Since we've been home we have jumped right back into our normal fun activities and have just been waiting and preparing for little Colin to arrive.
Chris bought me this portable hammock for my birthday and I love it! I move it all around the yard and have to keep myself from drifting off to sleep as I watch Jake explore the yard and play.
Jake's favorite thing to explore the yard for are lizards. We have tons of them...lizards, geckos, and chameleons (which scare him for some reason, I think because they hold their ground and don't scurry away).
can you see him?
My good friend Jaime threw me a beautiful "tea time" themed baby shower the weekend after we got back and I had so much fun chatting up with all the girls.
Here we all are enjoying all the tasty treats and gabbing away...
We also played some really different and fun games! My favorite one was where everyone brought a newborn pic of their children and everyone had to guess whose kids they belonged to. It was so fun to look at all those precious babies and actually really hard to guess on a few of them! Luckily I knew everyone's cute little button nose and face to win the game...maybe that is why I liked it so much ;)
Can you find the picture of Jake?
He was the 3rd one down on the right hand side of the pyramid of pictures. Ahhh so cute!
When I said that we jumped right back into the swing of things that did include racing as well. Jaime, Amy, and I did a relay duathlon when I was 34wks prego and kicked butt. I was the 2nd women out of the water and once Jaime passed her on the run we were in the clear to be the first women relay team. Yay!
I did another swim race in Waikiki at 35wks and had so much fun enjoying the water and delicious breakfast at Dukes afterward.
In an effort to show family at home my growing belly I will add in this pic as well at 36wks. Jake and I took a hike up to Makapu'u lighthouse and we were greeted by a great aerial show by some local hangliders. Now on to pics of the cutest part of our family....
Jake has enjoyed putting Colin's room together with me and just being his normal funny self...as you can see by his crazy outfit choice. He cracks me up!
But before too long we are reminded of the fun stage we are in called the terrific twos. Complete with endless whining that makes your eyes want to bulge out, spontaneous crying fits that make a simple request for a toy out of reach seem like Armageddon, and DEFIANCE.
Along with all those not so great aspects of this stage come one of my favorites which is the instant ability to change moods and for everyone's sake hopefully it is for the better. Jake has also started to show very sweet and calm affection towards Colin, the dogs and people in general. I can tell that more complex emotions are forming and he worries, protects, and loves without any dictation.
He loves to play with Colin which for the time being means riding various toys on my belly. When he bathes he wants to wash Colin as well and he even put him in time out the other day ;)
Chris has been back to work and been a big help at home helping me prep for Colin. We have all appreciated the slower pace (which for Chris slow pace is still a 12+ hr workday, but I'll take it!) and down time together. He actually had enough time to orchestrate a dive with his buddy Cory a few nights ago. They came home with an empty ice chest, but I know that he had so much fun getting back into the water and doing something he loves.
Now I am 37 wks and am slowing down and enjoying opportuinites to relax. I took my "take the time to relax" voucher and ran with it all the way to the spa! Jaime, Joanie (who is 7 mths along) and I enjoyed a pampered day at the Hilton spa last Sunday. We got pedicures, lounged in the pool and spa, and enjoyed lunch on the beach.
I am feeling more ready than ever this time around and just want to get our family of four started! The worries I do have are minor compared to the "Am I going to be a good mother?" "What if I can't do it?" thoughts that I had with Jake. I know I am capable and with Chris and Jake by my side there is no doubt that we can handle whatever hiccups we encounter.
Physically I feel great. I am measuring 4 wks smaller than the norm, but ultrasounds have proven that Colin is growing appropriately and still thriving so there is no concern. He turned a lot in the past weeks, but this week has really lowered himself head down and hopefully won't take any notes from his big brother and stay there until D-Day. I had my first run-in with false labor a few nights ago. I started getting contractions at 8:30pm and they continued on until 3:30am getting closer and more intense all along the way. At 3am when they got to be more of a sharp pain I had assured myself that this was the real deal and that later on that day we would be heading to the hospital. Then they just stopped! I felt so much relief all of the sudden and then I was pissed! I've never wanted pain to return so bad in my life! We are hoping for a VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean) but the onset of labor must start by itself for my Dr. to continue with the plan. So contraction gods where ever you are, please come back in the next few weeks!
