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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

a much needed visit

2 posts in 1 week- WATCHOUT.

If you would have told me 3 years ago that I would find some of my greatest friends online, through a blog about infertility, I wouldn't have believed you.  But here I am, with some pretty amazing women woven into my life supporting and listening, encouraging and sharing.

Kelly is one of those friends that I have leaned on in the past couple of years and I got to meet her (and her beautiful family) this weekend.  She wrote about our visit here.


If you don't read Kelly's blog, you should.  If you do read her blog, then you really do know Kelly- because that's how she is in real life; sassy, funny, and telling it like it is (in a southern accent). 

I can't even describe how great it was to sit face to face and talk to her, so I won't even try.  I will tell you that we laughed (a lot), cried (a little) and everything in-between. 

We watched our toddlers, who were born just weeks apart, play together.




She cuddled Gavin and gave me pep talks (she's a good pep-talker). 



And there were cocktails, of course there were cocktails. 



I felt like I was with someone I had known my whole life. We know each other's stories and we can relate to so much of what is going on in each other's lives.  And now I've decided that Kelly has to move to PA.



Thank you Kelly, for everything.  Your little family is the best.





Monday, August 26, 2013

a blog post every 3 months is probably not acceptable...

I was told this weekend I need to start blogging again (Kelly).  I have been missing it so much, but finding the time to sit down and write has become increasingly hard.

So, an update post/picture dump it is...if anyone is still reading?

Post partum depression:  I've been doing much better.  I'm on 3 medications, 1 during the day and 2 at night (that knock me out) so Steve has been getting up with G at night since this all happened.  I have a lot of guilt about the anxiety and depression and about Steve and his parents having to do so much for me. If I'm honest, it makes me feel like a not so great mom.  But I'm working on not feeling guilty and just letting others help.  I'm getting stronger and I feel pretty great most days.  I still have moments of anxiety, mostly at night when I'm trying to get to sleep but I have come such a long way from where I was 4 months ago.  I am grateful that I have this wonderful family that is so willing to help with everything.

Work:  I started working a couple of days a week at the family business.  It's been good for me to get out of the house and start learning something new.  I miss the kids like crazy, but I know this is a good change for all of us. 

Emily:  Oh this girl.  She's 22 months old now and as feisty as ever.  I wonder if there will ever be a day that I don't use the word feisty to describe her?  She's talking up a storm, copying everything we say and do, she loves school, and still has a love/notinlove relationship with Gavin.  She eats and sleeps great and throws 5,000 tantrums a day.  Her favorite place to be is outside, she's terrified of band aids and wants nothing to do with the potty. I have to start planning her 2nd birthday and this seems unreal to me.


 

Gavin:  G buddy is amazing.  He's 7 months old and he's the happiest baby you've ever seen.  He loves Emily so much and watches her like a hawk.  He's been sitting up since he was 5 months old and is now working on getting up on all fours- he will be crawling before I know it.  He would rather eat baby food than drink his bottle and he's growing like a weed.  At his 6 month well visit he was 29 inches long and 21 lbs 11 oz.  Yes, he's a big boy.  He likes his jumper, throwing balls, bath time and swinging.  He's slowly getting used to going for walks but for awhile he hated being in the stroller.  He's not the best sleeper unfortunately.  It varies from day to day but he is still getting up 1 or 2 times during the night and sometimes he thinks the day starts at 5am.  His naps are all over the place.  On days he's at school he only sleeps about 20 minutes but if he's home he will nap for a couple of hours.  But none of that matters because 97% of the time he is happy, smiling and laughing.




Me:  I chopped my hair off and lost most of the baby weight I had put on with E&G.  I wish I could say there was some magic way I did it but I think it was the combination of anxiety and running around after two kids that did it.  I go on 2 long walks with the kids a day and eat normally.  My next goal is to get toned up because even though I'm back to the same weight as I was before kids, my body looks nothing like it did back then.



Steve:  If there was a contest for best husband and dad, he would win- hands down.  He's taken such good care of me through my PPD and he's taken care of the kids at the same time.  He is always there to talk things through when I'm feeling a little crazy and he's my biggest supporter.  Not to mention that he's learning the family business at the same time.  Superman I tell ya.



These guys....I'm so lucky.



I miss all of you and I'm still reading your blogs!!  I try to comment as often as I can but it doesn't always happen because 2 kids under 2 is a crazy thing.