32 WEEKS! 8 weeks left to go!!!

Phew! Well where to start...If you looked at the Thanksgiving photo, I am sure you are saying to yourself, WHOA check out that belly....Yes that photo makes me look enormous. I put that photo up there because it was one of the few from Thanksgiving, but I would like to think that I am much more petite and adorable than that photo lets on.
Declan is busy growing and growing! I hope he is getting used to the higher protein, lower carb diet...There are days where it is really easy and days that I seriously can't stand it. Still checking my blood sugars at least four times a day. And the last few mornings I have been able to keep my fasting blood sugars under 90mg/dL. Which is a huge deal. I went back to see the Diabetic Counselor this week and she was really impressed by how deligent I had been and how "normal" my blood glucose levels were. However, the only thing that was a little off was my fasting blood glucose. Those levels are taken first thing in the morning after six to eight hours of not eating. Sometimes they can be a little high because in the middle of the night your body starts to panic because there is no energy coming in, that your liver releases glycogen into your blood stream in preparation for you to be hypoglycemic. Unfortunately that is what was happening to me. I found this out because I spent a night waking every few hours to take my blood sugar only to watch it dwindle down and spike back up by morning. Good thing is, it seems we have fixed the problem. I am still walking like crazy, even though I have more aches and pains now than I did a few weeks ago. And I am definitely much more tired. However, I would do anything to protect our baby and right now thats what I am doing, everytime I poke my finger, watch what I eat, go for a walk etc.
We got our Christmas tree up today! Thank you to Catherine and Michael for bringing us back a tree from their land up by their cabin. I can not begin to describe how thankful I am that someone took care of that part of the holidays for us! But our house this year will have less decorations than we normally do, because if you put them up...you have to take them down. And this year its a lot of work to get them up, so I know it will be more effort to get them down.
Much love to everyone!

Thanks to my mom and brother for taking our Christmas card photo this year! I included some of the out takes from our photo shoot so hopefully you get a good laugh out of them. I should say you must leave a comment on our blog in order to receive your Christmas card this year, because for some reason, none of our followers want to leave comments...or maybe because no one reads this blog!

Ramble already loves Declan, but he doesn't like to share the spotlight

Then it turns into yawning...

At this point he has had enough and our photo session was definitely over!

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We have so many wonderful people to be thankful for! The list goes on and on!

On Thanksgiving, Jonathan and I, Ryan and Melissa and Kait all went up to my Dad's house to say hello and visit for awhile before they ate dinner. We had a great time visiting and meeting new people. Also Melissa and I got our workout in playing "Just Dance" on the Wii. So so much fun! In fact I have to get my dad to email me those photos because I am sure they are so funny!

Later that day, we went back to my mom's house and Catherine and Michael came over for Thanskgiving dinner. We had an absolutely wonderful dinner! Just wonderful!

We truly are blessed!

Ryan, Jonathan and Christopher all blowing out Jonathan's birthday candles!

Jonathan, Tom, Baby Kyle and Josh!

This past weekend we were finally able to celebrate Melissa (my brother Ryan's girlfriend) and Jonathan's birthdays up at my Dad and his wife Kelly's house. We finally found a time where everyone can get together! We had a fun time and I just thought this photo was hilarious of everyone blowing out the candles! We also learned that night that if Declan is born before January 23rd he will be born in the year of the rabbit. And if he is born after January 23rd he will be born in the year of the dragon, and he will also be an aquarius. The boys love to climb all over Jonathan! Jonathan was so proud that his new workout let him play with the kids and the next day no weird soreness or muscle aches! I am embarassed to say that I had my camera out and I took a total of two photos the whole night...shame on me. Guess that just means we had a great time!

Rachel (Kyle's mom!), Jane (13.5 weeks pregnant), and me at 31 weeks!

31 WEEKS!

EEEEeeeeekkkk! WEEK 31! What a week....Most importantly lets talk about baby. Baby is officially 3lbs and 15oz. Weighing in at the 57th percentile. Which is a little bit above the average, but all within the healthy range. We had a "baby date" today and he was all snuggled up against his placenta of a blanket, so we could see much of his face. He did give us multiple views of his scrotum, so yes we are sure he is a boy! We saw his kidneys but of course we won't know what the deal is until the perinatalogist reviews the ultrasound and sends all the information to my midwife. Our next appointment is the 2nd of December so we will keep you updated.

This week has been a little stressful. I did not pass my three hour glucose that happened last friday. I had to get three out of four within the normal range...and I only got two. So...I had to go Diabetic Counseling on Wednesday afternoon. Met with the Nurse Practioner at Center for Prenatal Development to go over eating habits, exercise, difference between protein and carbohydrates, glycemic index etc. I have to test my blood sugars about four times a day. The NP was very positive and encouraging and said she would be shocked if I had abnormal blood sugars, but she did say that I may just be more sensitive to carbohydrates. She also said considering how much I have decreased my sugar intake in the last few years, including giving up corn syrup, that drinking 100grams of glucose might have just been system overload. I have not been given the official diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes, but you better believe to protect Declan and myself we are eating like it. So far so good. I have yet to have an abnormal blood sugar. I go back on Monday afternoon to go over all of my levels and figure out the next step. So happy to say that it didn't look like Declan was a meatball of a baby and he looked proportionate and he looks like his daddy!

