Holy Cow!

That title...that was the first thing my mom said when I sent her this picture. Tactful, right?

I seriously don't think I can get any bigger without my belly button popping off or something weird like that.

Yep, that's my hairbrush...

Seriously.

Awesome part? No stretch marks on that belly (or anywhere else)! Boo ya! Which is fantastic since I have TWO new bikinis ready to go for summer by the pool in California sometime soon.

I'm so delusional, it's cute.

It happens at this stage, I guess.

Also, where are my bangs, you ask?

Funny story. I got my hair 'did, so that I could be all fabulous when it comes time to pop this 25 pound baby out and I guess when I said 'caramel color all over' they thought I said 'yellow streaks all over'...oh, and we'll fry the hell out of your bangs so that when you straighten them, well, they'll be so frizzy they'll literally stick straight out.

Yeah, I re-did the color myself, pinned those bangs back and am currently praying for a deep conditioning miracle. Because the rest of my hair isn't fairing much better. Le sigh.

Also, Finn seemed to have fallen asleep mid-play this morning and was sitting up with his toy car in his lap. Precious :)

Notes On Nursery-ing...

Ready for it???!

Here it is!

Tres chic, non?

The best part (in my humblest opinion) is that I made/refinished a lot of the stuff in here.

This 'stuff' includes  the birds (squint and you'll see them) on the dresser, the pillows, mobile, sheet saver on the crib, probably 15 different blankets, changing pad covers and a couple of diaper pouches out my favorite grey chevron fabric. Among other things.

Our sewing machine purchase was the definition of 'good choice', let me tell you. 

I also refinished the frames and made TWO 27 x 27 floor pillows so that baby girl can lounge in style. See?

Ah, the life of a stay at home mom...as you can see I put all that time on my hands to good use. But really, once I got going and the creative juices started to flow I found myself really, really enjoying all the projects I had. It's been a long time since I felt like I had a 'skill' and sewing was definitely not one I'd ever think I'd be any good at. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm really very proud of everything I was able to put together.

Don't get me wrong, I bought a lot of stuff, too. Ahem. Sorry, Luke.

Here is a wall you missed and a close-up you desperately wanted to see but were too afraid to ask...you're welcome! :

The mobile is my proudest accomplishment...

I'd like to thank Etsy for inspiration and Sheree and Sherbert Lane for providing the cutest hairbows you'll ever see, because while my bow-making skills were adequate...hers are like, totally awesome.

Also, it makes me laugh (not really, just figuratively) how polar opposite my kid's rooms are. Finn's has all dark wood and blinds and is filled cars, rockets and airplanes everywhere.

We call it his 'man-cave'. And rightfully so.

And since I feel like I've done a photo-binge for you guys already, here are some more pictures! Of Finn's room! Why not? Please excuse my poor, lamentable photo skills. Pinterest and Instagram sigh at my inadequacies.

 Is that a TARDIS you see? Yes it is.

 

You say 'delicate'. I say 'barge-like'...

Yes, the phrase 'delicate condition' when referring to pregnancy might not be entirely accurate.

You walk into a room and no one thinks how 'delicate' you look...honestly, it looks like I could run through a brick wall with all that girth around my midsection at the moment...

This is only my humble opinion. I'm not about to try it.

And then there are the not-so-delicate sounds of my pregnant self. I had a moment of clarity today...an epiphany if you will...being pregnant is like being a big ship in that every time you move you make a noise.

Go with me, here.

Bending down to pick something up? That takes an 'harumph'. Picking Finn up? You'll hear me 'oomph' at that one. Most other movements require only a slight groan or sigh. Sometimes a swear word depending on the circumstances (take for instance, picking Finn up out of a muddy puddle today that he was sitting in and then bending down to pick up all my bags. Oy. My back wimpers at the thought of it).

Yeah, nothing delicate about that, trust me.

But guess what? The barge-like phase seems to indicate the winding down phase of this business as well (can I get a hallelujah?!)...which is good because I'm not sure how much longer I'd like to be this variety of delicate.

And last but not least, there is the case of the disappearing feet. Authorities are baffled and hope to find the culprit before these tootsies are completely gone :) 

Up Next: The nursery, revealed! Stay tuned, folks.

34 Weeks!

Sooooo cloooooose...

And I am SO ready.

And not just in that mental, "I'm ready to get this freaking baby outta here" way (I was there a long time ago)...but yesterday my nesting instincts went hog-wild and I went and bought everything that was left to buy for munchkina.

Everything? You ask.

Everything.

Really?

Really.

Even closet organizers and bibs and washcloths?!

How did you know?! Now, stop asking so many questions.

Done, freaking done.

As far as this pregnancy goes things are still fine and dandy. I'm still up an at 'em before the break of dawn, although with slightly less frequency. Mostly because now that it's warmer I can get my exercise in during daylight hours with Finn in the jogging stroller. I basically either walk 4 miles everyday or go on the elliptical for an hour. It's boring as hell. I can't wait to get back running. It pains me how much I'm looking forward to it.

