Postcards from the Bump: 37 Weeks

How far along? 37 Weeks + 2 Days !! Our little Alien is fully cooked. He could arrive any day!! Although, I'm content cooking him a bit longer. 

Total weight gain/loss: Well, that's open to argument. According to my calculations about 25 pounds. According to my doctor, 19 pounds. While I like his measurement better, I still want to try to be honest with myself. *Disclaimer:* I reserve the right change my mind when it's time to get back to pre-baby weight. ;)

Baby's size? As of last Friday he was 5.8lbs and his trunk was about 12 inches long. The ultrasound tech predicted that he's going to be a long baby.

Maternity clothes? Nope, I'm still sporting the tube tops and skinny jeans. I kid, I kid, but, in all reality, yes and no. I am wearing Aaron's sweatshirts and my pre-pregnancy yoga pants most of the time.

Stretch Marks? NO! Still No! Crossing my fingers. Hurry up, Toby! (If I avoid them I swear I owe it all to Burt's Bees!)

Sleep: Ugh! Just... ugh.

Best moment this week: Wednesday. We finally announced his name publicly. It felt really good to be able to talk about our son using the name that we picked for him. Although, he will ALWAYS be our Alien.

Movement: Yes. Although, poor little man is crunched up in there he doesn't have a whole lot of space to move around anymore. He lets me know often by punching me as hard as he can... sometimes in the bladder.

Food cravings: 24/7. But, unfortunately, I can't eat any of it. 

Gender: Still a boy!

Labor Signs: I have a doctor's appointment later this morning, so this information might change but, as of last Friday, I was 1+ cm dilated and my cervix was ripening. I continue to have pretty regular contractions and Toby is head down ready to come out!

Belly Button in or out? See for yourself below. I think it's like one of those things in a turkey that indicates when it's fully cooked. My belly button can't really turn out any more so, I think he's cooked ;)

What I miss: The use of my hips and legs in a comfortable manner.  

What I am looking forward to: Holding my baby boy and having control of my body. 

Milestones: I am having a baby in the next couple of weeks (weeks!!)

Other Baby Updates? I have two more days of work; next Monday and Wednesday, then I'm off until August. That's nuts!!

I have to say, I don't like naked belly pictures. I don't care how good someone looks. I think they are entirely too personal and invasive. Aaron begged and begged for me to do the "Demi Moore" picture. I will not confirm or deny if I gave into his relentless begging but, I can assure you that if I did, the picture will NEVER see the light of day. It's far too personal in my opinion.

The above picture, however, I'm so-so okay with. Aaron had a brilliant idea the other night and I was his piece of art work. It took about an hour and it felt like a massage... but with washable markers. See the little heart? Aaron said, "I'm going to put a heart where Toby was conceived." So cute. The rest of the night I couldn't get the song, "I've got the whole world, in my hands" out of my head!

Wednesday, Oui

I'm 37 weeks pregnant today. Our little man is fully cooked. He can get here, and be completely developed, at any point from today on.

Aaron and I have been planning this surprise for a couple of months... just for those we love. So, because we love you, (and because it's a Wednesday)...

I spy with my little eye... Do you see it?

We can't wait to meet him. Oui?

Planet Alien: Nursery Sneak Peek #2

The room is finally done. It feels so good to be able to go in there and relax. I only have three days left to work before my maternity leave starts; one more day this week and two next week. I foresee several days in the weeks leading up to my son's birth being spent in that room filling out what I can in his baby book and reading.

Above is the second sneak peek of Planet Alien. Here you get a partial view of the built-in-bookshelf Aaron created for me, (as a complete surprise [more on that later]) but, what I really want to talk about today is the little rocking chair in the corner.

Aaron just recently refinished this rocking chair for our son. The chair was made for Aaron in 1978 by his Grandad. Aaron absolutely adored his grandfather, who passed in 2007. When we learned we were having a baby, I knew I wanted something important to be done with the chair so, Aaron spent several hours sanding it down and repainting it white to match our nursery.

*However* we were very careful not to sand the underside of the seat where his grandfather, 34 years ago, carved "Created for Aaron, Christmas 1978. Love Grandad & Grandma"

I love the fact that my son's little bum will be sitting on the same seat that his Dad's did so many years ago. I love that this chair was made for my husband by the grandfather he adored. I love that my husband worked so hard to restore the chair for our baby. It's all just too precious for words.

Planet Alien: Nursery Sneak Peek

Planet Alien is almost complete!

Until the "big reveal" I'll be posting a few sneak peeks of the nursery I've been envisioning for the past 9 months and boy (oh boy) is it amazing! There are only a few finishing touches to make (hanging the nursery art work) before we can finally say we are done!

This is a sneak peek of the reading/nursing nook. Aaron made the shelving unit and our chair just arrived from the furniture store last night! You may remember the story of my Pinocchio marionette seen on the shelf above. If not, click here.

Also, when my sister asked what color theme I was going with, I went online and found a fabric swatch I really liked that captured not only the theme (giraffes) but also the colors. Quinn, one of my oldest friends, (one of the people who helped my sister with my shower-- more on that soon) actually found and purchased the fabric online and gave it to me for my shower. So, I made matching Mama & Baby nursery pillows. Just wait until you hear the story of where Baby's pillow sits. 

It is amazing to think that in just a few weeks I'll be sitting in that chair holding my son!

Wednesday, Oui? Tick Tock

My brain is all over the place. I don't know that this will even make sense.

It's crazy to think that I'll be having a baby in <4 weeks.

28 days.

At my last appointment, because I continue to have contractions almost constantly (yes, 24/7) and given my diabetes, the doctor said he isn't going to let me go PAST my due date and will most likely try to start "ripening" my cervix at 38.5-39 weeks. That is right around the corner.  I will, for sure, have a May baby.

4 weeks, if that.

In 4 weeks my life, as I know it, is going to change. Aaron said last night, "I can't believe by the end of this month there is going to be another human being living in this house besides you and me." I also overheard him leaving a message for a friend who lives in another state and is coming home for a visit around the end of the month, "I'd love to see you and, by then, you might be able to meet my kid."

In so many ways I've watched my husband, who has always been the best husband I could ask for, grow up even a little bit more.

4 weeks.

I was more than 4 weeks pregnant when a pregnancy test finally confirmed that Alien was on his way.

I'm really glad I'm having a May baby. I'm a June baby and I do love the month of June but, I want a May baby.

Here are some facts about Alien's birth month:

His birthstone will be an emerald (I love emeralds)
His flower is lily of the valley
If he's born May 21 or after, he will be a Gemini (just like his Mama)
If he's born before May 21 he will be a Taurus

4 weeks: 28 days. Less, probably.

I paid some bills yesterday that won't be due again until AFTER his birth. The clock is ticking down now. It is so weird I don't think I could even put it into words.

I am so ready to meet this little guy. I can't wait to see my husband hold him. I can't wait to see my family and friends with him.

4 weeks. At the most. I am all over the place.

I am so glad I'm having a little boy. When I first got pregnant I was convinced it was a girl so I started to want a girl. The minute the ultrasound confirmed that he was a boy, I didn't want anything but him and was immediately appalled that I had wanted a girl because I was having a little boy. He's mine. Mine, mine, mine! I'll have a son. A little boy. I hope he's a lot like Aaron.

Dude, 4 flipping weeks. Less than a month. 28 days.

In less than a month I get to meet the little guy who has been sharing my body with me. I've been solely responsible for keeping him healthy and alive. I'm so ready to shift/share that responsibility and watch my husband be a father but, on the other hand, I'm not ready to give Baby up yet. Does that make sense?

Holy shit, we're doing this!

Oui?