Logan Phillip Brandley-Birth Story

Friday morning I had a doctor appointment, I was hoping hoping hoping that I would have progressed enough for him to send me over to the hospital to be started. I had been at a 4 and 90% effaced the week before at my appointment. My doctor had mentioned that if I progressed any more he would probably send me to the hospital to be induced so we didn't chance me having the baby at home! That is what got me through that last week! Prayers are answered and I was to a 5 at my appointment! I texted Louis at work and told him to meet me at home and we would head over to the hospital. 

We got to the hospital around noon and got admitted around 12:30. I was group b strep positive so I needed to get 2 rounds of antibiotics given 4 hours apart before the baby was born. With my history of fast labors they decided to hold off on pitocin and just get the antibiotic started for now. I figured since we'd have the time and I'd never had one before, I'd ask about an epidural. The anesthesiologist came and talked to us telling us how everything worked and possible side effects and what not and I decided to go ahead with the epidural. (remember how I tried to get an epidural with Wyatt, but he came too fast?) I got the epidural done right before the pitocin was started just after 2:00. It went really well and it was amazing being able to rest the few hours before Logan arrived. My blood pressure did drop and it affected the baby's heart rate, I was put on oxygen and it did help. I was put on oxygen when I was in labor with Avery as well, and honestly it helps me relax more and helps the labor along. 

Just after 4:00 my doctor came in to check me and I was at a 9. He broke my water at 4:15 and left to fill out some paperwork. With the epidural it was harder to feel when the baby was coming, but we knew it was going to be pretty quick. After a few minutes I could feel the pressure of the baby coming and called the nurse in. Sure enough I was complete and ready to push. My doctor had just started heading out of the hospital and had to be called back. If I hadn't had the epidural, I'm not sure if he would have made it. It was a totally different thing pushing with an epidural compared to pushing unmedicated. I couldn't tell if what I was doing was effective or not. The nurses and doctor were great with coaching me though and after about 10 minutes of pushing (it would have been shorter, but Logan's shoulder got stuck) the baby was here! Born at 4:35, 7 lbs 15 oz, 21 inches long. He was a bit purple, but I was still able to hold him right away while they suctioned him and tried to get him breathing better. They took Logan to help him a bit more and get his coloring looking better. He was brought back to me and I was able to cuddle and nurse him.

We didn't get into the recovery room until about 7 that night so we waited until the day after Logan was born for the kids to come meet their brother.  I was most surprised with how interested and excited Ethan was about meeting him.  Ethan walked in the room first and came right over to me holding Logan to check him out.  The girls were of course excited, Mary said "He's so cute I just can't look at him anymore!"  Wyatt mostly liked exploring the hospital room, but did check Logan out for a little bit.  They all love their little brother though and I know it's going to be lots of fun having him in our family.

This labor/delivery was different from my others in a few ways. I'd never been induced before, I'd never had an epidural, and I've never had a baby in the p.m. all my others have been in the a.m. hour!  We all love Logan and are grateful he came to complete our family.

Click here to read Avery's birth story

Click here to read Mary's birth story

Click here to read Ethan's birth story

Click here to read Wyatt's birth story

Wyatt Jack Brandley-Birth Story

I always like to get these out early while things are still fresh in my mind.  Our second son Wyatt was born early this morning.  Here's the story:

