Christmas with family

We had a wonderful Christmas with my family. They all drove to Houston and spent the holiday at our house. It was a great time. Isabella loved playing with her cousins and my dad and sister Michelle got to meet Sophia for the first time. Dave was not prepared to be woken at 5 am on Christmas day, but he managed to get over the early hour. As always, we were truly blessed...my parents were extremely generous. Isabella scored with a baby grand piano and lemonade stand.

Sophia Elise....newborns aren't supposed to have colds...

Well the inevitable happened....Sophia got Isabella's cold. She has been pretty miserable over the last few days, but seems to be on the upturn. I thought she had pink eye and took her to the doctor. Thankfully, it was just a clogged tear duct. Because she is a newborn, we can't give her any medicine. The good news is she is eating great (weighs 7 lbs 4 oz) and has not had a fever. She is still a wonderful baby and sleeps most of the day away. Since she has been sick, she prefers to be held most of the day!!!

Christmas is near

Only a few more days until Christmas. My family (mom, dad, Michelle, her kids, boyfriend, Christa, Brad, and her kids) are all staying at our house. The tree is decorated, we have Christmas lights outside...I am really excited! I think we are going to go to Christmas mass on Christmas eve and then come back to our house to make pizzas and drink wine. Isabella got sick after I took her to daycare last week. I really hope she gets better and that she does not get Sophia sick. Sophia is suck a blessing and wonderful addition to our family. She is the best baby ever. She sleeps most of the day and rarely cries. Isabella has really taken to her. She rubs her little head.

Isabella is super excited about Christmas. Every time I say the name Santa Clause or she sees him on tv she says "ho ho ho...merry Christmas"...it is sooo cute. I am pretty much finished with my Christmas shopping. What an endeavor!!!! We are so truly blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has been a wonderful year!

Isabella 16 months

It has been awhile since I have updated everything Isabella is doing. She is such a sweet girl. The daycare keeps saying they want her to be at school instead of me keeping her at home...they miss her:)

She:
- talks a lot....puts words together
- still calls milk "coke"...I think it is because she can't pronounce the "mil"
- does the sign language for milk when she wants it
- says "all gone"
- throws her own diapers away in the trash (along with other things we don't want thrown away :)"
- brings us Sophia's diaper, paci
- loves chocolate and ice cream
- loves dancing, "shaking her booty", singing along with songs
- is still a pretty picky eater
- likes bagels, pancakes, and white milk
- started eating gummy vitamins
- likes to sleep in...will sleep until 8 or 9 if we let her....but always is happy when she has had enough sleep
- loves for us to read books to her
- loves being a big sister
- loves her blankies

Expanded family

Wow...I have been very lazy about blogging lately....mainly because I like putting pictures up every time I blog and sometimes it is a pain. Lots has happened since the last post. The most important event by far is the expansion of our family. Sophia Elise Wilcox came into this world Wednesday, December 9th at 4:32 pm. She weighed 6 lbs, 2.7 oz and was 18 inches long. They told us 19 inches, but today at the dr it was only 18! Her due date was December 15th, but I was THRILLED when Dr. Ronen said he would induce me in the new Herman Memorial City Hospital. We were there day 3 of the opening (they moved to a new building). We arrived at 5:30 in the morning, very excited! Dave's parents were at our house with Isabella and my mom was at Christa's house. They started giving me pitocin around 8 am. I progressed pretty well, held out as long as I could before needing the epidural. Once I had the epidural, I felt no pain. I was dilated around 7 cm and they said it would probably be a few more hours. Christa left the hospital to go get Will and Paige thinking she had time. We were just chatting with the nurse when she said, let me check you...All of a sudden she was saying "oh, you are ready right now...call the dr)...a few minutes later, 3 pushes later, Sophia was born. It was the easiest delivery ever!!! So different from my experience with little Isabella. I was able to check out of the hospital exactly 24 hrs after Sophia was born. My doctor said I could stay longer, but I was ready to leave!!!

Sophia is such a good baby. She sleeps most of the time. We took her to the doctor today because she seemed yellow and found out she has a mild case of jaundice. The doctor said it should go away on its own. Dave, Isabella, and I have been adjusting quite nicely to the expanded family. Isabella has only had a few moments of insecurity. Otherwise she is a great big sister!!!!

