32 week appointment

I had my 32 week appointment today and gained another 2 lbs, so almost 17 total now. Luckily, gaining weight has been very steady and no dramatic jumps like last time. It looks like if I go to 40 weeks and maintain at this same rate I will wind up only weighing about 2-3 lbs less than my pregnancy with Ryan. My belly measured at 33 weeks, so more in line with the sonograms showing that he is growing and going to likely be tall like Ryan. The particularly good news was Dr Daum determined that he is finally head down. Hooray! Ethan is still very active and no concerns from me or the Dr. Next appointment scheduled August 6th.

Recent Ryan conversations and interests

Throughout June and July, I have kept an ongoing "note" in my iPhone of some funny conversations that I have had with Ryan. He is really articulating sentences very well, but also says some things in such a funny way. I am hoping keeping a list of a few of these things will help me to remember them.

Heading to church while Mike was out of town
R-Mommy check babies out?
Me- I'm not sure. It's just me and Ryan today.
R-I help mommy check out babies
Me-We'll see. Do you like babies?
R-No, babies sad sometimes. I hold them
Me- don't you like baby Ethan?
R- yes, I like baby "Epan" I give kiss (mwah- on belly)
R- daddy pick me up yellow class?
Me- no mommy will pick you up today
R- no, mommy go bye bye daddy pick me up

Driving on the way to swim class- out of the blue
R- I don't like trash
M- did you see trash somewhere?
R- yes, i don't like trash, pee you tinky
M- trash is stinky
R- trash is yucky, pee you tinky

After spitting and being hyper at bedtime Mike tells Ryan he will not lay down with him for a few minutes before bed:
R- Daddy, I not spit now, lay down me 2 minutes?
D- no, not tonight
R- I'm nice daddy
D- you are nice Ryan
R- lay down 2 minutes?
D- no, tomorrow
R- but daddy I'm happy, I'm nice
D- I'm glad you are happy and you are nice, but I am not laying down tonight because you spit. Night night

Letting out the cat
R- Toby, I open door you (without for)
R- mommy, I let Toby out

Asking Ryan a question- such as where something is
R- oh, I know! (excitedly)
Uh oh, I doan know

One evening
R- I can't find my bunny anywhere, where is it?
R- thank you mommy find my bunny wabbit!

Hide and Seek
R- where is you Dad?

Random after nap
R-I need my mommy. I need my baby Epan come out now.

Regarding bridges on freeways
R- mommy, I'm up high yay!
Me- We are up high
R- I'm going down now. No, up up let me go up!

Another big part of our day is singing songs. (Lots of songs) So, these are a few that Ryan sings frequently and knows most if not all the words to:
Row your boat, Rock a by baby, Old McDonald, Jesus loves me, Twinkle Twinkle, ABC's, Elmo's world, Sesame street song, Mickey mouse clubhouse, goodbye song, other made up songs...
Ryan's singing of Row your boat:
Row row row your boat gently down da tream, merry merry merry merry like a bottom dreams

Lastly, his current favorite game is hide and seek. We play this game multiple times a day and laugh as most of the time he is not very creative with hiding places and will hide under pillows on the couch with his legs hanging out and giggle or squirm so it is obvious where he is hiding. Lately, he is getting better about hiding spots and staying quiet, but he does like to be found. He is not as big a fan of counting and finding you because he gets frustrated if he can't find one of us. Current favorite characters include: Mickey Mouse, Elmo, Bob & Larry, Thomas the Train, Lightening McQueen from Cars, and Curious George. We read lots of books and the Curious George books have been most of the "go to's" lately. We also recently signed up for our first library card which will be a fun way for us to get to read more books without having to buy a lot of books. It's been a fun summer so far and we are counting down to 8 weeks or less until baby Ethan joins our family as well!!

30 week appointment

Everything went great at our 30 week Dr's appointment July 5th. Belly is measuring right on track. Blood Pressure was 115/71 which is really good for me. I gained another 4.5lbs so almost 15 lbs total for this pregnancy. It has been slower gaining, but I know Ethan is growing and active and I suppose that's why they say that "every pregnancy is different." So far, no swelling yippee! Dr. Daum couldn't determine Ethan's exact position, but it doesn't seem that he has chosen the head down position just yet. I have begun experiencing some early lactation, which really caught me by surprise, but after chatting with my Dr and a few friends, discovered it was not all that uncommon especially in second/third pregnancies. We now begin 2 wk appointments for the next two appointments and then I will see Dr. Daum weekly until Ethan makes his appearance. I am starting to get very excited and a little anxious thinking about his arrival and determining what I have left to do before he gets here. I think most everything I need to do is the last 3-4 weeks, washing his Nb-3mo clothes, packing my hospital bag, taking down the infant car seat from the attic and washing the fabric.  I think that's it?!?! Oh, and he needs a coming home outfit... I need to work on that!

Prayers are appreciated for continued health for me and Ethan through the next 9 weeks or less. :)

A couple photos of Ethan from our 3D sono at El Centro- at 29 wks are attached. (including a big yawn in the middle!)