At 1:27 AM I woke up feeling some pain in my lower abdomen.  I thought I probably just had to go to the bathroom so I got up.  When I stood up there was a gush of fluid!  I thought "well I bet that was my water breaking!"  I headed to the bathroom and a bit more of my fluid came out.  I woke up Louis and told him that I thought my water had broken, but I was going to lay down and see what happened.  He pretty much just rolled over and snored!  At this point in the night we had only been asleep for about 30 minutes so I don't blame him!  I laid down and tried to sleep until some contractions started.  That only lasted about 15 minutes until the contractions started though.  Once I started getting contractions they weren't unbearable, but I knew with my record we should head to the hospital anyway.  We put the last minute things into our bag, got our shoes and  I went in and told my niece Madison that we were heading to the hospital.
We got in the car and headed out!  My favorite thing and something that helps me stay the most calm during labor is watching Louis.  He gets so excited!  On the drive he was speeding a little bit and I kept telling him we're fine.  We're really fine you don't need to speed.  I think he was just too excited though!  He also was singing a made up song about having Wyatt and going to the hospital.  We got to the hospital and stepped into the elevator at 2:15 and got checked in at 2:18.  On the way to the room I was very blunt with my nurse.  "I have very fast labors.  My last two were only 2 and 3 hours long.  I have my second 12 minutes after getting to the hospital and my third an hour after getting to the hospital.  I have never had an epidural and I want one this time so please check me right away and then call the anesthesiologist."  She was so great and told me I deserved to get an epidural this time and she was determined to make that happen!
I got into the room and changed then I was able to get checked.  I was dilated to a 5 and she left to call the anesthesiologist while a second nurse got my info put into the computer and a third nurse got my IV started so we'd be all ready when the anesthesiologist came.
At some point after this I was checked again, I'm not sure how long it was after I was checked the first and I was dilated to a 6.    Then a nurse named Cazlyn came in and let us know that the anesthesiologist was in the building!  I was so excited!  I couldn't believe he was here and I was actually going to get an epidural this time around!  I'm pretty sure I gave Cazlyn a high five and asked if she was serious and that he was really there.  Since the anesthesiologist was in the building they had me sit up on the edge of the bed to get ready for him to come in.  I sat up and they were having me scoot over and that is when I think gravity got me from the 6 I was at five minutes before to a 10 and I could feel Wyatt making his way out!  I told the nurses what was happening and laid down on my side and asked if he really was coming.  Wyatt was indeed coming!  The nurses kept telling me just breathe, don't push!  Well I ignored them and pushed anyway.  I'm sorry the on call doctor wasn't there yet, but Wyatt was coming whether they wanted to be the one to deliver him or not.  It was at this time that I started pushing that Dr. Nelson the anesthesiologist came into the room.  Louis jokingly said "You're late!"  He stayed in the room for the whole 1 or 2 minutes I was pushing.
Wyatt came into this world at 2:50 AM, delivered by the nurse Cazlyn.  He was pink and crying and it was wonderful!  Mary and Ethan were both not crying when they came out so to have a baby be born and cry right away made my heart swell!  Dr. Nelson (the anesthesiologist) came and gave me a hug and said sorry he didn't get there in time and that even if he had gotten there 15 minutes earlier I wouldn't be getting numb until after the baby was here anyway!  So it did all end up working out for the best.
Louis was able to cut the cord for the first time since Avery.  Wyatt was able to be laid on my chest which also hasn't happened since Avery!  It was perfect.  The on call doctor, Dr. Olsen, didn't show up for a long time it seemed.  I think it was 15 minutes after Wyatt was born.  He delivered the placenta and made sure I didn't tear.  Then he was out the door!
Start to finish my labor with Wyatt was 1 hour 20 minutes with only 35 minutes in the hospital before he was born.  Wyatt was 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  He has a decent amount of brown  hair and barely has a Brandley chin dimple at all!  He has been doing well and we have enjoyed cuddling him!
I was so so excited when it seemed like I was finally going to be getting an epidural, but things turned out the way they were supposed to.  For weeks I had been praying and praying that I would be confident in my body and my abilities, that I would be able to handle the things that I would need to, and that I would be able to stay calm.  Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  Throughout the whole labor I was able to stay calm.  With each contraction I would just close my eyes, lean my head back, breathe deeply in through my nose and blow it out through my mouth until the contraction was through.
Later in the day I discovered another blessing from our Heavenly Father.  The night before Wyatt was bor my mother-in-law Annette had asked what to pray for, that the baby should come tonight or the next day etc.  I just told her I was fine with him coming whenever he came.  Later that night though I texted her saying she could pray that I would have confidence in myself and I'd be able to handle what I needed to.  Annette had left her phone in her car, but around 1:30 (aka when I was going into labor) she felt like she should go out and get her phone.  So she listened to that prompting and saw my text and prayed for me at almost the exact moment that my labor was starting.  I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and a wonderful mother-in-law who listens to the promptings of the Spirit.

