8 months = 32 weeks!

Well, the pregnancy is moving right along! 32 weeks today, so officially 8 months. Patients at work say, "Oh, you're going to have a baby, when are you due?" I say, "Next month." I know September is not until tomorrow, but it feels SO GOOD to say that! A true sense of accomplishment. Nobody thinks I look that big.

I am going to see a chiropractor tomorrow about my sciatica. It is still ongoing and my doctor said a chiro would be the best option. Most nurses I work with also went to a chiro during pregnancy - the back pain of standing for 12.5 hours is really taking a toll on me. My neighbor is one, and it's nice to go see someone I know and trust.

This is the newest pic. I don't feel like I really have grown that much in the last month or so. I guess the weight gain and growth of the mother decreases in the last several weeks. The books say I no longer accumulate amniotic fluid and my water weight should decrease - it's all about baby growing. She should be almost 4 pounds and 19 inches long! Getting big, and without as much fluid her hits and "love kicks" can be quite painful!

Sciatica in my backa!

I can't believe we're 60 days from baby's arrival! Coming so fast....yet I feel like it's going to be forever until we get to meet her. We are so excited and no words can explain our joy. Derek and I talk about her nonstop together - our hopes, dreams, fears, everything. We just love her so much and can hardly wait!

Since I'm getting closer to the push day, I've been experiencing a few "unpleasant" feelings. Mainly, sciatica. This is terrible pain that starts on the left side of my lower back and shoots down through my left hip into my thigh. It is unbelievable - like my nerve is actually being electrocuted! I'll be sitting on the couch and need to get up to go to the bathroom, but I know the minute I stand I'll get "shocked" with this feeling and it makes me not want to move. It's not there all the time. Today I spent a good part of the day in the pool swimming and doing exercises to try to get the baby to reposition - OFF my sciatic nerve!

So....bookclub was last night and the girls came over. It was such a fun evening and everyone seemed to love the nursery. We are the first couple in the neighborhood group to have a baby, so it was fun to see everyone looking at everything. We are also blessed to have a Midwife in our neighborhood. I asked her if she could tell if baby was head down or not. She said she was! However, she also told us that baby can switch positions pretty easily until week 33, so there's a chance she could move again. I'm staying positive and hoping she stays head down....which is probably why my back has been hurting - she's preparing for birth and getting into position which puts pressure down there. That made me feel a bit better about the sciatica - I'll take that pain as long as she's in the proper birthing position!

Big Hits

Baby is kicking, kicking, kicking. It's amazing how defined she is in my belly. Two days ago Derek and I could actually feel either a foot or a hand on the side of my stomach. I think it was a foot, since she used it to kick so hard! Last night before going to bed, Derek was feeling my belly and her "barrel rolling" (that's what he called it) - he was like, "Wow....she's REALLY moving in there!" Then he rolls over and goes to bed. Needless to say, I was up for another hour while she was doing her gymnastics routine.

Not too much else going on around here right now. Derek and I have been really good about taking our nightly walk together. It gives me a good workout. I'm also working on her scrapbook. Hosting a bookclub meeting next week....my last time to host! I keep counting down the weeks of work left - I'm so ready to be done. I'm hoping baby stays in full term, though, so that way I'm off for Christmas! It's been over 3 years since I have not had to work Christmas. I'll definitely get Thanksgiving off - but that was given since I only work weekends.

Not much else news. Give me a shout if anything is new in your world- I'd love to hear!

quarter lap to go!

As we approach the final 10 weeks of pregnancy, I think of it as 75/25.....I only have 1/4 left to go! That seems easy! However, we're at the doctor's office and he starts filling me in on things I don't want to hear about - waking up to go to the bathroom, getting short of breath because my lungs can't expand, my leg veins not pumping enough blood to my brain, etc. All these things I knew about, but I really kind of thought that since I'd made it this far with no problems, maybe I could avoid all these new ones?! Fat chance! Speaking of fat - I've done pretty good with my weight. Right now I can barely eat about 5 bites of food and I'm full, so my weight gain was more gradual this month.

Another new thing in our lives: doctor visits. We have gotten away with going every 4 weeks, but now I have to go every 2 weeks until October (then it's weekly). Derek has been so good and diligent with going to my doctor visits. He has made EVERY appointment but 1 so far! I'm so lucky to have such a supportive husband. We really like our new doctor, Dr. Siegel. He is so nice and Derek thinks he's awesome, too (probably because he is a big runner like D and major health nut). Over the next few appointments, he wants us to meet his 2 other male partners that are in his practice. I have heard only good things about the other partners as well, so I'm not worried. I think it's a good thing I meet them all - you never know who will be there on the big day.

Another big congrats to my friend, Kinze. She had beautiful daughter Brooklyn Renee. This is her 3rd child (2nd daughter) and she is happy, healthy, and so blessed. I pray my labor is like hers - only a few hours long! How nice!

