Day 68 ~ October 7, 2010

Here is a picture of Daddy and Rowen. These are the two most amazing and most important guys in my life. I could not imagine my life without either one of them. They both brighten my life in so many ways. Oh, how I love them.

Day 67 ~ October 6, 2010

Today was my due date. Today is also the day that we're going home!

Here is Rowen in his car seat, all strapped in and ready to leave. He's wearing his adorable going-home outfit, although it's a tad big on him. He's still adorable.

We were beginning to think that we wouldn't be going home today after all. Rowen was circumcised this morning and they told us that we could leave once he'd had one wet diaper. No problem, we thought, and began to pack all of our things and get ready to leave.

Hours went by and he hadn't had a wet diaper. I'd nursed him a few times, and still nothing. We tried holding his feet under warm water to try and make him go and that still didn't work. They finally let us leave before he'd had a wet diaper, and told us to come back if he didn't have one soon.

When we arrived at home, we laid him down in his crib for the first time. I thought it would be a good idea to get him out of his "nice" clothes and into something a bit more comfortable for the evening. While we had him undressed (in his crib, let me remind you) we decided to check his diaper to see if he had gone yet. While Daddy had his diaper undone (which was dry, by the way), the little tyke decided to let loose. He peed on Daddy, on Mommy, and ALL OVER his bedding. We had to change the sheets before he even had a chance to sleep on them.

At that moment I knew that I was going to have my hands full with this little guy. Welcome to motherhood, I thought.

Day 66 ~ October 5, 2010

I've fallen WAY behind on this blog, but I'd like to try and catch up. The next several (and I mean SEVERAL) pictures/posts are going to be random pictures taken over the past few weeks.

Today's picture is of Rowen and his Nana Lotz. We had many visitors while we were in the hospital and it was so nice to see everyone and show off our little angel.

Day 65 ~ October 4, 2010

Happy Birthday to our beautiful baby boy! Rowen Todd Lotz was born today at 3:12 pm. He weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 20 inches long. We're so happy he is here!

We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am for our scheduled induction. The nurses started me on Pitocin through an IV to help stimulate my uterus to contract. They increased the amount of medicine about every 45 minutes because I wasn't progressing. Upon arrival at the hospital I was dilated to a 2. At 1:00, the midwife came in to check me and I was still at 2 cm dilated. They decided to break my water to help things along.

And boy did it! After they broke my water I was dilated to a 3. The contractions were getting much more intense and frequent. The labor pains radiated around to my back and down through my thighs. I could not find a comfortable position. After leaning on the birthing ball for a while I decided that I'd like to try out the jacuzzi tub to see if that helped ease my pain. I was in the tub for about 15 minutes when I decided it wasn't working. I told the nurse that I'd like to talk about getting an epidural.

They got me out of the tub and checked my progress. I was dilated to 7-8cm! I had a few more contractions and felt the urge to push so they checked me again: 9cm! After one more contraction I was fully dilated and ready to push. There was no time for an epidural or any form of IV pain relief. I had to do this drug-free! Once I started pushing, it was just a matter of minutes before he was born. With the help of the vacuum extractor (because his heart rate went down), I pushed for 7 minutes.

I was in active labor for about 2 hours, so it all happened very quickly. Zach and I were so excited to bring our bundle of joy into the world. Happy birthday, Rowen! Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

Day 64 ~ October 3, 2010

Today was our last day before the baby's arrival. We got up and went to church and we took my niece, Jeightlin, with us. After church, we met Zach's cousin and his wife for lunch at McDonald's and then went to my former roommate, Laura's, soccer game. The game was really exciting, and luckily the Leathernecks came out on top. Way to go Laura and the rest of the WIU Women's Soccer Team.

After the game, we took Jeightlin to Dairy Queen because we knew they'd be closing for the season soon. We all sat outside and enjoyed our ice cream together.

I knew I probably wouldn't sleep well tonight because of my anxious jitters about the baby coming. My plan was to go to bed early, but that didn't happen. Hopefully I'll get enough sleep to have the energy to get me through the day tomorrow! So excited!

Day 63 ~ October 2, 2010

Today started off with a trip to Chandler Park in Macomb for "Bark in the Park". It was a fun event for people in the area to bring their dogs to the park for a parade, pet contests, and pictures in the park. All the proceeds went to benefit the Humane Society. Our pups were a little rowdy at first, but they settled down and ended up having a great time.

After the park, we dropped the dogs off at home and headed to Spoon River Drive with our moms. We walked around at London Mills and "The Shed" for about 3 hours before heading home. I spent the early part of the evening getting a little more organized in the baby's room and putting on light switch/outlet covers that I received as a gift today. We had dinner at home with my parents and my brother and then my niece Jeightlin came over. She's going to hang out with Zach and I for a while tomorrow.

Overall, it was a very fun day. I must say, though, I'm exhausted and ready for a good night's sleep. Let's hope this little guy lets me get it.

Day 62 ~ October 1, 2010

Well today's picture was supposed to be of my beautiful baby boy, but since the doctor decided to get sick, my induction got postponed by a few days. I had an appointment this morning with the midwife and I tried not to get my hopes up about being induced. She told me that they don't like to do elective inductions on the weekends because anesthesia can refuse to come in for an epidural on the weekends for an elective induction. So, we scheduled our induction for 6 a.m. Monday. It sucks that we have to wait until Monday, but at least now it's scheduled and we know for sure it will be happening.

The rest of the day was pretty relaxing. We hung out at home for the afternoon and then went to Zach's parents' house for dinner and to play games. We ate yummy lasagna and played spoons (during which I moved the whole table with my belly in an attempt to grab a spoon).

Today's picture is kinda random, but not totally. It's of the diaper stacker that goes with my collection. One of the straps broke off under the weight of all of the diapers, so I asked my grandma to fix it and reinforce the other strap. She did, and she dropped it off today since it was finished. So hopefully it will be strong enough to withstand the weight of diapers for quite a while.

