no tree...

...and still no baby. But first, I'll explain why we have no tree. It can't be found! See, my grandparents gave us their artificial tree last year, and since we couldn't turn down a free tree - that is what we used. We expected to use it again this year but when we went down to the garage to fetch it, it was gone! It's a shared garage (we still live in an apartment building) so it would have been easy enough for someone to take it. But, who takes a Christmas tree? Very sad, indeed. Especially since we got Louisa all excited about it. She calls them "choo-choo trees!" Now we're not sure what we will do. We had just looked forward to having a nice, free Christmas tree. We did put up our other decorations though, which is nice for getting into the spirit of things. To have them up before baby Josie arrives is probably a good idea because I'm sure it's not something I would be able to focus on once she is here. But speaking of that - I had kind of an eventful appointment yesterday. First of all, it was Providential that I decided to leave Louisa with my grandma at the last minute when I had planned on just bringing her along. Well, it was good because I ended up getting hooked up to the fetal heart rate monitor thingie (can't remember what it was called) for about 30 minutes. The doctor (new dr. by the way :( had thought her heart rate was a little high. Everything turned out to be okay, evidently, because he sent me home and said he'd see me in another week. Which will bring me to 40 weeks! I guess she is just an active little thing. I'm not sure how much I trust those machine thingies. I have heard that they can be unreliable anyway. I was also told to drink more water because both me and the baby might be low on fluids. And to get more rest. Hmpf. That is hard when I keep wanting to make sure all is in order around here for when it's time to go the hospital. Plus Louisa has been a little high needs at night lately...she has a lingering cold so she keeps waking. So this week will be interesting trying to balance rest, concern over baby, and still being ready to go any time. I realize that once the baby gets here things will be even more work, but right now I feel like I've got quite enough work on my hands! Everything is okay overall, though, and I am loving this time of year. Advent is really an appropriate time of year to be waiting for a baby to arrive...after all :)

baby baby

Baby sister is still inside. After we recover from our naps I think we'll set up our Christmas tree...

I just remembered that Lou is a 'Sunday's Child'

*Happy Sunday to you*

Thankful

outside.

inside.

oh, Lou is very much into stickers now, thanks to the grocery store clerks. She is very fond of putting them on her cheeks (does it herself) I'm thinking, woo-hoo, cheap easy Christmas present idea :)

White Monday

Turns out that even though I'm 38 weeks now and really feeling ready, today would not have been a great day to go into labor because.....

We got us some snow!

Hub decided to work from home. This turned out to be a smart decision, because now it looks like traffic is pretty dicey. So my Monday turned out to be pretty unexpectedly good. We got to have lunch with daddy and now we don't have to worry and wait for him to commute home! Yay! I hope if you're in this area that it didn't inconvenience you too much. I know tomorrow will be a bit different story for me because I have a Dr.'s appointment at 9a.m. We'll see if that even happens because that will be morning traffic time and plus the hospital is on this big hill....

Anyways, a few shots from my cozy Monday.

mmMMmm...hot cocoa for two. This was repeated several times today ;)

We ventured downtown

I guess I'll be a show off and post twice in one day. Since I posted at 1 a.m, it felt more like it was Thursday's post, so yeah...

Today I was brave and took Louisa downtown all by myself. I kept having thoughts of my water breaking as I'm walking around with a squirrelly toddler and having to ask some stranger to please escort me to the hospital. Despite my *somewhat unreasonable* fears I really felt like I did have enough energy this morning and it would be a good day to visit the Children's museum. I know it won't be long when it won't just be me and her anymore and I have this desire to do some last minute special things together. We had fun and obviously I came home with the baby still inside :) It was tiring, though. Right now I should be napping because my mom came over to play with Lou, but I have been having trouble sleeping lately. I guess I have a lot on my mind, and sometimes the more tired I am the harder it is for me to fall asleep. I know everything will be fine once we get used to having two babies but it sure is intimidating to think about. Add in a very active kicking baby, and generally being uncomfortable and you get a recipe for non-sleep. Anyways, I am glad Louisa and I have had so many good times together, and adding a little sister will only make things more fun - right? No need to worry about 'losing' out on these fun outings with just Louisa and I (that's what I keep telling myself)

(brrr...bare legs! I guess I didn't get the memo about how freezing cold it is outside. At least I dressed my daughter appropriately.)

She skipped her morning nap which she still takes pretty regularly, so she was pretty pooped! She still looks so little when she's sleeping. Sigh. I just can't believe she is no longer going to be my baby.

Dinner and a show

Probably our last date for a good while.

Glad we could do it, thanks babe!

So you don't think I had a baby yet

Sooo ummm...it's hat weather out there. Lou and I are prepared. Daddy made her hat, mine was bought. (yes, you heard me right, Lou has a super cool daddy. And doesn't Lou have the most beautiful blues? Click the pic for a better view. Obviously, she didn't get them from her mama :) Later today we'll actually be heading to a cafe where they supposedly have a place for toddlers to play, so I guess we'll be indoors. But, at least we'll have our heads covered for the trip across the parking lot!

Ummm...so that's a little post for you. Labor-wise, I am about the same as I was a week ago, though the baby's head has moved to a very low position. This was according to the medical student who checked me. Yes, you heard right, I was asked politely if the med student accompanying my OB could check the progress. Nice. All in the name of education, I guess? Ah well it wasn't that big of deal. It was a female at least, not sure I would have wanted to consent otherwise.

