Baby Love

We did some maternity pics today...They didn't turn out as great as I had hoped (JCPenney's is hit and miss and today it was crazy and "miss"...I said I wanted to focus on Abigail and my belly...so apparently that meant I'm not in the picture and you can't ever really see the belly...I think we'll be doing our own photo shoot at home)...but I'm hoping to use a few for a small gallery for our bedroom so we can remember this special time in all of our lives. Enjoy!

(The lady obviously had no patience to try to get Abigail to take a good picture...the pic would have been cute because that's the bear Abigial made for the baby)

We cannot wait to meet you, Lil W!

Boo at the Zoo...with our little Panda and Pumpkin!

On Saturday, we took our little Panda and Pumpkin to Boo at the Zoo. It was such a fun-filled family day! It was a little chilly...but we lucked out because we happened to find a Panda Bear hat for Abigail!


Daddy and his Panda checking out the monkeys. Love, Love, Love!!!!


Abigail decided to paint her own face in the Children's museum.


The cutest (and only) Panda in Brookfield...with her own face painting!

Mommy and Daddy with our Panda and Pumpkin! Fun Family Picture...looks like I stuffed a pumpkin in my sweatshirt...I guess our Lil W really is our little pumpkin!!!!

Sunday is Bears Day in the Wennerstrom home. Unfortunately, the Bears did not cooperate with our plan of a win this weekend...but we are hoping for a BIG win again Cincy next weekend! My Aunt and Uncle live in Cincy, so if Lil W cooperates, my parents are headed to Cincy next weekend to cheer on the Bears. We'll be staying closer to home...but watching! Miss Abigail will be with Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe seeing Mickey Mouse Live...I am sure there will be some FUN pics..and then we have her 2nd NICU reunion (oh man, lots and lots of cute pics to come)! Nana and Papa will also be out of town next weekend (Nana's headed to Vegas to win big with her family...Papa's headed to Arizona to visit his family) so we are talking to Lil W about staying put till November, then he/she's welcome to join us!

Headed to school! Abigail is doing GREAT in school...I think mommy is having a harder time. On her 3rd day of school, the high school girl came to the car, took her out, Abigail said "Bye Bye Mommy" and away they went. This was followed by a crying phone call to Rob (from me)...I wasn't prepared for her to just go...all of the sudden I was alone! I'll admit I got over it pretty quickly when I got to go grocery shopping all by myself! Yesterday Abigail had a little bit of a harder time going to school...she went in without me (she was crying) but they said she stopped crying pretty quickly. They said she was fine until it was time to go home, then she started her "I want mommy" speech...Anyways, I'm very happy that school seems to be working and she's doing great away from me. I think this is going to make the transition with the new baby easier on everyone!! I'm so curious what goes on in school. I wonder if the girls understand Abigail's words....I wonder if Abigail uses her manners (we are big on please and thank you right now)...I wonder who Abigail plays with. Yesterday when she got to the car, I asked her how school was and she said "fun" and "friends"....I have a feeling the girls must have used those words a lot so she was repeating...but it made me feel good!

Heading out for errands...Miss Abigail sporting her very stylish zebra jacket!

Abigail loves to visit Barnes and Noble on rainy or cold days. I had to snap a picture because the second we got there, she went on her own, found her favorite books (Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and took the books to the "stage" to sit down and read. I just watched in awe...Miss Independent!

Thank You's & Congrats:

Thank you to Papa for watching Abigail on Wednesdays so I can work! Abigail LOVES being with her Papa...and I'm so happy that I have been able to get a few more weeks of work in before "maternity leave".

Thank you to Grandma for watching Abigail on Wednesdays for my doctor appointments.

Thank you to Nana for watching Abigail when I have a doctor app't or just have something to do.

Thank you to Grandpa for watching Abigail on Friday so we could celebrate Nay Nay's Bday at Wildfire. It was such a great Friday night with our friends (a picture will be coming soon) and we are so happy we were able to join.

