Ready for Em to get out!

So...I'm tired of Braxton Hicks and getting nowhere. Can't wait until my 37 week appt on Friday (I'll really be 37 weeks and 4 days). Hoping to see another change in my cervix. Just tired of feeling like my skin is about to burst and that some alien is trying to pry its way out. Just come out baby Emmitt. I want to hold you and kiss you and cuddle you SO BADLY!!!

And so it is...

I have the theme song from Closer in my head and haven't even seen the movie in months. Probaby not since even before I was pregnant.

Just wanted to update...32 days before Emmitt is due to arrive. Having contractions, but nothing regular at all. Got a little boy that LOVES to move his head around in my pelvis and HURT me...but we're just getting started in the pain department. Honestly, I'm kind of glad that I'm feeling so many little pains all day so that when I actually go into labor, these will be nothing. I'll be able to say, "Oh that...yeah...I've been feeling that for weeks. I don't even notice it anymore." Hehe. Sure hope that works!!

33 weeks

So today I am 33 weeks pregnant. That discovery yesterday sent me into a tizzy of feeling like he's nearly here and nothing is done. I have made a 2 page list of stuff to do (which I feel like I add to every 10 minutes) and I'm starting to cross things off.

On a beautiful note, Wes decided that I should have a pool. It makes my body feel better and allows me to get some easy exercise. He't putting it up today, so I'll be swimming lots on my 4 day holiday weekend! YAY!

Gotta get to work. Only 28 workdays left before Emmitt should be arriving...if not less!

They "Don't" Call Me Doctor Love

So DH and I have finally had it with our OB. I have made phone calls to find another one and feel like I have narrowed my options down to a good one or two. Of course, it is my potential new OB's day off, so the office manager is talking to her tomorrow and will call me back. I don't know if I can wait until tomorrow to know something. Hopefully, she'll accept me as a patient. I think they have already talked to my doctor...which will make it very awkward if I don't find a new one now. It seems that they could do it a little differently than that. Oh well, I thought we'd end up with a new OB for the next baby, so getting one now just seems like a better choice.

Wish me luck!!!!!

A Quick Run Down

So...since it's been over a month since I've updated...here's where we are.

Emmitt is due in 9.5 weeks...YAY!! He just started today (Or I just discovered it today) moving body parts where I can actually feel that they are a body part and not just a bump or a lump. The only thing is that I can't tell what it is. So I'm stuck playing a game of pushing, prodding, and guessing what this little thing is that I feel pushing on my belly. It's so sweet!

I have come down with some kind of cold within the last 2 days. I can't breathe, which is endlessly frustrating and because I can't breathe worse at night, I sleep with my mouth open. We all know what that means...waking up with a sore throat.

We had a week of drama with the in-laws last week that ended with the fact that my Step-Father-in-Law will NOT be left alone with our son. It was a mess, but at least we are back to civil interactions at this point.

Emmitt had his first baby shower on Sunday. We got a few good things and a few things that we won't use. Normal. The sweetest gift I got, though, came from my SIL. She gave us a great stash of KL1s (my fave) that were from our nephew!! She framed a pic of me and Wes that she took about a month and a 1/2 ago. I put it in Emmitt's room so he will have a picture of his mommy and daddy to look at from when he was still on his way to us!

This weekend will be a crazy one, but should be a great one!! Tomorrow, we have an OB appt where we are going to discuss delaying cervical checks (which I am sure my OB will "love" to hear). We are also going to discuss something she said last visit that I am concerned about. She told us that as soon as we get to the hospital, she will break my water. Well, if things are moving along without interventions...why would you use them? After our appt I bet she'll be ready to take the rest of the day off after lunch...lol.

