Getting closer!!

So, the nursery is now painted in cream. The rocking chair is assembled and ready for lulling Baby to sleep. The little lamb swing is set. The crib bedding is ready to go into the crib as soon as we get it assembled. A glaring ommision was that we had no mobile. Since the "Sweet Lambie" bedding is gender neutral and our only splurges in pink have been the pink bins for storing Baby's stuff in the changing table, we decided to get something really sweet for the mobile... I had been eyeing this mobile, and today while I was in Birmingham, I stopped by PBK and picked up two -- one for over the crib and one for over the changing table.



It's not a "nursery" mobile, as you can see from the picture of the little girl's room above, but it is beautiful. These are rare cases where Pottery Barn's pictures do not done their product justice. The butterflies are made from hand-painted feathers. The picture above, as far as I can tell, has four mobiles...there are nine butterflies on each.

And I have booked our maternity photo session for April 5. I'll be 35 weeks then, so I hope I am not too swollen... Check out the photographer's work: Lindsey R Smith Photography. If all goes well, we will have her do all Baby's first year pictures.

32 weeks and shower 2 spoiler

Here we are at 32 weeks, and my belly is getting huge!! I'm excited about it, though. I'm still enjoying Baby's kicks and squirms most of the day and night. She is really active, and I can see the kicks through my blouse at work when I am sitting at my desk. Yesterday, I hugged Nicholas and he felt Baby kick at his belly!

I am getting pretty swollen, though. Two nights ago I was on my feet for a few hours--walking the dogs, making dinner, etc.--and by the time I took my socks off for bed, the radius of my calves was about an inch larger above the sock line than below. That is a disturbing sight!!

My sleep continues to be interrupted. I think I my body can sleep uninterrupted for about 2 - 3 hours at a time. I wake up for bathroom breaks, hunger, and being uncomfortable. Usually, it doesn't take longer than 30 minutes to fall back to sleep.

And... the shower 2 spoiler...





Mom and Steph sent Baby her new stroller and car seat!! We love it! We put it together on Wednesday night. I love the colors and that the car seat is the number one safety rated car seat by Consumer Reports. Awesome! Thanks Mom and Steph! I'll put a bow on it for shower number 2 and act surprised!!

Skin: an amazing organ

I have a new appreciation for my skin. It is amazing how it can accommodate my growing belly, my swollen fingers and ankles, and just my increased blood and weight in general. So far, I'm lucky to report no real problems with stretch marks...maybe I can see a faint white line here or there, but nothing major.

I am exhausted this morning as I write this (see picture above). I have not been sleeping well and we had thunderstorms last night. Ringo and Puck were unsettled and whiny. I am becoming more tired in general, and I haven't been able to sneak in a nap (or even a decent night's rest) in a few days. Maybe tonight...

On the naming front, the dogs suggested the name Pingo Ruck for the baby. I've vetoed, but they are insistent.

I went to my third pre-birth class. This was the one on breastfeeding. It was informative, packed with pregnant women and a few token husbands, and made me decide that I need more than just a hand pump. The lactation consultant was very knowledgeable and reassuring. It was good to know what would happen regarding seeing her (or one of the other lactation consultants) post birth -- she will check in on me and the baby each day we are in the hospital and write a plan for breastfeeding. Then, the baby and I go back two days after being released from the hospital for a weigh-in for the baby, checking for jaundice, and making sure we aren't having problems breastfeeding. This occurs again a few days later. I like that there is already a plan to make sure we are doing well. The class had prop babies that we practiced holding in the various breastfeeding positions. We also watched a DVD about the various positions, potential problems, etc. It was more informative than I expected given that I had already read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding."

30 week, 5 day doctor visit

We had our 30 week, 5 day doctor visit today. Everything continues to go well for me and baby. The nurse was surprised by my low blood pressure: 110 over 56, but as it has run low, she said it was fine. I am up 21 pounds now, and Dr. Chwe says that is a good amount--not too much and not too little. Baby's heartbeat was amazingly strong and clear. At first the nurse couldn't find it, but I told her that baby was balled up on my left side and when she moved the instrument over there, we heard her: 157 beats per minute. Fast, but normal. They say baby's heartbeat fluctuates a lot and one check could give 120 and the next it could be 160. (Between 120 and 160 is "normal.")

I asked Dr. Chwe what's next, and he said the next milestone will be at 36 weeks when he starts checking for cervical dilation. Smooth sailing until then. My next visit is in three weeks since he is out of town in two.

Nicholas and I also finished up our interviewing of pediatricians today. We saw three in all, but one has a partner and another is in a group if six. Honestly, we really liked all three, so our decision will probably be made on facilities and convenience for when Baby comes.

Shower number 1!

The trip to Kentuckiana was a success. One night at Jane's, one night at my parent's, and one night at Bill's. Jane threw an awesome shower for Baby on Saturday. Lots of people, great decorations, beautiful and delicious cake! I only have a couple of photos...I am waiting for everyone to send me their's. Here's what I have:





Thanks, everyone, for coming! I had so much fun seeing everyone! Thanks to Nicholas's cousin, Marti, for traveling all the way from Evansville when she was 38 weeks pregnant just for this shower!


This next one was from my parents' house Saturday evening. Craig and Abby had lots of questions about "the bump." Abby kept telling the baby, "Wake up, Baby!" Then she would listen at my belly and say, "I heard her. She said, "Mama!""

A joyous event!! The cast is off!!

Ringo got his cast off on Friday, and we are all more than thrilled! He is still a three-legged dog for now as he regains strength in his foreleg and paw. He can only go for short walks (no more than a mile), and he can't have a bath (for the risk of slipping) until later this week. Other than that, though, we are all super happy to have Ringo on the mend!



Nicholas brought home some beautiful lilies for me today, and Puck was so cute sniffing the air near them. I know he was trying to figure out what they were. But, alas, I could not capture the photo! The above was my best attempt.

No more belly shots!

I'm sick of belly shots, and I am sure you are, too! So, this post will have none. Instead I thought I would add photos of the coming-together nursery.

The crib (still in the box until we get the nursery painted!):


The bedding, which I love!!:


The rocking chair, sans slipcover, which is a beige color:


The changing table/hold all:


And all the bins to go in it:







Now we just need Baby!! Nicholas and I had a talk with her this weekend, and we decided that May 1 would be the ideal day for her to make her appearance. This gives Nicholas the maximum amount of one-on-one time with her as his classes end April 29 and his REU starts May 30. We are so excited to meet her...but not until at least 37 weeks!!