Welcome Tiny Nathan!

Our Nephew, Nathan Thomas Wyss, arrived on February 8, 2016! Uncle Nakey Face (Brian) drove to Tampa to meet him the very day he was born. Caidyn and I had to wait for baby snuggles until Valentine's weekend. He was 7lb 3oz and born at 11:52am after a VERY fast labor. We are thrilled for  Uncle Beard and Auntie Bridget and know they are already amazing parents! 

Weeks 17, 18, 19, and 20! Half done!!!!

Week 17:

Feeling AMAZING! I found myself saying to myself that if I didn't know already this was a girl I would swear it was a boy just by how much energy I have! A few bouts of heartburn but nothing a tums tablet couldn't handle. I finally figured out hydration and maybe Ellie moved up a hair so I can sometimes sleep through the night without having to get up to pee - and it just has me feeling like a whole new person! Up 4 pounds since my last doctors appointment which I feel like is a lot in two weeks but its what Ellie needs so I'll take it! 

Week 18;

Oh my goodness I'm not sure if any two weeks in pregnancy can feel any different. I want to simultaneously laugh and be sick at last week's update. It started Monday morning with my workout that I just was SO exhausted through. I had been hesitating signing up for the half marathon in February because I just wasn't sure if it was the best idea or if I could do it - and today made me finally voice my concerns to Brian. He really wanted to do it still so I called the morning a fluke and just kept going. Later that day I had my third injection and it was THE WORST by far. I ruined a pair of underwear since I bled from my shot and it dripped onto them after bleeding out from the bandaid that was put on it! I was in such pain for the rest of the night and the next day. Wednesday morning I stopped 15 minutes into a plyo workout, again just so exhausted. I'm not even sure I worked out Thursday. Friday I woke up excited to go for a run in the afternoon and by the end of the day my goal was just "don't go home and sit on the coach" so I took Caidyn for a surprise park trip which ended up being a lot of fun and kept me up! It was just an exhausting week - even Brian noticed I was much more tired than normal. However, as I went to bed last night (Sunday, 1.31) my throat was sore and I had a runny nose, and typing this now Monday during lunch (2.1) it is still sore - so I'm going to hold out hope that my body was trying to fight the cold and needed all the rest and my energy will be back in no time as soon as I kick this! Right?!?! #fingerscrossed

Week 19:

So the week started on a very ugh note as I had an awful sore throat and runny nose. But early bedtime and the power of positive thinking had me feeling MUCH better by Tuesday - in fact I was able to go for a run! 

Wednesday morning we had a checkup for tiny Ellie and Caidyn was able to join us! It was the big ultrasound so we knew we would get a lot of Ellie viewing time in which she enjoyed a little bit. Hearing the heartbeat and looking at the easily visible parts (arms and fingers, profile) were Caidyn's favorites, but when the look at the brain size and for kidney formations and such she got a little squirmy. We also had 2 accidents at the doctors office (both as we were approaching or already in the bathroom!) but she told us right away and was sad about it so showing growth in the potty training area! As far as Ellie everything looked great! Brian learned how to give me the shots, they checked my cervix length (and will do that again at my next appointment) and it all came back well. Very little risk of preterm labor! We did have some warnings about mosquitos and the Zika virus that is going around South America right now. It has appeared locally but only in people who were tourists in that part of the world, so something to be on the lookout for but not overly concerned about. I also FINALLY gained weight! I was up 8lbs, which felt like a lot for one month but the doctor was very happy to see it and said no worries. I'm only up 10lbs for the whole pregnancy which is right on track so I have to remember that when I feel bad about gaining so much in one quick month!

Week 20:

What a week! Daddy was out of town from Sunday to Wednesday night but we hung in there! It worked out that he was in Orlando, though, because on Monday we welcomed a new nephew and cousin - Nathan Thomas Wyss! Nate and Bridget's son was born and we couldn't be happier for them! Brian was able to drive over after his last meeting Monday to be with the family as they sang happy birthday to tiny Nathan with a cupcake and zero candle! 

Caidyn and I facetimed in so we could enjoy the fun, too! We can't wait for our turn to get to meet and hold and play with this little guy! And now I'm the only pregnant Wyss left! 

