Due Date but no Baby Dane yet!

Happy Due Date and St. Patrick's Day to my baby Dane still cozy in my belly!                                                                   Hope everyone has had a great day!  I'm feeling good and just eagerly anticipating the arrival of my little guy.  :)  I slept a bunch today and it felt good.  I know I should have been out walking and probably doing other stuff to help move things along, but I've been doing that since Saturday and today I just felt like I needed a break.  :)                                                    The picture is not great, but Z was at work and I wanted to make sure I had a picture of what 40 weeks looks like!  haha!  Just be glad I didn't show you my belly stretch marks!                              So here goes the 'stats' and whatnot for 40 weeks... hopefully this will be the last time I do one of these!  fingers crossed! :)

WEIGHT: +25 pounds.  hopefully that's as high as I go!

SLEEP: not too bad (especially since I'm not getting up early for work anymore!!!).  I definitely get up all night and take tums around the 2am mark.  I had a L&D dream the other night.  Dane had light brown hair and blue-gray eyes.  He was perfect.  :)

CRAVINGS: not much of anything actually.  Not much room for food I suppose!  I always want milk in the morning and yesterday I got some yummy strawberry/cream cheese crossiants from the Farmer's Market.  That made for a sweet breakfast today!

MATERNITY CLOTHES: well, technically, yes of course!  However, most of my maternity stuff was more for work and not sitting around my house so I've kinda gone back to my gym shorts and Z's t-shirts (b/c I'm busting out of mine as you can see in the picture!)

MOOD: I'm really feeling pretty good!  I am getting frustrated with the amount of effort it takes to climb stairs and get in and out of the bed/car/couch/etc.  haha!  I also find myself accidentally bumping into stuff- my balance is definitely off!  I do better during the day when I'm busy and distracted.  Nighttime has proven to be harder (and more emotional) for me.  I'm scared of my water breaking, contractions, and a middle of the night hospital admittance.  I don't know why.  Everything just seems more 'safe' and 'happy' during the light of day.

GENDER: Boy!  Dane Harrison

BABY: baby.center says he is the size of a small pumpkin.  the way my belly looks I'm going with watermelon!

MOVEMENT: yep!  he certainly has his favorite times of the day but he still moves alot considering how tight he is packed in there!  There have been some times when I cry out when he kicks my ribs!  haha!  And when he's kicking AND punching- watch out!

NURSERY: done!  Z is taking pictures as I type this.  I'll post them tomorrow!  I love his room :)

MILESTONES: 40 weeks!!!  We made it ALL THE WAY to the due date!  I'm kinda sad we won't have a St. Patrick's Day baby, but it's ok!  I have been blessed with a great pregnancy and I'm happy to keep carrying him around until he's ready (or next week when the doctor induces me!)

OTHER: I brought our hospital bag back in tonight.  The weather has done a 360 on me! It was 75 today and will get up to 82 this weekend!  I have velour sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt in there to wear home at the moment and thought I better re-think that!

How 'late' were you?  Any suggestions for 'moving things along'?  (and even if it works, I've already decided I can not drink Castrol Oil.  It makes me want to gag thinking about it!)

Almost 38 Weeks!

weight: +24

sleep: definitely harder these days!  I must sleep with the humidifier next to the bed to help with congestion and I wake up sweaty and having to use the bathroom every 2 hours on the dot!  I miss tummy sleeping!

cravings: milk, girl scout cookies, fruit cups

maternity clothes: yep!  My kindergartners keep telling me how big the baby is getting and that he is 'busting out of my shirts!" And my poor swollen feet are making shoes difficult!  I actually wore my rainbow flip flops today- thank goodness the weather has gotten a bit warmer (even though 65 degrees is not quite flip flop weather!)

mood: feeling pretty good.  Stressed and kinda irritable at work b/c I feel like I have so much to do to wrap up my classroom and testing and paperwork etc before I leave for the rest of the year!  (My last day is March 11)

gender: BOY!  Dane Harrison

baby: size of a watermelon!   He is head down and ready to go!  Oh, and as of today, I am 1cm dilated and that is all.  I think we might make it to the due date after all!   

movement: Yes and it's awesome!  I love feeling him move and I love even more how he responds to Z's voice.  It's so cute!  He seems to really like car rides- I feel him move tons when I'm driving and a lot after dinner and again around bedtime.  And it seems that I feel him moving when I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night but maybe I'm imagining that one!

nursery:  Pretty much ready to go!!!  We picked up the glider Saturday (it is SO COMFY!) and hung up most of the art work.  Now it's really just putting some things away.  

milestones: 1 cm dilated and we picked a pediatrician!  We ended up going to 3 open houses and we decided on the last one (that we met last night).  The doctors and staff are super friendly and 'non-threatening' (if that makes sense).  The office is clean and organized and has an overall comfortable feeling about it.  And, best of all, its in our neighborhood!  It's like a mile or two away.  We could literally put Dane in the stroller and walk over!  woohoo!

other:  We've been busy on the weekends hanging out with friends and family and it's been lots of fun.  We took the above pics this past weekend and I'm so glad we did!  It had been on my list of things I wanted to do but it's hard when your husband is the photographer and the daddy-to-be!  :)  I am so glad we were able to capture some pictures of this belly before Dane gets here!  We still need to get the car seat installed and plan to do that this weekend.  We just need to call around to find a fire station that does it / is certified.  I also still need to pack our hospital bags.  I've been terrible about procrastinating on that one.  I've got Dane's clothes washed and ready but I am so confused about which nursing bras to buy/keep/wear that, of all things, nursing bras are holding up the whole packing process!  Ridiculous!  :)

So what's in your hospital bag?  And did you pack a separate bag for baby?

