Waiting Games

We really have tried all the home remedies.  From spicy peppers to pressure points nothing has took yet...  Our waiting games have consisted of keeping a fire going, checkers, and walking.  We have also  set up our courses for the Spring.  On a side note, we were walking yesterday and for every half mile loop ada would walk I would go run two and catch up.  When I would get within a quarter of a mile from Ada I would run really hard and catch up. This reminded her of a training technique I described to her called fartlek (swedish for speed play... pick a landmark like a tree or a mailbox and sprint to it).  Anyway, when I caught up to her she asked if I was doing some tasteandfart....  Fun times.  I can't wait to take our little guy on these adventures.

40+ weeks Holy Moly!

I have officially served our son eviction papers! Our last doctor's visit went well. It was on Christmas eve. He measured 36cm, meaning he had dropped his little butt down and I could have told her that without the measurement! His little heart  was 140bpm. A little slower than usual but the doctor said it is common for babies bpm to slow some towards the end of the pregnancy. Finally, I was 2cm dilated woohoo!!

We have another appointment on Monday with Dr. Arronte. I was hoping to miss that appointment but as of yet the little one says he is content with his lot in life. I can't argue. Making an entrance into this life is a big decision.

Christmas was mild mannered. We went to my Dad and his wife's house in Cornelius for the weekend before Christmas and then Andrew's parents and brother came to visit on Christmas Eve and day. Both events were surrounded by yummy food and gifts! We had a great time.

Sorry to all of the family and friends living farther than a stones throw from the hospital! We love you and miss you and hope your holidays were amazing. Next time we see you we will bring a cute little boy to entertain and wow you.

Until then....

38.5 weeks...come on little boy!

Roscoe still finds room

Went to the doctor today...our weekly dates have made the invasion of my privacy seem much more common place. I'm now 75% effaced, still 1cm dilated and he measured 39cm, meaning he floated back up, and a heart rate of 152 bpm. Dr. Arronte said she is very happy with how he's doing and she still thinks it will be a few days after the due date. Honestly we would be just fine with that...or I would...because she will be back from her very short vacation around christmas eve just in time to take care of this little sweets.

Andrew's co-workers threw us a little baby shower! I never knew people loved babies so much! They made cup-cakes that had blue icing, rice crispy treats, we brought fruit salad, and a lot more I'm sure no one really cares to hear about unless they are hungry. They gave some great gifts. One of the co-workers' mother hand-sewed a quilt and I can't believe how perfect it is for him. I think he will love rolling around on this blanket.

Andrew's students also pitched in and gave the gift of diapers...a gift I"m starting to think is better than any other! So now we have quite a little start-up supply of diapers for his stinky butt. =)

Andrew's brother, Justin came in last week and has been staying with us, which has been great! He is so much fun. He likely has to leave in the beginning of January to go back to Alaska and fish so we're hoping the baby decides to arrive before then. We've debated pogo sticks, trampolines and long jogs in the park. I threw the pogo stick idea out to Dr. Arronte and she said of course!...as long as I don't fall off haha. The eject button (i.e my bellybutton) has worked no wonders so here we sit, waiting on this perfect little creature to decide when he will grace us with his presence. I feel like he might be part unicorn.

There are only saggy bottom jeans at this point

38 weeks...really...its not over?

This last weekend Andrew and I went on our "baby moon" to Charleston SC. It was a GREAT trip! We were able to stay in an amazing hotel courtesy of my Dad and his wife Yvonne. It was only two minutes from our friends Andy and Jenny so we got to spend a lot of time with them. I had never stayed in Charleston...but now I want to live there.

I'm not sure what I was grabbing there but Andrew seems
to think its funny!

Me and Jenny after eating at The Library

It's Thursday now and we went to see Dr. Arronte to check on the boy. He measured 36 1/2cm and his heart was going at 155bpm. I have now dilated 1cm and am about 50% effaced. She seemed very pleased with that, but that still puts us at his arrival likely being at least a few days after the due date. Oh yea, and she could feel his little head so it turns out he has dropped and I just didn't really notice. Since he measured smaller she checked my amniotic fluid level with an ultrasound and it was absolutely fine. So he's just measuring smaller because he's sitting so much lower now.

