38.

I'm 38 weeks and my day has been pretty much entirely taken up by contractors, delivery men and satellite TV installers and trying to communicate important details between these guys and Neil... all while trying to work from home! It's so frustrating. We're trying to get Direct TV in our basement and living room and this involves drilling and holes and drywall and it's just a big mess because I'm not Neil and I don't know anything about it or how to answer any of the questions. Ugh! Hopefully it will all work out and we will have some TV channels at the end of this. OK, vent over.

Anyway! As I said, I'm 38 weeks today. That's pretty exciting, actually. I'm ready to meet my little girl, but if she holds out for two more weeks or so, I'm content with that too. I'm doing pretty well considering how pregnant I am. I'm trying to rest more and take it easier and just enjoy my time left before everything changes. I'm also not trying to do anything to bring on labor at this point. The closer I get to 40 weeks, I may start trying some natural induction techniques that aren't too crazy, just to try to avoid any unnecessary medical inductions. I'm pretty sure my OBgyn practice doesn't like people to go much beyond 41 weeks. I'd really like to avoid pitocin or any other icky induction stuff. I know sometimes its unavoidable and some people have a fine experience with induction, but I'm just trying to play it safe.

Lila is still moving around a lot in there and I wonder if she's ready to come out soon! In all honesty, if I could choose her birthday at this point, I would go into labor next Thursday, Friday or Saturday (the 10th, 11th or 12th). I'd love her to come at the end of the week so Neil can maximize his time off and to allow for visitors over the weekend. But who knows when our little one is planning to make her appearance.

We are still plugging away at the to-do list. My mom visited this weekend and we made and froze lots of meals and also stocked my pantry with easy to throw together dinners. This will help a lot in those first few weeks! Mom and I had a great time chatting and cooking and we did a little bit of shopping here and there, too. We are planning a shower for my friend Elizabeth who is due in mid-May, so we worked some on that and got a lot of the shopping and early prep done. It's so fun to plan for. The shower isn't until the first weekend of April, but because of Lila's arrival we wanted to get as much stuff done early as we can. We're doing a bee theme with black, yellow and white and everything is turning out really cute. I love having a reason to be crafty and I can't wait to celebrate the new baby!

How Far Along: 38 weeks

Best Moment(s) this past week: Spending one last weekend with my mom before I become a mom and she's grandma!

Current baby/pregnancy worry: How to contact Neil at work if I go into labor during the day and when to have him come home, etc.. That's kind of stressful because I don't want him to leave work before its necessary or if it's a false alarm.

Movement: Still moving like crazy, but I can tell she is sleeping a little bit more lately.

Labor Signs: Just cramps/backache and feeling her really low.

Food Craving: Girl scout cookies and root beer floats. Haven't had either. :(

Any new symptoms?: Same as last week.

What I miss: I miss working out, having a whole bunch of clothing options and my normal energy level.

What I am looking forward to: At this point, all that's really left is meeting Lila. I'm so looking forward to seeing her face for the first time, seeing Neil's face after she's here and just holding her in my arms. I also can't wait for our families and friends to meet her. I'm just so excited!

If you're curious...

This is what a 37 wk 4 days pregnant woman looks like!

Appt. Update

Pretty good appointment today. I've been having lower back pain and cramping so I kind of thought things were happening down there, so I wanted to get checked. I was hoping they'd tell me I was dilated at least 1 cm, just for fun, but nope. Nothing is going on in there. The doc said it'll it least be another week until she comes at his estimation, but I'll probably be pretty close to my due date. Funny, the doctor also said I looked too happy to be having the baby any time soon. I guess I should look more miserable or something!

Blood pressure - The nurse said 160/80. The doc was skeptical, and retook it 5 minutes later. It was 124/78.
Weight - Didn't gain any. Amazing! There is a first time for everything, but of course I was just there last week.
Fundal height - He didn't say exactly, but said I was right on track. I'm guessing 37 cm then.
Cervical check - Nada. No dilation or effacement.
Lila's heart rate - 150.
Lila's position - Head down and descending. The doc even said he felt her head and that she's pretty low.
Other - They told me my Group B Strep test came back negative. Yay!
Next appointment - Next Thurs. Feb 3. (38 wks and 3 days).

Now back to watching Gray's Anatomy Season 2 with my feet up!

