Baby update:

Went to the doctor today... I'm measuring 37 weeks! (I'm only 35.) I asked if that means he could come early... he said "You know, your uterus might just decide it's ready." Time will tell, though, right? Oh, and I'm dilated to a 1. Nothing big, but hey, I'm dilated! Woohoo!

Everything's still very normal. Yay!

4 Weeks Left!!!

Or less, right? Right??? I'm just hoping since he's measuring big, he'll come sooner. But, really, I want him to come when he's ready and be ready when he comes. Healthy, fully developed babies are great!

As it starts to sink in that I only have 28 more days, I feel a little nervous... am I really ready for this? Sure, I have everything I need, but is that enough? I'm going to have a baby. A baby!! I haven't had a baby for SIX YEARS. I took great pleasure in putting all the diaper changing, nightly feedings, potty training, nap schedules, etc. out of my head... I even sold everything baby at a garage sale not even 3 months before I became pregnant as a final act of "We're SO done". I became one of those people that said "Sure, I'll hold your sweet, precious baby... oh, wait, they're crying. You can have them back now" while thinking "Glad it's you, my friend, glad it's you." Then that "feeling" came over me just a few weeks after a night without birth control. (I know, TMI) I took the fateful test that confirmed my little "feeling" and the rest is history. I blinked a few times and the time is here for that night to come to fruition. Whoa. I've gone from months of "This is so exciting! I can't hardly wait!" to "Holy crap, this is really happening". This is huge and it's just now really sinking in how huge it is. I was thinking the other day, and fretting a little, about how smooth my life has been lately. Usually when that happens, it's like the calm before the storm... I found myself wondering what could possibly happen? What trial awaits us around the corner? Duh. Did I mention I'm having a BABY??? Yeah. Intense.

I read on a pregnancy-week-by-week website that this is the time when soon-to-be moms start "fretting" about things they don't necessarily need to fret about... maybe that's why I'm freaking out all of a sudden... Yeah. That must be it.


Here are some belly pics my MIL has been requesting... ;) Here you go, K! (M calls this shirt my "body tattoo" shirt...

I don't think I look much bigger than the last pics I took, but I think he's growing into my innerds vs. outward... that's how it feels, anyway. Yikes!

http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/35-weeks-pregnant.html

I'm thinking these next 4 weeks can take their time... a little.

No wonder my ribs hurt!

Went to the doctor today... everything's still normal! My protein level was elevated so he made me go back this afternoon to pee in a cup again as a double-check and everything's fine. I just needed more water in my system. This is about the same time things started going south with my last pregnancy that made it this far... so, we're just being careful. He has me on weekly-watch, now, so it's all good.


This is the precious ultrasound picture... you can see his profile! And his chubby cheekies! I circled it in the first one for those who are ultrasound picture illiterate. :) (Basically, you're looking at the left side of his face.) (And, yes, he's still a boy!)

Oh, and the rib thing... he's measuring at 36 weeks. I'm only 34 weeks. Yeah. Ouch.

5 more weeks!!! Yay!!!

The end is in sight... but my feet aren't!

So, most of the day and all tonight I kept thinking it was Thursday... but, alas, it's not.

Is that going to stop me from being excited and adding a new post as if it WAS Thursday? Nope!

Just pretend it's Thursday when you read this, in case you read it tonight for some reason...

5 more weeks, baby!!! Woohoo!!!

This week, I've been "nesting" big time! I've washed everything I possibly could, baby-wise, and even crossed off some things from my "Things to do before the baby comes" list, such as cleaning the fridge and washing the kids' little couch covers. I've acquired some more things that I need and have the diaper bag packed and everything! This weekend, we're having the missionaries over to help my husband paint the boys' room and rearrange furniture to fit a crib and such in there, so that will be nice. Just a few more things to get and do and I am READY!

http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/34-weeks-pregnant.html

My ribs feel oh-so-battered these days! My skin around the area is painful to the touch... how can I possibly fit FIVE MORE WEEKS of baby in there??? Speaking of which, I'm passed the baby-goes-to-Denver-while-I-stay-here-and-fret danger zone if he were to be (Heaven forbid) born this early... so, he's officially ungrounded! Well, he can still stay in there, I just won't freak out TOO bad if I have another premature baby. Heaven forbid.

I have another doctor appointment tomorrow - seems like it took it's sweet time getting here! We're doing another just-to-make-sure ultrasound, which I'm so excited for! And M gets to be there, so that's exciting, too!

If I have anymore "!!!!"s you're going to shoot me, so I'll end my post now as I'm inclined to babble about things that fill my thoughts these days... can you blame me? ;)

I thought this was cool:

I got this email from a friend today... instead of forwarding it, I decided to post it:

A doctor's wisdom

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.' So the doctor said: 'OK and what do you want me to do?' She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.' The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms. The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!' 'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.' The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He had convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

Wanna lose a hand?

I was thinking out loud to my husband yesterday: What if I went up to someone and just started rubbing their stomach while asking how they were doing... not a pregnant person, just anyone. That'd be weird, right?

Why is it, now that mine sticks out a little, people feel the need to rub it?? Dude! Hands off!

I'm thinking of investing in these shirts and wearing them for the next 5 weeks:

There's a lady at church who I'm particularly un-fond of at the moment. Yesterday, before I started thinking out loud, she comes up to me and starts rubbing my belly while asking how I was doing. I even had my coat slung over one arm in front of my stomach, my church bag and notebook held in the other in front of my stomach. So, she really had to reach through my things, down towards the lower region of my stomach (which made it even MORE awkward) to get to a rubbable spot. Really?? Are you kidding me??

Sheesh!

So, what're you saying?

