Weekly updates

Nolan had such a great week. After last week, I was a little nervous he was showing more toddler type behaviors and was being a bit more challenging but this week he was generally back to his sweet self! We had a lot planned, and I always get a little nervous about how he will do when we have to wait or he has to sit still for longer periods of time. He did really well at all the appointments and meals that we had out. 

On Monday, we went to story time at the library. We played with blocks and puzzles before going into the story room.

He loves building!

Watching the other kids.

Being silly before nap time! He likes to hide behind the ottoman and when I say, "Where's Nolan?" he pops up and smiles! Those giggles, laughs, and smiles are the best. 

After nap time, we usually go for a wagon ride to get the mail. We have a community mailbox now down in the other cul de sac.

On Tuesday, we met my friend Erica for lunch at Flying Biscuit. She's pregnant and due in October. Super excited for her and Ryan. Nolan did well at lunch until the end when he started making random noises. This restaurant gives you a free kids meal on week days with the purchase of an adult meal. Definitely want to go back there again! We had his 15 month appointment. I did an earlier post about that. 

On Wednesday, I had my 34 week doctors appointment. I brought Nolan with me, and he did great. A balloon and goldfish really helped keep him entertained and happy. 

On Thursday, we had my dog's yearly vet appointment. I had my hands full with Nolan, Sydney, and being very pregnant but we managed. While we waited for Sydney, we went back to my old neighborhood to visit Liz and Micah and my friend Shelley. 

Nolan found a baby at Liz's house. Practicing for little sister! Seeing him hold this doll made me think about how special it will be to see him hold his sister. I really can't wait to see them together! 

He passed out on the car ride home, and I transferred him to the crib. He usually does well with car to crib transfers as long as he has only been asleep for 10-15 minutes. Longer car rides can be more refreshing and then he doesn't want to continue his nap in the crib.

We've been shopping online a little more lately (easier than going to the store with a toddler and super pregnant). I'm loving Amazon prime and getting the things we need quickly. Nolan loves playing in the cardboard boxes we get. Who needs toys when you can play in a box?

We took Nolan out to dinner Thursday night because we had a free entree coupon that was expiring. He was well behaved at dinner, and we took him to the park afterwards. Love seeing Jeremy and Nolan being silly together. 

And then it was bath time and bed time. He's been wanting to brush his own teeth lately. 

On Friday, we had a play date with my friend Ashley and her son, Jackson. I forgot to take pictures. We had a quiet Friday evening and Saturday morning. I've been trying to leave ourselves more time for house projects and just spending time with Nolan.

On Saturday night, we had my friend Ashley and her husband Chris over for dinner. I wanted to do something to thank her for hosting my sprinkle. We had a salad, grilled kabobs, and cookies for dessert. It was a perfect summer meal! 

The picture is a bit blurry but Nolan loved playing with Ashley and Chris! They are so good with him and such naturals with little ones.

It's already Sunday again and time to prepare for another week. I've been keeping my schedule a little quieter now that I'm pretty pregnant. Trying to rest up and take care of myself in between taking care of Nolan. Hope you all had a nice weekend! More soon!

35 weeks

How far along: 35 weeks

Total weight gain: 28lbs 

Maternity clothes: yes! Some are getting small now that I'm getting bigger. 

Baby is the size of a: melon (19.5in/5.5 lbs) 

Stretch marks: no 

Sleep: not the greatest. I wake up frequently and have been having a hard time falling asleep. 

Missing anything: not really. I really want to enjoy these last few weeks of being pregnant. I know I missed being pregnant after Nolan was born so trying not to rush the end this time. 

Movement: yes! I feel her a lot. Her feet kick one side and her elbows and arms on the other side. Sometimes I feel her head putting pressure down lower. The doctor confirmed she was head down last appointment. 

Best moment this week: having conversations with people about when I'm due and what I'm having. 

Food cravings: Peaches and blueberries. Fruit in general! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope 

Gender: GIRL!!

Labor signs: I've had a few Braxton hicks and tightening but not much. 

Symptoms: Shortness of breath from the crowding by my lungs. Difficulty getting comfortable. 

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? On but a little tight 

Mood: excited 

Looking forward to: my 36 week appointment next week. Can't believe I start weekly appointments. These last few weeks of pregnancy and finishing preparations for her!

Two year IUI anniversary

July 28th will always be a special day for me. Two years ago, I walked into my specialist office for an IUI (inter uterine insemination). We had been trying to get pregnant for 13 months, and this was our first attempt at a fertility treatment besides oral medications. After a year of not conceiving, I wasn't sure what to expect this time but I was hopeful maybe this would do the trick. Sure enough two weeks later, we found out we were pregnant with Nolan. 

It's crazy to think that just two years ago, I was wondering when I would get pregnant, and now we are just 5 weeks away from having our second little one. It's amazing how much can change in such a short time frame. I'm thankful everyday that I've been able to experience this wonderful pregnancy and motherhood journey. We really are so fortunate, and I continue to hope all goes well with the arrival of our little girl. 

15 month well visit

Yesterday we had Nolan's 15 month well visit. Jeremy came too which is always nice. I love that our pediatrician has later appointment times so he can join us. We got there on time but they were quite slow. Our appointment was at 4:15 and the doctor didn't come in until 5. Nolan wasn't a fan of being contained in a tiny room that long. He was entertained by his socks and this little rocking chair for a good bit of the time. 

The nurse did his height, weight, and head measurements. This time for his weight he got promoted from the baby scale to the standing scale! 

He weighs 26lbs 3oz which is the 90th percentile. He gained 1.5lbs since his 12 month appointment.

Getting measured! He is 32 inches which is 80th percentile. He grew two inches since his 12 month appointment. 

Not a fan of the head measuring. 

Waiting for the dr! Hard to believe next appointment will be for his baby sister! (Assuming he doesn't need any sick visits) 

Time for his vaccines. They did the chicken pox and mumps, measles, rubella this time and in his arms not his thighs. He cried but recovered quickly. He was asleep on the car ride home. All in all it was a successful visit.

We asked a few questions but we didn't have any major concerns. Nolan's been eating and sleeping well. He's been very healthy too. Next visit will be at 18 months! 

Baby girl's nursery

I've been having a lot of fun decorating a girl nursery. After looking at pictures of nurseries to get ideas, I decided on a vintage, floral theme. I found two antique pieces of furniture that I loved and thought could grow with her. We purchased those pieces and then I was on a hunt to find a crib that went with them. 

It ended up being more challenging than I imagined finding an off white antique looking crib but I ended up finding this one online. (This was after I bought another off white crib online that turned out to be the completely wrong color. Thankfully we were able to return that one.) I went to see a crib by this company in person before ordering this one so I knew I liked it. It's off white, iron, and has the distressed look like her furniture. It's exactly what I was hoping for!

Next I was in search of bedding. I knew I wanted a pale baby pink. I ended up finding these sheets and crib skirt at the same place I got Nolan's called Carousel Designs. I liked the idea of having a solid pink crib skirt so it gave me more options for sheets to go with it. 

Next, I decided to make the ribbon banner for the wall above the crib. I got the fabric and ribbon at Hobby Lobby and Michaels and put that together. I found little antique looking hooks to hang it from and also got the headband holder as well.

This is another side of the room. I decided to get a second glider because I figured there would be nights I would be nursing her and Jeremy might be reading to Nolan in his room. I have used his glider so much that I knew this was a priority for me. I will spend many hours nursing here. Originally I was going to do a gallery wall of different frames above the changing table but decided to keep it simple with this one larger picture.

This is her other piece of furniture. Just need to add the curtains to the windows. 

All in all, I'm really happy with how it turned out! I can't wait to spend lots of time holding her in her room!

34 weeks

 

How far along: 34 weeks 

Total weight gain: 27 pounds (25lbs according the the Drs scale)

Maternity clothes: yes! Still rotating the same shorts and tank tops or short dresses. 

Baby is the size of a: pineapple (19.5in/5 lbs) 

Stretch marks: no 

Sleep: not the greatest. I wake up frequently and have been having a hard time falling asleep. I remember that with Nolan too. Just part of the last weeks, and good prep for the sleepless nights when the baby arrives.

Missing anything: sleeping on my back and stomach

Movement: yes! I think she moves more than Nolan did. I notice her more during the day too. She's been getting hiccups lately too, and I love that movement. 

Best moment this week: finishing up her nursery. Just need to get curtain rods and hang her curtains that my neighbor is making. So sweet of her!

Food cravings: Mac and cheese

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope 

Gender: GIRL!!

Labor signs: I've had a few Braxton hicks and tightening but not much. 

Symptoms: Heartburn in the evenings, leg cramps, and feeling tired doing very simple things. Shortness of breath from the crowding by my lungs. The heat probably doesn't help. All common symptoms so I can't complain at all. They're all manageable and part of the process. 

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? On but a little tight 

Mood: anxious about the labor and delivery but so excited to meet her! 

Looking forward to: my 34 week appointment this week. Can't believe I start weekly appointments next week! I also am getting a free prenatal massage on Wednesday night. I am so excited. I haven't been able to rest and take care of myself as much this pregnancy since I'm so busy with Nolan and getting settled in the house. I'm really excited for an hour of relaxation. 

15 months

Nolan is 15 months today! I will say these last few weeks he has been more challenging at times but that comes with being a toddler. His sweet moments definitely outweigh his grouchy moments though. 

He's not a fan of diaper changes anymore and tries to flip over and run away. He's also gotten a little more particular about the foods he likes. Generally he is a very good eater but some days he will like a food and other days he won't. He likes snacks in his snack cup. Baby goldfish are his favorite, and he also likes Cherrios. Teddy Grahams used to be a favorite but not anymore. He's been enjoying lots of fruits, especially peaches, watermelon, blueberries, and strawberries. Frozen mixed veggies are another go to favorite as well as Mac and cheese. He's usually good about eating chicken, fish, and eggs but sometimes isn't a fan. 

He's still very interested in reading, building, balls, balloons, and dogs. He says ba ba ba for ball and balloon and da for dog. He likes to find them in books and out in public. I love watching him learn. He also understands many directions such as drink your milk or please go get me a ball. I can't wait to see what he picks up next. 

