We are getting close

I am having contractions and OMG do they hurt. They are get longer, stronger, and closer together. I think we are getting closer...

Signs of labor?

In our child birth class we learned about the signs of labor using the mnemonic:

When Does Mom Give Birth

W = Water breaks
D = Diarrhea
M = Menstrual like cramps
G = General feeling of differentness
B = Back pain

Well, today I have experienced two of these signs: diarrhea (I know TMI!) and back pain. I have been having back pains on and off all day along with some contractions but nothing too strong or timeable. I have also loss my mucous plug, which is another sign that we are getting close. I know there is no clear way to tell when labor is coming and these signs could mean days but the signs are there. With 4 days left til D-day at least there are some signs there.

I've been going about my day, I went and got a pedicure and manicure. Since I can't reach my toes without my belly getting in the way it was nice to get my toes done. My pregnancy carpal tunnel make it hard to give myself a manicure and I really needed one. I figured I better do it now because if I do go into labor later today, I have no clue when I will have a change to get one next. I am so glad that I did, I have pretty nails and toes now!

I have been able to get things done around the house, so I must not be in labor yet. I am just worried that I won't know that I am in labor until it is too late. Yikes!! The reality that we are really close is really setting in. So many emotions are running through me: excitement, fear, anxiety, impatience, concern, happiness!! We are getting closer to meeting our Baby Bear face to face!!!

Baby Bump: Week 39 - Still pregnant

It is official Baby Bear will definitely be a June Baby. 5 days until D-day. I am swollen all over, my feet, my hands, and everywhere in between. I feel like if you pricked me I wood leak water rather than blood. It is so sad than even my flip flops are tight. I know we are getting closer and closer every day.

Car Seat Inspection and Blessings

39 weeks today! One more week or so!! I've gotten a lot done while on maternity leave and I love having time off and time to myself. Soon I will be very busy and tired caring for Baby Bear.

Yesterday, I finally had the infant car seat inspected by the CHP. Yes, I kind of procrastinated on that one. I am usually a planner and not a procrastinator, so I don't know why I waited so long. Maybe because I really want Baby Bear to be a June baby so I waited until the last possible day in May for the seat to be inspected. I highly recommend getting your car seat inspected. I read the instruction and it is easy to install and thought I had done so securely. I had installed the car seat in the middle of the back seat of our Chevy Suburban. The officer moved the car seat from the middle to behind the driver's seat. I guess the seat belt in the middle does not lock adequately for the car seat to be secure. I was very glad that I got it inspected and learned how to make sure that the base is in very secure and how to make sure that Baby Bear is in her seat secure.

We were also fortunate to get a glider yesterday too. Our wonderful friends gave us their glider and some other baby gear (swing and bouncer) they no longer needed. The glider is awesome and we are so thankful for their generosity. I love the glider! We had received a swing and bouncer at one of our showers, but we will return them and use the store credit for other things we will need a long the way. We have been so lucky, we received a lot of our baby gear needs. We received generous gifts and gift cards at our showers and wonderful hand me downs from great friends. On top of that, all that we received from the Ellen Show was icing on the cake. We just have the most wonderful parents and friends. We are so blessed!!

Prenatal Check - 38 weeks: Single Digits!

We are in the single digits! 9 days until D-day!! Wow, I am so close to having my June baby. I can't believe it. I have been fighting off a cold for a week now and I hope that this cold goes away before I go into labor. I would really like to be healthy when Baby Bear arrives, so I hope she holds off a little and bakes a little longer.

I had an OB appointment today and there was no change in progress from last week. I am still a fingertip dilated (1/2 cm) and 50% effaced. So maybe Baby Bear will hold off and be a June baby. Although you never know at this point. Everything else is good. Blood pressure is normal and Baby Bear has a good heart rate. I am actually feeling pretty good despite this cold and all the swelling I have been experiencing.

Baby Bump: Week 38

We are getting closer to D-day and realistically it can be any day now. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I actually like being pregnant and I am in no hurry to deliver. I love being able to feel her move inside of me and knowing that I won't be ever to have that feeling again is what I will miss the most about pregnancy. I know that once she is out, she is out and I will never ever experience the wonders of pregnancy like I have. I don't know if we will have another baby later along the line, but this will always be my first pregnancy. My father-in-law told me at the very beginning of my pregnancy to cherish the time that I am pregnant because it is all new and this will always be the first time.

Plus, both Papa Bear and I are getting over a cold so I would really like to fully healthy when she enters this world. Papa Bear has been working like crazy to finish a project he has and he is hoping to have it done by the end of the month and then he can take the time to spend with us. So hopefully Baby Bear can hold on and bake for another week or so. That way we can have a June baby and Papa Bear will be able to be home and not worry too much about work once she is born.

