4 Weeks to go!!

I can't believe it's already the LAST day of July!! That means as of tomorrow it's August, finally the month of our due date! I realize that it is very possible that I could go into September, but like to think that I'll have a baby sometime in the next 4 weeks! I think we're about as ready as we're going to be, too.

I had a doctor appointment this morning and it was time to do my Group B Step test. Have I ever mentioned that I love the online chart system that Riverview has? The lab has already posted my results and I passed, so no antibiotics necessary during delivery! Yay! At my appointment he also checked baby's heartrate (150...pretty much the same as it's been the whole time), measuring right on time, and my blood pressure was good. Since was doing the strep test, he checked my cervix, too. 1 cm dilated, 30% effaced, and baby is definitely head down! So, not too much happening on the "progress" front, but like he said, it's better than being long, firm, and all closed up! Ok, doc, whatever you say! Cervix is also still a little posterior, meaning that it's still more behind the baby's head and eventually when baby fully "drops" and is ready for delivery, it will be fully anterior. Sorry for all the cervix talk this week, I just want to have it written down for myself so when baby #2 comes along I can compare notes at this stage in the game! :)

Otherwise, I've been feeling pretty decent. Had a nice burst of energy last night and went golfing and then cruising around Walmart to get a few things. Once I got home, though, the braxton hicks started in pretty hardcore, reminding me that I probably pushed a little too far. Eventually I just had to go lay down because nothing else was stopping them. I'm trying to keep positive and not complain too much during this last month, but it's so hard when things that I could do last week are no longer possible this week--or that I'm wiped out from doing the simple task of going downstairs to switch a load of laundry. In 4ish weeks I know I will forget all about how I'm feeling right now! :)

I found a cute list of "10 things you should do before going into labor." Here's how we're doing on it so far!

1. Take childbirth classes
~Check! and really glad we did!

2. See a Movie
~We went and saw Grown Ups 2 a couple weeks ago!

3. Know the breastfeeding basics
~I think I've got the basics down after researching and from our class

4. Pack your hospital bag
~Have been gathering things to go in it, but have yet to actually get the bag out and put anything in it! Need to get on that and start a list for things that we use every day that will need to remember to grab.

5. Program important numbers into your phone
~I think we've got this taken care of!

6. Freeze some meals
~Been thinking about doing this, too. I know it will be super helpful to have it done for when we come home! (Especially since chances are Tim will be in the middle of combining or prehaul for beets)

7. Get a crib and wash the sheet
~Done a long time ago! 4 sets of sheets ready to go!

8. Install the car seat
~Not yet....we've practiced putting the car seat in and out of the base, but haven't put the base in the car yet.

9. Make a labor playlist
~Hadn't really thought of doing this, but never know what might be helpful during labor, so why not! An ipod and my small portable speakers are a pretty easy thing to throw in the hospital bag.

10. Read a novel
~JUST finished a really awesome book last night!! I'm bummed though because I have to wait until March 2014 for the next book in the series to come out. Luckily I think I'll be occupied enough in that time :)

35 Days!! (Give or take)

5 weeks to go!! This week's biggest accomplishment has been finishing the nursery! As of right now, I think we're as ready as we're going to be! The next task is packing the hospital bag. Otherwise, just waiting on our sweet little honey to bake a little bit longer!

We had a great weekend up in Hallock! It felt so good to be back after not having been up there for a couple months. I got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a really long time! I only wish I would've worn a shirt that said, "I'm due August 28th, and no we don't know if baby is a boy or girl!" Oh, and "I'm feeling fine, and handling the heat just like everyone else is!" By the end of the weekend I was getting pretty exhausted from those same questions! But all in all, a great weekend!

I have noticed baby starting to drop a little bit, mostly with being able to breathe better and when I am sitting up and try sit with my legs together it's uncomfortable! So lady-like! :) I've been nauseous still about an hour or so after eating and once I eat something for lunch it takes a really long time to digest before I'm hungry again. I can't wait to have my normal stomach back!

We had our final childbirth class last night and it was on breastfeeding and infant CPR. It was a very interesting class, and a nice reminder to have family and friends "brush up" on knowing what to do in a situation where the baby may need CPR or may be choking. All in all, I'm really glad we took the classes and had such a great teacher, because I feel very prepared going into all of this because of what we learned!

Before I get back to work and put up my swollen feet, I wanted to share a recipe for "Lactation cookies" that I have been recommended to try! Some of the ingredients you can only get at a natural foods store, so I found them at Amazing Grains in downtown Grand Forks. Apparently they are REALLY good and help boost milk supply! (Great gift for a new mom, too, if you're into baking!) I'm going to bake them soon and freeze them for when we're heading to the hospital! Follow the link for the recipe!

http://www.milkinmamas.com/lactation-cookie-recipe/

Almost forgot to mention that I had a doctor appointment on Monday and everything looks great with baby! All of the pains and uncomfortable "moments" I've been experiencing are "typical." I figured as much! I go back next Wednesday for my Group B strep test to see if I'll need antibiotics during labor, and then he'll check to see if I've progressed at all and get a 'for sure' on baby's position!!

