Way Back

So we are going to go on a little journey back in time... Back to the photos on my SD card I never uploaded...

First I wanted to post a few pictures from the wedding that we attended in October for Christine. She is a good friend of mine from gradeschool and we were SO honored to be able to share in this amazing day with her. She looked so happy and beautiful, I cried. I tried to keep it together but I was crying my little eyes out.

Then I found a cute picture of Addie and a picture from the Stetson Baby Shower. Aww. Our babies will be about 4 months apart. Love that!

I am going to post Thanksgiving pictures too but I think I may start a new post SO one moment.

How does this compare..

Well, I get this question a lot and its the start of many comparisons I can foresee. People ask me all the time how this pregnancy compares to the last, well my first reaction is the speed. Time is flying! Its hard for me to really compare the two because I wasn't a parent then, I didn't have to be secondary to a person who needs me all the time. Don't get me wrong, hubs will attest if I can use my pregnancy to get something i.e. a fruit bar last night, I will. But mainly its business as usual and oh by the way your having a new baby in a few months. I have two more monthly visits before I start bi-weekly, yea you read that right. Wow.

I was thinking of some differences last night as hubs and I were talking about baby/pregnancy. I do not crave milk nearly as badly as I did with Addie. I have told this story before but one time we were walking back from Wegmans with the milk and I opened it waiting for the street light to change because I couldn't wait to additional 5 minutes to get that delicious milk. This time around I drink milk a few times a week, not a few times a day. I also don't seem to be as exhausted but that may be just because I know I have to push myself and I have no choice. Also my 'girls' are freaking sore. Everyone kept telling me with Addie that my boobies would get so big and hurt but nothing, they didn't change at all but this time around. Don't even hug me! Crazy huh!

I have my glucose test next appointment, the first week in January so lets all say a small prayer I don't have GD. I know its all up to my body now but please no. It wasn't super horrible I just don't want to have to prick my finger a thousand times again. Was so over it!

But, I am not stressed over it. Really I don't stress over much these days, again going back to the peaceful thing. It really is so nice. If I have diabetes I have it, not much I can do about it.

I have so many fun pictures to post, Thanksgiving! Addie's birthday and her friends party this weekend and last night we went to see Santa. I am still giggling inside -- check instagram to see the peek from that event!

Today is Friday and I am currently 21 weeks 3 days with our new baby. Wahoo!

Peace and Love

I have had an interesting last few months in my life and I think I started to figure it all out yesterday. Now for those of you that know me, I am drama-free and truly believe life is precious and beautiful. But I have never had a sense of peace like I have found more recently.

Its hard for me to explain but as I sat in the ultrasound room yesterday, nervously waiting to see the baby and make sure everything was okay, baby popped on the screen and I had this wave of peacefulness. We were looking at a very healthy baby growing inside of me, while Addison was not interested and my husband, my absolute best friend was there experiencing this with me. I had no interest in finding out the gender and it did not even cross my mind as I am staring at this little body wiggling around. I was more amazed that I am making bones and a strong heart, again. In the rush of the day it was a moment that struck me like no other has.

Along with this peace I have also been light. Not allowing things to burden me and I can see the effects. I have amazing people in my life, and I am meeting amazing people. For instance I had a cleaning lady help with Addisons christening and I have not used her since. I made sure to save her number and called her 3 weeks ago, she remembered me and my family. We got to talking when she came over and was let go of her job recently so we were talking about that, she is a single mom of two beautiful kids. When she left I broke down, all I could think about was how her helping me was me helping her. The little money I was paying her was such a big help to me and I kept thinking that I was helping her to buy Christmas presents for her kids.

Last night I went to a nail salon with a groupon I purchased and met a woman who came from California a year ago after a failed marriage and needing to start over. Our conversation was wonderful and we are very like-minded. She even said back to me some of the comments I make to family and friends about life and time. It was so nice, I wanted to hug her afterwards. Again here I was, her helping me primp for Addie's party and I am supporting her business.

I may lose some of you here but I just feel like I want to write this... As I have been working towards this peaceful feeling and being pregnant I have opened myself up and started noticing these occurrences. I very much believe that I have a whole boat load of angels or spirits who watch over me and help me. I have felt this way for a while now. I am sure I gained angels since my birth but my first experience was when a family friends father passed away. He is and has been my guardian angel when I drive. In my Saturn I used to feel this breeze of air on my left side as if someone was breathing on me. It would come and go and I wouldn't have done anything, door and window closed. Since then I talk to him occasionally and thank him for keeping me safe.

Since being pregnant and having two miscarriages I very much feel that my babies spirits are kept safe and have met my angels. Its a comforting fact and freaks people out. I have noticed regularly for the last few months the time of my birth, everywhere. The numbers 9,4,1 show up daily if not for multiple times. I think my angels are reassuring me I am okay and so is my baby.

So there out in the www is my little life experience of growth and peace. I am so thankful that I have this now and that I can build my family on this feeling because it really is amazing. We will have our struggles and hardships but that's what builds us.

