happen, or maybe beforehand to get Ava comfortable with the new furniture she'll have.
I made this video almost two weeks ago, so I'm sure it's missing some of the minor Olivia buys, but this is the jist of what we've had to purchase. The small things we still need include stuff like a burt bee's bath set for Olivia, bottle cleaners, more breast pump accessories, etc. If our Livy bean was to be born in the next few weeks, we would definitely have all we need for her to be at home comfortably, so that feels good to know. Check out the video I made, and if you have any other questions, feel free to message-email-or comment below.
Happy Monday all!
Not only is it something I can look back on, but it can also serve as a resource for all the parents who have asked and requested I share some of this stuff. The number one question I have been asked since starting our "Olivia buys" would have to be, "How much money have you invested on baby gear?" I think it's truly safe to say that we have spent less than $500 on everything we've needed for Olivia. The number one thing I've noticed with expenses is that some of our expenses for Olivia, were actually spent on Ava. Whenever we decide to incorporate crib sleeping, we plan on using Ava's nursery furniture for Olivia. The crib was never used as an actual crib ( I can count on one hand how many times Ava actually slept in there, so it is in super excellent condition).We also purchased a glider for Ava... that was also rarely used. She's got an espresso colored dresser, and a matching changing table for her crib. Ava will be upgraded to a twin bed when the time comes for that switch to happen, or maybe beforehand to get Ava comfortable with the new furniture she'll have.
I made this video almost two weeks ago, so I'm sure it's missing some of the minor Olivia buys, but this is the jist of what we've had to purchase. The small things we still need include stuff like a burt bee's bath set for Olivia, bottle cleaners, more breast pump accessories, etc. If our Livy bean was to be born in the next few weeks, we would definitely have all we need for her to be at home comfortably, so that feels good to know. Check out the video I made, and if you have any other questions, feel free to message-email-or comment below.
Happy Monday all!
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Even with the constant chaos that is our life, I get lost in my thoughts at times when I think of you. I am curious about what your little face will look like. Will you resemble your sister? Will daddy's gene's play a stronger role in your make up? Or will mine? Will you arrive on your due date? Or will you take your time coming earth side? So many wonderful questions fill my mind and it makes the anticipation so much harder when I know they are just three short months away from having answers. Our time together lately has been so precious for me. You kick so unexpectedly these days. I thought for sure you'd strictly be a night owl like your big sister, but I stand corrected. Sometimes you kick me with the morning light, other times you kick me in the wake of the afternoon. It's always a sweet surprise for me to feel you moving in there. Your kicks seems to grow stronger by the day and the reassurance of your growth brings me so much comfort. It brings me so much happiness.
You know, when we changed your name so suddenly, I didn't expect for that change to be so right so fast. You were always an Olivia, even if it took us time to realize it. Aren't you glad we did though? I feel you move and kick harder when I say, "I love you Olivia." And every movement of yours is reassurance that we made the right decision. I looked up so many different meanings of your name all around the world. My favorite would have to be derived from the Latin term. Olive: Symbol of peace. Your middle name, Rose, actually comes from your late great-grandmother, Damaris Rose.
What I didn't realize is that Rose, an obvious flower, also reminds me of my name. Leilani means heavenly flower. So there's another unknown connection to your name and your family. I never did this with your big sister, but I also compiled a list of songs that include your name in it. It was actually really fun to do, and I'm thinking of burning a cd with it, just for giggles once you are older.
Since you are able to hear the voices all around you, I hope you hear the many whispers of those who rub my belly and tell you how crazy they are about you. We are all crazy about you. Sometimes I catch myself saying, "I've never known a love like this." and you know what? It's true. With your sister, I worried about everything. I doubted my body, I felt like I didn't deserve the beautiful gift of having a child. I loved her so much, and everything I did was both out of fear of the unknown, and the unwavering love I had for Ava. With you, my love is different. My love is calm, it is knowing. I don't worry, I live life, and I am carrying you along for the journey. I loved both my girls quite differently in pregnancy, and it has been miraculous to see. They say every child is different, and I never expected that difference to show up right from the start.
You are a tender reminder that in sacrifices made, there are beautiful outcomes. You are a reminder of the amazing things my body is capable of doing. You are also a reminder of the love that I share with your daddy. You and your sister both are living proof of the love your father and I have created outside of ourselves. I look at my life at 24 years old, and all I can feel is proud. There are so many other routes life could have taken me on, but I am so glad my journey led me to you. I am 27 weeks pregnant with you today sweet baby. Only 13 more weeks until you are expected to arrive and join those that love you.
