one month

 

'twas the night before christmas...

 

Wow. Enjoying a new baby while trying to get back on top of every day life has made these past weeks a total blur. Can't believe this Christmas is already here. Sure hope yours is merry!

meeting santa

Christian met Santa last week at our church Christmas party. He was in total awe as he saw Santa enter the room and then very shy about approaching him but he couldn't help following him through the room and over to the chair where he sat to take pictures.

Christian was then very professional about the whole thing -- this is about as happy a look as we got out of him -- he did his time on the lap and then hurried over to show me his candy cane.

This year he's totally into Santa -- without us pushing it at all. He's the one who told me one day (in November) that Santa says "Ho, ho, ho."

brothers

I love these pictures from the first time Christian met his little baby brother. You can tell Christian wasn't quite sure what to think when the little guy was squirming in his arms but he was so calm and sweet and made a point to show him the balloons he had picked out for him.

So far Christian has done pretty well with Pierce. He doesn't like to hear him cry so he's quick to come tell me that "he's not happy" and to tell me "he's hungry" and tug me over to feed him. He insists on holding him at least once every day. He oohs and ahhs over Pierce and when he gets his fill he tells me that "he's heavy" and waits for me to take him back. Then he's off to destroy roam the apartment once more.

our gingerbread house

Finally put together a gingerbread house tonight -- thanks to a lot of help from Trader Joes (only $6.99 for the kit if you're interested). The whole thing took about 30 minutes -- perfect for a two-year-old with a short attention span and his exhausted parents.

pierce shane larsen

Yesterday our sweet baby boy officially got his name added to his birth certificate paperwork so we figure it's time to announce it to the world.

"Pierce" is a name Shane suggested that grew on me overtime. We like the meaning a lot. Like the name "Peter" it means "rock" and "steadfast." As for "Shane," it's pretty obvious where that one came from, but it was I who felt strongly that this baby ought to have his dad's name.

For those keeping count, it took us about two weeks to name Christian as well. In both cases, it came down to two names but was still a difficult decision for us. Next time maybe we'll just post a poll up on the blog -- save us the stress. ;)



So far he's pretty mellow. He loves to snuggle, eat and sleep. He does not love being stripped of his clothing or having his diaper changed. He rarely cries but when he does he works himself into a chin-quivering panic that makes you want to drop everything and come running.

a week ago today

This little guy made his debut. At 9:08pm on Monday, Nov. 28. One week after his due date.

All 8 lbs, 8 oz. and 21 inches of him.

Now we can't imagine life without him.

We're enjoying lots of snuggle time, taking lots of pictures, and trying to figure out his name. ;)

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes.

40 weeks

Just to prove that I did finally get ready for the day, even if I was told to "work from home" and didn't take a shower till lunchtime.

So as of this post, there's no bebe yet. Just as I expected. I have to admit that as excited as I am to meet this little guy I'm also grateful for some extra time to get my act together and prep for birthing.

There were some contractions Friday night, for maybe about two hours, but I was so exhausted that I fell asleep and when they didn't wake me up I knew it was a false alarm (at least my body is "practicing," right?).

competing with yourself

I went digging through some old journals this week, sorting stuff for storage and stumbled across this quote. I discovered it my first year of college and love that it is just as applicable to my life today:

"Life is a competition not with others, but with ourselves. We should seek each day to live stronger, better, truer lives; each day to master some weakness of yesterday; each day to repair a mistake; each day to surpass ourselves." -- Elder David B. Haight

(Kind of reminds me of the "deep thought" my good friend had while running a half marathon last week.)

our very own christmas

Found these pretties at Ikea the other day and couldn't resist'em. In fact, now I'm wishing I'd brought home another set.

It's the first year we'll be having our very own Christmas with our very own full-size Christmas tree (as opposed to one of these little guys).

We're really looking forward to starting some of our own traditions, although we'll definitely be missing out on some fun times with family out West.

a happy halloween

Pictured above: Edna "No Capes!" Mode & Dash "Super Speedy" Incredible

After attending the "Trunk or Treat" at our church and the Air & Scare event, we didn't even make it out for official Trick or Treating. Instead we spent the evening watching Halloween specials with a big bowl of popcorn -- our favorite family treat.

