Eviction Notice

Thank you for your consoling comments about losing the baby weight.  I know it can and WILL be lost, and I can't wait to get started on it!

In the meantime Eric and I went to our 38 week appointment yesterday, which turned out to be more interesting than normal.  Since my doctor is out of town, I had to see a nurse practitioner.  She became very concerned when I told her the baby wasn't moving as much as she used to, and the fact that I haven't been doing kick counts didn't help the situation.  Before she allowed us to leave the hospital she ordered a non-stress test for the baby.  The test monitored Maddie's heart rate (perfect), movements (good), and my contractions (steady).  After that test an ultrasound was done to measure the amount of amniotic fluid.  The tech, who is not a certified sonographer, made us laugh when after a few minutes she asked with a bit of concern, "Has your doctor mentioned where the baby's head is?"  She had looked all over the upper part of my belly, over Maddie's legs and torso, and couldn't find her head.  Once I told her Maddie was head down, she was able to find her head and was relieved to know I wasn't carrying a headless baby.  :)

I found this cartoon and it pretty much sums up how I'm feeling these days, but my doctor assured me he has never had a patient that has stayed pregnant forever.

P.S.  I'll be locking the baby pool on Friday, so if you want to put in your guess do it soon!

So Call Me a Hypocrite

A blogger friend recently wrote a post about her concern with her weight gain during the first half of her pregnancy.  Here was my comment in response:

Scary, isn't it? Don't stress over it though; it doesn't accomplish anything. If your doctor's worried, he'll let you know.

I haven't recorded my weight, so I don't have a clue what I weighed at 21 weeks. I just know where I started. What makes me giggle is the fact that my doctor must have recorded my weight incorrectly at some point because he seems to think I've gained 10 pounds less than I actually have. I'm not going to correct him. :)

Well I'm not giggling or :)ing anymore.  I have just a little over 2 weeks to go and I have no self-control when it comes to eating.  Does that mean I'm eating excessive amounts of healthy food?  NO!  I'm eating cookies, brownies, cake, candy, and ice cream. 

All of the pregnancy books say that a person of average weight should gain between 25 and 35 pounds.  My original goal?  25 pounds.  After I exceeded that I told myself I wouldn't gain more than 30 pounds.  Then my goal became 35 pounds.  Well I have very successfully passed that goal and yet I STILL eat without abandon!

I hate the scale, I hate my lack of self-control, and I hate to think how this is going to affect me after the baby is born.  Will I relearn self-control?  Will I be able to lose this weight?

Sorry for the rant.  Just had to get it out.

It's Baby Pool Time!

So I found this website where you can set up a baby pool and with Maddie being less than a month away, I thought now would be a great time to get it up and running.  This game was designed so you can join in the excitement and anticipation of our soon-to-be-born baby girl.  There is no registration involved.

Simply click on this Expectnet.com link or on the icon on the right side of the page and enter your guesses.  Please know that Eric's and my guesses are simply that--guesses.  My doctor has not predicted a weight or length for Maddie, nor has he predicted that she'll be born early.

Please participate by entering your guess!  Don't forget to check back after Maddie is born to see if you are the overall winner.

35 Weeks

Five more to go!

Oh-So-Pretty Baby Shower

Last Saturday this lovely group of ladies got together and threw a shower for baby Madilyn.

The shower was so much more than I imagined!  Lots of family and friends showed up, including Emily, one of my high school friends who flew in from Georgia.

After munching on some yummy brunch food, games were played.  Knowing that I don't like to be the center of attention, they had Eric be the "star" of the games.  Eric's first challenge was to beat two other people of his choice in a diapering competition.  Not only was Eric the last one to get the diaper on the doll, but he slammed the doll face down on the table in his eagerness to get started.  I think he's going to need a little more practice on a Cabbage Patch doll before Maddie arrives.

Eric won the next competition to see who could put a bottle together first, but lost the last two--a baby food tasting challenge and a swaddling challenge.  After watching his attempt at swaddling, I think Eric's going to need even more practice with a Cabbage Patch doll.  Swaddling to him consisted of wrapping the doll up like a burrito, leaving her arm bent behind her back.

After games were played it was time to open gifts and, oh my goodness, there were a lot to open!  I think Maddie got just about everything she needed, plus some extra fun stuff.  We are so blessed!

We finished off the shower by eating some yummy cake and coloring letters for Maddie's ABC book.  You can see come of the completed letters hanging in the background.

Eric and I couldn't have asked for a better shower!  To see a few more pictures you can go to my "Oh Baby!" album on Facebook.

P.S.  As of my Tuesday doctor's appointment this week, there is no stopping labor once it starts.  Maddie could be here anyday, but I'm hoping she'll be content to stay where she is for a few more weeks!

Ball?

Today was my first day working as an aide at a Mother's Day Out program.  I'll be working two days a week through the end of July, assuming Maddie doesn't decide to come early.  My big job is to get snacks ready and for the rest of the time I just go from class to class helping out as needed.

This morning when I checked in on one of the classes, a 2 year old girl came up to me, pointed at my belly, and asked, "Ball?"  I said, "No, baby."  She smiled at me, shook her head, and said, "Ball."  I laughed and moved on.

Later in the morning I went back to the same class and as soon as I stepped through the door the same girl ran up, touched my belly, and exclaimed, "Ball!"  I corrected her again, but she just shook her head and walked off across the room.  As I sat there watching her, she picked up a ball and shoved it under her shirt.  Haha!  Here's a picture of the two of us each with a "ball" under our shirts.  Little ones are too funny. :)

Stroller Question

I know of someone who is selling a $145 jogging stroller for $75.  It is used, but in good shape.  I know that once the baby is old enough I plan to walk a couple of miles around the neighborhood on a daily basis. Will I need a jogging stroller or should I save my money and buy an umbrella stroller instead?