The delivering nurse

Ethan's birth story, click here
Mary's birth story, click here
Avery's birth story, click here

How I do it: Hospital Bag

It gets asked all of the time "What do you pack in your hospital bag?"  Seeing as I just packed my hospital bag a few weeks ago (I probably do it pretty early compared to others) I figured I would make a post about it.  Here is what works for me:

1.  The number one thing I always get together is toiletries.  I buy travel size toiletries because they are small, cheap, and I can have everything I need together and don't have to remember to grab things when we're trying to head out.  And let's be honest, I don't have much time to be grabbing last minute things when the time comes.  Here is a close up picture of what toiletries I bring.

Make up remover, body wash, face wash, shampoo and conditioner, razor, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.  Not pictured is a few make up items, chap stick, and hair ties.  I have all of this packed in a make up bag and, for the shower things, a Ziploc bag.  Lotion and chap stick may seem unnecessary, but seriously bring them.  

2.  Don't laugh, but I'm bringing depends!  I have heard that they are great postpartum!  So I'm trying it out!  

3.  Nursing pads and Lanolin.  Nursing pads are not necessary for everyone to bring.  With my first baby my milk didn't come in while I was at the hospital so I didn't need them.  With my other two though my milk came in within the first 24 hours.  The hospital does have nursing pads they can give you, but I didn't like them so this time I'm packing my own.  As for the Lanolin, they also have some they will give you.  I teeny tiny little tube that they will charge you $15 for.  So since Avery, I bring my own.

4.  Comfortable yoga pants and a loose shirt.  With my girls I stayed in the hospital gown the whole stay, with Ethan I brought some comfortable pajamas to wear while I was there.  It was great!  I didn't have to worry about my bum hanging out whenever I got up and it made me feel better.  Also, don't forget the socks!  They do have those hospital socks, but they're always so big and floppy. 

5.  The baby book!  In our baby book there is a spot for the baby's footprints.  If you bring your book with you the nurse will do footprints in it for you!  Plus if this isn't your first baby you can start filling in some of the book while you don't have your other kids running around you.  

6.  A few movies or a TV series.  You are going to be spending a lot of time sitting in a bed.  Even though you're so enthralled with your new baby it can get a little dull.  I always bring a TV series or movies to entertain us for a bit.  When Avery was born the movie Elf was playing!

7.  If you remember a while back I posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook of a swaddle sack that I made.  I thought it would be really cute to bring to the hospital to get some pictures.  Laying on top of the swaddle sack is a binky.  With Ethan I brought my own binky because I hate the hospital binkies!  I prefer the MAM brand.

8.  I also bring a blanket from home to wrap up my babies in.  My favorite kind of blankets are the Carter's swaddle blankets.  They are some what lightweight and they are stretchy so they grow with your baby.  

9.  Nursing cover.  If you have family close by you're going to have a lot of visitors.  I know some people are fine just whipping it out and nursing their baby, but I am one who feels more comfortable covering up.  So instead of having to frantically look for something to cover up with when someone knocks on the door, I bring a nursing cover and keep it handy.

10.  Going home outfit for baby and me!  Seeing as this is my first summer baby I wasn't really sure what kind of clothes to pack for him.  I decided to just bring a long sleeve onesie and I'll cover his legs with a blanket for the drive home.  For myself I am bringing a beautiful and comfortable maxi dress!  I think a dress is a good going home outfit because if you're a little sore you don't have anything pushing on your stomach or back.

11.  Last minute things I throw in on our way out, phone charger and camera.  And I always grab my purse so I have all of my insurance information and all that stuff.

