Birthing Classes, First Baby Shower, Nursery, Baby Practice

Well, our birthing class ended yesterday so we're officially ready to have this baby. I gotta say, I was not scared about labor until I saw all those videos about it! What is the purpose of showing us all of these women in the worst pain of their lives?!?! Not only that, but the births they showed us were all natural (drug free) which is not something I have EVER considered and do not plan on considering now either. I don't need to prove myself to anyone or anything - to any women who have done this, I certainly do commend you (that's an understatement) ... but personally, I will plan to take advantage of all technology and modern medicine has to offer me :) The first question I asked our instructor nurse after the video was over was "When do we get the epidural?" The class was beneficial overall so I'm glad we took it, and definitely glad we chose the four week session rather than one full day. It's a LOT of info that we have to study and remember, including what to pack in our hospital bag ;) In that hospital bag WILL be the bag of dirt from my parents' yard so that the baby can be "born on TX soil" (thank you Mom's friend, Joni Fichter! :)) Yesterday, we got a certificate of completion for the class so I think that certifies us as responsible members of society who are now allowed to have children.

I had my first baby shower in Houston last weekend. I was overwhelmed with how many people came out for it including friends, family, family friends, and how much everyone did for me. I am truly humbled by the good friends I've had over the years and it touches my heart that after being gone from Houston for three years, I've been able to keep such a great group of friends at home. Love you all!!! And miss you more than you know....here are a few photos from the day.

My mom and two grandmas:



The lovely hostesses: (Thank you doesn't say enough, y'all are the best!)



The "girls" (other family, family friends in attendance not pictured)



We now have the nursery fairly set to go which is a pretty surreal feeling. The furniture is all built, and items from the shower have been stocked up. We will probably continue to rearrange the room until it's perfect of course but here are some pics of the furniture. Mike and I may or may not have gotten into a huge fight about this last weekend but we are both happy now. . . funny how things that seem like the end of the world at the time (to a crazy pregnant woman), can be laughed about later. I guess a little of that "nesting" set in with me early Saturday morning so I was in the nursery first thing (unbeknownst to Mike), furiously organizing/cleaning/making a mess. Mike was not happy when he woke up to the remainders of what looked like the Tazmanian devil running through the room and of course I was not happy b/c he had been sleeping. Great way to start a Saturday! No worries, all is good - nursery looks great and it's hard to stay mad in the cutest room in the house.







Sunday started out as a GREAT day. . . we had all these plans to be productive slash relaxed, and b/c it was sunny and 40 decided to take Bax for a little afternoon stroll. Well, a nice afternoon quickly turned sour when he got into a scuffle with a dog twice his size. This resulted in spending the afternoon at the emergency vet :( but fortuntately he is fine. He had a pretty good sized gash on his leg that just has to be bandaged now so it can heal. He also has to wear a cone on his head which is just the worst part b/c he can't see/hear properly so it seems like he's worse off than he is but as soon as the cone comes off, he's the same old Baxter. Mike and I felt like it was good mommy/daddy practice b/c we were so worried about him, stayed up through the first night with him and really have had to care for him like a child. He is our firstborn, after all! :) He had a follow-up vet visit yesterday and the doc said he's healing well and so long as we keep vigilant with the cone so he won't mess with the wound, he should be all healed up in a couple weeks. Pic below. I know, he looks so sad here but this was when he was still sedated and now he is much perkier and back to himself, I promise.



And I had to put this in there b/c when he was sedated he had to have Mike carry him around, and he actually wanted him to!

Lastly, I have permanently put the scale away b/c it's starting to scare me. a lot. I am also sleeping like hell which I suppose is my body's way of getting me ready to live without sleep. Good times. I am starting to get into the very yucky uncomfortable stage b/c my belly is feeling heavier and heavier every day. The movements in there are starting to startle me and sometimes hurt so I randomly jump or jerk b/c baby decides he/she wants to practice roundhouse kicks on my ribcage and sometimes bladder.

Latest bump pic (I told you they're getting weird). 31 weeks - baby is about 3.3 pounds and 16 inches long.

Baby's First Christmas (Kind of)

Well it has been a whole month since I last wrote b/c the holidays were craaaazy busy! I think I put way too much on my plate for a prego lady but it was all worth it. There haven't been too many crazy changes or updates since my last post until the last couple of weeks so that's why I had not written in a while. Plus, you all got a bump pic with your Christmas card so that should have held you over for now. My how the bump is growing... seriously feels like it's exponential and yesterday I swear I had growing pains!

