34 weeks

Everything checked out good at my appointment two weeks ago and I went back again yesterday. Everything looked great again and the doctor said Walker's head was already down. I was pretty certain it was based on the pressure I feel on my bladder and the little body parts I feel bulging out of the side of my belly. At 34 weeks Walker is estimated to weigh around four and three-fourths pounds and is around 18 inches long.

I'm feeling-Soooo pregnant! So big. So tired. So uncomfortable. I have felt a little worse by the day for the past week or two. I certainly still don't feel as bad as I did at this time with Gray, as far as pain and discomfort goes. But I feel just as big and the difference of being written out of work and laying around most of the day compared to chasing a very busy toddler boy is a big one. When we traveled a few weeks ago my legs and feet got swollen from the drive and stayed that way off and on until we came home. My foot also started hurting right after I last wrote about how thankful I was that it hadn't come back with this pregnancy. It seems to hurt the most when I am standing still for any length of time. It's a little bruised and swollen but not too bad. I'm having to sit a lot more during the day so I am very thankful Gray is pretty independent these days and loves to read books. It's so hard not to be outside running around and playing with him and instead doing a lot more watching. I did my last RPM (cycle) class two weeks ago-it was getting way too uncomfortable on my bladder. My membership is about to expire the end of April and although I'd like to try to keep going to body pump for another few weeks, I didn't see the point in renewing my year yet when I know I'll have to take some time off after Walker is born. I guess for the next month I'll settle for slow strolls around the neighborhood and modified push-ups against the wall ;) I am starting to have some back pain but mostly just by the end of the day. I am not sleeping as good at night in between trips to the bathroom, which are now every two hours. And I'm doing good to make it longer than an hour or two during the day too.

Can't get enough/craving/missing-There are plenty more things I don't want than do want at this point. Though I still can't seem to get enough popsicles and have had cravings for buffalo chicken sandwiches. I really miss sleeping on my back (and a full night's sleep in general), wearing normal clothes and I still think about sushi all the time. I also really miss being able to play with Gray like I could before this huge belly was in the way. And I can barely rock him or sit him in my lap without it being very uncomfortable on my big, bulging belly. Oh yeah and not getting stares and comments as if I were a freak show. My friend Ashley told me she was going to have a shirt made for me that reads: YES PEOPLE, THERE IS ONLY ONE IN THERE!!!

Movement-I am thankful that I am still feeling Walker constantly. Poor boy has to be running out of room in my extra short torso but it's not stopping him from pulling all day and night dance parties. I can't wait to see those sweet little arms and legs moving in person. He seems to have dropped even lower and is putting quite a bit of pressure on my bladder.

Big Brother Update-Gray is still doing great in his new room. He still hasn't tried to stand up or get out of his bed and we are so relieved about how well the transition has gone. He talks about Walker a lot and even wants to pray for him at night. He has trouble pronouncing the 'k' sound right now so he calls him "Walter", which we think is hilarious.

The belly-Is growing by the day!

30 weeks/34 weeks with Walker

34 weeks with Gray/34 weeks now with Walker. Whew, I was even bigger with Gray!

I washed and put away all of the newborn clothes this week. It was so fun seeing those tiny onesies and I can't imagine that there could be any human small enough to wear them. Even if Walker is big like Gray was, I imagine he will seem tiny compared to our big toddler. We have a lot of little things to get done in the next few weeks like get the swing and other baby essentials down from the attic, install the infant car seats, pack my hospital bag and pack a diaper bag for Walker.

Two of my best friends, Abbie and Lindsey, are throwing me a diaper shower next Sunday. I hesitated to even agree to a shower since we had so many nice ones for Gray and we really don't need anything, especially since we are having another boy. But they insisted and we certainly can't be too prepared on the diaper end of things. I'm looking forward to it and will post sometime after the shower.

We'll have a full term baby in just 3 more weeks!!!

Two big weekends!

April has been a busy, but super fun month so far! Last weekend Gray had two birthday parties to attend. Saturday morning was Grace's third birthday party at the park. The weather was warm and sunny and Gray had a blast.

We drove both cars so Paul could stay longer and party with Gray while I went to lunch with some girls from our Bible Fellowship class. Time with friends and time away from Gray is important and I am SO thankful that Paul agrees and encourages me to go and do things like that! Girl time plus the best Thai drunken noodles in town made for a great break in the day.

