Nursery Update - Week 39

Dear Conor,

Your nursery really looks amazing - I can't wait for you to see it.  Last night your Dad and I hung the curtain rod (it was difficult to find a curtain rod for your room given your window size and so many seemed very feminine) and your navy blue sailcloth curtains.  I decided to get the light block curtains so that I could darken your room when and if we ever needed to.  I am glad that I made this decision because the curtains hang beautifully with the heavier backing.

Curtains from Pottery Barn Kids

Well, what do you think of them?  I haven't decided if we will get curtain hooks to allow the curtains to be pulled back or if we will leave them hanging like this - only time will tell.

I also took advantage of black Friday deals and ordered your duvet cover.  It should be arriving shortly.  We saved $17 because shipping was free!  I made up the big bed in your room last night with the dust ruffle (navy), the sheets (light blue), and the winter blanket (tan) as well as the uncovered duvet and the quilt.  It looks so inviting - I want to sleep there!

Detail of Kasey Quilt - there is also a chocolate brown stripe that you do not see here.

Doesn't the bed look so soft and comfy??  I just need the duvet cover to arrive and to pick up two more pillows.  Your Dad thinks it needs a headboard and while I agree with him I know it will be hard to find something to fit with the ceiling being so low.  So, we will take our time :)

I also took some more pictures of the nursery portion of your room to remember what it looked like.

Your crib & whale toy basket

Your changing table and diaper bag

Detail on your quilt - Jackson from PBK

I love how everything in your room ties together so beautifully!  Your Dad and I are very proud of all the hard work that went into your room. 

We also ordered your monitor this week and we have decided to mount it above your crib on a shelf so now I have to locate shelving for each side of the window (both your Dad and I like symmetry).  But first I am waiting for the monitor to arrive so that I know what type of shelving would work best.

Your due date is only six days away so we are in the final moments of preparation - I can't wait to meet you little man!

xoxo
Mom

It's a Wrap!

Dear Conor,

Your dog Hunter is crazy!!!  He just loves all of your things.  When your carseat is on the floor he enjoys jumping into it and will settle down and nap in it (we are very careful to keep him out of it on more occassions - we don't want him jumping onto you!).  His new favorite place in the house is the blue bed for him in your room.  When I get out of the shower or am brushing my teeth if he is not right at my feet he is curled up in that bed in your room.

Hunter has always loved to be held (which is a funny thing because when we adopted him we were told he was not a lap dog).  So when your MOBY wrap arrived I thought I would get some practice using it and instead of a doll I figured I would try it with Hunter because he can wiggle and move just like a baby.  Well, once he was in it he didn't want to get out.  He loved being so close to me and it was very comfortable to walk around the house with him in it.  Since taking the above picture we have practiced two more times and I am confident that I like this wrap very much (THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE JILL!!!) and that if you love it as much as Hunter does then we will have a very good time shopping in places your carriage just can't go!

One week from tomorrow kiddo and you should be just about ready to be here if you aren't already - and I can't wait!

xoxo
Mom

TWO WEEKS

Dear Conor,

I can't believe that time is flying by this fast!  Today marks two weeks until your official due date.  I simply can't believe that we are already at this point.  It seems like yesterday that we were announcing to your grandmother's that you were going to be making your arrival near Christmas when in reality it was 9 months ago! 

I have to say that I never thought we would be ready for your arrival but we are.  Our bags are packed and by the door, car seats are installed, and your room is ready. 

We can't wait to meet you!

xoxo
Mom

Doctor's Visit & Pregnancy Symptoms

Dear Conor,

This post is more for your future wife than for you to let her know that certain things are normal during a pregnancy that arent always talked about.

One of those things is heartburn (which we have already talked about quite a bit - and by the way I am still suffering from) and another is constipation; severe constipation.  I truly hope that you don't inherit my bowels which have always been irregular but since entering my third trimester the irregularity has increased.  Yesterday I worked a very full day and when I got home I had the need to go to the restroom.  Well, try as I may I could not void and that inability created an intense pain in my lower abdomen.  The pain was incredibly strong and required me to contact my doctor's office.

