Swimming

Ambree has been practicing swimming in the bathtub for a while now. She can kick her legs and swim with her arms and blow bubbles, but definately not any of those things at the same time. Her first experience in the pool this year, mostly involved her going up and down the steps. But her second time in, Daddy just pulled her off the steps into the water. After a moment of fear, she was very excited and tried 'swimming'. By the third trip to the pool, she was asking Daddy to let go of her, jumping off the edge to Daddy, and swimming all over.


05-22-2010 at GG's


05-29-2010 at the Roger's


Sunbathing


05-31-2010 at GG's

34 weeks, 5 days

I just had my 34 week appointment for Jack. Because of all of my contractions, my MD decided to do an extra ultrasound, which was a real treat. It's crazy to see how big he is! He's in the 78th percentile, already weighing as much as 6lbs 9oz. The ultrasound technician said that her measurements can often make the baby seem bigger than they really are, but still! At this rate he will be about the same as Ambree was (8lbs, 1oz) or bigger. Unlike usual, though, he was pretty sleepy and didn't move much for us.
The MD also did an exam to see if I am having effective contractions, and unfortunately, I am. I am 50% effaced, -2cm, and 1cm dialated, and consequently on strict activity restrictions. Everything I asked her if I could do, she responded with a swift NO! Not until at least next week, but probably 37weeks, does she want me doing much of anything. I don't really know how this is going to look. I'm not on bedrest, I don't think, but it is going to be nearly impossible not to clean the house with this crazy nesting instinct kicking in, and I really have no idea how this will work with my 30lb toddler.
I don't want to miss out on the last opportunities I will have with Ambree as my only child, but I definately want Jack to stay in the belly as long as possible. Awww, Mommy Guilt! I am blessed to have a three day weekend coming up, so Sean can help (mind you he is still recovering from knee surgery), and then I have a friend who already offered to help on Tuesday. In all of this helplessness, I am left with prayer. That's probably the best place to be.

Jack

I haven't posted about my pregnancy much mostly because I would either just be complaining or it would be boring. The first trimester, I had sworn off procreation, but God was gracious, and I have forgotten how bad it was. Then my second trimester was fairly uneventful except for fairly consistent early braxton hicks contractions due to an irritable uterus (they started at about 6-8 weeks). I felt him kick at 15 weeks, and a week later Sean could feel him. Third trimester has been more of the same, but at 28 weeks I started requesting that I be checked for dialation because my contractions were so intense at times. At 28 weeks, I was 1cm.
Then last Thursday night (33wks, 4days), Sean and I snuck away for a dinner together and then planned to run errands while my mom babysat. Because my nesting instinct has kicked in, I had been polishing the kitchen cabinets and mopping the floors earlier. While I was getting ready to go out, I knew I was having fairly regular, mild contractions, but I was busy and didn't pay much attention to it. Then on the way to dinner, I decided to start counting how far apart. They were about 3-5 minutes, sometimes seeming back-to-back, but still very mild.
When it was time to order for dinner, it had been a couple of hours of contractions pretty close together, so we called Ed and I texted a friend who use to work as an OB nurse. Both of them said to get home, rest and drink tons of water.
Turns out I was probably just dehydrated (since then I've up'd my water intake to 12 glasses), but over all the episode last about 4-5 hours. The next day I had a scheduled appointment and I wasn't dialated more than before so they had all been false contractions. All I could think during it though, was NOTHING is ready- his room isn't set up, the house is not deep cleaned, baby clothes haven't been cleaned and he doesn't even have a middle name!
At this point, we don't have any reason to think Jack will be early, and I have been reduced to minimal physical activity, but all of this has me excited for his arrival. Another baby! We can't wait, well we want to wait for at least 4 more weeks.

Congrats Craig and Gretch!!

This last Saturday we celebrated the marriage of Sean's cousin, Gretchen and Craig. The ceremony and reception were in hotel/resort place in Lakeway, so the scenery was beautiful. It was a wonderful wedding and so great to see Sean's extended family, including two of his cousin, Chris's girls, Sadie and Elise, 3 1/2yrs and 2yrs. All three toddlers opened the dance floor as soon as they saw it. No one had to tell them what the wooden floor, lights and music were for. They knew someone had set it up just for them.


Ambree only took breaks from dancing to raid a dish full of M&M's that she found. She also found the AC floor vents along the edges of the room and delighted in letting her dress poof up while she cooled down.




That night the only protein she ate at dinner was chocolate milk- a new treat. She danced until passed 10pm, and then with the hour long drive home, she was in bed after 11!

It has been a long time since I posted. Since then we have had a few cute/quirky Ambree-isms develop. I love this age and getting to see her personality more and more.

Problem Solving. She has started showing higher-level (I say that like I know, but in all my mom expertise, that is what I will call it) problem solving skills. A few weeks ago one of her mylar balloons got wrapped up in our ceiling fan. Immediately she said, 'Get Daddy's ladder!' I was humbled when she wanted a ladder to fix another problem later that week that could clearly not be solved with a ladder. I would tell you what that situation was, but I cannot remember, and neither can Sean. I'm pregnant and he is a guy. But today, while watching a new episode of the Wonder Pets, she figured out how to help the Itsy Bitsy Spider before the Wonder Pets did. Granted the Wonder Pets are fairly predicable and not more than fairly intelligent, but she's just two!

Bed Time Songs. Over the past month she has started requesting songs that do not exist at all in an attempt to delay bed time. "Sing Som" she says. Many of her requests do exist at this point because they have so frequently been asked for, including the smash hits 'sky som,' 'ground som,' 'bengal tiger som' and 'bubbles som.' One hit wonders include the 'door som' and 'elephant som.' While singing the Bengal Tiger song I was thoroughly corrected when I messed up the song plot line by saying that Raji the mouse pulled the thorn out of the tiger's paw- "NO Mommy! The Wonder Pets help!" And we're back to the Wonder Pets.

Miss Bossy. Ambree has also decided that she is in charge of everyone that is at her height level or lower. She bosses passer-byers around at church, our home, the store, really anywhere. Telling them "BE Careful!!", "No Fussing! Need nap.", "Come Here to Ambree!" Poor Jack.

Life Skills. We spent most of the first year of Ambree's life teaching her the life skill of sleeping, and the second year trying to catch her. Now it's rewarding to teach her more seemingly basic, but ultra rewarding life skills. One we've been focused on is eye-contact. When she sees someone her immediate response is to look away, and sometimes she's done this just to show you that she is ignoring you. So now when we see someone we say, "Look at eyes" and she is pretty responsive and jumps out of her shyness quickly. A new one, of this last week, is "Calm Down." As taught on the Wonder Pets when the baby monster is throwing a fit, sometimes we need to take deep breaths and count to three. It is hilarious to watch her close her eyes, take a deep breath and then count- she's been skipping 2 and 4 lately, so its 1-3-5-6, and so on. She thinks its pretty funny too so it usually helps her come out of her fit. It is amazing to me what I can just teach her to do now.

Little Mommy

Ambree has spent the last 30 minutes (and continues as I type) pretending that a little 3inch stuffed bear is her baby. This includes changing his diaper with wipes and all, giving him nasal saline and blowing his nose, brushing his hair, sitting him on the potty, reading him a book in her rocking chair, strolling him around and playing patty-cake. Everything we say to her is repeated in a higher pitch to this little bear. "Change diaper, stay still." "No fussing, time for bed." "Last book, then have to go to bed." And it goes on. Little does she know how she will be helping to care for a real baby soon...