Ramblings

Trying to get better about posting the things I want to remember!

Last night I was running around the house from the laundry room to our room to Mason's room, to the guest bathroom, and back to the living room - getting our hospital bags packed. Nathan and I went through clothes and picked out outfits and things we wanted to take for Mason. Nate's mom picked up his "Bring home" outfit yesterday from the embroidery shop and OMG it's sooo cute it should be illegal! Especially when it's filled by our handsome little baby boy!!!!!!!!!!! I almost posted pictures here...but then decided that I want it to be a surprise. So, sorry my blogfriends, you will have to wait! Plus, it will be 100x better when he's wearing it, right?!?!?! That's what we're all waiting for anyhow! Pictures of the amazing baby I have blogged about for 9 months! Wow, words can't say how excited I am about that.

Anyhow, sometime during all the craziness I walked in the living room and Nate has the biggest smile/grin on his face. This was our convo:

Me: "What are you smiling about?"

Nate: "Because your pregnant"

:) And that was it. Nothing else was said. We have an amazing connection, so nothing else really needed to be said. And I know that without trying to, he knows that he melted my heart! Oh how I love that man so!!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, so I finished our bags and had them in the car with me for today's appt. Since today was the first day they would actually be "checking" me for dialation/effacement, I felt I needed to be ready. You just never know. Then this morning as I was getting ready I started thinking about our cameras. I really don't want to leave those in my car, nor do I want to haul them around with me. So I decided to leave those at home by my front door. So hopefully someone loves me enough to get those for me when the time comes. **hint hint!

36 Week Sonogram

Our sonogram on Tuesday went really well. On my way there I realized that I completely forgot to eat breakfast, which they like for me to do. I woke up extra early that day, but filled my time with sterlizing/putting away bottles, laundry, logging in to do a little work, uploading sono pics and videos, playing outside with Diesel, etc. and then it was time to go! I was making good time and got there early, so I grabbed a snack from the vending machine on the bottom floor of the hospital and ate some before my appt. My appt was at 8:30 and I actually went back on time!! Which is a good thing, but normally they are running behind. I thought I would have time to let my snack settle and for it to wake Mason up, but nope! He moved for a little bit during the sonogram, but really woke up afterwards. Figures, eh? Owell, the tech still saw enough movement for us to pass our BPP tests! My fluids were okay, his heartbeat was good and strong at around 141bpm and his movements were good too. We got a great sono picture of him kicking the you know what out of me! Greatness. I love it! This was my last "scheduled" sonogram. But Dr Greve told me to remind him of that on Thursday. So, I am thinking they will definitely schedule more. He mentioned wanting to weigh him at 38 weeks, so I at least have 1 more. I really hope I still have them 1x a week until delivery. That's the highlight of my week, seeing him every Tuesday!!!

Sonogram Pictures:

Preparing for Mason

While I was busy doing this:

Nathan was doing this:

Tonight I will start round 2 of bottle sterlizing, finish packing hospital bags, Mason's laundry and hopefully Nate will cook another good meal!! :)

Dear Mason

A very sweet friend of Mommy's sent this to me today -

"The answer to your prayers will be in your arms soon SAVOR IT! :)"

And it's more true than you can ever imagine. Mommy and Daddy have hoped, dreamed and prayed for you for so very long. God has truly blessed us and answered our prayers. We are overwhelmed with excitement that in 3 weeks (give or take) we will get to meet you. It's been such an amazing experience for Mommy to get to carry you in her tummy for the last (almost) 9 months, but I can't wait to hold you in my arms and for daddy to get to hold you as well!! You are going to be so loved!!

I can't wait for you to meet your daddy and to see how wonderful of a person he is!! He has so much that he wants to show you and teach you. Mommy can't wait to watch the bond grow between you two!!

We love you, son!

Dear Mason

Not only are Mommy, Daddy, your Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, cousins and friends anxiously waiting to meet you...you also have a very special fur-buddy waiting for you! You will already have a best friend when you come into this world :) He is going to love you so much and bring you so much laughter and joy!

His name is Diesel and he is 2 years old. He's very playful and such a loving puppy.

