39 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain: 32 pounds
Body Changes? belly is just hugeeee. It's beyond uncomfortable. Gaining a bit of weight in my face.
Sleep: Peeing a lot which is difficult since getting out of bed is not so easy. Always tired.
Best moment this week: Being on Maternity Leave...and of course thanksgiving...best holiday of the year!
Gender: Boy
Food Cravings: cheese with pretzels
What I miss: not feeling so uncomfortable...i hate this.
Symptoms: constant back ache, nauseous, fatigue, water retention.
Movement: he is so big i can feel his feel or hands sticking out.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting our son for the first time. I'm so miserable at this point I just want it to end...even if it means no December baby (anyone who knows me, knows it's important to me haha)
Milestones: I'm in the single digits...only 7 more days to go...wow! My doctor would consider inducing me December 8th (Steves birthday)....I just hope he comes before then.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. --Cynthia Ozick

I love that quote. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year (Christmas is a very close second) because my entire family is together. Most of my siblings live scattered across the country, so it's very rare we are all in the same room together. This year both Steve's family and mine will be together, so that makes it even more special and I'm sooooo excited to see everyone and eat some good food.
My older sis already arrived with my two nieces, one of whom I met for the first time on Saturday. Words can't describe how adorable they are, and watching the older one grow into such a beautiful little girl is priceless. I can't get over how cute she is and it makes me even more excited to meet my own son.
Pregnancy has become very difficult lately, more so on an emotional level. My hormones are all out of whack and it's hard to be myself. I'm anxious and very sensitive and it's driving me bananas. I know I only have 13 more days left, but those of you who have been pregnant know...at this point it feels like it's been forever and you're just so ready to get it over with. I think I just need a few days off from work to relax and get myself back in order.
Saturday night after Steve and I got home we went down to our basement and played ping pong on our new table together. Afterwards we retreated into his man cave and he turned on our song from our wedding night. We got up and danced, and it was one of those moments that just made me love him that much more. It dawned on me that this would be one of the last times it would just be him and I...that our lives are going to to be forever changed in a few days and so I relished every moment. It also made me realize how truly grateful I am for everything that I have. So on this holiday, when we have so much to be grateful for I'd like to say what I truly appreciate:

- I'm grateful I have the most adoring, incredible husband. He truly is amazing and makes me a better person.
- I'm grateful we are having a healthy son whom I'm sooooo excited to meet and shower with love.
- I'm grateful for having the family that I do. I don't know what I'd do without them, they mean everything to me.
- I'm grateful to have the friends I do, and the older I get the more I appreciate them.
- I'm grateful for our two dogs who can snuggle like no other.
- I'm grateful to have my health, a job and a wonderful new home.

So on this thanksgiving, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and only the best. xoxo

37 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 37 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain: 34 pounds
Body Changes? Belly shape has changed, still growing.
Sleep: Besides peeing been sleeping well.
Best moment this week: Enjoying our house...I loveeee it!
Gender: Boy
Food Cravings: hot chocolates from starbucks, chocolate non fat jello...i sense a chocolate theme.
What I miss: Not having this big fat belly in the way, and having more clothes to pick from.
Symptoms: Water retention, my ankles and feet are huge.
Movement: he moves like crazy, i feel him more than ever, i guess b/c he is running out of room.
What I am looking forward to: Being done with work...less than a week to go!
Milestones: He turnedddd! He is finally in the right position wohoooo!

Speechless

For some moments in life there are no words. ~David Seltzer

That is how I feel at this very moment. Everything went well at the doctors office, even the good news of Max having turned into the right position seems so small right now. While I was at the office, one of my best friends called to let me know her dear brother passed away last night in a car accident. I am speechless right now, and all I want to do is rush to her side. But that is not possible given how pregnant I am. I just hope she knows she is very loved and all her friends are here for her. What a tragic loss, he was so young.

"Baby, are you ready for Max?"