It is extra special that this happened during week 20 - last time I was 20 weeks pregnant (with Caidyn) Nate and Bridget got engaged! What a full circle we have come in! 

Tuesday I battled some sciatica pain, but came home and stretched a TON to help relieve it. I'm mostly left with soreness today and a thankful heart for what could have been (and hopefully still isn't) the start of a very long and painful second half of this pregnancy. 

I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that we are already more than half done with this pregnancy. It seems so surreal and we are so excited about our future as a family of four! Caidyn just loves "her baby" and its so adorable. She will literally sometimes be doing something else, sneak a peak up and see the belly, and just stops and comes over saying, "Hi Baby Ellie" and hugs and kisses the belly. I have had many a dirty outfit since she is often mid snack or meal at the time and that dirty face just can't help but give kisses. It is so worth it though and I am so thankful she is so excited for this new role she is going to step in to. 

We can't wait to meet you, Eleanor Rose! 

Weekend Fun and Caidyn Says

We've been trying to crunch a bunch of the activities it will be a while before we can do again in with Caidyn lately. Friday afternoon was another one of those! We went to a paint your own pottery place and had a blast! The owner and her family where there and it was just a great experience. They were so personable, reasonably priced, and the three of us had a great time!

They even gave us this juice after they overheard Caidyn asking for a drink! In the same shopping center we went to a delicious pizza place. We sat at the kitchen-bar since that seating was available and we were hungry! Caidyn had so much fun sitting on the stool and was super careful. Our pizza was SO thick but so delicious!

Saturday we went and made some purchases for Ellie's room which I will recap soon! But we had a big afternoon planned at Caidyn's school for their fundraiser event. It is a neat fundraiser - they have games and activities for kids, silent auction and raffles for adults, and things like a cake-walk that cater to all ages! Our little bouncer LOVED the bounce house slide combo but also had a blast hopping around in her potato sack race!

That evening I went out and celebrated a great friend's birthday! We had a special gift waiting for her though...

Niamh and I have been friends since elementary school.She has such a giving heart and has been SO sweet and amazing with Caidyn. On Friday night we had painted her a ring holder dish and on the bottom wrote, "Will you be my godmom? Love, Eleanor". As you can tell, she said yes!!

Our weekend ended with our silly little girl just being her usual goofy self! She used my brown towel as she got out of the shower and exclaimed, "This shower is brown and fuzzy like a bear. Rawr!"

This morning she was in the grass kind of slumped over crying (like she does when she is temper tantruming...) and I just called her name out. She said, "Mommy I'm sad. Come be in the grass with me." Um... ok. "Why are you sad?". She gets up, rubs and kisses my belly and says, "Because Ellie can't come to school with me." And then we were both crying in the grass!

Then on our way to school as we were stuck in traffic, "Mommy, green light go!"... "I can't go because there are cars in front of me."... "Don't they know how to drive?" 

I almost died laughing. She drives too much with her father ;)

I owe it all to the DT

The DT is Daniel Tiger. And I owe it all to him.

Specifically, his parents.

Caidyn LOVES this show. She asks all the time if she can watch Daniel Tiger.

This is by far my favorite show she watches. Her favorite characters change weekly, and they are always so random. A few weeks ago it was Daniel Tiger's Daddy. Last week it was Baker Aker. Right now I would say it is a tie between Caterina and Baby Margaret.

The reason this show is my favorite is simple. Listening to Daniel Tiger makes me a better parent.

I know that sounds ridiculous but hear me out.

I can't figure out what Daniel Tiger's parents do for a living that they are always home with their children. But it doesn't matter. What does matter is how excellent their reactions are to the struggles of parenthood. Frustrated kid? Perfect response. Sad kid? Perfect response.

They are literally the most patient and understanding parents ever. But, they don't get walked all over. They don't get walked all over, Daniel learns a lesson, and everyone ends up happy.

About 2 months ago I started duplicating what I was hearing. When Caidyn would get frustrated I would respond the ways Daniel's parents respond. If she was sad or angry or needed to say sorry I would respond the way they responded - down to the little songs they incorporate which was definitely awkward. But then magic happened. IT WORKED! She responded the way Daniel did - with understanding, growth, and like an actual good child who listens to their parents. Just like Daniel, she doesn't learn it forever the first time (or 4th, or 2938th) but the process gets a little quicker each time.

