Pre-Labor

Well we're on day two of minor contractions going on. Some hurt and others are minor. But no pattern to them and not significant enough to go to the birth center. It's so frustrating. The belly is significantly dropped and parts of the plug have come out. I did get sleep last night and a nice nap today but I still feel tired. Probably more of an emotional tired.

I'm just afraid that this is a totally false labor and P3 wants to stay inside for longer! Peter has off from work until Wednesday night, which is super supportive, but also stressful. He is being "Super Dad/Super Husband" and helping out with the kids and food and kitchen cleaning duties. I think even if P3 doesn't come today or tomorrow it will still be nice having him around with all the extra support at night time!

Ugh.... here's to hoping that things progress a bit more!!! Oh yes... and the belching continues. Along with various other unmentionables. Ick.

Could it be????

Adding to my belching is some cramping... ah yes... labor could be starting! WooHoo! Bring on the pain... P3 I'm ready!

It's 4:07pm now... it would be nice to get this show on the road already. We'll see. I'll keep everyone posted!

like a champion beer drinker!

No I'm not sitting back swigging beer (just occasionally when Pops is having a Shiner), but since yesterday I have been a champion belcher! This is the joys of the final weeks of pregnancy.... belching, excessive sweating, and hip pressure. Nice!

Had a check up today and I am now measuring 42 weeks (last week was 40), but I have lost one pound for a total gain of 9 pounds this pregnancy. I now have the official "ok" from the midwives to go into labor anytime. So hopefully P3 will take the hint and get this show on the road SOON. Once the baby is out maybe I will actually be able to find a comfortable position to sleep... one can only hope!

It is a very cold, gloomy day today. We actually had a bit of hail fall! I have the heat on in the house, we are all wearing our sox, and just kicking back.

36 weeks!

Ah yes... 36 weeks today. That was the milestone that I needed to make in order to have P3 at the birth center. I've officially made it.

I still think my due date is off. I just feel more and more like it's going to happen soon this time. Ry and Kai both "cooked" for their full 40 weeks... so we'll see if my instincts are right on this one.

We had a rough night last night... Ryenne is sick and it's worse at night time. We ended up running out of bedding last night because she threw up on everything. Peter has been great with getting it all laundered today. Kai learned from his sister how to make himself throw up... so we ended up washing his bedding too. Apparently if we don't come fast enough to him in the night, he sticks his finger down his throat... yeah grrrreat...

I had a great nap today. I needed it so bad. Peter is sleeping right now. I think we're ready to take on the kids tonight!

I am starting to feel more pressure so I don't know if that means that labor might be coming in the next few days or if ligaments are stretching and labor will be in the next few weeks. We shall see. I have a prenatal tomorrow so maybe we'll see if anything is happening.

Spaghetti Dinner Out!

Last night we took the kids to Ry's preschool for a fundraiser dinner. We had spaghetti, bread, salad, drinks, and brownies for $5 per person! What a deal! We met up with our friends Katie, Graham, Jackson, and Hogan and we all had a really great time.

The kids went bananas. Kai wanted to run off and I had the urge to go scoop him up. He wanted to play with all the big kids. And I stepped back and let him play. It was the first time I saw him as a little kid and not a baby. He had so much fun. He is such a social boy. I think I might need to use some tax return money to get him into preschool. Hard as it is to believe, he will be 2 this year - the same age Ry was when she started preschool. It was really awesome watching him be an independent little boy.

Ryenne and Jackson ran off together chasing each other and running around like crazy. Notice in the picture of them together they are holding hands. Such good friends... it is so sweet!

Here are all the kids! Ry wanted everyone to wear crowns :) And of course in true Ryenne form, she refuses to look at the camera...



The Moore Family



The Dagupion Family

35 weeks

Hiccups

This space has been very quiet lately. Notice the camera and I are taking a little break from each other. It has been cold, and while I think about doing crafty things with the kids, it just comes down to me being too tired. I am more tired this time. The crayons lay in their drawer, the play-doh is untouched, and instead there's dancing to Yo-Gabba-Gabba on tv. Bad mama!

