Our first trip to Ohio!

It worked out really well that we could see most of our family in one awesome trip! Not only did we spend time with Adams brother and his wife but so many other family members joined us to celebrate Jamie's instillation ceremony.

We don't get to see Jamie and Katie very often but this was our second time this summer. And more exciting news Katie is also pregnant and due a month from my due date! I am secretly hoping for a boy (you know I love my boys) so little man, Zack and cousin can all grow up together. However that would make 4 boys out of 5 grandchildren for Adams parents. I'm sure Emma would love another little girl even if they will be 10 years apart (kinda like me and my cousin Kathryn). Meanwhile if it's a girl I will be buying her impractical super cute dresses that the baby will wear once!
Back to the installation...Jamie became the minister of a Presbyterian church in Mineral Ridge Ohio back in the spring. Remember the Chicago trip that wasn't for Zack and I...well he started shortly after that. I am so glad we made it to this celebration and I am very upset that I didn't take many pictures. Thankfully Facebook allows you to steal friends photos :).

I am not sure my small family will be able to visit Jamie and Katie anymore because the first time we visited both Adam and I got food poisoning (ironically from something we ate in China town...meanwhile we never got sick in the actual China), last time Zack cought a really bad stomach bug not 6 hours before our flight was scheduled to leave and this time I had a bad bout of morning all day sickness. Who knows it could have been pregnancy related. Either way it put me out of commission for most of the day on Sunday. Jamie and Katie I love you but I don't know if our stomachs can handle it! Just Kidding we can't wait for our next visit!

The Lake Round 2

Why do I love this place so much?
Maybe it's the perfect scenery...it's called Lake Pleasant...need I say more?
Maybe it's time with family...

 

Maybe it's the history...I spent entire summers up here with both sides of my family...
I worked on staff at the family camp...
I played with cousins...
I learned to water ski...
I always dreamed that I would bring my children here. Zack isn't quite old enough to water ski but he did enjoy the boat rides and the sand...

I love bringing Adam here because I can actually see him relax a little. This year Zack made sitting on the beach reading a book impossible, but father and son did have some bonding time...

Zack was extra clingy and I'm sure it was to make up for two weeks without daddy time.
We had a blast and even spent the day in Saratoga Springs which is so fun to visit around race season...

Zack and I love this restaurant because they give you crayons AND popcorn!

Can you tell he LOVED the carousel?

A toddler, a preggo and a man on vacation go into an Irish Pub...

In the end if there is any one thing that brings me back each summer it has to be the smores...

***At some point I will get the pictures off my phone to fill in the blanks!

Zack's Words 17 months

Mama (mamamama)
Dada (da)
Ball (ba)
Dog (daw)
Juice (doose)
Shoes (tsooes)
Bath (ba)
Bubbles (bu bu)
Boo (bu)
Duck (du)
Truck (duckkkk)
Car (carra - rolling his r)
Milk (ba...long a)
Blanket (datet)
Rock (raw)
Don't (dough...as he shakes his head and continues doing what he shouldn't be doing)
Down (dow)
Uh oh (ah ooo...in a raspy voice)
Tickle (titik)
door (doo)
key (de)


Sounds:
Woof (pffff)
Roar
Quack
Meow
Ahh (after saying boo)

He makes the fish face when he sees a fish.
He waddles like a penguin.
He puts his arm up and squeals for an elephant.
He holds his hands up and says a word (ie...hands up "da")...meaning where is ____?

18 weeks

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Maternity Clothes: I wore maternity jeans on vacation but my shorts fit and yoga pants are always awesome.

Best Moment This Week: Vacation to the lake...and I sill have several days left!

Weight Gain/Loss: -8 lb

Gender: BOY...so excited!

Movement: I have felt small kicks for a couple weeks...this has to be my favorite part of pregnancy.

Food Craving:  snow cones, coke

What I miss: energy

Sleep: uncomfortable

What I am looking Forward to: the rest of this vacation!

