38 weeks

I saw Dr. Benton yesterday for my 38 week checkup and things had progressed a little from last week, but not much. At 37 weeks, I was 1cm with a thick cervix. This week I was almost 2cm (she stretched it to 2cm, which was NO fun) and still pretty thick. She also said he hadn't really dropped yet. I confessed that I haven't been doing well with my walking like I said I would last week. I just didn't want anything happening too soon. Now that we are a few days past 38 weeks, I'm a lot more comfortable with helping the process along, so I've been doing some walking around our neighborhood. She's still saying he's a big boy, but a lot of people were told that and their babies weren't 10 pounders, so I'm trying not to focus too much on that. I'm feeling ok, but I have started to have contractions throughout the day. They are usually a sharp pain either in my lower abdomen or in my back and aren't regular yet. I just hope they are doing something, because they sure don't feel good! Jonah keeps me on my toes all day so I don't have a lot of time to focus on how I feel, until backup arrives and I get to lay down and rest and wallow in the fact that I feel ginormous. I did have a contraction a few minutes ago and said "owww"! He was sitting beside me, looked up at me with troubled eyes, and said "k, k, k?" He had to make sure his mommy was ok. He's just the sweetest thing. I know he is going to love Fisher Cole!

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 38

Sleep: Decent. Still getting up about every 2 hrs to potty.

Best moment this week: Getting past 38 weeks! I was hoping to go a little longer since we had issues after Baby J was born 2 weeks early.

Movement: Of course, and it's getting a little painful! He is head-down with his hiney up on my left side and feet on the lower right side. He seems like a pretty big boy!

Symptoms: I have started to have contractions quite a few times a day. I guess my body is just getting ready. I also had the linea negra show up in the past week or so. It's not as bad as when I was pregnant with J, but it's definitely there. I have realized things that I haven't had this time but I did with Jonah. I haven't had the leg cramps in the middle of then night. They were so bad with Jonah that I would leap out of bed, well roll out of bed, and have to stretch out my calf while screaming and waking Derek up. Horrible! Somehow I've missed out on that excitement this time. Also, I haven't had the swelling in my legs and feet. Maybe because I'm not working as much and stay off my feet more.

Food cravings: I had a vanilla milkshake last night from Chik fil a that was just heavenly! I've also been dying for a caffeine free Mt. Dew, but haven't tracked one down yet. Gotta save that caffeine allowance for my daily sweet tea ;)

Belly Button in or out? Out. Goes out even further when I laugh.

What I miss: Having clothes that fit. Even my big girl prego clothes are a no-go at this point.

What I am looking forward to: Getting this process started and holding my angel boy!

The nursery is ready and waiting for little squirt's arrival. I took some final pics before he gets here and it all gets destroyed!

Snow...round 2!

We had yet another snow day last week, only this time, we got the most snow that we have had in a long time. Definitely the most snow Derek and I have seen since we've been married. Since we were only 2 weeks out from Winter Gridlock and all the drama that brought with it, people were very cautious. It didn't end up snowing until almost dark, but when it did start, it really came down! It was soooo pretty. It just fell so nicely, not blowing sideways like 2 weeks ago. They were huge flakes, too. We got all bundled up, turned the flood lights on, and headed out to play!

Big ole prego snow angel ;)

We got to build baby J a snowman! The snow was perfect for constructing. It was falling so quickly that our tracks from rolling the huge snowballs were covered in just a couple of minutes!

Daddy buried Jonah's mower, and he was not pleased.

The next day, we got up and had a few hours before we had to go to work, so we went out for some more playtime! The snow had stayed nice and fluffy overnight. Jonah played for the longest time. He is just such a boy and could play outside for days, no matter the weather! I saw a report somewhere that the official depth for the Gardendale area was 5 inches. It was so much fun but was pretty much gone in 24 hours. By the time we got home from work, the only snow left was our fallen snowman :( I guess it's better that way, instead of being trapped inside unable to drive anywhere for days. 

We have had quite the eventful winter around here. I've been thankful for the cold temperatures since I seem to stay hot at all times (thanks you Mr.Fisher). That being said, it's 60 degrees outside today with a beautiful bright blue sky. I'll admit...it's really nice :)

36 Weeks and other updates

I haven't done a pregnancy update for 6 weeks now, but there really hasn't been much to talk about. But now we are so close, I can practically feel that bitty baby on my chest :)
How far along? 36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 36 oddly enough

Sleep: A little better, or else I'm just getting use to not sleeping. I'm obviously uncomfortable and get up to potty a lot, but I still get some decent sleep. My hips have started to get achey sometimes. Prego problems!

Best moment this week: I had a shower at work! They did a dipes/wipes/bath shower for me. I got some good stuff! They are just too sweet :)

Movement: I feel him moving a lot, but I can tell when he is sleeping and when he is awake now. There are definite periods of non-movement and other times of total kung fu action. Also, he gets hiccups ALL THE TIME. Also, it feels like he has moved to a head-down position. Ready and waiting!

Symptoms: Nothing other than the ordinary, really. I did have a couple times that I was in some pain in my lower abdomen and my back. Dr. B said these were probably contractions but just not enough to do anything yet.

