Week 29

Well Jacob is now the size of a nutterbutt squash...I mean, butternut squash. ;-)
I think that is funny enough as it is. Don't have much else to say on the baby front other than all is going well and doc says he is getting nice and big. =)

Week 27

Well today I finally felt huge....absolutely HUGE.  I kept sighing while getting ready this morning and Jeremy would ask "what's up or what's wrong?" I could only respond with "nothing really, just feel huge." Poor guy just nodded and didn't know what to say and honestly I didn't need him to say anything I know there's nothing either of us can do. (Although later in the day he did say my butt was cute, so that's a bonus.) =)
Don't know why this hit me today, but hopefully I don't continue to feel like this and it was just a "mood." On the plus side I can still zip my regular jeans most of the way, put on my own shoes, shave, (unfortunately) see the number of the scale, and get in and out of the Camaro without too much help....although I think in and out of the Camaro will be first to go. I can't believe it's less than 3 months till my due date. I've gotta get busy around here!

On a funny side note, we took Guinness to the Dog Dish and Utica today.  He had a blast and is beyond exhausted!  Funny thing was this little girl, probably 3, saw Guinness and said "Whoa! Look at that dog!" She then came over to pet him, but rather than pet she poked him on the side and then kissed him. From there she kept saying "Whoa!" and "The tail poked my eye!" The best was "Look mom it's got one of those thingys!" as her hand is reaching for "the thingy" her mom quickly intercepts.  Jeremy and I died laughing. LOL

"Boob Tube" and other moisturizers

Jax is having this giveaway through Apothica.com, which I have never seen before except for the link logo thing on her blog.  Alas, never clicked on it, not sure why.... Well I have been missing out! It's a great site with all sorts of goodies from bath & body stuff to a home and laundry section to a men's section.  I'm not one to collect bits of makeup, love makeup don't get me wrong just not my "thing", so I was hesitant to take a look-see.
I give in and click it up and what do I find but an entire pregnancy section! That made my snow day #8 (if only counting school days, but that's another post), and so there I am patrolling that section and I find what looks like a great product collection by Mama Mio.  I haven't heard of their products, but all their different creams and oils have legit active ingredients.  Not that I have tried them, but I want to! Like this set....think it would be perfect.
Or the thing that made me double take and read a little more was the "Boob Tube". It's a cream to help firm skin and reduce stretch marks on the ever growing boobs....not sure if it would actually work, but one has to think so.  Not that I have had a lot of issue with stretch marks in the boob or tummy area or with the sag of the 'ol boobs, but I also haven't finished with this pregnancy nor have I had the baby and tried to get my body back to what it was (or as close as I can get....).  My thoughts are just better safe than sorry, it doesn't hurt my body to slather on stretch mark cream or boob firming lotion.....so why not!? LOL
I have using Mama Bee Belly Balm by Burt's Bees and some good 'ol St. Ive's Collagen Elastin lotion (which I've used for quite sometime, but now I make sure to put it on my whole body twice a day), and I love them both!  Anyways, I feel like I'm rambling......Here's hoping I continue down the no-stretch mark path!

Snow.......Guinness doesn't like it either.

 Last Thurs. Guinness watching the neighborhood.  He can't (won't) tackle the snowdrift to potty in the yard.

Later in the day Thurs. Guinness finally decides he can tackle to snowdrift....jumps in, then turns around like "holy hell that's cold and wet!" and proceeds to jump back to the porch and potty there....again.

Snow and baby things.

Yesterday, we ended up with just around 14 inches of snow.  We have drift in our backyard that even Guinness would disappear into.  It's nice and pretty, and I wouldn't mind running around in the snow with Guinness if it wasn't also negative degrees outside!  Jeremy and I have both been snow in from work (darn!). The dog won't venture across the huge snowdrift to have more room to do his business, so we'll be shoveling and sanitizing the back porch as soon as we can see it again.....Needless to say we haven't gone further than our back or front porch in over 24 hours.
So yesterday, we cleaned up the office, Jeremy played some Everquest, Guinness and I napped and watched tv, Jeremy and I watched Be Cool, and then Jeremy made tomato sauce for spaghetti....mmmmmmmmmm! We also played around with baby Jacob.  He was very busy kicking around most of the day.  Jeremy can just barely feel him when he kicks....it has to be a strong ka-pow though otherwise he doesn't feel it.  I also read that if you put your ear to my tummy you could hear the baby's heartbeat, so of course we had to try it! Jeremy was so cute putting his ear to my tummy, and I held my breathe (just to make it quieter lol) AND Jeremy said he could hear his heartbeat!!!!!! I told him I was jealous of that, but then I quickly said I guess you're jealous I can feel him move, so we're even.  I love seeing his face light up when I say that Jacob is a busy boy, kicking away, so I'm super happy he can start to partake in "hearing" and feeling Jacob. 
On today's agenda we have fold some laundry, clean the bathrooms, sweep the floors (not wet washing them...no point it's all snowy, everywhere!), and finally baking some cookies!  We may also investigate the driveway and see how much shoveling there is to be able to see the world again. We are supposed to host the HOA board mtg at our house tonite, but I think it will only happen if people are willing to trek across the snow in the boots and coats so we'll see. I can't say I would if it were at someone else house....
We are so thankful we kept power and that it seems like the rest of the state did too!  I would have been one cranky preggo without heat!
On a side-note....only 105 days left!!!!!!!!

