Christmas 2014 (Bauer Edition)

On Christmas Eve afternoon we headed back to Zach's parents for the rest of the week.  Lyle set out carrots for the reindeer, and cookies and Ginger Ale for Santa.  (I guess he was tired of milk??)

Auntie Kodi

Christmas morning Lyle was so excited to see that Santa had come!

  

Rudolf!

We had a relaxing day of stockings in the morning, lunch, and present opening in the afternoon.

Great Grandma Glenda

This boy loves working with his tools! 

Eating his "sushi" with chopsticks.  He's already better than me!

The rest of the week was basically spent in pajamas, relaxing!

Uncle Shawn

Cousin Aleigh

Naps with Papa

And naps with Auntie Koko and Snickers

I was very glad to be back home and in my own bed at the end of the week, but we had such a great Christmas with all our family.  So thankful we are close!

Christmas 2014 (Norris Edition)

Matching Christmas Jammies!

I am laying on the couch with a sleeping baby this morning, recovering from a week of Christmas fun.  I was curious how Christmas with a newborn and a two-year old would be.  Turns out it was amazing (and exhausting!). Lyle had a blast and Aria soaked in the cuddles.

Coloring with Aunt Barbie

Learning to juggle!

Zach had to work Monday and Tuesday, so he drove us to my parents on Sunday evening, so I could see more of my family.  He joined us again after work Tuesday evening.  The kids and I spent time playing with my niece and nephew (whose parents were on a trip in Europe!), visiting with my Aunt, and catching up with my siblings.

Auntie Steph

Uncle Jeff

We did our traditional "Christmas Eve" readings of the story of Jesus' birth, and a recording of my Nana reading "The Night before Christmas" (makes me tear up every time!) We tried to put the kids to bed, but Lyle was wired and wanted to be part of the action and my niece (and my poor Dad) caught the stomach bug that my mom, Lyle, and I had the week before.

Meeting their new cousin!

We gathered for breakfast in the morning and then headed downstairs to open presents.  What a fun day with family!

"Christmas Morning" 

Happy boy playing outside

Auntie Carrie

Uncle Mike!

It was so fun for most of my siblings to be able to meet Aria when she was just two weeks old.  We missed my sister Kristen and Philip and their sweet twin babies, but with the sickness that we passed around it ended up being better for them that they weren't there.  

Introducing...

We would like to introduce our sweet sweet baby girl...

Aria Grace Bauer

Born December 8, 2014 at 7:15 a.m.

10 pounds. 20 inches.

Already incredibly loved and adored.  

Birth story to come soon.

(Her name is pronounced ARE - ee- uh for those who are curious!)

Final Coutdown

One last post before we get to meet our sweet miss!  Although I am so incredibly ready for her to be here, it still seems a little surreal to know she will be here on Monday! 

We are scheduled for a c-section bright and early Monday morning, needing to be checking in to the hospital at 4:30 a.m.  I'm sure this is just as well, because I'm convinced I won't sleep great the night before.  I'm a little anxious (not really about the c-section, I didn't view my one with Lyle as traumatic at all), but maybe a more accurate description is nervous/excited.

We are planning to meet my parents in Wichita on Sunday to hand Lyle off, so he can stay with them while we are in the hospital.  Everyone keeps asking how I think Lyle will do, or if I think he understands what is going on.  I've heard so many different experiences from other moms, I think there is no way to know for sure how he will react.  He is a pretty lovey boy and I'm pretty sure he will be the big brother that gives a million kisses and tries to share all of his stuffed animals.  But only time will tell!

I'm hoping for some good one-on-one time with him this weekend, maybe finding something special to do in Wichita before we meet up with GiGi and Grandaddy.

As far as a pregnancy update goes, I have been pretty uncomfortable this week.  Work days get long, and I have considered leaving early on more than one occasion.  My feet and legs have been more swollen, and my back and side give me fits.  Heartburn seems like it is constant.  But I know some women who have symptoms much much worse and for much longer, so I am thankful!

In other news, we had a great Thanksgiving, getting to spend time with both Zach's family and mine.  It was the most wonderful feeling when we got home on Friday night that the weekend wasn't over, in fact tomorrow was only Saturday!!!

Attempt at a cousin picture

Playing at the park.  Thankful for beautiful weather!

We helped Grandma and Grammy decorate their Christmas trees.  Lyle is a pro now.

