37 weeks pregnant - THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

It feels surreal, but we are finally at the crescendo of big baby bumpness : FULL TERM! Having hit 37 weeks, I still feel pretty much the same as 36 weeks and prior....I've been really lucky to feel so good this whole pregnancy. One thing is for sure, I am definitely getting bigger - although I don't feel like baby has "dropped" into my pelvis yet. 

People on the interwebs (Instagram and Facebook, namely) have said that he has dropped, but really I just feel as ginormo as ever!

I have been able to keep up with working out, doing some Jillian and taking long walks (4 miles, a new record this week!) and doing some pilates. I did a quick scan of my workout productivity tracker since I had my heart rate monitor (since 23 weeks) and I have had 41 decent workouts in 12 weeks. I feel pretty proud of how far I've made it, and how much I can kick ass at Jillian 9 months + pregnant. It's sad that I think I am better at Shedding and Shredding this year versus last year...how is that even possible? The pregnant body is an amazing thing.

This past week was pretty special, my daddy came to visit from NY! After a bit of a tussle getting down here (he has no phone, and made a wrong exit in Breezewood and had no mechanism to get in touch *insert annoyance here*) it was great to see him and show off this bump -- I'm his only daughter and it meant something to me to have him see me all huge and preggo before he meets his first grandbaby!

We had the family come over for some barbeque and to see the baby's room as it nears final completion (JUST NEED THE CURTAINS UP BUT THEY ARE BEING WORKED ON!!!!) :D

Meredith and I made sure to take a quick picture , as this is likely the last time we will be pregnant at the same time! Cheers for 2012, it is going to be blessed with beautiful babies!

Grandma Niter filled out some sweetness in the babybook whilst chilling surrounded by her craftiness! Stay tuned for our Etsy shop in a few months. (Seriously)


We also knocked some of the last items remaining on our baby-to-do list. I got my replacement kit for my breast pump in the mail (YAY), made some plans for baby's take home outfit (it's adorable) and met with the pediatrician!

Since I haven't done an SIWWP in a bit -- I thought I would wear my Wrangler self-made lesbian biker vest to the doctor's office. Big hit. 


The pediatrician is about 2 miles away from us, and was suggested to us by a friend (Thanks, Carrie!) I really liked the doctor we met, who is also a lactation consultant, which will help tremendously should we need assistance in the boobs department. 


On Monday I went back to the Doctor -- this is my last appointment while still working. I haven't bitched much about it here (surprisingly enough, with as much as I like to complain sometimes) but my visits have been a real pain in the ass as of late. Emphasis on late. Because I have seen the same Dr., who has late appointments on Mondays, and because my job only allows me to really take late appointments without being penalized with some arbitrary "make up time" I have been stuck having to take the latest appointments possible.  This appointment was at 3:15 and I didn't get seen til 5:00PM. For a 3:15 appointment I have to leave at 2:30 at the very latest to get there on time. 


I understand that there are emergencies, and Mondays are busy, and whatnot...but having to wait upwards of 2 hours to be seen for LITERALLY 10 minutes tops is quite frustrating and mentally draining. This week was jam-packed with bull shittery and prep work for client transitions, conference calls, on top of 7 events and trainings....I AIN'T GOT TIME TO WASTE, DOC! Anyway, vent over. 

pictured : shit to do

I didn't get to have a sincere heart to heart in that 10 minutes I was seen, so I don't really have a solid game plan as to where we are with this ginormo baby, and what my odds really are. 


The only real things known this week are:


1. He's still ginormous
2. At 36 weeks, 4 days I measured 38 weeks, still
3. My pelvis is "adequate" aka not too narrow to allow for a "normal" childbirth...
4. My current "normal" isn't ideal with tailbone, sunnyside, etc
5. I am still 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so no change there
6. Another growth ultrasound is scheduled for 38 weeks, and more discussions will be made


I broached some csection talk (in minutes 8:30 of 10 spent with the Doc) and determined the following:


1. I can go into labor naturally and they won't suggest induction unless something crazy develops at the next ultrasound
2. If I get to the hospital and baby is in distress/gets stuck/tailbone feels too wonky I can elect for a csection at any time
3. The surgery should be quick and I should supposedly be able to nurse and hold him immediately afterward (this I am not so convinced about)


So, there we have it kids! I'm just in a holding pattern and living life like we're golden. 


