Monday, August 27, 2012

20 months: Dance Party

How is it that we are now exiting the months that begin with a '1'? 20 months?!? Where has the time gone?

Most of this post will be dedicated to pictures instead of words (I know most of you are thinking.. finally!), but here are a few highlights:

- This child LOVES to dance. He'll dance to any kind of music (just like his mama). Mike always gives me a hard time about dancing to the elevator music at the grocery store. Maybe it's good elevator music! Anywho... Owen takes after me. I attribute the new dancing outbreaks to a change in  my music taste. We've been listening to a lot of Z 107.7... top 40. It's been a looooooooooong time since I've been in to the top 40 music, but the upbeat music is so fitting for summer time and sunshine. It's been a loooooooooong time since I've had either of those, and perhaps it's time for a break from the melancholy indie rock.
- He calls fire trucks 'Wee News'.... because that is the sound of the siren. 'Wee New, Wee New, Wee New'.
- The child loves anything with a motor. The newest fascination is with daddy's 'mower'.
- All of a sudden he can do every puzzle we have in the house. It's like a light switch turned on over night.
- Thanks to Chelsea's suggestion, I signed Owen up for an 8 week class at 'My Gym'. Mostly it's free play with climbing, slides, ball pits, swings, balance beams, etc.. but there is some structured time too. Turns out Owen isn't good at structured time. He hates to sit on my lap and find his nose, wiggle his fingers, etc. He would rather be DANCING in the middle of the circle while everyone else sings.
We are working on it, and I think it will be very good for him.
- His words are changing. For instance, toodaloo sounding a bit more like turtle. Choo, Choo is now Choo, Choo twain. He's actually attempting to say Livi, and he is now calling himself, "Nonan". It's like Conan with an N. His hair usually looks like Conan's so perhaps this is fitting.
- He can call some of his books by name, and he has memorized some of the key pages. 'No No'... for 'No Pat No, don't sit on that'. Turns out he DOES listen =)
- We've started time outs in the crib for 1 minute. (Rach- it's working!). So far he only gets time outs for hitting me (not ok), or interfering with the dog's eating time (I think it's a safety issue).

So this is part of the reason his hair looks like Conan's. He refuses to eat food out of a bowl/off of a plate & instead chooses to put the serving dish on his head. This leads to a lot of food in the hair. (He also has a terrible cowlick... I really need to figure out what to do with it).

Nap time. He's still taking 2 naps a day & he is easy breezy to put down. Read 2-3 books. Sing Jesus loves me (he still turns around and puts his head on our shoulder), give him his dog, bear, and blanket. Done.

I catch him reading by himself allllllll of the time. I love it!

He loves to read with daddy too.
 
Learning about magnets. How do they stay on there?

I'm up to something......
 
In the middle of August, we went down to the Lake to celebrate Livi's 6th birthday. We all boarded on to Randy and Mary Ann Nieders' boat to get to the Jolly Roger- the restaurant that Livi picked.
 
What a beauty!
 
Owen's first boat ride. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Mary Ann (a very experienced boater) had the perfect life vest & hat for him to wear.

Carson & Livi. SO excited. (And so cute... in my humble & unbiased opinion).
 
 
The head pirate makes the whole restaurant sing to each kiddo, and when they raise the sword everyone says 'Arrrrrr'.

Carson got to hold the parrot, too.
 
It was all too much for Owen who fell fast asleep on Papa's lap on the way home..
actually it looks like it was too much for Livi, too. She was on my lap, so I didn't see her sleeping.

Part of the reason O was so worn out is that he was coming down with Strep throat & another ear infection. He shared a little something with me as well, and we were both out of commission for several days. I had so little energy that I let him watch a lot (too much) Elmo & Baby Einstein. Now I am trying to break that bad habit without too many tantrums! 
 
We've had a ton of fun once we recovered, however. Papa & MiMa Cooper took us to the Cardinal game on the 18th. I word it that way because it was a total break for me. Owen wanted to sit only on Papa's lap... He LOVES his Papas.
 
