Bump Progress

I'm 39 weeks, still 50% effaced, her head is in the same spot, but I'm about 3cm dilated. My Dr. called me a "tight" 3cm. Progress is progress in my mind, so I'll take it!! My parent's are back from their cruise tomorrow morning!! I was on self prescribed best rest this week and walked around as little as possible. Poor Huddy Buddy actually looked at me on Thursday and said "outside?". So sad, but starting tomorrow, as soon as my parent's are off the cruise ship (which is supposed to be 8:30am, but I'm not counting down or anything, haha!), we can run around outside all he wants!! Even I'm getting sick of reading his books over and over again. Ryan and I have been finishing up the last few details of his new room, Baby Girl's room has been done for about a week. I'll post pictures of both rooms at some point as I'm really happy with how they turned out. I can tell she's sitting super low because it feels like she's going to fall out any minute. Or poke a hand through to say hi ;). I hope it's not much longer now, I'm ready to see her little face and introduce her to her family.

One Last Date

Since the Hawks game didn't start until 7:00pm last night, Ryan and I decided to make it a date night and leave Hudson home with Grandma. We went to Wasabi Bistro in Seattle for dinner and then headed to the game. We have only been to Wasabi Bistro one other time and ironically it was when I was 7 months pregnant with Hudson. Great spot though if you have never been! Even though it's Preseason, it was nice to actually enjoy the game without having to worry about where Hudson was in the suite. Ryan and I figured we should probably get in one more date night before becoming the parent's of TWO kids!

And Then There Was One...

There was something in the water within my Stroller Strides group this past year...

Me, Elesha, Melissa (3 days before baby!), & Kelsie

Out of the four of us pictured, I'm the last to pop! Melissa delivered a baby girl in June (her second daughter), Kelsie delivered a baby boy in July (her second son), and Elesha is having her baby boy (her second son) RIGHT NOW! I've been so lucky to go through pregnancy a second time around with my Stroller Stride gals, the power of women never ceases to amaze me. Since this picture was taken, 4 more Mommies have announced their pregnant as well!! If you are wanting to get pregnant, just come to class, apparently it's contagious ;)

Bump Progress (and a fun comparison)

I had my 38 week appointment this morning and Baby Girl is making some progress. I'm a full 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and she's back at a -2 Station. I told my Dr. to go ahead and do a Foley Balloon catheter and I would see her in a couple of hours. She said I needed to wait at least a week for that (good to know that she would induce at 39 weeks though, haha!). My thinking was that Baby Girl would come today if we did the Foley Balloon and give my parent's a few days with her before getting on their cruise boat. Oh well, guess I'll just need to continue to sit with my legs crossed for 10 more days. For those that don't know my birth story with Hudson, we did a Foley Balloon catheter with him when he was 4 days late with the intention of ripening my cervix enough to induce with pitocin the next morning. With Hudson I wasn't dilated at all and stayed at 50% effaced from 36 weeks on. The Foley Balloon worked like a charm for me though and I went into labor on my own the same day. Once labor really got going with Hudson, it was 5 hours start to finish, no drugs. The expectation with baby #2 is the same, if not faster, so already being 2 cm dilated makes me a little nervous as I don't want to be one of those women you hear about on the news delivering in her car. Ryan and I are fully prepared though and ready to head to the hospital immediately. I'm officially ready to declare out loud that I'm done with this pregnancy stuff and ready to not be sleeping at night because Baby Girl needs me to feed her not because I'm so uncomfortable and itchy that I may just flip out. There, it's out there, I've said it!! Now comes the part where I see how far my patience really can go ;)

38 weeks with Baby Girl

38 weeks with Hudson

Bump Progress

I'm 37 weeks along, well, 37-1/2 if you want to get technical ;) At my last appointment I was dilated almost 2 cm, however, Baby Girl is no longer sitting at a -2 station. My Dr. jokingly said "She's no longer engaged". We had a good laugh and I'm actually fine with her being higher up. My sister is gone on her Alaska cruise this week and my parent's leave on their Alaska cruise this Sunday, eek! She needs to stay put for 13 more days, that's not that long in the scheme of things. You can do it Little Miss!! Hudson and I had pictures taken together this morning and they turned out really cute! I missed the boat on having portraits done while pregnant with Hudson, so I wanted to make sure to get them done this time around. Hudson did exactly what he was supposed too and kissed and hugged my belly right on cue. We have been having ridiculous heat (90's) and with no air conditioning I have been a sweaty mess. Only in Seattle though would it go from that to 60 and raining, which is what it is doing today and I am LOVING the break!

Salmon Bake

Every year our friends the Crawfords invite us to Whidbey Island for an annual Salmon Bake. Ryan has been once before, I think maybe 4 or 5 years ago, but I have never been. There's plenty for kids to do and since Hudson is at a fun age we made sure we could make it this year. Besides, we don't want to risk the Crawfords NOT inviting us because we never seem to make it! The food was fabulous and being able to sit with my feet in the cold lake water was SO nice. Hudson was a fish all day and just wanted to be in the water, can't blame the kid, it was probably 90 degrees that day!

Exploring for rocks with Daddy

So much fun!