I love you,
Mom.
You know, when we changed your name so suddenly, I didn't expect for that change to be so right so fast. You were always an Olivia, even if it took us time to realize it. Aren't you glad we did though? I feel you move and kick harder when I say, "I love you Olivia." And every movement of yours is reassurance that we made the right decision. I looked up so many different meanings of your name all around the world. My favorite would have to be derived from the Latin term. Olive: Symbol of peace. Your middle name, Rose, actually comes from your late great-grandmother, Damaris Rose.
What I didn't realize is that Rose, an obvious flower, also reminds me of my name. Leilani means heavenly flower. So there's another unknown connection to your name and your family. I never did this with your big sister, but I also compiled a list of songs that include your name in it. It was actually really fun to do, and I'm thinking of burning a cd with it, just for giggles once you are older.
Since you are able to hear the voices all around you, I hope you hear the many whispers of those who rub my belly and tell you how crazy they are about you. We are all crazy about you. Sometimes I catch myself saying, "I've never known a love like this." and you know what? It's true. With your sister, I worried about everything. I doubted my body, I felt like I didn't deserve the beautiful gift of having a child. I loved her so much, and everything I did was both out of fear of the unknown, and the unwavering love I had for Ava. With you, my love is different. My love is calm, it is knowing. I don't worry, I live life, and I am carrying you along for the journey. I loved both my girls quite differently in pregnancy, and it has been miraculous to see. They say every child is different, and I never expected that difference to show up right from the start.
You are a tender reminder that in sacrifices made, there are beautiful outcomes. You are a reminder of the amazing things my body is capable of doing. You are also a reminder of the love that I share with your daddy. You and your sister both are living proof of the love your father and I have created outside of ourselves. I look at my life at 24 years old, and all I can feel is proud. There are so many other routes life could have taken me on, but I am so glad my journey led me to you. I am 27 weeks pregnant with you today sweet baby. Only 13 more weeks until you are expected to arrive and join those that love you.
I love you,
Mom.
Monday, October 19, 2015
The vast majority of this weekend was completely draining. I hadn't felt that drained in... it has honestly been years. It was one thing after another, and I'm pretty sure my Saturday consisted of mainly tears. I let myself feel everything, and I'm glad I did. I woke up Sunday with a clear mind, a happy heart, and a big smile. I have probably written this blog about six different times, and currently have six different drafts.. I wasn't sure if I should over share, under share, or just give you the basics. Ultimately I decided I was going to write about the happy stuff. Why? Because the entire time Justin has been gone, all I can bring myself to do is write about the woes.. especially when there is SO much good going on in our lives right now.
Ava bug has always loved animals, but has recently taken a further interest in them. Right now her fascination is alligators and elephants. She loves saying the animal name, mimicking their sounds, and pointing them out wherever we seem them. It really is an awesome sight to witness her growth and fascination. I have always said that, but it literally stops everything in my world when she wants to absorb so much more information about anything. Olivia has been kicking up a storm these last few days and I can feel that she's gotten bigger. Her kicks are strong, they keep me grounded, and I just feel so completely blessed to be carrying this little girl. I ordered the rest of her essentials this past week, so we are Olivia ready as of now. I think I only have minor things to get at this point, and I might invest in a few more cloth pocket diapers.
As for all the good with me, there is a ton to be happy about today. #1, reuniting with Justin is so much closer at this point. I cannot wait to have my better half back. #2, I will be 27 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and then it's one week until we hit the third trimester! #3, I fired, and hired a new birth photographer (long story)! I was dealing with a bit of unprofessionalism from the birth photographer I originally booked with, and there were so many red flags.. I'm just glad we made the switch well before my due date. The photographer we have now, she was my initial go to when I first started looking. I went against my better judgement, and I vow to NEVER in my life do that again. I have built up such a great rapport with Bonnie, and her work is completely beautiful. If you haven't heard of her in the PNW, Bonnie Hussey is her name and she's been featured on the Today show, among other credible features.
#4, this mama is taking a small hiatus (but very much needed) break from school. Granted it's only for a month, but a break is a break. #5, I ordered matching Christmas photos outfits for Ava and I, and aside from the fact that she now has 3 different dresses for the holiday, I am pretty sure I have the colors and outfits all figured out. #6, I just ordered a new birthing ball, some third trimester organic teas, and a new yoga video to keep my calm that much more calm. Nothing outside of my family is more important than my sanity, peace of mind, and overall zen. I have to keep reminding myself that pregnant Leilani needs to slow down sometimes and take it easy. Hopefully all the pregnant essential I purchased will help with that a bit.
