Euphoric

A doula friend of mine posted this on FB a while ago and it makes me laugh every time I see it...maybe next summer I will be in our yard doing such pose with nursling. The shock it would put on our neighbors face would be worth it!

Things are in a definite adjustment period but truthfully things are awesome. Things are very busy and some moments I just have to tell myself to relax a little, I will get my niche. The floors don't have to be done everyday and sure a little dust on the TV stand and side tables never hurt anyone. Teeth brushing is a nice benifit and sitting down and eating a meal are things of the past that will return someday:-) Really just enjoying these two is my job and anything else I can manage to fit in is a bonus. Like posting a blog today.

Overnight Mason became HUGE...a real kid to me. It hit me like a ton of bricks.  Mason is adjusting:-) He can't seem to sit still and its as if he feels awkward...like he doesn't quite know his place in our family. I asked him last night "what's going on, you can't sit still?" he responded "you don't hold me anymore!" UGH!!!

He loves Max (thank God) but has been luke warm with us...its breaking my heart. I miss him. I feel torn. I know things have changed.  He is no longer our only prince and for a 3 almost 4 year old that is rough. I know time will make it better but for now I am doing my best to find little moments to hug and snuggle him as best as I can.

Here are a few pics of Max at the Peds office yesterday. See all the goo on the table...goo and poo..that is what he does...eats, sleeps, goos and poos...AND I LOVE IT!

At 12 days Max is a nursing, snuggling, and easy baby and so far, tall just like his brother, 90th percentile. Our Pediatrician told me my boys could be the next football brother duo, he said they will be between 6'4" and 6'7". I could care less as long as they are healthy and happy but I think their sports loving Dad was excited to hear that news.

Isn't he just the cutest?

39 weeks and nesting

We can just call this 39 weeks since I am officially 39 weeks tomorrow. Mr. Max has been giving me quite the go around the past few weeks but is staying nestled in his "mommy hot-tub."  I was pretty sure he was coming Saturday night as I timed contractions for 8 hours...they were only 8 minutes apart and that was not enough to go to L and D. So I sat up reading and watching re-runs of NY med until the wee hours. By Sunday afternoon they started to decrease and eventually stopped.  I am pretty sure we will make it to our Friday date but anything is possible, right?

One of the best side effects of being pregnant has to be "nesting!" My house is organized and super clean and I have been cooking up a storm. Trying to have a supply of frozen meals for the next month. Lasagna, enchiladas, A LOT of homemade green chile, crock pot ready meals, breads, healthy muffins, ect...It feels like we have checked everything off the list.

NOW ALL WE NEED IS THE BABY!!!

Turn Baby Turn

A while back I caught one of those episodes of "I didn't know I was pregnant" and the woman they were profiling started to give birth to a breach (footling; see diagram below) baby boy. None the less it was in a truck stop bathroom and she thought she had the flu until a foot was sticking out of her hoohaw...it really freaked me out so I stopped watching that show all together. Anywho...I have been a little nervous about Max being breech. Even with a scheduled c-section, the thought of going into quick labor and a foot appearing seemed to enter my mind from time to time. SO yesterday when I went in for my check up I was pretty pumped when my doc wanted to do an ultrasound just to confirm he was breech. When we looked on the screen, he was head down, ready to rumble.
 

 No more nightmares about feet out my hoohaw!

 

I am pretty sure he turned in the past week because there has been some major alien action going on in my tummy! The past few days have also been slightly hellish...early labor, major pressure ect...I just keep saying that my pregnancy has been awesome so if the last few weeks suck I can muster through...and than I forget that mantra and I complain some more to my Husband and Mom.

This time of year I am always thinking of sweet Nancy, miss her so much! Her birthday is the 14th and it would be very special to have Max share that day with his Angel Grandma  BUT I am about 2cm dilated, so who knows, could be tomorrow could be on the 14th! I will leave that up to the big man and the little man in my belly (and our Grandma Angel!)

This was July 1981; Nancy pregnant with Matt. Maternity clothes and Men's shorts have come a long way since than:-)

 FYI for those that care, if I go into labor i.e. intense "toe curling" contractions 5 minutes apart for more than hour I am to go to Labor and delivery OR if my water breaks...otherwise by Law, Doctors can not do a scheduled C-section until 39 weeks! No matter how miserable the begging pregnant lady might be:-)

We are planning to have a productive labor day weekend whether that be house projects or having a baby I don't know. Have a safe and fun Labor day and if anything happens I will be sure to let you know!

