38 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

This week's doctor appointment was pretty uneventful - your heartbeat and all of Mommy's vitals were good - and that about sums it up! It's just a wait-and-see game now...many people have started to speculate about when you'll make your grand entrance and with a full moon on October 11th, the majority have their money riding on 10/11/11 for your birthday.

Things at home were MUCH more eventful than our doctor's appointment this week...your nursery is officially complete! Grammy & Aunt Laura came to visit and took charge of washing all of your clothes, blankets, etc, and judging by the pictures below, I'd say they did a great job! Mommy & Daddy also put together the stroller base for your car seat, the BOB, bouncy seat, swing, and high chair. You have officially started to take over the house (but we're ok with that)! Oh - and both my bag and your bag are packed for our hospital stay...now we just have to make sure Daddy gets his things together.

Tick-tock...when are we going to get to meet you??

Love Always,
Mommy



Front View this week:


Your Room!

37 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

Even with (about) 3 weeks to go, you are officially considered full term at 37 weeks! Sometimes when I look down at my belly, it's hard to believe there is a full size baby all curled up in there! At this week's doctor's appointment, the doctor felt how low your head was and said "I bet you'll go at 39 weeks"!!! Eeek! I had been putting off packing my hospital bag, but with the doctor's comment coupled with Mommy starting to feel more Braxton Hicks contractions lately, I started getting things ready for our hospital stay.

This week Mommy & Daddy had your car seat inspected by the Arlington Co. Police Dept. where they thankfully didn't laugh at us for doing something silly! We had it in correctly, but they suggested we move it from behind the driver's seat to the middle despite not having the LATCH system in the middle. We (yes, Daddy, too) also attended a very helpful Breastfeeding class and met back up with a few other expecting parents that we'd met in our Birth Class.

You are still moving around lots which can be quite distracting at times...like when Mommy is in meetings at work and I feel you moving and get lost in watching you and wondering what you are doing. With only a few more weeks to go, I'm trying not to mentally check out of work, but have to admit there are other things on my mind most of the time! :)

Love Always,
Mommy

36 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

In some ways it feels that Mommy & Daddy have been counting down the weeks to your arrival forever, but in others, I can hardly believe that you're expected to make your grand entrance into the world in just a mere 4 weeks! We've got a lot to finish up on our 'to-do' list this final month, but have begun to make some progress. Yesterday we installed your car seat and your Grammy came to visit to help bring some order to your nursery. We managed to set up your bookshelf and get a start on laundry. We've got a long ways to go, but made a good dent in the mess!

Mommy & Daddy got another sneak peek at you this week during our 36 week sonogram! We got to see you yawn (apparently we were boring you?) and even blink! The technician pointed out that you have a little hair on your head and also uttered the two words that Mommy did not really want to hear, "big head"! You are estimated to weigh around 5 lbs 7 oz now, so with the expected 1/2 lb a week weight gain, that will put you right around 7.5 lbs, which I'll take! :)

I'm starting to feel more discomfort as we progress into the final stretch and am taking your Daddy up more on his offers to help...I even had him help me put my socks and sneakers on before we headed out to his Coaches Game on Saturday! I was still able to get in a good 3 mile walk on Saturday afternoon and hope to keep up some level of activity as long as I can!

Love Always,
Mommy



Can you make out Baby D's face in the sonogram?

35 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

I wonder if it's too early to tell you to clean your room? ;) This past Saturday, Mommy's friends, Mary Kay & Kristen, hosted a shower for me where you received even more adorable, generous, and thoughtful gifts! Now I really need to start washing your cute little clothes and blankets and get your room in order for your arrival!

The doctor could tell this week that you are in the heads down position and said chances are pretty high that you'll stay that way! Everything is progressing nicely and although the doctor said my body is starting to prepare for labor, she also assured me that you won't be making your appearance anytime soon.

Mommy & Daddy attended an all-day Birth class this Sunday to prep us for the big day when you decide to make your arrival. There were a couple of times when I became overwhelmed with emotion (like during the birth video) and shed tears...I can't believe in just a few weeks that will be YOU we are welcoming into this world! We also went on a tour of the hospital and I think you'll be pretty happy with your first few nights' accommodations. During the class, the nurse stressed how helpful staying active is, so I started walking again in hopes it will ease labor.

I frequently feel what I think is your little foot in my lower left side and there are times when you press so hard up against my belly and I wonder if I'm rubbing your back or your bum...soon enough we'll get to see all your little body parts and won't have to play this guessing game!

Love Always,
Mommy




Here's a glimpse at the messy nursery...I'm not joking when I say it looks like a tornado struck!

Baby D's Baby Shower

Despite impending Hurricane Irene, my wonderful sister hosted a beautiful baby shower for me at Butterfields in Hauppauge where we were indeed showered with countless beautiful gifts and much love from our family and friends!

Personalize your own photo album

Nags Head 2011

I'm a little late in posting pictures from our Nags Head vacation, but here's a scrapbook of the week:

Make your own scrapbook

34 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

Well, this week mommy has become pretty lazy, skipping exercising every day except one! Yesterday I gave two of our bathrooms a good scrubbing and that just about did me in - My energy levels seem to be decreasing along with my lung capacity. I've also started to notice a bit of puffiness in my fingers and feet. Don't worry...I'm not all doom and gloom - Still feeling relatively good, just opting to take things a bit easier as I progress into these final weeks.

It feels like you've become even more active but I think that's just because I'm able to feel your pokes and prods more as you grow. I often times try to guess which little part of you I'm 'touching' but in all honesty, I haven't a clue! The other morning as I was sitting on the couch, Daddy walked into the room just as you were really moving around and said, astonished, "Is THAT the baby?"...You were putting on quite a show for us!

In other baby related news...Your furniture arrived on Friday! In the two days that it's been here, I can't tell you how many times I've walked into your room and just stared, envisioning your arrival with excited anticipation. We're still a long way from having your nursery set up, but having the furniture (finally) here is definitely a start!

Love Always,
Mommy