I managed to get a super sweet action video of Baby Boy moving and grooving in my belly. (Full disclosure, we had been listening to Weezy)


Since it is connected to Facebook, you'd need to be logged in but can see him in all his glory here:


Baby Lovelace dance party

A number of people have been making guesses on when he will grace us with his ginormous presence so we made "JFF/justforfun" shits & gigs baby pool which can be found here:


How big is Baby Boy Lovelace?

So go get your guessing on, dear readers! I am getting a kick out your suggestions...especially the names! First one to say 10 lbs. gets a side-eye though.

serious face is very serious

How far along? 37 Weeks, hubba hubba!

Total weight gain: A solid and sturdy (Good German Stock) 33.3 lbs
Maternity clothes? NO. I declared this week #teamdress #nopants week. The emancipation/epantsimation week where we veto all things covering our legs. WHY? Just because. I don't think it will become a trending topic on the twitter anytime soon but I did buy 4 dresses from my favorite consignment store and have rocked them all week. Sorry for dumb faces. I look especially miserable in the morning. 

Sweet baby blue sundress for my work shower, where baby got spoiled!

this darling red number, again with favorite stripes, for a sweet $6

let's try to be mellow-yellow...and my favorite blue wedges

and more sweet stripes and 90's "Limited" dresses

Stretch marks? Still have some guys chilling down here...light and purpley. Still hoping they don't decide to multiply/bring a gang of their red friends
Sleep: Is random. Some nights I get about 3 hours it seems..others I can pass out at 9PM, and wake up at 5 and then get another 45 minutes or so before waking up for work. My legs still get heavy/feel like bricks/cramp from being in one position for too long, but I have been getting up frequently to pee so that helps the situation. Excited for next week, being off and not having to wake up a certain time!
Best moment this week: spending time with my lovely family, and counting down the final days of work....especially thankful for a supportive team and some awesome friends I have made at the World of Webinars who made this transition more comfortable and put up with my hormones for these past 90 bajillion months. 
Miss Anything? My pelvic bones not hurting...and my lower back not being as tender...and all these little hurts and pangs of pressure that have suddenly made themselves known. But these are all good signs so I'm happy!
Movement: Per the above sweet video, kid is still kickin up a storm. This is another reason I don't feel like he is "dropped" enough or ready to make his appearance soon! My belly is so large though that my legs splay out when sitting down, and it's like the kid is fully on my lap. It's weird to feel him kick as high as my boobs yet feel his arms (or something) moving down below patting my lap. 

Food cravings: Smoothies, fruit, pineapple, strawberries. MMMMMM.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Some nights, especially on days I have worked out I have noticed I feel a bit period-crampy....nothing too crucial but some pings and pangs that seem semi familiar in that variety.
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Alas, none that I can tell. Blood pressure and protein levels are all still fabulous as well. 
Symptoms: Overall pretty fantastic....hips/lowerback soreness here and there. Kendra says I sound like an old man when I get up...it does take me longer to get up but I think that's because I am having some pelvic pain again...She also made fun of my underwear the other day (because they showed through my dress). I have officially given up on caring about pantylines...is that a symptom? Seriously, the size of these huge granny panties..... I can't wait to pack those suckers away. Hanes, not so much my way. Or Hanes, get out of my way. 

Belly Button in or out? flat and weird, flat and weird. My boobs are also still flat, in case anyone is keeping track at home.
Wedding rings on or off? On! Every week I keep waiting to swell. Still doing pretty okay in that frnt. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Very happy! This is the last week of work and I'm full term, so what is there NOT to be happy about??
Looking forward to: Rest and Relaxationville....where I will continue team #nopants.....because I will likely be laid up in the house in my granny panties, straight lounging watching Dr. Phil and balancing red raspberry leaf tea on this bump for the duration...until Mr. Ginormo child makes his debut!


Cheers to (potentially) 3 more weeks of golden pregnancy bliss. Keep sending us those good vibes!

34 to almost 35 weeks preggo!

Trying to eke in this late entry while I'm still in my 34th week! (35 weeks tomorrow!) We've been growing big and strong and have been very busy - the days have flown by and every night I had something going on and neglected this precious update. Alot of big milestones hit: baby is the size of a (large) cantaloupe, I hit 30 lbs of weight gain, had another doctor's visit, decided when I want to leave work, and the culmination of our social calendar....Baby Boy Lovelace's Baltimore Bonanza! 