6 Weeks!!

Wow! In 3 weeks this baby will be FULL TERM! The really exciting thing about that is that I know for sure I can deliver in Crookston at that point. They don't have a NICU, so they don't deliver any high risk mothers/early babies. We've been going to childbirth classes each week for the last 3 weeks, and collectively I have to say that it has been a great experience. Before we went, I was told by so many people how lame and pointless they are. I had a handle on the basics of giving birth, but these really put my mind at ease and helped me prepare for all of the possible scenarios that we may encounter when that time comes! I really like how Riverview handles their births. It seems like they have a lot of the same values and go about things the way I would envision this labor going. They seem to really focus on mom and baby interaction right away. Makes me less nervous, more anxious and excited!

I've been having more braxton hicks contractions and have noticed more swelling in my feet and hands during these hot days. I'm just trying to keep the water intake flowing and do as little as possible in the heat! Just a disclaimer--please don't ask how I'm handling the heat, or I'm going to return the favor. Pretty sure nobody enjoys 90 degrees and 90% humidity...and you're crazy if you do!

My mother in law and sisters in law threw a shower for me last Thursday! It was an awesome turnout and I got some pretty awesome gifts! It was so much fun seeing all of the baby stuff, and realizing that I actually will be using it all very soon! There was way too much food and am so grateful for all of my family and friends who came out for it! :) I wasn't sure how it would go to have a shower before the baby was born without knowing if we're having a boy or girl, but it went just fine! I actually got a lot of fun gender neutral stuff and "essential" stuff. It was great! I'll be having a shower up in Hallock after the baby is born, so I'm prepared to get showered in pink and blue at that one!

I also got a prenatal massage on Tuesday. Seriously, the best invention ever!! I could have someone rub on my lower back and hips all day long! A definite recommendation for any mothers-to-be!

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the shower. Next week the nursery should be about as ready as it's going to be, so I plan to take lots of pictures of that! :)

7 weeks to go!!

I don't really have too much to update on this week so far! I have a shower tomorrow evening, so I'll make a post about that after! I'm really excited to see some of my former coworkers and some of our friends/family friends from this area. I'll be having an open house shower up in Hallock once the baby is born, so really looking forward to that, too!

This week, baby is the size of a pineapple! On average, over 17 inches long and about 4 1/2 pounds. I'm really curious to see where we stack up in these measurements, but I guess I just have to wait. Now that I know baby is head down, I can start figuring out what I'm feeling when (s)he is moving around! I get a cute little butt in my ribs quite often! I do find myself cringing when I feel a big "rolling" movement coming on....never know if it's going to hurt or not. Sleep has been hit or miss lately, mostly because I find myself thinking about what we still need to do and get. My hips and lower back are really excited for their massage next Tuesday, too!

We had our second childbirth class last night, and I am really starting to get more comfortable with everything. The nurse teaching the class is so awesome and I am glad I'm learning about all of the different things that can/do happen, so that I am mentally prepared. Tim has been really supportive and positive that things are going to go just perfectly, so I'm taking that as him trying to reassure me! :)

Since we're getting closer and closer, I thought it would be fun to post this poll again! Take your guesses!! :)

http://www.expectnet.com/games/CaillierBaby
I'll post again after my shower tomorrow night!

8 Weeks to go!

Time is flying!! I feel like I say that every week, but it's so true! It's also weird to say that NEXT MONTH my baby is due....Ah!

By this week, baby weighs almost 4lb and is about 17" long on average. It's crazy to think that I was 5lb 10 oz when I was born--my baby is almost there!! Baby will typically put on a 1/2 lb a week at this point, and lucky for me, my weight gain over the last couple weeks was only a pound, so it was nice to know that it was literally just baby weight gained this time! :) I'm also right in the healthy weight gain amount and my dr is happy with how that is all going. I had a dr appointment yesterday and everything is looking great! Baby is measuring right on time, and my dr could tell that baby is officially head down! Let's hope things stay that way! He's gone in 2 weeks when I'm supposed to have my next appointment, so I have to wait til the following week to go back.

We also had our first childbirth classes last night! Lots of people told me they would be lame, but I didn't mind it. I'd rather be prepared knowing exactly what different things to expect during labor, the hospital's typical policies and procedures, and we got to tour a birth suite last night! Just another step in making this all more real. I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on lately, been getting more winded and find that I can't be on my feet as long as I used to. Wouldn't trade it for the world, though!

We hung some pictures and things on the walls in our nursery, folded my first load of baby clothes, and starting to organize things! Here are a few pictures:

These bottom 2 pictures have been photoshopped to help me get a better idea of how those walls will look once they're done!

 

Here we are at 31w and 5 days!

 

I've recently been reminded again how much of a miracle this baby is that I'm carrying. Just as I was starting to almost get annoyed by the lack of sleep I've been getting (because (s)he thinks bedtime means party time EVERY NIGHT), I am reminded just how fortunate I am to have this healthy pregnancy.

Love you, baby!