Around 7:15am on Wednesday, I woke Jason up and told him I felt a lot of pressure. I wasn't really feeling any sort of contractions, but I knew something was different. Jason went to take a shower and when he was done, my contractions were 3 minutes apart. This was it ... time for baby. Called my dad to come over and watch Alexa and we left. Driving on bumpy roads while having contractions sort of sucks. We checked in around 8:30am. My contractions were going pretty good. Around 10am, I asked for drugs. This time around getting the drugs hurt a lot more. He had to keep sticking me ... trust me, it hurt! The drugs finally kicked in. I could still feel pressure, but the pain was much better. Then around 11am, I was at 4 centimeters and they decided to break my water. They said I would go pretty quick after that and I did. Around 12:15 I called in the nurse to say that I was feeling a ton of pressure. I could also feel a lot of pain. I was at 10 centimeters and it was time to push. Started pushing around 12:30pm. She got stuck under my pelvic bone, so it took a bit longer to push her out. She had the cord around her neck, so the doctor cut it (Jason got to cut it shorter later). When they broke my water, they did see some meconium (baby poop) in it. So, they told us that they wouldn't be putting the baby on my stomach right after, that a group of specialized nurses would take her and suction her lungs and stomach. It was a much different experience to not have the baby put on my stomach. I didn't really get to see her for about 15 minutes ... seemed like even longer. She was fine and has all her correct parts. She was pretty squishy, so we couldn't really tell if she looked like Alexa or either one of us. She cried, but didn't cry the whole time. The other different part was that the drugs made my left leg go totally numb. I could not move it an inch. It was such a strange feeling to not have feeling or movement in a leg. Jason and the nurses had to constantly move it for me.

My mother and Myra brought over Alexa a little bit later. They told her that we had a "present" for her, so when she came in to the room, she asked, "You got a present for me?" ... not sure why they didn't just tell her that she was going to see her baby sister. She was very happy to see her baby sister. She wanted to hold her immediately. She was a bit concerned when the baby would cry. If the baby started to cry, Alexa would say, "RaRa can't hold her" or whomever depending on who was holding her ... it was cute. She did ask me once why the baby was crying. Then Alexa wanted an apple, so she had to go get an Apple with Jason. She liked kissing the baby and when it was sleeping, she would say, "Boo!" to it to try and wake her up. Natalya was pretty quiet during the day. My left leg stayed numb for most of the day. Jason had to carry me to the bathroom at one point because I could still not walk many hours later.

1/7/09: Jason: Welcome Natalya Karsen Singer to our world! She was born on January 7, 2009 at 12:50 pm. She was 8lbs. 4oz. and 21 inches long at birth. Baby and mom are doing great, as you'll see by the photos. Alexa and dad are very happy as well! =)

1/6/09: Jason: Our first Baby 2 video clip! No, she was not born last night, but I do have a clip of her getting her groove on in mommy's tummy! =)

1/5/09: Sally: My goal is to have the biggest baby possible ... NOT! Still nothing. Just hanging out at work. Have an appointment on Wednesday, maybe I can talk my doctor in to inducing then. Baby has stopped moving around so much ... probably no more room left to grow. Last night we had ice cream and that made her move around for a while. Breathing has been tough for the last month. Didn't have this problem with Alexa, but this time around I feel short of breath a lot and feel like I have to take a lot of deep breaths. I can't wait for the swelling to finally go away. My feet are big enough and now my shoes are tight because of the swelling. I feel like Jason and I have been ready for months (probably because we have). Jason put in the baby car seat yesterday ... our two cars are no longer 4-seaters ... now I we can't take a group to lunch because of the two car seats in the back. TIME FOR A MINI VAN!\

1/2/09: Sally: Dilated 1 cm. I'm guessing she'll be a week late. My doctor will let me go only about a week over. Didn't gain any weight in the last week, so that was nice. At work today ... gonna be really bored since I gave all my work to someone else already.

12/30/08: Sally: Nothing going on ... just waiting. Don't always feel great in the evening. Still getting up every night. Since I have been using vacation from work, my swelling has been better. Have to go back to work on Jan. 2nd (Friday) if this kid hasn't come yet.

