Don't worry, folks! She's only got 10 more weeks to go, and then there will be no more pregnancy updates!! Then, there will be countless posts with baby pics! Nice trade off, huh?
Here is my weekly update from BabyCenter.com:
"How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)
How your life's changing:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.
Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious."
I am managing this whole diabetes thing pretty well. Heck, I have done low-carb diets before, and with GD, you can actually have more carbs than those diets allow. So it's really not that bad.
The part that is the most annoying are the added office visits. I am now seeing my OB every 2 weeks, and now I have to add in appointments to the dietitian and the diabetic educator. Plus, Michael is going to his pediatrician to get his H1N1 vax today, followed by his 4-yr check up next month. I know these appointments are all necessary, but going to places where I know I am surrounded by sick people makes me so nervous! Some of these sick people are not always considerate of the healthy people near them. Sure, I received my H1N1 vax last week, but I am still vulnerable for a little while longer, and there is still no 100% guarantee that I won't get it, if the darn thing mutates. I have been using hand sanitizer like nobody's business, and not touching anything!! But man, wouldn't it be nice to go back to the days where doctors made house calls??
Allison has been very active. She has actually started to wake me up with her kicks sometimes. None of them are painful, and they always give me a little smile. I love to feel that she is in there, and it makes me feel in awe every time. At times she will roll, and it feels like a wave going across my belly. I am assuming it is her elbows that are causing that wave sensation. It's really something else!
The nursery is still not ready for the baby yet. We had some issues with the crib. First, the mattress was still at the lowest level from when MJ was in it. When Mike went to raise it back up, one of the screws started to strip, and he couldn't get it out. We were able to eventually remove it. But before we could raise the mattress, we had another issue. I remembered there was a recall on the crib not too long ago, and looked it up again (Michael was already in his big boy bed when the recall was announced). The brackets that held the mattress needed to be replaced. So we had to wait another week for those to come in. They arrived yesterday, so I hope we can get the crib set up this weekend, and then the rest of the nursery should start to fall into place. I can't wait to be done! Of course I will post some pics when it is ready!
In other news, our next door neighbor is pregnant with her second child. Her first born was a girl, and we both vowed that if she had a boy this time, and I had a girl, we would exchange baby clothes. Well, she found out she is having a boy, so we swapped clothes this week. I have started to go through them, and I am thrilled that we were able to stock Allison's closet with some great clothes. There are some issues though, because my neighbor's daughter was born in the summer, so a lot of the newborn clothes are not winter-friendly. But I am able to make some of them work I think. There will still be some items we will need before Allison arrives, so once I get these clothes put away, I will get that all figured that out. I am so blessed to have such great neighbors!
I think that is about it on the baby front. We are looking forward to trick or treating this weekend. It is supposed to be a bit cool, so we are planning to bundle up, and enjoy! Hope everyone has a great Halloween!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Prayers needed for Stellan
I know some people may not understand why I am concerned over a child that I have never met. This is also a child whose parents I have never met. But this little boy has my heart, and when he is not well, my heart aches for him, and for his family.
Sweet Stellan needs prayers again, and lots of them. I have blogged about him before, and he has been doing great for the past several weeks. However, he had a pretty bad night last night, and needs support now more than ever. Even if you are not following his story, please just add his name to your prayers today, and for the next few days.
Stellan's first birthday is tomorrow, and it looks like he will be spending it in the hospital, unless our prayers are heard and answered. Get well soon, sweet boy!
Sweet Stellan needs prayers again, and lots of them. I have blogged about him before, and he has been doing great for the past several weeks. However, he had a pretty bad night last night, and needs support now more than ever. Even if you are not following his story, please just add his name to your prayers today, and for the next few days.
Stellan's first birthday is tomorrow, and it looks like he will be spending it in the hospital, unless our prayers are heard and answered. Get well soon, sweet boy!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Diabetic Again!
Well, I had my 29 week appointment on Friday, and it included my glucose tolerance test. I just received the call from the nurse that I failed that test. Usually if you fail your 1 hr test, you have to go back for a 3hr test. Well, I failed the 1 hour so badly, that they are foregoing the 3hr, and sending me straight to the endocrinologist. Fun stuff! Not looking forward to missing all the yummy carbs during Thanksgiving and Christmas. But I will do what it takes to not have a 12 pound baby! :D
I forgot to include this picture in my last post. Gotta love the hair on the boy! Please grow already! LOL!!
MJ kissing baby sister.
