Introducing Colt Emerson!!!

Compared to my last labor and delivery, I am very happy with how this one turned out. With Clay, I had a very easy labor and delivery, but I wasn't very happy with the way that it turned out. I was knocked out (because of an Ambien) for half of my labor, and then I was almost taken in for a c-section. At 7 pm, they told me that, and at 7:15 pm when they came to take me to the OR, I had gone from 2 cm (after being at 2 for almost 5 hours) to a 10 in 15 minutes. So I was able to deliver Clay vaginally. So I was glad for that because I wanted to be able to deliver Colt vaginally too, but I also knew that the possibility of a C-section was there because I had such a hard time dilating with Clay. But that isn't how it went at all. Thank goodness.

On Tuesday I went for my last doctor's appointment. She informed me that I was still 1/2 cm dilated and 25% effaced. She wanted to start labor on Thursday, but she wanted us to go in on Wednesday and be admitted so they could start Cervadil. Cervadil is a little device that they put inside of your cervix to help ripen and soften the cervix. Some people can go into labor on their own with this device, but most people don't. But it is a starting point before starting the Pitocin. So on Wednesday at 3 pm, we were at the hospital and taken to our labor & delivery room. I changed into my hospital gown and climbed in bed. At 3:15 pm, our nurse, Lori, hooked me up to the contraction and heartbeat monitor. After that we waited. L&D was very busy while on Wednesday and Thursday. At 4:42 pm, she came in and started my IV, but she didn't hook anything up to it just yet. She just wanted to go ahead and get the needle in so they could hook up the saline and stuff later on.

At 4:57 pm, Lori came in and put the Cervadil in my cervix to start trying to soften it. I figured that it would hurt, but it didn't. Thank goodness. But after so long of being in there (it has to stay in for 12 hours), it did start getting uncomfortable. And having to go to the bathroom and hold my gown, my monitors and cords, and make sure that thing doesn't fall out was definitely a chore. But I managed with much help from Robbie. At 6:00 pm since I hadn't started having any contractions from the Cervadil, they went ahead and let us order dinner. So I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate chip cookie. And for hospital food, it was actually really good!

At around 2:40 am on Thursday, I woke up, and I was having some pretty good contractions, but nothing too close together, and nothing like "real" labor contractions. But I still couldn't get back to sleep, and I was very uncomfortable. I knew that once I started real labor, I would want to be well rested, so I woke up Robbie and had him call the nurse (Josey) for me. She came in at 3:05 am and gave me Stadal (and yes, I am probably spelling every name of every medicine wrong) for the pain and Finnagren to help with the nausea that the Stadal can cause. Then she mixed both of those together with some saline to keep it from burning when she put it in the vein (where she had the IV needle started). Immediately, I felt my face go numb, and I could barely talk to Robbie or her, and I fell asleep. But not for long. It started wearing off, and I was up at 4:50 am. Which was good, since they were about to come in and take the Cervadil out.

At 4:55 am, Josey came in and took the Cervadil out. She checked my cervix, and I was 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. So at least the mild contractions that I was having during the night had done some sort of progress. So I was excited about that. It took me forever to get to 2 cm with Clay, so I was ecstatic that I was already there with Colt. At 5:15 am, Josey went ahead and hooked me up to the IV and had the saline started and put the pulse monitor on my finger. Since I had progressed so fast with Clay at the very end and went from 2-10 cm so quickly, Josey had suggested that we go ahead and get the epidural as soon as possible. Now originally, I had wanted to go completely natural with Colt, but then Robbie and I had a discussion Wednesday night while we were sitting there, and he told me that he didn't see why I felt the need to do that if they have medicine that can make it to where you don't have to be in pain. So after much talking with him, I decided against it. I wanted a comfortable labor and delivery, and so that is what I went with. So at 5:55 am, the anesthesiologist came in and started the epidural.

