And Baby Makes Three... (Lillian's birth story)

I know we sort of fell off the face of the earth there for a bit, but I promise it was for a good reason. A great reason actually - Lily is here! The last week has been filled with little more than trying to get settled as a family of three (okay, a family of 5 - can't forget the dogs now!).

While it is still fresh in our minds, I wanted to get Lily's birth story down. If you're not interested in reading about things like my cervix, you've been warned. I promise it isn't too graphic of a tale. (Jen B - if you're reading - it shouldn't make you faint! :)

Friday, August 17th (yes, her story requires that I organize the process first by DAYS)
After a fairly relaxing morning, and the completion of my Miles Circuit, I started to notice my contractions were more regular.Timing them for a bit showed that they were about 7-10 minutes apart at about 11:30 a.m. Nothing I needed to throw the bags in the car for, but I certainly had 'the feeling' that things were getting started. I didn't call Jeremy right away. He was working and the last thing we needed was for him to come flying home in an unnecessary panic. I did talk with him when he was on his way and by that time (about 3:00 p.m.) the contractions were now closer to 5 minutes.

Off an on I would keep track of their regularity and that evening Rachel (our friend and doula) came over to spend some time with us and help us through the early stages. Around 9:30 p.m. we headed to the hospital. We were excited! Contracting in the car isn't my favorite game, and at about 3minutes apart, I got to have a few on our drive in. In triage I had an exam and the nurse reported I was at about 3cm dilated. A bit more than my last appointment. She suggested that we walk the halls for an hour and check back in... unfortunately we were still at 3 - 'maybe 3 1/2'. (12AM) Since we were not progressing rapidly and still had some laboring to go, she recommended we go back home and try to rest - HA!

Saturday, August 18th
I did get some sleep, took a couple baths, and did my best to rest. By morning (7AM) my contractions had definitely picked up in intensity and had returned to some regularity (again about 3-4min apart). We decided to head back in. The great news was that our doctor was on call that day! YES! We were thrilled with the idea that our doctor would actually get to be the one to deliver our girl. That never happens. It felt like fate.

Another round of triage, 30 minutes of walking and we were admitted. 4cm dilated, completely effaced, and regular contractions. That folks, sounds like go time. About 10AM and we were settled into our birthing suite. The rest of Saturday blends together a bit for me. We did a LOT of walking the halls, working through contractions as they came and generally crossing our fingers that things were progressing. Rachel and I did try to play a game of cribbage, but that didn't work out so well. (Let the record show, I totally would have won. :) ) My contractions were getting more and more intense as the day went on, so we were hopeful it wouldn't be too much longer before we met Lily.

That evening (6PM or so), my contractions had lost a bit of their regularity... going back to every 7-8 minutes while I was down and back up to 1-3 minutes while I was up and walking. Jeremy and I talked at length and after a long discussion with our doctor, and an internal exam that showed I was only dilated to "maybe 5cm", we decided to break my water (how it hadn't broke at this point with the strength of some of my contractions, I have no idea). The hope was that would be all we'd need to get things going.

Unfortunately that didn't serve to move things along a bit. With still no further progress, we started the Pitocin to increase the intensity, and hopefully effectiveness, of my contractions... that didn't work either. Well, it did work - my contractions were certainly intense, but Lily still wasn't having it.

About 9PM - 12AM was rough. Probably some of the hardest work I've ever done. My contractions remained very regular, close together, and very strong. But, at this point I was exhausted. After laboring for the better part of two days, on little more than a handful of hours sleep, things were getting rough. I know they had to be for Jeremy and Rachel too. Both of them were at my side, encouraging me along, the entire way. With few breaks for them, our team was pushing through. We tried pretty much everything - different positions, walking, lunging, sitting on the ball, the shower, etc. But, I was wearing out. I'd had a bit of Fentanyl for the pain, but what really kept me from resting between contractions, the shakes. Let me tell you - they're the worst. Contracting is hard, and painful, but knowing that it is temporary and keeping your eye on the goal - you can manage it. But the uncontrollable shaking - during and between contractions - was maddening.

That's when I called it. I needed to know my progress or I was getting an epidural. If I was close or dilated, I may have pushed through (I'm not certain where I would have had the energy, but that was my stance), otherwise - find that anesthesiologist.

Almost 6cm.... All of that and only 6cm!?

I was losing myself. I felt snappy, angry, frustrated, and just exhausted. Without Jeremy there for every contraction, I wasn't certain I could hold myself up. My nurse and Rachel did exactly what we asked them to do at this point - respectfully challenge me to make sure I was certain. Rachel looks at me and says, "Sarah, how about we try 30 more minutes. If we don't have any more progress, we'll call them. You're doing so well!" I went a bit grizzly bear on her at that point - and a quote they've not let me forget since - "Rachel, I am no longer bartering with you. I'm done." 

Sunday, August 19th
At just after midnight, the anesthesiologist showed up with her magic kit.

- - let me break for a moment. I think it is an important thing to mention here that I don't find my long labor to be a horror story saved by the magic of an epidural. I went into labor with a very open mind. I wanted to try and do this on my own. Women have done it for thousands of years, our bodies are made for this, and I wanted to climb and tackle this mountain on my own. However, I also have spent a good deal of time educating myself on the alternatives should I need support. I don't find epidurals or all intervention to be 'evil', but I do feel that they are commonly overused because of the fear our society places on the pain of childbirth. However, they are extremely valuable tools that serve an important purpose. Okay, that's the end of my soapbox rant. On with the story... - -

By magic I mean she was flawless. Contracting while there is a giant needle in your back is not the highlight of my year, but she could not have been nicer, more patient, or done a better job. I could still feel pressure in my legs and during contractions, but no pain from my abdomen, down. I could have kissed that sweet woman on the mouth. Instead - I slept. For the first time I actually got almost 3 straight hours of sleep. All of us did. And when I woke up (5AM), I had returned. I was back to making jokes, smiling, and happily anticipating our babies arrival.

