One week to go...

Next Monday is the official due date, and it is coming fast!  I haven't blogged for a while, so I will try to catch up...

I attached a picture of the nursery above.  It has all kinds of jungle creatures - giraffes, lions, turtles, elephants - on the bedding and the walls.  The last piece of furniture we were waiting on was the chair, and I ordered it online two weeks ago.  Brandon assembled it for me last week.  Now the furniture is ready, and I've stocked the drawers with little blue clothes and tiny little diapers.

Brandon and I had a little fun a few weekends ago when we made a plaster cast of my belly.  I hadn't heard of such a thing, but Brandon found a kit online.  We had to start by slathering a bunch of petroleum jelly on my belly.  Then, Brandon wet down some plaster strips and placed them on me while I stood very still.  The cast actually dried pretty quickly.  It's kind of funny to look at Brandon.  I asked Brandon what we should do with it now, and he said, "I thought it would just be fun to do.  I never really thought about what we would do with it."  It's just sitting in our spare bedroom for now.

Last week we went in for an ultrasound.  The baby measured 6 lbs, 7 oz according to the technician.  She said he has big feet (I wonder who that comes from?).  The doctor said he is measuring at the 19 percentile, but they don't usually worry unless the baby is 10th percentile or less.  The baby still hasn't dropped, so I get the impression that they are probably going to let the little guy stay in as long as he wants.  We will just have to see him when he is ready to greet us!

I had a nice treat on Friday when I went into the local spa for a massage!  I was wondering how it would work with my big belly, but she just had me lay on my side and switched halfway through.  It was nice to have a little pampering.

This will likely be my last week of work for a while.  I had been planning Wednesday to be my last day, but we will see how my Wednesday doctor appointment goes.  I might work a few half-days to finish out the week.  I don't want to work up until the day I deliver, but I also don't want to sit around the house for two weeks, either.  I'd go stir-crazy!  

That is all for now.  I waddle a little more a sleep a little less, but otherwise, things are going well.  We will let you know when we have more to update!

When it Rains, It Pours...

     First of all, I have to apologize for not blogging for awhile.  We have been busy with Baby Classes and lately our internet connection has been sporadic.

     Yesterday, I had a big surprise at work.  I was planning to eat lunch with my friends Elisa and Tara, but instead they surprised me with a baby shower.  I wasn't expecting it at all!  The baby got more wonderful gifts, and I had a fun time eating lunch and chatting with friends.  It is always amazing to me how creative and talented some people are - all the beautiful baby blankets, and baby wreaths and cakes made from diapers, home-made burp cloths.  How neat!

  This afternoon, Brandon's co-workers planned a baby shower for us as well.  We played a few games, too.  One was a memory game where there were 20 items that we would need for the baby on a tray.  We studied it for two minutes.  Then we had to list as many as we could remember.  Sixteen was the winning number.  We also had a contest (Brandon and I judged) to see who could draw the best baby on a paper plate - while holding it over their head.  Last, we had to "guess the flavor of baby food."  Brandon and I got to taste, while everyone else only smelled.  The unfair advantage didn't help me.  I think the only one I got right was the vanilla pudding.

     I mentioned Baby Classes earlier, so I am glad to say that we are finally done.  Funny, they don't give you a certificate or anything that says your ready for baby now!  We went to the childbirth prep class, baby care class, and we toured Lutheran's maternity center last night.  Methodist has a larger maternity center and Blank Children's Hospital is down the hall, but I want to go to Lutheran better because it is easier to find and I've heard that the staff is smaller and friendly.  Our tour guide said they had a lot of discharges that day, so I didn't see any women ready to deliver on the floor; only two premies in the NICU.

     It's nice that things are coming together.  We still have a few things to tie up (name, pediatrician, a few things in the nursery), but for the most part, I'm feeling like we are closer to being ready to welcome Baby Boelman into the world!