helmet hair

Asher found his reflection in the truck door when we were visiting the fire station the other day and kept adjusting and readjusting his gear.  I thought it was so funny and deserved a special post.  :-)

Hey, good lookin'.  I think you're all set.

sticking together

Asher loves himself a fluffernutter.

Please tell me you know fluffernutter.  Otherwise known as a peanut butter + Fluff sandwich.  So good, so good.

Guess, though, what Asher {apparently} loves more than the combo of creamy peanuts and marshmallow.

His Daddy.

Drew asked for a bite and after a bit of disbelief at the request...

Asher passed it over.

His love is loud.

Besides, you know what they say.  The family that fluffs together, sticks together.

Literally.

bugaboo {38 weeks}

Another week down - wow!  I said this last week, but I really do keep wondering which of these will be my last weekly post.  With Asher this week was it.  He was born at 39w1d and I never got the 39 week post up.  We'll see what ladybug decides to do!

Just for fun, here's my belly with Asher at 38 weeks...

They are/were both still really high at this point!  I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, so we'll see if any progress is being made.

With having just moved to this area, I'm constantly meeting new people in the neighborhood and at church.  My very obvious pregnancy is always a first topic of conversation and people are of the unerring opinion that I'm pretty tiny to be due in 2 weeks.  I feel big and know my size is fine, but it's still funny to have folks basically say that my due date must be wrong because of the way I look.  We'll see {but I'm pretty sure the timing is right - ha!}

I've been feeling pretty good - with the exception of sleeping.  It used to be the if I stayed on my left side things would be great, but now no matter how I lay down my arms and hands fall asleep.  I probably woke up 6 times last night because parts of me went numb.  I could do with less of that.

This week the baby is the size of a pumpkin.  Perfect timing for fall!  She's still getting bigger and more ready to greet the world.

How far along: 38 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: 23 pounds

Maternity clothes: yes.  I've also started wearing Drew's t-shirts to sleep in.

Stretch marks: not really - just a couple the popped up around my belly button

Belly button: way out

Sleep: not so great

Baby movement: still lots of kicks

Gender: it's a girl!

Food cravings: crushed ice {is ice a food? either way, I can't get enough}

Food aversions: nothing really

What I miss: laying down without getting really uncomfortable

Looking forward to: enjoying more special time with Asher

Best moment this week: making it another week :-)

Milestones: baby is full term!

visit to the fire station

Sunday afternoon our local fire station had an open house.  Asher comments on the fire trucks and ambulances every. single. time we drive by {which is pretty much every time we're in the car} so we knew we had to take him over to see the trucks up close.

I made him a special shirt for the occasion.  :-)

and, of course, he wore his flame shoes.

He loved seeing "big firetrucks!"

The firefighters were all so kind to him.  They gave out hats and stickers to the kids - do things get better when you're a 2 year old boy?

A even got to try on some gear, which he deemed "real, real hebby."  ha - love him.

There were a couple fire safety stations set up too.  Asher got to use the fire hose {with a little help from the professional and Daddy}.

Since he now knew how to work the equipment it was time to try driving the truck.

Don't worry - we started in the practice area.

ha ha - this boy cracks me up.  Love his little hands coming through the face hole.  :-)

We could have taken him to Disney World with less excitement involved.  Thanks, firefighters, for keeping us safe - and making his day.

{phone dump friday}

My iPhone camera has been running hot this week. As you might have noticed on yesterday's post, I made Asher a new shirt just for football season. His little sister has one too!

I've embraced Fall fully and made some pumpkin bars. Drew's mom shared her recipe with me and these are SO good. Seriously, they only lasted a few days - which is why I won't be making more anytime soon.

Also embracing Fall is ladybug {and my feet}. We wore boots for the first time this season when a sudden cold front swept in on Sunday.

My wedding rings have made the great migration from my fingers to a necklace. My hands don't seem that swollen, but I can't stand the too tight feeling, so off they came.

Asher has been extra cuddly this week. He asked to hold hands during breakfast

and insisted on abandoning his sandbox so he could "sleep by mommy" last Saturday {when it was still hot, hot outside}. I love his sweet nature and hope it lasts awhile longer. :-)

I get a little shock every time I catch my reflection in the bathroom mirror as I walk down the hall and finally took a pic the other day. WHO is that lady? Holy belly. ha!

Bugaboo has been both inhibiting...

and helping me on the computer this week.

I asked Asher to give me a funny face and this is what I got in return.

We're working on it.

In the meantime, A is waiting patiently for our family trip to the State Fair this weekend.

Can't wait for some fried goodies! Happy weekend, friends!

{if you have Instagram and want to follow my feed you can find me as 'ecwilk53'}

 

football sunday

Drew has been working on training Asher in the most important things of life. You know - mainly, football.

Asher has picked up on the importance amazingly fast.

A few Fridays ago Drew and my Dad took Asher to his first live football game. Friday night lights at its finest at our local high school. Ash loved it - he loves watching all sports. Now he asks constantly for "football game?"

When we explained that Sundays are the day we watch football on TV, not in person, Asher was quick to change his tune. Every Sunday he starts bright and early with an almost constant refrain of "football TV? football TV?"

It's bad.

Even the teachers in his Sunday school class comment on it when we pick him up - he must talk about Sunday being football day all morning! Nice.

In a lot of ways, Asher is my little boy. He loves his mommy and still wants me first thing in the morning and whenever things go badly.

On Sunday, however, Daddy is king. Personally, I've been praying for a way to get out of watching football all afternoon for 8 years now. I'm so excited the day has finally come. Go boys, go. :-)

 

{and Go Steelers}

 

wordless wednesday {our fall family}

We went to a pumpkin farm last Friday.  It was really hot, but we had fun anyway.  :-)

{love these guys}

Notice the gnarled bit of something in Asher's hand?  We went to the pumpkin patch and all he wanted to leave with is this dead stem - which he held nonstop for the next 24 hours.  Boys.  haha

bugaboo {37 weeks}

Every week when I write this post I wonder if it will be my last one.  Asher was born at 39 weeks, so if this little one follows suit then we're looking at T-minus 2 weeks here.  Even if she doesn't it will only be 3 weeks max.

THREE WEEKS - wow.

This week I did manage to get the baby's diaper bag packed, but I haven't packed my stuff yet.  Not sure if it's denial or laziness, but I should probably get on that...

Like I said yesterday the nursery is basically done and I am totally in love with it.  If I spent half as much time designing and decorating my own room as I did this nursery Drew and I would have a pretty sweet retreat!  Pretty sure next up will be Asher's big boy room, though.

As far as symptoms go, I've been back and forth between feeling great and feeling miserable - there hasn't been a whole lot of neutral.  Night is still the worst.  I sleep ok, except when I wake up because my hands and/or arms are completely numb.  It used to be that I could avoid that by staying on my left side, but now neither side is safe.

There have been more contractions, swollen hands and feet, pressure {and more pressure}, and general achiness.  Definitely nothing unexpected or oh so terrible, just the end of pregnancy.

And, honestly, I'll miss it.  Well, maybe not the insomnia part, but the baby kicks, the big belly, the amazement that I'm growing a person - those parts I'll miss tremendously when it's over.  This is such a crazy miracle - I don't take it for granted for one second.

My Group B Strep results are negative this time around.  This wasn't going to be a big deal either way since I'm having the baby in a hospital, but it's still nice to have one little thing off the list of concerns.  At my last OB visit the midwife said baby was head down and likely to stay that way - from her lips to God's ears.  I go again for my weekly check-up on Thursday.

Baby is full term!!  This week miss bug is the size of a winter melon and probably weighs around 6 pounds.  She's still practicing her breathing and is putting on weight.  All systems are go, so she can arrive safely at any time.

How far along: 37 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: 22 pounds

Maternity clothes: yes, but even those are getting snug.

Stretch marks: a couple little ones just appeared around my belly button.  My skin is so tight and itchy, I'm surprised there aren't more.

Belly button: turkey timer is popped

Sleep: eh

Baby movement: yep, lots!

Gender: it's a girl!

Food cravings: crushed ice {is ice a food? either way, I can't get enough - still}

Food aversions: nothing really

What I miss: laying down without getting really uncomfortable

Looking forward to: checking the last few things off my to-do list

Best moment this week: finishing up the nursery

Milestones: baby is full term!