Well tomorrow is my last shower. I'm very excited! A lot of our family from Nick's side is coming in town and will be in for the weekend and for the shower. So tonight we'll go over to Nick's parent's to visit with everyone. I bet they will be shocked at how big I've become. I'm a little shocked myself. I can't wait to get the final things for Alyssa. We've been so blessed by everyone, and all the showers have been a huge help to us, especially right now while we're trying to move and don't have much extra money to spend on things for the baby.
I went to the doctor on Wednesday. Everything was good. Alyssa is now head down, and unless she changes positions she's good to go. Her heartbeat was good, and I measured well too. My weight seemed high to me, 129! So now I've gained 21 pounds. That's a little bit scary, but I know I can't worry too much about my weight right now. The doctor said in the last month that weight gain usually slows or stops. The baby will keep growing, but I won't. Hopefully that's true.
I've been having a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions. It's a strange feeling because out of nowhere a few times a day my stumach will get hard and almost cramp up. But the doctor said that it's normal and that these are just practice contractions getting my body ready for the real thing. That's exciting!
I'm starting to be ready for her to come. Even though labor and delivery sounds scary, I'm really not that nervous about it. I just know that's what has to happen and it can't last forever, right? Well I'm gonna go, I'll write more after the shower. I'm sure it will be great!
2008-03-31 (34 weeks)
Feeling Uncomfortable Well I've been so excited and fortunate that up to this point I have not had many discomforts with this pregnancy. However now that it's nearing the end of my pregnancy I'm starting to become much more uncomfortable. This has gradually been starting, but now it's becoming too much to ignore. I'm just not comfortable at all. Standing is uncomfortable obviously, but sitting is also uncomfortable, and trying to find a position to sleep in is very hard too. I'm not liking it at all. I have not been sleeping well. And I've actually been waking up in the middle of the night and just getting up to clean the house because I'm so wide awake and can't get back to sleep. I did that last night (this is the 3rd time it's happened though), and I know some people really do wake up at 5am, but they probably go to bed at like 8pm and I don't at all. I'm lucky to be in bed at 12. So then I feel really bad all day long because I'm really tired, but have stuff to do and can't sleep. I'm substituting today, so I can't sleep here at the school. And when I go home I'll have to get dinner started and then Nick and I go to our Bible study on Monday nights. So I won't be in the bed until at least 10pm. And at that point I probably won't be able to sleep and the cycle will start all over. I'm just getting more and more ready for Alyssa to come. And now there's 38 days until my due date (yes that's right I'm counting down the days) I can't wait!
2008-03-28 (34 weeks)
40 Days!!! Guess what!!! Only 40 days until my due date! That's crazy isn't it? It's crazy to me anyway. It's really beginning to sink in on me that Nick and I are going to be parents, that I'll be a mommy! I just start thinking about all the things I do each day and how much those things will be adjusted when Alyssa is here. I almost can't imagine it, and I guess I'll never know the extent of change that will take place until she's here. I'm so happy though I know it will be a challenge. I've been making plans, some on paper (because I'm a list maker) and some in my head about different things I will need to do when Alyssa comes. I've got a feeding schedule typed out that I got from the book BabyWise, and I have a list of activities and things Nick and I can do with her that will be fun. I've also been thinking about things like what Alyssa and I will do during the days while Nick is working, and how I'm going to get ready for work and get Alyssa ready to go to my mom's in August when I start working. It's like all these things and more just go running through my head (especially at night when I'm trying to sleep). I know it won't be easy, but I can't wait! I'm just so excited about becoming a mom, and I just want to be a good mom and at the same time be a good wife, and to not neglect my career (if I get hired). I know all of these things will just fall in to place if I will just rely on God and know that He is using all of these things to shape me and make me more like Christ. And I can't expect for everything to be perfect, I'll just have to take it one day at a time. But the big thing now is that I only have 40 days (maybe a little more or less) left of not being a mom. I'm just trying to relax and enjoy this time while I wait for Alyssa.