Congrats on my dad for running the Grand Rapids Marathon and my sister Julie for running the Milwaukee Marathon. My family still continues to amaze me with their fast speeds! Rob and I will be starting to train for 1/2 marathons come the spring...but not sure we have time for a marathon at the time.

Just the 3 of us....for now! (And a poll)

I'm 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and Lil W is happy as a clam! I, on the other hand, am learning what it feels like to really be pregnant. I'm getting BIG...and I'm pretty sure this baby has taken up every ounce of space I have possible. Tired, backache, heartburn, bruised ribs...you name it, I have it. But I LOVE it!!!!

I went in yesterday for my weekly non-stress test and the dr said the baby's heartrate was great and it indicates that the baby's brain development is great too. So from this point on, he said if I go into labor, he wants me to go to the hospital for a possible IV, but he won't use any medication to stop it at this point! So that's very exciting...but I also know that we could meet Lil W any day now!!!! I can't wait to meet this peanut. I wonder if it's a boy or girl...if he/she will look like Abigail looked...what it will be like to have the baby in our room and not in the NICU...if he/she will be healthy and happy...if we are ready...so much to think about and it's so exciting!

Everyone has been asking how Abigail is doing. She doesn't really understand what's about to happen, but she is really into babies. She loves to feed her babies, rock them, and change their diapers. Also, when we say our prayers at night, she always prays for the baby (after "Mamer" of course). I think she's gonna be a great big sis..and Mommy's helper.

Sunday is the big 35!!! 35 weeks down...35 days to go!!!! And unfortunately, 35 lbs...I assume the baby will weigh 20 and I have only gained 15. :)

Oh yeah...I wanted to do a baby poll, but I wanted to have it done in the comments so I can remember them after I take the poll down. So here's what I'm wondering:
1. Boy or Girl? (If you are brave, you can even guess a name).
2. Weight?
3. Birthday?

1st Day of School

Abigail started her 1st day of Panther Preschool at Glenbard North High School on Monday. She did great..I had to stay the whole time but she was very independent. She loved playing with all the kids, especially the high school girls who all thought she was so cute! Tomorrow I'm going to take her in again, but hopefully leave and see how she does. Eventually, the high school girls will get her out of the car and bring her back while Mommy sips a latte in the car! :)

Abigail sat right down and started an art project!

Other Pics from the Week:

So precious!

"Go Bears!" (Abigail says Go Bears anytime any football game is on TV)

Abigail is such a Daddy's Girl...if he's around, she's with him! The have been very busy this week building tents.

A trip to Monkey Joe's with the Hackneys

33 Weeks


True Love!!!

33 Weeks

Lil W's pictures:

Not a great ultrasound pic...but the baby is looking at the "camera" and giving a wave! (The baby's face is on the right side..his/her eye sockets are the black circles)


Look at that long leg!!!!!! And mommy knows right where that foot ends...right under my right rib!

Our little peanut is 33 weeks as of yesterday! He/She is 2 weeks older than Abigail was when she was born, so that's such great news. And what a difference even 2 days makes! I had an ultrasound done at 31 weeks 4 days (Abigail was born at 31 weeks 2 days) and the baby was already weighing 3lbs 10 oz...1/2 a lb more than when Abigial was born. So we should already be over 4 lbs since the baby gains about 1/2 a lb a week now, which is the magic NICU number (babies can't go home before they weigh 4 lbs..Abigail went home the day she hit 4 lbs). Lil W's stomach was measuring small..but it has measured consistantly small so they said it will just be a skinny baby. They also said the baby's legs are measuring a week ahead of the rest of the body, so it's going to be very long and skinny! I'm pretty sure both my kids will be taller than me before they start high school!

We are so excited to meet the final piece of our family puzzle! We are so grateful that we are this far along and we have been given this blessing! We know that this little peanut is one of our 2 biggest blessings in our life!

Countdown...7 weeks till we'll meet Lil W!!!!!!

She's Our Girly-Girl!

Do we have a "ham" on our hands? Miss Abigail's girly side has sure come out lately! She cracks us up because her personality is all her own...and it's funny!!! Here are some pics from our weekend:


We were trying on some new clothes and Abigail couldn't just try the clothes on...she had to pose and give us her famous "cheese!" Our little model!


