The LaGreca Family

The most popular question I have heard in the last week is:  “Are you SURE they have your due date right?”  and “Are you SURE there is only one baby in there?”

I am not stupid I know what these 2 questions mean.  Translation: “WOW – You are REALLY big and it looks like you are going to have that baby SOON!!”

I am not sure how “soon” this baby will arrive, but we did have a doctor’s appt this week and here is what we know:

• Based on the size of the baby’s head, I am measuring at 35 weeks (so, that says a week early).  The ultrasound picture below is a shot of the top of Baby LG’s head — which is in perfect position for labor/delivery (head down).  We were very excited to get that news. Chances are VERY high that baby is out of room in there and will not rotate positions.

• Doctor also measured the Baby’s femur and confirmed the 35 week mark based on the size.  (Yes, these 2 factors might be key in helping you make a guess as to the baby’s arrival date..maybe?)
• Doc said that based on the ultrasound, it looks like we are on track for an average sized baby — between 7lbs and 8lbs.  (Obviously, it will make a huge difference WHEN the baby comes out – if early – maybe smaller – if later – maybe bigger).
• Based on the picture below – it’s confirmed. There is a baby in there with LaGreca feet – just like Dad and just like NCL:

Look at that BIG Toe!! Those are the feet that constantly kick my right side!

Here is one more picture from yesterday’s ultrasound.  It’s very hard to make out the blob…I know.

Here is a little help.  This picture is the face and an arm/hand.  The baby is laying horizontally, almost like laying on a pillow.  You can see one of the eyes pretty clearly (the socket is the round black ring). From there you can make out a nose (sort of). The arm is vertical in the picture with the hand on the end (can’t make out any fingers really).

This week’s picture was taken with one of my co-workers who has a cute little 18 week belly.  She just “popped out” in the last week (this is her first baby). So exciting to have another pregnant girl at work.

So – I was just looking over the Baby Guessing Pool – and I have a few things to say.

Jennifer Harris and Dad – I do NOT like your guesses ONE bit. May 3rd?  I am sorry, but I am really hoping you are both VERY wrong.

Grant - you are my favorite person. A due date of April 12th. I love it!

Aunt Yvette – I am laughing at your progression of guesses. You are VERY sure it’s a boy – but as time as gone by, you have up’ed your guess in the weight — From 7lbs 8oz to 8lbs. 5oz.  I don’t blame you one bit.

Jen Martinez – You are on top with the highest number of guesses (4). However, you just aren’t sure about the sex. 2 for boy and 2 for girl.  Hmm, a little hedging going on?  You have also up’ed your weight guess as my belly has grown

**Looks like it’s nearly time to close the Guessing Game.  I think it’s fair to close it by Easter (April 4th).  That gives everyone 2 more weeks to get your final guesses in. Remember, you can guess as many times as you want.**

I will leave you with a few more “clues” that might help in your guessing?

• My acid reflux is acting up. I even resorted to taking a shot of Mylanta the other night – ick. I HATE liquid medicine, but I needed some relief and Joe loves that stuff (he made me do it).
• I took my wedding ring off over a week ago.  I could get it on in the AM, but it wasn’t feeling too good after about an hour.
• My legs are swollen. My ankles are disappearing   I never had this with Nicholas (until after delivery).  I don’t know if it’s the change in the weather (I am NOT liking the 80+ degree weather).  I think I will be in flip-flops from here on out.
• I am really slowing down. Walking slower. Getting a lot more tired. Still not sleeping great.
• I seem to be carrying this baby higher — I can’t really tell, but a few people have commented on the fact that my belly seems very high.
• I think I have experienced a few contractions in the last few days. Low back pain that is NOT normal for me – lasted for about 30 seconds. Hmmm..interesting….

Good luck in your guessing!

I don’t think this post will really “flow” — but, I have a ton of fun/cute/everyday/random pictures of NCL I wanted to post, so I will just start posting and see if anything comes to mind.

Joe bought these ‘tools’ for NCL a long time ago at the Parent Swap Meet (I think he paid $1 for an entire bag of tools).  NCL LOVES the pliers and recently he has been interested in “working on things.”  One afternoon, he decided he needed to work on his oil truck (just like Daddy does in the garage).

NCL successfully gets Daddy’s shoes on and goes for a “walk” (it only lasted 2 steps).

One of NCL’s favorite books “The Goodnight Train”

We borrowed Aunt Patty/Uncle David’s pick-up truck last weekend so we could furniture shop (I am SO excited! We found a used dresser for NCL’s room on craigslist and it’s absolutely PERFECT in there. When we are done with the room, I will take pics and post them.)

Anyway, we had the pick-up at the house and NCL was SOOOO excited to stand in the bed of the truck. I mean, you would have thought it was Christmas morning. He was dancing back there and yelling – huge smiles. It was super cute (this kid is ALL boy!)

