A Themed Week

Last week seemed to have a theme in our household...growing up.  It was a very bittersweet week. 

With Shelby due in May and EG quickly growing longer than her crib-converted-toddler-bed, it was time for some big girl furniture.  

So she still may have room if it wasn't for our funny farm we MUST keep in bed with us.  :-)  But anyways, we had ordered a set made by Vaughan Basset (right here in VA!) on January 2nd and have been waiting for it to come in.  J got a phone call on Monday that it had arrived!!  We also had to be in town for a doctor's appointment with EG's pediatric uroglogist the next day...so perfect! 

So on Tuesday, we woke up bright and early and dropped the trailer off at the furniture store.  Traffic was awful and with my bladder, we made it just a few minutes late!  

EG was born with hydronephrosis, or the swelling of the kidneys.  They caught it on an ultrasound I had done at 41.5 weeks pregnant.  There can be many causes, some much scarier than others.  Thankfully in EG's case, it was from being scrunched up in the womb and she just needed time to grow out of it.  At our appointment, EG rocked it, especially for being almost 2.5.  She was patient, told the nurse what the stethoscope was used for, and took had her weight and height taken like a champ.  On the other hand, she wanted nothing to do with the blood pressue cuff or thermometer, told the ultrasound tech that his gel was "hot" (it wasn't by the way....just warmed for comfort), that the wand "hurt", and that she wanted to go play in the other room, and refused to even be touched by the doctor.  I guess you can't win them all.

We got the best of news Tuesday: no more hydronephrosis (none, not even a little bit!), no scar tissue or damage, and an exit ticket to not have to come back! :-)  Well, not really an actual ticket but some sweet good-byes.  So after 5 ultrasounds, 1 dye test, 1 pediactriic urologist, 3 ultrasound technicians, and numerous nurses, nurse practioners, and medical students, we are done.  I'm so thankful that she is healthy and her kidneys looked so great!  There's nothing more to say than: God is good.

We left and hit Target and Babies 'R Us to pick up a few odds and ends to finish EG's big girl room makeover.  Then, we picked up our trailer and furniture and back up the road we went.  We spent the rest of the day in EG's room moving furniture out, cleaning, moving furniture in, and decorating.  It took a long time.  

I loved how it turned out.  EG loves it too.  She was so excited.  We have much more room for our funny farm in our bed.  She has slept like a champ in her new bed, too!

On Saturday, EG had her Little Gym Mid-Year Showcase.  She has been going to the Little Gym since she was 10 months old.  It's an AMAZING place with AMAZING teachers.  I love the laid-back, let them do their thing attitude.  

She did so well.  She actually sat for most of the beginning, announced her own name at introductions, tried every activity including bear walking (see top right corner) BY HERSELF.  No one prompted her to do it.  And, she was so proud of her certificate, I thought she would never let it go.  She ran from J to me to some family we had with us over and over showing us!  EG will have to move up in age very soon from a Beast to a Super Beast (before Beast she was a Bird). 

When we got home, I had a hankering to set up the nursery for Shelby.  J says I'm already nesting.  

By the end of the day Sunday, we had it set up and all blankets, sheets, etc., and Newborn and 0-3 Month clothing was washed.  I just need a small shopping trip to finish it off, and we will be mostly ready for Shelby's arrival in May.  EG was very sweet about us setting it up.  She didn't seem to like that Shelby's room is now housing her old toys (some she hasn't seen in a year...but boy did we remember them!).  She doesn't seem to mind Shelby taking the nursery furniture though.  She told us, "Shelby sleep in there!" as she climbed the side of the crib to look. 

What a busy week!  I don't think things will slow down until March.  February looks to be a very busy month in the Shifflett household...it doesn't seem like it will have the same theme as this past week though.  Thank goodness, I'm not sure how much growing up this momma can take right now!  Although if it involved potty training, I would probably survive. :-)

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart." 

  

Bible App and Strength

I downloaded the bible app on my phone and love it.  My favorite part of it is you can create plans as as well as the daily verse.  Throughout December I read about the Christmas Story.  I wasn't very good about doing it daily...that's my goal right now: to be able to read His word daily.

On December 30th, the verse of the day was Isaiah 30:31.  "But those who trust The Lord will find new  strength.  They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired."

As my winter break ends, that is what I needed to read.  I saved it and took a screen shot of it.  It was the perfect message.  You see, I've been very bummed about going back to work.  I love my job but my biggest love is being a mom.  Maybe it's pregnancy hormones, but I have been in tears over going back, especially when I think I won't be spending the days with EG.  I'm glad to know that I will find strength from The Lord and that He will help me get through.  

I need to make my lunch, read my devotional, and crawl in bed.  5AM comes too early.  I am excited to be able to share our news of a second little lady with my kiddos tomorrow! :-)  Very few of them voted for another girl...they mostly all said boy, so I hope they won't be too disappointed! 

Christmas Day is Here...

Wow...what a whirlwind of a week.  I cannot believe most of my winter break is gone.  It's been such a blessed week filled with love, family, and friends.

