33 Week Appointment

I had my doctor's appointment with Dr. Villers yesterday.  Things went well.  She commented that this pregnancy has zoomed by, and I'd have to say I agree!  I can't believe we are getting down to the wire here!  Tillman was born at 37 weeks, so if we are going by that, it is possible to only have 5 weeks left, Yikes! We have the Moses basket, but that is really it-the furniture isn't in yet, the room is a mess, and I have to say, we are just not ready for Sweet Caroline yet.  We plan to get all the infant items out soon.  The good thing about those items is we at least know how they go together!

Dr Villers advised me not make any solid plans in August.  She said we would know better in two weeks when I have my ultrasound and starts cervical checks (fun).   

All other things went well during the appointment. She thinks at this time the Caroline isn't as big as Tillman, but she said she was wrong with Tillman's size the last time.  I've gained 5 lbs from two weeks ago (ugh!). I was gaining one to two lbs a week for a while, and now I've had a jump in weight.  It's hard to see it on the scale, but I know it is for a good cause.  

I go back in two weeks for an ultrasound and an appointment with Dr. Villers.

22 Months (7.12.12)

Tillman at  Meggett Park on the joggling board

Tillman has turned into a "towhead" (German saying that means very blond) as the summer has progressed.  He is also a whopping 25 lbs!  He's gained 2 lbs since his birthday!  I do think he is getting taller.  Tillman tends to be a picky eater-no meats, loves fruit, funny about food texture, and drinks his weight in water!   Water is actually one of his favorite words...well just behind the word, truck!

Another favorite "past time" for Tillman is hanging with the ladies at the hair salon and getting his hair cut.  Nick and Tillman get their hair cut together.  I hear that Tillman is very still and love to get his hair cut.  Once he's done, he like to sit in the chair next to Daddy while Nick gets his hair cut too!  I don't know why I'm using the word "daddy," because Tillman calls his daddy "NNNNIIIICK!"

Well we are on to the big potty now.  The little potty wasn't "cool," so Tillman refused to use it.  He wanted to use only the big potty.  We got him a cool race car seat with a "trigger" on it that makes car noises.  He feels like a big boy on this potty.  He gets a treat for getting on the potty and then another if he goes potty. No, we don't give him M&M.  He prefers dried cranberries, so that's the treat for potty!  He is on a schedule at daycare for potty at 8:30AM, 11AM, and 2PM (when up from nap).  We try to do this schedule at home on the weekends and follow through at night as well.  He has gone both types of potty (#1 and #2...I'm sure he'll hate me for saying this later) and is getting the hang of it.  He loves to flush the toilet, unroll the toilet paper, read books, and play with toys while on the pot. He still doesn't request to go to the potty, but for now the schedule seems to be working.  He normally tells us after the fact that he's gone to the potty.  He holds his pants and says "poop!" Nice, right??
Funny/yucky story...Tillman loves the cranberry treats a lot and will go to great length to get one.  When he is on the toilet, he makes/forces himself go potty by pushing on his tummy...strange? Maybe.  Well he was pushing on his tummy, and I was standing right there, he ends up spraying the whole room...me included.  Dude, you have to stop doing that!  It is not cool!

Tillman is also be talking more and more.  In fact, I hear he woke the whole class at nap time.  He was the first to wake, he went over to one of his friends (who was sleeping under the table...they sleep on mats around the room).  He woke her up and they began chatting, which lead to the whole class waking.  I'd love to know what they talk about.  How do they understand each other?

22 Month random facts:
-loves playing in a baby pool and going to the beach
-loves jamming in the car to the kiddie CD
-learning to walk "civilized" and holding mommy's hand (not digging the stroller these days)
-loves to climb and is resourceful. He gets a chair pushes it to the door to unlock it (dangerous), to the cabinet to get food, to the sink to play in water....
-loves to tell his story when he gets a booboo. He tells you just how it happen and wants kisses
-hates time out! Surprise about that. We are struggling with that right now
-loves to people watch!
-doesn't like ice cream...weird
-doesn't have a clue he is about to be a big brother to a baby sister next month!

Week 33

Outfit look plain? Necklace popped while walking
into work without warning. Beads were everywhere...
under cars, all over side walk, etc

Oh week 33, I can't believe this pregnancy is flying by!  Soon we will have a little girl with 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes.  Totally not ready!  When I think about two little kiddos, it seems overwhelming.  I know we will adjust and it will be fine (it has to be, right?).
I think that Tillman knows something is coming.  He has become extra clingy and wants to be held all the time.  I guess if he is like this when Caroline comes, we will have to get the Baby Bjorn out for Caroline, and get some sort of back sling for Tillman to sit in.
The heat over the past few days or week has also been killer!  Everyone is deprived when it is hot outside.  Graham hasn't been walked very much, Tillman wants to play outside (but can't), and our AC is working overtime, as I crank it down.  I think that is the major thing I've noticed about this pregnancy is that the heat bothers me much more than last.  We went to a dinner last night, and I met Nick.  I didn't even want to get out of my car to walk to his, as I was afraid of not cooling down. You know, a sweaty pregnant lady just isn't cute.
Last Friday, we head for a drive in the mountains.  We went through a rain storm, and it cooled down to 59 degrees after being in the mid-90's all day.  It was so refreshing.  When we went to dinner after the drive, it was still in the mid-80's, and I even thought it would be ok to sit outside!
During the drive, I noticed that my nose (in particular) was swelling (started to having to breathe through my mouth).  Then i could see my cheeks in my "peripheral vision" and noticed my hands were getting large (my rings were sinking into my skin).  After sitting down all day, the swelling had started.  We took a long stroll in Bravard before getting back on the road to come home, which helped a lot.  It was pretty crazy how all of that happened. I don't think there will be any long car rides in my future for a while.

In other news, we decided to bring out all the infant items in August.  I've schedule her newborn photos for September 4th.  This time it won't be at our house; we're having to drive to a studio (pray for us and that this goes well).  I am very hesitant about a 30 minute drive, having her well fed, and in a new place to get good pictures, but it can be done...other have done it.
Her furniture will be here in August.  Nick will drive to Columbia to get it.  We'll also take some items up to my parents as we "Clean out for Caroline" at our house.  She has a brand new Moses basket in the mean time...hopeful that she will enjoy the Moses basket as much as Tillman did for 5 months!


How big is baby?
Baby will be weighing in at around 4.23 pounds (1.918kg) and measuring 17.20 inches (43.7cm).


How is baby developing and growing?
Baby may begin to practice sucking this week by sucking on his/her fingers.

• Baby will continue to deposit fat under the skin this week as he/she will continue to gain weight.
• As a result of the fat deposits, your baby's skin will be changing color from red to pink. 

30, 31,32....(weeks)

30.5 weeks

Time is flying by.  I had an appointment last Thursday with Dr. Villers. Everything is going well and looks normal.  We scheduled all of my visits through the end of the pregnancy.  I also was scheduled for the ultrasound to check in on Sweet Caroline to see how big she will be at 35 weeks.  We'll have that appointment on July 26th.  After that, we'll have a better plan for delivery.
I gained 1 lb between the two appointments.  My weight gain has slowed over the past two weeks, but I'm sure another "growth" spurt is on its way.

Caroline is very active.  She is moving around like crazy.  I can feel her movements much more than Tillman.  Sunday night, I could feel her "elbowing" me.  It is really strange to be able to tell what body part is making the move.

We've been nesting a bit over the past few weeks.  Caroline's has a draw-full of clothes ready to go. We're cleaning out to make room for her.  Criagslist has been our friend over the past few weeks.  Sold just about everything, so the clean out was very successful.  Nick went to Home Depot this weekend to get some supplies to do some odds and ends projects around the house.  We have some regular maintenance type items, as well as some things that we needed to complete from having our home renovated. 
We may be super ambitious, but we plan to put our house on the market while I'm out on maternity leave-for sale by owner.  We are going to try that route first, but if it doesn't work, then we'll likely hire a realtor. 
I do plan to take 12 weeks this go round.  With Tillman, I only took 8 weeks, and I just should have stayed out longer.  Caroline will go to the daycare after the 12 weeks are up.  It will be in the middle of holiday season, so there will be lots of little breaks during that time as well, which I think will be good.  Going back to work and getting back into the swing of things is difficult, so small spurts will work well.

How big is baby Caroline?
Baby will be weighing in at around 3.75 pounds (1.702kg) and measuring 16.69 inches (42.4cm). 

Guess we'll have to see if that holds true at the ultrasounds in a few weeks!

Big Fat Lip

Tillman not feeling so well with his busted lip.
Hey, at least he has his new John Deere shirt on!

