39 WEEKS

and still pregnant...... :(  I had a rough day today at my doctor appointment.  The exam was so painful today that I almost cried... he reported that I am 2 cm dilated and 80-90% effaced and then we talked about what the next step would be if I'm STILL pregnant next week.. he decided that if I make it to my next appointment (next Tuesday, January 25th) he will do an ultrasound to check two things: baby's size to make sure he is not a giant and the fluid around Lucas to make sure it isn't too low.  If Lucas is a giant (very possible) OR if the fluid around him is low (very dangerous for baby) then he will likely induce labor right away. If all is normal and Lucas is a regular size and he has enough fluid around him then the doc will let me go another week or so before inducing labor.  I REALLY do not want to be induced so I'm hoping and praying with everything in me that he just comes this week. So back to the rough part... when I got to work and went to the bathroom I was bleeding a LOT.. this obviously worried me so I called the doctor and he recommended I go to the hospital to be checked.  My gut told me that everything was fine and originally I wasn't going to go because I knew it had to be from the super brutal exam today but then after a little while and talking to Doug and Jenn I decided to go to be checked out since it's better to just be safe in this case... so I spent about an hour at the hospital being monitored and had another super fun exam.  Good news is that all is well and they sent me home as I knew they would..  :)

So some exciting news is that Doug's mom came in from Virginia this past Saturday and will be staying with us until little Lucas shows up (which is hopefully SOON!!!!).  She is in town until February 3rd so he must must must come before then! In the meantime, she is just hanging out with us which is so great since we don't get to see her much.  Only bummer is that both Doug and I are still working (since I don't want to start my maternity leave until Lucas comes) so we aren't able to spend the days with her... just another reason why this boy needs to get his booty out! 

Hopefully I will have some exciting news soon!!!  I plan to post as soon as I go into labor and of course as soon as he arrives!! :)

38 WEEKS

2cm and still 75% effaced.. that was the news at today's appointment. I wasn't thrilled about my lack of progress but it doesn't mean anything anyway, right??  Doc still says baby can come at any time.. I just have a feeling he is going to make his mom wait.....  it is intentional that there is no space for a 40 week belly pic above! If the 24th rolls around and he's not here I will be the first to give my little boy a spankin! As much as I want him to come NOW I do also really want Doug's mom to get here first (she comes in from Virginia this Saturday and will be here for 3 weeks - yaay!).. AND I also want my mom to enjoy her special weekend she has planned this weekend (she and my sister will be driving out from California once I go into labor).. so Lucas.. if you're listening... mom would really like you to come on Monday the 17th... please and thank you. :)  I wish it was that easy! LOL.. yesterday I was kidding around and was pushing on my belly button telling Doug that I wished it was an eject button... mother nature isn't that kind.  He is the only one that knows when he will come out and he apparently is going to wait until he's good and ready. 

UPDATE

I'm overdue for an update so here goes... I started my weekly exams last week (at 36 weeks) and I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Still feeling great and totally comfortable... Doc said that I will likely be pregnant for a little while longer and didn't think baby would come any time soon.  My 37 week exam was yesterday and doc reported that I am 1 - 1 1/2 cm dilated (I think he through in the half just to make me feel better.. hahaha) and now 75% effaced.  He could tell I was a little dissapointed that I wasn't more dilated and went on to tell me that even if I was 4 cm I could remain that way for weeks and that with where I'm at now, baby could essentially come at any time. So what does all this mean??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  Yea, it's fun to know how I'm progressing but since it doesn't really mean anything it just seems a little pointless - and almost a little cruel.  Baby can come at any time. Period. I am super excited though that I finally started having Braxton Hicks contractions last week.  They are now in full force and seem to come like every 6 minutes or so.. I think they are getting a little stronger as some can be uncomfortable so that at least makes me feel like my body is starting to prepare for what's ahead.  Right now I just want to go into labor and meet our little Lucas.  I'm ready.  The waiting begins.................. In the meantime my plan of action: WALKING, FOOT MASSAGES and...

NURSERY PICS

MATERNITY PHOTOS

MY FIRST BABY DREAM - FINALLY!!

So I haven't had a SINGLE baby dream since the one I had when I first found out I was pregnant and saw "twins" on the TV screen.. I don't really count that one... and it kinda bummed me out that instead of dreaming of my sweet little baby I would just have these incredibly odd, extremely obscure, vivid dreams about who knows what. Well last night I had my first real baby dream and it was AWESOME!  I was standing in front of a bright window with the sun shining down on my belly and when I looked down I could see inside. It was as if it was being lit up by a flashlight which made my skin translucent.  When I looked down Lucas was laughing and smiling and making the funniest faces at me. It was soooo cute!!  He was just sooooo happy and absolutely adorable. That was it... it was only for a few seconds that I saw him but it was sooo neat! :)

SLEEP NEXT TO ME - I DARE YOU!!

So for the past 27 (almost 28) years of my life up until about 2 weeks ago I have always been a very quiet sleeper - never snore, no heavy breathing.. you know just a peaceful sleeper. Well not anymore!!!  Doug woke up one morning several weeks ago and said "You were snoring last night!!" I of course did not believe him since I DON'T snore... but apparently I have been doing it ever since!! Wait it gets better... about a week ago I woke up from a nap in a big pile of drool!!!  ahhhhhhhhhh!  so gross!  And ever since then every time I wake up I have a wet drool spot on my pillow!!  Sorry I know this is gross but I have to share because I don't know I just do.  And to top it all off (if that wasn't bad enough) I would say from about the time I started drooling every night until now, I wake up screaming in the middle of the night to horrible leg cramps!  The very first night I got them it went something like this....

Around 1AM..

ME: Ahhhhhh!!  Owwwwwwww!!!  Owwwwwww! OWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! 

DOUG: huh? wah? huh? are you okay? what's wrong?
ME: My LEG!!!! OWWWWWWWWW!!! 
DOUG: sits up half asleep and massages the cramp out of my left leg (what a sweet hubby!!!)

then that same night around 3AM..
ME: OW! OW! OW! OW! OWWWWWWW!! 
DOUG: wah? huh? are you okay?? 
ME: My other leg!!!!!!!! 
DOUG: sits up and massages the cramp out of my right leg (again I love him for this). 

So ever since this lovely night I've had leg cramps every night since (although now we are down to just one leg so that's good).. and Doug knows the drill at this point. :)  Soooooo... who wants to sleep next to the snoring, drooling, leg cramping monster??  Anybody?  I didn't think so... :)

BABY SHOWER :)

I had the BEST time at my baby shower and spending time with family and friends this past weekend!!! My mom, Brother, Aunt Shellee, Cousin Shane, Grandpa and Gramma Kate and Janell & Jordan all came in town from California to spend the weekend with us and attend the baby shower. :) We had soo much fun!!  I miss them all so much and was sad to see them go when the weekend was over but know that I will be seeing them all very soon when our little guy arrives (just two more months!!!). Jenn and Candace did an AMAZING job with all the little details to make the shower super cute and special :)  I love them!! We got totally spoiled to say the least!!!  This kid has so much stuff I don't even know what to do with it all... until I figure that out it will remain in piles in his room. :)  I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been so generous with all the hand me downs and wonderful gifts.  Thanks to you Lucas will never go without. :)  So I forgot to take a picture of them but wanted to point out the two gifts that were a TOTAL hit (for my mom and Aunt Shellee that is) so much of a hit that my mom is buying them for herself to put in her room. :) They were... the turtle night light that displays the stars on the ceiling and the Rockabye Baby Rolling Stones Lullaby CD... When we got home from the shower we had to put both on.. :)

Here are some pics from the shower:

4 Pregs in order from due date (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar - right to left)

Table Centerpieces with baby pics of me and Doug :)

Lucas Cake (DELICIOUS)

 Janell :)

 Leah & Julia :)

 Pee Pee Teepee

 Handmade Blanket from Melissa :)

 Laker Bear with recordings of my mom telling Lucas how much she loves him :) 

 Laker Bear making me cry

  Radio Flyer Wagon from my Mama FILLED with presents from her and my Aunt Shellee :)

DOUG'S GRADUATION!

Doug graduated yesterday and it was a truly emotional and happy day.  I am so incredibly proud of him.  He inspires me everyday but seeing him accomplish this milestone was one of the proudest moments in my life.  He has worked so hard and has been such a great role model for so many people.  I could feel little Lucas cheering his daddy on as he walked up to accept his diploma. :)  Here are a few pics:

THANK HEAVEN FOR HAND ME DOWNS!

It's absurd to me that Lucas' closet and dresser are COMPLETELY stuffed with all the clothes that have been handed down to us. I can only fit the first 6 months on hangers in the closet and everything else is packed in a dresser and what won't fit in the dresser is in bags to be pulled out once he reaches that size.  We are sooooo fortunately to have been given all these clothes!!!  Here are some pics of his closet:

So I decided that I will be making the wall art for Lucas' room since I can't really find anything I like in the stores. Heres a before pic of a few of the items: