20 Weeks-baby #2

I'm officially at the halfway point!!

How I'm feeling/sleeping: As far as the nausea, much better. My sinus thing is gone now too so I'm somewhat back to normal. I'm feeling HUGE lately though-definitely in the past week or so. I'm already getting out of breath really easily and my back has started bothering me more when I sleep now. I'm just not comfortable lately. Gabe said last night "You're not enjoying this pregnancy are you?!" and it's not that I'm not enjoying it, it's just a totally different experience. When I'm tired and just want to put my feet up, I really don't have that option. It's hard feeling huge and uncomfortable when you have a 2yr old to chase around. And I noticed last night that my ankles are starting to swell...lovely. I thought it would hold out a little longer this time!


Appointments/events: None-I go next week for my appointment and the "big" ultrasound.

Cravings/Aversions: Food is more appealing to me now. I will still say that some things sound better than others. I have been eating my fair share of sweets again so I'm back to my "old self" as far as that goes. Still not wanting my oatmeal or peanut butter at all. I will say that I've been loving cereal this pregnancy though. I typically eat it most weekdays (then having something like eggs/oatmeal/pancakes on weekends) but since being pregnant, I eat it everyday for breakfast.

Movement: Yep! Several times a day. It's very unpredictable though. Gabe hasn't felt the baby move yet (he did with Avery by now) because I'll feel it once or twice, then nothing for a few hours. With Avery it was more like I'd feel her 10 times in a row. With this one, once I feel it, it stops!

Avery's thoughts: She's still pretty adament that this child is a girl. If she's wrong, who knows what she'll think!

As far as clothing goes, I've worn a few maternity shirts just because I need the length in them. I still haven't crossed over in pants yet-but it'll be any day now!

Here are some photos. The ones in the pink shirt are from today. The grey shirt is with Avery at 21 weeks...big difference in these pics!

Labor Day Weekend

It was a very nice, long weekend for us. Both Gabe and I had off on Friday so we actually both had a 4 day weekend. It was glorious (but went by too fast!)!

Saturday we did some stuff around here-I went to the gym, did our grocery shopping. After Avery's nap we ran to a tile store, then out to dinner and for ice cream for Avery.

Sunday we took a trip to Buffalo for a visit. I really wanted to go to the zoo, but the forecast wasn't looking so good so we stayed in. Go figure....it didn't rain so we could have gone! Figures! While there, I ran to Goodwill and found Avery a nice pair of snowpants for $3! Can't go wrong with that. She'll need them for daycare so for $3 I don't care if they get ruined! Of course when I brought them in, she had to model them for us: My Mom, Avery and I took a walk to a nearby park. Avery had a blast going down the slides and going on the swings:

She was climbing all over everything and had fun! After we got back, she did lots of playing at Nama's house with some new toys. We had a yummy dinner then headed home around 730pm or so.

Today was a very lazy day. We all stayed in our PJ's all morning (I didn't shower until 2pm!) and we watched Toy Story 3....it was Avery's first whole movie! And she watched most of it. She was running and playing at times, but Gabe and I enjoyed watching it since we had never seen it! After Avery's nap, we met Gabe's parents for dinner by the lake and heard all about their wonderful vacation! Now we're just relaxing before getting back into "the grind" tomorrow.

Happy Labor Day!

Seabreeze, Take 2

Yesterday we decided it was a good day to use our rainchecks for Seabreeze. Gabe was able to get the day off of work and the weather was looking good, so we went for it.

I thought it would be a great day to go. I figured since it was a Friday, people would be working. Two districts already started school here, plus most colleges are already in session. A holiday weekend to me meant more people traveling. Well, I was wrong. We got there and it was a mob scene! We had to wait in a pretty decent line just to get in the park!

I'll admit, the first hour was a killer. It had to be close to 90 degrees out and sunny. All of the rides are in the sun so you really don't get a break from it. I was drenched in sweat and really not comfortable. Avery went on a few rides, then we had a quick lunch. We got on our bathing suits and were looking forward to some relief from the heat.

Unfortunately Avery had different plans. She wanted NOTHING to do with the water! She was all excited to get her bathing suit on, but that was as far as the excitement went. Gabe and I stuck our feet in the water (can you say heaven?!) and she just screamed her head off and wouldn't let us put her down. After about 10 minutes of this, we decided to scrap the idea, suck it up and deal with the heat.

Gabe went to get himself a water and also came back with a frozen lemonade. This thing was a lifesaver-between sticking my feet in the water and this drink, I felt much better. Avery loved the lemonade and was chugging it down (I don't know how since it gave both Gabe and I a brain freeze after one sip): Avery did great on the rides! She went on everything all by herself and went on most things numerous times in a row! Here she is on the boats:

And a pic of Gabe and I:

Last time, she left there pretty afraid of the turtle ride and tea cup ride. She always talks about them and says how she won't go on them again. Well, to our surprise she went on both of them yesterday! She actually went on the turtles like 3 times! Gabe took her on the tea cups and as soon as they got off, she wanted to go back on! Unfortunately it's one of those spinny rides and Gabe didn't feel so hot after the first time, so they didn't go back on.

