Getting ready for baby!

It seems like for a long time, it felt like we didn't really have a lot to do to prepare for this little guy to come.  I felt like I had a lot of stuff and wouldn't need to get much, and then as it got closer, my memory started coming back about some of the essentials I feel like I need with a newborn.  So I started ordering things on Amazon, our friends threw a really sweet couples shower for us and family and friends have sent gifts and I am feeling much more prepared! 

 

We never did a "nursery" for Brenner.  He was in our room for a long time, and then had a crib in our guest room.  The 3rd room in our house was never re-done like the rest of our house.  We had switched out all the trim in our house to white and painted every room, except in this one.  So we decided to use this as an excuse to actually finish this room.  Travis did an amazing job putting up a chair rail and white trim and I painted and we love how it came together!  Brenner still sleeps in a crib in this room, so even though it says Micah on the wall, it's kind of Brenner's room for the time being.  Micah will be in our room for a while, and when we're ready to move him to this room, we'll move Brenner in with Kameron.

 

This is me at 37 weeks.

We decided that we wanted to cloth diaper again.  I loved doing it with Kameron, and did for a while after Brenner was born.  But when I had 2 little guys in diapers for over a year, it was just really hard to keep up with all the laundry they created and I was happy if I could just stay on top of diaper changes!  So I went back to disposables and just had never gotten back into cloth diapering.  I get strangely excited about cute diapers, so this is the stash that I have for Micah!  I can't wait for him to be born so I can start using them.  :)

Our small group threw a couples shower for us and we had so much fun.  A couple people had put together little "survival" kits for Travis as well with things like beer, earplugs, coffee gift cards, etc.  It was so much fun just to celebrate Micah's arrival.  Being the 3rd child, it's just so different than the 1st time.  Thankfully we have a lot of friends and family that are VERY excited about him arriving, but it was fun to actually have a little party to celebrate our new son.  We feel so blessed to be given another child and loved having people pray over us and him and anticipate his arrival.

I don't really have a huge sweet tooth, but this pregnancy it is in full force!  I just want chocolate ALL the time!  One night I decided I really want chocolate covered strawberries and now it's hard for me not to have some every single night.  :)  After a few nights, I realized that I could save time and not melt the chocolate and just eat some strawberries and chocolate chips.  It's become my nightly obsession.  :)

Ready for labor

When we were pregnant with Kameron, Travis and I took a 12 week birth class and it was one of the best things we've ever done.  We learned so much about pregnancy and labor, and it was such a neat thing to get to do as a couple.  We used so much of that information when we were in labor with both Kameron and Brenner.

The woman who taught the class does refresher courses for people that are 3 hours and she'll come to your home.  So tonight, we had her over and we went over everything from the stages of labor, to comfort techniques, planning for if things don't go the way we've planned, etc.  It was SO good.  I was sad when it was over!!  I am one of those weird people who actually like labor and look forward to that process.  To me, it is just so amazing to bring a person into this world and is such a bonding thing for Travis and I to go through together.  I have no judgement for people that have babies at the hospital or decide to get drugs, it's just not the route that we've chosen to go.  I feel so blessed to have a husband that is 100% supportive of this, understands why it's important to me, it's important to him as well and now we get to do it again.  The plan is to have 2 of my best friends there as well and I am really praying that works out. 

Going through this refresher just made it so real for both of us that Micah really is going to be here very soon!  We can't wait!

Our first view of Micah!

For the past few months, Micah has been breech and we've been waiting for him to flip over.  At my last 2 appointments, the doctors were "pretty" sure he had flipped, but couldn't be confident, so they scheduled an ultrasound for this morning to make certain of his position.  The ultrasound confirmed that he was head down and we were SO happy!  We are planning on having him at the Birth Center in Bellingham, but had to be sure that he was head down to be able to do that. 

After she had checked his position, the tech asked if we would like a 4D shot of his face just for fun.  I was so excited!  We would never pay for a 4D ultrasound, but I think it's so amazing what they can see now with technology and of course wanted to see my baby!  We both think he looks a lot like Brenner, so we're anxious to see when he's born if he really does, or if it's just this shot.  He just looks so peaceful, content and perfect.  We can't wait to have him here with us. 

We are only 3 weeks away from our due date now!  In the beginning it always seems like you'll be pregnant forever, but now I can't believe that he's going to be here so soon.  This pregnancy has definitely been harder for different reasons, but I'm healthy and he's healthy and that's what matters.

When Kameron saw this picture come up on the big screen, he said, "That baby is all smashed in there!" 

Keeping us laughing

These boys keep us laughing all the time at the funny things they say.

Travis: "Kameron, mommy and daddy need to go get massages, we're sore"
Kameron: "And Brenner and I could stay here with a baby-sitter?"
Me: "Couldn't you just baby-sit Brenner?"
Kameron: "No way!"
Me:  "Why not?"
Kameron:  "Because if you guys left, I wouldn't have a car to leave!"
Not quite the answer I was expecting!

Me: "When the baby is born, he'll sleep in mommy and daddy's room"
Kameron:  "No, he'll sleep in my bed"
Brenner:  "No, he'll sleep in my crib"
Kameron:  "No, he'll sleep in my bed so when he needs a bath, I can take him to the bath tub"
Brenner:  "No!  He's too little and will flush down the drain!"  (In a VERY worried tone!)