I'm having a bit of anxiety about birthing now. I haven't had it until this last week. What if I go into labor when Derek is out of town or far away? What if we get stuck in a huge traffic jam (which always happens in Atlanta) and it takes a long time to get to the hospital? What if the baby is not head-down? These are all things I need to take a deep breath and forget about for the time being. Although, I think the biggest thing I can't stop thinking about - I wish our parents could be there that day. I'm trying to stay strong with this last one....but being so far away from family is super tough sometimes.

All of the shower gifts were sooooo wonderful! This baby is so spoiled - and definitely well-dressed! Her clothes are amazing. I feel like I'll need to take her everywhere and show these outfits off! It was such a wonderful gift to have such great family to help us welcome this little one.

God bless!

Illinois Shower

We are back from the AWESOME shower my family hosted in Illinois. I can't tell you how grateful I am to my family and close friends that attended. It was a great event - family was able to catch up and see each other. I could go on and on about how wonderful it was, but instead you can just click on the "play" button below and watch a video slideshow. Let me know if you have difficulties viewing it.....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

28 week

Here's a look at the 7 month pic. Less than 3 months left!!! I feel great! Sleeping is getting a bit challenging. I've also noticed I can go to the bathroom and about 10 minutes later I think I need to go again - but really it's just Baby Cisel laying on my bladder. She now weighs 3 pounds, 17 inches long. She will double her weight in the next 11 weeks. Oh my goodness....her kicks and spins are unreal! You can see her moving on the outside of my shirt - Derek loves to watch.

The Nursery

Well, I keep getting asked about seeing the nursery! It's about time I post some pics. We still have some odds and ends to finish, but mostly everything is done. Here's what we have so far:

This is what you see when you look into the room from the door. The walls are now light green (used to be brown - D and his dad spent hours painting to cover it up). You can't see in this pic, but Derek and his dad put up a ceiling fan, too. The pink rug really makes a difference I think.

We put a wall sticker above the crib that says "All of God's grace in one little face". The tissue balls hanging from the ceiling I found & made at Michael's. The little birdie house in the corner is felt - the top lifts off and it's a storage container. I found it at Pottery Barn Outlet.

We love the recliner chair and ottoman. The curtains I made with two different types of fabric - the bottom part of the curtains are black & white houndstooth which matches the bedding fabric. I tied the tops of the curtains with green ribbon. We are using the crib blanket as a drape over the chair.

This is the original dresser we had with the guest room furniture. We will put a changing pad on top of it eventually. I love the wall hangings. They are hung by a black ribbon.

This is kind of a random diaper holder I made from a wire garden box with fabrics and flower.

A corner of the room. The flowers on the baseboard are wall stickers from Michael's. I love the little froggy (he's sitting at the bottom of the crib) Susan picked out. The flower hanging on the closet door has pegs so I put one of her many outfits on display - it matches the room! The hamper in the corner I just love. We have kind of a birdie/flower theme going on.

This is kid of a hodgepodge of things I found/made. The cross says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above." I made the birdie board that will hold pics of family/baby. Don't ask what the multiple B stands for - just assume "baby" or "birdie"!

This is the bedding. We don't have the mattress yet. The bedding is black, white, pink, and green. Love it!

Again, this girl is already fully clothed for 1+ years. The grandmas do a good job!

28+ weeks

I'm here - just been bad about blogging! I have had a terrible allergy/sinus-thingy going on. It started when Derek and I were at his friend's wedding on Saturday. It was a beautiful reception full of lots of fun. I'll post pics when I get them off Derek's camera. Anyways, since Sunday I have only had partial hearing out of my right ear and so congested it's been difficult to lay flat. I'm slowly getting better. I don't want to take anything for fear it could affect the baby. What I would give for some Sudafed!

More on baby: growing, growing, growing! She is really getting big in there - almost 3 pounds. Her movements are unreal. Sometimes if she's laying correctly, you can feel her little body parts (head, spine, rear). Daddy Derek is so proud and loves to "talk" to her. He gets right down next to my belly and tells her how excited he is to meet her. It is so cute. I'm excited to go to the next appointment - I'll be 30 weeks! Then it's appointments every 2-3 weeks until 36.

More BIG news: my cousin, Krystal, had her baby boy yesterday. His name is Logan William Zinser and he was born at 0157, 7lbs 5oz and 19 inches long. She was due on the 14th of this month but baby had other plans. He and mom are happy, healthy, and hanging out at St. Francis for another day before coming home. I can't wait to meet him when I go home next week.

The baby shower is next week! Amazing - I can't wait! I feel like there are so many family members I have not seen forever, so it will be great to catch up. I am flying back to Illinois and then driving home with Derek afterwards. Wish us good luck....12 hour drives are no fun, especially 7 months pregnant!

That's about all I know as far as news goes. Not too exciting here. I'll get some pics of the wedding we attended and post them ASAP.