41 Weeks, Still No Baby, and Some Disappointment

So here we are at 41 weeks, and still no baby! I had really, REALLY, REALLY hoped that by now Sprout would have made his or her big debut, but it looks like we've got a stubborn one on our hands. Or it could be that I have an incredibly hospitable uterus. Either way, baby is still tucked away in there with no signs of budging.

My 41 week appointment this morning sucked. Sorry...there's just no way around it. Last week, I saw Dr. Basham, and she was Ms. Optimism. She said that I was about 2 centimeters dilated and that Sprout's head was "packed down in there." She decided that I probably would have Sprout before Wednesday (the 8th), but wanted to see me on that date if I hadn't. She also went ahead and set an induction date for Saturday the 11th, but said she felt certain that I wouldn't make it that far. She even said, "If we have to induce you on the 11th, it won't take much because you're so favorable." I left that appointment on Cloud 9. I really believed that Sprout would come on his or her own in a matter of days.


But no. I went to my appointment today with Dr. Brown, who told me that I'm "maybe 1cm dilated and 50% effaced" and that Sprout is "still pretty high." He told me that he's much less optimistic about my not needing an induction. So much less optimistic that he moved it up from Saturday morning to Friday night at 11pm because I "have a lot of laboring to do." Pardon my blog language, but WTF?! How can two highly educated and experienced individuals give me such different ideas about what's going on here? Methinks someone is blowing smoke up my rear, and I think I know who it is.


I have really been struggling with this news today, and I feel like nobody gets it. So many people have said, "Oh, it'll be fine. Lots of people are induced." Or, "But at least you know when it's going to happen!" Or, "Just think...in just a few days you'll be holding your precious baby!" Or, "The most important thing is that the baby gets here." Yeah, people, I get it. But it still is hard news to swallow, especially since I've spent so much time and energy focusing on getting this baby here as naturally and intervention-free as possible...because I know THAT'S the birth that will be best for my baby. I waver between thinking that I'm thinking only about ME and the birth that I want, but I want a natural, intervention-free birth so badly because I know that's what's best for my baby. And what hurts the most is that I feel like I've been defeated before I even got the chance to TRY.


So anyway, anyone who knows me personally would never accuse me of being an optimist. I am an eternal pessimist, and I have embraced that fact. My rationale is this: if I'm pessimistic, then I am never disappointed. It drives my husband crazy...but his eternal optimism drives me crazy, too. Anyway, here's how things will go in my mind: induction starts at 11pm Friday night-->contractions on pitocin are much stronger/longer than "real ones", so I cave and get an epidural-->epidural slows down labor-->doctors/nurses grow impatient and decide that they have to break my water to speed things up-->with water broken, I'm now "on the clock" and at their mercy-->doctors/nurses get tired of my laboring and say I have to have a c-section-->have the c-section and miss out on skin-to-skin with my baby (and breastfeeding) for at least an hour-->baby has trouble latching because he/she is groggy from the drugs and we've missed the golden hour and we have trouble establishing breastfeeding-->I'm so discouraged with my stupid c-section and problems breastfeeding that I'm depressed and can't even enjoy my baby-->give up on breastfeeding and give formula-->baby doesn't get all of the benefits of breastmilk and grows up to have allergies, a low IQ, and doesn't have a good relationship with me. Most folks out there would say that I've given a very dramatic (maybe over the top) scenario, but I know that it's not totally out of the realm of possibility (except maybe the low IQ/bad relationship thing).


I'm also struggling with the fact that in a way, I see this as my body failing me again. A woman's body was created to have babies...I just think that's the bottom line. My body failed me in February 2010 when it couldn't keep our first baby alive. Now it's failing me again because it won't HAVE the healthy baby that it's grown for the past 9 months. I'm just so darn frustrated!

Let's go back to this comment I've heard several times, "Well, at least you KNOW when the baby will be here!" Yes...and that's part of the problem. You see, while I want this baby desperately, and I can't wait to have him/her here, I'm really not too keen on the getting him/her here. When I have to do something that I don't want to do (either because I think it'll be too hard, or too boring, or too uncomfortable, etc.) I just don't think about it. I will prepare for it, but during the preparation, I don't actually think about the fact that I'll be doing whatever thing it is I'm preparing for. Then, all of a sudden, it's happening, and I'm doing it, and I haven't gotten worked up over it because I didn't let myself think that it would actually happen. I think I've done a really good job of doing that the last 9 months. I mean, I know that this baby's got to come out somehow, but I haven't really let myself think about the pain involved. I was really hoping that I would wake up in the middle of the night with contractions about 5 minutes apart. That would give me no time to think about "going into labor" and I would be forced to just go with the flow. With this scheduled induction I have nothing but time to think about it and dwell on the pain, what could go wrong, the fact that I'm not sure that I can do it, that I will consider myself a failure if I have a c-section, etc.

As if all of those thoughts and fears weren't floating around in my brain, I'm trying to reconcile all of this with my faith. I know that it's all in God's hands, and that He can do absolutely anything. He can make this baby come any time and in any way He wants. He could put me into labor right this minute (please!), or maybe this whole induction thing is part of His plan. I wonder if maybe He's still working on teaching me to trust in His time and not mine? Probably so. So...I've wondered today, do I pray to go into labor on my own? Do I pray for the induction to go ahead as scheduled? Do I pray just to avoid a c-section? I've thought all of those things, but the prayer I think I'm supposed to pray (which, I'll be honest, I don't want to do) is that His will is done and that He helps me to be okay with it, whatever it is. It's so hard for me to remember that He knows what's best...I just think I know what's best. I feel like he's saying to me, "Trust me. Just trust me." So, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go humble myself and pray the prayer I don't want to pray.

40 Weeks (and no baby yet)

Well...it's June 2nd. That means I'm 40 weeks pregnant, and my due date is today. And no baby just yet, but I know that shouldn't come as a surprise. Only 5% of babies arrive on their due date, so I can't be too disappointed. I never really thought Sprout would show up today, but it would have been nice. I'm hoping that this will be the last belly picture for the blog! Here's what my 40 week belly looks like:
During our Empowered Birth classes, Angela encouraged us to plan something special for our due date, because she knew it would be likely that it would come and go with no baby. David and I got a gift card to Red Lobster for Easter, and I told him that if Sprout wasn't here by/on June 2nd, we'd go out to eat. And so we did. Tonight after work, we headed into Louisville for what will probably be our last "date night" as a couple. I'm sure we'll go out alone in the future, but we'll be someone's mom and dad by then (gulp!). It was really nice. We gorged ourselves on seafood, cheddar bay biscuits (YUM!), and a chocolate chip lava cookie. Afterward, we ran by Kohl's to pick up a few gifts for June birthdays and Father's Day, then headed home. When we pulled into the driveway, it looked like we'd left a bunch of lights on. We both were sure that we'd turned off all the lights, so we were a little stumped. Then, we saw taillights in the driveway. I just knew we were getting robbed again, but David recognized it as my Mom's SUV. He said, "You think she's moving in to wait on Sprout?" I couldn't figure out what she would be doing at our house at 9:30 on a Thursday night. When we pulled in, Chet, my stepdad met us at the garage door and told us to close our eyes. He led us into the living room and told us to open our eyes, and this is what we saw:

He'd built a cradle for Sprout! It's absolutely beautiful. He's been working on it in his woodworking shop for about 3 months, and just got it finished last night. I can't wait to see our sweet baby snoozing in it!

