The Good Life...

It was nearly 7:30 p.m. last night and I hadn't eaten dinner yet.  Ryan being concerned about Baby Girl, offered to make me dinner :)  He brought me a gooey grilled cheese, a glass of milk, and a brownie for dessert!  All while insisting that I keep my feet elevated.  Baby Girl was much appreciative!

37-week appt

We had our weekly appointment this morning.  Nothing too exciting to report.  Baby heartrate of 156 bpm, as she was upset that the doctor pushed her around alittle to get an accurate fundal height measurement.  Fundal height measured at 34 cm but the doctor feels that as long as I feel Baby Girl moving and as active as usual, no need for concern.  Doctor mentioned that my ribs are long so perhaps that is why Baby Girl has been carrying low and to the sides.  I gained 2 pounds this past week! (26 total weight gain).  I had another urine analysis done today, negative for proteins or sugar.  (I don't think I mentioned that I had a urine analysis last week but I meant to because it surprised me as they haven't checked my urine since 17 weeks).  The Group B strep test from last week was negative too so we don't have to worry about antibiotics during labor.

Our bathing beauty!  Tex is too busy chasing his football.

Ryan asked the doctor that if she was a betting person, which date she would put her money on...Doc didn't commit to a date just said that statistically, most babies are born between 38-40 weeks.  Our next appt isn't until Thursday, 7/19/12 because the office is booked next Tuesday 7/17...Ryan thought that was odd of the scheduler as you'd think someone finishing their pregnancy would have an appointment available.  Oh well... the doc said she'd do another ultrasound next week to measure how big the baby is getting...if we make it until the 19th!

The doctor also asked about Braxton Hicks  but I only feel that tightening when walking or lifting things.  If what I've been feeling for several weeks really are Braxton Hicks contractions, they haven't gotten any more frequent or any more intense yet.

Ryan put the carseat in his car today, so that's one less thing to forget when we are at the hospital delivering Baby Girl. 

It's getting close!

HELLO Full Term!

We are officially FULL TERM now!  37 weeks now and Baby Girl is allowed to come whenever she would like to join us.  She has been in my dreams a lot this past week which has gotten me even more excited to finally meet her.  As much as I've enjoyed being pregnant, and I'll be sad when this chapter ends, it's going to be so much fun to get to know her personality, decide who she looks like, and watch her develop.

Our doctor's appt this week is Tuesday, 7/10/12 so we'll see how that goes and what the doctor says about her arriving.  Our pool is also being drained that day :( so it'll be out of service for 2 days.  I teased Ryan that that would be perfect timing for her arrival... since we won't be able to use the pool we may as well be delivering Baby Girl!

Just threw in a random picture of one of our favorite flowering trees in the yard.  The plumeria flowers always remind me of Hawaii and our pink flowers are coming out now while the yellow flowers have been blooming for a few weeks.

My inner Martha Stewart

 When we began registering for baby items, I was thinking that the swaddle/receiving blankets at the stores weren't too impressive...in both design options and material used.  I read a post on the rookiemoms.com blog about how to make easy receiving blankets and knew that even I could handle this!

I bought flannel fabric right away...and the months passed.  All of a sudden it was June!  This project became a priority.  Once I got started, I couldn't believe how easy these are to make.  The hardest part was getting the sewing machine out of the storage closet, setting it up, re-learning how to thread the machine and wind a bobbin.  I wish I had paid more attention to my mom when she was sewing and through various projects with Girl Scouts, but that's what owner's manuals are for!  But, finally, I am happy to say, we now have homemade swaddle blankets and burp cloths for Baby Girl!  Plus, making these cost a fraction of what we would've paid had we bought all these blankets and burp cloths.

I'm so happy with how they turned out and can't wait to start using them :) 

Burp Cloths

Swaddle Blankets (which I'm still unsure how much they will be used in south TX but everyone tells me its nice to keep a blanket over the baby while inside with the air conditioning).

Green Bay Packers blanket for Baby Girl to use this fall when she cheers on the Pack!

