32 weeks

Ok, so I took this picture last night. So I am technically 32 weeks and 2 days. But who's counting? ME! Also excuse the pajama bottoms, I HAD to get my jeans off after Tanner's party! (although this picture is still much better than the belly pictures I took with Tanner, haha)

This pregnancy has been so hard on me I am so ready to get him out! I had another Dr appointment this week and the baby looks to be measuring fine although still big. He is up in my ribs and my Dr says he is pretty long and stretched out.

I have been gaining more weight than I would like. You are supposed to gain a pound a week and I have gained 5 pounds since my last appointment 3 weeks ago. But my Dr says he's not worried about it and it's probably just water weight.

I asked him when the earliest he'd be willing to strip my membranes would be since it worked with sending me into labor with Tanner. He said we could do that at 37 weeks! But it only works 50-60% of the time and usually only when the baby is pretty much ready to come anyway.  With how big this kid is, I'm hoping he'll be ready at 37 weeks! We'll see. If it does happen, that means he could be here half way through March instead of beginning of April! *fingers crossed*

He has one concern that there is higher sugar (still) and higher protein showing in my urine. He didn't go into any detail on what this could mean although I would have loved him to. Little does he know that I have done my research and I know that higher protein can me pre-eclampsia. I know he was probably just trying to not worry me, but of course I am. He said we will do another blood draw after fasting in 2 weeks at my next appointment and see where my numbers are then. I am thinking he isn't too concerned if he is going to allow me to wait 2 more weeks before looking into it further. I am trying to keep in mind that if he isn't too concerned yet that I shouldn't be either, so I'm really trying to keep it out of my mind. 

Anyway! Other than that, everything is "normal." Still feeling lots of round ligament pains, pelvic bone pains and just plain uncomfortable.

Tanner's 3rd Birthday Party!

Yesterday we had a bunch of friends and family over for Tanner's 3rd birthday party. How long can I keep saying I can't believe he's 3??

We had a Thomas themed party. Tanner has LOVED Thomas and anything trains for a really long time so it was an easy choice. I looked up a bunch of cute DIY ideas on Pinterest for decorations and I think it turned out really cute!

The food train was a hit and turned out so cute!

Tanner was really excited about his balloons and the big Thomas poster. The poster is actually pin the funnel on Thomas which was really cute to watch the boys play. 

We (Kollin) made train tracks out of electrical tape from the front door, up the stairs and to the Thomas game. I had originally wanted to do the tracks outside from the driveway to the front door as well. But it was raining almost all day so we nixed that idea.

Then we sang Happy Birthday and did presents. It was so cute to watch Tanner try to blow out his candle. He kept blowing upwards into his hair. He would try to get so close to the candle because it wasn't working, then would stop, put his hand on his forehead and say it was hot. It was so cute I wish I would have gotten a video of it! Eventually he was able to get his candle out after I told him to blow forward and showed him how to blow.

He got so many great presents from everyone! Lots of books, trains and car things. Of course his batter powered Thomas has been a clear favorite. Our little Heart Brother Xander gave that to him.

We now have train tracks to last us for quite a while and will be able to make even more detailed train tracks. We're pretty excited!

Thank you to everyone that came and made this day so fun and special for us and our little miracle!

3 Years Old

I can't believe I have a 3 year old!

Didn't you know you were supposed to stop aging a long time ago?

You are such a sweet and special little boy. I am so sad that I can't really call you a baby anymore. Just in these last 6 months since my last post you have developed so much!

A couple months ago or so you all the sudden decided you wanted to start talking! I remember saying I was worried about your speech, but also knew you would do it when you were good and ready. There is still a lot that can't be understood but there are many many things you say that anyone knows what you are saying and not just Mom and Dad. You are speaking sentences (although broken) and are getting so good at expressing yourself to let us know what you need and want. You still go off in pure baby babble sentences a lot which I think is so stinkin' cute! So happy and proud that you are finally talking more.

You are still so well behaved and you make me so happy that you stay that way in public (usually) and around other adults and kids that we play with. You are not as aggressive as many of your little friends that you play with. This is both good and not so good. You tend to get pushed around and get toys grabbed from you and you don't do anything about it. But it is also good that you are not the one doing the grabbing and pushing, although we would like for you to stand up for yourself a little more than you do. You actually have started to stand up for yourself more lately, but still very gentle and passive when the other kids are better at expressing themselves. Which is ok! It will come and I am happy that you are still my sweet boy.

Your favorite movies are Monsters University, Peter Pan, Dumbo (but only for the train scene), Robin Hood and probably some others I can't remember. As well as the ever constant Cars and Toy Stories.

You are so into trains and Thomas right now it is getting a bit ridiculous, but we are having so much fun with it! You just got a whole bunch of new trains and train tracks for Christmas and your birthday so we will be having some great adventures soon.

We have been potty training you and you have been doing SO well. You are going to start pre-school in September (eep!) so hopefully you will have it down by then, which I'm sure you will. There's plenty of time.

You are also still napping really well for us. I am crossing my fingers that you will still be willing to take naps once your little brother gets here so I can hopefully get a break and not go completely crazy. We shall see.

You are still in a size 5 shoe,  and had a little grown spurt recently so you are not wearing a 3T shirt and 24 month pants. I'm pretty sure you still fit in a 2T shirt, but we tend to like your clothes be a little longer on you. 24 month pants are really big around your little waist (as always), so you always have to have a belt. But anything smaller like 18 month pants are total high waters on you!

Weight: 27 lbs

Height: 24.6 inches

We love you and we are so so proud of you! Thank you again for being such a sweet boy and for being our sweet boy!

xoxo

Mommy and Daddy

Getting Ready for Baby Brother

This weekend we decided to attack Tanner's room and rearrange it to accommodate the baby as well. Tanner loved helping us put together the baby's dress and crib. He even used his own tools that he got for Christmas from Great Grandma and Grandpa Richens. 

I wish I had taken a picture of the new arrangement. It is pretty cute but also makes that bedroom look even smaller. Oh well!

 

We also got out the infant car seat so I could wash the padding. It was pretty gross and looks so nice now! Almost brand new! But of course Tanner couldn't help but climb into it. Such a silly kid!