39+ Weeks...one LAST pregnancy update!

39 weeks, 4 days

This week, Rylie is likely not adding any height and barely any extra poundage.  She should be anywhere from 19-21inches and could be 8+ pounds already, but on average a 39 week baby is between 6 and 9 pounds.

Any cravings?  Nothing new...still eating through some cereal like it's my job.

Maternity clothes?  Yep...same as last week (did a mid-week load of laundry to avoid squeezing into my pre-maternity pants with a belly band).

Still running/walking/exercising?  No running this week due to fatigue, mostly.  But I did get a little walking in and push-mowed the yard today.

Current symptoms?  A little more cramping this week, but nothing else new.

Baby moving?  Yes, but movements have slowed and gotten a little less dramatic.  I think she's finally running out of room.  Plus, "they" say sometimes babies get a little less active as delivery draws near!

Stretch marks?  Not yet...

Any contractions or signs of labor?  Just a little more cramping, but nothing that would make me run to the hospital any time soon.

What is exciting right now?  We will be meeting our baby girl face to face on Monday 10/29/12 due to a scheduled induction!  We are enjoying our last weekend as just the two of us (and our pups), but so excited and anxiously awaiting our new arrival!  Please keep us in your prayers for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby girl!

Cereal and Quiche

Confession:

I think I ate 3 bowls of this yummy cereal after work today.  If the capacity of my stomach wasn't greatly reduced by a 7-8lb child living in it's usual space, I probably would have eaten more.  

Unfortunately, it left me almost too full to eat my dinner.

I said, "almost."

I had planned to make this yummy little beauty:

 

A quiche?  Yes, we had 2 dozen farm-fresh eggs from some friends, so I made it my mission this week to use 'em up before they go bad.  Or at least put a dent in them...

 

This was my first-ever attempt at making a quiche and it turned out so delicious.  I used this recipe, but I used shredded mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar.

 

I only had room for one little piece which made me kinda sad, but the good news is I have plenty to pack for my lunch for the remainder of the week!

 



The. Longest. Summer. Ever.

It started way back in early March with unusually warm, June-like temperatures.  I think we planted our vegetable garden by the 2nd or 3rd week of March, and it didn't get killed by a frost.  So, it has been at least since late February since the ground has frozen here.  And here we are, nearly to November (a full 8 months later) and we are still having temperatures well above 80, and we are still getting vegetables out of the garden. 

 

 Now, any other year of my life, I probably wouldn't have batted an eye at the warm temperatures and probably would be loving every bit of the heat while it lasts.  But do you know how many of the last 8 hot months I've been pregnant? Yes, all 8 of them, and my hot flashes started in February, before I even knew I was pregnant.

 

So, when I saw this forecast:

 

 

I wanted to cry.  Another long, hot week.  Then, there was a little light at the end of the tunnel.  A light in the form of a cool, rainy day a mere 4 days before my due date, followed by what could only be a cold front that will keep temperatures cool all the way through the first part of next week.  Ahhh...I may make it after all. 

 

Now, if we can just get Rylie here and home from the hospital before a snow storm hits...

38+ weeks

 

Ok, so I'm really almost 39 weeks at this point, but better late than never... P.S. Please excuse the wild hair, sweaty face, and running attire.  This picture was taken just a few minutes after finishing my 30-minute wog (walk/jog) this morning.  So, now that we're done with the said disclaimers, let's get to the good stuff.

This week, our little one is probably staying pretty steady height-wise, averaging anywhere from 19-21 inches.  The weight gain has also slowed a little at 7+ pounds.

Any cravings?  Chocolate, cereal, soup (I've been essentially living off cereal, soup, and apples with peanut butter for 2 weeks now).

Maternity clothes?  Yes.  This week I even did a load of laundry mid-week to avoid having to wear my pre-pregnancy pants with a belly band.

Still running/walking/exercising?  Yes.  This week, I actually ran 3 times instead of the 1-2  times I've averaged over the past two weeks.  But my runs are limited to about 30 minutes due to pelvic pain that worsens the longer I run.  I don't want to cause any serious injuries, so I just stop.  I'm still enjoying walks at the park, pain-free.

Current symptoms?  Nothing new or exciting.  Heartburn is actually a little better these days.

Baby moving?  Um yes, to put it mildly.  She's more of an acrobat.  She went from head-down to transverse (horizontal), to breech, to transverse (with head in the opposite direction), to oblique (head downward, but pointing toward my hip instead of the exit), all in a week's time.  She's bound to run out of room eventually, so the doc hopes she will stay pointed in the general downward direction and when contractions start, they will help her line up toward the exit...and if she doesn't, I'm mentally preparing for a c-section.  As long as we get her out safely, I don't care how she gets here.

Stretch marks?  No, but I'm starting to think they will show up after my belly starts shrinking...what do you think?  I didn't make it through puberty without getting stretch marks, so I'm not so naive as to think I'll make through pregnancy without a few stripes to show for it.

Any contractions or signs of labor?  Nothing more than last week...occasional contractions, but nothing regular.  I may just be pregnant forever.

What is exciting right now?  Now counting DAYs instead of weeks until my due date.  9 more days from today!  (single digits!)

37 weeks...and 2 days

This week, our baby girl is about 21 inches long and could weigh somewhere between 6.5-7lbs, according to the books.  We are now considered "Full term!"

Any cravings?  For some reason, I really wanted Skittles this week.  I finally ate some today.

Maternity clothes?  Yes.  You can see what happens in non-maternity wear above...short shirt syndrome.

Still running/walking/exercising?  Mostly walking.  You can see my last post for more details on my running status.

Current symptoms?  About the same as last week.  Contractions are getting stronger, but they're all the "false labor" type...irregular and go away in an hour or so.

Baby moving?  Yes, and, in fact, she moved into the head-down position sometime since last week.  We were worried about a c-section after my appointment last week because she was horizontal.  Now, hopefully she'll stay where she is until delivery.

Stretch marks?  Not yet.

Any contractions or signs of labor?  See above symptoms.

What is exciting right now?  Finding out that she has moved into the right position.

Now, as promised, here is a link to more maternity pics:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.530481440301007.141714.226600100689144&type=3

Running on E

These days my runs occur more on a weekly basis than daily.  I think I continue to do it to make sure I still can, although my pelvis complains for at least two days afterward.  The strange thing is how quickly running went from just uncomfortable to nearly impossible.  It was like a switch turned off or the "E" light came on...It's just not what my body wants to do right now.

It makes me sad...

I am thankful, however, that I was able to continue running for as long as I did.  It wasn't until about 34 weeks that the switch flipped. Sure, running while pregnant can be uncomfortable...the constant urge to pee, the cramps, the arched and achy lower back, the 20+ extra pound to drag along, but it's also an amazing thing how you're body adapts as it changes and it's fun to always have a little running partner to tote along.  Plus, running is one of the few things that has made me feel somewhat like myself for the past 9 months.  Even when every other moment of the day, I may be feeling huge, moody, sick, or fatigued, for those 30 minutes (give or take) of running, I feel like a normal person, energized, athletic, and healthy.  Plus, a good sweat session always makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

For now, and for the few remaining weeks of pregnancy, I will continue my weekly wog (walk/jog)...or at least as long as my body allows.  Of course, when little Rylie gets here I'll be cut off from running altogether for at least 4-6 weeks.  But by then, I'll have other things to occupy my time.  I can hardly wait!

Saturday Soup

Let me start by saying:  The picture doesn't do it justice. 

Yesterday, was a cool, dreary fall day...The perfect kind of day for soup.  I got this recipe from a dietitian at work, so it must be healthy right?  We'll just leave it at that. 

I only made half of the original recipe, and we will be eating on it all week.  Not that I'm complaining.  It's really that yummy.  But if you're feeding a large group or want lots of leftovers to freeze, just double it up to make the whole batch.

You need: 
1 whole chicken
5 chicken bouillon cubes
1 cup carrots
1 cup celery
1 can rotel
1 small onion
2 cups minute rice
1 pound Velveeta

Start by boiling the chicken and the bouillon cubes for about 45 minutes or until done.  Remove the chicken to let it cool a bit before deboning.  Keep the broth.

To to the broth, add: carrots, celery, rotel, onion, and rice.  Simmer for about 30 minutes. 

While that simmers, debone your chicken and shred or chop it up.  Just prior to serving add the chicken and Velveeta back to the mixture and continue to cook on low until all the cheese is melted. 

It tastes even better the next day. 

What are your favorite soup recipes for those cool fall days?

Tour of Rylie's Room

Last weekend, we were able to finish the nursery.  My mother-in-law had done some leg work for us and gotten a few things custom-made to match her bedding.  We finally put it all together, and I could not be happier with how it all turned out.  This little girl has a beautiful room waiting for her.

 

 

Starting with the crib in the corner and her custom letters hanging above:

 

 

The glider in the corner has cushions covered in fabric that matches her bedding exactly. 

 

Another view of the glider:

 

Dresser/changing table:

 

A close-up of those amazing custom letters:

 

A ribbon/bow holder made by my MIL (again with matching fabric):

 

I'm so excited with how it all turned out.  Now all we need is a baby girl to put in that crib!

 

 

36 Weeks

(Yes, another fuzzy phone picture...Sorry)

 

This week, our baby girl is approximately 20-21 inches long and 6-6.5 pounds according to the books.  If she was born today, all of her systems would be fully developed, and she should do just fine in life outside of the comforts of my uterus.

 



Any cravings?  Not particularly...Cereal is still my favorite food group.

Maternity clothes?  Yep.  Just got a pair of maternity jeans over the weekend.  Even though I only have about a month left of being pregnant, I figure a good pair of maternity jeans will come in handy this winter while my body is still not back to its usual size.

Still running/walking/exercising?  Mostly walking...a little jogging here and there.

Current symptoms?  Braxton Hicks contractions, heartburn, nesting (I just cleaned the entire house on a Tuesday night and still have enough energy to blog...this is just not like me lately).

Baby moving?  Yes, she is right now.  She had hiccups when the above picture was taken.

Stretch marks?  No, but at the rate my belly is growing these days, I'm afraid it's just a matter of time.

Any contractions or signs of labor?  Just Braxton Hicks.  In fact, I was having pretty strong ones when the above picture was taken which made my belly look extra pointy.  The above mentioned nesting could be a "sign," but actual labor could still be weeks away.

What is exciting right now?  The finished nursery (pictures and post to come soon).  The Maternity pics we had over the weekend are coming back looking amazing so far (sneak peak below).  Looking forward to hearing what the doctor has to say Thursday and hearing Rylie's heartbeat (it never gets old).

(Sneak Peak of maternity shoot.  This picture makes me smile.)