Pregnant Belly Photo Session

We just got our pictures back from our photography session that we did in Balboa Park on October 17th. We really wanted to document my belly so that we can show our little angel what she looked like in Mom's belly. I think the pictures turned out great - exactly what we wanted! Now we have some pictures to put in the empty frames on our wall! Here are a few of our favorites:

Checking off the list...

So now that I'm officially on Maternity leave as of this morning, I've started diving into the laundry list of "to do's" that I created for myself during these 4.5 weeks that I have off before my due date.

• Today, I picked up the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump.
• This past weekend, I finalized the baby room (pics to come!).
• Today, I made the Maternity Leave Letters to send to my customers.
• This past weekend, I organized my diaper bag (as much as I could...I don't know what size she is going to be when she's born so that will determine the clothes and diaper size I put in the bag).
• Yesterday, I finished all of her laundry (meaning blankets and a few more clothes we got as presents).

I've still got a few more things to complete...

• Install car seats
• Steamclean carpets (again - hey, I love that clean feeling)
• Organize nursery closet
• Make a space for her things in the kitchen
• Pick up a few nursery books, a medical binder, a hamper and a trash can
• Pack hospital bags! (yay!)
• And I'm sure I'll come up with a few more things...

I also was able to squeeze in a pedicure today. And tomorrow afternoon I scheduled a prenatal massage. Hey, I'm just doing what the doctor ordered! She recommended I pamper myself so I am totally going along with it. Ha!

I can't believe it's getting so close...awhhh...and that means that this blog of my pregnancy is coming to a close soon, too! Time has flown by for sure --- well, kinda. There were definitely times that I thought I'd be pregnant forever!

I'm just relishing my "alone moments" and trying to rest as much as possible. Naps are so yummy since I get up to go the bathroom at least 4 times each night. I think I'll get a few more massages after tomorrows and I'm going to go visit some friends and family for lunch a couple of times.

Oh yea....and we picked a name ;-) You'll find out on her birthday...

Love,

Andrea

Big OBGYN Day!

So this morning we had our 35 1/2 week OBGYN appointment primarily for the doctor to do the Strep B test. It standard protocol, I'm sure I'll be just fine. She also did a pelvic exam to see where I'm at...so here are my stats:

0 dialated

80% effaced

Baby in very low head down position

Plenty of room to avoid C-section :-)

This was all great news! I talked to my girlfriend Tina tonight and she told me that she thinks I'm going to go "fast" (meaning that once I've dialated ... it's game time!). My doctor said that Paul and I should pack our bags since we only have 1.5 more weeks til I'm considered "Full Term" (meaning, if I go into labor, they won't stop it). Wow. I know. She said that she thinks I have a few more weeks of cooking to go. I think she was hinting that I'm going to go a little bit early (OR that's just wishful thinking on my part!). I don't want to go TOO early, just a week or so. :)

All in all...a fabulous appointment. We are extremely happy that everything has gone so well. We are very blessed, indeed.

Love,

Soon to be Mom & Dad

I did laundry...

No, not just my clothes. But I washed all of the newborn and 0-3 month baby clothes! And a few burb clothes and blankets. Wow was that a surreal feeling...folding all of those little iddy biddy clothes. I'm sure it will take me awhile to figure out the best way to fold them.

I put them away in the nursery dresser all neat and tidy. Paul said it looks great! I also washed her changing table pad cover so that's all nice and fluffy and ready for her! I still need to wash her sheets, the large blankets, and the baby carrier cover. I think I'll do those in a few weeks.

I also had my second shower this past weekend for my coworkers and OC girlfriends. It was held at the Clubhouse here at our apartment complex. It was so much fun! And the chocolate-bavarian cake was delish. :) I'll post some pictures once I get them from Wendy.

So there are just a few items that I need to pick up to complete our registry list. I've got to go by Pottery Barn and grab the curtain rod, too. Paul's going to paint her room a light pink this weekend so once that's dry, I'll put up the curtains and rehang the shelves. Then, honestly, I think we are all set!

The only remaining things before d-day that I need to organize after her room is done is to get our hospital bags ready, finalize the organizing of my diaper bag, situate how I want her corner of the bathroom organized, and clean out a space in the kitchen cupboard for her things. I'm feeling more and more prepared with each passing day! All we need now is a baby! (Oh yes, and I want to write her a letter for her to have when she's grown up! Can't forget that!)

We have the first of three baby classes at Hoag Hospital tonight at 7:00pm. Tonight's class is called "Baby Saver" and it's basically all about baby CPR which is fabulous. The second one is this friday (the 16th) and it's all about "Baby Basics". I think they are going over the practical side of taking care of a baby (diapers, sleep, etc.). Then our third and final class is a week from today and that's on "Breastfeeding". I'll be paying very close attention in that one!

And finally, Paul and I think we have picked her name. But contrary to how we've been during these past 8 months, we are going to keep it a secret until we introduce her to everyone on d-day with her new name. I can't wait to tell everyone! Paul and I just had an epiphany this week (it's been on our list this entire time) that we really could see her with that name for her lifetime. We will share that her middle name will be the same as mine, "Rae".

