Nesting Projects & 38 Week Belly Pics

OK Baby, we're ready for you! Amazingly, I just about have all my nesting projects finished, which is unheard of prior to a baby's arrival (at least in my experience). So, I must be missing something! But, in the meantime, I will share the completed projects!

Some of these projects have been in the works for awhile so I'm excited to finally post some of the "in the process" pictures.

Henry helping to assemble one of the many pieces of furniture purchased in the last few months . . .


Henry just loves working with tools and is surprisingly very good at it!

On my birthday (wayyy back in May), Nate and Henry took it upon themselves to surprise me by putting together the bassinet. We didn't use one of these with Henry and he was an awful sleeper as a newborn, so our hope is this will be money well spent. I know, I know, but at least it makes us "feel" like we have some control!

Henry helping with the assembly process . . .





Henry going "Night Night" in the bassinet basket and checking out the closet in his new room. It was very exciting at first, because that is where the ball pit balls from his 1st birthday were stored. It is much less exciting now filled with clothes!



And Henry checking out his "new" bed. Technically we bought the same exact crib as he had in the nursery, but it felt new to him! And we felt a little crazy buying another crib when he was already 2, but since he's never once tried to climb out and sleeps so well in it, we decided not to change up his routine! And the bright side is it converts to a toddler bed, so it should grow with him!



And the finished product of Henry's new room!!







And the baby's new room (we decided to give it a whole new look so Henry wouldn't feel like it was his old room. And because Mommy decided she wanted a change!). . .







The finished bassinet, just waiting for baby!





To prove we're still waiting, here are the 38 week belly pics . . .



And these have nothing to do with nesting or the new baby, but Grandma and Henry just looked so darn cute in their matching outfits I couldn't help but share the pics!



And the wait continues . . . :)

36 Week Belly Pics

Since I'm 37 weeks as of tomorrow, I really should be posting 37 week belly pics. However, I was slow posting the 36 week pics and I don't have any from this week, so here they are.



Even though my due date is still technically 3 weeks away, 37 weeks is considered full term for the baby. This is exciting because not only would I be happy to have the baby any day now, it's comforting to know that whenever the baby does come, it should be fully developed and healthy.

Although I'm uncomfortable and ready for the pregnancy to be over, I feel fortunate that for the most part I have had a very healthy pregnancy. The only issue to come up has been low platelet counts which has meant I've had to get blood tests quite frequently. Luckily, while the counts are lower than average, they have still been well above the levels that would prohibit an epidural during labor. More importantly, my counts, while low, have stabilized and do not affect the baby. For those that are curious, apparently low platelet counts occur in a small percentage of pregnant women for no reason really. It's just something to watch and be aware of so they don't dip too low. This is just one more reason I am thankful to be full term and anxiously await the arrival of our baby boy.

Since Henry was born at 38 weeks 1 day, I am preparing for this baby any time now even though my due date isn't until July 13th. We'll see what actually happens, but my back pain and lack of sleep at night has definitely pushed my desire to have an early baby again! That and my belly is already bigger than it ever was with Henry so it's making me nervous there's a big baby in there! :)

And so the waiting begins . . .

Birdies!!

On Monday, Henry and I met up with our friends Jenny & Benjamin at the zoo. Ben slept in his stroller for most of the adventure and Henry explored as far as I would let him. He only lasted in his stroller for short spurts, but he did a good job of walking next to the stroller when I gave him his freedom.

Looking at the zebra and giraffe exhibits (although he was most excited about the vultures in the giraffe habitat and the ducks swimming near the zebras). . .





Showing Benjamin all the fun climbing spots at the zoo he'll be able to explore once he's mobile . . .



And an impromptu hip twist dance on the viewing platform. I don't think the pictures do it justice, but I couldn't videotape it in time.



Pointing out all the different "ducks" in the bird exhibit . . .





And since he enjoyed the birds so much at the zoo, we took a trip to my Uncle James and Aunt Robin's house today to check out all their chickens. Henry was a bit nervous at first (although to be fair they were pretty noisy and almost his size), but he warmed up to them quickly.

Checking out the baby pheasants (only a few days old) with my cousin Paul. . .




It took quite a bit of convincing to get Henry to pet one, but once he did he was very gentle and loved the experience.





Watching the baby birds under a warming lamp


Getting a good look at all the chickens . . .