Day 61 ~ September 30, 2010

This is the baby's "coming home" outfit. The shirt is a long-sleeved onesie that looks like a button-up, collared dress shirt and the pants are a brown corduroy. So cute! Zach and I picked this out together at Kohl's this evening.

Today started off as a great day and then turned into a disappointing one this afternoon. I slept in this morning, got up and ate breakfast and then took a shower and got ready for the day. I ate lunch and then decided to pack my bag to go to the hospital tonight. As I've mentioned, we were supposed to go to the OB department after our prenatal class tonight to be induced.

Well, around 2:00 this afternoon I got a call from my doctor's office saying that they needed to reschedule my 4:00 appointment because the doctor was going home sick. I explained that I was supposed to be seen so that I could be scheduled for an induction tonight and she said she'd call me back. After speaking with the doctor, she informed me that he would not be able to induce me tonight. She made an appointment for me to see the midwife tomorrow morning at 10:00, so I'm really hoping she will agree to induce me sometime tomorrow. I'm worried that she will tell me to wait until Monday morning since it's the weekend and Dr. Eckman is sick. Our fingers are crossed that we will be able to be induced tomorrow and meet our baby boy very soon.

Since I was upset about not being induced tonight, Zach and I decided to take off on a little road trip. We drove north about an hour and a half to the Quad Cities and went to Babies R Us to exchange a product and buy a few things. Then we went to Kohl's and bought this adorable outfit pictured above. Then we enjoyed a *nice* meal at Pizza Hut. It was great to spend the evening with him and I'm hoping (no offense to my husband at all) that it was our last! I really want my baby boy in my arms as soon as possible!

Day 60 ~ September 29, 2010

This is my last baby belly picture! I am 39 weeks pregnant today, and we're going to be induced tomorrow night. We should have a baby sometime Friday!

Today was another pretty relaxing day (which is exactly what we need right before we have this baby!). Zach let me sleep in until almost 11 which was great! Then we met a friend of his in town for lunch at Italian Express. After lunch, we came home and took the puppies for a walk around town. They enjoyed it and the walking was great exercise for me. We watched a movie (The Prince of Persia) when we got home from our walk, and it was nice to just cuddle together while we watched it.

This evening we went to my bff Ali's house for dinner with her and her boyfriend, Mitch. Mitch and Zach cooked steaks on the grill and it was great to sit down and eat with the two of them. Afterward, we hung out and played a board game called Imaginiff. It was a fun game and I won! We visited for another hour or so and then decided to come home.

This is our last night at home before the baby comes. I hope we're able to enjoy it and get a good night's sleep. We'll both want to be as rested as we can be before this beautiful baby boy changes our lives forever.

Day 59 ~ September 28, 2010

Yesterday, September 27, was Zach's grandparents' 57th wedding anniversary. His dad's parents, Harry & Rose Lotz, are such a wonderful example for all of us to look up to. They've spent their lives together raising 9 children and loving on dozens of grandchildren and even a few great-grandchildren. I hope that Zach and I will someday be able to compare our lives and our marriage to this wonderful couple.

We celebrated with Harry and Rose by going out to eat at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Macomb with Zach's mom and dad, sister, and our sister-in-law. We had an enjoyable evening eating dinner and sharing conversations.

Earlier today, Zach and I pretty much just relaxed at home. We did a few loads of laundry to get everything ready for when the baby arrives and we watched a movie this afternoon. We went out to eat for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with Zach's mom, Cathy, and our sister-in-law, Stephanie. Just before dinner with his grandparents, we had a few maternity pictures taken by my friend Sarah. We'd taken some pictures before Zach deployed in June, but I wanted to have a few more now that I actually have a belly. Sarah did a great job, and I'm so happy she was willing to do those for us.

Day 58 ~ September 27, 2010

HE'S HOME!!!!! It's been very hard to keep it a secret, but Zach came home today! We've anxiously been awaiting his arrival and I'm so glad the baby waited until his daddy could be here for his birth. Zach's flight got into Peoria around 2:30 this afternoon. I went over with his mom and my sister-in-law, Stephanie, to pick him up! He was so excited to see his puppies and they greeted him with just as much enthusiasm.

I didn't sleep well last night because I was excited about him coming home. I was also restless because he was traveling and I hadn't talked to him much over the past few days. After his flight got in, he came home and took a shower and then we ran some errands in Macomb. Then we came back home and picked up the puppies and went out to his parents' house for dinner and to play some cards. We had a great evening with his family.

Now that he is home, this baby boy can come anytime he wants. It would be great if he came on his own, but it's nice to know that I'll be induced on Thursday night and he'll be here by Friday if not before. The next few days Zach and I will be enjoying our last bit of time together as just the two of us. After Friday, our lives will never be the same.

Day 57 ~ September 26, 2010

This morning I attended my last church service at The Crossing baby-free. It was such a great sermon and I believe that God is bringing about great change in our area!

This afternoon I went over to my In-laws' house to enjoy the afternoon. My mother-in-law and I made chocolate caramel bars (pictured) for my husband. He will be home soon and they are his all-time favorite dessert. They're made out of a German chocolate cake mix (not made like the directions on the box, but instead mixed with evaporated milk and margarine), caramel and chocolate chips. It's a yummy layered bar with a gooey, caramelly (yes I just made that word up) center. I hope he enjoys them when he gets home.

My evening consisted of the season premiere of The Amazing Race! My mom and I really enjoy watching the show together, so we spent the evening in the recliners relaxing and watching the race. It was a great way to wind down my weekend.

Day 56 ~ September 25, 2010

Today was a pretty normal Saturday. I slept in, got up and got ready, and then went to Macomb with my mom to get groceries. We went to lunch at Italian Express first and then went out to Walmart to get the things we needed. Overall, nothing exciting; just a typical Saturday afternoon.

