37 weeks

37 weeks. This is the week where things got big. Legit big. If you can't tell here, I'll assure you ... the kid is big and the belly is round.

According to our doc, the baby boy has dropped, I'm dilated to 3 cm, and things are a bit uncomfortable. Like ... even sitting. Is uncomfortable. But I'm good! Still trying to knock things off the to-do list ... car repairs, dentist appointments for Lo, and teaching my last round of knitting classes. Which I just finished tonight. My appetite hasn't been huge but I've been craving fruit. Berries. Smoothies. Mandarin oranges. Yummy treats for mom. Can't complain. We're almost there.

Mostly, my thoughts revolve around seeing this little boy's sweet little face for the first time. Any mom can relate. That's what gets you through those last weeks and days. Baby day-dreaming. So close now.

Lo's ballerina birthday party

Over the weekend, we celebrated little Lo's 5th birthday with a ballerina party. Looking at these photos, it definitely hits me that she's growing up so fast. I know that everyone says the same thing about their kids; time goes so fast, they grow up so fast. But I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that it has been five whole years since she was just a tiny baby, entering our world. She has grown up so much!

 

In honor of this most special occasion, we had a small group of Lo's girlfriends over for a ballerina party. There was lots and lots of pink, tulle and girly tutus everywhere.

There were pink treats.

And a cake fit for a ballerina.

I made lots and lots of pink tulle puffs to use as garlands and cupcake toppers.

And we had pink ballerina goodie bags.

There were pink cake pops.

Pink number 5 cookies (made by Grandma Carol.)

And my sweet friend, Beth, made these adorable cookies to match our ballerina invites.

Lo's friends arrived wearing their tutus, ready to party.

We started off with a little crafting and made gumball necklaces.

But the party wouldn't have been complete without a little bit of actual dancing.

We asked Lo's sweet ballet teacher, Miss Aubrey, to come over and lead the girls in a little ballet fun.

Everyone loved Miss Aubrey and the girls had a blast!

 And then ... it was cake time!

So sweet to see Lo with her little pals.

Pink sweets! (Sorry for the sugar overload, moms.)

And that pretty much sums up our super sweet pink ballerina birthday party! It was so, so much fun.

We celebrated early, since my due date with baby #2 is incredibly close to Lo's actual birthday, so now I'm left looking at my almost-five-year old and loving each and every moment we spend together before we welcome a brand new baby brother into our household. It's such an exciting time to be a Geigley, let me tell you.  ;)

baby knits

Socks with rib in "Baby Merino" by DROPS design

I'm gearing up for a knitting retreat this weekend with four of my most favorite knitting girlfriends. I absolutely cannot wait for a whole weekend of uninterrupted knitting time with them. We always manage to cause a little trouble, but in a good way. To get ready, I've been scouring Ravelry and my pattern books for the perfect projects to work on. I've picked out a hat and mitten pattern that I want to make for myself, a quick cowl pattern for Lo, but I've also been looking for one more baby project to possibly work on. I have managed to crank out one baby sweater for the little dude, and I have a baby hat and mitts set in progress, but not much else. Here are some of my favorite things that I've found so far. (All photos were taken by the pattern designers.)

Garter Stitch Baby Kimono by Joji Locatelli

 Latte Baby Sweater by Liselotte Weller

Bulky Baby Blankets by Purl Soho

 

 Mossy by Jolene Lye

Super Easy Baby Blanket by Purl Soho

 

 Chunky Pea Pod by Paige Marecle

Wilhelmina's Baby Sweater by Karen Clements

Zozo Pixie Cables by Amanda Keeys

What are some of your go-to knitting patterns for babies? (And what should I start knitting now?)  :)

36 weeks

36 weeks. I have developed a serious waddle. People have commented on it. My hips and pelvis are under some major pressure. I had yet another ultrasound today and things are looking good. This little dude is no longer breech and my fingers are crossed that he'll stay that way. I'm a couple of centimeters dilated/70% effaced (sorry, TMI?) and well on my way. At least all of the contractions I've been having are doing some decent work. It's all about getting through it, now. You know ... survival mode. 

But yet, I've been reminding myself to take a step back from whining about contractions or feeling exhausted. Just to make sure I'm taking the time to remember this experience. To internalize and process how incredibly cool it all is. To get the chance to be a mom. To carry a tiny fetus and allow it to grow for almost a year inside of your belly and become your newest, tiniest family member. Someone you've never met, a face you've never seen. But a little person you already love so much.

I remember telling Bo not long after Lo was born that, God willing, I wanted to try to do the pregnancy thing one more time. I wanted to feel that baby wriggling inside my ribcage and do it all again, just once more. Of course, we were lucky to get pregnant the first time, let alone a second time – you can't choose or plan these things. But I felt I hadn't said 'goodbye' to child-bearing when I was preggo with Lo, and that has been in my head off and on for the past nine months. This is it, the big goodbye, and I won't be doing this again. It's almost over and I feel like I need to prepare myself for that. That probably sounds really weird and maybe you think I'm off my rocker, but I do believe women kind of go through an acceptance thing when their childbearing days are over and you move on to raise your family. You have to sort of say goodbye to the baby-making. I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed and thankful that I get to do this. Every single day. I know that it's not an easy road for everyone. I don't take it for granted. I'm so happy to have made it this far. And I'm so excited for what's ahead.