What 41 Weeks Pregnant Looks Like

It looks HUGE. It feels uncomfortable and slower than molasses. I'm trying very hard to hang in there, but each day I feel more and more like a ticking time bomb.

There are several things that I'm grateful for during this time, so let's start there. I'm SO happy that I'm able to still walk. I've been walking about 2 and 1/4 mile each morning to try to get some contractions going. It feels fantastic to still be able to be so active this late in the game. I was even passing people on the trail this morning! And, no - they weren't senior citizens, thank you very much. I am also savoring this time with just Ritchie and Max. Ritchie is officially home from work and I've never needed his help more. The three of us hang out all day and we try to make each afternoon something fun for Max just in case it's the last afternoon with our little family of three. And, lastly, as hard as it is being pregnant right now and feeling so very "when the HELL is he going to come out?!" I'm very relieved that I'm working with a midwife. Someone who knows that my baby is perfect in there and is just waiting for the right time for him to make his entrance into this world. I loved (and I mean LOVED) by OB from Max's pregnancy and leaving her to pursue a home birth was a difficult decision, but I would have surely been induced by now. I cannot wait for that "this is it!" moment of labor starting and knowing that my little boy chose his own birthday. There is something so sacred in that for me and that fact alone keeps me going every day.

So, other than feeling like I might split in two at any given moment, I guess I'm just finding some peace in life right now. Sure, I get anxious. Yes, I want him to come now and if labor started right as I hit "publish post" I'd feel like the happiest woman on Earth. But, overall, I've reached a pretty great place in this pregnancy. It really can't be too much longer and I'm SO excited to uncover his story. We can't wait to welcome you to the world, Bennett. To the world and to our family. We're ready for you, baby - whenever you're ready!

Bennett's Labor Blessing

Today I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful group of women come together to give me strength and words of support and wisdom as I embark on these last few weeks of pregnancy and the intention of a home birth and, therefore, drug free labor and delivery. It was so much more than I could have even expected as these women put true thought behind the words and beads (which I will wear on a bracelet from now until Bennett's labor and during it) that they presented to me today. I know I will draw strength and courage from seeing these beads and remembering the words spoken and written for me today. It was truly special. I think every woman giving birth should have a labor blessing. It's heartwarming.

Here are some of the details!



Food!! We munched on beef and chicken skewers, caprese salad and veggies with hummus. YUM! Of course there were cupcakes from Icing On The Cake. Holy moly, that place is good! Every occasion we need baked goods for (including our wedding cake!) we go to them. They're amazing.

There was a henna artist who came to do a belly tattoo on me and a little something for other guests, too!


I love it!




Rebecca, a dear friend for 11 years now and maid of honor in my wedding, getting her Henna done! She's also having a little boy in September. It's been so fun sharing this journey with her!




Gemma gets hers done!


Lisa's (teeny tiny adorable!!) foot tattoo!


Both Lisa and my feet done!


This was the henna artist. She was not only talented, but also super sweet. We really enjoyed having her!


Rebecca presenting her bead.


Rusti and her bead.


Gemma with hers.


Stephanie with hers!

My mom was so good about making sure to get pictures of everyone with me, but wasn't in many of the shots! Here are a few more from this special day.











Thank you to everyone who came and made it so special.

In other exciting news, my best friend, Kimberly had her second baby, a little girl (her son is 3 months older than Max) early this morning! I got the news right when I woke and I couldn't be more excited for her and her growing family. I will always remember Kira's birthday because I woke up learning about her arrival and had my labor blessing that day!

We also celebrated my dad's birthday (his was the 4th) this evening at our house. Cake, presents, Max as entertainment - it was great! Haha! So much to celebrate today! It was a day filled with love and support and good news all around. I love days like that!

Nesting, Nesting, 1...2...3...

Today it began.

We've cleaned.

We've washed itty bitty clothes, some new, some that took us down memory lane of when our first baby boy was just that, a baby.

We've cleared space in the living room and put up the swing.

We've prepped the home birth supplies.

We've bought the big brother books and have been having the conversations.

We've set up the bassinet right next to our bed.

We've bought the teeniest newborn diapers.

We're 37 weeks tomorrow.

We're officially waiting on Baby B.

36 Weeks

And here we are. Nine whole months pregnant. But, see? This is where "they" getcha. You aren't pregnant for 9 months, no, no. You are pregnant for a whopping 10 months. Nobody tells you that until you've successfully been knocked up. THEN and only then are "they" all, "Oh, and by the way...". In any case, we have approximately one month left until Baby B's big arrival!



