On The Border with Sondie

On Thursday and Friday at work this week, I was very swamped. I was busy cross training a new hire, Shannon, on my responsibilities/cyclical reports at work and trying to tie off loose ends. I'm 8 days out from my projected... 5-7-11 baby due date. Even though my technical due date is 5-10-11, I've always been measuring slightly ahead of that and closer to the 5th-7th of May. 

So work has definitely been busy! 

Last night after work, I filled up my gas tank at Speedway and Sondie called to see if I wanted to do dinner. I said sure since I had no plans and Dave was having PrePaid Legal friends over for pizza, drinks, and planning. So Sondie and I decided to go to Naperville's On The Border http://www.ontheborder.com/ ... I ordered my usual 2 chicken tacos.. and the salsa was spicy tonight my friends.. very spicy. Sondie and I caught up about work, life, baby, planning, Easter, etc. etc... it was great to see her. She looks fantastic and is anxious about potentially finding a new apartment to move to. So yea.. that salsa was spicy tonight...

flash forward to why I'm up at 4:23 a.m. blogging on Saturday instead of sleeping in my heaven-sent-recliner-aka-the-only-place-I-can-sleep-since-week-33. 

I HAD A CONTRACTION AT 11:46 P.M.

I HAD ANOTHER CONTRACTION AT 3:07 A.M.

So, I went to the bathroom to see if it was mother nature calling instead of contractions. Nope, I'd definitely call these contractions or braxton hicks contractions. I'm not calling my doctor but at the same time, my adrenaline is kicking in and I can't sleep. So I blog, instead! I'm doing laundry right now and just turned on the dishwasher. I plan to clean and tidy up and make a check list of things to accomplish this Saturday. I can't turn off my brain and go back to sleep :( Sadly. I wish I could because I'm very tired and only got about 4 hours of sleep.

Bert has followed me around and lays next to me as I blog. He's keeping a good eye out. I woke up and told Dave a bit ago I had a contraction.. Dave said "no you aren't", then I said "Fine! I'm not". He then realized I wasn't joking and is like "you doing okay, baby?" haha! I said I'm fine. Hopefully he's upstairs catching up on his zzzzz's and not like me downstairs with the mindset I'm at... my brain is going a mile-a-minute thinking of all the things I could have gotten done?! It's odd thinking this way at this point. But, the house is ready and I think overall we are ready..

to be parents.

To Be Continued...

38 wk dr. checkup

I went to the doctor on Thursday and all checked out again! I'm another cm. dilated. I was extremely puffy this week and the swelling has not gone down unfortunately. I suppose I could change my diet to reduce salt intake but my wrists, feet, ankles, and hands are all swollen. I think it is what it is at this stage in pregnancy. Everyone at work make comments like "still here?", "you're still here?!", "you look uncomfortable", etc. etc. Ha ha! It's funny to me because they are stating the obvious with less than 2 weeks out, ya know? I feel that I've had an overall great pregnancy and I JUST STARTED to complain about discomfort. I think I've done overall good! Dave called me a warrior or was it warrior? this week. :) He thinks I'm doing a great job. I sure am waddling a lot this week as the end approaches.

So all in all on Thursday's appointment I was 38 weeks, 3 days. 90% effaced. 1 1/2 cm dilated (up 1/2 cm since last week). No real big update on when he/she will come.. but rather the comments are being made "progressing well"! I think I'm going to deliver by 5-7-11! I asked Dr. Frangella about 'what can I do to get things moving along..." She's like, "I hear ya!" "Well, we can scrape your membrane but we can't do that until you are 39 weeks." So I said "OK! My next appointment is Tuesday 5-3, and I'll be 39 weeks then". She said "yup, you can do it but you have to consult that day with Dr. Phillippi" about it. So we'll see!!! My sister in law's water broke the next morning after she had that procedure done. I've heard it's painful/discomforting.... may or may not work. We'll see if I go through with it at my next appointment but at least it's nice to know me and my group of doctors agree that the end is near! Georgie continues to be a good girl/boy and stay head down. Plus, I've experienced more cramping this week which is very typical for where I'm at. Nothing to worry about and I wouldn't even call them braxton hicks.. I would call them 'cramping as if I were having my period or about to'.