Random recap of the last few weeks

I know I am behind, I was hoping to write some when we went to Maine but never did. Its hard when the comfy couch and a thousand family members and talking and calling you over. As it has been every year it was a phenomenal time to see my family. Unfortunately we only see everyone once or twice a year so Thanksgiving is our "family reunion" of sorts and we do it right. Its a multiple day event of eating and laughing and talking and shopping. Pretty perfect. I have tons of pictures but I have yet to upload them!

As soon as we got home we went into party mode because ADDISON IS TURNING TWO! I am so excited for her and her party. She is getting excited too which makes it even better! Sunday was putting fall stuff away and bringing out Christmas. Monday the Christmas Tree was delivered so we ended up starting to decorate that and get that all situated. Tonight hubs has something special planned for his ladies, I am not quite sure what but I was told to dress up and that we have to be out of the house by 5. Hmm!

We have officially hit 20 weeks, wow. Its a shocker to everyone around me that we are halfway thru and it shocks me too. How can this be?! We get to see baby tomorrow morning at our 20 week ultrasound. I am very excited, I have been feeling the baby move around some and it will be reassuring to know everything is okay.

This weekend my parents come into town to celebrate Addie and her happy cake. She keeps talking about blowing out the candles and her cupcakes. Adorable. As I know I have said before, I am just so thankful to be celebrating her, my life has changed in so many ways because of her. We are so blessed.

For now I have to work and rush home for some surprises :) Crossing my fingers this day flies by.

Week 17

Tomorrow marks my week 18 and for some reason that really makes it seem like I am so legit preggo. Almost halfway. Fo real.

So last week in review Veterans day, our first snow, putting the summer away and Matts 30th birthday party.

Another packed week, I cannot keep my finger on it. And whoever decided 48 hours was enough of a break from work to get stuff done is on crack. Kinda like the Toronto mayor, if you haven't seen his embarrassing comments to reporters go check it out. It is unlike anything I have seen, amazing he got where he is. But I digress. Weekends are NOT long enough. Where is the time to relax?

Saturday we worked on the outside, getting everything put away for the winter. EVERYTHING - it seems like we have so much stuff. Well with Addie being more active this past summer we have amassed quite the collection of kids toys. We also love love love having an outdoor space. We put the deck on after we moved in and love every bit about it. I also worked more on the patio area we have, I bought a few chairs from the Home Depot this past year and made it all pretty. I also bought Dan a hammock for fathers day so we have a lot of stuff. Each year we get a little more and a little more. What a pain it will be to move all this stuff someday.

Then yesterday we went to Dave and Busters in Syracuse for Matts 30th birthday party. It was a really nice time. I would have turned down the volume on the place a bit but it was fun to play games and hang out with friends. Addie stayed with Jaime and played with her cousins. It was a long day for all of us but so fun.

Now Monday.

Boo.

Also in this week we had our first snow, enough to cover the ground in white. Addison was amazed. It makes me appreciate it more seeing it thru her eyes. Don't get me wrong, I think its beautiful and so calm but going out in it. No thanks, plus a kid. I will stay home by the fire cuddling.

I am however looking forward to Thanksgiving. We are headed up to Maine to hang with the family for a few days.

and **CHOKE** just checking my email to see this...

Your 23-month-old: Week 2

Excuse me. I will have a two year old in two weeks. AWW BABY where has the time gone. I love that little girl with every bit of me, and now that I am pregnant and needy for affection I love on her even more. We have joked about her being 2 for so long (she looks like a 3 year old and wears clothes to fit a 3 year old) but its going to actually be real. I remember the day, the anxious feeling that our lives were about to change. It feels like a few weeks ago.

Gah, well I will hold the tears and sappy post for two more weeks.

For now I take on the rest of the day, finish working, grab Addie, pharmacy, dinner, maybe upload the pics from my phone to put on this here post, then pass out. Onto another day...

Addison is 23 months and 2 weeks. That still sounds old.

Week 16

** And here I am posting this a week later and I never went back in to touch this, I don't remember what I did or what I wrote but I have another week to write about. Sheesh. Publishing...

As usual its Sunday and another week has gone by. But I am starting this at 9:30 so I doubt I will finish it tonight. Addie went down for a late nap which meant she wasn't ready to go down until almost 9. Its so hard when her nap gets messed up because everything else in the day gets all upside-down.

I did not meal plan at all, yet, I guess. We will need to eat this week, but there are a lot of leftovers so this week may just be an eat what we have week.

My house is a disaster, we put Halloween away this weekend and put out the thanksgiving stuff. That consists of decorating the mantle and adding the gel window decorations. BAM. Thanksgiving. I feel like its such a small window of time and at this point in the year because of work and the holidays, I blink and its a new year. But I did put the effort in and now everytime I look out my glass doors it reminds me to 'Give Thanks'. A nice thing to be reminded of this time of year.

Along with Thanksgiving and Christmas my little angel has a birthday! She is turning 2 and although I know it and believe it, this still blows my mind. She has been acting like a two year old for months but when I think about the fact that it was TWO WHOLE YEARS AGO... wha wha wha what!?!

