Megan's 3rd Birhday Party

We had Megan's 3rd Birthday party at a local bounce house place and the kids had a blast!  We had attended a party there a few months ago and I decided then that I would LOVE to have M's party at a place like that because she had so much fun.  Especially now, since I'm pregnant, I just didn't want to have the party at home where I would have to clean before, prepare food, and clean after.  Way too much work when someone can do it for you!!  Here are some pics from the big day!

Waiting patiently for the party to begin!

Coming down the big slide.  She was a little apprehensive at first and wanted to slide with Daddy or Grandma but quickly learned how much fun it was!



The Emster had a great time bouncing too!!

Here's a group shot of the party!

Having snacks after bouncing.  Just waiting for CAKE!

That's cousin Noah next to Emmy.



A Minnie Mouse Cake!!

How cool is that?

CAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKE!

We had time so we opened presents there.  Emmy wanted to help!

The party "host" actually wrote down who gave what on a slip of paper.

SO CONVENIENT!!

Playing with leftover balloons at home.  So. Much. Fun.

We still have one stuck up on our little ledge in the living room.

The girls had such a great time at the party and it was SO EASY that we're doing the same thing for Emmy's party in January.  Em's party will be Dora instead of Minnie Mouse and it will be in the morning ... and in their jammies!  I'm looking forward to it and the nap that's sure to come afterwards!  aaahhhhh!

Baby #3 Update

I had my second visit with my MFM specialist doc on Monday.  Things went GREAT!!  James was off work so he was able to come with me to the appointment.  Isn't it funny how things change after that first baby?  He went to most of my appointments when I was pregnant with Megan and he made a few when Emily was on the way.  This was the first appointment he came to and I'm 17 weeks pregnant.  :-)  Poor 3rd child.  I had an ultrasound and it was mainly focused on the anatomy.  They measured everything and said he has "beautiful anatomy".  I was 16 weeks 5 days along and baby boy measured 17 weeks 1 one day, so right on schedule.  We got confirmation that the baby is a BOY.  There really isn't any doubt in my mind, or the doc's!!  After they scanned the anatomy of the baby, the doc checked my cervical length.  After Em came at 30 weeks we're not taking any chances that strange things are going on in there.  Also, it's possible an "incompetent cervix" caused Em's early arrival so I'm going to the MFM doc every 3 weeks for cervical checks, for now.  It was "very good" so I was relieved to hear that because a shortening cervix means bedrest and a possible cerclage.

I also started my weekly 17p shots.  It's a form of progesterone delivered to my ass in a dose of olive oil.  Sounds pleasant, right?  It's relatively new, I think, and is thought to prevent pre-term labor.  The side effects are pain and itchiness around the injection site and I'll be doing these injections weekly until 37 weeks, or maybe my scheduled c-section date.  So far, I haven't had any of the sore itchy butt other women complain about so I'm pretty excited about that.  They were willing to teach James how to do them but he chickened out.  I can't blame him because I certainly would have blamed him for any pain he would have caused.  So I'll be popping in to the doc's office to have the nurse there do them.  She was good!!

We had to change MFM doc's this time and I'm so happy we did.  The guy gives us a DVD with every ultrasound and we got to see the baby in 3D/4D.  It was SO COOL!  I would share the pics but our Fred Flintstone scanner doesn't work with our computer so I can't.  Maybe I'll take some pics of the pics and upload them.  Everyone loves a good sonogram pic.  They're always so clear, aren't they?

So after the appointment, since mom was hanging out with the girls making our date at the doc possible, we had lunch at Freebirds (YUM! ) then hit the baby store for some shopping.  We were hoping to check out this bedding we liked online and ended up buying something completely different.  I think James is itching to paint so we had to get the color scheme down.  The room is already tan so I think it's going to stay that color with some accent stripes in blue and brown.  We're also going to repaint the attached bathroom blue but we've wanted to do that for a while now.  It's yellow and white and just looks blah!  Here's the bedding we picked for our little monkey!

  

We also bought the kid a crib.  Yes, that's our 3rd crib purchase in about 3 years.  We have convertible cribs for the girls and Megan's is already a full-size bed. We plan to switch Em's to a toddler bed soon so we needed another one.  The girls' furniture is the same but we decided to go a little different with the boy.  It's the same brand but has straight lines instead of a curved top.  We thought it was a little less girly.  It will arrive in 8 weeks so the nursery should be done with about 3-4 weeks to spare IF I make it to term!!  :-)

I know I still need to post the rest of Moo's birthday and ... oh we just had Christmas too didn't we?  Looks like that will have to come at a later time because Em is starting to wake up.  It's 6:20 am.  She's back on her "early cycles" again.  Don't know why I'm up before her either.  I woke up around 5:45 am and just felt the need to get out of bed.  Check ya later!!