Since I had tested positive for Strep B, they started the ampicillen for that at 6:05 am. And then at 6:25 am, they put the cathider in since I couldn't get out of bed anymore to use the restroom. Finally at 6:30 am, they started the Pitocin. I was glad to finally get that started because I knew the sooner that started, the sooner that we could meet Colt! At 8:55 am, they turned the Pitocin up to help progress my contractions. At 10:55 am, I was still 2 cm and only 50% effaced. I was starting to get worried then because I didn't want a c-section to even be mentioned, and they had started the Pitocin a little over 4 hours before that. But that didn't matter. At 11:20 am, my doctor came in and broke my water. Now they did this with Clay, but it was before the epidural, and to me, that hurt worse than actually delivering Clay. So I was glad to already have my epidural when she did this. It just felt like another contraction. Just lots of pressure, but no pain. Thank goodnes! Finally at 1:55 pm, they checked me again, and I was 3 cm and 70% effaced. I was so glad to have some progress finally.

At 2:10 pm and 3:05 pm, they turned the Pitocin up again. My contractions were getting stronger, but they would be together and then they would spread out again. Then at 4:00 pm, they checked me again and I was 5 1/2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. We were getting there! Then around 4:40 pm, I told the nurse that I was starting to feel a lot of pressure. I told her that I wasn't sure that it was going to be much longer, and she said that she would check me again at 5 pm. But because she noticed the contractions getting closer together, she went ahead and started setting up our room for delivery. At about 4:55 pm, I told her that she better call the doctor because it was not going to be very long. She said that as soon as she checked me, she would call the doctor IF we were there. She walked out of the room to grab something, and I told Robbie that if she didn't call the doctor soon, Robbie would be delivering Colt. I knew without a doubt that I was ready to have this baby. She came back in the room with the baby scale, and then at 5 pm on the dot she checked me again. She checked me and said "Whatever you do, don't push. This baby is coming now!" Um duh. I told you that already lady. Luckily my doctor's office opens up onto L&D, so they were able to go and get her immediately. But with every contraction until she got there, I thought I would die. I had to breathe very deeply and keep myself from pushing, and that was hard.

The doctor got there, and at 5:07 pm I started pushing. After only SEVEN minutes of pushing, Colt Emerson was born!!! Robbie said that with the first push, he could see his head. That is how low he was and how ready he was to come out. He was born at 5:14 pm, and he weighed 7 lbs 7.4 oz and was 19 1/2" long!

He is breastfeeding so well, and I am in love with him! He is such a great addition to our family, and even though Clay still doesn't know what to think, I know that Clay loves him already!

39 weeks and good news!

Today I am 39 weeks! Robbie and I went to the doctor this morning, and I haven't changed any. Maybe a little more effaced, but no more dilation since last week. She has already reserved us a room, so we go in the hospital at 3 pm tomorrow. We will get our room, get hooked up to monitors and IVs, and then they will put a cervix ripening device in. This device is supposed to help me thin out some more before they start the pitocin drip. It has to be in for 12 hours, so we will be staying overnight tomorrow. Once they take it out (around 4 am...depending on what time they finally get it in after we get settled in tomorrow), my doctor will come in and start the pitocin drip. The cervix thing can send me into labor though, so it is possible that I could go into labor on my own tomorrow with this. But with Clay, they did a cervix cream (instead of a device) and it didn't put me in labor. But supposedly, this thing is supposed to be a stronger thing. I don't know.

So if I don't go into labor, they will start the pitocin around 4 am Thursday morning. My doctor said that for sure he will be born by Thursday!!!! So this will be my last pregnancy post!

I am excited and a little sad all in one. Clay has been my little boy for a little over 2 years now. My only little boy (other than obviously the 9 months that I have been carrying Colt). I am excited though because I am glad that he is going to get to grow up with a sibling. I am excited to be adding to our family of 3 and becoming a family of 4! But again, just a little sad. I hope that I don't cry when I leave Clay tomorrow before going to the hospital. Tomorrow is his last day as an only child, and his last day as my only baby boy. But I know that Colt will be a wonderful addition to our family, and I know that Clay will love him from the start. So I am excited to see how Clay does with Colt. How he responds to him when we bring him into the delivery room. We are going to video tape that part (him meeting Colt for the first time), and I can't wait to see that.

Okay guys! I will post an update once we get back home and get settled in with Colt! :-)

38 weeks WITH PROGRESS!

I turned 38 weeks on Tuesday, and I also had my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. We finally got some great news at this appointment! But nothing is set in stone yet.

Ever since Thursday's scare, I have been having a lot of menstrual type cramps. I have been having a few lower back pains with it, but nothing major. It wasn't that bad, so I never called my doctor to ask her if it was normal. I figured with the exams and all, it was probably causing the cramping. A friend of mine who had her baby in May said that her OB told her that if she started having cramping like that to call because it could be a sign of VERY early labor. I still didn't call though because she told me that on Monday, and my appointment was already scheduled for Tuesday.

So we get there on Tuesday and she does another internal exam. She told me that I am almost 1 cm dilated, and that I am starting to thin out pretty good!!! Nothing excites me more than that! I am ready to have this baby. So she tells us that next week she will think about inducing me if I don't go into labor on my own. My doctor has been an OB for almost 35 years. With Clay, I was induced at 38w5d because I had progress. She is the type that doesn't feel that any woman should be miserable for 2 extra weeks as long as she has progress. And babies are considered full term at 37 weeks. She also won't do it though until 38 weeks just in case her calculations of due dates are off. And she wouldn't do it if she thought that the baby wasn't ready.

So she told us to come in for our regular appointment on Tuesday, and that most likely she will do the induction on Thursday. She is already reserving our room in the hospital, so I don't think that she is going to back out on it or anything. She just wants to make sure that we still are doing good on Tuesday. Plus that will also put me a little closer to my due date. IF she does decide to go ahead and induce, we will go in the hospital on Wednesday night. She will put a cervical cream on my cervix to try and get me to go into labor on my own. If that doesn't work, then she will start the Pitocin drip on Thursday. So needless to say, I am excited about that! We had the same hypothetical scene with Clay, and it ended up going through. So most likely, we will be having this baby August 27th!

Here are the updates on Colt:

babycenter.com
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I have pictures of my 36 week belly, and I will have Robbie take pics tonight of my 38+ week belly, and then I will post them together on a seperate blog.

Today has been a good day. I have been getting so much done, but still not enough to say that I have a clean enough house for me. But I am working on it. I have taken the kitchen curtains down (the ones that I can reach), and they are in the washer now. I have washed every piece of clothing in this house except for what Robbie, Clay, and I are wearing. I have washed all of the blankets. The sheets are going in soon. Once Robbie gets home from helping a friend, he is going to take the rest of the curtains down for me to wash. And I have also been working on a to-do list before next Tuesday. Not a lot of stuff on there, but it is big stuff that we don't do often. We need to take our comforters to the laundromat and get those cleaned. Robbie needs to clean the fans. Stuff like that. So we will have another busy week. Which is okay with me, because I want this week to go by pretty fast!

Okay, I will update with photos soon, and hopefully I will have an excellent update Tuesday!!!

37 weeks and counting...

So I hit 37 weeks on Tuesday which means I am a bit late in posting this. But we have had a busy busy week. I know. That is my excuse every time, but really, we have.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday. Everything was fine with Colt. She started the internal exams on Tuesday, and she checked my cervix. I had zero progress. I was actually pretty disappointed since I have been having contractions since for 2 weeks straight off and on, and then I have also been feeling him dropping. She said that even though he has dropped, he is still pretty high. So Wednesday comes along, and we went over to my Mom's house for a while. Robbie is working on building shelves and stuff in her garage and getting things better organized. Since we store a lot of Clay's old things there, we want to make sure that we pitch in with keeping everything organized. Well Robbie worked his butt off and got all of the shelves put together and put up, and then he got almost everything organized and up off the floors. It looks great!

