We are Family!

On Monday we headed down to Nanaw Phew-Phews; which is a common occurrence. We try to visit her and Great Great Grandma B at least once a month and get an updated 5 Generation photo whenever the kids' moods allow it. I realize that being able to have 5 Generations together is rare (heck even Hallmark only carries frames up to Four!) so we seize the opportunity when we can.
And while visiting the Gram's is a great reason to visit, the reason for this visit was different. My two out-of-state-cousins were in town for a visit. Steph came from Ohio and Cassandra fly in from Germany. The ''mission" of the day was to have all 6 cousins sneak off and get a portrait taken together to surprise Grandma. We hadn't had a cousins portrait taken since about 1997 and lets just say the last picture was less than flattering. The updated one is much much better:
and the "funny" one is quite humorous as well. Seeing how we are now all between the ages of 18 and 28, it was nice to not have to stand around and retake a million photos hoping to get a good one. There were a couple that no one liked but that was more the photographers error than it was ours.

After the mall, we headed back to Grandma's house. These pics are all from there. Hanging out, being silly, making memories, general shenanigans.

B and Peanut

Myself and cousin Stephanie

Nanaw with Bubba

"Regular" Nanaw with all her grandkids

Cassandra and Steph with Nanaw (their Auntie)

Peanut teaching Grandma how to fist bump

Myself, Steph, Grandma and Cas

Us girlies with both of Grandma's

While it was a short trip, it was nice to get to see everyone. We were joking that it was like Christmas in July but with Pizza Hut instead of a turkey. Growing up we were often always all together for Christmas but rarely for anything else.

Oh and Grandma *loved* the pics. (We were able to show her all of them off of the Photo disk). Imagine how excited she will be when the framed 20x20 collage is ready for pick up!

Pretty in Pink

Well I finished up Sweetcheeks bedding. I kinda feel like I should end that statement with ''finally'' but realistically I'm a little over 24 weeks pregnant so my timing was good. {I just feel like I've been sewing for.ever.}

I had previously shared some photos of the crib bumpers and crib skirt---

Here are a couple pics of the 2 quilted blankets and a Boppy cover that I made. The first blanket is my favorite. It's a rag quilt made with the fabric that I love from Hobby Lobby and a super soft pink flannel. Honestly, after seeing it fresh out of the dryer, I kinda wish I had a one big blanket like this instead of even bothering with the second one. This is probably 30x30 inches. Perfect for a baby. Oh well, I can always make one when she's ready for a toddler bed or something.

Here is a close of the the ''ragging''

The second quilt is larger, about 36x36 inches. I used up a lot of leftover fabric on this one. I had to play around with the pattern based on how much of a certain material was left. This is what I came up with--
It looks really busy hanging next to the bumpers but realistically it probably won't even be used very much in the crib. For one, it's big. For two, it's a pretty heavy blanket...I imagine it will be used more as a floor blanket or when she is older.

The back is super soft Minkie Dot fabric in a light pink.

And lastly, the Boppy cover. One side is the botanical print and it reverses to the large dots on bright pink.
Over all, I'm very pleased with the way everything turned out and the work/effort that it took. I have much more appreciation for it, that's for sure! I think grand total for the fabric, cording, bumper inserts, etc I spent around $80. Considering that with that $80 I made the bumpers, the crib skirt, 2 blankets, a boppy cover, decoupaged a shelf and I still have leftover fabric--not a bad deal at all! Much better than shelling out almost $200 to a big box store for a 4 or 6 piece set!

And I still have a few smaller ideas in mind to use up the scraps (binky clip, cloth baby rings, a bib and maybe a taggie blanket). But those are definitely being saved for another day. My only remaining ''projects'' before Sweetcheeks arrival is to fill the nail holes and touch up paint on that wall, hang up her name letters, vinyl wall decals and shelf, and have B dig the changing table out of the basement so we can clean it off and get it set up. Whew! And about 12 weeks to get it done. (not to mention wash ALL of her laundry...ugh!)

