40 weeks...or Something Like That...

So, today is my Kaiser assigned due date. I've already started to think they are a joke. Probably because I'm super regular so I know my cycle lasts 5 days longer than the average 28 days all medical offices use to assign said due dates. And I've told them this several times, but they don't seem to care. My new doctor, whom I met with this week, actually took the time to switch my date to September 2nd {this Friday} which I'm so thankful for. No use having them breathe down my neck, whispering 'induction' when really I know I have more time. :) In addition, Ezra was 10 days late from this standardize due date and a whole whopping 6 pounds, 15 ounces...a real chunk for being so late, huh? As long as everything checks out clear, I'm happy to continue to grow this little one, if he needs it. 

{40 weeks-ish}

I realized this fact at my appointment when my doctor said she could help things get going if I wanted. The technical term is "stripping the membranes" which is like taking off the wire cage thingy to a champagne bottle-- basically making the cork come off much easier. Same with potentially getting labor to start by swiping the area with a finger, and with Ezra, it's basically what kick-started my labor. There was no looking back after that...contractions just steadily grew in length and intensity from then on. So, when she suggested it, I actually panicked a bit. Um, you mean, I could start laboring now?! And like, have him? Nah, I could use some more time. Really, no rush. Let's wait until at least next week. I've been telling everyone how tired and uncomfortable I am and how ready I am to get him out. But clearly, when rubber hits the road, I'm okay with waiting it out a bit longer. Too funny!

I was happy to hear that I'm already 2 cm and he's already dropped to being inside my pelvis {station -1; baby delivers at station +3}. Clearly, signs of a second birth since last time I was at 0 dilation and station -2. All that to say, my body seems to be working this whole thing out on its own. And I'm totally cool with that--just going to let it do its thing.

Somehow I've avoided the major puffiness I had last time in the last few weeks. Not sure how that works out since it's been so much hotter this time. I'm definitely getting more lower back pain which is also a sign of contractions. And I've gained the exact same amount of weight: 35 pounds. Guess it doesn't matter how many sweets you eat or don't eat-- the gain is the same. ;) I'll remember that for future pregnancies! 

Well, are we ready?! Everything is in its place, including the car seat, as of yesterday. W plans to work through this week and then take a break for family time...which he would anyway since he'll start his auditing job next month. I'm still tutoring here and there because I feel bad about leaving him when he's just starting school again. And the rest of what's on our 'to-do' list isn't really that important.

Boy's got some great dates to select from that his birthday could share:
September 1st- when W asked me to be his wife
September 10th- when W asked me to his girlfriend

September 11th- 11 weeks apart from his cousin, Caedmon, also born in 2011
September 5th- and of course, how humorous to labor on Labor Day

So, I guess... less talk, and more labor action, please! ;)

Capturing The End of Three

The evening shoot was a bit hard..it was past E's bedtime and he was just over it. Nothing that a little bribery couldn't handle. Smarties and goofy assistants sure helped! But we were still able to capture some great moments. And seriously, canNOT wait to get these order, framed, and hung before I'm in recovery. The Shutterfly deal I got in my e-mail is a great motivator too.

{this would be one of the Smarties pics--he's chomping away! :)}

W and E took a break from pics to look at some ducks in the water. Jessi got some great shots of them hanging out.

That's right-- we're so close to fully experiencing the 'plus two' now!! EEEK!

Maternity Shoot

One item on my loooong, forever growing 'to-do' list was to get some maternity and family pictures done before Boy arrives. The last pics we've taken together was waaay back in November for our Christmas cards. We've ALL changed a ton since then. ;) I was a bit out of luck because our go-to girl, Meghan, has been out of the country for the year and told me she'd be back on Sept 8th. Just not going to work with a due date of August 31st...even if I'm preparing to go late.

So, I had to do a bit of brainstorming. Several months ago, I ran into a friend who I traveled to Haiti with in the summer of 2007 and funny enough, have known since I was like 7. She is such a sweetheart and an amazing photographer. While we were catching up, I asked about how her business was going. She works for a local photography company, but also does stuff on her own. I was randomly reminded of our conversation a few weeks ago and gave her call last minute. I booked the shoot with her during the week her twin sister was getting married and got the photos a few days after her maid-of-honor duties. Jessi is that awesome!

