Sleepy Baby

Last night Barrett was getting very fussy, so I decided to walk around the house carrying him across the front of me (look at picture). He ended up falling asleep in my arms and drooling everywhere..you can see some on my arm! :) What a cute little man though! 

Barrett's Smilin'

Last weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday I spent most of the day with the in-laws. It is always so nice to hang out there and spend some good quality time together. Watching the big games was fun, too. Go Tigers! Go Blue! (and believe it or not...the Lions won Sunday, too!) Then Sunday we celebrated Grandpa Del's birthday with a get together at their house. Delbert also called it the "meet the grand babies day". The sun was shining, although it was crisp out, and there was even a hay ride. Barrett and I did not go on the hay ride this year, though, so hopefully we'll get to do it next year.

On another note, Barrett has been smiling a lot recently. It no longer appears to be gas-related smiles, but rather genuine happy smiles!! It melts your heart! I was finally able to catch one on camera (sorry about the focus...it had to be quick). He's also making a lot of new sounds, which are really cute. Well, I've got to get...Barrett's getting fussy. :) 

Nighttime

I can't believe that it is Gwen's first birthday today!! Hooray for Gwen! Also, I woke up to snow on the ground...yup snow...and I'm sure many others of you did, too. Isn't it a little early for this?!? I'm not quite sure we've had a good Fall yet (which is a season I really enjoy), so hopefully this snow is just temporary.

I just wanted to post a quick entry today about Barrett sleeping through the night. A couple of nights ago Barrett slept from 10:30 pm until 5:30 am!! It was a milestone, but short lived of course because he was back to his norm last night (asleep at 10:30 pm, up at 2 am, asleep at 2:30 am and then back up again at 6 am). Hopefully the sleeping through the night becomes his norm sooner than later. :) Needless to say, the night he slept through was a great night. I felt so good the yesterday!

Enjoying Some Time With My Boys

Barrett is now one month old!! Wow! He is getting stronger and stronger every day. I actually think that he gets frustrated because his body will not allow him to do the things he wants to do. He kicks a lot and loves to roll over onto his back. He will even "stand" with support. He is a great baby that only cries when he's hungry, so we are very lucky with that. We're still working on the nighttime sleeping thing, but I know we'll get there. He still grunts a lot, but a lady told me the other day that "every grunt is a growth". Interesting...

Anyway, last weekend Ben and I hung out with Andrea and Gregor (separately... the boys played cards in DeWitt while we stayed in and hung out) on Friday night and then headed down to Ann Arbor Saturday for the big game (U of M v. MSU). My dad gave Ben and me his tickets (and volunteered himself and Trina to babysit), so we were able to go to the game!! Before the game was a tailgate/birthday party for Gwen at the Edin's. It was so much fun!! A lot of family and friends were there and it was really my first time at a big event like that since Barrett was born. I loved every minute of it! The game was great too. We switched tickets with cousin Robert (he had my grandparents tickets) and we were then able to watch the game on the 50-yard line. I haven't been to the big house in a long time, so this was great too (it didn't hurt that U of M won 31-13 either!). After the game we headed for home (I was ready...it was a long day and I was so tired...I can't hang like I used to). Sunday we got out and about a little bit (it was such a gorgeous day) and then went back home to greet my Aunt Patti and Uncle Scott (who had never seen our house or met Barrett yet). After they left then Travis and Misty stopped by followed by Grandma Sue. Another busy day, but I loved all the company! :) We feel the love! 

Cousins Meet for the First Time!

Ben and I decided to get out and about today because the weather was just too nice to stay inside. We first went to visit Aunt Steph and Barb at Bob and Sandy's house. Then we went to look for Grandpa Delbert (he was running corn) and on the way we stopped by Great Grandma and Great Uncle Mike's house. While we were there Frank and Linda (and a few others) stopped by to pick Mike up and got a chance to meet Barrett for the first time. We then headed to say "hi" to Grandpa Delbert and after that continued on to Uncle Pat and Aunt Amanda's house to have the cousins meet for the first time. It was so much fun to see the two boys together!!! All the pictures are just way too cute! :) I can't wait to see what these two will get into in the future (although I must say that Louie was pretty chill the whole time while Barrett seemed to not want to stay still...hmmm...what does that say about the future??!!??). It was a busy day, but oh so much fun!!! 

