I Get to Join the Ranks of Mimi and Papa!

So last night while eating dinner, Scott said he had an announcement to make.  A very important one, so we all needed to listen.  When I go into work on Wednesday, I am to give my two weeks notice- I don't have to work anymore!

Hallelujah!!!  

I had been only doing two nights a week, and then most recently I dropped down to one, working me down to nothing at all.  But I didn't expect it to happen until closer to Owen's birth, maybe sometime in the end of September or October.  But here it is- two nights left and I am done.  Jackson got this silent grin on his face, and you could tell he was thinking about something.  "Retired" he whispered.  We both got a huge grin on our faces and Scott said "Yes Jackson, just like Mimi and Papa, Mommy will be retired and not have to work anymore.  Do you think you will like that Big Guy?"  His smile stretched from ear to ear and said a big, loud "YES!"  

So who would have thunk it. Only 31 years old, and already retired. Now I get to live the Good Life.  *grin*

Who am I kidding, my life has always been good.  

23 week Doctor's Appointment

I had my monthly Owen check up today, so I brought my favorite big Brother along with me so he could hear his little brother's heartbeat again.  Oh how excited he got when he heard it!  He immediately jumped right off of his chair and came next to me on the doctor's table with a huge grin across his face.  It was awesome.  I love that I can bring Jackson to these appointments.  It really connects him to his little brother in a whole new way.  Plus he is such a good boy!  He sits so nice, eating his animal crackers and never interrupts the nurses or the doctor when they are talking.  He is even answering them now when they talk to him (our sweet shy boy!)  He loves looking at the bulletin boards they have in the hallways full of pictures of the babies delivered by their doctor's; always asking if Owen will be there when he is born.  He did tell me today though that he doesn't want to ever have to go pee-pee in a cup.  "Mommy, I really don't want to!"  Made me smile. Oh the things that bother them....

Owen's heartbeat was fast and strong at 147, right where it has been pretty much throughout the pregnancy.  This was so cool- as soon as the nurse found Owen's heartbeat he must not have liked the pressure she was putting on him with the doppler so he pushed right back.  She could feel him moving and pushing her hand away the whole time.  Baby Owen is getting so strong!  With each of her pushes he was doing two right back at her, you could just imagine him saying "Hey!  Cut that out already!"

We got the results to all of my tests, and everything is perfect and normal, so that is a relief.  I go back in about two weeks for my glucose intolerance test where I get to drink that flat orange pop again. I am not worried, I didn't have any issues with gestational diabetes with Jackson, so I will probably be fine again this time.  But we shall see.  Fingers crossed.  Other then that, pretty quick appointment.  I go back in 4 weeks on August 19th for our next one.

Goodness, this pregnancy is moving so fast.  I can hardly believe it.  Next week is an important milestone for Owen.  If something were to happen and I were go into labor, he would be able to survive outside of the womb!  It is always somewhat of a relief hitting this point in pregnancy.

Littlest Man is now about as long as an ear of corn *grin*

"A mother's body remembers her babies-the folds of soft flesh, the softly furred scalp against her nose. Each child has it's own entreaties to body and soul."— Barbara Kingsolver

23 Weeks and Counting

This is day number 165 and you're 23 weeks pregnant! You have 115 days or 16 weeks left, and are 58.9% of the way there. Baby's age since conception is 151 days or 21 weeks. You are due on 11/13/2010.

How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Your baby now has eyes that open and close, ears that can hear, and a thumb well worth sucking. If you notice feel your baby making regular, jerky movements, don't panic - your baby has the hiccups! The hiccups are harmless for baby but can be annoying for you if they last for a long period of time.

Jackson showing me the giant bucket....

