Happy Easter!

Stay in baby, stay in!

SO yea, at 37 weeks 3 days, that is my plea.  I have a newborn session this afternoon and one on Friday, and then she can come.  Monkey Jr. has dropped seriously low.  At my appointment yesterday, I declined a cervical check, but when my Dr. was feeling for her head from the outside, she said, "woah! she is right there.  I don't think you'll make it to your due date.  haha".  I am well aware of her "low-ness".  Combine her position with the loss of my mucus plug (twice) and the random contractions throughout the day, and I can almost say with confidence that she coming, and coming soon.

I have a checkup with Dr. H next Wednesday the 3rd and we agreed that if there is favorable progress, she is going to strip my membranes to get things going.  I was totally fine with waiting a few more weeks, but Monkey Jr.'s trip even further south has changed my mind.  My pelvis bones feel like they are going to break.  And the cramping keeps me up at night.  Of course, who knows, Adalyn surprised us and came late too, but I definitely don't remember feeling like this until it was time.

I am surprisingly ready.  I just loaded our new bottles and my old pump parts into dishwasher, and once those are put away, there is nothing to do but keep practicing my Rainbow Relaxation techniques and wait for her come.  I will not be surprised if she is here by next weekend.

See...

I love my OB so much that I really don't want anyone else delivering Monkey Jr.  Dr. H was kind enough to give me all of her on-call dates so that I can mediate on them.  lol.  So, basically, she can come this weekend, Wednesday the 3rd, next weekend, the 11th or the 15th.  ha!  If only we could pick.  She of course did give me the option of inducing next weekend, but as you already know, I'm going for oh natural, so that just won't work.

How far along?: 37 weeks 3 days....anytime now.

How big is baby?: probably around 6.5lbs or so.

Weight gain/loss?: +35 according to the gym scale earlier in the week.  I smartly decided not to be told the number at my appt. yesterday.  Made me feel so much better! 

Stretch marks?:  yup.  2.  on my right side.  boooo

Maternity clothes?: duh.

Sleep?:  so so.  I'm waking to pee at least once and having a problem getting comfortable again.

Food cravings?: I really wanted Pad Thai yesterday and since my client paid in cash and our tax return got deposited, we figured takeout was allowed.  It was awesome.

Gender?: We are 99% on her name.  woohoo!!

Movement?: rolls and jabs, and headbutts on the cervix.

Belly button?: still just half way out.  The bulk of her is seriously below my belly button now, so I don't think it's going to change much further.

Symptoms?: hunger, fatigue, sore pelvis and hips.

What are you looking forward to this week?:  being done with work!!!  I seriously can't wait for the break.  Hopefully I will get to spend some quality time with this little monkey princess:

just a preview...

of her Easter pictures.  Yea, little stinker wouldn't have it.

28 days!

umm yea, I popped, if you didn't think I did before...

Thanks to my dear friend Ute from www.utechristinphotography.com for this very special image.  It honestly brought tears to my eyes when I first saw the Facebook tag notification.  There is something about it that really captures where we are as a family right now.  We are watching our baby grow up  and explore the world on her own, while waiting for our newest baby to arrive.  I'm leaning on Andrew, as I have been this entire pregnancy, and he is holding me up, holding be back, and being the calm, cool, husband and father that he is.  This image will always bring laughter to my heart as well....because I will remember the wind, the 35 degrees, me being the photographer that I am and insisting that we not have coats on, and Adalyn, completely uninterested in sitting or being held for a nice family picture.  But really, this is SO much better.  Ute, thank you, thank you, thank you.  You don't even have to bother editing the rest because this is the ONE I wanted and needed.  Love you so much and I really am so excited that we found each other.  ;)

So, how's the Monkey Jr. doing?  She's great actually.  My growth ultrasound last week indicated the she was 5lbs 2oz. and 42nd percentile.  She must have heard me call her small, because I have been absolutely starving all the time since then.  I mean, I really can't stop eating every hour.  I'm doing my best to pick the healthy stuff and as long as there is nothing in my reach, I do pretty well.  I went to the grocery store today and actually left without any junk food!  My doctor said I have time to put on 2-2.5lbs more of just baby, and I find it really cool that she could be the same birth weight as Adalyn (7lbs, 10z).  I'm also very thankful.  I really don't want to know what it feels like to push out anything bigger.  I got cleared to return to the gym and have been back twice and hope to make it tomorrow morning.  I really feel so much better afterwards.

Hypnobirthing is doing wonders for my frame of mind going into our planned natural birth attempt #2.  My fears of the pain, of stalling for 18 hours again, of being in the hospital the ENTIRE time again, are fading, and I'm gaining more confidence in what my body can do.  Heck, my OB even said I had a "proven pelvis" at my last visit.  I don't know why, but that made me laugh.  Apparently I have both a proven pelvis and a somewhat incompetent and dynamic cervix.  Who comes up with this?!

How far along?: 36 weeks

How big is baby?: 5lbs 2oz at ultrasound last Thursday.  She is head down, lowwwwww, and ready to go.

