Really, I am only 5'6"....a 38 week update

Well, not too much news here on the baby baking front...other than Baby Z is still in the oven. He must like it in there.

He's still pretty active and wakes me up several times a night, but for the most part I am able to fall back asleep. I did have one night last week where I didn't....so I was a hot mess the following day. Luckily my boss is super cool and told me to go home and take a nap. So I did and felt like a million bucks when I woke up!

This weekend, we were at the Erwins (as usual), and Lori snapped this sweet picture of Allie admiring Sweetie (her name for Baby Z). She is totally in love with my belly. I wonder if she's just going to be done with me once he comes out. This week, she told me she thinks he's going to come out of my face. I said, "yeah, that sounds about right!" I mean, who wants to explain this to a 5-year-old?

We had our 38 week appointment today. I saw the one female in my practice, and once again, she asked, "How tall are you?" To which I replied, "Seriously, I'm 5'6"." She felt all around my belly and thinks Baby Z may already be 8 pounds. She thinks my pelvis could handle an 8.5 pounder, so she's not too worried, but she does want me back in on Friday for an ultrasound to try and get a better look at his size.

She was super sweet in suggesting it...as if I'm not concerned about giving birth to a 10+ pound baby. I reassured her that I am QUITE  HAPPY to come into the office whenever she wants me to in order to check on this baby's size. None of the male doctors in the practice have been the slightest bit concerned for me having a whopper baby. They've all just said, "oh yeah, he's big!" To which I'm like...uh, thanks. I mean what do you say to that other than....well, let's talk about getting him out! Needless to say, I wanted to hug the doctor today when she asked me to come back THIS WEEK and checked all the appropriate paperwork boxes to get insurance to cover the ultrasound.

So we shall see....I will continue to try my best to make him come out before Friday, but I still feel pretty 'normal' for whatever that's worth. I'm just not sure he's planning on making any appearances this week.....but my fingers are crossed.

More showers and some 36 week progress

Well, it is official - Baby Z can arrive! After 2 showers in as many days, we now have pretty much everything he needs to come home.

My office threw me a shower Thursday, where we got a cool space saver high chair seat that reclines enough so even an infant/newborn can sit at the table with you. They also got us the fancy video monitor I'd randomly stuck on the registry, which is pretty darn cool. We'll be able to see Baby Z in his room and even talk to him through the monitor.

Saturday was our 'Charlotte Shower' at Lori's house. I had a great time catching up with everyone and thoroughly enjoyed the Chick-fil-A nugget tray. (I know, it doesn't take much to impress me!)

 

 

Here are some other shots:

Tanya is one month behind me (due Christmas Eve). Yeah, you can't tell!

Trina just had a lil one about 12 weeks ago...yeah, you can't tell!

 

And one of the gifts especially made for Simon:

We also got his car seat, so now we can legally bring him home from the hospital. We weren't exactly sure what we were going to do if he arrived before the shower, but now we don't have to worry....it is installed and everything now.

Speaking of, our bag is packed and in my trunk now too. I had my 36 week appointment today and heard enough stories about people being sent straight to the hospital from their doctor's office that I didn't want to be stranded.

Clearly, since I'm here typing this, I was not sent to the hospital after the appointment, but the doctor was pleased with my progress. I am still measuring a week ahead. Baby Z is still head down and "in position" (engaged). I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which of course really means nothing, but at least we know something is happening in preparation for the big day. I'm fine with all that too. As the doctor said, we'd like to keep him in at least one more week. I told him I would do my best! (as if I have anything to do with it!)

And as promised, here are a few more of the pictures my friend Annie took of us a few weeks back. I can't wait to get some printed/framed!

Unless we go to the hospital, we go back to the doctor in one week to keep an eye on things! Until then.....

It's Curtains!

literally and figuratively....for the treadmill and Baby Z's room!

Well, we'll see. For the past couple of weeks, I've been able to keep up my 30 minute runs three times a week. Just this past Friday, I started feeling like maybe it's time to start walking - not necessarily because I don't feel good running, but mostly because I don't really feel any better after running. So I told myself Friday that I would give it one more week. Today was a good treadmill day, but again, I didn't really get that 'runners' high' that I'd been getting in the previous weeks, so I'm wondering if that is my body telling me to start walking maybe? I'll finish out this week and see how I feel just walking next week. Should be interesting....