This evening I went to a sex toy party with a friend of mine named Christy. I mentioned Christy in my blog a few weeks ago when she gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Graiclyn Marie (pictured). Graiclyn is now almost 6 weeks old and getting bigger and cuter every single day. She has a beautiful Momma who loves her very much and takes very good care of her.

Anyway, Christy and I went to a toy party (along with Christy's mom, lol) at our friend Lexie's house. It was fun and interesting to see all the different "toys" and we had some funny conversations. I'm glad I went and had a good time because this time next week, I'm going to be a mommy and definitely won't be going to any parties like this anytime soon!

Day 55 ~ September 24, 2010

Not a great one, but today's picture is of a movie case from the movie store. I went over to my friend Crystal's apartment and hung out with her, Brittney, Lindsey and Lisa all with whom I used to live in Thompson Hall. We hung out and talked for a little while and then went to Dairy Queen for some ice cream. Then we rented "The Bounty Hunter" and went back to Crystal's apartment to watch it. It was so great to spend one last weekend hanging out with my friends, baby-free.

I say this is my last weekend being baby-free because I got exciting news at my 38 week appointment this afternoon. My progress was minimal, but it was still positive change from last week. I am now 1 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and the doctor said he could touch the baby's head! My blood pressure was right where it should be, and I've still only gained approximately 26 lbs. My belly measured right at 38 weeks, so that's perfect too!

I asked my doctor a few weeks ago if it would be possible to induce my labor a few days early so that Zach has more time to spend with the baby while he's home on leave. He told me that he would have no problem inducing me in my 39th week. Well, I will be 39 weeks on Wednesday, the 29th. I asked my doctor if he would induce me the night of the 30th (after our last night of prenatal classes) so that we would have the baby on the 1st. He said that he could probably do that for us! Yay! I'm so excited! So, we have our last appointment on Thursday, the 30th and I will be checked again. As long as things are still progressing and I haven't gone backwards, we will be induced that night after our class and have our beautiful baby boy on Friday! I'm very excited that Zach will get to be here for the birth of our first child and he'll get to spend some time with our little boy before he has to leave again.

Day 54 ~ September 23, 2010

There's a full moon tonight. I mentioned yesterday that there is some belief in a full moon triggering a woman's labor. So far, that isn't proving to be true for me. Hopefully my little guy holds out for a few more days until his daddy gets home on leave from Iraq.

Today was another slow and pretty much uneventful day. I talked to Zach on Skype and washed some baby blankets and put them away in his dresser. Then my nieces came over after school and I helped them with their homework and we made tuna salad. They also helped me fold and put away the blankets I had washed. We ate tacos for supper and then their mom came and picked them up.

My mom and I went to a prenatal class on C-sections tonight. Of course, I don't intend to have a C-section, but since the classes are free (and I have nothing better to do on a Thursday night) I decided to go and get as much information on the subject as I could...just in case. After attending the class, I am much more open to the idea of a C-section, should it be deemed necessary for my health or the health of the baby. Originally, I had viewed having a C-section as a failure on my part. I now understand more about the procedure and I don't think I would be as hard on myself for having one, should it be necessary. The most important thing is having a healthy Mommy and Baby at the end of the delivery.

Day 53 ~ September 22, 2010

The last of the baby stuff arrived on my front porch via UPS this morning! This adorable swing was the last "big" item that we needed to get for the nursery. It's a Fisher Price Lil Lamb Swing. It features 6 different speeds, 8 different soothing sounds, a rotating mobile, and a mirror for visual stimulation. It swings front to back and side to side. I'm so excited to let my little boy try it out!

I spent some time in the nursery this evening organizing and putting away clothes. He has 30 sleepers ranging from newborn to 6-9 months! I arranged everything in his closet by age so it will be easier to pick out his outfits everyday and not have to look at the size tags. I spent time last week organizing the onesies in his dresser by age so that's all ready to go. I guess this would be considered "nesting" but in a mild form. I haven't felt the need to scrub things down with a toothbrush (yet!) so I don't think I've experienced true nesting.

The contractions have pretty much stopped. I have had a few throughout the day today, but I guess that's just part of being 38 weeks pregnant. I'm hoping he holds out until his daddy comes home next week, but I guess we'll see. Tomorrow is a full moon and I've heard stories of how a full moon can cause a woman to go into labor so I'm a little nervous about that. I'm physically ready for the baby to come, but I really want the support of having my husband by my side. I would hate for him to miss the birth of our first child. Stay put, little boy, at least for a few more days!

Day 52 ~ September 21, 2010

My glider and ottoman arrived today! I'd been waiting on them all day and the UPS truck finally showed up around 6:30! My mom is awesome and put them together for me while I went shopping with my sister! I came home and they were all assembled and in the nursery! Thank you, Mom! They look great!

I was still having contractions today. I woke up around 3:30am and have been up since (except for an hour nap). The contractions were hard to sleep through last night, so I'm hoping tonight is better. They're still irregular and not getting any stronger. That's the most frustrating part. I wish they would either stop altogether or become stronger and more regular. I just want some change, rather than having irregular contractions for the next 2 weeks!

Ok, I'm done whining. As I mentioned earlier, I went to Walmart with my sister, Mindy, this evening and she got me a few things I still needed for the baby. It was fun to just spend some time with her, and I'm glad we got to do so!

Day 51 ~ September 20, 2010

Today was a lazy day. I stayed home and rested because I wasn't feeling well. My sister stopped by this evening and my oldest niece, Jevani, decided to stay while her mom and sister went to town. Jevani, my mom and I spent time putting this little puzzle together and playing Math Bingo. I think this puzzle was more fun for my mom and I than it was for Jevani, haha! It was a fun review of our knowledge of United States geography.

