Waiting sucks

So now we play the waiting game. I hate this! It's just so bizarre to sit around and wait for a baby to arrive! Not to mention the pain in getting the little one here. I've been walking 3 miles a day at a brisk pace to try and help things along. Why does everyone have to stare at my belly though? Is it that odd to see a fully pregnant woman walking the streets?

Today I begin week 39. Seven days until my due date. They baby definitely feels a lot heavier and squished in there, and his/her movements are getting kinda painful. I also feel more pressure. So maybe sometime soon things will start happening.

Keep ya posted!

Pressure

Went to dr today. Ugh, he annoys me. Already said if I don't go into labor by 1 wk past due date we will do induction. Then he even picked up phone and scheduled an induction, just in case! Now I'm freaking out a little. I feel like the pressure is really on to go into labor by April 13th @ 9pm.

Walked home through the park which was beautiful. I am now in total panic mode. I made myself go into nesting mode tonight by fixing up nursery some more, setting aside last minute things to wash for baby, packing my hospital bag, then relaxing in the glider and read some Dr. Sears Baby Book. I then proceeded to set my iPod setlist to listen to while in labor. Now I feel a little more prepared for the big day. I just hope we are the ones to determine this big day and not the Dr.

Either way, baby will be here within 2 1/2 wks NO MATTER WHAT.

wow.

Guston Meyers

Friday night as we were going to sleep I started to feel something. Pains. Down in the belly area. Huh? Now? No! The pains lasted a minute or so and were in all different areas. Mainly below the belly button. They weren't often enough to time, but still I started to freak out. I'm sure they were Braxton Hicks contractions. Or 'Guston Meyers' if you're David. For some reason he thought that was the name of them. At least I got a good laugh while in pain!

In all it lasted an hour and a half. It was good practice for us. I sat. I stood. What seemed to really help me relax was concentrating on breathing and looking at a framed photo we have of Block Island! David rubbed my back, neck, arms, feet. Brought me water. It was painful but not overwhelmingly so. Mostly it was just plain scary! I said to him "I'm not ready". Then I thought, well I have to be ready, because ready or not the time is around the corner.

13 day until my due date...

Countdown

17 days to go is what the countdown bar says. Give or take. Probably give. My friend Lina thinks I'll deliver on April 11. She's pretty good with this so we will see.

Had our 37 wk appointment yesterday. Everything is fine. Baby is still high up so no time soon. Baby is head down like I thought so that's wonderful news. The head is measuring exactly the size it should at this point. Dr estimates the weight at around 7.5 pounds now but that is really just a guesstimate. Not so good news is I tested Group B Strep positive. Basically that means I'll have to get to the hospital a little sooner than I wanted or if my water breaks to get IV antibiotics to ensure Baby Monkey doesn't get infected. It's relatively common, 20% of women test positive, but still would rather not have to think about it. Oh well, at least they caught it.

I feel good. I really can't complain. I hear about some women who are completely miserable by now. Maybe in the next couple weeks I will be. But so far so good! I'm working from home full time now and must admit I get a little bored being home alone all day. But I've been trying to take lunchtime walks which helps break up the day. And I must admit rolling out of bed and logging on at 8:55AM is nice!

Nursery Pt 2

We couldn't resist setting up the nursery after we got the deliveries last week. Now all we need is our sweet baby to complete the room. That and something for the walls and window.

Nursery

So we are pretty much done with the nursery. Done if you count having the stuff, but not unpacking or setting it up. We basically have the crib and dresser, painted the walls Antique Lace, and that's about it. Still no crib bedding. No wall decorations. No cute curtains. I just feel wrong about completely setting everything up before Baby Monkey arrives. Yesterday I washed all the baby clothes, blankets, etc. The washing machine was a sea of yellow and green. But all the baby related items are here. I have become quite friendly with Mr. UPS and Mr. Fed-Ex as they are here delivering stuff several times a week. And they are so nice to bring it all upstairs as they know of my 'condition'.

Spring Ahead

So this weekend we got all our baby shopping done. But are you ever really done? My New Baby Checklist is almost all checked off. Saturday we went to LI and with the help of Eric we exchanged stuff at Target, ate some IHOP and hung out David's parents a little. Sunday-shopping in town at Buy Buy Baby. The staff at BBB are amazing. They just know everything about everything, and then some. And they don't push the pricier products. Dave and I were so clueless with what brands/things to buy and the showed us the light. I felt like hugging the saleslady after all the advice she gave us.

Had dinner at Zen Palate with Henry then came home and Dave put the Bugaboo together. It's so cool! And it doesn't seem as difficult to take apart as some say. The bassinet is really nice and I can't believe within a month or so our baby will be in it. Still, shopping and setting up stuff does make me a little nervous. Things will most likely go fine but then there's always that small chance they won't. Just normal nerves I guess.

It's in the mid-50's here and it feels like Spring has finally sprung. Woohooo! 'Tis the season for change.

Baby Shower Sunday

Happy Expecting Couple


Shaina's 'Diaper Cake'


So cute!


Boppys for everyone!



The gift hit of the day-my friend Lina bought TONS of little outfits and hung them on a 20 ft clothesline. Amazing!












On Sunday we had our baby shower. I was amazed at how many friends and family attended and so glad to share my belly with everyone. I'm still overwhelmed with all the gifts we got (THREE Boppys!) and it makes Baby Monkeys future arrival so much more real. Shaina made the cutest 'diaper cake' and decorated cakes and made favors. It was all so nice and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I know I did.

One person in particular who enjoyed themself was mystery lady. ML arrived with some friends of the family who often bring relatives to events and we're never quite sure who they are. No problem, we had seats for everyone. After about a half hour I noticed ML was sitting amongst a group of our friends and not at the family end of the table. Henry called me over and asked who she is. I told him I think she's Rita's Mom or something. He wasn't so sure. Especially the way she was wolfing down chips and salsa. So I asked David, who asked his Dad, who asked Rita. Nope, not with Rita. Ok-so WHO THE HELL IS SHE? Turns out she was some homeless party crasher who thought she would just blend in with the guests. David's Dad said we should let her eat and enjoy. Um no, and then the next thing we know this lady will steal our stuff! So Matthew had the waitress 'remove' her from the restaurant. Upon being EXPOSED the lady responded 'Oh, I'm looking for the bathroom' and was escorted out of the place. At least it makes for a good story for years to come..."Remember that Creepy-party-crashing-homeless-leopard print hat wearing-crazy lady!"

Afterwards we loaded up Shaina's car with gifts, some folks carried the rest home, and played some Wii and went out to dinner. I was totally exhausted by this time and we are just so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family. Thanks so much everyone!


[Side note on something totally unrelated: I can't get over what happened on Battlestar Galactica the other night! Wow is all I have to say. What a brilliant show.]

35

Look at the baby progress bar at the very bottom of my blog. Today I am 35 weeks and I have 35 days to go. I am also 35 years old, but I guess that has nothing to do with anything. Still, that is so insane. I can't grasp the life change that is around the corner for us. But can anyone their first time around? It just blows my mind. Last night as I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, dead tired, I thought one of these nights I could get up with early contractions, how will I be able to go through this labor? It's just all so scary to me. But I know after it all it will be well worth it.