Wordless Wednesday-Baby Kate's Nursery

36 Week Pregnancy Progress Report

How far along: 36 weeks, 27 days to go!!!

Baby's size: Crenshaw Melon (whatever that is); 18 1/2  inches long and weighs approx 6 pounds.

Symptoms: Heartburn Hell and lower back pain that has now moved into my left but cheeck also!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night and first thing in morning.Very uncomfortable. Some slight swelling of hands and feet. Extreme tiredness has also set back in. Any little activity is like running a marathon.
Sleep: Very hard to get comfortable due to heartburn and back/hip pain. Up all the time to pee also.
Total Weight Gain: 58 pounds!!! Sooooo crazy! I only gained a total of 30 with Jackson. I'm huge!
Best moment since last update:Got to have another peek at her at ultrasound today. Doctor wanted to see if she was head down or not because she couldn't tell for sure when she checked me. She was head down but not in pelvis. She was making a 'C' shape kinda in my belly but at least she is head down and not breach.
Movement: All the time,very strong kicks, rolls and jabs!
Food cravings: Ice, cold things.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL!!!
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks daily off and on. Cramping. Dilated to a a 1 and 50% effaced.
What I miss: Being able to be comfortable doing simple things like sleeping, bending over, getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes. Beer, I've been dreaming of Bud Light Lime since the weather has been warmer. And sleeping on my stomach.
What I'm looking forward to: HAVING THIS BABY!
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): When you are this pregnant that skirts and dresses with flip flops is the only way to go. Even though I look a hot mess with my white pasty legs and unpainted toes.
Milestones: Reaching 36 weeks. Can't believe I'm 9 months pregnant. Going to Doctor every week.
Emotions: I've been up and down. But overall just really ready to meet my daughter.
Photo of the week:

36 week belly bump

Wordless Wednesday-Trying to see his sister!

35 Week Pregnancy Progress Report

How far along: 35 weeks, 35 days to go!!!

Baby's size: Honeydew; 18 inches long and weighs approx 4 3/4 pound.
However, we found out at our growth check ultrasound last week that she is already weighing approximately 6 lbs 3 oz!!! So crazy! That means that she could possibly be around 9 lbs 3 oz if i make it to 40 weeks. THAT SCARES ME!!!! The only thing that I'm really worried about with this labor and delivery this second time around is having to have another episiotomy like I did with Jackson, and he was only 7 lbs 2 oz. The recovery was awful and I really don't want to have to go through all that again. When they measure my fundal height is shows that I'm measuring 39 weeks. So, we'll see how far I actually make it in this pregnancy. 

Symptoms: Heartburn Hell and lower back pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night and first thing in morning.Very uncomfortable. Some slight swelling of hands and feet. Extreme tiredness has also set back in. Any little activity is like running a marathon.
Sleep: Very hard to get comfortable due to heartburn and back pain. Up all the time to pee also.
Total Weight Gain: 55 1/2 pounds!!! Sooooo crazy! I only gained a total of 30 with Jackson. I'm huge!
Best moment since last update: She dropped last week and that allows me to breathe a little better but now I feel like a bowling ball is sitting on my pelvic region. Finding out that she looks great at the growth check ultrasound last week.
Movement: All the time,very strong kicks, rolls and jabs!
Food cravings: Strawberry Surf Rider Jamba Juice and Gala Apples.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL!!!
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks daily off and on, I was already dilated to a 1 at my 34 week appointment.
What I miss: Being able to be comfortable doing simple things like sleeping, bending over, getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes. Beer, I've been dreaming of Bud Light Lime since the weather has been warmer. And sleeping on my stomach.
What I'm looking forward to: HAVING THIS BABY! And seeing my progress at 36 weeks if any as far as dilation and effacement. 
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): Flat slip on shoes are a god send for pregnant women. Multiple pillows are a necessity. Drinking lots of water helps many things.
Milestones: Reaching 34 weeks and having her drop into position. Finding out from our growth check ultrasound last week that she is weighing approximately 6 lbs 3 oz! So crazy!
Emotions: All over the place. We found out some new information regarding my husbands job this week and even though its a great opportunity for him career wise it was very disappointing to learn we won't be relocating closer to friends and family like we had hoped. But also very excited as the days dwindle down and I'm closer to meeting my daughter. Really trying to enjoy these last few weeks because I know that this will be my last pregnancy.

Photo of the week:

34 Week Belly Bump

UPDATE....My Goals for 2011 before baby #2 gets here in May

I wrote a list of goals back at the midway point in my pregnancy that I hoped to complete before the new baby arrives in May. Here is the update on those items.

