35 Already?

Time is going fast. I can't believe pregnancy is going to come to an end so soon. Seems like just a couple of weeks ago we were still in the trying phase.

This week I had some nice showers. Very nice! I have pictures and I promise I'm going to do a post of just photos to catch up on all of these, but trust me when I say I was genuinely surprised. I'm so amazed at the number of people who have been "waiting for this moment," like myself. I guess I didn't realize so many people have been sitting in anticipation with me.



The great news though is that this journey is about to come to a close. (If you were here you would see that I am crying... that's just pregnancy hormones. Don't mind me.) I can tell you, I so don't want this time to be over. My mother has said for years that ALL women should be pregnant and have children - notice that word is plural. I've always thought that she just says that because she had all of us. After being pregnant for the last 35 weeks though I must have to agree with her... at least on the pregnancy part. This is such a fun, joyous, emotional, exhilarating experience. So much so that I think the really sad news is that this journey is about to come to a close.

There is hope though that this journey will be ending on time and not early. At my appointment this week the Dr. said that there aren't any signs of labor showing in my exam. I'll spare you the details, but everything looks fine and they have no reason to believe that I won't make it to term. I do have an ultrasound scheduled for next week though. So we'll see what sweet potato is doing in there other than tap dancing on mommy's fundus and head bopping on my bladder.

Next week we start our labor classes. I know. A little late. But with our traveling schedules trying to coordinate 5 weeks together at home has been a challenge. To remedy that we we're doing the crash course of just 6 hours in 2 weeks. Nice!

With the baby's arrival just around the corner, I have so many things still left to do and some I have no clue about where to start. Like professional pictures - I have this fear that by the time we get them he'll be taking pictures of the new arrival instead of me carrying her. Then there's the rest of the baby furniture. How come stores don't sell these items on location anymore. You have to order it from everywhere so hopefully it gets here soon. Then there's all this cleaning I feel like I need to do. Honestly, I'm not sure where to start other than the linen closet (don't know why THAT of all places is bothering me) and then having an extra closet pole installed in the baby's room.

I'm even having a challenge with the basic stuff:
Hospital Bag - What goes in there? Other than what I wear home... and can't I wear what I wore to the hospital home? I'm lost on that one.
Sweet Potato's Bring home Outfit - So is that a sleeper? Something cuter like a dress? and I've been told to get a preemie size so it fits. Does this sound right?
Christening Outfit - Okay, now this is a big thing for me. I really wanted to make one, but of course I still have those other projects looming first. Plus I can't crochet and I have no clue where to start on that one either. I know for sure though that I don't want white... so that means I better get to searching in other places or sewing. I just like ivory better. (Remember the wedding?)

I'm willing to take any help. So if you've got some thoughts let me know. I better get off of here and get started on something though.

34 Weeks...

This has been a really trying and fun week altogether.

My travel restriction started on Tuesday which was after I begin my last trip for work. Traveling for work is a great concept and one that many people envy until they do it themselves. It does allow you an opportunity to visit new places and climates at different times, but those couple of perks can be cumbersome at times as well... like pulling shorts or lightweight materials out of storage when you travel to places like sunny Florida or Arizona. For the most part I enjoy traveling (other than missing my family while I'm gone), but this week didn't rank too high on the pleasure scale.

(Disclaimer: I feel that training your experienced peers is the hardest thing in life you'll ever have to do as a trainer.) On Sunday, I drove to the training location to be prepared to train for the week. Technically Monday was a holiday at my job. I worked on Monday. 8 hours at least. Tuesday was planned to be a long day... a long day that I would enjoy sitting down. I did. Yah for me! Wednesday - Friday I was on deck to deliver training for a majority of the day. I did. By Wednesday night my ankles looked like rising dough! That was just one day of standing. Thursday and Friday I don't think I even felt my toes my feet were so numb from the water build up. (Wish I had a picture to show you.) The pain my feet were in was only a piece of the story. I didn't know your body could be in so much pain just from breathing (or snorting my co-workers will say.) All in all it was a productive week.

Of course the week would not be complete with a few tears. Remember, I'm pregnant. So on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I cried. Of course spawned by different emotions each day: stress, joy, pain, worry, surprise, and excitement. In no particular order and as usual, most times for no particular reason.

On Thursday my wonderful co-workers threw a surprise baby shower for me. It was so nice and a very thoughtful gesture. I appreciate every one's efforts, presence at the outing, and gift. My heart was tinkled pink!

Fun was had by all this week, including the baby thanks to the Mexican rice, cookies (special delivery from the west coast), rich tomato soup, and the pebbled ice machine. (Notice all items are food related. What can I say, baby likes to eat.)

So my last travel for work before having this baby was nice and necessary. By Friday I had introduced my co-workers to the lovely world of "survival while pregnant," which includes snorting to breath, not having the strength to lift much, needing help to get up, short memory and a whole new language of gibberish... or just slamming 2 words together. lol.

I must say I'm glad it is over... and so is my body.

Bang! 33 Weeks...