So, what is the remedy for something like this?  The remedy is to take a stool softner once or twice a day which helps to keep you regular moving forward but you also need to have an enema.  This can either be done at home or you can go to the hospital.  As embarrassing as it is to talk about this - it is something that I wasn't prepared for and because constipation can be deadly (if not treated) I am documenting it to remember for myself and future friends/family who become pregnant.

I chose not to go to the hospital and your dad went to the pharmacy.  I won't say the rest of the night went easily but the relief that I needed did come and today at my doctor's appointment we were able to concentrate on how you were doing and not how I was feeling!

You are measuring on track (37.5 weeks) and I weigh in at 159.8 pounds.  This means I have gained a total of 32.8 pounds and in the last two weeks have gained 1.8 pounds.  As the goal has been 2 pounds a week you and I are doing really well.  The midwife Ellie said that you are still facing down with your back to my left side and your legs to my right with your butt in my ribs.  She remarked that you are "just the right size baby for my body" which is a good thing I would say.  We will not have an appointment next week due to the holiday so our next appointment is on December 2, 2011 at 10am. 

I can't believe that our appointment on December 2nd could be our final appointment because you could be here before that next Friday!

We are feeling very ready for your arrival - car seats are installed, clothes are washed, room is set up, bathroom supplies are organized, and all of your 'gear' is assembled and awaiting your debut! 

xoxo
Mom

To Do List Update

Dear Conor,

We have been very very busy this week preparing for your arrival (some might call it nesting).  Your dad is still working on the bathroom shelves and they are coming along beautifully!  It is my hope that they are finished tomorrow as I would really like to finish your closet and I can't with all the bathroom stuff in there :)!

In preparaton for the shelves being done I picked up the last of your things from Grandpa Tom's house which included your bathtub and some bath supplies.  It's a good feeling to know that all of your things are here in the house should you decide to arrive early (but remember - we talked about this, you can't come before November 30th and we would really like you not to arrive before December 3rd just to ensure you are as healthy as can be!).

This week you received several things in the mail.  Grandma Mary sent us a book from Shutterfly that memoralized the shower that was held for you at her house.  My camera battery is currently being charged but once it's done I will be certain to take some pictures and post them for you.  A friend of mine sent you a monogrammed travel diaper wipes case - she made it in colors to match the diaper bag.  And Great Nannie sent me a beautiful Mother's poem (so this is really my gift but I received it only because of you so we can share it).  Oh, and Auntie Ana sent up her breast pump so we are all set in that department as well.

So, how are you doing?  You seem to be doing well.  You are active in morning and at night but you have started to grow more active during the day as well.  We are experiencing little contractions but nothing that indicates you are coming any time soon.  You haven't dropped and 'locked' yet and I know this because the heartburn is still pretty intense at night and I can often feel you practicing your kicks and they are still pretty high up on my right side.  But, you do practice dropping because at times I can feel you very low in my pelvis.  I think I might prefer that you not lock in until closer to the big day because it can be very uncomfortable for me when you are down LOW.  We have a doctor's appointment this Friday to check on you and see how you are doing so I will know more then.

As Dad and I have been decorating for Christmas I took that time to add some of your ultrasound pictures to the dinningroom wall.  I can't wait to add real pictures of you but for now the ultrasound pictures will have to do!  Your P&P has been moved to the dinning room to accomodate the Christmas Tree and it fit in there pretty nicely which was a huge concern of ours.  Your swing remains in the living room next to the tree and I think you will enjoy looking at all the pretty lights as you swing each day (assuming you like your swing).

