We went to Rhodes Family Farm (a 15 minute drive from our house) last year and we were highly impressed. We definitely had to make a repeat trip! For 6 bucks per person, it's a lot of good country fun. We always end up getting our money's worth of entertainment! :) Anyway, here are a few photos from this year's trip (with Nana-Banana):
Until next time . . .
After the service we ate at Rachel and Billy's house. It was a fun and special time. Congratulations to Benny on your baptism!
Until next time . . .
Maternity clothes?Yes. They cover me better than they did with Nora's pregnancy but I am "all belly" this time.
The belly progress:
Here is a side-by-side of me at 36 weeks with Nora, and 37 weeks now.
What the first picture does not show you is my feet - they were SO swollen from about week 25-30 on until the end. Daily people looked at them and went "Ohhhhh Leah, your poor feet!!" This time around they waited to swell badly until week 36, and they actually went down in swelling here in week 37! How lucky am I?? 
Here is a side-by-side from me two weeks ago to now:
Sleep: My sleep has not improved. However, I have been fortunate that the people around me have allowed me to get a lot of rest. Most of the time I feel pretty good!
Cravings: This week I ate badly! Luckily one of my cravings has been black beans, because others have been E.L. Fudge Double Stuffed cookies, and Gooey Butter Cake.
Best moment this month: We picked out a boy's name and a girl's name!
Movement: Movement is definitely different now that I have dropped.
Gender: We still have no idea. Lots of "boy" predictions. I am entirely unsure! I refer to baby sometimes as "he", sometimes as "she". I have accepted that I will find out in 19 days.
Labor Signs: A few mild contractions. LOTS of pressure in my lower belly. This baby likes my bladder a lot.
What I miss: Sitting on the floor. I feel like the worst playmate ever for Nora lately.
Weekly Wisdom: I am thankful.
What Stereotype I Embody: I didn't cry a whole lot this week, so that's good! I am the "momma who is impatient to deliver" at the moment. :)
What I Bought This Week: No need to buy anything else for the baby really. I stocked up on toiletries and bought some Tastefully Simple stuff. Getting us some stamps and thank you cards later this week.
What I Checked off my To-Do List: I seriously thought Cory and I would never agree on names. We "duked it out" and it only took an hour to come to an agreement. :)
My doctor appointment on Monday was uneventful. Not dilated at all yet. I had my Group B Strep Test, and I go back on Monday the 15th to be checked again. I feel like baby has dropped a bit and that things are generally "moving south", so we'll see what happens. There will likely be no baby this weekend though. ;)
Until next time . . .
1.) Making and buying freezer meals. I am making cooked chicken and beef (in the crockpot) to freeze in portions, and making two of eight different freezer meals. I am making them this weekend and I am allowing myself to use them before baby comes if needed. I am a tired preggo momma of a preschooler, my husband is working overtime, and sometimes you just need help. Hang the rules, and use the darn freezer meals if you need to. ;) Also I hope to make a trip to Trader Joe's soon and pick up some other foods that I can keep on hand for quick lunches or dinners. Last time I just bought a lot of random frozen or heat-and-eat foods, and it wasn't what I wanted to eat most of the time. This time I am ensuring healthy food for my family by making it in advance.
I am also using the "Cornerstone Cooking method. Have you seen this cookbook? Uh, yeah - it's awesome!! Especially for me - I am not a "leftovers lover". This cookbook has rocked my little world so far - especially when I made the mashed potatoes that I was pretty sure wouldn't turn out and they DID. AND they were good! Plus - there are 6 black bean recipes, and one of them takes practically no time at all!! Gotta love that. ;)
2.) Preparing Nora to be a big sister. I obviously didn't have to do this before, and I have put a lot of thought into this. Nora and I are filling out a "big sibling book", and she also got to help design and make things for the nursery. She talks to the baby in my belly so much that it is now responding to her voice. Also, "the baby" got her a really cool big sister gift - a real, kid-friendly digital camera. So Nora is going to be our "official photographer" for baby. :) She will also get to go pick out a sibling gift for the baby, make the baby a welcome-home sign, and be momma's special big-girl helper. I am also scouring resale shops, dollar stores, and clearance toys to make a "big sister box" filled with special toys for times when I need her to occupy herself for a bit. I am also making her a little necklace to wear to school on the day baby comes. She is so excited about baby and I feel like I have prepared her well so far - just today she told me: "I can't WAIT for my baby to come!" What a special girl she is. :) She will make a great Big Sister!
3.) Stocking up on "easy" stuff. I am stocking up on key items that we will need to make my life easier: paper plates, disposable utensils and cups, canned/bottled drinks, laundry detergent, toiletries, toilet paper, etc. This will help with doing less dishes, making less trips to the store, and just overall convenience.
4.) Getting our home visitor/guest-ready. After a baby comes you get lots of visitors and guests! I happen to be having this baby at the beginning of cold and flu season as well. So I am stocking up on soap, hand sanitizer, disposable hand towels, Lysol wipes, and antibacterial Kleenex. Also, I am keeping our guest room ready-to-go downstairs so that guests will be comfortable. I have sheets ready to be swapped out, towels clean, and a guest basket. This should help particularly with my mom and Cory's mom, who will be staying here occasionally to help me clean and to take care of Nora.
