Grow Baby Grow

Today was our 36 week appointment.
The baby is doing great. We just need him to grow! I am so confused because I have not been gaining any wait for a while. I have gained a total of 30 lbs. but I've been there for quite some time now. Either he's not gaining, or I am loosing. We have the follow up ultra sound on the 10th to check up on his growth. The Doc is starting to check my cervix next appointment so we will have a better idea of when this baby plans on coming.

We have an appointment on July 28, so if he hasn't come by then I am going to be induced.

Mom will be coming soon so she won't miss out on a thing. Whitney is moving to Nashville on August 1st to finish her Masters Degree at Vanderbilt so we need to get her nephew out by then.

Who knew newborn diapers were sooo tiny!

Ahhh I love it!

Hello Old Friend

I have been sleeping in heaven for the past two nights.

We brought my old bed from the house over so we can put our bed in the baby room to use as a guest bed and I have never been happier. All of my sleep problems have disappeared. For the past month it has been impossible for me to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time. I would constantly toss and turn in bed. Ever since I've been sleeping in my old bed I haven't woken up once in the middle of the night. I don't even wake up when Dave gets out of bed early in the morning. Surprising!

I am so happy.

We still have a lot to do around here, like hang the wall hangings but things are beginning to pull together.

Dave has been working non stop. He is so good to me <3

Are We Done Yet?

This past week has been the craziest week of my life.

Last weekend we watched my sisters adorable little dog, Lola and had some fun with her, Dave had 2 shows on Friday, we've spent 3 days moving (who knew we had so much stuff?), I had midterms due yesterday and a doctor appointment today.

Wow.

Now this week I am going to change my major to Museum Studies at Herberger College for Design and the Arts (Herberger changed their name at ASU this year.. weird), go to my breastfeeding class, and Dave has a 3 day weekend so we are doing all sorts of home projects.

I can't wait to be done with all of this madness.

This is my 100th post!

Bad Blogger

I've been way too busy to post. Lot's of exciting things going on over here.

The move went well, we are still trying to set things up.

Pictures coming soon!

Prepare for Baby

This past week we have been preparing for our move.
I have so many projects I want to do it's hard to get myself to think about anything else. I'm trying to leave them for when we are actually in our new home and my summer midterms are taken care of. Sunday me and Dave got antsy and took everything off the walls and started to organize things. It's going to be hard not being able to move anything myself.

We have so many things to do before baby comes.
-get nursery ready
-wash baby clothes and bedding
- find pediatrician
- research meds and vaccinations
-research cord blood banking
- make playlists for the hospital
- decide on name!
- and do my best to get my body prepared for labor

We decided to do our own art work for the baby room. Instead of attempting to be creative I chose to sketch Dr. Seuss characters. I can't decide what characters I want or whether I want them colored or not. Decisions decisions.

It's not my imagination

The doctor called back with the ultra sound results and it looks like it isn't just my imagination. The baby is small. He is in the low percentile for his weight. 18%. At least he's on the charts. Still normal, just low. This means we get another follow up U/S in 3 weeks. This time I will demand a better picture!

Honestly, what the heck is that? I know it's his head but really??

He he he hooo..

Last night we attended our last birth basics and breathing class.

It was my favorite of all. They freak us out at first and then give us some fun. I felt like I was in a sex therapy class. Breathing, positions, massages and toys. Oh my.

The nurse taught us all of the massages and how to do them. It was awesome because of course, we had to practice. Then, we moved on to our "mock" labor. We got to try the positions we found most intriguing and practice the breathing we learned prior as if we were having contractions. I loved it. Dave was right there with me through every contraction supporting my body, massaging my hips and he even did all of the breathing with me. Well sort of, he was always a little off my rhythm.

The thing I love most about this class is that the nurse tells the dad's everything the women want but don't say. Like, "don't ever leave her during labor", "these massages really help, and when your hands get too tired, use an object", "when she's snappy and tells you to get away from her cause your breath stinks, be nice do what she says and pop in a mint" , "ask her what feels good to her" "ask for her permission"and my favorite, advising us to get a prenatal massage . We have both taken away so much useful information from the class.

We are now prepared for labor. And got in some great bonding on the way. I'm so thankful for all of his involvement.

Lately We...

Here are the updates with all of us.

