Ham Update

With all the excitement around Ellison's party and birthday, I haven't done an update on baby boy in awhile. Tomorrow I will be 39 weeks pregnant! Really hoping this guy decides to come on his own, preferably before Jay and I both have to work this entire upcoming weekend. Ellison was very comfy while I was pregnant with her and ended up being an induction, so I am having a hard time believing my body knows what to do without help. I did have some progress between my 37 and 38 week appointments, but nothing too exciting. Crossing my fingers for better news at my appointment tomorrow!

I got to go for another ultrasound at GE on Valentine's Day. They had said it would just be 2D, but once they finished testing their (tiny!) handheld ultrasound device, they scanned for a bit with the 3D/4D machine too. The 3 ultrasound techs and I basically just oohed and aahed over how cute "Ham" is for about 30 minutes. It was fun! Jay was working and couldn't come, but I got some great pictures to bring home. I'm so glad I was able to see the little man's face this time. The techs were pretty surprised at how good the images they were getting were, since at 37 weeks babies are pretty crammed in! Ham looks like he will be very cute!!!

I finally started having an appetite in the past month. Any weight I put on over where I was pre-pregnancy has come in this final trimester! I think I am up about 12 pounds over where I started. Combined with regaining the weight I lost in the beginning, though, I will probably end up gaining just about the same amount as I did with Ellison. Thanks Ensure!

At this point my belly feels twice the size it did with E. I'm pretty uncomfortable and baby feels very low. He has continued to measure big since 34 weeks. At 37 weeks I was measuring 39, and at 38 I was measuring 39+. I'm guessing we will be past 40 this week, unless him dropping lower changes things a little!

We are as ready as we can be for a new baby. Finishing touches are (mostly) done in his room, bassinet is set up, hospital bags are packed, everything is washed and put away, car seat bases are in. The longer we wait the more things I find that I want to do around the house, which is stressful because cleaning is exhausting at this point. So, any time now is good for us! Come on out, little man!!!

Ellison is 2!

Somehow, Miss Ellison is already 2 years old. I can't believe how quickly time can fly! This has been the fastest and the BEST two years of my life. I can't believe how much our little princess has grown up. I can't imagine how we ever lived without her smiles and giggles. She is the greatest gift I could have ever asked for! This is going to be a big year for her, starting with adjusting to being a big sister. I can't wait to see how much she learns and changes as a 2 year old!!!

E's 2 year pictures went great. We were able to get her to smile in every outfit, which was definitely an improvement over her 18 month pictures! I can't wait to see the rest of them. Krystal always does such an amazing job and we are excited to go back for "Ham" to get newborn pictures taken sometime soon!

She had her 2 year pediatrician appointment today. I think I had the most questions I have ever had, since the appointments are more spaced out now! Usually when the doctor asks if we have any questions, my mind is totally blank! We talked about her sudden picky eating habits (normal), increasingly long bedtime routine (possibly caused by the ear infection she has right now!), nap rebellion (she should still nap 1-2 hours a day, or at least have "quiet time" in her room), watching her for seasonal allergies (mine are horrible so I'm worried she will have them too), potty training (doctor said wait until summer when the baby is a little older)...and probably a few things I'm forgetting! 2 year stats were 22 lbs, 14 oz (6.76%) and 34.5 inches (76.58%). Doctor was not concerned with her weight at all. She's just a peanut! I have this feeling her brother will outweigh her by the time he's 1 and she's 3...if not before :) They did measure her head as well, which I guess isn't standard after 2. It's still huge (90%). She would tell you it's because she has a big brain in there!

Developmentally, Ells is right on track. She runs, jumps, kicks, has great fine motor skills, is a good little problem solver, and is advanced as far as communication goes. Very proud of my little lady! She was not super happy with the one immunization she had to get, but we were told there are no shots at the 3 year appointment, which is exciting!

Feeling very blessed to have such a wonderful little girl. I wish I could record and remember everything she says and does, because I think she is the funniest, cutest person on the planet! I love that she is so excited to meet her baby brother, she asks me to see "Ham" every day and gives my belly kisses without any prompting. I can't wait to see them interact! Hopefully she will still like him once she realizes he is going to live with us forever...

E's Favorite Things at age 2!

Movies: The Wizard of Oz, Monsters Inc/Monsters University, Bolt, all the Toy Story movies
Toys: kitchen/food, her "buddies", puzzles, stickers, "puter" (tablet), trains
Books: her "Bible book", anything with animals, pop up books
Songs: Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Jesus Loves Me, You Are My Sunshine, Ring Around the Rosie, I Love You (A Bushel and a Peck)
Foods: tacos, cheese, applesauce, yogurt, sausage, ice cream, fruit snacks, raisins, goldfish/penguin crackers
Other things she loves: puppies, her friends at daycare, helping Mommy and Daddy with anything and everything, the zoo!

E's train table...she loves her "choo choo trains"!

Ellison's "Foz" Party!

As I've probably mentioned before, Ellison absolutely LOVES the Wizard of Oz. So it was an obvious choice for her 2nd birthday party's theme! Definitely not as easy to find party supplies for as our Sesame Street party last year, but I think it turned out pretty cool! And Ellison said she liked it, which is really all that matters!

We went with a rainbow theme (E loves to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") as far as the plates, napkins, etc. We were even able to reuse some stuff we had left from last year's party!

I never manage to get pictures of the whole food spread...all the counters were covered with stuff!

Ellison's special birthday outfit was made by the fabulous Meg, who also made her Elmo shirt and tutu last year. She did an awesome job and Ellison loved wearing her tutu! Of course, we also had to get her some ruby slippers to complete her look. 

I didn't spend quite as many hours at the Cricut making decorations this year, and Ellison's favorites were actually made by my wonderful coworker Patti. They are now hanging on her closet door and I'm guessing she will want to keep them there for quite some time! 

I did make a few things, though!

Balloons were once again provided by Gramma Janis and Papa Ron's "balloon people". Ellison wasn't scared of any of the balloons this year...and I want to keep the hot air balloon forever!

The cake was the biggest hit of the party, and no one could believe a high school girl made it! My coworker's very talented daughter Jenna was definitely a good find...delicious cake and the perfect design! I basically said, Wizard of Oz themed 2nd birthday, and she did the rest. Not sure we will be able to go back to store bought cakes after this!!! I didn't even want to eat it, it was so awesome!

Ells got lots of fun presents, and had a great time playing with her cousins and her buddies Leilani and Janai from daycare. We were so blessed to have so many people who care about our little princess share the day with us!

New jean jacket! So stylish :)

Ells and her cousins, Logan, Isabella, and Olivia (we missed Ethan!)

She's a present opening PRO!

Another buddy...?!

New "Foz people"!

Table and chairs...had to be set up first thing the next day!

She said, "OPEN IT! With scissors."

Needed a chair to unwrap the big present...

Her playhouse! Thanks Gramma and Papa

Finally having some cake, she really liked it! Except the fondant ;) 

Ellison loved her party! Thanks everyone!!!