Party of 5!

 Drum roll please......

It is with an incredible amount of love that we welcome our baby.....

GIRL!

Emma Catherine Klecha

Born August 24, 2015 at 9:03 AM

9 pounds, 12 ounces 

(yes, you read that correctly)

20.5 inches

We are all so very excited with this sweet little bundle of joy, sent straight from heaven above!  

Birth story to follow!

Family of 4

This is officially the last weekend as a family of 4.  

We sure did have a fun one! 

Eva had her soccer game on Saturday morning.

Eva "playing" soccer (aka social hour).

The weather was gorgeous so we spent a lot of time playing outside.

The weather was perfect for the fire pit!

 Jacek, mom, and I enjoyed the fire pit after the kid's bedtime.

On Sunday, we went to church.  I was really struggling with the decision of whether or not to move forward with my scheduled induction the following morning.  The homily was incredible and I cried almost the entire service.  After mass was over, I felt a peace within my heart.  I told Jacek that we needed to stop by CVS.  I decided I was going to try drinking castor oil and if that didn't work to induce labor naturally, I would be ok with the scheduled induction in the morning. 

39 weeks, 2 days

Eva got her toenails painted pink and blue to match mama and Nana.

My dad arrived that afternoon.  That evening, we had our final dinner as a family of 4, soft shell crabs.  They were yummy!

His praying hands melt my heart

We spent time outside after dinner.

My Eva got very emotional at bedtime.  I told her that I would not be at home in the morning, but that she would most likely be visiting her new baby brother or sister in the hospital tomorrow afternoon.  She got sad and said, "Mama, I'm going to miss your cushy belly."  Jake had no clue as to what was going to happen, and I was a mess putting him to bed. I sing a goodnight song to both of them and at the end, I sing what we will be doing the following day.  I couldn't even make it through the song!  Knowing that this would be the last night of just 2 kiddos was tearing me up!

We got the kids to bed and I researched how to make a castor oil concoction.  Down the hatch it went at 9 PM.

Stay tuned......

39 weeks and other fun things

I am 39 weeks pregnant today.  

I keep wondering how is it possible that I am still pregnant??  I know the answer to this question, but seriously, it feels like this baby is going to live in my belly forever. 

I had my weekly doctor's appointment today.  I have progressed some, but am only 1 cm dilated. Baby's head is "way down there."  I gained 3 more pounds, but that was probably due to the fact that I ate sodium-laden sushi last night for dinner.  I am at 43 pounds gained. 

The bulk of my appointment was spent discussing whether or not to go ahead with my scheduled induction on Monday.  I am wary about it, for many reasons.  Mainly, I don't want to wind up with a c-section and also because it is so anti-climatic!  My doctor is confident that I am a great candidate for the induction and that everything will go smoothly, but was also fine with me canceling.   I need to pray about it this weekend before I make a final decision.

Decided on a cookies-and-cream milkshake this week to drown my sorrows.

I am kind of tired of trying everything I can to get this baby to be born.  I feel like, at this point, I have done all I can do and I just need to relax and leave things alone.
Here are a few things I've tried:
1.  Exercise.  I have been to the gym 3 times this week and walked about 2 miles.

2.  Eaten the following that is supposed to help:  Labor cookies (mentioned in Monday's blog post), Eggplant Parmesan, the rest of my super spicy pad Thai, 6 dates per day, and pineapple.

3. Drank this labor smoothie  

4.  Bounced on the yoga ball and have done lots and lots of squats.

 5.  Vacuumed my entire house, both sets of stairs, and cleaned all three bathrooms.

My last resort is castor oil.  I don't know if I can do it. 

I am going to give it a rest this weekend and enjoy my time with my family.  I am going to pray and think happy labor thoughts.  I just can't wait to meet this sweet little bundle (who Eva just told me today, "Mommy, I've changed my mind.  I think baby is a boy!").

After my doctor's appointment, Jacek and I headed back to the house and took the kids to their "Meet the Teacher" at preschool.  School starts next week!  Eva is so excited about it; Jake, on the other hand, is slightly apprehensive.  When I ask him if he wants to go to school, he says, "No thank you, mama."  Oh my!  He did enjoy finding the fire trucks in his classroom and he did say hi to both of his teachers.  Thankfully, his lead teacher has a 3 year old boy who is kinda clingy like Jake, so I know he will be in good hands this year.  The transition just may take awhile.

Eva has some of her best buds in her class again this year and she is so excited!  

 This year will be interesting, to say the least!  Lots of changes, but hopefully lots more fun!

She's 4.5!

This super sweet girl is 4.5 years old today!  It is so hard to believe!  

We love you so much, Eva!!  

CFA and fun with Nana

Who doesn't love Chick-fil-A?  We sure do!  

We met some friends at an indoor playground and then headed to CFA for lunch.  

My two sweeties!

Being silly with Grace!

 Nana has been such a big help since she has been here!  The kids have so much fun with her and they love when she reads to them each night at bedtime.  So sweet!

Tired Monday

I woke up around 4:45 AM Monday morning to go potty and then Jake woke up fussing shortly thereafter.  I got him to go back to sleep, but I could not.  So, I blogged and did a few other things to pass the time until the rest of the house woke up. 

Around 7:30, the rest of the house was awake.  Seems Eva was a little groggy this morning as well. 

I love her hair first thing in the morning.  It is all kinds of crazy!  I look pretty good myself!

 We did make it to the gym and I walked a couple miles on the treadmill.  We met a friend at the park afterwards.  The kids had fun but the heat is torture for me right now!

Thank goodness for napping children and Nana being here to help out.  I was able to take a good nap this afternoon so I could function the rest of the day!

Later that afternoon, Eva helped me make these labor cookies.  I also made eggplant Parmesan for dinner.  Both are supposed to help induce labor but neither one worked.  Boo.

Super Busy Weekend!

We had a jam-packed weekend!

First thing Saturday morning, we went to Olivia's birthday party!  I can't believe she is turning 2!  As always, the Puzios know how to have a super fun party, complete with face painting and a donut cake!

She loves unicorns!!

Me and my sweet boy!

Nana helping Jake decorate his beach ball

Showing off his soccer ball.

Carter and Eva.  So sweet together!

We returned home and Eva quickly changed into her soccer gear.  Today was her first practice and game.  She is a member of the Foxes and is excited to be on the same team with her friends Caroline and Leah.  I am not actually sure who "won" the game, as the first one was, well, interesting to say the least!  It was very cute to watch and I am sure Eva will improve her game throughout the season.  I did surprise myself and scream like a crazy soccer mom when Eva got the ball and was kicking it down the field!

That evening, Jacek and I went out to dinner to an amazing Thai restaurant in an effort to:

1.  Spend some time together before this baby is born.

2.  Eat super spicy food to kick-start this labor.

We accomplished the first goal, but not the second.  

Thanks for babysitting, Nana!

38 weeks, 1 day pregnant!

Jacek's delicious red snapper

My pad thai

Our (non-alcoholic) after dinner shot

Dessert at Hayes Barton!

My cheesecake was delicious!

On Sunday, we went to church and then mom and I went out for brunch and got pedicures.  We both got pink and blue polish alternating on our toes.  Can't wait to see if this baby is a boy or a girl!  A foot massage is supposed to help start labor.  Not-so-much for me!  At least it was relaxing.

Cute picture of Eva and Jake from Play and Pray at church

Pink and blue toes

Jacek smoked some ribs and we took dinner to the pool.  It was so nice and relaxing!!  Eva is swimming so well and I am so impressed that she is able to "swim" the length of the pool now.  She has also perfected her handstand, which she has been working on all summer long.

What a wonderful weekend!