Baby Shower

This past weekend, Jack had his first baby shower hosted by mommy's best friends Amee and Madeline. Emilee (Ashlee's soon to be daughter)was the fellow guest of honor. Amee and Madeline threw the most beautiful shower. It was us four girls and our four moms which was so fun as we have been best friends for 15 years and I truly feel all their families are my family. I honestly don't know many people who can say they have had their best friends for as long as we have. What is as equally amazing is that Hannah has had three built in best friends practically from birth and now Jack is due just two weeks before Emiliee so they can be best friends too. We love to joke that two of them are sure to date at some point, the kids will always have back up prom dates, and at some point Hannah will no longer be the tallest and instead be surrounded by big teenage boys with facial hair and deep voices. Crazy. Anyway back to the shower. I felt so blessed and loved and it was fun sharing the memory with Ashlee. Madeline and Amee made the house look beautiful with white flowers, china and the cutest 'shower theme' decor. They did a brunch which was absolutely delicious. Both mommies had seconds. The babies got spoiled with tons of gifts and I had so much fun showing Hannah when I got home and putting everything away.

Clean with a side of Crazy

Maybe it's the fact that I hit 30 weeks which makes me feel the need to step the baby mode into high gear or maybe it's just my innate genetic traits, but today I officially went crazy. It all started with the arrival of my 'boy' car seat cover in the mail. Hannah's infant seat is pink so I ordered Jack a custom cover. I figured it was the least I could do as I'm sure Hannah will make him suffer through playing house, painting his nails, princess parties, brushing his hair, etc. At least he can say his mom didn't make him ride in a pink car seat. Anyway once it arrived, I wanted to put it on to see if it fit. Makes since right? Ashlee, Amee, Madeline...my fellow type A sisters I know you get me on this. If you've read "If you give a mouse a cookie" my day went kinda like that. One thing led to another and another and another. I couldn't put the car seat on until we cleaned the car seat (it's been sitting in a dusty garage for 2 years now. That meant I'd be throwing the top piece into the wash and if I was going to be doing laundry anyway I figured why not also take out and clean the high chair, baby swing, baby tub, baby play mat, boppy cover, etc. Basically all things newborn came out of the garage into my living room and had to be cleaned asap. All this just to see my new purchase. At the time it felt necessary, now I feel like a crazy woman who has a swing in my living room, high chair in my kitchen, car seat in the car, play mat in the playroom, tub in the bathroom all for a boy who will still be cooking for 10 weeks. But, that is what was done. As I did the laundry of all things fabric, I put Tim and Hannah on the patio with a bucket, sponges and toothbrushes (For those really hard to reach places) and put them to work cleaning. Hannah thought the activity was a blast. I'm pretty sure Tim thought "Seriously? This is how I'm starting summer?" Anyway I know it's a bit crazy, but I feel good that everything is clean and out. It makes me smile to sit on the couch next to my unused baby swing because I have memories of Hannah and now I'm already picturing Jack. Not to mention, it seems really good for Hannah to get used to all the stuff. She was so cute pushing the swing and singing 'rock a bye baby.' When we took out her old 'bee friends' activity mat I told her how it was her favorite thing and she kept saying how she was going to show Jack how to use it. Can you believe the batteries still work. The music alone made the memories of Hannah come flooding back. Hannah keeps touching my stomach and saying "Jack big now, take him out to play." Anyway, yes I'm slightly crazy, but I've heard weirder things then babies coming early. It happens people and this Momma is ready.

Bump Watch: Month 7

First I need to give Tim a shout out and wish him a very Happy Father's Day. Hannah and Jack are so lucky to have a Daddy who loves them so much. Thanks for being my team mate in this crazy adventure of parenting. Hannah loves going to 'regular' park, doing water colors, horsey rides, going on dumbo, bowling, and being silly with her Daddy. You're the best and we love you. As for me, I have reached 29 weeks. I had my doctor's appointment last week and learned that I passed my glucose test. Yeah! Everything is going very smoothly which means the blogs aren't all that thrilling, but that Jack is growing perfectly and mommy is healthy. At 29 weeks, Jack is roughly 2 1/2 - 3lbs. and 15 inches long (these are general measurements not actual 'Jack' measurements.) 77 more days to go...CRAZY! This is also my last week of work before summer. Next time I step through those work doors, I'll be a mommy of two.

