one more week....

Looks like Bennett is being a hold out but she'll be here in one week or less!  

We're starting to get excited, and everything that's going to get done, is done!!  

We thought she was coming this weekend...Mimi took Porter to Columbia Saturday night, so Ryan and I decided to take advantage and go for one last dinner & movie ALONE!  I started noticing contractions during dinner, and got a little more uncomfortable during the movie {we saw Inception, and it was GREAT by the way!}.  When we got home, I went to bed and tried to get some rest, but after about 3 hours the contractions were getting way too strong to sleep!  BUT they were never regular...after about another hour, I decided to go ahead and head to the hospital anyway since they were getting stronger {when I went into labor with Porter my contractions were never regular, and they definitely weren't hurting this bad!!}

After being hooked up to a monitor for a few hours, the contractions never got regular--they would get stronger but I would have them every 2 min apart, then I wouldn't have one for 8 min or so and "real" labor wouldn't kick in...but they did give me a shot that made the contractions much less intense and let me {and Ryan} get some rest!!  

Unfortunately they told me that the contractions would keep coming until I went into labor {I almost cried when they told me this since I realized true "labor" could be a week away!!} BUT I will say the contractions have definitely slowed down and aren't painful like they were!  I have a few painful ones here and there, but for the most part, they're painless and very irregular!  

I had decided that I didn't want to be induced but after all the contractions, I decided that I probably couldn't make it 2 more weeks {one week sounds bad enough! ha!} so we go back to the Dr. Monday for my 39 week appointment, and we'll schedule to be induced hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday! Everyone thinks she's coming before then, but I have pretty much accepted that I have one more week left!!

Hopefully our next post will be pictures of our new family of FOUR!!

still pregnant...

Bennett is not here yet!  I keep thinking she's coming any day now, but I am very pleased to say she's held off long enough for me to get a few things done for her that I have been putting off!  I was able to get her several Burp Cloths {along with a onesie and gown} made this morning--and you can see them HERE!

I also got a tub/bucket made for her room to store blankets, etc in!

The "tub" was a beverage tub from target that I spray painted pink, and then added the vinyl monogram in white--it's cute for $10!

I also monogrammed {with vinyl} this:

I really like the vinyl--I'm trying to decide whether to start offering items similar to these for sale at Make Mine Monogrammed--If I do, it will probably be a more seasonal thing {back to school, Christmas, etc.} or either local only {since these items seem to be more "bulky" to ship!}...BUT we'll see how much time I actually have once I have a 3 year old AND a newborn!

I also got the 3 prints I bought from Lucky Bluebird Art framed and hung above the crib!

I'm already thinking I want THIS ONE, after she gets here :)

I still have a few things left to do, but I definitely feel a lot more ready for her to get here now! 

Porter is also ready for her to get here--we can't wait to see him as a big brother!  

getting close...

I still have a LONG list of things to do before Bennett gets here!  It seems like every day my list grows and grows! I had my 37 week appointment today {at 36w6d} and it seems she might be in a bigger hurry to get here than we are!  Before I saw my Dr. today, I told my nurse, that I had just gotten to the "uncomfortable stage" and even though I was tired of being pregnant, I still needed at least 2 more weeks to get everything done!  I have had it in my head that I was going to go past my due date for some reason! So needless to say I was shocked {as was my Dr. a little} that I went from no progress/nothing last week, to already 3cm dilated in 6 days!  I was 3cm when I went in after being in labor for a few hours with Porter!!  Of course, he still told me I could go all the way up to my due date, but to just be prepared because "it" could happen any day now!  So now I feel like we're rushing against the clock {which means I'll probably NOT go into labor anytime soon}!  BUT my list of things to do tomorrow just may send me into labor :)  If I don't go into labor in the next 2 weeks, he will induce me at 39weeks {if I want to be}...so looks like we'll get to meet Bennett in the next two weeks {if not sooner!}

Porter's "lubbaby"

FIRST of all, I can quit complaining because our A/C is fixed!  I have never been so happy before!  It got up to 90 degrees in our house yesterday before it actually got fixed, then took about 12 hours or so to cool down BUT it's working now and it's back to a very comfortable 72 degrees inside! 

Porter came to me a few days ago with Bennett's stuffed bear (that someone gave to her!) that is like his, telling me he needed to show me the "lubbaby" or lullaby :)  

He was very specific and needed to teach me...You have to hold the "baby bear" (which is what he calls her bear) with TWO hands, and rock it and sing, "go...to...sleep....and...don't cry....baaaaabbbbyyyy" then you have to "softly, mama put it in bed"   It was so cute...and then he got his "big bear" and sang to it: "go to sleep, don't let the sharks eat you!"  So needless to say the two lullabies are a little different :)

Here he is rocking "baby bear"--bed head and all :)

but...he got bored real quick (let's hope he doesn't get tired of Bennett this quick!)

And here's another pic from this morning...Porter and Ryan went outside to play for a little while, but Porter decided it was way too hot, and came inside and then took off nearly all of his clothing, telling me he was "sweating TOOOO much, mama!"

He decided to play inside, and wanted me to take his picture...

I'm going to complain...

Bear with me, because I need to complain!  I thought up until now I had done so well being so pregnant and it being 100+ degrees every day...that is until yesterday at about 6pm.  When our air conditioning QUIT WORKING!!  I almost started crying.  Of course when we actually realized that yes, in fact it was not working it was almost 8pm, and nothing to do until today--I watched as the thermostat crept up to 86 degrees inside our house by bed time.  I was (still am) MISERABLE!!!  After describing the problem, it seems like it's an easy fix, and they're going to try and have someone out here today--so I'm crossing my {very swolen} fingers that I only have a few more hours of near 90 degree temps inside!  Either way, Ryan has already informed me I am under no circumstances staying here tonight if it's not fixed!  I think the fact that I did not sleep at all and complained the entire night (thus keeping him from sleep also), worked enough that he just *might* cash in some of those mariott points and let me stay in a hotel tonight--or if not he's sending me north to nana's house :)

I actually started a blog post yesterday about having only 24 days left, and how surprised I was that being pregnant in the heat of the summer was not bad at all--I had to start dinner, so I didn't get it finished-- and after the a/c went out I promptly deleted it!!  Because let me tell you, it's THAT BAD!!  

