36 weeks, 3 days......

Today's picture to go with today's doctor visit. I'm 36 weeks and 3 days along. Now I start weekly visits and exams.

Today's highlights:

1) Weight gain acceptable - 2 pounds since last time (a pound a week). I'm just now at 30 pounds for the pregnancy. VERY happy about that. I was almost at 40 pounds this time with Eli!!

2) Blood pressure good at 100 / 62

3) Did hemoglobin test - 12.7 no issue with anemia (apparently 12-15 is normal)

4) Did Strep B test - we'll see how that one comes out

5) 2.0 is, and has been, head down. Got to hear his little heartbeat. I think doctor said it was in the upper 120s to lower 130s beat count.

6) Measuring about 37 weeks - just a few days early, nothing like with Eli.

7) Not dilated yet - again, with Eli I was already 2cm. Guess I'd better step up that walking!!

All in all though, it was a good appointment and they're happy with how this pregnancy has gone so far (me too!). I was surprised not to be dilated at all though because if I'm not careful and stand up too fast, I feel like he's on his way. Oh well, we'll see what they say next week. =)

Man to Man defense - no zone here

It's an interesting question we keep getting. Even though 2.0 isn't here yet, everyone wonders if we'll have a 3rd child. Tim & I are in sync when we say we're done at two kids. We prefer man to man defense (2 vs 2) instead of zone (3 vs 2). Can't be outnumbered!!

Our weekend routine

Seems like we have figured out our "summer" weekend routine around here. Mornings are spent staying busy doing something, then it's nap time, after nap off to the pool and then home for dinner. It's a very simple plan but about all we can handle these days! 

Saturday after the museum, it was lunch, nap and then to the pool. Eli had a great time pushing a big dump truck in and out of the kiddie pool. He was quite pooped out at the end of the day and slept quite well all night. Granted he was still up at 6am but not a peep until then. 

Today we started the day making homemade pancakes. Eli helped me as he loves using the "roundy round" - aka the mixer. After our nice family breakfast, Tim & Eli went on a bike ride around the lake to feed the ducks and I went on a walk of my own. It was nice to get outside and get a little exercise. A quick grocery trip and then Eli kept telling us he was sleepy. He wanted nothing to do with lunch but wanted to take a nap. We were worried about him going down for a nap with no lunch but he slept almost 3 hours and was in good trim when he got up. Then it was off the pool for more play time - we got to see his friend Owen there today and they enjoyed the water time. Home for dinner - this time Eli was starving! A little more playing and easily down for the night. 

So that's our weekend plan. Have fun wearing Eli out in the AM, take a nap and then wear him out in the PM so he sleeps well. Simple but it seems to work so far - Eli is loving all the pool time! Hope everyone else found time for some fun as well. 

BIG dump truck at the pool

Mommy's helper

"Mom, did you read the directions right?"

Water boy

Night - uh actually morning - at the Museum

This morning, Carol & I took Ryan & Eli to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. We were smart enough to get there early and it wasn't crowded at all. The boys loved running around looking at all the exhibits as well as looking at the live animals on each floor. They really seemed to love the anthropod section where they saw lots of "beetlebops" - apparently at school, they call any bug a "beetlebop". The funniest part was on the way home when Ryan fell asleep and Eli tattle-told on him. I heard "Mommy, Ry-Ry sleeping". Sure enough we turn around to look an Ryan was napping happily. Of course, 15 minutes later Eli was taking a catnap of his own! 

Checking out the turtle (and fish) in the aquarium

Ooooh, Mommy - Look!

Hiding in the big tree

The big ball

Ry-Ry, what do you think it is? 

Rrrrrrrrrr

The best-est buds in the world

Celebrating reproductive power......

The evite read:

The gods of fertility sure have been busy in the neighborhood again!

Please join me in celebrating Carrie and Evia, our very pregnant friends!

Whether you know one or both pregos, we hope you'll join the fun!

If you'd like, bring a sweet treat or adult beverage to share with everyone.

Moms-to-be want to be clear that this is not a shower!

Just time for us to celebrate their awesome reproductive power!

No gifts please - just think of something to pledge for a post baby treat!

A meal, free time, an ear to listen or an afternoon pick me up sweet!

Thanks to my neighbor and friend Amy and my friend Carol, last night some of our neighbors got together to celebrate the upcoming new additions to the neighborhood. My neighbor Carrie is due the same day as me and she's having a little girl. It was a fun night just hanging out with friends and having some yummy desserts. Time with just the girls and no kiddos around is VERY rare. Thanks ladies for planning a great night!

The dessert table with cute diaper cakes

Carrie & I

Carol & I - probably the only picture in existence of just the two of us!

Amy, Me, Carol - rub the Buddha belly

Babies, Babies, Babies

Two new babies in the past two days.....

My friend Kara welcomed Faye Julia to their family, Wednesday at 12:48pm, 7 pounds 6 ounces, 21" long. Got to meet her yesterday; Faye is beautiful and Kara looked great.

My friend Jacque welcomed Jacob Ryan to their family, yesterday at 4:33am, 6 pounds 12 ounces. I haven't met Jacob yet but the pictures are precious. Jacque was due a week before me so that reminds me that our little one's arrival is coming soon!!

Just wanted to congratulate my friends on their new arrivals. They're amazing women and amazing mothers. Now both have two kids under 2!