On another note, it might not be long before my baby boy makes his arrival. Earlier this evening I had contractions about 5-7 minutes apart for about an hour. After that, they decreased in frequency, but increased in strength. The rest of the evening I've had several more, pretty strong contractions. They're not regular enough to time, however, and I've heard of women having these types of contractions for weeks before going into active labor. I guess I'll wait and see if they become more regular. Until then, I'll try to get some sleep that I'm sure will be much-needed very soon.

Day 50 ~ September 19, 2010

Today I met some relatives that I'd never met before. They're distant relatives on my dad's side that I had not had the pleasure of meeting before today. If I had met any of them before, it was when I was young and don't remember them.

Pictured is my dad with his cousin Tricia. We were all gathered today in honor of Tricia who is visiting for a few days. Tricia lives in Montana, but is undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for a treatable, but not curable, cancer. She had a few days off of treatments and decided to make a trip down to Illinois to spend time with family and friends. I keep up with her on Facebook, but it was nice to finally meet the woman I've gotten to know over the internet.

I ask anyone who reads this to please say a prayer for Tricia and all the other people around the world who are struggling with cancer or disease of any kind. Oftentimes, we think about those who are suffering only when we know them. There is always someone out there who could use a prayer, even from a complete stranger. So make someone's day by sacrificing just a few seconds of yours.

Day 49 ~ September 18, 2010

My family loves to cook on the grill. As soon as it warms up enough in the springtime (and sometimes even before it's warm enough) we get some chicken or steak and grill out. My dad got a new grill earlier this summer and since then, his love for cooking out on the grill has increased.

Here he is cooking our dinner for tonight: Italian sausage, chicken breasts in an Italian dressing marinade, and grilled potatoes with green peppers and onions. Cooking at home and sitting down together for a family meal is one of my favorite things. It may not seem like much, but it really is nice for all of us to sit down around the table and enjoy a home-cooked meal. I love evenings like this when we just sit around at home together; it's definitely a nice change after a busy week.

Day 48 ~ September 17, 2010

Today was Friday! I began my day as usual by getting up, feeding the dogs, eating breakfast, and wasting time on Facebook. I talked to Zach on Skype for a bit this morning and he was particularly goofy today. Not sure why, but he definitely made me smile. I love him so much.

Just after lunch, I headed to town for my 37 week appointment. My weight gain is still at 26lbs, I measured 36cm, and baby is head down at a -2 station. My cervix is 30% effaced and 1cm dilated. My blood pressure was 102/70 and baby's heart rate was in the 140s. Overall, an excellent check up. Baby and Mommy are both active and healthy. I also got my flu shot today while I was at my doctor's office.

This evening was pretty laid back until late. Around 9:30 I headed into Macomb with my bff Courtney to see Easy A. It was a great movie and I'm so glad I got to spend some time with Court before the baby gets here. We got free popcorn with the movie and just enjoyed chatting before and after about what was going on in our lives. I might be doing something with her tomorrow as well, but we'll see. Ttfn--ta ta for now!

Day 47 ~ September 16, 2010

Today one of my mom's cousins posted something on Facebook about wanting her grandmother's recipe for sugar cookies. I found the recipe in my mom's recipe box and gave it to her. Then I was inspired to try to make the cookies as well. They turned out pretty good. Not as good as my great-grandmother's I'm sure, but they're still yummy. Please excuse the Christmas colored sprinkles; it's all we had.

Today was a rather laid back day. My friend Jessica came over to bring back my GPS and we chatted for a little while. Then my mother-in-law, Cathy, came over to bring back the nightstand that she took home to put polyurethane on. Then my friend Allison came over and ate dinner and visited for a bit before our last night of birthing class. It was so great to see all of them.

My mom and I attended our last night of birthing class tonight. We talked about pushing the baby out and what happens after delivery. I really enjoyed taking these classes and I found them to be very educational. Though I could have found most of the information online, it was nice to have an instructor (and a funny one at that) break everything down and be available to answer specific questions. I have two weeks of prenatal classes left and then my little guy will be here (if not sooner). I'm looking forward to the adventures ahead!

Day 46 ~ September 15, 2010

Today I am considered FULL TERM in my pregnancy! I am 37 weeks pregnant, just 3 weeks away from my due date! I can't believe how quickly this time has gone by! It seems like just yesterday I was taking the pregnancy test and finding out about this beautiful life inside of me. It's been an incredibly wonderful journey, but I'm getting anxious to meet this precious baby boy.

To celebrate making it to full term I treated myself to an hour long prenatal massage this afternoon. It was so relaxing and just what I needed at this point in my pregnancy. My back has been bothering me lately, so I had the therapist work on my lower back. She did an excellent job and I walked out of there feeling like a new woman! Thanks to my hubby for letting me get the massage!

Day 45 ~ September 14, 2010

Today was my Grandpa Whited's (my dad's dad) 75th birthday! He's 3/4 of a century old, but doesn't act like it one bit. I celebrated with him, my grandma, my aunt, cousin, sister, nieces, brother, mom, and dad by going out to eat at the Red Ox.

Papa Stache (as my nieces like to call him because of his handlebar mustache) loves playing golf with my dad and other friends and he still works every day repairing coffee makers all over the state (usually for large businesses and gas stations). He and my grandma have been happily married for over 55 years and they have two children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 (soon to be 3) great grandchildren. I'd say that's a pretty successful 75 years! Happy Birthday, Grandpa! May you have many, many more!!! We love you!

Day 44 ~ September 13, 2010

Today is Mary Kay's 47th anniversary. Mary Kay Ash started this company on September 13, 1963 (it was also Friday the 13th!), just a few weeks after the passing of her husband. She wanted a company that allowed women to spend time with their families and still earn a great income. She wanted products that women would love at an affordable price. I'd say she's come a long way in making her dreams come true.

We celebrated the company's anniversary tonight at our MK Success meeting. We also had the opportunity to try our new fall products. Many of them are limited edition products so contact your Mary Kay Consultant to find out more about these awesome new products!

