Monday, August 30, 2010

And so it begins...

Went to the doctor today for my 36 week checkup. Bullet points:

- I'm measuring 38 weeks
- Baby girl is measuring 7.5 - 8 lbs
- Baby girl's head is down - and quite low
- I'm 1.5cm dilated
- 1/2 effaced
- Braxton hicks are coming strong and frequent
- Baby girl can come at literally any time

I have to go to the hospital at 9am on Wednesday to meet with a consult to see if - should I need a c-section - am I able to get a spinal/epidural or would they have to put me under. Fingers crossed it doesn't ever come to that.

So..... we can meet little girl at any time!!

Oh and here's a photo of my huge belly:

(huge thank you to my good friend Aleesha for taking these photos and photoshopping my ugliness out of them!)
Photobucket

Saturday, August 28, 2010

False Labour?

36 Weeks and 1 Day

I woke up at 4am with some cramping. The cramping came and went, and part of me was fairly convinced I was in labour. Which freaked me out because:

1) I had no one who could watch Bauer
2) I don't have any newborn diapers yet or baby wipes
3) I have no one to watch Bauer!!

So I prayed a LOT that I wasn't in labour until I could figure out who could watch Bauer in case I did go into labour. The cramping was low in my abdomen - kinda felt like menstrual cramps - and when Ryan was all freaked out he started reading (at 4am!) about labour and it looks like what I was experiencing is false labour. It's now 9:06am and I still have the cramps, but they're not as intense.

Sooooo.... we're chalking it up to false labour!! :)

I'm still without a backup for Bauer though!!

Friday, August 27, 2010

36 Weeks!

I'm about ready to be done. I'm exhausted, my feet hurt, and my lower back is soo painful. You know that feeling where you want to crack your back, but you're scared that if you do, you'll break it? That's how it feels hehe.

Honestly, it's not that bad. But I am definitely ready to be done.

Not much new this week. It's getting harder to walk... when I stand up after sitting for awhile I walk funny for a few seconds before I can straighten up and walk normal. Baby's kicks are getting stronger, which is a lot of fun at 3am haha. My feet are getting more and more sore every day, and Ryan just doesn't get the hint that he should massage them (Denise: "ohhh my feet huuuurt" Ryan: "That sucks" Denise: "Seriously, they're soooo sore" Ryan: "Put your feet up and relax then!" grrrrr)

Bauer's been acting SUPER strange this week. He is always sucky but lately it's been actually strange. He's being SUPER sucky. He won't leave my side. I sneeze, he runs to me. I yawn, he stands up and looks right at me. Yesterday, I couldn't find him and he was downstairs sitting in the spare room. Sure that might not sound weird to you, but Bauer HATES it downstairs. I mean, even when we're sitting down there watching tv, he's usually upstairs in the office staring out the window. So the fact that I found him downstairs was.... well, beyond strange. And this morning, again I couldn't find him and he was hiding in the back of our walk-in closet under Ryan's jeans. That's also a first. I'm actually pretty concerned about it. I'm not sure why he's acting so weird. Maybe he knows something we don't??

Anyways, I'm not in the mood for taking a belly photo today so I'm not going to. When Aleesha took the photos of me yesterday, it made me realize how big my face has gotten and I just feel really super ugly right now and don't want my photo taken today. So, no photos. Sorry, paparazzi.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Belly Shots!!

I got my friend Aleesha to take some belly shots today... once she sends them to me, I'll post them on here. I'm nervous... my belly is MASSIVE and ugly so I'm anxious to see what magic she can do to them. *gulp*

Saturday, August 21, 2010

My Brother's Wedding

Now, since mostly my family checks this site I feel safe to upload some photos of my brother's wedding. I had to miss it due to the fact that I'm 35 weeks pregnant and was not allowed to fly, but thanks to my amazing father, I was able to view the entire thing via Skype. Thanks Dad, for EVERYTHING. I can't even begin to thank you enough. I hope watering all your damn plants for 3 weeks makes up for all the work you did to make this possible.

