39 - 40 Weeks - Baby 2

Pregnancy Update June 28, 2014

Saying "cheese!" 39w5d. 6-25-14

How far along: 40 Weeks.  Due June 28, 2014!!

Size of baby: 20 inches, 7.5lbs. The size of a small pumpkin.

What developed this past week: Baby is building fat and getting rid of the vernix and lanugo (skin protector stuff and hair) that cover his skin, in preparation for not needing them on the outside! 

Weight Gain: 35 lbs.  

Maternity clothes: Even maternity clothes aren't always comfortable at this point. Just the pants - the belly panels are always squeezing me (if full belly) or his head (if demi panel). 

Gender: A second son!

Movement: Moves a lot. Has had his feet to my left for 6-8 weeks, but this last week, he flipped back to the right. Now I'm back to getting foot jabs out my right side! Doesn't seem to matter which way his feet aim, my right ribs are ALWAYS the brunt of his pushing, whether with his bum or his feet! 

Sleep/Symptoms: Still getting lots of sleep and happy about it. Got a migraine on Sunday, the 22nd - was hoping it meant my hormones were changing (and inducing the migraine), but no such luck on going into labor! Bending over (like to blow dry my hair) cuts off circulation to my legs and makes them tingle. Had ONE evening of mild swelling on the inside of my ankles. Thursday, the 19th, after working all day, I carried my 30lb son around multiple stores to run some errands for a few hours. When I got home, I was appalled by my missing ankle bones! Luckily, they were back my morning and nothing like that has happened again.  

What I miss: Having time on my side - my nursery is still not ready! The wall Caleb is building is not finished, and therefore all the furniture is still in the box and I can't even begin to get a handle on what I still need as far as wall art, a chair, etc. I don't want the room to be overcrowded (it's a little smaller to begin with), so I'm trying to wait to order everything (other than crib/dresser) until I can set up the furniture I already have. I don't want to feel like the walls are closing in on me with every square inch covered. 

Cravings: Still enjoying everything. Fruit is delicious and I eat plenty of it, but probably more because it's that time of year!  

Best moment this week: At my 39 week appointment, the baby's heart rate was in the 140s and I measured 36.5 (@ 38w5d - Wednesday, the 18th). I was 1cm dilated and still posterior, not effacing. Baby's head was down. At this appointment, Dr V said she would have me come back on Monday so she could see if I've made any more progress and we could schedule an induction for the week of my due date if we wanted!!

At the next appt, 5 days later (39w3d), I measured 37 weeks and baby's heart rate was still around 148-152. Dr. V checked me and said the baby is further down, but still only 1cm and posterior. Dr V said we could schedule an induction for Tuesday (the next day) if we want, or I could wait until Thursday or Saturday for one of my two doctors to be in the hospital again. It's kind of scary to choose which day you want to put yourself through labor and delivery! I called Caleb and we talked through it... first of all, Dr V preferred that I induce, vs waiting for him to come on his own time, because I have GBS. This will give us a more controlled situation where we will almost surely get all the medicine administered in time (antibiotics every 4 hours, needed twice before he comes, otherwise baby has to get dosed). On top of that major plus for the baby, I will also have one of my two doctors, as opposed to someone from the hospital or another practice who is on call - major plus for mama!

In the end, Caleb and I decided to induce ON his due date, the 28th,  if he doesn't show up before then! Doctor said he is definitely ready (since he's full term), so that gives us 5 more days from the appointment to prepare (dilate/efface more). Doctor said the closer I am to my due date, the more ready my body will be, and therefore my labor will hopefully go quicker/better! I'm all for that! No need to rush him out if he and my body aren't ready! I'll gladly have a few more full nights of sleep, even if it comes at the expense of having to go back to work after taking Friday/Monday off to get stuff done! :) It's only 3 days, as I'm taking Friday off to finish up preparing, resting, and playing with Bryson for the last day as my only child!

Bryson Update: Bryson is a climber these days! All over everything! He has a new play gym with a slide that he loves!

I'm sure it will be very fun and SCARY to take him to the park this summer! Kid doesn't have much fear... though ironically, he doesn't prefer the swing! Must be too tame for his wild ways ;)

Here's our first trip to the local park - on Father's Day!

Some pics of Daddy opening his gifts on Father's Day:

New 8x10 pictures of us for his office

He also got a couple golf shirts, under shirts, and pens

This week we got out our baby stuff from the attic so I could wash all the covers...
Bryson decided to be a good big brother and try them out - make sure they are comfortable and safe for little bro! :)

Bryson has also realized he's graduating to "Big" brother in that he wants to sit at the big table, not in his highchair for snacks now. SO BIG!! I can't believe it!

34 - 36 Weeks - Baby 2

Pregnancy Update May 30, 2014

How far along: 36 Weeks.  Due June 28, 2014.

Size of baby: 18.75 inches, 5.75lbs. The size of a crenshaw melon.

What developed this past week: His organs should be nearly complete - kidneys are developed and liver is functional... he's just packing on the pounds now!

Weight Gain: 30 lbs.  

Maternity clothes: Definitely.

Gender: Another sweet boy, whom I can't wait to meet!  

Movement: Moves all the time! Hiccups probably 1-2 times a week too.

Sleep/Symptoms: Sleeping well - Can't complain! I wake up more because of my husbands snoring, or Bryson's moving, not the need to pee or an overactive pregnancy brain... 