Other than my meeting, today was a very laid back day. I'm still a little swollen in my feet and hands so I've been taking it easy. Until tomorrow...

Day 43 ~ September 12, 2010

We finally got the balloon in the air this morning! It was not part of the rally, but today, the weather was beautiful and the ground had dried out enough to drive through. We set up on the West side of town, near campus, and flew across town and out to the East side of Macomb. Pictured is Lindsay, Donn (the pilot) and my mom, Anne. They actually went up in today's flight, while the rest of us "chased" in the vehicle.

After the flight we all went out to breakfast at the Macomb Family Diner in town. It was great to spend some quality time together discussing anything and everything. After we finished eating, we said our good byes and headed home. It was a slightly disappointing weekend, made better by a wonderful morning flight today. We're so glad that Donn and Kim could make the trip this year and we look forward to seeing them again soon!

Day 42 ~ September 11, 2010

Today was the second day of the balloon rally. I got up around 4:30 this morning to get ready for the morning flight. We met at my aunt's house around 5:15 and left for the pilot's meeting. They met and were told to come back at 7:15 for another meeting to see if the weather conditions had changed. Unfortunately, they decided that the fields were too wet and the clouds were too low to fly.

I went home and went back to bed for about 3 or 4 more hours and then got up and went to town to shop with my mom. We went home and changed clothes and then headed back into my aunt's house for the evening meeting and flight.

The winds were a little high for the evening flight so it was up to the pilots on whether or not they felt comfortable flying. Our pilot, Donn, decided not to fly so we helped my cousin Spencer set up his balloon to fly. We set up and then drove to the field where he would attempt to land. Luckily, he calculated his direction correctly and landed in the field. After he was down, we set up Donn's balloon for the glow. The picture is of "our" balloon (the one we help and crew for), Brighton Up. I was sad that we didn't fly, but at least we set the balloon up.

Day 41 ~ September 10, 2010

Tonight was the first night of Macomb's Annual Balloon Rally. My family and I have helped with this balloon rally for about 7 or 8 years now and we always have a good time. This is a picture of my cousin Spencer's balloon, Old Glory. Spencer has been around hot air balloons since he was 3 or 4 years old and he recently got his pilot's license (in the last 2 years) so he can fly on his own. He participates in balloon rallies all over the country including Indianola and Albuquerque and, of course, Macomb.

We didn't get to fly tonight because the winds were too strong and there was a storm moving in rather quickly. Spencer set up his balloon in the field so that it wouldn't be a total disappointment for all the spectators who came out to see them tonight. We left the balloon up for about 10-15 minutes and then took it down once the lightning started moving in.

The rally continues into tomorrow. We are hoping the rain moves through and clears out so that we can have some successful flights tomorrow. There's a pilot's meeting at 6 in the morning so I have to be up by about 4:30 to get ready to leave for that. We'll *hopefully* fly in the morning and again tomorrow evening (weather permitting, of course). Tomorrow evening is also the glow, where all the balloons set up in the field and *glow* (otherwise known as lighting their burners) for all the spectators to see. I just hope the weather cooperates tomorrow so we can have a fun weekend of flying!

On another note, I had my 36 week appointment today. I've gained 26lbs so far and I'm measuring right at 36 weeks. The baby is in the head down position (yay!) and the midwife is guessing him to be in the high 5's/low 6's for weight right now. His heart rate was between high 130's and low 140's which is right where it has been the past couple months. Mommy and Baby are both doing well and he will be here in just a few weeks. Now, I go back for appointments every Friday until my due date.

Day 40 ~ September 9, 2010

Today I went shopping in the Quad Cities with my mom. We went to Babies R Us because I got my 10% off anything remaining on my registry coupon and there were definitely some things I still needed to get. I spent around $480 which is not hard to do, but I think I got some really great stuff.

I got a My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow, a pack-n-play (that matches the travel system), the Angelcare Movement & Sound Monitor, a Moby Wrap, a warm mist humidifier, a car mirror with light and calming music, a travel kit with a thermometer, medicine dropper, nail clippers, etc., diaper genie refills (and I exchanged my diaper genie because the one I received at my shower was broken), size newborn diapers, and breastfeeding pads. I probably got more than that, but I just gathered up a few of the items for this picture. I just have a couple more things to get and then we'll be all set!

Today was also our 3rd night of birthing class. Tonight we talked about the transition stage of labor and we practiced relaxing positions and breathing techniques. One thing we did to practice was clench ice in our fist to simulate a contraction while we breathed through it. It's a pretty good way to practice because it really is uncomfortable to hold ice in your hand. The breathing techniques are helpful for concentrating on something other than the "pain". We also took a tour of the Ob Department at the hospital where I'll be delivering.

Day 39 ~ September 8, 2010

Tonight's picture is of 3 of my favorite people--err, mammals. Here is my mom giving some loving attention to my two dogs, Cadence & Kobe. They just looooove their Grandma Anne so much! My mom and dad had been gone on a mini vacation for a couple of days and the pups sure were happy to see them when they got home.

On another note, I'm 36 weeks pregnant today so the little man could be here anytime! We're still hoping he waits until his Daddy gets home at the end of the month, but I guess he will come when he's good and ready. In just one week I will be considered full term, and I'm pretty sure if I were to go into labor now they wouldn't do anything to prevent me from delivering. It's scary to think that it's coming up so quickly.

Mom and I are headed to the Quad Cities in the morning to go to Babies R Us for some things that I didn't get at my showers. I'm excited! It's always fun to go shopping for baby stuff!

Day 38 ~ September 7, 2010

Today's picture is my lopsided belly. The baby has a habit of hanging out on the left side of my belly. In this picture you can see the little bump on the left side and how it sticks out further than the right side. I love my silly little boy!

