our 2011 christmas day





cookies and milk for santa//peeking around the corner//purple reading tent

christmas jammies and slippers//kung fu panda 2

stocking stuffers//buzz and woody//lollipop

band for mr. sorensen//pajama party

church time

pick a card.

ATTENTION EVERYONE.

 It's that time again.

The Second Baby Sorensen Prediction Giveaway!

We did this last time and it was super fun so of course we must do it again. Leave a comment with your best guess on the date and time of The Ninja's birth. Also include his height and weight in case of a tie. It is weird typing "his" instead of "hers"..will I ever get used to that?

The winner of this most extravagant giveaway will receive a homebaked treat from your truly and a handmade something awesome from Miss Isabelle herself. Both priceless treasures.

Here is what we know so far:

• Official "due date" January 9th, 2012
• I am measuring on track, today I am 38 weeks 3 days.
• Jazz and I were both late. Isabelle was induced at 40 weeks 5 days...also late.
• Isabelle weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 inches long.
• Because I am a vbac candidate, I will not be permitted to gestate past 41 weeks. So technically the latest this baby can be born is January 16-17th.

Only 5 more sleeps in my own bed until we make the trek to Davis to stay for the duration. So crazy!

38 Weeks

Did you survive Christmas? Ours was epic- really so much fun..I need to sort through the elevendy billion photos we took of those few days. Isabelle was such a treat to watch and interact with- made everything that much more exciting. Anyway, post to come.

Yesterday I hit 38 Weeks. The beginning of the end.

The checklist of things to do is getting shorter and shorter. Get hair colored. Unback baby accessories. Wash crib bedding. Pack newborn baby clothes. Check check check. Have Christmas. Check! My due date is two weeks away, and although I am technically considered full term and could pop anytime, I don't think we will be seeing this baby until he is good and ready. All of my doctor's appointments have been smooth and I am still measuring right on track. Isabelle measured a week large, even though she was tiny... so who really knows. I did get out some newborn diapers and was blown away by the size. I thought maybe they were preemie by accident because they are just so teeny tiny. They make Isabelle's size five diapers look like they are for shrek.

I'm definitely feeling it now..up to just a few weeks ago I was pretty comfortable and this is the part where everything makes me groan and say things under my breath like 'oh good hell.' And tons and tons BH contractions- like A LOT. Lots of trips to the bathroom in the night, which is fine because I'm awake anyway to rotate sides like a rotisserie chicken. I can't really cross my legs anymore. Makes church interesting. Girls, buy LONG maternity skirts.

I relocate to Sacramento permanently on the 3rd- where we will stay until the baby is born. We are HUGELY in debted to our good friends who have let us stay in their fully furnished vacant condo in downtown Sacramento. We totally couldn't do this without them... big answer to our prayers that they offered their wonderful space to us. I'm thankful I can carry this baby. I'm so thankful I have family who help SO much. I'm thankful for a reliable car and a safe carseat. I'm thankful for modern medicine and the opportunity to give birth at a wonderful hospital in Sacramento.

I held my friends 6 pound 1-day old baby boy this week and I was so jealous that hers is out and mine is still in and almost stole him. I did receive some puzzling looks walking through the hospital with my giant pointy belly like they weren't sure if I needed help or just directions. I almost faked labor just for fun but I didn't.

I'm so excited to meet this little baby boy I could burst. I hope I remember how to do stuff. It all comes back, right?

36 Weeks with the Ninja

33 Weeks

28 Weeks

26 Weeks

23 Weeks

19 Weeks

14 Weeks

merry and bright.

Hail, hail the gang's all here! Of course, a family get together would not be complete with the burrito bandito. They even open up their extra room for us because we are basically a sports team of peeps.

Like her mama, Isabelle loves the 'rito.

Shortly after that, we had a caroling/cocoa party at moms house with our friends and family. Yes we are wearing santa hats, it was a requirement.

Isabelle was not super excited about the whole idea. Mostly she was not thrilled she didn't have a flashlight, and after that was fixed she was good to go. It was cooold though!

Then this morning we spent some time aggressively decorating gingerbread houses while we fulfilled our tradition of watching the Muppet Christmas Carol. Notice Isabelle is eating the candy. "One for the house, one for my mouth" kind of method. Very smart.

I was surprised actually how careful she was about candy placement. Very strategic. Again, more candy in her mouth.

Pretty soon the kids were done and the adults took over. (which was our plan all along...)