Full term and the waiting game begins

I'm full term today (37 weeks) and baby Lila could come anytime! I'm not expecting her to come for at least 2 more weeks, but you never know! Neil and I are trying to fully enjoy our last few weekends before becoming a family of 3 but are still trying to be productive. We went out for sushi, saw Black Swan, and spent some time just lounging around the house together this weekend. But we also accomplished quite a bit:

Basement:

• Bought a TV and scheduled delivery/installation
• Got DirectTV and scheduled installation
• Floor is almost finished
• Painted some trim and doors
• Looked at mini fridges and full size freezers
• I'm sure he did more that I don't know about...

Baby:

• Car seat bases are installed and checked
• Bought a newborn insert for the car seat (ours didn't have one with it)
• Ordered glider
• Ordered nursing cover
• Lila's bag is totally packed and ready to go
• Last minute baby and birth/after-birth items purchased
• My hospital bag is 90% packed with a list of last minute things to throw in
• Neil has a list of what to pack in his bag (mostly cameras/electronics and stuff for him)
• Lila's newborn and 0-3 month clothes are all washed and ready to go (I even folded some into outfits so Neil can dress her or I can in a sleep deprived state)

Once the basement floor gets done and my closet gets painted I plan to start moving things down there and start getting the rest of the house more organized. I'd also like to get furniture moved to the basement and get the carpet in the rest of the house steam cleaned! Hopefully it will all get done soon. It's a lot to do with Neil being so busy with work and school, but I still think we can do it.

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Best Moment(s) this past week: Date afternoon with Neil :)

Current baby/pregnancy worry: "Is my water breaking?" and "Was that a contraction?"

Movement: She's still moving but I don't feel her as much. I'm trying not to get concerned, because she still does move quite a few times an hour, but I'm so used to her being SO active, it's a big change. Some days she is still very active, but others she just kind of rolls and sticks her butt out every once in a while. *UPDATE* As soon as I write that she is calming down with the movements, she spends like 2 hours totally beating me up. After work yesterday, she had some of the strongest movements of my whole pregnancy! She was moving her knees up and down and my belly was literally stretching like 3 or 4 inches in different directions. Crazy girl.

Labor Signs: Not really sure. I have more pressure very low, have to pee more often, and I'm having some back pain and menstrual-type cramps here and there. Just have a general feeling that labor is near.. which, duh, it is, relatively speaking!

Food Craving: Sweets. Cookies, chocolate, hot chocolate, candy! Make it stop!

Any new symptoms?: The cramping/back pain is new. My numb/tingly hands are getting worse. I still have sciatica pain and I'm waking up more at night too, sometimes it's hard to get back to sleep. I'm not miserable yet, but next week might be different.

What I miss: I miss being able to cuddle really close with Neil and not have my giant belly get in the way. I even have to hug him at an angle!

What I am looking forward to: My mom is coming this weekend to do some last minute baby things, preparing/cooking/freezing meals, and working on Elizabeth's baby shower details. It will be fun to have her here, and super convenient if I happen to go into labor! HA.

I have another appointment this week, on Thursday afternoon. I kind of don't want to get my cervix checked. My doctors' check it every time past 36 weeks, but I just don't think it's necessary. Even if they tell me I'm 3 cm, it doesn't really mean I'm any closer to labor. I wonder if I can take a pass? It's not even that it hurts (which it does, kinda) - I just think it's unnecessary really. We'll see what happens on Thursday. Curiosity might get the best of me!

In all honesty, I'm still feeling that she's going to come right around her due date if not a little after. My mom is predicting Feb. 15. My brother thinks the 8th and his fiancee is thinking the 12th (her birthday). My dad and Neil are staying out of the prediction game! I think she is going to come on the 12th or on an odd-numbered day after my due date like the 15th or 17th. I'm pretty certain we are looking at a February arrival and not January. I just don't see her arriving in the next 7 days!

Also, I've said all along that I'm working up until my due date. I'm not sure how possible that's going to be! Today we had very light snow and it was still tough to get to work. Driving 35-40 minutes is very uncomfortable for me and walking the 10 minutes from the car into my building is getting harder, especially with the ice and snow on the ground. It just takes me SO LONG to get to work because I'm so slow and trying to be cautious. I know if I fall I have to go to the hospital, so I really would like to avoid that. I might consider making my last day earlier in February after all, just to be on the safe side. Working from home is a much safer and more productive option. I still have so much to do at work, though - I need to keep working as long as I can!

