Full Term Baby! 37 week update...

OK so I'm like a day early on posting this blog but it's a lazy Sunday and I have plenty of time today. 

Tomorrow I will officially be 37 weeks!  I just can't believe it!  This means I'm full term and now it's all just a waiting game.  My weekly appointment is tomorrow and I'm really hoping there is at least a little dilation going on...  maybe 1 or 2 would be nice.  For the last 2 weeks he checked me and announced I was "high and tight" meaning there ain't nothin goin on.  But I've had more braxton hicks - nothing regular like 2 weeks ago - but I get them.  Kind of feels like someone is slowly spreading my hip bones apart with one of those surgical instruments they use to crack your ribs.  Somewhat painful but not a show stopper.  I've cut out coffee, which surprisingly wasn't that hard to do.  I didn't want her popping out demanding a caramel machiato with a double shot of espresso.  Although that sounds yummy.  I've been trying to drink more water instead.  Not sure why...  don't think it really matters at this point but I feel like I need to be hydrated and ready for labor.  I've also been walking more.  Just an attempt to get things moving along.  She pushes her little tush out on my right side, so I constantly feel lopsided.  And when she really sticks it out there it kind of hurts!  I give her some taps which she seems to ignore.  Like mother like daughter.  I think she has dropped down a bit in the last 2 days.  My ribs are not nearly as sore as they were over the past month, and the cough I had seems to have subsided  FINALLY!  The 8th month was by far the worst because of that darned cough.  I haven't gotten a solid night's sleep in 8 months, but now it's especially difficult.  It's very hard to get into a comfortable position, and when I finally find something that works and doze off for an hour, I wake up with aching hips and the need for a bathroom trip.  Getting in and out of the bed is a chore!  Poor Tom.  I have not had that much swelling - maybe b/c I gave up the coffee and replaced with water?  But my feet have looked like normal non-pregnant feet for the last 2 weeks, so that's good! 

So that's my news for now, and I leave you with my comparison montage.  If there is a significant change in my cervical status tomorrow, I'll post again.  If not...I'll post when I get around to it.  :o) 

BABY FEVER AAAUUUGGHHH!!!!

I can honestly say that the baby fever has now reached an all time record high.  This baby is all I think about 24/7 and yes I do mean 24 hours a day because there is no sleeping and when I do catch a nap I'm dreaming about her.  When I think of Tom and Dillon I think of them with the baby, holding the baby, feeding the baby (not changing the baby I'm not delusional). 

I have mentioned that I found these 2 wonderful friends down here in LA - internet stalking really pays off - and they have helped me so much through this pregnancy.  Angela has a 2 year old sweet girl with the most gorgeous dark eyes (Isabella) and Jess has a 1.5 year old sweet girl with stunning blue eyes (Juliette).  Well...today both of these ladies made the mercury shoot through the top of the baby thermometer! 

Jess gave birth to another little sweet baby girl today at around lunch time.  So Angela headed over to Jess's house to help look after Ju and I swang by and picked up food for Jess and Justin.  I was just gonna drop it off and go help Angela but Jess was just sitting there, an hour after giving birth, looking gorgeous and I swear she was high on life.  I'm sure she may have been high on drugs too but you could see the life puling in her.  Grinning ear to ear, relaxed, calm...  I was like a moth to a flame, walking in the room gettin high off whatever she was exuding.  It was unreal.  I have not seen a new baby in 2 years since my niece was born and I was in my I'm-never-having-kids phase.  I did not get a chance to hold the baby - daddy was giving her a bath and after that she was hungry.  I'm pretty sure if I had it would have shocked my system right into labor, which I guess would be fine since I WAS on a L&D unit and my doc delivers there on occasion. 

Ju had woken up from her nap so Angela came to the hospital but I met her in the parking lot so we could eat in her car really quick.  We we weren't quick enough because poor Isabella fell asleep in her carseat.  So I told Angela to go ahead and go in while I ate and sat with the little sleeper.  So she did and about 2 minutes after she walked in Isabella woke up and was scared that all of the sudden her mama wasn't there.  So I pulled her out of her seat and held her and found an Elmo video on my phone, so she just laid against Danni while I stroked her back.  I was OVERDOSING on mommy hormone by this time.  I even had some very light BH contractions.  She was so cute and I'd love to think it was my innate mommy abilities that calmed her, but really it was stupid Elmo.  But holding her was just so overwhelmingly satisfying...and she's not even mine! 

As a matter of fact - it's been about 3 hours since I wrote that last line.  I happened to realize that I WAS having contractions.  They were light but they were steady so I went and had them checked out.  Nothing to worry about I'm back home now...still dreaming about my sweet little girl. 

Danni's Special Angel

Dear Danni -

My plan for you is to live a life filled with love and kindness, a kind of life everyone deserves.  I want you to know that as you grow and get older, you will have a special angel that will look over you and guide you.  She had a gleaming love for me and we shared a unique bond.  She taught me so much... like how babies are born (I still don't believe her!!).

I wish that you would have had the chance to meet her when she was here on earth, as I know she wanted to meet you.  But she left us on November 24th, 2012 - about a month before you are scheduled to arrive.  I want you to have these photos of her as a reminder that you will never be alone - always protected. 

This is your Great Aunt Gaggie -

Top left:  Holding me as a new born.  Top right: Her and mom helping me walk on the beach, Lana looking on.  Bottom:  Holding Meghan and I.  Meghan was a cute baby!

One of her visits - I would get SOOOO excited that she was coming!

I traveled a lot to see her, and we even went to Washington DC together (top photos).  She loved her gardens - bottom photos are of her English Garden at the house in Batesville, IN.  That was my favorite place to visit.

These were taken at mom's cabin in Talladega.  Aunt G and Uncle C had just bought a house close by so I always got to see them when I visited mom.

That's me in the big helmet.  We were at Lana's in Waconia, MN.  FREEZING TO DEATH!  I was actually about to ride their snow mobile.

Again in Talladega on top of Bald Rock.  Gorgeous view.  One of my favorite places to go. 

She had a pool with a cabana.  Top pic is me sleeping in her lap while she read her paper.  Bottom pic is my best friend Laura getting jealous of the attention and plopping in the middle of us.

This was the family at Aunt Meghan's wedding.  You don't know her as Aunt Meghan - Not sure what you will call her but I'll think of something good.

Top photo is at her and Uncle C's 50th wedding celebration.  Bottom is at Aunt Meghan's bachelorette party at Lulus in Gulf Shores. 

This is one of the last photos I have of us together.  Cousin Alan was an account manager at a Yacht company and he drove us around on this gorgeous yacht in a parade.  Her and I are wearing pink Santa hats I think.

I miss you Aunt G - please look over Danni for me. 

Love Katie