37 Week Check-Up

I had my 37 week appointment today, and I am still dilated to a 1 but she said my cervix is softening up nicely. I was hoping I had made more progress, but I'll take what I can get! I really thought (or was hoping) this might be the week, but my doctor said I was under strict orders to not go into labor this weekend since she will be out of town. My next appointment is next Wednesday, and if I'm favorable she said she can do a membrane sweep. She also said we can schedule an induction for the 19th. I'll be 39 weeks exactly. I'm really hoping I'll go into labor on my own before then, or that the membrane sweep will work...

I was kind of against having a scheduled induction because I think it's good for the baby to be born on it's own when it's good and ready. That's nice in theory, but when you're this far along and getting more uncomfortable by the day and  you have a toddler you need to plan child care for, an induction doesn't sound half bad! We'll see what happens, but at this point I'm keeping an open mind and crossing my fingers for my water to break on it's own this week or next.

I've been trying to stay busy and get out of the house with Graham a lot but I am literally so, so tired today. Everything is uncomortable and I am not motivated to do anything AT ALL. Cooking dinner sounds awful, so does doing the laundry and keeping up with any and all housework. I just keep telling myself the busier I stay, the more likely I'll go into labor, or at the least it will make the time go by faster. The hampers are currently empty, but  I have 3 loads that need to be folded (1 on the bed, 1 in the dryer and 1 in the washer) the floors are badly in need of being mopped, my car needs to be washed and detailed, my hospital bag still needs to be packed, the carseat needs to be installed and the carpet could stand to be vacuumed, and I need to dust. Not to mention I have a toddler that needs to be cared for. But all I want to do is take a NAP! Graham has been watching way too much Mickey Mouse, and needs to get some outside time in a bad way. Hopefully when Chad gets home we can go on a nice long walk before I make dinner.

At lunch with friends yesterday. Look at that expression!
What a HAM!!

Helping me with laundry
(this is where I found him this morning after I finished washing dishes...
 yes those clothes had already been organized and folded...)

37 Weeks {Full Term!!}

How Far Along: 37 Weeks


Size of baby: A Watermelon.... ouch!


Total Weight Gain: 28 pounds, I'm sure at least 5 pounds of that is water weight!


Maternity Clothes: Oh yeah.... and I am looking forward to fitting back in my regular clothes again

Movement: This chick has been crazy lately! I have been feeling lots of knees, elbows, arms, her butt moving from side to side, anything you could think of. It actually kind of scared/freaked me out the other night when I felt her push out all at once, you could literally feel the outline of her whole body, it was insane!


Sleep: A little trouble going back to sleep after getting up to potty, but other than that I've been sleeping soundly and trying to enjoy these last few nights of uninterrupted sleep!

What I miss: Just being able to get around easily without being in pain. I literally can't walk sometimes because of the pressure, or her sitting on a nerve. My belly is so heavy and I am retaining lots of water lately. I am still able to pick up Graham, but he is good about holding my hand most of the time when I ask him to. I can't wait to be able to rock him without my big belly being in the way, and throw him up in the air, and take him on long walks.

Cravings: Apples

Symptoms:  Swelling! My poor feet and ankles are huge. My legs are retaining lots of water and feel so gross. It's uncomfortable, and unattractive, but I know it will disappear soon after the birth, so I'm not stressing about it. I just think of it as weight that will be that much easier to lose! 

Best Moment This Week: Lots of  fun this week!! I got a mani/pedi on Friday, a prenatal massage on Saturday afternoon and yesterday we took maternity pictures with our good friend, Amber Dean! We met in Madisonville and had so much fun. Amber and her husband Jeremy were in all of Chad's real estate classes at UNT and they got married a little over a year ago. Amber did an amazing job and I can't wait to see the pictures!!! Graham was even in a good mood and loved hanging out with them, too :) After we finished with pictures, we grabbed a bite at a local mexican restaurant and visited before heading home. Here's Amber's website, if you live in the Dallas area, you have to check her out!

Best Comment of the Week: While we were leaving the restaurant last night, we heard a lady tell her friend, while gesturing to me, "She's having a girl." Chad turned around and said "You're right! How did you know that?" and she said "I dont' know, but I'm never wrong." Haha! Crazy!

What I'm looking forward to: My doctor appointment tomorrow (hoping I am close to going into labor!!) A girl's night dinner at PF Chang's on Thursday, and getting all the last minute things ready for Claire. (Deep cleaning the house, getting my car washed and detailed, packing the hospital bag and installing the carseat) Taking lots of walks, and doing all I can to get this labor going!

Milestones:  Get excited. At 37 weeks, your baby has reached full term. That means she's developed her most crucial functions. Of course, she’ll get even healthier and stronger over the next few weeks, so don’t get too impatient. Around week 37, many moms-to-be find themselves organizing cupboards and scrubbing their floors. That’s the nesting instinct kicking in as your body senses baby will be here shortly. It also might be your brain’s way of making sure you’re prepared for just about anything, so you can feel like you have an extra edge on this whole new parent thing. She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. She's getting her first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for her first diaper.

Here's a little sneak peek Amber posted this morning of my maternity session!!

Claire's Nursery Reveal!

With the exception of her wooden monogram, which should arrive next week, it's finally done!! I think it turned out really sweet. It's pretty much just how I envisioned it, and I am so glad that PINTEREST exists, because most of my ideas came from there! :) I think it's a room that will really be able to grow with her, and I hope she loves it as much as we do. I seriously might move in there if I could :) A special thanks to Chad for all the hard work he did. He single-handedly painted the striped wall (I helped some with the other walls), put the crib and dresser together and hung her chandelier and all the wall decorations. Claire is so lucky she has a daddy who loves her so much, and he was just as excited about this very PINK nursery as he was about the sweet baby blue one we did just 2 years ago.... :) I can't wait until there is a beautiful little newborn to bring home to her nursery!

sign from Amazon.com

Chandelier from Overstock.com

Jenny Lind crib from Amazon.com
and paper pom poms recycled from my baby shower

Bedding from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child

Already has a doll collection
and a  pink bear just like her brother's beloved blue bear

Shelf and picture frames from Hobby Lobby

My first pair of shoes when I was a baby :)

Antique baby gowns were my mother's when she was a baby

Dresser from Ikea

Rocking chair from Good Will and "Dream" sign from Hobby Lobby.
I was originally going to paint her rocking chair, but I ended up liking it better as-is!

Paris drawings from Hobby Lobby
Claire is a French name, so that's why I chose those :)

Basket from Hobby Lobby

Good start on her bow collection!!! Most are gifts, or from etsy or Hobby Lobby

Washed socks, hats and plenty of paci's :)

Newborn diapers all ready to go!! (Thanks, Traci!!) :)

Newborn onesies all washed and ready to wear! :)

Recieving blankets and swaddles washed and ready to wrap Claire up in!

Diapers!

A FULL closet!!!! Lucky girl.

The wall the monogram will go on

Coming home/Easter dress I picked up today!!

Lamp and mirror from Hobby Lobby

And of course, a boppy!

Life at the Moment

Life has been moving way too fast in some ways and SO sloooow in others these days. On Monday I'll be 37 weeks.... "Full Term" and that has my head spinning! In the past few weeks, we've gotten A LOT done, so I feel pretty prepared at this point. Can you ever be fully prepared for a new baby, though?????

Dryer full of PINK clothes!!!!

As prepared as I feel we are, I know there are BIG adjustments coming for Graham. I am honestly pretty nervous for him. I've had a few tearful nights thinking about what it will be like for him to go from "the center of the universe" to having to share his Mama and Daddy. I know in my heart this will be a good thing for him, especially in the long run, but it still makes me worry about my first baby's feelings and how he will adjust. I know all mom's feel like this before welcoming a second baby into their family, so I guess it's just something I have to go through. I've tried my best to prepare him, without going overboard. He knows what a "baby" is, that "Baby Claire" is in mommy's tummy, and as I type this, he ran over to the swing we just put up today, said "baby! baby!" and put his bear in it. I never even told him that was for Claire!!!  I think he understands a lot more than we give him credit for, but still, he is in many ways still a baby himself! Anyway, I plan to write a post very soon dedicated to my sweet baby boy, so I'll just save more of my thoughts on this for later.

After an afternoon nap, watching Mickey of course! I look swollen and tired!!
 Definitely 9 months pregnant!!!