But today I did experience something new! P-3 had the hiccups today. It took me a while to figure out what it was. Ry and Kai never had the hiccups when I was pregnant with them (that I could tell anyway) and this is the first time I've ever felt it. What a funny feeling!

So I hear today is Groundhog Day and that we have another 6 weeks of Winter ahead of us. I guess that's ok. I can't chase the kids at the park by myself anyway. But I do feel guilty for not taking pictures. It's so unlike me to keep the camera tucked away. I just haven't felt 'inspired' for anything artsy lately. Mostly just feeling beat up!

Today I am 35 weeks and P3 needs to stay put at least another week before I can have him/her at the birth center. I hope he or she decides to come just a tad early - maybe 38 weeks? I don't know how much longer my body is going to hold out. t-i-r-e-d.

But while I'm all tired and crabby, I will end this post on a positive note... I did the taxes last night. And we're getting enough back to pay toward our credit card debt to put us a whole year ahead to becoming debt free. We can do it. Like the Little Blue Engine That Could, we'll just keep chugging away. But instead of saying "I think I can..." I am chugging along, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can..."

cheesey-cake!

The first day of February... wow! It kinda snuck up on us and January is gone already! Peter woke up this afternoon and upon coming downstairs I immediately requested pie of some sort. Rolling his eyes, he asked for a hot dog in return. He has been very good about his gout the past few days so I caved and off to Costco we went with the kids. He had his hot dog and we scooped up a beautiful cheesecake covered with strawberries. :) Oh yes.... can't wait to dig in!

Kai is developing further into a little boy daily. He says "Uh-oh" after he throws things, brings his shoes to me and says "choos", and sits on the couch making train noises when his favorite show, Chugginton, is on. And... he's withholding kisses from me. This pains me. He offers them up freely to Dexter, Ryenne, and Daddy... but mama gets none. SAD!

Ok Peter just served me up my cheesey-cake. BYE!

BRRRRRRR!!!!!

thankfulness

I think every parent goes through a moment when they hold their breath and hope that everything is fine.

Day before yesterday, Kai was trying to climb a table, pulled a lamp cord, and the lamp came tumbling down. It happened only feet away from me, and it was so fast, and so loud that I was powerless to get to him fast enough.

Someone or something up above must have been watching him, because the lamp missed him and exploded behind him. He had glass shards in his hair and on his jammies, but not a scratch on his body. I think I checked every square inch of him! Really freaked me out. I'm so glad he's okay. And so thankful that Peter and my mom did a good job of cleaning up the glass shards.

ps) I hate carpet!!

Yesterday was great, today I am useless!

Yesterday I had a photo shoot in downtown Austin, and since I was meeting my clients right in front of the Austin Children's Museum, Peter said he'd take the kids to the museum while I was shooting.

My session ended right when the museum closed and they came out, pinwheels in hand with HUGE smiles on their faces. It was absolutely adorable!

We had a couple of minutes so I snapped a few shots of the kids. It is so extremely rare to get them together. Must be an age thing? How is it I can bribe other people's kids so easily and yet my own I just can't figure out?

So I was running after a 2 and a half year old for my photo shoot and doing lots of jumping around and squats and today I was totally and completely useless. Could barely move. No dishes, no laundry, bare minimum child feeding... really it was BAD. Thank goodness Gams and Pops fed us. Cause man oh man... I was in trouble! haha

Bad Blogger!!!

I've been neglecting the family blog! Terrible!

Truth is... I've just been tired! We had a cold snap that had us kinda stuck in the house. And we really haven't been going anywhere so that we wouldn't spend any money. So I haven't really been taking very many pictures of the kids in the past couple of weeks - shame on me.

The weather has turned gorgeous - our second day in a row of over 70 degrees. We took the kids to a playground yesterday. Ryenne was quick and I couldn't get any good shots of her.



And Kai Boy is starting to test me more. He takes off his diaper almost daily and runs around the house nekkid. I have to corral him and get his diaper back on. Can't say that I blame him... he's so darn cute nekkid! He also discovered his sisters pink cowboy boots. He's been wearing them for two days straight!



I've been doing pretty good - just tired. I'm on day two of getting swollen which isn't any fun at all. It's by no means as swollen as some women get, but I can feel it nonetheless. It's so hard to sleep when Ry has bad dreams or when Kai wakes up and all the peeing I have to do every couple hours. Eek! I just keep telling myself... almost there! But then I realize that when P3 does come it's not going to get any easier! haha

The loft is painted a beautiful purple-grey thanks to Gams. The electrician is coming on Thursday to finish his stuff and then we can figure out the flooring. And move the office!!! WooHoo! So excited about that!

Dentist all around!

Our dental insurance has been in effect for a while now, but it hadn't really been on my mind until I reached this "nesting" phase and found a dentist. This afternoon the whole family went in to the dentist!

This was Ryenne's first time and she was scared. We had prepared by reading Dr. Seuss' Tooth Book and talking about how dentists are friendly and they want to help us keep our teeth clean and perfect. But once we got there and she saw the dental chairs she kinda freaked out.

The dentist was amazing. She was so understanding and gentle with Ryenne and put her completely at ease. Ry walked out with a big smile and goody bag and not afraid of her dentist. Peter and I each had our check-ups and we need just a teensy bit of fillings but not too bad for not going to a dentist in YEARS. I was so proud of Ryenne though. Big girl... wish I had taken pictures of her (but I was holding Kai through her exam).

32 Weeks!

Getting to the end of this pregnancy slowly but surely! We did a really fun photo shoot this week out in the field at the entrance of our neighborhood. It was kinda funny because it was right around 4:30 - 5pm so all these people were coming home and probably thinking, "What the heck?"

Anyway, I felt so pretty and lovely. Ryenne was my creative director and did a wonderful job. Maybe another photographer in the making?

Peter was my photographer and I'm so proud of him. I truly love them! Without further ado...

below: first I metered for light on Ryenne and she gave me a kiss (check out her leg! hehehe)

I heard the cutest thing...

The kids are all better and active and lively and sweet. Kai is starting to test me though. He's climbing on everything so I find myself saying throughout the day, "Kai Boy, NO!" And he looks at me and will either try it again or he'll come running for a hug.

And I told Peter that wouldn't it be funny if he grew up thinking BOY was his middle name? Because we always call him "Kai Boy" or just "Boy"... occasionally when he's being really naughty I bust out the "Kai Eric Dagupion!!!!" and then he knows I'm really serious.

Then Peter told me the cutest thing: He had thought "Boy" was his real middle name for a very long time! Cause growing up he was "Peter Boy" or just "Boy" and it took him actually reading his full name when he was big to realize that "Boy" wasn't actually his middle name. Is that not funny and cute and endearing all at the same time?

don't you just hate it when...

the kids are sick? Kai is practically done with his cold but poor Ryenne is on day two of waking up like this:

Is this not the cutest most pitiful thing ever? Poor little snuffy nosed girl!!!

And I took Kai on a photo shoot at the birth center the other day and he was sooooo good playing with toys while I photographed the midwives. Here is with the toys... and then a super smiley, snot-nosed, drooly little boy...

Oh how I adore them!

where the heck does time go???

I was planning on taking a 30 week belly photo and commenting on how I'm "almost there" and then I realize that I am now 31 weeks and missed it. Where does time go? I'm convinced there must be a black hole in my couch that steals time and the remote and baby socks.

Week 31 (plus 1 day) so baby is about 3.5 pounds and according to websites will be gaining half a pound per week from here on out. No wonder the kicks and jabs have me falling to the floor several times a day.

Gahhhhh.... seriously!

Day 3 of the snifflies for the little boy. Poor thing. He is just NOT sleeping well.

Anyway, last night he went into the laundry room and slipped and fell and I went in and scooped him up and realized he was soaking wet... with DOG PEE! Head to toe, little man was covered and thusly, I WAS COVERED. It was thoroughly disgusting. Sometimes I would like to throw my dogs out the window.

We showered and Kai went to bed. I got up with him several times last night. Then in the middle of the night Ry wakes up - straight as a board - puts her hands over her ears and starts laughing hysterically and then lays down fast asleep again. Scared the shnykeez out of me!

So I'm sleeping well and then I wake up to an odor. A very unpleasant odor... get up and realize a dog has sharted all over the carpet. GAH. I have HAD IT. I realize it's cold out but seriously??? Pee and poop in the house??? SERIOUSLY???

Anyway, that was last night. This morning was great. Breakfast with Gams and Pops. And since Ry and Kai went on a huge growth spurt and have very little clothes that fit, Pops treated them to a bunch of new warm clothes that fit. So sweet. They are both thrilled.

We had a wonderful day with Gams and Pops and naps all around this afternoon. Chicken's in the oven and we're having some nice family time. A great end. I think the dogs are sleeping downstairs tonight though! haha

tsk tsk

No New Year's Eve OR New Year's Day post??? Bad Mama! Tsk tsk.... and I had this whole thought of writing about this past decade and all the changes I've had in my life. Ah well....

Really though... it's just been a rough couple of days! Kai boy has a snotty cold and the nights have been miserable. I haven't had one night in the past couple of days that have left me without a snot ball vomit on some part of my body. Little boy gifts for his mama... LOL.

Peter worked on New Year's Eve, so me and Ryenne snuggled up together and watched a movie. She is terrified of the noises that fireworks make so she spent a good hour and a half with her hands over her ears as the neighborhood came alive with popping noises. Kai slept through that entire part.

The fireworks ended at about 12:30 and Ry passed out. Then at 12:36 just as I shut my eyes, Kai woke up for me and was up a good portion of the night. Poor baby.

New Years Day I invited myself over to my parents and they made me and the kids a wonderful breakfast (otherwise it would have been the tired mama special: cereal!). Came home and rough-housed with Ryenne and then my hips and body hurt so my mom came over and made dinner. AMAZING eggplant parmesan and a separate pan of chicken parmesan. Have I mentioned how glad I am to have my parents nearby? Cause really.... it's awesome.

So that's the start of 2010. We just have to conquer Kai's cold and it'll be all good. The budget is looking good, sticking to plans, trying to organize.

Pedernales Falls

Today Nico went back to Maui. Ry hung on him and begged him to move to Austin. I think he thinks that we told her to do that, but nope... it's all her. She loves her uncle to pieces! So maybe on the plane ride back to Maui he'll think about everyone here in Austin who loves him and that Maui just isn't "home" anymore.

The other day we took a road trip out to Pedernales Falls - a beautiful park not too far out of town. Let me tell you... I was AMAZED. It was spectacularly beautiful. I am really excited to go back and spend more time there. Next time, a picnic lunch is in order and hopefully a warm day when we can go swim!



below: The grandparents with their littles!






below: Ryenne adored the park! She collected shells, skipped rocks with Nico, got sand in her shoes, and did a wonderful job hiking!







below: There is a gorgeous beach area with sand and the kids kicked off their shoes and played. Kai LOVED this. He decided he wanted to pick up rocks and throw them into the little spring. He'd take the big rocks and lick it, kiss it, and throw it. It was adorable.



Now one of the funniest things about this trip was that I took out my camera battery and charged it before we left. The entire drive up I was so proud that I charged my camera! And then we get there and guess what??? I forgot my memory card. DUH. Talk about a "dork moment".

Peter was sleeping during our outing so for the next one we'll plan it when he can come along.