Little One will have a name!!!

We have decided on the baby's name (two months to due date today, not bad, lol)!! Drum roll please....

Boy: Connor William Lovell
Girl: Hayden Stella Lovell

Connor is the name Kaya would have been had she been a boy. At that time, we were debating between William and Burton for the middle name. We both preferred the sound of William and it is a family name on both sides of Mark's family. I was really pushing for Burton, named after one of my 'other' moms Stephanie Burton who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2003. To be honest, if Kaya had been a boy we probably would have gone with Burton b/c I was adamant that we use a name in memory of Stephanie.

Fast forward a few years and to this pregnancy. This little one was conceived either the very end of July or very early August (nope, I do not know the exact date as there were a few to choose from, lol). This was just a little over one month after Jenna lost her battle with Leukemia and with her sweet baby Will (William) was lost. I had talked to Jenna about how we would be starting for #2 soon, so the timing seemed like she had a part in that. When I found out I was pregnant, I was really emotional (both still attempting to deal with Jenna's and Will's loss, and also the thought of being pregnant while she was not able to be anymore). Then I thought about our boy name that we had decided upon years prior to meeting Jenna. Right there, it was decided for both Mark and I that Connor William would be this one's name if indeed we were having a boy. While William is a family name and was Jenna's choice for her fourth child as a first name, it just seemed like it was meant to be and Jenna knew that all along.

Now for a girl's name... this has taken the entire pregnancy to decide, LOL. Way before Kaya was born, before she was conceived, Mark came up with Kaya (short for kayak as we used to do a far amount, plus it was an actual name so that helped, lol). After coming up with Kaya's name in that fashion, we felt compelled to have a similar story to go with another girl's name... talk about pressure!! Well, after nothing hitting us at all... except for a brief (and I stress brief) moment where Mark thought Ricki (pronounced Rick-a) was the perfect name (as it does have great origin and he loved the sound of it). I was not in love at all with the name. It is pretty and everything.... just didn't hit me. I have reached out to all who are willing for ideas on a girl's name... tons of great ideas came of this! Then a co-worker of mine suggested Hayden... and I immediately said 'yes'. This reminded me of a little girl (who is like 14-15 yrs old now, dang I feel old) that was in my 3 yr class at the daycare I worked at years ago.. her name is Hayden, and I loved the name then.

Mark loved Hayden as well, so that was decided! Now, the middle name. I still want to remember Stephanie. That is sort of our thing... the middle name of our kids will be a name in memory or one passed down from family/friends. Kaya's middle name is Elizabeth which is a name all over Mark's family, plus he is second generation born in USA from England, so Elizabeth seemed fitting, LOL. I have had the idea to combine Stephanie/Lynn (Steph's middle name) and Jenna/Lee (Jenna's middle name) somehow. I wrote out a lot of names and looked through the name book... and came up with Stella ('Ste' for Stephanie and 'le' written backwards for Lee). I came up with this about a week ago and asked Mark what he thought... he really liked it. We ran it by Kaya as well and she approves, LOL.

While a name or two (first and middle) might not require this much thought... for some reason we seem to do just that, lol. It feels good to have both names decided upon before I go into labor!! For awhile there, I was thinking that was what we would talk about while I was in labor, lol. Nothing wrong with that of course, many wonderful people have been born without names, like myself for example!!!

Flu & Kaya's website

Yes, this entire family had the flu vaccine (much to Mark and I's dismay, lol)... yet Kaya has the flu. The flu is all over the place, even closing schools for awhile in hopes to get everyone healthy, so it is not a huge surprise that she got it too. I do think she has a MUCH milder case than if she had not gotten the vaccine. She started acting sick on Saturday, but in all she has not been that bad at all. Her temp has not been above 103 which is great considering that is a low temp for her when she gets ear infections. Mark took her to the doctor yesterday where they confirmed the flu, and we could out our beloved Dr. Rosser will be switching to a new medical clinic. We will be following him, no question. A little bummed, b/c I love so many of the other docs at TN Peds, but ultimately I will go with Dr. Rosser.