3 Weeks Old

Barrett is 3 weeks old today! Wow...where has the time gone?? I keep hearing that time will only go faster, so I'm trying to enjoy these moments. Yet, I must say that I jinxed myself last night because I was telling Ben that I'm getting used to getting up at night and it doesn't seem to be interferring too much during the day because Barrett will fall right back to sleep after nursing...BUT last night Barrett refused to sleep so I was awake much of the night...ugh! Just when you get used to something. :) It makes life interesting, right?!?

The picture above represents the place Barrett likes to be in the evenings...right on daddy's chest. I think Barrett gets bored with seeing me all day, because when dad is home he just likes to lay there and stare at him. It is truly adorable! :)

Tonight Ben and I are going out for our first entire evening away from Barrett. We've only left him one other time and that was just for a few hours. Tonight we will miss a feeding (I've introduced Barrett to the bottle already...pumping breastmilk), so Grandma Katrina and Papa will be over feeding and watching Barrett. It will be nice to get out, but I'm sure I'll miss Barrett most of the time. It's just something else to get used to. :) 

First MSU Tailgate

This past weekend we took Barrett to his first MSU tailgate. He looked like such a stud in his t-shirt and jeans! The stormy weather held off all day so I could stay a little longer with him. Everyone seemed to enjoy having him around and some people got to meet him for the first time. It was a busy day (I think I felt the effects more than Barrett) and we were definitely ready to go home when the time came, yet I must say we had a great time at the tailgate! :)

We also had many visitors this weekend, many of which were meeting Barrett for the first time. Ryan, Alissa, and family stopped by, as well as Todd and Erica. Jocelyn, Jacob, and Gwen even drove in from Ann Arbor to spend the day. Jocelyn did a lot of helpful things around the house, too which was nice and Gwen got to meet her cousin for the first time. It was great visiting with everyone!! 

Video Clip of the Roll-Over

Here's a link to the video clip I got of Barrett flipping over last night. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmzqAbkjAk0

Barrett Can Flip Over!!

So last night Ben was giving Barrett some "tummy time" and Barrett flipped over onto his back (several different times!)!! He had been close before, but he actually did it this time! I got some video clips of it (no sound, though), but I'll have to figure out how to share them first. Ben was so excited that he exclaimed "We have a protege!". All this excitement and Barrett is just 2 weeks old today!!

On another note, Barrett slept in his crib the entire night last night and it was wonderful!! He's pretty much clockwork these days, waking up every three hours to feed and get a diaper change. So needless to say I got a few good 2.5 hours of sleep in chunks. It felt so good. It was difficult at first to have him in another room, because I couldn't check on him easily, but it was all of those noises that was keeping me up at night. He was fine and I have to remember that many of his noises don't mean that he needs me at that moment. Overall it was a great night and I hope that most nights are like that one! Hopefully he sleeps longer between feedings soon, too! :) 

U of M's Newest Fan!

Okay, so I'm alittle delayed with this post, but I still wanted to share some photos of Barrett in his U of M gear. Last Saturday we watched U of M play Notre Dame (and U of M just slaughtered them by the way!) and we happened to be watching the first half of the game with two Notre Dame fans, so I needed another U of M fan...I recruited Barrett! It took a lot for Ben (he kept covering up the block M on Barrett's outfit), but Barrett wore the outfit for the entire game! :) Ben said later that Barrett peed on the outfit so he changed it...hmmm. Anyway, it was a fun weekend with friends and football.

On another note, I am proud to announce that Ben and I are proud Aunt and Uncle to Louis Richard Smith. Amanda (Ben's sister) had her son on September 18 at Sparrow and he weighed in at 8 lbs. 11 oz. We went up to visit the new parents and son a few days ago and boy is Louis a cute one!! I can't wait for the two boys to play together and become great buddies! :)

