36 weeks!!

After my Emerson Celebration Sunday!

How far along?: 36 weeks 1 day as of today.

How big is baby?: According to an ultrasound this morning 6 pounds 3 ounces, that will put her over 8 pounds if I make it to my due date at the end of the month.

How big is mama?: As of this morning 20 pounds.

Movement: TONS! Seth and I have had fun watching my belly roller coaster the past few nights, I wonder what she's doing in there?

Sleep: Eh, it was worse, now it's better. I am waking up to use the bathroom every night now which drives me crazy, but it's faster than nursing, so I won't complain too much:)

What I miss: Being able to catch the boys! They are super speedy (especially with the aforementioned capes) and I can't keep up even when I try, and when I try I pee, so no more trying.

Symptoms: Back ache, greasy foods are starting to make me sick again, tired like out at 8 some nights!

Best moments: Getting to see her one last time today is great. If, or more likely when I make it to Saturday I will be more pregnant than I was with John. Getting taken off all restrictions and meds today was a wonderful feeling! Final echo last week gave us the clearance to deliver where we want with no restrictions! Emmy's celebration with family and friends was super fun too!

Worst moments: I am frustrated with the boys easily and I hate sniping which I've done too many times. Taking what ended up being my last procardia a few nights ago gave me the worst side effects ever, honestly the 6 minutes apart contractions are better!

What we've been up to...

We got really into super heroes and the bunny brought us masks and capes,
We decorated ourselves



And eggs!!

We've played together!

We learned how to be big brothers....

At the big brother class!

We golfed

Or something!

It's been a crazy busy life lately and in 4 weeks or so I'm sure it will get much worse, however we are enjoying every moment, usually :-)

Sorry about all the sideways pictures, don't know what the issue is!

Spring Skiing (AKA not a baby post)

This weekend we took our first trip up the mountain for a little spring skiing! Our friends the Nichols' and the Rauker's were both up there as well and skied with us and then we all had dinner together. It was a wonderful weekend, where both boys made great improvements on the slopes. Colin and Mommy before his first run!! Doing great on his very first run!! Even with his helmet all kadywonky.

John and Seth with Tim and James and Antonia and Goren before a run.

John skiing all by himself!! He made great strides in turning and doing his pizza pie!!

Seth and John at the end of a run:)

This weekend we took our first trip up the mountain for a little spring skiing. We met up with our friends the Nichols' and the Rauker's both of whom have

I Heart Emerson

Two months ago I had a routine fetal echo to check Emerson's heart due to Colin having pulmonary stenosis. When you have a child with a congenital heart defect your chances of having another child with one go up, to a whopping 2%. At 19 weeks the techs detected some mild regurgitation or leaking on Emerson's tricuspid valve. This week at 29 weeks, it's still there. So it's not just because she's so little or they got really good pictures, it's because she too like her older brother has a heart defect. The picture below helps you get an idea of where we are talking, Emerson however, doesn't have an enlarged ventricle. (Colin's issue is on the blue valve for a reference).

So what's up next for our next little heart baby? Well another fetal echo at 34 weeks, and then nothing until she is born. Which will be with my doctor, at my hospital, with specific instructions NOT to take my baby away from me:) Then an echo, the same day that Colin goes in for his one year check (I wonder if there's a punch card for this?...) once she's about 2 weeks old. From there we will know much more, but we think it will just be to watch it.

Though I'm disappointed for there ever to be anything "wrong" with one of my children (let alone two or three) in the grand scheme of things this is nothing, a blip on the radar, a freckle on the back or a regurg on the triscuspid valve as it were. We will accept any and all prayers that all this will ever amount to is a blip, and that there are no larger underlying issues, but we also insist that you pray for someone having a much more difficult time then us. Because this is a freckle:)

28 Weeks

On a rare date night last Sunday! This should have been the before, I'm sure the after would have been impressive! The food was SO good!

How far along? 28 weeks plus a few

How big is baby? At our appointment on the 28th she was 1 pound 15 ounces. According to the emails almost 3 pounds.

How big is momma? Again on the 28th I was up 10 pounds

Movement? TONS and TONS! It's keeping me up at night! Which I don't remember with the boys...

Sleep? No much, don't ask...

What I miss? Everything...

Symptoms? Back ache, tiredness, cranky all the fun ones;)

Best Moments? Finding out the clot is almost gone!!! C Section is off the table for now. So excited about that! Being told to keep eating, who wouldn't love that! Getting the nursery painted, and all the "stuff" put in the room. And honestly seeing a friend's baby yesterday got me SO excited!

Worst Moments? Every morning when it's time to get up:( Giving up chocolate for lent. What was I thinking? I'm not being too strict, but it still a challenge. Though I did think about giving up soft cheese, sushi, caffeine, drinking and most of the other things I've already given up, but decided not to cheat!

A bump by bump comparison

All of these pictures were taken about 28 weeks. Clearly I'm smallest with John (though carrying higher), but about the same with Colin and Emerson.

John- March 2007

Colin-October 2008

Emerson- March 2011

Nursery Progress

I am currently getting internation requests to see the nursery. It isn't done, but here is what we have so far:
This is the best "true to life" picture of the colors, it is still washed out, thanks to the beautiful sunshine we are having today!!

Her dresser and shelves. On the selves will be her piggy bank (pink) and a gaint letter 'E' (painted polka dot maybe?), under the higher one, will be a frame with all her birth stats (dark pink). The outfit hanging is what we are bringing her home in, it is like this one only a different pattern. On the dresser will be a changing pad and a to be determinded basket with baby things and diaper items:)

The rocker still works with the new bedding!! I also have an ottoman but it is in the closet to stay out of the way for now.

Again, this is super washed out, but you get the idea. Can't quite decided what to put over her bed... Pictures of her? A custom painted piece by TT like the boys have? Another kind of art? Suggestions welcome!!!

I will take better pictures once we have more done, but for now this is it:)

Still need to:

Fix a window covering

Do something to the shears

Letter 'E'

Above crib "art"

Hang Bunny picture

Make piggy bank

Basket for dresser

Clean rocker (old milk, yuck!)

Insert baby:)

T minus 12 weeks!! EEEKK