I spy....

Kitty Haircut

So Ryan must be feeling extra sorry for me and my level of uncomfortable - or possibly that he is tired of me "hating" the cats (which I do not, by the way) but he gave me the green light to get them shaved.  It's been a topic of much hostility in our past because I've asked for this before with MUCH MUCH MUUUUUCH opposition.  Ryan loves these cats... like, a LOT.  So he said it's terrible, horrible, cruel thing to do to them.... But without me really asking it, he said he was ok with it!  I wonder if it could be that I wasn't letting them on the bed?  Anyway - before I get a whole bunch of people and their unwanted disapproving opinions (seriously, I don't want them), our cats are Maine Coons.  They are gorgeous and have very very long hair.... It sheds more than you could ever imagine.  I had trouble with this fact when Jackson was a baby, Ethan was a baby and I knew - it would happen all over again... Think: baby bottle with tiny bits of cat hair circling the nipples.  It's THAT bad... Nevermind that you can never wear black in our house and that we should own stock in lint rollers.  Anyway, Ryan only had to green light me once and I made the appointment for last Thursday!  They were in at 900am and out by 300p.  They didn't have a great experience... Apparently, these litter-mate 11yr old brothers became very hostile with each other afterward and had to be separated.  Days later, Calvin was still hissing at Hobbes... Vet called and said it's because Calvin doesn't recognize him!  Ugh.  Hobbes was shaking so bad for the first few days... Vet said he's "cold."  oh geez.  Then, in the last few days, Calvin has developed a constant "sneeze" - which can be caused from the fact that he got vaccines when he was at the vet or it could be a sign of a kitty-type flu virus.  Anyway, I'm sure Ryan won't agree to let me do this again, but for now, I've loved on those cats without any fear of cat hair covering my shirt... It's really nice.  And it only takes 4 mos for it grow back.  I wouldn't hesitate in a million years to do this again if Ryan would let me... It's so nice and they haven't had a single hairball (they were having at least one a day!).  The boys are loving how snuggly the cats are since they got their "haircut."  I love that I haven't had to buy a lint roller in a whole week.

 

38 1/2 wks Doc Visit

Warning:  the following blog entry is a whole bunch of whining and feeling-sorry-for-myself crap, so if you don't want to read, I totally understand.  I just needed to vent. 

Today was my 38.5 wk doc appointment.  I was very hopeful for some good news - much, much progression.  Sadly, doc says I'm at 2.5 cm, still 70% effaced, and baby has dropped to -2 station.  Not exactly the good news I was hoping for... but I'm trying not to get too emotional about it.  I know it's easy to forget this feeling - I'm guilty of it in the past - but these last few weeks are absolute torture.  Before I got pregnant this time, I said this to more people than I can count "You're so close now!  You're at the finish line... Hang on and wait for baby to determine his own birthday."  I know people roll their eyes - and I really do believe in that stuff... I had just forgotten how hard it is these last few weeks.  I am not a fan of induction, and don't plan on having it done again.  I loved Ethan's labor/birth experience, and I want that again... but selfishly, I want it NOW!  I am so enormous that I can't even get a deep breath.  It feels like this baby boy's legs are crammed up in my throat and every SINGLE time I stand up, I have to practically run to the bathroom cuz he's pressing so hard on my bladder.  I am just over this!  I am anxious to meet my little sweet bundle, and boo hoo hoo - I want to do it now!!!  I don't want to wait anymore!  So I fought back the tears when doc said "I still think you'll be pregnant next Monday."  I had to fight hard, but I knew if I started crying, it would be really hard to stop.  So I didn't talk about it and waited til I could collect myself.  Ryan has been very sweet and said "well, you never know."  And it's true, and sweet, but not likely.  My boys didn't come til they were due, so what was I thinking that this one would come early?  I was just hopeful.  Too hopeful.  And I know it's close... I know it's soooo close.  But it's not today, and I'm sad about that.  Every day feels like a year.  So I'm counting down the decade begin now...

38 wks - Jackson (left), Ethan (middle), Baby Boy #3 (right)

Saturday morning buds.

Jackson's latest drawing.

I quite love it.  After drawing it, he noted to me that my hair makes me as tall as daddy (very cool) and that the baby is sleeping in the crib and out of my belly (even cooler if you ask me.).  I love that the door is smaller than we are and the mailbox has mail in it.  And Jackson is almost as tall as Ryan.  Oh, and I love how skinny I am.  HA!  This pic may be on our fridge for years.  :)

Peek-A-Boo.

Zonk!

