OB Update

Here's the stats from my doctor visit yesterday:

1. I'll be 36 weeks on Saturday.

2. I gained some weight! yay!

3. They did the GBS (Group B Strep) test, so I should know those results next week. Last time I was positive, and my labor was so fast they were only able to give me 1 out of the 2 doses of antibiotics you're supposed to get...so Bella and I had to stay in the hospital longer, just in case...but everything was fine.

4. IF I make it to 39 weeks, we have decided that we're ok with me being induced. I did some research on precipitous labor on my own this week. Now I understand more about the rarity (2% of all labors...hardly ever happens with a first child), trends (faster each time), and risks (more risk of tearing, bruising of baby's face, VERY painful, lack of ability to use either natural childbirth education techniques or drugs because of the intensity and short time, and the risk of unassisted home or in-car births that can lead to other problems) of precipitous labors, and therefore why my doctor is so concerned. Now my biggest concern is HOW they do the induction, so that it doesn't make my labor even faster. We'll just have to tackle that one If/when the time comes. I know it all depends on dilation, etc.

4. Speaking of dilation... I'm not even quite 36 weeks... and I'm at 1cm and 25% effaced.

5. My next appointment is tuesday.

Now, it's just a waiting game...

Prego update

So I haven't really written a lot of info about this pregnancy, I've realized.
Well, I went to the doctor today, and here's the stats:

1. I'll be 34 weeks on Saturday - Due September 19.

2. I need to gain more weight, apparently. I've only gained 19 lbs. so far, and I haven't really gained any weight since May. They want me to gain at least 25. I gained 30 with Bella. even if I gained a pound per week, and I made it all the way to 40 weeks, that would put me at barely 25 lbs. total weight gain. hm...we'll see how that goes...

3. I'm measuring a bit small (top of pelvic bone to top of uterus). They aren't too concerned about this though, because my ultrasound 2 weeks ago showed that our baby boy is growing wonderfully.

4. Dr. D. wants to induce me at 39 weeks. She's afraid that because of having a precipitous birth (less than 3 hours of labor) with Bella, that I won't make it into the hospital on time with this one. She'd rather induce me a bit early and have my labor under her control than me go naturally and not make it to the hospital in time :) I, however, do NOT want to be induced, and I will find any and every means possible to keep that from happening...I'll start running at 36 or 37 weeks if I have to...do jumping jacks...or find a chiropractor that is skilled in pressure points. of course, he may come before 39 weeks anyway, so we'll just have to see what happens...
...and be ready with a shower curtain if necessary :)

It's just so crazy that I'm going to be having another baby in a matter of weeks!
Ready or not, here he comes!!

oh, and one more thing...names. we have a first name. Neil and I have different ideas about what the middle name should be though. My opinion: Neil chose Bella's entire name AND chose the first name of this baby...I think it's only fair that I get some say in the middle name.
Neil says that back in the day the men named all of the babies... we may just have to wait until he gets here to decide.

New Night-time trainers

So I've decided that during this "nesting" phase of my pregnancy, I'm going to be doing a lot of sewing. I've got a lot planned, and it's going to be a lot of work, but it will keep me from going crazy these next couple of months.

Here's the plan:

12 fitted newborn diapers

6 newborn diaper covers

48 cloth wipes

12 pairs of cloth, waterproof, night-time trainers for Bella (like, cloth pull-ups)

Because of the crazy amount of sewing I'm going to be doing, and because I want it to be really good quality (to last through multiple kids), I finally broke down and bought a serger:

So far, I've finished the 48 wipes:

And after finding a good pattern to kinda go off of, and making a couple major improvements to it, I finally successfully made my first pair of night-time trainers for Bella:

I can make them to be pulled-on only (like the ones pictured) or, I can put Aplix (hook and loop, like velcro, only stronger) on the sides to be taken off easily for accidents.

She wore them last night, and they were a success in my book - they didn't leak at ALL, they had a good level of absorbancy to where she could feel the wetness, but she also wasn't sopping when she wet... and they fit good too! YAY! :) Maybe this will help her get trained at night finally.

The first fitted diaper is in the workings...I'm waiting on my Aplix to get here...

I'll post pictures when I get one done.

Cumberland Island

So I posted about Orlando, but never got around to posting about cumberland Island. The day that Neil's parents left us, my parents came to visit for about a week. It was fabulous to be able to spend that much time with them for a change. They have been here twice in the past, once when Bella was born, and once for her first birthday. Both times they were here a grand total of about 2 days. And when I go home to visit, they are usually both working, so I still don't get to see them nearly as much as we did this time around - so wonderful!

The biggest thing we did while they were here was go to Cumberland Island, finally! We've lived here for 3 years and haven't been yet. Isn't it amazing how we never really do the "tourist" stuff where we live unless someone comes to visit? It's just crazy.

We took the Ferry from Downtown St. Marys to Cumberland Island at about 9am. We took a guided tour of all the ruins, and the history behind the island, then stopped to have lunch.

ready for a day of hiking...

some of the ruins...I think this is called the Dutchess.

