HoltFamilyVlog 09.22.2014: Happy, Dancing Baby!

Today's vlog is a shorter one.  I had my 24 week doctor's appointment today (which went very well... But we'll get into those details a bit later on down the road). But after we came home I had a bit of a headache... So I ended up taking a nap.

The weather is definitely changing!  The air is getting crisper and all the leaves are turning such beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange!  I'm hoping we can get outside for a bit tomorrow to enjoy our first day of fall!!

Good night from Chloe!!

Are you guys just as excited for fall as I am?! ^_^

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HoltFamilyVlog 09.20.2014: Old MacDonald Had a Farm!

Today was another fun filled day with Chloe!  It was a really nice afternoon up here in the Pacific Northwest so we decided to hang out outside for a little bit!  Chloe always loved to look out the window when she was little, and now that she can walk she's having so much fun exploring!

We notice that this little girl has a thing for grass!  It's so funny because most babies that I've known don't really like grass at first!!  She seems to really like playing with it!  It takes us even longer to get to where we wanna go because she always has to stop and check out any new patch of grass she comes across... But it's totally worth the smile on her face.

It's so much fun to watch Chloe discover and learn new things.  She really amazes me every single day with something new that she's learned or picked up!  I've noticed that she likes to try and sing to "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".  So, whenever I hear her making similar sounds to it I sing the song for her!  Today she absolutely amazed me at just how well she knows the song for such a little one!  Please enjoy today's vlog!

Were your little ones afraid of grass?  Or are they nature babies like Chloe!  Also, what nursery rhymes do your kids enjoy you singing to them?

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HoltFamilyVlog 09.19.2014: "Oh, There! I felt it!"

Today, I was finally able to catch Thomas feeling Peanut moving!  It's so funny because Chloe was the total opposite!  She would be moving and responding all the time to daddy.  Not this little one, the second daddy comes around she plays hard to get!  Well, she's gonna run out of room to hide sooner or later!  I'm glad I was able to capture this moment in our vlog today!

I can't imagine how it must be for the daddies!  They watch us mommies go through the pregnancies, and we feel those little movements a lot sooner than they will!  Even though this little girl is being shy with daddy, I'm glad he's been able to feel her move for at least a week or so now.  Enjoy Thomas' reaction when he feels his baby girl moving.




Any of you other mommies have pregnancies that were very different from one another?  If you're not a mommy, have you ever felt a baby move in someone's belly before?  Thomas always asks me what it feels like.  He wonders how we don't freak out the first time it happens to us!  I told him it's the mommy in us... You're more excited and happy than anything else! Happy Friday everyone!

HoltFamilyVlog 09.14.2014: Chloe and Spaghetti

I think that it's pretty safe to assume that when spaghetti and a kid cross paths... It's gonna end up getting pretty messy!  I hope you enjoy yesterday's vlog!

Keiki Update 09.12.2014

Hello, everyone!

I think it's about time we do another Keiki Update.  You can read our last "official" update here...  That post was written a few days after we found out that Chloe was going to be having a little sister.  Since then, quite a bit has happened!

Let's start with little Miss Chloe-Ann...

I think it's pretty safe to say that Chloe is officially walking.  We haven't seen her crawl in the past few days and she's actually getting pretty fast and good at maneuvering.  She still needs a bit of work walking outside with shoes on... especially with shoes on.  She's actually pretty used to her slippers/sandals, but put shoes on her and she reminds me of The Croods.


