35

35
Is the number of weeks pregnant I am today.  What?!  I feel it in my bones that I'll go post dates, buttttt I know there is always the chance that I'll go early, which means really anytime between now and the middle of July is baby #2's birthday.  And me?  I can officially join the circus thanks to my elephant cankles.  The same miserable swelling plagued me 3 years ago (and worse last time, if I'm being honest)...  but man, oh man... it's hard with a toddler.  All I want to do is crash after work, but dinner, soccer, bathtime, bedtime... woof!  I am getting a prenatal massage the first week in June and I CANNOT WAIT.

This is about a week ago... dirty shirt, yes.  Extra large belly, yes.  CANKLES LIKE WHOA?  YES!

Over the weekend Adam installed shelving into the formerly dysfunctional closet (hate hate hate wire shelving units!).  I didn't have anywhere to put baby clothes due to the lack of space and furniture in the nursery... so I was just sitting around, waiting to wash Reid's old baby clothes.  And I was getting impatient.  And naggy.  But!  Adam worked hard and the shelves look GREAT and I washed the clothes.

>>Side note.  About half of the teeny tiny I-can't-part-with-ANY-of-these baby clothes had gross yellow stains all over them.  I swear I washed them before storing!  It must be a common thing since I found a ton of resources online about how to fix the problem.  I followed this easy advice with my trusty Kroger brand oxy clean that I use on diapers.  The first almost 24 hour soak just about sealed the deal, but I wasn't satisfied with the "bringing home baby from the hospital" onesie, so I did another 16ish hour soak.  Success!!!  The CFO of the family (Adam) will be very pleased.<<

Adam and I are taking Hypnobirthing classes this go around through Roots Wellness.  I am planning a VBAC, have hired a fabulous doula (who I spent a fun day with at the Columbus BirthWithoutFear conference a couple weeks ago), and we will be utilizing a birth photographer (but will also pop in for some newborn shots with the ever so talented Ivory Lamb Photography).  I am back at LLL meetings, have an order of fresh (newborn sized!) cloth diapers to pick up from Samozrejme in Troy, and my stash of PP cloth pads are stacking up nicely.  :)

But who cares about all that?  I know you're here for the pictures.

Reid turned 3.  THREE!!

Reid's first soccer game went something like this...

Grammy taught Reid a song about "tall man" and he LOVES showing us "tall man."

Reid's second soccer game went something like this...

Curly.

3 year wellness appointment...  and Reid insisted on wearing my BirthWithoutFear nametag/lanyard.

Park play date with a blue lolly and a handsome boy.

Seven more days of school.  That is all.

Baby #2

Adam and I have been (not really that) busily working to get another nursery ready for this summer.

The room slated for boy #2 (nameless at the moment) is tiny.  It was originally an office, then a guest room, and now, a tight little nursery.  It's still a work in progress--Adam is about to start a little DIY/ reno on the closet following the ideas from this blog I follow and this blog too (with an update here). The nursery isn't finished (need to add some shelves/ wall art/ big rug/ other stuff), but it's not unbearable at this point either... so from my iPhone camera roll I give you nursery #2!


Upon entry... The chair is from Reid's nursery, the curtains are currently tied so Lucy can look outside, the table was found at Hobby Lobby by my mother-in-law (it's perfect!!), and lamp is old.

The picture (a wedding gift) is from a local artist and is of the church Adam and I were married!  I am not planning to leave the current artwork up, though it actually looks matchy here in this picture.

The wooden star was a gift from Shlie, my BFFAW.  It's been in there since the guest room was happening.  The crib was Reid's.  All of the bedding, except the Alligator quilt and white receiving blanket were also Reid's (all from PBK).  I got pretty lucky in that Reid's bedding has LOTS of colors, and we can reuse while still making the room new.  Reid's room is darker (walls are chocolate brown) with red and navy.  This room will be tan, with white and navy, and some green.

Another view, a little closer.

Confession:  I was linked to Saranoni through a blog I follow and then through Instagram.  I saw the prices and thought hookay, maybe not. Then I saw a "warehouse" sale posted, and I followed the link to some totally reasonably priced luxurious-looking blankets.  They showed up on the doorstep last week, and ohmygossssh.  I cannot express the soft amazingness of these blankets.  Cannot wait to use them (or steal them for myself).

