OH. MY. GOSH! She's HERE!

No matter how many children you have, this never gets to be old hat!  The birth of a child still has this crazy life changing, world flipping effect on you as it does with any children.  Avery Claire has captured all of our hearts.  We are completely in love right now.

The abbreviated birth story is that I went in the morning of Decemeber 9th to be induced since I was a week and 1 day past my due date.  I snapped this picture of myself before leaving for the hospital...

Look how high she is sitting?  She definitely didn't want to come out of there ha.
We got there, got into a room at about 10.  My amazing nurse got me hooked up to the monitors and got my IV put in.  As she walked in the room with the bag of pitocin... MY WATER BROKE! ha ha ha.  Ironic.  I was so in shock.  I convinced them to let me wait to see if labor would begin on it's own.  It didn't so we did end up using pitocin.  They gave me a small dose and increased it gradually, but baby wasn't handling the pitocin very well even in small doses, so we ended up having to shut it off, but it didn't matter.  Labor had picked up.  There was a brief scare where things got really painful for me and could have ended in a C-section... Avery tried to flip transverse breech on us during labor ha.  She ended up re-engaging and everything turned out alright in the end.  Labor started at about 2pm I delivered my healthy 8 lb 8 oz baby girl at 7:44pm.  20.5 inches long... she was my biggest baby yet.  I love her to pieces and can't get enough of looking at her.  She has stolen my heart.  It's amazing to me how even though I have been there done that, the birth of a new baby is still so wondrous and evokes the strongest emotions we are capable of feeling.  This part of having a baby is something I will always treasure.  I know I complain about the rest, but this part... you will get no complaints from me.

So without further ado... I give you the photos that mainly Dave took of our day in Labor and Delivery on the birthday of Avery Claire.

updating the masses of the progress...

looking a little worse for wear ha. Contractions had picked up and the ordeal with trying to figure out if she was transverse or not was PAINFUL... so I may or may not have cried... even sobbed a little... I was making it though.

My AMAZING nurse. She seriously was awesome! All of my nurses were!

Thinking "really Dave, you are taking a picture now?" ha.

Fresh out of the oven... and I am completely in love.

The best Dr. in the WHOLE UNIVERSE! So glad Dave snapped this! :)


Now for the CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! Dave took all of these too and I LOVE them so much. I need to get some of them framed. So awesome!






This concludes my pregnancy journey.  It's been quite the experience, and I'm so glad to be in the next phase. 

40 Weeks + 6 days (basically 41 weeks)

STILL HERE and pregnant! ha.  Today was an ok day for my temperament.  I cried twice. ha.  I know that I said I wouldn't take anymore pregnancy pictures, but I was just emotional and grumpy.  Here is my 41 week belly.

These are the jeans that I spilled bacon grease on.  FINALLY got the stain out.  I should have figured it would take hot water and stain remover...dur.

Anyway.  I took a 41 week picture because I knew I would be sad if I didn't have a weekly photo to tell the story of how I was pregnant a week longer than I should have been.

I have 32 hours from now to go into labor on my own.  If not I will be induced on Friday.  I don't know if I will update tomorrow or not.  I might... especially if I am really nervous about the induction and if I am wanting to pass the time...

Have a happy Wednesday night and Thursday day.  I will try.

40 Weeks + 5 days Still here in the Pregnant Condition

Yes. I'm still pregnant.  Emotions are in check today.  Yesterday wasn't such a great day for me.

Today, I took it easy.  I sat on the couch for a lot of it and watched Vampire Diaries... I know, I'm a dork... but it's actually a good show.

Anyway.  I got a phone call from my Ob's office.  They scheduled my induction for Friday morning at 6am.  So I'm prettty certain I will no longer be pregnant by the days end on the 9th.  I am still holding out hope that she comes on her own.  I would love for my last experience with childbirth to be as natural as possible.  I can't make my body go into labor though.  Someone mentioned wanting to know what all I have tried... well, let me see if I can make a list of it... WARNING some may be TMI! But they are all actual suggested methods so just cover your eyes and sing "la la la la" if you really don't want to know... ha.
Pineapple (fresh with pieces of the core)
spicey food
chinese food
water break cookies
sex
expressing milk (nipple stimulation)
pressure point massage (accupressure)
walking
bouncing
swaying
hot showers
eggplant parmeseana (2x)
raspberry leaf tea
chai tea

I'm not sure if I am missing anything, but seriously, I have tried everything except Castor Oil and Evening Primrose Oil.  The EPO my doctor nixed.  He said it wasn't proven to work and has only given some of his patients infections so he said no to that.  I never asked him about Castor oil, but if I know my Dr. he wouldn't be for it... So.  There you have it.  My self induction methods failed and TMI for the day.

Oh well.  This will all be over on Friday.  Not the way I intended but I trust my Dr. and I trust that everything will be ok.

I am getting really excited to meet her!  Seriously you all.  It's starting to become reality that I will have another child in my arms.

Thank you all again for going along with me on this.  I know sometimes I could be "debbie downer" and I never want to discourage anyone... I just wanted this account of this pregnancy to be accurate.  I think you all understand that.  I could have pretended everything was awesome and happy all the time, but that just isn't me.  I like a good candy coating, but only on Peanut Butter M&M's... :)

Keep your eye out.  Next update will be baby and birth story, then this blog will be getting a break.

Thanks for the support and encouragment,
Love,
Amy

40 Weeks + 4 days

Oh my GOOOOOOOSH! ha.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be here 4 days past my due date STILL PREGNANT!!! It just never crossed my mind!

I'm going to attempt to be as positve as possible about this.  Had my Non Stress Test today.  For those who have never been pregnant or who may have never had to have a NST, it's basically where they put this tight belt around your belly to monitor contractions and baby's heart beat and you have to press a button everytime you feel baby move.  The NST went well.  Baby scored perfectly.  Way to go Avery.  I was contracting regularly... duh.  The tech was all excited about this, but I know the difference between productive and not productive contractions... those were all braxton hicks.  Regular braxton hicks, but nothing that will get baby out.

Then I had a diagnostic ultrasound.  They took the baby's measurements to see how big she is averaging... she is looking to be 8lbs 6oz right now.  Although ultrasound measurements can be off, I tend to believe this one.  ha.  She feels bigger than my other two.  My fluid levels are GREAT which means my placenta is healthy which also means I could go another week or two ha.  I HOPE NOT!!!

I am VERY thankful that all is healthy with her.  So thankful you have no idea... Wanted to get that out there before anyone jumped on my case about "I should just be happy she's healthy" because I am, it's a huge relief... but keep in mind, the longer she stays in, the likeliness of her passing meconium in the sac increases... and that has it's dangers.  Even though my placenta is healthy now, doesn't mean it will be in a few days or next week.  So.  Yes, I am thankful, but on the same thought, I am very much ready to have her safely out.

We are scheduling an induction for Friday or Saturday if baby doesn't come on her own before then.  My doctor is only on call until 5pm tomorrow, then he will be out Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday.  As much as I want my doctor to deliver, at this point I really just want to have baby so I could care less who gets her out of me.

I don't think I am going to be taking anymore weekly photos.  I might take one with my phone, but I am just over this whole pregnancy.  It's not exciting to me anymore.  The top of my belly feels like it could rip open, my pubic bone feels like it will break in two with the slightest movement... my heartburn is out of control, I'm swelling...  It's just past the point of being any kind of fun.   I cry anytime anyone gives me sympathy or talks about me still being pregnant... I am seriously overly emotional right now.  If I have down time, I sit there and shake my head at this whole situation.

Well.  Sorry if anyone is offended by any of this.  It's just my feelings.  I am a pretty honest gal.  I know no other way to be. 

I know that some of you women out there have gone more overdue than I currently am, but trust me, once you go past that due date... it's just all overdue.

Well.  I am going to get back to doing some housework... hopefully I get some REAL contractions going.

Love.
Amy 

40 weeks + 3 days

Still here and very much pregnant.  No contractions.  Everything is feeling snug and tight.  I am getting a little down about it, because there is NOTHING absloutely nothing that I can do to make baby come out.  I have exhausted all of the silly self induction methods to no avail. 

Before you overload me with "baby will come when baby is ready" comments... just know that unless you are in my shoes you have NO IDEA how frustrating this is.  Even those who have been in my shoes... a lot of them have forgotten how they felt being over due.  I am not unhappy at still being pregnant.  I promise.  I am fine with that.  What I am not fine with is that everyday over my due date I go, my placenta is aging and baby is growing bigger.  I am running out of space and I am stressing out over every span of non movement from baby.  I am also stressing because I don't want a medical induction.  I want to go into labor on my own.  I am upset because I have a mandatory STAR meeting to attend to schedule my classes for January on December 15.  Everyday I go over due, it is making that meeting much more difficult to attend. 

I am not trying to be downer, but this is just how it is for me right now.  I am trapped and have no control over anything.  My emotions are up and down.  One minute I am content and fine, but the next I'm pleading with the baby to come out already.

