Before the craziness begins...

Well...we are going to have this baby someday soon!!  I am up and at 'em pretty early today...just can't sleep...so I am going to to a quick update.  Noah is very excited for the baby to be here.  He keeps asking if the "baby has poked out yet?" and I think it's because my belly button has poked out.  He is determined that the baby will be a girl (since all of the babies at day care currently are girls...what else could it be???).  Besides sharing mommy and daddy...I think he is going to be a great big brother.  He is a potty trained champ...and we tried going in underwear overnight the past few things...so far so good!!  Noah is LOVING being outside and we are as well.  Yesterday was a great family day of playing in our baby pool and then it was an all out water war.  I am the super pregnant lady...how come I am the one who was soaked first!?!?  We did buy squirt guns and Noah (and Scott!!!) have had a RIOT with them.  I am not sure how I feel about the whole gun thing...but we keep talking to Noah about what is okay to do with them and what is not okay. 

Scott is done with junior high track!  They blew away the competition at conference last week (they won by over 50 points!!) and he was so proud of them.  He is going to be the 8th grade promotion speaker tomorrow night...I am so proud of him.  He is a great teacher and coach.  It is that time of year of graduation parties and we have gone to a few.  I feel so old...I know some of the kids and I can't believe they are graduating!!!

I am super excited this time around for the baby process...last time (and it was the first) it was so scary...and I feel like I somewhat know what to do this time.  I have gained less weight this time and don't have the fluid...so I feel better.  The sleeping piece hasn't been fun...but that is just to prep you, right?  Here are a few pics of our last few weeks:

 Helping daddy with our tools...

 37 weeks...I will post a pic right before the hospital...whenever that is!!

 Our muscle pose!!  And in our big boy (briefs??) underwear...

 Gorgeous roses from Daddy and Noah...

 Finger painting for mothers day for the grandmas!

 Very proud of himself!!!

 Noah's mother's day present from day care...so cute!!

 kinda blurry...but mommy and Noah pic!

  just chillin...

Quick Update

Well...had my 37 week appointment and no progress:)   But I'm okay...just wishing I could get some more sleep.  Not dilated at all...but about 75% effaced...same as last week.  The baby did drop...so I can breath a bit better...just have to use the restroom around the clock!  I also lost a pound...but they said it is normal at this stage and I am continuing to measure a week ahead. 

Some funny things with Noah...he is saying, "Yepindeedo" no idea where that came from!  "Ahhh...shucks" and today he pottied in the potty...STANDING up!  I was laying out his clothes for tomorrow and I came back in the bathroom and saw him pottying with the seat up.  Holy cow!  He is growing up more and more every day.  Noah shared with his friend Harrison on Sunday and picked up his toys!  We are trying to stick with a pick up plan every day and keep up with the messes at our house!

Track is keeping Scott busy:)  He got asked to speak at the 8th grade promotion on May 20th...so as long as we are not in labor...that should be fun!  I am so proud of him...he is such a great teacher and good with the kids...it's fun to watch him be honored!! 

April is almost over??

What a month!  Noah had his tubes put back in and his adenoids out after Easter.  This was not a fun experience to say the least, but we have a great doctor and Noah is finally back to himself!  This mommy and daddy were super nervous and did not sleep much...I think Scott was up at 3:30 and I was up at 4:30am!!!!  We went in and Noah was a champ all through it...Scott said he took the breathing stuff just fine and was out.  We were lucky to have a few nurses that we knew...which made both of us feel better!  My dad was able to wait it out with us...nice to have another person:)  I was going to go back to work that day (even though my supervisor was like...are you sure???...well she was right!!) and then after holding my crying baby...I called and my rockstar co-workers bailed me out!  I was home with Noah on Thursday as well.  They told us he would be grumpy...we underestimated how much!!  It made for a long few days with Scott having track and such...but we survived!

We are having Jordan move back in with us for the summer and need to get stuff out of our other spare room...Scott officially has clothes in the same room as his wife!  Not sure we have ever done that since we have been married:)  Everything was built when people had less stuff...which has been a lesson for us.  We have been sorting and are officially getting rid of stuff.  It is a GREAT feeling!  I am not a hoarder...but I have a hard time parting with stuff...so Scott being the trooper he is has been a rockstar at pushing me along. 

We had a great Easter as well!  Church Easter egg hunt...dyed eggs with the in-laws and another egg hunt at my grandparents!!

Track and school are plugging away for Scott...I think all teachers are ready to be done.  With the nice weather...kids are acting like its May...and have been since March!  We are ready for summer!!!  Noah is LOVING being outside...he loves to swing, play ball, dig in his sandbox and has recently discovered dirt:)  His favorite thing lately to say is, "I have to tell you something...."  "What's that Noah?" "I love you...(I wuvvvv you)"  Best thing ever!  He is asking more and more about the baby in mommy's belly...he is convinced it is a girl...every baby at day care is a girl...so why would it be anything else?  Mommy and daddy are getting there with the baby stuff...we have our 36 week appt this week...maybe should pack a bag and get some stuff organized in the baby room...:)   Work for me has been good!  I have a CLEAN office...for anyone who knows me...I am a piler...so piles of papers don't bother me b/c I know exactly where everything is...well...no more!   I did a HUGE clean up with my intern...she is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!  My supervisor joked that I was in the nesting mode...I think she is right!!  Here are some fun pics:

 Baking with mom...the flour exploded all over Noah!!!:)

 Eric Carle show at the GBPAC...Noah loved it (despite his lack of smile in this pic)!

 Pretty flowers for Mommy that Noah picked out...thanks Daddy:)

 Coloring in our new Spiderman coloring book!!

 Ready to roll!!

 Lots of concentration!!

 Happy Easter!!

 Helping at Great Grandpa and Grandma Conklin with some branches...

 Good at kickball!!

 My new shovel...can dig dirt...

Oh yeah...we got a van!!!

New stuff:)

Noah has been a RIOT lately!!  From the new words to the tantrums...we are laughing a lot in this household:)  Noah likes to "yesinditto" and instead of dandelions...he calls them kindergartenlions.  Not sure where he has learned these...but they make us laugh!  He is also NOT happy about coming in at night from being outside.  This nice weather is great...but has also thrown us off a bit!  He would stay out until dark if we would let him.  Little does he remember that he needs to eat!  I am sure our neighbors think we are the world's worst parents b/c we have haul him in crying!  Last week...epic fit!  He is obsessed with Scooby Doo at the moment (Scott is so proud...and I secretly think Scott loves watching them as much as Noah does!!).  Noah wanted to watch Scooby and we said after supper.  He proceeded to cry and scream and Scott and I decided to eat.  Noah then scooted over the living room floor (on his buns...using his hands) to his high chair.  Then sat there and just whined for us to pick him up instead of standing up!  It was a long night:)  Tonight's funny event...he pooped in the toilet and then looked at it and said, "AMAZING!  I am amazing!"  Ha!  He is a RIOT:)  Noah is loving being outside, playing kickball, basketball, you name it!  Lots of reading...he is just a ball of fun!

Scott is in 8th grade track full run now and they just won their first meet!  So...cross your fingers the rest of the season goes okay.  This nice weather is also so that means the kids are pretty rowdy!

My mom is counting down the days...she is excited to retire and for the next adventure.

Speaking of next adventure...we are 33 weeks!  We have our 34 week appt next week...hard to believe this baby is on the way so soon:)  Feeling super heavy and tired...but still pretty good.  More next week!

Quick update!

Well...2 weeks has flown by again!  We have survived the yucky sickness with Noah...and found out in our follow up with the ear guy...that tubes and the adenoids have to come out.  We really like Dr. Hart...but this makes us super nervous.  We have asked around and apparently this is normal for kids so we will do our research...but I think in 2 weeks we are going to have Noah in for surgery.  He has developed a real love for Scooby Doo lately.  Scott is THRILLED!   This is one of Scott's favorite cartoons...it is hilarious to hear Noah say Scooby Doo...more like Cooby Doo:)  We are working on Noah getting back into his big boy bed and we will see how it goes.

