Baby Month 9 - Sept

(A day where I finally felt good enough to do my hair before work so I had to take a picture)

Our last month, Month 9 (September) is finally here!  Well, it better be our last monthly pregnancy post because if I need to do a Month 10 October post there will be hell to pay.  Like most pregnant women at this stage in the game, I am ready to be DONE!  I could probably handle being pregnant for another couple weeks if I wasn't also still working full-time but doing both is challenging - especially when I am having trouble getting any sleep.  So this month is really just all about survival.  I eat, I rest, I poop - just like a baby!  :-)  Tony has been an extra stellar husband, making sure we have food to eat and keeping the house in order.  I would say he is in nesting mode, wanting to make sure we have everything taken care of before the baby comes.  He got all the baby gear cleaned/sterilized and set to go - even moved our big TV downstairs to give us more room for baby stuff in the living room.

Other Notes from Month 9:

• What caused hormonal SOBBING fits this month?  Tony throwing out the leftover Papa John's garlic butter before I finished my last piece of pizza.  Tony agreeing to go on a Sunday drive but not being excited enough about it.  (Just to name a few)  Yes, I agree, poor Tony.
• I have decided that telling a pregnant woman "It could be any day now" is just cruel and unusual punishment.  The most likely scenario is that the baby will be born on the due date so don't give a desperate lady any false hope that she will receive an early reprieve!
• Everyday that I leave work I need to wrap up everything from the day as if I were not coming back the next day, which sometimes means I work a little later (ironically) and makes it rather depressing to show up the next day and start over again!
• People keep asking me if I am excited or if I am scared to be so close to the big day.  Honestly, I don't feel either.  I am just ready for the day to be here and I don't feel like there is really anything else I can do to prepare for it.
• I haven't really had any contractions yet.  A couple times I thought I was having one but then I just farted or burped and it went away :-)  So my theme of "It's just gas" from earlier in pregnancy is quite applicable now!
• Doctor appointments are weekly now, including a very uncomfortable dilation check.  Two weeks in a row of only 1cm and "thick" which is disappointing that there was no progress but I should be thankful that I haven't had to deal with Braxton Hicks contractions or back labor. 
• I took a mid-week vacation day the other day because I was feeling so horrible from lack of sleep.  I couldn't really nap but the rest did me lots of good.  I was even able to go for a walk by dinner time!  I miss walking so much - such a great stress reliever and body refresher.
• I got my "push present" a little early - the Galaxy Note Tablet!  (We actually used my credit card points so it was nearly free.)  It will be great to have during labor to pass some of the time.  The only problem is my belly gets in the way of where I would normally hold it, so I need to rest it on my stomach and then the baby kicks and shakes it all about!  
• Best present this month?  Tylenol PM!!  I was complaining to the doctor that I couldn't sleep and he asked if I tried Tylenol PM.  What?!?  I can take that?!?!  We immediately drove to the store to pick some up.  I feel a little guilty for "drugging" the baby but probably a small price to pay for some sanity.
• I convinced Tony to read me a bedtime story the other night.  I thought it would be good practice since I knew he was unsure of his story time skills.  Turns out he is a natural!  Since then, we have read a couple other bedtime stories to each other which is fun practice.
• I woke Tony up in the middle of the night the other night because I wasn't feeling well.  I asked him a question to which he responded "Umm...." and while I was waiting for his answer he appeared to fall back asleep!  I just rolled over and decided to ignore him but about 5 minutes later, he said "Wait, did you ask me a question?"  Apparently he thought he was only dreaming but slowly came to the realization that he wasn't.  So his help was delayed but appreciated. 

 (We went out for a nice dinner on what could be our last weekend without kids and got myself some fancy, cooked sushi)

Baby Month 8 - Aug

(Picture from Cartegraph baby shower, I call this my "12 months pregnant" dress)

This Month 8 (August) is the first month where I haven't kept any notes along the way to help me write my monthly baby blog post!  That has really been an indication of how much more tired and less productive I have become.  I am lucky to get 5000 steps in a day these days.  We have been spending some extra time getting our house and ourselves ready for the baby.  The baby room is done, we (hopefully) have all the supplies we need, and we attended baby prep classes at Mercy.

I also took a prenatal yoga class this month.  The first class did not go well.  I was so frustrated that I could not do the moves that I once could and so many of the other attendees were much less pregnant than me.  At one point, I almost started crying during the class - and at that moment the teacher made a comment about how some of us might get "emotional" during class.  I thought - Oh No!  She can tell I am going to cry!  Pull it together Michelle!!  Luckily, I saved all my crying until I got to the car and I texted Tony that it was "his fault" because he had pushed me to take the class.  So Tony immediately started cleaning (his normal response when he is worried he is in trouble) and he finally breathed a sigh of relief when I came home and gave him a hug.   I relaxed for the next couple of classes and started to enjoy it more, so in the end, I was glad I had signed up.

Other Notes from Month 8:  

• I have been having some fun picking on Tony.  I told him I decided my "present for being pregnant" should be a new iPad.  It was fun to see his face as he struggled choosing between his wife and his anti-Apple convictions!  The wife won (with some limitations such as no tech support from him) but he was happy to realize I was just messing with him.
• We have been eating out more lately under the ruse of taking advantage of our DINK (dual income no kids) lifestyle while we can!
• The first baby class we attended created some anxiety for me.  I responded very maturely by continuously declaring (to myself and Tony) that "babies are stupid".  Tony helped me realize a lot of my anxiety was related to my decision to breast feed - meaning the baby always relies on me and only me and my body is continued to be sacrificed/uncomfortable.   But now that we are aware of this issue, we can better deal with it.
• I had a second baby shower, this time at work, and received so many wonderful and generous gifts!  Kudos to my friends Natalie and Alyssa for hosting and bringing yummy Pancheros - and we had enough leftovers for a couple of additional meals!
• I had a nice BIG piece of cake the other night before bed.  I think I gave the baby a sugar high or something because she was moving so much it felt like she was going to pop out of my belly button!  It was pretty freaky, but she calmed down after 15 minutes or so of pure discomfort.
• Tony often gets the "Poor Tony" angle for putting up with me, especially while I am pregnant.  I was VERY happy to see the tables turned at his parents house when his mom was declaring "Poor Michelle" because Tony took me out on a hike on a hot day.  Yes, Karen, I agree - Michelle needs much more relaxing and resting time!  Hmmm... I wonder if I mentioned that pre-natal massage I had the other day.... :-)

(Sneak peak of the decor in the baby room - we finally chose a decal)

 

Baby Shower

Just a few pictures from our family baby shower.  The diaper cake was beautiful, the real cake was delicious, Alicia was a big helper - especially opening presents, and there were so many wonderful pregnant ladies there to celebrate with!