36 weeks + some days

This whole being nine months pregnant, work full-time and get ready for baby thing is exhausting. So you'll have to excuse my lack of blogging. And it's not even that I have a lot of stuff going on -- well, this week I didn't have a lot going on -- it's just that by the time I get home from work the only thing I have energy to do is changing the channel on the remote as I lay on the couch.

This week we had our 36 week appointment. Boo must have had a bit of a growth spurt as his measurements were right on track for how far along we are. His heart rate is still great at 136 bpm. My platelets were tested and increased!!! So now my anxiety about delivering Boo without being able to get an epidural has decreased significantly. The doc also did the first check to see how I'm progressing towards labor -- and the results -- I haven't really started making any progress. But that was pretty much what I was expecting. I still feel fairly comfortable, can still sleep, etc -- and I figure if I'm still feeling this way, the little guy inside me is probably feeling the same way. So I wouldn't be surprised if I'm like my mom and go past my due date. Which is okay with me because....

Dave got a new job!! He just started this week. He has to go out of town soon for training and won't be back until 10 days before Boo's due date! So we've already started lecturing the kid about how he needs to stay put for two more weeks.

Last weekend, my mother-in-law, both sister-in-laws and my youngest niece came into town to throw my a baby shower. We had a great time. The shower was beautiful. Beforehand, I couldn't fathom how they were spending so much time in NC planning it when they had to fly up here...I knew they couldn't bring a lot of stuff up with them on the plane. But once I walked into the the party, it all made sense. The details and decorations were amazing! There will be pictures someday for me to share. And of course, I couldn't be more blessed with all the family and friends who literally showered us with gifts and love. It's amazing to me how many people already love our little boy and are so excited to meet him.

During their trip we also went to a Twins game, apple orchard and Katie did a mathernity session for Dave and I. Here's a link to the sneak peak on Katie's fan page. If you're not a fan already, while you're there, "like" her and leave a comment!

J.B.

34 weeks!

Another appointment down! After my next appointment, I'll start going every week. Just another sign that the pregnancy is almost over.

If you asked me during the first trimester, I never would have said this....but I've been enjoying being pregnant. It's so cool to know that there really is a little guy living inside me...and I'm growing him! I love his kicks and his hiccups and watching him make my stomach move.

Once again, we had a good appointment. I'm growing and he's growing. His heart rate is at 135 bpm. I got my flu shot. Asked the doctor some questions.

We had our childbirth prep class at the hospital over the weekend, so the actual thought of giving birth is at the forefront of our minds these days. I'm glad to know that we know where to go when that time comes. Our due date is six weeks away, yet the doctor said at this point in the pregnancy there is no trying to stop labor once it starts. So at some point soon, I'll have to think about washing some baby clothes, getting our hospital bags packed and getting the car seat installed. I have a little bit of time to procrastinate...but at the same time, we definitely want those things ready to go!

Here's me just shy of 33 weeks...up on the shores of Lake Superior in Grand Marais. Even though this pic is a week old already, it's the most recent on I've got. :)

J.B.

Baby Bumps

Priceless

Me @ 31 weeks and Michelle @ 34 weeks

J.B.

Lucky Day

Today's been a great day. It started off normal. Got up at a decent time...(yesterday I woke up at 4:00 a.m. unable to sleep because I could breath...stupid allergies). Went to work. Something was a little off when I noticed some of the lights were out and the big sign by the elevators that said, "Elevators broken. Do not touch. Elevator company has been called." I wasn't too thrilled to see that sign. I work on the sixth floor and this pregnant lady wasn't looking forward to climb up all those stairs. But as I started climbing up the first stairwell, I saw someone who worked on my floor. She informed me that the power was out and might not be back on until noon. So I quickly got out of the stairs and started calling some of my co-workers to see what the plan was for the day. Eventually, I found out that I got to go home (HR didn't want me climbing up all those stairs)...and I'd get a call when the power came back so that I could go in. The power ended up taking longer to get back on than anticipated (I actually don't even know if it's back on yet), so I got the whole day off without taking PTO. Woo woo! It's like I landed on the Free Parking space in Monopoly. Dave was home today too, so we took the dogs on a walk, went to Caribou for a while, put the crib skirt and sheets on Boo's bed, enjoyed a home-made lunch and watched some Good Will Hunting.

