37 weeks and we have dilation!

This pregnancy has gone really fast!  It is hard to believe there are only 3 weeks left until my due date.  At my last appointment I was 1/2 cm dilated and 70% effaced - not a lot of dilation, but I think with Preston I didn't start dilating for another week.  Braxton Hicks contractions don't seem to be as often, but I get these really sharp pains just barely into my leg that make me feel like I could collapse at times when I am walking.  Doc said those are all normal.  At the appointment everything was good - heartrate still good, movement good, and I didn't gain any weight!  She is definitely active in there and moves my whole stomach around, changing shape and pushing so hard sometimes I swear I can feel her whole foot!  Sleeping hasn't been the greatest the past couple of weeks, I wake up to pee or because she is pushing so hard it is killing me.  So, all in all the pregnancy is still going great!

Last week our air conditioner decided to go out over the hottest weekend so far!  We were without air from Saturday til Wednesday.  Luckily the weather cooled down through the week and our attic fan made it tolerable.  We ended up getting a whole new system and it works great, but it was not an expense we were expecting to have right before this little girl arrives.  

We have decided to get Preston his birthday present a couple months early this year so he has something new and fun to play with over the summer and when the baby arrives - we are going to put in a swing set!  AJ has been working outside to try to level out the yard and he decided that it would be easier in the long run if he boxed it in.  So this process is taking a little longer (and a little more expensive) than expected.  AJ is hoping to have a little help putting it up when family is in town!    Preston has enjoyed being outside with Daddy and "helping" get the yard ready.

Preston's newest thing is calling AJ - "AJ"  It is funny to hear him say it and to call him in his room at night to tell him goodnight.  It isn't something he does all the time, just occasionally but AJ doesn't like it at all!  He also started just saying "Mom" yesterday when he wants something - makes him sound a lot older than he is.  He still says "mommy" just not all the time.  I don't really like it much.  

We have been putting the nursery together a little more each day so the door has been staying open and Preston likes to go in there.  He has crawled up into the crib several times - I guess I need to get a picture - and tries to get into the cradle.  AJ set up the swing and Preston wants so badly to get in it.  I hate telling him no to stuff like that, but I guess we have to set boundaries now before the little girl gets here otherwise things will be twice as hard.  It seems like he might be starting to understand things are going to change and he isn't liking it. 

We hope everyone has a happy Memorial Weekend!  Thanks to all our veterans and current soldiers who have allowed us the freedoms we have.  God Bless!

 I could not see in this picture (no contacts in ) and AJ was not helping me to smile, so this is a terrible pic

Hammering to help Daddy

I DID IT!!

Get off the table silly child!

Daddy and Preston outside working without shirts on

First time in a while he hasn't gotten back in bed before falling asleep

Dirty face!  I guess he dumped a shovel full of dirt on himself

36 weeks!

Preston got to take his first bubble bath last night...He loved it!  We haven't done it before due to his eczema and the doc told us it would be a bad idea.  But the eczema has been under such good control lately and I found some hypoallergenic bubble bath that I thought it would be ok.  I did slather him in lotion afterwards though.

Washing his hair with the bubbles!

Have a fantastic weekend!

4 weeks to go!

Sorry I missed a week, but not too much happened last week to report.  Things are still going well with the pregnancy.  Little girl is moving around like crazy - it is so weird to see at times, my stomach completely changes shape and she pushes so hard.  I had a doctor appointment today and he said things are still coming along at a good pace.  I am 50% effaced but no dilation yet.  Which I guess is a good thing!  Appointments are going to be weekly from now on so I will know if anything like that changes.  AJ was supposed to have a camping trip this weekend with his ecology club and it got denied by the administration - I told him it was b/c they knew there was a chance I could have this little girl.

We still haven't done anything else to the nursery.  I really wanted to get some things done this past weekend and it would have been a perfect time to do it since it was raining but for some reason nothing got done.  I need to wash clothes and clear some stuff out of there before I really feel like it is ready enough for her to arrive.  We have one picture on the wall and one other to hang thus far.  I definitely would like to get some more stuff up in there, but it isn't a must seeing as we still don't have stuff on Preston's walls!!  

