Wildlife Ranch

We're taking advantage of the beautiful weather and what little time we have left as a family of three and spending quality time together. We went to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in New Braunfels yesterday and then to Landa Park for a little train ride by the water.



























Tyler took a HUGE liking to this baby goat and started calling him his 'best friend.' He even got teary-eyed as we were leaving because he didn't give the goat a hug and kiss good-bye. We had to go back. haha.








Train ride at Landa Park




It was a perfect day for this!


Lunch at the San Marcos River Pub and Grill

Just waitin'

I know I still have about six weeks to go, but I think I'm ready to get this baby show on the road! Aside from just feeling incredibly big and uncomfortable, (which is making me practically count the minutes until our little girl's due date), everything in the house is set and ready for her arrival. Nursery is complete, cradle is ready to go in our room, changing table has been reorganized to accommodate the baby and Tyler, all clothes/blankets have been washed and put away, all odds and ins have been purchased, Tyler/baby sister gifts to each other have been purchased, hospital checklist is ready, and nesting/organizing is done! We're ready!

It's pretty entertaining to think of how things were when I had six weeks left to go with Tyler. Our house was a complete disaster, we didn't have his nursery furniture yet and I was still driving my sporty Eclipse and car shopping for something more mommy-suited. We have pretty much redone every single thing in our house over the last 4 1/2 years, but these remodel photos are what was happening 5-6 weeks before Tyler's due date. It's absolutely crazy when I think back!

Our kitchen was completely updated: Travis had to do all the demo work first and then we did new counter tops, new appliances, fixtures, back splash and had our cabinets stained. It took several weeks to get this complete and throughout that time, we had no counters, no sink, stove or microwave and all of our dishes, etc. were stored in the dining room. Can you imagine not having a working kitchen for two weeks right before having a baby?! We replaced all the carpet in our house, Travis was redoing our fireplace, and we were finishing the master bath complete remodel (you can see some of the tape, etc. in the previous post of my 35 belly shot with Tyler).

Here are some of the pics I dug up:

(carpet replacement)




(fireplace before)


(fireplace remodel in progress)


(fireplace today)


(after Travis did the demo of counter tops and back splash in kitchen)






(no sink!)


(counter tops were installed, all dishes, etc. were removed and everything was taped off in preparation for cabinet staining)








(the one lonely piece of furniture we had in the living room)


(kitchen prior to move-in)


(kitchen today with all updates)




As you can see, it was a lot of chaos!! :-) It's a completely different calm this time around and I've enjoyed getting organized and actually being able to nest! One day I'll get around to posting pictures of all our remodel projects because they are pretty cool to look at. Sometimes I wonder why we didn't just build a house since we've literally redone everything inside/outside of this one.... next time, I guess. :-)

30/32/34 week Pregnancy check-up

These last trimester appointments come so frequently and are usually pretty uneventful with just quick weigh-ins and a quick general check, but I still enjoy going and being able to hear that little heart beating for 10 seconds or so. :-) We've been so busy and I didn't post about my 30 week check-up (or take a picture), although, like I said... it was really uneventful. Baby's heart beat was in the 140s and I measured exactly on schedule at 30 weeks. My glucose testing came back normal and we signed up to donate my cord blood through the Texas Cord Blood Bank.

My appointments got off track a little and my 32 week appointment was scheduled for Friday the 4th (when I was actually 33 weeks), but that appointment was cancelled due to our snow day/bad weather and rescheduled for this past Wednesday (at 33 1/2 weeks). As a result, we're skipping the scheduled 34 week appointment and my next one will be at 36 weeks. Catch all that?? It feels like we're really on a count down now! The days/weeks are flying by. This last appointment was even more uneventful than the one before. Doctor S. said everything was great and I am measuring right as I should. Baby's heart rate was in the 160's today and she wouldn't stay still for two seconds. Tyler's heart rate was always in the 160's and as his space became more cramped and he was supposed to be less active because of it, he actually became more active! Our little girl is constantly moving these days and I'm really starting to doubt my thoughts on having a calm baby as we're getting closer to the end. I'm starting to think she's going to be a mini-Tyler and give us a good run for our money! Oh boy!

I'm feeling well, just really tired these days as I still have bad insomnia and can't get comfortable to save my life. If I had to guess, I would say that baby girl is definitely in the head down position and getting prepared to make her debut. I have been feeling an incredible amount of pressure and anytime I go from a sit to standing position, I race to the bathroom. While most women are complaining about 'waddling' at this point, I am quite the opposite. I have to walk slow with my legs close together for fear of a bathroom accident. Haha. The only pregnancy dream that I have had so far was that the baby came four weeks early and was 5 1/2lbs. At this point, I'm starting to wonder.........

34 week belly picture~ total weight gained 24lbs


comparison with Tyler: 35 week belly picture~

Snow Day!

Can't believe we've had a snow day two years in a row!! This snow day was a little different than the wet/icy slush we had last year... we actually had snow! It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to get out and play in for a bit. Tyler is like his momma, and when he got too cold and decided he was done... he was done(!) and we then enjoyed seeing the ground covered in white from INSIDE our warm and cozy house. :-)