Food cravings: The biggest thing is sweet tea. It was my fav splurge with J, too. I just can't get enough!

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Having the energy and the body to wrestle with J. I feel bad sometimes, like he doesn't understand why Mommy is so tired all the time. I guess that's part of the process. We try to have special time, though. Doing art projects, reading, sometimes a bath. Whatever works.

What I am looking forward to: My next appt on Tuesday to check for progress. At my appt last week, I was thinned, but not dilated. I'm not rushing Fisher Cole, but I'm just ready for the process to begin, just to feel like I'm getting somewhere. It's getting really crowded in there!

Now for an update on my Baby J :) He's just so big! I've been keeping a list of my favorite little things he does. Here it is...

• When a commercial comes on Disney with a teapot, he says "pea-tot" again and again. We got him to say is perfectly when we broke it apart. Saying it fast always comes out "pea-tot"
• Still loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! He will now point at the TV and yell "pub-how", meaning clubhouse. He also will put his hand over his mouth and yell "oh-toodle"!!! He plays along with Mickey and will sometimes answer his questions :)
• Says "All aboard, choo choo"!
• He and Daddy play "2-3" which is J's way of saying throw me up in the air! When Derek throws him up, J yells "whoa Daddy" over and over. It's hilarious!

• His favorite books are Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which he reads along with, and this Under the Sea book that Nonny actually found at Publix, I think. He could read them over and over again. 
• He loves to watch movies. His favorites are Nemo and Pooh. Favorite shows are still Doc and Mickey Mouse.
• In a true boy fashion, he loves "BIG TRUCKS" and sticks. 
• He will run and hide when it's time for a diaper change or a nap.

• Favorite foods are blueberries, nutri-grain bars, graham crackers, and any snacks like puffs or little crunchies. He is a milk nut, too!
• Buddy takes a ride with us pretty much wherever we go. He loves to play with his tags and stick his fingers in them. We had to get a backup to keep on hand for when/if he gets a little worn out.

• He also has a calculator that stays in his car seat that he thinks is a phone. He calls it his "eyo"
• He says his ABCs, literally...A...B...C...and he sounds so cute when he does it!
• He can spit out his colors real quick. He will point to random things and tell us the color. His favorite color seems to be blue. He loves for his bath water to be blue (color tabs). He also says Nonny anytime we mention the color red, because Nonny has a red car :)
• He loves to take things in and out of other things. Mr. Potato head never has a face. J just takes the pieces in and out of the empty potato. Same thing with a water bucket and colored links. 

• He's still a great sleeper at night, but is trying to transition to one nap a day. He mostly skips one of them if I try to make him take 2 naps a day. He will just jump in the corner of his bed and yell for Mommy. 
• Helps Daddy make coffee by opening the lid, putting in the Kcup, closing the lid, putting the cup under the dispenser, and pushing the button. He gets so proud when the "cockee" comes out
• When he's going somewhere and wants company, he will say "hum on" for come on and wave his hand. You can't say no to that!
• Lastly, we say a prayer every night before bed. I lay him down, he reaches up his hand and we say..."Jesus, thank you for this day, and for Mommy, Daddy, and Fisher. I love you. Amen." 

That was a longer list than I planned on, but he's just so cute, I can't pick just a few favorite things. I'm obsessed with that angel boy. He will get in snuggly moods when he just wants to hug and kiss me. Good heavens, I pray that day never ends. I love you Jonah Brandon!

Winter Gridlock 2014

So last week was very interesting around here. It was forecast that we would only get a dusting of snow with no travel issues. South Alabama was suppose to really get hammered. Well, in Spann's words...it was a busted forecast. The worst one since 1982 apparently. It started snowing that morning and didn't stop for a few hours. By the time the forecast was changed and people realized what was going on, it was too late. The snow fell, partially melted on roads, refroze immediately, and resulted in about an inch of pure ice covering the roads.

Everyone was trying to leave work at once, which resulted in the now famous "Winter Gridlock 2014". Countless stories of people sitting in hours upon hours of traffic just to get half a mile, others pulling into hotels to get a room for the night or be told there were no rooms left, abandoned cars, walking miles to a warming station, sleeping in hotel lobbies/fast food booths/offices/or anywhere else that would let them in, children stuck at schools overnight because parents couldn't get to them. Thank the Lord above I didn't work that day, and Derek was working from home. Simply put...I would not have made it. It was seriously stressful just watching everything unfold on TV, much less living the nightmare. Anyways...it was quite the topic for a while, and still is. We were able to selfishly enjoy the pretty snow. Jonah went out when it was still snowing and didn't care too much for it blowing in his face. Then next day, nothing had melted, so we went out to play some more and he seemed to really enjoy himself :) We pretty much had this much snow for almost 3 days before it melted. We had a lot of fun, but were glad when we could get out and about again. Cabin fever is a real thing! 

Nothing stops Baby J from mowing

Our driveway showing what pretty much all roads looked like. Solid ice!

How beautiful is this child???? So glad he got to play in the snow, but we're not really looking for that kind of snowfall anytime soon!