A side effect that is new this week.. which is caused from internal exams.. is bleeding/spotting. I'm sorry if it's TMI for ya! But I have to blog about it, right? This is a pregnancy blog after all. It started Thursday and has been light but noticeable. I think my cervix is fragile at this point and 90% effaced so the internal exam causes bleeding. At least, for me in my case of pregnancy!

On Thursday night, after work I popped over to see Renee/ Nick and their lil Addison. She's such a cutie... crawling! standing up along tables/couches! smiling! cooing! and has 2 teeth! Renee looks great and lost all her momma weight and attributes it to Weight Watchers! She's thinking of potentially buying a house soon in nearby North Plainfield and maybe even going on a vacation this year back to DisneyWorld with her fam. :) I'm happy for her and it sounds lovely. When I visited, her cat, Frank was all over me. He loved my pregnant belly apparently. Haha. When I came home, Bert and Ernie weren't too keen of the new scent on my lap. LOL. Bert especially noticed it when I sat down and he went to 'assume the position'.. which I call Bert-laying-on-my-bump..

here's what it looked like (this is not me at 38 weeks) Gosh this was taken awhile ago? Maybe Jan/Feb!

38 weeks

The name of the game is relaxing... with 13 days left! Here's Bert and Ernie waiting and waiting for Georgie to make his/her arrival... we've had tons of April showers lately. This Easter weekend has been really quite sunny. So I'm really happy about that.

Bert belly up after a rainy, walk in the morning

close-up of Bert's adorable mug

Bertie :)

Ernie being cute as a button

I went to the doctor on Friday! All in all.. I'm doing well and progressing. The doctor asked if I had any questions. I didn't. I'm seriously a really laid back momma-to-be. I feel I'm ready and I don't want to read too much into 'what to expect' and such because sometimes not knowing is good as the docs/nurses are the experts. Dave and I hope to go with the flow and hopefully all works out as expected.

I'm 1 cm dialated!

I'm fully effaced!

And... the baby is still head down!

Yippee!

I slept over on Friday night at my parents house as I brought Bert and Ernie up to Rolling Meadows for a sleep over. Heather and her hubs, Chris were in town from Plano, TX so we made plans to get together and go out for Good Friday. It was good to catch up with them and have some mexican food. :) I slept over at my parents house and in the morning Mom & I  went to Lord & Taylor in Woodfield to buy Dave's 31st birthday present. We also ran to Costco to stock up on TP and paper towels and other essentials... since it'll be awhile before I head back there with a baby/carseat and everything. I'm moving a lot slower these days and if you were to describe me.. it'd be puffy. LoL! I call myself the puffy waddler. Haha.

Georgie is now the size of a watermelon! Linda and Ted got me a mini watermelon (as I've been craving that fruit) for Easter and I've got news for you people. I'm BIGGER than a watermelon. Sure what they gave me was one of those personal/mini watermelons but still. Haha. It's crazy how big I am. Here are some pix of me at Easter today. We went to my aunt/uncle's house... it was Mason's FIRST EASTER! So it was special seeing him. He's a super cutie. Then, we came home as Dave had to work at Outback at 3:30. I went over to his parent's house for Easter and brought some wine and a strawberry trifle cake to share :)

Dad & Dave

Dave & I at 38 weeks

38 weeks!

Mason standing up ALL ON HIS OWN by the coffee table

Closeup of 8 1/2 month old Mason

Mason looking up at his momma, Stacy

Mason & Me

Mason & Me

Mason & me playing with his car wheel toy

Mason and his auntie

Mason and his momma

Mason and his momma, Stacy.. such a cute Easter outfit!

