Mission : Get the boys in their room

I have been struggling to try and get some kind of "bedtime routine" for as long as I can remember. The boys have always thrived, and been frankly better behaved than most children I know who have iron clad structure in their lives, but I realized with a third child coming... we just can't wing it anymore.

Today I tore their room apart from head to toe and started organizing, packing crap away, and getting their beds prepared for a full nights sleep. Camden's bed has his jazzy Car's themed bedding all set and ready to go, and Ben will be giving the crib converted into a toddler bed a try. I was hesitant to switch it, but he can get in and out without an issue, and it seems like the mini baby cage would have been more of a fight with him.

I never realized how much STUFF those kids have! I could not believe all the toys, clothes, and everything I was finding hidden all over the place. Not to mention I think Camden has been hoarding shoes under his bed. At least I know where to go looking for them from now on.

I still have some more things to do, but I think I rocked it out while Will was outside working on the finishing winter touches of the yard, and hanging the Christmas lights. I will post pictures later, I am super excited at our display this year as we added a little something new.

Oh, I also re-organized the cloth diaper stash. I originally had the inserts folded in a large basket on top of the changing table, with the covers squeezed in between the inserts where ever I could fit them. Today I took one of my rubbermaid containers with drawers and consolidated some of my paperwork and childbirth class stuff I had in them, and freed up three drawers I could detach and use.

Top drawer is flush-able liners and boosters, middle drawer is the inserts, and the bottom drawer is my adorable Applecheeks covers. I was super excited to get two new colors in the mail today that were back ordered. Their limited edition Orange Zest and retired Chocolate color.
I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

Christmas Time

I have fully come to the conclusion that Thanksgiving isn't really a holiday, and once Halloween is over I am full speed ahead into Christmas mode. This was further accelerated by the snow we had to kick this week off.

Not only that, but it is super fun to harass my husband with Christmas music, insisting on putting the holiday lights up, and shopping for new ornaments for our family Christmas tree we have been slowly working on since Camden was born.

This year feels different to me though. This will be the second Christmas where I am pregnant, our third Christmas as a whole family, and shortly after Christmas will mark our four year mark as a couple. It seems like life is starting to settle into everything we planned together, and the holidays just make things so much more... magical.

This weekend I really want to get the outside lights up, at the least. I think the Christmas tree may be pushing it, but maybe I can do that while he is at work one day next week so he can't complain too much?

'Tis the Season!

Wishful Thinking? I Think So!

Screw the ultrasound. I am convinced I am having a little girl. I am sure in 4 weeks I am going to be shocked back into reality with the fact that my husband can apparently only produce male offspring, but for the time being I am having one hell of a time fantasizing and decorating a little girl nursery.

On Etsy I found some of these adorable must haves that will go into our owl themed little girl room, if of course the baby shares the same anatomy as I!

I am debating between darker walls with this wall art :


Or light pink walls with a wall art along these lines :

Super cute either way... I am going to be doing the crib in Wonder Bumpers either way, and mark my words, this child will sleep in the crib!

As for the owl theme, I figured even if we have a little boy, we can still do owls, but we won't be doing a whole new nursery. We picked out our new swing, since Ben killed the last one too, the Woodland Animals swing, which includes mostly owls. New obsession of mine!



We got it on sale at Target.com and along with free shipping, also scored the matching bouncer for FREE! It was a great deal, and now I feel like once we get the new infant car seat, we really will be all set minus a couple small things like the bumbo, and the new diaper bag I want. Shhh don't tell Will about the diaper bag!

Baby planning is FUN!

Toddlers Vs. Work

My children have a sense of humor, that is for sure. But when it comes to Daddy and him having to go to work, I am lucky that he leaves before they are awake because he would never make it out the door.

This morning I was woken by Will getting his clothes ready for work, and telling me that it was snowing. I didn't believe him, so of course I got up and checked it out myself. I then went to lay back down when he came into the bedroom and started listing off a ton of random crap.

