Not much to report

We are still moving along.  Austin has decided that he needs to stay warm and secure in the womb for a while longer.  If I only knew when he would make his appearance.  That is the hardest part for me...the inability to plan.  I am not saying that I want a scheduled induction or C-section, but it would be nice to know that he is going to make his grand entrance on say, August 7.  (That would be an absolutely perfect date since my mom already has a flight scheduled to arrive in Denver on the evening of August 9).  But, of course, any day will be perfect.  I am trying to leave it up to God and our little guy.  I went to my 38-week appointment yesterday.  Everything was fine as far as his heartbeat and my measurements.  I had lost 1/2 lb since last week and I am now 1 cm dilated.  1 out of 10, hey, it's a start.  Work is busy so I guess that is good because it keeps me from being too anxious.  They hired the lady who will be filling in for me while I am out on maternity leave.  She started this past Monday and she has basically been my shadow for the past 4 days.  The hardest part about that is that I have to go to the bathroom every 45 minutes or so, and I feel silly when she is sitting at my desk and I need to go that often.  I am planning to keep coming to work until I go into labor.  It's kinda scary, but I want to maximize my time at home with Austin after and I only get 12 weeks total.  My doctor said to pay attention to fetal movement.  He is still moving in there, but the movements aren't as big (like the used to be more of a flip/rolling).  Now, when he moves it is like an arm or leg jabbing at me.  Here is a recent bump picture.  I have been living in tank tops and comfy shorts.  We have had 13 consecutive days of 90+ temperatures, which is alot for here.  I know in Texas they are tracking days in a row with 100+, so I can't complain.  Also, we do have central AC in our house and many houses up here do not.  That's it for now.  Say a prayer for a healthy baby and labor, please.

38 weeks 3 days

Update at 37+ weeks

On Tuesday 7/19 we had our 37-week appointment.  The heartbeat was perfect and I am measuring on track.  No dilation yet, but, wow, is he low.  He has definitely shifted down and my bladder definitely gets the brunt of that.  He is facing back (spine up towards my belly button), like he is ready to dive out of there.  They ended up doing an ultrasound with all the measurements so they could estimate Austin's weight.  Since I have gained about 22 lbs so far and only about 1.5 lbs in the past 5 weeks, the doctor wanted to make sure baby is growing.  He came in at an estimated 6 lbs 11 oz, so he has grown and she was pleased with his size.  I couldn't see his face this time at all because it is so low and faced towards my back side.  His movements are stronger and he still gets the hiccups often.  It's crazy to think that he will be out of the warm, cozy womb, and in our arms any day now.  I am still sleeping pretty well, for the most part.  I wake up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom, but am able to go back to sleep quickly after each trip.  I have started packing a hospital bag, but it is still in progress.  I should probably finish packing this weekend.  I am keeping up my regular exercise routine in the mornings before work.  I rotate between taking Savannah on 3-mile walks (nicest time of the day in the summer is 5:30 am when it is about 58 degrees) and going to the gym and doing the elliptical for 35-40 minutes.  On Saturday mornings I have been going to a place called Belly Bliss for a "Belly Fusion" class.  Belly Bliss offers prenatal fitness classes, birthing classes, postpartum fitness classes, among other services and products.  The belly fusion class that I have been to 4 or 5 times is a combination of yoga, weights, and pilates.  I am not a huge yoga fan, but I have enjoyed doing while holding hand weights and I like that part of the class is pilates.

Question of the day: What color hair (if any) is Austin going to have?  We will soon find out!

37 weeks 2 days

Weekend with the Barretts

Last weekend, David's sister, Ellen, her husband, Davy, their two kids, Ben and Summer, and their 2 big dogs, Autumn and Berger, came to stay with us for 3 nights.  We had a full house!  Every summer since we have lived in Denver they have come to visit for about a week or so. This time they only stayed at our house for 3 nights (I think they realized I am VERY pregnant and 5-6 nights might be a little much).  We had a great time, as usual.  They had already been camping in SW Colorado for 2 nights and stayed in Golden with friends for 2 nights before coming to our house.  They stay in the "basement suite", dogs and all.  They arrived on Friday morning and David took the day off.  They all went swimming at our country club (while I worked).  That night we all rode the light rail train to the Rockies game (we went all out with $4 rock pile tickets).  It was a lot of fun and the thunderstorms that night were all around the stadium but it never actually rained hard on us.  On Saturday we ventured out to the Cherry Creek Farmers' Market for a little while.  Summer was attached to me for this adventure.  She even went into Bed Bath and Beyond next to the farmers market to use their bathroom with me (since I can't last more than about 45 minutes these days).  Then we went to WhichWich to pick up a picnic lunch and took it to a park near our house (at Summer's request; she didn't want to just go home to eat it).  It was hot (mid 90's) that day, but in the shade, it was comfortable.  My doctor had strictly warned me to stay out of the heat.  We came home and the kids napped (I rested too) for about 2 hours.  That night we attempted to go to dinner at Steuben's in uptown, but there was a 90 minute wait.  Luckily there was another restaurant (Park & Co) next door so we ended up eating there.  It's owned by the same people who own Park Burger near our house so I knew the food would be good and it was.

 Hanging with all 3 dogs

Before a night on the town

Piggy back ride after dinner!

