Carolina James' Sprinkle

Jeannie Hood, Kate Templin, and Caroline Sweetenburg hosted a beautiful "sprinkle" for Carolina James a few weeks before her due date.  After MMO drop off, everyone met at Donderos for brunch.  Guests were greeted to various pastries, hot coffee, and beautiful floral arrangements.  We had a fun morning chatting, opening gifts, and talking about our growing families.  These ladies are some of our greatest blessings here in Athens and have been so kind to welcome us with open arms.  

Left to Right: Bella, Caroline, Mama, Jessica, Kingsley, Rebecca, Tiffany and daughter Iris Abbott, Jeannie and son Harry Hood, Kate, Caroline and Reba's daughter Caroline.  

The girls spoiled us with sweet and cozy Kissy Kissy gowns and footies as well as several bows and gifts for our big girl.  Carolina James will be able to say that she had a few of her own things...not all hand-me-downs.  A special shout out to Caroline S. for being a wonderful photographer. :) 

34/35 Weeks with Carolina James

Bath time with Big Sissy is just about the only time that I have a second to snap a picture.  She was yelling, "Sissy!"

How Far Along? 35 weeks

Size? The "What to Expect" app says that she is about 5.5 lb and about 20 in long.  We are going to have a measurement sonogram next week and will know more accurate sizes then.  At the last measurement sonogram she was weighing in the 50%.

Maternity Clothes? Oh yeah. Thank you Lord for stretchy pants. 
Weight Gain?  At my 34 week appointment I weighed 142 lbs. 

Stretch Marks? Nope,  Burt's Bees Momma Tummy Lotion.  Buttered up just like a greased turkey.  I was really itchy though, which I know means that I am stretching.  

Gender? A sweet, precious, already so loved little sissy, Carolina James

Sleep?  Some nights I sleep like a log, others leave me waking up multiple times and not being able to get comfortable.  CJ is transverse, meaning that she is laying sideways, and I think that has something to do with the fact that I can't get comfortable on my sides.  Just like I remember with SG, when I wake up CJ is having a dance party. 

Movement?  ALL the time. 

Food Cravings? Any and all things sweet!  Thank goodness for Halloween :)

Anything making you queasy or sick? nope

Labor signs? No! 

Belly button in or out?  Herb has been out and proud for awhile now.  He's getting pretty flat actually.  I think that SG may actually thing that my belly button IS her baby sissy.  Sometimes she pokes my BB and says, "Sissy?"

Wedding rings, on or off? On and fitting well.

What I Miss? nothing

Symptoms? Just tired and a little cramping here and there.  I never had BH with SG and am not sure what they really feel like, BUT whenever I do feel something that may feel like BH drinking water usually helps.  

Happy or Moody?  Oh so happy.  I have been checking things off my "To-Do" List and feel great about our progress towards being "ready" for our sweet baby sissy.  I also think that motherhood simply makes your grateful.  I can remember the first days, weeks, and months after SG was born being some of the happiest times as I watched Kyle become a Daddy and was able to reflect on changes within myself as well.  Now, I dream of watching SG becoming a big sister and how Carolina James will complement our family.  I cannot wait to see what she looks like and to watch her personality develop.    

Dr. Visit Update:  I was still measuring 2 weeks behind at my last appointment but the nurse and I decided that it was probably due to the remnants of my pre-babies six-pack. HA!  The midwife also said that because CJ is transverse she could also be measuring small based on MY measurements.  I just think my babies liked to roll up like rolly-pollys.  Hopefully CJ will be a good snuggler too.   

Best Moment of the Week/Month: Continuing to finalize things in CJs room, including her hospital door hanger.  ALSO I have nearly finished all of my Christmas shopping as well as planning and organizing activities/happies for our Advent Calendar. Check, check, check.  

32 Weeks with Carolina James

How Far Along? 32 Weeks  (I think 2-3 of the past bump-dates are in the same outfit...Baby #2, folks, there ya go.)

Size? Carolina James is about 4 lb 7 oz according to the growth sono we got this week.

Maternity Clothes? Oh yeah. Thank you Lord for stretchy pants. 
Weight Gain?  At my 32 week appointment I weighed 140.5 lbs.  I think I've gained about 20 pounds and I feel great.

Stretch Marks? Nope,  Burt's Bees Momma Tummy Lotion.  Buttered up just like a greased turkey.  

Gender? A sweet, precious, already so loved little sissy, Carolina James

Sleep?  SO much better.  Hooray for some solid nights of sleep.

