Naming Our Elle Evergreen

Below are a few words about the inspiration behind little miss Elle Evergreen's name if you'd like to know how we chose it -

Elle: I had heard the name Elle a couple times over the past two years since having Wren, and I had added it to the ongoing list of baby names I keep in my phone. It took Jon and I forever to decide on Wren's name so I wanted to be prepared with some favorites in advance for our second baby. When I found out I was pregnant, I told Jon that I already had my favorite name picked out. He liked Elle but wanted to consider some other names, so we started a little list and added to it/subtracted from it until I was around six months pregnant. No matter what names we put on the list, we kept coming back to Elle. We liked the sound of it (such a pretty word) and felt that it was classic yet not common and very feminine. When talking names one day (for the millionth time), I again said how much I loved the name and Jon agreed that he loved it, too. I tentatively asked if that meant we had a name and Jon said yes. Exciting!

Evergreen: The middle name was a bit trickier for us. After deciding on Elle as the first name, we thought a middle name that started with a vowel would sound best. We also wanted it to be a nature-inspired name since Wren's first and middle names are both nature-inspired. We started a new list of middle names, but nothing sounded just right. One day we were in the car listening to Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud (a song we both love) and the line "Your soul could never grow old; It's evergreen" stuck out to Jon and he suggested Evergreen as a middle name. I thought it was very interesting and loved the meaning of it. It came down to Evergreen and one other name in the running at the end, and I recited those names in my head all the time, trying to make a final decision, but the more I said Elle and Evergreen together, the more I loved it. We decided to make it official just a few weeks before our induction when we went to tour the hospital and fill out paperwork. We wrote the name on her birth certificate paperwork and then laughed with excitement - we had a name!

Also, a fun little side note - when Jon made the playlist for our hospital stay, he put Ed Sheeran's album on it. We joked at the time that it would be funny if she was born to the song that her name came from, and I told Jon that I had no idea what music was playing when Wren was born because I was so into the moment. Then, on delivery day, as I was nearing the end of pushing, the song came on! The only reason we realized it was playing was because my doctor said "Oh, I love this song!" and then Jon and I both looked at each other and said "No way!!" So Elle Evergreen did indeed end up coming into the world to the song that her middle name came from - how perfect is that? :)

Introducing...

Elle Evergreen Klock
Born February 13, 2015 at 1:42 pm

7lbs 4oz, 19 3/4 inches long

Oh Elle, we are so happy you are here! Your labor and delivery were pretty much a breeze, and you are just the sweetest, cutest little thing ever.

I'll be posting Elle's full birth story and a little about the inspiration behind her name soon. Until then, we are in full snuggle mode over here and loving every minute of it. Thanks for all of the well wishes and congratulations - we are all settling in and doing wonderfully. :)

Baby #2: Nine Month Update

 
Currently...

Feeling - So much love and happiness to be at home settling in with my little family and gratitude for all that I've been given - two beautiful girls and a husband that loves us all so well.

Craving - Healthy foods! It's funny how quickly I felt motivated to fill myself with healthy foods that will help my body heal. Don't get me wrong - I'm still eating cinnamon rolls and Valentine's Day chocolates - but I am motivated to kick my unhealthy habits soon, for sure.

Wearing - Sweats, leggings and long tshirts. Comfort is my number one priority right now as my body heals and I take it nice and easy. 

Wondering - Who this little bundle of newborn-ness will grow up to be, what she will look like, how she'll be different from (and similar to) her sister. 

Thinking - So many thoughts and having so many emotions. Postpartum hormones are crazy, crazy things, am I right?? But mostly thinking about how incredibly lucky I am. 

Doing - Snuggling Elle, playing with Wren, soaking up the short time that Jon has off of work, cooking yummy meals, catching up on TV shows and taking long naps - basically all my favorite things.

(See all updates for baby #2 here.)

Baby #2: Eight Month Update

Currently... 

Feeling - Contractions! Last night was my first time experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. I am always quick to assume anything weird going on in my belly is due to the baby's movements. When I went into the hospital to be induced for Wren, I found out I had been having contractions for days, but I thought it was just her doing some serious stretching out every once in a while. Now that I know what contractions feel like, I've been on the look out for them this time around, and last night I for sure had a bunch. I was laying on my side in bed and they would come low and tight around the bottom of my belly every five minutes or so. I got kind of freaked out at first, but they never increased in frequency or severity and lessened when I switched to a different position - so false labor, it is! (But it's still pretty exciting!)

