Pictures

Bunny had her first pediatrician appointment today.  At the hospital yesterday, she was down 6 ounces from her birth weight.  As of today, she has gained 5 of those ounces back.  Yay for breast milk!!  LOL!  She has jaundice, so I'm feeding her on demand and waking her if its been too long between feedings.  I was a little over zealous at first, and she wasn't latching properly which led to really sore nipples.  But it's getting much better now.  I'll do a full update later, just wanted to post while I had a quick second.

Introducing....

Yorlee Belle aka "Bunny"

Born on Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 11:16AM.  She weighs 7lbs 1 oz and is 19 3/4 inches long.

To say that I'm in love is an understatement.  I can't stop staring at her, and I STILL can't believe that she's mine!


Birth Story:
Labor was intense, but it was only 8 hours from start to finish.  And I didn't require any stitches or have any major tearing so I guess I really shouldn't complain.  My midwife said that I just have a few "scratches" but they didn't require any attention, and they don't hurt at all.

I had been "crampy" since about 3PM on Friday afternoon.  And I was irritable.  SUPER irritable.  I pretty much hated everyone and I wasn't sure why.  The Braxton Hicks I was experiencing weren't really painful so I didn't think they were the real deal or that I was in labor.

Finally I noticed that they were coming every 5 minutes, still painless.  I took note but still didn't think labor was coming.  My husband and I continued watching episodes of 24 on Netflix and then I decided to take a dose of castor oil to get things moving along.  That was at 8PM.

The castor oil gave me it's usual side effects, frequent trips to the restroom, but I just KNEW it didn't work.  My braxton hicks contractions still didn't hurt although they were still regular.

After another trip to the restroom, I noticed some bloody discharge.  I thought it was just residual discharge from when I had my membranes stripped on Thursday.  But something told me it was different.  I mentioned it to my husband and he said I should call the midwife on duty and ask her about it.  By that time it was around 2:30AM and I just didn't feel like being on the phone.  So I told him that I'd call in the morning and got in the bed.  I had been laying down for maybe 20 minutes when I felt this weird pinching sensation in my belly and literally heard a POP!  I told my husband that I was in pain, and then went to get out the bed to go to the bathroom when I felt a gush.  My water broke!!  My husband was out of the bed putting clothes on in seconds.  I rushed to the bathroom and sat on the toilet, then when the water stopped leaking I grabbed a sanitary napkin to put on and put on a sweatshirt, and we were out the door.  Once in the car, I called the midwife on duty to let her know that we were on our way.  We arrived at the hospital in 20 minutes and I was sent to Triage.  The contractions had really started to pick up and hurt in the car, and I was concerned because I hadn't felt Bunny move since my water broke.  I was really rushing through the questioning in Triage and couldn't wait to be put on the monitors.

Once the monitors were put on, I was able to relax.  Bunny's heart rate was normal.  Thank goodness!!!  They then checked me to see if I was indeed leaking amniotic fluid and performed an internal exam.  I was 3 centimeters dilated and 70% effaced.  The midwife could feel the hair on Bunny's head.  She left out to get the results and came back to say it was negative for amniotic fluid.  I knew I wasn't crazy.  Either way she told me that they were going to admit me because my contractions were regular and I was obviously in pain.  I shifted in bed and felt another gush, and my husband told the midwife so that she could come collect another sample.  By this time I was still having my bloody show so I went to the bathroom to get cleaned up.  When I came back out my husband told me the test was positive, I was really in labor!!

They did a quick ultrasound to ensure Bunny was head down, I got my fluid IV put in, and we were admitted and transferred to a room.

By the time we made it to our room.  I was in agony.  The pain was so intense, and coming so quickly that I didn't know what to do.  I opted to have an epidural.  By the time the team from anesthesia came to the room, I was done.  I was in so much pain that all I could do was grab the bed rails during contractions.  They put the epidural in super fast, and then I started to feel some relief.

My sisters came to the hospital at the point, and I was able to chat with them for a while.  After about 10 minutes, I was in intense pain again.  I asked them to go back to the lobby and wait for awhile so I could figure out what was going on.  Then my back started to hurt.  That pain was like no other!!  The nurse called anesthesia back to top off my epidural again.  They were confused because I hadn't had it in for long.  It was probably about an hour.  The top off didn't do A THING!!  Oh, I was so frustrated.  They thought they should check me again to see if I was progressing.  I was 5 centimeters.  I was turned on my side so Bunny could ease her way down the birth canal and under my pelvic bone.  After that, the pain increased.  It wasn't coming in waves or intervals, it was constant.  I could barely breathe through them.  The back pain was so intense that my husband was applying constant counter pressure.

Finally, I reached a point where the pain was never ending.  One contraction would run into another.  My back was KILLING me, and I was in panic mode.  I was groaning and sweating and feeling like I was going to vomit.  The midwife decided to check me again, and announced that I was completely dilated.  I don't know why, but I burst into tears.  I think I was just scared and overwhelmed.  She had me do some practice pushing, as they gathered the necessary supplies for the birth.

I didn't really feel as though I was pushing effectively.  And I was scared of going to the bathroom.  (Remember, I took castor oil, LOL!)  One of the midwives suggested giving me a mirror.  That was the best thing I could have done.  I was able to push her out because I could see what I was doing.

I pushed for 45 minutes, and then, Bunny was out!  I was able to reach down and pull her out and immediately cuddle with her for a good 30-45 minutes before they clamped and cut the cord.  She pooped on her way out and it was everywhere!  But we didn't care.  It was on the bed, on my gown, on the controls to the TV, LOL!  She had her first blowout on her way out the womb.  All in all, my labor and delivery was 8 hours from start to finish.  Not too bad.  She started latching on immediately and has been a champ ever since.  I can't wait until my milk comes in so I feel like I'm doing something instead of being her pacifier.  But I know she's getting the necessary nutrients from my colostrum.

I'm so in love!  And so happy that she's healthy.  Everything has been going great so far, I can't wait for the soreness to go away, but other than that it's wonderful!  We waited so long for this precious girl, I'm so glad she's mine!

39 week appointment

All is well!  Although I don't really remember any of the statistics such as, blood pressure, fundal height, Bunny's heart rate, etc.

All of that information went out the window once my midwife checked me and stripped my membranes.  Maybe I'm a wimp, but it hurt like heck!!  It felt like she was in there forever, and it really painful.  Hopefully it gets things going though, I'm really really really ready to meet Bunny.

She said that my body is definitely preparing for labor, the Braxton Hicks contractions that I've been having every 7-10 minutes have softened my cervix a ton, but still hasn't thinned it out all that much.  And I'm still hanging out at around 2cm.

