36.5 week check up

37.5 weeks

My check up was quick.  We listened to the heart beat and I had my group B strep test.  Dr. Marichal didn't check my cervix this time because he won't stop labor at this point but didn't want to start anything by checking.  
I have another appointment this Friday (2/4).  There have been lots of signs that labor is coming and we are ready to meet baby.  I have woken up this past week 4 times at around 3-4 am with strong contractions/Braxton Hicks.  They keep increasing in intensity but go away about 9am which is about an hour after I get up.  I am still having contractions/Braxton Hicks during the day but nothing that stays regular for more than an hour. 

This time I have been having strong changes in my mood.  The last week or two I have gone from being in tears to angry to overly happy all for no reason in a matter of minutes.  Landon never did that to me.  It will be interesting to find out if it is just a different baby or if it has something possibly to do with the sex of the baby.  Only time will tell.  My wish is baby will come sooner than later but since I don't really get any say in the matter I will still keep waiting to meet my new little one. 

Landon and Ben

Some pictures of Landon with his good friend, Ben...


 Landon during at Harvest in the Toddler room during service hour.  Daddy and Mommy were the teachers that week.  Landon has his hand on one of his good friends, Ben

 Talking about David and Goliath

Meeting Baby Charlotte (Ben's new little sister

 Mommy, Landon, Baby Charlotte, Rosemary and Ben

Landon talked about Charlotte and Ben for 2 or 3 days after going over for lunch and a visit.

Super Heroes

Josh had some old work shirts that I turned into rags recently.  Most of them were paint shirts so I cut out what I wanted for rags and planned on trashing what was left.  Before throwing them away I noticed some of them had "capes," and so I gave them to the boys for a few hours to play with.  They were some of the cutest super heroes I have ever seen.

Landon and Baby Foster

Foster is the youngest of the Bolin family.  Matt stays a few night with us when he is not commuting to Tampa.  The rest of the family stays with us sometimes too.  This past week, the whole family stayed with us because Foster had a check up at 8:30 in the morning.  Landon loves when the Bolins stay with us especially Baby Foster.  Normally the next few days, he asks Josh or I to sing a song about him (We almost always sing a few songs after reading books before bed time).  He also ask to pray for Baby Foster.  He loves babies.  We are praying that he will love his new little sister or brother when he or she arrives.

A walk in the woods

We spent a wonderful Saturday taking a 2.5 mile walk in the woods.  It was a beautiful day out.  Landon was so excited to spend the day with Mommy and Daddy plus the dogs.  We have been watching the Williams' dog, Cody and cat, Oreo, since Christmas because they left our house and went to Missouri for 2 weeks.  Landon walked almost the entire way, which was pretty amazing to Josh and me.

At the end of our walk, I heard some rustling in the woods and out popped a armadillo.  It was perfect because Landon and I have been learning about the letter A.  He was so excited!  He kept saying, "Armadillo starts with A!" 

I was pooped after our walk and while Daddy worked a little in the afternoon, Landon and I took a nap. 

I know it might be a while before we get to go out do something like that again.  But as soon as I have enough energy I look forward to going on more outing as a family of four!

We had a great time!

34 weeks

Landon and Josh were able to come with me to my January appointment.  I was good timing for Josh to come with us because we had to wait for 2 hours!  I think Landon or I would have lost it if it was just the two of us. It had only been taking 30 minutes for the whole appointment, and that included walking to and from the parking lot most times. 

Everything was good with Baby.  We were able to listen to the heart beat.  My blood pressure was back to normal! Dr. Marichal checked my cervix because I told him I have been having fairly painful and consistent Braxon Hicks.  As for now those practice contractions are just that because they have made my cervix dilated.  I am glad but at the same time I was surprise.  I never had anything like this with Landon until after I was induced. 

Now, I am on the 2 week appointment schedule so I will be updating soon on how things are going. 

This was brought to you by the letter A

We were learning about the letter A the last 2 weeks.  He is some pictures of Landon and Zach's work

Landon's work on the letter A

Landon's acorn person

 

 

 

I love that Zach wanted his apple tree to have "Apples falling from it, so they are easy to eat."

Zack and Landon with their Letter A page and their finger print Apple tree.

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Josh!

 New Years was spend at our house and with the Bolins and Sally.  We had a video game night.  While the little boys were awake they played Mario or Wii Play.  Once they went to bed we all played game show video games.  It was a fun, quiet evening with great friends. 

Playing the PS3

Making homemade Pizza

The boys had fun dressing up.

Our cheap champagne that was yummy tasting, I only had a few sips.