(these were taken right before his haircut)

He loves to play outside and run and chase. Diesel is very fast. But don't worry Mason - I am sure you will be able to keep up! Your daddy has always been really fast and I am sure he'll pass those genes on to you!

Mommy and Daddy can't wait for our two babies to meet!!!

Pictures - 36w2d

Nathan took some preggo pictures of me this past Sunday. And WHOA do I look big!! It's kind of weird seeing my pregnant body in pictures. :) Hopefully we will get a chance to get more before Mason arrives of both Mommy and Daddy! I've had a few photographer friends offer to take them...we just have horrible timing. Things have been sooo hectic lately with our schedules. *Sigh*

These were just taken at our house on a Sunday evening, hey we have a free moment - kind of thing!

Not sure about this angle :)

Or this one :)

36 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He'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 his skin during his 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.) Most likely he's in a head-down position.

My Pregnancy:

How far along: 36w3d (didn’t get to post this on Friday)



Total weight gain/loss: 30lbs (yikes)


Maternity clothes: Pants – yes, shirts – a few. I can still wear normal shirts, just in a bigger size.


Stretch marks: No, thankfully. I pray I don’t get them. But if I do, I will just look at it as “beauty marks” given to me by my beautiful son!


Sleep: Not getting as much lately. It’s usually past 11 when I get to sleep these days. Too busy and too hard to wind down. Then I can’t sleep a full night. I wake up once or twice to go to the restroom, and also wake up about every 30min to an hour shifting and trying to get comfortable.


Best moment this week: Tuesday’s sonogram and hearing Mason’s heartbeat on Thursday!


Movement: Yes, yes yes! Love to feel my baby boy move. And he does a lot of it. I just love it and can’t imagine that in 3 weeks (give or take) I won’t feel it anymore…but instead I will have the real thing in my arms!!!!!!!!!


Food cravings: Not much


Food aversions: Not much of that this week either


Gender: Still a boy


Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions. Thank you Lord for preparing me


Pregnancy symptoms: You name it!! My feet/ankles have been swelling like crazy. I try to prop them up in the evenings for a few hours…but doesn’t take long for them to swell back up. Still having lots of heartburn, too. Even from water. Usually tums helps, but only for a little while. I am also still having a lot of lower back pain.


Belly Button in or out: Mostly flat, but the last few days it has poked out and gone back in! lol


What I am looking forward to: Sonogram on Tuesday, Dr appt on Thurs. They are checking me to see if I have dialated. While I am sure it’s not pleasant, it will be interesting to know!


Weekly Wisdom: Stay off your feet! Ha


It's hard to believe that this Friday we will be 37 weeks and Mason will be considered full term. How about a little reality, eh?

I love you, O LORD, my strength. - Psalm 18:1

35w6d - Dr Appt - 4/22

Goodbye modesty (as my friend Krista warned me about this appt)!! And I am sooo glad that she did. Without getting into details, the Group B strept/bacteria test is not that pleasant. Believe me! But glad to have that over with.

The rest of the appt went well. My blood pressure was good. Mason's heartrate was 132bpm and my belly measured between 35/36cm, on schedule. I talked to my doctor about my sono tech not weighing the baby and what she said about Dr Greve not wanting that done. He was a little frustrated because he obviously didn't tell her that! He said for sure at 38 weeks we need to have him weighed. I really hope they weigh him Tuesday, but not getting my hopes up.

I did have blood in my urine this week, but only a small amount. Dr Greve said he's not worried about it, and that it's pretty common this close to delivery. He said if I start to feel like I have a bladder/urinary tract infection to call them right away. And I haven't, so we are good! I also talked to him about my swelling feet. He agreed that they are majorly swollen, but said that was also common. My blood pressure has never been high, so he's not worried about pre-eclampsia. Whew! They are just hideous looking and quite painful at times.

Next week they will start checking my cervix for dialation. Guess it's definitely time to put my hospital bags in the car! Wowser!!!!!!!!!!

35w4d Sonogram - 4/20

Tuesday was our routine sonogram. I arrived around 8:15ish for an 8:30 appt. They were majorly behind due to a few emergency sonograms. I didn't get back to the sono room until 9:30. I should start taking a book...but then I know that I wouldn't read it because the people watching is much more interesting. I am just sure of that.