I am home with Kaya today and enjoying the day at home!! Sad that I keep thinking how I am ready for this kid to be born, so I have maternity leave, lol. We are still working on a plan for me not to return to work full time. I might go back to work for awhile (that money thing is hard to give up), but no matter what we have a goal in mind and are focused on that goal. I am not worried about all of it, and Mark is ok with the whole thing too (which is good considering he was pretty stressed last year before I went to work).

I have been needing to update Kaya's website for months (since September), so I am doing that today!! I erased the link on this site to her site, so I will add that again. Just in case I forget, here is the site: http://lovell.aboutmybaby.com/ Email me if you need the password.

Have a great day!!! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I took the day off in celebration of the day! Kaya and I went to her valentine's party at school which was a lot of fun to see her with all her school friends. She really loved handing out the valentine's that she helped making, especially the one for her boyfriend (ok, one of her boyfriend's, lol) Weston. Then I did a little shoppping, then it was time for the OB. Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a visit to the girly doc!! Another big weight gain, opps!! I gained 9 lbs in two weeks!!! WOW! Really, I have been eating better these last two weeks.... this is just part of the whole pg thing for me... this is what I did in the last few months when I was pg with Kaya. Mark and I are going to have a 'date' night tonight.. with last minute Preds tickets on the company, sweet!!! I am looking forward to the game.. we have not been this season so far.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful V Day!!! Love, Hugs and Kisses from the 3+ of us!!!

Kaya and her big girl bed

Kaya LOVES her big girl bed! It was delivered yesterday morning... and she has now taken two naps in it along with sleeping last night. She keeps saying "sleeping in my big girl bed"! It is pretty cute! I took a cute picture yesterday as she slept in it for the first time.. she was all smiles.

Super Target... Happy Birthday to ME!

The Super Target is opening on March 9th (two days before my 30th birthday), so I have decided that it is all for me, LMAO! I am pretty excited! I told Mark he could just give me an hour shopping spree at Target for my birthday, lol. OK... maybe that would be a bit much... I could do some serious damage in an hour at Target!!!

11 weeks and Perspective...

11 weeks until my EDD!!! There is one side of me that is stressing out BIG time with all the things I want/need to do before this new little one arrives into the world, but then perspective brings me back, thank God!! Yes, I do not have clothes washed and ready for the baby, no diapers purchased, the baby's room looks like the misc. catch all room, and Kaya is still in her crib.... but I really don't see what the problem with all of this, LOL. The reality is.... all will come in due time! Yes, by this time when I was pg with Kaya, her room was already to go (in yellows and greens of course, lol) including clothes, diapers and all that crap you think you need from day one. Well, I am just smarter this time around, lol, or at least that is what I am telling myself. I don't need all that crap.... again, I keep telling myself that. Bottom line, the baby will be sleeping in our room for a few months (not 5+ months like Kaya did.... as we had no choice given the situation), and my mom will be painting the room after he/she is born, so there is not a ton to be done right now. Kaya's big girl bed will be delivered on Saturday (along with our bed set and the new sectional), so the crib will be ready for the baby's room. Mark almost finished a book shelf for Kaya last weekend (which I was very happy and proud too... technically that is the first piece of furniture he has built for us), and after that is complete he will start on the headboard and footboard (which will be fairly simple). We need to get Kaya a dresser... which I am looking for on craigslist and ads... still have the idea to get an unfinished one... at any rate, we will find that soon, no worries there. At that point, all of the baby furniture will be ready for the room. All of the neutral baby clothes are in one box (which I now exactly where it is located thanks to Mark organizing the garage). My mom will be here the first week in March, and one of her tasks will be to help me go through clothes, wash and put away for little one. See, I have it all planned out! LOL

More perspective...... as my belly gets bigger, I can't help but think about Kaya as a baby and how I will miss her being my only baby! Yes, they say you grow more love for each child as they are born, and I do believe this is true as I already have great love for this new baby. I now understand what people mean when they say "there is only one first child". This is so true as well. At the same time, there is only one second child and so forth! While there will be times when I struggle as a mom with two children, I know that most of the time things will be "ALL GOOD" (as I like to say)!! I might have to re-read this post in a few months, LOL.

