That Silly Little Easter Bunny

Colin was so excited for Easter this year.  We explained how the Easter bunny comes to little kids houses who are really good and leaves a basket (or bucket) filled with goodies.  He also likes to take they colored eggs and hide them to help them find where he hid their basket.  To prepare for the Easter bunny's visit we made cupcakes and colored eggs.

Colin painting his in new watercolor book

We made cupcakes as a family.  Everyone helped.  For those who enjoyed some of these treats - no worries we caught Colin before he had a chance to lick anything!

Colin patiently waiting to devour his Easter treat.  For some reason we decided to give it to him after his bath...

Colin for sure thought that the Easter Bunny would wake him up in the morning.  He did something close...The Easter Bunny woke up Colin by fixing his Encore Elmo and setting it in his doorway, pushing the button and hopping away so he could deliver more Easter baskets.  Colin woke up to Elmo telling him a story about the three little pigs. 

After breakfast we headed down to spend time with Bill and Patty.  Colin got even more gifts there from the Easter Bunny; like a Donald Duck dressed like a bunny.  Colin loved him.  He would wabble around singing a song and if you grabbed his ears he would start throwing a very Donald Duck type fit.



Colin playing with one of his Easter toys.





The Easter bunny left a wooden airplane in his bucket too



Then we headed to Grandma Liz's house for dinner and some Easter treats.  Colin must have been such a good boy because the Easter Bunny left another basket (one for Billy too - the name the Easter Bunny remembers Will as).  Colin got a cool bubble sword, a puzzle (which he put together with Grandma), pajamas and some cool trains! 

Dinner was delicious!  I definitely ate my share.  My appetite has increased the last few weeks. 

What a wonderful Easter!

Our Baby Girl: Week 37

I am 38 weeks today!  Yay - I made it!  At my appointment on Wednesday, my doctor said that she would not let me go past 39 weeks.  So, no matter what baby girl will be here at least by May 9th or so.  My 37th week was OK.  My doctor checked to see, if needed, could she break my water - which was kind of painful.  I also have to take a non-stress test each week and get a sonogram.  My doctor just expanded her office so the nurses were having issues finding the paper for the non-stress test.  Another trip to the hospital.  Actually that is not so bad because it is right down the road.  So, I went to ATC and had that done.  Well, during the test I started having contractions (my belly had become uncomfortable after my doctor checked me out) every 7 minutues.  They were not too painful but more so than the Braxton Hicks were.  They did my sonogram to check my fluids, which were OK so I was sent home.  The technician was nice and did a 3D picture of baby girl's face which was smashed because of her position.  It was nice of her because I would not pay to have that done, since I still find them a bit creepy looking.  I was going to tell her not to do it because I did not want to look at it but baby girl still managed to look cute.

Ever since Wednesday I have been crampy and not feeling well at night. The crampiness feels like menstrual cramps.  Plus, I have felt pretty nauseous.  This went on for a few days (I was still getting my kick counts that I needed) but on Friday I just felt really bad.  So, I called my doctor since they were closing early.  I described my symptoms and was told to go home and stay off my feet all weekend if I want to avoid having baby girl right now.  I do want to make it to next week so here I am laying on the couch with my feet up typing away.  Luckily, I have a husband who is so good at taking care of me!

Will and I failed to take a belly picture this week.  So, I borrowed one from Grandma Liz.  It is not the most flattering of me but pregnancy is not the most flattering situation.  You can see my legs are swollen - they go off and on with being that way.  Mostly depending if I am walking around or not.  This was on Easter Sunday.

Our Baby Girl: Week 36

Week 36 is done!  I am now full-term and getting closer to my goal of May.  This week was so hectic.  Colin's daycare was closed for the week so Will and I had to scramble and figure out how we were going to cover time with Colin at home without using that much PTO.  Both of our jobs were having a very busy week as well.  I think this week was the most exhausted and stressed out I have been the whole pregnancy.  I am in between wanting baby girl to come and wanting to hold out until May.  Either way we are getting closer to little girl's arrival and all three of us are so excited!



Sneak Peak

My good friend (who happens to be a great photographer) and I went to Old Town Alexandria this last Sunday to have a little photo shoot.  It was so much fun!  Thankfully we were able to fit it in before baby girl's arrival.  She sent me a couple of 'sneak peaks' pre-edited.  So, I will write more about the overall experience and more about my friend as well once I receive more pictures...but here are just two or three to look at.



Taken by Amy D.



Taken by Amy D.

Taken by Amy D.

We Love Spring

Colin and I are home today and tomorrow so we are having some fun craft time.  Today we painted a birdhouse. We are going to put it outside on our deck, so the little birds can eat bird seeds off of the little birdhouse porch.

I was pretty impressed with Colin's decisions on where to put the wood stickers.  We took turns choosing. I was thinking that his would be all over the place but it turned out pretty cute.

Our Baby Girl: Week 35

Week 35 was kind of a slow week because I know that my doctor's goal was for me to make it to 36.  My appointment went well though.  My fluids increased and baby girl was moving more.  I did not notice it though.  My placenta is anterior (meaning it lays right down the middle of my belly and it is believed (the nurse did not seem sold on the idea) that it can mean you may not feel as much movement because of the location. It acts like a pillow. She does move when I eat ice cream so I have been prescribed a lot of that! 

I think Colin is getting really excited for his baby sister's arrival.  He has been such a good helper.

First Sleepover

This last week Colin had his first sleepover.  His cousins Aidan and Alexei came over.  Here is a couple of pictures of them before I woke them up.  Colin was so excited the whole time.

Colin's Superhero Haven

Since we were painting the nursery we wanted to change Colin's room as well.  We went with a Superhero theme and he LOVES it! 



When we moved in





Will and his dad worked on this




The only decorations that are not really superheroes are the little trinkets I buy him from my trips.  You can sort of see them on the top of his bookshelf.  Most of his books are in his playroom but his favorites stay in his room.

His big boy Spider-man bed!

Oh, Colin started naming his own stuffed animals.  Will would tease me for my names.  Tiger was Tiger, Lion was Lion and so on.  That is how the famous Bunny got his name. I thought it was a great way for Colin to learn what they were and it was easy to remember (for me).  Well Colin now has a Teddy Bear named Cheese, a Tiger named Bread, a dinosaur named Toasty, and a Lion named Soup.  I think it is cute and so adorable!  Will is a little iffy on it.  I bet he misses my names!

We put a few of the final touches on his room today.  Well I think we have one more thing to do but here you go.



We will eventually add to this wall. 





I did his name and Grandpa B did Captain America's shield.



Our Baby Girl: Week 34

What to share this week???  Baby girl is still not moving a whole bunch.  My doctor's goal is to have me make it to 36 weeks.  I am hoping to at least make it to May.  Fingers-crossed.  I have been trying to take it easy but it has proven a very difficult thing to do when one is 'nesting' and one has a 3 year old running around.  We are getting ready though.  Baby girl's clothes are washed, her crib is set up and her room is mostly done.  We need to order a dresser and hang up a few things.  Here are some pictures this week.  It was after a nap.  Belly is getting bigger.  I am really close to the 20 lbs mark, which right now seems to be all belly.  I had been wearing my regular pants this whole time with an amazing invention the belly band that allows you to keep your pants unbuttoned.  Well, I tried on my pants this last week and they would not go all the way over my bottom...so sad.  But it is a very good achievement to make it to 34 weeks and still be able to put the pants on!  Maybe the extra cushion in my bottom will help my tailbone!

Our Baby Girl: Week 33

Well this week was somewhat eventful.  I was threatened with the dreaded bed restriction.  I went for my regular appointment on Wednesday and told my doctor that baby girl has not been moving very much the last couple of days.  Like a drastic change.  So, she had me do a non-stress test and baby girl was reactive in the beginning but dropped off.  Then she did a sonogram and noticed that my placenta is already looking older (so smokers placenta once again) and that my fluids around baby look low.  Thankfully they measured OK.  She gave baby girl a test which she scored 6 out of 8 on.  She did not do a breathing gesture and is concerned that if she is not happy in her surroundings that she may not be developing her lungs like she should.  It does not help that I am still measuring small and she is measuring big.  I wish my belly would grow to give her more space!

So, she told me to pack my bags (just in case) and then set up an appointment for me at ATC.  Talk about a stressful night.  I was 33 weeks (almost 34) and still have a month and a half.  I am realizing that she may not make it to her due date of May 14th but at least May 7th would be nice.  Or at least May!  She is roughly 5 lbs right now and I would like her to be bigger.  I would rather have a bigger baby than a small one.  Colin was 7 lbs 9 oz (and lost to about 6 lbs 2 after birth) and he was a good size. 

Thankfully she did better the next day.  She did the breathing gesture once and did better on the other test.  She is not moving as much as she was but is moving more than the last few days.  Stressing mommy out!