A Visit from Louisiana

My mom and stepdad came for a visit last week. They drove 18 hours from Louisiana to come and see us. Yep, 18 hours.
They stopped in TN on the way up here and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the fact that as they drove further north, the temps got much better. You know...it's only been 100 degrees and then some in Louisiana...specifically my hometown of Shreveport...for over a month with no rain...except...they finally did get rain yesterday.

So back to my post...they got here on Tuesday, the 16th in the afternoon. There were tears of joy as we all embraced. I hadn't seen them since November when I went home with FJ for my grandmother's funeral. Miss A hadn't seen them since May of 2010. So...it had been quite a while.

Can I just take a moment to brag on how helpful they both were to me? The way they both take initiative and see a need and fill it is amazing!!! They don't wait around for direction or to see if they are doing something correctly, they just see something that needs to be done and do it.

I did not expect my stepdad to help much with his neck being in so much pain and being a month away from his revision surgery. However, he pushed through the pain and helped a ton. He cooked, cleaned the kitchen, washed and put away dishes, cleaned up after FJ made a mess of his breakfast/lunch/dinner, put bibs on and took them off FJ, put him in his high chair, got both kids food and drinks, read to them, played with them, sang to them, and helped put them in and get them out of their carseats and even carried them. He totally bonded with them.

My mom was, of course, just as helpful. She was on top of laundry every day...whenever a few things piled up in the laundry bag, she was hauling it down to the basement. She did dishes, ironed, cleaned and folded laundry, bathed the kids, sang to them, read to them, changed FJ's diapers (even the dirty ones! She rocks!!!), changed the kids clothes, got them in and out of their carseats, carried them, cleaned the kitchen, played with them and just loved them!

I felt so relaxed most of the week and my kids had so much attention that they hardly needed any disciplining...ah...if it could always be that easy!

On Wednesday, we all went to Wegman's...everyone except for E. He had two business trips during this time so thankfully I had lots of wonderful help.

My mom and stepdad LOVE Wegman's. It's a fave visit for most of my relatives who have visited me here.

We did some shopping and came home for lunch and naps. That afternoon, after naps, the kiddos got a chance to cool off in the pool in the backyard or...you know...climb on top of the Cozy Coupes.

 Then we had story time inside with Papaw...Miss A wanted to be in this pic and this is the pose she selected-

Miss A took this pic-

Thursday, we had our dentist appointments in the morning. After lunch, we went to the tot lot-

That same day, we got a little rain...my stepdad and mom had joked they might dance in it so Miss A insisted that they do just that-

 

We enjoyed Nutella on toast one morning-

 We visited my friend, Lindsley, on that Friday so I could see her new baby again and take her a meal. The kids played outside for a while-here: K, Miss A, and Z-

 FJ found a riding toy and was happy as a lark-

They also played in the pool while they were there.

On Saturday, we went to the Doner in Leesburg. It serves German food made my real Germans!
We sat outside and enjoyed a delicious lunch.
My mom and Miss A-

 FJ-

 My stepdad, Mom, and Miss A. I just love this picture of the three of them-

 After nap time, FJ just wanted to cuddle with Mamaw. My stepdad was busy helping E get burgers ready to grill-

The next morning, we headed to church-

After church, I took my mom to see The Help which was fabulous! E and my stepdad repackaged china that belonged to my grandmother that is being passed down to me. Here's a pic of a piece-

 That night, we did an early birthday celebration for FJ and my mom and a congratulations to my stepdad for making it into the Louisiana Softball Hall of Fame!! They also sang to me for my birthday as well-

 FJ being fed cake by Papaw-

 FJ opening a soccer ball from Mamaw and Papaw-

 Miss A getting a lunch box that belonged to me when I was a child. It made the trip from Louisiana all the way up here-

 

On the last morning, Papaw got one last story in with FJ...he loved reading with Papaw and frequently brought him more and more books to read-

I miss them so much and wish they were still here!
I love you both so much and loved our visit. We made wonderful memories and can't wait for you to come back next year!!!

Labor?

