How COOL is this??

My dad found my birth announcement! - I scanned the front and inside - I'm anxious to see how my little baby favors me when he comes! Now I'm on the hunt to find Brad's baby pics.

The pic below the hospital is an extra baby photo of me.

This is the inside saying that I was born August 31st, 1982; the day was left blank; born at 9:30 in the evening; I was 3 kg (or 6 pounds 6 oz); the parents field was left blank; and the last entry was the doctor who delivered me - Nikos Kapetanakis

Now I just need to find a baby pic of Brad!

Update

We'll it's been a while since I've logged on (to anything for that matter). So I guess I'll update my latest. Thursday I had the shower at work, which was so nice.
Friday: I spent half the day working with my mom in her house since they are trying to fix it up and sell it. She even came back with me and spent the night at my house!
Saturday: Brad and I had a rare day to spend together. We took a lot of the gift cards, and a lot of duplicate gifts and hopped from store to store to pick up things we think we need. Here's what we got:
- co-sleeper thingie (it goes in the middle of our bed) *I had mixed emotions about this, but if it puts the animals out of our bed for a while, I'm willing to do it :)
- a natural rubber pipila (no PVC, phthalates, BPA free) -- a pipila is a pacifier
- grooming/first aid kit
- nipple cream
- hand mittens
- glass bottles
- um...I can't think of what else....

I had a really great surprise on Saturday! I was originally going to have a baby shower thrown for me....things didn't work out and it is too late in my pregnancy to have it postponed, so it was cancelled. Becky and Danielle (Beck's best friend) came over and surprised me with GREAT gifts!! Danielle was awesome and got us the bottle drying rack we registered for, hangers and the most adorable photo album. Becky got me my diaper bag (which I love!) and her and Charlet (her MIL) got me the pack n play!!! - It was really expensive, and I'm so greatful. Those girls actually made me start crying it was so sweet. (Brad thought I was crazy for crying ... which in turn made Becky cry... hahaha!)

That evening Mary and Jeff took me out to dinner. That was so nice of them. - Brad went to hit baseballs, so it was just the three of us. It really made it scary when Mary said she'd see me in a few weeks to see the baby....ah! - Plus the ticker saying 11 days now is making me more nervous and frantic!

Sunday: Brad had baseball so I went to help my mom out again. We made really good progress, but my limitations with pregnancy have finally caught up with me. All I did was sit on a skate board and scoot around the floor cleaning baseboards. I'm so sore. I feel like I weigh 500 pounds and my bones are breaking under all this weight! So I'm definitely taking it easy now. Amy gave me this advice last week...but I just hate not being able to help people when they need my help, but, unfortunately that had to be my final straw. Sorry mom.

So that's my update. I go to Dr. Chen today at 3:45...so hopefully everything looks okay. I'll update later!!

Surprise shower for me!!

At work some of the ladies got together and gave me a shower! I had anticipated having cake, but when I walked into the conference room they had bags of gifts for me. It was so thoughtful, especially because some of the 2nd shift ladies who couldn't make it sent their gifts anyway.

We again, got great outfits! A bouncer, gift cards, wash cloths (I haven't bought any of these yet!) blankets, socks....I'm so touched! My boss got me safety things, I thought that was cute :) (plug covers, safety mirrors, etc).

Andrea picked up a cake for me (I need to mention that she had gifts sent to my house). Thank you Vi-Jon ladies so much!

I think they're hoping to not see me Monday...hahah....

SOOOO tired.

Hopefully this is the LAST time I ever have to work shitty hours. I had to be up at 2:15 this morning to start work at 3:00. yes... a.m., as in morning...as in the sun's not up yet!!

So now it's hit 6:30 and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. I am counting down until nap time at 11:00 when I get off. - We had to provide a safety lunch for 3rd shift employees (I was nominated to run 3rd shift because I'm the only one who doesn't have kids yet) ::BS::

At least I like the group we served.

Anyway, part of the exhaustion is due to not sleeping until midnight! I went to see Natalie, Tim and new baby Logan at St. John's yesterday. Unfortunately he was still in the NICU, but doing very well. Natalie looked a little tired, but still great. I didn't get home until nearly 11! What an amazing miracle. Here are some pics of Logan. Hopefully today when I swing by (before my nap time) I will get to hold him!

He looks like Tim!!

