4 Month Check Up

Bennett had his four month check up yesterday-even though he will be 5 months next week. He's a big boy, so it seems. He weighed 18 lbs, and was 27 inches long. He is in the 85th percentile. He is in the 75th percentile for his 23 inch head. The doctor let us know that yes, he is a fat head. :o) Our doctor said he is "thriving", which made me one proud mama.

We were told that we could start experimenting with some foods, just to see how he likes them. We tried bananas. The first bite he ate and swallowed, no problem. The second was a little slower with a little nose crinkle. The third had a bigger nose crinkle. But it was just new to him-he seemed to like them. I am excited to introduce him to the world of food-I think he is going to love all the fun, yummies!

Bennett is doing so awesome! He laughs out loud, he can almost roll over from back to tummy, and he reaches out for stuff like crazy! Anything he can get a hold on goes rapidly to his mouth. And he is almost sleeping through the night. Currently, he sleeps from 8 pm- 7:30 am with one wake up between 12:00-1:00. But it's great because when he wakes up, he takes a bottle and then is right back to sleep. And since Adam gets the late shift, I have not been up with him in close to a week and a half. That means I have gotten a full nights sleep for a week and a half. It's glorious!

He is doing so great and I am loving all this personality he has. Watching him growing up is so much fun! Such a HUUUUUGGGEEE blessing!

37 Week Doctor's Visit

Yesterday was my weekly doctor visit. Some good news, some not so good news. Turns out, my body is still not doing anything-not good news. No dilating, no effacing, and Bennett still hasn't completely dropped. My doctor explained to me that she would induce no earlier than 39 weeks, which I totally agree with. I don't care to wait until 40 weeks to be induced. She also let me know that if I induced any earlier than that there are health concerns to Bennett as well as a higher chance of having to have a C-Section. I did decide that I wanted to be induced, however, I wanted to wait until 40 weeks. So, the date for my induction is set Monday, September 27, which will put him here, most likely, on Tuesday, September 28th. We will go in Monday night at 10:00 pm.

I am very excited about having a date, though I do still know Bennett could decide to change that date at any time. However, I am very nervous about some stuff. I have never stayed in the hospital in this capacity before. The last time I was at a hospital overnight was my own birth. I have never had to sleep in a hospital bed and have never had to be hooked up to that type of machinery. Also, given the fact that my body isn't doing anything right now, I worry that I may run the risk of ending up with a C-Section anyway. That makes me nervous about having major surgery, as I have never had that either. So many firsts, so much that is scary.

As scared as I am, I am getting more and more excited to meet this little guy. His room is incredible and cozy and I can't wait to show it to him. I can't wait to see his head full of hair and put on his own, cute clothes. I can't wait to hold him. The days are counting down now instead of up!

17 days!

Today's Doctor Visit

Today was yet another doctor visit-I am going every week now. Last week when I went, I was 35 weeks, but my belly was measuring 39 weeks. This week I had an ultrasound and it looks like I am right on track. This was a really cool visit, as we got to see him really well on the ultrasound. And we got to learn a lot about him.

One of the things I am most excited about is he has hair! I figured he would and was really hoping he'd have a head of hair when he is born. I am excited that he does! He currently weighs 6 lbs 11 0z. The doctor estimated he might be in the 8 lb range at birth. And we got to see his hiccups. Bennett gets the hiccups at least once a day. It was so much fun to see them instead of just feel them!

As far as when he will be here, obviously he could come at whenever he feels like it. But as for my body- I am not dilating or effacing any. He's not even dropped all the way down yet. She told me that if my body continues in this path, then she will either have to induce me (if I want to deliver on my due date) or I will have to wait past my due date (if I want him to come when he comes). Induction, please! But I am well aware that this could all be pointless, as he could come tomorrow if he wanted...which is why things are packed for the hospital and I am getting as much done as I can.

It was so great to see him on the ultrasound today, I can say that. I have been pretty excited today, thinking about seeing his sweet face. It has been mostly stress for me along the way, I have mentioned that. So I am very happy that today brought feelings of excitement and not fear. I can welcome some excitement in this journey!

Oh, and also it was reconfirmed that he is for sure a boy. :o) Adam was relieved.

