36 WEEK PREGNANCY UPDATE

   

^^ 36 Weeks Pregnant with Adelaide, 36 Weeks Pregnant with Mercer ^^

So, where to start..... Well, I'll quickly address the craziness going on in the photo on the right. That's everything out of our kitchen piled up there behind me. Why you might ask? Well, because we thought it would be a great idea to do a kitchen reno a month before baby is due. Is that some out of control version of nesting or something? I'll revisit that topic with a couple more photos in a minute, but first, how about a little pregnancy comparison and update?

This pregnancy has been different from the get go, that was what made me lean toward thinking maybe we were having a boy this time. It hasn't been night and day or anything, but different. A little harder. A little less fun. I don't know if that's all about the pregnancy or the fact that I've got Adelaide this time (although last time I had 17 four year olds in my class...), or maybe just because it's the second time around and the novelty just isn't there like it was the first time, or maybe the fact that Jordan's not doting on me at all like the first time around? I've missed that bit the most I think :( Whatever the reason, I am feeling more ready to not be pregnant this time than last time (heck I was totally into it up until the moment Adelaide was born), and I don't anticipate missing not being pregnant anymore like I did last time either. 

Okay, specifics.... Mercer moves way more. Like, 95% of the time or something. Like, right this minute, moving. When I wake up in the morning, moving. When I drive Adelaide to school,moving. When I get in bed at night, moving. When I wake up in the middle of the night (any of the 20 times), moving. There are definitely uncomfortable kicks and pokes and twists, which I don't remember having at all with Adelaide. Maybe he's bigger, or he's just preparing me for all the boy that is to come? I feel way more impeded. Like bending over feels like way more of a hassle. And rolling over at night or getting off the couch. I think my stomach muscles are way more shot this time. Also, I had a random few days of being woken up at night with indigestion/acid reflux about a week ago. None of that last time. On the plus side, I've only had one middle of the night leg cramp this time (knock on wood), which I battled with way more last time. I think I look a bit bigger; at least I 100% feel bigger this time. With Adelaide I strutted around feeling more confident about my body than I had in years; thinking I was just so cute and being totally happy with my looks. This time? Let's just say it's basically the opposite. The word whale comes to mind a lot.

Also, this "weekly" photo was the first I've done since 20 weeks. I might've missed one or two last time. I'm thinking I'm already seeing just how much different #2 is going to be. I just don't bloody care this time! Haha! It's actually quite nice to be so much more laid back and I'm hoping that feeling sticks around.

Okay, so onto the kitchen situation.

   

^^ Note that this is before about 50% more stuff got shoved over in this corner, including the refrigerator ^^

So, this all started in January, when I decided to replace the cabinet doors. Not that Jordan was totally in the dark, we've had numerous conversations about the things we planned on doing pertaining to our house, we just never got past the first few steps before something else came up and it all got pushed to the back burner. This time, I was serious and I got it done. So, new doors = painting. Well, while we're at it, should we just go ahead and do the concrete counter tops we've been talking about for years? Let's do it! And the back splash (which I've wanted to change for quite a while now) is going to get messed up when we pull the counter tops out, so that's gonna have to go... So that's where we're at. As of today, the kitchen has been emptied for 3-4 days, (with no sink or oven or microwave access for 2 days) the doors and cabinet boxes have been primed and Jordan is about to start 1 of 3 (I think he said) coats of white paint! It already looks so much brighter in there, it's going to look amazing! That being said, it's a total pain the rear and I know Jordan is hating every second of it and cursing me in his head every step of the way. And I can't say crawling around on the floor scraping up old caulking or moving everything out of the kitchen while 36 weeks pregnant was a walk in the park. This is exactly the kind of thing he avoids at all costs. Once he's done with the painting though, he's going to start on the concrete counter tops, which I think he'll actually enjoy (of course, that's based on a scale where nothing is really want to be doing with your free time). He will of course enjoy the bragging rights and the praise that is guaranteed to follow, so don't go feeling sorry for him or anything. 

The plan is for the counter tops to get poured this weekend so that hopefully the sink can go back in by Wednesday, because Jordan is flying out Wednesday night for a few days of spring training in Arizona. And leaving Adelaide and I here for that many more days without a sink would just be mean. Not that I'd complain though, in all honesty. I'm just insanely stoked to have this all happening, finally! 36 weeks pregnant or not. Yeah, we'd be totally screwed if Mercer decided to show up early, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. Like Jordan said, "Why take the smooth flat road when you can climb straight up the mountain on a cow trail?" (Which, incidentally, is exactly what he does on his motorcycle trips.) So he's serious when he says that. 

