Two Weekends (in Review)

I LOVE SUMMER! I know I say that a lot. It's true!

We've had a LOT of family time lately. A lot! BUT the BEST NEWS OF ALL is Karl has started a NEW JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even EXPRESS how HAPPY this makes me. NO more on-call. NO MORE weekends! No more LATE NIGHTS!!! Thank you, Lord. THANK YOU! I feel like I can breathe a little more!!! Only FIVE years of a NUTSO schedule. 

In Roscoe! Headed back to Minnesota!

In-between jobs, Karl and I took some time off and drove down to see my parents (Jackson was a CHAMP in the car!!! 5 hours down and about 8.5 on the way back. We both had to pee a lot!). We were planning on visiting my grandparents for a full day and night, but my grandpa hasn't been feeling the greatest. That made me super sad. I talked to him on the phone and he acted like he wanted nothing to do with seeing us. I get it though. Who wants visitors when you're feeling punk? I was a bit out of sorts after hanging up the phone with him, but tried to coach myself through the emotions. 

Karl LOVES Lego's. Yes, I said Karl. Can you tell? 

Eleanor and Jackson getting ready for a sweet bike ride!

All safe!

LOVE this lady!!!! Eleanor (just turned 3), Jenna and Jackson. GREAT PEOPLE!!!!! We spent a friend morning and afternoon together. Jenna always makes me SO HAPPY.

Papa and Jackson on a tractor ride!!!

Popsicle time on the deck with grandma!

Cheers!

Wait a second, this is mommy's water!!!!

Being silly!

At Kid's World in Roscoe! When I was little, I helped build this fun playground!!!

Picking up sticks after the storm!

Riding Great Grandpa Harry's COOL tractor

Great Grandpa Harry, Jackson and dad on a cart ride. Pretty good for an 87-year-old who has a brain bleed... We did get the news that it has stopped bleeding!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!

Sweet hugs for Great Grandma Anne

Jackson LOVED visiting these two. They couldn't believe his energy. 

Climbing trees!

Instead of fast food, we stopped at a grocery store for dinner and picked up healthy eats!

Back home! Jackson getting adjusted! He crawls right up on the table like a champ.

Going for a bike ride!

Jackson met Stephy J! We went to Greece with Stephy and she flew in with my brother for the weekend. She works at John Deere and Jackson was able to watch COOL TRACTOR videos. He liked Stephy VERY much!

Kisses from Grandma!

Park fun!

Grocery shopping trip!

We were able to visit my brother Mike at his killer job at MillerCoors. All employees get to go to the private bar after 4 with the FRESHEST beer and they are invited to bring a few friends from the outside world (us). Can I say, SWEET!??! It was VERY hard not to drink, but it was fun to see my brother and Karl in all their glory. I kind of felt like I was back in college because we went on the Lakefront tour (THE BEST BEER TOUR EVER) AND hit up two bars after. I WAS TIRED the next day. I still managed to have fun, but not the greatest place to be when you're pregnant!

MillerCoors PRIVATE employee bar

We were also able to fit in a quick trip to see my college bestie, She-Dawg!!! That was SO wonderful!!!!!! I miss her so much! I was able to see her in action and play with her three AWESOME kids. She is SUCH a great mom and inspiration! 

Me, She-Dawg and Carter (6 months old)

On our way back home to Minnesota, I called my grandparents one more time. I was scared. Sometimes it's easier to avoid when you're not sure what you're going to get.... I knew my gpa was going in for a brain scan earlier that day to see how his brain bleed was doing. The doctor cancelled due to emergency surgery, but we decided to stop in anyway. SO GLAD we DID!!!!!!!!! I did cry with my gma on the phone because we talked about not knowing if this could be the last time or not. I tried to keep it together, but I'm hormonal and it makes me sad to think about life without my grandpa. BUT, Karl was adamant about going even if it was an extra 2 hours added to our commute home. This is why I love Karl. He follows his heart. He loves me.

Love to all of you!

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29 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (about the size of a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain – which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

August 11, 2014

Hello!!! Hope everyone had a super weekend! I can't believe I'm going to be entering the "30s" tomorrow!!! I feel like once you hit the 30-week mark during pregnancy, the due date gets REALLY close. Gulp!!

Me (5'10) at 29 weeks and my sis in law (5'3) at 23 weeks!

Here are my measurements for Week 29 -
Chest - 36.5"
Right Arm - 11 3/8"
Left Arm - 11 1/4"
Waist - 37 1/2 and GROWING!!!!
Hips - 40.5"
Right Thigh - 24 1/2"
Left Thigh - 24"
Weight - 174 pounds and GROWING (grumble) 

I honestly feel great and I think this is why I keep going back to boy. I did feel really great when pregnant with Jackson. I did have a rougher start to this pregnancy than with Jackson but I do feel like I have more energy. YES, I am tired, but it's weird. I can keep going and going. It could because I'm really watching what I eat and am getting in a great workout and it's SUMMER! I remember with Jackson I could maybe do stair stepper once a week. So I LOVE THIS - I'm getting 3-4 workouts in a week!!!

I forgot to post that my blood pressure went back down to 106/61! YAY! It was around 122/62 the time before that but I also realized that was when we were moving and I wasn't eating as well, nor was I working out AND I was STRESSED OUT! Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I had a break out with hives early on in this pregnancy and I had a rash on my face with this one (went away right before third trimester). I also had the big belly line with Jackson and not with this one. I also can still get regular pants and shorts over my thighs with this one. I could NOT with Jackson. However, I feel like I'm going to gain more this time around. Oh boy. I mean...summer...ice cream. Oh boy!!! My hair feels thick and long...like it did with Jackson.

