Almost here!

As I sit down to type tonight, I am blown away that I will have a little baby boy in just 6 days! This is amazing, scary, exciting, all at the same time. This pregnancy really seems to have gone by fast. Ten months ago, I was telling Adam, "It says pregnant and I am NOT lying!" And now here I am, making sure my little guy has the "right" clothes and packing my hospital bag and getting ready for his arrival.This has been an interesting experience to say the least. It has been a tougher one than I expected, but still very good. In the end, seeing his face will make it all worth it, I know.

And new news-my induction has been moved up to Sunday the 26th, which will put him here Monday the 27th. I have also moved hospitals. I was originally scheduled to go in Monday and deliver Tuesday, but I got a call last week letting me know that Tuesday night my doctor was on call until only 7:00. That meant if he came too late on Tuesday, I ran the risk of her not being able to deliver him. So, if I moved hospitals (Women's East was full on Sunday night), I could deliver on Monday and she would be able to deliver him. So, it looks like I am headed out to Parkridge East. This is kind of cool, since that is where I was born. Bennett will be born at the same place I was! I like that!

I am tired and ready for this guy to get here! 6 days!!!

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!

36 Weeks...almost 37

As of tomorrow, I will be 37 weeks along. Just 3 weeks from Bennett's due date. Wow!!! If you've been reading this blog, you know that I have often struggled with my lack of excitement. I have felt very insecure about all the doubts that have plagued me. I am so happy to report that those fear and anxieties seem to be subsiding. Well, I am not sure if they are subsiding or my excitement for Bennett is starting to outweigh them.

I think now that it is getting closer, I am just so happy to get to see what he looks like-I think that is what has me hooked right now. His face is something I cannot wait to see. I am sure it will, without a doubt, be the most handsome face ever!

One other thing that is contributing to my excitement over Bennett being here is the knowledge that I will no longer be pregnant. I am ready for this to be over quite frankly. I am looking forward to not only having a sweet, precious little boy, but also some other perks such as :

• rolling over in the bed without pain.
• walking up the stairs without huffing and puffing.
• not sweating when I haven't exerted myself at all.
• having my ankles back.
• sleeping through the night.
• only peeing a few times a day.
• and SO much more!

Baby Thoughts

Just finished putting Bennett's cute little stroller/car seat together (who knew you had to assemble the things?) and am now sitting here looking at it in my living room. I am thinking about the little person who will soon be sitting in it. I am hoping he will have a beautiful smile like his dad's and will smile up at me from his cozy little car seat, thankful at the sweating I did to get it put together. I am sure he will be eternally grateful.

Baby Bennett's arrival is getting closer and closer. Most days I am not sure what to think about that. Sure I am nervous and scared about the whole process. But most days I find it just crazy that I am having a baby in the first place. Doesn't anyone see I am too young and immature for this? I mean, no one is going to try and stop me?! I am often comforted by the memory of getting married and feeling these same feelings. I felt too young to be getting married, to be someone's "wife." But, in time, I fell into that role and I did not feel so weird about it anymore. I know it will be the same way with being someone's "mom." In fact, I wonder if I might even fall into the mom role easier. We'll see, I guess.

As the arrival date gets closer, things are falling into place. His room is almost finished. And we have gotten some great stuff (I will post about the baby shower later), and life is getting more prepared. Of course, that is just life and the details. I, however, am in full on nesting mode. I think I may be more hormonal than I was at the beginning. I know poor Adam's head must be spinning. I am tired, cranky, and want everything ordered and perfect before Bennett gets here. I know that is stressing Adam, as I tend to snap at him more often these days.

I think the both of us are getting to the stage that we are ready for him to be here, no matter how anxious we are about it. Me because I am tired and irritable and big. And Adam because he probably no longer wants to deal with a tired, irritable and big me!

5 1/2 weeks...

Pregnancy Update

I am now 32 weeks along (picture soon). This means I am 8 weeks away from delivery! Wow! I know that is 2 months, but that seems right around the corner. I went to the doctor this past week and got a good report-his heartbeat sounds great, he's growing fine, and his head is down. Also, according to her many years of medical training, he is going to be "a rascal."

Most of my days right now are filled with pain and fatigue. This pregnancy has not been a breeze, and some form of ache is my constant companion. Plus, I started back to work this week. It might not be so bad except for two things- One, I am trying to run at the warp speed I have always run at. I am learning that is no longer possible. And two, I am working in a building that is HUGE! This means that anytime I need to go somewhere, it is usually quite a haul to get there. Most days I have been so tired or my back has hurt so much that I feel as if I am running in slow motion. I go to work, come home, and park it on the couch with an ice pack for the duration of the evening.

Ok, so that is enough of my complaining. On to the good stuff. Although this is my first pregnancy and I have nothing to compare it to, Bennett seems to be quite the active boy. He moves a lot! And the sharp kicks have mostly become the squirmy, rolling wiggles. I will say that is one thing I enjoy.

Also, his room is almost finished-I will most pictures when it is completed. It looks great so far and is coming together with the things I have picked up along the way for him. And of course, his drawers are filled with clothes! :o)

Things are going great-minus the achenes. I have a shower coming up soon that I am so excited about! And work is starting which I know will make the time fly by-he will be here before I know it!

NESTING!

NESTING! That is pretty much all I have been doing lately. In a quest to get things ready for Bennett, I have been going what feels like non stop. My mom has been graciously dedicating a ton of time to helping me do the things I have been wanting to do in the house and have either not done or not known what to do (I am nowhere near as decorator minded as my mom). We have painted rooms, made little crafts, rearranged rooms, etc, etc, etc. I am so happy that these things are getting finished-honestly, they may not have gotten done otherwise.

Here are a few things we have gotten finished:

We got this cabinet for $2.50 at the thrift store. After $1.00 worth of paper and some Modge Podge, I now have a new and super cute bathroom cabinet!

We made some wall art out of canvases and fabric. About $15.00 total for the whole thing!

This deal was awesome. We needed furniture we could use both for storage and for sitting on-hence, this bench. The bench was originally $200, but we found it on sale at a place for $120. This bench had a piece that was damaged so we got it for $40.00! And to spruce it up (too much white on white), we decoupaged the inside and the back. We are in the process of doing a couple other things to it, but this is what it looks like so far. And this is the back!

Even though we have gotten a lot done, there are still a few other things I want to get done, which are all in the works here in the next few weeks. And this Friday, we are starting Bennett's room-YIPEE! I will for sure post pics of that!

6 Month Update

It is crazy to believe I have passed the 6 month mark of my pregnancy. 25 weeks down, 15 to go. Woah! A couple of things have happened in the past month, the biggest of which is the movement. It is crazy and cool! Not only can I feel him like crazy but when he kicks, I can see my stomach jump. Adam and I lay in bed every night and try to catch a glimpse.

Bennett now has a sleeping pattern. He is awake when I lay down at night and when I wake up in the morning, and pretty still during the day. Sometimes I get a little movement in the evening, but it is the strongest at night and first thing in the morning. I am really hoping he gets that sorted out when he gets here. :o)

Adam, my mom, and I also went to get paint for his room. With my mother the master decorator, and my husband the visually blessed guy, my little guy's room is going to look amazing! We are possibly going to be starting it this Saturday or next.

I can't believe it is getting so close. I am scared and excited, both at the same time. I am sure that'll never go away!

20 Weeks= 5 Months=Halfway

Well, I am 20 weeks and am now officially at the halfway point. I'd like to say that I have finally made it to the point of feeling like a mom and that I am ready for this new stage of life. But that would be a lie. Though I have thoroughly enjoyed shopping and buying all types of things for Bennett (clothing, furniture, books, etc, etc, etc), it hasn't completely hit me yet. It kind of feels like it is happening to someone else, though judging by the belly, I am almost positive it really is happening to me.

I have learned that the journey into motherhood is just that: a journey. I have learned it doesn't come all at once, the feeling of being "ready to be a parent". I have learned that being pregnant doesn't automatically put me into mother mode. And I have learned, most importantly, that that is ok. I have accepted that it's a journey, not an "everything, right this instant" situation, and take one day as it comes (most of the time). I know that I will not always feel apprehensive about being a mom. I know that when the time is right, I will step into that role naturally and with grace.

