37 week appt

was this afternoon and went perfect!! Baby's heart rate was 120 BPM and my doc estimates him/her to be about 6 pounds. I lost 2 pounds since my last appt bringing my total weight gain to 33.5 pounds according to my doc's scale and 35 pounds according to my own (she wanted me to gain 35). So great news on all fronts!! I forgot to ask about my group B strep test but figured no news was good news and she would've mentioned otherwise. I still don't have a time for my section on the 12th yet, but hopefully will know at my next appt (which is my last), next Wednesday. Not too much longer!!

sign language

We started teaching Pierce sign language today. We're starting with more, eat, milk, and up.

the end is near

I'm gonna miss being pregnant. I love being pregnant--the true miracle of creation, feeling baby move, anticipation, etc. But to make myself feel better, I started thinking of reasons I will be glad my belly is gone (besides of course from the obvious one of getting to meet my newest love). I can't wait to be able to hold sweet P fully in my lap!! When I read to P at night and before bedtime, we've both noticed we're running out of room.

36 week appt

was this afternoon and went great!! Baby is still head down and its rate was 128-130. She had to chase it all over the place before getting a good count. I have gained 2.5 pounds since my last appt bringing total weight gain to 37 pounds according to my doc's scale 35.5 according to my doc's scale. My doctor wanted me to gain 35 pounds, so I'm definitely going to go over. I keep blaming it on my sprained ankle, but maybe that's not the cause. Hopefully I won't go too far over. Anyhoo, we had to wait for a bit b/c as soon as we got into the exam room she had to run over to the hospital to deliver a baby. I tell ya the lady laboring had to be some sort of a record setter--baby was out in 2 pushes and we didn't have to wait more than 30 minutes. I told my doctor that I've been having lots of strong BH, so she decided to check my cervix since she was going to be doing the group B strep test anyway. I am a fingertip dilated now, which she said is pretty normal at this stage in the game. It's good to know that they are just BH and aren't progressing me too much yet. I asked her since I am hoping to be released after only 2 nights in the hospital if I would need to return to her office to have my stitches removed. She said they actually use staples instead of stitches with repeat c-sections. She said she didn't want me to have to come into the office just to have them removed and that Mark could do it. I was concerned about healing (my scar from P is so super tiny) with the staples and she said it will be just as tiny with this one (she'll use the same incision site) and with the staples taken out on the 3rd day it'll heal just the same. Have I mentioned how much I love my doc??!! We are now officially on weekly appts with my next visit being next Wednesday. T-minus 20 days until baby arrives!!

Sweet Bean's Birthday will be

February 12th (unless of course he/she comes early)!! That's in 34 days!! We had an excellent 34 week appt!! We arrived at the 12th being the date b/c I wanted to be closer to 40 weeks b/c baby was measuring a bit behind at my dating u/s b/c of my long cycles. I had originally thought it was 6 days behind, but it really was only 4 days. Since 38 weeks is considered term, she said when you are that far along, a few days here and there don't really make much of a difference. My doc isn't available on the 15th, Mark and I weren't too crazy about the 13th, and I don't really wanna do Valentine's Day either. So the 12th it is!! I love that Mark, Sweet P, Sweet Bean, and myself will all have been born on Tuesdays. I also like the repetition of numbers in 2-12-08 and 5-16-06 (Pierce's birthday). Baby's heart rate rate was 155 BPM. I have gained a whopping 4.5 pounds in 2 weeks which brings me to a 34.5 pound weight gain according to my scale and 33 pounds according to my doc's scale. This is more than I gained my entire pg with P!! We are both contributing it to my lower activity level over the past week and a half due to my sprained ankle/foot. Plus baby is in a period of rapid growth right now. I reconfirmed with her that if all is going well after delivery, baby and I can be discharged from the hospital after only 2 nights (instead of the recommended 3)--I wanna get home to my sweet P ASAP. I also reconfirmed with her that it's okay to carry P after my section. She said just to make sure I'm not lifting him straight up using my tummy muscles for 2 weeks--she said to let him climb into my lap and then I can stand up. She advised me to purchase some girdle type support granny panties. So all in all, great news and a wonderful appt!! I go back in 2 weeks and then we start weekly appts.

ETA: She reiterated not to be concerned in the least about the x-rays on my foot. She said all the radiation would've been directed at my foot and away from baby. Plus she said you receive more radiation flying from here to NYC than you do from 1 film. Baby was well protected with the lead apron!!

P's 2nd Christmas

was a big hit!! He was really into opening gifts this year. Mark was on call this year so he wasn't able to make it to any Christmas celebrations outside of home. We're thankful he was able to be at home to do Santa with P and see some family on Christmas Day. Below are a few (okay well, lots of) pics.
Christmas Eve:
We celebrate Christmas at my mom's parents on Christmas Eve. Before leaving our house, P gets to open 1 gift--his Christmas pjs and a special Christmas book:
P opening his gift from my grandparents:
The Little People farmhouse:
Where P was most of the evening--in front of a slot machine--doesn't he look like a pro??
My grandparents and all (well the ones who were able to come) the grandchildren and great grandchildren--P and I are up front to the right):
Notice he and my cousin's son have the same Christmas pjs--not planned.Christmas morning--Santa:
It was so exciting watching him walk toward all his loot from Santa--the smile on his face was priceless!! Santa set up one train set and wrapped the rest.
Dad and P in Christmas pjs checking out Cranky the Crane:
An eye-spy bag!!
After Santa, my ILs came over to see P and eat breakfast. They took all the pics then and I'm still waiting for them!! Next we went to my Dad's parents to celebrate and eat lunch. This the only pic I took--my dad, bro, P, and I:
Next, we headed back to my house to host my mom, her husband, bro, aunt, and grandparents for a traditional turkey dinner. Regrettably, I didn't get any family pics. I didn't even get one of Mark, P, and I.
A gift from my mom's hubby:
He made P a bean bag--he's so crafty!! P immediately layed on it and loved on it when he opened it!!
P opening his train table that my mom's DH made him:
He is so talented--I wasn't expecting anything this elaborate. He left the top blank so P could use it for trains, blocks, legos, coloring, eating--whatever he wants:
After we put the playboard and train set on it:
After P played with it for a bit, my stepdad and bro come walking in the house carrying two matching benches he made to go with the table--SURPRISE!!:
He had fun sitting on the top of table--thankfully it's reinforced so much that even a grown man could stand on top of it!!:
Playing in my tent with Uncle Steven:
The day after Christmas:
Tickles from my Uncle:
In my tent with Dad:
Playing guitar with my Uncle:
We had such a blessed Christmas and were so thankful to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with Pierce!!