While he worked, my Grandma and I sat and talked while Clay played. Around 3 pm I had to pee, so I went to the bathroom. I had a little bit of mucus on the toilet paper, so I figured that maybe a little bit of the mucus plug was coming out. I didn't lose it with Clay, so I had no clue what it was supposed to look like, but I have heard what it looks like, and that is what it looked like. After that, I noticed that I started having menstural like cramping, but again, nothing major. Nothing that would make me think that my body was starting to go into early labor. So that sucked. After I had that bit of mucus, everytime that I would stand up I would start getting dizzy. I would feel like I was going to throw up, and I just didn't feel good. My blood pressure was fine at the doctors office on Tuesday, and I didn't have any swelling on Wednesday to make me think that I was having any problems.

Well once we left there and got home, I went pee again about 6 pm, and when I wiped, there was blood on the toilet paper. So I called my OB immediately. Since it was after hours, I had to wait for her call back, but since she is awesome, it was only about 3 minutes after I hung up from her answering service. She told me to lay down and rest. She said that if the blood stopped or started turning brown, then to just come into her office tomorrow for her to check and make sure everything was fine. But if it didn't stop, then to call her back and she would meet me at L&D. She said that sometimes the blood can be a sign that the cervix is starting to open. So I layed down to rest, and about an hour later, there was no more blood. So I went into her office on Thursday. She checked my cervix, and there was still NO progression. The baby was fine, and I was fine so no worries there. She said that it was probably just from the exam that made me bleed.

So here we are again. 37 weeks which means that Colt is now full term! And I am still having contractions. Nothing major. So now the waiting game..........

36 weeks

I turned 36 weeks yesterday and had my last bi-weekly appointment. I start going weekly, so I will get to go back next week! Yay! We found out yesterday that the baby is still head down, but he has turned, and he is now face up instead of face down. She said that is probably what is causing my horrible back pain. The baby has dropped, but she won't be able to tell how much until she does an internal exam. I told her that I have started having contractions already, so she is going to start the internal exams next week! I hope that I have some sort of progress. I have had so many contractions that I am going to be upset if I don't have anything. She also told me that if I go into labor on my own now, that she won't stop it. So I am happy about that, but I am hoping to make it at least 1 or 2 more weeks so that he is considered full term. I also filled out my pre registration forms for the hospital, so I am ready to go there too!!

Here are the updates on Colt:

babycenter.com
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That is it for now, and I am hoping to have even better news next week! And I promise to get a picture on here of me at 36 weeks.

I have much more to post about, but that will come later in the week.

35 weeks pregnant, contractions, etc.

Okay, so I am not officially 35 weeks pregnant until tomorrow, but oh well. Last night, I started having contractions. Apparantly I have been having them, but because they weren't painful or strong, I didn't realize that they were what they were. Even though I have been through this before. Anyway. But last night, they got to the point that I had to start counting them. After the first 3, I figured that it would be smart to start just in case. But they never got consistent, so after about 30 minutes, I quit counting. I have had 2 contractions today, but nothing that concerned me. I am starting to get a LOT of things done though. I have said several times to Robbie that I don't think that I am going to go much longer in the pregnancy. I think that I will make it at least to full term (37 weeks), but that is about it. But of course, noone ever really knows what will happen, so I could be dead wrong on that. I go back to the doctor next Tuesday, and then after that, I start going WEEKLY!!! I can't wait for that. And if I remember right from Clay, she will start doing cervix exams next week to see if I am starting to dilate or if my cervix is starting to efface (thin out).

I have started working on Colt's baby books finally. I have the scrapbook of my pregnancy with him caught up completely, so that is good. I have his baby book caught up with information about Robbie and me and "before baby". Now I just have to work on getting his scrapbook of his room being put together and the baby shower done. I have the pictures printed out and everything that needs to be put in there, but I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet. That is on my agenda for tomorrow.

