39 Weeks!

This week is supposed to mark my last week of pregnancy, but a lot of my online research has showed that first-time moms tend to go past their due date.  I haven't had signs of impending labor except a few Braxton-Hicks contractions that were more uncomfortable than usual and a feeling that baby's head is WAAAAAAY down in my pelvis (it feels funny when I bend down & stand back up).

39 Weeks Pregnant

I've been nesting a little more than usual (Craig is even noticing).  I hung a few picture frames up at the bottom of the stairs - one big frame for our family picture, a frame for baby's first hand- & footprints (Thanks Barbara!), and a frame for baby's monthly pictures over the first year (Thanks Jill!).  I also hung a little cross (direct from Jerusalem made from olive wood from the Mount of Olives & blessed by our parish priest) over baby's crib (and put on some crib guards to prevent baby from using the crib rails as a chew toy - a recommendation from my brother).

The "Wall of Baby" at the bottom of the stairs

Baby's crib complete with crib rail wraps and cross on the wall

I overdid it a little on Monday.  Craig & I were both off for the Columbus Day holiday, so we trekked to WalMart to get new pillows, to the auto store to pick up new headlight bulbs (feels like we're doing this a little too frequently for the Saab...), and to the grocery store to stock up on fresh food for the week.  We took a 2-hour break for lunch & a rest, but I still felt exhausted by the end of the day.  I was worried this all would bring on labor, but a little R&R helped and I felt better by late evening.

I am eagerly anticipating our doctor appointment this week.  We'll get to find out if I'm dilated at all, not that that means anything definite because women can be dilated for WEEKS before labor.  But, I'm curious!  (As is everyone else who has been calling & texting to check in!  Part of me really wants to say something cheeky in response like, "Oh, we had the baby a few days ago and returned home last night, so you can come over now if you want to meet the little one."  Craig would prefer to respond with a fake call to come visit the newborn at the hospital, with a follow-up call about 30 minutes later when everyone is driving on their way to say "False alarm!"  Because really, like we would hold back on announcing the news to our close friends & family, haha!  We all just have to be patient and let the baby come on his/her own time.  I just personally hope it will be after my last few days at work this week.)

We're on a mission to get the baby monitor (Thanks May & Hannah!) installed this week, but this has not been without its mishaps, like having to restart our entire router system back to factory default settings.  I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating that was, and it was not the first attempt we made to figure this out!  Hopefully we will have better luck trying again today with the "alternative" steps in the user manual and possibly the help of our tech-saavy nephew.  At least we know how to get things back to reset mode if we have to do it again, haha!  (And I am always willing to use the can & string communication methods of childhood, if we have to resort to that!)

On a whim, I made a 30-some second video of the progression of my weekly pregnancy pictures.  It came out kind of cool!  Can't wait to add either the 40 week picture or me holding the baby!

Commence Single-Digit Countdown!

I hope you are all as excited as Craig & I are!  The baby is due in a mere 9 days but s/he could arrive any time!  Craig & I are happy to be enjoying a last 3-day holiday weekend together pre-baby, but we're still eagerly awaiting our little one.

I still am not ready mentally, but as baby's Godmother Chelsea said last week as a pep talk, "You obviously won't be the worst mother there ever was!"  (She was not implying anything negative of course; it was so funny in the moment and something that she had kept telling herself before the birth of her first.)  She followed with a comment about how I'm going to be a great mom, which I hope will prove to be the truth!

This weekend I took out some of the small items that will need to be sterilized prior to baby's use - bottles & nipples (thanks Chelsea, Ella, & Olivia!) and parts for my breast pumps.  I ran them through the dishwasher but they're not getting sterilized just yet because I don't want them to get dusty or anything prior to use.  It was great to be able to get them corralled into a dishwasher basket (thanks Emily!).

My way to remember how to assemble these complicated bottles!

Load #1 through the dishwasher...

Load #2 through the dishwasher...

