House Renovation Post 1

So many people are asking about what we are doing, so I thought it would be fun to have a few progress posts.

We are flooring over our two story living room and adding a bedroom, bathroom, and closet that will double as a mini upstairs laundry room. (Also keeping the main downstairs one).

No idea what we will use the room for. Storage in the beginning. We have too much stuff everywhere. But eventually I'll be nice to have extra space.

A few before and after pictures to set the stage.

These were taken after they did demo and framing. Since then they have done plumbing, electrical, HVAC, broken our HVAC, and then we had our HVAC fixed. We only have access to our kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, the rest is taped up to avoid dust. We have holes in the drywall all over the house: garage, hallways, kids bathroom, etc from having to run plumbing and electrical through. So the last few weeks don't look like a ton of progress, but all necessary items.

We're set to be finished literally right before my due date and are keeping fingers crossed that it doesn't move out.

Overall, the girls have been great with it. It really hasn't been too bad. And I've decided we actually don't need more space, just less crap. We're living fine in 1/3 of our house 😜.

36 Weeks

Picture quality is getting worse, but so is my hip and back pain. I'm just conveying my struggles through my photography. It's art.

Emma is officially in Olivia's room and doing really well! Half her clothes are in there too. So we're getting close on getting the nursery ready for baby sister. Just have to finish moving Emma's stuff out, bring out the old baby clothes and wash and hang them. A third girl is super easy!

We still need to drag the baby gear out of the attic and wash the covers.

We also need to pack a hospital bag. Pick a name. Get me a new car. And finish the renovation on our house.

But, ya know, what's a baby around here without a little extra excitement.

I did buy some snacks today for the hospital, so that was productive. I also gained 8 pounds this week. I don't think those are related.

35 Weeks

I forgot to take a picture, so this is a little late but the best I've got. I'm so swollen. I was never this swollen with the girls and it all started this week. I don't even have work shoes that fit and wore 'against the dresscode' sandals.

Hip pain is back, but this is so much later than with Emma - so I'm counting my blessings that it started so late this time. Just chugging along until she's here, and I have a whole new set of challenges.

I'm convinced pregnancy gets rough at the end so that life with a newborn, healing from delivery, and breastfeeding don't seem so bad. 😉

I definitely want her to cook longer - we need a third 8 pound chunk to join her sisters.

34 Weeks

Feeling massive. If I accidentally roll over in bed, it knocks the wind out of me, like I was punched in the stomach. Walking is getting harder and the back pain has set in, so most day to day things are getting much harder. She's super low so there's a ton of pressure and I have to pee every hour.

I'm pretty sure 90% of the people I run into think I'm labor, but nope, I have 6 more weeks of this ;)

In the long run, 6 more weeks will fly by. But right now it seems so long. I know from posts when pregnant with Emma that week 34 was my "I'm so done" week. I also know from Emma, that I survived another 6 weeks.

The beach

The girls have been begging to go to the beach. Knowing that I won't be able to travel soon and the beach is only 3 hours away, we went on an impulsive trip.

We went to Isle of Palms, SC. Grabbed some beach chairs, borrowed a tent and an umbrella, and set out for some beach fun.

Emma was a little sick, but our house is in shambles and she was still dying to go. She was a bit cranky but I think it distracted her. She was a little scared of the ocean "coming at her" hahaha. But loved the sand and the baby pool.

We hung out most of Saturday, grabbed dinner, stayed farther in town at the Hilton Homewood suites. There was a full kitchen and living room. It was nicer than our house currently - hahahaha. AND walking distance to Target and Harris Teeter.

Emma woke up at 4 am so waiting for breakfast to open at 7 was torture for her. We spent the bulk of the day at the beach. The girls had a picnic lunchable, a SpongeBob popscicle, and we headed back home later in the afternoon.

Olivia is at such an easy age that if we just had her on the beach, it would be a vacation. Emma gave us a little more exercise. But the spicy ones always do.

33 Weeks

The swelling is kicking in and my cankles are on point.

I ate 9 radishes yesterday. So that's normal.

And a container of cherry tomatoes, half a head of cauliflower and at least a cup of carrots. All raw veggies all the time. And roasted beets. But probably only bc they are too hard to eat raw.

I'm definitely over this pregnancy. But at the same time, I know she's gotta cook a lot longer.

No success getting Emma out of the nursery. The big girl bed scares her and we aren't pushing it so she doesn't feel kicked out and resent her baby sister. At the same time, we want to move her soon so she gets used to it before a new tenant moves in. The girls have also been sick a lot the past few weeks (TWO stomach bugs!) But hopefully it'll happen soon.

I love my mom because

We had muffins for mom today at the girls school. Emma was confused on why I was there, but she got a donut so she was cool with whatever the day had to offer.

She's been sick and Olivia was jealous that Emma got to stay home some. So Olivia and I made a deal to go to muffins for Mom (something she's been looking forward to for awhile) and then spend the day together, skipping school.

I've been big, and slow, and exhausted, and hot and feeling a little bad for not playing with them like I used to. My legs go numb if I sit on the floor so I'm that mom on the chair or couch trying to play dolls. I have moments of not feeling well and need Olivia to help with Emma, or hurry to the car, or reach something I can't.

Part of me wants to tell her that once this baby is out of my belly, I'll be able to play more. But the other part knows that early on I'll have different priorities (tending to a newborn). Saying "6 months from now I can be a good mom again" doesn't work with a child who doesn't understand time.

And then daycare asked her to fill in the sentence "I love my mom because." And she said "she's giving me another baby."

This sweet girl has looked past all the things that I see as me not being as fun of a mom as I want, AND has chosen that exact thing as the reason she loves me the most. She knows what it is like to be a big sister. She can't wait to do it all over again. And she is barely noticing how much I've been slowing down. (Something I've beaten myself up over.)

A little perspective from a 4 year old with a great heart.

And for anyone expecting their second - worried their only child won't be their only - worried about loving two kids - worried about the impact to their first baby and the disruption to their life. Olivia has been there and done that. She knows what a precious gift a sibling is. And it's currently the reason she loves me the most.