35 Weeks and Moving

The Move

We’ve successfully moved to the burbs!  There are boxes left to be unpacked and stuff that still needs to find a home.  I am still digging clothes for myself and Carson out of cardboard boxes.  But we’re moved in enough for it to feel like we live here and aren’t just visiting.  We had so much help from family and friends.  I know we would still be unloading the truck without all of the wonderful people who sacrificed their weekend and comfort to help us.  Who in their right mind moves in Houston in August?  I am so thankful for all of you.

My little helper.

Update on Carson

Carson has had no problems adjusting to the extra space!  We also decided to switch him into a new crib and he had no problems with that either.  We’re going to use Carson’s crib for baby girl.  What an easy kid.  Yet another reason why I am sure this little girl is going to be a challenge.

Carson’s vocabulary has kind of exploded recently.  Not everything is said with perfect articulation (in fact, I’m pretty sure a lot of his new words are only understood by me) but he is communicating more and with more success.

All of his toys (except for a few cars and books) are upstairs in the play room.  Yes, that’s right.  A room dedicated to toys!  It is wonderful.  So he asks to go “upstairs” which sounds more like up-dares.  He’s surprised me with the following words in the past few days.  You probably wouldn’t recognize them if you heard him, but I can tell what he’s trying to say.

• upstairs
• play
• park
• airplane
• hammock (Ben taught him that one.  He hung ours up in the backyard at the new house and Carson likes it a lot.)
• book
• read
• you’re welcome (I would say he is just amazingly polite, but he says it often without being thanked so it’s kind of sassy.)
• macaroni
• hot dog
• cupcake (Thanks to mom having an addiction recently.)
• big
• fire
• raining (This one he’s used for a while now, even when it’s just cloudy outside.)
• carry you (Which he uses after going down two steps and he wants me to carry him the rest of the way.  Sometimes I do not want to do this, but I try to think of it as a replacement for the gym…)

As is the case most times I try to list his words or new behaviors I am sure I am leaving something out.

He had his first candy this week.

It was given as an attempt to get him to stop crying to go back outside while I filled out some forms at our HOA.  I don’t feel old enough to live in a house that comes with a binder filled with all the do’s and don’ts of the neighborhood.  It’s weird.

Taking a walk at the old house last week.

Riding a motorcycle at the mall.

Update on Baby Girl

35 weeks 4 days

Looking down sitting on the park bench.

I don’t do my hair or make-up on a daily basis, so you get these belly shots that cleverly show neither of those things!

I went for a check up on Wednesday and will return every week until I deliver.  They did an ultrasound to check her size.  They estimate her to be 6 pounds 6 ounces which prompted my doctor to tell me to take it easy on the carbs to slow down her growth.  “We don’t want to find ourselves with a difficult delivery!” she says.  What did I do after my appointment?  Bought 2 cupcakes…

S’more Cupcake from Celebrity Bakery

Ben said the other night that it feels like this pregnancy has gone by quickly, and I must agree.  How are we a mere 4 weeks away from welcoming our newest family member?  I am ready to not feel so uncomfortable, but I am not ready to bring her home.  There are so many things that still need to be done!  Still need a changing table, still need to get her room ready.  It is just hard to do anything with Carson.  We can manage one or two errands as long as we don’t stop to look at anything for too long.  So that means no stopping to measure things to make sure they’re going to fit where I want them to.  No stopping to make sure a color is going to match.  I know I don’t need to have a finished nursery right away, but it would be nice.

I did pre-register at the hospital today.  I washed some of the sweet baby girl clothes I ordered.  I rounded up the newborn things I used with Carson.  When I packed up his teeny tiny clothes I’d also packed up the newborn diapers we didn’t use.  I was so excited to find the stash.  I rarely think ahead like that.  I forgot how small those diapers are.  I’ve started packing a diaper bag with her things and a hospital bag for me.  I found my hooter hider and got out the boppy.  So I guess if we had this baby tomorrow we’d have what we needed.  And people have been having babies for a long time without all the things we “need” these days, so I shouldn’t worry so much about the lack of a dresser and the bare walls in her bedroom.

Update on Us

My 29th birthday was a few weeks ago.  Ben did a great job of making it a really memorable and enjoyable day.  He went out before the rest of us were up and got me a coffee and some terrific kolaches which he brought me in bed.  My family always did breakfast in bed on our birthdays, so that was really thoughtful of him.  We had a great lunch at The Counter complete with an apple pie milkshake that Carson loved.

Counter Burger

Milkshake

Father and Son

In place of birthday cake this year I had a Rolo McFlurry.  It was sinful and delicious.

Ben and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on July 29.  Again Ben did a great job and brought me to Mark’s.  It’s a lovely restaurant in a building that used to be a church.

Our meal was incredible and totally worth the painful fullness I experienced afterward.  I think we both are in agreement that we’re incredibly blessed to have each other.  Right, Ben?