We also installed the car seat base into my car so it's ready to bring home baby.  The car seat will stay in the house until Craig comes to pick baby & me up from the hospital.  (It turns out that it's recommended to discard & replace any car seat that has been in an auto accident, so we're not jinxing it by putting that in early too.)  This is a picture of the seat on the base in the car, because frankly the base is just not cute on its own!

After a YouTube video, I was able to install the base all by myself!

I also installed the car seat organizer (Thanks Missee!) and added a few odds & ends for baby (Thanks April & Molly for the taggies toys!).

The car seat organizer in place.

Filled with goodies for baby!

 I have been inundated with texts and calls of "Any sign of baby yet?" lately.  It doesn't bother me at all (unlike other moms that post on a message board I check online); I am happy that others are as excited as we are for baby's arrival!  I promise that a picture & birth stats will be on here as soon as I can tear myself away from our new bundle of joy.  Speaking of birth stats, don't forget to post your hunches here by clicking on "Enter New Hunches!"  The password to our page is "babylatour" (with no space or caps).  Currently, the majority of you are saying that baby will be a blue-eyed, blonde- or brown-haired, girl!

A Baker's Dozen!

Wow, time is FLYING this month!  There are only 13 days left until my due date.  Baby can arrive at any time!

38 Weeks Pregnant

At this week's doctor's appointment, I got my flu shot and we listened to baby's heartbeat again.  All seems well - normal heartbeat & rate, normal positioning, and no signs of impending labor.

Our next appointment is on the 16th for 39 weeks; I'll get an exam to check for dilation and signs of impending labor.  The doctor also set me up with my post-due date appointment for the 22nd (as he put it, "if you're still pregnant by then") for a non-stress test (to check baby's movement & heartrate), an ultrasound (to check the level of amniotic fluid), and an exam (to check for dilation).  I like seeing the baby on ultrasound, but it would be so much better to see the baby in person before then!

I decided to confirm with work that I'll start maternity leave on the 20th, even if baby hasn't arrived yet.  I've just been getting overtired and probably overdoing it with everything, including work.  Some of my coworkers are surprised I've made it through this far, but really, how could I justify not working when I felt fine?  Now, being so large, even a little physical activity tires me out easily.  (You should see me huff & puff after vacuuming!)  Lately, I've been enjoying the occasional 1 and 1/2 hour nap and still passing out in bed by 10pm.  Next week is a short week for Columbus day, so I only have a few work days left to go.

The cats seem to be getting anxious about me, so I wonder if they can sense that there's a baby in my belly.  Apollo particularly has been climbing all over me and laying across my belly.  Sometimes the baby even kicks him!

Someone's comfortable!

Apollo's new sleeping spot - right across my belly!

I found a really cute book & stuffed "animal" pair for Craig & the baby to share.  It's a stuffed excavator and a book called "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" (which happened to be on the NY Times Bestseller List!).  It's a really cute book and I can't wait to take a picture of Craig reading it to the baby.

My recent purchase for Daddy & baby to share!

And now some unfortunate (but definitely not life-threatening) news this week:  I accidentally went over my phone's data allowance by uploading pictures to DropBox to clear my phone to hold more pictures for when baby arrives.  My data doesn't reset until the beginning of November, so I won't even be able to send pictures of the baby when s/he's born!  (Luckily, I can still call & text (but can't send pictures via text) and am able to do internet things like e-mail when my phone is on a WiFi connection at least.)  Craig will definitely be the go-to guy for first baby pics now.  Oh, well; I guess it will give me more time to bond with our new little addition!

Feet, Frozen Food, & a False Alarm

I am so thankful this week for several things:

First, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law & family gave me gift certificates to my favorite spa for my birthday, and I was able to indulge in a much-needed pedicure.  (I never thought I would say this, but it's really hard to reach my feet right now!)  I thoroughly enjoyed the foot soak (though it didn't really help with the tree-trunk-style swelling I am experiencing when I am on my feet all day at work) and chose a pretty fall green polish.  It was great to relax and get a little pampering!

Happier swollen feet!

