TMI Series: End of TTC Month Two

As I thought, July was not our month for getting pregnant so the process starts again. I adjusted my MyDays app according to when I believe I ovulated last month as well as the number of days in my cycle. I'm sure this will work a little better and help me relax about the whole process. I will not be purchasing a large number of pregnancy testing strips again. I have been debating about purchasing ovulation testing strips to ensure that I know when I'm ovulating but I think that will just cause a little obsession. We'll see though.
Of course I'm hoping that this will be our month but I also know that I can't force anything. When it happens, it happens. For now, we'll just enjoy the ride.

TMI Series: TTC Month Two (Update)

Well, it's looking as though this will not be our month to conceive. Although I have been tracking my cycle since last month, I have been guessing about the number of days in my cycle due to having my Implanon removed. I have tried my best not to obsess over this but it has been so hard. As I mentioned in my previous month two post, I purchased a large number of pregnancy testing strips and believe me, I have been putting those to use. I started testing about 10 days post ovulation. I am still holding on to a little hope since I didn't get a positive test before my first missed period with Liam. According to my MyDays app, my period is due to start today. I have experienced cramping today but besides that, nothing. I plan to test again tomorrow morning but if my period shows up, I will start planning for month three.

I'll update you guys either way but continue to send those baby vibes until then!

TMI Series: TTC Month Two

As I've mentioned a few times before, we are trying for baby number two. We are currently in our second month of trying and are still crossing our fingers that things will happen sooner rather than later.

I'm actually new to the process of trying to conceive. When Will and I decided that we were going to try to get pregnant with Liam, I just stopped taking my birth control pills, downloaded the My Days app for my phone, and I was pregnant within a month. This time I'm almost expecting us to have a hard time getting pregnant. I don't know if it's the lack of ignorance due to all of the googling I've been doing or the fact that it was so easy the first time.

There are so many horror stories about pregnancy after Implanon on the internet. The stories range from fertility not returning to successfully getting pregnant only to have it result in a miscarriage (which I'm sure wasn't linked to the Implanon but still scare, nonetheless). I guess I should be happy that things seem to have gone back to normal right after having it removed. My doctor said that it usually takes four days for the hormones to leave your system. When I inputted my information into the My Days app, I rigged it to where I would be ovulating on day four (even though I had no idea when I would ovulate) and based on a 28 day cycle, it showed me when the first day of my period would be. Well, I actually got my period on the day it showed which actually doesn't surprise me too much. My cycle has always been pretty predictable. I have never missed a period except for while pregnant with Liam and when I had my Implanon (my doctor said that it was probably a combination of the Implanon and breastfeeding that kept my period away).

I know that a period doesn't automatically mean that ovulation is taking place as well. I'm really trying not to stress or obsess over this but it's so hard. In an effort to keep the cost of testing down, I ordered a large amount of pregnancy testing strips from early-pregnancy-tests.com. The site also sells ovulation testing strips but for some reason I didn't order any (I immediately regretted this decision after I paid but didn't feel like placing another order). If I'm not pregnant in the next three months, then I'll definitely want to make sure I am ovulating but for now, I have noticed signs of ovulation so I'll just go with it.

According to the My Days app, I should have ovulated yesterday so I think I'll start testing ten days from now. So, send some baby dust my way and (crossing my fingers) hopefully I'll have good news to share in a couple weeks.

I am...18 Months Old (Super Late!)

New Things:
Climbing in and out of his playpen and high chair
Saying actual words (like "Hey!" when he notices something)
Hiding when taking poops (he actually went into the closet and closed the door)
Mimicking behaviors

Not So New Things:
Climbing on everything
Removing his diaper any chance he gets
Breastfeeding
Co-sleeping

18 Month Appointment:
Liam weighed 28.8 lbs (84th percentile) and was 34.84 inches tall (99th percentile) at his appointment. I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I am slightly obsessed with Liam's height. Even though Will is over 6', I'm scared that Liam will end up with my short genes (I'm 5').
During his appointment, we discussed a concern I had about his speech. He is not behind but he's also not ahead. We talked a little about things we can do at home to help with his speech since he's an only child and doesn't go to any sort of daycare or play dates. Since then, I have made plans to start setting up play dates for him just to help with, not only his speech, but also give him a social life. Other than that, Liam is right on task and we couldn't be happier. Now here are a few pictures of the little guy. Enjoy!!

