29 week baby bump

Tyler ran into the door frame of our bathroom as he was trying to avoid my bump yesterday. 

Man he sure has trouble getting around these days :)

I keep telling him that every time I look in the mirror I'm surprised at how big my belly is getting.

I don't really feel that huge even though I know I am.

He told me I showed great agility picking up Lincoln's name tag at church, in a dress.  

It's all those years of gymnastics...thanks mom, I knew they would come in handy!

While at the airport last Saturday, buying some apple juice for Lincman.....a cashier asked if I was having a girl and I told her it was a boy.  Her response was, "well it sure looks like a girl."  

hmmmm.....thanks for your input but I'm guessing the sonographer had a better look at those gender revealing parts than you do just seeing me pass buy you.  

Made me smile.  People are so funny.

Weight gain is about 20 lbs now.  My pinboard is full of exercise and diet plans for post baby :)

Leg cramps have woken me up the last few nights.....thankfully I learned the toes to nose trick and they go away really fast.  

We're al ready for Trick or Treating tonight.  Lincoln's excited to wear his turtle costume and I made my cute skeleton shirt yesterday (baby and all) with the iron on decals I ordered.  

Lincoln has started using my belly as a track or a ramp for his cars and trains.

Baby name update:

Well there isn't one yet.  I'm afraid this little guy's name will be decided on the operating table during my c-section.  Sorry to keep you all in suspense....we would reveal the name if we had decided on one, we just can't agree.  Silly names, it's like the kid has to live with it the rest of his life or something.  

nbd, right?

I should've known from the beginning that we were having another boy because we had completely agreed on a girl's name.  That would be too easy, apparently.  God likes to keep us on our toes :)

Well we're off to the grocery store to fill our empty fridge (we've been gone 2 weeks and for some reason food is kinda important around here.....especially for this lady!)

Have a Happy Halloween!

10 days with Gamma Hunni and Papa Jay

We're back home now after a really long stay with my parents in their new house in Kansas City.  They moved in barely 3 weeks ago and we came and crashed with them while my hubby had 2 weeks of training for work in the DC area.  I absolutely hate staying home by myself without him.  I mean a couple nights here and there are fine (I just sleep with the hallway light on - no joke I'm a HUGE scaredy cat!)  Laugh all you want but I've come to terms with it and no use hiding that part about me.  You get the real deal on this here blog.  So 2 weeks ALONE at our house without the strong protective hubby wasn't even an option.  I booked those tickets asap and I got no complaining from my mom :)

So here are just a few pictures from our time there.  

These are mostly from the first week.  I have lots more coming soon!

I didn't take nearly as many as I should have.  I always plan to but then forget.

Reading books with Gamma Hunni before naptime

See all those cars lined up?  Is that a sign of OCD?  hmmmmm

Playing with Aunt Hope

Being silly when I wanted a picture of him....howling like a wolf.  Lovely.

Sneaking a bite while baking with Grandma, ok he's probably not sneaking it 

because Gamma Hunni most likely gave him!

While we were there my mom scored some great toys at a garage sale down the street.  A work bench and a kids basketball goal.  Lincoln had a blast with both!

I caught Grandma walking up the slide....Lincoln sure brings out a crazy side of her!  Love it!

Lincoln using all his muscles to push Papa Jay on the swings.  He eventutally figured out that when pushing, the swing comes back at you.....after getting knocked over a couple times!

I love this set of pictures

Needless to say, Lincoln was spoiled the entire time we were there. 

Unfortunately it started to show towards the end and now I get to try and get him back to normal.

I think having a baby brother will be a VERY good thing for him.  :)

Oh and 29 weeks today!  I'll get that bump picture posted soon!

3rd trimester - whoop, whoop!

welcome to all the  Follow Fest Hoppers!—i’m so happy you are visiting

Goal 1 = 24 weeks

Goal 2 = 28 weeks!

check and check! :)

Next goal is 31 weeks and 5 days.  That's when Lincoln was born.  

