Happy Mother's Day/ Cloth Diapers

On Mother's Day this year, I was scheduled to work, and was very bummed about it. Alan had fun plan to take the boys to breakfast with his whole family and then the zoo. I love taking the boys, and I've been doing it less often because of the third trimester pregnancy fatigue.

 

 

That brings us to Mother's Day morning. I dragged myself out of bed at 5:05am, then checked my phone (charging next to our sink). Missed call & voicemail from work! They put me "on call".... so unexpected! Thank you interns at work that made this possible :) I tried really, really hard to go back to sleep, but at 5:40am I decided to do some dishes, laundry, and pack for the zoo. So no sleeping in this year, but at least I got to spend it with my family!

 

We took Superman (Matthew) and Batman (Adam) to the zoo. Capes and all.

The two moms of the group (me and Alan's mom) with the kiddos.

Adam & Matthew are so excited about babies. Here they are hugging a baby gorilla statue.

Superman cuddling with his mommy while sipping his milk. Even Superman needs some TLC :)

Feeding the giraffes with Daddy.

35 Week pregnant belly. (I am 36 weeks today)

And my Mother's Day present came today! Happy Mother's Day to me!! Alan gave me money to spend on cloth diapers. This is huge. Alan is actually very anti cloth diapers, so I have had a hard time buying all the supplies I need. With my "allowance" I bought:

• 2 Size 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap Covers
• 2 Sustainablebabyish One Size Snapless Fitted Cloth Diapers, Bamboo/Cotton (fits 10-35 lbs) These come with 2 bamboo/cotton inserts each.
• 2 toddler size Snappis
• 200 flushable liners

The covers and fitted diapers are for night time use. I wanted bamboo for night time, but didn't want to have to buy one of every size (they are not cheap). I finally found these one size bamboo fitted diapers... they are so versatile because they don't have snaps at all.. you secure them with the snappis and cover (or pins, but I am not brave enough to use pins). I plan to use them for the boys overnight until they potty train at night, which I am hoping will coincide with when Olivia grows into them/needs them. The flushable liners can be washed and reused until they are soiled, which is awesome.

I really think we are set on our cloth diaper supply now! In addition to these supplies We have:

• 3 Newborn Covers & plenty of newborn prefolds (all borrowed from my sister-in-law) to get us through day & night during the first 3 months
• 15 One Size Smartipants Pocket Diapers (for day time use (or night if she is still waking up frequently) for 3 mos-potty training)
• Cloth Wipes/Spray bottles
• 1 huge wet bag (gift from my sister-in-law :P)
• 2 travel wet bags

Excited for Olivia to get here!!

35 Weeks with Olivia (Singleton vs. Twin Pregnancy)

Weight Gain so far: 18 lbs.  If my weight gain stays on track I should gain about 23 pounds this pregnancy. I gained 50 last pregnancy!

Comfort Level:  I am WAY less uncomfortable than when I was pregnant with twins. I had to take off work at 34 weeks during the twin pregnancy because it hurt to stand up and hurt to walk. I was doing cares on the babies sitting in a rolling chair instead of standing up (especially the ones in the isolettes). I am now a little over 35 weeks, and I worked a 12 hour shift today. It was exhausting, but I wasn't uncomfortable at all. Of course I still have 5 weeks to get bigger, but hopefully I won't be giving birth to a 10+ pound baby, so I should still be smaller! I think it would have been way harder to have a singleton first, and then take care of that one while being pregnant with twins!

On the other hand, I do miss sleeping in, especially after my 12 hour shifts. Looking back on my blog, I am reminded that I could sleep in until noon after I worked. Ohh, those were the days :) Sometimes we just take the mornings a little slower, and then I am usually okay. At least until Alan gets home.. :)

Kicks: A lot of people have asked me if I feel less movement with this pregnancy since there's "only one". Actually I feel MORE. And the kicks sometimes knock the breath out of me, and are more painful than the boys' movements ever were. I think there are 2 reasons for this. She has more room to really get those kicks and punches ready, and she doesn't have anyone else to kick besides Mommy. Matthew would kick Adam in the head (while Adam would put his hands up to defend himself). I saw this on several different ultrasounds, and it made me sad :( This time, all the kicking is aimed at Mom! She has a favorite spot to kick on my right lower side. My mom actually said that is where I liked to "elbow" her as well when she was pregnant with me.

Doctor's Appointments: Olivia has consistently measured about 2 weeks behind on the fundal measurements. But on her ultrasounds she has been right at 46-47th percentile for size. (I get monthly ultrasounds because of my hypothyroidism, which I got after the boys were born.) So I think she is growing perfectly! About a month ago by T4 level came back low, although my TSH level was fine, so they increased my armour thyroid from 30mg to 60mg.

It has been a concern that she was transverse, and then that she may be breech at my last appointment (They were not sure if that was her head or butt sticking up). However after they scared me about the breech thing, I had an ultrasound right after that, and she was actually head down! Yay! Hopefully she stays that way! She also had her legs completely stretched into my right side. Her knees weren't bent at all.. little stinker.

Other thoughts: I get the comment, "I bet you're so ready for her to be here!" Yes and no. This is the last baby we plan to have, so this is my last 4.5 weeks of pregnancy EVER. I don't want to wish it away. I also know how much work babies are on the outside, so even though I am really excited to meet my daughter, I am enjoying the last few weeks of our family of 4.. I am not so uncomfortable that she has to come out right now. Also my hubby and I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary next week. 2 days completely kid free! Alan has all but threatened me not to give birth before this :) As my due date gets closer though, I am getting more and more excited to meet our daughter!

Time is Flying

Today is May 1st. The first day of the last month before my "due month." This pregnancy has gone SO much faster than my twin pregnancy. Not because the twin pregnancy was hard, but because I am so busy this time. Busy chasing these two adorable, energetic, trying, silly toddler boys:

 Busy trying to cook healthy meals for our family of 4 (and 1/2.. can't forget my extra food for Olivia!) Busy cleaning up after them, doing laundry, dishes, vacuuming. Busy responding to two 2 year olds who need their mommy to "watch this," "kiss it" (when they have "owies") and really just pay attention to them and take them to the park, the zoo, the library.

I love my family!

Busy working my one 12 hour shift a week in the NICU. The actual shift is not bad, but it is taking me longer and longer the next day to recover from it, without being able to sleep in and now being 34 weeks pregnant. Monday, after I worked, I was soo tired and I was letting the boys watch TV. My dad sent me a message that he was working from home that day, and I quickly told him he was welcome to play with my boys :) They love their Papa!

Busy getting Olivia's nursery ready. We are almost completely done now. Here is the diaper changing station. It has both a cloth diaper and disposable diaper trash. The hair accessory area is filling up :)

 Extra storage area for diaper supplies, etc. It isn't quite set up:

 12 Smartipants cloth diapers I recently ordered. Woohoo!

32 Weeks pregnant

33 Weeks Pregnant

Busy making sure the boys get lots of bubble baths!

 Busy snuggling with my family! :) (I love this picture! This is Adam with his Daddy)

Tricycles

The boys have had these tricycles for over a year, but couldn't get the hang of them until this last week. Adam learned a few days ago, and Matthew picked it up just yesterday. They ride around the tiled kitchen/entry way saying "fuunn!" We decided to let them pedal themselves to our neighborhood park this afternoon :)

 They were very dedicated.

The only problem was the hill just before the park. Matthew went full speed down, and Adam stopped every few feet to slow down. It made me a little nervous! It was also really hard to get back up, especially since Matthew didn't want ANY help. (Since he's all grown up now :P)

Adam in yellow. Matthew in blue.

When they are having so much fun learning new skills, it makes me feel better about having another baby in a couple of months. It makes me think maybe we will be okay. Nothing scares me more than multiple babies at one time... but this time, it will just be one baby, and two "big boys" :)

Matthew had so much fun it was hard to get him inside. He threw a fit, but was disciplined for it. Everyone was in a good mood and worn out for bed time!