12/22/08: Sally: Still a ton of movement from this little girl. It's like she knows the second I open my eyes at night because she wakes up and starts moving around. She grids her knee (at least that what I think it is) against my belly and it looks like a mountain rolling across my belly. I would say I am more uncomfortable this time around. I'm ready for her to come, but I still want to wait until January so that there is a bit of seperation between her birthday and Christmas. I know that she'll probably get screwed on gifts, but if anyone does screw her about gifts (you know, the infamous "Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday" presents), I will be sure to let them know they're screwing over my kid (this will start once she starts to know the difference between birthdays and Christmas).

12/15/08: Sally: Finally got some ultrasound picks put up. There are more, but the CD I got from my clinic doesn't have the good photos on it (moron!), so I'll have to scan those in. Had an appointment today ... she's not making much movement towards the light, she's thinking about it, but not yet.

12/13/08: Sally: The swelling on my ankles and hands sucks!

12/11/08: Sally: We let Alexa finger paint my belly this weekend. Check out the photos.

12/1/08: Sally: Did a bit too much on Sunday. By the end of night, I could barely move. Normally I get Alexa all dressed for bed and Jason reads her a book, but I layed on her bed and read her book to her because I could barely stand up straight. Too much running around finally got to me. Today my back killing me. I have a bit more swelling this time around than I did with Alexa. It's mostly in my hands. It feels so weird to feel your skin all tight. I stopped wearing any rings a while back because they were too tight and I didn't feel like having to cut them off one day. I'm a bit more uncomfortable this time around too. Last time I had almost no issues and this time around I'm a bit slower. The issue is probably that I'm chasing a 2 1/2 year old around, so that tends to tire me out. But other than being a bit more tired and a little more swollen in my hands, everything is going fine. This kid also moves around a ton still. She hits some nerves in my pelvis a lot. Lulu used to try to make a run for my back and ribs. I used to have to push her over in my belly because it hurt. This kid is very low and always moving her head, butt and feet. Also, found the outfit this kid will come home in. She better be a girl ... it's all very pink.

11/10/08: Sally: This kid has barely stopped moving in 3 days. Now the movements are constant. I think she even dropped lower because I can't cross my legs anymore without feeling like I'm squishing a body part. Some times she hits a nerve and it hurts. She used to really only be moving around at night, but lately, it's morning, noon and night. I want to have this kid either the first 2 weeks of December or not until January. I'm sure she'll be born on Christmas :-)

11/10/08: Sally: I finally found sheets and a changing table cover that I really like. So, I have swapped out the sheet on the crib and now the room only needs one more item ... a little table next to the chair. I'm not real keen on the chair that we have, but I'm not going through that whole process again (This chair makes Jason sea sick, that chair is too short for my legs, etc.). It's weird to see so many clothes the baby has hanging in the closet. 98% of them are Alexa's old clothes. I can remember each time Alexa wore them and now I'll have new memories. There are a couple items I kept out and am keeping as only Alexa's clothes. We're still working on names. I can't believe I have only 8 weeks left and we still aren't firm on a first and middle name (again, don't even try suggesting any, I won't like them).

11/6/08: Sally: Between having to pee, the baby kicking and Jason snoring, I haven't slept through the night in a long time. I had the same issue with Alexa. So basically I don't sleep through the night for 3 months before the kid gets here and then I don't sleep through the night for 3 months after the kid gets here. No matter what time I go to bed, I always seem to wake up at 3am. Jason and I really need to get working on names for this kid. We're pretty sure we have the first name, but we're totally stumped for a middle name. Picking out Alexa's name was easy. Picking out a boy name was easy. Picking out a second girls name has turned in a difficult project for us. We all know that I'm picky as hell, but surprisingly Jason has turned out to be pretty picky too. And no, don't send me your ideas for names ... I'm sure I won't like them :-)