New Years/ birthday kiss for my wonderful husband

Happy Birthday to an amazing father and husband, Josh!

Josh's family bought him a receiver (for our entertainment center) for his birthday.  It happened to come a day before his birthday while he was gone (He was pet/house sitting for friends of ours and he had spent the night there).  I let the Williams know it had arrived and asked them if they wanted me to wrap it.  Before I did I had a great idea of surprising Josh.  I called back Dad Williams and asked him if he liked the idea, he did.  I called Josh to see how long until he came home and tell him the receiver had "stopped working and I needed hep to get it to work so the boys and I could listen to some music." He had just left so that would mean I should have 15-20 minutes. My story wasn't really that far fetched since we had been having problems with our old one.   As quickly as I could I unpacked it, unplugged (ALL the wires) and moved the old one.  In the meantime, Landon and Zach seem to need just about everything, so it was quite the tasks.  I also unplugged our computer (Thankfully we have a Mac and I only have to move a big screen) and called with Skye the Williams family who was visiting in Missouri with the rest of the family.  After I got them on and Zach and Landon said their hellos to everyone, I muted them and minimized the screen and set up the video camera.  Right as I finished, Josh walked in the door.  He went over to our cabinet with the electronics and opened the door.  He looked at the receiver for a second very confused before he realized it was a new one.  His reaction was perfect considering everyone was "watching" in Missouri.  I unmuted it, everyone said their hellos, and he got to say his thanks and share his surprise.  The best part was, this was the same day Josh surprised me with my scrapbooking day.  It was great!

Josh went out for a couple of hours with some guys friend to enjoy a birthday drink and some guy time.  While he was gone Landon and I had fun making him a birthday card.  Landon picked out the stamps and colors and designed it himself.  He even told me basically what to write in the card.    I was a little curious to how the card was going to turn out when the first things he picked our were red flowers.  I guess he knew what he was doing because he told me he was trying to make it look like a pond, which both Daddy and Landon enjoy.  He also thought Daddy would "really like Landon's hand prints" so he decided to have me help him put one inside and on the back of the card.  I think he did a great job!

We also watched a movie for Josh's birthday.  Landon enjoyed write his letters (which he is getting quite good at)  during the movie on his new easel. 

We had a great holiday/birthday.  Happy birthday, Joshua!!! We love you!!!!

Family photos

Our friend, Linda Bainter, ask to take some family photos of us.  Since we know she is a great photographer and I love having pictures we said "YES!"


Thank you Linda!!!

Here is the link to see the pictures...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3277703&id=2022607&l=8d7ccd7797

32 weeks

At 32 weeks

I had my 30 week check up 2 weeks or so before Christmas.  I forgot to post about it with all the Christmas stuff going on.  This pregnancy has whizzed by. I can't believe how close my due date is.  At my appointment in Dec. I was measuring exactly where I was suppose to.  Landon came with me and he was so excited to listen to Baby Williams heart beat again.  The only concern which was a little one, was my blood pressure had gone up.  Normally my highest blood pressure is at 110/72 and it was 128/85.  (I think 85) The main reason why Dr. Marichal is concerned is because I had preeclampsia with Landon.  My blood pressure started to climb about a month before he was due.  So if my blood pressure didn't go down, this time the whole thing would be starting earlier.

Since I am so late on posted I can let you know, I took my blood pressure at a friend's a couple of weeks later, it was the same but at my last appointment (Jan 4) it was back to normal.  I really appreciate all the prayers from everyone. 

We are looking forward to meeting our new addition.  I am a little nervous too, being a mom of two is a tiny bit scary.  Josh is just excited.  He loves babies and can't wait to add more to the Williams family.  I am really just a worry wort and worry about it no matter what.  I am very excited to meet him or her and to see Landon become a big brother.  He will make a wonderful big brother.

Prego Mom's Scrapbooking Day

I love my husband.


Here is the letter he gave me...

"Prego¹ Mom’s Scrapbooking Day!

I bet you didn’t know it but today is Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! 

Lady, you are in for a treat today!

A scrapbooking table will be set up, your supplies delivered, a special lunch has been prepared for you, and those kids you love so much will be put in good hands² for the day³ so that you can celebrate!

Sure, you’ve got stuff to do, so go get it done.

Figure out the minimum you need to get done to relax, complete your list, and then get to scrapbooking!

Those pictures, random paper menus, stickers, and miscellaneous pieces of sentimental paperwork won’t trim, shape or glue themselves! They need you!

If you have any questions, please ask any one of our team members⁴ and he or she will be happy to provide any information you need or fulfill any special requests that you may have.