Our attempt to visit Santa.  Our town had a little parade Saturday night, then lit up the town square.  Afterwards kids could visit Santa.  I wanted to take Lyle, since I thought this might be our only chance for him to see Santa (at least where I could take him).  It was a beautiful night, and the line was extremely long, but even I didn't think it would take an hour and a half to get to the front.  I'm sure my husband could have told you it would take that long.  Lyle was fine talking about Santa in line, but once he went in that little house he cried anytime I put him near him.  We settled for a picture that included Mom and baby sister too.  When I put him down to leave, he turned very sweetly and told him "bye!" and waved.  Little stinker! Still a fun memory!

I am hoping to not have complete radio silence over here after baby girl comes.  Looking back it was months after Lyle was born before I posted anything.  So I will try my best to at least put pictures of her on here! :)  What a fun Christmas this will be!

36 Weeks

36 Weeks, Lyle on the left, Baby Girl on the right.  What do you think??? Bigger, Smaller?

How Many Weeks: 36 

Size of Baby: Ripe Papaya

Weight Gain: 31 pounds

Gender: A sweet sweet girl! 

Movement: After not being very active on last weeks scans, she has been back to normal!  

Sleep: A little bit better this week.  Still up several times a night, and constantly turning over to get comfortable, but overall a little better.

Symptoms: Having a lot more braxton-hicks contractions this week.  At my appointment my doctor said that I was already dilated to 4cm.  So who knows if that means I will go early or not....that's about the way it goes.  We actually have a scheduled date this time and she will find someway to keep us guessing!

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Cravings: I had a craving for Coke the other day, which is just weird because always drink either Dr.Pepper or Pepsi.  It's been cold this week, so I've been living on Chili and soup!

Best Moment This Week: We had a great time celebrating my mom-in-law's birthday this week!  My day off on Tuesday was so so nice!  I got things put away in the baby's room, and worked on packing our hospital bags!  My mom and dad came down yesterday and Mom helped me clean, while Dad helped Zach paint a dresser for the nursery.  We also sat down and did some Christmas shopping last night, and are almost finished.  Such a good feeling! 

Looking Forward To: I have a gift card to use, so next Saturday I am heading up for a massage and pedicure.  Can't wait! 

Also, look what my sweet sister Kristen and my mom made for me!  Such cute onsies, skirts, burp rags and bibs!  I am in love! :)

  

Lyle

I started writing a Lyle update two months ago (and never posted it obviously, story of my life).  And everything has changed already!  This boy is growing up faster than I can imagine!  He seems like such a big kid now, and I know he will seem even older when this little baby comes!

So here is a glimpse into Lyle's world.

-Everything revolves around superheros.  He was Hulk for Halloween, says he wants Santa to bring him three Hulk costumes, gets to watch "Avengers Assemble" cartoon with his Dad on Netflix, and can tell you the names of the bad guys in his Spiderman book (mostly because we ask him to repeat Gleen Globalin (Green Goblin) all the time-so funny!)

-His favorite activity is to "work" on his tractors.  He will get all of his tools out and fix whatever needs fixing!

-Pizza and macaroni are his favorites.

-He loves to talk to baby sister.  He will hug my tummy and say, "She's getting bigger and bigger!"  He will tell her something he did that day, then turn to me and say, "What she say?"  We are still working on the concept that baby sister won't be able to talk and play when she is born. lol.

-He insists on wearing his boots everyday.  With sweatpants, shorts, jeans, his Halloween costume.  Everyday.

-He has started to love to sing, usually picking the ABC's or Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Start to sing, especially yelling out the last word of each line.  He loves lots of other songs too, my favorite being PLOP Goes the Weasel.  Which turns into PLOP goes the popcorn, and anything else he can think of.  Such a silly man.

           

-He has been much better at going to bed each night.  We usually read a book, then he climbs on up and gets snuggled in.  I turn on his night-lights and say "night-night, I love you!" And he so sweetly says back, "I love you too Mama!"  Melts my heart every time.

-Your imagination is starting to go crazy!  I love to listen to you playing and making up stories!

Snow Day

We woke up to snow this morning, and I really did not want to get out, so I pulled the 9-month pregnant card and we had a snow day.  

Just talking on the phone while sneaking some of Dad's cereal.

He LOVED playing in the snow!

Clearing a path for me.

Don't mind the nose...

And then I put up my Christmas tree.  Such a happy day! :)

35 Weeks

How Many Weeks: 35, our scheduled day is in one month !!! So exciting! 

Size of Baby: Canary Melon

Weight Gain: 30 pounds

Gender: A sweet sweet girl! 

Movement: Yes. She was a bit of a stinker during my biophysical on Friday. She would not kick (which is very unusual for her), so that means a failing score. I stopped by my doctor's office to see what I should do, and they sent me over to Wesley to have a non-stress test done. They hooked me up to the monitors and everything was fine, so I will have my regular appointments next week. I'm trying to monitor her kicks pretty closely this weekend to make sure she is still doing okay. She gave us a little bit of a scare! 

