Edumacation...

We haz it! :)

We finished our lamaze classes last week, and I signed us up for two new classes this week. Monday night we took a "Basic Infant Care" class at Winnie Palmer. It was interesting, and more informative than I had expected. It wasn't a waste of time, but the class was 2 1/2 hours long so we were both quite tired and didn't get home until 10. That's a long day for both of us. And now that I have started getting "elephant foot" over the past few weeks...it's even that much more enjoyable to be out and about after work. (Insert sarcastic tone here.) I started getting some swelling in my left foot/ankle over the past few weeks...nothing major, and we spoke to the doctor and she didn't seem too concerned. I haven't given up my Dr. Pepper obsession so I'm sure that has a part in the whole "cut back on sodium" issue but I am drinking more fluid in general (which isn't all that great considering the numerous pee trips at work and in the evenings). It's all for the greater good though - lol. I do currently have two glasses of water on my desk at work. I hope to finish them in the next 45 minutes. (Probably interrupted by at least two trips to pee. Good times!)

The second class, last night, was a pre-natal breastfeeding class. I opted to go this one alone. I wasn't the only one, thankfully. The class was also 2 1/2 hours long - - and more information in one little booklet than I had thought was possible. Who knew there was so much to know! And how did everyone manage before there were classes?! Well, we found out when it comes to BFing, most didn't manage and gave up when they faced a variety of delays or issues. I'm definitely committed to doing this for our baby after researching its benefits. I know it may not be easy, but there's a great deal of support from people I know and people at the hospital so I'm in.

I'm still looking into a CPR class that Shawn and I, and my mom (who will be watching our baby after I return to work) can take soon, but haven't found anything I'm thrilled with yet (and that isn't so expensive).

We have a hospital/OB tour next week and then that should be it. We still need to get our car seat/bases looked at by someone at the fire station, there's that, but for the most part I think, as I said before, we're good to go. I'm a planner...can you tell?

35 week update...

We saw our OB yesterday and everything is normal and on track. The baby is measuring ahead one week, but that's nothing new. I will have a sonogram in three weeks to see if baby is still head down and they will "guesstimate" her weight (which is never accurate but gives us a basic idea if I'm giving birth to a toddler - lol).

I have not gained any weight, which is a miracle to me when I look down and see my baby belly! I still weigh the same as I did when I got pregnant (so I dropped 15 pounds in the first several months and gained that back, but I'm back to where I started - which is nice, because that means it's all baby.)

We took a Basic Infant Care class last night which had more info that I had anticipated, but overall it was pretty good (and not just about changing a diaper, which was nice).

I still have a few things on the list for us/me to do before Katelyn arrives, but we're slowing working through those and hopefully we're prepared. As prepared as we can be for the unexpected!

We can't wait to meet our baby girl!!

35 weeks!!

Okay so as of today 35 weeks and 1 day, but I don't have a pic from yesterday (or today). I got a serious sunburn yesterday - mostly my legs and upper body, but oy vey, what a mistake. I don't think I want to document the pain, but we'll see if I can get a pic up later this week. Right now, I am very lobster-esque. :(

Here's info on the baby from my pregnancy e-mail updates...

"With baby's head pressing squarely on your bladder, you're probably clocking some quality time in the bathroom. On a similar note, if you're finding it tough to poop, load up on the fiber. Whole grains, veggies, and dried fruits (but not all at once!) should loosen things up."

- - I love how when you're pregnant the conversation so easily goes to poop. :)

"Baby's now the size of a honeydew!From now on, baby's growth is mostly in the plumping up department -- though she won't get much longer, she'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. (She's about 15 percent right now and will be about 30 percent by full-term.) Her hearing is totally developed (tip: baby responds best to higher pitches).

Thank God she won't get longer - she's already head down on my cervix (has been since February at leaste) and either her feet or knees are poking at my ribs. I have a long torso, so I have a feeling she's already very long...and I'm fine if she doesn't gain a ton of weight over the next 5 weeks...I'll settle for anything under 8 pounds. :)

There's still a few things left on the list to finish before her arrival, but I think we're pretty good. I'll update stats if we get any from our doctor appointment today.