1. To potty train my three year old. This is a current work in progress. He is at least wearing the pull ups now and sometimes goes to the potty. Still a nightmare!
2. To change my three year olds room into a big boy room and move the baby furniture into our now office/guestroom for baby #2's nursery. COMPLETED
3. To figure out what to do with an entire office/guestroom full of stuff when there is nowhere in our ever shrinking house to put it. COMPLETED
4. To go through all of Jackson's clothes from the time he was born until now and sort through it all for selling in the Just Between Friends sale and keeping a few sentimental pieces without totally loosing it emotionally. I so should have done this BEFORE I got pregnant. COMPLETED
5. To tag and prepare all of my items for my first time consigning in the Just Between Friends sale at the end of February. COMPLETED
6. To have another god forsaken garage sale to further "eliminate files" as my husband calls it. We are currently preparing all the items for the sale and it should take place in the next two weekends, weather permitting.
7. Once all of the stuff has been sorted, sold, donated or thrown away, my plan is to reorganize my house and to try and get it at least semi livable for at least another year until we can hopefully purchase a new bigger house.
8. Prepare the nursery for baby #2. COMPLETED.....Post to follow of its TOTAL cuteness!!!
9. Clean the house from top to bottom. Like the baseboards and blinds type of clean.
10. To read a few books on breastfeeding and sleeping that will hopefully help make both of those things go better this time around. Currently reading several books and will complete before baby arrives hopefully.

So, 5 out of 10 are completed with the others in progress. I still have 6 more weeks till go time and hopefully I will complete this whole list by then. Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday

Just Between Friends Sale

I've blogged about the Just Between Friends Sale before see here. Most of you have probably heard of it but for those that haven't it is a children's consignment sale held twice a year at different locations all across the country. The one I attend is where it all started and as I understand is the motherload as far as the size and amount of goods at each sale. The building it's held in is 58,000 sf of space and has over 1,500 consignors with an estimated 200,000 items. It's HUGE!!! 

This year was my first year to consign and I am officially hooked!!! Consignors set their own prices for their items and make 65% of the sale of each item. If you volunteer you can make an additional 5% for a total of 70% on your sold items. Which I did this year also for the first time. I only had to volunteer for a 5 hour shift and I received the additional 5%, I got to shop early (which is HUGE) and I also received a skip the line pass for checkout (I didn't even realize how amazing this benefit was until the day of and when I was finally ready to check out and the line was at least 1 1/2 long).  

I had 140 pieces that I put into the sale to be sold and I sold all but 9 items. I haven't received my check yet (it's mailed to you within two weeks of the sale) but I made approximately $400!!! Isn't that AMAZING!!! It is relatively simple to prepare your items and they have an online barcode tagging system that makes it very easy. I had a lot to prepare this time because it was my first time and I was doing 3 years worth of clothing. This fall I will have a lot also since I was only able to put clothing for the spring and summer seasons into this sale. But after I consign in the fall/winter sale this year I will have a lot less each time to have to prepare and sell which will be less time consuming. I have already got my bins ready to go and labeled for my fall/winter items. And after the new baby outgrows all of our large baby items, such as strollers, carseats, bouncers, toys I will consign all of those items as well. 

Here are some of the things I had laid out while preparing.

This year I was on a mission to buy all of Jackson's spring/summer wardrobe during my shopping trip and also to maybe get a few things for the new baby. I scored big time on Jackson and I also got a book I was wanting to read for the new baby, breast milk storage container, Medela unopened microwave bag sterilizers and a few outfits for the new baby. Here is my haul in the picture below minus the two pair of shoes I got for Jackson and the two new Duo Maternity nursing bras I bought (I forgot to include in picture).

Jackson's items minus two pair of shoes.

All of the items minus the shoes and bras.

  I spent $220.83 on all of it! MAJOR SCORE!!! I would have easily spent double that if I had purchased all of this at retail shops. Some of the clothing items for Jackson and Kate still had the original tags on them and were brand new. The two pair of shoes I got for Jackson were both brand new and would have retailed for at least $50 for just those two items, I paid $11 for both. The milk storage container I bought was only $4 and it looked brand new and it retails for around $20. All the clothes were name brand with the exception of a few Target and Walmart brand play shorts I bought for Jackson that looked brand new. In total for Jackson I got 4 pairs of play shorts, 5 play shirts, 6 pairs of khaki and navy shorts (Gymboree, GAP, Old Navy and Polo), 13 Polo type shirts (8 were GAP, the rest were Old Navy, Children's Place, Polo), and two pair of shoes (Keds sneakers and Kenneth Cole leather flip flops). Most of the items for Kate were Carter's, GAP, Old Navy and a few brand new outfits from Target. Also got a swaddle wrap and the cutest Gymboree bathing suit for her.