36 weeks

Yes, I'm falling a little behind.

I hit 36 weeks on Monday but keep running out of energy to blog about it. Shane was out of town for four days and so I was on full-time Christian duty so that may have something to do with it.

I still throw up on a weekly basis. Last Tuesday was the worst -- I was on the freeway when the wave of nausea hit me. It was probably one of the most scary experiences of my life. There was no where to pull over. There were cars right behind and in front of me. I figured an accident was inevitable -- it was just a matter of when and where. I remember pleading/praying for help. And it came. We had a plastic bin in the car and by the time it was all over, I didn't even have to go home and change. Gross, I know, but for me it really was truly a miracle. When I finally found a spot to pull over and catch my breath, I couldn't believe how long it took for my heart to slow down and beat normally again. I said a prayer of gratitude.

In happier news, at 35 weeks I had an ultrasound and got a glimpse of our little guy again. The doctors have been concerned about the baby's weight (I've been measuring small, but it was the same with Christian so I wasn't worried) but not any more. If anything the baby is measuring ahead of schedule (90% aisle, believe it or not). In fact, my doctor had to reassure me this doesn't mean his final weight will be bigger than average. Her guess is he'll be right around Christian's size (about 7.5 lbs.). Even if she's just saying that to be nice, it was good to hear.

Side note: She pointed out that I'd lost weight since my last appointment two weeks ago. Only a pound, but still, it was sure nice not to see the scale go up yet again. However, any boost in confidence that I may not be looking as big as I feel was knocked out from under me when a lady at Costco that afternoon asked me if I was having twins. When I told her no, she responded: "Are you sure?"

Observations:

- Still crave dark chocolate with mint. I've always enjoyed the combo before but never so much as during this pregnancy. I think the mint is soothing to my stomach, and dark chocolate is soothing to my soul. ;) These peppermint Luna bars are my go-to when I know I need to eat but feel queasy. I've got my pregnant coworker hooked on them now too.
- Stomach is itchy & dry. I don't remember it being as bad last time, but it's a good reminder to keep my tummy oiled/moisturized constantly, which should help with stretch marks (in theory, right?).
- Already waddling. At least I feel like I am. The baby started descending probably two weeks ago. That's when I noticed the pain in my ribs and mid-back subside and the pressure continues to build in my pelvic area. Sometimes this includes sharp pains that catch me off guard.

- Baby still moves a lot but you can tell he's feeling a bit squished (much like myself!).

- Belly gets "in the way" now. I notice I bump against things a lot and I'm trying to be more cautious. Just doing dishes, leaning over to look in the mirror, etc. brings a quick reminder that I'm definitely pregnant, and then some.

- Still running, or at least trying to. Today was an indoor gym day thanks to the rain. I don't feel comfortable risking a slip on the sidewalk at this point.

- Ready but not ready. I'm still anxious about this baby's arrival but I also know I'm not really ready mentally/emotionally for delivery. I really need to use these final weeks to focus and get in the zone, if possible.

Technically this little guy is "full-term" on Monday but I have a hard time believing he'll arrive anytime earlier than his due date, Nov. 21. We still don't have a name for him so maybe it's better that way. At least that's what I'll tell myself during my more impatient moments.

this boy makes me happy

From the top of his dark chocolate-covered face (he found my stash -- no wonder he was so quiet)...

....all the way down to his new stripey socks.

tempeh curry with sweet potatoes

Is it just me or does this not look amazing?

fall wreath

I finally finished this wreath and hung it on our door last week. I'm not the craftiest of people so I kept second guessing things but then I finally gave up and hurriedly glued the last few flowers into place.

{lighting is pretty bad in our hallway -- sorry}

This is my first, completed Pinterest-inspired project (patterned after this wreath) and it makes me excited to try out a few more that have caught my eye as the holiday season approaches.

our little man

Oh Sweet Christian,

Hard to believe you've hit the two-and-a-half mark. You will quickly turn three and then where will we be?

