Appointment Update

I had another appointment again this morning to check on the baby. Everything is still looking good and going well!

His heart rate was right around 150bpm. Last week he was closer to 130bpm because he was not really active last week (probably sleeping last week). Dr. Tahtawi is happy with how he sounds, so I'm happy too :)

My weight is still going up (as it should....but I really do wish it would stop!). My blood pressure is still great though...104/68 I think :)

Dr. Tahtawi says that I have 1cm dilated and 70% effaced....this just means that I'm heading in the right direction (or rather, the baby is heading in the right direction!) and that my body is getting ready to give birth. I obviously need to be 10cm and 100% effaced when I actually deliver, but I could be 1cm now and then 10cm in the morning....or I could stay at 1cm for 2 more weeks!

Since I am due on Monday, Dr. Tahtawi will consider me "past due" when I come in for my appointment next week. If I don't have the baby before next Tuesday afternoon I will go in for another ultrasound to make sure things are still going ok. Apparently the placenta becomes less effective....who knew!

Advice from my students :)

I asked my students to write me a piece of advice on how to be a good mom. I am including each bit of advice I got...student spelling and all. Enjoy!!!

1. You can be a mom by giving food to your baby and make food to your hosben.

2. I think you should make sure your baby is very safe. I think you should help your baby eat his baby food. I think you should be nice to him. I think you should keep him away from Ramsey.

3. You can be a good mom by buying good food for your baby. You can play outside with your family.

4. When he crys either hes hungry or he needs a diper change. And when he hadnot had enough sleep then when he crys he needs sleep.

5. You can chang his diper. You can put his diper on.

6. Change his diper and feed him and give him a nap.

7. Play with him and make him laf.

8. You can give sum milc and you can plays wheth a toy.

9. Be nais to your baby. I love you. I hope your baby is cuoot.

10. I think you should play with the baby.

11. I think you should make a card to your baby with the name you want to name him.

12. You give your baby malk.

13. Make food.

14. Pay lots of attention.

Busy Boy!

I wish you could all feel 'Lil Dude moving....but since you can't, I'll just let you know that this is one busy boy!!!

He's started moving more and more over the past couple of weeks and even more the past few days. I think he's realizing that I am not giving him enough room! Hopefully he'll be happy to be out in the world with more space :)

Feeling pretty good...

Right now I'm 38 weeks 4 days...WHOAH! I really never imagined being at this point. We've known that I'm pregnant for so long that it's really amazing that I'm so close now!

It's funny....back when I first got pregnant I thought I'd be totally huge and constantly uncomfortable by this point. I'm not totally huge (still only measuring 36cm even though I "should" be 38cm). I'm certainly not small (today Cameron asked me if I brought anything with me on our way in to Target. I had my purse on the opposite side from him...he could not see my purse around my belly!). Sometimes I feel big, but I can't comfortably rest my arms on my belly, which I thought was something that happened to everyone.

I also thought I'd have a really hard time putting Ramsey's leash on and picking up after him. Don't get me wrong, I prefer for Cameron to do it, but I'm still capable of getting down to him and taking care of him like before. Of course this makes things easier. (When given the option, I ask other people to pick things up for me...especially in my classroom where they are eager to help me with anything!).

I'm not saying things are EASY these days...it take mind and body effort to get up off the floor after I do my back stretching and heating. I am certainly looking forward to being able to sit up from a reclined position without thinking about it and making a plan :)

Overall I am feeling pretty good. I am finding that I'm getting tired more easily, so I'm trying to slow down and take breaks so I don't overdo it. This will be much easier to do after Monday, when I am tracked out and have a week off before the due date. I'm having some back pain...mostly from a rib that seems to be pooped out a bit and does not want to go back in and stay in (even after twice weekly visits to the chiropractor!). As I mentioned above, stretching on a ball and heat are the best remedies at this point!

The million dollar question...

If anybody is wondering when the baby will come, just ask one of my students: "When he gets too warm in there, that's when he'll be born."

17 weeks makes a difference...

The first photo is from when I was almost 20 weeks and the second photo is from tonight (almost 37 weeks). Same dress....with 17 weeks of progress! :)

36 weeks 5 days

It's been a while since I've posted some photos...I've come a long way!!

Ramsey and the Bump