34 Weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

What has been going on with this baby?

Well we are getting closer and closer to D-Day (Delivery Day!) and even though it doesn't feel like it, Brandon and I are starting to get lots of things ready for this baby girl. Last weekend we headed to KC for a wedding and while we were home we picked up several things from my wonderful sister Stacy, who is letting us borrow. It was great last time with Peyton that I was able to borrow so much from her and I gave her several of Peyton things when she had Hadleigh. So the containers are really multiplying and it is great to have some many clothes already for this little one.

We also picked up the baby swing that I let my parents use at their house when Hadleigh came over. It is already put together in the living room and Peyton plays with it every night and lets me know that it is for "Baby Sister!"

Stacy and Jeremy are letting us borrow their beautiful bassinet again and I could not thank them enough. Once we get our bedroom more organized this weekend we will get it set up and that is really going to make things become real seeing it everyday.

I am so excited that Brandon and I are going to be home together this weekend with nothing else planned. It has been so long since we have had a free weekend together, so I am hoping that we can get lots done.

We just might go ahead and pick up the crib and get it set up! Well I should say Brandon will get it set up.

What is your name?

I want to lay on baby sister...

Once we get Peyton all ready for bed we hang out of the couch for a little while together just settling down for the night. The last couple of nights Peyton has come over to me and ask "Lay on Baby Sister?" It is so cute and just makes me such a proud Mommy.

Big Sister Peyton hanging out with her baby sister last night.

Happy Birthday Party! This is the last one...

Last Saturday we had Peyton's kid party here in Manhattan with all her friends. It was a fun day and I think that the kids loved just being able to run around for a couple of hours together. Peyton got all kinds of good gifts and lots of stuff to play with her baby doll. She has really started playing with her "baby" doll a lot lately and it is fun to see how loving she is with her doll. I hope she is like this when her baby sister gets here soon.

I was a little distracted during the party and did not do a very good job of taking many pictures. So here are the three that I took...

Peyton really did have a lot of fun at her party. I should have taken another picture...

All the kids made birthday crowns and bracelets to wear during the party.

Peyton opening up one of her gifts.

I wish that I could have had the video camera out while the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to Peyton because she had the biggest smile on her face and danced along. It was the cutest thing ever!

31 Weeks...

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Peyton with Baby Sister at 31 Weeks

How I am doing and what has been going on...

Well I am feeling great. By the end of the night I can really feel just how tired and worn out my body gets from the entire day. I have this lovely pain on the right side of my back that feels just awesome. Otherwise beside the gall bladder pain that I have had the entire time I have no complaints. I have been thinking back a lot of how my pregnancy was with Peyton and I know that the doctor's say no pregnancies are the same, but I can only think of a few things and they are not that major. The only thing that has me a little nervous is that I never had to deal with the heat with Peyton, so we will see how I handle these next few months.

Planning for Yoder Baby #2

If you have not heard Brandon and I are going to keep the name of this baby girl a secret. We do have a name picked out, but still working on the middle name. I hope that we can get that figured out soon.

I am feeling a little guilty because I have not planned as well as I did with Peyton. I am sure by this time we had most of her nursery already put together. Since the girls are going to share a room and we have most of everything that we need I have been putting it on the back burner, but knowing that the clock is ticking I have been thinking a lot of what this baby girl will need and making a list. That list is getting longer than I was expecting. But no worries because I know that we will get it all together in time.

For starters we are having the carpets cleaned today!

Tulips...Tulips...Tulips

This past fall I planted my first tulips with the help of my wonderful Mother-In-Law Debbie. I have been waiting patiently for Spring to get here so I could see how they turned out. We only planted a couple of bags so I didn't have the tulips run all the way down the retaining wall. I wanted to make sure I liked how they looked before I went crazy and planted a ton of them on this side of the house. Well it was a success and I love them!

Yesterday when we got home Peyton had to go take a look at the "flowers" before taking her stuff into the house. I am now wishing that I planted more so I could cut more down and take into the house. I have always loved tulips and seeing them everyday when I get home makes me very happy and loving Spring Time.

Birthday Party #2 and Royals Game!

This past weekend we went to Kansas City to visit with my family and to have a huge birthday celebration for 6 members of the family. It was a great time and Peyton loved having another birthday party. Another nice part of the weekend was that my cousin Jeff was in town with his family and we got to meet his sweet little boy Grayson for the first time. Peyton is a lucky girl and shares a birthday with both Jeff and his brother Ryan. April 2nd is a very special day!

We could not have asked for better weather all weekend and we were outside for most of it. Lily was able to talk Grandpa into putting up the hammock before the party and the kids really loved swinging in it.

Lily, Peyton and Audrey just hanging out
Grandpa Reiff would push the hammock and they would all laugh so hard.

Peyton and Daddy with all her birthday gifts

Snuggling with Daddy

Opening one of her gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Reiff

G&G Reiff got her a water table. I can't wait to set it up for her outside. She is going to love it! (YES! These kids are spoiled...Peyton and Lily's gifts all over the living room...)

G&G Reiff also got Peyton this slide. It was a must to put up and the kids played on this for quite awhile and it was fun to just sit and watch their enjoyment.

Peyton checking out her Birthday Ice Cream Cake.

Singing Happy Birthday! Her face just makes me laugh...

Crazy smile! She had no problems this time blowing out her candle.

As a sort of last minute decision we went to the Royals game on Sunday. Brandon had a busy day starting off playing golf in the morning, Royals game in the afternoon and then finishing with AC/DC Concert at the Sprint Center. He is very tired today, but had a great day. With how busy he has been with basketball it makes me happy that he can have a day like this that makes him so happy. Love you Brandon!

Yoder Family at the Royals Game.

Dad was able to get us great seats in the lower level on the 3rd base side. This was our first game this season and even though we lost it was a great time.

Michael, Uncle Terry, Dad and Peyton watching the game. It was HOT and poor Peyton was very tired during the entire game. She just laid on one of us the whole game.

It was another great weekend for the memory books.