Movement?  ALL the time. During the sono her head was on my left side and her feet were on my right.  Sometimes it feels like she is actually jumping!  

Food Cravings? I haven't been super hungry these days but can always work up an appetite for anything sweet including, but not limited to, S'more poptarts, ADD Drugs milkshakes, and those darn peanut M&M that someone keeps putting in my grocery cart.  Big Sissy had a good time drinking her milkshake and sitting at the counter at ADD Drugs.  What a fun place this will be for y'all to go after school to enjoy a sweet treat.  I am sure you'll be an ice cream lover like your MaMa and big Sissy.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope

Labor signs? No! 

Belly button in or out?  Herb has been out and proud for awhile now.  He's getting pretty flat actually.  

Wedding rings, on or off? On and fitting well.

What I Miss? Nothing.  

Symptoms? Luckily, nothing.  I did pilaties and used the leaf blower to blow the drive and porch on Friday so by the end of the day, I was worn out.  Just needed a good rest and was fine though.

Happy or Moody? Happy.  Oh so happy.  We had a fun weekend with Dada and are getting ready for a fun visit with SuSu, MA and Wilkes this week/weekend.  We have a few cMj monogrammed items coming with Aunt MA too.  I am excited to show them the almost finished nursery and to do any finishing touches with them here.    

Dr. Visit Update: 
I went in today with Big Sissy to check you out and you were just perfect.  SG enjoyed hearing your heartbeat and seeing you on the sonogram screen.  She sat in my lap and grinned hear to hear as we talked about Baby Sissy in Mama's tummy.  I was measuring 2 weeks behind so they ordered a sonogram.  Brianna said that you were looking great and while you are measuring about 5 days late, your weight is in the 47% which is wonderful.  You and your sister are just little peanuts.  Suzanna Grace collected toys to "show you" and read you a few books.  She also took detailed notes so that she could tell DaDa all about our visit with the doctor. 

Best Moment of the Week/Month: Last week Caroline Sweetenburg came over to do my maternity photo shoot.  She is going to be doing a sketch of me for Carolina James' room and I am so so excited.  Carolina James, Mama LOVES being pregnant and thinks that it is the most beautiful time of a woman's life.  The fact that my body can grow you and then nourish you for months to come is nothing short of a miracle.  Thank you Lord for the miracle of babies and for how you created our bodies to grow and support them. I hope that as you get older and especially when you become a Mama yourself that you are able to truly appreciate the art that Caroline creates of us.  I am so excited about this treasure.  

18 Months with Suzanna Grace

Age: 18 Months

Weight: 20.6 lb

Height:

Diaper Size: Size 4 (we JUST moved up and they are a little big)

Clothes Size: You wore 3-6M bubbles all summer and now you are still wearing some 9M long bubbles and dresses from last fall.  You also wear 12-18M clothes.  It all depends on the 

Shoe Size: Angels = 2 and all others are a 4

Schedule:

6:30-7ish: Wake up and snuggle in bed with Dada and Mama until 7ish

7:00- breakfast with Dada

8:30: Leave for MMO or the Y for Mama to workout

T/TH/F 10:30- Gymnastics, Music Class, Fantastic Friday, or playdate at the park 

12:00- Home for lunch

12:30-1: Nap time

2:30/3: Wake up and snack

Play

5:30/6:00- Supper and bath time

7/7:30: Bedtime

Fun Facts and Milestones:

Suzanna Grace is talking up a storm.  She tries to copy the words that we say and usually does a pretty good job. She can consistently say: Dada, Mama, bow, Su, ball, poo poo, baby, sissy, pop pop, up, no no, ya, pat pat, hi, bye bye, nite-nite, and probably many more that are just slipping my mind right now.  She is getting a mouth full of teeth including her back molars.  She has a head full of long blonde hair that curls at the ends.  Her big bows are her signature look and when it's missing (including at bedtime), she taps her head and says, "Bow?" Suzanna Grace can tell you where baby Sissy is, pulls up Mama's shirt, and kisses her saying, "baby. sissy."  Sometimes she pulls up Dada's shirt or her own and does the same thing. We have a busy schedule and like to be on the go.  SG waves at everyone she sees and greets them with a "Hi" or "bye-bye."  If someone does not respond to her, she tries again.  She's a born politician. SG is learning personal boundaries and have to share.  Sometimes when a friend is going after something that she wants she will say, "no,no" and every once in a while she will grab them or pull hair.  When we tell her to be "sweet" instead she gives a hug or rubs their head.    

