Memorial Day :)

Today was awesome!  I prayed that God would let me sleep last night and I only had to get up twice to pee :)  That's opposed to the 7 times that I usually get up to pee, so thank you for the answered prayer!!

Once awake, I went to get Joey and we all ate some breakfast!  Joey is getting really good at eating cereal with milk and a spoon all on her own, so that's fun!  I love getting to give her new foods and watch her step up to the challenge!

After breakfast we went on a walk and ended up at the pool.  We stuck our feet in and Joey was ready to go in all the way!  We went home, put our suits on and went back to the pool for a refreshing dip.  Joey did really well and wasn't afraid of the water :)  We were there for about an hour or so...here are some cute pics!!!

I love this picture because you can't see my enormous belly :)  The pool actually felt really good on my belly! It was nice to be weightless for a change...when I got out, it felt really weird and heavy!!

Wow, that's high daddy!!!

Let's blow some bubbles!!

Look at that red hair!  She and daddy had a great time playing :)

Next it was time for a snack and time for us to figure out our double stroller...

Once Joey went down for a nap, I went to visit my friends Liz and Kevin at her Mama's house :)  Liz is el Preggo and I'm so excited for her!!!

Once I headed home, I got Joey and Johnny and we went to Amanda and Brandon's for some food and fun! The kids had a blast in the sprinkler :)  

And the adults had fun hanging out :)

There was home made ice cream and cobbler :)

...and some cute babies :)

All in all, a great day!  It's crazy to think that in less than 36 hours we will have a newborn baby! WOW!!!  Please pray for an easy surgery and recovery...also I'm getting a little nervous about being cut open...yikes!!! 

Hope your Memorial day rocked as much as ours did!!

Our Final Weekend as a Family of 3.....

So here it is, Monday of the week Sam will be born!  There is no question that this kid is coming out Wednesday morning if not sooner :)  This weekend was super busy, and my hubby did so much for our house it kinda makes my head spin!

Saturday morning, we woke up and took Joey to gymnastics class.  She's getting better, and she loves to "jump" on the trampoline!  On the way home we went to Wal Mart so that we could eat this week and we got out of there for under $80 thanks to some gift cards!!!  When we got home, Johnny cleaned the entire garage...swept, shop vacuumed, organized and sprayed for buggies.  Joey and I played with bubbles :)  After that we put Joey down for a nap and I went to get a Manicure and Pedicure compliments of Bret Stout and Alan Kirby..... 

.......while Johnny deep cleaned the entire down stairs and sprayed for bugs in there too.  He pulled all the furniture away from the walls, vacuumed the base boards, dusted, mopped, and cleaned anything cleanable :)  What a man!! We also got the Pack N Play set up, moved Joey's kitchen upstairs, and her babies down stairs...I'm pretty sure we worked in some Play Doh time too :)

Sunday rolled around and we went to church.  I got the normal questions like "You're still here?", "You haven't popped yet?", and "When are you due again??".  The sermon was a good one as usual talking about what Jesus would have us deconstruct in our lives to be more like him.  We know the answers, but it's putting the belief into action.  I need me some of that!  After church, I went to see Sex and the City with Kelli and Shawnda.....

......while Johnny put Joey down for a nap and then proceeded to deep clean the entire upstairs!  Again, he moved furniture, vacuumed, cleaned both upstairs bathrooms, and I'm not even sure what else!  I came home and it smelled glorious :)  Last night we went to the mall to get me a night gown for the hospital.  I'm remembering having to untie the whole thing during feedings, and it's a hassle!  We found 2 that I liked and came home for dinner.  

Today is my first official day of Maternity leave and I'm just sitting her waiting for this baby to come out!  I do have some work to do today and will most likely get it done, but I don't have to go in to EWA for anything! 

And that's our weekend in a nutshell...busy, relaxing {for me}, and busy!!!

I'll leave you with this picture...it was one of our first family photos as a family of 3 and I can't wait to take our 1st family photo as a family of 4!