I have been swelling like crazy. I have Fred Flintstones feet and my calves and thighs are bigger than I have ever seen them. My hands hurt, my face is rounder and even my maternity clothes are too small. It is crazy, just when I think I can't get any bigger, I do. I am excited to meet her and see who she looks like and get to know her. But I am totally willing to wait and be patient. I know at this point many women just want the baby out especially feeling uncomfortable as I do, but I am in no hurry to evict her from my belly. She will come when she is ready.

Nursery art

A while back I finished an art project for the nursery and I finally had a chance to put it up. I didn't hang them up very straight, it was little difficulty since my baby bump got in the way and I couldn't move furniture around so that I could measure accurately. I just wanted them up and since I have been on maternity leave it was a perfect time to get them up. But I think I am going to have to have Papa Bear fix this because they are not lined up and that is really going to bug me.

Prenatal Check - 37 weeks

I had my weekly OB appointment this morning. I am a fingertip dilated, so about 1/2 cm. That really isn't anything. But I am almost 50% effaced, so my cervix is thinning. I guess from here on out the OB will be checking my progress at my weekly appointments. Although, he did say that the numbers don't really predict when I will go into labor.

I told him that I was in no hurry and I really want a June baby anyways. He was a little surprised; most women at this stage just want the baby out. It is not to that point for me yet. The swelling is awful and I am really slow all the time, but I can deal with it. I guess she will come when she is good and ready. It is good to know that I haven't progress too much so I don't think she is ready yet. Only time will tell.

We graduated! So we are ready to have a baby. Right??

Last night was the last night of our prepared childbirth classes. We had a total of 5 classes. All in all I think that they were very good classes and I think the instructor did a good job in helping to give us an idea of what to expect. I think they prepared us for childbirth; to the extent that one can be prepared. I am glad that we took the classes. We could have read the information in books or on the internet, but in all honesty I don't think Papa Bear would have read a book on child birth. I had read about labor and delivery in my pregnancy books and on the internet, but it was nice to have it reiterated and explained in easy to understand terms. The instructor often used visual aids and analogies, which was really helpful. I know that Papa Bear came out of it knowing more than he came into it.

I think we learned a lot and hopefully we are able to use most of it when the time comes. I really hope most of the breathing techniques and laboring positions will help. At last night's class we did a review in the end and came out with a cheat sheet. Papa Bear made sure that I packed that in my hospital bag right away so that we would have it just in case we needed it. It was a fun class and Papa Bear actually knew some of the people in the class through acquaintances or from high school. I guess that is what happens when you live in the same town most of your life.

So now we have graduated from our prepared childbirth class. That means we are ready to have a baby. I guess that means we are really going to have a baby at some point and there is no turning back now. Wow!!!

Prenatal Yoga

Yoga practice was a big part of who I was and what I did before I got pregnant. I have been practicing yoga for over 5 years and I continued to practice yoga throughout my pregnancy. Yoga has been wonderful for me. I never took any formal prenatal yoga class, rather I continued to take my yoga class with my favorite yoga instructor, Monica Matthews. I modified my poses to accommodate my growing baby bump.

Yoga is amazing and helped me to feel amazing throughout my pregnancy. It helped with all the aches and pains that accompany pregnancy. It was especially wonderful for back pains and tight hips. The yoga poses helped to keep me strong and flexible; yoga helps you to build awareness of your body and to relax. It has just been absolutely great for me.

Monica asked to take some pictures of me in yoga poses to put on her website. I was absolutely flattered. I was also honored to be in her yoga video which is an awesome yoga video, Yoga - Wherever You Are, for all levels (of course I am a little biased). Here are some of the photos that she took:

Week 37: Full term

Three more weeks to go! Baby Bear is now considered full-term at 37 weeks, so if Baby Bear was to be born this week, she would thrive. But I really want Baby Bear to fully bake for another week or so.

Her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb. Baby Bear is simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking on her thumb, blinking, and pivoting from side to side. We have come a long way; she is almost here!!

Last day of work!!!

I am so ready for a break and some time off. I worked an extra week longer than I had to, my doctor said I could have stopped last week. I work at a college with students in various capacities. Luckily for the students, I was kind enough to to work through finals week so that it would be a nice clean break from work and they could get what they needed from me (Of course, I expect all the procrastinators who need my signature to come in looking for me around 4pm when I am getting ready to leave). In some ways it was nice to take my time to wrap up loose ends. Tomorrow is their graduation ceremonies and I will not be there. There is no way I was going to go to graduation as big as I am wearing a big, black robe in the crazy heat. It is always hot during graduation and I am always hot as it is. Not a good idea. I said my goodbyes to my seniors. After 4pm, it is all about me and my family; I can put work aside for now until I go back in about 5 months.

I hope Baby Bear let's me enjoy one week to myself before she decides to make an appearance. I would just like some time to myself to relax and rest before the big day. I would also like a little time to do the things I want to do before she comes at a leisurely pace. We have the important things taken care of, but there are a few things that I would like to do before Baby Bear comes. Baby Bear keep on baking at least until June, pretty please!