Bath Time for Nicholas is a highlight.  As most of you know, this kid loves Nemo and ANYKIND of marine life. He especially loves sharks.

There is NO DOUBT that the best .99 cents we EVER spent was on this bag of cheap, Chinese made fish/sharks/octopus.  I am not kidding that it was .99 cents (we went to a cheap store before flying to Buffalo for Christmas and picked up stuff to give NCL on the plane.  This bag of “fish” was one thing we found and didn’t think much of it at the time).

3 months later – and NCL loves all the sharks, fish and octopus. You would think they are part of our family.

*Angie Pizz – here is another one for you And, actually – this picture is ALL about Buffalo (I just realized).  Monster towel from Aunt Angie AND Joe is wearing his Sabres shirt from Mary and Grant.

These LaGreca boys are just so darn cute.

Below, you will see – we have a new location for the train tracks (this was last week).  The livingroom has been transformed into “Grand Center Station.” NCL spends a lot of time on the tracks. We had to pick up the tracks last week because the cleaner was coming on Thursday… BUT….don’t worry, a NEW and IMPROVED track has been constructed in the livingroom. I am pretty sure that will be the last time I get on the floor and build tracks while this baby is still in my belly.  Daddy will have to engineer and build the next one.

Yesterday, I got home from work and NCL was napping (it was 5:30pm). He didn’t nap at preschool and he wasn’t feeling well. I just had to take a picture of him in his big boy bed.

And finally – tonight’s picture.  Mary & Grant – this one is JUST for you

I sure do love having a little boy in the house.  Yes, it’s crazy. Yes, it’s loud. Yes, there are a lot of crashes/accidents/bruises.  But, I wouldn’t change it for ANYTHING.  I honestly can’t remember what our house was like without Nicholas.  This might sound strange – but when he is napping on the weekend (IF I can get him to nap) — after awhile, I actually miss him.  I know he is in his room and I am busy doing a ton of other things, but I find myself thinking about him and wondering when he will wake up because I miss him.  That sounds crazy, right? I guess I just can’t help it.  He is a fun kid to be around.

Oh, the belly…..it’s huge.  My co-worker took this picture today to mark Week 33 and as she was taking it, she laughed and said “Man, you are HUGE!”

(Mom, compare these pictures:  Week 33 with NCL – not only do I feel like I am sticking out more this time, but I think it’s evidenced by the photo!)

Out of 24 guesses – it looks like we are in a dead tie, once again.  50% Girl and 50% Boy.  Hmmm….interesting.  I guess that 50/50 mentality mirrors how I feel about the whole thing.  I am really getting excited to find out what this baby is?!

We have 3 babies due in April at church – one is a girl, one is a boy — and then there is Baby LaGreca. I wonder who is going to be out numbered?

Remember 2 weeks ago, when I said I was freaked out that we only had 9 weeks to go (or 2 months)?  Well, now we are at T-7 weeks and I have changed my mind. I am not sure I can make it 7 (or more) weeks! I keep thinking “What if this baby has NO intention of coming out by the time we get to April 29th?” — What if this baby wants to be a “May” baby?

I really don’t think my back can handle this for too much longer.  I am SO darn uncomfortable sitting in front of a computer at work!  I might just have to telecommute earlier than I thought.

It’s really amazing – I can tell the baby is getting so much bigger.  I am so much more aware of the movements this time, especially since I am pretty sure I know the exact position of the baby.  It’s growing – no doubt about that! And, I am still hungry! Ha ha — that really hasn’t gone away this entire pregnancy.  I can eat! (I would still be able to keep up with our Buffalo family – if we were back there!)

This is a bit random – but I have been meaning to post this for awhile.

I love maternity pants.  I know..they aren’t very “cute” (although, compared to years and years ago – I would have to say that they have come a LONG way!) In fact, some people ask me “are those maternity pants or your regular pants?”  I have to laugh because there is no way on EARTH I could fit into regular pants – are you kidding me?!  But, my maternity jeans really aren’t that hideous.

I have 3 reasons for loving maternity pants:

#3: It’s just more comfortable.  When your belly sticks out as much as mine does, you really need comfort — I need the stretch!

#2: It doesn’t matter how big your meal is, the pants still fit you the same. I have definitely been known to have to “release” a button on my jeans before – because I ate too much and felt bloated (pre-pregnancy).  I don’t have that worry right now.

And, the #1 reason why I LOVE maternity pants:  I can go to the bathroom at least twice as fast as normal. There are no buttons to undo or zippers to unzip.  It’s awesome (and for those of you who know me really well, you know this is HUGE for me – because I don’t like to be in the bathroom.  Anything that can speed up the process is welcomed!)  **Interesting trade-off…when you are pregnant, you go to the bathroom 4-5 times more than normal — so, what am I really gaining?