Saturday, Wes takes his Praxis exam for teaching. All I can do is PRAY that he passes it. He has been studying for nearly 2 weeks, and this week, I've even been getting to help him by asking him sample test questions. He seems to know enough that I think he'll do well. We sure need him to, but I don't say much b/c I know he doesn't need the added pressure. Also, on Saturday, since we'll be about an hour and 1/2 from home, we're going to go to Babies 'R Us and see if there is anything there that we need/want for Emmitt since they don't have one in our town.

Sunday is the culmination of it all, Emmitt's second (and I assume final) baby shower!! This one includes all my friends and family so I'm super excited! A lot of these people I have not seen the whole time I have been PG, or I've only seen them a few times, so this is GREAT!! What's even better though, is that once this shower is over, we get to take all of our gift cards, money we've saved, credit from returned items, etc. and buy the rest of baby Emmitt's gear!!! This child really couldn't possibly need another thing, but somehow there's so much stuff out there for us to buy! We don't have a playpen, a baby gym for the floor, and so many other things (that we really could raise a baby without...lol). I can't wait!!!

Well, as for now, I'm nearing the end of a workday, going grocery shopping, working on cleaning the house...some, and sitting on the couch and watching the results show for So You Think You Can Dance.

Maybe I'll remember to update again next month...hehe.

Catching up!

I'm so bad at updating this thing! I can keep up with all my other internet addictions, but not this one. So...I am at 22 weeks and 2 days. Things are really growing. I don't feel like it that much, but then I look at pics and WOW...he's sticking out there!

His name is Emmitt Louis, but he is fondly know by his mother as "wiggle worm." This boy never sits still! Except if he's trying to scare me to death which he did Sunday day and night.

We are getting things ready. I bought 7 new outfits yesterday on clearance at Sears. Like he needed anymore... I already am running out of space in the nursery for his clothes, except for newborn sizes. We definitely are in need of those. Everything we have bought for him, except the newest stuff has been washed, and I only have one load to put away. Folding a mesh laudry baby full of baby socks is going to be fun...lol.

We are getting a new roof because of damage from the 2 wind storms and the ice storm. It should be finished today.

Also, our baby chicks are growing quite nicely and should be laying eggs in the next 4-5 months. I can't wait to have farm fresh eggs at our house!!

Gotta get back to work.

It's a....

BOY! We're having a boy. Emmitt Louis Meserve.

He was really active during the ultrasound. The U/S tech kept fussing at him to hold still, which made me laugh...so of course no one was holding still. We couldn't get a profile shot b/c Emmitt wants to show off his pretty face so he wouldn't let us get a side shot. He was curled in the fetal position with his feet all curled up at his butt, which was the same was he was at our 12 week U/S. We got an adorable shot of his foot. What was so amazing was that we could actually see his mouth moving. This baby takes after his mommy already. The U/S tech said that she could see what the baby was before she ever showed us. Wes said he started looking closer when she said that so he actually caught a glimpse before she labeled it on the screen. I was the only one that didn't know, until she wrote BOY!!! on the screen. It was amazing. I've never seen Wes happier. We're getting our sweet baby boy!

DS Mama mad me furious!!

So...I have never gotten anything but support on Diaperswappers, but I found a mama today that just can't let anyone make their own choices apparently. I plan to nurse for the first 4 weeks, then pump and nurse for the next 2, then EP after that since I will be away from baby about 41 hours a week between work and the commute. I'm not saying I won't ever nurse when I am home, but not always. I didn't realize that the war is not just between formula feeding mamas and breastfeeding mamas, apparently some of the bfing mamas don't really like those of us that pump. I know it's silly to think that the battle lines are drawn that way, but they really are. Not all mamas are that way, but man, there are a bunch that are on that bandwagon and down the road with it.

I just really had my feelings hurt, which I why I guess I should have known better than to even post for help. I just assumed I would get help and not criticism. Okay...that's all...just needed to get out that I can believe that happened, but I wish I couldn't. I was naive enough to think it wouldn't.

