Almost There!

Alright!  We made it to the magical 37 week mark!  We are now in the green zone to deliver at the wonderful Dar A Luz Birth Center!  Hooray!!!  

High-Five!  We did it!

Also, we did have our ultrasound on Friday to check out what was happening with Harper's growth.  Here's a close-up shot of munchkin's smushy little face :-)

 
All in all, all is well.  Her heart rate and fluid levels looked good, and she has still been moving around like a champ.  However, she was measuring a little small.  About a week and a half smaller than she should.  Of course, Josh and I did not like hearing the numbers the ultrasound tech was telling us.  ((Which, by the way, they're not supposed to tell you anything!  And I wish she hadn't!))  I don't think any first time parents like to hear that something other than 'perfectly average' or 'perfectly normal' is happening.  What is SUPPOSED to happen is the doctor at the ultrasound office analyzes the results of the ultrasounds at the end of the day, calls your caregiver to discuss, and then your caregiver calls you to give you any necessary further instructions.  Since we still have not heard from Abigail, we are taking this as a very good sign.  If there was a true emergency with our situation, she would have called us over the weekend to talk about what we needed to do.  Of course, there are a couple of bad scenarios that could explain her smallness, but we are just choosing not to focus on those.  Until we hear from Abigail that we need to be alarmed, Josh and I are assuming that Harper is just a petite little girl, a little smaller than the average bebe.  In fact, this is not surprising since I was a mere 6 lbs. 5 oz. at birth and babies tend to be similar in size to their mothers.  Josh keeps reminding me that everyone is different--people come in all different shapes and sizes.  He's right!

Speaking of Josh-I have to say, he has been the absolute best.  He has been wonderful this whole pregnancy, but I was especially thankful for him this past weekend.  Good husbands are such a blessing. 

Thank you, Josh, for:

1. Your positive attitude

2. Your level-headed reassurance

3. Giving all you can in everything that you do

4. Loving the way I look, even when I don't

5. Supporting me in my decisions

6. Caring about the things I care about

7. Fixing everything - cars, toilets, sprinklers, you name it.

8. Worrying about my health and well-being

9. Encouraging me to take naps when I feel tired

10. Always contributing to the endless domestic chores

11. Doing the chores I hate, like sweeping and picking up after our giant dogs

12. Taking pride in my accomplishments

13. Caring about my friends

14. Your genuine excitement about being a parent

15. Knowing what's really important

16. And not worrying about the things that really aren't

17. Making it possible for me to be at home to raise our kids

18. Giving me back rubs, foot rubs, butt rubs...

or whatever other crazy body part I ask you to massage!...every night

19. Making me laugh, or smile, or laugh at myself

20. Being so handsome :-)

21. Reading the entire Hunger Games series with me, out loud, to Harper

22. Practicing hippy-dippy Blissborn with me every night

23. Buying me flowers at the store for no specific occasion

24. Taking interest in and caring about my family 

25. Giving me the life I have always wanted

What a night..!

Well, to start-we had our 36 week appointment yesterday.  Everything seemed pretty good, and our midwife Abigail was super excited that I was only 5 days away from the 'green zone' to deliver at the birth center.  Although, she measured my belly, as they do every appointment, and I was strangely measuring small.  I have been measuring right-on since the beginning.  So my last measurement at 34 weeks was measuring right at 34 weeks; however, yesterday I was measuring 33 when I should be at 36....hmmm...Abigail was a little concerned and scheduled us for an ultrasound asap.  Asap meant Friday for NM Sonographics-ugh, I hate the waiting game.   But, I really feel that everything is fine-especially since I have been measuring well up until this point.  Abigail said that once the baby drops that it is hard to get an accurate measurement.  I think that this is most likely the case-Harper is dropping down south, getting ready for labor.  Especially with the lightning crotch episodes I've been having that I told you about last time :-)  But, we have an ultrasound Friday just to confirm that baby doesn't have any growth restrictions or that I'm not leaking fluid or something...

So, after all that 'excitement'-last night I had my first experience with some serious Braxton-Hicks contractions.  I've been having painless Braxton-Hicks for months now-just tightening of my uterus.  But, last night was the first time they have been painful and somewhat consistent.  I honestly wasn't sure if I was in the early stages of labor, or if these were just practice.  I am scrambling to finish all my school work this week; so last night around 8:30 I'm doing my take home exam for Civil Litigation and these contractions start...nothing consistent until around 9:45 when they start coming every 10 minutes-uh oh!  At our appointment that day, Abigail had JUST told us that the best thing to do in this situation when you're unsure is to get into a warm bath.  Josh fixed the bath for me and I got in-the contractions then relaxed and went back to being painless uterus tightening.  Wow-just goes to show the relaxing powers of water!  However, when I got out of the bath and ready for bed, they started up again slowly.  Josh was sound asleep next to me around 12:45 when these pains were coming on about every 2 minutes!!  Felt like pretty bad menstrual cramps in my back that would wrap around to my uterus.  I just kept thinking-- "Seriously!?  We are FIVE days away from being able to deliver at Dar a Luz!!"  Needless to say, Harper did not decide to come last night!  Phew!  The discomfort (on top of my concern-is this really happening tonight?!) definitely interfered with my sleep-I wasn't able to get to bed until around 2am when the contractions went away-but they finally dwindled off and I got some shut eye.  What a night!! 