Then the next goal is 34 weeks, and anything after that is added bonus :)

Seems just as I hit the third trimester, I've lost lots of my energy again.  Just in time for our move!

My glucose tests came back just fine and my iron counts are great!

BP is 111/67 (120/80 is normal and mine before delivering Lincoln was 189/119 - just for a frame of reference so you can see how good it still is)

I'm very, very thankful for the cooler temperatures.  If it's above 70, I start sweating and swell up.  My fingers swell and I'm just very warm.  If any of you reading this visited me in my hospital room while on bedrest with Lincoln, will understand this because you probably had to bring a coat with you to sit in my room, I had it so cold! :)

Pretty sure I'm bigger now than I ever was with Lincoln.  Since my water had broken, I never really got that big with him.  Thankful for a big belly = lots of amniotic fluid for baby brother!
I still have to pinch myself and see if this is really for real.  But when I wake up every morning with a belly that's bigger by the minute, it's becoming more and more real.
I just can't believe it.
I am a very thankful and grateful momma never taking a day of this pregnancy for granted as I know how precious each of these days are.  

This week I didn't have my black background so there are a compilation of different bump pictures 

I call this one "in front of the mirror"  so unique, right? 

a sweet hug from Jordan when friends from Wichita were leaving

And I can't believe I'm gonna post this one and you all might look at me quite differently after this, but I am anyways....
I call this one "bustin' out of the maternity pants" lol
These skinny jeans are SO incredibly comfortable and fit so well in the butt and legs but the maternity band on them is SO INCREDIBLY TIGHT, so I was left with the dilemma of buying new skinny jeans with a more comfortable top or just cutting the band on the ones I had.  Figured I had nothing to lose by cutting the band on the ones I have and see if that works before laying down $40+ for more jeans.  So far so good!
Go ahead and make fun of me.....hope I gave you all a good laugh with that one! :)

If you're new around here and curious about why I started this blog in the first place, you can start out HERE and HERE.

embracing the camera

embracing with my boys (even though you can't see baby brother) at gamma hunni's house!

tryin' to get a smile out of him....it actually worked, 

probably because gamma was making her silly faces at him

"sorry mom but this cheeto is so much more appealing than smiling for this picture"

yeah, yeah, yeah I know where I stand, those cheetos come first every time.  

We're having a GREAT time here with my parents, sis and bro-in-law and friends who have come to visit from Wichita!  Today Tyler's parents are making the drive down to see Linc man (since the closest hospital that I would choose to go to with a great NICU is over an hour away, I can't drive to go see them)

I've got tons of pictures from our week that I'll be putting on here soon!  

Have a great Thursday!

trains deliver food? they do here!

We got to eat at a restaurant called Fritz's for the first time.  It's a "diner" type of restaurant (with very yummy chocolate shakes!) but the really fun part is that a train delivers your food to you.  You sit at the booth, call in your order and a train makes it way around the track with your order and drops it on your tray.  I wasn't quick enough with my camera so I didn't get the actual "drop off."  Lincoln was in heaven.  He loved watching all the trains.  Not surprising to anyone, he didn't get more than two bites of his meal he was so distracted :)

we all enjoyed wearing Lincoln's engineer hat 

And the train ride that Lincoln didn't like....

27 weeks

27 weeks

Only 1 more week until my second goal  of 28 weeks!

28 weeks is a huge milestone when it comes to how well a baby does if born preterm.
I feel like I breathe a little easier each week
(and breathing also gets harder each week, thankyouverymuch baby brother (who still doesn't have a name BTW) for squishing my lungs when I lay down)  I 'preciate it.....no really I do, because that means you're getting bigger!

Had my oh-so-fun glucose test this past weekend.....another first for me, of sorts.
Yes I had it with Lincoln but I was already at the hospital and just layed in my bed waiting for that hour
to be over until they drew my blood.
This time was at the hospital too but in the OUTPATIENT lab.
Oh how I love seeing that sign.
It was Saturday morning (so Lincoln was able to stay home with Tyler)
oh man I can't imagine the energy it would've taken to keep him entertained in a tiny waiting room for an hour!
The lab was FULL of prego momma's who were all there getting their glucose tests.
I brought my book so the hour went by fast, I don't remember the last time I read for an hour straight without interruption.
It was heavenly.
Ok not really but it was enjoyable.
Hoping my results come back normal so I don't have to go do the 3 hour test!