I was HOPING to go into labor last night, just so I could go to the hospital and get some a/c!! 

Hopefully it'll get fixed and my next post will not have so much complaining!!

updates

We have been ON THE GO!  I feel like we've been going non-stop forever!  We have had 2 very lazy days at home to catch up on some rest! But then Ryan had to head to Houston for a couple of days for work this afternoon--so we're still somewhat on the go! 

Mimi was here for less than 24 hours (sadly) passing through (sort of), and had to fly out of New Orleans, so after we dropped her off at the airport, we used our Children's museum pass and took Porter back finally! 

He had a BLAST, and I think Ryan did too :)

Porter is Ryan's mini-me--they even walk alike:

me & porter being silly:

I don't know who enjoyed the lincoln logs more--Porter or Ryan??

In baby news, I'm almost 36 weeks (going by the new date of August 11--which I guess we are since when I pre-registered at the hospital that's the one they had!) so only about 4 weeks to go!!  BUT Porter was born at 39 weeks, so who knows how long we really have left!  I say Aug 6, and Ryan thinks July 26--let's hope I'm closer to being right!  Training camp starts sometime in late July, and he'll be done after the first week of August sometime, so I'm hoping she either comes before or after training camp and NOT in the middle!  My mom (mimi) will be here though starting the 24th/25th through August 11th (my DUE DATE!!) SO we're also hoping she makes her debut during that time also :)  

I guess we're asking a lot of Bennett before she ever even gets here, huh?!

I still have a LONG list of things to do, but it's getting done slowly, and I guess nothing that can't wait until after she gets here!  I have finally started using my cricut for some vinyl monograms (that I've had for 2 years and done NOTHING with) and am having way to much fun adding even more (vinyl) monogramming to bennett & Porter's things!  I had to stop myself from monogramming the diaper genie even--I guess a monogrammed waste basket was enough!

pure joy

We grilled out for the 4th weekend so Porter got some fun outside time while Daddy was cooking :)

He is so much fun!

this & that

I got a new camera last Christmas, and while I haven't been exactly shooting on "auto" mode, I also have been a little scared to do it on full manual also!  So I've been trying to "practice" with it and a couple of lenses that I have for it (after reading my manual front to back and reading countless tutorials and tips on the internet--I really want to take a class here at our local  photo store, but not sure that's going to happen before Bennett makes her arrival!), so here are some pics I took today while doing all my practice!  Since Porter wasn't being so cooperative I took some pics of the nursery!  It's not done yet, but it's getting there!  Lots of little things left to do, and nothing's on the walls yet (besides the cross, and that's not really where it goes!) but I'm happy to be this far along with it with only 5 weeks left (I really thought I would just now be starting on it so I feel like I'm ahead of the game!!)

Bennett's room (about 70% done!)

Our bedrooms are {really really} small (at least the two guest ones) and this one is long and narrow with just one window...I really wanted to keep the twin bed in there (we had a bed in Porter's nursery and I really liked having it in there) especially since Ryan will be on the road a lot before Bennett is probably sleeping through the night, therefore I'm thinking I'll be spending quite a few nights in there while he's gone :)

So there's not a whole lot of room with 4 pieces of furniture--still not 100% on the layout yet, but this is how it is for now!

The only thing I bought for the twin bed is the headboard--it came from walmart.com and is an inflatable headboard!  I had never heard of such a thing...but I really like it!  The bedding on the twin bed I already had (it's some old bedding of mine) and I just altered it and made a duvet, etc. to fit on a twin instead of a queen

The dresser (which will be used as the changing table) was also mine and is an antique...I am going to change the drawer pulls, and I haven't decided if I'm going to add the mirror back or not...I didn't use it with Porter because it's kind of girly (it's round) but I think I might add it back!

Her bed & bedding!  I painted the crib (that I got at a consignment store) and had the bedding made...the cream is not a minky (like it sort of looks in the pic), but a quilted cotton and the trim is a light pink--it turned out a little darker pink that I wanted after it was lined, and doubled over on the ruffle, ant ties, but I still love it!

I bought 3 custom bird prints off etsy at Lucky Bluebird Art! I LOVE them, and they match the bedding perfectly.  I still have to get them framed, and they will more than likely hang over the crib. 

I also have a  painted canvas' & door hanger ordered from Emily Horn Designs that will also have a place eventually!

not so sure about the bed in the corner, but that may be where it has to stay!

This bed is LOW, and I plan on raising it another 6 inches or so...it was Porter's first bed after his crib, so we had it low--the box spring is really thin for this reason.  BUT it's very comfy--and since I'm going to be sleeping there that's all that matters to me ;)

Porter likes the bed too--though he thinks that sissy is going to sleep in it :)

I find the pillows on the floor daily, and know that Porter has been in there!

Speaking of Porter, he got a new bed also!  I was shocked at how well he adjusted not only to a new bigger bed, but also a whole new room!  The two rooms are about the same size, but his old room was shaped better for the nursery furniture!

One good thing about his bigger bed, is that he has more room for all of his toys!  And he sleeps with all of them every night and every nap! 

sweet Porter

I was able to snap a few not running/blurry pictures of him when he was still for about 5 seconds outside late this afternoon

"cheese" {with just a little hostility thrown in}