38 Weeks....1 Week To Go!!!!

Alrighty folks, that's right, 1 week from today we will have a new addition to our family!  This is CRAZY to think about!  I'm actually feeling a little sad today because it's our last week as a family of 3.  Johnny thinks I'm being silly, but I don't think so.  I'm just really starting to think about all the things that are changing.  I really want Joey to know I'm still her mommy and I love her soooooooooo much!  I am praying for an easy transition for her and myself!  I guess Johnny is OK, so I don't need to pray for him :)

As for how I'm feeling this week......So far so good.  Aside from feeling full and out of room, I can still breathe somewhat and am not swelling, so that is good!  I had a doc appointment yesterday and I weigh 129......1lb shy of the 5lbs she wanted me to gain!  I'd say I did pretty well :)  She checked me to see if I was dilated or effaced at all, and the answer was NO on both accounts.  What this means is that Sam is cozy and may actually make it till next Wednesday....BOO!!  So I'm done with doc appointments for this pregnancy which is weird!  I do have an appointment at the hospital on Tuesday at 9:30am to get my blood work done, and I guess they are going to give me a medicated wash rag thing to use in the shower on Wednesday morning.  They said this helps cut possible infection from a c-section by 80%!  Sounds good to me!  On Wednesday I will walk check into the hospital at 7:30am, and Sam is scheduled to arrive around 9:30am!  I'm starting to get jittery about the surgery, so please pray for my nerves as I have time to think about the c-section this upcoming week! 

Enough about me, let's check out those final Belly Pics!!

Here I am the night before Joey came into our lives!  We took this picture and night at 2:30am {so technically the next morning} I got up to pee and my water broke!  I called for Johnny and I told him my water just broke...he said "You think it did, or it really did".  I said it really did!  We sprung into action!  I wish I would have known what the next 17.5 hours held in store for us and that I wouldn't be able to take a shower for another day, I would have slowed down and taken one before we went to the hospital!  We did make it down the street and turned around to get our DVDs that we had forgotten!  We didn't want to be bored!  Here we are over 2 years later and we are here again but scheduled this time :)

Holy Toledo that thing's a torpedo!!  I weigh the same as I did with Joey at 38 weeks, but my tummy is obviously bigger!!  I can't wait for this belly to be gone!!!  Next week Sam's eviction notice will have been served, and she will be on the outside!  It would be really funny if this picture took place and tonight my water broke!  I still have so much to do at work, but I would still find time to laugh :)

The news from Baby Center:

How your baby's growing (38 Weeks):

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

And here's what Sam is doing in there...

Things I Can't Reach Anymore...

As my belly is getting larger, it is getting harder to reach things in our home.  I am only 4' 10 & 1/4" and putting this belly in front is taking about 5 inches off of my reaching abilities!  Here are just a few things I can't reach anymore :)

One day I will be able to reach the back of the washing machine with my hands, not a hanger...

One day I will be able to reach the laundry basket on my own instead of waiting for Johnny to get it down for me...

One day I will be able to turn the disposal on with my hand and not the dish brush...

One day I will be able to get a glass of water without the step stool...

One day I will be able to touch my toes again...

I long for One day!!!

37 Weeks and 2 To Go :)

Even though there are 2 weeks till Sam will make her way into this world, I only have 7 work days left, and I'm pretty stoked {no offense Bret and Akirb}.  With all the prep work that has been going into my maternity leave, I'm ready for a break!!!  Next week we have our annual team banquet and that will be my last hoorah!!  I've joked about asking our DJ Lisa {my SIL} to not turn up the base too loud or we may have a water breaking issue on the dance floor :)  

As far as how I'm feeling this week, I'm doing fine, just feeling FULL! My fingers look like sausages...gross, and it's getting harder and harder to do things around this belly!  I have been sleeping on the couch these days because it's easier to get out of in the middle of the night when I have to go potty, and I can keep it really cold downstairs too which is awesome!  I still end up hot, but at least I don't freeze Johnny out :)  

Anywho, I have a doc appointment tomorrow and we will see what she says!  I'll make sure y'all have the update.....until then, here are some belly pics!!

Here I am with Joey in my belly...it's hard to believe that this was over 2 years ago!  She's about to be a big sister!!!  Wow, that's a whole lot of belly!! Apparently I was ready to go in this picture...But this belly ain't got nothin on Sam's belly shot for week 37.........

Yowza!!!  That's a whole lot of belly!!  This baby must weigh a ton :)  Joey was 7lbs 1.4ozs when she was born...If we are comparing, I'm guessing Sam will be 7lbs 8ozs :)  We will see if I'm right!!

On with the Baby Center News...

How your baby's growing (Week 37):

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

That quarter keeps getting smaller! And here's the inside scoop for those interested...

 

Here's to 2 more weeks!  If you are the prayin' type, please pray for me to get done all the things I need to at work in these last 7 days!  Also pray for a safe and uncomplicated C-Section on the 2nd!  I'd appreciate it!!!

36 Weeks and 3 To Go {21 Days Left}

That's right folks, 21 days left!!!  I'm so stoked :)  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!  

I had an OB check yesterday and I weighed in at 125.8 {gained 1.8 lbs in 2 weeks}, and my doc says she wants me to gain at least 5 more...grrrrrr, I'm honestly trying not to gain because I'm so skinkin' uncomfortable right now, i can't imagine 5 more lbs!  She asked how I was doing and I starting asking questions..."How do I make my hips stop hurting? Did you make a mistake and I'm really 40 weeks...let's get this baby out?  Am I dilated and ready to go?"  She said "Is there anything I can do for you aside from delivering your baby today???"  I said "no"...we both laughed and went on with the visit!  She checked for dilation and I am not dilated AT ALL, so this baby is comfy and staying in there, which let's be honest, that's the best thing possible, but still :)  She said everything is looking great and the baby is going to come on her own time :)

I still have a lot of work to do at EWA before I leave to take care of this beautiful baby, and I am working as hard as I can!  I am so thankful for my friend Schram who is taking some things off my plate, and for Candy who is taking on more at night so I can get things done, and everyone else who is helping ease the load I have to take on in the next few weeks!

Alright, on with the belly pics :)

So I don't have a picture of me with Joey in my belly because at this point in my pregnancy they had said I was miss measured and was actually at 37 weeks :)  So you will get to see that picture next week!  Here is a great for you, not only do we have my picture with Sam in my belly, but the rest of the family posed for  week 36 too :)  Here we go...

Here's me with Sam...hot diggity, this thing is huge :)  I keep getting inquiries....."When are you going to pop?? How many weeks ARE you?"......I also keep getting pitiful stares at the OB's office like "Oh poor preggo teen......I feel so bad for you!"  I'm seriously almost 30, I'm married and this is our 2nd child....it's legit people :)

Here's Johnny at 36 weeks :)  He's been doing P90X for the last 60 or so days, so that's why he's got some eXtreme abs :)  Great job babe!!!

And last but not least, here's Joey at 36 weeks :)  She's so cute and didn't want to be the only one without a belly pic!!!

On with the Baby Center News:

How your baby's growing (36 Weeks):

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.

That quarter keeps getting smaller and smaller :)

.....and for those who want the inside scoop.....

Can't believe there are only 3 more post till Same makes it into this world!  I can't wait to met her, and love on her and snuggle with our sweet baby girl!  See you next week :)

35 Weeks With 4 To Go!!!

So here we are week 35!!!!  Almost there :)  Yesterday was a crazy day that ended this "baby week" crazily!  I had a super stressful day at work with too many details to divulge, came home to a 2 year old acting like a 2 year old, tons to do at home, and to top it all off, I was contracting every 6 and a half minutes for an hour.   YIKES!!!!  

On a different note, the rest of the week was awesome, and today was really good.  I have felt huge but pretty good!  I am having a hard time bending down and shaving my legs, but if that's all I have to complain about, then that's not too bad!

On with the Belly Pics :)

Here I am with Joey in my belly!  I love the face, so I had to do something to duplicate that so I came up with this....

Holler :)  Here I am with Sam in my belly!  That thing is large and in charge yo!!

Here is the Baby Center Update...

How your baby's growing (Week 35):

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Here's the inside scoop :)

I have an appointment next Tuesday so I'll let y'all know how that goes next week!!!  Have an awesome week everyone!!

34 Weeks And Only 5 To Go :)

And what that really means is ...only 5 more weeks of people asking in amazement..."You are due any day now right?"  I get it people, I am HUGE!!  I feel huge, I look huge, and my tight shirts don't lie...I feel huge!  

In other news, I have had some crazy allergies these past few weeks.  I had a doc appointment today and he said that there's not much I can do, so I'm just destined to live with them until the baby comes {worst case}.  I can handle that right??  I sure can!  Other than no miracle cure for my allergies, my doc appointment went well...I weighed in at 122lbs {gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks}, and my pee was good enough for them I guess!  Sam is doing fine, and we are officially scheduled for our C-Section on Wednesday June 2nd at 9:30a!  I have my next appointment at 36 weeks and they are going to check for Strep B at that time and check my anemia as well!  Hopefully I get a good report on the anemia like last time! After that appointment I start going every week until the baby comes!  

As far as what I need to still get done before this baby comes, there's a lot!  

• We have some room rearranging to do which involves in consolidating toys, moving a toy box, and more!
• We need to get the Pack n Play from Holli's and get that situation figured out (where is this thing going to go??)
• I have so much to do at work including all things creative for the months of June, July, and August.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

There are more things, but these are the immediate needs...5 weeks people....5 weeks!

On with the belly pics...

Here I am with Joey in my belly!  I wrote about how I was not sure what life was like before this built in shelf on my body! And I guess it was cold??  I love hoodies!

Here I am with Sam in my belly.  I do remember life before this built in shelf, and it was fabulous :)  I can't wait to have this baby, rest for the 8 weeks then get in P90X shape!!!  Should be fun right???  We shall see, I'll have at least 20 somethin' lbs to loose!!!  I guess I have 5 more weeks to worry about that huh???

Here's the Baby Center update:

How your baby's growing (34 Weeks):

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

And here's the womb with a view :)

Thanks for checking in with our little corner of the world...only a few more posts left till Sam gets here!  I can't wait!!!

33 Weeks and Only 6 To Go :)

As I'm typing this post, Sammy is doing gymnastics in my belly!  I'm pretty sure I just saw a perfect cartwheel roll across my belly...no joke!!  Ok, I kid, I kid :)  Anywho, this week has been going well.  I feel huge, and when you get a look at the belly pic, you will probably agree!  I do have to say in my defense though that we take these pictures very late at night, and I'm pretty sure I gain like 10 lbs each day, so objects in picture may appear larger than they actually are :)  My allergies are kicking my booty this week, but other than that I am feeling well!  My hips haven't hurt in forever, and the Braxton Hicks are still there, but not a huge deal.  I am stoked that 6 weeks is all I have left, and we are pretty booked for that 6 weeks with church stuff, home stuff, and most importantly....Joey's 2nd Birthday!!!  That's right folks, our 1st bundle of joy turns 2 this Friday...where has the time gone..I will post more on that Friday!!  I guess that's it, so on to the baby bumps :)

Here I am with sweet Joey in my belly...she was content in this small tummy and I was content for her to be there :)  I only weighed 111lbs at this point in my pregnancy with her and I was all a glow despite the stupid look on my face :)

Here I am with Sam, and I'm convinced she's hiding a twin sister in there or something....last Wednesday I went to the doc and weighed in at a whopping 120lbs.......she is stretching and growing and has room to do cartwheels as I stated in the beginning of this post!  I'm getting more uncomfy as the days ware on, but I know the end result is worth it for sure!  I will need help getting this baby bump to go away, so all my work out friends, I'm gonna need you once I get cleared to exercise!! 

What does Baby Center have to say about all this??

How your baby's growing (33 Weeks):

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with aconehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

And here's what's going on on the inside :)

That's all she wrote folks!  Look back on Friday to get the birth story on our sweet little JoJo!  Night Night!!

32 Weeks...Only 7 To Go!!! Yippeeeeeeee :)

Yay!  Only 7 more weeks!  I went to the doctor today and he said everything is looking good!  I only gained 1lb these past 2 weeks {I'm at 120lbs} and have been feeling great!  It has been getting harder to bend down and to reach things up high...my belly just keeps getting in the way!  I love when Joey tries to sit in my lap and she keeps trying to move back toward my chest and gets annoyed that mommy doesn't have a lap anymore :)  Let the sharing between sisters begin!  Today my doc said that I need to pre-register at the hospital and that they are scheduling me for my c-section for Wednesday June 2nd!  So I'm stoked to know that she is for sure coming in June {unless she decides to come earlier...there are times when it feels like she is trying to claw her way out...no seriously!!}.  Anywho, on with the belly pics...

I was so tiny with Joey :)  PS, I loved and still love these PJ pants!  I also think my hair looked pretty darn sleek and cute in this pic!

This baby looks higher??  Hmmmmmm, I'm still not convinced Sam is a girl :) OK, so I know we got a sonogram and they showed us the goods, but this pregnancy has been so different :)  On with the baby center update!!

How your baby's growing (32 Weeks):

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Yahoo, has anyone actually had a jicama??  Looks like a super large baked potato to me !  

I digress...

For those who want to get the inside picture...

See you next week everybody!  It's getting close!!!