I know complaining does no good, but neither does pretending that everything is wonderful and great. 

At least they decreased the snow prediction for tomorrow.  I love a good snow, but I'd like to be able to get to the hospital.  For one, I have an ultrasound early in the morning.  For two, if I go into labor tonight, I'd like the driving conditions to not be dangerous. 

Well.  I think that is all for my complaining.  Right now, I am feeling no contractions.  Occasional braxton hicks, but nothing regular.  Even after walking all day yesterday, I feel no different.  If I go into labor tonight, it will be a Christmas Miracle.

Sorry if these posts are annoying.  They are more for me than anyone else... just to get out what I'm feeling.  I like to know that I can look back on this and see exactly what was going on in my head.  I am discouraged, frustrated, and worried.  That is how I am feeling on this 3rd day past my EDD.

Still Pregnant. 40 weeks +2 days.

I'm still with child ha ha ha. I'm in a stage of pregnancy that I lovingly refer to as "Pregnancy Overtime" :)

Last night Dave and I got the kids watched. We were going to go out to eat but I started having painful contractions that were 4-5 minutes apart. I thought that we might be having a baby. HA. NOT! After timing them for about an hour, they fizzled out. Again. So I am still pregnant.  We did go eat thought... at Wendy's.  Then we went grocery shopping, and went home and watched Thor... WHICH I REALLY LIKED... surprisingly.

I am not too upset about this, I promise. The only tough part is the waiting and not knowing. Is labor beginning? Is it not?  It's also rough when the baby has bouts of not moving.  This happened last night.  I drank some orange juice though and she started pretty much dancing around in there. ha.

My clothes situation is fixed for now.  I am using the larger jeans I got for me to wear post baby and just putting my tight cammies over the top.  I really wish I would have thought of this earlier.  They have these things called Bella Bands at Target and other stores, but I never bought one because I couldn't imagine spending thirty some odd dollars on a stretchy tube of fabric to put over the top of my jeans during pregnancy.  This solution is much cheaper and it works fairly well.  I am now more optimistic that I can make it a few more days or another whole week if I have to.

Not sure how often I will be updating.  So far it's been daily since going into overtime... it helps pass a little bit of time.  I guess I just want to remember my frame of mind.  Most pregnant women are doing everything in their power by week 37 to evict baby.  I did a few things that were supposed to help, like eating a whole fresh pineapple, eating spicey food, eating eggplant, and a couple of other things that aren't appropriate for blogging ha... but never castor oil.  Castor oil tends to have the highest rate of success, but I seriously don't feel like putting myself or my baby through that, so I have steered clear.

Self induction methods are really just a way to pass the time for me.  You know they won't work, but there's always that "what if"... so it adds some fun to this not so fun time.  If you go into it knowing it won't send you into labor, it won't frustrate you either.  The bottom line is, the only way to truly force your body into labor, and even occassionally this won't work, is to be medically induced.  I do NOT want to be induced... so I am really hoping my body gets it's act straight.

Well.  Here's to hoping Saturday doesn't DRAG on.

P.S. Every now and then I like to plug blogs.  I really like this one.  She is expecting a baby and she loves animals!  She has some wicked cool tattoos and she is really nice!  So stop by her blog and check her out...

Aaaaand Today is Going to be Rough.

One step forward two steps back.  That seems to be true to me at least.  Yesterday I was a bit more optimistic.  I even had fun.  My friend Becca from Life in Technicolor brought over these crazy cookies called "Break My Water Cookies" ha ha ha.  They are like spicey gingerbread cookies.  I knew they would do nothing to get labor going but it was a fun idea and I ate like 5 of them, and they were really good.  Then we walked around Walmart and talked a lot.  She is an awesome person.

While at Walmart we found PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS!!! Pretty much the best invention ever.  So I had hot chocolate and peppermint marshmallows last night.  Yum.

This morning... woke up not feeling so happy and optimistic.  It wasn't truly horrible until I remembered that last night I had to fold down the panel on my maternity jeans because it was cutting into my belly too much... then I remembered how they kept rolling down and not staying up.  Then realization hit... I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR ANYMORE!  I have one pair of maternity jeans... they aren't working anymore... and my shirts are starting to climb up my belly.  So what do I do?  I cry...

Then I remember "everything's not lost" and I get out my "big jeans" that I bought at the thrift store for after I have the baby... I get innovative and use one of my lycra cammies... I don't put the shoulder straps on and pull it down over the top of my unbuttoned/unzipped jeans and I think I have a solution worked out...