Tillman fell down at school yesterday and landed his mouth on a truck.  He and this truck have been in a accident before.  The first time was a bump on the nose, and now he has a big fat lip from it.  He also had some bloody gums.  I sure hope his tooth is ok.  He is having trouble eating, and things are sore.  Our poor little buddy is on Advil.
On the note from the teacher, she said that she was going to keep him away from that truck.  I think that is a good idea!  I hope we can stay away from the dentist as well, as I'm worried about that tooth!

29 Week Appointment

Miss Caroline has a 130 bpm heart rate when Dr. Villers checked in on her yesterday.  Dr. Villers said that everything is normal, but she will do a growth scan/ultrasound in the 3rd trimester just to make sure of her size.  If she is a big baby, then I'll have to be schedule for a C-section.  If not, the plan is to do a VBAC.  Dr. Villers said a successful VBAC given my previous reasons for C-section is 75-80%.

I also asked Dr. Villers about some lower belly pain that I've been having.  She said it was normal. It is likely scare tissue from the previous C-section.  The other things on my list to ask about was feeling out of breath and going to the potty...all the time.  Dr. Villers said it is all due to Sweet Caroline.  She is likely sitting on my bladder and she is growing, so I just have less room to breathe.

At the end of the visit, I had to get a RhoGAM shot due to my blood type being negative (Rh-).  This will prevent my body from rejecting the pregnancy if Miss Caroline has a positive (Rh+) blood type like her daddy.

21 months 6.12.12

Just as turning 21 years old is a big deal for most adults, turning 21 months for Tillman has also been a big event.  No, he isn't considered "legal," but he is on his way to "big boy undies" and completely feeding himself.  He began potty training and "pee pees" on the potty three times a day right now.

Bologna sandwich...yuck! 

The above photo is of his daily sheet at school, and you can see his progress.  Nick has been working with him on the potty at home.  Excuse me...I should say "NNNIIIICK."  Yes, Tillman calls his daddy "Nick" and says it just like a Southerner....NNNNIIICK!  We both think it is too funny.

Taking a photo without getting caught.
 They are doing serious business!

When Tillman potty's at home, he has to have a toy to entertain.  It really doesn't change once men get older. In our bathroom there are magazines everywhere!  When Tillman does go "pee pee" we try to congratulate him and make a huge deal of it!

At school they have a whole wall of potties.  The kiddos sit on the potties while watching a video.  Once one of them goes "potty," the teachers make a huge deal of it, and give them a small treat.  This encourages the other kids as well to go "pee pee in the potty" too.  I hear that Tillman doesn't like to sit on the pot at school. He often tries to get up and play, and he sometimes misses the pot!  

In other 21 month old news, Tillman has learned that his teeth can be used for more than eating.  He bit the teacher yesterday.  I must say, I'm glad it wasn't a child, but still.... She said that she was correcting him and made him hold her hand.  She felt some teeth, and low and behold, Tillman was biting her finger!  She said that even though he bit her, Tillman is still one of her favorite.  Good thing...right?  That might change if he continues to bite.  At least he bit someone that could correct him immediately.  He has tried to bite me and Nick before, so I hope soon he will get the picture that biting is a NO NO!

Tillman is also starting to learn the children's names in his class.  We had one of his classmates over at our house to swim this past weekend.  Cole and Tillman are about a month a part.  Tillman was a little confused about Cole being at his house, but he soon got over that.  I think it took him a little while to recognize him in another environment.  He began saying "Cooooooole!"
Tillman also got to play with Carter, Corbin, and Owen at the pool party!  Carter was the first to arrive.  He was so excited to see guests at the house (remember, we live in the country...no one really come to our house much).  He was running circles around the house!

This "legal aged" 21 month old stats:

Weight: holding steady around 23 lbs (no doctor visits this month, so not sure on the weight)

Diapers size: size 4 of Little Movers day and night. (Even tried some Publix diapers this month)

Clothing size: 12-18 months (some 24 mo shirts)

Shoe size: 5-5.5

Food tricks: drinking from a small cup (without a lid) & feed himself

Naps: 1 nap during the day around 11:30 and sleep until 1:30

Play/learning (new things):Has a structured day at daycare.  They have posted a schedule outside the class, going to church at school, Gymersize, pool time, water days at school, learning names, Zac Brown Band is his favorite music in the car, and took his first dip in and boat ride on Lake Murray (life jackets = no fun for Tillman)