Happy Halloween!!!

I had my Dr. Appt. checkup this afternoon and I'm now dilated to 2 and 80% effaced...yeah!!! Since my measurements were perfect and Carter is doing great, she won't do another ultrasound unless I go past my due date. That shouldn't happen though, because I went ahead and asked if I could be induced on the 16th if I haven't had him before then...she said that shouldn't be a problem as long as I continue to progress at the rate I currently am. I was so excited...now I won't have to worry about him coming on Thanksgiving Day or me still being in the hospital then either. I've had occasional contractions throughout the day today, but they are pretty strong at the moment...especially in my back. Doubt he decides to come tonight, but we'll keep you updated if he does! : ) My mom took some pictures of us the other day, so I'll try to post those soon. Hope you all have a safe and Happy Halloween!!!

Update #9

Sorry I didn't have a chance to post an update last week. We've been busy getting everything ready for Carter and I have been so exhausted lately. Still bruised from my fall, but I'm not really hurting anymore, so that's great!!! I was having contractions last week, especially on Tuesday. They were very uncomfortable and were in my back. I wasn't really noticing many breaks, so after several hours I called the doctor and they wanted me to go over to Centennial and be monitored. They gave me an IV (even though there is no way I was dehydrated) and monitored me and Carter for several hours. Carter was doing fine…his heartbeat was good and he was very active! I was dilated to 1 and 70% effaced. Although I was still having contractions, they weren't causing me to dilate any further so they finally let me go. My doctor's appt was that next morning and I was still only dilated to 1 and 70% effaced. I'll go back on Wednesday (24th) to see if there have been any other changes and to get the results of my Group B Strep test. Matt's work threw him a surprise shower last Friday…thank you all so much for the wonderful gifts!!! And I had a church shower on Sunday…thank you Shelley for hosting and thank you to everyone for all the great gifts...I'll try to post pictures soon! We have everything we need now…just waiting on Carter! Matt and I installed the car seat tonight, the camera and video camera are charged, and my bag is packed and ready at the front door! Even though Carter probably won't be here for Halloween, we bought him a little decorated pumpkin...it is too cute! I'll post another update after our doctor's appt.

Only 5 more weeks!!!

I've been taking it easy today after my rough day yesterday...I'll explain- Matt & I didn't have any plans, so we were working on getting things done around the house for baby Carter. Early that morning I fell going up the stairs...I was carrying too much and my slippers were pretty slick on the bottom...luckily my elbow broke my fall so there was no danger to baby Carter. It was only a couple hours later and I was coming down the stairs again (with the same slippers on) and Maggie was taking her time going down in front of me...I nudged her with my foot to speed her along and lost my balance at the top of the second landing and slipped all the way down hitting my back and butt on every step and sliding out into the den floor. It absolutely scared me to death, not to mention how bad it hurt...once again, luckily my back end took the fall and my stomach was protected...I was worried about Carter, but was glad he was moving around afterwards. We're doing fine...I'm just incredibly sore and bruised...and for the slippers, they were trashed!
We had Carter's diaper bag monogrammed this weekend and it looks so cute...it is all packed and ready for his arrival! Also, Matt and his dad were able to hang his letters over his bed, so his room is all ready too! Only 5 more weeks left...we can't wait!!!
I had a doctor's appt on Friday- everything went great and we will now start going for check-ups each week. My next appt is on the 17th, so I'll try to post an update afterwards- she will check to see if I'm dilated yet and I'll also be tested for Group B Strep.