I have to say, all and all, this pregnancy thus far has been an easy one. Considering all of the change that naturally happens with this sort of event, I feel VERY fortunate its pretty much localized its self to my tummy. Andrew has been so cool with the whole process, even though he's trying to send me into labor every day now! Its such a strange dichotomy at this stage. I'm so comfortable with this little life and talk to him every day, play with him (as much as I can with him being inside my body!). Yet when I see him in an ultrasound, it hits me there is a real, fully grown infant in there that I am about to be so very responsible for. That's a real baby that I will see at some point, not just my imaginary....kicking, hicuping, friend. 

Its going to be great.

37 weeks

All seems to be well in the land of Oz. Our baby boy measured 38cm today and his little heart was running at 154 bpm.  I tested negative for the Group B Strep test so no antibiotics needed during labor. The doctor thought it was funny to poke my belly button (which is sticking out quite a bit at this point) and say " eject baby"! I agree! I wish it was an eject button. I get out of breath now just living. Apparently pregnancy snoring has taken full effect as well. That along with the level of forgetfulness I've achieved, I feel like Gloria from Modern Family right now...in the alien suit...all the time!

Andrew and I have been picking up things here and there for the baby to wrap up our list like medications, burping blankets, a small humidifier, little things like that.

I've started doing yoga every morning too.

I can't even tell if this belly has grown
 at this point!

We decided to go on a "baby moon" to Charleston SC for this up coming weekend. We are both SO excited and we get to hang out with our awesome friends Jenny and Andy!! One of our friends recommended taking a little pre-baby vacation and I think its a really good idea.

36 weeks

Went to see Dr. Arronte for our weekly visit. She did a Group B Strep test today so I should know if I need antibiotics during labor. The little boy measured 36cm which is about perfect because today I am 35 weeks and 5 days. His heart beat was 143 bpm and she said he was probably about 5lbs. I am 1/2cm dilated right now so we are still on target for the December 27th due date.  Oh yea and he's still head down, in kind of a fetal position at this point. That's about all as far as the medical update.

I put together his bouncy chair and swing chair this morning. They are the softest!

Baby Shower!!

The baby shower was fantastic!! The decorations were beautiful thanks to Kelly, Jane and my mom. The food came from a number of family members including Gma, aunt Cheryl, Nancy, Kelly, Jen and my mom. I think all and all everybody had a really good time and our little boy is really set now! He has no idea how much love was expressed in toys, clothes, blankets, diapers and butt paste =)~.

  

We played a few games including pin the egg on the uterus to see which sperm I would hit and guessing baby animal names. Everybody also colored animals and put little messages on the picture for our boy. It took Veronica and I a while to consolidate down all of his little gifts so I could get them in the car for the ride home. I think he will be the best dressed and warmest newborn in the hospital!

Finally, Andrew and I set up his nursery bedding last night and I think all we need now is our baby. Its so sweet and I know he'll sleep soundly...for a few hours any way....in such a cozy bed.

This baby will not have a want in the world with so many people loving him!

Sweet Little Boy

34 weeks

Andrew and I went to see Dr. Arronte today for the 34 week check up. His little heart was beating at 147 bpm and he is still head down but more centered with his back to my stomach. I didn't gain any weight this visit and he measured 35cm again. All good news as far as I'm concerned. Means I'm not gaining too fast and he's not getting too big. He must have just had a little growth spurt before the last visit.
Last night I had some mild cramping in my lower back that wrapped around the front for about 2 hours. I called the 24 hour nurse line at Presbyterian hospital just to touch base and see what they recommended. A little water and some tylenol resolved it.  I talked to Dr. Arronte and she said it probably was some early contractions but nothing to worry about at this stage in the pregnancy. If he was born today he would almost certainly be able to go home with us.