Symptoms: vomiting, fatigue, nausea, food aversions, sore back, headaches, nose bleeds, bad circulation

Same/Different: I am able to eat do much more this pregnancy but I don't think I was this uncomfortable so early.

Tummy Shot:

All organized and ready to move!

Well...I'm ready to pack.
I feel like an old pro at this. We have only packed and moved 4 times in the 3.5 years we have been married. That doesn't count the 3 hotels we lived in between moves. I have moved pregnant and with an infant. Now I get to move pregnant with a toddler. This time we won't have to box everything up or be super diligent about what goes in which box and which box will travel which way. We are moving 40 min down the road. Half our stuff is already packed (and reorganized...my winter project) and in storage. Clothes can stay in the dressers, hanging clothes will go from closet to back seat to closet. Toys will pile in a laundry basket and will be dumped in the bonus room. The only thing I have to think about is what we will store in the garage and what we will use or what will be acceptable home staging items. I am so looking forward to spreading stuff out so we don't feel cramped or cluttered. Mostly I am looking forward to putting a nursery together...this is my second kid and the first nursery that has our furniture, our paint colors, and doesn't have extra furniture and our golf cubs for storage. Even though I hate moving I hope the house sells quickly and we will be moving again before the end of the year.

My Bottle Review

I HATE the old Avent bottles...we have used them for 17 months and I have never liked them.  I decided #2 will get a new bottle (which he hopefully won't need to use for every feeding like his brother...but that is another post).  Well Avent...you leaked for the last time!

Why do I hate the Classic Avent model?
Because it leaks...and not like you would expect.  It leaks out of the bottom of the connecting piece...and you never know if it will leak or not until you are using it and suddenly covered in milk.  It was heartbreaking when the bottles were full of breast milk, annoying when they were full of expensive formula, and now I am just MAD!  I looked up every suggestion online (apparently a lot of people are annoyed with this issue), but honestly the suggestions were stupid.

Why did I put up with it for so long?
Because I have a LOT and they were expensive.  I also have researched and it's hard to find a bottle that doesn't have reviews that they leak.
I remember being confused by all the reviews when I decided on Avent but there were plenty of reviews that said leaking is only an issue if you don't put the bottle together properly (with the washer) or if you don't close it all the way...I figured the people complaining about the leaks were just complainers not to be taken seriously; after all, most bottles had reviews claiming the bottles leak.

I bought one of 3 different highly reviewed bottles and let Zack be my guinea pig.

I know what you're thinking...she bought AVENT???  They redesigned the bottle and surprisingly Avent is still the highest rated bottle.

Zack enjoyed all bottles.

Each held up after being washed in the dishwasher.

None leaked.

Basically it came down to my personal favorite.  SURPRISE...I liked the Avent (the new design)!
Tommee Tippie - the only thing that bothered me about this bottle is the nipple would come right through the attachment while you were putting it together...if you didn't pull to hard it wasn't an issue but it happened a couple times and it didn't with the others so this one was out.
Doc. Browns - I have no issue with this one but there were lots of parts and I remember when people other than Adam or I would make a bottle with the Avent (classic) they would forget the washer...or need help figuring it out.  Basically I figure the new Avent has only a nipple, connector and bottle so why not go with simple.

Silly Zachary...

I sometimes wonder what people thing when I call him "silly" in public.  Really this kid makes me laugh all day long.  Here is a peek:

What a good helper

He was naked because he got applesauce all over his clothes and his shoes are on because  he asked me to put them on

I picked up the baby tub at a consignment sale...for some reason I don't think he understands it's not for him

rubbing bubbles on mommy's legs

"What?  The saltines on your bedside table weren't for me?"

His favorite thing to do climb up and turn up the AC

"How do you use your music table?"

"I did not see that coming"

"maybe if I stand on it..."

wearing daddy's "toose"

...and mommy's purse.  He came up to me with the purse, waved "ya ya" (bye bye) and tried to walk out the door (thankfully I locked it...you don't open the door and run out more than once in this house)

I don't know where he got this but he wants me to wrap his blanket around him  like a skirt.