Coming Soon: The TMI Series

I've been holding back. I want to use this blog as an outlet and source of expression but I know that some things can be considered TMI. Since I still want to share these things, I figured I would start a "TMI Series". This will be an area on my blog where I will talk about things that may not appeal to everyone (especially men who I doubt will be reading this anyways). So, consider this a heads-up. If you don't want to read about my lady bits (since we are TTCing, I will probably reference my lady bits a lot), you should avoid this series, lol. TTCing is an exciting time for us and this is definitely I something I want to share with my friends, family and readers who may be TTCing as well. I just want to warn those who are not interested in these topics beforehand. Now that everyone has been warned, let the lady bit conversations begin! Okay, not really but yeah, pretty much.

In Transition...

I haven't posted in awhile and I want to apologize to anyone who happens to read my blog. I got a new computer and I am trying to get things figured out. I promise to update soon. I have Liam's 18 month update as well as a few other posts I want to do very soon.
Again, I apologize and to make it up to you guys, here's a family picture we took while messing around on the new MacBook Pro's Photo Booth. Enjoy!

We're Offically Trying for Baby #2!

It's official. I have been Implanon free for over a week now so we are officially trying to conceive. We are super excited and hopeful that it won't take us long to get pregnant again.

We're even more excited because this pregnancy will be a bit different than the last one. Although Will will be leaving for school at the beginning of next year, he will not be deploying (as long as nothing changes with our orders) for the next three years. We're happy that our family will be able to grow and strengthen with both parents here instead of being deployed although we understand that deployments are something we will have to deal with as a dual military family. Being together is not something we take for granted so as long as our orders stay the same, we'll cherish this extended family time.

I am...17 Months Old

New Things:
Hanging out in his playpen (and trying to climb out)
Sleeping (mostly) through the night
Loves trains (and makes the cutest noise for them)
Temper tantrums (enough said)

Not So New Things:
Climbing
"Talking"
Removing his diaper any chance he gets
Breastfeeding (more than usual)

Liam has been so active over the past month. He is still climbing everything and we now have to keep the bathroom door closed at all times because he climbed onto the sink. He loves to be outside and gets really excited when we go for walks (which we need to do more often). He's trying to talk more and I wouldn't be surprised if he just starts putting words together and forming sentences (he already uses "read" and "book" together).

He's a really fun guy although he has been showing signs of aggression and anger lately. He gets really upset when he's told he can't do something and has started to hit things (and sometimes people) to show his frustration. This is something we really want to work on. Actually, our whole parenting method is something we need to work on. I tend to be the disciplinarian while Will is the "fun" parent. Even if Liam is doing something that Will knows he shouldn't, 80% of the time, Will will not correct the action. We will definitely need to get on the same page if we want to tackle Liam's temper tantrums and bouts of aggression.

Overall, we are loving this stage of Liam's growth especially when he gives hugs and kisses. He really is a sweet guy.

Week One In Pictures

1. Peace
2. Skyline
3. Something I wore
4. Fun!
5. Bird
6. You
7. Someone who inspires you

What's Going On

I just wanted to do a quick update on what's going on in the C. household. Will received news that he will be going to school early next year and once he finishes, we will be moving to a new area. We won't know for sure where we will be going until next year but wherever we end up, we'll be there for two years.
I'm excited and nervous but also thankful that we have plenty of time for this information to set in and even more time to plan our move. Another thing that we are planning is baby number two! I had originally planned to have my Implanon removed this month but after doing a little math, we realized that Will may not be able to be home for the birth (again). Although it could take months (or even years) for us to get pregnant again, we've decided not to take any chances and will be waiting until August instead. Even though I have to wait a few more months, I'm still excited at the thought of having another baby. Until then, I'll just hold as many babies as possible (which is easy with my new job).
Other than that, things are good here. We've been enjoying some good weather (although it is pretty chilly today), spending lots of time with Liam and preparing for the summer. Have a great weekend everyone!

A Little About My Job!