Walking into the hospital to get the lab work done was very uncomfortable for me.
The outpatient lab is right by the labor and delivery wing and the smell of the hospital brought back so many terrible memories.
All of a sudden while walking I was overcome with this fear of having another c-section.
I guess until now I've been in denial that this baby has to come out one way or another.
And since a v-bac IS an option I've just let myself think the I could wriggle my way out of another c-section.  Knowing in my head that a c-section is the safest and best option for me but not wanting to do it.
See I'm sure a c-section isn't ALL that horrible for most women (yes the recovery is terrible but I'm not even talking about that) it's the actual surgery that I'm not looking forward to.
Apparently I have this reflex to throw up while they try and stitch me back up and then in the recovery room was when the HELLP syndrome started.
My doctor thinks I'll probably have the same reaction when they go to stitch me back up after baby brother is born.
The reality of it all is I AM a HUGE wimp when it comes to surgery and being awake.
I think the best option (although I would hate to miss the birth) is for them to just knock me out.
Or I could just try and overcome this fear and deal with the barfing (while laying on my back and unable to move the lower half of my body)  I felt like I was going to choke on my puke.  Not a good way to bring down my already high blood pressure!

Anyways, I'm really not a hot mess about all this c-section stuff but it's starting to become a closer and closer reality.

I'm just gonna have to put on my big girl panties and suck it up. :)

Soooooo, oh a happier note, here is the 27 week bump!

Today is devoted to packing and cleaning the house before we leave on a 

jet plane tomorrow morning bright and early!

I have a sweet friend who I owe BIG TIME that is going to take us to the airport at 5am. 

 Bless you girl.

Linc and I are headed to Kansas City to spend the next 11 days with my parents and sister and bro-in-law!  I'm so excited to get to see them all and so thankful this pregnancy is allowing me to 

be able to travel to see them!

I've got the the best hospital with a level 3 NICU picked out in KC and the time it takes to get there from  both my parents house and my sisters house.  

I've got my OB records in an envelope and packed.

I just really wish Tyler was able to come with us.  He gets to spend the next two weeks sitting in training.  Fun stuff right there.

I'm so excited to also get to see Tyler's parents and some dear friends from Wichita who are willing to make the trek up to see us while we're there!!  Some of which I haven't even met their youngest kiddos! 

It'll be a sweet time for sure.

This is the first time I've had to buy a place ticket for Linc-man and I'm hoping that the fact

he'll have his own seat will make the trip much smoother.

I've got Finding Nemo uploaded on my ipod and ready to go, fruit snacks and chocolate milk aka. pedia sure.

(all his faves).

Well that's all for now!  Only 13 more weeks to go until my due date! 

pumpkin patches

Ok so get ready for picture overload!  We went to two different pumpkin patches this past week and I've got tons of pictures to share!  I don't think this even puts a dent in the amount of pictures I took! 

This first one was with Lincoln's playgroup.....lots of babies and lots of fun!

All the kiddos in one picture....now that was an adventure!  Ages range from 10 month up to 2 years old and now we're going to have a bunch of new babies starting in January with baby brother! :)

Tyler had the day off of work on Monday (thank you Columbus Day!) and Trey was still here so we found another fun pumpkin patch to hit up.  This one was quite the drive but well worth it!  There was so much for Lincoln to do!  We'll have to go back and see everything it has to offer!

Our little family of 3 (and 1/2!) :)

copying daddy

we totally need a corn box in our new backyard!

this pillow jumping pad was awesome!  Lincoln LOVED it!

He found himself a girlfriend, they were so cute copying one another

"batman" got stuck in Spiderman's web! 

he found this free piece of literature about all the playsets that he was playing on and thought it was the coolest book ever!

Beautiful view of the tree changing!  I LOVE fall!!!

