Weekly Update: 27 Weeks

At 27 weeks, my little bird is almost 2 pounds (!!!!) and is about 14.5 inches long from head to heel. She is the size of a head of cauliflower. And definitely feels like it! Sometimes it feels like she's going to kick right through to the outside. I've seen that 27 weeks officially starts the 3rd trimester, but I've also seen it at 28 weeks. But only 13 weeks to go!!! EEEEK!

I am officially off of my NVP medicine and actually feeling pretty decent! Yay! Plantar fasciitis is feeling much better as well. New development...charlie horses during the night. I wake up 3-5 times a night now with terrible, but quickly passing with a good stretch, charlie horses. Someone at work recommended drinking a little pickle juice before bed. Um, ok...you know I don't mind trying that out!

Perhaps we'll start cleaning out the guest room this upcoming long weekend to start readying it for the nursery? (I'll have to see how my mister is feeling - he had a rough biking (bicycle, not his motorcycle) accident last Friday night where he strained his pectoral muscle (confirmed nothing broken via xray, thank goodness) as well as getting pretty banged up. He's still healing from that.)

This dress is tired...jacked up in the front, front buttons pulling open, & stretching tight on the sides (from belly to bum).

Cub Scouts - Bear

We started our new Scouting year last night. Landon is now in his 3rd year as a Scout and is a Bear. He works on his whittling chip this year and should be able to carry and use a knife by our Spring camping trip (hold me)!

Get ready for popcorn!!!

First Day of School 2014

It's a big day in the Bagley household. Today is the first day of school for both Landon (3rd grade) and Carter (Kindergarten)! They were both very excited to go to school this morning.

My heart was warmed when I walked past the bottom of the steps to see Landon helping Carter get ready. I'm telling you...God knew what he was doing by giving me Landon first.

Landon and I had a long talk about his job as a big brother and protecting his little brother at school. He walked him into the early arrivals Y program (at school), helped him with things like where to put his book bag and things to do at the Y, and got him to his class. He's going to keep an eye on him at Y early arrivals and after school to make sure he's good to go.

Landon is joining Ms. Knight's 3rd grade class (she's a Meredith grad - woohoo!). He's excited about the tough year ahead, mostly that he gets to learn multiplication and division in math and read mostly non-fictions. Third grade is going to be a challenge but I think Landon is definitely up for it and even excited about it.

Carter goes to K only one day this week (we do staggered entry here in Wake Co, NC where K kids are split over 3 days and they are assessed during their one assigned day). We will go Thursday night to find out what teacher he has been assigned to and he starts full-time next week. Nonetheless, he was excited to go today! I talked with him in great length: here are the things that you can and cannot throw away from your lunch box (i.e., don't throw away Tupperware), never get on a bus, here's where your snack is, you go to Y in the morning and afternoon, never get on a bus (I know I've already typed that but I said it MANY times), if you get scared or upset, ask if you can see your brother...  He's going to do great. It's mom that's a hot mess this morning. I had to go back home because I forgot half of the things I needed to take to work!

They both gave me kisses and hopped right out of the van this morning to walk in. Good thing I got my big, long hugs and kisses before we left the house.

Growing a Baby

(Click on the picture collage for an enlarged view.)

Weekly Update: 26 Weeks

NO! THERE'S NOT 2 IN THERE!!!

Oh, hi. So...yeah. Been hearing a lot of grief lately on my belly size...people saying my due date is not right or that I am having twins. I can assure you that my due date is spot on. When you try as long as we did to get pregnant, you know. And the whole twin thing...after 3 ultrasounds and countless heartbeat listens, I think that would have been discovered. I'm just big and beautiful...the way you're supposed to look when you have another human being inside you.

I brought it up to my doctor at my check-up last Friday as well. She looked at my measurements from my ultrasounds and confirmed that the baby's size was tracking spot on with my due date. In addition, my tummy measured right where it should.

The doctor gave a good listen to my lungs at my visit and said they sounded clear. She said I just still have a little respiratory junk left from my bug plus the normal junk that you get with pregnancy and that it should continue to clear up. No worries.

Heartbeat was good and strong. Tummy measurement was on track. Weight? Eh. Not even paying attention.

My next appointment is in 3 weeks and is the dreaded glucose test. Yuck. I don't mind the stuff you have to drink. I do mind the crazy jittery sugar rush I get that makes me feel sick and the hour that you have to wait to get your blood drawn (coupled with my crazy incompetent veins). But I'll make it.

I've been off of my NVP medicine for the past 3 days and I feel...okay. I still get moments of nausea but have found that it's usually when I need to snack on something. So I am just trying to keep something in my system all the time like fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.

