Doctor Checkup

Well, the doctor's appointment today went VERY well. He gave me some encouraging news. I am officially 1 1/2-2 (but closer to 2) centimeters dilated! This may not mean much to you guys, but it means a lot to me. After three weeks of being stuck on 1 cm, it feels nice to make some progress. I am still 50% effaced, but he said he didn't think that would change until I go into labor. All good news. My measurements are good, weight gain good, blood pressure good, baby position good, now if he will just make his debut. Doc said I COULD schedule an induction for Monday (the 20th), but his recommendation was to wait and see if he comes on his own. We chose the responsible parent route and are waiting for him to come on his own. If I go a week over my due date, he will induce on October 4--which is ok for me...but I don't want to wait that long so hopefully he will come before then. I hope he is getting cramped in there, and isn't too comfortable! Have a great week all!

It's the Final Countdown

I can remember a gymnastics routine to this song from a recital when I was youngER....yes I was an 80's baby....sue me. I absolutely cannot believe I have less than 2 weeks (talk about scary). I am wondering when our little man will make his debut. I just wish someone could tell me so I can stop wondering every morning if this is THE morning. At my 35 week appointment I was already dilated 1 cm, so I was elated. Then came 36 weeks, STILL 1 cm, and at 37 weeks STILL 1 cm. Last Wednesday I was at least effacing some too-50% so that is another step in the right direction. Then doc said based on measurements and timelines that he wouldn't induce until October 4th unless something was wrong before then (blood pressure, etc). It took a second and then I promptly FREAKED OUT!! October? Hello, I am due in September. I guess babies aren't like Milk, they don't have a use by date....but I have been telling myself for months that I can make it to September, now I might have to make it to October?? Well, after my mom calmed me down and said all the perfect things that a mother would say I settled down. He will come when he is ready, and God knows when that time is. Until then I can just enjoy my last few weeks of our baby swimming around in my tummy. And, drink chocolate milk at night and fill myself with ice cream :)

We had a big weekend filled with LOTS and LOTS of football. I swear I watched about 5 games on Saturday with Bryan including the Ole Miss win vs Tulane. Then, on Sunday, Lucky Girl that I am, got to watch 8 games simultaneously on Sunday NFL Ticket with DirecTV. Aren't I Lucky? It kind of made me dizzy, but Bryan certainly enjoyed it. Friday is my last day of work, which is a little bittersweet. But, I can't wait to be off and have a little time to myself to enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts. Have a great week.

36 weeks

I cannot believe that I am less than 4 weeks away from D-Day!!! Can you? I went to the doctor today, and same report as last week as far as dilating goes. Still just 1 cm, but I am "softening some". No percentage given, but the fact that the doc didn't use the words "hard as a rock" was kind of comforting!!! So many big things are going on around the Benton house in hopes that this little boy decides to make his debut soon. We are finishing up in the nursery. I have everything for my curtains, and Bryan plans to hang the rod tonight so we can hang those! And, I picked up the Walter Anderson framed prints yesterday....looks great--need to hang that too. Tonight on the agenda is to paint the letters for above the changing table--and some ironing of baby clothes. We got two beautiful coming home outfits for Martin this weekend. I couldn't decide, so I got them both....He might just have to come home, and change and ride around the neighborhood and come home again! And, I am making my list of the few things I need to pick up to be all ready for our little man to come home. My mom has packed her bag so she can jump in the car and head this way as soon as she gets "THE CALL". I guess I need to pack mine too. Maybe this weekend I will do that....I said Maybe! I will post pictures as soon as the Nursery gets a little done. Stay tuned.

Update

Well, ladies and gentlemen....we are dilated 1 cm. May not sound like much to you....but it sounds great to me, it means I am actually doing something! Doc said we haven't effaced any, but we still have plenty of time. I have been having more Braxton Hicks Contractions, and doc says he expects me to have more this week being dilated a little. Everything looks great. He figures Martin is locked into his "head down" position, because he is about out of room. These are all great things.

I think I might actually pack my bags for the hospital. I probably should have already done this....but might as well take care of it. We still have a few last minute things to get for the nursery, and a few things we will need the first few weeks. And, I need to cook some things to freeze because it will be so nice to pull something out and pop it in the oven to warm instead of having to COOK once he gets here! So, maybe next week I will work on some Chicken Spaghetti and Red Beans and Rice for the freezer.....wonder what else I can easily freeze???

I wanted to share a few funny stories with my readers today. I have been having strange dreams about delivery, and some of them are too funny not to share. The best one was two nights ago. In the dream, I woke up in the middle of the night because my water broke, so I drove myself to the hospital, THEN called Bryan to wake him up (mind you he was sleeping in the bed next to me, so I had to be extra quiet to sneak out) and I told him to feed Bailey before he came. Ha!! And, then last night I dreamed that I came home from work and Bryan and Martin were in our jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. Bryan moved the TV so they could see it from the tub, and they were just lounging! While this one is funny, it isn't as funny as the other one....cause I can totally see Bryan doing this!!