Baby Update

I am now 4 1/2 weeks away from Bennett's arrival...hopefully. I went to the doctor on Wednesday, and she measured my belly, as she always does. Usually she says "Right on track." This time she said, "Hmm, you are 35 weeks, but you are measuring 39 weeks." I, of coursed, started to have a panic attack and said what any normal person would-"Does that mean he is coming next week? I don't have lesson plans ready!" She told me that it, most likely, does not mean he will be here next week, especially since she checked me and I have not dilated any. That is a relief. But, just to be sure, I got moving on my lesson plans, talked with my principal, and got my maternity leave forms turned in. I was getting really worried about not getting things done (which of course, I still am), but doing those couple of things really helped.

Bennett's room is almost finished, which is great. It is finished enough that he would have a cute room, should he come early, but my mom and her best friend Kathy are coming to paint some stuff on his wall. That is why I have not posted pictures of it yet-I want to wait until they get all the painting finished. I will say though, his room is going to be ADORABLE!

I had a baby shower this week with my friend from the school I taught at in Dalton. It was so awesome. My friends Jessica Aslinger and Luisa Hale threw it for me. It was so cute and thoughtful and I LOVED it! Here are some of the pictures from the shower.

My kind of shower food-pizza, chips, and candy! It was so yummy!

His name hung above the door-Jessica made it. It was SO cute!

Dinosaur cake. Made by Cynthia Martinez. Awesome and TASTY!

Opening gifts.

Doctor's Visit- Monday the 5th

Monday I had another doctor's visit. It was a LONG one! After we got in the room, we waited about 20 minutes. At that time, the nurse came in and told us my doctor had to go deliver a baby and would be back in 45 minutes. We told her we would wait. There is just something about doctor's offices when I am with my mom and we have to wait-we have way too much fun!

The doctor finally made it back in and chatted for a moment. Then....I got to hear the heartbeat. I know everyone says how amazing and life-changing it is to hear the heartbeat, but honestly it wasn't that for me. It didn't sound like a heartbeat. It was fast and muffled. However, I did keep hearing this "whooshing" sounds. A lot of them. My doctor told me that was the sound of the baby moving. I will admit-THAT was pretty cool! Although, maybe a little scary since it was very active. The doctor said everything sounded "perfect," which is just what I like to hear. A successful doctor's appointment.

And in super exciting news, we booked our next appointment. This is so exciting because we will get to find out what gender it is. Now, since I got pregnant, I have had this overwhelming feeling it is a boy. My mom's had that feeling too. I have thought, though, that maybe it is just hope because I really want a boy! Either way, I have felt all along that it is a boy. But so far I have had 2 dreams where it is a girl. And the old wives tale about the heart rate and gender told me that it was a girl. Oh no! What will I do with a girl?! Anyway, May 5th will be our day to find out! I am so excited I may not be able to sleep until then!

First Doctor's Appointment

Monday the 8th was my first doctor's appointment. It was awesome! Obviously, it wasn't the most wonderful of experiences, as any woman knows, but once I got my ultrasound it made it all worth it!

As weird as it sounds, I did not expect it to look like a baby. But it was a perfect outline of a perfect little child! My mom went and she got to see it too. It was amazing for me to see, but the best part was Adam. He gasped and moved around to the other side of the table so he could see the picture better. It was most moving seeing him be so excited and amazed. He was in awe.

The doctor gave me a good report. The baby is healthy and on track. My due date is set for September 29. In about 8 weeks, I will get to find out what it is. Here is the picture! It's head is on the left, and that is an arm bud sticking up on the top.

Doctor's Appointment...Bummer!

Well, I was scheduled to have my first doctor's appointment today. I have been excited about this for about 4 weeks now. Buuuuuuut.....there was a meeting at school today that I couldn't miss, so I had to reschedule. Bummer. However, now I have another week to anticipate this exciting day. Sigh...

Blood work

Today was my first visit to the doctor. It was a short visit, as all I had to do was get blood work. They took my blood and are going to test it for some things (per a friend of mine, they'll make sure certain levels of chemicals are right). I should get a call tomorrow for the results.

I am very nervous, as I want things to be progressing the way they should be. I want everything to be going well and for me to have a healthy baby at the end of this. But positive thoughts are in order as I sit by the phone tomorrow and wait for it to ring.

This is a picture of my wound from the day. :o)