Baby Julia at 30 weeks!!

I had a 2nd ultrasound today to check for some placenta issues (which are cleared up! yeah!) and was pleasantly surprised to get some 3D pictures of the baby! It was so amazing to see her face in such photorealistic quality. I did not get that with Griffin so I am glad to have had this chance today. The first photo is a close up of her face (which I think looks a lot like Griffin's, especially the nose!).












The second photo is her foot in her face..she is very flexible it seems or else there is not much room for her in my stomach!












She is very healthy and is right on track for my due date of November 5th. Her current weight is 3.8 lbs. and her legs are measuring a few weeks ahead so she may be on the tall side? I guess we will see when she arrives!

A total blur...

Today was a pretty important day at school for Griffin. Last year, during his 4K year, I walked him in to his classroom EVERY day. Many of the other children got dropped off at the door but he had no interest in that at all (which was fine with me). However, we decided that once he was in Kindergarten he would be big enough to make the walk down the LONG, LONG hallway by himself. (Not to mention the time and effort it will save me in the last weeks of my pregnancy and once the baby arrives..) So, we agreed that I would walk him in the first day of school then he would start the drop off on the 2nd day. He was too embarrassed for me to take a picture of him getting out of the car so here are the two that I managed to take before he realized what I was doing. The photo quality really stinks but I think they both sum up how the whole ordeal went.. It was a total blur and he was gone in an instant!








Of course, being the overprotective mother that I am, I parked the car and walked in behind him just to make sure he arrived safely at his destination...homemade blueberry muffins in hand for his teacher so I wouldn't look like a total idiot. He was very proud of himself and I think it will get a little easier for me each morning!

1st day of Kindergarten stats:

Wake time: 6:40am

Special breakfast: Biscuits with grape jelly and scrambled eggs










Outfit: Gymboree shirt and shorts, crocs (of course)

Lunch: Lunchable with grapes, Aquapod and monkey munch for dessert

School Arrival time: 7:45

Teachers: Jen Kosa and Pamela Greene










School Pick up time: 2:40

Afterschool snack: Orange Julius, a special treat!!

Bedtime: 8:00pm.. and not a minute too soon!!!


Starting school this year was relatively easy because Griffin attended full day 4K last year. He is returning to the same teacher in the same classroom with some of the same students. I am very thankful for such an easy start to this important school year. The baby transition may be hard enough without a new school transition on top of that. Griffin's only wish was that he was going to 1st grade instead of Kindergarten. Many of his friends moved up this year so he missed them today. I am sure he will have no problem making new friends!!

Maternity photos

My friend Andrea took some great maternity photos of me on Sunday as well as some family photos. She has a great eye for unique shots and was able to make me not look as big as I feel! These are a few of my favorites!!

Sugar and Spice and everything nice!

Now that I am in full nesting mode and have been getting ready for Baby Julia's arrival, I have been making the shift from "boy" mode to "girl" mode and must admit, it's pretty fun to plan and prepare for a baby girl.








The nursery is going to have a soft feminine touch without going overboard on the pink or princess side of things and the sweet little girl touches are going to be perfect!

My friend Traci gave Julia her first baby doll and the tea set is an antique that my Mom gave me from her childhood. The rest of the nursery should be ready to reveal here soon!

Pregnancy...a LOVE/HATE relationship...

26 weeks down, 14 (maybe 12 or 13) to go...can I survive? I guess I have made it this far so there is no turning back now ...but this sure has been a lot tougher than my first pregnancy. I hope this is not an indication of baby Julia's personality!! So, just for fun..here are my top ten complaints and praises about this roller coaster ride I am on...

Top Ten COMPLAINTS about my pregnancy:
1. Can't sleep on my stomach
2. The waddle
3. Can't eat three normal meals anymore...more like snacks and bite-size portions
4. the GROWING vericose vein on my left leg...definitely deserves its own post!
5. no bikini this summer
6. no beer this summer
7. too much laying down...I am not a good "rester"
8. prenatal horse pills
9. 14 weeks of nausea.. thank goodness that has passed
10. bouts of sleeplessness...thank goodness for Tylenol PM!

Top Ten PRAISES about my pregnancy:
1. a healthy baby
2. a baby girl to round out our family
3. the opportunity to SLOW DOWN and relax...I am not a good "relaxer"
4. still able to exercise
5. feeling Julia's kicking and moving around...reminds me just how much of a miracle my baby is
6. the glow..face, hair, nails!
7. watching Griffin embrace the idea of being a big brother
8. nursery preparations!
9. Target and Old Navy carrying maternity clothing.. not an option last time!
10. guiltless eating of chocolate and junk food!!!!

With all being said and done, I am truly grateful and thankful to God for blessing me with this life inside of me.. I hope that I can continue to be the mother I want to be and that Griffin has allowed me to be. I know that Julia will add a spark and some spice to our family....and it will be wonderful!

What's in a name?

Well...after several months of brainstorming, we finally have a name for this baby girl...drumroll please.....

Julia Rose Koellner

Julia is a family name (one of my Dad's aunts)
Rose is Griffin's choice ...not particularly my top favorite but he thought it would be a good idea to name her after me because he is named after Kenny (both have the middle name Ryan). That makes sense to me. He also thinks that because he looks like Kenny that Julia should look like me.. only time will tell!

Such a big decision to give her a name... I am glad we can mark that off the list and get monogramming!!!!