Charley Murph has arrived!

Hey everyone.... just wanted to let you know that mom and baby are doing well. Jess is absolutely amazing and Charley is our beautiful little angel.

Attack of Megamurph!

Our little (HA!) Charley is scheduled to arrive Friday, February 13, 2009 around 1:30pm. Shaun and I had a long talk with my wonderful OB today and he strongly recommended a c-section as soon as possible. I trust his judgment and although Shaun and I are disappointed we won't get to try the med free birth we had planned, we can't wait to meet Charley tomorrow! Thank you for everyone's love and support! Hopefully we will have pictures sometime tomorrow to share with everyone! Shaun will be updating everyone via twitter. Once we are in our recovery room we should be allowed to have visitors. I'm sending everyone my love! Next time I update my blog I will be a mommy!

And it looks like the winner of the office baby pool is none other then Uncle Justin! My brother guessed Friday, February 13th at 11:55am! I'm thinking his guess had something to do with being born on a Friday the 13th as well. Enjoy the starbucks Justin, and pick me up a latte :)

Formally known as Babymurph

Today I had a growth ultrasound to make sure everything was measuring alright and Charley was in the right position. Everything looks great and my adorable "little" human is measuring 9lbs 13oz! She is no longer Babymurph. She is MEGAMURPH! My OB's office just called. The conversation went exactly like this:
Assistant: Jessica?
Me: Yes
Assistant: OH MY GAWWWWWD! We can't believe the size of her. He wants to see you first thing tomorrow 9:50.
Me: ::nervous giggle:: Ok, I'll be there
Assistant: Wow...ok see you tomorrow.

This is what an almost 10lb baby looks like from the outsideAnd here's Megamurph's profile
I assume he's going to want to talk induction or c-section. I didn't want to have to talk about either, so I'm a little upset about that. I'm even more nervous about possibly having an almost 10lb baby. We'll keep everyone posted, I guess we should pack our hospital bag.

38 weeks!

And what a week it's been! Just when you think you can't get more tired or achy...oh boy, you do! I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I've begged and pleaded with babymurph to come out, but she seems perfectly content using my organs as punching bags. If she is trying to come out, she mistakenly believes that the way out is through mommy's belly button. Not that way, Charley! Let me tell you though...if I ever do get pregnant again which at the moment I'm doubting, I will appreciate every single day up until the last couple of weeks. I thought I was big and miserable before (huge eyeroll).
Babyzone.com has this gem on their site for 38 weeks "The pain of backaches and leg cramps are swallowed up in excitement about your baby's impending arrival." HA! Don't make me laugh too hard at that ridiculousness, babyzone. I might pee myself and think my water broke! The office started a baby pool. Whoever guesses the closest to when Charley is born gets a $10 starbucks gift card. Ironic that the prize is caffeinated beverages since I'll probably never sleep again. A few things to notice on the board. I wrote a threatening message on the first week of March "Pick this week and feel the wrath of jmurph!!!" Someone STILL picked March 4! Melissa-I wish you a hundred thousand episiotomies and 43 week pregnancies for being so cruel ;-) Also notice that *I* picked the soonest date. Obviously I'm delirious that I think she'll come on Feb 10th :-(
If you'd like to see a bigger picture of the babymurph pool, click on the image.How big is your baby? Babies sizes vary around the last several weeks of pregnancy, but most likely your baby is between 17 and 20 inches long (about the length of a leek) and weighs 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 pounds. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.
Edit: Just had my first internal. Wowzas did that hurt like hell! The news wasn't even worth it. He said I was a "dimple dilated" but not to read too much into it either way. Also I should expect some cramping and bleeding...more good news. She's going to be overdue...I just know it :(

Tribute to 3rd trimester

For anyone that has been pregnant, you know that this is a great depiction of what your hips/crotch feel like on a daily basis.
Not only do I feel this large and angry, but I've craved marshmallows the entire pregnancy so it's quite fitting.
This is exactly the size I feel compared to everyone else. GINORMOUS!
How I feel when I try to get out of bed...which is at least 10 times throughout the night.
If only I could sleep it would probably look like this...but there would probably be more drool.
Shaun has started to call me his little pregnant hamster. I'm not sure if he fears that I will eat our child or if he's thinking about this picture when he says it.

Busted!

Shaun totally busted me using my bellytable at lunch today. Hmmm, I wonder where I'm going to start keeping things when she comes out...?
*disclaimer-no fetuses were harmed in this photo...maybe cooled slightly*

Full Term Biznatches!

It's official, today I'm full term and ordering (that's right, ordering) Charley to get her butt here ASAP. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just take the direct route out and meet your mommy and daddy! Every week gets harder and harder and longer and longer. I don't know how it happens, but I am more ready for her to be born every week. Last night we met my Uncle for dinner since he's down from NY. It was a fun night that unfortunately had to start and end early because I am so tired all the time! Maybe I'll be adventurous and exciting again some day, but I have a feeling being up past 9 is going to continue to be a chore for quite a while.
Somebody in New Paltz Loves me :)

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/2 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Nursery Completed!