This is officially week 33.
Just seven more weeks or so and I'll be the proud mom of a little baby. Wow! I can't believe it. I'm excited and in shock... and now starting to get scared. What will this seasoned aunt and surrogate mother do with a child of her own to care for 24/7, 365? You mean I'll be caring for a kid that doesn't cry to go home to someone else? Me? Wow! That's amazing.

Well as this week went on there was plenty to do around the house just because it IS getting close. First was finishing the nursery. Not that we did that because there are so many things about it still hanging in the balance, but the border was hung. That just means we're done with all the elbow grease stuff. Now for the arranging... which will probably be more difficult then measuring stripes and marking walls. Especially since I tend to be anal and I've moved the location for the "hanging name," wall art, and bugs (you'll see) about 4 times in my head already.

You know the best part about all of this? The absolute best? He helped! Yep. He sure did. He helped me hang the border. It was nice. I know it is just a small thing for him to help me, but I was absolutely overjoyed that we did the finishing touch together. No, I don't have any pictures of us working together. That would mean one of us wasn't working or the other was being too emotional if you get my drift. Just take my word. Being pregnant of course made it a HUGE deal anyway and brought a tear to my eye, but I restrained and we finished. Here it is:

Sweet Potato's Room

This week I also had a checkup appointment with my Dr. finally. The last 2 appts have been with the LPN or another physician in the office (which by the way I didn't like and requested NOT to see her again over the next few weeks... or ever for that matter.) Of course I love my Dr. and we had a good time just talking and catching up. She's the physician for half the women in my family so talking to her is like old times and I'm glad she knows my family well. It makes sharing "personal things" with her easier than I imagine it would be if she didn't know our family. So for the part you want to hear. My BP was fine again, no proteins, and I gained 1.1 pound. (That's just 12 for the whole pregnancy, yah!) She also told me not to be alarmed about my size. I'm carrying all in my stomach (see previous pic of me from behind). So for my family and others who are concerned... she's sure this is just one baby. Just 1. Only O-N-E. She's also sure that it is still a girl, lol. Just to be safe, we're going to check all of that again at the next appointment via ultrasound so more to come on that.

Somewhere in between the last 7 days or so too, shower invites started being mailed out. That's pretty much about all I can say about that, since that's all I know. I tell you these girls are good. I'm very grateful for my family and friends who want to throw a party for me and sweet potato! Especially since I tend to be the party thrower in my cirles. To be honest it is really weird knowing there is an event coming up, but I don't have anything to do to get ready for it... other than clean and dust my house. I've asked to pitch in wherever, but have been turned down a few times. So I guess I'll go find something presentable to wear other than sweats or work clothes and just wait. Oh and I guess I better go clean and dust too... yuck!

I've also had a little Sewing Mania but that's a post all by itself so I'll wait till later to show you that. I've got plenty of things that I'm finishing and some I just need to take pics of so more to come later.

Until then I'm getting ready for my last work trip of this pregnancy. I'm taking a drive a couple of hours away to see my co-workers for what will probably be the last time as a pregnant woman this year. The great thing about it is about 20 or so of us are going to gather for the week to work on an big project, but for some of them it will be the first time they've seen me since I announced being pregnant. They're going to be shocked.

As a matter of fact, I talked to one of the guys on the phone this week and right after he said, "congratulations, I can't wait to see you." The very next thing out of his mouth was, "aren't you so absolutely scared?" lol. Thanks, buddy. Thanks. YES, but I was trying to not think about it. Now you've caused all this fear to run through me, tighten up my muscles and trigger my TMJ. Thanks. All I can say is give me everything legal to stop the pain when the time comes! I have changed one thing about that request though. I want to be up. Don't knock me out with sedatives. I do not want to miss a thing about the birth of this miracle. Not one bit!

Week 32. Just 8 or so left...

Nothing new to report. Nothing has really changed. No Dr. appointments this week. No completed projects this week (although I did start a few).

No sudden changes in me from baby or in baby from what I can tell... other than the fact that I think she's gonna be a dancer. Apparently, round weightless spaces make for great dance floors! She's been doing a lot of moving around this week. Even through the night which was been the first time I've felt it. It's like she's rolling from one side to the other and then sticking out an elbow or knee, which would be true to form like her ultrasound pictures. No complaints though. I know movement is just one of the signs of a healthy baby. Besides, she isn't in my ribs like everyone keeps telling me about. Isn't God good? (Have I said that before?)

This week I finally met up with my friend Lora. We sometimes have uncoordinating travel schedules. Trying to plan office time together has been a little challenging. She was with me at the baby shower in D.C. and had the remainder of the gifts in her luggage because my carry on was too small that trip. Anyway, I have gotten from her the final piece to the nursery decorating puzzle. (Does that sound like an excuse?) One of the gifts I received at that shower was some wall art to hang in the room. So this weekend's project is to finish what has been started. Pictures of course to come soon.