And James even helped Henry feed the chickens! Unfortunately Henry got his hands inside the cage and got a peck on the hand from some of the chickens. But, after lots of Mommy snuggles and reassurance, he was back to feeding the chickens (although from a much safer distance).





Checking out the eggs he helped gather . . .



And relaxing inside with snacks and Looney Tunes . . .



And my main purpose of posting this last picture was because I couldn't believe how huge my belly looks in this picture. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised, because I have gotten quite a few odd comments recently. For example, while in line at the grocery store recently, a guy asked when I was due (because it must be any day) and I thought his jaw was going to drop open when I said my due date was still a month away. Instead, all he managed to say was "Whoa". Yep, whoa. Always flattering for an 8 months pregnant woman. :)

Hopefully a better belly picture is coming soon . . .

Henry Tidbits and Belly Pictures

Henry is quite the busy guy these days. It's always fun to see the wheels turning in his head as he comes up with new ideas.

Pushing his Thomas chair into the corner to create a quiet little reading corner. Where else can a toddler search for Waldo in peace?





And he's very particular about his eating these days. His current spot of choice is a booster seat in Daddy's chair (well, what was Daddy's chair). Bibs are unnecessary at this point, but if he does agree to wear one, he has to pick the color. And most of all, don't try to help him too much or the meal is over! While it's frustrating not being able to help him, it also makes me proud to watch him learn to do things himself.



He also loves to do art of any kind. We picked up this easel from Ikea last weekend and before it was even fully set up he was yelling, "Color! Color!" Guess he figured out what it was for!



He's also been happy to help out with my nesting/spring cleaning projects. He was a big fan of helping me pick out flowers and fill the planters with soil, but he was a bit upset that I decided to put the new flowers in his new found digging spot. "Out! Out!" He kept saying about the flowers as he stood by the planter with his shovel. Unfortunately he lost that battle, but luckily he seems to have gotten over it.



I've even started sorting through all of Henry's old clothes. The process pretty much consisted of unpacking a box, holding up the tiny outfits and denying that Henry could have ever been that small and then putting them into different piles. I'm not sure I've made any progress, but I suppose it's a start? Definitely wishing I'd sorted these better as Henry outgrew them but then that would take the fun out of nesting.



And my 30 week belly pictures to prove how necessary some serious organizing is . . .

Baby Boy 2 at 20 Weeks

At my 20 week prenatal appointment we got to see the baby again. I was so happy with how the ultrasound turned out. The tech was having so much fun with the ultrasound that she even surprised us with some 3D pictures. I may be a bit biased, but I think we have another pretty cute little boy! As far as the appointment, everything looked really good. The baby is about 1 pound and is even measuring 1 week ahead. That may mean nothing at all, but to me, I'm hoping that means he is a week early. :) Dangerous thoughts since he'll probably come late out of spite, but I can't help myself.

And here are the pics.

A nice profile with his hand in front of his face . . .



Another profile . . .



And now the 3D ones. Here he is profile with his hand in front of his face . . .



A little more of the face snuggled up against the hand . . .



And another profile. . .



Besides trying to pick out names, we're trying to guess whether he'll have blond hair and blue eyes like Henry or dark hair and eyes like Daddy. Only time will tell . . .

We're having a . . .

Boy!! We found out this last week that Henry is going to have a little brother! We are so excited and loved watching him on the ultrasound. Here are some of the pictures . . . Here he is with his back to us and you can see his spine . . . And some profile pictures . . . And a little wave . . . Unfortunately the 3D ones didn't show up that great, but this one isn't too bad. You can see his face is looking down with his hand next to his head . . . And, to prove that there is in fact a baby bump, here are my 17 week belly pictures (the shadow makes it look a little bigger, but you get the idea) :) . . .

Coming Summer 2011 . . .

Baby Reagan II! That's right, Henry is going to be a big brother! The first trimester was a bit rough, but I'm starting to get more energy and am not feeling as sick. The baby is due July 13th and we'll get to find out whether it's a boy or girl at the end of February. We are so excited and couldn't be happier. Here are some pictures of the baby in December . . . This one is a bit harder to see, but it's a top view of the baby with the hands together in front of the face. . . I don't think Henry really understands what is happening, but we're excited for him to be a big brother! And of course the announcement wouldn't be complete without a Big Brother photo shoot . . . And trying to put the lens cap back on the camera. Guess that's the end of the shoot! . . .