Technically labor has started!

At my 36 week appointment today I learned that the baby has officially dropped (which I kind of suspected anyway). I also learned that I am 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. Just to give you a reference....a mom needs to be 10 cm dilated and 100% effaced in order to start the active "pushing" phase of labor.

The doc told me that I can stay 1 cm and 60% effaced for quite a while. I'll find out more next Thursday at my next appointment.

I preregistered at the hospital today and took a mini-tour. The private birthing rooms are really nice and have a rocking chair, dresses, private bathroom, radio, cable tv, internet hook-ups, and a bed for mom. Once the baby is born, it will stay in the private room with me unless it needs to be in the infant/nursery room for something specific.

I walked past the nursery on the tour and got to see 2 newborns. One was a tiny boy and one was a hefty girl. Both were absolutely adorable. All of a sudden it hit me. That is what is kicking me and growing inside me! It's amazing. Instantly my eyes started welling up. I can't wait to take Will there this weekend to see his reaction. Viewing the nursery made it all seem so real.

We've decided on a name for Baby Alexander

Unless something major happens and we change our minds when we meet our little girl in the hospital.....we've decided on Sophia Amber Alexander.

Let the countdown begin....

OK. I'm officially 9 months pregnant. 36 weeks yesterday! Considering the average pregnancy lasts 10 months (or 40 weeks)....I'm officially in the last month and technically I could have this little baby girl soon! I cannot wait to meet her. My official due date is May 9th. Each grandma thinks I'm going to be a bit late. Grancy (Will's mom) thinks I'll deliver on May 12th. My mom thinks I'll deliver on the 13th, 14th or 15th.

The baby probably weighs 6 pounds right now! Yikes!!!

I've got OB appointments scheduled for the next 3 Thursdays in a row. Tomorrow the doctor will tell me if I've started to dilate at all or if I'm in the beginning stages of pending labor.

It's definitely time to pack the hospital bag, the camera bag and the diaper bag - just in case.

Sadie's graduation

Here's a picture of Sadie and her friend - the only other dog who showed up to pass the class. 5 dogs started the class and three dropped out.








Here's a picture of Sadie wearing her graduation cap last Sunday when she passed obedience class.

pictures from 33 weeks.

I'm 34 and 1/2 weeks right now, but here's a few photos of my ever-growing belly... Can you tell I've outgrown this "non-maternity" shirt?

odds and ends

34 weeks tomorrow...time is flying now. I have a photo to post of me at 33 weeks. I plan on posting it later this week. I also have photos to post of the baby shower in Pennsylvania. It was so much fun.

The baby is doing great. I had an appointment last week. Her heartrate was 155 beats per minute and everything else checked out ok too. Next Wednesday I start my weekly appointments and my chart will be kept at the hospital in case I go into labor. I have a feeling that it won't be for a while. I did hear today that U.S. pregnancies are acutally 39 weeks now instead of 40 weeks. A 39 week baby is considered full term.

I selected our pediatrician practice on Friday. They have a very nice office - it has a sick-side and well-side - depending on what you need. There are 5 doctors in the practice and they are only a mile from our house. They also see patients at our hospital so each day were are in the hospital they will check up on the baby. The appointment schedule after that is a little daunting... 2-3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months...all the way to 1 year. They only once per year. It was very cute to walk into the waiting area and be surrounded by "kid stuff". Primary colors, an underwater sea painting on all the walls, and mirrors hung half way down the wall.

Our very last birthing class is tonight. I am definitely glad we took the class and I bet it will help us "breathe" when the time comes. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Speaking of classes, Sadie graduated her obedience class yesterday! She even got a certificate. I am absolutely, 100% glad that we enrolled her in that class. It helped out a lot! She's on her way to being very well behaved. Again, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

31 week OB appointment

I saw the doctor today for my 31 week checkup. Baby is doing fine. Her heartbeat was in the 150s. The doctor felt my stomach and told me that her head is face down already and showed me where I could feel her butt sticking out. I feel it, but there is no way I can tell that it's her butt. :) Just by feeling my belly the doc told me that she weighs about 4.5 pounds and said that is right on track. To me, that seems like a lot for only 31 weeks.

Anyway, baby is doing great! So, we're all happy.

31 weeks right now!

9 more weeks until my due date.

Baby is probably weighing in just over 3 pounds now and heading for a growth spurt.

I just found out that she's opening and closing her eyes and knows the difference between light and dark. Crazy!

Her brain is also able to start forming memories now. I just read an article that I need to start reading the same story to her twice a day. Then when she's born, this story will be familiar to her. Studies have shown that if I read this story to her when she's fussy it should calm her down. Does anyone have any suggestions on the story? Something that won't get tiresome for mom? Maybe something from Dr. Suess?

