A Shower for Bridget and Tiny Nathan

Last Saturday LuAnn and I co-hosted a bridal shower for Bridget. We went with a sports theme since Nate was such an athlete and many of the attendees are family friends made through the many years of sports between the Wyss children and their teammates.

We kept it simple and had 1 activity and 2 quick games. A set of ABC blocks were out for guests to decorate as they enjoyed brunch foods and mimosas or fauxmosas :) I created a diaper cake for the occasion to double as decor and useful items! I'm obsessed with these bibdanas for little boys! They aren't exactly my style for girls, but I just love them on boys!

Guests also took their time guessing the contents of bags with each one letter of the word "Baby Shower" on it. The contents were baby items that start with that letter of the alphabet and it is a tough game! We definitely took some liberties, like our Y - yellow duck!

Guests also brought a onesie that was special to describe them or their relationship with Nate and Bridget. My favorite was the person who is the wife of their lawn maintenance person, who is also the mother of one of Traci's fellow softball players, brought a John Deer onesie! Some were easy, like ours which said "Cousins make the best friends", and some were more subtle like that one. It makes present opening more interactive to watch, which is especially nice for larger showers!

For favors LuAnn gathered a chap stick, a candle, and a nail file for each person. She labeled each of them with a cute saying too! We also had everyone sign a soccer ball with a fun message to the little guy!

Afterwards we took advantage of this being the last time we would see each other while we were pregnant together and took some sweet photos to commemorate the occasion! I gave Bridget that shirt to tell her and Nate we were expecting - announcing afterwards that I had a matching one and unzipping my jacket to show it off. She had the cutest reaction letting out a little squeal and jumping up and down! Caidyn and the new cousin shirts had to make an appearance, too!

Now all that is left is for Tiny Nathan to arrive! She is due February 11 so any day now we will get the exciting news! Congratulations, again, Nate and Bridget! I'm not sure if I ever shared with you guys but when Brian was pushing for a second baby last year I kept saying arbitrarily, "when Nate and Bridget have a baby then we can have a second one". I'm glad it really is working out that way :) 

Parent's Love

I have so many people around me who have just entered or are entering the wonderful world of parenthood. As I reflect on my short time as a parent and what parent's love means to me I am reminded of the process I went through shortly after Caidyn was born.

I will admit I was very nervous about post-partum depression. My body does not do hormonal changes very well (each time I tried a birth control pill I became depressed and it quickly went away after stopping) and I didn't do well with little sleep. I made extra sure to be very in check with my emotions after Caidyn was born to ensure I sought help before anything went downhill.

And then she was here. My tiny new best friend who loved to cuddle and needed me so much. And I was so in love.

In my sleep deprived and emotionally aware state, I knew I loved this little being. I loved her so much that it felt irrational. I had never loved anything like that in my whole life, and especially never so soon. It truly felt irrational and a bit insane and almost worried me. 

And then one day I was watching Brian with her. And my goodness it was so apparent he loved that little girl just as much as me. 

So here we were, insane together. It made sense that we would both have these irrationally strong feelings - we were both sleep deprived and she was just so amazing. 

And then I began to notice other moms and dads and their interactions with their children. And you could see they had that irrational love too. Every mom and dad I came across looked at their child with those same lovey eyes we had and those same irrational thoughts. Except it wasn't irrational, it was parent's love. And we all have it for our children. 

It is by far my most favorite thing about parenthood. I love to listen to people talk and brag about their children. I get it in a way I never did before. A parent's love is life-altering in the best way possible. And I love it so much. 

And we still are insanely in love with Caidyn and her soon-to-arrive sister tiny Ellie. 

I keep this love in my head when listening to and giving parenting tips and tricks. No matter what parenting choices anyone makes, I know they are doing it with this love driving their decisions. It makes mom's groups and message boards a much happier place ;) 

I also try and share this with my friends and family members around when their first child arrives. No one likes to think they are crazy! But mostly its for selfish reasons - so they remember to tell me their story of when they went through each phase. Because I really do love love - and parent love is my most favorite! 

#TheWysSequel Weeks 13-16

So I'm officially very behind on the weekly posting thing... I think a monthly update, and then life posts in between will be a much better blend for me :)

So month 4 - OMG I can't believe it has already been 4 months. By this time with Caidyn we had her room painted, decor worked on, and I was in the midst of planning her gender reveal scavenger hunt and finishing out the school year.

With Ellie we know the gender, we are patiently waiting for the kitchen/great room reno to be complete so we can clean out her storage unit of a bedroom right now (seriously, this will be the best before and after picture ever. Even if all we did was take out all the boxes, extra beds, dressers, etc.), and I've created a list of the baby 2 "gear" I need. I feel SO far behind but... it will all get done!

Week 13:


Week 14:


Week 15:


Week 16:


We had a great 4th month! I FINALLY gained some weight as of my 15.5 week appointment I was up 2 lbs! Which is a plus considering I had lost 5 with the food poisoning we caught during our night at the Naples Botanical Garden. So up 7 from my lowest and 2 from my starting point. The doctor still wasn't thrilled, but understood with the food poisoning.

I am wearing almost exclusively maternity bottoms and making the most of my tops. I go through stages where I want to wear my regular clothes since I'll really miss them soon. But at the same time we are wanting to be a two child family and, unless our minds change or something awful happens, this is my last chance to wear maternity clothes so I want to enjoy wearing them, too.

From about weeks 11-15 I had CONSTANT headaches. They were awful. But around week 16, when I got my first injection, which I'll talk about below, they have been much better.

Also, I've been feeling fairly great besides that! My tiredness has either become normal and I've gotten used to it or gone away - but either way I'm feeling great. Enjoying showing off my little bump and being excited day dreaming about Ellie and feeling her little movements!

My doctor did decide she wanted us to go ahead and do the Mackena progesterone shots. These started at week 16. I am not going to lie - it HURT. The needle is thick, the serum is thick, I bleed, I'm sore the next day, and its just not fun. At the same time, there aren't really any negative effects from the medicine, and it helps to do more to guarantee we won't have an early baby - something I can be appreciative of!

Overall, feeling great! I can still run, I'm working out on a regular basis, and just really enjoying this pregnancy. I guess this is what women mean when they say they love being pregnant!

Fiesta de Dos!

On December 26 we hosted the fiesta I had been planning in my head since last February when we decided we were really going to try for a second baby. At that point we lovingly started referring to our second baby as "dos" and I thought what fun it would be to plan a fiesta gender reveal party!

I purchased a few decorations from Target when their Cinco de Mayo decor went on sale in early May, and then got a few other last minute things from Amazon shortly before the party. The star of the show was the giant pinata I got at party city! They are normally $30, which was a lot to pay for a pinata, especially one that had been sitting on the floor of the store and was partially damaged. Luckily, after looking around online for a good one and being unsuccessful I went back and asked about a partial discount since it was damaged. The manager gave it to me for $10! My great friend Robyn, who couldn't be with us at the party, was the one to stuff it and she made my vision come to life!

As for other party details, it worked out perfectly that we were planning a fiesta since my biggest craving at that point had been Moe's Queso!



We kept it simple and bought some salsa, and frozen taquitos, quesedillas, and mini burritos from Sam's. There was a sombrero balloon tied to the mailbox (which I was so excited about!) and a sombrero cupcake-cake that our local Publix made for us! I was so excited when I picked it up! When I ordered it the baker and I spent about 5 minutes looking through google images of sombreros and chatting about the cake. She ended up being the person who made it and was there when I picked it up! She was so excited to bring it out to me and it just looked PERFECT!

We had an amazing time with so many of our family members and friends! The three of us each had festive shirts to wear (good thing Caidyn can't read yet, or Brian would have worn a different shirt, hehe!)

Then it was time for the reveal! We actually broadcasted it live on my youtube channel for our traveling and far away friends and family to view and it worked out so well! It was fun to get so many texts before we had even posted anything! 

We counted down...

Pulled the string...

And saw pink!!!!! Caidyn was right- "Baby Sister Coming"! We were elated and I literally jumped for joy! 

We can't wait to meet you, sweet Ellie! 

#Wyssmas 2015

We had an AMAZING Christmas celebration this year! New traditions, old traditions, and lots of fun!

We started off our Christmas celebrations with an adult scavenger hunt with our friends PJ and Anais. It was organized by a friend of theirs - and, as it turns out, WE WON!!!

This picture was from one of the picture challenges which was to get a picture of the whole group in front of a community tree. This tree was in the Mercato shopping center! One of our last stops!

We then had our annual Wyss Family Breakfast with Santa. Brian's dad makes us reservations at their club and they have such a great Santa! He brings jingle bells around with him and visits all of the children a few times. Caidyn was not super into it, but eventually warmed up enough to give him a hug! It was extra exciting knowing we will have 2 more babies with us next year - Nate and Bridget's son, Nathan, will be almost one and Ellie will be almost 6 months old! Eek! 

The following weekend we went to the Naples Botanical Garden's Night Lights in the Garden event! We went for the first time last year and just had a blast. We went again this year and it did not disappoint! The highlight was Caidyn caroling with their carolers singing Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town - her two favorite Christmas songs!

The next morning we ran the Marco Island 5 Miler! Greg, Lori, and Teagan all ran it this year and Haley watched Caidyn! Both of our stomach's were bothering us so we didn't end up getting any good pictures...

Later that afternoon Caidyn's school had their Christmas party! The students got to meet Santa and surprised us with a little show - some carols they sang and danced to and then some ornaments and pictures they made for the parents! It was so sweet! But by then our stomachs were really uncomfortable. 

We went home and as it turns out both Brian and I ended up with food poisoning. Mine was much worse than Brian's, who ended up with Mom that afternoon picking up her new 5th wheel she is staying in while her addition is being built. They brought home some gatorade and such for both of us and we took it easy that night and the entire next day. It was rough, but luckily Caidyn didn't get it! 

Monday I rallyed hard because Caidyn and I had a big day planned! Our Christmas Crafting Party was happening! We ran all sorts of errands prepping for that, Christmas breakfast, and the Fiesta! Our friends Robyn with Addison and Matthew, Amy with Brooks, and cousin Sarah with Beau and Adrianna came and we had such a great time painting frames and playing!

 

On the evening of the 23rd we took our annual drive around Victoria Park in our PJ's with Hot Chocolate to see the lights! We left the doors open this year on my new van and Caidyn loved it so much! She is such a big girl in her forward facing car seat and regular hot chocolate cup! 

On Christmas Eve we started a new tradition of decorating cookies and building a gingerbread house. It was a mess and so much fun! I can't wait to get better at decorating and baking together since this was such a fun activity! 

Daddy was in charge of Christmas PJ's this year and had us open before Church so we could make sure we had them all set for when we got home from dinner. 

Don't mind my started makeup hair not done self - Caidyn said it was time so we went with it! 

We took some family pictures all dressed up for church in front of the tree and then went to service at Living Word church. We hadn't been before but are still searching for a church home and heard good things. Caidyn loved it and asked every day for a week if we could "go to church now?". Needless to say we will be back :)

Christmas Eve dinner was hosted by my Grandpa. He did a wonderful job and I know it was so hard for him on his own without Grandma this year. He is such a special man. 

We got home from dinner late, put our little girl to bed, and got to work being Santa's elves! It was the most stress free experience we have had! Our wrapping was done, toys were put together already - it was PERFECT! We had a pretty small Christmas (for us). Santa brought Caidyn some doll playing accessories, and we got her a duplo train and some coloring books. Brian and I called each other's gifts the home reno. But we have a lot of family members so even on a small year our tree is very full :) In our house the presents from Santa are unwrapped, and the ones wrapped are from someone. We like that the Santa experience still happens, but we can also appreciated gifts from each other, too. 

Our girl loved her toys and played all day with her new baby doll from her MN family. She had such a fun Christmas morning! The Block family came over for breakfast and fun and we just had a nice relaxing morning together!

We spent the afternoon and evening with the Wyss family at Tom and LuAnn's. Our potty training girl stripped down about 2 presents in and spent Christmas in her birthday suit! It was fun a definitely a "two year old" thing! 

We were surely blessed by the family with many fun gifts. But the most fun was being pregnant over Christmas with our siblings! It will be so fun watching all the kids grow up together and spend holiday's together - and this was the first!

That is a wrap on all our Christmas festivities! We had an amazing Christmas season. The 26th was our big Fiesta and I can't wait to recap that!!! 

12 Week Update!

I promise one of these days to do a regular update post with life happenings - mostly Christmas festivities right now. Its on my break to do list!

But for now, regularly schedule bumpdate posts!

How far along? 12 weeks - 1/3 of the way done if this baby comes near when Caidyn did! Eek! 

Total weight gain/loss: I've been doing my best to gain weight! We will see! 

Maternity clothes: Yes! Bottoms almost exclusively except with workout wear. Tops none yet since I don't fill them out yet. 

Stretch Marks: Nothing to report which I'm thankful for after last week's scare! Still haven't gotten any lotion yet... 

Sleep: Getting better! I'm tired but it is more manageable and I'm looking forward to break and sleeping in a little bit! 

Best moment this week: Looking forward to all of the holiday fun with Caidyn! She is really enjoying it this year and I'm having fun keeping it all about her while there is still the time! 

Movement: Flutters sometimes if I'm sitting right! 

Food cravings: Nothing this week - just SO SO THIRSTY!! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing big to report, stomach aches less frequent but still happening. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes! Anxious to see if this belly is going to sink back down around 12-13 weeks like it did with Caidyn or just keep growing! 

Gender prediction: I have no clue... But I am SO SO SO anxious to find out! 

Belly button: Wider, flatter... will probably never look normal again. 

Wedding rings on or off: On fitting normal for this time of year. 

Happy or moody most of the time: I'd like to think happy!!! 

Weekly Wisdom: Just trying to live in the moment and enjoy this holiday season while planning for Fiesta de Dos and embracing the bump this time around! 

11 week update and a doctor's visit!

11 weeks!!!!

We had a visit to the doctor in the middle of this week and it was SO welcome! We got to see our little baby moving all around, hear the heart beat, count fingers and toes, and get great reports from the ultrasound technician on all her findings. We also got, for the very first time for us, an ultrasound photo that actually looks like a baby! With Caidyn she was not very photogenic and we just couldn't get a good profile shot. This week we got some beautiful shots! 

One thing we spent a long time talking to the doctor about is my candidacy for progesterone shots from 16-37 weeks of pregnancy. Since Caidyn came so early (at 36 weeks 5 days) I am technically considered having had preterm labor. Now it could be nothing and a fluke, or it could be a pattern. The risks of preterm labor much earlier than mine are high, but Caidyn was, luckily, just fine. However because of her size (5lbs 9oz), they agree that it was preterm labor and not a very miscalculated due date. There doesn't seem to be any negative side effects unless a shot or dose is missed. We told the doctor we were 100% confident in her decision so we will find out on January 6 at our next appointment. 

How far along? 11 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: Zero. I was exactly 142.0 on the doctor's scale..This is the same as with Caidyn, and just like with her I was given the homework of "gain weight". 

Maternity clothes: Yes! I went and got my old stuff out of storage this week and washed it all. I was amazed and how little I actually had! 

Stretch Marks: I noticed something... I'm hoping maybe it was just a mark from my pants... but getting lotion to prevent it starting now!

Sleep: I am still so tired. I've gone to bed at 8:30pm a few times out of pure exhaustion. That is literally 10 minutes after Caidyn goes down. I am so lucky Brian is so understanding and really picks up the slack when I just crash. 

Best moment this week: Watching the little one! It was so fun to see all the movement and know everything is developing just fine! We love you already!!! Also, I got a new car! Making room for the bigger family we upgraded my Kia Sportage to a Kia Sedona! Yes, its a minivan. And yes, I love it! 

Movement: After seeing all the movement happening during the ultrasound I was trying to be really conscious of trying to feel  baby move. If I sat with my legs up I could sort of feel some movement - and Brian could, too!!! It was fun, but we haven't been able to duplicate it. We did joke it was just a weirdly timed muscle spasm... which is seeming more likely now, haha!

Food cravings: QUESO!!! So weird, I know. But I love it so much!

Anything making you queasy or sick: On and off stomach aches. Mostly just dealing with exhaustion. 

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes. I'm almost at the random people assuming pregnant not fat, but not quite, haha!

Gender prediction: With the heart rate of 161 Brian confirmed himself girl. But we were watching the baby move a lot - so the heart rate should have been elevated... so we will see!!!

Belly button: Stretching itself out! Getting wider and flatter each week. 

Wedding rings on or off: On fitting normal for this time of year. 

Happy or moody most of the time: Tired? Haha. 

Weekly Wisdom: We are just so thankful everything is going well. We are so lucky and blessed and truly looking forward to this holiday season!