Well, that was certainly unexpected!

So, looks like I'm KTFU. I never EVER in my wildest dreams imagined that it would happen on the 1st cycle. I thought we were surely in for a grueling year and you can imagine my surprise when that 2nd faint line showed up on the FRER. I can't count how many times I said "oh shit" as that 2nd line appeared. I thought it was lying at first (lol), and dipped in another one and same result. Wow, just WOW. Gabriella's baby brother or sister is due October 18th, but given how early I went into labor with Gabriella I'm guessing this one will join us earlier in October.

When I went into Gabriella's room this morning and I just squeezed her and kissed her and thought that I'm the luckiest person in the world b/c I get to have another one of her. Clearly, they won't be the same, but you get my drift!

I can honestly say that the early onset of fatigue is most certainly here. The past few days I've just been beat (which is partly what prompted me to test) and my boobs are increasingly sore. I have an interview for a promotion in the coming weeks and hope that anything wicked stays at bay until after then.

To those of you who know me IRL, please don't out me - we're not sharing the news just yet!

TIDWTF and other going-ons

1. Gabriella's vocab is rapidly expanding. It seems like every day she's saying something new. Her new words this weekend were the Croatian word for "more," bagel, and saying "see you" when saying good-bye.
2. I cannot be out of her sight. Yesterday I went to her room to put her clothes away and not even a minute had gone by when I heard running feet calling "mama! mama!" It was like this all weekend.
3. We got the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse CD, and now all she wants to listen to in the car is the hot dog song. Every time it finishes she asks "Mickey? Hot dog?" Lol - I've created a monster.
4. Swim class - its a mixed bag. Generally she can't wait to get in the water, but has yet to make it all the way through her 30 minute class. Last week was better. This week we made it till through 20 minutes and she had had it. Don't get me wrong, she LOVES the water, but I think it might be a too many people type of situation.

In other news, but ovaries are giving me the finger and not Oing. I've been Oing on CD 20 or before since I got AF back post BFing (for one year now). We're on CD 22 and I'm down 11 OPKs, and 3 applicators of pre-seed. Eff you right back at you, ovaries!

TIDWTF

Let's see here, Gabriella and I have been fighting off nasty colds for the past 5 days, so I've been heavily medicated. New going-ons for this week:

1. She has become obsessed with Mickey Mouse. Now instead of asking for Leo or milk in the morning, she asks me "Mickey?" And you're damn right we HAVE to turn on the TV and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Thankfully I have a bunch of episodes recorded. She loves to sing the "Hot dog" song at the end of each episode.
2. This isn't necessarily just this week, but in general, she hasn't really been playing with her toys much. Rather, she's attached to my friggin hip all.the.time. She wants me to constantly interact with her. That's wonderful, but sometimes mama needs to poop with out a 19 month old running away with the toilet paper.
3. She's been a real challenge to change lately. Changing her diaper is a daily struggle for independence. I'd love for her to realize that the sooner she stops screaming and arching back, the sooner I can get the diaper changed.

We start swim class this weekend. We were supposed to start last Saturday but were both sick. Definitely excited for her to do this - she loves the water. She's a fishy just like me!

Some pics from CA:

The very 1st TIDWTF

I've been thinking about doing this for a while, but alas never get to it. Thanks Shannon for giving me such a great idea, and thanks SB for reminding me to start this!

1. Gabriella is so super excited to see me these days when I pick her up from daycare. Not that she isn't normally, but just more so than usual lately. She usually runs over squealing and gives me a huge hug.
2. When I ask her for a kiss (in Croatian) rather than give me a kiss, she gives me her cheek.
3. Ever since she fell in love with her "So Big" book right around her 1st birthday, I'll always ask her "How Big is Baby?" and she raises her arms and says "SO!" Which is hilarious. Yesterday I asked her, and she answered "So Cute!" I just about died it was "so cute."
4. Every morning when she wakes up she gives me a big hug, taps me lightly on the back, and asks me "Leo?" or "muk?" (milk)....she gets both most of the time!

***** I thought of one more thing...

5. She starting to sing songs. She sings the ABCs. Its adorable. I'll sing A through G and then she sings "H, I, J, K, lemenmanana." Its so funny. She knows exactly what letter is when and when I get to W she fully says "double U." (she's singing them as we speak, prompted by her musical table). She also sings the Croatian version of Patty Cake.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe its 2011 - every year just keeps flying by faster and faster. A couple of updates:

1. We are starting TTC #2 (omg). DH had a SA done about 3 weeks ago and it came back normal (versus low count when TTC#1). This time around I'm also ovulating between CD 14-19 (versus the CD 30s), with an 11-12 day LP (yes, its been fluctuating - no, I'm not lying). We have 12 months to TTC #2 on our own and then we'll go back to the RE.

2. Gabriella is 19 months (double omg). She's such a sweetheart yet such a terror at the same time. We had her 18 month appt a month ago (obviously) and she was 28 lbs 8 oz and 33 inches long. She ate like a freaking beast over the holidays and I bet she's about 29.5 lbs now. We got her ears pierced a month ago and she looks super cute with her little studs. We start mommy and tot swim class this weekend. I'm super excited for that.

Since my last post we've been to DC and back home to CA for the holidays. We had so much fun and it just made me and Gabriella miss everyone so much more.

I'll be trying to update more regularly now that we're on the TTC train again. Here is my chart to all you faithful stalkers: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/1e50e7. It can also be found on the right side.

Here's a new Gabriella pic. This is at my parent's house in CA. They have an orange tree and Gabriella and my mom were picking oranges (they were SO good and we took full advantage of that fresh fruit)!

I'm not dead, I swear

I just really suck at blogging now. Its quite atrocious actually. I have been meaning to update for a while now and seem to never get to it.

Lets start with the basics. We're all great. My collar bone is all healed and dandy with my lovely metal plate. This should be interesting when we travel in 2 days. I have been able to resume normal activity (since the end of October) so that's been lovely. I dyed my hair a very warm, rich brown and I love it. And I know, I know, this post is worthless without pictures but I have none of the new hair-do. I will take some while away this weekend I'm sure and will try and post. DH is fine too - he was sick and you know how men are when they are sick. Effin babies. I don't think I need to elaborate on this one.

Gabriella is great. She is developing her speech rapidly. I am keeping a list of all her words and thus far I'd say she's got about 20. Most are in English, some are in Croatian. I feel like she's throwing a tantrum every 5 minutes so that's boding well for my nerves. She officially transitioned to 1 nap about a month ago. I am very thankful for that. Her naps on the weekends suck major ass, but she naps great during the week at daycare which is all that really matters.

We're going to DC for thanksgiving to see my bestie and her hubs - I am so freaking excited!

Here's are 2 G pics to hold you over till the next time:

Two years ago...

I found out I was pregnant with Gabriella. What a day it was...I was so happy and so scared at the same time. Little did I know then that this little girl would completely steal my heart in such a way that I find it hard to breathe without her. My life is so much better with her in it. And although we do want more kids, our life feels so complete and whole with her. Love you baby girl....

In Gabriella updates, well she is totally hilarious. She's repeating everything, Croatian and English. Dh was swearing and she repeated stupid and while I was pissed at him, it was freaking hysterical to hear her say "stupee." Oh, and also, she thinks everything is a phone. Anything that is flat and fits in her hand gets put up to her ear with an enthusiastic "hey," which is then followed by the most hilarious babble I've ever heard.

She's in that transition nap period where she only takes a super short AM nap, but then takes a 1.5 to 2 hr nap. If I make her take only one nap, its total garbage at like 45min to an our. Then she's a total pill by the late afternoon.

And OMFG, she's doing this body banging/slamming thing where she sits in her crib, with her back against the rails, and slam slam slam slam. She does it before she goes to sleep and when she wakes up. I hate it!