Baby Girl // 35 weeks

 

Once again a selfie...

 

Monday hubby and I went to an information session at the hospital that talked about labor and delivery and ended with a tour of where we will be in a few weeks. I mainly wanted to go, because they redid the labor/delivery floor since last time. Now you are in the same room the whole time, instead of switching rooms when it is time to push. It looks much better in daylight and when the sun is shining! Plus, there seems to be more windows and the scary-looking doors have been replaced with friendlier looking doors.

 

I decided I am more scared about giving birth this time around.  Every time we go for a check up, the doctor asks if we have questions. I never do. But this time I do. After some of the information I reheard on Monday, I want to know what pain killer options there are. Last time I had an epidural and it was wonderful. Maybe a little too good? I did not feel anything. Medically I know that is bad, but I had a lot of pain after, so I figured it balanced things out.

 

What I am wondering now is if having the epidural and laying it bed could be a reason my labor was so long? Or was it the midwife's fault who seemed to just leave me there overnight to wait. Hubby and I were both surprised to hear the midwife giving the presentation talk about how they are there to talk you through and help you come up with ways to deal with your labor. We both were surprised, because with Mateo the midwife we had from 11 pm until 7 am did nearly nothing. It was only when the next one started her shift, that I started getting help.

 

So here is where I come up with a dilemma. My back really hurt for probably at least a week from 'sitting on' the epidural needle for so many hours, but I think I would have gone crazy if I had been without for those 8 hours! (that was not my total labor, I started having contractions at 10am)  I am will get some advice from my doctor. We will just see how things work out. I am hoping for a great midwife like the one who was there when Mateo was born! That will make a big difference, I am sure.

 

Onto a nicer topic...Saturday we went to Ikea in The Netherlands to get a much-waited-for dresser. It matches my much-waited-for bed that we got last year. The plan is when we eventually move, the dresser and bed will be in little girl's room. Right now the dresser is in our room as her changing table and the bed is the guest bed in Mateo's room.

 

I went and bought envelopes today, so I can get the names and addresses on them already for the announcements.

 

Hospital bags are out, partly filled and the list is on the computer of what needs to be done.

 

I can't remember if I mentioned that I am sleeping better with this pregnancy than the first. A PLUS. Another PLUS is that I can still wear my shoes and wedding ring. With Mateo I had to stop wearing my ring around 33 weeks.

Baby Girl // 34 Weeks

Now I feel like we are getting CLOSE. Well, sometimes it seems that way and other times it seems so far away still. I have gained 19.5 pounds. *Yikes* 4 lbs in the past 2 weeks! Just what I was afraid of. I am scared of gaining at that rate for the rest of the time. If I am over due, I can end up with another 15. Oh, well. I try, some of the time, to behave. Eat well and bike. This month I have done 42 miles. Aiming for 50.

I sewed this maternity, yellow skirt last week. I LOVE it. It is so comfy and matches with tons. I am trying to wear it for a week. Let's see if I can manage...

Mateo thought the timed photo option was great fun!

My plan is to finish the baby's space in October. I am going to pack tomorrow. Or at least make a few lists. I realized I should have a bag for Mateo packed also in case the baby is early. If it comes before my mom comes, he will go to Oma's.

I keep getting a really tight belly. I am not sure how it is described in English-hahaha! I do NOT remember it happening so much with Mateo. It is then hard to walk normal or move around. I get it throughout the day.

I have not had any cravings this pregnancy that I can think of...and I do not have to get out of bed as much for visits to the toilet at night *knock on wood*

Until next week!

33 weeks

Time for another update. I keep wanting to post more bump photos, but they are harder to take with the 2nd than with the first. Why? I think I figured it out. With Mateo I seemed to have more energy. At this point in the pregnancy, it was also summer, which meant more light, so there were more opportunities for hubby to snap a few shots. Nowadays, I basically jump out of bed, throw on whatever and take hubby to the train. Later in the day I get around to putting on a normal outfit and doing my hair.

It is suddenly hitting us that we are almost there! Some people have their babies unexpectedly 4 or 5 weeks early. That means in a few weeks we could have a little one! I hope she stays put a while longer. My mom is supposed to arrive the 1st of November, so it would be perfect if she was here to help out with M when the little one is born.

I feel pretty ready, all things considered. Some example birth announcements arrived in the mail today and I like the one and can order online some matching tags for the boxes. I just need to go get some boxes and fill them with candy. It is a project for October I decided.

I sleep basically every day. When Mateo takes a nap, I take a nap, even if it is only 10:30. I NEED more sleep. I do not remember this with Mateo, being soooooo exhausted.

Yesterday I told someone I now really feel pregnant. I think I started waddling.

We got some frustrating news a few days ago from our insurance. Apparently I did not work enough hours to get my maternity leave! This was a very unpleasant surprise. I went today to try to talk to them and it did not go well. I was literally boiling after talking to them. I called hubby and we contacted another office and will go tomorrow. There is a chance they can recalculate including the time I have been home and then I can start being paid in October. It will still be 2 months less, but at least it will be more than €0.  I am trying not to think too much about it, because I can not do much about it today.

