Easter continued

I don't know how else to share these next pictures without 1) making it a separate post and 2) prefacing this by saying Cheyanne was hyped up on lollipops and had little to no patience for any staged pictures Easter morning.

Continue. And Enjoy.

It started off well. Jameson was happy as he normally is.

Grandparents were around to help make the morning special.

 Kids were dressed in their beautiful Easter clothes made specially by my mother-in-law.

After a few takes, they started growing a little apprehensive.

A little unsure...

Saying a prayer to make the wild child calm down.

And then something just snapped.

And it got worse.

And worse.

And I lost them...

Happy Easter from one very tired Easter bunny!

2 Days Left

What do you do when you have two days left before you have a baby? Last day before induction begins...?

1) Give yourself a manicure - using this french tip pen (which I just bought and love! So easy.).



2) Carefully give yourself a pedicure. Carefully.

3) Clean the kitchen for the mmphteenth time of the week.

4) Clean the entire house for that matter for the mmphteenth time of the week.

5) Attempt to finalize Peapod's middle name.

6) Take a shower and make yourself look halfway attractive, even if you can't find anything to wear that will fit over the belly.

7) Move Peapod's bassinett into your room.

8) Repack your's and Peapod's hospital bags.

9) Go to mother-in-law's to pick up Babies R Us coupons, then head to Babies R Us.

10) Organize iPod delivery playlist, after figuring out why your iPod isn't syncing...

11) Deal with health insurance.

12) Fix broken toilet seat (that you might have broke while cleaning the shower and slipped on).

13) Laundry.

14) Walk. Walk. Walk.

15) Finish knitting Peapod's booties.

16) Fix beds when the Giant gets home from football practice tonight.

17) Sweep out garage.

18) Go to storage unit and pick up a few things.

19) Think of more things that need to be done today and add to list.

20) Rest.

Yep, that's my list of things to do. So what am I doing now? Sitting on the couch blogging. Maybe that should be #21 on the list. Ooooor #1 perhaps?

Oh and happy 39 weeks to me!!

Swimming in a big pool

I love my husband. He can take any situation and find something about it to lighten the mood, even though his solution comment isn't always exactly on target or- ehmm- correct whatsoever. I'll explain.

Yesterday was our 32 week doctor's appointment. After last week's hospital scare, I was pretty nervous so I asked Hubs to go with me. Well that and we were having an ultrasound and I knew he'd want to see Peapod as much as I did. Thank goodness he was there. Looks like I'm not a whimp afterall- although I really sortof wish I was with this one. We found a reason for all the intense pain I've been having- but no explanation for the reason yet. During the ultrasound, the doctor saw lots of extra fluid in my uterus. This would explain a few things, like why my back has been hurting so much more recently and why my ribs have been stabbing pain. From what I understand, and obviously I'm not a doctor but I can google with the best of them (don't hate, Dr.T!), with all the extra fluid its been putting added pressure on me causing my uterus to rub/sit against my ribs. Now, why the extra amniotic fluid? We don't know. I am being scheduled to see a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician next week for tests and clearer ultrasounds. They will be looking at all her organs to make sure she is functioning correctly and to see if my fluid levels have raised or not. Let's pray hard not. At this point in pregnancy, most of the amniotic fluid is urine that she makes and swallows and processes out. This is how baby's learn to swallow. Oh the fascinating aspects of fetal development that I am learning daily. It could be that she is just not swallowing like she should be, thus the extra fluids in there with her. She is not under distress right now which is fantastic! I'm not even letting myself think that far into things yet. trust me, I could spin out of control, but I have a husband that momentarily lightens my mood with, "Don't worry. She's just swimming in a big pool right now!" Hmm thanks Hub for the light chuckle. Am I concerned? Ab.so.lute.ly. But do I have a sister who know ten times more than me about this situation and is very involved? Yes. Do I trust that God isn't harming my baby girl and he is protecting her? Double yes. Will I continue to read everything I can possibly find out about this "too much amniotic fluid" stuff to better educate myself? Of course... So in the mean time before my MFM appointment, I'll be taking it easy and thinking good thoughts. I'm also getting sent to an Internal Medicine physician to help relieve some of this pain. Couldn't be more excited about this one! Monday's appointment can't come soon enough!

