Clemson Baseball

Our family gathered today in Clemson with some of Dave's oldest friends (aka former roommates), their spouses, and children for our annual baseball weekend. The festivities have changed quite a bit through the years. We had present a handful of single guys, a set of newly weds (who are kid free), and 7 children (plus 1 in utero). The tailgate involved guys and a grill - which is nothing new. However, during the tailgate only one beer was consumed and the Jell-O was vodka free and rather a kiddy snack. Our tailgating games and entertainment consisted of watching toddlers and preschoolers bounce off an oversized ball as they chased after it and running interference when a car approached our area or one of the children started to make his/her way towards the roadway.

David was able to get some great photos of our group - Click Here!

36 Weeks and 1 day (but who's counting?)

Carly and I ventured over to the doctor's office early this morning for my 36 week check-in. My weight and blood pressure were right on track, and the baby's heart beat was 129 (he was asleep at the time). The nurse asked if I had any questions for the doctor - I had nothing major so away she went.

When the doctor came in, I did ask how far in advance I should arrive at the hospital since my GSB test came back positive and I would need an antibiotic IV during a portion of my laboring time. We discussed how Carly's pregnancy had quit following the standard protocol around this point and she had begun to measure small. As I was saying this, the doctor had me sit back and began to measure my bump - 35 centimeters. DUH! I officially jinxed myself over these last 2 visits asking about "normal" courses of action and appointment schedules.

Dave, the doctor, nor myself are worried about me now measuring a week behind after being on track since the doctors began measuring me - however, this does mean we get an extra ultrasound next Wednesday to double check our little boy's growth!

"Baby Doctor"

Carly has attended most of my OB appointments (baby doctor) with me during this pregnancy. Her favorite time during each visit is when the nurse uses the doppler to listen to our baby boy's heart beat. Her excitement was first expressed verbally. She would say "boom, boom, boom" when asked about going to the appointments with me. Then a few weeks ago she went to Discovery Place Kids and was very interested in the doctor station. She wanted me to get on the scale, take my blood pressure and temperature, and then used the stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat in my belly. This was one of her favorite stations on our most recent trip too.

Tonight, Carly began playing baby nurse/doctor at home. She found a tube that reminded her of the tube that the doppler gel comes in and pretended to squeeze it out on my belly. She then would get a cloth and "wipe" it up, just like the nurse does when she is finished.

Thankfully she is still enjoying these visits... we hopefully have a few more to go before our little boy makes his arrival.

35 Weeks

David and I were "officially" 35 weeks pregnant yesterday, so Carly and I ventured off to the doctor this morning for my check up. I was happy with my weight (2.5 pounds gained in 3 weeks), my blood pressure was normal, and our little boy's heartbeat was 152 beats per minute once he stopped twisting enough for the doppler to register it. (I know the nurse was getting frustrated during this portion. We could hear the heart and knew things were fine, but he kept moving away so the hand held device wouldn't show her a digital reading.) My uterus/belly also measured 35 centimeters which is right on track for being 35 weeks pregnant.

During this visit I was also cultured for Strep B. (I tested positive for this with Carly and needed antibiotics during delivery as a precaution.) I was offered to push this culture back a week, but requested to go ahead and have it done just so we would know sooner than later if a similar precaution needed to be made this time. During this portion of my visit, the doctor also went ahead and checked to see if I was making any progress with the Braxton Hicks contractions that I've been having irregularly for a while. It turns out these pesky little things are doing their "job." I am 1 centimeter dilated, 60% thinned out, and the head is currently in a -3 station. (I need to progress to 10 centimeters and +4 stationing of the head.) The doctor's comment was that we were progressing nicely and everything seems to be right on track. So, please do not start stressing that our little boy will be making an appearance soon. I know of moms who have been in similar situations that needed to be induced days after their due date and moms who delivered within 12 hours of being more closed up than this. This is just a tracking system for the doctors and some reassurance that the discomfort I'm feeling now with Braxton Hicks contractions is helping to shorten how much will need to happen to my physically during labor and delivery. Although, I am very curious as to how things will progress in the next 7 days. My goal is only that I don't stall out, I want some change - no matter how small it may be (but that is because Carly's labor turned into more of a mental game rather than a physical game for me).

Strange

So last night was rather strange -

Carly did not nap during the day, so was very easy to put down at bedtime. However, around 12:30 this morning I woke up and found her sitting on top of my knees. When I asked what she was doing there was no response. I woke David up for assistance - I couldn't sit up or move Carly with how she was sitting on me. He scooped her up and took her back to her bedroom. They laid down together for a few moments, but he doesn't feel like she was even awake. I did not bother to ask her about it this morning because I did not want to give her the idea of coming into our room in the middle of the night, but I am very, very curious about what she remembers - if anything.

We are both slightly bothered by her middle of the night appearance in our room because the stairs are between our room and her room, so a gate will be up at the top in the very near future. Hopefully tonight won't be quite to interesting.

Still Potty Training

Our potty training approach seems to be taking more of the tortoise approach verses the hare's approach. Carly is having few accidents during the day; however, is still sleeping in a diaper at nap and bed time. And has been going out in a pull up on any errand that is planned to take more than 30 minutes or is enjoyable for Carly.

