Still resting

I'm now over 36 weeks and still resting with baby boy happily (well, I assume so) growing inside. At my dr's appointment a couple days ago I was not much more dilated and starting to thin. Very normal. Glad to know that I was not rapidly progressing. I had a rough night Sunday night and was pretty sore after the dr's appointment Monday, but I felt great yesterday and so far today. We made it through the first milestone (J's birthday) with no baby. Today is the 25th, so we're hoping to make it through today. (The other two kids were both born on Wednesdays, the 25th of the month. Today is Wed., Jan. 25. We've had this date highlighted for awhile.) Next, will be 37 weeks - officially full-term - on Monday, Jan. 30. Then on to Feb. 1. After that, it's just gravy in my book. I'm still feeling fairly confident that we can make it to February. Of course, I really have very little control in these things and everything can change rather quickly.

Bed rest has been fine. I'm not really confined to my bed. In fact, I'm sitting up most of the time. I just limit my movement - particularly up and down the stairs. The introvert in me is really fine with all this alone time. It's good for me. It's given me more time to mentally prepare, which I appreciate. And, I've checked a few other things off my to-do list:

• finished reading 2 books
• finished creating 2 full-year photo books (for 2010 and 2011)
• a little bit of work
• some minor cleaning and organization (thanks, mom!)
• a bit of nursery decor
• day care solidified
• all photos backed up to an external hard drive
• made my initial foray into online banking (I know, I know, I'm behind)
• and lots and lots of Pinterest

I'm thankful for all the help from family - they've been amazing. Will & Elle have been really good and understanding that Mommy is resting. In some ways, I think this will help them transition to the newborn phase, too. Here's hoping for a few more weeks...

Bed rest

Well, I held out longer with this boy than I did with the first one. I went on bed rest at 32 weeks with Will due to pre-term labor. I'm on bed rest at 34 weeks with pre-term labor this time (only dilated to 1 right now). Interestingly, I did not have pre-term labor with Elle, but delivered her earlier than Will. We'll just wait and see with this baby.

I'm feeling fine - just having contractions, mostly anytime I get up and move. So far, sitting has been fine so I'm getting some good work done on the computer. I'm really, really hopeful that I won't have this baby before 38 weeks or so. We'll just see. Still hoping for a February birthday.

Bed rest this time around is a little different. First, my contractions are much different. With Will, I couldn't get them to stop. I can get them to stop now, but they're more intense than they were with Will. Also, bed rest with 2 children is interesting. Will sort of gets it. Eleanor, not so much. But these first few days have been just fine. Mostly I'm hanging on the couch when they're home and we can still play games, read, watch movies, and snuggle together. I'm just limiting my trips up and down the stairs and other physical activity. Justin has picked up all the slack. He's amazing. Thank goodness I have a husband like him. I really don't know how people would do it otherwise. And, of course, lots of family and friends are offering to help, too. So far, we're doing great. We'll see how long it is before baby arrives and how weekends go when then kids are home all day.

Benefits of bed rest: I'm getting caught up on my Facebook and Pinterest. I finally was able to finish and order my 2010 photo book. 2011 will be the next project. And, for right now, I'm still able to do some work from home which is nice. I'd prefer to save as much leave time for time with baby!

Christmas - part 4

Finally - the last Christmas post! On Monday, the 26th we spend the day at my mom's. It was another great day with family, food, relaxation, games, and fun. Will did give us quite a scare that day, though. My mom, sister, grandma & I were playing dominoes at the kitchen table. Link was out in the garage and Justin had dozed in the living room. Will & Elle were napping downstairs. At about 4:30 (about 30 minutes after Will usually gets up), Justin went down to wake him...only to return upstairs and ask if anyone had seen Will. He was not in the bedroom. After a quick search and calling his name, we found him hiding in the corner in the dining room. None of us had heard him come upstairs! I'm still not quite sure what he was doing, but he seemed in good enough spirits. I think J's adrenaline finally slowed after an hour or so.

Fancy Nancy had quickly become an addition to the family.

Elle ready to open

Will ready to open

Will got most of the Magic Tree House series from Aunt Casie - he was literally enthralled!

new robe - so cute!

Will in his own "soft suit" and still with the books :)

J, C & I love the TV show Friday Night Lights and are quite sad it went off the air. (Thankfully J got the series on DVD for Christmas - yay!) I ordered these shirts for us - big hit :)

I'm only posting this one so there is a baby belly shot.

I love them!

And, finally, a cute shot to end with. All in all, a WONDERFUL and very blessed Christmas season!

Christmas - part 3

On Christmas Eve day we headed to Grammy & Grandpa's to be with more family. The kids had a great time playing. Will has greatly improved at the Wii which makes that much more enjoyable. We all went to Christmas Eve services that night and they both did a really good job. On Christmas day, there was more playing, yummy food and gifts. The kids open gifts during the day - the grown ups at night. Once again, we were all spoiled.

Try to ignore the glare -- but this is the best I could get of the kids before church.

Will loves his big cousins!

Ready for presents!

Cinderella!

New sleeping bag

They both slept on the air mattress in their sleeping bags that night. Well, actually, Elle pushed Will off, so he slept on the floor in his sleeping bag. But, they both started on the air mattress!

Oh my

More fun with cousins

And we were lucky enough to get to see Ryan & Cooper for a little bit. The boys (all 4) working to put one of Will's new games together.

