The Bump - 32 weeks

32 weeks tomorrow! I was able to get to yoga twice this week, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.  My sciatic is not agreeing with me (or the weight of a baby pressing on it), so the extra stretching has been so helpful.  I'm so lucky to have a husband that not only provides for me to stay at home, but doesn't mind that I have to hire a babysitter to get myself out of the house a couple times a week.  Lucky me! 

31 Weeks!

With all of the distraction from the big move and the end of the school year, my pregnancy seems to be progressing so fast! I am amazed that I've already passed the 31 week mark. I am still feeling great, especially now that we are in this gorgeous weather and I'm trying to finish things up in the nursery. Baby Charlie has officially started the alien-movement stage, and I just love watching him lazily roll around and stretch my stomach into interesting shapes.

Obviously, because of the move, I had to find a new hospital and doctor. Thanks to the recommendations of Internet strangers and their blogs, I chose a midwifery practice that delivers babies at a hospital in Portland (about 30 min from us). This hospital offers water births, which sounded like the perfect option for me. I had my first appointment with the midwives this week, and I LOVED them! I am so happy to get to experience this kind of care. I also liked my ob, but my appointments barely lasted 5 minutes. This appointment was 45 minutes long - the midwife spent so much time just getting to know me and talking about all of the aspects of my pregnancy, thus far. I left feeling like I had made a new friend :-) She even sent me off with some restaurant recommendations to try and get to before baby Charlie joins us. I'll be seeing a lot of them, since my appointments are now every 2 weeks. The end is certainly creeping up! Hope we are ready for what is soon to come!

We Made It!

It is hard to believe all that has transpired in the last two weeks.  Carter and I wrapped up the end up the school year - he had a fun water day and pizza party with his class to celebrate his "graduation" from pre-K, and I spent lots of time packing up odds and ends in my classroom, readying it for the next teacher.  It was bittersweet... I LOVED teaching at Camelview (for a 3rd time!) and I will really miss the friends I have made there over the past 7 years, but I am filled with excitement over my next job... just being MOM.  I am so glad to be able to devote more time to Carter, without lesson planning and work stress nagging at me.  Today, we made a big list of everything we could think of that we could do to keep busy at home this summer, and we spent the afternoon racing cars around the kitchen floor.  Fun stuff!

I was so proud of how well he did on the drive up to Vancouver.  We managed to get here a day ahead of schedule... with only a couple meltdowns (to be expected on such a long journey!).  We were both so happy to be able to spend that time with Grandma.  It is going to be hard not seeing her everyday, after staying with her and Granddad for the past 8 weeks.  Every new adventure has drawbacks, and missing them is a big one.

Once we got to our new home, we were greeted by Daddy and Nana.  We are so blessed to have Chris's mom be so thoughtful that she came ahead of Carter and I to help Chris unpack boxes and start setting up the house.  By the time we arrived, pictures had been hung, furniture had been assembled, and there was minimal work for this big, pregnant momma to continue!  Thank goodness!

So far, the drizzly rain and on-and-off grey skies have been lovely and refreshing.  My ankles are SO thankful for this cooler weather... they are back to normal size now!  Carter is learning how to time his outside play around the weather, and has had a blast playing basketball with his new big-boy hoop.  He even has a new best-bud down the street to hang out with.  Life is good - and I'm certain it'll only get better :)

Setting Up House

Last weekend was my very first trip to our new home.  It was fabulous!  The rain was refreshing, and the clean air was just what I imagined.  Chris did a fantastic job choosing our new home and neighborhood.  Everything I’m used to having - the conveniences of good grocery stores, quick meal places, and my regular Target-Kohls-Michaels-etc - are all within a very short drive.  The neighborhood itself is just crawling with kids.  They all play out front, and the parents are friendly and welcoming.  I couldn’t have picked it better myself!

Since I was only there for the weekend, I had to be focused.  My first job was to unpack and organize the kitchen.  No matter how helpful Chris would have been, this is a job that MUST be done by the person who uses the kitchen the most... ME!  I’m happy to say that I was successful, and left him with a perfectly organized kitchen when I returned back to Phoenix.  If only the same could be said for the rest of the house!

We have a lot to do once I arrive next week, but with the help of my mother-in-law, who will be visiting when I get there, I’m sure the boxes will nearly unpack themselves (don’t you wish your mother-in-law was so helpful?!).  The thing I’m most looking forward to?  Seeing Charlie’s crib set-up in the nursery.  Can’t wait!

Our New House

I have to admit - Chris had a pretty tough job this week.  He was on his own in Vancouver, WA (suburb of Portland), trying to find a home for us to move into.  Usually, this is something we would do together... and since we know I have no shortage of opinions, I would have obviously made the "right" choice clear to him.  But this time, I wasn't there - I couldn't give my opinion on neighborhoods or yards.  I have been pretty much limited to a few Craigslist pictures and Google maps info.  Not ideal.  I am so very lucky that Chris was up to the task.  He visited about 10 homes, and picked the perfect one for us.  It is in an awesome neighborhood - kids in nearly every house nearby, and the very best school in the city.  And, of course, there is a guest room - so start planning your trips, people!

Happy (Early) Birthday!

We celebrated Carter's 5th birthday on Saturday at Chuck E Cheese.  He was so lucky to have so many special people there - Gigi (Great-Grandma Clariece), Nana, Grandma and Granddad, cousins, aunts, and lots of special friends.  Carter's excitement was nearly uncontainable - and so adorable!  As usual, he was spoiled by everyone - 3 wii games, board games, gift cards, and a new pack of gum - lucky boy!  We are so blessed to have such special people to share our lives with.  It sure is hard to leave.

Too Cute!

Some people choose cloth diapers so they can avoid putting chemicals on their baby's bum.  Others make this choice to reduce the 5000+ diapers that will enter our landfills because of disposable diapers.  But me? Yeah, I think both of those reasons are pretty important... but my favorite reason?  Have you seen cloth diapers and covers?  There is seriously nothing cuter to put on your baby.  And that was reason enough to convince me!

Want to see my latest arrivals?  Here are two darling diaper covers from SweetVioletsMama on Etsy.

This cover is upcycled from wool and cashmere sweaters - reborn as a diaper cover.

This cute animal print cover is made out of fleece - perfect to keep leaks away!

Yep - our baby's bottom is going to be the cutest one you have ever seen!