34 Week Check-Up

I had my routine baby appointment today and thankfully everything continues to go well. My blood pressure was perfect, as usual. My belly was measuring fine. And the best part is they haven't once mentioned my weight gain! (With Tennyson I got a mini-lecture at what seemed like every appt). I do love sporting a pregnant belly, except for the times it gets (ahem) in the way. Haha!

At my last appointment I sat down and talked to Dr. Aamodt in-depth about doing a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). All along that has been my plan and I knew either way there is an increased risk (however slight) with a vaginal birth or another c-section. They gave me a consent/waiver form about doing a VBAC some months ago, so we went over that point by point, which was very helpful. Some of it was encourgaging (like 70%+ of women go on to have successful vaginal births post c-section) and some of it was not so encouraging (like RMH does not have an anaesthesiologist there 24/7 should something go wrong and therefore does not condone VBACs).

Today I left feeling a little more discouraged because I really wanted as little medical intervention as possible with this baby, but since I have had a c-section I HAVE to have an IV and I HAVE to have a monitor. The good news I can still walk around, theoretically. I realize all this is subjective and since I was 8cm by the time I got to RMH last time this little guy will mostly likely come pretty fast.

So basically my plan is to just pray about this whole baby-birthing experience. I realize no matter how it goes the MOST important thing is not HOW he's born but that he (and I) are healthy and safe when it's all over. I wanted to share the main prayer points I have on my heart should you feel so inclined to pray them for me and Baby Boy as well:

1) Pray that the baby will go head down. He's obviously not in position as of yet because he's still rocking rolling in there......alot!
2) Pray that he doesn't weigh too much. Since Tennyson was 8 lbs. 2 oz. at less than 36 weeks Dr. A wants to do another u/s at 36 weeks to check on his weight. If he does weigh a lot (9-10 lbs.) this may prompt the need for another c-section due to the risk of rupture.
3) Pray that I go in to labor on a day Tom is home from Harper's Ferry, or at least that it happens early/late enough in the day that it's not an issue.
4) Pray that my sister can get here quickly to take care of Tennyson.
5) Pray that the baby doesn't come too quickly and specifically that my water will break after I get to the hospital.
6) Pray that I am able to successfully do a VBAC.
7) But most of all, pray that Baby Boy is healthy!

There are many more specifics I am praying will fall into place, like which doctor is on-call, the nursing staff, that my doula gets there in plenty of time, and that breastfeeding will go better than it did with Tennyson.

Lord, just give me peace as I await the birth. Give Tom and I the wisdom to make the best decisions possible regarding our baby's birth. And we are believing that you will answer all our prayer requests AND MORE!

What a Goofy Boy!

Tennyson now says a few new funny things that I don't want to forget. If only I could remember to grab the video camera .....I really need to get better about that!

~Anytime Tennyson hears anything electrical (the air conditioner, the ice maker, the washing machine, etc.) his eyes get huge and he makes this surpristed "O" with his mouth and whispers "It's on" or "It's off" accordingly.

~If you ask Tennyson if he did something, like "did you build a tower" or "did you eat your yogurt", he'll say, "Yeah, I did!" But it sounds like one word - "YeahIdit!" Haha!

~Also if he hears something and he's not exactly sure what it is he'll ask, "What's 'at?" Of course, it also sounds like one word, which makes it even funnier, and he completes it with the surprised expression. Classic!

~This past Saturday his cup tumbled off the couch and Tennyson gives this fake laugh (another cute thing he does) and says, "Fuuunnny." Tom said Tennyson did it again yesterday about something. It's great that he's starting to find the sense of humor in the little things!

Those are all the funny new things our little guy says. I am trying to stay caught up, but it's hard at this age. It's such a blessing to see what makes him laugh and that he enjoys making Mommy and Daddy laugh, too!

Tasty Tuesday ~ Ham-Swiss Ring Around

HAM-SWISS RING AROUND

This is a recipe that my mother makes, but I have no idea where it came from originally. It looks at lot more complicated than it is. So don't be afraid to try it! It's definitely a family favorite!

Ingredients:
1 cup broccoli florets
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
2 Tbsp onion, finely chopped
2 tsp mustard
1 Tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp lemon juice
3/4 cup (3 oz.) swiss cheese, grated
1 can Hormel chunk ham, drained
1 8 oz. can crescent rolls
Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)

How to Make It:

1) Cook and drain broccoli. Mix parsley, onion, mustard, butter, and lemon juice.
2) Add cheese, broccoli, and ham. Mix lightly. Set aside.
3) Separate rolls on well-greased cookie sheet. Arrange triangles with the points outside, overlapping the base a little bit.

4) Spoon filling evenly around the base.


5) Fold points over top and tuck under bases. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Baby Update ~ 32 Weeks

It's hard to believe I am 32 weeks along today and that I am at the point where I'll be going to the doctor every 2 weeks! I don't know where the time has gone, although I think it has a lot to do with me chasing around a very active little boy this time around. I was telling Tom it's interesting how different my pregnancies have been. Thankfully, with this baby I haven't had as much heartburn, and I am carrying so differently. With Tennyson I gained a lot more weight and it was all over, but with baby #2 I just have a "ball" out in front. And my cravings are totally different than what I had with Tennyson. It's mostly been fruits and veggies with this baby. I guess it proves you can't assume you are carrying a certain gender when you can have 2 of the same and your pregnancies be completely different. (Besides I've heard that from just about every mom I know.)

Mentally I am preparing myself for this little guy's arrival in 4 weeks since Tennyson came at 35 weeks and 5 days. (Which means, of course, that'll I'll go to 39 weeks. Haha!) But it would be so great if he were born early, so long as he's healthy, because I am due the very first day of school, August 24th. Can you believe it?! What timing! It was great having Tom home for 3 weeks after Tennyson was born, so we're hoping for the same with this baby.