I did get a few pictures from yesterday's ultrasound, but not great ones. She is now head down and in position, which is a relief. Hopefully she stays that way. I had just started reading up on odd positioned deliveries, just in case she was still laying oblique (across). I also just started watching live delivery videos, natural, pain med, and C-section. Not my best idea ever. I apparently prepare myself for the best and worst case scenarios, makes me feel more prepared, but unfortunately those images won't leave my mind now. But anyways, because she is head down and because the doctor was rightfully so more focused on getting amnio measurements, we couldn't get the best pictures. I've tried to label whats what of her face if you can't tell without it. I like 4D images much better! But I guess I will be seeing her again very shortly, yay! One plus about the MFM appointment.

Without labels. Anybody see her right off? She's got some cheeks for sure!

Oh, I forgot to post my week 32 picture from the other day. Not fantastic. Yet again, that is what happens when I disturb the Giant as he is watching his favorite show. I get three quick shots and that's it. Take 'em or leave 'em. Sadly, this is the best one...

What to do

when your stomach doesnt bend. "What?" you ask. Let me explain for all my never-been-preggo friends. When you're pregnant and your belly grows, you're stomach no longer bends like it did. Its like trying to bend with a watermelon in the way, literally. Think about it. It can get very tricky and potentially dangerous (speaking from experience here...). Comical is not an option here, even though my husband might disagree.

So what to do, for instance, getting out of bed for a midnight potty run half asleep in the dark.

Attempt #1: Roll over and just get up.
Result: Fail.

Attempt #2: Push up with hands behind me.
Result: Fail again.

Attempt #3: Try to wake up husband from sleeping coma to help push.
Result: He rolls me the wrong way towards him without waking up. Big fail.

Attempt #4: Roll myself back to my corrected side and grab for anything to hoist myself up including night stand that is too low for any actual support.
Result: Knock over water glass on stand and still cannot get a good grip. Ugh fail.

Attempt#5: Almost give up and seriously start to ponder husbands reaction in the morning if I just peed the bed...
Result: Sigh- never gonna happen. Fail. Next.

Attempt #6: With all the gusto I can muster, I pull a roll and twist with the upper body while simultaneously swing my legs over the edge and do a little kick move for momentum.
Result: SUCCESS! With a big ole grunt when I finally stood upright. I don't know if I've ever been more proud of myself... at least proud of my half-asleep self.

I'm glad you guys love me. Hey- at least I'm honest.

__________________________________

Survey time!!

How far along?: 31 weeks
How big is baby?: She should be in between 2.5-3.5 lbs and measuring between 15-17 inches. She's close to her birth length now.
Weight Gain?: Don't have a clue. My abdomen is definitely bigger though.
Stretch Marks?: Nope.
Maternity Clothes?: Anything stretchy and lose. I heart dresses.
Sleep?: What is good sleep?
Best moment this week?: Getting out of bed!
Food Cravings?: Corn and pineapple! Oh and I found a killer recipe for homemade granola I'm dying to try. Anybody know where I can find a bag of granola?
Pregnancy brain?: Becoming quite obsessed with finishing things aka projects.
Gender?: Team very pink.
Movement?: There's a dance party inside my belly.
What I miss?: Being able to sit, stand, or lay comfortably.
Belly Button?: Omit due to frustration on the subject...
Labor Signs?: Braxton hicks.
What I'm looking forward to?: Getting the final good news on the Giant's leave date.
Milestone?: I have successfully completed my first big present to my baby- her homemade baby blanket!

I'll take a better one later. And yeah...this is not a preggo shirt...obviously... but its laundry day

We're all Jello Legs and Drums

Tomorrow is the big day for my Giant boy. PAST test day... and boy is he sweat'n it. He will do great though- I have no doubt! He's been training non stop this whole week, running through the test twice a day working on improving his times. He's not one for mediocre or the minimum. He's striving to blow them away. It starts tomorrow at 7am at Langley AFB so please say a little prayer for him tonight and tomorrow. The PAST consists of 1- 20 meter underwater (no breath) swim. 1- 500 meter swim. 1.5 miles track run. And then calisthenics (push ups/pull ups/sit ups/ etc). All with time requirements timed to the milisecond. All very rushed. All back to back. Eeek! Swimming then running has him nervous most of all because of the "jello legs" he feels afterwards. All his years of football trained him to sprint the hell out of himself- for shorter distances... not sprint straight for 1.5 miles... right after swimming 500+ meters. That's been his biggest challenge, besides psyching himself out that is. But, dear husband, I have faith in you and all of your training! It will pay off tomorrow! I can feel it! And hopefully, he'll get picked up right away from one of his top jobs and then things roll! Come on Monday!! We want good news and a call with a date Monday! Fingers crossed.

