34 Weeks

Hey everyone, we're in the 34th week now!

• Baby weighs about 5 pounds and total length is 19 3/4 inches.

I have had a nice week so far. I worked Sunday and don't have to be back to work until Thursday and Friday. I'm starting the schedule of working 3-4 days a week now and through September. It's been great to have some time off. I've been running errands and working a little around the house. I feel almost guilty for the free time, as Brent goes to work every morning. Today I'm going to work in the basement and organize the laundry area. Sounds so fun, doesn't it?!

This coming Saturday is my baby shower! My mom and cousin Jessica have planned the shower, with help from my mother-in-law and from Jas. I CAN'T wait to see everyone!!! Will miss the out-of-towners, but you'll be there in spirit!

The painting last weekend with Scott went great! The rooms look awesome and I'm really thrilled with the colors. The baby's room is so pretty! Scott will come back with after the baby shower to help finish up the trim and finishing touches. He's been so helpful to Brent and me. We owe him big time!! And it was so nice having him around!

Brent and I really enjoyed the birthing class last weekend and we went to a breastfeeding class on Monday. We got a lot out of the classes and got good info. I'm still nervous about the labor process - mostly afraid of the pain. I just don't know what to expect. I have an open mind about natural labor or getting an epidural. We'll just have to see how it goes! I'm starting to get "the bag" ready to take to the hospital. We have two special outfits to take - one blue and one pink sleeper with a matching blue or pink hat. Baby Rowan or Baby Anna will be all set!

Have a good day. Thinking of all my August cousins and family having birthdays!!

Love, Laura

Nearing the end of the 33rd week!

33rd week, baby is 31 weeks old. We're at the end of the 33rd week already and almost on to the 34th!

• Baby is 4 1/2 pounds and nearly 19 1/2 inches.

I went to the doctor yesterday for the routine 2 week check-up. I met a new doctor, I really liked her. She measured my belly - 34 cm, right on target with the due date. She also said she thinks the baby has flipped around and is now head down, instead of transverse. Good baby! She was feeling my belly and said, "Here's the butt, there's the head, and here's a foot". Amazing. I go back in two weeks for another check-up and another ultrasound to make sure baby's doing okay in there.

Feeling very round these days. But doing okay and thinking about the baby every 0.03 seconds.

My brother Scott comes tomorrow! He's staying the weekend and will help Brent with the painting. We'll be so glad to have him - for the company and for his painting expertise. I'll have pizza and Lucky Charms on hand and he'll be happy. :o)

On Saturday Brent and I have a birthing class at St. John's Hospital, where we'll deliver the baby. Scott doesn't mind that we'll be gone for a while, he'll said he'll paint away. We're looking forward to the class - I have to learn how to birth this baby!! Plus we'll get a tour of the labor and delivery/mother-baby units, so we'll know what to expect.

We've been enjoying the Olympics on TV. We stay up to watch most of it, but don't often see the good stuff because it gets too late. I've decided the in my next life I want to look like a beach volleyball player.

Tropical Storm Fay has drenched Melbourne and I must say I'm SO glad not to be involved! Over 30 inches of rain or something ridiculous. They can have it! Was very glad that the storm didn't bother Angie and the girls in Tampa.

Brent has been busy getting the media center at school ready and all set up. I went to the school last night and it looks great. He's got quite a nice set-up and everything is so shiny and new. The students are so lucky to have a new school and they'll think the media center rocks.

Tomorrow is my first day at work without my preceptor. The job is a one-man show for each shift, so I'm pretty much on my own. But I should do fine and I'll call someone if I get stuck. It's been going good so far, I've caught on well and know the routine for the most part. Some crazy stuff happens in the ER, though, I'll tell ya!

Happy end of the week and everyone have a nice weekend!

Love, Laura

32 Weeks

32 weeks and counting!

• Baby weighs 4 pounds and is nearly 19 inches in total length.
• Brain growth continues.
• Lungs are approaching maturity.

Well, I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. I now can feel the weight of the baby when I walk around. I always knew the baby was there - by the movements and all. But now, I can really feel the baby as he/she gets bigger. Getting out of the car is a real chore these days - heave-ho! I waddle by the end of the day. And my legs are sore. Oh, I'm nothing but complaints! Not to mention the horrible heart burn! And nasal congestion. Okay, I'll stop.

The baby's kicks are stronger and stronger. It feels more like pushing and poking than little kicks these days. Seems like we may be running out of room in there. And we have so far to go yet and a few more pounds to gain still. Is it possible?!

Otherwise, I'm peachy keen. :o) I've been working 4-5 days a week. My new job is slower paced than my last job, which right now I'm very grateful for. I am able to sit more during the day and I'm so thankful. Tomorrow I'll be on my own in the afternoon without my preceptor for the first time. Should go fine and I have her phone number in case it doesn't!

