Busy Weekend - Part 3 - Happy 50th Grandma and Grandpa!!

Happy 50th Grandma and Grandpa Thompson!

All of the cousins!

All the aunts and uncles with Grandpa and Grandma

My family - hubby Josh, brother Brandon, Mom and Step-dad

...oh and Baby Carter too!

Part 3 of our busy weekend, started early Sunday morning at church :)  My extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, Grandma) play the bells for our church.  It has been a long time tradition and it is always fun to get together to play such pretty music on a beautiful Sunday morning.  The younger cousins played the prelude music and the older cousins/aunts and uncles played during the service, while my Grandma Thompson directed. 

We then got into party planner mode, and began preparations for the party in the afternoon.  My Grandma and Grandpa Thompson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 20th, so we had an open house for them at our church on Sunday afternoon.  We were able to get some great pictures of the entire fam.  My grandparents live on a farm in Lakeville, and most of us grew up within a mile of everyone.  I am extremely close to my extended family and love them so much!  I am actually the oldest grandchild of all 20!  (we won't say what my little cousin Jenny has to say about being the oldest grandchild:)  It was a great day to celebrate such a wonderful marriage.  All I know...is I would love to be like my Grandma and Grandpa in 50 years...loving life, family and each other. 

 

Me with Kayli (youngest grandchild) and Ben my Godson

All the girl cousins!  (well technically Baby Carter too...but we will let it slide this time :)

Loooooove my Grandpa!!

Busy Weekend - Part 2 - Jake and Stacy's Wedding!

Saturday afternoon I headed to Savage to pick up Miss Chelsea (my date for part of the evening) and then to Richfield where we attended our friends' wedding (Jake and Stacy).  We made it to the church pretty much in time...thanks to our spectacular navigation skills :)  Ross and Josh made it to the reception just in time for food.  The boys enjoyed a cigar on the deck overlooking the golf course.  They were 'hiding' but eventually all of us girls found them, and then made them take pictures...they were very excited.  It was a very fun night, I am glad we made a pit stop between the wedding and reception so I could get a '1/2 caff latte,' otherwise I would have been one sleepy girl by 9pm.  One of Josh's friends even made a comment around midnight... "wow erin, I just can't believe you are pregnant aaaaand sober, and you are still dancing and having fun." haha I thought that was pretty funny.  We finished off the night at Ross and Chelsea's in Savage, (I was able to sober cab for 7 amazing and entertaining people :)  Chelsea said, "Erin, I hope I am as cool as you when I am pregnant."  hehe, gotta love it.  It was such a great night, and yet another fabulous addition to our busy busy weekend.

   

Busy Weekend - Part 1 - Party at the Lundeen's

Baby Carter even got a name tag

             

         My cousin Kel and I                          Jenny!

So I need to post everything that went on this weekend in 3 separate posts...because we were quite busy allll weekend.  Friday night we went down the Faribault to Josh's parents' house.  We went out to eat and enjoyed watching Lily and her half sister Chloe...race around the house, wrestle and play with each other.  

Saturday, Josh was in a golf tournament with Ross and Eric for Faribault Football.  While Josh was golfing I headed up to Lakeville to my aunt and uncle's for a pool party.  Well...the weather was a bit on the cool side, so the afternoon was spent watching the cousins aaaaand the uncles in a slam dunk contest.  I decided to sit that one out :)  There were lots and lots of relatives...ones we hadn't seen in a while, so it was nice to visit with everyone.  I've included some pics of my cousins...I love seeing all of them...we are all so close and I am lucky to have such a fabulous family!  

Baby Shower!

                 

I had my baby shower this past Sunday with all of my girlfriends.  It was a beautiful day and most everyone was able to make it!  My best friend Molly planned everything, and it was so much fun!  Everyone was so generous, we got a ton of things for baby!  We had the shower at my house, since a lot of my friends hadn't seen it yet.  It was also a very good excuse to clean, clean and clean some more.  I have been getting these crazy bursts of energy to deep clean everything.  I spent all night Friday steam cleaning our carpets.  On Saturday I could barely move....haha....oops.  No preterm labor...so in my mind...mission accomplished.  Josh spent 6 hours changing all of the hardware on our doors.  It was a ton of work (well for Josh), but it makes it look so nice!  No more shiny gold door handles.  Both of us have been doing a lot of things around the house to get ready for baby.  Our basement is done, other than a couple finishing touches (tv, bathroom vanity, toilet).  It will be very nice to have a nice clean, finished house by the time baby comes.

                                                  

I am officially 34 weeks...I can't even believe it.  I feel really good.  I went to my appointment Wednesday and asked her if I am supposed to feel this comfortable.  She told me its my 'positive attitude and personality' that helps....haha....well we can only hope my 'positive attitude' gets me to 40 or 41 weeks. haha.  I also think this fabulous summer of ours has helped (not too hot).  I didn't think I had grown much but I am measuring at 35 cm, my bump grew 3 cm since my 32 week checkup.  Baby boy Remme is the size of a cantaloupe, around 4.75 lbs and almost 18 inches.  At my apt she thought he was head down, but we will make sure of this at 36 weeks.  

Well we have a jam packed weekend, with a trip to Faribault to hang out with Jackie and Dean tonight, Josh is in a golf tourney Saturday morning, my aunt and uncle are having everyone over for a pool party Saturday afternoon, wedding on Saturday night, playing bells at church Sunday morning and then my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary party Sunday afternoon.  I work last night, but I have a long stretch off (8 days) now, which will be nice, especially after such a busy weekend.  Expect lots of pics from the weekend to come!     