Sunday was Summer's "4th Birthday".  It is actually on July 25th but since they will most likely spend all day in the car that day (driving back from Montana), Ellen and Davy thought it would be fun to celebrate with us.  Davy took her to a father/daughter breakfast, Ellen and Ben shopped for gifts at Target, made cards, and wrapped gifts.  I made some cupcakes and picked up a gift at Target for her.  It was so fun to see how excited Ben was to "be in on the secrets" and help his mom and dad get ready for Summi's birthday.  By the way, Summer loved to touch my belly and ask me "when is Austin going to come out?"  When she would touch and he wasn't moving she would say "is he still sleeping?".  It was so cute.  Austin is going to love his older cousins.  Sunday night we went to Christy's family's pool. Christy is David's first cousin who lives here and she is married to Corrie and they have 2 girls (Hayden-9 and Maddie-7).  The kids all swam while I sat in the shade and talked.  I didn't even buy a maternity swim suit.  I don't have the opportunity to swim that often in Denver so I didn't bother.  If I had been in Texas (with the lake house and LONG, hot summer), I definitely would have invested in one).  We sang "Happy Birthday" to Summer at the pool and ate cupcakes (even though the birthday girl didn't even like the cupcakes I made - sad, but oh well).  

She likes the LOOK of the cupcakes

After the pool Summer opened some gifts at our house.  She got a "new" bike thanks to a hand-me-down from Maddie.  She also got a computer from Ben (a pink heart shaped one).  We are thankful that the Barrett family likes road trips and will come visit us each summer.  As Austin grows up I know he will love when his cousins and aunt and uncle come to visit! 

Office Shower

Last Friday, July 8, some great people at my office threw me a baby shower - complete with games, cake and punch.  We played the yarn game (where everyone cuts a piece of yarn the length that they think my belly is around).  We also did a baby word scramble.  Cindy, my boss, made a delicious punch with raspberry sherbet and cranberry sierra mist.  It was yummy.  About 15 or so people came and about 25 people contributed towards the group gift.  Cindy so kindly went shopping off our registry at Babies R Us and bought us a variety of things.  We got the exer-saucer, an infant bath tub, some blankets, nail clippers, first aid kit, some wash cloths, a bottle drying rack, and some other things.  One of the ladies who works in AP crocheted a blanket for Austin.  It is a teal color and will be perfect for laying on top of him in the stroller or car seat as an extra layer.  I didn't get any pictures of people at the shower, sadly, but I did get some pictures of the cake and gifts.  It was very sweet of everyone (even the guys) to participate in the shower and give us some things to help us prepare for Austin.  I went to Babies R Us last weekend and bought some of the last few "essentials".  Now all we need is a baby!  Speaking of that, we had our 36 week appointment on Tuesday 7/13.  We met another doctor in the practice.  She is the one who is on call the weekend before the due date (which is on a Monday).  I wanted to meet her since Austin could come that weekend and she would be delivering him.  I liked her - she was to the point, that's for sure.  She checked for dilation - none yet.  His heartbeat was great as well.  The "not being able to plan" is hard for me.  He will come in his own time; when God wants him to come.

Rocking chair

We got a rocking chair!  It is our first purchase on Craigslist ever.  We paid $30.  It's a blue-green color and in good condition.  I am sure we will spend alot of time rocking to sleep, feeding, reading books, etc in this chair.  I am sure this is exactly what David wanted for his 29th birthday, which was Saturday 7/9...his last year of his 20's and his last birthday without a son!  We celebrated by going to dinner at Elway's, a nice steak restaurant, on Friday night.  He played golf on Saturday morning and we went to church Saturday night.  On the way back from church it was raining and someone rear-ended us.  Well, one car hit another and pushed that car into us.  There was no damage to my car at all and we are okay.  The middle car had damage.  It could have been alot worse and thankfully no one was hurt.   David always says that something bad happens on his birthday.  Last year both Savannah and I got sick on his birthday and were throwing up.  I guess I need to plan something really fun for his 30th next year!!!!

This is at 35 weeks 5 days...he's growing in there!

When we were eating dinner at Elway's it rained.  We came outside to a really bright, beautiful rainbow.  

Nursery in progress

Over the holiday weekend, David and I spent alot of time getting Austin's room ready.  We received the window valances, window seat cushion, pillows, and bed skirt in the mail last week.  My mom's friend, Jane, in Houston made them and shipped them to us.  We spent time on Saturday and Sunday hanging the shades, valances and AUSTIN letters.  Actually, I should say that David did, and I handed him things like a tape measure, pencil, nails, and hammer when he needed them.  He did a great job!  I love the way it turned out and I am sure Austin will too (ha, like he will know his name is hung straight on the wall).  Many thanks to my mom and Jane for helping pick out the fabrics, type of shades, etc!  I found the Peter Rabbit prints above the daybed on Amazon.com for $6 each and then bought frames at Michaels for $8 each....not bad!  Here are some pictures from the occasion.

 Uh oh

That's better!

It is still not completely finished as I want to find something to hang on the wall above the changing table...possibly the Peter Rabbit quilt from PBK or a mirror.  I also ordered a crib mobile that plays Twinkle Twinkle little star, but it is on backorder until August 6.  We might get a small rocking chair to put in the room somewhere since we don't have room for a big glider.  We opted to leave the daybed in the room since we don't have anywhere else to put it in our house (except folded up/stored away).  I am sure I will end up sleeping in the daybed especially at the beginning so it will be nice to have in his room.  Now we just need a baby to go in the room!

God of Miracles

Last Thursday we found out some wonderful news.  Our friend, Brandon, who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer last November, received clear scans and is CANCER FREE after 6 months of intense chemo.  On Friday night, about 30 friends got together to celebrate this miracle.  You can read more about his and his wife's (Christina) journey through this here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandonhayslip

The party was at Adam and Rachel's house and was such an awesome celebration of God's faithfulness and ability to do anything. He is truly a God of miracles!

Unfortunately I did not take many pictures at the party.  Rachel insisted getting a picture with me and my baby bump.  It's a pretty funny picture.

Rachel saying hi to Austin (@34 weeks 4 days) 

And then there is David and Adam...not sure what they are doing.