For her Happy Cake a.k.a. Birthday we are having it at our house and it will be small-ish. Now last year we had a big blow out which was great and this year we wanted to invite close friends and family and that turned out to be 60 people. Also made me say wow, as sometimes it seems like we don't have many and then you add them up and it turns out to be, well, alot. Needless to say we are holding a family and friends party separately. I have started to plan it and she is really excited which makes me even more excited. I should have it all dont by around thanksgiving time and I have a few time-saver tips I am employing this year. Thank you so much for cleaning staff! I am bringing some tasks to Maine with me to get done during the time off of work plus there will be extra hands to help :)

My parents are coming up the day before to help too which is awesome. All in all I am just so excited to celebrate my baby girl. I understand how precious life is and how every day, every second and every year is a precious moment I love celebrating her. I love putting the time and effort into giving to her as much as I can. As a girl growing up, I loved my birthday, I love the feeling of being special for a day and of course getting some new items but it wasn't until giving birth that I really appreciated the birthday. It was a day that changed my life and for that I will move mountains to celebrate her.

If you follow our Instagram @KeifferFamily, you saw that we implemented a chore chart this week and little miss loves it. Its the things that she has been doing already but now its front and center and a starting point for more chores to come!! WOO!

Oh yea and theres a new baby on the way - right. I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday, nothing major the usual blood pressure, how ya feeling and doppler to hear the heartbeat. Swoon. I recorded it as I knew it was a quick in and out and the family would want to hear it too. Blood pressure was great as always and I really do feel great so those were all good. The doctor was able to find the heartbeat right away and as usual its music to my ears. And my belly has for sure popped out, I think the baby had a growth spurt because a few days ago everything just felt so heavy.

Week 15

I did just have to open my posts to see what week I am on. I feel that behind. Or its just that I rely on my phone to tell me what week it is. This week was a busy one as they always seem to be.

Today I am making the Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup, I have the pots out and the ingredients from last week are defrosted and ready to go in. We will head to Wegmans in a bit to pick up some rolls and we will make Turkey Panini's to go with it. Exciting! Addie is napping and I managed to snag another birthday/christmas gift. I only Slash them because I am not sure how I am dividing these gifts out yet, but I am preparing.

And for those who don't know, I have become quite the fire maker so thats on my list of chores in a few too. We straightened downstairs this morning and cleaned Addies room. Currently Daniel is working on a blanket, yes he sews and its awesome. Someday I will get there, but for now thats his arena. Then theres laundry and mean prep still to get done. I may post this and fix later or just write another meal post so I keep myself accountable. But I do have to say the soup is smelling SO good. I am making the stock for it and if the smell is an indication I can't wait.

This week was also Halloween! Addie was SO excited and she was going to dress up as Minnie Mouse. ADORABLE she was! She was excited to dress up, but more excited to get lollipops. While we were putting the finishing touches on our spooky front yard the neighbor told us to come over and be her first trick or treater and she had lollipops. Addie just kept taking them and the woman was so nice and kept giving them to her. Not quite what we needed but it was Halloween. Nonetheless Addie was so excited to see the kids, to get the candy and to be Minnie. She ripped the wrapper off a blue dum dum and went to town! I also fished out the maternity shirt I wore with Addie and was thrilled to be wearing it again.
 

 As Addie is only almost 2 and doesn't care much about candy now I don't have to worry about the whinning and candy coma she may put herself in. But in a few short years I will have to figure something out, I came across the Switch Witch. If you have never heard of it, its the Tooth Fairys Cousin and she comes the night of Halloween to collect candy and leaves a toy in exchange. There is a debate about this but as I am the mom and I make the rules (I spoke with the other adult in the house and we) think this is a great idea! Plus the more candy you get the happy the witch is! So all in all, you are moving your booty to get the goods and not eating pounds of candy.

Now I just need to make sure it really gets out of house, with the exception of a reeces or two, because Mom and Dad don't need it either!



 Friday night I went to a fundraiser for my dear friends nephew who passed away due to cancer. He was a sweet little boy and I am so happy that I get to be there to show my support and love for their family. Mama needed a little getaway time so I took a nice long shower and got myself all primped and ready to go. I rocked the bump for the first time this pregnancy. Not that I have been hiding it I just haven't let it all hang out! Being pregnant I feel so pretty and it was nice to get dolled up and strut! Addie has never seen these boots and being a shoe girl herself she loved them so much she tried to get in them with me. Then she tried to get her little kangaroo doll in them too. So funny that one.

This week dinner will be:
Monday: Trader Joes Ravioli - Goat Cheese and Sun Dried Tomatoes for me! And beef bolognase for the man. I am sure Addie will have both.
Tuesday: Tuna Noodle, we didn't have it last week
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes
Thursday: I am debating making the Jennie O turkey I have and making a faux thanksgiving meal. We will see.


Daddy also spoiled his ladies and bought us both some flowers. He knows the way to his ladies hearts! Spoil us rotten Daddy!

So BUSY week per usual. Next week we are watching the Bunce kids and I am pretty sure I have a baby shower.