I'm thinking homeboy is more like a solid 6 at this point

After a nice respite from the wonky sick feeling, I got hit like a ton of bricks midweek. I felt nauseous and dizzy again...and something that felt suspiciously like period cramps. Nothing too painful, but..."different". It was one of the busier weeks I have had in awhile work-wise and I had been doing alot of prep for getting myself/the house ready for guests to come into town for the shower. I think I over extended myself and with this ginormo baby's big growth and being so busy at work I couldn't eat my bevy of healthy snacks, everything just took the wind out of my sails. 

Sunburned and pink, an excellent combo

We did work out a few times this week (including a nice 3 mile walk in beautiful West Virginia!) and I think that helped alot with our (my) mental stability and general feeling-goodness. I feel so much better as long as I do some sort of exercise. With it being Easter we spent some time with family doing a ton of projects at Niter's house, as well as finishing the cornice for the nursery! The only thing left to do is have her come hem and put up the curtains! HOORAY!

Baby Boy will be riding trikes down Grandma's hill in no time!

Glenn made the wood part of the cornice, Mom did the fabric (made out of an Ikea crib sheet)

I had my 34th week appointment with the only doctor I hadn't yet met at the practice I've been going to. He is a teeny tiny Indian man who weighs about 92 lbs. soaking wet. He came in and said, "ooh, multiples?" in reference to this bump and I for a moment was afraid he had the wrong patient. He did say I seemed to have alot of fluid and that the measurements are big. Just how big you ask? Well, seems that earlier ultrasound may be on point, because Baby Boy is growing large and strong ahead of his gestational age. 


For the longest time (well, since I've been pregnant) each week my fundal height matched perfectly for where I was gestationally. 17 weeks was 17 cms. 24 weeks was 24, etc. For the first time I am measuring large, which seemed pretty telling to me. At 34 weeks he is measuring 36 weeks, which is why I think he may be a good 6 lbs in there already. The Doctor didn't seem too concerned about my feeling ill and crampy, because "you're already so big already and measuring ahead"...so I guess that must explain it? He wouldn't make any guesses at the baby's weight, saying that he delivered a 10 lber that morning but didn't realize how big the baby was until it was on the scale. Well then. 

Although I have been doing my hypnobabies quite religiously and steady reading my Ina Mae, I am getting nervous. The bigger I get, the feeling of sickness, the measurements being high....I'm worried that my hard work will be for naught and I will end up with a dreaded C Section from a 10 lb baby. Trying to stay positive and calm for the duration because he's the one in charge...he is the one in there growing and mashing my bladder and rocking and rolling about. He will decide when and how he wants to come and I am just the carrier for this whole process. 

Baby might have got a spray tan

I really do feel like the bump is getting alot bigger...and pointier if at all possible. I'm really curious as to what I am measuring at now, but unfortunately won't know until week 36, which seems like forever from now. 

Good golly....

Usually for ultrasounds they give you a specific week on the prescription - but this Dr. did not. I want to sneak ahead and see if I can go at 35 weeks...I will call the practice tomorrow and play dumb like they didn't "tell" me 36 weeks, cross your fingers for us! My emotional state sort of depends on the measurements right now, because if he really is as big as they say...mama is going to need more than some self-guided hypnosis. 

I don't feel like he has "dropped" into my pelvis like people talk about, but I'll be damned if he isn't pointing "down"

How far along? In these pictures, I think 34 weeks 3 days...today is 34 weeks 4 days. SO BASICALLY I'M LATE AND ALMOST 35 G.D. WEEKS PREGNANT. WHAT. 

Total weight gain: up to my total of 30 lbs. It's been steady at 180.6-180.8. Large and in charge, indeed. 
Maternity clothes? I wore a size small maxi dress to my shower....so no, not all maternity clothes this late in the game. 

snacking on some carrots and gatorade to help with nausea pre-shower

Some other shower favorites:

Glenn and I before the big party!

Some sweet ladies who have awesome matching abilities

baby has alot of sassy uncles!

We had visitors in all the way from NY, friends from college and beyond, and perhaps my favorite coworker ever!

Dean and Meredith and their baby to be (I'm guessing niece!) came through as well!

Tom and Dan have a beautiful house, and some beautiful friends!

We had some special "Blue Punch" made of rum, lychee liquor and soda water that gave people some raging hangovers!

