Third Trimester Update: 37 weeks

This is my last pregnancy update and I have to say I'm so excited :) Sorry if this is a really long post, we are all getting so anxious for this little babe to make his big debut.  Last Thursday I had another of my many check ups and we were able to have an ultrasound and see him move around. He weighed in at exactly 6 pounds and is head down and facing my back (which is the right position) and we were able to get another confirmation that we're still having a boy. He's looking good and getting ready. He was stubborn and didn't turn his head so we weren't able to get a sneak peak at his face. I also found out that what I thought was his foot sticking into my rib cage all the time and making me super uncomfortable is actually his little bum... this kid has one bony butt! As of today's appointment, I also am 2cm dilated (close to 3) and 80% effaced already. This is huge news for me because normally my body doesn't do any of that until after I'm actually in "labor". It looks like all the braxton hicks contractions I've been having for the past month or two have been paying off, even if it's just a little. I'm not going to lie though, it has me on edge... all of my dreams are of my water breaking or when I have contractions I'm deep breathing in all of my dreams, hopefully this feeling will stop so I can actually sleep.

see?! I'm HUGE!!! but it's worth it :)

This pregnancy has been similar in ways to my other two but also vastly different. I'm hoping that I'll actually go into labor like a normal person instead of having my water break (which apparently happens to only 12% of women) and then have nothing happen afterwards. I'm really okay if this one is like my other two and I'm trying to prepare myself for it but really hoping that I don't have to be induced with pitocin to start my contractions. Fingers crossed!

So here are my eh's for the last trimester:

• My morning sickness came back. My migraines finally stopped so it's actually easier for me to get through my day than my first trimester.
• I overheat if it's over 75 degrees outside. If I do yard work and the sun is out I last for only 10-15 minutes before I feel like I'm going to pass out. Shade is my friend!
• I can't eat out anymore or past 6:30 p.m. I guess this one isn't too horrible unless I break it. I get so sick and hurt so badly that it's not too often that I break this one. I can sometimes eat out for breakfast or lunch as long as it's light. 

I know you're all jealous of my gigantanormous hat that I have to wear if I want to spend more than 15 minutes outside. 

My amazingnesses:

• My mood swings finally subsided at the start of my third trimester. Jed's probably happier about this than me. I really do feel bad for him since he wasn't used to it at all. I do find that if I start to eat more sugar than normal than it throws me off again. 
• I'm able to sleep during this pregnancy. This has been slowly decreasing to me waking up 1-2 times a night to use the bathroom, but for the most part I haven't had any trouble sleeping through the night at all. I do sometimes get kept awake if I get "contractions" before I can fall asleep.
• I seriously only want fruit. It's the biggest thing I crave. I have a smoothie pretty much on a daily basis and half if not 3/4 of our groceries is fruits and vegetables which are gone within a few days. 
• I've only gained 4 pounds in the last 3 months. I have to remember that I do this because I gain most of my pregnancy weight in the first two trimesters and barely anything my last trimester. 
• I'm really active this pregnancy. I workout for almost an hour a day, although I have been starting to slack off since I've been getting ridiculously tired again these past couple of weeks. I can't wait to be able to workout like normal though after the pregnancy. 
• I actually look like I'm ready to pop. My stomach is huge!! Normally, it doesn't "pop" until two weeks before I'm due, but I've been sporting this popped belly look for at least a month now and still have a few weeks to go.  
• I'm totally ready for the baby to come! I have everything I need and cleaned and ready for his arrival. :) The only thing I'm worried about is if my water breaks it hopefully doesn't happen in public and Jed's just worried we won't make it to the hospital in time, which is ridiculous since the hospital's only 5 minutes away.

Here are just a few things I'm going to miss about being pregnant:

• Feeling the baby inside. I know it'll be better once I have him in my arms to hold but I love feeling the baby move and see him bulge out in different directions.
• Belly kisses and hugs from the kids. They love giving the baby hugs and kisses. They also try to dance with him, so will hold onto my stomach and turn around and around. It's really cute.
• I love how excited the kids are for their baby brother to come. Elijah has already set aside toys and clothes and space in his room for the baby to sleep. He also wants to name the baby "lion, like the animal" or "Curious George, like on t.v" and likes the names Seth (because he had a friend with the same name) and Ryker (these are our top two contenders right now, but we're still taking suggestions). Chloe even seems to know that the baby will be coming soon because she even started to set some of her dolls' toys aside saying it's for my baby not hers.
• A couple of my favorite latest quotes from the kids are- after the kids were playing with my belly and seeing it bulge out from the baby moving Chloe lifted her shirt and poked her stomach and said she wants a big belly too. Elijah's reply was that she "can have a baby when she's bigger and after she's married." When Elijah asked to feel the baby move, I told him that the baby moves more at night so he can feel  him move before he goes to sleep that night, and Elijah looks at me and asks,"so the baby is nocturnal?" Chloe calls the baby "baby brother, Elijah".

