40 WEEKS

I'm a little behind on blogging once again, but I have been really busy these days. I have been keeping the house in order for the home birth and when I'm not cleaning or organizing; I'm spending quality time with Irina. As I type this my due date has come and gone, I'm about 5days overdue (i say "about" b/c who really knows). I LOVE being pregnant, it was true with Irina and its still true with this baby. However, at night I can hardly keep a positive thought in my mind. I'm so uncomfortable, it doesn't matter how and where I sit or lay down; I'm just miserable! My feet are swollen and sore from playing with Irina and just carrying around nearly 40 extra pounds of weight! I am enjoying the excitement of now knowing when this will all happen, I'm so ready to see his little face!

Maternity Photos

Last weekend my good friend Rose took some maternity photos of baby odom #2. She took my photos when I was expecting Irina and I loved them, 2 1/2 years later she has only further mastered her art of photography. I used to work with her at a local credit union and we've stayed in touch over the years. She graduated from TCU with a degree in photo-journalism and uses it working with the Dallas Morning Newspaper. I wanted photos of just myself because thats what I took with Irina, we went to the Botanic Gardens and had a blast. She also painted a portrait of Irina nursing for me and I enjoy walking by the wall its hung on, I will have to contract her for the same job with this baby also.

I LOVE the photos! When I see these photos, it makes me want to stay pregnant longer, the way God designed our bodies to do this job is just amazing to me. I dont think I look "fat" and I dont hate that I've gained weight in my face, arms and everywhere else anymore. This is my body creating another member of my family, my body has changed and I'm happy to be able to experience this again.

37 weeks

I realize my tummy needs a tan, I'm worried drying out my skin will cause me to get stretch marks. I'm sure its all in my head and the two aren't related but I'm crazy like this

I am 37 weeks pregnant and still enjoying it for the most part. The discomfort I have is quickly gone with a call to my awesome chiropractor; the back, ligament and knee pain are a thing of the past now. At night is when things get rough for me, I cant get comfy in bed and I have to pee every 2 seconds. This baby is still moving and does it during the day now, I love feeling his legs and arms in there. Irina has felt the baby move and says the baby "pushed" her, silly girl. Just the other day she brought over a little dino and put it on my tummy saying "here you go baby" and then walked off. I'm excited about my pregnancy, birth and of course meeting this little guy!

Pregnancy #2

I'm nearly 36week preggers and enjoying every day of it (not so much at night when I get heartburn and knee pain). I'm a little sad that its going to be over so soon but I'm also ready to meet him! He is much more active at night and likes to turn and twist more than kicking. His room is almost complete and his closet and dresser are full with clean clothes. I stay up at night wondering what he looks like, how his voice will sound and most of all how much I will love him. Will I love him like I love my first baby? Is my love enough for both of them? Will my love be divided or will it grow like other moms tell me? I know one thing: he is already so special to me, I love him playing with my ribs.

Irina Swimming!

Irina went to what I call "swimming boot camp" this past week, I was surprised how much she liked it. The instructor Kaleb, is my friends husband and him and his assistant, teach the classes out of Kalebs home. In Irina's class there were 4 kids total, her and another little boy were they youngest at 2yrs old. The classes are a bit pricey but WELL WORTH it to me, we have taken "mommy & me" swim classes in the past but never saw this much progress. I was so bummed that I had little memory left on my camera so I only have short clips to show yall. Craig took a long stream lined video with our actual camcorder but its too long to upload on here. Anyway, she did GREAT! Craig and I are SOO proud of her! I can tell she was proud of herself too, especially when everyone clapped. The whole week I dropped her off for an hour and went to the near by, kid to kid shop and to starbucks with another mom. She has learned to actually propel herself forward by pointing her arms and kicking her legs, she can hold her breath easily and can float on her back. I was very impressed with the other kids skills as well. The instructors are AWESOME! This short clip below is of Irina being taken to the bottom of the pool and picking up rings and a colored stick. She was SO PROUD of herself! Friday was the final day and the parents were all invited to watch their little fish!

Fathers Day Photos

these top 2 photos are Craig's faves

I took these photos of Irina as Craig's Fathers Day gift. Irina is taking instruction so well when it comes to photos-it makes photo sessions much easier than last year. I took some others but I haven't showed them to Craig yet, as soon as he sees them, Ill post them on here also.

30 WEEKS PREGGERS

30 weeks w/ baby odom #2

My pregnancy has really started to fly by at this point, I'm trying to relish every day. I LOVE feeling him kick and turn inside my tummy. Its such an amazing thing when you think about it, a tiny human is being formed from head to toe; its truly a miracle. This baby likes to kick at night mostly, not like his sister at all. His kicks seem stronger to me as well and he likes to sit on my right side, up towards my ribs. Recently I think he's been getting the hiccups, I feel a constant rhythmic thumping and can only assume that's what it is. I cant wait to meet him!