37 Weeks

We're almost there!  January 13th, 2012 we will get to meet our little guy as we have a scheduled C section.  Since I've been bad about belly pics lately, here are are a few.

With Lincoln @ 37 weeks

 

With Jackson @ 36 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Size of baby: 19-20" in length, about 6lbs

Total Weight Gain: 30 pounds 

 

Movement: A lot. He loves to make some pretty big movements still...kind of painful!

 

Sleep: Sleep great most of the time (thank goodness!) 

What I miss:  being able to move normally, workout and get off the couch easily

 Symptoms: some heartburn, a little swelling at the end of the day.

 

Best Moment this week: Jackson has REALLY gotten interested in my belly and all the baby things around the house.  He is now calling "baby" by his name :)

Best Mommy Moment

Rob and I were tucking our favorite little guy into bed tonight, just like always.  I hold Jackson, hug and kiss him and then he goes to Daddy for the same before tucking himself into bed.

Tonight, he gave me a big hug and kiss and then said, "too, too" and was bending down/squirming while I was holding him.  I set him down since he was squirming all over and he quickly grabbed my baby belly and said "Lincoln (Wink-On) too" and gave a BIG smooch to my belly.

Totally unprompted or coaxed.

This might just be the happiest Mommy moment I have yet to have.  Took all I had not to bust into tears.

My sweet, sweet Jackson you are such a nurturing little guy. Lincoln is one VERY lucky guy to have YOU as his big brother.

Backyard update

You might remember THIS post about redoing our chair and table set to bring some life to the back yard.

Well, here is how it has turned out thus far:

Next up is just some new landscaping in the Spring! Can't wait!!

Daddy Behind the Camera

Rob had fun the other evening snapping random shots of Jackson so I thought I'd post what he captured.  

Of course he had NO interest in my belly at our maternity session

He also took some belly pics from this week too while he had the camera out:

Lincoln U/S Pics

I wanted to share some more recent Ultrasound pictures from Lincoln at our last visit.  I know a lot of people can't tell from these pics what is what, but some of you can and I know want to see them...so...here they are!

First pic on top is of the bottom side of his BIG foot!

Second is of his LONG leg :)

 Here are 2 profile pictures of his face (his chin lips towards left, and top of head towards right)

He is growing big and is very healthy and active.  Lincoln has had from the very first ultrasound a calcium deposit spot on his heart (echogenic intracardiac focus).  Luckily, this is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. EIFs are found in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems. EIFs themselves have no impact on health or heart function. Since he has no other abnormalties or chromosomal variations etc he is just a healthy boy with a little dot of calcium on his heart :)  Boy were we happy to hear that!

Traditions

Jackson now has the duty of putting the star on top of the tree.  Growing up this was my "job" and I still even have to do it when we're at my parents for Christmas :)   Jackson did a great job!  He didn't want to let go of it right away, but I was a super proud Mommy and it was a VERY special moment to see him carrying on the tradition.

success!

Santa beard I made for Jackson

our newest "friend' in our front yard display

32 Weeks

Time is FLYING by and Lincoln will most likely be here in less than 7 weeks via C-section.  I better hurry up and get the to-do list finished!!  This pregnancy has been very different. I have gained WAY less weight with Lincoln and he was breech until this week so I've been carrying him much differently.  I actually have a picture of my belly with Jackson at this point exactly so another side by side is below.

Me with Jackson                                                                                       Me with Lincoln

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 32 Weeks

Size of baby: 16.7 inches long and weighs about 3.75 pounds on average.  Lincoln measured about 4.5 lbs this last week via ultrasound

Total Weight Gain: 22 pounds 

 

Movement: Constant.  he is a very strong kiddo.  He makes very large and intense movements that you can see from across the room!

 

Sleep: Sleep great most of the time (thank goodness!) Just have to get up for a potty break around 3AM 

What I miss:  Walking normally, being able to paint my toes and just in general not being so tired!

 

Cravings: None really.  I really am not very hungry right now and pretty much have to be reminded to eat.

 Symptoms: heartburn (just started this week), a little swelling at the end of the day.

 

Best Moment this week: Got to see Lincoln via ultrasound again and he turned! Way more comfortable now that he isn't breech.  

Thanksgiving as Our Family of 3

We started the day with pumpkin pancakes

 Jackson helped decorate the tree

Hung up the stockings on the mantel

Made some yummy Thanksgiving dinner for our family of three.  Green bean casserole, mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, wheat rolls and cinnamon butter.

Jackson enjoyed the feast

 Pretzel Salad for dessert

Chewy Vegan Choc. Chip Cookies

Rob forwarded this recipe to me from one of his fav. blogs Daily Garnish.  I felt like giving it a try tonight.

They were great and with 1/3 of the sugar, no cow's milk butter, 1/4 of the choc. chips, no eggs as well as whole wheat flour it made the cookies much lighter and yummier than one would initially expect!

Ingredients:  (makes 2 dozen cookies)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance
• 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
• 1 medium ripe banana
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp non-dairy milk
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

(Note: you can easily make these un-vegan by swapping in regular milk or butter too.  Whatever you prefer!)

Boy's "Fixin" Things

Jackson is obsessed with helping, and obsessed with tools. He also wants to "fix" everything.  So, Daddy decided to let Jackson help him finish putting the hinges on our new storage bench on the patio.  Jackson had a blast and it killed time after dinner before bath & bed.

Jackson would've stayed and helped Daddy ALL night if he would've let him. He even helped put the tools back when he was done.

haha

yes he is IN the storage bench :)

Also, I went with crazy bright green KEY LIME for my rattan chair. See below (it needs another coat of paint though).  Its really bright but it'll look better with a new cushion on it and it looks great out there because everything else is so brown/khaki.  I'll post pictures once we are done with the patio.

Professional Pics of Jackson

We seem to be getting a lot of pictures done of Jackson lately.  A lot of it has to do with him modeling for my Rose is a Rose business, but here are a couple from Halloween and one from another session with another Houston photographer.

these Halloween pics are from Fabulous Occasions:

This one is by Nena Metcalf Photography

Teething & Sickies

This is what teething and sickies looks like...and for dramatics..he was "BEHIND BARS" a.k.a. on the other side of the gate.

I know...sad, pitiful, meltdown moment caught on camera. I'm a mean mom!  I promise, no child was harmed in the process of these photos. He was just VERY mad that he didn't have his lovie and was throwing a bratty fit!

And now, after getting his lovie and taking a deep breath...

Jack: I love you...and I DO hope you feel better soon my sweet boy!