30 Week Appt--Paxton

Today I had a normal routine check up with Dr. Whipp at the OB office, it was my 30 week appointment.  Jeff was able to come and we brought Annabelle with us too.  I gained a couple of pounds and knew that with this pregnancy I was going to be putting on more weight than I did with Annabelle.  I peed in the cup and then they took me back to wait for Dr. Whipp.  He came in and as normal we chatted for a bit about life and how things were going and how I was feeling.  He asked me questions and if I was feeling anything different or had cramping or was sick, and like always I answered no to all of the above and said things were fine.

I was a bit surprised, but he brought up scheduling a date for my c-section so that we could start planning ahead what we needed to do to prepare for it.  We looked at the calendar and chose March 11, 2014 @ 7:30 a.m.  I liked the sound of that date because my birthday falls on the 11th too.  I couldn't believe that we had an actual date for your birth, Dad and I were both excited!  Dr. Whipp listened to the heart beat and it sounded strong and good and was at a normal rate.  We shook his hand goodbye and set another follow up appointment for the following 2 weeks with him.

On the way home in the car I couldn't help but bring up to Jeff that in my gut I felt like I wasn't going to make it to 39 weeks to have the scheduled c-section and my gut (later on realizing it was the spirit) was telling me that something crazy would happen instead with my labor.  Since I worry about every little thing Jeff's response was, "Yeah right Elle, he'll come on the date we scheduled."  I was even hesitant to call my Mom and share the good news with her and to plan for when they should come down.  After Wednesday I just couldn't shake the feeling off that something unexpected would arise.

After really pondering about my feelings and how unsettled I felt about the c-section date I began to see clearly that it was the spirit preparing me for a situation that would be less than ideal.  Now looking back on those promptings, I should have paid more attention to the Holy Ghost's warnings.  The original due date for Paxton was March 16, 2014.  I was able to push a lot of my concerns aside knowing that I still had 10 weeks to go so maybe nothing out of the ordinary would happen.  Well at least I was hoping and praying that it would not.

I couldn't help but feel unsettled about carrying Paxton full term, Annabelle was born at 37 weeks and I knew my body and that for some reason I just don't carry full term.  All in all this was a lesson about faith and that I needed to trust in Heavenly Father and that no matter the outcome He and Jeff would be with me and that Paxton would be born healthy and strong. Here's to baby Schaub #2!!! :)

Annabelle Update: (Age 2.5, Dec 2013/Jan 2014)

1. One day you told me, "Dad needs to bring home a truck so we can go to Vegas, ok?"

2. You will say something and always end it with, "ok Mom?"

3. Tonight when we were reading the story of baby Jesus being born you knew his Mommy and Daddy were Mary and Joseph and told us their names.

4. When I come to get you in the morning you always say, "Daddy at work, but he'll be home later!"

5. People have been asking you where Santa is and you always tell them, "He's on TV!"

6. I don't want to forget how Shayne and Kim Monson always took such good care of you during sacrament every single Sunday. She even had her own "Annabelle bag" which included treats, books and coloring. Shayne always loved to give you tic tacs too. I don't know what we'll do without them in our new ward. They were the best babysitters and spoiled you.

7. You have started taking your stuffed animals and lining them up in your little tent or on a chair and you feed them and take them potty too. You take such good care of them and I know you'll be an amazing big sister to baby brother.

8. We were in a jeep Daddy brought home from driving to Laughlin and you loved singing along to "Santa Clause is Coming to Town!"

9. You are doing so awesome at saying your own prayers. You always make sure to say thank you for your parents and baby brother, they are the most sweetest and tender prayers. You have such an obedient spirit.

10. We always say to each other, "I love you to the moon and back!" Then the other day you told me, "I love you to the stars and back Mommy!"

11. Amber and John bought you this really cute wooden kitchen set with utensils, plates, pots, a cutting board and fruits to cut and you love playing kitchen with everyone. They surprised you with it over Thanksgiving, so so thoughtful and sweet of them. They love you so much.

12. We were in the car driving to Mesa for New Years 2014 and you told daddy, "You need to shave!" We don't know where you come up with these things!

13. Instead of saying, "She's doing that" you say, "Hers is doing that!" It's really cute and we try and correct you, but you still go back to saying "hers!"

14. Tutu had sent you a card and $5 for Christmas and we asked you what you wanted to buy with it and you said, "I buy chocket at the store!"

15. You told us today that Caillou lives at Walmart and you wanted to go play at his house.

16. We asked you what Grammy Schaub does for her job and you said, "she colors!"

Since we were going to be in Mesa for so long I thought I might as well take you in to get a haircut with Emilee, you needed one and of course she did not disappoint!  

