Shower #2

Countdown:

Baby Rueber's estimated arrival - 8 weeks
Summer vacation - 16 school days

I had my 32 week appointment this week with a different doctor, Dr. Burgess was on vacation. I was excited to meet another doctor as Dr. Burgess is on vacation the week of my due date. I will see another doctor again before my due date. It is hard to see someone else but it will make it easier to deliver with a different doctor if Dr. Burgess is on vacation.

At my appointment I measured small (everyone Dr. measures a little differently) and the last time that I saw my doctor she couldn't tell if the baby was head down yet . I will find out next week if I need another ultra sound to make sure everything is okay. Keep your fingers crossed that baby has grown and is head down!

I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends, Heather hosted a shower at her house this weekend for friends and family in the Eau Claire area. Baby Rueber once again was showered with so many wonderful gifts! Baby Rueber is one lucky baby!

Amy is in a picture this time! At the last shower, she was our photographer and we didn't get her in any of the pictures.


All of the Putnam Ladies, thanks for coming girls!


I wasn't the only one pregnant again...Lisa is about 4 weeks behind me due early August with her second little princess!


This picture is too funny, it was during one of the games. Everyone was given a piece of either pink or blue gum and had to mold it into a baby. As you can see, they were NOT allowed to look at it!

Here are the results...a bunch of Gumby look-a-likes!



After games, it was onto presents. I was so lucky to have a helper, Finley helped with a few gifts!


The grandmas!


Last but not least, the host Heather. Thank you so much for a wonderful shower, I am so lucky to have you as a friend. You have helped me prepare for this baby in so many ways, registering, exercise, doctors, and just someone to vent/talk to! I cannot wait to have play dates and watch out little ones grow together. Thank you again for always being there!

I want to wish our favorite photographer Erika Krause and family on their new addition to their family. Monday they welcomed their second boy, Bobby into the world!

Are You My Mother?

Countdown

Baby Rueber's estimated arrival - 8 weeks
Summer vacation - 21 school days

I have had an extremely busy two weeks. Two LONG DAYS (12-13 hours) at school, Spring music program the last week of April and last week Kindergarten Kountdown (we meet the new Kindergartners for next year). My energy level isn't what it used to be and that was very evident these last two weeks!

This weekend I went home to Oconto Falls for a shower thrown by my mom. The shower was held at Thornberry Golf and Country Club, the same place where our wedding reception was.


I wasn't the only one with a baby belly! Gretchen (left) is due in October and Chloe (right) is due June 14th, they are both pregnant with their second and have little boys at home.


We had a beautiful view of the golf course, the shower was in the "porch room" with windows ALL around.


We are ALL here! I have such a wonderful group of friends and I am so thankful that we all keep in touch. Even though our lives take all of us in different directions, we still manage to see each other every few months. Each time we are together it is like we never missed a day together, I love you girls! Thank you so much for making my baby shower so special. And to all of the moms, thank you so much for coming it was so nice to see you!

From left to right (mom's): Adele, Cheryl, Laura, Julie, Yvonne, Norma
From left to right (the girls): Liza, Beth, Me, Chloe, Megan, Shelly

The Highland Drivers! Neighborhood family friends and second mother's.

From left to right: Marie, Jill, Laura, Sue, Jenny, Peg


Baby Rueber is one lucky baby! He/she sure got spoiled at this shower! We got many wonderful things that will help make life with a little one easier.

Baby Rueber got some very special gifts too! The elephant chain was made by my grandmother and hung from my crib as a baby. The Goose was made by a friend of my mom's and was given to me in the hospital. The little lamb (which all of my girl friends think it looks like the lamb cake!) was made by my grandmother as well.


Each person was asked to bring a book in leui of a card to help build a library for Baby Rueber. We got so many wonderful books, all which have a story behind them. It was such a neat idea and I will think of each person when I read these books to our little peanut.


I was given a few very special books as well. These books were some of my favorites when I was little. They were still is pretty good shape, considering some of them were read daily!

My favorites as a child:
Are You My Mother? Each Peach Pear Plum (both in the above picture), My Yard, My House and Who Says That


Happy Mother's Day and early Father's Day! David and I bought a glider and matching ottoman as our "Mother's/Father's Day to be" gifts. It is very comfortable and I foresee it being used a great deal in the near future!


The nursery continues to evolve. The dresser came in two weeks ago and we (David) finally had a day to go get it! The dresser will double as the changing table... isn't it beautiful!


I want to say thank you again to everyone for the wonderful gifts, to my sister-in-law Amy and her mom Kathy for making the trip from Menomonie and especially to my mom for all of her hard work getting ready for the shower! I love you all!

Mama got a new ride!

Let the countdown begin...

Baby Rueber's arrival approximately - 10 1/2 weeks
Summer vacation - 31 school days!

Two weeks ago (at 28 weeks), I had my glucose test. I was nervous because my mom had gestational diabetes and that increases my chances of having it as well. I am glad to report that I PASSED! I do NOT have gestational diabetes...even after I ate all of those skittles! :) My iron is low, so I am taking two iron pills a day. I know that this is rather common, so I am not too concerned. We just want a healthy baby!

We are now in the "home stretch", we have entered the third trimester. I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and I continue to feel good. I may not be moving as quickly as normal and I get worn out more easily (just ask Heather!) Baby Rueber is kicking, punching, and rolling ALL the time. He/she also gets hiccups often...that is so crazy to me!

Baby Stats:
Baby R. is approximately 2.5 -2.75lbs. and measuring around 15 inches long. His/her muscles and lungs continue to mature. (Mom sure can feel the muscles maturing) During the third trimester about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited into Baby Rueber's hardening skeleton each day!

We had visitors over this week for a grill out. Lyle, Melissa and Claire came over Wednesday night for dinner. We haven't seen each other since before Christmas (and live in the same city), it was so great to see the three of them! Claire has grown soo much and is an absolute doll! Paisley loves kids...but Claire LOVED Paisley! Claire would bat her hands and Paisley would lick them and/or Claire's face. At one point Claire's bangs were wet from all of the Paisley kisses. It was too funny.



On to the title of the blog -

Car seat + stroller + dog + dog kennel= no room for Mom and Dad in the car! This weekend we traded in my car for a family vehicle. Yes, we broke down and bought a mini van.....

Just kidding, we bought an SUV and love it! It will give us the extra space necessary for all of the baby (and dog) gear that we will haul when visiting family.

It was sad to say goodbye to my Galant as it was the the first vehicle that I purchased...I will miss my sporty car, but will enjoy the extra room of the Endeavor!

Spring Break

26 weeks -- Baby Rueber is about 1 2/3 pounds and approximately 14 inches long. I can tell that he/she is growing, the kicking/punching is getting stronger and stronger each day.

This week I have been having some round ligament pain. It has been pretty bad and really, really annoying. But again, this pregnancy has been treating me really well so I can't complain too much!

Look how nice that belly looks with a shirt to cover it...

WOW...look at that BIG belly without a shirt to cover it!

I was on Spring Break this last week, and had a very productive week!

On Monday, I met my parents in Wausau to do the mother swap, I brought my mom back to my house for the week. My mom came to help with all different kinds of baby stuff. One of our first projects was to hang the valance in the nursery.

While my mom (grandma) was here, she got to feel the baby kick! It is so exciting to share that wonderful feeling with others!

Wednesday and Thursday were our big baby days. Wednesday I registered at Target and had two great partners (sorry no pictures) my mom and Heather! Thank you so much Heather for all of your help. Thursday my mom and I got up and headed to MN to pick up Maureen. We were off to Babies R Us, look at that WALL of pacifiers/bottles. Seriously, there are so many choices for everything. Thank you to everyone for their help!


Heather, Finley, Paisley and I got in a bunch of walks this week. We had to take advantage of the nice spring (almost summer like) weather.


My Dad made the trip over Saturday morning and had something special in the car, a bassinet! This is a special gift that we will share with my brother and Amy when it is their turn for a little peanut.


The boys (and Paisley) working hard to put it together.

Thank you for the gift mom and dad!


Happy Easter! Sunday we went to brunch at Fanny Hill in Eau Claire. This was something new for our family, but we really enjoyed it! Maybe we have started a new tradition!


Easter would not be complete with out the lamb cake. We had the skinniest lamb ever this year, but it still tasted just as great!

Six months

It has been awhile since I have posted...sorry! It has been a busy few weeks at home and school.

Two weeks ago, I headed to the cities for a morning of baby shopping. I took along my shopping partner Maureen (my mother-in-law). We headed to USA Baby to buy the furniture for the nursery. We were the second people in the parking lot waiting for the BIG sale, and we were the first in the door (a few elbows were thrown...jk). That day we went home with a crib, and mattress. The dresser, nightstand and bed rails (to turn crib to a toddler bed and full size bed) are ordered and will arrive shortly before Baby Rueber! That is enough to this mom-to-be nervous...but I keep telling myself that everything will be okay.

With the crib at home, I was so anxious to get it put together and to have the nursery start to look like a nursery. So this past weekend we began that project. Dave found it to be a bigger project than expected. In his words..."I don't like weekends that you are home, you make me work to hard!" Gotta love the "Honey to do lists"!

We started with the closet. Of course, Paisley has to be a helper!

Here is the finished (almost) project. We love the organizer so much we are thinking about buying one for our room too!

Then it was onto the crib. I loved the crib in the store and I am in love with it even more now that it is put together in our house!


Here we are with the crib all together.



Baby Update:

25 weeks pregnant

Baby Rueber is approximately 13 1/2 inches long, weighing about one and a half pounds. He/she is now adding weight, trading the long and lean look for a more newborn baby look.

Reality check: We only have one more Dr. appointment before we begin our every other week appointments...YIKES! Are we really that close?!?!


Last but not least...our first born Paisley turned ONE on March 16th. As you can see she really loved the birthday hat that I got her...

Happy Birthday Paisley!

Rest and Relaxation!

Week 22 (5 1/2 months) brings us just past half way and David was finally able to feel Baby R. kick! He was so excited and so was I.

This weekend we took some time for ourselves and got massages. This was Dave's first time, and he was nervously excited! I was so excited to finally lay on my belly again! I actually told my therapist that I was going to buy a massage table...baby liked it too. Baby R. instantly started kicking once I was on my belly.


We really enjoyed our time at Lotus Spa and made sure to rest and relax the rest of the day!


Baby Update:

Baby Rueber is weighing in at approximately one pound! Just a few more to go...I hope.
(six more would be great!)

Baby Rueber is the size of a papaya this week...I sure have learned about a variety of fruits and veggies with this pregnancy!


Baby R. sure has developed sleep patterns, I have noticed kicking/boxing is more frequent during different times of the day. He/She loves to be awake in the evening between 7 and 8pm and usually around 1-2 in the afternoon. I love those gentle reminders of my baby, I know they won't be so gentle later on!

It's a...

This was our big week...week 21 we had our ultrasound and got to see our little peanut again.

I was given strict instructions before this appointment (as all women are when they go in for their ultra sound). Come with a full bladder! So that meant ALL I could think about was going to the bathroom but had to keep drinking water! Yeah, that doesn't work so well...but glad to say there were no accidents! :)

There were very quick to call me back and get things rolling. I was very lucky to be accompanied by Dave and my mom! My mom was amazed how things have changed from when she had an ultrasound with me in her belly. Thanks for making the trip mom!

A profile shot of our little peanut! Baby R. was pretty cooperative throughout most of the ultrasound...it must have been nap time.

This one kind of creeps me out, Baby R. is looking right at you!


Here is Baby Rueber's little foot!

And now for the answer you have all been waiting for...

IT'S A.......



Come on, did you really think we were going to find out and then TELL EVERYONE!!!

Absolutely Not!

As I said before, Baby R. was really cooperative throughout most of the ultrasound, until the end when it was time to check "those" parts. We were NOT looking at the screen while the tech was looking, but she could not get a clear view. She did say that she thinks she knows based on gender specific traits?!? This makes us even more anxious to meet our little one!

So what do you think, boy or girl???