Thanks for being my favorite little pal through these past couple of years. With your dad working by day, going to school by night, we've had quite a lot of one-on-one time and somehow you still put up with me and let me cuddle you in my arms each night.

You've put up with so much in your short time on earth -- crazy work/sleep schedules, on-the-go meals, four nannies/babysitters and last-minute hand-offs, late-night errands and trips to the metro (all in your pjs), oh and countless Young Women lessons and activities. ;)

You are so full of energy and curiosity and sometimes it's a bit overwhelming but I really do love you for it. You see the world in a completely different way and I love that you want me to see it that way too. No matter what I'm in the middle of, it's impossible not to give in when you call out "Mama" and ask me to watch your newest trick or grab my hand and drag me over to see your newest project.

I'm so sorry I've been a bit impatient with you lately and so short on energy. I promise I won't be like this forever (hopefully only a month or so to go before things start to change). I appreciate you putting up with my poor meal planning of late (read: breakfast for dinner 3x a week) as well as my need to lay on my side after work while you keep us both entertained.

With fall in full swing, you couldn't be happier than when you're exploring outside. You love everything about nature. Finding the moon is probably at the top of your list, followed closely by collecting rocks and leaves, spotting squirrels and birds, and jumping in ever mud puddle that crosses your path. The other night you took a rock to bed with you, as your "toy" for the night. Your appreciation of the little things really helps your dad and I put things back into perspective.

Lately your favorite spot in the apartment is atop your windowsill. You can hoist yourself up there before I can count to three and then you open the blinds and spend time waving at the neighbors or reading a book. Last night you tried to lie down on it with a pillow. Your dad and I couldn't help but laugh.

Oh, and just for the record, you are still a fabulous hugger but your new fascination with L-O-N-G kisses cracks us up. Hilarious. I'm afraid you'll get stuck to my cheek one of these days.

We adore you, little man. Don't ever forget it.

results are in

On Friday morning the much-anticipated Virginia State bar results were posted:

Shane said he double-checked the list 20 times throughout the day because he couldn't believe his eyes.

I'm not gonna lie, I shed more than a few happy tears when I saw the results (I'm guessing the pregnancy hormones were a contributing factor).

It's been over four years since we started this journey and I'm so proud of all that Shane has accomplished. Even if he is now a lawyer. ;)

34 weeks

I entered week 34 feeling pretty good about life. I ran five miles Saturday (much to my surprise) without stopping (thanks to supportive friends).

Then yesterday I managed to throw up in just about every room in the house. Awesome. You can probably imagine how excited I was to go to work after that and then scrub things down again last night.

Observations:

- Baby feels like he's dropped a bit or something -- he's not nearly as stuffed up in my rib cage and my mid-back pain has eased.

- At the same time, baby seems to have doubled in size over the past few days (makes sense since he's supposed to be about five lbs. now). My old stretch marks are pink yet again and sitting in traffic is getting so uncomfortable. (Side note: Christian seems to feel my pain and sits in the car lately with his hands on his head saying: "Go, go, go!")

- Sleep is getting rough. I toss and turn from side to side. My hip joints ache by the time I get up. Running helps relieve some of the aches, gets my circulation going.

- I've also noticed my vision blurring a bit, and I've got the dry eyes going on, another typical symptom at this point in the game.

- Getting anxious about baby's arrival. I feel like I'm counting down -- and I've still got several weeks to go. I can't wait to meet this little guy, can't wait to get a good night's rest, and -- let's be honest -- can't wait to start seeing the scale go down instead of up.

- Speaking of which, I need to check the official records but I think I now am weighing in at the same place I was when Christian was delivered. Yikes. And I've still got a ways to go.

simplifying our lives

More words to live by from the lovely Marjorie Hinckley, stolen from an another amazing woman I know:

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."