OB appt

Just an update on the appointment we had on Friday. The nurse who used the doppler scared me to death! She just kept moving it around and moving it around. I heard something once, but she didn't say anything and she just kept moving it around so I guessed it was my heartbeat. She continued to do this for almost 5 minutes. Then FINALLY she said...I heard it, I just have to get it to come in better. Whew...sigh of relief! I was starting to worry. So we did get to hear it, and it sounded great. 150s range again this time. Baby is consistent. Everything looks good still.

My OB and I had a talk about how often she does cesereans. She said that as long as there is no fetal distress, and things are progressing, she will allow me to labor. Where I think some people get into a problem...but I don't have a problem with it...is that she said if there is no progression after "x" number of hours...she didn't give a number, but I feel confident that she and I will agree on the time...she will assume there is a problem. Maybe baby's head is too big, etc. This sounds great to me. She was a little more pro-c-section than I am, but I think most doctors are anymore b/c of malpractice. Actually, she said the push for it nationwide is b/c of malpractice. She said that my attitude about a ceserean sounds healthy. My attitude is (for anyone wanting to know) that I will do ANYTHING for my baby. I want to have a vaginal delivery. I would like to have one with all of my babies, but if there is even the slightest chance that me not having a c-section would endanger my baby in anyway...I would rather have one. My baby's health means more than what my body looks like. I am not afraid of a c-section. I know that it is a safe procedure...now it is a surgery and that's nothing to take lightly, but I feel safe about it. I think my OB thought I was asking b/c I was scared of it. I reassured her that I am not scared of it, just want to make sure our philosophies on it line up. And for the most part they do. Again...I think she likes the idea a little more than I do, but I don't feel that she will push me for one unless I have a reason. And that's all I need to know!

Feeling Terrible and Great!

Make sense of that. I feel about the worst I've felt in years physically, but life just couldn't get much better. I shouldn't have the flu because I did get my flu shot to keep from getting very sick with baby, but it feels pretty close to that. Can't sleep, can't breathe, neck hurts, head hurts, can't swallow most of the time. But I can eat...so that's a GREAT thing!!

On another note...

I can't wait for Wes and I to go to the OB on Friday. He's going to be such a great daddy. So far, he hasn't missed a doctor's appointment, which I love. Not nly does it give me extra support, our OB is really including him in everything that is going on since he's showing his face each time. That is really important to me! With so many things about babies being looked at as a mom's thing or a mom's decision, I want him to feel included. I feel like too many things get made out to be mom's choice and not a family choice, and that's why I think a lot of dad's disconnect themselves. It's easier than feeling like they aren't included. That's where part of my decision has come in about baby's feeding. I want our baby to have all the benefits of breastfeeding, but I think very often it leaves dads out. That's why after building my milk supply, I plan to exclusively pump. Another reason for this choice is to avoid the complications of weaning. I think a lot of bfing moms continue to bf because it is easier than weaning. I think children start to think of breasts as "theirs" not mom's. And, personally, I don't like that.

So here's to another choice I'll probably have to fight some people in my life to accept, I'm proud of my choice!!

Sick...

So I didn't sleep after 2:30. My throat hurts. My nose is stopped up. I'm working a 9 hour day. BUT on the up side...we go to the OB to hear the heartbeat on Friday!!

Bliss...

What could be better than carrying a child? Except with my husband...that poor man catches the brunt of it all...I am the happiest I have ever been. Most people dream of a career, or making money, or something else that would make their life complete. This baby is my dream. A beautiful child, conceived in love, with a father that couldn't be a better one. A precious angel in my belly; I'm just waiting to see his/her face. There is nothing I have ever wanted more. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it's true. I always wanted this baby, but I wanted it at the right time with the right person in the right place...and on. This is it! Now is that time! I am married to the right man. We have created a loving, comfortable, warm home. We just needed our beautiful child to complete our home and our family, and now baby is on the way!

Well, just a small rambling on of where life stands, but it's too good to hold it all in!

