38 Weeks

I didn't update at 37 weeks since there was absolutely no change.  As of last Friday I was 38 weeks pregnant and when I went to my appointment I had high hopes.  But still, nothing!  I am STILL just dilated 1cm and my cervix still isn't thinned out at all!  The baby is STILL posterior and it's head STILL hasn't engaged into the pelvis...in other words, I haven't "dropped" yet.  My midwife told me not to be discouraged because as soon as the baby drops I could dilate and thin out right away...it could all happen in one day.  Still, it's hard not to get discouraged.  I thought for sure this baby would come earlier than 40 weeks but so far it's not looking that way!  :(

My midwife gave me some good tips on how to get the baby to turn around and to get it to drop so I've been sitting on the birthing ball, doing my "cat curls" and doing anything else I can.  I'm hoping for better news at my 39 week appointment!  I'm just so excited to meet this baby and finally find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

Kids' Family Birthday Party

Since I'm nine months pregnant I wasn't super motivated to throw a big party for either of the kids' birthdays.  The nice thing about having their birthdays close is that I can have a combined family party, so this year I took advantage and did just that.  I had both of our families over for dinner and ice cream and cake and presents.  It was a fun night.  I did take Macie and Pax to Schmidt's Bakery the day before and let them each choose their own cake...I figured if they have to share a party the least I can do is let them have their own cake.  Plus, one got chocolate and the other got vanilla so we had choices!  (And both cakes were super delicious as to be expected from Schmidts!)

The kids had a good time!

All of the girls were sitting around playing on a phone/kindle...kind of pathetic!

Mmmm, 9 months pregnant in the face as well...nice!  :)

Paxton's Birthday!

Paxton turned 3 on March 18th!  On his actual birthday we didn't do too much...he came with me to volunteer at Macie's school and during her music class the kids all sang Happy Birthday to him which was super cute.  Later, when Dad got home, we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse (Paxton's choice!)  They brought him a little dish of ice cream but he's not a big fan of ice cream so we all ate it instead.  When we got home he opened his presents...he got a little tool box with tools so he can "help dad in the basement!"  He knows all of the tools and had fun "fixing" things.  He also got a scooter which was his favorite and it wasn't too cold outside so he and Macie rode their scooters for awhile.  He was way excited about it!  I felt kind of guilty that we didn't do more for his birthday but he really didn't seem to care.

Pax is so fun and always has us laughing.  He says the funniest things and copies us all the time.  He's potty trained, sleeping in a big boy bed, knows his shapes & colors and even some numbers.  This kid also loves sugar...his favorite is skittles and jellybeans but he'll pretty much eat any of it.  His favorite drink is still chocolate milk.  His favorite food is mac & cheese and hot dogs.  His favorite color changes everyday.  At his 3 year checkup he did a good job with the eye exam chart but couldn't hold still enough to get his blood pressure taken (no suprise!)  He is in the 75th percentile in height and the 90th percentile for weight...the kid is solid.  He is so active and definitely has a mind of his own.  But he is also such a sweet kid...and lucky for me he still likes to cuddle!  Sometimes he'll randomly copy/mock total strangers or babies crying...for example: we'll be at the store and a random person will be having a conversation with someone and he'll just copy what they said in a high-pitched voice and laugh...he thinks he's hilarious!  It's kind of embarrassing but also pretty funny!  We sure love you PacMan!

36 Weeks

I went in for my 36 week checkup today.  I am dilated 1cm already which makes me really happy.  I am not thinned out/effaced at all, though.  Being dilated so soon really does give me hope since I haven't dilated this early with either of the other 2 kids.  As far as thinning goes I started an Evening Primrose oil regimen as per my midwife today.  It's a natural oil that comes in a capsule and I "place" it 3 times a day.  It's supposed to help soften & thin out everything so we'll see next week if it's helping at all.

As of last week (and still today) the baby is posterior.  Head is down but he/she is turned up so it's facing my front side.  My midwife gave me some exercises to try to get the baby to turn around.  I'm really going to work on this because Pax was posterior for most of my labor with him and it was not fun!  Lots of back pain that no amount of breathing can relieve! It made my labor longer as well.  At least we know that now and not on delivery day so I can at least try some things to get him/her to turn before delivery.  The baby is still way up and hasn't "engaged into the pelvis" or "dropped" yet. 

I've had lots of swelling in my legs/ankles lately so I've just been trying to drink lots of water and stay off my feet (which isn't easy at work or at home with 2 kids.)  This was the first appointment in a long time that I didn't gain any weight. My blood pressure is nice and low- it was super low today at 95/65.  Can't beat that!  And even though I'm measuring bigger at 38cm I didn't grow at all from last week which is good as well.  My hips hurt like hell...there's no other way to say it!  I am also really tired and I think it's because I'm not sleeping well at night from the hip pain.  I also developed acid reflux with this baby which is new...it's not really painful but it is uncomfortable and pretty annoying.  Other than that I feel great!  Haha!

It's so crazy to be at the point where we're discussing delivery.  I really am ready physically for this baby to come, but mentally I keep thinking of a million things I have to do before he/she comes.  We have been finishing our basement and are just in the painting process right now (which I do myself since I don't trust Tony!) and I was hoping to get my cabinets painted as well, but I guess that can wait if it has to.  I also keep thinking how much harder it's going to be to run errands, clean, etc when I add another person to my life.  I'm excited at the same time, though, and Macie can't wait!  We've pretty much decided on a boy name but still struggle with our girl name...so if it's a girl she might not get a name right away! I have had a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions with this baby and sometimes they're actually pretty uncomfortable like real contractions which I never experienced before.  It's weird but they actually make me excited...I really love the delivery process and as crazy as people think I am I really do look forward to it!

 



Pax's Dental Appt

Pax and I went to the dentist last week and both of us were cavity free.  This was the first time he laid in the chair and got his exam without any tears.  That made me proud!  Next time I'll try to clean them and do x-rays now that he's more cooperative.  His teeth are nice and tight right now so he's definitely going to need braces.  Macie will probably need them too but Pax is a definite yes!  Good thing I'm in the dental field...my connections will be useful in the future!

FINALLY Potty Trained!!!

Potty training has been on my list of things to do before baby comes, but Pax just wasn't ready up until about a month ago.  Tony thought I was trying to keep Pax as my baby and was somehow stalling the process but if there's anything I learned from Macie it's that kids need to be COMPLETELY READY before potty training or else it is no bueno! 

  For awhile he was completely resistant to even talking about going potty...part of me was worried that he would be wearing diapers until 2nd grade!  But about a month ago I started asking him more and more until one day HE decided it was time.  For a couple of days he would go in the toilet here and there but would want his diaper back on and not underwear.  One day after he went potty I told him we were out of diapers so he bought that and put on underwear.  He had one accident that day.  And from that day forward he has worn underwear and hasn't had a single accident!  No stickers, no treats, just the "potty dance!"  I did let him pick out a prize at Target (he chose a Thomas the Train) but I think even without that he would have continued to be successful...I was just so proud of him that I had to reward him somehow!  He even goes to bed in underwear!  And I don't have to constantly ask him every 10 minutes if he needs to go potty...he goes by himself and/or tells me when he has to go.  I am confident that he was 100% ready to be potty trained. 

It is a little less convenient when we're out and about but it's definitely worth it.  I took the last box of size 6 diapers back and traded for some smaller diapers, so I'm stocked up for the new baby with a box of size 1, size 2, and size 3 diapers. 

The other inconvenience is the pooping...at first he would get excited and jump up and down after he went (getting poop all over)...he's getting better at yelling to me (I try to make sure I'm there everytime he goes anyway, but sometimes he sneaks without me) and once in awhile he'll pull his pants up and then tell me he went so he gets poop in his underwear.  We're working on that! 

But overall, the kid is good to go and that makes me very happy since I'll be re-entering the diaper days in a few weeks and the thought of having 2 in diapers did not appeal to me.  I also don't know how I would have potty trained with a newborn!

Anyway, we got Pax a big bed (he's been sleeping in the toddler bed until now) and he loves it.  I let him pick out his bedding and he was so excited about it.  I can't believe how big my baby is!  :(  Kind of bittersweet.

Playing in the Snow!

 Just a few pics of the kids playing in the snow.  It had been so cold that they hadn't really gotten to be outside much but the second it hit above freezing they were all over it!  P.S....we are SO ready for warm weather!  This winter has been too cold and we want to play outside!