For anyone who reads my blog (which is probably just my little sister, Hi Jahnaia!), I mentioned that I have found a job. I am working as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor through our local health department. This position is not unheard of but it is usually through WIC so this is a new area for everyone. I will be able to work with anyone who uses the health department for services (this is includes WIC but doesn't exclude those who do not qualify for WIC). Since starting the job, I have met lots of amazing women and realized that the position I am in is actually really important and there are a lot of people who are not only excited about it but also expecting me to do a great job. No pressure or anything but it is motivating me to work hard and try to make the most of the position.
Although I work through the health department, I am technically not a health department employee. I don't have an office, I don't come in to work everyday, I actually work mostly from home. When nursing moms need assistance, I receive a referral from the health department informing me of the issue(s) that the mom is experiencing. I then contact the mom and see if I can assist her by stopping by and giving her nursing advice. Well, I have received four referrals this week. I really wasn't expecting to even have any referrals so this was an awesome surprise. So far, I've only met with two moms (who were really nice) and although I don't have all the answers, I hope that I helped them out as much as I can.
After my two counselings, I realized that I would love to do this as a career. As of right now, I am completely satisfied being a BFPC but I eventually want to become a LPN and continue the path to becoming a board certified lactation consultant. Those are future plans though. Right now, I want to be a great resource for nursing moms in my county. I want moms to know that if I don't have the answer, I will do my hardest to figure it out for them. That being said, I need to get started on some online training while Liam is sleeping. Have a great weekend everyone!

May Photo Challenge!

Are you guys ready for some picture fun?? Well, I have decided to participate in fat mum slim's May photo challenge. It seems like a blast and it will force get me to take more pictures. Here's the challenge list:

Source

I will be participating through my Instagram (@willandjaye) by using the hashtag #photoadayMay. I don't think I'll post the pictures on the blog everyday but I think I'll do a "our week in photos" blog.
I'm super excited to do this challenge and if you're interested in doing it as well, you should dive in!

Baby Number Two??

First off, I'm not pregnant but I do have major baby fever. I've talked about my desire to have a second baby before but now it's no longer just a desire, it's a burning, aching desire.

I don't think there's ever a perfect time to plan a baby. I'm the type of person who likes to be in control so that means I love scheduling and organization. That being said, if I actually sat down and planned when we would try for a second baby, I may never get pregnant (on purpose) again. We could wait for me to have a permanent job or wait until we own a home. There will always be something that would better prepare us for becoming a family of four but it doesn't change the fact that I would prefer more than one kid and would want them to be close in age. We may not be ready right now but I'm crossing my fingers for sooner rather than later.

Will, however, is not on the same page with me right now. He's not quite ready for another baby, which I understand as well. Liam is a very active little guy. He's always on the move and is very strong-willed. If I had two Liams under two, I would be a very tired lady. We've had the baby talk numerous times over the past month or so and have come to the conclusion that we will be trying for a baby this year. Whether I have my Implanon removed this summer or by Liam's birthday (in December), we're not sure but this year for sure.

Am I the only one out there with baby fever? If you have more than one kid, how far apart are they?

16 Month Update!!

Wow! Time has definitely flown by. Liam is growing (last time he decided to weigh himself, the scale said 27.8 lbs) and learning like crazy. We've experienced a few milestones that have been fun as a few that have been not so fun. I'll start with the good.

Liam has been talking a lot more. He definitely babbles all the time but lately he's been trying to repeat words. Here are a list of words he can say:
Mama
Daddy
Bye Bye
Hello (he likes to pretend to talk on the phone a lot and uses just about anything as a phone)
Peppa (his name for all of the dogs)
Please
Peek
No
Stop
Go
Yeah
Baby
Bubble
Pop
Ball

As you can see, we have a very talkative boy on our hands. Other than talking, Liam has decided that climbing is his new favorite activity. This little boy is climbing everything! He climbed onto our kitchen table yesterday. I just found him shimmying his way onto our t.v. stand. It's absolutely nerve wrecking. I'm just crossing my fingers that we don't have any falling incidents (although Will broke his left arm twice as a child...crossing my fingers, crossing my fingers).

He's a fun guy who thinks he's hilarious. He does this fake laugh all the time and I love it. He has a beautiful smile and flashes it all day long. Now, he does have him moments when that smile is nowhere in sight. We've experienced quite a few temper tantrums over the past month. He is very strong willed and when he sets his mind on something, it's hard to change it. I have realized that I am not a very patient person and am working hard to make sure that even though we have difficult times, we smile as well.

