In for the long haul...

Doctor's appointment today.  Apparently, I have made Brody a nice comfy home and he isn't making any indication that he is ready to move out.   My blood pressure is good, I am gaining the recommended 1 pound per week, and Brody's heart rate is in the 150s.  I have one more scheduled appointment for October 4th, so hopefully we will have some sort of progress by then.  If not, I go in October 13th for a non-stress test, which is standard once you are past your due date.  It allows them to monitor the baby's movements and heart rate for about an hour.  Hopefully, I won't last that long!

And a Belly Pic...

38 weeks, 4 days. 10 days to go.

Apparently, Cody wanted to be part of the pictures!

Seriously?!

Yesterday, Mom came out to help me make some freezer ready meals for after the baby gets here.  I am pretty sure this is more cooking than I have done in the last 9 months!  We ended up making 16 different dinners, making a big mess but did a lot of laughing too!

Before...

 After...

 Some of the finished products.

oops!

We bought this dresser from Target to go into our guest room.  We figured we would have quite a few visitors with the new baby, along with mom coming out to help babysit once I go back to work.

Look at all those pieces, this is quality furniture!

Unfortunately, We (Cody...) had a small setback. 

Good thing we were putting it in the corner!

Our finished product.  

Big Plans

Who signs up for a marathon when they are 38 weeks pregnant?!

Me, apparently! 

Yesterday, the newest Rock N Roll Marathon was announced, right here in the STL.  I have been thinking about running marathon #3 next fall (October 2011) but was hesitant to say the least! 

Well, the first 500 people to sign up got a significant discount, so I signed up.

Start the countdown to October 23, 2011!

Almost 37 weeks

Had another doctors visit today.  We saw Julie, the Nurse Practitioner.  I really enjoy her, too bad she can't deliver the baby though.  It seems strange going in every week now.  My blood pressure and the baby's heart rate are doing well.  I even lost a pound this week.  Julie said the baby has dropped quite a bit since last week and has made his way into the birth canal.  Now, if we could just have some dilation going on I would be a happy girl.  She said there is a myth that it takes about 2 weeks from the time the baby drops until delivery.  Well, I guess we will find out soon enough, I go back again on Monday.  Julie said she would really like me to make it a full 39 weeks before he is born.  Two weeks sure seems like a lifetime away.  

For Sale...

For anyone that knows us well, you understand my excitement when I came home to find this sign in our neighbors yard!

We never really got off on the right foot with our next door neighbors, but who can blame us.  We had automatic points deducted when we moved in and they found out we didn't have kids, they weren't happy to find out Cody was a police officer and then... the Dreaded Cat incident.  I didn't realize that we were horrible, no-good, rotten people because we called animal control when she was feeding 15 stray cats. Really, calling animal control was a good thing because Cody actually wanted to shoot them instead!

36 week photos

 

Doctor's appointment was pretty uneventful today.  Not dilating yet.  Hey, a girl can hope right?

I have gained 38 pounds, I am officially ENORMOUS!

Countdown...

Ok, we are within a month from my due date.  I am pretty sure I am ready for this baby to get here any minute!  Well, wait... maybe not quite yet.  If Brody doesn't come until his due date, I will be lucky enough to spend all the holidays home on maternity leave.  So, while I am ready to meet this little guy and finally be able to sleep on my stomach again... I am also secretly hoping he stays in there long enough that I don't have to go back to work until January 2011!

35 week photo

Here I am at 35 weeks.  I have just one more month left until my due date.  I can't imagine being pregnant for another month, I am pretty sure Brody is about out of room in there.  Surely we can convince him to make an early appearance!

Our friends Mike & Dani (of mikegeorgephotography.com) were nice enough to give us gift certificates for a maternity photo session and a newborn photo session (after Brody is born) for a shower gift.  

Mike came out to the house Friday and spent several hours taking some artful maternity portraits.  He hadn't ever done a maternity session before, so we just played around with some different ideas we had found online.  I think we got some great photos and I am looking forward to getting proofs from him next week.  He always does a great job!

Baby Shower

My mom and Grandma did a fantastic job planning a nice little luncheon shower for me (& Brody).

It was hosted at Helfer's Pastries and Deli Cafe.  We had such a good time, and Brody got tons of goodies.  He is going to be one spoiled baby!

I had to take this pic for Grandpa.  He always puts bows on his forehead when he opens presents, so I thought that I would put the bow from his present onto Brody!

These cupcakes were SOOO good!