I forgot to include this picture in my last post. Gotta love the hair on the boy! Please grow already! LOL!!
MJ kissing baby sister.
29 weeks belly pic, and comparisons
Just popping in real quick. Finally took this pic. Can she get any bigger, folks??
Here are some camparisons @ 16wks, 20 wks, 24 wks
Wow. I can see a big difference between weeks 16 and 20, but then I seem to not be sticking out any further than I did at 20 weeks. I must be getting WIDER. Hmmm.
Here are some camparisons @ 16wks, 20 wks, 24 wks
Wow. I can see a big difference between weeks 16 and 20, but then I seem to not be sticking out any further than I did at 20 weeks. I must be getting WIDER. Hmmm.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Great Giveaway!
OK, I have blogged about sweet Stellen before. Well, he is doing great, and his mommy has a great blog! http://www.mycharmingkids.net/. She has also started a separate blog where she hosts many giveaways. Yesterday, she blogged about giving away a $200 Best Buy gift certificate. How cool is that? If you are interested, go here and enter!
Halloween Preview
I keep meaning to post this, and other things come up! But I wanted to give you a sneak peek of Michael's Halloween costume this year.
We asked him for months what he wanted to be. Every time we asked, we were getting a different answer. Let's see...it started out that he wanted to be a policeman. He stuck with that one for quite some time. Then we received a new catalog in the mail, and he decided he wanted to be the Bumblebee Transformer. Then Optimus Prime. Then Woody. Then Buzz. Then Thomas the Train. Then Spider-man, and Handy Manny, and Iron Man. Grrrrrrrr.... Mommy was about to go crazy!! Finally, he said Batman, and I said that was it! Batman it is, and the catalogs are going into the trash! LOL! I ordered it online, case closed!
I am not sure who mentioned it first, but Mike and I were thinking back on last year's costume, and how we (ok, Mike) transformed MJ's wagon into Thomas the Train. If you recall, Michael was a train engineer, and he loves Thomas, so it was awesome!
Remember?
Well, this year, we thought.......Batman.......Batmobile!! So the plans began to make MJ's wagon into the Batmobile. A few sketches later, and a hand from Uncle Kooter, and voila! The Batmobile took shape! I think it turned out great! Since Michael's batman costume is based on the original batman (blue and gray and yellow), we went with the original style of the batmobile.
What do you think?
It has headlights, tail lights, and the bat signal lights up! We are very happy with how it turned out, and I think Michael likes it too!!
Here is our little Batman:
Everything will be coming together for it's debut this weekend, at Zoo Boo. I am sure I will have pictures to share from that!!
We asked him for months what he wanted to be. Every time we asked, we were getting a different answer. Let's see...it started out that he wanted to be a policeman. He stuck with that one for quite some time. Then we received a new catalog in the mail, and he decided he wanted to be the Bumblebee Transformer. Then Optimus Prime. Then Woody. Then Buzz. Then Thomas the Train. Then Spider-man, and Handy Manny, and Iron Man. Grrrrrrrr.... Mommy was about to go crazy!! Finally, he said Batman, and I said that was it! Batman it is, and the catalogs are going into the trash! LOL! I ordered it online, case closed!
I am not sure who mentioned it first, but Mike and I were thinking back on last year's costume, and how we (ok, Mike) transformed MJ's wagon into Thomas the Train. If you recall, Michael was a train engineer, and he loves Thomas, so it was awesome!
Remember?
Well, this year, we thought.......Batman.......Batmobile!! So the plans began to make MJ's wagon into the Batmobile. A few sketches later, and a hand from Uncle Kooter, and voila! The Batmobile took shape! I think it turned out great! Since Michael's batman costume is based on the original batman (blue and gray and yellow), we went with the original style of the batmobile.
What do you think?
It has headlights, tail lights, and the bat signal lights up! We are very happy with how it turned out, and I think Michael likes it too!!
Here is our little Batman:
Everything will be coming together for it's debut this weekend, at Zoo Boo. I am sure I will have pictures to share from that!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
29 Weeks
Weekly update from Baby Center!
"How your baby is growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day
How your life's changing:
Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.
Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing."
Count me in as part of "some women" that have this problem. I remember at my last ultrasound, I had to ask to sit up several times, because lying on my back really made me light-headed, and very flushed. I wasn't laying down completely flat, but still, I couldn't take it!
This morning, MJ was talking about his baby sister as daddy was getting him ready to go to school. I was in the bathroom getting ready myself, but I could still hear them talking down the hall. He was saying that she is going to sleep in his top bunk in his bedroom when she comes. I heard daddy explain to him that she will have her own room, and that is where she will be sleeping. Of course that was followed with "why?" which seems to be his response to everything these days! LOL! But I think it is so sweet that he wants her to sleep in his room. Or perhaps he would just like some company, since he has been talking a lot about monsters, and seems to be having some anxiety about them. Well, maybe when Alli gets a little older, we will let MJ sleep in the top bunk, and let her spend some nights in big brother's room! I really hope they form that kind of bond!
I realize that I have not posted a belly shot in quite some time. I think about doing it all the time, but just never follow through. I get sidetracked, and then it leaves my mind. That is the story of my life!!! Maybe tonight will be the night! I promise as soon as I take one, I will post it!!
"How your baby is growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day
How your life's changing:
Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.
Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing."
Count me in as part of "some women" that have this problem. I remember at my last ultrasound, I had to ask to sit up several times, because lying on my back really made me light-headed, and very flushed. I wasn't laying down completely flat, but still, I couldn't take it!
This morning, MJ was talking about his baby sister as daddy was getting him ready to go to school. I was in the bathroom getting ready myself, but I could still hear them talking down the hall. He was saying that she is going to sleep in his top bunk in his bedroom when she comes. I heard daddy explain to him that she will have her own room, and that is where she will be sleeping. Of course that was followed with "why?" which seems to be his response to everything these days! LOL! But I think it is so sweet that he wants her to sleep in his room. Or perhaps he would just like some company, since he has been talking a lot about monsters, and seems to be having some anxiety about them. Well, maybe when Alli gets a little older, we will let MJ sleep in the top bunk, and let her spend some nights in big brother's room! I really hope they form that kind of bond!
I realize that I have not posted a belly shot in quite some time. I think about doing it all the time, but just never follow through. I get sidetracked, and then it leaves my mind. That is the story of my life!!! Maybe tonight will be the night! I promise as soon as I take one, I will post it!!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Michael cut his own hair!
Today, when we thought Michael was napping, it appears as if he was actually getting into all the drawers in the bathroom. He found my hair shears, and decided to give himself a haircut. It was hilarious at first. I mean, every kid does it, right?. It's only a matter time. Even though you think your kid will never do it. You think you have taught them right from wrong, and what we use and do not use scissors for. You think you have everything well hid. Then when your guard is down...Whammy!
Remember this picture?
It was in my post from last weekend. It shows his bangs pretty well. They are a little shorter than i like them, but we just trimmed them about 2 weeks ago. My goal was to get them to grow out just above his eyebrows, and have a bit of a shaggy look to them.
Well, they don't look like that anymore! Here is what they looked like after MJ got ahold of them.
Pretty bad, huh? As sad as it was, I couldn't help but laugh!
I made a quick call to Big League Barbers, since my hair salon was closed for the day, and we were able to get his hair fixed right away. He looked so funny, and I was still laughing about it when we got to the barber. But then she started cutting. And cutting. And cutting. She had to really cut it short to make it look ok. He looks like a totally different kid now. I really, really do not like his hair this short! He is cursed with my big ole forehead, and I feel he really needs bangs. Thank goodness it will eventually grow out again, right??
Anyway, here is the finished product.
I just wish hair grew faster!! I was hoping his bangs would be at the perfect length in time for his 4th birthday photos, and Christmas photos. Oh well! Doesn't look like I will get that wish. But he is still my cute, funny little guy, and I am sure they will be still be great!
I find myself just staring at him now. He just looks so different. He was getting angry with me at the dinner table, and told me to stop looking at him! LOL! I am sure i will get used to it , but dang it!! I want his hair back NOW!! Big lesson learned today!!
Remember this picture?
It was in my post from last weekend. It shows his bangs pretty well. They are a little shorter than i like them, but we just trimmed them about 2 weeks ago. My goal was to get them to grow out just above his eyebrows, and have a bit of a shaggy look to them.
Well, they don't look like that anymore! Here is what they looked like after MJ got ahold of them.
Pretty bad, huh? As sad as it was, I couldn't help but laugh!
I made a quick call to Big League Barbers, since my hair salon was closed for the day, and we were able to get his hair fixed right away. He looked so funny, and I was still laughing about it when we got to the barber. But then she started cutting. And cutting. And cutting. She had to really cut it short to make it look ok. He looks like a totally different kid now. I really, really do not like his hair this short! He is cursed with my big ole forehead, and I feel he really needs bangs. Thank goodness it will eventually grow out again, right??
