Most phone calls these days begin discussing whether or not I'm in labor. In case you are wondering, I'm not in labor right now. A few weeks ago, I really did feel like it could be any minute. Now it seems like A.K. wants to hang out for a while longer. No March baby for us.
Things are getting really tight in my belly. The baby can't move around as much these days. When the baby does have more active periods, I can feel almost every little movement. It is kind of nice that people can feel the baby moving now from the outside with a high success rate. A.K. suffered from a lot of stage fright earlier on, so I would say feel here and nothing would happen.
The disadvantage to the larger baby is that my belly is not so nice and round these days. I think it looks lopsided much of the time and most of my shirts are getting a bit too short. It's not worth it to get new shirts for the last three weeks. The scary part is that sometimes I think the bottom of my belly will show, but I don't realize it. I can't really feel things as well there. I don't really know why. I guess the nerves are more spread out or something like that.
Tomorrow starts the first day of my last week of work for a while. I was planning on working right up until the baby comes, but I think I might just work up to the due date. We'll see what the projects need, but I don't know how much longer I'll be going in.
Have a great week!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Waiting Game
So after two weeks of thinking that every little thing I feel could be the start of labor, I'm starting to lose my sense of humor about the whole thing. It is difficult to leave work every day thinking, "Maybe tonight's the night." I had been taking walks during lunch, which was a nice way to get a bit of exercize and to relax during the day, but yesterday we got 7 inches of snow, so the walks will be out for a few days. I figure taking walks won't be part of my routine for a while after the baby comes.
I think everyone else is ready, too. People keep asking if I'm in labor when I call. If I call and I'm in labor, it will be the first thing out of my mouth.
I've been taking things pretty easy these days. There is really not that much on my schedule these days. I feel kind of lazy about it now, but all the experts (moms) in my life tell me to enjoy this time and relax. I'm doing my best. I found another piece of furniture for the baby's room. We had been looking for a bookshelf/storage piece, and I finally found something that Matt and I could agree on. Maybe I'll have a chance to put some pictures up next week after it gets delivered. I opted for the Monday delivery just figuring that the sooner it gets done the better.
Happy Easter!
I think everyone else is ready, too. People keep asking if I'm in labor when I call. If I call and I'm in labor, it will be the first thing out of my mouth.
I've been taking things pretty easy these days. There is really not that much on my schedule these days. I feel kind of lazy about it now, but all the experts (moms) in my life tell me to enjoy this time and relax. I'm doing my best. I found another piece of furniture for the baby's room. We had been looking for a bookshelf/storage piece, and I finally found something that Matt and I could agree on. Maybe I'll have a chance to put some pictures up next week after it gets delivered. I opted for the Monday delivery just figuring that the sooner it gets done the better.
Happy Easter!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Week 36
Here is a picture of me today.
Everything is going well here. The baby has been moving around quite a bit, but I think A.K. is starting to feel a bit cramped. I feel rather large rolling movements instead of kicks these days. I've made a little progress on the packing front. Well, A.K.'s bag is packed, and I think all of the things that go in my bag are in the house. They will make it to the bag soon ;)
Also, we send our thoughts and prayers out to Allison, Justin, and Grace Gagnon. Grace was just born yesterday! She's another potential member of the ND class of 2030.
Friday, March 7, 2008
This Week's Dr. Visit
So I went in to the doctor today for what I thought was just a heartbeat, measure, weight, and blood pressure appointment and left with the doctor instructing me not to leave town and to pack my bag. Now I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that this baby was going to stick around for a while yet. I was not even considering packing a bag for another two weeks, and I had a client meeting planned for Tuesday. The bag is not packed yet, but I've already made alternate arrangements for Tuesday.
The flood of emotions that we are feeling right now is a bit overwhelming. I was feeling so relaxed about everything this morning, but something about the doctor telling you to have your bag packed takes away that relaxed feeling. At least we have a fairly open schedule to adjust to this new news.
I wouldn't hold your breath just yet, but things are moving in the right direction. I'm pretty excited since I was not expecting any progress for a few weeks.
The flood of emotions that we are feeling right now is a bit overwhelming. I was feeling so relaxed about everything this morning, but something about the doctor telling you to have your bag packed takes away that relaxed feeling. At least we have a fairly open schedule to adjust to this new news.