My Little Girl is 3!!!

We had a few different celebrations for Megan's birthday this year.  James had to go to NYC on her actual birthday, which was Monday, so we celebrated as a family on Sunday.  All day Sunday!  I think she had a good day.  I'll have pics of her other TWO celebrations coming up but this is all I had time for today!!  I'm pretty sure we went somewhere for lunch that day but I can't remember where.  Maybe we didn't leave the house but I was pretty sure we did something.  Ehhh ... who knows!   

Not bad, if I do say so myself! It was YUMMY too!

She finally has her own train table.  She always throws tantrums when it's time to leave a place that has a train table.  Now she can play as long as she wants!  They both LOVE it!

Apparently it's fun to crawl UNDER the table too!

She pretty much played with the trains ALL DAY LONG.

We coaxed her out of the room with promises of cake ...



So, she's 3.  When will she learn how to eat without making such a mess?



On Monday, her actual birthday, we went to Gattitown with Grammy and Grandma.  We had a BLAST spending too much money on silly little games so we could win silly little made in china crap toys.  The day couldn't have been better.  Her party was at Pump It Up the following Saturday.  That was a TON of fun.  We had some old friends there and some new ones too.  It was a great time and I can't wait to share pics!!

14 weeks

And all is well.  So far! 

Apparently this is what a ginormous belly you get when you're 14 weeks along with baby #3.  Umm ... pretty sure I was barely this big when Emmy was born.  Seriously.  I'm not killing a box of Little Debbies every week.  I wouldn't mind doing that but I'm pretty sure there are many in the medical field who would frown upon me doing so at this time. 

Speaking of docs, I had my First Trimester Screen done.  My OB switched to a different MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) guy since my last go 'round.  I like him.  I liked the other guy but I understood why they had a lot of complaints. You just had to get to know him like I did.  ;-)   ANYWHO - so I had my screen done where they test for chromosomal abnormalities like Down's and Trisomy.  My results came back very good and I probably don't need further testing but there is another blood test I can do in a couple weeks if I want.  This test also involves a very in-depth sonogram.  Baby is growing right on schedule and they were even able to tell me it's a BOY!  I'm pretty excited about that but we're not 100% convinced (well, I am but we're waiting until my next visit before we slap paint on the walls or buy anything).  Something about a nub and if it is perpendicular to the spine it's a boy and if it's parallel to the spine it's a girl "or a boy with it laying flat".  So I'm convinced.  Well, at least that's what they said they saw.  I didn't see a perpendicular "nub" but I'll go with it.

I start my 17p shots on December 27th (at 16 weeks).  It's a shot that is supposed to reduce my risk of pre term labor.  They will be done weekly until 36-37 weeks.  Yay Me!!  Someone should tell James he has to give them to me.  He's going to LOVE that.  The specialist will also start measuring my cervix to make sure it's not shrinking or thinning before it's time.  If it is they will do a cerclage.  In case you're curious, and I know you are, that's where they stitch me shut.  It's a day surgery and might win me some bedrest.

And on that note, we're taking applications to see who wants to take care of the girls for free while I'm laying in bed eating bonbons.  :-D

At my OB on Wednesday I learned that I have gained a pound. *gasp*  I'm still dieting a little, limiting my carbs per sitting, but my blood sugar is behaving nicely and I've been able to eat what I want for the most part. 

The study has been taken over by toddlers trying to take out the Christmas tree so I guess I should wrap this up.  Just wanted to post a pic and fill you in on the joys of a high risk pregnancy. 

Things I've Learned ...

Most of you who read the blog with any sort of regularity have noticed my new ticker on the right.  Yep, if you didn't you can slap your forehead now because you missed my sneak announcement of our big news.  We're expecting Baby #3 in June (most likely May) of 2011.  We might be crazy but ... well ... yeah we're just crazy. 

So I've learned a few things about being pregnant over the years.  The last 3 years, actually.  Before 2007, I knew nothing about being pregnant.  Now my body is on autopilot. 

