Farewell to the 4Runner

Only a few more days left with my 4Runner...we're going to pick up our new car tomorrow. It's bittersweet. That was the first car I bought all by myself. I even took the poor salesman on a test drive to my parents' house, I think he was nervous. I've had the car for 8 1/2 years and so many memories were created in that car. I started dating Shane, got married, moved into our first home and brought home two babies from the hospital in that car! It's been a wonderful 122,000 miles with not a single problem. Farewell my friend :-)

Weekend with Sissy & Butsie

Shane and I spent last weekend downtown while Sissy & Butsie stayed with the boys. We packed a lot into our short stay: a dinner at The Pelican Club, a visit to Harrahs, 6 hours at the Racetrack, a Hornets game, Shane ran a half marathon and then brunch at Mr. B's. It was a lot of fun, but exhausting, too!

Saturday night, while at the Hornets game, my sister called and said that Chase was standing on the bar stool and fell off and split his chin open. After lots of phone calls, we decided not to take him to get stitches and to use sterile strips and skin glue instead. His chin is starting to heal, but we still have to be very careful and make sure he doesn't hit it and split again.

Thanks Lindsey & Butsie for an awesome weekend away. When can we do it again :-)

Chase's Prayer

What we've been up to...

I had another doctor's appt today. Everything with the baby looked great. I'm almost 28 weeks along. I've gained a total of 20 lbs and my belly is measuring right on target (26.5). I go back in three weeks for my next check up and another ultrasound. Only about 12 weeks left until due date!

Things around here have been crazy as ever with Ethan in full swing of the "terrible twos". He has quite the temper and is extremely rough. He loves to climb everything and is talking up a storm. He is our little wild man with a strong personality. He may be trying but he is quite the comic...he's so goofy!

The boys sharing a pallet
Chase and his dinosaur party

Ethan has been quite the handful lately. He is always climbing everything and then calls for me when he get stuck.

3rd Trimester!

Today makes 27 weeks, the beginning of our third and final trimester!

I've been experiencing a lot of lower back pain and last week it got really bad. Although I told my doctor I didn't think I was contracting, she sent me to labor and delivery just to get checked since I had preterm labor issues with Ethan. Everything checked out great with the baby: no contractions and no dilating.

However, the back pain continued to get worse, so I ended up going to a chiropractor yesterday. While examining me, he pinpointed the exact location of my pain in a matter of minutes. He said due to the extra weight of the baby, my spine had compressed and all my lower vertebrae shifted to the left (or something like that).

The chiropractor said it looked pretty bad. He put me on some heat and adjusted me then told me to ice, heat & stretch as much as possible and to soak in a warm bath. I did everything he told me and still went to bed in quite a bit of pain last night, but woke up this morning feeling a bit better with more mobility. I went back to him today and he adjusted me again and said that my back was already starting to look better. He thinks by the time I go back on Monday, I should be feeling pretty much back to normal. I guess I'll have to continue to see him throughout the rest of my pregnancy just to be sure it doesn't get that bad again.

I don't know why this pregnancy has been so much harder on me, but the chiropractor did mention to me about three different times that "Being pregnant at 32 is not the same as being pregnant in your 20s". Seriously, he's a man, what does he know about being pregnant?!

Anyway, here's what's going on with me and baby:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

As your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.

My Big Boy!

A picture of Chase as happy as can be just relaxing on the sofa watching Princess and the Frog on the "Big TV" as he requested. I had just tucked Ethan into bed, so Chase can finally enjoy the movie without Ethan jumping and screeching all over him. He looks like such a big boy, but still loves his LuLu!

25 Weeks

Well, we're now 6 months pregnant (25 weeks) and glad to be more than halfway through this journey. This third time around seems to be much more difficult on me. I fatigue very easily and my circulation issues are pretty awful causing me much discomfort. Keeping up with Chase and Ethan has been pretty tough, but we'll be holding our newest addition soon enough.

Here is my 25 week progression picture. To be honest, this was taken in the morning. My end of the day belly is a MUCH different story...I look 2 month bigger. Baby weighs about a pound and a half and is very active, especially at night time.
My 20 week progression picture taken about 5 1/2 weeks ago.

Perhaps another Hugh Hefner in the making?

Chase sleeping with all his LuLus

January 2011

After all the gifts Santa brought, Chase and Ethan have been most entertained by playing with the extra sheets. One night, it entertained them for hours. They were full of giggles.

Sweet Ethan

Chase fell asleep in our bed one night while Shane & I were watching tv in our room. We couldn't resist taking some cute pics with our big boy!

Recent Pics

This is how Chase fell asleep on Christmas night, with his "Big Jessie" that Santa brought tucked right next to his Woody. He was so happy! Chase and Ethan sporting their new Batman pjs!

Hanging out with their cousins, Max & Evan. Chase really bonded with Max this trip, he followed him around like a little puppy. It was pretty cute, and Max didn't seem to mind him tagging along. We hope to visit with them again soon!

Progression Pictures with Chad

Every pregnancy, I have taken a progression picture with my brother-in-law, Chad. Most often, he ends up winning the belly contest, but in his defense, he has yet to pop out a kid, so it's got to be huge, ha!

32 weeks pregnant with Chase:
23 weeks Pregnant with Ethan:

21 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #3: