The Real Countdown Begins

30 weeks and counting. 10 weeks to go. This is insane. How on earth are we going to do this?

We had our hospital tour the other day and that made everything all too real. I saw the room that I will deliver in, and how the bed breaks apart to allow for pushing. Pushing... wait, what? This baby actually has to come out?  I don't want to think about that. At all.

We had that talk at the doctors office. And I don't mean to upset anyone, but I plan on having an epidural. There, I said it. I have no interest in trying to prove anything by not taking advantage of medical advancements. My doctor reassured me that there is really no risk associated with it and that she fully supported my decision. Of course, if things don't happen that way, then I will deal with it. I know that I am a strong person and I can manage in any situation. I just don't feel the need to go through all that pain if I don't have to.

We are still planning on the August 5 due date. If things have not progressed on their own by then, I will be admitted on the 5th and have her on the 6th. So strange to think about it. Each time I am there, she asks me how things have been going. i really cannot complain one bit about pregnancy. Sure there are some very rough nights when I might strangle a kitten for a solid night's sleep, or to not have restless legs. And the heartburn is back WITH A VENGENCE. But overall, I am so lucky to not be going through what I read about online. My doctor said that she can usually tell if a mom will want her baby out a week early by how she is at her 32 week visit. That is just next week. I can't imagine being miserable in that much time, but what do I know. I am doing this for the first time. What I don't want to imagine is how hot it is going to be come August. It was 90 today. Lord help me.

Mothers Day

I guess I can officially celebrate this holiday now. So surreal. Everyone around me has been so good to me. My boss got me a "Mom" cookie, I got cards, people wishing me a happy mother's day. It was an oddly emotional day for me. I mean, I always knew I was born to be a mom, but never expected the feeling to be so wonderful What is it going to be like when she actually gets here? I literally cry at commercials about babies.

I am so blessed for the mothers in my life. I cannot imagine how I can even begin to live up the legacy they have both set. Big shoes to fill.

I am also blessed with a wonderful husband. He woke up, got me doughnuts, hung the curtains in the nursery, and told me what my gift is. Maid service! He has arranged for a maid service to come out at the end of July to deep clean my house in prep for baby. He really is incredible.

My most recent doctor's appointment went well. She is nearly 3 lbs and is right on track. My doc calls her an overachiever. She is already head down. I can feel her all the time. It is startling sometimes when she really gets moving, but is so reassuring at the same time. Sometimes I look down and expect to see an alien pop out of my stomach with her erratic movements.

Sadly, she has stage fright. It seems that any time anyone tries to touch her, she freezes up. It is frustrating to some, even Zach. It seems like she can sense when it isn't me touching her and she stops. There was one night that Zach felt one of her fits at bedtime and he was like, "what is she doing in there?!?!". My dad thinks she is practicing her leaps for when she comes out. I am supposed to start counting her movements each evening. And like the doc says, she is an overachiever.

Parents in Town

I am so excited! My parents came into town for a long weekend to see me and the bump. I hadn't seen them since Christmas, so they were overly excited to see the progress we had made and help around the house as much as they could. Their weekend was full of painting, repairing, shopping, registering and eating. Lots of eating. My in-laws were able to come and help too. I don't know what  I would do without them!

The boys golfed and the women registered! What a fun weekend.
I can't wait for them to come back for the shower!

Taking the bump to the Arboretum.

 

Painting the nursery.

 Fixing the toilet - glamorous work!

Registering!

 
Family Shot!

 

Really starting to poke out.

27 weeks. Not long now!

More Nursery Updates

Crib is in! And we love it. We also selected a rocking chair from Ikea. It is really coming together now. I also got bold and decided to make some accent pillows for the room. Out final colors are grey, pink and navy blue. Take a look at the new additions.

Tucker wanted to help out. 

 

Crib and Rocking Chair

New ceiling fan and accent pillows.

 I still have plans to make a mobile as well as some letters to hang her name over the crib... whatever that name may be. ;)

Just in time for my parents to come and visit! Can't wait!

Baby Thumping

23 weeks now and baby girl is letting her Daddy know she loves him. I was just sitting on the couch and she was kicking like crazy. I called Zach over and he knelt down next to the couch and he placed his hand on my stretching belly. BOOM. Kick. He looked at me with huge eyes. He finally felt her move. It was a cool moment to be able to share with him what I feel all the time.

 

All my appointments are going well. She is growing like crazy and looks like a real baby.

We bought the dresser from the last post and are very happy with it. Even though it is Ikea, it seems to be great quality. We also selected a crib from, wait for it, Walmart. It had great reviews and was a good price,

Check out the progress. More to come!

20 Weeks

Time flies. How on earth am I half way there? Despite popular opinion, I can feel her move. I missed out on the bubbly flutters and went straight to the thumping and bumping. There was the daily confirmation I need to know she is all good in there. Everyone keeps saying that I am tiny for 20 weeks. I am perfectly ok with that. I am not trying to be a Kim Kardashian. Have you seen her? She is insanely big... definitely inspiration to stay in that gym as long as I can!

The nursery is underway. We want to keep it very simple. Of course I have been scouring Pinterest in hope of some inspiration. We love the idea of grey and pink. Here are some of the ones that we are gravitating toward.

16 weeks

By this point, I had a baby bump. It was small, but I was embracing it. My boobs were HUGE! I was starting to get past the tiredness, at least to the extent it was earlier on in the pregnancy. I also had escaped the morning sickness. The closest I got was some nausea when I would get hungry.

I had decided early on that I would continue to exercise to the level that my body allowed. I was feeling good. My checkups were monthly now. And with each one I got to have a sonogram. This was due to the fibroids they saw during my 3d/4d scan. Oh darn, you mean I get to see my baby "girl" at each visit? Too bad.

During my 17 week visit, we were confirmed a girl. Let the nursery planning begin.