24 Week Dr Appt

Weight Gain This Month: 9 lbs

Total so Far: 21 since my first appt!

Belly Measurement: 25-26 cm

Brudder's Heart Rate: 140's

Today was a good appointment.  I actually made sure I asked my questions.  Dr A put me on a "preventative" for my headaches.  Although I'm only having 1-2 migraines per month I have a headache EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

I also noticed when I was looking at one of the papers that they had my due date down as May 21st.  So I asked her about it and she said that they had adjusted it after my October ultrasound - I guess I never knew that!  She also said that my 20 week anatomy scan came back good.  No major defects and all the limbs were intact!  She said they didn't mention the band in the report so she was going to call over to the hospital this week to double check with the Dr there to make sure everything still looked good. 

Lastly we talked about me having a VBAC vs. C-Section.  This is something I've really been contemplating the last several weeks and I wanted her opinion.  She told me that since I never even went into labor with Asher (he was under stress) that she thought I would be a good canidate for a VBAC and told me that she was on board for me to try.  She also told me that the chances of rupturing my cesarian scar was about 1 in 10,000.  So that made me feel better.  She told me that she would not induce me if I decided to do a VBAC - which is good because I wouldn't want to be induced anyway (you may be laughing thinking that I'm saying that now...).  If at any time I decide to go with the C-Section she said we could do that.  So I'm happy with where we are right now.  I like that nothing is set in stone!

Brudder's Room

I can't believe I'm going to show you the disorganized mess that is Brudder's room.  Since I found out I was pregnant there has been a shift in rooms at our house that has caused me to freak out because the walls are closing in on me.  Our whole house is finished so we have NO storage space.  I'm planning on shipping some stuff to Mom and Dad's basement soon but their basement looks like this right now:

More on this in the next couple of weeks.

The room Asher is in now was kind of a catch-all computer room.  When we decided to move Asher in there I had to put all the stuff from that room somewhere so some went into Brudder's room and some into the spare bedroom.  That spare room has been taken over by storage totes and a Christmas tree.  It's kind of depressing to look in there. 

We went to stay with Ryan and Milissa this past weekend (I forgot my camera!) and brought home the baby clothes I had given her to use for Brody.  This got me excited when I got home yesterday so Asher and I washed up all of his clothes while Mommy bawled like a baby. 

Your baby's tiny clothes + the smell of Dreft= a Mommy mess.

We washed up the Newborn - 6 Month clothes and got them hung up.

We're gonna need more hangers.  I'm starting to not feel so bad for Brudder having all of Asher's hand me downs.

Someday I'll get Dustin to help me turn the bed back into a crib.  I already have lil guys name and can't wait until we put it up!  Too bad we have to wait until he comes home..... :) 

Just look at all this crap.  Makes me a nervous wreck just walking in there.  We brought the bassinet back from Milissa's.  That thing has seen some miles between Ashlyn, Kane, Asher and Brody - Lil guy will get his use out of it too.  I don't think I'll really be changing anything in his room.  I do need to get Asher's bookcase put together so I can finish getting the rest of Asher's stuff off of the one in Brudder's room.  So we're slowly getting there.  I know we have plenty of time but I just feel like I should be doing something.

I have my 24 week doctor's appointment today so I'll be sure to post those stats tomorrow.  Can't wait to see how much weight I've gained again.

Big Brother

Sitting here tonight with my Big Boy listening to my Little Man :)

Tid Bits

It's Friday again - yay!  I'm ready for the weekend so here are a few tid bits from the last week.

