My bag is packed (almost)

Well, I made it to 2011 with this little bun in my oven and tomorrow I'll officially be "40 weeks" pregnant. Hard to believe that 40 weeks have already passed and we will soon have a new addition to our family.

This pregnancy has been very easy, for the most part. Aside from being slightly more uncomfortable towards the end than I was when pregnant with Natalie, it has been smooth sailing. If he doesn't come before, our induction is set for Monday.

Stay tuned for baby news...

38

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 35 week check up...yep, 5 weeks to go until still un-named baby boy is done cooking. While there I expressed to my doctor that I just feel "huge". My belly is SO much bigger with this baby than with Natalie. I'm carrying different and seem to be smuggling an extra large melon under my shirt.

She measured me and my belly has grown 4 centimeters in two weeks! I'm officially 38 centimeters large. The one plus with this baby is I haven't (yet) gained as much weight as with Natalie so the doctor is expecting him to be around the same weight as Natalie, but longer. Natalie, as you might remember was a little string bean, 6 pounds 14 ounces and 21.5 inches long. Not sure how much longer this little boy can be - there isn't much room left in there...

One other thing to mention for my record keeping is that he moves so much more than Natalie ever did. I remember with Natalie, I would lay down for bed and she would be peaceful all night and never woke me up kicking. This little man is going to come out running! He moves all the time. He really starts moving when I hold Natalie. I was rocking her to sleep last night and she was laying her head on the top of my tummy and he started kicking so much she had to move her head. I bet they will have fun playing together.

Maternity Clothes

Whenever you ask my mom anything about maternity clothes or the topic even comes up, she always talks about this one shirt that was sooo comfortable that she ended up wearing it almost every day towards the end of her pregnancy. Well, like mother like daughter, I've found my shirt or outfit rather.

After I had Natalie, I packed up all the maternity clothes in boxes and put them in storage knowing I would need them again. Well, here we are in the "needing them again" time and I look at some of the shirts and think, "really? I wore that? me?" Also, none of the pants fit, don't know if I was bigger with Natalie or if they just stretched out. Maybe I'll get some use in the last month of this pregnancy, but in the mean time, I need some new options. One thing I bought was this tunic style shirt from the Heidi Klum line. It is SO comfortable, but needed leggings to go with it, so I bought some leggings too. I've worn this outfit almost every day this week, it is embarrassing, but true. It is comfortable and if you have been pregnant, finding comfortable clothes that are also somewhat flattering is key!

Maybe this weekend I'll put a few other options together. I have to go to the office most days next week and don't want people to wonder why I wear the same thing every day.

Make it so number 2

And no, this isn't a post about the mini-vacation Phil took last weekend to the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas...

Nope...

It is to announce to the blog world that, we are having another baby!! We've tried to keep it a pretty tight secret and for the most part, we've succeeded! But, after 5 long months of keeping our mouths shut, we are happy to announce that we are having a boy. Let the shopping, painting and preparing begin.

Two things

First thing is that we are now the proud owners of a new heater and air conditioner...which is supposed to keep us comfortably warm all winter and cool all summer. For the money we paid, it better. I won't shock you with the total price tag, but if you want an idea, take what amount you are thinking it would cost and double it and you might be close. I almost fell off the couch when he told us the total price tag.

Second thing is so wonderful I barely have the words to explain, but because this is a blog, I'll try. You might be thinking, "Oh she found the cure for cancer" or "She must have solved the crisis in the middle east", but no...I have kicked those pregnancy pounds and then some to the curb. I don't know how it has happened, maybe a combo of lack of sleep, breastfeeding, and forgetting to eat? Any way, I'm just excited to report that while at the mall last night trying to find an outfit for a holiday party on Friday I tried and purchased dresses that are half the size I used to wear! It is very exciting and when I actually decide what dress I'll be wearing I'll take a picture for the blog.

Where did the time go?

Natalie has been outside of me almost as long and she was cooking inside of me. I just received my "Your Baby is 40 weeks old" email. We have her 9 month check up on Friday, so I'll update with weight/length information then.

Natalie is such a happy and healthy baby (knocking on wood as I type). She is growing and developing and changing every day. We can't wait for what is ahead.

Oh Baby!

A year ago, I was in Kansas City on a business trip. It was a quick trip and the best part about it was getting to see Liz and her family. On the last day of the trip, I was sitting at my computer having a conversation, via Instant Messenger, with my mom.

Mama: Are you sitting down?
Joelle: Yes, why? (clearly thinking someone had died)
Mama: I think you are pregnant!
Joelle: Why would you think that?
Mama: I just know you are, and it is a girl and she will have red hair.
Joelle: You’re crazy.
Mama: Nope, I’m right. Take a test, you will see.
Joelle: I have to leave and catch my plane home. Talk to you later crazy.

Clearly my mom was crazy – how could I be pregnant? It wasn’t possible….or was it. I thought about it the entire way to the airport. I called Phil when I got to the airport.

Joelle: Hi
Phil: Hi, are you at the airport.
Joelle: Yes, my mom thinks I’m pregnant
Phil: What?!?
Joelle: Yep, she said she just knows….
Phil: Well, she knows things. She has the sense. You should take a test when you get home.
Joelle: I guess so, but I don’t think she is right.

I got home that night and decided to take a test. Phil and I stood over the test and watched the control line appear and then watched as the second line started to appear! I thought it was too light to be an actual line. I even thought maybe we were seeing double and there was only one line not two. Phil proceeded to read the box – “It says that even if there is a faint line, it is positive”. I still didn’t believe.
The next morning, I woke up and decided to try the test again. The box said the test is the most accurate in the morning. I was sure it wouldn’t show two lines. First Test: Two lines! So I took another one, just to be sure. Yep, two lines again! I walked downstairs and said, “I don’t know how she knew”.

Later that day, my mom and I were shopping at Macy’s. As we were walking through the fine china section, Phil called to ask if I had told my mom. As I was telling him that No, I hadn’t told her yet, she snuck up behind me and when I hung up, said, “What haven’t you told me?” So I said, “You were right, I’m pregnant” She started to tear up, so I started to tear up and just before we could have a special moment between mother and daughter, a sales person came from out of no where to offer help. Lesson learned – don’t tell your mom you are pregnant when you are at Macy’s.

Here’s to Mother’s Intuition. I only hope that I have this insight with my daughter!