38 Weeks

So I'm almost 38 weeks, technically 37 weeks and 5 days, but close enough! I had my weekly check-up today and not much has changed. I'm still at 2cm and 70% effaced. The doctor is really pleased with this progress though and thinks it may give me a good chance of having a 'quicker' delivery...not necessarily quick, but quicker than it could be! I've been feeling some lower back pain lately and a few pains in my lower stomach, but nothing that I think has been a true contraction yet. I'm so worried I won't know when I'm really going into labor but the doctor assures me I will!

This is my last week at work until my maternity leave and I can't wait! I'm just so excited to finally get to meet Alexa and see what she looks like! Brian's Mom thinks she might come on July 7th because it's a full moon. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I sure hope she comes then!

We had my family baby shower on Saturday and I couldn't believe how much great stuff we got! Alexa's closet is full to the brim and we have enough diapers and wipes to last us for awhile...or so I think! The house is pretty much ready for her arrival.

I took some updated belly pics and you can tell I'm about ready to pop! My face has started to get a little fatter too unfortunately :-( I can't wait to get back in the gym after she's born!

Almost there!

We had the sonogram today and Alexa has grown! She's up to 5lbs 11oz. Our doctor doesn't expect that she'll be more than 6 or 6 1/2 lbs at delivery so not too far to go. I'm also already dilated 2cm and 60% effaced. So only 8cm more to go and 40% effacement left! I know that can take forever, but it still makes me feel like we're almost there! While I am hoping she comes a little early, I hope she waits until at least after July 2nd when I begin my maternity leave! I have my hospital bag ready to go just in case though and I've been trying to prep Brian for the 3am wake-up saying "It's time to go." I think Oscar also knows something is going on because he's been extra cuddly to me lately :-) Less than 4 weeks to go now!

9 Months!

Wow! I can't believe there are only 29 days left to go before we get to hold our little girl! While the end is in sight, things have been getting increasingly uncomfortable. To name a few:

Monster feet - Yes, I know, I've been complaining about this for quite some time but it continues to get worse. I have to admit that I haven't done the best job of 'putting up my feet and relaxing', but I can't help it, there's so much to do before she gets here! So, in the meantime, I am constrained to wearing flip flops and forget about wearing shorts, capris, skirts, or anything else that puts my feet and ankles on display!

The waddle walk - I swore I'd never do it, but unfortunately these days it seems like the only way I can get my legs moving is with the waddle.

Carpal tunnel? - Apparently I have developed carpal tunnel in the last month or so. I have read this is quite common in pregnancy. It's also very painful! The worst is at night when my fingers hurt so bad I can barely lift the toilet lid to go to the bathroom...which by the way is up to a minimum of 3 times per night!

Continued decrease in mobility - As the days go by it seems moving around continues to get more and more difficult. I am now unable to even turn myself from side to side in the bed without significant effort. It's funny how you take for granted being able to do the simplest things, like tying your own shoes or getting out of the car....or lifting yourself off the toilet!

I had a doctor's appointment last Friday but the sonogram isn't until tomorrow. That's when we'll find out if Alexa is growing properly. I'm very hopeful that she is though because I had gained 5 lbs in a matter of 2 1/2 weeks. Certainly that can't all have been me right?! They also checked my cervix on Friday and I'm dilated 1 cm! Unfortunately I could be there for awhile, but hey, it's progress!

I had two baby showers this past weekend, one on Friday with my RLI co-workers and one on Saturday with Brian's family. We got so many good things! My RLI co-workers got us the stroller/car seat, Baby Bjorn carrier, and some books. I ended up putting the stroller together at 5:30am on Saturday because I couldn't sleep. Brian had insisted we go with 'neutral' colors for the stroller so it's blue and brown. It's very boyish so we'll have to make sure we throw in a pink blanket so people will know she's a girl! We got so many great things from Brian's family as well...too many to list! I spent half the day Sunday putting everything away. Baby stuff is starting to take over the house!

We had maternity photos taken a couple weeks back and I met with the photographers on Friday to pick out the ones we wanted. Unfortunately they don't give us proofs and all they would give us was a sheet of paper with thumbnails of the pictures. I scanned em in so you can get an idea, but they are very small! The photographers were Jeff and Julia Woods out of Washington, IL.

Our sonogram is tomorrow so I'll update then on how Alexa's growing!