36 Weeks-- Baby #2!

Sorry for the sweatshirt and leggings, but I'm just keeping it real.  This is my go-to outfit lately, haha.  Plus, Todd was away this weekend, so both days I actually had things going on (a birthday party and a baby shower), to get showered and semi-dressed up for, I didn't have the hubby here to take my picture, ha!

Bare belly-- sorry to scare you all! LOL

35w 2d- Reese wanted to get in on some bump photo action

Another random bump shot- 35w 5d

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of 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 covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

1. How Far Along? 36 weeks as of Tuesday, March 18th 2013 vs 36 weeks with Reese

2. Total Weight Gain/Loss? I think 25lbs? I don't weigh myself at home, so I am going by my last Dr. app.

3. Maternity Clothes? Funny-- I just sold a bunch of my maternity clothes and only kept a few things.  A lot of the things I sold were from last time and very summerish, and just wasting space in a storage container.  I'm so over maternity clothes it's not even funny.  I'm basically in a rotation of two pairs of Gap Maternity black leggings, and one pair of skinny jeans from Old Navy.  I have my basic tops left, but will be passing those down shortly!

4. Gender? GIRL! :-)

5. Movement? She gets WILD every single time I sit down.  I feel like she's sitting Indian Style and moving her arms out to the sides-- how's that for a visual? LOL.  Basically, what I'm driving at is that her movements are crazy and painful.  I'm trying to enjoy each day though, as this could most likely will be my last pregnancy.

6. Sleep? I am still mostly sleeping through the night but I'm incredible sore from laying in bed. I only get up to pee once a night a few times a week which is crazy in comparison to my 3-4 times/night with Reese at this point.

7. What I miss? Being able to work out and bend over (seriously!).

8. Cravings? Raw carrots with salt (I know, I know), and dried fruit-- like trail mix. I could seriously eat a whole container at a time, but I try to resist.  Trader Joes has amazing dried mango slices, and Target has a mix that's called 'A Little Bit of Everything' which has mango, banana slices, coconut, chocolate chips, pineapple, and almonds. YUMMO! I've also been indulging in frozen yogurt each night as an after dinner treat.  Currently on rotation? Fudge Brownie, Half Baked, and Raspberry sorbet.

9. Symptoms? Shortness of breath, Charlie Horses starting in my side butt/top of leg, soreness down below, and exhaustion.  

Other fun things going on -- 

- I think we've *finally* decided on a name-- Todd and I started looking up the meanings of some of the names we've had on our short list and some were AWFUL! This particular name has a beautiful meaning, sounds good with Reese, our last name, and can be used for a baby/little girl/and adult.  All things that I had in mind for the name to be considered "good".  I like signing this name, and her initials won't spell anything inappropriate.  All win/win if you ask me.  The kicker? Reesey was able to say it today!!! We were floored.  I think it's meant to be! So, now you'll all just have to wait until she's born for the name to be revealed! Sorry-- but I just cannot risk having any one's comments, two cents, opinions on it!

- Our handyman is coming next weekend to complete the last minute projects in the nursery (changing out the outlets/light switches, and hanging shelves), so I can finally put the finishing touches on decorating! And now that we have a name I may even take the plunge and order a monogram for above Baby Girl's bed!

- Car seat is installed! Hospital bags are 90% packed, Reese's schedule is written out.  We are getting ready for you, Baby!

Update From My Dr. App

At the doctors!

Okay, so I know this is overdue, but I'm posting anyway so I can look back. On Thursday, March 7th Todd and I went in for my growth ultrasound to check on Baby Girl's size and to meet with my Dr. to come up with a birth plan.

We went in with expectations that she could be big like Reese, but were hoping that she'd be closer to average as we think that Reese's size had to do with the fact that she was overdue.

Baby Girl came in weighing 5lbs 8oz (I was 34 weeks 2 days), so it put her in the 60%tile which = average.  This was great news.  Of course there is a margin of error on ultrasounds (+/- 1lb), but my doctor seems to think that women in my situation have less of a margin and ultrasound seem to be more accurate (with a margin of error only being a few ounces +/-.  I guess 34/35 weeks is an ideal time for ultrasound accuracy on growth--- waiting longer makes it harder to determine baby's size due to difficulty getting measurements. Also, if you are thin/average in weight it's easier to get good measurements, luckily my doctor put me in that category.

Anyway, we are aiming for an induction on April 9th at 39 weeks if all goes according to plan.  I, of course, could go early on my own, which would be ideal, but if not at least we have a plan in place.  The only caveat is that they want my body to be in a favorable position for induction (i.e. at least 2cm dilated and 50% effaced).  Hoping everything works out! Trying to think positive, and praying to have a much better experience than last time.

Letters to Reese- 18 Months!

Reese,

You turned 19 months on February 18th, 2013, so this post is a recap of your 18th month!  You celebrated your second Valentines Day, and first Valentine's party at school. You had your first fever ever. :-(  You are becoming more independent each day-- wanting to do things yourself, learning how to dress yourself, put shoes on, and are mastering using utensils during mealtimes. You now sit at a booster seat at our dining room table when we eat together as a family, and you do great at restaurants sitting in a booth or booster. Your language is really starting to develop, which is an amazing thing to witness. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and are also commenting on how lucky we are to have such a smart, happy, silly, little girl!

Going for a walk on a mild winter day.

Post nap bedhead-- wanting to open up the closet in your playroom to get out Play Doh.

Sunday morning crafts! Stickers and stamps.

Taking a water break.

