no news here.

no news is good news... that's what my mama always said.  in this case, it means i have not exploded without child.  so take that as you will... good news or bad news.  i'm still being patient. 
looking at the calendar and finding the most convenient day (for me/us) to have this sweet buttercup, may have been counter-productive.  the most convenient day, would be 3/29 (and what a great date -in numbers- to have a baby too!)...  but that's exactly 2 weeks after my due date.  so, after the 15th comes and goes, i think i'll start telling people that 3/29 is my estimated due date.  even now when i tell people my due date is in 6 days (well, it's 5 today but no one has asked), they give me the "oh i'm so sorry" look.  patience people.  patience!  she'll be born!!!  and until the 29th comes... I'M NOT QUITE READY!!!

my love arrived safely home on thursday night at 11:40pm.  i was nice enough to even wake up and go pick him up.

we also took a little drive home and got to bed around 12:30 or 40.  i was exhausted the next day.  i mean... i got up, really had to fight my will and get dressed, and pretty much planted myself on the couch ALL DAY LONG!  my body was so tired and sore... it kinda felt like a fever, without a raised temp.  exhausted.  seriously.  thankfully my little angel children were so cooperative and sweet.  we didn't even watch tv (or movies... we never watch tv) all day long and they were STILL angels.  it helped -a lot- that the weather was gorgeous.  they spent a lot of time playing outside.  i planted myself out there for a few hours during the am it was so pretty. 

i don't know what today holds.  i have my maternity photo session that i've been looking forward to all week.  i hope i can make myself look pretty.  it's cloudy out, so hopefully that will be good...  i'm not a photographer so i don't know.  i just can tell it's cloudy. 

we are selling a vehicle this week, so my mr is out getting pictures and cleaning it out.  a guy from clear across the country is flying out to buy it and drive it home.  i'm amazed... but he's paying full asking price so i couldn't be happierr (well, unless we would've asked even more for it.  but that's 'cause i'm greedy.)  we were HOPING to get $1000 less than our asking price, but i knew there was a chance of getting more so i asked otter pop to price it high initially because we weren't/aren't really in a need of selling it quickly.  we had it on craigslist for about 2 weeks before this guy called... so, i think it's probably a fair buying price.  we only had about 2 other people even call inquiring about it.  now we have to get the other one running and together. 

we also got our suburban up and running for about half what i thought it'd cost us... so that's a blessing.  my honey-cakes is looking for another back seat for it, so that we can (we, being him) install that in the very very back to have 3 more seats -making it an 11 passenger rig.-  i've heard of people doing it, but i've never seen it before.  of course the back three seats (inserted) would only be comfortable / ridable for little ones with short legs... but since that's most of our family right now, i think we'll be fine and dandy (as long as the insertation -otherwise known as inserting- of seat belts is compatible.) 

ok then.  i can't think of anything else to chat about.  oh... other than we got a new camera!!!  so, with that, i'll leave you with a few pictures i took to see if i liked our camera (or... to see if it worked.  because if it works, i like it!)

it does look like she's eating his toes while picking her nose... neither of those are accurate.

and yes... i'm so wrapped up in taking pictures right now that i took a picture of him direction after a punishment.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

39 weeks

How far along? 39 Weeks

Total weight gain: down one more pound from last visit (two weeks ago).  that brings me up approximately 17-27lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, and up to about 47-52lbs over what i should be as a normal healthy 30-y-o woman (that isn't pregnant). 