Here's a different angle so you can get a closer look. It comes completely apart so that it can be stored flat once Sprout outgrows it. It's seriously a beautiful cradle. I can't imagine how much time he's got in it. It's certainly destined to be an heirloom.
On Monday night, I got a text message from our friend, Kristin Sexton, saying that our maternity photos were ready! We went down to Campbellsville a few weeks ago to meet up with her and Benson to visit and to take pictures, which was a lot of fun. I am amazed at the pictures she took. She's an absolutely gifted photographer, and it's going to be so hard to decide which ones to have printed. Here are a few of my favorites:

We go to the doctor tomorrow morning for my 40 week appointment. Last week, Dr. Brown told us that we'll need to pick an induction date at tomorrow's appointment. When I asked him when they'd want to do an induction, he said that they're obligated to do one sometime within the 41st week. As much as I don't want to be induced, I completely understand why it would need to be done, and I would definitely deal with it if it's in Sprout's best interest. I know that the research shows that the placenta doesn't function as well once it's close to 42 weeks. I know that the majority of stillbirths happen between 37 and 42 weeks. We haven't come this far to lose our little one now, and I'll do anything necessary to bring a living, breathing baby home with me...even if that means I don't get the birth experience of my dreams. But that doesn't keep me from hoping and praying that Sprout comes on his/her own time...and soon!

Not too much else has gone on around here this week. We're just waiting for Sprout to decide to arrive. We just can't wait to meet this baby, and it's hard for me to believe that, one way or another, he or she will be here in just a little over a week. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole pregnancy experience (even with all the anxiety involved), but I'm ready for our baby to be here! Hopefully my next blog post will be a birth story!

39 Weeks

Well, 39 weeks is here, which means that Sprout's due date is only a week away! It seems pretty unreal. I think I've been pretty patient with this whole pregnancy thing up until this point, but this past week, I've had a lot of trouble being patient. I think it's because I know that the 39 week mark means that Sprout would most likely be just as healthy if he/she were born now as he/she would be this time next week. I'm still enjoying being pregnant (for the most part), but I'm ready to move on and meet this sweet baby! Here's the 39 week picture (and my new haircut)!
This has been another busy week. On Monday night, I went out to dinner for one last "girls night" with Leslie, one of my best friends. We had a delicious dinner at the local Chinese buffet, and I don't know about Leslie, but I sure got my money's worth. :) A really bad storm blew in while we were there, so a tiny portion of our dinner was consumed in the dark. It was quite the little adventure. Leslie gave me a little pep talk and some last minute advice about delivery, etc. I have so appreciated her (and my other mom friends) over these last 9 months. They've been so helpful with their advice and recommendations.
Tuesday night was my last night of teaching until after I return from maternity leave! Woo Hoo! I love my job, and I really enjoy the teaching aspect of it, but it's definitely the most stressful aspect of the job. I've got to say that I'm looking forward to a little over 12 weeks of not grading assignments, tracking down students, and all that stuff. I realized today that I have a serious case of maternity leave-itis. I'm just done with work...it's like senioritis to the millionth degree! It's also hard because there are so many loose ends that I just can't wrap up before I leave (due to the nature of the job), and that's just so hard for me to be okay with. I like nice, neat beginnings and endings. I just feel like there will be too much stuff left for my boss to take care of while I'm gone, but I'm doing my best to keep that to a minimum.
On Wednesday after work, I went to get a much-needed haircut. I have the worst habit of waiting until my hair is just straggly and gross before making an appointment, and that's exactly where my hair was this week. The girl I usually go to doesn't work on Wednesdays, and Wednesday was the only day I was available, so I went out on a limb to try someone new, and I'm glad I did. I love her! When she came out to the lobby area to get me, the two receptionists squealed, "Look at you two!" We're both pregnant! Chelsey is due June 24th (David's birthday!), so she's just a few weeks behind us. We had lots to talk about during the appointment, which is something I usually struggle with. I have to say that I'm loving the new cut. It didn't turn out exactly as I had in mind, but it turned out great nonetheless. I even went way out of my comfort zone and let her cut some bangs. That was the best hair decision I've ever made...why have I held out this long?! It makes such a difference in the overall cut. I think it'll be nice and low maintenance for after the baby comes, which is exactly what I was looking for.
There's not too much else going on right now, which is a good thing because I am just so darn tired all the time now. This is what David usually finds if he gets home from work before I do:
Most days, I just can't wait to get home to take a short nap. Just 30 minute's worth of shut eye in the afternoon after work makes me functional enough to get supper fixed and cleaned up and a couple of other chores...then I'm ready to head to the couch again. Sprout is still super-active, so I've decided that he or she is sucking away all of my energy!
A couple of weeks ago, I talked about my cankles...the result of that lovely pregnancy swelling. My feet/legs were really swollen for about 4 days, then it all went away. Well...guess what's back?

Yep, they're back, and they're worse than before. I've gone to my two biggest (widest) pair of shoes, and this is what one pair did to me today. It's pretty uncomfortable, and I feel pretty sure that Dr. Brown will pay close attention to my blood pressure tomorrow morning. I don't really think my blood pressure is up at all, so I'm not really worried about that...especially since if it is a problem, there wouldn't be any problem in Sprout being born at this point.

Speaking of Sprout's impending arrival...I really thought that last night we might be getting there. I'd been having some stronger contractions all day long, and when I got home, I started timing them. They were about 7 minutes apart for over an hour, and I was beginning to get hopeful, but at the same time, I just didn't feel like they were the real deal. And they weren't. I laid down on the couch for awhile, and they pretty much stopped. Yep, just some practice labor. Oh, well! I'll give Sprout a few more days before I start giving him/her the eviction notice. I don't want him or her in there picking out curtains...we're ready to meet him or her! The countdown is on. If I go by my due date, I'll be at 40 weeks on Sunday...and if I go by the OB's due date, I'll be at 40 weeks next Thursday. Either way, it's incredibly close!

38 Weeks

It's time for the weekly update...for 38 weeks! Wow. The end is so daggone near...it's too much for me to wrap my brain around. Sprout could come pretty much anytime he or she wants at this point. I'd like for him/her to wait at least until Sunday (or Thursday, depending on whose due date you use), when I'm at the 39 week mark, though. I had to take my own picture this week. I had to teach last night and didn't get home until after 8 o'clock, and when I got home David was mowing. As comfortable as maternity pants are, they still aren't as comfortable as my pj's, and I just wanted to get into them as soon as possible! So here are two self-portraits using the new camera (which we're still figuring out).

You can see the little stool in the background that I sit on when I put on my eyeliner in the full-length mirror. I used to sit on the floor to do that, but many weeks ago I got tired of hoisting myself off of the floor by pulling on the side of the tub. The stool has really helped.

This one is a little better, I think, but still not great. I'll have to get David to take a picture today so that I'll have a good one of each week of the pregnancy. On Wednesday, one of the nurses at my hematologist's office informed me that I had "dropped." I don't know...what do you think? I definitely feel more pressure in my pelvis, but I can't really tell a visible difference.

The sugar ban is getting old. I'm not complaining...I'd do anything to be sure that Sprout gets here healthy and strong, but I do miss sweets. I'd be lying if I said I didn't daydream about candy, cookies, cake, and ice cream. And when someone is eating something sweet, sometimes I ask them if I can smell it (weird, I know). And when someone tells me about a meal they've eaten, I always ask them if they had dessert. And then I ask them to describe it to me. I have a problem, don't I? Most of you probably know that I love to bake, but I haven't been doing much lately because I can't eat the sweet treats I bake and because we've been spending our free time fixing up Sprout's room or cleaning the house so that the health inspector will allow us to bring our baby home. :) Anyway, I was tooling around the Internet the other day and spied the first dessert I'll be making once Sprout gets here and I'm back to baking. Get ready, because it really is a little obscene:

It's called a "Pudgy Cake". The bottom layer is a brownie. The middle layer is egg-free cookie dough, and the top layer is a funfetti cake, all covered in buttercream frosting! Can you believe it? I found it at Cookies and Cups, and seriously ya'll, she's a genius. It's become one of my very favorite food blogs, and I can't wait to bake up lots of her sweet treats. I'd offer to share some of my Pudgy Cake with you, but I really think that I can eat the whole thing, especially since I'll be home with Sprout all day, every day, for 12 weeks. I might just put it on a cake carrier and sit it on the couch next to me, since I figure I'll spend lots of time there nursing for awhile. I'll say it again...I have a problem, don't I?

Enough about the sweet treats. David and I have been working hard on getting things ready for Sprout's arrival. I think we have his or her room ready...or at least as ready as it'll be before he or she gets here. I don't want it to be completely gender-neutral, so there are a few things I'll still do after we know if Sprout is a boy or a girl. Would you like to see what we've done so far?

We put up several little shelves, but don't have a lot to put on them right now. We got a set of alphabet blocks, so I thought I'd put Sprout's name in his/her room. Maybe once he or she gets here, I'll put the real name.

See the quilt over the back of the glider? That's the quilt my sister made for Sprout. I love it! I've put a side table by the glider, but it really makes things cramped. I'm not sure that I'll keep it. I just felt like I might need a table there, but seeing as how I've never nursed a baby (or spent that much quality time with one, for that matter), I'm not sure if it's really necessary. I guess I'll try it and see.

I'm really pleased with how the quote over the bed turned out. It could probably use one more coat of paint, but I'm honestly tired of painting, and I don't think Sprout will notice.

That little storage bench was a great find. Mom found it online at Target. Sprout's Uncle Patrick had given us a gift card, so we used it to purchase the bench. Sprout says thank you, Uncle Patrick! It's already full. The child has a full library already, and I'm not sure where we'll put more books that he or she gets. The two drawers are full of toys! This kiddo is spoiled rotten already.

We built our house knowing that we planned to grow our family soon. As we were working with the architect on the plans, one of the things I insisted on was having an extra bedroom on the first floor for a nursery. On the plans, I think the architect listed it as a dining room, but to me, it was always the nursery. I love French doors, and thought these would be so cute for a nursery, and then later on to close off the room if we decided to use it as an office or something like that. What I didn't know was how stinkin' expensive curtains are for these stupid things. We spent an arm and a leg on these curtains, and they're nothing special. If I knew then what I knew now, I probably wouldn't have chosen French doors...but let's just focus on how pretty they are, okay?

We think we're as ready for Sprout as we're ever going to be. The room is done. I moved the Pack 'N Play into our bedroom the other night (mostly to get it out of the living room so I could steam clean the floors). I've washed Sprout's bedding and clothes (except for his or her going home outfit...because I have one girl outfit and two boy outfits). My hematologist said that my platelet count is 124,000! I have a low platelet count all the time, but he wanted to be sure that it was above 100,000 so that I can get an epidural if needed. I'm hoping to not get an epidural, but I want to have the option in case they tell me I have to have a c-section...with an epidural I can be awake for the birth, not out cold. We've got pretty much everything packed:

This is some of the stuff that we're taking to the hospital. The car seat, the breastfeeding pillow, the birth ball, the diaper bag, our bag, and the comfort measures bag. See the list pinned to the side of the bag? That's still stuff we need to gather to take with us.

I was just telling David the other night that I really can't believe that I have a full-sized baby in my belly. A lot of times, I can feel which parts of Sprout I'm feeling. His (or her) little bottom is right below my chest, and when he or she moves from side to side, I can feel it from the outside. And when he or she stretches his/her legs out (most often toward the right), I can feel what I think is a leg or a heel or a foot. It's just absolutely amazing. I've said to a number of people that I just don't see how anyone who has ever been pregnant or who has felt a baby move (from the outside) could deny the existence of God. When you really understand all of the millions of things that have to happen with perfect timing in order for a baby to be conceived and carried to term, you understand how much of a miracle babies really are. As Erma Bombeck once wrote, "I'd...realized that the wonder growing inside of me was my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle."

37 Weeks!

What does week 37 mean? It means that little Sprout is officially considered "full term." I think that's because, for the most part, his/her organs should be able to function on their own if he/she were to be born right now. But all of the research indicates that babies really need to stay in utero until 39 weeks, unless their health is compromised for some reason. So...as much as we're ready to meet this baby, he or she needs to bake a little longer. Here's the belly picture for the week, taken at 37 weeks, 3 days. (I need a haircut...that's what it means when my bangs are pulled back.)

I've really felt a lot bigger this week, but I can't really tell that I'm that much bigger from pictures. I also can't tell if Sprout has "dropped" any. It sure feels like it, though! I feel a LOT more pressure in my pelvis, and I'm constantly on the run to the restroom. I had another appointment with Dr. Basham this morning, and she said that it's still going to be a bit before Sprout comes, but I've made some progress since last week. We'll see what next week brings.

You know what happens when you sit around with friends on Derby Day and kind of let yourself brag about the fact that you're nearly 37 weeks pregnant and haven't had any swelling? You wake up the next morning looking like this:

Cankles! I swear, they came out of nowhere. I'm not complaining, though. I just find it very interesting that they snuck up me. It's ninja swelling, that's for sure. I'm very glad that I have a very flexible work environment and a super-supportive boss, because I have exactly 2 pairs of shoes I can wear that aren't flip flops...and neither of them are all that nice or attractive. I just can't see any sense in buying more shoes when the swelling will be gone in a matter of weeks, so the flip flops and other shoes will just have to do. If this had happened about 10 weeks ago, I might have used it as an excuse to buy more shoes, but not at this stage of the game. :) When I showed them to Dr. Basham this morning, she paid a little extra attention to my blood pressure, but it was good. So luckily, no signs of pre-eclampsia. She said that it's perfectly normal to have one foot/leg/ankle swell more than the other, and she also reassured me that the occasional heaviness I feel in my right leg is perfectly normal.

