Oak Hill Park Splash Pad

Ever since we brought Chelsea to the Splash Pad in Folsom, CA I've wanted to bring Chelsea to one around here since she loved it so much.  There isn't one in Maple Grove but there is one in St. Louis Park which is about 20 minutes away from my house.  I met my friend Diana and her boys there today. A few other gals from the MOM's group were there as well.  We had a great time and will definitely be going back sometime in the very near future!

Chelsea has a strong love of playing in water!

Hanging out in the double stroller after playing in the splash pad and eating lunch

Mama G's Volleyball

Ben and I play a lot of volleyball.    We used to play on leagues both together and separate up to 3 times per week.  Now, we each play on our own teams (so someone can stay home with Chelsea) one night per week.  I am so thankful that we still get to play with me being pregnant and us having a toddler to care for. 

Some volleyball friends of ours invited us to play some pick up at mama g's on Sunday.  We decided to both go to play and just switch off games so one of us could watch Chelsea.  It ended up being VERY humid so I decided it was too hot for this pregnant girl to play.  I brought Chelsea with and we hung out at the bar and watched Ben and our friends play.  Chelsea is getting so independent that it's so easy to bring her out and about nowadays.  I'm definitely cherishing this time where I can be social before the next bundle of joy makes going out and about a lot more difficult!

I'm posting pictures from Sunday.  Mama G's is where we've been playing spring / summer volleyball for years.  We really enjoy the leagues there and hope to play there for years to come!

I notice that some of the pictures posted a couple times.  I'm honestly way too tired right now to go in and fix the issue so you'll just have to look at them a couple of times :-)

Ben Serving

The outdoor bar area

Chelsea gets her choice of which ball to play with!

Our future volleyball star!

Can I play, PLEASE?!

Abu playing basketball with Chelsea

Relaxing with her drink :)

Chelsea playing baggo! Video

A great video of Chelsea playing bags :)  Daddy started this game and she kept wanting to stand on the board!  no worries, she wasn't ever hit with a bag nor was close... she loved it!

http://youtu.be/sF-bUYcIs5o

17 week update

I had a doctor appointment today to check on Bundle of Joy #2's progress.  I am 17 weeks 6 days into the pregnancy.  I've started feeling flutters of movement at night when I'm laying in bed reading.  I can't wait to feel stronger movements!  Feeling the baby move is the strongest reassurance, to me, that everything is going ok in there.  The baby's heartbeat sounded great at 146 beats per minute, my blood pressure is at 98/56, I'm measuring at 18 weeks and my weight gain is at 11 lbs.  Everything is looking great except I'm a few pounds over where I should be according to my doctor.  I guess I may have been eating a little too much, even too much healthy food adds up :( 

This pregnancy is similar to the last with some minor differences.  I seem to feel aches and pains a little more this time around.  My neck and my lower back have been bugging me so I started to see a chiropractor last week.  I've seen him 3 times so far and it seems to be helping a bit.  The chiropractor did say I move really well for being pregnant and seems a little deterred when I shake off his offer of a hand to help me get up from the table.  That makes me feel good!

 Sleep has also been an issue for me.  I am EXHAUSTED by 8pm every night, but when I lay down to go to bed I seem to toss and turn for hours.  Having to get up and pee in the middle of the night isn't very helpful for my sleep either :(  Taking care of a toddler while being pregnant is more of a challenge than I expected.  My doctor told me today that i can take tylenol PM every other night to try and get some better sleep.

I'm still playing volleyball, walking outside daily and working out at the health club a few times a week.  Wearing my fitbit helps me track if I'm active enough.  I try and stay above 10,000 steps daily and usually hit or exceed that goal.   When I say working out, it doesn't mean I'm hoping on the elliptical and doing vigorous cardio and lifting heavy weights.  My energy levels and shortness of breath only allow me to power walk on the treadmill for about a half an hour and lift some moderate weights.   I really enjoy my 'me time' at the club.

 I want to keep "working out" for as long as I can to keep in as good of shape as I can.  The better of shape I'm in the easier it SHOULD be for me to take care of Chelsea through out this pregnancy.  It's tough not having total control over how much weight I gain and how much my body changes.  I seem to be getting bigger a lot fasteer this time even with my diligence with my health. I can only eat healthy, keep active and do the best I can to take care of myself and the tiny babe I'm carrying :-) I also know that I will have a C-Section again so the recovery of getting my strength back won't be any fun.

Here are some pictures i've taken during the past week.  I compare them to when I was pregnant with Chelsea and I seem to be as big as I was at 24 weeks last time.  It's interesting how that works!

17 weeks

Chelsea showing me her belly :)

Chelsea showing me my belly :)

The summers are so busy for us that it's rare we get a free day on a weekend at home.  Upon realizing that we didn't have any plans last Saturday we invited over our friends Julia and Mike and their kiddos to hang out, have a few drinks and let the kids play.  It was a nice surprise that they were free as well!  Mike and Julia have a 3 1/2 year old Scott and a 6 month old Ryan.  We rarely get to see them since they live about an hour away :(

It was interesting watching Chelsea 'play' with both the boys.  She would act like a preschooler (older than she is) when she was with Scott, but reverted back to playing with baby toys and trying to sit in the bumbo chair when she was around Ryan.  She seemed a tad bit confused :-)

Mike & Ryan 

Scott

Where's Scott?

Prepping dinner

Chelsea trying to share her Dora doll with Ryan

Chelsea playing with baby toys :)

Chelsea was excited about the bumbo chair.   Ben was so frusterated by her sitting in it that he had to put it out of her reach!

Scott showing Chelsea how to use the IPad

Mike feeling left out