36 weeks, 3 days

Less than FOUR weeks until d-day!

36 weeks 3 days with Manna

36 weeks with our "blessing" Addison

Little Info On Manna: Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position (Manna is as of right now and all the kicks/movements support this as well---lets up he/she stays).

How am I feeling: Considering we are so close to the end, I feel great. Sure I have a few aches and pains here and there, but I am grateful that pregnancy has been very uneventful. I am anxious to meet Lil Manna, know if its a boy or girl, swaddle it, snuggle it, give it a name and watch my Addison be a big sister.

Doctor Appointment Summary:

• BP: 105/60
• Heartbeat: 138
• Measurement: Still on track
• Overall: Saw one of the doctors this time. She said they will not check my progress until 39 or 40 weeks again--YAY! She said everything looks good and really just reviewed how we were feeling about delivery---our birth plan has not change yet. She also said, if we go into labor they wont stop it (although I hope we make it all the way to the due date).

This is when Addison says "NECK" and wants to tickle your neck then you return the "favor" to her :)

First Day of School

Addison started preschool a few weeks ago and I also worked the first two weeks of school. It is a co-op so mom's work as a teacher's assistant every 6 weeks. I worked for two weeks to make up for missed time after we have Manna; the school was/is so wonderful about working with us. We can pay a sub to work for us, but I LOVE hanging out with kids (I do not work in Addison's class).

A few people criticized us or furrowed their brow upon hearing that we were starting her in school "already", but our goal with school is to socialize Addison. She tends to be a little shy, so we felt like she needed structured time to be around other kids her age. Also, after working in the older 2's and young 3's class---I am VERY glad we started school at this age. Some of those children had a lot of trouble coping without mommy and their distress lasts much longer than a 1.5 year old.

Addison attends school Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am - 2pm and has been doing fantastic. Her teacher, Miss Sandy, is also from Mississippi. Although Addison does not nap during their rest time, she lays quietly on a mat on the floor. She is exhausted when we get home and goes straight for a 3-3.5 hour nap!!! On the way home from school she just talks and talks about her day. The teacher said she is a joy; glad we gave her a middle name of JOY :)

I LOVE getting little art projects sent home too :)

Addison's classroom during Open House the day before school started; she jumped right in.

Addison's classroom during Open House the day before school started.

Although they spelled her name wrong, this is where her art work hangs everyday :)

Making her lunch the night before--do not ask why I was so excited about making her lunch.

Off to school.

Walking in to the first day of school.

Daddy was able to come too!!

Dropping her off.

Little hesitation, but no tears :)

35 Weeks, 4 Days

Quick Update without profile shots on Manna.

We had an ultrasound on Friday 9/16 since I have a history of macrosomia (giant babies). The day did not start off right as they changed the appointment time three times on me and made it where Matthew could not attend. I do not ask him to come to appointments, but ultrasounds are fun for the dad---they get to experience the baby whereas us mom's experience it every moment!!

Summary of results: Anticipating average sized baby (vs. giant Addison).

What was funny was the abdomen size was the one measurement pulling down the entire current size percentile; the head was 2 weeks ahead and the femur length was right on track. I TRIED to take it with a grain of salt since they predicted high 7 pounds with Addison and she was born 9.5 lbs but I was a little stressed when they said "average"!!! All these concerns flooded my head ranging from---"is this my fault" to "I dont know how to handle little babies". Then, I was reminded the baby is healthy AND these results mean we do not have to be induced before the due date!! THAT was the best news. So as of now, I am allowed to go 7 days overdue; we hope this will allow me to go on my own as well as allow Manna to get some chunk on :)

We did not get to bring any pictures home since Manna moved SO much during the u/s. The tech had trouble getting any shots that were good enough for measuring. Addison said "watch manna" and "Mommy is lie down" the entire time. LOL!!!

Summary of Doc Visit:

• BP: 120/60 Although this is normal; its high for my history. The doctors always laugh at me when I say that is high LOL.
• Heat beat: 140's...interesting as its been in the 130's until now. Hmmm....
• Tests: Had Strep B test.
• Overall: All seems/sounded well; Head down and "almost engaged"---that would explain the couple of contractions over the weekend and some of the slight pain. As we all know, head down status could still change.
• Progress: 1.5 cm dilated; 50% effaced. Apparently this is right on track for second babies at week 36, so we are a tiny bit ahead. Interestingly, this is where we were at with Addison at 37 weeks and then nothing changed after that :)

34 Weeks, 4 Days

Holy smokes, it's week 34!!! I have said it many times but I will say it again: feels like we are flying through this pregnancy!

34 Weeks, 4 days with Manna

34 Weeks with our Blessing Addison

Lil info about Manna: According to Babycenter.com Manna now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Doctor Appointment Summary:

• BP: 110/68 High for me but normal for most :)
• Heartbeat: 130's
• Weight: NO WEIGHT GAIN, Woot Woot! I saw a doctor today and she said as long as I do not lose any weight it's ok :)
• Measurement: Right on track unlike Addison who always measured about 1-2 weeks behind
• Overall: I saw one of the doctors this time and she expressed her concerns IF we have a baby any bigger than Addison. I think they maybe be putting the cart before the horse but we have some more time to see if that is true. They want to get an idea of how big they THINK Manna will be, even though as we recall from our first pregnancy they were and can be WAY off in weight estimates. Last time, they guessed Addison would be about 7 lbs maybe 8 and she was 9.5 lbs!! However, I dont argue with the docs, I follow directions and so we are scheduled for an ultrasound Friday. From that, they will decide if I need additional ones to keep an eye on the size. We are not worried, we want a biggin :)
• Coming up: Weekly visits start now and on my next visit we get the lovely strep b test.

How Am I Feeling: Pretty great. It rained ALL week, so I was not able to walk everday so instead I started my Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I substitute stair climbs for all the ab exercises, but MAN I AM SORE!! My back is sore pretty consistently, but nothing too terrible. I love each and every movement to remind me that lil Manna is doing well...even when the punches and kicks are uncomfortable. I am working in Addison's school for the next two weeks and its my church's consignment sale soon (I am on the leadership team for the sale) so I have a feeling I will be worn out by October. I would not have it any other way! We are SO blessed.

34 weeks 2 days, just a random one.

Addison saying "Kiss Manna Please" and giving Manna a lil sweet kiss

Addison after saying "hug, Manna, hug"

Chuck E Cheese Adventure

A few weeks ago we took Addison to meet up with a friend at Chuck E Cheese. I knew she was a little young for it, but I wanted to give it go. She loves to people watch so if anything else, I figured she would watch/follow her friend around and/or watch other kids. The BEST part was Matthew was off that day, so he was able to come---always a special treat!!!

Here are some of the highlights:

• She LOVED watching Chuck E walk around in his suit; she giggled and grinned and squealed with delight the whole time.
• Ski Ball was a hit
• There was a game where you threw ping pong balls in buckets and she thought that was super duper fun
• She enjoyed following her BFF (a year older than her; about our niece's age actually) around EVERYWHERE
• She liked to hang out by the stage where a robotic Chuck E was singing occasionally
• Pizza is always a fun food for her, but she was so distracted she hardly ate!

All in all we enjoyed watching the grins and giggles throughout the entire afternoon! I was surprised Addison was not devastated when it was time to head home for a nap...although maybe she was so tired she was ready to leave. I love spending time with my lil family!!!!!