38 Weeks and Getting a Little Antsy!

I'm not going to lie. The past couple of days have really shaken my spirit! I've been stressed and exhausted- I am just feeling READY. This boy is so "funny" that he's faked labor a couple of times. Not all out labor, but enough that I have uncomfortable contractions all day long, going from 7 minutes, to 6 minutes, to 5 minutes apart, lasting for a minute each, for about an hour (yup- just enough to make us think, "oh boy, this is it!"). And then as soon as we get excited, they slow down. And then stop... and then start again a couple hours later! AH! It's so frustrating sometimes!!!

I'm trying to be patient, because I know this boy will come in due time, and in the perfect fashion. I know God has a perfect plan, and his timing is just right. I know this, because I've always witnessed this in my life. Right when we're most frustrated, asking God why things aren't happening the way WE want them to happen, or in the timing we want them to happen, but then in retrospect we see God has SO much better of a plan for our lives. If I knew what was best for me, I wouldn't have met me husband, or be living in my beautiful home here in Lansing, expecting a fantastic son. I just have to start reminding myself of that! If you are a praying person- please be praying that I will start truly BELIEVING this and feeling that God's plan's much better than mine. Please pray that if this boy's going to keep being "funny" and take his time- that I will at least be more comfortable in the process! :)

Anyway... I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and now I'm full blown 2 cm dialated, and now 60% effaced. It's progress- not a ton- but progress, none the less!!! :)

Here's this week's update:

I'm 38 Weeks!

Not going to lie... I no longer do my hair. I wear it curly because I can do nothing with it for two days. Yup. I give up! :)

 

How Far Along: 38 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: He's about 19 1/2 inches long, and about 6.8 lbs... Wow, that's a lot o' baby!

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Ah, back up to 30lb weight gain. Oh well. I'm going to breastfeed (Lord-willing) so that should help take some of that off... Right?! :)

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: Well... He's running out of room, obviously. He's dropped VERY low (according to the doctor). What's the coolest is that I've been able to feel Keegan's little fingers for a while- but this week I could feel him going to town with those little hands really strong, and so I had Kris feel them too! It's so awesome. I can't wait to feel those fingers OUTSIDE of my belly. COME ON, KEEGAN!!! Let's GO, Buddy!

 

Sleep: I hardly sleep. I miss the days of when I used to sleep 10-11 hours a night on the weekend... Now I'm good if I get 6-7 hours... And I'm waking up every 2 hours! 

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore, not hurting all over in general!

 

Cravings: Well I'm quite the fan of Honey Bunches of Oat's lately. Unfortunately, even THAT gives me acid reflux. Ha! How is that possible?!

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints and hips, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, a lot more shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time, lot's of contractions... UGH.

 

Best Moment this week: Hmm... I hate to say that nothing really imparticular stood out to me! I'm not being a pessimist, but I'm just so whooped that I don't feel like I can think of anything that is a best moment!!!

37 weeks... Full term baby! :)

Well. Look at us! 37 weeks pregnant! That's full term! So crazy. However, this boy is already giving us a run for the money. Keegan's always been EXTREMELY active, and then all of a sudden, yesterday morning I woke up, and didn't feel that boy move ALL day. Typically at night, Kris will talk to my stomach and wake Keegan up right before we go to sleep, and then- obviously-I have a hard time falling asleep with a 19 inch kicking baby in my belly. Last night, Kris talked into my stomach, and that child didn't budge. Last night when I woke up in the middle of the night I didn't feel him kick, but only felt him having the hiccups for a couple of minutes, and then they left.

ALL day I didn't feel anything either! I even got a chocolate shake on my lunch break to try and get that child to move- to no avail. I finally told Kris that I hadn't felt him in a couple of days, and Kris encouraged me to call the doctor. I called, and the nurse recommended that I head to the hospital after work for some monitoring just to make sure he was okay. They took me right back, and I explained everything I just explained to you, to the nurse. She decided to poke everywhere that baby could possibly feel to try and irritate him to move. Nope, still wouldn't move! She hooked us up to the machine, and his heart rate was great. They could detect some movement (small movements, but movement none the less) and were encouraged by that. I've had contractions for the past week or so, and they monitored those as well. After an hour they averaged that I'm getting contractions about every 6-10 minutes (woot, woot!- come on, my little full term, baby!). And to my surprise, I'm already starting to dilate- only about 1-2cm so far- but hey, that's progression and I couldn't be more excited!

Keegan still didn't kick at the hospital, though. I was able to pick up dinner on the way home, and Kris was able to get out of  class a little early. And now that we're home with full bellies, guess who's being such a silly guy?! Mr. Keegan Michael! I'm laying in bed, and this child is starting to kick around like no one's business. Really, child?! He's a naughty little guy I have on my hands. Either that, or a super sound sleeper!!! :)

Anyway, let's hope this progression continues... BECAUSE....

I'm 37 Weeks!

 

 

How Far Along: 37 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: He's just over 19 inches long, and about 6 1/3lbs... Wow, that's a lot o' baby!

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I lost a pound this week at the doctor! I'm down to 29lb weight gain! Woot, woot!

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: Well, I think that huge three paragraph novel above describes his movement this week!

 

Sleep: What's that?! I think it's safe to say I'm now just sleeping about 3 hours a night any more. I'm whooped. I know it's just "natures" way of preparing me for once Keeg's is born and I'm hardly sleeping either. But it's so exhausting! I just wanna sleep!

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore!

 

Cravings: Hmmm. Nothing in particular. Just food in general :)

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints and hips, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, a lot more shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time...

 

Best Moment this week: My dear friends, Dorelle and Bryan had their baby boy, Gavin, on Saturday! He's precious. He has the most expressive little eyebrows. And let me say, I was holding him on Tuesday evening, and when he started crying, Keegan went nuts in my belly. It was so funny. It was almost like he was saying, "HEY! That's MY mom! Back off, Gav!"

Gearin' Up

Welp, this has been a great couple of days. I had to work on Saturday, but had decided a while back to take today and tomorrow off of work to wrap up on some last minutes things for me, Kris and the dogs before all the huge changes that come with the arrival of baby Keegan. We've been busy, though. I'm cooking like crazy, freezing leftovers, taking the dogs to the vet for shots so we can take them to the kennel while we're at the hospital, and doctor's appointments. Lot's of busy work, but it's all worth it in the end! :)

We recently recieved the cutest little sleep gowns as a gift. They're all organic, and SO soft and cozy. The sleeves fold over so that Keegan will not be able to scratch his face. They're not exactly like this one, but I think the one's we recieved were discontinued, so this is the same brand (Tadpole) just a different look. OURS are grey, with blue trim and have a sweet little blue bear on the front that says, "Cute Little Bear":

So cozy! I wish that I could snuggle up in one of these. They're so cozy and soft. I have one of them packed in our hospital bag so Keegan can wear it while we lounge around Sparrow for a couple of days.

I've continued to cook like crazy. My lucky, lucky husband! :) Ha! I think because we're starting to eat so much at home, it's helping me out on the scale! Its so easy to forget about all the empty calories that you consume at a restaurant or when you get carry out! Amazingly, at the doctor today I was down a pound from last Wednesday... Woot, woot!

Tonight's dinner was Baked Chicken Spaghetti Casserole... and it was DELICIOUS!

Here's the recipe for anyone that might be interested:

INGREDIENTS:5 tablespoons margarine
1 2/3 cup celery,chopped
1 2/3 cup onion ,chopped
1 1/4 cup green pepper,chopped
1 2/3 teaspoon flour
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 2/3 cup milk
1 2/3 can cream of mushroom soup
black pepper
3 1/3 cups chicken breast cooked and cubed
20 ounces spaghetti cooked and drained
1 2/3 cup mexican blend cheese ,shredded
buttered cracker crumbs

PREPARATION:Cook celery, onion and green pepper in margarine. Stir in flour, chicken broth and milk , cook until thickened and bubbley. Add mushroom soup.
In a 9x13 baking dish layer each of the sauce and spaghetti. Repeat layers again. Top with cheese and cracker crumbs.

