32 weeks...the countdown begins!

I'm 32 weeks along, BGS is measuring 34 which tells me that she's still growing very healthy and at a steady pace! I've gained a total of 35 pounds so far....eek! I'm determined to make it to 50 pounds I guess! :)

I haven't swelled up like I thought I would be yet. As much as I think I will swell by the time 36 weeks comes around, I'm trying to also think positive and keep drinking a TON of water to hopefully keep all swelling down! My blood pressure is great as well; hopefully that is a great sign that I won't have similar complications with this birth.

I have had some very reassuring conversations with a few of my friends who used the same Midwife group that I am using. While there is one MW that we would LOVE to have, all three are obviously great. There is one MW though that scares me a little because she can sometimes think more like an OB when at an appointment. I have heard from my friends though that she is GREAT in the delivery room. I will be happy with any of the three MW's that is there with me through L&D.

We have now come across a stump in the road. The other day I was looking up the meaning of the name for BGS and came across another name that I like. The new name still begins with the same letter and has the same number of letters in the name. I've learned that Randell is not much help on this one either! While I want input from family and friends, I don't want anyone to know the name! UGH! Also, Cooper already knows the baby's name from what we have been calling her. Decisions, decisions....

Cooper is still doing great with everything. We have had a lot more play and Cooper time lately. Today he played ALL day (minus nap) at an indoor play room. It is GREAT! We made it almost the entire day without any injury. Then he was going down the slide on one of the bouncers and decided it would be fun to ride down on the edge of the slide. Needless to say he met the floor face first! He has a swollen lip that is slowly bruising. It was a pretty nasty fall. My daredevil child though went right back after eating a popsicle to prove that he could slide down the slide with no injuries. Boys will be boys!

30 Weeks.....eek!

Today I had my 30 week appointment with the midwife. It was a great appointment as usual. I'm doing fine and so is the baby, which is always a great thing to hear.

I am 3 pounds shy of my ending weight with Cooper...Lord help us all! ALTHOUGH...Baby Girl is also measuring at 32 (equivalent to 32 weeks), not just 30! The midwife's prediction is that she will be bigger than Cooper was. That makes since though, this labor and delivery I want no medications, so it just fits that I have a bigger baby! :)

She is already head down....way way down. The midwife doesn't see much possibility of her turning into a breech position which is great news. Who knows, maybe since she's so low she will come at about 38 weeks and not 42 weeks!

We went and visited my family in Ft. Worth this past week. There are some great pictures posted (click on The Smiths under that Photo section). I realized on our way home that I should not be in a car anymore for long periods of time....my back hurt, I was have BH contractions and was worn out! So, from now until the baby gets here we are not going to be traveling.

Cooper's doing great. He had lots of fun with his cousins and is still talking about them. Today is actually the first day of him sleeping in his Big Boy Bed for nap time! He did very well with going down easily and such.

27 Weeks

WOW! I am so amazed at how fast this pregnancy has gone. I know once I get to the last 4 weeks it will seem as if it is dragging, but it's amazing that I'm already 27 weeks along.

We have decided to go with a Doula for this birth. We had thought of taking a Bradley Method Course and then being on our own with our midwife during the L&D. After talking with the midwife, she recommended that the course wouldn't be as beneficial to us as a doula would be. We interviewed a few of the doulas in the area and found a GREAT doula. She is a wonderful Godly woman who believes in allowing the female body to do what it needs to do to birth a baby. She is also not going to yell at me if I end up insisting on an epidural, ALTHOUGH she knows how strongly we feel against any meds during L&D and is prepared to get me through it. We meet with her again next week.

We're also going to take a few cool courses from a Maternity store in town that are offered for free. Those should be fun and interesting. Other than that, the baby continues to be low, she lays, sits, kicks on my bladder 24/7. I really feel that effect of going to the bathroom and then not even 10 minutes later questioning if I went to the bathroom recently because I just HAVE to go again.

Cooper's doing great as usual. He's talking up a storm. We went for his two yr appointment yesterday and the doctor was HIGHLY impressed at his communication and behavior (of course he didn't have a tantrum there!) Although she was impressed with how well he handled her poking and checking him all over. He didn't cry and was actually more curious about the instruments she was using.

