2 Months to go!!

Here's a picture of me at 31 weeks, 1 day. I'm getting bigger!

We had another childbirth class this week and we got to see a video about the different kinds of pain medication you can have during labor. During our break, Brad and I walked out into the hallway and looked at each other and said "That's scary!" I think we're in for a big surprise....but the classes are helping. At least I won't have the fear of the unknown, I'll just have the fear of the pain I'm about to go through!

We're headed to Breckenridge in the mountains for the weekend....it's our 2 year anniversary! Our last anniversary together before kids, so we're just going to take it easy for a couple of days. When we get back, we'll be getting the house ready for my Colorado baby shower next weekend. We've still got some unfinished painting to do. My mom and dad are coming out Wednesday night and staying until Sunday - they're getting more than they bargained for on this visit though....we've got a list of things that we need help with around the house! At least my dad won't be bored....haha

Next week I'll have pictures of my baby shower and hopefully (we're keeping our fingers crossed!) of the painted nursery!

Happy Labor Day!

Homework??

I thought I had finished with the homework thing a looooong time ago, but apparently not!

We started our childbirth class this week, the first of five Wednesday evening classes. I'm so glad that we are going to them, it was really helpful to hear that other people are going through the exact same things we are....we're normal!! It also made me realize how blessed and lucky we are that our baby is healthy. One couple is having a baby with a birth defect that was thought to be fatal at first, but now they have a 70-80% chance of survival. They both had such positive attitudes about it. I'd like to think if we were faced with the same situation, we'd be able to look at things positively too. So for now, we're counting our blessings that little Cliff is growing stronger and healthier every day!

We got to see a video of the first stage of labor - contractions, what it's like when and if your water breaks, when to call your doctor and go to the hospital, and an anatomy lesson on the whole pregnancy process. I think Brad got a little freaked out when the video came up to stage two - the actual delivery process - but the instructor turned it off before we got into it! He'll be in Las Vegas for a work conference (don't you feel bad for him?) the night of our last class, so hopefully we'll see the birth video before then. If not, we're definitely going to look into borrowing it from the hospital so he can see it - he needs to be prepared too!

We practiced relaxing towards the end of the class....sounds easy, right? Not for me, I just seem to have a hard time with allowing myself to fully relax. So our homework is to practice relaxing as a couple 3-4 times this week before our next class. Next week, we're going to do some more relaxing with some new breathing techniques thrown into the mix. Should be fun - hopefully I won't fall asleep while I'm there!

My other homework this week is from my doctor. I have to try and gain a pound a week for the remainder of my pregnancy. My last appointment was two weeks ago, so I was hoping not to have gained more than 2-3 pounds....and I actually lost a pound! So my cumulative weight gain is 13 pounds so far. I feel like I'm eating all the time, so who knows why I'm not packing it on....but I'm not complaining! Other than that, everything is fine with me and the baby. His heart rate is still good and he's as active as ever.

I am getting bigger though, I promise - I'll try to post a picture later this week of my big belly!

Baby Stuff!

I thought everyone would enjoy these pictures of Brad putting together some of our shower gifts this past weekend. He even reads the instructions!

Now we have our office filled with a bouncy seat, high chair, activity center, and bath tub. We both think it makes having a baby feel a little more 'real' now!

Shower Time!!

Last weekend, I went to Indiana for my first baby shower! My mom, sister, and sister-in-law did a great job making it happen - THANK YOU!! It was so wonderful to have so many of my friends and family there to celebrate with me. We got a ton of great stuff for Cliff - thank you all so much for thinking of us - we really appreciate it! It was the perfect mix of fun stuff and practical stuff....what more could I ask for? And to top it all off, I made it back to Colorado with everything in tow....even the gift bags and tissue paper!! I thought I did a great job of packing, but my dad could not understand why on earth I'd need to take the gift bags back with me....haha I had a blast unpacking everything to show Brad when I got back. I think his favorite gifts were the Colts binky and cups :) Sarabeth, I don't think Cliff will ever be able to have that binky in his mouth unless he has on a Broncos outfit to go with it!!

