35 + 19 = today

Math seems to be done in milestones around here these days :) Today is our precious boy's 19 month birthday! It's also week 35 for this very pregnant mama. Both quite exciting!

At 19 months, Porter is...
~still working on those troublesome molars (1 down, 1 cutting, 2 on the way)
~down to 1 2-hour nap/day (which makes some afternoons fun)
~on a bit of a hunger strike. This one is not so fun! Some days he eats like he's never going to eat again and other days his high chair and all things food related are his biggest enemy. Until this resolves, we're having a lot of fruit smoothies and shredded cheese!
~on an equally large stroller strike, yikes! Going places with this little monkey has been a challenge (to say the least!) lately. He is such an independent (a.k.a. headstrong!) little thing and just wants his freedom. Going places, or on walks, in the stroller is not one of his favorite activities at the time. I'm hoping this one also resolves before Savannah arrives or we will officially be on house arrest! (I can only begin to imagine how challenging carrying a newborn and chasing a toddler might be around stores, no thanks!)
~talking up a storm! It seems that there's nothing this little parrot can't say. I couldn't even begin to list all of the things he is saying these days! His favorite words right now seem to be animal sounds. (And as hilarious as Daddy thinks it is that Porter deems it appropriate to "moo" at Mama, Mama doesn't find it quite as funny in this rather large state!) He surprises us almost every day with something he's learned to say or do. I think we might have a genius on our hands (but then again, doesn't every mama think that?!)
~loving talking to his sissy. It's so sweet! One day last week, he was sitting in my lap and felt a rather large nudge from his sister, to which he responded "No No sissy!" Lol! He sings to her. He "feeds" her his food (I am finding the strangest food remnants on my belly these days!). He rubs her and kisses her. I can't wait to see the bond they have when he finally gets to meet her!

Speaking of sissy, some 35 week stats...
~cravings: milk, donuts (don't even think about judging!), french fries (all rather gestational diabetes friendly, huh?!), chicken pot pie (just can't seem to find the energy to make it and seeing as how I'm the only one that would eat it, I just can't justify spending the non-existent energy)
~my belly is still measuring about 2 cm ahead of the week that I am. I like to think it's related to a certain height issue, but it could very well be my ginormous daughter :)
~still not certain which position Savannah is in. The dr felt yesterday and said there is definitely something "large and hard" at the top and bottom of my belly, but wasn't sure which end was up. I have an ultra sound next Tuesday to measure her growth and check her position, so we're praying extra, extra hard that her head is down and abdomen continues to measure smaller than her head (that's what will make the difference in a c-section vs delivery, due to the gestational diabetes). If she is not head down, they will attempt to turn her at week 37, which makes me quite nervous but they seem to think it's worth a try and a relatively routine procedure.
~as long as she measures fine on the ultra sound and doesn't decide to come on her own before then, October 30th is our standing delivery date right now. All things are subject to change and I surely wouldn't mind if she decided to make her arrival before then, but we'll see! She is now full term enough that if labor started, they wouldn't try to stop it because they feel confident that she would be large enough and lungs would be strong enough. Thus begins the multiple daily walks ;)
~my only 'to do list' items left now are to make her tutu for newborn pictures (I just haven't been feeling all that creative lately, it will come I'm sure), pack mine and her hospital bags (wow, did I really just say that?!), and write some directions for Porter while mommy and daddy are away.
~34 days or less until we finally get to meet our beautiful girl!