Mom and I banged out a good half-dozen (or maybe more?) recipes to freeze for dinners once Craig & I are alone with baby in December and may not want (or be awake enough!) to cook.  I have also made an additional five recipes this week to add to the stash.  Craig found us a great used freezer that we literally STUFFED with food.  It was supposed to be for breastmilk storage, but for now it's being put to good use.  So definitely thanks to Mom for a marathon 2-day cooking session (plus a 2-hour BJ's Wholesale Club shopping trip!) last weekend.  I felt our gargantuan efforts warranted a picture:

Our little 2x2x4' freezer STUFFED to the brim!

Lastly, I have to give a huge thank you shout-out to Craig for being so caring on Thursday.  I woke up feeling a little "off" - my belly felt odd and I wasn't sure if baby was going to be making an early appearance!  Craig was concerned and asked me if I thought it was "time."  To which I amusingly responded, "How am I supposed to know?  This is my first time!"  He left for work with orders to keep his phone close by, and I proceeded to go about getting ready for work as well.  After a little breakfast, things calmed down and I felt much better, but Craig texted me to check in at lunch time and make sure all was ok, which was very sweet!

Such a caring Papa Bear!

It's so hard to believe the countdown to baby is at less than 20 days now!  The little labor "scare" on Thursday made me realize that, while everything is ready for baby at home, *I* am certainly not mentally prepared for baby to arrive at any moment!  I am definitely praying for strength to emotionally make it through this transition to motherhood.  I know in my heart that whenever baby does make his/her debut, I will be ready, but it's admittedly a little frightening to me that this little life will be in our hands.

The following excerpt was taken from the book "Prayers for the Mother-to-Be" by Angela Thomas:

"Dear God of Abundance,

You know my fears even before I speak them, but still, I lay them before You. I am overwhelmed by how much I don’t know, and I feel wholly inadequate for the task of parenting. 
...
Speak deeply into my spirit; mentoring my decisions, teaching me to be a mother. I rest in Your assurance to provide beyond what I can give. I take heart in knowing that Your knowledge is complete. I can quit worrying because You promise to be what I can’t. Because confidence is mine through Christ and because You are more than adequate in all things, I pray in Your great name. 

Amen."

3 Weeks to Go!

Craig and I are finding it hard to believe that baby can arrive any time now, since we've hit the 37 week mark.  Even the doctor & nurse were saying "any time now" at our appointment this week!  The doctor ok'd our birth preferences and added them to my medical record.  We're hoping Craig will have the opportunity to be the one to announce the sex of the baby to all in the room (since he was so patient with my desire to be surprised) and of course to cut the umbilical cord.  I'm going to try to have a natural birth, though since my Group B Strep test results came back positive (no cause for concern for me personally, but it is possible the baby could acquire an infection during delivery), I will at least have to have IV antibiotics during labor to protect the baby.  This week I'm feeling good overall, just large and slow-moving.

37 Weeks Pregnant

Baby is measuring at the normal size for this week of gestation, so we're still on track for a "normal" weight baby.  We listened to the heartbeat again (which was particularly reassuring for me, since I got stuck pretty hard with a doorknob in the belly earlier in the day and was concerned).  No flu shot this week because they ran out of them, but that's on the schedule for next week's appointment.

My coworkers threw me a surprise baby shower this week!  It was really sweet and unexpected.  There was a cute cake with a rubber ducky on it and a HUGE basket of gifts.  I was quite moved, to be honest.  I especially loved the yellow & gray neutral blankets they gave me - a few with cute animals on them of course!

The cake from my work baby shower

The generous gift basket from my coworkers!

I was able to "convince" Craig to put together the rocker/swing (thanks Zio Pino & Zio Pina!) for the baby.  Let me just say that I am truly blessed to have a construction-saavy husband, because the directions for these various baby furniture pieces are NOT easy by any means!  You have to read *each and every step* to figure out what to put together at what point or you'd have to go back and take things apart to get it right.  Luckily, Craig doesn't take baby items lightly and made sure everything was constructed properly and as per the directions.  The rocker/swing is beautiful and works great; we can't wait to have the baby in it!

