11 Months

The (not so) little fella is almost ONE! It's cliche, but time FLIES! I think it's going even faster this go 'round....probably because I know he's our last & I want to savor every single moment of having little ones around. Here's what the big guy has been up to this month!

*Beginning to wear 12 month clothing and size 2 shoes. He's still in a size 3 diaper

*He has 5 teeth with a 6th one cutting through...he has 2 on the bottom & 3 on the top! He's teething like a champ! Just some yucky diapers, a touch of crankiness, and a ton of drool!

*He began pulling up shortly after he began crawling. He cruises along the furniture really fast & I think he'll be walking any minute now.

*He loves his musical walker, wood blocks, activity cube, his toy phone, real phones & remotes, unplugging cords, and looking out the window.

*He is into EVERYTHING...and he gets to it FAST. You seriously cannot put him down for more than a second without him taking off & getting ahold of something. Even Ms. Cain says she can't walk away from him, ever. He's super fast and can reach things that you think are far enough out of reach. It's exhausting!

*He hates having to be still. You can forget about changing diapers or getting him dressed without breaking a sweat from him wriggling and rolling throughout the whole ordeal.

*He loves bath time and is all over the place in the tub...makes me nervous!

*As with all of our kiddos, he has many, many nicknames. The most common are: Bubber Boy, Bubbers, Bubs, Diddle Boy, Hey Diddle Diddles, Tubs, Tubber Bubs, Lijey, Buster, Buster Brown, Buster Boy, Turkey Turk, and Stinker Pot. ;) We throw in the occasional "Eli" too.

*We're slowly transitioning over to whole milk, so he's taking less and less formula. He's now getting whole milk with dinner and to sip on throughout the afternoon. He still takes a 8oz bottle in the morning & 2 at the sitter's and then a 4oz before bed. He's officially done with baby food and loves chicken nuggets, fish sticks, cheese, goldfish, graham crackers, pizza, quesadillas, green beans, banana and much more.

I seriously cannot believe he will be one so soon. It's bittersweet that they grow up so fast, but I don't take a single second for granted. We're blessed that all of our children are growing, developing, and thriving as they should be. Elijah, you bring so much joy to all of our lives and we can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Love you, bubber boy!

See? Into everything!

10 Months

Well, we are about 9 days away from your 11th "month day", but once again...better late than never?!

At 10 months you:

*Wear 9 months in shirts/onesies and a 6 & 9 in shorts. You can wear a size 2 in shoes, but you hate them so you never wear them.

*Still in a size 3 diaper

*Eats 4 or 5 six-ounce bottles a day and a baby food for breakfast & dinner. You LOVE the oatmeal & cereal baby foods and several of the fruit and/or veggies. We've tried moving to Stage 3, but you hate anything with a texture & spit out any pasta or meat, so I've given up. You are finally liking Puffs, Crunchies & things like french fries, so we're making progress!

*You are crawling everywhere! You went from barely even trying to crawl to crawling everywhere! I think you may have "army crawled" for 3 or 4 days, but then went straight to hands and knees crawling. And you are fast. Very fast.

*You still love your sisters, the animals, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, clapping, shaking your head "no", saying "Dada", blowing raspberries with your mouth and on my leg, your doggy paci & doggy lovie, giving fives, and being super happy & smiley all the time.

*We have spent a lot of time in the water this summer and you are doing pretty well with it. You usually fuss for a few seconds/minutes and then are perfectly fine and don't want to get back out! I think it's because it's always a bit cold at first & you don't like that one bit. We give you a paci & you quit fussing and all is fine with the world.

9 months

Elijah Chase is 9 months old! I guess it's time to start planning his 1st birthday party! ;) Here's what the little turkey has been up to this month:

*Wears mostly 9mo, but can still get away with wearing his 6mo stuff. He's still wearing his 3-6 month shoes

*Officially in a size 3 diaper...the same size as Livy. ha! Sounds funny, but Sophia only got up to a size 3 before potty training and both girls were in a 3 by 9 months, so he's right on track . However, I believe Elijah will be our first child to need a size 4 eventually!

*Not sure weight/height...his 9mo well check is next week, so I'll update later...one day....hopefully...

*Still eats 4 six-ounce bottles of formula a day and a couple things of baby food. I was still getting concerned because he wouldn't eat his 2nd thing of baby food most days. He also still isn't a fan of Puffs, yogurt melts, those baby wheels, or anything with texture! He even cried when I tried to give him mashed potatoes & french fries! I think we may be turning a corner, though...he gummed on a french fry the other day without crying about it so maybe we're making progress.