As far as everyday life goes these days, Graham and I have been going on like normal for the most part. I've been super on top of laundry and keeping the house picked up, but "deep cleaning" has kind of fallen to the wayside at this point. Chad said he'd mop the kitchen and vacuum for me this weekend because he doesn't want me to do it. (What a sweet husband I have!!!) As soon as I hit 37 weeks though, I plan to do as much as I can do physically and hopefully that will help her come on her own :) Braxton Hicks are still a regular (and often painful) occurrence. Next Thursday I'm going to eat with some girlfriends at PF Changs (I ate there 2 days before going into labor with Graham). That night is also a full moon and Gracie's birthday (my sweet little cousin and flower girl at our wedding) :) At the same time, my sister's in-laws will be in town from New Jersey next week, so she is hoping I won't go into labor while they're there!

Best friends :)

Graham is such a character these days. He is just as attached to his bear and paci as ever (they go everywhere with us), not to mention Mickey Mouse. If the TV is on, it has to be Mickey. It's kind of a problem. He has had a cough for the past week or so, but no fever and it's getting better on its own. Tantrums are becoming a more frequent occurrence, but they are still short-lived. He has also learned the word "No!" Is it terrible that even when he is being a little pistol, I still think it's so darn cute?? I know it won't be in a few months, but I just can't help it. I try my hardest not to let him know, though. We have had to do "time out" a few times. We just put him in his room by himself and shut the door for about 30 seconds, and then talk to him about why he was in time-out afterward. It seems to do the trick---he HATES time-out and cries and cries until we open the door.

Going on a donut run with Mama this morning (breakfast for a morning play date)

This weekend we have my maternity pictures, Tripp's birthday party, and I'm going to try and sneak in a prenatal massage :) I am happy to say Claire's nursery is COMPLETED with the exception of her wooden monogram which should arrive next week I'm thinking. I need to take some pictures as soon as I'm done washing her sheets, blankets and newborn clothes. OK, I think I feel pretty caught up now!! Here's one last picture of my little monkey...........

Stealing a sip from Mama's water. Why does everything taste better if it's Mom or Dad's?? :)

,

36 Weeks {9 Months Pregnant!!!!}

This morning I had my doctor's appointment which kicked off my weekly check-ups!  My weight gain and blood pressure were great, 68/112 (or something like that) and Claire's heartbeat was in the high 150's, low 160's which my doctor said was perfect. Claire is still head down, but hasn't dropped yet. She did an internal and I am dialated to a (small) 1 and 50% effaced!

How Far Along: 36 Weeks


Size of baby: A coconut! At my check up my doctor said she was probably around 6 pounds!


Total Weight Gain: 23 pounds


Maternity Clothes: Of course!

Movement: I think we have a pretty active little girl on our hands. A few times this week, I felt some sharp jabs to my ribs which made me yell out in pain. She still favors my right side, and will push back if I push on her.


Sleep: Same as last week: Sleeping good still. I think my pregnancy pillow has been my saving grace for sure!

What I miss: Being able to lay on my stomach, roll out of bed easy, and chase Graham around as much as I want. It's getting harder and harder to haul Graham around and get him in and out of his crib. I'm still managing fine on my own during the day, but I defnitely have no problem with Chad's help in the evenings and on the weekends. Graham is also getting really good about holding my hand and walking when I need him to. In the evenings when I'm trying to cook he seems to be the clingiest to me.

Cravings: Cheesecake!

Symptoms:  Still noticing the swelling. Wedding ring is getting pretty tight. I am still feeling that soreness right on my rib cage and lots of braxton hicks.

Best Moment This Week: Getting her nursery finished (with the exception of 2 things for the walls)

What I'm looking forward to: Touring the hospital tonight and a date with Chad beforehand at Cheesecake Factory :) Washing her clothes, sheets and blankets and packing the hospital bag. I'm also actually really looking forward to labor. Particularly how and when I'm going to go into labor this time. I'm not the only one either, my mom told me when I picked up Graham after my appointment today that everytime I call she's on high alert wondering if this is The Call... haha...

Milestones:  She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own. Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid. Her liver and kidneys are in working order. Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.

The belly.... 36 Weeks!!!