baby update...

my appointment on monday didn't go the way i thought it would and my lab results have come back with some concerns of pre-eclampsia.  although i am not overly concerned, the reality of having less time than i thought has really kicked in.  the 2 big signs they look for when diagnosing are high blood pressure and protein in the urine, which i have both.  my other lab work came back "OK" but there are still some things that are off.  so the doctor had me come in today for a non-stress test to see how big the baby is and check my amniotic fluid levels.

my blood pressure was within a normal range today and my non stress test showed a very happy and active baby.  the ultrasound showed he has plenty of amniotic fluid surrounding him and they will do cultures to monitor protein in urine.  they feel i am doing well and don't feel the need to bring me in before my next appointment on tuesday.  my own doctor will be back in office by then, so i will discuss these results with her and if induction is still on the table.

geo play activity...

figured out this activity the night before and bowie was excited when she saw it on the counter in the morning.  we got this "geo play" interlocking disc set as a christmas gift and they are awesome, but she is not quite old enough to build with them on her own.  in fact, i had completely forgotten about them because i put them away since they make a big mess and usually end up on the floor.  so i got out her bowls and plates which matched the colors and we did a little building and sorting with them.  and as many activities we do here, we ended up making "cupcakes" out of them.

click here for more information on amazon for the geo link toy

getting started...

if you have read my blog at all recently you will know that it's been a while now that my energy levels and physical capabilities are not what they used to be earlier in my pregnancy.  i have had to get creative with new ways to keep a active toddler busy and entertained at home.  i started doing lots of homework and researching all kinds of mom and toddler blogs.  i mostly follow them on instagram.  so here is a few of my favorites...

@busytoddler (especially fond of her, a former educator and fellow WA mama)
@happytoddlerplaytime
@theworkspaceforchildren
@imaginationtree
@playfullittlelearners
@choloeuberkid
@storiesofplay
@littleoneslearn
@dayswithgrey
@where_learning_meets_play
@play_at_home_mummy
@wonder.and.awe
@littlelifelonglearners
@playfully.nurtured
@learningatheart
@littlepinelearners
@playartlearn
@learning.through.play
@myboredtoddler
@the_paige_diaries

wow!  as i write them all out, i didn't realize how many i follow.  there are some i like better than others but they all give me lots of new ideas and inspiration.  here is short video i made of the things i use to get started creating new and fun activities and sensory experiences for bowie.

and here is a list of ideas on how to get started:

**look in your drawers & cabinets to start.  but i find some cool stuff at the dollar store, garage sales, target dollar section and of course amazon!**

1. trays and bins (different sizes, shapes and colors and a cookie sheet is great for magnets)

2. sensory elements: (pick a few so you can rotate and store dried items in tupperware so it can last a long time)
~rice (rainbow rice is a big hit! and fun to make)
~dried beans
~corn kernels
~oatmeal
~corn meal
~pom poms
~drinking straws cut into 1 inch pieces
~kinetic sand
~play-doh
~slime
~shaving cream
~ice
~water beads

3. tools: (go through your kitchen drawers first)
~spatulas
~spoons & measuring cups
~funnels
~tongs
~ice cube trays
~muffin pan
~magnetic wand

4. loose elements (this is the fun part! go crazy!!!)
~magnetic letters
~foam letters & numbers
~dinosaurs
~plastic bugs
~rubber duckies
~puzzle pieces
~sea creatures
~large acrylic gems (think treasure hunt)

morning activities over breakfast...

we started our morning with a new breakfast winner (frozen waffle and peanut butter) and an activity bin.  i gave bowie the dish pan sized bin with corn kernels and wooden animals and trees.  after playing with it for a minute she asked for the dinosaurs instead.  so we put the animals away and she played for a good long time with the dinosaurs and corn.  then she asked for the spatulas to add to it.  this kept her entertained for about an hour. 

she has learned that these activities are different from time spent in the play room and her normal toys.  she calls these activities "special" which makes me so happy.  she gets excited for each new one and i love that she even requested what she wanted to play with today and make the bin her own!  after some good time playing with the corn and dinosaurs i brought out a new puzzle i got for her.  i knew it would be hard and had the intentions of letting her start out by playing with the shapes only.  but i gave her the whole thing and she had fun trying new combos and trying to make the pieces fit.  she eventually got frustrated and i even tried to put it back together and couldn't get it to fit properly. 

having these activities in my back pocket this morning really set a new tone to the energy in the house.  bowie was occupied, entertained, learning and playing all at the same time.  i have put a lot of time, thought and energy into the items in the activity closet and today i can see how they will pay off big time.  although this will create a monster for me...i will be on a forever hunt for new treasures to constantly add! 