Besides the kitchen reno and the last stretch of the pregnancy countdown, here's what else is going on.... Jordan's working, of course, as well as taking 2 classes and a lab. I'm trying to sort out things for Mercer. He has a place to sleep (in our room) and clean clothes for the first couples of weeks (unless he comes out huge... I'm not at all prepared for that). Those are really the most important bits, right? I'm going to be starting a part-time work from home job in May! (assuming everything works out the way I think it's supposed to) I'm really excited about that, but nervous about how it's all going to work out with a new baby here too. We've also got a big medical battle on the horizon in my family, so I'm trying to get things sorted as much as I can so I can be there to help as much as possible for that.... Oh, did I mention there's talk of enclosing our breezeway again? That plan has come and gone at least 4 times over the past year, but this time it's looking like we might actually do it. We have actual, architect-drawn plans this time. So maybe Adelaide and Mercer won't be sharing a room after all? At least, not indefinitely. Hmm, wonder when we'll find time to get going on that? Yep, it's kinda crazy around here these days! Gotta keep things exciting ;)

BABYMOON

You've all heard of a babymoon I assume? That one last hurrah before the baby arrives and throws your life into a total tailspin, never to be mistaken for your old life ever again? Well, this wasn't exactly the typical relaxing long weekend away for the parents-to-be. Nope, it was definitely our spin on the whole babymoon concept. Since Adelaide has been really enjoying our camping trips over the past year, we really wanted to get one more in before the little mister gets here. We didn't start camping with Adelaide until she was 2 years old. While we're hoping to get back into in with #2 along for the ride much earlier, I'm still expecting it to be a little while. So with all that in mind and Jordan with a couple of free weeks in January, we headed West. Where else are you going to go in January and not freeze beside the desert? 

Our first stop was Monahans State Park in West Texas, where we check out some dunes:

And we saw the first of many amazing desert sunsets:

After that we continued West...

^^ Looking for coyotes ^^

...and eventually landed in the Tucson area where Adelaide took in the zoo. The highlight of that, of course, was the carousel. Though the camel ride was a definite highlight as well (which took an amazing amount of coaxing on my part... coaxing, possibly bordering on threatening given we had shelled out 40 bucks for the special passes allowing her to ride the carousel and camel, and I'd have been damned if she didn't get on the freakin' camel!) You know, all the stuff you go to the zoo for...

This trip was my first time to see Saguaro cacti in real life, up close, and it was totally crazy. Like landing right the the middle of a Wylie Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon. It's amazing how huge they get!

   

We made it just into to California for a couple of nights of BLM camping. Much to my amazement, we saw orange trees. Just growing right alongside the road. Like, just growing oranges on them. (And pistachio trees in Arizona!) I don't know, maybe that's only amazing and beyond like, whoa to me. Whatever :)

While in California we were also faced with the difficult decision on whether to eat lunch at a local bakery/sandwich shop place with amazing Yelp reviews, ooooor hitting the Baja Fresh. I love Baja Fresh. We don't have Baja Fresh in DFW anymore. The last time I had Baja Fresh was years ago in Lake Tahoe.... ooooh man that black bean burrito... Alas, Baja Fresh was in a gas station, and so the local place won out. I think the possibility of some delish baked goods for dessert may have also swayed me (if you know me, that will come as no surprise :). There weren't any delish baked goods though :( But, the sandwiches were good. Excellent Pepsi too.  ;)

Next up, our stop at White Sands National Monument where Jordan and Adelaide got in a few more dune slides:

   

That's right, I said sand. It was absolutely so cool to see that bright white sand in the middle of the desert. Definitely worth the stop!

^^ Also, this. Just because it's cute ^^

Food highlight: We stopped back by Blue House Bakery in Carlsbad, NM on our way home (which we found last year on our trip to the dunes out there, and hit up twice during that trip). Like, we went out of our way and designed a route specifically through Carlsbad and drove until like 9:00 the night before in order to be able to go there for breakfast. It's that good. For reals. I started with a cinnamon roll appetizer, followed by the bacon, egg, cheese and green chili croissant and a chocolate croissant to go. I'm pregnant, so I get to do whatever the hell I want when it comes to food :) And, Adelaide got to say hi to her old friend :)

 

I will say we/Adelaide struggled a bit, particularly around days 3-4 or so, after lots of time in the truck and not much time to run around and play or make any choices of her own really. The zoo trip in particular was trying. But after that, Jordan heeded my advice and started seeking out playgrounds for Adelaide and let me tell you, that made a world of difference. Once she got used to the fact that her schedule was out the window, especially considering I never even knew what time it was and she started getting some time to do her own thing, we were golden. Two weeks across 4 states. I think that'll get us through the next few months.