Funny enough she's watching this movie RIGHT now... And as I'm writing this... the shoe scene just ended...
Along with walking, Chloe is also talking.  Chloe has always been a pretty vocal baby... When she was two months old she would be awake for an hour after her feedings eaaaaarllyyy in the morning just babbling away!  It's amazing how fast she's learning different sounds.  When she says something, we say a word back to her that sounds similar.  I just love watching the expressions on her face change as she studies our faces as we sound out the word.  Then lo and behold... A few days later she'll be saying similar sounding (baby versions) of the words we were trying to teach her.  
Yesterday, there was a moment when I noticed that both Thomas and I were watching Chloe and we both had smiles on our faces.  It wasn't like we were thinking or worrying about anything... I could really feel that we both were just taking in that moment.  Just watching Chloe and truly appreciating  how big of a blessing this little person has been in our lives.  I'm really glad that I caught that moment... It's moments like those that warm my heart and let me know that I'm doing something right and that we're on the right path (and it makes me even more excited for when Peanut will be here). 
This past week has been such a happy one for Thomas and I.  We celebrated Chloe's first birthday exactly one week ago.  I made myself a promise before Chloe was born: start documenting our family's journey... especially the lives of our kids.  For this occasion I decided to put to use the monthly photos I took of Chloe (plus all the extra daily ones =P) and compile them into a slideshow for her.  I included her smashing into her birthday cake at the end as well.  Please enjoy a glimpse into Chloe's first year with us!
Now onto Peanut...
Peanut is supposedly 23 weeks & 2 days old and (according to my Baby Bump app) is about the size of a large mango: 11.5 inches long & 1.1 pounds (that's a huge mango...).  I've been able to feel Peanut moving for quite a while now, which isn't a surprise since they say you feel a lot more with later pregnancies than your first.  But for some reason I kept thinking that Thomas was able to feel Chloe that early on too.  Silly me... I took the time to look back to a post I wrote last year (seeeee... another good reason for me to keep up with this) and he felt Chloe move when I was about 22 weeks pregnant.  Well!  Thomas finally got to feel her move early this morning.  I was already sleeping and he was just coming to bed.  I honestly thought I was dreaming, but when he woke up this morning I asked him if he had felt her and he had a big smile on his face. Yay! =]
I've been feeling soooo much better too!  My appetite has definitely returned and as long as my tummy doesn't get too empty, I'm good. =] I've been making it a point to drink lots of water (I have a 40 oz hydroflask that's filled with ice all day everyday that I'm constantly refilling) and I think that's also been helping to reduce the number of migraines I've been getting... but in turn increasing the number of bathroom visits I make... But that's okay it was going to happen sooner or later.
Something new that I'm feeling now that I don't think I was aware of when I was pregnant with Chloe are Braxton Hicks.  Every so often part of my belly just gets really tight.  Nothing painful or anything, just tightness.  After a few minutes, they go away (and they don't happen regularly... I can go days and not feel them).  This started happening after my last appointment so I'm going to try to remember to mention it at my next one.
Thomas and I have a first name picked out (still finalizing the spelling though).  We decided to aim for a two syllable, hyphenated first name (like Chloe-Ann).  Chloe's name was pretty symbolic.  I came up with the Ann part in honor of my Nana, Anna, and Chloe's middle name is Thomas' mom's Chinese middle name.  I came up with her Hawaiian name using the Hawaiian name I used in my Hawaiian language and culture courses in school.  Amazingly and coincidentally her entire name ended up having a flower theme to it.  Ideally, I would like to do the same for Peanut, keeping it within a theme.  Unfortunately, we're probably going to wait a bit longer to share her name.  We want to at least finalize the spelling before sharing her first name.  But when we do... I'll definitely let you know! Until then... I hope you all have a great Friday!

Since it's Friday... Why not do a Flashback Friday!
One of the first pictures we took together.

Chloe's first time going for a swim!

HoltFamilyVlog 08.29.2014: A Day in the Life of . . .

Chloe woke up a bit earlier than she normally does this morning... And it was also a lot chillier today!  So we just took it easy and hung out at home... We can see that one tooth has broke the surface (and there may be another peeking through...) so Chloe's been in a really good mood and seems to be feeling better!  Please enjoy this casual and laid back compilation of our day. =]

HoltFamilyVlog 08.27.2014: A Rough Day for Munchkin

When Chloe first started teething she got like six teeth within the span of two and a half months or so... But it wasn't too bad.  She wasn't super fussy or grumpy... But it seems that this time around she's having a much harder time.  It could be because a bunch of teeth are coming in again like the last time.  And she's got her molars left so... We'll have to keep an eye on her.  I also woke up feeling very tired so we spent most of the day at home trying to help Chloe feel better.  Hopefully she feels better tomorrow!  Enjoy the video!

Simply Real: Keiki Update & Today's Vlog (Impossible to Clean with Chloe)

Okay!  I figured it was time for another Keiki Update!!  This past week has been a very exciting one for the entire family.  I finally started putting up our family's vlog (which you can check out here... Please subscribe!)  I also post a small little blog post to go with each vlog which will be filed under the vlog label. =]  This is our way of giving our family back home in Hawai'i a chance to watch as our family grows.

Now... Onto the kiddies.

Chloe is now 11 and a half months old.  This month she reached a very big milestone: walking!!  You can watch her in action in August 22's vlog.  She literally woke up from her nap earlier that week and just decided to get up and walk.  Everyday she's taking more and more steps...

She still only has six teeth... But she has two more sloowly making their way up.

One of her new favorite movies is Mulan... But she still loves to rock out to The Mistle-Tones every so often.  She's also back into watching her Baby Einstein series.  She loves the animals and noises they make.

Chloe will be having a doctor's appointment when she turns one so we can have more updates when that appointment happens!

Onto Peanut...