Here's hoping for a great week!

Dear Lila,

Hey baby girl. Your daddy and I are getting so excited to meet you. You will be "full term" and healthy enough to join us in just a few days. Well, as much as I want to meet you, sweetie, I want you to stay in there until you are fully ready to come out. A few days ago I was getting impatient (and uncomfortable) and I hoped you make your appearance early. And vainly, I thought if you came early I wouldn't gain more weight or get any more stretch marks and my heartburn and carpal tunnel would go away! Well, even considering those things, I think I've changed my mind about wishing for an early arrival.

I know my life is about to totally change when you get here. I'm going to be home with you for a few months and I won't be going to work everyday like I'm used to doing. I'll probably not be sleeping very much and instead of focusing on myself or on shopping or on what book to read next, I'll be focusing on you. As much as I am ready for that change, I'm also not ready. So, if it's okay with you, stay in there for awhile, baby girl! I want to feel you kicking in my belly for a few more weeks... while I spend time with your dad, get things wrapped up nicely at work and get everything prepared for your arrival.

It might sound selfish, but I think I need these next few weeks to really be ready for you. So keep growing and getting smarter and healthier and cuter in there and I'll meet you so soon. I'm thinking February 12, 14 or 17 sound like great days to be born!

See you soon little one,

Your mama :)

Appointment Update - 36 weeks

I made it to and from my appointment today even with the snow. I hardly ever have a long wait, but today I was there an hour! I guess I should get used to longer appointments now.

Blood pressure - 122/78
Weight - Up 3 more lbs.
Fundal height - 36 cm, exactly where I need to be
Cervical check - Nothing happening yet. Everything is still closed up. Definitely not a comfortable check, but not painful really.
Lila's heart rate - 160, a bit higher than normal
Lila's position - Head down.
Other - Was swabbed for Group B Strep. This was awkward, but not painful!
Next appointment - January 27th with Dr. Wolf.

Everything looks good! I'm not surprised about not progressing yet, I'm fully prepared for her to hold on until well into February, and that's fine with me!

The 36 week update

I'm starting to get more and more anxious and ready to have this baby! Not only am I getting more uncomfortable, but I'm just ready to see her and hold her and start being a mommy. I feel like I'm in this weird time vacuum where I can't stop time from passing but I don't seem to be getting any closer to the end somehow! I'm sure once I'm full term next week and I'm hopefully making some progress at my appointment, I'll feel like things are happening. Oh and remember how the baby size corresponds with a different fruit each week? She is officially a watermelon! How did that happen!?

So much of the preparation for Lila's arrival is done. Her room is getting closer to being finalized, the basement has 1/2 a floor installed, I had my baby shower and I have one bag packed for the hospital and a master list ready to go. I've also made a list of last minute things I need to buy for baby and myself for in the hospital and immediately after the birth. We're getting so close! It is crazy because at my shower (which was great!) - I was saying bye to people and realizing the next time I saw them would be after Lila is here! It's truly crazy how soon we will get to meet this little one.

Alright, on the pregnancy side, I'm feeling crappier. It's hard to type, grip or hold anything because my hands are constantly numb and tingling. In the middle of the night and in the morning I'm in so much pain because of my hands! It sucks. I'm having more Braxton Hicks and starting to get some lower back pain and cramping. I wonder if that's just my body responding to the extra weight or if those are contractions or labor signs. I don't really know! Lila feels really low (she might have dropped?) so I constantly feel like I have to pee and there is a lot of pressure down there. But, enough complaining! This part will be over soon, and maybe because I'm having these issues now, she won't go past her due date? I can only hope.

Everything else is really pretty good. I need to get my butt in gear at work and wrap up projects and finish my annual review. It's just hard to concentrate because of all the things going on and I'm just not very comfortable anymore sitting and working on stuff (or standing - ha). Neil is back to MBA class tonight. Just 24 more weeks of classes for him! This is also his first day of having a full day of work and then going directly to class until 10. He's going to be so exhausted, poor thing. Just wait til he adds sleep deprived to the list.

Here is the photo from the shower that blows my mind at how big and round my belly really is. It's of me and my mom. My belly looks so much bigger in photos than in the mirror. It makes me laugh... it literally looks like I have a pumpkin in my dress. I never thought I'd be this pregnant! I mean, I knew I would, but I just couldn't fathom what I would look or feel like. All I can say is WOW.