Anyways, I could take "snapshots" of their wedding so here are some of these snapshots. They're ridiculously small and awful quality, but make for some smiles.


Friday, August 20, 2010

35 Weeks!!

So in 2 weeks, I am officially "full term". However, since I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule, I guess that would mean that technically I'm currently "full term." Who knows. Either way, after today little miss can come at any time and I can't be more excited - I want to meet her so badly!!

Nothing overly new this past week:

- I am now getting up 2-3-4 times a night to pee.

- Even though it's freezing in the house, I am sweating. Last night Ryan and Bauer were under the blankets and I was standing in the kitchen trying to cool off.

- Walks are more difficult. Braxton Hicks like to kick my ass on walks and it's a lot of work to bend over and pick up whatever Bauer drops on the ground, or to put his leash back on. Ryan has started coming with me on our walks though so that has been great!

- Baby girl is kicking like MAD. It's quite remarkable. I'm constantly amazed at the feeling of her kicking. Yesterday I went for a massage and the masseuse could actually see the blanket moving with how hard this kid kicks! It makes me proud and terrified at the same time. She's totally going to be a little psycho red head, isn't she??

Other than that, nothing new with the pregnancy this month. My whole family is in Nova Scotia right now for my brother's wedding, which makes me really sad that I can't be there. According to Baby Centre, this is my last week to be able to fly. But when I called Air Canada and West Jet, they suggested not flying in the last trimester no matter what. So... I went with them. I am missing my own brother's wedding. I hope he has the most beautiful wedding tomorrow. I hope I can watch it on the webcam!

Oh and this morning we had a huge thunder and lightning storm and Bauer was soooo SCARED. He wouldn't even cuddle with me - he stood in the bathroom near Ryan the whole time he was getting ready for work. It was kinda cute, but kinda annoying - I like my morning Bauer boy cuddles, and the darn storm ruined that for me!!

And here's my 35 week photo:
Photobucket

Monday, August 16, 2010

34 Week Appointment

So I had another OBGYN appointment today and everything looks great. Head down, lots of fluid, kicking, heart beat of 165.

I'm still measuring 2 weeks later. She showed me a chart on size, weight and all that good stuff and I'm just a bit above the "norm". She said she's NOT worried about it at all, they're not changing my due date, they're not sending me for an ultrasound. But, she did say that after this Friday (when I'm 35 weeks), I can basically have the baby at any time and they won't try to stop labour or anything. So that's super exciting! After this Friday, I can have my baby!! Woo!! I'm sooooo excited!

Dear LORD I hope I'm not late hahahahaahahahahaha. I'm going to be dragging my belly on the floor!

Oh and my doc today was that lady I mentioned I had a few appointments ago that I love. I told her I reeeally hope she delivers my baby - that she's my favourite. I also asked her about Episiotomies and she said that in all her years of delivering babies, the most she's done in 1 year was 3. She HATES doing them, she thinks they're ridiculous, and will go about all measures to keep that from happening. I LOVE HER!!!!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

High Chair!!

THANK YOU UNCLE JOE & AUNTIE BERNIE!!!!!!!!!!

We got our very first gift today that we could actually open (we got another gift in the mail on Thursday but the gifts are wrapped and I'm being forced to not open them yet. But I have already sent a huge "thank you" to my cousin Ashleigh for that one!!). We got the high chair we registered for, and I can honestly say: it's BEAUTIFUL.

Photobucket

Photobucket

So beautiful, in fact, that Bauer felt like he needed to check it out as well.

Photobucket

What a silly dog.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

34 Weeks!

6 to go...

It's easy to complain about the weather we're getting. It's cold, rainy, and dreary. But I am looooving it! Not that the heat bothers me so much - you just wear tank tops and shorts instead of sweatpants and hoodies. It's not a big deal! But this cool weather is just amazing and I'm absolutely loving it. Poor Bauer is NOT, however.

