Question

Have you had that baby yet?

Answer

How many more minutes??

I am beginning to ask the same question as Lily - "how many more minutes until baby George comes out??"

We are all so excited to meet baby boy and the anticipation is frustrating the whole family.  Ryan is having trouble concentrating at work. Lily wants to know when he will arrive and when Mommy can play on the floor with her again.  For me, every single kick or contraction leads to me obsessing about whether today is the day.

On Thursday, we were completely convinced I was in early stages of labor.  It was textbook - contractions starting in my lower back, moving to the lower abdomen, every 15 minutes, lasting 30-90 seconds long for around four hours.  Then I laid down for a short nap, and it stopped completely.  Nothing like calling your husband at work, only to sheepishly tell him it was nothing by the time he got home.  

Think George is a jokester and likes to mess with his mama, just like his father!?!?!  

Any bets on when he will finally arrive?  Grandma O has claimed the full moon this week, and we are hoping she is right!!

Because everyone reading this actually just wants to see pics of Lily and not ramblings from her mother, here are a few cell phone photos...

we love going to movies on hot summer days!

pizza dough while waiting for dinner

chocolate donut after church...what else does a girl need!

super girl!

Recent quotes

She is often ornery

"Tootervilles!" 

"I'm pickin' my boogers!"

Sometimes naughty

"I'm sorry Mama" (said loudly)...."for nothing" (whispered).

"I will go to church with Daddy...but I'm going to talk loud the whole time."

 Always silly

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe my eyes!"

"Daddy, you make my heart happy!"

And very excited for baby to join our family

"How many more minutes until baby George comes out?"

38 weeks

A few thoughts:
~3 cm dilated and 80-90% effaced.  My doctor doubts I will make it to my due date and I have instructions to head for the hospital quickly once labor starts.  She thinks it will be a fast delivery (please let her be right!!!).
~The bags are mostly packed, including Nanny's, who is on call to head to the airport at a moment's notice.
~This mama is feeling good...I had a haircut plus a mani/pedi last week, so I am pampered and ready!
~The waiting game is really hard for me.  I'm a bit Type A personality and feel the need to control all aspects of life.  So to not know exactly when I will be heading to the hospital or where Lily will be until Nanny gets to her is killing me.  I'm trying to let it go and just enjoy these last few days...  

37 Weeks

A few thoughts:
~I've been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions this past week (I never experienced any during my first pregnancy).  Apparently they are getting things moving as I am 2cm dilated and 80% effaced (TMI?  Sorry!).  George is very low and in position, ready to join the world.  However, we are keeping our fingers crossed that he stays put for at least another week or two as we finish up our to-do list and just enjoy a little more time with the big sister-to-be.  Plus I have a haircut this week....priorities, people!
~I am often asked if I am still running since I was able to run with Lily through most of the pregnancy.  Unfortunately running just wasn't comfortable this time around, so I stopped a few months ago.  Instead I've stayed active swimming laps, taking long walks,  doing pilates/yoga, and a little P90X with Ryan (though modified of course!).  For any expecting moms, I would highly recommend this workout video....I bought it in my first trimester and originally thought it was a little too easy.  However, I have LOVED it starting around 25 weeks when other activities didn't feel as good.  
~Lily still calls baby "George" but we've been offering her other names to see if she'll change her mind.  She recently decided we could also call him "Pete".  Silly girl. 
~After months of indecision, I think we have finally settled on a name.  Do you think we'll stick with George??  Guess ya'll will have to wait and see!  :)

Summertime fun

Just a quick post on a few fun summertime activities our family has been enjoying!

At the beginning of the summer, I put Lily in some pretty hardcore swimming lessons.  Though we don't have a pool in our backyard, most of our friends do.  Being around water so much, we really wanted her to be water safe - in other words, swim on her own and get to the side of the pool without help.  She started off barely putting her face in to blow bubbles and refusing to get her hair wet.  Now she is a little fish and can almost swim unassisted!

We spent the 4th at a friend's house and had a blast using their pool.  One look at Daddy and his buddy Matt going off the diving board, and Lily was sold.  She ran right over, jumped off, and swam to Daddy...and then repeated until we finally cut her off. 

Last Saturday, we went to Greasewood Flats, an outdoor 'Cowboy' restaurant claiming some of the best burgers in town.  It's a perfect venue for families as the kids just run around, dance to the country music, and wear themselves out.  We met a few friends from the neighborhood and had a great time!

We are trying to enjoy every moment with our little family of three before George joins the mix.  Four weeks and counting...

Happy 4th!

Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July!