Ritchie and I tried our hands tonight at some maternity photos in San Francisco. I think they turned out pretty decently. I've been having some fun with editing, so don't mind my over editing ;)





Max has been a fun part of the pregnancy journey this time around. He's aware that the belly is called "baby" and he'll rub it and kiss it. We're working on him saying the baby's name, so far without any luck. I cannot wait to watch my boys grow together. I have visions of them laughing and rough housing together. I can honestly say that I hope to have lengthy stories to tell their children of times that they collaborated some mischievous plan to get away with something. I hope that they are true best friends.





I've gained a grand total of 34 pounds thus far (I gained 25 with Max). If I can keep it under 40 I'll be pleased. That really SHOULDN'T be a problem, but I don't have the same eating restrictions I did with Max and the Gestational Diabetes. I am seeing the sporadic high number here and there and so I've reeled in my sugar/carb intake some more in the past week. I just found out today that I tested positive for Group Beta Strep. This isn't shocking considering I was positive with Max as well. It shouldn't add any major complications, just a bit more to deal with from now until delivery and there's some precautionary steps that will be taken during the labor at home as well.



In other pregnancy discomforts, my sciatic nerve has apparently become pinched and whatever's pinching it isn't letting go easily. I'm now seeing a chiropractor regularly in hopes of getting this taken care of since I can barely walk most days. Makes "chasing" a toddler super fun. We're surviving somehow but it's getting old fast. Other than that, I actually feel great! I'm sleeping well and feeling fairly energized for being 36 weeks.



I just can't believe this little guy will be here in the next 5 weeks or so. I'm hoping to make it all the way to 40 weeks, and maybe a day or two over, but NOT to reach 41 weeks. Haha! But, I'm not picky ;) I'm really trying to enjoy this last month as we're not sure whether or not we'll be having a third. This could be the last time I feel a little one squirming around in there while I live in anticipation of knowing him and what he'll look like, who he'll be. There's nothing quite like that. It's been a beautiful journey.

21 Months

Max is almost 22 months - which is hardly believable (I know I always say that!). He continues to fill our hearts with joy despite having a challenging last few months. I'm not sure if it's two year molars, terrible twos coming early, or just his instinctual knowledge that life as he knows it is about to change big time, but he's been very cranky and clingy lately. It's so difficult for me because I want to shower him with love and give into his demands that I just stand there and hold him virtually all day long, but I am now about 36 weeks pregnant and having atrocious sciatic nerve pain. Besides which, he won't be able to be held all day in a few weeks anyway, what with needing to split time with Baby B being held at least SOME of the time ;) It's for this reason that we started to explore beginning Max in a two-day, part-time preschool program. I had found an in home preschool program that I really liked a few months back, but Max was too young to join so we waited a bit. Now, he's all signed up and ready to begin on August 2. I'm very nervous about this transition but ultimately feel like it's important that Max gets some time with other children and independent of mommy. Not to mention the time that it will give me and Baby B to bond.


Just one of his many looks he gives us.

Despite the clinging and the tantrums, Max is still an absolute joy in our lives. There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't make me smile. He's developing some "selective hearing" I think and seems to decide when he should hear what I ask of him, and when he shouldn't. Mostly this applies to my asking him to come inside when he's outside playing and eating food that he doesn't enjoy (like all things green). Max LOVES to be outdoors. Luckily I discovered this fantastic little water park recently that he just loves! Playing in water, sand and on swings and slides are his absolute favorite! His favorite foods right now are bee-bees (berries), me-me (melon), popsicles, cookies, beee (beans), ha-da (hot dogs) and finally waffles. Haha! We try desperately to incorporate other foods like chicken and other meat (he does like steak on occasion), veggies (we hide some in smoothies right now), and dairy like cheese and yogurt (which he used to LOVE and now hates). He is drinking tons more milk than usual so I guess he might somehow get what he needs nutritionally! haha! We're not all too worried about it as it seems like the norm for kids his age.



Max's favorite toys around the house right now is anything musical. He also loves blocks, trains, cars, and is obsessed with anything in the air like hey-ca-ca (helicopters) and are-pay (airplanes). Books are another favorite and we recently added a shelf to the living room that makes the books really accessible to him. This has done wonders for how much he wants to be read to! He's now able to point out things in the books and say words from the pages as if on cue. I love his blossoming vocabulary... even if only Ritchie and I can understand him! We're trying very hard to get Max to interact with the baby doll we got him to symbolize his brother, but he's not at all interested in it. He does seem to enjoy real babies for about 15 seconds, so perhaps there is some hope?



