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.

34 Weeks!

Pregnancy has taken an unexpected turn this week. I've been having contractions for the past couple of nights. At first I thought I was finally getting braxton hicks contractions which I've heard people talk about, but when I realized they were starting to wrap around my back and get fairly intense I figured I'd better talk to my OB about it just in case. He said it's normal and false labor isn't really indicative of when I'll actually deliver. He said she could come anytime in the next 6 weeks (insert mini freakout here). I'm still trying to tell myself it will probably be 5-6 weeks so I don't get too anxious. But we are trying to prepare everything just in case she does come sooner.How your life's changing: By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.All About Baby: Your unborn baby's muscles are maturing along with the rest of her body. She can hold her head up and turn it from side to side. She'll practice her newfound muscle tone by stretching out her arms and kicking her legs. Your baby's eyes are now open when awake, and closed when sleeping. Most of the lanugo is gone and replaced with a thick coat of vernix. This week your baby is about 12.8 inches (crown to rump) and weighs nearly five pounds (about the weight of a cantaloupe).

It seems I am not as cute and original as I once thought...

So Rebecca Romijn and her husband Jerry O'Connell have named one of their twin girls Charlie. Even though "Charlie Tamara Tulip" is obviously already a thousand times lamer then Charley Abigail, I'm a little disappointed that my cute and unique baby girls name is now going to be popular and trendy... Now I'm going to stomp my feet like a toddler and tell everyone I had it first and hopefully they will all believe me and not think I'm some lame celebrity baby name stealer. Oh well, another reason I wanted to make sure she had Charlotte to fall back on.

Little Chubby Charley

Her little profile in 2D right before they switched to 3D
Her little face and chubby cheeksGetting a little grumpy from all the pictures.They had Shaun talk to my belly "to see if they could get a smile out of her" and she stuck her tongue out at him :)
There are a ton more pictures and a video that we are going to try to get uploaded as well. It could be as little as 2 weeks or as much as 8 weeks till we meet our little girl! I'm crossing my fingers for somewhere right in the middle :)