We are so blessed to have so many great friends from NY who are part of our lives and excited for us....really thankful to have them travel our way to celebrate!

Baby wore blue and looked all sorts of big!

The gorgeous Shineza who gifted baby an expensive ass Northface!

Seriously so spoiled!

The gorgeous decor via Tom & Dan's fireplace, Tanner's planning skills, and Niter's pennants!

My amazing hostess, Tanner! She went all out for Baby Love and we are thrilled with how everything turned out!

Ridic attractive baby favva

Jackie is an awesome friend from Clarion & beyond!

Darling Michael who traveled in from Philly!

Uncle Bee Why helped Bodie get his balloon!

And this crew shut the night DOWN! :)

Stretch marks? Verdict is out. I have no stretch marks (that I can see) on my body to compare them to...but I see some faint lines that are sort of a light purple (?) below my belly button. I had Glenn look at them tonight and he tried to pull at my skin to see if they changed (apparently this is his test for stretch marks as he has some on his chest/arms from lifting weights) and said they didn't look like legitimate stretch marks to him. They still feel smooth like my normal skin. Regardless they are very light and not big and red and scary like I thought they are supposed to be, so if they are indeed stretch marks, mehh so be it. I did also get a spray tan and I think my big veiny belly could be making things look different. 

Sleep: Hypnobabies knocks me out some nights! I have still be having leg pain up the wazoo, regardless of whether or not I work out (so there, nurse practitioner!). I did have my first official calf cramp, where I shot up right out of bed woke up screaming. Glenn thought I was in labor and was relieved he only had to massage the rock hard muscle pain away :) .

Best moment this week: Getting to spend time with so many great friends, and family! We had multiple people come in from out of town and it was really special to us to be able to have one big room full of lovely people celebration the upcoming birth of this baby boy!

Awesome Twilight Turtle and Humidifier we got as gifts!

Just a little glimpse at Baby's Loot!

Almost all unpacked!

Miss Anything? Feeling calm? Wait, that happens never. My team and I met earlier this week to discuss what will happen while I'm out. Originally they were supposed to hire someone new because the team is so busy they essentially NEED a brand new person. That unfortunately fell by the wayside due to a low talent pool and lack of good talent/time to recruit. SO...the current team will be inheriting my clients. This is exactly what I didn't want to happen. I don't want the birth of my child to be a burden to others in the form of extra work. We are working on transitioning my clients shortly...I just don't have enough hours in the day. I am trying to update client files, book client conference transition calls, all while arranging things for the month of May and still conducing trainings and events. Somehow it will need to be finished. My last official day is May 4th! I have 12 working days to get this accomplished. I know it's best for me and baby stress wise to be home once I hit full term the 1st week of May, but I'll be darned if it isn't going to be a bear getting ready. Wish me luck!

Movement:
He is still super active, I feel him alot when I am hypnobabying it up...maybe because I am more in tuned with my body when that happens? Alot of people wanted to feel him kick at the shower this weekend but he gets shy in big, loud social situations I think.

Food cravings: sweets (surprise!) Mama and baby have had something chocolate everyday. Other than that, pineapple and fresh fruit of the citrus variety taste amazing to me...still going ham on the salads as well.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Baby has chilled out with the nausea, but I have a feeling with as busy as I'm going to be, that it may come back. I also managed to bonk myself in the head with a metal pole this week which was quite painful. I have a super sweet bruise above my eye now. 

day 1

Day 3

Gender: Girl. Made ya look.

Labor Signs: Nahh. Hoping to keep it this way. Everything is READY for him to come, minus some replacement parts for a breast pump...but I don't WANT him to come until May 20th or later. GEMINI BABY ALL THE WAY.

Symptoms: Just feeling like a crazy person running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Seriously not enough hours in the day.

Belly Button in or out? She's still a halfer



Wedding rings on or off? On...for now. Doctors are still impressed with my lack of swelling.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy now that I have a gameplan for my end of work schedule....and the showers are all done and most of everything is unpacked! And of course crazy excited, with a mix of holy crap, 5ish weeks more to go!!

Looking forward to: Winding down at work, and hopefully being able to fully just concentrate on my health, and baby! Final ultrasound booked 04/26 at 2:30PM....I think this will be the big determiner of how the rest of things will go! EEEEEEEK!


Hopefully things calm down and I can be better about updating for week 35 -- thanks as always, for reading and for your feedback!