We have seen a BIG difference in NCL’s growth since he started preschool (only a few weeks ago!)  He is trying SO many more words and making sentences now — it’s awesome.  I guess he really wants to be like the bigger kids at school (or he quickly figured out that he HAS to use words to communicate with others, to get what he wants).  Whatever his reasoning – I don’t really care – I am just so excited to hear him talking more.

Nicholas is now 28 months old (2 yrs and 4 mths).  Wow – it’s amazing how FAST 2+ years just flies by!  I know all parents say the same thing – but man, it’s so true.  Before we know it, NCL will be a big brother…and then, he will be off to real school, and then eating us out of house & home with his teenage friends after swim practice.  Ok – maybe not THAT fast – I will try to slow things down from here on out…ha ha.

Here are some fun/random pictures of the little guy from the last few weeks.

Above: I made homemade Mac & Cheese (yes Mom, your recipe – I have had to practice a few times to perfect it…although, I still need some work) and NCL LOVED to lick the cheesy spoon after.

Above: NCL wanted to wear my jacket – it looks HUGE on him!

Above: Just another Saturday morning — listening to a little Christmas music (in February) while lounging in the laundry basket (isn’t that what everyone does on Saturday morning?)

Above: NCL is finally learning that the way to win over Roscoe is to “sneak” him scraps of meat from the table. NCL thinks it’s funny…Roscoe loves the food!

Above: The next “American Idol” ?

Above: One Sunday morning, NCL wanted to carry my Bible to the car. He was so proud of himself — he kept saying “My Bible…Mommy’s Bible…My Bible”

And finally, the latest obsession just this week — his “gees” — he wants to play with them ALL the time.  It’s the first thing he asks for in the morning and the last thing he talks about before bed.  We have had this little track set up in the kitchen/dining area for the past 3+ days (Joe finally took it apart today).

Who would have thought that camping on the beach in February, in Orange County, would result in a beach evacuation for a Tsunami Warning?  I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t been there. In fact, when my Dad knocked on our door and said we had to leave – I totally thought he was kidding.

Despite the evacuation, we had a successful weekend camping trip in Huntington Beach.  NCL always loves to be outside, no matter where we go.

On Friday night, he and I went for a little walk along the sidewalk and the sand. He found a stick, of course.

He enjoyed walking in the sand and looking at the fire pits on the beach.

He got to try out his new Bass Pro sleeping bag – a Christmas present from Grandma D (my mom). He also sat in his in his little Bass Pro folding chair at the Friday night campfire (I don’t have a picture, but it was cute).

We were told to leave the beach around 8:30am on Saturday morning due to the Tsunami threat along the coast. They said the beach would be open again around 1pm and that we could leave our RVs parked there — we just had to move to the other side of the PCH (which was about 15 feet from our RV).  Dad had his RV and we had ours – we decided to take both and go to the local mall (we figured there would be plenty of parking and at least we could walk around inside while it rained).

Target was celebrating Dr. Suess with Storytime for the kids.  NCL and Daddy listened to one story and then NCL had enough “sitting”!

This mall had a great kiddie play area AND a train to ride.  I will HAVE to post the video of NCL riding. He really was in heaven.  Kind of funny because the little boy in front of him was crying SO hard. I couldn’t believe it. He was petrified of this train and wanted his Mom.  NCL was completely opposite. As he went by each time, he said “Bye, Bye” – and waved to us.

After NCL’s train ride – we went back to our RV – I made lunch for everyone and then we all laid down for a nap (ah – the joys of bringing your home with you, wherever you go.)  NCL took a 2 hr nap. It was awesome.  We headed back to the beach around 4:45pm and it was COLD! Decided that a beach campfire wouldn’t work Saturday night because it was just too cold and windy out there.  The boys improvised with a “BBQ-Parking lot Fire” – see below for the prep.

We ate dinner inside (Penny made homemade lasagna – YUM!)  NCL watched the Jungle Book on Dad’s travel DVD player, while we waiting for dinner to cook.

The picture below has to be my favorite of the trip.  NCL wasn’t shy about giving out kisses and hugs the whole weekend.  Everyone EATS that up!

The picture below is LOVE

After dinner, the boys got the BBQ Parking Lot Fire going, and Joe enjoyed a S’more.

With NCL tucked into our bed, watching the Lion King – the adults headed over to Dad’s RV to play games.  A little Skip-Bo first. And then the dominoes came out – Mexican Train, our favorite.

And, since Saturday was Penny’s official birthday – we sang and enjoyed Tiramisu (we didn’t have real birthday candles, so we improvised….see, we do “rough it” when we camp).