I started my maternity leave the day before Sophia was born and plan on going back to work January 25th. I can already tell having an extra child is going to be a lot of work, but in a good way. The house seems to get messier faster, but that is manageable. I have been very grateful to have Dave with me for the past Wed- Monday. He goes back to work for the rest of the week and then will take off Friday. We have Dave's office party tomorrow and are very grateful that Christa and Brad have kindly offered to babysit the kids:)

Isabella throw tantrums???

Funny story. Yesterday I needed Dave to drop off Isabella at daycare because I had a 7:15 am dentist appointment and then a social studies conference. (my Mexican bridge fell out of my mouth when I tried to eat a tootsie roll....bad idea!). Anyway, later I asked him how it went when he dropper her off. He said everything was fine until they walked into her classroom. Then he noticed that she was laying on the floor. He assumed that she had accidentally fallen so I gently picked her up and placed her back on her feet. Two seconds later she was once again sprawled out on the floor.....Welcome to my world daddy!!!!! She does this almost every day when I drop her off, but her teachers say she is fine 2 seconds after I leave. I just thought this was funny because I have told Dave a million times about these "tantrums".

I have a doctor's appointment today after school. I am at the going every week stage. I am extremely tired. It is hard to even get up!!! I am still waking up at 2 or 3 am every day and am not able to go back to sleep. I only have today and tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday of next week before Thanksgiving. I wonder if I will be back at work after the holiday. I am going to get everything ready for the rest of the semester in case I just can't make it back after Thanksgiving. I am lucky to have a great long term sub lined up!!!

Tomorrow we are driving to Louisiana to visit my parents. It is Morgan's 15th birthday (can not believe he is that old!!!). We might try and do a little Christmas shopping while we are there.

Getting Close

Things have been busy around here. I went to the dr on Thursday and he said if it appears I am ready at 38 weeks he will induce....that was music to my ears! Sophia has dropped really low and it is pretty painful for me to walk a lot or stand for long periods of time. Friday we went and had dinner with Christa, Brad, Diana, and her boyfriend Carlos. It was fun, but we got home around 7:45! We are early birds! Saturday our cleaning lady came so we tried to make ourselves scarce by going to Target. We took holiday pictures in the afternoon. I can't wait to see how they turned out. We relaxed the rest of the day and then went and tried a Mexican Restaurant by our house called Cafe Des Solis. I didn't think it was that good. Today we woke up, I cleaned out the guest room closet while Dave cleaned out the pantry. He is on his way to pick up the Christmas tree my parents gave us from Christa's house. I am watching the Saints, will work on lesson plans, and then we will decorate the tree. I know it is early, but we are going to Louisiana next weekend, then Austin for Thanksgiving, and then might be having a baby right after. This seemed like a good time! I have to get my lessons ready since I probably will not be making it until the the holiday break. I am just so tired. I can go for a little while, then I am just winded and tired. I feel like I am at the end of the tunnel. I teach Monday and Tuesday, have a social studies conference on Wednesday, teach Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday and then have Thanksgiving. If I go back to work after Thanksgiving, it probably won't be for more than a few days!!!!!

Dave and I have really not done so much to get ready for little Sophia. I bought a few new born outfits and bought a sling for me to carry her in. We pretty much are set!!!! Isabella has been really cute lately. I bought her a seat to go on top of the toilet so she can start getting used to the idea of potty training. Yesterday she took it off and was running around the house holding it....Dave was SOOO GROSSED OUT!!! I thought it was so funny. He wants the daycare people to potty train her....I told him we were the parents so we have to try as well:)

15 month dr. appointment

I brought Isabella to her pediatrician so that she could get the first of the 2 H1N1 shots. While she was there, they went ahead and did her 15 month check up. Of course I forgot her diaper bag in my car and she went poopoo right when we got there. They were nice enough to give me one. She got a total of 3 shots while we were there. Needless to say she was not happy. The part I hate most about the checkups is when they ask you all of the milestone questions. I am pretty sure she can do everything they ask, but I don't want to lie. So I am honest, but when they ask me questions, I am like...I don't know...for example today's questions: does she run, can she walk backwards, etc...too much pressure:)

Tomorrow is the economics fair at my school. All of my economics students make products and go to the cafeteria to set up their store to sell. The rest of the day should be easy. It really is a fun time in which the kids learn a lot. I have another doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon. I have 34 days until my due date...am counting every second....am soooo tired...

