Photobomb

When it rains, it pours!  I forgot that I downloaded a ton of pics from Dean's phone that I can now post, so prepare yourself for a gazillion photos.

I forgot yesterday to mention that I *FINALLY* finished the nursery valances.  I am really pleased with how they turned out.  Here's are two pics:

Dean is almost finished with the mobile!  Here are what the bunnies and birdies look like:

I think, the way he arranged them, they look like the Jets and the Sharks getting ready for a rumble.  If only they could do a box step...

And here are random photos, with captions below:

Brand new Baby Enzo!  I am a mere 20 wks pregnant here.

 

 Anita's porch, pergola and yard.  Isn't it beautiful?

 Anita's yard part 2

Ms. Judgement (a DC Demoncat) made these booties, legwarmers and this headband for Alex!

 

A side pose to see the skate wheels!

Joy, me, and Dean at Sapna's wedding! (I'm 28 wks)

Look at my handsome husband!

In other news, we are officially one condo and one mortgage payment lighter!  I have done my FMLA paperwork.  We are consolidating our car insurances.  Things are getting DONE and I love it!

Hooray for Midwives!

Stats!
How far along? 34 w 3 d
How much weight gained? 35 lbs
Looking forward to? Babymoon (this weekend)!  Shower (weekend after babymoon)!  Leaving work (only a month left)!
Wedding ring? Still on and holding strong
Belly button? Still a solid innie -- not even flat yet
Symptoms? Slight ankle swelling, tiredness, hip pain, emotional basketcase
Other Updates? I think the baby has dropped!

I know, I know.  I haven't been posting.  I try to wait until I have some pictures, but then I never have any good pictures so I don't want to post.

A lot has been going on!  I'm going today to close on the condo.  I changed from my OB practice to a midwife practice (they have OBs too, but you only see them if necessary).  The Bombshells took me out for a baby brunch/mini shower, and gave me lots of adorable fun stuff!  Dean and I were both sick last week and are now just turning the corner.

Cherry Blossom Bombshell Baby Brunch!

I was having TERRIBLE heartburn for a few weeks there, but now it's basically totally gone.  I think that was the baby dropping.  My belly is really low.

Aaaanyway, I am really excited that I have switched to the midwife practice.  They are so fabulous so far.  I feel much more supported.  The OB practice I was with, while I'm sure they are fine doctors, just didn't seem to care much about what my preferences were.  It's not that my preferences weren't safe, or that I was totally rigid about them -- they just didn't seem interested in anything other than how they always do it.  They even kind of sneered at me about it.  That's not who I want in the delivery room, y'know?  So I switched and I had my first midwife appointment and I am so much happier.  Baby is happy too!  She has been very kicky lately.

In just about 5 minutes, I'm leaving to close on my condo.  Dean and I cleaned all the last bits out of it this weekend.  I will really miss it.  I SUPER loved that place, and had a lot of great memories there.  I first told Dean I loved him there!  Awwww.  It was a great condo, and I will miss it.  I am also pretty glad that we won't have to worry about the mortgage on it while I'm on maternity leave.

Bye, condo! (sorry it's fuzzy)

Anyway that has to be all for now, since I need to run to the condo closing.  I hope I'll have more and better updates soon!

Click here for photos of my awesome condo in its heyday.  

This Is How I've Been Feeling Lately

Keeping Up with the To Dos

Stats!
Since I just posted yesterday, no stats except to say that I measured, and my waist circumference guess was right.

I just need to write down our To Dos to keep track of them. 

TO DO:
Change outlets in house with safety outlets - Dean
Register for basic infant care class - Meredith
Call current practice to cancel appointments and get medical records - Meredith
Call new practice to set up first appointment - Meredith
Fill out new practice paperwork - Meredith
Get and install safety latches for kitchen cabinets - Dean and Meredith
Pack hospital bag(s) - Dean and Meredith
Pre-register at hospital - Meredith
Do hospital tour - Meredith and Dean
Install car seat and have it inspected - Meredith and Dean
Register for breastfeeding class? - Meredith

I think that's all we have to do.  I'm probably missing something monumental somewhere.   Anyway, just writing it down!

Entering the Home Stretch

Stats!
How far along? 31w 1 d
Weight gained? 31.5 lbs (I'm pretty happy with that - could be way worse)
Symptoms? Sciatica, difficulty sleeping, stitch in right side, back pain, shortness of breath
Waist circumference?  Just a guess, but I'd say at least 48", if not more... it's BIG.
Stomach and lungs? Squished up (stomach is now under breastplate, I think)
Sizes gained? Holding strong at only one clothing size up.  Fingers crossed.
Wedding ring?  Still on!  I think it might make it all the way!

We're getting there!  Slowly but surely, anyway.  I feel like we're in pretty good shape.  The nursery is basically ready, and after the shower happens we should be completely ready for Alex!

As for me, I'm huge:

And underneath that shirt, I have my first stretchmarks.  We have been SO diligent about using the creams and lotions.  I was really hoping I'd make it through okay, but no luck.  I hope it doesn't get too crazy over the next two months.

We still need to sign up for an infant care class, do a hospital tour, etc.

But I think I am going to change practices and hospitals.  I just don't feel good about my current OB practice, and I think I will switch to an OB and Midwifery Care practice that operates out of Bethesda and that does deliveries at Shady Grove Hospital, which is very near our house.  It will be a much quicker and less stressful ride to the hospital, plus in Maryland you can stay at the hospital one extra day than you can in DC, even for a complication-free birth.  I think I'd like another day of nurse help.  And Dean could sleep at home in his bed if he needed to, without having to go too far away from me and baby.  It just seems like the right call.  And I want to have a natural childbirth if possible, and this group seems much more supportive of that than my current practice.  Shady Grove and their L&D staff does what your practitioner says to do.  However, if I decide I want drugs, I'll still be at a hospital and able to get them.  Perfect!

I am nervous about having the baby -- it is starting to feel real to me, and there will really be an infant to take care of in just two months!   But I feel ready to get back to normal, myself, and be able to move around and breathe normally, etc.


I am so ready to leave work at this point.  We are so busy and I can't keep my head above water at 40 hours per week.  But I am unwilling to work more than 40 hours per week.   Speaking of which, I should get back to it.  I just thought it was past time to post an update!