Today was a pretty laid back one. I didn't do much early on in the day, but I did go see my friend Desiree and her little boy Zander this afternoon. Des had Zander last Friday, September 3rd and he is totally adorable (but then again, what baby isn't?). I'm really looking forward to having play dates with the two of them once my baby is born. It'll be so much fun to watch them play together and I think they'll be good friends.

I didn't go to Fuel tonight because I haven't been feeling the best. My feet have been slightly swollen the past two days and I've had a headache for the past 3. I always seem to feel worse in the evenings so I just decided to stay home tonight and rest. Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon!

Day 37 ~ September 6, 2010

It's finally time to show the progress on the nursery again! My mom and I spent some time in there today going through baby shower gifts and finding a place for things. We still have a few things to sort through, but I'm very pleased with the way things are coming along.

It actually looks like it's ready for a baby now. The crib and changing table are in place along with the bookshelf full of bath items and baby wipes. I just need to order my rocking chair and ottoman and all the big stuff will be in place. I have a few loads of laundry still to do, but he has lots of clean clothes already in his dresser and closet.

It's crazy to think that my little guy could be here in a matter of just a few short weeks. I'm getting very anxious to meet him and hold him in my arms. I'm so excited to be a mommy!

Day 36 ~ September 5, 2010

Today's picture is a day late because I wasn't feeling well last night and went to bed early. Anyhow, this is a picture of the nightstand that I got at Lake Argyle today. I've been wanting a table to place next to my rocking chair so I have something to set a lamp on along with a bottle or pacifier or other things that I might need/want while rocking or nursing the baby. This little table was perfect! It's the same color as the rest of the furniture, we just need to put a protective coating on it. It's great for what I need now and it will also serve as the baby's nightstand when he's older.

I had a nice time walking around at Argyle with my mom today and I'm glad I found this lovely little nightstand. After we left the lake, we headed home to finish getting ready for the party. My parents invited several of their friends over to hang out and play some yard games. Quite a few people showed up and we had a really nice time (and some great food).

Day 35 ~ September 4, 2010

Today was a pretty normal Saturday with only a few exceptions. I got up and ate breakfast, showered and got ready for the day. My mom and I went to town in the early afternoon to get groceries as we do most every Saturday. When we got home, I got online and was able to talk to Zach on Skype for a couple hours.

Tonight, I went to Colchester again, only this time I didn't go uptown to the Labor Day festivities. This weekend was my dad's 30th high school reunion and I stopped in after dinner to meet some of his classmates. It was nice to meet them and my dad was definitely enjoying mingling with some of his former classmates. After the reunion finished up, I headed back to Macomb and went to my former roommate Laura's house.

Laura and I talked and caught up briefly for a little while when I first got there. Then we put in Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa and "watched" the movie while we continue to talk and catch up. We have a bit of a history with the movie Madagascar from when we lived together in Thompson Hall our freshman year. We even had a betta fish who we named King Julian, so it only seemed appropriate that we watch that movie. I had a really great time spending time with her this evening and I hope we're able to do it again in the near future!

Day 34 ~ September 3, 2010

Being pregnant definitely has its benefits. For instance, some stores have special parking spots just for pregnant women. Another benefit is being able to eat whenever and whatever I want without looking like a pig. One final benefit is more of a benefit for others: being the designated driver. That was me tonight.

Here is a picture of my parents who enjoyed a fun night out with friends at a couple of local bars. It was my pleasure to drive them home and make sure they made it safely. I love them both so much and would hate to let something happen to them when I could easily drive them home stone cold sober. So here's to having a good time, but also being responsible enough to request a designated driver!

Day 33 ~ September 2, 2010

This may look like a plain, boring box to most people, but to a soldier in Iraq this is one of the most exciting things in his/her day. This is a picture of a small care package I've put together for my husband who is serving his second tour in Iraq. He's been gone for almost 3 months and still has approximately 9 months left to serve. He is not involved in the "pull out" of Iraq, so he is still there supporting Operation New Dawn.

Zach doesn't ask for me to send him much, but when he does ask for something I do my best to get it to him. He's really been wanting some caramel corn lately, so I got him a box of microwaveable caramel corn. He also said his lips were really dry and chapped so I'm sending him a 3-pack of Carmex lip balm. Our nieces also drew him some pictures and wrote "I love you Uncle Zach" and we put those in the box as well. While it may not seem like much to you and me, I know Zach will appreciate this box of goodies from home.

If you ever have the opportunity to send a care package to a soldier serving overseas please take advantage of it. They need to know that they have our support and oftentimes the littlest things mean the most in their lives. I'm proud to be an Army Wife and I love and support my husband 110%.

Day 32 ~ September 1, 2010

Whew! I made it through the first month of this challenge without missing a single day (I even posted and blogged EVERY SINGLE day!!!). This really has been a great activity to help me through the end of my pregnancy and my husband's deployment. Thanks to everyone who reads these.

Today's picture is of my mom's bowling team. The ladies league just started tonight at Digger's College City Bowl in Macomb. My mom has been bowling with these ladies for as long as I can remember, and I will be joining them (as a substitute) for the first time this year starting after I have the baby. They're a great group of ladies who love to have fun. There's no pressure to do well when bowling with them because they're just there for the good time (but no one will complain when you DO bowl well). Good luck this season, ladies, and I look forward to bowling with you all!

Today was also my father-in-law's birthday. I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, but he didn't answer. I left a message so hopefully he got it. I also went to the DMV today to have my car seat installed. It took about 30 minutes and she explained to me the proper way to put the baby in the seat. I feel much better knowing that the car seat was installed by someone more qualified than myself. I know that my son will be safe when it's time to place him in it.

Day 31 ~ August 31, 2010

Tonight's picture is of my pastor, Clayton Hentzel. He is the pastor at The Crossing in Macomb where I attend church on Sundays. I also attend a college-aged ministry on Tuesday nights called Fuel, so this is him at tonight's sermon.

He talked about repentance tonight. It was a really moving message that made me think about my life as a Christian and what I can do to better follow God. I am thankful for the wonderful friends I have that share in my belief in God. I am thankful for a wonderful church family that supports me and is there for me when I need them. I really, truly love attending church at The Crossing in Macomb and I look forward to going every Sunday and Tuesday.

Day 30 ~ August 30, 2010

I'm so excited that the baby bed is all ready to go! I received the bedding from my parents at my shower yesterday and I opened it and washed everything last night. I put it all on the bed last night and today and I'm so happy with the way it looks.

Turtles are my favorite animal and when I saw this bedding I thought it was absolutely adorable! It's called Turtle Reef by Cocalo. I originally found it on Target's website, but it was out of stock. Luckily, my mom searched the internet and found it on another website for even cheaper than it was listed on Target's site. She ordered it and it was here within 2 days!!

I wanted to get the crib set up and ready to go because I'm watching my friend Jessica's little boy Kolby tomorrow while she's at school. I know he'll need somewhere to take a nap, so while I'm a little sad that another baby will use the crib before mine will, I'm really excited to have a baby in it!

We're getting closer every day and the nursery is coming along nicely. I definitely have some organizing to do and I need to go through all of the gift bags from my showers, but it's coming together really well. Just a few more weeks until my precious little guy is here!

Day 29 ~ August 29, 2010

Today was my 3rd and final baby shower. It was hosted by my grandma, great aunt and two of my aunts and it was held at my Great Aunt Mary's house in Blandinsville. We had such a great time and Baby Lotz got lots of wonderful gifts from all of our family. In this picture is my lovely mom, Anne (black outfit on the left) and me, the excited mother-to-be.

We started the party with a couple games. The first was a questionnaire about famous nursery rhymes. My Great Aunt Joan won that one by getting the most correct answers. The second game was a word scramble with baby-related words. I, along with my mom and my Great Aunt Martha, was able to unscramble every single one of the words! It made us think, but it was still a fun game to play.

Then we moved on to me opening gifts. The baby received lots of cute outfits, books, diapers, our bedding set, a crib mattress, and many other great items. I am so thankful to have such a loving family who cares for us and supports us.

We finished off the shower by enjoying some yummy jello cake, mints, and mixed nuts. I was so glad to spend the day with my family. I had an awesome time, and I thank my grandma and aunts for throwing us such a great party!

After returning home from the shower, I washed the baby bedding and started putting the crib together. I'm so excited that the nursery is finally starting to look like a nursery! Granted, there are still gift bags EVERYWHERE that I need to sort through, but at least my little guy has a comfy place to sleep and a dresser for his clothes. Not to mention a huge family that loves him already!

Day 28 ~ August 28, 2010

Girls night in! Tonight I spent the evening with some wonderful girlfriends of mine. At 6:00 my friends Courtney and Brittney met me at my house and we went to Blandinsville's Farmer's Picnic for porkchop sandwiches and to check out what was going on at the park. It was pretty dead (the porkchop sandwich was amazing though!) so we didn't stay too long. It was so nice to hang out with those girls though.

After returning from Blandinsville, Brittney and I went to our friend Crystal's apartment to watch a movie. We were joined by two other friends, Emily & Mary. Crystal made brownies (which I enjoyed with a small serving of mint chocolate chip ice cream) and we watched "The Last Song". It really was a fun evening with friends just relaxing and enjoying some girl time. We all need that every once in a while!

In this picture (left to right): Me, Crystal, Emily, Brittney, and Mary

Day 27 ~ August 27, 2010

Today's picture is another random one. Here is my pet turtle, Buddy. My sister brought me Buddy when I was in the 4th grade (about 10 years ago). A friend of hers found him and offered him to me as a pet. When I got him his shell was about 2 inches long from his head to his tail. Now, he's about 6 inches from head to tail. He's grown quite a bit, but is still pretty small for a turtle. Turtles don't outgrow their environment, so he won't get any bigger than he is now.

Buddy is a painted turtle. His underside is bright orange with a yellow design in it. He hangs out in his 10 gallon aquarium complete with water, a floating dock, several rocks, a lamp, a heater, and his filter.

My day today was pretty busy. I had some Mary Kay orders to deliver and I also had my 34-week appointment with my ObGyn. We discussed some questions I had and he said that he would agree to induce me anytime in my 39th week so that the baby will come when Daddy is home on leave. He also told me that many women would be jealous of the fact that I have no stretch marks and I still have ankles. :P

Tonight I had a *BIG* Mary Kay party. I did one for a friend of mine who is now an RA in her Residence Hall and there were about 15 girls present. Luckily, I had the assistance of my director and a fellow consultant otherwise I may have been in over my head.

Day 26 ~ August 26, 2010

Today's picture isn't very exciting, but it's of the rawhide bones I bought for my dogs today. They absolutely LOVE rawhides. I like to give them something like this to chew on every so often to help keep their teeth clean. Rawhides are also a wonderful babysitter. All I have to do is give them each a rawhide bone, make sure they have water and keep them in my sight. Then I'm free to do whatever I need/want to do without dogs right at my feet and without worrying what they're getting in to. These were two separate rawhides that they chewed one end off of. They started out as 9" and are now about 4".

Today was also the first night of my actual childbirth classes. They break it up into 4 weeks and each week they discuss a different stage of labor (L.A.T.E=Latent, Active, Transition, Expulsion). Tonight we discussed the first stage of labor, the Latent stage. It was really informative and the nurse (the instructor) made it very easy to understand by using simple visuals like lifesavers and marshmallows. I'm looking forward to next week's class already!

Day 25 ~ August 25, 2010

We're getting closer! I'm 34 weeks pregnant today, which means just 6 weeks until my due date and only 3 short weeks until I'm considered full term! Ahh, there's still so much to do! Luckily, we put the crib together tonight!