Anywho, my heartburn has mostly gone away, my back pain has subsided and now all I'm left to deal with is lugging a big ol' baby in my belly around all day...often while lugging a big ol' toddler around, too. The joys of motherhood. No rest for the weary. All of that.

And last but not least, I'm planning on doing a natural, drug-free birth this time around. Barring any medical emergencies I'm totally set. However, I will be in a hospital because frankly, the last thing I want to do after giving birth is clean up after it...which is the main reason home births confuse me so greatly. Oh, and trained medical staff. I'd like them to be around, too.

Ask me about it. If you're thinking I have some ethical convictions about why modern medicine is interfering with the natural process...well, you're S-O-L...I'm doing it because I can and I'm bad ass like that :)

And now a picture of said baby! It's hard to believe that this belly can get any bigger. Oy.

I'd like to thank this picture for reminding me that I desperately need to get my hair did.

Heartstrings Being Pulled and All That...

While I was whiling away my evening at a Lamaze class at the hospital tonight (going au natural this time, people!), Luke pulled out the camera and Finn pulled out the cute.

And I. am. jealous.

Every time I get the camera out, most of the pictures are of Finn trying to grab the camera. Apparently placing the forbidden cellphone in his hands does the trick. He's a thinker, that Luke.



Yep. That is all.

On Finn...

Feel like Finn has been getting the short end of the blogging stick recently? Me too. And so does he. He knows when I'm not blogging about him. It's instinctual or something.

Anywho, Mr. Mister celebrated his 19 month birthday with an awesome ear infection. His first ever (the Dr. was impressed). We'd all had colds for about a week but his took a turn and the poor guy was fever-riddled and couch bound all morning. Seriously. He wouldn't get off the couch. He even fell asleep twice. Which was worrisome because usually I'm the one falling asleep on the couch after chasing his energizer bunny butt around all morning.

The pose du jour.

Ok, I'd fall asleep on the couch even if I hadn't been chasing him around, but that's beside the point.

So, with a fever of 102.8 (!) we left for the doctors and then left the doctors with some antibiotics which we can only administer when he's sleeping. Because he spits it out if he's awake and we're just so sneaky like that.

In any case, he's feeling better now :)

As for the cute-new-things-that-he's-doing section of this post. Well, we've got plenty of that, too.

New favorite phrase: Uh-oooooooooooh. He sounds like he's howling by the end of it and it is a heart-melter, let me tell you.

Also, he knows the letter 'O' like a boss. Any 'O' in any book (and sometimes even a capital 'D' or 'C' or other circular type letters) and he's all over it. He can also point to it on my keyboard because Luke is ensuring that he is computer savvy like that.

Favorite words: Balloon, Ball, Bike, Book, Airplane, Apple, and Hot. Balloons and balls are big hits around here. He intercepted a football from some college guys playing out by the library the other day and when I asked him to throw it back he turned tail and ran the other way. The kid's got game, what can I say?

There are more words in his vocabulary but they certainly aren't his favorite words, so why mention them, right?

Also, he can spot any airplane in the sky no matter where we are or how far away it is. His eyesight and/or airplane radar never ceases to amaze me. He even looks for them when we're inside but he can hear them overhead.

And last, but not least, potty training! Sporadically!
Sorry for the embarrassment you're going to feel in 15 years when I take this picture out...

Easter. It Happened.

And without a lot of fanfare either. Sure, I hid eggs around the house, but I forgot to tell Finn that the Easter Bunny did it (or even explain who the Easter Bunny is. Because frankly, I'm not sure I know either. A child-friendly interpretation of a resurrected Jesus? A marketing ploy? All of the above?) and that it only happens once a year, so don't get used to it, kid.

As you can see, I was very creative with my egg hiding...

He had a blast with the jelly bean-filled eggs, though. The bunny graham ones? He looked at those like, 'why aren't these jelly beans?!'. Can't say I blame him. And then Luke showed him how you can put the eggs in your mouth and shoot them out like a rocket. Finn thought that was shuper shweet and insisted Luke do this as much as possible. Like this:

Heaven help me if he ever gets his hands on a real egg and remembers this. Oy.

Not impressed, apparently...

I was also going to take some very sweet, spring-y, all fancy and everything, family pictures but alas I got hit hard with a cold and my nose was, as Luke said, 'glowing red'. Always fabulous.

Today has been a particularly rough day here, coming down off our sugar highs and everything (Finn wasn't the only one who ate his weight in jelly beans...). Not only did Finn veto my workout for me by screaming every time we went into the clubhouse, you know, like we do EVERY Monday and Wednesday, but he also threw his entire bowl of oatmeal and fruit on the floor and that stuff splatters. Not to mention the fact that my momma went back home, leaving me solo once more, I'll be lucky if I make it through the day...