A great weekend with great friends

Brian and I got to spend a weekend with our favorite Boston/Dallas/Chicago-ians when they made their first trip to the Seattle area. We met Dan and Alexis shortly after we all moved to Dallas, them from Boston, us from Seattle. They were in the same boat as us ... moving to a new city for a job and taking on a new adventure far away from home. Dan's company did work with Brian's company and after meeting, Brian invited them to meet us for dinner.

Well that dinner turned into many more dinners and dates ... until just a couple months after them moving to the area, Dan's job moved them to Chicago. But our friendship didn't end there ... Alexis and I have become "internet buddies" and have spent countless hour chatting while at work (shhh...don't tell our bosses!). It didn't help that we got engaged 3 days apart and married 3 months apart so we had more than enough in common to talk about ... now if we can just get them on the baby train I see many great family vacations in our future!

After more than two years of our web relationship, we finally got to spend time together like real friends do ... in person!

During their visit, we went to dinner on the pier at The Crab Pot and had Sunday brunch at the top of the Space Needle. They also got to spend time shopping and hanging out at Pike's Place Market. I was very excited when they said how much they loved the city ... now only if we could figure out a way to convince them to move here.

The boys with their mallets getting ready for their "Seafeast" dinner

Taking in the view from the observation deck at the Space Needle.

Thanks so much, Dan and Alexis, for visiting us! We had such a great time. Now here's hoping we don't have to go another two years before we get together again!

That little seed has grown into a watermelon!

This week brings two beautiful words: full-term. Now, whenever baby's born, he's likely to thrive. Also thriving? Your nesting instincts, which are behind those sudden urges to bake, clean, or embroider a onesie.

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

The CUTEST baby shower ever!

I am so lucky to have such an amazing sister, best friend and mom who threw me the most adorable baby shower I have ever seen. The baby shower was at Ashley's house and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I absolutely loved the western/backyard BBQ theme, which totally worked with my one and only request for the shower ... my mom's spicy BBQ beans. I can safely say that I got a whole heck of a lot more than just beans!

It was great to spend the afternoon with my family and friends who showered me with way too many gifts. Our little guy is so spoiled already ... now it's just awaiting his arrival so we can put all of these great items to use!

Aren't these the cutest onesies you have ever seen? Ashley made them and they go from one month to a year old. I can't wait to take our little man's monthly pictures in these!

A couple of pregnant girls! My sister and I are due 12 weeks apart ... both having boys!

Me and my mom!

My best friend and owner of the fantastic home they hosted my shower at.

Our little man will definitely be rocking these denim diapers when he is big enough. I loved this diaper cake so much, I didn't want to take it apart.

One of my other best friends, Alexis, who flew in from Chicago just for the shower!

Thank you to everyone who showed up for such a memorable afternoon. I am so very lucky to be surrounded by so many great people.

We made it full term! 37 weeks and counting ...

How far along? 37 weeks

Maternity clothes? Very neccessary!
Stretch marks? Nope and I think I'm in the clear of getting any! (:::knock on wood:::)
Sleep: Not going so well these days. My hips get so sore if I stay in one position for too long.
Best moment this week: Hitting the "full term" mark. Definitely.
Movement: He's trying real hard to make more space in there, and sometimes I think he might bust out the side.
Food cravings: Nothing in particular.
Gender: Boy
Pregnancy symptoms: Um...being fat. Does that count?

Labor Signs: Definitely feeling more contractions and pressure in my hips. Don't know if it means anything.

Belly Button in or out? It has become the outie of all outie belly buttons!

What I miss: Being comfortable doing anything! Even walking is getting hard to do.
What I am looking forward to: Getting the labor show on the road! I'm just ready for it to start so I know the end is in sight!

Milestones: Reaching 37 weeks. Now the waiting game begins!

My own private "tour" of Labor and Delivery

As you all know, things have been going very well for me throughout this pregnancy. No major complaints by any means, and we are definitely getting ready to finally meet this little man. My doctor has been impressed my my steady weight gain and strong heartbeat from the babe all along.