Last night I went to the labor class at Baptist East, and I'm glad I went. I almost flaked out because we've already done 7 weeks of prepared childbirth classes and because I was going alone (David had a work meeting). I got some very interesting information, though. The more of these classes I go to, the more I really get the vibe that they don't really appreciate women attempting a natural childbirth. I just can't figure out what difference it makes to them, though. I mean, they're not the ones laboring, right?! I was also told that once my water breaks, I'm confined to bed. I was not a happy camper when I heard that, because I'm figuring that mobility is going to be very important in coping with labor. I guess I need to start praying that my water breaks pretty late in the game, or Sprout is born in the caul.

David put up the shelves in Sprout's room tonight, so we're that much closer to having everything ready (in an aesthetic sense, anyway!). I spent some time late yesterday afternoon at Babies 'R Us picking up a few last minute things we need. I'm feeling very ready for this baby. I figured at this point that I would be thinking, "Holy crap...I'm not ready for this," but that's not really the case. We've been waiting for this little one for a very long time, so I think that's probably why we're not panicked. I won't lie...lots of times I think to myself, "I have no idea how to take care of a baby." But we have lots of support, and I have a feeling that we'll just kind of fall into it. Sprout, David, and I will all figure it out together. :)

I meant to take a picture of the growing pile of "stuff" to go to the hospital with us. Maybe I'll remember for next week. You can't see the top of the deep freeze right now. We've got the carseat out there, plus three bags and a breastfeeding pillow. I still need to wash the birth ball and put it out there. When the folks at BHE see us coming, they're going to think that we're moving in to stay! I've probably overdone it, but I'd rather do that than leave something at home.

36 Weeks

Thirty-six weeks means that we're only 1 month away from Sprout's due date! It's so hard to believe that in 6 weeks (at the very most), we'll have a baby! Here's the newest belly picture, and it appears that I must've had something stuck in between my teeth. :( Oh well...I'm already in the pj's, and we're not taking another pajama picture!
We've been busy around here getting ready for Sprout's arrival. Last weekend, David and I went to Campbellsville to visit with Benson & Kristin, and Kristin did our maternity photos. We didn't get to spend a lot of time with Benson, because he had to go lead worship at church, but it was good to catch up with him for a few minutes. I miss "the good ol' days" when he and I worked in the same office. There was never a dull moment in our department! It was so nice to be able to spend some time with Kristin, though. She's just so sweet, and a wonderful photographer. I can't begin to guess how many pictures she took of us. I was on the fence about doing maternity photos for a long time, and I finally decided that if I was going to have them done, I really wanted Kristin to do them. I was so glad when she agreed to do them. They're expecting their second little blessing, Kate Elisabeth, toward the end of June. We've decided that Sprout and Kate with either be BFFs or boyfriend/girlfriend...depending on whether Sprout is a boy or girl!

We've made lots of progress around here in getting ready for Sprout's arrival. The nursery has been cleaned up considerably. I thought about posting a new picture, but I'd like to get the shelves hung and some decorations on the wall first. I'm telling you what, organizing that room was one heck of a job. It seemed like I worked and worked on it, with little visible progress. But finally, there's a place for everything, and everything's in its place. We'll see how long that lasts!

I've also packed the hospital bag and the "comfort measures" bag. They're sitting on the deep freeze, by the garage door, along with the car seat. I've got a list attached to the hospital bag of last minute items to pack...but I think it's too full to fit them in there! What else have we gotten ready? My FMLA paperwork is together and ready for Dr. Basham/Dr. Brown's signature after Sprout is born. The birth plan/preferences is written and printed, waiting for Dr. Basham's signature tomorrow. The car seat has been inspected (we passed!). I've bought all the stuff for aftercare/recovery from delivery. There's a waterproof mattress cover on the bed (thanks for telling me about that, Kristin!), just in case my water breaks at night. There's a Pack 'N Play, swing, and bouncy seat in the living room. The birth ball is upstairs and ready to go to the hospital. Whew! I told you we've been busy!

I took the day off of work tomorrow, thank goodness. I have my first weekly OB appointment in the morning, then the rest of the day will be spent making/freezing meals for us to eat after Sprout gets here. My deep freeze has been cleaned/purged so we'll have plenty of room for the meals. I'm going to try to get six recipes made tomorrow, and several of those make more than one meal's worth. It's going to be a long day, but at least I enjoy cooking.

Finally, I have to be honest that this no-sugar thing the doctors have put me on is starting to get to me. I really, really miss my sweet treats. I've been making a list of the foods that I want to eat as soon as Sprout gets here! The list so far includes ice cream (any kind, but preferably a chocolate base with some mix-ins), a big caramel frappuccino, a big diet Coke with vanilla syrup, a Moon Pie, and candy. Anyone want to sign up? :) I should have a sign on the door that says, "Nobody sees Sprout without bringing Mom something sweet to eat!"

We're in the home stretch now...and it's hard to believe. I can't really say that I feel like I'm "done" being pregnant, because I've really enjoyed it. I haven't had anything to complain about the entire time...I've felt great, except for being so incredibly tired all the time. But I'm so ready to meet this baby. Is Sprout a boy or a girl? Does he/she have any hair? How big will he/she be? So many questions, and I can't wait to find out the answers!

35 Weeks

Well, 35 weeks is almost in the books! I had forgotten to have David take the weekly belly picture until I was already in my pajamas, so now you'll all know what I sleep in! I just couldn't bring myself to change out of the comfy pj's and into nice clothes again. (And please forgive the quality of some of the pictures in this post...we got a new camera and we're still learning how to use it.)

35 weeks, 4 days

This week, we've really focused on getting some projects done in anticipation of Sprout's arrival. We've finished up our Empowered Birth classes, so we were home almost every night this week. It's a good thing, because we've got a lot to catch up on!

On Tuesday afternoon, after work, the bank where David works had a shower for us. It was so nice...and it was the first shower that David had ever been to in his life! He opened all of the gifts, since I've opened tons of gifts from all the other showers. He cracked us all up as he tried to figure out what each item was! We got lots of nice things, and got quite a few diapers. We should be in good shape for a little while on those!

For the past several months, I've been working on a cross-stitch pattern to hang in Sprout's room. I finished it this week! Well...almost. I still have to add Sprout's name and birthdate...but that will have to wait for awhile. What do you think?

This week, we've been trying to get organized. I've been making lists like a crazy woman. I have a list of things to pack in our hospital bag, a list of things I need to buy in order to have our hospital bag complete, a list of things I need to buy for aftercare/recovery, a list of people to call as soon as we leave for the hospital, and a list of people to call at a reasonable hour once Sprout arrives. Whew! I really need to get to work organizing the nursery, because this is what it looks like right now:

Yikes! We just don't have a lot of storage space. We have one tiny corner closet, which David has been working on:

He and his dad built the shelves in the closet, and he put in the curtain rod tonight. He's also bought some decorative trim for the front of the shelves to make them look a little more finished. We also bought a storage bench to put under the window, and I put that together tonight while David was working on the closet. Of all the stuff we've put together lately, that storage shelf had the easiest directions to follow, by far. Right now, there's a load of tiny little laundry in the dryer. Itsy bitsy socks. Teeny tiny onesies. Super cute rompers and gowns. Precious little hats. Receiving blankets. Hooded towels and washcloths. I've never had so much fun doing laundry in all my life. (Ask me in a few months if I'm still excited about baby laundry!)