Bump watch: month 7, week 29

3rd trimester

I can't believe it but I have reached the final trimester. It honestly feels like Christmas morning was yesterday and I was sharing the news. Overall the second trimester went great. I feel good and everything has been smooth. Hardest thing is probably the heartburn and carrying a 30 pound toddler on top of the extra weight. I feel really good though and hope for three more months of smooth sailing. At the end of the second trimester, total weight gain is 14 lbs. just as a comparison i had gained 8 at this point with Hannah. current craving is in and out. On Tuesday I went for my glucose screening which checks for gestational diabetes. I failed the first panel with Hannah so Im a touch nervous. It's basically 2 1/2 hours of sitting in the lab and you get your blood drawn three separate times. You fast and then drink a very sugary liquid. Personally I don't think it tastes bad. It tastes similar to orange soda but some woman can't stand it. They even warn you by saying if you throw up you have to go home and reschedule. Those must be the really healthy woman who rarely eat sugar and therefore their body is in total shock. Sadly my insides probably don't even flinch. I'll thank my mom and grandpa for that one. No results yet, will obviously share when they come in. Today Tim and I went on our hospital tour. I know it's easy to forget but Hannah was born at sequoia hospital in redwood city. Jack will be born at Hoag. It feels good to see where to park, what floor to go to, etc. nothing like an ocean view room to deliver your baby. Don't get too use to it little jack after one night (yes that's right thank you Obama who has never given birth. You now only stay one night) you will be returning to rsm. The rooms look great and the hospital is beautiful. I per registered and everything is starting to feel real. Getting excited jack!

Bump Watch: Month 6

Today I hit week 25. Only 2 more weeks and I am in the final trimester. Crazy how fast it is going. This past week we celebrated my 29th birthday. I also had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. Everything is going smoothly, Heart rate was still in the 150s and when she put the Doppler on my stomach, he kicked so hard it startled the doctor and she pulled her hand away. Jack has been moving and kicking so much which is fun. At 25 weeks, the baby is finally starting to put on some baby fat and measures about like a Zucchini. Fingerprints are completely formed and unlike any one else in the whole world. We are getting really excited to see what Jack looks like. People ask Tim and I all the time if we think he will have curly hair like Hannah, be big like Tim, have blue eyes or brown eyes and I just don't know. All I can really picture is Hannah so I'm so excited to see. But for now, you must settle for seeing a month 6 bump pic.

V DAY

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers that inspire me each and everyday. You know who you are and I love you. It's not an easy job, but it's the most rewarding job in the world! I feel so blessed to have the best mom in the whole world and I feel so blessed to have the coolest kids ever. In addition to Mother's Day, it is also 'V-Day.' In baby land this is a big day. It stands for Viability Day. Little Jack is 24 weeks and can officially survive outside of the womb. We obviously want him to grow much much bigger, but it's pretty amazing to know our little man is capable of so much already. Baby Jack is now the length of a ruler or to continue with the food reference picture an ear of corn. Big sister Hannah weighed in at 28lbs. at her doctor's appointment last week and loves drawing pictures of baby Jack and kissing mommy's tummy. Jack, we are off to Disneyland today to celebrate, but Mommy will be thinking of you!

Hi JACK!

Four weeks ago Tim and I went to a special ultrasound place to determine if baby Jack had a cleft palate. They were pretty confident everything looked good, but wanted him to grow a little more and then do one more double check. Today Granny, Hannah and I went back, and the doctor said she got a view of the palate three times and it looks great. Having a child go into surgery is one of the hardest things in the world. Anyone that has experienced it knows you would do anything to take their place and yet you are helpless. So even though cleft is fixable and in the end not the end of the world, I am so grateful we will not have to hand over another baby and sit and wait while you know they are being cut up. Dr. gave Jack an A plus. With a 30 year old Daddy who's had open heart surgery, they also carefully identify each valve and make sure there are no defects. Exact words were "beautiful heart!" Yeah! all great news. Oh and yes, he is still a boy. Other fun facts, Tim felt Jack kicking for the first time last week which is always exciting. My latest craving is cream cheese. YUM and we registered for a few essentials. I will be 23 weeks on Sunday. At 23 weeks baby is the size of a mango. More accurately, based on today's measurements, Jack is 1 lb. 1oz. You can see in the 3D pic he looks like a baby now, but is super skinny. I feel so blessed and now that we have a name I feel so much closer to him.

All curled up: He saves the kicking for bedtime usually. I love the little profile. I hope he has Hannah's cute little 'Uncle Tyler' nose.




3D Picture. I like how his little hand is up. Hannah kept waving to him. The blob on the left side is my uterus.