Isabella updates:
At 15 months:
- she clearly says paci, thank you, mamma, dadda
- she still repeats lots of words
- I will tell her to take her paci out of her mouth so we can talk and she does
- I ask her who her friends are at school....she says J.J, and mumbles some of the others
- she is really trying to get into the cabinets....we really need to put the latches on them!
- she can point to my stomach when I ask her where Sophia is...ok, I admit, sometimes she points to my leg:)
- she is still a drama queen...today when I picked her up from school she was laying on the ground throwing a fit...apparently they just came inside from playing outside and she was mad..she wanted to stay outside
- she is getting better about me doing her hair
- she loves playing in my makeup and is currently trying on my clothes while I type this
- she loves her little chair her aunt Christa gave her
- she loves sitting in daddy's bean bag chair and grabbing a book...it is really cute
- she still hates vegetables, but I try and sneak them into her food...
- she weighs about 20 pounds and is 28 inches
- she is still bossing around people...young and old alike...but is oh so cute!!!!

We love her so much and can't wait for her to have a sister. I know a lot of people think we are crazy for the little spacing, but Dave and I both feel that Isabella will love having a little playmate!!!

Yea for shots!!!

I have been looking everywhere for the injectable H1N1 shot for Isabella and I. We both can't have the live virus nose spray. Last night I went to my appetizer exchange and one of the ladies was so sweet. She is pregnant and told me about a doctor in cypress that had shots for pregnant women. I called and they said I could come in right after work and get one for the bargain price of 15.00!!! On my way over there I called Isabella's pediatrician to see if she had received the injection, they said yes, so tomorrow right after work I am picking her up from school and taking her to get her shot. Then Thursday it is back to the doctor for my 35th week appointment. Who would have ever thought I would spend my entire week at the doctors office!!! But I am very grateful:)

Let's see...what else is new...someone stole Dave and my credit card number, but the credit card fraud department called to see if we were making the purchases...Good thing we have stopped using out southwest credit card and new instantly it must have been stolen.

Our friends Lyndsey and Daniel had their baby girl Gwendolyn yesterday at around 10 pm. We saw a picture and she is sooo cute!!!! It really has not hit me that we are about to have another baby in the house. We are so busy with Isabella that we haven't had time for it to sink in. I am starting to get to the miserable stage....am sooo tired!!!! I told Dave I wanted to go to the hospital and have this baby so that I could go have some r and r for a few days. I know that sounds crazy, but I just want a few days to just rest...

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. I am so very grateful to all the men and women who sacrifice their lives so that we may be free. It is also the 20 year anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. I really remember it falling down. I also remember when the kids in East Germany were not free. I was about 9 or 10 and understood what that meant.

My little kicker

It is only 4:43 am on a Monday morning. I have been awake since 4. Little Sophia starts kicking me around 3 or 4 am everyday and wakes me up. I usually can't go back to sleep. I have 36 days left until my due date. 3 of my friends who recently had babies have all gone early. I am crossing my fingers I will be as lucky!

We had a nice, relaxing weekend. Friday we drove to Austin and stayed with Dave's brother Danny and his wife Ashlee. Saturday we visited, watched college football and hung out with Dave's parents. Sunday we came home early and pretty much just relaxed, watched the Saints win (yea....8 and 0!!!). I took out 2 bins of Isabella's baby clothes and started going through them for baby Sophia. There were a few things that Isabella had really worn out, so I put those items in a donate bag. I tried on Isabella's Christmas dress to see how it fits. Saturday we have holiday pictures. My mother's group arranged a professional photographer that would take pictures for every one's family...15 or 20 minute session for 40.00. Tonight I have my mommy's night out. This month we are having it at the organizer's house for an appetizer exchange. Everyone brings an appetizer and recipe cards to go along. We then get to sample and leave with lots of new ideas.

This should be a pretty good week. My economic students have their market project where they go to the cafeteria for 3 hours, set up stores, and sell items to each other. Dave is in training again all week and I have another doctor appointment this week. This weekend we are going to put up our tree, go to the Nutcracker Market, watch UT and the Saints, and try to relax as well!!! Our friend Lyndsey is supposed to have her baby today....so good thoughts their way!!!

We are all tired...

Everyone in our house is tired...I am tired...I have 40 days until my due date...work is getting harder and harder. Dave has been staying up working late every night...we are all just exhausted....I hate to complain because we are so truly blessed.....

