38 Weeks

Can't believe this is my last pregnancy post....at least for quite a while anyways.  Grayson will be here in 5 days and the reality has sunk in.  I am ready though.  I have everything ready except my hospital bag and the car seat.  I know I know...those are the 2 most important things.  I have started packing things in my bag and Dustin is installing the car seat today. 

I am 37 weeks and 5 days in this picture...close enough to 38.

We went to dinner with Dustin's lieutenant and his wife on Thursday night.  Their little boy Alex will be 2 in August.  He was obsessed with my belly.  He stood there for the longest time just touching my belly.  When his mom, Angela, picked him up to leave he started bawling.  He didn't want to stop touching my belly. So sweet!

The heat really is getting to me these days.  I can't do anything without sweating and the heat wears me out.  Honestly I'm just exhausted.  My entire body hurts and my feet and legs are so swollen.  Despite being uncomfortable I still sleep pretty well.  Probably because I am so tired.  I go to sleep about 9:00 every night. 

I had my last doctor's appointment last Tuesday.  Everything still looked good and we are scheduled for Friday July 2.  She explained how everything will work and the process sounds pretty simple.  I may feel differently on Friday though.  My last day at work is Wednesday.  Dustin and I plan on having one final date night.  I am looking forward to it.  I got my hair done this past Saturday and I am getting a pedicure on Thursday.  I am squeezing in as much as I can because I know it will be a while before I get to do these kind of things again. 

I have had a wonderful pregnancy and now the fun begins.  I can't say that I would want to be pregnant again anytime soon but I really can't complain. Now my journey into parenthood begins.  I am excited, anxious, nervous, scared and many more emotions.  It is one of the greatest gifts in life and I plan to enjoy every minute of it, even the bad moments.  

We are taking the lap top, camera and video camera to the hospital.  Hopefully we will get a few pictures posted next weekend.  Have a wonderful week! 

What A Weekend

This was a crazy weekend.  One I would like to forget but probably won't forget.  Before I get to that, I have two things on my mind. 

Please pray for the Marshall family as they lost baby Cohen this week.  I can't even imagine the heartbreak they are going through. I pray that God will wrap their family in his love and grace and comfort them during this time. 

I wanted to say Happy Father's Day to my husband and to my Dad.  They are the two most important men in my life and I thank God for them every day.  To my husband~ I know this isn't technically your first Father's Day but it is pretty close.  I know you are going to make a wonderful father and I can't wait to see you with Grayson.  I know it will melt my heart.  Seeing you so excited about his arrival and how you always remember to kiss my belly goodbye every morning already makes me melt.  I love you more each day and Grayson and I are very lucky.

To my Dad~ I am the person I am today because of you.  You have always been there for me no matter what and I can't thank you enough.  If there was anything I ever needed you always provided.  I only hope that I can do the same for Grayson.  You are a wonderful father and I know you will be a wonderful grandfather to Grayson.  He is one lucky little guy. I love you very much Dad!

Now on to my crazy weekend.  I will start with the good part of the weekend first.  Friday night Dustin and I went to eat dinner and then headed over to Best Buy.  We were on a mission to buy a new camera.  I originally wanted to buy a digital SLR camera such as the Canon Rebel.  After seeing it at the store and listening to the sales associate I realized that that kind of camera was way over my head.  It was way too complicated for me and I would never use all of its capabilities.

So we decided on the Nikon Coolpix P100.

It is like a SLR camera except it doesn't have all the manual features.  It will be perferct for capturing all the moments with Grayson.  It even records HD videos. 

Yesterday was my good friend Jennifer's bridal shower.  I didn't take any pictures at the shower but she got lots of great presents.  Later we all met up for her Bachelorette party at a hotel suite in Addison. We all sat around talking and laughing and then we did her lingerie shower.  Again, I didn't get any pictures.  I guess since I feel so huge and unattractive I haven't been into taking pictures lately. Then we headed over to the Melting Pot for our 8:15 dinner reservation.  The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant and takes quite a while to eat at.  There were 10 of us so dinner was about a 3 hour experience.

This is where the evening went bad.  It was close to 11:00 when we left the restaurant.  It was already way past my bed time and I was ready to get home and crawl in bed.  When I walked back to my car I couldn't find it any where.  I finally realized that it had been towed.  I couldn't believe it as I have never had my car towed before.  One of the other bridesmaids Meredith had parked beside me and her car was towed too.  After we finally find the one sign in the entire parking lot with the towing information we call the towing company place to make sure we are able to get our cars.  Jennifer, the bride-to-be, comes and picks us up and takes us to get our cars.  The towing place is in the GHETTO in Dallas.  It definitely wasn't the safest place to be at 11:30 at night.  When we pull up there are already 5-6 people in line waiting to get their cars.

We get in line and while we are waiting car loads of people keep showing up to get their cars.  Our cars were all towed from the same parking lot.  I waited in line for over an hour before I finally made it to the front of the line.  By this time the line was at least 15 people deep.  The towing company was obviously pulling a scam.  There was two signs in the parking lot regarding the towing and the one at the entrance that I came in was hidden by a bush.  I was furious and hot and it was already 12:30 am by this point.  I just wanted my car so I could get home.  One hour and 15 minutes and $140 later I was able to get my car.  I was not a happy camper.  

Before I leave I check my car for any physical damages and I head home.  I am almost home and my car starts making an awful noise.  It was a metal rubbing on metal sound and it was so loud.  I pulled into the garage but I couldn't see anything.  This morning before Dustin headed to work he drove my car around the block and he said something is definitely wrong and for me to not to drive it.  I am so sick about this since my car is brand new.  My dad is going with me today to get pictures at the parking lot where my car was towed and my car is going to the dealership first thing in the morning.  If there is something wrong with my car we are making sure we get good documentation and we are filing a lawsuit against the towing company.  They will fix my car.  Let me just tell you that the people at the towing company were like the scum of the earth that probably didn't have more than a 5th grade education.  It was awful. 

I finally got home about 1:30 am and I was exhausted.  The worst night I have had in a long time.  On a funny note while we were standing in line this girl and two guys get in line behind us.  We start talking to them and the girl looks so familiar to me.  I knew I had seen her before but I just didn't know where.  After we finished talking to them my friend April whispers that is Shirin from Project Runway.  It clicked then that that was why she looked so familiar.

   

Shirin Askari from Season 6 of Project Runway was standing in line behind us at the towing place.  I was too shy to ask for a picture but it was definitely random that she was standing in line behind us.

Today I am taking it easy and going to spend some time with my family for Father's Day.  I sure hope your weekend was better than mine!

  

Grayson Update!

We got some exciting news today!  Grayson will be here July 2 unless he decides to come earlier on his own.  Like I said in my last post, I was measuring big so my doctor wanted me to have a sonogram to get some measurements.

Here he is at 35 weeks and 4 days.  He is already estimated to weigh 8 Ibs 12 oz.  HOLY MOLY! That is almost 9 Ibs and I still have 3 weeks to go!  I know that the sonograms aren't accurate though.  My doctor said that more than likely he is at least 8 Ibs already. 

Since he is already so big my doctor recommended that I have a c-section.  I totally agree! Unless I go into labor in the next few days, she said I will definitely need a c-section.  She did check my cervix and there are no signs of labor yet.  I go back each week for the next 3 weeks.  

 

I have been on the fence about a c-section for a long time.  I wasn't sure if I wanted one or not.  I knew that if I was going to have a big baby that I would probably want one.  I have no pain tolerance and the thought of something that big coming out of you know what terrified me.  Not so much during labor, because I would have every drug possible, but the after part. After talking to lots of moms who the majority had c-sections, I think I am definitely okay with having one.  My doctor said it isn't worth it at this point to have to labor for hours to only end up having a c-section in the end.  I am at peace with how everything has turned out.  Also, I am a planner and having it scheduled is so much better.  Now I know when he will be here (unless he decides he wants to come earlier) and I can plan accordingly.

July 2nd I will finally get to hold our little one in my arms.  I can't wait!  I am sad that I am going to miss one of my best friend's wedding.  She is getting married July 3.  I was so looking forward to her wedding but there isn't much I can do to change things. 

I still don't think it has sunk in for Dustin and I that he will be here in 3 weeks.  We are as ready as we can be and I am excited for the adventure!   

Party! Party!

This past Sunday was my sister's engagement party.  My sister and Clark have been engaged since October 2009 but they wanted to wait until this summer to officially celebrate their engagement and start planning the wedding.  They are getting married May 21, 2011. 

Who would of thought that we would have a major heat wave the first part of June but we did.  It is HOT!  Everyone survived the party with yummy beverages.  I so wanted one of the mango margaritas!  The party was held at Clark's parent's house.  There was tons of food and everyone had a good time. 