This past weekend we went to a birthday party at Springfield Gymnastics.  Preston had a great time!  He was running all over the place, jumping on trampolines and into pits.  The party was right at the beginning of nap time so he was exhausted before it was over - we had to leave before presents were opened!  

A big thing for Preston started this weekend - he asked to use the potty several times!  So we now have a new addition in our guest bathroom.  Sometimes Preston wants to use the free standing little potty and sometimes he wants to put the little seat of the potty on the big potty.  We have had a couple attempts and successes using the potty but we aren't pushing too hard yet since we just basically started on Sunday.  The plan was originally to wait until we are home for the summer.  He is doing great though!  

Below are pictures, sorry no belly pic yet this week.  AJ had a busy night so we'll take a pic tomorrow and I'll upload that then.  

Have a great week! 

Birthday girl!

Very sweaty!

34 weeks

Time is flying by!  6 weeks is not very far away and the sound of June just keeps getting closer and closer!! I had a doctor's appointment today and everything is going great - I'm still right on track with weight and measurements of my stomach.  Dr. Lehnert hasn't checked anything with dilation but he says everything else is where it is supposed to be - my next appointment is in 2 weeks and then at that point they will be weekly and he'll start checking for dilation and effacement.  AJ thinks she has dropped and one of my patients told me I look more pregnant this week.  Baby girl continues to move around like crazy, there are still times where she pushes so hard it hurts - Dr. Lehnert says it is almost like she is bruising me on the inside.
We still have some work to do in the nursery before it is ready, but it is getting closer to be done.  Hopefully this next weekend we can work on it a little more.  It, of course, is supposed to rain again on the weekend so maybe we can get some inside stuff done.
Preston is still growing by leaps and bounds.  His vocabulary is expanding daily.  There are still some words that he will say and I have no idea what he is wanting, but he is getting better at showing us what he wants.  He is very clear though when he wants to watch Elmo and is very insistent when he decides he wants to watch it.  There are times when we give in, but he is definitely told no and then runs into his room pouting!  I'm not sure where he learned that, but it is quite funny. 
On Sunday, Preston decided he did not want to take a nap again.  And again, he didn't make it to normal bedtime and began falling asleep at the dinner table.  This time around, AJ took a video.  I've been trying to upload it, but it keeps failing.  I will continue to try to upload it and post it later - it is hilarious!
Have a great week and we'll keep you updated on how the pregnancy is progressing.  God Bless!

34 weeks

Silly boy!

Playing at dinner...

The Zoo and 33 weeks!

We are getting so close to welcoming this little girl into our home!  I can't believe there are only 7 weeks left until the expected date of arrival.  I told AJ tonight that I think she may come early - it seems I am beginning to have the symptoms of "pre-labor."  I have definitely been having Braxton Hicks contractions, have been getting really tired lately, and have had some nausea.  We had our first "refresher birthing class" on Monday - which is why I remember these symptoms!  It was a great time of course, watching really old videos and listening to the instructor.  Luckily it was only 2 hours and we only have one more class!  It is definitely worth it since it gives us a huge discount on the actual delivery.

This little girl is giving me more pain lately.  Still nothing severe of course, but we were walking through the grocery store yesterday and I kept getting these sharp pains in my leg.  I guess she kept hitting  a nerve somewhere and it was not something I enjoyed!  She continues to push really hard and sometimes she pushes all the way from one side of my stomach to the other.  

This past weekend we took one last trip before we are limited to being within an hour of Springfield.  We decided to go to St. Louis and take Preston to the Zoo!  Several of our friends came along with their kids and we had a great time - even though it rained!  We had about 3 good hours before it started raining, then we stuck to the animal houses for an hour or so.  Preston loved the elephants and snakes!  We think the snakes were his favorite, so that is the shirt we got for him.  Whenever we left the first couple of animals he cried but he soon got over it when he saw the next animal.  Preston had a great time - even skipped his nap!  He slept for about 5 minutes on the way back to Jenny and Joel's house and then would not go back to sleep.

