Full Term! 37 weeks

I'm two days late posting this, but we made it to full term (37 weeks)! Now, I really do hope that baby boy stays in there for a while longer, but if he were to surprise us now, he would be considered healthy.

Still feeling great--still working out, we have been walking a lot, and I have tried to go swimming as much as we can. He dropped at least a little (it sure feels like he did) because I started to measure smaller (happens when they drop). I still think he will not come early--even though some people think he will. My midwife does not do internals until 40 weeks and I really like that. With AJ, it only made me frustrated to know what my progress was--some people can walk around dialated for a few weeks!

I got a lot accomplished on Monday. I took the day off to kind of nest. I washed ALL of his clothes from 0-6 months and WOW he has a lot. I worry a little though, because AJ was born slightly earlier in the year, so I'm not 100% sure if the clothes will fit the season, but we will see.

Now we just have some really minor stuff that I want to get done--like cleaning out our cars and putting in the carseats. That stuff can come later if it has to, but would be nice to get done now. I also need to pack the hospital bag and AJ's bag as well. But other then that, I think we can enjoy these next few weeks!

One last thing before my 37 week photo. I had to measure myself this week for a dress for my best friend's wedding (Maggie is getting married October 15). Do you know how hard it is to decide what size I will be wearing? Being a nursing mom, my boobs are going to stay big, so I ended up ordering a dress that is TWICE the size of my pre-pregnancy size because that is how large my bust measured! When she told me the waist size, I was like...uh, I'm going to need to get that altered in by a lot.

Here is my 37 week photo:

Maternity Photos

A few weeks ago we spent three hours with a professional photographer--one who I have seen the work of before and loved. She did engagement photos for good friends of ours recently and I absolutely loved them. They were exactly the 'style' I love when looking at photos. Well, I am extremely unhappy with our maternity photo shoot. We started out the day at Frying Pan Park in Herndon. She gave AJ a balloon prop, which actually ruined all of the photos and I ended up carrying it, causing my hand to be awkwardly placed in every photo. She was keen on keeping the dumb balloon prop. It was a cute idea for a location (although our original idea of the carnival was better--but it closed the day before our scheduled date), but I didn't realize how smelly and gross a petting zoo would really be for us. I found that our faces expressed 'it is really smelley here' instead of 'we are so happy to have a new baby in our life'. The photos from the park are pretty much a bust--all of them (except a couple at a tree that wasn't near the grossness).

Then we went back to the house where I did my maternity photos by myself. She only uploaded 4 of them because it must have been a terrible shoot. I felt weird and she didn't help me pose at all--so I knew I was already feeling large and in charge, much less I am so not photogenic. None of those will be posted or used ever because I hated ALL 4 of those pictures.

So that brings me to the following. I like some of them, but they dont' really show our faces! I guess I knew what I wanted, we didn't get it, and I am just disappointed. But--here are a couple that I do love (and some I kind of like):

Needless to say, we plan on getting professional photos done for newborn/family shots, but she will NOT be doing them. I contacted a few people already that come highly recommended in the newborn industry..and I am going to be very clear in my expectations and speak up when something dumb is suggested.

5 weeks--BIG DIFFERENCE

Wow, what a difference my belly has made in just 5 weeks. Here is me at 30 weeks:



And 5 weeks later at 35 weeks:

Baby boy is GROWING! I just realized my angle is a little different--so the rest of me looks different too--I will have to retake on on Wednesday at 36 weeks and get in the same outfit so we can really tell :).

35 weeks! Only 35 days to go!

Today is 35/35..meaning 35 weeks and 35 days to go (until the due date at least). I'm feeling really good. I of course am a bit tired and have a little bit of a hard time falling asleep since I'm so big, but I stay asleep which is the big thing. With AJ, I had terrible insomnia at this stage, so I'll take what I have now. Also, the heartburn and general uncomfortable pregnant feeling is much easier this time.

