Any way you look at it, this baby is making his/her grand entrance this month. Where has the time gone? I feel like it was just April and I was a mere 4w pregnant. December felt so very far away and now here it is, December 1st and I am 2 days away from being full term and 23 days away from my EDD.
I have really loved being pregnant. I have been blessed by a relatively easy pregnancy and despite the Chipotle incident and the rather long bout of all day sickness, I don't feel I have a lot to complain about. It has been a peaceful time. In true only child fashion, I have loved all the pampering and attention from Sean, friends, family and strangers. Baby showers are the best thing ever! People have been incredibly generous and we are pretty much set. I promise nursery pics soon - we are putting the finishing touches on the nursery this week.
The baby's movement continues to blow my mind on a daily basis, as does the fact that in just 9 months I have grown tiny little human being. How crazy is that??? What started as just 2 cells in a petri dish is now a perfectly formed human who will enter the world any day now. It's incredible.
I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I would love to be pregnant again. It has really been a special time in my life.
We have been busy little bees over the past few weeks. Our dear friends threw us a couple's shower two weeks ago and we had a wonderful time celebrating with our friends and neighbors. I was happy for Sean that he got to celebrate with the boys. It is funny to see all of guy friends that have little ones giving Sean Daddy advice. They were so into it! My aunt kept commenting on how times have changed and how much more involved men seem to be in pregnancy and parenting than they ever were in her generation. I think it is a wonderful thing. Sean is so very excited to be a Daddy and he is on board with all my crazy notions regarding parenting ;)
We have been cleaning and nesting and organizing like crazy and we are feeling like we are just about ready for this little one's arrival. We did not travel to Buffalo for Thanksgiving this year so we spent the holiday just the two of us. Sean spent most of the day assembling baby gear while I cooked a traditional dinner. We ate by candlelight reflecting on how much our lives have changed in just one year.
I still need to pack my bag and the baby's bag and we need to install the car seat. We can't install it until our glider arrives because we need to put down the seats in the truck to get it home. It should be here any day. I have some nesting type projects that I would love to knock out, but nothing pressing, unless organizing the tupperware cabinet is a requirement for bringing the baby home. I would also love to do a little holiday decorating. I need to practice my hypnobirthing techniques and get myself in the right mindset for my med free birth at the birthing center. I feel like we have been so wrapped up in preparing the house, that I have neglected my own preparation a little bit.
36/37 week update:
How am I feeling? Like I have to pee CONSTANTLY! I told Sean I am taking up residence in the bathroom. I must go 20+ times per day, sometimes immediately after going, I feel the urge to go again. The Midwife tells me this is because the baby has dropped. It is not a pleasant feeling. Even less pleasant is when you tinkle a little when you sneeze - fun stuff! It has only happened once, but one time too many in my book.
Milestones: I am considered full term this Thursday and my EDD is just 23 days away!
Cravings: Still drinking a lot of milk and I eat 2 waffles every single day and have been for months now.
Aversions: Chicken is gross to me again :(
What do I miss: Sleeping through the night - I guess I can kiss those days goodbye for a looooooong time!
What am I looking forward to? Meeting this little one. I cannot wait to find out if this is a girl or a boy and to see his/her sweet face for the first time.
Weight gain: Holding steady at 5lbs gained in total. I even switched to whole milk and added a protein shake a day to my diet. I think this baby has my metabolism on super speed and I am not really complaining about that.
Signs of labor: At my 35w appt I was 80% effaced, baby dropped and cervix was nice and soft. No dilation yet! I have also been a little crampy and have a heaviness in my pelvis on and off.
What am I doing to help labor along? Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea - at least 2 cups a day- and taking 1500mg of Evening Primrose Oil daily. Both per my midwives instructions. I need to start walking daily and using my yoga ball.
So there you have it!!! I've added a poll so you can predict Ralphie's gender, so please play along. Also, feel free to make a guess about when Ralphie will arrive when you comment. I think I am going early - the week of 12/14. My mom thinks on or about 12/10 and Sean thinks any day this week...What do you think? Early? Right on time? Late?
18 comments:
you look fantastic! Have fun these last weeks/days. I enjoyed the end of my pregnancy a lot, esp. the movements of the baby, and the nesting urges.
hmmm...I voted boy! And, I think you'll go early, too, (just based on your current stats) but have no clue on a date. I can't believe you have only gained 5 pounds! That is amazing!! Can't wait to hear when Ralphie arrives and what he/she is!
It is hard to believe that it's December! I have been in full nesting mode as well....this baby needs to come to stop the insanity.
Enjoy your holiday decorating! I'll be keeping an eye out for Ralphie's arrival. I'm feeling a Ralphette, but I guess we'll see. :)
Congrats on the 5 lb weight gain. That's insane!!!! I am so happy for you guys and hope everything goes smoothly with labor and delivery.
It's great to hear from you - you look wonderful and you sound so happy and excited.
I am guessing a boy too. And I also think he will come a little early.
I can't wait to hear the good news. x
I'm thinking girl for you, which is odd, because I usually think boy for everyone!
So glad to hear everything is going along so well. Can't wait to see nursery pics if you share them!
As for a birthday - how about Dec 28th? (Not sure what the plan is for going past your EDD though...) Whenever it ends up being, I wish you a nice easy, wonderful labor and birth!
I say early!! Come one Ralphie...you've cooked long enough!! We wanna see you!! *wink*
Can't believe its getting so close!!!!!
you look great! i voted girl and I think she will be here on December 20!!
Lookin' good!! Man everytime I read your blog.. I have though almost all of your words at one point or another- and have wanted to blog them.. just haven't...
You are definitly ahead of me in this baby game though!! I have dropped some.. but nothing too much- lots BH contractions lately.. go thurs to the doc- can't imagine that too much has changed down there.. we shall see!
I think that you will go next weekend... and i don't remember at all what i just voted! haha! good luck!!!!!!!!
You look wonderful! Congrats on the 5 lbs. That is great. I am with you on being pregnant. I was sick the first 5 months, but I still loved being pregnant. I wish I could do it all over again! So excited for you guys. I think you will have Ralphie early, but not sure of a date. I will say 12/17 since 17 is my favorite number. I am also going to say boy....just because so many people are having boys right now. I wish you all the best! Looking forward to the post that tells us Ralphie has arrived and also posts with pics of Ralphie....hopefully we will see at least 1! Good luck and thanks for sharing.
I think Ralphi is a girl. I love the pic you posted. You look just beautiful.
I bet you just can't hardly wait to meet your angel baby. I'm so excited to see your pics of your little one. I've been following you since before you got pregnant and I just cant wait to see this little one.
By the way, I miss the nesting so much. I wish I was like that all the time instead of just the few months before my baby came. The house never looked better and dinners were always really good. It went away for me though. Bummer :)
I'm thinking December 21st! Oh, and I wanted to mention that you can add a online baby pool to your blog if you wanted from a site like http://expectnet.com/game.php so people can guess time, weight and length, too!
~Danielle (from msg board, www.lifeatthehatchery.blogspot.com)
WOW. I can't believe it is almost here-this seems to have gone by so fast. You look absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to hear of your birthstory. I am sending up lots of good thoughts to you. :)
Happy full term day! You look radiant!
OMG it's getting so close!!!
My vote is early too. I don't know why, it's just a feeling.
Emily - just checking in on you!
In case you go before I get out.. Good Luck!! This is all such a miracle!
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