Daniel Tiger has made me a better parent. And I owe my new found patience and skills to the DT.

**Side note, I realize everyone has differing opinions on screen time for children. We kind of let Caidyn self regulate since she rarely wants to watch anything longer than 10-15 minutes at a time (and by rarely I mean if she is feeling well, she's done after 15 minutes 98% of the time). We also always try and distract her the first two times she asks, but if our attempts at conversation or distracting her with a toy or book don't deter her, we let her watch. She interacts with the show and doesn't just passively watch and will answer questions about what is going on (or sometimes just narrate it to herself) so we know she is comprehending what is happening. Not everyone's style, but it is ours. Judge away, but remember I have parent love, too ;)**

**Another side note, she mostly watches on Amazon Instant Video. We love prime so much and this is just one of the 1092912 reasons why. We can download some episodes to our phones or her kindle so we aren't pulling data all the time and she knows how to get in.**

A Park and Potty Filled Weekend

We had a great relaxing weekend with a lot of Caidyn and mommy time - something I am SOAKING up right now that I'm still able to pick her up (most of the time! 33lbs is a lot!) and run around with her. Sitting on the floor playing is the hardest thing right now so anything we can do to be up or laying down is my preference. 

Friday afternoon I realized we would be home for a while before Brian got home so I figured I would surprise our girl with a park visit. This tiny daredevil had a GREAT time and was loving the swings - as always! But she started getting a little too daring so I stopped pushing her as high and encouraged her to play on other things. 

Sarah was free for my last minute park invite and brought Beau and Adrianna to play with us. Beau and Caidyn are almost exactly 1 month apart and they always have fun together! 

The next morning Caidyn's AMAZING school organized a meet up. We met at a greenway and walked 1/2 mile to the playground along the way. The kiddos played for about an hour and then we walked back. It took about 2 hours but we had a blast!

Later that afternoon Caidyn and I headed over to Super Science Saturday where the boards from the regional science fair, where I had 9 students competing, were on display along with some other fun science vendors and exhibits. She loved looking at all of the animals and reading a lot of the books they had out! 

Brian was home with a crew of AMAZING friends tearing our part of our kitchen! The reno has officially officially commenced! Although it is kind of nerve wracking to know we won't have cabinets again until March, the fact that the process is visible in the house is making the end results seem much more realistic and near! Which is good because this is a big step 1 to getting ready for Ellie's arrival! 

Sunday we decided to make the big switch to underwear. It was nerve wracking - especially since we were on the go a lot during the day - but Caidyn did really well! We prepped by purchasing about 8 extra pairs of pants and some training pants as well as actual underwear and really talked about the importance of going potty. She sings the song from Daniel Tiger and knows the book version of that we have very well so she seemed to get it. To be honest, I wouldn't have made the jump yet, but her school asked for it so I figured I would try it out before I sent them to school. 

We went to the farmers market for an Acai bowl as our first stop - and tiny giant did great! 

We then went to breakfast with Papa and Nana and she went TWICE while we were there on the potty! We went to Publix afterwards and she tried to go there, but didn't have to. When we got home she went down for a nap and had dirty accident :( but we quickly got her cleaned up, I put her to nap in a pull up, and she slept for a few hours while Brian and I finished up her and Ellie's bathroom as well as moved all toys down and put down a makeshift floor in the playroom so Caidyn has a safe place to play while the kitchen/ great room is totally torn apart. She woke up and we played and played and she stayed dry all evening! It wasn't until we made an evening trip to Home Depot for a shelving unit for our food (which will eventually be relocated to the garage) and a light bulb that she had an accident as we were walking in the door. But being 45 minutes later than expected since we got distracted looking at lots of lighting kit variations (we are hoping to install those soon so we almost bought supplies) and without dinner yet I was proud of her! 

The weekend ended on a high note this morning when she woke up, put on her tutu and necklace, and walked in the bathroom to tell me, "First I go potty then I go play in me and Ellie's room!"

Don't mind her sleepy smile face or our pile of too be hung up clothes. We'll get there, eventually! I love that little girl so much! I'm so proud of her and all of her growing and learning!