*He loves to spin around while sitting on his bottom and has begun to army crawl to get where he wants. He's been getting up onto all fours and rocking a lot, but hasn't "officially" crawled yet.

*He is full of personality! He loves to shake his head no, clap, say "yeah!", give "fives", give mommy kisses, says "dada", "noo", and "yeah". He is so smiley and happy about 97% of the time.

*Still a good sleeper! In bed around 7 and gets up around 6:30-7:30 now that we can sleep in a little for summer!

*We've been traveling a bit this summer (Branson, Wynnewood, etc) and he has been SO agreeable! He's done the car rides like a champ and was so sweet about being in his stroller so much while in Branson. We were so proud about what a big boy he was on our trips!

8 months

Well, I'm a bit closer to the actual "month-date" this time! The little chunker turned 8 months old on the 10th. I guess it's about time to start planning his first birthday...yikes!

At 8 months old, Elijah:

*Wears 6 month, 6-9 month, and 9 month clothing. He'll be solely in 9 month soon...he probably should be now, but I want to get some use out of the clothes we bought him thinking he'd still be in 6-9 month clothing! He can still wear the 3-6 month shoes, though.

*Wears a size 2 diaper but will most likely go up to a 3 when we buy more

*Eats four 8oz bottles of formula and 2 containers of baby food a day. He loves all of the oatmeal/cereal combinations, fruits, and most veggies. He likes most of the dinner blends, too, but there is one that he hates and I can't remember what that one is! Hope I don't accidentally buy it again...oops!

*Still has an aversion to eating anything solid or lumpy. He seriously gags and cries if you try to give him a Puff, or yogurt melt, or thick baby food, or anything that isn't extremely smooth. He cried when I took a tiny bit of Sophia's banana, smushed it on my finger, and put it in his mouth. To be honest, though, I'm really hoping this isn't a sign of something problematic...I really thought he'd be over this by now....

*He sits up like a champ and tries to reach anything and everything within a 5 foot radius of him. He went from not sitting up, to sitting up perfectly...barely any falling over or learning balance.

*He rolls around to get where he wants to go. He also has an extremely long wing-span...we really have to watch out because this boy can reach just about anything he sees.

*He is so smiley and laughy and adorable! Such an easy-going baby, very laid back, calm and happy....a complete joy to be around. He lets his sisters crawl all over him and he barely makes a peep...well, besides a laugh!

*Still only says "dada" and jabbers a little bit. He is trying to clap and wave/say "bye" but we're not quite there.

*He has turned into a side sleeper and I think it's so adorable! He goes to sleep around 7 pm and starts playing/cooing around 5:30 am but will often put himself back to sleep after a few minutes and not get back up until around 7 am.

*He now takes a "big bath" with the girls in the big tub. No more baby tub! They all think this is the best thing ever!

Found him like this one morning. He had started out facing the OTHER way at the OTHER end of the crib! That blanket immediately went in a drawer.

7 months

So, Mr. Eli is actually almost 8 months at this point, but here's what he was up to when he turned 7 months. Better late than never, right?!

*Weighs 17 lbs 6 oz and is 25 3/4 inches long ( I know this because he had his 6 month shots a few days before he turned 7 months ;)

*Wears 6 month clothing...and he is quickly beginning to fill those out. I think we'll be in 9 month clothes sooner than I expected!

*Loves food! He takes 5 six ounce bottles a day, eats a cereal/oatmeal with fruit baby food in the morning and a veggie or fruit for dinner. We've tried the Puffs and yogurt melts and he isn't a fan...he doesn't like the texture.

*He started sitting up unassisted the day he turned 7 months old. He does things at his own pace! He easily rolls over from back to front & front to back and can roll across the floor pretty quickly.

*He can say dada and jabbers a lot. He loves to shake his head side to side when you say nooo...and he's trying to say "noooo" while he does it...so stinkin' cute!

*He loves his jumparoo, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, his pacifier w/the dog attached, his sisters, his mommy (and daddy, too!), his toes, hitting his belly, and taking baths.

*He still sleeps pretty well. Eats a dinner around 5:30, a bottle around 6:30 and then bed around 7. He sleeps in his crib and will often go to sleep on his own in it. He sleeps through the night but wakes up pretty early: around 5:30 most days. He's pretty good about playing around in his crib and will sometimes find his pacifer and just go back to sleep after a few minutes. He takes a morning nap and a late afternoon nap....sometimes in his crib and sometimes in your arms.

