a week... he's kidding right???

I had my weekly appointment this afternoon. The doctor's words, not mine: "How long have you been having contractions?" What!?!? What contractions???? Apparently I am having contractions and not realizing it. I am 2 cm and 50%. I am assuming the 50% is effaced. I've heard you can get "stuck" there for a while.

The doc seems to think that since I was nothing two weeks ago, that I have about a week. He said to go ahead and make my next appointment, but don't be surprised if I don't make it. I told him not to worry, I planned on having at least a week left. He snickered a little. What does he know?!?!?!?!?

I told mom and she reminded me to keep my legs crossed for a few days until they would be able to get up here. So here is to waiting...

two weeks and counting

Two weeks... and I'm really hoping to take every bit of those two weeks. Others seem to think I should go any day now, but I am looking forward to getting the last few things done next week and just relaxing. Maybe even playing the Wii.

My last day of work is this Friday, and yes, I plan on making it the entire week, contrary to the beliefs of a few co-workers. I'm glad to be mostly a desk job right now. These close to 100 degree days are not fun. Makes me glad that even if I did have to go to my jobsite that it is all inside work these days.

Still nothing new with the nursery. I am going to work on it this weekend. We have everything with the exception of the dresser/changer. We ordered it on May 19th. It was supposed to take 7 to 10 business days to arrive. Well, it arrived.... damaged. So Babies-r-us sent it back and ordered another one which will again take 7 to 10 business days. If I remember right (and counted correctly) 10 business days is my due date. So our fathers may be switching out dressers. Right now her clean clothes are still in the laundry basket in our room b/c I didn't want to put them in the old dresser just to have to move them into the new dresser. Or it is just plain laziness.

Her bag is packed. My bag is at least in my closet. Nothing in it yet, but it is handy if I needed to throw things into it.

She is still a very active little one. Not as many little kicks, but a lot of sweeping moves. Eric likes the little movements though. I think she had a good round of them this morning. I slept through most of them, but I know Eric was feeling them.

So the days count down begins...

thoughts & fears

As the time quickly approaches I am having more nervous thoughts, which I guess is just normal due to the emotional roller coaster my body is putting me through. And let me tell you... oh what a coaster this is. For example, Eric made a simple comment that we have a lot to do before she comes and before we move. That turns into me balling my eyes out for 15 minutes and locking myself in the bathroom because I think he is aiming it at me and that I am neglecting my house responsibilities. We went to Waffle House for dinner and all was normal.

But my thoughts are turning into fears. What if something goes wrong??? What if I can't handle this? So do my twice-their-normal-size ankles mean I am getting toxemia?? Why haven't I felt her move (this is the weird one... I (my insides) may not feel her move, but then if I place a hand on my belly I can feel her then... is this normal????)? What happens if my water breaks while I am stuck in I-95 traffic?? Are my hips supposed to hurt this much? Why do I cry every morning in the shower?? Is that a contraction or do I just need to go to the bathroom? And why don't they make maternity t-shirts longer!!?!??!?!??!

I'm sure some of this is normal stuff, but I think I am starting to believe that something is going to go wrong which just turns me into a basket case and I have to blame the heat for my watering eyes. I strongly believe now that I most certainly got the worrying gene that plaques the women on Mom's side.

doctor updates

Since everyone wants to know how my first weekly doctor's appointment went, here it goes.

Zero. Zip. Nil. No dilation yet :) Which hopefully means that I'm not going early. I know that Broomhilda will come when she wants, but it looks good so far that it won't be in the next couple of weeks.

The doc did feel her head when she was checking. Apparently Broomhilda didn't like being touched in a different way than normal because that really got her going as soon as the visit was over.

I have protein showing up in my urine. Not sure what that means, but since my blood pressure is perfect (their words, not mine) and I'm not getting blurred vision, then they aren't worried yet. But they will keep monitoring it.

Yes, I am gaining weight. In the two weeks since my last visit I have gained five pounds and am up to a total gain of 17 according to their records. I was told that I could expect to gain 6 or 7 more before she arrives. But they are pleased with my weight gain so far.

My next appointments are next Friday afternoon and then the Wednesday after that. They will only schedule two appointments ahead no matter how far along you are.

If I've missed something you want to know, do tell!

4 weeks... hopefully!

Four weeks!!! That's all we have to prepare!!! I can't believe it! I have washed clothes and packed her bag. When Eric gets back from a short N.C. site visit, I'll steal his duffel bag and get my bag pack (I still have a few more necessary items to get before then though!).

Anyway, before he left, I got him to snap the one month to go pictures. So here they are....

and the famous belly shot.

only five weeks!!!! agh!!!!

Yesterday was five weeks and counting. Agh! I can't believe it and I don't think I'm ready!!! I have started washing stuff. I washed the sheets and the little bit of bedding that we have this past weekend. I'll probably start washing clothes this weekend.

We have finished our labor classes... I didn't think we were going to make it through last week. We had our first of three actual labor classes on Monday the 5th, the second on Monday the 12th, then Thursday the 15th we had the newborn care class, then on Saturday the 17th we had our feeding class, and finally on Monday the 19th we had our final labor class. I think our brains are overloaded!! A neighbor I had actually never met until this past Saturday was extremely kind and gave us three of the "What to Expect" books, so now we are trying to cram in!

She is quite the mover. Not so many punches/kicks, but definitely squirming all over the place. Eric likes to feel her move right when I lay down to sleep. This seems to be her most active time during the hours he is around. Her other time is right before lunch. But I can't run to New Jersey to let him feel. I enjoy their bonding time. Makes me feel that he is really a part of this and gets to experience some of what I do.

yay... a crib!

My wonderful mom (& dad) bought a crib for us last weekend when mom was up here for a baby shower. We finally got a chance to go get it this afternoon. Of course, I'm in that mode where everything has to be done now! We set the crib up and "staged" it. The sheet and ruffle haven't been washed... and there are toys in the crib. Yes I know this is a no no, but thought it added character.

As you can see it is complete with a mobile to get her ready for homecoming (just in case we are actually able to go this year!). The quilt on the right was made by my friend Gabby and fits into my theme of green. No little girl is complete without a Roo, frog, and a Care Bear. The bumper pad is really neat. It is padded, just a little, and is made of mesh so it is breathable so baby doesn't suffocate. Plus it came in the matching green!