36w4d, a few of my favorite things, the nursery, the zoo and "our spiderman"

My iPhone is on the outs thus the photo quality is not too good BUT I am pretty sure even in this blurry pic you can tell I am HUGE!!! I still feel pretty good, getting uncomfortable as expected but all in all feeling well. I am almost 37 weeks...it has gone by so fast. He is still "very breech" to quote my Doctor...so I guess a C-section was inevitable.

This is silly but these are a few things I have Loved during my pregnancy...

Lemon Grass Spa products. This is a spa that is near my parents house that started to make all their own organic product line. My sister in law Angie gave me some of these baby items at my sprinkle (her best friend sells them if anyone wants some) and I have been using them on my belly and feet daily...I am so dry! I can't wait to try out the Baby line on Max.

The Boppy belly wedge....Great for the third Tri...I can not sleep without this thing. It takes all the belly weight off my hips and I love it!

Max's room...pretty simple little nursery that I decided to do in a "Colorado Whimsical Woodsy theme!" Say that 10x fast....

Its funny how this time around the layout of the room is entirely based on functionality. Wipes, hamper and diaper pail all at a fingers reach...

We did one accent wall in a "Colorado Sky Blue" and God bless IKEA for kids stuff because I love that I paid $12.99 for that rug.

Our MOD Owl sheets... and sheepskin tummy time mat.

We are planning to have Max sleep in our room for the first 4-6 months in an Arm's reach Co-sleeper. Love having baby close and with a C-section and nursing its a no brainer.

 We still have to get the art hung....

I love etsy.com and I found this adorable CO print at a local etsy shop...I am going to do some wall words around it that will read "Let him sleep, for when he wakes...He will move Mountains!"

And these cute graphics I found online and printed myself and framed

I love these fun little projects and this will probably be the only time my boys let me help decorate their rooms. Mason already has his new room planned out with of course....Spiderman.

Speaking of my little Spiderman, he and I ventured out to the new Denver Zoo Asian tropics. We had been waiting all summer to go. Kind of sad because we have a membership but with the heat and the crowds I decided to wait until school was back in session.

We did not escape the heat but this new section of the zoo was well worth the wait...

 Such a handsome kind hearted kid...its hard to believe he will be 4 in a few short months

This is the first time I didn't bring a stroller and probably the last for a while, since we will have an infant in toe.

The elephants were our highlight and its so fun that Mason loves learning about all the animals now instead of just running around like a wild Monkey. I really love the age he is at.

These last few weeks I have been trying to just live in the moment and truly take in ever last breath of him being my "only!" Every last breath of being pregnant...because I am not sure if there will be another. I am emotional and this is bittersweet. I am ready to meet our Max when he is and I know I will love him with the same fervor as I do his big brother. I do feel sad and guilty that my first born could be distant from me for a while, that our relationship is going to change. I know time will replace all those silly feelings but for now I am all sorts of emotions wrapped up into one big pregnant lady.

 

Our first pepper harvested from our modest garden.

8 months and a quick mountain escape

I have been meaning to post this for a week but this last week was not one of my finest. I pulled a muscle in my lower back on the weekend and literally couldn't walk for part of the day. I was doing laundry! The injury earned me a pre-natal massage mid week, no complaints there! I am not sure how people with chronic back pain do it...no fun. Glad it was just a muscle. I also was lucky enough to get strep throat as was Mason. Thank goodness you can take antibiotics in pregnancy! We are all back and on the move....Onward and Upward.

I am 32 weeks in the first photo and 20 weeks in the second. Poor purple shirt is getting stretched out;-) And on a side note doesn't the hardwood look better than the white carpet? I need to do a one year later post of our house, hard to believe we have been here a year already.

I am feeling well and honestly if my pregnancy with Mason had been this easy I might have had them closer. Even with the sickness I am sleeping well, my Husband not so much. SNORE SNORE SNORE when you can't breathe through your nose...but he is good sport. I tell him its training for what lies ahead.

At almost 34 weeks, Max is still breech and his head is in my stomach and ribs most of the time with his feet in my pelvis. He is my yoga baby. My doctor thinks he will turn in the coming weeks and I think that will be quite the adventure if he does. This little man is a circus acrobat and loves to stretch out...sometimes his movements take my breath away because they hurt. I don't remember that with Mason. Overall the blessing of feeling a baby in your body is like nothing else, miraculous and awesome.  Matt and Mason love to talk to him and he moves. Mason says "Hi Max I am your big brother Mason the Spiderman!" and than he giggles! A great bond already starting in the womb.


