The Birthday Night

"Wow...this is all for me?"

Blowing out the number 2 candle...

Digging in!

Her new guitar from Dada. Aunt Rachel teaching her some chords.

Cute cousin Maggie!

She's got her guitar strapped on and ready to hit the road. Hobo style.

Maybe she will just hang around and play for us : )

We just had a small little get together with Travis's parents, Grandparents, sister, and Maggie. It turned out to be a great little celebration. Memory brought the most fabulous ice cream cake and cupcakes. Lexie seemed to really like the fact that it was her turn to blow out the candle! Big thanks to everyone who came and celebrated our little girl's special day.

What a Birthday! Our little girl is now 2..

She got this adorable coze coupe car from Papa Louie. Let's just say she was more then a little excited when she saw my mom bring it in (the day before her birthday.) She stalked Travis while he was putting it together in the garage and kept trying to get in the car as he was working on it! She woke up on her birthday and headed straight for it. She has enjoyed giving rides to all of her stuffed animals and dolls. She hasn't wanted to come out of that thing. Such a sweet gift- thanks Papa Louie!

Trav was able to take the day off and in the morning we headed down to Lacey to play at Charlie Safari I don't know why we haven't been there sooner. They have a number of inflatable jump houses, a HUGE climbing fort with lots of slides, a toddler gym area, and cafe. It is by far the CLEANEST kiddos joint I have been too. Also, it was only $3.95 and no charge for mom and dad. We will be back for sure.
Lexie had a blast and there only a handful of other kiddos there. Neicy and Nana Shar met us there too. Lexie had fun bouncing with Travis and Neicy- they are both in fabulous shape to keep up with her, the climbing tree fort alone looks like a total workout! We had lunch at the little cafe inside and she opened gifts from her generous grandma's. It was a perfect way to start the day! Thanks for meeting us there Neicy and Nana Shar!

Goal: 37 weeks

I had an eventful 36 week appointment last Thursday. The nurse greeted me by telling me that my Group B Strep test came back positive. She went on to tell me it is really no big deal, just requires at least an hr of antibiotics during labor (before delivery) and maybe an extra day (2-3 full days) stay in the hospital to monitor the baby for any signs of infection. She also explained that there was nothing I could or couldn't do to prevent it. GBS comes and goes in different levels in just about all women's bodies and it is not harmful except for giving birth without knowing that you have a higher level of it in your system. This explains why I tested negative with Lexie and positive with this one, you just never know at what level your body is at. That is why they wait to test all pregnant women at the end of the pregnancy. She said 3 out of 10 of their OBGYN patients end up testing positive and it is just a routine, no-big-deal kind of thing.
That said, I begin doing what any 36 week preggo would do- FREAK OUT! No just kidding, but my mind did start racing, mostly around having extra medical bills with an extra day stay in the hospital. You would think the nurse would give people this news before taking their blood pressure. No, not the case. She checks my blood pressure and (shock) it is high. After a few minutes of calming down it was down to totally normal (125/84.) I kindly told her maybe she share that with patients after the BP check.
Then doctor comes in and checks the progress. He calmly tells me that I am almost completely effaced, dilated between 1-2, and cervix looks very soft, like I could go anytime. Yikes! The "almost" completely effaced part kind of got me since I had Lexie 5 hrs after being completely effaced last time. He said to take to the couch over the next week and try to make to 37 weeks (Thrusday- Oct 1st.) The concern being the babies lungs, they usually aren't a go until the 37 week mark. More then likely if he was born now, he would be small but fine. Nonetheless, we would all feel better if we hit the full term mark.
So I have been doing a lot of 'relaxing." It really isn't in my DNA but I know it is a must do. Luckily our friends and family have helped a lot. Lexie had a great time with Trav's family at the fair on Saturday. Trav and I sat around the house and it felt so weird to not have our little monkey around. We missed her but knowing that we will soon have 2, we savored up the peaceful adult time : ) Today my mom came up and cleaned my bathrooms and wore Lexie out- what an angel.
So that's that. Here ends my streak of non-eventful, boring doctor's visits. We laugh thinking I will have to be induced at 42 weeks or something after all this hype.
More updates coming soon on Lexie's 2nd birthday.

35 weeks

5 more weeks till D-day!