My neighbor had her baby this morning, and she had her membranes stripped on Tuesday, so hopefully Bunny will be here by Saturday.  That would be great!!

39 week belly pic

My oh my!  I'm glad Bunny isn't growing much these last few days, I don't think it's possible for me to get any bigger.  I looked back at some of my previous belly pics and couldn't believe how tiny I was, yet I "thought" I was showing so much!  LOL!

OMGeezers guys, I'm so ready!  I'm going to ask to be checked tomorrow at my midwife appointment, and see if she's willing to strip my membranes.  Hopefully I've made some progress since I've still been having regular BH contractions.  I think I may go crazy if I haven't dilated a little further.

I really don't want to be induced, so I'm hoping not to have to go that route.  There are so many women who are induced and labor for hours and hours, don't progress, and end up with c-sections.  That's not my goal at all.  Also, I don't want to have to be in bed during my labor, I want the freedom to get in the hot tub and walk the halls.  I can handle pain SO much better that way.  But that's just my goal, I'll do whatever it takes to get Bunny out safely.  Hopefully my body kicks itself into gear soon!

39 weeks!! 7 days left until my due date!!

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their kind comments.  It made me feel SO much better.  I'd heard that the last month of pregnancy was rough, I just didn't expect it to be as rough a people said.  Lesson learned!

How far along? 39 weeks pregnant!!  Only one more week until my due date!

Total weight gain/loss: Still hanging around 27/28 lbs.

Sleep: I've transitioned to sleeping during the day and being up at night.  I think it happened last week when I went through a phase where I was just exhausted all the time and kept taking naps during the day.  Hopefully it'll come in handy once Bunny arrives.

Food cravings: Cupcakes, cookies, candy, anything that's junk food related.  Pretty sad...

Best moment this week: Having regular BH contractions, I really hope they turn into the real thing soon!  I'm ready to meet my baby!

Movement: Still rolling around in there.  She's getting stronger, I was lying on my side and she moved and the whole bed shook.  It was so funny! 

Labor Signs: Ugh...  I wish they were more consistent.  Just the usual, pressure/pain in groin area, BH contractions, back pain.


Gender: Still girl, I hope!

Stretchies: I see them forming.  Oh well, not much I can do about it now, I've been oiling up but my belly is stretched to the max and hurts.  They're not noticeable yet, I had them in my 38 week pics near my belly button, I can only see them if I turn to the side at this odd angle.  But I know they'll darken in time, and probably look terrible once Bunny comes out and my skin isn't stretched to death.

Belly Button in or out? Still slightly out, it still hasn't "popped" yet, not sure if it will at this point.

What I miss: My sanity.  These last few weeks of pregnancy are really driving me crazy, I think it's the anticipation.  Hopefully I don't have too much longer to go.

What I am looking forward to: Going into labor.

Symptoms: The usual pregnancy discomforts, Braxton Hicks, mild swelling, frequent urination, irritability, etc.

Milestones: Making it another week.

Weekly wisdom: Sorry, I've got nothing this week...

Emotions: I'm out of it.  I'm so tired and ready to meet my baby.

Still pregnant and Short Term Disability issues

My 7 minute apart contractions lasted until about 6AM.  I knew I wasn't in early labor at around 4:30AM.  I just didn't "feel" it.  I walked around the house for a bit, did some squats, and just relaxed.  Bunny was pressing her head against my pelvic bone and it was hurting really badly, so I was trying to get her to move a bit.  I'm still having a few BH here and there, but nothing regular.  We'll see!  I'm at the point where I feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever, even though it's irrational.  And people's comments are really starting to irritate me.  I understand that I really don't have a clue about what it's like to have to care for a newborn 24/7, but if I say I'm bored, I really don't want to hear, "You better enjoy it now, I have blah blah blah kids and I forgot what bored feels like."  Okay, great.  I'll try to keep you in mind the next time I'm feeling bored and try to find some enjoyment in it.  Grrr....

My Short Term Disability claim manager called me today to ask some questions.  Turns out, after I didn't go back to work on 12/7, and spoke with my midwife, she told my insurance company that she took me off of work due to "emotional issues".  So it seems that I may have a problem getting paid for the last two weeks that I've been off of work.  First off, I didn't go into her office crying or moaning about emotional issues, I asked her about Postpartum Depression.  This is always a rough time of the year to me (it's the time of year that my mom passed), and I was concerned that with the stress of a new baby, emotions stemming from missing my mom, exhaustion, and changes in hormones, that I'd be a prime candidate for PPD.  I also told her that my boss thought it would be better for me to relax at home, instead of driving 45 minutes to work each way and dealing with people that weren't necessarily reasonable with their requests of a nine month pregnant woman.

I'm hoping that they approve my claim, I never thought that there would be a problem, so Hubby and I haven't really been all that careful with our finances.  Which is stressing me out.

My midwife usually takes women off work at 38 weeks, so I'm hoping I can get paid from my 38th week on.  I hope everything works out okay, I'd hate to get behind on some of our bills because of poor planning and assumptions on my part.  I really want to have everything in order when Bunny arrives, and wasn't expecting this added stress...

Braxton Hicks and back pain

I've been experiencing BH contractions for a couple hours today.  I noticed that they had a pattern to them and decided to time them.  They're 7 minutes apart, but not really painful and not picking up in intensity.  My lower back is also hurting, and I feel pressure "down there".  Not pressure with the urge to push, but kind of a painful pressure.

I feel really calm.  I'm not trying to get my hopes up and think that I'm in early labor, but I do plan to keep timing the BH and see if they continue.  Bunny has been really active, which is great, and all in all I just feel relaxed.

I do wish I knew if this was actually labor beginning or not.  My water breaking, or me having my bloody show would be great!  But I'll just patiently wait and see if things progress.  My due date is fast approaching!!  So Bunny will have to exit sooner or later.

We'll see what happens..

38 week belly pics (sigh....)

I'm not feeling all that photogenic these days, but I figured that since I've been documenting this pregnancy, I might as well post some 38 week pictures. 

(And, today is my last day in double digits!!  Only 10 days left until my due date!!!)

I learned a few things when looking at these photos:

1. Sweatshirts, while comfy, make me look like a cow.
2. My neck is fat.
3. My face is fat.
4. I just feel fat....

Never in my life have I felt this unattractive.  My husband keeps telling me that I look beautiful, that I didn't gain that much weight, that he doesn't care if I get stretchmarks, etc.  But I just feel like BLAH!  I've turned into an emotional creature.  My husband is so handsome, and I feel like garbage when we go out together, like people are wondering why he would marry a cow like me.  Ugh, hormones....  I've debated whether or not to write this post, but I think it's important that I'm able to look back on this pregnancy and see how I really felt.

So, with all that being said, here I am in all my 38 (nearly 39) week glory!!!

Nesting... take 2!

It's back!!!!!!!  LOL!!

What am I doing at 2AM?  (Besides blogging...)  Taking apart my stove and scrubbing the heck out of every nook and cranny.  I also took on the huge task of reorganizing the shelves in our bathroom and dusted the heck out of our bedroom.

My husband keeps telling me that I'm moving too fast, but I just want to get things done.  I'm hopping from one room to another, crouching down to clean under the bed, squatting to clean the bottom of the stove, etc.  It feels good to move around.

I feel WAY more relaxed now.  I completely understand that Bunny is going to come out when she's ready, but I just have to do something with myself in the meantime.

Here's a list of the things I've done to try to get her out:
1. Walk ALOT!!
2. Drank red raspberry leaf tea (I'm actually drinking a cup now.  I've always loved the tea and drank it regularly prepregnancy to help with PMS and cramps.)
3. Ate Eggplant Parmesan.  It was DELICIOUS!  I'd never had it before, but now that I have I'll be ordering it again.
4. Squats and lunges across my living room in hopes that it'll open my pelvis and Bunny will drop down.
5. Had some "quiet time" with the hubs.  (Sorry if TMI!!)  My midwife says it works, hasn't worked yet, but we'll see....
6. Ate fresh pineapple.  Supposedly it has some sort of enzymes that help induce labor.  I've ate it two days in a row and it hasn't done anything yet.

It would be SO funny if I went into labor today.  My sister and her husband get back from their cruise and Hubby and I are supposed to pick them up from the airport.  LOL!!

Happy Friday!!

38 week appointment

All is still going well.  I gained one pound this week.  Well, more like 1/2 a pound.  At this point I'm pretty much over gaining weight.  I've seen the scale move up more times than I would like, but oh well.

Bunny has dropped, as I assumed.  Which explains the lightening crotch I've been SEVERELY experiencing.  It's gotten to the point that sometimes I can't get off the toilet (sorry if TMI), or roll over, or lie down without almost being in tears because of the pain.

She didn't give me a belly measurement this week, and I forgot to ask for one.

Blood pressure was 116/68.

We met with Bunny's new pediatrician today.  It went GREAT!  We loved her!  She had all the qualities that we were looking for, and explained things in complete detail without us even having to ask her.  She doesn't believe in highly medicating children, won't use new medicines and/or vaccinations, has open hours, and was very caring.  She took her time with us and didn't make us feel rushed.

Now we're just waiting....

My midwife is on duty at the hospital we're delivering at this weekend, it would be SO great if Bunny decided to bless us with her presence!

38 weeks later...

And I'm STILL pregnant!  Woo-hoo!  I can't believe it!  I never thought I'd make it this far.  Seriously.  I was praying just to make it to 37 weeks, and here I am.  I'm super excited that Bunny is going to be so "cooked", it looks like my dream of having a "take home" baby will come true after all...

How far along? 38 weeks pregnant!!

Total weight gain/loss: I think I've gained 27 lbs total.  Hard to tell as my weight fluctuated a little since my last midwife appointment.

Sleep: Okay.  I've been REALLY tired lately.  I'll wake up in the morning, and still feel exhausted so I'll get back in the bed and sleep the day away.  Happens every.single.day.

Food cravings: Cereal and junk food.  My husband gets upset with me because when he goes to work all I eat is junk food.

Best moment this week: Packing up the car.  The car seat is in the back and all of our bags are also loaded up.  The only thing we need now is Bunny!!

Movement: She's still really active.  Trying to stretch out all the time.  I also noticed that she reacts more when I have my arm resting on my belly, or if I bend over.  She wiggles around like she's irritated with me.  Attitude already?  Oh dear, I'm in for it!!

Labor Signs: Not enough.  LOL!  I've been having menstrual-type cramps for the past few days, and more Braxton Hicks in my sleep that wake me up.  My husband woke me up with bug eyes the other night because he said I was moaning in my sleep.  When I finally realized that I was actually awake, I noticed I was having one of the worst BH ever!  It hurt so badly!  For some reason they are worse when I'm laying down.  Hopefully I'll be able to walk around when I'm actually in labor.


Gender: From what I can tell she's still a girl, LOL!  I still have dreams that she's a boy, I really hope my dreams are wrong!

Stretchies: I have two starting to pop up under my belly.  Made me so sad.  Hopefully I can contain them and they don't spread.  Ugh, I was so happy not to have any on my bump, but they just HAD to pop up!

Belly Button in or out? Still slightly out, it still hasn't "popped" yet, not sure if it will at this point.

What I miss: Absolutely nothing.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting Bunny.  That's all I think about these days.  Oh, and cleaning up my house.  It's a mess, but after my one day of "nesting" I've had no desire to get it back in order.

Symptoms: The usual pregnancy discomforts, Braxton Hicks, mild swelling, frequent urination, irritability, etc.

Milestones: Every day is a milestone for me.  I'm so happy to be where I'm at.  I just can't wait to meet my baby girl!

Weekly wisdom: Grilled cheese sandwiches are SO much better at 3AM.  Mmmmm!!!

Emotions: Nervous.  I still have these fears of something happening to Bunny before she's born, or after she's born.  Hopefully once I see her they'll go away.  I probably won't get any sleep after she's born.  Not because she'll keep me up, but because I'll keep myself up checking on her every second of every day.  I'm sure of it.

Eggplant Parm to induce labor??? I'm gonna try it!

So, my older sister called me today and told me about some stories she heard regarding eggplant parmesan inducing labor for some women.

Now, I'm really, really grateful that Bunny has stayed put for so long, but at this point I think emotions are getting the best of me and I'm ready to meet my baby girl.  So on Thursday, after my midwife appointment, if I haven't made any progress Hubby and I will be going out for dinner.  I'll be ordering a huge plate of eggplant parmesan.  According to the myth, it's supposed to put women into labor within 48 hours of consumption.  That means that I should be in labor by Saturday, which would be perfect because I'll be halfway to 39 weeks by then, and my husband is off work from Saturday - Tuesday.  He'll take Wednesday - Friday off and be able to be home with us all that time!  Perfection!!

