The Last Day - 40 Weeks!

We spent our last weekend together doing lots of fun things, and a few projects as well. t We had a yummy dinner at Copeland's, went to the movies and saw The Hangover Part II and Bad Teacher, did some light house cleaning, worked in the flower beds, watched more movies at home, and slept late.   We laughed because everybody kept saying "Enjoy your last moments together"...like one or both of us is about to go to prison.  ha!  

I must admit that I am very anxious, but I am trusting in God more than I ever have before.  Lots of people go through this every day, and we are certainly capable of doing it as well.  But please feel free to pray for us tomorrow as we welcome our son into this world.  

Watch Mommy Grow

There's a page in Jackson's baby book for a picture of me while pregnant.  I wanted to have a record of how I grew each month and week, so I designed one to go in the book.

I started in February because that's when I think I started actually looking pregnant.  Some people have even told me that I didn't really have a big belly until here at the very end, and I'm not really sure how I managed to look bigger in week 38 than in week 39.  

I'll take the final picture for the book on Monday morning before we head to the hospital.  So far, that's still the plan.  I haven't had any indication that it will be sooner than that, but I'm totally fine with it.  

39 Weeks!

Size of Jackson: 7+ pounds!

Weight gain: We're not going to discuss this at this time.

Maternity clothes: There are only a few things that are still fitting and are long enough.  Thank goodness for summer and Maxi dresses!

Movement: He's run out of room to do much moving, but when it does, my stomach looks like an alien.

What I Miss: Walking without something hurting; Blue Moon, sleeping on my stomach, good TV shows

Cravings: Still no cravings.  I have begun to realize that after this kid gets here, Mommy and Daddy will have to go on a diet very soon.

Symptoms: I've had a few irregular contractions, and Dr. Fuller said I've been having more than I realize.  There are other symptoms that labor is coming, but I won't discuss those on this public forum for your sake!

Best moment since the last one: Realizing that this time next week, we will probably be coming home with our precious son!  

I went to the doctor this morning, and was thinned out and dilated to 1 1\2.  This is good progress seeing that last week I was about 1\2 cm dilated.  He said that by Monday, I should be at a 2 or past there, which is fine for induction.  He doesn't want me to go past my due date, which happens to turn out to be Monday!  We have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. to get this party started.  Of course anything could happen between now and then, but I'm happy with the induction.  (Or the planner in me is happy about having a game plan).   Brent finally finished his class yesterday, so we have several days to spend together before our lives change forever. 

In other news, I've received a few gifts this week and they are too cute not to share!  

This linen outfit will be perfect next Easter - if he cooperates and doesn't get too big for it before then! 

If it looks right, I hope to bring him home in this outfit that my mom got for him.  I had hit monogrammed and plan to frame it later. 

Aunt Kay sent me this - a tribute to my farming heritage!  

Happy Father's Day!

To my own Daddy

And to the man who will become one in the next week. 

I'm too hormonal right now to explain how much I love both of these men and how much I can't wait to see my own son with them. 

38 Weeks!

I'm huge!  It's seriously time to have this baby.  No joke.

I was very anxious about today's appointment because I had no idea what to expect.  I had one last ultrasound, and Jackson is estimated at 7 lbs, 7 oz, which is a little above the 50% percentile.  I was expecting bigger, but very good.  He doesn't have much room left to move around, but everything was good.  So then I saw the nurse practitioner (my doc is on vacation this week).  She said I was about 75% effaced, but not any more dilated than a fingertip.  So the plan now is to go back in on Tuesday and have Dr. Fuller check me again to see if any more progress has been made and I guess to make a game plan.  

 Brent is glad for the few extra days though so he can finish his class, so at least I can help him out in that regard.  I know it's only a few more days, but it feels like a lifetime from now!  I must admit that I'm disappointed tonight, but as I was cleaning the kitchen, I prayed for patience and was reminded that God is in the details.  He knows exactly when and how when Jackson will be here and I don't have any control over it, and must trust Him completely in this. 

Random Thoughts

Because I'm too tired to form complete paragraphs, I think I'll do a bullet list. 

