37 Weeks/Nursery is Complete!

Wow.  37 weeks.  21 days.  I'm full term.  Baby can be born any day now and they will not try to stop labor.  He's finished!  Everyday he stays in he's just getting a little stronger.  He weighs somwhere in the neighborhood of 6.5 pounds and is around 20 inches.  So what's he doing in there?  He's practicing inhaling, sucking, blinking, and pivoting.  So are you ready for the LAST fruit???  :)

It's kind of a bittersweet moment!  This has been the LONGEST 9 months of my life, but it's incredible to think that I just grew a baby.  I started filling out his baby book and just smiled the whole time.  Writing down the life story of his mommy and daddy.  Skipping pages that will be filled out once he's born and we know about him.  Knowing that any day I will be able to look into his eyes and he will look back.  Working with Kyle to raise this little guy.  We are going to be PARENTS.  What a huge responsibility.  But I can't wait.  :)

The hospital bags are all packed.  The carseat is installed.  His clothes are all washed.  Everything is ready for his arrival.  We are just waiting now.  I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon and she said they would "probably" check me for dilation/effacement.  I've been having tons of aches and pains lately.  Plenty of contractions.  Sharp, burning pains that apparently indicate that he's moving down.  Hip/pelvic pain.  It is unbelievable how uncomfortable the last month is.  No matter what you do, there's no relief.  The good part is, I'm used to it and welcome it.  I don't really complain about it anymore, just suck it up and get excited that it's getting so close. :)  I did have a horrible headache/migraine over the weekend that made me cry because I was just so done with it.  It's one of those things where it's like, "Ok, this is old.  Let's just be done, ok?"  I know I'm getting there, though.  Just a short while longer!  I've also felt sick to my stomach and was in the bathroom part of the night last night.  Whatever. :P

Ok, so I know you're all excited to see his room!  I'm so excited about it, especially knowing that it's DONE!  I apologize in advance for the heavy number of pictures.  It's just one of those things where you step back and admire all the work you've put in.  So here it is!  Baby Kirby's nursery...

BEFORE

AFTER

Diaper bag is ready to go!

This little guy has tons of clothes!

A view from the OTHER door of the closet!

Pac N Play and bouncy seat are ready!

Bedding is from Pottery Barn Kids and I LOVE it!

I'm sure he will spend tons of time on his playmat!

Carseat is ready to bring home baby!

Here's all his socks, shoes, and hats!

Lots of jammies!

Pants and shorts

Receiving blankets and Aden and Anais blankets!

Warm, cozy blankets.

Lots of wipes!

Baby carrier and sling, burp cloths, and grooming stuff.

Bibs and towels.

Baby lotion/shampoo/body wash and hooded robes and sheets/etc.

There we have it!  So excited for him to get here now!  If I have major news from the doctor in a few hours, I will of course post them tonight.  But I'm not getting my hopes up, haha.



36 Weeks

Everytime I update this blog it gets more amazing to me to be getting so close!  36 weeks!  And I'm updating a little late this week, so really i have 3 weeks and 6 days left. :P

Things are getting finished up around here.  Yesterday I had an eye appointment to get new glasses, since the hospital said I may need to wear them while in labor instead of my contacts.  I've had the same glasses for about 10 years, so I figured it was time to get new ones.  And of course I ended up getting Vera Bradley glasses. ;) 

This past Saturday we went up to Michigan for my family's shower.  We got a lot of the last essentials, like monitors, car seat for Kyle's car, high chair, humidifier, diaper bag, playmat, and of course tons of cute clothes, shoes, and other things!  It was an amazing shower at an amazing restaurant.  It was SO good to see everyone.

Oh, and before I move to the next part I should update you about my doctor's appointment.  I went in Monday and had my Group B Strep test done.  I'll find out the results next week.  She also said she will probably check me for dilation/effacement next Monday.  This is getting real!  And she told my my job for the week (and she asked Kyle to make sure he helped me get it done) is to get my hospital bags packed.  :o  Now, I already have the diaper bag packed, but my bag is another story...