This is the other "mini" Saranoni blanket we purchased.  The white dream blanket and cozy blue blanket were Reid's, and also amazing.  You can never have enough Aden + Anias!

We don't have room for a big dresser (like the 6-drawer matches-the-crib one in Reid's room), so we got this smaller one at Ikea.  Looks like the changing pad is just going to fit.  The drawers are already filled up with cloth diapers... and only about half our stash.  We will have to be creative about storage in this room!  The mirror will be hung right above the dresser.

The closet.  It had builder-grade white wire shelving, which I despise... so Adam ripped it out.  As I said, he's in the process of renovating it to include some better shelving and sturdier rods for hanging clothes.  Oh, and Noelle, there's your pump!  Want to trade that beast for the Ergo and ringsling? :)

I think she's salty that her front window is partially blocked.

-------------------------------------------------

And not nursery, but Easter pictures from today and yesterday.  Sneezy McSneezerson below.

At the park right behind our church.

Matching shades from Grandma and PopPop.

Counting eggs with PopPop.

Sending selfies to dadda (sans make-up... yow!)

Confessions...

...I just ate Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream, straight from the tub...

... (because) I lost the battle of bedtime and Reid is sleeping on the couch...

... and it's after 10pm...

... and I gave up snacking after dinner for Lent...

... oh, and I'm 25 weeks + 5 days pregnant.

The End.

XOXO, 

Julie

PS: bring back the blog or let it continue to slooooooooowly die??  {{discuss}}

Quick and Personal Update

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we have been trying for baby #2 for a while now.  I was under the (clearly false) assumption that since my body had been pregnant once before, it would happen more quickly (and easily) the second time around.




Nope.

We headed back to our Reproductive Endo at the beginning of this month, and luckily he was on board to start with what worked for us last time.  No months and months of fertility drugs, testing and trying out different concoctions and amounts.  We started off, on the day of our consultation, beginning meds, blood work, an SHG (similar to the HSG I had a couple years ago) and planning an IUI for the next week.

I'm now in the last days of the two week wait.  The horrible, crazy-making, roller-coaster TWW.  I'm 11 days past IUI and so far, nothing to be seen on a pregnancy test.  So basically, unless a miracle happens (like a late implantation), we'll be looking at starting over in the next cycle.

Boo.  Hiss.

TTC and TTLW

You should know what TTC means (and if you don't, just google it.).

I'm also TTLW.  I made it up.  It means Trying To Lose Weight.

I'm hoping two things.  1.) That I lose weight, and also gain a baby bump.  OR 2.) That I lose weight.  I obviously want #1 a WHOLE LOT MORE.

I am approaching an all time high in weight.  It's annoying.  I have never been tiny or petite, but I was athletic in my youth.  I was ALWAYS on some kind of team (swam on a swim team for ten years back in the pool rat days) and attended sports camps all summer.  I was the kid with tan lines and events tattooed to my palm. Now that I'm 32 (right?  I can't really keep track anymore) I just want to sit and eat do nothing in the three spare seconds of my day.

And because all good diets life plans summer goals start on June 1st, today I logged my semi-healthy start on MyfitnessPal.  If you want to follow me, my name is julieeconley.  Original, right?  I'd LOVE to lose 20 pounds before school starts back up.  I'd also like to be pregnant.  Fingers crossed for both???

38 weeks, 3 days

Today is my last day of (school) work until October 22nd.  Wow!  I'm going to miss my 6th grade dream team.

I didn't get a chance earlier to post my 38 week pictures, so here is a little montage:

  

   

Yesterday Adam and I went in for our last check up before baby.  I was checked internally to see if I was dilated.  I was not expecting it to be any different than an annual exam kind of check.  Whoa buddy, I was totally wrong.  I won't get too graphic... but it was definitely much more... intense.

And disappointing.  After the OB finished spelunking in the baby cave, she proclaimed I was exactly ZERO centimeters dilated.  Nothing.  Zilch.  Nada.  Unless something happened between then and Monday night, I would be starting from scratch, which would probably mean a loooong labor.  Her words, I believe, were, "be prepared to spend a few more days than planned at the hospital.  Your labor could be 48 hours."  Awesome, right?  

