10.11/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

forgive me but I'm going to count this as 2 so that I can get just a tad ahead before this baby makes his or her arrival:)

homer

pants-less with sneakers. That is his uniform these days. I wish I could pull it off as well as he does;)

This boy also said his first sentence today. 4 words that I've already forgotten (jeesh...pregnancy brain??! - he said it to Courts...maybe she remembers???) and that caused me to cry for an embarrassing amount of time. 

I love what he's becoming:)

baby

this baby of ours is determined to make me patient before he or she even arrives. We're 3 days away from our due date and I'm anxious as all hell!!! Anxious because I'm scared. I want so badly for things to go as smoothly as they did with Homer that I think I'm psyching myself out a bit:/ I feel great and I just need to take a couple deep breaths and wait. Waitttttttt.:)

PS. i love those belly photos more and more every time I look at them:) Thanks Courts:)

week 38:)

i'm STILL pregnant!!!!!!

to be honest...neither Jacob or I expected to leave the weekend without having a baby in our arms. But here we are...Monday and baby is still holding tight!! But all of that is okay. I'm not shocked at all that our instincts were off. They normally are about such things;) But I'm really feeling great and I'm not "GET THIS THING OUTTA ME" quite yet...although, I didn't go over with Homer...so check back when we're 4 days past my due date and I may be singing a different tune;)

But as of right now...I feel good. We feel good. 

i was also able to celebrate my 31st birthday outside of the hospital this weekend! So that was very kind of the baby;) And I have to say...it's been one of THE best birthday's I've ever had. 

Note to Self: plan to be 39 weeks pregnant on ALL future birthday's till the end of time;)

Besides the normal birthday attention...Jacob is completely pampering me anyway because of my 'state' and it's been complete bliss:):)

AND I still have one more gift coming (not counting the baby;) from Jacob, my mom and sister, Courts - it's being shipped:). So I'm VERY excited about that! 

so everything is good, good, good:) And I'm thinking this MAY be the last 'baby' post until after there's a real-life baby. Um...whaaaaaa?!?!:)

in a few weeks, I hope to be adding one more photo to this group...of me holding our new baby girl or boy:):)

TOP: 14WKS   BOTTOM: 38WKS

due date 

any day now!!!!!! (scary face;)

boy or girl 

jacob has finally admitted it COULD be a girl;) My gut is saying girl! 

names 

i think we've finally settled on names! I doubted us for a minute and was about ready to scrap all our girl names and start over...but it's all good:) And most likely it WILL be a boy now that we had such a hard time settling on girl names;)

belly 

i'm pregnant. So there's that.

weight 

as of last week...I was still bringing in about a pound per week - impressive, I know;). My next appointment is scheduled for tomorrow and I have not been holding back in the last week. I figured it's my last days of pregnancy anddddd I'll do what I want;) 

current weight: 181lbs

total weight gain: 44lbs

even if I weigh in 5lbs heavier tomorrow...I'll still have gained less than I did with Homer. Whoa.

wardrobe

there are definitely minimal options now and comfort is key. Luckily, I'm officially on Maternity Leave...so no pressure to look too neat;)

AND we're already planning our Annual MOA Trip for April and I'm SO excited to go without a belly and hopefullyyyyyy without at least 20 less pounds;)

baby buys 

Um. I've ordered THIS - for 10% off and it's something I've been loving on for quite some time - and plan on putting it in the baby room if it's a girl. I've also scored a few super cheap things on used IG sites - where they sell their baby clothes. The most recent outfit were THESE stripped pants and one of THESE tops but I got the set for $4, shipped:)

9/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

he really is too cool for us...school...time outs...us mostly;)

This kid cracks me up...when he's not messing with my minddddddd!!!!;)

baby

this baby is still cookin' and he or she can stay cookin' as far as I'm concerned. I've got a few things left on the To Do List yet:)

I'm so fortunate to still feel really great and besides those normal pregnancy feelings of exhaustion and just all around feeling like a huge beast...I'm doing so well:)

smithbabydos.

i won't add much cause these pretty pretty photos will speak for themselves (I'm biased though, cause I love this little - growing - family of mine:). I believe we got these photos around 36WKS and here we are at 38WKS! Time is flying and things are moving and I know this baby is gonna be here before we know it:)

HERE is the link to our photos with Homer almost 2 years ago:')

this may be one of all time favorites:)

i just can't wait to have this process begin. When will contractions start? Where will I be? What time of day? We've already lined my sister, Pigg, up to take Homer at ANY time of day, at the drop of a hat and then we'll head down. We still have a few things that need to be packed - like Homer's bag and our own...the only thing we're really ready for is dressing the adorable little baby...not so much anything else having to do with our hospital stay....Oops;)

and then naming the baby!??!!? Oh man...see how I'm avoiding most things having to do with the baby having to come out of me;)??

