Almost D-Day

Tomorrow is Delivery Day! It's so very strange to have it scheduled (and actually deliver as scheduled). However, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that's the plan. J & I are planning to enjoy a V-Day lunch today then have as normal of an evening as possible, probably not sleep much at all, and be to the hospital bright and early in the morning.

The planner in me really enjoys the scheduled thing. I can get things ready, prep the kids, try to envision how things will go. It occurred to me just the other day that if I don't actually go into labor first I get to avoid labor pains - that's a bonus. But there is certainly something I loved about the spontaneity and surprise of going into labor on my own. The adrenaline and joy is a rush. I'm thinking once we start the process tomorrow all of that will come back and it really won't matter.

Lots of people have asked if I'm "ready". Are you ever really ready to bring a new human into the world -- your world? I love being pregnant. So I am really trying to enjoy and savor these days. In some ways we're less well-prepared for this baby than we were for the other two. But we have the essentials in place. I think the biggest difference is that we (or at least I - I shouldn't probably speak for J) are more relaxed. I know it won't be perfect. I know there will be setbacks and challenges and that it will be really hard sometimes. But I know that this time around....and I'm at peace with it. I just feel so excited and joyful - both to be carrying this baby right now and to get to meet him tomorrow. All will work out just as it is supposed to. That said, extra prayers, good thoughts, positive energy etc. are appreciated :)

P.S. Will is so very excited to meet his baby brother. Yesterday he was talking to my belly asking "When are you going to come out?!" Then he was feeling as the baby was moving all over. There was one particular knobby part that he kept feeling as it moved. We discussed what body part this could be - hand, foot, elbow, knee. I told Will maybe his brother was fist-bumping him. He informed me that this was the first thing he wanted to ask the baby: "What was that knobby part we kept feeling?" I wonder what the reply will be...

Snugglies!

There has been a lot of this going on at our house lately. And I can't say that I mind it one bit! EK will ask, "Mommy, I snuggly with you?" and then she'll bring a blanket for me and one for herself and we'll snuggle. Very sweet.

"Let's go to sleep, Mommy"

Baby predictions

Since we're still awaiting the arrival of our newest family member, I thought I'd ask for some predictions.

Will thinks he will be born tomorrow - Feb. 7.
Ellie Kate thinks he will have pink hair and pink eyes.
Will, more practically, thinks he'll have brown hair and eyes "like the rest of us!"
My doctor asked me today how big I think he'll be - I'm guessing upper 7 or lower 8 lb range - right in between the other two.
I have no idea on arrival date predictions. My instincts are pretty terrible when it comes to these things. He may just wait until our scheduled date of 2/15. Is that a sign that he'll be the rule follower, doing everything just as he's supposed to?? I can hope, right?!

February and still pregnant

Hooray! We've made it to February! I'm actually going to give birth in the month I'm due -- what a new concept for me!

We had our 37 wk check-up on Monday. All seems good. Baby is positioned a little funny (diagonal - with his head pushing into my hip) so all the contractions aren't resulting in much change. Late last week and over the weekend I was feeling like we could be close. Now, I'm not really sure. The doc says she thinks it could be double-digit February. Baby is still growing and I'm still measuring big, so we'll just see what happens. Since I'm technically full-term, I don't have to be on bed rest anymore. She still advised me not to travel to work (40 min away) or keep the kids home from school all day, but I can make little trips out of the house. So, yesterday, I took full advantage of the 65+ degree weather and did just that. I made a trip to Target, bought many, many organizational supplies and came home and tidied and organized. Nesting? Maybe.

Last night J&I went to the kindergarten information meeting for Will. So hard to believe that is just around the corner! Got good info, met the teachers, saw the classrooms, etc. Will is really, really excited. We've been talking a little bit about it and how it will be different from where he's at now.

Both Will & Elle are growing in anticipation for the arrival of their baby brother. Especially now that's it's February, they are quite excited. Will is predicting days that correspond with KU basketball games. I'm thinking maybe 2/5 (to go along with our 25th b-days). Justin has requested, if at all possible, to avoid 8-10:30 p.m. this Saturday so he can catch the KU-MU game. Priorities...

