random pics

So definitely way behind on blogging but thought I would share a few pictures  :-)

 My 3 cuties. Quinn is so good at playing with Emma and was playing ball with her here :-)

 James ate all of the muffin tops...yep they really are the best part

 I really wanted a picture with me and all the kids...two out of three looking isn't bad right?

 James is very intense about firetrucks. He makes the best siren noises and always has us kiss them goodnight

This little girl loves baths! Can you believe she is almost 6 months already?!

For the Grandparents

37 week update

At my 37 week appointment I am still measuring at 32 weeks, same as last week. I am very curious to see how much this little one will weigh. At this point I am 2cm dilated and 70% effaced. Glad things are moving along and all these contractions aren't for nothing. I know those numbers don't really mean anything, I could be pregnant for another 4 weeks, but something tells me we are going to meet this little girl soon!

My hopes for having a clean house all ready for a new baby are being slowly but surely diminished. The moment I get one thing all cleaned another part of the house is a disaster. I'm trying to focus on the important things. We finally have a bag packed for the hospital, bedding in her crib and newborn diapers. Sweet :-)

37 Weeks

I'm officially full term. I love reaching this point, it just feels so nice to know that if she were to come that things would most likely be ok. 

We've had some concerns that she was too small. At my 32 weeks appointment I was only measuring at 27 weeks, 5 weeks behind! My OB decided to do an ultrasound and as she was so small they immediately hooked me up to monitor her for a few minutes. Even though I wasn't overly concerned, it did make me anxious, especially since I hadn't taken the stroller in with me that day and I had both boys with me. It also sent all sorts of worries through my head...she was measuring at 2.3lbs/ 10% which is considered the beginning of the danger zone, so thoughts of having to have her early because she was not growing well were mixed with the concerns of had I done everything I could to help her grow and develop like she should. My Ob suggested another ultrasound at the hospital to get some more details. At this one she was measuring at just over 3lbs and was in the 15%. Everything pointed to her being just a small little one, not small because she was having a problem growing but just to be sure we had another last Friday. She is now around 5.3lbs and in the 20% and I am only measuring 4 weeks behind. So just a little peanut.

Her room is coming together and I hope I can get it all ready before she arrives. Its so fun sewing and decorating for a little girl. It was much easier to decide on things with the boys but I am definitely having more fun picking out cute fabrics and my feminine side is making more of an appearance, pink is definitely becoming more appealing.

I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable. She is really low and walking has become a chore and rolling over in bed kills, there is so much pressure on my pubic bone. 

Other exciting things this week? I finally got a  new pajamas. I think I had my last ones since junior high?! Its the little things in life :-)

31 Weeks

I'm not sure what it is about Carls Jr's spicy chicken sandwiches and chocolate orange sticks but I could probably live on those two food items right now and be just fine.

I have discovered leggings! When skinny jeans first came out I wasn't really sure i liked the look but its really grown on me and leggings? that took a little longer but its a cute look, especially for pregnant ladies and so comfy! I won't go into my woes about maternity pants but I am glad to find some alternatives.

This baby shudders a lot...I wonder if that is a common thing? I have noticed that she has started waking up when she feels me moving first thing in the morning. I love laying there and feeling her scoot and wiggle in there.

Nesting is starting to kick in but more in the form of cooking, the same thing happened when I was pregnant with Quinn. I did however clean out the fridge today, it looks so nice and clean now. I wonder how long that will last?

Being pregnant reminds me what a great husband I have, seriously he is the best! I'm so glad I have him to help me through everything, especially these last few weeks.

The fall really is the best time to be pregnant

Yum!

Me and the kids made this for lunch today, because it was rainy, because I was super hungry and wanted more of a meal and because the munchkins requested pasta. It. Is. So. Good! Go make it now!

http://thecheesepusher.tumblr.com/post/2719857351/creamy-garlic-pasta

Creamy Garlic Pasta

2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
¼  tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 cups chicken stock
½ lb spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In a pot, bring the olive oil to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes. Mix in the butter until melted. Add the salt, pepper and chicken stock. Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil. 

Once it is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate. Reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until completely melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and parsley. Serve immediately.

28 weeks

When I was pregnant with Quinn a lot of people told me I was so little and didn't show that much. I did not really believe them. I felt big and uncomfortable and couldn't see my toes. When I looked back on some maternity pictures I realized I was smaller than a lot of women but it still didn't seem to me that I was that much smaller. With James, I didn't get too many comments about it, I suppose everyone by then knew that I looked smaller. With this pregnancy though everyone has said something about it. I felt like I started showing really fast and but then things seemed to slow down a lot. At my 24 week appointment I was measuring at 22 weeks. Nothing to worry about, my doctor said, these measurements can be a little inaccurate at this point, we will be able to tell better at your next appointment. But that combined with all the comments made me start really looking at my belly, wow where was this baby? maybe she was too small and wasn't growing and I started to worry. At my appointment yesterday I was measuring at 24 weeks when I am 28 weeks along, a whole month behind! So the doctor did an ultrasound...this little one is just fine! I am so relieved. She is in the 36% and approx. 2.5lbs. She said from ear to ear her head is slightly smaller than average but it was nothing to worry about. I'm not quite sure where she is hiding in there but I am so happy she is growing well. Her kicks are getting stronger and more solid and she hiccups all the time! For some reason I have worried a lot with this pregnancy. 1st baby, no worries, I knew everything would be just fine. 2nd baby my worries were more about how having two would be and how I would handle it. But with this one I worry about all the things that might go wrong, like we won't make it to the hospital in time, she isn't growing right, I will end up with gestational diabetes, wondering whether the decision to have an OB instead of a midwife was a mistake etc. When a friend was having her third she told me that she worried a lot too and that her midwife told her it was really common. That somehow having two children that have been healthy makes some women feel like that luck won't hold and something will go wrong. My biggest worry has been that she will be breach. And then in both the ultrasounds we have had she has been breach. I know that at this point she is all over the place and turning around all the time. She still has plenty of time and room to turn. So for now, I am telling her to please make sure she turns around in time and trying to stop worrying. Everything will be just fine.
 Sometimes 12 weeks seems like such a short time to do get everything done I want to before she comes, to enjoy full nights of sleep and the flexibility that has come with the boys getting older and more independent. But sometimes it seems like forever and that she will never come. I can't wait to meet our sweet baby girl!