35 week bumpdate

baby is the size of a coconut (is it just me or did he shrink??)

baby is as long as an asparagus!

baby is as long as a stalk of celery!

baby is as big as a honeydew melon!

baby is as big as romaine lettuce!

people have already started telling me, "you look like you're about to pop!" and, "any day now?"  nope.  still another month.  thanks though!

yes, I know I'm HUGE.  I've already gained more weight with this babe than I did total with Clark but I'm not that worried.  last time I wasn't sure I would be able to lose it all but I didn't even really do much and it just came off.  the last 5 pounds were the hardest but I honestly thought it would be much harder to lose the baby weight.  I hear it gets harder with each consecutive pregnancy so I guess we'll see.

34 weeks with Clark

35 weeks with Clark

one week postpartum

I've started seeing my doctor every week.  at my last appointment he said baby is right on track for my due date, February 22nd.  if he isn't here by then he will induce me that day!  Mark predicts the baby will be here before the 20th (he used to predict he would come in JANUARY!  let's hope not.)  I'm hoping for a Valentine's babe! ♥ 

last Valentine's Day!

this weekend we're painting the nursery a pale mint color (we never painted it when we moved in because it was a neutral gray and matched fine with our nursery scheme but I have wanted to paint it mint for awhile).  next week we're washing all the baby things (clothes, sheets, blankets, burp cloths, car seats, swing, etc) and re-arranging the dresser to make room for all the baby clothes!  this is really happening!

I really am not exercising at all these days.  my lower back has been killing me, just after running simple errands or going on short walks.  I already have tailbone problems but with all my ligaments loosening up in preparation for birth and with all the extra weight I'm carrying directly in front of my tailbone, it's been pretty bad.  I've also been getting mild contractions sometimes when I walk for too long (braxton hicks?)  I get this really terrible shooting pain in my pelvic area and my pelvic bone is so sore I am already doing the pregnancy waddle.  it seriously feels like the equivalent of getting kicked in the balls, it's that painful (or so I imagine)!

I really have a feeling this baby will be early, mostly because I can't imagine how my stomach could possibly get any bigger!  I have gotten stretch marks this time around on my lower belly.  they aren't that noticeable but I've been using cocoa butter every day in hopes they go away!  heartburn at night keeps me up and I'm constantly rolling back and forth trying to find a comfortable position.  the baby has been head down for months now and his feet are right in between my rib cage!  sometimes that area feels numb, like when your foot or arm goes to sleep.  it's so weird.

I also remember last pregnancy freaking out right about this time that there was really a baby inside of me!!  but I'm pretty much over that this time.  I'm just loving every night I get another consecutive 8 hours of sleep and being able to nap with Clark every day.  I also am trying really hard to give Clark lots of attention and play with him because I know I'm going to wish I could once the baby is here and regret not having given him more of my time.

time...such a precious thing.  there's never enough.  sometimes I wonder if this is a good time to have another baby (uh, too late!)  I wonder if it's good for Clark or if he needed me to himself longer.  I wonder how much he will understand when the baby gets here or if he will feel like I still love him as much.  I just keep telling myself that this baby is the best thing I could do for Clark.  I'm giving him a little brother, a best friend for life.  it might take some getting used to but I think one day he will be really grateful and happy that he has a brother so close.

I think I'm most excited to see what the baby looks like!  I secretly want him to look a lot like me...red hair even!  but I think he might look just like Clark.  another mini Mark.  that would be lovely too.  I just can't wait to hold him for the first time and for it all to feel real!  last update?  maybe, just maybe!

maternity shoot at 34 weeks w/ Clark

Rawlings Christmas 2017

Christmas this year was truly one of the most magical!  Clark woke up early Christmas morning, around 5:30 and came back to bed with us.  then he and I slept in till 9 while Mark was too excited to sleep and turned on all the Christmas lights around the house and got everything all set up.  when Clark woke up the second time, Mark came and got him and when he took him outside our room, he saw the tree all lit up and pointed excitedly.  Mark took him around the house and showed him all the lights and he was pretty impressed :)

we called my parents because they wanted to come over with Steph (Sean and Kara weren't able to make it until a few days later) and watch him open his presents.  he was pretty excited when they all showed up.  I know he could tell something exciting was about to happen!

last Christmas Clark spent most of the time in his walker running around and playing with the wrapping paper.  this year he was actually interested in what was inside the paper!  he got way too many presents, which I know because halfway through he got overwhelmed and when we would hand him a present he would shake his head no and wave his hands back and forth.

here's everything he got this year!

