Ok, so now I feel it...

So remember when I was saying only a few days ago that I felt pretty good... Yeah, today I'm starting to feel the "pain" of the last month of pregnancy. I officially told Ken today (as I remember doing last time around) that I didn't look forward to going to bed any more. It just isn't relaxing or fun or enjoyable... Just painful, uncomfortable, and down right frustrating at times. I believe I officially waddle all the time now, and am having difficulty sitting on the floor to change Finn's diapers.

And as the countdown is now less than 30 days until our daughter arrives, I begin to panic (only slightly at first) about some of the small details that I have yet to nail down. The major one that I'm concerned with is who will take care of Finnegan when I'm in the hospital. Sure, Ken gets paternity leave, but I'd prefer he be with me at least for a little bit while I'm at the hospital. And yes, my parents are coming to help after the baby is born. But not until a week after she's arrived. My concern is not the week that she is born, or the week after she is born. My concern is the first two or three days that she's born, when I'll still be in the hospital. I can't expect my 2 year old to behave for hours within the walls of the hospital, and yet, don't want my husband away from me all day long. We have a few friends here in the area, but hate to just drop my son off on their door step and not return for several days and yet, don't feel that I can ask them to even watch him for an afternoon, cause I think to some extent it sounds selfish... Sort of like we're saying, "Here, take my older kid, because we can't handle him and the baby all at once." Does that make sense?? Sort of silly, I know. And I shouldn't be concerned about anything other than the days she's born, becasue I know that we'll figure it out... But that's just what's happening in my head.

And yet, as I'm concerned, I was reminded by a dear friend with a simple verse... "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

How are you feeling??

Currently, I am 34 weeks and 4 days... (I'll be 35 weeks pregnant on Tuesday). I've been asked a couple time this week how I'm feeling and if I'm ready to have the baby. Contrary to how it seems many of those who are due in Sept are feeling** I actually feel pretty good. Obviously, I wake up every 2-3 hours at night, and have a child who likes to push her rump out of the right side of my belly which can be pretty uncomfortable from time to time. However, for the most part, I feel good. When the heat isn't at its max, I can handle the bump in front, and all that goes with it. Granted, I've gained a bit more weight that I would have liked, but not more than any normal pregnant woman, and on track with where I was with my previous pregnancy. I enjoy feeling the baby move, and wish Ken could experience it and enjoy it like I do.

Perhaps I'll feel worse in a couple of weeks and ready to have this baby. But for now, I'm ok with being pregnant and trying to enjoy it for as long as it lasts - although I catch myself waddling from time to time.


** A pregnancy board that I read from time to time already has women trying alternative ways to induce labor on their own because they are "miserable" and impatient. I find it interesting that most of them have at least 2-6 weeks left before they are even 40 weeks, and they're already finding ways to have their babies early.

Sweet Pea's Room is Finished

Her room is finished... mostly. And here are some photos, for those of you who haven't seen them on FB or email :)

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Sweet Pea's Birthday...

It's official!! Sweet Pea's Birthday will be Sept 23rd, unless she has other plans and decides to come early! We went to the doctor today and all looks well with the baby. Her heartbeat was 130bpm. My baby shower is this weekend, and I'm pretty excited about it. Sweet Pea's room is almost done, and I'll post photos soon!

Break-through!!

So, I think we've made a break through in the toddler bed situation. After 10 days of the toddler bed battle, last night Ken only went into Finn's room once to issue a spanking. This afternoon at nap time, we didn't need to enter. Tonight, I entered once, to find him just playing in his bed and I praised him for being good. About 30 minutes later, Ken entered (as we could hear his pitter patter on the ceiling above us) to find him running around his room, and as Ken entered, Finn started crying because he knew what was coming (although it didn't come as he thought it would). Since then, we haven't heard from him. He's asleep and has two pleased parents.

Week in Review

Monday was our 7th Anniversary. We decided to just hang out at home, rather than try to get a sitter and such. I got a great deal on a pork tenderloin roast and made a nice dinner. Ken brought home some sparkling juice and roses for me. I had a Wii game for him and dinner prepared. We went out and rented a redbox movie, and enjoyed the movie of Gran Torino.

Not much else to speak of for the rest of the week. Wednesday, Finnegan got his first bloody lip at Gymboree gym class. But he is ok now.

Today, we ventured to Costco and then to the mall. We made our first return to Gymboree (the store) since he ran off. We had an uneventful trip for the most part.

Overall, we're still struggling with Finnegan staying in his bed when it's time to take a nap or go to sleep. Today's nap was back up to about an hour of him in and out of his bed. And finally he just fell asleep on the floor in front of the door. And although many suggest that we should just let him stay in his room and play quietly, and fall sleep when he's ready, I still have to contend that I am the one who has to deal with a cranky kid when he doesn't get a nap, or enough of a nap. And am reminded that he isn't even 2 years old and he has no idea what he needs. He needs a nap, in his bed, when I say. Tonight for bed, Ken only had to enter his room once and give a spanking, and that was the last "peep" we heard of him. We feel like we're making advances in him understanding, and then we take a step back. It has only been about 9 days since we started the toddler bed, and we only have problems with him before he goes to sleep. He doesn't get out of bed during the night and he is waking up later in the morning (although we've had our share of 6:30am mornings).