36 weeks!!!

had a doctors appointment last week and today as well!  i am now going weekly!!!  that is when you know you are in the home stretch!  as of last tuesday (may 29th) baby boy is still measuring 2 weeks ahead, but that doesn't mean he will come early, just that he will be a big boy!  he had a strong heart beat and is head down.  my doctor guessed from feeling him that he is around 6.5 - 7 pounds at this point.  she said that due to his weight and my age, she will not let me go past 40 weeks, so we may do an additional growth scan at 38 weeks to get a better idea of where we are at.  and if he is staying comfy and cozy around 39 weeks, we may schedule an induction so he doesn't cook longer than the 40 week mark.

my appointment this morning was with another doctor in the practice since my doctor is out on vacation.  they took my blood pressure 3 times because it was high today.  i have had slightly elevated blood pressure a few times, but always within the normal range.  today it was on the low side of high.  their concern would be a condition called "pre-eclampsia."  ​while i don't have any of the other common symptoms that go along with it like constant headaches and sudden swelling, i do have "traces" of protein in my urine which is something they look for and associated with it.  they are not overly concerned, but i did do additional labs today to check kidney and liver functions and will wait on those results in the next couple of days.  baby is good and i feel fine, but if i do have it they will probably monitor me even closer in these last few weeks and maybe induce on the early side.  all TBD based on blood work and when my doctor gets back next week. good news is baby is doing good, he is head down in pelvis, heart rate around 145 and measuring around 38 weeks. 

i've had some braxton hicks and a lot of heartburn this week as well.  sometimes i can go all day with no symptoms of heartburn until i lay down at night to go to bed.  it's like all the acid settles in your throat and chest and can be so bad that it makes me nauseous.  thank goodness for zantac!  jarad has been commenting lately that i look "really pregnant" LOL and that my belly is different than when i was pregnant with bowie.  i don't know what it is, but there is a different look when you are pregnant with a boy.  i am carrying him differently and it is all belly!  i have the basketball under the shirt look going on! i have been sleeping "OK" at night, but it can be hard to initially get comfortable.  by the time bowie takes a nap in the afternoon i am whooped, so i have not been as productive as i had hoped.  i will have to look at my list and re-evaluate what is a priority.  by the end of the day my belly is so hard and big that it can be hard to do much.  even rolling over in bed feels like a chore.  there are days and nights when this little guy puts on a show for us and makes my entire belly roll as if he was doing "the worm" inside of there.  his kicks and movements are intense and can be painful at times, especially when putting pressure on my bladder.  i've been snacking hard this week, but no specific cravings or aversions.  actually...i take that back.  we were at costco and they were sampling hot dogs (something i don't really like and NEVER eat) and it tasted so good, so we BBQed the other night and i got hot dogs.  i only had one, but it tasted great!   then on saturday i was really hungry after a nature walk through the arboretum and i was getting low blood sugar.  i was also indecisive and looking at places to eat, and we tried a greek restaurant that we had never been to, which sounded really good to me.  i had a gyro and greek fries and it totally satisfied my craving!

weight gain this week = 1.5 pounds
total weight gain = 18.5 pounds

i totally felt the love over the weekend when we had dinner on friday night with some family friends.  they brought bowie over a "big sister gift" and some baby gifts as well.  they got bowie a cool book about welcoming a baby and the process that goes along with it and a bubble machine, bubble juice and fly swatters to smack the bubbles!  we got to play outside with this and it is a hit.  not only was this so sweet and thoughtful, i love a gift that will be perfect for summer and provide lots of entertainment!  then on sunday my 2 girlfriends and i got together with our girls for brunch.  we had a lot to celebrate, we had a new house, 2 belated birthdays and of course baby boy.

jarad has been putting bowie to bed all week, and this change up in routine is helping her to get back on track with bed time as well as give me a nice break.  usually i am exhausted after putting bowie to bed but lately the creative juices are in full effect and i am wanting to do more in the evenings for myself.  i did a lot of rock painting last week which was not only fun but relaxing and i am finding all kinds of crafty things i want to do.  i think i have been on too many mommy blogs lately.  i gotta take advantage of this creative energy while i can, because i see it expiring very soon.  but i am enjoying taking the time to read a book, paint and create new and different activities for bowie (and baby boy as he gets older).  

more sensory activities and play!

feeling inspired this morning to add to and get some new elements for bowie's sensory bins.  what better place to go to than the dollar store!  i got some new trays, dinosaurs, plastic bugs, large foam dice, foam numbers and dried beans and corn kernels. 

i got home and set up a really easy one for her in the backyard and it was a big hit!  i used the dish pan size bin with dinosaurs, beans and bugs. 

popsicle bath!

what do you do with a watermelon that is not bad, but is not sweet and crisp enough to enjoy?  oh yah and it had seeds.  i can't remember the last time i bought a watermelon with seeds!  so i juiced it and made mocktails for myself and popsicles for bowie.  we both enjoyed the popsicles while she took an almost 2 hour tubby time!