That's what I bring to the hospital!    It's probably a lot of things for some people and for others it's hardly anything.  This is what I have found works best for me!  I believe I did have someone bring me my own pillow with one of my babies and it was nice to have, but definitely not necessary.  If I really want it, I'll just have someone bring it to me again!  The perks of having family close by!  What do you pack in your hospital bag?  Anything I didn't include that you couldn't live without?

Pregnancy Update

I am 32 weeks pregnant this week, that means probably only one more monthly photo and the baby will be here!  I'm going to do the generic question and answer pregnancy update because it's easy and covers most of the questions I get.

How far along?  32 weeks

Total weight gain?  I honestly have not been keeping track this pregnancy

Sleep?  Usually I still sleep well when I'm pregnant, but over the last week or two I have been having some trouble.  My hips get sore and so I toss and turn through out the night.

Best moment of the week?  Avery and Mary both calling the baby Wyatt, which is the name we've been considering for months now.  And by "we've been considering" I mean Louis.  

I'm ready to say this kid will be named Wyatt.

Miss anything?  Not having heartburn and back pain

Movement?  He moves so much when I lay down to sleep.  Like crazy all over the place movement!

Food cravings?  Cooooold water!

Labor signs?  I had not gotten any braxton hicks contractions until a few days after my 28 week appointment and now I seem to be getting them a lot.  Especially when I am mopping the floors.  Did I mention we have white tile floors and I have to mop every. single. day?  

I'm pretty sure mopping is what will put me into labor.  

Looking forward to?  Welcoming this new baby into our family.  I'm looking forward to getting the labor and deliver over with!  People always say, oh your labors are so fast and easy!  Yes they are fast, but man all of that intensity squished into 3 or so hours?  It's hectic and tiring. 

A Buddy for Ethan Buddy

A few weeks ago we had our 20 week ultrasound for this baby!  We had a fun 3 days (or maybe only 3 hours. . .) where we thought maybe we wouldn't find out the gender of the baby.  Then I came to my senses and knew that I couldn't do that!  The ultrasound started and it was so fun to see the baby moving around, it had its hand up by its face just like all of our other babies.  We are excited to announce that Baby Brandley number 4 is a boy!  I'm glad that Ethan is going to have a brother so close to him, I think they'll have lots of fun growing up together.

Everything is looking perfect with the baby!  We do not have a name right now, and we don't even have a short list of names.  Hopefully a name will be chosen soon and we  won't have it be like when we had Ethan and still hadn't decided on a name!  I am feeling really well, no longer nauseous which is the best thing ever!  I have occasional back pain and occasional heartburn, but so far this has been my easiest pregnancy yet.  

And Then There Were Six

Most everyone knows now that Louis and I are expecting our fourth child!  

Come mid to late July we will be a family of six, and I can hardly believe it.  