• June is a very popular month to have babies.  Right now, there is a race between me and three other friends who are all due around the same time.  Of course, one is a few days late, and one is 10 days behind me, but we're all hoping that it will be NOW!  We've joked in Sunday School about taking bets on when the babies will be here. I am going to be mad if I'm last though - ha!
• I've made a few pregnancy analogies over the past several months that I don't want to forget:
• Being pregnant is like riding a roller coaster.  You wait in line forever to get on the ride, and you're SO excited when it's your turn to click the seat belt.  It's all so fun with the first dips, turns, and speed, but then you realize you have to go down that extremely long 80 foot drop going 100 mph.  That's when thoughts of "I WANT TO GET OFF THIS RIDE" start going through your mind.  But it's too late.  You're already headed in that direction and you have no choice but to finish what you started.  You also know that at the end, you'll feel the adrenaline and excitement.  And you'll probably also want to get in line to ride again.
• In the past month, it's been very difficult to move from side to side while laying down in the bed.  In fact, getting up from being on my back hurts and I usually have to grab onto something for leverage.  I told Brent that I felt like a turtle that has ended upside down on its shell with its arms and legs waving in the air.  Not a pretty site, but fairly accurate.
• A watched pot never boils.  And a 9 1\2 pregnant woman with not much work to do never seems to have that baby.  That's what I feel like right now.  I'm watching the pot, heat's on low, and there are NO bubbles.  I'm trying to be thankful for this time, but I'm ready to get this show on the road!
• I really want to tell off all those people who've told me "You'll have this baby before it gets really hot outside."  My question to them now is "What is really hot?"  Is it 130 degrees?  Hello, HELL, nice to be here!  ha!  Thank goodness someone at work got the memo and turned down the AC on my floor.  I was getting that wild look in my eyes every day. 
• That's all for right now.  I will post an update after I visit the doctor tomorrow afternoon.

37 Weeks

Well, we're in the countdown phase.  I went to the doctor yesterday and was 50% effaced and 1\2 cm dilated.  Yay for progress!  So the plan is to go back next Wednesday and I'll have one last ultrasound to see how big he is.  If I'm dilated to 2 cm, then the induction will be scheduled for Monday, June 20th.  If I'm not at a 2 by then, it will most likely be scheduled for his due day, June 27th.  I was glad that my mom got to go with me yesterday too. When he checked me, I think I tried to come off the table it hurt so bad, but then afterwards I got tickled because I just remember my mom (from behind the curtain in the corner) saying "Breathe! Breathe!" ha!  Maybe I need to watch some lamaze videos this week! 

We are so excited to meet Jackson and can't wait to see his precious face.  I feel like I've been pregnant for 100 months, but at the same time, it has flown by.  I definitely am ready to feel somewhat normal again though (aka - bend over and pick something up without grunting).  It's just not pretty.

I don't really have much left to do - just minor stuff that if he does come won't matter.  I've got my bag out and things are starting to pile up in it, but I will pack it for sure this weekend. Brent is working fast and furious to get his first summer class finished, and will be done with 90% of the work by the 19th.  So you can imagine that he is really wanting J to stay put until the 20th.  We are praying that God works out all of this according to His timing. 

More Cute Stuff for Jackson

I've gotten some very cute things for Jackson at my showers and afterwards, and I wanted to show them off.  This is a precious monogrammed linen bib and monogrammed shoes.  

I finally got all of the pieces for the changing table together, and I'm so happy with how it turned out.  I love the picture frame, and I found the changing pad covers on Etsy that matches the bedding perfectly.  I also found some cute monthly onesie stickers that match his nursery colors on Etsy as well.  

Our good friend Leara Beth made this super darling canvas for his room.  Once I find an appropriate hook, I've got plans to hang it on the door. 

In the last post about the "officery", I realized that I never really showed why we called it that.  We left the office up in the room, and it all has fit perfectly.  There's room for my stuff, Brent's school work, and of course all of Jackson's stuff.  

Sarah Clements made this blanket for Jackson - all while she was pregnant with her second child, Adam.  It'll be perfect to throw down and let Jackson have tummy time and play time on.  