Even with the heat, we stayed about 5.5 hours and had a lot of fun. We were all exhausted when we left though! Gabe and I were ready to crash and Avery fell asleep very well for us too!

A to Z

I got this from my friend Joelle on her blog so I decided to give it a go as well! A little bit about me....from A to Z!


Age: 32

Bed size: King

Chore you hate: cleaning the bathroom

Dogs: None

Essential start to your day: Breakfast

Favorite color: Red or purple

Gold or silver: Silver

Height: 5'5"

Instruments you play: The flute, although it's been awhile

Job title: Clinical Technician

Kids: 1 girl and 1 on the way

Live: In NY

Maiden Name: An Italian one

Nicknames: Nikki, Nik, Colee, Btags

Overnight hospital stays: Just when I had Avery-was there for 5 nights (yikes!)

Pet peeve: People who chew with their mouth open-yuck!

Quote: "In complete darkness we are all the same-it is only our knowledge and wisdom that separate us. Don't let your eyes deceive you"

Righty or Lefty: Righty

Siblings: None

Time you wake up: Work days-6:20am, days off-whenever I feel like it or when Avery wakes up
University you attended: Haha-which ones haven't I?! Daemen college (2yrs), Buffalo State (2yrs), Canisius College (Masters-2yrs), one class at ECC

Vegetables you dislike: Asparagus, tomatoes, peppers

What makes you run late: Having a child

X-rays you've had: My hip, my leg, ultrasounds for the kiddos, dental ones of course

Yummy food: Italian food and pretty much any dessert


Zoo animal favorite: Lions and tigers

Weekend Recap

We had a very nice weekend....pretty much the last one of summer (*tear*).

Saturday I went to the gym in the morning. After Avery went down for a nap, I got in the shower. My Mom and Aunt Pat showed up around 4pm. We visited for awhile then went out to dinner right on the lake. It was a beautiful night and we had a very yummy dinner! After dinner, they went to visit a friend. Avery wanted ice cream so before we left the lake, we got her an ice cream. Then we just came home and relaxed after Avery went to bed.

Yesterday I met my friend for breakfast in the morning. While Avery napped, Gabe rant to TJMaxx for a few things. He got Avery a pair of Dora sneakers (which she loved, but they were still a little too big for her). After Avery napped, we all took a ride to the airport to pick up my in-laws' van. They left for vacation on Saturday and didn't want the van sitting at the airport all week. So we picked it up and drove it back to their house. Then we made a run to TJMaxx to get her Dora sneakers that fit her now (she insisted on wearing the big ones which just fell off of her feet so we figured for $6 we'd get her a pair she can wear now too). Then we did a family grocery trip to Wegmans. After that, it was dinner, bath for Avery then bedtime!

And just like that the weekend is over :(

Drywall and Siding

Yesterday Avery and I made a trip out to the new house to check on things. The drywall is pretty much up now but I think they still have to tape and mud it.

Here's the kitchen/morning room with actual walls now!

Tray ceiling in the dining room:

Family room with walls!

We couldn't get upstairs because they had scaffolding all set up that was blocking the stairway. Avery was bummed because she wanted to see her new room!

They started the siding outside too and it looks great so far! This is the back of the house:

Back of the garage:

I love the color that we picked-I think it looks great!

I guess the stone on the front of the house starts on Monday and I think the painters come next week....so we have to choose paint colors by then! That is not an easy task, let me tell ya!

18 Weeks-baby #2

Today I'm now 18 weeks along with baby #2!

How I'm feeling/sleeping: I'm getting there. I stopped my unisom about a week ago because I started having bad allergies/sinus problems. So instead of the unisom, I started taking my Zyrtec at night. I've been taking the Zyrtec on and off for the past week and for the most part have felt ok. I did have one bad nauseous moment the other day but it only lasted maybe a half hour and then I felt ok. As far as sleep goes, it's on and off. With my allegy/cold/sinus thing I can't breathe really well so that makes sleeping difficult in itself. I've had good nights and bad nights.

Appointments/events: I had my appt last week. I'm up a total of 6lbs so far which is exactly how much I gained with Avery at this point too. Everything looked well and we heard the heartbeat which is always nice. I talked to the doctor a lot about having a repeat c-section versus trying a VBAC this time....it's a very hard decision for me to make.

Cravings/Aversions: Food has started sounding more appealing to me finally, but no cravings or aversions really. Some things still aren't very appealing (oatmeal, peanut butter) and I've still been reaching for saltier things. Or if I have something sweet, I like something salty along with it (pretzels dipped in nutella like I'm eating at this moment).

Movement: I've definitely felt some flutters! I think it started about a week ago and it's usually once or twice a day that I feel it. Love it!!

Avery's thoughts: She pretty much says hi to the baby everyday. Sometimes we prompt her "Avery did you say hi to baby today?" and sometimes she does it on her own. It's so cute! The other day she came up to me and said "give baby hug" and she pulled up my shirt and hugged my stomach. Too cute!

I'm still not in maternity clothes (shocker!!) but I know it'll be very soon. Luckily I haven't had to dress up for work lately because I know my dress pants won't be fitting me anytime soon! I have one pair of shorts that I can get in to and the others are getting very, very snug.

Here's my photo from today (left, bottom) and with Avery at 19wks (right, top):