37 Weeks!

37 weeks

Today I am 37 weeks 3 days along.  So hopefully it will be just another 2 more weeks until we meet baby Ellie.  I know a lot of people say the first child is usually late, but a girl can hope right?!  We had another 3D ultrasound this last week to make sure baby girl was growing on track since I've been measuring smaller than gestational date.  Good news is she's a big healthy girl, just squished in a small space.  By today she's probably hit 7 lbs!!!!!  Although this is just an estimate based on bone growth, waist measurement, etc, I'm very glad to know she's growing right along. Plus we got to have another sneak peek at what our baby looks like =)  Just can't wait to see the real thing.

Our Coastie friends who are a week ahead of us just had their baby 2 nights ago.  So of course it makes everything so much more real.  They also had a baby girl, named Bella.  I can't wait until I can hold that sweet girl.  =)  It will be so nice having another mom and baby girl right around the corner to share first born experiences and stories with.

Below are some pictures from the weekend events.  Saturday we went up to our friends, the Pieroways, home for "dinner" which turned out to be a surprise baby shower.  So fun!  Mr. Pieroway just made Sargeant so I figured it might be a celebratory dinner for him.  Well, we definitely toasted to his accomplishment but it came  with a pink princess theme =)  Thank you so much for all your generosity and thoughfulness.  Our Ellie is really lucky to have extended "family" like you all in her life. 

Matt and Jess

The cake was delish!

Momma Pieroway being a terrific hostess

Sunday we went out to the Plymouth Fire/Police 5K run, a memorial for Liam Macomber.  It was a hot, humid day that gave me a little late summer sun to my skin.  =)  I did some walking while everyone got ready for the race.  The winner came in at 16:45, so fast!  It was a nice way to spend a Sunday while we had an Open House going on at our home.

Not a bad view to look at during my walk

Dave made a bet that if Andrew could beat his dad in the race, he'd give him $20....Andrew is $20 richer!

Just wanted to add this cute little picture in too.  Niko laying on my belly, probably wondering why it was moving around so much.

36 Weeks!



36 weeks, after a busy work day

  36 down, 4 more to go!  That's 28 days....wow!  Well, with her imminent arrival I think we have everything in place.  Her nursery is set, bags are packed, car seat installed, pediatrician is set up, etc, but I'm sure something will throw us for a loop.  That's what life is with a child right? I have no preconceived notions that everything will go perfectly or as I imagined so helpfully that will make this transition from being a couple to a family a little easier.

This last week has really come with a bunch of changes.  Ellie has really dropped quite a bit making sitting and sleeping a little challenging.  In addition, my energy level has decreased, my braxton hicks contractions are really stepping up, and I'm retaining a good amount of fluid (evidenced in my puffy hands, feet, and face).  But Dave keeps reminding me that we are in the home stretch and she's almost here.  I know it's all worth it and can't complain too much considering I was blessed with an easy pregnancy thus far. 

Baby wise, here are her stats:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term,  yay!!! (babycenter.com)



Well, baby Ellie, we are ready to meet you!!! We love you so much and can't wait to welcome you to the world. =)

Week 35 in San Francisco!



35 weeks-  all dressed up for our 70's style party in San Francisco

 I am almost in denial that our little girl will make her appearance in a matter of weeks!  We are so, so excited but it's such a surreal event to plan for.  I've been carrying her low the whole pregnancy but she has definitely dropped over the past few days.  I can tell because I am able to eat larger meals without feeling overly full and haven't had any heartburn in the last week.  On the other hand, I'm feeling more pressure on my bladder as a result of her making her way down.   I guess it's probably a good idea to get our bags packed soon!

According to babycenter.com:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Golden Gate Bridge

We just got back from an ASCOA conference in San Francisco.  Each year my company has their annual conference in a different city.  Last year we went to Scottsdale in November.  This year it was scheduled a couple months earlier so I was able to fly out to San Francisco to attend it. 

The agenda is always jammed packed full of lectures, discussions, and presentations but we were able to get in a little sight seeing while there.  I'd love to go back soon and spend some time in Sonoma and Napa and to spend more time with friends that are stationed there in the Coast Guard. 

Views of Alcatraz

All dressed up for the SHAG! party.  It was

a 70's themed party.

Lucy in the Sky

The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  It was sunny and cool, in the 70's, but was a welcomed change since it has been hot and humid here on the Cape.  I finally was not walking around sweating my butt off!  I was nervous about all the hills and walking I was gonna take on while in the city and probably pushed myself a little too hard a couple of days.  After all that walking and a long cross-country flight, these swollen ankles are getting a rest propped up all day.  Cankles are so not a good look on me!!!!!

Dave very proudly displaying his shoe purchase for his little girl....this could be a dangerous trend!

And of course no trip to San Fran is complete without fresh seafood that we don't normally have back home.  Yum!

Hot Diggity Dog!

Baby Shower at 34 weeks

So, I'm seriously a walking furnace these days. A few people mentioned being warm during pregnancies but I'm a freaking sweaty mess at night! I feel like I just got insight on what menopause will be like for me in 20 years. And it's no fun!!! Normally I'm the cold one at night. But lately it's the other way around. No blanket, ac blasting, plus our ceiling fan and a fan on the dresser all going at the same time to keep me cool....ridiculous! Too bad I wasn't going through this during the New England winter.

At 34 weeks, Miss Ellie is doing a great job of keeping her momma warm and learning how to tickle with her hands and feet too. :) Every once in a while I feel tiny scratching movements where her hands and feet probably are. She also continues to have hiccups occasionally. It's the funniest little feeling.

Here are her stats according to babycenter.com: 
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

This weekend our good friends Allison and Mike hosted a "Jack and Jill" baby shower for us.  I can't tell you how lucky Dave and I are to have such a great support system of 'mommas' around us here.  Ellie Reese really is a lucky girl and got completely spoiled this weekend by this group of women (and men).  Thank you so much for everything!  It really means so much to us.  We love you all!!!

Trying on Ellie's "My First Halloween" bib

Trying on the "For Mom Only" gifts - Moisturizing socks

"Not Tonight Honey" eye mask! 

Little brotherly love

After a great shower, I am now in a nesting fury!  As I'm blogging this Ellie's wardrobe is getting washed.  The third load just went in (like I said earlier, spoiled).  We re-organized her closet and will be heading out later today to get more storage cubes for her things.  We even organized a large drawer in the kitchen for all her bottles, nipples, cleaning baskets, freezer bottles/bags, teethers, etc.  It is really happening now!  Now I can say we are having our baby NEXT MONTH!  Crazy!

To wrap this up, let me just say I feel very lucky to have a hysterical husband who keeps things light for me when I start to feel stressed with the upcoming changes.  Here's another funny perspective to help all you other mommy-to-be's out there:

Belly laugh: If only you'd known you were going to trade...

• Monthly PMS for nine months of weeping
• Lacy thongs for cotton tents
• Sex for gas
• Zinfandel for warm milk
• Birth control for laxatives
• Going to the gym for getting up to pee
• Your waist for a hot-air balloon
• Kickboxing for kick counts
• Your innie for an outie – a way-outie
• Sleeping for groaning
• Freedom for the most intense love you've ever known (babycenter.com)