Developing Toddlers

31 Months old (~2 1/2!)

Words/Sayings:

Adam:

• He is our little "Mario." For example, we ask, "What color is that?" and he says, "That's-a-blue!"
• He has perfected asking me for things. He looks right in my eyes, widens his eyes really wide and uses his best "cute high-pitched toddler that you can't say no to voice" and asks, "Show?" or "I-Pad?". Of course since I'm a mean Mom I actually say no quite a bit :)
• I worked a 12 hour day today, so Alan was the one that got the boys up & changed. This morning Adam said, "Daddy's here! (Points to his diaper) Yucky, right there. Change me please." That is probably the longest thought he has made into sentences. Language development is so cool :)
• Adam especially is obsessed with babies! He asks for the "baby" every time we get near one of the computers in the study. He likes to watch babycenter.com videos of babies in the womb.
• When Adam wants a turn he says, "Matthew's turn!" I thought they had figured out who they were a year ago!

Matthew:

• Matthew seems to get restless in the car, so I have been telling him we're "almost there." Now as soon as we take off (and often after that) he says, "Mommy!!"   "Yes?"   "Almost there!" (As a statement, not a question.) He said this as soon as he got in his wagon to walk to our neighborhood park yesterday. Priceless!
• Matthew has a habit we are trying to break, where if we tell him something he doesn't like or doesn't want to be true (Daddy is at work, No, you can't do ________ or You have to be patient) he will yell "Noo!! Please let that just be a stage!
• He is the best "pet parent" in the house. When Hobbes gets on the counter he says (commands), "Hobbes! Get down". When they are out of food he says, "Kitty cats, more food?" Then when I fill up their bowls he hunts Hobbes down and says, "Hobbes, come get it!"
• He also tells Adam what to do. For example, he'll say, "No, go pee-pee!" if Adam gets distracted after we've told both of them to go to the potty.
• He exclaimed, "baby potty!" when he only pee'd a small amount.
• When we sing "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" at night, Matthew sings, "Binkle, binkle. Binkle, binkle!"
• When Adam runs after him, he will jump into my arms and say, "Mommy! Scared!" and cling to me while laughing. Then he wants to attack Adam together and then retreat, while saying, "Scared!"
• When he has to pee he gives a little *gasp* and says, "Potty!" or "Pee-pee!"

Both

Adam in green. Matthew in blue.

• "Almost got it!"
• "I did it!" (Love that one)
• "Mommy, help me?"
• "Hopter!?" (For helicopter)
• "Mommy/Daddy's here!"
• "Momma _____, baby ______!" when there is a big and small size of the same object.
• "May I have/be accused? Please!" (May I be excused)
• "May I (have) _________, please?" When we ask them to ask nicely
• "Charge it?"
• "Batteries?"
• "Catch it!" "Throw" "Catch it!"
• "Mommy/Daddy, hold you?"
• "Vacuum nanner" (Vacuum cleaner)
• "Me me" (Excuse me)
•  Both boys used to say, "Mommy (or Daddy), watch this!" And then proceed to do some kind of ninja stunt. Then the other would say the same thing, and attempt the same stunt. Over and over. It was precious. Now, instead of calling us by name they say, "Unt!! Watch this!" Like a grunt, with the "Unt!" getting louder each time. (I actually had a dream/nightmare about this where Adam did it for 20 minutes straight.) I liked it much better when I was hearing my name!

Numbers/Colors

• The boys can count to 10, and sort of understand 10-20, but we haven't worked much on that.
• They recognize all their letters, and all of their sounds.
• Matthew knows blue, red, green, purple, white, black, pink and yellow. (For some reason Adam is confused about colors. I know he's not color blind, because when he sees green or red he says, "mine!" while Matthew claims blue objects. Adam always guesses, and sounds so sure of his guess when we ask him what color something is. "It's-a-red!" I am sure he'll get it though.)

Drawing/Coloring

• Adam especially loves to color! He is so focused, and really tries to write letters. He also loves to paint in the bathtub. He is very deliberate about all of this strokes.