So, finally I get back there and talk to my tech for a bit. I told her I was interested to see how much Mason weighed because I felt like he was getting bigger. She said, "Oh, we aren't weighing him today. We are only doing your BPP sono". I asked her why and she said they had an "Office policy" change and that my doctor has to specifically ask for that now. And that Dr Greve only wanted the BPP results. I was bummed!!!! That was the 2nd week in a row that she didn't weigh him. Part of our excitement for Tuesdays and something we look forward to each week is guessing his weight.

BUT - the important thing is that my sonogram went well. Mason and I passed all of our BPP tests. Our amniotic fluids were maintained, no rising, his heartrate was 138bpm - which is good, and his movements were great! Makes me so happy!! We got 3 sono pictures, but they are really hard to see anything. The sono tech said the bigger they get the more grainy the pics get.

Until next Tuesday..

35 weeks, WOWSA!!!

How big is Mason?

Weeks 33-36 (Month 8): Honeydew

Average size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lb.

Growth is slowing, and baby may soon descend...

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

How far along: 35 weeks!!

Total weight gain/loss: 29lbs

Maternity clothes: Pants- oh yeah, shirts I can still wear normal shirts, they just fit a little more snug!

Stretch marks: No, knock on wood and hand me the coco butter!!

Sleep: My schedule has been off the last couple of weeks. It’s been hectic lately! Too much to do, too little time!

Best moment this week: Tuesday getting to see Mason at our ultrasound and Thursday getting to hear his heartbeat!

Movement: Mason has been moving like crazy over the last week. And I can tell my sweet baby is growing!!!! Jabs to the ribs or bladder are a little tougher!! And he’s been flopping from side to side, causing Mommy lots of back pain!! But oh how I love to sit and feel/watch Mason move all over the place. It’s my favorite pastime these days!!

Food cravings: Water, water, water and MORE water!!! And vegetable soup! And cantaloupe. We bought one on Sunday, just waiting for it to be ready!!!

Food aversions: A lot of meats.

Gender: Still a boy!

Labor Signs: Been having Braxton Hicks contractions! Not that fun at all. It’s really uncomfortable and quite frankly a little painful! I’ve had a lot of back pain throughout my 3rd trimester, so I am afraid I will have back labor.

Pregnancy Symptoms: swollen feet/fingers, heartburn daily, uncomfortableness, shortness of breath (especially in the evenings after dinner), frequent bathroom trips (Mason likes to bounce of mommy’s bladder) –I am back to waking up and going to the restroom in the middle of the night, blurry vision, Braxton Hicks contractions, pregnant brain…you name it!

Belly Button in or out: Flat, but a little “Poofy” :)

What I miss: being able to breathe/bend over

What I am looking forward to: Babies R Us this weekend, hopefully! Then our ultrasound on Tuesday and appt on Thursday!!

Weekly Wisdom: Stay off your feet as much as possible! Ha, as if! Too much to do!

Pictures:

 

Dr Appt - Thursday 4/15

Our weekly appt went well. Nathan went with me to this appt. He wanted to formally meet Dr Greve before our big day. It was nice to actually get to spend the morning with him!! He normally leaves an hour before I even wake up on most days. The appt went well. I've gained 3lbs, urine came back good, and my blood pressure was good (116/85), belly measured 35cm - we're on schedule!!

Our doctor's office has the same entrance as the Sports Rehab center...ya know, the one that the Texas Rangers use!!!! Now before and after each appt I walk to the door to see if I see any of the Texas Rangers!!! No luck yet...

A cheerful heart is good medicine...

Proverbs 17:22

Sonogram - 34w4d - 4/13/2010

Tuesday we had our weekly sonogram. This was a BPP - Biophysical Profile testing. A little info below:

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

A biophysical profile (BPP) test measures the health of your baby (fetus) during pregnancy. A BPP test may include a nonstress test with electronic fetal heart monitoring and a fetal ultrasound. The BPP measures your baby's heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and the amount of amniotic fluid around your baby.