A future swimmer, runner or soccer player

This baby sure can kick. At least twice so far I've been minding my own business only to be kicked or elbowed hard enough for me to say a loud "OUCH". Will is convinced she'll be an avid swimmer. I, on the other hand, hope she wants to take after mom and become a runner. But by the way she moves around, I think we're going to have to settle for a soccer player.

Regardless, it's some much fun to rest my hands on my belly while she moves around and try to guess what boby part I'm feeling. I also like to "watch" my stomach move after I've had something to eat or drink. Will is still amazed everytime he feels her move.

Update on Baby Alexander and Mommy & Daddy.

This baby is growing for sure. According to all the books and the websites that I read, she's probably around 2.5 pounds right now and 15 inches long. If you ask my stomach and my bladder...they would probably say that she weighs in at a whopping 25 pounds. :) Not only to I feel huge, but I am officially walking and getting out of chairs like a pregnant lady.

On Wednesday I had an OB appointment. The baby is measuring ok and her heartbeat sounded good too. I'm going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. We're definitely in the home stretch now.

Will and I started our birthing class on Monday. It was great. I'm really going to enjoy them. There are 6 other couples in our class who are all first time parents like us. It's reassuring to hear that we all have the same concerns. Although most of the other couples have decided on a name by now! (EEK)

I really like the instructor too. She's been teaching the class for 24 years and is also a lactation consulatant at our hospital. I ran into her on Tuesday at the dog park with Sadie and we had a chance to chat and get to know each other a bit.

During the first part of the class, she showed us medical poster boards of the inside of a non-pregnant woman. Then she showed us views of 25, 29 and 36 weeks pregnant. We got to see how the baby grows and pushes all of a females body part up into her chest and "out of the way". And how the baby sits right on the bladder. Will looked at me and said, "I feel so bad for you".

The second part of the class was very relaxing. We gave each other massages on the floor in an effort to try to "learn" to relax. According to our instructor, Martha, Will needs to perfect the massage so he can keep me calm during labor. :) Trust me, he's a pro at it. :) Next week we learn our first breathing technique. Will is going to be out of town so I will be attending by myself.

It's hard to believe that in 10 weeks we will meet our daughter. I can't wait!!!

A sweet tooth for my growing appetite

Hmmm....so I'm beginning to think the old wives tale of having a sweet tooth if you're pregnant with a girl is true! I've definitely got a HUGE sweet tooth. Some of these cravings have led me to the purchase and consume the following (of course, none were consumed in less than 2 sittings (and I'm talking about the strawberries...)

1) a box of 12 Dunkin Donuts at 3 in the afternoon
2) a chocolate fudge ice cream cake with raspberry filling from Cold Stone Creamery (for Valentine's Day)
3) a dozen white, dark and milk chocolate dipped extra-large strawberries (also for Valentine's Day)
4) a bag of mini York Peppermint Patties.
5) Nestle ice cream bars (lite version)

And, I'm sure there are a few more that I have failed to recall at this point. :)

My photo at 7 months

OK - 28 weeks and 1 very long day intothe pregnancy. :) Here's what I look like right now. Give me another few weeks and I just might pop!!!

Not sure if I'll be able to fit into this tank top for my next photo. It has definitely reached full stretch capacity. It was beginning to cut off my circulation. hehehe

Just for kicks....take a look at my photo when I was 6 weeks.

Finally, the 3rd trimester!

Yea!!! I've reached the third trimester. I'm 28 weeks pregnant now and beginning the home stretch. We start our birthing class on Monday night. The class will held at the hospital and last for 6 weeks. Then we'll be really ready to have the baby, wink wink!!

Speaking of the baby, she probably weighs just over 2 pounds now and is between 14 and 15 inches long. I feel her moving all the time - especially when I'm relaxing at night around 8:30. She's quite a mover!

I'm really starting to go into panic mode...about just about everything and anything. :) Will the nursery be ready in time? Will I have a normal delivery? Is the baby ok? Is the throbbing pain that I constantly feel in my pubic area normal (yes, it is - it's my joints loosening and widening). Will I ever be able to hoist myself off of the couch without using the armrest? Did I really just eat more that Will for dinner (how is that possible?)? All very important questions!

The crib has been put together, I think Will is going paint this weekend and we'll be ordering the rest of the furniture in a week. So, the nursery is moving along quite nicely. Once the room is painted, I'll post a photo.

The doctors....

I had a doctor appointment earlier this week. It was uneventful. :) My belly is measuring fine and the baby's heartrate was in the 150s. I had a chance to meet with the final OB that works in the office. Like the others I didn't really care for her because she didn't really take the chance to get to know me at all. I'm just a chart to her.

