37 Weeks is FULL TERM!

Sooo I am full term! This means that Gabriel's lungs are fully developed and he is ready to meet the world any week/day now =0). I have been having contractions but nothing too serious. I actually didn't realize I was having contractions for a while until I caught on to the tummy tightening. I noticed I have them when I sleep and even though they don't hurt I wake up and turn, so I end up tossing and turning all night now. Apparently I keep Josh up too b/c he does not feel well rested either. At my last doctors appointment I was 1 cm dilated and my cervix is "soft" which means easily flexible = good for labor! I go again on Wednesday to find out about the Group B Strep test and to be checked again. I went on a walk today and had some contractions so we'll see if I've progressed at all. I am drinking the Rasberry Tea Leaf nightly and I took my first prim rose oil pill tonight. The doctor wanted me to wait till 38 weeks but I figure I'm close enough ;)~. I have plenty of newborn clothes to put him in anyway, so if he's small that is good for a myriad of reasons, but most importantly because I HAVE TO PUSH HIM OUT...AHH!

Today I got a wonderful and amazing gift! Well wait, Saturday I did too! People have been so good to me. Saturday I met a friend, Angela Culver, at Barnes and Nobles and she gave me two gifts *one from her mom, Donna Gray, and one from her.* Angela got me a blanket with "Gabriel" embroidered on it and other various baby items, and her mom gave me another embroidered "Gabriel" blanket (I packed this one for the hospital!) and a bib with embroidery! Then today my mom's friend, Connie, sent a box of hand crafted burp cloths, a crochet blanket, and a blanket to hang on the stroller! Here is a picture of these hand made items (The picture does not do them justice!):
Everything is soo adorable and I know a lot of thought and love went into those things!

I woke up a little under the weather today. I think I make myself so anxious to do things that when I have nothing to do I feel sad! Its the first day that I woke up and felt sort of depressed, but I feel better now. I took a walk with the dogs, spent time with the family, and opened the great gift from Connie. I think I just fill my life with so much that when I think about settling down for a month it makes me nervous. Like I won't have anything to do with my time.. I will though, I'll have a baby to take up all my time! I guess its just the unknown that is scary. Josh and I are going to be parents in 3 weeks tops! That is a crazy feeling and stirs up lots of different emotions in me. I have actually loved being pregnant, its been grand, and in certain ways I don't want to give it up. In other ways though I want to see his little face and look forward to pouring my life into him. I am nervous though. I don't want to mess up! I know all parents do, nobody is perfect, but its still a daunting task ahead. Maybe I'm thinking too seriously too soon...at least they start out little and you can learn as they grow and get smarter. One of Josh and I's good friends was telling us that his little girl takes off her bibs now even though they don't want her to (for obvious reasons!). She has learned to maneuver different ones to get them off her head, so now they buy the ones that pull over and for now she can't get them off. I just thought it was funny how parents have to be one step ahead as the kids learn ways to make our lives a little more complex!

Well, here is me at 37 weeks:
I have gained 22lbs so far. I lost a pound last week but I am pretty sure I've gained it back by this week, haha! When I learned I had lost a pound Josh and I went to Coldstone and I've been getting Pumpkin Spice Lattes as often as possible. Not that I'm being careless, I just figure I might as well enjoy the last 2-3 weeks before I turn myself into an exercise slave! I'm still snacking healthy on fruits and such though. My tummy is also being squished by this little munchkin which makes it harder to eat a full meal. Well it makes eating a full meal severely uncomfortable b/c my tummy gets so tight.

I also said I would post some baby shower pics. I still have yet to edit them all, but here are a few (They take FOREVER to load and place on this blog so really there are only a FEW):
If you want to see more then join Facebook ;)! I had a great time at the shower, thanks again everyone who helped and brought me gifts! I think I am going to start writing thank you notes. I will update you all at 38 weeks or if anything exciting happens!!!

