Nursery Pictures!!

Took long enough, I know. My camera's battery died before I could get close-ups of some things, like the ladybugs on the curtains and dresser knobs, and it's way too far to walk downstairs for more batteries, so maybe another day. But, without further ado....

Cate's nursery!

Jeff airbrushed the ferns and the ladybugs, and painted the letters. My mom made the bedding.

I am still not over how much I love the pink
and green damask material. I loved it in October when we found it, and I'm still crazy about it. My mom did an amazing job with the whole thing!

We found the dresser at a re-sale shop and touched up the paint. The knobs are hot pink with little black ladybugs on them, but you can't see it. I have all her headbands and hats stored in the baskets on the wall, along with all the oversized flowers to clip onto the headbands. :)

My mom also made the curtains, which have little pink ladybugs embroidered in the corners. I just realized you can't see the super-cute striped valances she made also. I will have to take another picture for those! Also, the lamp may be my favorite thing about the room, besides the fabric on the crib!

So excited!

This and That and Bad Advice

First off...



That's me, last week. Sitting as comfortably as possible at a local food place. I am whale-like. And I think I'm bigger now...




Any person who ever tells a pregnant woman that she should enjoy her sleep now should be kicked in the shins. HARD. While I will admit that my sleep has not been bad at all, the last week or so that has drastically changed. I would like to ask how I am supposed to enjoy my sleep when I have to pee constantly and every sleeping position is painful? Maybe there's a magic word I'm missing.




Went shopping yesterday with Jeff and my mom. Some lady at the fabric store told Jeff (not me thankfully. I would have just given her a deadpan stare. Jeff managed to laugh it off.) to NEVER teach our baby to walk or talk, because then all she would do is sass us and walk out of the room.




Thank you, Complete Stranger, for taking something we've worked so hard for and are still scared about, and putting a completely negative spin on it. It really helped.




Has everyone seen those "Mompetition" videos? I really felt like I was in one yesterday. We stopped at this adorable little children's boutique that we knew would be too expensive (burp rags 2 for $24!) but had the cutest clothes I've ever seen! Anyway, we were standing there talking to the employee/owner (not sure) and my mom mentioned that I've had a really easy pregnancy, and I was really lucky. Jeff dropped in that it was good, since we had not had an easy time getting pregnant. OH MY GOODNESS. This woman wanted to know exactly what we'd gone through, how many times, why we did IUI. We finally wound up telling her we used DS, which I found uncomfortable. Then, she sat and told us about everything she had to do to get pregnant. While I will giver her this: her road was definitely crappier than ours, it was not a pleasant conversation. What could have been a supportive, encouraging talk between two IFers was a competition over whose journey had been worse. So awkward.




My donut store lady says I have at least 2 weeks before I go into labor. She had a couple reasons why, but her English isn't so hot, so I'm not sure what they were. 2 weeks ago, I'd be praying she is right. At this point, I'm praying the doctor is. I guess Cate will decide.



I am leaving this minute to go put Cate's name on the nursery wall (or at least watch Jeff do it) so we WILL have nursery pictures up today!

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks

Total weight gain? 24 lbs

Symptoms? Just the never-ending heartburn. And my belly is officially too big for me to see the cup I'm supposed to pee in at the doctor's office. I peed all over my hand at the last appointment. It sucked.

Stretch Marks? Lots and lots and lots

Sleep? Not so great. I wake up ALOT.

Best Moment last week? My first contraction! (isn't it weird that's the best moment?)

Movement? Never get tired of it, even though it has hit the point where most of her stretching is painful to me. I pretty much have to have a hand on my stomach pushing back at her at all times.

Food Cravings? Eh. I totally wanted some lemonade for about 20 minutes today, then I got over it.

What I miss? Just being able to sit and lay down comfortably. And not peeing when I sneeze.

What I am looking forward to? Her arrival. We're so close.

Milestones? The doc telling me any day!

How is Daddy? Over-thinking things....I think he's excited! :)

A Quick Update

Went to my weekly dr. appointment this afternoon...

She measured my belly (2 1/2 weeks ahead), checked my cervix (nothing), then says "Well, I think if you haven't gone into labor by next week, we'll do an ultrasound just to see how she's doing."

Wait, what?

That's right folks. My doctor would not be surprised if I go into labor within the week.

And there I thought I had another 2 weeks....

Oh dear.

Advice, por favor!