I thought I would update on how my appointment went last week (34 weeks.) Baby boy seems to be doing good, his heart rate was in the 130's and I am measuring right with the due date. I have gained 17 pounds now and if this pregnancy is anything like the last, I will pack it on at the end. I just can't quite keep up all my healthy habits for all of the pregnancy, I start giving in to the idea of eating for 2 about this time. Maybe because I know I won't have that excuse for long!

The doctor also wanted to check to see if I was dilated since I was having some serious and pretty regular contractions over Labor Day. I was so relived when he told me that I wasn't dilated but that the cervix is starting to shorten (which is fairly normal for about this point.) He also did the standard test for Group-B strep, so I should find out the results of that next week. I am praying it comes up negative (like it did with Lexie) otherwise it means an extra day or 2 in the hospital after delivery and antibiotics via an IV during labor (to protect the baby.)

We are really hoping and praying this little guy holds out till October. I think I will feel much better after I make it past Lexie's Birthday (the 29th) and to at least October 1st which would put me at about or a little over the 37 week mark. This would eliminate the fear of having them share a birthday, which really wouldn't be the end of the world. Also, I know it sounds crazy but I am really hoping for at least an 8lb baby. Reason being, Lexie was 7lbs 8oz/ 21.25 inches long (over 2 weeks early) and left the hospital down to 6lbs 10oz....that was just scary to have a baby so tiny! I know I need to be careful what I wish for and I will regret it during the labor process : ) My doctor said that parents weight at birth is often a good indicator of how big a baby is. I was 8lbs 2oz and Travis was tiny because he was born about 7 weeks early...so we shall see! All that really matters in that he is healthy, no matter what day he comes or size he is.
I start going to the Dr now every week so i will update again at 36 weeks.

Do the Puyallup!

What a difference a year makes? Last year at the fair, Lexie wasn't even walking, talking much, or eating solids : ) This year she was all over it! We made the mistake of entering right by "kiddyville" and she asked to go on the rides. I figured she might go on the train and carousel but didn't know if we could even get away with it (since kids are supposed to be 2 to ride.) Well, she ended up going on many more rides and then some even...gasp...by herself! Yes, mommy (and daddy) were almost in tears. She is getting so big! Here are some pics of the rides:

Started off with a nice little train ride, she was too cool to look at Mommy.

Then went with Daddy on the biggest slide in Washington- no big deal- it was only over 100 steps to the top : )

Next up a Harley ride, which went WAY faster then we anticipated, she loved it.

A horse ride with Dada at dusk.

Her favorite, the car. Daddy kept a close eye on the little boy who was driving around with her.

She also loved the animals, especially the petting zoo and baby pigs. My favorite moment was when we were in a quiet, not crowded cow barn and a little 4-H kid turned up some country music and Lexie started clapping and dancing. Too precious!

MOOO!

Petting zoo with Dada-

She was so gentle with the goats.

Dancing in the barn to country music.

yummm...the Dairy Barn! Like mother, like daughter.

Whidbey Island

Trav got off early on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend and we took off to spend a night at Whidbey. Our little girl really enjoyed the ferry ride over. Once we got to the property, she made herself right at home in Nana and Papa's nice new trailer. She was ecstatic when Maggie showed up later that night. This kid loves camping and we will have to go a lot in the coming years, when mama isn't getting up to pee 5 times a night : )

GO SEAHAWKS!

We got 2 great pre-season tickets from a mission's fundraiser through our church. Trav and I thought it would be a great thing to do before the new baby came. A few weeks before the game, we found out that we would actually be getting 3 tickets- Score! So we asked my Dad to join us since he hasn't been to the stadium and has always been out of town when Trav seems to have tickets in his hands.
What a beautiful night it was in Seattle. We got there early enough to do some fan shopping and hot dog eating. The seats were great and the Hawks took down the Raiders. There weren't many starters playing but nonetheless, great talent on the field.
Lexie got to stay behind and her generous Aunty's (Becci and Rachel) offered to babysit her. This is really the first time, she has gone to sleep (at night) without Trav or me tucking her in. I don't think she even missed us! Makes me feel better since we will be leaving her for at least 1 maybe more nights while we are in the hospital.

We had to get these little cheerleader uniforms for Lexie and Maggie. Travis taught her how to cheer, "GO SEHAWKS!!" It is adorable!