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morning at the zoo

very pleased about his "junior officer" sticker from the national zoo police

at times he was more into the displays than the actual live animal

enamored with the elephants -- begged to go "down" and be with them

these monkeys were making a HUGE racket -- the one with his neck puffed out wouldn't let the other move out of the box

drawn to the monkeys, along with everyone else within hearing range -- they put on quite the show

just another monkey in the monkey house

end of summer storm

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Humidity and temperature levels are still pretty unpleasant this week. We're not quite feeling like "fall" around here (although rumor has it we should enjoy a cool, crisp weekend). All the moisture and warm air made for quite the thunderstorm last night. It didn't last all that long but it was loud enough to startle us at times and the lightening seemed to strike just outside our apartment.

How amazing is this picture taken last night of the Jefferson Monument? Three lightening bolts at one. Gorgeous.

32 weeks

I hit 32 weeks yesterday. So technically, I guess I'm in my eighth month? This is when it hits me hard that pregnancy is totally 10 months, not nine as we are tricked to believe. When you add it all up that means I carried Christian -- who was two weeks late -- for 10 1/2 months. They say everything is a bit quicker with the second one. Fingers crossed!

No belly shot today. I actually want to get a few taken of me by someone else -- maybe this weekend, if it's not too humid out. I don't know that I'll be brave enough to post them but I would at least like some for the sake of family history.

Observations:

- energy levels are all over the place (i.e., I felt like I was on top of the world yesterday and today I feel completely wiped out, both physically and mentally

- baby is crunched into the right side of my body -- I feel achy under my ribs for most of the day and there's pain in my mid-back area from the pressure too. It makes me want to lean to the left so I'll probably need a good chiropractor when all is said and done

- still getting sick when I have an empty stomach. With Christian I threw up through the first five months but this time around I can't seem to get past it. I nearly threw up all over our fresh, clean sheets last night -- luckily Shane was quick on his feet to get me some crackers

- running is still happening, more or less. I ran four miles today and felt pretty good -- definitely feeling more crunched for air this week and feel more pressure on my bladder, etc. My support band really makes a difference though -- keeping the strain off of my lower ligaments and pelvic bone.

- emotions running high(er). I haven't noticed myself feeling too emotional until the past couple of weeks. I was near tears a lot last week and also went through a grumpy bout for no good reason so I'm going to blame the hormones
- struggling with short-term memory and alertness -- I'll blame the hormones for this too -- shrinking brain cell volume is a very real thing. I can't keep anything straight these days and then I catch myself totally tuning out. (I even walked off with another person's cart at Costco the other day -- almost made it to the register before I "woke up" and realized what I'd done!)

welcome, fall

Hip hip hooray for the first day of fall!

Summer was fun but we're looking forward to:
- all things pumpkin and squash -- food, decor, scents
- outings to admire east coast autumn leaves (bet you can't find better fall foliage anywhere!)
- sipping hot chocolate, apple cider & herbal teas (peppermint, raspberry leaf, etc)
- crisp, cool air and less humidity
- playing outdoors without sweating
- rainy days to bundle up, build forts and read books
- wearing sweaters, long socks, tights, leggings, boots, hats, jackets
- visiting our favorite DC sights, now that tourist season will be slowing a bit
- prepping for the arrival of baby boy #2

What about you?

jumping off the diving board

This is what you get to do at the neighborhood pool when the season is nearly finished, the lifeguards have stopped caring, and the only people there are you and the Wittwers.

Note: Christian is wearing a Puddle Jumper. I highly recommend it. For $17.99 I totally bought myself some freedom this summer -- he stopped clinging to me within a week and and I no longer stress about him jumping in (since he was more than willing to do it with or without gear). Bonus: It's U.S. Coast-Guard certified so he wore it on my parents' boat this summer too.

only two more months

Near the end of our visit to California last month, my friend Wendy gave birth to her fourth child, Abigail Jayne. Christian and I stopped by the hospital on the way to catch our return flight and we had a hard time giving Abigail back to her mama when it was time to leave.