I did have another migraine in week 35... almost passed out at work. Went home after my vision came back and felt much better after a nap.

Another new-ish symptom I have frequently is the blood rush down my legs. This child is apparently heavy enough now to pinch a nerve or cut off blood supply, then when he moves or I move, it feels almost like I'm peeing myself because it's a warm rush down my inner thigh! lol  That's super fun at work....

What I miss: Not having Braxton Hicks contractions. They are starting to get much more frequent AND more painful. Seems anything, or nothing, can bring them on. Sometimes I have to stop moving and wait for it to pass, other times I can keep going.

Cravings: I don't turn much away... 

Best moment this week: Doctor visits weekly now and another ultrasound!

Baby did a LITTLE better this time - only put his HAND in front of his face, not his foot... lol Again, we had to shake him up and I turned on my side just to get a quick picture without his hand!

He was still upper 30th percentile, but as long as he is not under 20%, he's OK.
Had my Group B strep test done at my 35 week appointment. I had GBS with Bryson, so we'll see how it comes back this time!

Bryson Update: Bryson has a new artistic talent... coloring!... on walls!
It's a dinosaur!! "ROAR!!" B says...

Worst part about this is that it's not at our house... Maybe he was showing off for Emma, but I'm SO glad Aunt Jessy was totally cool about this work of art being drawn on her dining room wall! Apparently crayon comes off paint with magic eraser! I'm sure that piece of knowledge will come in handy at my house soon too!
And I love the below picture because it just looks like the epitome of the awkward first kiss where no one knows what to do with their hands... or where to look! HAHAHA
These kids are so loving, it's adorable :)

On Mother's Day, Bryson, Daddy, and I went to the zoo for the first time this year! B had a BLAST! It's so fun to watch him recognize animals and make their noises. As soon as we came around the corner to the monkeys, he started saying "EE EE EE!" and making their sign. He also loved the zebras, jaguar, giraffe, etc. 

We also went on family vacation this week. Too many pics to include in this post...

37 - 38 Weeks - Baby 2

Pregnancy Update June 14, 2014

A note from 37 weeks first: Dr appt - heart beat was 148. He measured 34 weeks ( though I was 36w4d). He's 34th percentile and 6lbs 2oz.

How far along: 38 Weeks.  Due June 28, 2014.

Size of baby: 19.75 inches, 6.8lbs. The size of a leek.

What developed this past week: Just growing and continuing to practice breathing and digesting.

Weight Gain: 34 lbs.  

Maternity clothes: Of course.

Gender: A brother for B. Nick.  

Movement: Moves a ton. He's big enough that I can feel him fall from one side to the other when I lay down on my side at night. 

Sleep/Symptoms: I'm getting a lot more leg and foot cramps, especially at night. Probably 1-2 times a week I wake up in the middle of the night and get one when I move my legs. They don't last long, but aren't comfortable for sure!

The weird "symptom" or lack thereof, is that I was getting tons of Braxton Hicks contractions, and now I'm not. They definitely still happen, but more just when I do something to induce it, like climb the stairs at work. I had been getting them frequently while I was just sitting still! I guess I shouldn't complain, considering I wanted fewer when I was having them... But now that I'm not, I want them back because it makes me feel like nothing is happening in there and he never wants to come out! lol The contractions are "practice", but still they've got to be doing something to help my body prepare. If I don't dilate/efface in a timely fashion, I'm blaming my lack of contractions!  

What I miss: Snuggling close with Bryson. He hasn't sat on my lap to read a book in a LONG time. He has to sit beside me so I can put my arm around him. It'll be nice to hold him tight again!

Cravings: Anything is yummy. 

Best moment this week: Had another ultrasound on 6/4. This is the 3rd one in 9 weeks (every 3 weeks). Each time we go, he's been facing the opposite way, but still head down. He was facing left, then right, now back to left (with his feet to my left side). That bum is all up in my right rib cage! Sometimes I have to keep my hand on him to hold him down.

I told the sonographer that I was REALLY hoping to get a glimpse of baby's face this time, as the last two times he kept his foot or hand up in the way... ironically, he did show us his face, BUT it was pressed up against my uterus and therefore had a squished nose! This kid is determined that we won't get a good look at him until he comes out!

Squished nose and fluid all around his chin/neck. Ugh!

This time he measured in the 34th percentile for the sono, and 35 weeks 

He was still upper 30th percentile, but as long as he is not under 20%, he's OK.
Had my Group B strep test done at my 35 week appointment. I had GBS with Bryson, so we'll see how it comes back this time!

Bryson Update: Bryson has a new artistic talent... coloring!... on walls!
It's a dinosaur!! "ROAR!!" B says...

Worst part about this is that it's not at our house... Maybe he was showing off for Emma, but I'm SO glad Aunt Jessy was totally cool about this work of art being drawn on her dining room wall! Apparently crayon comes off paint with magic eraser! I'm sure that piece of knowledge will come in handy at my house soon too!
And I love the below picture because it just looks like the epitome of the awkward first kiss where no one knows what to do with their hands... or where to look! HAHAHA
These kids are so loving, it's adorable :)

Bryson does age 3+ puzzles and loves to play outside. He's also putting 2 words together at a time now (18 months old).

On Mother's Day, Bryson, Daddy, and I went to the zoo for the first time this year! B had a BLAST! It's so fun to watch him recognize animals and make their noises. As soon as we came around the corner to the monkeys, he started saying "EE EE EE!" and making their motion.