And finally, some of you have been asking about me and how I am doing. Every day gets alittle easier (mainly in part because I am healing more and more each day). Barrett has been struggling to sleep at night. It's not that he cries a lot, he's just a noise maker and is very alert at night time. I usually get a 2 hour chunk of sleep from 11:00pm-1:00am and then I am awake from 1:00-4:30am. I then get to sleep again from 4:30am until about 8:30 am (on a good night). So adding that up, I guess I'd say I get about 6 hours of sleep a night, but I must say that it is not good sleep. Last night I put Barrett in his crib for the first time during the 4-8 block and I slept much better. I think it is crib time from now on. Barrett's been sleeping in a bassinet in our bedroom, but he makes so many normal baby noises (grunts a lot!) that we can't sleep that good. We'll see how the crib things goes. Overall, this whole mother thing seems natural to me. I'm kind of surprised by how normal it all feels (I was expecting it to be different for me). There are some things lthat have made me sad though, like how different Ben and my relationship is. Things are great, just different. We are much closer, but we don't get that great cuddle/loving time that we always got before. We try to take advantage of the moments we have together and live them up! I've already told Ben that we need to start having date nights in a few weeks, just so we can enjoy each other more. People always said that having a baby changes everything and it certainly does (but believe me things are better now than they were before....we have made a great little boy!). 

First Bath

A few nights ago Ben and I gave Barrett his first bath. Barrett was a little squirmy and very slippery, so it was definitely a two person job! I wasn't able to take too many pictures, yet the few I got are precious! Enjoy! 

Barrett Benjamin Spitzley

Barrett Benjamin Spitzley
Born: Sept. 8, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Weight: 8 lbs. 7 oz.
Length: 21 inches

Barrett Benjamin Spitzley is Here!!

Okay, okay so I know many of you have been patiently waiting for a post... First let me explain the pictures. The first one is me squatting outside under a full moon (as many of you suggested I do), of course I didn't really do squats, but it was all in good fun. This was around 10 pm. Low and behold at 2 am I woke up with painful contractions. Does the full moon really cause women to go into labor?!? I was due any second, but there was a full moon...hmm.... :) Anyway, the next pictures are right after delivery and in the recovery room. I'll post pictures of just Barrett in another post (I can only post so many pictures at one time).

So here's how it all happened. I woke up at 2 am with painful contractions. Yet, I have been stuck timing contractions before so I tried waiting these out in bed. They were so painful though that laying down was not a relief. I read somewhere that if you're laying down, get up and walk around. If the contractions go away then they are false labor pains. So I got up, got a drink of water and they were still there. So I showered and blow dried my hair (yet all the while these contractions were very painful). After that I decided to start timing them (it was now 3:15 am or so). The contractions ranged anywhere from 2-5 minutes and lasted about 60 seconds each time. After an hour I got tired of timing them and decided that I should wake Ben up so he could get ready to go to the hospital (on the way to the bedroom I had to stop walking during a contraction and knew it was the real deal). So around 4:30 am I woke Ben up. I was scheduled for an appointment at 10 am that day so Ben's first response to being woken up was "Can't it wait until your appointment?". Granted he was partially asleep, but I replied "Um, no". After all of our discussions about feeling like we were going to be pregnant forever and wouldn't it be nice if I had to wake Ben up to go the hospital, the day had finally arrived and it seemed surreal. I decided that I should call Jocelyn (at 4:30 am)also since she would be my second coach (she wanted me to call when we were thinking we needed to head to the hospital so that she could get things arranged at home with Gwen and other things). Anyway, Ben and I loaded up and headed to the hospital. We arrived around 6 am and that had me gown up and wait in a Triage room. They examined me and found that I was only 3 cm dilated. They decided to wait an hour and check me again to see if I had dilated anymore. So again they examined me and I was in their words "alittle more than 3" the next time. So they kept me hooked up to a machine that watched the contractions and they seemed to want to keep us waiting. I guess there was discussion about whether or not to admit us. 3 cm is borderline for admittance, yet I was overdue so they thought they shoudl admit me...they debated for a long time. During this time was when my water broke (9:30 am). Luckily I was in a hospital gown on a hospital bed (meaning no mess at my house!). That whole process is weird and very gross, but it is all natural so you have to deal with it, right?!? It felt like a balloon popping inside and then a lot of water came pouring out. After this we called in a nurse. She was so casual about the whole thing, checked that it was clear fluid (which it was) and examined me again. Her response was "Well, now that your water has broken, the contractions will become more uncomfortable". Mind you that I was already having a difficult time with each on, so this was not good news for me. Boy was she right, because no sooner were her words out of her mouth and I had another contraction. It was 1,000 times worse than the ones I had before that. They seemed to happen one on top of another and they are so indescribably painful!!! They had to admit us now (they won't let you leave once your water has broken) and I was only at 3 cm dilated. They quickly had me get onto a wheel chair so they could take us to our delivery room. At this point I was asking for the epidural like crazy and saying that I was "in hell". I literally felt like I was losing my mind. Come to find out later that my contractions were long meaning they built slowly and came down slowly after peaking (meaning they were painful for longer). Each second felt like an eternity and the epidural was heaven. Although I thought that the epidural was immediate (it's not), they said that I would have to go through a few more contractions with pain (AHGGG!). I somehow got through those and was finally able to feel "normal" again. About this time Jocelyn arrived (11 am-ish) and the doctors examined me again. They said that I was now 6-7 cm dilated. I was happy to hear that, yet I was thinking about how fast that seemed to be. Around 9:30 am when my water broke I was only 3 cm and now I was 6-7 cm. Wow! After that Ben went and got himself and Jocelyn lunch and they casually ate while thinking that they would have a long day of waiting. Boy were they wrong...soon after they finished lunch (around 1 pm) the nurse examined me again and asked "Are you ready to have a baby?". I said "wait, what did you say?" and Ben and Joss looked shocked! Ben came over to me and was very emotional and sweet. He just kept saying how much he loved me and giving me kisses on the cheek. It was a special moment. Meanwhile, the nurse was setting everything up and getting ready to go. Soon after, I started the whole pushing process. No one really ever told me about this part. There is a lot of pushing hard and waiting for contractions to build. So you push maybe three times during a contraction and then wait a few minutes for the next one, then you do it again. It felt like I was doing a lot of work for nothing, but soon enough the nurse pulled out a mirror for me to watch delivery with and we all began to see the first signs of the head. This gave me motivation with each push and really helped with the delivery. I did keep asking "how much longer" and "is it working". It was so exhausting. With every waiting period, I woudld watch the head reverse and it got frustrating. When the head was in the pelvic area, there was so much pressure and pain that I felt like I couldn't do it any longer. I know that there is no choice in that matter, but I really felt like I had to quit...it was so hard. About this time was when the doctor arrived (it had been about an hour and a half) and the head was almost out. At this point was when I pushed a lot more with each contraction because I didn't want to wait for another one. I remember pushing with all my might and watching the head come out. The doctor suctioned the nose and mouth and then asked me to give her another push. So I did and then I felt sort of a plopping/slipping out of the baby. It was a weird but wonderful feeling. Then they just put him on my belly and wiped him off. They left him there for quite a while (which was wonderful) while the doctor worked on stitching me up (I tore a little bit). The nurse then took the baby to stamp his feet and hands and do other newborn tests. We shortly after got him back and got to stare at his new eyes. It was a wonderful moment.