I'm also feeling really terrible pelvic ligament pain that makes it painful to walk or get up from a sitting or laying position. Warm baths help, but I can't stay in the bathtub all day. :/

I'm still feeling extremely short of breath, extra tired and HUGE. My belly is really big and really tight and sometimes the baby's movements hurt because she's so big in there these days (our last ultrasound showed her at 5 lbs 15 oz).

Aside from physical feelings, emotionally I'm feeling excited, ready and in disbelief at the same time. I can't wait to have her here, but I also can't believe we're about to have two - TWO - kids. How in the world did that happen?? It's going to be so strange at first!

Craving - Nothing really. I almost feel like I'm eating less these days. There just isn't too much room in my belly for food.

Wearing - Leggings and four maternity shirts that still fit. This is the weird time where you don't want to shop for anything new because you only have a few weeks left, but only a few shirts fit - so you wear the same thing everyday, right?

Wondering - When it all will happen. At my 37 week appointment, we are going to schedule an induction during the 39th week, because I'm a planner and planning makes me feel less stressed out. However, I fully do not believe she will wait until then to join us. So I'm constantly making plan B's, plan C's and plan D's in my head. It's exhausting - but exciting, too.

Thinking - TWO?! How will it be with two??!!

Doing - Last minute to-dos like washing blankets, packing my hospital bag, making my birthing play list and tightening the screws on the rocking chair.

(See previous updates for baby #2 here, here, here, here and here.)

Two GIRLS!

When Jon and I first found out we were having another baby, my first thought was - oh, please let it be a girl! ;) Growing up with a sister who is now my absolute best friend in the world, I couldn't help but hope Wren would be lucky enough to have the same. The day we went to the gender reveal ultrasound, I had pretty much talked myself into thinking it was a boy, so when the tech said it was a girl, I was so, so excited!

I know that all sisters don't get along as well as my sister and I do, and I know that even my sister and I didn't get along all the time when we were little, but I so hope that these two girlies grow up to be the very best of friends. I hope they make each other laugh (especially at the jokes that no one else gets). I hope they stick up for each other, compliment each other and build each other up. I hope they draw strength and courage from each other, inspire each other and go on great adventures together.

Thanks to my awesome pregnancy hormones and general tendency to worry, I have moments of fear and sadness when I think about bringing another baby into our family. I feel sad that our time with just Wren is coming to an end. I worry that Wren will feel left out with the new baby, and I always want her to know how much we love her. But every time these thoughts creep in, I put my mind at ease by thinking about the crazy love I have for my own sister. I know there will most likely be a period of adjustment when the baby comes, but I also know that I am giving Wren the best gift I could ever give her - a best friend and partner in crime - a sister! :)

Baby #2: Seven Month Update

Currently... 

Feeling - Hiccups for the first time! I was just saying to Jon that Wren had the hiccups all the time, but I hadn't felt them with this baby yet, and then a few nights later, we were getting into bed and I felt them for the first time - like little rhythmic kicks, right in the middle of my belly. Jon got to feel them to so it was perfect timing. :) Also, extremely out of breath - all the time. I brought it up to my doctor because when I say extremely out of breath, I mean if I walk up five stairs, I feel like I just ran a marathon. My doc assured me it was normal and would only get worse as the baby grows. Hooray! (Not.)

Craving - Still milk. Between Wren and I (but mostly me), we drink a half gallon a day. I know I should try to cut back, but it's just so goooood. I did read online that it's common for women pregnant with girl babies to crave sweets and milk, so at least it's not just me, right?

Wearing - Maternity jeans + cords and stretchy maternity tops. My belly is big and round these days, and people are starting to comment on it. A stranger at Starbucks told me it was cute, and a lab tech at the doctor's office guessed that I was having a girl just by the shape of it, which I thought was really funny. 

Wondering - How this whole thing will go down this time around. Will my water break? Will I have contractions at home? Will I go into labor naturally? Will we induce again? What day will the baby be born? We know it will be sometime really close to Valentine's Day, but I'm hoping it's not actually on Valentine's Day. At first I thought that would be fun, but then I changed my mind. I'd rather this baby have a day all its own to be born on. 

Thinking - Of middle names still. All day every day. I think we might just draw one out of a hat when she's born. ;)

Doing - Doctor visits every two weeks now, which is crazy to me - I can't believe it's already that time. Also, making notes in my calendar about when to pack my hospital bag, when to buy the last of the baby items, etc.

(See previous updates for baby #2 here, here, here and here.)