I have no new news to report on my end. I haven't heard any results from my glucose test yet- which according to my sister- no news is good news! It went pretty easy. Tasted like burning orange crap drink...

...that gave me killer heartburn, but besides that, it was tolerable. Phew! I read the horror stories before hand, so I had no idea what to expect. I have an appointment next with my OB so if I don't hear anything before then, I'll let you all know come Tuesday. My peapod seems to be losing space in there. It feels like she is bumping into me much more often and enjoys playing the drums against my right rib cage. I'm constantly rubbing my right side. I wonder what people think when they see me rubbing circles into my side with my palm. No I'm not working out gas bubbles- I'm attempting to move my daughter away from my ribs so I can stand straight and breathe!! Not that she has many other options of places to go. Sorry kiddo. Your mama's little too. Make do with whatcha got! She moves my stomach a lot now! Very weird to see my clothes jumping all over the place through the day. Hope she does it this weekend for my sister and Momma to see. She likes to get shy every time my mom's around! She gave her two kicks last time and called it a day.

And here I am today...

Frisco

Well readers- I've been beaching it this weekend! I feel a little bigger, a little tanner, and a whole lot happier tonight! Frisco always makes me happy but this trip was one of a kind. Its the trip that we have all been holding our breathe on to see if Winter would make it. And woohoo her counts were up and we went! Granted it was 100+ degrees with a heat index 10 degrees above that, oh and we camped. Not exactly typical roughing it camping since we were in a cabins with a little ac unit that we had pumping out 60 degree air 24/7. But, It. Was. Hot. The cabins are just two tiny bedrooms- or one small room cut in half by a wall and door- which never shut since the ac was in the back bedroom- and we were in the front bedroom. We brought a fan with us which pretty much saved our lives at night. So, my weekend was drive, swim, beach, sleep, beach, swim, drive. I'll let you enjoy the pictures now of our little weekend adventure.

Anybody lose a baby on the beach?

_______ End of the beach and on to the pool________

About to play her favorite game of the weekend "What's the baby saying now?" She loved to swim up to me underwater and put her head up to my belly then pop out of the water and tell me what the baby was saying. "Wow! What is this swimming thing? This is fun! I love it!" says baby to Winter.

The Giant and his Winter

The new EastCoasters! We're converting more!

What's a pool party without a little Chicken?

Week 26

Holy Guacamole! I'm so close to being in the third trimester, I feel it getting closer every day! Is this possible that I am 26 weeks pregnant?!

I feel bigger than ever (because I am! I've gained 9 lbs total)! Don't roll your eyes! On a 5'2" gal, every ounce of that shows and is felt. And I'm starting to get uncomfortable at really awkward times. For example, I can be absolutely starving, like able to eat a whole cow starving, and take three bites and my stomach gets so big I feel like if I touch it I will pop! Eating= me miserable for a couple hours. Why is that?! Long as baby girl is getting what she needs, I'll deal with the suffering.

I went to the doc Tuesday for my last "every 4 weeks" check up. I go back in three weeks, then we start the every week visit! Peapod is doing just fine in there. Laying straight across my belly, just like I've said. Lets hope she moves sometime soon! She weighs about a pound and a two thirds and measures around a little over a foot. I am measuring 25 of 26 weeks along, which doc said is totally in normal range. Take that Co-worker lady that asked me if I'm having twins yesterday!! Bless her heart.... ::said in my most sarcastic sweet southern belle voice::!

Please ignore the slight blue showing- I wasn't prepared- and I was in my work bathroom... ;)



Sleep is becoming quite a rough task. I know I know- just wait til I'm 36 weeks. Peapod and I have a nightly routine. I fall asleep for a couple of hours & she wakes me up jumping around in there reminding me how bad I need to Frankensteinishly waddle myself to the bathroom. I try and I tell myself that I don't have to go THAT bad, but then with a little fist pump she reminds me OH YES YOU DO! Sometimes I can easily drift back to sleep. Sometimes not. Last night- not. Poor me. I bitterly stared at Hubs for a while as he lay next to me slumbering away contemplating how many jabs it would take to "see if he was awake..." so I wouldn't be the only one stuck awake! Eventually I must have fallen back to sleep before I could make a decision because his sides were spared.