As for me baby-wise, not much has changed. I still feel pretty crampy, no solid poops (sorry TMI) and he is kicking and moving like a crazy man! Hopefully he gets the idea soon that he'll have more room out here ::but baby...please wait until after I've had a LONG, GOOD nap. Then you can come - thanks::

It is also been ridiculously hot here lately. I could barely make it up a small parking lot hill yesterday without blowing up like an air balloon and feeling like I had all my breath punched out of me. My feet are really starting to swell badly. The rest of me is too...I finally had to take off my wedding rings. - Oh well, I have a tan line there and an indention line that indicates that I swelled out of them.

Here are my poor tootsies (they're not so bad here). -- okay, wow. I just dozed off again. I need to take a few laps around the office....

Natalie had her baby!!!

Congratulations Natalie and Tim!!!! Yesterday morning Natalie emailed me and said she had been feeling contractions off and on - even at the shower she told me she started to lose her MP. The MP came out and her contractions became regular and they admitted her into the hospital late last night.
Brad's mom called us around 11 to tell us the news. This morning before 6 Brad's mom called to tell us that Logan Abel (I'm not sure how to spell Abel) arrived naturally at 4:30ish this morning!!! How exciting!
I am SO glad Natalie had a quick delivery. She truly needed a break from pregnancy and a speedy delivery! I get to meet my nephew probably later this evening or tomorrow....

all I can think now is,

O. M. G.
I'm next.

Baby Shower Pics!

I found the charger to my camera! Here are some pictures Tracie took for me. I'm sad that I didn't have on the right setting for her and they turned out a little dark. There were plenty of people with cameras, so I'm sure I'll get some more.


GEEZ! What's bigger?? my boobs or my belly?


This was the only pic on my camera of me and Natalie. And one of the few where I am not making a ridiculous face.
I had to stuff tissue paper between my legs so I didn't give everyone a show :)


Me and Brad's mom cutting the yummy cream cheese filled cake!!!!!!!

I can't thank everyone enough (especially Brad's aunts and Natalie) for throwing me the shower. It means so much!!

37 week appointment

I'll be honest...I'm a little disapointed.

yep....no dialation and barely starting to efface. That's okay, I was just hoping to be one of the lucky ones. I'm also a little disappointed that my usual Friday appointment is being pushed back to Tuesday next week. - the office is closed that day...but I don't really like it when my routine is messed up.
Oh well, I guess it gives me that much more time to progress. COMEONBABY!!!!!

This weekend was EXHAUSTING. Moving, packing, stressing - those are all pretty good adjectives. My mom and dad's house is now bascially in our basement. They still have plenty to pack up, but it's a start.

Saturday Brad's family gave a baby shower! It was so nice and thoughtful. We got a bunch of things for the baby (obviously, right?) Onesies, spoons, a bouncer, baby carrier, hangers, blankets, outfits, a humidifier, a nightlight, toys....it was pretty exciting! We were at Cheri's house and had lunch and a really yummy cake filled with some kind of cream cheese filling...

So...my camera died during the shower. I did manage to get a few pics, but I'll have to upload them later.

Not much to report 'feeling' wise. I still have the crampiness...some D and lots of fatigue. The 90 degree days probably haven't been helping that much. It's kind of funny how pregnancy for me has come full circle in a way. The very beginning I was always paranoid looking for blood or scary discharge to indicate something about the pregnancy isn't going right. Now I'm looking for the same type of thing, only to tell me that becoming "unpregnant" is going right.

That's a thought...no longer pregnant?? that may mean:
1) no longer so huge???
2) no longer being stared at like a freak show???
3) no more swelling???
4) no more feet/elbow kicking my lower right ribs???
5) an end to the stretching???
6) not getting winded trying to get off the couch???
7) eventually wearing something hanging in my closet???
8) not worrying about a-bowling-ball-is-falling-out-my-vagina-feeling all the time???
9) no longer having to pee ALL the time???
10) FINALLY getting to feel the squirms and squiggles in my arms???
- those are nice thoughts, especially the last one

Until then...I must remember the flip side of things....at least I can try and sleep.

Hospital Bag...check!