Here are some pictures from the shower:

It's a real baseball on top! Thanks, Maggie (and Cary)!

The favors had blue and white M&M's in baby food jars. The confetti was blue and white said "It's A Boy!"
We played a game where everyone guessed which baby picture belonged to which person (they're on the poster behind me and my gift-helper Kylie) - harder than I thought it would be since I knew everyone there!

My good friends Mandy, Sarabeth, Susan, Tracy, and Sarabeth's daughter Emily. I'm getting a lot of good advice from them! Sarabeth is having a girl in October, so I think Cliff will have a little girlfriend to visit when we're home in December!

I am definitely feeling like I'm in my third trimester....I wish I would have known how good things were in the second trimester because I never would have complained! My body has started feeling really sore and achy over the past week. I thought it had a little bit to do with me over-doing it last Monday....I flew back really early from Indiana and went straight to work, so it was a really long day. But I've been told your body just gets sore and you have to deal with it....not exactly what I wanted to hear!

I also think I experienced some Braxton Hicks contractions Monday night. Braxton Hicks contractions are uterine contractions that can start as early as 6 weeks in your pregnancy, and can come and go up until you deliver. It's basically your body practicing for labor....sounds fun, right? Some women don't ever feel them, and some women have a lot of pain with them. Mine just felt like huge kicks from the baby, except all over my belly at once. My lower back was pretty sore the next day, which I read is normal after having them.

I'm also have a lot of heartburn lately too, no matter what I eat. It used to be just at night, but now it's started showing up during the day too. So I've got my Maalox on the counter in the bathroom, and as much as I hate it, it actually works!

Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, I've been exceptionally emotional this week too....just ask Brad! I've started to get busy at work and will be for the next two months, so I think the stress of that is getting to me. That means working more than normal, at a time when I'm more tired than normal. So Brad is usually the one who I take it out on....not on purpose though! Bless his heart, he never knows what to say when I have a breakdown, but at least he's honest with me and tells me he has no idea what to say. Just his support and encouragement are a big help, and I know I'll need it after the baby's born too!

I had a great time visiting my family in Indiana. It's hard to believe the next time I see my nieces and nephews I'll be a mom! I've been 'just an aunt' for 10 year now, and I have to say that I love being an aunt.....now I'll have to live with the repercussions of buying the loudest and most annoying toy in the store and giving my siblings' kids back to them full of sugar!! haha

Next week will be full of updates....we start our childbirth classes on Wednesday and my next doctor's appointment is Thursday.....stay tuned!

In the home stretch....

Here I am, the first day of my third trimester (taken last week)! Cliff and I are doing great....and so is the dad-to-be! We're both getting really excited for him to get here, me especially. He seems to like to position himself up under my ribs and kick me all the time. I've noticed that I have to get up at work and walk around a lot more to stay comfortable. And everyone tells me it's only going to get worse....so the next two months of busy season are going to be fun for my co-workers, I'm sure!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and Brad and I both guessed that I had gained about 4 pounds over the last month. We were both wrong - I packed on 6 more pounds! So my total weight gain through 28 weeks is 14 pounds. I think my mom is pretty proud - I actually listened to her about something! Everything else was good: my glucose levels are fine and I don't have gestational diabetes, the baby's heart rate is still up around 150 beats per minute, and I'm measuring right on track. I'll start going to the doctor every two weeks now, and then in October, once every week.

I'm headed to Indiana for my first baby shower this weekend! I'm so excited, I can't wait to see everyone. A lot of my close friends from college will be there, so it'll be a nice reunion. Brad isn't able to make the trip with me this time though - I know he's bummed to miss the Indiana heat and humidity in August! We'll be celebrating Mackenzie's 1st birthday while I'm home too. She started walking after our Gatlinburg trip, so I can't wait to see her show off!

We added a few shelves and an extra clothes bar to Cliff's closet in the nursery last weekend. It was funny because once we were done, we both just kind of sat on the floor looking around at nothing! We've sort of decided where the furniture will go once we get it, but I think we were both kind of in shock at how fast the pregnancy has really gone. Just a few more months and he'll be here....and you'll all know his real name then!