So the plan is this:  Go in Monday night at 8pm.  After I get settled in they will apply a gel (dad said some kind of algae??) that will ripen my cervix.  Tuesday morning, around 5am, I will start Pitocin, with labor starting soon after.  The OB said that if I go through a day of Pitocin without enough progress, they will either start over with gels and Pitocin AGAIN or go to c-section.  I'm praying for a little natural progress this weekend (I did around 2 hours of exercise ball bouncing last night) so that we don't have this super long labor.  I guess we'll just have to see though...Perhaps if you're the praying type you could send a little prayer out my way for a speedy, safe, and healthy delivery in the next few days.  :)

By this time next week I hope to be cuddling my baby boy.  Maybe I'll even post a picture for you all.  :)

37 weeks, 5 days

We are finally (almost) finished with the nursery!  All that's missing are a few little details and...well, a baby.  :)

Also, the pictures were taken with my iPhone, so they aren't super great... lighting isn't working for me.  But you can get the general idea...

"Baby" made by Ashlie.

Doesn't my Boppy look like a "C" for Conley?

I love this amazeballs chair.   

Lucy is looking for the perfect spot to hang with her little brother.

View from the chair.

Another view from the chair.

Some of my newborn diapers.

Some diaper accessories.

As I said, there are still a few little details to add, but for the most part this room is ready to go.  I can't wait to spend some (okay, a lot) of time in here with our little man!  8 days until induction!!

   

37 weeks, 4 days

Letters from Pa (Part IX)

Saturday April 21, 2012

Dear __________,

You have to love the element of surprise! Keeping your identity secret is one of the most impressive things I've done in my life. I've never been one to keep secrets and we've been keeping you secret since Christmas. That's right, we picked your name on Christmas morning, cool little slice of trivia, eh?

Today has been a productive day. Well, the past month has been a productive month, to be honest. Your mom and I have been able to hang out a bit, take some longish weekend drives, get things in order, and stay busy enough to keep our mind off of how our world is about to blown to pieces (in a good way).

I'm on call all day today through tomorrow morning, so I'm getting to watch a lot of TV, finish up tasks/chores, and relax a bit. Last night, I got a pizza for the family. I mowed the yard before the rain came. I put out a fire in a back yard. I cleaned the inside of my car and washed the windows just in time for it to rain.

I'm off now to finish cleaning the kitchen and then downward to the basement. The delivery people came today with your glider... as soon as I get the shelves hung, your room is complete!

I have to get going. Kick some more for mom, it keeps her sane!

Love,
Dad

37 weeks, 3 days

Letters from Pa (Part VIII)

April 20, 2012

Dude (get it, bro?),

So, upon seeing your face on Tuesday, I can't tell who you look like, but I do know that you're not a wooly mammoth (unless tusks develop out of the womb). As your mother has kindly mentioned on here, you're not going to have a 5/8/2012 birthday. May Day it is! I learned that you will share (provided you don't arrive early) a birthday with Tim McGraw and Dann Florek (Captain Kragen from SVU). Isn't that kind of lame? I mean, May 1 seems like a pretty cool birthday and the second-best famous person born on your birthday is a C-minus list actor on a watered down drama.

Since learning that slice of information mid-day yesterday, I've come to decide that you definitely have great things in store for you!

The years that lead up to making a baby, you'll always wonder... 'What will they look like?', 'Will they have my personality?', 'Will they laugh at my jokes?', 'What will they be when they grow up?', 'Will he pee on me?', 'Will they lie to me in seventeen years when I find 850 extra miles on the odometer one weekend?'.

Where I'm getting is, you never think negatively about your future when it comes to kids. It's true! Yes, there have been times in my life that I've speculated about my own demise, this happens once you become an adult... you go from all the hopes and dreams of your childhood and reality sets in. Then you hope you don't become some destitute nomad wandering the streets in a seedy neighborhood in West Philadelphia, panhandling and eating cold dinners at the rear of a two-star Italian restaurant. (Not that I ever saw myself doing that... you know, in general).

The memories of my childhood through teen years are still vivid in my mind. Not a day goes by that I'm not in awe of how quickly time has passed. I remember your great-grandparents when they were your grandparents age. I remember your grandparents when they were new to the game, much like Mom & I. Just yesterday, I recalled the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and the Branch Davidian incident, being seventeen and nineteen years ago, respectively, and I can still tell you exactly what I was doing on both of those serene spring days. Those years are lifetimes for some people!