Prenatal Check - 36 weeks: Passed Group B Strep

I am on to weekly appointments now. All was good. Blood pressure is normal. I lost a pound since last week, but not a big deal. I passed the Group B Strep test from last week, so I will not need any antibiotics. The OB and I talked about labor and delivery. Nothing too exciting to talk about. Just glad to know all is well.

When we talked about work, he was surprised that I was still working. I am too nice to accommodate to my work and students that I decided work an extra week that I did not have to. I am so ready for tomorrow to be my last day of work!!!

Baby Bump: Week 36 - I think I've dropped

I think that I have dropped. It is kind of hard for me to tell though. It has always seemed like she was low anyways. Plus, I think I have a short torso, so maybe there isn't much room for her to drop. It feels like Baby Bear is in my pelvis and I feel more pressure down there from time to time. Maybe she is getting lower, it seems like it is a little easier to breathe. I have an OB appointment tomorrow, so I will have to ask.

My naked fat fingers

Too much swelling = naked fat fingers. I have stopped wearing my wedding rings and my hand feels so naked and sad. I miss my rings, but it just wouldn't fit anymore. I am sad. I guess this means I won't be able to wear my rings when I deliver. Oh bother!

Gym, goodbye for now

It has come time for my gym going days to come to a temporary end. I am pretty proud of myself for making it to 36 weeks. I do not plan to stop exercising, but I don't think I can continue to take the step classes and strength training classes that I had been doing. I have modified and lowered the intensity of my workout in the classes to fit the needs of my growing belly and body but even with my modifications, I am now feeling more and more uncomfortable and having a difficult time keeping up with the classes. I think with 4 weeks left to go it is time to look to other less strenuous forms of exercise. I plan to continue to go for walks, lift light weights, and do yoga. So I will continue to get some exercise in, but I definitely need to listen to my body and say goodbye to the gym for now.

4 weeks to go!

Yikes!! I am 36 weeks. Wow, how far we've come. It seems like yesterday when I peed on a stick to see that line telling me I was pregnant. Now in about 4 weeks I am going to see my beautiful baby girl. It is pretty amazing. The whole experience of pregnancy is like nothing I have ever experienced. I have been through so many changes in these 36 weeks, some good and some not so great. All in all everything has been so wonderful and I have been very fortunate to have such a positive pregnancy. I look forward to meeting Baby Bear and to be able to do many of the things I haven't been able to do. I look forward to getting my body back (at least to some degree since I plan to breastfeed). All the discomforts and changes that I have experienced in the last 36 weeks, all the things I have been able to do has all been worth it just knowing that I am doing what I can to have a healthy Baby Bear.

The Ellen Show airs today!!!

The Ellen Show was such a blast!! She is hilarious and it was so exciting. We got so many prizes, it was so amazing!!! It airs today!

My favorite prize was the dishwasher!! We so need one. I also love the 6 month supply of diapers, that will definitely come in handy. I can't believe how much we received, it totaled to about $3500 in prizes. Thank you, Ellen!!

Look at what we all got:
Frigidaire gallery dishwasher (retail $650)
Butler bag (retail $70)
assorted products from Mrs Meyers Baby Product Line (retail $100)
Prince Lionheart Bottle Starter Kit
Graco imonitor mini (retail $100)
Ambajam blanket (retail $67)
Baby Bjorn
Zooni hat (retail $30)
Chloe in Style booties (retail $40)
Onesies that say "I kicked it with Ellen"
6 month supply of Huggies diapers (retail $288)
Graco crib and Serta mattress (retail $295)
Dwell Studio bedding set ($395)
Dalla Nonna calendar necklace (retail $150)
Chicco carseat (retail $180)
Kodak EasyShare Digital Camera (retail $200)
$100 Shutterfly Gift Card
UppaBaby Vista Stroller (retail $670)

Prenatal Check - 35 weeks: 1 month til D-day

We had our prenatal appointment today and all is well. Blood pressure is normal, Baby Bear's heart beat is good. The doctor did an Group B strep test and it was no big deal. Now I move on to weekly appointments.

Today is also exactly one month until the due date!! I can't believe how time has flown. It is amazing that there is only one month left. It is just hard to believe that in about one month we will get to meet our baby bear.

Baby Bump: Week 35

Swollen feet and hands. I am just round all over. My feet hurt all the time; it feels like I have been on my feet for days and they are just so swollen. I am uncomfortable and tired all the time. I am short of breath and it is a chore just to walk to the bathroom, which I go to often since I have to pee all the time.

On the bright side, I love feeling Baby Bear move around. Other than a the few discomforts that I complain about, I am feeling pretty good about things. I am still walking, lifting weights, doing yoga, and going to my step classes. I figure as long I feel okay I will keep on working out. I am slower and I am out of breath from time to time, but I modify the workouts a lot and take breaks.

I feel so huge and I know I will get bigger!