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)

35 Weeks

Hard to believe it's my 35th week, but at the same time this last 5 weeks is going to drag by EXTREMELY slowly ha.

Here it is... 35 week belly

No fatty front view this time. ha.

Yesterday was my 35 week check up. I was supposed to have the test for Group B Strep, but my Dr. changed his mind and decided that would be next week. I was ok with that. BELIEVE ME, I am not fond of these last few appointments.

Weight: 167 lbs. I have gained 32 lbs so far. Triple UGH... mainly because I still have 5 weeks to go and wouldn't put it past myself to pack on another 10 lbs.

My appointment was short and sweet. Nothing major to relay except that I asked my Dr. if he thought this baby was bigger than my other two. He didn't say "maybe"... he didn't say "I don't know"... without hesitation, he said yes. ha ha ha. Nice. How much bigger remains to be seen... however, I am blaming this all on Dave. I was a 6 pounder when I was born so it's not my fault ha. My other two were a few ounces shy of 8 lbs. If this one is going to be in the 9-10 lb range, CUT ME OPEN... ha ha ha. I kid... no, but SERIOUSLY! ha. I really am kidding though. I would rather push out a big baby than have a c-section. Not too fond of the idea of being sliced open.

I am having TONS of contractions!  Mostly Braxton Hicks, but with Brendan I didn't experience these until 36 weeks.  So to have been contracting basically since week 32, it's been crazy.  Sometimes they get to where they feel crampy like real contractions but they aren't time-able and they aren't close enough together to cause any concern.  What will be highly irritating is to have things go like Brendan did... which is having all these contractions, but NOTHING to show for it by way of effacement and dilation.  I am hoping next week I will get the news that these contractions aren't in vain and that they are actually doing something worth while besides making me uncomfortable ha.

Some things to share. I have been getting some of the main baby items in. I set up the play yard. It's super cute. It is one with a bassinet... do they even make these things without bassinets anymore? It also has a changing station which I think is AWESOME!

I got my electric breast pump. I got the Phillips Avent Twin Electric Pump. On my way to become a full fledged dairy cow. HA! I have always felt like that with nursing. Some moms can focus on the cuddly, lovey, mommy/baby bonding of it, but me, I just feel like a dairy cow.

We still need to install the car seat. I got a 3 in one, so I am hoping it fits. We don't have long to figure this out...

Anyway. Looking forward to Monday. HALLOWEEN! woo hoo. Still have no clue what I will dress the kids up as or where I will take them trick or treating, but it's always a fun time.

Also looking forward to Tuesday. Why? Well. Because I am not getting any smaller and I have NO CLUE for sure when Avery will decide to make her appearance, I am setting my Christmas tree up the day after Halloween. :) I am excited.

Well. That's it, that's all. Happy Thursday and Happy Weekend!

34 Weeks! (ok... 33.6...)

I have to post this early because this is moving week. I won't have time to post it tomorrow. Tomorrow I will likely be too busy getting last minute packing done. Besides that, I needed to get my picture taken so I can pack up my camera gear and get it ready to transfer to the new place :) Yippee.

So here is my 34 week belly...

and what I like to refer to as the "fatty front view" ha ha ha. It keeps me grounded.

I am doing well. Just dealing with the emotional roller coaster that is pregnancy. I am extremely uncomfortable. My belly gets in the way of everything which is difficult because we are moving ha. POOR DAVE! He is doing the bulk of the packing. I am contracting quite a bit. Some braxton hicks (practice contractions) and some real ones that can be pretty intense. I am hoping they are changing my cervix a little bit. I am easy to make cry, make grumpy, or just plain irritate... which is probably annoying to my friends and family... but I love them anyway, so they better do the same for me! I am hungry all the time it seems. Last night I wanted chocolate so bad I almost cried because we just don't have the money to go out and take care of my cravings on a whim. I decided to make myself a glass of chocolate milk and some toast at 9pm. HA HA HA. So. Yeah, this weight I am putting on is well earned. I hope Avery is satisfied! ha.

This weekend is going to be so busy.
Friday is moving day.  Friday night will be spent getting all the stuff switched over from this place to the next.  It's going to be a tough day but it has to happen.
I have a partial wedding to photograph on Saturday.  Some long time friends of mine are marrying off their first born.  It's been a while since I have photographed any part of a wedding so I am looking forward to it.

That's about it.  I hope you all are having a great week so far.  Hope that you all are getting in the Holiday spirit.  Halloween and Thanksgiving are my two faves.  I am a happy girl during fall.

33 Weeks and Feeling HUUUUUUGE!

Here it is, my 33 week belly pic... Glad to have a good camera to take the pics. Doctor appointment was yesterday.  It was pretty much a filler appointment.  Nothing major.  My fundal height is measuring 35 cm.  For those of you who have no clue what that info means, basically your fundal height in cm should match your weeks pregnant.  I am 33 weeks FYI.  Does this mean anything about anything??? I doubt it.  I am trying not to get my hopes up that it may mean that I will have the baby 2 weeks sooner ha.  That would be LOVELY though. ha.  I will say that Bren and Lindsey always measured spot on with fundal height and weeks pregnant.

Well.  It is official that I did not make my weight goals this pregnancy.  I am tipping the scales at 164 lbs.  That's a 29 lb gain so far, 5 more lbs and I will be at the weight that I delivered Lindsey at.  I HIGHLY doubt that I will be able to only gain 5 more lbs for the rest of this pregnancy, so I am resigning myself to at least end this at 175.  UGH.  Oh well.  Still less than my ending weight with Bren, so I'm trying to look at the bright side.  I've lost it before I can lose it again.

I made Avery a baby blanket.  It is really thick and heavy and made from scrap yarn so it looks CRAZY 

Have a happy rest of the week.  Eat something yummy.

So Much to Tell You: 32 Weeks.

The CRAZY MONTH has started. I love October, don't get me wrong, but there are going to be some crazy busy days ahead.

Some news: (Probably won't interest you if you aren't into SLR cameras, so if you aren't interested just skip this paragraph and the next two) We had a bunch of expenses arise, so this photog had to do some equipment purging and downgrading to make ends meet this month. Sold my wide angle and my 100mm which I loved, but hey, it got us a new windshield and new tags on our car for 2 years. It also replaced Dave's dying phone. We kinda expected the windshield to be covered under warranty but we couldn't find the receipt and the company couldn't find us in their system so we had to pay for it.

This led to the selling of my 7D.  I bought the 7D on a whim.  Camera companies are always coming out with the bigger and better SLR and it's hard to not be tempted by all of the "candy" out there... which is EXPENSIVE "candy" by the way.  I loved this camera, but always felt like I was waisting it's capabilities.  I  don't use the video feature, which is the main sell of this camera.  The less expensive sibling to the 5D Mk II but supposedly quality to rival.  Still a $1600 camera body for a girl who isn't even doing photography as a business anymore, didn't make much sense to me.  We needed a couple hundred to make the kid's birthday happen this weekend so I sold my camera for most of what I paid for it YAY.

I am really excited to say that I won't be camera-less for long. I found and purchased a used Canon 50D at a great price with a 90 day warranty!  The 50D is the camera that I shot with before the 7D. It was perfect for me.  Now that I think about it, it was very silly of me to upgrade in the first place. 15 megapixel, expandable ISO capabilities, high max shutter speed... NO VIDEO which I LOVE! I am kinda snobby as it pertains to video on SLR's... I think that it's cool to have the option on some of the models, but I wish they would make models without video for us that STRICTLY do still photography. I am not a cinematographer, I am a PHOTOgrapher.  To sum it up for you, I am excited to have this baby back next week.

Moving on.  Pregnancy.  I am 32 weeks!  I had my epidural interview on Tuesday which was LOADS of fun (sense the sarcasm).  I am doing well.  Walks have slowed down.  Not enough hours in the day anymore and when I do walk, my body yells at me for it.  I am finding it very difficult to do things, though.  Between my lack of energy, the distractions of money issues, the big belly that I find obstructing my every move, and the aches and pains that go along with a growing expanding body... I'm just ready for these last 8 weeks to fly by.

I have been busy!  Making baby shoes!  I bought THIS pattern off of Etsy. To make shoes like these:

and while those are cute, I put my own twist on them and here is what I came up with:

I'm so excited about them!!! The cute factor was almost overwhelming while I was crocheting them! ha.

Anyway.  Due to the selling of my camera and waiting for my 50D to arrive, I am forced to do my 32 week belly picture the "old fashioned" way... with my iPhone. ha.  So here is my belly!

My facial expression is funny because the whole time I am taking this picture I am thinking "OH MY GOSH! MY BELLY IS HUGE!!! AND SO AM I!!!" ha ha ha.  I'm ok with it though, because I know there is nothing I can do about this fact.  I can only just laugh and hope that I can shed it once I am through with this crazy journey.  Did I mention I only have approximately 8 more weeks!?

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and a GREAT weekend.