2008-03-27 (34 weeks)
Sick & Tired of being Sick & Tired
Well I may have mentioned in my previous journal that I started coming down with a cold while I was in Alapaha. Well now it has escalated to a big cold. It's just not fun to have coughing fits all the time while you're pregnant. And my doctors are so picky about what over the counter medicines I can take. (although today I just broke down and took some Robotussin DM, I don't think a little will hurt Alyssa, not any worse that all this coughing pushing in on her) I just have so much conjestion in my chest and not much is coming up with the coughs. I haven't been able to get in to the doctor yet, I've been hoping my body would get better on it's own, but I'm not so sure that will happen for me. I haven't been sleeping well, so Nick has been so sweet to sleep on the couch the past two nights so I could roll around and cough all night without worrying about bothering him. So that has been good for me, and really helped me sleep better because I can just do what I need to do and go back to sleep fast without having to sneak around in the dark. Today I'm really tired for some reason (could be that Robitussin, or just being sick in general), but I think I'm going to go lay down for a while. I went on an easy walk this morning around my neighborhood, and after only 1 mile I was ready to crash and go to bed. This cold has just zapped the life out of me. I can't wait to get better and back to normal. I'm not even that hungry while I'm sick like this. Well I keep telling myself everything will pass with time, and this definitely will!
I'm still really looking foward to going down to Alabama this weekend for my cousin's shower. And on Friday night I am going to cook dinner for a lady from my sunday school that just had a baby (since I'm sick I probably won't see the baby except maybe from a distance, and I'll have to be really careful when preparing the food, I really don't want to get anyone sick). She was the lady from the double shower, and she named her little girl McKenna. Fun stuff, I can't wait to have Alyssa here, that's going to be such an exciting time. Also this weekend while I'm riding to AL Nick will be turkey hunting with his friend Joe. I hope he gets one! We still haven't closed on the house yet. I hope next week. Right now there's not really anything we can do to speed the process, it's all going back and forth with the mortage company and the realtor. So who knows. All I know is it's crazy living in our house right now because stuff is already boxed up and ready to go. It's a little caotic. I'm ready to move and get settled in to our new home soon, but I know it may be another week or two. Well hope everyone has a good day. I'm going to take a nap and try to get better!
Guess what!!! Only 40 days until my due date! That's crazy isn't it? It's crazy to me anyway. It's really beginning to sink in on me that Nick and I are going to be parents, that I'll be a mommy! I just start thinking about all the things I do each day and how much those things will be adjusted when Alyssa is here. I almost can't imagine it, and I guess I'll never know the extent of change that will take place until she's here. I'm so happy though I know it will be a challenge. I've been making plans, some on paper (because I'm a list maker) and some in my head about different things I will need to do when Alyssa comes. I've got a feeding schedule typed out that I got from the book BabyWise, and I have a list of activities and things Nick and I can do with her that will be fun. I've also been thinking about things like what Alyssa and I will do during the days while Nick is working, and how I'm going to get ready for work and get Alyssa ready to go to my mom's in August when I start working. It's like all these things and more just go running through my head (especially at night when I'm trying to sleep). I know it won't be easy, but I can't wait! I'm just so excited about becoming a mom, and I just want to be a good mom and at the same time be a good wife, and to not neglect my career (if I get hired). I know all of these things will just fall in to place if I will just rely on God and know that He is using all of these things to shape me and make me more like Christ. And I can't expect for everything to be perfect, I'll just have to take it one day at a time. But the big thing now is that I only have 40 days (maybe a little more or less) left of not being a mom. I'm just trying to relax and enjoy this time while I wait for Alyssa. 
And my doctors are so picky about what over the counter medicines I can take. (although today I just broke down and took some Robotussin DM, I don't think a little will hurt Alyssa, not any worse that all this coughing pushing in on her) I just have so much conjestion in my chest and not much is coming up with the coughs. I haven't been able to get in to the doctor yet, I've been hoping my body would get better on it's own, but I'm not so sure that will happen for me. I haven't been sleeping well, so Nick has been so sweet to sleep on the couch the past two nights so I could roll around and cough all night without worrying about bothering him. So that has been good for me, and really helped me sleep better because I can just do what I need to do and go back to sleep fast without having to sneak around in the dark. Today I'm really tired for some reason (could be that Robitussin, or just being sick in general), but I think I'm going to go lay down for a while. I went on an easy walk this morning around my neighborhood, and after only 1 mile I was ready to crash and go to bed. This cold has just zapped the life out of me. I can't wait to get better and back to normal. I'm not even that hungry while I'm sick like this. Well I keep telling myself everything will pass with time, and this definitely will!