We started our break the Saturday before Christmas with our typical Saturday...Little Gym.  EG loves Little Gym; she has been going since she was 10 months old.  We've met so many great teachers, families, and other kids.  It's been so cool to see EG grow and learn through the things she does there.  She can even do a forward roll all by herself. :-)  

Saturday evening, EG went to stay with Mimi while I embarked on my annual shopping trip with my Daddy.  J was still in the woods hunting and picked her up after dark.  Daddy and I had a wonderful time catching up, shopping, and eating at the Aberdeen Barn.  Yum!  I'm so glad each year we go just the two of us...it really means a lot to me that we do it each year and have since I can remember.  

Sunday, we went to see Santa.  See the blog post entitled "Santa Claus".  It was magical.  

Monday was a very special day.  We are expecting our second little one, and Monday we got to go to the big anatomy ultrasound.  We found out we were having a very healthy...baby. We decided to keep the gender a secret until Christmas.  EG stayed with our good family friend while we were at the appointment.  While J went to work, EG and I stayed with the friend catching up for awhile and then headed home to finish our Christmas baking. I made Salted Chocolate Toffee Bark for everyone for Christmas.  It was easy and delicious which was a great combination.  We also made gingerbread cookies in the shape of either a boy or girl for our families to open to reveal the gender.  It was fun and cute. :-)

These were the bags! 

On Christmas Eve, I cleaned the house.  EG and I played and relaxed.  J had to work a half day then came home.  We got ready and went to my parents for an early Christmas Eve.  EG got a whole new bedding set for her big girl room, a LeadPad Ultra, a FurReal puppy, and a Doc magnadoodle.  As always, my parents spoiled her.  J got a new vacuum sealer (the perfect gift for a hunter), and I got a FANTASTIC flash for my camera.  I have been so excited to put it to use! 

EG with her puppy...she was so excited!  Grandaddy did good. 

EG with my scarf...she was obsessed.  We had to hide it from her or I would have never gotten it back. 

When we got home, EG had one present to unwrap from us.  Each year we do a package that includes our Christmas PJs, our ornament for the year, and a book to read.  This year it also included a Minnie Mouse that matched our PJs.   We set out cookies for Santa Claus and got ready for bed.  We read our new Sofia book.  I told EG she had to go to sleep so Santa Claus would come.  Her response was "Aw, man!"  After I explained that he doesn't visit unless you're sleeping...that was it!  We never heard a peep out of her.  She shut her eyes and refused to open them back up.  :-) 

This is EG in her new PJs holding onto her new Minnie. :-)

EG's 2013 ornament... :-) There's a string to pull and they kiss.

On Christmas morning, EG climbed into bed with us...we left her there watching Mickey Mouse and came to the living room so we could see her come down the hall.  I'm so glad we did it this way.  Her face was priceless when we told her Santa Claus had come.  

As she ran down the hall, she yelled "Santa Claus"!  I think she thinking she was going to find him at our house...however, she was not dissapointed.

She played with her Doc clinic for a long time.  She didn't even have an interest in opening anything else for quite some time.  It was so nice to be able to just stay at home and let her take on Christmas at her own pace.  She played, opened gifts, ate breakfast, then went back to playing.  We're very thankful that Nana, Grandpa, and Uncle Daniel all came to us for Christmas.  J and I made the choice that we wanted to have Christmas each year at our home.  This is our second year doing it this way.  While we've given up time with Great-grandparents and extended family...what we've gained is also equally as wonderful.

EG's Christmas breakfast

We did go to my Aunt Genie's much later in the day and then took a trip out to the nursing home to see Grandma Duff.  When we got home, we had one exhausted little lady.  She had a great day.  We are truly blessed.

Here was our big announcement:

We're having another sweet girl! :-) Well hopefully she will be sweet!

Since Christmas we have been relaxing.  We've put toys away and packed up some of our older toys for our new sibling. We went shopping with Mimi on Saturday and had dinner with Grandpa this evening.  

Mimi found some really cute matching outfits for our girls--wow! That still feels odd to say! :-)

To close...here is a picture of our EG from her first Christmas...

I cannot believe this was taken 2 years ago!  EG was 4 months (almost 5) for her first Christmas.  She was such a doll and tried to open gifts and giggled at her new toys.  Now, she talks about Santa Claus and tells us he says "ho, ho".  She names the ornaments on the tree and gets mad if she sees a tree without a star.  She LOVES Christmas lights and sometimes will yell from the backseat to "Wait! Stop! Go Back!" so she can see them again.

I feel like I have over-used the word "blessed" in this post, but it's the only way I can describe our life.  And our blessings seem to just grow and grow!  To think, that our next Christmas will be EG's 3rd Christmas and S's very first.  We will get to wake up to two little ladies enjoying the day!  My heart just soars thinking about it.

Thank you, Lord for the life you have provided me with, the husband who walks this journey with me, for my first born spirited EG who has taught me so much about life and love, and now for this precious little one growing and kicking inside me.  We are BLESSED because of you.