Here's the Deal...: January 2010

Saturday, January 30, 2010

She's here...

Our second precious daughter is here!

Brenna Elizabeth Deal

January 27, 2010

4:55 p.m.

7 lbs. 10 oz.

18.5 in.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

We're Ready...

We are all ready for our baby girl! We find out tomorrow morning exactly when to expect her...

Audrey keeps saying, "Benna coming soon" and likes to "hug a Benna". She has been practicing her big sister skills for several months now on the baby equipment and even a few real babies that we were babysitting :) She lists off everything that we will have to do for the baby: "change diaper," "feed a bottle," "take a bath," "burp." I'm glad I will have a little helper this time around :)

She loved taking care of Caden's little sister Danica in December!

As for me, I am definitely tired of being pregnant...Bedrest is no fun for me. And I really try not to complain too much because I will always be so thankful for my pregnancies and babies...but I remember my friend Ashley saying that 38 weeks of bonding is enough. I am ready to bond with Brenna in a new way :)

The Lord has definitely had some things to show me over the last few weeks. I had an obsessive case of nesting and busy preparation. He finally made me sit down at His feet and told me like He told Martha, "Amber, Amber, you are worried about many things and distracted by all the preparations that have to be made, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better--sitting at My feet listening..."

He has also shown me that I need to give the reins back to Him. I have felt like I was losing control of everything from my house to my health to my baby...and in a way, I guess I have. But it has been Him showing me that I have placed these things before Him and need to relinquish the control that I think I have/need over my life. My babies, my home, my husband, and myself are not my own.

Finally, He reminded me again about how the Bible is truly living...just like the little one kicking me right now. I have heard this verse a million or so times in my life, but I have never had it mean so much to me and probably save my life the way it has the past month. (I recommend it if you ever need to lower your blood pressure or relieve nesting syndrome :) :

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Newest Baby Update

Baby plans have changed yet again... I went to the doctor on Friday and was feeling really good, but my blood pressure proved to be too high yet again. So I am now on stricter bedrest meaning I am not supposed to get up much. (I have been minding pretty well...) We go back on Wednesday to check BP again, and if it is still high, the C-section will probably be planned for the next day, Thursday, January 28. Brenna will be 38 weeks along and plenty healthy.

I had to do labwork on Friday and "stick around" Stephenville because the doctor was actually afraid that we might need to take the baby that afternoon! How's that for getting my blood pressure back down? Obviously the bloodwork looked fine (since we haven't had her yet), but the doctor doesn't really know why my blood pressure has been so crazy lately. I anticipate getting our baby late next week, but I am not going to get my hopes up! And in the meantime, I have to sit and sit and sit and wait and wait and wait... And a big thanks still goes out to our awesome moms and my great husband for taking up all my slack.

I have already posted this sonogram picture of Brenna, but I thought I would post it again next to some pictures of Audrey. I think we may have some look-a-likes :)

Praying for my cousin Tifani tomorrow...She is having her third baby in the morning!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Audrey's Big Girl Room!

Audrey has been in her "big girl" room for a couple of months now, and she made the transition perfectly. We have slowly worked on the room here and there, and she absolutely loves it! If you were to come over, she would have to take you in there and say "Look! Yellow-Pink! Pitty!"

She loves her curtains that Mimi made. I told her that they are the only ones like it in the whole world, made with lots of love!

She is also very proud of her custom artwork hanging above her bed. She will wake up every morning, point to the canvas, and say "I paint my hand." She also likes to point out what is on her sheets--flowers or dots--and that she slept on her pillow. Josh made a nifty bedrail to keep her from falling out of bed.

Her little pink kitchen is the perfect touch to a very girly room :)

Friday, January 15, 2010

My Angel

Our little girl is growing up before our eyes...and I have mixed emotions about this. In one respect, I am relieved that she is acting older before our new baby gets here...but then again--you know what comes next--it's sad when your baby isn't the baby anymore!

But I enjoy her more and more with each new stage, and I wouldn't want to turn back the clock. Audrey is so fun right now...and truly my angel. I keep trying to relish everything about her while she is still the only baby.

She will be turning 2 in just 3 weeks! Here's a little bit about her while I am so sentimental and emotional :)

A doring...and Adorable: She has gotten over her clinginess to me (which was exhausting at times), and now we have achieved a great balance of independence and need for each other! She is still my shadow and copycat, but now it is just flattering because she thinks I am so great! She tells me everyday "Mama pitty (pretty)" and admires everything I do. The only thing that we are working on right now is that she calls me "Eber" (Amber) alot...and sometimes "Eber Mama"!

U nbelievably tender-hearted & nurturing: She is constantly asking us "Mama K?" or "Daddy K?" checking on us. She uses the most concerned expressions when she asks, too. She adores her friends and all kids, and if she sees anyone crying she will say (with her concerned expression), "______ crying...______ sad". And she is going to be so great with the new baby. I am going to write about that later, but she is already so motherly and really excited about all of this baby stuff going on.

Dramatic & delightful: We fixed up her new room for her Christmas gift this year, and she must show you every "pitty" thing in there every time we walk in. She will say "mon" (c'mon) and go in and list everything that she sees in there that is "pitty". (More on her room in another post.) If you can't tell, she also loves all things shiny and girly.

Her language has exploded over the last couple of months. She says the cutest, funniest things, and is using pretty good sentences. She will even use some imaginative play and tells me that she sees her TV friends in various places. One day she looked out over the yard and said "Autin Hi!" and then told me--in two-year-old form--that her Backyardigans friends were riding up on their bicycles.

R eliable: Audrey rarely gets in trouble. She knows what she is and is not supposed to do and minds so well! And disciplining her usually just takes a stern look, and she will say "Sowy (sorry), Mama, sowy". She really makes me appreciate having another little girl! She is also the greatest little helper! We joked at Christmas that after giving her a kitchen and cleaning kit, we are completely domesticating her. But it is amazing how her personality for responsibility and care is already showing!

E xciting/Encouraging: She has been constantly telling us "Good gob, Mommy", "Good gob, Daddy" about everything from drinking from our cups to sweeping the floor. She will randomly give you hugs and say "Mmm mm" when she squeezes you. And she reserves her "Yu-mmy!" comment for kisses to Layton and Papa mostly.

I can't wait to teach her more and more about life and the Lord as her level of comprehension continues to increase. She truly gives me a new outlook and appreciation of having joy like a young child.

Y oung Einstein: Ok, I am exaggerating a little, but I do think she is so smart :) She is definitely studius already. Her favorite things to do are color and paint and read and write. It is funny because we say she has developed new Crayola names that should be used on crayons. She knows most of her colors, and she usually relates them back to the Backyardigans. Things are not just blue, but "Pabo Bue" (Pablo Blue), "Tyrone Orsh" (Tyrone Orange), "Tasha Yewo" (Tasha Yellow), "Nika Pink" (Uniqua Pink), and "Autin Puple" (Austin Purple). She also likes "Wed Emo" (Red Elmo) and "Ocar Gween" (Oscar Green).

She loves to sing any song, but she is best at singing along to "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"...basically the whole thing by herself...and getting pretty good at the ABC's (especially "LMNOP" and "next time won't you sing with me!") She also listens to here Backyardigans Mix CD everyday and can recognize each song within the first couple of notes.

She is still obsessed with books and must have one to go night-night. Here she is reading one of her favorites "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". I love hearing her read books to herself or someone else, and it continually amazes me how young children can learn words like "cocoon" or "seashells" when they have not even experienced these types of things yet.

I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface on how great she is, but thank you for letting me brag a little :) I am so blessed to have such an amazing little girl...and another one on the way!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Baby Countdown

We are truly in our final days before the arrival of Baby Brenna...t-minus 24 days!

We got to see her sweet face again yesterday which we haven't gotten to do since October! Normally sonograms are over by now, but I have been having high blood pressure problems again, so the doctor wanted to check the baby's weight and fluid levels.

Here are a couple of shots of our sweet girl. At 35 weeks, she already weighs 6 pounds which is in the 73 percentile and is very squished in there! The sonographer said she is definitely a big baby...and already has lots of hair! We all agree that we can see a few of Audrey's features in these pictures :)

So the doctor's verdict...She is concerned about my blood pressure already being high, so she told me that I have to rest more during the day. And if I don't do well with this, then she will "sentence" me to bedrest. We have already set the date for the C-section. Brenna is scheduled to be born on February 1--about 3 and 1/2 weeks from now. However, if my BP continues to be high, then she may move the date up to the previous Thursday which is when Brenna is exactly 38 weeks along.

So the plan is to have both of our moms take turns coming to help me for the next few weeks. I did not like the idea of having to stop working on my to-do list and definitely don't like having to depend on anyone else to take care of us, but the Lord is helping me realize that I need to let go.

And the doctor is right, too...Today was my first day of "resting," and my BP levels were already extremely better, and I feel so much better. And Mom finished all of my laundry, picked up clutter, and helped me organize a few last minute things in the nursery!

This pregnancy has gone by fast for me, so I am really trying to relish these last few weeks of "bonding" with Brenna as well as my last few weeks with Audrey as the baby. I am so thankful and excited about both of my sweet girls! We can't wait to meet you face-to-face, Brenna!