Last night while Steve and I were taking our evening bath together (yes, it is one of our favorite rituals, especially now that we have a huge bathtub), he asked me if I was ready for our son. Of course I said yes, to which he responded he was too. Then we looked at one another and started laughing...no words needed to be spoken, we both knew we need more time, even if it's just a week. I guess one is never fully prepared for something of this magnitude, especially when you don't have much experience with it. Even the smallest thing like unpacking a breast pump and trying to figure out what needs to be washed and how seems daunting. I have never changed a diaper in my life, nor have I had any experience with a newborn. But I'm sure I'm not the only new mom to feel this way. All I can say is I'm sooo relieved and excited to go through this experience with my husband by my side. I know he and I will make great parents, that is the only thing I have no doubts about. I can't wait to experience parenthood together and to welcome our son into this world...someone who represents all the love he and I share for one another.

In a half hour I'm heading to my doctor to see if I've progressed at all and to see if he has turned yet. Yesterday I could have sworn he had since I was feeling kicks on my left side only and my back contractions were gone. However as luck would have it I have felt some movement on my right ribcage today...so who knows. I will also be getting the results of my strep B test back. I keep getting comments from people that my belly looks hugeeee and that a c-section is in my future due to his size...hmmm lets hope not. I'll keep you posted.

Officially Full Term!!!!!!!!!

Max's unfinished nursery...it's getting there. The glider is being shipped in two weeks:




I am officially full term...I can't believe I've made it!!! These past few months have been stressful and extremely busy, yet everything has fallen into place. We have been amazingly lucky in terms of timing and are finally moved in. It's been a lot of hard work, but I can officially say we are settled in and 90% ready for our sons arrival. I say 90% because there are still little things we need to do such as pack our hospital bag and purchasing some last minute items for him. I am also not done decorating his nursery since we only got his furniture on Friday. Nevertheless if he decided to come today we would be ready and I'm sooo excited to meet our son. With that being said, I reallyyyyy hope he doesn't come before December. I will be working up to thanksgiving and would love to have a few days to mentally prepare myself and relax before his arrival. I'm a bit nervous he will decide to come the day after I take off from work and I won't have time to relax, but I'm just going to have to roll with the punches at this point...as my doctor said, he can come at any moment now.
Tomorrow I have my stress test and on Wednesday my doctor will see if I'm effaced or dilated. Last time I was closed shut, so who knows. I'm pretty sure he has yet to turn into the correct position, I'll have to step up my exercises since I've been slacking. Now that I'm 3 weeks away I can taste the foods I've missed so much, and the drink I want so badly. Last night I cheated on my diet and had some chocolate covered almonds...I just couldn't help myself. Today I'm back on track and watching what I put in my mouth.
One last thing...I decided to get blunt bangs over the weekend haha It looks good, I'll post some pics when I get them :)

So how big is big?

That is the question du jour! I had my weekly doctors appointment which went well. I'm over the 150 pound mark...that puts me at +32 pounds now. My belly is so big and tight and there is noooo room in there for my poor lil man. She was touching my belly and made this funny face to which I asked what was up. She just commented that he seemed big, around the 7.5 pound mark now. Obviously that is a guesstimate...but since she does this for a living I'll just assume our son will be a lil fatty just like his daddy when he came out. I told her that Steve was in the high 8 range when born and she told me that usually doesn't matter, that they mostly take after mommy. Well I was a measly 5 pounds 13 ounces to which she goes "yeah you can forget that" lol She said he seemed on the bigger side since 20 weeks and will probably be in the mid 8's when born...this should be fun pushing him out on my hands and knees since he has yet to get in the right position. The bigger he gets, the less room he has to move and the harder the kicks to my ribs are...just fantastic. I can actually feel him when I'm sleeping on my side at night and sometimes when I turn to the other side, there is an actual arm by my hipbone and I have to switch positions or else I'd crush him.

While I was there she told me they had gotten the H1N1 flu shot, and asked if I wanted one. I told her I wasn't planning on getting it until I have Max. She looked at me as if I had two heads. She explained to me that she DID NOT agree with that decision, that it's going around like crazy and that if i get it now I'll be able to pass on anti bodies to the baby. She said I lucked out, they weren't going to last long and so I said I'd get one, which I did. I guess I'm now fully vaccinated from getting the swine flu.

I have 1.5 more weeks of work, and let me tell you, I'm counting the hours. I'm beyonddddd uncomfortable and sooo ready to get him out. My doctor said from this point on it's go time and he could come at any time and that the waiting game has begun...so my dear son, if you can hear me...pleaseeeeeeee come soon because mommy is sooo done with this...but wait, i need another week to get things ready, your nursery arrives tomorrow wohoooooooooo!

36 Week Belly Photo

How far along? 36 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain: 32 pounds
Body Changes? Belly is so big it's really uncomfortable.
Sleep: Peeing all night and when I roll at night i can feel myself crushing his arm or leg and have to move.
Best moment this week: Finally being moved in!
Gender: Boy
Food Cravings: hot chocolates from starbucks, chocolate non fat jello...i sense a chocolate theme.
What I miss: Not being so busy. With commuting, working, moving and my two doctor appointments a week it's just a bit too much.
Symptoms: Lots and lots of peeing, backaches, severe thirst, BH and regular contractions especially when I'm dehydrated or have moved too much.
Movement: he still hasn't turned, so i can feel him kicking out front. When I experienced those awful contractions last weekend it was all back labor...so painful
What I am looking forward to: Being full term on Monday...can't wait!
Milestones: Almost full term and moved into our house...now if only his nursery furniture could get here already and our couches...

WOW...so that's what contractions feel like!

What a night its been! It all started Friday night around 2am when i was woken up by severe back pain on my lower left side. Steve and I didn't think much of it and attributed it to our big move and maybe straining something. I went back to bed and they stopped until the following day around 4pm. We were all (my step mom was so kind and got us help to move in) busy getting stuff done when all of a sudden the back pain came back. Only this time instead of the constant pressure on my back i was starting to get stabbing pains, almost as if I had pinched a nerve, only ten times worse. I felt nothing in my belly, but I did feel like I had to puke every time these severe pains hit me. So I was told to lay on the bed and just relax, which I did. Only the pain wasn't going away, so I called my father who told me to take a bath and that it was probably just the excitement of moving. So I took a luke warm bath which helped a bit, but as soon as i got out, they came back full force. Thankfully i called my sister and asked her if she had ever experienced such bad back pains. She said she had back pain and had wanted to be on all fours to alleviate it. I asked her if she felt them so bad she wanted to puke. That is when she said no and that I might be having early labor and need to go the hospital. Here I am thinking I pulled something and had no clue what was going on, only that the pain was so severe and I knew I had to go to the hospital after she said that.
So Steve and I take off to Greenwich hospital, which by the way is the Ritz Carlton of hospitals. They admitted me on a wheelchair and on my way up i had a horrible pain. Once upstairs they hooked max and me up to monitors. Max was doing fine, his heartbeat was normal and all looked well. The problem was that I was having contractions...severe contractions three minutes apart. They immediately sent in a doctor who checked my cervix and did some tests. I wasn't dilated, but my contractions were getting worse. They decided to give me fluids and water and see if that would stop them. An hour later they were spaced out to 7 minutes apart...great news we are thinking. So i tell Steve to go get himself some food, the poor guy had been working all day and forgot to eat. So he leaves, and I kid you not, the second he left I got the mostttttt severe contractions I've ever felt. my body was shaking so badly I had no control over it. i had to page the nurse immediately who came in and said my contractions were back to 3 minutes apart, the fluids weren't helping. So the doctor came back and gave me tributeral to slow down the contractions and hopefully stop them. It took a while for it to work, and I was still in immense pain. Steve finally came back and had to take me to the bathroom since I was hooked up to an IV being pumped full of fluids at the same time. They took a lot of blood for tests and did and EKG to test my heart to see if I could take another tributeral shot. I was good to go for a second round. And hour after that I was told I could go home, my contractions had spaced out to ten minutes apart.
We were admitted at 7pm and left the hospital at 1am....to say we were both tired and i in a lot of pain is an understatement. Back labor is the worst experience and I am prayingggg that Max turns around so I can feel the labor in the front and not in my back. I still had contractions throughout the night and was up from 3am on. I was told I had to be on strict bed rest until I see my doctor in the city and no work on Monday. I am glad the drugs helped, but I'm very nervous that any sort of activity will start them up again. Therefore I will be listening to the doctor and staying in bed today. One funny side note...as i was at the hospital I got a text from my girl Anne who had literally just been over at house earlier that day. She was in labor two doors down!!!! We were texting back and forth and as of 7am this morning she was still in labor. I wish her the best of luck!