This has been a busy week. Monday we watched the Saints win....Yea...7-0...Tuesday I had bunco...I am an offical member of a Bunko group in cinco ranch. I will host the bunko at my house in April or May....the ladies are so nice. Most of them are my age or a few years older with kids ranging from newborn to 8 or 9 years old. Dave picked Isabella up from daycare and took her to his happy hour with coworkers at a Mexican restaurant. Yesterday he picked her up again so that I could get my hair done. Today he is picking her up for a third day in a row so that I can pick my car up from the dealership...it was being serviced.

Today I had a kid with a tattoo tear drop spit at me...it wasn't on purpose, but it still was like...really....did that just happen!!!

Anyway, I need to focus on positive things and not get jaded with stuff I can't control:)

Pizza Making

Sunday our friends Melissa and Brandon had a pizza making get together. It was a blast. Nicole and Barry and Lyndsey and Daniel were also there. Lyndsey is having a little girl a few weeks before me. We had a ton of fun making the pizzas!!!!

Halloween Weekend

We had a very busy Halloween weekend. Friday Dave, Isabella, and I went to a friends house for dinner. It was a lot of fun. Saturday Dave and I took Isabella to the Renaissance Festival. Dave loves going every year and the weather was beautiful. We paid 5.00 for her face to be painted for when she went trick or treating later that night as a ballerina bunny. Unfortunately she hated it, screamed, and smeared it all over her face. We gave her a bath as soon as we got home. Sunday Dave worked all day.

Getting Ready for Halloween

Thursday night was hectic. Isabella and I stopped at HEB to buy all of the goodies for Halloween. Her school Tiger Trail had a little festival where they paraded the little kids in their costumes and then had little booths. Isabella helped me make goodie bags for all of the kids in her class. I also bought her teachers candy apples. They treat her so well so I always try to do nice things for them. Plus, she is such a little drama queen, I feel guilty sometimes when I drop her off:)

Flying Posts

I just got into work. On the way a Fed Express truck hit a bunch of those white dividing polls that stand up..they started flying everywhere...one even hit my car...thankfully there was no damage! This morning I go for my last ultra sound. I am about a week late, but kept rescheduling it hoping Dave could go with me. Every time I would have to change it because he had a work conflict. Today was the 3rd change and he can't go with me because he is in Port Arthur at the natural gas terminal so Christa is going to go with me. We both have 3rd period off so we can run over there really quick. I am excited to see Sophia and make sure she is ok. I am 33 weeks and a day, so I have less than 7 weeks until my due date. I am still doing really well on my weight. I have gained 21 pounds so far. It is funny because everyone says you start showing sooner with the second and you gain more weight, but it has been the opposite with me. I think it is because I have been working the later part of the pregnancy where with Isabella I was at home during the summer for the last 10 weeks. I much prefer this situation! Dave and I did just find out that we have to start paying for Sophia's daycare now if we want to hold her spot at the same daycare where Isabella goes. It is a tad disappointing, but I completely understand that they have to charge if others want the spot right now! So, I am grateful that they are offering it to us first:)

This has been such a crazy week. On Monday I had a student in my 2nd period arrested. He was literally taken out of my class by a cop and then handcuffed right outside my room. Crazy what this world is coming to. It makes me sad because I blame the kids, but I also blame the environment they are living in where illegal behavior is accepted. Often the kids parents are in jail. There seems to be this attitude with some (not all) of my students that stealing is ok. I was raised the complete opposite (thank you mom and dad!!!) that it is never right.

Anyway, today is hump day. Dave gets back into town tomorrow night. Tonight we have report card pick up at school so Paige (and Brad) are going to babysit Isabella. It should be a long day. Friday we are having dinner at a friends house, Saturday is Halloween. Cinco Ranch is having a children's festival and I am signed up to work the mommies group booth for 30 minutes. I guess we will then leave some candy out and take Isabella trick or treating or maybe just pass out candy at our house. Sunday we are having dinner at another friends house...(Pizza and Pinot Noir)...of course I can't drink the Pinot Noir, but I can eat the pizza:)

Before I forget...Please pray for Dave's grandma. She is in the hospital and has been having health issues. I think she might be coming home today or tomorrow. Dave's mom is in New York with her. She is the sweetest lady and still has a long life ahead of her. She is older, but is in pretty good health.