Friday, June 28, 2013

34 Weeks! Only 6 weeks left (we hope!)

34 weeks!
 We've had another great week!  This Sunday we had another awesome baby shower!  My boss at work, Peg and my co-worker Melissa threw this one for us.  We have been so fortunate to have 3 baby showers!!  People have been so generous in showering us with love and support, and especially the things we need to get Baby E off on the right foot.  This shower was at Peg's house which was so nice!  We had great food and of course, got more awesome gifts for Baby E.  He now has the set up!  Ha ha, but really.  As soon as he is fully cooked he can come anytime because we are so ready for him!  We were thrilled to get his swing, some storage baskets, and of course more adorable outfits :)

My work crew!
 We have had a busy week educationally as well!  This past Saturday we had childbirth education class and then Tuesday night we had breastfeeding and newborn care class.  It sounds bad but I wasn't sure how much I would get out of these because I feel like all I do is read and try to educate and prepare myself.  I was pleasantly surprised!  I felt at ease after the childbirth education class.  I was happy to get a tour of the labor and delivery floor where we will be and to learn more about the various stages.  I guess my biggest goal is to try and practice relaxation techniques.  I do plan on getting an epidural but I want to wait as long as possible before I do.  Once the epidural is in place, I will be tied to the bed and unable to move around or walk.  I have calming music for us to listen to and Chris will be my number one masseuse!  I also plan on using the birthing ball.  I want to be mobile for as long as possible so that's why I will try to wait as long as I can. 

Watching the video's of newborns made me so anxious for him to get here.  I tear up every time I think about it.  I wander what it will feel like when we see him for the first time and finally get to hold him...I hope for a safe delivery for him and for me and for it to be as pleasant as it can be...I cry every time I think about Chris seeing his brand new baby son for the first time and the thought of just us becoming a family of three melts my heart.  I guess my pregnancy hormones are finally showing up!  Ha ha, I don't feel like I've been that emotional until now.

Breastfeeding and newborn care class was great too!  I guess I am most intimidated by breastfeeding but I think I have prepared myself all I can and I know who to call if I need help!  Chris and I were pro's at bathing our baby and dressing him in the class!  We won a pack of diapers with our record time of 8 minutes :)

Mock Baby E!


The doctor's visit went well this week too.  I'm now only measuring a little over a week ahead.  So bizarre!  Blood pressure is still good!  I'm up 8# now so hopefully it doesn't pile on in the next few weeks.  I haven't been doing as great as I was at eating healthy, so I am making a better effort now!  Chris and I went and took a long walk at the park with the dogs last night which they loved.  So I'm going to try to start walking more in the evenings!  This weekend we are looking forward to having our maternity pictures taken, a pool party with friends, and my great grandmother's 101st birthday!!!!!  Yes, you heard right....101!  That's reason to celebrate folks :)  Hope you all have a great weekend! 




Saturday, June 22, 2013

33 Weeks!

33 Weeks!  Hooray!
 We are moving right on!  Here we are already at 33 weeks!  Things are still going great.  The nursery is practically finished with the exception of a couple small finishing touches.  My goal is to have it totally complete by the end of the month.  With the help of our baby showers we got so much stuff for Baby Elie.  He is going to be one well dressed little boy!  I spent one day washing all of his clothing, blankets, and towels.  I'm sure I will quickly get sick of the laundry increase but I had so much fun sorting through it all and folding his tiny little clothes.  I hope he fits into all of them!  We had a growth scan ultrasound this week to take a closer look at his size.  According to the measurements they do every other week on my belly in centimeters, I was measuring 4 centimeters ahead of schedule.  The growth scan eased my fears though, they said according to the ultrasound, he is exactly where he should be.  They estimated his weight at 5 pounds, and 9 ounces.  If he continues to grow at his current rate, he should be a little over 8 pounds.  I fully expect him to be that big with my family history of large babies :)  There's not much I can do about it at this point anyway, except to continue to eat healthy and take care of myself.  I have now gained 5 pounds but that's not too shabby for 33 weeks!  My blood pressure is still lower than ever so hopefully that continues.  We have another check up next week and then hopefully will be able to skip a week before the weekly checks begin at 36 weeks.  Eek!  It's almost time!

Baby laundry day!





 With the appointments and everything else going on this week it flew by!  We went to Babies R Us one night and finished up the last big purchases we had to get that we knew we couldn't get in town.  Then the following night went to a Red's game with Noel.  We had a ball but I was oh so tired by Friday! 
Reds won in the 12th inning!



My very greasy treat at the ballpark!


