Camila Update ♥

{Pregnancy Updates}

How Far Along: 36 Weeks

Size of baby: According to my doctor, Camila is measuring about 2 more than my actual gestation. Her current ESTIMATED weight is 7lbs 13oz. Big Baby! Ha. But, I am praying that she will remain healthy and active. And that I can carry her until the 38^th week, NOT MUCH LONGER LEFT! Only 1 week and 3 days…

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained between 10 and 11  lbs (Some weeks I lose it, not sure how! The weight not my brain…that I lose everyday…HA!)

Maternity Clothes: As of 30 weeks I was wearing my old maternity clothes { mostly jeans and pants and some shirts~} and no more regular clothes. My doctor was amazed that I was able to get away with regular clothes for that long! But I am in that place where I wear the same clothes week after week... and my shoes...well lets just say Thank God it's "spring" time in Houston..or I'd look ridiculous in flip-flops and sandals every where all the time...or maybe NOT this is Houston!

Gender: It's a girl!!! We already know this....and her name will be Camila.

Movement: She is still VERY active,Thank God, DAY AND NIGHT..I love it and feel very happy every time she karate chops me! Everyone loves staring at the belly as it moves and jumps with Camila’s movements.

Sleep: Sleep? What’s that? No really I am that point…where sleep is a wonderful luxury….even though I am not as big as I was Santi at this time …I am very uncomfortable and finding my goodnight spot is very difficult….but I manage…..

What I miss: My ENERGY for sure, my agility and the ability to bend over! As well as being able to eat like the guy from Man vs Food and not feeling like I may die or give birth! I also miss being able to blow my nose without gagging EVERY time and thinking that everything I ate the night before will end up on my shoe making me late for work...HA!

Cravings: Hmmm…. This week…. HAMBURGERS again! And Oooohhhh Enchiladas de mole...mmmmmm.... 

Symptoms: Exhausted. Inability to breath due to how big Cami is and that she is pushing all of my vital organs into my neck! In total waddle mode, lower back pain and yes...I have even started feeling contractions.....it's true. Around this time with my son I had what I like to call "contraction envy"..but not these days..now I am worried that I will go into labor at any minute..which is a bit nerve wrecking!

Best Moments so far:  My first fav moment was the day we found out we were having a girl, and now every time I go in for my weekly ultrasound they remind me that yep, she is a girl! It's so exciting every time....Also, I am not sure how much he actually knows what is going on in  my growing belly but I tell Santi to say Hi to the momma, he comes over, lifts my shirt {no matter where we are!} and kisses my belly! I love it!!!  Of course he also comes over to the belly smells it and with a wave of his hand over his face and his very distinct "stinky face" declares that momma and baby are yes..."stinky", it's HILARIOUS! My husband loves seeing my baby move around under my shirt everyday more and more..I think she is anxious to be here…we are ANXIOUS to meet her as well!!! He then yells in pain for me; "TELL HER TO STOP!"....as if I can flip a switch..HA.  

Updates about this week: This week is super prep week…Doctor is ready, I am ready…my house I pray will be ready for Cami’s arrival… overall..this week is just readiness…I  had my Baby shower this weekend that was lots of fun and a TRUE BLESSING!!!!

Also, I had  contractions for about a week and half now..... that I am now slowly but surly feeling. So, we shall seeeeee.

Momma Perks: Not having to worry too much about anything really…my husband does a good job despite having to work 30+hours a week and going to school full-time..he doesn’t allow me to stress too too much… I love people coming over and helping me out with Santi while I get things done around the house..and I love that I have had so much help for my baby shower from Ricardo’s sis and cousin (Thank You Ale and Erica! I would have lost my brains without you! And had been in tears the last month or so!) ..they have really really been GREAT! :D Not to mention my regular helpers; Nanielle, her sidekick Meagan and Mrs. MaryAnn, who loves to come over and not only stress me out about when I will go into labor but also does a great job at making sure Santi and I are ok! I love that my Mother-in-Law watches Santi for me cause some nights when I pick him up she has dinner cooked and ready to share with us!

I hope that we can finally start on Camila's nursery this week!!! I HAVE SAID THAT EVEN IF IT’S NOT COMPLETE BY MARCH 30^TH..I WILL NOT WORRY!

Just holding on....

To God...

To life...

To me...

To my family....

To my husband....

To my son....

To my daughter....

To my Faith....

To my strength....

To my sanity....

To moments.....

To my word...

TO HIS WORD.

The good Lord never said it would be easy..but He did say...He would NEVER leave me...or forsake me...that no matter who else wasn't there for me..HE WOULD BE...He has been...I trust.

I have Faith.

I love.

Thank you to everyone who has been there the last 35 weeks... I am almost there..Camlia is almost here...

and GOD IS EVERYWHERE.

I am sooo BLESSED.

I AM SOOOO READY.

I am soooo happy!

My life has been amazing the last 29 years, 9 months and 7 days...

I CAN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!

God is with me...