Bake at 325F for 45 min or until bubbly.

Just one little prayer request: today at the doctor they measured Keegan. He's actually measuring small (like a couple of weeks behind). The doctor said that it's okay, but as a mom-to-be I can't help but be a little concerned. Hopefully that just means that I'll get that 6lb-something-oz baby I was hoping for, and that other than that, he'll be strong and healthy! Just continue to pray for a healthy little mister, and for patience for ME as I start itching to have this boy born.

36 Weeks/4= NINE MONTHS PREGNANT

Isn't that crazy?! When you think about the time table, I know you're pregnant a lot longer than nine months, but sheesh. That's nuts!

This has been a great week. I had a weekend of doing NOTHING with my husband, and it was phenomenal. I had a prenatal massage and pedicure at Zoe Spa here in Lansing as a gift (for no reason!) from my husband. What a great surprise (he is absolutely the BEST). I SO enjoyed it... however, before heading into the spa, I found out that my cousin, Ellen, was in labor! Her baby wasn't due until April 11, so he was a little early, but I have to say, my day at the spa was a lot less relaxing than I thought because I had my phone out the whole time and was constantly checking Facebook for updates!

Shortly after, Parker Thomas was born- and he is a beauty!!! It makes me so stinking excited to have this baby. I have to say, Ellen is another example of quick labors on my mom's side of the family. I PRAY that I follow that trend! :) I just don't know how I would manage a really long one (now, because I'm putting that on the record I will be in labor for 24 hours!).

And I have to say, I think I'm starting to nest. Yes, I've been decorating at cleaning, but that's been most of my pregnancy that I've been doing that. What I have not been doing consistently is cooking. In fact, we joked around the other week that I think I've only cooked like, 2 meals since I got pregnant. My poor husband! BUT, that lucky duck has been getting home made dinners every night this week! From Chicken Stuffing Casserole to Chicken A La King, and now... when he gets home from class, he is in for a treat.... I made for the first time today: HOMEMADE ENCHILADAS! Absolutely delish!!!!

I follow another woman's blog, and she recently had another baby. She posted that one thing she did for while she was at the hospital, was have fancy sugar cookies made to pass out to the nurses as a "thank you." I thought it was a phenomenal idea, but since I cannot afford/do not feel like spending a load of money on fancy cookies, I bought a kit to make my OWN fancy sugar cookies, that I wrapped up in little clear bags and tied curly ribbon bows on them. These beauties are now in my freezer waiting for the perfect time to come out and thank the nurses for all their hard work:

Anyway, it's update time!

I'm 36 Weeks!

How Far Along: 36 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: He's about 18 1/2 inches long, and about 6lbs... Wow, that's a lot o' baby!

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Welp- this week it looks like I hit the good ol' 30lb mark... I think me and my jogging stroller will be best friends this summer!

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: Keegan is SO busy all the time. I know he's running out of room, and I can't help but wonder where else he will go! I will actually kind of miss always feeling him in my belly, though. 

 

Sleep: I've had SUCH trouble sleeping lately- no matter how many pillows I'm sleeping on, I am sore, and stuffy and keep getting acid reflux! All the among the frequent potty trips makes for one sleepy lady.

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore!

 

Cravings: Milk and Cadberry eggs, and homemade food! Ha! I guess after nine months of NOT COOKING, you'll start craving some nice homemade meals! :)

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints and hips, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, a lot more shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time...

 

Best Moment this week: My prenatal massage and pedicure... AND... Finding out my cousin welcomed her sweet boy into the world! That is SO exciting!!! :)