I encourage all of you to check out a sale near you. I know that not all of the sales are as large as the one I attend but it would totally be worth your time to check it out. And if you have lots of baby and children's clothing laying around you are wanting to get rid of I would strongly encourage you to think about consigning. You make wayyyyy more money at the JBF sale than you would selling in a garage sale or taking to a consignment store. And if your interested in volunteering, it's totally worth it for the shop early pass (which you also get to do if you just consign, but if you volunteer you get in before all the consignors do) and the skip the line pass. If i hadn't had the skip the line pass this year I don't know if I would have been able to stand for another 1 1/2 in that line because this pregnant momma had literally shopped till I about dropped.

We have a Name and 4-D Ultrsound Pictures

We recently had a 4-D ultrasound and she was lying face down with her face buried in my side during the first appointment but we did get a few good shots of how flexible she is. Her leg was extended all the way up to her head with her toes touching her forehead. We went back a week later and she still wasn't in the best position for 4D pictures but we did get some. She was also doing her crazy flexible moves again at the second appointment which also made it difficult to get great shots. I included a few below.

We have decided on a name for our future little girl and we are all agreed and settled on it...FINALLY! Her name will be Kate Reese. I love it! We were going to use Catherine and call her Cate for short but I really didn't want her to always have to sign things with her legal name and correct teachers on the first day of school and those kinds of things since we would always be calling her Cate. Catherine is also my husbands grandma's name and we loved the idea of honoring her because she is amazing but overall Cate won out. Then the problem was determining how to spell her name. With a C or a K. I liked it with a C because then it would be like my name but I was pretty much the only one so we ultimately went with Kate. Kate is also very special to me because I never really wanted children until my best friend, who is more like a sister to me than just a best friend, gave birth to her daughter back in 2001. The bond I formed with her was amazing and I couldn't imagine how much love I could possibly have for my own child if i felt so much for this child that wasn't even mine. I eventually changed my mind about having children and always knew I wanted to include some part of her name in my future daughters name. So, I am! She is now 9 and she thinks its the coolest thing ever that her Auntie is naming the baby after her. :)

Pregnancy Progress Report-30 Weeks!

How far along: 30 weeks, 70 days to go
Baby's size: About the size of a head of Cabbage (BabyCenter); 15.7 inches long and weighs approx 3 pounds
Symptoms: Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night and first thing in morning.Very uncomfortable.
Sleep: Still the same as last time: Up every 2 hours to pee and uncomfortable because of pelvic pain so not a lot of sleeping going on. (Note the dark circles in the photo below)
Total Weight Gain: A total of 44 pounds at my 28 week appointment but I lost 1 pound today at my 30 week appointment. So far the increase at each appointment has gone like this...+6 lbs, +4lbs, +9lbs, +10lbs, +14, -1.Hopefully I will not continue to gain much weight from this point on, only the weight the baby is putting on. =)

Maternity clothes: Only maternity clothes. Hated full panel pants and jeans with 1st pregnancy but those are the only kind I can stand to wear this time. The others cut off my belly too much and are really uncomfortable. Love my long tunic shirts.
Best moment this since last update: Jackson was finally able to feel the baby move. He said, "Is that baby Tate?" Which is what he calls her instead of Kate. So cute!
Movement:All the time,very strong kicks, rolls and jabs! She loves my right side and likes to get up high in my ribs just like Jackson used to do. She is very flexible, we had a 4-D ultrasound and she had her leg extended all the way up and her toes were touching her head. Was doing this at two separate appointments. So, we didn't get the greatest images of her face in 4-D.
Food cravings: Last few days it's been sandwiches, raspberry sherbet, and dill pickle flavored chips.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL....I'm still so excited about this and can't wait! 
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks daily, especially in the evenings.

What I miss:Being able to be comfortable doing simple things like sleeping, bending over, getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes.
What I'm looking forward to:HAVING THIS BABY!!! Also, on a smaller scale, warmer weather so I can start wearing flip flops that are easier to get on and off.
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): Flat slip on shoes are a god send for pregnant women. Multiple pillows are a necessity. Drinking lots of water helps many things.
Milestones: Passing my Gestational Diabetes test and entering my third and final trimester.
Emotions:All over the place. We have many things going on right now that could possibly mean big changes coming for our family and a lot of unanswered questions which causes stress so I've been a little crazy lately.