Around the time of those incidents, I spent countless hours honing my jump shot in the driveway after school. I envisioned myself as a 6'8" swingman one day, earning a scholarship to UNC (the Buckeyes weren't too good in those days), and ultimately arriving in the NBA, sporting the #44 for my beloved Boston Celtics (who were also a joke at the time). Yes, at one time, my dreams saw me reach the pinnacle. The lottery jackpot for a storied basketball franchise. I could ramble off my stats and awards (Rookie of the Year, Finals MVP, 3-point shooting champ at the All-Star game, Humanitarian awards, etc.).

I held on to this dream much longer than I should have. In my eighth grade recognition ceremony, I subtly mentioned that I would be an FBI agent (along with nine other students at BLMS), just so I didn't appear to be a dreamer in front of hundreds of parents and peers. (I never seriously considered a career in the FBI).

Around the time I reached high school, I came to terms that the odds of the storied basketball recruit would go by the wayside, but still held out hope that I could become a walk-on at a mid-level school... maybe a BG, OU, or heck, Ball State?! I learned through these formative years that I was much better at golf, and POOF!, I was now morphing the dream into being a PGA professional.

Sparing you the details of that dream, let's just say, the first time you and I hit the links, you'll see why I never cut it as a serious contender on the Tour. I have come to learn on my nearly 1/3 of a century on this earth, that these hopes, these dreams, as silly and far-out as they seem... they're what keep us going.

You're now my hope and my dream. I don't know what that entails. I would love to see you excel at everything you do. It would be so cool to fly in your own plane. Or walk through a state-of-the-art building you designed. Or watch your first big league at-bat. Or hear you play a piano in front of your first big-time audience.

These past 37 weeks have made me realize that no matter what, when I hear that first cry... I'll get to fulfill a lifelong dream (and I'll probably cry too).

Love,
Dad

37 weeks, 2 days

So we have a bit of exciting news here in the Conley household:

Baby will be here NO LATER then May 1st.

!!!!!!!

We had our weekly checkup on Tuesday at exactly 37 weeks. At the previous appointment baby measured big, so the OB scheduled an ultrasound for this last appointment. Adam and I were both excited as anytime we get to see our son on tv is pretty amazing. We were not disappointed, and although the image was hard to see (because he's big and space is limited now), we could clearly see chubby cheeks and pouty lips--so cute!

And then the ultrasound tech gave us a weight estimate.

At 37 weeks, the tech was guessing 8 pounds. EIGHT POUNDS. As if that wasn't shocking enough, she followed the comment with, "plus or minus a pound.". Oh, so he could actually be more like NINE pounds.

Daaaaaaaaaaang.

About a half hour later we met with the OB, who walked in holding the ultrasound pictures and an I-feel-bad-for-you look. I guess she noticed my obvious panic over possibly birthing a 15 pounder, because she suggested that we induce at 39 weeks.

Phew.

So now we have our last appointment, where I'll be checked to see if anything is happening naturally. Then on April 30th we'll head to the hospital in the evening with the actual induction early the next morning on May 1st. Yeah!

On the same day I told my students that I'd be leaving them a week earlier than expected. They didn't really respond, they just sort of looked around. I found out later that they've been planning a huge surprise shower for me, which was supposed to occur the week of April 30th sometime. From what I understand, this has been in the works for weeks, parents are involved, food is being made, decorations... A huge ordeal. In the end they told me about it and Adam and I will be making a special trip in on Monday (April 30th... Same day we will go to the hospital) for a student-thrown shower. How stinking cute is that? They made a comic on our class blog to announce the surprise... So sweet!

And now for the super big baby bump picture. This was taken on 37 weeks, 0 days.

36 weeks, 6 days

I've been pretty comfortable through this pregnancy.  Sure, I've had heartburn, headaches, and obnoxious leg-ankle-foot swelling... but really not major complaints compared to what some go through.

Sometimes I feel like my life, in general, is just like this.  I mean, there have been hiccups of time where things seem pretty bad.  But overall, I've had a pretty good life.  Especially right now... and I'll be honest, I'm a little afraid to say this out loud (out typed?  typed out?  meh)... but I've sort of got the white picket fence thing going on.  I have a good job, my own house, a stellar husband, and a dog.  A frigging golden retriever at that!

... and the teeny pessimist in me is just waiting for the logic of reality to vomit all over me.

So maybe I'm asking a lot, but say a little prayer that my white picket fence doesn't fall over.  Please?  I'm closer than ever to our nugget-baby's birthday and I desperately want everything to go well.  Pain-yes, I'll take it.  I'm positive I can handle it, maybe even appreciate it, with the fantastic prize I'll get at the end.  Then I can really say I have it all.

