pool and motorcycles

On our hottest day of the year so far, we blew up the pool and filled it with the hose water.  No kidding, Brenna and I were in it within 5 minutes.  It felt so good!  Brenna had a great time splashing and playing in the water.  I wasn't sure how she'd react to deeper water but she was fine.  Even after falling a few times and getting her face wet, she just hopped back up and kept splashing.  The best part was she was EXHAUSTED afterwards, while I was cool and refreshed.  Can't beat that!

 

 

Some Daddy/daughter time reading a motorcycle magazine.  She flipped through that magazine about 10 times, pointing at things so Nick could tell her what they were.  It was pretty cute. 

 

And here is our little cook in a necklace and oven mitt.  Bringing a little class to our kitchen.

 

 

She still isn't talking but will repeat mama or dada if asked.  She is, however, very good at making animal noises like the monkey, owl, snake, lion and the newest one is to howl like a wolf.  Cracks us up every time.

 

Little monkey Brenna

Paco and Sandra brought back a little monkey for Brenna from their trip home.  She has had that thing wrapped around her neck and waist for over a day.  So funny!  She's really become attached to her stuffed animals and wants them up on the couch with her during story time and in the car with her.

She sat up at the table with me playing with  her credit cards.  She was real excited to check out the chairs and get comfortable with the cushions.  I'm sure she felt like such a big girl!

 

Brenna is really interested in Nick's workouts in the afternoons.  She was curious/concerned with the dummy.  She came over to check him out a few times. 

 

Nick was doing some sit ups and Brenna likes to help him and be in the middle of whatever he's doing.  So he incorporated some Brenna presses with kisses.... so cute! 

 

She was peeking through the fence at the neighbors yard.  Such a noisy little girl!

33 weeks, locked and loaded....

The baby dropped!!!!  I got up Friday morning and was my usual short of breath self and sometime around late afternoon, I could breath.  I was so excited....so comfortable.  I felt like I had so much energy and I could eat, in fact I was hungry.  After a few happy hours the other shoe dropped.  My pelvis felt like it was going to pop.  Soooo much pressure and sciatic pain....but I can still breath.  I looked back over the Brenna blog and she dropped around 34 weeks.  I remember that being pretty uncomfortable too.  I don't really remember a such a huge difference in breathing, though.  So, that's a bonus! 

 

LB is the size of a pineapple this week, about 17 inches long and just over 4 lbs.  He will be gaining about half a pound a week.  There will be less and less amniotic fluid as LB gets bigger, I guess this means less padding for me against the kicks.  Since he's dropped, he's not moving as much or as strongly, especially that first day but today he has really picked back up.  Oddly enough, I've had a lot more heart burn since he's dropped. 

One step closer to meeting the little guy!!

funny faces

Brenna is really starting to imitate us, or at least trying to.  Sounds, faces, actions...sometimes it's hard to tell what she is trying to do, but one thing is for sure...she loves to cheese it up.  The first picture is from our photo shoot with Brea.  So many cute pictures, but all with such funny little faces. 

She sure does love her daddy.  She is really starting to kiss and hug us a lot more, with out solicitation.  There are times we'll get multiple wet baby kisses in a row...so cute.  Her chubby little face just scrunches up when she smiles.  Cracks me up!

I'm almost able to get her to sit for poses.  Almost.  Sometimes I can get her to smile, or at least look up at me.  Sometimes.  I suppose that's just life with a toddler!

 

32 weeks

LB is the size of a jicama.... 3.75 lbs and 16.75 inches.  They say it's getting cramped in there and that he should be moving less because of how snug it is.  I have not noticed the decrease in movements yet, but it is certainly cramped.  I find myself often short of breath just from standing up, or eating.  He kicks my bladder far more than Brenna ever did, she really just focused on the right ribs.  LB is showing me how versatile he is because it's my bladder, hips, occasionally a rib, often my stomach (I can tell because of instant and fleeting heartburn or feeling of intense hunger.)  One positive is that I haven't really swollen up at all.  I can still see definition in my calves, ankles and feet.  I can still put my wedding rings on.  I feel good about that :)  Half of my weight gain from this point on will go directly to baby.  I'm up about 12 lbs from pre pregnancy, which I'm kinda surprised about since I feel like I'm eating more junk food this time and since I'm not working and it's so hot out, I'm definitely not as active.  Even though I am moving around with Brenna quite a bit, I really lay on the floor a lot and let her come to me.  Thankfully she doesn't seem to mind or even notice. She does like to poke at my belly, though.  When she sits on my lap, she uses it like a lumbar support and just leans back into it.  It's not very comfortable for me, but I can't seem to get her to sit on my knee or just one leg.  She'll even lay her head back on it.  hehe.  She's gonna be pretty disappointed in a couple months when it's gone!

