Is Bribing Bad?!

Now that spring is in full swing, the most common question in the Rio household is “When can we go to the park?!” After a long but oh so fun celebrating the marriage of some college friends, all I wanted was a full nights sleep in my own bed. Brooklynn is having trouble with this lately so what is a mom to do but to bribe her to stay in her bed all night. Of course, all she wanted in return was to go to the park the next day. Well, the bribe worked. She stayed in her bed all night, and then the next morning we headed to the park.
I have been seriously slacking on the picture taking over the last year or so. Everyone warned me it would happen after the birth of my second child and sure enough…it did. But I’m vowing here and now to TAKE MORE PICTURES and BLOG OFTEN. These two things were secretly my New Years resolutions and yeah we see how well that worked out! So with that said…here are some pictures from our morning at Hagan Stone:

my big boy loves swinging!

Nolie and his BF, Carter

Sweet B – she is so grown!

Brooklynn and Carson – sweet girls

the theme of this park visit was MUSIC!

Pitiful, huh?!

Maternity Pictures

Thanks to Matt I have some maternity pictures! He did fabulous!! Thank you honey!

Big Girl Bed

Something that I have not been in a hurry to do is to move Brooklynn out of her crib and into a twin bed. I knew that it was inevitable since Nolan will be needing the crib before too much longer. When we painted Brooklynn's room 2 weeks ago, we went ahead and moved the crib into the nursery/guestroom, so B has been sleeping in there. I got her bed painted and moved into her room. It was in there for a few days and B definitely noticed it and was excited. I never asked her to sleep in it - I had decided I was going to let it be her decision. So one night I was changing her to get ready for bed and started to walk her to Nolan's room to get in the crib and she asked if she could sleep in her "big girl bed" I was nervous but agreed. I told her she could not get up until it was morning. She agreed and crawled into bed. It was so crazy to tuck her into a real bed. I felt like I no longer had a baby but rather a little girl. She kissed me goodnight and I didn't hear from her again until she came into our room a730 the next morning. She has been going right down for her naps and sleeping great at night. I hope I'm not jinxing it by being so excited and proud, but I am. I hope she keeps it up!

Doesn't she looks so peaceful?!

30 weeks

I feel like I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While this pregnancy has FLOWN by, lately I have been feeling like I just may be pregnant forever. With my pregnancy with Brooklynn, I was so nervous about becoming a mother, part of me wanted to be pregnant for forever. This time, however, I know what it takes (although I know having 2 will be much more challenging than 1) to be a mother and darn it, I'm just ready for my little man to be here! We had a 3d ultrasound last week and it was absolutely amazing! This place gets the best ultrasound images I have ever seen! It was so great to be able to put a face with the name (and all the movement) and it made that much more ready to meet him.

I had my 30 week check up today. I have rotated through all of the doctors in the practice and today was back with my doctor. It was great to see her - even though I don't really feel that I know her all that well. I really do like her though, and have even thought how much smoother my first pregnancy may have gone had she been my doctor from the beginning. Everything was good...bp, urine, heartbeat, belly measurement (31) and um...weight. UH I hate that part, but however, it is part of the process. We are still on schedule for a VBAC. We are just keeping our fingers crossed and saying little prayers that my body will go into labor on its own. She will not intervene until 41 weeks. Oh good Lord - I beg of you please let something happen well before then. I just can't even imagine being pregnant for that long! But, I do desperately want the VBAC and will do whatever it takes to get it. I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks. Here's what the belly looks like as of today:

Thanks to my sweet husband for taking my direction and snapping these for me. I have already prepared him to do my maternity photos this weekend. :)

28 weeks

I made it! I feel like so much has changed in just a week...mostly my attitude. I just have been feeling sort of miserable this week. I feel like I'm getting huge and uncomfortable and yet I still have 3 months to go. I'm trying to stay positive. I am so thankful to be having such a nice healthy pregnancy this time. I had my doctors appointment Wednesday. As soon as I got there they gave me the yummy orange glucose drink and a timer set for an hour. I drank it (it really wasn't bad) and then went on with my normal appointment. (This doctors office is so efficient and organized - makes things so easy) I did gain 4 pounds - so I'm at 24 pounds. Geez. The Dr. told me I need to average a pound a week. Um, okay...This made me laugh a little because I wish I could control what I'm gaining, believe me! So I'll try to keep that in mind...as I stuff another strawberry poptart in my mouth. :) Other than that, everything went really well. My blood pressure is still great - which makes me very happy since I had issues with that last time. Then I had my blood work done for the glucose test and was out of there. I got the call yesterday (AT 5:00!) that my test came back normal! YAY -- no 3 hour test this time! So, my next appointment is in 2 weeks. I love going every two weeks - it makes time go by so fast! However, next Wednesday we have a 3d/4d ultrasound with an imaging place scheduled. I am SO SO excited to see what my little Nolan looks like! For now, here's a quick picture of what I look like this week...

What does a cow say?

Just a video of Brooklynn saying some of the animals sounds that she knows. Notice how pitiful the poor cat sounds! It makes me laugh so hard every time!