In May, the weather was a little rocky, a little cool, and some days were very nice.  HOWEVER.  June got here and dang if it didn't get H-O-T.  I've had so many people tell me "Oh you'll be so glad that you'll have this baby before it gets really hot."  Seriously? What is considered really hot?  130 degrees?  Dang!  I am glad I don't have to be pregnant through the entire summer.  And because it's finally summer, I had to put up my new Summer flag that I got at Easter.  

I also like the way people say "Oh you really need to rest." Yes, but it is so hard when there are things that need to be done at home that can't be done during the week.  This morning, I got up and dusted, vacuumed, picked up the kitchen, finished some laundry, went to water aerobics, and then I went outside  (yes, in this crazy heat) to work in the flower bed.  I should have taken a before picture, but it was really really bad.  The weeds were growing taller than the actual plants!  Since I can't actually bend over to pull weeds, I got the hoe out and started chopping.  It went quicker than I thought, so I was done in about an hour.  In the next week, I'm going to put down some weed prevention and more mulch, and hopefully this will last me through the rest of the summer.  

Here are my hostas that are huge!  We'll see how they make it through the hot summer.  

And this was them back in April.  Isn't it amazing what a lot of rain and sun will do for them? Crazy! 

I know this is a random post, but Brent has been diligently working on homework today.  While I was busy this morning, I've been a little bored this afternoon.  There's not much on TV that's worth watching, and there's only so many times I can check Facebook.  But I am looking forward to a busy week coming up - at least it will help it pass quickly.  I really can't believe I'm almost 37 weeks.   I'm so ready for Jackson to get here! 

36 Weeks and a Visit from Lila the Niece-Dog

In my non-pregnant days, I always assumed that when someone says they're 9 months pregnant, it means they're about to have a baby any day now.  Not necessarily true!  If a women goes to 40 weeks, and you do the math, that's 10 months!  Yikes!  I'm officially 9 months pregnant and I feel every month of it.  Jackson is getting bigger and has dropped significantly in the past two days.  Last week the doctor said that he's probably already 7 pounds, and we still have a few weeks go to!  Jackson definitely has some big and tall genetics, and I'm so anxious to see who he looks like.

Size of Jackson: 7+ pounds! 

Weight gain: 25 lbs

Maternity clothes: The shirts that I had been wearing the past month are now too short, so I'm having to resort to pairing the dresses with pants.  Not necessarily the most attractive thing, but it works.

Movement: He's very active and is still kicking, but I think he's running out of room to do much moving.

What I Miss: Good, uninterrupted sleep on my stomach.  I know the sleep won't get any better, but I'll take 2-3 hours of being flat on my stomach.  I also miss being able to move around easily and without huffing and puffing.  I know there are some people who say they just love being pregnant.  I will say that I've loved it about 75% of the time.  The best part will be when he gets here!

Cravings: Still no cravings, although I have had to curb my salt intake because it makes me swell up like a blow fish.  Especially when I'm at work with my feet down all day long.

Symptoms: Oh at this point, I think everything is a symptom.  I'm very nervous about the next phase because I'm not quite sure what to expect.  In the past few days, I've not felt that great.  It's a combination of exhaustion, the heat, the baby dropping, and allergies. I went to the doctor yesterday, and there hasn't been any progress made.  I kinda felt relieved because I know it's better for him to stay in there longer, and it also gives his daddy time to finish school work! 

Best moment since the last one: When my parents were here two weeks ago, my mom finally got to feel him kick! 


Last Thursday, we met Sarah and Josh and picked up their dog Lila.  She is a dachshund puppy and they didn't want to board her during their week-long stay at the beach, so we volunteered to keep her.  It really has been fun playing with her, and although I do wish we could have a dog, I know this house isn't the one where we will do that.  We can't let her outside by herself because we don't have a fence, and we've had the hardest time getting her to go #2 in the yard.  But the best part is when she's snuggled with me in the evenings and when we're playing and she makes Brent and I laugh. 

She's so playful and wants to give kisses all the time.  I will miss her when she goes home tonight.