If you haven't already... I suggest you watch our very first vlog: Our 20 Week Ultrasound and Gender Reveal.  I know that we are going to love looking back as a family through these videos...  So, as it turns out.  Peanut is a girl!  I told Thomas that it's funny because all this time I kind of thought I wanted to have a boy next.  But now that I know that we are having a girl... I'm kind of relieved.  All I ask is that our baby be healthy, but there are just so many reasons for why I am happy that we're having another girl!

For example... We have a lot of pink stuff already (not to mention clothes).  Being on our own now means that we need to be a lot smarter with our money.  Having another baby girl already took quite a bit of a load off of my mind.  Peanut and Chloe are going to be about 16 months a part.  They can practically share clothes for their entire lives!  I know that this is something that my sisters and I always take advantage of (you should see us at our family garage sales... we probably make the most money off of each other buying each others clothes!). =P  Thomas and I both know that having two kids close in age could also come with a lot of bickering and what not (but what family doesn't have their share of misunderstandings)... But we are confident that we can teach our children about what's important about family: the unique love and bond that we share.

Another reason is that there's just something so precious and darling about a baby girl.  Don't get me wrong.. baby boys are absolutely adorable too!  But just something about the daintiness of a baby girl... I also told Thomas that his baby girls are going to be the ones to truly teach him what it means to be a man.  You know what I mean?...  Having to really be responsible for taking care of his family, having to be the protector and provider... Yet the nurturer and lover.

Peanut is measuring right on track (we are about 20 and a half weeks in now).  At our next appointment, we will be discussing whether or not it would be best for us to schedule a c-section or to attempt a VBAC.  Because of the way Chloe was facing when she was born, my doctor eventually decided it was best to go through with a cesarean.  Our thinking is that we may be able to plan a lot better if we have another c-section.  We both know what to pretty much expect with the healing process... But I guess we'll have to see what the doctor says as well.

Now that we are well into the second trimester I am finally beginning to feel a lot better.  I don't get nauseated as much anymore (only if my stomach gets too empty... which I try to avoid anyway)... but I also notice that I also have to make sure I don't eat too big of a meal or else my stomach will turn.  My energy level has picked up a bit and I don't get as many migraines anymore... It turns out I have actually lost five pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy but the doctor said it's okay since baby is measuring on track and I still have half way to go.

This continues to be such an exciting time in our lives... And we can't help but feel more and more like we are finding where we need to be in life.

I read the following quote on Amanda Rose Zampelli's blog. . . And it is very appropriate for where Thomas and I are in our lives right now.  I want this to be my mantra...

Today's Vlog -- Impossible to Clean with Chloe...

HoltFamilyVlog 08.23.2014: Special Visitors from Hawai'i!!

We were very blessed to be able to have breakfast with my Uncle Byron and cousin Bubba yesterday morning.  We had breakfast at Shari's Restaurant (it really reminds me and Thomas of Anna Miller's back home in Hawai'i).  There's nothing better than having a delicious breakfast accompanied with great company and conversation.  Thanks for breakfast, Uncle!  We hope you and Bubba have a safe trip home! ♥

HoltFamilyVlog 08.22.2014: Daddy's Princess

There never was a doubt in my mind that Thomas would be a great father.  It's so funny that he keeps wanting a boy... When really... There's no other person who can melt a man's heart more than a baby girl! Watch Thomas just GUSH over our daughter...

Also... Chloe is reaching another important milestone!  I don't know if it's just the pregnant momma hormones but I cried when I watched the final vlog with Thomas before uploading it...

Simply Real: Our First Vlog is Live!

So... Thomas and I have been talking about trying to put together vlogs for quite sometime.  I have to admit... It's my fault that it's never really gotten done since I'm the one who really knows how to edit and all that jazz (hubs is the techie guy who supplies me with the hardware and tech support).  But like I said in my recap of VloggerFair (which you can read about here)... Being around all of those vloggers (especially the family vloggers)... It really gave me the final motivation I needed to get on top of it.  I mean honestly... I take enough pictures and videos of Chloe to put something up everyday, so why not give it a shot?  We're at a very interesting point in our lives... So why not take the chance to record the memories.

So!  Without further adieu... Here's our first vlog!

Simply Real: Keiki Update 07.21.2014

So... I'm gonna try to make these "Keiki Updates" a regular thing.  Almost all of our family is back home in Hawai'i, with a few others scattered in other parts of the world.  Chloe (and pretty soon Peanut) are growing so fast and I want to share these moments with our family (and document them for us as well).  I figured this would be a good place to kind of have my pregnancy journal, I kept pretty good track of my pregnancy with Chloe on Instagram and I feel like I'm slacking with Peanut.  So... here we go!

Since we're talking about Peanut let's talk about him/her:

I am 15 weeks (and 5 days) pregnant...