Brent is back to work, too. No more summer vacation for Brent. He started the 11th and puts in full days at the school for meetings and set-up. He's enjoying it so far and really enjoys the staff. One of his friends, Justin, a 5th grade teacher, just had their first baby on Monday - a little boy named Andrew. He's talked to Brent on the phone today and told him to get ready to be up during the night!

We have sad news on the Richmond side. My dear Great Grandma Kuemmerle passed away 8/6/08. She was 99 years old. And just a month shy of her 100th birthday. She had a stroke recently and went downhill from there. She died peacefully. Her service was in South Bend on Monday. I drove home to go and be with my family. Brent could not come with me, since it was his first day to report to work. It was a lovely service at Chapel Hill. We all loved Great Grandma so. My dad really loved his grandparents and I know it's hard to now have lost them both. Great Grandma was a great lady and we'll miss her very much. The last time I spoke with her was to tell her about the baby and she was so pleased with the news of her Great Great grandbaby on the way. What a wonderful life she had in Boston with Uncle Fritz and Aunt LuBeth. And she was so lucky to have my Aunt Judy out there with her all these years. We will all miss her.

Brent and I have the weekend off together. Tomorrow is Friday and we're both so thankful and ready for the weekend! Brent is going to start getting the two bedrooms - Baby's included! - ready for painting. Now I'm going round and round about the color for the guest bedroom. It's going to be green - either "Sagey" or "Liveable Green". It's so hard to choose!!

My cousin Ryan leaves for IU Bloomington soon. He's having a going-away party this Saturday. I wish I could make it home, but with just being home for the funeral, it's too much for me right now. I'm excited for Ryan - I'm sure he's going to have a lot of fun. He has friends down there already and he can't wait to get there. I know Jessie and Alexia will miss having him around. He'll just have to come home a lot to visit! Good luck, Ry-nan.

Love you all out there ~ will post soon!

31 weeks

Hello! Happy 31st week. Little baby is 29 weeks old. We have crossed the "30 week" threshold and yesterday (August 3rd) was exactly two months away from our October 3rd due date. I'm pinching myself, are you?

• Baby weighs 3 1/2 pounds and total length is 18 inches.

I saw my OB doctor today for the 2 week check-up. He read the ultrasound sound report from two weeks ago. Like we knew, the kidney is not any bigger. He said the baby is in the 25th percentile for size and he said that I won't have a big baby, just an "average" size. I imagine this means 7 to 8 pounds, which suits me just fine! The doctor also said the the amniotic fluid around the baby is a high-normal amount, which he says is great and "they love". Heart rate was around 147 and sounded strong and wonderful. Plan is for another ultrasound in 5-6 weeks to check the kidney and baby's size. And I'll see the doctor again in 2 weeks for the routine check-up. A+ report for Baby Hartsell today!

Heartburn is really an awful thing. I never experienced heartburn before pregnancy. It's been tormenting me for a couple of months now. TUMS are my new best friend at moments and they actually are starting to gross me out because I've eaten so many of them lately. Some say that if you have heartburn the baby will have hair. I'd love to have a baby with a full head of hair. But of course will love a bald Baby Hartsell just as much. However, if Baby is bald I'll be sure to ask what all the heartburn fuss was all about.

Brent is back in Grand Rapids again this week for more school training. This week is "mentor training". Brent was asked to be a mentor teacher, which means he will have a group of teachers he'll work with and help throughout the year. He was a mentor teacher at his last school, River's Edge. Quite a compliment to be asked to be one again. I think there are four teachers from Reach that will be mentors and he is there with them all week. He'll be home on Thursday. I'm missing him terribly. He came home last Friday from the previous week's training and we had a nice weekend together. He had to leave on Sunday evening and I cried as he left. I hate being alone and miss him so when he's gone. But, Thursday will be here before I know it. He called today on his lunch break to get Baby's update after the doctor appointment and he was also pleased with the A+ report.

Saturday we were in South Bend for my friend Erin Cain's wedding. Now she is Erin Nawrot. Really a lovely wedding and Erin looked absolutely beautiful. She was glowing on her wedding day! Her dress and hair were perfect. It was wonderful to see her and meet her new husband. Her new step-son, Thomas, is 3 years old and is a real cutie. He seems to love her as I know how much she loves him. Best wishes to the new Nawrots!

I had the day off work today. It's been a nice day. I slept in and took a nap in the afternoon (heavenly). I've been hanging around the house trying to make sense of the leftover boxes and piles of stuff that I don't know where to put yet. Unpacking is the pits!

Hope everyone had a good day and will have a good week! I'll be here trying to keep myself busy until Brent comes home. Plan: 1) Tackle a couple of more boxes, 2) Take Jo-Jo for walks, 3) Watch lots of Lifetime or other shows Brent hates, 4) Try not to eat all of ice cream in freezer myself, 5) Think lots about Baby!