Ultrasound Pictures!

38 Weeks

39 Weeks!

Is this real?!?! I'm one week from my due date!!!! AHHH! I am so excited I can barely wait!! I went for my doctor's appointment today. I am 1.5 cm dilated and about 60% effaced. This is so exciting because last week I was 1 cm and 0% effaced. This confirms that the crampy random feelings I had yesterday were contractions. The nurse practitioner who saw me today said that I would probably end up waiting until my due date. I don't think so. My guess is still Thursday or Friday (as it has been for weeks... see picture - I made this on June 5th as a template to make a framed version once he's born. I plugged in my guesses of his stats.)

I feel pretty good still. I can tell you've "dropped" a little every day. I started feeling contractions yesterday around lunch time. At first I thought they were hunger pains but they started back not too long after lunch. They are not strong or regular at this point. I'm paying a little more attention to them today but again... still not strong or regular. I talked to DeDe's friend, Marykaren, (who used to be a labor and delivery nurse) for a long time yesterday and she was able to answer lots of my questions about what to expect, what's normal, what's not. I feel so much more at ease with these answers.

I'm still nesting and running errands like crazy. Everybody says to rest right now because I won't be able to for awhile after you get here but I can't stop it! I made some returns of duplicates from the shower and was able to exchange for different sizes and such. You have so many clothes! I really hope you get to wear them all before you grow out of them! You have really got everything you need and more for quite awhile and I have a feeling that if something came up that you didn't have, we would have at least 5 different people fighting to get it for you! You are so loved, anticipated, and prepared for. You have been a part of my life plan for a very long time. I feel so blessed to be experiencing this... every single bit of it... even occasional pain or discomfort. You are worth every bit. I can't wait to see your face and smell your sweet, fresh baby smell... as soon as you're ready and not a moment before.

Love,
Mommy

38 Weeks!

Hi Hudson!

We've made it to 38 weeks this week. I can't believe you are full term and from all accounts very healthy. We will meet you very soon and we are so excited about that! 

We got to see you on the ultrasound Tuesday [will post pictures this weekend]! You were very active and the nurse had to chase you all over the place to get her measurements! You seem to be weighing around 6lbs 13oz and can be expected to grow 1/2 - 1lb per week until you arrive. You could be close to 9lbs! Yikes! We knew you would be big all along... it's just a feeling that we've had. You are in a great position and fluid looks good around you. I have felt more of an urgency to get things ready for you every day.... when in reality... all you need is me and your daddy... and a car seat (they won't let us leave the hospital without that). It's amazing to me how much stuff you have! We've got some great friends and family that absolutely can't wait to meet you!

I've been up for nearly an hour now and you are getting very hungry! Time for breakfast little one.

Love,

Mom

Work "bay-bee" shower :)

37 Weeks!

I am due THREE weeks [21 days] [504 hours...] from today. 

What an eventful week!!

Saturday, Dustin and I went to the childbirth and lactation class that the hospital offers for expectant parents. It was calming to hear what to expect and get some pointers from the pros. Afterward, our niece, Lexy, spent the night with us... she is a hoot! We shopped all over town with my Mom and Aunt Lisa... spying at what was missing off the registries making sure the registries were well stocked for last minute shoppers.

Sunday was the "Bay-bee" shower to beat all baby showers! Rachel [and the other 17 hostesses] did an outstanding job with the decorations and flow of the shower. The theme was "Mommy-to-bee". Rachel's mom has an amazing collection of honey jars and honey bee stuff. It was absolutely perfect. They used my newest color combo obsession of yellow and grey and got super creative with the details... the pictures really don't do it justice! We had such a great turn out. Hudson got a great variety of gifts fulfilling his every need. 

At work today, we had a diapers and wipes shower for me and Heather (scheduled for C-section on the 22nd). We are super stocked in the diapers and wipes department. Dustin jokes that it may only last us a week :). [camera is at work... will post pictures tomorrow... we are seriously stocked for awhile!]

After work was a doctor's appointment. Quick and painless. He told me that I'll be getting an ultrasound next week to check position and size.  I am so super pumped about this!! I get to see my baby one more time before he gets here!!! The other best part is that it falls on an off night for Dustin so he will be there too!

Let the nesting begin! After the shower on Sunday, I went to the funeral home for a former patient/friend of the family. When I got home, I started organizing and putting away gifts from the shower. I couldn't stop myself! I did it all that night. Then last night after dinner, I came home and re-arranged it all again. Tonight, after the dr's appointment, Mom came over and helped me do it all again! I knew that it would be very time consuming to open my gifts at the shower, so I asked my hostesses to do it for me and display them. I highly recommend this method if you are only having one large shower. I was able to socialize and love on everyone that was there to love on me. The girls did a great job of documenting who brought what. It has been so much fun to try to match who gave what before looking at the list. I'm pretty good at this game! 

Precious

Thank you Unlce Jon-jon!

36 Weeks!

Every single day this week, I woke up with the thought... O.M.G. I'm gonna have a baby in a month. I have wanted to be a mom since I could talk. I mothered my baby dolls, animals, friends... OK.... so I still mother my friends and dog and maybe even husband sometimes. The first answer I had when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up was "a mommy". I could not be happier throughout this process. I have had a fantastic pregnancy with wonderful friends and family to enjoy this special time. I have felt super-spoiled and pampered throughout by everyone.... let's hope that continues *wink, nudge*.

I am now going to the doctor weekly until I have the baby. I love my doctor's office. The staff has been so sweet, helpful, calming and accommodating. Everything is going well. I have not had any pain or Braxton Hicks. I'm comfortable... mostly... except for the heat sometimes so I just stay inside as much as possible.

Hudson,

You are moving like crazy! You roll and twist so much that sometimes I worry about the cord getting wrapped around your neck. Your Daddy and I LOVE feeling you move... so don't stop just yet! I know that God has us in His hands and whatever happens, we'll be ok and taken care of. I hope that you grow to love and trust in God's plan for your life.

Keep cooking as long as you need to... I'm in no hurry.

Love,
Mommy