We've reached 34 weeks today! Super crazy to think we are so close to meeting our newest lil boy. Benjamin is by far the most active baby I've carried. He moves for long periods of time, several times throughout the day and night. Yes, throughout the night. I often lay awake, enjoying his acrobats for an hour so during the night.
I'm feeling pretty good most days. It's usually not until the evening that the heartburn and soreness kicks in. I'm tired much of the time. And with everything we have going on around here, my mind is mostly mush. I really still enjoy being pregnant, but they are right when they say that each subsequent pregnancy is harder on your body, not mention it gets tougher as you get older.
We are making progress on Benjamin's room. His name panels are almost finished. We've put some stuff on the walls. I haven't washed his clothes yet, but they are hanging in his closet. I really need to sit down and make a few lists of things to pack for him and I. I keep thinking about sitting down to do it, but then I get distracted. Hmmm...
Oh, and we took a trip to Labor and Delivery three weeks ago. As I mentioned Benjamin likes to move a bunch. Well, when he gets to moving for a couple hours at a time, I start to contract. They are still Braxton Hicks contractions, but they get to be 3 minutes apart for several hours. After a couple days of this off and on, we decided it was best to have all checked out. Four hours in L&D, and it was decided he was going nowhere anytime soon. It doesn't happen as often now, but still every couple of days he gets a little crazy in there.
Here is a 34 week belly picture. He's growing well in there, and is head down!
I say we've been busy. We really have. We are currently attempting the process of selling our house to an investor, who happens to own the house we want to buy. There's a great lack of communication right now, so we're really just sitting around waiting for him to answer his phone. But that is the plan. And the hope is that we can move before Benjamin arrives.
And Simon has decided he's ready to potty train. I've never hidden the fact that I detest potty training, because I seriously do. He seems to be really getting the hang of it, though. This is not the time I would have chosen, but he was really having issues with dirty and wet diapers.
Here are a bunch of fun pictures taken over the last month or so. I thought this would be a quick way to catch up.
We hit up the corn maze yesterday. This was Simon's first trip. And it started with a two year old meltdown when he decided to run and hide in the corn. After ten minutes or so of being taken out of the maze, we were able to enjoy it together.
Saturday evening we decided to head to a local park here to let the boys do some hiking. Last time we were there, they wanted to, but Willy wasn't with us so they had to wait.
After hiking they had a bat flight viewing at the cave below these rocks. This was so much fun. The boys really had a great time watching all the bats.
Piper is doing well here. She's getting bigger, and still prefers me. Most days I am very much in love with her. Then there are days like today when she just has a hard time staying out of trouble. But who couldn't love a cat this adorable?
Last week Ethan had a Clifford party at school. It was so much fun to spend an hour with just him in his classroom.
Aunt Jamie and Simon both celebrated birthdays the last week of September. We decided to have a combined dinner for them.
Daddy figured out how to put toys in balloons.
Ethan has been looking forward to this train show since May. He has kept the flier in his room and has been watching the calendar. The boy is seriously passionate about trains. And I embrace it. Reminds me of my grandpa.
We also had Benjamin's bear made. This bear has SEVEN hearts in it. I love this tradition with our boys. Each one has their special bear that everyone in the family at the time has put hearts in. We've put hearts in for Lucas and Caleb in Simon's and Benjamin's.
Here is his finished bear. I am so excited about the superhero theme!
Simon had a morning at the zoo with Willy and I for his birthday. The boy is passionate about animals, and an hour at the zoo (there's not much there to spend more time), is his favorite outing.
Here's Simon finishing his birthday "doughnut." Really it was a allergy free sugar cookie with allergy free icing. He loved it!
I can't believe he is already two. The time has gone by so fast, and we enjoy him so very much. He adds an abundance of life and laughter to our family. And I couldn't imagine not having him here.
He was worn out this day. I embrace these moments, because they are so rare.
The three boys have enjoyed the cooler weather. I think Ethan and Colton have finally "accepted" him as part of the tribe. They play with him more, and let him join in on their fun more readily. I love watching the three of them together. And when they kiss and hug Simon good night, it just melts my heart.
Well, that kind of wraps up what we've been doing. Time is ticking and Benjamin will be here soon. I'm really enjoying this time with the boys before chaos returns, hopefully for not quite as long as when Simon was born.