Update #8

I'm feeling much better this week- still exhausted from last week and this past weekend, but other than being tired I'm feeling great! I added a new photo page from my surprise work shower on October 4th- it was so wonderful…thanks again!!! That day was also Matt's 26th birthday, so I took him to Maggiano's after work and then to the Preds opening game…it was a great game and we had so much fun! Carter really enjoyed it too…he was very active and kept kicking out my right side! : ) Matt thought we needed to get him a souvenir for his first game, so we bought him a little hockey stick to put in his room…it is too cute! : )
My Aunt Lori threw me a wonderful shower on Saturday for family and a few close friends…thank you so much Aunt Lori (and Darlene for all your help), I had such a great time!!! I'll be adding a new photo page soon! We've been able to put away most of our gifts, except for the clothes…they are all over the den! Hopefully I'll get those put away soon…I'm such a neat freak, it has been driving me nuts! I told Matt the other day that I think my brain has started nesting, but my body isn't quite there yet! : ) Matt got the pack-n-play and highchair put together this weekend, and my hospital bag is about halfway packed…so everything is coming right along.
As of today, we only have 39 days left until the due date…I can't believe how quick it has gone and how soon our baby will be here! I'm so emotional and so excited, I can't even put into words how I'm feeling…just thinking about our precious baby makes me tear up…I just can't wait for him to get here!!!! Our next Dr. Appt is this Friday, so we'll see if I've started dilating any…this was about the point that Shanda starting dilating, but as we all know Meredith had her own plans and wasn't coming out any early! : ) My ankles and feet have been swelling more often lately, so I've tried to elevate them more. Also, still having bad back aches and the pain above my stomach is from ligaments stretching- that has continued also. We're hoping to get Carter's letters painted and hung over his bed this weekend…other than waiting on one piece of furniture to be swapped out, that is the only thing left for us to finish in his room. Once again, I had a "blast from the past" craving last night at the grocery store…Rice Krispie Treat cereal…and of course we couldn't find it! Why can't I just crave something that you can find anywhere??? Guess that would be too easy! : )
Oh, check out the updated pictures of Meredith…especially the picture of her in her little pink sunglasses…adorable! : )

Update #7

I had a Dr. Appt last Friday and everything is still going good…I didn't have any pre-labor symptoms this week, so I won't have to go back for 2 more weeks. Also last week, my parents bought Carter's travel system…we were so excited to put it together! I was finally getting over my cold by the weekend and we had a great time at my scrapbook shower...see photo page.
Carter has been so active lately and gets hiccups like crazy. I've been getting really bad backaches and I've also had a pain above the right side of my stomach for the past few days…not sure what it is, but it feels like muscles stretching…ouch! Sunday night my throat started hurting again and felt like it was swollen, I was also really achy and nauseous. The symptoms weren't getting any better, so I went to the doctor on Wednesday- I had a sinus infection so now I'm on antibiotics.
I haven't had as many cravings lately but the ones I've had have been very random…Cherry Laffy Taffy with sprinkles and Egg Salad sandwiches…I can't even remember the last time I had either one of these, it had to be back when I was still in high school! : )
I'm having a Family & Friends shower this weekend at my Aunt Lori's house…it's going to be so much fun, I can't wait…I'll try to post pictures this weekend. Almost 34 weeks, so I'll have another pregnancy picture to post too…I feel huge lately! : ) I weigh about what Shanda did when she had Meredith and I still have 6 1/2 weeks to go! Carter, how big are we going to get??? : )

