New Rooms!

Finally "finished" the new nursery up last weekend (it still needs some decorative stuff, but, for the most part it's ready to go). 

We ended up doing some switch-a-roo-ing to make "everything" fit in terms of rooms of our house.  Jacob's office was downsized and was moved to a section of our TV room (I was worried that it was going to be too crowded, but it actually turned out ok).  Emily was moved from her nursery to a new "big girl room" that was Jacob's office, and the new baby will reside in the nursery that's been updated slightly since Emily's departure.

For those of you who have been reading my blog since Emily's arrival (and for those of you who haven't), here's a reminder of what the nursery looked like when it was her's.  The main differences now is a new rug, new curtains (we actually got even NEWER curtains since the below photos were taken--they are all navy now) and some different wall decorations:

Emily's new "big girl room" is where most of my energy was spent.  She already had her toddler bed, but needed a dresser, bookshelves/case, some organizational stuff, and some kind of seating... so I got to go shopping.  =)  We kept the curtains from her nursery, just moved them over, and reused the same rug.  I found a great little dresser on a FB sales group and the bookcase from IKEA.  I even got to pick out a new paint color for the walls!  I wasn't sure what to do about seating, but was able to find a slipcover that worked for the chair that was in there when it was still Jacob's office.  So that worked out, too!  We did all of the painting and most of the furniture stuff back in August when Emily spent a week with her grandparents, and then we moved her in a couple of weeks later.

I think my kids have some pretty cute, comfy, cozy rooms if I do say so myself.  ;)  Now it's time to change up my own! lol

False Alarm =(

Last night I started to feel kind of weird.  Around 8:00 in the evening I started to feel some "indigestion" (kind of like how I feel when I eat too much dairy), but I didn't think I had any reason to be feeling that way... and "that way" is very similar to how I felt right before I realized that I was in labor with Emily.  So, I put myself on alert and started to pay close attention to what was going on with my body.

Around 10:30 I was still feeling "weird", but nothing really special.  Some slight cramping, but nothing regular to time.  So, after filling in our doula and making sure that Jacob's mom (who would be coming over to hang out with Emily when I go into labor) was on stand by, I decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep.  By that point my lower back/tailbone area was a bit achy, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

Somewhere around 2:00 am I woke up.  Not really sure why I woke up, but I realized that I was having contractions.  Not the Braxton hicks ones that I've been having for weeks, but actual contractions (and in the FRONT this time.... I was so realized as the entire time I was in labor with Em the pain was in my back).  I clocked them for about 20=30 minutes, trying to decide if it was the right time to wake up Jacob and get the ball rolling.  They were coming at about 4 minutes apart.  They weren't overly painful, but they were definitely there.  Jacob finally shifted/rolled over, giving me the opportunity to wake him up NOT from a dead sleep and the ball went into motion.

Last minute hospital bag stuff was packed, Nana was called to come over, pull out bed was made for her, doctor and doula were both informed of the situation.  Left for the hospital.  Still having contractions, still not overly painful, but there. 

We got to the hospital a little after 3:00 AM and got check in to a room.  I got gown-ed up and the monitors were attached to my belly.  The monitors were picking up the contractions, but they had backed off and were irregularly coming 5-8 minutes apart.  The nurse check me out and my cervix was still REALLY high, and I was barely dilated. 

One of the most disappointing feelings in the world to be sent home from the maternity ward.  I was definitely HAVING real contractions, they just weren't progressing anything else, so we were told to go home, get some rest, and monitor my progress.  I managed to get a couple hours of sleep when we got home, and by the time I got out of bed around 8:00 AM, the contractions stopped. 

So, so, so bummed out right now.  =(  I'm 39 weeks and SIX DAYS... it's TIME.  =P

38 Weeks!

38 Weeks

Size of baby: According to BabyCenter, you’re about the size of a leek (not really sure how big that is)

Total Weight Gain/Loss:I'm doing my best not to think about it.  Everyone keeps telling me that I'm huge/ready to pop though... which really doesn't make me feel all that great about things.  My brother's asked if I was bigger this time around than I was with Emily.  I don't know as I haven't really been photographing my "progress" as I did the first time around, but, by everyone's comments, I'm starting to wonder if I'm looking like a freakin' house. lol

Maternity Clothes:Yup... and even they are starting to get a big tight/uncomfortable.

Gender: It's a BOY!

Movement: Lots of stretching and shifting. He definitely makes his presence known.

What I miss: Alcohol! lol  Of all the times in one's life not to be able to drink, this is the time that you REALLY want to.

Sleep:  It pretty much sucks.  I'm waking up every couple of hours.  I'm pretty sure that I'm having BH contractions which is causing me to either a) wake up, or b) have to pee really bad due to the sudden pressure to the bladder, causing me to wake up.  Either way, it sucks and I just want to sleep.  I REALLY hope I get a decent nigh tor two in before he decides to come.

Symptoms: Same old, same old.  Plus, now I seem to be getting heartburn.  This was not an issue with Emily, so I really hope that the old wives tales are true and this means that the little guy is going to have HAIR! lol  It took Em FOREVER to get her locks, I'd really love to have a little guy with some killer hair.  ;)

Cravings: Pretty much same as it's been.... hamburgers and other meat products.

Best Moment this week: Not really sure... just knowing that it's getting close.  And the fact that we've been getting our house cleaned up/organized has been pretty great. 

What I am looking forward to: Maternity leave!  I have one week of work left.  I'm pretty pumped.  =)

Photos!

Almost a year ago I won a silent auction at a fundraiser for a photo session.  I decided to cash in on that session for some family/maternity shots.  I LOVE the results!  Some of my favorites below!

(c/o Jessica Kirkland Photography at The Oregon Garden).