Baby Update!

Throughout the beginning of this pregnancy, I felt like time was DRAGGING!  Maybe it had to do with the fact that we were stuck in a polar vortex all winter, or something, but now that it is July, I can't believe that we are just a month away from meeting this kid!

I already feel sorry for the little guy, as I have been barely able to keep up with everything going on with the other two kids this summer, so I have been terrible at documenting this pregnancy.  Things are just going along well, though.  I am now technically 8 months (by my terms...I think everyone considers themselves at different stages based on weeks or whatever...I just go by my due date, and take every month on the 16th as another month...get it?).

I have been feeling pretty great.  Honestly, my lower back pain doesn't seem as bad this time around as it did with Miley and Landon.  Maybe it is due to the fact that I am still really active, and getting to the gym about 3 times a week, or maybe I am just too busy to notice!  Either way, I will take it.

I thought that I would gain about the same amount of weight this pregnancy that I did with Landon, but considering the fact that I started about 15 pounds less than I did with Landon, I thought I would end up at least 10 pounds less than I was when I had him.  Well, it looks like my body just has a happy pregnancy weight, and I am on track to end up at the same end point, which means I gained more weight!  How unfair is that?  I am hoping since I have been running more this pregnancy, and kind of had figured out how to get my weight in check before I got pregnant, it will come off a little easier this time, but who knows.

We are getting ready to head out for Cameron's family reunion in Wisconsin.  My doctor didn't really want me traveling past 32 weeks, but she said if everything looked ok at my appointment right before, that she would give me the go ahead.  Well, of course, baby boy's heart was slower than she would have liked, so I had to do a non-stress test before I got the all clear.  That was a little freaky...I have never had that done with either of my other kids, so it was all new to me.  They hooked me up to a monitor to check my contractions and his heart rate, and I had a button I had to press everytime he moved.  Basically, they wanted to see his heart have accelerations every time he moved, and they wanted to see at least 3 in a 20-minute time frame.  He was still a little sluggish at first, so they had be drink some juice, and then stuck a vibrator thing on my stomach to kind of freak him out.  Poor kid!  Well that got him moving, and everything looked ok, so I got the all clear to go to the reunion.

I am definitely starting to feel ready to have him, even though I know life is going to be a bit uncomfortable again with a newborn!  I feel like I have a handle on life right now...we are in a good routine, it isn't too hard to get around with 2 kids, etc.  I know that having a baby can throw all that off for a long time!  But hopefully we settle in soon, and get adjusted to our new "normal!"

We are sure looking forward to meeting the little guy!!

And now for some belly pics....yikes.  Can't believe how big I am getting in just a span of a couple months!

6 months...

7 months...

8 months...

4th of July Fun!

This year for the 4th of July, we were able to spend the day with Katie and Jarett, Cameron's niece and her husband who recently moved to Minnesota.  We have been having so much fun hanging out with them.  We love that they live here now!

We decided to go to Minnehaha Falls this year.  I can't believe that in the 7 years we have lived here, we have never been to this beautiful park right in the middle of the city!  It was fun to hike around the waterfall, and eat lunch at the little seafood place they have there.  The weather was beautiful...we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!

After we left the falls, we had to stop at Nelson's for ice cream.  Nelson's is seriously the best ice cream place ever!  The flavors are amazing, and you get HUGE portions for really cheap....the picture below is a double scoop!

We were all pretty worn out after the full day out, so we went home and grilled for dinner that night.  When it was almost dark we lit off some fireworks in our driveway!  It was a great 4th....relaxing, warm, and fun!  Couldn't ask for a better day!