Belly: Start to Finish

12 Weeks



14.5 Weeks



16.5 Weeks

18 Weeks



20 Weeks

22.5 Weeks

25.5 Weeks

26.5 Weeks



28.5 Weeks



31 Weeks

32.5 Weeks

335 Weeks

35.5 Weeks

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

Baby Update: 39 Weeks

Size of Baby:  Around 20" long and about the size of a mini watermelon, 7 lbs or so.
Baby Movement:  During the u/s today, Baby was doing log roll (which made it more difficult for the u/s tech to count her practicing breathing and such).  Still head down :-)
Changes in Baby:  Still layering on the fat for those chubby cheeks...taking her precious time in coming out to meet Mommy and Daddy.
Changes in Mama:  My boobs are getting noticeably larger...milk production is in high gear (or so it seems, haha).
Dilation: 1 cm
Current Symptoms:  Major heartburn again.  Shortness of breath.  Can't really complain about much...except waiting......
Funny Tidbit:  I'm thinking about putting warpaint on my face after I go into labor....I feel like I'm ready for the big battle.  Bring it!
Cravings:  Baked potatoes, cereal, orange juice, and water
Aversions:  What's that?  I'm very hungry this last week...
Nesting:  Getting those last minute loose ends all tied up (as much as possible).  Strong urges to clean this or that.
Exciting News:  Signed the first set of papers for the home loan.... shouldn't be long now before we know if we'll get the house or not.  Maternity leave has been great so far :-)
Looking Forward to...:  Having Holly...hellloooooo?! ;-)
Next Appointments:  Sept. 6- prenatal checkup/ Sept. 7- weekly u/s

Deals

    I went to the outlet mall the other day...and spent several hours browsing the baby clothes stores :-)  I got a bunch of great deals on some super-cute outfits for Holly.  I found a blue and silver dress that will be adorable for Christmas.  I love that Oshkosh B'Gosh and Carters wll let you return/exchange clothes no matter how long you've had them for...with receipt you can get a refund, without you can get store credit.   That is really gret considering there's no way to tell how Holly will grow.  It was very fun shopping for our little baby girl.
    At Hobby Lobby I got some 50% off baskets to snazz up our changing table and give it a little more kick to organization.  Double score!  Now we're just playing the waiting game some more....I'm beginning to not enjoy this game as much, haha.  ONE MORE WEEK....and it's taking forever....

Last Day at Work

Today is officially my last day at work before my maternity leaves starts Monday August 29.  I'll get the 2 weeks before I give birth, then 10 weeks after baby arrives- all with 80% pay.  Woo hoo!  I just don't think anything could happen at work today to make this one a bad one.  Not to mention, I'm going out to lunch with my work wife, Rachel.  So fun!!!  Here's to taking time for rest, quality time with hubby, and relaxation before baby comes.....until the real work begins ;-)

Just have a baby ;-)

Baby Update: 38 Weeks

Size of Baby:  I'd say around 7 lbs now (I asked U.S. tech to guess, but she said it wasn't possible for that type of U.S., oh well) and about 19.5" long (like a leek).
Baby Movement:  Still very active late morning, late afternoon, and late evening, also off and on throughout the night.  Practicing her breathing, likes to put her hands in her mouth, gives Mama a good kick in the right ribcage periodically.
Changes in Baby:  Getting bigger every day longer that she stays in my belly.  I think she already has quite the personality....and may turn out to be a handful, haha.
Changes in Mama:  Noticing the size of the belly these days...definitely harder to roll over in bed and a pillow has to support my belly when I'm on my side or it's just way to heavy.  Constantly out of breath and anticipating when Baby drops....soon?  I hope.
Cravings:  cheesy, bacon-filled potato skins :-) water, baked potato w/butter, salt/pepper, and chives
Aversions:  Meat with weird textures
Current Symptoms:  heartburn, BH contractions, shortness of breath, slight weightloss, exhaustion painted on my face no matter how much I sleep...
Hormones:  I was about 1 second from a pregnancy outburst this past weekend when I was standing in line at a gas station to buy a water (and only a water).  I had horrible heartburn radiating up my throat and I needed the dang water to take my heartburn pill.  There were about 4 people in front of me in the line and one after the other, they all wanted to take their time picking out cigarettes and lottery tickets.  It was taking a ridiculous amount of time, and I almost screamed, "Hurry up!  Are you kidding me?!  None of you are going to win any money from those stupid lotteries and then you're just going to get lung cancer and die!!!!!!!  Get out of my way and let me pay for this flipping water!!!!!!!"  They all made it out by the skin on their teeth and they didn't even know what danger had been lurking just below the surface...... 
Nesting:  Frequent bursts of energy to clean without stopping :-)
Funny Tidbit:  Sunday night I wanted potato skins, so we went to a restuarant that had them....only to find out that the kitchen had ran out!!!  WHAAAT?!  I almost burst into tears on the spot.  Then the waitress wanted to give me a free dessert instead, I am not even a dessert person.  Zach took care of his hunny though- we got up and left since we hadn't gotten any food or anything yet.  We went to a diff restaurant and they improvised a baked potato for me.  What an ordeal!
Bad News:  My OB/GYN resigned, so now I'm in limbo trying to pick a new doc...so far I just haven't found one I really like.  Shouldn't docs who deliver babies be excited about pregnancies, not just so boring all the time.  I want a doc who is excited with me before, during, and after delivery.
Exciting News:  in the process of applying for a FHA loan...if all goes well and we're approved, we could be moving into the house by the end of Sept.  Ah! :-)
Looking Forward to...:  Meeting Holly!!!  (of course)  My last day of work: tomorrow 8/26/11.
Next Doc Appt:  Wednesday August 31, U.S. and weekly prenatal check up.

Exciting News :->

VA certification is taking forever, and it seems like the VA department isn't really giving Zach any answers and he feels like he has hit a brickwall with them.  So, we have decided to go with a FHA loan.  The only difference is that FHA requires a minimum down payment of like 3.15%, whereas VA does not require any down payment.  That's only a few thousand dollars, which is totally doable.  Yay!  We met with our mortgage lender today, and he said that once he gets all our documents, the fee for the apparaisal, and the application submitted, we could be looking at closing in 3 weeks or so.  Holy Cripes!!!  How awesome does that sound?  Pretty flipping awesome, I'd say!  So maybe late Septmember we could actually be in our own home...our first house as a family :-) 

The Time is NOT now :-/

False alarm.  Still only 1 cm dilated.  I was so excited and then wam!  Got knocked off my happy horse when the doctor told me, "Not today..."  Well when?!  Okay, I know I'm just getting over-excited because I've already waited 8 months, and I've never been pregnant before so I don't know exactly what true labor will feel like.  One of my favorite nurses encouraged me that when labor starts for real, I will know.  I jsut wish my water would break at the start of labor so I will know for sure that it's game time.  The nurse pin pointed my personality when she said, "You like to be in control, right?  Not having any control over when you go into labor can be frustrating.  Hang in there, your little baby is just waiting for the right moment."  I wanted to hug her, like I said, she's my favorite nurse.  I wish she could be my OB/GYN...
On another note, I think this will be my last week at work.  My head and heart are no longer coming to work with me.  My head is flying somewhere in the clouds dreaming of babies and pink outfits, while my heart is staying home with my husband because I miss him so.  I want to spend some quality time with him before two becomes three; he's such a wonderful man and he deserves more than a few words here and there in passing (or sleeping since our schedules are so opposite).  I'm not sure how my boss will like the news, but I think it's best for our family.  Plus, I need some time to rest before our world is turned upside down.  Real rest and relaxation, not just sitting at a desk all day.  That's boring, not restful or relaxing.  Here's to going on maternity leave.... :-)