But, just like any great plan, I'm sure it won't work.  I just feel the need to do something!  Sitting and waiting is harder than I had anticipated.  We went for a walk around the mall yesterday.  And I mean, I WALKED.  More of a slight jog.  Nothing happened.  I know in the end, Bunny will come out when she's good and ready.  I think me trying to evict her is more of a mental thing for me to keep my sanity.  It's been snowing like crazy here, and I haven't wanted to go out much, so I think I have a case of cabin fever.

38 weeks tomorrow!!  Awesomeness!!

Nesting...

Nesting mode has seriously taken over.  I woke up at 4AM with the strong urge to clean, clean, clean.  Everything irritates me.  Dust on the entertainment center.  A dirty rag in the kitchen sink.  A speck of lint on the carpet.  I feel like burning the house down and starting over!

And my husband thinks I'm crazy.  I expected the nesting instinct to kick in.  Actually, I thought I had already went through the phase when I was scrambling around to get all Bunny's necessities together.  But this is different.  This time I'm much more emotional.  I had to take a break because I felt like crying after I assigned myself the task to reorganize our entire walk in closet.

Some people say that this is one of the first signs of labor.  I really hope so!  My Braxton Hicks contractions are getting stronger and feeling more like bad menstrual cramps.  They even started to wake me up in the middle of the night.

But who knows?  Bunny may stay in my belly until next year.

I wrote this blog post to give myself a break from cleaning, but I feel like this "mess" is just staring at me, so I'm off to sort some clothes and do some laundry.

Happy Friday everyone!!

37 week appointment update

All went well with the appointment today.  I received my letter from my midwife so I can continue to collect Short Term Disability until I return to work.  So I'm officially on "maternity leave".  Feels good to know that I don't have to worry about work (or money).

Fundal Height: 37 cm
Blood pressure: 120/68
Weight gained: 1 lb
Bunny's heart rate: 155 bpm

I didn't have an internal exam this appointment.  My midwife didn't see the need to check at every appointment unless I was having more severe Braxton Hicks.  But, the good news is that Bunny is still head down, and in the most optimal position for birth.  Her back is at my left side.  We were instructed to practice what we learned in childbirth class 3 times a week so I feel more comfortable in my ability to push her out.

We set up a consultation with our pediatrician of choice for next week.  It was a very relaxed appointment.  I discussed my concerns about me having PPD, and will be calling the Behavioral Health office so I can get some pointers of things to do to prevent PPD, and what treatment I will receive if I do end up getting it.

I feel very accomplished today, everything seems like it is on the right track.  Now we're just waiting for Bunny to come out and join us!

Babies, babies, EVERYWHERE!

It seems as though everyone is having their baby!!

My neighbor (that is due the same day as me) is currently in the hospital waiting to be induced.  Her blood pressure was high at her appointment today so they admitted her for monitoring and said they will most likely induce her today.

My previous coworker (who wasn't due until January 6th) had her baby today.  I'm not sure what the story is behind his early delivery, but I do know that they are both doing well.

Ashley, a fellow blogger, had her baby boy 8 days ago.  He was premature, as he was born at 33 weeks, but they are both on the road to recovery.

All of this just makes me realize that I'm close to meeting MY baby as well!  I'm SO thankful that we don't have any health issues and that she is considered full term.  My eyes were totally opened by the above events.  I've been doing my kick counts religiously, and making sure that I stay on top of everything.  Call me paranoid, but I really want to make sure my baby girl is okay.  I have a midwife appointment tomorrow, I can't wait to see if I've dilated any.  Probably not, but a girl can wish.

I'm just so anxious to see Bunny's face and hold her little hand.  Makes my heart leap for joy.

THE milestone.... 37 weeks = FULL TERM!!!!!!

I'm on such a high today.  WE MADE IT!  My body held Bunny in until she was FULL TERM!  As I'm typing this with one hand, because the other one is on my belly, feeling my sweet little girl roll around almost as if she's celebrating with me.  We did it, we made it!!!  I'm so excited, and I'm SO ready to meet this little one.  Surprisingly, it still feels so surreal to me.  I can't wait to see her face, hear her cry, look into her eyes, and say, "Hi, I'm your Mommy."  The thought just brings tears to my eyes.  I still pray that she remains safe in there and is born healthy.

I'm going to have a baby!!!  Ahhhh!!  I'm still in disbelief, but I'm so excited!!!

Now on to the 37 week (FULL TERM) update!


How far along? 37 weeks!!  I've reached my LAST milestone, now on to delivery!!

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure, I don't think I gained very much this past week.

Sleep: Still great only if I'm propped up.  I have this weird pain at the top of my belly that radiates through my upper back.  I had a urinalysis done not too long ago, so I'm not worried about it being a UTI or anything.  I think it may be Bunny's foot or something, because I don't feel it all the time.  I'm bringing it up at my appointment on Thursday.

Food cravings: Still whatever I see on TV.  And loads of sweets.  I actually have to stop myself from purchasing junk food when at the store.  It's sad.... LOL!

Best moment this week: Making it to full term!!  Oh, and deciding after ONE day back to work that I'd rather be at home.  My boss was so sweet and let me take the rest of the time off.  Hopefully my midwife will take me back off.  We'll see.

Movement: Definitely!  She has her active periods, and her rest periods.  I'm really noticing a pattern right now.  Which may mean that she's going to be up from 10PM until about 1AM when she's born.  I'll be sure to assign my husband that shift.  HA!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks.  TONS of them.  And they're getting more intense and make me feel like I can't breathe.  I literally have them all day.  And they hurt.  Now I'm worried that my plan to go "natural" won't happen, because if real labor contractions hurt WORSE than these, I'm in trouble!!


Gender: From what I can tell she's still a girl, LOL!  I still have dreams that she's a boy, I really hope my dreams are wrong!

Stretchies: No new ones...

Belly Button in or out? Still slightly out, it still hasn't "popped" yet, not sure if it will at this point.

What I miss: Absolutely nothing.


What I am looking forward to: My midwife appointment, and going into labor!  I really hope it's soon because I'm so ready to see this little girl!

Symptoms: The usual pregnancy discomforts, Braxton Hicks, mild swelling, frequent urination, irritability, etc.

Milestones: Hitting 37 weeks.  I still hope and pray that Bunny is safe and healthy.  I'm so excited!!

Weekly wisdom: Don't force yourself to go back to work.  LOL!  I did that and only lasted ONE measly day.  Oh well, I had to do what's best for my baby and my body.

Emotions: Good, I think I'm starting to nest.  I've been cleaning all morning, and don't see it stopping anytime soon.  Hopefully that means that Bunny will be on her way soon!!

One more day...

Until full term!!  I could just cry!  I can't believe we made it this far.  I'm so grateful.

Today is my first day back at work after being on bed rest.  And it's hard.  I'm sore and tired, but knowing that my baby girl will be full term tomorrow makes me feel like I can do anything.  I pray that she remains healthy and safe in there until delivery.

Wow.. one more day...

India Arie - Beautiful

36 week appointment update

All went well!  I only gained one pound (woo-hoo!!).  My cervix hasn't dilated any further, my blood pressure was 120/80, and Bunny's heart rate was 140 bpm.

Also, I decided to go back to work.  It was totally my choice, because they said that if Bunny was born now, chances are she'd be perfectly fine, but financially it was a better decision for me.  My husband thinks that I'm going to go in to work on Monday, and then go into labor on Tuesday. LOL!  It would be too funny if that happened.  My goal is to be able to spend as much time with Bunny after she's born, which further encouraged me to bite the bullet and go back to work.

I feel pretty good, no more restrictions, and a lot less worrying about Bunny.  When I go back to work on Monday, I'll be one day away from full term.  Which is awesome!!!  I feel so much more relaxed about everything.  And now I'm just focused on meeting my baby girl, who is currently smashing my bladder with her head.

I have another appointment on Thursday, I'm hoping that by then things start progressing.  Isn't that funny?  I was trying so hard to keep her in, and now I want her out!  LOL!

Midwife appointment today

I'm curious to see what she says, I may be sent back to work or I may be taken off until Bunny is born.  I don't really have a preference.  But I do have to admit that I did get really comfortable over my two week bedrest.  I've also noticed that the BH have picked up, especially when I'm up (making a sandwich, going to the restroom, etc.).

I also wonder if I've dilated anymore since I was at the hospital.  Bunny will be full term in 5 days, so I'm really starting to relax more and not be so concerned if she decides to make her debut sooner than later.  But it would be funny to me if she stayed put.  We'll see!

I'll be updating as soon as I return.  Hopefully we'll have good news!

Maternity Photos

We recently had our maternity photos taken at Ernest Sisson Photography.  They turned out great!  Unfortunately, we weren't able to do the outdoors session because I was put on bedrest.  But he agreed to do our newborn photos instead.  So excited!

I own the rights to these photos, so please don't steal them!  LOL (But seriously...)  Enjoy!

36 weeks pregnant! Woo-hoo!!!

How far along? 36 weeks baby!  Only one week until full term.  Hang in there Bunny!!!

Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain this week.  Surprisingly....  So, still at 25 lbs.

Sleep: Great, if I sleep sitting up.  If I sleep laying down, not so great...  But we're at the tail end of this pregnancy so I don't expect to be sleeping like a baby.

Food cravings: Whatever I see on TV.  Currently, Krispy Kreme donuts.  I haven't had any yet, but they were on a Food Network TV show and now I HAVE to have some.  Hopefully I'll be able to indulge tomorrow.

Best moment this week: Finally packing my hospital bag, and NOT being in labor.  I put the bare minimum in my bag, I'll let the hospital supply the rest.

Movement: Yup, she still pokes her elbows and knees out all the time.  She's running out of room for sure now, and is starting to wiggle even more often.

Labor Signs: Losing mucous plug, Braxton Hicks, dilated 1-2 centimeters, pain in my groin, etc


Gender: ALL girl!  (Although I have been having dreams that Bunny is a boy, but I'm going to trust the multiple ultrasound technicians that told me that Bunny is a girl...  They'd better be right!  My house is full of pink stuff, LOL!)

Stretchies: Same ones, the ones on my sides that I thought went away are getting darker, but I've been oiling them up every day.  Hopefully they fade quickly.

Belly Button in or out? More out than in.  It totally blends with the rest of my belly although the top slightly pokes out.

What I miss: Being able to breathe, but I know soon enough I'll be able to breathe just fine.

What I am looking forward to: My midwife appointment and next week, when we're FULL TERM!!!

Symptoms: The usual pregnancy discomforts, Braxton Hicks, mild swelling, frequent urination, irritability, etc.

Milestones: Like I've said before, every day is a milestone.

Weekly wisdom: Pregnancy goes way quicker than you'd think.  I went and read some posts I wrote when I was like 11 weeks pregnant and I wanted it to be over so quickly.  It really flew by!  It seems ages away, yet like it was just yesterday.

Emotions: I'm super clingy towards my husband lately.  I think it's just reality setting in that soon it's not going to be just us two anymore.  Not that I'm not happy, it's just a change.  A welcomed change, but still a change nonetheless.  We're getting SO close!!!

Whoa Nelly!!

Less than 30 days until my due date!!

I can't believe how close we're getting!  I seriously think Bunny is going to come sooner, the BH are still here and I'm steadily losing pieces of my mucous plug (sorry if TMI).

36 week post coming tomorrow, I'm so glad we made it to this point!

Hospital Bag and Labor & Delivery

Carlene and Georgina are going to kill me when they see this post! LOL!

We were all gathered over my older sisters house for a friends & family dinner yesterday afternoon.  Carlene and Georgina came with their HANDSOME little boys and we had a ball watching them run around.  Georgina has a 9 month old DOLL BABY named Nathan that I just couldn't get enough of.  And he's a chunker!  She kept telling me not to pick him up because "I don't want to read on your blog tomorrow that he put you into labor!!"  Famous last words....

After they left I noticed that my Braxton Hicks contractions were getting stronger and closer together.  It was to the point that I felt uncomfortable and grumpy during them.  So DH and I decided to casually sneak out of my sisters house and head to the hospital.  The ride there was painful.  I was worried, and hurting, and just kind of freaked out.  We were silent in the car.  Once we made it there, the attendant ran out with a wheelchair and wheeled me inside the Emergency Room.  My husband parked the car, even though they had valet.  He was just in a rush and didn't read the sign.  He came in and the attendant pretty much ran us to Labor & Delivery.  We checked in and they whisked us back in Triage and had me get situated to be put on the monitors and have an internal exam.  That's when I started to think, "Oh shoot!  I don't have my hospital bag, or Bunny's bag, OR the car seat!  I really hope she doesn't come tonight!"  Well, after that trip to L&D, I now know that I don't need ANY of the crap I was going to bring with me in my hospital bag.  They gave me everything I could possible need.  Non-slip socks, a comfy hospital gown/nursing gown, undies, etc.