Anyway, that's all for now, my friends!

37 Weeks

Today I am 37 weeks! Just letting you all know. It could be any day or it could be 3-4 more weeks. Just have to place it in God's hands and ask for patience and peace.

Good evening

Sunrise, sunset.

I enjoyed the sunset this evening. (Yes, for those of you who have never been to our place, this is the view we are spoiled with) It's amazing how every minute counts in that the sky changes so quickly. Just like in life...you think only a few moments have passed but suddenly your life looks and is so different. Here you see the ferry going just a little ways, and yet the light has changed already. Sunrise, sunset.

Anyway, hope you're weekend is a nice one!

Countdown

So much I want to do!

Right now I wish I could have a non-pregnant body so I could run around and get everything I'd like to have done, done. Then I would strap my pregnant body on again, have the baby, and all would be good....

However, as it is, I am being told that I should take it easy. I tell you it is extremely difficult for me to follow this advice. I don't have anything huge on the list...we are basically ready to host a newborn in our little apartment, even if she should come tomorrow. But, there are just so many little 'optional' things I would love to do. Oh, like vacuuming out the car, organizing stuff we took out of the closets, getting some little things for Lou, stocking up on food and diapers, washing the rest of the baby clothes, sorting and organizing and getting rid of stuff that clutters. Not to mention trying to spend some time with Mike (we are going to see a play next week, so excited!) Anyway, I am just feeling a tad bit anxious right now and thought I would share. Probably just my nerves trying to find a productive outlet because I can't believe we are about to double the amount of kids we have!

A few more shots

I feel like posting more pretty pictures of the ocean, since we took so many. Credit for the picture of Mike and I goes to Kathy :)

Oh, and a friend posted a link to this blog which has an article that talks about ways which people can help families with a new baby. Here it is. I think it's got some great tips and I know that I would appreciate almost all of the things she talks about. I especially like the fact that it talks about doing little chores because that is actually something that stressed me out a lot after Lou was born. (I am used to being in control of the order in the apartment and it doesn't feel good to lose that because your hands are full!) I would say that sometimes, especially after the first few weeks have passed, it is nice to have people stay and chat (for some adult conversation) but I think she is pointing to the first month anyway. Seems like that time feels better spent bonding with the new baby and focusing on the the immediate family.

Fellow mama's - do you like this article? I think I will try to use the tips myself for others when they have a baby too, to the extent that have free hands and can one day!

Fall Oregon trip

We took a trip down to Oregon to attend a baby shower this weekend, and it will probably be the last time we go out of town before the baby is born. The shower was fun, though unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the adults...too focused on getting cute shots of Isaac and Lou! Louisa loves seeing Isaac, so even though they both got pretty tired and cranky toward the end, they had fun catching up. It was nice for us to visit some of Michael's family, too. We also made it to the beach, but only for a few hours because the weather was rainy and cold most of the time we were there. Sunday morning though, I went to search for coffee (a Dutch Bros to be exact, Mmmm) and realized that it was a gorgeous sunrise and that we should hit the beach before the clouds came rolling in. We did take the opportunity before mass and it was just lovely. Louisa, as you can see, decided to test out the new baby carrier we got for Josephine and promptly fell asleep for her morning nap. (How nice it would be to be carried by your father by the ocean. It might feel heavenly. I feel like there is a poem about that.....)

Anyway, it was a sweet little trip and now that we are back I'm really feeling like settling in to welcome baby. I was feeling some cramping (not sure if it was contractions) down there; and then this morning I had an appointment where there were some indications that my body is getting ready to go, so it's really feeling like the time is fast approaching. Hoping for a November baby, but trying not to get our hopes up too much.

Ready?

Hey! Someone is ready for the winter!

(They sure have some cute baby hats at Old Navy, just a head's up)


***



Hmmmm....ok so maybe not quite....hehehe

Perhaps we should pick up some winter clothes as well.... :)

November

Trees in November are purdy.

and so is my friend, Kristina. Happy birthday to you my dear, hope you have a beautiful day!

Buzzz

Bee and Chicken, best buds!
(sorry for the quality of photos - it's always hard to take good pictures when it's dark outside)

Well, the morning is here and I'm awake and Lou is not. Hence, I have a few moments to post some pictures of The Day Where You Dress up and Party and Get Loaded up on Sugar. I have to say - Halloween is much more fun with kids (don't you love the picture of the babies on the couch who really did not appreciate their being taken away from playing to get a photo?) But their delight is soooo contagious. Plus lets face it, I'm past the part of my life where simply 'partying it up' was the meaning behind Halloween. I guess you could say we did party with the kids - because in fact we did go to a very fun party - but 'livin' it up' with toddlers carries a whole different connotation :) As I was browsing facebook looking at all the new pictures people have posted already, it just makes me chuckle to see how different people are at different places in life. Some of my friends/family went to the extremes to have a good time and others went to the extremes with their kids' costumes. Mike and I, as with most things in life, just hope to give Lou a joyful childhood without getting carried away...you know?

Really, our little bumblebee did have a fun time playing with her toddler 'peeps' and then later 'the boys' (her cousins) who she adores. We did do a little trick or treating and she caught on real quick even though she's not even two yet. The candy is hidden away but I wouldn't be surprised if she woke up and asked for a 'suck you' (sucker)
Oh and can you guess who Mike and I dressed up as? If you can't tell click here for the answer.