Weekend in review - fun at the farm

This weekend we took our last trip before 2.0 arrives - we went to visit Grandpa & Grandma C at the farm. We left Friday night at Eli's bed time hoping he'd sleep the entire way down. Didn't happen! He stayed awake until at least 9pm. We arrived around 11pm and the three of us (me, Tim, Eli) climbed into a full size bed for the night. Yes, a full size bed! Eli refuses to sleep in anything but a big boy bed now so it was the only way. It wasn't too bad except that sometimes I felt like I was clinging to the edge of the bed so as not to fall off. 

Saturday was a busy day. Eli got up and went out to explore with Grandma. He absolutely loves walking around and checking on the animals. We took his "moo moo boots" with us knowing that the grass might be wet or muddy and also not knowing if he'd go into the pasture. Well, he wasn't up too long and the moo moo boots came out. He then went in search of puddles to stomp in. Grandma & I ended up making him a puddle with a water hose and he had a blast stomping around. Then he grabbed the water hose and slung it around like a samurai warrior, laughing the entire time. Had to change his clothes and then he went exploring the pasture looking for the cows and goats with Grandma. He also saw bee houses (or whatever you call them) and horses next door. After lunch, we took a good nap before some more family (Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins) came over for dinner. We had a HUGE dinner. You would have thought it was Thanksgiving or something! Grandma had everyone over so we didn't have to drive all over the county to visit (Thanks Mom!). After a yummy meal and some homemade ice cream, we headed outside to explore more. It was quite the busy day and unbelievably, Eli went to bed at a fairly decent time!

Of course, that meant he was up at 5:54am - just like normal. Oh how I wanted to sleep later than that. Grandma took him to see the animals again and Tim + I lounged in bed for a bit longer. Then we got up, I made breakfast and we ate with Grandma + Grandpa before Grandpa left for church. Lots more play time and then it was time to head home. 

Eli took an early nap on the way home - only for an hour - so it made for a fairly long drive. He was quite antsy the last 45 minutes or so of the drive (and I must admit so was I! Although we enjoy going places, I ALWAYS love coming home.). We played for a bit at home and then headed to the pool to burn some of Eli's energy off. It was nice to see our friends Kara + Brian with their son Owen there. Owen + Eli had a blast playing in the kiddie pool. We also saw several of our other friends and neighbors. An hour and a half later, we headed home for dinner and down time. Eli enjoyed bath time and then went to sleep pretty easy for Daddy. 

It was quite a busy weekend but we're glad we got to see everyone. Now we'll hunker down at home, try to take care of home chores and wait for 2.0 to arrive! Hope everyone else had a great weekend as well. 

Got my "moo moo boots" on - I'm ready to go!

Stomp, stomp, stomp

Watch out for the samurai with his water sword

Running around happy as can be

Look how big Eli looks - he was playing with cars that belonged to his Uncle Jeff & Uncle Billy

Grandpa teaching Eli about gardening - good thing so we can grow some stuff next year! 

Contemplating this garden stuff

Hello Mr. Chicken

Grandpa, Daddy, Eli & Great Uncle Mike checking out the engine in Grandpa's 1967 Ford truck

"No Mom, I'm not really going to pull the chimes and try to break them"

Hanging with Grandpa - Eli has become quite the Grandpa's boy (both Grandpas!)

Grandma spoils me =)

Learning about 'Farmtown' from Uncle Billy

At the pool - Eli's new cover up. Thanks so much Kara!!

The Ant Update

So this morning, I called the nurse's hotline at Eli's pediatrician's office to ask about his ant bites. They happened Tuesday around 8am and the area went from red and kinda swollen to little white bumps to bigger white bumps (puss bumps). From everything I could find to read, it looked like the normal course for fire ant bites and that they would heal. Still, something worried me - maybe it's the fact that Eli is not yet 2! - so I called in. They had me bring Eli in this afternoon so they could be sure the bites weren't infected. Right now it doesn't look like it and the Doctor confirmed that they look like fire ant bites. She gave us a prescription for antibiotics as a precaution because Eli could easily scratch the bites and open them up to infection. Although nothing is serious about them, I'm glad I went to have them checked.

On a side note, Eli weighed in at his appointment on the big stand up scale - no more baby sitting down for him. He was such a big boy weighing in at 31-1/2 pounds. He was talking the entire time we were there and was especially cute when the doctor walked in - he said "Hey Doctor" as soon as she entered our room. My charming little boy. =)

34 weeks, 3 days - as the belly grows....

Today's photo to go with today's 34 week doctor appointment. Had a good appointment. Normal stuff:

• Weight - holding steady (whew!)
• Blood pressure 110/68 - still good
• Talked to doctor about lots of Braxton Hicks contractions - nothing to worry about unless I start having 5-6 per hour
• Measured pretty much on my due date - with Eli I was still measuring a week early at this point
• Good strong heartbeat
• 2.0 is definitely head down

Overall I'm feeling very well. I haven't started having the swelling that I had with Eli at this point (yet) and am still able to do most of my normal stuff. I'd love to sleep through the night but my microscopic bladder won't let that happen right now! Next appointment in 2 weeks. I can't believe my due date is approaching so fast! 

Ant Bite You

Yesterday Eli managed to find some ant hills at school and was bitten on his hand at least 5 times by ants. Apparently he found them and then raised his hand up crying and there were ants on his hand. The area was just red yesterday but today it also has little puss bumps - we can see 5 distinct bites. I've researched and it's normal but he's so pitiful saying "ant bite you". When I picked him up from school he had to show me exactly where the ant hills were (it happened at 8am and I picked him up at 5pm!) and now he just keeps showing me his hand and telling me that ants bit him. Not fun.......another adventure in Mommyland!