At 26 weeks, little bird is really starting to fatten up. She is 1 and 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches long from head to heel. That's the size of a scallion (BabyCenter email) or eggplant (phone app). 14 weeks until I meet my sweet baby girl. I have been daydreaming about her...about what her face will look like, her sweet baby smell... I am READY to see her!

Geez...we've GOT to start on the nursery...

Be Still.

At church we are in a #TooBusyToListen series, which focuses on slowing down and listening to what God has to say. Taking time for his Word and to have a relationship with Him first and foremost.

This past weekend's message really spoke to me. It was on being still. When I joined a lunch Bible study group at work earlier this year, we talked about our one word or phrase that we wanted to focus on this year. Something to grow towards, something to achieve. Mine was being still. Just stopping in this hectic life of work, husband, kids, home, extracurricular activities, school, lunches, commitments, and being still enough to hear God. Pastor Mike made the point this past weekend that when we get distracted, we lose perspective. And that much of what we do is measurable in the short-run, but neither measurable nor memorable in the long-run. I needed to hear this. Especially with the summer coming to a close and things picking back up with school (2 in school!), homework, ninjitsu and Scouts, and not to mention a baby on the way to add a LOT more to our plate. It just reminded me of the importance of slowing down, even stopping, to just hear God. Hear what he has to say. Spend time in his Word every day. Pray. Just be still.

You can listen to the series messages here.

Mini HP

Just a cute little Harry Potter to start your Wednesday off on the right foot.

Meditating Brothers

Landon & Carter at ninjitsu

Four Generations

We had some visitors this past weekend and were able to get this shot, representing four generations (on my maternal side). Look at how amazing my 93 year old Papa looks!

Weekly Update: 25 Weeks

At 25 weeks, little bird is 13.5 inches long from head to heel and weighs a pound and a half. According to my babycenter email, she is the size of a rutabaga. For those of you, like me, who have never seen a rutabaga...let's go with my phone app that says she is the size of an eggplant.

I have a check-up today at lunchtime but wanted to go ahead and post this update since I will be busy with a house guest all weekend. I'll update you next week on anything new from my OB appointment.

This has been a rough week for me. I have been exhausted - falling asleep at work, coming home early from work so I can nap, etc.

15 weeks (ish) until we meet our little bird!

More Etsy Favorites

I haven't purchased anything else on Etsy buuuuuut....I have added more to my previous list of Etsy favorites. So just for fun...

These awesome closet dividers! And you don't have to cut these out - they are just peel and stick! I already have 4 different sizes hanging in little bird's closet and have them spaced apart (for now) to tell how many I have of what size. But I only have clothes in there that have been gifted to me (and that I've bought) so the extra space to space them out will be short-lived.

Yes, more baby barefoot sandals. I just cannot get enough of these!!! I can just imagine her toddling around with these on her chubby feet her first summer!

I love this diaper clutch. Perfect to keep those diapers together in your diaper bag without getting all scrunched up, and looks cute while doing it. And I can get little bird's name on it too. In the south, we like to slap a name or monogram on everything!

These note cards would make perfect thank you notes. I think I've already mentioned how obsessed I am with hot air balloons, right?

And what about a NC Made onesie???  Swoon.

Lastly, I am thinking the kids need these "Biggest, Big, Little" tees for when she comes - I like this set and this set. I think these will make for adorable Christmas card shirts this year.

Meditation

I had been researching and thinking about picking up meditation, just as an overall mental health work-out. (And y'all all know that I have a little bit of hippie in me.) I didn't know where to get started...do I just google it, do I read a book about it, are there classes? My SIL heard about and recommended an app called Headspace. It is AWESOME! You have access to a 10-day trial of 10-minute meditations with the free app that you download onto your phone. I loved and looked forward to my 10 minutes of meditation each day and really did find it beneficial for me, personally. It just helped to center me and allow me to readjust my outlook/attitude and the way I reacted to things. And I could do it anywhere and really anytime...at home before my day got started, at work in my office, in the car (while riding, not driving) - you just plug in your headphones, close your eyes, and begin. And oh, Andy's voice...it's like my own personal operating system like in the movie Her. My trial is up, and I am contemplating the subscription (that you must pay for). You can meditate on your own, but I prefer the guided meditation as a "young meditator."

Have you tried meditation? Did you like it? Did you use any type of guide and if so, what did you use?

And by the way, even my 5 year old can meditate!

Carter in meditation at ninjitsu

Mommy & Son Date Night

While Landon was at the lake last week, Christopher and I got to spend a lot one-on-one time with Carter Bear. We ate out, played games, read a lot, and just got to give him 100% of our attention.

