Easter Fun!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  We had a great day! 

Easter Part I: Easter baskets & Brunch with the Clarks. 

Auntie Lo & Greg with the kiddos

Easter Part II: Easter Egg Hunt & Dinner at the Backers

The kids all participated in a great Easter Egg Hunt.  Everyone got 10 eggs filled with goodies!

Things to do while you wait for your baby to come

Things to do while you wait for your baby to come

Note: My doctor suggested that I shouldn't work past last Friday because of the distance of work from the hospital.

 

1. Watch some clips of 50 Shades of Grey in preparation for the DVD release on May 8th.
   
   
2. Purchase birthday cards for friends & family that have birthdays over the coming months.
   
   
3. Organize baby boy's clothes for the 10th time to make sure it's "just right."
   
   
4. Go to Target and stock up on some essentials.
   
   
5. Clear out all of your maternity clothes out of your closet.  Go thru your regular clothes and put them back in your closet.
   
   
6. Go thru all the birth announcement selections on Shutterfly and Tiny Prints and pick out your favorites.
   
   
7. Go thru your hospital bag and repack it...one more time. 
   
   
8. Organize your toddler's spring & summer clothes for  the 3rd time to make sure it's "easy" for other people to make her outfits when getting her dressed.  
   
   
9. Prepare blog posts for baby boy's arrival....and maybe the next 2 years of his life.
   
   
10. Go to Target again.  You forgot something...probably.

                          

Bumpdates: Week 39

~ Week 39 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 39 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Mini watermelon

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Not so much.

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Meeting Baby Luke Campanile

MISS ANYTHING? Lots but the end is near.

MOVEMENT? Yes

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Not really. 

LABOR SIGNS? 4cm dilated, 100% effaced.

SYMPTOMS: Charlie Horses, Sweating, Swollen Feet.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Meeting our baby boy - hopefully sooner than later. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Her BFF at school is having a baby sister so she told me this week, "I want a sister. I want to be matching with Lauren." 

Letter to my Baby Boy

You are my dearly loved son and you bring me great joy ~ Mark 1:11

Well baby boy, we are in the homestretch.  With less than 10 days until my due date, I'm anxiously awaiting your arrival.  For many reasons, everything is different this time around.  I'm progressing faster with you than I did with your big sister and thinking that I may actually experience going into labor naturally as opposed to being induced.  That is exciting and scary at the same time.  I'm at the point where people are surprised to see me at work and offer LOTS of commentary on how I look...what I'm wearing...how I'm walking...you get the point. 

You may find this hard to believe but I wanted you from the moment I met your big sister.  The joy and the love that I felt when I held your big sister for the first time was more than I could have ever imagined.  Those first few weeks after she was born, I kept replaying the moment in my mind because I was afraid I would forget that feeling.  Of course, I was wrong and I have never forgotten that feeling.  And now, I cannot wait to experience it with you.  No matter how hard it would be again to get you here, I knew in my heart that I needed to experience that moment of holding my baby for the first time whatever the cost.

Not like I was keeping track or anything but here's what it took to get you here...

2 successful IVF cycles & 1 miscarriage
52 Lupron injections
232 IM Progesterone injections

Lots of other medications
Countless ultrasounds & blood draws

Love

Patience

Determination

Commitment

Sacrifice
Prayer

Just like your big sister, you are my miracle. I loved you from the moment I saw your embryo on the screen during our embryo transfer.  In that same moment, there was something inside me told me that you'd be a boy.  During the procedure, one of the doctors asked what our first child was but I thought she asked what we would like to have so I answered, "Boy!"  Your dad looked at me like I was crazy.  We had a good laugh after I explained the mistake.  When we got that confirmation a few months later, I smiled and laughed knowing that I knew along.

Just to give you a heads up, you are about to be cast in the role as the little prince of this entire family as soon as you are born.  You will be surrounded by tons of little girls and little girl stuff thanks to your big sister and your 3 cousins.  Don't worry though, we have stocked up on boy stuff so that you will be swaddled in blues, puppy dogs, and sailboats as opposed to pinks, princesses, and flowers.  Your dresser and closet are stocked with stripes, plaids and camo fit for a bouncing baby boy.  We even have a pair of penny loafers so that you can match your dad's preppy style.  We are anxiously awaiting for you and your big sister Eloise to meet.  She has talked about you since the moment we knew you were coming.  She likes to call you "baby brother" and talks about all the things that she will do with you when you are here.  Do me a favor and humor her when she puts a princess tiara or jewelry on you for the first time.  I love being a mom to a girly girl but I can't wait to be a "boy mom" too. Bring on the trucks, trains & whatever else makes you smile!  I'm already a "dance mom" for Eloise but I look forward to being a soccer mom, baseball mom or football mom for you.  If your Dad were writing this, he would say no matter what that I'll be a hunting mom for both you & your sister since I'm already a whitetail widow (aka hunting wife).  

As much fun as it is to think that far ahead into the future, I'm mostly looking forward to our first meeting - whenever that is.  So, I'll just be as patient as I can while I wait for you. I'm going to enjoy these last few days of being pregnant for it truly is an amazing experience.  Not every woman gets to experience what it feels like to have your baby move around inside you or get the hiccups. Honestly, I'm a little sad that those days will be coming to an end.  I'm forever grateful for being able to the experience the miracle of carrying a child.  Thank you for being my second miracle and holding on tight.  See you soon. 

Love, 

Mommy

Bumpdates: Week 37 & 38

~ Week 37 & 38 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 37 Weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Swiss Chard

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Pfft. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Surprise breakfast from my fellow managers. 

MISS ANYTHING? Not breaking out into a sweat at the smallest tasks.

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Good pizza. 

LABOR SIGNS? 3cm dilated; 70% effaced.

SYMPTOMS: Feet swelling

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Warmer weather so I can get away with wearing maxi skirts as opposed to pants. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

"When baby brother is stinky, I give him a bath."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 38 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Leek

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: What's that? Weird dreams where I forget to nurse the baby plague almost nightly. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Laura bringing me homemade cards and my favorite foods. 

MISS ANYTHING? Not really.

MOVEMENT? Yes.

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Greek food.

LABOR SIGNS? 3-3.5cm dilated; 75% effaced

SYMPTOMS: Charlie Horses at night. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: The End :)

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Brad put back together our baby swing.  Eloise immediately climbed in it and said, "Look at me!"  We promptly told her that it's only for babies.  She proceeded to put 3 of her baby dolls in the swing.  

Week 34 - 36

~ Week 34 - 36 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 34 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Cantaloupe

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Sleepover at Grandma's = Sleep for Mama

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: See Sleep.

MISS ANYTHING? Sushi & Cocktails on Date Night

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? No. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Heartburn.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Maternity Photos

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

One of her friend's at school has a baby brother.  When I told her this, she got so excited and told her friend, "We're like sisters!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 35 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Honeydew Melon

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: So tired

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Maternity Photos!

MISS ANYTHING? Caffeine. Specifically, a Diet Pepsi. 

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Just trying to avoid aggravating the heartburn. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Heartburn & Body Aches/Pains.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Easter Ham.  Seriously. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

At my check up this week, Eloise was very observant of everything that the nurse and doctor were doing.  After my doctor told me "everything looks good," Eloise chimed in saying, "You looking good Mama."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 36 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Crenshaw Melon

GENDER: Boy.

SLEEP: Yeah...No. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Moved to my new office at work.  More comfortable furniture, closer bathroom, and located on the 1st floor.

MISS ANYTHING? Shoe options.

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? No.

LABOR SIGNS? No.

SYMPTOMS: Heartburn, swollen feet, and lots of pressure down under. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Volleyball For Charity.  35th Annual Tournament & Party. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Eloise noticed my stretch marks...

"You got scratches, Mommy? You need me to get you medicine?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few favorites from my maternity shoot with Chantel Ferraro...

Bumpdates: Week 30 - 33

 ~ Week 30 - 33 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 30 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Cabbage

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: So tired.

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Baby Shower for fellow pregnant mama Stephenie

MISS ANYTHING? Being able to put my socks on without difficulty

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Nothing this week. 

LABOR SIGNS? No.

SYMPTOMS: OMG - Dry Skin.  On a positive note, fabulous hair lately. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Finishing nursery.

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Mommy: What will you do with baby brother?

Eloise: I hold him.  I sing to him.

Mommy: What will you sing to him?
Eloise: "Twinkle, Twinkle'..."Sunshine"..."Frozen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 31 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: 4 navel oranges

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: More, please!

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Doctor's appointment.  Going every 2 weeks now. 

MISS ANYTHING? No.

MOVEMENT? Yes.

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? No. 

LABOR SIGNS? No.

SYMPTOMS: Caught a bad cold this week. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: My Sprinkle next weekend. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

When asking if she wants to feel the baby kick in mommy's belly, she puts her hand on my belly and says, "I push him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 32 Weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Jicama

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: So tired. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Received last piece of decor for nursery

MISS ANYTHING? Cold medicine.  Fighting a cold pregnant for over a week is not fun. 

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Had a Maple-Bacon donut this week.  Life changing. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Braxton Hicks in full effect. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Sprinkle on 3/15.

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

"I want to sing to baby brother in your belly." 
Proceeds to sing "Let it go" directly to my belly. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 33 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Honeydew Melon

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: If there was a competition in our house, I would be losing. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Sprinkle hosted by my Mom & sister Laura

MISS ANYTHING? No. 

MOVEMENT? Yes.

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? No. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Same old stuff

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Maternity photos next weekend

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Unprompted and said with desperation...."I want to see him!"

Bumpdates: Week 27 - 29

~ Week 27 - 29 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 27 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Cucumber

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Meh. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Mommy got the job she has dreamed up for years. It's like deja vu' since when I was about this far along with Eloise I got a new job as well. 

MISS ANYTHING? No. 

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Chocolate Chip cookies. 

LABOR SIGNS? No.

SYMPTOMS: Dry Skin. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Trip to Container Store for the closet system for the nursery.  Organizational nerd alert!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 28 weeks - 3rd Trimester!

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Eggplant

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: As good as it can get with trips to the potty

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Eloise asking to hub "baby brother" by hugging my stomach. 

MISS ANYTHING? No. 

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Pizza. 

LABOR SIGNS? No.

SYMPTOMS: Braxton Hicks, my old friend. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: It's the 3rd trimester!

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

"I hug baby brother."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 29 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Butternut squash

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: More, please.

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Doctor's appointment and ultrasound. 

MISS ANYTHING? Deli sandwiches. 

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? I really want a Diet Pepsi. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Reptile-like dry skin & hard-to-bend over-itis

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Maternity photo shoot & baby shower for Stephenie

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

Tells all the moms with strollers at school that those are for "baby brother in mommy's belly."

Bumpdates: Week 24 - 26

~ Week 24 - 26 ~

HOW FAR ALONG: 24 weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Ear of Corn

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Fabulous - vacation all week long!

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Everything about our Disney Cruise

MISS ANYTHING? Sushi

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Ice cream. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Horrendous sea sickness during the 1st night of cruise.  Nothing a little medicine and magnetic bracelets couldn't fix.  

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Next Dr. Appointment.

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

"We went on 'cation!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 25 weeks 

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Rutabaga

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: 5:30am wake ups - back to reality

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Doctor's appointment.  Always nice to get a good report on baby boy. 

MISS ANYTHING? No.

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Donuts.  

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Dry Skin - ouch! As Eloise says, "I have scratchy skin."

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Finishing Gallery Wall in Nursery. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

"I wanna see baby brother." 

(Mommy promptly lifts up her shirt to appease the demanding toddler.)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW FAR ALONG: 26  Weeks

BABY IS AS BIG AS: Eggplant

GENDER: Boy

SLEEP: Everyone is coughing and sick this week.  Sleep evades me. 

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Dinner with fellow expecting mama Stephenie

MISS ANYTHING? No.

MOVEMENT? Yes. 

FOOD CRAVINGS/AVERSIONS? Donuts.  The struggle is real people.  I had a dream about one. 

LABOR SIGNS? No. 

SYMPTOMS: Getting harder to bend over to do my normal mommy-toddler wrangling.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Shopping for some nursery items - dresser and closet system. 

BIG SISTER ELOISE SAYS:

As she sticks her finger in my belly button, "I tickle baby brother!"

We are approaching the end of the 2nd trimester.  Wow!  Time flies when you are chasing a toddler, cruising the Bahamas, and growing a baby boy.