Better With Age

The older that Baby Johnny gets, the more fun it is for us! He loves to interact, chat, play, dance, run, hide which are all so much fun for us.  He's great at going down for bed now without a fight. He has his good night routine that he loves including brushing his teeth and saying goodnight to Kylie. He always wakes up happy in the morning, although I wish it would be later than 5:30-6 a.m. Ugh. That's really going to bite me in the --- when new Baby Shebl gets here. He loves to play ball, go outside, "drop the hammer" on Dad, read and is picking up new words including yes, which is such a relief from the constant "no" that we used to get for EVERYTHING. He's learning new words everyday and will mimick us in reciting A, B, Cs (which I tried to record today but didn't go well).

He loves exploring new places finding spots to hide things or himself. I finally found my comb after 2 weeks of searching. It reappeared in the living room. Johnny went to put on his work boots and found playdough, an outlet plug and dry grass.  I'm still searching for a scarf from December...thinking I need to let the dream die on that one.

How could I forget stairs?! He LOVES stairs.

The Season For Sharing

Since it is the season for sharing, I thought I should share some of Johnny's recent news and pics. He's getting to be such a big boy. He's walking now....I should say running....everywhere! He's growing super fast and is always surprising us with funny actions, expressions and goofy antics. His current vocab includes: dog, brush, ball, Da-Da, Ma-Ma, no (means no, yes maybe and thank you), cheese (only used for taking pictures), up please, hi and book. He has 8 teeth: 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. The better to bite things with. 

He LOVES all fruit, cheese, crackers, meat, milk, pizza, pasta, anything sweet. Oh....and dog food. You know it's probably just easier for me to tell you what he doesn't like to eat....most vegetables (unless juiced). 

He loves to give kisses and has finally started making kissy face instead of approaching you open mouthed for the close encounter, which we all appreciate. 

He loves going places (in his new forward facing carseat), the park, his slide, Legos and being outside with Dad. 

Growing So Fast

So today is October 1st. That means that Baby Johnny's first birthday is in 3 days!! I can't believe it's been a year already. We thought he was amazing when he was a newborn, but every day he is more interactive and we enjoy him even more. He loves to yell, make faces and noises to get people's attention and it makes you laugh every time!!

Two Month Appointment

Baby Johnny's two month appointment was last week. I was SO nervous about him getting his shots because it is shocking and painful for him. I've also been going back and forth on the necessity of all these shots. I know everyone has an opinion about newborn shots. I was conflicted. Although, Johnny and I both had our shots and turned out good (except for that extra toe Johnny has and my extra belly button hole, but who's judging!).

While we were waiting for his appointment, I could hear kids getting their shots and screaming! Ugh. I knew I should've waited for Johnny to come with me! I do not want to hear my son cry or let him see me cry!! We went in and the NP weighed him, measured him, checked him out. She said he looks fantastic! He weighs 11 lb 2 oz. now. Yeah! Way to grow.

While we were waiting for the nurse to come in and give his dreaded shots, I thought I would feed him a little while he sat in his diaper. Suddenly my lap gets warm and all of a sudden there's a mess...in my lap, on Baby Johnny's back, legs, on the chair!!  I had to open the door and ask for assistance from a nurse so I could set Baby Johnny down and try to clean myself up! This is clean!!

While it was a mess, it did help distract me from his shots and I could focus on trying to comfort Baby J after his shot series. I hope he doesn't think I was punishing him for messing on some of my favorite jeans. ;0P They said he could be fussy, get a fever, be a little needy. He slept pretty heavy for that and the next day, wanted to be held, but never got a fever. Yeah! Now, back to the house so I can change.

Did you have all your shots as a child? Such a controversial topic.

Week 37: Anyone For Swiss Chard?

At 37 weeks they say that our baby is as long as a stalk of swiss chard, a little over 19 inches, and weighs a touch over 6 lbs.  It's still funny to me when they compare Baby Johnny to fruit or the length of a vegetable. It's hard to visualize the size of our baby compared to swiss chard, but here's our wavy baby.

And me growing at almost 38 weeks....

My Chicken Is Cooked

Since the books compare our growing baby to fruits usually, it almost seems awkward that this week they compare him to a small roasting chicken in week 35. For some reason I feel better about them comparing him to fruit, but so be it. He weighs more than 5 lbs and is 16-20" long now.  Last week at an appointment with the NP she did an ultrasound to see if his head was down. Well...it was down and the size of his head alone looks like a small roasting chicken!! I asked the NP if that was the baby and she laughed and said "That's his head." Just his head??!!Oh my goodness. I can't believe how big he's getting. I'm excited to meet him.

He and I are getting both getting bigger and the weight is apparently a little much for my ankles. They look worse than they feel. Ha! These hobbit stumps and sausage toes do shrink down during the night at least.Sexy huh?!

That's My Bladder, Not A Soccer Ball!

Seriously, this kid moves more often than not. We are starting to feel his limbs when he stretches way more than just tiny movements. Sometimes he kicks so hard, I'm sure he's going to rupture one of my organs, poke through my stomach or I'm going to see a foot coming up through my throat.

There are times that his movements feel like he's squeezing my cervix like a stress ball or trying to push himself out, but I wouldn't trade any of this for the unique experience that I've had. Baby Johnny also had hiccups the other night, which is a small, rhythmic experience. At first I think they're kicks until his movements become repetitive. 

I can't believe that he's growing at a rate of 1/2 lb weekly now!  Only 49 days left until his due date!!! When do you think he will grace us with his presence? On time? Early? Late?

Our Fruity Baby

While reading my friend's pregnancy/family blog tonight I saw that she shared the size of her baby compared to fruit, which is what the books and websites do when you get updates.  Saturday marked the start of 33 weeks for us and that means there are 50 days left from today. Our fruity baby is the size of a pineapple this week and he is over 17" long.

Ahhh....how fast they grow. I can remember when just a few short months ago, our son was only a plum.

Here is my fruity friend, Tina and hubs Henry, when I took her maternity photos two days before Alex was born and a pic of Alex only a few weeks old. I love taking maternity and newborn pics!!!! How cute are they?!

How Big Will Baby Johnny Get?

While we were in Tahoe, we were discussing how big we think Baby Johnny will get. Be sure to vote in the poll to the right how big you think Baby Johnny will be! We are getting excited to welcome him even if he is a big boy.

I'm especially curious now since my friend recently had a boy who was late and she thought he would be big and was only a little over 6 lbs. while my other friend had her son around her due date and he weighed over 9 lbs!

Our Little Athlete

Our young boy is active! I don't mean that I feel him move occasionally. We were recently given a kick card asking us to count the number of minutes it takes him to move/kick 10 times. I actually stopped counting kicks when I could feel him at least 10 times in about 3-4 minutes! Baby Johnny wants to get outside like his dad, I think.

I wonder if other pregnant women fondle their tummies as much as I do?  My hands are immediately drawn to my swelling tummy everytime I start to feel him move. It's such a unique, amazing feeling that I don't want to miss a second of it!

I was telling someone yesterday that if Baby Johnny thinks for a second that he wants to be on the chess team instead of soccer or football in school, he's got a surprise coming! I know how well this kid can kick and he will be using this skill to his advantage, out there working on his sports scholarship! Nice try Baby. No academic scholarships here. Use that strong arm and stiff kick like I know you can. Make Mama proud.

Still Growing...Week 28

Let's take a look back at the pregnancy progression so far...for fun (ha).

Here's week 5 basically, the day we found out! Wait...was I really that small? I don't recall this.

Here's week 7 vs. week 14 pic?  From working out to eating out....

Then we have week 22. I see the belly isn't the only thing that's been "ahem...enhanced".

Then week 24. Actually eating out...but with a buddy, it's ok.