(ignore my messy mirror, my kids sometimes don't know how to spit their toothpaste in the sink... as for the counter mess, that's all me, ha!)

Then I am cleaning the kitchen and spill bacon grease all over the jeans... solution ruined and I'm back to the "depths of dispair"... 

40 Weeks 1 Day...

waiting on you Avery.

Doing Better Today

I am feeling better about everything today.  Yesterday I was completely bummed out, but I had a time to reason it out with myself.  I am coming to terms with the fact that my doctor might not deliver my baby.  I am ok with going over my due date if that happens (which is looking likely since there is only 10 more hours left in today).  I have never actively tried to evict baby.  I have only ever done really cheesey self induction myths.  The only real reason I was doing any of those was to pass the time and have a little "what if" fun.  At first I was really upset about making it to my due date still pregnant, but I know that she has to come out sometime, and how exciting is it to wait for your body to do it's thing naturally?  I am scared of medical induction anyway after my experience with Brendan.  His birth story can be found here.

Did you know that Doctors STILL don't know what triggers labor to begin?  There is speculation and theories but nobody really knows what starts that process of progesterone drop to trigger a sequence of events and hormone releases in your body for baby to make his/her way out?  I find that interesting.  They know the hormones, they know how to mimic it, but they don't know what NATURALLY triggers a woman's body to go into labor.  I thought that was neat.

So.  While I sit and wait for baby to come I did my belly growth progression photo.

It's really neat to me how you can see how she moved to different positions in my belly on different days, just by how my belly is shaped or how high and low it is.  I was really glad that I took weekly photos to document this.  I regret not doing this with my other two.  I am thankful I have one pregnancy photo documented though.  I love that I can look back at my blog and remember all the cravings, weight gain, excitedness, grumpiness, irrational thought, happiness, discontentment... it's all here and I can read back on it and remember these moments that are so quickly forgotten.

Anyway.  Signing out... a more positive thinking, but VERY pregnant, Amy.

40 Weeks

Well, I am completely 100% bummed out. I am crying blubbering mess right now. It's actually really embarrassing.  First off let's get the belly photo up... Here I am Full Term... 40 Weeks.


I don't think this picture shows how big I am very well, but oh well. I have very few clothes that fit me currently so this will have to do.

Anyway.  My appointment was very discouraging.  First of all, by not going into labor Monday, Tuesday, or even today... I missed my chance this week of having MY doctor deliver my baby.  This is such a huge disappointment for me.  This doctor has been my OB/gyn for nearly 11 years... since before I was having babies.  He delivered both Lindsey and Brendan.  I am an emotional wreck that he isn't on call for the rest of this week.  The doctor that is on call, I am not so sure about, but maybe he will surprise me and not be that bad, if I do go into labor this weekend.  I have heard conflicting reviews on him, but the people who like him REALLY like him.  So I should probably just relax.

My due date is tomorrow.  I am 100% sure of this because I am 100% sure of when my LMP was.  (if you don't know what LMP is... google it)... If this little girl is anything like her big sis, she will come tomorrow sometime.  If not... I am really... for once in my life, hoping that I make it through the weekend until my doctor is back on call.

So.  Not much else to tell.  Weight was 172... I am holding steady in that department.  I am feeling LOTS of pressure in my pelvic region.  Baby is getting into position I am sure. 

I wanted to leave you with some positivity even if I am not feeling very positive right now.

If you are trying to start a family or even thinking about having a baby, please don't let anything that I have said discourage you! OK... every pregnancy is different and everybody handles pregnancy different.  Some women love it, some hate it... I hate it... for the most part... but you could very well love it, so please... go forth and multiply.  Have babies.  It's so worth it.  My kids bring so much light to my world and it makes every bit of this worth it.  I hope to be able to follow along with some of your pregnancy blog posts soon.

As much as I claim to hate being pregnant, I want you all to know, I am over the moon excited about meeting this little girl... and I feel extremely blessed to have been able to carry three lives inside me!  It's been magical as well as annoying. ha.

I have an appointment Monday if I make it through the weekend still pregnant.  I will be getting an ultrasound to keep tabs on baby and make sure she is still doing ok.  If not... I will have a baby update for you soon.

Thank you all for following along on this journey and if I remain pregnant a bit longer, thanks for going through overtime with me.

Much Love.


  

39 Weeks

ONE MORE WEEK LEFT!!! Holy moly!  I say one more week left because with Lindsey I delivered on my due date, and with my son, the day before... so I have a history of going to the day.  We'll see.