My daughter, sweet little sassamafrass that she is, is very - how you say? uncouth. Many-a-mustached-grandma will tell you this. I've learned to laugh at this in my own home (it's a well-known fact at our house that mommy has the biggest bum). Others unrelated to us don't find this to be a very charming attribute. Example: One time at a store, my daughter inquired whether the person standing a mere three feet away from us was a boy or a girl. Sadly, I don't remember being able to clarify, but it was a little embarrassing, nonetheless.

Tonight was just an in-home-funny, though.

I had hooked up my mp3 player to the surround sound for my kids to jam to (you know, burn off some energy) and she asked me if I would get up and dance with her. I informed her that pregnant people should not dance because things that aren't supposed to jiggle, start jiggling. Her reply: "Oh, like the TV would fall over, and the big shelves would crash down..."



Yeah. Something like that. LOL Had to laugh. That's my girl.



Gotta love her. And her big mouth. :)

33 weeks!

Yay!

http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/33-weeks-pregnant.html

I was supposed to have an appointment this week, but apparently the chick who set my appointment wasn't concerned about the doctor's orders... oh, well, right? So, next week on Thursday I get to do another ultra sound.

Things are still going well. I'm having Braxton-Hicks contractions like CRAZY and even had them every 2-3 minutes the other night, which freaked me out a little. M gave me a blessing, though, and I was able to rest and they went away. (I was just stressed and dehydrated.) I know they're nothing to worry about, so it's all good.

A memory of my first pregnancy: One time I woke up with a cold and called in sick to work because I was afraid the baby would get pneumonia from it... LOL!!!

Only 6 more weeks to go! Woohoo!

The world needs more movies like this one:

This movie rocks! There wasn't a whole lot of advertising about it, that I know of, and why? Probably because it was only rated PG, didn't have ONE single swear word the whole time, focused on SAVING a marriage and all while involving God. These, my friends, are ALL reasons you should see this, if you haven't already. Awesome awesome awesome! And husbands, WATCH IT WITH YOUR WIVES. Two thumbs WAY up!

Breaking 'em in early

Yep. He'll be his father's son.

How appropriate that this should be the first thing we buy for our unsuspecting, unborn child. Poor kid. LOL He won't stand a chance. (We found this 6 mo. size shirt at Walgreens. Very cute!)

"I didn't think it'd be gross."

...says my 7 year old son, after drinking his own concoction of Cup O'Noodles broth, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange peels, and napkin.

Did I mention he was standing in a puddle of his own puke when he said this? No? Hmm. Must've slipped my mind.

Right.

Bending over to clean up noodly puke, while 7.5 months pregnant, is not something one forgets.

Stinky boy.

He's so lucky he's in bed and I can laugh about this now that my floor is sufficiently mopped.

Dad's been on nights since Monday. It's been a long week. Two more weeks and I have him back in the evenings.

I can do this.

Anybody want two extra kids in the mean time?? They're free! I'll even throw in a Cup O'Noodles, an orange and a napkin! Anyone?

OH, I almost forgot!

Yeah, right! Like I could!

32 weeks today! That means I'm down to 7 weeks left to go... or, 49 days! Woohoo!

http://3dpregnancy.parentsconnect.com/calendar/32-weeks-pregnant.html

My husband brought everything I've been collecting in from the shed so I could see what I have and what I still need. (He's such a nice boy!)

Including everything my mother-in-law's still going to give me, I only need a diaper pail, a portable formula container, and baby wash items. Score!! M and I decided today we're going to get Quin a little outfit from M's work that says "CAT" on it. :) Otherwise, we're good! Yes!

My ankles have started swelling a tad and I've been nauseous lately, but I figure those are normal, so still two thumbs up on my end! The baby's moving like crazy and I'm quite sure he's still growing QUITE well, so two thumbs up on his end, too! My next appointment is Feb. 19th which, of course, seems years away, but it's all good.

Yay for 32 weeks!!

Surprisingly Accurate!

I got this link from anothers post: (Thanks Cort! Didn't know you were sharing, did ya?)

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

You Are Level-Headed and Trustworthy
You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries.You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

That's pretty cool! Amazing how accurate it is...

Memories...

I was actually tagged for this on Facebook, but decided to post it here. I don't know any mom who doesn't like to remember out loud! What can you remember about your first born?

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Absolutely

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Wouldn't have done it any other way.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I was so excited I was shaking!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Never EVER.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 23

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Via a pregnancy test I "borrowed" from the doctor I worked for... it was like, the 100th one or something... lol

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My friend and co-worker, Charlene.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes, but I already knew he was a boy.

9. DUE DATE? December 19th.

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? I think so, not too bad. The heartburn was way worse.


11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Hmmm... I think meatball hotpockets.

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? My husband... lol... so ignorant to what I was going through!

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? Boy.

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? No.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 6 lbs.

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes, very cool.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? Um, the baby shower? I knew.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Gestational Diabetes


19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Pres. St. Lukes in Denver, CO.

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? I've never really been sure how to answer that, so I'll go from when I first noticed the contractions till he was born: about 24 hrs.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? M, my husband.

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? M (almost passed out - lol), my mom (cried), and my dad (yeah - awkward).

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural.

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Heck, yeah! I made my husband swear he wouldn't let me have drugs, I was so determined not to. Then, when I was throwing up from the pain, I had to beg and bribe him to change his mind and tell him I was insane for ever thinking such nonsense!

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 6 lbs. 9 oz.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? December 8th, 2001 @ 6:43am. I believe it was a Saturday.

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Andur Matthew

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 7 years old. Dang.



I'm sure most, if not all moms who read this will want to be tagged, so guess what? You are!