Nothing really new to tell you this week. Except that I have blown up. I mean, a LOT. It seems that little miss Aryn went through a huge growth spurt this week and I have the marks to prove it. It's ridiculous! I'm HUGE. How is it possible I'm gonna get bigger??

Photo proof:

Photobucket

We also got our first 2 gifts this week! We got a gift certificate to a great little kids' store here in Strathmore from my amazing friend Aleesha and her mother Kathryn, both of whom I work with at the Newsy Neighbor. I also got 3 presents from my darling cousin Ashleigh!! I don't even think "thank you" is suffice enough for how much I just want to scream and hug her!

Everyone is leaving on Monday to go to Halifax... my entire family. Cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings, parents... everyone. My little brother is getting married next Saturday and I have to miss it. I'm extremely sad about this and it's all my power not to break down every chance I get. But I do know it's for a good reason and I have a really great excuse. But... it doesn't make it any easier. Jonathan and Connie - congratulations, and I can't wait to watch your wedding from the comfort of my home on Skype!! We love you lots, and can't wait to hear all the great stories that I'm sure will be had. <3

Oh yeah, and we got Skype!! Woo!!

I think that's it for this week! On Monday I have another doctor's appointment and will find out if little miss is actually growing bigger than expected. I actually hope she is - I'm a very impatient person and I WANT TO MEET HER ALREADY!!!!!

TTFN!

Friday, August 6, 2010

33 Weeks!

What is new this week...

1. There is so much pressure on my hips. Or would it be pelvis? Either way, this kid is using my pelvis/hips to do headstands with weights on her little feet. Sometimes it hurts to walk!

2. When I stand up after sitting down for any length of time - BAM - I have to pee. Little miss has found my bladder and is getting back at me for all the times I'm going to mess up raising her in the future before she's even born.

3. Sleep. What is it?? Last night I was up at 3am, wide awake. So, I played with my phone for an hour until it died.

4. Pee. I pee about 80,000 times a day. Now, when Bauer can't find me, he goes to the washrooms to see if I'm in there before he searches anywhere else for me. Little turkey.

5. Stretch marks. Excuse me while I throw up.

6. It looks like nausea has come back to our lives. Not even kidding. This morning I was about to get into the shower and I got a wave of nausea. Nothing happened, but it sure hit me pretty hard. I haven't thrown up yet because of the nausea but it is making its comeback. Little does it know, it is NOT welcome!

7. I'm starting to stress out. So much to do before she's here. What if I'm early? What if I'm late? We don't have any of the "big stuff" I "need" to buy before she gets here (i.e., swings, bouncy chairs, wraps, etc).

I think that's all the new stuff.... and here's a Week 33 photo of me. Note the sweat stains!! Which brings me to:

8. I'M CONSTANTLY FRIGGEN BOILING HOT!!!!!!!!!

Photobucket

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Doc's Appointment

So today was quite the interesting doctor's appointment. Everything looks good, baby is happy and healthy, her head is down (yay!!!!), and the pain in my side is definitely from little miss kicking my ribs and my kidneys (nothing to be worried about).

However, apparently I am measuring 2 weeks bigger than I "should" be for right now. *gulp* They'll do another test on August 16, and check it out again. If I'm still measuring bigger, I'll be sent for another ultrasound just to make sure everything is fine and good, and then we'll be getting a new due date.

Note: conceiving and due dates are still set in stone - that won't change. Just, because of the fact that baby is bigger than she should be right now, she could be considered "full term" earlier than expected, which would give me a new "due date" but the new "due date" would be at 38 weeks gestation rather than the regular 40 weeks. Anyways, I guess this means that in 2 weeks I could technically be full term and be able to give birth at any time. Please excuse me while I have a heart attack!

Pleeeease Lord let this baby be a girl!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha