Pictures of Baby Diff's Room

This weekend we finally went through everything and opened all the boxes. Baby Diff's stroller, swing, and bouncy seat are now assembled thanks to Daddy! The car seats are out of their boxes and ready to be installed in the cars. All the blankets, sheets, and changing table pads are now washed and there is a crib sheet actually on the bed! We have about 2 dozen cloth diapers washed and in the changing organizer and all the plastic diapers are arranged by size for easy grabbing as well. The room is pretty much in working order! We have all the bottles sorted out by size, we just need to sterilize them and find a place to put those in the kitchen.

I still need to think about what I need to bring with me to the hospital and start at least gathering some stuff together. Toni Racy has also provided me with a list of items I should pick up and have at home for me after the baby, so I need to get on that as well. I feel like I still have lots of time left though until the baby actually gets here, so that is why I'm not really rushing around. Although I keep hearing stories about friends and family members that had their babies as early as 34 weeks, I just feel like it won't be this week (I'm 36 weeks) for me. Maybe I'll hear different when I go to the doctor today!

The baptism plans are coming together, Aunt Megan and Uncle Billy have both completed their classes and the paper work is being sent to both St. Mary's and St. Thomas Aquinas. Chad and I have sent in our request for the baptism and filled out the proper paperwork for both churches as well. Rev Wayne is working on his letter expressing his consent for the baby to be baptized in NC. I'm very thankful that is all coming together, it was a huge stress on Chad and I!
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Yay! Head down!

My appointment for Friday the 3rd was rescheduled until today at 3:45 with Dr. Young. I weighed in and lost another 4 pounds, I have been feeling so much bigger lately I'm not sure how that is possible, but I'll take it! Dr. Young and I talked about kick counts, basically make sure the baby is still moving around and active, even though they aren't hard kicks anymore. The baby feels like it is constantly stretching, because he or she is running out of room in there. He listened for the heartbeat, it was very loud and strong, but I forgot to ask how many beats this time. Dr. Young measured my stomach and said the baby is measuring about a week and 1/2 ahead of where it should be, so he wants me to get an ultrasound next time for measurements. He then performed the strep test (http://www.babycenter.com/0_group-b-streptococcus-screening_1647.bc) and then we went into the ultrasound room where he confirmed the baby was head down. I have to say, the baby's head is much bigger than last time! I didn't see anything else except the top of baby's head. Then we went into his office and he explained to me how their system of measuring the baby works and with those measurements they make some suggestions on how to proceed with the baby's delivery. He said that if the baby is measuring on the larger side they might suggesting to induce and depending on the size of the baby they might also suggest a C-section. He wasn't worried or anything, he just wanted me to know all the options. So, we shall see if this baby might be coming early! Our next appointment is Thursday, Feb 16th, we have our sonogram at 3:00 and then an appointment with the nurse practitioner Mary Jane Dobson.

Nana is here!

What a super fun weekend! Nana arrived on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with us for the Tampa baby shower, hosted by Megan Sullivan. The shower was so fun! It was so nice to see everyone! Baby Diff is going to be so incredibly spoiled, he or she received so many nice things! It was a very fun filled day. Sunday Chad, my mom, and I went to lunch at Crabby's in Clearwater Beach and then spent the rest of the day at Walmart, Target, and Babies R Us using our 10% off registry completion coupon. We now are fully ready for Baby Diff to come! Well, I shouldn't say fully ready, we have everything, but nothing is washed and everything is still in boxes, but we have it if we need it! There is even a path to get to the crib, although there is no crib sheet on there and the mattress is still in plastic, but we are getting there!

Checking off the "to do" list

Chad and I had a very eventful baby weekend! We are almost done with our showers, we have one more this weekend, and we were just piling everything in the baby's room. So on Friday we decided we needed to be able to walk in there! Chad helped organize things and cleaned out the closet a bit for baby stuff. We made a pile of things we have to exchange, but we are waiting until after our shower on Saturday.

