Kids Say The Darndest Things

Gwen has croup.  It has been a LONG 3 days.  She hasn't been sleeping well or eating and is completely miserable. 

I took her temperature the other day and she had a fever.  She goes "I have a beaver". 
So wrong, yet so funny.................

Big Girl Room

Gwen's Big Girl Room is officially finished.  We had no tears (well none by her) and she is adjusting very well.  We moved the crib and baby furniture out of her room and into the nursery.  She got her very own big girl bed and some of the spare room furniture.  Mike did a fantastic job of de-Pepto Bismol-ing her room by painting the ceiling white and the lower part of her room a dark pink.

 

Big Sister School

Last weekend we took Gwen to a Sibling Prep class at our hospital.  It may have been the cutest thing in the world.  There were 4 children total from ages 2.5-5.   The teacher asked each child about their sibling-to-be.  Gwen was shy at first, but that didn't last long.  She told them that I was having a boy named Baby Pink (seems as though she has switched to Team Boy leaving me as the lone standing Team Girl member). 

Each child was given a doll and taught how to hold, rock, feed, burp, swaddle, and diaper the baby.  The teacher kept asking the children questions and Gwen was quick to answer.  One question was "Why do babies cry?".  Gwen answered "because they need a hug."  It took everything in my power to not cry. 

Each kid was then given a surgical hat, mask, and gloves.  We then went on a tour where they got to see a real baby in the nursery and check out the birthing suit.  They got to see all the tools (snot sucker, thermometer, stethoscope...etc).  It was great to see Gwen in a learning environment.  She followed directions and waited her turn.  She was so eager to learn and participate.  She had such a great time that she keeps talking about wanting to go back.  Here are some pictures from the class:

Following My Own Blog

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday (34 weeks).  I am up 27 lbs, my blood pressure is normal (120/80), and BP's HB is 125 (I asked if I should be concerned that it is so low, but the doctor said no, that it decreases as the baby gets bigger).   All the leg cramps, stomach cramps, aches/pains I am feeling are perfectly normal.  I am measuring 37.5 weeks so the doctor did confirm what I, and it seems everyone else who mentions it,  have expected all along..........I am gigantic.

I did make the mistake of going back to my 34 week update from when I was pregnant with Gwen.  The only good news is that last time, at 34 weeks, I had gained 28 lbs, so I am 1 lb behind.  I read all about how great I felt, with the exception of allergies, and saw how tiny I looked.  I may not go back until after this kiddo is born as it may add to my depression. 
Here is my latest picture from Sunday.

Baby Pink's Take Home Outfit

Since we don't know if BP is a boy or a girl, I decided to purchase a gender neutral onsie to take him/her home in.  I found the PERFECT one yesterday.  I hope it gets to the house in time!!

She's VERY Modest

Last weekend we went to Pizza Republica for dinner.  I was craving pizza and a salad..........and a glass of red wine.  Our pizza took a really long time to come out so they gave us a free tiramisu.  Gwen spent her time entertaining the table next to us, especially while eating the tiramisu.  At one point she looks at them, as they are laughing, and says "I'm Cute". 

We are in some serious trouble.

I Am So Excited...........

to meet BP and hold him/her.  I keep picturing myself holding and gazing at this little person.  Soon enough......

Dreams

In the beginning of the pregnancy I would have dreams that BP was a boy.  Lately I have been having labor dreams with the outcome of a girl baby.  Last night's was so vivid.  I was in labor and they announce that BP is a girl.  She looked exactly like Gwen.  The dream turned sour when I have to tell my father that he has yet another granddaughter.  He looks so disappointed and sad.  He wouldn't even talk to me.  It broke my heart. 

BP of the future, if you are reading this and you are a girl, please know that Papa loves you so much and wouldn't trade you in for a million grandsons :-) 

"How are you feeling?" and an Update

I had a doctor's appointment on Monday.  It was uneventful.  My blood pressure is 110/68 and I am up 25 lbs which is right on track to where I was last time (actually a few lbs behind).  BP is moving around a ton and has a heart beat of 130 (which she has had for the past few visits).   I met a new doctor and I am now convinced that I do not want to be induced to have a "stable environment" for when I deliver.  I want quick and easy like last time.  Where can I place my order for that?

We are finally starting to prepare ourselves and the house for BP's arrival.  Gwen's Big Sister room will be complete this weekend (I'll share pictures) and we are going to paint the nursery this weekend as well.   I've gotten some energy back lately, so I am starting to nest on weekends.  Things are finally moving forward so the stress is subsiding a bit.

As for me, I keep getting the question "How are you feeling?"  I really want to say that I have felt like shit for the past 28 weeks (or 7 months), feel absolutely gigantic and gross, hate being pregnant with every ounce of my soul, and can't wait to NEVER have to be pregnant again.  I don't answer that way.  I say a polite "fine" just tired. 

The truth is, the past few weeks I have actually felt the best, physically, that I have felt the entire time (that isn't saying much).  My exhaustion has subsided and I am only really tired at the end of the day and if I exert myself too much.  I started swelling again this week but I think it is because I have been working a lot and not moving around.  I think BP dropped as she is no longer in my ribs and I am not feeling as uncomfortable.  I still get 5-10 Braxton Hicks contractions a day, but that is normal for me.  The daily bloody noses suck, but I would rather have those than stretch marks.  I saw pics of someone with stretch marks and I was SHOCKED at how they looked.  I have never seen them before. 

Emotionally I am not doing all that great.  I just feel so huge, gross, and ugly.  I have barely exercised this entire pregnancy, besides a walk here and there, so I feel like my butt, arms, and legs are so flabby with no muscle tone.  My eating habits haven't been the best either.  I feel sluggish and blah all the time.  I just keep thinking about how much weight I am going to have to lose after all is said and done and I just feel like it will be impossible with 2 kids.  If I can't make time now to exercise, when will I with 2 kids.  I cry a lot from being upset at how I look and feel.  It doesn't help that everyone is always commenting on how I must be due any day now.  I am actually embarrassed to tell them that it is the end of July.  All in all, I will get by and in T-7ish weeks, I should be holding a gorgeous infant in my arms. 

Last Night

I am loving the warm weather.  Gwen gets so exhausted from playing outside so much that she will tell us when she needs to go take a nap (go to bed at night) and will head upstairs.  Last night was no different.  I was cleaning the kitchen and Gwen says "I'm going upstairs" and headed upstairs alone.  This is rare as she always needs one of us with her.  Well I get upstairs she lets me get her ready for bed and then SHE reads ME stories.  She took a few of her favorite books and "read" them to me.  Some highlights:

• Little Feet Love:  It's a touch/feel book that you use your feet to feel everything.  She made me do it and touch every page with my toes
• Search/Find with Mickey:  She would ask me where things were on the page and I had to point them out to her
• Big Sister Dora:  She read it by pointing out her favorite parts and making sure she told me that she was only having one sibling whereas Dora gets 2 (for a while she kept saying she wanted 2)
• Tails:  She just turned the pages until she got to the skunk and yelled "Stinky Skunk" as loud as she could

Last night melted my heart.  I am so in love with that little girl.

Thankful Thursday

I haven't done this in a while and I am definitely due to put some perspective on my negativity.

1.  In ~8 weeks I will be done being pregnant and never have to be pregnant again!!!!!

2.  When Gwen looks at me and just has to hug and kiss me.  This happened while we were riding the carousal at the zoo the other day.  She just looked into my eyes and said "I love you mama" and kept kissing and hugging me.  It brought tears to my eyes.

3.  My job and fantastic boss.  I am lucky enough to love what I do and have the flexibility to work from home a few days a week and not have anybody "clock watch" me.  It's nice to come and go as I please.  My boss is fantastic about everything and doesn't make me jump through HR hoops just to work from home.  This makes me want to do a good job for him. 

4.  Sunny days and warm temperatures.  This means BBQs, pool days, the park with Gwen, walks with Kaiser, and very very soon...........COCKTAILS ON THE PATIO (I don't care which patio.  It doesn't even have to be a patio........it can be a driveway, or a deck, or my couch..............).

5.  The 6 years (our anniversary is on Saturday) of marriage to my best friend.  I am lucky that Mike is such an amazing husband.  With any man, he has his moments, but it has been a fun and crazy roller coaster.  The dynamics may have changed when Gwen was born (he's also an AMAZING father) and will change again with BP, but the foundation of love, trust, laughter, communication (most of the time), respect, teamwork, and me being right 99.9% of the time, and Mike knowing it, has remained in tact.  I look forward to all the years ahead of us and building our life as a couple and as a family. 

Wordless Wednesday