Stocking up!

Well, our girl is still holding out on us. I am 38 weeks and remain 3 cm dilated. I work tomorrow and the next day and I'm saying a little prayer that these strenuous 12 hour shifts will kick something into gear. However, I also am trying to appreciate the last couple weeks of (quite possibly) my last pregnancy ever. It hasn't been too bad and I keep having to remind myself that this is 100% guaranteed to end within the next few weeks. Patience is a virtue! That being said, I have gotten a chance to finalize my playlist, buy a few last odds and ends that we needed, have lots of "The Final Adventures of an Only Child" with Ev, and cook, cook, cook. Hom and I cooked for about 6 hours this weekend in an attempt to stock up our freezer meals. Here's a before shot of most of the ingredients...

And here's after...

We made:
Broccoli/Cheese Soup (2 servings)
Chicken/Rice Soup (2 servings)
Penne Chicken Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mushrooms (3 servings)
Spaghetti (2 servings)
Honey Sesame Chicken (1 serving)
Loaded Potato Soup (3 servings)
Beef Enchiladas (1 serving)
Boston Butt/Pulled Pork (3 servings)
Chili (2 servings)
Crawfish Cornbread (2 servings)
and Mom threw in a Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (2 servings)
All that, along with a friend and I had a baking day last week, and were able to make Cinnamon Rolls for everyone on my street, along with 2 servings for us to freeze!!
I'm thinking we're in good shape for a little bit.
Here's my 37 week shot. Getting rather large, eh?

I do my fingers to signify the weeks if I can. That way, when I scrapbook, I don't have to remember which week it was. Ev saw me making what I can only assume he thinks is a gang sign. He wanted to join in... Word.

 And, yes, that's a sticker on his ear. I'm not real sure what that was about but he wore it like that for a long time and wouldn't let me take it off.

Still cooking

Well, things have been a little crazy lately in the Watts home. At my routine 35 week appointment (I was actually 34 weeks, 6 days), I mentioned to the nurse that I had been contracting during the weekend. I assumed it was just Braxton Hicks. However, I figured it best to inform them as, with Ev, when I started contracting, he came quickly. Doc decided to go ahead and check me just to make sure. We were met with the news that I was already 3 cm and 50% effaced. WHAT? Guess they weren't Braxton Hicks. Anyway, she informed me that, for the next two weeks, I wasn't allowed to work, work out, or even lift Ev. Awesome. I didn't think it necessary to tell her that, just prior to my appointment, I had walked 2 1/2 miles in the 90 degree weather. In hindsight, not the smartest decision I've ever made. Anyway, so bed rest it is in order to get this girl to a safer 37 weeks. If, by Tuesday, I haven't gone into labor, then I'm going back to work! I will likely regret saying this, but I am SO ready to go back to work and work out again. As of my last appointment (a week later), I was still 3 cm, 50% so I feel like I did good. I despise sitting still but don't need to be reminded that it is for the health of my wee one. It's far easier said than done. Anyway, instead of baking this girl, we have set this oven on broil, knowing that she could come any minute now. Any good book suggestions? I like mystery and chick lit but I've read enough mystery lately. Trying to find a fun chick lit book. Four more days of being lazy stretches endlessly in front of me. Any suggestions?

Baby girl and Big Boy

Well, the nursery is coming along. We've gotten all the essentials and, considering she won't sleep in there for the first couple months anyway, I'd say it'll do. We have been super busy this summer with a certain wild 2 1/2 year old. This pregnancy is SO incredibly different than his. With him, I was able to work out when, how long, however I wanted; nap when, how long, and however I wanted; and spa day when, how long, however I wanted. With this poor girl, I'm too busy chasing around a toddler to nap or spa day. Luckily, my gym has an awesome nursery which Ev LOVES so I've been able to stick to that. I've actually gained less weight with this one so far (probably due to the fact that I also can't eat when, how long, and however I want.)

I keep reminding myself to be grateful for all the nuances of pregnancy because it certainly beats infertility or multiple miscarriages. I have to tell myself that this is a very short time in my life in the grand scheme of things. Many people would happily trade places with me, if given the opportunity. I will complain openly about one thing, though, so don't judge. I had ZERO complications with Everett. Even his birth was a dream come true and I was able to deliver naturally as I had wanted. With this pregnancy, can you say VARICOSE VEINS???? I'm not talking about little spidery, "Oh my legs are so ugly" things. We're talking, my entire right leg from toes to groin. It is quite impressive, I must say, and ridiculously painful. I started getting them before I was really even showing, around 19 weeks, and they've only gotten worse. Yes, I've tried support hose but to no avail. I will be visiting MS Vein Institute when all is said and done. Holy Moly, if anybody has any advice for me, I'll take it. Here's my plan at this point:
--Realize I work a 13 hour day, twice a week. I'm on my feet, on average, about 10 1/2 of those hours (on a good day.) I'm lucky if I get a 30 minute lunch and I get, virtually, no other breaks.
--I'm not compromising on exercising less. I feel like my first delivery went so well because I was in shape and this is my way of "paying it forward" to my body. If doing crunches every night means I will push 5 min less, than crunches it is.
-- I drink boatloads of water. It's supposed to help. I'm VERY tired of peeing every 20 min.
In fact, may I share...