From all of us in the business of selling paper bits at thousands of times their value in scrapbooking supply stores around the world, we sincerely and ecstatically wish you a

Happy Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day!

Disclaimers

1The term prego is used as a common slang term for the word “pregnant,” or the biblical phrase “being with child,” and is in no way affiliated with the Campbells® owned Prego® Italian sauce brand.

2The phrase, good hands, refers to the care of a reasonably competent, yet often absent-minded husband. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for the care your children receive during this event.

3The word day in this ad refers to a minimal of 5 hours away from all responsibilities that are generally believed to hinder the average scrapbooking hobbyist. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for this event coming to an end due to unforeseen circumstances such as but not limited to: husband’s flat tire, your water breaking,  child’s broken leg, husband’s broken leg, house fire, or any other natural or man-caused disaster. Note: man-caused disaster also referrers to terrorism, refer to Janet Napolitano for more details on this definition.

4The team members referred to are volunteers. The founders of Prego Mom’s Scrapbooking Day! are in no way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided by these individuals. Have fun!"

My work station!

Play Time in December

Fun at the Williams house with two great little boys.

Playing game

Making castles, house, tents or whatever they dream up that day is a favorite

A little school work- Learning numbers, colors, and how to match

Best part about Christmas- all the boxes! 

Thanks to my parents and their awesome present to Josh and me (A new Sleep Number king bed) there were HUGE boxes to add to the fun.

 Play-Doh Fun

Landon's stories

Landon has become old enough to share with us thing things that go on in his head.  He has an great imagination.  He loves to make up stories.  On our way home from looking at lights on Christmas he told Daddy (and anyone in the car who would listen) this story... (As best as can be recalled)

Landon: Hurry! Lion chasing us! 
Daddy: Oh no, how big is he?
Landon: Elephant!
Daddy: A lion AND an elephant too?
Landon: No, lion! Lion big as elephant.
Daddy: A lion as big as an elephant? Oh no!
(Dramatic pause)
Landon: we're safe now.
Daddy, oh, is he a nice lion?
Landon: No, mean lion. Rrawww!
Daddy: How are we safe then?
Landon: Landon get him, Landon get lion.
Daddy: How did you get a lion as big as an elephant?
Landon: Landon get him, put in chair.
Daddy: Chair?
Landon: Yes, put lion in red chair, safe now.
Daddy: Where is he? Why can't we see him?
Landon: He's hiding.
Daddy:Where is the red chair, I don't see one?
Landon: Red chair in the woods behind trees.  Mean lion sitting on red chair hiding in trees.
Daddy: Well, that you for taking care of that mean lion, son.  

The End

I love this age!

"Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call. Their favorite time of the year"

This is the first Christmas that we have ever had at our house.  Josh couldn't take time off work and I have been having a lot of very strong Braxton Hicks (7-10 mins apart that last for  an hour or so about 2-4 times a week since a week after Thanksgiving) so I didn't want to be too far away.

We hosted a Christmas party since we weren't going out of town and had the time to have one.  Unfortunately, I complete forgot to take pictures.  It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed having so many of our friends over to celebrate this special time of year.   Josh made a huge ham and I made cookies.  We had a pot luck.  The food was so yummy and boy was there a lot of it!  The weather was nice so we were able to enjoy our backyard and fire pit.  The kids enjoyed playing outside, in Landon's room and playing video games (I think there were several adults who also enjoyed the video games as well).  Chris and Crystal, very special friends of ours, came down for the weekend to celebrate.  They live in Fort Walton Beach, near where Josh and my parent's live.   Josh has been friend's with Chris since they were little boys and were in each others weddings as the Best Man.  It was great to have them down to visit and celebrate with us.  I hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves as much as Josh, Landon and I did.  Thank you everyone for helping us not miss traveling being home to be with our families this year!

Thankfully even though we were not able to make the trip home my parents, brother, Josh's parents, sister and brother all joined us for a wonderful Christmas.  Our friend Kevin also joined us on Christmas day for a few hours.

We were so excited everyone could come down and spend Christmas with us, even if it was only for 2 days.