Baby Center says Martin is the size of a honeydew melon, which is funny, because it looks and feels more like a WATERMELON!! I also wanted to share some of my favorite things about being pregnant. Many people would argue that there are too many bad things that outweigh the good....and I could certainly make a list of those bad things....but they don't even touch all of the amazing things!! While sleep completely evades me, and I flip from one side to the other all night, while getting up approximately 6 times to use the bathroom....I am loving every minute of it!!!

So, here are the things I love. I love watching Bryan feel Martin move, and I love listening to Bryan talk to our son. I love when Bryan reads him stories (he always explains the pictures). I love when Bryan "talks to Martin" about me. Such as, "your mom is kind of grumpy" or, "I think you and your mom want Captain D's for dinner". I love that I have a built in TV tray right on the top of my belly....it holds a glass or the remote really well. I love having an excuse to drink all the chocolate milk I want at bed time (it is so good cold). I love when Martin has the hiccups....it is quite possibly the cutest thing EVER. I love that my husband still thinks I am beautiful even with stretch marks and 25 extra pounds. I love getting Martin's nursery all situated. Anyone who knows me, knows how OCD I am about things, so that kids' closet is REALLY organized. And, I love knowing in less than 5 weeks we will have a sweet little angel here that we can love unconditionally, kiss until our lips hurt, and squeeze his little cheeks.

**Please remind me of these things when I am up at 4 am having had no sleep with a crying baby.**

Long overdue! (blog post, not baby)

Welcome Baby Martin!! What an awesome shower. The cake was so yummy as was all of the food. It was so nice to see everyone. And, the girls did a great job on the shower. It turned out to be perfect. Analee, Sam, and Tracie....you girls really are the best I could ask for! Thanks for everything.I got to see lots of friends from high school that I haven't seen in several years so it was nice to catch up with them. Martin got so many great things. That is going to be one well dressed little man! His closet is bursting at the seams!! Some of mom's friends came that were at my baby shower over 27 years ago....isn't that special?? I can't wait to meet my sweet baby boy....he will be sweet if he takes after his daddy....now if he takes after his mom, watch out world!! It is hard to believe that HOPEFULLY in less than 5 weeks I will be holding him in my arms (boo-hooing I am sure). I can't wait!!!!

My Aunt Kathy made this beautiful cross-stitched blanket for Martin. Isn't it gorgeous?? I love it because it goes so perfectly with his room. I had no idea she was doing it. I can appreciate how much work she put into it. I just love it! We are putting the last minute touches on his room. Only a few things left to do. I need to hang my curtains, and hang the Walter Anderson prints when I get them back from framing. And, I need to paint the wooden letters and find the right ribbon so I can hang those too. I said something to Mom this morning about feeling like I still had TONS to do, and she informed me that I was fine on time and told me that Dad actually had to go home from the hospital one day while Mom and I were still there so he could finish painting the nursery. Now, those of you who know my Daddy aren't surprised by this one bit!We go to the doctor Wednesday for another one of our every two weeks check ups. I am hoping he says something like....."ooh pack your bags, this little boy is coming early"! Wishful thinking, huh?? A girl can dream, can't she? I have been right about average with all of my measurements thus far, so I doubt very seriously he is too big or anything....oh well. I guess I can wait 5 more weeks.

Dr. Visit

Well, drum roll please.....Martin has assumed the position (he is head down)!! So, I can breathe again. I didn't realize how worried I was until the doctor said this morning...."looks like he decided to get into position". I know there was an audible sigh of relief that escaped my mouth accidentally.

I can't wait for the weekend, because we are headed to the coast for my second baby shower--aren't I a lucky girl? Or, I guess I should say isn't Martin a lucky boy? I can't wait to see who all will be able to make it. And, my mom is coming so it will be nice for her to get together with some old friends!

Lots of changes going on in Martin's room. We have two beautiful shelves for the nursery. I just need to paint them (outside in a well ventilated area of course)--and decide where I want to put them! And, I ordered the fabric to have curtains made. I can't wait to see them!! Aunt Karen (Bryan's Dad's sister) is making them for me since she did such a great job on the quilt and baby bag for Martin! So, I picked up a curtain rod yesterday at Hobby Lobby but I am still searching for the rings to hang the curtains with.

I took the Walter Anderson print's to Hobby Lobby to be framed...after the woman told me the small fortune it would cost to mat and frame, I decided to come back next week when custom framing is half off (just the frame is half off--not the mat, board, or glass OF COURSE). But, it makes it about $50 cheaper....so now it will be just an arm, not an arm and a leg. Oh well.

And, I plan to order wooden letters with Martin's initials that I will have to paint and hang with ribbon. But, I better get on that! Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week!

Walter Anderson Prints

These are the Walter Anderson Prints for Martin's room! I copied the originals so I could watercolor copies first to be sure I liked the colors. Yes, I know I am too much of a perfectionist! But, I didn't want to mess up the originals. So, I really like these, and plan to paint the real ones this week sometime. What do you think?? I am going to mat and frame them. I want to mat them in navy blue, and haven't decided on a frame yet, but I imagine I will do white to match the nursery furniture.