Getting Baby - Ready

Let the countdown begin - less than a month remains!

This is the big weekend I've been waiting for - lots to accomplish to ge ready for baby. Right now I'm waiting for the carpet cleaners to show up. From there I'll hit Target, Babies R Us and a few online projects. My goal is to be baby-ready by Tuesday, should we have an early arrival.

I have my sights set on March 20, but should baby get anxious and want to come out earlier, at least we'll have the place pretty near ready.

Admittedly March 20 seems really far away as the weeks pass (that is a week after my due date but seems like a safe bet since 1st babies are usually late, and selfishly I'll be on maternity leave longer into summer). Things have gotten a bit more challenging - I was so tired this week and sleeping is no longer the ambian-like experience it was a couple months ago. Lot's of interuptions between bathroom breaks and readjusting. And I'm sore all over - mostly from working out but simple things that used to be a slacker workout are kicking my butt now. In fact, even walking the dog is really tough some days.

I'm not complaining, because I still adore the whole experience, just saying I can better understand why my fellow moms-to-be get antsy towards the end.

Breaks over - gotta get back to work!

Happy Birthday Hubby

Happy Birthday to my number one Valentine. Hubby is 34 today and better than ever. Can't wait for him to get home from his business trip tonight so we can celebrate over a big steak dinner and a little delicious wine.

xoxo.

not ready yet...

baby, baby, stay inside...

wow - lots to do in February. everyone is asking if I'm ready for the pregnancy to be over. no way! beyond the fact that I love all the secret nudges, hiccups, poking elbows and toes; and not taking into account the amazing natural high I've been riding for months due to racing hormones; I'm just not ready yet.

no matter how much I do , there seems to still be so much left undone. lots of goals next weekend, which is long due to the holiday and free of any obligations or classes. I must wrap up the remaining items.

the other major factor, which no one but me seems to realize- is that it is so easy to carry the kangaroo inside, the chaos really hits once he's outside. what's the rush??

though I'll admit, I had Bid's little bundle curled up on my chest for an hour this weekend and it was pretty awesome (he's just seven days old). I do want to meet our little guy, just need a bit more time to make his welcome perfect...

Contractions?!

For several months my doctor has asked at every appointment whether I've started feeling contractions. Each time I answer the same way: I don't think so, but I have no idea what they would feel like.

(A quick point of clarity for those unfamilar - it is totally natural to feel contractions throughout pregnancy, 'they' say it is your uterus practicing for labor.)

This weekend we had dinner with some friends of ours who are also expecting. During the conversation she asked me the same question, I gave my answer. She, however, followed up with a helpful indicator - if you put your hand on your belly button and feel the area harden for a short period of time, that is a contraction. I went home and hit the books for more information and found similar descriptions.

And wouldn't you know it, I've been having periodic contractions for months. Only I always thought it was the baby's head. How would I know any differently? First of all, they are painless. And there is so much action going on down there with pointy parts and round parts, I just thought it was another shift in position. But with this new info, I'm positive they are contractions.

Not surprisingly, I'm completely facinated by them.

Why do you think my doctor never gave me this little diddy of a hint?

I'm going to get the full story at my appointment this week but until then, I'm touching the belly even more than before, and admitedly checking to see if there is any regularity in them...

The boys returned safely from Vegas and hubby had a great time. I'm living vicariously through him and these photos.

The high point of the weekend was when he won $10,000 on the long shot bet of Roethlisberger running in the first touchdown.

The lowpoint was 60 seconds later when the referee called it back. Such is life in Vegas.

Photos here feature what I'm sure was a fantastic meal at In & Out Burger, jealous doesn't begin to cover it; and hubby with Scotty outside Bellagio (CORRECTION: Paris) fountain. How cute are they?

Nice to have him back at home again.

Happy hump day :)

Another fast, over committed weekend, however I did get out of training early yesterday which totally helped make Saturday more productive.

Hubby left for Vegas in the morning for the annual boys trip for SB weekend. Parents leave tomorrow morning for Costa Rica trip (sis joins next week) we were originally scheduled to go on...until Baby S made himself known anyway.

Everyone is off on fun trips, and I'm waddling around town trying to get the house ready, still lots to do.

Few minutes left in the Super Bowl - not overly impressed with the ads this year. Anyone else feel the same?

Good News All Around

Happy Friday Friends - below is a big list of things I'm happy about right now:

- Bid had her baby today - Daniel, 9lbs via c-section. Can't wait to meet the little guy tomorrow.
- Stella doesn't have diabetes, perhaps just a little infection which she'll take antibiotics for and hopefully clear up ASAP.
- 2/3 days of GFS training under my belt and while tomorrow was originally advertised as an 8-hour day, we're hoping to get out by lunch. This would be the best news ever as I'm completely stressed out by another lost Saturday, especially to work.
- hubby is putting together shelving unit I ordered right now before he leaves for Vegas in the morning.
- made it to my favorite muscle pump class this morning even though it nearly killed me (so tired today) and instructor (also preggers) invited me to her water aerobics class on Sunday at a different gym. Definitely going to try to go, think water would feel really good right now. Means skipping pilates but think I'm going to go for it.

Half day tomorrow would change everything. Trying not to get too excited about it but just thinking of all the things I could get done is giving me reason to get out of bed tomorrow. For the rest of you, I hope you are drinking a lot of wine tonight. Sounds fantastic.