At 24 weeks little Miss should be measuring about one pound and 4oz and almost 12 inches from head to toe. Here's the view from the outside:
As I mentioned in previous post, not much has changed for me. I've gained a few pounds and I seem to have more energy. My nails are growing super fast and stronger than ever! My latest cravings have been for Twix candy bars...can't get enough though I do limit myself. My hip bothers me but Dr. P suggest I get a maternity support belt to help relieve the pressure that is happening when she pushes her big ol' noggin into my side. It'll help lift the weight up off of my hips some. I'm skeptical because it's July in Kansas...it's already hot enough, let alone wearing a big velcro covered belt. Ugh!

4th of July

♥ words later, I'm bushed!

23 weeks and 4 days down...100ish days to go!

I had an OB appointment today to check on Miss Sweetcheeks. All is well. I hadn't actually seen Dr. P since May 4th, hadn't been weighed or had my BP checked so I was a little anxious. (At our office, you don't see your OB at your ultrasound appt which I had in late May). I told B last night I thought I had gained about 13 pounds since my last appointment, being the polite husband that he can be, he said no but he guessed around 6. Well, he was sorta right.

First stop at the office is the scale. I've gained an additional three pounds since my last appointment thus putting me at a grand weight gain of six pounds. ("Normal" would be 12-15lbs) I have to chuckle because being my fourth pregnancy I assumed I'd pack on the pounds real easy, however it's opposite. I eat and eat but keeping up with the boys burns off all the extra I guess. Baby girl is measuring perfect, a week ahead actually so there is no concern. Dr. P said I'll just lose what weight I do gain quickly...and I'm definitely not complaining about that!

My blood pressure was normal, 126/76 and baby's heartrate was a steady 166. Today she was laying sideways with her head settled in by my right hip but he said that she still had plenty of time to turn. I'm not worried in the slightest.

My next appointment is on July 28th and then I'll have my glucose lab. Ugh. I've always passed so I'm not concerned but it's still a pain in the butt. That sugary drink is horrible! At that appointment I'll be 28 weeks.

At my 32 week appointment, I'll have another ultrasound. Just a routine one to check fluid levels and her size/position.

At my 34 week appointment, I'll have my first cervical check to see if I'm dilated/thinned out. Normally this would be at a 36 week appointment but since I typically have my babies by 37 weeks, he thought we'd be proactive and bump the ultrasound and dilation check up by two weeks.

Can you even believe that we're talking about dilation already?? This pregnancy has flown by. It's already July and Dr P agreed today, there is a good chance I'll have this baby at the end of September. Of course little Sweetcheeks could march to the beat of her own drum and who knows, I could go past my due date. I hope not, lol. Doubtful, but it could happen. I'll update with a belly photo tomorrow, I'm beat!

another big boy!

Well, you may have figured out (and it helps that I think I mentioned it) but we made the switch from crib to toddler bed this weekend with Peanut. While he hadn't attempted to climb out or anything he was: waking at night, waking at 6am and hollering only to fall back asleep in my bed, sticking his legs through the slats and getting them caught and his favorite bedtime game was throwing everything (pillow, blanket, stuffed dog, binkie) out of the crib. Then naturally, he would cry and want it all back.

So his actions combined with the fact that I had finished Sweetcheeks' bedding and was anxious to see it on a crib, led to making the switch on Friday. We chose naptime vs bedtime because that worked really well with Pooks. I think it's less intimidating and easier to adapt to a change at naptime.

At first it was a bit rough. I would say ''Okay, time to get in your bed Peanut" and he would climb up in Bubba's bed. Umm, no. Then I repeated "No, your bed." and he pointed to the disassembled crib. Umm...not quite. So after laying him down in the bed and him promptly getting up, and me laying him down and him promptly getting up, I realized this wasn't going to be as easy as we had hoped. It ended up with me sitting on the edge of his bed and each time he started to get up, I'd lay him back down. After about 5 minutes he didn't sit up. He pretty much ignored me until he fell asleep all of 3 minutes later.


Bedtime was the same thing. I sat on the edge of the bed for about 10 minutes until he settled in and his eyes got heavy, then left. Each naptime/bedtime since then the amount of time I had to sit next to him has decreased. At naptime today (day 4) I didn't sit by him at all and he never once got up! Overall it was still a pretty smooth transition despite a couple of kinks.