11/4/08: Sally: Thank god today is election day. I have been a bit stressed at work with all the elections stuff. Normally I'm fine with stress, but I don't feel like I have been able to relax for a while and that can't be good on the little one. This kid moves around at night ... just like Alexa did. I remember being worried when I was preggers with Alexa because I was worried she'd be up all night once she got her since she was always kicking all night. But we didn't have that problem, so I'm holding out hope with this one. This baby likes to do flips and roll around during the night. She's pretty quiet during the day ... even with all the Halloween candy I have been eating :-)

9/29/08: Sally: I started doing the stencil in the baby's room yesterday and for once in my life, an art project that I imagined in my head is turning out exactly how I thought it would. I love the little stencil detail and I only had to redo the very first one. The one thing that has been driving me nuts is bedding. I didn't want too much pink in the bedding, but for girls, that's damn near impossible to find UNLESS you're willing to spend over $150 for a set. I found a bunch of sets that I liked between $150-$350 ... there is no way in hell I would pay that much for A.) bedding for a baby room and B) half the stuff you don't EVER use -- the valance, the comforter, the diaper stacker ... I mean PLEASE ... no one uses that shit! The sets should come with: 2 sets of sheets, a bumper and a bed skirt. Trying to find seperates in the colors I want is also damn near impossible. I finally compromised and found something I like, but not love. Now I just need to figure out the mirror situation. I bought one, but I think it's too small. We're using Jason's old dresser from when he was a kid, but it's really boyish and we can't use the mirror because it was attached to a small drawer and we needed the top of the dresser for changing diapers. So I bought one that works and is girlie, but next to the dresser it's a bit too small. I'll have to keep looking. But I'm so happy with how the stencil is coming along.

9/16/08: Sally: Got the baby's room all painted over the weekend. Sarah helped with one coat and I did the other 3 coats the next day. Who knew that the color cream would need so many coats. 3 walls are creme, 1 wall is pink and then on the pink wall I am going to put a reddish/pink classic stencil repeated behind the crib from floor to ceiling. I'm just waiting to get the crib in there so that I know exactly where it will be. I decided against doing pink and brown. I saw some sheets I liked that where cream, pink and red and thought that would look good. I didn't want to have another pink room (since Alexa's room is pink), so I went with cream (or is it creme?). I like how it has turned out so far.

9/8/08: Sally: I just saw a very distrubing visual ... I put baby1 and baby2 5-months along photos side-by-side ... it was not pretty. I am a lot bigger this time. I know it has to do with 2 things 1) I'm starting at a bigger point and 2) my body has done this before, so it just gives in (or out actually). But still, it wasn't a pretty sight. No body cast this time around :-)

9/2/08: Sally: Got the baby clothes organized and I know how I'm going to decorate. Going to do pink and brown and doing a stencil idea I have ... hopefully it works how my head is imagining it. Should have the room all painted and organized in a month (that's about when we finally force Alexa in to her big girl bed). I can't stand waiting around or doing it at the last minute. Jason and I are the types where when we want to do something or have an idea, we usually do it then and don't wait around ... either keep up or move out of our way.

8/26/08: Sally: After having one girl and now having a second, I know what I like and don't like (and lets face it, what I like and dislike pretty much rules the Singer household). So, if you're thinking of getting something for the baby, here are some rules:
- Almost anything by "Carter's" will work (Notice I did say "Almost")
- Nighties that have zippers or snaps only in the legs/crotch. If it has snaps along the front and legs, it won't get used.
- Dresses that snap in the crotch. If it doesn't snap or if it has "underpants", I won't even remove the tags from it.
- No shoes
- No jeans or anything jean material.
- Knee high socks rule (Old Navy and Gap)
- No garter belts for the head/hair.
- No infant jackets (0-6). I bought a winter "snowsuit" for the baby (and damn it's cute).
- No infant t-shirts (0-3). T-shirts won't make their way in until she's at least 5 months.
- No hooded bath towels ... do people really use these?
- No wrist rattles ... again, do normal people really put them on their kids?

