"full" term

I'm officially 37 weeks! Our baby girl should be between 6.5 and 7 lbs, and approximately 19-20 inches long at this point. Were still thinking she's a bit bigger than average, so our guess is closer to 7lbs and about 20 inches long... she's going to be a good size girl, nice and tall like her parents. We know she has a little bit of hair at this point, it showed up in the last ultrasound at 33 weeks, so i'm sure she has more by now, or it's all fallen out and she'll be completely bald... lets hope for a little bit of fuzz though. Her lungs are almost fully developed, and she would be fine coming out at this point to breath on her own with a little encouragement. She's constantly practicing her breathing, I can actually feel her now taking quick little breaths when I lay still at night. 

This week is going to be pretty exciting around the Norris household, here are just a few of our prep plans: 

Were getting the hospital bag packed with all the things we'll need from home for our *hopefully* less than 24 hour stay in the hospital, and getting the little baby things that we might need to bring also. 

We get to practice installing the car seat in both our vehicles, over and over again, until we have it perfect, and we'll get it inspected once or twice to make sure it really is properly installed. 

Our last birthing class is this week, which makes me a little bit sad, it's really been a wonderful learning experience and we are so thankful we found this awesome class to take! I honestly don't think I would be able to achieve the natural, unmedicated childbirth that I'm wanting without this class, which has taught not only me how to cope and get through the pain in natural ways, but also which has taught Brent to be the amazing support that I need him to be, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. I'm sure he will be just as exhausted after labor and birth as I will be. 

I'll be finishing up with the babies laundry, washing and prepping all of her cloth diapers, wipes, towels, swaddle blankets, sheets, and most importantly, her adorable little clothes. 

I'm sure my nesting instincts will be even more in full swing, and i'll once again dance through the house on a cleaning frenzy, making sure everything is spotless, disinfected and in it's place. 

Hopefully we can get most everything done before baby girl decides to make her grand appearance, I'm sure i'll find things to distract me, and to add to the list, so I better start with the important things, and just hope the rest get done :)

I think... she's dropping!

So I've noticed the past few days that when I try to bend over, while putting socks on, picking laundry up, etc... It is SO HARD! I have to almost do a squat and then bend, so the belly has room to swing between my legs. I also have to breath differently to be able to bend, I cant have my lungs full of air... It's pretty hilarious. I also cannot lean forward to give my back some relief without popping my knees full out to the side, they have to be wider than my shoulders! Not to mention I look like i'm starting to drop, not much, but enough that I stop and look twice in the mirror, thinking that my belly has a new shape to it. I'm also starting to get a little bit of breathing relief, she's not pushing up into my diaphragm so much anymore, which is giving my lungs a bit more room to expand, and making me cough a little less.

So what do you think? Comparing these two pictures, one from Saturday, one from tonight... is the belly dropping? I sure hope so! I really prefer to be comfortable when breathing :)

36 Weeks and counting down! Yes, thats 9 months!!

*** Minor disclaimer for friends and family... From here out there may be some fun body stuff happening with my pregnancy. I will try not to post about the yucky stuff, but this blog is also a place for me to write about everything that is happening in my pregnancy, in our lives, and soon to be with the baby. I'll try to do 'TMI' disclaimers if there will be anything mentioned that is a bit yucky, or that you may just prefer not to know about me in general. Most of you women have had babies, and i'm sure understand what happens, so hopefully this wont be an issue, but I want to be able to document these final weeks with full disclosure, so if you would rather not hear about lost mucous plugs, a ripening cervix, or how my boobs happen to be preparing for the baby already, then I suggest you skip the TMI sections. Thanks! :) ***

It's hard to fathom that I have been carrying this baby inside of me for 36 weeks now. I'm just starting to get to the uncomfortable stage... which I hear is a blessing, that it should have started weeks ago, so I am thankful that i'm just not having trouble breathing lol. Baby girl has been pushing into my diaphragm for about 3 weeks now, which is making my lungs a bit squished in there, which in turn, makes me cough a ton after a long day, and makes it tough to get a good deep breath. My midwife gave me a prescription for an inhaler a few weeks ago, which I waited a week to fill, and while I wish I had filled that first day. The 1-2 puffs of Albuteral that I get to take at night seem to have helped contain my cough tremendously, which I am so thankful for! She told me that now that the baby is pushing so much into my lungs, it will start to feel like i'm having some sports induced asthma, which I get when I run or hike vertically a ton, so i'm no stranger to the inhaler, but it's just weird that I can do nothing and end up in a coughing fit at the end of the day. 

Other uncomfortable things i'm experiencing? My hips are separating... fun! my little waddle has turned into me trying not to let my hips pop out of joint lol, which in turn slows me down when were out running errands. Brent is usually pretty good about letting me lag behind, and he can tell when something changes, like a braxton hicks contraction, he'll hang out with me and let it pass, what a good hubby huh! More about those darn braxton hicks... I've been getting them more and more often every day. I think yesterday while we were out I had probably 10 total... but they were spread over several hours, so it's nothing to worry about yet. I was told not to call unless I have 5-6 in one hour, but to pay attention to 4 or more an hour, because they could quickly increase to more.  I have had a couple uncomfortable contractions, just randomly, more like cramps, but nothing too bad, and nothing more than a couple seconds long. 