I'm pretty sure I'm in the early stages of labor right now. After all, this is my 3rd baby so I should know, right?
I started having Braxton Hicks contractions around 7:00 p.m. (even earlier but I wasn't keeping track then) and started keeping track because some of them were painful. I counted them and had 14 in an hour. One of my midwives had said to call if I had 6. So, I called.
She suggested I drink lots of water, rest, and take a warm bath. I rested and drank water. My sis in law said a warm bath put her into labor so I decided not to do that.
By the time we got in bed around 10:30, I was still having the BH but they were less frequent and weren't hurting.
However, I couldn't go to sleep on the bed because of having Restless Leg Syndrome in both of my legs. I moved to the floor and fell asleep but started waking up with more BH contractions. Finally around 1:30, I noticed that some of them were hurting...in other words...they felt like the early stages of labor.
So, I've been up since then and decided to get online to see who the midwife on call is for today. It's Margie. She delivered Miss A so I'm very familiar with her.
Anyway, I've noticed that if I sit up and set my mind to something else, the contractions aren't as strong. But if I lay down to try to sleep, then they come on quicker and feel like actual cramps versus just the BH contractions.
Thus, here I am blogging at 2:30 in the morning and my brother in law even checked in on me through Facebook from Hawaii...he was wondering what I was doing up so late and why I would be chatting if I am in labor. Good question.
It looks like I should at least go and get a shower soon or even start to pack a bag. I haven't woken my husband yet as I want him to get plenty of sleep and I don't like people sitting around watching me while I am in labor. I kind of like to labor alone in the early stage. But I'm also a little in denial that this could be happening today when I am only 35 weeks, 4 days pregnant.

**UPDATE-Around 3 a.m. my contractions went back to being Braxton Hicks so I went up to bed. I was able to sleep till about 6:15 when FJ woke up and so did Miss A. However, when I got out of bed, I felt super tired, a little nauseated, and I was still having BH contractions-just not as frequently. I called the midwife on call and she suggested I go to the hospital to be monitored to check the frequency of the contractions. But E and I talked and we knew I would probably get there and they would want me to stay. I just didn't want to be in the hospital for hours especially only to be discharged and sent back home. So, I called my midwives back and talked to Margie and asked if I could wait it out. She said that was fine and that if I wanted to be checked, I could go in to the office. So, E stayed home so I could get a nap and take care of the kids for a little while. I slept for an hour and woke up feeling better. He got the kids lunch and then went in to work for a meeting he had. I plan to take another nap when the kiddos rest. I'm still having the occasional BH contractions but not as much as last night.

Miss A's First Dentist Appointment

Miss A had her first dentist appointment last week.
She is the first born so of course, her appointment was documented with photos and a couple of quick videos. That means that a blog post most definitely had to accompany those pics.

Our dentist office starts seeing children at age 3. We forgot to get her booked for our last appointment 6 months ago when E and I went for our appointment so we set her up for our next visit. That visit was last Thursday. Thankfully, my mom and stepdad were in town and were able to go along with us and entertain FJ.

If we used a pediatric dentist, then Miss A could have been seen sooner for her first visit. However, after our visit last week, I am glad we waited till she was 3 1/2. It was the perfect timing for her and her personality.

We had worked on getting her excited for the visit...she had a chance to ride up and down in the chair last time we were there. So, we chatted about the fun chair and all the "goodies" she would get at the dentist.

But when we got back into the room....some of that courage took a backseat to a little fear.
The hygienist asked if she wanted to hold the air blower thingy (she said no). She then asked if Miss A wanted to go up and down in the seat...her answer "Mama, I don't want to go up and down in the seat."

The hygienist was very patient with her considering this isn't a pediatric dentist. It took about 10 minutes, but Miss A warmed up to the experience and eventually was using "thirsty guy" (the suction thingy) to suction her own mouth!

Here are the pics-
Getting her "sunglasses"-

 Not liking the air blower-

 Smiling-

 Smiles again-

 Getting her teeth scraped...she did very well during this part which surprised me-

 Teeth brushing time-

 "Thirsty guy" as the hygienist called it-

 Using the suction "thirsty guy" herself-

 Learning to swish and spit-

 Getting her teeth flossed for the very first time...yes, I admit that I never flossed her teeth before this...

 Picking out a new toothbrush-

 When she was done, her words to me were "Mama, that was fun!" :-)

How Many Weeks Left?

If I have this baby when FJ was born, then I have 2 weeks left! Wow!
My mom has washed all the newborn and 0-3 month clothes for me this week just in case I go early again. She also folded them all and put them in their labeled bins. What a God-send!
If this baby is born when Miss A was born, then I have 4 1/2 weeks left.
As of today, I am 34 weeks, 1 day.
So, dear readers, please vote in the poll on the right when you think baby #3 will be born!