8/25/08: Sally: So, I went through all of Alexa's 0-12 month clothes this weekend (I don't waste any time). I seperated them out between what will work, what might work and what will not work. Having them in different season's does present a clothing challenge. All of Alexa's 0-3 month onesies are short sleeves and all the nighties are for summer. The onesies will probably be ok, but the nighties aren't warm enough. As I went through all of the clothes, I could remember Alexa wearing all of them. Each outfit brought back a memory. I did go out a buy the soon-to-be baby some new clothes ... don't want ALL her clothes to be hand-me-downs. So far I am thinking a brown and pink room, but I'm still gathering ideas. I just know Jason is excited to paint :-)

8/23/08: Sally: It's a girl, it's a girl, it's a girl! We opened the evelope during dinner at a Japanese Hibachi restaurant. I was nervous, not sure why, but I was. I knew it was girl. I have said it was a girl from day one. Now Alexa will have a sister to hate and terrorize (and, of course, love). Jason and I have "our girls".

8/22/08: Sally: Had the ultrasound today ... will find out tonight if it's a boy or girl. They could tell, so there are a couple photos and boy/girl is circled and it's put into a sealed envelope. I have already tried holding it up to the light to try to see through it, but that didn't work. Due date looks to be January 3rd. Baby is about a pound and looks good. When's dinner!!!!

8/20/08: Sally: We find out the sex in a few days ... I can't wait. I did give in to Jason a little (once a year is ok) ... we're not going to find out at the time of ultrasound. We're going to have the tech write it down and then we're going to have a nice dinner and look during dinner. Jason could wait until the baby is born, but I can't and since I am who I am, we're going to find out. I told Jason I could wait 8 hours, but that was all. I have to decorate, buy things and decide on a name. We need to take a photo of my belly to see if I'm bigger/smaller than last time. I'm probably bigger since A) I never lost the Lulu weight and B) My body has done this before, so it just gives in (or out). Now that I can eat pretty normal, I'm gaining back the weight I lost. I eat smaller meals, but I eat more of them. I think I've been eating a more healthy this time around (so far no pizza rolls or KFC), but I just know that 40 more pounds are coming my weigh.

7/24/08: Sally: Had our 4 month check today. Things are looking normal. Had another ultrasound. Kid was moving around some. Heartbeat was low 150's ... about where Alexa's was ... so maybe it's a girl? One more month and we get to find out the sex, woo hoo!

7/23/08: Sally: Baby is moving around. This kid is pretty far over to my left (maybe he/she will be a lefty??).

7/14/08: Sally: I have been feeling better lately which is a nice change. I don't feel 100%, but better. No longer feel the need to just lay down all day. I have actually eaten a little for dinner. So far, nothing sounds that appealing to eat. Something might sound good, but the second I think about it, it doesn't sound good any more. My main staple is Eggs Benedict for breakfast and Mexican food any other time. Some times I can eat it, some times I can't. Meat and sweets are still out of the equation (too bad the sweats thing doesn't last after pregnancy).

7/1/08: Jason: I hate not being able to do anything to make Sally feel better! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! I do like the fact that Alexa has been "forced" to bond with me a lot though, since mommy is out of action at times, especially in the afternoons after work.

A couple of weeks ago, after our 3-month appointment, we decided to spill the beans to people at work. I guess I forgot to tell some people at work about the second kid though, because as it comes up in casual conversation now, they are all surprised and "mad" that I didn't tell them. Haha ... deal with it.

6/23/08: Sally: I hate throwing up! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!

6/18/08: Sally: Had our 3-month appointment the other day. It went well. Got to see the kid on the ultrasound. It was jumping and boxing. Not doing cartwheels and bouncing all around like a mad woman like Alexa was when we saw her at this stage. Alexa went to the appointment with us. We weren't sure how she'd react. Every time they did something to me (like take my blood pressure) Alexa would say "My turn." When I was on the table getting the ultrasound, she was a bit confused. She wasn't sure what was happening and what she should be doing. She wanted to sit up by me. But overall, she was an angel. I'm still feeling like crap all day. Jason, his dad and Alexa are going to drive to Nebraska, but I'm not doing because being in a car for 6 hours doesn't found very fun when feeling sick. I wish I could go ... I love hanging with Jason's aunt and uncle.