Sleep: Same story different week

Symptoms: All around uncomfortable. 

Maternity Clothes: yes, if they even fit anymore

Cravings: Apples

Best Moment This Week: My mom came down yesterday to help get some projects done. It feels good to check things off the list! 

Looking Forward To: I have the day off on Tuesday. Looking forward to  relaxing with my coffee in the morning and getting more checked off my list! 

  

Halloween Fun

They say holidays are so much more fun once you have kids.  I definitely underestimated how much fun Halloween would be with Lyle this year.

We asked him several times what he wanted to be, and he always landed on the Hulk.  We have a small obsession with superheroes at our house right now.  His father might have something to do with that.  So we found a hulk costume, complete with fake muscles, and Zach found some huge soft fists that completed the look.

He was so insistent the day his costume came in the mail that "yes, it was Halloween day and we needed to go trick-or-treating right now!"  So you can imagine how excited he was that morning when I woke him up and told him it was Halloween.  He said, "Yay, yay, yay!  It's Halloween Day!"  He got to take his costume to daycare, and they went trick-or-treating at the bank.

We ate a quick dinner when we got home from work, got ready (he insisted on wearing his cowboy boots with his costume), and took a few pictures.  We walked around our neighboorhood, and he was LOVING it.

Grammy and Papa

He kept his mask on the whole night, and his fists too, other than turning to Zach or I once they opened the door to take a fist off so he could grab candy! Then it was "on to the next house!"

With his spoils

It was so nice that Halloween was on a Friday, and we had the rest of the weekend to relax!  We were lazy Saturday morning, and Z went to get donuts (because we all needed more sugar, right???)  Zach's mom made chili for lunch, and we left Lyle out there to nap and play while we headed to Wichita.

Z's friend had a stroke a week or two ago, so we stopped by the hospital to see him.  He was down getting an MRI, so we missed getting to visit, but we were able to say hi to his wife, and leave him a gift.

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and going to see a movie (it had been forever!)  It was so good to just spend time together, especially with how busy things have been lately!

I know this picture is really dark, but Lyle was building me towers out of blocks.  The first tower was a gas station, this tower was "full of bolognas."  Hah!

Sunday was spent at church, with afternoon naps for the whole family.  I worked on some laundry and cutting out fabric for baby girl's Christmas stocking.

A great weekend with lots of time with my sweet family.  That's what I love the most!

32-33-34 Weeks

How Many Weeks: 34

Size of Baby: Pineapple

Weight Gain: 29 pounds

Gender: Girl....with lots of hair according to the sonogram tech! 

Movement: Oh Yes. Stops me in my tracks sometimes! 

Sleep: Most nights are not good, maybe a "decent" night of sleep once or twice a week. 

Symptoms: I hit the tired mark again...wishing for a nap most days! Still dealing with back/side pain, heartburn, and I'm pretty sure I waddle by the end of the day! ;) But everything is so completely worth it! 

Maternity Clothes: Definitely. Honestly I hate trying to get dressed postpartum waaaay more than maternity clothes. Bought some comfy pants to wear in the first couple weeks after baby comes. 

Cravings: Fazoli's breadsticks

Best Moment This Week: Trick-or-treating with Lyle was a blast. He was having so much fun! Zach and I went on a date yesterday and it was so nice to have time together! 

Looking Forward To: A normal work week! No flu clinics! Hoping to continue working on some baby projects...a little bit at a time, right??  

How Many Weeks: 33

Size of Baby: Honeydew Melon (supposed to be about 4.5 pounds.....my sonogram yesterday estimated her at 5 lbs 7 oz (putting her in the 81st percentile)  lol that sounds about right!

Weight Gain: I forgot to weigh before leaving work yesterday. 

Gender:  Girl, Girl, Girl!  We have been getting more things for her nursery and it's so exciting!  I picked up some prints we had framed and they are adorable!

Movement:  All the time!  This little girl can move!

Sleep:  Still not great this week.  My sister sent her pregnancy pillow, so we will give that a try this week!

Symptoms:  I was pretty exhausted at the end of the days this week.  We had a ton of clinics where we went to businesses to give their employees flu shots, so there were lots of early mornings, and standing through the day.  Braxton-Hicks are coming more often.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but even some of my maternity shirts are feeling too small.

