Thirty-six Weeks.

We are in the home stretch now baby - month nine, only about four more weeks to go! And, man, I am ready to get this show on the road! You should weigh about 6 pounds this week and you are still coming in at about 18 inches long - which is about the size of a honeydew melon. Most of your important development is complete at this point - you are just gaining weight and your lungs are still working on getting ready for your first breath. Your liver and kidneys are fully functional and your circulatory and immune systems are good to go at this point too.


It has been a long week for me - staying focused at work is becoming very difficult and the days are feeling longer & longer. It has also been really, really hot recently which has made me pretty uncomfortable and my feet and ankles are SO swollen - not a pretty sight! But I know the end is near, so I'm trying to make the best of it and enjoy being pregnant while I can. So that means (semi-) guilt-free cravings like ice cream and cream soda and soaking up every time you start squirming around - I love that!


We don't have a lot going on this weekend, which will be nice - hopefully your dad and I can just relax and spend some quality time together :) Next week, I'm taking Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off from work - and I am SO pumped for that! Yay for a two day work week! Hopefully your Grandma & Grandpa E. will be able to come and visit us then too, probably for the last time until they come to meet you! 

How far along? 36 weeks
Maternity clothes? I had to try on three shirts on Monday morning - they were all too small! I never thought I would see that day :)
Stretch marks? Still none
Sleep: I've slept like a rock this week!
Best moment this week? Finishing your room and getting everything ready for you - so exciting!
Miss anything? I miss running - and even a nice long walk! It has been so hot that even walking is pretty uncomfortable.
Movement? Lots of little squirms and thumps now - nothing big anymore, no more room!
Food cravings? Nothing specific lately
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope 
Mood? Happy to be in the final weeks!
Labor Signs? Lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, especially when I'm really active
What are you looking forward to this week? A nice, quiet weekend at home, hopefully staying out of the heat and my short week next week!


All my love, Mom

Your Own Little Corner.

After many months - and one long weekend - your room is finally ready for you! We started working on your nursery a while ago, but last weekend we put put it all together and now it is complete! And I have to say - it's my favorite room in the house : ) I just love how it turned out and I can't wait to have you in there!


We spent Saturday afternoon shopping for all of the last minute things we needed for you and then doing your (adorable!) laundry and getting everything all set up. The crib is made up, pictures are hung, diapers are organized, clothes are washed and put away, and toys are ready to be played with - now all we need is you my dear : )


Here is your very first load of laundry - and goodness it was so much fun to fold all of your teeny-tiny clothes! I am a little worried about your itty-bitty socks getting lost quickly, they're just SO darn small!!

 All folded and put away - just waiting to be worn by you :)

And finally - here is your room, your own little corner, just waiting for you!

I am just so happy with how it turned out - colorful and cheery, but still calm and relaxing too. I hope you'll love it just as much as I do :)


All my love, Mom

A Year of Dates: June.

We had quite the busy weekend - and part of that weekend included your Dad and I going on our date for the month of June on Saturday. We started our date with lunch at Schnitz's Deli - one of your dad's absolute favorite places to eat! They do have some amazing (and huge!) sandwiches, here is your dad with his pick - The Big John:

After our sandwiches (and a brownie, of course) we headed out to do our big baby shopping trip. We went to Babies'R'Us, Target, and Buy Buy Baby to pick up all of the items that we still needed before you arrive... at least I hope we got everything! We had quite a few coupons, so that was a big help and it felt really good to get all of that stuff crossed off my list.

When we got home from shopping, we spent most of the afternoon getting things out of packages and cutting tags off of clothes and toys... and let me tell you - baby stuff is some of the most over-packaged stuff on the face of the earth! We must have cut off about a million little plastic tags... 

Then in the afternoon, we continued the rest of our date out of the West Michigan Whitecaps baseball game :) We both got lots of good food and treats - what trip to a baseball game would be complete without a hot dog, soft pretzel, french fries, elephant ear, ice cream and beer (for your dad!) ?!?! YUM!

It was a good game and we enjoyed ourselves - even though the home team lost :( After the game we stuck around for a while and watched the fireworks show! 

We had a lovely summer date, great weather, great food and great time spent together :)

All my love, Mom

Mail Call.

Most of the items we get in the mail are either bills or junk mail - and they generally arrive in envelopes. Well, yesterday you got something a lot more fun delivered by the mailman... and it definitely was NOT in an envelope! Without further ado, here is your package - it flew all the way from Hawaii to get to you:

It's a coconut!!!! Sent with lots of love straight from Hawaii from your Great Aunt Sharon, Great Uncle Rich, and cousins Jessica and Jean :)

I mean, who knew you could actually just slap a stamp on a coconut and mail the darn thing?!?!! Pretty cool :) And you are a pretty lucky babe to be getting such great mail already! It's funny because my baby book said that you are the size of a coconut this week - I hope it wasn't talking about this particular coconut, because that thing is pretty big and you still have some growing to do!!

Leo was very curious about your present - he kept waiting for your dad to toss it so he could go chase it :) Needless to say, he was disappointed when that didn't happen...

So, there's your first souvenir  - and your first coconut!! Your family sure does love you already - and I know they are all getting just as excited to meet you as I am!


All my love, Mom

Thirty-five Weeks.

This week marks 35 weeks down and 35 days to go until you are due to arrive! It's hard to believe that we're getting so close, but sometimes it feels like that day will never come. You now weigh over five pounds and you are probably about 18 inches long - which the baby books say is the the size of a honeydew melon or a coconut. You're doing more of the same this week, packing on your baby fat, making millions of brain connections, and developing your lungs.

We had a really nice (and busy!) week and weekend - but I'm glad to stay busy at this point, it keeps me from getting too impatient while waiting for you! On Friday morning you and I drove to  Port Austin and spent some time hanging out, then Grandma E. and I met up with Aunt Linda and Uncle Ozzie, Mr. Glenn and Mrs. Joni, Grandma Benita, and Aunt Amanda for dinner at China King - delish!! We spent Saturday hanging out and catching up with your dear Aunt Amanda who came to visit from Georgia and later on your Aunt Kim joined us. It was so nice to just hang out with the girls and chit-chat. 

On Sunday morning we drove down to Imlay City where your Grandma E. threw us a fantastic shower with all of my aunts and cousins. It was above and beyond - great food, great company, and I felt so much love expressed for you and I - it just reminded me how truly blessed I am to be bringing you into this family. We were (once again!) totally spoiled - tons of wonderful handmade blankets and burp clothes and great, thoughtful gifts that I can wait to use!! 

This week it has been SO hot here - in the high 90's - so that has been a little tough on me. We were able to get into the pool at dad's Aunt Kathy's on Monday night, and that was like a little slice of heaven! Other than that, I've been thoroughly thankful for air-conditioning! Here is our picture from this week, it's funny because you were sticking your butt out at the top of my belly which makes my belly look all flat in the front instead of a nice, round ball. You like to do that a lot, and it always makes me smile :)

How far along? 35 weeks
Maternity clothes? I don't have a lot of hot weather clothes that fit anymore, so I'm just trying to make what I have work for the next few weeks.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Very tired lately, and I've not been sleeping as well in this heat - even with the A/C on high...
Best moment this week? My shower on Sunday and spending time with my mom and Amanda - I'm a lucky girl!
Miss anything? Normal size feet - the swelling is a little out of control - and painful!
Movement? You are still moving a lot, just not quite the big, hard kicks anymore - I think you're running out of room
Food cravings? Fresh fruit - especially watermelon & strawberries
Anything making you queasy or sick? Just the excessive heat - makes me feel pretty yucky 
Mood? Feeling optimistic that we are getting close to the end now 
Labor Signs? Not much this week
What are you looking forward to this week? Your dad and I have our June date on Saturday and we also are finishing up shopping for you, which I've been looking forward to.


Keep on cooking baby, only a few more weeks until you join us :)


All my love, Mom

Thirty-four Weeks.

You're growing by leaps and bounds now baby! This week you weigh close to 5 pounds and you're somewhere between 17 and 18 inches long. That means you are about the size of a bag of sugar - adorable!! You are moving around like crazy and this week you can now recognize and react to simple songs :) Your skin is smoothing out as you pack on the baby fat, your brain is still making thousands of neural connections a day, and your lungs are becoming more and more mature.


We had a busy weekend, but it was a great one! I had two baby showers, and we were spoiled rotten at both of them. It is so great to have such amazing family, friends, and coworkers :) I also went to a baby shower for my friend Jessica and met her friend Lisa (who is wonderful!). Lisa just had her son Gabriel last month at the hospital where you will be born, and she told me how great the hospital and nurses were, so that was very encouraging! We did spend a lot of time inside this weekend though - because it was HOT! Having you hanging out with me makes me overheat a lot faster than usual, so thank goodness for air conditioning!


This weekend is shaping up to be another busy one - and I'm so excited about it! Your Aunt Amanda is coming to visit!!! She is flying in on Thursday and I'll drive up to Port Austin on Friday morning so that we can spend the day together ... and I'm pretty sure a trip to China King will be in order!! On Sunday, we'll drive to Imlay City for my final baby shower with my family, which I am really looking forward to. Your dad is hanging out at home for most of the weekend with Leo, but on Sunday he gets to go with his dad and your Uncle Nick down to Detroit to catch a Tigers game together. Should be fun!


Here we are at 34 weeks, before my shower with my girlfriends on Sunday morning:

How far along? 34 weeks
Maternity clothes? I've started to grow out of some things now, but I am trying to resist buying any new maternity clothes when I only have a few weeks left.
Stretch marks? Still none - holding out hope that they stay away
Sleep: It's been a little tough this week, my shoulders and neck have been getting really sore, so I have to keep changing sides.
Best moment this week? Hanging out with the girls at my shower - so nice and relaxing! And I got lots of new mom tips :)
Miss anything? Not bumping into things with my belly - I feel so silly sometimes, but I just forget how big it is!
Movement? You're still moving around a lot and sometimes it seems like you're trying to make your escape through the side of my belly
Food cravings? Powerade, root beer
Anything making you queasy or sick? I've been getting little bouts of nausea here and there, no fun
Mood? Really ready to meet you!
Labor Signs? Crampy, achy back and legs and still having braxton-hicks contractions
What are you looking forward to this week? Definitely seeing my friend Amanda this weekend and my family at the shower on Sunday!!!