Weight gain/loss?: +33, and not feeling too great about it.  It's not the number, just the way my behind and thighs are looking at the moment.  I'm going to have some serious running to do.  Andrew reminded me of my half marathon goal in the fall and promised that I will have time to run - ALONE, sans stroller.   

Stretch marks?:  oh man, I have 2 marks on my right side.  Definitely the start of stretch marks.   

Maternity clothes?: duh....and I'm already over the jeans.  It's leggings and sweatpants from here on out.

Sleep?:  surprisingly pretty good lately.  I have to get up to pee about once a night, but I haven't really had a problem of going back down. 

Food cravings?: C.L.E.M.E.N.T.I.N.E.  O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D

Gender?: baby girl, and although we won't decide on her name for certain until she breathes air, I think we are settled.

Movement?:  more of just rolling and nudging now.  It's obviously she is running out of room.

Belly button?: almost all the way out.

Symptoms?: Other than hunger, I really have absolutely nothing to complain about.  I'm tired, and can't do as much obviously, but I'm feeling pretty good for 36 weeks - definitely better than I was with A.  And I don't even mind the extra dose of cold weather we are getting.  It's keeping the swelling at bay.

What are you looking forward to this week?:  Andrew is on Spring Break from school and although  he has a ton of work to do so that Monkey Jr. doesn't overload him in a few weeks, I'm loving that he is home for breakfast and dinner.  We made buffalo chicken tacos tonight (ok, Costco kind of made them, but anyway...) and we saying to each other how special this week was and how it's the last week of just the 3 of us together for dinner.  It's still so crazy to think about having another baby here in less than a month.

But two of these sweet, crazy girls?  Yes, please!

Addy, you're going to be a big sister.

It's true, judging by the looks of the belly, it's almost time.  ahhhh!

35 weeks.  And 35 weeks with A:

Even though they say Monkey Jr. is measuring small (we'll find out for sure tomorrow at growth ultrasound), I'm pretty sure I look bigger this time around.  No?

Tomorrow's the Day

Tomorrow is my 35/35....I'm 35 weeks along and there are 35 days left until my due date.  I'm caught up from a week of crazy and feeling like the week ahead is manageable.  The pack n play is set up and newborn diapers are stocked....Monkey Jr's clothes are cleaned and folded.  My new nursing tanks got delivered and I'm allllmost ready to pack my hospital bag.  The nice thing about being a 10 minute drive from the hospital is that Andrew can always run back to grab essentials that I forget...like my makeup, for example ;)

Andrew and I went out to dinner with our doula and her husband last night and I'm feeling more prepared on the birthing front too.  I had some fears related to pain going into all of this and my hypnobirthing classes (I've had 2 thus far) have almost wiped them away.

Andrew starts Spring Break on Saturday and we'll get everything else settled next week.  And then it's just the waiting game.  While I don't think I'll make it to my 4/15 "guess date" as I learned to call it in class, I still think we have at least 3-4weeks before we her.

So for now, I'm trying to cherish this precious time of just me and my girl.  I love the weekdays we get to spend together and it's never been more obvious that the special days of just her and I are fleeting.

Her favorite place:  Stepping Stones!

Oh yea, and Daylight Savings time didn't affect her at all.  She was not phased by the hour difference, and was her crazy hyper self this a.m.

She dropped...34 weeks!

Oh boy, so much to say and so little time.  Where do I begin?  We are incredibly busy...both of us..and amidst all of the chaos, I'm without child care this week... so this post will be short, but I wanted to do an update! phew.  long sentence, huh?

What's new?  Monkey Jr. dropped big time and I'm getting a bit anxious that she really is going to come early.  I REALLY can't wait to meet her, but we need to get a number of things settled before it's time....like the bat situation in our townhome.  Yes, I said bats, and that is just going to have to be a post for another day.  sigh. 

 I turned 28 last Thursday and Andrew and I are celebrating our 2nd anniversary tonight.  Well, we are both working tonight, but he caught an early train home and we had Taco Tuesday and Magnolia cupcakes for dessert.  :)


How far along?: 34 weeks 2 days....oh wow less than 6 weeks!!!!

How big is baby?: She now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers – which she'll need to 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.   I was actually measuring small at my appointment on Monday, so they are going to do a growth ultrasound next Thursday to make sure that my fluid levels are still good.

Weight gain/loss?: +30, and I'm actually feeling ok about it now. 

Stretch marks?:  none...please stay away!  

Maternity clothes?: duh.

Sleep?:  good nights and bad nights.  Andrew elbowed me in the eye last night which obviously woke me up and I never really went back down.

Food cravings?: I could not get enough cheese today.

Gender?: sweet baby girl and her name is back up in the air.  haha.  We might have it settled, but it really will be a game time decision.

Movement?: almost hourly and I just love it.  I photographed a premie last week that was 33weeks old when born, and it really made it all real for me.

Belly button?: almost all the way out.

Symptoms?: I really have to watch my salt intake as it doesn't take much to make me swell.  I am grateful that it's not too hot out and that I can still wear my wedding rings.

What are you looking forward to this week?:  hypnobirthing class on Saturday!  Yes, I do remember how to give birth, but I am terrified of an epidural and want to up my chances of a natural birth.