You know you're pregnant when...

1) your toddler adds "throwing up" with mommy as one of his favorite morning activities
2) greasy food and processed cheese seem to be the only cure for nausea
3) "but you just ate" is something your husband says several times a day
4) you start referring to your toddlers nap time as "our" nap time
5) as annoying as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is...you look forward to the 30 min. rest time
6) your toddler is no longer eating proper meals because he shares your hourly snack (don't worry I save the greasy food and processed cheese for after his bed time)
7) you treat yourself to an Auntie Annie's pretzel and scarf it down so no one can ask for a piece (meanwhile no one should ever ask for a pregnant ladies snack...Zack is the only person that can get away with that)
8) your toddler ruins any dinner he would have had because he found and ate your bedside saltines
9) you start to wonder if your "I need to eat/sleep meltdown" is worse than your toddlers
10) you can no longer listen to country music/watch hallmark movies without tearing up (although the "Love" saga marathon while Adam was gone was totally worth it)
11) your husband hates having crumbs in the bed but has no right to say anything about it (or several other annoying habits) for the next several months
12) you are appalled that anyone would mow THEIR lawn during YOUR nap.
13) you asked your husband a question and after he gives you an answer you wonder what it was that you asked
14) it's acceptable to pick at food at a dinner party before dinner is served, run to the bathroom without excusing yourself and return after vomiting to continue picking at the food

I'll keep adding to the list as more things happen...ahhhh pregnancy...all you can do is laugh about it.

17 weeks

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Maternity Clothes: My shorts fit under the belly so people are going to have to ignore my bright white legs (no tan = no skin cancer...and no getting yelled at by my dermatologist)

Best Moment This Week: painting the nursery (and Zack's big boy room) and feeling the first kick

Weight Gain/Loss: -8 lb (I've started gaining)

Gender: BOY!!!!!

Movement: yep! Our little kicker skipped the butterfly stage and I am feeling actual kicks...this kind of worries me for when little man gets bigger and stronger.

Food Cravings: greasy food and processed cheese (did I mention I am having a boy???)

What I Miss: Eating a full meal at a normal time, feeling like a person

Sleep: I feel like it may be too early but I am getting really uncomfortable in bed. My hips hurt and I constantly switch sides plus I am getting up to use the bathroom a couple times a night.

Symptoms: nausea, fatigue, vomiting, bad blood circulation in my right leg

Same/Different: I didn't have trouble sleeping this early on and I thought Zack had a powerful kick but so far little man is showing off his punting skills (I saw Z as a soccer player I see little man as a kicker on a football team...they have a more powerful kick..right?). At this point we have no names that we are in love with...I think we pretty much decided on Zachary as soon as we knew he was a boy.

Tummy Shot:

16 Weeks

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Maternity Clothes: I tried on some pants at old navy so I could order something. I have really popped this week and I'm pretty sure they will be necessary soon.

Best Moment This Week: seeing my healthy little BOY at the anatomy scan.

Weight Gain/Loss: -9 lb

Gender: BOY!!!!!

Movement: Not yet but I can't wait

Food Cravings: nothing but I have a bigger appetite.

What I Miss: Eating a full meal at a normal time

Sleep: alright. My naps are to 30 min. and I can skip them but that means no evening crafting.

Symptoms: nausea, fatigue, vomiting, bad blood circulation in my right leg (exactly like with Zack)...new this week: bloody noses

Same/Different: same: boy different: I know little one will be born small so I invested in a couple newborn outfits at consignments...it's usually difficult to find boys clothing in good shape, but NB sizes are pretty much like new. I head to another consignment this Friday where I expect to pick up a few more tiny clothes.

Tummy Shot:

I set the timer for this one and Zack thought it was hilarious!