My favorite night with him was Mommy:Carter date night. He got a hair cut, we went out to eat, read all of the movie posters at the next-door movie theater, made some fountain wishes (that donated proceeds to the MS Society - bonus), went to the pet store, and finally picked out some little girl clothes at Carter's. He was very opinionated about clothes for her and wanted me to "buy them all!!!!"

I'm glad Carter got that one-on-one time with us last week, cuz it's about to get real crazy in the Bagley house in the next few months.

Shark Week!

It's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel which means we'll be doing a lot of this.

Carter's 5 Year Check-Up

This past week, Carter Bear went in for his annual check-up. No shots this year because we got them all out of the way at his previous annual (score!).

Everything checked out great and on track - vision (although his report says 20/25???), hearing, weight, height, BMI, BP, and developmental (emotional/social, problem solving, language/communication, fine and gross motor skills).

His stats at 5 years old:
Height: 42 inches (29%)
Weight: 39.8 pounds (42%)
BMI: 65%
BP: 86/50

Carter has always been on the smaller side, but has constantly tracked upwards on his growth chart.

He was very excited as Dr. Parmar, who sang the Doc McStuffins' "Time For Your Check-Up" song to him, deemed him ready for K. That was his major concern going in...will they say I am ready for K? And indeed, my little Carter Bear, you are. Mommy's not. But you are.

Fun at Lake Gaston

Landon was invited to stay the week with his BFF, Clark, and family at their Lake Gaston lake house rental. We dropped him off on Sunday and stayed a little bit before our family of 3 headed home.

As soon as we pulled up, Landon said, "Oh yeah. This week is gonna be awesome!" He and Clark had jumped into the water as soon as they could get their suits and vests on. Carter and Christopher soon followed after them. Mama watched from the dock. :)

I've talked to him a few times over the phone this week and he's having so much fun. He's been swimming, jet skiing, jumping off the dock and diving board (a big feat for him), boating, and tubing! It's been a week full of firsts for him.

Needless to say, I know Landon is having a blast...but it feels like I left a piece of my heart at the lake.

Weekly Update: 24 Weeks

The weeks are starting to fly by for me now. I'm starting to get a little more nervous as the weeks go by too... labor (will she come too quickly that I won't be able to get an epidural? - I barely squeaked by getting one with Carter), sleepless nights, diapers, nursing/pumping (will I have that crazy enzyme deal with my milk again?), managing 3 after going back to work (packing 2 lunches plus daycare bottles each night, 2 kids with homework, juggling the boys' extracurricular activities with a newborn, etc.). Deep breaths.

Let's focus on my little bird! She grew 4 ounces since last week taking her up to one and a third pounds. She's still about a foot long and is the size of an ear of corn. I am really starting to feel little feet and hands and elbows! She really likes to streeeeeeeetch, especially up into my rib cage.

I'm starting to feel better from this bug I had all last week, although I am still pretty snotty. Plantar fasciitis is still there and in full effect (ouch). I've halved my dose of NVP medicine and seem to be doing ok...going to attempt to stop that all together soon. Cross your fingers!

Y'all, I've been on Etsy. I ordered a wooden name banner with hot air balloons (OBSESSED with hot air balloons) on each end for her nursery wall. The lady is also going to custom make 3 larger wooden hot air balloons to match the banner for the opposite wall in the nursery. That's being made and shipped from Poland so perhaps I'll show you the name banner in the next month or so. :)  We've still got to get the double bed taken down in the guest room and get the crib set back up. The rest of the things (glider, table, and dresser will stay). The walls are already painted yellow and I plan to leave it as is. Maybe we'll tackle that after my mom comes for a visit next weekend.

I may have also ordered the cutest little crocheted hat with changeable flowers for her on Etsy. Christopher just shook his head. But she's got to cover her little head (in style) this winter when she's brand new! Oh, and I may have also started a favorites listing on Etsy with things like crocheted barefoot sandals, football leg warmers, and monogrammed bloomers! (Yeah...I'm getting used to this girl thing.)

My sweet sisters-in-law and best friend are planning to throw me a baby girl/essentials shower (I'm so excited!) so I went ahead and started a registry at Target with a few things (you can do all that online now!). It's been a while (8 years) since I've done all this and it is really fun! (I didn't really do any of this with Carter since he was another boy and just 3 years after Landon.)

Next OB check-up is next Friday, August 15.

Christopher's Baptism, Part 2

I talked earlier about Christopher being baptized again this past weekend. Here are some pictures from the beautiful day.