0 day countdown

She's still not here.  Today is her due date.  It would have been a good day for a baby...we weren't doing anything.  But it's all good....we will wait for this baby girl!

I went to my doctor on Thursday.  No progress, really.  Maybe dilated to a one and still very thick.  She did an ultrasound and checked all her measurements, fluid, and heart rate.  This time she weighed 6.9lbs (last week she was 7.4lbs...goes to show you, you can't trust those to be exact).  She said I have plenty of fluid and her heart rate is right on.  Looking very healthy;)  She guesses I'll have a 7 lb baby.  I'm A-OK with that.  (Jackson was 7lbs 8oz)  She is going to set up a date to be induced and hopefully I'll hear something tomorrow.  Better yet, I'll go into labor on my own.  Now I'm kinda of wanting to go anytime after Tuesday (Jackson's birthday).  I've got plenty of things to keep me (us) busy the next few days.  BUT after that I'm going to BEG Emerson to come out.

Jackson's belly pic...sideways...I don't really feel like fixing it.

My belly pic 40 weeks.  (awkward...don't know what to do with my hands?!)

We made a video a few days ago.  It was spring break.  Spring break not on vacation it torture!

I ate some REALLY spicy pickles (Harold's Texicun Gormay Sissy Sweet Pickuls) today.  I could hardly stand it.  Even Tanner thinks they are hot!  AND I scrubbed the bathroom floor today.  Let's see if that gets us anywhere:)

9 day countdown

Tuesday was an off day.

I dropped a whole thing of dog food on floor.

Also, I knocked wax from my scentsy all over the bathroom counter. Which looks like a crime scene.

Then I was getting a paper plate for a Jackson project when this happened.

I dropped a dozen other things throughout the day too. Tanner said I can't hold anything without dropping it and it's driving him crazy. Uh, sorry dude but if you knew how hard it is to bend over to pick those dropped things up you'd actually feel my pain and know REAL annoyance.  I hope this dropping thing wears off before Emerson gets here!

Speaking of dropping or in this instance NOT dropping...

My 38 week doctors appt got pushed from Monday to Tuesday. My doctor checked me and her words exactly were, "This baby does not want to come out! Still high and thick." Not exactly what I wanted to hear.  She also tried something to help "thin things out" which (don't imagine) but if you were to imagine it didn't feel great :/  As far as I can tell that has not helped at all.  I've had some braxton hicks contractions but nothing notable or consistent.  BUT that's actually ok because NOW I'd rather wait until after Thursday to have little E because MY DOCTOR IS ON VACATION.  Thanks for thinking about me, missy!  Sure, taking your kids on a family vacation to Disney World might be on your priority list, but, hey, I'm supposed to have a baby soon!  While at the appointment my doc did take a look at her on the ultrasound and she is measuring 7lbs 4 oz (give or take), plenty of fluid, and we saw a little bit of hair.  Hair??  What? I will be shocked if she actually has hair.  I go back to the doctor next Thursday (the following Sunday is my due date).  We'll see what's going on and decide on the next step.  She'll let me go one week past my due date (oh, dear).  For now, Emerson is safely tucked away growing and getting stronger by the minute and that's all that really matters.

So, we wait.  My house was once clean and ready for the arrival of a new baby but it's dirty again and I'm simply over nesting.  Her nursery still isn't quite ready but I really don't care anymore...that will eventually get put together.  I'm just going to enjoy my last few days, maybe weeks (but certainly not months) of my baby boy and dream of our family of four.

Here we are at 38.5 weeks.

Fireman Jack!

Last weekend we had Jackson's birthday party.  His birthday is not until the 26th but I didn't want to take any chances of his little sister ruining HIS day:)  So we celebrated early with a fireman party.  Our neighbor is a Captain at a local fire station and somehow I convinced him it would be a good idea for a bunch of little people and their parents to invade their station.

CAKE! 

Party details

Fireman Jack!

Learning about the truck

Lots of buttons and stuff

Lolly and Jack

Did I mention the truck is PINK?  How awesome:)

I'm not sure who had more fun...the kids or dads??

Girls love pink!

They even let us take rides on the fire truck!  How great is that!!

Jack getting back from his ride

Fighting fires is serious business!

birthday boy!

Oh yes we did!!

Pic with the firefighters!   

(The girls are the daughters of our firefighter neighbor.)

Cousins!

Sliding down the pole...or at least pretending:)

Mad dash for the candy!

Poppy and Papa Crhis

Seriously, these guys were GREAT!  

Gifts

JaJa and Papa

Such a fun party!  I can't believe my baby is four (almost)!  

15 day countdown

So much for blogging through this pregnancy!  Ha!  I looked back at that ONE bump update at 20 weeks and sort of laugh at the picture.  38 weeks (tomorrow) makes 20 weeks look SKINNY!