Here is my 39 week belly... and I do believe we have dropped a little!!! ha.

Almost finished! I can't believe it!  This pregnancy was so unexpected and when I found out, I was really disappointed.  Funny how time will change our minds.  I have come to be happy that I got to experience this insane journey one last time.  I have come to accept my weight gain.  I have come to accept that sometimes what we think is best for ourselves in life isn't always what IS best.  This pregnancy and baby were meant to be and I am so excited to see what is in store for little Avery.  I am excited at seeing her grow and the person she will be come.  Who will she look like, who will she act like?   I love watching the lives of my kids unfold.

Anyway.  My doctor appointment was today.  I am close to 2 cm dilated now with 85-90% effacement.  YIKES!  It's getting close.  My fundal height is measuring about 37-38 cm (weeks).  Nope, the baby didn't shrink... she dropped.  I was right.  So labor is right around the corner.  My bet is that I will go into labor early November 29th and have her the same day.  That is my prediction.  Feel free to make your own. :) 

My weight gain wasn't bad.  172.4.  I always expect the worst and it's never that bad really ha. 

So now I am just waiting for her to be ready to make her appearance.  Waiting for her to decide that mommy's torso is abnormally short and that she needs more space for wiggling around ha.  I can't wait to meet her.  I can't wait for you all to meet her.

Hopefully next time I blog, it will be with the birth story!  Woo hoo!

P.S.  I am getting a Keurig!!! What what!!! Yeah, I'm excited.  My Aunt Karen is giving me one she bought to use while she was in Arkansas taking care of her dad, my Uncle David... who had a really bad stroke.  She has since gone back to her home and she left me the Keurig... GAH!  So happy!  Crazy how something that makes hot beverages can make someone so giddy. 

Hope you all have the BEST Thanksgiving! 

It's my favorite and I am so excited for tomorrow! 

38 Weeks! What! What!

I can hardly believe this journey is almost over. As far as I know, this will be the last time EVER in my entire life that I will carry a baby inside my body. Baby Factory is closed. Going to get a tubal straight after delivery. If history is any indication, I will have a new baby in my arms by December 1.

Here is the 38 week belly.
I think this might be one of my favorite maternity shots yet.  :)

Anyway.  Doctor appointment was fun.  Have I mentioned I love my Dr?  Seriously, if you live in Springfield, Ozark, or Nixa, and you need a rec for an OB/Gyn, I have one for you... just hit me up.

I joked around with him that my hopes aren't high for any progress to have been made.  He told me to stop being pessimistic ha.  I told him that I'm not pessimistic, I'm a realist.  It's half a glass of water, none of the half full half empty stuff. ha.  He laughed.  I told him, with both of my previous babies, when he would check for dilation and effacement it was the same story "fingertip dilated and 60% effaced."  He was like "well let's see."  ha ha ha.  He asked me my guess again so I told him and he said... 1 cm and 70% effaced.  HA!  So  while I wasn't exactly right, I was pretty darn close ha.  Anyway.  Basically that means baby could come anytime... or baby could stay in there for 3 or 4 more weeks. ha ha ha.  So essentially, it means NADA! NOTHING! ha ha ha.  So funny.  Oh well, it's nice to know if you are progressing or not.  1 cm and 70% effaced is better than being long and closed.  Even though, in the grand scheme of things, they mean the same darn thing, which is "nah nah nah nah nah nah, you don't know when labor will star."  Just sayin.

My doctor keeps telling me when I can go into labor because he will be on call.  I'm like, "I'm trying to tell her to come out!" ha.

Well.  That's the news.

Weight was another shocker.  I stepped on the scale, pointed at the scale and said "I hate you." It rewarded me with a .6 lb loss ha ha ha.  Thank you scale.  So currently the weight stands at 171.6.  That might have gone up since leaving the dr.  I have consumed 1/4 of a pineapple, 1 BBQ beef sandwich, a bowl of baked beans, and some jalepeno chips... as well as 10 oz Coke, 3 chocolate chip cookies, and a small glass of milk.  FATTY! ha.

And that's about all I have for you.  I am happy, I am good.  Just waiting for Avery to decide to make her appearance.  Whenever that may be.

37 Weeks: I can just SEE the Finish Line!

Here I am in all my 37 week glory.  Full term BABY!
I am so ready for this to be done with, I am not going to lie. ha. Then again, I think I was ready for this to all be over with the moment I took a positive pregnancy test.  I can barely turn myself over in bed.  My pelvic region hurts something viscious.  I cannot WAIT to be able to sleep normally. Not that I will be getting much sleep once baby comes... ha ha ha.  So maybe I should just suck it up.

