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!