Very Pregnant - 38 weeks

Ah, I am so pregnant! It is so hard to move around and carry on with my daily routine. I think that's one of the most challenging things for me about being pregnant...I am very self sufficient and independent. I do most things on my own and very seldom ask for help. But when I am this pregnant, this large, this uncomfortable, with a baby's head in between my hips at the lowest possible point, I struggle! I can barely bend over and pick up toys off the ground without stopping and waiting for the pain to dissipate or vacuum without tears in my eyes because my hips hurt from the motion. It becomes a bit of an emotional struggle for me because I can't simply carry on with my daily routine. I have to stop, take a break, ask for help. That being said, we are only 14 days away from the EDD and I am ready! :)

I am excited and anxious. This little child in my tummy has taken up as much room as my body will allow and I am ready to become a Mother for the 3rd time. I'm ready to go into labor, deliver this ever-moving creature, and hold him/her for the first time!

I have so many pictures to post! First, the nursery is finished! Take a peek...

This is the same crib and bedding that Nora Kate used. The canvases, giraffe, and bouncer are all new.

The bird lamp is new, but the armoire is the same one that Weston and NK both used in their nurseries.

The changing table and chair are the ones from NK's nursery. The side table has been mine for a while, but was hand painted black originally. Weston and I painted it this ecru color. The lamp was my grandfather's (PawPaw, my Mom's Dad) and I put a new lamp shade on it. As you can see, baby's diaper bag is packed and ready!

Crazy haired NK trying to climb in and take a peek

Sweet big brother Weston helping me paint :) 

I sat down a couple days ago and assembled the new stroller that Grandma J and Aunt Sarah got us. We are in love with it! The infant car seat attachment isn't attached, but baby's seat will fit on this stroller. Weston has graduated to walking once the baby comes.

The kid's shirts came in that I ordered for the hospital! I am very happy with how they turned out!!

Eric and I went to Babies R Us on Saturday and got the last few things we needed for the baby and then went to a verrrry nice supper at Hyde Park. We have Uncle Carson to thank for this nice evening out!! :) I had the filet and crab cakes and Eric had the filet and scallops. It was a-maz-ing. These pics were taken by the sitter before we went out :) Like I said....I. am. very. pregnant.

I went to my 38 week Dr appointment yesterday. I am measuring on track for my March 5th due date. Baby remains very low and head down. I am 1.5 cm dilated. Contractions are happening every day but they are apparently just "practice" contractions because they stop after a couple of hours and aren't really causing me to dilate much. The heart rate sounds great. It's a waiting game now!

37 weeks

37 week Doctor's appointment is under our belt. Dr Rao says I'm measuring on track this week and the baby's heartbeat is strong. I am almost 1 cm dilated, and the head is still down and low. He said unless my water breaks, I'll definitely see him back there next week. I told him I was hoping our next meeting would be in the labor and delivery room, hehe. He said he doubts it :)

37 weeks and really starting to swell this week...I can't wear my wedding band anymore!

On Sunday, my sister in law, Sarah, and my mother in law, Joyce, hosted a nice luncheon to celebrate number three. It was at a new restaurant here in Hudson, Ohio, called "Peachtree". It's a southern restaurant and is really good! I will say that it's more "southern gourmet", rather than classic southern, down home cooked food. But it is delicious and just seeing 'Shrimp and Grits' and 'Fried Chicken' on a menu was comforting. The weather was really bad that day so several weren't able to make it, but the Ohio family was there and I am so happy they were. It's nice to feel so loved! 

The nursery is 98% ready. All I have to do is paint the small side table that is sitting next to the rocking chair. I'll do it this week and post pics of the finished room!

Full Term!

We made it. 36 weeks...9 months...full term. Baby is fully developed and if he/she comes tomorrow, he/she won't be considered premature. What a relief and what a great feeling! Now, I don't necessarily want the baby to come too early...but I sure wouldn't be upset if it happened a little early! I'm sure he/she is staying cozy in there, and with the weather up here, I don't blame him/her! (I am READY to know the gender -- this he/she/him/her is getting old, haha)

Ya'll. It. Is. Cold. I have never been exposed to so much snow in my life! For example, we had about 5 inches left on the ground from last week's storm, and last night we got another 6 inches...and it is still coming down hard out there now! It's pretty, at least. These windows really let us see a wonderland every morning.

Weston and Nora Kate have been going a little stir crazy and the weather really makes for cozy days confined to the house. Nora Kate has started exploring her climbing abilities and Weston has jumped in the bounce house and played so much Mario that sometimes he just lays down and falls asleep. It can get a little nutty but I have to think that all this cancelled school and snow is allowing me to spend this time with the "bigs" before their baby brother or sister arrives. It's definitely bittersweet.

