39 Weeks

Today is the start of the 39th week and we're hoping for baby any day now!

I went to the doctor yesterday for the one week check-up. I now am 1.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced. A little progress. The doctor said the baby is even lower now and is at -1 to 0 station in the pelvis, which is very low. The doctor said this is very good and that "baby is trying to come". She said that she doesn't think I'll be pregnant much longer and maybe will have the baby with a week. Otherwise, everything looked fine. Baby's heart rate was 145. The doctor said that she thinks I will have a nice delivery once the time comes. She said that it's a good sign that Baby is so low and trying to "fit" already. Oh, I hope so!

Yesterday morning before the appointment I was having some contractions/cramping for about 30 minutes. I was thinking that maybe something was happening, but then it went away. I felt kind of crappy for the afternoon and again thought something may be happening. But I perked up by the evening and started to feel better. Today I feel okay, no contractions much today. I'm just ready to have this baby!

Night time is very hard for me and I get really uncomfortable. I don't sleep well and it hurts to lay down, no matter what position I'm in. I did sleep pretty good this morning after Brent left for work, got about 2.5 hrs of good sleep in. I think this is just conditioning me for when Baby comes and I'm up all night. :o)

I have to work the next 4 days in a row, unless Baby decides to interrupt (which I welcome!). I'm not looking forward to working, but I am able to sit most of the day, which is a blessing. Hopefully I'll get a fairly good night sleep tonight and will be ready to go for 7am shift.

So crazy to think that I'll be a mom any day now. I just cannot believe it! Brent is more than ready to meet our baby. He tells the baby everyday to "come out!" We're anxiously awaiting, as I know all of you are, too. I want to thank everyone for their support, encouragement, well wishes, and prayers these past 9 months. This pregnancy has been a wonderful and special experience, made better by all our family and friends. Our baby is so lucky to have all of you to welcome him or her - how blessed we are!

We love you all ~ Love, Laura

Just the Two of Us

No baby yet! Just the two of us still!

9/19/08

I have been thinking about "just the two of us" and have been enjoying these last few days (moments, maybe) of just being Laura and Brent.

I have so enjoyed our four year marriage and am blessed with Brent as a husband and friend. He's wonderful and we have had a great time together so far - just the two of us. We have had adventures and vacations, new experiences and our new home, fun with friends and family, and simple fun together. Now a new chapter begins .... and we can't wait.

Brent took me on a date last Friday - we went to dinner at Lucy's Bar & Grill and afterward we walked downtown Grosse Pointe and window shopped. Then off to Babies R Us we went, my new favorite store. Had the last few necessities to buy and I had coupons! Now I can't think of a thing that we need - just need the baby now.

No regular contractions or anything too exciting to report. I'm feeling pretty good overall, just anxious and waiting. I have cramps now and then, but nothing happens and we carry on. Baby is still pretty active and at a particularly active moment yesterday I told the baby that we're all ready for him/her. My cousin Jessie guessed Sept 26th, a 7.5 lb baby, and that it will be Anna. My in-laws were here this weekend to visit and they say I won't last the week and maybe a baby before Friday. Today, is my Great Grandma's birthday and she would have been 100 years old. And it's the first day of autumn, which is my favorite season. So, today would be cool to share with Great Grandma and the start of fall, but I'm not getting the vibe and don't think it will be today. Time will only tell .....

I also think about after I have the baby and when I won't be pregnant anymore. I get a little sad thinking that I won't be carrying the baby and the baby won't be safe and close inside anymore. I will miss the kicks and shared feelings and movements that only baby and I feel. What an amazing experience this pregnancy has been. But when I think of meeting our baby, finding out if it's our Anna or Rowan .... only happiness.

37 Week Update

Hi all!

I posted pictures of the baby's beautiful nursery and furniture! My dad did an awesome job and the crib and changing table dresser are absolutely gorgeous. I could not be happier with the furniture - it's more beautiful than I imagined it would be. Baby is so lucky! Thank you Dad! And thanks to Mom and Dad for braving the rain last weekend to make it here with the furniture in tow. The nursery is coming together very nicely and I love it! We still will get a small area rug for the middle of the room. And once we know if the baby is Rowan or Anna, we will order the letters to spell their name out on the wall above the crib. On the wall that isn't seen in the picture, Brent will build a shelf for picture frames, etc. Brent and I have been sitting in the baby's room every night ... dreaming of what's to come.