Realization...

I love the pregnancy message board I've been on since Shawn and I first decided we were going to try to get pregnant. I find it interesting, informative and often, very entertaining. One of the regular milestones that pregnant woman will post is "35/35" when they are 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days left to go. I had the sudden realization today that on Sunday, the 26th, in just 4 more days - - I will be "35/35". I was stunned. I remember creating my "pregnancy countdown ticker" last year and seeing the numbers slowly going down from the 100s. To soon be able to say I have 35 days to go (or less possibly)...it's just crazy.

And now, I must go find a paper bag to breathe into...

34 week pic...

34 weeks 1 day...
6 weeks to go! ::gulp::

34 weeks...4/19/09

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month. Less cute news: She now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

33 weeks & doctor appointment update...

I forgot to take a picture Easter Sunday, so hopefully I'll get a 33 week pic up this week! I even got a non-maternity Easter dress. Though it's quite obvious that I am "in the family way" - lol!

We saw our doctor yesterday and were happy to learn that all is well and that I will now be treated as "normal" patient. YAY! That means, no more ultrasounds to monitor the cervix and the progesterone supplements should be stopped somewhere at 35 to 36 weeks. We were happy with the good news, but disappointed that we no longer will get ultrasounds to see our baby. The good thing though, is that this doctor's practice is very much for promoting natural/vaginal births and not pushing c-sections. That means that most doctor's offices that continue to perform ultrasounds and growth scans tend to be off on weight of normal babies and will often urge their patients to have c-sections if the baby is measuring ahead or appear to be "big". Most times, those measurements are just not accurate and there is no need for the c-section. I will continue to be measured on the outside of my belly and unless baby Katelyn just grows astronomically in the new few weeks, we should continue on as normal through our due date.

We have 7 weeks or less...I'm hoping for less, but we'll see what the baby decides to do! :)

We can't believe how soon it will be, and look forward to finally meeting our baby girl!!

32 weeks pic (from maternity photos)

Maternity photos...

A friend of ours, Andrea, took some amazing pics this weekend at Kraft Azalea Gardens in Winter Park. We had a lot of fun, and Andrea is very talented (she made us look good!!)!! Here is the link (I hope you can view it)...enjoy.

http://shawnandmichellestewart.shutterfly.com/

31 weeks...

Okay, so it's 31 weeks and 3 days and not a great pic, but I forgot because I was not feeling so hot this past weekend.

Today I took the last pill in my Z-pack...and we think Shawn is coming down with what I had. Loveliness...

I found this letter I had typed and saved and wanted to post after our very first ultrasound. I completely forgot about it until sorting through old e-mails today in attempt to clear out over 200 messages. (I know, I can't throw anything away!) So...it's old, but I like it and wanted to share. I must write another letter soon...now that I'm in my 8th month already!!

Letter to our baby:

Today, I am overwhelmed to think about being your mommy in a very short 7 months. I hope that I can be all that you need as your mommy. I know I won't be perfect, and I'm sure you will tell me that more than once in the next 18 years; but I hope you know that everything I will do for you is out of love and concern for what is best for you. I know you won't appreciate that until you are much older, because it took me a long time to feel that way about my parents too. It's normal. Please cut me some slack, as I will you, when you get frustrated. No matter what, I will always love you. Even though you are currently inside and making me feel pretty yucky each day, I know that it will get better when you're here. I have a feeling you may like peanut butter and jelly, because I'm eating lots of that right now for you. I only hope you don't pick up a craving for saltines too. If you hear anything weird in there, please ignore it, your dad and I can be silly sometimes...your name was never really going to be Hector. Also, I hope you like kitties...mommy has one and currently needs another person in the house who wants to keep him.

I can't wait to see you, and see who you will become. I know God already has a plan and purpose for your life, and I pray He keeps you safe until you're in our arms. We love you already!