I love you, baby in my belly!

Setting the Stage

Okay...so I'm working on my birth plan. I'm actually curious to see how my OB will take to it. I LOVE her, but she is very in charge. She even said that she claims her patients' babies as "her" babies. This is not something that offends me at all...for anyone cringing. I was relieved to hear her say it. She will come in to deliver even if it is an off day for her...b/c it's "her" baby. She said if I had an emergency and the office wouldn't contact her, go to the ER...even at 2 a.m. and they would call her at home. She's wonderful.

Now...I want things my way to a certain extent. I think babies' births have become very hospitalized, and I would like for mine to be different. Now mind you, I'm not hippy mama having my baby at home. If she wants to do that (with no complications, it's probably more comforting), great...actually, I'm in awe of those women...BUT NOT ME! EVER! I want that doctor there to assure me everything's okay and to know that if everything's not, I'm seconds away from an operating room, oxygen tank, blood transfusion, etc.

I will post my birth plan once it is completed. I still have research to do on a few topics, and I want to talk to my doctor about a few things before I finalize it. I think I'm pretty easy to get along with. I won't fight any vaccinations, we will be circumsizing (if baby is a boy), etc. But I want NO pacis, bottles, etc in my baby's mouth. I want baby with us at all times...until I decide it's time for me to send baby to nursery for a while...but not because they won't bring him/her to me AS SOON AS I want him/her. I want to be able to be with baby at all times, and if I cannot be, I want Wes to be. I want us to know where baby is, what is going on, and allow baby to have mommy or daddy there at all times. I don't want to be induced early unless there are complications, but I don't want to go over my due date b/c that can add complications. At that point, I want to discuss natural induction, and if that doesn't work, medical induction. I want to delay all pain meds, IVs, etc as long as possible and be able to move around as I need to (I will be bringing my own birthing ball). I will ask for pain meds that have already been discussed with my doctor before I arrived at hospital when I am ready. Please do not offer them any sooner. In the case that I do not progress as I should, I would like the option to return home if less than 5 centimeters, no water broken, and not yet on pain meds. If it is not a medical emergency, but C-section is doctor's recommendation, I wish to have time with my husband to discuss what we would like to do at this point. And the list goes on...

I just hope we don't have any trouble with it. We'll see!

Yuck!

Today is one of those days you want to stay in bed. I really don't feel well. I tried to eat part of my breakfast but had major difficulty swallowing. I feel it (almost 2 hours later) sitting in my throat like it won't go down. So I'm still hungry...and queesy. I'm tired today...go figure...a tired, pregnant woman, no way! The only place I want to be is at home under the covers.

BUT...

I need to save sick time for when baby arrives, or if baby makes me unable to work before he or she arrives. None the less...I guess I'll spend my day watching the clock and wanting to go home.

Again...YUCK!

My Sweet Baby!

So I'm 14 weeks and 1 day today. My precious little baby is beginning to make my belly stick out, really low. I LOVE IT! So far being pregnant has been one of the most wonderful things in my life. But I guess some of that comes from this being the one thing I ever really wanted. I wanted to marry a man I could grow old with, and I wanted to raise babies with him. So far I'm on my way. I'm married to the best man I could imagine...he has his days, but don't we all. And we're 1/3 of the way to bringing our beautiful baby into the world!

I've heard so many women talk about being scared of the responsibility of being a parent. Granted, it all might smack me in the face one day, but right now, I'm not scared at all. I can't wait to be the mother, food provider, diaper changer, storyteller, lullaby singer, cry consoler, bandaid applier, and so much more to this beautiful (what will be) child.

I've loved this baby for so long now. I've loved this baby for years, just knowing that one day, Wes and I would be able to create him/her and love him/her forever and always.

Baby in my belly, mommy loves you, and she can't wait to meet you on the outside in about 24, 25, 26 weeks...but no sooner ;)