My Duke Appointment

At my last regular dr. appointment they mentioned the results from my N&T scan showed that there was nothing to worry about but did show an abnormal hormone level for one of my hormones. Basically the doctor said he wasn't worried but it was strange. Just to be safe he had me sent to Duke Perinatal Consultants for a detailed scan. Everything (the organs, the measurements etc...) looked perfectly normal. The doctor said that this specific hormone has a correlation to fetal growth. Since my level was a little low he wanted me to come back at 28 weeks for another detailed scan to make sure little man is still growing. After I told him about Zack's low birth weight (5lb 11oz at 39 weeks) and that he had stopped growing all together at 36 weeks, the doctors eyes lit up. He said well that is a second red flag and we will for sure keep a close eye on this baby.
As a mom (even though my Hong Kong dr assured me Zack's size was not due to anything I did or didn't do) I blamed myself. I am really thankful I didn't know at 16 weeks pregnant that Zack was going to be small (24 weeks of worry...not what a preggo needs). Now that I have had experience with a tiny baby and now that I know he will be perfectly healthy and grow just fine out of the womb I am not as worried. In fact I am relieved that the specialist will keep a close eye on the growth because I thought I would have the same issues with this pregnancy but without the ultrasound at every visit they might not catch it. I also like that I have an answer as to why Zack was so little and now I will be prepared with a few preemie outfits so #2 won't have to wear big clothes for two months like his poor big brother.
My little 7 percentile little baby is now a 95 percentile running toddler. The doctors, Adam and I are all confident that even though #2 might be a tiny baby...he will grow into a healthy running toddler...I just pray Zack and little guy run in the same direction.

It's a BOY!!!!

And we couldn't be more excited! I was deep down hoping for a boy (although was afraid to admit it because I would be super excited if it was a little girl...and had even planned "her" nursery decor). I have always imagined myself as a mom of boys and as a teacher I tended to bond with the crazy little boys whom everyone loved but were relieved the little guy wasn't in their class. When I was pregnant with Zack I imagined he would be a rambunctious little boy that was undeniably lovable and totally wore you out. With this one I imagine he is less active (I mean I was actually worried when the ultrasound tech was easily able to see the things she needed to without him moving or covering his face with his hands) but will learn how to climb, run, throw etc...earlier due to the influence of a big brother.
As you can see by the "w" formation that there is no doubt #2 is a boy.

I am mostly excited for Zack and Zack jr. (as Adam calls him). They will be around 22 months apart and although I am sure there will be many disagreements, I am also sure they will grow up as best friends.
Now to come up with a name...we have several awesome girl names that we both love.

The Before:

To say I was a little bitter about not getting rent since May, to say that I was upset that renters treated our house so badly when we had been so forgiving about rent being late a lot of the time, to say I wanted justice...would be a MAJOR understatement.
Thankfully I am married to Adam Milton...a man who brings me back to reality whenever I freak out.  I am a firm believer that you need both types of people in a marriage. 
I was going to wait and post before and after pictures together but I have been trying to describe what needs to be done and I can't.
Ready???
Worst thing first...the carpet

In the living room...there were even stains under the obvious place they put an area rug...by the way the lightest color was how we left it.

Hall to the garage and laundry room...funny thing is one of their requirements before moving in was to get the living room carpet professionally cleaned because there was a small stain.  We rented a rug doctor and the stain came out and they were satisfied.

close up of the grease stains by the garage door...plus the nast on the walls and baseboards.

upstairs hallway...both Adam and I used the phrase "not that bad" after being downstairs.

the bonus room...take note of the wood nailed into the wall and floor for a makeshift handrail...they aren't even sanded!  Handrail is coming down.  Plus you can't see in this photo but there are two big holes in the wall by the window.

The Sunroom:

I'll be honest I have lived places for several years without dusting the fan.  Basically if you dust and vacuum regularly and use the fan every once and a while I don't think it's necessary.  This is build up from 3 years.

There was a like new Berber carpet...but the dog (that wasn't supposed to be inside) tore it up so our tenants "laid tile" for us,

A Few Other Issues

The Kitchen Floor...this stain came out no problem...what you can't wipe a spill?

There were several blinds like this...the ones on the windows are brown

The stains on the walls and the torn up baseboards

and oh yeah...The Trash