21 days to go: Let the panic commence!

We have arrived! We are officially "full-term" at 37 weeks. This means if Alaina was born today, she would not be considered premature (and also that they likely wouldn't do anything to try to stop labor). Based on stats, she should weigh approximately 7 pounds and all of her internal organs should be able to  work on their own. We are also at the point that there are fewer associated problems and medical risks. I'm still not ready for her to come, though! In fact, it makes me a little crazy when people keep telling me I'm going to go early. Don't wish that on me; I'm not there yet! Chad is just as bad as anyone--I think he just finds it hard to believe that my belly (or my feet!) could get any bigger. :)
I got a little nervous on Wednesday. I kept having a mix of what were probably Braxton Hicks contractions and Alaina stretching for a couple of hours. However, they weren't really painful and I had no other symptoms of labor. But it made me a little nervous. This probably contributed to the really terrible night's sleep I had that night--I woke up a million times due to acid reflux and ended up having to sleep sitting up. Fortunately, things have been going fine since then! 


As I noted before, this week is my spring break. My list of projects at work and at home is quite lengthy! Tomorrow I plan to knock out of all my clinical responsibilities (mostly signing notes and reading summaries). I would also love to work on the revise and resubmit. Beyond that, I have two journal reviews due, 3 theses to read, 4 lectures to write, 8 mid-terms/8 papers/and 8 reports to grade...and a partridge in a pear tree...But seriously. I am so excited it's spring break. I really, really hope I can get all of this knocked out this week. I will feel tremendously more optimistic.


Today Chad and I went to the grocery store and stocked up on things for us to make several dinners to freeze for after Alaina's arrival. He made me promise him I won't make them all in the same day. He knows me too well. I am pretty sure I wouldn't be able to but that isn't to say I wouldn't have tried! Each meal should make 2-3 dinners. The meals I'm making over the next week are (I'm hyperlinking the recipes in case anyone is looking for new meals to try):

• Chicken Mushroom Lasagna
• Sausage Ziti
• Calzones
• Chicken Spaghetti
• Chicken Teriyaki for the crockpot
• Ham stuffed manicotti

So hopefully they will be good. I know the first one is awesome because I've already made it four or five times. The others could be a flop! However, if this goes particularly well, we may do a few more, including pulled pork for sandwiches and tacos, Chad's amazing spaghetti sauce, muffins/breads, etc. Pinterest gave me a ton of great ideas! I just didn't want to be overly ambitious yet. We're fortunate that I also have a great group of friends who have offered to bring us dinners after Alaina is born.  


Wednesday is the big day for our 37 week appointment, growth scan, and tour of the hospital! I am also expecting a couple of packages of baby things in the mail this week. March 28-31 is a big consignment sale here in Stillwater (Adorable Affordables) so I am hoping we can get any of the necessities we're still missing then. It's apparently crazy so hopefully I can get plenty of rest the night before I go. I'll also be sure to wear my compression socks for the long lines! 


We keep chipping away at the list:

• Find and meet with a pediatrician {I spoke with Dr. Voight and really liked her}
• Finish painting and decorating the nursery
• Launder and organize the baby clothes
• Decide on a bring home outfit
• Finish thank-you cards
• Make meals to freeze {We stocked up on everything today and that's my plan for this week!}
• Write "birth goals"
• Determine what necessities we still need to buy
• Pack our hospital bags {I started mine and Alaina's bags} 
• Install the car seat
• Find and schedule a photographer for newborn photos
• {New this week} Talk to dog sitter

These photos were from last weekend but I thought I'd share them because they're so cute of the dogs. 

A quick note

As you can see on my little ticker above, we are now under the 30 day mark. That thought kind of takes my breath away. I suspect that when I see "21 days to go" I'm going to freak out a little. Not sure why but man, 3 weeks seems like so little time! According to statistics, our little girl should weigh about 6.5 pounds and be about 20 inches long. She will continue to gain half a pound to a pound each week until I deliver but she is likely pretty settled on length (which is good given that she is running out of space in there!). If she were born today (goodness, I don't even like writing that!) she would probably require very little medical assistance, though until Sunday she is still considered "late pre-term" and there are still a host of problems that could occur, though clearly less severe and less likely than earlier births. These problems would include things like feeding problems, breathing problems, difficulties regulating body temperature, jaundice, and mild learning or behavioral problems. So clearly we want her to keep cooking. :) Sunday is, by most standards, considered "full-term" though it is still advisable not to induce or perform c-sections in single births until 39 weeks unless medically necessary. We are shooting for 40-41 weeks.

Next week is my spring break. I want to take at least three of those days to get caught up on my work responsibilities. I get especially nervous about the long list of clinical notes, reports, and summaries that need to be reviewed and signed before I go on leave. That and I have a revise and resubmit that I really don't want hanging over me while I am home. So those are my goals for next week.

Another sneak peek

So my doctor's appointment this morning went well. My blood pressure had creeped up a little (130/72) but the doctor was not at all concerned. She said part of it might have been the knowledge that I would be getting the Group B Strep test today (a virus that is not harmful to me but could be harmful to Alaina, if left untreated). I will get those results back next week, I imagine. If I have it, it just means I need to get IV antibiotics after I go into labor.

