Our Growing Family

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

8 month pregancy update

I woke up this morning with two girls that managed to weasel their way into my arms in the middle of the night. With 2 sets of arms hugging my tummy combined with the rhythmic kicking of the little one inside me, I can't help but wonder if I am the luckiest person on earth! I feel great these days and am so excited to welcome another little miracle into our lives. Now that I am 8 months along, the weight of uncertainty regarding preterm labor has discipated considerably. At about 22 weeks of my pregnancy, they discovered what they call a subchorionic hemorrage which essentially can lead to placenta abruption and preterm labor. I was put on modified bed-rest which has prevented me from keeping up with my fitness routine, but I have been able to contine working. With an ultrasound done a few weeks ago they confirmed the hemorrage has decreased and the baby is doing perfectly fine!! We feel so blessed and everytime I feel this baby move inside me I am reminded how amazing and intricate this pregnancy journey really is! James and I plan to take a babymoon at the beginning of June to Sedona and Grand Canyon. It might be the last trip we take just the two of us for a few years so we are definitely looking forward to it. Our family in La Jolla is planning a little baby shower brunch for the little one in late June in San Diego. In the meantime, I contine to have the need to "nest" and get our house ready for baby # 3. Poor James, he is probably tired of this "nesting" syndrome that I take ownership of every 2 years during my pregnancies :) This is definitely my favorite time of pregnancy. The girls are so excited too. They have to kiss and talk to the baby all day long. It's amazing what a special bond they have already.

8 month ultrasound

8 month pregnant

Fun at the Robertsons

Auntie Gina and Grandma Sandra flew out to visit and stay with us while the kids were on school break. I literally cried when they left. We had the most fun laughing, playing, and enjoying each other. The girls instantly fell in love with their auntie and Grandma and Leia is still asking me why they don't live with us. I would give anything... Here are a few memories from the trip.

Our May Birthday Celebration Month

Since May is our designated birthday month for both Leia and Nora, we decided to continue the tradition of celebrating both of their birthdays combined with Mother's Day at Disneyland. My mom, the girls and I had the adventure of a lifetime!! I can honessay it was the one of my most happiest moments. Although our trip was quick, we made the most of every single second. The girls lit up seeing the Princesses and enjoying the ammenities of the Disneyland Resort. For me the most incredible part was sharing this experience with my mom. I love reflecting on how the cycle of life repeats itself. The 3 generations of women soaking up life's greatest gift: each other.

Our favorite moments: coffee time in the hotel room

At California Adventure dining with Sleeping Beauty

This is how the Robertson girls pass the time while waiting in line for the Princesses

At Disney Resort

Face painting with Frozen characters

Dining with the Princesses

License to Drive

Most adventuresome Grandma

Saturday, March 29, 2014

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

Friday, February 14, 2014

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.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

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