This weekend, we're going to visit Benson & Kristin, and Kristin is going to do some maternity pictures for us. I'm excited to get to spend some time with them, and of course, excited about the maternity pictures. Kristin does awesome work, so I can't wait to see what she's got planned for us. And that reminds me...I need to make another list of things to take with us for pictures (tiny shoes, little blankets, the sock monkey, storybooks...).

Over the last week or so, I've started to notice that Sprout really responds to music and singing! Every time I'm in the car with the radio on (and singing) Sprout starts to really move around. The same thing happens in church when we're singing. I absolutely love it! I'll be excited to see how he/she responds to music once he/she's outside my belly!

Even though I wrote this post last night, Blogger decided to hold my post hostage, so I'm early this morning to post...while I watch Prince William and Kate's wedding. About 30 years ago, my Mom was pregnant with me, watching Prince Charles and Diana's wedding, so I thought it would be fitting that Sprout and I watch the royal wedding, too. Who knows...in another 30 years, Sprout may be watching William and Kate's kiddos get married!

34 Weeks

Another week has come and gone, and it was another exhausting and busy one. (I feel like I say that every single week). This has got to be the worst belly picture I've taken so far. It was taken last night at about 10:30...after we'd gotten home from a hospital class (more on that later) and before I had to bake a cake for David to take to work. I was very tired and more than a little cranky, but it is what it is. :) Here we are (feeling cranky) at 34 weeks, 4 days:
On Monday night, we had our very last Empowered Birth class. I'm sad that it's over, but I am a little glad to not have to go downtown every Monday night. It was a really good class...probably the second-best one, behind the medical interventions class. Last week, our homework was to put together our comfort measures bag to bring to Monday's class. During class on Monday night, we had a labor simulation, which was pretty interesting! Angela had some kind of "music" on her iPod that mimicked contractions. Apparently, it had been playing the entire time we were in class, but it was only after about 30 minutes into class that one of the other students heard it the first time (because it was playing really low). That's when Angela told us what the "music" was (several of us thought it was someone's cellphone going off). She explained that the "music" had been playing, and several "contractions" had been played before we noticed them. She said that's how labor starts...often times women will feel something, but it's not bothersome or painful, and it doesn't keep you from going about your regular day. But then, there comes a point when you think, "Okay, I must be in labor!" and the contractions progress. They'll be a little uncomfortable, but still not enough so to keep you from doing whatever you were doing. Then, they'll become more pronounced and you'll really have to pay attention and work through them. The "musical contractions" gradually got stronger, longer, and closer together (just like real contractions will). At this point, Angela gave each Mom an ice cube that we were supposed to grip tightly during each contraction (to simulate the discomfort of a contraction) and the Dads were supposed to use our comfort measures bag to help us get through each one. It was a great simulation. I know that holding an ice cube isn't really going to compare to those contractions (especially the ones during transition, from what I hear), but it was certainly enough to get us thinking about what we can do (relaxation, rhythm, etc.) to work through them. That Angela is an awesome teacher. I would recommend her classes without hesitation to anyone who is interested in prepared childbirth classes. At the end of the class, we all got together to take a group picture. Here we are (minus one Mom, who had a homebirth that morning!):

A good looking group, huh? Another couple's due date was last night, but we haven't heard anything from them, so we're assuming baby is still hanging out in the womb. :) And the couple in the back on the far left has the same due date as us! I'm looking forward to the emails with all of the birth stories.

We got to spend a couple of nights at home this week, which has become a rarity. I honestly can't tell you what we did on Tuesday or Wednesday, except that on Wednesday afternoon after work, I came home and slept on the couch for an hour and a half because I was so stinkin' tired. Then, I got up, fixed supper, piddled around the house a little, then went back to bed! For a couple of days, I had a really bad backache (right between my shoulders) that just wouldn't go away. I couldn't get comfortable at night, so I didn't sleep well at all, and I guess it just caught up to me. Finally it's gone away, and I've slept pretty well the last couple of nights.

Last night (Thursday), we went to another of our hospital classes. This one was called Anesthesia for Labor and Birth. I do want to attempt an unmedicated birth, but I thought it would be good information to have. Well, it turns out that the class was a complete waste.of.time from beginning to end...including our tour of L&D. The nurse who taught the class was not a L&D nurse, so she couldn't answer the majority of the questions folks had. Then, about halfway through the class, they brought in an anesthesiologist to talk about spinal blocks and general anesthesia...and it was quite obvious that the poor man had never seen the PowerPoint slides before in his life, and seemed to have just found out a few minutes prior that he would be talking to us! It was just a mess. The only thing I got out of the class was this: 98% of women who deliver at Baptist Hospital East get an epidural. Holy cow! It makes me a little nervous about attempting an unmedicated labor there. Will they try to pressure me into getting an epidural? Will they be patient with me as I labor? Will they think I'm crazy if I make a lot of noise (which is a particular hangup I do have about the whole thing)? Will they be able to offer support and encouragement as the labor progresses?

We were also able to go on a tour of L&D after that class, which was pretty pitiful, too. Our group was so large that we wouldn't all fit on one elevator, and the elevator with the other group got stuck, so that was quite entertaining. We saw a postpartum room, walked by the nursery, and that was it. We didn't get to see L&D at all because they were "too busy." I guess that means the rooms were all full, but they didn't really say. Of that tour, the best information we learned was what doors to go to when we go to the hospital. So even if David isn't sure when to take me, at least he knows where to go!

Today is the Good Friday holiday, so I'm off work. I'm thinking of heading to Louisville to see about finding "coming home" outfits for Sprout. I need to find a little girl and little boy outfit, just in case. I may head to Costco, too. It's been awhile since we went, and I'd really like to have flank steak for supper one night. YUM! Then this evening is our community-wide Good Friday service. We haven't had one in awhile, so I'm excited to attend.

Tomorrow afternoon, David's side of the family (the Klingenfuses) are giving me a shower, which promises to be a fun time. They are a wonderful group of people who have accepted me as their own family, which I appreciate so much. They're very excited for Sprout's arrival, which I love!

Sunday is Easter! We'll head to church that morning (and Jeff, our pastor, promises that "Easter will kick our kiester" this year), then spend the afternoon with the Klingenfuses at Easter dinner (hosted by Mama). There's always so much food (good food)! And I plan to allow myself to have a little dessert. Surely that will be okay...it's Easter after all!

Sunday also marks 35 weeks...which doesn't seem possible. If I think about it too long, I really realize how soon Sprout could be here, then I hyperventilate a little. We're still not ready. There's so much to do! But we'll get it done, and even if we don't, it'll all be okay. As long as Sprout gets here healthy and safe, that's all I'm worried about!

33 Weeks

Whew! What a busy week! The 33rd week of my pregnancy is very nearly over, and I almost didn't get around to this week's blog post. Tonight is the first night this week that I was home before 8:30 or 9:00pm, and it's just about worn this girl out! I think the third trimester exhaustion has definitely kicked in! Before I get much further, here's the weekly belly pic, taken at 33weeks 4 days: I'm still not noticing lots of growth from picture to picture at this point. Once Sprout gets here, I'm planning on printing all of my pregnancy pictures and laying them out in order...I'm sure that when I do that, I'll be able to tell a huge difference! Let's see...what were we up to this week? Monday night we had our next-to-last Empowered Birth class, and it was another good one. This was was about the first few days postpartum, caring for our bodies, and breastfeeding. I've had several friends tell me that they've thought it's a real shame that there's so much time spent focusing on pregnancy, nurseries, showers, etc., but not much time spent talking about what happens after delivery and how to take care of baby. I was so glad to get the information Angela (our instructor) gave us during class Monday night...everything she tells us is just so practical. She gave us some good ideas about what we should have at home after the delivery, and reminded us to ask for extras of some items at the hospital. I've got to write this stuff down so that I don't forget. Our homework for this weekend (besides our reading) is to put together our "comfort measures" bag of items that we plan to use during delivery (lotions, oils, massage tools, etc.). I think it's a good idea...especially for us, because it will force us to do it. Otherwise, David and I would sit around talking about it but not doing it...and then the next thing you know we'd be on our way to the hospital with nothing! I also really need to get to work on writing our birth plan, because I'd like for Angela to look over it to give us her opinion. I know that she's been a doula at several births at Baptist East and with one of the doctors in the practice I go to, so I think she'll be able to tell me whether we're being reasonable or crazy. On Tuesday night, David and I had a date night! We went to a Louisville Bats baseball game, which was pretty fun. Neither of us are baseball fans, but we lucked into free tickets that also happened to be on dollar hotdog/Pepsi night. We had a nutritious dinner of hotdogs and bottomless popcorn! The game was a doubleheader, because the previous night's game had been rained out, but we only stayed for one game. It ended at about 7:45, so we knew it would be after 8:30 when we got home...we turn into pumpkins if we stay out too late! It was nice to just spend some time with David doing something a little different. I had another doctor's appointment on Wednesday, this time with Dr. Brown. He is one efficient doctor! David usually meets me at my appointments about 20 minutes after the scheduled time so that he doesn't have to wait in the waiting room. He didn't even make it there before Dr. Brown was finished! Dr. Brown said that Sprout's heartbeat sounds great, and my belly is measuring exactly where it should be. I also didn't have any weight gain at this appointment! And...this time there was no sugar in my urine, so cutting the sugar out must be doing the trick. Dr. Brown reminded me again that carbs and sugar are the things that will put (extra) weight on the baby quickly, which will result in a large baby...which increases my chances of a c-section. We all know I don't want that! What I like about Dr. Brown and Dr. Basham is that they both seem to want to avoid c-sections, too. I'm okay with a c-section if it's absolutely necessary to keep Sprout safe, but I'll do all I can to avoid it! Wednesday night we also went to a breastfeeding class at the hospital, and it was very informative. A lot of the information we get at our hospital classes is a repeat of what we get at our Empowered Birth classes, but I like going to the hospital classes because I feel like I'm getting an idea of the hospital's philosophies. I was very glad that the nurse/lactation consultant that taught the class talked about how much they believe in "kangaroo care" and the "golden hour" after birth. I really want to have that skin-to-skin contact with Sprout after birth, and I want to be able to delay as many of those newborn procedures as possible for an hour after birth. The lactation consultant told us that they'll do everything they can to help new moms nurse within that hour, and to do everything they can to help moms be successful after they leave the hospital. We also learned that they have a free (!) breastfeeding clinic that will available to us anytime. I'm excited about that. Most of my friends have breastfed their kiddos, and some have had trouble, others haven't. I really want to exclusively breastfeed Sprout for at least 6 months, which I know will be tough when I go back to work. I'm just glad that there are so many resources available to us. Between the classes, my books, and friend/family support, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Thursday night I had to teach for our undergraduate program. It was our next-t0-last meeting, and I'll be glad when it's done. I enjoy the students and hearing about their practicum experiences, but it just seems like this is the semester that just won't end. I think I have a combination of Spring Fever and upcoming maternity leave-itis. I can't wait to have those three months off with Sprout, and I can't believe that in 9 weeks (at the very most) he or she will be here! There's still so much to do! This weekend, I really need to work on organizing Sprout's room. It's pretty much a wreck since my shower two weekends ago, and I have another shower on Sunday. We've got to make room! Sprout has had another very active week, and I absolutely love the movement. I know that I'm going to miss my belly once Sprout gets here. I feel like I've gotten so used to feeling him/her move around in there that I sometimes have to think about whether or not I've felt him/her move. Of course, as soon as I think, "Hmmm...has Sprout moved around within the last hour?" I get a kick, swipe, or wiggle. It's seriously near constant movement lots of times! I read today that an active baby is a healthy baby...so this must be one of the healthiest babies around!

32 Weeks (and what an eventful one it was!)

Hang on folks, this is going to be a long one! I'm at the 32 week mark, which is just so hard to believe. (Actually, I'm more than halfway through the 32nd week, but the craziness of the week has kept me from blogging sooner.) This week has been packed with activities and milestones, but just so my Mom doesn't get antsy, here's the weekly belly picture!

32 weeks, 4 days

This week, our kiddo has been super active. All of the pregnancy books and websites say that by now, I should be able to tell the difference between distinct periods of Sprout's wakefulness and sleep. Well, if Tuesday is any indication, this child doesn't sleep much at all. He (or she) was in constant motion on Tuesday. From the time I woke up until the time I went to bed, there was constant kicking, punching, rolling, and squirming going on. I don't know what Sprout was trying to accomplish, but in honor of the little stinker's behavior that day, I had to put on this shirt: This is David's kickball league shirt from a couple of years ago. I thought it was very appropriate for the occasion...except there's only ONE superkicker in there!

Last Saturday afternoon was my first baby shower, given by my Aunt Paula and my sister, Allison. It was so much fun, and they did a beautiful job with the decorations (even though Paula had a minor meltdown about the cake, which had some pink icing on it). Lots of friends and family came to the shower, and it was so good to see everyone. We got so many nice things for Sprout, and I'm just overwhelmed with the generosity and love that everyone has shown us already. Here are a few pictures:

Me with the cake and the [gasp!] pink icing! I think it's adorable, and still gender-neutral.

One of our cousins, Gin, made this adorable sweater and bonnet set for Sprout. The buttons on the sweater are tiny bunnies! I thought I would die from the cuteness right there on the spot!

You might remember back a few months ago when I mentioned that I was thinking about doing a presentation at the Kentucky Mental Health Counselor's Association conference on how to support women through the experience of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. I just felt like after my loss people didn't know what to say or how to act around me. Many people said (and did) some very hurtful things, but I know that they didn't mean to be hurtful...they just didn't realize that what they were saying/doing would hurt so much. I knew that people would appreciate information on how best to support women through these life-changing events, but it's not really that easy to find the information.

Well...I did it! Sunday afternoon I traveled to Somerset because Monday morning I was scheduled to give my presentation. Surprisingly, I wasn't nervous about giving the presentation...I was more worried about hooking my laptop up to the projector so that the PowerPoint would work. (And after some technical difficulties, it finally did!). I had about 25 attendees, many of them familiar faces (either former instructors or coworkers). I was afraid that I might get choked up during the presentation, but I didn't. And you know what? I felt so at ease the whole time I was giving the presentation. I have to teach quite a bit for my job, but it seems like no matter how well I know the lecture material, I'm never quite comfortable enough to teach without notes. But on Monday, I didn't have anything. No notes, just the PowerPoint that hit the highlights of the presentation...and I felt really good about the information I gave. I gave them practical information about how to support women through the experience, some more detailed ideas about what therapists can do in sessions, and tons of online resources (since the people attending the conference were from all over the state). I'm by no means an authority on the subject, but I feel like from my experience, talking with other women, and some research, I gave worthwhile information to that group of people.

My presentation's description in the big program guide.

In fact, one gentleman came up to me after the presentation and said, "You know, I'm a hospital chaplain (at a small-town hospital), and nobody tells us how to deal with these situations. We don't know what to say or do, and we don't know what kinds of resources are available. This will help us so much." When he said that, I could have cried. I just think about the number of women whose experience might be changed because this man now has some information and resources. After my loss, I can remember telling David that I had to find a way to make something good come from something so horrible. Through this presentation, I think I've made a little bit of headway toward that goal. Now I'm just hoping that God will show me other ways I can make a difference.

Monday night (after the whirlwind trip to Somerset), we had our fifth Empowered Birth class, and this one was the best, by far. Monday's topic was medical interventions, and I would have gladly paid the $150 just for that class alone...that's how informative it was. When I got pregnant (both times), I entertained the idea of an unmedicated birth, but just wasn't sure if I have the fortitude to do it. That's probably the biggest reason why I wanted to take these classes...I wanted to know everything in order to make an informed decision. And now (especially after Monday night), I'm going to go for it. Please understand that I don't fault any woman who gets an epidural or any other type of pain medication. I just don't think that's what I want to do, after what I know now. I was so glad to get an email from my cousin Lindsey, who recently had an unmedicated birth with her daughter, Hazel. She gave me lots of encouragement and support about this decision, and I'm feeling really good about it. I know that there will probably be a point at which I feel like I can't do it, but this is something I really want to do. (And this is where I think my stubbornness will be an asset!) If any of you readers had an unmedicated birth and want to give encouragement, please leave me a comment. (And, not to be hateful, but if you had a bad birth experience, please don't leave me your horror story.)

On Tuesday, David and I went to an open house at a pediatrician's office in LaGrange. A good friend recommended this group to us, and I'm so glad we visited. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was impressed. They've got 8 doctors in the practice, and three are in the office on any given day. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, they're open from 8am - 9pm. They have Saturday hours. They're 10 minutes from our house. I really liked the doctor, and all of the staff seemed very nice. I think we've found our pediatrician! (And what a relief that is, to have one more thing to mark off the list.)

And to end the world's longest blog post, the thing that I've been waiting over a year for! Last Spring, David and I bought a weeping cherry tree to plant in front of our house as a sort of memorial to our first baby. We didn't have the opportunity to get an ultrasound image of him/her, and I never felt him/her move, so there's just been this void...there was no tangible evidence that that child existed. I couldn't stand that, so we decided on this tree. When we got it, the blooms had already fallen off, and all that was left were the leaves. Then, we had such a drought that I was terrified that the tree wouldn't survive. But all of my fears were pushed aside this week, because it bloomed! And it's absolutely beautiful. I love seeing that tree outside my kitchen window, because it's a symbol of that little life that so quickly changed ours.

Isn't it beautiful? The necklace was given to me last Mother's Day by my sweet husband. The front has a heart on it that says "love," and it says "sweet little one" on the back. It's seriously one of my most prized possessions.

So...another busy week is in the books! Next week is shaping up to be a busy one, too. Two classes, a date night, and a night of teaching. Whew!

31 Weeks

It's time for another weekly update, and just for Mom, here's the weekly belly picture! This is 31 weeks, 3 days: Well, it's been another eventful week. We went back to the doctor on Monday morning for another checkup. Somehow I'd only gained a little over a pound in a month. I'm not sure how that happened, since I've pretty much been eating like a horse for the last month. I did get some crummy news, though. Nothing bad about Sprout...just an inconvenience for me, really. About a month ago, I took the 3-hour glucose tolerance test and passed. But on Monday, Dr. Basham told me that at my last two appointments, there was sugar in my urine, so she said that it's obvious that my body isn't processing sugar like it should. So...she said that even though I'm "not technically a gestational diabetic" I need to put the kibosh on the sugar for the duration of the pregnancy. It's been tough to adjust to, because I really have a sweet tooth. Before I got pregnant, I used Splenda a lot to keep my calorie count down. Once we started trying to get pregnant again, I quit using artificial sweeteners completely. That means I was using sugar, and probably more than I should. (I know that some artificial sweeteners are supposed to be okay during pregnancy, but I'm just really cautious about it.) So now, I've pretty much cut sweets out of the diet completely. That even means that I don't have my morning cup of decaf coffee anymore...because I just can't drink it black. Oh well...it's no big deal. If it'll keep Sprout healthy (and prevent him/her from getting too big!) I'll lay off the sugar for 9 more weeks. It'll be good for me.

Empowered Birth was great on Monday night. We talked about delivering the baby and the placenta, and it was such good information. Angela, our instructor, used to be an elementary school teacher, and I bet she was awesome at it. She does a wonderful job of using a wide variety of teaching methods to get her point across. Who would have thought that a balloon and some contact paper would perfectly illustrate how a woman's body expels the placenta?! We practiced various pushing positions, which I think will be super-helpful...if David and I can remember any of them when the time comes. I'll have to remember to put our binder in the hospital bag! I'm really looking forward to next week's class, because we'll be talking about medical interventions and how to be an advocate for yourself. She's already given us some good tips for communicating with medical professionals so that they'll see you as a rational person instead of an overprotective parent. I think we'll also be talking about writing a birth plan, which is something I've been giving a lot of thought to. I know that births don't usually go according to a plan, but I certainly plan to give the medical staff some guidelines for what we'd prefer in terms of our baby's birth.

We also had a hospital class this week...this one was led by a pediatrician and talked about newborn procedures, etc. It was really informative, too. We're going to an open house next Tuesday to meet with a group of pediatricians in LaGrange to see if that's where we'll be taking Sprout. This practice comes highly recommended, and it's really conveniently located, so I'm hoping that David and I both like them.

I've put the second coat of paint on Sprout's quote, and it's looking really good (especially if you're not too close to it). I'm debating on whether or not I can get by without putting a third coat on. Hopefully so.

Tomorrow is my first shower, and I'm super-excited. My aunt and sister are giving this shower, which will be friends and my side of the family. I have no idea how many people will be there, but it will be nice to see everyone. I've honestly been overwhelmed by the amount of love that people have already shown to little Sprout! It feels so good to know that so many people love our baby already. The poor kid will be so stinkin' spoiled that David and I won't be able to do anything with him or her! :)

In other news, I think we've FINALLY decided on names! Whew. What a relief. That's been stressing me out...but part of me thinks that there still might be a change if he/she doesn't "look" like the name we've picked. We'll just have to see!

30 Weeks

30 weeks! This is another one of those milestones that seems like a big deal. It means that if Sprout doesn't come early, he or she will be here in 10 weeks! That's 2 1/2 months! It's just still so hard to believe that we'll have a baby here before long!

And here's the weekly belly shot. This was taken on Wednesday, when I was 30 weeks and 3 days. I don't look great in it...mostly due to the fact that I'd taken a walk on my lunchbreak and was very windblown and hot! This is the shirt I wore in my 27 week update...I wanted to see how much difference there was in belly size. I don't think there's a lot of difference, though. I had to put the two pictures side-by-side to be able to tell the difference, and it's not all that noticeable. You can tell that the shirt is stretched a little tighter this week, though. :) I have felt a lot bigger this week, that's for sure. And on Sunday morning at church, Mom said she thought my belly had gotten a lot bigger from the previous week. I guess there's definitely been some growth, but I think it mostly has to do with what I'm wearing. I was told by a stranger on Wednesday (when this picture was taken) that I looked really small...so I don't know! I just know that it's getting harder and harder to get up off the floor, and I'm less comfortable sitting on the couch or laying in bed!

In other news, between last week's post and this post, I turned 30! Yikes! I am a planner by nature...I love to plan things out to the most minute detail. For the longest time, I've had my life planned out. I was going to get married at age 23, have a baby by 25 or 26, and probably be done with having kids by age 30. Of course, my plan didn't exactly work out. David and I got married when we were 25, so I revised my plan...I decided we'd have our first baby by the time I was 29. Well...that didn't work out either. (I seem to have a hard time forgetting that things have to happen in His time, not mine!) So here I am, at age 30, expecting our first baby. I'll be completely honest and say that I've had more than one meltdown about being an "old mom". I've never wanted to be an "old mom" and I'm trying to embrace the fact that when my baby is 10, I'll be 40; when he/she is 20, I'll be 50; when he/she is 30, I'll be 60, etc. I have decided, though, that I guess I am quite a bit wiser than I was at 25 or 26...and certainly not as naive, so that will surely work out to my benefit raising this little one!

We had our third Empowered Birth class this Monday night, and I'm really enjoying the classes. I think they've definitely been well worth the money spent. This week, we talked about the progression of labor, how to know what stage of labor you're in, how to cope with pain during each stage, positions for laboring, comfort measures during labor, and the procedures to expect in the hospital upon check-in. It was very informative! We really thought David was going to have his burning question answered this week ("When do I take you to the hospital?!"), but I don't think it was answered to his satisfaction. Angela's answer was this, in a nutshell: "Well, that's pretty much up to you all. My advice is to labor at home for as long as possible. If you get there too early, you're much more likely to end up with a c-section. But if you're still at home, and she's saying, 'I'm done with this...I can't do it anymore!' then you should probably have already gotten to the hospital." Nope...not the answer David was looking for! :)

We've got plans to have maternity pictures taken this weekend by Kristin Sexton. I'm looking forward to not only having the pictures done, but also the opportunity to spend some time with Kristin and her husband, Benson. They're wonderful people, and it's always a pleasure to see them!

Sprout's been pretty busy this week. Right now, he's rolling and tumbling in my belly. I think he enjoyed the Mexican food and DQ blizzard I had tonight! I can tell that he/she is getting bigger. There are times when I can feel little body parts through my belly. I can never tell if it's a head, elbow, knee, foot, hand, or rear end, but I love to feel it! It's incredible to know that there's really just a bit of skin, fat, and muscle separating us...and that in a few months, there'll be nothing to separate us! I wonder a lot about what he/she looks like. I've mentioned several times that I'm convinced Sprout's a boy. I love to picture him. I'm hoping he has a full head of dark hair, and his daddy's olive skin. But in the end, it doesn't matter. Sprout might be a bald, pale, little girl, and I'll love her just the same!

Tonight I had dinner with two good friends, and we had a great time! They've both got two kiddos each, so they've been giving me lots of good advice and encouragement about this whole motherhood thing. Except tonight when Leslie reminded me just how close we are to Sprout's due date...that thought honestly made me a little queasy! I can't wait for Sprout to be here, but at this moment, we're just not ready. At least we're not ready physically...we've got to get it in gear around here. There are curtains to hang, quotes to paint on the wall, shelves to build in the closet, and organizing to be done. Ack! But Leslie and Carrie reassured me that it'll get done, and if it's not, it's really no big deal.

We have our next doctor's appointment on Monday morning, and I hope Dr. Basham is ready for lots of questions. At almost 31 weeks, I've decided that this is really happening, so it's time to get some questions answered!

29 Weeks

Thankfully, this week has been much less eventful than last week! I don't think I have enough stamina for another super-busy week. My semester at work is winding down (at least my responsibilities with teaching, anyway), so that helps a lot. It's also a relief to know that I won't really have that many responsibilities at the beginning of the summer semester, either...since I'll be on maternity leave for the majority of that one! I'm ready for some time to relax before Sprout gets here!
Here's the latest belly picture...this was taken at 29 weeks, 3 days. I don't really feel like my belly is getting that much bigger from week to week, but it must be, because my belly button is sticking out more and more!

We met again on Monday night for our Empowered Birth class. I'm really enjoying the class, and I think that it's definitely well worth the money spent. Angela does such a great job of presenting the material, and I know that I've learned a lot already, just in the last two weeks. I'm looking forward to future classes. This week, we talked about what happens (physically) during labor, and next week, I think we'll learn more about positions for labor. We didn't have another crunchy-granola relaxation session this week, and I know David was relieved about that!

On Monday and for most of Tuesday, I had tons of Braxton-Hicks contractions. It seemed like every single time I stood up/got up, I had one, and I had lots of random ones in between. On Tuesday morning, I pretty much felt like I was just having one looooooong contraction. They didn't hurt at all, but it there were a lot more than I'd ever experienced in that short of a time frame. I also hadn't been feeling Sprout move very much over those two days. And it didn't help that the previous week in our childbirth class we'd talked about signs of premature labor. So on Tuesday afternoon, I was "that crazy pregnant lady" and called the doctor's office. I spoke with a nurse who listened to me patiently and assured me that what I was telling her sounded very normal for a woman who is 29 weeks pregnant. She asked me to drink more water and to take it a little easy. She also told mIe that as long as I was feeling some kind of movement every hour, then things were probably okay, but that if I went an hour with no movement, to call them back. Luckily, after I had lunch, guzzled water, and stayed off my feet for awhile, things started to get back to normal. The rest of this week, Sprout has been his/her normal busy self, and I've had very few of those BH contractions. I guess it was just one of those things I'll have to get used to in these last months of pregnancy. But I don't feel badly for calling the doctor...I'd rather call and let them think I'm crazy, than not call and have something bad happen.

One of the best things about this week has been the fact that I'm sleeping so much better! I guess my body has finally adapted to side sleeping! It seems like now I'm only waking up once a night, if that. It's made such a difference in how I feel during the day!

The only other excitement we've had this week has been the addition of the glider to the nursery. It's really starting to come together now. I still need to get curtains, French door curtains, shelving, storage, and paint the quote over the crib, but it's feeling much more doable. I'll try to remember to take some pictures to post soon.