Still resting

I'm now over 36 weeks and still resting with baby boy happily (well, I assume so) growing inside. At my dr's appointment a couple days ago I was not much more dilated and starting to thin. Very normal. Glad to know that I was not rapidly progressing. I had a rough night Sunday night and was pretty sore after the dr's appointment Monday, but I felt great yesterday and so far today. We made it through the first milestone (J's birthday) with no baby. Today is the 25th, so we're hoping to make it through today. (The other two kids were both born on Wednesdays, the 25th of the month. Today is Wed., Jan. 25. We've had this date highlighted for awhile.) Next, will be 37 weeks - officially full-term - on Monday, Jan. 30. Then on to Feb. 1. After that, it's just gravy in my book. I'm still feeling fairly confident that we can make it to February. Of course, I really have very little control in these things and everything can change rather quickly.

Bed rest has been fine. I'm not really confined to my bed. In fact, I'm sitting up most of the time. I just limit my movement - particularly up and down the stairs. The introvert in me is really fine with all this alone time. It's good for me. It's given me more time to mentally prepare, which I appreciate. And, I've checked a few other things off my to-do list:

• finished reading 2 books
• finished creating 2 full-year photo books (for 2010 and 2011)
• a little bit of work
• some minor cleaning and organization (thanks, mom!)
• a bit of nursery decor
• day care solidified
• all photos backed up to an external hard drive
• made my initial foray into online banking (I know, I know, I'm behind)
• and lots and lots of Pinterest

I'm thankful for all the help from family - they've been amazing. Will & Elle have been really good and understanding that Mommy is resting. In some ways, I think this will help them transition to the newborn phase, too. Here's hoping for a few more weeks...

Bed rest

Well, I held out longer with this boy than I did with the first one. I went on bed rest at 32 weeks with Will due to pre-term labor. I'm on bed rest at 34 weeks with pre-term labor this time (only dilated to 1 right now). Interestingly, I did not have pre-term labor with Elle, but delivered her earlier than Will. We'll just wait and see with this baby.

I'm feeling fine - just having contractions, mostly anytime I get up and move. So far, sitting has been fine so I'm getting some good work done on the computer. I'm really, really hopeful that I won't have this baby before 38 weeks or so. We'll just see. Still hoping for a February birthday.

Bed rest this time around is a little different. First, my contractions are much different. With Will, I couldn't get them to stop. I can get them to stop now, but they're more intense than they were with Will. Also, bed rest with 2 children is interesting. Will sort of gets it. Eleanor, not so much. But these first few days have been just fine. Mostly I'm hanging on the couch when they're home and we can still play games, read, watch movies, and snuggle together. I'm just limiting my trips up and down the stairs and other physical activity. Justin has picked up all the slack. He's amazing. Thank goodness I have a husband like him. I really don't know how people would do it otherwise. And, of course, lots of family and friends are offering to help, too. So far, we're doing great. We'll see how long it is before baby arrives and how weekends go when then kids are home all day.

Benefits of bed rest: I'm getting caught up on my Facebook and Pinterest. I finally was able to finish and order my 2010 photo book. 2011 will be the next project. And, for right now, I'm still able to do some work from home which is nice. I'd prefer to save as much leave time for time with baby!

Christmas - part 4

Finally - the last Christmas post! On Monday, the 26th we spend the day at my mom's. It was another great day with family, food, relaxation, games, and fun. Will did give us quite a scare that day, though. My mom, sister, grandma & I were playing dominoes at the kitchen table. Link was out in the garage and Justin had dozed in the living room. Will & Elle were napping downstairs. At about 4:30 (about 30 minutes after Will usually gets up), Justin went down to wake him...only to return upstairs and ask if anyone had seen Will. He was not in the bedroom. After a quick search and calling his name, we found him hiding in the corner in the dining room. None of us had heard him come upstairs! I'm still not quite sure what he was doing, but he seemed in good enough spirits. I think J's adrenaline finally slowed after an hour or so.

Fancy Nancy had quickly become an addition to the family.

Elle ready to open

Will ready to open

Will got most of the Magic Tree House series from Aunt Casie - he was literally enthralled!

new robe - so cute!

Will in his own "soft suit" and still with the books :)

J, C & I love the TV show Friday Night Lights and are quite sad it went off the air. (Thankfully J got the series on DVD for Christmas - yay!) I ordered these shirts for us - big hit :)

I'm only posting this one so there is a baby belly shot.

I love them!

And, finally, a cute shot to end with. All in all, a WONDERFUL and very blessed Christmas season!