Update #6

Sorry I haven't posted a journal in a while, I've been trying to take it easy this week. Here's an update on what's been going on:
While I was getting ready for church on Sunday (9/16/07), I started cramping and having pre-labor symptoms. I was really worried since usually I feel so good and haven't had any issues during my pregnancy. I called the doctor and they said that if the cramps didn't stop that I could come into the hospital- so around lunchtime Matt & I headed off to Centennial Women's Hospital. Carter had been moving around so that made me feel a little better, but I was still worried. I should have been resting before we went, but I was thinking "what if he actually decides to come today?", so I was running around throwing things in my hospital bag just in case! : ) I had gradually been adding to it, but I definitely didn't have everything I needed in there. My mom met us at the hospital and they took us back as soon as we got there. They hooked me up to all the monitors and ran a couple tests. I hadn't started dilating yet, so that was a good sign and Carter was still active- he always kicks at things that touch my stomach, so he was having fun with the thing that was monitoring his heartbeat! : ) They kept me there about three hours and although the cramps hadn't stopped they said I could go home- they thought maybe I was just dehydrated and suggested that I drink lots of water and rest as soon as I got home. Shanda had the same symptoms around 33 weeks when Meredith started dropping, so maybe that's what it was. I also had a pretty busy day on Saturday too with our childbirth class, 3D/4D ultrasound, and our search for a new car, so I'm sure that probably had something to do with it. Yes, we're going to have to trade in my bug…the car seat and stroller won't fit in there at the same time! I knew it would be a pain to get the car seat in and out of my back seat, but hadn't even thought about having the car seat and stroller in there at the same time! : ) I love my car, so it's going to be hard to find a replacement! I felt better on Monday after resting, but got hot at work later that afternoon and almost passed out…I even had to lay on the floor. I was working with my friend at her desk…poor Mandy, I know I must have freaked her out! : ) On Wednesday, I volunteered at the Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center for our work's Community Day. I had a great time putting together baby layettes for the expectant mothers attending their childbirth classes, and matching baby outfits. Later that afternoon I stopped by to see Shanda and sweet baby Meredith and I told Shanda to come feel Carter moving…when she felt my stomach, she asked if I was having a contraction. And sure enough, I was! Up to this point, I had only had two Braxton Hicks contractions on two separate days. I didn't even feel that first contraction, but a couple hours later I could tell I was having one even before I felt my stomach…they were coming every 10 minutes and the pains were even starting in my back. I just timed them for a while and once again drank lots of water and tried to rest and after a couple more hours they stopped being as consistent and by bedtime they had pretty much stopped. We had our Infant CPR & Safety class on Thursday. My grandmother (Betty) came with us since she is going to be watching Carter and Meredith when Shanda & I go back to work. I'm so glad we were all able to take the class. I had taken a CPR/AED class last year at work and couldn't remember a thing...for everyone I work with you still do 30 compressions & 2 breaths for infants too! We had a Dr Appt on Friday, everything went good- my weight stayed the same, Carter's heartbeat sounded great, and I still haven't started dilating. She wants to see me back next week because of the pre-labor symptoms I was having. Today, Matt & I had our last childbirth class- Newborn Care. I also woke up sick today with a cold...I feel awful!!!! Hopefully it won't last long. My first shower (scrapbook shower) is on Saturday, so I need to be better by then.
Oh, and we also decided on baby's middle name this week- Matthew!!! Not only will he have part of Matt's name, but Matthew also means "gift of God" and that's exactly what he is- he is such a blessing already!
Hopefully next week won't be as crazy!

"Labor of Love"

Last Saturday, Matt & I attended the first portion of our "Labor of Love" childbirth class. We talked about common discomforts during pregnancy and warning signs, stages of labor, and relaxation techniques. The guys even got to wear the sympathy belly! I knew Matt would get a chance to wear it, so I came prepared with my camera! : ) We go back on Saturday morning for the second portion of the class to discuss pushing positions & techniques, pain medications, types of delivery, etc. I had really started getting nervous about labor, but I feel a little better after our first class. I can't wait for his arrival- I just want to hold him and snuggle with him! : ) Shanda and our friend Shandie from church have both had their babies now- seeing them with their precious babies makes me that much more excited and ready for him to come! : )
His first name is definitely going to be Carter...we even bought the letters to hang over his bed at Joann's last night. We've gotten so used to just calling him "B", it's going to take a while before I start calling him Carter. We've narrowed down the full name to either Carter Matthew or Carter Ryan...we're hoping to decide within the next few days...maybe we'll know after the 3D/4D ultrasound on Saturday afternoon. I've been hoping it would just come to me in a dream or I would all of a sudden have a really strong feeling about one of them, but so far nothing...I still really like both! I'll try to post the pictures this weekend, so everyone can see how much he's changed!