Cravings:  I have to admit I'm looking forward to the Halloween candy in our near future! :)

Best Moment This Week: I'm always happy when my doctor appointments go well.  Baby girl had hiccups during my sonogram and it was so funny to watch!  Glad to see she is growing well, and the echogenic bowel is not looking as bright as it had in the past.  
Also, I was able to finish my niece and nephew's baby quilts and send them in the mail this week.  So fun to send them some love!

Looking Forward To:  Halloween fun! :) Pictures to come!

  

How Many Weeks: 32

Size of Baby: Head of lettuce

Weight Gain: 24 pounds.  I don't know if I am just out and about more this time around, but I do not remember receiving so many comments from people (that I know, and random ones) about my pregnancy and the size of my stomach.  I heard from several people this week that I looked like I was about to pop (not comforting to hear when I still have 7 weeks to grow!)  

Gender:  Girl!

Movement:  Strong enough to watch from the outside.  My stomach gets lopsided when she moves too much to one side or another.

Sleep:  Not very good this last week.  I kept waking up with heartburn then not being able to go back to sleep. Then Lyle got sick and things went downhill pretty fast.  

Symptoms:  My stomach feels so tight!  I'm not sure where else she is going to go!  But then I look at pictures of my last month pregnant with Lyle and know my stomach is just going to keep stretching.  It's amazing and crazy all at the same time. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but I'm starting to hate anything tight by the end of the day.  I'm ready to change out of anything with a belly band and go for big sweats and a huge t-shirt just so nothing touches my stomach.  Don't stop by our house in the evening...

Cravings:  Still loving the sweets.  Zach made malts a couple of evenings...oh yum! 

Best Moment This Week:  It was a crazy work week, coupled with evening meetings, and Lyle getting sick.  I was so glad we didn't have anything concrete planned for the weekend.  We ended up getting out of the house to explore our town's little fall festival, then made progress moving furniture and getting rooms cleaned out.  Although it might look like a bigger mess than when we started.  When I was at my BPP sonogram on Friday, the tech switched over to 4-D so I could see her sweet face.  Oh she has the cutest chubby cheeks!  It made it so real to see her face like that...soo fun!

Looking Forward To:  Our church's Trunk-or-Treat/Fall Festival is on Saturday and it is always such a fun night!  We have details to get finalized for the event by then, but Lyle is so excited to dress up in his costume!

  

31 Weeks

How Many Weeks: 31

Size of Baby: Head of lettuce

Weight Gain: 21 pounds

Gender:  Girl!

Movement:  Quite a bit. Doing kick counts every night.

Sleep:  I felt like I slept a little bit better this week. (Granted I am still getting up 2-3 times a night). Maybe I have just been tired from crazy days at work!

Symptoms:  Side and back pain, heartburn, all the fun last trimester uncomfortable-ness 

Maternity Clothes: Definitely. Loving that I can wear my boots and scarfs! 

Cravings:  Nothing too crazy...just make sure to keep me fed every couple of hours! Lol. I got a Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks on Friday when it was so rainy and cold and it hit the spot! 

Best Moment This Week:  We went to the Kansas Barn Sale last weekend and it was CRAZY! We waited about an hour to find somewhere to park, then ended up walking about a 1/2 mile through a field to get there. There were so many people it was hard to walk or see anything. Still a fun outing but not what I expected. We went to the Cosmosphere yesterday for Zach's company picnic. It was fun but Lyle was done sitting still about 15 minutes into each show.

Looking Forward To:  We don't have anything planned for next weekend so hopefully we can get some projects done. 

Baby Update: We have now passed two weeks of our BPP checks. We also scheduled our c-section, so unless this little girl comes early, she will be here December 8! So so exciting!

  

29 Weeks

How Many Weeks: 29

Size of Baby: Small Cabbage

Weight Gain: 20 pounds

Gender:  Girl!

Movement:  She is moving like crazy these days.  Like, there is no way to ignore her crazy!  But I love that part, so I'm not complaining.

Sleep:  I feel like all I do is roll over to try to get comfortable again.

Symptoms:  Side and back pain

Maternity Clothes:  I've been trying to use my fall/winter wardrobe from when I was pregnant with Lyle, but I always end up being too hot! The mornings and evenings feel wonderful, but the afternoons have been in the high 80's, so I'm never quite sure what to wear!

Cravings:  I must be cravings sweets because when I thought about the best things I had to eat this week they included: rice krispie treats, pumpkin dessert, and a shake from Sonic! :)

Best Moment This Week:  We had a great weekend in Hesston.  It was nice to spend time with my parents, and Lyle loved having their full attention!  We also were able to catch up with friends at the reunion. 

Looking Forward To:  This next weekend is the Kansas Barn Sale outside of Hesston, and I'm excited to hunt for treasures, and hopefully get some early Christmas shopping done!