Week 19, and Being Mommy..

Here is a summary of how things have been in our world recently..

So I am nearly 19 weeks along with baby girl Hendershot #2 and I am feeling ok. It seems like as soon as I hit the second trimester mark the sickness drizzled out and I have had more energy as a whole. Not to mention going from feeling picky with food to wanting to eat everthing in sight! I have felt baby move a few times, nothing super regular or strong yet, just little flutters. I do find myself feeling super moody though, and there are days when I literally could just cry about nothing all day long! Sleeping is getting uncomfortable and not as restful, and my anklles (actually more like KANKLES these days) are already super swollen most of the time, as are my hands.. bah!! My temper has been really short with Nick and Maggie and honestly, I feel quite bad for them. Nick said today as he was leaving for work, "Well it seems as though you are only the 'real Niki' every other day these days, so I am really excited to see you tomorrow." Oh my... Sorry babes! Sadly, I am not a cute, bubbly and very "glowy" pregnant lady. I blow up like a balloon, get zits, become emotionally unstable and moody, and feel like poop! But all for a very cute cause!

Maggie... Oh Maggie! What a cutie she is, and how quickly she is growing up! She is on a little kick of wanting to do EVERYTHING by herself!! It is really cute to see her be so independent, but I must say that there are just still some things that she needs help with (like rinsing the bubbles out of her hair, pouring her milk, wiping her face, putting on pull-ups, choosing clothes, etc.) I have been trying to hold back and let her figure things out on her own, but she definitely DOES NOT want to ask Mom or Dad for help!! or allow us to step in at all without throwing a royal tantrum. So unfortunately, she is learning more and more about time out each day, and learning to take deep breaths and not worry about things so much (as am I). It is a fun stage of parenting, but it is also very exhausting. With her being my first child, I have to admit that I feel a little bad for her. I have never been a Mommy before her, and I am learning one step at a time, but there are times when I have absolutely no clue what to do. I started reading Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers, by Tracy Hogg, hoping to find some useful skills in there, and I have learned a lot about Maggie's personality and my parenting style, and hopefully later on it will get into more problem solving skills and such.

Truth be told, up until this point I have not read many books or taken any classes about how to be a Mom. I have taken advice from my Moms and prayed about what I should do and that is why Maggie is alive. I don't think I am a horrible mom or anything, I just feel like we have come to a point that I need some extra help.

Mommy is a tough job, but very well worth it! I would be a liar if I told you that I didn't lock myself in my room and scream into my pillow at times, or told you that I don't wish for a little time ALL BY MYSELF sometimes. But then I see that breathtaking smile and those sparkling blue eyes, and I'm done. It just takes one little hug accompanied by "ooooh, Mama" and I am back to my ooey gooey self. :)

So all is mostly well with the Hendershots! Nick is done with school for the summer, so we have had a few weeks of mornings together and we are ready to accomplish some summer and pre-baby projects and have some much needed family fun!