Pre-Baby Checklist

Already Done:
4 weeks of lesson plans
2 weeks of copies for school
Christmas decorations
Wrapped all the presents I have
Packed Sierra's hospital bag
Washed and put away Sierra's clothes
Washed and put away Sierra's diapers (planning to use cloth again)
Installed Sierra's car seat (actually I just didn't uninstall it the last time I used it while babysitting)
Set up changing station in our bedroom (I use this when my babies are little and still sleeping in my room. Also I'll use it during the afternoon when Jordanna is napping in the girls' room.)
Made several meals for the freezer

To Do:
2 more weeks of copies for school
Wrap the rest of the presents that are still to be shipped
Shop for stocking stuffers
Finish addressing Christmas cards (about halfway finished)
Finish packing my hospital bag
Put bassinet part into Pack N' Play (I can't actually do this yet until I finish babysitting)
Leave instructions about the care and feeding of the big three kids
Go to two baby showers
Host Jordanna's birthday party

What am I forgetting?

My Shopping Buddy

I dragged Alexa around on errands with me Saturday morning. Since they were mostly boring errands (glasses adjustment, new tights for church, copies for school, etc.), we also stopped at Starbucks and got her a cake pop and a "coffee" (steamed milk with a splash of vanilla and a splash of coffee).

Let the Season Begin

After a yummy Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house on Thursday, we put up all the Christmas decorations on Friday. November 25th felt a bit early (and a bit warm outside) to be putting up the tree, but with all that is left to do before Sierra is born, I was glad to get it out of the way.

Through The Eyes of Children

I pulled out the camera last night to take a picture of my crazy Alexa.
And then she wanted to take some pictures, so I let her take a few. And of course Caleb had to get in on it, too. Here are some of the ones they took.

Jordanna and the Babies

We attended a get together today at Molly's house with several women and children from our church. Jordanna LOVED getting to see all the babies (despite her lack of smile in this picture). Just a few more weeks until we have another baby to line up for a picture!

Jammie Day

Well, almost. I had planned for us to have a lazy, jammie day today. Jordanna was sick, it was pouring down rain, and we had nowhere to go. Anyway, when I tried to give Jordanna Advil this morning, she spit it out everywhere, necessitating a bath and a change of clothing. When Miss Fashion Queen, Alexa, saw that her sister was dressed, she wanted to get dressed too. She came down in this corduroy jumper with tights on, but no shirt. I insisted that she put a shirt on underneath it although it was hot enough in my house to turn the air on today, so she probably wouldn't have been cold, just goofy looking. Caleb and I managed to stay in our jammies all day although I did change into a clean pajama shirt after the aforementioned Advil incident. And just for good measure, here are my cuties playing with our math blocks.

My Beautiful Girlies

Jordanna and Alexa ready for church yesterday

35 Weeks

Pregnancy Week 35: All About Baby

At 35 weeks, your baby is considered full-term and she looks developed, however, The March of Dimes considers babies born up to 36 weeks as "late preterm" babies born before 38 weeks are at a higher risk for feeding difficulty and other issues. It is important for you and your baby to be monitored closely by your pediatrician and/or lactation consultant. The soft, fuzzy hairs that once covered her body begin to disappear. She continues to add fat layers, which will help her stay warm once she's out of the womb. During these last weeks, your baby is developed sleeping patterns (and they often have little to do with night and day!)

How Big Is Baby?

Your baby weighs in a little over 5 pounds and stretches to around 18 inches (crown to heel).

Daddy-Daughter Day

My mom normally keeps the girls on Tuesdays while Caleb and I go to school, but she was sick this week. So Dave stayed home to take care of them. He took them to the park in the morning, and it looks like they had a fun time!

Poor Boy

Caleb woke up Sunday morning with the beginnings of a rash on his face (which for the record was the 3rd Sunday in a row that one of our kids had some sort of mystery disease). Sunday night, a pediatrician friend at church confirmed that it was probably poison ivy or something of the sort. So, Monday morning, I dragged everyone to Publix to get some cortizone and calamine, which I proceeded to doctor him with on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night, I noticed a bit of swelling, and by Wednesday morning, it looked like this. What you can't really tell in these pictures is that the whole side of his face is swollen.

I called Dr. Grammy, and she confirmed that a trip to the pediatrician was probably in order. Of course Wednesday is the day that I babysit an extra child, so I took all 4 kids to the doctor with me. They were great, though, and the doctor said he thought it was poison sumac (which is a vine) by the way the rash was snaking up his torso (which I didn't even know until he pulled up his shirt at the doctor). And it was infected. So we left with prescriptions for an antibiotic, oral steroids, and steroid cream. So then, I took 4 kids to Publix to get his prescriptions filled. They ate cookies, looked at the toys on the Christmas display, and played with my Ipod while we waited for his prescriptions to be filled, which fortunately were at no cost to us. His face looks A LOT better today, so I'm glad I took him in. Poor guy!

For Your Viewing Pleasure

The girls drinking "coffee" (hot milk with a splash of coffee) with Mommy.
Alexa pushing Jordanna in the big girl swing. Jordanna was SO proud of herself.

Artists at work.

Bedhead