Maternity clothes? mostly long sleeved t-shirts and jeans, but yes... from the maternity section.  also trying --as weather permits-- to wear slip-on shoes! 
Stretch marks? perhaps.  i can't see the bottom half of my belly AT ALL.  even in the mirror i have to lean WAY back to see the underside and even then i can't see very well because i'm bent backwards.  i wore some pants the other day that i thought i'd have to have someone help me do up because even though they were maternity, they weren't pull-up elastic-type.  i made sure and didn't un-do them in the bathroom though because it really was difficult for me to get them done up!(and then today i actually DID have to have help getting some pants done-up because of 4 stupid do-hickeys -2 buttons PLUS 2 hook-and-eye clasps!-  they had as to clasp them shut!)
Sleep:  still rather mediocre.  since my husband has been gone for the last 4 nights ( i usually miss him like crazy in bed because i LOVE to co-sleep), i've found that having the WHOLE bed and ALL the pillows for my perusal has been rather nice.  i still miss him like crazy... but not so much at night.   
Best moment this week: meeting our birth photographer and getting ready for a maternity session with her too.  i am SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!  all of that has been such a blessing for us especially since our camera broke! 
Miss Anything? stamina.
Movement: in the past few days she's been resting way more than she normally did.  there will be times when i'll start rubbing around on my belly to make sure she's still doing alright in there.  i'm sure she's smartly resting for her big show she's featuring in here in the next month or so.   
Food craving:  nope.  although i think i could eat salt and vinegar almonds any time of day or night and be happy about it.  i'm not CRAVING them, but they're always a good snack. 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  not a thing.  well, ok, wait.  i head a story about a dog that got mastitis and developed a golf-ball sized lump on one of her teats that was full of puss.  it was red and swollen and starting to get oozy.  and that made me queasy!  in fact, i almost barfed. 
Gender: girl
Labor Signs:  a few contractions this week since my labor coach was away.  sharp and painful, but sporadic and completely irregular.    
Symptoms: a little heartburn (not much at all), a few contractions every day, a large and heavy pregnant belly, a very sore hip every morning and is starting to continue throughout the day, crotch pain -off and on-, cervix pain every once in a while, a little swollen feet (barely), sore achy back, energy loss, shortness of breath if i'm up and about a lot, no desire to bend down, lack of motivation... but nothin' worth complaining about. 
Belly Button in or out? hmmm.  it's a close call.  NOT.  out.
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody most of the time:  happy, but i'm starting to see the seas a-changing.  in the past day or so, i've starting to see myself get edgy with the kids when normally i wouldn't...
Looking forward to:  getting completely ready for this sweet little girl's arrival through the studying and practicing of the Bradley method and exercises.  also, REALLY looking forward to my maternity session this sunday evening!  also, REALLY REALLY looking forward to my hubby-dubs coming home tonight!!!

 

and here are the two-week-awaited stats you've been looking forward to:

i'm dilated another full cm for sure, up to 2-2.5.  75% effaced.  she's still head down -for sure- and down further than last time (last time remember she's still pretty "floaty" or something like that?)... this time she said when she pushed on the head it didn't float back up but stayed put down low.  i'm not surprised at this since it seems like my belly has gotten very heavy this past week (creating much more back pain)!  i'm measuring right at 39 weeks and her guess at the baby's size was about 7-7.5 pounds.  ---i told her to just keep telling me that.  i can believe her.  she does this ALL DAY EVERY DAY!  ---even though that's what she said with starboy just about a week or less before he was born (at a healthy 9lb 14oz).  when i looked at her doubtfully, she said with him,  "maybe 8lb... but nothin' bigger than that!!!"  but don't worry... that doesn't make me doubt her this time.  i'm SURE she's right this time!!!  7-7.5lb.  that's fine.  i can do that!!!

 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : snow

after two days of tempatures of 60+ degrees, we woke up to snow on the ground this morning.  instead of griping and complaining and moaning and weeping, i chose to be thankful.  i love snow.  i love changing temperatures.  i love seasons.  i think God is really wonderful to bless us with weather of ALL kinds. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

ketchup

i have some catching up to do here in blog land.  it's quiet time though, so what better to do?! 
first is yesterday's post about last week's family fun adventure (using up the last of my downloaded pictures), then this one, and lastly: my monday menu post.
first, i'll start off with something that i learned.  i got an email today that stated march is National Peanut Month.  so, i agree with them that it's the perfect time to share amazing recipes using peanut butter.  whether your sweet tooth is craving brownies, bars, or cookies there's sure to be something in this peanutty list you'll love.  or maybe it isn't a sweet tooth at all, and you can share some yummy healthy meals with peanut butter added!  (even though all of these listed don't look like links... they are.  don't be afraid.)

1. Bake Not, Worry Not, Peanut Butter Bars — So easy! Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge — Just want to eat it all
3. Classic No Bake Peanut Butter Bon Bons — Love
4. Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies — Perfect combo
5. Mouthwatering Peanut Butter Cookies —  So freaking good 
6. Double Peanut Butter Cake — Peanut Butter lovers unite!
7. Easy 15-Minute Peanut Butter Fudge — Scrumptious
8. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie — Yummy!
9. Grandma's Classic Peanut Butter Cookies — Favorite 
10. Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie —  So simple
11. Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies — Classic taste
12. No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls — Truly the best!
13. Amish Peanut Butter — Old fashioned 
14. No-Fail Bake Sale Peanut Butter Cookies — The best
15. Perfect No Bake Peanut Butter Balls — A favorite

and now onto something else:  my thoughts.

otter pop left for his last business trip of this winter yesterday morning.  he's only one time zone away this time and thankfully he's getting home thursday night (friday early morning) instead of friday night (early saturday morning), like the others.  i got really nervous last night that i might go into labor during the night.  no symptoms or signs... just going off of murphy's law.  but then i remembered that my brother and sister-in-law said they'd be in town 'till wednesday, so that calmed my nerves.  when i called my sister-in-law, (i'll call her "nicole") right before bed to remind her to be on call and answer her phone in the middle of the night, she informed me that they're leaving town today (monday) instead...  eek!  so i hope murphy is lawfully wrong this week and that i don't have the baby while her daddy is out of town!  i don't think i will, but man this girl feels HUGE. 

this pregnancy reminds me a lot of my pregnancy with binkins.  of course i'm about 20-30 pounds heavier and almost a decade older (give or take), but i guess the span between starboy and buttercup was enough for me to build back some "normality" to my abdomen.  there is absolutely NOTHING between my skin and my huge uterus.  i can see EVERY SINGLE MOVE she makes and i'm starting to get deformed because she's growing so big that i'm not as round as i am bumpy with her little shoulders and heels and elbows and whatever else she sticks out of her "circle" home. 

she's funny too, that she really plops on over to the side when i lay down.  when i get back up, i have this big lump over to the side of me... it takes her a while to get back to the center.  or, it hurts to roll over to the other side while she takes her time to adjust to the move. 

also, a difference with her and the others is that she's reaching all the way up to my ribs.  i've heard other pregnant women talk about getting kicked in the ribs, but never experienced it personally.  i think my torso must be long enough that my others have had plenty of room staying away from most of my skeletal system.  well, buttercup will every once in a while pry a little boney something up under my rib cage.  it DOES hurt!  (they weren't kidding!)  and i'm really glad my others left me alone up there!!!  on the flip side, she also will sick something boney down by my pelvic bones and try to tickle me.  THAT feels weird too!!!  i'm just wondering how long this girl actually is!  either she's gonna be about 24-25in. long... or she's just a real active mover and stretcher. 

i wonder what she's gonna look like.  i wonder if she'll have lots of hair like boo and starboy did when they were born.  i wonder if she'll have binkins and jones' ears or ones more like starboy and boo's.  i wonder if she's going to have cute little feet like jones.  i hope she's sweet like my others...  <3  i'm wondering all these things, but really i'm not ready yet.  so, i hope she stays put for a few more weeks! 

i decided that i hope she's born the last week or march, or in april.  that's when i'll be ready for her.  also, i'm completely terrified of labor and delivery.  i'm trying to learn everything i can about how to relax and be calm and relax my body so that she can come out nice and natural ---like how God created me to do it. 

these are all my current thoughts... or a lot of them, at least.  since otter pop's not here, i'll share them with you.  also, i'm wondering what we'll call the little girl. 

monday menu #7 for 2012

this week's menu is brought to you by the following:  wolfie, binkins, jones, boo, and starboy!  (yes, it was a "what do you guys want for dinner this week" kind of menu...

spaghetti with yummy jones' bread sticks
baked "fried" chicken with french fries
chicken strips with sliced bakers with peas
chicken fettuccine alfredo with steamed broccoli
pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans
hamburgers with baked beans and corn

sometimes the "what do you guys want" ends up being real easy!!!  sounds pretty good though. 


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

family fun days = sundays

last week, we needed to use a groupon that i purchased in december because it was about to expire.  the cranky thing about it was that we didn't get much snow... so the fun wasn't as high as it could've been... but the truth is, we had a great time anyway! 
the groupon was for a 90-minute horse-drawn sleigh ride with a "cowboy cuisine" meal in the middle.  it was at a place about an hour north of us, so we enjoyed a beautiful drive up the river to the location as well.

unfortunately, since there was such a drastic lack of snow, they cut the rides in half and minus 5 minutes, so that they could accommodate the large amount of groupon purchasers at the last minute (before expiration).  i wasn't satisfied with that part, but that's just 'cause i'm a frugal mother who cares about those details.  the sleigh ride was really awesome, even though we were jolted bouncily over the ice-covered path.  the horses were beautiful and so was the surrounding landscape! 



i'm trying to suck in so that you can see a little starboy...

the meal was fantastic!  we had a sirloin roast with two types of potatoes, green beans, delicious fresh bread, and topped off with a mouth-watering (looking, for me) cherry cobbler or some sort. 

