Progress!

This morning I woke up around 5 a.m. This is nothing new, as I wake up almost hourly to flop over to my other side because some limb has fallen asleep. However, as I assessed my body, I found that nothing was asleep. On closer observation, I realized I was having a contraction! For the rest of the early morning, until my alarm went off I switched between having contractions and snoozing. The contractions continued all morning at work, and after lunch I walked into my classroom and glanced down to notice that I didn't see as much of my belly as I have been used to seeing. The baby dropped! Yea! Progress! After last week's doc appointment, I wasn't going to have him check my progress at this Thursday's appointment, but now I think I might! Part of me hopes I'll have Bri by then-they didn't have any open appointments late in the week so they double booked me saying the other appointment will "probably deliver anyway." Sigh, my appointments are always behind schedule, and adding a double booking didn't really make me happy. Maybe BOTH she and I will deliver and they'll get back on schedule for one day!

Week 38

Two weeks until Brianna's due date! I'm amazed. I was kind of hoping that she would make an appearance this weekend, but that seems to be a long shot. I had my check up today, and my belly is 37cm-pretty much the same as last week. Bri is head down-as she has been at least since we moved-and she tends to hang out on my right side. I had the doctor check her progress, and he said she is still pretty high. I am about 50% thinned, but only dilated to between 1 and 2. He said the good news is if she doesn't come on her own, she is in a great position for inducing her, and because I'm already thinned it should go well. I really don't like the thought of being induced, but I guess I really don't have a say in that decision!

BabyCenter Says:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.

It's Ready!

Brianna's side of the room.

Changing table/dresser with Gracie's wall hanging over it.

Gracie's side of the room.
All the quilts, wallhangings and bumper pads are created by Nana!

Gracie and Brianna's going home from the hospital outfits. Notice the girlies on the shirts even had red hair! Too perfect. Can't wait for pictures in these!

Gracie's Rocking Horse

Nana and Bumpa got Gracie a rocking horse for her first birthday, but it was a little bit big for her then. Lately, she has become increasingly interested in it. She has figured out how to rock-slowly, and how to get off. I think once she grows another inch or two she will get confident on it, right now her toes barely touch the base of it.

37 Weeks FULL TERM!

I am full term today. The thought is very comforting. Her due date is only three weeks away, so within the next month, I should be able to breathe again! Of course, I won't be able to sleep. The payoff will be well worth it to meet little Brianna.

I had my doctor appointment yesterday, and it was a little unusual. The doc asked if I had any questions and since my work was having a flu shot clinic in the waiting area, I asked if I should participate. He recommended it and even went out to ask if he could give it to me during my appointment and still charge insurance. They said yes, so it was nice to get that out of the way without another line to wait in. He told me that he was going to do the strep B test (look for bacteria that could harm the baby, but doesn't harm adults), measure my belly, and listen to Bri's heart. He started with measuring my belly when we hear a page for him "stat." He apologized and promised to find another doc to finish my appointment. Another doc came in and introduced herself and finished the appointment.

BabyCenter Says:
Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. He weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

Doll Stroller?

Or baby recliner?

Note To Self:

When doing laundry, check the dryer carefully.

Wanted

A few months ago we were visiting Erin and Richard when Gracie found Erin's cell phone. Erin said "no biggie," so we let her play with it. Next thing we knew, Erin took the phone from her and stated that she had just called 911! The police called back and Erin verified that it was just the baby playing with the phone.

Fast forward to yesterday.

deja vu.

We were at Grandma and Grandpa's house when I ran home to change pants for the PTO meeting. When I got back to Gma and Gpa's it was full of action. People were putting the finishing touches on dinner, and the phone rang. That's when I heard Daddy say "yeah, we have an 18 month old here. She was probably playing with it." Uh Oh. Soon, a police woman stopped by, stating that she was just double checking that everything was ok. I made Gracie come out and meet her, and told Gracie "this is what happens when you dial 911. A police officer comes here and wastes her time because you were playing with the phone." I think a new location for the phone is in order.

Casual Friday

So my new job requires no jeans. It's a sad, unfortunate event for this teacher, who started the year with two pairs of jeans, one pair of khakis, and a pair of black pants. And then the khakis ripped yesterday. . . How pathetic that I'm so big my maternity clothes are getting too small. I am resisting buying a new pair. I'm full term on Friday, and my due date is only three and a half weeks away. Hum, three and a half weeks of one pair of pants. I think I'll be doing laundry often, and only wearing jeans all weekend!

Week 36

Next week I will be full term. What are the chances I'll go then? Yeah, slim to none. . . While I'm very ready to be done being prego, I am not ready to take a maternity leave. I am enjoying getting to know the new students I will be working with and getting used to my new schools. However, even leaving the school right at 4:00 and sitting during every break, my feet are killing me by lunch. I don't mean to sound whiny, but between my back pain, pelvic pain, and feet I feel like it's bedtime around dinner time. Of course, with an 18 month old at home, she disagrees completely and refused to go to bed before 9:30-trust me, I've tried!!

BabyCenter says:
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly

18 Months

Newborn Gracie Jo chillaxin.

Gracie turns 18 months old in three days! I cannot believe how big she has gotten, how smart she is, and especially how fast the time has gone! Her personality has emerged, and she is such a sweet and helpful girl. Here is my baby, in a nutshell:

Eight months

Mom and Dad's favorite traits:

• She's SO helpful. She loves to be involved in everything. Doing dishes? She wants to be sitting on the counter watching (or emptying the nearest cabinet, giving me clean dishes to wash!). Doing the laundry? She loves to hand the dirty laundry to me, or take the wet laundry from me and put it in the dryer. She even takes her dirty diapers from me or Dad and puts them in the trash can! Whenever she's done with the task her face lights up and she claps for herself.
• She sings and dances all the time. It doesn't matter where the music is coming from, she'll grin and start dancing. If it takes us a while to answer our cell phones, it's probably because we're watching her dance to the ring tone! She spent a couple of days last week with Grandma, who has a dog that Gracie loves. For two days after playing with Grandma and her puppy Gracie walked around our apartment singing "Puppypuppypuppypuppypuppy!" After a while, she also came up with her own "Puppy" dance. She pretty much marched in place, moving her legs almost up to her waist and singing her puppy song. She usually did her dance until she fell, she was dancing so hard! Of course, her favorite place to do her puppy dance is on the loveseat, with the cushions removed. I've tried to get a video of her dance, but it's so quick and spontaneous I don't know if I ever will.
• This kid SLEEPS. Last night she went to bed at 10 p.m. it's now 11 a.m. and she's still asleep. And she'll still take a 2-3 hour nap around 3 this afternoon too!
• Gracie loves water. I'm pretty sure she was supposed to be born with gills and fins. If she sees something full of water, she'll crawl in. We got a free turtle sandbox and filled it with water instead of sand! When we went to the Mall of America she tried to jump into the water fountain, and once we went to Grandma's to pick her up and she was IN the bathroom sink-fully clothed! At our church's 25th anniversary celebration on the riverfront she and Daddy went wading in the river, and she ended up in to her elbows, and even went under! So much for wading.
• She is always happy. People meet her and are completely entertained by her giddiness and I am constantly asked "Is she always like this?" Y.E.S. The rare times when she gets a little crabby can be solved by putting her down for a nap (or taking her out of her carseat-she hates her carseat), and she usually goes down for a nap pretty easily.
• Her independence is amazing. She could entertain herself all day if she needed to. She just goes from one toy/place to another talking to herself (or her toys?).
  
• My favorite-She's become a cuddlebug. If Daddy or I sit on the floor, she will bring her blankie over, put it in our lap and snuggle in. She'll get entranced by whatever is on the t.v. (seriously, video games, cartoons, chick flick, action movie, it doesn't matter) and just cuddle. Sometimes it lasts five minutes, sometimes longer. Usually when she gets up and leaves, she'll be back in a little while to cuddle longer. When she's sleepy, she'll sit there for a half hour or more. I L.O.V.E. it.
  

Eleven months

Of course there are a few less desirable traits, like spitting her food out on the carpet when she doesn't like something, but these are few. Our days with Gracie are so much fun, neither of us can remember what life was like before she made it worth it.


Enjoying hot dogs and ketchup for breakfast.
Seventeen months.

Week 35

BabyCenter says:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

What I have to say about it:
No kidding! I swear, this kid is all elbows and hiccups! She has had the hiccups everyday this week. Bri moves constantly. I mean-con.stant.ly! Usually I love it, savoring the feeling as it won't be around for too much longer but a few times she's actually made me nauseous with all the movement and hiccups! Some of her movements are a little painful, which is what makes me say she's all elbows. The kids knows how to use them already!

Week 34 Checkup

I had a very entertaining checkup today. After all the usual things; blood pressure, questions, etc I laid on the exam table and the doc measured my belly and got out the prenatal heart machine. We had a hard time hearing her heartbeat-because she had the hiccups and they were louder than her heart! The doc was chuckling and luckily the machine could distinguish her heart from her hics, so we knew that her heart is strong and there's nothing to worry about. It was quite strange hearing them in conjunction with the little twitches in my stomach!