Melt Downs and Prune Juice

Today is one of those really rough Momming days.

It's not even noon and Aaron has been in tears (or fits) most of the day.  The front of his t-shirt is soaked from the tears and the stream of drool that comes from his open mouthed sobs.
This, I'm sure, is compounded by lack of sleep from his last two nights of restlessness.  He's been tossing, flailing, crying, screaming, all night long for the last two nights.  And of course, yesterday he refused to nap.

This mama has been in tears herself, from the sheer exhaustion.  I am losing patience, losing compassion, and finding frustration and a short temper.
But this isn't like my son.  Something is going on with him.

I don't think it's teeth.  Perhaps growing pains?  Actually, I'm pretty sure it's constipation pains.  Poor guy hasn't pooped in almost a week.  I am trying every good food I can think of.  Today we're drinking straight up prune juice.  And if that doesn't work, I have some Miralax for some relief while we continue to work on fixing the problem behind the symptoms.  We've struggled with this his entire life.

This was a bad week to decide on the "No Pacifier except for Nap and Bedtime" rule...

Pray for both of us.

On the plus side, when he finally calms down enough to let me comfort-cuddle him, it's pretty sweet.

Popcorn!

I just wanted to post this so I would have a reminder...

Yesterday, at 14 weeks and 5 days- I felt Baby move!

Aaron was laying with his head on my tummy, a little to the left of my belly button.
Suddenly, I felt a strong popcorn-popping sensation right where his head was.  A little while later, there it was again!

This is so fun for me to feel baby so early.  With Aaron, due to where the placenta was, I didn't feel him until very late and only very faintly when I did feel him (which wasn't often).

So exciting!  Love you Baby!

Bumpie- 14 weeks

This pregnancy, my baby bump is bumping a little bigger, a little faster.  It's like my stomach remembered how good it felt to stretch out.

"aaaaahhhh.  This is the life!" - stomach.

14 weeks.  That awkward time when I just look like I have a belly!  No one really guesses it's a baby in there at this point.  And I've been trying to make myself not care about that.  I know it's baby!  And bloat...

Oh the bloat!  If I took this photo right after I had eaten, it'd look a little different.  Like, two months different!  The bloat is CRAZY this time around!

I've enjoyed being pregnant with my sister-in-law.  She's been a great encourager as we hold each other accountable to working out or at least staying active.  And now that I'm out of that first trimester, working out is more enjoyable again.  When I can convince myself I don't need a second nap instead...

Aaron's trying to figure out this "baby in my tummy" thing.  In the mornings, we'll lift up my shirt and talk to Baby.  When we're done (read: when he's done), he'll pull my shirt back down and say "Night Night Baby!"

He makes my heart swell.  :)

He's no fool...

Our two attempts so far at getting rid of the pacifier (gently):

1st:

Auntie is going to have a baby! Let's get together all of the baby stuff she needs to have back- the swing, the excersauser, etc.... look we can even give a special toy for baby!  

"Yay!"

Now Baby also needs to have a pacifier! Let's send your pacifier for Baby!

*Grabs pacifier and pops it in his mouth. "No."

2nd:

At Walmart, I told him he could pick out a special toy, and that if he threw away his pacifier he could bring the special toy home...

He picked out a toy... then I pulled out his paci and told him, "Ok! Let's go throw your pacifier away and then we can play with your special new toy!"

He looked at me, put the toy back on the shelf, grabbed his pacifier and said, "No."

Big Brother at the Doctor's Office

We had my 12 week prenatal checkup today.  (Can't wait to meet this little one!!)
Aaron was along with me, and feeling very attached.

So Becky, our doc, had a wonderful idea and put Aaron to work.  And then she offered to take photos!

We heard Baby's heartbeat right away, nice and strong!  We told Aaron that was Baby, and he was fascinated.

"Baybee? Baybee!"


Then Becky offered to record the heartbeat on my phone so Daddy could hear him/her too.

My heart is full and I am grateful.