37 Weeks

Thank you to my mother-in-law for capturing some pregnancy pictures for me.  

A couple weeks left! 

Fun in the snow

Let me just say, I am officially ready for this winter to be over.  There are no good clothes for a pregnant person to wear in the winter.  I refuse to buy any more.  My coat does not zip.  And it's just plain cold and wet out.  I still can't believe my dad jumped into a frozen lake yesterday.  When I asked him what he thought the temperature was, his response was simply "Cold."

I finally took down all of my winter decor this weekend in hopes that it would bring spring.  Of course, we got approximately 5 inches of snow last night and into today.  I think Bryan is ready for a snowblower.

We decided to embrace the snow today and take Aaron out to play.  He loved it.  He kept saying, "I like it out here."  Until he face planted into the snow - he didn't like that so much.

Earning his keep by shoveling. 

 Drawing pictures in the snow. 

Yelling at the neighbor kids that a car was coming.  Future safety major.  

Not a big of a fan of sitting in the snow this year like he was last year.  

2014

2013

Valentine's Weekend

While I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, I have a kid now.  Which means I have to do those cute crafts for your kids for days like this.  Something I didn't think about until 2 days before.  So I contacted my inner crafty and got in the V-day spirit.  And it did not turn out as cute as what I saw online.


I decided to make these adorable marshmallow pops.   Or something very similar.

I started off by my melting my white candy melts.  So far so good.  Then I made a huge mistake, big, huge.  One I have made before.  I added pink gel coloring.  Again - big mistake.  My white candy melt  became concrete.  How could I have made this mistake again?  After a lot of bad words and yelling at myself, Bryan reminded me of the audience I was catering to.  2 year olds don't care about presentation.  But I can't help that I love DIY and am a perfectionist.   I talked myself off the ledge and just used the chocolate bark I usually always have on hand.  But deep down, I was a little bummed.

Then I made another big mistake.  I put the dipped marshmallows on a plate.  You read me right....A PLATE.  What was I thinking?!

Just pure ugliness going on up in here.  I talked myself off the ledge again, got out the damn wax paper, pulled up my big girl crafty pants, and got back to work.

It helped having these 2 helpers...

for 5 minutes.

When it was all said and done, I wasn't fully pleased.  They would have looked way better if made with white candy melts.  Then you could have really seen the pink and red crystals.  But they tasted good, and Aaron liked them.  So that's all that matters.

But, man 'o man, I really need to get better at this whole "activities for your children" stage of life.  It will last me another...what, 16 years?  Maybe more?  And soon I'll have a daughter.  What if I am required to sew for one of her crafts?  What if she wants to be a daisy, or brownie, or girl scout?  She'll have a vest.  She'll earn badges.  Those will have to be sewn on her vest.  I remember - I was one.  I'll just call my mom for all of those.  Phew, I feel better now.  

I did find these Batman valentines for Aaron to hand out to his friends.  I was pretty stoked finding these given that everything was picked through, or VERY girlie, by the time this "wait until the last minute mom" went to get valentines.  So I didn't fully fail.  

I do think I redeemed myself by making this beaut - strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting.  And I finally got to feel satisfaction with my pink and red crystals.  Yes, it did remind me a little of Mrs. Doubtfire, too.  But I still think that maybe Sarah Murphy would approve of this cake.  Maybe.  

Good News!!

I think it's safe to say I am in the clear.  Doesn't look like I'll be getting put on bed rest this go around!!  I couldn't be happier.

At my 24 week cervical length visit they noticed some funneling and shortening of my cervix.  This is the exact same time it started happening with Aaron.  So they immediately put me on progesterone instead of waiting any longer.  My 28 week appointment came and went with no problems.  First major milestone because that was when I was put on bed rest with Aaron.  And today I had my 30 (almost 31) week appointment, and they are still happy with my measurements.  Now it does fluctuate, but it's still within the "ok zone".  And today they told me I don't have to get my cervix measured anymore!!!  A HUGE milestone for this pregnancy.  I'll continue taking my progesterone until 37 weeks when I'm considered full term.  I really feel like starting the progesterone early is definitely helping.  Well, and maybe the fact that I know what I should/shouldn't be doing while pregnant.  I'm sure you recall my neurosis with Aaron's pregnancy.  