Anyways, Bunny looked great on the monitor, she was moving all around just as happy as can be.  But it did show that I was contracting, and frequently.  The midwife on duty came in and checked me and noticed that I was about 1-2 centimeters dilated, but she didn't think I was in active labor.  They decided to have me drink tons of water and monitor me for a few hours.  I noticed that my stomach was just plain hurting while I was there.  It wasn't BH's it was just pain.  Then I realized that I hadn't gone, er... number 2.... in like 5 days!!  My husband looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Why didn't you tell me that?  You ate all that food and haven't gone to the bathroom?!?"  It never really crossed my mind, to be honest.  At that time, the nurse came in to remove the monitors so that I could rest before they came back to check me again.  I decided to go attempt to use the restroom.  What better place to try than at the hospital, huh?

Success!  I felt so much better after that (sorry if TMI), the BH contractions had eased up, and I felt more like myself again.  I even fell asleep for about an hour while waiting on the midwife to return.  She checked me and I was the same, which was great!  No progress meant no active labor.  They put the fetal monitors back on me just to make sure Bunny was okay, and then I was free to get dressed and be discharged.  The nurse gave me a pad because I was spotting a little from the internal exam.  I thought people were kidding when they said that hospital pads are the size of mattresses. Umm, no!  They are serious!  It barely fit into my underwear and made me waddle even more.  So I now know not to bother bringing undies to the hospital.  It's not even worth it.  I'll use their mesh ones.

All in all, I was dehydrated and a little backed up, which was irritating my uterus.  Bunny can still bake for a little while longer.  I feel relieved.  Oh, and Georgina, Nathan did NOT put me into labor!  LOL!!

I'm exhausted today, we didn't get discharged until 3AM, and didn't get home and in the bed until 4AM.  Needless to say, I'm ready to pass out.  Hopefully that'll be our last trip to L&D before 37 weeks, because they wouldn't have even attempted to stop my labor last night.

35/35 and only TWO weeks left until full term!!!!

How far along? 35 weeks, with 35 days left until my due date!  AND, only two weeks left until full term.

Total weight gain/loss: 25 lbs.  I packed on the pounds since my last appointment, but my midwife seemed okay with it.  Me, not so much...

Sleep: Pretty bad.  I keep having shooting pains "down there", and then Bunny loves to try to escape through my belly button, which hurts.  But I'll take all that and more to keep her safe.

Food cravings: Anything that my husband mentions.  And especially Blue Moon ice cream.  I'm still loving Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Best moment this week: Resting!  I was so concerned when I was told to stop working that I didn't think about how much it might benefit me.  I feel much more relaxed, and Hubby and I are able to spend more time together, which is great!  Also, just making it another week in this pregnancy.

Movement: All the time.  I read somewhere that movement was supposed to slow down, but that is NOT the case.  This little girl is always on the go!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks, short/soft cervix,and  lightening bolts in my "lady gardens".

Gender: A tiny little princess.

Stretchies: No new ones.

Belly Button in or out? More out than in.

What I miss: Absolutely nothing.  I feel more grateful than ever these days.  Well, I wouldn't mind being able to get off the couch without help.

What I am looking forward to: FULL TERM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Symptoms: The usual pregnancy discomforts, Braxton Hicks, mild swelling, frequent urination, irritability, etc.

Milestones: Making it another week.

Weekly wisdom: Try not to worry about things that you don't have control over.  I learned that lesson first hand.  LOL!

Emotions: I'm still trying to get in control of those.  I'm trying to get through one thing at a time.

34 week belly pictures (kind of graphic)

(Just a note of caution, one of the pictures in this post may be a bit graphic for some.)

Week 34 has been pretty eventful so far, and with it being over soon I thought I'd add a few pictures.

I think I mentioned in a recent post that Bunny has really been stretching out in my belly.  At times it downright freaks me out!  I was able to capture it in a picture this morning.  I'm laying on my left side, the blue is my body pillow, the gray is sweatpants I have on, and the blue and white stripe is the comforter that I was under.

Regular belly while laying down.

Belly with Bunny stretching out.  Kinda creepy, huh?

I'm really surprised that I moved fast enough to take a picture.  I woke up to her feeling like she was going to burst right out of my belly button.  I immediately grabbed my cell phone and the next thing I knew, she was poking out again. 

The dark line running down my belly is called the Linea Negra.  It's due to hormones and (hopefully) goes away after birth.  The same hormones that caused the Linea Negra also made my belly button dark.  I wish I knew what body part she is poking out.  She tends to usually do it when I'm laying down.

And now on to the regular 34 week belly photos:

I feel HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!

The 'waddle' is in full effect, and the Braxton Hicks continue.  Not as frequently as before, so hopefully that's a good sign.  I'll be 35 weeks on Tuesday, and then only two more weeks until full term.  Not having to worry about going to work has really helped.  I feel more relaxed.  Totally worth it!

I hope I didn't freak anyone out too badly.  Let me know if the picture of her sticking out offends you, and I'll remove it.

Feeling better

After having been able to digest everything from yesterday, I'm feeling better.  I think what really got to me was the fact that I was prepared to deal with a blood pressure issue, not preterm labor.

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, my main fear has been that I would not be able to keep my child in my womb safe and sound until we had reached 37 weeks.  But we have made it really far.  And I'm proud of myself, and I'm proud of Bunny.

Another thing that made me feel better was that all my labs came back normal.  My midwife wanted to check me for infections just in case they were causing me to have so many Braxton Hicks.  I've been drinking tons of water to make sure I'm hydrated, and keeping my feet up.

I've been feeling a little bit of cramping here and there, but I think it may be due to the internal exam I had yesterday.  All in all, I'm going to relax, and be thankful that we made it this far.

Thank you SO much to everyone who left a comment.  I was really freaked out yesterday.  You all helped me so much.  I know that babies born on or after 34 weeks tend to do really well.  I'm still praying that Bunny stays put until 37 weeks.  I think we can make it!!

Not the kind of appointment I was expecting....

I'm back from my midwife appointment.  Good news is: all is well with Bunny.  Her heart rate was in the 150s, my belly is measuring right on track, and she's head down (which explains the lightening crotch I've had the pleasure of experiencing).  And my blood pressure was back to normal.  Woo-hoo!!

Bad news: I've been having too many Braxton Hicks, and I'm now in danger of going into preterm labor.  My midwife took me off of work for two weeks to see if that calms things down.  And I had the pleasure of having a cervical check.  Umm....  That was horrible!  But I'm glad she checked it because come to find out my cervix is shortening and softening.  BUT, I'm not dilated at ALL.  I felt pretty good about that....  And then she said it, "Our goal is to keep her in for at least two more weeks."

Ugh....

That one sentence made my heart drop.  Now I'm in the "try to keep baby in" category.  I'm trying not to stress, but I want my little girl to be healthy.  Only three weeks away from full term, c'mon Bunny!  WE CAN DO THIS!  I was just praying for another mom-to-be to have full term babies, now I'll add myself to that list.

I'm trying not to stress, but it's hard.

I also had the Group B Strep test done, as well as a check for infections and she tested my urine.  Just in case.  I'll call in the morning for the results.

Well, I'm off to bed, I feel emotionally drained today.

Dear Scale,

Please be kind to me today.  I've really been dreading stepping on you.  You always make me weigh so much more than I normally do at home.  Besides, I'm kind of emotional today and I don't think I can handle a huge weight gain.

So when I step on you today at 3:00PM, please rise slowly, if at all.  I really don't get where the weight is going since I'm still wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans.  Maybe my head?  It does seem a little bigger...  But I guess vanity is out the window because the last time I saw you, you displayed proudly in bold black letters that I weighed more than my husband.

Anyways, just be nice.

Ever grateful,

Mrs. V

34 Weeks!! We made it to another goal!!!!!!!!!

How far along? 34 weeks!  I'm SOOO excited, this goal seemed so far in the beginning, now I'm crossing it off the list.  Only two goals left, full term, and healthy baby.

Total weight gain/loss: I'm probably at 18 or 19 pounds by now, I'll know for sure on Thursday at my midwife appointment.

Sleep: Hasn't been the greatest, but I've been using more pillows and that seems to help.  Sleeping on my left side isn't as comfortable as sleeping on my right side, but I still lay on my left side to fall asleep.

Food cravings: Whatever I see.  Seriously, DH and I were at Target yesterday and there was a picture of a steak on some freezer bags, and my mouth started watering for a steak.  Pretty sad actually... LOL!

Best moment this week: I had a few: maternity pictures, prenatal massage, and belly casting.  Also crossing of my goal of 34 weeks!  Next stop, FULL TERM!!

Movement: She's still going strong.  I can tell when she's napping now.  She usually sleeps for about 20 - 40 minutes before she starts tumbling around again.

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks. I get them ALL.THE.TIME now, and some of them really hurt.  I also have this weird buzzing in my pelvic area, and some sharp pains "down there".  I know my body is busy making preparations for labor, so I'm not too concerned.

Gender: Pretty in pink!

Stretchies: I've noticed some in the making near where I had my belly button pierced.  (Yeah, I used to have a navel piercing, a totally regretted decision.....)  I've been slathering the Bio Oil on that area to try to keep them at bay, it seems to be working but the skin on my belly feels tighter and tighter every day.  I'm not sure what it will look like 6 weeks from now...

Belly Button in or out? More out than in.

What I miss: Wearing my wedding ring.  I couldn't even put it on this morning.  I almost cried, I just don't feel right without it.  I tried to wear one of DH's bands (he has several, I upgraded his a few anniversaries ago), but it was too big.  I'm going to go buy a cheapy one that I can wear until I deliver.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting my princess, only a few weeks left.

Symptoms: Frequent urination, increased appetite, indigestion, fatigue, and increased thirst, mild swelling of ankles and fingers, braxton hicks, irritability.

Milestones: Every single day is a milestone for me.  I'm so thankful!

Weekly wisdom: I'm not sure if this counts, but I just found out that I'll be eligible to get paid for 13 weeks of maternity leave when my new benefits start.  So I'm hoping Bunny is a January Jellybean instead of a December Dreamer!!  It will take so much stress off of me if I'm able to get paid for my entire maternity leave.  Please stay put until January 1st!!!!!!!!!!!

Emotions: I've been feeling really down about my appearance lately.  I feel fat and ugly.  My brain is telling me that I'm being completely irrational, but my hormones are saying the opposite.  And it doesn't help that people STILL love to comment.  That really urks my nerves.  I try to be polite, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out.

Crossing things off my "To Do" list.

I've been crossing things off of my "To Do" list left and right, as my pregnancy comes to an end.  I can't believe that I'm just 23 days away from being full term, and 43 days away from my due date.

My husband and I took part one of our maternity pictures on 11/11.  One of my previous coworkers is a photographer and he does amazing work.  We did the indoor portion, and will do the outdoor portion sometime this week (weather permitting).  He was actually surprised that I wanted to do some bare belly photos.  I told him I wanted to get them out of the way before the stretch marks come! LOL!

I also had my first prenatal massage on Saturday (11/13), it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!  I was so comfortable, and the woman really took her time and helped relax my muscles.  I don't have nearly as many aches and pains as I did before having the massage.  My sister and I decided to just make it a complete pamper day.  We started the morning off with breakfast, then went to the salon and got pedicures and our nails done, and then on to get full body massages.  It was great!!

Yesterday afternoon we did what I've been looking forward to for a LONG time.  We made a belly cast!  We purchased the kit for $20 from BuyBuyBaby.  My husband was so excited and set everything up so nicely.  I sat in a folding chair that was covered with a tarp and my husband carefully applied the strips.  The kit came with petroleum jelly, but I put my bio oil on first, and then slathered the jelly on in the hopes that my belly would be moisturized at the end of the process instead of just greasy.  The cast came out great, it's drying now but picture will come soon.  I am still in disbelief that my belly was even big enough to make a mold of.  But it's HUGE!  I was shocked!  We're going to sand it down and paint it to hang in Bunny's room.

All in all, I was able to cross three things off my list.

Wedding pics

I was going through my emails earlier today and came across some pictures from my wedding.  Two things immediately crossed my mind.

1. WOW we were young!!!!!!
2. WOW we were so skinny!!!!!

I love my husband a million times more than I did on that day, which is something that at the time, I didn't think was possible.

Here's a look:

33 week update!!

How far along? 33 weeks.  Only ONE week away from my next goal, which is 34 weeks!!

Total weight gain/loss: Still around 16 pounds.  I'm curious to see what this number is at 39 or 40 weeks.

Sleep: Still okay.  Bunny loves to poke out sharp body parts when I settle into bed.  But I still find her movements reassuring, and I'd rather feel her move, even if it's uncomfortable.

Food cravings: Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.  It's delicious, I eat it every day.

Best moment this week: Completing childbirth classes.  We are officially informed and know what to expect when it's time to welcome our little girl into this world.

Movement: All day, everyday.  I read that there is officially more baby, than amniotic fluid in my belly.  Hence the reason why I feel so much movement.

Labor Signs: Still occasionally getting Braxton Hicks.  Other than that, nothing!  Only one more month until full term!! 

