37 Weeks

How far along? 37 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 36 lbs. Hopefully that is so small that you guys can't read it! =)
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? Yikes!
Sleep: Poor Blake is all I have to say. I busted his lip this week from all my tossing and turning. He's become a COP (casualty of pregnancy).
Best moment this week: Finally getting my c-section scheduled!!!
Movement: Still a wild man! I was able to "play" with him a little the other morning. I noticed he was moving around a lot so I put my hand on my stomach and he would move to the opposite side...he did this about 3-4 times.
Food cravings: Blooming Onion
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: Still none...Baby Holland is still as snug as a bug to stay right where he is. I told Blake we need to start walking every night to get this show on the road.
Belly Button in or out? Flat and ugly
What I miss: a good night's sleep
What I am looking forward to: Maternity Leave...Only one week and two days left. I hope I can make it!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy these last few weeks of being pregnant and feeling Baby Holland move around inside.
Weekly Wisdom #2: If you have a choice, go with a smaller OB practice. I am pretty much fed up with mine. The wait time is ALWAYS long, phone calls are not returned, test results are not ready when promised or can't be found, etc.
Milestones: 37 Weeks= Full Term

Just a few extras for this week. After talking to my Dr. at my appointment on Friday, I found out a couple things. I tested positive for the Group B Strep which means that if my water were to break, I would need to get to the hospital immediately to start antibiotics. If I go into labor on my own, I will also be treated with antibiotics. If little guy waits for our c-section before trying to emerge, everything should be fine.
I also found out that my Dr. prefers to use staples instead of stitches. This initially freaked me out and I'm sure he could see the panic on my face. He explained to me though that staples allow any fluid to flow easily and you have less risk of infection. This reminded me of what happened with the incision from Brady...I developed an egg-sized abscess that had to be re-cut and drained so I looked the Dr. in the eye and told him I was going to trust him on this. We'll see I guess!
Oh! And Baby Holland should be making his grand entrance on December 1!

Halloween

Brady wanted to be something scary this year so he chose a skeleton. Without the mask, it's not too scary, but when he put the mask on it became pretty scary.
Sorry for the tired look on my face...I was 35 weeks pregnant and recovering from a cold or flu.
Mimi was supposed to come take Brady trick-or-treating since I had been sick, plus it's just a fun tradition they have. She called that morning to let us know that her car had broken down on the way and that Poppy's car was also in the shop so she wouldn't be able to make it. After Brady spoke to her on the phone, he went to his room and cried and cried. He was so upset but I didn't want Mimi to feel bad so I didn't tell her. She called back later and said she was coming after all in Ali's car...Thanks Ali! I decided not to tell Brady for fear of another car breaking down. So Mimi showed up at our front door as a trick-or-treater, a pretty scary trick-or-treater nonetheless. Can you tell Brady is freaked out? Once he realized it was her, he got excited but at first he was unsure what to think! He later told me that he really just wanted to close the door on the "trick-or-treater".

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 Weeks (9 MONTHS!!!)
Total weight gain/loss: Didn't bother to ask the Dr. and I don't care to know
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? The old ones are getting bigger and bigger now...=(
Sleep: Not so great anymore...It goes a lot like toss, turn, pee, roll over, flip pillow, pee, etc.
Best moment this week: Reaching my final month!!!
Movement: He loves to push his little bottom as far as he can into my ribs causing them to be quite sore. I tried icing it today... I had read somewhere that the coldness makes the baby move. It worked! For a few minutes anyways...he is currently back in my ribs.
Food cravings: Olive Garden salad, dried apricots
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: None...Baby Holland is as snug as a bug to stay right where he is. Here's hoping for some progress next week.
Belly Button in or out? Flat and ugly
What I miss: having enough energy to make it through the day
What I am looking forward to: Finding out our c-section date, seeing my baby for the first time, maternity leave in 2 weeks
Weekly Wisdom: Hot baths are your friend!
Milestones: 36 Weeks= no stopping baby if he decides to come after this point

Just a little extra for this week. I've had many people ask me how I am feeling numerous times throughout the day so here goes...
I'm tired, anxious to meet my baby, scared of my c-section, worried that my water will break at school, tired, sleepy-you should see the bags under my eyes, uncomfortable-if only you could see my waddle, excited about being a Mommy again, tired, nervous about starting all over, fat, my hormones are raging-ask the lady who rear-ended me at McDonalds this week, thankful that I've made it this far in my pregnancy without complications, thirsty almost all the time, disappointed that I still haven't been able to schedule my c-section, and did I mention that I am tired? This is why when people ask me how I am feeling, I usually just answer "Fine". =)

As a side note: I was rear-ended on Monday in the drive-thru of McDonalds by an older woman. Before I even knew what was happening, Mama Bear came out of me and I was out of my car yelling at her. Totally not something I would EVER do. I feel so bad about it now. Thankfully, Brady was not there and little one and I are fine. Now you see why I say my hormones are raging and I can't wait to feel like my normal self again.

Brady's Soccer

Brady has been playing soccer again this Fall. He has been playing since he was 3 years old making this his 6th year! I have to say that I have seen the most improvement this year. He has become aggressive and goes after the ball now. The best part is that he loves to play. He loves going to practice and games and really looks forward to those days. I love that he is getting exercise!
At one of his last games, he had a penalty called against him for pushing a girl. We know he didn't do it on purpose...that it is just part of the game...but we love to give him a hard time about it!

He is learning about offense and defense this year and the positions. His favorite seems to be when he gets to run the entire field. His team hasn't had enough players for the last two games, so he has been running his little heart out to make up for the missing players. I'm so proud of him!

Fall Fun

The jack-o-lanterns Brady and I carved...Blake's wasn't finished yet. Can you guess whose is who?
Brady came home from school the other day and pretty much begged to rake leaves...Seriously! So of course, we obliged! Here are some cute pictures I took of him playing in them. He had a ball!
This is also documentation for when he is a teenager that he asked to rake leaves. =)
For some reason, he reminds me of a scarecrow in this picture... I think it's the combination of the rake and the baseball pants.

35/35!!!

How far along? 35 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Hoping and praying not too much more!!!
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? Yeah...Seems like there may be a couple new ones on my sides.
Sleep: A lot of tossing and turning and trying to get comfortable. Added an extra pillow to prop up more to help with breathing
Best moment this week: Finishing baby's laundry
Movement: I've been keeping up with his hiccups...He's getting them at least 5 times a day if not more...sometimes 6 or 7! Poor little baby!
Food cravings: Chili again!
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: Some Braxton Hicks...especially when there are stairs involved.
Belly Button in or out? Flat
What I miss: Being able to eat and then breathe normally afterward...we're running out of room here, people!
What I am looking forward to: Finding out our baby's birthday on Thursday!!!
Weekly Wisdom: If you are going to call your dr. or go see him for a problem, follow the instructions he gives you and try not to question them!
Milestones: 35/35...I am 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days left until my due date! (Which for me means that we will have a baby in less than 35 days!!!) ending post to go nest =)

Charlotte Baby Shower

A couple weekends ago, I headed down to Charlotte for a baby shower given by my Aunt Susan and cousin's wife, Natalie. It was so nice to be able to visit with some friends and family I haven't seen in quite a while and share the joy and anticipation of our new little baby boy! In the above picture is Cindy, my "photographer" and myself.

Mrs. Long and Nat
Mom
This is Juli...She is a friend from college who in the past few years relocated to the Concord area. She holds a special place in my heart as she was Brady's babysitter while I did my student teaching. She was wonderful to him! She told me that she was there for Brady's baby shower and she wanted to be here for this baby's shower!
Brittany and Emily...some of my friends from high school. I haven't had a chance to see them in ages and it was so great to catch up!
Aunt Susan, Mama Ward, and Mom...Doesn't the table look pretty? I loved all the fall decorations.
Another special treat was having Mama Ward at the shower...all the way from Alabama!!! We were able to spend some good quality time with them over the weekend and I so enjoyed it! (I just love this picture, by the way!)