Two months from today and I'll have hit my due date with Baby Larsen #2. I don't put much stock in due dates (Christian arrived nearly two weeks late) but still, we're definitely getting excited about having a sweet little baby around the house for us all to adore.

finding contentment

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"When I let go of the idea of someday happiness, I found it in everything around me. I didn’t need a bigger house to be happy, and I certainly didn’t need something prettier on my walls, or nicer bedding, or fancier gadgets in the kitchen. There are things that make our lives easier or prettier, but I learned that none of those external things was going to make my life better.

"Beautiful, happy moments happen in big houses, small houses, fixed-up houses, and outdated houses. They take place in itty-bitty studio apartments, and they take place in homes we own or spaces we rent. The beautiful moments, the contentment with what we have comes from within, not from the walls around us."

(quote from here)

30 weeks

For some reason, I was super productive this weekend. Could I be nesting already? Or maybe I just got that extra kick of third-trimester energy? Either way, I'll take it.


Observations:
- kicking has intensified, so much that my stomach is now a distraction at church and other public forums (I love the reassurance that comes with such movement but it makes me think we may have another very energetic little boy on our hands)
- feeling the baby up in my ribs, which means i get achy if i have to sit for long (like during my evening commute which comes close to being an hour and a half on a typical day -- doesn't that make you want to move to DC??)
- doc says I'm measuring small but I feel plenty big; I've already put on more weight at this point that I did with Christian (unfortunately)
- I wake up with achy legs and deal with the occasional charlie horse in the early morning hours before getting out
- still running, for now; I even ordered some maternity running capris so I have no excuses (my shorts are starting to bunch up -- not attractive or comfortable)
- hormones seem a little over the top -- my skin is breaking out again and I was unusually unhappy and short-tempered last week
- and, yes, there's now a definite blind spot below my belly, soon I won't be able to see my feet at all

christian-isms

Christian's quite the gabber these days. I'm guessing he gets it from my side of the family. (Although Shane can sure gab as well if you get him on the right subject.)

And since he's still hit and miss with his prepositions and tenses, Christian's been coming up with all sorts of funny statements.

For example:

He'll say : "I wanna kick you" (while holding a soccer ball). Translation: "I want to kick the ball TO you."

He'll say: "I eat you." Translation: "I want to eat WITH you."

He'll say: "I hold you." Translation: "I want you to hold ME."

He'll say: "I want to sit you." Translation: "I want to sit WITH you."

He grabs my hand: "Dance me." Translation: "Dance WITH me."

forever21 find

I've had a bit more time for playing and shopping this month (gotta love August recess).

The other day I was at the mall and popped into Forever21, hoping to find a blouse I spotted on Pinterest. (Have you ever tried to find something specific in that store? It's near impossible, kind of like H&M. I realized after plowing through several racks that I would do better to call with the item number to confirm it's even in the store before wasting anymore time.)

But, alas, all was not lost. I discovered a whole table of striped cardigans and sweaters, and left a very happy customer. I probably should be cutting down on the horizontal stripes at this point in my pregnancy, but who can resist when they start at $12.90? So I thought I'd share my fab find before they disappear.

Here's a small sampling, but there were adorable cardigans in all combinations and also v-necks with wide rugby stripes -- way more than you'll find online. Bring on the fall!

28 weeks

Yep, another distorted belly photo. I can still see my feet over my belly, but it takes some effort. (And no, our carpet isn't turning green, but the lighting sure makes it look like it.)

Observations:

- baby will now push on me from two sides at once -- like he's doing a full-body stretch -- makes he realize he's getting pretty long

- getting achy in my legs and hips during the night, tempted to find a chiropractor

- still running, surprised myself in California by running 5 1/2 miles one morning by myself with no music -- I think it was just nice to have a new trail and no humidity ;)

- throwing up every once in a while -- totally my fault because I'll get caught up and forget to eat before my stomach freaks out

- no idea what my current weight is -- I figure I'll let the doc break the bad news at my appointment today rather than get on a scale here at home (ignorance is bliss...right?)

- no swelling or other issues, as far as I can tell -- hoping that means it will be a non-issue like last time around

- can't believe my due date is less than three months away, it's finally feeling real and I'm already feeling urges to "nest"