Peanut is about the 4 inches long (size of a naval orange) and weighs about 2.5 oz.  We've been able to hear Peanut's heartbeat for the last two appointments and we have an ultrasound coming up.  We weren't able to get a good look at Chloe's gender at any of her ultrasounds (she really wanted it to be a surprise)... so we're considering letting this one be a surprise as well!

I've started to feel a bit better.  My appetite has improved (as you can probably tell by mine and Thomas' Instagrams >_<*).  The nausea and migraines aren't as frequent but I still have my off days.  I try to get something in my stomach before I start to feel too hungry... and I'm trying to drink more water.  Oh, and I think I've been feeling a few flutters here and there over the past week or two.  Oh... and I don't know if it's just because Chloe is growing or if it's just another pregnancy pain... but my back hurts every so often.

Speaking of that little rascal...

Little Miss Chloe-Ann...

Chloe is 10 months old and is an absolute bottomless pit.  She's willing to try anything you give her.  She's really loving the kimi balls and cinnamon creme crackers that Gramaw Kathy and Nana sent in a few care packages.

She's becoming more and more independent every day.  She's always trying to feed herself (she already feeds herself while she's snacking) and she loves her sippy cup (we leave it out all day with water and she just comes and goes and drinks from it as she pleases).  We recently bought her a walker (one of those push ones... not the ones you put them in the little seat surrounded by toys) and she absolutely loves that thing as well.  Luckily, we have mostly carpet so it goes just the right speed for her.  It's really helping her to build up her confidence.  Oh!  And her ride got upgraded to a front facing carseat!

Chloe also absolutely loves Christmas.  We all kind of knew that was going to happen... My mom had us listening to the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas CD in March since we were little, so naturally I listen to Christmas music all year round... and come to find out my mother-in-law also loved listening to Christmas music in July... So... sorry, Honey, but you're overuled. ^_^  Chloe's newest favorite movie is ABC Family's The Mistle-Tones.  It has lots of singing, along with pretty sounds and decorations.  Amazingly Thomas has warmed up to it, and even he's memorized "The Twelve Days of Christmas".  =]

It seems like every month Chloe reaches a new month... This month, she's started standing without having to hold onto anything.  Each day that goes by she does it longer and longer and she starts to test her balance.  Thomas says he's seen her attempt a few steps already!

Lately, Thomas and I find ourselves watching Chloe and then looking up at each other and one of us saying "Can you believe this time next year, there's going to be two of them?!"  It's scary... But a happy scary, if you know what I mean?  Maybe exciting is a more accurate word.  I really can't help but look back on where Thomas and I used to be and how much we've grown... and looking around now and feeling so happy and satisfied with the life we're building together.

A little baby yoga to calm you on this Manic Monday (it's a daily practice for Chloe...)

Simply Real: We've Got Some Big News!

So... About a month ago Chloe kinda decided to wean herself off of breast milk.  She started to give me a hard time when it came to feeding her and I eventually realized that she was barely even nursing and more just messing around (I think she was just trying to humor me since I wanted to breastfeed her til she was one soo badly...).  Anyway... Since I stopped breastfeeding I knew I had to change my birth control from the mini pill to a regular dosage.  Breastfeeding and taking the mini pill (religiously) is usually enough to prevent someone from getting pregnant... But like they say... If you wanna hear God laugh just tell him what you've got planned!  So I went to the doctor to change my pill... only to walk out with some exciting news!

Surprise!

Anywho... Unfortunately at the time it wasn't all good news.  Because of the date of my last period and how the amniotic sac was measuring... Our doctor was slightly concerned that she couldn't see the baby.  She said that there was a chance that it was still just too early to see the baby... OR there was a chance that it was an ectopic pregnancy (basically a complication in our pregnancy).  If that was the case... It would be life threatening for me and we wouldn't be able to keep the baby.

Thomas and I have gotten into the habit of trying to really connect with God; to see and appreciate His presence in our everyday lives.  I don't think many people know this... But we almost didn't get the apartment that we're living in right now.  We got a phone call from the property manager saying that our application was approved... but with a cosigner (since we're first time renters).  And this cosigner had to already be a resident in the state of WA.  Thomas and I were doing this big move to finally spread our wings and give our shot at truly being independent.  We didn't want to start this new chapter off having to be such a heavy burden on someone.  So, I asked if she could see if we could get approved with first and last months rent.  That phone call was on a Friday afternoon, so she said she wouldn't be able to have an answer for me until Monday.  So... we waited.  Over the weekend we prayed that God would do what was right for us (we try say those types of prayers... rather than asking for what we want specifically).  If this was the right time for us to make this transition... It would all work itself out.  If not... We wouldn't get approved.

Well... I guess you know the outcome of the phone call that following Monday considering we're now here in the beautiful Pacific North West.  Anyway... The reason for my digression... Later Monday night Thomas asked me, "Why did God scare us like that?"

After thinking about it for a bit I told thomas, "To keep us in check... To remind us "Hey! I'm helping you guys out by making all these pieces fall into place! But don't forget that you need to do your part too!"  He knows we can do it... We have it in us... And He will give us everything we need to do it: the opportunities, the ideas, the strength, and support.  But we need to keep putting in the work too... And stay grateful and humble."

That's how we feel right now.  The past three weeks were pretty agonizing for us... It was a constant emotional roller coaster.  One minute we're talking about our future with this baby, how Chloe would be such a great big sister, things we can't wait to do as a family.  Only to be brought back to reality by the fact that... If we don't see the baby at the next ultrasound, or if baby isn't where he/she needs to be... Well... You know.  Thomas and I prepared ourselves for the worse... while hoping and praying for the best.  We knew that if we were able to keep this baby, God did it because we are ready and it's what we need in our lives.

When we really think about it, all of this couldn't have happened at a better time.  It's still early enough in the pregnancy where I'm not completely useless during this move (not that Thomas really let's me do any heavy lifting anyway... I just tend to get in the way =P).  So we have lots of time to settle in.  Not to mention the fact that we just moved almost 3,000 miles away from practically everything and everyone we know.  When baby is born (oh! by the way the due date as of now is jan. 8!  Two days before Nana's birthday!)  Chloe will be 16 months old.  She will be old enough to kind of understand and appreciate a little sibling and they can grow up together and hopefully be really close.

We know what some people must be thinking "they have a baby already... plus they just moved... now they're going to have another one?!"  But Thomas and I aren't letting ourselves be bothered by those thoughts.  All we can do is run with the blessings that God has given us.  We know that this means we probably won't get a good night's rest for probably the next few years (not to mention how expensive kids are) but hey!  No one said being a parent was easy.  What every parent does say, however, is how rewarding and what a wonderful gift parenthood is.  Thomas and I are beyond grateful for all the support and encouraging words from our friends and family.  And we're even more grateful for all the advice that you parents of two little kiddies have for us!  We knew this was going to be an exciting new chapter... but we had no idea what God had in store for us.  But then again... when do you ever really know. <3

Simply Real: Recovery Post-Chloe

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I hope your [long] weekend isn't filled with too many errands and that you are able to find a minute or two to just sit back and enjoy the good things in life.  Thomas is back at work... so we're all definitely enjoying every minute we get to spend as a family.  Last Sunday, I shared my labor/delivery story for Chloe... This week I'd like to discuss how my recovery has been so far.

If you didn't have a chance to read my labor & delivery post you can find it here, but for a quick overview... I ended up having a c-section.  I had my c-section Thursday, September 5 after being at the hospital since 2 that morning and not dilating more than a centimeter (for a total of 4 cm).  In the end, our beautiful baby girl was born at 6:58 pm.

Overall, the physical side of recovering went pretty smoothly.  I'm the type of person where I don't want to take anymore medication than necessary so as long as the pain was bearable I didn't take my pain meds.  For the first month or so I was moving very slowly... I was definitely walking a LOT slower than I normally would... sitting up from a lying down position was almost impossible if I didn't have anything to grab to help pull myself up.  Thomas was very sweet and he would let me put my arms around his neck and he'd help me sit up.  I also had to be careful whenever I sneezed or laughed.  Even though the stitches were taken out the day we left the hospital, my tummy still had a long way to go before it would be fully healed.  It's also a standard that for the first, I believe, 6 weeks or so you don't carry anything heavier than the baby, this includes the baby in the carrier.  This period of not lifting anything lasts even longer when you're recovering from a c-section.  I think I started feeling almost 100% (which means finally able to walk at normal speed, laugh, and sneeze etc.) after about two to two and a half months.

The emotional side of recovering after labor... now that's a different story.  I think I'm a pretty level headed person... I try not to let my emotions get the best of me and I'm definitely not overly sensitive or anything (except for those few special times once a month ;]).  But after giving birth to Chloe... my emotions were on a wild roller coaster!  Jessica Alba states it perfectly in her book, The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You:

"I never understood, until we went through it [...], that it was actually possible to feel frustrated, delighted, overwhelmed, exhausted, and crazy in love with one tiny person all at the same time--it's a constant state of butterflies-in-your-stomach joy that I could never have grasped before."