I can't believe I have only 5 1/2 weeks to go before the big C-section.  That doesn't seem like very much time to me when I look at the list I have compiled of things to do before Mr. Max arrives. Or should I say the list I have compiled for Matt and I to do before Max arrives! He did get the nursery painted this past weekend. Photos to come soon...

We did manage a little weekend getaway a few weekends ago.

We decided to drive Trail Ridge Road over from the Grand Lake side to Estes Park

This is the highest road in North America and Matt and I had never driven it.

The views were spectacular as we made our way over the Continental Divide. We saw a few Moose, some Elk and Deer. No Bears:-(

The Geology was intriguing as well....but the crowds, not so much!

Mason did great in the car so we decided a little Old School Carnival fun was needed once we reached Estes. He and Matt raced the "rainbow slide" seven times before we headed into the town of Estes for a bite and some ice cream. Estes on the weekends also = LOTS OF PEOPLE...

We booked a night at a little lodge about 8 miles out from Estes, Aspen Lodge. It reminded me of the Lodge on Dirty Dancing. Recently renovated but with that same 1950's family feel. I tried to get Matt to be Patrick and me Baby but my dance moves are struggling a little right now!

The grounds had a steep metal slide that must have been from the 50's!  Mason loved it because it launched him about 5-ft when he hit the bottom.

They also had a stocked trout pond...perfect for Mason's first time fishing with his Dad.

Matt loves to fish and I mean loves! He has since he was a little kid. I respect his patience for this because I am good after an hour.

It was one of those simple moments in life shared between a father and a son

that I only hope will continue on through the years with both boys.

Life really is beautiful!

The 4th, a birthday tri-fecta and goodbye

 The 4th of July

Our 4th was uneventful this year...with our state burning up, all fireworks were banned and local shows cancelled. Our air was full of smoke from the fires and the thermometers topped off near 100. So we took the day to do some house stuff and buy Mason a new dresser so we could move his (with changing table) to Max's room. The evening gave way to BBQ and the ice cream man, who had SPIDER MAN POPSICLES!!! We watched the televised Macy's fireworks and felt grateful to live Free in this awesome country we call home...

We have a lot of July Birthdays and last weekend we had three in a row!!!

Party#1 

We started Friday with Cormic's. He turned 3! We went to a local place called BIG time Trampoline for some energy burning fun.

These three monkeys had a blast on the ropes, trampolines,

and slides...so much fun to watch them play together!

Than we headed over to Beau Jo's for a slice, man they have the best pizza EVER!

Cuz'ns Hugg'n

Future Olympians and because this is my blog and that is my kid I might have to say "Special" Olympians:-)  

Our birthday Policeman 

If you are an Armstead grand kid and you have a birthday all the other kids there get gifts too! I have gone toe-toe with my Mom on this and finally given up! Presents for all...woohoo.

Party#2

Saturday was my Hubby's birthday, he is our lucky charm 7/7!

And per usual I did a bad job with the picture taking because I was entertaining...

 

but I did manage to take a few....like this lucky 88-year old with my beautiful sister-in-law

And this crazy group and my oh so creative fruit pizza...it was a nice dinner party of close friends and family and RAIN, which I loved! Happy 31st Birthday to the funniest, sexiest, hardest working guy I know.

Party#3

Sunday we headed over to Jack's 3rd birthday at Rolling Hills Country Club

And Matt got in on some diving board action

and his mini-clone did too! Mason has been dying to go off a diving board and the pool we do lessons at won't let him because he is not a strong swimmer yet...so he went off this one about 150 times....

The birthday was lovely and my sweet friend Ruthie (Jack's mom) let all the kids sit down and open Jack's gifts. We were a little worried how this would go but you have to know Ruthie and her demeanor to know it went off without a glitch...love that girl!

GOODBYES....

after Jack's party we decided to head up to my parents for some more cousin time. The kids and Emily were heading back to PA the next day.  We thought we had them back in CO for good but unfortunately the new job my brother took didn't hold up to their end of the deal. I am a professional so I am not going to bash this company's name but I have never heard of an individual being treated as poorly as my brother and his family were after all the promises that were made to them. Too make a long story short this company sent Cade back to PA for a job a few weeks after they got here, while Em and the kids tried to do their best living out of a hotel and with family, uncertain of what the future held for them. After a month and some seriously unprofessional things happening to my bro, they decided it was best to bring the kids back to PA to re-group and decide what is best for their family. Poor Emily had to pack the boys back in the truck for the long drive only a month after they drove out here!  I am crying as I write this because it was so much harder to say goodbye this time and Mason took it really hard. They are hoping to be back by December and all we are doing is asking God to do what is best for their family....