Because everyone seems to be shocked at the fact that I've been running, here's a little snapshot of what I look like afterward....just to proove that it's not like I'm out there running marathons weekly or anything...see my hair isn't even that sweaty:

So - as for the literal curtains, here's a peek:

My awesome faux in-laws came over Saturday to hang the rod and get exact measurements for the hem. I absolutely love them....and to top it off, they have that blackout stuff on the back, so his room can get nice and cozy even during daylight hours.

We continued our nesting by busting out the pack-n-play for a test run...looks good! Once the curtains are hung, Baby Z's room will be pretty much ready!

And speaking of peeks....here are some photos from our friend Annie. Annie has a regular 'ole corporate job during the day, but luckily for her friends and family, she has a super after-work hobby that involves a fancy camera and chasing awesome outdoor lighting. We are blessed to have her as a friend!

More to come after she finishes editing the 200+ she took at the park!

I have my 36 week appointment next Monday, and I'm super curious to see if anything is happening. Lately I've been having the feeling that maybe I will, in fact, go all 40 weeks. As my faux mother-in-law reminded me this weekend...I'm not exactly built like my sisters! (Though I think she thinks I'm a giant even though I'm only 5'6"....she's maybe 4'10") If I continue to feel as I have been feeling, then I'm ok with making it to 40 weeks....and as long as Simon agrees to continue rubbing my feet at the end of days where I stand too much! (I'm sure I can convince him)

We have our final shower this weekend...I'm calling it the Charlotte Shower! I'm excited to have all my friends in one place at one time. Stay tuned for photos from that fun event!

Showered With Love

We had our first baby shower over the Labor Day holiday weekend - thrown by our Florida Family. And as usual, it was spectacular. Simon and I took Friday off and drove down. Skip, Lori and the girls were a few hours behind us. We stayed in NanaBob's house across the street from the Micklers. At one point Allie said, "Mommy, I like this house better than ours." She's in a fairly complimentary mood these days, but I think she might have stayed there forever if we let her!

Dad Mickler and Simon headed to the Gator game in Gainesville Saturday afternoon while I stayed inside with the AC on full blast. The Erwin clan hit the sights on St. George Street but then also had to come hibernate indoors with me!

The shower was Sunday evening, and thankfully, the heat and humidity had dissipated a bit...and by dissipated, I mean it was only 90 degrees with 70 percent humidity. :) We had a delicious spread of food and fun boy blue decorations everywhere. Isla and Allie enjoyed passing out our presents.

I think you can view most of the present-opening fun in the video above? (We...ok I cannot lie.....my favorite gift was, of course, his first Gamecock jersey!) It's kinda long, but be sure and skip to the end to see the special messsage from Allie.

Needless to say, it was a wonderful weekend, and we are truly blessed to have such awesome extended family.

THANKS Florida Family!!

Love, Alli, Simon & Baby Z

Welcome!

 

So - welcome to the blog I've set up to keep those of you far away up to speed on how things are going. In case you haven't heard....Simon and I are having a baby....and it's a boy!

 

Due Date: Nov. 24

First Trimester: yucky...no vomiting but just didn't feel right

Second Trimester: WAY better. Better sleep, less peeing, more energy, able to run 30 mins straight.

Third Trimester: have a feeling the brakes are about to come to a screeching halt! I'm already peeing more, and I'm not technically here yet!

 

So that puts me into week 27 right now. Here are some photos of my physical progression:

 

June 3 - Week 16

 

July 8 - Week 20

 

August 5 - Week 24

 

 

If one more person asks me if there is "more than one in there," I may have to get violent. Why would you say that? OK, maybe say, "Wow, you've ONLY got XX months to go."

 

Anyway, we have our first baby shower next weekend (ironically Labor Day weekend) in St. Augustine, Florida. We bought a new "family" car last weekend, so we are looking forward to testing it out on I95! (Toyota Camry)