39 Weeks and Counting!

Just wanted to update you all...even though there's no real update! ;-)

39 week belly picture (boy are these getting hard to look at LOL!)

I am still feeling wonderful! Truly I am. I have not yet experienced the third trimester misery that some describe and I am so thankful for that. I have LOVED being pregnant and am actually a little sad that it is pretty much over and hope that it is in our future again in the next few years!
At my doctor appointment on Monday I was not much further than last week. I am dilated around a one, his head is at -2 station, and I am 90% effaced. The doctor said all I need is a contraction...my body is ready! Last Monday (5 days ago) the doctor estimated Jake to weigh between 7.5-8lbs. Wow! He is not a small one. That is one of my only reasons I want him OUT! I'm hoping he makes his appearance on his own, otherwise we may be looking at induction around 41 weeks (the week after Christmas). I have another appointment this coming Monday, the 22nd. I will try to update then.
I have been getting many frequent...hey..how are you feeling type phone calls. It cracks me up! I know why you're calling! Even my own husband calls me several times a day asking if I feel 'anything.'

If it makes you guys feel any better I will have someone update my blog, or if I am feeling up to it....I will do it! ;-) You will know when Jake's on his way...promise! :)
In the meantime, I really appreciate all of the calls, concern, comments, prayers and encouragement. This is such an exciting time and I feel very blessed to be experiencing it. It has been one of the most unique and special experiences of my life- carrying a tiny baby for nine months (or shall I say 10...why is pregnancy considered only 9?). There is no denying this whole process is truly a miracle and a gift from God.

Maternity Pics!

Last Tuesday (the week of Thanksgiving) I had a maternity shoot done in our house and also at the pier on the lake in our neighborhood. I wanted some in his nursery, but the lighting turned out to be really bad so we didn't get any in there. :(
Don't ask me why I waited until I was nine months pregnant with a double chin to do these pics...they should have been done months ago! :-) Here are a few of my favs:

I LOVE this one!

Swollen Fingers! Those of you that know me know my fingers are one of the skinniest parts of me! ;-) Notice the absence of my engagement ring and Aggie ring. I can't wait to fit in them again!

The shoes he will wear home- that is, if he does not have a size 2 foot at birth like my brother did!

How We've Grown!!

8 weeks

15 weeks

20 weeks

27 weeks

32.5 weeks

I was organizing pics on my computer and found these and thought I'd compare. So neat!

I'm feeling very large these days! But Jake is now between 4 and 5 pounds! Since he usually measures big, I'm sure he's closer to 5. I am still feeling major kicks to the ribs and sides and sometimes back, but have read that movement will slow a little from now on as he's running out of room.

My bellybutton is still "in" and for that I am so thankful! I've also not yet gotten a stretch mark! Let's hope that they hold off for good. I still feel wonderful and love being pregnant. The third trimester is not near as bad as I've heard!

I LOVE you baby Jake and am getting SO EXCITED to meet and hold you!

These are the days...

I have had a wonderful time off of work. I have been super busy and don't know how I would've continued to work and been this productive and gotten so much rest at the same time! I used to have to choose between one or the other!

Since my last day of work (3 weeks ago) I've had two showers, gone to a birthday party, gone to the pumpkin patch, attended a ladies bible study every Tuesday morning, cleaned our house from top to bottom, had a thyroid biopsy, had a 32 wk Baby Jake ultrasound, attended my first playdate, made several exchanges on things we had multiple of, and attended more Dr appts than I care to remember! Plus tons of time sleeping in and hanging out with friends and family. I am enjoying it and soaking it up....as it will end in just a few short weeks. It's hard to believe I'll be 33 weeks this Thursday! Jake is as cute and active as ever and is a big boy- weighing over 4lbs so far (last week) and always measuring betw 1/2 week and two weeks big every time we go to the doctor.

Speaking of the thyroid ultrasound.... my doctor found a lump on my throat about a month ago when I was sick. He wanted to be cautious even though he thought it was a lymph node and had me get a thyroid ultrasound. I was not worried about it at all. But, a few days later it came back that there was a 5cm mass in my throat! That is huge at 2.5 inches. I was then referrred to an endocrinologist who decided to order a needle biopsy. I finally had the biopsy last Wed and will get results this week. I am not too worried about it but pray that it is not cancer. It would be hard to find that out 7 wks before our son gets here. The endocrinologist has already decided to take out part or all of my thyroid after Jake arrives. If it is cancer the whole thing will be removed and if it's benign the mass and the left side of my thyroid will be removed. Not looking forward to having surgery right after Jake arrives, but am thankful my doctor found it before it got any bigger (it's already making it hard to breathe!).

Well, the nursery is almost finished and I will be posting pics soon. but a 32 1/2 week belly shot will have to do for now. :)

27 Week Update

Thursday I was exactly 27 weeks. My appointment was the last once a month one for me-every two weeks from here on out (every one week the last month). Also, it was my glucose tolerance test.

The orange glucola was pretty disgusting. I know that I have picky taste buds and all when it comes to liquids...but yuck! It was super sweet and I'm not a fan of orange at all. Jeremy was telling me to chug it and I was trying not to gag myself. :)

I got to the office in plenty of time and got my blood drawn- not one of my favorite things but I'm getting very used to it at this point! I got called back over an hour after I drank the glucola (supposed to do blood draw w/in one hour) and she was telling me that there weren't any open rooms so she pulled me into a room and had me standing up to take my blood! I found a way to sit in the chair so my arm would be more stable. She seemed very nervous and said, "If I don't get it the first time I'll go find someone who will." I was not encouraged by her comments and Jeremy is laughing at me as I'm closing my eyes and shuddering at what she's going to do. She then had me pump my fist forever asking if I had good veins. She kept tapping my arm and kept saying that she'd lost my vein. But, she did end up getting it the first time and everything was fine.

Next onto a clean room for Dr Crowder to come in and check up on me...

I gained 12lbs this month! OMGosh! I was a bit depressed that I'd (more than) doubled my entire weight gain for this pregnancy in a month. At my 6 month appt I had only gained 7.5lbs. But, he said my overall weight gain is still very normal. I'm not liking it though!

I told him that people have been coming up to me and saying how I was nearing the end or might be further along than I thought. I loved his response which was, "Do people EVER tell a pregnant woman that she is just right? They always say she is showing too much or too little, and might even tell her both of those things in the same day!" He said I couldn't be measuring more perfectly...the baby's on the big side of perfect but he's perfect!

We were able to schedule our 3D ultrasound for next Wed, Oct 1st and I am super excited! We also have a regular ultrasound in 4 wks... I'm very excited to see Jakey 2 times in the next month! And can't wait to meet him face to face and hold him in my arms. Less than three months until the due date now.

Jake's Room and Wardrobe (Phase One)

Crib! (with new chocolate, yellow, and blue bedding)

This is the yellow accent wall

Dresser/hutch combo- I love it! (the blue isn't actually that bright...the flash just makes it appear that way)
Puppies! (Our theme)

Walls are painted!


A few of Jake's new clothes
Jake's swim suit and hat for next spring/summer. The very first thing I bought him (from my fav store Janie and Jack)

(My photoeditor wouldn't read my pics so I couldn't rotate them)

(the above is just a sampling of his wardrobe so far)

~sorry they're blurry I accidentally had our camera on the landscape setting during these photos

And because you have requested...the 20 wk belly shots :)

(Taken around 6am this morning)