38 Weeks!

Well I'm definitely late with this post!  I got so excited about the maternity pictures that I forgot to post the weekly belly shot.  It was taken on the right day, just not posted before now.  No harm no foul I guess.  It's not nearly as fun as the maternity pics anyway.  haha! 

My appointment last week was some good some frustrating.  The midwife was feeling all over my belly trying to determine the position our little guy was in.  She was having a hard time confirming he was head down, so she asked if she could do an internal to try and feel the head.  I had no problem with that because he SHOULD'VE been head down and I definitely wanted to know if he'd flipped.  He'd been head down since our anatomy at 21 1/2 weeks.  If he'd flipped then I was going to flip!  Thankfully she determined that yes he was head down still.  The reason she had trouble determining that from the external exam was because his head is so low.  That news made me happy!  She said it's very low and I'm thinning, but didn't give me a percentage of effacement.  Then she told me I was barely dilated at all, so I'm taking that to mean a fingertip like the week before.  That was the frustrating news.  I had REALLY hoped to have been at least 1cm by that appt!  She told me to do figure 8's on with my hips on the birthing ball to continue to encourage him to go lower into the pelvis and engage.  Let me tell you that's harder than it sounds! 

It must be doing something right though because every time I work on it I start having some Braxton Hicks contractions and the baby starts moving a lot, so there has to be some benefit!  He's also dropped some more.  I changed fro bed last night and noticed that my belly's shelf is becoming more and more sloped now.  Matthew definitely agreed that it's getting lower and lower.  Unfortunately it's harder to tell with a shirt on. Well anyway, on to the pic of the week, that is only 4 days late...oops!  :o)

38 Weeks! 

Maternity Pics

So I'm a few days late in posting again.  Surprise surprise.  haha!  I was so excited to get the electronic copies of our maternity pictures today!  We used a local photographer named Megan and she did a great job!  I know several people who have had her photograph their newborns.  We are planning to do the same once our little man makes his grand entrance, but also couldn't pass up the opportunity to get maternity pictures taken!  All the pictures were taken right after I hit 36 weeks to make sure I had a nice round preggo belly.  I think we accomplished that.  He's definitely a little basketball  :o)

After everything we'd been through for this little guy, I really wanted to document everything we could.  Sophie even got in on the photo shoot action!  Since the pictures are way more fun than my random rambling, here they are!  Enjoy!

I just love black and white photos! 

I LOOOOOOOVE this picture!

Sophie Bug!

Last photo as a family of three :o)

So much love for this little guy and we haven't even met him yet!

37 Weeks...Full Term!

What a milestone we've reached!  Baby K and I are officially full term!  Any time he decides to come it is safe now :o)  While we do want him to hold out a little longer it makes me really excited to think that he really could come at any time! 

Since I hadn't made a lot of progress by the time I went to the doctor on Monday I decided to try to do something to move the process along.  I have a large exercise ball that I've been sitting on, rolling and rocking my hips and bouncing on it.  It's supposed to help open the hips and pelvis to make room for the baby to drop and engage.  Call me crazy but I swear it's working!  Tuesday was the first night I decided to try it and when I changed for bed my belly was noticeably lower than when I got home from work.  I'm planning to spend around 15 minutes each evening on it, and hopefully it helps and I'll have made some more progress by my appointment next Wednesday. 

On a sad note I'm no longer wearing my wedding ring set :o(  I guess I should be glad I was able to make it 8 1/2 months with it.  A lot of women don't even make it half this far, but I had really hoped to not have to take it off.  Matthew has been very worried the whole pregnancy that I'd get it on one day and not be able to get it off.  It's been getting progressively tighter, so I'm not surprised that I can't wear it now, but still disappointed.  Sunday was the first day I didn't wear it.  I probably could've forced it on, but there again, I didn't want to get it on and not be able to get it off.  I was able to wear it to work on Monday, but Tuesday I was back to needing to force it on, so I've just decided to leave it off for the remainder of the pregnancy and the first few weeks after delivery.  Thankfully I have some other rings I can still wear, so I don't look like a knocked up unwed mother.  It just feels so strange to get ready for work, put my jewelry on and leave my wedding set in the jewelry box.  Hopefully it doesn't last too long post delivery! 

Well on a happier note, here is this week's belly pic.  I don't know if you can tell in pictures or not that the belly has dropped.  It's definitely easier to see with a bare belly, but I'll spare you that view!  He has been a wiggly little guy this afternoon.  I really will miss that feeling after he's here.  It's so fun!  Well here ya go...37 Weeks - Full Term!

First of the Weekly's

Well today was the first of my weekly appointments!  I can't believe I'm at this point already!  It doesn't seem possible really.  I was hoping that the doctor would tell me that I've started to dilate and thin a bit.  I guess you could say things have started, but we're not talking about much progress at all.  I was technically less than 1cm.  Oh well, at least it's not fully closed still.  Hopefully by the time I go back next Wednesday there will be a little more progress made.

Baby K is moving further south though.  I woke up this morning and my belly was noticably lower than when I went to bed last night.  Around 2:30 I woke up to use the bathroom and was awake for the next 2 hours.  Baby K was moving all over due to the contractions I was having.  He didn't enjoy being rocked and rolled apparently! 

Well, here's hoping that the time I'm planning to spend rocking and bouncing on the exercise ball this week will help increase the progress!

36 Weeks!

Well I'm a few days late in posting again...surprise surprise.  ha!  I think it's safe to say that Baby K has dropped a bit.  This week's picture definitely looks lower than the last few!  Let's hope so!  I've been feeling a lot of lower abdominal pressure in the last week or so with some sharp pains occasionally as well.  I've heard that can mean dilation and effacement are starting to happen.  I hope so! 

My first internal check is tomorrow.  I'm hoping for some good news from the doctor.  I know that it doesn't really mean much this early on, you can be dilated and thinned for several weeks before labor actually happens, but I still think it would make me happier than if they tell me I'm still closed and not thinned at all.  We'll see!  I'm having more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions and they're stronger than they used to be.  Hopefully that means that our little man will decide to make his entrance before my due date :o)

I do know that I'm TOTALLY over being at work right now.  There are moments when I'm tired of being pregnant, but mostly I'm just tired of being at work while pregnant.  The thought of 12 more work days can almost move me to tears sometimes.  My patience is gone, my motivation is gone, and I'm exhausted before I even get to work.  But enough of my complaining. 

On a happier note, we had our maternity photo session this weekend.  I can't wait to see the pictures!  Sophie even got to partake in it!  The sneak peek picture she put on her Facebook page is so cute!  I can't wait to see the rest of them!

So I guess before I start complaining any more, I'll leave this week's token belly shot and the pic from our maternity shoot.  I can't believe how little time is actually left with my pregnancy.  Time really does fly when you're having fun! 

Enjoy!

36 Weeks!  

 

 

Sneak Peek!  Maternity shoot 12.3.11

35 Weeks!

Well the post is late again, but the picture was taken on the right day :o)  The big news from last week's doctor's appt was that I'm officially at the point of no return!  No matter when labor starts, they won't stop it anymore.  I was definitely a little taken aback by that news.  I knew I was close to that point, but to actually hear it from the midwife's mouth really made it real!  I guess it's time to pack the hospital bag and leave it in the car so I'm prepared for when it's go time!

Over the weekend we visited my parents for Thanksgiving.  It was so nice to have time off of work and be home for a while.  This was also my last trip out of Peoria until after the baby is born.  Once I've hit 36 weeks I'm not supposed to go further than an hour from the hospital (not that I'd want to!)  So this was our last hurrah until little man arrives.  It was definitely a much longer trip than usual.  We had to stop more than ever...no surprise there, but still a little obnoxious.  When I'm on a car trip I'm one of those people who only likes to stop when gas is needed.  Food and bathroom must be done at all gas stops and only gas stops.  Well that was how I USED to do car trips.  Now it's we stop whenever I feel the urge for the bathroom, which unfortunately is a lot more frequently than it ever has been.  I will most definitely NOT miss that part of pregnancy!  I can honestly say I can never make fun of my mother's need for frequent bathroom breaks again. 

While we were home we of course had to get food from the favorite restaurants.  Pizza and Mexican food!  Baby K better agree with us one day.  Lol!  We also had my dad's awesome deep fried turkey for Thanksgiving.  My grandparents and aunt and uncle drove up for the day to spend the holiday with us.  It was so nice to see them again so soon!  We don't see them nearly as often as I used to.  The 6 hour drive to see them kind of makes it hard to go very often.  We spent the day with the four of them, then decided to check out the deals at the Outlet mall on Black Friday.  We didn't brave the midnight madness but went out a little after noon.  It was busy, but not crazy, which was nice.  I got some great things for Baby at the Carter's store, and some clothes from the maternity store.  This weekend we are having maternity pictures taken, and I wanted a couple of new outfits for them.  Who wouldn't?!?!  :o)  I also got some cute comfy pj's to wear in the hospital the day after the baby is born. 

Saturday I made a lamp shade for a lamp in the baby's room and Mom and Cindy recovered a couple of pillows to match the bedding Mom had made.  Everything looks so cute!  I can't wait to get it all put together!  I'm working on painting letters to spell Baby K's name as well.  They're going to match the bedding colors also.  Dad cut some trim so we can build a frame to go around the letters.  There is just one small thing that Matthew's dad is going to do this coming weekend for us.  Once the back of the trim is cut, I finish the letters, and get the plywood board covered in fabric, then we can get it all put together!  It won't be hung until after little man is born, but I can't wait to see the finished project! 

Whew....well as you can tell it was quite the busy weekend!  Here is this week's belly pic, and pics of the lamp and the changing table/dresser cover that my mom made to match the bed skirt.  I sure am lucky that I have family members who can sew!

35 Weeks!  Almost full term!

My lamp for the nursery!

With the light on this time :o)

Pad for the changing table/dresser

34 Weeks!

Wow...34 weeks already!  Only 6 to go, I honestly cannot believe there is so little time left!  I'm starting to feel pressure in my lower abdomen, so I wonder if he's starting to drop a little bit. 

This week we had another baby class (only one more!  yea!)  This time we were able to talk with one of the anesthesiologists at the hospital about epidurals and the other anesthesia that is commonly used during labor and delivery.  It really was a very interesting hour, and I can honestly say I'm much more relaxed about the whole process.  I was never anxious enough to consider forgoing drugs, but I'd be lying if I said the process didn't worry me a little bit before.  Now that we know more of the details, saw the items that would be used for the procedure, and was able to ask questions to one of the people who may eventually be performing my epidural, I feel much more relaxed about it.  Yes, there are risks with it, but they are very minimal.  I just know that my pain tolerance isn't what it would need to be in order to have a truly all natural birth.  I'm not opposed to waiting for a while and trying to handle the pain on my own for a bit, but that's about it.  Just for a bit.  ha!

Yesterday they threw a shower at school for me and the two other employees who are having babies in December.  We got so many great things.  Baby K's stock pile is continuing to grow.  Sophie continues to wonder what all this stuff is for and why it's invading "her space."  She has found a new place to sleep during the day.  She definitely thinks the glider is her chair now.  Not that I can blame her.  It is super soft and cushy, so I'd want to sleep in it too if I were her.  It's just funny to watch her.  She definitely thinks she's queen of the mountain when she's in it :o)


Well...now that you've had the rundown on the week, here is this week's belly shot :o)