Then yesterday we attended our baptism class at St. Mary's and even figured out a good time for the baptism to occur so Baby Diff's godparents, Uncle Billy and Aunt Megan, could make it! The church won't baptize a baby during Lent, so I was having a hard time figuring out the logistics to have the baby baptized and have the godparents in attendance, not to mention his or her grandparents. So, after getting Billy, Megan, and our schedules together we figured the best way for everyone to attend was to have it in Charlotte, NC on April 21st. It was very important to Chad and I that both godparents be at the ceremony, so that meant traveling! Elaine and Perry are able to come to Charlotte that weekend as well, we aren't sure about Stewart. We should be getting the okay from St. Thomas this week or next so we can go through with travel arrangements.

Yesterday evening Chad and I went on the St. Joesph's hospital tour. We learned all sorts of information and checked out the entire place. Some of the fear of the unknown has gone away! The nurse who took us on the tour told us exactly how our stay would go and walked us through a typical delivery. So, hopefully there will be little surprises when Baby Diff makes his or her appearance! The key things I passed on to our future visitors were visiting hours were from 7 AM to 9 PM, the hospital has Wi-Fi everywhere, and you can use your cell phones.

Thursday we meet with Dr. Wilde, the baby's soon-to-be pediatrician and we will also be dropping off the deposit for the daycare place as well. We are just cruising along on this "Baby To-Do" list!

Turn baby, turn!

Today was my doctor visit with Dr. Bray. She is super sweet and explains everything really well. She told me what to expect and look for in the next few weeks, since this was my 34 week check-up, this was the last of the normal routine in and out check-ups. Next time I go I will have an internal exam and a strep B test, she explained everything and answered some questions. She joked about my pregnancy diet, I'm still the same weight and it's awesome! Dr. Bray had some issues locating the baby's heart beat today, it probably didn't help that Baby Diff was kicking the machine off of my belly! Normally the heartbeat is found around my belly button or lower, but today she found it higher almost near my ribs. She said this is an indication that the baby might be in the breech position. The baby has time to turn and go head down still, but at my 36 week appointment if they aren't sure of the baby's placement they will do an ultrasound and we will figure it out from there. There are methods they can try to turn the baby if he or she stays in the breech position, it doesn't necessarily mean I will have a C-section (worst case scenario). So, keep your fingers crossed that the baby decides to figure it out and go head down! My next appointment is Friday, Feb 3rd with Dr. Young, Chad might actually be able to make this one!

Starting to pay for baby, this is really happening!

Today was my bi-monthly check up (that's right, every 2 weeks now!) with Mary Jane Dobson, the nurse practitioner. She was very sweet, very southern. She asked how the baby's new year and Christmas was, and that made me laugh. I still have not gained any weight, the nurse laughed and congratulated me for it. The baby is growing and the heartbeat is strong, 143 beats per minute. The 32 week appointment itself was really quick, the waiting took over a half hour, but everything is going great! My next appointment is at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, January 17th with Dr. Bray.

I paid for the baby's possible circumcision today, $350. If the baby is a girl they will refund the money in the form of a check, but they like to have the money up front just in case. She also told me they will submit the claim to my insurance and if they cover any of the $350 they will send me the difference in a check as well, so that would be nice!

Happy New Year!

It's the year of the baby! Happy New Year! This Friday (the 6th) I will be 8 months pregnant! I really can't believe it. Our Christmas break in Cleveland was fantastic! The car rides were not bad, especially since I limited my drinking. Everyone was pretty worried about my frequent bathroom breaks, but the baby and I did pretty well! Our first baby shower was Wednesday, December 28th at Aunt Cheryl's house. Our baby is so loved already! We had a wonderful shower and we received so many nice things! I was shocked that it all fit in the van we rented. Chad and I were able to get most of it back to Florida with us, my parents are bringing some of the smaller stuff with them to Boca in 2 weeks when I see them for my Boca baby shower.

I thought I was getting bigger in the belly and I know the baby is getting bigger because I'm starting to get just a little uncomfortable. However, when I came back to work everyone was filled with compliments that I really don't look like I'm showing at all. Some friends and family in Cleveland told me I look skinnier! (So maybe I haven't gained any of my 20 pound loss back yet!)

This pregnancy is really moving right along! I can't believe my due date is less than 2 months away! March 2nd does not seem as far away as it did in July. Now with the baby's room filled with all sorts of fun goodies, it makes it so much more real! I can't wait to meet Baby Girl (we still can't come up with a girl name, Chad likes Abigail and I like Nora) OR Landon Joseph!