It went together really quickly and really easily. My mom and I were able to get it set up in about 40 minutes! The instructions were very clear and I'm happy with the way it looks. With the exception of a minor dent (chip, whatever you want to call it) in the headboard (probably due to shipping) it looks great and I love that it matches the dresser/changing table. It also came with a rail to use for a toddler bed, and I purchased the rails to eventually convert it into a day bed and full size bed. Hopefully our son doesn't destroy it (wishful thinking, right?) and he'll be able to use it for years to come!

Day 24 ~ August 24, 2010

Today's photo is a 2-in-1. First, I got my hair cut this afternoon. My sister cut over 3 inches off (I didn't even know I had 3 inches to cut off!) and I love it. It's so lightweight and I'm hoping it is easy to style. We'll find out when I have to style it myself, I guess!

Second, is the dresser that I'm standing next to. My mother-in-law (with the help of my father-in-law) put this together for me this afternoon and I'm so excited! I've been wanting to go through stuff from my baby showers and now that I have a place to put things I can start going through and washing all of the baby's clothes! I'm very anxious to put everything in it's place. Hopefully my mom and I can work on the baby's crib tomorrow night.

Tonight was also the first night of Fuel, a college-age ministry at my church. It's every Tuesday night at 8:30 and I love going. It's a great place for me to get fired up about my faith and learn more about my Savior!

Day 23 ~ August 23, 2010

Today, my parents' friend Julie came to stain our deck. It usually gets done every 2-3 years and it definitely needed it this time around. As you can see, it's pretty faded in the "before" section. It almost looks like a whole new deck in the "after" part. Great job, Julie!

This morning I took the dogs to the groomer to get their nails trimmed. They were getting extremely long and they kept scratching us. It was ridiculous! They're too big for me to hold them down (especially being 8 mos. pregnant!) so I took them to a place in Macomb called Paws 'n Claws. They didn't like it too much, but it had to be done.

Tonight our unit had our Mary Kay Back to School Spa night at The Old Bailey House. We had 11 guests that enjoyed our 4 pampering stations and everyone got a free massage from licensed massage therapists. We (the consultants) also got to enjoy a free massage so that was wonderful! I really needed it, especially since my husband is gone and I have no one to rub my back and feet. I took the therapist's card and I will hopefully be going to get a longer massage here very soon...I just have to talk Zach into paying for it!

Day 22 ~ August 22, 2010

Today I went to my former roommate Laura's soccer game. She plays for the Western Illinois University Leathernecks. We were roommates during our freshman year before I got married and moved away.

Here she is at their first game of the season versus Northern Illinois University. The game ended in a tie (1-1) but it was still very exciting. It was also a very hot one! With temps in the upper 90s-100s I can't imagine how those ladies were feeling running up and down the field. Overall the Leathernecks played very well and should be proud of their teamwork for this first game. I know they will have a successful season, especially with my girl Laura on the team!

Day 21 ~ August 21, 2010

Today was my second baby shower. This one was at my Mother-in-Law's house with all of Zach's family. We had fun playing games, eating cake and ice cream, and opening gifts!

The first game we played we had to guess what kind of baby food was in 7 different jars. We could smell them and taste them (I didn't taste any of them) to try to figure it out. I only missed one (I put strawberry banana and it was just banana) out of seven! For the second game, we had to fill in the blanks on 15 nursery rhymes. It was fun to see what I actually remembered! The last game we played was super easy for me. I was given a list of attributes (eyes, ears, nose, legs, smile, etc) and I had to choose if I wanted the baby to get Mommy's or Daddy's. Then the guests chose and they were trying to guess what I would pick. So whoever had their answers the closest to mine, won. Zach's Grandma Lotz was funny because she somehow managed to guess opposite of me on every single one!

After games, we had cake and ice cream. The cake was really good (and that's saying something because I don't like cake)! Once everyone had finished their food, I started opening gifts. We received some wonderful gifts from everyone (blankets, lots of cute clothes, socks, bibs, a diaper genie, toys, etc)! While I was opening gifts we passed around a sheet and had everyone guess the baby's name (they were given a list of 5 to choose from), birthdate, weight, and height. It'll be interesting to see who is the closest.

Today is also my husband's 23rd birthday! I talked to him for a little bit on Skype this morning/afternoon. I'm sad that he can't really do anything to celebrate, but some of the guys at work brought him a piece of cake and sang him Happy Birthday. They also let him come into work late and he went out for pizza for lunch. Not exactly how every 23-year-old hopes to spend their birthday, but I told him we'd do something fun to celebrate when he comes home in about 6 weeks. Happy Birthday, sweetheart! We love and miss you very much!

Day 20 ~ August 20, 2010

This is my best friend, Allison. She hosted a Mary Kay party tonight and we had so much fun! Doesn't she look gorgeous?!

Ali has been my best friend since right before 8th grade (so like 7 years now!) and she even lived with me and my family for a couple of years in high school. She's a wonderful women who I admire very much. She had to do a lot of growing up at a very young age (at no fault of her own) and she has always accepted the responsibilities that she's been given without question. She's a strong woman who has a lot going for her.

We had a lot of fun at her Mary Kay party tonight. There were 5 girls besides the two of us and everyone looked beautiful! I hope we can do something similar very soon, but I know that everyone will be busy with school starting up again. Hopefully we can still find time to spend together.

Day 19 ~ August 19, 2010

Tonight I attended my second week of prenatal classes at the hospital where I will be delivering. Tonight's class was about breastfeeding. It was very informative and I enjoyed going to it. I have done a lot of reading on my own, but I still learned some things tonight. Since I plan on breastfeeding for as long as I can, I'm glad I attended this class to learn as much as I can about the process.

Pictured is the instructor for the class. Her name is Crystal and she's a nurse from the Obstetrics Department of the hospital. She's known me since I was really little so I didn't feel weird asking her if I could take a picture, haha. Hopefully Crystal will be working when it's time for me to have my little guy!