Baby Andrew!

Andrew Aaron
June 21, 2009
7# 9 oz., 20 inches

a few minutes old...

getting a little help to get started in the world....

first time being held by his big brother.....

relaxing with Grandpa....

relaxing after his first bath at home.....

just arrived home from the hospital....

first kiss from big brother....

37 Weeks

This is where Gabe sits when I hold him. I pretty much never hold him anymore because this is not comfortable for me and if I'm sitting there is no room on my lap. He has to sit next to me.

I'm assuming my poor posture is due to the weight I am carrying out front. The tank top I have on is a maternity top. This is how all my shirts fit with the exception of 3 that are still a little loose on the belly (because they are all extra larges).

My belly makes a very nice arm rest for me or anyone in need of one. I love this picture but wish I had clean clothes on! I have my 'painting pants' on (see post below).

Bubble Boy

Cute bubble horns on Gabe....

The ugly curtains are GONE

The Living Room:
These were the 'best' curtains in the house when we moved in. At first Aaron didn't mind them. I hated them all along!

BEFORE:

AFTER (3 photos):

For some reason it took us almost 2 years to think of putting up these kind of blinds. I dare say this is some of the best money we have spent in a long time!

The Den (or office):

These were far & away the WORST curtains in the house. What else can I say? The picture explains it all.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

The Dining Area:

We did 2 things to improve this area. We replaced the ugly curtains and painted the wall a dark brown. It's a nice 'soothing' color scheme (we think).

Wall Color Before:

Curtains Before:

Wall Color & Curtains After:

I am the coolest mom!

That's what I tell myself when I let Gabe eat cake and drink pop for breakfast. We had this today. I didn't figure it was fair if I eat cake and drink pop and make Gabe eat cereal and drink water. So we both had 2 pieces of cake and split the diet dr. pepper.

Worn out!

We have been having babysitters come over to our house lately to watch Gabe. On Tuesday he wouldn't take a nap because Sara was here. This is what happened after she went home and he was left with his boring, old parents....


Note he is holding *three* Lightening McQueen cars in his hands.

My flowers....

.... have been destroyed.

I only planted 8 petunias (hey it's hard for a lady with a huge belly to get down that low for some planting) but they were looking mighty fine! Then one day a few were outside of the pot but I was able to replant most of them. I blamed it on a squirrel or a rabbit because it wasn't totally destroyed.


Then this happened:

I have come to grips that MY DOGS did this. ARGHHH! I guess at some point we'll replant some flowers and maybe try to hide the dirt from the dogs (wood chips or something?) to take away the digging temptation. Oh well, they were pretty while they lasted!

Animal crackers, smiles, and a fancy chair

Gabe's GREAT uncles sent him a treat in the mail this week. It was a box of animal crackers that he thoroughly enjoyed. See below:


This is the "show me your teeth" smile.


In the following pics I was doing my best to get him to laugh. It worked.

Suitcase for the hospital....

I finally got around to packing a bag for the hospital. When Gabe asked me about the suitcase I told him we would take it to the hospital when we have the baby. He wanted to open up the suitcase because he thought the baby was INside the suitcase.
Then he climbed inside and curled up. For some reason I don't think bringing Gabe to the hospital would help me out much when the time comes....

Baseball!

Gabe asks to play baseball a lot. Here are a few pictures of his "skills"...........


At least he is starting to hold the bat with 2 hands. He can connect with the ball on most occasions but his swing is interesting!


I'm not sure if he's left or right handed yet. He was clearly favoring his right hand a while back but now he switches it up.

Random Pics from MN

Driving with dad makes Gabe crazy....

A whole mess of cute little gray kitties at the farm. Gabe loved them!

This is where Gabe sleeps when he is at the farm.

35 Weeks Pic

I have made it to 35 weeks! I've been feeling pretty good this week just more & more tired. And my stomach muscles don't work at all because of my 'big' hernia/diastasis. Basically my stomach muscles are spread about 4 inches apart from each other above my belly button. It may require a surgical repair sometime after the baby is born. We just have to wait and see what it does after the pregnancy.

We are looking forward to having this baby.. My plan is for an induction at 39 weeks.. but babies don't usually follow the plan set out for them so we'll have to wait and see. I am very much looking forward to the experience of having a baby in a small hospital (one nurse, I'll likely be the only patient delivering, one doctor - the same one I've had all along). We should get lots of personal attention without the annoying big city/big hospital procedures. I think there were about 10 or more people in the room when I had Gabe.... 3 doctors, a couple of nurses, some other people I didn't recognize....

Getting clothes ready, Part I & Part II

We have very similar pictures from both pregnancies of me getting the little baby clothes ready.

PART I

This was taken when I was about 36 weeks pregnant with Gabe (approx. Jan 15, 2007)

PART II

This was taken May 24, 2009 at 33 weeks pregnant.