6/10/08: Sally: Threw-up again last night. About 10 minutes later, I actually felt better, not 100%, but better. I have been eating bit more Pad Thai than normal. I have not been in the mood for much Chipotle (bummer). (*Editors Note: about an hour after I posted, I felt worse than normal. I kept telling Jason that I thought I was gonna die.)

6/9/08: Sally: I basically live on the couch. By most afternoons, I'm done for the day. It's so tough having a two year old and feeling like shit. I have no energy and I don't want to do anything, but lay down. Alexa is an active kid, so I'm always hoping Jason will come home early from work so that he can play with her. The other night, she wanted to go for a stroller ride around the block. It was slowest stroller ride ever, I moving at a snails pace. I was sure Alexa would tell me to go faster. I was halfway doubled over while pushing her around. It sucked. I feel bad because I want to spend every waking moment with Alexa. I would rather play with her than do anything else, but when I feel horrible all day, every day, it's tough to be the type of mom that I like to be. Some days, sitting and coloring is too much. I feel like I'm going to vomit all over the table. Hopefully this only lasts until the 4th month like it did with Alexa. It's worse this time because I have a very active two year old and nothing, and I mean nothing, makes me feel better.

5/27/08: Sally: Still feel like crap after about 3-4pm every day. Feel pretty good when I wake up in the morning. Being sick has helped Jason and Alexa bond better. Now Alexa has to do things with her dad while I'm in the room. I'm still top dog, but she'll go outside to ride her tricycle with him or go take a bath. If she gets hurt while playing, she still wants mommy and her blanket to make her feel better.

5/19/08: Sally: Just had our first appointment. We thought we were around 9 weeks, but after the ultasound, we're around 7 weeks. It looks like a little dinosaur on the monitor. With Alexa we didn't get to see her until our second appointment, so it was nice to get to see this one right away. My mid-wife thinks it will be a boy. A few more months and we'll find out for sure. Right now it's about the size of a cashew.

5/13/08: Sally: Oh geez, I just ate a muffin and now I'm sick again. This sucks. It really, really sucks. I knew I shouldn't have eaten it, but I haven't had much to eat in the last few days and thought I needed to force it down. I shouldn't have eaten it. Eating during these first few months is like trying to swallow acid or poison. My body just won't let me swallow it. On Sunday when I was so sick, I tried to eat 2 Kik's cereal balls ... two and only two ... and it took me like 2 minutes to swallow because my body just said no. I hate being this sick. It's tough to work and it's even tougher trying to play with an active two year when all you want to do is lay down and die.

5/12/08: Sally: I was SO sick on Sunday. I just wanted to die on Sunday. I woke up around 5am and proceeded to puke my brains out. It was awful. I was so sick after that. I couldn't even go to Mother's Day brunch with the family. I just layed on the couch all day. It's tough to feel that sick and have a two year old wanting to play. She kept telling me to "wake up mommy". Around 4:30 I felt ok enough to go outside. I then layed on the grass and let Lulu run around. It was the worst I have felt in a long time.

4/24/08: Sally: Spilled the news to Jason this morning. He was very happy. I had a feeling I might be preggers again on Monday (4/21). I woke up and felt like crap. I was nauseous and light headed. The last time I felt like that was when I was pregnant with Lulu. I took a pregnancy test, but it came up negative. So, then on Tuesday I still felt the same. I told myself I would give myself one more day before I took another test. By Wednesday afternoon I still felt sick all day and figure either I'm dying of some horrible disease or I'm pregnant. So I took a test that night and it came up positive. I did another text Thursday morning and that too came up positive. I then surprised Jason by giving him the positive tests. He had a bit of a bewildered look on his face because he wasn't sure what he was looking at. Took about 5 seconds before he looks up with a big smile. We're not sure when we're going to tell everyone. Last time we waited until around 3 months just to make sure everything was ok. Jason's mother and brother are coming in to town today, so maybe we get both sets of family together and tell them then. I figure I'm about 3 weeks along. Did a delivery calendar and it lists around 12/18 as the birthday. One of my goals with this new baby will be to make sure he/she doesn't get screwed in the presents department with his/her birthday being around Christmas. I have a couple of friends that have Christmas birthdays and they always said they got screwed. I can't wait ... we're totally excited.