Eleanor's 2012 interview

This is the first year Ellie Kate has gotten to be interviewed. You can tell from some of the responses, but I'm not sure she totally got it. Oh well - it's a good start! I did the kids' interviews separately so she wasn't influenced by her brother's responses. Though, he was standing nearby as she answered and giggled at several of her answers. :)

Questions are below in black, her responses are in orange

Favorite color: purple (I don't really know how true this is -- she has never expressed this before)
Favorite TV show: Tinkerbell (Yes, Tink is a favorite in our house, but I really don't think there is such a TV show, at least not that we have watched.)
Favorite holiday: Easter (I did have to provide a list of holidays since I'm not quite sure she understands the concept just yet.)
Favorite food: fruit
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite drink: juice
Favorite toy: a ball (simple tastes, I guess)
Favorite game: Snow White game (this is very accurate - it's actually a Cinderella matching game she got for Christmas - she loves it and we have all played it with her many, many times!)
Favorite book: Fancy Nancy
Favorite restaurant: McDonalds (honestly, I think anywhere with a play area would win her vote - the food is entirely irrelevant)
Favorite animal: Tigger and Pooh (Will and I both chuckled at this one)
Favorite movie: Tinkerbell
Favorite song: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Favorite sport: soccer
If you could change your name, what would we call you instead of Ellie? Tinkerbell (this took lots of prompting. Her first response was Ellie Kate. For a girl who gets called lots of things - Elle, Ells, Ellie, Ellie Kate, Eleanor -- I imagine it is tough to come up with something new!)
Who is one of your good buddies? Emmitt
Where should we go for a vacation this year? To see the Jayhawks (I think we can make that happen!)
What would you like to be when you grow up? Emmitt. What do you think you'd like to do for your work when you're a grown up? Have a car.
Favorite thing about William: playing outside
Favorite thing about Daddy: going to see Jayhawks
Favorite thing about Mommy: going on my swingset
What are you excited for with the baby coming?: Baby in my belly (lifts her shirt to show) I redirected to ask what she's excited to do with or for her baby brother when he's not in Mommy's belly. I will carry him. (uh-oh...)

Will's 2012 interview

In what has become an annual tradition (see 2011 Interview), I've asked Will his annual interview questions. It's really funny to compare and see how much some things have stayed the same while others have definitely changed. This year, he really got into the interview (even added a question for me to ask him at the end) and then wanted to ask me questions in return and record my answers next to his.
His answers are below in blue. Questions and commentary are in black :)

Favorite color: green
Favorite TV show: Scooby Doo
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite food: green apples! (very enthusiastically)
Favorite vegetable: Tomatoes! (again, very enthusiastically -- and warm, stewed tomatoes are really his preference)
Favorite drink: juice
Favorite toy: Race car Lightning McQueen (this is a Christmas gift that has gotten lots of use lately - a remote control car. Daddy & Will have a great time. Elle & Botchie are a little scared of it :) )
Favorite game: Hungry, Hungry Hippos
Favorite book: Magic Tree House
Favorite restaurant: Pizza West
Favorite animal: baboons
Favorite movie: Peter Pan
Favorite song: Hmm...this one's hard...I think Sanctuary
Favorite sport: football
If you could change your name, what would we call you instead of Will? Fudge (He has actually already requested this...several times. It is not related to the sweet treat as most have assumed. Instead, he loves the Judy Blume Fudge books and wants to be just like the Fudge character.)
Who is one of your good buddies? Cooper. And Zachary. (I changed this because I don't love the idea of "best friends" at this point - gets a little too exclusionary with only 10 kids at your school.)
Where should we go for a vacation this year? Pennsylvania. (J & I are not sure where this is coming from, but it's not the first time we've heard it. We think maybe it's because this is where Jack & Annie (Magic Tree House) are from.)
What would you like to be when you grow up? A football player. (When we've discussed this before, he says he would like to be a football player, and then when he is too old to play football he will be an author. And write a book called "All About Me" -- think autobiography. I told him I'd love to read it :) )
Favorite thing about Ellie Kate: she does silly things
Favorite thing about Daddy: snuggling with him
Favorite thing about Mommy: that you're going to have a baby and your soft suit. (The soft suit is an on-going discussion. He's referring to the oh-so-attractive velour sweatsuits I've sported on weekends lately. For a pregnant girl, they're the best. Will loves cuddling with me while in them because the velour is so soft.)
What are you most excited for with the baby coming: to give him my toy. (We went out this weekend to pick up some baby essentials and W&E each got to choose something new to give their baby brother.)
Mom, aren't you going to ask me my favorite team?
Sure, Will - what is your favorite team? Texas Tech Red Raiders (said with a smirky little grin) He likes them because he thinks they are like pirates. And, I think sometimes he just likes to be contrarian!

Christmas - Part 2

Santa came to our house a day early since we would be at Grammy & Grandpa's the morning of the 25th. Will had asked for chapter books and a football helmet. Ellie Kate asked for books. They were both thrilled with all the goodies. Ellie's first reaction as she walked down the stairs: "Awww, Baby's stocking..." We have a stocking for the baby, but Santa didn't fill it, so it was still hanging. Apparently, Elle felt bad for her baby brother. So sweet.

Waiting at the top of the stairs in eager anticipation

Hooray! Tic-Tacs!

Who knew new socks could be so exciting?!

Ready to play!

Loving Fancy Nancy

After the kids explored what Santa brought them, they opened gifts from us.

"oh, so cute!!"

Tinkerbell flying

"I like that picture, Mom. It makes me look strong."

Of course, she had to try on her new clothes, too.

Does he look tough or what?