We finally gathered everything and packed the bag tonight.
*I say "we"...basically Brad went to Walmart with me probably to make sure I wouldn't come home with something we didn't really need. --- like the closet organizer he made me take out of the cart*
:)

So we got the tennis balls (suggested by the Bradley method class), little shampoos to have at the hospital, scrunchies, a nursing bra, a night gown (I have mental issues about wearing a hospital gown - it reminds me of bad times)...um, we also have our diapers (huggies F&N and 7thGen) and chlorine free wipes. I packed a BUNCH of panties...all kinds. Actually what's funny is for my bachlorette party a game involved each guest bringing a pair of panties...anyway, long story short, Natalie brought these horribly huge-grandma-undies...I packed them. I bet they will be SUPER comfy.
I made a rice sock (used to heat up and help sooth the back)...um, oh, I packed Elijah lots of onesies, his coming home outfit, socks, and an "I love mommy" outfit. --how could I resist??

It was kind of scary when it got to the part of packing stuff for the baby. I felt like it was my 'test' to see if I'd get it right...did I remember everything he may need (without having the hospital having to provide)? - oh, and I did remember his organic soaps & shampoos -

As he wiggles around right now it just make it so unbelievable that these 'alien' movements I see and feel will soon be 'real' in life and flesh. Also as I sit here these 'period' cramps are a little more bothersome. I don't understand what they really are - I mean - my stomach isn't rock hard like so many books describe. Where is the definition of an annoying cramp that isn't timeable but slowly progressing to the point of wanting to reach for a midol?

I don't know, but I'm sure I'll follow up in my blog as soon as I get a report from Dr. Chen on Friday. At least my bags are now packed if it turns into something more serious.... **wishful thinking**

survey

How far along? 36w4d
Total weight gain/loss: my scale is crap, so somewhere between 22-26 pounds
Maternity clothes? HATE them. I only wear skirts from ON & Target that are gaucho-like
Stretch marks? growing exponentially
Sleep: no, not really. I have to pee too much.
Best moment this week: Brad telling me that his boss doesn't think I look pregnant from the back!
Movement: throughout the day off and on. There is always an elbow/foot-whatever poking out of my right side when he moves.
Food cravings: peanut butter sandwiches & Chocolate milk.
Gender: boy! confirmed a 3rd time last friday.
Labor Signs: period-type cramping lately. Dr. Chen said they are little contractions.
Belly Button in or out? wierd...top part is out, bottom part is in.
What I miss: the feeling that everything doesn't have to be spic and span ALL the time.
What I am looking forward to: honestly, experiencing labor.
Weekly Wisdom: I'm NOT crazy for crying at air freshener commericals - I can't help it -it's my hormones :)
Milestones: 9 months officially! and Full term in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend update!

Officially 9 months pregnant! - And my ticker says 26 days. I am WAAAAYYYY to excited!

let me add that we now have internet at home, so after this blog entry they won't be as lengthy...

Friday: I had my 36 week appt with Dr. Chen (I am now a weekly visitor). Brad came with me this time because we were getting our last u/s as well. Before the u/s however I had the group b strep test done. It wasn't awful, but I didn't particularly like a q-tip going up my bum. Hopefully it will come back negative so I can labor without an IV. ::crosses fingers::

After that we got to see the baby again! And I am SOO pleased to say that his is head down and in perfect position. Dr. Chen said he looks great, and even mentioned he was happy to see him 'practice' breathing already - this is great news meaning if he came now he could most likely breath on his own. What a miracle this whole process is!

I also asked about my "period" cramps I've been feeling off an on for the last two weeks or so. He said that they are light contractions! This just makes me happy to think that maybe I won't go over the due date - I really don't want to. I get an internal exam next Friday, so I'll guess we'll see if they are making any slight progress down there.

Saturday: Race for the Cure! I woke up at dawn - seriously 5 am - and Me, Becky, Natalie, Jon and Emma battled the crowds of downtown St. Louis to walk amongst 70,000+ people to support the fight against breast cancer. I must say the crowds were incredible, but it was so moving to see so many survivors and so many "in memory of" t-shirts being worn. However, it did start to make me think...what is all the $$ going towards? Where is our cure? - for those that know me, know that I have a conspiracy theory with pharmaceutical companies/doctors/etc - So this kind of disappointed me with the race. It was almost like a circus show. I would walk 1,000 miles for these women, don't get me wrong. But I can't shake the feeling that the cause is sometimes overshadowed by the hype...is that the best way to describe it? I don't know. Anyway....