Maxton is becoming more boy and less baby with each passing day. We're just noticing so much growth and an increasing independence in him. He mimics more and tries to do everything that he sees. He is more and more brave about climbing, swimming, and unknowns. We try to make him feel secure, but also give him little pushes towards trying things that frighten him. He's getting better with this more and more. He's happiest with Ritchie and I both present and will often ask for the other parent when one is missing. His kisses make my whole day and I couldn't be happier about the boy he's becoming. I cannot wait to see him become a big brother and trust the example he'll set for his brother. He's sweet and cautious, yet becoming more adventurous and brave with each passing day. I'm so grateful for this combination that makes up our special little guy.



Oh, and I recently hit up the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (insert large amounts of debt here) and so now Max also has some really awesome shoes.



Believe me, they deserved a spot on the blog. They're fabulous. And he loves them, too. So I suppose that makes my boy stylish, too! Love that little man to pieces!!

5 Years With a Side of "I Told You So"

It all started on December 3 of 2002. Actually, it sort of started on Thanksgiving of that year, but we made it official on the 3rd. Our courtship in the beginning was wild and crazy fast. We met, we stayed up talking for like a week straight, he went to Seattle for Christmas, he came back on New Year's Eve and we decided that we wanted to get married. We exchanged our parent's wedding rings (we had them because our parents are both divorced, which is, um.. NOT very romantic, but at the time it seemed dreamy - he was 19, I was 20). Anyway, we kept it quiet for a few months and tackled one major thing at a time. First, we moved in together. I somehow got that past my parents with a promise to my dad that I would not have any more announcements in the near future. Um, sorry about that dad.


A little over 1 year into our relationship.

Ritchie bought me a ring in February of 2004 (a mere 2 months after our courtship began) and we told our parents. My mom was less than thrilled, but has always let me sort of figure things out for myself as long as it wasn't life threatening or anything. She didn't sense that Ritchie was an axe murderer so I guess she figured I'd sort this one out somehow. That, or she knew how my dad would react and pretty much rested easy knowing she didn't have to worry much. My dad was FAR less than thrilled. He liked Ritchie, loved me, but 2 months and a tiny, stinky one bedroom apartment did not a marriage make in his eyes. I am the kind of girl who really needs her parents' approval, so we remained engaged in our eyes, but for the sake of my family called it a "promise ring" and told them we would wait to marry until at least after I had graduated college. We didn't like it, but I wanted the dream wedding and my dad not being present wasn't part of that dream. Plus, my parents are pretty smart people who had never steered me wrong, so I figured what's the rush? I KNEW I would marry Ritchie and if waiting a bit made them happy, then fine.



2 year dating anniversary



Also the night he officially proposed again!

On our two year wedding anniversary I was a mere 5 months from graduating college. We were both still madly in love and wanting to get married. My dad, for whatever reason (oh, and he TOTALLY denies this now because he seriously LOVES Ritchie, Like, maybe more than he loves me) still didn't think it was "right". Ritchie asked his permission on 3 separate occasions, I believe, in an effort to "do things right" this time around. All three times he was told, respectfully, NO. "No, you do not have permission to marry my daughter. Will all do respect, I just don't see it working between you two." That last time Ritchie had the ring in hand and was planning to propose less than a week later so Ritchie told him, "Well, I respect that opinion, but I have to respectfully disagree. I want you to know that I will be asking her to marry me soon." (All these quotes mean nothing really - I'm paraphrasing - hell, I wasn't there).


3 years together!

Anyway, he DID ask again and I, of course, said YES! We got to planning the details (we even made our wedding 18 months from our engagement date) and my dad seemed to forget all about his opinions and just welcome Ritchie to the family with open arms. He did later admit that he really though NOBODY could be good enough for his little girl and he was just so scared that we would go through what my mom and him went through with the divorce because we were rushing. It feels good to be loved that much by your daddy.

On June 25, 2006 Ritchie made me his wife.


Following the ceremony


Cutting the cake

It was a happy day. The day of my dreams. Everyone there, surrounding us with love and nobody doubting whether or not we'd make it. We KNEW we'd make it. We'd known since day one. Since then we've had SO many adventures as husband and wife.


Married almost 1 year in this picture!

We bought a house, got promotions, went through 9 long months of trying to get pregnant, and finally got pregnant with our first child.


2 years married! We got pregnant about 6 months later.

Bringing Maxton into this world with Ritchie brought more love into my life than I could have ever dreamed possible. I felt the unbelievable love for my child, of course, but also this tremendous growth in my love for Ritchie. We had created Maxton. He was there for me in every step of the pregnancy and labor and delivery. I didn't change a diaper for the first 2 weeks because Ritchie did it ALL while I healed and fought through nursing torture (it got better, don't worry). He was patient, loving and gentle with BOTH our son and me. Having a child with Ritchie proved to me (even though I didn't need this proven - I already knew) what kind of man I had chosen. Sometimes your parents are right, but sometimes, they're wrong. Dad was wrong on this one. He knows it, too.

