Emma: 18 Months

Sleeping: Overall, sleeping is still going great for Emma. We can't complain with her sleep habits….yet. Emma really has spoiled us with how well of a sleeper she is. She's now sleeping in until 7:30-8:00 in the morning on the weekends and still going down at 7:00. Her naps are amazing over at Nana's with two hour naps twice a day. Much shorter for us on the weekends, but then again, she's sleeping in a bit more then.

Eating: Emma's either a huge eater and can put away tons of food or can just eat a little bit. Her favorite meal of the day is breakfast and all breakfast foods. She definitely hits a wall that results in tears and meltdowns around 5:30 if dinner isn't served, so we are now eating dinner on her time.

Development: As usual, it seems like her vocabulary has exploded lately. She started repeating things we don't think she hears (oops!), imitating sounds and adding new words to her every day vocabulary. I need to be better about writing down the words she can say, but lately has added "love you", "down", "okay" and "snowman" (or some variation of it), "help". Two weeks ago she heard her dad say "dang it" and then went days walking around saying "dang" while hitting her leg. Aunt Alaina also taught her to say/sing "Let it go" while spinning in circles like Elsa with her arm up and eyes squinted. It is quite the dramatic and comedic performance. Future actress?

Emma's finally getting into her Christmas presents and playing pretend with her play kitchen and baby doll. She loves to cook for her baby and all of us and then come and feed us. She even pretends to cuts things up for us. Also loves to pretend clean. Although I think in her eyes, she really is cleaning. It really amazes me that she picks this all up by watching us do every day mundane things.

She is becoming quite the helper by doing things we ask of her like throwing her diapers away, putting her dirty clothes in the hamper and bringing us things. Hoping this continues when  #2 comes in May ;)

Likes/Dislikes: Our little lover is is oh so sweet. Like I mentioned last month, she loves to give hugs and kisses, but since then they have escalated to a thing she does all the time. It's adorable. She gives everyone hugs, with a back (or leg) pat and added "awww". She waves "hi" or "bye" to anyone that has eye contact with her. Emma truly is an affectionate little girl. My favorite is the middle of nowhere kisses when doing every day things. She knows how to melt hearts for sure.

She likes doing things herself with little to no help. Our little independent one. She wants to crawl up on the recliner or kitchen chairs herself. She doesn't want you to show her how to use her fork or how to stack something. I love it, yet kinda hate it too.

Loves crawling up and sitting with mom (or dad) at the kitchen table when we are having coffee or eating breakfast.

Emma is HATING brushing her teeth lately. Oh my gosh is it a battle of having to pin her down to do a little brushing before we give up and say "good enough". I mean she just cut her top eye teeth and is now getting the bottom eye teeth, but still.

She also is not liking being messy. She gets a crumb on her hand and she comes to me to wipe it off. Eating dinner is a mix of her using utensils or her hand which then causes a problem because her hand is now dirty. So instead of me wiping it for her, I just give her a paper towel and she can do so as she pleases. Parts of me is wondering if this is concerning, a little annoying or slightly adorable? I'll go with a combo of each :)

We had her 18 month checkup today and all is good. Our social girl made sure to wave "hi" to all the nurses at the nurse station as we walked by. She had two shots and handled them pretty well, but then again, they gave her princess stickers beforehand to distract her. Very smart. Emma's weighing in at 23 lbs 6 ounces (63rd percentile) and is 33 and 1/4 inches tall (90th percentile). Our long, lean and healthy girl.

24 Weeks

We are less than four months away from meeting our newest member of the family and yet it seems like it is two months away. These next couple months will go incredibly fast with basketball season upon us, so I know I need to start getting my butt in gear.

Weight gain with Emma: 8 lbs    Baby #2: 12 lbs

I started physical therapy this week and hoping to see some relief from the constant pain I am in. So far so good and not as extreme as it has been. At my last OB appointment I broke down in tears because of the pain I have in my pelvis, hips and low back/spine as it is so intense it often makes me fall to my knees in pain. There are times I go to walk and I literally can't move a leg. I was taking Tylenol daily and constantly laying with a heating pad at night. I couldn't describe the pain I was in other than feeling like someone was constantly crushing me with a baseball bat. My OB is great and so sympathetic. She ordered physical therapy and I will likely continue with that for the remainder of my pregnancy. She did say that I needed to take this serious and be resting, putting my feet up and taking it easy as much as possible. If not, the stress on my body could lead to bed rest or she could tell me I couldn't be holding Emma. At the time I kind of laughed and was like "Easier said than done". I mean is that possible to do with a toddler and a husband gone at least four days/nights a week? This last weekend I learned I had to for real take it serious after a couple days of bleeding and excruciating pain. I am doing what I can and trying to rest and not do as much. I've had to put my stubbornness aside and realize the health of me and more importantly, this little girl, is far more important than my pride. I see so many other friends and relatives be able to do it all with multiple kids and here I am having to rely on help with Emma because of the pain. As a mom, you feel like you need to be "super mom" and be able to do it all. But quite frankly, right now, I can't. It's hard. But as always, I will forever be grateful for my rock star of a mom that has stepped up and helped when Matt is away (on top of already having Emma four days a week). Seriously, there are no words. Matt's been great too when home and helping out with a lot.

I hope that by the next post, I will have made progress in my physical therapy and feeling much better. At that time, I'll be starting my third trimester!

The Final Sale

Yesterday was the end of an era for my grandpa as he held his final sale at Rock Island Livestock Auction, a business he worked at and/or owned for nearly 50 years. I had every intention of going and being part of the celebration as four generations (Emma was the fourth generation) of Porths gathered for the occasion, but was needed to stay home and rest. Luckily, Emma was still able to go with my parents and boy did she have a ball. I got pictures and texts throughout the day from my parents and relatives how well behaved she was and how much she loved it all.

I am so glad that Emma got to be there yesterday and be a part of this memory for my grandpa and my dad. My childhood is full of memories of this place and to see my daughter there, even though she won't remember it, is so special to me. It was neat to see all the pictures and to be texting throughout the day with family about certain things and telling Matt about all the memories. 

Congrats grandpa on a good run, thanks for the memories! 

20 Weeks

Here I am a week and a half past 20 weeks, but finally posting something. With the holidays and basketball season be officially in full blown swing, time has been limited.

I've been feeling pretty good. Still extreme low back pain and pelvic pressure, but going to the chiropractor once a week to get adjusted. Thinking I may need to start going twice a week and/or try acupuncture. It's more extreme on the left side and on some days I find that by the end of the day, I can hardly walk. But, if this is the only thing I am dealing with (knock on wood), I can't complain.

Weight gain with Emma: 2lbs   Baby #2: 7lbs

P.S. I am writing this from my couch with my feet up, heating pad on my back, HGTV on in the background and Matt/Emma in the basement. 10 minutes of uninterrupted bliss. 

2014

2014 was a great year for our family. It wasn't anything crazy. We were blessed with a healthy year and that's all that really matters at the end of the day, right? We saw our little baby girl turn into a toddler and celebrate her first birthday, learned to be parents and all that entails, Matt had one heck of a first season with the men's basketball team (Big XII champions and Sweet 16 in NCAA tourney), we celebrated our second anniversary in Mexico and found out we would be expanding our family with another little girl. No complaints here.

I say it over and over again, but there aren't really any other words to describe how we feel, we feel blessed and lucky to live the life we do and to share it with amazing family and friends. 

Christmas Recap

Is it really done already? Christmas was fantastic as usual, but went incredibly too fast. It's not fair that such a special, magical time is done in the blink of an eye. 

As always, the holiday kicked off early with "Porth Christmas". It was great to see my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents all under one roof. The time together is rare, but I think we all cherish it fully. I took hardly any pictures, but I guess that's what happens when you have kids. Right Jess, Emily and Stevi?

Emma: 16 months   Levi: 2.5 

We visited Santa and he didn't seem to phase her.

We made it up to Minnesota to celebrate. The last two years they had to come to Ames due to Matt's work schedule, so it was nice to get up there this time.

A baby doll and stroller from aunt Stacy, Uncle Chad and cousin Maddy

Emma loved her some cousin Maddy time

We got back to Ames mid-day on Christmas Eve in time to unpack before celebrating with my family. Christmas Eve service is always my favorite, but a little more difficult to enjoy while trying to keep a toddler quiet. I think next year we will take her to the church nursery. After church we did our usual appetizers for dinner and opening presents. It was a bit of a whirlwind as we didn't know when Emma would hit her wall considering she usually goes to bed at 7:00. She surprised us all and didn't hit her wall until 9:30. Must have been from all the excitement that Christmas brings.

Such excitement for the kitchen set from Papa and Nana

Christmas morning was spent at home as a family of three and it was perfect. Before we had Emma, Matt and I agreed that it is important to us that should his work travel allow, being at OUR home on Christmas morning was a must. We are lucky that both of our families get it and understand us wanting to spend some time just us and start our own traditions. It was simple and relaxing and spent just enjoying Emma. We ended the day with a delicious prime rib dinner and opening stockings over at my parents before heading home and watching a little Elf before bed.

It's hard to believe that next year we will be celebrating the holidays as a family of four and getting to see our girls together during this special time of year. I can't wait.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."