Pregnancy Journal...37 Weeks

Whoa!  37 weeks?  Wasn't it just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant?  Have that many weeks gone by so fast?  I have enjoyed this pregnancy so much, and I accomplished more than what I thought I would... i.e running an 8K at 8 weeks, keeping up with a toddler, working full time, etc...This has been an amazing experience!  Here are some prego stats for you:

Belly Button: When I laugh it sticks out like a hernia
Best Moment: Having a weekend alone with my amazing husband
BP: 100/62
Cravings: CHOCOLATE
Dilation: My OB's NP didn't check me today...I didn't feel the need to be violated this early in the morning
Effacement: See above
Food Aversions: Eggs...still!
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yep and I'll miss them when they're gone
Sleep: 6-7 hours
Stretch Marks: Not yet...please please continue to be kind to me baby
Symptoms: Feet in my ribs and a head that feels like it's literally trying to bust through my cervix
Weight: 150 lb (up 1 lb...26 lb total)

37 Weeks

I found something an interesting while surfing the internet.  Someone wrote a letter to their second baby before they were born.  I thought that was a creative idea so I'm going to mimic that letter to my second baby.

Dear Second Baby,

Your release date is three weeks away.  I do hope that you've been able to familiarize yourself with not only me but Daddy, Jake, and the dogs.  So just in case you are scared or unsure about coming into the world, here are some tidbits to ensure your survival in this family.

Mommy: I'm the one whose uterus you have occupied for the past 37 weeks.  I'm much better looking on the outside than what you are seeing on the inside.  FYI, I won't be looking my best when we first meet.  And you'll find that I have some Mama Bear tendencies...don't worry that just means I will do everything in my power to protect you.  I'm in love with you already, and I haven't even met you yet!

Daddy: This is the big guy that likes to hang around Mommy; however, his body is unable to produce any milk so try not to hold that against him.  Although you might do just that if your appetite is anything like your brother's.  You will find very quickly that you are blessed as can be because the best daddy in the world belongs to you.  He'll play with you and teach you new things, but I must warn you that he is not as easy to manipulate as I probably will be.

Big Brother Jake: He is the one who got here first.  You will inherit quite a few things from him (that is if you are a boy).  He is the one you probably hear from the inside screaming for "bites" and tormenting the puppy dogs as well as running non stop until bed time.  I have no desire to compare you to him because you are a completely different human being.  And that is okay!  Don't let anyone make you feel inferior just because you are not exactly like your big brother.  I do think that Jake will be a good big brother to you...even if he torments you at home.  He's already giving you hugs and kisses.

The Furry Ones: Oliver and Jack-Jack:  They were somewhat put out by your brother's arrival; however, they have built up a tolerance to Jake's crazy antics...especially Jack-Jack.  I suggest that when you are old enough, toss them some scraps, and they will be your best friends.

Accommodations:  You'll be rooming with Mommy and Daddy at first, but eventually you will get your own room!  I must warn you, your crib will be simple without anything in it...no blankets or stuffed animals.  We're not cruel, but we want to keep you safe.  And you will find that Mommy's line of work makes her paranoid and even crazy when it comes to the safety of you and Jake.  A fair warning to you: Daddy will push to get you into your own room as soon as you are ready...even if Mommy is not.  Don't pay any attention to Mommy's tears when that happens (I did the same thing when Jake was ready to move into his own room)

Our Hours: 7 A.M- 8 P.M*
*Because you are brand new we'll provide you with late night meals, early morning meals, diaper changes as well as clothing changes.  We may have to resort to sleep training you like we did with Jake...again pay no attention to Mommy's tears when and if that happens.  It's for everyone's good that we all get a good night's sleep.

I hope this will help ease your transition into this world.  I love you so much already!  Thank you for making us a family of four!