We're all ready for you Charley! The emergency exit sign has been lit up, please make your way to the nearest exit as soon as possible. Our last nursery item (our fabulous lazboy) has been purchased and we are ready to go. Everything's been washed, our co-sleeper is set up in the master bedroom, all items are put together... I can't think of anything else we need except a baby!

9 months pregnant, 28 days till my due date

But we're not actually going to get to my due date without a baby, right babymurph? 4 more weeks of braxton hicks, throwing up in the middle of the night, heartburn and sleepless nights and I might actually spontaneously combust. Maybe if Charley drops I can get a good nights sleep....or so I hope. My weekly belly pictures are getting much more depressing. As my mother says I'm "in beached whale territory" and I'd have to agree with her. Especially when I try to get out of bed, I feel like a turtle on it's back! Tragic! Anyway, speaking of tragic, here's my 36 week belly picture. I have a feeling it ain't gonna get any better then this. I'm scared.How your baby's growing: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.)
How your life's changing: Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!
You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Charley, you can come out anytime! Please have your father's punctuality and arrive early OR just let mommy sleep through the night. I don't know if I can make it 4 more weeks without sleep :(

Work Baby Shower!

My office has always been so generous and throwing a baby shower for me was no exception. I got so many thoughtful gifts, I think I was opening presents for a full hour!
Getting ready to go in and be "showered" :)
My fancy diaper corsage
The "booty" (pun intended)
My brother won the "diaper poo" game. He won a smelly candle and lotion :P
Mirda even drove in from Tampa to stop by for a bit. Miss you, Mirda!


My awesome petit fours that Brandi made for me. Thanks Brandi!

I could barely fit everything in the nursery!
After the shower we finished all the last minute touches in the nursery including buying our chair which is amazing, I love it! It just needs a little more organizing and we'll be completely done!

35 & 35

Today I am 35 weeks which means I only have 35 more days until my due date! I'm still wishing and hoping and praying that I'll go at least a week or two early, but only time will tell at this point. I've been SO SO SO hungry the past 4 days, I can't seem to eat enough throughout the day! Gauging by the size of my belly, and my appetite increase, I think Charley had a little growth spurt this week. She's pretty much moving non stop, I sit at work or home and just watch my belly go crazy. It's really amazing, I always wonder what she's doing or thinking. We can't wait to meet you Charley!
As your baby-to-be keeps growing, you may find even your maternity clothes fit tightly. Clothes aren't the only things getting tighter—your body's internal organs are running out of room, too. You'll have to take more breaths since your lungs have less space. Plan on smaller, more frequent meals too, since your stomach doesn't have room to expand. Remember, only a few more weeks to go! You may notice a tightening of your abdomen at times, especially if you've been on your feet all day. These false contractions, called Braxton Hicks, are normal.
At 35 weeks, your baby is considered full-term and she looks developed. The soft, fuzzy hairs that once covered her body begin to disappear. She continues to add fat layers, which will help her stay warm once she's out of the womb. During these last weeks, your baby is developed sleeping patterns (and they often have little to do with night and day!)Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 pounds, 10 ounces(pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

My Amazing Marathoner Husband

Shaun's determination, strength and endurance continue to amaze me. As much crap as I give him at times for being so regimented and unwavering when he sets his mind to something (and believe me, I give him plenty of crap), it's something I truly respect. A year ago Shaun and I volunteered at the Disney Marathon and Shaun was determined to run this year. From someone that has suffered with debilitating asthma his whole life, I didn't know whether to take him seriously or not. After 6 months of training his asthma had drastically improved which shocked his asthma specialist and I realized Shaun was 100% capable of running a marathon. Yesterday Shaun fulfilled his goal and I was so proud to be there with him.

I take no responsibility for how I look at 3:30 in the morning. Somehow Shaun still manages to look badass.
Mile 9! Here he comes!Making it look all too easy!My dad and I were both volunteering at mile 9...although I pretty much sat in a chair and watched for Shaun the whole time. My dad (beanie and all) valiantly took over handing out water. My hero :)Coming up on mile 25. Lookin' great! I believe the direct quote was "Man...those last few miles...SUCKED!"Marathon Completed! He was feeling pretty good until the bus driver dropped him off on the wrong stop and he had to walk a mile to find me. Poor thing.Getting ready to soak in the hot tub to relax those muscles. He said "I feel so...skinny!" Which made me laugh hysterically :P
Congratulations honey on this amazing accomplishment!

Edit: See if you can find Shaun. He made it into the Orlando Sentinel!
Hint-he's looking right into the camera.