God bless the survivors, the survivors of women who have passed, and all of those who suffer from any form of this awful disease.

Our group: Natalie, Becky, Jon, Me & Emma

I love this of Emma, Beck and Jon! How cute!

Probably about 1/2 mile into the race. We opted to do the 1 mile fun walk versus the whole 5k. It was hot, we had a 3 year old and 3 very pregnant walkers! (Jon's such a good sport to hang out with us that morning)

Check out the massive crowds! - Oh, and it didn't rain on us thankfully.

Natalie, Becky, Jon and Emma - next year we'll leave a bulky jogging stroller at home. It was too crowded to maneuver the thing!

Me and my Magoo!!!!

Emma took this one of me and Becky.

So that was the majority of Saturday. After the race I went home and cleaned house a bit. Brad and his dad built stairs off of our back door (yay!! Finally!!). Then Brad and I went off to a Rascals baseball game. It was a really nice relaxing time. It was also nice to just get to be with Brad for a bit. Oh, and at the game I had the BEST snow cone I've ever had. :::I'm drooling just thinking about it:::

Sunday: Tried to sleep in...couldn't. Becky and Emma came over and we finished picking up shower presents for Heather (Steph's sister). The shower was nice! Steph and her mom and whoever else helped did a really nice job. We even got to decorate onesies - it was fun! After the shower it was off to my parents house. They had a realtor come over, and it's official...the house will soon be listed to sell! As exciting as that sounds, believe me, it's going to be EXHAUSTING. There is a lot of things that have to get done around their house. But it's great to see things moving along. I just wish I could help more than I'm able.

So...there's my weekend in a nutshell. There is some bitter/sweet news I didn't add in there. George, my brother, got offered his dream job!!! After years of patiently waiting and working hard he has finally gotten that phone call. He is truly deserving. The catch is, it's in Des Moines, Iowa. WOW...that stinks. They have to move away. And on top of all that Steph is going to have a lot on her shoulders! G has to go away for 3 months for training and miss a lot of the exciting visits of their pregnancy. Anyway....keep them in your prayers...they have a lot on their plates.

YOU may think I'm small....

but shut up.

AAAHH! If one more person tells me "Oh! You're too small to deliver next month" I'm going to punch them in the teeth.
Did it ever occur to them that my boobs have also become ginormous - seriously, they nearly stick out as far as my belly - .... anyway, I don't have to defend my pregnancy size to them. It is just so irritating! What am I supposed to say?

"Yea, I've been starving myself to make sure that he will be able to squeeze out no problem. It's been tough, but I think I'll reach my goal of him only weighing 3 pounds."

::: Freaking morons :::

Semi-BUSY weekend

Wow....I feel like I was just blogging about last weekend. Time is really flying by.

I have decided to take Fridays off until baby comes - mostly because my dr. appts are on Fridays. Also my work has this RIDICULOUS policy (which I guess most do??) that I need to have 40 hours of personal time banked to take FMLA. They are just going to take it...not give me an extra week off (so NOT 13 weeks off, only 12). They would have to pay me for it of course, but getting paid is not 100% my priority...getting to bond with my son is. So they can't take what's not there!! HA-ha!

Moving on...thinking of work pisses me off.

Friday: Since I had the day off I cleaned out my car. For those that don't understand what an achievement this is...believe me, it's like a miracle how clean my car is. I couldn't stand the thought of a baby riding in a messy car, so my nesting attacked my car. Partly because we got our car seats on Friday. Special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Karn!! This week I plan to go to the fire department and have them install it. I'm kind of nervous because my car is a little hatchback with airbags EVERYWHERE...so I might have to go to Mercedes and have them disable an airbag or two.

Friday evening - Becky, Emma and I went to superwalmart and did some shopping. It was kind of commical because we both were dead tired trying to grocery shop. Emma was great, she sat in the cart the whole time. I could just squeeze her she's so sweet!!

....oh, side note. Look at this pic she wanted to take for "Bob" (aka Brad) because she is decked out in baseball gear. How cute is she.

What's funny is that Beck and I were so dead tired after doing our walmart shopping we both just wanted to get home and crash...but it turns out we both were cleaning until the wee hours of the morning! This nesting thing is really bizarre. At least my house is fantastically clean.