• My belly button popped out.  WTH?  It didn't do this until about 35 weeks with Asher.  I showed it to The Sister Tuesday night and she said "Ewwwwwwwww you have a third nipple."  Thanks Sister.
• Brantley will be in Bloomington on April 28th!  This is BEYOND exciting.  I'm going to be huge and pregnant but cannot wait to go :)
• We are going to Pekin this weekend to spend some time with Milissa, Ryan and the kiddos and to meet their new puppy Ella!  She looks so sweet and I think Asher is going to love her.
• And finally my heart is breaking this week for The Grieder Family.  Brooke and Blake lost their sweet baby girl Charlotte on Monday.  I've been a long time follower of Brooke's blog because I've always thought her lil guy Clayton reminded me of Asher.  Isn't that the amazing thing about blogs?  You get a glimpse into other peoples lives and feel that you truly know them.  The last 6 months I've watched her be the strongest Mama while her sweet baby girl fought for her life.  Charlotte was lucky to have been born into a family with so much love to give her.

And finally, some pictures from the last week.

Here is my sweet boy faking sleep.  Faking sleep but still screaming at Meme to play "Bwantley Yogurt LOUD"  He's funny. 

Very dark but here is Dan at the Popejoy Chirstmas party at Conklin's.  Him and Hippie brought 3 mason jars full of homemade Baileys and they were gone in no time.  I've had it before and its yummy! 

My Bubby trying on his new PJ's from Dustin's Mom.  Although he doesn't look it he was excited to have monkeys on his feet! 

I made myself another purse.  A bigger one.  Thank God cuz I carry a lot of crap. 

And finally I made Brudder his crib sheets!  Can you believe that?  Mom asked me if I was gonna start churning butter next.  I found this tutorial on pinterest and it was pretty easy.  I had been looking for crib sheets for the last few weeks but couldn't find anything that matched and they no longer sell the ones that go with his bedding.  I was able to find the exact color I needed in a really soft jersey fabric.  I'm pretty impressed with myself.

Skin Care Products I Love

Last week I saw where Bri was talking about some of the skin care products that she loves.  She was wondering what other people use and love so I thought I would share.

I have used Cetaphil since High School.  I go back and forth between face washes but I always come back to this one.  I like to use this first in the shower to get any make-up off (yes, I sleep in my make-up).  Its great to use around your eyes because it is so gentle.

Then I follow with the Mario Badescu cleanser using my Clarisonic Mia!

I love this thing - you feel like you really get a deep clean.

For a moisturizer I use American Beauty (available at Kohls).  I also use their eye cream which I love!

And finally Bare Minerals Prime Time.  This is an awesome foundation primer and feels like silk!  I use Bare Minerals make-up and it always seems to set better when I use my primer.

Maybe next time I'll show you what I use in my hair - you wouldn't believe all the gunk I put in it every day :)



Teeth Whitening

For the last couple of weeks I've told you how frumpy I feel when I'm pregnant and some of the things I've been doing to feel a little better about myself.  I think this is so important whether you are fat and pregnant or not!  I was talking to one of my cousins who got a whitening kit from our friend Dr Kevin Brucker in Gibson City after she got her braces off.  I couldn't believe how great her teeth looked!  So I cornered Kevin that night and asked him if it was safe during pregnancy (it is) so I asked him what I needed to do to get one.  I figured while I'm not really drinking coffee/pop this would be a great time to try it!

I stopped in his office the next week and they took molds of my teeth.  They used these molds to make custom trays that fit my teeth. 

The kit came with 4 little syringes of the gel.  I've gotten 3-5 treatments out of each one.  I've been doing this for a little over a month because I don't do it everyday.  Actually, I wouldn't recommend doing it on consecutive days because your teeth can become sensitive. 

Here is what Dr. Brucker's website says about teeth whitening:

•Tray Bleaching


Tray bleaching is a type of professional whitening that uses custom-made trays and whitening gel only available through your dentist. The whitening gel is placed in custom-fitted trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. As the peroxide in the gel breaks down, hydroxyradicals help whiten stained teeth. Unlike strips, this process whitens all your natural teeth and may contain ingredients intended to provide maximum comfort. At home professional tray whitening generally takes 10-14 days, although you may notice results in as little as three to five days.

When I read the directions it said that you could wear them overnight or for at least 2 hours.  Since I don't really have 2 hours when I'm not eating these days I chose to do them overnight.

Ok, so are you curious now about my results?  First let me say do you have any idea how akward it is to take pictures of your own teeth - not to mention posting them online?!?! 

First Night 

After 1st Treatment 

Week 2 

Week 3 

And here is day 1 vs tonight.  I'm really happy with the results!

Swim Suit Re-Do

I think the only thing worse than trying on swim suits at 22 weeks pregnant would be trying on suits at 32 weeks pregnant.  Ugh.  Seriously depressing.  I turn 26 in a week.  HOW did this happen?  As one of my classmates said to another on Facebook a couple of weeks ago - "Sorry I forgot your birthday, but since its only 4 years until we turn 30 I figured you wouldn't mind."  30 doesn't seem old until its you that is creeping up on it.

Anyway, the weekend of my Birthday we're taking Asher up to Kalahari for the weekend with my family and the Bruckers.  I bought this suit when I was pregnant with Asher and I'm guessing I never tried it on because I had planned on wearing it boating at about 37 weeks with him.  But at that time I was about 30 pounds heavier than I am now with a lot more baby.  There is no way that thing was gonna fit.  Good thing it rained that weekend. 

I put this on last week and immediately freaked out because it fit so weird.  The last thing I  wanted to do was buy another maternity suit when this is my last little bugger :(  I briefly thought about scrapping it all and wearing a bikini.  Then I remembered that my Dad was going with us and he would have a serious fit if I tried to wear a suit with my belly hanging out (HI DAD!).

Can you see that?  How awkward.  So I thought it would look better if the sides were pulled in and maybe ruched.  So I looked at some of my maternity shirts to see how they were made.

Since I still had a bit of room (and Lord help me if I ever have to wear this thing when I get any bigger) I decided to just cut the seam out after I tried picking it for a while.

Then I ran a basting stitch down both sides.

And started to gather each side.

I wasn't sure how far to go and I wasn't gonna try to put it back on so I just guessed.

In all of my shirts I could tell that they placed a thin elastic over the ruched sides.  So I bought some 1/4" black elastic.

Then I just sewed it over the ruched seam.  Ok, so it wasn't that easy.  By the time I finally got it done I was sweating and cussing.  My machine did not like the swim suit material.  I did make one more modification after this because when I tried it on it was still too big around the bottom.  I just brought in the sides at the bottom a little bit more.

What a difference!  I don't have to buy a new suit and all it cost me was $1.49 for some elastic.  Oh, and some blood, sweat and tears - litereally.  Now if only I can wear my yoga pants to the pool - my ass and legs in the bottoms are not pretty :)

My Little Watt Nakamaru: Grandma Sue's

Asher took his camera to Grandma Sue's one friday.  I love getting on and seeing what he did :)

My Handsome Man!

The cousins enjoying a snack.

Baby Feet

Snack time

Hanging out with Grandma Sue

Friday Phone Dump

 Here are some of the pictures from the last couple of weeks.

After a long day of shopping on New Year's Day my little buddy was worn out! 

Its SNOWING!  Too bad it only lasted 5 minutes that day. 

Asher & I put together his new chair from MeMe and Papa.  I love these chairs because Asher is able to sit at the kitchen table and its the perfect height.  Mama wanted to shoot someone by the time we were done!  Maybe I should ask Dad to assemble things next time :) 

We went to Saybrook for pizza with the Brucker's.  Cullen played the claw game with Asher until we were all out of money.  He brought home 5 stuffed animals - wonderful. 

Asher must now poop with his phone - "Like Daddy does"

I love this picture :) 

I made myself a purse!  Glad you can't see it up close on this blurry phone pic :) 

I stole this one off of Dustin's phone.  About a month ago Daddy & Papa took Asher out to Steve Week's to see the horses!  Asher loves horses but wasn't too sure about them up close.  He said they were BIG!

On Tuesday nights Asher begs RJ to play "Bideo Games"

Happy Friday!