28 days left

My rings would not go on my fingers today for the first time ever :(

enough said.

( 36 ) Week Crenshaw Melon

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Home Baby Shower

It was amazing. Pink everywhere of course! Centerpiece of cherry blossoms was gorgeous.
We got SO MUCH stuff. Wait, first things first. We arrive and look at the room and it's set up beautifully. Centerpiece, diaper cake, wreath! Oh...and also a Winne the Pooh Pinata for later. Getting excited, yet? Here we go then...

First we play bingo, where of course dad administers. He delivers the words TWICE for extra emphasis. I won once, and Kellie won once I believe. We played at second game of finding all the incorrect items in a picture. Apparently I am HORRIBLE at that game. There were 28 items, I found 14 I think. Kellie and Joe both found about 25 or so. Kris found all 28 and won that one. So that was fun. THEN...dad goes and get's Papa Johns Pizza (my favorite) and it was so good. I think if I had to pick one food to live on for life, it would be a toss between California Pizza Kitchen Spaghetti Bolognese or Pizza. MMMMMMMMMMMM

Then we go play pinata, which was fun. That was a tough one to crack. I think I hit about 20 times, with the aid of Logan. Kellie even hit it a couple of times before candy started to fall. The next door neighbor girls were watching and asked who's B'day party it was. ummmmm it's a 30 year old girls baby shower (hee hee)

Then .....it's inside for gifts. We got the amazing Sweetpeace Soother we wanted from Mom and Dad. Watch me have the most relaxed baby ever now...simply because I am SO paranoid, and ready for a colicy baby. Although not much likelihood of that. Unless she takes after her daddy I dont see how she could be laid back. I'm more Type A, worrier, anxious type :(

Let's see. Kellie and Jason got us a very nice picture frame with a custom "christopher robin" quote on it, that was very nice. Oh and a rainforest jumparoo! She waited till the day of the shower to purchase because for some reason she thought I might look at the registry to see what people had gotten me :)

Larry and Kris got us the baby monitor we needed, and Joe spent yesterday charging it and setting it up, as well as the other little timer gift we got for xmas, where you time their sleep patterns, changing and feedings, etc etc. Also they got us a hamper FULL of classic pooh items. I really like the little book she got us where we put pics inside for her to take to Peggy's house. Also some outfits, a bowl and spoon set, where the spoon tells you if the food is too hot. Just a bunch of misc neat stuff.

Mom and Dad gave us a basket as well that was FULL of stuff. You name it and it's in there. Butt creams, shampoos, soaps, teethers, binkys, clothes, socks, Lullaby DVD's onesies's and I could go on and on....but just to give you an abbreviated idea, we stayed up until 11:30 that night after getting home around 8 or so just ORGANIZING all the stuff into piles, then on Sunday we did laundry, and put all the stuff away and that was ANOTHER 2 hours. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of items we received. Oh and they also got us a Homedics white noise machine thingy that has 3 options of ceiling lights, and Joe is just in love with that thing. We sat in the nursery on Saturday night picking which one we liked best, we decided on the fish (although it does have a scary octopus image we are not so sure about) :) But it shows up alot better than the monkey and the cow one. Oh and it has several noises to pick from (heartbeat to mimmick the womb, music, and rain which was Joe's favorite) But with the lights off and sitting in my new comfy chair, and that machine going it was so relaxing, I got up and let Joe sit in the chair and I got the strong suspicion that he could sleep all night in there with our little girl. No problems at all.

The nursery is great. I am so happy with it. And all the items we received in the shower, and that are now in turn in the nursery are great as well. Shower day was a great day! I couldn't be happier with how it turned out :)

Dell Baby Shower!

We had an awesome time at the shower yesterday. We got a car seat, a Boppy vibrating chair thingy, a hammock for the bathtub, a first aid kit, a ton of clothes and onesies, and some blankies. Also they made a cupcake cake, where you could choose from chocolate or vanilla cake, with white (really good) icing. They were incredibly sweet, and went out of their way to make me feel comfy. Everyone loves a baby! Joe works with a nice bunch of people.
Family Shower is on Sat April 26, and my work one is May 8!


Nursery is COMPLETE, besides the letters for the name. :)
Just some small cleanup to the house now I think. And then some final grocery/babies r us shopping closer to the due date!

I pushed it way too far this weekend cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. My back still hurts, and usually rest takes care of all that. But not anymore it seems. Also, I am swelling (feet mostly) just about everyday now :(

Childbirth class is OVER :) I thought it was very helpful, and the nurse Michelle was just great.

So I am thinking the next few weekends will be pretty relaxing. Then the last couple get busy again installing car seats, and setting up various things like sterilizers, warmers, etc. Our kitchen counter is going to be baby devoted for sure.