Now I know this is probably way more information than you ever cared to know about my cervix or any cervix, but it really is a big deal for me.  This has been a big stress factor for me since I found out I was pregnant.  I knew the possibility of this happening again was 50/50, and I pretty much prepared myself for it to happen again - hence stockpiling food, prepping freezer meals, trying to get the nursery organized early, etc.  And now I can enjoy the rest of my pregnancy knowing that I more than likely will not be put on bed rest.  Such a huge relief.

Thank you to my friends and family who have been praying for me, sending good vibes, telling me everything is going to be ok, etc.  I'd especially like to send a special thank you to my grandpa Bosch who apparently has an "in" with the Holy Spirit.  Heck, grandpa knew I was pregnant and knew what I was having before I even did.  So thanks, grandpa!

If you've been wondering if I've dropped off the face of the earth since I haven't blogged in a while, this was a big reason why.  I have been waiting to get to this point, and hopefully share some good news.  And it's also hard to blog when you have a toddler, work all day, and then fall asleep by 8pm each night.  AND - I just started a new job almost 3 weeks ago.  I'm still with SF, but I (along with 30 or so other people from my previous department) was told I would be moving to this new department to work on new projects focusing on the claims environments.  While it is proving to be a bit more stressful, overwhelming and in depth that I thought it would be, I believe this is going to be a great opportunity for me in the long run.  I have more responsibilities, and am going to see a couple of projects through from start to finish in a very short period of time.  I'll be able to say that I was a part of this major initiative for claims.  I just need to make it through...alive.


OK, back to baby.  All is well.  She's still breech.  She moves around a lot, and loves to kick my bladder.  She gets the hiccups a few times a day - which is cute, and then becomes a little annoying.  Oh, and she has been craving cereal the past couple weeks.  Here are a couple of her current favs.

Oreos are better as cereal.  

Is this the largest bag of cereal or what?! I have to store it in the garage.

 
And here are a couple of obligatory belly shots from 30 weeks.  I'm getting bigger.  Things are starting to ache, and it's really annoying to have to walk long distances.  But I'll take it, because I'm not laid up on my couch!

Chat with you in another month ;-)

Stockpiling

Lots of people ask how this pregnancy is different than last pregnancy.  So far it has been different in various ways.  But one way it has been different is that I don't have an urge to clean the kitchen everyday, or clean my house everyday for that matter.  Maybe that's because I have a  2 year old and there really is no point to clean, because it will just be dirty/cluttered 5 minutes after I'm done.  I kind of just kick things to the side or hide them in the storage ottomans.  If you know me, you know this is hard for me, but is something I'm working on.  

I really have been trying to take it easy this pregnancy given my issues with my pregnancy with Aaron.  I am trying everything to avoid bed rest this go around.  But if for some reason I end up on it, I have taken up a new hobby - stockpiling.  I want to be prepared with every day items to make things easier on us.  I even have a freezer full of meals just in case.  And if I don't have to go on BR (oh please, oh please, oh please!) then I will be happy I have a supply when I'm exhausted and the thought of putting on makeup, doing my hair, brushing my teeth and getting dressed to go run errands makes me want to cry.

The first things I started stockpiling were laundry detergents and other various household items.  Whenever something is on sale, and I have coupons, extra bucks, rewards dollars, etc. - time to stock up!

I've also been stocking up on a few baby products and various toiletry items for Bryan and I.  I need to start working on my diaper and wipe supply next.    

And the last staple to my stockpile, especially in the winter months, is various canned and dry pantry goods.  And when Meijer or any other grocery store has 10 for $10, AND you have coupons - time to stock up!  Today's trip to Meijer made me skip out of there like a schoolgirl. 

Maybe one day I'll get to build a house that has a butler's pantry off the kitchen so I can store and organize this stuff in one place.  

This is what I've been up to.  I'm no extreme couponer, but maybe one day I'll get there.  Well, not extreme because those people are nuts, but getting things at a major savings, or free, is always fun!!

Christmas Cookies

Yesterday we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Nickel's house to decorate Christmas cookies.  Of course, I took this activity very seriously.  I might not let anybody eat these beauties.

Aaron was more concerned about consuming the frosting.  But he managed to get some of his own works of art in there.  I was very proud of his creations.      

Can't wait to eat these treats on Christmas!!

Discovery Museum

We took Aaron to the Discovery Museum a couple of weekends ago.  We finally got over our fear of disease harboring play places after the hand/foot/mouth episode this past summer.  While our Children's Discovery Museum is not as awesome as The Magic House, Aaron still had a good time.