38 1/2 weeks pregnant

38 1/2 weeks

Baby Size- Watermelon (19 to 22 in, 7pds)
Working out- Walking, breathing. 
Cravings- Eggs on toast, Oatmeal cookies, cuties, orange juice, water, liquids... I get mad at Caleb when he tries to take a sip from my water glass at night.
Aches and Pains- There is this one spot in my back, right side under my ribs that kills. I am constantly rubbing it. My ribs hurt SO BAD, and the skin under my boobs is super sensitive too... It feels less numb and more like a sunburn these days. It also feels like someone is pinching me on and off in my sunburn skin spot. My low back has been aching along with my tummy... Which I think is just my body getting ready for Jack to come.
Stretch Marks?- nope! I got lucky, no stretch marks.
Labor and Delivery-  One more trip to labor and delivery since 35 weeks! :) at my Dr. appt. my blood pressure was high the four times they checked it, the following morning when driving to work my heart was racing and I couldn't quite catch my breath so they had me come in to get checked for preeclampsia... I checked out ok and we have been keeping eye on my blood pressure. I was in to see the Dr. on Thursday of this week, again my blood pressure was high which she thinks might be my thyroid medication- so she had me get blood work done and lower my dosage so hopefully that will change the blood pressure. She also checked my cervix- So far I am not dialated at all but Jack is head down and on my bladder! :) side note- getting my cervix checked was not fun, I wanted to punch Dr. Hong.
Nursery- I have been sewing like crazy. I made two crib skirts and finished up the curtains. Gma pat came over and helped me get started... I'm anxious to get them hanging up. Pretty close to done in there! :) Will put photos up soon!
Sleeping- Pretty good- I still go to the bathroom every 1 to 3 hours. I started putting a little pillow under my tummy and it seems to be helping with my rib pain.
Dr. Appt- Last time I wrote that Dr. hong had me get an ultrasound to check Jack's size- He is totally fine! :) perfect even! It was fun to see him in the ultrasound, he looked pretty squished in there!
Labor- I'm getting calmer and more ready for Jack to come. I know that it is so important to remain calm relaxed to help get Jack to come out so I will do my best. I ran into a doula last week who offered me this advice, "your baby knows what to do, your body knows what to do, you just need to relax enough to get out of the way and let it happen."
Jack-  I am so anxious to meet you. I wonder who you will look like. I wonder what it will feel like to hold you in my arms. I am SO grateful you have such a good Daddy to raise you. I hope you become just like him as you grow up.

35 Weeks!

Holy crap, I am two weeks from full term- baby would be fine outside of my body- I, on the other hand, am freaking out a little bit. I have done a lot of not thinking about labor for the past couple of months. I am sure I will find the strength and courage somewhere inside of me, but that doesn't mean I can't be a little terrified. The one thing I can count on is a great coach and partner - Caleb will remain steady per his usual.

Baby Size- Large Cantelope (19-22 inches, 5.5 lbs)
Working out- Walking... ER, waddling. 
Cravings- Tuna melty, Burrito, Applesauce, Granola, Nuts, Orange Juice, Milk, Water
Aches and Pains- My ribs still hurt. I now have a 2 inch thick band right under my boobs that is numbs- really bizarre feeling. Kidney's still hurt, stomach is starting to ache a little bit. Jack is keeping a foot or two lodged under my ribs- it's really pleasant.
Labor and Delivery-  my best friend! I have now made three trips to L & D... First one was silly false alarm, second one was for my kidneys, this last one I didn't feel Jack kicking like normal. His movements had decreased last friday and by saturday morning despite what I ate or drank I didn't feel him, so away I went. Deep down I knew he was fine, but also felt like I needed to do my do-diligence and go in to make sure that everything was ok. After I arrived they gave me ice water, which woke Jack up! :) They had me hooked up to monitors and they could see he was moving lots, and I just couldn't feel him. The Dr. told me it was partially due to my placenta being in the front acting as a sponge to movements. She also said that the last month or so the movements change as they are not able to flip around as much which is good in my book because Jack is head down!
Nursery- I can't wait to finish up in there! Caleb has been so helpful getting projects going with me! :)
Sleeping- OK... Lots of potty trips. I think it's funny when people say "get your rest while you can" While I'm sure having a baby takes it up another notch- it's not like this is the most restful time ever.
Dr. Appt- Was great, I love seeing Dr. Hong! She did although request that I get another ultrasound to check Jack's size. Evidently my tummy is measuring small so she want to have it checked out. She reassured me that it was probably because I was so tall and Jack had so much space to move around. I am still trying to schedule the ultrasound.
Holy birthing classes, Batman- It's safe to say we procrastinated a little bit on getting into classes... The month of January we are going from one class to the next- the upside is that it will be fresh in our minds! :)

Arizona Shower

On December 8th Caleb's mom Gina threw me a beautiful shower in her home in Arizona. It was so fun to see so many of my favorite friends and family who have been faithfully praying for baby Jack to come into our lives. Gina had the house prepared when we arrived a few days earlier. It was set up so cute! Our dear friend Kathy Merwin came over and helped decorate (she decorated our wedding and made our wedding cake.) She had beautiful Hydrangeas on all the tables and -get this- She made our wedding cake in cupcake form! The cupcakes were divine! Carrot cake with extra nuts and raisins and the best cream cheese frosting ever! Caleb and I each ate at least two. Here are some pics of the set up and ladies...

the table

the wedding cake cupcakes

more Hydrangeas

orange roses- my favorite

The girls

It was such a special day. Gina had asked Renee Worcester to lead a prayer for Caleb and I and then one for Jack. I loved hearing all the prayers for Jack knowing that these women have been praying for a while for this babe. I received so many wonderful gifts that day but the best gift of all was the all the love and support in the room.

Gina also invited some girls I didn't know from her "prayer group" she told me that they are prayer warriors and that they have been praying for Jack for a while- and that they had been teaching her something. I was clueless as to what it could possibly be. I found out when I opened my gift from Gina. My initial reaction was absolute shock- My sweet mother in law had learned to knit, and knit Jack a blanket with her prayer group- AKA- knitting group! I couldn't believe it, she began knitting this blanket before Jack was even conceived, believing in faith that God would bless us with a baby! She worked and prayed over it from April to October! She did great! Her tension was perfect throughout the blanket. Caleb cried when he saw the blanket! A treasure for sure! My mama Kimi would have been sooo impressed!

Caleb, Gina and Myself with the blanket

The whole blanket!

Huntington Beach Shower

On Dec 3rd (I'm so behind on updating) My friend Christen and I were blessed with a joint shower from our church community. Lori, Marilyn, Heather, Monica and Cayce helped put together a beautiful shower at Lori's house. We were showered with lots of fun gifts and giggles. I loved every second of the shower with my sweet friend Christen. We got a couple matching outfits for our boys which makes me SOOOO excited! I LOVE matching babies! :) Christen had her baby on the 23rd of December, and Jack has a couple more weeks of "cooking" before he enters the world! :)

Here are some pics from the night.

The group of girls

Group of girls getting cray.

Christen, Pamela and Myself (minus the dutchess)

Tracy, Pamela, Me and Christen in order of due date

our lovely hostesses, Cayce, Lori, Heather, Marilyn, Christen, me and Monica

Having fun at the shower!