There is much more to share, yet I feel like I've written enough for one day. I'll quickly post more pictures of Barrett and then I'll be off for the day. 

Full Moon

Well, as Monica mentioned there is a full moon tonight. I have heard from several people that the full moon can actually cause a woman to go into labor. I looked into it a little more and this is what I found out:

"The theory is that the moon's gravitational pull effects the amniotic fluid in much the same way as it effects the water in the sea, rivers and even the water that's otherwise found in our bodies.
As a woman's body prepares for natural childbirth, the amniotic sac becomes distended so the point where it will easily burst if put under pressure. Under normal circumstances, the pressure of labor contractions bursts the sac. During a full moon, the pressure caused by the moon's effect on the water inside the sac can cause the same things to happen, but without the accompanying contractions.
When this happens, natural childbirth doesn't always move forward and with no other signs of labor present, the obstetrician may decide to induce the birth. During my own study of this phenomenon I found that of 8 women whose births started with the water breaking at full moon, 5 of them had no accompanying contractions." - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Moons-Effect-on-Natural-Childbirth&id=70253

Yet other references say that this is all a myth and that there is actually no connection between the two (labor and full moon). So I guess that means that we'll just have to wait and see. My next doctor's appointment is tomorrow. I will be completing a stress test and checking to see that the baby is still doing okay. I'm pretty sure that I will set up an induction date tomorrow if I have yet to go into labor. I'll post as soon as I know anything.

Today's my due date...

but I guess it's not in the plans for me to have this baby today. I've read that only 5 % of women actually have their babies on their due dates anyway, so I shouldn't get too down on myself. I really thought that I would have this baby early, especially after all the days of contractions and cramping. It gets so hard day after day of pain with no results. Yesterday I spent much of the day in pain, yet nothing happened in the end. I cried. My instincts are telling me that the day is coming (well, obviously, right?!?) based on pains and aches that I am feeling. At this point the baby is ready to go. It just keeps adding weight (and adding stretch marks to my belly!), so the sooner this baby arrives the better! :) The stretch marks aren't that big of deal, really, since it will all be worth it in the end, it's just something I'm dealing with. I even have stretch marks around my belly button! :( Overall, I'm feeling okay. I am extremely uncomfortable (as many of you already know), so I have been staying in a lot and not wanting visitors. I've been a recluse and waiting for this baby to get here so I can finally feel normal again and see visitors. It will be an exciting time! 