Loved being pushed in the floaty

Searching for treasures

Bubble Bath

Hudson had his first bubble bath tonight, he was thrilled to say the least. Even Ryan got in on the fun! I'm surprised I even got Hudson out of the tub...I'm sure we've created a monster though and will have requests for a bubble bath every night now!!

Ryan with hair!

Shouting "bubble bath"

Having too much fun to even look at the camera

Punt, Pass, and Kick

As Seahawks Suite Owners, we get to participate in a really fun event every year on the field called Punt, Pass, and Kick. You have a team of 4 people who compete in those categories to try and win fun prizes. On our team this year was Ryan, my brother Ted, and our friends Korey and Mike. We have never won, but it's still fun non the less. We unfortunately missed the event last year as we were on family vacation, so this was Hudson's first year. He loved being on the field and throwing the footballs around.

Future Seahawk Player

Hudson and Maddie having fun on the field


Izzy and Hudson cheering on their Dads

Mike taking Izzy for a spin

My Friend Krissy

Krissy and I met second semester in college our freshman year. We quickly become close friends and throughout our colleges years worked 2 different jobs together and lived together. After I got married Krissy and I lost touch for a few years (you're still in the doghouse Missy!). Before Hudson was born I would send out weekly updates and I still included Krissy in the emails even though I had no idea if she was getting them or not. Around week 38 or 39 of my pregnancy with Hudson I finally heard back from Krissy after almost 2 years of not talking. I read her email probably 3 or 4 times in a row, completely shocked, excited, and very emotional. It basically told me that she was married, had a baby girl (Izzy), and was moving to Seattle. And not just anywhere in Seattle, Bothell of all places. I quickly did a mapquest of the address she was going to be living at and low and behold, it was 4 miles from my house!! What are the chances?!?! Since then, a few other amazing things have transpired including our husbands working together since last April and us getting pregnant with baby #2 at the same time. I'm so happy to have my friend back and love that we are raising our kids together. Hudson and Izzy are 5-1/2 months apart and Zoie and Baby Girl will be 2-1/2 months apart (both Krissy's girls are older). Thanks for 13 years of memories Krissy...here's to many, many more!

Izzy and Hudson's first Halloween

Our weekend trip to Glacier for New Year's Eve

I found out I was pregnant on the way Glacier, I couldn't wait to tell Krissy who was already 3 months along herself!

3 days before Krissy's C-Section with #2

Welcome Zoie! She was born June 12 (I'm a little behind, haha!)

I never would have thought 13 years ago this is where Krissy and I would be!

Izzy and Hudson spending their second 4th of July together

Bump Progress

I'm 36 weeks along, wow this has flown by!! At my 36 week appointment last Thursday I was 25% effaced, 1 cm dilated, and baby's head was sitting at a -2 station. I know not to get excited or anxious, but progress is progress!!! I just need to finish a few things in her room, but other than that, we are ready to have her. We're packed, bassinet sheet is washed, car seat is in the car, and I'm mentally prepared to go drugless again. I had some "preliminary" contractions yesterday consisting of cramping combined with low back pain, but am fine today. I have been to the chiropractor 9 times in the past 3 weeks and after visit 6 I finally had relief of my sciatic nerve issue, hooray!! I was even able to instruct Stroller Strides last Tuesday and am scheduled to instruct this coming Tuesday. It was nice to be back in the swing of working out and to see all my Mommy friends. Let the countdown really begin!!

36 weeks along

Just Call Me Crazy

Q: What is crazier than being a mom to one AND working a job from home?
A: Being a mom to two AND working two jobs from home.

That's right, I've completely gone mad, but in my mind for very good reason. We've purchased a Stroller Strides Franchise!!! I have loved instructing and being part of something so fabulous for moms and kids that it was time to take the plunge. I will continue to work with the family printing business as well and don't plan on having my Stroller Strides Grand Opening until early November. The territory I bought (for those that live here) is 98034 part of Kirkland, 98028 Kenmore, and 98155 Lake Forest Park. I'm frantically trying to set up the back end of the business before I have the baby (hence the long spans between new postings!). It's overwhelming, but I'm so excited to be a Stroller Strides franchise owner!! Rest assured, we've started looking for a sitter 2 to 3 days a week as I'm still realistic about what I am capable of doing on my own. My website is all set up, you can take a peek at www.strollerstrides.net/kirkland. Thank you to all that have supported and helped me in making this decision and an especially BIG THANK YOU to my husband for letting me talk him into doing this ;)

My Baby Downpour

I would hardly call what I had a baby shower...Baby Girl was SO spoiled!! Two weeks ago today my friend Molly, my sister Jennifer, and my sister in law Sarah threw a downpour in my backyard. We had beautiful weather, yummy food, and tons of pink! Opening pink stuff is so much fun! Baby Girl received a lot of handmade gifts as well from blankets to artwork. We are so lucky and blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives...I can't thank everyone enough!

Way too many gifts!

Love the cute outfits

Hand painted "C" from Auntie Sarah...if you don't already know baby girl's name, you'll find out soon enough ;)

Zoo Trip

We went to the zoo a few weeks ago to help celebrate one of our Stroller Strides friend's 2nd Birthday. So much fun to have a birthday party at the zoo!! We went on the carousel and got to feed the parakeets. Hudson had a blast!