Friday, June 28, 2013

Baby Update!

As of today (June 28th) I am two days from my due date!  This pregnancy has flown by... I really can't complain--once I made it past the sickness stage, things have been good.  No complications and I've been feeling good.  
7 Months

My most uncomfortable time (physically) was probably around 8 months.  I guess now, I'm just used to it!  I've been sleeping well (for the most part) and feeling good.  The worst things I've experienced this month are swollen feet/ankles (REALLY swollen!) and crazy emotions!  My gut feeling all along is that he would come this week--sometime right before his due date... at this point I'm beginning to rethink that!
7 1/2 Months

I know they say every pregnancy is different--the biggest difference with this one... all the early/false labor I've been having.  I'm talking almost every night for the last two weeks.  I've been having lots of contractions--usually in the evening.  Sometimes they are strong but don't get close together and sometimes they come really regularly but aren't very strong.  I have had 3 nights now when I thought for sure we would be going to the hospital... but we have not.

36 Weeks/8 Months

The kids are SO super excited.  They say almost every night and every morning, "I hope he comes tonight/today!"  They have enjoyed helping me get some things set up for our little man.  Kinnick told me a few days ago, "I can't wait to see what he looks like!"

37 Weeks

What's the plan?  Well, I'm still holding out hope that he will be here soon (like tonight or tomorrow!)  But he might decide that he wants a July birthday and that's okay too.  My next dr. apt. is Monday (July 1).  My doctor told me that if I'm still pregnant then I can pick a day to be induced (as early as Tuesday).  If I opt to wait, I can go another week and then they would schedule me for around 41.5 weeks at the latest.  At this point I think I will probably wait, but I'm keeping my options open for sure!  The good news is that I'm dilated enough that they can break my water to induce--hopefully that would be enough.

38 Weeks
 
This week has been very laid back and "unplanned".   Sadie finished her last day of "Spy Kidz" toady (it's a VBS/day camp at the church where I attend MOPS).  She has been gone each day 8--4 (and thankfully I've had some awesome friends who have helped drop her off and pick her up each day!)  Kinnick, Macey, and I have been trying to stay busy--library, mall, park, walks, cleaning.  It's been a good mix of getting out of the house so I don't go crazy, and relaxing/napping so I'm not too worn out.  It was a good week to be down a kid.
 

39 Weeks
 
As far as being "ready" for baby--I'm as ready as I will be!  The pack and play and changing table are set up with all his little clothes washed, sorted, and folded.  All the baby gear is out.  Car seat bases are installed in both vehicles.  Suitcase is packed.  I even made some fun "baby boy" cookies with my friend Michelle.  They are wrapped in cute baggies in the freezer waiting to be passed out to nurses and hospital visitors.  I keep cleaning and I keep reminding myself that my house will likely not be clean when I make it home from the hospital... and that's ok!
 

39 Weeks

That's pretty much it for now... I'm so excited to update this blog with some cute pictures of my sweet baby boy!  Stay tuned...

Cutest Cookies EVER!
 
My Helpers Getting Out Baby Stuff
 



June Misc.

Let me just say... "I'm LOVING Summer!"  I love having a laid-back schedule.  I love having time for morning walks/bike rides.  I love spending time in the sun.  I love having time for projects with the kids.  I love longer daylight hours and later bedtimes.  Keeping busy has made this last month of pregnancy go quickly by...  We sat down as a family to make a summer bucket list--each of us picked three things.  Hopefully by the end of August we will accomplish our list (I'll keep you posted!)
 
 Here are a few pics of our summer fun so far...
Pink Hair!

Bike Rides to lots of different Parks

Marc's Softball Games--the first one was FREEZING!

Splash Pad Time!

Hanging with School Friends

Water Balloons

Birthday Party!

Playing in the Summer Rain

Watching the Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup

More Bike Rides

Grandpa & Grandma Visit

Grandpa & Grandma Gorsch spent the last two weeks in CO.  Marc drove them to the airport and picked them up--we were able to enjoy a little time with them at the beginning and end of their trip...
Picnic Dinner at the Splash Pad

Dresses from Grandma--Cousin Emmy has a matching one, and so does Sadie's American Girl Doll!

Thanks Grandma!
Before they left to go back home, we enjoyed a trip to the mall to play (due to the rainy weather) and have lunch at the food court.  Sadie is in Spy Kidz (daycamp/VBS) this week so we missed her but Marc was able to meet us for lunch.
Kinnick & Macey enjoyed using chopsticks to eat their orange chicken!




And of course we had to have some ice cream to finish off our meal...


Berry Picking

June 18:  I have been really excited to take the kids strawberry and blueberry picking this year.   Blueberry picking doesn't start until mid-July so it might be trickier (with a new baby!)  When I heard about this local farm to pick strawberries, I couldn't wait to take the kids!  It's called Olive Berry Acres.  We had so much fun!
This was Macey's first experience "picking" anything... she loved it!  Her and I worked on filling up a basket together.
Sadie was my little expert--she went to town filling up her own basket.  She also convinced me that we needed to pick some raspberries too!
Kinnick was far more interested in eating the strawberries!  After about 30 minutes of picking, his basket was completely EMPTY!  He told me that he just needed my help so I helped him fill his basket.
Macey thought this was a "Biggie"

My 3 Berry Pickers!



My little "Berry Monster"!


Our final haul...

 My friend Sarah went with us--it was a huge help to have another adult (and a much more enjoyable car ride for me!) 

We ended up with 9 lbs of strawberries and 1 lb. of raspberries!


So far we've enjoyed strawberry shortcake, pancakes with strawberries, strawberry crumb cake, and strawberry milkshakes.  With the berries I still have left in the freezer we have plans to make strawberry icecream, strawberry oatmeal, strawberry lemonade, and strawberry popsicles.  YUM YUM!!

Father's Day

 
June 16:  This year for Father's Day we headed to the zoo for some family fun.  It was hot, it was crowded, we had a lot of fun!!  I was exhausted from all the walking but I loved having a family fun day together. 
 





Sadie used her own money to make this wax penguin... She later lost it in a bathroom.  Lucky for her Aunt NeeNee came to the rescue and let her make a dolphin.


We loved having Aunt Nee Nee join us for our Father's Day Zoo Trip!

The kids are excited to take Carver for his first trip to the Zoo.

We enjoyed watching the dolphin show!


I feel so blessed by the amazing Father that my children have!  They are truly lucky kiddos--we don't get to celebrate him enough!