32 weeks!

Yay!!  32 weeks!!  8 months!!  woot woot!!

Baby Remme is around 3.75 lbs the size of a large jicama...don't ask me what that is...too bad a lot of these comparisons have to do with healthy foods.  I would know what they were talking about if they compared his size to things like a bag of chips or candy bars.  To accommodate his growing needs my stomach is getting a tad bit squished.  So this week, TUMS, have become my best friend.  I didn't ever have heartburn before being pregnant...propping myself up while sleeping and eating smaller meals is what I have resorted to, oh and popping TUMS like candy.  

I went in on Monday for my 32 week appointment.  Everything looked and sounded great, I am measuring right at 32.  I love the midwives that are delivering our little guy...I swear I laugh during my whole appointment.  They make it so relaxed and comfortable.  It is also nice that I work with them as well.  Oh and just to let everyone know...The midwife group (there are 3 of them) that I am delivering with only deliver in the hospital...no home birth for me...that would be a little odd/scary.  So when I talk about midwives, they are pretty much like an OB Dr.  except they have a nursing background and while I am laboring they will be with me frequently, as opposed to just coming in to catch the baby.  The nice thing is...there is an in-house OB Dr that is available if I were to need a stat c section etc.  I have just learned since working on our floor that the midwives seem to be a little bit more patient.  

I am loving my 12 hr shifts...the looooong stretches off are fabulous.  I haven't worked since last Wednesday :)  My aunt Judie and Penny came up with my cousins, Teagan, Kayli, Brittney and David to swim at our pool.  As soon as Kayli got here she asked, "has the baby gotten out yet?"  Wednesday Josh, Lily and I drove down to Bloomington to celebrate my brother Brandon's 23rd birthday.  My Grandma and Grandpa Thompson were both there as well.  I ate waaaay too much and that may have been the reason why I spent the whole night with heartburn.  This whole week I have been deep cleaning closets, drawers, cupboards, bathrooms etc.  Nesting?!  Hmmm I may be getting ready for this little one to arrive, because as all of you know...I am not the cleaning type :)    

Saying Goodbye to Great Grandma Nelson

This weekend my Great Grandma Nelson passed away at age 97.  She was living in a nursing home, in Wisconsin and had been suffering from dementia.  Since turning 90 her memory had slowly faded away.  I thought it was wonderful that, at age 24 I still had a great-grandmother and that in 2 months Baby Remme was about to have a great-great-grandmother.  Unfortunately, they will not be able to meet each other, but we know that great-grandma Nelson is now in heaven with all of her loved ones, shining down on all of us.  My Grandma Alfaro (her daughter) visited a couple weeks ago and gave our baby boy a gift from great-grandma (a silver dollar).  This was a tradition of great-grandmas to give the grandchildren.  Baby Remme would have been her first great-great-grandchild.  She will surely be missed, but it is nice to know, she is at peace now in heaven.  Her funeral will truly be a celebration of her life...all 97 years of it!     

Fourth of July

We started the weekend out with a trip to Cokato on Thursday night to grill out at Eric and Carissa's.  The food was very very yummy, and we hadn't been out there in forever so it was fun to visit them for a change, and to let the boys actually relax instead of putting them to work on the basement.  The weather was beautiful, we even enjoyed a nice bonfire.  Josh attempted to dog-nap Chase, but I think a 100lb lab would be pretty hard to miss :)  

Friday, Josh and I spent the morning/afternoon by the pool and then headed down to the southern suburbs.  Eric and Allie DuChene (friends from high school) had people over for Eric's 26th birthday.  The weather was actually perfect (not too hot).  We enjoyed the night playing yard games and shooting off fireworks.  

Friday night we stayed at Ross and Chelsea's in Savage, and hung out there on the 4th.  Chelsea was our weather girl and gave us frequent updates.  At 3pm it looked like we were in the clear, so we quickly packed up and headed to the lake.  We were out there for about ten minutes and then we saw some lovely dark clouds heading our way.  The boys dropped us off at the boat landing, so we were able to wait out the rain in the dry truck...the boys on the other hand sat in the pouring rain out on the lake :) We grilled out, and ate waaaaay too much yummy food.  Played some bags and had a bonfire. We had a great day and great evening!

Sunday was spent poolside and relaxing.  

Baby Remme was an active little guy this weekend...Chelsea was able to feel him kicking and everyone else was actually able to see my tummy roll as he was moving around in there.  I have my 32 week appointment tomorrow.  After this apt, I will be going in every 2 weeks, which is very exciting....getting closer :)  

31 weeks!!

Baby Remme is 31 weeks! Around 3.3 lbs and 17 inches long! About the size of 4 oranges. His little legs, arms and body are getting more and more plump and he is heading towards a growth spurt...woo hoo mommy's tummy is gonna get bigger :) haha. He is moving around a ton, especially when I am attempting to sleep...of course :) I checked his heartbeat tonight at work (I love working on the OB floor) His little heart is beating away at 150 per minute. I can't believe I am already in the 30's! The funny thing is...I have taken care of 4 couples from our prenatal class. Its crazy to think that only a couple weeks ago, we were all sitting in a circle with our bellies, and now some of those mommas have their little babes!!