Update #5

Hope everyone is doing well! We had a doctor's appointment this past Friday and everything is still going good. My next appointment is in three weeks and then I'll start going every two weeks. As my third trimester started, I began to have minor swelling in my ankles and feet, so I've tried to prop them up more...it is so difficult for me to just sit there though, I would much rather be up doing something. My back has been hurting more often too, but other than that I'm doing great!
All the baby furniture has finally arrived- it looks so great!!! I added some new pictures on the Nursery #2 page. Now we just need to hang a few pictures and his room will be all ready for him! We're getting closer on a name too...finally! : ) We think we're going to go with Carter for his first name (we can just use Garrett if we have another boy later down the road), still undecided on his middle name though.
Only two more weeks till our second 3D/4D ultrasound...can't wait!

Welcome Baby Meredith!!!

Welcome Baby Meredith Grace! My sister Shanda and her husband Matt had their baby on 8/16/07. She was 8 lbs, 4 oz, and 20 in long. She is absolutely adorable and is such a sweet baby! I have added a new photo page with some of her recent pictures. I'll be able to get lots of practice holding Meredith and changing diapers before Baby B comes…I wish he was here now though, I can't wait to hold him!
Me and Baby B are still doing good! Still no name…Shanda has been calling him Mr. B and lately we just call him B, I think he kind of likes it, but I guess we'll have to come up with a real name! : ) His room is coming right along though- we hung his curtains last night and now we are just waiting on the rest of his furniture to arrive. I added a couple more pictures of his room to the nursery photo page. We also found out last week that we had won a Boppy pillow from Babies R Us at their recent Baby Fair…we haven't had any showers yet, so we were so excited to go pick it up on Saturday! : ) The last couple days I've been having headaches, but I'm so thankful I don't have one today…I needed a break! Recent cravings- Orange Tangerine Juicy Juice (I can't get enough of it!), nectarines & watermelon, Outback pizza from Nick N Willie's Take & Bake Pizza, #2 Cheeseburger Meal from McDonalds (not so good for me, but tastes so yummy!), and I almost forgot- hot chocolate (yes, even in 100+ degree weather). B got hiccups twice yesterday…I think he has had them before, but I didn't know for sure until yesterday. It happened both times after I ate Chewy Sprees, not sure if they were the cause, or if it was just a coincidence. : ) We will be starting our Childbirth Education classes soon…we actually had one scheduled the night Meredith was born, so it had to be rescheduled. Our next Dr. Appt is on August 31st and the second 3D/4D ultrasound is scheduled for September 15th…I can't wait to see his sweet face again!

Update #4

Sunday morning I had two donuts before church and after I got there I started feeling awful- I was so weak and I was really worried that my blood sugar was high. Shanda checked my blood about an hour and a half after the donuts and everything was fine. Up until that point I hadn't been nervous about the glucose test results, but I was really concerned all afternoon since I felt so bad. Last night we checked the doctor's website and my glucose test results had been posted- we were so glad that everything was normal!!!! I still don't think I'll have anymore donuts for a while though. Yesterday I was craving Potato Salad from Shane's Rib Shack so bad- we had it for lunch and then we had to drive back up there last night and get a pint to go because I wanted it again for dinner! I still crave milk and pickles all the time too! This afternoon I had hot chocolate and doritos...that is probably one of my strangest combinations, but it was so good! : )
The baby furniture was actually delivered on Friday night- I thought it was coming on Saturday, but Matt had called and arranged for it to be brought on Friday, to surprise me (he is so sweet)! : ) The dresser and armoire were messed up, so they will have to be re-ordered (hopefully they will be here in a couple weeks), but the chair, ottoman, and bed were delivered! We love the furniture...it looks better than I had imagined it would! We washed all of baby's bedding and set up his bed...it is adorable! I uploaded a few pictures on the nursery section of the website. We can't wait till baby is here...we are so excited, just the thought of our precious baby brings tears to my eyes!
I've been feeling baby moving for several weeks now, but his kicks are getting stronger. He typically moves before and after I eat and at night when we read in my pregnancy books and I write in my journal. He's especially active when we talk to him at night!
Our first 3D/4D ultrasound is on Saturday...we can't wait to see him!!! I'll post pictures and give you all an update afterwards!
Still no name for baby yet...hopefully soon! : )