26 weeks {goodbye feet}

Bam!

And just like that 26 weeks is here and I've popped out there!

Holy moly baby brother!
Evidence that I'm actually sticking out there, Tyler ran into my bump today while we were both in the kitchen....his exact words, "I just ran into that" pointing to my belly.  It was pretty funny!

I had another doc appointment Monday and it went really well.  The first thing out of his mouth when he looked at my chart was, "wow 5 lbs! I usually don't see that until Thanksgiving or Christmas but you could stand to gain so it's ok."  hmmmm not sure I like that reaction but thanks for making this preggo lady whose starting to feel really fat, feel even fatter!  lol.
So my weight gain is up to 15 lbs.  Yes 5 of those pounds was in the past 4 weeks.

I asked again about me traveling next week and he was completely fine with it.
Just as long as I stay in a big city.  Kansas City qualifies :)  I'm doing my research on the best hospital to go to in case something does happen.  I've got a copy of my OB records in hand as well, just in case.
I'm so excited to go!

BP is as normal as can be.
I'm measuring a little big so maybe this baby will be nice and plump.....I won't know what to do with a normal size, chubby baby!
After my appointment I scheduled all the rest of my visits even up to January 18th (my due date is the 15th).  The front desk lady said something about, "oh girl, I hope you aren't here for that visit" and I told her I would be overjoyed to be here for that visit.  She laughed at me but has no idea how serious I was.

They are testing again for strep b.....I'll know at the end of the week if it's back or not.
Praying it's not.  I really don't want to have to take another antiobiotic.

I have to say that I am at the point in my pregnancy where I am REALLY enjoying it.  

I got sad today thinking about not being pregnant anymore.  

Obviously I'll be happy for other reasons (baby brother will be here!)

but I am seriously liking being pregnant this time around.  

I'm so thankful for this opportunity to actually enjoy something that I've longed for, for so long.

Makes me want to have 10 more kids :)

I say that now, but I know I'll be thinking differently when c-section time comes around.

NOT looking forward to that.  

my shadow bump

see ya later feet!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

I've been meaning to make my own liquid laundry detergent for awhile now and finally had all the ingredients, saved up enough gallon jugs and had hubby home this weekend to help me with the lifting/pouring.  

Here is what you'll need:

1 bar Fels Naptha Soap - around $2

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda - $9.99 (I ended up ordering a huge containe from Amazon so it cost more)

Borax - $3-4

5 gallon bucket with lid - we already had on hand so no cost

Essential Oil Drops for frangrance - I decided not to do this

The price breakdown for mine:

$15.99 total for all ingredients

Divided by 640 loads (for front loading machine) 180 for top loading machine

It ended up being almost $0.03 per load!  

Next time around will be cheaper still because all I'll have to buy is the fels naptha soap bar!

So here is what you'll have to do:

Save up all your gallon milk jugs

Gather your ingredients

Grate the entire bar of fels-naptha soap....this takes a little elbow grease! :)

Put in a pot with 4 cups of hot water.  Stir continuously over medium-low heat until all of the soap flakes have dissolved and melted (about 10 minutes).

get out your 5 gallon bucket and fill it half full with hot water

Pour in the soap mixture.  Add 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Borax.  Stir.

Stir, stir, stir!

Fill the rest of the bucket with water and stir again.

cover and let it sit over night

 When you open the top up the next day, it should have gelled and thickened slightly.  Stir again.

Use a funnel to fill a clean laundry detergent container (or gallon-size milk jug) and fill it HALF way with the soap mixture.  Fill the other half with water and shake.
The gallon jugs are still full concentrate detergent, the half gallons and green and red laundry containers are half/half and ready to use!  I added some labels to them so I remember how much to add and to always shake it before using it.

Once you’re ready to use the laundry soap, shake it in the container first.  Then add:
-5/8 cups for a regular top-loading machine
-1/4 cup for a front-loading (HE) machine


I washed my first load of laundry with it last night and everything seemed to come clean just fine and there is no smell to it so Tyler was happy.  I think it's a keeper!