catching. up

I returned home from CA, great trip. Lots of relaxing and even though I couldn't really sleep in, (I think that time has come and gone in my life) it was just great to hang out with my parents, finish a good book and see some good friends.

I had my 37 week appointment on Tuesday, luckily Dr Yamashiro gave me good news and that was - I hadn't gotten any bigger!! Three more weeks till my due date, I guess I could literally go at anytime. I think Mike and I are starting to get excited. The baby's room is coming together, we just have a few more things to get ready including my hospital bag but it feels good for the most part to be prepared for this little one's arrival.

Here are just a few more pictures of some scenery I took at my parents house.

beauty.

tonight my parents and I went for a golf cart ride on the course at sunset, it was gorgeous. I think we counted about 30 deer, saw some wild turkeys and bunny rabbits as well. it's good for the soul - getting out in nature and relishing in the beauty of it.

happy. friday.

I'm home in CA visiting my parents for the weekend and going to my girlfriends wedding. Had to take a picture of these pretty hydrangeas.

pregnancy. update.

today I had my OB appointment, it was the first time he checked me. I'm not dilated but what is worth noting is that I'm measuring full-term and I still have another 4 weeks to go till my due date!! Dr Yami is great and you had to be there in the room, when he saw my stomach and measured me and said casually....

"so erin, do you feel bigger this second time around?"

Um. I responded with a resounding:

"YES!"

He said "OK, yep you are, bigger then last time. In fact, you are measuring 40 weeks NOT 36 weeks."

I'm sure my jaw dropped when he told me that.

I think I had to repeat that in my head a couple of times..measuring at 40 weeks and I'm 36 weeks.

Great. So what does this mean I ask?

Basically it means that I might have a large baby and that waiting till my due date may not be an option.

We will take it week by week at this point, he says and just see what happens.

I'm not shocked and I'm not upset by this news, I knew I was large, it was rather funny when we were discussing it because I think Mike and I both knew I was big but we had no idea I was measuring a month bigger then I really am. We all got some good laughs in that room today.

I just want this baby to come naturally. I do not want to be induced in any way shape or form and I do not want a C-section so it's a fine line. Why? Because if I wait to long because I refuse to be induced and the baby keeps getting bigger then I run the risk of a C-section. If I give in and get induced then the chances of having the type of birth I want are lessened.

All I want is for the baby to come when it's ready and not because of medical intervention.

I do not want to be medically induced what so ever...

So hopefully that will not be the case but it does seem likely that this little baby will show his or her head sooner then later...

Stay Tuned.....

Jacks. Friend

Jack had a little play date a couple of weeks ago. Sunny is a dear friend of mine and she stopped over with her little boy Bridger. How cute are these two? They just played and played with the tools. They were "worker guys."

36. weeks.

Four weeks from today I'm due. May 18th. We don't think this baby is going to wait till the due date. Jack was 8 days late so we will see. But how I have been feeling lately makes me think that maybe this baby has a different agenda and that includes coming into the world a little bit earlier. We are getting excited, things are slowing coming together. It seems strange to think we will have a itty bitty newborn in our house again but it's all so exciting.

(and yes, I keep getting BIGGER!!)

sick.

poor Jack. he came down with an awful cold on Friday and now today it's just been fevers on and off all day long. he fell asleep in my arms on the couch. and yes, I really am this huge. holy cow!! how can my stomach be that big!

Jack + Mommy Conversation

Last night we were sitting at the kitchen table eating some strawberries...

Jack: "Ma, you are my beeeeeeessssssssssst friend."

(yes, he dragged it out just like that)

Me: "I am Jack?

(trying not to jump up and down at his sweetness)

Jack: "Yes, you my best friend Ma, I luv you soo much."

(as he says this, he proceeds to wrap both of his arms around my waist, he hugs me, tightly, then just as quickly lets go and goes back to eating his strawberries in silence not quite realizing the gift of pure bliss he just gave his mother)

That little 5 second conversation made my day. made my year. made me smile from ear to ear.

happy. easter. part. II

jack loved the easter egg hunt, he was so excited to go outside and search for eggs. we waited till the afternoon because we woke up this morning to 3 inches of snow! whaaattt!! thank god it had melted by the time we did this.

happy easter!!

happy.easter

jack and I made easter eggs the other day. now we just have to go hide them while he is napping.

happy easter!! xoxo

daddy.time.

Often times when Mike gets home from work, Jack and I are outside playing with Dutch. So I snapped a quick photo as I love that Mike doesn't even change out of his work clothes - or Jack doesn't let him is probably more of the truth. Here, Mike shows Jack how to play with his own childhood car.

pondering.

Since I first found out I was pregnant with this second child I have been wondering and thinking about what type of labor and delivery experience I want with this child. With Jack we did what is known as Hypnobirthing. It was the most difficult, most intense, joyous, liberating, awe - inspiring experience of my life.

Quite simply it was a spiritual experience.

Was it painful? Hell yes.

It was beyond what I knew of pain. It was another dimension that I didn't know existed.

Did I want to give up? Yes, more times then I can count.

But there was something else I was feeling and that was a feeling of pure and utter happiness, and excitement of what was to come. This beautiful baby. I was finally going to meet.

Even through the pain, I felt protected by those around me, I felt loved and supported by Mike, my mom, my doctor and the nurses. During those moments of pain when I wanted to give up I also felt something magical and unbelievable happening to my body and I realized that what I needed to do during the pain was to surrender. Truly surrender to it. Surrender to the natural cycle of giving birth and it was just that.

Natural and completely beautiful.

So it seems like it would be an easy choice, right? Do Hypnobirthing again since I had such a great experience.

Well those that know me - know that I am often unpredictable, fly by the seat of my pants and I always like to try new and different things - and switching it up and doing something different with this baby sounds appealing and enticing.

The question is: Will I regret my decision not to do hypnobirthing?

That is what I am thinking about....what do you guys think? Come on - give me some opinions.

I need help deciding what to do!!