Pregnancy update: The swollen ankles are no longer only at night :(  By noon, I have sock line indents and missing ankle bones.  Waking up with swollen feet has become the norm this week.  The other night I told Ryan it looked like there was a golf ball sticking out from my ankle...his response?  'Are you sure its just 1?  Don't you mean 4?'  Working on the blankets in the evenings hasn't helped but completing this project was worth the pitting edema!  I haven't been sleeping too much at night this week, I guess I'm nesting because I lay in bed and think about all the stuff I hope to finish before Baby Girl arrives.  Lots of thoughts about work and my patients but fortunately, I have found 2 assistants who are able to help cover my patients while on maternity leave.  Now that I am completed with the blankets and burp cloths, hopefully that is one less thing to think about at night.

Happy 4th of July!

Sending Happy 4th of July greetings from South TX!

We spent the day with our TX family at Port Mansfield, took their boat out, walked the beach searching for sand dollars, and relaxing.  We brought home some pretty shells, some rocks for the flowerbed, and many memories.  It was so relaxing to get away from the hustle and bustle and I'm SO glad we were able to go. 

There were some initial concerns voiced about being pregnant and bouncing through the waves on the boat, but our doctor gave us the green light without any hesitation.  I think some concerns also existed because mid-pregnancy, I had a very real dream of giving birth in Port Mansfield, while walking the beach, and Ryan didn't make it back to the beach before the baby was delivered.  But, everything in this dream took place during the month of June..and we are now in July! :)

On our way back to the mainland, we spotted a school of 5 dolphins and stopped the boat to watch them gracefully swim and surface.  Unfortunately, the photographer was too busy watching rather than photographing!

Can't wait to get back out there for more memories and relaxation!

36-week appt/update

We had our 36-week appt this morning and all went well :)  Baby heartbeat of 140 bpm.  The nurse told us that Baby Girl had the hiccups, which I've felt those movements in my belly before but I didn't realize that was the hiccups everyone talks about!  My weight gain was zero for the past 2 weeks, which surprised me because I feel larger.  Fundal height measured only 33 cm (should measure 36 cm based on how far along the pregnancy is at this point) so our doctor was concerned about amniotic fluid levels because 2 weeks ago, fundal height was 34 cm.  Somehow I was missing 3 cm...so doctor ordered an ultrasound to measure fluid levels.  Fortunately, amniotic fluid levels measured very well.  Doctor feels that because Baby Girl is sitting more laterally, across my stomach, that explains why the fundal height measurements were off.  Through the ultrasound, we were able to see Baby Girl remains head down :) and her butt is up by my right ribs.  We could see good respirations from her and she was opening and closing her mouth.  The appt got me a little anxious because had the fluid levels been low, doctor would have admitted me to the hospital for IV fluids to see if we can pump up the fluid levels to get her to full-term.  Thankfully, we are good and don't have to worry about her coming yet.  But it definitely made her upcoming birth a reality, whether or not we are ready for her!

Since our last baby update at 34 weeks, we have set up her bassinet/pack-n-play in our bedroom, washed our cars (inside and out), and installed the car seat bases in the cars.  I think at this point, it's just a waiting game and we may never feel exactly ready for the birth but the timing is for her to determine!

(I'm sorry if the picture isn't good quality, I'm having problems with the blogger settings and our computer...)

Texas Couples Shower

Our Texas family hosted a Couples Baby Shower for us yesterday and completely spoiled us.  It amazes me how giving and loving everyone is to this Baby Girl and how truly excited everyone is to meet her. 



Dessert table with surfboard cake on the beach, homemade chocolate candies, flip-flop Nutter Butter cookies, and ocean themed cupcakes.



We got started with a Name that Baby Food game where there were 11 jars of unlabeled baby food and we had to identify the type of baby food simply by smell.  Ryan and I didn't finish last, but we were far out of first place!  The fruits smelled edible however even Ryan thought the meat jars didn't smell good.



Beachy Diaper Cake



Watermelon Shark with Swedish fish inside it's mouth.





Then the guys were good sports and participated heartily in the Nipple-Bobbing competition and 'Don't Break Your Water' games where they had to walk across the yard with a water balloon between their legs. 

Thank you Glee, Kristin, and Krystle!