another day on LOA!

What's up? I'm nearing the end of yet another day of sitting at home! It's been an uneventful day. Slept in, played Wii and ate lunch with Stevo, blah blah blah. Then at 2:00 he left for work and I've been home alone ever since! (With the exception of a visit from my mother and Stephen's lunch break.) It's really not all that bad, just boring. It's harder to keep still (i.e. not do a ton of housework - it seems I'm always able to find something I need to clean) than I thought it would be. What's funny is that I was so sick of work, too, I threatened taking my LOA early so that I wouldn't be harrassed by all the old ladies I work with and inconsiderate customers. People have absolutely zero tact when it comes to talking about pregnancy/pregnant ladies/pregnant bellies. I can't even begin to tell you have many times I heard...
"Are you having twins?"
"Are you SURE there's only one baby in there?"
"Oh my... you must be due any day now!" (No... I have 6 weeks to go, thanks!)
"I was huge like you when I was pregnant, too." (Um... ok?)
"That's going to be one BIG boy!"
...on and on and on.

I cried. At work. More than once.

Yesterday was a semi-disappointment at the doctor. I really really really wanted to be dilated -- not necessarily because I want to be induced (I don't - I want Christopher to come in his own time) but because I just knew with all the aches and pains I've been having that I would be dilated at least a little and have the possibility of a non-induced delivery in my future. But, since my blood pressure was down and I wasn't dilated, my doctor decided not to induce right now, unless I start experiencing more severe signs of toxemia. (Ringing in my ears, seeing spots, severe headaches that won't go away, etc.) I am glad that I'm not being induced yet. I do want to go into labor naturally. I just liked the idea of being able to say, "If Christopher doesn't show up on his own, he should be here by next ---day!" Ya know?

My fundal height (basically the measurement of my uterus from outside the body - from your pubic bone to the top of the uterus [which the doctor can find by touch]) is 43 cm. This means that my stomach is measuring at approximately 43 weeks pregnant. I'll be 38 weeks Friday. This is nothing new, I've been measuring big my whole pregnancy (and yes, my doctor has had an ultrasound done to make sure that the baby is measuring normal - and yes, he measured right on track) but it also means that I have the stomach of a woman who is three weeks overdue. Do you understand now why I am ready to have this child!?!?

Don't get me wrong -- I have really enjoyed being pregnant. I know how lucky and blessed I am to be pregnant, and to have carried this baby full-term. But I am also ready to hold this baby, meet him, bring him home. I want to have my pre-pregnancy body back. I want to be able to get up off the couch without help. I want to be able to bend over without having Braxton-Hicks contractions. I want to be able to go more than an hour without having to pee! I want to be able to wear shoes again, be able to stand for more than 20 minutes, be able to see my feet... I could go on and on. Again -- I really am grateful for having a healthy pregnancy (up until a few weeks ago, at least) and I'm not trying to sound whiny or ungrateful. I'm just ready.

no title

I promised a post... I've had a busy day, and I didn't get news I wanted to hear at the doctor's office -- so this is gonna be short and sweet, because my bed is calling my name!

My blood pressure was down, which is GREAT news.

I'm not dilated. At all. Zip, zilch, zero. This is the news I did not want to hear.

Since I'm not dilated at all, and since my blood pressure is down, my doctor is not going to induce anytime soon.

I'll write more tomorrow. I've had a really long day and I'm tired. Good night!

look what i found!

My camera!!!! It was very well hidden.... on the dining room table.

Hahaha.

So -- as promised.
The Belly.

It doesn't seem as huge in this picture as it does when I'm looking at it in the mirror. Keep in mind I'm NOT full term -- 37 weeks, 2 days when this pic was taken.
***

AAAAND..... my adorable diaper bag! Isn't it precious?

I love it so much.

Stephen's right, it is like a purse.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon -- I'm so anxious to see what he has to say, whether my blood pressure has gone up or down, if/how much I'm dilated... I'll post tomorrow as soon as I can!

under construction!

*sigh*

i've been wanting to update my blog for awhile now. it's been stuck on that spring template way too long.

of course, i'm a perfectionist. (well, when it comes to certain things.) this is why i don't scrapbook anymore. too time consuming. everything must be "just right."

so, i hate the way that you have to pick one of blogger's templates -- it messes with the "cutest blog on the block" layouts that i like.

in high school, i taught myself HTML and made my own website.

so i figure it's got to be pretty easy to make my own blogger layout, right? lots of people do it. i consider myself somewhat knowledgeable in the whole computer/html/layout area.... right?

ha.

ha. ha.

i will figure it out... i've got nothing else to do!

so for now -- my site is under construction. please don't judge!

all my bags are packed, i'm ready to go....

being on "bedrest" sucks.

it's not really bedrest, it's take-it-easy, don't-do-anything-too-stressful rest, but it still sucks, cuz i'm nesting. and my husband isn't a fan of nesting for me. so it gets done s-l-o-w-l-y. but i guess i should be glad it's getting done!

swelling sucks.
sitting around sucks.
my internet was down for 3 days, and that sucked.

tv is getting extremely boring.
for i think the first time in my life, i have no interest in opening a book.

i can't find my camera -- not a good thing when i could go into labor at any given second.
also not good because i've been promising pictures. it's hard to take pictures without a camera.

ok, getting positive!

i had a wonderful family baby shower on sunday and got lots of great stuff. Christopher's closet is chock-full of the most adorable baby boy clothes! i got the.most.adorable. diaper bag EVER. (picture will come when camera is found.) it's packed and waiting at the front door, right next to my overnight bag. after i packed everything, i sang "leaving on a jet plane" for Christopher, and it's been stuck in my head for almost a week now.

i have another baby shower a week from tomorrow. (Stephen's church/family) i think Christopher could be here before then, but i guess only time will tell!

doctor's appointment tuesday, which could go several different ways, just depending on what my blood pressure is and if/how much i'm dilated... yada yada. we may be setting a date to induce on tuesday, which is just freaking awesome.

i'm off to search for my camera some more.
(shh... don't tell my mother i'm up walking around!)

finally... nursery pictures!