We did a mid-morning maternity shoot in our bedroom and then we got together again in the evening, after W got home from work, to get some family ones. She gave me over 100 beautifully edited pictures so I'm just forced to post the family ones tomorrow! I apologize in advance for the picture overload! :) Not only do I love our bedroom now, but it was also great to capture it before this past weekend of newborn-supply-overload. Let's just say that I'm glad these pictures capture what it once looked like before Pampers, chux pads, burp clothes, blankets, and oneies threw up all over it.

Here's a bit of what Jessi captured during the morning...

And a few of my favs of Ezra...he was such a ham!

Time In the Garden

 We spent some time during a morning this week in the Moogs' garden. It is the perfect, peaceful little space for two kiddos and Mamas.

{I love that they both have bed-head hair-do's.}

Great way to start the day!

Saturday Morning Pancakes...

Pretty much a weekly habit.

All the eggs are gone by then.

And whatever bananas leftover from the week are browned and mushy.

Perfect for a Saturday morning tradition!

Dinner Time

Some of the others habits we've got going on surround dinner time. In fact, from about 5:30 on, our evenings are as predictable as Monday mornings coming after Sunday evenings. There are a few 'musts' that happen during dinner and if either one of us forgets, E is always there to remind us.

{music fingers}

One of which being Pandora. We will typically play music from the time final dinner touches are being made, table is being set...all the way until Papa and E go into his room for prayers, reading, and getting into bed. For dinner, we play our "Jesus Music" or "Children's Jesus Music" stations depending on our moods. Caedmon's Call, Chris Rice, and Chris Tomlin make great dinner company. And we've since discovered this guy named Justin Roberts who does great, silly renditions of Bible stories for kids. A bit too catchy if you ask us though, because you'll hear us singing phrases throughout the day. We also love playing "Walt Disney Soundtracks" post-meal, pre-bed--think Mary Poppins, Lion King, Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beauty...we happen to like the classics. Or maybe we're just able to get away with being old school still since our kid isn't old enough to watch movies yet.

The other habit we have for dinner time is reading through this mini book set. I cannot for the life of me remember who gave us this set at E's shower, but we are happily putting it to good use.

W will read through a story while we eat and E loves it. And they are small enough to sit on the cabinet next to our dinner table.

What are some dinner rhythms that are specific to you, either from growing up or with your families now? I'm always curious to learn how others do it because it's such an important time and can be so different, depending on each family's needs.

Fresh Farmers Flowers

Perhaps I should unofficially title this week's posts: "Habits and Rhythms of Our Family". For some reason, be it all the Waldorf/Montessori books I've consumed recently that emphasize natural family routines for kids or the fact that I would love to document the habits we've fallen into as a family of three before they inevitably get interrupted and adjusted with the coming of a fourth--all the post ideas I have for this week stem from our normal, non-exciting, daily/weekly rhythms. Some have developed intentionally while others have just come about and work really well for our family.

Yesterday I mentioned our weekly trips to the library and our daily reading, today is about my summer habit of purchasing wild flowers at the Farmer's Market. I used to buy them every so often, on a whim, but they were normally the assorted bundles, like the kind you can buy at a store. At the start of this summer I tried something new: purchasing the simple wild flowers that came in large bundles for a few bucks. One $3 bundle can be divided into at least 3 different large Mason jars or vases so I can scatter them about the house.

Typically there is one is our dining area and living area, one on our dresser or in the master bathroom, and occasionally I put a small one on E's kiddie table for him to enjoy. I really would love to get some indoor house plants, but since we haven't been to a nursery, this is the next best thing! The flowers will last the whole week and by the time next Saturday rolls around, I purchase another bundle.

This week, I even bought some Mums for a whole $4 in addition to my normal bundle. Living on the edge as a big spender.{still need to spray paint that lantern!}

This will suffice until we get a garden going or get some indoor plants. For a few bucks a week, I love bringing the outdoors in and enjoying some pretty flowers!