*He is seriously the sweetest, easiest baby around. We are constantly being told how sweet he is and how laid back he is and how easy he is, and just how all-around good he is! He is SUCH a blessing!

Hopefully I'll write his 8 month stats closer to the actual date....which will be soon! ha!

Half a year already?!

Elijah Chase is already 6 months old! 

*At his 6mo well check on the 14th he weighed 16lb 3oz and was

*He's now wearing a size 2 diaper

*Beginning to wear 6mo clothing, although most of his 3-6 still fit.

*We began baby food when he just turned months old and he didn't take to it too well. He still pushed most of it out with his tongue so I put it away for a couple of weeks but he was just so interested in what we were eating so I tried again at about 5.5 months and he took right to it! He eats about half of a container of baby food before bed. So far he has liked: sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, and mixed fruit with cereal. He hated peas and mixed vegetables.

*Still takes about 5 six ounce bottles of formula a day; 1 in the morning, 3 at Ms. Cain's, and 1 before bed.

*His sleeping is getting even better, but he still wakes up so early. I suppose I'll take a solid 7:30pm-5am over several wake ups throughout the night, though! He still won't nap in his crib at home...or, well, anywhere but our arms...but he will at the sitters. Go figure!

*He is one of the sweetest babies I've ever been around. He just watches and smiles/coos/giggles at whatever is going on around him. He is obsessed with Mickey Mouse, his sisters and his teething monkey. He loves to be outside and he's becoming a "momma's boy" much to his daddy's dismay. ;) He also loves to jabber and say "dadadadada" all day long.

*He has a weird habit of rubbing his feet together all.the.time; when he's mad, when he's tired, when he's amused, when he's hungry, etc., etc. He does it so much that his socks/shoes won't stay on and he's rubbed several sores on his feet. His little sores just bleed and bleed and his toes are too tiny for bandaids so we just deal. It doesn't seem to bother him, so I guess it's okay.

*He is finally rolling from back to tummy and from tummy to back. He prefers to lay on his side, though, so he doesn't always roll all the way over...but he can, and that's all that matters, right?! Now we need to start working on this sitting up thing....if only we could keep the Livy-monster away long enough!

 

Trying out this food stuff....

yum!

                                                     

Last few nights of the swaddle

First black eye/bloody nose  :(  Rattles can be dangerous! ;)

5 months

Here's what the little guy was up to when he turned 5 months!

*Not sure about the weight or height, but he's slowly starting to "fill out"

*Still wearing a size 1 diaper

*Wears mostly 3-6 month clothing

*He is officially done nursing and I no longer pump, so he is 100% formula now and doing well! I still get sad every once in awhile that I wasn't able to nurse nearly as long as I wanted to, but I try not to dwell on it. On the plus side, I don't have to wake up so early to nurse! He gets a 6oz bottle in the morning, 3 5oz bottles while at the sitter's, and another 6oz bottle before bed. He's taking a big interest in our food and watches it like a hawk so I think baby food will be started soon.

*His sleeping has started to get a bit better, but we're still working on some consistency. He will nap in his crib at the sitter's house, but refuses to at home! Little stinker. He still goes to bed around 7:30, wakes once or twice per night, and awake around 5:30/6:00...which is better than the 4:45 we used to do for nursing!

*He is still such a happy baby! He just coos and smiles all day long. He loves Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, his daddy, his sisters, being tickled, his toy elephant, his singing dog, and his teething monkey.

*He still doesn't roll consistently, but I really think a lot of that has to do with him never being able to be put down because of the piranhas , aka sisters, that attack him as soon as you do. I'm not concerned because I know he can and he doesn't seem to be missing out on anything by not doing so. He much prefers to be sitting up in our laps than to be lying down. "standing" is his other favorite way to be. 

I still can't believe we have this unexpected addition to our family, sometimes. It's such a blessing to have him in our lives and I wouldn't trade it for the world! I know I say it all the time, but holy cow, time is flying!

4 months

The little mister is 4 months old! Here's what he's up to:

*Weighs 13lbs 3oz (30%), 25in (50%) and head is in 50%. I really thought he was short & fat...apparently not!

*Wears a size 1 diaper but getting close to needing a 2

*Wears mostly 3 month clothing, but can do 3-6 month on onsies and some pants. Sleep-n-plays are hard to find because they are all too long for the little fella.

