Sprinkle {More like Heavy Downpour!}

 

JP and I were "Sprinkled" with love the weekend after Thanksgiving. The entire get-together mirrored JP's bedding of yellow and gray bumble bees. We couldn't have asked for a cozier setting, tastier food or better company - the entire afternoon was absolutely perfect.

The sprinkle turned out be be more like a heavy downpour of pink, ruffles and lace - girly girly overload! It's obvious that she's already so loved! The guests wrote words of advice and well wishes on note cards for us and JP. They also made guesses on her name, birthday and size on the back.

I'll tell you that the name at the top of the list is on one of the cards! Those still in the running for the birthday guess include:
Great Aunt Lynn (12/9)
Jen, Meghan (12/10)
Melissa, Erica, Great Aunt Carol (12/11)
Amber (12/12)
Nana (12/13)
Kathleen (12/14)
Francesca and Florence (12/15)
Looks like Amber and Nana have the best shot since we'll be induced on the morning of 12/12!

Thanks to everyone that helped make the afternoon so special for us. Extra special thank you to Nana and Aunt B for putting so much love into JP's sprinkle!

A leek - Two Weeks to Go!

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.

How far along? 38 Weeks!!

Total weight gain: I don't know the total but I know that gained 8lbs in the past six days...but more about that later....

Sleep: It varies - Sometimes I feel like I'm up all night. Sometimes I wake up in the morning drowning in my own drool.  Moving in bed, however has become painful since my last doctor's appointment.

Best moment this week: Sprinkle!!!

Movement: She's definitely slowing down but she's not letting anyone forget she's in there! Lots of hiccups, which Austin never had.

Food cravings: Still Yoo-hoos...

Name: I think tonight's appointment finally made us agree! Jay claims we're not telling until she's here!

Labor Signs: Lots of pain below the belt...hopefully it's a good sign!

Dilated: "two, maybe a three" and 80% effaced.

Belly Button in or out? In but stretched to the max.

What I miss: We're too close to the prize to really miss anything at this point.

What I am looking forward to: Scrambling to get as much as possible done before she gets here!

Next Appointment: Friday, 12/2 @ 38 weeks and 4 days

So this appointment was an interesting one. The first shocker was that I had gained 8 lbs in just six days. She said she always expects a gain after turkey day, but 8 lbs was a bit of a shocker -- especially when you paired it with my high blood pressure. She said she'd check me and then we'd decide our plan of attack. A quick check (much more pleasant than last time, thank God!) showed that I'm a "two, maybe a three" and 80% effaced. This alone was exciting for me because I never made it past a fingertip/1 with Austin on my own. So the plan is as follows... I'll go back Friday morning to make sure my blood pressure has returned to normal. If it hasn't, she said, "we'll have us a baby this weekend." If my BP looks better we're going to be induced next Wednesday, 12/7! Baby girl will be here regardless a week from tomorrow!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our cup definitely overflows this Thanksgiving holiday. The past year has been full of so many things to be thankful for -- new house, new baby on the way and wonderful family and friends that have helped us through it all. We thank the good Lord as much as we can for the blessings he has given us!

Welcome, Baby Breck! {11.19.11}

We are so excited to introduce you to our newest family member, Breck David! He joined us on November 19th and is the sweetest thing ever!

Austin is so cute with his baby cousin. I can tell these two are going to be best buds in no time! Congrats to Breck's entire family. We are so happy he's finally here!

Swiss Chard - Three Weeks To Go!

Your baby is now considered full term, even though your due date is still three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. She weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

How far along? 37 Weeks!!

Total weight gain: I'm thinking 35 - 40. The problem is that I don't know what I weighed when we started this journey. I do know that I'm one pound away from delivery weight with Austin. 

Sleep: Sleeping isn't the problem, however, rolling over and trying to get out of bed is a chore!

Best moment this week: Meeting JP's Big Cousin, Breck David on 11/19!

Movement: She's definitely slowing down but she's not letting anyone forget she's in there!

Food cravings: Still Yoo-hoos...

Name: I give up! JP is a good name, right?

Labor Signs: Maybe a few braxton hicks here and there

Dilated: "Definitely a 1" The doctor's exact words were, "anything can happen, but I'd plan on being back next week."

Belly Button in or out? In but stretched to the max.

What I miss: Non-restless legs. Sometimes I just want to cut them off so I can get to sleep!

What I am looking forward to: Sprinkle!! We are blessed with the best family and friends!

Next Appointment: 38 weeks appointment on 11/29

Crenshaw Melon - Four Weeks To Go!

Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

 How far along? 36 Weeks!!
Total weight gain: I have no idea. My legs and chins are a good sign that it's probably more than I wanted to. Can't wait for Thanksgiving!
Sleep: I'm fine once I get to sleep but I tend to get a burst of energy right before it's time to go to bed.
Best moment this week: Hearing her heartbeat this afternoon
Movement: She's slowing down but still makes her presence known. Sometimes I can make out a perfect outline of her tiny little foot on my right side.
Food cravings: Still Yoo-hoos...
Name: Once again I thought we had it narrowed down but I found out Jay and I aren't even on the same page. He's more trendy and I lean towards the classics.....
Labor Signs: Maybe a few braxton hicks here and there
Dilated: Fingertip!!  Exciting...but her exact words were "you'll definitely be pregnant for a few more weeks!" (A few is three, right?!?)

Belly Button in or out? In but stretched to the max.
What I miss: My breath! I can't ever seem to catch it!
What I am looking forward to: Hanging something on her bare walls! 
Next Appointment: 37 week appointment on 11/23

A quick tour around her room:

Her bed and bedding. Sweet little bees!

Toys and Books that Austin decided to share

Clothes!

Changing table

Her room is the perfect place to iron... for now! :)

Pack N Play all set up in the Condooooo (works great as a pillow holder!)

 Until next week....

FIVE Weeks to GO!

 

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete – she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Trick-or-Treating {2011}

Our "Little Stinker" had the best time Trick-Or-Treating this year. We split things up just a bit to help ease the stress of Halloween on a school night. On Sunday night we visited the Hentis', Julia, B and Johnny, the FerFers and Aunt Sissy.

Aunt B joined us on Halloween night as we made our rounds to Nana & Pa's, the Woods', Rosalyn & Bruce's, Mrs. Steele's and Devin and Kristin's. D and Kristin have the perfect Halloween spot. We were able to spend time with everyone - the Gregsons and the Hentis' - while we were there. Our skunk got a little feisty and started spraying the Harlem Globetrotters!

We made it home early enough to sort through his goodies and take a quick bath before it was time to get to bed. What a fun and "stinky" night!

Preschool Fall Party {2011}

Austin had his first school "Fall Party" the week before Halloween. I didn't know if we should do treats for each kid because his teacher had mentioned they all get so much stuff. I'm glad we ended up doing them because he was so excited about putting the treat bags together. I honestly think he was more excited about giving than getting!

We made an assembly line out of treat bags, play-dough, smarties, suckers and little rubber skeletons. I would tell him who each bag was for and he'd pick what he thought was their favorite color play-dough.

He was also super excited that Nana got to come to the party. Sounds like it was short and sweet, but lots of fun for a group of 3-year-olds. The ate cupcakes, decorated pumpkins, sang fall songs and passed out treats...