34 weeks, and 9 years

Today marks 34 weeks along in the pregnancy.  Phew!  I am in many ways ready for WP to be here, and in many ways not.  My body is certainly getting itself ready, and Im having contractions every day, along with other symptoms Ill not go into in public.  So FUN!  I am loving these last few weeks having just Raughley around, because I know things will change drastically once WP gets here and I want to soak up all my time with just R man while I can.

As you may know, today is Pearl Harbor Day, which also represents Chase and my dating anniversary.  (He says its tomorrow, I really think it was yesterday, but whatever, its around this time each year.) Nine years together people!!!  Thats a long time to know someone.  Its been a great nine years too, with each one getting better.  Here's to the tenth year being the best of all!!

Stars!

Someone has a slight star obsession.  He loves to sing twinkle twinkle little star, watch "Nina and Star" on the Sprout Channel, and point out stars at night.  So when he found this little baby starfish on the beach he was seriously pumped up.  

I captured some video of him singing about the starfish for your amusement. 

Beach Day

Just a few more pics from Thanksgiving.  

Someone made his own Macy's Day Parade this year.  

And we caught an eagle sighting, which R was psyched about.  

A family pic, me a a bulging 32 weeks.  

And some sweet beach moments.

Happy Thanksgiving! I guess this means Christmas has really kicked off!!

Beach Activities

When it is too cold to actually be on the beach, you find other activities to suit.  

Like riding the boat in the canal. But that means life jackets, and someone is not a fan. 

They look like they're having fun right?  Zoom in....

Not loving it.  Although Chase said that when they saw some dolphins he cheered up.  

So we tried some Banyan Tree climbing instead.  That went over better.

This is Banyan Street, a famous street in Boca Grande with really old trees whose vines grow to form more roots.  They are really cool to look at, and apparently fun to climb.  

Thanksgiving 2011

This was our year to spend Thanksgiving at the beach with the Wise's. We couldn't have asked for better weather, or a nicer trip.  For myself, it was very restful.  For this guy, it was a chance to get busy in the great outdoors. 

This is the school playground where I worked.  How fun to see my child play on it!  Funnily enough, all he wanted to do was stand on this big tree.

We also managed some time to pick fruit.  

And this jersey stayed on most of the time, in case you were wondering.  

What a cool dude!  (The index finger he's holding up is supposed to be a thumb's up- we'll give him props for trying.)

There were also plenty of sunsets.  

Really gorgeous sunsets.

The kind that make you really thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

32 Weeks

I wish so badly that I had recorded more during my first pregnancy.  I am now 32 weeks, but feel 38 weeks.  I can hardly lift myself off the couch, can hardly sleep comfortably, feel like I weigh a million pounds (even though I weigh less than I did with R) and have a hard time breathing.  I sound like such a downer, right?  All things considered, I actually feel pretty good.  Little sciatica, no rib pain, fairly good amount of energy and the nesting has continued.  The contractions are starting to pick up, however.  At almost eight a night, they keep me breathing pretty hard and are starting to get uncomfortable, sometimes painful.  I know this is normal, but just don't remember this from last time.  Again, why didn't I write it down???   I've got eight weeks to go at the most and counting down the days.  Christmas will be almost 37 weeks, so I'm making this my mental due date, so that any time after Christmas can be spent resting, not scrambling around doing last minute duties.

Left to do are the following:
-wash the baby clothes, bottles, burp cloths and blankets
-move R upstairs.  (could be interesting)
-visit Buy Buy Baby for a few last minute things (diapers, wipes, another changing pad, pacifiers, etc)
- pack for the hospital
- Finish Christmas shopping
- wrap Christmas presents
- mail Cmas cards (these are done- yay!)
- And Im sure a few other odds and ends will pop up along the way.

So if I try to make Christmas my deadline, I have 34 days to go.  Everything else is just Bonus down time with Raughley and Chase, during our last moments as a family of three.

Speaking of Raughley, I hear him in his crib making elephant noises.  It must be time to get up.

The Big Boy Room

Thanks to Chase, my dad and Uncle William, we got some major furniture moved yesterday and Raughley's big boy room is pretty much ready to go!

He chose the spot for this bed, looking out the window.

The theme is animals, if you can't tell, since he loves Zoo animals so much.  I think he already feels like it's home. 

The best part is a room that looks like a closet from the outside, but once you walk in, it becomes a mini playroom!

So cozy!

The plan is to move him upstairs after Thanksgiving.  

And for those of you that used to stay in this room, we regret to inform you we've had to downgrade you from a King size bed to a twin.  You're still always welcome at Chez Wise!

His bathroom is decorated with frogs.  We've yet to have him bath up there, but it won't be long!