I went in for my weekly visit last week, was happy to see I hadn't gained any weight since the last appointment and my blood pressure was a whopping 90/60. Then we get to checking out the baby ... belly growth is right on track but his heart rate was a little low. He has been a predictable one, holding stead at 130 bpm all along, but this time, he was registering right around 118. I guess anything below 120 is a reason to take a closer look, so my doctor decided to hook me up to the fetal monitor for about 15 minutes see if anything looked strange.

I am happy to report that his heart beat must have just been in a low part because it was up and strong, varying between 120 and 150 (which I guess the constant fluctuation is a good sign of a healthy and happy baby). But while I was hooked up to the machine, which also monitors uterine contractions, my doctor noticed I was contracting about every 2-3 minutes.

This caused a little concern for her since I was only 35 weeks, so she sent me across the street to Labor and Delivery for further monitoring and a possible shot of Terbutaline to stop the contractions. Being the independent person that I am, I didn't want anyone coming to sit with me at the hospital, but I did call and let them know what was going on. Of course my sister shows up 15 minutes later with her nurse-knowledge flowing, checking my charts and chatting with my nurse to get all the details.

My body hadn't started dilating or anything yet, so she wasn't too worried about me going into labor but better safe than sorry. While in L&D, I was contracting frequently, so they gave me a shot and lots of water, which slowed them to every 4-7 minutes. So they shot me up again (can I tell you how painful these shots are? guess I should just embrace it and get ready for pain much worse.). This finally stopped the contractions and I was sent home a couple hours later.

I'm glad that they were able to stop them, and completely blame the early contractions on stress. The little visit there made me realize it could happen any day and that we really need to prepare ourselves for this life-altering event thats about to happen. I'm just glad he has stayed put for another week and if any contractions start now ... there's no turning back as my doctor will let nature take its course!

35 weeks down 35(ish) days to go!

How far along? 35 weeks

Maternity clothes? Of course ... and finally starting my post-pregnancy wardrobe of nursing tanks and bras.
Stretch marks? Still none!
Sleep: Just in the last week I have begun to have to use the bathroom throughout the night so sleep is a little interrupted. Other than that, I could sure use more!
Best moment this week: Spending the weekend with 20 girls at Suncadia. It was a great final getaway and as little sleep as I got, it was a refreshing, stress-relieving couple of days.
Movement: Plenty of movement, just more jabs and wiggling than major kicks. And he gets the hiccups ALL the time!
Food cravings: Just food in general.
Gender: Boy

Labor Signs: I've been having regular BH contractions, and my hips are starting to feel cramped so I'm thinking he is making his move downward.

Belly Button in or out? Very out

What I miss: Sleeping through the night.
What I am looking forward to: My baby shower and our great friends Dan and Alexis coming into town! We haven't seen them in years. It's going to be a great weekend!

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy every day, and don't let other's get you down.

Milestones: Finally feeling like we are "ready" for our little guy to make his arrival. I think Brian and I are settling in the groove of our life up here and can't wait to meet and love on our baby.

34 weeks and growing

Your baby is the size of a honeydew! He can recognize and react to simple songs ... time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, he will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: He now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

His fat layers — which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

It's all getting too real ...

So yesterday, Brian and my good friends Nate and Brenna Carlile's baby boy was born. This makes everything feel oh-so-real because Brenna's due date was two days before me! She delivered early, and from the sounds of it the little man is doing great.

But still ... that gave me one of those "holy crap I'm having a baby" moments. I mean ... I know I'm pregnant and going to have an "outside" baby one of these days, but her and I had gone through all the same things at the same time, so now that their boy is here I feel like I should get prepared because it's not out of the question for me to go into labor at any time.

I have prepared a birth plan (if nothing else but to help me grasp what type of experience I hope to have during labor and Brian to understand as well) and I really need to pack my hospital bag. Now I just need our little guy to stay put ... at least through the weekend since I will be at a cabin 2 hours from home with 20 crazy girls at a bachelorette party. The good thing is, two of them are nurses and one actually works in labor and delivery, so if something crazy does happen I will have a couple qualified helpers.

Here's hoping little man Hall stays comfy in my belly for a couple weeks longer ... even though he is TOTALLY running out of room.