Some other things going on this week, at week 38! The last bits of vernix caseosa (the white goo keeping baby's skin moist) and lanugo (downy hair) are slowly shedding into your amniotic fluid.  Georgie's head is about the same circumference as his/her abdomen, and his/her head could be covered in an inch or so of hair. Georgie's really plumped up and weighs about 6.8 pounds and she/he's over 19 1/2 inches long. Georgie has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his/her hand for the first time! His/her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

37 weeks

Tomorrow, I'm 37 weeks! Here's what's going on in Georgie's world...

• Your baby has likely hit the six-pound mark by now, and her length is approximately twenty-one inches.
• Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard).
• Your baby is considered full term!
• The weight on your abdomen probably feels like twice that.
• Your baby is practicing her breathing, but she has increasingly less space to practice stretching and kicking.
• Your baby' intestines are also building up meconium, a greenish-black substance made of baby by-products such as dead cells, shed lanugo, and amniotic fluid. It'll become your little darling's first bowel movement, hopefully after she is out of the womb.
• Her body fat has increased to about eight percent. By birth, it'll be about fifteen percent.
• If your baby is a boy, his testes will have descended into his scrotum.
• While your baby could be born at any time, the longer she stays in, the more time she has to develop the connections in her brain in the pleasant peace and quiet of your womb.
• At this point, she can do all the things a newborn can, with the exception of breathing air and pooping in a diaper.
• Just as you're feeling stretched, your baby is being squeezed on all sides.
• Some of your antibodies are crossing the placenta, giving your baby's immune system some support for her first days in the world. If you breastfeed, you'll later be giving her immunities in your milk.
• Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

First signs of labor:

Your baby drops. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as "lightening" a few weeks before labor starts as your baby descends lower into your pelvis. You might detect a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.

• Yes, I feel I'm here with this. Exactly. I do not feel any braxton hicks contractions or anything. I haven't lost my mucus plug. And, my water hasn't broken! I have swolen feet and feel a lot of pressure especially after I've been laying/sitting down at work. I could NOT IMAGINE BEING A TEACHER LIKE DAVE, with these feet! They are so swolen. I hope my teacher friends can sit on stools when they teach, when their pregnant.

Yesterday, Dave and I went to our breastfeeding class at Edward Hospital. It was totally worth it and very informational. Dave was all huffy about going and was like, "if I'm the only guy there, I'm leaving". I said fine. Then we got there and sure enough all the dads were there... except one. The instructor, Anne, said the most important thing she could offer is to make sure you are supported by friends, family, and most importantly dad. Dad can play a vital role in breastfeeding with burping, changing, and helping clean up. So I'm hoping that Dave helps out and is supportive! :) I got the phone # for Edward Hospital Lactation Consultants and am encouraged to start calling today if I have questions about  breastfeeding. Cradle Talk meets every Wednesday, for free, off Diehl Road. And, there's another free support group that meets 2 x a month for new parents who have questions about breastfeeding. :) This is all great news!

We learned how when breastfeeding it delays my menstral cycle and ovulation but breastfeeding isn't a contraceptive. We also learned when breastfeeding, it tightens up the uterus so it goes back to its original size. It burns 800 calories a day too when breastfeeding! aka 1, 1 hour session of cardio kickboxing at Lifetime Fitness. I'll take it! Hopefully, breastfeeding helps with weight loss. :) I've got 50 pounds to lose in my opinion!

We learned that the average cost of supplementing/formula feeding is $1,300-$2,600 annually for formula. We also learned that you can write off breastfeeding equipment and supplies for taxes. You can't write off formula. Another perk! Yesterday I spent $234.87 on a breast pump and $18.87 for a car charger/adapter. Plus, I bought some disposable nipple guards and lanolin cream from Target on Tuesday. :) So I think we're ready!