I went to the doctor today for the weekly check-up. News! I'm 1 centimeter dilated and 50-60% effaced. HOLY COW! I had a hard night last night - was uncomfortable and had some cramps, etc. Well, apparently those were contractions. I'm not contracting regularly or anything - just have had some cramping off and on for the past couple of days. The doctor said the baby is really low, which I figured because I can't walk without waddling and I have so much pressure down there. Plus, while I was out shopping yesterday several people commented on the belly and that I don't have far to go. I told one lady the Oct. 3rd due date and she said, "Girl, you ain't gonna make it that long. Not the way you're walkin'!" The doctor said it's impossible to tell, of course, when active labor will start. She said maybe I'll make it to the due date or maybe not. I have another appointment scheduled for next Wednesday and she said that she'll see again, or else I may have a baby in my arms by then.

I called Brent and he's beside himself excited! I was shaking with excitement when I was talking to him over the phone. I called my parents at work to tell them and we'll call Brent's parents after they're done teaching later today.

The hospital bag is packed. The car seat is in the car. I have to do the dishes and the laundry. And rest!

Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted! ..............

Ultrasound Update

Tuesday was Baby's last ultrasound before the big day. Brent had to work and he was very sad not to be able to come with me to the appointment. Baby looked great on the screen! I saw the face pretty clear - the baby has a set of cheeks on him/her!! I said, "Look at those cheeks!" And the ultrasound tech said, "They're cute!" The baby weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. They are happy with the baby's weight gain, as last time the baby was on the small side. They said "great interval gain" and that the baby is in the 25th - 50th percentile for weight. It must be the root beer - I have this thing lately for A&W root beer and have one a day. Must be the root beer. The kidney measured 8mm and last time it was 9mm. So, about the same and a little smaller. Nothing more to do but wait for baby's arrival. The tech was able to get three good face shots and printed the pictures out for Brent. One is so cute - a profile shot and the baby's tongue is sticking out!

I saw my OB doctor later the same day and she was happy with the ultrasound results. I'm doing fine. My blood pressure is still great. I do, however, have a lot of pressure below my belly causing pain and some swelling in my lower half. She told me to buy a maternity belt - this elastic belt thing that goes below my belly and helps to boost the baby up some. I got one yesterday - hard to tell if it helped yet, but today will be the full day test.

So yesterday evening was a typical Laura and Brent moment. Brent decides to clean out the fireplace. We have a gas fireplace and there was years of dust, etc. He brings in the shop vac and starts vacuuming away. I walk in from the kitchen and the entire room is filled with dust. I yell and Brent stops the vacuum - the dust was coming right out of the back of the stupid thing as fast as it was going in. And it created this awful cloud of black dust and I dismally watched it slowly settle onto everything in the living room. So, over two hours of cleaning later ... the fine layer of black dust on everything (walls, shelves, floor, picture frames, remote control) is down to a low roar. The area rug took the hardest hit - the shop vac was sitting on the rug and sustained severe dust damage! There was no hope for the rug. It was old and needed to be replaced anyway - this just sealed the deal. Funny thing - we bought an area rug for the baby's room, but it's too big and we were going to return it. Well, it looks lovely in the living room now! Cola's kitty feet are a reminder of the fiasco - her sweet little white paws are still sweet, but very gray. I tried to wash them and so has she. But, the gray persists. It looks like she has little gray sneakers on. Poor dear. Jo-Jo is no worse for the wear. Her bed that was in the living room got a fresh washing and I had to vacuum off her stuffed squirrel toys. Now I have discussed this new carpet with her ... that she is to keep to her own bed rather than the carpet and she is not to puke on this carpet as she did the old one. We'll see. Cola just came in and is back to cleaning her feet.

36 Weeks

Hi all! It's been so long since I've been able to blog and I even missed the 35th week. So here we are in the 36th week with lots to report! We have been working hard around the house for the past week and haven't had our computer up and running. Lots to catch up on ....

First of all, Baby is doing well. Moving and growing! Today I felt especially round. Baby has been getting hiccups for the last couple of weeks now. At least once a day lately we get the hiccups and it's amazingly adorable. My cousin Jenna felt my belly while Baby was hiccuping! I wonder if he or she will get hiccups a lot once they're born ....

