No News is No News

I am still pregnant (40 weeks and 3 days).  We had a very quiet Christmas at home.  Too quiet!  We are still anxiously awaiting out little one and trying to be as patient as possible.  Some of our relatives have said since there is German heritage on both sides of our family this baby is going to be stubborn and take his/her time to arrive.  We could have a New Years' baby.

I am glad my mom is coming tomorrow to keep me busy and my mind preoccupied.  Maybe I will schedule pedicures for us.  I have heard that there are pressure points in your ankles and if I get them massaged labor may start.  I am going to avoid the castor oil.  I don't need to get sick from that on top of going into labor.  Ugh!  We've tried other things but this baby is just on a different schedule so we will just wait.

We have an ultrasound Tuesday to measure the baby's growth.  If the baby has my big head, maybe the doctor will decide to get things started.  I would like to avoid a C-Section so we keep praying for labor to start naturally.  That's really the best way for things to go.

Time to make a list of things to do this week.

Today - Grocery shopping & long walk

Monday - Pedicure with Mom & long walk

Tuesday - Dr. Appointments & hopefully some news

Wednesday - ?

Thursday - ?

Friday - ?

Maternity Leave Officially Started Today

My maternity leave from work officially started today and guess what?...I AM BORED.  I worked so hard to get all my Christmas stuff done anticipating the baby would be here this week.  I guess that can still happen but we'll have to wait and see.  My husband insists on driving me everywhere I need to go so that really limits me...not that I would like to be at any stores these next few days.

I will have to find some things to do that I wouldn't normal give much thought too...like cleaning up the basement, preparing the recycling for tomorrow's pickup, laundry (on a Wednesday, huh?), washing the floors (not on my hands & knees), assembling the baby swing, start writing in the baby's book, organizing my cupboards (again), baking cookies (& give them away because we don't need all that sugar in our house) and taking long walks outside.  Maybe if I do these things, labor will start and our baby will be here by Christmas.

Speaking of the baby's arrival, we went to the doctor this morning and I am only dilated to 1 cm.  I was hoping for 2 or 3 but 1 is better than 0.  We have an ultrasound schedule for Tuesday to check the baby's growth and make sure there is enough fluid in my uterus.  Then I have a non-stress test (for the baby) and a visit with the doctor to discuss the results of everything.  If I don't go into labor on my own before the new year, they will induce me sometime during the first week of January.

It's weird for us to think that Christmas is 2 days away.  Every year for the past 10 years we have been back in Wisconsin to celebrate with our families.  This year has been so different.  I excited to start some of our own traditions even if this baby is not born yet.  This could be our last Christmas as a family of two.  What a special time!

I hope everyone who reads my blog has a safe and merry Christmas however you end up spending this joyous holiday.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

God bless!

We're in the home stretch!

Yesterday I started my  39th week of pregnancy.  I can't believe we've come this far already.  That last 2 months have just flown by.  We are soooooo ready for this baby it's unbelievable.  The last few weeks we really started to get anxious about meeting out little one.  The suspense of a boy or girl is just killing us now.  We are believing that labor will start Monday so we will have time to get home to have Christmas with our family.

The next picture you will see is of our little one.  I can't wait.

Here's a list of things I can't wait to do after giving birth:

1. Sleep on my right side without pain.
2. Lay on my stomach.
3. Put my socks and shoes on without struggling to reach my feet.
4. No more swollen ankles or feet (or hobbit feet as I call them).
5. Driving without being uncomfortable.
6. No more itchy belly.
7. No more jabs to my bladder.
8. The constant feeling I have to go to the bathroom (getting more intense the last few days).
9. Carrying things on my hip - like a laundry basket. (I currently don't have one)
10. Working out.

Most of all I can't wait to hold our little one and share the joy of officially becoming parents with my loving husband.  Let the journey begin.

Maternity Pictures

I had some beautiful maternity pictures taken and thought I would share.  It was more fun than I expected and the outcome was even greater than I could have imagined.  My friend did a great job on these shots and we'll have these pictures forever to remember my first pregnancy.

I do wonder what our family will think 75-100 years from now when they see these pictures. "Why did women take pictures of their pregnant bellies like this?"


Click here to view these pictures larger

Well Our Bags Are Packed & We're Ready to Go!

It's amazing how fast these last few months have gone.  I started my 37 week of pregnancy yesterday.  What a month we have had!  November involved 2 baby showers, 3 childbirth classes, infant and child CPR class, lots of work done in the baby's room, holiday parties, Thanksgiving with the Davis family, Packer game a Ford Field and shopping for those last items we need for our little one.  Oh, did I mention all the doctor's appointments.

We had an amazing ultrasound last month and can't believe the picture the technician was about to capture and print for us.  It's been a treat to discuss with each other and our family members and friends just who they think the baby looks like.  So for those of you that haven't seen the picture yet, here it is.

This month we are finishing up the baby room, getting maternity photos taken, installing the car seat, taking care of those things we want to have done before the baby arrives (like haircuts, dog grooming, filing, etc) and having our bags packed.  I did manage to get some Christmas decorations up so that if the baby is born before Christmas we can celebrate his/her first Christmas together in our home with all the decorations.

I am also trying to get some Christmas shopping done but it's becoming difficult because the last thing I want to do it go to a mall.  I am usually so on top of Christmas and this year I just don't know what to get people.  This year is so different. We usually buy our gifts online and ship them back home to WI.  We've done this for the last 8+ years. It's weird not going through those same motions and not preparing for a trip back home to spend with our families.  Although I have to say that that is the last thing I want to do right now.  I can't imagine traveling in winter being 8 or 9 months pregnant.  So Christmas will be what it will be.  We're so focused on the arrival of our little one that I know everyone will understand.  Maybe they will get their gifts in January.

So here is a picture of me starting my 37th week.  I have scheduled my weekly appointments up until my due date so we'll see how things progress and I'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as we know.  Thanks to everyone for their love and support during my pregnancy.  We couldn't have done it without out.  Most of all, I want to thank my husband for his love and support.  I know it was hard on him because I was not my normal self at times and he just didn't know how to respond to me.  He's a great husband and it going to be an amazing dad.  Our child is already blessed with a great father and wonderful family around him/her.