The nurse in the class recommended not to use pacifiers or introduce bottles for 1 month too. We've got 6, medela bottles at home and the breast pump came with 4 more. So that makes 10. Plus, my gf Kristen gave us a bunch of other bottles/storage accessories too so I plan on using that. We don't have a big freezer at all, so we'll see the best plan of action when I start pumping... probably in June-ish. When we do introduce bottles, we are to use slow flow and wide bottle neck bottles which mimicks the breast. Basically, she said when your baby knows breastfeeding well and there's a schedule, then you can introduce pacifiers and bottles. Another nurse/instructor, said she waited until 6 weeks before introducing a bottle and the baby wanted nothing to do with it at first. Haha!  Then at 8 weeks, when she went to work she was able to pump successfully, bottle feed successfully, and breastfeed when she was home. :) I've got 12 weeks to figure out breastfeeding and then pumping.. I hope I do well!

At work, we have a lil, for fun, baby pool going on. Guesses for Georgie are pouring in.. as early as an April 29th debut and as late as May 11th. We'll see! May 13th is Dave's 31st birthday so any day but that is fine by me. I'd prefer Dave and Georgie to have their very own birthdays but I guess whatever happens, happens.

36 weeks

I'm 36 weeks! 25 days to go......

• Georgie is now the size of a honeydew!
• Georgie is kicking away as I type up this blog. It's cute cuz he/she moves the laptop which is on my lap/bump.
• Georgie's skin is getting smooth and soft, her/his gums are rigid, his/her liver and kidneys are in working order, and her/his circulation and immune system are basically good to go.
• Georgie's lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but everyday he/she gets a lil closer to breathing on his/her own.
• According to babycenter.com, Georgie is gaining about an ounce a day!
• Georgie weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. 
• Georgie is shedding most of the downy hair that covered his/her body, as well as the vermix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected his/her skin during the 9 month amniotic bath. 
• Next week, Georgie will be considered full-term!!!

We've been dog sitting Chewy since last Thursday while Grandma & Grandpa Reid our on their 10 night cruise to the Eastern Carribean. Haha. Dog sitting round 2!! Here we go! He is so cute! I love him! He was my very first schnauz. Haha. He barks a lot at the backyard critters. Other than that, he's a joy. He'll be with us for week 36 to week 37 hahaha. 

Today, I went to the doctor at 11:15 a.m.. I received good news. My blood pressure, heart rate, and everything looks great. We did the 36 week, strep B test and we'll get the results at next Thursday's appointment. :) I got my first internal exam since we are on weekly exams. According to Dr. Martin, GEORGIE IS HEAD DOWN and progressing very well. Dr. Martin said I'm 80% effaced, 1/2 cm. dialated, and all signs point to a potentially-early delivery! He said something funny... "if you were to put a gun to my head, I'd say you are going to deliver early (before my due date 5.10.11)". I'll take that with a grain of salt.. everyone is different and the majority of people I know go past their due date... especially with their first. 

Here is what it means to be effaced... it's hard to explain so I'll just show you the diagrama!  Effacement is the shortening, or thinning, of a tissue.

So, we'll see what's going on at next Thursday's appointment. :) I'm excited. So far, I feel ok. I'm definitely waddling and there's a lot of pressure after I sit up/get up after I've been laying down or sitting for a while. It's like warming up the engine before starting your car. Haha. That's how I feel.

This Thursday, Dave and I are going to our final class at Edward Hospital. It's breastfeeding. It's from 6:30-9:30 p.m.  This prenatal class covers the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby, tips for getting breastfeeding off to a good start, correct positioning and latch, and basic information about pumping. Dads are encouraged to attend!  So I'm happy Dave will be coming with me. :) 

I'm resting, taking it easy, and just have a few things to get finished in the nursery. I need to put the wall quotes up on the wall, curtain rod, curtains, Glenna Jean matching valance, and the 3-pc-wall art we purchased to match the Glenna Jean bedding. :) That's it. So just the pretty stuff but other than that we are good.

