37 Weeks

Today we are officially full term :) so bebe can come whenever she'd like though I'm still holding out for at least May 3rd ;)

I'm currently working my last night for many months and I am so, so happy about that.  I know I am definitely more tired this time around but the combination of being so pregnant and working nights is a double whammy for sure.  I am counting down the hours until I get to curl up into my own bed and get a little shut eye :)

We were able to go to Etown for Easter so Harper could play with a bunch of little cousins - Andy was nervous about this trip primarily because we were away from our hospital but I figured it would be fine.  Easter mass was super crowded so only Harper and I were able to sit which meant I got to baby wrangle for 1.5 hours before driving to Etown.  I dont know if it was the wrangling or what but I probably had 10 contractions in an hour on the way... I figured they were all Braxton Hicks as they weren't real painful but they are definitely uncomfortable at times.  I didn't tell Andy at the time though cause I knew he'd make us turn that car right around ;)  Fortunately for all, her Easter basket of paci's and socks went to waste but we were prepared in case she decided to come early.

Everything has looked good at doctor's appts - she's measuring appropriately and my blood pressure has been good.  I was dilated to 4cm already when they checked me at 36 weeks but that's the same way I was with Harper and she still held out for a few more weeks.  I'm feeling pretty good for the most part.  My legs are definitely more swollen this time around which is no fun but it'll pass.

I'm starting to get those sad little feelings that I know I'll have once she's here.  Being pregnant really is one of the coolest things and I am so grateful to have experienced this twice now with minimal trouble. While there are definitely discomforts and not so glamorous parts of it, there is nothing that can describe how neat it is to feel a little person tossing around inside your belly.  When I'm lonely late at night at the hospital it's nice to know I've got someone hanging out with me :)  But next year it'll be nice for Andy to be hanging out with both his girls and for them to have each other! :)

How far along: 37

Total Weight Gain: 30

Stretchmarks:  Nope

Sleep:better but I do normally wake up every 3-4 hours... think it's gods way of preparing you for newborn sleep :) 

Best Moment This Week: finishing up my last night away from home for a long time!

Movement: feeling pretty cramped in there

Gender: Baby girl!!

Labor Signs: soo many braxton hicks...

Belly Button: depends how full my belly is ;) the top half likes to pop out when I'm full

What I Miss: skinny feet

 What I am Looking Forward to:  a fun weekend with my family!

Milestones: full term!

35 Weeks

35 Weeks down, 35 days to go (or less!).  Goodness, this month is going by fast.  I am on a busy, busy rotation so I can't complain.  I showed up my first day and I think both the other interns were like ohh no I hope she doesn't go into labor this month!  My patients are all interested in talking about baby girl :) And when they forget my name they just refer to me as their pregnant doctor :)

We are staying busy getting things ready for her room.  I finally reorganized all of Harper's old clothes into bins and have Emma Kate's dresser fully stocked and ready.  The dresser I picked out has really turned into a pain in the neck that I wish I could return... but we are almost finished with it finally.  I will plan on putting up some pictures as soon as we get her name sign in which is the one thing we are still waiting for.

Being close to delivery is starting to make me nervous again.  I remember getting pretty anxious with Harper also around this time because you start to realize that somehow this baby has to come out.  I start thinking again if I want to have an epidural this time, if it will last much longer, if I'll be at work etc.  I feel like there's no way things could possibly go as smoothly as they did with Harper but we will see.  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so we'll see if they have anything exciting to say yet.

I have definitely been puffier this time around than I was last.  I don't know if that's due to being up on my feet a whole lot more or what but it's not fun.  I ditched compression stockings last time at least by 30 weeks just because they're so uncomfortable to put on but I'm trying to wear them at least a couple days/week this time.  I have been checking my blood pressure occasionally just to make sure that's fine and so far it has been.  I believe it was close to this time with Harper that my BP started to creep up.

She is definitely running out of room as her movements now seem much more smaller/cramped.  Sometimes I feel like my stomach is going to burst and it makes me wonder if this bebe will be the 9 pounder that I was expecting with Harper?! ha  We will know soon!!  One of my friends babysat Harper a few weeks ago and when she arrived she told me she thought I was already as big this time around as I ever was with Harper..... shot to my heart ;)  And double shot when Andy later told me he agreed.  Nothing like boosting a pregnant persons ego ;)

Andy is predicting a delivery date of May 5th... I'm going to guess May 7rd :)  I have my last evening of call May 2nd so the optimist in me hopes that she can make it at least until after that.  :)

35 Weeks EK

35 Weeks H

How far along: 35

Total Weight Gain: 28

Stretchmarks:  Nope

Sleep:better but I do normally wake up every 3-4 hours... think it's gods way of preparing you for newborn sleep :) 

Best Moment This Week: getting the last big piece of furniture all ready

Movement: all the time - but not as big movements

Gender: Baby girl!!