Yesterday Jackson and I met up with my friend Heidi and her son Anthony at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.  We haven't been there since last year, so it was like brand new for Jackson.  He was so excited; squealing, doing his happy feet, and bouncing from one place to the next!  He had a blast!  He hasn't stopped talking about what his "favorite" things were- the log you can climb through, all of the silly turtles, the box of bugs (they have a working bee hive inside the center that has a tube leading to the outside so the bees can come and go as they please.  It really is very cool.)  But I think his favorite thing, along with many of the kids was watching the disgusting site of the vulture eating a dead fish.  He loved how the vulture was standing on the fish to hold it, "It is like how we hold food in our hands, right Mommy?"  He was glued to the cage, watching the bird eat his lunch.  All the kids agreed that it was gross but still so cool.  Another fun thing were the huge rake, watering can, bucket and the tomato with the caterpillar on top.  When Jackson saw these he said "Mommy, I could fit SO MANY rocks in here!!", pointing to the giant bucket.... Always thinking of his favorite past time!  It was such a fun way to spend the day, and we were both thrilled that our friends could join us in the fun.

Looks Like I Have a Confession to Make....

I seriously thought I wasn't having any real cravings this pregnancy.  Nothing seemed to jump out at me as "I HAVE to have that! And- NOW!"  When I was pregnant with Jackson, I could have eaten red meat and potatoes at every meal (I didn't- but I could have!).  But after grocery shopping it has become clear.  I have an addiction to carbohydrates. Yesterday I came home with bread, bagels, croissants, pasta, cereal, hamburger buns, bananas and eggs.  I also baked chocolate chip cookies on Sunday night and baked Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins yesterday afternoon.  In my defense, I am not the only one eating it all.  But I guess I didn't really need to buy bagels and croissants in the same shopping trip.  Actually after reading my shopping list I could also say I have an addiction to breakfast food... hmmm.  Well at least the sight and thought of food doesn't make my stomach do cartwheels and make me feel like I am floating on a rocking boat.  It was bound to catch up with me sooner then later!

Future Soccer Player?

Source

This is day number 160 and you're 22 weeks pregnant!

You have 120 days or 17 weeks left, and are 57.1% of the way there.

Baby's age since conception is 146 days or 20 weeks. You are due on 11/13/2010

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.


At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash or a papaya) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

So the kicks have become hard and consistent.  Just like the book says, I can easily tell when our Littlest Man is sleeping- or very wide awake!  I have consistently been feeling him kick on the outside of my tummy and Scott even got to feel him for the first time last Friday night.  It was so exciting!  There is nothing more then I want right now then for Scott and Jackson to be able to bond with the baby in a more physical way.  It just makes things more special and real for everyone.

This whole week I have been team teaching with Bonnie for Vacation Bible School for 1-2 grades (which puts Anna into our class) and my mom has been in charge of the little ones (Pre-K) so she has had Jackson and Sophie in her classroom.

We were fully anticipating the husbands to need to come after the first two days to pick up Jackson and Sophie after the opening because it was just too much for them.  But guess what?!  They have been so great!  Both of the little ones have been excellent listeners, doing their crafts, playing the games (except Jackson.  He is our little observer.  He prefers to sit in the sidelines when so many kids are involved) and  taking EVERYTHING in!  The entire week, Jackson has talked about nothing BUT Vacation Bible School.  He absolutely loves it!  He is retaining each Bible story, telling me and Scott and about them when school is over.  I am so proud!  Jackson really is becoming such a big boy.

On Wednesday night, in one of the games the older kids were playing, they had to pop balloons.  Well the first balloon was sooooooo loud and startled me so much I jumped a mile!  But not only did it startle me- but baby, who had been quiet and sleeping soundly, also jumped a mile!  After the huge POP! he was moving all over the place, kicking me and pushing on my tummy.  I could just imagine him thinking "Holy Moly, Mommy!  What in the world was that?!"  It was neat seeing him respond to outside noises already.  Baby is starting to become a bigger boy too.

Oh and guess what?!  We have finally decided on a name!  We are using my dad's first name, Robert as his middle name.  So Littlest Boy's full name is Owen Robert Kanengeiser.  It is so nice to finally call him by name, and not just baby boy!  We love it and can't wait to meet Baby Owen in person- only 4 more months to go!!!!

The prettiest ABC song out there

This is Jackson's most favorite Alphabet Song.  We must watch it on a weekly basis!  And I must admit, I love it too!  India Arie is so lovely.

So true, but so worth it

"One of the great myths of our society is that when women are left with small children, they are not alone. The truth is that a mother left with babies is far more alone than she would be without them; every bit of energy, attention, protectiveness, and care she might use to meet her own needs must first be directed toward the needs of her children. 

-Martha Beck