Last week Elian asked me if I was in love with the name Anna. I told him no. He then suggested we rehash the name debate to see if we could agree on a different name. Historically, we have NEVER agreed on girl names (except that once, when we named Lexi, although, Elian still wishes we had actually named her Lexi instead of Alexis). Fully convinced playing the name game would be futile, but being a little dissatisfied with Anna myself, I consulted a couple of baby name websites once more.
I spent about 30 minutes making a short list of names I liked. If memory serves me correctly, which it may or may not at this point in the pregnancy, all the names I wrote down this time were on my previous list. And we all know how that turned out - Anna was the only name we could both "live with". But who wants to "settle" on their child's name?
I showed Elian my new list, and the only name he liked was Allie. We tossed it around in our minds, looked up possible spellings and meanings, and decided we both liked it better than Anna. And it just so happens that Elian's paternal grandmother was named Allie.
With the new name feeling right, we now had to decide how to spell it. Ali, Allie, Alli, Ally, or Alley. We narrowed it down to the first two spellings. Elian liked Ali, and I liked Allie. We thought about it for a few more days, and neither one of us came around to the other's preferred spelling. So we let our family vote. And, in the end, our younger daughter's name has finally been decided: Allie Grace Levatino. That's good news, as I am now past the 36 week mark, and I was 2 cm at my last OB appointment. That means Allie could make her debut any time now...HOORAY!
6.30.2009
6.25.2009
Buttload
One of the perks of having small children is they love you unconditionally, and they aren't afraid to show it. Whenever the mood strikes Lexi, she'll say, "I love you, Mommy," and lay a fat, slobbery kiss right on my lips, or cheek, or hair, or feet - wherever she wants to.
One of the anti-perks of having small children is they give you EVERY illness they EVER get (unless, of course, you are immune to it). Lexi has had a cold for a couple of days, yesterday being the worst day so far. Instead of clinging to a blanket or baby doll for comfort, she chose me as her security object. She wanted me to sleep with her, which really means she wants me to lay nose to snot nose with her until she falls asleep. She even wraps her little arm around my neck so I can't slip away undetected. She clutches me close, breathing germy breath all over my mucus membranes, just to ensure that I WILL catch her cold.
After we got up from our restless nap, she was feeling particularly blah. She decided the best way to remedy this was to crawl across the couch, kiss me on the face, and crawl back to the other side of the couch. 4,000 times.
So it was no surprise when I started swallowing buttloads of snot last night. (By the way, I think the word buttload should be brought back. Would you like to join the revolution with me and start using it whenever possible? Together, we can make it happen!)
Still, I'll take the endless displays of affection from my sweet little girl, even when she's sick, any day.
One of the anti-perks of having small children is they give you EVERY illness they EVER get (unless, of course, you are immune to it). Lexi has had a cold for a couple of days, yesterday being the worst day so far. Instead of clinging to a blanket or baby doll for comfort, she chose me as her security object. She wanted me to sleep with her, which really means she wants me to lay nose to snot nose with her until she falls asleep. She even wraps her little arm around my neck so I can't slip away undetected. She clutches me close, breathing germy breath all over my mucus membranes, just to ensure that I WILL catch her cold.
After we got up from our restless nap, she was feeling particularly blah. She decided the best way to remedy this was to crawl across the couch, kiss me on the face, and crawl back to the other side of the couch. 4,000 times.
So it was no surprise when I started swallowing buttloads of snot last night. (By the way, I think the word buttload should be brought back. Would you like to join the revolution with me and start using it whenever possible? Together, we can make it happen!)
Still, I'll take the endless displays of affection from my sweet little girl, even when she's sick, any day.
6.22.2009
My Two Cents on Jon and Kate
The best thing you can do for your kids is make your marriage relationship a higher priority than your kids.
The best thing you can do for your marriage is make your personal relationship with Jesus a higher priority than your marriage.
If the above two sentences are not true of your life, then YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR KIDS!
There is nothing easy about life, especially if you have eight kids, your life broadcast all over the world, and paparazzi incessantly stalking you so they can publish false things about you.
But truth is truth:
-kids NEED their parents to have a healthy marriage
-a marriage NEEDS each spouse to actively pursue Christ in order to be healthy
The best thing you can do for your marriage is make your personal relationship with Jesus a higher priority than your marriage.
If the above two sentences are not true of your life, then YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR KIDS!
There is nothing easy about life, especially if you have eight kids, your life broadcast all over the world, and paparazzi incessantly stalking you so they can publish false things about you.
But truth is truth:
-kids NEED their parents to have a healthy marriage
-a marriage NEEDS each spouse to actively pursue Christ in order to be healthy
6.18.2009
38 Days Left
Days remaining until Anna's due date have now dipped into the 30's. It seems all I can think about is her impending birth, and how I wish it was more impending than it is.
I'm definitely aware of my size. Not in a self-loathing kind of way, but in a wow-this-is-annoyingly-uncomfortable kind of way. I'd rather gain 75 lbs and only be pregnant for 4 months than gain 35ish and be pregnant for 9.5 months.
Supposedly, there are women out there who LOVE being pregnant. I read about it. In a book. (Dodgeball reference, for those who don't know.) I've actually met one of these women in real life. And if you've never had a baby before, but are considering having one in the future, I sincerely hope you are one of those freaks that loves being pregnant. But I am not.
Nights are especially fun right now. I wake up often-every 1-2 hrs; more often if Lexi is in a calling out kind of mood. Most of the time I just need to roll over toget comfortable be able to tolerate resting again. The pregnant lady roll is more like a workout than a casual toss. First, I take a deep breath. Then I let out a grunt as I use all 4 limbs to clumsily move my body toward the other side of the bed. And it all ends with a whine as my hamstring and nerves in my belly light up like they are on fire.