Saturday: 5k #2! Natalie asked me to walk with her for Run for the Stars at the St. Louis Science Center. I was all for it. I love the science center! I think the 5k fever is spreading...Steph, George, Allison and my Mom walked with us! I only have a few photos unfortunately. My mom has the rest (I'll get those tomorrow). It was a great walk, but really challenging! We went all through Forest Park. Those hills are nothing to laugh at either. We finished almost dead last...we beat a 79 year old. HAHAHAHAHAHA....here's a screen shot of the results...

So you can't see it really well, but it's hilarious nonetheless.

Here are some photos (my mom has the rest - a good group one too I'll have to get from her). Me and Natalie and our babies!!

The hardest part of this 5k was having to pee practically the whole time...and being teased by the big Brewfest Festival tents...mmmm....ice cold beer......

After the race Tim and Brad picked up the crib!! Yay!! Thanks Nana for getting us a new crib! I'll post pics of the nursery once we get the old crib taken apart. Brad and I put it together without arguing or bickering at each other - that's a pretty good accomplishment too :)

That's basically Saturday. We had dinner with Brad's parents, Natalie and Tim. Rented that Tom Cruise Valykrie movie and fell asleep.

Sunday: Completely uneventful for me. I slept A LOT, did laundry and got addicted to watching a marathon of America's Next Top Models ::can someone tell me how it's possible that a finalist had a baby less than a year before getting on the show?? -- Where were HER stretch marks??::

Wow, is this blog long enough? Sorry...but as I said last week my motivation for work is even less now than before. ANDD!!!! We dont' have internet at home until next Saturday...freaking AT&T...

Maternity Slideshow

Our photographers are awesome! How neat is this. I can't wait to get the photos! Thanks Dan and Crystal!!!!!!

I'm bored, so here's a survey

How far along? 34w5d
Total weight gain/loss: um, as of last friday it was 22 pounds
Maternity clothes? not even comfy anymore. I like to just sit in my undies and Brad's nike tshirt
Stretch marks? ALL over my poor belly. :: goodbye Victoria's Secret bikinis ::
Sleep: can only do it smothering my body pillow - and even at best it get's me through 3-4 straight hours
Best moment this week: rediscovering my lost Bomb Pop popsicles in my freezer
Movement: a lot! And it actually hurts where I have to move positions to get him away from my right side.
Food cravings: peanut butter sandwiches for some reason (probably because of the lack of grocery shopping and it's either that or ramen noodles)
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: I don't know. Everytime I think something significant is happening, it ends up being gas
Belly Button in or out? slowly moving out
What I miss: being able to bend over
What I am looking forward to: my next dr appt. Our last u/s and the measurement of the baby! I can't wait to see what his weight estimation is.
Weekly Wisdom: No matter how invincible you are, pregnancy will eventually take ahold where you're going to need some help. :: I really hate it too ::
Milestones: baby was head down at the last appt!! Woo HOOOOOO!

BUSY BUSY weekend!

For the first time ever I thought "Man, this weekend is taking forever"...very unusal...probably because I did a lot of activity and was ready to ass-plant myself at work. :)

Friday: we did a major cleaning of the house. It feels good to have everything in order (I still wish I could have gotten to everything, but for now I'm pleased. Cleaning the baseboards will be another weekend project.
Saturday: Steph, Beck and I went on a 5k walk! It was their first and I think they really liked it, regardless of the fact we got rained on the first mile and half or so. It was for a great cause, and it was really neat that all three of us got to walk while pregnant for this cause! here's more information on it... Thrive

completely unrelated...but it cracks me up that Steph and I could choke Becky with our boobs :) hahahaha.

There was a pretty decent crowd.

We finished in one hour and one minute...I didn't think it was too bad. It could have been quicker, but I'll admit, I slowed the group down on the uphills.

After the race we went to lunch and I went home to get ready for Natalie's shower (Brad's sister) for Sunday. I made the cake, picked up the house a little bit, and was off to finally relax at a BBQ. The cake turned out really cute (it was good too...minus the rolled fondant icing - luckily that peels off easily when ready to eat).


see! It did turn out cute.
On Sunday, I think the shower turned out nice. Natalie got lots of great things, so I guess 'mission was accomplished'!

Now it's back to work (or, pretending to work while my mind wanders to maternity leave...)