Week 39

Dear Bun,

This will be my last weekly update before you arrive.  We found out at my last doctor's appointment that you are in fact sitting Indian style, head up, feet crossed- or as the ultrasound tech called it "criss-cross applesauce"- I guess you are not supposed to say "Indian style" anymore.  It is against my doctor's policy to try and deliver a breech baby naturally because of the risks, and we were not willing try it either.  There are a few procedures we could have tried to flip you, but I was against trying to flip you at all- I believe you are in this position for a reason and you were head down until the very end, so the doctor was not optimistic that they would have worked anyway since you are now full term.  We are scheduled for a c-section on Wednesday, the 30th, how does a 3-30-11 birthday sound?  I am nervous for the surgery, but if I am going to have a c-section, I am much happier knowing about it in advance.  Maybe you were trying to do your schedule/planning obsessed mama a favor by sitting upright?  Either way, we can't wait to meet you, and at the end of it all, it does not matter how you get here, all that matters is that we have a healthy baby to take home.

Here is the 39 week bump pic:

Love,

Mom

Week 38

Dear Bun,

As I write, we are 11 days away from your due date, but really you could come anytime between now and the next 3-4 weeks.  The books say the average size of a baby now is close to 7 lbs and 20 inches long.  I'm anxious to see how big you will be!  Your dad was a big baby (over 9 lbs) but I was small (6 lbs) at 2 weeks late, so maybe you will end up somewhere in the middle.

Last week, I went and got the carseat inspected to make sure I had done it right.  I did, but the police officer and safe kids rep recommended that I move you from the middle seat to the seat behind me so we can use the LATCH system which is really easy to just snap the base in and out of, and gives the safest fit since you don't have to use the seatbelt at all.  They also told me to take down the fun stuffed toys I had hanging from your seat because apparently those are a projectile threat in the event of an accident.  So, I'm glad I had everything checked out! 

Today, your dad and I are going to the movies and are trying to get some last minute things done around the house before you come!  Your nursery is complete except for the toy chest, which may not be ready for awhile.  Either way, we have everything setup and ready for your first few weeks at home.  I made my packing list for the hospital and have started setting things in a packing pile- Morgan gets really anxious whenever she sees the suitcase out, so I'm holding off on that until the end.  I am still feeling good, and thankfully, haven't experienced the swelling that a lot of women get in the last weeks of pregnancy.  I do have insomia though.  I'm usually up every 1 1/2 -2 hours a night.  Even though I won't be getting more sleep once you get here, I am really looking forward to being able to sleep on my back again- even if it is only for 2 hours at a time!

Love,

Mom

I Want To Remember...

Dear Bun,

As this pregnancy comes to an end, I wanted to capture a few of my favorite memories. It has been a joy to carry you these past 10 months. I am excited for the future, but I know I will miss this special time, when it has been just you and me. I can’t wait to show you the world, to explore with you, and to watch you make it your own, but there are things about you being in the womb that I want to remember as well:


I want to remember the nervous excitement that I felt when I first saw this:

I want to remember the look on your dad’s face when I told him he was going to be a father

I want to remember the emails that your dad and I would exchange over the work day. He was always checking in on us and I got so excited to see “Bun” in the subject line

I want to remember that Thursday’s were the best day because that is the day that we moved on to the next week, so I always spent some time on Thursday reading about what you were developing then

I want to remember that I loved reading product reviews on baby products

I want to remember that I poured my heart into your nursery and no matter how crazy my requests seemed, your dad just went right along with what I said

I want to remember that I actually liked wearing maternity clothes

I want to remember that your dad loved my pregnant belly

I want to remember the look on your dad’s face as the ultrasound technician waved her magic wand over my belly and said “It’s a boy!”

I want to remember that the first thing you received were 2 Michigan State onesies your dad brought back from a football game

I want to remember that Morgan got protective of us whenever another dog got too close

I want to remember that your dad loved catching me chugging milk. I could not get enough milk and once I decided I needed some milk, I would drink a full glass without stopping- it was that good

I want to remember the confidence in being a mom that came over me halfway through the pregnancy- all of a sudden it did not matter what anyone said or tried to advise me on. I realized that no one knows what is best for you like your dad and I, and we will work the rest of our lives to try and give you just that

I want to remember that you loved the right side and I frequently walked around with a lopsided belly

I want to remember that I played the “next time” game in my head the last few weeks- Next time I touch these diapers it will be because I am changing Henry, next time I have to get out my suitcase, it will be to pack for the hospital, next time I see my mom, I will be a mom, or the “by the time” game- By the time this milk expires, Henry should be born


I want to remember looking down at the scale at the doctor’s office. I have never seen a number so large when I stepped on a scale, but I have never been more proud of it

Week 37: Watermelon

Dear Bun,

We made it to 9 months! This week, we are 37 weeks along, which is considered full-term.  Before I was pregnant, I thought that being 9 months pregnant meant that you were ready to have the baby, but once we started counting weeks, I realized pregnancy is actually 10 months.  Your development is mostly complete, you are just gaining weight and practicing for life outside the womb: breathing, sucking on your thumb, blinking, and moving around. 

Last Friday, I went to the doctor and will start going every week now.  The good news is that you are head down, and the doctor says everything looks the way it should! The other big news of the week is that I got a new car yesterday!  It was time to upgrade from this car:

To a car that is a little more carseat and kid friendly:

I also insalled your carseat, and I'm going to get it inspected sometime this week. Here is where you will ride!

And here we are at 37 weeks:

Love,
Mom

Week 36

Dear Bun,

We are at 36 weeks now and have exactly 25 days until your due date as I type this!  It's hard to believe we are so close now.  You are probably around 6 lbs and are continuing to gain weight weekly.  Development wise, everything is pretty much complete and this week you are shedding a waxy substance called vernix caseosa which has protected your skin from the amniotic fluid over the past 8 months. 

I'm still doing well, I have a lot of energy lately and seem to always find something to do to get ready for you.  I probably did the most fun loads of laundry ever this weekend- I started washing all your newborn clothes and blankets and getting everything organized.  We also went new car shopping this weekend since we will need to upgrade to a family friendly vehicle.  I can't go anywhere without people smiling at me, wishing us well, or stopping to ask about you.  It's been so fun having complete strangers come up to me and ask about you and tell me how wonderful it will be.  Most people ask if I'm ready to have you yet, and while I can't wait to meet you, I'm not ready yet!  I think I will miss being pregnant- after all I get to take you with me everywhere I go now and I love feeling you moving around. 

Here we are at 36 weeks:

Love,

Mom