Baby update! FINALLY

Poor little baby in my belly! He/she feels left out already b/c I don't post about you! Well, I did kept more record of my pregnancy with Kaya, but I am not off that much. I have my hand written notes for both. I need to get a baby book for this little one. Along with a lot of other preparation that I have not done for this one.... where at this time with Kaya, the room was ready to go, lol.

I had an appt with Dr. Ross this morning. The first thing he commented on was my weight gain over that last two visits. Prior to these visits, I had gained a total of 7 lbs. Then came the visit 3 weeks ago where I had gained 10 lbs since that last appt which was 4 weeks prior (opps, lol), now this visit (3 weeks from today) where I gained 5 lbs. He said and I do quote "I don't want to have a sumo wrestler in there".... no SH*T is all I can say, LOL. I don't want to be pushing out a sumo wrestler, LOL. I do need to watch what I am eating at times, but in all I still feel good about my weight gain. I have gained less at this point then when I was pg with Kaya. People say (may just be trying to be nice, lol) that I have gained it all in my belly. I have to agree though... b/c dang, my belly is big. I will take a pic soon and post (another thing I am late in doing).

Then comes time to measure me. He feels around for my uterus and says "wow, this is a lot lower than it should be".... then he measures down to the bottom of the baby and says "well, no this is where you should be... you are just carrying REALLY low". Again, no SH*T is my thought! This helps explain my need to waddle like a duck already and my intense lower back pain. As he said, I am tall so I have plenty of room... and with carrying so low, the baby is allowing me to breathe better. This part is true... I do remember having more problems breathing at this point with Kaya, but dang this kid is STILL in my ribs... I know that for sure!

All of my blood work and glucose test came back with flying colors.. YEAH!! In all, I am really feeling good. Yes, I am getting pretty uncomfortable and sleeping is challenging.... but I really have to be thankful as that is all I have to deal with. I try to keep in mind how easy this pregnancy has been and that this is the time for the uncomfortable part.

My mom got fired from her latest consultanting job, lol. Not fired... she was hired buy Lending Tree to be an expert witness for a huge lawsuit involved three law firms and multiple banks.... and they have settled out of court, so her work is done, lol. At any rate, her schedule was looking a little booked over the next few months, so now is more free to come for a trip before this one is born. She is coming for the first week of March. I must say, I am VERY relieved she is coming before the baby will be born. I want to get as much ready as I can... and I know she will be a huge help in that department... not to mentioned unpacking that is still to be done, and there are lots of rooms to paint, lol. She asked if I had enough for her to do if she comes for a week... I said "YES and then some!" Mark cleaned the garage out this past weekend... I was SO happy about that and let him know that! Now, the boxes that still need to be unpacked are all together and the rest is organized. The car could fit in the garage (as all the boxes and such are in the attic - love that space), but we will go through the boxes first then get the car in there. He is going to make a book shelf for Kaya this weekend... then next weekend will be start of her headboard and footboard for her big girl bed which we got a call today that it is in and ready to deliver! Kaya is so excited to have her big girl bed! I am hoping the whole transition goes well, which I am sure it will. I know Mark is anxious to finally start playing with all his woodworking tools. I imagine the fun of it might fade, but I know he will still enjoy making things... and I am all about that!


Well.... off to toss and turn in bed... lol... or fall asleep on the couch! :)

That was a bit MUCH!

Dang, what kind of mood was in on Sunday?!?!? LOL

Time to step back Meredith and set real actions in plan for 2008 instead of just rambling about all these big ideas of blah, blah, blah.... LOL

It will be a great year, this I know! I am going to make sure of that! My attitude has gotten much better about a lot things. All things in due time, that is what I say! I tend to just need the "oh" moment where I snap out of thinking in one mindset. It is funny how now (well overly the past month or so), I have become to realize that the one thing I thought I hated so much (work) is not that bad. Now, my plan is still to not work full time (that will happen one way or another as I just don't make enough money to justify two kids in daycare, nor do Mark and myself want that right now), but the idea of milking my current job for a bit longer is not so bad... after all having that extra money has a lot of benfits, like the major debt we have been able to pay off and actually being able to afford things that I would stress about otherwise.