Today was even better because we had a doctor's appointment. Boo is still looking good and healthy. I'm measuring right on track and Boo's heart rate was 134 bpm. There was a medical student shadowing my doctor today, so we got to hear Boo's heart rate twice. Once from the student and once from my doctor. So once again, I got lucky today and heard Boo's heartbeat two times!

I'm 32 weeks pregnant now. I officially only have 8 weeks until Boo's due date. The pregnancy is still going well overall. My biggest complaint right now is my allergies. My pregnancy is making them worse, because I can't take my normal medicine. But I'd be dealing with allergies this time of year pregnant or not. So honestly, I can't blame that on the pregnancy. Of course, I'm still feeling Boo kick. But it's turning more into a stretching/pushing out my stomach feeling that jabbing kicks. I guess that's because he's running out of room inside me. For the most part, I'm still fairly comfortable. There's been a couple of time when Boo's pushes himself up against my ribs, but that's hasn't been too often.

The rest of our week will be pretty nice too. Since we had the holiday Monday and the "free" day off today and I have plans to take Friday off, I'll only have to work two days this week. And tomorrow we're going to the Twins game. Lots of fun for Boo, Dave and I!

J.B.

September!

September is here! That means next month is the month Boo is due! The weeks counting down to his due date are also in the single digits. Time is going by so fast!

Last weekend a couple of my friends threw a baby shower for us. It was so much fun! I'm so blessed to have such great friends that came out to celebrate baby Boo. He is already spoiled! My friends did a great job of making feel special and loved. Hopefully I'll get some pictures. I never took out my camera, but I know there were pictures being taken.

This month is going to be a fun month. Dave and I are taking the dogs up to the North Shore one weekend. We're renting a tiny cabin and both of us are looking forward to relaxing and spending soem time together.

We also have our childbirth prep class.

One of my sisters and my dad have their b-day.

And at the end of the month, my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws are coming into town. We're going to a Twins game and they're hosting a baby shower for me. Katie is also taking my maternity pictures.

It's going to be a very busy, but a very fun month. And I'm looking forward to it!

J.B.

Time to get ready for Boo!

That title is a little misleading. Dave and I have spent a lot of time getting ready for Boo. Our nursery is done. We've taken a breastfeeding class. We're going to lots of doctor appointments. We've started stocking up on diapers and wipes.

However, I feel like I have a lot of "business-type" stuff to get ready that I haven't been able to tackle. You know -- the not-so-fun stuff like figuring out daycare and the pediatrician and getting pre-registered at the hospital. We also have more classes to take and I have a couple of books I want to read.

I am ready to tackle all of that stuff. My summer class is over! IT'S OVER! I'm done with having class two nights a week and homework on the weekends and feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can finally breath and finish getting ready for our little dude.

J.B.

Dates

Isn't it funny how sometimes an anniversary or birthday or other important day arrives and you remember it, but sometimes a day just as important comes and goes and you just totally blank.

This August I've had a lot of those important dates coming and going without even noticing the significance of that day.

I forgot Cooper Joe's 3rd b-day. I forgot my friend Michelle's b-day. I forgot my 2-year anniversary at work. (Thankfully, I remembered Stevie's b-day and Diana's b-day!)

But there is another day that I did not forget.

Today. August 23.

Dave got up early and went fishing with his friend, Sean. I got up several hours later and decided to take a pregnancy test. I had taken one a couple of days before that had been negative, but I guess intuition told me to try again. And so did the fact that a monthly visitor hadn't arrived yet.

The test was positive. I was pregnant. After close to a year of trying.

Unable to wait until Dave came home, I called him. He told me to take another one. You know, just to be sure.

I did.

I remember feeling like I was on a cloud that day. I didn't know what to do with myself. Life was so beautiful. I was going to be a mommy. My life was forever changed by one test.

The truth is. I couldn't forget this day. Not when I still think about Chubs almost every day. Especially lately. There is something about being pregnant again during allergy season that reminds me of my first pregnancy. The pain isn't so raw anymore. In fact, being pregnant again has definitely brought a lot of healing. Although Chubs is still missed.

Even though that pregnancy didn't end the way we wanted it to, that doesn't take away the happiness and excitement Dave and I felt on this day one year ago. We were so excited to find out we were going to be parents. And today, one year later, we're ecstatic to be parents. That day is coming so soon. And while Chubs won't be the little boy that's in are arms, Chubs will still be in our hearts.

I love you, Chubs.

J.B.