Tomorrow is my 36 week appointment, I get to have the lovely Strep B test, see how baby is measuring, see if my fundal height is still measuring 2 weeks ahead (which would put me measuring at 38 weeks!) and see what the plan is from here out. If I am still measuring ahead, then my midwife told me last visit that we could start natural methods to get my body ready for labor (woo hoo!) *** TMI DISCLAIMER *** I'm noticing things are already starting to happen that are signals labor will start soon, I've lost most of my mucous plug (the booger type plug that protects the cervical opening, keeping the baby safe from germs and infection) which means my cervix is starting to soften (or ripen or thin) and could mean that I will be dilating soon, or already has begun dilating. I wont be checked until I actually go into labor. OB's sometimes check (actually often check) women around 37, 38 weeks, but being checked would just make me more anxious. Women can walk around for weeks dilated at 3 cm, 4cm, I've heard even 6cm! So why stress myself out knowing this information? I'd just rather let it happen naturally, let my body go into labor when it's ready, and when baby girl is ready. So, once we get the go ahead from my midwife that it's ok to start natural induction methods, I'll be doing the following; 

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO): helps to soften and tone the cervix and can help with making contractions more consistent.

Acupuncture: I truly believe in this ancient Chinese art, and with how it helped Brent and I get pregnant in the first place, and how it gave me such a strong second pregnancy that has grown this beautiful baby, I think it's only fitting to use it once more to help my body ready itself for birth. Started around 37 weeks, and done twice a week until Birth, it can help speed up the labor process, help prevent stalling during labor, and help labor and birth be shorter and go more smoothly. I don't know if I'll be able to go more than a few times, it's pretty spendy, but if it readies my body and helps, then a couple of treatments may be worth it. 

Massage: With how I've been feeling, and how my sleep is starting to be affected, I think it's time to indulge in a little massage for myself. 

Chinese Foot treatments: This is another special little indulgence that I loved before getting pregnant. I have not been in months (9 to be exact) but there are special reflexology points in the feet and ankles (hands and hips also) that are linked to the uterus, so once I've got the good to go, then I can relax and let the amazing crew at VIP foot massage do their job and give my achy feet and legs some love. 

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (RRLT): I have been trying to enjoy this tea for weeks... I'm just not a tea drinker I guess, unless it's loaded with honey, I just don't like the taste of it. RRLT is used to strengthen and tone the uterus, preparing it for labor, and again, helping to potentially make contractions more consistent. I don't think the few cups I've drank will do much to help unfortunately.

The number one, best thing to help get labor going, is the same thing that got us into this, Sex. I'll just leave it at that :)

So for now, We wait, for my body to do it's thing, and for this baby girl to make her grand appearance. We are so excited, and nervous, for this next big step. Thankfully, the birthing class we've been taking has been a huge help, I honestly don't know that I would be successful in attempting a natural, unmedicated childbirth, if it wasn't for this class. 

Oh, and i'll be sure to get a belly shot posted today, I know i've slacked off on that, my apologies, so check back tomorrow and hopefully one will be posted. 

The nursery is almost complete!

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the *almost* complete nursery our baby girl will eventually move into! It has been such a fun, albeit stressful, project to work on the past few months, I'm sad that it's almost complete, but happy that it's going to be functioning soon, and not just a place to step in and look at, or store things (see: the crib, lol). While our family was here for my shower, They all pitched in and helped us finish most things off, like, hanging the curtains, putting together the new dressers, putting the bigger clothes away and hanging up the stuff she'll wear right away. It was fun to have some help, and some other ideas of things to finish it all off, I was struggling to come up with the final touches on my own. So, here it is, our baby girl's very own room, hopefully she likes it and sleeps like a champ soon in it, we can always hope and wish right?!

(below) the tissue paper poms are from my Boise shower, my sweet friend Stefani made them, don't they look awesome tucked up into the corner! I'm all about visual texture for our baby girl. The sign was a gift from my mom, it's perfect now, all nestled into it's very own spot it seems. and our inspiration lamp finally found a home, The shade is where we pulled all of our colors for the nursery from, Love it!

The butterfly mobile from Pottery Barn kids that I picked up with my mom while in Seattle last, it's so perfect above her crib, and although Brent was not a fan at first, he actually now likes how they flutter when the fan is on, it's pretty fun, and we hope our baby girl enjoys it as well!

Yes, the nursery is still Lilly's favorite room, she still waits by the door each morning, wanting to be let in to sit in her window, or nap on the floor, or more recently in the basket in the stroller, which is a new spot, but i'm sure we'll find her there again. Brent and I put together the foam mat/floor/area rug that we picked up a couple weekends ago with my mom, it's perfect! and super squishy! That weekend, we also found curtains finally, at Pier One of all places, I hadn't ever checked there before, but these have mini polka dots on them in the blue and green shades that we have used throughout the room, they match perfect!

