T Minus 9 weeks and counting....

Today we are 31 weeks and boy oh boy do I feel it! My ankles remind me of tree trunks and my toes are little snausages! But I am told (and I truly believe) that is all worth it in the end! I do have a new weird symptom this week, my fingertips on the my right fore and middle fingers go numb while I am on the computer....its very strange, I am chalking it up to the swelling occurring all over my body but will definitely ask Dr. Mann about it at my appointment on Friday.

I did manage to squeeze in some yard sailing on Saturday with Laura. We hit up a couple of places and I found a JJ Cole Infant carrier cover for $5! They retail in the mid to upper 30's! I was totally excited about that purchase. I got some cute clothes that I don't know if I will end up needing or not but that is in a story to come! I also found Ry 3 cast iron skillets-He is totally stoked and I am very happy that I could do that for him!

Sunday we had my 2nd baby shower! We had so much fun, Abby and Mary Ellen were in charge and they did a wonderful job! I had not 1, not 2 but 3 diaper cakes! All three were decorated differently and they were all adorable! We ended up giving Jenna, one of my friends from college, one of the diaper cakes b/c she is due about 4-5 weeks before me, based off my November due date. We played some really fun games including one where there is bucket of rice with safety pins in it and whoever finds the most in the bucket in 20 seconds wins! It was H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! Abby has all the pics on her camera so I will post some later! I had to open a TON of gifts while everyone sat there watching for what felt like an hour and a half! We got almost everything we need though plus lots of stuff we didn't necessarily register for but will definitely come in handy! We did get our pack and play, a swing to match (which I didn't register for but my step mom wanted to buy us-THANK YOU!), our diaper bag, our changing pad, grooming kit, Shampoo's, powder, and baby wash, wash clothes, hooded towels, burp cloths, LOTS of toys, an infant to toddler rocker (which looks like it is awesome!) as well as a TON and yes I mean TON of clothes for the little guy! Oh yea we also got our Boppy! Yea! I will post pics of this later too! Now all I have to do is find room for all this stuff! Its a daunting task but someones gotta do it! LOL. We also received money and gift cards for babies R Us. I am gonna wait and go through everything to see what else we truly need at this time. We are pretty set on diapers and wipes for quite awhile. We know what monitoring system we want but don't necessarily need it right away b/c he will be in the bassinet in our bedroom for approximately 6 months or so. So anyway, we both feel very blessed that we along with our son are loved this much! We thank everyone who came out and celebrated with us!
Here are some pics from after unloading all the stuff into our dining room:

Mom, Mary Ellen, Me and Abby

Aunt Sofia, Me, and Aunt Jacky

Ry and I after the shower

I have a ton more pics, they are just on everyone else's cameras! Lol-but I will update when I get those pictures!

Movement: All the time, I am not quite sure what he is up to sometimes, One night last week Ry felt him (what felt like playing Dance Dance revolution in there!)
Food Cravings: Still sweet stuff, I wish I would get off this kick!
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: So slight contractions nothing major yet
Belly Button in or Out:just waiting for it to pop!
Stretch Marks: no new ones, thank goodness
What I miss: doing stuff on my own ie bending down to get small stuff, bringing the laundry up from the basement....
What I am looking forward to: Putting all our shower goodies away and our maternity pics on September 12th!
Milestones: go for my first bi-monthly appointment this Friday!

30 weeks...lets start with a poem....

Time is moving slowly,

The day is almost here.

The anxiety and joy is building up,

For my baby boy will soon appear.

I can't wait to see your smiling face,

And hold your little hand.

Just then I'll know deep inside

that you’re my little man.

I have so much to share with you day after day.

And to you my son I will give my love in each and every way.

Today, lord help me, marks 30 weeks. Its kind of surreal almost that in less than 10 weeks Ryan and I will have a son to love on, hug on, and take care! Its daunting yet so exciting. This past weekend we went to a birthday party for our good friends Dave and Angela's son. He turned 1 year old. Just watching the innocence and playfulness he had made me anxious! I couldn't actually believe that we were there to celebrate his 1st birthday, it seemed like just yesterday we were going to visit them in the hospital.

At our doctors appointment last Friday, my OB did all the normal stuff. Then I inquired on the whole "measuring ahead" business. Upon measuring my belly (which I believe is getting rounder by the day!) he asked how far ahead the ultrasounds are measuring. I replied 4 full weeks. He made a little noise and commented that this visit my uterus is now measuring ahead. While the ultrasound is way more accurate in predicting these things (per Dr. Mann) he did mention that Keegan will most likely be here in October sometime. I really don't know at this point whose call it is going to be to up my due date or just let it ride!

Like I mentioned earlier we had a birthday party on Saturday to attend and before that Laura and I did a little yard sailing. I found this really cute Little Tykes rocking motorcycle (BRAND NEW!) for $5! It makes all sorts of neat noises and lights up! I am way excited about it. I also founds LOTS of hand help manipulative's for $1 and they are the Lamaze brand! I have already cleaned all those up and am starting a "BIN" for them. That way I can rotate them so he doesn't get bored. Saturday night we went to Lowe's and bought the rest of the stuff we needed to finish the kitchen remodel that was started about a year ago. We bought all the shelving for the pantry. Both gallons of paint for the kitchen walls and baskets for some of my shelving. Now we have almost everything besides the trim work. YEA! Sunday we hung out at home, had our pancake breakfast and cleaned the house a little. I cleaned and Ry rearranged the bedroom to accommodate the bassinet that will be in there in a few short weeks! Its amazing what a difference cleaning and rearranging a room makes. Ry also worked on the pantry and made homemade salsa. All in all in a decent weekend!

Here is to hoping for a great yard sailing weekend next weekend! We also have my company picnic and my baby shower thrown my sisters (and maybe my mom-I'm not sure) on Sunday!

This week Little Keegan measures somewhere in the vicinity of a Squash. Its hard to believe he is that big already! I am peeing 3-4 times a night and just can't imagine how much bigger he (and I will get) They say the 8th month is a honeydew melon-all I have to say about that is WOW!



Best Moment of the Week: Buying my first nursing bra on clearance and LOVING it!

Movement: Everyday, its fun to feel him squirm
Food Cravings: Cake, cake and more cake!
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: some minor contrax here and there and some braxton's too...no biggy
Belly Button in or Out: almost non existent
Stretch Marks: no new ones, thank goodness
What I miss: being able to "maintain" my lady parts!
What I am looking forward to: Our maternity pics on September 12th!
Milestones: HUGENESS!

BTW-took some guts for me to post this pic, hope you like!

Say hello to my big ankles and constant fatigue.....welcome week 29 week!

So today we got our very first BIG gift in the mail from my Aunt Lynn in Maine. We got our transitional booster seat! Yea! Thanks Aunt Lynn! We got tons of great stuff at my shower up North at the end of July, I have started washing and putting all those things away so by the time of my shower down here at home, I am ready and organized to put all that stuff away! But enough about that....
Today we started week 29, while we are only 11 weeks away from meeting our little bundle of joy, I am getting more nervous, anxious and apprehensive b/c really I have no clue how to take care of an infant! We are both very excited and I have every ounce of trust possible that Ry will know what to do, after all he has been around WAY more babies than I have! Third trimester is definitely taking its toll on me. I have been more tired lately and my feet (especially during the week) get very large and swollen and continue that way all week! It will be nice when I have my feet and ankles back!
In other news, his nursery is getting more and more ready. We hung the shelves above his dresser and Ryan cleaned up the rocker that Grampy made for us because it got quite dusty sitting in the dining room! I still need to clean the paper lantern that will sit in the corner by the crib but I expect to do that soon.
Ry and Rexx worked in the back yard on Saturday and amazingly enough managed to make the backyard bigger AND put in the dog kennel! This is all in anticipation of our new deck that will go in in the spring of '10. The kitchen is on the slate to be worked on this weekend. Our main goal is to finish the pantry (buy all the shelving and install it) and to start to paint the walls. Maybe the flooring will go in the following weekend! I am getting excited b/c our house is almost finished!
I feel like I am rambling on and on tonight, someone should just tell me to shut up! I have my 7th month appointment on Friday. This is my last monthly appointment, after this one it goes to every other week then to every week! There is only one thing this means, we are close to the end! I plan on discussing the "4 weeks ahead" for the last 2 ultrasounds questions and see what he says!
This week we have our normal child birthing class on Tuesday and our Breastfeeding class on Wednesday. After our child birthing class last week I think Ryan feels much better about epidurals and what happens during them! We also got to take a full tour of the Women's Hospital, I have been in there and around the halls 100 times but never realized it was so BIG! I am so glad we decided to delivery here-its such a great place to welcome a new life into the world!
Best Moment of the Week: watching my belly as he moved underneath it, its really kinda cool!
Movement: Everyday and now he is waking me up at night!
Food Cravings: None come to mind at the moment!
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None yet
Belly Button in or Out: not much left!
Stretch Marks: no new ones
What I miss: sleeping through the night without peeing 3 times!
What I am looking forward to: Baz's 1st Birthday Party! Finishing the nursery!

The Home Stretch! 28 Weeks....

Today marks 28 weeks, the first week in the last trimester! YEA! I don't mean to rush things but I am so ready to have Keegan here! While "The Bump" says Keegan is still the size of an Eggplant, I am not thinking he is still that small. He sure doesn't feel that small. I am feeling more and more movement and throughout the day where as before it was more sporadic and usually only during certain times of the day. Now I can feel movement and pressure almost all day and through the night, I am just wondering when this little boy sleeps!

This past week we stayed pretty busy, we had our 2nd childbirth class last Tuesday and then on Saturday we had our 2nd yard sale of the season netting us about another $70 dollars. This kinda shocked me because it was the leftovers of the last yard sale and we still did that good! Ry and I split the money and I am using my portion to go yardsaling this Saturday with the girls!

I go to see Dr. Fitzpatrick bright and early tomorrow morning for my growth ultrasound. I am excited to see how much bigger he is but hoping and praying he is not THAT BIG. Maybe they will schedule me a C-Section or Induction for mid-October if he is that big, I will cross my fingers! I will update Wednesday with new ultrasound pictures (tomorrow night afterwork we have our childbirthing class)

Other than this nothing much to update, I am starting to learn how to use our new camera, I want to be completly schooled before Keegan's arrival so when Ry goes back to work I can take pictures for him!

Best Moment of the Week: Swimming with Ry and Abby ( I think Keegan liked it too!)

Movement: everyday and more and more pronounced
Food Cravings: Chocolate Chip cookies and pancakes
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None yet
Belly Button in or Out: almost flush with my belly
Stretch Marks: no new ones, thank goodness
What I miss: having regular looking feet and ankles.
What I am looking forward to: yardsaling!
Milestones: 3rd Trimester!

27 weeks.....13 to go but who is counting.....

So Monday marked the 27th week mark! At this point it seems like I dont remember what it is like NOT being pregnant! I know I still have a while to go but geesh.....it will be so nice when we get to hold him and I can talk on the phone without getting winded! Lots of stuff has happened since last Monday.

I received a $500 bonus for passing my state exam back in June, with all the baby furniture bought I thought that we needed a really nice camera for when Keegan arrives. We found a Nikon that both of us really like for right under $400. First I found it on Target's website and then Ry found it under shop on ebay. We ended up getting the camera with a TON of extra stuff like 2 chargeable batteries, carrying case, and a years subscription to a photo magazine, plus a ton of other stuff AND it was the same price that Target wanted for it! Yea for finding a great deal! I can't wait to read the manual to find out just what this baby can do!

We started our childbirth classes last week. They are not so bad, beside the fact they are 2 hours long for 6 weeks. The first session we talked about relaxation and what Ry can do to assist me in relaxing as much as possible. Last night we watched "the video" and learned breathing techniques. So far so good, next week we get a tour of the hospital and the anesthesiologist will come to talk to us. The class is packed to the max and we haven't really socialized with anyone around us yet and I dont know if we will but we are doing it together and that is what matters.

Friday night I had some slight cramping, I didnt think it was a huge deal but I woke up Saturday bright and early to go yardsaling only to find a small amount of brown discharge. I FREAKED out, because, well that is me! I called Dr. Mann's office and they connected me to him right away. He told me it probably wasn't a big deal but I could go into triage and get checked if I wanted to. He also advised just kicking back and taking it easy. So with those words of advice in mind, I put my feet up and watched movies ALL DAY! I had a couple of slight cramps on Saturday night but no other colored discharge. Keegan also moved around a lot so that made me feel better. Come Monday morning I called Dr. Mann's office and they got me in at 2:50. I got checked, turns out I have a bladder infection (didn't even know) and his heartbeat was "135 strong" according to Dr. Mann. This made me feel a ton better and he told me any time I am having cramping/bleeding that I am NOT comfortable with go to triage and get check. Hopefully I will not have to heed those words of advice.

Next Tuesday I got to Dr. Fitzpatrick (the high risk doctor) to have the growth scan done. I am anxious to see how big he is now being 4 weeks later! I will post results as soon as I know!

Other than that, Ryan has finished the nursery and the furniture is set up. All of his bedding is washed and dried and even the mobile is hanging on the crib! He hung the valances on the windows Monday night and I just need to return the sheers we bought to go under them because they are not quite long enough. I want to wait until the whole room is put together before I post any pictures. I have another shelf I need to buy this weekend and I have to clean the rocker and paper latern that is going in there before I move them. Its looks realy good though and I am so proud and thankful to Ry for all his hard work!

Supposedly Keegan is the size of an Eggplant, I dont believe this for A MINUTE! He may have been this size oh, 2 months ago, but I am thinking he is definetly bigger than that now! But we will find out next week for sure!
Best Moment of the Week: Ryan finishing the nursery and starting to get it organzied and put the finishing touches on it!

Movement: everyday and now you can see it roll across the belly
Food Cravings: Nilla Waffers, but come to find out they give me heartburn!
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None yet
Belly Button in or Out: almost flush with my belly
Stretch Marks: yep!
What I miss: being able to turn over in bed without it being a struggle.
What I am looking forward to: working in the nursery and washing all his clothes, blankets, and other fabric items.
Milestones: UM almost gaining 50 lbs so far...does that count.....