That's all for now...signing off at 33 weeks and 4 days.

Love,

Andrea

Ha ha ... looking back, that's pretty funny!

Paul called me out the other day. When I complained to him about how big I feel, he said "Hey, remember when you were like 12 weeks pregnant and you kept saying how pregnant you looked? Doesn't that sound funny now?" He's totally right. Scroll down and check out my 12 week pictures. I definitely have a VERY small pooch. I was wanting a belly SOO badly and although I am glad I have one (cause I know my baby girl is growing), I definitely don't remember what it's like to have flat abs.

Dear God, please help me get back there afterwards. Thank you. ;-)

I know have even more growing to go even though I don't know where she's going to go. I guess outwards? Ha ha, poor Paul, as if I don't have to have his help grabbing things off the floor and help getting off the squishy couch enough! I'll tell you one thing, it's going to be very enlightening to compare those first belly pics to my 40 week belly pics. Ahh, the days when I was 127lbs...I promise to see you again soon!

32 Weeks Belly! {photo}

Charger Game! (her first of many)

On September 27th, Uncle Joey, Aunt Suzanne, Paul and I went to the Chargers vs. Miami game in San Diego. It was a blast! It was also hotter then heck! I'm so glad I wore shorts. Any day now the weather will act like it's fall but it doesn't look like that will be coming until November...which leaves this overheated prego with just a few weeks of comfortable weather. Next time, I'll try to big and pregnant in the middle of the winter months. But I digress! Here's a few pics from the game!

Baby Shower time!

I first want to mention that a few people deserve major kudos for throwing us a baby shower. Major props go out to Barb, G-ma Debbie, G-ma Joni, Shereen, Tina and Rachel! Thank you ladies for an amazing afternoon and party! It was exactly what I was wanting and hoping for. And thank you to everyone else for making your way up to Yogi's to celebrate the wee-little-one with us. Let me tell you, she got some absolutely adorable things from her future family and our friends.

Here are some pictures from that wonderful day (don't we have the most gorgeous group of ladies!?!? yes, I think so!)

Whew!

I'll be honest. I've been a little bit uncomfortable (physically) these past couple of weeks which makes it hard to sit down and focus on my beloved blogging. They weren't kidding when they said things start getting difficult again somewhere around the 28-30 week mark. My discomfort started sometime last week. I think that's when she found her "head down" position...thus, her feet found the underside of my ribs (ouch!) and I have less room for my stomach and lungs.

Many WONDERFUL things have happened since week 30. Now I'm 32 weeks along and just around 8 weeks to go (or so!). I like to say "or so!" because it makes me feel excited that she could arrive a little bit earlier than planned. So let me play catch up on the fun things...

On September 25th (friday), PK Productions (aka Grampa Paul & Gramma Karen) came into town and we had a BBQ up at Uncle Matty's house in Lomita. It was so nice to catch up with them and waddle around their house with my big 'ole belly.

The next morning was the BIG day: 4D Ultrasound (yippee!) and my first Baby Shower! G-pa Paul and G-ma Karen came with Paul and I to XDI Ultrasound in Nort

h Park in San Diego. I was so excited to bring them since they won't be here for her birth. They got to get a sneak peek into what she looks like right along with Paul and I. And let me tell you, it was so amazing. Here's a couple pics:

The ultrasound tech said that she was around 16 inches long and that she has very long legs. She was also 3lbs 13oz. She kept her hands up around her face like that picture shows so he rubbed the upper part of my belly where her feet were to draw her hands down. It totally worked and she showed us her beautiful face. He also said she's got a lot of hair on her head. It's crazy to already know so much about her. I can't wait to give her smooches. I love her so much. More than I thought was possible.

We got a video of the entire ultrasound and I'm working on breaking it up into small pieces so I can post it on the blog. So far, the consensus is that in some of the pictures she looks like me and some of the pictures she looks like Paul. She's such a great blend of us both. I looked up both of our newborn baby pictures and oddly enough, Paul and I kind of look alike as babies. Button noses and chubby cheeks (okay, my cheeks were A LOT chubbier than Paul's but that's because I was a 9lb baby and he was a 6lb baby).

Overall, I would recommend doing the 4D ultrasound (at a good spot) to any expecting mom and dad. It's such a great way to connect to the little one visually. Paul and I held hands through the whole thing and couldn't have been more excited and in awh that this was our baby girl in front of us. At one point, the ultrasound tech told Paul to lean in towards my tummy and talk to her to see her react. (side note: at home, I always try to get Paul to talk to my belly and he did it sometimes but he didn't think she could hear him!) So Paul leaned in and started talking to her and guess what? She dropped her hands from her face and pulled her head upwards as she straightened her back. We all gasped! She totally knew it was her daddy! So needless to say, I recommend to any dad to do that as well. We have it on video...I can't wait to show her. :-)

(Baby shower day continued on next blog....)