As you can see, there is a ton of good going on over here. Ava still gets to face time and say her hellos and goodnights to her daddy, as well as look at the daily selfies he sends. That has been such a god send with his field training. I can text and talk to Justin pretty regularly, and I am just so thankful for the great communication overall. This afternoon Ava and I were invited to bowl with the Commander's wife and their two girls, so I'm hoping this happy momentum is a trend for the week!
Here's a picture from this morning. Ava was so stunned to see me pop out my camera! I just love the stunned look on her face. We are definitely enjoying this fall weather.
Happy Monday all!
♥- Leilani
Ava bug has always loved animals, but has recently taken a further interest in them. Right now her fascination is alligators and elephants. She loves saying the animal name, mimicking their sounds, and pointing them out wherever we seem them. It really is an awesome sight to witness her growth and fascination. I have always said that, but it literally stops everything in my world when she wants to absorb so much more information about anything. Olivia has been kicking up a storm these last few days and I can feel that she's gotten bigger. Her kicks are strong, they keep me grounded, and I just feel so completely blessed to be carrying this little girl. I ordered the rest of her essentials this past week, so we are Olivia ready as of now. I think I only have minor things to get at this point, and I might invest in a few more cloth pocket diapers.
As for all the good with me, there is a ton to be happy about today. #1, reuniting with Justin is so much closer at this point. I cannot wait to have my better half back. #2, I will be 27 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and then it's one week until we hit the third trimester! #3, I fired, and hired a new birth photographer (long story)! I was dealing with a bit of unprofessionalism from the birth photographer I originally booked with, and there were so many red flags.. I'm just glad we made the switch well before my due date. The photographer we have now, she was my initial go to when I first started looking. I went against my better judgement, and I vow to NEVER in my life do that again. I have built up such a great rapport with Bonnie, and her work is completely beautiful. If you haven't heard of her in the PNW, Bonnie Hussey is her name and she's been featured on the Today show, among other credible features.
#4, this mama is taking a small hiatus (but very much needed) break from school. Granted it's only for a month, but a break is a break. #5, I ordered matching Christmas photos outfits for Ava and I, and aside from the fact that she now has 3 different dresses for the holiday, I am pretty sure I have the colors and outfits all figured out. #6, I just ordered a new birthing ball, some third trimester organic teas, and a new yoga video to keep my calm that much more calm. Nothing outside of my family is more important than my sanity, peace of mind, and overall zen. I have to keep reminding myself that pregnant Leilani needs to slow down sometimes and take it easy. Hopefully all the pregnant essential I purchased will help with that a bit.
As you can see, there is a ton of good going on over here. Ava still gets to face time and say her hellos and goodnights to her daddy, as well as look at the daily selfies he sends. That has been such a god send with his field training. I can text and talk to Justin pretty regularly, and I am just so thankful for the great communication overall. This afternoon Ava and I were invited to bowl with the Commander's wife and their two girls, so I'm hoping this happy momentum is a trend for the week!
Here's a picture from this morning. Ava was so stunned to see me pop out my camera! I just love the stunned look on her face. We are definitely enjoying this fall weather.
Happy Monday all!
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Last night, something BIG happened. Not only did Ava become self efficient on the "big people" potty, but as I was jumping around and giving my toddler praise, without a second thought I started talking to this sweet girl growing in my womb. I was so happy, I remember saying, "Olivia! Your sister did it!" In those moments, I didn't pause. It wasn't until moments later that I realized what I had actually done. I also remember taking a shower last night and contemplating on the previous name we had chosen. I loved it, but it didn't feel "right" for us. I was so stuck on making sure our girls had the same letters to their first name, that I had kind of voided out the potential of any other names other than those that start with A. I have had this uncertainty for a few weeks now, so I softly called out Olivia, and I felt her kick me. So many signs popped up last night, it was kind of insane.
The crazy thing about this entire ordeal is that Justin's favorite girl name has always been Olivia. Even before we had Ava, decided on Ava for our first born, he loved the name Olivia. When he was in grade school he heard the name called out during attendance, and since then, he has always wanted that to be the name of his little girl. I wasn't a fan (due to popularity of the name), and I have always opted to explore other options pending we had girls. Ava is most definitely our Ava bug, and we both agreed there is no name that would better fit our first born. With baby girl # 2, before we knew she was actually a girl, Justin tried again for Olivia, but as I said before, I wanted A names. While we both liked the name previously chosen, after last night, I knew in my heart of hearts it just wasn't meant to be.