12 days till Due Date:)

8/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

there have definitely been some tough times over the last few weeks with this little guy. Maybe he senses the changes to come and is rebelling. Maybe he's showing us his 'true colors' (please let that NOT be true!!!;). Or it's another phase that we'll look back on and NOT laugh about cause it super sucked;) 

Regardless of those difficult moments (try hours;)...when he's a good boy. Man. He's the best:) 

He really is exactly what we needed our first baby to be and he's going to make an incredible big brother:)

baby

12 days till maternity leave. 14 days till my birthday. 17 (possibly) days till the baby's birthday. Mind.Blown.

It's definitely crunch-time around these parts and we've spent a lot of time trying to finish up all those projects that we began months ago. Get our finances in order. Leave the house a few last times as a family of 3:) And just prep for baby! We're excited and we're tired and we're a lot excited:):)

week 36:)

today we're actually closer to 37 weeks than we are to 36. I'm not sitting here mind blown about how far along I am or how soon this baby will be here. I must be too damn tired for that;) 

with this pregnancy...I feel like those things hit a lot sooner than they did with Homer. The exhaustion. The aches and pains. The feeling that the baby will just fall out if I go from sitting to standing too quickly. My doc assures me that these are all pretty common symptoms for a second pregnancy. I assume having Homer around to keep me busy may have something to do with the exhaustion as well;)

overall...we're doing fantastic! My birthday is coming up and we decided to celebrate a little early, seeing as I may not be in the mood as my due date approaches. Thursday both Jacob and I are going to our 37 week appointment (this will be his first time being able to come with me!!!!) and then heading...somewhere. We have no plan. My favorite Day Dates with Jacob involve NO planning. I'm so excited that it seems forever away yet!!!

as far as this baby...we're so excited. SO so excited. I can't wait to have the contractions start (not the FEELING of the contractions but the whole...where will I be when they start? What time of day will it be?!!!). I love the anticipation and surprise of it all!!:)

we're SO not ready but we're ready. Kinda;)

due date 

March 26th...or before...or after!??:)

boy or girl 

my mind changes on this dailyyyyyy! I seriously thought we were having a boy. But nowwwww I feel girl. Did the same thing with Homer...

names 

i think we're pretty set with names at this point. 2 boy options. 2 girl options. Both first and middles names are set:) SO now to wait and see what suits the baby when he or she arrives:)

my Friend did send her weekly suggestions: Mogley and Winnie. Adorablllleeeee!!!

belly 

i feel like the baby's definitely dropped. I don't remember feeling as if Homer was going to fall out of me as badly as I do with this baby!! Lordy...going from sitting to standing takes some time:/

weight 

we're down to weekly appointments. Whoa.

I was hoping to keep the weight gain minimal from here on out...but I'm currently craving MD's and I have a feeling my husband won't say no to that 9PM suggestion;)

current weight: 179lbs 

(that was last week...so I'm guessing this has gone up:/)

total weight gain: 42lbs

we are right on track for where I was at with Homer but I did go on to gain 55lbs with Homer...hoping we can lock this shit up at 45lbs this time around;)

wardrobe

i actually just did some major downsizing in the closet! Pretty excited about the 'new leaf' I'm trying to turn over in regards to my purchases and spending:)

And going through my clothes allowed me to start a little Maternity Tote of my own (us sisters have been kinda sharing one for the last few years and it was preeeeeetty outdated) but I was able to try a few things on and feel like I may have a few more COMFORTABLE things than I thought to get me through the end of this pregnancy:)

baby buys 

no current baby buys! We're just working through what we already have. Keeping the spending to a minimum (see: NEW LEAF above;). Jacob deemed this week: Baby Prep Week! Bottles need to be pulled out and washed. Bags for freezing milk need to be bought. Car seat needs to be drug out, cleaned and installed in the car. Phew. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head;)

i had Courts snap a few photos of the necklace I was wearing this day. It's a gift from her for Christmas actually! I know she purchased it off PS i Adore You but it's not listed there anymore...HERE is something similar...so similar that it may actually be the exact one she got me:)

7/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer and baby

all it takes are 20 minutes of him playing while I knock-out the dishes and start some laundry...or to fall asleep in my arms before bed...or to simply not shit in a cloth diaper for one FULL day and all of a sudden I get all mushy about my kid...the one that I just retrieved from his 10th time-out in an hour...the one that screams 'NO' at me and tries to kick me when I change his diaper. Yes. That angel;).