Chris bought me this portable hammock for my birthday and I love it! I move it all around the yard and have to keep myself from drifting off to sleep as I watch Jake explore the yard and play.
Jake's favorite thing to explore the yard for are lizards. We have tons of them...lizards, geckos, and chameleons (which scare him for some reason, I think because they hold their ground and don't scurry away).
can you see him?
My good friend Jaime threw me a beautiful "tea time" themed baby shower the weekend after we got back and I had so much fun chatting up with all the girls.
Here we all are enjoying all the tasty treats and gabbing away...
We also played some really different and fun games! My favorite one was where everyone brought a newborn pic of their children and everyone had to guess whose kids they belonged to. It was so fun to look at all those precious babies and actually really hard to guess on a few of them! Luckily I knew everyone's cute little button nose and face to win the game...maybe that is why I liked it so much ;)
Can you find the picture of Jake?
He was the 3rd one down on the right hand side of the pyramid of pictures. Ahhh so cute!
When I said that we jumped right back into the swing of things that did include racing as well. Jaime, Amy, and I did a relay duathlon when I was 34wks prego and kicked butt. I was the 2nd women out of the water and once Jaime passed her on the run we were in the clear to be the first women relay team. Yay!
I did another swim race in Waikiki at 35wks and had so much fun enjoying the water and delicious breakfast at Dukes afterward.
In an effort to show family at home my growing belly I will add in this pic as well at 36wks. Jake and I took a hike up to Makapu'u lighthouse and we were greeted by a great aerial show by some local hangliders. Now on to pics of the cutest part of our family....
Jake has enjoyed putting Colin's room together with me and just being his normal funny self...as you can see by his crazy outfit choice. He cracks me up!
But before too long we are reminded of the fun stage we are in called the terrific twos. Complete with endless whining that makes your eyes want to bulge out, spontaneous crying fits that make a simple request for a toy out of reach seem like Armageddon, and DEFIANCE.
Along with all those not so great aspects of this stage come one of my favorites which is the instant ability to change moods and for everyone's sake hopefully it is for the better. Jake has also started to show very sweet and calm affection towards Colin, the dogs and people in general. I can tell that more complex emotions are forming and he worries, protects, and loves without any dictation.
He loves to play with Colin which for the time being means riding various toys on my belly. When he bathes he wants to wash Colin as well and he even put him in time out the other day ;)
Chris has been back to work and been a big help at home helping me prep for Colin. We have all appreciated the slower pace (which for Chris slow pace is still a 12+ hr workday, but I'll take it!) and down time together. He actually had enough time to orchestrate a dive with his buddy Cory a few nights ago. They came home with an empty ice chest, but I know that he had so much fun getting back into the water and doing something he loves.
Now I am 37 wks and am slowing down and enjoying opportuinites to relax. I took my "take the time to relax" voucher and ran with it all the way to the spa! Jaime, Joanie (who is 7 mths along) and I enjoyed a pampered day at the Hilton spa last Sunday. We got pedicures, lounged in the pool and spa, and enjoyed lunch on the beach.
I am feeling more ready than ever this time around and just want to get our family of four started! The worries I do have are minor compared to the "Am I going to be a good mother?" "What if I can't do it?" thoughts that I had with Jake. I know I am capable and with Chris and Jake by my side there is no doubt that we can handle whatever hiccups we encounter.
Physically I feel great. I am measuring 4 wks smaller than the norm, but ultrasounds have proven that Colin is growing appropriately and still thriving so there is no concern. He turned a lot in the past weeks, but this week has really lowered himself head down and hopefully won't take any notes from his big brother and stay there until D-Day. I had my first run-in with false labor a few nights ago. I started getting contractions at 8:30pm and they continued on until 3:30am getting closer and more intense all along the way. At 3am when they got to be more of a sharp pain I had assured myself that this was the real deal and that later on that day we would be heading to the hospital. Then they just stopped! I felt so much relief all of the sudden and then I was pissed! I've never wanted pain to return so bad in my life! We are hoping for a VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean) but the onset of labor must start by itself for my Dr. to continue with the plan. So contraction gods where ever you are, please come back in the next few weeks!