My first mini breakdown came two nights after Chloe was born, the night before we were able to go home.  Thomas and I had just put Chloe down for a nap and I was just watching her sleep.  I remember feeling so happy that she was here and I felt Thomas and I were transitioning into this new phase of our lives so well... yet despite all of these positive feelings I still felt so sad.  That's when I just couldn't control myself and the tears just started flowing.  When Thomas asked me what was wrong, I honestly didn't know what to tell him.  I thought about it for a bit and thought maybe I was just over being in the hospital.  I told him I loved all of our nurses but I just couldn't wait to go home.  I wanted to be in my own home, sleeping in our own bed, just the three of us as a little family.  After getting those first batch of tears out... I felt better.

After going home I definitely felt like I was in a better mood.  The three of us got into the swing of a routine pretty fast.  We kind of would tag team it... Thomas would stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning and would take care of Chloe so I could catch a few hours of sleep.  He would only wake me up if she needed to eat, and if I was too tired he would feed her a bottle.  The first week or so home I felt fine.

Then I noticed I started to feel super clingy with Thomas.  If you know me... I am in no means whatsoever, clingy at. all.  In fact, I'm normally the opposite: Miss Independent who rather try do it on her own than ask for help.  So this came as a shock to me as well... and it actually took me some time to realize that I didn't want to be away from Thomas.  It's not that I was scared of being alone with Chloe, I knew that I was more than capable of taking care of her.  It was just so comforting to have my husband around.  I think at the time, I didn't want to admit that I was suffering from the baby blues.  Needless to say over the first few months... I had a few more mini breakdowns.  These breakdowns usually started off with me talking to Thomas about some random, normally minuscule issue that I, on a non-postpartum day, probably wouldn't have even been bothered with.  Then me breaking down into tears and confessing, "I don't know why I'm crying... I don't know why I'm so clingy..."  I don't think that I give Thomas enough credit for being so patient with me during my mood swings.  He would always goes on to explain that we are doing such a wonderful job with Chloe and he would always volunteer to do more and more for me.

After having Chloe, Thomas and I learned a lot about being able to rely on each other.  I used to try and do it all... but once you have a baby it becomes very apparent that no matter how much you try and plan ahead, as much as you may try and prepare yourself, there will be mishaps and you will make mistakes.  I learned that it was okay to admit that I was tired and that I needed a nap... that sometimes I don't have the answer and need to ask for help.  Most of all... I am learning that it is okay to make mistakes... and that what is more important was that we learned from them.  But we are learning and that's the beauty of it all... All three of us are new at this and we're going to teach each other so many things and we're all going to grow, both as a family and as individuals.  I cannot wait to see the beautiful journey that God has in store for my little family and me.

Simply Real: My Pregnancy & Labor/Delivery Story for Chloe

For the most part I had a really good pregnancy.  I was lucky enough to not have any morning sickness (a side from some queasiness if my stomach got too empty in the first trimester), no real aches or pains, no food aversions, and I wasn't too emotional (which I think Thomas was thankful for).  I knew that for the duration of my pregnancy I wanted to do as much as I could to stay healthy.  Thomas and I had already gotten into the habit of going for daily walks, nothing too hardcore just walking around the mall or neighborhood for an hour or two.  This new daily routine had actually helped me drop almost twenty pounds (I wasn't eating as much starches too... Thomas doesn't have the same love for Italian food as I do) and  I wanted to continue this healthy change into my pregnancy as well as after our baby was born.

When I found out I was pregnant one of the first questions I asked my doctor was "What is a healthy amount of weight that I should be gaining during my pregnancy?"  He said ideally for the height and weight I was at at that time... 20-25 lbs, 30 max.  But he said good luck with that.  I took that as a challenge.  Like I said we had gotten into the habit of going for daily walks and those walks continued on throughout my entire pregnancy all the way until the day Chloe was born.  I also worked until I was almost 8 months pregnant.  I worked as a supervisor in a restaurant which meant I was moving around quite a bit which also kept me active.  For the most part I ate pretty healthy.  One of my (healthier) cravings I had throughout my entire pregnancy were cold vermicelli noodles with pork, spring rolls, and lots of sriracha and garlic chili oil (yum)!  I also ate a lot of salads, fish, and chicken whenever I worked.  Some of my guilty pleasures were ice-cream (and a LOT of it), mexican food, and loco mocos (rice, my favorite was kim chee fried rice, topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and eggs, normally sunny side up but I like mine scrambled).  My eating and exercising habits remained pretty consistent all the way to the end of my pregnancy.

Some of the absolutely DELICIOUS food that I enjoyed eating while I was pregnant... 