• Three fire trucks
• Two monster trucks
• A toy screw driver
• A toy hammer
• A ball
• Jimmy Neutron Action Figure
• A Red Robin Cup
• A Toy Saw

I looked at him with a blank stare and asked what the hell he was talking about. I was beyond confused considering it was long before my wake up time.

He looks at me and says "That is what I just found in my shoes"

Apparently the children thought if they piled his shoes up with all their toys, then he wouldn't leave and go to work on Monday morning.

I must say, they are creative little critters, but their attempt didn't work too well.

LOL

Big Weeks Coming Up

The next few weeks are going to be really busy...

Today I went for my check up, 13 weeks and counting!
I found out that I have to have my 1 hour glucose test at 16 weeks, which sucks. I normally would have been able to have it at 28 weeks, but because I failed them all with Ben and was treated as a "gestational diabetic" I have to go early this time. Total crap!
The following week, at 17 weeks I will go back for my check up.
Then the exciting week... 18 weeks!
I will go for my anatomy scan on December 9th... aka find out what this dang baby is!

Total exciting weeks coming up, besides being busy with work, Thanksgiving and the Holidays!

Preggo Update

Well, we are 13 weeks pregnant and I have finally settled on a provider, and game play for May when the third, and most likely last Elwood will arrive. It took us a long time, a lot of soul searching, and research to come to our decision. We did not know if a trial of labor, and the chance of a VBA2C would be safest, or opting for a third c-section. I saw two OB/GYN's and two midwives, as well as consulting with professional friends, and mentors in the birth community.

After looking at surgical reports, taking my last labor and birth into consideration, and all the factors in between, I have made the very educated and hard decision to opt for a scheduled cesarean this time around. I think one of the biggest statements, and ideas that has remained in my head through all of this was my midwifes speculation on my pelvis. And the more I think about Camden, and Ben’s births, the more I think that there very well may be a malformation that doesn’t allow my babies to get down into the pelvis. Neither ever made it, and there is little hope this one would either.

With the damage done by the two surgeries, one NICU stay, two emotional recoveries, and serious lack of support after my first son, I know that I can make things different this time around. Do I want to have another cesarean? No. Not at all, I never wanted to have one, or even two… it was just the cards that I was dealt. Do I want to plan to have a scheduled delivery after bitching about other people doing it for years? No.

This situation I am facing has a number of medical reasons. And if I felt like there wasn’t going to be hundreds of people picking the reasons apart, I would certainly share them more openly. Unfortunately in recent weeks, it seems like internet harassment over medical choices that peaked, and it is something I am not going to deal with.

I have opted to go to the backup OB/GYN’s that my personal midwives I used last time around have. And my midwife from Benjamin has signed on to be with me for my surgery, and postpartum time in the hospital as my doula, which means the world to me since I lost Karen (My doula) a year ago unexpectedly. It makes me know my experience will be more comfortable, and I will have not only my husband, but her with me, two people I trust very much to help my experience.

I will be writing a positive cesarean birth plan over the next couple months in a real attempt to make this not only a Family Centered Cesarean, but a positive experience for all of us.

Am I dreading the recovery? Yes, I am scared to death.

After my first c-section, I had a newborn I was able to lay and rest with all day. Breastfeed in my bed, and change his diaper right there also.

With my second c-section, my husband was home and able to help me through my recovery. I laid in bed for weeks, not only in pain, but an emotional wreck from a failed VBAC.

This time around, I will have a 3 year old, a 2 year old, and a newborn to take care of after the surgery with little help. It is scary!

Halloween!

While I am on a slight sugar high from all the candy I stole from my children, I figured I would get some pictures up. I see myself crashing very soon!

Benjamin as a Monkey
Camden as a Fireman... like any of us were surprised at what he wanted to dress up as?

The boys playing in the leaves...
My favorite picture of Camden from the day. Even though he was being cheesy.

The nicest picture I could get of both children together. Notice the puss on Camden's face?

Benjamin with Grandpa Momo dressed up.
Camden being himself and wondering why we were still waiting to go trick or treating...


The awesome cupcakes Mom made!