But it never ends there.
Somehow, Anna puts more pressure on my bladder when I lay down. So every time I wake up to roll over, I HAVE to go pee or I can't fall back asleep. And every time I sit up/lay back down, I HAVE to pop a Tums to combat the ensuing heartburn. And once or twice each night, just for giggles, I become keenly aware of how STARVING I am. To the point that I have considered eating Elian's arm just because I didn't think I could make it to the kitchen before dying of hunger.
Some people say all this waking up during the last trimester is God's/nature's way of preparing pregnant women for the sleepless nights that come with a newborn. I think that's crap. God knows pregnant women need rest to grow and deliver the baby. And God knows that no matter what kind of sleep-depriving boot camp He could come up with for moms-to-be, our bodies and minds are never prepared for the insanity-inducing lack of sleep that babies bring with them.
I'm definitely aware of my size. Not in a self-loathing kind of way, but in a wow-this-is-annoyingly-uncomfortable kind of way. I'd rather gain 75 lbs and only be pregnant for 4 months than gain 35ish and be pregnant for 9.5 months.
Supposedly, there are women out there who LOVE being pregnant. I read about it. In a book. (Dodgeball reference, for those who don't know.) I've actually met one of these women in real life. And if you've never had a baby before, but are considering having one in the future, I sincerely hope you are one of those freaks that loves being pregnant. But I am not.
Nights are especially fun right now. I wake up often-every 1-2 hrs; more often if Lexi is in a calling out kind of mood. Most of the time I just need to roll over to
But it never ends there.
Somehow, Anna puts more pressure on my bladder when I lay down. So every time I wake up to roll over, I HAVE to go pee or I can't fall back asleep. And every time I sit up/lay back down, I HAVE to pop a Tums to combat the ensuing heartburn. And once or twice each night, just for giggles, I become keenly aware of how STARVING I am. To the point that I have considered eating Elian's arm just because I didn't think I could make it to the kitchen before dying of hunger.
Some people say all this waking up during the last trimester is God's/nature's way of preparing pregnant women for the sleepless nights that come with a newborn. I think that's crap. God knows pregnant women need rest to grow and deliver the baby. And God knows that no matter what kind of sleep-depriving boot camp He could come up with for moms-to-be, our bodies and minds are never prepared for the insanity-inducing lack of sleep that babies bring with them.
6.06.2009
Through the Eyes of a Two Year Old
We went to La Hacienda today for lunch, and Lexi discovered the vending machines by the front door that have cheap trinkets, bouncy balls, and candy in them. One of the machines had stickers from one of the cartoons she watches regularly. Of course, she wanted some "dickers".
This was the conversation we had:
Twenty minutes later, while walking through Target:
If it were only that easy...
This was the conversation we had:
Lexi: I want some Won[d]er Pets dickers!
Me: You have to put money in to get the stickers out. Do you have any money?
Lexi: (Pause) No, I go store, buy some money.
Twenty minutes later, while walking through Target:
Me: We need to buy new shoes, and some sheets for Lexi, and a present for Daddy...
Lexi: And some money!
If it were only that easy...
6.04.2009
6.01.2009
32 Weeks
So, I'm over this whole pregnancy thing. There are not many pleasant things about being 8 months pregnant, but I tried to think of at least one last night. And the one that made me feel the best is the fact that I'm no longer vomiting every morning. That's optimistic, right? Well, guess where my Rice Krispies ended up halfway through breakfast. I'll give you a hint: NOT IN MY STOMACH.
I've also had this pulled groin/hamstring combo going on for over a week now. I have no idea how it happened, but it isn't healing. Apparently, weighing 25 more pounds than you're supposed to, and gaining more everyday, isn't conducive to that sort of thing.
The heartburn is worse this time around too. The wives' tales say you get heartburn when you're having a girl or a baby with a lot of hair. Anna must have an afro.
I'm due in 8 weeks, which feels like an eternity. Over the weekend I had a couple of signs of preterm labor, but they were the kind of signs that can mean a lot of things. I called the nurse, just to be reassured, and she said I could just be dehydrated or have a bladder infection. She told me to not worry about it unless the symptoms got worse or more obvious labor symptoms, like Anna's head poking out, developed. The symptoms didn't last all day, but they have been coming and going since Saturday morning. Selfishly, I would love to have Anna today, but, that's obviously not best for her. She can come in 5 weeks and still be considered term. So, think 5, everybody.
I'll post 32 week pictures later...
I've also had this pulled groin/hamstring combo going on for over a week now. I have no idea how it happened, but it isn't healing. Apparently, weighing 25 more pounds than you're supposed to, and gaining more everyday, isn't conducive to that sort of thing.
The heartburn is worse this time around too. The wives' tales say you get heartburn when you're having a girl or a baby with a lot of hair. Anna must have an afro.
I'm due in 8 weeks, which feels like an eternity. Over the weekend I had a couple of signs of preterm labor, but they were the kind of signs that can mean a lot of things. I called the nurse, just to be reassured, and she said I could just be dehydrated or have a bladder infection. She told me to not worry about it unless the symptoms got worse or more obvious labor symptoms, like Anna's head poking out, developed. The symptoms didn't last all day, but they have been coming and going since Saturday morning. Selfishly, I would love to have Anna today, but, that's obviously not best for her. She can come in 5 weeks and still be considered term. So, think 5, everybody.
I'll post 32 week pictures later...
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