Where She Will Sleep...

Soooo...here is where she will be sleeping...of course I did what I SWORE I wouldn't do. What I DIDN'T want to do. What I DIDN'T like about having a girl: PINK. And what color are her walls? PINK. What color is EVERYTHING in her room? PINK. Ohhhhhhhh well. The story behind the wall color is just ridiculous. This is the second coat of pink we paid to have painted. It's not my favorite - but I was over having it done again. I am still missing coordinating pillow shams for her bed - those are on back order. I still need WALL DECOR in a MAJOR way...but I have some Beat.rix Potter prints ordered, that of course won't be here for 6 weeks...but I don't really care! :) Also - I need something cute for her bedside table...but quickly decided it might be awhile before she gets cute things on her bedside table since her big brother LOVES to destroy everything in her room. I wonder how long it will take before I train him NOT to empty all of her diapers and burp rags on to the floor? Or when I will learn to put the diaper wipes and bottom cream up, and not in a basket that is accessible to him?

Her room...

My favorite part of her crib...

I really like her curtains...

The shelves above her changing table...The top shelf has my baby book, and some of my Bunnykins from when I was a little girl...My Mom started collecting them for us when we were little...

Looooove this book. It was mine as a little girl, and my Mom included it in one of her gifts to me at Caroline's "sprinkle" - I remember reading this as a little girl and wanting soooo badly to be a Mommy and take care of a baby :)

Every girl needs a picture of her big brother...

Most likely where she will REALLY be sleeping...

And Just Because I Love Him...

Folks, We're in a Regression

That's right. A regression. I guess we are in a Recession as well...oh wait...didn't the Pres make a big announcement one day and say it was over? That's right. So anyway. We are out of the Recession, and I am in Regression.

Those non-stop Braxton Hicks? GONE. The occasional REAL contractions? GONE. The low pressure and constant urge to go to the bathroom? GONE. The occasional cramping that goes along with labor? GONE. I have even SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT recently. WHAT. THE. HECK. Soooo...I am regressing. I feel like I am back at week 23. Seriously. If I didn't have such bad low back pain - I would forget I was pregnant. And - no - the low back pain isn't because labor is near...my massage therapist lady thinks it's because of how the baby is sitting she may have pushed my lower spine out of alignment. WHO IS THIS CHILD? I would love to know. Soon. Also - I thought babies were supposed to run out of room, and stop moving as much? She is a little gymnast in there. Flip-flops, cartwheels, rolls. (Side Note - I am not a gymnast. Confession - I cannot do a cartwheel. Will this make me a bad girl Mom? Or can I lie and tell her I used to do cartwheels and round-off back hand springs all the time?)

Even though the ticker says I have 18 or something days left - I am starting to not believe it.

I am driving my husband CRAZY. I just know it. He doesn't have to tell me. When he is smiling at me - I see that look in his eyes - the "Geeeeeeeeze - she is so hormonal/crazy" look. I might have even shed a tear last night when Suzanne told me her cousin (who is due a few days after me) has already lost her mucus plug. How sad and gross is that? I cried over someone else's mucus plug? Lord. Help. Me.

Sooooo...I guess I will continue on like nothing is about to happen...Hanging out with my cute little man who is currently sporting a monogramed jon jon (which his father says is GIRLY enough) AND several of my acrylic bangle bracelets. Because of him - I am typing this post with one and a half hands...he is leaning on me with his arm on Caroline watching a little PBS while I drink my coffee and blog. And then we are off to music class....which I hope we can make it through without him running to the door and shouting "GO! GO! GO!" a million times.

I hate Regressions.

Pumpkin Patch - Attempts 1 & 2

Attempt 2...was at the little Methodist church that is just blocks from our house...walking distance in fact. A walk, I will NOT be making until after I have a baby...the Children's Ministry there sells pumpkins and has a pumpkin patch every year! I would say the second attempt was MUCH more successful...we might even go for a third try at a Patch out in Grapevine...3rd time's the charm, right?

Me and my Pumpkins...JM at exactly 17 months, and Miss C at exactly 37 weeks...

***Sidenote***Ummmm...wish I was a photographer and knew how to mess with color/exposure/all that jazz? Maybe I will attempt it with these...just not for blogging purposes...

This one below cracks me up - it's JM attempting to "hug" W...

Attempt 1...was at the Arboretum (which is GORGEOUSly decorated with pumpkins, pumpkin houses, patches, etc.) where Summer arranged a fun picnic with lots of little ones and their Mommies. I would say (for us) it was a failure with regards to cute pictures, but JM had a BLAST running away from me, and throwing the "balls" and breaking their stems off, and throwing the occasional tantrum or two! :)

I got ONE of these types of pics. Seriously. That's it.

I got lots of cranky-pants pictures...(while his bff smiled, and smiled, and smiled, of course).

But MOSTLY...I got back and side of head pics...busy little man!

36 wk 5 day Appointment, KKG, and JM turns 17 months

Today...was my 36 week and 5 day appointment...the big "first check" appointment. I wasn't expecting much - and I didn't really get much...below are the stats! I DID manage to pee in about 75% of my ob/gyns bathrooms today. I can say that they were all clean, and very nice and tidy. What is with my bladder today, I don't know!?!?!?