Pregnancy Journal...36 Weeks (Catch Up Post from October 28, 2014)

36 Weeks...The home stretch, the light at the end of the tunnel...I've stated in the past that I will be sad when this pregnancy does come to an end.  At this point in time the baby's room is done, we have diapers, wipes, gender neutral clothing as well as gender specific clothing, baby wash, and lotion.  We just need to set up the pack n play in our room to have for when baby comes home with us.  I'm so excited to meet this little person and to see how Jake will interact with he or she.  Here are some more prego stats for you:

Belly Button:  In, although when I laugh it pokes out like a hernia
Best Moment: Getting a pedicure...I love to be rubbed, especially my feet
BP: 100/60
Cravings:  CHOCOLATE
Dialation:  1 cm
Effacement: 50%

Food Aversions: Eggs, still can't do them
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yes
Sleep: 6-7 hours
Stretch Marks: No...please please continue to be kind to me baby!
Symptoms: A head that's laying on my bladder and feet in my ribs
Weight: 149 lb(up 4 lb...25 lb total)

35 Weeks

36 Weeks

Pregnancy Journal...34 Weeks (Catch up post from October 13)

34 weeks?  Really?  OMG!  How is that possible?  In 6 weeks I will have a new baby!  Jake will become a big brother.  I feel guilty for turning his world upside down, and I have this irrational fear that I won't love this new baby as much as I love Jake.  I love him so much, and it's difficult to picture loving another person as much as I love Jake.  Anyways, here are some prego stats:

Belly Button: In
Best Moment: All of the snuggles I have been getting from Jake lately
BP: 90/60
Cravings: Chocolate!
Food Aversion: Eggs
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yep!
Sleep: roughly 6-7 hours
Stretch Marks: Not yet, please continue to be kind to me baby...
Symptoms: Punches to the bladder and Braxton Hicks contractions
Weight: 145lbs (up zero pounds, 21 lb total)

33 Weeks

34 Weeks

Throwback Thursday: Michael and Jake

Pregnancy Journal...32 Weeks (Catch up post from September 29)

Thirty two weeks!  Can you believe it?!  This baby will be here before I know it.  This pregnancy has been amazing!  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love pregnancy and am so sad that in a few short weeks it will be over.  So, on to the prego stats:

Belly Button: In
Best Moment: As always, feeling baby kick and the snuggle time I have with Jake.
BP: 90/64
Cravings: Chocolate
Food Aversion: Chicken and eggs
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yes and loving it!
Sleep: roughly 7 hours
Stretch Marks: Not yet, please please continue to be kind to me baby!
Symptoms: Constant kicks to the bladder and a little short of breath when baby sits high.
Weight: 145lbs (up two pounds, 21 lbs total)

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

And here is a preview of the best big brother ever!

Big Brother Jake

Pregnancy Journal...30 Weeks

Am I really 30 weeks along?  Do I only have 10 more weeks of this amazing journey left?  How has the time gone by so fast?  I'm so happy that I have been able to enjoy pregnancy this time around.  I'm very lucky to have been able to 1. become pregnant and 2. have nearly perfect pregnancies.  I'm so happy that I have been fortunate enough to experience the joys of pregnancy, and I can honestly say that I will miss it.  So, my lab work shows that I no longer have antibodies...YEAH!  My glucose screening test came back normal, and I am still negative for Syphilis!(not that I was worried about being positive for an STD.  The state of Indiana has an extremely high rate of Syphilis and requires that OBGYNs test for it twice during pregnancy).  Here are some prego stats for you:

Belly Button: In
Best Moment: Feeling baby kick and move constantly
BP: 105/72
Cravings: Anything chocolate
Food Aversions: Eggs
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yes!
Sleep: Getting better, around 7 hours
Stretch Marks: Not yet, please continue to be kind to me baby...
Symptoms: My boobs are leaking colostrum, and I've had a few punches to the bladder from baby
Weight: 143 lb (up 8 lb, seriously?  19 lb total) 

26 Weeks...photobombed by Jake The Snake

27 Weeks

28 Weeks

29 Weeks

30 Weeks

I have yapped quite a bit about this pregnancy and how I've been feeling.  I've neglected to talk about Jake or Michael.  We'll start with Jake.  Jake is amazing!  He is officially potty trained now!  I continue to be amazed at how smart he is!  He is able to recognize letters, shapes, and animals.  He's talking more and more everyday.  He has a healthy appetite, just like his momma!  He is strong willed but has an extremely sweet spirit, just like his daddy.  He is Michael made over... with the exception of his eyes and his appetite.  I'm proud to say those came from me! 