That evening was Mason and Landon's birthday party. Landon turned four and Mason turned seven, which is insane considering it was just yesterday that I went to meet him in the hospital. Their birth-dates are only two days apart so they always have a joint birthday party. Unless Walker comes way early, that is definitely the plan for our boys. Gray is pretty much obsessed with Mason and Landon so this party made for the perfect ending to an already fun Saturday.



Paul didn't know I was taking this picture, which makes me love it even more!

Easter weekend was another eventful one. Paul was off on Friday so we'd decided that would be the first day Gray would sleep in his new bed. We knew we wanted to start with a nap so we could keep our eye on him and see what kind of stunts he might pull. We moved the glider from the nursery in there so we could still have our usual routine of reading books, rocking, praying and singing before we put him down. We will move it back in the nursery in a few months once Walker is sleeping in his crib but for now it seems necessary for Gray and for this big 'ol pregnant mama. Gray seemed all fine and dandy until we turned on his sound machine and then it was like it hit him that he was really about to go to sleep in a new room. He whimpered and whined a little and definitely seemed somewhat freaked out. We expected him to try to stand up and get out of his bed but he isn't afraid of anything so that was the last thing we expected. Thankfully that only lasted for a few minutes and he was settled down before we put him in the bed and he went pretty much right to sleep. We counted nap number one as a success! That night went even better. He didn't seem afraid and although he played and moved around for a while, he didn't try to stand up or get out at all. He did great the rest of the weekend and so far this week. We are so thankful the transition has been as easy as it has.


He didn't fall asleep like this but he often slept like this in his crib with his feet on the bumper so I thought this was funny.

The door to Gray's new room is a lot quieter so I've been able to sneak in more to take pictures and just watch him sleep, which never gets old to me.


He wants nothing to do with a pillow and/or blanket right now.

We had another birthday party Saturday morning and I didn't take one single picture-whomp, whomp! That night we had our Easter dinner with my family. I ate entirely too much and could have cried from misery the rest of the night. I clearly don't have as much room in my stomach anymore but self-control is lacking so I end up swearing I'll never eat again a lot these days. We had some sweet family time that night and Gray thinks the world of his older cousins, which makes my heart happy. He talked about Matthew and Bryan the whole way home and asked to pray for them that night before bed.

Sunday we woke up excited about church and celebrating Jesus' resurrection. We had an awesome time of worship and our pastor preached yet another amazing sermon. I really am thankful to worship a God who's not dead! The only disappointing things about this Easter were 1) we never dyed Easter eggs-I even bought a cheap kit from Aldi several weeks ago, you know so we would be well prepared and not let two years in a row go by without doing so. And I think Gray would have been really into it this year. But I guess between all the birthday parties and big boy room shenanigans, time just didn't allow. Also, we really don't plan on "doing" the whole Easter bunny thing but we did want to fix Gray up a cute little Easter basket with a little bit of candy, some stickers, books, etc. and never did that either. Last year we didn't do it on purpose, knowing he wouldn't have a clue what was going on. This year I just wasn't prepared. I didn't want to buy him stuff while he was with me and I never made the time to go out and get it done while Paul was home. But you know what, if not dying Easter eggs and not giving Gray an Easter basket are the worst things about our resurrection holiday, then we just have another opportunity to be reminded that we don't want "stuff" and traditions to get in the true meaning of any Christian holiday in our family. Anywho, maybe next year we will have the perfect balance of celebrating what Easter really means, all the while dying Easter eggs and having cute little Easter baskets for our boys.

After Gray's nap we took him to his first baseball game. They had an Easter egg hunt on the field before the game. He really wasn't into that part at all, especially when he spotted Bolt (the team's mascot) and the Easter bunny walking across the field. He'd never seen either of these characters but that didn't give him one ounce of fear. Our friends Mary and Mike brought their daughter Olivia, who Gray knows from church, so they played together while Mary and I both sat on our super pregnant, feet swelling behinds and watched our hubbies and kids have a good time. Between the running and playing, Gray obsessed over Bolt so he and Daddy made several trips around the ballpark searching for him. None of us could tell you one thing about the actual baseball game, but we sure had fun! I think I've heard "Bolt!" about five-hundred thousand times since we left the game Sunday.

 



Sharing slobbery French fries with Daddy!