She's definitely the size of a watermelon now!

Here is my weekly update:

How Far Along: 36 weeks and 1 day

Best Moment(s) this past week: My baby shower and spending time with my aunt this weekend

Current baby/pregnancy worry: There are really too many to name. What am I not worried about?

Movement: She's definitely still moving, but it's mostly softer movements and rolls and pushing or stretching. It feels so different because I'm used to her moving constantly and with smaller stronger movements.

Labor Signs: She might have dropped, more BH contractions, lower back pain, etc.

Food Craving: Chocolate, granola, fruit

Any new symptoms?: Waking up in the middle of the night and staying up for an hour or two... not fun.

What I miss: I miss wearing normal clothes. Like with a waistband and zipper. Hopefully I'll be back to that (in my old size) soon!!

What I am looking forward to: The weekend. Neil and I have a lot to do around the house but we plan to go eat at my favorite sushi place and go to a movie on Saturday! I'm also hoping we get the flooring done in the basement so I can start getting my house back in order after months of chaos.

Enjoy the week everyone!

Hometown Baby Shower

I had a wonderful baby shower on Saturday! Elizabeth and her mom Lauralee planned and hosted it, and it was so fun and cute! I loved the pink and black theme. There were so many cute details and decorations - everything just looked perfect! They did such a great job! It was so much fun to spend time with the ladies for the afternoon and celebrate baby Lila.





Decorating onesies!


They actually looked pretty cute!


Steph's artwork!


Loved seeing this girl and her cute little baby, Mekhi.


I think I see a little more belly! Elizabeth, 23 weeks, me almost 36 weeks!


I had a wonderful time, got some amazingly sweet and adorable gifts for baby Lila, and it was just great seeing everyone. My Aunt Rhonda even came from western Kentucky! It was great to catch up with her. Thanks again everyone who came out for the shower! See you all soon when Lila arrives!

Maternity fashion advice: Part 3

Okay, so I'm not even done with my pregnancy but I'm doling out the advice like it's nobody's business. Oh well! I've done this for almost 9 months, so I have some sort of expertise, right? Here is my advice on maternity fashion, in general... I promise, Part 3 is the final chapter. :)

See Part 1 and Part 2.

Invest in a pair of maternity jeans in the style/cut you wear the most. For me that's a medium/dark skinny leg. Also, I've loved the kind with a full panel (yep, up to the boobs) that is made of a lightweight panty-hose fabric. I made the mistake of buying a not so comfy panel pair from Old Navy and even though they've looked cute the whole pregnancy and worked pretty well, the band was just not comfortable.

Don't assume just because you're preggo you need a giant size. I actually found that most maternity clothes run big. Pre-pregnancy I was an 8 or 10 in pants/jeans/skirts and a medium or 6 in shirts and jackets. I found that at both Old Navy, Motherhood and Kohl's I bought 8s and smalls for the most part.

If you're pregnant in the dead of winter like me, you definitely need a coat - but you can probably avoid buying an actual maternity coat if you play it smart. Borrow one or find one secondhand is your best option, but my coat is actually from the Juniors department at JcPenney. My mom saw a coat with the right silhouette online for $40 or so and ordered it in a size up and it's great! Thanks mom!

Speaking of non-maternity items, keep your eye out for clothes that will work for you in the non-maternity clothing sections. This goes for your own closet (look for empire waist styles and cardigans you can wear open, etc), but also at the stores as well. I LOVE bargain shopping and pre-pregnancy you'd probably rarely see me in an outfit totaling more than $50-75. I love searching racks for $10 gems and I thought for pregnancy I was going to be forced to buy $40 tops. I actually had a lot of luck at Kohl's clearance racks but TJ Maxx could work too. I found 3 or 4 tops (Vera Wang for Kohls and Daisy Fuentes, if you're wondering) that are cut very generously that I can still wear now. They were each $7-10. Just keep an eye out for styles that look longer and fuller in the mid-section and they just might work!

Buy something new and fun even if there is only a month or so left in your pregnancy. Towards the end you literally are sick of looking at the two pairs of pants and 5 shirts that still fit and feel good. Buy something in a bright color that makes you smile. It's worth $20 to have a little pick me up and confidence boost in the last few weeks. A mom friend from work suggested this to me and it's great advice!

Don't get in a color rut. For some reason I bought a lot of GRAY this year. I love gray, but I also love color. I don't know how it happened but I was just drawn to that color and now I'm getting very bored with a coat, fleece jacket, boots, winter accessories and multiple other items all in the same charcoal gray hue. Make sure you mix it up or you will go nuts!

Accessorize!! Accessories are important for fashion in general but even more so during pregnancy. A cute necklace or earrings can detract from a puffy face. A bright scarf camouflages a giant belly and adds flair to a boring (read: gray) outfit. And bonus! you can buy accessories now and wear them after pregnancy! A necklace always fits!

I hope these fashion posts can help some other pregnant ladies out there who are lost in the sea of panels and leggings and tunics and can't find their way out. Even though you are pregnant, don't give up on looking cute! It can be done, it's just a little bit trickier.

Oh and I have to give props to my maternity fashion guide: Dusty's Maternity Fashion Overview over at All Things G&D. I love her style and this post in particular helped me tremendously! Her daughter Kate was born January 2010, so I often looked at what she wore last fall at the same point in her pregnancy. She had great advice and I've referred back to this post often.

Happy pregnancy and happy shopping to all my pregnant fashionistas!

Maternity fashion advice: Part 2

In my last fashion-related post, I shared my favorite clothing items for each stage of my pregnancy. I've also had some favorite things that have worked for me for the entire 9 months.

My favorite, can't live without items that have worked all pregnancy:

Skinny pants/jeans


I'm a big skinny jeans person and have been for a few years - they are so versatile and work from summer to winter. My fave pair is my black skinny pants from Motherhood - I just wish I would've had them for my whole pregnancy. Basically they are like heavier weight leggings with pockets that can be work appropriate. They work with ballet flats or heels, could be cuffed and worn with flip flops in warmer weather, and can be tucked into any type of boot from comfy Uggs to equestrian type ones. If you are pregnant, I say get them!

Foldover yoga pants


I got a pair of black yoga pants for $13 at Kohls and I'm kicking myself for not buying 2 or 3 pairs. They are super comfy and I know I'll be wearing them a lot post-baby. They are great for lounging, working out or running around shopping. If anyone knows of another good pair of yoga pants with a fold-over waist, let me know!

Maternity tanks with built-in bras


I wore camisoles with built-in bras practically everyday before I was pregnant, so it's no surprise that I needed some good maternity tanks. My favorite are from Kohl's because they are soft and long, but the ones from Motherhood have been good too. I bought gray, black and two in white.

Long Cardigans


I've worn the heck out of my longer hip-length cardigans this fall and winter. They keep me warm, camouflage any peekaboo maternity panels, and just look cute!

Scarves



Scarves are the best thing ever. I wear a lightweight pashmina type scarf almost everyday. They add color and (kind of) cover up a giant belly if you are self-conscious of it.

Cheap fleece jacket


I bought a gray/black fleece zip up jacket early in pregnancy for $15 at TJ Maxx. It's a North Face-esque fleece, but without the price. I bought an XL hoping I could wear it my whole pregnancy. It was big at first but now at almost 36 weeks it's still doing the job. It's a great go-to when I need to run out the door and not freeze.

Larger "boyfriend" T-shirts


Before I was pregnant, slouchy boyfriend v-neck tees were really in style. Because I bought them in a size up to make sure they were nice and slouchy, they still fit now!

Stay tuned for Part 3 coming shortly where I'll share some more words of advice about maternity style and what has helped me and what I will try to do differently next time.

Maternity fashion advice: Part 1

My "fashion" has gone considerably downhill the bigger and more pregnant I've gotten. Most of my maternity clothes still fit but I just don't feel like putting in the energy to come up with cute outfits everyday. It's so much easier to resort to the same type of outfit most days and not think about it. Also, I'm in my office mostly and not teaching or doing many official things right now, so I don't really have to dress up much anymore.

But, in the earlier months I had to look nice and professional and still be relatively comfortable to teach classes and give tours and presentations. I wanted to share what worked for me. Keep in mind my pregnancy has fallen mostly in the fall and winter, so this may not apply to ladies giving birth in the summer months.