Anyway, here is the finished product.
I just wish hair grew faster!! I was hoping his bangs would be at the perfect length in time for his 4th birthday photos, and Christmas photos. Oh well! Doesn't look like I will get that wish. But he is still my cute, funny little guy, and I am sure they will be still be great!
I find myself just staring at him now. He just looks so different. He was getting angry with me at the dinner table, and told me to stop looking at him! LOL! I am sure i will get used to it , but dang it!! I want his hair back NOW!! Big lesson learned today!!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Movie Night
I have been dropping the ball on documenting our movie nights!
Michael has been really getting into our pizza and a movie nights. He is always asking us if it is pizza night, and has been asking for certain movies to watch.
In the past few weeks, these are the movies we have watched:
10/2: Robin Hood
9/25: Stuart Little
Somewhere in there was Hercules. Maybe I mentioned that one already?
This week we have either "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Not sure which one will win. Probably Charlie Brown, at least that is my vote!
Michael has been really getting into our pizza and a movie nights. He is always asking us if it is pizza night, and has been asking for certain movies to watch.
In the past few weeks, these are the movies we have watched:
10/2: Robin Hood
9/25: Stuart Little
Somewhere in there was Hercules. Maybe I mentioned that one already?
This week we have either "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Not sure which one will win. Probably Charlie Brown, at least that is my vote!
Welcome third trimester!!
Ok, I missed posting my 27-week update last week, because I wanted to devote some time to MJ. But I will catch up today.
27 Weeks:
" This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning ? with a lot of medical help ? if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."
28 Weeks:
"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
How your life's changing:
You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week (Yay!!!). If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. (God, I hope not!)
At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. If your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. (I take the 1-hour test next Friday. Cross your fingers that I pass!)
Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS."
I do have a problem with RLS, but it has been present for quite some time now. About the only thing that helps is if I can get up and walk around. It's not always possible, but I deal with it.
I am so excited to be in the last trimester! Having the holidays coming up, I know these last weeks are going to fly by! I feel like I need to really get in gear, and make a list of things I need to do. I know there can't be too much, but I still need to see it on paper.
Still waiting on the bedding. It was finally shipped out yesterday, due to arrive next Monday. I am so excited to get Allison's room done!!
Last night I was getting dinner ready, and Michael came up to me and kissed my belly. It was so sweet. I said, "that was so nice to give your sister a kiss!" To which he replied, "I kissed her in the diaper!" LOL!! I just love that kid!!
27 Weeks:
" This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning ? with a lot of medical help ? if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."
28 Weeks:
"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
How your life's changing:
You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week (Yay!!!). If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. (God, I hope not!)
At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. If your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. (I take the 1-hour test next Friday. Cross your fingers that I pass!)
Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS."
I do have a problem with RLS, but it has been present for quite some time now. About the only thing that helps is if I can get up and walk around. It's not always possible, but I deal with it.
I am so excited to be in the last trimester! Having the holidays coming up, I know these last weeks are going to fly by! I feel like I need to really get in gear, and make a list of things I need to do. I know there can't be too much, but I still need to see it on paper.
Still waiting on the bedding. It was finally shipped out yesterday, due to arrive next Monday. I am so excited to get Allison's room done!!
Last night I was getting dinner ready, and Michael came up to me and kissed my belly. It was so sweet. I said, "that was so nice to give your sister a kiss!" To which he replied, "I kissed her in the diaper!" LOL!! I just love that kid!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Farm visit, Take 2
So we decided to try to go to our beloved farm again today! This time it went so much better! We talked to Michael about running away from us, and he promised he would stay with us. He was hesitant to go into the mazes again, but once we were there, he was all about it.
But first, we started off with doing a little mining. Michael loves rocks. Wherever we are, he is always looking at rocks. If he finds one that he likes, he picks it up, puts it in his pocket, and we place it in his "collection" when we get home. Needless to say, this is one of his favorite things to do on the farm!
We had 3 bags to mine, and this one had arrowheads!
Next, it was time for the peddle cars! I think Daddy was having just as much fun as MJ. What do you think?
This was a small shed with a maze inside of it. I swear he went through it 10 times!