24 weeks

weight: +14.  I gained 5 in the last month!  whoa!  I sure hope it's not too much!

sleep: haven't been able to sleep in on the weekends at.all.  so weird!  I wake up at 5 to pee and then I'm wide awake again at 7-8.  I have been getting up and starting laundry and catching up on TiVo!

exercise: no... I should take this off!

cravings: back to desserts!  haha!   Current craving: cherry pie!  I'm gonna have to make one tomorrow!

maternity clothes: yep.  Still wearing a lot of my regular tops but maternity bottoms all the way!

mood: pretty up these days.  I think the vaca time helps!  

gender: BOY!  We have a first name but are still working on his middle name.  Will share soon!

baby: ear of corn!  His lungs and tastebuds are developing this week.  Better watch what I eat!

movement: Yes and I love it!  It's still really low (all below my belly button) but there have been a few times these past couple of days when the strength of his kicks really surprise me!  Z felt some good ones last night!

nursery:  We purchased the crib and changing dresser.  I'm super excited about it.  I'll post my idea board for the nursery tomorrow. I forgot to do it already!  :)

other:  I got to see my SIL and our nephew the other night for an early Thanksgiving with them b/c they were with the in-laws today.  He is 3 months now and I can't believe how much he has changed already!  He is a doll baby.  Makes the cutest expressions and holds his head up so well!  I fed him his bottle and rocked and burped him... so fun!

21 Weeks

 weight: +9 total.  I thought I was doing ok but then yesterday a teacher told me she didn't think I'd make it to March and today a parent asked if it was just one!  She said he must be a big baby!  WHAT!?!?  I knew to expect this kind of talk - but man it hurts.  I realize I've gotten bigger but it's all belly!  Should I worry?

sleep: better!  I think rotating the mattress helped.  I have a cold so that is yucky, but overall- much better

exercise: I walked Sadie one day.  I know- pitiful.

cravings: chips and my morning drink - OJ & Sprite (yum)

maternity clothes: yeah!  They're great!  I'm mostly wearing maternity pants and in the pics I'm wearing one of my new Mother.hood Mat.ernity dresses.  :)  I had to get a new pair of jeans this week.  I originally bought a size too big and was wearing them anyway.  But I finally gave in and got a new pair in my size and I'll put the others away for a month or so till I need them!

mood: pretty cheery.  I'm learning to let the small stuff go.  As my mom always says "put it in a bubble and blow it away!!!"

gender: BOY!  I still can't believe it!  I walk around all day thinking to myself 'I'm having a boy.  A boy.  Whoa!'

baby: the length of a carrot and his eyebrows and eyelids are present now!

movement: FINALLY!  Woohoo!  I was so excited to feel him move and loved that Z could feel it too.  Can't wait for more!

nursery:  Well I must say, as I knew, knowing the gender makes a WORLD of difference!  I had been looking around for inspiration before but couldn't decide on a specific design.  Now that I know boy, we are pretty sure we're going to go kinda modern/contemporary!  Z wants a 'cool' nursery!  I'll see what I can do!  I hear it all starts with the bedding, so we'll see!  I'll post more over the weekend maybe of our ideas so far!

other:  We visited our nephew the other night.  It is going to be so fun for our little guy to have a cousin only 6 months older!  They are going to get into lots of trouble together!  haha!  Anyway, the baby was really fussy and Z quieted him down!  It was amazing to watch.  He is going to make an amazing daddy.  He had him  up on his chest/shoulder bouncing, spinning in a bouncy circle, and talking to him.  He was like the baby whisperer!  haha!

Also, Z's mom's friends want to throw us a baby shower in January!  Yay!  I know I'll have one at school/work around then, too.  So excited!  We had one at school yesterday for a girl who is due in December with her little boy.  I paid LOTS of attn to all the boy stuff she got!  I know NOTHING about boys!  :)

My friend, Nikki, is going to help us register (or at least start a registry) Tuesday night!  SO EXCITED!  I walked in BRU the other weekend and had to leave.  Can you say overwhelming!?!?  

Ok, off to relax in front of the TV!  Happy Friday Eve!

20 weeks

weight: +7 total 

sleep: I sure miss sleeping on my stomach!  I am getting used to sleeping on my side with a little pillow between my knees but sometimes I wake up with sore hips.  We rotated the mattress so maybe that'll help!

exercise: I know I need to, but after being on my feet and walking the halls, playground, and classroom all day I can't muster the energy when i get home!

cravings: fruit , crystal light water bottle drink mixer thingys, and Mexican food!

maternity clothes: yep! I yank on the pants most of the day but it's worth it to not have to deal with the belly band (which was convenient there for a while).  I still haven't worn all the clothes I got  a few weeks ago b/c it's been too warm!  Weird weather here in GA!

mood: still pretty emotional during the week due to work stuff.  I am going to have to make some major decisions about my job for next year.  I can't work 7-6 with a baby at home.  It isn't fair to our little family.  So something will have to give. 

gender: agh!  I'm so back and forth!  Especially after having a dream of each.  The chinese gender pre.dictor says girl.  But to me my belly seems low (maybe??) so now I'm thinking boy... Zach still thinks girl.  We find out Tuesday!

baby: the length of a banana

movement: I don't think so.  It bothers me and had me extra emotional yesterday (my official halfway day).  I know there is still time.  And sometimes I think I feel something but then I am like, 'no that wasn't it'.  Can't wait to see him/her move at that sonogram appt!  I'll feel much better then!

I can't believe I'm 20 weeks!  What a blessing!

Belly Pics :)

These were taken @ 17w 3d by my talented husband!  It was strange to be the subject of a photo shoot by him!  I'm used to helping behind the lens.  :)  It was really fun, though! I am so glad we were able to get our little Sadie in some pics, too.  Looking forward to more when my belly grows!!!