Our First Home

November 6th, 2009...the day we became proud owners of our very own house. Today we signed our lives away at the lawyers office, paying way more then we ever thought we were going to, but in the end it was all worth it. My husband had owned two apartments before our house, however this was our first home we purchased together. It was definitely a new learning experience for me and solidified the fact that whatever you think something will cost...add a ton more $$$$ to it haha My husband is celebrating in the den with a cigar and some scotch yelling at me to join him. So I'm going to wrap this up with some photos of new home. I didn't take many, and most were taken while the builders were still in there, but you get an idea. I'll post more of the house once we settle in this weekend.

Proud new homeowners with our new set of keys:



Lucky number 24:



Of course the first thing he does is unpack the beer!



The kitchen while the workers were still there:





Living/Dining Room (my father in the background):




Guest Room 1:

35 Week Belly Picture

How far along? 35 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain: 27 pounds
Body Changes? Belly is bigggg. Gaining in my face and arms now too.
Sleep: Getting up every hour to pee.
Best moment this week: Closing on our house. We are proud new homeowners!!!
Gender: Boy
Food Cravings: hot chocolates from starbucks and strawberries.
What I miss: I miss our dogs (been with my mother in-law since we are in the middle of our move) and feeling comfortable. My belly is in the way and it's beyond uncomfortable.
Symptoms: Lots and lots of peeing, backaches, severe thirst, BH contractions especially when I'm dehydrated.
Movement: Since he is posterior, his legs keep kicking out and he is putting pressure on my spine. It hurts and gives me awful backaches. I'm hoping he turns the right way.
What I am looking forward to: Moving all weekend and finally having everything settled in.
Milestones: Closed on our apartment and house. We finally own our first house and LOVE it!





From now on, baby's growth is mostly in the plumping up department -- though he won't get much longer, he'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. (He's about 15 percent right now and will be about 30 percent by full-term.) His hearing is totally developed (tip: baby responds best to higher pitches), and if he really is a "he," his testes have probably completed their descent.

Ohhh my dear son...please turn around!

So I had my big doctors appointment this morning and finally got to see my son on the ultrasound again. Turns out he is laying posterior, meaning his back is on my back which he shouldn't be. In order to remedy that I'll have to do some daily exercise routines with the hopes that he will turn around.


And this is how he should be positioned:


Most back-to-back babies are born vaginally, but this position can make labour more difficult, particularly if your baby's chin is pushed up rather than tucked in. As a result:

you may have backache as your baby's skull is pushing against your spine
your waters may break in early labour
your labour may be long and slow
you may feel like pushing before your cervix is fully dilated

My doctor said the most likely outcome if he doesn't turn in time is that I'd be giving birth on my hands and knees, it would be much longer and much more painful...I can't wait! I'm going to be mopping floors on my hands and knees and doing my exercises until the cows come home because this mamma does not want to make labour any longer then it has to be.

On a more positive note, my fluid around the baby is looking great, not too much and not too little (usually with GD there is a risk of having too much fluid around the baby). She also said I'm completely closed up, tight tight tight ha! Maybe our son won't be coming early after all. Also, I'm going to cancel our Lamaze class, she said it's totally unnecessary, and she agreed with my sister, that the most important class is a breastfeeding class which I have already signed up for. She told me what to look for so I know when I'm in labor...I guess the waiting game begins :)

Feeling Rundown...

Well my 35/35 mark (35 weeks along, 35 more days to go)came and went. Steve and I have officially sold our apartment and cashed the check. At least that is one less thing to worry about. Now we are really trying to move into our house this Friday, although it's not looking too promising.
It's been nice staying at my parents house, although commuting into the city while being this pregnant is not easy. I take the 5:50am train and am in the office by 6:30am. I get home around 5.30-6pm, which makes for a long day and I'm usually so tired I can barely eat. The days just seem to merge into one another. Add to that all the stuff that needs to be taken care of for the house (thankfully Steve is able to take care of most of it) and my two doctors appointments a week, and it makes for an extremely busy week. Usually I can handle most anything, but given how pregnant I am it's not as easy and I'm hoping I'm not coming down with something.
I'll try to post some pics later in the week, our computer is in a box, so that might have to wait. Hopefully by Thursday we will know if we can close this week...I miss my dogs and can't wait to have them with us again.