Oh, preggo pics are scheduled for Wednesday! Dad gets new lights in at that time, sooo we are waiting until then. Figures I would get them done when I feel BIG, my feet are mildly swelling, and my pelvis hurts because the little one is pressing on my nerves! Oh well, that is life right?! I'll have pics up in about a year..you know how we do! hahahaha!

36 Weeks!

My baby shower was at 36 weeks and it was really great! A lot of people who thought they could make it couldn't, but it still worked beautifully. The room came together very nicely and the cake was really really delicious. Mom scared me with the first news about the cake because when she picked it up the top was squished and the first tier wasn't too stable. It was a HUMID day but we still didn't think the presentation was very nice. I had to live with it though and once we tasted the cake all reservations went out the window. It was incredibly moist and delicious! I got a lot of gifts but most were not on my registry so Sunday I went about bought a lot of the essentials. I am very very happy with my gifts though. I got blankets, clothes, toys, and "cutsie" items. I guess it is no fun for people to buy wipes, diapers, breast pads, light switches, etc.! They want to buy the adorable baby stuff =0). So that is what I got and I'll post pics with my 37 week post. I am full term this week (its Monday and I'm full term on Wednesday!). I go for my 37 week check up on Wednesday and then I'll be in the office once a week until labor. I am going to get my primrose oil and Rasberry Tea after my appointment on Wednesday. I am hoping that kicks my uterus/cervix into shape and I do not have to get induced. It would actually be nice to go into labor at like 38 weeks because as of right now I have no stretch marks. Rebecca says she got hers at 41 and 42 weeks before they induced her. With Annabelle she went into labor naturally for the first time and she contributes this to the tea and oil. So I think its very important that I start that regimen NOW!

I am no longer anxious about having everything done. I have everything I need to bring the little guy home! I bought bottles, nipples, diapers, wipes, lotions, powders, burp cloths, NB clothes, receiving blankets, blankets, and everything else I think I could possibly need. I also have our bags packed! His includes mittens, socks, clothes, diapers, and a cap in case he is bald and mine has everything + snacks so I don't have to waste change in the vending machines. I am getting excited! Now it seems it is time to sit and wait. I also need to get pregnancy pictures before I escape my very first pregnancy with no professional images. I am going to Wilmington for an engagement session on Friday so I may get a few shots there on the beach? I also want to schedule Becca to take some belly photos. I don't know how comfy I am about dad taking those. That is the last bit on my agenda though. Hopefully that will happen this week. I am starting to feel much bigger and am happy that I have only felt "fat" for the last week or so. If I felt like this the ENTIRE time I would be miserable. I am happy though and I am going to miss him moving around so much. Josh kissed my tummy on Sunday after our nap and I cried. It was the sweetest moment to me =)! I know when I see him kiss our son it will be even sweeter! These next three weeks will fly like the wind and that is if I make it to 40.

Here is another picture of me at 36 weeks! I figured the sassy face would take your eyes off the HUGE bellyOh, I also made it through the Duke Chapel Wedding so all the worries are off and we are good to go for labor! It was a beautiful wedding, I very much enjoyed Duke Chapel!!! I think that is all for now, I'll be writing soon for 37 weeks (full term!! YAH!)!

35 Weeks!

This thirty fifth week has been great fun! Josh and I left for Boone on Friday night and came back Sunday night. It was a quick, but refreshing and wonderful, trip! We figured it would probably be the last before Gabriel was born and complicated travel a wee bit. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute though and the mountain air was so amazing! Saturday we enjoyed a sandwich outside Blowing Rock, drove on the parkway, shopped at the Tanger outlet for some baby Osh Kosh and Gap clothes, and then to the Mast General Store and park where everyone but me splashed in the stream. I was protected from the chilly waters by my pregnancy! Katerina got dunked in and I am pretty sure I would have too had I not been preggers. Sunday we drove to an Apple Orchard at Altapass and went on a Hay Ride and got some great fudge. Here are some pictures of the mini vacation:
My lap top is about to die and I don't know where the plug is, so I will post more later! I am almost full term!!! This week I will be 36 weeks. I was laying in bed last night amazed at how quickly this pregnancy has flown by. Soon we will have a son and we are incredibly thrilled!