Doctor appointment was today: Not much to speak of.  I gained 4 lbs ha ha ha.  170.6 lbs ha ha ha!  All I can do is laugh and just remember, I put it on, I can take it off. ha ha ha.  Weight aside, my doctor told me jokingly to go into labor this weekend because he is on call. I WISH!  I am such a 40 weeker though, it's highly unlikely.  Oh well.  Avery will come out when she is ready, but I am full term.

I have also started natural induction methods ha ha ha.  You know, the induction methods that don't work unless your body is ready to labor ha.  Like, I went and bought a container of fresh cut up pineapple from the grocery store and ate the whole thing.  I am going to have spicy chinese food tomorrow night.  It's all in good fun. It also helps pass the time in these last few weeks.  I plan on trying a few other things... don't worry, I have my limits.  I am not a Castor Oil type girl.  I would rather go to 40 weeks than drink that stuff.  BLECH!  I also can't use Evening Primrose Oil because my doctor doesn't like it.  At 39 weeks, I am going to have Dave massage some pressure points that are said to induce labor.  This baby is big though.  No doubt.  Anyway... that's the pregnancy update.

One thing that is making me suspicious that MAYBE labor is close is the fact that out of nowhere my feet and hands have swollen and I have started sweating a lot at night (TMI)... This happened shortly before I went into labor with Lindsey.  We will see.  I want her to come when she is good and ready and can do everything on her own and come home with me.  Matter of fact, that is my prayer "Dear God, as soon as Avery is able to make it and function on her own, then please let me go into labor!" ha ha ha.  If that's 40 weeks... so be it.

Update on starting school back up:  Bet you thought I wasn't really going to go through with it ha!  Ok.  I have ALWAYS struggled with math... but if I have the right teacher I can usually pull off a decent grade.  I took the compass test this past Saturday and I scored REALLY high in English.  I know a lot of people probably read my blog and think, with all the grammar mistakes she makes on her blog, I don't know how that happened.  Actually, I am quite proficient at English and Grammar.  I do get lazy with my blog.  Most of the time I really don't feel like going through my posts to make sure I am not being redundant or putting punctuation where it should be.  A lot of the time I will be satisfied with the extremely lazy "..."

Math... well, no shock here, I pretty much suck at it.  I can't do an algebra equation to save my life... LITERALLY!  If my life were on the line and the only way I could save it would be to do an algebra problem and get it correct, I really wouldn't be able to save my own life. ha ha ha.  Hopefully I can pick it up quick and do well though.

All I have left is to get some financial aid things squared away and then schedule my classes.  I am a crazy ball of mixed emotions.  I am an immediate results type person so the fact that I am embarking on a 4 year journey of bettering myself... it's going to drive me crazy, but I'm excited.

36 Weeks

Things are going good.  We are down to 4 weeks left.  Like I have said before, I am NOTORIOUS for going all the way to the end, so I don't expect this one to be any different.  Before I got pregnant my cycle was 26 days... according to that my due date is November 29th.  If I calculate by a typical 28 day cycle my due date is December 1... so we will see what Avery decides to do, but my bet is November 29th.

Here is my 36 week belly...
...aaand and artsy fartsy one of me being all solemn (laughing at myself).
I had an appointment yesterday.  I was sad because my OB had a delivery and couldn't make my appointment, so I saw the nurse practitioner which isn't a bad thing, I just prefer my dr.  We did the test for Group B Strep.  YUCK!  My dr. was going to check for dilation and effacement, but the nurse didn't... so that is still a mystery.

Weight gain is GREAT! I have actually been staying the same or losing a lb! ha.  Last appointment I was 167... this appointment I was 166!!! I might actually make it to the end of this thing not exceeding my the weight I was at the end of my pregnancy with Lindsey, which was 169.  Now wouldn't that be nice? ha.

I put my Christmas tree up just as I promised.

As you can see there is a stray blue ornament in there... that would be one of the 3 handmade ornaments on the tree.  Otherwise it is decorated in all red and gold.

I know there are a lot of what I call the "Christmas Patrol" out there to ridicule anyone who decorates before Thanksgiving, but you don't scare me.  I am glad to have my tree up and I'm getting into the Holiday Spirit!  Next is Christmas music... DO YOU HEAR ME DAVE!  Christmas music! (insert maniacal laugh here)