32 weeks

How has this pregnancy flown all the way to 32w (and a few days) already? It seems like I was dying to get this far last time while it slowed to a crawl the closer and closer it came. And then, of course, I had Eli at 34 weeks so I don't even know what pregnancy is like past such a time.

This time things are going so much better. At my last OB appointment, my blood pressure was a fabulous 117/80 and I noted to the doctor that at that same appointment last time, I waddled in with giant purple feet and so began my two weeks of daily NSTs and ultimately failed BPPs and the emergent emergence of my little guy.

This baby is sideways, just like Eli was, so I am headed for a repeat section. I can feel his head poking out my side now in exactly the same spot Eli did. A week ago I couldn't tell his position and now it is perfectly clear when I run my hand up and down my side!

In other news, we are moving in one week! Finally, we are embarking on this great adventure of a whole new beginning--new home, new town, new church, new friends, and new baby. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. It's been a long time coming and we are definitely ready. My prayer now is that we can get moved, unpacked, and adjusted by Christmas so that when January hits we are prepared for anything with this baby.

I suppose "prepared" would mean picking a name. Perhaps we'll get to that...

and so it goes

Where did fall go?

The leaves fell, Halloween came and went, and suddenly it was winter.

And now it's spring. I'd really like a little fall before the dead of winter begins!

Here's my ferocious shark-boy on Halloween.

Stick around awhile, Fall!

Still on the Great House Search. Eli is so big! Baby is kicking the heck out of my insides, but so far all is well. I'm so thankful for a much easier pregnancy this time around. Now to keep him in there at least until January--that is the next goal.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Last weekend our family saw both stitches and sickies.

After Noah's soccer game on Saturday we took the boys to the park, where Josh somehow managed to bash Eli's head into some playground equipment and make a gaping, bleeding hole. Since Noah lives in Podunkville, we had to drive a half hour back to our beloved city to get to Children's Urgent Care, where Eli got three awesome little stitches in his previously perfect little head. He didn't like being held down, but he did much better than I thought. I, on the other hand, cowered in the corner with tears in my eyes, just in my baby's line of vision, while Josh held him down on the table. I'm pretty sure I was more scarred than he will be.

Little did we know he had been sick the night before (the mess somehow was missed by his visiting grandfather, who got him out of bed in the morning) and was slowly but surely infecting the entire family. First Josh had his turn, then mine, and also not spared were Noah and his mother, Josh's dad (who was visiting), and probably most of the toddler class at church and the Urgent Care staff. Thanks, little dude. We all survived and I'm hoping this gets us off the hook for the rest of the sickies season (and this pregnancy!).

Fall is Fabulous

I'm pretty darn excited that it's October. Aside from the pollen count, this is probably my favorite month of the year. Things are changing, it's cooling off, the windows are opening, different clothes are being pulled out of the closet. It's fun to be outside. The holidays are approaching. Yes!

Today I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop while Eli naps and I have all the windows open. The breeze coming in is gloriously crisp and even gives me a slight chill--I love it! Outside my window I can see a tree with a few yellowing leaves among the green ones. The sun is shining.

And it's time to start planning fall activities. Hay rides, apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, carving pumpkins, Halloween, playing in leaves... and lots of pictures!

ruff ruff

I just told Eli he was eating a hot dog and he started barking.

At his 18-month appointment last week, his doctor was concerned about his speech. He called in some referrals so we'll be having a hearing and speech eval coming up soon. Well, I'm pretty sure my little barking boy can hear me. Who needs English?

On another note, I think it might actually be Fall now! Yes!!

monkey child

It's no secret Eli is part monkey. He's been scaling furniture since he could walk and scaling walls since then. For months he's been flipping the ottoman over and over across the room so he could reach things up high. He's figured out just about every child lock in the house. And now...

Now he's climbed out of the crib. Argh! I put him in his bed for a nap and about ten minutes later I heard pounding on his door. I knew it was too loud to be the cat, so I went to check. Sure enough, there he was grinning at me from the bunk bed ladder, lamp on the floor.

Great! I've already been fretting about his non-readiness for the big-boy bed in a few months when BB2 makes his appearance, but now I have to worry about it sooner than expected. I don't think he's ready to be out of the crib and I'm not sure what to do. Fence him in with a baby crib cage? Just let him try the bed? I'm worried about the bunk bed ladder and neck-breaking activities.

Where did my baby go?!

half baked

I had my 20-week scan this week (although we're a few days short) so Baby 2 is officially just about half baked!

He is still a boy and as of yet remains nameless. Poor kid doesn't even have a nickname!

Everything looked fine on the scan except I have a low-lying placenta. This was not pleasant news to me because I have been hoping and praying and hoping and praying for a VBAC. The odds are already stacked against me as I am high risk for preterm labor what with the issues I have and had previously--bicornuate uterus, preeclampsia, placental abruption, premature birth, and breech presentation. My awesome doctor is willing to do it if all the factors line up just right--but it seems like every time I go in they have another strike against my VBAC dreams. In order to get this baby out the way nature intended, I have to make it to term, go into labor naturally, have no PIH or placenta problems, have a head-down baby, and now I need my placenta to move the heck up and away from the exit. Oh please, oh please! Pray with me, y'all, I really, really want this and I'm starting to get a little discouraged.

But Nameless is doing great and measuring right on target. That is really the most important thing.

I feel bad to follow my complaints with this, but a friend of mine had her baby the same day as my ultrasound and her little boy was born with a couple different defects. He's already had one surgery and has more to come--and I so feel for my friend as she is going through so many emotions I couldn't even begin to understand. Little Mason is already such a fighter--just like his mom. Please keep Mason and his family in your prayers. You can follow his story here: Precious Mason.

And just because it's been awhile, here's Number One: