I sure hope I can hold out!

This little man is going to come whenever he is ready. I understand that. Though, with that being said, I really-really-really hope we can hold out until AFTER the holidays. I've said it before and I'll say it until he's born, I want his birthday as far from Christmas as possible. I think he'll be able to enjoy both more if that were possible. Separate holidays. Time to recover from one before fully diving into the next. Also the development advantages of cooking a little longer.

I think I've already had all of the warning signs indicating that my body is preparing for labor. The kind of signs that means it can happen within a few weeks, a few days or even a few hours. I've had everything except water breaking and regular contractions starting. Even the last one I say tentatively.

Two nights this week, I've been woken up by contractions. The first time I wasn't sure because I only had 2 but they were real. I recognized what they were once the second time happened. On Thursday night I had 3 hours of contractions that were 20-25 minutes apart. They were the most intense in the second and third hours but stopped just as Nic's alarm was starting to go off. Unfortunately, what I felt, leads me to believe that I will be among the mothers that have back labor. Ugh. I hope I'm wrong! I have been guzzling water and resting as much as I can (hard thing to do with so many holiday tasks to accomplish). So far, no more contractions since that night. Thank God!

I've also noticed that the little man has dropped. Yet another sign indicating that he is ready and waiting. Wednesday night I was getting ready for bed. As I like to do often, I took a peek at my belly in the mirror. (I love my big belly and love to see it grow.) I noticed that it looked drastically different. It's not like I let weeks go by without looking....I love looking....I look more than I probably should! But, there it was, not even 24 hours since I had seen it last and it's completely different. This is no small task either. I've carried low this entire pregnancy! I really wasn't sure if I was going to get that telltale dropped look because I really didn't think there was anywhere lower for him to go. And my ribs! Oh my Ribs! They feel so much better now! I've gained at least 4 inches between where his feet were firmly planted and where they now poke me. I'm sorry to disappoint but I just don't have a picture for proof. It will be coming soon though. I'm itching for another round of belly shots!

That brings me to the holidays. I think it's a bit too cold for me to do anymore belly shots outside. The last round was pretty chilly being bare belly in the 30's. Our most recent averages have been in the teens. I just might have to bring the last round or two indoors. It kinda messes with my theme of passing seasons but it is what it is. I have an idea or two floating through my head.

Thankfully, I was able to get holiday presents and cards out in the mail today. Should be enough time for everything to show up on Christmas eve. It's difficult shopping for family when they are so far away. I'm the type of person that likes to get someone something that they wouldn't buy for them self. I don't get obnoxious, cheesy, as seen on tv, crap. I listen throughout the year about things that interest them. Books they'd like to read. Games there think are cool. Pampering or splurtastic items. It doesn't have to be expensive to be splurtastic. It just needs to be something that someone might put off buying for them self. Without having those chit-chatty kind of conversations...I'm missing vital info! I'm hoping that I fished for clues enough that I managed to get everyone something they'll love.

Since I didn't have a belly picture to share, I will leave you with this. This picture was taken in my front yard after the first true snow we've had this winter. This is on the Barberry bush. Enjoy.

OOPS! I swore I wouldn't be the one...

...that had the false alarm! I figured, I know my body. I'll know what it's doing. Hmm...I guess not.

On Friday I had some signs of labor. Not contractions but 'other' signs. I'm leaving out specifics for those that get grossed out easily (Dad, Mara, other squeamish people). I really didn't think it was a big deal but liked that my body was preparing for the tough job ahead. I knew this meant that labor could start anywhere from within the following days to weeks. I really wasn't concerned.

Saturday night, I had some wicked cramping. It woke me from a sound sleep twice. The first time, the pain in my back was so severe, I could only be relieved on my hands and knees. Believe it or not, I actually fell asleep like that. I was on my knees and elbows with my forehead on my pillow and my butt in the air! Talk about funny looking! But I didn't care. I was finally comfortable and it was 4 in the morning! Nic didn't even see me like that (sleeping soundly) so what did it matter?!

Sunday morning, I was having my cup of coffee with Nic on the couch. All of a sudden, I felt...uh...wet. Pregnancy does some strange things to your body. This wasn't exactly a new symptom so I changed my undies and continued with my morning. Within about 30 minutes, it happened again. This time I started to get a little concerned that I had a slow leak. Not my bladder, my amniotic fluid. I knew that it didn't always happen in a gush like the movies because the babies head could act like a plug. I decided to lay down for a little bit and see if it happened again when I got up. Well, it did. Not much but still enough to concern me.

I should also mention that this particular Sunday was the magic Sunday. The one in which I'm officially 36 weeks. The one in which there is a point of no return. Once 36 weeks, if labor starts, my doctor wouldn't stop it! Oh crap! That's when the freak out started. I wasn't ready. I really, really, really wasn't ready. Nic did a great job of keeping me calm and was very supportive but all I kept thinking about was the things I hadn't done yet.

The nursery isn't finished (which isn't so much of a concern) but I hadn't started washing the new baby clothes because I didn't have anywhere to put them. I haven't finalized my order for the cloth diapers we'll be using, meaning we had nothing for this little guys tush. I felt like that house was a mess (really not a big concern but it became an issue when I felt unprepared). It's really not. I just have Christmas boxes around. We still haven't met with the pediatrician. There were a few things that I need to exchange that are baby related. I need the infant insert for the Ergo baby carrier. We still haven't really decided on a name. Oh, the list goes on and on. It's all a bit overwhelming when you thought you had a little longer.

Thankfully my water didn't break and I could relax. While we were at the hospital, they did a NST which is a Non Stress Test. They wanted to hear the babies heart beat, feel him move and see if I was having any contractions. Well, little man behaved wonderfully. His heart rate was averaging 130 and spiked to the 150's (which is what they wanted to see). He moved several times. Even a few that Daddy could see from across the room! I wasn't having contractions but I do have an irritable uterus. I wasn't told to be completely still, so it could be the fact that Nic was making me laugh and I was moving some. In any case, it was nothing to be alarmed about and our wonderful nurse Audra asked me to drink more fluids and rest more. I could manage that.

As we were getting ready to leave, Audra told me that the doc wanted me to call first thing in the morning to set up a time for me to go in for a wellness checkup. I told her that I had an appointment set for Tuesday but she insisted that the doc wanted to see me tomorrow (Monday) and said that she might consider waiting til the scheduled appointment but to call anyway.

I called the office first thing the next day and sure enough, she wanted to see me ASAP. It wasn't anything crazy urgent but she just wanted to chat and check me over. We did all the usual stuff. Check for proteins in the urine...none. Weigh me...only 1 pound in 2 weeks. Yippee! Measure the fundle height...36cm. Perfect Perfect. Listen to the heartbeat...always wonderful! Check for GBS (Group B Strep)...not fun. Should know by our next appointment. She told me that I was perfect and that it's always nice to have a patient so easy and healthy. She also said that she's going to yell at Dr. E for hogging the good patients! She really cracks me up. I love that I'm so comfortable with my docs. We also talked about what happened and said that it's nothing to worry about. Better to be safe than sorry. She also gave me a few tips on what to look for and when it's absolutely urgent to call. So, it's all good.

Overall, even though I feel a little silly, I'm kinda glad it happened. It's lit a fire under my tush to get some baby related things done. I know I can't do everything and I should still be resting but I need to prepare as though it can be any day. There are some things that will need to be DONE when he gets here. I also like that I was able to see the L&D section of the hospital. Of course it's a closed ward but because of the H1N1 hoopla, I couldn't take a tour and meet the staff. It was a little daunting not knowing what to expect. But, I saw it. Not all of it but enough to have a mental picture. I was also able to meet a few of the nursing staff. They were all very kind and personable. I'm glad I'm comfortable with them too. It should make the birthing experience a relaxed one. Exactly what I was hoping for.


So, it wouldn't really be a post if I didn't include some pictures. :-D This is one from a set I didn't care for. The attempt was for a Christmas card photo but Nic was being uncooperative. He laughs and says he couldn't help it. Every time he was needed to look at the camera and smile, he made this awful face because we were looking into the sun. The outtakes are pretty funny but I didn't even bother editing them! It was such a beautiful day and my results were only mediocre. Eh...we'll try again. I'm hoping with enough time to send out Christmas cards!