*Nurses in the morning, eats 3 6oz bottles at the sitter's, and nurses again before bed. We're in the process of weaning because I just can't keep up :( Honestly, I never thought I'd make it this long, but I'm sad that it's really coming to an end.

*Sleep is pretty good, but is slowly getting worse. He goes to bed around 7:30 and stirs throughout the night but usually goes back to sleep by himself, then gets up anywhere from 3:30-7:30...no consistency. Here lately he's been getting up around 4am and won't go back down...I'd love it if he'd sleep later! He is officially sleeping in his crib in his own room, but we're still working on naps. He will sometimes nap in his crib, but he gets a much better nap in if he's being held...which I don't mind because it usually means I get a nap, too!

*He is so smiley and gives big belly laughs often. He LOVES his sisters, Mickey Mouse, his jumparoo, a crinkly elephant & teething monkey, being tickled, and when we "bite" his belly.

*He is seriously so strong. He has complete control of his head, can roll belly to back, likes to "stand" while we support him under the arms, sits up in his boppy & bumbo, and tries to scoot using his legs while doing tummy time.

3 months

The Little Mister turned 3 months old on the 10th & I never officially wrote down what he was up to. Again, this information is true of when he turned 3 months, but so much has already changed since then! Maybe I can actually get his 4 month update posted near the 10th. ;) Don't hold your breath...

At 3 months old Elijah;

*Wears a size 1 diaper

*Have officially put all the newborn clothes away. Wears some 0-3mo and some 3mo clothing.

*Not sure about the weight/height, but he's definitely growing. He has no problems gaining weight now!

*Still sleeping in the Rock-n-Play by my side of the bed. I keep thinking about moving him to his crib, but I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger. He's more than likely the last baby and I just don't want him growing up so fast!

*Speaking of sleep, he is still a pretty good sleeper. Goes to bed around 8:00, up at 5 am to nurse, and back to sleep until 7 when I wake him up to get dressed so we can leave for work. No set nap schedule, but he sleeps pretty good throughout the day. Once we get him sleeping in his own room we'll work on getting a nap routine set.

*Breastfeeding has been MUCH harder this time around. My supply isn't good and it is SO hard to nurse while still being needed by a 1.5 year old & 3.5 year old. I've struggled with some guilt of not being able to breastfeed as much and/or as long as I did with the girls, but I think I've come to terms with it. I don't think we'll last much longer, but I'm hoping to make it at least through flu season.

*He nurses in the morning & before bed & gets 3 5oz bottles while at Cain's. I can usually pump enough for 2 of those bottles, but sometimes it's just 1.

*He is still so sweet, happy, & laid back. He is a momma's boy & loves his sisters just as much. He is a good boy for his daddy & loves him, too.

*He is so strong! He has complete control of his head, holds it up/moves it around. He doesn't really like tummy time unless it's on someones chest. He LOVES "standing" on your legs while you hold his hands/arms. The swing still isn't his most favorite thing and he tolerates his bouncy chair for short periods of time. He's been sitting in the Bumbo for very short periods of time & seems to really like it, so we'll start using it a bit more as he grows.

*Car rides are no longer one of his favorite things. He screams/cries the majority of the time. He will usually calm down if Sophia can give him his pacifier or talk to him/hold his hand....but she can't always be bothered to do so. ;)

I'll have to transfer some pictures over from facebook sometime, but don't have time to tonight. This boy has brought SO MUCH joy and happiness to this family and my heart is just so full!

Elijah Chase

So, Mr. Elijah has been a part of our family for 2 months now...and I'm just now getting around to documenting it. Oops! I skipped a month or two with the other kids, too, so it's not just because he's the "forgotten" youngest child. ha! Having 3 little ones ages 3 and under is definitely exhausting and a challenge every minute of the day, but it is SO WORTH it! I LOVE what he has added to this family and now I feel like we are "complete". My heart is so full it might burst! Some things about the little fella:

*Weighs 11 lb 0oz (50%) and 23in (50%) He was a slow gainer at first & we had to go to several weight checks, but he's finally surpassed his birth weight & gaining like a champ!

*Size 1 diaper

*Gradually growing out of newborn and into 0-3 month clothing. Sleepers are still a little too long in the legs, but newborns are getting too snug.

*He is so laid back and happy! He is seriously SO chill...especially considering how much he gets trampled on by Livy. He smiles so easily, too and it just melts.my.heart!

