Elle at two weeks

You guys, it's one of those days.  One of those days that really makes me question how exactly I am going to get through till happy hour the dad gets home bedtime.

Eleanor Elizabeth, a Birth Story

Check. Her. Out! No really check out her hands.

You know how when you do something once, and it was a great experience, you assume you're good at said thing and that the next time you will do it it will be a similar experience?  That was me, regarding giving birth to a baby.  Here's the thing.  Pregnancies, births, babies -- they all different, mama.  They all different.

Life 2.0

I'm sitting in my birthing suite ruminating on the events of the last 48 hours, trying to think of something I can compare this experience to, to make it more relatable, but I'm coming up short.  Giving birth is a stand alone experience, as is everything that follows. This room, this hospital, it's so isolated from the rest of the world.  It literally just dawned on me I can turn on music.  It's a little daunting, thinking about joining reality...even though I'm going slightly stir crazy cooped up in this little room.  I know this part of the journey is just about over, and it's going to be in stark contrast to the next chapter, so I'm trying to enjoy it...but it's still. so. strange.                    

Grace's Big Girl Room

Today I want to share Grace's new big girl room with you, but in order to fully appreciate just how cute it is, take a look at this:

It's the Final Countdown

I have 17 days left.  I'm mostly excited, with a side of nervous anxiety.  And what do we do when we have anxiety?  We shop! What do we do when we have anxiety and Mimi offers to babysit?  We shop in Chicago!

When I was pregnant with Grace we were able to splurge (thanks Papa Giant!) on a once in a lifetime baby moon in Hawaii.

This is what 2 1/4 looks like

Looks like trouble, eh?  I love it.

If you're just meeting Grace, don't worry, she'll charm you with her natural sweetness.   If you're tight with her...she might push your buttons, just a little, just to see what will happen.  After all, she's 2!

Should vs Is

Right now Grace is watching Dora, drinking orange juice, and eating cheez-its.
She should be writing her ABC's, drinking a kale smoothie, and asking for, I dunno, broccoli.

Right now I'm camped out in front of my laptop writing this and shopping on Etsy, when I should be organizing the endless stream of toys that leads from room to room, or folding laundry or unloading and reloading my dishwasher. I should start dinner.  I should probably find some sort of prenatal work out dvd to do!  I should read at least one important novel before the baby arrives.  I should probably do some volunteer work.  I should find a dog training system that will keep Georgia from peeing on the carpet ONCE AND FOR ALL.  Should. I really should.