PHOTOSHOOT

Once again, I am sharing another Shutterfly creation. When I dropped Mateo off to get babysat with Stephanie, she mentioned she might take a few shots. Wow! What a surprise I had when saw the photos a few days ago. I LOVE how she captured Mateo's personality. Since Shutterfly is having a special until Wednesday (free 8x8 book with code SUMMERFUN), I HAD to make a book ASAP for his grandma. Stephanie is most likely coming to my part of the world next month. If you are interested in booking a session, let me or her know! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Steiner-Photography/167995713294134

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

25 months

Mateo is 25 months now. His new words are 'nina' for 'trampoline' and 'mine' (not exactly what I wanted him to learn...)

Look how skinny he's got! He LOVES playing with Polly Pockets

Mateo is having a rough time sharing right now. I read all about it on babycenter.com this morning and am slightly comforted that it is perfectly normal at this stage. What is probably not as normal is that he may start hurting the other child to get what he wants. Someone say bully?

We gave him his 2nd major hair cut last week. He sat so nicely until the very end. Then he decided he was finish with it, so we could not give the final touches to the side, but I think it looks cute.


Haircut

I was sitting watching him play and then I noticed he was at the top of the slide. Yes, my just 2 year old can now climb UP the slide.  He also was watching a group of youth play volleyball, so now he throws the ball above his head and tries to hit it again.  He has also created his own version of table-tennis. I don't know where he got the idea, but he makes one of us play with him, he hands us a soft bowling pin and then we have to roll the ball back and forth with him, hitting it with the pin. It is so cute!



This was probably right before she started crying. She spent the night 3 nights.

Gift Ideas

When people ask what I need or want, it is hard to say.  I either can't remember or I can't really describe it.  I decided I will post on here as I come up with ideas.

Mobile - I am going with a bird theme. The walls and crib are gray, so I am matching that with pink, yellow and turquoise.

Bird Mobile

Bird Pillow



Bird Decoration



I could probably make it, but am not good at cutting.



Another mobile idea

Blanket - I just went wild with finding photos of blankets.  I thought to make one, but doubt I will get to it.  I have in my head that I want a gray/white chevron blanket (possibly with quilting). Out of cotton, so it is easy to wash. I like the idea with a yellow edging, possibly coral and the other side to have some kind of dainty print or be pretty pink or yellow.  Here are some of my ideas.


Dots + Chevron=CUTE



Gray+Yellow+CUTE



My favorite design, but with other fabric

Girly-girl pacifier clips. Here is an example.

First Year Calendar. Here are examples.

Month Onsie Stickers

Baby Girl Headbands

Ikea Gift Card


My official birth registry here is at dreambaby.be

Lijstnummer:	453370
Paswoord:	BPS8041

30 weeks

Today marks 75% of the way! I think I have gained around 15 lbs so far. Decent. I just hope to keep it down these next 10 weeks.

30 weeks

What's going on these days? I feel big and people like to say how big I am...

My plan was to start getting ready for the baby after we got back from Prague. I figure if I do a little each day, by the time the baby is here, we will be ready. I am a planner and like to be ready way ahead so some may seem funny to some and normal to others. I figure I am basically ready in case there were an emergency.

The bed was still set up in our room from Mateo. I always had one in my room and one in his. I suppose soon we can move the bottom up *reminder to put on list*.  I have a bag with some newborn outfits from Mateo and some of my smallest onesies and a blanket, plus a bag pulled out for me with some nursing stuff on top, so I figure I am almost packed for the hospital.  The car seat/bassinet/stroller are all ready to roll.

Look at all those layers, base, car seat, newborn head support, leg cover, special blanket cover + plastic

My new stroller set for #2. I am excited about it! Mainly because the car seat has a base for the car.

 The playpen bottom has been raised and the toys cleared out. Mateo needs time to adjust to the fact that he is not allowed in it anymore. 

Canopy to still come

My birth registry is started.  Needs to be edited. (Lijstnummer: 453370, Paswoord BPS8041)  Speaking of gifts, I find it hard to make a registry, because I have so much already.  I also don't want people to spend much on something I will rarely use or don't need. I am putting some things on the list for Mateo and splitting up the biggest item in a few parts.


I received tons of clothes from our aunt, so baby girl won't go naked the first 6 months. They are sorted in boxes/bags.
Baby girl's 'space' is not how I would like it, but I can't give hubby too many projects at one time. Maybe 1 thing/week until she arrives.



Creative to-do list for hubby.

No name, but who has a name at 30 weeks? Okay, okay, I know some do, but we don't...

The only thing I don't feel is ready is the doopsuikers and birth announcements.  I am lacking inspiration for them. I should start looking online for ideas.

How am I feeling? Ok. Pretty good some days and so exhausted other days. I am so glad I am done with work. Now I can basically do what I want, when I want. It is getting more difficult to sleep. It seems that I wake up every time I need to turn over. Even if I am tired, once I am woke up in the morning, I can't fall back to sleep. I try to take a nap every day.