Tales & Trails

This week we attended an event called "Tales & Trails" at a local nature park. Last year, Eli came out to this nature park several times and enjoyed walking the trails. The trails are great because they are wide paths and don't go too far :) This event included walking the trails and stopping to read a story whose pages were posted every so often along the trail. The kiddos loved running down the trails and we all got some good exercise! Enjoy!

And they're off!:

Stopping to read the story:

Crossing the bridge:

And reaching the pretty pond with geese.....

....and frogs!

Heading back up to the center to have a picnic lunch together....yum!

I am going to try my best to do many of the same activities we did last summer with Eli AND Anna in tow. This nature park is a favorite along with the zoo, parks, splash parks, library story time, petting zoo, and maybe swimming lessons. Check out my next post which shows off some gifts I got that will help make our summer excursions possible...homemade wraps & slings!! Oh yes, and the double stroller!! :)

37 week appointment

Today's appointment went well....here are the stats:

Anna's heartrate: 147 bpm
Mommy's blood pressure: good!
Mommy's weight gain: 3 1/2 lbs which brings me to 40 1/4 lbs. gained so far!! I have had a lot more swelling so my midwife says it probably is primarily fluid. At Eli's 38 week appointment, I had gained 42 lbs., so here's hoping my weight gain slows down again :)
Mommy's tummy: 37 weeks
Strep B results: NEGATIVE!!

I decided to not be checked again this week. This time around, it's so much "what's the point?" since even if I am dilated/effaced, it means absolutely nothing! Labor starts when it wants to so why put myself through the pain! My midwife said she does want to check me at either 38/39 weeks which is fine. At Eli's 37 week appointment I was dilated a fingertip, if that says anything :)

I reviewed my birth plan with my midwife and she said what the practice does is have a few doctors look it over and then send over to the hospital so it is on file when I go into labor. I didn't turn in one for Eli, so it's good to know they really look at it! She thought it looked fine and agreed with what I had written.

I also talked with her about my lightheadedness, swelling more on left side, irritated eyes, etc. that I had earlier this week. As an FYI, those symptoms were all gone by Tuesday so that is good. She said the uneven swelling is normal, the irritated eyes could be hormonal or allergy related, and that the lightheadedness was probably just something random as symptoms like these just show up more towards the end. So, all is well and let's just hope not a lot of new symptoms arise before she arrives....especially the PUPPPS I had...boo to itching!

We also talked about how my contractions have increased just this week. While they are not the real painful kind, they are more uncomfortable. She said that my contractions should increase and they will become more intense just because my uterus is contracting so tight in prep for the big day. We also discussed starting to drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and she thought that was a great idea. I'll start next week as it does bring on more contractions (not labor contractions, but it's like your uterus is lifting weights for the big day :), it helps tone your uterus and keep things movin' when your body decides to be in labor.

So, there's my update....2 1/2 weeks until due date!!

37 weeks-FULL TERM!

We've made it! Anna is now full-term which is so exciting! It's wonderful knowing that she will be here anytime from now to 4 weeks (41 weeks). If Eli has any say, he wants her to come now! Yesterday he started to say that he wanted Anna, wanted to hold Anna, and wanted baby to come. He hasn't said that until now...so maybe he's on to something! In celebration of her upcoming arrival, I went with 2 other pregger mommies from playgroup to get a pedicure. I decided to get pink to represent a girl and got pretty flowers painted on the big toes. It was great fun to hang out for a couple hours and talk about pregnancy, babies, and our toddlers! Thanks Allison and Tiffany!:

When I was full term with Eli (see here), I wondered about when and where he would decide to get on his way. I worried about my water breaking at the store or at work and had thoughts of rushing to the hospital. It was totally different than that as my labor started slow with slight cramping over night, an already planned doctor's appointment at around 3pm the next day, and then the contractions slowly picking up over a few hours time. The doctor had to break my water for me and Eli took about 12 hours to get here once I was dilated to a 4!! No big scene like you see in the movies. I had time to pack everything I needed, call family, and get to the hospital. So, we'll see what this time with little Anna holds!

I see my midwife on Thursday again this week and will get my results of my Strep B test. Hoping it's negative but if positive, all it really means is having antibiotics administered during delivery. I may or may not get checked, we'll see how I'm feeling :) I will bring my birth plan to go over with her and hear her thoughts about our decisions. I'll also talk to her about my feet swelling more and my left swelling more than my right along with some slight lightheadedness I had this morning, irritated eyes and overall soreness in the thigh, pelvic, groin area. My research says it's all normal, but just want to keep her updated. I think the eye irritation is more due to allergies and I read pregnancy hormones can affect your eyes and make them drier. I don't remember having these symptoms with Eli (besides slight swelling) so if I continue to have strange lightheadedness or swelling, I'll call in before Thursday, but I'm thinking having my legs up more and not sitting with my feet down for long periods of time will help.

Fun 37 week fact: "Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born." (babygaga.com)

And my 37 week picture:

This week we will get her car seat installed, put up the pack-n-play bassinet, pack my & Anna's bags, clean the house, do some laundry, organize & clean up the basement (again now that we have so many boxes of clothes!!) and THEN enjoy a nice Mother's Day on Sunday :). Have a great week everyone!

