And then there were two....

Two weeks left that is until my official due date. Oh how time has flown by. I think I really lucked out being pregnant this summer since the weather has been so mild. Although now that the humidity has kicked in, I think I'm just about done with this big ole belly :) I say Baby Loach can come anytime he wants now... of course his Daddy hopes he can hold off for another week or so since he has big golf plans next week!

Here are the stats:
36 weeks: 1/2cm dilated, some effacement
37 weeks: 1 cm dilated 75-80% effacement
38 weeks: 2 cm dilated, 85% effacement

If I keep doubling like this we should see the baby in no time!! The doctor said today that my progression is more of an indicator for how I'll do during labor rather than how soon the baby will come. If given the choice between the two, I much rather have a more timely labor and wait another 4 weeks for this little guy to show up. Although ask me again next week after a week of high humidity and 80+ temps and I might be singing a different tune :)

Sieber Family Heirloom

Hard to believe my mother has had this cradle kicking around her house for the past 30+ years! It is the cradle my Grandpa Sieber made back when I was born. We plan to use it in our bedroom for Baby Loach for the first few weeks after birth. Dan had to refit some of the pieces and also painted it so it would better match our decor. We picked the color 'Innocence' ... such a fitting paint color name for the first bed our son will sleep in when he comes home :)

Like our summer won't be busy enough with the arrival of baby!!

OK, OK - so this isn't a baby post.... but it's still exciting stuff going on in the Loach household!

So the one project I've been asking Dan to do every summer since the basement was finished is to build a patio outside the basement slider with stairs down from the driveway. It had finally made it to the top of Dan's list this past spring.... until he decided he wanted to build another deck - more on that below!! Being realistic that trying to complete two projects in one summer would be too much but still wanting to give me what he promised, Dan decided to hire the stone work out. We ended up hiring the same landscaping company that re-did our front yard.... and boy did they do a great job! We are SO happy with the finished project. Hopefully the new backyard addition will make the basement kitchen and bathroom more useful for pool days and the stairs down from the driveway will make it easier for people to reach the basement for various parties. We still have to add some plantings in the new beds and have to wait for the grass to grow back along the edges but here's a few pics of the finished stone work.

And then there's the new deck. I'm sure many of you have heard Dan talk about building a 'lido deck' ..... just deep enough to fit a row of lounge chairs along the back side of the pool. Sound familiar?? Um.... sweetie.... I think your measurements are a bit off :) The new 'lido deck' will be big enough to fit a gazebo, grilling station AND those lounge chairs!! I swear the new deck is bigger than the one he built when we put in the pool. Dan has always been disappointed that the pool was built at a different level than the rest of the backyard so hopefully this deck will give him the extra space around pool area that he has always wanted. He's just about done framing the base now as you can see in the pics below. And I have to add a pool picture too since we've finally seen the sun here for more than one day in a row!!

The nursery is officially done!

And not a moment too soon in my opinion! I am officially 36 weeks today and so happy to have everything assembled, organized, washed and ready to go!! All our birthing classes are complete and our bags are packed and ready for the hospital. Operation Baby Mode in the Loach house has come to an end - although I'm sure I will come up with a few more odds and ends that I feel must be done before the baby arrives. Dan has been such a good sport about doing all my projects as I feel necessary. Thank you sweetie!! And he made it thru our Make Way for Baby class with flying colors. He will be a pro at diaper changes, burping and sponge baths from day one :)

5 weeks left ....Really??

OK so these pictures were actually taken at 35 weeks, 1day... so just under 5 weeks left. I prefer to say 34 days left - seems closer to me. Hard to believe this little guy can still put on a couple of pounds before he's born. Where does he plan to go?? He's already kicking me in the ribs and giving me horrible heartburn. Isn't there an old wives tale that when the mother has heartburn the baby will be born with a full head of hair? I'm thinking fire engine red just like his Daddy.... sticking straight up like the Heat Meizer. Two red headed Loach boys in one house ..... God help me :)


I've spared you all on the bare belly pics.... so unless you come to our pool or go to the beach with us, you are safe for now!!