23 week pregnancy update

So happy to say this pregnancy so far has been nothing short of amazing. I feel so fortunate that I have been able to enjoy the unbelievable journey of pregnancy again. I am in the blissful stage of pregnancy where I am over the nauseous and fatigued part, and now into the enjoyable and energized phase when feeling the baby kick reminds me all day how incredible it is to have a person growing inside me.  Of course that is NOT to say that my 3:45am wake-up calls to go to work every morning are easy, nor that juggling 2 little angels at home and working full time is not exhausting.  On the contrary, it been has been extremely difficult to motivate my body that early to get to work. But I am motivated by the idea that after baby arrives, I will be cutting down my hours at work so that I will only have to go in 2-3 times/week.  In the meantime, I am enjoying every second with my little girls. I really didn't realize how much fun it would be to raise girls--they are my very best friends and it is awesome to watch as their relationship deepens as soul mates with each other. We will be waiting to find out the gender of baby # 3 but I can't stop dreaming of 3 little girls growing up together. We will wait and see--I love the element of surprise! I have been trying to stay fit by swimming in the outdoor pool at our gym. The anticipation of my water birth at the birthing center motivates me to find my inner Zen each day. I really would like to have another birth like Leia's where I was in a complete hypnotic state of peacefulness; sleeping through the entire labor. I really want both girls there with me during the birth. They are not only my source of strength, but also such a huge part of me and I want them to be part of this journey.  I might be idealistic in my thinking, but it's nice to know that the birth center has a play area for the children in the little cottage if need-be.  I will continue to have positive thoughts that all goes well with baby so that I can deliver this baby as planned in the birthing center.

Baby Robertson 18 weeks

18 weeks pregnant

Notes to Nora

Nora, you may in fact be the happiest human being I have ever met. Your giggles can be heard throughout the whole house at any time and your contagious smile lights up every room. I just can’t believe how much joyfulness can be bottled up in a 1 and a half year old. You are Daddy’s little sweet heart. Every single night when I am putting you and Leia to sleep, you wait until I finish reading our bedtime stories, then you strategically sneak out of bed and spend the rest of the evening laughing, playing, and bonding with your Daddy until you are fast asleep against his chest. He will never forget those special moments with you.  You have truly wormed your way deep into his heart and when I see the way he looks at you, my heart melts with happiness. This is what I have dreamed of my whole life. You really have made me fall more in love with your Daddy, just because of your beautiful relationship.

I will never forget the look on your face when I pick you up from school and you run into my eyes smiling and giggling. I swoop you up in my arms and you give me about 20 kisses all over my face. You never forget to say Thank you to all of your teachers before we leave. Your teachers can't stop talking about how happy you are all day and how you spend your days making the other children laugh. You have been hard at work prepping yourself for your future role as big sister as you stroll your baby throughout the house, feeding her, changing her, reading to her and putting her to sleep. I would say you are the MOST easy-going person UNTIL someone tries to snatch your baby from you, then you scream "MINE"!!!!! as if you are protecting your baby from harm. :) I love how you look at your sister so adoringly and constantly follow her everywhere she goes. You play so nicely together. You genuinely know her soul and how to make her happy. If Leia is sad, you run up to her and hug, kiss her and give her one of your most prized-possession toys. You two are soul-mates and I can see how the differences in your personalities will lend you to being best friends as you grow up. When I talk to Leia about the baby growing inside me, she pleads and begs that this baby is EXACTLY like you--she even requires that we name the new baby Nora! That's the effect you have on us.
You even put on dresses to look like Leia and grab a microphone and sing like her. You are always holding onto your jeweled dog purse. It makes me wonder "is the girly-girl gene innate or is that the strong influence from your big sissy?" Either way, I am in heaven watching you two. I count the minutes while I am work until I get to see you everyday; as if you are so addicting that I can't ever get enough of you.  I wish I could spend every waking moment with you. Thank you for making me the happiest Mommy in the world. You are my miracle, my heart, my soul and my best friend. We are SO lucky to have you in our family. Thank you Nora for all the happiness you bring to us. We love you so much!!

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RQVjuY6_8g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM5pP6mg7LU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

So excited she can't stand it!

Sister Leia reading you to sleep

Silly girls playing in the fountains

You can never have enough babies

"who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"

Matching Princesses

Still always matching at school

Going out with a BANG—Good bye 2013…

Well, just when we thought life was beginning to settle down, we are tossed a miraculous curve ball--the addition of a 3rd little angel in our world! Yes, we thought we were complete with our 2 girls but destiny won and after the initial shock, we are so excited to welcome our new addition in July of 2014. I was so nervous about James’ reaction knowing he was complete with his 2 little angels, that I couldn’t tell him the news for nearly 2 weeks after I found out. Much to my surprise, when I did tell him, he took it as graceful as he takes any endeavor in his life with his instant response accompanied by a chuckle “So you’re telling me I need to get moving on building that guest house for the grandma’s”. That’s why I love this man! We told the girls and they are extremely excited for a new baby in the house especially in light of the fact that 90% of their days are spent pushing their own baby dolls in strollers. Leia is delighted in the idea that she gets to be a Mommy again, but her level of excitement terminates immediately if you tell her that it might be a boy  She said she only wants to raise another Nora. This pregnancy has been uneventful thankfully, except for the occasional nausea that lasted about 3 weeks, a bout of strep throat, and the ongoing fatigue. I am now 16 weeks and feeling amazing. I have my energy back and I am looking forward to preparing our hearts, our minds, and our house for our 3rd arrival. I decided along my early pregnancy journey of seeing a new OBGYN here in AZ that this baby deserves more than just an OB with bad bed-side manner treating this miracle as if it was an irritating root canal that had to be removed. I know for a fact, not all OBs are this insensitive, but I am grateful for this experience as it prompted me to discover another option of pregnancy and child birth. I have decided to be seen by a midwife and deliver at a free-standing birthing center (if all goes well that is). I took Sandra, my mother-in-law with me for the tour and I immediately knew this was where I was destined to deliver this little one. I am looking forward to this new experience and will continue to update this blog with my pregnancy progress.

Our Girly Girls



Leia in her dance competition outfit

Life with the Robertsons

We have enjoyed so many fun adventures the last few months from flying to Colorado for Uncle Jesse's wedding to visiting family in Daly City to attending the wedding celebration for Uncle John in San Diego, and even enjoying a trip to Sedona with Auntie Dena!  Here are some of the memories.



Beautiful Sedona

              

 




Uncle John and Auntie Bianca at their wedding celebration in La Jolla

The beautiful bride and her flower girl

Papa Ted and Gram in San Diego

Preparing for Halloween (everyday)

Nora feeding her babies

Our visit to Daly City with Grandma Janice

Enjoying time with cousins



James and I celebrating our Anniversary at the Fairmont
 (with the girls of course!!)

Auntie Gina and Leia before dance rehearsal

Congratulations to Devan and Jesse. Beautiful wedding in Boulder, CO

Daddy and his helpful side-kick Nora



Race for the Cure. Cancer walk in Phoenix. We are
so lucky to celebrate Grandma Janice, our cancer survivor

Racing for the Cure with my work friends

We love our Auntie Dena! Thank you for visiting Auntie

Riding horses with our friends

 



Letters to Leia

 Letters to Leia:

Leia, these past few months you have proven to me that three year olds are completely addictive. I can’t ever get enough of you these days. From your hysterical mannerisms to your kind gestures, and your genuine happy nature, and yes even to the occasional “bipolar”episode I like to call it. You are such a joy to be around and I even find myself sneaking into your bedroom at night and climbing under the covers so I can hug and kiss you. It’s been so apparent; especially recently how fast you are growing up. I saw you the other day preparing for dance class and I couldn’t believe that my little baby girl is no longer a baby, and even no longer a little girl, but a big girl now. You do everything by yourself. And I mean nearly everything! From putting your clothes out for you and your sister every night for school, to baking cookies, purchasing items at the store, changing your sister’s diaper, potty training Nora, helping me with all the house chores, and yes, even making coffee for Daddy. I love your independent and confident spirit. You remind me so much of your Daddy. You love rules and routines and you LOVE when you and everyone else obeys them. You and your sister are soul mates. You care for her like she is your own baby. It is important to you that you and Nora are always matching. You make friends so easily and you absolutely love all of the kids at your school. You especially enjoy your teachers and if I ever even talk about one day attending Kindergarten, you immediately remind me that your teachers Chelly and Kelly will miss you too much so you can never leave their class. I love that you obey all school rules and you extremely cautious to never get in trouble.You still love swimming like a fish and we try to swim at the gym any chance we get. There have been a few times this week when my plans for work or working out fell through and it lead to unexpected one-on-one time with Mommy and Leia. Those are the dreamiest moments in life. We laugh together as if we have been friends our whole life. We know each other’s soul. You are always so protective of me and always want to make sure that I am happy and proud of you at all times. We have a beautiful bed time routine where we have our special night lights that you turn on, we snuggle in bed, read our books, then you turn off all our lights and I scratch your back until you are fast asleep. You still wake me up every morning singing “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” and that inner happiness reminds me so much of Grandma Janice. You are graceful and lovely and everything I wish I could be. It brings tears to my eyes how much I love you and how happy you have made our family. Thank you sweet Leia from the bottom of my heart. How lucky I am to share this life with you. You are everything I have dreamed of and more.

Funny quotes:

--When you had a high fever, you woke me up in the middle of the night saying “Just 5 mls of Tylenol, please Momma—I promise I will feel better.”

--You randomly blurt out at least 15 times a day that you love me, but it’s funny that you especially say this when are embarrassed or nervous or have fallen down.

--When I tuck you in your bed at night, you say “Now don’t go to work at night when it’s too dark”

--When I told you that you can have a little bit of carrot juice, you promptly replied, "thank you Mommy, but I want a BIG bit"

--When I went out with friends at night, you check on me at 3 in the morning saying “Momma, are you here? I just want to make sure you got home safely, it was awfully dark when you left” (Remind me, who is the parent again?)

--When Daddy comes home, you immediately ask him “Hi Daddy, how was your day at work?”

--“Daddy bought you flowers for your birthday Mommy? You are so lucky to have your own prince. Can we share him?”



Mopping the living room floor



Cleaning toilets and babysitting
your sister





"I will protect you Nora"

Kisses for frozen yogurt

Potty Training Sissy

Ready to go to dance class at 5am

Lining up her and Nora's clothes out for school

 

You love to match with Nora

Your best friends

Our new life

We are slowly but surely getting settled into our new life. I started back to work at a small orthopedic hospital in Phoenix called Oasis. And it is just that! It's such a gorgeous place to go to work. How fortunate I was to find this place. The people who I work with are my family and I love calling this place my second home. Fortunately after working full time for the last month I will be able to cut back and work only part-time as planned. I think working less will give our family the most optimal balance. The girls have started pre-school and after a less than enjoyable experience with our first school, we have started the girls in a community school that has brought so much happiness and joy to all of us. Leia has swim lessons at school and truly has the time of her life. James is busy working crazy hours. Unfortunately for him, the summers bring the most business and that means being outdoor for 10 plus hours in the unbelievable AZ heat. He takes it like a champ!

Grandpa Clunie recently had a stroke and a subsequent surgery to remove the clot in his artery. Grandpa, we are praying for you and sending you love, support, and good thoughts your way.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you so much.

Leia and Nora enjoy eating dinner together at the very same table that Grandma Sandra and her sisters ate on when they were little. I love how life repeats itself!

Poor Nora always gets pushed out of the way!

Nora throwing rocks in the pool

Leia at the pool at her preschool

First day of school

This is how they sleep at night!



This is what they look like in the morning!

Funny quotes of the month from Leia:

• "Mommy since your Daddy died, I will share my Daddy with you"
• When Mommy asked her why she is not listening, she replied "Mommy, I have had my listening ears on all day at school. I wanted to take them off when I got home"
• Her daily saying "we eat babies" as she kisses her sister
• After pooping in the potty everyday, she makes sure no one flushes it so she can show it to her best friend Scarlett saying "I'm saving it for Scarlett. She loves to see my poop"