This is totally not a big deal to MOST moms.  I realize that.  But my kids - they are sweet little Babywise-raised children who never EVER fall asleep anywhere except their beds... until recently!  First Jackson did it a few times on the couch - when he wasn't feeling well.  Then, Ethan has done it a few times, also on the couch - when not feeling that great.  However, on Sunday - the boys were upstairs in their little couches watching Cars 2 while Ryan and I were finishing the nursery (letters are up! yay!), and I noticed an unusual quiet coming from up there.  I went up there to find Jackson watching intently (not uncommon anytime the TV is on) and Ethan sound asleep!  It was only 1130am - so I couldn't believe it!  Granted, he's had some tummy issues for about a week now, but mostly he wasn't sick or anything - just tired!  I was actually excited to see this!  I'd like my boys to feel comfortable just going to sleep wherever they are tired, but I just didn't think that was in the cards for us this young.  How cute is he!?  <Ignore the messy playroom!>  He slept about 1.5 hrs like this!

Yes, they can be still!!

37 1/2 Week Doc Appt

Went to the doc today for my 37 week checkup.  Not a lot of change - I went from a 1.5cm dilated to "a little more than a 2."  So doc said he is pretty confident that I'll be pregnant next week, but "not too long after that."  So who knows what that means, but it was music to my ears.  I have just a few things I wanted to have done in the next week... My brother is going to detail my Honda (it's BAAAAAAD!) on Wednesday, I have a pedicure scheduled for Thursday and on Monday, my dear sweet husband is allowing me ONE deep housecleaning from our old housekeeper.... So I'm going to be set after that... My mom is really rooting for the baby to come next week since it's Spring Break, and it will be easier on her not having to deal with the boys' school.... But I'm good with any day that is soon!  I have my next appointment on Monday - 38 weeks!  Almost there now!!

Donuts with Dad!

 

On Thursday, Ryan went to work a bit late and took Jackson to school for Donuts with Dad at Jackson's school.  Jackson just loves spending ANY and ALL time with daddy.... and as you can see, Ethan was feeling the same way!  Our boys sure do adore their daddy...

Blog Book Finished...

From 2010, that is.  Yep, I'm that far behind!  These books take me FOREVER to finish... I only work on them once in a while - like when Ryan and I are watching a movie - I'll work it then, or something like that... so naturally, it takes forever.  Plus, I did my 2008 book in 2011 - that was my first one.   So now I have 2008-2010 done.  I felt so happy to get this one done because it was on my before-baby-to-do-list.  It's 186 pages and 100% customized.  I adjust each and every blog entry so be formatted on the page like I want it to.  I can change the font, color, picture size, text size, etc.... so I go thru each page and format it the way I want - that's why it takes so long.  But it's worth it.  No reason to have this blog and this amazing archive of our lives if I don't publish it somehow.  I guess I'll start on 2011's book after baby....

37 Weeks, FULL TERM! YAY!!

• Baby's Sex: BOY!! (Name to be announced at birth!)
• Baby is as big as: Watermelon (19 - 22 in, 6.5 lbs)
  
• Cravings this week: Coffee, sweet tea, grilled cheese sandwiches.
• What's different this week than last week: Sleeping is officially a problem.  I toss and turn all night long because of my hip pain - laying on my back is what caused the dizzy spells and when I do that, I can't get a deep breath.  So I guess this is God's way of getting moms prepared before baby comes for the late night feedings, etc.  I know one thing - I'll take the late night feedings over this!!
• Weeks to go:  3 weeks
• Next Appt: Monday, March 11th
• Big Brothers: Ethan has decided he doesn't want baby to come out.  When I ask him, he says NO!  He doesn't totally understand all this but I'm starting to get a little nervous about how he's going to handle not being able to climb all over me when I'm holding the baby.... He tends to want to be glued to my side when he or I are on the couch... so it should be interesting.  I want to try to balance both kids... I don't want him to feel like he is being replaced or anything - so I have to figure out a way to balance it.  I know one thing - this baby is going have to be a "go-with-the-flow" kind of kid!  My boys don't know how to be quiet and they are so wild... Hopefully, baby boy doesn't mind.  :)
• Notes:  Hospital bag is packed, mom has done the 'rounds' with me as far as picking up kids, etc - so we are officially ready to go!

As of Friday, Ryan and I got the stomach bug - probably from Ethan - and it was BAD.  Needless to say, there is no picture for this week... I wasn't feeling too photogenic.