This past Saturday, I washed Georgie's sheets, bibs, burb cloths, some onesies, swaddling blankets, 4 swaddlers, booties, mittens, caps, and changing pad covers. I also washed the sheets/changing pad for the playard. So that's good! I only washed 2 size newborn sleepers and the rest of the onesies are size 0-3 months.. I CANNOT BELIEVE how small these clothes are. They say it'll fit 8-12 pounds. I think they look like premie clothes. LOL. 

We had a surprise baby shower on Wednesday... it was ironic.. Dave had one at work. And, I had one at work too! haha! We received 3 HANDMADE blankets! 2 crocheted and 1 quilted. I <3 them! I'll have to take pix of them and post them. We also received 2 babies r us gift cards, a pack'n'play, 2 pack'n'play sheets, 1 quilted pack'n'play sheet, and 2 pack'n'play changing pad covers. We got some outfits too at the shower. We also got some bath fun, lotion, teething ring, diapers, wipes, etc. WE ARE SO EXCITED! I have a ton of thank-you cards to get to before Georgie arrives... :/ gotta get on it!

On Saturday, I assembled the pack'n'play and got it set up downstairs. I put the diaper caddy/changing accessories in the pack'n'play. It'll be perfect for napping/playing/changing. Since we have the 2 dogs I think I want to ease Georgie into pets. Ernie can really be in your face with sniffing so I want to make sure that's a slow-n-steady process. Even with me being 36 weeks pregnant, Ernie still jumps on me and uses my baby bump as a spring board. LOL. Bert is so sweet and gentle with me so it's funny how opposite they are with a pregnant momma around.  When tots are around, Bert is just skittish and scared and OVERPROTECTIVE of Ernie/me/Dave so he's the one we really need to watch when we have a newborn around. I doubt Bert would ever do anything to Georgie but it's better for me to be prepared and careful.. at first at least. 

That's it for now!

our maternity pix!

Here's a sneak peak of our maternity pictures! 3-30-11 taken at 34 1/2 weeks!

We haven't purchased the digital rights to our pictures/cd so here's a copy/paste from the photographer, Amy Paulson, blog!

74 degrees, heat off, & nesting with the doors OPEN

it's 74 degrees outside! 

I'm wearing flip flops and my swollen feet like it! :) It's so nice outside. The heat is turned off. It was nice to hear the birds chirping today as well. Spring definitely feels here! It's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow so I'm hoping these April showers bring May flowers.. as the saying goes.


I ordered the crib bedding this week and the valance. I put it in the crib! It looks so cute! I also went shopping today to Target to get a curtain rod and some black-out-curtains for the room. I'll have to put those up sometime this week. Also, from Target is a shelf/cubby for some baskets. I'm pretty sure we'll need the storage space once we start accumulating more toys, books, clothes, and more for Georgie. I also bought 2 memory cards as I noticed our memory card was out in our camcorder. With Georgie 34 days away, I needed to go to Best Buy to purchase a couple. I went to Once Upon a Child to see if there were any playards/pack'n'plays I liked.. no dice. I need to pick up a pack'n'play and video baby monitor but I think I'll wait a lil bit. They have some good deals on ebay and amazon. 


So here's the 2nd sneak peak into the nursery...

I put the ABC blocks from Donna on the dresser and I also put a picture of Georgie (at 26 wks) into the frame

there's the new shelf/cubby for Georgie

baskets $6, and shelf $44 from Target. 

Dana came over on Wednesday to see the nursery and drop off a lil present since she had to miss the nursery! Thanks Dana for the panda bear toy, baby einstein piano, and books! It's awesome!

Here's the baby quilt (Glenna Jean Finley pattern) and the location where I'm going to put up the Dr. Seuss quote (I got this quote off of Etsy)

The crib finished! Bumper, sheet, and sham

I picked up a mobile from BuyBuyBaby and the Baby Einstein soother off our registry using some store credit. 

I love this soother.. 5 songs.. and remote control!

This quote will go over the crib

This quote will go in the reading corner