Here are a couple others from my 35 weeks set. (A week ago.) Nic was the photographer behind these. I think it's a neat little sequence. :-)












Have a great day!

Snowboarding...not me...them!

So this past weekend was a little bitter sweet. We finally got some snow. It felt like it took FOREVER for this winter to come. Weird, never ending rain and unseasonably high temps. Well that's all over now! We got a good dusting Saturday evening and through the night. When we woke up on Sunday morning, everything was covered and we had about 5 inches accumulated on the ground.

Nic and my dad decided on Saturday to head to the mountain for opening day. It was very limited since Okemo (at that point) had very little natural snow and had blown most of what they had on the trails. I tagged along to snap a few pictures of them headed out and to say Hi to a lot of people from last winter. It was a big bummer that I couldn't go out there with them but nice to be in the lodge too. As it turns out, Saturday was a bust for them. Since the trails that were open were so limited, the experience level was more of an intermediate to expert. Not exactly the day for dad to get on a snowboard for the first time. None the less, he was able to strap in, stand up and skate around a little bit. It got him familiar with the equipment, the feel of the board on snow and what the mountain looked like. All in all I think he was glad he at least got that much out of the morning.

Sunday was game day! With all the snow that we got the night before, the trails were well covered and there was more beginner level areas available for dad to practice. Just like my dad, he was worried about holding up Nic and that he would rather be out doing some real boarding. Nic isn't one to think like that but after several pointers dad convinced him to go take a couple runs while he continued to practice. They were gone from 8-2:30 and totally enjoyed themselves. Dad didn't fall as much as he had expected to and didn't come back with any bruises. :-) That's always a good thing! He made it very clear that he's eager to give it another shot and expressed how he could see how we got so into this sport. It's fun!

Sunday for me though was completely different. I stayed home. I got the pictures that I wanted the day before and knew that they would be out there a while. It wasn't a good day for me. I didn't realize how much I was going to miss being on a snowboard this winter. This was something that Nic and I enjoyed together and it was difficult seeing him go off and do it without me. By no means did I want to hold him back because I am pregnant but I couldn't help but throw myself a pity party. :-( I cried a bit...OK, a lot...but I got over it. It's hard being such an active person to 9 months of...you can't do that! I tried not to let it effect the guys because I knew they were really going to have some fun. Nic does his best not to rub it in and will stop talking about it if he sees that it's bothering me but there was no way I could hinder his excitement on his first day of the season. He really was like a kid on Christmas morning. He was talking about this boarding season before last season even ended and it continued through the summer. There was no way I was holding him back! So, I sucked it up, had coffee with them in the morning and turned into the mopey, snot face after they left to go have fun.

So, without further ado...here's the pictures that I managed to grab as the guys were getting ready for their trial run on Saturday.

Dad, ready to learn!


Almost looking the part. ;-) We need to work on some boarding pants that cover the boots.


Dad: Should we wait up for her?
Nic: Nah, she'll catch up!
Me: Thanks guys...I guess I'll just meet you up there with this backpack full of your mittens and scarves and whatnot!
HAHAHAHA!!!


They weren't really like that. Nic knows that I sometimes drop back to snap a few photos. ~Sigh~ He's used to me by now and rarely looks back because he knows I'm going to snap his picture.

It was a good thing that they talked to the person at the ticket counter about the conditions. This is where they discovered that it wasn't a good day for beginners. They decided to hold out on getting the tickets until after the 'First hour free' period.


Chomping at the bit.


Dad...


...getting last minute pointers.


I thought I was going to be able to get a few shots of them headed to the lifts but they fooled me and sat down!


Oh yeah. Tying the boots. That could be a little important.


He did get the pant leg over the boot but he still needs more water resistant pants!


It's amazing the men in my family know when they're getting their picture taken. I think it's because there are so many snap happy women that they just keep their head down!


My honey bunny! Be safe out there!