Its Friday! TGIF! The giant and I are packing our bathing suits and heading down to Nags Head tonight to spend the weekend on the beach with my fam at our "condobeach" house and yes, I will be wearing a bikini. Judge if you must, but trust me, I will be a heck of a lot more comfy with my bump hanging out rather than shoving it into some cursed one piece made for a non-preggo. Bleh!! But it's black, so maybe the black slimming rule still applies...? There's no cut off for that, right?

I hope you all have a wonderfully sunny weekend!! I'm leaving you with this fun survey I've seen on many preggo people's blogs. I finally decided to give it a try. Oh and this ridiculously cute picture at the end. You'll see. Don't scroll down ahead of time and cheat...!

________________________

How far along?: 26 weeks!!
How big is baby?: Approx. the size of an "English hothouse cucumber" (seriously- its what my weekly email said- what the crap?! I'm going with the size of a large banana split) and weighing about 1 3/4 lbs
Weight Gain?: I'm up 9 lbs!
Stretch Marks?: NO! Stay far far away stretch marks!
Maternity Clothes?: I'm in love with my maternity jeans. I mostly wear dresses right now though because I have no maternity work pants :( . I still wear my normal dress pants but long shirts cover up the fact that I leave them completely unzipped and unbuttoned. That's becoming an issue.
Sleep?: Great until I wake up at 2:30am. Every. Morning.
Best moment this week?: Waking up to the Giant and Peapod playing a game of tap/punch on my belly. He would tap. She would punch. Not vice versa.
Food Cravings?: Still ice cream. And no- yogurt does not substitute the craving. I've tried.
Gender?: She is all girl.
Movement?: OH YES- until I really want her to so my mom can feel! She's a crazy girl that has found her most comfortable position to lay straight across my stomach.
What I miss?: Laying on my stomach. Being able to bend and twist to reach things without grabbing my stomach. Oh and not peeing 234583x a day.
Belly Button?: I am not a fan of this without my ring in it. Its gotten a little dark around the holes. Not attractive- no matter how much Hubs lies to me and tells me my belly looks beautiful no matter what.
Labor Signs?: No. But I'm wondering if what I'm feeling is the start of Braxton Hicks.
What I'm looking forward to?: Stabilization so I can have a place to start Peapod's nursery!! Soon and very soon.
Milestone?: My tanktops no longer cover my belly. I definitely have the peek-a-show coming from underneath my tanks. So they've now become only undertanks and sleep tanks. She's growing. Well I guess actually we both are.

________________________

And we can't forget my ridiculously cute picture I'll leave you with!

I can't remember where I saw this, but do you not want him?! I do!!

Sorry this post is long. Apparently, I had lots to share.

24 Weeks

I'm a few days late on this but its hard to believe I'm already 24 weeks along. Here's a quick synopsis of what Peapod has been up to this past week from my weekly emails.

"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon." Thank you babycenter.com.



She has been kicking all day long. I wonder what I've eaten that's given her so much energy?! Maybe she is just as excited about the weekend as I am. No big plans, just small relaxing plans.
Zzzz.
Knit knit knit.
Zzzz.
Winter time.
Knit knit.
Shopping.
Craft.
Knit.
Done.
That's my big plans so far.

I took new baby bump pics yesterday. Wanna see?





Yes I dared to take the bare belly picture...eek... TMI?! Even though I see it for myself everyday and don't think too much about it (most of the time...), seeing it in this picture sortof freaks me out!

Neat to see how I'm progressing though. I should be much better about taking weekly pictures, but I'm not. Sorry. I'll blame the Giant. He's the photographer... ;) Sorry Hubs.

Ok, that's all I've got for now.



Oh wait!! I'll leave you with this. On my way home today from work, I was driving on the interstate and saw something interesting. Caught in the corner of my eye, I saw a LARGE bird flying straight towards my car about 40 feet above. First thought, cool, he's huge! Second thought, hmm, that's a rather large fish in his mouth... as it flies almost directly above my car. Third thought, SPLAT!!!....GROSS!!! blood on my windshield! Final thought, PUKE! BLAH! *#$!@! GAG!!!!

It looked a little something like this...



...except over my car. (this is the image I got when I googled "bird flying with fish in mouth" or something like that...

Ok, NOW, that's all I've got for now...! Have a good weekend my friends!