We also added a little Christmas tree to your room.  I bought it last year as I really wanted a little blue tree for our room (and my little pink one was going to go in your room when it was going to be just a guest room) but I can't very well give you a pink tree so I have traded with you.  The tree is set up and it adds a little bit of holiday cheer to your room too.  I still have to purchase curtains for you room but I am going to be doing that today and the duvet that I want is on backorder but it should arrive in the next two weeks.  At that point - your room will be complete.  Hunter's new bed was even washed and is now set up in your room so he has a place to go when we are spending time in your room.

Well, I think that's it for updates other than the promised pictures which I will try to post later tonight.

xoxo
Mom

PS.  Auntie Cathlin told us that her friend Jen reads this blog too so we want to say "HI" to Jen and her husband Keith!!!  We hope they like your blog :)

Week 36 & Grandma Mary's visit

Dear Conor,

This week marks our 36th week together and I couldn't be more excited because it means that you are only 4 weeks from making your debut. 

In preparation of your arrival I attended a Breast Feeding class on Monday night.  I learned quite a bit about the benefits of breast milk and it reaffirmed my commitment to provide you with breast milk as long as I possibly can.  I have been doing a lot of research regarding breast pumps and bottles and your Aunt Ana is going to let me borrow her pump for a few weeks until we determine whether or not breast feeding is best for you. 

You have been doing a lot of moving this week - its mostly in the morning and late at night. Your movements are a lot stronger which makes me think that you are getting stronger!  At our last doctor's appointment they said your heartbeat was very strong and that you were head down.  This was confirmed by an ultrasound.  Grandma Mary came to this doctor's appointment and was very excited to see you moving on the little screen.  You look so much more like a person than you did several weeks ago and you have grown so much!  Our next appointment is next Friday and then there will be weekly appointments to ensure that things don't change in the last few weeks.

We are still working at home to get ready for your arrival.  My hospital bag is packed and waiting by the door.  We have strung the Christmas lights outside and hung the wreaths and put up the tree here in the house.  The bathroom shelves are almost done being stained and poly-ed and the linen closet has been cleaned out and reorganized.  We have a few things left to do but we are getting there and every step we take brings us one step closer to your arrival!

Now - if only I could get work to slow down a bit so that I could wrap all those duties up :)

xoxo
Mom

Week 35: Thank-You Cards; Bin Labels & To-Do Lists

Dear Conor,

We are now in our 35th week and your dad and I are both trying to get a lot of things done.  We cleaned the basement yesterday and organized the shelves.  We have a pile of things to get rid of, to donate, and to try to sell.  BIG dump run this weekend!  But, after all that work the basement is clean and organized and that means a lot to your dad.

I also started filling in your baby book.  I have some more pages to complete before your arrival such as baby shower information and our letters to you......I promise you that I will keep up and complete your book.  Your baby book was a gift from Auntie Ana at your gender reveal party and I am in LOVE with it because it is simple yet allows me to record all the information that you will want to have and will have fun looking at when you are older.

I also completed all your Thank-You cards for gifts.  This has been done for quite a while but we received some gifts from people who couldn't make the shower and I got those thank-yous done as well.  Since I did that I can now post a picture of your Thank-You cards.  I was going to make them myself but I was worried I wouldn't have the time (and I sent out almost 50 cards) so I am glad that I had them printed up for you.  They were purchased from a site called Esty which is a place where people can sell handmade or handcrafted goods and services. 

I can't get this picture to rotate but you can get the general idea.

I also have ben busy making the labels for your canvas bins in your closet that hold your clothes and assorted items.  I completed them today and will laminate them tomorrow after baby class.  I think they came out great - and will be really helpful in this first year.

These are the labels for the bins - I can't get this picture to rotate either.

And these are for the plastic bins that are holding socks and smaller items.

I am also going to complete two Christmas gifts this weekend and then we are going to start decorating our home for Christmas!  We are hosting a party on November 19th so that we can celebrate with all our friends and we are going to string lights this weekend before it gets any colder outside.  We figure, if the stores can do it - so can we!

xoxo
Mom