5.) Calling in the reinforcements. My husband is at a period of his life where he needs to work overtime a LOT, plus our front porch will hopefully get poured next week (if we can get a break in the rain). Cory is over-worked and basically exempt from housework for the time being since all his free time goes to being a daddy and a husband. So that means that this super-tired swollen momma is in charge of cleaning the entire house on my own (HA!), and on top of all of that I am also occasionally feeling guilty for not giving Nora the attention she deserves - especially right before the baby comes. It's time for reinforcements!! - Enter Nana and Mimi!! I have asked my mother-in-law to come help me deep clean the house on the weekends this next month, and my mom has been so crucial in helping me with Nora during the week. Plus they are taking care of Nora during my hospital stay, and making sure she gets to trick-or-treat. I seriously don't know what I would do without these two women in my life, but I am very thankful that I have them to call on when I need the help. And I definitely do!
Anything else you can think of that I should be doing? I think we are ready to go!
Until next time . . .
BUT - it has been started at least. This past week the excavators came and moved dirt and started the retaining wall. They also poured some rock for the concrete foundation.
Then today, RAIN. AGAIN. I am starting to feel silly for praying for rain all summer, when now all I am doing is praying for a week without it!! (And if you would like to join me in that prayer, PLEASE DO.)
Anyway, here are the photos from the newest phase of excavation:
It's coming along! Hopefully it comes along fast enough. :) So far, it's looking good!
Until next time . . .
Maternity clothes?Yes, my mom says I am "all belly". I sure feel like it! Check out the photo to follow ...
The belly progress:
Sleep: I have pregnancy-induced insomnia. I want to sleep, but it takes me forever to get there. I sometimes take a "power nap" to try and compensate, otherwise I'm not going to (cheerfully) make it through the afternoon.
Cravings: I think the only craving I have had this pregnancy is for Hi-C Orange from McDonald's, although i was seriously wanting hash brown casserole from Cracker Barrell this past week.
Best moment this month: We discovered that the baby responds to Nora's voice!! That was TOTALLY cool. :)
Movement: LOTS! What an active kid! Also, this time around I am not as swollen so I can play "guess-the-body-part-that's-sticking-out". :) It's AWESOME!
Gender: More people are starting to guess "boy" this month, but only because this pregnancy is so vastly different than my last one. They say all your kids are different, but I think this one is a night and day difference from Nora! Let's list the differences, shall we?:
1.) This baby's heartbeat is averaging 15-20 beats slower than Nora's was.
2.) I have gained 30-40 pounds less so far, which I attribute to thyroid hormone-replacement, AND ...
3.) ... WAYYYYYY LESS swelling. I was so swollen last time they didn't think my epidural would take because of the fluid in my spine. I was, to put it succinctly, a water-balloon.
4.) No crazy, all-over, inexplicable body rash.
5.) This time I had actual morning sickness in the first (and occasionally in the third!) trimester.
6.) Carrying much lower and further out this time around. So much so that it's affecting my hips, and the baby uses my left hip for leverage to move around when I'm sitting.
7.) No bleeding, thanks be to God.
8.) No major cravings, but much hungrier.
Labor Signs: I had two mild contractions one night last week, and another this past weekend. Also I got told three times in two days that I looked like I've dropped. I don't think the baby has done that just yet because I still can't breathe but I have had some occasional serious bladder pressure recently.
What I miss: I am starting to get itchy to work out and get myself back into shape. Also I miss just PLAYING with Nora. I can't sit comfortably on the floor anymore, and I miss playing and running with her in the dirt, on the playground, etc. Lately I have been just too tired and nauseated to do much of anything. After this baby comes and I heal from my c-section, we are going to play in the snow or something!!
Weekly Wisdom: I'm losing my mind. My husband told me the other day that he scheduled his two weeks off from work. My (serious) response?: "What for?" WHAT FOR??!! Yes, I actually said that.
What Stereotype I Embody: SERIOUSLY-CAN'T-STOP-CRYING. It's gotten worse. More than once this past month I have wondered: "What is WRONG with me??!!" I'm just so tired and emotional all the time. In fact, I will take this opportunity to ask for some prayers because I think my mental state is fragile right now.
What I Bought This Week: I bought a few things to finish up the nursery, and we also got a "rock-n-play", which a lot of recent new moms that I know have been swearing by. I washed the bottles and organized the "baby cabinet". I also got some more burp cloths and a potential new diaper/wipes organizer. Really, we just have to pick names now ... easier said than done!
What I Checked off my To-Do List: Nursery is done! I also made a list of everything left that should be done pre-baby. I packed my hospital bag and made a list of everything that I will need to grab last-minute.
Today's doctor appointment went well. The baby's heart rate was 165 - high for once! I see the doctor again in two weeks for my group B strep test, and to check me to see if I'm - gulp- dilated! I will then see the doctor weekly until delivery.
Until next time . . .
Take, for example, Nora's art table. The girl has so much art stuff and wants to color so often that I set up her art table in a central household location. It was looking a little (A LOT!) messy, so I got some dollar baskets from Target and hung them on the wall to make use of vertical space:
The same day that I did this, I decided it was time to get out the fall stuff. I didn't put out a whole lot, but I did make some new pumpkin decor based off of this pin I saw on Pinterest. The pumpkins were on sale at Michael's, and painting them was a breeze. I used them to set up a simple but cute mantel:
Until next time . . .