The 'Ow' Book

Every week or so, the Swenson family hits up the local library. Sometimes we get crazy and walk there multiple times in a week. But for E, we check out a new set of four or five books once a week. It's a bit hard to rummage through the stacks of picture books with the criteria in mind: attractive pictures, not too many words per page, but still has a central story line, and is on a topic he likes. Mostly, these books surround his current interests: fire trucks, cats, dogs, babies, etc. I'm still hoping to come across some bike or motorcycle ones..although I should probably just to do a specific research for them.  This is all while trying to watch him while he's in the play area.

Throughout the week, we typically read the books once in the morning right when he wakes up and we jump back in our bed with him snuggled in on Papa's side {which can buy me up to a whole additional hour of laying in bed}. And after naptime or right before dinner; along with his puzzles. He picks out which ones we read so right away I know if I've made a good selection or not that week. One of his favorite books from the library to date is this book:

Please Take Me For A Walk

By Susan Gal

It's about a pup who desperately wants to go for a walk as he shares all the dog-happy things he'll be able to do while on the walk. The pictures are made from charcoal and digital collages-- very rich and eye-catching. The author also clearly sets the story in her Berkeley neighborhood during the fall, which is fun too.Yes, that means complete with smart cars in the street and Mac computers at the cafe.

Well, this library book is now officially ours and is also officially known as the "Ow" book. E was 'reading' through it on his own one afternoon several weeks ago and happened to rip out a few pages from the binding as well as rip a page right down the center. I was able to tape the torn page, but still haven't tried to get the others back near the binding. 

We went the following week to notify the library and discovered that they have done away with the 'replace on your own' program. Basically, you have to just pay for the book AND a processing fee. Awesome, huh? I thought libraries weren't for profit?! Prior to the 'defacement' incident, I was actually going to hop on Amazon and buy a copy for E, he loved it so much. Welp, he does, in fact, have his very own {partial} copy for $21 now.  BUT he still picks it out to read every day and will repeatedly say "Ow" as we approach the torn page and the two pages I've shoved in the back until I tape them back to the binding. So, in part we're getting some money's worth. Yeesh.

Needless to say, we'll be keeping library book reading as a joint activity until he's a bit older. And he'll be sticking to board books on his own.

Del Valle Lake

We hit up a bucket list item this week: Lake Del Valle. W had heard good things about it and I don't think I've ever been. Funny how you can live so close to things and never experience them.

We had some lunch...

Then got to playing on the beach and in the water!

We also played some more Frisbee, with balls, and enjoyed the shade!

Only a few more weeks as a family of three!!

A Day At GG Park

The Swensons played hookie from work and chores on Monday. Well, I should preface that with: we worked hard over the weekend to continue to clean/organize the house and complete projects. We were ready for an afternoon of fun.

One of the few things I told W I wanted  to do before baby comes was spend more time at GG Park. So, when he had Monday off, we decided to head into the city. My girlfriend, Stefany, had just recently told me about the children's play area and we were hoping to check it out.

We grabbed some lunch at my favorite sandwich shop and drove in. The weather was perfect and after parking, we found a spot on the grass to meal and play a little Frisbee. Can I just say here, that I've told W that we won't be doing a summer baby again {if we could help it}, but I would totally be pregnant during the summer if we lived in the city. It was the perfect temperature!

Afterward playing in the grass, we made our way over to the huge park area. I let the boys be boys while I snapped some pictures.

I loved that E totally fit into the crowd of kids with his long hair. We even saw a little one sportin' some dreads. But none of this came close to the joy E had over the wet sand pit. Since we weren't quite prepared for a water feature {read: no change of clothes or towel}, we stripped him down before letting him loose.

Seriously, loved every moment of it...squealing and shrieking in delight. Such a water kid! See that diaper? Completely full of sand and water by the end.

 We had to call it quits when the diaper broke and the insides started to leak out. After a quick change on the hood of the car and back into clothes, we ended the day with a carousal ride. 

 Such a wonderful day that totally hit the spot!