To make this iconic moment even more iconic. When we went to bed last night, Justin kissed my belly and whispered, "Goodnight Olivia. I love you." Moments later he had his hand resting on my stomach, and he felt our growing girl kick, HARD. That was his first time ever feeling a baby kick from the inside, and it was emotional to say the least. That moment pretty much sealed the deal for us, and we couldn't be happier or feel more sure about a name for this baby. I initially hesitated sharing this name change publicly, as we already changed the middle name for baby girl before, but I figure everyone will find out eventually. It has been a little weird addressing her as Olivia these past few hours, but I'm sure that's because for the past six weeks she was called by a different name.
This morning I sat Ava down and told her about the change of the name. I said, "Ava bug can you say Livy?" She squealed in delight and said, "Libby, mommy!" Close enough for me. We shared the news with those closest to us this morning and partially last night. Being the type A person I am, I immediately researched the meaning of the name Olivia, and it left me in tears. In Latin, Olivia means peace. I couldn't think of something more fitting or accurate to describe this pregnancy or my experience with the girl growing inside of me. This pregnancy has been so much more peaceful than any pregnancy I have ever had. I have piece of mind, is what i mean by that. I'm not constantly frantically worrying about those I love, because they are here. Olivia is also completely healthy with zero red flags, and that in and of itself has established a lot of peace and comfort for me.
So to answer a couple more questions. No, this name for baby girl will not be changing. This is the only name Justin has ever wanted, and I happily jumped on board with it as of last night. Yes, her middle name will still be Rose, as it is a tribute to my late grandmother that passed away. I can't wait to welcome and introduce our Olivia Rose to the world. I've already been calling her Livy Bean like all morning, and she is contently kicking away in there. I don't think there was a better way to bring in my 23rd week of pregnancy!
Here's a super quick clip of daddy saying good morning to our sweet Olivia.
Happy Tuesday all!
♥- Leilani
The crazy thing about this entire ordeal is that Justin's favorite girl name has always been Olivia. Even before we had Ava, decided on Ava for our first born, he loved the name Olivia. When he was in grade school he heard the name called out during attendance, and since then, he has always wanted that to be the name of his little girl. I wasn't a fan (due to popularity of the name), and I have always opted to explore other options pending we had girls. Ava is most definitely our Ava bug, and we both agreed there is no name that would better fit our first born. With baby girl # 2, before we knew she was actually a girl, Justin tried again for Olivia, but as I said before, I wanted A names. While we both liked the name previously chosen, after last night, I knew in my heart of hearts it just wasn't meant to be.
To make this iconic moment even more iconic. When we went to bed last night, Justin kissed my belly and whispered, "Goodnight Olivia. I love you." Moments later he had his hand resting on my stomach, and he felt our growing girl kick, HARD. That was his first time ever feeling a baby kick from the inside, and it was emotional to say the least. That moment pretty much sealed the deal for us, and we couldn't be happier or feel more sure about a name for this baby. I initially hesitated sharing this name change publicly, as we already changed the middle name for baby girl before, but I figure everyone will find out eventually. It has been a little weird addressing her as Olivia these past few hours, but I'm sure that's because for the past six weeks she was called by a different name.
This morning I sat Ava down and told her about the change of the name. I said, "Ava bug can you say Livy?" She squealed in delight and said, "Libby, mommy!" Close enough for me. We shared the news with those closest to us this morning and partially last night. Being the type A person I am, I immediately researched the meaning of the name Olivia, and it left me in tears. In Latin, Olivia means peace. I couldn't think of something more fitting or accurate to describe this pregnancy or my experience with the girl growing inside of me. This pregnancy has been so much more peaceful than any pregnancy I have ever had. I have piece of mind, is what i mean by that. I'm not constantly frantically worrying about those I love, because they are here. Olivia is also completely healthy with zero red flags, and that in and of itself has established a lot of peace and comfort for me.
So to answer a couple more questions. No, this name for baby girl will not be changing. This is the only name Justin has ever wanted, and I happily jumped on board with it as of last night. Yes, her middle name will still be Rose, as it is a tribute to my late grandmother that passed away. I can't wait to welcome and introduce our Olivia Rose to the world. I've already been calling her Livy Bean like all morning, and she is contently kicking away in there. I don't think there was a better way to bring in my 23rd week of pregnancy!
Here's a super quick clip of daddy saying good morning to our sweet Olivia.
Happy Tuesday all!
♥- Leilani
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