Home Stretch

We are in the home stretch of meeting our little girl. It makes me so nervous that she is still in there because I don't know if she's ok other than her little kicks and wiggles. It also makes me nervous to think that you usually find out the bad stuff once the baby is born. I just want her to be healthy. On the flip side, it's cold and flu season and every newborn I know has already been in and out of the hospital, yikes! Can I just put my baby in a bubble?

Anyways, Mike and I are anxious to meet her. Poor Mike gets so frantic every time I call him on the phone. I have to start every conversation with ,"I'm not going into labor!" before I start talking hehe.

 

*38 weeks*

Even though I am so far along, I still feel pretty great. That has sure been a blessing this pregnancy. Marcia invited me to a temple session and I love the sweet spirit I feel having this lady inside of me. It's like I have a little piece of heaven. I also thought about how she must know her Papa.

 

*39 weeks*

My mom is here now and operation: Get baby out is under way. I have been bouncing on my birthing ball, eating spicy foods, walking, zumba, and anything else I can think of to get this baby out on time. My mom will only be here a couple of weeks and I want her to enjoy this baby as much as possible. Sleep is getting a little harder. I wake up from 3-6 because I'll be hungry, have to go to the bathroom, or am feeling contractions and have to walk around. The contractions always go away though, hopefully one day they'll stick.

 

 

 *40 weeks*

Happy due date baby girl. Our due date has come and gone. I had a feeling we would go over as she always measured on the smaller side. My mom and I go out shopping and walking in the outlets every day to see if we can speed things up a bit, but nothing has worked. I was telling Mike that I was feeling discouraged as things were moving along. My doctor gave me an induction date. Things are definitely going nothing like planned. I had been dreaming of trying a natural birth. I had been reading books, having Mike practice different massaging techniques, and I watched just about every video I could find. Unfortunately it looks like I will be induced after all. At this point, I only pray that my baby is safe and that we both have a safe and happy delivery. I've been sleeping in as much as possible too. I can't even imagine what life with a newborn will be like.

 

*41 weeks*

Baby girl decided to stay put another week. My skin feels like it's going to rip open now. I think my body called it quits after 40 weeks and I am now starting to feel achy. Some times I need a nice little push to get off the couch :) All attempts to get this baby out on time have failed. I have become more comfortable with the idea of induction. I hope it's a good experience and that we have a good nurse and that we won't be there forever. I don't want labor to be a horrible experience. I'm hoping even though I won't have a natural birth, that things will still be good. I'm also very happy that this little lady didn't come on Christmas day. It would have been hard to compete with baby Jesus' birthday. The doctor has set December 29, 2016 as my induction date. I'm hoping that I can get a bed and start the process soon. I am to call at midnight and if there is a bed, Mike and I go in at 1AM. For now, I have been sleeping in as much as possible. My grandmother and cousin are here as well as my mom and step dad. It's been a little harder to relax with visitors but I'm trying to makes the best of it. Mike and I snuck off for a date night yesterday to see Star Wars: Rogue One. I figured it was now or never and since my mom was out with the rest of my family, I thought it was a good opportunity for Mike and I to have our last alone time for a while.

We have one more full day until I call L&D tonight. Mike is out working, I told him he needed to get home early so we could get a little nap in before pulling an all nighter. I'll be praying for a safe and happy delivery, wish us luck!

 

(Baby's nursery is almost done. My neighbor is painting a canvas to go above the dresser. My mom is buying us a recliner that will go behind me. I also need to order a rug. It's almost done!)

 

Pre date night. Sometimes my belly looks so big and other times it looks smaller. I guess I'm pretty thankful that I stayed on the smaller side, I'm not sure how well my back would have taken it if I was huge.

 

Post date night. I didn't want to post a picture on social media because I have been pregnant forever, but I figured I would regret it so we took this quick pic before getting in pj's.

 

One more full day until we meet our baby girl!