Baby update - 37 Weeks

We're so close!!!

I feel like I'm just waiting around for this baby boy. We've had everything ready (minus a few small things) for over a month now. I guess I should start some freezer meals...

The house is usually pretty clean now. Trying to keep it organized. I'll thank myself later when we come home to a clean house with our new baby. :)

Sophia and I dyed and washed (and washed and washed and washed!) all the flats for cloth diapering. 

Silas' things are all set up in our room. We decided not to do a nursery since he'll be in our room for at least the first year. He'll sleep in the co-sleeper crib for as long as he'll fit, and after that he'll sleep with us. Probably six months or so. I bought the co-sleeper at the JBF sale last year for less than half the original price. I wasn't even pregnant and Sophia was too big for it. But I couldn't pass up the deal and knew we'd eventually get some use out of it. So glad I did! It fits GREAT in our tiny room. 

The little mattress also lowers for when he starts sitting and pulling up. It also can connect to the bed, but it doesn't work out in our room. Our king size bed takes up too much space. But hey, all we do is sleep in there anyway. It also has wheels and is very light weight. It's basically a mini pack-n-play. At first I was hesitant to put it there since it's by a window, but we usually have the drapes pulled at night and that's a new window. If it doesn't work out there we can always move it to the foot of our bed.

I cleaned out two dresser drawers and a side door for Silas' diapers and clothes (0-6months) and put up a small changing pad. We've been practicing keeping the dresser clean since it'll be the changing area for a while. It's working out great! 

This past year I've really been into living minimally. Living with only what we need and love. For a while, I was in a constant state of purging. Somehow, I'm still getting rid of stuff every day... Sheesh! But I am impressed with how well everything fits into our room. Aaron and I each have a small closet and a little bit of space in the dresser. We actually haven't ever been able to use our chest of drawers because it's never fit in our room! Ha!

Eventually, Sophia and Silas will share Sophie's bedroom and we'll change the hot pink decor to something more neutral. I'd love to get a simple, toddler-friendly loft style bunk bed set for them. You know, one where the bottom bunk is basically on the floor and the top is somewhat enclosed on all edges? Although I love our home, I don't see us living in this neighborhood for longer than a few years. So hopefully when Sophia is ready and needing her own space, we'll have sold this house for a different one with a better lay out. For now our third bedroom is going to be the play/school room. Can't wait to get it finished and post pictures! (Sophia pulled out the baby toys for Silas to check out right before I took the pictures.)

Oh! Whoops.

The pregnancy! 

37 Weeks! 

I'm feeling huge.

I can't believe I have another three weeks to go. How much bigger will I get?! 

-In the clear to labor at home as long as I'm comfortable. Woo hoo!

-My hands (no, not from high blood pressure) and feet started swelling around 32 weeks, and mostly stay like that unless I'm freezing cold and sit down all day. And neither of those things ever happen, so yeah, it's terrible. 

-Aaron's been rubbing my feet at night and it is THE BEST GIFT EVER!

-Gained 29 lbs so far.

-Still no stretch marks... But am thinking I should probably start lotioning up. Things are getting tight in there!

-Actually sleeping better now than I think I have my whole pregnancy. Minus the fact that I'm up to pee exactly every two hours. (Thank you, water retention and baby sitting on my bladder.)

-Feeling pretty great throughout the day. Ok, minus the swollen hands and feet. It's not even my ankles either. It's my feet! I officially have one pair of shoes that for. Black Nike flip flops. Kinda limits the outfit choices. :/ Not even unlaced tennis shoes for comfortably! Or any other flip flops I have. 

-Always trying to up my water intake. Ah. 

-Soaking in as many sweet moments as I can with Sophia. Especially bed time. I know it's all going to change soon. Not sure who I'm more sad for, her or me? Trying to talk about baby brother with her more and more to help the transition. 

We can't wait to meet our baby Silas. Sweet boy. We're so close! 

Catch Up

I have a ton of pictures in my phone that have been sitting there. What's the point in taking them if I don't upload or print them out? Maybe I've just formed a bad habit of taking random pictures?

Anyway, here are some of the latest.

She's the cutest. Still naps the best in our bed and that is A-OK with me.

Daddy... always tryin' to give me a heart attack.

Got to spend some time with our sweet friends, Tish and Josiah. We miss them already!!

Touch a Truck was totally fun. And hot. But fun. :)

Sophia has been into dress up lately... She can also put on socks and tennis shoes herself. Along with every other pair she owns. Ha! We counted the other day. She changed shoes/socks/slippers/dress up shoes fourteen times. Yep. All day, every day.

Making some "banana swirl" for dinner.

Daddy. Whether it's spending an extra ten minutes making Sophia laugh to get through brushing teeth or pulling over when it's already past bedtime to see a train, Daddy always puts a smile on Sophie's face any time he can. Sometimes I have remind myself not to be so rushed about everything. Glad we have him. Sophia loves trains, especially The Polar Express. Every time we drive by the train station she talks about it being The Polar Express. The other night Aaron pulled over and let her climb around for a minute. Talk about making a two year old's night! He took her back the next day to really climb around and explore. :)

First dentist appointment. She did great and cavity free!

Sophia and I "helped" with the YMCA Kids Triathlon. Sophie was thrilled to go to work with Dad and wear a YMCA t-shirt. Aaron hopped in the pool to help and encourage the last little swimmer to finish the swim. Sophia so badly wanted to swim with Daddy. Putting her feet in turned into her swimming in her clothes and doing a little lesson with Dad.