We also scheduled a massage, mani/pedi for both Joe and I in about 3 weeks for our final relaxation session before baby comes!

I am super excited, a little anxious about rest of the stuff we need to do. I feel like the house is NEVER ready. I also am just ready....ready to be mobile again, feel "normal" again, etc etc.

Let's all cross our fingers that I am early. Not TOO early......but not late for sure.

(35) Week Honeydew

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 1/2 weeks!

Had my Dr Appt yesterday.
Stats:
Blood pressure: 112/63
Weight Gain (Still in the 20's total) :)
Measured 34 cm.
She said and let me use quotes here "Stephanie, you have had a perfect pregnancy, keep up whatever you are doing" :)

You have to understand my Dr, everything is so matter of fact. She is not the complimenting, appeasing, over emotional kind. So it was somewhat shocking.

I personally think she judges me on the weight gain a little, but she has probably given up and backed off a little. She said everything was fine. Also she said on my due date she will give me an ultrasound to make sure the baby is healthy, she wont just automatically go late, which I hope is true. Still holding out hope for the May Baby! Woooooooah Emerald!

5 weeks left, and my next appt is May 2, and then every week in May.
She will start checking my progress (dilation) etc etc

She was super excited and so am I. I try to stay upbeat, even though my mom and I agree there is a black cloud hovering above us. First mom's mom dies, then Boo gets very sick with Kidney disease, there are again layoffs at dell, and Larry is now in the hospital with possible Crohn's Disease. It's all pretty chaotic. Some things are still in the air. I am hoping it all works out the most positive way it can.

Have I mentioned that the nursery is ALMOST done. We are waiting on the letters for above the crib which may not come until May now :( and we will get the chair either today or Monday! Oh and Nana Shanahan finished the sheers! They are awesome. They make the room look so cute and fem. It really pulls it together. Oh and Kellie got this huge horse for the playroom! It's hilarious. My big pregnant self can actually sit on it. We need to name it though! But it's adorable. Somehow she got the idea that my little girl may actually one day say "I want a pony" and when that day comes I just pull this thing out :) heehee. Think she will appreciate that? Probably not, but it's not like she is ever getting a real one! Probably not so good for my allergies.

Everytime I sit down to write, I think "I don't have much to say" then I droan on and on. Well Sorry for that, I guess more happened than I thought. So anyways...till next time then!

(34) Week Cantaloupe

How your baby's growing: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.

Things Going on this Week

Well it's been an interesting week for sure.

Mom's mom (my grandma) died on April 3. So we traveled to Oklahoma for the funeral. Everything went fairly well, except the amount of junk I ate along the way. I gained another pound :( Then I had my second occasion of swelling. Obviously I didn't drink the water I should have while there because that can make for a very long 6 hour car ride. So I tried to flush it out when I got back to Texas. Hopefully I will be good as new in a couple days. I am so tired still. It was great to see everyone though. Mom's sister, Tina got me 2 HUGE bags of baby girl clothes. She somehow managed to find a bunch of lavender stuff, which is a switch. Usually my choices are "which shade of pink" :) Anyways, I literally have a onesie for everyday of this girls 0-3 months stage. In fact, I think I can safely change her onesie after EVERY spit up and never have to launder another onesie due to running out :) At least for 3 months.

Went to childbirth class last night, where we learned all about childbirth, both the traditional way and C-Section. After all the videos, I turned to Joe and said "I changed my mind" to which he replied "It's kind of late now, dont you think?"hmmmmmmmmm good point, guess I am toughing it out after all, it looks just terrifying, and the recovery as well. I am scared for sure. But Joe reassured me he will be waiting on me hand and foot for awhile. Next couple of classes are going to be MUCH better. We learn how to take care of the baby, and we also get to tour the hospital and nursery etc. I'm looking forward to it! Can't believe I only have 7 weeks left. Only now is it beginning to sink in, I think.

So we still have just a couple things in the nursery yet to do, I'm not worried about that at all. It's all the other stuff. Organizing still, baby showers, shopping for all remaining baby needs. Oh and next weekend I take pictures. Let's hope I can get my cat to stop bouncing off my belly to the bed and leaving scratches behind. It would be nice to not have scars :)

( 33 ) Week Pineapple

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

( 32 ) Week Jicama (hee-kah-mah)

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth. *** INSERT *** inspired by our class yesterday I posted this anatomically correct picture of the baby kicking mommy in the ribs. Notice the placement of the heals & the toes (with toenails) just below the diaphragm for added support. According to the first installment of our 4 class series most of what we learned was that there is not much mommy can do to stop baby from kicking her in the ribs other than push her and get kicked back. Eat smaller portions and generally just deal with it as this is just a one of the joys of being pregnant ;)