I was fortunate to break away from work over the lunch hour to go surprise Griffin at pre-school for the Mom’s and Muffins mother’s day gathering. I hadn’t told him I’d be there as I like to surprise him – and I just love to see the expression on his face when he discovers I’m there. So fun! I was able to play with him in his classroom where he showed me so many of his toys. Then the kids were read a book by the teacher, showed us a dance they do to music, and each child was called to the front one at a time to get the painting they had made for their mom. While the child walked up to the front the teacher read one line off their “mom” worksheet which you can see below. Some of what the kids answers were to the questions were pretty hilarious! For mine, she read that “Griffin’s mom is 10 years old”. I could tell as he was walking back to me with his painting and the paper that he was a little embarrassed. He sat down and muttered “I didn’t know what to say for how old you were…..” like I would somehow be disappointed that it wasn’t correct. So I reassured him it was ok not to know how old I was and how much I loved the painting he made and all of the answers to the questions that his teachers asked him about me. Apparently we make and eat a lot of pancakes and waffles around here…..
On Thursday morning I had yet another weekly non-stress test which again went well and the baby’s heart rate looked great. This week I met with Dr. Costa afterwards. She thinks based on my current status and that I delivered Griffin 10 days late, that I will go after my due date. She actually mentioned that she saw my ultrasound results from last week and that I have above normal amniotic fluid (mine is 18, normal is 10-14), though it’s not cause for concern. But it does make it more difficult for the baby to move down to the cervix, which is what causes it to begin dilating. Even though I’ve been having regular braxton-hicks contractions, the additional fluid makes it difficult for the babies head to move down which is why I haven’t made much progress in the last couple of weeks. I’m ok with that since it has allowed me to get through spring at work! 
Earlier in the week Griffin and Kevin went to Cincinnati with Paul and Nick to watch the Reds battle the Yankees. It was a trip planned awhile back as a boys weeknight getaway. They all enjoyed themselves, and believe it or not – both Nick and Griffin got actual game balls! They had great seats up the first base outfield line which gave them great access to the ball boys :). It’s really neat that the ball boy gave Finn a ball which even has grass stains and other game-day marks on it! We have since mounted it in a keepsake ball holder. I, on the other hand, got out of work at a decent hour and was home and in my comfy bed watching part of the game :). 
Over the weekend Kevin started working on the nursery closet. We are going to customize the shelving and add some built in drawers. So Kevin and Finn headed to Lowe’s to get the necessary supplies and then began working on the pieces parts. And, as always, Brutus inserted himself in the activities wanting to be in the garage during all the activity. 
On Mother’s Day Mom and Dad came down and the Bethune’s also joined us at Griffin’s flag football game. The league gave the kids flowers to give to their Mom’s and/or Grandma’s that were there – how cute! Afterwards we headed to Graeter’s (who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat after a little flag football) and then on to the Bethune’s for a pizza dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day. Yummers! Griffin made the sweetest card for me with Miss Debbie. I really enjoy reading the sentiments that she captures when she asks him questions like that. 
While Griffin played outside one day he created this masterpiece which he called his “collage”. A unique and beautiful compilation made when he combined water and sidewalk chalk and then painted with his feet. He was so proud. There were several colors but you can’t quite see that in the photo here. 
Griffin loves to be outside and play sports as much as possible. Anytime he hears his neighbor pals Cole and Cooper outside he immediately wants to head outside and play with them. They get in games of driveway hockey and lawn baseball quite a bit. 
And from this weeks trip to the zoo:
Check out our handsome 4 year old Tiger’s spring school photo! Looking sharp!
My entire pregnancy it seems this baby has been off to the right side of my body! When I have braxton hicks contractions it is SO obvious that my belly is lopsided! I had yet another non-stress test this week. It went well but it took longer than it has been as he was sleeping. The nurse used a buzzer on my belly to wake him up, lol! There were a couple of “dips” in his heart rate so they did an ultrasound. Sometimes the dips are perfectly fine/normal for the baby and other times they can indicate low fluid. The ultrasound went well and my fluid level is just fine. And the technician said she checked and the cord isn’t around his neck (that’s a frequent concern of mine and most moms to be at this stage I guess!). 
Brutus went to the vet on Saturday as he can’t seem to kick this ear infection that he’s basically had on and off since we’ve had him. We got a new med that hopefully will do the trick. He now weighs 88 pounds!! A small pony, right? And speaking of Brutus, one night this week at bedtime we couldn’t find him anywhere. After looking everywhere up and down stairs Kevin went in to Finn’s room and discovered we had left him in there. He was actually behind the chair and Finn had taken a pillow and some lovies back there and was sleeping on him. Completely asleep. It was pretty cute. 
One night this week I had a lot of regular contractions and I got kind of nervous that it could be actual labor!! So, along with doing our first load of baby clothes in the washer I had Kevin take this photo of me and Finn to have before this baby arrives – just in case!
And how can it be that this was 3 years ago already. Whew. I wish life had a pause button. 
I’m really trying to catch up on our blog posts and I feel like I’m falling even further behind! I haven’t really kept any notes on our adventures and pretty much rely on the photos to jog my memory about our weeks. I do, however, remember this morning when we were all home and awake at the same time before Kevin and I each headed in to work. We hadn’t had a chance to be together to do crack open the confetti Easter eggs. Griffin was pretty excited at 7:15 in the morning to head outside and have colorful confetti blowing everywhere. He enjoyed cracking them over Lily and Brutus, and over my belly as you can see. 
Lily continues to recover well. We are still taking her out on her leash (only) and she and Brutus remain separated by her playpen walls. They do get in to periodic spats of playfulness where they basically bite at each others faces and bark and growl at each other. And Finn continues to enjoy spending time in there with Lily. 
On Friday I had my first weekly Non-stress test where they put a two monitors on my belly (one for contractions (pink band) and one for the baby’s heart beat (blue band) and in the printout below the top is the baby’s heart rate and the bottom monitors contractions). I had felt him moving around all morning but it always makes me a bit nervous while they try to find the heartbeat on the monitor and then secure the monitor in the correct place so it continues to track the heart rate. After a few minutes the nurse was able to get it right (she was new and nervous I could tell!). It took about 30-40 minutes but everything looked great so I’m all done until next week. On Friday Griffin also had a follow up hearing test. Earlier this spring he had a speech and hearing screening at pre-school and he didn’t pass in his right ear. Kevin was able to take him to this appointment since i was at my appointment in the morning and had to get to work after that. We are very thankful that he passed the tests just fine. They had him hooked up to some equipment and when he would hear the sound he would have to throw a toy into the bucket. He rather enjoyed it I think, according to Kevin! Afterwards Daddy and Finn went on a shopping trip to Dick’s to get Finn some cleats for his football games. 
First thing in the morning Griffin always comes to our room and hops right up into our bed and just snuggles. He is the best cuddler and I love to watch Griffin and Kevin together. 
Here are a few others from this week: Z is the letter of the week so Finn made a Z for Zoo and the animals behind it. Also our Rising Sun Redbud out front is leafing out and looking pretty! And a couple from the park and the zoo. 
Finn’s flag football games are a hoot to watch. There are 4 coaches and they are all actively helping the kids learn the entire game. It is tiring for Kevin, for sure, but he is enjoying it. And Finn loves that his daddy is one of his coaches.
