Still pregnant

So I guess I jumped the gun and got a little too excited when I went to my 37 week appointment and had so much unexpected progression because there has been NONE since (I am currently 38 weeks and 6 days, next appointment is in 2 days).  I'm pretty sure that Jude is just as happy as a clam in there and is in no hurry to leave.  How sweet.  I've made such a great place for him and he doesn't want to leave.  Nooooo.  He just wants to do cat stretches, kick, try to stand up, and roll around in there. 

I do like being pregnant.  I love the feeling of being pregnant and knowing that I am creating a little body, complete down to the tiniest finger and toe nails.  It is fun to feel him moving around in there, a feeling that I can try to describe, but always feel like I fall short of the magnificence of.  I love eating whatever I want, even if it is my body weigh (in ounces) of root beer- A&W- non caffeinated.

But I don't really enjoy the CONSTANT need to urinate, the foot (I assume the left foot) that continues to try to get out of my belly, and the fact that standing and talking to someone causes me to lose my breath.  I am really considering having Dr. Smith check out the amniotic sac and see if we can identify where those feet have been kicking me because I'm positive that that part of the sac will be worn and thinned.  If he could kick his way out, he would have already done so.  Soccer player?  We'll see. 

The everyday tasks that are required of me get harder and harder to accomplish by the hour.  Yesterday, I had to stop singing at church because we were standing up and I couldn't do those two things and keep my breath!  He is pressing into every organ that I have.  The upside, I can only eat small amounts of food at one time right now.  But because of that, I am constantly eating.  :o)

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love being pregnant.  I am amazed (and awe struck) by what a woman's body is capable of.  But I wanted to write down the way I am feeling at this moment.  This is, afterall, an online journal. I want to document all parts of my pregnancy, good and bad, fun and not so fun.  But most of all, my most favorite part of being pregnant is the outcome, the tiny baby boy I will get to hold in a few short (no, scratch that--a few long) days. 

Ready

Okay Jude.  Your room is finished.  All of the necessary (and unnecessary, but helpful) supplies and toys are in place awaiting you.  Our bags are packed, we're ready to go.  The only thing we are now waiting on is you!

Riley is doing her part in preparing for becoming a big sister by meticulously taking care of her baby dolls.  She feeds them, lays them down for naps, and dresses them.  She is ready for you too!

So, just to let you know, we are all ready to meet you.  I've tried imagining what your sweet face looks like, but I'm sure it falls short of how precious you really are.  We are ready for the sleepless nights, the numerous diaper changes, and the multiple nursing sessions.  Riley is ready to be a big sister.  Your daddy and I are ready to add a feisty baby boy to our family.  So whenever you are ready, bring it on.  We can't wait.

Play Time with Millie

A couple of weeks ago, we met Millie and her mom Brooke at the park for a little bit of play time.  The girls had lots of fun.  It's so enjoyable to watch them now that they notice each other and play together.  And us moms get some good social time too!  This is the only picture we got of them together.  You can see that Riley has stolen Millie's ball and is running around the playground screaming with delight at the top of her lungs.  Millie was very nice about the stolen ball.

Riley's first experience on a swing.  She wasn't too sure about it until she saw Millie swinging and loving it.  Then she was all about it.

Oh Millie.  This girl was just getting over a double ear infection and you couldn't even tell!  She was very happy to be playing in the warm sun.  After they had played for about an hour, she was worn out.  She layed down right in the middle of the playground to give us the notice that she was done for the day. TOOOO Cute!!!   We can't wait to have more play dates at the park with the Smith girls.  I hope they don't mind being joined by a boy soon.

Random thoughts

I kind of feel bad that I just ate ALL of the banana chips I dehydrated for Riley.  Good thing I know where to get more bananas.  Sam's, here we come.  I love their bundles of bananas for less than two bucks.  I think I might be addicted to them... the banana chips that is.

I should get on that before Jude gets here, which should be pretty soon.  I have already progressed much more than I had with Riley at this point.  I won't go into specifics since this is on the internet, if you want the goods, email me and I'll tell you.  Let me just say that I am giving this boy 6 days before he makes his grand entrance in the world.