Photo of the week:

Pregnancy Progress Report-24 Weeks-6 Months

How far along: 24 weeks, 112 days to go
Baby's size: About the size of an Ear of Corn (BabyCenter); 12 inches long and weighs approx 1.3 pounds
Symptoms: Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night & first thing in morning only now. My feet and hands have been a little swollen.
Sleep: Still the same as last time: Up every 2 hours to pee and uncomfortable because of pelvic pain so not a lot of sleeping going on. (Note the dark circles in the photo below)
Total Weight Gain: OMG, weight gain is out of control! I gained 10 pounds since my last visit a month ago. That means Total Weight Gain=29 pounds!!! So far the increase at each appointment has gone like this...+6 lbs, +4lbs, +9lbs, +10lbs. This trend needs to quit. My goal for next month is to have only gained a few pounds. So, we shall see. 

Maternity clothes: Only maternity clothes. Hated full panel pants and jeans with 1st pregnancy but those are the only kind I can stand to wear this time. The others cut off my belly too much and are really uncomfortable. Love my long tunic shirts.
Best moment this week: Reaching 24 weeks. It feels like a big milestone for some reason. Can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant.
Movement:All the time, stronger movements and kicks now.Can see some kicks and movement from the outside.
Food cravings: I can't stop eating!!! So bad! Chips, salads, cake and homemade chicken noodle soup have been my favs lately.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL....I'm still so excited about this and can't wait! 
Labor signs: None, but I am having Braxton Hicks daily, especially in the evenings.

What I miss: Same as last time: BEER and WINE!!! And also wearing regular shirts and sleeping on my stomach.
What I'm looking forward to: Still waiting on the moment when Jackson can feel the baby move or see it from the outside.
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week):That I need to quit eating so much, it's getting out of control. I almost weigh the same as I did the day I went into labor with Jackson and I still have many months to go. So that's not a good sign.
Milestones:Reaching the 6 month mark.
Emotions: Up and down. I get stressed thinking about all I need to do still but I work well under pressure and when I have a list it kinda gets me all motivated to check things off one by one. Oh and I cried last night at the end of American Idol which during non-pregnancy would make me want to puke. So there is that.

Photo of the week:

24 week bump

Wordless Wednesday-My sweet boy!

Pregnancy Progress Report-21 Weeks

I saw this pregnancy progress weekly report type thing over at one of my favorite bloggy friends site, Unpolished Parenting, and thought it was a really cool way to track my pregnancy week by week for those of you that are interested in that sort of thing. (I am aware that many of you are not and this blog will probably annoy you for the next 19 or so weeks). Anyway, here we go!

How far along: 21 weeks and 1 day, 132 days to go
Baby's size: About the size of a Banana (theBump); approx 10.5 inches long and weighs approx 12.7 oz
Symptoms: Bad pelvic area pain and backache, out of breath and CRAZY heartburn.
Sleep: Up every 2 hours to pee and uncomfortable because of pelvic pain so not a lot of sleeping going on.
Total Weight Gain:I won't be using my actual numbers here (it's too embarrassing), I lost 10 lbs in the beginning before I even went for my first appointment so according to my doctors office I've gained a total of 19 lbs (OMG), but really from where I started before I got pregnant and sick I've only gained 9 lbs (this is my crazy in the head way at looking at this so I don't feel bad for all the fudge and candy I ate over Christmas).

Maternity clothes: Have been wearing maternity only clothes for awhile now, I popped way earlier this second time around. Trying to sport the whole leggings and skinny jeans look with boots and tunics this time around. It's comfy and pretty cute.
Best moment this week: My husband finally getting to feel her move.
Movement:All the time, stronger movements and kicks now. It took longer this time to feel the baby partly because I have an anterior placenta (it's on top against belly like a cushion).
Food cravings: Everything sweet and salty! Can't quit eating on most days, but still have those days where I have to take the Zofran and don't really want to eat anything.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL....I'm still so excited about this and can't wait! 
Labor signs: None, but I am having Braxton Hicks contractions already.

What I miss: BEER & WINE!!! Oh what I would give to have a drink. Does that mean I have a problem? =) Also, sleeping normally.
What I'm looking forward to: When the baby gets bigger and Jackson can feel her moving.
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): That every pregnancy is completely different. I could list a million ways this pregnancy is different than my first. Way more uncomfortable this time much earlier.
Milestones:Last week I reached the halfway point and that was super exciting!
Emotions: Realizing that I only have 19 weeks left kinda freaked me out because of all the things I want and have to get done before she gets here (see goals before May post). And the damn ASPCA dog commercials are killing me.

Photo of the week:

20 Week Bump

 

The one about Potty Training or the lack thereof ...

One of my goals for 2011 is to finally potty train my three year old. His birthday was back in October and it's starting to get to the point where it's looking like a mom fail type of thing. I think we made the mistake of trying to introduce potty training too early back when he was about two. I bought a potty chair and put it in the bathroom and he seemed interested in it so I took his diaper off and let him pee in it. Well he loved all the clapping and what not that went along with that so he kept doing it. We never put underwear or anything on, I didn't want to push it, but he would go in there sometimes and want his diaper off and then he would pee. But then he lost interest all together. But I thought, no big deal he's only two.

Here we are today and he acts like the potty chair and any mention of peeing or god forbid pooping in the potty are reason for an all out temper tantrum and a general loosing his shit type of a moment. If we even mention that he should try and pee in the potty he freaks out. I keep hearing from everyone to just tell him that all the diapers are gone and to put him in underwear and he won't like peeing and pooping on himself (no kidding) and that he will eventually just start going to the potty when he has to go. First of all I think that is kinda mean but whatever, I guess it's just one of those things you do and hope they won't be talking about in therapy years from now. Second of all, I don't think "those people" who lovingly offer this advice completely understand the willpower and stubbornness of my three year old. Jason and I tried to put a pair of underwear on him recently and it was like trying to put underwear on a wildcat. I had to hold him in my lap with his arms pinned down and Jason had to try and get one leg in before he would take it out again. He was screaming, crying, slobbering and generally trying to claw my face off. We did finally get the underwear on and he ran off totally pissed and within 10 seconds had ripped the underwear off and threw them at us and demanded the diaper that he also threw in my face be put back on him. I don't know what to do, if he won't even put the damn underwear on, how is he supposed to pee and poop on himself and therefore learn to go to the potty???

We've watched the potty training DVD, we've put the potty training poster up on the bathroom wall and bought special stickers for when he finally does go, we've bought cool underwear, we bought a potty chair and the potty ring for the big toilet, we've let him witness his cousin and best buddy go potty in the "big boy potty" (I think I've said that about a million times in the past month), I haven't peed or pooped alone since the child was able to crawl, so I think he gets the general workings of how it's supposed to go down. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO???

This is one of those things "they" don't tell you before you have kids that will totally consume your life for an unspecified amount of time and make you want to pull your hair out. I feel like your child's peeing and pooping is something that from day one can drive you crazy. I mean from the second they are born you are told to chart how much they are peeing and pooping for the first so many days, then you are constantly worried about the color, texture, amount they are excreting. If the poop changes in any way you become obsessed with the why and what has changed to make it so. It's OUT OF CONTROL!!!

OK, sorry I had to vent a little. Anyway, I'm longing for the day my child can pee and poop on his own and it would be nice if that occurred before baby #2 gets here. The thought of having to buy two sets of diapers is something I'm not willing to accept. If any of you have any suggestions please advise, I'm truly desperate!

My Goals for 2011 before baby #2 gets here in May

1. To potty train my three year old.
2. To change my three year olds room into a big boy room and move the baby furniture into our now office/guestroom for baby #2's nursery.
3. To figure out what to do with an entire office/guestroom full of stuff when there is nowhere in our ever shrinking house to put it.
4. To go through all of Jackson's clothes from the time he was born until now and sort through it all for selling in the Just Between Friends sale and keeping a few sentimental pieces without totally loosing it emotionally. I so should have done this BEFORE I got pregnant.
5. To tag and prepare all of my items for my first time consigning in the Just Between Friends sale at the end of February.
6. To have another god forsaken garage sale to further "eliminate files" as my husband calls it.
7. Once all of the stuff has been sorted, sold, donated or thrown away, my plan is to reorganize my house and to try and get it at least semi livable for at least another year until we can hopefully purchase a new bigger house.
8. Prepare the nursery for baby #2.
9. Clean the house from top to bottom. Like the baseboards and blinds type of clean.
10. To read a few books on breastfeeding and sleeping that will hopefully help make both of those things go better this time around. 

That's a lot to accomplish in the next 19 weeks and I'm having a slight panic attack now that I've actually made a list of it all. Pray for me!

It's a..........

Girl!!! I am so excited!