Birthday weekend

For my birthday we went to Village Inn.

 Aiden loves chocolate chip pancakes! He ate 3!!! 

 Jade ate pretty good too & wanted to share with Daddy.

 Love this little girl!

 My parents, Jerels parents and Natalie came down to go do dinner.

 My mom bought me a selfie stick which is fun!

 At Chuck- A - Rama 

 My sister and Natalie.

 Bed time!

 Instagram pic from the night.

 The only pic we have of our bumps together. 38+ weeks & 28weeks.

 Sunday cuddles don't happen very often any more.

 Enjoying some cookies my friend brought me for my bday.

 Aiden likes the selfie stick.

 Waiting for cake is hard sometimes.

 Birthday cake!

38 weeks

How far along? 38 weeks

Current weight/ Total Weight: 160lbs at dr but 157lbs at home.

Exercise: JM BMBF. I tried RI30 Wk2 and I couldn't do most of the moves because there is a lot of planks & abs done on my back.

Sleep: ok. As good as I can with how many times I have to pee in the night & being uncomfortable. I have been sleeping with a rolled up blanket behind my back and my body pillow between my knees.

Movement: Moving all the time. His feet are always on my right side kicking.
Best moment this week: 37wk+4 day appointment went well. Baby's heart rate was around140. Dr. Harward told me that with his other patients he usually tells them to wait until contractions are 3-5mins apart for 2 hours. With me I should go in when they are 5-10 mins apart for 1 hour or if I feel like I things are happening to just go in. They lost my chart... found it right as I was leaving. Dr. Harward will be in the office on the 14th but not the 15th. He says we will just plan on inducing the 15th which is in 10 days! I asked about mobility when being induced, he says it will be limited but I will be able to get out of bed and use the birthing ball etc. This Dr. never measures my fundal measurements (my pelvic bone to the top of my uterus) so I have not idea what I am measuring. I kinda feel like Dr. Firth was better at those kind of things, feeling to see what baby's position is. I will have to ask Dr. Harward next week. He doesn't usually check the cervix every week so I just didn't have him check. He will defiantly check it next week and also strip my membranes. I doubt that will really do anything but here is to hoping. Hoping to be dilated to at least a 3 and effaced. I was dilated to 1cm but i was still thick & high last week.

Miss anything: Not being so sore, stiff and plane uncomfortable. 
Food cravings or things you can eat: Chocolate.... I let myself have an Ice cream every so often or at least one naughty treat a night.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Random days with some morning sickness. If I go too long without eating or just randomly things don't smell good. Onions were gross cooking this week.

Symptoms: Sore lower back/butt area which is also really stiff. Tight hips, BH, some contractions, uncomfortable when sitting on the couch too long- can't breath and my ribs hurt. pelvic pressure. Frequent BM. Sore hemorrhoids.
Contractions/Labor: They are starting to pick up here and there. Nothing consistent or too painful more so annoying than anything. Menstrual like cramping usually in the mornings with lots of sore and annoying BH throughout the day but a lot in the middle of the night too.

Gender: Boy

Names: Kasen Merrill 

Belly button in/out: Its been out for a long time.
Wedding Ring on/off: On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Depends on the day. 

Looking forward to: My birthday this Saturday, my parents, Jerel's parents & my sister are supposed to come to Provo for dinner. Next Dr. appointment October 12th.

Aiden 42

My cute Aiden

This is my cute laundry buddy.

Aiden's cute toes! He still loves him some good foot tickles.

Riding a little four wheeler down the hill. He had so much fun.

He might not be a baby any more but he will always be my baby.

Getting excited for baby brother to come.

Watching tv with Jade.

Practicing his A's.

It's really hard to see the orange chalk but he wrote his name for the first time at the play ground.

Tracing letters.

We bought him an ABC book for him to trace.

1st time writing his name on paper.

Look really close and you can see it.

Doing some laundry with Mom. He always asks to go with me while Jade stays home with Daddy.

Aiden cuddles. Not so easy with that big belly.

He found this at his cousins. Funny he put it on.

Ouch. He was playing on his bed and hit his face on the wall.