So, yes, we have approach the "any day" phase.  We have been very, very busy.  I feel like my days are filled with to-do lists.  By the end of the day my body physically hurts and nothing but sleep helps.  Speaking of sleep...let me make a note of saying this pregnancy, insomnia hit hard.  It's no joke.  Oh, and I love the explanation of "it's getting you ready for the baby".  Umm, no it's not...it's making me cranky and giving me two black eyes.

Since the entire last paragraph was negative let me switch tones a bit..... I've try my very hardest not to complain too much through out this pregnancy.  I feel very blessed to have been able to carry another baby.  It was a long road to get to this point and I don't take that for granted.  I actually like having a big belly.  It might sound strange but I love rubbing my belly and I love feeling her move.  She has been really active through out this entire pregnancy and I don't mind it at all.  Even now that she is getting too big for her surroundings I still don't mind those kicks and jabs. With all that being said, pregnancy is not an easy task.  I truly have to take it day by day.

At my 36 week appointment my doctor checked me and said "high and thick" which translates to nothing is going on...you've got a ways to go.  We talked about  not inducing this time and seeing what happens.  I was induced with Jackson and it took FOREVER.  If possible I'd like to go into labor naturally.  She said she'd let me go a week past my due date.  Let's hope that does NOT happen!

At my 37 week appointment the ultrasound machine was down so she just used the doppler to check her heartbeat.  That was pretty much it.

Monday I'll have my 38 week appointment where she'll check again and we'll take a look at the baby on the ultrasound machine.  I'm curious to see if I've progressed.  Let's hope so.  Obviously, I want her to stay as long as she needs to get healthy but I'm really, really ready to meet her.  Like, for real.

I don't have any great belly pictures but this was taken last weekend at Jackson's birthday party. Pretty big difference since 20 weeks:)

Hopefully, I'll be back with another update before she makes her appearance but you know me....I make no promises:)

A Cooper Christmas Story

Merry Christmas!

Just a random Wednesday

I think that I solved the picture issue (from my last post) with the help of my friend Tessa.  I joined Google+ and it looks like now I'm good to go.  So, thank you Tessa and all the other friends that gave me their input:)  You're the best!

Anyone else overwhelmed with all that goes along with this time of the year?  I love to imagine how wonderful the holiday season (Thanksgiving and Christmas) is all year long and then December hits and bam! I'm behind, we're busy and it's just all too much.  Is it just me?  Probably, because I really do procrastinate.  I swear next year I'm going to be on top of things.  Christmas shopping in October (or all year), decorating in November (for Christmas), and Christmas projects in July....that way all I have to do is sit back and laugh at all the procrastinators!!!   Suckers!

Any way, it seems like in the last month or month and half we hit a certain, shall I say, stage with Jackson.  Honestly, twos weren't so bad, even up until recently threes haven't been too challenging.  But recently something has changed a tad.  More fits, more not listening, more not doing what I ask of him, more attitude.  And you know, it's not even the fits that drive me crazy.  I understand at three everything is a little dramatic.  However, it's the day to day, routine defiance or resistance to.  For instance, getting in the car and buckled in takes twice as long because he finds things to distract him.  Or brushing his teeth.  Simple task, right?  No.  The two minutes (give or take) of the actual task ends up taking at least 10 minutes because I'm fighting him to open his mouth or brush himself for 8 of the 10 minutes.  Drives me crazy.  And don't even get me started on wearing a coat now that it's getting colder.  Man, oh man!

Like I said, it's the little, daily tasks that really have a hold on me.  I'm learning new way to combat this every day including cutting the guy a little slack but with all the things that I need to get done in the day and the constant challenging of my every request wears me out.

This morning I woke up knowing that we had nothing on our (Jackson's) agenda but million things on my to-do list.  Which is never a good plan for the day because I end up trying to get a few things done but get frustrated because Jackson needs that or wants this....which always involves me.  I decided that the only way we were both going to be happy is if we left the house and did something.  Anything.

We choose BOWLING!

He LOVED it and we had so much fun!

Seriously, I'm not much of a bowler...I mean my score was 100 with bumpers.  Jackson could have very well beat me.

Showing off his orange ball.

After a game of bowling we played a few arcade games.  Long story, but basically the guy working there GAVE us these tickets he won.  He said, "I didn't mean to win so many" ha!!!

I think between our tickets (which was probably 50) and his we ended up with over 650.  My little boy's dream!  We spent probably 20 minutes picking out toys that will last a day then I beg to throw them  away.  But it provided much satisfaction to this little dude! After bowling/game playing/prize picking we had lunch and played with all his new goodies while we ate.

 Maybe we didn't need to go bowling to have a good time....we can have a good time at home too but it's just so nice to have these moments of just the two of us doing something fun and out of the ordinary on a random Wednesday.  I'm trying my very best to enjoy the last few months of my only child.  He brings so much fullness to my life and boring to-do lists.  

P.S.  Jackson is actually sleeping, as in taking a nap, right now.  GLORIOUS!! (Naps are few and far between these days.)