Since I know I am going to get several of the same questions over and over and over again in the next few months I am going to answer them here.  I really hate getting the same question over and over so hopefully this will help that not happen haha!  Here we go!
The question I've been getting most of all is, "Was this a surprise?"  No this baby was not a surprise.  Since Ethan was probably only one month old I could physically feel that someone was missing from our family.  I didn't know what it meant exactly.  Maybe that another child was coming to our home soon.  Maybe we only had one more child waiting to come down.  Maybe both?  Clearly another baby was coming soon.  I still don't know if it is our last kid or not.  Which has never been the case.  With every other baby I knew that it wasn't our last kid.  Back to the fact that this child is not a surprise.  When I thought about having a baby, the month of November came to my mind and it kept coming to my mind.  And what do you know we got pregnant the first month we started trying, November!  When I looked at the test and it was positive the exact words that went through my head were, "I can't believe I'm pregnant"  Followed by, "man I'm going to be fat, I haven't even lost all of the weight from Ethan!"  My heart was racing and I honestly felt like I was going to throw up.  I also couldn't stop shaking for the next 30 minutes.  Then Louis got home from work and Avery ran up to him and said, "Mom's pregnant!"  Louis looked over at me with a big smile and the shock was gone.
The follow up question to "was this a surprise" is, "How old is Ethan?"  He is 10 months old.  He will be 18 months old when the baby is born.  I am not worried about how things are going to go.  At least Ethan will be in nursery already!  Avery and Mary are 22 months apart, so this will be a slightly smaller gap, but I really think it's going to be great!
I am feeling fine.  With each previous pregnancy I have gotten pretty bad morning sickness.  It has been the worst with Avery and it lasted the longest with Ethan.  So far this pregnancy, I have been feeling pretty good. I have been getting nauseous every now and then through out the day, but overall have been great!  Which makes me so happy because it is just awful throwing up for two months straight.  I do expect to eventually start getting sick, but I am extremely grateful that I have made it to almost 8 weeks without being too sick.
Another one I've been asked A LOT, yes we will be moving at some point in the next 7 1/2 months.  This is a tough subject for me and I would appreciate it if people did not ask me about it all of the time.  I promise when we do move I will let everyone know.
I think that goes over the questions I've been asked the most.  We are excited about this baby, the girls are super excited for a new baby!  Mary says we have two babies now, Ethan and a baby in Mommy's tummy.  Avery has not said anything about what we should name the baby yet, hopefully she comes up with something as great as Hammer!

Ethan Dennis Brandley-Birth Story

Yesterday was a very spiritual day for us.  We welcomed our first son into this world.  Here's the story.

I woke up at 4 in the morning and had a contraction, a few minutes later I had another one!  Sound familiar?  That's how all of my labors have started!  I went up to the bathroom and noticed hmmm, something is trickling out here.  That's never happened to me before.  Is my water leaking?  I was still getting contractions every few minutes, but they weren't very unbearable yet.  I decided to go in and tell Louis what was going on because of how Mary's labor went, who knew how quickly things were going to happen!
I went in and told him and he hopped right out of bed, I could feel his excitement!  While Louis was getting dressed I decided I should probably time a few of the contractions to see about how far apart they were.  They were already 4 minutes apart, but still not very bad.  Louis called his sister Alisha who is watching our girls while we're in the hospital.  I could hear him from upstairs when he said, "It's Hammer time!"  Alisha was confused at first (seeing as it was just after 5 in the morning!) but then hopped out of bed and headed over.
We did not need to speed to the hospital this time, we got there just before 6:00.  We headed in and got situated in a room.  I was frustrated that they were doing things so slowly and didn't check my dilation until we'd been there for half an hour at 6:20.  I was only at 3cm.  At this point the contractions were getting worse, but were still not that bad.  I could talk through them and was able to relax in between contractions really well.  Since I thought my water was leaking they did some kind of test to see if it in fact had.  It came back negative, but I don't really believe they got a true reading on it since it was just trickling and not gushing out.
Over the next 20 minutes things were continuously picking up.  The contractions were getting more painful and closer together.  It was here that I started seriously doubting being able to do this without medication.  At around 6:45 the  contractions were coming one on top of the other and I told Louis I changed my mind, there was no way that I could keep doing this and have the energy I needed.  I most definitely was considering an epidural.  So I asked the nurse Whitney to check me again so I could see if I'd progressed or not and if I wanted to get an epidural.  She checked me and I was now 6cm.  I decided to ask for the epidural because things were just so intense.  Whitney left to call the anesthesiologist shutting the door behind her.
It was at this point that I started feeling some pressure.  I knew what that meant!  Not even thinking about the call button on my bed I started yelling that I needed help and could feel pressure and that the baby was coming!  Yes yelling, those hospital doors are thick and I wanted them to hear me!  A nurse came in, (I never did find out her name, but she held my hand the whole time) and checked me again, I was at 10cm and as she was checking me my water fully broke.  This was at about 6:55, so 10 minutes since I was checked and had been at a 6.
My nurse Whitney came back in as well as a nurse Dawn who was working with Whitney and another 3 or 4 nurses.  They were helping me to breath through the contractions so I wouldn't push while we waited for the on call doctor to come.  With or without me pushing though, baby was coming!  His head came out all on its own and with just one push on my part at 7:00, Ethan was here.  6 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Whitney is the one that delivered him and Dawn instructed her how to do it.  Very fun fact about this:  Dawn is the nurse that delivered Mary!
Things went so fast that it shocked Ethan a bit and he was pretty purple and not crying.  They moved him to get some oxygen and get cleaned off.  It was a very hectic 5 minutes and I guess I had been hyperventilating (my top lip and hands were numb) so they put me on some oxygen for a few minutes and that helped calm me down.  It was about here when the doctor came in.  He delivered the placenta and left.
A few minutes after the doctor left a nurse brought Ethan over to me.  I was so overwhelmed with love I couldn't hold back the tears.  I snuggled him and snuggled him then he nursed and did a great job.  After I got plenty of cuddles in Louis got his turn to hold his son.  This is always one of the sweetest moments of the day your babies are born.  My favorite moment while Louis was holding Ethan was when he went over to the window and started talking to him about everything we could see outside.
This has so far been the best recovery after a baby!  I feel really great, but am trying to not over do it.  I think the difference is that I didn't tear this time, probably because I didn't have to push the head out, it just came out on its own.  I hope things continue to heal well.
The whole morning was perfect and full of love.  We have so enjoyed the first two days with our little Ethan.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.