There ya go! Now we can see it! First time writing his whole name.

Chilling with jade.

Practicing his letters with that little black eye.

Watching Daddy's computer screen change. Patience...

So tired. He doesn't take naps any more but some days its just too hard.

Walks in Jammies.

He go sent to his room of not being nice. He got nice and quiet. i thought he might have fallen asleep.

Just chilling on the couch.

He is getting better! Notice how much he has improved over the month of writing. 

 It really is so great to have a play ground right next to the apartment. 

 Silly kids!

 Full of laughs and smiles.

37 weeks

How far along? 37 weeks

Current weight/ Total Weight: 159lbs

Exercise: JM RI30 week1 & 2 mile walks at night

Stretch marks? Im sure

Sleep: ok.

Movement: Moving all the time.
Best moment this week: 36wk+4 Dr. Appointment: baby's heart rate: 150, still dilated 1cm not effaced, nice & think & high. I am GBS negative so that's good. Got my flu shot. Dr. Harward told me he will actually be gone from week 39-40 so he more than likely won't be delivering baby. He said he would recommend one of his partnering Drs & will be checking to see who is available to induce on the 15th at 39 weeks. He said he would stripe my membranes at 38 weeks so on the 12th. Maybe baby will come on his own and Dr Harward will deliver. Who knows. 

Miss anything: Just ready to be done.. Nervous about having another baby though.
Food cravings or things you can eat: Lots of fruit, strawberries, grapes, apples, dates, yogurt, granola bars.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Feeling fine, cooked olives are gross as is hamburgers and cooking eggs.

Symptoms: Hip pain when baby kicks feels like a stab to the hip, rib back pain, low back pain feels like i pulled something which I may have cause its pretty tight. Sciatic nerve pain. Heartburn, some swelling.
Contractions: A few here and there. Some times its hard to tell if its a BH, or baby moving cause he is low and it is uncomfortable some times.

Bloating: No

Gender: Boy

Names: Kasen Merrill 

Belly button in/out: Its been out for a long time.
Wedding Ring on/off: On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Grumpy a lot!

Looking forward to: Next Dr. appointment October 5th. Wow October is almost here!

36 weeks

How far along? 36 weeks

Current weight/ Total Weight: 155-156lbs in the morning, 157lbs at the drs.
Exercise: We have all been sick this week so I took Monday & Tuesday off. Did JM RI30 wk1 wed.

Stretch marks? Im sure

Sleep: Actually have been sleeping better the last 2 or so nights. Rolled up a small blanket to support my back with my body pillow in-between my legs.

Movement: He loves to kick my right hip which really hurts. 
Best moment this week: Had my 35wkish Dr appointment on the 21st. I weighed 157lbs so 1 lb less than I did at the last appointment on 9/1 & I was even wearing jeans this time. We also had an ultrasound. Baby is healthy, heartbeat was 145, measuring about 6lbs and right on track for being about 8lbs give or take. I would guess closer to 8lbs than 7. He is head down with his feet on my right side which I already knew cause he kicks my ribs & hip a lot. The tech said he has lots of hair & plenty of time for it to continue to grow. Baby was measuring 1 week a head like he was at my 20 week ultrasound but that didn't change my due date. Fluids looked great. Had my GBS test done and my cervix checked. I am dilated 1cm but it is nice and thick still, Dr. Harward says thats pretty good for week 35. I go in weekly probably every Monday until Baby is here. We talked about induction which Harward had to check with the hospital to see what was open, he will let me know Monday, 9/28. I would assume around the 16th because he said on Thursdays he is at the provo hospital. He would prefer me to deliver at the Orem hospital because his office is right there. I asked if they had birthing balls at the hospital to thats good to know & I won't have to bring mine. He also recommended us not traveling too far just in cause my water broke or I went into labor, we would have to go to the nearest hospital and thats not exactly ideal. 

Miss anything: Just in that phase where I am done cause I am uncomfortable a lot.
Food cravings or things you can eat: Lots of fruit, strawberries, grapes, apples, dates, yogurt, granola bars.

Anything making you queasy or sick: We have had a stomach bug or something so its been like having morning sickness all over again where lots of food stinks. Tater Tot  casserole is a no go.