I wouldn't hold your breath just yet, but things are moving in the right direction. I'm pretty excited since I was not expecting any progress for a few weeks.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
So I'm Supposed to Enjoy This Time
Things here in Madison are quickly quieting down, which is welcome since I'm slowing down a bit, too. I guess you could say that the belly is starting to get in the way more frequently. We are not expecting any company until the baby comes. I'm trying to stay close to Madison, and I'm wrapping up my projects at work. It feels like life as we have known it is coming to an end. Which it is, but every time I do something that is a last, it feels more and more real. For instance, today I visited a handful of my clients for the last time until after I return from leave. Next Tuesday I have my last out of town work meeting. It's only in Wausau (about 2.5 hours away), but that's the furthest I'm travelling until the time comes. After that, I'm going to Baraboo (1.25 hours away), and then the furthest I'll be from the hospital is the Lee's house.
As a little side note, I had to arrange to have one of my team members come with me to Wausau. I know everything will be fine, but you can never be too safe. The really terrified look on his face when I said, "Do you think you will be able to make that meeting on March 11? I just don't think I should go alone. You know, just in case something happens," was priceless. At this point, I feel much more comfortable that nothing will happen next week, but I would hate to be stuck 2.5 hours from home all alone in labor.
Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy this time before the baby comes because things will change so much when AK is here. I'm sure they are right, but sitting still and enjoying things is not really the way I work. It is nice to have a pretty clear calendar. I just think it would be a lot easier to enjoy this time if a bunch of the snow and ice melted. We still have a foot of snow in our yard! The piles by the driveway are much larger than that, and the mailbox is still barricaded by a mini ice hill. If there is not some serious melting soon, Matt is going to have to take on the task of getting the mail. There has been enough melting that the mailbox now comes to a more reasonable height, but when the cars drive through the puddles and splash on the snow in front of the mailbox it turns into an ice slick.
Another side note, if I keep discussing the mailbox in detail, we might need to change the blog title to Matt and Rachel's Mailbox and Baby Blog. Those of you who know me do know what an important part of my day getting the mail is. However, if we changed the title, I might have to plant flowers by the mailbox and fix it up a bit so that it does not wobble anymore. Once winter's over, the mailbox loses much of its intrigue.
We are going to try to enjoy this time and appreciate the quiet moments, but I'm sure that I'll have no idea how special it really is until we no longer have it. It is so difficult to remember that today is special when so much of my time and energy is focused on the future.
As a little side note, I had to arrange to have one of my team members come with me to Wausau. I know everything will be fine, but you can never be too safe. The really terrified look on his face when I said, "Do you think you will be able to make that meeting on March 11? I just don't think I should go alone. You know, just in case something happens," was priceless. At this point, I feel much more comfortable that nothing will happen next week, but I would hate to be stuck 2.5 hours from home all alone in labor.
Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy this time before the baby comes because things will change so much when AK is here. I'm sure they are right, but sitting still and enjoying things is not really the way I work. It is nice to have a pretty clear calendar. I just think it would be a lot easier to enjoy this time if a bunch of the snow and ice melted. We still have a foot of snow in our yard! The piles by the driveway are much larger than that, and the mailbox is still barricaded by a mini ice hill. If there is not some serious melting soon, Matt is going to have to take on the task of getting the mail. There has been enough melting that the mailbox now comes to a more reasonable height, but when the cars drive through the puddles and splash on the snow in front of the mailbox it turns into an ice slick.
Another side note, if I keep discussing the mailbox in detail, we might need to change the blog title to Matt and Rachel's Mailbox and Baby Blog. Those of you who know me do know what an important part of my day getting the mail is. However, if we changed the title, I might have to plant flowers by the mailbox and fix it up a bit so that it does not wobble anymore. Once winter's over, the mailbox loses much of its intrigue.
We are going to try to enjoy this time and appreciate the quiet moments, but I'm sure that I'll have no idea how special it really is until we no longer have it. It is so difficult to remember that today is special when so much of my time and energy is focused on the future.
Apologies
I've been trying new things on the blog lately, like the PictoBrowsers, and I don't have them quite mastered. I promise that all those pictures are not actually off center. I just have to figure out which options to choose in the tool to get it centered. I also have to figure out some spacing things. We don't just randomly forget to put spaces between paragraphs. I'm just hoping that you guys are more interested in the content than the formatting :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Anti-Shower
Matt and the guys practiced their golf game and drank beer while we played games and opened gifts.
Nursery Pictures
So things have changed a little since I last took pictures of the nursery. I thought you would like to see some new pictures. Also, I purchased a card reader, so I can now download pictures again! 
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