A BPP is commonly done in the last trimester of pregnancy. If there is a chance that your baby may have problems during your pregnancy (high-risk pregnancy), a BPP may be done by 32 to 34 weeks or earlier. Some women with high-risk pregnancies may have a BPP test every week or twice a week in the third trimester.

Why It Is Done

A biophysical profile (BPP) test is done to:

Learn about and keep track of your baby's health. Special ultrasound methods are used to keep track of movement, increases in heart rate with movement (nonstress test), muscle tone, breathing rate, and the amount of amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid index) surrounding your baby. If these five areas are within a normal range, your baby is considered to be in good health.

Check on your baby's health if you have:

Hyperthyroidism.

Bleeding problems.

Lupus.

Chronic kidney disease.

Type 1 diabetes or gestational diabetes.

High blood pressure (hypertension).

Preeclampsia.

A small amount of amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) or too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios).

A multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets).

A pregnancy that has gone past your due date, between 40 and 42 weeks.

 

Mason passed with an A the sonotech said!!!

 

That's music to a mama's ears!! His heartrate was 138 and he was very active. It was interesting because for the last 2 or so months Mason has been mostly on my right side of my body. Which explains the back pain I always have on my right side. Well sometime between last Tuesday and this one he totally flopped. I am pretty sure that happened Monday while I was at work. I had severe back pain for a few minutes and it was taking my breath away. :) But not to worry, since Tuesday Mason has already flopped back to the other side. I guess it was more comfy for him!! :)

 

Pictures -

 

Belly, Belly Belly -

 

Sono pics -

He's getting bigger, so the pictures aren't as clear as they used to be

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good...to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1,4

Proud Daddy

Mason, Nana got Daddy his very own "Daddy Diaper" bag to carry your things in!! I think Daddy is exceptionally proud and excited!! It's a very cool "Jeep" bag filled with lots of goodies for you! Now Daddy is prepared for Daddy/Mason days!!! Which by the way, he already has plans to take you hunting very soon :)

"Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad." -- Anne Geddes

Mason's Nursery

We are getting close to being done with it!! :) Just a few things we are waiting on!! We are looking for corner shelves in the Expresso color, Dad is staining our shelf/quilt hanger for over his crib, and I want a vinyl wall sign for the outside of his doorway!

I am so excited and so in love with it. I just want to spend all of my time in there!!

Pictures!!

Bookcase (that his Great Grandpa built years ago)- on the right hand side when you walk in his room

Top of his bookcase:

Diaper cake made by Stacy Cox - Baby's Butt Boutique

We'll put a picture of Mommy and Daddy in the red frame

I made the "Mason" cow letter frames

Sign above his door. We got this at Canton

View of his Mason's room from the front. Nathan is standing behind the bed holding the quilt so we can get an idea of what it would look like on the wall :)

View from doorway:

Diesel :)

View from the rocking chair in the corner:

View from closet door:

Diesel and I hanging out in Mason's Nursery:

Daddy's and Mason's Ranger Hats:

Mommy's belly and Diesel :

Weekend Whirlwind

Wowsa! The last few days have been such a blur. Nathan and I have been very busy preparing for the birth of our baby boy!!! Friday I worked at the office and Nate worked in the yard. It's a day's worth of work to mow/weed eat our 2+ acres. That evening we went to Target to pick up a baby shower gift, then had dinner with Mom, Dad, Scooter, Les, Tanner, and Jax at Buffalo Wild Wings, grabbed a snow cone and home to watch the Ranger game. Nate and I were both beat and ended up falling asleep on the couch until around 3am. Saturday morning we got up pretty early. Nathan had to take some things to the Masonic Lodge for their upcoming garage sale. I got up and showered and got ready for the day. My dad, Scooter, Leslie, John and Tanner came out to hang out and work on John's car. The boys drug the driveway with the tractor, burned a brush pile, put cement in the driveway, and worked on the tractor. Us girls (and Tanner) supervised :) Then Les and I went to Pete and Repete in Waxahachie and looked around. I found a GREAT deal on a swing and couldn't pass it up. Picture:

Can't beat $40 bucks! And then I got Mason 4 or 5 onesies!! Then Les and I grabbed lunch and headed back to the house to eat with the boys. That evening Nate and I went with Jordan to the MMA fights at Quick Trip Park. Interesting to say the least. On the way home I had MAJOR discomfort. I am pretty sure I was experiencing Braxton Hicks Contractions. My stomach was super tight and Mason was pressing heavily on my bladder. These lasted a good 2 hours or longer! I wasn't that scared, though. I knew it wasn't true labor!!

Sunday we had breakfast with the Halls. Then Nate, LeeAnn, Ty and I made a trip to Babies R Us in Arlington. We were there probably a good 3 hours! I think we looked at everything there. It was too much fun! $260 bucks later, we were set. We had gift cards and only had to add $27 of our own money to the purchase. Can't beat that. I feel somewhat relieved and more ready, now! Below is what we got:

- Nursing cream

- Nursing pads

- Nursing wipes

- Storage bottles that double as a bottle (you just add the nipple)

- Nipples

- Freezer milk storage bags

- Disposable changing pads (so when I use the bathroom changing tables out in public)

- A seat protector (for under the car seat) but it also has storage

- Dishwasher basket

- Bottle dryer/organizer

- Baby sunscreen

- Cushioned strap covers for Mason's carseat

- Newborn mittens

- Natural pacifiers that are supposed to be the closest to the real thing

- Thermometer

- Ice pack (for when I pump at work or on the go and bring the milk home)

- A netting that goes over his carrier to keep the mosquitos out in the summer time

And then we got him:

- His 4th of July outfit and matching shoes

- Another pair of shoes

- A baby Texas Ranger's Hat

- A romper

- A 1 piece swimsuit (so cute. Looks like a surf suit)

 

After our Babies R Us adventure we went home and worked in his nursery for a few hours! It's coming together! Blog post with pictures to follow!

Oma's

Nathan went to breakfast this morning at one of our favorite little diners in Waxahachie - Oma's Jiffy Burger and they gave him a little shirt for Mason. I am SO excited about it, I can't even begin to tell you. I have one of their shirts in just about every color. Now Mason has one and it's so cute and tiny! Oh love!!!

I love this picture...something about seeing my hubby's left hand with his wedding band on that makes my heart smile really BIG!! :)

34 weeks

We're..................

Baby's now the size of a honeydew!

Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: he now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

 

Your baby is continuing to grow and fill out during pregnancy week 34. Not much is changing in your baby, except he is adding on valuable weight. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

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.

How far along: 34 weeks!!

Total weight gain/loss: 25lbs

Maternity clothes: Yeppers. Trying to make it with what I have. I really don’t want to buy more maternity clothes when I have less than 6 weeks left.

Stretch marks: No, knock on wood and hand me the coco butter!!

Sleep: Please!!! Not getting enough these days. Our schedule has been pretty hectic lately and most nights this week it’s after 10 before we get to wind down. I got SO used to our 8pm nights that it’s really catching up with me. But, I guess I need to get used to late/sleepless nights, right?? Mason???

Best moment this week: Tuesday getting to see Mason at our ultrasound and Thursday getting to hear his heartbeat! I am so thankful for me 2-a-week appts.

Movement: Oh wow yes! Mason LOVES Mommy’s ribs this week  My belly is lumpy…right side he has his butt sticking out and feet on the left side. It’s almost crazy feeling, but I love it. He’s still kicking like crazy, but also doing a lot of rolling around. Not sure how he’s finding the room in there, though.

Food cravings: Not much.

Food aversions: Nothing really this week.

Gender: Still a boy!

Labor Signs: Nope

Pregnancy Symptoms: swollen feet/fingers, heartburn daily, uncomfortableness, shortness of breath (especially in the evenings after dinner), frequent bathroom trips (Mason likes to bounce of mommy’s bladder), blurry vision…wow I am pregnant! haha

Belly Button in or out: Well, I thought it was out…but Nate informed me that it’s just flat 

What I miss: being able to breathe

What I am looking forward to: Babies R Us this weekend, hopefully! Then our ultrasound on Tuesday and appt on Thursday!!

Weekly Wisdom: Do not wear shoes that are tight across the top. My feet swelled like balloons!! Picture below, but warning for the weak stomach - it's NOT pretty:

And that my friend is what Kankles look like!!!

And for the belly pics:

XOXO