getting closer to baby/ 36 weeks.

I have shifted from doing a million home projects to focusing on my last days alone with Zara. We make a lot of cages for her lion figurines, watch shows together, I indulge her acting like a baby, having pool & zoo time & baking.
Of course, I have had lots of help too. Jonas takes Zara outside a lot to play in the sprinkler or baby pool. He can also be found changing all the pull ups, giving every bath and cleaning up the toys most of the time. Basically saving my sanity and my back after a long day. It has been wonderful to have someone spend time with her while I was distracted by baby preparation too. I feel slightly less guilty.

It has been quieter around here. In June we took a few trips & it has been nice to be home (except the days when our A/C went out. Thank goodness for my Dad who saved us and fixed it..twice).

Other things from July so far:
Jonas took a road trip with a big group of people to see his favorite soccer team play. I stayed home with Zara and a pizza.

Zara gave her first talk at church. She did a wonderful job!

We saw the new Lion King movie and have purchased several toys for her. We can't help it. She is living the Lion King life right now.

As for this 36 week thing- it is feeling real.

I have started to get pregnancy stretch marks for the first time. It seriously happened overnight. I have ordered expensive cream that claims to solve the problem- I am skeptical but would regret trying nothing. Although I was already using some intense body butter.

I have lots of pressure and it feels like she could just come out of there at any moment. I just hope she doesn't arrive before we have taken some family photos and I have finished some more cleaning.

I am extremely slow moving. So many parts of my body hurt.

& I have my last 3 Dr. appointments scheduled. Crazy!

35 weeks.

I will miss the nice hair and skin I have enjoyed lately in this pregnancy. It will be missed!

I am not going to miss that stretched out skin feeling that is currently going on with my stomach.

& I can wait to meet this baby!

34 weeks!

Preparing for this baby has been such a special time. We have worked hard to get everything ready & we are full of anticipation to meet this little girl!

I think Zara sort grasps what is coming too- she always says something like: "Are we going together? You, me, Daddy & Eleanor in your belly?" (that will be her name, yay!) & now she is talking about a time "when Eleanor gets here".


6 weeks to go!

the Cincinnati Zoo.

We spent an afternoon melting at the Cincinnati Zoo :)
I heard so many curse words from other parents
& completely related to the white lion that was laying down with its tongue out.
We still made our way to most of the exhibits- Cinci is a really great zoo. I appreciate the "fun facts" next to each animal- they are age appropriate & interesting for Z.
I loved all of the little wild cats & the insectarium is amazing.
Zara said she just loved playing.
It was a good day!

"you look like the 4th of July. Makes me want a hot dog real bad!"

We had a low key 4th of July together. Jonas made dinner at home & then we went to the Crescent Hill Old Fashioned 4th of July. Zara did an obstacle course six times in a row, had a snow cone, got a unicorn balloon, shared balloons with some people sitting near us and lit some sparklers.
The fireworks were beautiful and a live military band played the whole time- it was lovely!
Happy Birthday, America!

33 weeks!

This baby girl moves constantly! I don't remember Zara moving so frequently or with such force but she sure did have a lot of hiccups.

I am currently dreaming of what this little baby will look like. It is so insane that soon a new person will live in our house- a person I made. & she will look like Zara which automatically makes her amazing to me because Zara is my favorite.

Sorry for all the bump photos but I will probably be taking one every week until the end because pregnancy is magical and this is the last baby I am planning. I cherish this baby bump!