*Nursing is going well...much better than I was anticipating at first. It is super hard to balance breastfeeding with having a newborn, 20 month old, and 3 year old. I really wasn't even expecting to make it past a month, so I'm proud we're still going! Now that I'm back to work, he nurses once in the morning & once at night then takes 3 5oz pumped bottles while at the sitter's.

*He is a great sleeper. :::knocks on wood:::  We have fallen into the routine of him nursing around 7:30pm or so and going to sleep around 9pm and then I get him up at 5am to nurse then he sleeps until I get him up & ready to leave just before 7am! It is glorious!

*He holds his head up really really well, does great with tummy time, enjoys laying on his play mat (especially if a sister joins in), likes sleeping in the Rock & Play, likes the bouncy seat & tolerates the swing for short periods of time (he prefers that it not be swinging, though. ha!). He also loves his sisters, looking at the Christmas lights on the trees, and does great on car rides.

Elijah, we are so thrilled that God chose us to be your parents. Even at 2months old, you have brought so much to this family and we couldn't imagine our lives without you! Love you sweet boy!

Olivia Grace~ 18 months

Miss Olivia is a year and a half old! Most of the time I can't believe she's ALREADY that old, yet other days I can't believe she's ONLY that old.

*You weigh 23lbs (30%), are 33in tall (80%), and have a head that's in the 60th percentile (can't remember the measurements). Tall and skinny...quite the opposite of when you were born. ;)

*You wear a size 3 diaper. You like to sit on the potty and demand toilet paper quite often. I doubt that means you will be potty trained early, but one can hope!

*Wearing a size 12mo in most clothing, but beginning to transition to 18mo for the length. You also wear a size 4 shoe, but transitioning to a size 5.

*You are quite the mess. Like, for real. Your personality has us laughing all.the.time. However, you can also be quite the handful. You are loud, active, busy, ornery, full of spunk, rough, hard-headed, sweet, and so many other adjectives. You definitely fit your nickname of "Livy Grace Rotten".

*Your vocabulary and speech leave everyone amazed. Sophia was quite the early talker, but you have her beat. You speak very clearly and use words that most 1.5 year olds don't. For instance: rather than a simple "no" you prefer to give a "no way", you've told us "that was 'dicilous (ridiculous)", and you frequently ask "sisser, you comin'?" whenever we are leaving....among many, many other things. We counted up before your 15mo appointment and you already had over 65 words/phrases and I can't even begin to estimate where you are at now. Both the pediatrician and his nurse made comments about your language at your 18mo well check. I told them is it sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. ha!

*You don't get quite as much sleep as I'd like, but I can't complain about your sleep habits. You usually lay down for bed around 7:00 and are asleep 10-15 min later. However, you are usually awake by 5:45 or so and ready to get out of bed by 6:30. I can't complain because you do keep yourself entertained, but I would love it if you slept in a bit more...especially on the weekends. You also take a 2ish hour nap every day.

*You have 14 teeth with a couple more coming soon. You have a big gap in your front teeth...I think it's cute...and makes you look even more rotten. You quit using your pacifier right after you turned 17 months. You probably could have quit it sooner, but I was too chicken to try. You only used it for nap & bed and I didn't want to mess with it, but finally decided to take it away one night and you didn't care much at all! You asked for it for about 3 days, but never fussed about it. =)

*You used to be a great eater, but not so much anymore. Some of your favorite foods are: waffles, bananas, cheeseburgers, mac-n-cheese, ice cream, and fruit snacks.

*A few of your favorite things are: Sophia, Minnie "House", baby dolls, coloring, mommy, singing, and reading.

Olivia, you are such a light in our lives. You are definitely one of a kind and we love that about you! You are so different than Sophia, and that's what makes you both so special. God knew you'd be a handful...and often more than Sophia can take...so we believe that's why He's blessing us with a baby brother for you. ha! We're not quite sure how you're going to adjust to having a new baby around, but I think you'll be okay as long as you have Sophia. You LOVE your sister and she LOVES you back...your bond is so special to watch. Livy, we love you so much and are so happy to have you. Your spunk is something I hope you always have. Thank you for the personality you add to this family.

Ready to ride your first ride at the fair. So big!

After requesting "two hairbows" like Sophia. You look so big here!!

Miss Independent....love blowing bubbles

You love to dress up =)

You were "meh" about swimming...hopefully you'll love it next summer!
 