Gender: GIRL!!

Stretchies: No new ones.  The ones that I saw on my sides have already started to fade and turn into my skin color, they were barely noticeable, and now I can't see them unless I look REALLY hard.

Belly Button in or out? It still hasn't "popped", but you can see it through my shirt.  Any day now, I'm sure..

What I miss: Being able to put my shoes on without having to sit down first.  Oh, and also not feeling so mean.  I'm such a grump these days.

What I am looking forward to: Next week.  I'll have made it to my next goal.  I'm so happy that Bunny is staying put, even though I'm really eager to see her little face!

Symptoms: Frequent urination, increased appetite, indigestion, fatigue, and increased thirst, mild swelling of ankles and fingers, braxton hicks, irritability.

Milestones: Every single day is a milestone for me.  I'm so thankful!

Weekly wisdom: Can't think of any this week.

Emotions: Grump, grump, grump...  I've also been very teary eyed lately.  I guess it's just part of the territory...

And the countdown begins....

Do you take a look at my ticker?  Only 50 days left until my due date!!  And, only 29 days until full term!!

It seems as though the weeks and days are flying past.  Before I know it, December will be here and I'll be meeting my little girl.  She was so active last night that I was actually concerned.  I kept having to push her little body parts back in, it seemed as though she was trying to escape!  I'm not sure what part she kept sticking out, but it was sharp and it hurt! LOL!  I tried switching positions to see if that made her more comfortable, but I guess she was just determined to test the boundaries of the womb.  Or maybe she was really excited about the Benihana's that I had about an hour before I got in bed.  It was mighty delicious!

Here's a picture of us at 32 weeks 4 days, poor Hubby, I woke him up to take the picture:

8 months down, 8 weeks to go!!!

I have a slight confession...

I'm 8 months pregnant and I don't wear maternity clothes.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I'll tell you why I don't wear them.  They're uncomfortable.  Honestly, they never fit me.  I bought a bunch of them early in pregnancy, and thought they were the bee's knees.  Sure, they were a little baggy in the back, and started to creep down after awhile.  But I thought that would go away.  I posted awhile back about me being able to fit into my pre-pregnancy pants once my belly rose up out of my pelvic are a bit, and I'm still wearing them.  ALL OF THEM.  My leggings, jeans, and work slacks are all pre-pregnancy clothing that I already had.  And now that it's colder I wear lots of longer sweaters and shawls.  But I couldn't do any of it without my Belly Bands.  I can't button any of my pants, so I pull the Belly Bands over, TA-DAAA!  Perfect fit.

When I was in the first trimester, one of my friends told me that she wore her regular jeans until she was 7 months pregnant.  I remember feeling a slight twinge of jealousy.  Because at the point in my pregnancy, I couldn't stand to have anything touching my belly.  So I was wearing baggy maternity pants everywhere.  I just knew I'd be in them forever.  Also, I was super excited to have a justified reason to buy maternity clothes, so nothing could keep me out of them at that point.  I wonder how long this will last?

8 weeks until my due date.  8 WEEKS PEOPLE!  When I first went to the doctor to confirm my pregnancy and was given my due date, it seemed ages away.  And now December 25th is fast approaching.  (For those of you that did the math, my first due date was December 28th, but that was changed at my second ultrasound, however, I still calculate how many weeks I am by that due date because I want to let Bunny bake until she's ready to come out, and I want to be able to save myself from going crazy if I'm overdue.)

My next prenatal appointment is November 18th, and I'm hoping/praying/wishing that my blood pressure is down.  My FMLA and maternity leave kind of sucks, so I really want to work until at least 38 weeks.  Preferably until I got into labor.  I want to spend every minute I can with Bunny once she's born.  C'mon Bunny!  We can do this!!

32 week update

How far along? 32 weeks pregnant!!  Only 2 weeks away from my next goal, and officially 8 months pregnant!!!

Total weight gain/loss: 16 lbs total.  Not too bad, my goal was to gain less than 30 lbs for the entire duration of the pregnancy.  I know that baby packs on the pounds these last few weeks so we'll see where I end up.

Sleep: Okay, for the most part.  My legs fall asleep, and I still have heartburn/upper back pain.

Food cravings: Nothing really.  I had a craving for cupcakes yesterday so I bought some mini cupcakes from the bakery and ate one.  Now I don't want them anymore.

Best moment this week: Recognizing that Bunny is most active when my hubby is around.  She really responds to his voice, especially when he's laughing. 

Movement: Most definitely!  It does hurt sometimes when she stretches out.

Labor Signs: I've started to get Braxton Hicks when I move around too much.  It took awhile for me to figure out what it was, because my belly is always tight, and sometimes when Bunny moves a certain way I get the same sensation as I do with Braxton Hicks. 
Gender: A little lady!!

Stretchies: I noticed a few really small, really light ones on my sides.  My husband says he can't see them and won't even help me look for them.  But I know they're there!! LOL!

Belly Button in or out? It still hasn't "popped", but you can see it through my shirt.  Any day now, I'm sure..

What I miss: Being able to walk from my desk at work to the copy machine and back without being out of breath.  I also miss being able to bend over.

What I am looking forward to: Completing our last childbirth class.  That last one is Monday.  I can't believe time flew by that quickly.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was signing up for them, and now they're almost over.

Symptoms: Frequent urination, increased appetite, indigestion, fatigue, and increased thirst, mild swelling of ankles and fingers, braxton hicks, irritability.

Milestones: Starting Bunny's nursery.  My original plan was to wait until 37 weeks, but I guess my nesting instinct kicked and and I made hubby put her crib and dresser/changing table together over the weekend.  It's so nice to walk in there and see her things in place.  I just wish we had more space for her.  We moved from a two bedroom apartment, to a one bedroom apartment.  And then three months later I found out I was pregnant.  Our apartment has an office, in a separate room, so we're using that as Bunny's room.  But it has a built-in computer desk which takes up space.  It'll work for now, I'm sure she won't be in her room much when she's born anyways...

Weekly wisdom: It is completely possible to feel blissfully happy, yet terrified at the same time.  I love Bunny SO much, and I'm so happy that I'll be able to meet my daughter soon.  Yet, sometimes I just feel scared.  My midwife said it's completely normal, but I feel kind of guilty about it...

Emotions: Pretty stable.  Work is hard, I'm running out of "niceness".  Between having difficulty sleeping all night, and dealing with the aches and pains of pregnancy, I find that I'm more grumpy as usual.  And guess what, I'm okay with that!  I'm still working full time and I'm 8 months pregnant, I think I can get away with a little grumpiness.