I went to see Dr. Rao on Monday for my 36 week appointment. He says I'm measuring on track and everything looks great. The head is down and I am a "fingertip dilated". Hey, it's progress! I've started taking my Evening Primrose Oil and am preparing for labor/delivery! It's time to really have everything together. The car seat is still in the box but at least we have it. The baby clothes are all washed and folded, not quite in their drawers, but they're clean. The baby swing, vibrating chair, etc., are all still in the basement, but we know where they are and I'll get them out closer to time. They will only be in the way before the baby comes. We are ready and excited!!

[ 36 weeks...we won't discuss my weight gain]

8.5 months {34 weeks}

We had our 34 week appointment on Monday and since it was a holiday (MLK), Weston didn't have school. So Weston, Nora Kate and I all went to my appointment - you can imagine how "relaxing" that was for me, ha! It actually wasn't too bad. Weston is as easy as they come, and NK is ok as long as she has juice, a snack, a lovey, a binkie, and the Dr isn't touching me! Haha. She panics when Dr Rao touches my tummy and listens to the heartbeat. I think she has her own fears and is worried he is hurting me. Bless her. Anyhow, I am measuring right on track and the baby sounds great!

NK kept telling me she was "stuck"...I had to keep telling her she's "supposed to be stuck in her stroller"!

Sweet Weston sitting patiently in the waiting room :) Love him.

My belly is groooooowing! Phew! It is really starting to get tight in there - I'm sure the baby is having trouble moving around. The moving has slowed and they are actual turns and rolls now. I can feel the feet in my ribs and the arms/hands down in my hips. I'm hoping the baby is already head down and I am correct in what I'm feeling :) Either way, the pressure has started and I had my first braxton hicks this week! Yay for those - it means we are SO close!

We got Nora Kate moved into her new room last weekend and started on the nursery. NK's room looks great! Here are a couple pictures before we really put her knick-knacks in there...it now has all of her baby dolls and tea party stuff and girly girl things.

I'll post pictures of the nursery once we really get it together. Gamma got us a really cool giraffe and the kids love it - Weston and NK want to "ride" it, ha. It's almost 5 feet tall! Thanks, Gamma! The baby will love it in his/her room. 

Nora Kate is getting ready for the baby and has been really interested in her "babies" lately. She has started feeding them and putting them to "night-night". The baby NK is playing with in the picture below was one of my favorite dolls growing up - a Cabbage Patch doll named "Lou Anna". So happy I saved it!

33 Weeks

It's been 4 weeks since I've last blogged, oops! Since the last time I updated, we drove to GA, spent 2 weeks there over Christmas, and have finally gotten back into the swing of things in Ohio.

While we were in GA, Lydia put together a dinner at Little Hawaiian for me and Laurie Kaye to celebrate my number three and her second. LK is having another little girl and is due April 22. We had such a fun girl's dinner! Thank you to everyone who came. It really means a lot!! :) We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends!!!

I've been feeling pretty good lately...aside from my hips KILLING me, I really don't have anything to complain about. In the past two weeks I have been a NESTING MACHINE! I can't seem to sit down because I am constantly organizing or cleaning. I have gone through ALL of Weston's and NK's clothes - from newborn to now and put them in large storage tubs labeled whether it's boy or girl and which size. There are about fifteen 20 gallon tubs filled. And I have one tub filled with gender neutral newborn and 0-3 month size clothes, I'll wash them all pretty soon and put them in the nursery (that has yet to be started!). So now when we get home from the hospital, all we have to do is grab the bin that says which gender we need and the size 0-3 months. 

Ok, so the nursery...We are moving NK to the guest room into a new convertible crib (we aren't rushing her out of a crib) and are using her current room as the nursery. I am going to paint two of the pieces of furniture and put off-white, thick vertical stripes on one of the walls in the room. SO MUCH TO DO! And only 7 weeks left. Panic time! I'll feel much better once the nursery is finished and NK is in her new room and the clothes are washed and...ah...I could go on and on and on. But let's be honest...both Weston and NK both slept in the bed with me until they were 6 months old so there's no absolute rush to have the nursery 100% finished. But let's be honest again, and since you know me, you know that the nursery WILL be done in plenty of time, haha. 

I'm trying to spend some one on one time with my main squeezes before their little brother or sister arrives. It's the little things that remind me to sit down, take a breath, and enjoy every minute!

**Weston is convinced the baby is a BOY. We will see!