In other developments I have been having a horrible time getting to sleep and staying asleep the past few weeks. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to correlate with whether I take a nap or not, but a lot of time I have trouble falling back asleep (after one of my many trips to the bathroom) because Baby Boy is doing sumersaults and kung-fu in my belly ! I tell you what, if he's this active outside the womb we're going to have one crazy, fun household! The past few days he's been turning over and rolling from side-to-side in there, and I have to say, it gets a little uncomfortable. But I am thankful I have plenty of room in there and don't have the shortness of breath or feet in the ribs that most other pregnant women have. There's something good about being 6 feet tall, huh?

So that's the update on Baby Boy Bates for now. I go to the doctor tomorrow for my 32 week check-up. Should be pretty routine: weight, blood pressure, belly measurement, heartbeat check, and Q&As. Of course the best part is hearing his heart beating. *sigh* Such a sweet sound.

Tennyson's Sense of Humor

We love that Tennyson is starting to say funny things! He and I were playing with his big dump truck in the kitchen a few weeks ago and every time it would run into a cabinet or chair I'd say, with great exaggeration, "Oh man!" Well, our little parrot now repeats that if we say it! It's so funny! Here are two other stories from the past few days:

Tennyson got the bottle of......um......personal lubricant out of the bedside table and brought it to Tom and I saying, "Bubbles! Bubbles!" Yes, sweet boy, that's exactly what that is. *wink*

On Sunday Tom and Tennyson were playing hide-n-seek upstairs, and Tennyson's standard hiding place was our shower. Not expecting a response Tom said, "Is Tennyson in the closet?" And this little voice comes out of the shower saying, "Nooooooo." Oh my, we were laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes! Once Tom composed himself he then said, "Is Tennyson in the shower?" And he got a quick response: "Yea!"

I guess he needs to work on his hide-n-seek skills?

Leaps and Bounds

Well, as usual I am a little behind in keeping you all up to date on all the happenings with our little man. I could just sum it up and say we are amazed on a daily basis about what Tennyson can say and do. I say he is in the "parrot stage" where he's starting to repeat everything he hears. It's so great to be able to have conversations with him now, and it makes life so much easier (for the most part) that he can ask for what he wants.

Tennyson counts everything and gets so excited when he sees a number. He is constantly naming (correctly, I might add) the colors on objects, and he loves to read any and all $alphabet books. We are proud to say that at only 22 months old he unequivocally knows some of his letters: G, M, O, P, T, X, and Z. He sometimes gets the other letters right but at least he's already showing an interest in reading by himself.

Within the past few weeks he has started doing laps from the back door to the front door. As he runs he moves his left arm forward and backward, for momentum I guess, as he says "fast" and "racing." Of course, we assure him he's the fastest boy in the whole wide world. ;-)

And don't think I've ever mentioned on my blog about his favorite comfort item. It's the soft, fuzzy blanket that matches his green, white, and brown nursery and it has elephants on it. Well, Tennyson calls elephants "mitts", so that's what his blanket is now known as - his mitt. I love it!

No one else but Tom and I probably care what new words he has now added to his vocabulary, but I am putting them in this post for documenting purposes: pillow, banana ("mana"), drum, hair, people, ear, cheek, mouth, smoke, rice, cereal, bridge, pig, rabbit, away, run, stay, racing, sausage, and bacon. (The last two words are mostly because he "helps" Daddy eat his breakfast in the mornings.)

Here are some random pictures from the past few weeks. I haven't been as diligent as I should be about taking photos of him, but it's difficult when you can't move and bend like you used to.

I think this shirt says it all!

He looks slightly annoyed that I was taking his picture while he was stacking blocks.

He had some crazy hair after his nap

Tennyson was eating a warm chocolate chip cookie and therefore had chocolate on his hands. I told him to keep his hands up so as not to get it on his pajamas. So after every bite he'd raise his hands. Hilarious!!

What a cheesy smile!

Showing Mommy how he can count (he was saying "two" here)

Eating popcorn ("pop pop") and watching "Toy Story."

We have been having some frustration with him lately in that he's starting to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way or is told "no." Yeah um, I really thought girls were the only ones that expressed their feelings like that! Grrrr. So we are trying our best to break him of it before we (and by "we" I mean "I") lose my mind. *wink*

There's no denying Tennyson has a mind of his own. He's no follower and he has a strong will. It helps me to know how to pray for him, that God will use his leadership abilities and his mind to serve him.

I've Been Tagged...

...by Kristen D. to share 7 personality traits about myself. I agree that these are not best described as personality traits, but rather things about myself that make me.....ME. Enjoy!

1) I can not stand to wear wet clothes, especially socks. If there is even a drop on them....they get changed as soon as possible. I'm not kidding.

2) I am a little OCD about certain things. For example, whenever I eat gummy bears I have to eat a pink one and a white one last. It's weird, I know.

3) There are many pet peeves I have (I probably need prayer for it or something), but here are a few: people driving below the speed limit in the left lane, people talking on their cell phone as the stroll through Wal-Mart like it's an amusement park, and people who don't use their turn signals.

4) I am an introvert, and I get uncomfortable in large groups of people.

5) I really don't like to travel. A short trip now and then out of town is okay, but otherwise I'd rather be home than anywhere else.

6) My least favorite personality trait in someone else is self-centeredness. You know, when you're trying to talk to someone and all they ever want to talk about is themselves. Yeah, can't stand that.

7) I am really good at procrastinating on certain things. Sometimes it may seem I am procrastinating, when in fact I forgot to write down what it was I needed to do and subsequently forgot. My short-term memory is not so great.

So there you have it, 7 things about me you probably didn't know. And if you did, well I am impressed!