Baby Nancy has arrived!!

Nancy has been a joy since her July 1 arrival, one week ahead of schedule! She started sleeping 8-11 hour stretches by 6 weeks, and has turned into an adorable chunk-a-lunk by 3 months. Below are some of our favorite photos so far.

Are we ready for this?

So I am officially full term - 37 weeks. I could go anytime now and the baby would most likely be mature and have no problems outside the womb. I now have weekly Dr. appts, and after learning last week that I'm 1 cm dilated, and after joking with me that my desire to go early was just a fantasy, my doc popped her head up after checking me yesterday and said "you may just get your wish!" She was very surprised to find that my cervix was soft and the baby's head was really low. She reminded me of what labor signs to be watching out for and when to call. She also told me that she'd be on call this weekend and then out all next week. I told her I'd wait!

As much as I'm ready to not be carrying around a watermelon, I am not quite sure I'm ready for this pregnancy to be over! (don't hold me to this in a week or two!) Sure it will be nice to pee less than once an hour, and to be able to sleep on my stomach again or even roll over and stand up without intense focus and effort, but I really can't complain about much else. I've even been sleeping fairly well and haven't been overly tired this trimester. And I really never felt sick. Plus being able to eat ice cream twice a day without Scott giving me too hard a time is FANTASTIC!

I have been extraordinarily fortunate to have had such an easy and pleasant time of it - and frankly I am going to miss not only the alien movements and daily hiccups, but also the wonderful and kind attention not just from family and friends but from waiters, neighbors, colleagues and people I pass on the street! Pregnant women make a lot of people smile, and it makes me happy to put a smile on someone else's face just by waddling by!

However, all good things come to an end, and I recognize that the end of this thing will be the beginning of the most incredible experience of our lives! And THAT I am really looking forward to. (And I am proud to say Daddy Scott is as excited, if not more so to welcome our little one into the world!)

Photo Update!

28 weeks 32 weeks 34 weeks 36 weeks

36 Weeks!

I had my 36 week appt today and had my first cervical check. I am 1 cm dilated. 9 more to go.

Supposedly it doesn't mean much to be dilated at this point, but I'm glad that's 1 less cm I'll have to endure once labor starts :) Wouldn't it be awesome if the other 9 we're evenly spaced over the next 4 weeks? A gal can dream!!

33 days!!!

So we bought the dresser/changer this weekend. it is much more "girly" and classic than the crib, but should be able to grow with the little one. It should arrive in about 3 weeks - I can't wait to have a spot to put all the clothes and diaper changing paraphernalia I've acquired in the last few weeks. It feels like Christmas every time I walk in the apt and open up the latest boxes to arrive. And with my baby brain, it really is a surprise to open them because I can't keep track of what all I've ordered :)

Scott and I completed 14 hrs of intensive childbirth prep this weekend, and I also had a 3-hr breastfeeding class last night. I feel very prepared at this point - and I hope that feeling lasts another 5 weeks! But somehow I imagine it's easier in theory than in practice!

I am down to having about 4 outfits to wear to work. I bet my colleagues are as sick of them as I am, but I am not willing to buy anything else at this point - except the wonderful, flowy summer dresses that I expect to live in post-delivery! (Thanks Mom!)

I can no longer sleep for long stretches at night because it is so uncomfortable having this watermelon attached to my stomach. And it also appears that the baby prefers the "face-up" position, which means I get to feel lots of adorable kicks and punches below my ribcage, but could significantly complicate the delivery if she doesn't turn around on the way out! (Fingers crossed!) I even tried sleeping in a different way (suggested by childbirth instructor) to encourage her to turn but suffered so much that I gave up after one night!

I'm so excited to spend this weekend up in Stone Ridge, but after that Scott and I are hunkering down at home for the last 3-4 weekends. He still has a fun kitchen tiling project ahead, and I know I'll find a million last minute things to do - like packing our hospital suitcase!

Ahhh!! 33 days seems so short - yet also SO LONG! Hope it goes by fast.

Nursery Photo Update

I am just starting to accept that I married Tim from Home Improvement - though a whole lot funnier and handsomer!! (Too bad he can't do anything about the view :0) ) Before and after shots below, plus the fun new rug we just bought. The trim is being painted white tomorrow. Now all we need is the furniture!

Update: Trim painting is complete, rug is down and crib is mostly assembled - by ME!!!