I was a little weirded out when the Easter bunny picked Gray up but he sure thought it was more than fine!

I always hate when Mondays roll around and Paul has to go back to work. But if we didn't have the work week the weekends wouldn't be so special. Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Spring Break

Despite all the snow days we've had this year, Paul still managed to get a whole week off for spring break. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we had some really special days with Gray. There are a lot of pictures on this post-sorry but I'm not sorry! ;)

Monday was pretty busy trying to finish up some last minute things around the house since we were about to put it back on the market and I had to tutor that afternoon. But we found time to take a lunch to Tanglewood and let Gray visit the dog park and ride his four-wheeler.

Thanks to longer days and sunlight until after 7:00, we played bubbles that evening after dinner.

Tuesday we were off early to the Science Center in Greensboro. Gray loves it and we get half off with our zoo/aquarium pass so it's a win/win. We hadn't been since last fall so everything seemed brand new to Gray.

These two make my heart so full!

As much as there was to see at the museum, Gray's favorite part was seeing the school buses on the way out. That is so our boy!

Wednesday we were off early again to the Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, which is about an hour from our house. We took Gray last summer when he was barely a year old and he loved it then but fell asleep half way through the wagon ride. We knew he'd get so much more out of it now and it was something we really wanted to do before it gets too hot and baby brother comes along making outings like this a little more challenging for a while. We had a 10:15 wagon reservation which ended up being perfect-it was warm but not hot yet and our wagon wasn't even half full. Gray was in animal heaven.

Like at the Science Center the day before, this was Gray's favorite part of the whole day. Our boy is obsessed with tractors and anything else with wheels!

Thursday morning we were off to Wilmington/Sneads Ferry. My Gram rode with us and stayed with her sister and her husband in Southport for the weekend. They met us in Wilmington to pick her up and then we went to see my cousin and her family for the day and evening, who we haven't seen in way, way too long. My aunt was also there which was an added bonus! Gray was so excited he missed a nap for the very first time since the 'ol colic days. He handled it like a champ though and played long, hard and sweet nonstop until we left that evening.

 

Ruby, Gray and Cole-third cousins!

I can't even stand the sweetness in these faces!!

After a long day of playing outside and grilling out, we headed to Paul's parents for the rest of the weekend. Thursday we headed back to Wilmington for the day. Gray ran around on the boardwalk admiring the boats and water and the many dogs who were out for a walk. We had a delicious seafood lunch at a waterfront restaurant.

On the way home Nana and Grandpa took us to Belk to buy Gray some summer clothes. Gray was such a trooper considering we didn't even get in the car to head home until after 3:00. He slept the whole way home, woke up sweet as sugar and ready to play for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Grandpa let Gray drive his convertible!

And his truck!

Reading books with "Nanny". First time we've ever seen him with his hands down his pants. Certainly won't be the last!

Gray LOVES their big boxers! Sharing milk with Jack.

Saturday morning Gray played outside with the dogs and then we went to watch Grandpa's soccer game, which was at the school that he and Nana teach and coach at. He wasn't one bit interested in the game but the buses were a whole 'nother story!

After the game we enjoyed yet another seafood lunch at our favorite local restaurant. They might have the best fried shrimp I have ever had. I made the mistake of sharing my lunch with Gray-that boy can throw down some food y'all!

After two days in a row of missing naps in his pack n play, Gray took a good long nap that afternoon. As soon as he woke up we headed for the beach. Paul's parents live less than 10 minutes from Topsail Island, which couldn't make me any happier! Gray hadn't seen the beach since last summer so I could hardly wait to see if he would love it the way his mama does. He certainly did and was completely fearless of the water. This day wasn't as warm as the day before but we were certain he wouldn't want to get in the freezing cold water. We were sure wrong! Thankfully we had a change of clothes in the diaper bag. Seeing him on the beach that day got me so excited for this summer!



This picture makes my heart want to burst.

We ended the night playing outside and making s'mores. No surprise that Gray was a fan and is still asking for "mar-mars".

Sunday we drove to Southport to pick up my Gram and see my great aunt and uncle's new house. It was such a cool little town and I wish we would have had more time to spend there. We did get to try out a delicious, water front local restaurant on our way out. It made for the perfect ending to a wonderful long weekend.

And this was our sweet boy just a few minutes into our drive home.

Next time we're at the beach we will have two little boys and I can hardly wait!