I'm hoping this little guy will make his debut this weekend, but if not I'm really hoping for after the 15 because our anniversary is the 11 and it'd be nice to have a week in between the two events. Elijah keeps saying the baby will come in two days and Jed's hoping he comes the first part of next week so he can get out a week long inspection for his squadron. And last, I asked my family what day they think the baby will come and how much he will weigh and here are their guesses:

        (Jed's Family)                                                            (My Family)

Grandpa: sometime this year                                 Grandpa: August 15 7# 3oz

Grandma: August 10 7# 1 oz                                Grandma: August 11 7# 11 oz

Bonnie: August 8 8# 10 oz                                    Robert: August 10 6# 6 oz

Annie: August 10 6# 14 oz                                    James: August 12 6# 12 oz

Nelson: August 16 7# 4 oz                                    Christian: August 15 6#and 3/7#

Luke: August 24 8# 4 oz (and if he is exactly correct he gets to name the baby Axel) 

                                                                             Devin: August 16 5-6#

                                                                             Elena: August 19 5# 4 oz

The Fourth of July

One of Jed's fond childhood memories is of going to his grandparents' house and watching the neighborhood  parade and having brunch with his cousins. He really wanted to make sure to take advantage of us living in Utah and this tradition so we were able to enjoy the morning with his family. I think this was the kids' first Fourth of July parade (which is really bad on my part). They had so much fun, especially getting to run out and catch the thrown candy.

I made this outfit the day before for Chloe since I had everything lying around.

 Later that night we headed over to Jed's sister's house for a BBQ and fireworks. One of the perks of living in Utah is that mortars (the fireworks that shoot up in the air) are legal. Jed had a blast (seriously he's like a kid when it comes to fireworks, he already wants to start a $1000 fund just for them for next year...not going to happen but he can dream) and he put on a good show. The kids enjoyed the sparklers too. This was the first year Chloe wasn't afraid of them. Unfortunately, Elijah still remembers his shirt catching a little flame on it while we were in Japan two years ago and refuses to touch sparklers. He liked playing with the glow sticks though. 

Memorial Weekend

This year we had a really fun Memorial Day weekend compliments of the military.

Friday night we were able to enjoy our first arena football game with free tickets from base. The kids loved it. I was a little surprised that Chloe enjoyed it as much as she did. She liked the "cheerleaders" and would get up and dance when they did. She also clapped and yell "Woo Hoo!" after each goal and kick. Elijah loved when the mascot came out and when they would dance in between time outs. Elijah was also really bummed that our team lost. He contributed it to them "being tired because it was past his bedtime".

Saturday we had planned to go to the Air Show on base but it was rained out and cancelled. We were able to take advantage of some other places that had free events for military and family. Sunday after church we decided to let Elijah go to the Air Show just because he had been looking forward to it for the entire month. Chloe and I stayed home so she could take a nap but the boys went. Jed's really fun to go to places like that with because he knows what everything is and can explain the different guns, tanks and planes. Elijah loved it! Chloe and I were able to catch the very end of the show from the hill right behind our house.

Afterwards, we headed over to Jed's parents' for dinner. The kids always have so much fun with their uncles and cousins.

Our Garden

This year we actually have a place to garden. We rented a little plot on the other side of base since we're not allowed to actually garden in our own yards. It was (and still does) get overrun by weeds. We went out and weeded everything and planted our veggies. The kids had so much fun with it. They both love gardening and whenever I go out to work in our flower garden they are always next to me helping. It's the same way when helping Jed in the garden plot. They especially love it because Jed dug a little mud pit for them and they really enjoy immersing their entire bodies in the sink hole.

 Our first look at our garden plot

The kids helping out on our first day of work, the mud hole eventually came up to Chloe's head

We've been really trying to teach the kids the importance of eating healthy and why we don't eat lots of sugar all of the time and gardening really helps them get excited about eating healthy. Both kids love to eat veggies and fruit so it's not a huge strain on them. :) They also love finding ripe veggies and eat them immediately instead of waiting to share later, so needless to say we haven't gotten much to harvest just yet.