Drumroll please.....

Here are our last comparison pictures.....

Oh so DONE!

Alright, this is so not cool. How in the world am I still pregnant???? I know I’ve had about enough contractions for 10 women, but yet, I still have a little guy all snuggled up in my belly! Matthew has finally joined me in the getting anxious part and wondering if and when he’ll come out too. He is offering to go on walks and asking him when he’ll come out. Ryane and I have been telling the little guy to “come out” for a few weeks now! I think I have been pregnant for about 11-12 months now, or so it seems. I am so done! We go to the Dr. tomorrow afternoon and I will have to bring up the big “I”. I’m not sure how she stands on inductions and timing of them, but this pregnancy lasting forever is so not cool! Wish me luck and perhaps a few more patience to go along with it. :)

Such a good boy!

Our little guy did a good job at listening to his parents! He stayed put for our St. Louis trip. Matthew was able to attend some of his conference and Ryane and I were able to spend some much needed good quality mommy-daughter time together hanging out and doing things. We were also able to do things, perhaps for the last time, as just a family of 3.

Matthew is headed back over to the conference again this morning and then we might take in the zoo and are driving back to Emporia today. So, for all those wondering (and some who’ve called that we haven’t answered the phone), no baby yet for us. He really wanted to be born in E-town!!

37wk3dy Dr. Appt.

Quick summary:
Heartbeat = 133bpm

Mommy's weight = +29lbs, lost 2lbs. While we were waiting on the Dr., Matthew kindly pointed out that now we weigh the same amount. I recall with the last pregnancy I passed in him in like month 3 or 4 - not a good feeling! Bless my husband for not saying I weighed more than him last week!!! ha. :)

Fundal Height = 31cm, lost 2cm since last week. Dr. Sohl said this was normal as the baby moves lower - never knew this happened! :)

Progress = Dr. said baby's head was lower, dilated 2ish cm

Other Dr. Comments = "See you in a couple days" We don't know if she meant, a couple days as in next week for an appt. or our baby is on his way??? She also mentioned "Let's have a baby this weekend". hmmmm

Our Plans = Unless this kid comes in the next day or two, to still travel to St. Louis on Sunday for Matthew's National Athletic Trainers Conference and a family vacation. Matthew really needs to go for his career and I'd much rather be with him if I went into labor than have him miss his son's birth. Plus, I looked it up and my insurance provider covers 491 OB's in St. Louis, so I think we will be well taken care of it something should happen.

Hormones!!

I knew this time was coming for awhile, but I think it started to really hit me today....I'm going to have to be away from Ryane for a couple of nights when this baby arrives. Thanks to the help of pregnancy hormones, it makes me all emotional knowing that Ryane won't be getting kisses and hugs from her mommy right before she goes to sleep or I won't be one of the first to get her out of bed in the mornings. I know she'll be very well taken care of by Nana Howe, but it's tough for me considering I have yet to spend the night away from her and have only missed kissing her for bed 1, maybe 2 times in her life. I've been writing out her schedule and other things that Ryane says and does to help those who take care of her (as if they can't do it without a list - I know I'm probably going a little far, but I find comfort in it). The one thought I'm having that is helping me with leaving her is knowing she has had her mommy for over 20 months by herself and now her brother deserves to have his mommy for at least 2 nights to himself.

36wks3dys - Dr. Appt.

This doctor visit was so nice and quick. We were one of the Dr.’s first appts. of the day, so there wasn’t much waiting room waiting, which was soooo nice and not the norm. First, I was weighed to learn that I put on another pound since last appt., which puts me up to 32lb gain so far. I only put on 25lbs total with Ryane, so while this is more I was down 15lbs pre-pregnancy than starting out with Ryane. I am fine with it and know my baby must need it.

As Dr. Sohl enters the room, I let her know that she is supposed to tell me I’m in the early stages of labor and that I would probably see her later that day.  Wishful thinking on my part. The day prior I was having regular contractions starting about every 30 min. and started getting closer to less than 10min. apart, but never increased in intensity, then eventually faded before bedtime. I was having them again the next morning every 15-20min. So, I was thinking maybe, just maybe, something was getting underway. Not really, just my body practicing I suppose. It was enough of a reality check for me that I was eventually going to have this baby, so Matthew and I started packing our hospital bag on Weds. night and put one of the car seat bases in the truck. We aren’t totally packed, but rather more prepared for now.

Back to the appt., I discussed my symptoms with Dr. Sohl and she seemed to care, but told me she hoped everything would hold on for at least another week---as in 37wks is considered full-term. After an “umcomfortable” appt. (meaning I was seriously getting concerned for my son’s soft spot with the poking and prodding), it was nice to hear from the Dr. that I am starting to dilate (1cm). I’ll take it!

We go back next Thurs. and this will be the appt. that will be a deciding factor if I do infact go to St. Louis on Sunday for a mini-family vacation. Wish me luck!

Going Greener

Having another child and remembering how many diapers we went through with the first one has made us decide to go greener with this one. We are going to attempt cloth diapering part-time at least. I remember those first few months with Ryane of the diaper trash can filling up so fast and all those wet/dirty diapers weighing so much as we lunged them out to the dumpcart. The guilty feeling of filling up the landfills with stuff that wouldn't break down for years is what got us more into recycling in the first place. We recycle just about everything that the Emporia center will take.

So, in order to prepare for kid#2, I've started my research and purchasing of "supplies". All I can say is WOW! There is so much to learn and so much information out there to research. I've researched everything from the different types of cloth diapering - prefolds, fitteds, pockets, AIO (all-in-ones), or AI2s (all-in-2). For covers, you have options, PUL fabric, fleece, wool. For prefolds, there are guaze, birdseye, hemp, terry, chinese prefolds, indian prefolds, bleached, unbleached. I'm sure I'm forgetting lots, but gives you an idea at how my head was spinning from all the options. In the end, we are going to try chinese prefolds with thirsties covers. I've also been amazed at the actual cost of cloth diapering--some diapers run $20-$25 EACH. Some people say they save money, but I've seen how much some of the stuff cost and if you aren't planning on full-time cloth diapering and using them on more than one kid, it would be tough. I'm not sure if we'll save money doing it, but I am sure we will feel like we are doing a little more to help out the environment. Our plan is to do it at home, but still use 'sposies at day care and while out and about. So, we are going to give it a shot and see if it's for us. If not, I'll know that I gave it a try.

I'm including a picture of our stash (as it's called in cloth diapering world - yah, I'm learning their lingo too). Many of the experienced CD mommy's recommend getting more, but I want to try it out first before sinking more money into it. We have prefolds for newborn and infant sizes and the first XS and S covers, so we should be covered upto 18lbs -- isn't that around 4 months??? Also, for those of you cringing thinking of having to pin a diaper on and poking the baby or ourselves, they have these handy little things called snappi diaper fasteners (in middle of picture) that you just hook and stretch to hold the diaper on--genius invention! It all sounds easy enough to me. They've made cleaning up those #2s easier these days with biodegradable throw-away inserts that are supposed to hold it away from the diaper. We are set, just waiting on that cute little tush to change....