I...
-am tired
-can't sleep at night
-feel like I weigh 200lbs.
-am anxious
-have been busting my butt on these summer classes
-dyed my hair
-want to swim all day
-want to chomp on ice all day
Dave...
- is sick :( :(
- is working hard everyday
- playing shows every weekend
- is being absolutely awesome
- is more prepared than I am
- talks to the baby more than I do
- is growing his hair
- wants to drink "daddy juice" all day
Baby...
- is healthy as can be
- has a perfect heart rate
- weighs 4lbs. 8oz
- is getting prepared for his escape
- doesn't really have any hair
- also wants to swim all day
- wants to drink amniotic fluid all day
We all...
- are moving next Saturday!
- get another baby shower this Saturday by some lovely friends.
(if you want to come let me know)
- are in love
- are excited to be a family :)

The Waiting Game

We had another appointment yesterday.
Another lame disappointing appointment.

Pregnancy is such a waiting game. We're always waiting for something. Waiting for the sickness to subside, waiting for the belly pop out, waiting for the next week just so we can say, "I'm 34 weeks!", instead of 33 and of course, waiting to meet the little one that has caused us to be so anxious.

Every since the last ultra sound I have been waiting for the next. I loved seeing him so much last time I couldn't wait to see him again. There's just something about seeing him curled up, trying his best to find the most comfortable way to situate himself in my uterus that makes me happy.
I really needed to see my baby's precious little face on that screen yesterday. Seeing him helps me put the idea together. That is my baby. The baby inside me. That baby is inside me. Right now.

Unfortunately, I did not get to see that. This u/s lady just wanted to measure his little bones and show us how smart see is by explaining everything she knows. I was just so confused because last appointment they did that boring stuff too but then showed us the baby. We didn't even get the 3D view. What's the fun of this awesome new technology if it doesn't get used. Our first u/s was better, when the baby looked like a peanut. And to top it off, the baby's face was smashed up against my uterus so we couldn't see it.

Ugh.

I guess I'll just wait to see him when he is born.

Is it just my imagination or..

Is my belly shrinking??

Ever since he switched positions my belly seems to be much smaller. I'm only measuring 30cm long, when it should be closer to 33.

Should a person 7 1/2 months pregnant look like this? Everyone in my birthing class is way bigger and I'm one of the furthest along.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Sprinkles

Today is my cousin Victoria's 17th Birthday!
To celebrate Whitney and I took this cutie out to lunch in Scottsdale to headed over to Sprinkles to treat her to a perfect birthday cupcake. Delicious!

Happy Birthday Vic!

Birth Basics

We're 33 weeks.
The further along it get's the more anxious and scared I become. Of course I'm so excited and feel prepared for anything to come, but a woman would be lying if she said she is not scared or nervous at all for the birth, or what comes after. Complete responsibility. It's mostly the problems that could occur that scare me.

Tonight we had our second "birth basics" class. Sounds all nice and simple but really it's 3 hours of me at the edge of my seat with complete fear and anxiety. Then I look over at Dave sitting next to me chuckling. Last week we learned about all of the stages of labor. Words like mucous plug were thrown around. Today we learned about all of the drugs. I was looking forward to this class but we watched 2 video's, one vaginal birth with meds and one cesarean with meds and I actually started to feel faint.

As we left the class I was actually getting snappy with Dave. As I am talking about all of my fears he's trying to reassure me, telling me everything will be okay and I will do a great job and be a great mother. Then I come home, take off my clothes and look in the mirror only to find that my ass has gotten even bigger. Then, of course, Dave continues his attempt at making me feel better, telling me how beautiful and sexy he thinks I am and how I shouldn't "put myself under a microscope". And then, being the brat I am, I snap and say "You don't get it! Nothing about you changes!" And then he says "not physically", and then I felt bad.

Planning his Escape

I woke up yesterday to find my belly shaped different. For a long while the baby has been lying across my belly, head to the left and feet to the right, making my belly a little pointy and lopsided. Now however, the top is starting to round out and the bottom doesn't point anymore (well at least not as much). Dave told me his book said that now the baby is starting to develop rational thought so maybe he's realized his situation was kinda sucky. I on the other hand think he has gotten the message to move his head down towards my pelvis. He is now starting to plan his escape.

What a smart little boy.

Migrating in Packs

There is nothing I find more amusing than anything that travels in packs. Especially if they are in sync.

For instance,
motorcycle cops traveling together = funny!

Another thing I love about Dave... knowing how much I love this stuff, when he saw these 4 segwayers riding down the street and I missed them, he turned around and hunted them down Mission Bay so I could see them.

Show me something this funny and I will pee my pants. Not like that's anything out of the ordinary these days.