Funny moments of my day

1. Kids are hilarious.
Homeroom mom at school sent a note to go home with the kiddos today.  It gave a rundown of the things we would need parent volunteers  for the final semester.  One of the items was the class would be giving me a baby shower (YEA!), so as I'm reading this to the kids (b/c they always want me to read notes I send home) most of them start laughing when I say the words "baby shower".  You can imagine the image they had in their heads..."what we are going to give Mrs. Case's baby a SHOWER!?" So then come the questions and comments..."Why would we shower at school?", "How will the baby shower if it's still in you?", and my personal favorite, "That would be soooooo crazy to just have your baby and then give it a shower at school!?" Some of them thought it involved an actual shower, for them, me, the baby, not sure...LOL, some thought I would HAVE the baby at school DURING the shower and that was it's purpose, and a rare few knew what I was talking about.  Those few quickly said, "Noooooo...it's like a PARTY, but for the BABY!!!", "Yeah, it's where you get stuff like presents that the baby needs!" 
I laughed so hard...I love my job.
2. My husband is hilarious.
Prior to going for a walk this evening with Jeremy and Guinness, we had changed clothes and were ready to go all but the running shoes.  Our Guinness is a smart one and is not only aware of what clothes we put on when it's time for a w.a.l.k., but he speaks English (we think he's starting to learn to spell as well...) so we often spells things like w.a.l.k. or h.u.n.g.r.y.  Well Jeremy decided just before we were getting the shoes on (that's the final giveaway for the dog to know what's up), he comes into the kitchen and asks, "Do you have your H.O.E.S.'s?" I just looked at him and said, "My H.O.E.S.'s.  No I don't have my hoes." I tried to say this with a straight face....didn't really happen.  I died laughing and of course so did he after he told me again to get my hoes.
I love my husband.

More thoughts on Great Danes and babies

A comment on my last post got me thinking....
Jax mentioned people who choose to have kids when they have a dog, sometimes then think they have to give up the dog.  Jax and I are in total agreement that the dog is a huge part (or should be) of your family, and you can't just shuffle them off like a stuffed animal.  I mean, if you have a hard time with the kid at age 8 months, are you going to pass them off to another family?!? I realize that at times dog's and children for that matter can be trying on the patience and that everyone is not perfect, but I really don't think there is anything Guinness could do to make us give him to someone else. (And before you give me reasons why that could happen, I'm aware, when I was 5 my dog was put to sleep b/c she had become senile basically and had bitten me and my 1 yr old sister. So I understand extensive circumstances. I'm talking about the people who just don't want to walk the dog or feeding or playing with the dog is a pain in the ass now that they have a baby. I mean did they think life was going to get easier?!?)
So this is my rant about how you should think before bringing a dog or child or both into your family. 
Think about the situations you have at hand.  I know it sounds like common sense but sometimes people are lacking....
I believe my Great Dane is the best one ever....this is why. ;-)
From the day we brought Guinness home, we knew he would be out "child" until we had children, and then he'd become the oldest "child."  We have taken him every place possible, introduced him to dogs and people of all sizes and ages, and we have trained ALOT to get the best behavior out of him.  I'm not saying he's perfect, or that we did everything right...(just like I'm sure I won't be a perfect mom, but that's another entry.), I'm just saying that we have busted our butt LONG in advance to get him to be people friendly, because we knew we would have children someday with him around.  Guinness has "played" with babies as young as 4 months and people as old as 90, and from what I've seen I think we've done pretty damn well if I do say so myself.  I know those people don't live in my home and that will be different, but I really think he will be an amazing protector for Jacob. 
I have washed everything I have so far for the baby, so he's seen me folding that laundry and now it smells like the rest of us around here...I spend time in the baby's room by myself and with other people...I let Guinness inspect the clothes in the closet and the blankets and the toys that jingle and wiggle (part of his training, is he doesn't "eat" or play with anything unless he's been given it by us)...We let him lay on the bed in the babies room...We've let him slime the crib railing...We even talk to him about the baby and tell him to be careful and soft with my tummy and that his brother is in there....etc....You may think we are crazy, but when I said Guinness was our first "child" I meant it.  He is without a doubt the best older sibling ever...He will always be there for us and Jacob...He will always love us unconditionally.  This is why my Great Dane is the best one ever! I can't wait to see him with Jacob. I can just picture Jacob sleeping in his crib, Guinness sleeping on the floor in front of the crib, Jeremy and I resting on the couch (who am I kidding, folding laundry on the couch) and my entire world will be perfect!

Great Danes are amazing!

While doing some research on babies and dogs, more specifically Great Danes, I came up this sweet story someone had posted on the Great Dane Club of America Rescue.  Needless to say, it brought tears to my eyes, hoping and praying that Guinness and Jacob will get along just as fabulously.
"Before we even knew it, days turned to weeks, weeks to months and finally with Forbes in the family for three years (and our other dog, lab mix from the shelter, for five years), I became pregnant. We were so excited and yet worried about how our dogs would take it. We did all the things that were suggested by our obedience trainer and vet - carrying a baby doll around the house to judge jealousy, play a recorded sound clip of a baby crying to get them used to the sound and bringing home a blanket from the hospital with our baby's scent on it for our boys to smell but nothing could ever, ever prepare us for what lay ahead. From the time I was pregnant forward, I felt like I was carrying twins- my human baby still in the womb, and the Great Dane baby who plastered himself to me every moment of the day. When I would lie on the couch, Forbes would lay on the ground right next to me. When I went to the bathroom, Forbes would stare at me eyeball to eyeball until I was finished. When I would sit to read or watch TV, Forbes would come, lie beside me and gently put his head on my ever expanding stomach- an instant fluffed pillow for him. By the time our son came home from the hospital I felt like Forbes already knew him- after all, he had also endured several months of kicking and karate chops so his pillow was more like a vibrating bed. The bond the two of them formed was immediate. As a baby, when our son would cry, Forbes would sit quietly by his crib until his Father or I came to soothe our son. When people came to visit, Forbes would stand or lay between the family member holding our son and the visitors to let others know they were not going to touch this child unless his parents told him it was OK. When we went for a walk, Forbes was always the one closest to the stroller so he could see our son at all times. My husband and I soon began calling him the doting father. As our human son began to grow, the bond he has shared with his Dane grew deeper. The first journey our son made when he began to crawl was into the dog bed with Forbes. Forbes watched him come closer and instead of moving away as we expected, he parted his legs to make more room for our son to curl into. That became the place of choice for our son to watch TV from over the next few months and years. When walking began, who better to hold onto than a dog bigger than you? Even when our son would accidentally pull an ear or whisker as he fell down, Forbes never even gave a whimper. Instead he would look at the opportunity to give our son a kiss when no one was supposed to be looking. Now our human son is three and a half. If given the opportunity he will tell you all about our "big dogs" and "Forbes, his favorite dog in the whole wide world". The two appear as Siamese twins on a regular basis- no one knowing where one stops and the other begins with arms wrapped around necks and noses nuzzling hair. We often hear our son whisper "I love you" into Forbes' ear as they snuggle together."


I also found this very funny video of a Great Dane with a baby.   

And then of course there is still the onesie I need to purchase ASAP!

I'd say we are slightly excited to have Jacob here with Guinness. And I just know that he is going to be an amazing protector for Jacob, and they will be best friends!

Might need a Camelbak.

I have always drank alot of water. I have only drank one pop a week (if even) since I was 20, and before that I wasn't a five pops a day kind of girl.  Water has always been my friend as an athlete.  I already drank over 32oz. a day, but this baby boy is making me beyond thirsty! I mean I fill my 32oz Nalgene bottle at least 3 times a day. And as for a regular glass at home, well I don't need exercise because I'm up and down enough to fill that darn glass! It's the best way to get your squats in...fill glass, walk to couch, sit, drink entire glass, stand, and repeat.  I mean I might as well take up shop in front of the fridge or a more mobile idea, get a Camelbak. I know they are technically made for sports and whatnot, but I wonder if they've ever thought to tap into the preggo market? Maybe I should suggest it to them. =) I'm looking into it right......now.  Ok so looking at them, I don't really need one with storage...I just want water people!

So this is what I'm thinking...it says it will last for 3 hours...I bet I can have it drained in under an hour.  Now this water issue causes another issue.  The frequency in bathroom visits.  I already had a small bladder, but it's a bit compressed these days....and it will only become more compressed worse the further I go along.  Don't worry, I will continue to get up to use the bathroom instead of putting a training potty, bed pan, or adult diaper something in my living room or on my body.  It's just the water I want close by....NOT the bathroom! At any rate, we'll see if Jeremy won't find me too ridiculous when I bring this up to him. Doubtful. He'll probably just tell me to stop being lazy and get up off my butt.  He's probably right.....shhhhhh, don't tell him I said that.

Baby Case Update

I thought I'd update about the baby boy...it's been a while, forever it seems since I posted.  After having bronchitis just before and over Christmas, and then I was just kicking it in the ass and getting better............I get it AGAIN! Needless to say, I've been doing not much other than coughing, sitting in pjs, drinking hot tea, and using more Kleenex than I ever thought possible.  But I have to say that I'd rather have this than being having a hard time with the pregnancy.  That's the only bonus, is our baby boy is still growing strong, perfect is what the doc said.  He is weighing in at 1 lb. these days, and something like the length of a spaghetti squash (which is much fatter than spaghetti... but whatever.) Here are all his portraits to date.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jeremydcase/BabyCase?feat=directlink#

I am so happy and blessed that he is doing so great!  Jeremy, Guinness, and I can't wait to meet him!