37 weeks

work shower: As you can see, I was stunned at all the gifts they gave me!

Here is Adina; we've been talking about babies for 9 months now!

opening gifts:

One of the professors; he's very excited about those shirts:)

Ok, updates:

1. We met with Joan for our 37 wk appt. last week. She suggested lying on my right side may help Miles turn the correct way and prepare for descent!

She also told me some exercises I should do to help his position: pelvic rocks, free style swimming and laying on a yoga ball...

2. We will own a house soon!

3. have I mentioned that my folks living room is FULL of baby stuff...

So, I swam with my mom for 40 min on Saturday and otherwise, have taken the holiday off of exercising...Yesterday I hit the treadmill for a slow walk.

In the meantime, I'm packing, making sure I've got the basic 'essentials' washed and ready should he come early. I just need to pick up a stroller this week with the rest of Babies R Us gift cards and then I am pretty sure the rest of the baby goods can wait...or will be handed down eventually.

Here is a fun picture of my morning ritual: the green goblin. I recently admitted to wearing ear muffs in the early am hours when I am concocting this drink in the garage; my mom insisted I show this to the blog world:):

I am trying not to smile here:

Ok, we have our next ABC appt Wed...stay tuned!

36 wks

So, today I can have my baby at the Austin Area Birthing Center.

However, today I will most likely NOT have my baby there. I mean, I am only 36 wks.:)

Today I am having a baby shower at work. They are placing bets on my actual deliver date.

I have definitely felt "showered" the past weeks-with supplies and encouragement! It has been amazing! I mean, I went from having almost having nothing but a baby bathtub, bassinet and a few onesies, to having a crib, changing table, TONS of diapers (regular and cloth), clothes and all sorts of other things to help with little Miles.

On the pregnancy front, I feel huge and am having trouble climbing the stairs! I have gained 27.5 lbs so far. Miles' heart rate was in the 130s on Tuesday at our last appt and Roswitha said his head felt very low; which is good news! I'm still walking on the treadmill, but have also been having a harder time eating healthy. I mean, I have my routine where I get lots of fruits and veggies daily-but in the in between times, I finally understand why people just eat sweets-and lots-while pregnant! I think my appetite has increased since Miles has started putting on more weight and it's a force of will to not just eat junk when that hunger doesn't seem to go away:)

We also met with Nicole and talked about some expectations and fears during labor. Our homework was to think about the logistics of post partum and who will be doing what...etc. On that note, Matt is a really great husband. For example, he shot a buck that was smaller than he'd hoped for, just so we (mostly me) wouldn't feel stressed for the rest of hunting season about him needing 'the buck'. I know he is going to be a really great dad and a great coach/help to me.

In other news, we are buying a house! We hope to close Dec 15th (two days before the due date). It's crazy to think about moving into a house and having a new baby and realizing there is a chance it could happen at.the.same.time! But, it's all the best kind of change=family and provision for a house, two big blessings!

So, before all the pandemonium breaks loose, we just wait and get ready (as best we can) for all the stuff ahead. It's definitely a frustrating spot for me, but I am practicing patience and trying to think of things I can do now to be more prepared in 3 wks.

Pics from shower #1

Jessica, Catherine and ILynn, Mom and I

More pics to come; they are upstairs on my dad's computer and like I said, the stairs are just not that easy these days:)...

34 wks

Well, its definitely going downhill at this point! The weeks are passing faster and now it's only approx 6 weeks till Miles could come! Wow. I am realizing that labor is imminent. He's going to come out, no matter what!
A good quote

"There is no way out of the experience except through it"--Penelope Leach, Your Baby and Child

A couple of nights ago I was leaving the gym and recalling my Danskin Triathlon experience. It was really powerful, because I gained confidence (from band-nerd to semi-athlete?). Well, at least I felt like an athlete by completing the triathlon. I did things I NEVER thought I could do and I did them pretty well (well the swim and biking anyway:).

So, back to my revelation. The prospect of GIVING birth seems less intimidating after doing things that are scary/hard (triathlons and other life experiences) and succeeding. It's like each of these things that you conquer prepares you for the next one and the one after that. All the while knowing that Christ gives us grace and strengthens us for the task at hand. And that we CAN do all things through him who gives us strength!

Of course, after taking our Bradley class, reading books and hearing/watching labors and knowing that I must do it, all help a lot:)

So, all that to say, lately I've been feeling really optimistic about birth/labor etc. Mandy's words have stuck in my mind and Matt reiterates them daily "I can do this!"

I felt some *real* contractions last week and last night. They are subtle still, but uncomfortable for a moment.

So, it's been about two weeks of going to the gym everyday and walking briskly for 30 min. This week I added some tiny weights...my back has felt MUCH better and I can feel my muscles strengthening with the consistency.

Other than that, I've been on a craft, Christmas mission:

This is a banner I made for above the crib: (I am also wearing my first (and likely last) attempt at a baby sling. It was TOO small.)

Yesterday we met with Roswitha, Matt's favorite. He likes he cause she is German, matter of fact and for some reason he takes pleasure in the fact that I'm terrified of her hands digging into my abdomen to find out where the baby is located! She was pushing to find out how he was positioned and he started moving and kicking and she said "ok, well now he's just getting angry"-which in a German accent was very comical:)To make sure Miles was still head down, she pulled on the ultrasound machine! What a treat! He is head down and doing great.

My blood pressure is good at 116/72 and I gained 4 pounds since our last visit. At first she did her insecurity-inducing German-grimace when I said my weight, but then she looked at the last few visits and realized I hadn't gained any last time, so in theory I was making up for the last 4 weeks w/ the four pounds. Ahh, it's so intense to have to 'weigh in' and stare at the scale is disbelief! stressful!

Rowitha and Matt:

The ABC:

34wks!:

Matt's about to explode cause deer season opens Saturday. Him and his skull?:

Next week, we'll meet with our doula, Nicole, and talk more about labor! She's coming to our house to get the lay of the land in the event that I labor there for awhile. We are really grateful to have someone we know to help keep us both focused.

And the house search continues. We've found one that *might* be the one, but we're taking a 2nd look on Mon. Though this is not the ideal time to move, we're trusting God that he's gonna make a way...and it will all work out:)

Tomorrow my mother in law and her close friend Esther fly into Austin for the family baby shower! It will be so fun to catch up with them and celebrate Miles:) Every time I get clothes or supplies for him, it just makes it so much more real that he's a little person and he'll be here soon! It is so fun.