This morning as I was driving to evaluate a new teacher, I got a little bit misty-eyed about that fact that it's just going to be Riley and me for another few days.  Then we will forever be joined by a sweet little boy whom I can't wait to meet.  But the thought that she is going to have to share me created a lump in my throat that I wasn't sure how to get rid of.

Going Green

Not in the environmentally-saving-savvy green, but just making more changes for Jude.  Instead of the cute pink that my blog has been for the past 16 months, we needed to make it more gender friendly for Jude... as we have everything else in the house.

His room is almost complete!  The bedding looks fabulous (thanks to my talented mom), and the mural on the wall is almost finished.  I just need to get someone that is really tall and has long arms (hint hint, Woody) to finish the top parts that I cannot reach.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend, the hospital bags will be somewhat packed and his places in our home will be ready to receive him. I'll post pictures when it's all done.

Now yes, I'm only 36 weeks and something days... so we have 3ish weeks left, but I'm ready to be ready for his arrival as this creates less stress in my body and (I think) might help me to rest better.  Sleep at this point is a crap-shoot.  Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't.  But his laundry is done, his Moses basket is ready, and he has diapers.  Isn't that really all we need at this point?

Countdown

I just looked at the ticker and saw 35 days.  Oh dear.  Really?  Just 35 days... and that's if I make it to my due date, which I didn't with Riley.  He has diapers, clothing, a bed, a room, and all of the gadgets that babies need.  But am I ready for this?  Doesn't matter now because it's happening!!!  I remember this feeling when Riley was almost due, but it was different then because I was SO uncomfortable constantly and so excited about the new adventure of mommy-hood.  This nervousness is more about the transition of going from one baby to two. 

Will Riley take it well or will she take it personally and think we don't love her as much as we did before this crying baby came into the house?  Will she act out all of the time to get my attention or will she be the helpful big sister I hope she'll be (bringing me diapers and whatever else she can reach from Jude's dresser)?  She's been practicing the good big sister thing by pulling out everything she can reach from his drawers and trying to get in his bed.  I hope she's just trying to test it out for him and not trying to mark her territory.

Will I ever get enough rest when I'm not sleeping at night because of Jude and not sleeping during the day because of Riley?  Riley slept through the night in 9 weeks, but there were nights when I did not sleep at all.  I don't know how I'll do it if I can't nap during the day... and what are the odds of them sleeping at the same time during the day in those first few weeks?  Hopefully Jude will be a great sleeper for me.

Will I forget what Woody looks like because we are tag-teaming the kids?  And Jude is due just before the state baseball tournament.  Not wise planning on our part, but we weren't planning much of anything 35 weeks ago.  That was all God's timing.  And since it's His timing, I'm sure He will work out a way for the baseball games to go on without Woody.

I know it can be done.  I personally know lots of women who have done it and survived, and their kids survived too.  I know both kids will grow up and not be eternally scarred from this transition, will I be as lucky?  If you think about it, send a little prayer up for me during this transition time.  35 more days to get myself prepared.

Art work

A few weeks ago, Riley was showing interest in writing or coloring.  By that (before you spew Dr. Pepper out of your nose laughing at me), I mean she would grab the pen or pencil out of my hand every time I went to write something down.  Then she would mimick me.  This is her favorite part of our wal-mart trips.  So I bought her some bath time crayons for little hands.  She was completely at a loss of what to do with them.  So we put them away. 

Well, she found them again yesterday during her daily ritual of cleaning out the bathroom cabinets while I replace everything behind her.  So we thought we'd give it a try.  She loved them!  Just check out that artwork behind her.  Have I mentioned how much I adore this face.  It brings me countless moments of joy everyday.  I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with her.

Close up of the crayon.  See how perfectly it fits in her hand?  She only has three colors (plenty of choice for a 15 month old).  I couldn't tell if she had a preference, I think which ever one was closest to her got used the most.

I am a firm believer in personal hygiene.  But being a junior high teacher for 8 years (yes, 8 years.  I know I don't look old enough to have taught for that long, but alas, I am.), you would be surprised at how many don't hold this as a priority.  I am determined to plant these values in Riley.  She does well when we brush her teeth, but she would rather do it herself.  We brush her teeth for her at the beginning of bath time, then she spends the next 5 minutes doing it herself.  Even if she is just chewing on the bristles, I feel like that still counts.