19 weeks

?

So tomorrow is the big day-the day we find out if we are having a girl or a boy. I will have to say, this is the most excited I have been so far. The only downside is that I made my appointment for 3:00, so I have to wait all day-it's going to be the longest day ever!

I won't lie-I am really hoping for the news of a boy. Not that I would be forever upset about a girl. We just have so many girls in my family-it is time for a crazy, rough, loud boy. Well, I don't think the loud would make a difference-we are all loud already.

I hope it cooperates because we have a family gathering planned for tomorrow night to share the news. We are going to eat and have a great time, and I don't think everyone would love to be told we still don't know!

I can't wait for tomorrow!!!

18 weeks

Pregnancy Update

I realized most of what I have been posting lately is pictures. So, here is an update on how the pregnancy is going.

In a word...GREAT! I am not having any complications or anything like that. I am pretty tired, but I am not sure if that is really pregnancy-it might just be trying to wrap up a school year with a bunch of summer-crazed kids!

I have gotten a small belly, which is making it begin to feel a bit more real. My students are enjoying it. They ask me almost everyday when I get to find out what it is. And, I tell them everyday, "May 5th. It's not changed." They are as excited as me! I even have one student who is enamored with my stomach. More so, she is fascinated by the way my stomach pops back out when she pushes on it. I am not sure what this is about. Maybe she expected it to be able to be molded like Play-Doh?

As I mentioned earlier, May 5th is coming quick, which I am so happy about. I am looking forward to feeling this baby move and figuring out if it is a boy or a girl- I think that will make it more real. Right now I am not sure it has fully set in.

16 weeks-4 months!

15 weeks

Fruit

Adam and I used to joke about the fact that I would probably be crazy about food when I got pregnant because I was so picky to begin with. Though it is true that there have been some foods that I had quite an aversion to and have not really regained a love for them back yet-ie, chocolate- I have not gotten really hung up on anything...until now.

Fruit, fruit, and more fruit. I can't get enough of it. I have made special trips out to Publix just to buy a watermelon because no other stores around me have it. Publix is the store farthest away from me! I have had watermelon 3 times in the past 4 days and that one day I did not have it, I thought about it all day and whined because the Bi-Lo was stupid enough not to carry it. I have had pineapple with my lunch the past two days and tonight I got some fresh pineapple.

In fact, I am going to end this blog because I can't quit thinking about the pineapple. Oh, and if anyone wants to add a watermelon to the Brittany-craving-fund, you are MORE than welcome to! I am going to go broke buying them right now!

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!

Chaos

I guess I should have known, with my personality, that getting pregnant would send me into a tailspin. I feel like I am in a frenzy of worry and anxiety. Maybe it is just being fatigued, maybe it is just that I am neurotic, who knows.

I know that I have about 6 months to get things done, but somedays it doesn't feel like that. Getting a nursery set-up, painting rooms in the house I have been meaning to paint, clean, get rid of old stuff, childcare, money, etc. It just feels like it all needs to be done tomorrow. Now, I totally get that this is not rational-I have plenty of time. I get that. But I still feel so anxious about getting things done before the baby gets here.

What it probably is, honestly, is worry about what life will be like when the baby gets here. Will I ever get to sleep? Will it be a good baby or not? Will Adam and I be able to learn what to do? Will our house be a good one for a baby? Will we have money? And since I don't have any of the answers for any of those, trying to get my house painted somehow seems to make those things better-kind of like having control over the things I can have control over when everything else seems out of control.

I know the simple answer is just "Relax. Breathe" etc. But that seems much easier said than done.

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...

8 weeks...

Well, as of yesterday, I am 8 weeks along. The nausea has kind of waned in the last couple of days, so I am very excited about that! I have not yet been to the doctor so there have not been many cool things to report in the category-ultrasounds, heartbeats, etc.

At this point, the main thing to report is how crazy I find it that I will be a mom in a matter of months. That does not seem possible. I am too young to be someone's mom! I guess in some way, it still has not sunk in. But then again, I guess I have time for that...