Yes, she is finally head down and that bright white oval-ish thing above her head is my bladder. That would explain my constant need to run to the restroom, even if it is to rid myself of 3 Tbsp. of urine. Child is constantly pressing right on the blad. And how cool is this image? I'm in a research study at UMC monitoring healthy fetal brain growth at 31, 33, and 36 weeks gestation. This is her 31 week shot. I get the 33 week MRI this week. It's funny that I didn't even know E's gender and, with this girl, I'll know her gender, along with what her grey and white matter look like. I've come a long way!

I know this is a totally random post but I was needing to update and this about sums up our life right now. It's all about growing this baby girl for another 7 weeks. Scary. Well, all about this baby girl and this handsome fella...

Speaking of this little Momma's Boy...he's about 95% potty trained. He still wears diapers for naps and at night. Any certain age that they stop doing that? I am fully expecting an about face regression to pooping in pants when Chaney Claire gets here. We'll see. He's a funny kid and loves to be loved. I swear he is so my child. He LOVES to snuggle which I did not expect from a busy boy. He knows(ish) The Lord's Prayer and totally cracks me up when he says, "and be with our trespasses as we forgive those..." "...and lead us to temptation..." Awesome. I think God gets it.

My goal is to blog before baby girl gets here. We'll see. Lookey what I've gotten to start buying! PINK dresses. I've gotten totally out of control. I keep telling Hom that I'm actually saving us money because everything I buy is on sale and she has only a few clothes 0-3 months and more as it gets closer to 2T. I figure that's when they start staying in the same size longer anyway. Until next time...

Busy busy

We've been staying super busy now that the weather is fabulous. Our neighborhood has a playground, pool, lake, walking trail, and even a beach so, needless to say, we've been outside constantly. Ev got his tonsils and adenoids out. The two weeks following that was the longest, whiniest, clingiest, meanest I have ever seen our child. I almost took him back to the hospital and insisted they take this child back and return mine promptly. If it weren't for his skinny booty (he got from his Daddy) and stubborness (he got from yours truly), I really would have sworn they gave us the wrong kid post-op. However, by day 14, our sweet- natured, laid back boy had returned, leaving two exhausted parents in his wake. At day 14, we started more sleep training (story of my life)/baby boot camp. I read that you should silently return them to bed whenever they get up. Without saying anything to them or using any gestures (kisses, etc.), you just pick them up and keep returning them to bed. On night 15 post-op, we returned him to bed 18 times. Night 16, we were down to 3. Now, we've only had one bad night in two weeks (returned to bed 8 times--did I mention I am stubborn?) Praise the Lord! Other than that, I've been GROWING this baby girl...

Told ya! She now has a name, Chaney Claire. I'm 27 weeks and have gained almost 9 pounds! She is constant movement. This pregnancy is different that E's because I can't work out and nap on my own schedule. E, of course, has his own agenda. While he naps, I'm usually trying to clean house, cook, etc. I wouldn't trade it, though, because it beats the alternative. I have so many friends that are battling infertility/miscarriages and I attempt not to complain a minute of this pregnancy. It's all a matter of perspective. In other news, E was three days post-op on Easter morning so while there was some of this...

  

(Looks a little dazed, huh?)

There was also alot of this...

  

I will say he made it through the entire church service (usually only makes it through half but we didn't want him going to the nursery and risk getting sick). Our secret: he was all jacked up on chocolate and Lortab. Holla.

What fun...(whompwhompwhomp)

I love Zulily, I really do. I try to look on it daily and can usually find something I want. However, the processing/shipping takes FOREVER so I don't always cave to my wants. I once ordered pants for E and they took over a month to come in. Anyway, I was looking at the site today and came across this gem. I will say that the toys and Adirondacks were adorable but is this the best ad pic that they've got?? First off, that poor boy's hair. Is it a mullet or does Mommy just not want to cut it just yet? I mean, he's got to be at least three years so, if it's the latter, Mommy get over it and cut the child's pitiful mane. Secondly, could he look like he's having less fun sliding if he tried? Bless him. Just move out of the way, let the happy girl slide, go get him a haircut, and maybe an ice cream cone. Bless him.