To Pee or Not to Pee

This little baby won't leave my bladder alone!  It is the strangest sensation to get this strong painful urge to pee and then it is gone.  Killian never did this to me and I'm pretty glad he didn't.  Hopefully I won't lose control and give in to the urge, HA!

Killian Bump Timelapse

I tried to do this when Killian was born but didn't find a good way back then and just re-investigated for these bump pictures...hopefully this will work :-)

Home Stretch for Sure! 36 weeks and Maternity Pictures

So it crazy for me to think that even though my figure has grown in the last few months handling this part of my pregnancy has been much easier than say around the 26 to 34 week period.  Seems that we have stopped the major stretching and are settling into the "bigness" of the situation.  It feels normal for the most part.  I am much more comfortable just being and don't think when is this going to end every night.  Although, baby seems to think it somewhat hilarious to kick my ribs and punch my bladder.  I'm to the point that even when I stand up from using the toilet I feel like I should sit down and go again, makes sleeping interesting to say the least.  Overall the sleeping isn't horrible, I find the best way to rest is with my little wedge under my belly supporting the weight and a king size pillow between my legs.  I know it will still be a while now but I sure do look forward to being able to go back to sleeping without the getup!

Hospital bag is pretty much packed up and ready minus the everyday items I use (phone, kindle, pillow). Last of the big nursery items are scheduled to be delivered this week.  We hung up the camera in there last night.  Purchased some little items to round out the "feel" ready vibe.  And I feel like we are in count down mode.  We have a baby gift from Killian to new baby and just ordered a big brother gift from new baby.  I've perused etsy for some announcement templates depending on gender of baby, so just need baby here for the photo shoot.

Speaking of photo shoot...we did our maternity session a couple weekends ago and got the gallery end of last week.  I'm so happy with how they turned out, just gorgeous!  Our photographer was great and she let Killian help her and just rolled with the 2 year old attitude.  I was concerned we wouldn't find very many that we like, but boy was I wrong and gosh we love so many of them.  I'll include a couple/few in this blog as well.

Killian and I continue with swim lessons, he sure loves them and I love spending that time with him just mommy and son time.  I need to check with my Dr. as to when I'll be able to get back in the pool with him after the c-section.  I do not want to miss out on the opportunity.  Kyle and Killian are about half way through their soccer season, it just warms my heart to watch them together.  Thinking we will make this a summer sport for the time being and sign him back up for tumbling this fall.  He is such and active little bugger and want to keep him engaged and enjoying life.  He has taken to the bike so much and literally asks for it as soon as we pull into the driveway every night. Typically he wants mommy/daddy to ride our bike with him, thankfully daddy has stepped up to the plate allowing me to walk the dogs along with them.  I hear it is pretty amusing watching me ride my bike right now, HA!  So much fun happening in our lives right now and we are sure loving it!

We can't wait to share news of baby's arrival when the time comes but until then I'm settling into the idea that this belly isn't going anywhere for approximately 3 weeks (feels like 3 more months) and I'm doing my best to embrace the kicks and internal snuggles as best I can.

Just going to put this random list out there for me to look back on, things I hope for this new baby, other than the health and happy BIG items:

I hope you:

• sleep like your big brother (9:30am on the weekends is a luxury I hope never goes away)
• love your furry siblings 
• enjoy snuggling and sleeping with mommy more than big brother
• roll with the punches 
• up for adventures
• aren't a picky eater
• love your binky and "bunny"
• laugh at your big brother and your crazy parents
• aren't afraid of the rain, sorry kiddo
• don't hate car rides
• love being outdoors
• are a fishy like your brother
• take risks and try new things
• learn to be polite just like Killian
• kind to strangers 
• always kisses mama goodnight
• loves airplanes 

So many wishes and hopes but man oh man do I hope you are a snuggler kiddo, mama wants a baby who will crawl in bed with me and snuggle in.

Anyways...here are the pictures as promised...maternity photos (www.charlenevogel.com) first then random fun from our lives.

Life Pictures :-)

Concert in the park with the Vancouver Cousins

Popsicle after soccer practice, mommy and killian tradition

Date Night topped off with Fifty Licks, YUM!

Twilight Tuesday at the Zoo

Fell down running too fast...the band-aid didn't last too long

He absolutely LOVES his little pool in the backyard, I see many many days spent in there on maternity leave

Soccer practice READY!

packing bubbles are the BEST!!!

being silly in the car

Play hard = crash hard

helping celebrate mom and dad's anniversary with free slurpees

I think he liked his first slurpree!!  He picked red

daily occurance

This is the "I don't want Ooma to leave" face...sooooo sad

racing dad in his "fast shoes"

Baby and Life Update - 34 weeks

Quick baby status update...I went to the Dr. last week for my 34 week check up, I go again next week for 36 week and then I start my once a week trips....how can it be time for that already?!?! Wowzers!  Anyways, baby is doing great by all accounts, seems to be head down (although it doesn't make much difference for our c-section situation) so I get a lot of kicks in the ribs and punches in the bladder.  Baby seems to be a stretcher more than a kicker, tons of rolling moments and it feels like the pressure builds and builds and builds and then does a big roll with a great "relief" feeling.  Heartbeat was in the 140s bpm range and I generally don't have any complaints or complications other than just general body fatigue due to this added baby weight.

So far I'm tracking pretty close to weight gain trend as I did with Killian, so I'm happy with that progress.  My stomach seems to be much more filled out with this baby than it was with my "basketball" belly for Killian; not sure if that is because this is second baby or if it is an indication of a baby sister but we'll know in less than 5 weeks time.  Yesterday was technically the start 5 week countdown for "extraction."  I generally feel good all day long with the belly and baby really slowing me down after work, just soooo tight and feeling gianormous.  I've found that sleeping in my compression socks or even wearing them to work tends to help with my new found swelling ankles.  After my sprinkle this weekend my poor feeties and belly felt like they were going to pop, but with a little relaxation and back to work not on my feet we seem to be getting back to normal.

I started my hospital bag last night, that feels really good to have pretty much ready should baby expedite arrival date.  Just need to thrown in a couple baby outfits and grab my pillow and nursing pillow and we should be ready to roll to the hospital.  I'm ready with a Killian "package" should I need to drop him off at a friends house prior to my mom being able to make it to town, including addresses to school, release for medical care, copies of insurance cards, you name it he is ready.  Will pack him a little backpack this week with a change of clothes, jammies and diapers should we need to grab it and go.  I'm beyond grateful for friends close to the hospital who are willing to watch him in a pinch.  It is also a relief knowing Kyle's brother is so close should something happen in the middle of the night; if things happen early hopefully he would be able to come over in a pinch should we need to get to the hospital in the dead of night.  They are due with their own new baby at the end of August but hopefully being early not late would alleviate a conflict.

After our sprinkle this weekend, big thanks to Carolyn, my sister and my mom, I feel like we are definitely in a good place with a very minimal amount of items outstanding before being prepared for the new arrival.  I went ahead and moved those items to an amazon registry in order to hopefully take advantage of a little discount on those items.  I'm still on the hunt for a deal on a rocker for the upstairs nursery but all in all we are getting ready to call it good to go!  Killian loves to say good morning to baby and gives kisses to my belly at night time.  He is going to be a fantastic brother, we know there will be adjustments but overall we are super excited to see him interact with our new addition.

I'll stop there with the words and add some pictures on the bump, Killian during 4th of July and the sprinkle of course :-)  More fun to come as the day draws near!