37 Weeks!

 *So, I wrote this when I was really 37 weeks, but apparently didn't hit "publish"..so it's been sitting in la-la land. I'm now just over 38 weeks, but not much has changed....so, here's what was up last week. ;)

How far along:  37 weeks
 

Total weight gain/loss: I believe we're at +20 now....I had lost 1 at my last appointment

 

Maternity clothes: yep, all the time

 

Stretch marks: haven't noticed any more new ones, aside from the couple a few weeks ago...fingers crossed it stays that way

 

Sleep: uhm, non-existant. The insomnia is awful. The needing to use the restroom is awful. The pain in my hips is awful. I live on coffee & Dr. Pepper...oops...

 

Best moment this week: This past week we were given two sweet "showers" to celebrate Mr. Eli! Work gave me one and he got lots of cute "boutique" things...which is funny since I never really received "boutique" stuff for the girls, ha! Then we had a family one that was fun (loud & crazy, but fun!) and he got lots of cute clothes along with some other good stuff! We are definitely blessed with people who love us and our kiddos!

 

Movement: He's a mover, for sure. More of a rolling-around-er....not kicks and jabs, but full out rolling around. Pretty uncomfortable most of the time, but I love the feeling and it's reassuring that things are fine.

 

Food cravings: Snickers, cheeseburgers, ketchup

 

Gender: it's a boy!
    

Labor signs: I've had some hard core contractions, but nothing consistent. They have stopped me in my tracks & woken me up, but it's only 1 or 2 here and there.
   

Belly button in or out: in, but not as deep
     

What I miss: sleep, normal sized feet/ankles, and sweet tea. I love me some sweet tea, but it has been giving me some mad acid reflux...which I don't love, so I haven't been drinking it lately.
     

What I am looking forward to: Going with Jeff tomorrow to finish buying things we need for the little dude. I know he won't know the difference now, but I'm sure when he's looking at pictures/videos when he's older, he'll appreciate not having to be seen with a pink boppy, pink pack-n-play, pink play mat, etc. =)
     

Weekly wisdom: Put your feet up whenever possible. As a teacher and mom of 2 littles, there really isn't a "possible" time to keep your feet up. Giving a spelling test from a chair in the front of the room may be frowned upon but ya gotta do what you gotta do.
     

Milestone: C-section is confirmed for 10/10/13 at noon!

33 weeks

 Here's what's up right now:

How far along:  33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I keep forgetting to update this, so my memory may be off, but I think it's 18 total at this point

 

Maternity clothes: absolutely....until I walk in the door and it's gym shorts and tank tops =)

 

Stretch marks: getting new ones on my belly unfortunately =(

 

Sleep: It's pretty good right now! I sleep pretty soundly until around 4:30 and then I REALLY have to go to the restroom, but, hey, I'll take it!

 

Best moment this week: We registered for a few things (tacky?!) because some family/friends wanted to have some "good ideas" & we figured this would be the easiest way. We also got the crib put together!

 

Movement: He's beginning to chill out a bit, but he still moves enough to keep me from getting worried. He gets the hiccups a lot now, too!

 

Food cravings: Snickers

 

Gender: it's a boy!
    

Labor signs: nope...I do think I've had some Braxton Hicks here & there, though
  

Belly button in or out: innnn
    

What I miss: playing comfortably in the floor with the girls
    

What I am looking forward to: *Hopefully* getting to exchange the dresser and getting a new one pretty quickly. The dresser I ordered is way too dark & doesn't look good with the crib. We just hope it's exchangeable since I ordered it online & we had to completely open the box to be able to see the color. =(
    

Weekly wisdom: Be oh so very thankful we've had a "comfortable" summer this year! This last week has been triple digits and it's KILLING me. I am swollen, exhausted, and absolutely uncomfortable. SO thankful it wasn't an entire summer of it.
    

Milestone: Got my C-section scheduled for October 10! Dr. L said he'd get me on the schedule at my 36 week appointment but then realized that I am due 10/17 so my c/s should be a week prior, making it 10/10. We both figured that would be a very popular "elective c/s" day, so he had his nurse go ahead and call to get me on the schedule. I'll hopefully get confirmation at my appointment Tuesday.

 

 

33 weeks and HUGE!

29 Weeks

We are almost down to the single digits. Ho.ly.cow! Sorry sweet boy, I love you and are super excited to be expecting you, but your ornery sisters don't leave me much time ( or energy) (or brain power) to keep up with these updates. I'll make it up to you one day. Promise. =)

Here's what's up right now:

How far along: 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +3 today at my appointment so I *think* 15 total

 

Maternity clothes: when I actually get dressed, yes. I go back to work really soon so I guess I've got to turn in my summer attire of shorts & t-shirts =(

 

Stretch marks:  the old ones are growing again, but haven't found any new ones

 

Sleep: I've gotten the pregnancy insomnia right now and it bites. I am SO tired when I go to bed but lay there for about 1.5hours before finally falling asleep and then I wake up periodically throughout the night & it takes a bit to fall back asleep. I've taken Tylenol PM a couple of times to help me get/stay asleep (dr approved) but that's a habit I don't want to form

 

Best moment this week: Having strangers comment on me being pregnant. I guess I'm officially past the "is she pregnant, or just fat?" stage

 

Movement: yep! He's finally moved up a bit so it's not as uncomfortable as it was before.

 

Food cravings: freezer pops...you know, the frozen flavored heaven in the little plastic tubes. I can (and do) eat probably 5 a day. At least.

 

Gender: still a boy! I hope! I've been having those "what if" thoughts. Maybe I can talk the dr into one more ultrasound?!
   

Labor signs: nope
 

Belly button in or out: way in
   

What I miss: softball
   

What I am looking forward to: picking out the paint so we can get the walls painted & the furniture ordered!
   

Weekly wisdom: deep breaths and prayer. That's about all I've got some days. When S & O are being a handful, screaming, running amok, testing every boundary possible, etc. I just close my eyes, take some deep breaths, say a little prayer & know that someday I will miss the noise and ruckus of having little ones. It's those moments that I have a slight panic attack that "zomg, I'm about to add to the chaos!" but then I smile & thank God for the blessing of a new baby!
   

Milestone: Glucose test. Well, technically I haven't taken it just yet. Oops. Interesting story: I was supposed to drink the yummy drink & get my blood drawn at my appointment today, but today was a bit crazy so I forgot. (I purposefully forgot...but, still.) We had a house showing today so I cleaned like a crazy lady, took the girls to story time/the mall, took Sophia to the dentist to watch Jeff's appointment, then hustled over to my own appointment. I had a poptart for breakfast & a piece of chocolate cake for lunch & I would have had to drink the drink at the dentist so I decided to "forget" it. Anyway, at my appointment my blood pressure was pretty high so the nurse had me relax for a bit & then the dr took it again at the end of the appointment...still high. With my history (began developing pre-e w/Sophia & was admitted for monitoring once with her) he said he might have to send me to be monitored. HOWEVER, since I had "forgotten" to drink the stuff (and I swore to them it was also just high because of my crazy/busy day!)  I was told that I could drink it tomorrow & come back for a blood draw & blood pressure check. Sooo, I'll go back tomorrow afternoon and hope/pray that it's gone back down. Oh, but, tomorrow is my first day to report back to work for a work day....I'm sure that's not going to be stressful (right?!).

Please only pay attention to the belly...I am a hot mess (literally)

Yeah, I'm huge. With plenty of time to get even huge-er. yay! ;)

Almost 25 weeks!

So, even though I'm off for the summer, I'm still having a hard time finding a few spare moments to keep up with this blog. Blame it on fun stuff going on, pregnancy brain, mommy brain, or just having my hands completely full with 2 sweet girls...but I'm going to try to do better! Sorry, Mr. Elijah!

Here's what's going on at almost 25 weeks:

How far along: 24 weeks 6 days

Total weight gain/loss: gained another 2, so up 12 so far

 

Maternity clothes: yep!

 

Stretch marks:  still haven't gotten any new ones...fingers crossed they stay away!

 

Sleep: eh, it comes and goes. Some nights I sleep really well, other nights I have the pregnancy insomnia and/or a very full bladder all.night.long that makes me get up several times throughout the night.

 

Best moment this week: Olivia learning how to say "Elijah". So sweet!

 

Movement: lots and lots and lots of it ;)

 

Food cravings: Fluids: water, tea, sodas, snocones, popsicles, chocolate milk, anything liquid. Not a huge fan of food these days, I have more "aversions" than "cravings"

 

Gender: Elijah Chase
   

Labor signs: nope
 

Belly button in or out: I'll always have an inny
  

What I miss: being able to roll around/wrestle with the girls. They like to "rough play" before bed and now that they're getting a bit more rough and my belly's getting a bit more round I have to sit out and let daddy have all the fun
   

What I am looking forward to: finding nursery stuff
   

Weekly wisdom: long car rides are no fun when struggling with my aching tailbone
   

Milestone: 3 months to go!