Yesterday afternoon I found her making some noises and got her to the potty just in time to have a full and successful poop. We celebrated and talked about how there is no uncomfortable baby wipes needed when she goes on the potty (as opposed to her diaper during nap and bed time).

Then today Carly was not interested in wearing a pull up today to gymnastics. Just before we left she told me she needed to pee, off to the potty we went. Then about 5 minutes later she said she needed to poop and was successful. Due to both of these events I hesitantly decided to agree to let her head off to gymnastics in her big girl underwear. My biggest fear wasn't gymnastics but the play date she had schedule for after gymnastics. So, I quickly packed up the potty seat of her choice, a new outfit, M&m's, plus the items we needed for our picnic lunch play date.

Carly was not interested in using the potty at all during our time at gymnastics, which made me nervous as we got back in the car to drive about 20 minutes north to her play date. We "moved" into the house hosting her play date with all of the items needed for our 2 hours visit. During our time Carly was accident free and successfully used the potty twice.

I'm not sure how far I will let her venture out tomorrow in big girl underwear instead of a pull-up; however, we are making slow and steady progress.

First Boat Ride of the Season

Our family had it's first boat ride of the season today! David decided to take the afternoon off for a "mental health afternoon" and was going to use his time to "check" and "work" on the boat. He claimed he wasn't going out, but promised to call me if he did. He of course called and was heading out. While out and about to make his return trip he called and asked if Carly and I were interested in joining him. Carly was still down for her nap and I wasn't feeling a boat ride thanks to our baby boy's position directly on my bladder, so David headed home. Before making his way back to our docks Carly woke up and questioned me about where her daddy was. As I explained that he was out on a boat ride, she began insisting that she went on one too. So after a quick call to Dave (where Carly told him "me take boat ride") and a few minutes to pack a cooler, down to the boat we travelled.

The 3.5 of us had a lovely time on the water. Carly got a chance to drive the boat with David. She even began dancing when he turned on the music during our cruise. Thankfully, our trip was short and smooth so I was able to enjoy the ride without wishing we had upgraded our boat purchase 5 years ago (minus 1 day) for one that had a toilet on it. I'm hoping that our wonderful weather continues and the lake will continue to be smooth for a while so that I can enjoy a few more rides before our little boy arrives.

Spring is Springing

Spring hasn't officially begun, but you wouldn't know it here. Last week Carly convinced her Aunt Julia to play with her A LOT outside. They played with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and orchestrated two picnic lunches. Carly's enthusiasm for being outside and the beautiful weather continued this weekend. Our recent transition to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday morning has really allowed her to take advantage of all of our beautiful weather. She has been to the park and played outside - like she did before our time change. But since the time change we have been on a family walk each evening and she's been able to play outside before and after dinner with David when he gets home from work. (Something I think they are BOTH enjoying!) Unfortunately, this has not been helping us stick to her bedtime routine/schedule - but we are all enjoying ourselves and sleeping very well once we get to bed.

Swimming Lessons 103 - Session 8

Carly had her last swimming lesson for this session today. Her instructor took one of the floatation pieces off of her bubble (so she had 3 pieces of foam, compared to her typical 4 pieces) and also didn't tighten the bubble as securely on Carly as the moms had been instructed to do so in previous sessions. Carly spent a great deal of time "swimming" with the kick board and without during this lesson. She did start to get frustrated when the kids were told to "swim" towards a ball and as she approached the ball she realized she was the only kid whose mom wasn't holding on to her. She would look at me and start to whine and then look at her Aunt Julia (who was also in the pool with her) and miss her opportunity to grab the ball and be the child to throw it.

At the end of our lesson today Julia was able to grab my phone and get a few videos and photos of Carly swimming.

Jumping into the Pool

Jumping and then Swimming

Floating on her back (not her favorite activity)

Here is a link to more photos from today's swimming session.

Dinner Time

Having fun with Aunt BooBoo

(while Mommy is away)

Gymnastics

Walking up the wall

Bear Crawl

If You're Happy and You Know It

Carly singing with Violet!

Doctor's Appointment

I went for my 32 weeks appointment today, and everything looked great! Our baby boy's heartbeat was 130 beats per minute, I measured 33 centimeters (which is right on target since I'm 32 weeks and 4 days officially), and no swelling. This has given me an extra week off from the doctor - so I'll be back at 35 weeks! Crazy to think about!

Swimming Lessons 103 - Session 7

Today's swimming lesson had Carly swimming independently for much of the lesson. The teacher had her using a kick board and in a bubble and away Carly went. She was eager to bump my baby bump with her kick board - luckily I kept moving! She did occasionally "get me," but then quickly turned and moved on to bumping another object she saw that interested her.

Towards the end of her lesson Carly let go of the kick board and swam reaching for balls. She even swam a very, very short distance through a hula hoop without a kick board and bubble. Unfortunately, her swimming without a kick board and bubble looks a lot more like running through the water. Oh well - she'll get the hang of it soon.

Carly and I have one more swimming lesson in this session!