as we left, i suggested we take another route home because i thought we were about halfway home via a loop.  i was REALLY wrong, or the snow slowed us down a WHOLE LOT, or ... i was really wrong!  it took us about 3 hours to get home the "other" way.  but it was a fun and beautiful drive (while it was light enough to see). 

as we were even just leaving the parking lot to the sleigh ride place, starboy was pointing and saying, "a-mull".  i looked over and out my window to see a few deer out the window.  i was so proud of my little two-year-old, being the first out of seven to point out the wildlife!!!!  after that all of our eyes were peeled.  there were TONS of deer and elk right down by the road for the remainder of the trip.  it was so fun to see so many so close!!! 
we had an awesome day.  irony had it that we had a HUGE snow storm a few days later... but it was after the expiration date, so no skin off my back for going when we did. 

this sunday was another family filled fun-day! 

the weather has been spring-like (in the low 60's!), and it's been so enjoyable.  the kids have been out playing in it a lot.  however, i'm so big and lazy i've only been enjoying it sitting by the window... and having all the windows opened up. 

we took a drive to church, to deliver some boxes of girl scout cookies, and then looked for a automatic car wash on the way home.  --our van got absolutely FILTHY on our trip to the mountains for the sleigh ride.--  we didn't find one, so we just came home and had lunch, and then did a short quiet time.  then i called otter pop and asked him where i could find an automatic car wash.  he told me, so we ventured back out.  we found it, drove through it (after waiting in line with a million other cars!  -apparently it was a GREAT idea for everyone), and LOVED it. 

back in the olden days (when it was just me, otter pop, and little wolfie) there was an automatic car wash at a corner gas station that when you gassed up there and bought more than $15 of gas (hahaha who doesn't pay $15 of gas EVER these days!!!), you'd get a free wash.  wolfie used to love it when we'd go through it...  surprisingly, she seemed to get the biggest kick out of it yesterday too.  :)  it was fun.  after the car wash, i surprised the kids with a trip to u-swirl (a frozen yogurt build-your-own-cup and pay-by-the-oz shop).  i bought a $12 gift certificate for $6 a while back and decided to use it.  they all LOVED that too, so it was nice to spend some time together with smiling faces. 

 

i love sundays.  i love family.  i love building memories with children and their smiling faces!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

38 weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks

Total weight gain: i have no idea.  i held of on writing this post so i could have some info after my appointment this morning.  however, i have a kiddo who's face is lost due to coughing it off all night and morning, so i had to cancel my appointment.   
Maternity clothes? all the time.  day and night. 
Stretch marks? i think so.  i think i have 4-6  (yes, that's FOUR to SIX) new ones above my belly button.  she hasn't been stretching me out so much, so i don't know why they appeared... i have a sweet little 4-y-o that LOVES to spread belly butter all over my belly and feel for buttercup to stick her butt out at her.  it's so precious, buttercup loves it (i think that's why she sticks her but out so far) and so does boo (i know she does)!  apparently the belly butter doesn't help the stretch marks not appear.  i had a really itchy evening and then i noticed them the next day.  it's completely possible they're not new...
Sleep:  mediocre.  i've had sick kids for the past 3-4 nights, so even if i was sleeping well, it's been interrupted by little ones coughs and needs. 
Best moment this week: i dunno.  it hasn't been a great week...  nothing comes to mind.
Miss Anything? we're missing quite a few library books.
Movement: oh yeah.  still LOTS of movement!  she's slowing down just a little, but still LOTS of movement in me. 
Food cravingacts:  i gave up desserts for the 40 days of lent.  i REALLY would love something soft, sweet, and gooey.  ANYTIME!  cookies.  cakes/breads.  candy.  ANYthing...  it's weird because i usually am not a sweet-cravin' gal.  i don't care too much for sweets.  i'm not saying i don't ever eat them, but it's not hard for me to resist.  i've cut sweets (not just desserts) out of my diet several times without shock or too much trouble.  well, apparently during pregnancy, it's a big deal!  when's lent over anyway???
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nope.
Gender: girl
Labor Signs: no.  
Symptoms: a little heartburn (it's easing up), a few small contractions every day, stretched out belly that is COMPLETELY full of a movin' little baby, a very hurt hip every morning and is starting to continue throughout the day, crotch pain -off and on-, a little swollen feet (barely)... but nothin' worth complaining about.  (except maybe the hip pain...)
Belly Button in or out? out ALL the way.  my belly is so stretched out that the belly button is stretched flat now too.
Wedding rings on or off? on.  :)
Happy or Moody most of the time:  happy.
Looking forward to:  figuring out a name for this sweet baby girl.

 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."