40 Weeks

Here we are. We have reached the 40 week mark as of today! I feel as though I've accomplished something big. I have a bad habit of not finishing tasks. For example, I'll read a book up until the last chapter or two and then decide I have something better to do, or I'll start a crafty project and never finish it. Even with Roman's pregnancy, I only made it to 38 weeks.

But this, oooh this. I've finished it!

Today is my due date, and while yesterday I was pretty sure I was in the early stages of labor, today I don't know what to think. I definitely feel very different than I did on Thursday, but I don't know how this spontaneous labor thing works. I'm having contractions; they're not painful like I remember with Roman, but they do wrap around to my back and after my stomach relaxes then I have some back pain. My tail bone is killing me at this very second, but that's my only complaint. I had my 40 week doctors visit yesterday and am dilated to 3 so that's better than nothing! Isn't 4cm considered 'active labor'? I remember what being at a 4 with Roman felt like and it's nothing like this. Praise the Lord for that!

Anyway.

We are anxiously awaiting Baby's arrival, hoping and praying it's not too much longer. I'm ready to get this show on the road and meet sweets and tell you all his name. :) Send your baby having vibes my way.

Have a great weekend!

-s

Roman

If I could stop time right now and keep you like this forever, I think I would seriously entertain the idea. You are the most amazing little creature and bring me so much joy. I can't believe you are a mere four months from being two years old, and to be honest, it breaks my heart just a little bit because it means you are getting older and leaving your baby ways behind and entering a new phase of your sweet little life. This is my absolute favorite part thus far in our journey together. You are a pretty stand up little man. 

I love the way you talk. You talk all the time, saying so many words and understanding so much more. A few of my favorite things you say are: 'mimi's hooouuuuuuse', 'oh-day' (a more recent form of okay), when asked what a turtle says you respond with 'dooooood', 'noooose on' is what you say when you want to watch the news with me in the morning. Dada loves it when you say 'mimi's hoooouuuuuse' the most, but some of his other favorites are: 'oh oh (for okay), and 'oh joose'. Everyone and anyone who comes into contact with you is immediately impressed at how well you communicate. We're always hearing, 'Wow, he talks so well!', and 'I can't believe how well he speaks!' We're very proud of you!

Tapping into your inner boy is a huge part of you these days. Throwing things, playing with cars, trains, and tractors, climbing on everything, wrestling with dad, playing with sticks, being outside, dancing, and punching your lion (it has water in the base and comes back up right away after you give it a one, two) are just a few things on your daily agenda. We play with Play-Doh and your favorite 'game' is connect four. I was so impressed by your hand-eye coordination the first time you played. You just figured it out right away! I'm also amazed at how mild tempered you are, just letting things roll off your back. It's pretty hard to say no to you. You have this way with your face and looking at me that makes me melt. I love how I'm such a sucker for you. Though you may be becoming more of a boy's boy, you are so very sweet. I still rock you to sleep at night, 'cause that's how we roll. You have the sweetest most tender heart and every time you wrap your arms tightly around my neck it feels like the world stops and it's just the two of us. 

You currently love scarfing down 'boo boo's' (blueberries) and marshmallows. Some of your other favorite foods happen to be pasta, bagels, almond milk, hot dogs, french fries, broccoli, and corn on the cob---which is the only suitable way of eating corn, if you ask me. 

You are going to become a big brother very soon, and though you may not fully understand what's about to happen I know you will be the best big brother out there. We went and got you a very special book about big brothers and we've already read it about 30 times upon your request. I cannot wait to see how you step into your new role. It's bittersweet for sure, but you're going to rock at it. 

You have carved out a whole in my heart that only you can fill. You, Roman, are my firstborn and that is a very special thing. We have this incredible bond that only you and I can have. Lucky us, 'cause it's dang amazing. 

love, 

your mama

S'more please

Sorry about the horrible lack of blogging the last couple weeks. My mind has been elsewhere. It's been on organizing pretty much everything I can to get ready for Baby. We have just 5 short days until my due date, though I think I'll be going into August...which part of me is okay with. I'm savoring these last few days with my delicious little man.

Friday I decided to take Roman on a date. One last one before his world is rocked...just mama and him. We started out with toddler time at the library. He loves it there, primarily because of Dewey Bear.

Roman is soo into bears lately. It's hilarious. The second we got there and he laid his big blue eyes on that just-as-tall-as-him brown bear he was trying to figure out a way to get him in his arms. As soon as the librarian put Dewey Bear on the floor he started inching closer and closer and closer, until the approval happened. Victory. He carried that bear around for the entire 20 minutes. They sat together, stood together, walked around together. But as soon as it was time to give Dewey back, Romans heart just broke. I had to carry him out of the room with raisin sized tears streaming down his face.