Breastfeeding on Sesame Street

In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month:
Check out this video of a mama nursing her son on an episode of Sesame Street:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-L-Fg7lWgQ&feature=player_embedded

3rd Trimester Symptoms

For memory's sake-these are the symptoms I am having in the 3rd trimester of this pregnancy-
-Upper back pain-mostly on the left side
-Heartburn-every day
-Restless leg syndrome-every.single.night when I am trying to sleep
-Insomnia
-Heart racing or pounding
-Pressure and achiness
And the usual other pregnancy symptoms like "prego/baby brain", exhaustion, hot flashes and feeling very warm most of the time.
But my #1 FAVORITE thing that I experience and makes it all worth it is the movements!!! I absolutely LOVE feeling the baby kick and move. I LOVE watching my belly move. I look forward to the movements in each pregnancy and I always miss that part when I'm not pregnant.

This Pregnancy in Pictures

I have taken several pictures throughout this pregnancy and I put them in an album so I will be able to find them better if it so happens that our third child wants to see pictures of himself/herself in the womb.

 

Just a couple of days after we found out the news at Miss A's birthday party-

  
6 weeks little baby bean-

10 weeks 3D baby-

15 weeks? Not sure-

April 20th-

Not sure when this was taken-

Easter-

May 5th, 18 weeks, 3 days-okay, I feel like my belly just looks huge here...this was taken at night so maybe that's why ;-)

E and Miss A waiting with me in the ultrasound room-

Our baby in 3D-

May 18, 2011
At a going away playdate for a friend who was moving to England-

Mother's Day Sunday-I don't like this pic of me but it's for memory's sake...check out the look on Miss A's face though!

 Kate's Graduation-

23 weeks-This was taken in the morning pre-shower...thus why my face is not in the photo-

Riding on the camel at the fair- June 4th...My backside looks quite large in this pic...again not my fave but for memory's sake and b/c I think baby #3 will think it's quite neat that his/her mama rode a camel when they were in the womb-

 

June 29th, 26 1/2 weeks-I took these photos of me in a shirt that my grandmother (dad's mom) made for my mom when she was pregnant with me-

 July 4th, 27 weeks, 3 days-The beach this year...FJ was napping I think...and YES, my belly button is OFF CENTER-this happens in each pregnancy and then it moves back into place after the baby is born-

 July 5th-

 July 7th-

31 weeks-

33 Weeks-

34 weeks, 2 days, with my mom and Miss A-

35 Weeks, 2 days-

 With FJ and Miss A-

 My feet at 35 weeks, 3 days-no swelling yet!

Almost 36 weeks-35 weeks, 5 days

37 weeks, 2 days...all of my size small shirts are starting to not quite fit over my belly anymore...

38 Weeks, 3 days
This was taken at the end of the day after a nap and a stressful day with the kids so excuse the dark circles under my eyes-

39 Weeks, this is the MOST Pregnant I have ever been-

 September 30th-40 weeks!!!

Miss A wanted to take a pic of me so I let her take a pic of me to show how I am outgrowing my pregnancy clothes! The temp dropped and I had to resort to my winter pregnancy clothes that I wore with Miss A. This shows the gap between my sweater and my pants...I had to wear a tank top underneath.
Me at 40 weeks, 2 days-

I'll continue to add photos as I take them!


If you are thinking that I show very quickly-you are correct. It has happened this way in all 3 pregnancies. The first pregnancy, I was ignorant and thought that all people showed just as quickly. But when I was asked at 9 weeks and 13 weeks if I was having twins...I very quickly realized that others did not show as quickly as I did.
During my first pregnancy, I got some of the most hurtful comments and during my second, I don't think I received any but I did receive nice compliments. However, I did not work during my second pregnancy nor in this pregnancy.  Most of the hurtful comments I received during my first pregnancy came from co-workers. So, maybe not working means less chance of people saying hurtful things??
The only question about twins during this pregnancy has come from my own mom (Thanks, Mom! Haha!) but other than that, it's been compliments and no twin questions.
I don't recall a lot of compliments during my first pregnancy so that may be another reason I think this is a boy. That little girl "took all my looks" when I was pregnant with her as the old wives tale goes.
This post is mostly for my memory but I also hope it makes other moms feel better about showing quickly or looking further along than you are or getting asked if you are having twins.

**9/15/11-One more note...as I am updating this at almost 38 weeks, I have realized that in the end, my belly looks like everyone else's. Although I show really early and my belly looks big pretty early on...at the end, my belly is the same size as anyone else I see that is 38 weeks pregnant. I can attest to this as there are 6 of us pregnant in my CBS class this year and 3 of us are due right around the same time and our bellies all look the same!