Are you ready for the big nursery tour?!?

Here is my adorable dog, Baxter, checking out Christopher's crib and bedding.
(Might I mention again that my mom made this bedding? I love it so much!)

This is the view of the room as you walk in the door.
Mom made matches valances and a matching cover for my glider and footrest.
The changing table matches the crib. I am going to get some of those colored baskets to house diapers, wipes, etc, for the changing table.


These are the adorable wall art hangings that kind of inspired the room. I was playing around with the idea of a jungle/safari them, and we saw these at Kirkland's several months ago and I just immediately fell in love with them!
Again, a matching table cloth for the nightstand. I'm still looking for a lamp to go on the table.


These are those stick-on wall sayings. This is James 1:17, and I think it goes perfectly above his crib.

Love this plaque we found at Hobby Lobby. It's above his closet.


I also LOVE this picture/sonograph frame I found at Hobby Lobby. Too cute!

What do you think? I'm extremely happy with everything and just love the way it turned out! It's cuter than I ever imagined it being! I wish I would have taken a before of the room -- it looks completely different! This is BY FAR the cutest room in my house now. While I picked out the colors/fabrics/decorations, my mom put everything together, painted, sewed... so it wouldn't have come together like this if it weren't for her. THANKS MOM!!!!!!!!

In other news... I'm now officially on Leave of Absence from work. At my check-up this morning, my blood pressure was high and I am experiencing some early symptoms of toxemia, so my doc told me to go ahead and take off work, stay at home, and relax as much as possible. I go back to him in a week (or sooner if my symptoms worsen or others start to appear) and he will decide next week if he needs to schedule a date to induce labor. Turns out that HUGE stomach I've been telling y'all about (and promising a picture of, which I WILL DO soon!) is just swollen and full of water. And baby too, of course. He said I've gained 8 pounds (1 gallon) of water weight in the past 2 weeks. Whoa, baby. If they weren't attached to my own body, I wouldn't recognize my feet. They're HUMONGOUS. I'll post a pic of my belly and my feet tonight or tomorrow!

nursery preview!

I'll post tomorrow.

I promise.

Here's a snippet to keep you interested until then...

and I also PROMISE, I'm going to become a better blogger.

......as soon as I can pop this kid out.

Happy Saturday! Things have been the same -- busy getting the nursery together, working, cleaning house/nesting, keeping my feet up, walking, (I know, complete opposites) etc etc etc!

I have 35 weeks along now, and HUGE. I really will take a belly pic soon and post it -- even though my due date is still 5 weeks away, I'm thinking (hoping) that Baby O will be making his debut appearance by the end of this month. (38 weeks) It's not that I'm anxious, like everybody thinks, it's just a gut feeling. I mean -- don't get me wrong, I am anxious, but I also just have a feeling! My next appointment is Tuesday, so we'll see if I've made any progress. I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions pretty regularly!

I have tomorrow and Monday off, I work Tuesday and Wednesday, then I'm on vacation Thursday through Monday. Next Friday Stephen and I are going to Texarkana to watch HARRY POTTER! After that outing, I doubt I'll be making any more out-of-town trips. I'll spend my vacation finishing up the nursery, (with my mother's decorating expertise) so hopefully in a week or so I can give you a full nursery tour!

34 weeks, bedding, and a break!

Well guys, I am 34 weeks along and everything is coming together with the nursery. I am getting really anxious for Christopher Tyler's arrival! The room is painted, the crib is up, the changing table is up... the BEDDING is here! I searched and searched online for crib bedding and ended up ordering some off eBay, but after it came in I just didn't love it. What I wanted was one of those fluffy, pillowy-type ones from Polka Tot Designs or a similar website... but I'm kind of a broke Walmart associate and can't afford to pay four hundred frickin dollars for a bumper and crib skirt. SOOO.... I showed a picture of what I wanted to my fabulously talented mother, and she decided to attempt to make it herself! Half a day driving around Texarkana looking for brown/green/giraffe-print fabric and 4 weeks later, here is the finished product!!

ISN'T THAT ADORABLE?!?!?!

with the railing down

I am SO in love with the bedding -- love it love it love it, and I am so impressed with my mom, who was able to just make it herself, no pattern or anything! I wish I could do stuff like this. I may just have to learn! I love that we picked out the fabrics together, I love that it is made by Christopher's grandmother (it just means so much more!) and that I didn't have to spend a whole paycheck on bedding that -- in reality -- won't even be used that long. I can't wait to take pictures of Christopher sleeping in it. =)

As you can see, the walls have been painted green, and I love love love the color as well. (Just FYI, the white thing to the left of the crib is a door, not some weird painting mishap or anything like that. Kinda hard to tell from the pics.) We have to put up the wall decor and do some finishing touches on a few different things, but I'll post pictures of the completed nursery within the next few weeks. (Just 6 weeks until my due date, but I'm hoping he comes around the 37/38 week mark, so we're getting CLOSE!!!!)

Today was my 6th day in a row to work, and just let me say I am glad to be HOME with my feet UP and I'm really looking forward to the next two days off. In two weeks I will be on another 5-day vacation -- Stephen and I are going to Texarkana on the 17th to watch the newest HP movie and I can't WAIT! I leave you with a 34 week produce update and hope everybody had/has a wonderful 4th of July holiday weekend!!

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.