Hanging with your two girlfriends, Julianna (6 months) and Rory (4 months).

Out to breakfast at Red's!

Reese's 18 Month Stats: 

Weight: No weight check until your 2 year appointment, but I'd guess 25lbs.

Height: 33.5"

Clothing: Mostly 18-24, although some 2T stuff fits. Anything summer I'm buying you is 2T.

Diapers: Size 4.

Favorite Toys:  You love your kitchen set and playing with "real" food.  I've given you some pasta in a container to keep in your kitchen, and you love to take it out, sort it, dump it from one container to the next, etc.  You also love playing at the kitchen sink with water while Mommy cooks.  This keeps you entertained for a while, and makes my life preparing dinner much easier.  Other things you love are your dolls, playing with Play Doh, playing with stickers, and your Melissa and Doug magnetic wooden girl.  You love to dress her and undress her!

Favorite Past Time: You are such a funny and smart girl.  You love to play with Daddy and Nana, and are pretty good with most people in general.  You've definitely outgrown your stranger anxiety, and this makes Mommy and Daddy very happy.  You're doing great in school and are adjusting really well.  You still will cry at drop offs more often than not, but bounce back almost immediately. You are most happy playing, being active at Mall Tots, the playground, and just being outside in general.  I cannot wait until the weather is better and we can be outside every day!

Communication: You're language is improving each week, and you understand EVERYTHING we say. You say mama, mommy, dada, nana, nonna, papa, Emma, Enzo, light, yes, up, wow, NOOOOO, mail, down, milk, get, bum, bubba, shoes, baby, hi, bu-bye, and know all of your body parts.  You also know most animal sounds. Your phrases are "ut oh!" and "I do!" You are so smart! 

Cries: When you're tired, unhappy, or are having a tantrum.

Bedtime/Nap time: You are napping around 12:30/1pm and sleep mostly for 1.5 hrs, sometimes you'll surprise us and do a 3 hour stretch, but then the next day it's back to 1.5 hours, so I'll take what I can get! You are still going to bed around 6:30-7pm and sleeping until 6:30am ish.  Wondering what this next time change is going to bring-- I'm okay with you going to bed a bit later as the warmer weather is approaching and I for see lots of BBQ's with friends outside, but on school days you have to be there by 8am, so I need you up by 7am to make sure you eat breakfast, and have enough time to get dressed, etc. Hopefully you can go to sleep at 7 and wake at 7.  That would be ideal.

Foods: You are an awesome eater for the most part.  You have such a good appetite in the morning, and eat a huge breakfast, then snack until nap time when you're home.  If you are at school, you'll eat lunch there before your nap.  Your favorite foods are scrambled eggs with cheese, waffles, strawberries, blueberries, black beans, edamame, peas, rice, mac and cheese, most types of chicken, and then snack type food (goldfish, yogurt, cheese raisins, nuts, etc.).  You've recently started to eat deli turkey meat which is awesome because it gives me more options when packing your lunch for school.  Your school is peanut free, so lunch can be tricky! I now do turkey/cheese roll ups and you love them! You love chocolate but don't love ice cream.

You still will drink milk from a sippy twice a day- in the morning when you wake up and at night during dinner/before bed. 

Happy 18 months, sweet girl! 

Love,

Mommy

xoxox

Nesting Much?

So recently I've had this overwhelming feeling of needing to get ready for baby #2's arrival.  I feel like no matter how much planning I do, I'm still unprepared, and I hate that feeling.  I've been making lists, lists, and more lists.  Is it helping? I'm not sure, ha! However, I will say that the more we get crossed off of the list(s), the better shape we are in which has to make me feel better eventually-- even if I don't feel like it now.

There were the obvious things that needed to be done like setting up the new nursery, purchasing a new dresser (selling the old), glider, curtains, accessories, etc.  Then there were things that needed to be done that we had to contract out-- custom closet, new outlets, light switches, etc.

This weekend we've gotten a lot accomplished! Reese unfortunately came down with a fever on Friday night, so we've been lying low.  My mom came over yesterday and we were able to get some stuff done while she watched Reese (and even went out on a DATE to dinner after Reese went to sleep!).  We went and purchased newborn and size 1 diapers, washed the covers to the lamb seat (and assembled it) and swing, washed parts of the infant car seat,  baby bjorn and ergo, assembled the bassinet, packed the baby's hospital bag, started to pack mine, detailed both cars inside and out, and tided up loose ends here and there.  I've already pulled all of the NB and 0-3 month clothes out of storage and have them in the new dresser.  Our double stroller arrived on Friday.  We're in good shape.  The baby can come home from the hospital, has a place to sleep, sit, and has diapers.

So now? I just have to try and relax and not worry about Reese throughout our stay at the hospital and transition home from the hospital.  We have our ultrasound this Thursday and will make a game plan for delivery.  I really am trying to stay positive and not stress, but I'm super afraid of delivery.  I don't want a c-section because of the recovery time with a toddler, yet I'm terrified of a vaginal birth after my experience of Reese.  I'm praying that this baby isn't measuring huge and that I go into labor on my own before my due date, or at the very least am in a favorable position for being induced at 39 weeks (at least 2cm dilated and 50% effaced) to have a successful induction!

I'll be sure to post an update after my appointment.

And because I hate posts without pictures, I'll leave you with my sweet like sicky!

Somebody is EXCITED...

for the new stroller! Thanks, Mom/Nana! xoxox

Reese seriously got a kick out of taking Dolly for a stroll with us today!