Getting cleaned off

He loves his hands by his face, he had a hand by his face when he was born

Getting weighed

Getting to hold Ethan for the first time

My soul had missed his.

Very happy mom and dad with Ethan

Whitney and Dawn with Ethan

Dawn has been a nurse for 16 years and has now delivered 4 babies.

2 of those babies are my babies!

Louis telling Ethan about the world

I let Whitney cuddle with Ethan before we were moved upstairs

This was the first baby she delivered and she said she's sure she'll always remember it!

He had a few very alert moments yesterday

Proud daddy with Ethan

Going home!

If you want to read Mary's birth story, click here
If you want to read Avery's birth story, click here

Ethan Dennis Brandley

Birth story coming soon!

Almost There

I'll be 36 weeks this Friday, that means I can have a baby any day now!  It is such an exciting time!

At my appointment today I was barely dilated to a 1, but baby boy is head down and really low.

I have been measuring two weeks behind for my last two appointments now so as a precaution my doctor had me get an ultrasound to make sure everything is looking okay.  

Luckily they had an appointment open for an ultrasound right after my regular appointment.  

I went in for the ultrasound and everything ended up looking great!  Baby boy is actually measuring a few days ahead.  

It was fun to be able to get an extra look at him before he arrives!  

Here's the one picture we got today, He wouldn't move his hands out of his face.

I'm feeling very ready to have this baby boy!  I've been nesting A LOT in the last few weeks.  Uncontrollable urge to organize, clean, and get rid of things.  I think it has to do with the fact that our apartment is about to get much smaller with 5 people in it.  I have done a lot around the house.  I have reorganized the downstairs closet, the filing cabinet, the craft dresser, gone through all of our clothes and gotten rid of lots, and more.  I've also packed my hospital bag and set up a corner of our room for the baby (pack n' play, blankets, binkies, burp cloths, diapers and wipes).  

I'm all ready for this baby and can't wait to meet him!  

Especially because I hope once we see him we'll be able to finally agree on a name for him.
Louis has a name he likes most and I have a name I love.
I'm hoping once Louis sees our son he'll know my name is the right name ;)

Avery and Hammer

Avery has been wonderful during this pregnancy!  She has been so excited about the baby the entire time.  From the beginning she has known she was getting a brother.  Shortly after we officially found out it was a boy she let us know that she was going to be calling him Hammer.  We don't know where the name came from, but the nickname has stuck.  Since we don't have an official name for baby boy yet, the name Hammer has stuck!
Wherever we go Avery tells everyone that her baby brother is in mommy's tummy.  This is said while rubbing my stomach.  Twice today she came up to me not to hug me, but to hug and kiss her baby brother.
I am so excited to see her with her baby brother.  I'm sure he is going to be smothered with love from his two sisters.
5 weeks and counting!