We finally decided we were ready to attempt the corn maze again. The one from yesterday was only .88 miles long. This one was almost 3 miles! It was fun, and we didn't lose Michael this time! He listened very well, and helped us find all the posts! It was night and day from yesterday! Whew!
We completed the maze, and it was getting late. But we still had time to to feed the goats, test drive a tractor, go down the slide, and pick out our pumpkins!
Whew! What a day! Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!!
But first, we started off with doing a little mining. Michael loves rocks. Wherever we are, he is always looking at rocks. If he finds one that he likes, he picks it up, puts it in his pocket, and we place it in his "collection" when we get home. Needless to say, this is one of his favorite things to do on the farm!
We had 3 bags to mine, and this one had arrowheads!
Next, it was time for the peddle cars! I think Daddy was having just as much fun as MJ. What do you think?
This was a small shed with a maze inside of it. I swear he went through it 10 times!
We finally decided we were ready to attempt the corn maze again. The one from yesterday was only .88 miles long. This one was almost 3 miles! It was fun, and we didn't lose Michael this time! He listened very well, and helped us find all the posts! It was night and day from yesterday! Whew!
We completed the maze, and it was getting late. But we still had time to to feed the goats, test drive a tractor, go down the slide, and pick out our pumpkins!
Whew! What a day! Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Apple Pickin' and farm visit
Today was a very full day!! We started off at the apple orchard. It was the first time we have ever picked apples ourselves. Sure, we have been to this orchard before, but we also bought them already picked and bagged. We met my friend (and co-worker) Renae, and her daughter Cori there. We had a great time!!
We arrived a few minutes before Renae and Cori, so I took the opportunity for some photos. I don't know what happened to my wide-smiled kid, but he just gives me these goofy grins anymore. Oh well. I will take what I can get! I am lucky to get him to sit for 30 secs to even get a shot in!!
There were plenty of photo ops:
Once our friends arrived, it was apple pickin' time!!
And apple eatin'!
I think we ended up with a pretty good stash.
Then the kiddos wanted to go on the hayride, of course! It was a bit of a wait, and my rambunctious boy was being his goofy self again!
Shortly after this picture was taken, he started crawling all over the hay bale, and then toppled off and bonked his head pretty good on the asphalt. After a few tears and some hugs from Momma, he was fine!
Off we go! The hayride took us to a pumpkin patch, but since we were just along for the ride, we didn't get off the wagon.
After the hayride, we had worked up an appetite, and left to go get some lunch. We parted ways with Renae and Cori, and headed home to see if Daddy was home from work.
Sure enough, by the time we arrived home, Daddy was home and resting. At about 3:30, we decided to head back out again, and go through a corn maze, and pick out our pumpkins. We go to the same place every year. We love it there!
The corn mazes are usually the highlight of our trip. This year, it started off very happy and fun!
Unfortunately, things didn't end so well. At one point, Michael ran ahead of us, and we lost sight of him. Yes, we lost our kid in the corn maze!!! It was maybe 5 minutes that we didn't have him, but it seemed like forever!!! Mike went one way, I went another....and we couldn't find him. Mike finally headed out of the maze to see if he made it through, while I stayed inside the maze. I finally heard him faintly calling "Mommy!" and I yelled back "Michael!" and we found each other. I hugged him so hard, and he said, "Mommy I was so worried about you!" I called Mike on his cell to tell him I found him, and he came in to get us. Daddy was pretty upset, and we decided it was time to go. We didn't get to do everything, but we had to teach Michael a lesson that if he runs away from us, it is not ok. Game over. He was very upset that we had to leave, but we stuck to our guns. We are going to try to go back again, to get our pumpkins, and do some other things, but it was a somber end to our adventure today.
We arrived a few minutes before Renae and Cori, so I took the opportunity for some photos. I don't know what happened to my wide-smiled kid, but he just gives me these goofy grins anymore. Oh well. I will take what I can get! I am lucky to get him to sit for 30 secs to even get a shot in!!
There were plenty of photo ops:
Once our friends arrived, it was apple pickin' time!!
And apple eatin'!
I think we ended up with a pretty good stash.
Then the kiddos wanted to go on the hayride, of course! It was a bit of a wait, and my rambunctious boy was being his goofy self again!
Shortly after this picture was taken, he started crawling all over the hay bale, and then toppled off and bonked his head pretty good on the asphalt. After a few tears and some hugs from Momma, he was fine!
Off we go! The hayride took us to a pumpkin patch, but since we were just along for the ride, we didn't get off the wagon.