i mostly can't believe Homer is tall. That he's not a chubby little baby...he's a growing little boy. Did I look at him enough today. Did I reallyyyyy listen to what he was (trying) to say? I just want to enjoy every little second of this whole deal. I want to be on Maternity Leave...like NOW...but I don't want to rush the end of this pregnancy. I want to put Homer in a hip hop dance class (or Karate;) but I don't want him to be a minute older than he is right this minute:/

i guess we do our best. That is all:)

6/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

*me.pulling.hair.out* 
our little Homer is testing the waters of hellion-hood;) There are those times...while he's in a time-out;)...where I miss the little guy and wonder if he was being allllll that bad. And then when he's out of time-out...I remember. It comes back to me. Quickly;) He's pushing his limits. And then he falls asleep in my arms last night and I'm puddy in his hands. Precious little beast. That he his;)


baby

this baby is making a mess of me. I cried yesterday. I'm feeling lucky today. I feel the biggest. EVER. 

break: just spent the last 5 minutes putting Homer in a time-out. Spankin. Screaming. 

ah, I think I'm officially a mom:)

5/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

the word 'NO' and my son's mouth have met and officially become BFF. We're at a crossroads. Will he turn to the dark side or will we suffer through endless timeouts and come out on the other side with a 'good boy'? I'll report back in 20 years;)

a quote from me this week when describing him to my coworkers: "he can be a dick...but I sure do love him:)"

 baby

oh, this baby. If the amount of movement inside reflects what the baby will be doing when he/she has much more room on the outside...we're in a heap of trouble;) This baby MOVES. Not like "magical" moving. Like...

i kid you not;)

week 33:)

we hit the 30 week marker and all of a sudden I finally feel like WE'RE PREGNANTTTTTTTTTTT!???!!?!?! Silly but true;) This pregnancy, luckily, hasn't felt like it's flown...and hasn't felt super slow. It's been another amazing pregnancy!! I'm feeling so lucky. 

i have had a few more aches and pains...my hips. Holy lord. They hurt a lot sometimes. And the baby. Wow...I thought Homer was a mover. Nope. He was completely average. This baby though...phew. It doesn't just move. It pushes it's entire bony little, almost fully developed, body out and across the full span of my belly. From one.side.to.the.other. AHHHHH! I wish I could say it's a beautiful thing...but it's mostly weird and gross and seriously uncomfortable!!!! Annnnnnndddd reassuring:)

so far so good. We're (ME) in total nesting mode and I've squeezed just about every favor and project out of my husband that I could. He may be done. BUT I'll have a lot of home improvements to share with you all soon!!! Thanks baby:)

due date 

March 26th...or before...or after!??:)

boy or girl 

i asked Homer what he thought and he patted my belly and said "boy"!!! And thennnnn he immediately said "girl". So there's that;)

names 

we have yet to bring this up since week 30...so...currently at a standstill but I have no doubt 

this baby will eventually be named!:)

OH, the girl who checked me out (well...checked out my items;) has a little girl named Mable. WHICH was totally towards the top of our list at one point for a little girl!! BUT alas...not anymore...for now:)

belly 

i've definitely been getting comments about having 'popped' over the last few weeks! SO I must be getting large and in charge!

weight 

we're down to appointments every 2 weeks. From week 30 to week 32...I gained the usual 2lbs. I was hoping to avoid that but yeah...I have no one to blame...but my husband who can't say no to me (and it best stay that way;).

current weight: 173lbs

total weight gain: 36lbs

wardrobe

there are good days...and not good days in regards to my clothing options. 

Also. Seat belts suck. My bra hurts me. And I look best in Jacob's pajama pants. That is all:)

baby buys 

no babbbbyyyyy buys per say. BUT I did snag that tank top HERE and boots HERE and I love them both and seriously haven't taken them off since I got them. For real. That's a true statement. Yes. Ew;) I actually had to really Photoshop these photos cause the tank top was THAT dirty. Oops!:)

above is a photo of me 33 weeks pregnant with Homer. And below...33 weeks pregnant...with Homer by my side:) I haven't quite wrapped my mind around the fact that I'm not going to be having Homer. I will not be bringing Homer home from the hospital...but instead...a sibling for my baby:')

and I'm kinda loving the photo above because I happened to be wearing the prettiest locket, that I got from my BFF - purchased via Etsy - and the new rubber band bracelet her daughter (and my Goddaughter) made me! I'm perfectly accessorized!:)

