Going All the Way

I never got around to giving the run down on yesterday's last and final check-up (39 1/2 weeks).  The plan going in was that if I was at least 4 cm dilated I would be sent over to the hospital to have my water broken and finally meet our baby girl.  MJ simply will not cut her Mama any slack.  I was "just shy" of 4 cm so my doctor wrote up a hospital order for Friday morning, the 15th - also my due date.  If I don't have the baby before then I am instructed to be at Waccamaw Hospital, 6 am sharp.  My doctor will break my water soon thereafter and we should finally meet Miss Mattie J.

I've been so consumed in the possibility of going into labor these past two weeks I barely noticed how quickly my due date actually approached.  Here I am staring the reality of two kids right in the face!  Ahh!  It would still be pretty cool to go into labor tomorrow since it's the 14th - I was born on December 14th.  Robert and Evan were both born on the 11th (August and July, respectively) - Girls vs. Boys.  My doctor laughs every time I throw out a new date that would be "neat" or "cool."  She thinks Robert and I are obsessed with numerology when in fact we don't really care.  It's just something to think about while we patiently wait for our child to arrive.  Well, not so patiently any more for me.  But I'm also the one with a foot permanently wedged underneath my ribcage.

The last thing my doctor said before I left the office was, "The only thing that could possibly slow your labor down after we break your water will be the size of the baby.  You're looking at another 9+ lber."  FANTASTIC!  Looking forward to the recovery.

Oh, final weight gain for this pregnancy - 34lbs.  WORD.

Measuring Big

Should we really surprised by this?  I mean it's not like we haven't heard that phrase a million times before.  In fact, that phrasing was used during so many visits when I was pregnant with Evan that it's become an expectation even now.  We were also informed that MJ may possess the all too familiar Evans' family trait - the monster melon.  Yay, I thought.  Delivery should once again be as pleasant as ever!

All this information was gathered at my 36 week appointment yesterday.  This appointment officially began "Baby Watch 2010" with the first check of my cervix.  It was luckily not in any shape to have a baby yet, but from this point on it will be checked on a weekly basis.  We also had an ultrasound done which confirmed MJ is positioned correctly, head down, and ready for delivery.  They estimated her current weight between 6 1/2 and 7 lbs.  I'm hoping that means her birth weight will be in the 7 1/2 to 8 lb range - and for recovery purposes I'm begging.

I gained a whopping 1 lb in the last two weeks making my weight gain total 31 lbs so far.  Not too shabby.  At this point however it wouldn't matter if I was 10 or 20 pounds heavier - uncomfortable is uncomfortable.

I can honestly say that I am ready for all that comes with taking care of an infant.  My only experience has been Evan and that was the hardest job I've ever had to date.  I'm confident that MJ will be easier, but any way you look at it night feedings can take their toll.  Luckily we are able to have Evan in his program which will make things a lot easier those first few weeks.  I will also have my mom here as she has decided to move to the area in just a few weeks.  YAY!!!!  I couldn't be happier to have my mom in the same town, not only to help me with a newborn, but to be a permanent fixture in Evan and MJ's lives.  Having grandparents near by is really special for a child.  I was not fortunate enough to have that so I am extremely happy that my children will.

So in just 4 short weeks Robert and I will be moving my mom here and welcoming our baby girl to the family.  Man, time really does fly!

A Baby Machine

Evidently I should have babies for a living according to my doctor.  My results came back from my 3-hour glucose test and she claimed they were the best numbers she had ever seen.  No gestational diabetes for me.  She added that I was made to have babies - whatever that means.  Maybe I should've considered this as a living...a lifelong surrogate.  Ha - absolutely not.

Weight gain for the past two weeks?  Not horrible - almost 3 lbs.  I'm thinking I'll gain about 40 lbs by the end of it all.  My initial goal was to not exceed 40 lbs so I won't be too disappointed with that.

Thirty two weeks and counting.

In other baby news, my brother and my sister-in-law are patiently awaiting the arrival of their son.  Ruth has been having contractions for the past two days and is dilated 3 1/2 cm.  Her contractions are about 7-8 minutes apart.  Once they drop to 5 minutes they will be hospital bound.  Yeah!  Being that my mom and I are flying to Chicago on Friday for Isabel's first birthday, it sure would be a bonus to meet my little nephew too.

Oh Dear

Sometimes what you think is a fabulous idea turns out to be not so fabulous after all. Like my beautiful candy jars. I envisioned lovely glass jars placed just right on my counter and filled to the rim with colorful candies. Its presence would add such a fun and playful twist to my kitchen decor. My vision was spot on. My self-control not so much.

I had my 4 week check-up with my new OB this morning and I was not very pleased when I watched the nurse move the small weight on the scale further and further to the right. I gained 5 lbs. this past month. ONE MONTH! I only gained 5 lbs. the prior three months combined. And it's all because of those damn candy jars! Please notice the half-filled jar of M&M's. Who did I think I was kidding? Like I could really walk past those jars every day and resist sticking my hand in and grabbing a large handful or two...or three.

That appointment was a wake up call. Would prunes look just as pretty?

Monthy Check-Up

I heard a strong, rapid heart beat at today's monthly check-up.  What an indescribable feeling it is to hear the sound of human life just below the surface of an ever expanding belly.  I get emotional every time. 

And get this people - I only gained ONE pound since my last appointment.  ONE pound.  Even my nurse said, "nice job," after weighing me.  I was proud of myself.  I know this may sound ridiculous, but this is coming from someone who gained AT LEAST three lbs per visit in her last pregnancy.  In 15 weeks I have only gained eight pounds.  I'm sure to some this may not seem like an accomplishment, but for me - olympic gold!  I'm hoping to stay under 40 lbs. this time around.  For some reason I can hear Kylie laughing at me right now. ha.

Heading to Chicago on Wednesday to visit with my brother and his family.  Isabel will be 8 months old tomorrow.  I can't wait to see my little niece.  And to squawk back and forth with Ruth about pregnancy - I can see Tim cringing already.  Mimi is making the trip too!!

Starvin' Marvin'

I committed a long time ago to eating healthy and maintaining a reasonable weight during my second pregnancy.  The fact that I want to eat my own arm off every minute of the day certainly doesn't help in my quest.  I am so incredibly hungry ALL the time.  It's quite annoying actually.  My stomach is literally growling 10 minutes after I eat a meal.   I've tried eating fruit or popcorn or even cereal to satisfy the hunger pangs just so I won't be consuming a million calories per day - but none of these options are doing the trick.  So of course I'm trying to convince myself to just eat and make sure to exercise to make up for the extra calories.  Riiiiiight!  We all know that the intention is always good, but the reality - not so much.  And this example should sum that statement up real quick - I've been planning my exercise schedule out in my head:  jog with the jogging stroller 3 times a day and do my yoga sessions at night.  Well, the fact that my jogging stroller has been sitting in the foyer for several weeks with deflated tires kinda throws a wrench in my plan.  And my yoga sessions have been replaced by web surfing and catching up on recorded tv shows.  Have I done anything to fix this problem?  Negatory.

I see you, dreaded 49 lbs. from last pregnancy!  But I still have time to hide, right?