After the hayride, we had worked up an appetite, and left to go get some lunch. We parted ways with Renae and Cori, and headed home to see if Daddy was home from work.
Sure enough, by the time we arrived home, Daddy was home and resting. At about 3:30, we decided to head back out again, and go through a corn maze, and pick out our pumpkins. We go to the same place every year. We love it there!
The corn mazes are usually the highlight of our trip. This year, it started off very happy and fun!
Unfortunately, things didn't end so well. At one point, Michael ran ahead of us, and we lost sight of him. Yes, we lost our kid in the corn maze!!! It was maybe 5 minutes that we didn't have him, but it seemed like forever!!! Mike went one way, I went another....and we couldn't find him. Mike finally headed out of the maze to see if he made it through, while I stayed inside the maze. I finally heard him faintly calling "Mommy!" and I yelled back "Michael!" and we found each other. I hugged him so hard, and he said, "Mommy I was so worried about you!" I called Mike on his cell to tell him I found him, and he came in to get us. Daddy was pretty upset, and we decided it was time to go. We didn't get to do everything, but we had to teach Michael a lesson that if he runs away from us, it is not ok. Game over. He was very upset that we had to leave, but we stuck to our guns. We are going to try to go back again, to get our pumpkins, and do some other things, but it was a somber end to our adventure today.
Friday, October 9, 2009
MJ Overload
Here is the long awaited posted dedicated to our Son-shine!
MJ has really been bonding with Bugsy more and more these days. I think it is because Bugsy will play with him, when mommy and daddy are just too tuckered out to! He is really not a fan of Hercules, because (before he became mostly immobile) Herc would try to steal the ball or drool all over him, or knock him down. Here is a recent pic of the two buddies:
Michael constantly makes remarks that he wants a cat. He is convinced that when Herc is gone, he will get one. Mommy and Daddy have other thoughts on that.
Michael loves all sports that require kicking, throwing, or batting a ball. However, he hasn't really watched too many sports on TV, other than (sigh) Purdue Football. Even then, he only watches it for a few minutes before losing interest. My cousin Amanda gave him a gift of a Purdue Pete book. He knows that book by heart, and he "reads" it to us quite often. Because of that book, he thinks all Purdue football players are Purdue Pete. It's kinda cute. "Hey, Mommy! Look! Purdue Pete got tackled!" Daddy also has a Purdue bobble head doll that plays the Purdue fight song. He has now mastered singing that song word for word, and plays it over and over, and drives Mommy CRAZY!!! Something is gonna have to change in this house!!! LOL!
Even though he doesn't know who too many teams are, we still dress him in the teams we follow. Example below. This picture was taken solely for his Aunt Connie. It is one of my favorites from the summer. He looks like a such little boy now - a toddler no more!
I don't think I ever mentioned this, but in August we made a decision to place MJ into a different daycare setting. It was a very difficult and heart-breaking decision (it was heart-breaking to take him away from his friends), but we think it will be best for Michael until he goes to kindergarten. I won't elaborate on all the reasons why we made the switch, but in the end we felt Michael needed a more intimate setting, with more consistency. Since he was 3 months old, he had always been in a facility type daycare. We were always hesitant about in home daycares, for various reasons, but we decided it was time to give it a shot. We had heard wonderful things about a certain in home daycare, and the ladies & kids there are so nice! So far he seems to be thriving! I think he misses his friends sometimes, but he talks about his new friends too (mostly the older girls LOL!), so I think he is adjusting well. He still has his challenging moments, but he is learning so much! They have pre-school lessons in the morning, and he gets some much needed one-on-one time now. He has really been doing well in learning to write his name, and learning to write all his letters and numbers too! He's even recognizing words! We are very happy with how things are going!
Another positive in making the switch is the tuition costs. Had we stayed where we were, having 2 kiddos there was going to cost us a fortune! I wasn't sure how we were going to swing it. But the new daycare is going to ease that concern quite a bit. It won't feel like most of my paycheck is going to daycare costs! And I know both will be well cared for.
Moving on...
We are happy to see Fall, but disappointed at the same time. With Fall comes lots of rain and cooler temps. Getting outside to play has been a bit more challenging. With a boy with MJ's energy, it is a recipe for boredom. We try to entertain him as much as we can, but he can outlast us both!! I think I need to try to find some fun indoor crafts or something else to keep him entertained. Play Doh, books, flash cards, and board games only interest him for so long! We need to throw something else in the mix!