4/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer and baby

in only 8 weeks I wonder...will I be referring to us...my family...as me and 'my boys'...or will a girl join me and even the numbers in our household?!:)

above, Homer joined me for my 32 week baby appointment. He was a natural on that doctor's stool.  Future Ob-gyn on our hands??!!;)

3/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer and baby

cuddles make me happy. And I can't help but think I'm killin' my cuddle goal every time we're chillin' on the couch together:):)

eeeekkkkkkk. 9-ish weeks until this baby. Homer's brother OR sister...arrive in this world!!!! I'm still nothing but excited. Shoes are the stupidest thing EVER invented. EVERRRRR. But besides that...excited;) Homer's gonna be the best big bro. We're gonna do this parents to 2 kids like no one's business - HA...I couldn't even finish that thought without laughing - ...yeah...we're gonna be overwhelmed and tired and have tear-stained-pillows. BUT...butttttt...the love. Our family of 4. That shit's gonna be the best. EVER. Like everrrrrr ever:)

2/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

homer's been able to get out and enjoy a WI winter for the first time:) We've had just a few tolerable days and we spent them taking some quick walks and learning the art of sledding;) I wish I could say that Homer was in the mood for sledding on this particular day...but he was...not;)

baby

we started water aerobics again and this is a bit new to me because with Homer our classes stopped when I was about 2 months away from having him. But this pregnancy, we're starting them about 2 months away from my due date! A whole new ball game! BUT I'm loving it! Feeling weightless 2 hours a week and doing physical activity!?!? JUST what this lady needed:):)

PS. week1 I had MD's prior to class and Subway after class. Lord help me;)

week 30:)

i had my 30 week appointment 2 days ago. And for the 2nd time...I opted not to register at the Hospital. ARG. My energy level is pathetic as of late! Next time...promise:) 

as always and thankfully, everything checked out great! The baby's heart rate is normally in the higher 150's but the last few times has been in the 140's and I've had headaches for the last week straight! Signs of a girl?! Hmmmm:) 10 more weeks to cast your vote!

otherwise things have been pretty uneventful! I've been a tad stressed with the houses and finances and renters and such extra things that come with the New Year and tying up loose ends. But trying to believe that everything will fall together perfectly (and ideally before this child is born:) and just enjoy the last few weeks of this pregnancy!:)

due date 

March 26th...or before...or after!??:)

boy or girl 

still thinking boy...

names 

we've got about 4 names that we feel fairly confident with at the moment. 2 boys. 2 girls. We're still trying to figure out some middle names for the girl names but I love this part, so not feeling much pressure yet:)

belly 

do you breath like a buffalo while blogging?! And nope...I'm not on the treadmill while I blog. I'm lounging on the sofa;)

weight 

i'm actually surprised and happy to report that I only gained 3lbs since 27wks. I was expecting to be more with having just wrapped up the Holidays! I'll take it. I believe it's a bittttt heavier than I was with Homer at this point but only by a pound or 2. And because we're currently trying to stick to a pretty strict budget...which means no fast food (boooo. wahhhhhh. irrational-overweight pregnant chick stomping feet!!!!!;)...I'm actually hoping to stay at 171 for the next 2 weeks - a girl can dream:)

current weight: 171lbs

total weight gain: 34lbs

wardrobe

i hadn't realized it but I may be reaching for this shirt pretty often. See my 27wk bump post! Oops;) But whatever works at this point. Every thing's tight. Every thing's somewhat uncomfortable. I refuse to invest in anything more:)

baby buys 

speaking of wardrobe...this counts as a baby buy: tighty pants - the photos are horrendous and I swear they make you super slim and sexy;) They are pretty much amazing and maternity or not...I'm heading back for a pair in XS to wear after baby - XS because I assume I will leave the hospital without the ass I bring in;)

also - this will be a tad more exciting for me than you;) - I will OFFICIALLY be on Maternity Leave in 65 days and only about 32 of those days are working days!!! March 21st will be my last full day at the Clinic during this pregnancy!

as I was thinking about how I'd like things to play out this time around with my time off...I remembered wanting to MURDER each and every person that said "still pregnant!!!??" as I walked in the door the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy with Homer. As hilarious as this is to everyone else...as the one carrying the extra 50lbs and not having slept in 2 weeks and then having to deal with other people's problems all day...it was a bit less amusing!!;)

SO I'm taking off the week of my due date. Just taking Vacation until the baby comes and then I will be taking 8wks off from the time the baby arrives:) SO I will/should be off from March 21st through May 26th:)

i'm dancing. dancing and crying. dancing and crying and being very pregnant. VISUALIZE!!!!;)