Our masterpiece. I would like to point out that Jazz created the fudge chimney all by himself.

Anyway, I'm so happy this weekend I just might explode. We are having SO much fun with everyone, Isabelle especially loves running around with her cousins. Right now she is napping (in her twin bed!) and I finished some Christmas Eve preparations- the stockings are hung from the chimney with care and we are so ready for tonight. I know I will have a hard time sleeping because I am THAT excited for Isabelle to wake up and experience Christmas morning.

We sure are missing our UT/PA Family though... Hope you all are having an equally as lovely weekend with those you love.  Merry Christmas Eve!

it's practically here.

Tonight the christmas festivities begin with the first wave of family arriving in town. More are coming tomorrow, and even more on friday. I'm so excited that 16 of us will be together for the holiday weekend- unless the ninja decides to join and then there will be an extra. Friday is caroling and cocoa, Saturday gingerbread houses and the crab feed, and Sunday is Christmas day. Hard to believe Christmas is here already! How many times can I say Christmas in this paragraph. Christmas christmas christmas christmas!

Every year Christmas gets more fun with Isabelle. This year she knows Santa is coming and she is excited to open her presents under the tree. I'm way more excited though to watch her experience the whole day. Why did no one mention it was going to be so much fun as the parent? We have carefully picked out her gifts and wrapped them with her little personality in mind..I'm so thankful we are able to provide for her and create this magical morning. My heart will totally explode.

Isabelle and I have been baking treats for our neighbors and friends, she is such a good helper. She likes to operate the mixer, add the ingredients and of course taste the frosting. "I have more mom? I have more!"

Also how did I forget to update about my pregnant sister? Surprise, it's MORGAN! So pleased to share the news that Baby Williams will be joining our family in June. We are so thrilled and excited for Mo and JR.

graduating.

this is what's happening at my house right now.

the crib is put away.

so far so good. we will see.

I'm proud/excited/happy.

okay fine I did cry a little bit.

my baby is big.

12/16/2011

Isabelle had her first sleep over last Friday at my mom's house. Jazz had a company work party that was non-baby friendly so we planned to have a practice overnighter with Grandma. We got all fancy! Isn't my mom's tree so beautiful? She's the best.

Anyway. For the first time in 26 months, I left Isabelle for the whole night. I did really great all evening until we started driving home after frozen yogurt and the closer we got to our house without our Isabelle the more I started totally freaking out. I knew she was over at my moms, happily in a pack-n-play, not even missing me in the SLIGHTEST. But something about not having her in my car or in her bed or in my house made me lose my marbles. I totally bawled my eyes out and kept proclaiming to Jazz "She needs me! She misses her bed! She wants to come home!" And in reality none of those things were true. Damn pregnancy hormones. I let out a good cry and then it was over. I slept well, Jazz slept well, and when he stirred at 7:45 the next morning I was already awake- bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to go get her. The best part? Mom made pancakes and bacon and eggs. I recommend her services highly.

Just a few days before that, Isabelle figured out how to take off her pants and her diaper while she was in her crib. I knew it was coming, because let's face it she is super smart and trixy.. I thought she was totally sound asleep and I went in to make sure she was covered up and she was like SIKE I'm awake! And I don't have pants on! Or a diaper! Suckaaaa!

I was laughing too hard to be upset, it just really surprised me! After a few rounds of me putting on her diaper/clothes and her removing her diaper/clothes, I got the tape out. We skipped the scotch and went straight to the packaging tape. WHICH SHE GOT OUT OF. She shimmied out of the legs without undo-ing the tabs. Clever girl. (Name that movie.) I double taped her and after that she was too delirious and tired to figure it out. Time spent awake past bedtime = about an hour and a half.

The next night she did it again so we did the backwards zip up pajama trick- which totally worked. Fun fact-Isabelle will not sleep in fleece, or anything with feet. I've tried all kinds of brands and organic ones everything and she just hates all of them. MAMA FEET OUUUUT. Have you ever tried to find zip up pajamas in a 3T that don't have feet and aren't made of fleece? Not my favorite task. And I am awesome at shopping. Also, Isabelle is apparently tall. Every time someone asks how old she is and I reply that she just turned two, they marvel at her tallness. Thus the 3T pajamas.