Getting the room done is getting to be more and more important. I mean it IS only about 8 weeks away from my due date. Not to mention I believe I was finally bitten by the "let's-buy-everything-baby-needs-right-now-bug." I have my dear friend Amy to thank for this though. I was doing great. I mean really. I had only purchased a couple of outfits for her and had been keeping my eyes from getting too excited about any one thing.
Then Amy calls me last Saturday morning to tell me that the local baby store right down the street was having a Grab Bag Sale starting at 10am on clearance items. Everything on clearnce you can fit in the bag for just $15. I don't miss good sales. So I was in! Now Amy lives in another state so she wasn't going to be able to join me, but she did give me some pointers.

1) Get there early. To which I replied, "Yeah, I was thinking like 5 minutes or so. Maybe more like right at 10am when the doors open."
2) Stand in line, but move fast when the door opens. My response, "Stand in line? What? Nah. You've got to be kidding me! Are these people gonna be that serious about it?"
3) Be careful about your selections. You can get a lot in one bag. "Oh I'm the queen of packing! I will watch that very carefully."

Based on our conversation, I was on board with 1 of the 3 tips. I got there about 4 minutes before 10. So I guess I did get there early. I sat in the car. Waited. Then I noticed the first person get out and go to the door. It was still locked. That one lady doing that thus created a line. So I sat in the car and watched and just like everyone else, before I knew it I was getting out of my car to join this LINE! (So what's that about? The whole line sensation? I couldn't resist getting in that line. It is something about seeing a line form. I've done that at places when I have no clue what the line is for. I think a lot of people do. Like the man behind me who was really trying to go to the store next door. lol)

Anyway, I had now conquered 2 of the 3 tips and the last tip wasn't an option. I knew I would be very good at that one. I grabbed my bag and listened to the rules from the associate while proceeding to my rack of attack. After grabbing all the outfits I wanted from the hangers and even lying in wait, (which will be tip #4 next time) for people to put back stuff they didn't want I moved to a small corner.
In this small corner I removed all outfits from the "roomy" hangers that would tear my grab bag and I began to grampa Woodson. Yes, that's a verb. Grampa Woodson is a meticulous well thought out form of pack-ratting. I folded each outfit neatly in half and then rolled. While doing this I checked sizes and the cutest factor. Grampa would be real proud of me! God rest his soul. I miss you Grandma and Grandpas.
Long story short $15 for $126 of merchandise! Wow, I was so excited! I couldn't believe it. I now have most of my purchases hanging neatly in the baby's closet. Well at least the ones I had hangers for. I'll have to go buy more hangers and then put the rest in the dresser drawers.

With that said I'm hiding the car keys from myself. I am no fool and aware that the "let's-buy-everything-baby-needs-right-now-bug" can be very dangerous. In the meantime here are some pictures of me and our growing baby.

In the office at home


Feeling like I really look like my mother right here


Hating the delayed response to our digital camera


& the "Babe, really. You don't look pregnant from the back" shot

Taking on Projects in Week 31

So this week has been pretty harried at work. Even still my mind has enough energy to run creatively at home. Since I've decided on a somewhat unusual color scheme for the nursery, I'm working on clothing the windows and crib accordingly.

That means I'll have to reach back in memory to my home economics classes when my friends used to call me Martha Stewart. As a matter of fact, in high school I sewed quite a few prom dresses for money, although none of my own. (I begged my mother who used to make wedding dresses all the time to sew my prom dresses.)

What makes this project even more interesting is I don't own any sewing supplies right now other than the standard black, white, beige threads, and needles for the occasional hem repairs. So off I go to the local fabric and retail stores to buy materials, threads, a seam ripper (believe me I'll need one), a tape measure and patterns to get started. I borrowed my mother's travel Singer and now I'm ready. There just has to be something out there that will match these colors?

It has been a pretty creative start considering I really don't know what I want for sure yet for the windows or the crib. I've been surfing the internet every evening trying to narrow down the options and stumbling upon even more projects that I will just have to try. Like baby bonnets, lacey socks (like mom used to make us), hats, blankets, burp cloths, and baby booties. All sewing projects. All things that I can't seem to get out of my head now.

Like last night... I had this dream I was stuck at the same step on several pairs of baby shoes. The pattern was pinned, but I just couldn't go further. Not to mention that in the dream there were baby shoes everywhere. This child won't even have enough outfits to where all the shoes that I was making. It is so funny to me how our minds just run wild while we're sleep and waking up every few hours a night for "pregnancy reasons" just helps me to remember all that wildness.

This week I also had my bi-weekly appointment. Everything checked out fine. God is really good to me. (Somebody say, "All the time.") I gained 1 whole pound this week and the baby is measuring about 2 weeks ahead. Nothing unusual or to be concerned about. No proteins or high blood pressure AND I didn't have to endure a blood draw this time. God is good!

Other than waiting about 9 more weeks to meet this precious little one and to see what and who she's going to look like, I've got plenty to keep me busy. So maybe by the time she's here all the projects will be done and she'll have her own pair of lacey socks like we did as kids. Handmade by her own mom...
possibly at least one pair of baby shoes too... without the pins.