• At 36 weeks, Baby is 6 pounds and is 20 3/4 inches in total length.

Tuesday is my next ultrasound and doctor's appointment. They will be able to estimate how big Baby is. The measurements I post each week are based on the book, so we'll see if we're similar.

August 30th was my Baby Shower at my Mom's house. It was a wonderful, lovely day. The weather was beautiful and we ended up having a little garden party, all sitting outside in my parent's back yard. It was so great to see all my family and friends. Everyone is thrilled and excited for the baby! Baby is very loved already. So many beautiful gifts, especially a handmade white blanket that was made by my Aunt Judy from the material and pattern picked out just for me and Baby by my Great Grandma Kuemmerle. She wasn't able to make the blanket herself, but it was finished by "helping hands". I was beyond touched and I will cherish the blanket always. We will take the blanket to the hospital for Baby's special "going-home" blanket. We also will use it for Baby's baptism day. My mom and Jessie planned such a special day for me and it turned out to be just that. I will always remember my first baby's Baby Shower.

I have pictures from the shower and need to post another belly shot for you. Will work on that this week.

Last week we had the wood floors refinished in the baby's nursery and in the guest/computer room. They look amazing and are so pretty. You wouldn't believe, however, the fiasco the refinishing process caused. Long story short - we completely under estimated the whole process, including the smell/fumes and work and time involved. I basically spent two entire days outside on the screen porch with my dog and cat due to the stinky polyurethane. The first day I had to be out of the house for 8 hours, the second day they recommended 12 hours. Needless to say, the animals nor I were very happy by the end of the ordeal. Thank goodness for my dear neighbors, as they so kindly let me use their bathroom during the day. The first night I didn't sleep well - fearful of the slightest smell and I basically chased open windows for fresh air and a breeze. The second night we spent in a hotel. A long two days, but a lovely ending with my nice new gorgeous floors.

The painting process is complete and the rooms look fantatic. Scott was up for two weekends total and Brent has been working hard almost every day since. We're looking forward to this coming weekend. My parents will be coming over and bringing the crib and changing table/dresser. My dad has really worked so hard on the furniture and it's beautiful. What a special gift for our baby. Can't wait to see the finished products in the nursery!

My cousin Alexia turned 1 year old on Saturday. And today, Mackenzie turned 10 years old. I had very good intentions of making it back to South Bend on Saturday for Alexia's party, however after the floor fiasco and everything else, I just wasn't up for the travelling. I got a full report from my mom and from Joan and they said the party was great and Alexia was a busy little 1 year old! Tonight my parents went to Mackenzie's baseball game and then out to Hacienda with everyone for a birthday dinner. Happy Birthday to Lexi and Mackenzie!

Mackenzie and Delaney think the baby will be a boy. They say they think it's Rowan. However, Delaney did tell me that if it's a girl she thinks we need another Delaney. (How ever could we have two Delaney's, I thought?!) But she was very pleased to know that if it's Anna, her middle name will be Marie. And Delaney knew why - she said "Because Grandma Bernie's middle name was Marie". And she's right - and I told her because lots of other special people have the middle name Marie, too - Joan, Jenna, AND Delaney.

As most of you know, my brother Scott and I have a great brother-sister relationship. I've always thought so. I just want to say that it's been really nice the past few weeks seeing him and spending more time with him. Brent and I really enjoyed his company while he was here for the painting extraveganza. Scott has been very supportive and attentive - always asking me if I need help with this or that. He offers me rides to the grocery store, offers to help dry dishes, and makes sure I'm not working too hard. I don't even know if he realizes it, but I sure have appreciated him. He's a great friend to me - he makes me laugh, lends me CD's, and we share funny words only we really understand (ie. sisso-sacer). He's a great brother and I love him for it.

The baby has hiccups right now!!

I think about the baby non-stop these days. I cannot believe we only have 4 weeks till the due date. Is it possible?! I practice writing the baby's name - Rowan Scott and Anna Marie. I write it in cursive, print, fancy, and plain. It's like when I was engaged to Brent - oh how I practiced writing Laura Hartsell. I dreamed about my wedding day for so long it seemed ... and that day finally came. Baby's day will come soon, too. I cannot wait. Brent and I are so anxious! We have newborn Pampers, the book "Goodnight Moon", and the baby swing all ready and waiting.

Will write soon and promise to have pictures up!

Love to all ~ Laura