Feeling the blues

I just thought that I should post again since so many of you are eager to know what is going on. I'm still having several contractions throughout the day, but again...nothing substantial. One exciting thing is that I "passed the plug" last night. I'm surprised it hasn't happened earlier since I am already dilated to 2 cm, but you never know I guess. As some of you know this doesn't mean a whole lot. Labor could be within the next 24 hours or it could be weeks away. It's something, but it doesn't give us much more information.

My day at work today was exhausting and I think it made my cold worse. The cold has progressed to my chest! :( I feel miserable. I think I need to go lay down now. I'll keep you posted as best I can...

Here's the update...

Okay, so the appointment was a little discouraging, but my sister keeps telling me to think positively. It is so difficult to keep thinking that way when I keep going through all this pain for hardly any progress! The doctor says that I am 2 cm dilated, still 50% effaced and the head is high (not a good thing when it comes to labor). She was able to "strip the membranes" somewhat. She tried with all her might (and believe me it felt like it too) to do the best she could. I don't know. It's not the news I wanted to hear, but there is nothing I can do about it. Maybe things will still happen soon, but I scheduled an appointment for next week (at that point I will be 3 days overdue). I sure do hope the baby comes soon though, because I am so tired of being so uncomfortable. The next two days I have to be up at school so that should help take my mind off of things. Sorry ladies, not such exciting news, at least I did dilate some more, right?!? I'll keep you posted!

To top it off...

I am sick! :( It has been lingering now for a few days, but last night and this morning it stuck. My head feels so stuffed up from my ears to my nose...ugh. I can't believe this...I have my appointment in an hour and if I do go into labor soon I'll most likely have this cold during that time. This means that the baby is probably sick too! I'll see what the doctor says. I'll post again later today after the appointment. Wish me luck!!

Still Pregnant!

Well, I thought I had better post again since it is becoming so close to "labor day". The few times I've called people this weekend they thought that I was calling them to tell them that I was at the hospital or that I had the baby. I guess my calls will be coming to a stop from now until then. I don't want to get people all excited for nothing.

As for the pregnancy, I again would like to say how uncomfortable I am. My hands are the most annoying things right now...super swollen and tingly. Ugh! Walking around too much is difficult, also. Friday night (well I guess it would have been early Saturday morning) I was up again from 2-5 am counting contraction (which were stronger this time with more back pain and cramping), yet again they subsided. I am getting very annoyed with those false contraction. I even showered and dried my hair this time. I was so close to believing that it was the real thing! :( Since then I have had some Braxton Hick's contractions, yet nothing amounting to anything. My next appointment is tomorrow, so I will know more then.

This past weekend was an emotional one, but it brought the family together which was nice. Saturday (August 26th) marked the 10 year Anniversary since my mother's passing. My mother's family all came into town that day and we went to the grave to share our thoughts and memories. We all cried and opened up to each other in such a meaningful way. I loved hearing all the great stories. My mother was such an amazing woman and she touched so many people's lives.

After we went to the grave, we went to dinner in town. We were able to catch up on events and share the love some more. It was a nice time. Then, we drove over to see the tree that is dedicated to my mother. It is a great looking tree right on the river. There's a plaque that makes note of the dedication underneath it, as well. After all of these events, my immediate family all went back to my father's house and we stayed up talking and sharing old family pictures until about midnight. I loved this time and we need to do it more often! :)

The Nursery is Finally Finished!!

Yesterday our bookcase came in (we ordered it two weeks ago) and so I was able to go pick it up. Ben put it in the room and then I was able to finalize some last minute organizational stuff. We are both in love with the room and are very happy with how it turned out. A nice personal touch are the scupltures on the wall (the lion and the elephant) which my father made. I love them!