My water babies!
 Summertime has finally arrived!  Sadly Chris had to work the weekend but the girls and I were so happy to finally have a day in the sun to enjoy our new pool :)  Heidi isn't exactly loving it but I'm hoping she will come around!  Cali is all about it.  She seems to enjoy laying on top of me while I'm floating the best, ha ha.  They aren't spoiled at all!

Then even though Chris worked on Sunday, we tried to celebrate Father's Day with him anyway :)  He worked nightshift, but came home to this early Sunday morning!
His new hobby!




He loved it!  We also got him a sweet little mug that says "Fatherhood...giving a whole new meaning to all nighters."  So...glad to wrap up another busy week.  Seems like Baby will be here in no time.  I'm trying to soak up these last few weeks of pregnancy and enjoy the last bit of alone time Chris and I are going to have.  Hard to believe that our life as a "couple" is almost over!  We are so excited to welcome baby boy to our world but I am not going to wish these last few weeks away.    









Sunday, June 16, 2013

32 Weeks!

32 weeks!
 Shew!  This Mama is worn out!  This week was a short but busy week at work!  I had to prepare to be off for a few days so it was hectic.  We had our baby shower in Chris's hometown, Rochester, NY this weekend!  We had such a great trip, my mom and one of my best friends, Aileen went with us!  We had a great time visiting family while we were there and even made some time for relaxing which was nice after the 10 hour trip!  We left KY Friday morning and got there late Friday afternoon.  Saturday was our niece Jazmin's Quinceanera which was awesome!  I had never been to one before so it was a new and fun experience!  Here are some pictures:

Beautiful Jazmin!


Me, Aileen, and my Mom


Then on Sunday was our baby shower!  My mother and father in law hosted and of course they did not disappoint!!  It was a lovely afternoon, we visited with friends and family, had a delicious lunch and then opened presents!  So many of our gifts were handmade which makes them extra special.  I can't even imagine how many hours were put into all the blankets, outfits, hats, and booties we got.  He is going to be so warm and cuddly!  Here are some of my favorites from the shower:


My Tractor Diaper Cake!

My mom and I

Awesome cake by Aunt Debbie!

Beautiful corsage from my Mother in Law

My Mother in Law, Tina and I :)



   So...all in all it was a great trip to Rochester!  We came back on Tuesday and then had our 32 week check up on Wednesday.  We learned that our boy is still growing big and strong, ha ha!  This week he was measuring 36 weeks!  Eeek!  Blood pressure still is great, no swelling and up 2 more pounds for a total of 5 so far.  The doctor was very supportive and assured us that it's no reason to worry that he will be the huge baby I am picturing.  They are having us come back next week at 33 weeks for a more specific ultrasound called a growth scan.  I have to say I'm pretty excited to see him again!  This scan will help them get a better idea of his size and estimate his weight.  So...now the countdown until then!  In the meantime I am staying VERY busy washing clothes, blankets, and putting away all of his things.  The nursery is coming together!  We have one more shower and then we will be all set!  Our days of just being "us" are limited...soon we will be a family!  
     

31 Weeks!

31 weeks.
 Wow I am so behind!!  Sorry it's been so long since I've posted.  I am actually 33 weeks today but I'm going to backtrack a little.  A lot has happened over the last couple weeks!  We've had two wonderful baby showers!  The first was actually at our house, my sister Patricia hosted it.  It was on June 2nd.  It was a BaBy-Q :)  We spent a casual afternoon with friends and family in our backyard, it was an awesome day!  My brother in law grilled burgers and sausages and we of course had all the cookout fix-ins!  It was a wonderful time and we ended the day by making homemade banana ice cream in our new ice cream maker on the front porch.  I had been craving that for awhile!!  It was so exciting to start getting things for our sweet baby.  It feels more and more real everyday!  I'm so happy that we got the nursery finished so early, because it has been a breeze organizing and putting things away after our showers.  As soon as a couple of tiny finishing touches are complete, I will post pictures of his room!  Hopefully by next weekend we will be totally ready for Baby Elie!














In Baby news, my 30 week appointment was somewhat eventful!  Up until now I have been measuring exactly like I should.  Blood pressure has been great and no weight gain...until now, ha ha!  I knew my luck was running out :)  At my 30 week check up I had gained my first 3# and apparently he had a major growth spurt.  He measured 34 weeks!!!  I about choked when the doctor said that!  He didn't seem at all concerned, considering mine and Chris's birth weight (9.5 and 8.5) we are expecting a big baby.  My mom and all my sisters all have had 8, 9, even 10 pound babies so I don't expect him to be small.  Even still...4 weeks ahead was a little overwhelming to me!  He did say that the measurement could be off if he is still breech, so we will wait until the next appointment in 2 weeks to see what he measures then!