Just a glimpse of our hike. I learned that Palmettos can survive forest fires, and the trees get all twisty-like because of the winds off the coast. interesting... and beautiful too!

Bella taking a catnap on Daddy's back...

Then we headed to the beach. And let me just say, it was the best beach I have ever been to in the States. Of course, the Atlantic coast is much better by far than the Gulf, but this tops all of the local beaches by FAR! better than Fernandina Beach, and better than Jax Beach...and the best part of all, was that because the only way you can get to the island is by boat, there were hardly any people there. :)

Me and my Daddy...

We headed back on the 2:45 Ferry - fully content with the amount of time we spent - and promising that we would return sometime soon. :)

New Baby Sling

I have a baby sling that I used with Bella. It is from Annabearbabyware.com and it is great. Here's the link to the site:

http://annabearbabyware.com/

Here's a picture of Bella in the sling the day she came home from the hospital:

My only complaint about this sling is the fact that it wasn't really adjustable at all. It worked great when she was a newborn, because all she did was lay in it anyway. But once she got older and I wanted to hold Bella on my hip with it, it didn't work so much. The top part was always too loose, and I felt like I needed to kinda hold her with my hands, even though I shouldn't have to. I followed the instructions on how to fold it at the shoulder to where it was tighter at the top, but that just wasn't comfortable at all.

Seriously though...I LOVE this sling...this is my only complaint. There are actually some things that I can do with the annabear babyware sling that I probably wouldn't be able to do with any other kind.

However, this time around, I decided to try to find one that was a bit more adjustable.

Funny thing...when I went home for Christmas, there was a lady at my parent's church that had a baby sling that had rings to adjust it - it was awesome! (this was around the time that Neil and I were trying to get pregnant) I asked her where she got it, and she told me that a friend had made it for her. So, I got home and looked around online, and found the Maya Wrap website, which features the Maya Wrap Ring Sling.

The most awesome part is that they feel so confident in their product that they post instructions on how to make one yourself if you're trying to save money! Here's the link:

http://www.mayawrap.com/n_sewsling.php

So... guess what I did?

Instead of it costing around $60 plus shipping for one of these babies, I made mine, and it cost somewhere around $10-12 for 2.5 yards of fabric, thread, and metal rings.

And it is SUPER easy! Yes, I am a very advanced sewer, but it only took me about an hour at most to make. AND - it's so strong, that I can hold Bella on my hip in it, without supporting her with my hands... and she weighs 30 lbs!

Here's the finished product:

I even made a "mini" version for Bella to wear with her baby doll:

Next, I'll be working on making a "Hooter Hider"... so check back on that later!

Orlando

Nana and PopPop (Neil's parents) came to visit the first week of June. They got here saturday night. We spent sunday with them, then on Monday, they stayed at our house with Bella, while Neil and I headed down to Orlando for 2 days to OURSELVES!

Here is the resort we stayed at (taken from the screened-in balcony outside of our room)

Neil and I went to EPCOT that Tuesday.

Here, the Jones family traditional picture in "Italy" at Epcot:

Chinese acrobats in "China"

We ate inside the upstairs of this building at a Hibachi restaurant in "Japan"

And here we are with the Epcot sphere as we were leaving that evening. I love the fabulous stain on my belly...ha. it's starting to get in the way :)

Nana and PopPop came with Bella and met us in Orlando on Wednesday morning. We spent Wednesday and Thursday nights there. On Thursday, ALL of us went to Sea World.

The first thing we did was saw the dolphin show. Bella got really freaked out. It was like when the people went under the water with the dolphins, she was afraid they weren't going to come back up! She warmed up to it all though, and ended up really liking it.

We also saw some sting-rays...

Here's Daddy and Bella at the Sting Rays:

We also saw some Manitees...

And Bella's favorite was the SEA LIONS! She LOVED the show, and we went and looked at all the sea lions for a very long time!


No pictures of Shamoo, but Bella really liked it. She just watched and watched. We almost didn't get to see the show, because of a really bad storm. We were just thankful that we were under cover at just the right time :)

We headed back to our house on Friday, and Nana and PopPop left on Saturday.

Good time together....good time alone...just good.

Bella's Birthday

I know this is really old, but still wanted to share...

Well, on Bella's actual birthday, April 11, this is what she woke up to find:

a kitchen from Mommy and Daddy

a chair from Mimi and Poppy

and a Tinkerbell dress and a Tinkerbell doll from Nana and PopPop

After we played for a while, we went to the Jacksonville Zoo with Skylar, Judy Apple, and Will; and we got to see all of our favorite animals...

The Elephants

The Flamingos

And we even fed the Giraffes! well, I did...Bella wanted to, but was too afraid of the long slimy tongue.


The next weekend, we had Bella's birthday party:

The invite

the food...yum!

we had cake...

...but Bella didn't like the candles so much...

of course, we opened presents...

...and then, there was swimming!!

I would have to say that it was a pretty stinkin' good birthday for a 2-yr-old!
Happy Birthday, Bella!!