PHASE 1: 12 weeks-22 weeks

The "I'm just bloated to there's an actual bump there!" phase:

I didn't start wearing any maternity clothes until 14 weeks, and even then it was just on the bloated days! During this stage I was still relatively close to my old size and could still wear a lot of non-maternity stuff. I really started to pop about mid-way through my pregnancy and definitely needed maternity clothes at that point. My go-to items:

Bella Band

I bought mine at Target. I didn't get much use out of it since I moved on to maternity pants pretty early, but it was good for getting more life out of pre-pregnancy pants. The band was pretty good at holding up un-buttoned pants or too-big maternity pants as well. The only problem was it tends to roll if you are moving around a lot. I bought mine in tan, which worked well under lighter colored tops.

Ribbed maternity tanks from Motherhood

My biggest problem at this stage was tops not being long enough to cover my bump or maternity panel or Bella Band. I really liked the ribbed tanks from Motherhood and Old Navy. They have been great for layering under light cardigans or just wearing around the house.

Non-maternity dresses

At this stage I was still getting a lot of wear out of non-maternity dresses. But, as my bump grew they started to get a little too short. Some people could wear leggings or tights but as I got bigger I never found a good pair of maternity tights that were comfy. I thought I'd be wearing dresses and tights throughout my pregnancy but have found myself choosing pants more often.

Black/gray herringbone Trousers from Liz Lange for Target

(no longer available)

Speaking of pants, I had a favorite go-to pair of dress pants for this stage of pregnancy. They had a nice comfy panel and looked professional and I'm pretty sure I wore them twice a week! I was able to wear them with a lot of my pre-preg tops and cardigans.

---

PHASE 2: 23 weeks - 33 weeks

The "nothing fits AT ALL and I need more clothes now" phase

Long sleeve t-shirts from Motherhood/Old Navy and Target


I've gotten a lot of wear out of the 5 or 6 long sleeve tees I bought for this pregnancy. I got black, white, purple, fuchsia, brown, and gray. I've probably worn the black and pink the most and the white the least.

Maternity dresses from Motherhood

My mom bought me the cutest denim shirtdress and I got a lot of wear out of it in this stage. The weather was warm enough to not need tights and I could still wear belts so I swapped out the fabric one for some of my fun skinny belts.

Flats!


At this stage I could not wear heels of any kind anymore. I was having a lot of swelling during this stage (it's gotten much better now that I'm not on my feet as much). But I found that my comfy ballet flats and flat boots are a must.

Creative layering

Layering is pretty typical for most people in the fall, but for this pregnancy I think I got even more creative. I'd layer too-short pre-preg tops over maternity tanks to get more life out of them and wore a lot of cardigans and jackets unbuttoned as well.

---

PHASE 3: 34 weeks - 40 weeks

The "I'm sick of all my clothes and just want to wear pajamas" phase

In this last stage of pregnancy I've relied a lot on one go-to type outfit: Skinny jeans or black skinny pants, a long sleeve tshirt with a lightweight cardigan or chunky sweater over top plus knee-high boots and cute accessories (scarves, necklaces, hats). It's just so cold and nasty I have to wear boots, and anything else just takes too much thought.

Here are the other things I'm wearing in my last month or so:

Pajama bottoms - Worn only at home - not out in public!

Neil's t-shirts and sweatshirts - Again, mostly at home, though I have worn his solid brown zip-up sweatshirt out

My comfiest pair of maternity jeans

I have a super comfy pair of Liz Lange for Target jeans - similar pair pictured and here. They have a wide leg and just feel good. I'd recommend every pregnant woman to have one pair like this to kick around in.

Fake Uggs

Comfort before fashion when you're nearly 9 months pregnant.

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This post was getting far too long, so I've broken it up into three parts. Stay tuned for maternity fashion post Part 2 where I will share my favorite items that worked all throughout pregnancy and Part 3, my advice for pregnant fashionistas!

35 weeks down and 35 days to go!

The fact that I have 35 days until my due date is both exciting and frightening! I'm so ready to meet Lila but so nervous and scared about labor, delivery, and recovery. I'm getting so close to full term which is really exciting, but I know it is likely that she will arrive late - so I probably have more time than I think! But we are definitely in the last stages of this pregnancy thing and I need to get all the last minute things for me and baby and start packing the bags! My goal is to have everything packed (or at least with a list of what to throw in last minute) by next week sometime.

I still need to buy some items for me for the hospital (warm fuzzy socks, another nursing tank, etc) and gather a few more baby items as well. For the most part I feel pretty good about my preparation. It makes me feel a little bit better with all the unknowns and things out of my control that are to come!

