Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there! My friend saw this cute idea online and we decided to use it for our Father's Day gifts when we went to visit the zoo earlier this week. We asked the kids what they loved about their dad and this is what Lauren had to say:

This is the final picture we used because I think it says the most about her personality. It looks so cute on our shelf!  

 What a goof!

 We enjoy visiting the zoo. I snapped this pic of the giraffe because it is rare that you get one without their neck straight and I liked the reflection on the water. Lauren tells everyone that my favorite animal at the zoo is the giraffe!

 Of course, this one was framed right next to the Daddy picture!

 We had to give Dad the pictures early because Lauren told him that we took them! She is definitely my child, can't keep gifts a secret!

 This is the elusive Moose that Lauren was deathly afraid of last summer. No problems this year though. She would repeatedly tell us last summer if someone brought up the zoo, "No Moose, too shy, no hug!"

 Evidence of her fright from last summer!

 Last summer with Gabby!

 This summer: Gabby, Miyah, and Lauren

It is quite amazing to look at pictures from last summer and see how much she has grown. She looks like such a little girl now and can do so many more things by herself. They grow so fast...and she is not even 3 yet!

Happy Father's Day to Larry and Gary too! Wish we could spend the day with you but that drive is just getting too excruciating for me in my current state!

35

Lauren wasn't too eager this time...I guess I am not the only one ready to be done with this pregnancy so we can meet our new family member! 

Figure it Out!

Driving around this afternoon to get out of our toasty house while listening to the radio. This is how our conversation went...did you figure it out right away?

Radio: "I listen to Tim and Pam in the morning because they are hilarious!"

Lauren: "They just said my Grandpa's name. The radio just said my Grandpa's name!!"

Me: "What?"

Lauren: "The radio just said Larry!"

Me: "Huh?"



Did you figure it out...?? ha-Larry-us (Hilarious).

34/35 weeks

I don't have any recent pregnancy pictures, I should really take another one here soon, but figured this cute little action shot of our climbing Lauren would be suffice.

We had our 34 week appointment last week and are just entering 35 weeks. I have gained 23 pounds so far and the midwife said she was very pleased with my weight progression. Next appointment is 2 weeks from now and will include the GBS test, after that they will be weekly...yikes! I never made it to weekly appointments with Lauren!

We chatted about after birth things (vitamin K, eye antibiotic, and PKU test). We are saying yes to vitamin K (just a vitamin) and PKU (heel prick blood test) but are denying the eye antibiotic cream. I am 100% positive I do not have any of the diseases that the eye antibiotic are used to prevent and would like to forego any unnecessary antibiotics and side effects associated with it. We had a nice little chat about the vitamin K, I really wasn't sure exactly why it was used but the midwife explained that babies are unable to clot their own blood in the in the first week and a half or so. That is one of the reasons Jewish folk would wait a bit before circumcising. Hospitals started to mandate it when boys were hemorrhaging and dying following circumcision; interesting history!

Speaking of interesting history, we also met our back-up doctor this past week (Dr. White). He was an older gentleman with quite the family. His father was the first doctor to facilitate homebirths in Illinois and his mother was one of the founders of La Leche League. It was a different atmosphere seeing a doctor since we are accustomed to midwives. Kyle wasn't too much of a fan and said it seemed like we were "talked to" far more than listened to. A lot of talk about statistical things but useful information. I would never second-guess his judgment though, he was able to measure my stomach using his hands (a skill many medical professionals are unable to do these days), listened the heartbeat with a forehead stethoscope thing, and was much more "old-school" compared to baby docs these days. The midwife said his c-section rate is 4%...can you believe how low that is...some midwives can't even say that!

Baby is still head down and heart-rate is staying consistent in the 140's. I am leaning more towards thinking it is a boy now.

Ryan and Amanda's Wedding!!

Aunt Amanda and Uncle Ryan's wedding was this past weekend. It was a fun, action-packed, weekend with Kyle as a groomsman, me as a bridesmaid, and Lauren as the flower girl. I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked all the hustle and bustle but did manage a few. 

I put Lauren's hair in curlers right away in the morning and took them out about 30 minutes before pictures. They held up wonderfully! So wonderful that she still had curls on Monday...until bath time!

Right before the ceremony started, waiting to go in. She certainly was a BEAUTIFUL bride!

Gary was a little nervous but he did just fine!

After the ceremony on the "party bus"

It was quite the bus!!

Lauren at the reception hall in the lobby area. 

Aunt Erin and Lauren...can you tell how tired she was at the end of the day!

Watching everyone and waiting for the bouquet toss.

She tried! Andrea was pretty ecstatic to have caught it though!

Kyle and his Mom at the reception

End of the night...both of us VERY tired. Being 34 weeks pregnant is tiring just by itself!

My bouquet that she is very attached to, thank goodness they are not fake flowers so we can enjoy them for years to come

Lauren's new little friend

Check out my sweet shades!

Mom...I am getting very sleepy!

Please, someone take me home!

My parents came for the weekend and helped out with Lauren so we had an extra set of hands during all the preparation and wedding festivities. It would have been much too tiring if they weren't there. Lauren slept in until 9:00am the next morning!!! 

Park Fun

We played at the park across the street from the lady altering my bridesmaid dress for Kyle's sister's wedding this upcoming weekend. Lauren got tons of her wiggles out swinging, pretending to drive to Grandma's house, and dancing on the "stage" and giving me a "concert". I have a feeling we are going to have to stop here again when we pick my dress up!

30 weeks

We have hit 30+ weeks! Officially in the home stretch now. Baby has dropped down pretty low; the chiropractor has been working her magic and the head is now hopefully lodged in the correct position. The past week has flown by and I think it could actually be because of the Floradix (iron supplement) I have been taking. I am still a bit tired but feel much more productive at home and work. Speaking of work...only 2 more weeks left of school before school!!! 

Gained one pound in the last 3 weeks so we are up 18 total. Appointments are now going to be every two weeks. Heart rate is staying steady in 150's. I am measuring at 31 weeks which is more consistent with the July 15th due date the initial ultrasound gave me although standard due date is July 19th. Still thinking a 4th of July baby could be possible, especially with all the hills we have been climbing lately with Lauren!

Enjoy our attempt at a 30 week picture...at bedtime (...past bedtime...)

Not too excited about the picture this time!

This is the perfect height!

I need bed!

Mommy...I am tired!

Built-in Pillow

Can I go to bed here?

Exploring, Throwing, Celebrating...and Raining at the River