He sat trough 5 full innings (I was impressed), and then we went to Fredbird's field. He had a blast with all of the things to climb on!

The mound.

 Hanging out with MiMa.
 
 ......but loving his Papa. Two peas in a pod.
 
We've also had some fun time with uncle Steven who read lots of books to Owen & even came over yesterday with 11 NEW matchbox cars. What a TREAT! He taught Owen the names of each car too... Porsche, Barracuda, etc.
 
As you can see we still love cars...

We play with them everywhere.

In the car seat reading his truck book ("cuck gook")

We also got to celebrate Daddy's birthday all weekend (it was yesterday). Owen learned about candles & is working on his rendition of Happy Birthday.

I'll write more about Daddy's birthday & our trip to the Magic House this week..but to include in here would make this post way.too.long.
 
A quick Di Di Ga (Baby Girl) update: I had an ultrasound this a.m. to check for size b/c I am measuring 30 weeks when I should be measuring 34. Turns out she's in the 64% for weight... approx  5lbs 5oz, and my amniotic fluid level is just fine. She's just lying transverse with her head in my right hip & legs in my stomach. She's still VERY high... so high that they had to get her to wiggle a bit to confirm gender. She's got a little bit of hair, and her organs appear to be functioning well! Unfortunately no cutsie pictures as her face was buried deep.

Monday, August 20, 2012

33 weeks


33 Weeks Baby Girl




33 Weeks Owen

Baby Girl is about 4 pounds and 17inches long. I think I actually look a little bigger with Owen at this stage.. or maybe I am finally carrying them differently?

I'd definitely gained more weight with Owen by 33 weks than I have with this baby.. though the way she is lying is preventing me from eating much for the last week or so. I mean, I don't even want ice cream... that's a big deal!


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

31 Weeks

 
 


How far along? 31Weeks! Since I am pulling for an end of September baby, possibly just 8 weeks to go =) Everyone in my family has a birthday in the 20s of whatever month they were born, and I am sure she doesn't want to be left out.
Baby Girl weighs about 3.3 pounds (similar to four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt ( I can verify this... I've been starving this last week). She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. 
Total weight gain: 20 lbs total (though I am sure this is more now.. it's been a few weeks since I've been to the OB).
Stretch marks? Not that I can see. 
Sleep? Sleeping is hit or miss..... often more miss than hit. I'm very grateful for the full size bed that's set up but isn't in use by Owen yet. I know it will just get harder as I get closer, so I am trying to not get frustrated.
 
Best moment this week? Date night at Araka (my brother Ryan's restaurant). This picture was taken right before dinner. My parents kept O (overnight even!), and Ryan spoiled us truly. Course #1: Heirloom tomatoes (green velvet, grape, & peach) from Ryan's garden. He brought them in to work to serve to us with a bit of fresh mozzarella. We devoured it. Course #2: Lobster BLT sliders, served on a brioche bun. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Course #3: A trout duo. One side of the plate had a smoked trout, fingerling potato salad with a brown mustard vinaigrette (and I am sure other delicious things as well), and the other side of the plate had a seared Steel head trout over whipped Yukon Golds, swiss chard, and an olive salad. Course #4 (of which I took one bite) was our actual entree. I ordered an Amish chicken with fingerlings & broccolini (best chicken I've ever had), and Mike got a strip steak with swiss chard & a manchego cheese risotto. I kept eating the risotto off his plate. It was a pregnant woman's dream. 
Miss anything? Energy.... though I know it will only continue to go downhill from here. 
Movement? Minimal. She has me constantly praying for a kick so I know she's still alive. 
 
Food craving? No change here! ICE water & COLD cereal with fresh fruit. 
 
Anything making you queasy or sick? NO! 
Labor signs? Negative. A few Braxton-Hicks already, though.
Symptoms? Last week I had a headache for 5 days, but this week I feel generally well (perhaps that is related to the prenatal massage Mike treated me to on Sunday). I even walked with O in the stroller for 45 minutes this morning at a lake. OUTSIDE. Praise the Lord for a cool morning!
Belly button in or out? Flat.
Wedding rings on or off? Depends... Saturday I couldn't get them on. Today I can. I think it's dependent on the heat. 
Happy or Moody most of the time? I feel moodier lately than I have in the last few months... but I'll try to kick that for my hubby's sake!
Looking forward toFinding a church. It's kind of stressful to navigate a new nursery system each week. Also really looking forward to going to "the Lake" (of the Ozarks) this weekend to celebrate Olivia's 6th birthday!  