Mike and I watched Away We Go last night and I was prompted to ask the dr. for a note that says it's OK to fly b/c I don't want to be the prego they are inspecting at the gate doubting that I am really only 7 months. Yes, I am now 7 months!!!! I am in the third trimester! AHHH! I am so excited slash scared!! I'm not yet too freaked out about the labor just mostly about what kind of mom I'm going to be and how our lives are going to change. I guess it's nice that our lives have already changed quite a bit as we are more homebodies now than ever before and I actually love it. I am starting to try and convince Mike to eat out and go to as many movies as possible now b/c it will be harder later.

My weight gain is starting to freak me out quite a bit but as long as the doc doesn't tell me it's bad, I'm trying to be OK with it. Babycenter.com says I will gain about 11 more pounds total but I seem to be above the mark for all of those stupid estimations, haha. I am working out about 3x a week still and already excited for my old body. I told my trainer that I am counting down the days until he is kicking my @ss again....As far as my body goes, I am growing to love it. I tried to explain to Mike that when I look at it for what it is, I love it. I love what it all represents. But sometimes I look at myself and am mortified at the crazy transformation and shape my body has contorted to! And I'm not just talkin about my belly!!! Most of the time I just enjoy it and know that it's temporary and will be SO worth it in three months. (TWELVE WEEKS!! What?!?!) Plus, Mike is the greatest about everything and I couldn't ask for a more supportive and awesome husband. Sorry I'm going to get cheezy here real quick but this whole process has made me fall in love with him all over again. Not sure if he feels the same way about me ;)

I am definitely obsessed with my belly. Every time it moves I move my hands to touch it and wait. The little kicks and punches have turned into alien like movements where I can feel a knee graze across the top of my belly or a foot pushing up against me! It's my favorite thing, and I kind of play with him/her and push back and forth and it seriously makes me laugh. Last night, I got kicked so hard I jumped in bed and started laughing but it also hurt a little! When he/she gets bigger I am scared about what those movements will feel like if it hurts already. I can actually SEE things move now, and it's so crazy but I do love it. I have bonded with my belly for sure :) Mike talks to it more and more and at the Bucks games it's always very active - already an avid fan! It even "jumped around" a little during the 4th quarter on Saturday night. All of my fam got to feel the movements when they were in town so that was fun. I think the baby likes the game Mexican Train b/c thats when it finally started beboppin around in there. My mom might have been more obsessed with my belly than me...

I'm now going to the doc every two weeks so it's getting closer and closer. I have my first baby shower in Houston in two weekends and I just cannot wait. Not a huge fan of everyone staring at me opening presents but I love that I get to see all my old girls and have fun and eat cake! ;) Speaking of cake - I ate 2.5 pieces at the NYE wedding we went to. I know, I really can't complain about weight gain.

Other to dos: We'll have to actually work on the nursery this month and pick a pediatrician, register at the hospital. We'll start our childbirthing and lactation classes this month so that should provide some good blogging material in the next several weeks. Life sure is crazy now and sometimes I can't believe it's all happening so fast.

I think Baxter knows something is up too. We are trying to get him ready as much as we get ourselves ready b/c he's definitely the baby now. We'll always love our little Bax and hope he and the baby become fast friends :)

I will take a bump pic tonight and add it to the blog. I'm not sure how much longer these bare belly pics will go on b/c it's starting to look real crazy.

This week my uterus is the size of a basketball. In case you were wondering, that is huge. Imagine swallowing a whole basketball. That's crazy. Women's bodies are seriously amazing. Is it going to get bigger?!?! I guess so. . . will keep you posted. Baby is about 2 1/4 pounds, about 15 inches long head to toe, and the size of a cabbage. Baby can now see as it's eyes are opening for the first time and it's starting to fatten up. Just like mama!

Here is my 28 week bump picture straight out of the shower tonight and no makeup and an almost outie bellybutton. This is me! Man am I forgoing vanity for the sake of this blog and maintaining transparency of my pregnancy b/c I swore this would be a brutally honest blog....









For good measure here is a pic of me with clothes and makeup on ;) This was from the new year's eve wedding.