You were all ready to pose right after for some pics! 

1. Hanging out with your stuffed animals while Mommy was pumping at Grammy Schaub's house.  I'm thankful that you can entertain yourself and play with your toys.

2. Daddy captured a cute pic of me and you together.

3. All ready for church in your new gold cardigan sweater Mommy bought for you at Walmart.

4. You were excited about the new Minnie Mouse cup Daddy had bought for you.

5. Amber took you to the park when she was babysitting you one day while at was at the hospital and she sent me this picture.

6.  On a hummus date with Aunt Tara, she loves to take you to Pita Jungle.

1. Kiki babysat you one day while I was at the NICU with Pax and she took you and Karlie to the park, you girls always have so much fun together.

2. Playing with Grammy Schaub's reading glasses, you are such a goof sometimes!

3. After a long day you fell asleep quick in the car, our sweet little angel girl.

Although we were busy going back and forth from the hospital to take care of Paxton we did make the time to still attend the open house for the Gilbert Temple.  It was nice because we were also able to take Nicki and Molly with us.  You were very well behaved and liked wearing the white slippers they gave us to put on before we took the tour.  It was also fun to have Grammy and Papa Shaver with us.  Such an eternally beautiful place, I hope you find the peace and happiness there that Dad and I do.

Mesa Temple Lights with the family.  We met up with Kiki and her family and brought the wagon to put you and Karlie in and it worked out great! Jarom and Joc also met up with us there.  The spirit of Christmas shines through with all the stunning lights and the strong spirit of Christ that is shared.

Annabelle--26/27 Month Update

1. I asked you if I could be your best friend and you always say, "No, Daddy is my best friend!"

2. After we are done saying prayers at night and Dad reads you your books you are always so quick to rush him out of your room and close the door on him. You say, "Bye Dad!"

3. You said your first prayer tonight, all on your own! {10/23/13} You made sure to bless your mobiles (movies), to help you be nice, to go potty, and said that you love President Monson.  You say "Heavenly Fawdder" at least 3x during your prayer.  At the end I swear Dad and I were looking into the eyes of an angel. Melted our hearts.

4. I ask you where baby brother is and you always point to your tummy, you get upset if I tell you he's in mommy's tummy! You always tell me you're going to help change poopy diapers.

5. When you keep your undies dry you come up to me and say, "double high 5!"

6. The other day I saw you trying to teach Minnie the ABC's.

7. We still constantly get compliments from other people of how well you speak for being 2, you pick up and remember new vocabulary very easily and can talk in complete sentences.

8. You were making barking noises and so I said, "Are you a dog Annabelle?" Then you said, "No, I a Annabelle!"

9. Your favorite movie by far is Wreck It Ralph. You could watch it all day long. You get all emotional when Ralph wrecks Venelope's car and say, "Mommy, Ralph is not being nice, he wreck her car!"

10. When you count you say..."1, 2, 3, 4...9!"

11. You are at the stage where you demand to do everything on your own, you are so independent. And although I want you to learn it drives Mommy bonkers sometimes!

12. Today you told me, "Mommy, I like your pink eyes!" And then I let you wipe some of my eyeshadow off to put on your eyes. You are so observant.

13. You told Dad tonight you didn't want him to go to work.  Then he told you he had to work so we could go shopping, and so that Mommy could buy clothes and things for you, and to also pay for the house, then you chimed in and said, "and to buy choket (chocolate)!!" It's so cute when you always want to add to our conversation.

14. We were driving home from Mesa after our Thanksgiving trip and you said you had to go potty and I told you to hold it and you could go at home. You then said, "I go potty at the gas station!"

15. Everytime I tell you to stop doing something so we can do other things or leave somewhere you always say, "5 more minutes ok?"

Corbyn cut your hair again and gave you the cutest bob! I loved all the volume you got from how she stacked it in the back! You were so good about sitting still while she cut your hair but sometimes you would just start giggling because when the scissors 

touched your neck you said it tickled you!

Holding baby Molly together at Peaches house.  You 2 girls are the only grandkids on the Shaver side!

In your new pj's from Costco.

This picture makes my heart so sad because you look so grown up standing on your little stool and brushing your teeth all by yourself. 

In your new kicks that Mommy bought you from Ross.

We went to story time at the Library and you guys made turkey's for your craft. 

Showing Minnie her ABC's.

You love to help Mommy cook and wear her apron. 

Sitting on the stairs at Grammy Schaub's house.