Everything is GREAT! I seriously am thinking it might have to do with becoming a coach for Beachbody. I LOVE it. LOVE IT. More on that in another post!!!

Have a super week!

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Third Trimester – 28 Weeks

Fastest pregnancy ever!

By this week, your baby weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Jeez, we’re cruising along here. How am I already in third trimester? How is it already August (tomorrow)??? HOW!?!?!

28 Weeks!

Week 28 of pregnancy was SO much better than Week 27. I think we’re all feeling great, the weather is fantastic, it’s SUMMER!  We have enjoyed eating dinner outside EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK!!! Have I mentioned how much I love this about our new house?

Oh, and my lil man stopped by my work to visit! YAY! Then he went to see his dad. I guess his place was "cooler" than mine. Sigh. 

Driving the forklift!

Trying on a foot. 

We had baby’s doctor appointment yesterday, including the fabulous glucose test. I passed. Heartbeat sounds great again. YAY! We’re scheduled for a 32-week ultrasound at the end of August to see if we can take a peek at the nuchal fold again and make sure baby is A.O.K. Once I enter the “thirty” week time frame, I get nervous. I know PLENTY of people who’ve had babies thirty-plus pregnant. GULP!!! HERE WE GO!!!

My healthy breakfast before my glucose test!

I was able to stop by and see my friends Kimbra and Chad’s brand new baby boy, Colton! What a SWEETHEART!!!!!! He is SO tiny!!!!!!!!! I can’t remember Jackson being THAT tiny. SO many memories flooded my head and heart. And a little voice reminded me that I WILL be able to do this. But then a coworker stopped me and said, “Just so you know, ONE is easy. TWO is not.”

Sweet baby Colton!

Thanks.

I guess I popped yesterday since pretty much everyone told me how pregnant I looked. Maybe it was the shirt I was wearing? As active as I have been and as good as I’ve been eating, I’m still gaining. Maybe I’m creating a huge baby? Who knows!

Jackson seems to understand more and more that there is a baby in mommy’s belly. Some days he will tell me, “No! Baby. Go away.” Some days, he’ll rest his head on my belly and kiss it and say, “Hi, baby!” Some days he’ll come charging up to me and swat my belly out of nowhere. Then two seconds later say, “Sorry, baby.” This will be an interesting transition. I just make sure to remind him that he’s going to be THE BEST big brother and THE BEST mommy’s helper. He seems to be pretty proud of that. Fingers crossed.

I wanted to share this video that’s been on Karl’s phone for a while. We taped the baby’s heart beat around 12 weeks. LOVE THIS SOUND!!!!! Listen here!

Blessings to you all!

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Fun Weekend in Review

SO thankful for GOOD HEALTH and HAPPY WEEKENDS. 

I realized I was taking this for granted until Jackson got sick. Life sort of flips upside down when our little ones don't feel well. I totally cherished this weekend when Jackson turned around on Saturday and was back to himself. Thank goodness!!

This is what we've been up to!!

An hour-long bike ride in our new neighborhood!!! We uncovered another sweet park!!!

Cool park!!!

My boys!

My sweetheart!

Earlier last week...On the way to the doctors. This kid never sleeps, so we knew something was up

Doctor said LOTS OF COLD STUFF. 

CHECK! We ate tons and tons of cold stuff!

Germs flying around? I made sure to make us SUPER healthy stuff all week! STAY AWAY, GERMS!

One of my favorite salads in the whole world!!! Yep, made with real Mayo!

Another new park! I told Jackson we'd stop at a park on the way to Costco. Thing is, we both love Costco! SAMPLES!!!

Cool park!

Hey! It's me! 27 Weeks Preggers! (No make-up! EVER!)

Going for a ride in the front lawn!

YAY! AWESOME NEIGHBORS! Jess was walking by with her son Jason and wanted to introduce herself. HOW COOL! Made a playdate out of it! Our friends Jason and Katie stopped by too with their daughter! PERFECT TIMING!

When my friend Katie saw our master bath, she asked how many "tubs" I've taken. Answer...NONE. So I took her advice that night and DID IT! AHHH-MAZING!!!!!!!!!

For Father's Day, I had a friend out in WA gather up a bunch of beers ONLY sold out there that Karl might love and ship them over to us in Minnesota. BOY, he did not disappoint. This is Karl's favorite so far. Funny thing is when Karl and I traveled out west along the coast, we stopped at Hopworks and had a beer there! But this one was new to us and SO good. Made with quinoa!!!!! HEALTHY BEER!!!  ( Disclaimer: I only had two sips!)

HOUSE PROJECTS FOR THE WEEK

Some cool things we worked on:

These hanging baskets are turning out SO PRETTY!!!! Giving them LOTS of TLC.

Karl filled up Jackson's sandbox and put bricks down under his picnic table after I weeded! Looks SO NICE!

Yeah. Did you catch all the weeds back there? There are a TON! A TON.

I spent 3 hours with Jackson on Sunday weeding the back of our yard. WHOA! It's looking SUPER nice now! We made a game out of it too. The kid who lived here before must have had a toy BB gun and the yellow BBs are EVERYWHERE. Jackson calls them "corns" and collects them. 

We got a new microwave!!!!!!! Our friend in the cabinet making business came over quick, raised up the cabinets, helped Karl put in the microwave. DONE IN MINUTES. BOOM. LOVE THESE GUYS!

Hope your week if FULL OF FUN and JOY!

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