Labor Signs: lots of braxton hicks, some occasional cramping... definitely thought I was going into labor this past week

Belly Button: flat....

What I Miss: normal clothes ;)

 What I am Looking Forward to:  my doctor's appt tomorrow and this beautiful spring weather!

Milestones: 5.25 lbs!!

21 Months

Happy 21 months to our sweet little Harper girl!  Of course mama is late with an update... but late is better than never!!

March was a fun month and we spent every moment outside that the weather allowed us.  It has been a crazy spring with the never ending snow/rain but the glimpses of good weather keeps us hoping for more.  Literally everyday after we get home from work we go outside for walks, to play with chalk, fly kites, pick up rocks, dandelions, play in dirt, swing, etc.  Harper loves loves being outside and I don't blame her a bit!

We spent some time in Etown and went to watch Olivia's soccer team play.  Harper did not understand why she was not allowed to run on the field like the big girls and was not a happy camper about it.  At one point she was staring at me while taking tiny baby steps towards the field like I wasn't noticing the direction she was moving and as soon as her foot hit the grass she was off!  She most definitely has a little ornery streak to her!

I finished up my last full week of nights before EK arrives and that is a relief.  I do get to spend more time with Harper those weeks but I am just so exhausted that I feel like it's not necessarily the best quality time spent together.  She definitely gets a few extra episodes of Little Einsteins those weeks :(.

Andy's parents came down to visit and of course miss Harper loved the extra attention.  After going out for lunch we got her all hyped up to go to Monkey Joe's (a big indoor inflatable play area) and boy was she excited! Until we got to the door and saw the sign said it was closing early for a private party... omg, cue the alligator tears! Poor girl was broken hearted.  Fortunately our sweet babysitter was able to take her later that week.  Monkey Joe's is a blast for kiddos for any of you that may live in Lexington.  It's definitely geared toward older kids but there's a great little area for those 3yo and younger kids.

We've spent a lot of time trying to get things ready for miss Emma Kate and Harper loves to go hang out in her room.  She also loves laying in her crib/trying to climb in and out of it.  One of Harper's current favorite activities is covering up her bunny or other people with tea towels.  She will literally drag all of them out of the kitchen drawer one by one and cover up whatever victim she can find.  I'm guessing how many days it will be before I find poor baby emma kate getting smothered by tea towels.

With all the March Madness success we fortunately were able to have people over a bunch to watch the games.  Oh my goodness... there is nothing that energizes Harper more than an audience.  Normally she does get another little surge of energy after dinner but multiply that times 10 when there's extra people here.  She will scream 'I run I run I run' endlessly while running laps around the living room.  She also loooves 'scaring' people like a dinosaur which entails her doing the funniest thing with her hands and screaming at the top of her lungs.  I know Emma Kate is going to come out and know exactly who has been screaming so much for the past 9 months.  Fortunately her screams are usually happy ones of excitement... although we have been threatened that one of my cousins may try to sit behind us in church and get harper into a 'scaring competition'.

Harper continues to love coloring, reading books, play doh, puzzles, little einsteins, soccer and running. haha.  She also loves, loves her swing and being outside.  She still asks for the 'poo' (pool) and 'schlide' (slide) all the time so I think she too is getting excited for some warm summer weather!  She of course has no idea how her world is about to change but does like kissing and pointing to mama's baby.  Although half the time when you ask her who mama's baby is she says 'hoppy'.  Two more teeth just broke through on the bottom.

We've been able to hang out with baby claire a lot this month which has been so fun especially as she is getting so much more interactive.  That also means Harper has to share with her which has been interesting to say the least.  Harper was playing with these shape/color cards one afternoon and Andy gave one to Claire.  And then of course Harper began begging for the 'yellyow' card that Claire had as it was cleeearly the best card. rotten!  It is adorable to see how much Claire likes Harper though.  Her face seriously lights up when Harper is around and Harper is pretty fond of her too.  Claire was sitting in the bouncer a few days ago while all the adults were in the kitchen and when I peeked my head in Harper was giving her a big hug... awfullllly sweet :)  Harper also loves torturing her with butterfly and eskimo kisses ;)

At the end of the month we were able to go out and cheer on Andy while he ran the Keeneland half marathon.  It was a nasty, rainy day but still fun nonetheless.  We were able to see him around the 6 mile mark and while we were waiting Harper had fun giving high fives to all the runners!  She did get pretty upset when she decided she was ready to 'run run run' with all the other people.  We also waited in a downpour for him at the end and Harper got to cross the finish line with him :) Pretty sweet!!

Who knows?! Maybe this will be the last months post where Harper is an only child.  I'm so excited for Harper to meet her new baby sister but am hoping for a reaction better than this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VHJ7C6jarc