We quickly recovered and headed to part two of our date. Burgies Cafe for a smoothie and a bagel. Yum.

I love it when he's super affectionate. He wrapped one arm around my neck and stayed that way virtually the whole time we ate or snacks. Swoon.

After we snacked I had a chiropractors appointment we went to and we finished the date off with some fries and McDonalds. What a lucky little dude. By the time we headed home it was two o'clock...we squeezed a baby doctor appointment in there too...we were both in need of naps, and so nap we did, and it was splendid. 

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Saturday Jeff and I headed to Des Moines for some married couple time. It was fantastic! We stayed at the Renaissance Savery hotel on the top floor, no less, and enjoyed some time just the two of us. We definitely needed it, though it is so hard for this mama to not think about her little boy when she's not around him. When we got there we walked around downtown to see if there was anything that caught our eye to explore. Not really, so we just walked and talked and held hands. Sigh, love. :)

We headed to WDM and ate at the new restaurant Bang Bang Mongolian Grill which is the same idea as HuHot. It was delicious. Jeff went back for thirds...the man had three dinners. Gotta get the most for your money. We headed back downtown and I, of course, needed some chocolate, so we headed to Legends on Court Ave. Let me tell you, I got so many looks from people it was hilarious. I did feel a little out of place being nine months pregnant, a week from my due date, strolling the streets of Court Ave at 9pm, but hey, pregnancy cravings call and when they do you answer! We enjoyed our two chocolate cakes and went back in the direction of the hotel, only to be lured by a lovely water fountain in which we sat and talked about the birth of this Baby, what we want our family to look like, our current fears, etc... It was a very productive evening. After sitting there for a half hour or so we went back to our room and fell asleep to the movie Grand Torino. Clint Eastwood is awesome in that film. Seriously. 

(how lame am I....didn't take one photo of our night out.)

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This morning we came home, snuggled our RomanBells, read some books, played with Play-Doh, ate lunch, napped and headed off to our Connection Group social. :)  Some good ole fashion bbq-ing with great friends. Roman had his first taste of a s'more, without the chocolate, of course. 

The night ended dramatically. :) An overly tired toddler + no real food in stomach + bath night + red, sore little butt = lots of crying and patience testing and put yourself to sleeping tonight. It is now peaceful and quiet and I'm soaking it in. Tomorrow is Monday, and I'm growing to sort of despise that day of the week. It steals our Dada away from us and we love our Dada. But who knows, maybe tomorrow will be the day Baby decides or come. :) For now, goodnight and happy week!

Today's Obsession

I was blog stalking earlier and found this photo from this site. And now I want this table and chairs (and centerpiece) in my house. Badly. Ah, creative inspiration. I.Love.It.

Move over Chi

I have found the best flat iron to ever. I discovered it this past winter, acutally, when my Mother-In-Law wanted me to grab her a Chi flat iron. The beauty store I went to didn't carry Chi, but they do carry the ghd. Sounds like a drug, doesn't it? :)

You'll totally be addicted to it after you've tried it. Here are some features from their website: 

• Latest heat technology 
• Even heat distribution to maximize smooth styling results
• Sleek and stylish black 1" plates
• Tangle free 9' swivel cord 
• 30 minute auto shut off for safety and peace of mind
• Universal voltage -perfect for traveling
• 2 year warranty

 What that doesn't say is that the plates have a computer chip in them that detects the porosity of your hair and will never heat over what your hair can handle, therefore, you don't have to worry much about it overheating and breaking- both your hair and the iron. It works on every kind of hair from my little sister's African American hair, to my European just-need-to-tame-the-fly-aways locks. :) The return rate on these is something like 2% vs the Chi which is I think around 35%. Oh, and bonus- it takes all of 20 seconds to get hot! The only thing about it is that it does cost more than others out there. I think retail it goes for around $225. However, lucky you who know me, because I can get it for you at my cost if you want, which is about $110. So if you're sick of yours and want to make a great investment in some great hair let me know and I'd be happy to help you out!

xo

-s

Swoon

We recently had our family photos taken. I wanted to get them taken before Baby gets here so we can remember this special time with just the three of us, plus one last 'mommy and me' for Roman and me before his world is rocked. I cannot tell you enough how badly you need to hire Danny Vasquez to take your family's photos, or business photos, or landscape photos or whatever photos you need taken. He is just incredible. The way he captures real life is amazing. I love more natural photos. Posed ones (for the most part) look so forced. Of course, we decided to have them taken on the hottest, most humid day this summer so far; we were pretty much standing in our own little puddles of sweat. Regardless, the photos are fantastic and here are some of my favorites. 

Thank you so much, Danny! We treasure your friendship and talent! 
xoxo
-s