21 Weeks

How far along: 21 weeks! Again, I skipped a week  = /

Total weight gain/loss: Had my monthly appointment this past Tuesday and I had gained 8 pounds in the 5 weeks between appointments! Yikes! That puts me up to 10 pounds total.

 

Maternity clothes: Dresses are still my favorite...and now that my summer break has officially began I can wear comfy clothes all day long. Score!

 

Stretch marks:  No new ones just yet

 

Sleep: I'm getting plenty right now

 

Best moment this week: We had our "real" ultrasound/appointment this past Tuesday and everything looked great! We got confirmation that we are, indeed, having a BOY. He was healthy and very active...all that we could ever hope for!

 

Movement: On my last post I said something like "holy cow, he's a mover!" and boy was I right! During our ultrasound the tech mentioned no less than 4 times how active he was, how most babies don't move around that much at 21 weeks, etc. He was moving the whole time...it was quite a show!

 

Food cravings: still no "cravings", just mainly preferences and aversions. I'll like something just find one day and then 3 days later it makes me want to vomit. Slightly annoying, but oh well.

 

Gender: he's most definitely a BOY! Mr. Elijah
  

Labor signs: nope
 

Belly button in or out: I'll always have an inny
  

What I miss: not having constant tailbone pain. I broke my tailbone many years ago & I re-agitated it while working out a few months ago & it hasn't healed. I am in constant pain. My dr. gave me a prescription for a pain killer that is safe to take while pregnant but said we needed to look into steroid injections if they don't help. I'm praying they help take the edge off because I really don't want those injections.
  

What I am looking forward to: looking for boy stuff! The bedding, decorations, clothes, etc are a whole new ballgame for me!
  

Weekly wisdom: If I am going to sit for an extended period of time I need to have a pillow to sit on. bleh
  

Milestone: Over half way there!!

sweet profile

somebody needed to join in ;)

19 Weeks

How far along: 19 weeks...skipped a week on here, oops! I also forgot (read: looked awful every single day this week so there is no picture) to take a picture this week.

Total weight gain/loss: I really don't know. I forgot to get a starting point, ya know, because we were in shock and all. Guess I'll find out at my next appointment

 

Maternity clothes: yep! I can still wear a few regular shirts, but I'm definitely in maternity pants full time. I love wearing dresses, too....bought a bunch of non-maternity maxi dresses and I think those will last me awhile =)

 

Stretch marks:  Still no new ones, and my old ones are beginning to tame themselves again.

 

Sleep: Much better! I only get up about once a night now, yay! My hands and/or feet often fall asleep during the night, though, and the annoyance of it wakes me up a bit, but I can get right back to sleep.

 

Best moment this week: Revealing to everyone that we're having a BOY!! I couldn't wait to find out (I've thought boy since day one, but nobody else agreed!) and my dr didn't schedule my next u/s until 21 weeks, so I used some bday $ and got a gender scan at just over 17 weeks. Jeff & I kept the secret a whole week! ha!

 

Movement: Holy cow, he's a mover! I definitely feel movement now. Lots and lots of movement. It is so weird feeling so much movement because it's early/he's still pretty low so I'm feeling it in different places than the other times. Love it!

 

Food cravings: no real "cravings" just a lot of preferences. Like, I now prefer a McDouble from McD's instead of the McChicken, etc.

 

Gender: it's a BOY!! Elijah Chase =)  the gender scan was pretty obvious, but we'll (hopefully) get confirmation in a couple of weeks
 

Labor signs: nope
 

Belly button in or out: just a monster of a cave
 

What I miss: not having to tell the girls "be careful, you'll hurt your brother!" when they want to lay/climb/cuddle/tickle/etc with me
 

What I am looking forward to: Getting confirmation that he's still a boy and then getting to start looking at boy stuff. It's going to be a whole new ballgame, folks!
 

Weekly wisdom: I "learned" it with both girls, but I have to remind myself...let others help you when they want to. Even though I know I can do something and someone else insists on doing it for me, let them.
 

Milestone: Feeling consistent movement

Sweet profile

*Ahem* (I feel like I'm exploiting my child)

              


 

<3 td="">

Telling family...Sophia is just now finding out. She's so excited for a brother!!