Connor's Here!

Well, I got pictures up sooner then I thought I would! My 2 boys just happen to both be sleeping and the same time, I should probably be sleeping to but I can't seem to nap in the middle of the day anymore:)

Connor arrived on June 17th at 9:24 am and weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 21 inches long. He has dark hair like his daddy and poops more than any baby I have ever known! I can't believe how lucky we got with 2 such wonderful boys, we are a very blessed family of 4:)

Enjoy the pictures!

2 Days To Go!

Austin and Daddy in the whale pool

Going for a swim

Austin drinking from the blow hole on the whale:)

We're in the home stretch now! Only 2 days to go until we welcome Connor Jackson into our family:) We are so excited to meet our new little guy and hold him and hug and kiss him all over!

We spent much of our last weekend as a family of 3 trying to keep up with Austin as he ran around chasing birds, making sand castles and splashing around in his whale pool. We did have a little scare with a HUGE lump on Austin's head this weekend. On Friday evening I started noticing a lump forming on the side of his head but I hadn't seen or heard him hit his head and he didn't cry and it did not look like a bug bite. By Saturday morning the lump was literally the size of a golf ball sticking out of his head and it was all red, not to mention he didn't want us to touch it. So I called the pediatrician who told us if it continues to grow (how much bigger could it get?) or he develops a fever he has to go to the ER, otherwise wait till Monday to bring him in. Well none of those things happened and by Sunday the swelling finally went down and by then you could faintly see a small pin point in the middle that did look like a bug bite. I still brought him in today to see the doctor and he agreed that it was most likely a bug bite and I also had him look at a swollen lymph node on his neck that he didn't like when I touched. And of course when Dr. Simmert touched the lymph node it didn't bother him at all:) Funny little man.

I had a doctor's appointment today too, my last OB visit before Connor's arrival. Everything is still looking good. I'm sure everyone will understand that you probably won't see another post from us for a while but I will try my hardest to post some pictures of our new little man within the next couple weeks.

More Festival Fun & Mommy Worry

Curwood Castle in Owosso

Allen trying on a kilt at the Curwood Festival

Yummy Pancake Breakfast

Almost 38 weeks Pregnant!

One of the good things about living in a rural area is that during the spring and summer months almost every town surrounding us has their own fair or festival and this past weekend was no exception. Last weekend was the Home Town festival in Swartz Creek, before that was our Railroad Days festival in town and on Saturday we went to the Curwood festival in Owosso. The Curwood festival had a civil war encampment, medieval encampment, rides, arts/crafts fair, etc. Austin's favorite parts were going in the Curwood Castle (built in 1922 as a writers studio for James Curwood) and the pancake breakfast because they made him his very own Mickey Mouse pancake with an M&M nose:) Joy the clown even made Austin an elephant balloon animal. Next up is the HUGE Railroad festival 2009 in Owosso which apparently is a nationwide event and is held in a different state each year and then the Montrose Blueberry Festival in August. It should be a fun summer for the boys and I!

Austin and I went to what I thought was my last OB appointment before our C-section next week but I was told I have to come back on Monday next week, 2 days before the C-section to have another check-up. Connor is doing good, still moving around like crazy, especially at night. I haven't gained any weight in the last 3 weeks which is good news for me, it's less weight I have to worry about losing later on. So it looks like 39lbs is my weight gain this time around.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about the C-section. Since it was unplanned last time I had no idea what to expect but this time knowing that I'll be strapped down to the operating table and be able to feel my abdomen being pulled in 2 different directions makes me feel a bit queasy. I'm just praying I don't have to be in the recovery room without my baby for 2 hours like last time.

And then comes the worrying about Austin and how he is going to react to everything and I have to admit I've cried a few times already hoping he doesn't think Mommy and Daddy are trying to replace him and worrying that I won't be able to spend enough time with him because newborns need so much attention.....Since I quit my job when Austin was 9 months old, it's just been him and I and I know this is going to be a big adjustment for him and I don't want him to feel like he's being pushed to the side. I'm really hoping he'll want to help Mommy out with Connor so that he feels more a part of everything. And Austin and Daddy already have a couple special trips planned together for the time Allen is home with us after Connor's birth. I just didn't imagine I would feel so torn and sad over the change in our relationship that is about to happen when Connor is born. Then I feel guilty for focusing so much on Austin and feeling like what if I don't love Connor as much as I love Austin? Which I know is silly, I'll love both my boys more than anything else in this world. I think my hormones are going crazy:)

The Countdown Begins

Austin in his big boy Lightning McQueen underwear!

Only 2 weeks left until Connor's arrival! These last few weeks have just been flying by, thankfully I finally got all the clothes, toys, car seat, bed, etc., washed and put away. Allen has still been working hard on getting the house ready to sell. He spent most of the weekend again doing touch - up painting and working on the basement. Sunday my friend Lisa came over to hang out with Austin and I. Austin thinks she is great! He calls her his girlfriend and before she arrived on Sunday he asked me if he could hold her hand! How cute is he:) Austin took her to see the big steam engine and train car in town and to ride on the little spring horse by the trains. When Austin and I were at the little train park last week I asked him what the horses name was and he replied "Hooty Booty." So now when we go on walks he always asks to go see his "Hooty Booty Horse."

Austin and I were at the store the other day picking up some colored sand for his sandbox, it was his reward for getting all his stars on his responsibility chart (he picked out blue and purple), we walked by the little kids clothes and Austin spotted some big boy underwear that had Thomas and Lightning McQueen on them. He told Mommy he wanted some big boy underwear like Daddy so he picked out the Lightning McQueen set, which also glow in the dark! Austin has been talking about the potty a lot lately and is very adept at taking his pants, socks, and diaper off, shirts are still a little tricky but shirts don't involve potty time so we'll just keep working on that. Anyway, today he wanted to put on the big boy underwear, I was a little weary because I don't think he is quit ready yet and we wanted to wait until about a month or so after Connor is born so that he doesn't have any big potty set backs while adjusting to a new brother in the house. But when he put on the underwear he was all upset because the picture of Lightning McQueen was on his butt and he couldn't see him, so he wanted to take the undies off right away! That's that for now.

We had our Pre-Op / 37 week appointment today with the OB. Everything went well, I'm measuring at 38 weeks, Connor's heart rate was a solid 144, and I've gained 39 lbs this time which is much better than the 58 lbs I gained with Austin:) We have one more OB appointment next week and then Connor comes on June 17th! The c-section is scheduled for 9am so I'm sure he'll be born a few minutes after 9am on the 17th. We can't wait to meet him!!!!