September 2015

Oh what a fun month!  Every morning you wake up and yell, "Dada...BOW?"  You and DaDa have breakfast together and he shares his eggs with you.  You LOVE breakfast and could eat 1-2 eggs, a waffle, fruit, and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter on most mornings.  You are super helpful too and many afternoons you rearrange the liquor cabinet and choose which bottle you think Dada would like to sample.  

 We celebrated Mr. Harrison Hood's 30th birthday with a "surprise" party at the Sweetenburgs.  Kingsley made y'all some mac and cheese and the three of you sat together like big kids to eat supper.  We stayed for awhile and when the babies got tired, the Mommas offered pacis and stuffed animals and tucked the babies in all together.  Of course, Suzanna Grace gave special attention to her favorite, Harry Hood.

 Dada either comes home or, on special occasions, meets us out for lunch a few days a week.  On this day, Dada had to rush back to the office but SG and I stayed to enjoy a cookie.  What a silly goose and sweet lover like her momma!

This month SG turned forward in her carseat.  We had her in the back while the Butala's were here and just left her back there since she may actually still be a smudge too small to be forward....

Hooray for ponytails...except that she now looks like she's five.

SuSu bought Carolina James her FIRST monogrammed gown and we LOVE it.  Nothing is official until you have a monogram.

SG got a UGA cheerleading outfit for the tailgates that she'll be attending and she tried it out for gymnastics one day. Go dawgs!  (I do not actually know what the UGA cheer is...yet.)

Who LOVES a selfie...Suzanna Grace!!!  At the first of the month her MMO class learned about farm animals so of course she had to wear all of her "farm" themed smocked outfits.  Here she is showing off her teeth and tongue before school.  Bless her sweet bones.  She also loves to give Baby Sissy sweet kisses.

Who can resist a fall cape?  Not Mama and SG that's for sure.

Suzanna Grace is continuing to LOVE music class with Ms. Cathy.  She knows the motions and what to do for most of the songs.

The weather has been nice so we spend a lot of time outside coloring with chalk and playing with all of our rolling toys.

 I finally found gymnastics/dance clothes to fit SG and I am obsessed!  Leg warmers and a leotard?  Yes, please.  SG is so strong and loves going to gym each week (may times we go twice.)  She is learning to do all of the tasks at each station and especially loves anything where she gets to hang and swing.

 SG liked picking off all of the mum buds and smelling them.  She was a little confused when they didn't stick back on to the stem.

 We had a few playdates with her friend Seinna too.  Her mother and I take turns having "free time" while the other watches the girls.

 DadaB and Susu came to visit us this month and helped work on Carolina James' nursery.  We didn't JUST work and enjoyed some playtime too.  SuSu and SG continued their campaign for Mayor of Athens as we greeted everyone we met.

Suzanna Grace got some practice being a big sister with her new babydoll that Susu brought her.  She LOVES her cabbage patch doll and takes good care of her.  When baby doesn't want her paci, SG gladly takes it.  She changed her clothes several times and put her to sleep in the kitchen sick. 

 Only your Susu will let you cover your blocks in Chik-fil-A sauce...

 Suzanna Grace helped Mama fit some times in baby Sissy's room and even let her have two of her crib bows.

 We have two college guys who do our yard work and SG loves to watch them.  They are so sweet to her and show her their tools when they come to work.

 Suzanna Grace has really taken an interest in art these days and LOVES to draw.  She made quite the masterpieces to hang in baby Sissy's room and even made some cards to send to family.  We are working on coloring ON THE PAPER and not all over the floors, walls, furniture, and ourselves...working on it.

 

 Suzanna Grace's MMO program hosted a Memories with Mom party and I got to see SG in her element.  She stuffed 3-4 donuts in her mouth and showed me around her room.  We made a beautiful little craft and she played with her friends.  One of the little boy's mothers told me that he comes home each day talking about Suzanna Grace's bows.  HAHA!

 Delta Gamme sponsored "Do Good" week and I helped organize a collaboration between the UGA DGs and Downtown Academy (where I have been volunteering once a week.)  Suzanna Grace got to go too and she enjoyed coloring little things that students could use to cover one eye during their eye exam.  Jeannie Hood and I toured the DG house and joined the Alum group too.

 We continue to enjoy Fantastic Fridays with our friends.  SG gets to practice all of her skills from gymnastics class and has races with Harry on the trampoline. 

We had a lot of fun tailgating and cheering on our favorite sports teams this month too.  Everyone things that SG and Harry Hood are Ole Miss twins.