Also with the colder weather comes shorter days. Daddy's golf nights have ended, since they cannot get 18 holes in before dark anymore. So that means Mommy and MJ Thursday nights are done too. But we did have one last hoorah. I think I blogged about it, but didn't post any pictures. The next series of pictures are from the night we spent at the circus. He was being so silly! Then, he rode an elephant at intermission!
So there you go! Get your MJ fix?? If not, there will be more coming shortly! I will have a Halloween preview, and hopefully some pumpkin/apple pickin' pictures after this weekend!
MJ has really been bonding with Bugsy more and more these days. I think it is because Bugsy will play with him, when mommy and daddy are just too tuckered out to! He is really not a fan of Hercules, because (before he became mostly immobile) Herc would try to steal the ball or drool all over him, or knock him down. Here is a recent pic of the two buddies:
Michael constantly makes remarks that he wants a cat. He is convinced that when Herc is gone, he will get one. Mommy and Daddy have other thoughts on that.
Michael loves all sports that require kicking, throwing, or batting a ball. However, he hasn't really watched too many sports on TV, other than (sigh) Purdue Football. Even then, he only watches it for a few minutes before losing interest. My cousin Amanda gave him a gift of a Purdue Pete book. He knows that book by heart, and he "reads" it to us quite often. Because of that book, he thinks all Purdue football players are Purdue Pete. It's kinda cute. "Hey, Mommy! Look! Purdue Pete got tackled!" Daddy also has a Purdue bobble head doll that plays the Purdue fight song. He has now mastered singing that song word for word, and plays it over and over, and drives Mommy CRAZY!!! Something is gonna have to change in this house!!! LOL!
Even though he doesn't know who too many teams are, we still dress him in the teams we follow. Example below. This picture was taken solely for his Aunt Connie. It is one of my favorites from the summer. He looks like a such little boy now - a toddler no more!
I don't think I ever mentioned this, but in August we made a decision to place MJ into a different daycare setting. It was a very difficult and heart-breaking decision (it was heart-breaking to take him away from his friends), but we think it will be best for Michael until he goes to kindergarten. I won't elaborate on all the reasons why we made the switch, but in the end we felt Michael needed a more intimate setting, with more consistency. Since he was 3 months old, he had always been in a facility type daycare. We were always hesitant about in home daycares, for various reasons, but we decided it was time to give it a shot. We had heard wonderful things about a certain in home daycare, and the ladies & kids there are so nice! So far he seems to be thriving! I think he misses his friends sometimes, but he talks about his new friends too (mostly the older girls LOL!), so I think he is adjusting well. He still has his challenging moments, but he is learning so much! They have pre-school lessons in the morning, and he gets some much needed one-on-one time now. He has really been doing well in learning to write his name, and learning to write all his letters and numbers too! He's even recognizing words! We are very happy with how things are going!
Another positive in making the switch is the tuition costs. Had we stayed where we were, having 2 kiddos there was going to cost us a fortune! I wasn't sure how we were going to swing it. But the new daycare is going to ease that concern quite a bit. It won't feel like most of my paycheck is going to daycare costs! And I know both will be well cared for.
Moving on...
We are happy to see Fall, but disappointed at the same time. With Fall comes lots of rain and cooler temps. Getting outside to play has been a bit more challenging. With a boy with MJ's energy, it is a recipe for boredom. We try to entertain him as much as we can, but he can outlast us both!! I think I need to try to find some fun indoor crafts or something else to keep him entertained. Play Doh, books, flash cards, and board games only interest him for so long! We need to throw something else in the mix!
Also with the colder weather comes shorter days. Daddy's golf nights have ended, since they cannot get 18 holes in before dark anymore. So that means Mommy and MJ Thursday nights are done too. But we did have one last hoorah. I think I blogged about it, but didn't post any pictures. The next series of pictures are from the night we spent at the circus. He was being so silly! Then, he rode an elephant at intermission!
So there you go! Get your MJ fix?? If not, there will be more coming shortly! I will have a Halloween preview, and hopefully some pumpkin/apple pickin' pictures after this weekend!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
3 months to go!!
Are you tired of my pregnancy posts yet?? Sorry about that. I am so anxious for Allison to arrive, that I guess it is on my mind a lot!! Anyway, today is officially the 3 months to go mark! I think we are pretty much ready for her, as we still have most of our supplies from when MJ was a baby. But we did need some new baby bedding. It has been ordered, and we are now just waiting for its arrival.