 

The view when you first walk into the room, the tall dresser, paper poms, "All because two people fell in love" hanging in the perfect spot, I love walking into this room! The stroller is living in there temporarily, because, well, we didn't really have any place else to put it. I didn't want it to get dirty in the garage, so until it has a home, it'll probably stay in the nursery.

The view turning into the room, and a shot of the new fan Brent installed a few nights ago... after taking it apart, and installing it again, it had a really loud whirring noise which wasn't good... I think he left a bolt loose or something lol. 

So, I realize the crib is a mess... it's sorta been a catch all for things that don't quite have a home yet. Like, the boppy, which has it's adorable striped cover on, but, no home yet, i'm sure it'll be moved to my bedside when baby girl arrives. and yes, there are a few clothes that need to be hung up, some towels and blankets which need to be washed, but one thing at a time right? Anywho, doesn't the mobile look pretty above the crib?

This shelving was allowed to stay up when we stripped everything else out of the office, it offers some pretty great storage space, and I just couldn't bare to rip it all out, but we're starting to realize that it might not be as awesome as we thought... because, the short dresser that now houses the changing pad, is too close to the bottom shelf, and unless I want to pull it out and push it in every time I change our baby girl, it's going to have to find a new home soon against a different wall. I'm sure it will all work out, we still have a few weeks left.

Closet full of 0-3 month clothes. So cute! We only had a couple of newborn outfits, until an awesome friend of ours brought over her baby girls outgrown newborn clothes (thanks Marci!!), she should be set for a few weeks now! We've also been stocking up on summer outfits, because it gets HOT here, so she'll be wearing lots of thin little jumpers, and lots of sunscreen I bet!

And this isn't apart of the nursery, but last year, Abby's head broke the mirror at the end of our hallway (don't ever take her head on... black eyes and broken glass are usually the result...) while we were playing fetch indoors... bad idea huh. So Brent finally took the mirror pieces that we left down a few weeks ago, and last week we painted the end of the hallway a dark grey chalkboard paint! It's AWESOME! Brent keeps writing things on it, like today it has "clean the house" and "feed the belly" which is something I hear all the time, because apparently I don't eat enough... I actually eat constantly lol. But the plan is to tile a fun boarder around the whole wall, and it can be a fun place for baby girl to color and write things eventually, until then, Brent gets to have all the fun. :)

Rockstar? I think so.

I just have to share, that I do believe our baby girl is already being set up to be a mini rockstar. For my shower, my sister got her this adorable onesie,

So, today on Zulily, there was a sale from the same company, Pixie Rock! I immediately emailed Pam, and asked her to help me pick out a few more cute onesie's for baby girl to rock this summer, Thankfully we agreed on which ones to order, and they are on their way! 

So, I just had to share what a Rockstar our baby girl is going to be, I cant wait!

p.s. like what you see?? follow my referral link to join Zulily.com and start ordering awesome items for the whole family for less!

and some more, this time in color

I am so excited to be able to share some of the rest of the pictures taken by my amazingly talented friend, Nikki Hoover! She did a beautiful job with my first belly shots shoot a few weeks ago, capturing the henna I had done at my baby shower beautifully. I'm so glad I had these taken!! Brent and I have a second shoot scheduled in a couple of weeks, I want to be able to get them taken when my belly is at it's largest, and we're going to try to shoot them outdoors, weather permitting. Brent and I have always loved the green belt here in Boise, We take Abby for walks along their often, almost every weekend now in fact, and have some awesome spots picked out to try to get some pictures at, we cant wait! 

So until then, Enjoy! 

More belly pics to share- Black and White

Boise Baby shower

Last weekend a few of my wonderful friends here in Boise threw me a beautiful baby shower to celebrate the pending arrival of our baby girl. I feel so blessed to have this particular group of girls to call my friends, they are all mom's and have some wonderful advice and experience to share with me. They have always warmly welcomed me to playdates at the park, just to hang out, even when I don't have a child yet, I just bring Abby with to chase the kids around, she seems to enjoy corralling them and keeping an eye on them. My mom, Brent's mom, My sister and a dear friend, Rachel, all flew in from Seattle for the weekend for my shower. It was so much fun having them all here to celebrate with me! I truly appreciate my wonderful friends who threw the shower for me, and those that came to celebrate with me, it was such a great day! A special thank you to Annie, for opening up her home to host all of us. 

(below) My talented friend Nikki baked and decorated these ADORABLE baby birds nest cupcakes! They were delish!!

Another dear friend Stefani made the adorable paper poms! We actually took a couple of them home to hang in the nursery, I'll post pics of those soon. 

Annie and her sister put together this awesome spread, so yummy!

I dont know why I always talk through these pictures... but it seems like I have a weird face every time! 

My mom gave me this beautiful diaper bag that we had seen in an adorable boutique in Washington, I had not clue she went back to get it, I love it because Brent can use it also and it's not too girly at all! 

The adorable basket of favors, little nests with bird eggs