Still.... I want to keep it simple..... so, it is just important for me to look at the big picture instead of worrying each little thing as being so bad.

OK... that is enough thought process for that! :)

My sweet girl...

Kaya is just such a sweetheart.... She woke up saying "I love you Mama", when I got home tonight she said it again as soon as I saw her and then right before she went to bed, again. Melts my heart!!! Days like today help me feel like I am a good mom.... and how lucky I really am to be Kaya's mom. Simple and sweet moments!!

Vision for 2008.....

Tis the time of year for promises to change or at least making a list of things you want to change... so hear ya go.

My vision (as I am choosing to look at things right now) for 2008 is TODAY!!!!!
TODAY = being into today and really being happy with that!!! I have said SO many times to myself that I just need to enjoy the moment, for the moments are really limited. I have had MANY events in my life that have forced me to slow down and breathe and to see the simple things. After such events, I am recharged to go back to more a more simple lifestyle, and I do for awhile... then it fades over time. Then I worry about the dumb things (as I like to call them) like "being a certain way b/c I think I need to be" or "worrying about money spent on everything" or "poor me about ". OK... reality is reality... and NO one is perfect!!! I will be FAR from perfect in 2008, that is one promise I can make and stick to for the whole year, my whole life! I know there will be MANY times where these quotes will entire my mind and come out of my mouth... but I am longing to find that person deep down inside me... the person who enjoys just playing, enjoys the simplicity of sunshine (ok, there is nothing simple about sunshine but that is another post, lol), and enjoys just being in each moment. I think that is my biggest struggle of late (ok, for a LONG time)... I can enjoy the fun of just playing with Kaya... then I look around and my mind starts racing with not only all the cleaning I need to do but also all the things I want to fix in this house (irony of owning a home... makes me miss renting, lol).

All and all.... that person, the simple one, is still there... often fighting with the other person within me, lol. In most things, I tend to go with the simple choices... simple tastes, simple desires (well, hubby might disagree, lol, but he would agree after pushed), simple style (that hasn't changed much over the years), simple wishes. BUT one thing I am always saying "I have to do because I just have to".... well this saying does NOT fit in my simple lifestyle... as in that world, my lifestyle is completely in my control and there is nothing I say I "have" to do (besides for maybe showering, lol) instead I say I "want" or "enjoy" . The reality is.. everything is a choice!! Getting out of bed is a choice, going to work/not going to work is a choice, just playing with my daughter, letting her be herself, letting myself be myself, loving others and myself (hard yes... but so necessary)... on and on... all CHOICES.

OK, Meredith.. a bit deep for a Sunday (the last Sunday of January 2008 and the one month birthday of my newest nephew)... I agree completely!!! Where did this all come from?? Well, I am usually VERY anti making New Years resolutions... as I am usually very anti things that a lot of people do... stubborn nature in myself, lol. BUT, this year I feel very different. Last year was in all a very difficult year personally... between losing a friend that I felt like I had a long future with, working because I felt like I "had" to do and thus creating major stress in my whole family's life due to my unhappiness, to other struggles... I feel like I let last year happen instead of making it happen, if that makes sense. 2008 WILL be a year that I make HAPPEN... mark my words on Sunday, January 27, 2008!!!

With all of these deep thoughts... I think this picture sums up everything I feel right now! Here are three children (Lila-5, Kaya-2, John-8) enjoying a simple moment with sticky plastic bugs... we can all learn a lot from this picture... and I plan on doing just that TODAY and tomorrow's TODAY (as every day is a new TODAY in my vision for 2008). Enjoy TODAY every day!! Now, I off to do the one "must" of showering, LOL.