"Cheese!"



On Saturday we took Abigail to Monkey Joe's (which is a play area with tons of inflatable, jumpy houses). I'm not sure who had more fun...her or Rob! Abigail has been such a trooper stuck inside the house all day every day, so we were so happy she got to go out and have a fun day for herself!!!!

Abigail is sporting her new Bears bow! My friend Racquel made her two Bears bows...along with the cutest scarf! Thanks Racquel!

While we were watching the Bears WIN...Abigail was busy playing. We looked down and she had taken everything we use to change her diaper out of the drawer and was putting a diaper on her dolly..along with using a wipe and using rash cream! She's getting ready to be a BIG sister!

On Sunday, my sisters threw a small brunch at the cutest little restaurant, Janes, in Chicago for Lil W! They wanted to make sure Lil W got his/her spotlight (and knew I'm totally against people having 2 showers, so they kept it small and low-key..with a request for just time together, no presents)! Also, they knew it always bothered me that I wasn't pregnant at my own shower...so I got to be pregnant for our brunch! It was a perfect Sunday with Lil W's grandmas, aunts, and my closest friends...oh, and the Big Sister! Thank you to my sisters for thinking of Lil W and of me!!! It was a perfect morning!!! And thank you to our moms, sisters, and friends from the bottom of my hearts for the generous gifts! We are so excited to meet in Lil W in 8 weeks...and I had such a great morning making Lil W the center of attention!!

I'll post an update later this week on Lil W...who is growing big!!!!!!!

Pretty in Pink

This weekend we transformed our guest bedroom into Abigail's big girl bedroom...and she LOVES it!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Rob and Neici for all your help painting the room (since I am stuck on the couch and of no help at all). The room is all painted and turned out cute. We realized we have to get Abigail a new "big girl" bed...we are on the search for great bedroom furniture for her!! After we get her new furniture and some accessories (mirror, pictures, etc) the room will be ready for Abigail to move in. She wants to spend all her time in the room already, so she's ready to move in as soon as we are!!!

Here are some pics:

Before picture

After picture

We LOVE how the pink and brown turned out.

Abigail's getting a new bedroom set!!! This bed is just too big for our little peanut! White furniture will look great in this room!

I think the face tells you how Abigail feels about her new room! She LOVES it!!!!

An extra special thank you to Rob! I have been really stuck laying around on the couch, and Rob has taken on so much extra work. After he gets home from work he has to help with dinner, feeding Abigail, bathing her, putting her to bed, doing "tasks", cleaning, etc...all while I lay around..and all done without a single complaint. I could never get through this without such a wonderful, loving, supportive husband! Thank you so much for all your help, Rob! We love you!!!!

Abigail thinks her daddy is the greatest!



Daddy put Abigail's new art table together!

Family Picture...Go BEARS!!!!!

THANK YOU:

Thank you to Neici for all her help painting Abigail's bedroom, we appreciate all your help!

Thank you to my sister Jules for coming out to watch Abigial so I could work one last day.

Thank you to my sister Kate for taking the train out to spend the evening with us!

Thank you to my mom for coming over Wednesday afternoons to watch Abigail (I have weekly dr appt's) and help around the house..and thanks for Abigail's new Elmo books...they have kept her very busy!!!

Thank you to my friend Nicole for making us gravy and muffins..and visiting us! Abigail loved having her friend Joey out here to visit!!!

Thank you to everyone for their calls and/or emails checking in on us and offering your help!

And to end on a GREAT note: Today I am 31 weeks 2 days. That is the day Abigail was born!!!!!! So everyday from here on out is a great accomplishment. The nurses told me when I was on bedrest with Abigail that every day a baby stays in the womb is 3 less days in the NICU! We are feeling great about this baby's birth now that we have made it to this day! Yeah Lil W...keep growing big and strong and stay put for another 9 weeks!!!! Can you believe today is September 22nd??? We are 2 months away from our due date! Wow...we can't wait to meet Lil W and have our whole family with us!!!!