Maternity Photos

I finally got my hands on the disc of maternity photos that Jamie Moore took for us. It's something I had to be talked into doing with Griffin, but looking back I was so glad I did. I might have been a little more excited this time around because I would get to include big brother. She also got some really adorable shots of Griffin alone.  

We really went all out this time. Cousin Caitlin was in town and came to our house for a short maternity session too.

I barely got these posted before baby brother arrives. Less than 2 weeks to scheduled date....or as my doctor said this afternoon right before she walked out the door, "good luck making it to September!"

Monthly Update

I didn't buy any more stickers for Griffin to wear for monthly pictures. However, I couldn't resist taking some photos of him today in his chair with Bobby. I thought it would be a nice touch to a post about how he's been changing. 

He is still very much a "daddy's boy". He and Drew have been out of the house, at the office and doing their "man things" most of the day.

With a lot of incentive and bribery, I'd like to say Griffin is completely potty trained now. This is huge since he's been semi-trained for quite some time. We haven't bought diapers in forever, but it hasn't been fun cleaning nasty little boy underwear. I guess he just needed to decide for himself that it was time. We do have an occasional accident here and there. I think he gets so busy and focused on playing or doing other things that he is too late by the time he realizes he needs to get to the bathroom. 

We also have had our first trouble with naughty words. I thought I had been hearing a version of one around the house but didn't want to make a big deal in case I was wrong...............flash forward to a text from the daycare director:

Knock on wood, I think we've nipped this one in the bud. 

I now believe in the power that television has over children. One evening, Griffin was getting a very stern talking to (I don't remember what about, just that I was very mad) and I was even crouched down at his level holding onto him by the arms. After 5 minutes of me trying to get my point across, Griffin sat there staring at me.....paused for a few seconds.....then said, "what's the big idea?" Thank you Donald Duck. It was really hard not to burst into laughter. He also says "Oh, coconuts!" (that's another Disney show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates) and many more. 

I guess when you turn 3 you decide that you should take showers instead of baths. He thinks he is a real big boy these days. We are jumping on that bandwagon, hoping that it will keep him from wanting to be a baby again when little brother arrives. 

We took Griffin to the movies for the first time and invited cousin Briley. They were very well behaved and stayed focused on the movie the entire time. It was Planes: Fire & Rescue, so how could 2 little boys not love it. 

On the baby front, I am exactly 38 weeks along today. At my appointment this past week, I was only dialated to about 1 1/2cm. Griffin was already born by now. It's fun to see how different the progression has been. I did gain a full cm in 1 week, so who knows what will happen. I'm still scheduled for a c section on September 3rd but my doctor is continuing to bet on baby boy coming long before then. I'm trying to stay off my feet and do as little as possible to keep contractions at a minimum so that, *fingers crossed*, we can make it to at least September 1st. August just has too many other birthdays and things going on. Come on Labor Day!

What have we been up to?

Countdown to baby brother has begun.......my appointments are weekly now, that's when you know you are getting close. At this point with Griffin, I was actually about to deliver and didn't know it. Things aren't moving near as fast this time around. Thankfully, my blood pressure is still perfect and I'm not swelling like I did that summer (it was 100 degrees every day and this summer has been quite pleasant really).

Work has been crazy with a software conversion going on. That monsterous task has required working through lots of lunch hours and putting in some overtime last Friday night and all day Saturday. Between work, getting the house ready for baby, the birthday party, and life in general......I'm starting to really slow down. Contractions come and go, and of course things seem to be better when I take it easy and rest. So I'm doing more of that lately and trying to get to bed at a decent hour, which rarely happens. I really want to make it to the scheduled c section date of September 3rd but my doctor doesn't seem to have much hope. We'll see.

In the last few weeks we've had several fun things going on. I had an unexpected baby shower that was very lovely. We also attended one for Ashley and baby Bayley Ray who is also due anytime now. Drew's mom had a birthday party since she was unable to be home for her 60th last year. And several other events that I can document with photos:

Chase turned 2 and we had fun at his birthday party......

birthday boy!

 We've also enjoyed several dinner dates with Charlotte......

I've supervised some farm work--food plot preparation.....

And I enjoyed getting a pedicure with my favorite little man on the planet......

As a bonus, you get this video:

Baby Brother's 3D Ultrasound

Today was our 3D ultrasound for baby boy #2. I was considering not doing it until I imagined him asking one day why Griffin was special enough to get a CD/DVD and he wasn't. I'm trying really hard to give him the same treatment, although I hear it's natural for most children after your first to not get as many pictures, videos, etc. I may have set the bar too high. Ha!

Baby brother was very uncooperative but after walking in the parking lot, drinking Sunny D, flipping from back to side, and a lot of pushing around by the ultrasound tech........we finally got a few pictures in the last 5 minutes of an hour's worth of trying. His hands and a foot were in his face pretty much the whole time. I appreciate the reassurance of knowing he's doing fine in there. Also, the confirmation that he is definitely a he. 

We also got to see him yawn several times....here's a real creepy open-mouth shot in 2D:

Bring on little brother......

Griffin has been really obsessed with Mrs. Jessica (head of the daycare) having a baby. For the last however many months, he has learned all about pregnancy and watched a growing baby belly happen before his eyes. (Remember, he goes to daycare 7:30am-6pm, Monday-Friday so he spends A LOT of time with the ladies/kids there). This must be why he is so relaxed and comfortable with the coming of his baby brother. That has been a blessing.

Last night, Griffin was super excited to visit Mrs. Jessica at home and meet Holly for the first time. We were both teary-eyed when he sat down to hold her and immediately started whispering everything he said. I had to ask several times if he was done before he finally let us take her. She got a kiss, hug, head rubs, and her toes counted before it was all said and done. My heart was smiling!!

Let's hope he feels the same about his baby brother!

 

counting toes

 Hopefully, the transition to being a family of four will be no big deal!