Travel Often

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

Love Deeply, but Laugh Along the Way

"Happiness is only real when shared." - Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

View Marriage as an Adventure

"Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage." ~Finnish Proverb

Fuel your body with GOOD (It's the only one you get)

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. - Arabian Proverb

Open your Soul to Motherhood

A Grand Adventure is About to Begin - Winnie the Pooh

A New Kind of Love is Born

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Who's IN for a 5-day FREE Clean Eating Challenge?

FREE 5-Day Clean Eating Challenge
October 13-17

Who's in? Like my Facebook page or message me!


38 Weeks and Picture Comparison Time!

Well, I made it!!! We're at full term. 

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and is over 19 1/2 inches long (about the size of a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.

Even though the doctor told me NOT to worry today, he still sent me to get an ultrasound because my belly didn't grow again within a week's time. It was still measuring at 35 inches. It was up two inches last week, but it should have been up again. He just wanted to make sure there was enough fluid for baby. Heartbeat was strong 148 beats per minute (sure seems like a boy) and this baby has been moving a LOT the past few days. Blood pressure was 110/52.

My pregnancy with Jackson

Pregnancy with Baby #2

And hey...still gaining weight. So why isn't baby!??!?! Too much ice cream? Oh dear. It's OK. I'm not worried about this. So yeah...189 lbs if you're curious. I started at 145. Then dropped to 143 lbs. But we'll just stick with 145. Right? You do the math. WOWZA.

So this morning I went from Farmington. To Burnsville. To Shakopee. To Burnsville. Then to work. But hey, to hear baby seems FINE, I can now relax. Baby is measuring in at 36 weeks versus being 38 weeks pregnant. So maybe two weeks behind size-wise. He/she is about 5 pounds 10 ounces (give or take a pound) and is in the 43 percentile. This is about where Jackson sits all the time. SKINNY. It's OK.

What I couldn't believe was how LOW the baby's head is. I'm used to the ultrasound ON my belly. Oh no. We're talking WAAAAAY down there. Explains why I feel like the "gates are opening" and there is a ball stuck in there. No, I'm not getting checked either. It hurts and I had a friend sitting at 4 centimeters dilated for 3 weeks. NO THANKS. Doesn't matter. I was never dilated with Jackson.

ANYWAY... The ultrasound tech said nothing alarmed her one bit. The doctor still has to look over things, but she said she wouldn't worry either! We go back on Monday and Karl gets to make this upcoming appointment! YAY!

I had to look away every time she would check the gender regions, but even she said she didn't know what we were having! Baby was being shy.
Has dad's cheeks for SURE!

My nose... Oh boy. 


What I love is every single tech we've had always has made time to do 3D pictures for us. They always run out and check their schedules and come back..."AHH! There's time for you!" They don't have to. But they do for us!!!! I LOVE THAT. I kept saying how much Karl would LOVE to see but he was stuck at work. They are too good to us!

Anyway, I've been emotional on and off lately. There's been a lot going on in my life (searching for daycare, finishing projects at work before I leave, my gma had a major stroke, dealing with a cold, prepping house for baby, and all the other stuff that goes on), but everyone has stuff going on. I picked up a nasty cold last Tuesday and because I rarely get sick, when I do...I tend to get more emotional. So that doesn't help either. But I have been thinking a lot about the changes about to happen and life in general. How nothing stays the same for long...good or bad. And we really need to soak up those good moments when they come. Sometimes we don't even know we're in a good moment. That's the problem.

I read this yesterday and it hit home -
Nothing in this world is permanent, including our stories. Yet we try to hold on to them for false security, which ultimately leads to sorrow and loss. Be willing to let go. Keep reinventing your story as you continue to grow!

I'm excited. I am. I'm scared too. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it but I know I will. I know it. I am strong. I am capable. And I am FULL of joy and light. Every time I look back on how far we've all come since Jackson was born, I can't help but puff my chest out a little. I DID THAT. ME. It was a TON of work. A TON. But I DID IT. And I'm going to KEEP doing it with a full heart. So there. That's settled.

Last night Jackson was being a silly-bean running down the halls and singing at the top of his lungs. I looked at Karl and said, "Why do I have a feeling our house is going to get a whole lot louder from here on out?"

We just laughed. Life is truly sweet.

I find myself thinking...."WOW! This little boy is OURS! How on earth!?!?!" I might not be the bestest friend right now or greatest sister or most present employee. I try my hardest to please everyone. I do. But my priority and my number one is being THE BEST mom and wife I can be every single day. Those take work. A TON of work. But you know what...I'm doing pretty OK at that! :)

Until next time!!!