Here are some 15 month pictures from this week. 

Still loves swinging. 

We attempted coloring. He tried but enjoyed holding the crayons and watching us more than trying himself. 

He still snuggles really well. 

We had fun at catch air with his buddy, Coleton. 

Friends!

Nolan stepped right in and started building with the older boys. He would get the piece and hand it to the boy to add to the tower.

He's typically sleeping 8:30pm-8:30am but sometimes it's earlier depending on how long his afternoon nap was. I've been trying to keep his schedule pretty consistent. I think it will make it easier when the baby arrives. Everyday is a little different though and I know I need to be patient and flexible with him. More soon!

More baby preparations

Baby girl's nursery was quite a mess after the shower. She was definitely sprinkled with lots of amazing gifts from clothes, to bows, to diapers, to wipes, and much more. Thank you again to all our family and friends who helped us prepare for our little girl. 

We have almost everything that we need but I still have a list of some things we still need to pick up. (More newborn diapers, a changing pad, some more sheets, curtains and curtain rods for her room, and any other decor to complete her room) I feel like I'm getting closer but it's going slower this time since I'm occupied with Nolan much of the day. And not only am I decorating a nursery but trying to get an entire house together. My to do list seems endless but taking it one day at a time. 

I love how Sydney is supervising.

Hopefully he won't try to sit in it once she's in the bouncy seat! I had to put it up high or in a closet or he thought it was a toy to bounce on. He's just a little too big! 

I went through all the baby items that I had packed away which we will use again. All these items I bought gender neutral so we could use them with all our babies. We set up the pack and play, the Rock and play, the bassinet, and the bouncy seat. I also got out my Beco Gemini and Baby Bjorn carrier as well as the Moby Wrap. I'm hoping to maybe use the wrap more with her since it won't be as hot when she is a newborn. I plan to baby wear a lot since I'll have Nolan to chase around and will need my hands free.

When I set up the pack and play, it brought back such great memories of Nolan napping in it. I went back and looked at some pictures from his first few days at home. Gosh he was tiny. Even though it was only 15 months ago, you seem to forget how tiny they start out. Just for fun, I layed him on the changing pad and then put the two pictures next to each other. What a difference! 

Besides prepping baby stuff, I've gotten the supplies I need to take care of myself afterwards. It's nice knowing what was helpful last time around. I also started packing my hospital bag and did my pre registration for the hospital. Her due date is coming up quickly! Only 6 weeks or so to go! 

Weekly updates

We had a nice weekend. They always go too fast. On Saturday we had a third birthday party to go to. It was at a place called Kid's Paradise. Nolan had never been to an indoor play place like that before, and he enjoyed himself. I think he was a little overwhelmed at first by all the colors and sounds but then he started playing. Here are so pictures. 

Not so sure what to think.

Learning how to go backwards down the stairs.

Hanging out in the ball pit. 

Climbing!

Down the slide with Dad!

Going for a ride.

Pizza and cake time with his friend Clara.

The birthday girl and her family.

Such a cute frozen themed party!

On Monday morning, we had fun at the park before it got too hot. 

And then we went to story time at the library. This was his first time, and he did really well! We definitely want to go again. I'm trying to spend as much time with him as possible these next few weeks. Lots of Mom and son time before he's not an only child anymore. 

Lots of reading and using my belly as an arm rest! My lap is running out of room! 

Lots of snuggles and giggles! His top two molars are coming in now. He has 10 teeth with 2 more coming in. More soon!

33 weeks

How far along: 33 weeks 

Total weight gain: 26 pounds 

Maternity clothes: yes! 

Baby is the size of a: honeydew melon (19inches/4.5 lbs) 

Stretch marks: no 

Sleep: slightly better this week but still waking up frequently 

Missing anything: shaving my legs and bending down easily  

Movement: yes! She has been moving a lot. Slower stronger movements now. 

Best moment this week: organizing her room

Food cravings: nothing in particular 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope 

Gender: GIRL!!

Labor signs: not yet 

Symptoms: Heartburn and feeling tired 

Belly button in or out? Pretty much out 

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Mood: excited but a little nervous 

Looking forward to: finishing the nursery 

Nolan lately

I'm really enjoying these last few weeks with Nolan as an only child. I've kept my schedule less busy and am spending lots of time just the two of us. We went to the park, on walks around the neighborhood, and played and read for endless hours at home. Here are some pictures from the week. I feel like since he started walking it can be harder to get posed pictures so some are more action shots! 

Climbing at the park

Getting ready to go down the slide.

He still enjoys the swing, and it gives me s little break from chasing him. :) 

Uncle Dennis and Aunt Emily got him a train table. He's a little young for it still but does well playing with it as long as I am showing him how to put the trains in the track. I know this will be a favorite spot for years to come. 

He is really into balls. He likes to put them on my lap, come sit, and then throw them. He will fetch them and do it again over and over. 

He thinks he still fits. 

Evening walk 

Oh how I love these bedtime snuggles. Wish I could keep him little forever.