I am having Braxton Hicks contractions (practice contractions) at least once a day. I had none of those with AJ. It is just merely a little uncomfortable, but it always messes with me. Last Saturday I actually thought I was in labor. During a much needed nap I woke up with contractions but fell back asleep. They continued for the rest of the afternoon, but weren't very timetable. Then that evening I woke up to timetable contractions--about every 7 minutes. I drank some water and rested, but it didn't make them go away. I kept getting upset saying, "I can't miss AJ's birthday party!". I decided to walk around and the house to see what that brought and sure enough, they went away.

So other then that, I am feeling really good. I'm still working out (although it's slightly harder!) and keeping active.

We finished AJ's new big boy room! I will have to take pictures and send them out. We have three things left to do: getting the curtains up, installing his drawer under his bed, and buying a bookshelf for his books. All of that will slowly get done by the end of June or so. For the baby's room--well that room is mostly done since we are keeping it pretty much the same as AJ had it. Here is my to do list for this month:
-Wash newborn and 0-3 month clothes (the joy of having a second boy, we kept his clothes!) and put away (can't wait to smell the dreft again!)
-Put up his monogram in his room
-Sanitize the room and change the bed from a toddler bed to a crib with a bumper
-Put the carseat in our cars

Wow, I can't believe we are so close!

I have a 35 week picture to share, but I need to upload it to my computer. Guess who is back in business? That is right, I bought a new lens this weekend--just in time for AJ's party. I have some great pictures to share with you all in blog world of his new room, birthday party and birthday. I hope to remember to upload tomorrow.

Happy 3rd Birthday, AJ!

My dearest AJ,

Wow...you are THREE now! I know I have said that when you turned 1 and 2--and I may continue to say that every year. As cliche as it sounds, it is really true--time goes by so fast when you are having fun.

I remember May 30th three years ago. I remember it like it was just yesterday. I remember your dad doing push-ups between pushes because he had to exert the extra energy building up inside of him. I remember how he said, "wow", as he saw your head getting closer to delivering. I still feel that intense motivation hearing that word--I wanted so badly to meet you. Within minutes you were on my chest looking at me and you were simply the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. You lifted your head--not bad for a 5 minute old baby!--and looked around the room. Knowing how you are now, it makes sense that you did that. You are such a curious little boy.

Seeing you grow into what you are at three has been the most incredible thing to witness. All of the milestones--from rolling over to crawling to walking to going potty has just been so amazing to watch. I see so much of me in you--the stubborness, the determination, the need for it NOW. I see so much of daddy in you too--your playfulness, your tough boy attitude, your charm. You are so loving to everyone in your life. You know how to make a bad day good and how to really melt my heart. All you have to do is say, "I love you Mommy" with those big blue eyes and you have me wrapped around your finger. Daddy gets mad at me sometimes because I can't help but give you what you want when you are being such a cute little boy--but that is why he is here, to be the bad cop (because I love being the good cop!).

I wish I could push the pause button on the remote of life. It kills me that you are getting older. I have loved every single moment with you--even the sleepless nights (oh and how many there were). Of course it has been hard being a mommy sometimes--but you make it more then worth it. I don't want you to grow up, I want you to just stay my little boy forever and ever. But, I know that can't happen. I am excited for your future, but can't help but to be sad leaving phases behind us. I just want to soak up every moment with you--I know I will blink and you will be graduating, getting married, and having children of your own. We just have to enjoy our time together now.

This year is going to be a big year for you. You are going to become a BIG BROTHER! You are so excited about becoming a big brother. You tell me that he won't have any teeth, he only gets to drink mommy's milk, and that you are going to kiss him when he is crying. I'm sure your brother and you will butt heads plenty of times over the years--but I'm confident that you will shower him with love and always have his back. That is how you are, loving and protective.

Thank you AJ for everything you have given Mommy and Daddy. We are so blessed to have you in our life. We love you more then anything in the entire world. Happy Birthday my little Monkey.

Boys weekend

Since mommy is away, the boys have a full weekend planned. Tonight John sent me this photo of AJ and M&Ms while at the movies watching Rio. So adorable.

Leaving on a jet plane

Lauren and I are on our way to San Francisco for a girls weekend with Maggie to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. "Trouble comes in Threes!"