Last Few Weeks!

We have finally reached the countdown. A few weeks until my sweet daughter makes her world debut. Kyle and I are getting pretty excited and a little nervous at the same time. We had our 37 week appointment this week and Dr. Justice says that I am dilated one centimeter. I don't know if he just told me that to make me feel better or because I really am dilated, but I do know that tons of pregnant women stay at a one for weeks so we will have to see what happens this week at our 38 week appointment. I do know that it was an unpleasant experience getting "checked" to see if I was dilated and that epidural is sounding better and better. 

The last trimester of this pregnancy has actually been fun although exhausting. Lots of people have told me that I am "all belly" which makes you feel good when you feel like the size of a whale. The heartburn that I had in the previous months doesn't compare to the heartburn I am experiencing this month. Now that she weighs 6+ pounds the food struggle is real. I try not to eat dinner after 6pm because I have figured out that if I eat at 7 or 8 then lie down shortly after around 9, I wake up throwing up.  This happens even with my medicine. Poor Kyle just got into a routine for a while of crawling out of bed, wetting a washcloth for me, and helping me off my knees. He has been very patient. Work has also been a little trying this past month. I no longer have my energetic spunk and it takes me a little longer to do things I used to could whip through. This week I cut back to two days and it's killing me! I keep reminding myself that this is only temporary. :)

I don't know if any other first-time parents are like Kyle and I, but we (okay, especially me) have been busy getting super prepared for C's arrival. The carseat has been in my car for a week now. I have washed 0-3 month clothes, burp cloths, bibs, bouncer and rock-n-play covers, and socks. Dresser drawers are organized and closet is somewhat organized.  Dreft has become one of my new favorite smells…it is so sweet smelling. Bottles and bottle parts have been boiled. Bags have been packed. A few times. :) I spent an hour or more on Pinterest collaborating two different lists, one for my hospital bag and one for Caroline's.  My cousin is letting me borrow her Medela and I have already ordered the replacement parts and crossing my fingers that nursing works out. I know, I probably sound like a lunatic, but it's just something about a first baby and knowing your life is about to change that makes you want to be super prepared. (Although you are never prepared!)

Caroline's nursery is almost complete for now. I still haven't posted pictures because we have things in the corner we need to install, like her carseat base for Kyle's truck. I also have a half bookshelf I bought at an antique store last year that Kyle is supposed to be finishing to put in the nursery soon. I am not too worried about it though because I do realize that having a bookshelf finished before her arrival isn't too important. I do have this picture, and this might me my favorite spot in the nursery.

 Although I do not know all that much about parenting/newborn life yet, our plan is for Caroline to start out in our room in her Mini-Arc Co Sleeper Bassinet that I just love! One of the four walls slides down and the bassinet can be pulled beside the bed at night so I can just pull her over for night time feedings. I read countless great reviews online so I figured the choice was easy. This is the color that I ordered.

I had a weird episode on Monday at work. I was just working as normal in one of our operating rooms and started seeing black splotches and felt my knees go weak. Turned out my blood pressure was 80's/30's in both arms so up to OB we went. I was not dilated nor having contractions and baby C was just doing her thing, but I do have a urinary tract infection and more than likely was dehydrated. Sigh…really? I have pretty much kept a urinary tract infection on the right side this whole pregnancy… will be glad to see it gone! So instead of going back to work like I wanted, I didn't go back until Wednesday and now I am at home again. There are only so many episodes of TV shows I can watch, loads of laundry I can do, or crossword puzzles I can complete until I go stir-crazy. I am not an OB nurse and have only basic knowledge of these things so I didn't know much about this monitor. It monitored baby's heart rate and my uterine activity to make sure I was not having contractions on Monday. 

Like I said earlier, the past few weeks have been pretty exhausting so maybe I will have time to take a couple more belly pics before she gets here. I will end this post with a picture of Alada and I at her little surprise birthday dinner! (Like my Instagram caption states, ignore the fact that my face is fat and my skin is pasty! #pregnantgirlprobs) I am waiting to get the pictures from my home shower so that will be a post for another day… maybe before she gets here!