After a few nights of the backwards zips, we went back to her regular rotation of two piece pajamas and she hasn't done the diaper trick again. (For now.) I just always worry about her tiny little feet being cold in the night...I'm hoping that once we get her in her twin bed she will stay warmer with a larger blankie. Or else we could resort back to the swaddle! I'm thinking she would probably houdini her way out of that too...

36 Weeks

Welp. I'm 36 weeks.

We went to Davis again yesterday for my weekly checkup. This appointment began the cervical checks- yeahhh! I will spare you details but the appointment was wonderful and I met another great and supportive vbac doctor. I officially got the okay to move down there Jan 3rd instead of Dec 26th. If you're keeping track, I'll be 39 weeks at that point and ready to deliver at anytime. Hopefully. I go back every week until then.

It's hard to remember what it feels like to not be pregnant. Bending is getting difficult. I'm starting to get those looks from people like "dear heavens when is that baby coming out." I remember reaching this point last time and feeling like it would never end but I feel much more patient this time. Maybe it's because Christmas has to happen first or maybe it's because I'm in no rush to be induced. Either way, I'm still pretty comfortable and sleeping well. I do get out of breath super easily it's embarrassing. I sound like a super fat wheezy old man.

The word of the month is NESTY. I just want to get everything set and ready in case the ninja comes early or we have to go to Davis. You know, in a perfect world I'd love to leave my house clean and laundry done but also like HA yeah right. Today I tackled the baseboards, doors and blinds and they were dirty to the max. Of course, now that I'm finished I may never be able to move again but at least that stuff is clean. The baby's room is ready- as ready as it can be without a crib. I made a tiny pile of baby boy things to take to the hospital and still need to gather everything else I need. Which, by the way, seems overwhelming to pack for at least ten days stay for me, Isabelle, toys and entertainment, hospital stuff, postpartum stuff, new baby stuff, and anything else we may need while we are away from home.

I'm hungry a lot. I can not drink enough hot chocolate. I buy the sugar free kind so it's 20 calories a serving but I drink two servings at a time. Today I've had three cups. Thats 6 servings. WHATEVER it's basically free calories, right. I'm also having tons and tons of braxton hick's contractions- especially when I'm active or lifting Isabelle a lot. I don't mind them because I know they are a way of preparing so bring it on! Also I have twelve chins. This baby moves a ton and I can't remember if it is more or less than Isabelle did (what is it about pregnancy that makes you forget everything.) He also gets the hiccups every single day without fail.

We did get a sneaky ultrasound last week just for fun thanks to some awesome people at Jazz's work. It's so nice to have perks like that! Baby is head down and measuring right on track, of course he was stubborn and would not let us see his face other than his cute little lips. I can't believe how much bigger he is than last time we saw him on screen-- I thought his hand was his face until the tech was like ummmm no those are his fingers, his head is over HERE and it's HUGE.

Also, we may have a name! Just maybe.

33 Weeks with the Ninja

28 Weeks with the Ninja

26 Weeks with the Ninja

23 Weeks with the Ninja

19 Weeks with the Ninja

14 Weeks with the Ninja

37 Weeks with baby Isabelle


PS: Exciting news...the ninja will have a baby cousin in June! Can you guess who is pregnant?

naughty or nice.

Isabelle met Santa last night. The IDEA was exciting for her, but the actual follow through was not so much fun. This is when Santa was getting up on stage. Nothing could get her to break her stare and look at the camera.

Her little face when Santa entered the room.

Aaaand we tried super hard.

But she was terrified. Olivia did great though.

She was cool after she got her bag of treats. In fact, she didn't let go of the bag until bed time.

.

Maybe next year?

PS. One year ago:

some park time

Well we sort of experienced a slow warm up to winter Last week it was 65-70 ish all week long and it felt like the summer time to me. Could be my built in incubator, I seriously am hot all. the. time. Because of this weather we've been able to be outside during the day quite a bit before it gets dark at basically 4 pm. There is this super park in our town, not technically in our neighborhood in fact it is sort of out of the way but it's my favorite. Isabelle can climb and slide to her heart's content and this time of year it isn't very busy at all.

The OCD gene in Isabelle makes her "clean" the tiny bark bits off the stairs as she climbs up. She is so particular. I can't help but really super enjoy the little time I have left of just me and Isabelle together... she is my only baby that will be the only child for any period of time- after this there will always be more then just one! I feel like this is the calm before the storm...

Also: Isabelle figured out she can take off her pants and diaper while in her crib. More to come on that.