Today I had my 38-week prenatal appointment and I had my first cervical check. The doctor told me that I am currently 1 cm dialated and I am 50% effaced. The head is engaged (which is a good thing) and the cervix is soft (also a good thing). All in all, what does this mean? Well, actually not a whole lot. The doctor did say that it is a good sign that my body is doing something, but as far as labor approaching it means nothing. She said that if I don't go into labor by my next appointment (which is Tuesday morning) then at that time the doctor will "strip the membranes". She told me that 50% of women begin labor within 24 hours of this happening. That's exciting to hear! :) I know that I should enjoy these last days without a baby because a baby changes everything, but I am to the point of such uncomfortableness (is that a word?!?). Three of my fingertips are now numb and tingly, I can't sleep, I have cramping and countless other aches and pains. The sleepless nights with a baby sound like a blessing right now! :) 

38 Weeks

Here's a picture of me at 38 weeks pregnant. My next doctor's appointment is tomorrow and I actually can't wait. I will be examined for the first time to see if there is any progress and any hints towards labor coming soon. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I've been having so much cramping, aches, and pains that I feel like there may actually be some progress. Keep your fingers crossed! :) 

Date Night

Ben and I went on a date last night! It was so nice, especially since it will probably be the last one for awhile. :) We first headed off to test drive some vehicles (which was so much fun!). Then we went to dinner at Logan's Roadhouse and then we went to a movie. We saw "Talladega Nights" with Will Ferrell. It was a great night (although some contractions started near the end of the movie) and I'm so happy that we had that alone time together. Later that night at home, Ben was talking to the baby and saying how excited he is to meet him or her. It was adorable! :) I can't wait to meet this little one either. We're ready, baby! 

False Alarm

So yesterday was an interesting day to say the least. I went to school and worked in my classroom all day and then headed home. When I got home all I wanted to do was rest. I need to add that I have mentioned several times to different people that labor can start at any time, but it needs to hold off until all of my school stuff is taken care of (which it now was). Anyway, as soon as I sat down I got a contraction, which I thought was another Braxton Hicks (false labor), so I brushed it off. Then as time passed I noticed that I was getting an awful lot of these Brackton Hicks contractions, so I decided that I'd better start timing these things, because it could be the real deal. As the hour progressed I was getting a contraction every 3-7 minutes and they ranged anywhere from 1.5 minutes to 3 minutes. I tried drinking a lot of water, changing positions, I even took a warm shower, all the methods mentioned to relieve these false labor contractions. Nothing was working. I was still talking through them, sometimes walking was uncomfortable though. Needless to say, I quite timing them, because I have heard that women can go through pre-labor for hours and soon enough I didn't notice them anymore. I had a few contractions through the night, but nothing substantial. I haven't had any so far this morning, but that definitely put us through the ringer. I guess we have to be prepared for anything. Labor could be today, but it could be two weeks from now...you never know. All I know is that it is getting close and my body is certainly getting itself ready! :)

Full Term & Ready to Go!!

Wow, I look sleepy in this picture (currently at 37 weeks and 2 days)!! My sleep has been poor recently. Last night I woke up every two hours to go to the bathroom!! Ugh! My hands continue to swell to unreal proportions. Ben has been really supportive and keeps telling me that we're almost there and that I have been doing such a good job throughout this entire pregnancy. He's been a sweetheart. :)

I went to the doctor yesterday and everything looks great. I have been cramping a lot recently and they asked me if I wanted to be checked to see if I had started to dialate, but we all agreed to wait until next week. The doctor again said that the baby was head down and then measured my belly (which she measured at 39!!!) and estimated the weight currently to be around 7.5 lbs!!! She thinks that if I deliver in 2 weeks that the baby will probably be around 8 or 9 lbs.!! Whoa! All she kept saying yesterday was "You have a good size baby in there". My test for Group B Strep came back negative (which is a good thing) and that is the last test I need to do. Now I am in what everyone calls the "waiting game". Ben and I both agree that we are ready to meet this little person and so we'd be okay if it happened at any time. I know that I am ready to also get my body (and my hands) back to normal.

Today I am going in to school to finalize my long term sub plans and get my classroom ready. I was up there a couple other times and I think that today will be the last day that I need to go up there. I just want to get all my school stuff finished so that I don't have to worry about it any more and I can just focus on the upcoming labor & delivery & meeting baby.

This is an exciting time. I'll keep you posted on things to come! 

Almost Full Term!!!