Declan's still the size of a squash!

• He's going through major brain and nerve development.
• Eye development, too. His irises now react to light!
• All five of his senses are in working order.

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He is moving a ton! Still head down but rolling his butt and legs from one side to the next.

November 14, 2011

JUST BORN!!! And he was so modest, covering up all his boy bits!

This sweet little boy was born six months ago! Can you believe it! I certainly can't. I already have anxiety about him growing up too fast. Here are some of my favorite baby Kyle photos!

About 30 minutes old already cuddling and wide awake!

Just a few days old! And getting to spend a day with all
of his Aunties!

Absolutely loving his duck and turtle friends!

Cuddling with Uncle Jon!

Getting so so big! Smiling all of the time, laughing and continuously
rolling!

30 WEEKS!

Wow! 30 weeks! Hard to believe, this whole experience is going by so fast. We started our Blissborn classes this past Monday. Like we talked about earlier the classes are just awesome. Our instructor, also the founder of Blissborn, is an amazing woman. I could go on and on about how much we enjoyed the classes and how important they have been for me in the last week. It has been really hard to listen and filter out all of the pregnancy and delivery horror stories. Now that I am visibly pregnant, no matter what I wear, everyone has a comment. Everyone is willing to share their advice or their story, or to strongly suggest that you need to have an epidural or that I am crazy for delivering at a birth center. I am over the negative stories or the strong opinions. Bottom line is I was made, in God's grace, to be able to birth a baby. I can and I will do this exactly how it is supposed to happen for Jonathan and I. I also have an amazing partner to stand by me and behind me to support me through this journey.

Baby Declan is busy busy busy! And I love it!
Loves:

• Singing to Declan!
• Talking to Declan, while we are cooking, driving or getting ready!
• Trying to guess which bump and lump is what body part!
• That he kicks his Daddy when Jonathan hugs me, because he knows that voice!
• That we get to have a baby date on the 18th!

Your baby's the size of a squash!

Your 15.2- to 16.7-inch, 2.5- to 3.8-pound baby continues to grow.

Declan's skin is smoothing out and becoming less wrinkled and his brain is becoming more wrinkled. That is good news, because that means making room for that super important brain tissue. He is also strong enough to grasp a finger!

At the Birth Center before our appointment and after I drank a disgusting 100 grams of glucose.... Special thank yous to Rachel for coming and keeping me company and not letting me go crazy!





CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIENDS JOSH AND JANE!!! THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!! They are expecting a beautiful spring baby! Due May 23rd!!!

Jane, Rachel and I on Halloween! I have been saving this picture until Janey gave me the go ahead that I could spread the joy and love!

29 WEEKS!!!

Declan's the size of a squash!

Baby already measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, he weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds but he's still got a ways to go -- He will triple his weight before birth!

Declan is a dancer and he loves music! As he starts to move more and more, I can tell he responds to certain peoples voices and he is already figuring out what kind of music he likes. I can actually feel him growing. On certain days I have the most intense burning right under my belly just from all of the stretching and growing. Unfortunately I have also been experiencing some swelling in my feet. Which just means that I need to learn to relax, rest and put my feet up! For someone who rarely sits down while at home this is going to be a big challenge!

This weekend my mom and I went out to California to surprise my Grandpa for his 80th birthday! My mom managed to keep it a secret from my Grandpa, Grandma and my Aunt Carol! They knew my mom was coming but didn't know that I would be there. We had a great time! We went golfing on Thursday, I could only manage about six holes. It was a little awkward and a little strenuous on the round ligaments(Hello intense burning!). It was also super windy and a little on the chilly side, lucky for us my Grandma and I were in the cart with the pull down sides and heater! Friday we went over to Napa to my aunts house and to celebrate my Grandpas birthday over there. She was super excited to see us too! We had a great time lounging and eating. For those of you, like me,  with extensive prayer lists who adds anyone who needs a little extra help to your daily prayers. Please keep my aunt in your prayers. She has had some nagging health problems and has to have another surgery in the next few weeks. Because of these health problems she was unable to come for our wedding, due to the same surgery. And as life would have it, now that Declans arrival is on the horizon, she has to have another one. Let's just hope this one is effective and quick. That she is able to heal and be strong and able to meet her great nephew.
My mom and I just had a really wonderful time getting to spend time with Grams and Gramps and Aunt Carol, also each other. Its nice to have such an easy and enjoyable travel companipon. The obvious thing that was missing: JONATHAN! He decided after much consideration that he needed to save up his time off from work for when the baby comes. How could I argue with that? I was very excited to be back at home with Jonathan last night, in fact so was Declan. He kicks, punches like crazy when he hears his Daddy's voice. It is just adorable.