The Williams arrived Thursday evening.  Landon and I were picked up by Grandpa Williams and we joined the rest of the crew, including Sally and Josh (who had to work out in Jonesville that day) at the Olive Garden.  We all enjoyed a yummy dinner and came home.  Friday late morning my parents and brother, Adam arrived.  We spent the day enjoy everyone's company.  The boys, minus my Dad and Landon, all went out to run a few last minute errands for a couple of hours during Landon's nap time. 
Josh made an amazing Christmas eve dinner for everyone.  Perfectly cooked salmon, Brussels sprouts, and Jeremiah made yummy mashed potatoes.  It was all so good!!  After dinner and ice cream, Landon opened one Christmas Eve present, another tradition of ours.  Landon opened a gift from my parents, a train book complete with 3 pages of tracks and a train that winds up and drives on the track.  Super cool!!  After Landon went to bed some last minute presents were wrapped, stockings stuffed, and a few hidden presents placed under the tree.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  We all woke up and started enjoying the day around 8:30am. It was so much fun to watch Landon opening up presents and giving the presents to our family members.  Sally joined us for a little bit in the morning before heading up to Tallahassee to spend Christmas with her family.  We had yummy banana nut bread for breakfast compliments of Aunt Jamiie.  Landon also had a nice helping of chocolate.  Sweets are very limited in our house but we made some exceptions for the Christmas holiday season.  Landon thoroughly enjoyed all the sweets this December- chocolate, peppermints, candy canes, cookies, and I am sure some other yummy sweets. 

Josh made a big turkey and lots of fixings for our Christmas lunch/dinner.  He is such a great cook and I am so glad I married him!  I don't mind cooking because I love home-cooked food but I LOVE that my husband really loves cooking and in my opinion is pretty awesome at it too. 

Present opening went on most of the day because we stopped and started so often.  Landon wanted to play with something, enjoying each other, or waiting to talk to the other family members around the states.  It was fun and relaxed.  Skpye helped make Christmas more fun because we could share in the Christmas joy with Jessica and the other Williams in Missouri as well as the newly marrieds- Jon and Merry in California.  Josh's family has always done secret Santa swap with the siblings and the wives of the boys, and in the future Jeremiah's and the girls spouse will be add I am sure, have joined in the fun.  This year I had Jessica, Josh had Jon, Jon had Jeremiah, Jessica had Merry, Merry had Jamiie, Jeremiah had Josh, and Jamiie had me.  We all opened our Secret Santa gifts on Skpye so everyone could see. It was fun as always. 
Once it became dark we loaded up in two cars, grandparents, Josh Landon and I in one car and the siblings in the other we went to look at Christmas lights.  We went to some neighborhoods and the pond at North Florida Regional.  Landon had a blast.   Before we went home we said our good byes to my parents and brother, they left super early on Sunday morning.  Josh's parents and siblings left Sunday morning also before we woke up to head to Missouri for a week and half. 
We had a great time, thanks everyone for coming and seeing us!

December Yummies!

I had fun baking and making some Christmas gifts this year.  Here are some of the results....

Peanut Butter Cookies

Banana Bread Muffins

Peanut Butter Oatmeal with Christmas M&M's

Box of cookies (this box was for my brother who had a few special ones including a computer)

a Snowman and his name

Sugar Bath Scrub

Its begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Landon had a advent calendar to help count down the day until Christmas.  This is a Gorman family tradition that I remember very well and have always been fond of.  I think I was just as excited for Landon to get one from Grandpa and Grandma Gorman as he was to eat the chocolate or as he says "choc-choc."


Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Gorman!

The much looked forward to Chocolate Advent Calendar

Here is a video of Landon opening one of the day on the calendar.



I have picked up several Christmas children's books over the years and Landon has been given some.  This year Landon really loved reading them.  We almost always read at least 2 books in the afternoon and 2-3 at night and at least one of those books was a Christmas book these last couple of weeks.  We got in a good share of Christmas book reading!  Some of the titles we read were- I Spy Christmas, The Gift of Christmas, The Three Miracles, Is Santa Here Yet?, The Little Drummer Boy, The Story of Christmas, and list goes on.
Also Landon, Zach and I had fun making a couple of Christmas crafts.  Unfortunately one of crafts didn't turn out. I bought the little stain glass paint ornaments.  We each painted one and the boys did a super job.  During nap time, I went to check on them and for some reason all the paint cracked and blew off when I picked them up. We were all really sad. Maybe we will try again next year.



Here are a couple of the projects we did.

Santa Advent Calendar and the Angel who send the Good News of our Savior's birth

This year I put up all of our decorations since we moved in to the house.  The first year we still had boxes every where and the second year I was too tied up with a little boy, staff infection of my own, and all the holiday traveling to most of the decorations.  It was fun especially because Landon was so excited every time I put out something new.  His favorite I think were the Christmas lights.  He loves them!! He also really liked having some decorations in his room.  I am afraid what he will do when I take them down (which will be the day after Josh's birthday, New Year's day per request of Josh- which I don't mind I am always kind of sad when I take them down ).


 My boys hanging their special ornaments.

Landon and Lighting McQueen

Josh and Sponge Bob Square Pants

Christmas at the Williams 2010