We have 6 weeks before the baby arrives. Ken worked hard to get the nursery up this last weekend. The furniture is built and I only have a few other things to do before it is completely done. My baby shower is on Saturday, the 22nd, at my friends house here in town. I'm pretty excited. I find out our c-section date this next week at my doctor's appt. I think we've decided on a name. And yet again... it is one that Ken found and picked. I'd always thought that I'd fall in love with my child's name, and it just seems that the names I fall in love with, either don't fit with our last name, or with Finnegan's name, or Ken just doesn't like it. My only hang up now is finding a nickname for the baby once she's born. For Finnegan, we call him Finn. We also call him "Dib", short for "dibbity"... a name that Ken has always called him. For the new baby, there is a nickname that is natural for the name, but I'm not a fan of it. Ken and I have been trying to come up with other variations for the nickname that I'm more comfortable with, but I'm just not finding anything right now. I'm sure it will come... I still cling to the idea that naming a kid is one of the hardest decisions to make in life.

Do Dogs Know When something is Gonna Happen?

Yes, today is my 7th Anniversary with my wonderful husband, and I will blog about that later.

Here's the idea that's been on my mind for the last couple of weeks. A couple of weeks ago, Oreo, one of our Boston Terriers, was sick and we had to take her to the vet several times. She has a "chronic" disorder that we deal with from time to time. When she starts getting sick there is no signs like other dogs might have with the same condition. However, she does start to withdraw. She starts to hide a bit more and sleep in her room rather than in the living room with the rest of the "family". :)

Last time I was pregnant, I noticed that our other Boston Terrier, Tootsie, began to take more notice of me and wanted to sleep by me in the evening. And now being pregnant this time around, it seems like she's like this ALL DAY LONG!!! She's always at my feet or standing right next to me on the couch.

So here's the question... I know that dogs have a bit of ESP and can sense things that we can't. However, the last week or so, has begun to make me think that the dogs know something that I don't. They are always sitting and staring at me, and Tootsie seems to be even more crazy about being by me than she was last time. They both seem to be a bit more "watchful" than they normally are. Do they know something I don't? Like perhaps I'll go into labor before my c-section... or that the baby will come a bit early... or that something else is gonna happen that will effect our family! I just don't know. What are your thoughts???

Toddler Bed Update #2

So, I must say that Finnegan is getting the hang of the staying in bed deal.

First night - 80 minutes in and out of bed until he decided to stay - Mommy put him to bed. (no spanking)
First Nap - 30 minutes in and out of bed with spanking on every 5th time out of the bed - Mommy put him to bed.
Second Night - 60 minutes in and out of bed with one spanking - Daddy put him to bed.
Second Nap - 30 minutes in and out of bed with spanking every 5th time out of bed - Mommy put him to bed.
Third Night - Total 32 minutes.... but only out of bed once after 12 minutes of in and out of the bed - Mommy put him to bed. (no spanking).

So, I'm hoping that tonight will be even better, but it will be Daddy's turn, again so he might revert back to trying to get around the rules. :)

Thanks again mommy's for all the support and help!!

Toddler Bed Update

So, we're down 2 nights in the toddler bed with success. Although the first night, it took 80 minutes to get our monkey to stay in his bed, during his first nap time, it only took about 30 minutes (as we added the consequence of a spanking early on). The second night, seemed to be a bit better with a time clocking in at 60 minutes - but daddy was on patrol. So I'm sure Finnegan was trying his hand at testing Daddy too.

And after his first night of falling out of the bed, he hasn't done that since. So that is comforting. He stays in his bed all night. He did wake up SUPER early this morning - 6:15am (he's normally up around 8am). So I anticipate an early nap a bit later. Hopefully he'll do even better at staying in bed at the beginning of his nap/bedtime. I know it's process that takes a couple of days to get right. :O)

Thanks for all the suggestions ladies! I have implemented the "speaking the rules" thing when he goes to bed. And alot of times I'll ask him to repeat them or "finish the rule" and tell me what the consequence is. It is very helpful!! :) Thanks for the support!

Toddler Bed, Here we come!!

Oh, it's been a long day. It didn't start off that way, but has definitely turned out that way. Finnegan and I have been busy running TONS of errands this week to clear out the garage. We got most of what we needed to get done as well as some other fun things to do together. Today, I was so excited when Finnegan went down for a nap without a fuss or crying (this is the first time he's done this since we've been back from vacation over a month ago). I was so pleased that he was back to his regular schedule and a happy kid!! About 45 minutes later, I heard a double thud on the ceiling above me. I ran upstairs, and found my sweet boy standing outside his crib!! Great!!!

So, I piled him in the car and we went to Target to purchase a crib rail, to help him from falling out of his new toddler bed (as we'd have to convert it before bed time). I brought it home, and started putting it together. And what do you know, I got a bed rail and not a crib rail. It was too big, OF COURSE. So that meant, no nap time for the toddler and lots of frustration for a tired mommy! After about 45 minutes of putting him back into his bed. I was tired of fighting so I said, Skip the Nap!! We played downstairs and we are both lucky that daddy was home about 45 minutes early from work!! Daddy took Finn outside to play and they ended up swinging on the swing set, where Finnegan promptly feel asleep!!

After Dinner and a bit more of playing, it was time to start the new bedroom routine. We started the routine as normal, brush teeth, PJ's etc. Then we put him in his bed, told him it was time to stay in his bed and that we loved him. Then I planted a chair outside the door and the work began. Every time he was out of his bed, I entered the room and put him back in his bed. Oh, it was tiring. Then, after about 80 minutes, he was in his bed to stay and asleep. But unfortunately, less than 30 minutes, he had fallen out of his bed!! Oops!!

Oh, I'm not looking forward to nap time, but am looking forward to bedtime tomorrow... cause Daddy gets bedroom duty!! :)

Moms: I asked once before and got a couple of responses. Does anyone else have any other suggestions for getting a toddler (under 2) to stay in his bed for nap and bedtime and to not play with toys??