So, there are a few last-minute baby-related things I would like some advice on, if you have it. First off: baby monitors. I know, we have less than 3 weeks, we probably ought to have one by now. And we do. But it's an under the mattress motion monitor we bought at a garage sale, and I will admit I'm freaking out b/c 1. it won't work in the bassinet downstairs and 2. it only works in the crib, so if she falls asleep in her swing in the living room, I have no monitor. I need one that I can move around the house, preferrably with 2 parent units. Any suggestions?

Secondly: bathtubs. We don't have a baby tub yet, and have no idea what to get. A plain plastic one? The one with all the bells and whistles like a detachable shower head? Please advise. I have no clue.

Thirdly: (is that a word?) formula. I am planning on trying to breastfeed. That being said, I don't have a lot of faith it's going to work, and even if it does, I'll have to stop when I go back to work, because there is no way I can pump at school. Does anyone reccomend a specific formula? (Or bottles, or nipples, or anything related?)

I think that's it. At least for today. Tomorrow I might have another dozen things. You never know!

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 Weeks

Total weight gain? 24 lbs

Symptoms? Just the never-ending heartburn. And my belly is officially too big for me to see the cup I'm supposed to pee in at the doctor's office. It's awkward.

Stretch Marks? Lots and lots and lots

Sleep? Not too bad. Definitely tired no matter how much I get though.

Best Moment last week? The surprise mini-shower my class gave me during the Valentine's Day party. They had cookies with rattles and baby carriages, some onesies and bibs, the jumper/exersaucer we wanted, and a book the kids wrote on why I'll be a good mom. It was way cool.

Movement? Never get tired of it, even though it has hit the point where most of her stretching is painful to me. I pretty much have to have a hand on my stomach pushing back at her at all times.

Food Cravings? Not really. It's one of those pregnancy symptoms that I was really looking forward to, but I've had such a good pregnancy I'm not going to complain.

What I miss? Just being able to sit and lay down comfortably.

What I am looking forward to? Her arrival. We're so close.

Milestones? I am officially full term!

How is Daddy? I think he's getting stressed. Nerves, probably.

In the next few days, I'll have nursery pictures up!

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 Weeks

Total weight gain? 23 lbs

Symptoms? Just the never-ending heartburn. Can't complain too much.

Stretch Marks? Lots and lots and lots

Sleep? I actually think I've been sleeping better this past week or so. Maybe I'm just so tired I don't remember waking up!

Best Moment last week? Finishing our childbirth class. Terrifying, and I'm glad it's out of the way.

Movement? Never get tired of it.

Food Cravings? Not terribly. I crave water in the evenings, but don't drink it after 3 or 4 pm, cause it gives me hearburn. Ridiculous, I know.

What I miss? being able to lean forward. That's out.

What I am looking forward to? Finishing the d*** nursery! Seriously, I'm starting to get worried. It's all cosmetic stuff, but still.

Milestones? Officially less than a month left!

How is Daddy? Helpful. He lets me sit when the dogs need in or out, gets things for me, and hauled butt back from Austin yesterday to make it to childbirth class.

35 Weeks

Jeff and I are on day 4 of our six-day weekend. No, it wasn't planned. We're on our (amazingly) 4th snow day of the week! The first three probably should have been defined as ice days, but today it's hard to believe there's at least an inch of ice under all the pretty snow.

I woke up yesterday with a double ear infection. I haven't felt pain like that in a long time. Most of yesterday was spent braving the ice for a doctor appointment and then picking up the prescription. And being in pain. Then last night, my mother-in-law suggested some OTC stuff they have to numb the pain. So we braved the ice again to go get some. It paired with the antibiotic helped, because finally about 2 last night they both stopped hurting. My right ear is still completely stopped up, I can't hear a thing out of it. But no pain.

Also, today is my birthday. I'm 27!

How far along? 35 Weeks

Total weight gain? I forgot to weigh myself this morning, but when I did on Wednesday, I was at 21 lbs.

Symptoms? Heartburn. Overwhelming sense of fear....oh wait. That's probably not a symptom.
Stretch Marks? Many

Sleep? Actually been pretty good this week, up until the ear thing

Best Moment last week? Making it through the breastfeeding class without passing out!

Movement? Never get tired of it.

Food Cravings? Eh. Not really.

What I miss? Breathing. Being able to sit up to type and eat. I have to lean back, and I just don't do that!

What I am looking forward to? My mom finished the bumper for the crib, so I'm looking forward to putting that on.

Milestones? Only 5 weeks!

How is Daddy? Cute. He's the one who stopped and wanted to buy baby clothes at the store on Tuesday!