Okay, enough talking from me. Here's the boy!


Yesterday, Liam was hanging out with my mom while I attended a class. They went for a walk and Liam decided that he was going to run ahead of my mom. He learned the hard way that it's a bad idea to run on gravel. My poor little guy's nose is so scuffed up but I assure you, it looks a lot worse than it is.

What We've Been Up To...

So, I haven't been updating like I should (do you forgive me??). No worries though, things are good here (except for a little car trouble but that's taken care of now). We've been chugging along and things really seem to be falling into place. Liam has turned into Spiderman and is climbing everything. He decided that he wanted the car keys off the dining room table this morning and figured he'd just climb onto a chair and make his way on top of the table. I almost had a heart attack. That boy is trying to kill me!

In recent news (well, sort of recent news). Will and I celebrated our two year anniversary on March 24th. We just went to a nice baby-free dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Houlihan's. If you get a chance to go there, try their Seared Tuna Wontons. Best App Ever!

I mentioned that I am now working as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. I'm still super stoked about this job and really hope I can live up to the expectations of the program. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how everything will work (and so is everyone else since this is the first time the health department has offered this position). Once I get things perfected, I'll definitely do an update.

We also celebrated a low key Easter with family and friends. The weather was perfect and even though we decided to just do a small, fun Easter egg hunt at home instead of going to our town's annual event. Liam did not understand the concept of finding eggs so maybe it was a good thing we put off the actual Easter egg hunt until next year.

We also celebrated another low key event: My 27th birthday! I never do much for my birthday and honestly woke up that morning and didn't even remember it was my special day. The intake manifold on our Mustang cracked the day before so it was in the shop and I got to drive around our roommates Altima (definitely didn't want to give that back). I had a breastfeeding seminar during the day and went grocery shopping with my mom afterwards. When I got home, Will and Marks (our roommate) surprised me with a cake and ice cream. I was not expecting that at all since we had just planned on going to dinner this weekend to celebrate my birthday. That, along with all the Facebook love, made my day super special.

So, needless to say, things are good here. And here's a little visual entertainment courtesy of my Galaxy S2 (since I have no clue where my camera is) for you guys.

I Know What I Want To Be When I Grow Up...

Over the last few weeks, I've done a lot of soul searching. Reflecting.
Trying to figure out who I am when I'm not Will's wife and Liam's mommy.

There are things that I want to have figured out before Liam is in school and before we decide to have another child (although my baby fever has been out of control lately). I have always had the desire to work with women (I even majored in Women's Studies while in college) but I wasn't exactly sure how to go about finding a career that would work for our lives. As I started looking into portable careers, working in the medical field started to seem more and more appealing to me. I began to get excited at the thought of working as a nurse in a maternity ward (or birthing center) until I thought about the downside of a job like that. Then it clicked with me.

I want to be a Lactation Consultant! Breastfeeding has become a huge part of my life and it is something that I feel very passionate about. Since making this life altering discovery, I have been researching the pathways I can take to make this a reality. One of the things I will need to do in order to becoming a certified l.c. is log hours assisting nursing moms. I was wondering how I would be able to achieve this until I ran across an ad for a Breastfeeding Peer Consultant at our local health department. I decided to apply and guess what?! I got the job!! I am beyond excited for this opportunity and to be able to do something I enjoy. Everything seems to be falling into place and I feel great! Oh, and Liam and Will are great as well.

A Clean House is a Happy House, Right?

In an attempt to further happyify (I just made that word up, if you didn't notice) our home, I have decided to work on a cleaning schedule. Now, this isn't an entirely new idea. I have been planning to work on my home management binder (which would include a cleaning schedule) for quite some time but still haven't gotten around to it. As easy as a cleaning schedule sounds, it really takes lots of work. I mean, how often do you clean your oven or shampoo your carpets? Do you do these things on a schedule or when you notice that they are disgusting? Well, right now, I do them completely randomly. I actually can't tell you the last time I cleaned my oven (which means that I'll probably clean it tonight to make myself feel better). There are so many things to think about. For one, I don't think there is enough time in the day for me to clean my entire house while taking care of a 15 month old and three dogs so there are some things that will not get done on a daily basis (maybe mopping the floors, unless Liam gets better at mopping).

