Scheduling an induction...

After not having made any progress this morning at my doctor's appointment, we are scheduling an induction for sometime next week.  We tried to schedule it for next Tuesday because the doctor I want is available that day. Plus, I love the number 7, so 7/17 would be great!  Haha.  But, my OB/GYN office called me back after contacting the hospital and said that it doesn't work for the hospital that day.  My question is... What happens if I go into labor on Tuesday morning?! Haha!  Things that make you go hmmm ...

Getting closer!

I'm trying to wait patiently for her arrival, but it's hard when Ray is definitely NOT being very patient (he's ready to meet her and well, let's be honest, be off work for a little while!).  Whenever I text him while he's at work, he texts back with "Labor yet?"  

I've also gotten dates from my mother-in-law and my parents about when I can have her and when I can't. I wish I could plan it around everyone, but this is Asheville, where everything must be natural and childbirth is no exception! Haha.  Baby girl will get here when she's ready and right now she seems pretty content despite my efforts to get her out (i.e. eating hot wings three nights in a row, eating pineapple, walking a lot...).  By the way, I know they all understand the nature of it all and are just telling me the dates in jest, kind of.  ;)  

Anyway, I took some pictures of the nursery and other baby things that we've set up in anticipation of her arrival. The plan right now is that she will sleep in our room for the first few weeks.  We've set up what has been our "big laundry room" as a downstairs changing room so I don't have to go up and down the stairs while I'm recovering (eek - hope it's not as bad as I'm thinking).

Pack n Play where she'll sleep in the napper for a little while 

Even the tub is ready!

Downstairs room - sister is giving us their changing table, which will go in here as well!

She's never getting another stuffed animal (yeah, right)
I bought the bassinet from a family friend, who lives across the street from my parents.
Sock monkeys, Papa bear w/baby bear, and FAO Schwarz bear from Ray's family.
Steiff elephant from Marcella in Germany!
Bunny rabbit/blanket from the Keiths.
Jesus Loves Me pillow from Daphne. 

This is the chair that Ray was rocked in when he was a baby.  His brother painted it and his mom did everything else.  I love that it's special and pretty! 

Nursery upstairs

We've received a few of these as gifts :)

Daphne made these beautiful lamps!

The best picture of all!

 

39 weeks

How far along? 39 Weeks

Total weight gain: 20 lbs

Maternity clothes? I decided to try this dress on for the 4th and it still fit! I just had to be careful that my belly didn't pull it too short.  :) Weird that some Lilly dresses work for me right now, but some don't, even if they are the same material and size.  

Stretch marks? Not yet! Still moisturizing morning and night.  I have a faint linea nigra that goes above and below my belly button.  I've had it for almost the entire pregnancy, but forgot to mention it on here.  After researching it just now I realized that sun makes it worse and it could also mean a folic acid deficiency... wish I knew that before now!! Eek.  

Sleep:  Sleeping better, but getting up 2-3 times each night. 

Best moment this week: Today was great! Ray was off so we slept in and then headed to the Y.  Well, Ray forgot his member card so instead of going in we walked the hilly neighborhood around the Y (Biltmore Park).  Then, we went fishing and grabbed a yummy pizza on the way back to the house.   

Miss anything?  Enjoying a cold beer or a glass cup of wine on our evening summer walks! 

Movement: Still pretty active, but I can tell she's running out of room.  

Food cravings: Not really craving anything in particular, but I've eaten hot wings two nights in a row - trying whatever I can to encourage baby girl to get out! ;) 

Anything make you queasy or sick? No

Gender: Girl :)

Labor signs: Not that I know of! At my 39-week appointment, I was still 1 cm, but very thick and she's still very high up...no progress!  Looks like my doctor won't be delivering as tomorrow is her last day before she's on maternity leave (she's due July 11!). 

Symptoms:  It feels like an electric shock when she gets close to my pelvis sometimes! 

Belly button in or out?  The top part is out and it's visible through my shirts!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!

Looking forward to: Meeting our baby girl! 

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

Showing our patriotism!

Cotton candy and cherry water ice from Rita's

"I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me"

{Lee Greenwood]

Flashback... 

July 4, 2009 in Philadelphia

July 4, July 3, 2010 in Atlanta

July 4, 2011 in Asheville

Livin' Part of Life

Ray and I went fishing this evening and, although we didn't catch anything but a few small crappies, it was fun and so relaxing!  

Nationwide is on your siiiiide

A bad hail storm hit our neighborhood back in early May.  Thankfully, Ray's truck was in our garage and I was across town at a doctor's appointment.  (There wasn't even a drop of rain where I was that afternoon!) I got home an hour after the storm and there was still hail piled up in our yard.   

This size can do some damage!

Ray snapped this shot during the storm.

We didn't notice any immediate damage besides our garage light fixtures being shattered, some dents in the metal/gutters, and some stone chipped from the front of the house.  But, when our insurance adjuster came to check it out she said there was damage to the siding and our roof would probably need a total replacement.  Thankfully, there were no holes big enough for any leakage so we had time to look around and get some estimates from different companies.  Now, a month later, we finally chose someone and they just dropped off the supplies yesterday.  As much as I want Raleigh to get here, I would love for her to wait until they get started and finished!  With our luck, though, they will start the day we bring her home. ;)   For now, this graces our driveway...  

(Almost) 38 weeks

How far along? I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow.
Total weight gain: 20 lbs... haven't gained anything in the past month or so!
Maternity clothes? One pair of khaki shorts, but mostly just gym shorts, t-shirts that barely fit, and dresses. I've always liked my shirts a little longer...the one in this picture I've had for years!
Stretch marks? Not yet! Still moisturizing morning and night!
Sleep:  Last week I probably slept way too much... felt like a lazy bum!  This week I've tried to get on a schedule and get moving in the morning.  Sleep is good, but I do wake up several times to empty the bladder!
Best moment this week: Date night.  Not even the date part, which was really fun, but just the fact that Ray was so excited about it! He even wanted to take a picture in case it was our last date night without a child.
Miss anything?  Laying on my stomach
Movement: She's so active! Always kicking my side and up high close to my ribs.
Food cravings: Not really... cereal and fruit (but not together).  Enjoying the last couple weeks of eating without any guilt whatsoever. ;)  Today I had a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast and Auntie Anne's pretzel bites for lunch.  Wait, I do feel guilty for not feeding baby girl some protein!
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope, I just seem to smell all bad smells from miles away!
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: I've had contractions, but nothing painful.  My stomach just gets really hard and tight.  At my 36-week appointment I was 1 cm dilated, but baby girl was so high up that Dr. Moore couldn't tell if she was head down.  She had to do a quick ultrasound to confirm.  Praise the Lord she was head down and she still is!
Symptoms:  Lower back pain if I've been sitting too long; discomfort when she wedges her butt or whatever body parts into my diaphragm!
Belly button in or out?  The top part is out and it's visible through my shirts!
Wedding rings on or off? On and still fitting normally.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy!
Looking forward to: Getting the carpets cleaned tomorrow, Ray being off this coming weekend, 4th of July, oh and having this baby!!

Date night!
(We ate at Neo Burrito and went to see
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World)