Other big news - AJ finally got his truck!  It took a lot of looking and duking it out with each other to agree on several different issues, but we worked it all out and he loves the final product.  Now, he just needs to finish his masters degree completely and then our agreement is finalized!  

No other news to report that I can think of.  I have a doctor's appointment next Tuesday so if there is anything to report I'll let ya know!  

Have a fantastic week and weekend! 

Joel, Everett, Preston and AJ

Look out for that snake!!

The new truck!

Preston really likes riding in the truck

33 weeks - getting big!

32 weeks

I cannot believe there are only 8 weeks to go.  I am definitely ready to have this little girl join our family, but it seems like the time is flying by.  AJ seems to tell me daily now that I am getting bigger!  He and my co-workers as well keep telling me that everything seems to be more in my belly this time than with Preston and I just keep growing outward at the stomach.  I think this is a very good thing.  I much prefer to only gain weight at the belly - hopefully it will come off quickly!  My class reunion is in August and I would like to be able to fit in my normal clothes comfortably!  

At my doctors appointment this week everything was "just about perfect" is what he told me.  My weight gain is going spectacularly, baby's heartrate is staying consistent around 140bpm, bloodpressure is good and although he didn't actually measure my stomach this time, he said that was good too!  I go again in 2 weeks.

We finally got Preston's furniture!  It only took about 6 1/2 weeks, even though they told us it would only be 4 at most, but it has arrived and Preston loved it last night.  It took AJ about 2 hours to put it together, seeing as I wasn't much help, so Preston didn't get to go to bed last night until after 9:30.  Once it was put up and everything was together, he was allowed back into his room crawled up into the bed and said "ni night."  I think he was a little tired.  He didn't move an inch last night once he was in bed.  The bed rail we are borrowing, doesn't work with his bed so we are hoping he doesn't start to roll all of a sudden.  So far since he has been out of his crib, he has only rolled off his mattress once - not too bad for almost 2 months time!  

Preston continues to love playing outside and with his bat and ball.  Tonight he would put the ball on the tee by himself, pick up the bat and swing - when the ball  hit the ground, he dropped the bat began clapping and yelling "yah" while looking at us and waiting for us to clap as well!  It was very cute.  AJ wasn't quick enough to get video, so pictures will have to work.

We are also in the process of hopefully finding a truck for AJ.  There is a really nice one that I am trying to negotiate a deal on and AJ really likes it, so we'll see.

That is all for now.  We plan to go to the zoo in StL this weekend, so hopefully the rain is scattered enough for us to enjoy some time there!  Have a fantastic weekend!

31 weeks

Still feeling good!  I do seem to get tired a lot and not want to do some cleaning once I get home, but of course it still gets done...As the weeks fly by, it seems like this little girl is definitely running out of room.  I know I said this with Preston too, but she pushes so hard against my stomach at times, that I am almost positive she is trying to get out!  Not too much has changed otherwise.  Nothing else has been done in the nursery, we are still trying to clear everything out that doesn't belong in there.  Some items will be going to my co-workers garage sale and then if it doesn't sell, is getting hauled to Goodwill.

We bought Preston a bubble machine.  HE LOVES IT!!  He asks for it almost daily. 

Sunday we went to the Springfield Cardinal game with some friends.  Preston loved watching the 2 mascots when they were around and really wanted to go see them, but it seemed like everytime we got close to one, they went the other direction.  One of them is Louie, a bird just like Fredbird, so Preston would say "bird are you?" when he couldn't see him.  We left the game a little early, seventh inning, partly because Preston was getting very antsy and partly because the Cardinals were winning 12-1.  On our way out we came upon the other mascot, Fetch.  Preston got his picture taken with him and loved it! 

Hanging out watching Elmo!