Third Trimester Here we Come!!

I am now 28 weeks along!  That is the first week of the third trimester.  I'm going to do one of those generic pregnancy updates.  I'm sure you've seen them around!  If I had thought things out better I would have done one like this at the beginning of the second trimester as well.  Maybe for the next baby!  Here we go!

How far along?  28 weeks 4 days

Total weight gain?  15 pounds

Maternity clothes?  Mostly yes to the maternity clothes, but I've been able to make some of my 

non-maternity clothes work for me still.  

Stretch marks?  No new ones that I have noticed yet, my belly could be hiding some though.  It did with Avery!

Sleep?  Once I get comfortable I can fall asleep and sleep well through the night.  Unless I have to go to the bathroom.

Best moment of the week?  Avery.  She's so excited for her brother.  She tells everyone we meet that I have her brother "Hammer" in my tummy and that he's going to grow and then come out.

Miss anything?  Being comfortable.  I've started feeling some round ligament pains this week.

Movement?  So much!  Especially early in the morning, it wakes me up sometimes.  He's still low, but he's getting bigger so I'm feeling him higher up now too!  Instead of getting hit in the ribs like with my girls I'm getting hit in the hips.  It's weird.

Food cravings?  I'm not having any cravings.

Labor signs?  I've been having several braxton hicks contractions throughout the day.

Belly button in or out?  Out.

Wedding rings on or off?  I am lucky and have never had any swelling with any of my pregnancies

Happy or moody most of the time?  I don't think I'm happier or moodier than usual.  

Maybe ask Louis or my kids for a better answer on this one.

Looking forward to?  Being able to stand up without having to pee.  

Picking out a name.  Please let that happen soon!  I have a name I love, but Louis isn't sure about it.

I am still feeling good overall.  I do get uncomfortable at times, but it's been okay.  I am so looking forward to having a new baby!  It is such a wonderful and spiritual event.  I am so excited for our first son!  It is very exciting to think that with the way my last two pregnancies went we could be holding our new baby boy in our arms in less than 10 weeks.

Nesting

I am currently 24 weeks along in this pregnancy.  Things are going really well.  I feel great, I'm able to go to the gym multiple times a week, I can eat whatever I want, I have energy, and I'm also nesting!  I have been sewing and organizing like crazy!  Here are some of things I've made:

This blanket was the first thing I made.  I really love it!  I actually bought the fabric squares before we were even pregnant.  It turned out smaller than I expected, perfect for a little newborn!  I'm going to use it as a car seat blanket.  So of course I had to make a matching car seat cover!

Here's the car seat cover I made to match!

I made the CUTEST binky clip with the left over fabric.  I love it!

I made a little diaper and wipes strap .  I don't love it.  I have made them before and they've turned out much better so I think I'll be making a new one.  It'll do for now though.

The latest thing I've made, burp cloths!  I did different ones from the ones I usually make.  They are just a plain ol' rectangle with a towel-like fabric on the back!  My cousin Nanette made me one like this with Avery and it was one I really liked!  If this baby spits up like Avery then they'll get some good use!

I can't believe this pregnancy is going so fast!  Already 24 weeks along!  I had an appointment today and baby boy is still growing great with a strong heartbeat.  He is still so low!  I'm hoping he moves up at some point.  How long can he grow larger and stay down there?  And I'm still a little smaller than I was with Mary.  That always makes you feel good.

We don't have a name for baby boy yet.  I have one I like, but Louis doesn't think it's his name.  If we don't agree on a name, we just may go with Avery's name for her brother.  Hammer.