37 weeks PHOTOS

I am being lazy. I admit it. I don't feel like cleaning up my messes. It is cold. I 'needed' some 37 week photos. Who knows. Maybe there won't be any more week photos? I need to look if we have a remote for the camera and if so, I should get batteries (a little late to be thinking of it, huh?).  Here I am today. Wearing a favorite skirt. One I will be kind of sad to stop wearing. The sweater vest is one of the very few things I bought for this pregnancy. I hope I can wear it after! Maybe take in the sides some and wear the belt lower?

37 weeks

The weeks are actually flying by!

No photo of me today. I had planned to stay in bed until say 9:00 or 10:00 (or realistically until little man woke up). However, I heard hubby's alarm and could not sleep anymore, even though I did not fall asleep until around 1:00 am.

I had a rough weekend. Some of the details are posted on my other blog.  After the weekend, my weight gain is only 15 lbs! I am sure I will make up those 7 lost pounds in the next few weeks.  Half of the time I was hoping I would go into labor, so I would have double pain at once, get it done with, but the other part of me was scared of going in labor and not being able to handle all the pain. I was wondering what they would do with me if I went in labor and was so sick.

Today is a much better day!

I even made another step today towards being 100% ready (with what I can prepare). I bought ribbon for the doopsuiker boxes. What I need to do is print the names on the announcement envelopes. What I want to do is make a meal list from now until my due date and then an idea list for when mom is here and then fill up the fridges and freezers before she comes. I still have a stick I would like to hang up, but am not sure where.

Last week I organized a lot of things. Nesting? Maybe. Mainly the motivation of this organization blogger.

Today I went to a 'no-clue-now-to-translate-it' appointment. Physiotherapist? She is the one I went to for back/neck troubles, but I also visited her after Mateo's birth for exercises to help get back in shape. My doctor prescribed 1 or 2 sessions with her before the birth. I didn't know what the appointment would entail. It ended up being that she just talked to me about going into labor, gave some techniques and we talked about my last labor experience and some of the breathing exercises. I actually just sat in the chair and we talked. It was nice. A refresher.

No name yet. Although it was a hot topic on Sunday. I think I heard over 100 suggestions...I thought we agreed, but then apparently we didn't, then we did and then hubby started coming up with new

suggestions.





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Baby Girl // 36 Weeks

Wow, we made it this far! Our cousin was born at 36 weeks last year. SO, the hospital bags are packed, the favors are *nearly* done, the announcement is designed, Mateo's gift is bought, his Big Brother shirt is out AND her space is ready to welcome her. There are some finishing touches to do, but I am happy with it so far.

At my appointment on Friday I had gained 10 kg. Half of what I gained with Mateo! SOooo I am feeling encouraged that I won't gain another 10 in 4 weeks.

What I am noticing this week is how hard it is to scoot up to the table to eat. Does that stop me? Not really...I just drop more on my clothes.

I have read that at this point the baby has less space to move around, so you don't feel them as much. Well! I am finally starting to feel her a lot. It is nice. It seems every time hubby tries to feel, she stops moving. He did discover if he talks to my belly and puts his head there, she will kick him.

Here I am this morning when I dropped hubby at the train. I look tired, go figure.  Well, I think I just look funny. I'll blame the camera. BUT, I look smaller than normal. Again, I think it is the camera.

Mateo // 26 months

Mateo is going through what some may call 'terrible twos.' I actually don't like to say that, because it sounds so bad, but maybe it helps 'normalize' some of the troubles we are having.

He is mostly nice, but then out-of-the-blue he snaps and goes crazy.  I am glad that hubby has also experienced it a few times, so he doesn't think I am exaggerating.  Basically he wants to be the little boss and do what HE wants to do. If I tell him something else, he starts acting up.  I get that it is normal that he wants independence, but I also know that I can't let him turn into the little rule-maker at home.  I still find distracting him is the best way to deal with things.  Maybe it sounds wimpy, but I can't be disciplining the entire day, especially when I am not sure if it works.

He loves to be outside and away. That is where we have a lot of conflicts. Every time we come home, he acts up. Normally he tries to run away from the house and refuses to climb the stairs.

Also, we have had a week where he decides he doesn't want to sleep. I don't think he is scared, I think he just wants to test us. I wish he could more clearly communicate :)

Besides some of those issues, he can be very fun!  He loves his little bike and can do very well on it. We went on a half an hour walk and his little legs were pushing the entire time.  I find that he is pretty talented with his Duplos. He actually builds things and remakes things that we make for him.

I have a feeling we are reaching a breakthrough point with his vocabulary! He always has mimicked sounds, but every day he is copying words and phrases.  Today when we saw my SIL, he said 'Toria!' (her daughter, one of his besties is named Victoria) I have tried several times for him to say it and he never would. In the store this morning (it was so precious) he was taking down all these really cute baby girl clothes and saying 'kijk, wat mooi' (Look, how pretty).  He keeps saying either 'weg' or 'where'. Often!  'Pak' is a favorite command of his.  My goal is that he says something for 'grandma' by the time she arrives in a few weeks.

It seems to me that he is also relatively advanced with knowing directions. Not sure how to describe it. I also don't have any other kids, so maybe he is not, but I am always surprised when he recognizes places.  When we are driving by his aunt's, or walking or on the bike, even from a different direction, he starts saying her name. When we go to the city where hubby takes the train, he starts saying 'papa' when we are a few streets away and when we are still on a main street on the way to Oma's, when we turn (can't see her house) he starts calling her and best (or worse?) is that he knows the way to our house. I just wish there was some way I could really test him. To let him loose and see if he could walk there alone.  As mentioned above, he normally starts protesting when we are a few streets away, because he knows where we are heading.

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.