So here's the tally on the doctors who could deliver our baby:
Dr. Rex Waterbury - older man, uninterested bedside manner, very blunt.
Dr. Jeannie Hilton - young woman, impersonal bedside manner, robot-like (but I've only met her once)
Dr. Renna Talreja - very young woman, looks fresh out of school to me. Hard to tell her bedside manner, but she definitely didn't ask me anything about how I'm feeling, etc...
Dr. Nancy Bradbury - by far the best - young woman, by far the best bedside manner, takes the most time with me as a patient. I hope she's working the day/night that I deliver.

Here's an update on our little one:
The baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is gaining ounces each week. She's probably around 14 inches from head to heels. She learning to practice how to breathe and her lungs are inhaling amniotic fluid. She won't get her first real breath until she's born.

Overwhelming

Shopping for baby items is definitely overwhelming. Especially the cribs! Not to mention the car seat combo/stroller/travel systems out there right now. Or you can get a convertible infant/toddler/booster seat! Huh??

Will and I spent 2 and 1/2 hours at Babies R Us yesterday just really looking around and test driving out some items that we'll need. We started our registry...but are nowhere near having all the items on the list that we actually need. I stood in front of the pacifiers trying to decided if I should get a round nipple or an orthodontic nipple...does it really matter? I have no idea.

Luckily, I have some really good friends who have already gone through it and they have already passed a lot of advice my way....but I have a feeling I'll be calling them all really soon to get another reality check.

And to top it all off, I had a dream last night that at my next doctor appointment, the doctor tells me that they made a mistake and that I'm really having a boy. Geez...!

Theme for the nursery

So, yesterday I bought the theme for our nursery. Here's a picture. It's called Lollipop from Cocalo (same makers of Osh Kosh). I love the fact that it's not completely pink. In fact, it's a rainbow of color. Purple, green, yellow, pink and blue. How fun!!!



I was able to get the bedding, the lamp shade, the crib mobile, the wall border, the diaper stacker, the valance and the wall hangings so we're SET. Can't wait to make some progress in the room with paint and the wall border. I'll post pictures of our progress....

Photo at 23 weeks

Tomorrow I will be 23 weeks pregnant or starting my 6th month. Here's a picture of me -- getting bigger! I've gained about 22 pounds to date.

I remember only a few weeks ago I was really hoping that I would start showing and looking like I was pregnant. Well, can I eat my words? Don't get me wrong, I do love being pregnant, but um.....what is happening to my body? My belly button looks like it's going to turn into an outie soon! I've outgrown 2 bra sizes! Even my arms are getting bigger!

I finally got to see her face!

This week I had my third ultrasound and finally had a chance to see my little girl's face. As you can see from the photos, she really enjoys sucking her thumb and keeping her hand up near her face, mostly covering it. :)

She weighs just over a pound. She's just now starting to put fat on her body and she moves constantly! It's such an amazing feeling. I love knowing that she's in there from her pokes and prods.

Check out these awesome pictures. The last 2 are 4D images.

	This is a profile shot of her with her hand near her mouth.
	Another profile shot, but her hand is moving up her face.
	Hands covering her eyes.
	Her foot. This is the image that I mentioned in a previous post.
	This is one of the 4D images. This is the front of her body and face. She's got her hand over her face.
	This is THE COOLEST one if you ask me. It's her profile. Her head has not fused together at all....but the red arrow is pointing to her forehead. The green one points to her nose. The blue one points to her lips. The purple one points to her chin. Do you see her???

22 week appointment

I had my 22 week appointment yesterday morning and again heard the heartbeat. 160 beats per minute.

I have a 3rd Ultrasound scheduled for Friday to finally get another chance to see this baby's face. During the first 2 ultrasounds, she was face down and didn't want to move at all to give us a peak. So hopefully we'll get lucky this time.

Next month I will start going to the OB for a check up every 2 weeks - which in theory means we're getting closer to baby time.

Here's pictures of us at Christmas and our new adolescent puppy/dog.

Baby movement

Um....last week I was worried that I wasn't feeling a whole lot of movement, but this week (week 22) I'm feeling her move all the time. On Sunday night, Will had his hand on my belly for a while and felt her move too! He got jabbed a little bit. He seemed completely surprised and a little stunned.

So, from now until week 28 I should be feeling tons of movement from the baby. She definitely has her acrobatics on a schedule. She's usually moving around 11 am, 2 pm and she's always moving fast and furious in the evening time - around 9 or 10 at night. It's a great way to unwind from the day.