36 WEEK CHECKUP

Yesterday, we had our 36-week checkup at the doctor’s office. As usual, R is measuring ahead of schedule. There’s been some concern about Button’s size, so the doctor ordered us to return today for an ultrasound.

Today the sonographer checked Button’s size, as well as blood flow, movement, etc., and scored Button on an 8-out-of-8 scale. (sort of like an Apgar score, but intrauterine.) She got a perfect score! We also found out that she weighs around 7 1/2 pounds. This means she could potentially weigh around 8 1/2 - 9 lbs. when born, but it’s not significant enough for our doctor to take action now. She’s waiting to see if R goes into labor on her own (and seems to think she will do it soon), but if she doesn’t, Dr. A will induce her on December 14th!

NURSERY PHOTOS

I still have a couple more things to do, like hang the baby quilt over the crib and find a place to put all of Button’s stuffed animals! For now, a few pictures:









The next photo shows what the lamp looks like when it’s illuminated and the other lights are off. I love it!


This is our biggest dog, Moby, keeping watch over Button’s crib. He’s practicing for when she comes. He’s our protector!

SUNDAY MORNING AT THE HOSPITAL

This morning, R didn’t feel much fetal activity, so she tried all of the “tricks” recommended to get your baby to move more — consumed caffeine, ate, took a shower, walked around, etc. I even put some headphones on R’s belly with loud music, but nothing worked. We got a little worried, so I talked R into calling the doctor. “Better safe than sorry”, right?

I spoke with Dr. L (the doctor in our practice on call this weekend) and he told us to go to the hospital, just to be on the safe side. We threw our packed bags into the car just in case R would end up being admitted. The nurse hooked R up to a fetal monitor and when the activity level wasn’t up to snuff, she gave her a Coke to drink. Still, the activity just wasn’t there, although the heart rate was up and looked good.

Dr. L finally came in and examined R. There haven’t been any changes in dilation or effacement. Since none of the usual tricks to get the baby to move worked, Dr. L “zapped” the baby with a small tool that emits strong sound waves. Sure enough, it did the trick. Because we finally had movement and everything else looked good, R was released. We’re glad we can have peace of mind.

LOST IT

This morning, R lost her mucus plug. And, she's having some contractions. We realize this could go on for quite a while, but we think it's happening soon!

Question to all of you who have had kids -- How long was it after you lost the plug until you went into actual labor???

We're using today to finish up some last-minute things... returning duplicate gifts to the store, buying the stroller that goes with our carrier, etc... and the thing I'm looking forward to most... buying a new camera!

COUNTING DOWN

R is 35 weeks along as of today. We also happened to have our weekly checkup today. R's been consistently measuring ahead of schedule and now, the doctor expects her to make it only two more weeks, even though our original due date was Christmas. To top it all off, we found out that R is 1cm dilated and 50% effaced -- holy smokes! Dr. C recommended that we not travel for Thanksgiving, as we'd planned to do, so R's mom and stepdad are coming here instead. We made reservations at a really nice restaurant and that will be turkey day for us.

Tonight we went to a "baby basics" class -- pretty much useless. At least it was just one night, it's over, and we don't have to wonder if we missed anything. It baffles me to think that someone wouldn't know how to change a diaper. I mean, it's not rocket science...

Anyway, we're very excited about Button's arrival!!!

BABY SHOWER #4

Today, some of R's co-workers threw her a shower. I tried to take photos, but my camera batteries ran out of juice. All I have are photos of onesies that we decorated with fabric paint.

They were judged in the following categories:

• Most likely to get "ooh's" and "aahs"


• Most likely to get spit up on


• Most likely to get baby into Harvard (we're really rooting for Smith, R's alum)


• Most likely to annoy R


• Most likely to annoy J


• Most likely to get baby into "Advantage Behavioral Center"

Guess which ones R and J made? (note: R made one, J made two)

So, this woman R teaches with... well, she's crazy. She's a religious nut, which isn't exactly what makes her crazy as everyone is entitled to their beliefs. However, R's had problems with her in the past spreading rumors and saying how we're immoral, etc. R had a firm talk with her and ever since, she's laid off the rumors and talk, but is still quick to brink up Jesus and G-d whenever she can.

Anyway, she came to our shower and gave us a gift with a card. The card:



In case you can't see the image well, it says:

You are a special person. G-d loves you deeply even though you may not be cognizant of it right now. I believe this baby is going to bring you closer to G-d and his personal love for you and to heal all your wounds from the past.

May this child bring you great joy. I have prayed for her several times. I believe she is going to come to know Jesus Christ love for her as a young child.

What the fuck?! Who in the world uses a baby shower as an opportunity to say something like this? "...heal all your wounds from the past..." -- give me a break! I can appreciate her belief in something, but to use it to imply that we are somehow broken is unacceptable. I guess she is, as R's mom says, "more to be pitied than censored."

Anyway, we really did have such a great time this morning. The ladies who put the shower together even bought us a disposable camera so that we could take photos, in case we didn't have our camera with us. Since mine died, we used the disposable one a lot and I'll be sure to post photos once I get the pics developed.

ARMOIRE

Finally, the answer to our storage problem -- an armoire! We hit up Craigslist and found this one. We got it for $50 less than the asking price -- and even better, the seller lives in our neighborhood and moved it for us with their pickup truck! I primed and painted it and it really looks so good in the nursery, if I do say so myself!