Jake "patiently" waiting for his dinner

Michael is such an amazing father and husband.  I am so lucky to have him.  He is so patient and so kind and has such a sweet spirit.  I don't know what I'd do without him...or how I lived without him for so long.  He's my best friend, my soul mate, the love of my life.  My first, my last, my forever!

Michael and Jake

Best Daddy ever!

Michael and I at my brother's wedding....I was about 14 weeks pregnant with Jake

                                                             A blast from the past!

Pregnancy Journal...25 Weeks

WHAT?!  Where has the time gone?  I'm already 25 weeks pregnant and enjoying every second of it!  I do have one recurring, nagging thought though....this will be my last pregnancy, and that thought is enough to bring me to tears.  I just can't believe that I'm over half way through...it's going way too fast.  I STILL have antibodies in my blood; however, my titer is getting closer and closer to normal.  My titer was 1:1.2, and Dr. Moon suspects that it will only go down from here.  My next OB appointment I have my glucose screening test done, and she will check the antibody titer then.  This past weekend I went home to Evansville to visit my family so Michael could paint the nursery, and he is an excellent painter.  He told me the paint color turned out nicely...  I can't wait to see it when we bring baby home!

 Here are some 25 week prego statistics for you:

Belly Button: In
Best Moment: Feeling baby kick and listening to Jake talk about the baby(He will be such a great big brother to baby)
Blood Pressure: 106/70
Cravings: This month it's been Jalapeno Pizza and Ghirardelli Caramel Chocolate
Food Aversions: Eggs...still!
Gender: ???
Maternity Clothes: Yes and proud of it!
Movement: Constant!  This baby moves much more than what Jake did.
Sleep:  Not the greatest the past couple of weeks...I miss my 8 hours!
Stretch Marks: Not yet...please be kind to me baby!
Symptoms: My lower back and hips are still sore, but Michael is an excellent masseuse ;)
Weight: 135lb(up 5lb...11 lb total)

21 Weeks

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

25 Weeks

Pregnancy Journal...20 Weeks

Here we are again!  As of yesterday I am 20 weeks along, and I feel amazing!  As stated previously, I LOVE the second trimester of pregnancy.  I've started running and doing yoga once again as well as taking Jake swimming on the days that I have off from work.  Michael and I have been trying to introduce Baby #2 to Jake, but I'm not sure he has gotten the concept of what is happening.  However, when I ask him "where's the baby?" he points to my belly and says "baby".  He will even kiss and hug my belly...how sweet is that?  I think he will be an amazing big brother.  I have to be honest, I feel bad that we're going to turn Jake's world upside down by giving him a sibling so I've been spoiling him just a little bit.

This pregnancy has been pretty similar to my pregnancy with Jake.  There have been a few differences: I have felt this baby move earlier and way more than what I did with Jake, I still have those pesky antibodies floating through my blood( my titer is 1:2, the normal titer is 1:1), and I'm not eating as much with this pregnancy.  We had our 20 week ultrasound this morning and everything looks perfect.  As far as measurements go everything is at or above average with the exception of the baby's femur (which isn't surprising since Michael and I are about as tall as midgets).  I have decided that I want to be surprised as far as knowing the sex of the baby.  The only person who knows is Michael, and he plans to decorate the nursery himself.  We've decided what we want as far as decorations go for the nursery, and we have finally decided on names for the baby.  For a boy: Joshua Clark.  For a girl: Madeline Elizabeth.

Here are some prego stats for you:
     Belly Button: In
     Best Moment This Week: It's a toss up between Jake hugging and kissing my belly and the ultrasound I had this morning.
     Cravings: Veggie subs from any sandwich place I can find
     Food Aversion: Eggs...I just can't do them.
     Gender: ???
     Maternity Clothes: Yep :) (so far just a pair of jeans and a tank top)
     Morning Sickness: Nope :)
     Movement: All the time!
     Sleep: About 7-8 hr at night (Thank you Jake for being an excellent sleeper from the beginning!)
     Stretch Marks: Not yet(knock on wood)
     Symptoms: My hips and lower back are a little sore, but I'm assuming it's from carrying the extra weight while running.
     Weight: 130lb (up 4lb...7lb total)

16 Weeks

                                                                

17 Weeks

18 Weeks

19 Weeks

20 Weeks