Sister and Bitty Baby breaking in Silas' changing area. Bitty Baby is getting a "check up."

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend.

We had a full weekend!

Friday was spent in Eldorado with the Dorans, Aaron's sister Jennifer's family. Sophia LOVED seeing the girls and had been talking about playing with them for at least a week or two.

Saturday morning Sophia went with her Daddy Sammy to an Easter Egg hunt at ASU (notice the matching yellow and blue outfits). Had to snap a picture before they left!

Then we went to my dad's friend's house in Christoval for another egg hunt, hot dogs and smores, and songs around the fire pit. Sophia pulled this little wagon all over the place!

Sunday we went to church.

I haven't even mentioned yet that we joined a new church! Aye!

Back in November we randomly decided to go to Freedom Fellowship one Sunday. We loved it. And we've been going ever since. I think it was in February that we joined. I can't even remember? Maybe early March? Anyway, it just felt really good, and right, to be there. We're just the Byrd's. Aaron, Ashley, Sophia, and baby brother on the way. :) Not Kevin's daughter's family, Logan or Jordan's sister's family, Robin's daughter's family. I never really of thought this before, but now that I think about it, it doesn't feel like my family's past is hanging over me anymore. It's freeing. And I didn't realize how badly I needed that until I went to another church. I can feel myself, and I know Aaron feels the same for himself, growing and stretching in ways I wasn't ready to while going to CCSA. Freedom is very similar to CCSA and I think that's why we feel so at home there. We still love all of our CCSA people, and that will always be home to me. But right now, Freedom is exactly where we are supposed to be.

After church we went to my mom's in Grape Creek for dinner, a walk, decorating eggs, and hanging out. I need to go over there more. It's so peaceful out there. We had a great time.






























I'm pretty sure Sophia had more candy than she's ever had... But no worries. Aaron and I helped her out eating it all up. ;)

Asthma

A few weeks ago we found out Sophia has asthma. Totally caught us off guard since we've never really respiratory issues with her. I mean, this 32 weeker didn't even need oxygen at birth! She did have some breathing issues a few months ago and we took her into the ER one night. The doctor said it was a bronchial infection and sent us on our way with a prescription. So I guess that was the first sign of asthma since there was wheezing, but it was anything like this last flare up.

Started with a runny nose, turned into little cough, then major wheezing and trouble catching her breath. Pretty scary. Happened fast. Definitely not like anything I've ever seen. Much different than being "sick." That week we had done all the normal stuff we do when we get colds like elderberry, probiotics, tea, honey and lemon, natural cough syrup, essential oils, cool mist humidifier, but none of it was working and we didn't know why. Usually we can kick whatever virus we have pretty quick using all of that...

Long story short, Sophia woke up from a nap on a Friday afternoon having a real hard time breathing. I sent some videos to my sister-in-law, Nikki, asking if I should bring her in (she's one of Sophia's pediatrician's nurses) and she showed the videos to the doctor. He took one look and said it was asthma. We were able to get all medicines and a breathing machine within an hour and scheduled an appointment for the following Monday. We are so grateful for Nikki. I feel like we're always asking her something about Sophia or needing this and that, and she never seems to mind. At our appointment on Monday her pediatrician said the asthma is because she was premature and she'll probably always have respiratory issues. Wow. 

He has her on a daily preventative medicine and another one to take during flare ups. And it has been a journey!  We've had serious behavior issues since starting all of the medicine. It was like a light switch. Full blown tantrums, yelling/screaming/crying/hitting, extremely hyper, melt downs over tiny things... Lots of things we've never seen from her all happening within 24 hours of starting the meds. Blah. Sure some of it is her age but I'm telling you, we saw a drastic difference in her almost immediately. It's been tough. We mostly just feel bad for Sophie. Poor little girl. It's hard enough to  sort through your two and a half year old emotions... But Aaron and I fully believe she will be healed and overcome this asthma and that it is only for a season (could be months or years, but definitely not speaking this over her life!). We're thinking it might be allergy induced, so it just might literally be seasonal. Heh. ;)

Breathing treatments were tortue for the first two or three days. So sad. But eventually Sophia got the hang of it, and she doesn't think twice about it now. She won't be able to use an inhaler until she's three, so we're still doing treatments daily for her preventative (ack!). If she starts coughing, we'll do albuterol treatments every four hours until the cough goes away, but so far we've only had to do those the week this all started.

Tia Nini came over as soon as she got off work that Friday. It took Sophia about an hour to get through the first treatment. Again. I'm so glad Nikki was there. I didn't know albuterol makes you shaky. Had Nikki not been there, I would have panicked thinking she was having another febrile seizure! Phew! This was probably the last two minutes when she finally stopped crying and kept the mask over her face.

Piglet gets lots of breathing treatments, too. ;)

We tried several different ways to keep her busy during a treatment, but the best way seems to be the TV. More specifically, Frozen. I don't even want to admit how many times we've seen that movie! But hey. Whatever gets the job done!

Sophia and Aaron woke up sneezing yesterday, and Sophia has had a runny nose since. She seems pretty stuffy tonight. Can't help but be a little nervous about what's to come. I'm wondering if it's from all the wind and the high pollen count. Probably is. But I do feel better knowing we're starting to understand asthma, have everything we need if she has another flare up, and that we can catch it sooner.