The Home Stretch!!

LESS THAN A MONTH!!!!  It is hard to believe that I am almost to the end of my second pregnancy and so close to holding G2 in my arms instead of my belly!  I am feeling huge and more and more uncomfortable each day.  By Friday night my ankles are swollen and usually last until Sunday morning.

Last Doctor Appointment:  Last Wednesday, I had my 36 week appointment.  We went over our birth plan so that is all set!  We are going for a natural birth again this time and I feel more confident in myself that I will make it :)  I also had the Strep B test done, but haven't gotten results back yet...I should find out tomorrow since I have another appointment...I am going weekly now!  The baby sounded great.  His/her heartbeat was in the 150s and sounded strong.

Baby Pool:  I set up an online baby pool...check it out and make your guesses on gender and birth date, etc of G2!  It is free...just fun to see what others think :)

Here is the site: http://www.babyhunch.com/poolpage.php?poolid=8253b3eb211aef215ed189e8095f67c7

Baby G2:  I feel like this baby is bigger than Noell...the movements are very strong and sometimes hurt!  Either it seems that way or I just don't remember in that great detail from my first pregnancy.  I feel like baby has dropped, and it makes sense because I am going to the bathroom ALL.THE.TIME.

35 Weeks- September 19, 2014
Baby is the size of Honeydew Melon
18 inches long and 5 1/4 pounds
Kidneys are fully developed and liver can process some waste.

36 Weeks- September 26, 2014
Baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce
18 1/2 inches and 6 pounds
G2 is shedding downy hair covering and vernix caseosa...he/she will swallow it and that will become the first poop: meconium.

We put up the baby's crib (well moved from Noell's room) this summer.  Today, we finally brought up the swing, car seat and bases, and the bassinet.  Noell likes to help by playing with daddy's tools!

My bestie, Krista, gave birth to her beautiful baby BOY, Owen James, last week.  I was so happy to snuggle him this past Friday and relax with the new momma and daddy!  Krista was a rockstar and has an amazing birth story!  Here is a picture of me with my new *nephew* and the next time I see him, I will have two friends for him to play with...Noell and G2!

Noell Updates:

New Words:  boy, girl, up high, clock up high, pumpkin, deer, sky and more.

Favorites:  NOELL LOES THE PARK!  Every time we get ready to go in the car, she says park!  So, we have been making lots of trips to the park :)

Noell the Builder:  Noell has become quite the builder with her blocks!  She likes to create, move around, and of course demolish her buildings!

Sickness:  Noell came down with her first ear infection last week.  She was given amoxicillin and about after a week of being on that she broke out in a rash all over her body.  Turns out she is allergic :(  But the rash should clear up within the next week.



I'm going to try and update weekly...since I have no idea how many more weeks until G2 makes his/her arrival :)

Just Another Day In Paradise

And five weeks later ;)  Life is busy.  Life is stressful.  Life is crazy.  BUT I wouldn't have it any other way or with anyone different....it is perfect!

This post is going to be short...I'm tired.  I'm tired.  I'm tired.

Disclaimer: please don't mind the grammatical errors...I'm not reading through!!!



Noell Updates:

New Words (the ones I can think of right now anyway):

• boat
• fly
• hippo
• horsie
• Pete (from Mickey Mouse)
• cloud
• park
• lollipop (will sing the song with me and attempts to do the "pop" with her finger)

New Phrases:

• she is finally saying "love you" again!  
• She is also saying two-three word phrases!  
• It is so fun to watch her think and trying saying different phrases!  Pretty soon she will be talking in sentences!

Knows:

• how to count to 10 (skips seven...can't say that number)
• all letters of the alphabet
• can say all letter expect w (will just say uh huh)
• attempts to sing ABC's
• some of her colors....finally!
• where her neck is...its the one we have been working on!  I think knee will be next!

Loves:

• To climb!
• doing the slides backwards (climbing up the slide and going down the steps)
• her stroller/walks
• Mickey Mouse (still)
• glow sticks
• flowers...smelling flowers
• fruit snacks, cheese, cookies

Daycare:  

• Noell is officially back to Aunt Liza's everyday!  The routine is great on all of us :)  Grandma Rachel has been getting to spend lots of time with Noell and even picks her up from Liza's somedays!  I think they both enjoy it lots!

I love watching her grow and learn new things...but I always think of the song Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift (dislike her but love the song)....I don't want her to grow up.  She is at such a fun, loving stage.  I'm trying to take it all in before time passes by.  I have been so busy with school and volleyball that I don't always get to see her at night so the past two Fridays she we have snuggle time and watch a video in mom and dad's bed and then she gets to sleep with me.  The only downside is that she wakes up earlier on Saturday mornings when she isn't in her own bed.  Anyway, I'm glad that I can take in the moments, because they do go by too quickly.

G2 Updates:

Last Doctor's Appointment:  Monday, September 8.  The baby's heart rate was in the 140s which is the lowest it has ever been consistently (it has fluctuated in the 160/150/140 but has never stayed in the 140).  Baby is head down...woot woot!

Next Appointment:  Wednesday, September 24.  Will go over birth plan and have strep b test done.  Our birth plan is pretty similar to our first birth plan.  I am going with natural childbirth again and am very excited about it.  We met with our doula a couple weeks ago to go over the birth plan with her and I am very happy that we are going this route.  I feel very confident that the birth will go well and that I will have the unmedicated birth that I want with the guidance of Rhonda!

I am getting very anxious to know what G2 is!  At first I was thinking boy, but now that I am getting closer, I just feel like it is going to be another girl.  Of course I will be happy with either as long as he/she is healthy...that is most important!!!

Names....Mike has his favorites and I have mine....and they are not the same!  We don't dislike the other's fav, but we haven't completely agreed.  So, I think we will be headed to the hospital with two boy and two girl names and G2 will let us know what his/her name should be!

I missed the 30 week photo...so we begin again at 31 weeks!

31 Weeks- August 22, 2014
Size of a coconut- 3 1/3 lbs and about 16 in longs
Can turn head from side to side.

32 Weeks- August 29, 2014
size of a jicama (what the hell is that??)- 3 3/4 lbs and almost 17 in long
Baby has toenails, finger nails, and possible hair.

33 Weeks- September 5, 2014
Size of Pineapple- over 4lbs and 17in mark
Baby is losing wrinkled/alien look and the skeleton is hardening.

34 Weeks- September 12, 2014
Size of a cantaloup- 4 3/4 lbs and almost 18 in long
The fat layers are filling him/her out to help regulate body temperature when they arrive.
Central nervous system is maturing.

Similarities/differences in pregnancies:

• Had nausea with both.  Threw up more with Noell...not as much with G2 (just a couple times)
• Felt them move around the same time.
• Have gained more weight with G2 than with Noell, but I started with a lower weight.
• No heartburn with Noell and she had tons of hair....I have heartburn with G2.
• Could only sleep on right side with Noell throughout whole pregnancy.  Could start sleeping on left side (still not as long or as comfortable as right side) around 27 weeks, but not prior (too much pain).
• Had acne on chest with Noell only during first trimester.  Had acne on face with G2 for all of first and most of second trimester.
• No swelling (well one time with each but wasn't much).
• Cravings are the same... a good mix of sweet and salty.
• I feel like G2 has stronger movements...hopefully it isn't a sign that he/she is bigger...I am okay with delivering another 6 lb baby!
• Was always measuring two weeks behind with Noell and am measuring right on with G2.

Kelly and Krista Pregnancy Journey
Krista Due:  October 7
Kelly Due:  October 24