HE IS SOOO GOOD.

ALL THE TIME.

Holding on to HIM!

Baby Update ♥

                                                                      I'm 26 weeks!

{Pregnancy Updates}

• How Far Along: 26 Weeks
• Size of baby: According to BabyCenter.com, Camila is the size of an "English Hothouse Cucumber"...no idea...lol...but that's about 14 inches and she weighs approximately a pound and 2/3's.
• Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained  7  lbs (Yayy me!)
• Maternity Clothes: I am wearing all of my regular clothes {jeans and pants and some shirts~ mostly the stretchy ones..hehehe} and some of my old maternity blouses for work..but I wear them even when I am not pregnant! :D
• Gender: It's a girl!!! We already know this....and I love the name Camila Isabel {That's what I am sticking to!}
• Movement: She is quit the gymnast during the day; if Santiago lays on my belly she is already kicking him off and for some reason..Daddy is not her fav person just yet...but she moves GREATLY during the day..I love it and feel very happy every time she karate chops me! :D
• Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good except when Santiago and Ricardo move all over the bed...
• What I miss: Nothing really - maybe agility and balance?  Or the ability to bending over? HA!
• Cravings: Lemony anything, Burgers and recently COKES {which I can't have}
• Symptoms: Mostly TIRED, I've been in waddle mode for a couple of weeks now, vomiting..lots at times..., back pain, leg pain, stretch marks..lol, headaches..which I hate, and just feeling blahness some days... :D
• Best Moments so far:  Every time I tell Santi to say Hi to the Mama, he comes over,lifts my shirt [no matter where we are!} and kisses my belly! I love it!!!  
• Updates about this week: I was hospitalized AGAIN...it was only an over night observation...I was feeling a lot of cramping and baby was her normal self...so I called my doctor who didn't hesitate and sent me to the hospital....yep another infection... Dealing with it now. I hope this doesn't continue.....it's quite annoying......
• Momma Perks: Because I've been so sick my husband hasn't even asked one night why dinner isn't cooked {instead he runs out and gets us take out!} or why I am laying in the middle of a pile of dirty clothes. And, because I have started to feel sooo pregnant, I don't care that my house looks like a robber came in specifically to mess everything up and take nothing! lol! That plus the fact that I have a 16 month old leaves me with little worry for what my house does or doesn't look like at this moment! Love it!

In all this pregnancy has been a BIT smoother than when I was pregnant with Santiago. I feel like I have to get up and DO rather than just lay around and feel sick...so I am not sure if that makes things better..or worse. With Santiago if I was sick, I was sick, and that was that. But, this time around, I feel a little more responsible and the need to just get up and deal with it, and it's partly due to the fact that my symptoms are not as over powering as the first time.

I still have not started working on Camila's nursery, with Santiago we started about this time, so  I anticipate a burst of energy and creativity soon. I hope! Plus we are trying to finish up remodeling our kitchen, once that nightmare is over, I can start on my DREAM....of PINKS AND LILAC and butterflies all over! I love it!

I have ordered some baby clothes for Camila! I know... I know..but I found a gift card for Gymboree that still had money on it and well Santi has so much clothes right now I couldn't resist but to get my Lil'Momma's wardrobe started! Hehehe. She will be fashionably chic!

~New Addition to the Family~

As part of this Blog going to a whole new level, I want to introduce the ~New Addition to the Family~ Feature. As the opportunity arises I will post a Blog with a Featured Guest. Therefore, without further delay, here is the first ever...

FEATURED GUEST POST: Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Signing During Early Childhood Education

A key to surviving in a tilted economic system is to have a set of unique skills that isn’t necessarily typical to have.  This includes the ability to be versatile and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience; bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

At the same time, with the growing shortage of qualified interpreters fluent in American Sign Language, there have been more career opportunities – and if current trends continue, it's likely that skilled ASL interpreters will have little problem securing lucrative employment in a society where such a commodity is destined to be in short supply.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly proven that the early ages of 2 up to 5 are the best time to educate children in different modes of communication and language. This goes beyond the spoken word (though it is an optimal time for children to learn a second language); many young children have an aptitude for signing as well. This can be taught at home or some child care programs incorporate it into their curriculum.

Many indigenous peoples around the world, including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language. Some paleontologists and anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals – who apparently lacked the vocal mechanism to produce many spoken words – depended a great deal upon hand gestures to communicate.

Recent research proposes that sign language is in fact innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that babies as young as six months old communicate with their hands:

                                "...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children

                                can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children

                                can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces

                                frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves

                                before they know how to talk." (Glarion, 2003)

The author also cites study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrating that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older. The ability to sign has also helped parents in communicating with autistic children; one parent reports that "using sign language allowed her to communicate with her [autistic] son and minimized his frustration...[he now] has an advanced vocabulary and excels in math, spelling and music" (Glarion, 2003).

The Best Time To Start

Not only does early childhood education in signing give pre-verbal youngsters a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of Texas child care  facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose child care schools.  Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.