My due date was August 28 and that day eventually came and went.  Over the span of two weeks I didn't dilate more than 1 centimeter.  I happened to have an appointment right on my due date so one of the topics discussed was the possibility of having to be induced.  At first I wasn't sure I wanted to go through with it, but after we thought it over we decided to schedule to be induced a week after our due date.  I had an appointment the day before I was scheduled to be induced and I decided to ask the doctor to try and jump start my labor by "stripping" my cervix (see the link to see what that means but due to the nature of the topic please be aware it may be TMI for some) since I still hadn't dilated that much and I wasn't feeling any contractions...  Our doctor's appointment was around 1:30 in the afternoon... by 4 pm I definitely could feel contractions starting, nothing too uncomfortable but definitely noticeable.  
Fast forward a few hours, Thomas and I arrived at the hospital around 2:00 in the morning.  I had dilated one more centimeter since I had left the doctor's office the night before (and I'd like to note that at my final weigh in before baby was born I had gained 30 pounds on the money!).  Up until this point I was doing pretty good with dealing with my contractions.  I had found a way to breathe and motivate myself through each contraction.  Around 7:00 am I noticed that my contractions seemed to be coming a lot more frequently (almost one on top of another) and they were also a lot stronger.  It became very hard for me to focus through them.  When the nurse had checked me I was still only 4 centimeters dilated... the same as I was five hours ago.  At this point I hadn't slept for almost 24 hours and it was becoming harder for me to focus through each contraction.  I made the decision that I would take the epidural even though I had originally set out on trying to have a natural birth.  I had changed my mind because if I still had 6 more centimeters more to dilate and then having to push after that... I knew I would be too tired.  After receiving my epidural I tried to sleep for the rest of the day.  Peanut (what we were calling baby since we weren't sure if we were having a boy or girl) wasn't responding too well to the pitocin.  Baby's heart rate dropped several times through out the day.  Eventually the decision was made to break my water bag, which later turned out to just stress baby out even more.  
Finally, around 4:30 in the afternoon my doctor decided that it was best for me and the baby to have a c-section.  Having a c-section definitely wasn't easy for me.  I wasn't emotionally prepared to be having major surgery performed on me.  All I cared about was making sure our baby was okay and after a few of those scares with baby's heart rate I knew that this was probably for the best.  Even though you are numbed, you still (in a weird sense) feel everything.  You don't feel pain necessarily, but instead pressure so intense that it was painful?  After they pulled baby out Thomas said, "It's a girl! She's beautiful!"  He went to go see our daughter and the anesthesiologist administered morphine to me while the doctors finished up... I totally knocked out after this.  
By the time we were settled into our room it was after 9:00 pm.  Luckily I got to see Mom and Uncle Paul briefly while in the recovery room and they had a quick chance to see Chloe getting cleaned up even though visiting hours had just ended.  By this point I hadn't had anything to eat for over 24 hours, on top of that I was pretty woozy from the morphine which totally made me nauseous.  I tried to drink the (very delicious) broth they had, but I couldn't keep it down.  Thank God, I was able to keep it together long enough to finally meet my baby girl.  It was so amazing to see how at peace she seemed with everything.  

It's funny because I did as much as I could to try and prepare myself for the day Chloe would be born.  I read so many different websites, books, I asked people for advice.  I honestly never would have thought that I would have ever given birth to my baby via c-section but in the end I have to say it was a good decision.  My doctor did say that there could be the possibility of delivering our next baby vaginally but that we could discuss it more when the time came.  All in all, my labor and delivery definitely wasn't what I expected but I wouldn't change any of it.  In the end we have our beautiful baby girl and Thomas has been the best dad and husband.  Stay tuned for my blog post about healing after a c-section.  Have an awesome week!

Today's Forecast: Hot, Humid, & Pregnant

Living in Hawai'i, we only really experience two seasons: summer and winter.  Sunny, high 80s summer.  Cool, rainy winters.  Since we're transitioning from winter to summer... our weather tends to be a bit "bi-polar".  A few days ago it was pouring rain, then it was HOT and gross.  Since baby is expected to be born in late August, a lot of people keep telling me "you poor thing... you have a summer pregnancy".  The first few months have been really nice, the weather was nice and breezy and cool.  This past week though... ugh... so. hot.  There was one day that I was just laying on the bed with all the windows open and I kept telling Thomas, "Babe... It's soo hot..."

Last night, was another one of those hot and humid times.  The southern part of Kaua'i was experiencing thunder storms and here on O'ahu you could just feel the moisture hanging in the air.  I woke up around 3 in the morning... I normally hug either my body pillow or T.  When I woke up, my body pillow was on the ground (I had kicked it off the bed sometime in the middle of the night) and I found myself avoiding T's touch.  Even though we had the windows open, there wasn't a single breeze to be felt.  I laid in bed for what felt like forever... I was so uncomfortable.  You see, I also have eczema... throughout this pregnancy I've been able to keep it under control, but pregnant or not, heat (especially humidity) really starts to make me itch.  I finally decided to sleep at the other end of the bed, with my head to T's feet and my feet to his head.  Luckily, (but not until after 4) was I finally able to doze back to sleep.  If this is what summer's going to feel like, we were really going to have to get a better fan or something.