Symptoms: Slight ligament pain isn't very common any more, sore hips when sleeping, pelvic pressure, rib pain, sore lower back, lots of BH, some contractions though, sore butt/lower back which helps if I stretch it before bed.

Bloating: No

Gender: Boy

Names: Kasen Merrill 

Belly button in/out: Its been out for a long time.
Wedding Ring on/off: On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Grumpy a lot!

Looking forward to: Monday I start seeing the Dr weekly.

Cute chubby cheeks.

35 weeks

How far along? 35 weeks

Current weight/ Total Weight: 157-158lbs. Still going on eating as good as I can and only having a small treat once a day.
Exercise: This week I have been doing JM Banish Fat Boost Metabolism. I do modify. I don't really like to jump around too much so i do a lot of squats when does things I don't or can't do. Gets me sweaty and my heart rate up which is what Im going for. I haven't been on any walks this week because it has been rainy. Hopefully in the next couple of days we can. I have been trying to remember to sit on my exercise ball instead of the couch or at least at the table where I have to sit up straight, the couch hurts cause my uterus pushes on my lungs and rib cage. I also a lot of birthing squats which i try to sit in as long as i can tolerate. sometimes i can sit in one for a long time when I am nice and warmed up. Leaning on my ball, holding onto the table or having my back up against the wall helps me stay in that position longer.  Tailored sitting or butterfly sitting, cat/cow stretch, and a split stretch with one of my legs bent in-front of me & one behind me can't remember what thats called. I have just been trying to focus on stretches that will help open my pelvis and hips.

Stretch marks? Hard to tell the new from the old.

Sleep: Slept better last night than i have been probably cause I had stretched really well before bed.

Movement: Kicks all the time with lots of hiccups.
Best moment this week: One week down only 4 more to go until the 15th of oct which could be my induction date. 

Miss anything: Sleep
Food cravings or things you can eat: apples with peanut butter, strawberries, bananas, purple grapes, peaches, oranges, fruit smoothies, yogurt, carrots. Starting to eat dates this week... hmm not so excited for that but if it helps with speeding up L&D then i will eat them. 6 a day!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Hamburgers and cooking eggs. 

Symptoms: Swollen feet if i am on my feet too long like doing a ton of dishes. Rib pain sometimes specially if I sit on the couch. Back pain when laying on the couch. Heart burn if I forget to take my meds. Head aches if I don't drink enough water. Pelvic pressure every now and then. My belly feels heavy a lot of the time. BH a lot throughout the day which is probably due from not drinking enough water and just being 35wks.

Bloating: I don't know.

Gender: B.O.Y.

Names: Kasen Merrill 

Belly button in/out: OUT
Wedding Ring on/off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: depends on the time of day. 

Looking forward to: Dr. appointment on the 21st.- Monday 

Got a few things ready for the baby this week. Finished Aiden & Kasen's names for their rooms. We are still trying to figure out who is sharing rooms. We figure that the baby would probably do best in his own room so that the kids can keep sleeping if he cries but Jade sometimes doesn't sleep through the night and neither does Aiden. 

We bough Jade a twin bed a few days ago and will be starting her on sleeping on it. We bought it so early cause we thought there was a sell going on. We also bought a dresser to go in Aiden's room so that i could move the baby's clothes into the dresser. 

 Finally used the money I got from the baby shower the girls in Alamogordo threw me. Excited about the Aden swaddle blankets. I really think the fox and chevron are so cute. Bought baby a monkey for doing monthly pics. Jade snatched it right away and gave it a hug. She wasn't so happy when i took it away. Silly girl, you have a elephant and puppy already. Im hoping the Puj bath tub was a good investment, seems like it will be. I couldn't remember how long my kids tend to stay in diapers so i bough two packs of new borns and then a big pack of size 1. I also found some cute crib sheets blue and chevron. The outfit is from Mamie.

Let to right: Aiden, Jade, Kasen. Fun to see comparison from each pregnancy. Looks like even though I weigh more this time my belly isn't quite as big yet. I think I was just carrying all out front with Jade & lower.