Los Porchs

Life as the parent of two tiny humans is a crazy kind of beautiful chaos that I am still learning to manage, for sure. However, every day, I am hit with a moment of pause in which I cannot believe that this is my life - that these two people call me mama and I get to have such a positive impact on their lives. Because it just wouldn't be me if I wasn't busy trying new things, I have taken on a new adventure (part-time) as an adjunct instructor at a local university teaching a course for the administrator credential for early childhood. I am presently attempting to put together a syllabus and organize the online course as we start Monday!  MONDAY! So excited to start this new adventure & be a positive role model for my girl! xo Danie

It's a great feeling when nothing fits and the ol' baby bump just kinda hangs out of my shirts. Guess it's going to be dresses to work for me from here on out... c'mon little sister!!

Waiting for little miss to join us earthside. I was at 3cm at my appointment on Monday and have had some contractions here and there but this little peanut is not done cookin' and has decided to hang out in utero just a bit longer. I won't lie, I'm ready. The reflux makes me want to cry as it makes me throw up at times. There isn't much room left in there for her as she continues to grow; the kicks and punches are now extra fun as her legs reach under my ribs. The doctor said she's measuring large; I have a third-trimester growth ultrasound scheduled for Thursday to see how big she actually is; I almost don't even want to know, but I do want to see that smushy baby. I am hopeful that I don't need the ultrasound (because I've had the baby) but know that it's best to let her continue to marinate... I won't rush her but I also won't be sad if she shows up tonight, just sayin'. Big sister is also very excited to meet the littlest homie. Charl

I will never take for granted how long it took us to get to this point. I am 35 weeks pregnant and getting to a point of being so uncomfortable, I just want to deliver. Between the worst heartburn ever and feeling like baby is about to fall out of my uterus, I am inching towards the finish line. I feel like I'm actually crawling, on my hands and knees, just trying to get there with my sanity intact. I have never eaten so many Tums in my life nor taken so much Zantac, but I remember that this all passes once the baby arrives. Then we move into sleep deprivation and a vagina that feels like it's on fire after delivering a giant baby to the world. Though my friend recently just delivered a boy that was quite large via c-section and I was like...... wooahhhhh, no thanks. Charlie was almost 9 pounds when she was born and I'm hoping for something similar in nature this go-round. We went to the zoo for Mother's Day and I did a decent(ish) job of keeping up with the others an

one of my favorite parts of this pregnancy has been charlie's excitement about it and the enthusiasm with which she greets the friday morning update about what size the baby is each week. i was so thankful that i got to be with her this friday morning so we could look at it together before we were apart for a minute. baby is the size of a butternut squash. i am currently 76 days from her due date and wondering if she'll be early like her sister or if she'll stay snuggled in there beyond her due date.  i am excited to watch charlie evolve in her role as big sister. being 4 is hard work and adding in big sister duty will be interesting to witness. i am already super proud of my big girl and can't wait to see my girls together. i have been awful with bump pictures this go 'round but here's what i've got at the moment. :) 28 weeks 28 weeks @ the beach

yesterday was eventful; after an evening and morning of cramping with spotting, i was advised to head to the emergency department for monitoring to make sure all is well with the littlest porch. it was a long time spent waiting but i got a sneak peek at the baby via ultrasound (making sure the placenta wasn't over the cervix) and holy moly you guys - that baby is gettin' BIG. i always picture this tiny little bean in the lowest part of my body but the ultrasound tech was way up on my belly - and there was baby! hanging out! heartbeat was wonderful at 138bpm and the little one was dancing around which was amazing to watch! our anatomy scan is in early february & i am so excited to find out who this not-so-little bean is & learn about the growth so far. we've started throwing around names (okay, i throw a name out there and watch porch's face for reaction) and thinking about what we will actually need for this kiddo. so far, all i've come up with is a crib (an

i got a wusic heartrate monitor for christmas from my father-in-law & tried it right away. i felt like i heard the heartbeat but tonight after we wrestled charlie to sleep, i laid in bed and found it definitively. that little heart was BUMPIN! there was no confusing that with my own, it was very much the beating heart of my little nugget. tonight after i vacuumed the living room, i told porch it felt like baby was tucked away on the left side of my body, i could just feel a heaviness there and sure enough - that's where i found the little one! i think it's important to note that the directions clearly said best results after 16 weeks, which i just hit on friday. while i'm not feeling movement, i am very much aware of this kiddo's presence both in the new bump i'm rocking & just this heavy feeling on my left side. but hey - i think i'm done barfing! it's been several days now & i think i'm in the clear!! xo d