This time around, I knew I was pregnant before I even peed on a stick.  Yep, that's what they call it on the babycenter.com message boards.  POAS.  Pee On A Stick.  Kinda gross, right?  Some of those girls get way more detailed than just that with their posts and I just have to shake my head.  Seriously, they're excited about being pregnant for the first time.  They just don't know what's coming.  I was short of breath one night and I thought ... hmmmm, now that's not normal.  It was still early but I had a leftover test from a previous month (when it would have been an absolute "oops" if it had been).  So I took the test about a week, 7 days, before I would have even thought something was up.  It had only been 3 weeks since I last knew I wasn't knocked up so I really didn't expect much.  I'll be damned if there wasn't a line there!  A faint one but a line none-the-less.  Like I said, I've learned a few things and one is that a faint line, no matter how barely-there it is, is a LINE.  Period.  So naturally, as someone who has been through this before, I ran to the store and bought more tests.  This time I didn't screw around and went with the digital ones that just flat out say "PREGNANT" instead of dilly dallying around with faint lines and whatnot.  Sure enough ... baby is on the way.  I was technically only 3 weeks pregnant and almost wished I hadn't taken that test.  I had to pour out my beer!!  *gasp*   I've learned to not question the line ... and not take a test before you've finished your drink!!

I found myself not making it to the doctor until a month later.  I guess that's just the way they do things.  I had to wait 4 agonizing weeks to be sure I wasn't losing my mind. In those 4 weeks, which took me to 7 weeks pregnant, I started showing.  I guess it could have just been bloat but I didn't gain any weight and I couldn't button my pants already.  It was like my body said, "Oh, I'll show you, lady.  You want to do this again?  OK - here's your instant ass!!"  I find myself, now 11 weeks along, wearing maternity clothes.  It's called the "warmed up" effect and I have to tell you, I've learned it's true and kind of mean.  I thought I popped early with #2 but with #3, I popped before I should have even known I was pregnant.   

I love that you're not supposed to share the good news until you're safely out of the first trimester but riddle me this ... if you're as big a lush as some people may or may not be ... and you volunteer to drive your friends to a concert for your first girls night out in months, how are they not supposed to know?  They may have suspected but it's just not a secret I could keep, even at 5 weeks.  Not to mention the fact that I am now wearing MATERNITY clothes and I'm still in the first tri-mester.  Fear the belly.  It can not be controlled.  I had to announce on Facebook because I was worried I would bump in to someone (quite possibly literally bump into them since I'm big as someone 20 weeks along) and they would not want to ask if I just got fat(ter) or if I am pregnant.  Why would they think anyone in their right mind would be pregnant with a 2 year old and a 1 year old home?  So they would obviously not say anything and smile in awkward silence while they quietly tried to figure out how to refer me to Weight Watchers to control my obvious Little Debbie habit.  I've learned that pregnancy should be celebrated, even early on, especially if it can't be hidden.  ;)

Bottom line on the baby ...
I am due June 10th but will most likely have a repeat c-section about 2 weeks early.  I'm not a candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) because of the way they had to slice and dice me to get Emmy out.  Something about the incision being a greater risk of rupturing during labor.  *ouch*  My Gestational Diabetes is back.  I passed my one-hour Glucose Tolerance Test a couple weeks ago but continue to watch the carbs and poke my finger 4 times a day because my numbers have been a little off the whole time.  I have gained "0" pounds so far, thanks to the diet and the nausea.  Still haven't thrown up because of pregnancy at all but boy that nausea can get to me.  I have had 2 ultrasounds already and baby looks good.  At my 10 week appointment, I saw a very familiar picture when the lady got a GREAT shot of the "parts".  To me, it looked like a girl but I'm already identifying with this one as a little boy.  I meet my new specialist on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and my OB said he'll probably be able to tell me pink or blue at that appointment so we'll just have to wait and see!  The new specialist will be the puppet master of this pregnancy. He'll manage the diabetes as well as watch me closely for signs of pre-term labor since Emmy came so early.  I'll possibly have to take weekly shots throughout the second trimester to keep me from going into labor and they'll also make sure they don't need to stitch me shut.  Yeah, they do that.  *double ouch*

All this talk about me being pregnant is making me hungry.  Guess the philly cheesesteak from lunch is already in baby's belly so I'm off to find a snack.

October, in a nutshell

October was a fun and very busy month.  My previous posts about the World Series, the pumpkin patch, and the State Fair told you most of what we've been up to.  Of course, October ends with Halloween so I thought I would finally get some pics of the girls in their costumes ... and a few more just because they're cute.

Emmy found a new place to hang out.

Behind the bushes!

The girls had PJ's and Pancakes day at school.

After a day filled with pancakes and syrup they really didn't need more sugar ...

but we had some ice cream anyways!

Moo is learning new crazy things every day.