34.5 Weeks!!!

I told you it would probably be this week for the 34 week post! I had a BUSY weekend working with the hubby and dad. Saturday was a Barclay Villa wedding (always beautiful!) and Sunday was a Catholic church wedding. I worked hard at both, and the bridal party was pretty amazed that I could lay down on the floor to get shots and get up on my own. I was pretty sore when I woke up Sunday morning but upon moving around I shook off the soreness and got back to work for another 5.5 hour wedding. It is sort of like cheer leading camp when you are SOOO sore you don't think you can go on but you wake up the next day and do it all again. The body is amazing! Anyway, I took Monday off. Josh and I relaxed until late afternoon and then had lunch/dinner at On the Border, a coffee at Barnes and Nobles (YUMMY Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back!), and registered at Target. My baby invitations will only say that I am registered at Babies "R" Us. Target really does not have much in store, and I don't think people will be buying much for me online with only two weeks until the shower. I figured it would be good to register for coupons and I will go back later and get what I want. I'm happy for Babies "R" Us though, they have everything I could ever want/need!

It was a sad week for me because we got rid of our little Peter Rabbit. Josh and I talked about it for about a month and then he found someone at work who wanted him for her kids. I was and still am skeptical about him being with kids. Kids tend to hurt little animals...Not purposely but still. Josh told me he will diligently ask how Peter is doing since he sees this lady at work often, so that makes me feel better. Even though I didn't play with him much its still weird leaving the house without checking on him, feeding him, or buying him fresh veggies at the store. I learned a lot about him and his little quirks while he was here. We figured it is for the best though because we are already running out of room with just one baby. I would like to have another baby in about 2 years and when I found that rabbits live to 10 years or more in captivity, I thought it would be for the best to give him away while he is still young. Anyway, so that was pretty sad for me and is still bothering me now. I'll get over it I'm sure when Gabriel gets here and fills up all my time.

All the friends that I was pregnant with have now had their babies, so I am next! The last of them delivered her baby on labor day. Soo congratulations to Shelley, Tiffany, Amy, Angela, and Suzzanne! I was pregnant with several women that I knew from school. It has been fun for sure reading everyone's blogs and keeping up with their pictures! There are more pregnant now but they are pretty newly pregnant, so its not the same keeping up with them... Its just weird to know I'm next. I'm becoming a bit more anxious about the birth itself. I have sharp pains sometimes in my GI track (I guess because Gabriel is squishing my organs!) and those scare me as I think of those in relation to labor. I am not good with sharp pain. I am fine with dull/aching/squeezing pain but I can't do sharp pains. Mom has informed me that labor doesn't involve "sharp" pain, so I hope that is true in my case too. I guess there is always the epidural if I can't take it! I hear its absolutely wonderful =).

Here is a picture of me at 34 weeks:
I am amazed at how large my tummy is when I compare it to my 11 and even like 21 week pictures. I didn't realize how much I had grown until I looked at those. Really makes you miss your flat tummy! I'll have it back soon though and then I'll miss little David Gabriel in there moving around... I really do love feeling him, it is the most amazing thing in the world! He is hurting me pretty bad these days though. I walk around and my legs are numb sometimes because he is on my nerves. Or he will rub his feet in my rib cage. He is just getting too big! Its fine though, I read elephants are pregnant 600+ days and we, humans, are only at like 280. So, no complaints there! God could have made it worse! haha! I think you have to go this long in order to bond and then feel the desire to actually have the baby out. If I could have had him at even 30 weeks I would have been terribly sad I think with the "baby blues." Now though, now that he is hurting me and I still have 5.5 weeks, I know by 40 I'll be thrilled to be pushing him out! God is great like that, He knows these things and He has perfect timing =0)!!!!

My shower is in 2 weeks, yah!!! Hope to see lots of friends and family there and get some really cool gifts =0) Love you all!