A quick potty training story I forgot last time...Noah was on antibiotics and was with my parents.  He asked my mom to go poop.  He does not like to have you in there while he goes #2 so he had my mom leave.  She checked in on him and he said, "Nana...I had fast poop!"  Well...he certainly had fast poop or diarrhea...good laugh for the adults and luckily Noah has recovered!

Had my 32 week appointment today!  All is well...I am going to start wearing a belt I borrowed from a friend to help with the pressure.  I guess your hips start separating sooner with the 2nd and each baby!

Trying to come up with ideas for Easter...Veggie Tales CD or some gardening stuff.  Lots of cool ideas in my parenting magazine this month...the Easter egg dying will be this weekend...fun pictures to come!

Scott is into the swing of track and class...cross your fingers we keep it all balanced! 

30 weeks and what a week!

Well...we are 30 weeks pregnant!!  It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks...we will go from 3 to 4 in our family.  Scott will be done (hopefully) with school and our world will get even crazier!  Here is a fun pic:

Yes...I am in a tank top!  In MARCH no less:)  It has been awesome weather our.  Baby #2 is growing like he or she is supposed to and I gained weight this month instead of losing...so that is good.  My hips are really hurting and the doctor said it is normal and I must have been lucky with Noah.  Some folks have told me it is because it is your 2nd and your hips are spreading earlier...gross:(  But...minus the not great sleep...feeling good!  Noah got something nasty this week...he had an ear infection about 2 weeks ago (a quick trip to Urgent Care...) and then this week threw up at day care...SUPER high fever for him (103) and then a trip to the ER at Covenant.  Poor kiddo...he didn't have RSV...but an RSV like virus.  So...back on another antibiotic and more fever reducers.  It has been a long Spring Break for Scott...he is a trooper and a half!  Junior high track is about to make our life crazy...so this little bun in the oven will be here before we know it!  We went to the Iowa City Children's museum last weekend and here are some fun pics:

Life...

Well...looks like I am behind again.  Feels like a theme in my life!  I can't keep up with email at work...can't keep up with the blog (no pics...again)...can't keep up with friends...and Noah is becoming a little man more every day!  I don't know if I am getting more overwhelmed with the idea of two or just plain pooped from being pregnant...but it has been a long couple of weeks!  I survived our huge visit days...then UNI has erupted on the news almost every day.  It is defeating to go to work and read and hear what people are saying.  I work with amazing people and we do really good work...but that is not what you read or hear about...just ready to move forward!  On some positive notes...Noah is just a riot:)  The potty training thing is going so well...not brave enough to do the no diaper thing at night...but he is in underwear all day and no accidents since about a month ago!  He has his colors down, counts to 20 and working on our shapes!  He is a talking machine and having conversations with him are down right hilarious!  Noah still isn't quite sure about the baby in mommy's belly but is fascinated by babies so we are hoping this is a good thing! 

Here is a poem I found about loving two on another blog...and I think it suites what I am thinking and hoping will happen:

Loving Two

Author Unknown

I walk along holding your small hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

Luv you Noah and future baby!!  Had my 28 week appointment this week and all is well!!!!  My placenta moved so hopefully I will be able to have a vaginal birth with this one.  Apparently it is not in the cards for us to have a "petite baby" according to the doctor:)  So they will be watching very closely and I will probably be induced at 39 weeks...not going to change my due date (May 23rd) but probably will be earlier!  I start going every other week already...so I will go back in about a week...which is kind of crazy and is making it seem closer and closer.  Sometimes I am super excited about it and other times TERRIFIED!!!!!!  Scott and I still are no closer with names...and I still have no desire to know the sex...I am excited for the surprise:)  So...here goes nothing!  I didn't gain any weight this month (in fact lost a pound...) but with the kidney stone fiasco...I'm not in trouble...yet.  

Scott is staying busy at school and is getting excited for track season to start:)  Such a lucky lady to have a great guy...him and Noah surprised me with roses this week...Noah was so proud of himself for picking out the flowers.  Off to relax and get ready for our last Kindergym!!