Only about six more weeks until we get to meet you!! So excited!


All my love, Mom

Thirty-three Weeks and Happy Birthday Mom!

We're inching closer and closer to meeting you and in the mean time, you are growing by leaps and bounds! This week you weigh about 4.5 pounds and you are about 17 inches long - which my baby book says is about the size of a durian fruit... whatever the heck that is!! Your bones are now hardening - except for your skull bones which will stay soft to make it easier for you to be born :) You are also now sensitive to light... I can see us having some fun with a flashlight in the near future!


You have been SO active lately and I really love it :) It's kind of like our little secret when I'm sitting in a meeting at work and you start rolling around like crazy - it puts a smile on my face! It's also fun to try to guess what position you are in and what part of you is jutting out of my belly. Last night I was sitting back on the couch and I looked down and you must have really felt like hanging out on the right side of me because my belly was so lopsided and we could clearly see and feel your bottom and back sticking out. It was so cute and funny! What is not so cute and funny is when you kick me SO hard in the ribs - I know you are going to be one strong, rambunctious baby!


Here we are at 33 weeks - on my birthday :) :)

How far along? 33 weeks
Maternity clothes? I feel like I may never be able to wear normal clothes again... even my once-baggy t-shirts are stretched waaaayyyyy out now! 
Stretch marks? Nope, but I have noticed the linea nigra (line of pregnancy) getting darker ever since my mom pointed it out a couple of weeks ago... that goes away though!
Sleep: Sleeping well in between my four bathroom breaks... and I'm definitely more tired lately!
Best moment this week? My gloriously lazy, relaxing birthday!
Miss anything? Wearing my wedding ring - I feel naked without it
Movement? You are definitely living up to your nickname Squirms!
Food cravings? Root beer, lucky charms, chocolate!
Anything making you queasy or sick? Sometimes the heat really gets to me and I start to feel light-headed and nauseous
Mood? Excited that we are getting close to the end and to meeting you!
Labor Signs? Lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, especially when we go for our walks
What are you looking forward to this week? Lots of exciting stuff this week - I have a shower with the ladies at work on Thursday, the we have the Diemer Run 5K on Saturday morning followed by a wedding shower for Jessica that afternoon. Finally on Sunday morning I have another shower with my girlfriends and then your dad's cousin Christopher's graduation party later that day. Whew! We are in for a busy weekend!


Like I said above, I had a wonderful day on Sunday - it was very laid back and low key and I loved every minute :) We went shopping in the morning for some groceries and also bought some curtains and a lamp for your nursery. We got home and had some of the delicious red velvet cake that your dad made for me while we watched the Tigers game. Your dad even wrote out my age on my cake in candles - he's so creative!

I didn't even know I liked red velvet cake - but it is SO yummy! Definitely one of my new favorite desserts :) In the afternoon, we sat outside on the patio and read our books and then ordered some Chinese food for dinner. It was a beautiful day and I'm so glad to have spent it with you and your dad and your brother Leo! One more picture of the birthday girl with the tasty cake:

Here's to hoping my 26th year is the best ever!!
All my love, Mom

Appointment Update.

Now that we have appointments with the doctor so often, it's getting hard to keep up with writing about them! Anyway, we had our 32 week check-up on Wednesday morning and the way the scheduling worked out, I had to go at a time when your dad couldn't make it because of work. So that was kind of a bummer, but luckily the appointments are still pretty routine and boring so he didn't miss much!


The actual appointment consisted of the usual - take my weight, blood pressure and urine sample - all looked normal! I'm now to the point where I can't see my feet anymore past my belly when I'm standing up, which means I can no longer see the numbers on the scale - good news! I think that will be my strategy for the next couple months - out of sight, out of mind :)


The doctor then had me lay back and measured my belly (and you!) - you are measuring right on track, if anything maybe a day or two ahead of schedule! The doctor said that it doesn't really mean much because the measurements can change just depending on how you are laying at the time, so I shouldn't worry about it too much unless you really start to consistently measure a lot bigger. So it sounds like we are on the right track! She then listened to your heartbeat - still going strong at 158 bpm.


After that we talked a little bit more about labor and delivery and she answered some questions I had about random stuff that moms think about and then we were done! Quick & painless... and I'll be back to do it all over again in two weeks... 


Tonight is the first part of our childbirth class that we are taking at the hospital, so I'm excited to see how that goes. I hope it is interesting information, and that we have lots of potty breaks :) The rest of the class is for most of the day tomorrow and hopefully we will leave there being better more prepared for you to arrive! You've been squirming like crazy today, so I take that to mean you are excited too :) 


All my love, Mom