Baby #2: Six Month Update

Currently... 

Feeling - A really crazy baby jumping, punching and rolling around in my belly all day and all night. I seriously don't know when this kid sleeps. She keeps me company all day long, and every time I wake up in the night (for my many bathroom trips), she's wide awake and practicing her gymnastics. She better learn to get some shut eye - staying up 24-7 is NOT going to work when she's on the outside! 

Craving - Milk. And that's pretty much it. I'm not having too many crazy cravings at this point. But I could seriously drink a gallon of milk a day if I let myself.

Wearing - Leggings! I outgrew my Gap maternity jeans and have been living in two different pairs of black leggings and some maternity cords I got when I was pregnant with Wren. I recently bought two new pairs of maternity jeans - one from Old Navy and one from Destination Maternity. I'm hoping they'll get me through to the end. I've done a lot more maternity clothes shopping this time around. I told Jon that means we need to have another baby after this one so I can get my wear out of them. ;)

Wondering - If I should give breastfeeding a try this time around. I did not breastfeed Wren, and I was/am completely happy with that decision. I did go back and forth a lot before I decided, though and I think that's where I'm at again - in the back and forth. 

Thinking - Of middle names - all. the. time. We finally decided on baby girl's first name (don't even ask - we're keeping it a secret until she's born) - now we just need to agree on a middle name to go with it. It's harder than you think! I've actually been saying 'well, I guess she doesn't HAVE to have a middle name.' That's how hard it is for us to decide.

Doing - A whole lot of non-baby stuff. I've already washed and folded tons of tiny clothes, gotten out all of Wren's old toys, rearranged our bedroom to make room for the baby to sleep, made detailed lists of everything we'll need to buy before she gets here and took inventory of what of Wren's we can use again (bouncer, car seat) and what we need to buy (double stroller, swing), so I'm in a really good place. Every month, I buy a few things off of our must-buy list and in January, I will pack my hospital bag. Eeek!

(See previous updates for baby #2 here, here and here.)

Baby #2: Five Month Update

Currently... 

Feeling - Sick with a cold! I've had a terrible cold for going on three weeks now, and it's the worst. The first week I felt like I was right back in that horrible first month of pregnancy. I'm much better now than I was, but I still have a horrible cough that will not leave me alone and I keep getting really gnarly sinus headaches that basically knock me out for entire days at a time. But aside from the cold, pregnancy-wise I'm feeling great. I can feel the baby moving around all day long, which is the funnest feeling ever - so all is good in that department.

Craving - Cereal - bowls and bowls and bowls of it. I would eat cereal for every meal if I could, but since I don't think that's ok, I compensate by eating two bowls every morning for breakfast. (One for me, and one for the babe, right?)

Wearing - Still living in my maternity tees from Old Navy and maternity jeans from Gap. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I do want to grab a couple new long sweaters that I can wear with leggings.

Wondering - If this baby will be as easy as Wren was. What Wren will think of having a baby around. How in the world I'm going to manage with two kids. What the new baby will look like. If I'll remember all the newborn stuff. How in the world a newborn baby can possibly be small enough to fit in newborn size onesies. And so much more...

Thinking - It's INSANE that we only have four months until this baby gets here. Months go by really fast these days - that means it's going to be here before we know it. It blows my MIND!

Doing - Taking inventory of everything we have from when Wren was a baby and making lists of things I want to buy. So far on the list - an Ergo baby carrier (I see this baby getting worn A LOT more than Wren was) and a Puj baby bathtub (I didn't love the infant tub we had for Wren and have heard great things about the Puj tub). 

(See previous updates for baby #2 here and here.)

Baby #2: Four Month Update

 
Currently... 

Feeling - MUCH BETTER! (Thank goodness!) The yuckiness that I dealt with in the first trimester finally made it's way out around week 15 or so, and now I am happy to say that I feel GREAT. I can eat anything and not get sick, I have tons of energy and my moods are more stable (even though I do still cry at every single baby/mother/parenting related thing that I see). If you want to know the nitty gritty, though - I am starting to be short of breath a lot and my feet cramp up at the slightest point of the toe. Not fun, but I'll take those things over feeling sick to my stomach all day long any day!

Craving - Sweets, Rootbeer, MILK, Cereal. All of my food aversions are gone now so I'm back to eating veggies (when I'm not eating cookies), and I'm actually toying with the idea of trying a Whole30 or No Sugar challenge in the coming months. What do you think - am I crazy?