I talked with a dear friend and co-worker, Heidi, last night and she suggested I pick out music (which I had already thought about doing anyways).  She said, "Pick something out that takes you somewhere else..."  So I thought, and thought, and thought this morning about what songs 'take me somewhere'.  Then it hit me.  Kyle bought me a CD a few years back when we first started dating.  It's Mississippi Delta blues.  It's actually described as "folk" music from the Delta.  It's a recording from way back in the day when blues first started to be recorded.  I looked it up and the year the music was recorded was between 1936-1942.  I listen to it every now and then, especially in the spring and summer, when I start to miss the South.  I literally just sit around and stare out the window and envision myself down there and all the things I love about Mississippi and the South.  And I have a deep appreciation/liking for blues music.  I'm so excited to have something to listen to that will take my mind off everything AND that I can bring my son into the world with some Southern roots/appreciation.  ;)  I may even create a playlist and sneak in "From Dixie with Love" on there.  Boy, I would be a mess!  That song makes me cry anyways!  Let alone seeing my son for the first time...geez...

SO, with being told to get my hospital bags ready and knowing that it's just a matter of days until I go to the hospital, we decided it was time to take things seriously and pick up the pace a little bit.  Last night Kyle and I made a trip to Polaris to complete our registries and get anything we could think of that we would need.  I was COMPLETELY worn out by the 2nd stop, but we got it done.  We picked up the breast pump (gracious, those things are too darn expensive...thank goodness we had a couple gift cards...it still killed me to spend so much, though!), car seat cover, the rest of the bedding from Pottery Barn Kids, car mirror, bottles , bottle liners, some cups and bowls, and a couple swaddle blankets that were recommended.  I also got a nursing tank and some other nursing essentials.  I also found a cute dress to wear home from the hospital that I'm going to pick up on Sunday.  So basically, aside from the darn bookshelf, I think baby's room is ready!  As soon as that bookshelf comes in I'm posting pics...if I don't get it soon I may have a heartattack.  It's driving me CRAZY to have such a big, missing piece.

So today I am just sitting around cutting tags off clothes (by far the biggest pain!) so I can get them in the wash and put away.  I'm not sleeping much at all (maybe 5 hours a night), so I'm sure I will be sneaking in a nap or two.  Other than not much sleep and the occasional headache, I actually feel really good!  Probably the best I've felt this entire pregnancy.  I definitely get worn out quick, have some swelling, and some pains in my pelvic area, but I'm used to it.  :P

This is baby's last week as a honeydew!  He weighs around 6 pounds and is around 20 inches long.  Every major system is developed.  The only thing that continues to improve and grow is his lungs.  With each passing day they get a little stronger and more capable of handling things on his own.  He's not kicking as much, so to speak.  Because he's out of room it's more just rolls and pokes and stretches.  I noticed this week that my maternity shirts are having a hard time completely covering my belly.  I'm starting to get nervous about how big he will be.

Until next time...

35/35!

Today marks a big milestone in the pregnancy world.  It's called "35/35".  That means I'm 35 weeks along and I have 35 days left until my due date!  So it's pretty exciting.  I haven't really had a countdown of days so to speak (the past couple weeks I've said things like, "I have 6 weeks and 3 days left").  So this is really exciting that I can finally start counting down actual days instead of weeks!  Insanity.

I do want to inform my readers that I did go back to Coldstone on Sunday and got more banana ice cream with chocolate chips. ;)  It was soooo yummy and worth every bite!  So far this morning I've already had 2 popsicles.

So I think my body is preparing and labor is getting close.  I know I still won't know the exact day, but I do know I'm getting ready!  My body is doing some weird things (including contractions, major lower back pain at times, hugely swollen feet and hands at times, lots of pelvic pressure, sharp pains, baby dropping, a bigger appetite than I've had the whole pregnancy even though I get full really quick, stomach aches everyday, peeing every 5 seconds instead of every 10, and some other bathroom-related things that I won't go into ;)  You're welcome.)  I have read all these are signs that things are starting to happen!  It could still definitely be another month before I give birth, but it's exciting just to know that things are progressing and that he's preparing to enter the world!

Yesterday I also did some MAJOR nesting!  I went nonstop from about 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.  It was the most unusual burst of energy I've had...maybe even the whole time.  I vaccumed, dusted, scrubbed countertops, did dishes, mopped floors, organized a cabinet in our mudroom, filed papers, washed baby clothes, finished thank-you notes, balanced my checkbook, wiped down all the appliances, installed the car seat, folded up the stroller and put it in the back of my vehicle, packed up the Pac N' Play and put it away, organized cookbooks and other books of mine, and ordered valances for the nursery (I hated the ones I picked up on Sunday...too lime green!).  It truly was weird.  No naps.  No sleeping in.  No lounging around.  And my body actually handled it pretty well.  I was kind of shocked.  Hmmmm...