I am trying to keep caught up on laundry along with my other housework just in case I go into labor early. With Clay, we knew when we were going to the hospital, so I got to pack that day. With this one, we won't know for a few more weeks what is going to happen. But since I am already having contractions (which I didn't have with Clay this early), I want to make sure that I stay caught up on things. Tonight Robbie, Clay, and I went grocery shopping. My Mom is going to be watching Clay while we are in L&D and the days that we are in the hospital, so I went ahead and bought a box of diapers for her to have at her house. All I want to have to do is throw some clothes in a bag for him and go. We also are taking a full bag of wipes over there for her to have. Once Colt and I come home from the hospital, she is staying a few days with us to help out with Clay. While we were at the store, we also bought the travel sized shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for the hospital. Robbie wanted to take what we had in our shower, but I am not lugging those big bottles of stuff to the hospital.

This week I am going to start working on a list of stuff to take to the hospital. I am also going to be working on getting more things organized with Colt's and Clay's rooms. I am going to be working on getting our room ready too. Colt will be sleeping in our room for a little bit, so I am going to put the bassinet back up and get the diapers, wipes, and cream ready for him to be in here with us. I am going to go buy some nursing gowns this week for the hospital stay. I already have nursing pads and bras so I am good there. We have definitely accomplished a lot with Colt's room, but we still have lots more to do before he gets here. I am hoping that we can do everything on our list before he comes.

Here are the updates on Colt for the 35th week:

babycenter.com
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Clay has started acting out around us. When we go to the grocery store, I don't even recognize him as being my kid. He acts so awful. We are constantly telling him to stop, don't touch, leave the stuff in the basket alone, etc. I think that he is starting to act out because he knows that big changes are coming. Robbie and I were talking about this, and Robbie isn't sure that Clay really knows what is going on. I beg to differ. Kids are like dogs. They sense things. And since we have been working on Colt's room, and now we are telling Clay that he can't have this because it is Colt's, and because we are washing baby clothes and stuff, he knows that something is about to change. So he is acting up with us. And not just out in public. But at home too. It is frustrating, but I am sure that it is more frustrating for him not knowing exactly what is going to happen. Exactly what is changing. I am talking to him about it, and I am letting him talk to Colt each night, but I am sure that he is still confused about what it is exactly that is going to change. Hopefully that will change soon.

Okay, I think that is it for now. I am headed to bed. Goodnight!

Colt's baby shower and room! And 34 weeks pregnant!

This past weekend on Sunday, July 19th, I had my baby shower for Colt! It was a nice shower, and I got a lot of nice things for Colt! My Mom and Grandma hosted my shower, so thank you to them. I didn't upload of lot of pictures to my blog because I posted them on my facebook. So you can go there and see a lot more pictures.

Here is the cake table.

Since Robbie, Clay, and I are huge Chicago Bear fans, this cake was perfect!

Cutting the cake....

The diaper cake that my friend  had made for us!

Robbie and I went yesterday and bought Colt a new dresser. We were hoping to share Clay's dresser for a few months instead of buying one right now, but after organizing and re-organizing, it just isn't going to work. Both boys have too many clothes and too much stuff that needs to be in their dressers. Sheets, blankets, etc. So that just isn't going to work. We bought a really nice dresser, so I am excited about that!

I had my 34 week appointment today for Colt. He is doing great, and I go back in 2 weeks. After my next appointment on August 4th, I go back weekly!!!!! I am VERY excited about that because that means that it is SOOO close! This week has been a hard week on me. Robbie says that I have officially started waddling like a duck. Thank you. I am glad that he pointed that out for me as if I couldn't have figured it out on my own. He says it out of love though. I am sure of it :-) I have also had heartburn every night this week and am living off of Maalox Complete. I have also noticed that it is just getting harder and harder to get around and up and down. But I will make it. Only a few more weeks. I have to keep telling myself that!