Wearing - Maternity jeans and tees. I learned the joys of maternity clothes late in my pregnancy with Wren, but I am taking full advantage this time around. I got myself some super comfy maternity jeans from Gap and a handful of maternity tees from Old Navy and they are perfect for this in-between summer and fall weather we have going on.

Wondering - What gender this baby in my belly is!! (We find out tomorrow - I am DYING to know.) I'm leaning toward boy just because this pregnancy has been different from the first (in that I felt much, much worse) + the heart rate was in the 130-140 range at our last appointment and Wren's was always around 150. We will see very soon!! (Hopefully - if he/she cooperates.)

Thinking - Of names - always thinking of names. At night before I fall asleep, I run through name combos in my head. Once we know the gender, we'll start narrowing in on some. We already have some favorites, so I don't think it'll take us long to decide this time around (but we're still keeping it a secret until the birth).

Doing - Some major nesting. We've lived in our apartment for a year now, but there were still some rooms unfinished. That has changed in the last month or two! I've been like a tornado, ordering/painting/moving/hanging/redecorating rooms and getting everything just so.

(See my three month (and first) update for baby #2 here.)

Baby #2: Three Month Update

For those of you who have not heard yet, Jon, Wren and I are so excited to be welcoming another member into our family this coming February! Even though I had been taking a blogging break, I decided to pick things back up at least once a month to share monthly updates on this new little babe growing in my belly.

First things first, this pregnancy has been A LOT harder than my first one. I pretty much felt like death from the day I found out at 4 weeks until 13 weeks. That's 9 straight weeks - 63 straight days - of feeling terrible, and it was really, really hard. Without Jon, Wren and I probably wouldn't have eaten or bathed during those 9 weeks, not to mention we would've been drowning in a sea of dirty laundry and dishes. I am so thankful for all of the extra work he put in during that time - I literally could not have survived without him.

Even though there was a lot of nausea involved, for me it's always less about the morning sickness and more about a very, very upset stomach all day and night. I also had really bad dizzy spells this time around - like 'I need to lay down right now and not move even though we're in the grocery store' type of dizzy spells. I also had to strike the perfect balance between constantly keeping food in my stomach but not too much food. Too much or too little and it was bad. Just right and it was tolerable. This led to a few funny situations - like the one where I realized I had left my car keys on the grocery store counter when I got to my car, but I was starving and feeling sick and needed to eat right then so with Wren in the basket, standing by our car, I ripped open a pack of cookies and started stuffing my face - only to turn around and see the bag boy bringing me my car keys. (I should also mention we were in our pajamas - we didn't get out of our pajamas much during those 9 weeks.) Definitely not one of my best moments. ;)

And more on the food topic, we had been eating a very healthy diet up until I found out I was pregnant. We were actually right in the middle of our second round of Whole30. I tried my best to keep it up, but a week after I found out, all I wanted was bread - so I gave in and pretty much lived on honey toast and boiled eggs for a month. Once I was able to eat a wider variety of foods, I found that all I wanted was sugar, sugar and more sugar. Every bad habit I had worked so hard to break on Whole30 came right on back. The kicker? Sugary foods made me feel terrible. Chocolate made me feel like I might die. I ate it anyway, because when I was eating it, it was wonderful. (And because pregnant women are crazy, apparently.)

I am happy to say that now - at almost 15 weeks - I am feeling much, much better. I still get random stomach aches. I still feel best when I eat healthy foods. I'm still not in love with the idea of vegetables. But I am able to eat more balanced meals, shower on a regular basis and do the laundry/dishes. Thank goodness!

I am going to a new doctor this time since we are now in Virginia instead of Kentucky, and my new doctor didn't want to see me until 12 weeks. That was a little weird for me, because 12 weeks is the start of the second trimester. It seemed like I was pregnant forever until I actually had a doctor's appointment. We told our parents, brothers/sisters and a few close friends when we first found out, but we waited until after our first doctor's appointment (when we got to hear that fast little heartbeat) to let everyone else in on the secret.

We had our first trimester ultrasound at 13 weeks, and everything looked great. Baby kicked its legs and wiggled a bit and we got our first photo of him/her. We are definitely going to find out the gender - most likely at our next ultrasound - and we are SO excited. I would be over the moon for another girl (sisters!!) and Jon is dying for a boy. Either way, we hope he/she is healthy and happy and as excited to meet us as we are to meet him/her.

Stay tuned for monthly updates on this new little bean. Also, feel free to check out the weekly updates I did with Wren here, and the first update I did here.)