 Gggrrr....I need help. Do any of you guys have a cleaning schedule that you stick to?

Setting Goals

If you read my posts about depression, you may have read that I went to see a counselor. I have never been in counseling/therapy before and have only had one session so far so I can't really say too much about it. I did enjoy speaking with my counselor and it didn't even seem like we were talking for an entire hour (which is weird for me since I tend to be reserved around people I don't know). During our session, we set four goals for me to accomplish before our next session:

1) Find a hobby that doesn't involve Will or Liam
I definitely want to get into running and would love to find a running group that would be willing to run in the evening. I just really suck at running and wouldn't want to slow anyone down (although I have seen that it is good to run with experienced runners since they will motivate you). I also wouldn't mind finding a crafting group. I have sooo many Pinterest projects that I need to work on and my home management binder isn't going to make itself.

2) Look into part-time employment
Part-time employment will give me a chance to get out of the house (as well as give Liam a chance to play with other kids at daycare) and have some adult interaction and conversations. I have been looking for something that will fit our schedule and my strengths for a little while now. I want to enjoy what I do so I am being picky. Even if I don't find anything soon, I still have my National Guard base  (I'll actually be there for most of the month of August).

3) Look into the nursing field
During my time at Kansas State University, I majored in Public Relations and Women's Studies, however, I'm not sure if those fields are right for my life now. After having Liam, I have started to consider getting into the medical field. I would love to work as a RN in a maternity ward or even as a Lactation Consultant. Although there are many medical related options, the area I live in is very limited when it comes to programs and schools.

4) Visit local churches
Church has always been a weird area for me. I grew up in a very strict Pentecostal church that was extremely restrictive. Since then, I have strayed from churches. I would like for this to change. I would definitely want Liam to grow up with a great church community that is accepting and loving.

I think these goals are going to be very helpful in creating a happy and healthy home life for our family.

What about you guys? Do you have a hobby that doesn't include your family? Do you have any goals that will make your home life happier/easier?

15 Month Update

15 months old...wow. I know I should be used to it by now but I'm still amazed at how old/big Liam is getting.

This month has been the month of the "wild child". Liam is all over the place and extremely vocal. When he doesn't want to do something, he will let you know by shrieking at the top of his lungs and since Liam is a very independent toddler, you can only imagine the sound level in our house right now. He pretty much wants to do what he wants to do and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. We're crossing our fingers that this is just a stage.

Teething is another shriek inducing milestone in Liam's life. He is currently getting all four of his first year molars (yes, all four decided to come in at the same time, lucky us). He is so much pain and discomfort. It kills me since there is very little I can do to help him. So far our teething remedies are pain reducer, nursing and lots of hugs and kisses. A few friends recommended amber teething necklaces as a teething remedy so I think we'll be giving that a try as well.


And now on to the pictures!

Sunshine through the Rain

Although my last post was a bit depressing (maybe because it talked about depression), things in our home have been looking up. I've decided to take the necessary steps to my our life a happy and healthy one.

Since becoming a wife and a mother, I have put myself to the side and made my life about Will and Liam. Now don't get me wrong, I love these guys with all of my heart and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. I just haven't been taking care of myself. I became Will's wife and Liam's mom and somewhere in there I got lost.

Well, no more! I'm taking the steps to become the best wife and mom I can be by taking care of myself. I looked into my diet and exercise routines and realized that I wasn't doing either (no wonder I have been feeling depressed). We've decided to start eating clean and cutting out processed foods. It hasn't been easy but I definitely have noticed a difference in my energy level. I can't tell you how awesome it felt to cook dinner last night (chicken fajitas and guacamole) and know every single ingredient in the food. Wow, I just got really excited about food.

Along with diet, I also decided to include more exercise into our daily activities. Liam and I have added stroller walks to our weekly schedule. It gives us a chance to get out of the house and explore a bit. I also went to a Zumba class with my friend, Krystal. It was a blast and I would love to add it to our weekly schedule as well.

One of the most important steps I've taken is seeing a counselor. I have only attended one session so far but I can already see who it will be helpful. We were able to set some goals for the next two weeks and I must say, I am getting excited to regain my happiness and be the best mother and wife I can be.