Here are the updates on Colt's development:

babycenter.com

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After our doctor's appointment today, Robbie and I picked up Clay, and then we came home and was going to do a few things in Colt's room. Well we ended up doing more than just a few things. We rearranged his whole room. We didn't want the same set up that Clay had while he was in that room. So we did that. We hung pictures. We got some things organized. There is still much work to be done, and I will post pictures once we start getting more going, but I am glad that we got that part done. I am finally at a place where I want to start working on Colt's room and start getting more things organized. I did a scrapbook of my pregnancy with Clay, a scrapbook of us getting the room ready for Clay, and a baby book full of lots of information. So I am doing the same thing for Colt. I have everything that I need, I just need the motivation to get it done. And now I think that I am finally getting that. With us trying to get Colt's room organized, Clay's room is becoming more and more disorganized, so we are going to work on that too. This week is Colt's room, and next week is Clay's room. And then after that....baby books! So very busy weeks ahead of me!

Clay's 1st trip to the movie theater!

Today Robbie and I decided to take Clay to his first movie. We went and saw "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs". It was pretty good. Clay did suprisingly well, and we only had to tell him to sit down 3 or 4 times. So not too bad. It won't be an all the time thing for sure, but it was fun to see how he liked it. On the way into the theater, he had a mini-meltdown because it was dark in there, and he wasn't sure what to expect. But once we got in there and he saw that there were still lights on, and a big TV, he was fine.

Before we went to the movies, we went to The Cotton Patch for lunch.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Us before the movie started. Not sure why Clay had this look on his face, but it was cute.

He did well sitting by himself, but we had to put his diaper bag with him to hold the seat down since he wasn't heavy enough to do it on his own.

Robbie wanted me to take a picture of the movie screen. So here it is.

Well I turned 33 weeks yesterday! So only SEVEN more weeks to go! My baby shower is this weekend, and I am ready for it! I am ready to start getting stuff organized, although I am still not going to do too much. Clay and Colt are going to be sharing a dresser since most of their clothes hang up, so I need to get Clay's drawers organized so I can have a place to put Colt's clothes. That is going to be my big thing for the next 2 weeks is getting Clay's room organized. Then I will start working on Colt's room. And hopefully not too long after that, I will have him! Here is the update on Colt:

Babycenter.com

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I have noticed a big difference between last week and this week. I have started getting nosebleeds again because my nose is drying out. Not major ones, but just when I blow my nose and stuff. I also have started getting heartburn from anything and everything. So I am keeping the Maalox Complete very close to me at all times. With Clay, I never had him pushing on my bladder. It is weird because he sat very low in my stomach pretty much the entire pregnancy, but I never had those kicks to the bladder. But with this one, I am higher, and I get them all the time. I have also noticed that when I go to the bathroom, it is a trickle of pee, and then 5 minutes later, I have to go again. Very annoying. I am sure that with me getting further along and with Colt already giving me bladder kicks, I will have 7 more weeks of bathroom trips every 5 minutes.

And one last update on the dogs:

Robbie went and dropped them off yesterday. He said that he met the guy that was taking him, and the dogs warmed up to him immediately. They didn't have any dogs, although they have rescued dogs before. They have 2 teenagers, and Robbie got to meet one of them yesterday too. He said that the teenager went right to the dogs, they loved him, and he was playing with them immediately. Robbie said that the guy was very nice, and he was very gentle with the dogs. Also with them being with a friend of his Grandma's, we can keep updated on them. So I am glad that they went to a good home.

Nesting Already?

Probably not. But I am still going to enjoy the feeling of nesting while it lasts. I know that it isn't really nesting right now, but I'll take it. Tonight Robbie and I are having an "in home" date night. Robbie is going to grill fajitas, and I am going to make homemade pico de gallo and guacamole. YUMMY! So today, we decided to go ahead and clean the house so that it wouldn't be weighing on our minds tonight. Instead of just doing our normal cleaning of vacuuming, kitchen counters, etc. we got in the kitchen and cleaned out cabinets. Not pots and pans. Not glasses. We went through the spice cabinet and cleared out anything that was expired. We went through the pantry and also cleaned out anything that was expired. Same with the fridge/freezer. There wasn't much to throw out, but we still went through and reorganized everything. I also have had my electric griddle on the top of my counter forever because we went through a pancakes for breakfast stage. We have been out of that stage for a while, but we never could figure out where we wanted to put it. We found a place for it, and now that is off my countertops. My counters are much more spacious now, and I am LOVING it!

