5 Year Anniversary!

Mike and I were happy to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary this past Saturday, Sept 1st. (Ethan was nice and didn't come that evening and spoil our date night) We spent the first part of the day with Ryan and began with donuts and presents for breakfast. Mike and Ryan played while I was able to get ready in peace and then at 3:00pm he went to Nana and Grandaddy's house to attend a friend's wedding that evening and spend the night.

Mike and I had dinner reservations at 6pm at Eddie V's in Fort Worth. We actually decided to arrive a little bit early and watched the end of the Tulsa game in the bar and just sat visiting with one another. We had an order of their calamari for an appetizer. Mike had a manhattan and the bartender made me a special fruit "mocktail" concoction that included pinneapple juice, orange juice, pomegranate, lemons, limes, marachino cherries, & sprite etc. It was very tasty!

At 6pm we sat at our table and they had a card wishing us a happy anniversary and the server spread out red rose petals across the table which I thought added a nice touch! For dinner, Mike ordered the Seafood Trio that came with 2 crab stuffed shrimp, 2 scallops, and a small filet. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass Hong Kong style with a side of spinach. Both entrees were wonderful and certainly did not disappoint. For dessert, the restaurant provided bananas foster which was absolutely incredible! We ate every single bite!! It was even on the house in celebration of our anniversary. Our evening was really very nice as we were able to sit and enjoy uninterrupted company of one another and some really incredible food. It is not very often that we dine without our precious 2.5yr old, but it is so much more relaxing when it is just us two. We are glad we got this opportunity before baby Ethan joins us sometime in the next week. Eddie V's did a nice job setting the atmosphere and everyone who waited on us was excellent.

After dinner we enjoyed some relaxing alone time and then picked up a Redbox movie on the way home and just enjoyed the peace and quiet of our own home. It was really a very enjoyable evening together. Thanks Mom and Dad for watching Ryan for us!

I am so very thankful for my sweet husband and the 5 years we have spent married to one another. It seems like just the other day that we were on our honeymoon relaxing in Hawaii (can't wait to go back) and now we almost have 2 kids! Time flies when you are having fun. :) I am certainly enjoying life with my spouse and can't imagine life any other way. I love you Michael and pray for many more years of happiness and partnership with you! xoxo

~Emily

It's September! 39 weeks pregnant!

I apologize that I have really done a pretty terrible job documenting this pregnancy on the blog. Ever since we have moved the computer upstairs I rarely get on it anymore. I typically only check email and facebook through my iPhone. Therefore, blogging has really taken a backseat. However, as we are expecting Ethan to arrive any day now, I thought I would catch up with the latest Dr's appointment and where we are currently.

On Friday, August 31st, I had my 38 week Dr's appointment. Dr. Daum performed a sonogram so that we could get an estimate/idea about baby Ethan's size at this point.  Based on the sonogram, weight estimate from measurements was 7lb 14oz (+\- 15oz). Dr Daum said he was surprised he was measuring so big, but we weren't. I had actually guessed about 7lb 8oz before we went into the appointment. It is of course approximate, but likely pretty close to accurate I think as I expect him to be in the mid 8lbs like Ryan. He was measuring 69th% on the growth chart. Leg measured 39wk 4day, all Other measures 38wk 3-4day, I was currently 38wk 2day. Regarding "progress" I was dilated 2cm, and had gained 2lb in just this past week for total of 22lb. Baby is head down facing my back so he is in the right position which is definitely a good thing! I am hopeful that Ethan doesn't want to hang around until my due date like Ryan did, but there is really no telling. God likes to teach me patience over and over again (I'm a slow learner), and I know that the longer he is in there the healthier (and potentially heavier...) he will be. :) I think it's the thought of the later that makes me feel anxious.

Continued prayers for safe and healthy delivery for Ethan and me are very much appreciated. Hope to be sharing some good news soon!

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!)

Make a guess!

Here is a little game I created where you can make your official guess for Ethan's birth stats and the day he will arrive. I will lock it mid-August so you can't change your guess, so be sure to get yours in before then! I will let you know who was the closest once he arrives. Good luck!

http://www.expectnet.com/games/EthanCampbell

Welcome 3rd Trimester & Dr's appointments

Welcome 3rd trimester!! It's hard to believe I am already in it. So far, I believe that I am a little behind blogging about my Dr's appointments. Luckily, everything has been very normal and healthy and nothing out of the ordinary. As of my 26 week appointment, Ethan was measuring about a week- week and a half ahead (gonna be tall like Daddy and have a large head like Ryan), but that typically has more to do with growth and size estimates than determining a change in due date at this point in time. My Dr said the first two sonograms at 6-10wks are the best predictors of due date so September 12th is still ours. (Doesn't mean I wouldn't be happy to see him a little early, but still in September) ;)
I have officially gained 10 lbs for this pregnancy as of my 26 week appointment on June 6th, but likely have added another 1-2lbs since then. I definitely believe my belly is beginning to grow quickly, yet I feel weight gain has been slower this pregnancy. Perhaps Ethan plans to put on all the fat in the end. I will have to go back and look at my blogs from my pregnancy with Ryan, but somehow it seems less at this point than I feel it should be. Dr. Daum isn't concerned though, so I will consider it normal as well. I guess it will just make it easier to lose weight as soon as baby Ethan is born! The only big difference I can determine is I was sitting at a desk working 8hrs a day while pregnant with Ryan, but with Ethan I am running around doing errands, playing and chasing Ryan all day long. Perhaps I am burning more calories this time. (I wouldn't be surprised) I have one more 4 week appointment on July 5th, and then I will begin seeing my Dr every two weeks.

My blood pressure has been running normal and thus far no swelling. (YAY!) Last time, it was around 30/31 weeks when I had my first issues off and on with swelling. Also, had my glucose test at my last visit and the results came back normal at 118 or 119 (I don't remember now). Everyone always asks during pregnancy "How are you feeling?". I never really know how to respond because really everything is going fine and I feel great most of the time. I am starting to be a little tired some days as I'm typically waking up once or twice a night now. Sometimes it's hot flashes, bad dreams, other times to use the restroom, and occasionally even Braxton Hicks already. Unfortunately, I am already experiencing Braxton Hicks off and on 3-4 times a day. It is a very weird sensation and I feel it during the day a few times, but it typically only bothers me at night. I suppose my body is trying to remind me what less sleep feels like and prepare me for Ethan's birth. I just wish it would wait another 6 weeks or so to do that. The weight of the baby makes the top of my tummy generally feel sore in the evenings so I will usually lay down for about 15-20 minutes after dinner while Ryan and Mike play. Other than that, really no complaints.

I am thankful to God for another new life and for my health and his. I often take for granted the joys and experiences of pregnancy that are so precious. I am really trying to soak in every kick and movement again this time around and be grateful for each one.  We are uncertain yet if 2 or 3 kids will be our limit so it's even more sentimental. It's hard for me to imagine being done, but who knows how life will be with two rambunctious boys keeping me busy. ;) I am grateful that God has entrusted them to me and hope that I can fulfill his will and desires in mothering them.

Leaving you with a few scriptures that are on my heart this evening:

Psalm 139:13-16- " For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unseen body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

28 wks 1 day