36 Weeks!

Another big baby milestone-I am 36 weeks!  I can't believe we are embarking on my ninth month of pregnancy!  Pretty wild!  But, when I think back to this fall when we first found out we were expecting...it kind of seems like a million years ago.  In that sense, it feels like I have been pregnant forever!  Here's a picture of my bump in that purple dress that just keeps mysteriously shrinking and shrinking every week ;-)

Also, another personal milestone since my last post: we celebrated MY birth day!  Very low key compared to years past.  But still wonderful.  We went to breakfast with our dear friends, and then Josh and I went on a fun date to the Melting Pot for yummy appetizers and desert for dinnertime.  All in all, 27 is starting off to be the best year yet!

Life outside of 'baby preparation land' has been pretty hectic though.  I am about to finish school THIS Thursday, and I don't know if I've ever been more excited to be DONE with school.  It's funny, although this is just a one year certificate program, it has been a ridiculous amount of work.  I definitely kicked my butt writing briefs for Torts last semester...and this past few weeks I have been working on a 35 page paper for Legal Research & Writing II that will be due at the end of this semester...35 pages!!!  That's more than I ever had to write in undergrad.  Some days I want to inform my teachers that this is a community college!  But, I will definitely be very proud once this semester is complete.  I have accomplished a lot academically these past two semesters. 

Then, before we know it, Harper will actually BE HERE!!  I can't lie, this last week has extremely uncomfortable.  From bouts of nausea, to crazy sensations ((such as so-called 'lightning crotch,' apparently)) that I shouldn't even write about in this blog!  And of course, my very sweet and concerned husband-every little pain that I have, Josh thinks I'm going into labor :-)  Hopefully, the little lady will wait a few more weeks, but we will be ready when she makes her appearance!  We even packed our delivery bag yesterday, just to be safe.  However, I keep telling her she should stay inside my belly until at least May 5th so I can read at my darling friend Devon's wedding!  In closing, we have our 36 week check-up at Dar a Luz tomorrow, and then we will begin to see our midwives every week.  Pregnancy is coming closer to the end, but a new chapter is about to begin!         

Maternity Photos

We spent some of the day on Saturday documenting my pregnancy with some lovely maternity photos.  Thankfully, Josh can be quite the photographer!  One of his many talents.  He got some really nice shots.  Here are a couple of our faves:

Check!

Hey Miss Harper, guess what we did today?!  Installed your car seat!  Yes!  Now you can officially come home with us once you are born-phew!  This was our biggest must-do on the list-now we're really ready :-D 

Josh also had his diaper party on Friday night which was a huge success, and lots of fun from what I hear!  We are now in possession of at least 1500 diapers-THANKS dudes!!!

Thoughtful, Helpful Husband!

Goof :-)

Martin High School 30th Anniversary Alumni Choir Concert

Okay-Last Post!  So, we not only went to Arlington to spend some last moments in my parents' house-but also so I could be apart of the MHS 30th Anniversary Alumni Choir Concert.  This was an awesome experience, and I was SO happy that I was able to participate even being as preggo as I am!  Saw many many faces that I haven't seen in nearly 10 years.  And faces that I see and have seen every year since I have graduated (Alyce, Kevin, Scott, Ally, Jess).  All gathered back together to celebrate the love of music and remember how we shared in that passion all those years ago.  It STILL knits us together.  It was incredible.  Singing in a choir is something that I have missed more than anything-feeling the music just resonate through your body, sounds weaving together, filling an entire room.  Difficult to put into words, but it is a moving experience.  I have specifically missed singing with the Martin Choir.  It truly is one of a kind.  Mr. J and Mrs. O really knew how to whip us into shape musically speaking, and there is something absolutely special and even magical about the MHS choral program.  I ordered the video of our performance and will most likely force all of you to watch our performance of Amazing Grace-it will just move you to your CORE.  I could not hold back that tears the first time we sang it in rehearsal-just pure and deeply beautiful!!  It was a reallllly long day of rehearsing on Saturday, but it was absolutely worth the achiness and sleepiness my poor pregnant body felt afterwards!

  
It was a fantastic weekend in the Lone Star state.  Our flight was delayed on the way home...BUT that was okay because Josh and I ended up sitting next to a celebrity on the way home!  A celebrity flying Southwest!?  Too cool!  It was Armie Hammer from the Social Network!!!  He even had a cute little pooch that he was traveling with named Archie, and he sat in my lap for a good portion of the plane ride.  Made it much more enjoyable than usual!  Well, I have done enough blog posting this evening.  Now it's time to get focused.  I am in the home stretch of school!  Only two more weeks-send me some concentration and focus vibes! ;-)

So Long, Farewell 5810 Arbor Valley Dr.

Okay, next post.  This last weekend Josh and I visited my hometown, Arlington, TX, to say goodbye to the house that I grew up in.  My parents have officially sold 5810 Arbor Valley, are closing this Friday, and are then moving down to Galveston.  Sigh...I always thought that the Arlington house would be my parent's forever home.  It was sad to say goodbye.  It's just a house, but it held so many memories-really happy good memories!  It is truly the end of an era.  Josh took some photos of me in my mom's beautiful gardens-the part of the house she will no doubt miss the most.

So long, Farewell 5810 Arbor Valley.  I will always think of you fondly, miss you dearly, and hold you close to my heart!

Friend BBQ!

Okay-I have seriously been slacking on the blog updates!  So much has happened since my last post.  Let's start with our little BBQ that we had last weekend with our friends-Tara, Jon, Rachel, and Tom and their little ones.  We grilled burgers and stuffed our tummies.  The gang got to check out our nursery.  And we got to have lots of hilarious conversations as usual-best of the night was a very amusing talk about baby sign language.  Oh man, my friends just make me LAUGH so hard!  Thanks guys!  Here are some photos from the evening:

Cutie Kyle!

Josh and Little Man, Declan

So Happy!

Love this one!

Sleepy Guy

<3