It took me a long time to decide on the bedding. I had a few bedding sets already in the closet (Thank you, MIL!), but none of them seemed to be "just right" for the room. We didn't want to re-paint, so I wanted bedding that would have the same yellows and greens in it, and then throw in some PINK. I know, I am very picky. But i finally found the right set.
I didn't order everything that came in that design. Now that would be crazy!! But I ordered the bedding, the valances, and the lampshade. I think I might try to make the bubbles on the walls myself. But we will see if I get around to that! I also want to buy some wooden letters to spell out her name. We did the same thing for MJ, and still have the empty pegs on the walls where they were hung. It will work out perfect, because there is the same number of letters in "Michael" as there are in "Allison". So we can leave the pegs just where they are! How convenient is that!?
Last weekend I took an inventory of the nursery to make sure we were all set on supplies as I thought we were. On the first go through, I think we are ok. I think our only deficit is in the clothes. I have bought a few items, but I am sure it is not enough yet. I will have to go through the list again this weekend and really figure it out.
So there is my 3 months to go update! I promise I will be adding a post soon all about MICHAEL. I have lots of pictures to share, but I need to find the time to sit on the computer at home to do it. (Most of my recent updates have been done while at work - shame on me!) Be sure to check back soon for some of MJ cuteness!
It took me a long time to decide on the bedding. I had a few bedding sets already in the closet (Thank you, MIL!), but none of them seemed to be "just right" for the room. We didn't want to re-paint, so I wanted bedding that would have the same yellows and greens in it, and then throw in some PINK. I know, I am very picky. But i finally found the right set.
I didn't order everything that came in that design. Now that would be crazy!! But I ordered the bedding, the valances, and the lampshade. I think I might try to make the bubbles on the walls myself. But we will see if I get around to that! I also want to buy some wooden letters to spell out her name. We did the same thing for MJ, and still have the empty pegs on the walls where they were hung. It will work out perfect, because there is the same number of letters in "Michael" as there are in "Allison". So we can leave the pegs just where they are! How convenient is that!?
Last weekend I took an inventory of the nursery to make sure we were all set on supplies as I thought we were. On the first go through, I think we are ok. I think our only deficit is in the clothes. I have bought a few items, but I am sure it is not enough yet. I will have to go through the list again this weekend and really figure it out.
So there is my 3 months to go update! I promise I will be adding a post soon all about MICHAEL. I have lots of pictures to share, but I need to find the time to sit on the computer at home to do it. (Most of my recent updates have been done while at work - shame on me!) Be sure to check back soon for some of MJ cuteness!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
26 Weeks
This is an exciting week! I have reached the milestone of having less than 100 days left!! As of today, I have 98 days to go. Double digits, Baby!! Actually, the next few weeks will be exciting. Next week I will have exactly 3 months to go, and the week after that, I will officially be in my last trimester. It still seems that this pregnancy is flying by, but I attribute that to having been pretty busy. Shoot, it seems like the whole month of September went by in a blur! Allison will be here before we know it!
Did you catch that? Yes, we are naming our baby girl Allison Marie. It is unofficially official. LOL! I say "unofficial" because nothing is determined until we sign on the dotted line, right? Who knows if we will change our minds at the last minute? Ok, who knows if I will change my mind at the last minute. Mike is definitely on board with Allison, but I am the one that has been wishy-washy. But the more I say her name out loud, and type it, it seems to be more and more the right choice. Like it?
Ok, here is my weekly blurb from BabyCenter.com:
"How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's (and Michael's!) as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel."
(Allison is estimated to be around 2.2 pounds right now, according to the ultrasound)
Things to think about for myself at this time: rising blood pressure, eating right, exercising, aching lower back, swelling feet, and creating a birth plan.
Did you catch that? Yes, we are naming our baby girl Allison Marie. It is unofficially official. LOL! I say "unofficial" because nothing is determined until we sign on the dotted line, right? Who knows if we will change our minds at the last minute? Ok, who knows if I will change my mind at the last minute. Mike is definitely on board with Allison, but I am the one that has been wishy-washy. But the more I say her name out loud, and type it, it seems to be more and more the right choice. Like it?
Ok, here is my weekly blurb from BabyCenter.com:
"How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's (and Michael's!) as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel."
(Allison is estimated to be around 2.2 pounds right now, according to the ultrasound)
Things to think about for myself at this time: rising blood pressure, eating right, exercising, aching lower back, swelling feet, and creating a birth plan.
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