Andrew is getting his flu shot and Tdap vaccine today. He also picked out some pretty adorable hats and socks for the little boy! We can't have his little head and feet get cold at the hospital!

The baby has gotten so big a few of the women in my class can tell when he's stretching and pushing his little butt into my side. He makes me look lopsided when he gets really antsy. Now when he gets the hiccups you can actually see my stomach bounce with him =). Anyway, he's doing great and we are just beside ourselves with excitement.

I think I need to start modeling this bump...its impressively large!

Ok, the belly is like an eclipse 

33 weeks

I visited Dr. Arronte today and checked on the little boy. He is doing really well! His little heart was running at 140bpm and he measured 35cm. She said that was still within a normal range but if he continues to measure a few centimeters over his age then she will do an ultrasound to make sure he is not getting huge. She thought it was probably because he was sitting high. He is still head down he has just shifted his head to my left side now. A nice break for all of the blood flow in my right side and leg! I actually gained weight this trip and my bp was normal, yay!! Finally, I scheduled the rest of my appointments with Dr. Arronte which was a little mind blowing...light at the end of the tunnel!

I finished teaching for the week last night and by the end of it I was in some pain. I felt like all of the muscles around my waste were pulled and every time I sat down he was bumping around. I don't think my discomfort phased him at all =). He has gotten so big now I can tell when he's pressing his little butt against my side and I can almost grab his little tootsies. Its fun for Andrew because now he can feel him just about every time he puts a hand on my stomach.

This Saturday Andrew and I are taking an all day Lamaze class at Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Charlotte. That should be fun.

As far as baby stuff goes, we've been slowly creating our diaper stash along with other little things he'll need like shampoo, diaper rash ointment etc. Oh!! and the thing we're really excited about, the new car seat!! It is awesome!!










I picked up two online Anatomy and Physiology courses for the beginning of the Spring semester and Andrew has a great schedule ,all at one campus, for the Spring. So we are in a perfect place job wise for this new little life.






You better believe he voted for Obama!! =)~

33 weeks

Growing Baby

31 Week Check-up:

            Andrew and I went to see Dr. Arronte on Thursday for our 31 week check up. The little boy seems to be doing great! His heart rate was 164 bpm, a little elevated from his baseline. She said that was something they actually like to see. It was a healthy sign and he probably just liked breakfast! They measured my uterus and it measured 31 1/2 inches so he's just where he should be. Finally, he's still head down and hanging over on my right side as he has been since about 28 weeks.


             I've started reading about what to do with newborns...since I've NEVER taken care of one! Although I feel like I already have a good idea of how he's going to be once he's born. He has wake and sleep patterns now and definitely responds to different stimuli. He knows when Andrew is talking to him and when I am. My favorite is when our grey cat Roscoe drapes himself across my stomach and purrrrrrs. The baby pokes at him the entire time. I think Roscoe likes it.

 The baby shower is coming soon! I'm more excited about his party than I ever was about mine.

Halloween Baby Pictures

         Andrew and I went to doctor today to get a complimentary 3D ultrasound the office offers. I always love seeing him and I think its great when Andrew gets to see him since he can't feel him all day long everyday. Although lately he has been kicking and moving around so much Andrew has had no problem interacting with him. So although the pictures from the 3D are completely creepy and perfect for halloween!! we got a pretty good idea of what his little nose and mouth looks like. He has this cute little button nose and pouty lips. He also has a thing for his fingers and likes to keep them in his mouth. Its probably why he has the hiccups all the time!

While I was lying on the table for this ultrasound I started to sweat and became really nauseous from being flat on my back. The tech had me role to my side and this is when the little stinker pulled his hands under his head and smiled in this last picture. It's just sooooo funny when mommy gets sick. 

On an unrelated baby note, I started teaching yesterday at Central Piedmont Community College. I taught two, 3 hour classes in a row of intro biology. I really enjoyed it, but I was beat after lecturing for that long! 

My view....where did my feet go?

30 weeks