My mom is on the left and Clark's mom is on the right.

Some of the bridesmaids.

Clark and some of his groomsmen....excuse my husband he never smiles in pictures.

The Wedding Party minus a few.  Please just ignore the way I look.  I can't believe no one told me how awful I looked.  Also excuse my goofy husband, no telling what he is doing.

My dad is on the left and Clark's dad is on the right. 

Handing out gifts!

It was a fun but hot day.  I left early because I was exhausted.  I am looking forward to all the up coming wedding festivities! 

35 Weeks

Let the count down begin! I am READY! We hit our first 100 degree day yesterday and I am so over it.  I feel for any pregnant woman that has to go through the entire summer being pregnant.  I am glad I don't have too much longer.

Here I am at 35 weeks.  Picture taken at my sister's engagement party.  Please excuse the way I look.....it was 100 degrees outside and I had been sweating all afternoon.

I went to the doctor this past Thursday and she was a little worried because I am measuring big.  Instead of having me come back in two weeks I am going back this coming Thursday.  She wanted to do a sonogram to see how big he is.  I also have lots of swelling so she wants to check my fluid.  I am kinda hoping this means she will schedule to induce me early.  We will see.  As long as Grayson is healthy that is all that matters. I have also been having some mild contractions.  I have had lots of cramping this past week.  My doctor said at this point she wouldn't try to stop any contractions. If I happen to go into labor she won't try and stop it.  I doubt that will happen though.   

My feet and legs are so swollen and I think they are going to stay that way until he gets here.  I drink lots of water but it isn't always easy to stay off my feet.  Between work and all the things I have to do around the house it is impossible to stay off of them.  I am pretty much limited to two pair of flip flops because the rest of my shoes do not fit.  I can't get my feet in them.  It is still hard to breathe and I get out of breath really easy. 

Sleep is okay.  Some nights I sleep fine and other nights I don't sleep so well.  I am up pretty much every hour to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.  It seems that I get thirstier at night which doesn't help the bathroom problem.  

I am pretty much exhausted every single day.  It doesn't take much and I am wiped out.  My feet and back start to hurt if I stand for more than 5 minutes.  It makes it a little easier each day knowing that the end is near.  Grayson is still pretty active despite the limited amount of room he has.  

This week I plan on packing my bag for the hospital and work on getting the car seat base in my car.  I want to be prepared just in case.  I will update you after I go to the doctor on Thursday.   

Nursery Reveal

I am finally finished with the nursery!  Now all I need is a baby to put in it!  I have washed, folded and put away all the clothes, blankets and towels from my baby shower.  It took me 3 days but I finally got everything organized and put away.  I am so glad that is behind me. 

I am pretty proud with how it turned out. Like I said before, it isn't anything you would see in a magazine but I am pleased with the finished product.

View of the dresser from the door

Window next to the dresser

I added the blocks with his name to the window sill after the above picture was taken.  One of my best friend's, Kelsie, made those for me.  I love them!

Cabinet next to the closet that Dustin painted.  Hanging above the cabinet is Dustin's old fire helmet.

Fire truck piggy bank and picture frame on top of the cabinet.  My co-worker and friend Stephanie gave these to me.  So cute!

Banner hanging on the closet door that my dear friend April's mom made for me.  She is so talented and I love the way this turned out. I was definitely surprised when I opened this at my shower.

My glider rocker that is probably the most comfortable chair ever! Above is the cute painting my sister made for me! It says "I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me".  I love it! You can kind of see the small collection of stuffed animals in the corner.  Maribel thinks they are hers. Ha!

This is one of our maternity pictures.  You can kind of see the room better but this was taken before I was finished decorating.

Crib with his name above.  My favorite part of the room.

Close up of the bedding.  I love how it turned out!

All that time and planning and it is finally finished!  I can't believe that in a little over a month Grayson will be here! I feel more ready and prepared now that everything is organized.  I am still working on sterilizing bottles and pacifiers and finding a place for those in the kitchen.  We also need to install the base of the car seat in my car and in Dustin's truck but we still have some time. 

I am currently trying to find some cute pajamas to wear in the hospital.  I am not one to sleep in night gowns so I am trying to find some cute shorts and t-shirt set.  I also need to start thinking about what to pack for the hospital.  Honestly I haven't even given that a thought yet. Any suggestions are welcome! I don't want to forget anything important.  

I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday so I will be back with an update!