the name game and induction???

Clay and I have gone back and forth over sweet baby #2's name for several months.   Funny thing is we were only letters apart on the names we each loved.  Clay loved Reese and I loved Reed.  (I know Reed is most common as a boy's name but still I loved it  And I loved the name Reese too but it just has been pretty popular around here lately so I was reserved.  And I didn't want her to be referred to with the candy, even though I love Reese's peanut butter cups.)

I had been praying about which name and honestly I still don't feel like God clearly said to me one name or the other, but He did remind me who the spiritual leader of our home was and so late last week I asked Clay (for like the 200th time) if he really thought that Reese was the best name for our girl.  When he answered (once again) "I really do."  I  happily agreed.  It only took a few hours to decide on the middle name and so baby #2 will be named.....

Reese Bailey Graham!!!

We love her name and so does Riley.  It helps us all feel a little more connected to call her by her name!

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So yesterday I had my 38 week appointment with Dr. M.  She said everything looked great, the heartbeat was good, my blood pressure was good, I had made some progress (80%, 2.5 cms dilated), so all was good. 

Then my sweet doctor went on let me know she would be out of the office the week of my due date (which is also spring break.)   Crazy, because a few weeks back I remember thinking how I was surprised she was not going to be out of town. 

So Clay and I are left with a BIG decision.
To induce before my dr is out for the week or to go into labor on my own.   Luckily, I did not have to decide right then.  The plan is to go back to see her on Tuesday, check my progress and by then I will have to decide if I want to be induced.  If I do, then Thursday will likely be the day!!!   If I want to go into labor on my own (which is what I have been wanting to do all along) then I will be assigned to a partner doctor in her practice (whom I have never met.  eek.)   And when I go into labor, I will likely just deliver with any of the 1 out of 10 drs who could be on call for that particular week.   We are leaning towards induction but still not 100% sure.  I still feel like I could go into labor on my own before even then, I am having some contractions, but nothing crazy, and there have been a few other signs that I will spare the details of.   But I'm not sure, she very well could want to stay put for a few more weeks even.  Ha!  I'm still talking myself in circles.  We are just praying for wisdom and for making the right decision!  We would love if you would pray for us too!

36 weeks...2 weeks behind again :)

At 36 weeks, I just cannot complain!  I am feeling pretty good, sleeping pretty good, and really enjoying any one-on-one time I have with Riley and Clay.  We are getting so excited to meet little sister!!! It is hard to believe she will be here in just a few short weeks!


Please excuse the lack of focus, I took this with my remote and was too lazy to make sure I focused correctly.





So I am now going to see the doctor each week.  This week (2 weeks ago...) was the growth ultrasound.  I was trying not to be too anxious about this because by this point with Riley I had low amniotic fluid and was asked to take it really, really easy.  a la bedrest except for 1 hr of the day.  But this time around fluid levels were great!  Praise God! And sweet girl #2 is positioned ready to go.  I was 1 cm and 50%, nothing super exciting.  She was measuring a little on the small side, but I was reassured again that this is likely just normal for me.  By the time sweet girl arrives she may be very average sized, especially since she will likely stay put a few weeks longer than her big sister was allowed to.  (Riley was induced at 38 weeks).

The plan is to go into labor on my own.  Yikes.  Poor Clay, he response "Wait, you mean we don't just show up at a scheduled time at the hospital this time?"  I think the whole rush to the hospital idea has got him kindof freaked out. ;)  And this plan may change if I get to terribly uncomfortable or if there is some other medical reason to induce. 

My sweet valentine

princess Riley and Daddy's haircut

So Clay has been growing out his hair for awhile.  It started unintentionally, a missed hair cut appointment and then no time to reschedule, and it ended up as something Riley referred to as "crazy hair." :)  Clay's hair began to be the first thing people would comment on when they saw him or I and many people commented that he looked like he was a texas country singer.   And many people in his business began referring to Clay's hair as the Swayze.  Clay finally had enough of his hair when he asked Riley who had longer hair, "her or him?" You daddy!

Before:  This was taken 2-3 weeks before he got his hair cut. 


After:  Day of hair cut.  Riley loved rubbing his hair.


Princess Riley has kept Clay and I busy lately.
Some of her favorite things to do are playing dress up.

She even had fun dressing up her Nana!







I found this super cute tutorial for making dinosaur tails on Pinterest.  So I made a pair, 1 for Riley and 1 for her sweet friend Jay.  Riley LOVED walking around making noises like a dino!







She also LOVES her playtime each night with her daddy.  Each night when he gets home they play in her new big girl room (will blog that later) while I'm finishing getting dinner ready.  Riley loves this special time and so does Clay! :)  They are so creative together and I can always hear them laughing and screaming with excitement.

Our January by photos

Outside, enjoying the mild winter weather.












Daddy always makes bathtime a blast.



The zoo with friends.











Riley was very specific in wanting to see the flamingos.  Just recently she has become quite enamored with these pink birds.  She LOVED seeing them in person but wanted to get closer :) 

Inside playtime.







Look at those curls! One of the only reasons to love Houston humidity.

Helping daddy install some shelves in a closet.





Standing like a flamingo.  Something we do often! :)


Riley loves Dora, but now has an even stronger love for Diego.  If you have never watched either show, they are both fairly educational and it has amazed me the things Riley has picked up while watching these shows (she now knows her colors and can count to 10 in spanish, along with several additional words.)  Well, Dora is great but Go Diego Go is a little more fast paced and involves more learning about real animals.  Riley loves it and watching Diego is her first request after nap time.

So for Christmas, Riley received many of the Dora and Diego character stuffed dolls and now Diego is never far from our side!
He even has a new nickname. "Dieg"  Ha!  One morning Riley just decided that she would call him "Dieg" and it has stuck.  Okay and I think this is just adorable, Riley has told Clay and I on more than one occasion that Diego "Dieg" is her cousin.  (He is actually Dora's cousin, does she think she is Dora? :)

dfw

Mid-January, Riley and I headed to DFW for one last time before baby #2 arrives.  It worked out so well because Clay and his business partner had a meeting and some work to be done in DFW, so they joined us at my parents house the day after Riley and I arrived. 

The weather was beautiful and we spent a lot of time outdoors.
 





Some time baking.


And spent our first nights in a "big" bed. 

My parents have a trundle bed in one of the guest rooms and it was perfect to help us transition to her real "big girl" bed.  We left the trundle on the ground just in case she rolled off but she did great and slept so well.  I think I only had to go in and check on her 1, maybe 2 times.

Hard to believe the next time we are there for a visit there will be another sweet baby girl with us!