PS- THIRTY-SEVEN weeks tomorrow, full term, and getting an ultrasound.  Hip hip hooray!

36 weeks, 4 days

This picture is really from a couple days ago, (36w, 1d I think).

People are asking if I feel ready.

YUP.




Have I mentioned how much I love my husbie?  Not only does he scrub off the thick layer of black grime that accumulates on the bottom of my feet after a day in flip flops, but he then rubs my feet down with CJ's BUTTer every single night.  He is a saint.  I love him.





I took some pictures of Goose today too.  Poor thing really doesn't know how much her world is about to be rocked.  Isn't she cute?

That is all.  I'll probably post again tomorrow after we go down to Park & Vine for a cloth diaper workshop. Squeeee!

35 weeks, 2 days

I didn't post a picture at 34 weeks, so here is 35 weeks, 2 days pic.  33 days until my due date... 4ish weeks... omg.

Since it's spring break, I've been busy getting ready for baby.  Yesterday Adam and I met with a photographer here in Springboro.  We're really excited about taking our little nugget for newborn pictures.  Check out our photographer's website: http://www.sweetbloomphotography.com/

I also organized the nursery closet and prepped all my cloth diapers.  In all, it took me a full day plus the next morning to do all the wash and organizing.  Here is a picture of (part of) the end result:

We also got our car seat... and I realized our diaper bag matches is perfectly.  I didn't do that on purpose, but I'm pretty happy about the coincidence. :)

Now I just need to officially pack my bags, clean/pack up my classroom, and wait for the dresser/ chair/ shelves to arrive... then I can have this baby.

Thirty-four weeks, six days

Letters from Pa (Part VII)

Monday April 2, 2012

Dear (name we're still not sharing),

You have been quite the little booger lately. I will say more cooperative than in the past, but every time your Mom beckons me over, you stop your wiggling! The past couple times have been neat, although I can't tell if I'm touching your head or your posterior. To be honest, putting pressure on her belly freaks me out. I don't want to hurt you.

This week is spring break for your mother (translation: I need to monitor on-line banking like a nuclear reactor on the brink of meltdown) and I hope she gets everything accomplished that she sets out to do. Funny how our 'down time' now revolves around you as well. Wednesday night, we will be doing a photo consultation for some of your newborn pictures and then Thursday night, I get to learn the in's and out's of breastfeeding. Sorry to let you down, but that's going to be Mom's department.

This is also my spring break week too from my class. Unfortunately, I booked everything I haven't been able to get done since January into a five day sliver of time and I'm hoping to at least get 70% of the work done.

Your room is shaping up rather nicely. Still waiting on the odds and ends, but you can live in it. I bought you some 2012 Topps baseball cards last week. I need to put them in a box so you can bend them up about this time 2017. Wasn't a great bunch of cards to be honest... there was a Jeter, Johnny Cueto & Mike Leake (current Reds) and an assortment of mid-level dudes.

Your shower that I got to attend last Sunday was really cool. Had a lot of your family members there and, unfortunately, we opened all your stuff. We have a ton of books we get to knock out over the summer!!

Mom and I took a little day trip down to Cincinnati yesterday and one of the stores we were in featured kid-friendly things to do around the area and in the states that surround us. I had such a good time picturing where (and where we won't) go.

I hope you enjoy amusement parks... we live just up the road from a good one. I think this summer, we'll stick to exploring the neighborhood, but next year at this time we're going to zoo it up, museum it up, riverboat cruise it up, etc.

In the waning weeks you have left in utero, I ask one simple favor: please ease up on Mom's bladder. It increases our water bill every time she flushes. If it continues, I'm holding allowance for awhile.

Love,

Dad

34 weeks, 6 days (36 days to go!!)

I am in the middle of cleaning house on this gorgeous day, but thought I'd stick a few pictures up for your viewing pleasure.  Happy Monday!

The lamp that will go on the dresser.

Updated crib... BABY letters will go on one of the shelves once they're on the walls.

Lucy in front of the crib, practicing her guard dog-ness.  See the lamp in back?  That's temporary (I hate that lamp).

All our teeniest clothes and hats.  As soon as the current load is finished, it's wash time.  Am I supposed to separate them into different piles (darks, whites, etc.)?  I better read the labels...