I had my 36 week check-up today and everything continues to be great! Yay! The belly is actually measuring at 37 (I think I may have already mentioned this, but the belly should measure the same as how many weeks pregnant you are) and the baby is in a head down position. I did gain 3 more pounds...ugh...and I have some stretch marks showing up on the underside of my belly (Ben told me that because I can't see them unless I use a mirror). You can sort of see them in the picture...nasty things aren't they?!? My feet are swollen slightly, but my hands have become the problem recently. My right hand is so swollen (a lot more than my left hand) and now the tip of the middle finger on my right hand is constantly numb and tingly! I asked the doctor about it today and she told me that it was just the result of some pinching of nerves and that it is nothing to worry about. It is such an annoying thing though. It feels weird just to type this entry!! As for everything else pregnancy related I feel great. Sleep is getting more and more difficult, but during the day I am fine. The baby still moves quite a bit (less kicking and more slow movements across the belly) and it's now getting to the point that many movements are uncomfortable. I sometimes have to push back to make it feel better. Oh, and one thing that I almost forgot, the braxton hicks contractions have really been underway recently!! They do not feel good at all (the belly hardens up and then I feel cramping and pressure near the lower part of my belly). The doctor says that it's an amazing thing, the body, because it knows what to do and it's getting itself ready. These "false labor" contractions wake me up sometimes at night and sometimes I have several in an hour. Yuck! And to top it off, I'm pretty sure that they're only going to start coming more often! It's all part of the excitement though, right?!?
As for everything else, I have been really busy this week (which is good because it takes my mind off of the waiting). I actually spent some time this week in my classroom trying to get things ready for my maternity leave (I am taking 9 weeks off) and I met some friends (Rachel and Destinee) for dinner. It was so nice to see those girls and catch up on things. I also had dinner at my dad's Monday & Tuesday night (Katrina made a great dinner and then there were leftovers the next night...bonus!!). Then yesterday Katrina and I went to Main Dish Kitchen where we made 7 meals to store in the freezer. This way when the baby is here all I have to do is get a meal out of the freezer and cook it. There is no chopping veggies, mixing ingredients, or washing of big dishes. Yeah! I love the idea and they even has a "New Mom" promotion going on right now, so I'll definitely be going back when the baby is here. And finally this week I started packing for the hospital. I have one bag for the labor part and then a larger bag for the postpartum period. I still have some finishing to do, but at least I'm somewhat ready. :)
This weekend Ben and I are heading to his grandma's to spend some time at the lake. Ben has a guy day planned (with friends from high school) on Saturday, so I'll be flying solo that day (hey, at least I'll be able to swim and lounge in the sun) and then Sunday Randy and Kristen are coming to visit us at the lake. It should be a great, relaxing weekend! I don't have too many of those left, so I am trying to enjoy it while I can. 

35 weeks pregnant, 35 days to go!

I'm a little over a month away from my due date! Yea! I am ready to not be pregnant anymore and definitely ready to meet this little person! The home-stretch is here, yet I am finding that I am busier than ever. I have been very lucky in that I have been able to enjoy this summer with no work and no school, but it is finanlly catching up with me. I have to make sure the nursery is ready (when it is I'll post pics) and I have to get together my long-term sub plans (I will be taking 9 weeks off). I'm finding that the sub thing is going to be a lot of work, but I keep telling myself "take it one step at a time". I know I'll be fine if I pace myself and don't procrastinate.

As for baby action, the baby is still kicking all the time. It often will move and hit my right leg nerve (which feels very uncomfortable) and it is going into my rib cage on the left side sending me sharp pains. All the organs are developed now and are finalizing for birth. The baby is over 18 inches long and a little over 5 pounds! Yup, this is definitely why I have difficulty sleeping at night (well, besides the constant running to the bathroom). I have started to experience some swelling of my ankles and feet, some days are better than others. My hands have been swollen for awhile now, but they seem to get worse and worse every day. They always feel tight and I have officially lost the ability to snap my fingers! :( I am told that they will go back to normal after delivery...let's keep our fingers crossed!

And on a final note, last weekend Ben and I spent time at his Grandma Lewis' place on the lake. Ben's family and neighbors got together (thrown by Aunt Sandy) and had a baby shower for Amanda and me. It was so nice to feel all the love. The weather was great Friday night and Saturday, but the day of the shower (Sunday), it poured and poured. It did clear up late afternoon, so I was able to get one last swim in before we had to head for home. It passed through my head that this may be the last time I go swimming before the baby arrives. Wow, how time is really flying!