Baby's 2-in-1 rocker swing

I took care of assembling the car seat (thanks Ella, Dorothy, & Natalia!) & accessories (which did not include needing to assemble the car seat itself - so happy for 1-piece in-the-box things!).  I added the warm bundle wrap (thanks Janet & Jeff!), a carseat canopy, and the sun shield for when the seat is waiting in the car on sunny days (thanks Missee!).  The car seat will hang out in a corner of baby's room until it's ready for use, but at least it's all ready to go!  I have hopes that we can install one of the bases in my car this weekend.

Baby has a warm bunting for the winter

The carseat canopy to "hide" the baby.

The sun shield to protect the seat from getting too hot in the car.

Alien Inside Me!

I finally caught baby doing a jig or playing soccer or something on video today!  Check out how freaky this looks (full-screen is best for viewing - click the little box at the bottom right of the video):

Craig & my mom set up the crib (thanks Barbara!) over the weekend.  Chip even got into the action!  I was only allowed to sit back & watch, and occasionally pass them a screw or washer.  After the "construction" was complete, Mom & I dressed the bed (thanks to the Malls/Hanuschs for the mesh bumper!) and I installed the mobile (thanks Uncle Gregory & Aunt Christina!).  Here are some pictures of the process:

Always important to read the instructions!

Mom is good at handing Craig the screws.

And holding pieces together while he gets the screwdriver!

This crib will be so sturdy when he's finished!

Getting the backside trim installed

Chippy is helping too!

It never hurts to double-check the next step!

Chip, assessing the remaining pile of screws

The front side gets installed

Adding the front trim

Babcia approves!

The finish product & Papa-Bear!

Looks great all decked out with the bedding & mobile!

Now the baby's room is ready for baby's arrival!  Only 3 weeks left!  We can't wait!

Swaddling, Primping, & Pediatricians

I just had to share this picture of Chip!  Craig's statement was, "Look, babe, I am practicing swaddling!"  (I personally think he needs some more practice!  At least the swaddle blankets we have for baby have Velcro so they're pretty easy to use, haha!)

Craig practiced his swaddling on Chippy.

I am doing a little bit of primping these next two weeks to get pretty for baby arrival pictures.  I headed to my niece Chrissy's house today for a haircut and had the pleasure of playing with my great-niece Hailey for a little while.  She was enamored with my damp hair after it was cut, so we took the opportunity to take a couple of "selfies!"

Hailey, loving on my hair

It almost looks like she's going to lick my face!

Scrunchy faces!

She pinched my cheek, so I pinched hers back!

I left with my hair a crazy mess, but it was so worth the Hailey-Auntie time!  I can't believe she will be 5 soon!  Time flies!

Next week is a pedicure at the spa - can't wait!

I entered another Baby Hunch today; it's so fun to see what everyone thinks will happen!  If you haven't entered yours yet, you still have a little time!  (Click here to enter your guesses!  Don't forget the password:  babylatour )  Here are the current stats:

I also took some time today to call up a pediatrician's office about a 1/2 mile away, and it turns out the doctor that is taking new patients is returning from her own maternity leave on my due date!  Craig & I both prefer male doctors, but I felt that convenience is better at this point, and you can't beat the proximity of this office to our house.  (Worst case, we can always change doctors!)  The receptionist told me that all I have to do is notify the hospital when I am in labor & delivery that this will be baby's doctor, and this doctor or one of the doctors in the practice (if baby arrives before she returns to work) will come to the hospital to check out the baby.  They have pretty decent office hours and after-hours on-call services, so hopefully it will all work out.  The hospital has a staff pediatrician that will see baby upon arrival, but it's nice to know we now have a go-to clinic for baby's regular visits after birth.

I think the last things we have to do are set up the crib and install the car seat!  Wow, finally things are slowing down!  Good thing, since this baby will be here in a mere 3 and a 1/2 weeks!