31 weeks

We are in the single digits....9 weeks to go.  Yes, I am excited.  I day dream of the second he's out and I can breath again.  While I've really enjoyed not having any food aversions lately, I can nearly eat a side salad and be very full.  There just isn't room in there for LB and food both.  Although, I can usually still fit a piece or two of chocolate in ;)  Sleeping is getting increasingly difficult...but I do remember the end with Brenna and so I know it's going to get much, much worse.  I remember (often) thinking with her....'it can't get much worse' in relation to discomfort, size, awkwardness, etc.   Of course it could...and did.  I'm fully aware of this this time around.  And like I said, I often day dream of the second he's out and all the pressure is gone. 

 

LB is probably weighing in around 3lbs and is about 16 inches long about the size of a coconut.  He is starting to use all 5 senses, his lungs and digestive tract are very close to being mature.  He is still moving a lot and he's big enough to start messing with my ribs and my breathing.  Some days I get out of breath just from sitting in the wrong position.  Only 9 weeks to go!! 

hot days

Another fun day in the sun. 

 

 

We try to get out and play everyday, but some days are just hotter than others (especially for mama) and while Brenna doesn't seem to mind the heat or humidity....well, I do.  So, on our first 100 degree day, I got out the bathing suit and got in the pool.  Poor Brenna didn't have much room and at one point I brought Bella in there with us too.  It was surprisingly comfortable (temperature wise) and helped a great deal with me dealing with the heat. 

 

Brenna has really started to get a good chuckle from messing with Bella.  She likes to chase her and it's even better if she can catch her off guard.  Lots of giggles.  This morning, she stationed herself right by Bella's cage, which is where her food and water bowls are.  Every time Bella approached, Brenna would shut the door on her.  Bella would grab a piece of food and get out of the way.  Then she'd walk back over and open the door with her nose and Brenna would wait until she stuck her head in....and close!  I was really surprised that Bella continued to come back.  Must have been hungry!

 

Brenna giving daddy kisses.  Nick just started working out again and was quite sore so he stretched out on the ground to stretch.  Well, I think Brenna was concerned because she kept coming over to check on him, try to lift his head and gave him about a dozen kisses.  So cute!

Milk time with daddy...both kicked back and relaxing.  Love it!

party!!

 

Just a little reminder to stop and smell the flowers!!! 

 

 

 

This weekend we went to a little birthday party and they had a beach ball water sprinkler.  Brenna ran right up to it, around and around it and all through it.  No fear, just pure baby joy.

 

And then she wanted a nice big hug from mama at the end.....She had a blast.  I had a blast watching her :)

Big helper

Brenna is trying out her skills as a big sister...trying to help daddy carry the laundry.  Boy she gets made if she can't help. 

She loves to be outside and play in the water...and with the bugs and in the grass..... as long as she's outside, she's pretty happy.  She doesn't seem to mind the heat or humidity and so far we've avoided any burns.  Such a cutie!

She just takes a little walk around the little tree, stop, check out a but or a limb and keep on her little way.  There'll probably a worn path before the end of summer.  She is still trying to master transitioning from the grass to the cement as it's pretty unlevel in some places.  She also likes to just walk out to the garden.  She never disturbs the plants, just likes to play in the dirt.  Even better if it's mud.

 

 

 

She is so curious about everything and even though she barely says any words (we think by choice) she is getting into some animal sounds.  She can mimic a dog, bird, owl, lion, cow and she's working on a few more.  She is trying to say I love you, it comes out more in the intonation (like the videos of dogs saying I love you)  very cute, though. 

30 weeks!

 Yea buddy!!!  We're down to the last 10 weeks.  I'm so flipping excited.  Overall, I'm still feeling pretty well.  A few aches, pains, indigestion, sleepless nights and unexpected emotional responses....but that's all to be expected, right ;)    We've slowly been getting things around, the crib is up but I'd like to get a few more 'boy' things in there before I take the official nursery picture.  Brenna figured out she can reach her little hand in there and steal things out.  It's gonna be such an adjustment for the Bean!

 

 

LB is still moving around a lot.  Big kicks and jabs, a surprising number of which are painful.  I don't remember Brenna being so mean, but maybe it's one of those things you 'forget.'  He is about 3lbs and he'll be gaining about a half pound a week.  Thankfully I've slowed down on the chocolate (but only a little) so maybe he won't come out 10 lbs.  He is nearly 16 inches and is about the size of a large cabbage.  He's simply getting smarter and fatter.  He's had the hiccups a few times this past week....He must get them like his dad and sister....they seem to last awhile.