-Tickle-Me-Elmo

-Melissa & Doug instruments

-toddler songs cd

-Nuby octopus w/ rings

-Elmo & Cookie Monster louffa's

-stacking cups

-keys

-cars

-toothbrushes (one of his favorites haha!)

-Boon jellies suction cups

-shark towel

-Stanford jacket (from Eleanor)

-annual Christmas jammies (from Grams)

-"Little Blue Truck"w/ a little blue truck (from Grams & Pops)

-"A Giraffe & a Half" (from Grams & Pops)

-sound animal puzzle (from Grandma)

-Melissa & Doug cleaning set (from Grandma & Grandad)

-Melissa & Doug play ice-cream (from Aunt Stephy)

-doctor kit (from Uncle Sean & Aunt Kara)

-tight rope walking clown (from the Westovers)

-Lightning McQueen ride-on car! (from Santa)

his favorite gift?  keys.  a plain old set of keys!!

he also LOVED these suction cups and loved sticking them to Grandad's face!

the little blue truck from Grams was a hit!

we hid Clark's big gift from Santa in the closet until he had opened everything else and then we told him to go look in the closet and as soon as he saw the car he climbed right in!  he was so excited!!  even though he still can't quite figure out how to make it go, he loves to climb in and out of it and honk the horns.  I think he understands in theory how it works (he has pressed the pedal a few times and been shocked / excited at what happens) but is a little scared of it / can't always get his feet to do what he wants them to do yet.  but he plays with it everyday and always screams with glee when he sees it first thing in the morning!

after we had opened all Clark's presents, we got our stuff together and headed to my parents, where we would be staying for the next week and a half so we could spend as much time as possible with the family and play games after putting Clark to bed.  it was like a real vacation!  the best part...my mom got up early every morning and watched Clark for me while I slept in (till noon a couple days!)  felt. soooo. good.

so after the exciting Christmas morning at our house, we still had all of our presents to open at my parents!  we missed Sean and Kara but had fun spending the second half of the day opening all our presents one by one (per tradition).  it took forever and this is how Clark felt about it...

we got so many awesome gifts!!  Mark and I got our dream couch from Pottery Barn for Christmas so we agreed to only get each other one gift.  I got him this Levi's shirt on eBay that used to be his favorite shirt in college but it got burned in a roman candlestick war.  since that gift wasn't very expensive I also got him these pants from Zara that look incredible on him!  he totally did better than me though...he got me a Cardio Barre ballet barre and workout dvd!!  I used to love Cardio Barre in LA but haven't done it since we moved.  somehow Mark thought to get me it and it's pretty much why I married him.  he knows me so well and is so creative and thoughtful!

a few more standout gifts were a stocking for the baby that Mark asked Remi to make.  as soon as I saw it, the tears just started flowing.  it's perfect!!!  my sister got me a gratitude journal that I've been wanting for years and I've been using it every day!  I also got this super nice nursing bra from my mom and some gorgeous mauve velvet shoes.  Mark got these Vans he really wanted, some sweet jeans from his dad, and this awesome pocket knife keychain from his mom.  my parents also got us a much needed blu-ray dvd player!

here's everything else I got and what I remember Mark getting...

from Mark's parents: 

- Free people tunic (my most flattering article of clothing these days!)

-Havainas flip-flops

-stockings for the boys

-pie cover

-fork for cooking

-temple robe

stocking stuffers:

-fuzzy socks

-peanut m&ms

-this adorable lady dish wand

from my parents:

-cookie sheet

-hand towels

-succulents

-white flowy lounge pants

-laundry basket

from mom:

-Cake nursing bra

-Ariel shirt

-Eeyore night shirt

-Cinderella & Prince Charming ornament

-baby tote bag

-mauve velvet shoes

from dad:

-earrings

-blu ray player

from sissy:

-nail polish

-rose perfume & lip balm (heavenly!)

-rose body butter

-compact mirror

-5 Minute Journal

from Sean & Kara:

-candy

-crossword puzzle book

-hangman book

and here's everything I remember Mark getting...

stocking stuffers:

-socks w/ soccer balls on them

-Snickers

-Arsenal keychain

from his parents:

-olive green henley (to match my tunic)

-pocket knife keychain

-jeans

from my parents:

-work shirts

-Vans

-crew socks

-Robin Hood

from sissy:

-aqua flannel shirt

from Sean & Kara:

-candy

-crossword puzzle book

-hangman book

our best Christmas present though is going to be here in just 5 weeks!!!  we can't wait to meet you BABY!!!!!

Our First Family Vacation!

for our anniversary back in November we decided to take Clark with us because a) my parents were out of town and b) we thought it would be fun to have a last hurrah as a family of 3 before the new baby comes!  we stayed in a hotel in the city and took Clark to see all the sights for the first time.  the first day we went to NASA Space Center!

I think Clark's favorite part about NASA was getting soft serve ice-cream made for us by a robot (in a fancy vending machine).  we got one with m&ms and one with sprinkles and I think he ate more than I did! I must really love him because ice-cream and I are best friends :)

there was only one real toddler friendly area...you could make your own alien with these velcro body parts and there were a couple ship simulators that you could lay in or control your ship on a screen.  it was pretty packed though and Clark mostly just walked around people watching.  he was pretty clingy on this day and wanted me to carry him everywhere!

he refused to stick his head inside!

we ended NASA with a fun train ride to Orion Mission Control where I got to carry Clark up over 100 steps to this auditorium overlooking mission control and they gave the longest presentation ever!  it was probably only like 10 minutes but it was so quiet in there and we were the only ones with a baby.  he kept climbing over me out of our row and wanting to explore the lighted steps!  finally Mark just let him climb up and down and followed him.  haha, we really did have a good time though!

on day two we headed to the Houston Aquarium!  I think this was everyone's favorite place.  they had a lot of kid friendly things to do and Clark loves animals!  his favorite thing here was the white tigers.  they are so beautiful!

it's a good thing there was glass in between us!  look at those teeth!!

Clark loves when he's allowed to walk around out of the stroller.  he really takes in his surroundings and loves to explore.  he also has a lot of fun running away and trying to lose us...

I think Clark's favorite thing we did here was pet some sting rays!  he thought it was hilarious and really wished we had let him jump in and swim with them.  Mark almost dropped him!

Clark wanted to pet them over and over!

they had some carnival games and rides outside the aquarium.  we went on a fun train ride, Clark's first ferris wheel (it was way too long and he got really antsy up in the sky and wanted to get out), and his second time on a carousel.  he was really serious the whole time but I know he liked it.

hahaha, that is such a typical Clark face!

Clark was worn out after all the fun.  we took him to Sonic for lunch and then he took a nap in the car while we headed to Kemah boardwalk to spend the evening.  it was a loooong day for him...when he woke up, he was in such a daze at Kemah with all the people.  he was super mellow and content to just sit in the stroller and suck away on his binky.

we took him on his third train ride of the trip and another mini ferris wheel that was basically torture because he had to sit in his seat buckled in, heaven forbid!

the best part of the trip was later that evening.  Mark had promised me we could get ice-cream so we got a banana split to share.  it ended up being Clark's dinner (we gave him some oatmeal later at the hotel) and he LOVED it!  we sat in a booth at this arcade / diner with 50's music playing and Clark was dancing and giggling and being so hyper!  it was hilarious!!

I think ice-cream became Clark's new favorite food this trip

we were only an hour away from home but it felt like we were in another state!  we decided we're going to try and do family vacations, even if we don't go very far, every year because this one was so much fun.  every night Clark went to bed so easily because he was exhausted but then he would wake up in the early morning and come snuggle in the big hotel bed with us.  it wasn't the most romantic anniversary by any means, but it was one of my favorites!  I love my boys more than anything in the whole world.