Annika first moments

Here is a link to a preview of Annika's entrance into the world from our birth photographer. Enjoy!
http://jackspratphoto.blogspot.com/2010/07/annika-kristine-rochester-birth.html

It's a...

Baby girl! Annika Kristine 7lbs 1oz 20" long 4:27 pm

27 months

I haven't updated on just Patrick in a while here is what he doing, learning and changing lately.


Eating
This kid eats just about anything these days. Hamburgers, chicken, fruit fruit and more fruit, basically anything we eat he is eating. He still goes through meals that he doesn't eat at, but then the next meal he'll devour everything and ask for more. In the morning he loves Wheaties with "booburies" on it.

Sleeping
ooh, it's been a rough week. Summer has been tough. We all want to just stay out and play much later which means he has a hard time winding down for bed each night. He'll go in his bed fine, but then we hear "mommy, daddy" many times over the next 30min-hour! It is really rough on us all. Once he is down he does pretty good (with the exception of some new teeth that are bugging him lately) The best time is in the morning when he wakes up and comes to snuggle with mommy while daddy is in the shower. I love this time as he snuggles in close and falls back asleep. The other day we tried waking him up and said "Patrick time to get up" without opening an eye he rolled over and said "no". Could be some interesting teenage years.

Playing
His favorites are still his vacuum and lawn mower. He is becoming very good at cleaning the house for us. He'll move rugs, chairs and toys just to make sure he is getting every spot. Outside he is all about his lawn mower. His favorite thing to do is sit on mommy's lap and watch daddy mow. Then once daddy has moved to another part of the lawn, he'll follow the same path with his mower, even stopping to pick up all the sticks that may be in the way. We found a used toy gas tank and he now has to fill up his mower before he can start. Such a detailed kid. This summer has also brought out the house. The kid loves water and so summer is just perfect! Another favorite inside game lately is a combination of hockey/golf/baseball. He'll take his baseball bat, hand a golf club to others and then play a hockey type game with the ball on the floor. So funny to watch him get soo excited.

Talking
He seems to be talking a blue streak lately. He'll engage strangers walking by in long conversations about mowers and trees and bikes. He loves to tell stories. Sometimes we hardly understand a word since he talks so fast, but we just giggle and laugh our way through it. He comes up with new words all the time. Last night we went to eat on an outdoor patio and he screams "umbrella!" Just clear as day. So fun. It is also fun teaching him new words like Marshmellow and hearing how he says it. So cute.

Learning
Patrick is working really hard on learning to do things on his own. "myself" He has been working on getting his shoes on, his pants and also his shirts. He does get frustrated easily but it so proud when he gets it. He now wants to use the potty by "myself" and says "go away" if we try to help. He'll get his stoll, climb up and go, flush and close the lid and run out. He has also been doing well getting his pants off. We are far from trained, but he really knows all the motions. He is also very interested in helping to make his own food, cutting his own food, washing his own hands and other things that help him to become a little more independent.

It is really great watching him grow and learn each day. We can hardly keep up, but at the same time we hold him close and enjoy him just as he is. He is going to be a great big brother and we just can't wait to see him continue to grow!

39 weeks

yep, 39 weeks.



nuf said.


ok, ok a couple updates this week. Tuesday-almost went to Wabasha. If we hadn't been enjoying time with friends, we may have driven there. Contractions started at about 3pm that day. They had me sweating through them, hard to breath and tough to talk. Called Ryan and he could tell it was bad. Then out to dinner with friends and they just continued although not as bad. Every 5-7min. Called midwife after dinner and she said we could come if we wanted, but since they weren't getting closer together or worse we opted to stay home and wait it out. By 9pm they were still about 5-6min apart. Finally went to bed and was only woken up a couple times.

Wednesday I decided to stay home and rest up. Pretty quiet day but the naps were great! Back to work Thursday and Friday. So now it is a wait and see kind of thing. Nothing timeable since Tuesday. Met with the midwife on Thursday and she didn't have much to say. Could be tomorrow, could be 2 weeks from now, who knows?? Heart rate was up in the 150's. My BP was 116/64, so all normal numbers. Swelling is still there in my ankles and hands, but nothing too bad, just uncomfortable in the heat and when standing.

so now we wait and try not to go crazy waiting!

I made P pose for a couple shots in the studio. Got the first one, then he was done by #2!

hot hot hot

I have been sitting in the A/C as much as possible lately. Last weekend though, I felt like something else may help. The pool! We weren't there long, but it felt so good to float in the water and feel normal for a moment! I think Patrick enjoyed the water as well.



The rice crispie bar wasn't so bad either!


And just to prove, that I indeed wore a swimming suit at 38 weeks along... (although I can't say I enjoyed it!)

4th of July

Remember this? CLICK HERE This was the last time we spent the 4th at Anne and Grants. Oh, how they have grown! Picture taking isn't that much better with very dis-interested toddlers.


You do have to wonder though what goes through their little heads. Sometimes they have their own little conversations.




Then all craziness breaks loose when the big boys decide to have an impromptu dance party!

38 weeks

Final stretch right? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? Either way this baby will come out sometime soon.

Well, things have been relatively quiet the last couple of days. After all the contraction excitement this past weekend at least. My back is super tight from all that contracting though. I had a chiropractor appt last night to help loosen things up. I think it did help, but it wasn't a comfortable process for sure!

Our bags are now fully packed, including all the electronic equipment of course! (camera, video, extra lens, extra battery, laptop!) We even packed an overnight bag for Patrick in case he needs to go to Allison's for a night.

I have 3 meals in the freezer (lasagna, bbq's, soup) and the babies room is looking much more in order. We may paint this weekend though, we'll see.

Work is getting a little slower since most of my clients are quiet right now and I am transitioning things over to co-workers. I'll work until baby, but I am certainly more tired as the days goes on.

Had a little emotional melt down last night, so Ryan ordered me out of the house. Did a little shopping which helped. I think it is just feeling so real that our lives are changing soon and it gets a little overwhelming at times. I am excited though.

The other night when I had a tough contraction, Patrick looked over at me worried and said "baby mama?" I think he gets it a little more. Well except for when Ryan asked him what was in mama's tummy this morning and Patrick giggled and started making monkey sounds. I told Ryan that if I do have a monkey that it won't be my gene pool that created it! ;)

Update from 7/1/10 appt: BP is 112/60 Baby's heart rate is in the 140's (yep, it's a boy now!) I am measuring right at 38 weeks, and midwife thought baby was at least 8lbs, we'll see if she is right!