So, there you have it. That pretty well sums up what's going on in the Mitchell house these days. Happy Wednesday :)

First Fall weekend

Seeing as how this was the first weekend of Fall {have I mentioned that I am obsessed with Fall?!} we HAD to go somewhere that involved pumpkins, cool weather, mountains, (some) Fall colored leaves, and good food! That place, you ask? Boone! We usually only go there the weekend after Thanksgiving to get our Christmas tree and eat at the Daniel Boone Inn. Well, we decided to make an early trip this year to be able to enjoy some of the shops and scenery in some not so freezing weather. There were some disastrous moments {a.k.a. a toddler that missed his nap, refused to eat breakfast or lunch, and is in a massive stroller-protesting phase, yikes!} but all-in-all, a great family day. I love, love, love Mast General store and we got to go in not one, but TWO! We usually have to wait for somewhere near an hour to get into the Daniel Boone Inn, but we got in with only 1 family in front of us. The food was amazing, as usual. We even had time to browse some of the downtown Boone shops after eating. We left Boone extremely full of delicious southern food and quite shopped out, fun day! {Not many pictures from the day, seeing as how one or the other of us was chasing our extremely fast, energetic toddler at.all.times! But we were able to snap a couple.}

"Here's the deal Mom and Dad. I'll either look at you, or wave at you. Pick one!"

He sat for all of 3.4 seconds until the poor, unsuspecting corn became his next play toy.

Enjoying the breeze with Mommy and Savannah outside the Mast General Store. {Yes, I do take advantage of ANY and ALL opportunities to sit these days!}

Fall weather, for Sean, means a perfect chance to get in some quality time with his favorite toy...the smoker. He's been practicing for a bbq competition that he's entering next weekend. {His first one...details to follow, after next weekend.} Our neighbors frequently enjoy(?) this view...

Vroooom!

I think I have said at each phase of Porter's life that "this phase" was my favorite. Ok, I lied. THIS one really is my favorite! I cannot seem to get enough of watching this silly boy play cars and trains. It's so stinkin' cute! The noises he makes when he thinks no one is watching would have you cracking up! He sometimes gets mixed up with their sounds, which is even funnier! Anyways, we've spent a lot of time doing this lately {and I LOVE it!}...

Baaaaa

Every night, when we read Porter his Bible story, he HAS to see the sheep (or baaaas, as he says) in the back of the Bible. We cannot put it away without saying "night, night" to the 'baaas'. Well, today, he got to see (and kind of pet) some real life baaaas. We took him to the Cabarrus Fair and his favorite thing there was the farm animals at the petting zoo. He was quite brave at first and went right up to them. However, he quickly backed away and stuck with waving at them, once he realized how excited they were to see him. We caught some pretty cute videos of him though. There's lots of background noise, but you can hear him saying "hi", "touch", "sheep" and a few other things...

 

 

 

 

Permanent pictures

I think everyone has those pictures, or memories, that stay etched in their minds for a lifetime. For me, it will be these...

 

 

Even though life with a toddler is a little lot crazy at times, I wouldn't trade these precious moments and memories for anything in the world. Even if his hugs are syrup covered and kisses come with a lot of slobber, they can make any day seem just perfect. I like to think that the day he is 'too big' to kiss his mama will never come, but I'm sure one day it will. Until then, I'm soakin' it up! I hope our little girl will be every bit as snuggly and cuddly as her big brother. Porter, your hugs and kisses make this mama one happy lady ;)

Some Thursday motivation

Energy and motivation seem to be in short supply around here this week and honestly, I'm struggling with not feeling like the positive, uplifting, and energetic mom that I want to be. A sweet boy with a pretty bad cold, who's also cutting 7 (yes seven!) teeth at the moment, has left this 8 month pregnant mama pretty tired and a little discouraged. I've been striving to make our morning walk and my personal time for Bible reading/prayer a priority, but the latter seems to be replaced with a nap of my own lately, seeing as how Porter's nap time seems to be the only down time for both of us. So this morning, I've intentionally set out to find some encouraging verses to meditate on throughout the day and find some much needed encouragement through. My goals for today are to seek out the positives and to be a more patient mama to my precious little boy. Happy Thursday y'all ;)


{some good verses that I've come across so far}

“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Ephesians 6:7

 

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another… Do it with all the strength and energy God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:10,11

 

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24