Now....the end of week 28! People say I look small for 7 months. I would buy into this more if I thought it was going to mean small baby shoulders and no tearing during delivery. But...we can't have it all, so I'll be happy with a big, bouncing, healthy baby MJ (mini Johnny)!

BTW_Linea Negra....is that really necessary?!

Only 12 weeks to go....better go now. It's PB&J time. ;0) 

Week 24 - Who's Growing Now?!

This Saturday will be week 24 (6 months)! I can't believe how fast this is going. I know...I know. Once I hit month 8 I might be singin' a different tune. For now, I am really enjoying being pregnant, except for the elastic, chest high waist band from my mom prego jeans. Mom jeans....ha. Why are these SO funny?!

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/mom-jeans/229048/

Anyhow, I digress. Baby Johnny is kicking and rolling around and doing Flying Sukaharas into my belly for hours a day. Last Saturday when I stayed at my parents, he kicked my mom so hard, she screamed. ;0) "Hey Grandma, just lettin' you know who's in charge. You ready for me?"

It is such an amazing feeling to have him moving around inside me. Everyone is so anxious to meet him but I'm really enjoying our quality time together. Again, I know ladies...you all remind me that by my last month I'll be trying to talk and coax him out of the womb. Regardless, it's a fun time right now.       

Growing Boy

Last week we had our 20 week ultrasound and the tech confirmed that we were having a boy. Johnny and I decided not to offer up the fact that we already knew because we heard about another lady that had Kaiser tell her she was having a girl and an outside ultrasound facility said it was a boy. We just wanted to see if the tech's answer would concur.

Immediately during our ultrasound, she said "Oh, there it is. You're definitely having a boy!" (I'll spare you more pics of his privates.) She continued with the ultrasound pointing out different body parts, organs, etc. and complying with my constant questions. She said he weighed 13 oz. already and estimated the due date at October 19th (sorry Bro, you may have to share your BD). That's 3 oz. bigger than what the book says for 20 weeks! Maybe it's those burgers we've been eating. Ha!

That Friday we met with the Midwife who confirmed that he looked healthy. Always nice to hear. I measured at 21" and wegot to hear his heartbeat again. He's a busy bee in there at about 144 beats/minute. Now we won't see our Midwife again until July.

Check out that spine! Nice, huh?!

Week 17...And Growing

So this is week 17 and I'm definitely starting to show now. (Odd that I look like I've been drinking in my pic. What's with the expression?!)

Next week is my last scheduled week of work at Taco Loco. Let's be honest, a pregnant bartender serving your drinks is not that cool. I entered the "real" world of employment again and have taken a part time marketing job with a catering company. It's going well, except on Tuesday which is cinammon roll baking day. Ohhh....gooey, sweet cinammon rolls how I hate to love thee.

My First Un-Official Mother's Day

Yesterday morning I woke up to a sweet note from my hubby, fresh cut roses from our yard (grown and hand picked by JAS) and a delicious breakfast! A girl could get used to this.  Yesterday we celebrated Mother's Day at my Grandma's house with a bbq, ping pong, badmitton and great family time! It was a lot of fun celebrating over there like we used to when I was growing up. I can't wait for our child to get quality time and share fantastic holidays with his/her Great Grandmother!! She'll be the most active GG that our kid knows. Grandma takes more trips and is busier than we are. I can't wait for you, Baby Shebl, to get to make cookies with your GG, play games and have her trace letters on your back while you try not not fall asleep. Fantastic grandparents, a great grandmother, a great-great grandmother plus all your amazing family!! You are one lucky baby!!

Here's a little belly show off on Mother's Day!

Week 14 Developments

Well, I started showing last weekend. It's just a little baby bump (or burger bump), but it's definitely there. I'm having a much harder time fitting into my own clothes, jeans especially, but am too far away for maternity. I may have to enlist the help of the belly band soon.

Moving into week 14 I can go a night without sleeping 12 hours and I definitely have more energy throughout the day. YEAH!!