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks and 5 days! The exact same week/days I was with my first check with JM. With Caroline my body is 50% effaced, and 2cm dilated. With JM I was 70% effaced and 2cm dilated. I am still not feeling any of that low pressure - but he told me her head was in position - well actually he said something technical and medical - but I can't remember what he said right now! :) So anyway...my point is - even thought things are "happening" - I am not terribly excited? I will be terribly excited when I have a BABY!
Heartbeat? 150

Total weight gain/loss: 31 lbs...can I take off a couple of pounds? This was before my restroom extravaganza. And plus, my watch weighs 5 lbs, I swear.
Maternity clothes? oh yes. yes. yes. yes. and my support hose. :)
Stretch marks? No - but a varicose vein that looks like someone took a baseball bat and whacked me across the back of the leg...

Sleep? I can't even talk about this...when I look at the clock every night before I fall asleep it is at least 2:00AM. Ugh.
Best moment this week: Caroline's BFF Evelyn Marie Lambert was born! I think that counts as a "best"! :)

Movement: still moving and a shaking like CRAZY.
Food cravings: Still freezing cold milk with cereal.

Gender: Caroline McCall, our sweet baby girl.

Labor Signs: No...still lots of BH contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Just depends on the day - sometimes and innie - sometimes and outie! This is gross, but my hole from my belly button piercing (and yes - I had one - and yes - it has been out of my body for over 8 years) is red, irritated, and looks infected. I know, gross and TMI - but what the heck?!?!?! It hasn't seen jewelry since 2002!
What I miss: sleep! sleep! sleep!
What I am looking forward to: HAVING THIS BABY!
Milestones: I find it impressive (to myself) that I can still will my wedding rings at this point, and that I still have two pairs of shoes that I can fit into! :)

Shout out to Kappa Kappa Gamma - it's your birthday today! :) (Raise your hand if you were a kappa and KNEW that?) My Granny (mom's mom) was a KKG, My Mom was a KKG, and ONE of my little sisters was a KKG. I was a KKG...soooooo guess what Caroline will be!?!?!?! Just kidding...no pressure...kind of...

17 months...is he really 17 months today? He is funny, a stinker, and he loves to tease me. He has started to cuddle alot more lately - which I LOOOOVEEEEE. We have a big front porch with lots of porch furniture, and he likes to run and hide behind the chairs while I am locking the front door...and tries to get me to start a game of chase with him...which I don't - but I still think it's funny that he laughs and KNOWS that it's hard for me to get to him...He is going to be "milk" for Halloween...out of the PBK catalogue. He LOVES his milk - and will start crying for it if he doesn't get it within 2 seconds of sitting in his chair. Oh how I love you funny little man! Happy 17 months!! :)

36 Weeks - I AM READY FOR YOU CAROLINE!

Sooo...I am 36 weeks...and I. AM. READY. Granted...I still feel great, I am NOT miserable like I was with JM at this point...she is still up so high, in a strange ball, I don't feel any more pressure "down there" - which is GREAT. But....all that to say...I am just ready!!! And don't tell me she needs to "cook" longer - because I FULLY BELIEVE they have her due date off by one week and that she should technically be due 10/29 (that's point A). Point B would be that at her 20 week sono, she measured one week ahead. Therefore, she may come out.

No - her room isn't finished. Still need a lamp. Still need some more accessories. Still missing two pillow shams for the big bed....BUT...I don't care anymore! :)

So last time to try to get JM out - we did the BD (and if you don't know what that is - google it) and I walked alot, but when I walked, my ankles would oooze out over the tops of my shoes, which is horrible. This time...I have started taking that evening primrose oil which is supposed to soften things "down there" - you can even INSERT the gel capsules down there. Thought I was brave enough to do that last night - I wasn't. Don't feel like doing the BD yet. Thought I was, but I am not. Soooo....we will see if the midwives trick of primrose oil works. I am not going to be drinking that raspberry tea that supposedly works, because I don't like fruit. I get checked for the first time on Wednesday...which I will be 36.5 week. I just need to be showing SOME progress on my own for him to induce me at 39 weeks. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED.

JM finally knows to kiss my tummy when I say "Kiss Caroline" - and he will rub it when I say for him to "Love Caroline." He also knows where "Caroline's room" is - but he has NO CLUE who/what Caroline is - because he always looks so confused in music class when we sing hello/goodbye to another little girl in there named Caroline. Love it. This week his trick has been to finally SAY the word "eye" and poke everyone's eyes out. Me, Elmo, Dad, and last week he tried to poke poor little Cason's eye out, but quickly recovered with a hug - which involves him laying his giant noggin on top of poor Cason. Ha! :)

Here I am at 36 weeks with Miss Caroline...still no change from last week, or the week before...haven't dropped, etc., I have only grown bigger.

Here I am at 36 Weeks, April 2009 with Mr. John Marshall...MAN my wrists were even swollen!!!