About Us

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The purpose of our blog is to share our journey through life with family and friends while we leave our mark on this world. Our 20's have been very kind to us and as we enter the 30's we are hoping to continue to enjoy our time in this thing we call life. I should have called this blog "Traveling through Life".

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Nursery

I just received the last little thing for the nursery so now it is complete. I really never had a theme in mind but stumbled across the animal decals and loved them. We painted the walls gray when we moved in and decided that we wanted to keep them that color. We did put up crown molding to add a nice finish to the room.
 


 
 
 I knew exactly what I wanted when it came to looking for the crib. Dark wood with straight edges and this is the one I fell in love with. Babi Italia Middleton.
 

I did not love the dresser that came with the collection because it was very short. Considering we would be standing at it several times a day I wanted one that was taller. Luckily I found one that was the same color from a different collection.
 

 
 
This little shelf we painted white and will hold his bath towels, video monitor, etc.
The sign is something that was hanging in Matt's room from when he was a little boy. The sheep and shoe are gifts from Ireland.
 
 
The glider is from Grandma Handy's house. I am thankful to have it. We will be spending a lot of time feeding, snuggling and bonding with our little boy in it.
 
 
This is the personal touch I knew I wanted in his room from the beginning. I took this picture on one of our many vacations. The quote is something I saw online. We hope in time that he finds inspiration to see the world and do great things.
 
 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

38 weeks

This week we squeezed in another date night but with friends this time. I stayed up way too late and paid for it the next two days by feeling yucky.

At my doctor’s visit she said I was very close to 4 cm and 100 % effaced. It’s only a matter of time before the show starts and I feel like I’m a ticking time bomb now. It’s making me very nervous to go to work and have Matt an hour away from me at his work.

Luckily we have reached the Thanksgiving holiday and will be cooped up in our house together for the next 4 days. This would be a great weekend to have a baby! 



Thursday, November 21, 2013

37 weeks

No change at the doctor this week and everything still looks good. This little boy is sending us on a roller coaster ride into the unknown. Hopefully my labor isn’t the same way. I thoroughly went over my birth plan with the doctor and she is fine with everything as long as I remain flexible in an emergency, which of course I will.

This weekend I made 5 large freezer meals which will actually count for about 12 dinners for us. My future self will be very thankful that we have them.

I also started chugging glasses of raspberry tea and hopefully it helps me have efficient contractions….when they start. No signs of labor yet.
Today I am treating myself to a prenatal massage. I haven’t felt like I needed a massage but I read they can improve labor so we shall see.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

36 weeks

November 8th.
Wow! 4 weeks left….or less.

At this week’s check-up she said I have made more progress. Last time I was technically 2.5 cm but she had to enter a whole number in her system so she told me 3. I was also 50% effaced. This week I am a loose 3 cm and 70% effaced and he is at station 0. Once again this could mean nothing but she strongly urged me not to stay home too long when labor starts because she does not know how fast I will progress. My plan has been to stay at home as long as possible to avoid being on the hospitals clock but I will listen to her advice because I am now somewhat afraid of not making it to the hospital. I jokingly asked her if I will be the woman walking around at 7cm with no labor. She said probably not and that labor usually starts when a woman hits 5cm. She said I now need to stay close to home because it really could be anytime but she thinks maybe I’ll be one or two weeks early.

All of this excitement is the opposite of what I thought would actually be going on at 36 weeks. As much as I have been against internal exams until labor actually starts, in this situation I think it is good that we have this information so we can make sure we are ready and have a plan.



Our best attempt at a silhouette photo. Silhouette's are my favorite!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Pre-Delivery Thoughts

I wrote this a month ago and wasn’t planning on posting it until week 39 but now that my situation has changed I better share it now.

Now that delivering this baby is looming in the air I have been thinking a lot about how my delivery could actually go. I have been telling myself for months that he will come when he is ready and I will have the labor that was meant for me. All along my wish has been to have the most natural and safest delivery that I can for him.

I have read a ton of birth stories online. In some the labor was very short and one lasted 55 hours. For the one that was 55 hours she had every intention of having a drug-free delivery but after the 40 hour mark she was exhausted, making slow progress and had to take the epidural to rest. I can’t say I blame her.

I have learned that labor is different for every woman and we cannot compare each other’s experiences. My doctors are aware of my delivery wishes and they have told me to not feel defeated if my plans change. They say the average first time labor is 12-15 hours and to that I say “I am fully prepared for 12 hours of labor, I am praying it doesn’t go on for 24 hours.” Since my dilation has already started it does make me wonder if things will go faster but there really is no way to tell.

Although I gave Matt the choice on becoming a Bradley Coach or hiring a Doula, I am really glad he chose Bradley. All of the preparation we have had to do has really been a bonding experience. No one could fill his role at this point! We are in crunch time of preparing as much as we can and I am pop quizzing him on every situation that may come up and how to handle it.

We are ready when baby is!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

35 weeks

My mother, grandmother and grandfather came to visit this week so they could see the baby’s room. I washed all of the initial baby clothes, blankets and sheets and we had fun folding and organizing everything in his room.

We also got our car seat inspected and installed by the fire department. I plan on taking it out until we get a little closer but at least I know what to do now.

At the doctor this week I had to get the Strep B test. She also checked me again and we were both surprised to find that I have dilated to 3cm! She said this still could still mean nothing and I could make it to 40 weeks but with my body continuing to progress she doubts it will happen. 37 weeks is still the goal for a full-term baby. Considering it took me 3 weeks to dilate 2 more centimeters I’m not really concerned but I need to make sure we are ready at home.

Here is a side by side comparison of the changes over the past 30 weeks. That was me at only 5 weeks and now me at 35 weeks.