Trip to the Fire House

A couple of weeks ago, our wonderful playgroup friend arranged for some of us to take a trip to visit the Oak Grove Fire Department. While it was a rainy day, we didn't let that dampen our spirits. Her house is just a few short blocks from the fire house, so we decided to walk. Too fun to walk in the rain with a group of 2 year olds...no really, it was! Here's our little parade:

The guys at the fire house were really awesome. They spent a lot of time with us and let the kids explore like crazy:

They even had fireman outfits their size to dress up in (there were pants & boots, too, but Eli didn't want them):

For some reason, the boys enjoyed the little fountain in front almost as much as the firetrucks themselves. They could have cared less that it was raining!:

AND, they gave us ice cream bars to eat! Obviously some of the men were daddy's so they had no problem cleaning up their faces, hands, and mess on the truck.

They also stopped traffic for us when we had to cross the main street to get back home. They were so awesome!! Eli LOVED it and I'm sure we'll have to return sometime! Mommies were slightly exhausted once we returned home, but it was worth it!

36 week appointment

This morning I had my 36 week appointment. All went well and from now on, I see my midwife weekly! I got my strep B test done today, but decided to hold off on being checked due to there being really no reason to and to avoid the pain of it!! My midwife said she believes Anna is head down now, so that is great. She probably isn't engaged in the pelvis yet, but that is common for 2nd babies. She said usually they drop all at once right before labor. We talked about what to do when I do go into labor and I told her about my labor story with Eli. She said I can stay home as long as I like and when I feel too uncomfortable and the contractions start coming faster, to head on in to the hospital. Then the hospital will do triage and then decide if I am ready to be admitted and contact my midwife. Excited that this time around that I know who will be delivering little Anna. Yay!! Here is my post about Eli's 36 week appointment. Below are the stats:

Anna's heartbeat: 149 bpm (while she wasn't super active, she didn't like getting poked & proded so she kept moving positions while the nurse tried to get her heartbeat!)
Mommy's weight gain: gained 1 1/2 lbs. so up to 36 3/4 lbs. gained...I was at 37 lbs. gained at this time with Eli...I'm actually a 1/4 lb. behind...WOW!
Mommy's blood pressure: good!

I hope to post over the weekend about Eli's adventures!

36 weeks!

36 weeks...and how am I doing today? As Eli would say "I'm AWESOME!!" Really, I am doing so well and have few complaints. My energy level is overall good but I do get tired more easily. I have noticed 2 things over the weekend, though. For one, I started to have occasional shooting nerve pain in my inner left thigh...exactly like I did as I neared delivery with Eli. Second, I felt some off & on yesterday like I was "leaking" (TMI for some :) and I remember feeling this with Eli & wondering if I was leaking amniotic fluid, which of course I was not. I talked about this at 37 weeks for Eli...so maybe she'll come right at 40 weeks since it's starting a week earlier??? Of course, there's no way to know! But, too funny that I am experiencing the same things as I did with Eli this time around! Love the blog to allow me to look back at Eli's pregnancy and re-read each week. Here is what I wrote about 36 weeks with Eli.

I start my weekly appointments with my midwife this week and I will see her on Thursday. I will get my Strep B test and may be checked...if I want. My only reason to want to (because it hurts!!) is to see if she is making her way into my pelvis. Last week she was still angled somewhat, but so was Eli, so she'll probably make her way just fine!

My to-do list is slowly getting items checked off, and sometimes I feel an urgent need to get it all done (nesting anyone??) and other times I think "we have a month!". We'll be fine, though, either way...right??

Fun 36 week fact: Most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. (babygaga).

Here's my belly pic:

And a pic of Eli & I before I went to my group baby shower. I had my hair cut & colored this weekend so I decided to actually fix it and look nice for the shower!:

I'll post about my appointment on Thursday and later about Eli and his trip to the fire department! This week should hold a lot of outside time as the temps are supposed to be great!!

Fairy Tale Village & Fritz's Restaurant

A few weeks ago, Crown Center put on an exhibit called "Fairy Tale Village". Essentially the kids were able to explore life size exhibits of fairy tales! It was free and was really fun to attend with our playgroup friends.

Ooooo....the troll bridge:

Little Red Riding Hood:

Sleeping Beauty...the kids could pull on the rope and it opened a curtain to sleeping beauty:

Sleeping Beauty's closet:

The Princess (Prince :), Pea, and the Mattress:

Eli taking a little swim in the river :)

Three Little Pigs...when the button was pushed the wolf talked and the fire glowed:

Jack & the Beanstalk:

Pinocchio...the kids could pull the ropes to make him dance:

Mopping for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:

Learning the 7 Dwarfs names:

Eli the prince:

Cinderella's carriage:

The Three Little Bears...Eli & Aidan decided to hold hands for a moment:

After Fairy Tale Village we all ate at "Fritz's" which is a train restaurant! It is diner type food and the restaurant has a large train display outside the restaurant and your food is delivered by trains! Perfect place to keep kids entertained while they eat!