I have been putting off blogging so I can put Soren's birth story up, but that is taking some time, so I felt that since I am no longer a lady in waiting that I needed to put something new up here. Baby Tiger is here, our dear Soren Cameron and we are loving having a newborn. It would be a lie to say that it isn't an adjustment for sure and I have had a weepy couple of days, thank you hormones. Overall though it is bliss to hold a newborn in my arms again and to watch T interact with him and want to hold him etc. And I have seen my husband step up and serve and love me and our boys in an amazing way and I feel that I have fallen in love with him all over again. I am so blessed and thankful!
Anyway, I need to go, but the birth story will come soon along with pictures.

Lady in Waiting...

So I am still here, still pregnant. For the most part I am ok with that, but I have my moments where I am just done. It is so nice having my mumsy here, she has been cooking for me, and keeping me company, going for walks with me, rubbing my feet and I think my favorite thing, reading books to my little boy. My least favorite thing about the end of pregnancy is the hormone changes. I go from really happy to irritable, to mad, to wanting to cry about nothing or everything. I feel like I am keeping myself in check a lot to not take these emotions out on people all the time. Still can't wait for that 'newborn high' :) I will be induced (by breaking my water) on Friday if nothing happens this week, so it is nice to have an end in sight, and it is nice they are not just scheduling me for surgery.
So I have been feeling a little sad about the thought that things will change for Little T and I. Of course I am excited and want more children, but the firstborn really has it made and T has had 2 1/2 years of just me. And I sure have enjoyed almost every minute. :) (It would be a lie to say there haven't been rough days.) He is really just so delightful with all his little winsome ways. And man can this kid ever talk. I am not one that likes to brag about T's ability to communicate because I would never ever want another mother to think that I thought less of a child who didn't talk as much. It is not anything that I have done that has made T such a great communicator, it is the way that God made him, and I get the front row seat to watching him excel. And each child's mother gets the distinct privilege of watching and noticing and enhancing the gifts that God has given their children at any given time in their life, and if we don't cheer them on, who will. Anyway, all that to say that T speaks at the level of a 4 year old and he just amazes me with what he understands and responds too. It makes some things more challenging, but overall it is so fun to watch. I have been wanting to record some of his phrases for some time, and I will probably come back and add some as I remember, but here is what I can think of for now.

When he wants to get dressed he says "I get my dressed on." This is one of my favorites.
When Brian would leave for work he used to say all the time 'Go buy some money Papa'
His most common is 'I try some' having to do with food and 'Hold you mommmy' when he wants to be held.

I can't think of any more at the moment, but I will add as I remember. I should probably go get my day started though seeing as it is 10am. A good long walk is in order today too. Come on baby, we can't wait to meet you!!

So I should blog before I read other blogs, because I got on the computer and had energy and things to write about, and then I surfed around a bit, and well, now I am out of energy and don't feel like writing much. Maybe that is ok too though, then I will be more selective about what I write. Maybe. :)
Had a doctor's appointment today and it was disappointing. He is leaving on vacation so unless I am way overdue, I won't see me again this pregnancy, and he is a nice guy. I am not thrilled about going to another complete stranger. But what do you do, doctors need their vacations, I can understand that, and it will always be on somebodies due date. It just seems to be the story of this pregnancy that nothing is going as I imagined. I have learned to be ok with that, but it still comes with moments of feeling disappointed, that is natural I think. And he was going to do a sweep, but couldn't, so that disappointed me. I really want to go into labor this week or the beginning of next and had high hopes. Not that I think it can't still happen, it just didn't seem as promising. Anyway, I am just venting. It took me all the way back from the city to not feel impatient again, to remember that I won't still be pregnant at the end of August (although that seems like an eternity away sometimes) and I am ok now, I know babies come when they are ready. And I am excited that I have a doula, and one that is fantastic! I still think this labor is going to be great. Crazy, I know. I just need to make sure I keep making plans to do stuff each day so I don't feel like my life is on hold and I am sitting around waiting for this baby.
Ok, so I just needed to vent all that, I am glad this day is over, tomorrow is a new day, I will hang out with friends, soak up some sun, enjoy my sweet little 2 year old, and look forward to my mom coming in 5 days!!!!