Little things that he is doing that amazes me:

*when we drive by his MDO, he says "School Mommy, School" as if to tell me that we need to go to school b/c we haven't been in a while!
*he said "I Love You" today to me without any prompting...it was so sweet
*he gets on to the dogs for me all the time, especially when they are barking!
*this last weekend we had some friends over and their family. They have a 5 month old baby and Cooper did amazing with him. He would put a blanket on him and even insisted the he take his paci, even when the baby spit it right back out.

We go to see the midwife tomorrow. I think this month I have gained the MOST weight! EEK!

25 Weeks

We're at week 25! Well...I guess to date we're at 26 weeks, but who's counting. :) I saw the midwife last week and everything looks great. The belly is measuring just fine, I think I gained a pound or two, and I'm already swelling! YIPPEE!!! It's going to be a long summer with sausage toes.

Other than keeping up my hydration and attempting to loose my craving for chocolate and chips (my two BIGGEST cravings), everything is going great.

Two on Tuesday

1 Year Ago Today…..

We were celebrating your 1^st Birthday. It seems like yesterday that we were decorating the house with balloons, streamers, and happiness in preparation to celebrate YOU! Family and friends joined us in celebrating your 1^st year of life. It is such a great memory.

Over the past year we have cried, laughed, and screamed (or at least wanted to) as you’ve grown into a TODDLER! It’s almost funny to think that there were times we felt like we wouldn’t even survive the first year….and then, along came the second year.

In August we cried for and with you at times during one of the worst months of our lives. Not knowing the unknown, we trusted the doctors who were caring for you. With flying colors, you have overcome so much. It’s a reminder to us every day of the blessing that we have; a healthy, happy boy who isn’t sick like the medical books say he should be. It’s been nine months since those scary moments, and you still prove how strong you are every time we visit the specialist. You have taught Daddy and me so much about strength and courage even when having to have your finger pricked every two weeks.

You go to school now!!! It’s amazing. The little “Mama’s Boy” that I had created (secretly happy that you are a Mama’s Boy) walked right into the room at school and was ready to play and learn with new friends. You have grown so much since going to Mother’s Day Out. You play WITH your friends, not just next to them. You are a talking machine. Your smile melts the hearts of your teachers and even the other teachers at MDO. You are a true blessing.

At 18 months, we (yes, both you and me) decided it was time to quit nursing. I cried the first night, you cried the second, but by the third night it was as if it had never happened. I am so thankful that we had 18 months to share a great bond that will now last a lifetime.

You run, jump, and climb all the time. You dance like a rock star. You make us laugh, you make us worry. We are blessed to have not had an ER visit resulting from a fall, broken bone, etc. You are a daredevil. You try something and even if you fall and get hurt, the boy in you rushes you back to what you were doing to try again.

Within the next few months I’m convinced that you’ll be potty trained, talking in full sentences, and teaching your baby sister all about life. That’s right, in 3 months you’ll have the pleasure (or pain) of hearing a baby cry at all times of the night. She’ll be cute, cuddly, and lots of fun. You’re going to be a GREAT Big Brother.

You continue to teach us new things everyday. You remind us of the “little joys” in life that help us sit back and give thanks for what we have. You test the boundaries and learn lessons yourself. We are greeted with your morning smile and hug. You give the BEST hugs and kisses.

It’s amazing how fast 2 years can go by. We look forward to many more years of laughing, crying, and screaming with you!

So here’s to you, Cooper James Smith…Happy 2^nd Birthday (May 12, 2009)

Today is....

Today Is The Very First Day of the Rest of My Life....

This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day to use as I WILL.
I can waste it....or use it for good, but what I do today is important,
because I am exchanging a day of my life for it!
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place
something that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, and not loss; good and not evil; success, and not
failure; in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it.
I will try just for today for you never fail until you stop trying.

23 Weeks

23 weeks in and baby girl is STILL super low. I thought I felt her kick my ribs about a week ago and actually got excited that there was a possibility of her moving up a little. I don't believe that has happened though. Not too much has changed. I have gained a few more pounds and now can't seem to fill myself up with food...I'm always hungry!

We go back to see the Midwife on the 13th.

Cooper's doing great. He can now say that he's two while throwing what looks like gang signs to show his "two" fingers. He also knows the baby's name, but don't think you can get it out of him. The few people who have tried already only got a sly smile from him as if to say "I'm not supposed to tell you!"

We are gearing up for Cooper's 2nd birthday....I'm sure we'll be amazed and surprised with all of the new things we get to learn, do, and enjoy.