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Wade Family Reunion: Indiana Style

This post's delay does not reflect my opinions on the Wade family reunion in Nashville, Indiana! I've just had my mind elsewhere, and when I sit down at the computer lately I am browsing craigslist for the perfect 'used' basement furniture (or Aden & Anais girly swaddle blankets... haven't found any), ooohing and aahing over PBK's Penelope nursery, or looking on etsy for the perfect girly nursery prints.

But back to the reunion! On the 9th-ish of July the Wades & Nieders traveled in a caravan from St. Charles, MO to Nashville, IN. It's past Bloomington (the home of IU.... Papa & Gaga Wade's arch rival. They are Purdue Boilermakers).

In Nashville we met up with Dave's sister Ruth, her husband Glenn & their daughters, husbands, and babies. Details & names to follow. We stayed in a huge house called 'The Farm'.
Looks peaceful & quintessentially Midwestern, right? It fit all 6 families & 6 kids to boot. Mike and I took the basement room (thinking it would be cooler for this hotbox of a pregnant lady), but unfortunately the basement was over run with spiders. It is times like those that I praise the Lord for my terrible eyesight sans corrective lenses so that I couldn't see creepy crawlies all around as I was sleeping &/or showering.
The kids loved running in the yard.
Daddy Dax & Baba (Ava) touring IU's campus.
What a gorgeous family. Dax & Lindsey sure to make some beautiful children... and apparently the Nieders genes trumped the Wade genes 3 times in a row b/c Carson, Livi, & Ava are all blonde haired & blue eyed.
Ava (9mo) & Eliza (12mo) reading Owen's favorite book.
There are always plenty of hands willing to snuggle & cuddle this sweetie pie. Unfortunately in order for me to cuddle her someone else has to be on Owen duty. Not usually a fair trade off... so GaGa gets her the most!
Cartoon showing Owen some cool pool tricks.
Fun in the sun. Doubt this sprinkler did much to help this poor grass...
All of Earl & Evelyn Wade's great-grandchildren. L-R: Owen Michael (19mo), Ava Adeline (9mo), Carson Matthew (8), Eliza Marija (12mo), Olivia Grace (5), Collin Everett (19mo)
The blood relatives of the Wades Sr (in-laws not allowed). You know the Dave Wade family on the left. On the right we have Ruth Wade Williams, her husband Glenn, and their daughters Emily (standing) and Hilary (sitting). Emily's daughter is Eliza & Hilary's son is Collin.
Documentation of the first solid food Ava would put in her mouth without spitting it back out. She's not a fan of purees or spoons, but this apple did the trick!
Owen & Collin cleaning off together. Look at Owen's poor Seattle skin. It's also worth mentioning here that these 2 are 5 days and 8lbs apart! O weighs 24ish lbs & Collin weighs 32 lbs! Praise the Lord I have the smaller baby. My back just hurts thinking about carrying Collin!
Livi helping out with Owen duty!
A quick family shot!
Papa Wade & his 3 oldest grand babies!
The whole gang!
L-R:
Tony, Emily, & Eliza Puntuzs (Chicago, IL)
Kris, Hilary, & Collin McLeod (Akron, OH)
Glenn & Ruth Williams (Cleveland, OH)
Dave & Becky Wade (St. Charles, MO)
Dax, Lindsey, Carson, Olivia, & Ava Nieders (St. Charles, MO)
Mike, Heather, Owen, & Baby Girl Wade (St. Louis, MO)... isn't that fun to write!

We had a great time hanging out with the William's clan & we hope to get all of the kiddos together again soon!

This pic was about 28.5 weeks gestation... I'm now 31 weeks & have grown considerably. Next post will be of the most recent belly pic.