and counting. . .

So we are at 39 weeks now and yes I am beyond ready. I am so glad to have gone through this amazing experience, but I'm ready to meet my son, touch my toes, and hit the gym again, and sleep on my stomach!

Tuesday early evening, I started getting consistent contractions every 10 minutes. Of course at first I was elated. . .thinking woohoo, this could be it. Wow, don't I sound like a first time preggo! So Steven and I waited it out to see what would happen, well I sleep soundly through the night, as the contractions were pretty mild. Well come morning I was still having them, so I headed to work with the sole purpose of preparing my office and boss for my absence. Late afternoon, I leave work still having contractions. . .still 10 minutes apart. However, they really weren't gaining any intensity or getting closer, so I am at this point starting to realize that this isn't it, as much as I want it to be. But what the heck, a little extra walking won't hurt, so my friend Sherry and I walk, and walk, and still nothing. Starting to sound familiar to been there moms, yet?

Well, not sure what to do, I decide not to go into work the next day or on Friday. I had an OB appt. on Friday anyhow and was able to squeeze in a much needed appt. at the chiropractors office as well. Wow, have I ever mentioned how much I love my chiropractor!

Good news, but news that gives me nothing more than when I didn't know anything- the OB told me that I was 50% effaced and about a cm dilated. So what does that mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The good news is there is some progress and that my body is doing what it is supposed to. Bad news, I could be like this for weeks. I am not in any pain, so I don't have that to worry about. I'm just ready, so ready.

So today Steven and I decided that we would spend our rainy Saturday in a/c and walk around a bit. So we headed to IKEA in concord. It was the first time we had been. I know for all you Orlando folks, you can't believe it. But for those who really know me, you know that driving an hour to go shopping, isn't exactly my idea of a good time. But, right now I would do just about anything to get this labor thing going. Soooo. . .

we walked, and walked, got a wine rack, and drying rack (wine rack for the new parent world we are getting ready to enter, and a laundry drying rack for the world of cloth diapers we are getting ready to enter), then we walked some more. And. . .nothing. Still nothing, but now a sore back after all my wonderful chiropractor did yesterday to put me back in order!

Oh, well. He's definitely on his way, and I know I should be patient. I also know I am not the first to feel this way.

Nursery

Everything is just about ready for our little man. The car seat is safely installed into the car, the play yard with bassinet is set up in our room ready for sleepless nights, and his room is just about complete. The walls are painted, changing station set up, diapers are out and ready for diapering, clothes are washed and hung, Steven has completed a painting on the wall, and his bathroom is stocked with fun baby torture devices like nasal aspirators and baby nail clippers. I ordered the crib set, so it is on it's way, but I figured I'd go ahead and show off Steven's handy work.
We went back and forth on what was going to go in here, and finally the artist of the house decided on this tree and owl. I absolutely love it! I can see me putting lil' man down and talking about the owl and teaching him owl calls.

Owl and Tree Steven painted in the nursery

Lil' Man's bathroom and little robe ready for him!!! We can't wait to meet you.

Lamaze & hospital tour

Steven excited about his new bundle of joy

Saturday we had our all day Lamaze class. It was a long day (all days are long now after sleepless nights it seems). It was a full class and not much wiggle room in our uncomfortable chairs, but at least they kept the thermostat set for all the mommies and not the daddies. Steven was about to freeze to death, and I was so comfortable! I pulled a ligament this week, so moving for the various labor positions wasn't easy, but Steven and I found a few that we think will work for us. Though I guess we never really will know until the day comes.

We learned a few breathing techniques to use during early and active stages of labor. We also tried using imaging and relaxation techniques. I'm not sure the relaxation technique demonstrated will work for me, but I think I know what will. For one of the practicals we had to squeeze an ice pack for a full minute without letting go using one or more of the techniques. I used the imaging, and it seemed to help. I'm not sure why, but the spot I picked was this awesome field we saw when Steven and I vacationed in Wyoming one time. It was a beautiful field of lupine (I think that was the flower), and I could remember everything about that day. Even felt the braids I was wearing! The ice pack still hurt, but it definitely gave me some distraction. The labor ball I think will be one of my God sends, as I tend to sit on my yoga ball a lot now to help with back pressure. Of course there is no way to know what will happen that day, and how he cooperates, or how my body will cooperate, so it will be one second at a time on how Steven and I experience this. No matter what, we just will be excited to leave with our son!

At the Lamaze class the fathers were also given the chance to experience the sympathy belly. Steven of course volunteered for the experience. He was shocked by how hard it was to sit. He told me, "wow, there really IS no way to be lady like with this"!, and I even "accidentally" dropped a wrapper for him to pick up. Gravity and weight took it's toll, and after twenty minutes he was ready to take it off.

Steven found some benefits to the big belly

Sunday was our hospital tour. Of course, I know the hospital pretty well, having worked there for three years, and being privy to some labor and delivering floor knowledge thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Veronica. But it was still a great chance for us to see where and what all we could expect or possibly expect.

My Birthday!!!

So how does one spend a milestone like turning thirty when you are 36+ weeks pregnant? My wonderful hubby started my day with french toast and fruit for breakfast. My favorite! Then after being lazy, and enjoying a nice warm bath (anything to help me feel a little more weightless), we headed over to get my license renewed. Okay, so not exactly what I wanted to do, but thank goodness we live in a small town and it takes about two seconds at the DMV. After the DMV we enjoyed a nice lunch together in downtown Hickory before heading over to a three hour spa package. My wonderful husband made sure I was truly pampered on my birthday, complete with a facial, pre-natal massage, and a pedicure to top it off. How did I get so lucky??? After all of that I came home to a surprise from my best friend. . .chocolate pound cake and all kinds of goodies from the garden she picked for me! Thank you Anita! Thank you to everyone for all the phone calls, facebook messages, and cards. I am so lucky to have all of you in my life! The ending to my wonderful day. . .Thai take-out and a good movie with my wonderful man, snuggled on the couch :).

NC friends and family baby shower

On Sunday, Steven's mom hosted a baby shower for us with our friends and family in NC. She of course outdid herself and it was a great party. As with most Hoke events there was no shortage of food, and she didn't spare any decorations. Nicole, Steven's sister was very crafty, and made pacifier necklaces out of candy, a bassinet out of the watermelon and so much more! Everyone was incredible to us. Many, many thank you's!!!! We had a great time, and are so glad that our son is loved by so many already! Thank you for all of our friends and families generosity and support. We couldn't do this without you!

Candy pacifiers Nicole made

The spread in true Hoke fashion

Cute watermelon carriage Nicole made

Complete with New Mommy and New Daddy mugs, and handmade sock corsage and boutonniere

Cake made by someone Veronica works with. . .was so delicious!

Who knows what Anita is excited about here, but I'm sure whatever she is saying is making me laugh. . .as usual.

Pro-grandma (of 8 already) and Daddy to be

A glimpse into the future. . .Connor, Piper, Sophia, Aaron, and Zander (5 of the 8 grandkids)

The winning diaper in the diaper contest modeled by Caitlin our beautiful niece

Sorry honey, this diaper looks like there would be some blowouts.

Opening gifts

Steven checking. . .do these things come with directions???

Loving handmade gifts!

The outfit we bring our son home in may have changed. . .

Zander helping us open gifts

And Steven modeling the gifts. . .woohoo, the bassinet and play yard. . .now the baby has somewhere to sleep in the beginning!


Thank you everyone!!!!

35 weeks & 4th of July

We had another great weekend, especially with some extra holiday and vacation time. On Friday I had another midwife appointment, so I decided to go ahead and take a vacation day, and enjoy the whole day off with Steven. Steven came with me to the appointment, which was just one of the standard check-ups. Everything was good. The midwife felt around on the outside of my belly checking our sons positioning. Good news for mom and baby, the head is down and ready to go! The midwife had Steven feel the head as well, which he proceeded to tease me about how big it was. By the time we left the office, our sons head was about the size of a watermelon! Funny, very funny!
After my midwife appointment, I headed to the acupuncturist and chiropractor. Ahhhh, relief! The adjustment aligned my hips again. . .pregnancy is rough on the body. The acupuncture was the first session I've had since we found out we were pregnant. I can tell a difference in my energy level, and the swelling in my feet has gone down significantly since. Glad I went.
Steven and I also enjoyed a movie date and he took me to see Eclipse. Loved it, even if I do have to get up every hour to go to the bathroom!
On Saturday we headed to the Farmers Market and we also dropped by the Hickory Museum of Art. There has been a light there that I have wanted to get for the nursery. I love it! I think we will need a lower watt bulb in there, but otherwise, it is perfect. We also spent some time getting the hospital bag together, his diaper bag and washing his clothes, blankets, toys, etc. We even picked out two outfits to bring him home from the hospital in. Two, just in case he doesn't fit in one. With a head as big as a watermelon, you never can tell :)!

Light in the nursery- it's hard to see in the picture, but there are star shaped cutouts in the star, so they light up the room

Sunday I finally made it around to doing some more yoga. Felt much better afterwards. It really has been a good weekend of me taking care of myself and lil'man. Steven and I worked in the yard some, and then we headed to the lake to celebrate 4th of July with friends. We had a great time and enjoyed the fireworks that evening. I was surprised as I figured our son would be jumping around at every boom, but I think he slept through the whole show. Wow, hopefully he will sleep that soundly when he gets here! Thank you Jill for the great 4th of July party!

All the boats on Lake Hickory

Fireworks and boat lights all a blur

On Monday, Steven took Cadha for her Summertime furcut. She always looks so cute when she comes back, and she absolutely loves it. She prances around afterwards, so excited.

Cadha is saying in this one "Grandmoo, please remember I was here before brother, and please remember how cute I am. . .especially after my haircut. I'm a good grandpuppy".

The rest of Sunday was catching up on errands, a quick visit to my Best Friend, Anita for her birthday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANITA-LOVE YA, but the night was ended by having dinner with friends of ours- the Miles family. We had a great evening, the kids kept us in stitches and Steven got some Wii time in! Favorite part of the evening, was when I was playing with Jackson who is five. He started getting rough, so I told him to be careful of the belly, because the baby was in there. He then looked at me funny and said, "You have a baby in there?", and without a moments hesitation he pulled up my shirt over my belly to check it out! I couldn't help but giggle! He then put his hand on my bare belly when I told him about him kicking and that hopefully he would be able to feel it kick later. A little while later after dinner, we were playing at the table, and out of no where he just starts to lift my shirt up again. He really was wondering where I was hiding this baby! Kids are so funny! He never did get to feel the baby move, as most kids don't have the patience to sit there with their hand on my tummy waiting.
We had a great night- thank you John, Marylynn, Davis (frog squasher), and Jackson!