Ethan and Lily

Every night at dinner, Ryan asks each of us who we'd like to pray for before we eat dinner.  Ethan's is always the same - he always wants to pray for Lily.  He just loves this girl so much!  I think she has a bit of a love/hate relationship with him... but once she gets warmed up, they play SO well together - it's really cute!  She's only about 2 mos younger than him, so they are super close in age.   I was trying to get a pic of the two of them - while Ethan was antagonizing her acting like he was going to steal her swing... (he loves when she screams at him) so at first she wasn't in the mood for a picture.  

They crack me up!

36 Wk Check Up!

I went in yesterday for my 36 wk "REAL" checkup from the doc.  I was oddly very nervous but had pretty much determined not to expect to hear any news since I had not progressed at my 36 wk with either of my past two pregnancies.... but low-and-behold - Doc said I'm 1.5cm dilated and 70% effaced!!!  I was totally shocked!  Now, I'm not ignorant - I know that technically, this doesn't mean that I'll deliver early but it definitely gave me some much needed hope.  My level of discomfort at this point has been insane.  I know I'm "supposed" to "enjoy" this pregnancy and "not rush it" and blah blah....I just don't.  I am ready for this precious baby to come out!!!!!!!  So now, if the weather will just cooperate, I'm going to walk my booty off to get him out! Friday is officially full term!  YAY!!!!

Feb Phone Dump

Here's my iPhone pics from February.... 

Its a tech world we live in...

Lots of construction in our neighborhood... It's actually ALL around us right now.  Hoping for no nails in my tires.

 My V-Day present from my honey - a perfect, perfect gift.  Lots of chocolate covered strawberries from Sheri's Berries!

 Fun with the Burrow Boys!

 

So sweet when he's sleeping....<Ethan>   We were trying out our new baby monitor.

 Ryan and Kraig - Our double date was long overdue!  So much fun!

 He'll always be my baby....

 Jackson - still wearing the Spiderman hat that Mimi got him - even at bedtime.

36 Weeks!

• Baby's Sex: BOY!! (Name to be announced at birth!)
• Baby is as big as: Watermelon (19 - 22 in, 6.5 lbs) - another app I have said he's as big as a bowling ball.  Yep!
  
• Cravings this week: Coffee, sweet tea
• What's different this week than last week: I got dizzy twice this week - in the middle of the night.  I'd wake up and the room was spinning.  I think it's probably from laying on my back, but not sure.  I have it on my list of questions for the doc, but it's a little freaky!  It's almost as if I am really really drunk- and the room won't get still.  IDK.  Add it to the list of things I didn't have with the other 2 pregnancies!
• Weeks to go:  4 weeks
• Next Appt: Monday, March 4th - 36 wks!  Starting weekly appointments!!
• Big Brothers: Been trying to go for walks when the weather allows and no one is sick.  The boys ride in Jackson's Power Wheels truck so that we can walk fast while they speed by us.  They are at this point where they don't want to ride in a stroller and no one is fast enough on their bikes, so the truck comes in handy.  It's been hard having the boys sick so much this month and last month though.... and it's just downright COLD outside - 35 and under almost everyday... So I've found my level of laziness is super high these days.  :(  Quite opposite of Ethan's pregnancy when it was hot outside but nice and we were out there playing every single day.
• Notes:  I have almost everything done on my "Before Baby" To-Do list!  I finished my 2010 Blog Book this week (that only took me nearly 2 years to finish!), and I ordered all the pictures to finish out Ethan's baby book.  Baby clothes are all washed and put away.  Car Seats are ready to be put into the car when we take off.  I'm set with everything I need for the baby.... All I have left is packing MY hospital bag, and I figure I have a few weeks before I have to do that... 

More Crud....

My sweet Jackson has a bit of a tummy bug.  He has been a trooper, but more than him - his daddy has been a trooper... Two nights in a row- in the early early hours - Ryan has willingly rushed up and cleaned up Jackson's sheets and help Jackson get cleaned up.   I'm pretty grateful that Ryan is such hands-on dad!  In 4- almost 5- years, Jackson has never fallen asleep on the couch. My boys usually save their sleeping for their beds or the car seat.  Jackson came home from school on Thursday and was just wiped out.  I was hesitant to send him anyway, but thought maybe he was sick from eating too much fiber or something... not thinking this was a bug but after getting a little sick at school too, I knew it was a bug.  He asked to go to bed early last night - also a first - so I knew this boy is down... This morning, he woke up feeling much much better - telling us he's hungry and eating a yogurt, a pudding, crackers and most of an egg right off the bat.  Then, he just wanted to lay around on the couch today and watch TV, so that's what we're doing.  I can't wait for this season to be over.... It's always bad around our house in Jan/Feb. I dread it every year.  So WELCOME March!!!  Please give us a month of good health... oh, and a new baby!!  :)