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/maxandbensmom/DSC_0191.jpg
3 years married and 3 months away from meeting Maxton!


Meeting Maxton for the first time. Look at the smile on Ritchie's face. Total pride.


Our family grows.

As the years have flown by, so have the milestones, especially for Ritchie.


I graduate college.


Ritchie graduates college.

Ritchie has FLOWN up the corporate ladder at Apple and continues to amaze me with how profoundly brilliant he is. I mean, how he knows how to do this stuff, I'll never know. I used to struggle teaching 4th grade math sometimes. He has knowledge that makes my head spin. We're so fortunate that his job has allowed me to do what I feel most passionate about; stay home with our children.


4 years married with our little man.

That's right, children. We're expecting another baby boy in less than 2 months. And so we celebrate this year with me pregnant and Ritchie just as supportive as ever to head into another great adventure.


5 years.

Life is so much sweeter because of my family. Ritchie and I are the core of our growing family. I couldn't have chosen a better man to fill that role. So, not-so-sorry to say, Dad but I TOLD YOU SO!! Haha!

Happy Anniversary to the man who fills my heart. And, Dad? Thanks for loving me so much. And thank you even more for loving my husband so much. You are a wonderful dad to both of us.

Third Trimester

How did I get here? I JUST peed on that stick that surprisingly gave me two pink lines to freak out about. Now I have this huge belly with a mind of its own and we're a mere 10 weeks away from Baby B's due date. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but being that these things don't tend to reverse, I guess I had better get there! Don't get me wrong, we're SO excited about our growing family and meeting Bennett, but I'm a bit nervous about the transition for Maxton and for us as parents trying to tackle two wild boys ;)

We'll survive. Heck, we may even enjoy it. In the meantime, here's the ever growing belly. First photo is roughly 26 weeks, next is almost 29 weeks!




I've actually been feeling great! This pregnancy has been significantly easier than Max's. No bladder infections and the gestational diabetes debacle is easier to cope with this time around. In short, I refused testing again in leu of just testing myself at home. I've had a few high numbers here and there (sushi, is sadly a no-no) but for the most part I can maintain eating what I'd like (within reason) and do just fine! If I do have GD this time, it seems to be a much less severe case (and it wasn't even that bad with Max, so that's saying something!). The memories of what being labeled with GD entailed for a hospital delivery with Max started us talking about whether or not we wanted to be put in that position again. I almost made it without an epidural last time and would LOVE to experience a natural delivery. In the hospital, if you have GD, you are required to be hooked up to an IV in case you need insulin, the periodically test your blood sugar to make sure you're not too low from not being allowed to eat, and they require more frequent fetal monitoring (meaning you're hooked up to a machine that makes movement difficult to say the least). For anyone who's had or witnessed a natural birth you KNOW that you do not sit there. You move, you rock, you sway, you moan, you're up and down and in the water and out and basically you never sit still. All of the above mentioned methods of monitoring GD in the hospital really limit your ability to move as a way of pain management.

Don't get me wrong. I believe that GD is a very real and very serious condition that absolutely requires extra monitoring IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL IT WITH DIET AND EXERCISE. There is my stipulation. If you need insulin, suffer low blood sugar crashes, have given birth to a very large baby (9.5 pounds +) in the past or a baby with blood sugar problems then YES you absolute need to be monitored more heavily. I have zero problems controlling my GD with diet and exercise, have never had low blood sugar or a need for insulin, and Max was a tiny 7 pounds 7 ounces. All of those securities led us to explore a home birth with a midwife.

The midwife model of care understands that a woman tends to develop more resistance to insulin in pregnancy and therefore can experience higher blood sugar than normal while she's pregnant. They like to monitor this with a glucometer (at home monitor) and help their patients modify their diet and exercise to stay within a healthy range for mom and baby. That's exactly what I already do, without the help of any health professional. When speaking with midwives we both began to feel so excited about giving birth in the comforts of our home and not having to leave Max for an extended period of time. So, we pulled the trigger and hired a midwife. Luckily my fabulous OB Dr. Kendrick (who I really do love) agreed to be a backup should I need to transfer care later in the pregnancy for any reason. I love my midwife so far and the knowledge about nutrition and my own body that I'm gaining is a wonderful lifelong tool.

Anyway, that was the long version - haha! All in all we're very excited about our birth now and cannot wait to meet our son. I'll try to be better about updating with pictures and any new info as we quickly progress towards D day.