This week he's still melon-sized.  He weighs around 5.5 pounds and is likely maxed out at length (somewhere around 20 inches).  He's pretty much done growing in length.  There's still a lot of brain development going on, though.  It's crazy that there's not much else going on with him.  He's pretty much done.

I also have my last shower this weekend.  We're making the trek up to Michigan for my family's shower.  I'm looking forward to getting out of the house and getting away.  Mom thought we should do the trip in one day.  Drive 3 hours up, have the shower, drive 3 hours home.  I told her that would be a HORRIBLE idea and really wear me out.  So we're leaving Friday, shower Saturday, coming home Sunday.  That will be a lot easier on my body!  I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone, especially since we didn't go up for Christmas this past year.  :(

It's the final stretch!  Stay tuned!

34 Weeks

6 more weeks!!!! :D

I actually had a really good doctor's appointment today (yay!).  What a relief!  My hands are incredibly swollen today to where I can barely bend them.  But my blood pressure was still 110/60.  Measuring well.  Baby's heart rate was 141.  Slowing down a little bit!  She actually said I don't have to come in next week.  I just go back on Monday the 16th and start my every week appointments (the ones I'm SUPPOSED to have)!  :)  I "get" to have my Group B Strep test, which I'm not really excited about, but at the same time it's one of the last routine tests I have to have done before delivery, so that's actually exciting.  I can't wait to find out if I'll have made any progress by then.  I'm not getting my hopes up, because I know how this first-time-mom thing works.  Your body has never done this before and is usually slow at getting the process going.  As I've said, I'm totally expecting to go a week late and have to be induced.  I hardly know ANYBODY that has gone early or on their own.  Time will tell!  :)

The nursery is just missing a bookshelf, so as soon as that arrives I will be able to post pics!  Maybe it's pregnancy hormones, but I'm frustrated with the way it's turning out.  The furniture fits awkwardly into the room and it just doesn't look how I wanted it to.  :(

***Sidenote:  We stopped at Coldstone yesterday after church and lunch.  I got banana ice cream with chocolate chips.  Let me tell you.  It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!  I wish I had some more right now...***

Last week I had the flu.  It was HORRIBLE.  I couldn't keep anything in my stomach for 4 days.  Monday-Thursday.  Morning to night.  I lost weight.  I quickly gained it all back (first time I've EVER been happy to have gained weight!).  My doctor actually said today, "Hey!  You've gained a pound!  Yay!"  Lol.  It was some miserable 4 days, let me tell ya.  SO glad that's over.  One of those days I NEVER got out of bed, except to use the bathroom.  Kyle had it, too (worse than I did even), and stayed home and in bed that same day.  We were miserable together, haha.

Baby is right around 20 inches long and 5 pounds right now.  That's close to newborn size!  Actually, newborn clothes fit babies 5-8 pounds, so he could actually wear clothes now, haha!  His fingernails should be at the tips of his fingernails right now.  Good thing I have a pair of clippers ready to go in the diaper bag to take to the hospital!  The amount of blood in my body has increased by 50%, but from this point on it will stay the same until delivery.  This part is exciting and fascinating to me:  the placenta has now reached its full maturity and will now start to AGE!  It seems like everything is slowing down and prepping for birth.  His immune system is developing to fight mild infections and he's now too big to float around in the amniotic fluid.  That means he's REALLY cramped.  I've noticed because I haven't felt him moving as much lately.  He still moves, everyday.  It's just not like it used to be. 

And I think he's moving down because the pain and pressure in my pelvis is insane.  My hips hurt a lot.  But several times each week (normally at some point each day) I think I've started getting contractions.  The doctor said they are, but nothing to worry about since they're not regular.  I tried to time them the other day, but it was too hard and I couldn't really figure it out.  So I told myself it's obviously not the real thing.  :P  But the pain is like these relatively bad cramps (I used to get cramps real bad in high school to where I would have to go to the hospital and I would scream in pain...it was AWFUL...these aren't that bad yet...they're more like my "Ok, in less than an hour I'm going to be on my death bed if I don't take anything" cramps....I knew the bad ones were on their way).  So yeah, really bad cramps combined with some intense back pain.  Not fun at all.  But is it weird that I actually LIKE when it happens?  I've felt like crap for the last 8 months to where this is pain that I actually welcome because i know it's leading to something great very soon!

Well, I guess that's it for now.  I may post between now and next week again if the bookshelf comes in, but until then....see ya soon!