So, this brings me to my question... for you ladies who have been pregnant during the summer... what did/do you use to escape the summer heat?

A hui hou!

Big Moment for Daddy-to-be

For the past week or so I've been trying to see if I could feel baby kick when I place my hand on my belly. Finally, yesterday afternoon it felt as though baby was finally strong enough to kick not just mommy, but any hand eagerly waiting on mommy's belly. I immediately texted Thomas telling him that he might finally be able to feel baby's little kicks and jabs.

When T finally got home from work we were both laying in bed relaxing and talking. He was on the laptop and I was crocheting. When I would feel baby move I would stop and lay still... When it seemed that baby was going to pretty active I grabbed T's hand and placed it on my belly. Sadly, baby stopped moving (just our luck). T seemed a bit sad but I told him he would just have to be patient. When I felt baby moving again I quickly grabbed T's hand, "Did you feel that?!" I asked.

"That was baby?! Not!..." I took my hand off of T's and instructed him to leave it there and to push a little. We laid there for another minute or so when I felt another jab. I quickly looked over at Thomas... The smile on his face was absolutely priceless.

"I felt it!" He quickly moved closer to me and hugged me.

This Wednesday we make 22 weeks... I'm so glad T was finally able to feel our baby move. The look on his face was exactly the same as the first time we heard our baby's heartbeat: pure love and joy. He's going to make such a great daddy...

A hui hou!

Time Is Flying By...

It's been a while since I've last posted anything on here... and boy has a lot happened!  My last post was back in 2011!  Now it's 2013...

Some very important things have changed in our lives... the biggest of which is that we were happily married on March 1 of this year!  Now, every girl has always had their perfect wedding planned out from when they were 9 years old... and I have to admit, I, too, had a fantasy wedding that I thought I would always want to have.  But honestly... we pulled together a beautiful, small, and intimate wedding that was just absolutely perfect.  Both of us have pretty big families (I have a lot of siblings, all of whom have children, one even a grandchild!) and T has a huge extended family.  Being that this wedding was planned in about a month (with a LOT of thanks to my mom, Thomas' brother, my siblings, my grandma...) , T and I decided to have a very small and intimate wedding with just our closest family and a handful of friends.  We got married at my high school chapel, St. Alban's in Honolulu.  It's a small, open chapel with koa furnishings. We had the wedding in the afternoon so there was a nice afternoon breeze blowing through.  We had no more than 50 guests and the ceremony only lasted maybe half an hour at most.  It was kind of surreal to be back at my high school some 5 years later, with my middle school sweetheart getting married.  A lot of people ask how it feels now to be married... and even though things do feel the same, I personally feel even more connected to Thomas.  I feel, now more than ever, that it is important for us to love and support one another unconditionally.  Not only for the sake of each other, but for our family as well.

Which brings me to our next bit of exciting news!  Thomas and I found out that we would be expecting our first baby back in January.  Our due date is August 28, putting me at about 21 weeks (just over 5 months).  So far, it's been a very nice pregnancy.  I don't get sick, only if my stomach gets to empty, then do I start to feel a bit queasy. I do get tired, but T is very nice to let me have my afternoon naps whenever, and for however long I want.  And I think for the most part I don't have too many mood swings, but you would have to ask T for his honest opinion on that.  I haven't gained too much weight so far, in fact, doctor said I could start gaining a little bit more weight.  Thomas and I try to go walking, especially on our days off, and working in a restaurant business keeps me up and moving for a good 10+ hours a day.  We've had three ultrasounds (one formal one, one quick one, and the first one at our first appointment) and so far everything looks great!  Thomas and I were really hoping to find out if we were going to have a little baby boy or girl, but each time baby is camera shy.  Looks like it'll just have to be a surprise!  I do feel baby moving every day... especially in the afternoon, although they aren't quite strong enough yet for T to feel.  I started feeling baby (at least knowing that what I was feeling was baby) a few weeks ago.  Everyone always asks me if I have any cravings, but honestly, Thomas is so good to me... anytime I feel like eating something in particular we go and eat it.  Although, I still really love my ice cream... and I'm definitely enjoying eating it multiple times a week.

That's pretty much where we're at right now!  So far 2013 has been off to a very interesting, exciting, and blessed new start!  Enjoy a few pictures from our wedding and our baby's first ultrasound!

A hui hou!