38 Weeks, 1 Day

Had my doctor's appointment yesterday morning. Still not dilated at all. However, I DID get an ultrasound, since my midwife could not determine manually if the baby was still head down (he is). So I got to see his poor, squished, little face on the ultrasound monitor. It's looks uncomfortable in there! If I get the chance, I will scan the U/S pic later, though I doubt you could figure out what you were looking at unless I pointed it out with my finger :-) At any rate, while I still want this baby OUT OF ME, it was a nice reminder that, Hey, there is an actual human being in there, not just some alien thing trying to torture me-it becomes quite easy to lose sight of this fact when you reach this stage of the third trimester and are this uncomfortable.....

The midwife also did say she does not think the baby will be a "small" one-We both seem to be guessing in the 8-9 lb range (though I am guessing closer to 9).....So only time will tell....I was 6 lbs, 8 oz at birth, and Jon was 8 lbs, 8 oz at birth.

I checked the calendar, and the next full moon is July 29 (A week from tomorrow). My grandmother, who was a labor and delivery room nurse for nearly 40 years, has always said that the full moon seemed to make a lot of women go into labor-My birth class instructor said the same thing-something to do with barometric pressure or something? At any rate, that is the date I am aiming for (still a few days before my "due" date of August 3rd)-If the full moon is supposed to help trigger labor, I plan to do everything in my power to help it along (see previous post for natural induction suggestions, or click HERE). GAME ON, people.

We also received a package of 24 of the cloth diapers we have been planning on using (Thanks to Jon's parents!). They are supposed to fit kids from birth to potty training (8 lbs to 35 lbs). I am excited about the cloth diapers, because it's one of those things I really wanted to do when I had kids-I think it's better for the kids, and DEFINITELY better for the environment. Plus, kids who wear cloth diapers are supposed to potty train faster than those that wear disposables-SCORE! I am not a saint, though-Jon and I will still use disposable diapers when we are OUT with the baby. But using cloth diapers a MAJORITY of the time is still better than nothing. This particular brand of diaper is called the Motherease OneSize Diaper System. Check it out of you are interested in cloth diapering at all.

On the list of To-Do's this weekend-Pack the hospital bag. I still need to run out and get a few little things (toiletries), then that will be done. Friday, July 20th, was Jon's end date to start new projects around the house. So, the hallway was finished being painted yesterday, and now his sole job is to try and relax until I go into labor (well relax, and do REGULAR house stuff, like cut the lawn...and, ya know, rub my feet, which are the size of Texas, and spoon feed me ice cream).

And finally, a word to the wise......DO NOT CALL ASKING IF I HAVE HAD THE BABY YET. I will let you all know-I PROMISE, either via email or phone call. The question is annoying because A) I want this baby out-don't remind me that he is not here yet B) You are for some reason assuming I would be keeping you in the dark if I HAD had the baby...Chances are, if you read my blog, you know me pretty well. Which means, chances are, you will be informed when the miraculous event of me pushing a watermelon out of my olive hole occurs.

And that is all the news fit to print at the moment.

37 Weeks, 6 Days

I apologize for the lack of posting this week, but really, what is there to say? I am still pregnant and MIGHTILY uncomfortable...and I have said it so often I sound like a broken record, so I figured I would spare you all the agony of my incessant whining.......

Props need to be given to my husband Jon, who has put up with my wild hormones swings, gigantic feet, and generally shitty moods, all while trying to keep me happy, which is pretty much an impossible task at this point. So if you don't like me (but for some weird reason continue to read this blog anyway) and couldn't care less whether I go into labor and am put out of my misery, consider poor Jon, who has to live with me.....

Last weeks doctors appointment was uneventful-I am closed up tight as a clam, blood pressure was a little higher than normal, my feet were huge, and I put on nearly 5 lbs. in ONE WEEK......They made go for extra bloodwork to rule out Pregnancy Induced Hypertension-and all the bloodwork came back normal. Sad to admit, but I was kinda bummed-If it were elevated, maybe they would have induced me.

Tomorrow, I am 38 weeks. I have a doctors appointment in the morning, where I expect them to tell me nothing of note-Yes, I am huge, blood pressure still okay, lay off the ice cream, no, I am not dilated, and yes, the fact that my feet have swollen to the size of Texas is all within the realm of normal. I will then come home and cry because this kid has no interest in coming out and I really WANT him out. I will then consider the various natural options open to me to try and kickstart labor:

• Sex (tried it)
• Nipple Stimulation (tried it)
• Spicy Food (haven't really tried it because I get heartburn 24/7 anyway, and I suspect the only result I will get from this is MORE heartburn)
• Walking (trying it, but if you saw the size of my ankles right now, you'd understand that this is very difficult)
• Evening Primrose Oil (Using it since last week-supposed to help soften your cervix)
• Castor Oil (this is the only one I am NOT willing to try-but talk to me in 2 weeks-I hear it is awful and makes labor really awful)

So yeah-that is pretty much where I am at.

We painted the front hallway this week (Desert Shadow by BEHR) and as soon as the 2nd coat goes on on the wall going up the stairs and all our stuff is back in place, I will post pics. And as soon as I put on makeup at some point (hold your breath for that one), I will post pics of my new hair color-a very deep red.

I will post an update after the doctor appointment tomorrow, though I suspect there will nothign to say...Except, perhaps, that I will be pregnant forever.

36 Weeks, 5 Days

Due to some disgustingly hot and humid weather, I am again holed up in the air conditioned bedroom with my feet up, willing them not to swell.....And eating Pop Tarts (I have Christina to blame for this newest craving).