A Sunday Afternoon in SD

On Sunday Dave and I sneaked off from the house full of visiting guests and took a drive to La Jolla. I so wish we had Southern California weather.

A Garden Reception

The reception was held in a neighbors beautiful garden. Everyone had such a great time. It was a very relaxed wedding. Easy listening music, close friends and family, soft lighting, lots of wine, and my favorite, street tacos. I wish I took more pictures but I was busy eating my tacos. It's one of my favorite things in the world.

I loved the centerpiece. Sand lined the middle of the tables with shells and candles placed on top. And we figured out that the favors are not soap on a rope, they are candles, so do not try washing your body with them. By the end of the night everyone had wax all over the cloths. What is it with people playing with candle wax?

For the toast Dom Perignon was passed out to everyone, other than to the non drinkers who had cider. I have never even seen a bottle of Dom Perignon so I was not going to pass up the opportunity to taste it. Sooo... as I was helping pass out the glasses, I helped myself to one and placed it at my seat. They say a small amount is okay and it's not like it was a shot of jack or anything. I don't regret it. It was so good. I am not a chamagne drinker, but if it was Dom everytime I would be.

A Beach Ceremony

This is Dad and Wendy moments before the ceremony. The night was perfect. The whole bunch walked down together from the house to the beach where the ceremony was performed.

As much as I did not want to wear my baby shower dress, I could not find anything else that 'beachy', but it worked out great.

Dad's neighbor who collects cars picked them up on the way back to the house for a spin in one of his early 1900's Rolls Royce. It was an awesome car. Best thing about it was the horn.

The Essence of Us

(April 08)

One thing I love about Dave is not only how much he adores me, but how obvious he makes it. It took me a while to get used to his affectionate ways, but after realizing what I had, I started to soak it in. He is the guy takes takes your hand and kisses it in public. The guy that tells you how much he loves you at least 5x a day. The guy that catches your eye from across a room full a people and gives you a reassuring look that makes you feel like you're the only one in the room.

Now that the baby is only 8 weeks away I am enjoying every second of it because we don't have much longer until our focus goes elsewhere. I'm trying to do my best to smother him with love and affection.

This journey has already changed our relationship so much. I am interested to see where this new life will take us.

I'm optimistic.

<3

A Hop, Skip and a Jump

We're heading off to Dad's house again this Friday in Point Loma for his and Wendy's beach wedding.

(^the invitation^)

The wonderful thing about going to see them is that it's not the usual visiting family situation. It's more like the ultimate beach vacation. Perfect views and just a hop, skip and a jump away form the water. At no cost.

Something tells me I won't be getting into a kayak this time. :(

Belly Update

Ive received belly pic requests.

Here it is.

Right before bed time.

Baby Update

We are currently in our 31st week.
I am beginning to get uncomfortable and tired. I can't stand for too long without my feet throbbing and legs tingling. Naps and Daves hands have been a life saver. I also started getting the braxton hicks which was a very strange feeling. I first thought he must be pushing his little butt butt up against my belly while trying stretching out. But then it continued, so I ruled that out and asked the doctor. Another wonderful thing I've been getting is really bad heart burn. I already have severe acid reflux and have suffered with esophogitis so any extra acid really hearts my poor torn up esophogus.

This baby is so active. I think I'm in for trouble. It seems as though he's awake all the time. He has now found my ribs. He likes to stick his knee underneath the right set, making it hard for me to bend down. Silly boy. I try to push it back down but it never works.

The last appointment was Thursday. It was pretty boring. Our next appointment is June 16th and we will be having our last ultra sound. I can't wait to see his cute little face again! After that appointment we go again around the 30th and then once a week.

This Wednesday we start our Birth Basics and Breathing class. I am really excited to go and get prepared for the big day. Im not so excited however to spend 3 Wednesdays in a class for 3 hours at a time. I'm going to sign up for the Breastfeeding class for myself and Daddy Bootcamp for Dave, just for extra preparation.

The time has come to get prepared!

The Most Beautiful Wedding

This weekend my sister Whitney celebrated her one year anniversary with her husband Josh. This gives me the opportunity to post picture to remember how pretty and perfect the wedding was.

This Weekend...

Dave... played a roof top show at the Wyndham Hotel down town.
It was so fun, there were people swimming, eating, drinking and enjoying the music. Finding a place to park that didn't cost $12 was hard, but I really enjoyed being in the city. And the burger we shared.

I... saw a beautiful butterfly and caught a few good picture of it.

We... brought our cars over to Dave's moms house to give them a bath. Or should I say, for Dave to give them a good bath.