Merry Easter (& some belly shots)

What an amazing (and very merry) day!!!  I've been off for the last week, and I can't think of a better way to end the vacation than today.  We woke up (EARLY) to see if the Easter Bunny came - he did!  And then went to church, and met some wonderful friends for brunch.  The girls decorated Easter Bonnets for the "Easter on Parade" event on Monument Avenue - it was the first time we've gone and it was a blast!  But REALLY hot... 90 here today!  Needless to say, their hats were a hit...  And since I haven't provided many good "belly" shots lately, there are a few below...

Have a great week - thankfully I have one more day off (Holy Monday - I love working for the church) to enjoy by myself tomorrow...

My beautiful Lu...

Dennis & Lucia before church

The Easter loot this morning from the bunny. 

Lu and me before church (and a bit of the belly shot)

Lucia & Natalie, modeling their Easter bonnets!

Supermodels, of course!  Work it girls...

The Moms (and my belly), "holding" the hats for the girls at the parade

Yellow and pink hair of course - their two favorite colors!!!

It's been a while...

3 weeks in fact since I last posted!  Yikes!  All is well here in VA... just chugging along and getting things ready for baby boy... not too much longer now.  Technically I'm 30 weeks pregnant, but I think he'll be coming a bit earlier than maybe my official due date - I'll find out early in May what my c-section date will be.  In the meantime, we just got back from a short 2-day trip to DC during Lucia's spring break which was really, really fun - but I am TIRED!  We walked, and walked, and walked... And I can't believe I used to be even 50 pounds heavier than I am now!  And at this point with Lucia, I was in the 290's, pushing 300 pounds.  Wow.  No wonder I was tired all the time!  I'm so thankful that I lost 80+ pounds before getting pregnant this time around - it has definitely made things easier.  I realize I haven't posted a "belly" shot in a while - here is one from Thursday, although you can't really see much - I'll see if I can get a decent one tomorrow before church for Easter and post it then.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and is enjoying their spring...

Den & Lu - Jefferson Memorial

Lu & Me - Lincoln Memorial

Den & Lu - Washington Monument in the background

Me & Lu - Jefferson Memorial

Mr. Peanut Head...

Nope, not Mr. Potato Head... but Lucia's little-brother-to-be!  Here are two face shots from my 7 month appointment today... pretty cool stuff!  Not sure about the nickname, but it could be worse!  He's right on track, weighing in at 2 pounds, 13 oz... right where Lucia was at this point apparently!  Technology has come a long, long way...

Lucia also picked out this "big sister" shirt... Let the sibling rivalry begin!

HORMONES SUCK!

Especially when you....

And that is all I have to say about that today.  Other than these crazy hormones and the resulting mood swings I am having today can go right on their merry way, preferrably sooner than later.

Happy Friday.

Oh how different the 2nd time around is...

Not too long now...!!!

Hi everyone - sorry for the absence, but I just haven't had a whole lot to report lately!  No news on the band front other than I can't wait to be 6 weeks post-op / post-birth because I am ready to have restriction!  This baby boy is getting BIG!  I'm interested to go in for my 7 month appointment on Monday and see how big he's measuring this time...  I'm kind of glad they are still considering me high-risk, since I get another ultrasound on Monday...  Last time I think I got two - this will be #6...  Plus, Monday is the big "gestational diabetes" test... hopefully all is okay with that this time around (no issues last time).  All in all I feel good - we had a bit of a scare last week, after a VERY long week at work and some leg swelling that I might have had a blood clot, but after going in for a doppler scan, we found out that I don't, so all is well.  Just a bad varicose vein that I've had forever that is exasperated a bit...  Basically some limited travel restriction, and feet up when possible.  I've never been so happy to know I could STILL go to work!

I've had quite a few people in the last few weeks either tell me that (a) I've popped (again), (b) that I must be glad I'm having that baby in a few weeks (yeah right - try 3 months) and/or (c) that I apparently must be expecting twins (sigh).  Ugh.  Oh well!  It's life - all I can do is laugh it off...  I'm up aboout 28 pounds... so I will end up gaining more this time than I did with Lucia, but my clothes all still fit - the growth is in the belly!  I can just see me 3 months from now - I'll be that mom whose maternity shirts don't reach the bottom of her belly and there is that 3 inch gap between the "panel" and the shirt...  I'll take pictures if that is the case!  It is interesting - I have a good part of my tummy that is still "loose" from the weight loss - not sure that will be filling out with baby anytime soon - and even Dennis said last night (in a very good, supportive way, mind you) that we may have to consider the "mommy makeover" (aka tummy tuck) post-baby to help with the excess skin.  Clearly the baby isn't going to be helping THAT aspect of the lapband surgery!

It is somewhat amusing to me how laid back I am on this trip down pregnancy lane this time around...  I was looking at my ticker the other day, and saw that if I go full term (which I am pretty sure I won't), that I have 92 days left.  Wow.  That seems soon!  And realistically, I think I probably have more like 11 weeks than 13 - and then I thought, "oh crap", I don't have much ready!...  So the last few days have been spent doing the following:

• calling and asking around to find a pediatrician since our primary care physician doesn't take kids under 5 (check - found a practice, now need to decide on a doc there... and they don't even want to meet us until after the baby is born - whatever... first time around I would have demanded a pre-appointment, this time, I'm relieved I don't have to find yet another hour in my day!)
• confirming that one of the few places we are on the list for in regard to childcare can take the baby sometime around Labor Day (One of them still says they can... guess I'd better come up with a plan B just in case something falls through.  Grandma Landolt???  You're retired after all...)
• Trying to figure out what we need in terms of baby "stuff" that we don't already have (I think the only thing right now I can determine is a new baby monitor, and only because I can't find the other half to the old one...)
• Trying to continue getting rid of stuff in the house (mainly girl stuff) to make room for more stuff (boy stuff)...  (Yard sale is a week from Saturday!)

I still have stuff to do though... including:

• we need to start narrowing down our baby name options - we are getting there, but we have decided that we aren't going to tell anyone until after we "meet" him and decide... let the opinions stay to themselves!
• need to paint the baby's room something other than pink which it currently is (scheduled for spring break in 3 weeks)
• personally I'd like my doctor to give me a c-section date, but I know that won't happen for a few months... doesn't she know I have things to plan?!?!? (sigh)
• And lots of other things that I keep forgetting because I can't remember jack lately.

It is amusing how far you come as a parent - honestly, I was such a wreck the first time - read every single book I could get my hands on... this time, I just don't want to know or be reminded of anything.  Occassionally when I have some weird feeling or symptom, I'll pop onto some website, but I can't say I've picked up any kind of baby book lately... although I did download a few random baby apps - but haven't used them much either.

At any rate, all is well - one more week 'till my 3rd trimester and then let the official count-down begin!