I read a post yesterday about how you know you are at the end of your pregnancy if... and some of them were so true and so funny. I have been thinking about the things that have been different for me this time and thought I should document some of them.
I always always want to be chewing on ice. My teeth are not loving this so much, which is too bad, cause I could chew ice ALL day otherwise. I have craved pasta noodle and pizza all the time. Oranges were my main companion the first four months and now it is nectarines. I can't get enough of them.
Every time I go pee I hope I hear a big woosh to indicate that my water just broke
I wake up hoping that my stomach will start contracting.
I am actually really excited about going into labor and about my labor in general this time. I think it will be great. (It helps that I have not clue what crowning feels like :) )
They carpet cleaned in our building and I LOVED the smell, and wanted to just sit in the hall and sniff the carpet. hahahaha, So weird I know, and I didn't because I know that it probably would have been so bad for me, so I just walked out the door and tried to not inhale too deeply, but oh it was hard. This is the weirdest thing I think thus far in my pregnancy

I have been getting a little nauseous sometimes on random occasions again, but not too bad so that's good. More then anything I just feel tired ALL the time. Kind of wondering if I am not getting enough iron, but I could go back to bed an hour after I got up. I basically eat and shower and then feel done for the day. I still get spurts of energy during the day, but the overall tiredness takes up a greater part of my day.
I love all the rainy days. I just like rain, and it has helped it not be too hot so that has been great. It does make it a bit harder to keep Theo entertained though. Have to be more creative. Or just go puddle jumping. :) I need to do a post on all the funny things that Theo says, but I don't have the energy today and it is nap time. Maybe tomorrow. I love that boy!!

Randomness

So I was reminded when sitting at a baby shower and talking about blogging how much I really do prefer it to facebook. It is more are a true glimpse into people's lives, a better opportunity for realness. It's also true that it is easier to present only our best selves on our blogs, but for the most part I feel like the blogs I read are people who are real. And I love to read what others write, no matter how ordinary run of the mill kind, everyday life stuff they write about, I enjoy reading. I am just too lazy to keep my own up. Story of my life, I think it is the same with friends for me. So many good intentions, not followed through with. But I will keep trying, trying to maintain and invest in friends, try to keep up a blog. :)

So in baby news Baby Tiger continues to grow. I continue to measure 3-4weeks ahead, but baby is head down and doing well. Sometimes I think he has some secret caffeine drip I don't know about cause he moves like CRAZY! But I love it, all the crazy movements and belly contortions. I am so excited to meet this little one. Since talking with my doula I feel optimistic about this labor and having a v-back. Still dreading being in a big hospital, I don't trust the doctors to have my best interest in mind over their convenience, but I have a voice, and I will use it, and if I have another c-section it won't be because I didn't try everything else. And oh the sweet blissful newborn stage that follows...can't wait. It's hard to be patient in the end, I have high hopes for this baby coming in July, but I am trying to mentally prepare for it not coming early. I am getting closer to being ready for the baby, have been doing lots of nesting lately, but I still have things to do so I can wait a few more weeks. :) Just a few.

Well, I can't remember what else I was going to write about, so I guess that's all for not folks. I will try to add a 36 week prego picture soon. Hard to believe I am 36 weeks already! 4ish weeks to go!

Not the greatest picture quality but this is 36 weeks, measuring 41 :)

So we went to the mountains recently and I was reminded how much I love it there. I feel like I am transported to another place, where life at home is forgotten and I am caught up in the pine trees, and the smells, and the light rains that come and go and of course the majestic mountains that surround you.

It is like life slows down and nothing is more important that watching your little boy run through the woods,

and throw rocks in mountain lakes,

and drives to the next beautiful lake nestled in between mountains, finding hikes that we think we can survive, eating and sitting around that camp fire.




It was beautiful, and I want to move there. :)
Coming back is always hard and it never seems like enough time once you are there. I came back and got a head cold and have had a rather blue week, feeling grumpy, crying, feeling HUGE to put it mildly, and just generally dealing with crazy hormones! It is crazy how much changes in a week, I felt great last week. I know it is all just part of pregnancy, but man, some days...
My husband has been so sweet to me this week and very understanding to my moods and my tears which has helped so much.
Tonight I got dinner on the table for him when he came home and I felt proud, cause sometimes it is the little victories you have to celebrate. It is the most I have felt I accomplished all week.
I can't WAIT to meet this baby. For the first time in this pregnancy I feel SO ready to be done and hold this little (or big) baby. I don't want to wish away this summer, it is going to be over before I know it, but it is hard to enjoy life to the fullest when your energy is cut in half and you are carrying around 20ish pounds more then usual. I am just so excited to have another baby to hold and love and watch grow. Theo has been such a delight and I just can't wait to add to that joy. I had Brian take a few belly pictures for me, I actually love my big torpedo belly, I just don't like that way I look everywhere else. It's going to be even better when I swell, haha, Talk about a beached whale. But I know it is temporary and that is ok, for the sake of another baby I am willing to go through just about anything. Anyway, I will end this with a couple belly pics and next time I write it will probably be about giving birth again, cause I have birthing on the brain these days.

Pics

Theo looking distressed

Out for a family quad ride

"No picture mommy"

29 weeks