Not only did we reorganize the kitchen today, but the other night we finally got into the nursery. We got Colt a toy box for his room, and we finally moved Clay's toy box into his big boy room. We went through the toys that were in Clay's toy box and put the younger ones in Colt's toy box and the older ones in Clay's. We put any toys that Clay never played with (younger or older) in a bag to give to Good Will as soon as it is full. We will keep going through stuff (cabinets, rooms, closets) and add to the bag that we have started until it is full. It is something that I have been wanting to do, but again, I wanted to wait until closer to my due date. While we were in Colt's room, we framed the pictures that we bought for his room, and we organized everything that we have for his room. I am hoping to get in that room again before my baby shower next weekend, but I am not sure if I will or not. There isn't much more that I can do to the room until I start decorating it. But I feel like there is something that I could be doing in there. I guess I will figure it out soon.

Next up.....our bedroom. UGH!

4th of July Celebrations!

Every year, Robbie, Clay, and I go to my Aunt and Uncle's house for the 4th of July. This year we decided to change it up. Robbie had to work until 6 pm Saturday (although he did end up getting off early, so that was good), so we decided to celebrate with our friends at home. We live outside of city limits, so we were able to pop fireworks. We had a blast doing that, although Clay was not thrilled about how loud the artillery shells were. Since he cried the whole time, we ended up putting him to bed (since that was 3/4 of his problems anyway), and then we went back outside and popped the rest of the fireworks. Even if we had not popped our own fireworks, we would have had plenty of "shows" to watch behind us. I swear the people behind us pay probably $500.00-$1,000.00 every year on fireworks. It is crazy!

We started off the day with Jennifer coming over and helping me get all of the food ready. We had hot dogs, cheddarwursts, homemade potato salad, BLT dip and crackers, and we were going to make queso dip, but we decided against it. We also made a flag cake which turned out excellent!

Here is Clay showing off his American spirit!

Our french vanilla cake with french vanilla icing.

Here is Clay in the back of my car with all of the fireworks that we bought.

One of the bottle rocket type things that we bought.

The onlygood picture that I got of the artillery shells. We got a lot of ones that crackle at the end of the pop, and so I couldn't get any good pictures of those.

And the 4 of us. Robbie, Me, Michael, and Jennifer.

And now for the pregnancy updates :-)

I am 32w1d today, and I had a doctor's appointment today! The heartbeat was really good, and I go back in 2 weeks to have another checkup.

This past week, I have started getting severe heartburn again. With Clay, I had it most of the pregnancy, and with this one, I had it during the 1st trimester, but it went away for the most part in the 2nd trimester. And now it is back again with a vengance. So I am again living off of Maalox. But just like with Clay, I get heartburn from drinking just water. So you can imagine what it is like with eating food. Or especially spicy food. Crazy!

Robbie did ask me the other day if I had made the hospital list yet for things that we need to pack for my hospital stay. I told him no, and he was very surprised. He said that with Clay I had all of this stuff together by now. But like I have said before....I know that I will start getting anxious and need to stay busy, so I want to make sure that I leave enough stuff to do during the very end of the pregnancy. And just like before, I am starting to get ansy to get the pregnancy done and over with. Not because I am uncomfortable or tired of being pregnant, but just because I am ready to meet Colt. I am ready to get my questions answered....will Colt look like Clay did when he was first born? Or will he look more like Robbie did when he was born since Clay was my identical twin when he was born? What will it be like having 2 kids of my own? Will Colt be more attached to me because I stay at home? Etc. Just a ton of questions, that will definitely be answered in due time, but I do notice myself getting ansy.

Anyway. Here is my 32 week picture.

And the updates of Colt:

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