Birthing class last night was interesting-This was our "breastfeeding class", so we go to hold dolls in breastfeeding positions and practice latching on technique......Yes, there is nothing quite like cupping your boob with one hand in front of 12 or so other people, while trying to get an inanimate object to latch on to your nipple. Needless to say, I found this exercise not very helpful AND a little stupid. Not to mention, the baby was kicking me VIGOROUSLY when I was holding this baby doll in various nursing positions. I guess he was jealous? Oh, well-Can't win them all.

We did go out for dinner afterwards with a nice couple from the class (they seem like the only other people that actually TALK in the class), and had Indian food-SO that was quite nice. Except for the 3 seperate times I woke up with heartburn and chewed more tablets from my MEGA TUMS container for relief. And I ordered MILD!

Otherwise, not much else to report-Going over the in-laws tonight for dinner-which is awesome, because it means I am not cooking (See previous posts for diatribes on why I am no longer cooking).

Looking forward to my evening of beauty tomorrow with Marcie-I wil perhaps even post a picture when all is said and done. Until then, you'll just have to IMAGINE how sexy the bags under my eyes, hair with split ends, and my cankles are....PURTY.........

36 Weeks, 4 Days

Another Tuesday, another Labor and Delivery class for yours truly. I believe tonights topic will be breastfeeding-Not sre how much we can actually learn and practice without a baby on this one, but damn it, I paid for the class, so I am going.

it's another hot and humid day here is Western Massachusetts, so I am again holed up in my bedroom with my feet up and the A/C going........Trying to keep the swelling of my cankles at bay, at least for the time being......

My friend Marcie is coming over on Thursday to give me a trim, and dye my hair and paint my toes BECAUSE SHE IS AWESOME....I totally look like a hag right now (see sling pics below for verification), and she is doing this to be nice because I am trying not to spend money in anticipation of some lean days ahead while I am on "maternity leave" (which means as much unpaid time as our finances can stand, since my company does not offer ANY paid maternity leave OR short term disability. If you are a woman, make sure you understand FMLA laws in your state, AND what your company offers-Our country is WAY behind the times in terms of this issue).

Other than that, not much else to report-I am crabby and tired, and therefore an utter delight to be around-Don't you want to come visit me?? That being said, if you DO come visit-I am not cooking-I have sworn it off until this kid is born. Otherwise, as bitchy as I seem now, I am 10x worse the day after. So expect pizza-or bring your own food :-)

36 Weeks

I am 36 weeks today and big as a frickin' house........I am READY TO GO!

Had a doctor's appointment yesterday-Everything looks good-weight gain is good, blood pressure is good.....They start checking for dilation next week-but even if I was dilated a couple centimeters, my doc's would not do anything because they are very much of the "Your body will go into labor when it is ready" persausion.......So......I just have to wait......With my luck, this kid will be pulled from me, kicking and screaming and clawing to get back inside 2 weeks after his due date.......I will not be one of those lucky women who goes into labor at 38 weeks......SIGH......

At any rate-that is the news, such as it is..................For my friends out there-Come make the pregnant girl happy-Take me out to a nice, air conditioned movie, where I can sit and put my feet up....THAT sounds like an activity I could handle these days....

35 Weeks, 6 days.....And the sling I made

So I decided to make a sling, since I DID spend 4 years of college tuition money learning how to sew. This sling is made out of plain black cotton. The rings were purchased from www.slingrings.com , which also has links to some patterns to make slings. It is approx. 36" wide, and 2.5 yards long. I used the "Centerfold/Symmetrical Pleats" variation listed on this site of shoulder styles for slings: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/shoulders.html

All in all, I think it turned pretty well......Here are some photos:


This one is a close up of the top of the sling, where the "Centerfold/Symmetrical Pleat" is underneath. It seems to cup the shoulder quite nicely.


Front View-See below. (Please ignore my face in these photos-I am makeupless, very pregnant, and very tired...They were taken at approx. 8pm at night, and my only thought was: BED...I WANT BED....) I am using one of the baby' stuffed animals to approximate a kid, since mine is not actually here yet.

Her is a back view of the sling....
Side view of the sling with pretend baby peeking out and me looking like death warmed over.
Another side view of the sling and hideous pic of me, so you can see how it fits over the shoulder.

Minor Kitchen Revamp

SO here are some pics of the small improvement we made to the kitchen....It had NO backsplash, so the wall behind the stove and most of the existing countertop was covered in grease splatters (most of which were not caused by us, but by the old owners). So we decided to put in a backsplash.

Home Depot sold these panels in a few different metallic finishes-They are thermalplastic to withstand the heat, and they dress up our ugly and old kitchen just a little bit...Till the day we can afford to do a complete redo, which is still several years down the road. So here is our $150
kitchen makeover......

34 Weeks, 2 Days-Nursery Pics

Holy Crap-2 posts in ONE day?!

Changing table and dresser combo, complete with my sister Carrie's beautiful artwork....











The tiny but organized closet....
















The radiator cover that Jon made and stained himself.....and dresser (all the furniture was a gift from Jon's parents)...Only thing missing from this pic is a bookcase, which my Father-in-Law is making, and will go next to the radiator cover.




The Crib (note the sign)......And the rocking chair, which is the same one my Mom used with me :-)





And you may not be able to see them, bu there are curtain valances on the windows-They already have shutters AND shades on them, so full length curtains seemed like overkill...Unless this kid gets up with the break of dawn...Then I may reconsider.....

34 Weeks, 2 Days

It's a beautiful day outside, so we worked a bit out there this morning.......2 little robins were pushed out of their nest by their Mama, who is trying to teach them to fly-So I followed them around a bit......

We also gave Scooter a bath out on the deck (to avoid getting my recently cleaned and only full bathroom covered in copious amounts of dog hair........

Yay for weekends!