Random Cute Stuff:

• Matthew was so sweet to me when I came home from work today. We were rough-housing a little, and he ended up hitting me in the face. I said, "Ow!" and pointed to my cheek. He looked very concerned, then kissed my cheek. Then said, "there!" and kissed my shoulder. Then my other shoulder, and all over my face, and even my badge holder. I melted!
• Before bedtime tonight the boys and I spent a while in our "cave" (under their sheet). Adam was drinking milk from his sippy cup leaning back against me, and Matthew was sitting on my left leg talking to me about how he could see the light through the sheet, and how it was scary when we "opened" the cave. It was so sweet <3 p=""> 

27/28 Weeks

At my almost 28 week midwife appointment, I only had a 25cm fundal measurement, or 25 weeks. I had also only gained 1 pound in the last 3 weeks (according to their scales at least). My midwife was a little concerned since I also have hypothyroidism, which can cause slow growth/IUGR in a fetus. All of my thyroid levels have been good though. I also went over a day's worth of my food intake (which happened to be the day before when I was working.. I usually eat less those days), and she told me I need to eat more. So I was a little concerned after I left the appointment, thinking I was starving poor Olivia. Adam and Matthew do steal a lot of my food!

The midwife office set me up with an appointment with a perinatologist to do a growth ultrasound. The next week at 28 weeks, 5 days we headed out for our ultrasound.The boys have never come with me to an appointment, but I thought it would be neat for them to see an ultrasound of the baby inside momma's tummy. Matthew ended up waking up on and off until 1:30am the night before complaining of his ear hurting, so we decided not to bring him & his germs. But Alan and Adam ended up coming with me. Adam sat on Alan's lap during the ultrasound, and was interested in the ultrasound. It probably would have been too much to bring both little hoodlums though :P

According to the ultrasound, Olivia is measuring perfectly! She was 2 lbs 10 ozs, which was the 43rd percentile. We got a good shot of her girl parts, and I am now convinced she is a girl! I had my doubts before because I really couldn't see. All of her organs are working great, yay! They also took my thyroid level again. I am supposed to go back for a monthly growth ultrasound (which I don't think I really need, but it is nice to see her)

Olivia's face. She looks a lot different than the boys already!

She has been kicking and moving a lot inside me, but she seems to move less when the boys are around. So Adam & Matthew haven't gotten to feel her move :( It is probably a protective instinct, the cats also either freeze or run away from the boys :P

Getting Ready for Olivia (Including learning to sew!)

26 Weeks

 





Preparing the Nursery: Within a week of learning we were having a baby girl, we had our nursery fully painted. I was so impatient to get some girly colors in our house! (We had a nice 3 day weekend after our ultrasound, so that helped.) We used dark purple on two walls, and light pink on two walls, and I love the way it turned out. Alan did a great job (I was not allowed in.)

Alan hard at work

This is how we make our names official. Buy/paint the letters and hang them up. No going back now!

Diaper changing area (Homemade hair band/bow holder hung on wall -- another Pinterest idea)

The closet with a second hanging rod and some organization.

Learning to Sew: Something about the girl pregnang hormones made me really, really want to sew some things for my baby girl. It was probably also partly that she didn't have much of anything as far as clothes/blankets/burp cloths/etc in girly colors. I kept some of the neutral colors from the boys' stuff, but that wasn't doing it for me. So I bought a  Brother XL2600I sewing machine (supposed to be really easy to use, exactly what I was looking for) for my birthday! Plus fabric of course.

The day my sewing machine arrived I made a pillowcase dress, two burp cloths and a fitted crib sheet:

Next I made this cute little pink "peasant dress".

And this halter top dress.

Also I've made several receiving blankets, more burp cloths, and two bibs. I am becoming slightly addicted to it, it is a lot of fun! Of course after the baby comes, I don't see having much time for this after Olivia is born, so I am learning what I can now. Yay for the internet for free patterns/tutorials :) Sewing has become my time to focus on Olivia. Most of my other time time is of course spent focusing on the boys requiring my attention on the outside :)