In basement-finishing news, Neil has been rocking it out on the priming and painting and we have a pretty good looking basement already. He just needs to finish painting trim and edging, lay the floor and the contractor needs to build the bar. There are some more little things to do of course, but it's getting so close! I actually don't know where Neil is finding the energy to do all this work, but it's going to be awesome when it's done! He just knows he has two deadlines looming: Lila's arrival and his MBA classes starting up.

On the pregnancy front, same old same old, really. I'm feeling how any 9-month pregnant woman feels. Big, slow and in pain! But I'm so close to having this baby I'm trying to ignore that part and enjoy my last weeks of pregnancy. It's really been an amazing experience. I love feeling Lila move in there (even when it hurts or tickles). It's just so cool and mind-blowing, really. I just need to slow down and enjoy it and wait for her time to arrive.

Here I am at 35 weeks!

And my weekly survey:

How Far Along: 35 weeks.

Best Moment(s) this past week: Having a slow week at work and a pretty relaxing weekend at home. Also, I got my car washed yesterday and that made me really happy!

Current baby/pregnancy worry: I'm worried about losing this weight after she's here!

Movement: Still as active as ever. I love it because she is so "interactive" now. I can poke her and she reacts back to me or I can tickle what I think is a foot or an arm and she pulls it back. It's so cute!

Labor Signs: Nothing much. My heartburn is better, but I don't really think she's dropped or anything because I still have a lot of rib pain.

Food Craving: Just hungry in general.

Any new symptoms?: Pain/numbness/swelling in hands is pretty bad, but no other swelling really. Still have sciatica pain, some heartburn, fatigue and general crappy mobility and sleep.

What I miss: I miss working out! I still try to walk and lift weights and stretch or do yoga at home when I'm feeling up to it, but I can't wait to do Spinning, Zumba, running and heavy weights again. Oh and how fun will it be to do my first ab workout in 9 months!?

What I am looking forward to: My baby shower on Saturday! I can't wait to spend time with my Aunt Rhonda and friends from home whom I don't get to see often. Also, I have Monday off for MLK day. Yippee!

Happy Monday everyone!

Quick Appointment Update

Not much to report from my appointment today - it was pretty quick, just like I like it!

Blood pressure - 122/80

Weight - Didn't look. Don't want to know. :)

Fundal height - 34 cm, exactly on track

Cervical check - Didn't do one this time

Lila's heart rate - 140s

Lila's position - Head down but hasn't "dropped" yet

Next appointment - January 20th, at 36 weeks. Will have a cervical check to see if I'm dilated at all and I will have my Group B Strep test.

After my appointment on Jan. 20, I'll be going in every week until D-Day!

Becoming Mom

So I'm about a month away from welcoming my baby girl into this world. And while I'm scared about the birth and the pain and the recovery, I keep thinking... oh my gosh, I'm going to be someone's mom!!? Me? I mean, what have I done that qualifies me as a mom?! I haven't been around that many newborns and I certainly don't know how to parent one! I feel like I'm becoming a CEO of a company when I'm only qualified to take out the trash or something.

I think part of my panic is that I have such a wonderful mom. How does she/did she do it? I'd love to be a mom like her, but how did she learn to be that good? She claims she was even less of a baby person than me, before I came along. I guess a lot of it just comes naturally and I'll figure it out. I know the main thing is just to follow my instincts and to love my daughter and the rest will come. Well, I already love Lila and I haven't even met her - but will I be a good mom to her? I sure hope so. Shouldn't I have some grand ideas or wisdom that I want to impart to her or a list of values and characteristics and a plan on how to give her those? I really haven't thought about that beyond wanting her to be happy and to be nice to other people.

I just can't believe I'm being given such a big responsibility and all I did was.. well, you know, get pregnant! Here's hoping I have some good latent mothering skills that will show up when she arrives. I predict that one of the biggest changes I'm going to go through as mom is focusing less on myself. I mean, it's not all about me anymore!! Not that it ever really was, but sometimes I let myself live in that fantasy world. I know, especially in the first few weeks and months, that I'm going to be focusing pretty much solely on my little baby. It's going to be so weird to know that someone needs me, like literally, for food!! I hope I'm ready for this!

The 34-Week Update

Week 34! We are getting so close!

Not surprisingly, I'm starting to feel that end of the pregnancy uncomfortable-ness. I'm not miserable yet - but I have my moments! Today I feel really good. I slept well last night and only got up once. But the night before I was up every hour and was very uncomfortable and in pain. I am starting to really hate sleeping on my side. My hip goes numb and flipping to the other side takes a lot of energy and I always wake Neil up. I think he's pretty close to moving to the guest bed or couch so he can actually sleep!

While we are on the topic of pregnancy pains I have a few more to add to the list! My hands hurt so bad! I basically feel like I have carpal tunnel or arthritis in them, especially when I wake up. They are so stiff and painful and I can hardly bend them or pick stuff up. They get kind of swollen too, but most days I can still wear my rings. Even now as I'm typing it hurts! I could really do without this symptom of pregnancy - it really sucks.

Other than that I am pretty good. Lila is still moving a lot in there. She gets me good with some jabs and kicks every once in a while, but for the most part she is just doing rolls and slower turns. I do think she is getting cramped in there. I'm told she should be settling into a (hopefully) head down position this week or next, but I can't tell for sure. She moves so much it's hard to tell what is what sometimes. I'm pretty certain her butt is up near the top of my uterus with her head down and legs and arms folded down. She does switch from side to side a lot though. At my 36 week appt. they will check her position!

I have my 34-week appointment on Thursday. I'm not planning for it to be super exciting, hopefully. Just a checkup and meeting a new doctor. I've almost met them all at this point - but we'll see who I get on delivery day!

Speaking of delivery, I have flashes of panic about labor and delivery. I know I can do it and everything will go fine, but I'm just scared of the unknown. Will I know when to go to the hospital? Will my water actually break? Will I be at work or will it be in the middle of the night? How bad is it really going to hurt?! Will I have a fast labor or a slow one?

There are so many unanswered questions and unknowns, and for a planner like me it is really hard. I have started packing a little bit just to make me feel more prepared. I have a diaper bag packed with Lila's going home outfit(s) and wipes, blankets and any other things she might need. I hope to get started on my bag or at least listing out what I need pretty soon. I want to be packed at 36 weeks!

Things are getting back to normal at home. Neil and I are both working this week and the basement project is winding down. Just floors and paint and trim is left to do, pretty much! It should be mostly done by the time Lila gets here if she comes on schedule. I'm so excited about having a nice basement to hang out in!

Here is my update for the week:

How Far Along: 34 weeks today.

Best Moment(s) this past week: Having three days off at home to clean/organize/shop and watch movies. And a fun New Year's Eve celebration!

Current baby/pregnancy worry: I'm worried about labor and the pain, honestly.

Movement: Yep! All the time. I think she might be slowing down a bit though.

Labor Signs: Not much right now. Sometimes she feels low, but the next day she will be back up in my ribs. Nothing indicating labor at all right now.

Food Craving: Got my sushi fix in on New Year's Eve. YUM. Nothing else really in particular.

Any new symptoms?: Having to go to the restroom more often, pain/swelling in hands, general uncomfortableness. Feeling more tired/fatigued but not as bad as first trimester! Oh and some tiny stretch marks have developed on my belly. Depressing!! I just hope they don't get worse!

What I miss: I miss my old body and being able to move around easily. Can't wait to get back to normal soon.

What I am looking forward to: Getting the basement painted and my baby shower next weekend, meeting my baby girl next MONTH!

I hope everyone has a great first week of 2011!

Happy 2011!

So it's officially 2011. The year of the baby. Or more accurately babies, since practically everyone I know is pregnant. I'm so excited it's January! I can't believe I'm going to have a baby next month (she's not allowed to come earlier than that - I'm not ready!) I am really excited about this year. I have so much to look forward to, and it's going to be a year of so many changes and new experiences.

It is odd not to have my normal resolutions/goals of losing weight for the new year. For the next few weeks at least I'll still be gaining because Lila is still packing on those ounces! But of course I will be focusing on fitness after Lila is here and I can start dieting/exercising.

I'm not making official resolutions this year, but I do have a few goals in mind:

1. Have this baby and be a good mom!
2. Breastfeed Lila for as long as I can (my true goal is 1 year)
3. Find mommy friends/connections in the community for support when I'm on leave and after
4. Be a good wife to Neil and balance being a mom with all the other things that I am
5. Exercise, diet and hopefully get back to my pre-pregnancy weight this year
6. Run my fastest 5K (shouldn't be too hard - under 34 minutes is my goal!)

So much of this next year will be unpredictable and full of changes, but I'm so ready for it!

Here's to a great 2011!!!