Trunk or Treating

Minnie Mouse and Cinderella ready to gobble up some candy.



Little Cinderella eating some NumNums (M&Ms) before Trunk or Treating.

Thanks Daddy!



Minnie Mouse had some Pre-Trunk or Treating NumNums too!



Our first real TorT experience.  It was a great thing they church/school put on for the kids.

We had a lot of fun!  Everyone decorated their trunks (well, almost everyone.  we didn't.) and we walked from car to car and collected candy.  We were out there about an hour and saw a couple of Megan's classmates.  The girls had fun!



Enjoying some more tasty treats afterwards.

Should I admit that this was their dinner?

We went to Grammy's after we left so the girls basically had juice, yogurt and candy for dinner.

Oh, and the cookies Grammy had.

Mother of the Year, I know!



Halloween Night

They just won't sit still for pics.  ahhhhh Toddlers!

So sweet! Cinderella and Minnie Mouse holding hands!



With all the candy grabbing they also had to pick up a few acorns.



School Costume Parade and Party

Poor Emmy had a 102 fever the night before the Halloween party at school so she didn't get to go.

That's why I only have pics of Megan here.

Megan holding her teacher's hand during the parade.

She grinned so big when she saw me and Em waving.

It was so cute!!



Megan's Halloween Party in her classroom.

She was so excited to see me and Em when we walked in.

I don't think she caught on that Em wasn't in school that day.

She cried when we left.  Poor kid.



This is how Emmy spent the day while Megan was at school.



Watching the fish and having a treat after school!





World Series Baby!!

Saturday night we had the opportunity of a lifetime!  We went to the World Series in Arlington, TX.  The Rangers were taking on the Giants in Game 3 of the 2010 Fall Classic.  It was an amazing experience and I hope we get to go again sometime.  Thanks, Mom, for the tickets.  We really appreciate it.  We were truly amazed at how well the girls did at the game.  The noise and the crowds didn't seem to affect them very much. They behaved perfectly through about 5 innings, then the ice cream bought us some more time.  We left our seats sometime in the 6th-7th but wandered the ballpark a little.  I had never been out in the plaza in center field so that was pretty cool.  We were there until the bottom of the 7th and caught updates at all the tailgating parties on our way to the car.  Our route into and out of the Ballpark were amazingly empty.  We had ZERO traffic either way and probably only had to walk .25-.50 mile from where we parked. The weather was fantastic, the whole experience just couldn't have been better.  Oh and I have to admit, I teared up a little when Nolan Ryan came out to throw the first pitch to Pudge Rodriguez.  I grew up watching Pudge so that was pretty cool.  Yes, I cry over baseball.  Don't judge.

Of course, tonight at Game 4, George HW Bush and George W Bush were there.  That would have been cool to see.  And I like Kelly Clarkson but wouldn't have minded Lyle Lovett. 

Moo napped in the car on the way there.  This was probably the best thing that could have happened.

 Don't you LOVE it when a random stranger offers to take your pic!!!

She did a pretty good job! 

Kelly Clarkson sang the National Anthem.

The F-16 fly over did not scare the girls at all!

IT'S TIME!!

Ummm ... excuse me girls.  We're at the World Series. 

It's not time to play with cars.

She just wouldn't smile for the camera.

She did pretty well with all the noise and fireworks though.

She is waving her spoon around like everyone is waving their towels.

Pay no attention to the ice cream she's flinging around.

BOOMSTICK!

This was after Josh Hamilton's solo shot.

Looks like she's calling the home run but she's really pointing at the fireworks.

Yes, it's dark and she still has on her shades.

Running down the ramp.

We walked up and up and up and up then had to walk down and down and down and down.

Walking back to the car.

The girls were holding hands.

Too CUTE!



Thank you Texas Rangers for the World Series and the Game 3 WIN.  We love you!

Pumpkins

We visited the pumpkins last week and the girls had a blast.  The Arboretum does a great job with their pumpkin patch and on Mondays they have extra activities for the little ones.  We went with some friends and met some of our play group out there though chasing two toddlers in separate directions doesn't really leave much time for grown-ups and conversation. 

Megan was playing king Queen of the Hay Bales.  She climbed to the top and threw all the pumpkins down. She loved watching them roll and bounce.  Hope we didn't smash too many.

After they finished their lunch, they crawled around in this tree.  I think they were chasing the birds that were up in the tree.  They were having so much fun!

The petting zoo had brushes and Moo had a great time brushing the goats.

The kid-friendly hay bale maze.

Going in opposite directions.

No surprise there.