37 weeks 2 days

Everything looked good at my appointment today. I opted not to have a cervical check this time even though I've been having some cramping, I didn't have time this week, but I'll probably get checked next week just to see what's up. My uterus is measuring a little big at 38 weeks, which is new for me because B always measured exactly to date. This baby definitely feels bigger. Heart rate 138 bpm...the hr has usually been slower than B's was, so if the old wives' tales are true that means we're having a BOY (or maybe a very mellow girl!) We don't have long to wait...

New look

I'm successfully avoiding my to-do list by messing with my blog.

Folding

B's a pretty good little laundry folder (note how she uses one to wipe her nose--better than using her fingers, I guess!)

Extreme nesting

I'm officially nesting, using any and all energy I can find to cook, decorate, clean, and cook some more. I never got the second-trimester energy boost this time around (OK, that's just my excuse for being really, really lazy this summer) so I've found myself with tons of to-dos late in the game. Time for some frenzied productivity.

One of my main goals is to have a bunch of meals frozen. Heading into basketball season with a newborn and a two-year-old, I just don't see myself cooking much for the first few months. In the past 10 days or so, I've made several lasagnas, manacotti, enchiladas, chicken-red pepper casserole, baked macaroni and cheese, three quiches, and black bean, split pea, and white bean soups (I know I'm forgetting some!) The best part--I'm using foodsaver bags to freeze and store the soups flat so they freeze and defrost quickly and evenly (a trick I learned from freezing breastmilk!) and now I have my own little card-catalogue of labeled soups. This absolutely thrills me beyond words.

Halloween decs

Homegrown pumpkins from mom's garden

I put up our winter drapes and "installed" new tiebacks today. I say "installed" because it's just some neat ribbon from Dwell, held in place with some cup hooks. A nice $10 project. :)

Baby's room--when we tell people that I don't know the baby's gender, their first response is often "HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE ROOM?" Some people seem very concerned about this. So, folks, here it is, the mysterious gender-neutral room, unveiled. :) It's the Pottery Barn Kids stuff we used for Bianca which I still love, punched up with some red accents.

So now, my remaining to-dos are:

Install car seat bases

Finish birth plan

Final meeting with doula

Buy hospital snacks and pack hospital bags

Assemble bassinet for our room--this one I'm REALLY putting off because that thing is complicated

Reassemble swing and bouncer

Locate breast pump and replace some of its parts

Locate receiving and swaddling blankets

OK, who am I kidding, I still have a lot to do.

Shiltin's Pumpkin Patch

This weekend grandma, Laura, and Israel came with us to Shiltin's pumpkin patch near Lacey. Steve had a coaching clinic all weekend and couldn't join us, but we did bring our very own giraffe. :) Her costume was warm and toasty, perfect for the fall weather. Bianca loved the petting farm and wanted to visit again and again. One of Bianca's best buddies, my brother's cat Rascal, came from Shiltin's years ago--John fell in love with the kitten at the petting farm, and they said he could take it after the weekend (this was probably ten years ago). So the kittens at the farm may be Rascal's distant relatives. Bianca wasn't in her best mood, still feeling some aftermath from her cold/flu bug, but we had a good time. Oh, and our front porch is now loaded with pumpkins!

So many pumpkins, so little time!

Trademark goofy grin. Bianca is a "gooseball", as she says.

Laura and Israel find a green pumpkin.

36 weeks

Today at my 36 wk appt, the doctor had to do the routine Group-B step test, so I had to strip from the waist down. Once I was up on the exam table covered in the sheet, B decided she wanted to be just like mommy--so she stripped down too. :) The doctor returned to the room to find two bare-bottomed ladies. The doctor thought it was really funny--she had another good laugh when she found the Elmo sticker B had put on my belly earlier that morning. I'd forgotten all about it. Bianca likes to decorate the baby's home from time to time. :)

Deuce looks good! I'm counting down the days--getting a wee bit uncomfortable.

Bianca the cat whisperer

Nearly every night, we have to take a walk around the neighborhood to visit all of the local cats and dogs. Bianca has lots of neighborhood animal friends--whether she's throwing a ball for Edgar the Corgie or petting Jasper the cat, they recognize her little footsteps and come out to play. :)

Marching up the neighbor's steps to pet their cats (fortunately, we have really nice neighbors). :) She asked me to tie this scarf on her so she could "walk like a kitty"--it can be either a leash or a tail. :) We have a creative girl.

Using her toy camera to take pictures of the kitties.

Teaching Sylvie about bugs with a library book. Sylvie's not the greatest student.