She also measured my fundal height again and exclaimed "wow! that's a big baby...or you're just short!" Well, we know that second one is true anyway. :) She said this because I was measuring 39 weeks (keep in mind, I am currently 36 weeks). Now, before you freak out (I think Chad almost had a mini-panic attack when reminded that pregnancy is typically 40 weeks!), this is not an indication that she is coming next week. In fact, I have no signs that she will come early at all. However, it does mean that my growth scan got scheduled for next week, which is fantastic. This will be a longer ultrasound on the big machine--and Chad will be coming so hopefully he will get some nice video. Immediately after our appointment next Wednesday, we will be going to the hospital for a tour and to fill out pre-registration paperwork. 

She did complete another little travel ultrasound (see below) and Alaina was actually awake for part of it. However, she seems a little camera shy because almost immediately, she turned over and gave us another great look at her spine. :) She remains head down and facing the side. We also listened to the heart beat on the Doppler and it was measuring in the 140s.

Things are really moving forward...eek!

And to continue to update:

• Find and meet with a pediatrician {I think I've narrowed this one down after talking to a few friends and my doctor}
• Finish painting and decorating the nursery
• Launder and organize the baby clothes
• Decide on a bring home outfit
• Finish Write thank-you cards
• Make meals to freeze
• Write "birth goals"
• Determine what necessities we still need to buy (like um, diapers...)
• Pack our hospital bags (I started Alaina's bag) and install the car seat
• Find and schedule a photographer for newborn photos

36 weeks!

So in addition to spending most of today taking pictures, this has been a really busy weekend in terms of preparing. Since I haven't started nesting yet, I decided I should probably just bite the bullet and do the work. I spent the weekend laundering and organizing all the clothes, blankets, and toys for the first three months. We also cleaned out the things in the closet that didn't belong and organized the diapers. So the list is starting to look {very} slightly better. 

• Find and meet with a pediatrician
• Finish painting and decorating the nursery
• Launder and organize the baby clothes
• Decide on a bring home outfit
• Finish Write thank-you cards
• Make meals to freeze
• Write "birth goals"
• Determine what necessities we still need to buy (like um, diapers...)
• Pack our hospital bags (I started Alaina's bag) and install the car seat
• {New this week} Find and schedule a photographer for newborn photos

My work list is looking longer than ever, though, unfortunately...

Maternity photo shoot

My friend Ricki came over today and took some photos to help us remember these last few weeks prior to Smudge's arrival. We think she did a great job! Here are a number of them (and looks like you will get a preview of some of the new things in the nursery, too!):

Madeline has been dying to get on the ottoman since we got it. I know it's a terrible habit we'll have to break her of but I just couldn't resist a chance to get her in a photo. We don't think she loved it as much as she expected.

The glider is a great place for reading to Alaina!

Madeline remains obsessed with her doppleganger.

           

The irresistible cheesy heart maternity photo followed by the "let's put cute toys on the big belly" photos. 

  

36 week photos. 

The first just shows that you can take the girl out of Kentucky but can't take the Kentucky out of the girl: barefoot, pregnant, and chilling with two 6-packs of Ale-8.

Pregnancy Survey

So I was recently asked why I haven't done any pregnancy surveys, given that I used to have such a penchant for them back in the MySpace and email survey days. So, I figure why not--there are so many out there:

How far along: 35weeks, 5days
Total weight gain/loss: +31
Maternity clothes: My fantastic cousin-in-law, Angela, sent me most all of the maternity clothes I own. Oddly enough, lately I have been wearing pre-pregnancy clothes like NY&Co stretchy dress pants and flowy shirts. I was getting a little tired of wearing the same thing daily and don't really want to buy a new wardrobe that will only last for a month.
Stretch marks: I did develop some early in my second trimester. I think bio-oil is keeping them at bay. 
Sleep: I still go to bed too late and have to get up early for work. I generally wake up 1-3 times per night. I'm not really having trouble sleeping but I'm also not waking up rested.
Best moment this week: It's been a pretty low-key week. If Saturday can count, I would say getting the glider/ottoman in the nursery.
Movement: Yes! I thought by now the movements were supposed to be more subtle but she still packs quite the punch!
Food cravings: Nothing. Never. Nada. Boring pregnancy, I know. Chad really has no idea how easy he has it!
Labor Signs: None, not really even experiencing Braxton-Hicks.
Belly Button in or out: Still in but getting more shallow. 
What I miss: Being able to turn over in bed without waking myself up. And my ankles.
What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery finished.
Milestones: Today was the 30 days left milestone. The next big milestone is 37 weeks, which will mean I am "full-term" by most standards.

30 days left!

Yikes.
Still quite a bit to do both in terms of work and getting ready for Alaina. I have gotten much more work done, though--just two more reviews left, two theses, a manuscript to revise, summaries to read, lectures to write, and notes to sign. So yea, it's better but still too much for her to come anytime soon. 


Here's the list again, I'll keep updating it to keep myself on track--

• Find and meet with a pediatrician
• Finish painting and decorating the nursery
• Launder and organize the baby clothes
• Decide on a bring home outfit
• Write thank-you cards (I've finally started these at least)
• Make meals to freeze
• Write "birth goals" (yikes)
• Determine what necessities we still need to buy (like um, diapers...)
• Pack our hospital bags (I've made my list of things to take) and install the car seat

My doctor's appointment on Tuesday went well. Blood pressure was 126/78 which is a little higher than usual but not concerning. Now we are at weekly appointments which will definitely make things go by faster. She plans to do a growth scan at 38 weeks. Currently Alaina is still head down but currently facing to the right. Here is a video, unfortunately she is sleeping again! 

Chad and I also finished our classes at the hospital. 

The shower the graduate students held for us was really very nice. I still need to get pictures from them, though. We also picked up our glider and ottoman. I took a picture but I think I want to hold off on pictures until we get closer to finishing the nursery.