Sunday morning progressed about as slowly as the rest of the weekend. I had managed to get to about 8cm overnight, but we were stalled again there. We increased my Pitocin to further strengthen contractions and kept a close eye on Lily. A few times in the morning she appeared to be a bit stressed. At one point her heart rate reaching almost 200bpm. We changed positions and worked on deep breathing and thankfully she returned to normal. It was around 9AM when we started talking cesarean section. This was something I really wanted to avoid if I could. But, if it is what we needed for Lily, that was what we were going to do. We'd come up with a plan of who to call and decided to try one more position change before we talked it through again.

It worked! At 10:45AM I was at 9cm. Almost there! 12:30 PM and our nurse joking called me 9.5+, just the tiniest bit left to go that she could barely count it.

We made it. With the C-section off the table, we decided to let her "labor down" on her own. Basically wait for her to settle into my pelvis without my pushing and forcing her through. That way I would conserve my energy and save it for when I really needed to push. They sat me up in bed, with my knees butterflied out and we waited. Chatting nervously, knowing that it was almost time. We all had the giggles. The light at the end of this two day tunnel was here and all of us had elevated spirits. We traded funny stories with my awesome nurse (who it turns out I played softball against in high school - small world!), told inappropriate jokes (something about Pez dispensers that almost had Rachel wetting the couch...), and tried to be patient.

At 3:00 p.m. exactly we started pushing. Shannon, our nurse, called them practice pushes at first, just to get the feel of pushing when you can't really feel anything - it did take some practice. But, with each contraction we kept going. I could feel the pressure of the contractions build, without the pain, and knew when to say go. With Jeremy on my right leg, and Rachel on my left, we worked together to inch Lily closer. It was about 3:50 when the doctor and team came in. With each push she edged closer - yes, we all watched - Jeremy and Rachel live and me with a mirror. Seeing her progress was incredibly motivating to me. Knowing that she was almost there. Her heart rate strong and steady - she also doing her part.

After only 1 hour and 17 minutes of pushing (it went by SO fast), she was here. After passing her head, everything else followed without hesitation. She cried instantly. A soft, adorable, cry. She spent a minute or two with the nurses checking out her airway and then handed her to Jeremy. My husband was a father. With tears in his eyes, he laid her on my chest, and the three of us were finally together.

After 53 hours of labor, months of being pregnant, and all the years we waited for her before that - Lillian Josephine Scott had arrived. Perfectly round head, beautiful little red lips, and chubby little body - she is everything we hoped for. We snuggled and loved on her for almost an hour before we resumed with the remaining formalities. We all placed our bets on what she would weigh - and I lost - big time.

10 pounds, 11 ounces and 22 inches long.

Granted, we were on IV fluids a long time and both of us were puffy and retaining a good deal of water... but still! How on earth did we make a baby that big!? Even the next day, swelling down quite a bit, she was still just over 10lbs. Sorry baby girl, your mama likes her carbs!

All of her tests went by flawlessly 8-9 on her Apgar, perfect hearing, blood sugar series was excellent... she's a champ.

We're in absolute love. Jeremy doesn't like to put her down - always loving, kissing, and snuggling her. He's taken very very good care of us this week. Already he is such an amazing and loving father. Sleep is hard for me to come by and that mixed with hormones and learning to breastfeed creates its challenges, but nothing that snuggling that perfect baby cannot cure. Each day we're getting more in sync and figuring each other out.

And just like any good tale, it wouldn't be possible at all without the entire cast of characters. While I was certainly the one with the baby in her tummy - Jeremy and Rachel worked just as hard to see Lily into the world. Rach - we love you. We cannot thank you enough for your knowledge, encouragement, sounding board, and general bossiness when I need it most. Our main nurses were fabulous. Shannon and Tiffany made the difference for us. They were advocates for us, a support system, and truly just awesome. We felt like they truly cared for us, and our daughter, and that we were not just another day at the office for them. World class people. My parents took turns and stayed at our place to make sure the dogs were taken care of. All of our family was so patient and encouraging. Such an amazing community we are bringing Lily into. we cannot wait to continue to share her milestones as she grows!


While I'm certain I've left out a detail or two, you get the idea. It was a long couple of days with its share of twists and turns, but we got our happy ending. The happy ending to our labor and delivery is just the happier beginning to the rest of our adventures together.

40 Week Doctor's Appointment

Just a short note to keep everyone up to speed on our progress.

We had a good doctors visit yesterday. I did do another internal exam (not nearly as traumatic, but boy those are not fun!) and found that I am over 2cm dilated - last week he said we'd have good progress if I had further dilated 1/2cm or more (I was about 1cm last week), so this is great! - and easily stretched over 3cm. My cervix is 'super soft' and I am about 90% effaced. She is in a good head-down position as well.

Right now I am ready and raring to go for labor. We are just waiting for contractions to pick up and become more regular. With a cervix that is almost entirely effaced, that means that once contractions do become productive, effacement will be out of the way and they'll be all focused on dilating. That's a good thing!

We have scheduled another appointment for next Tuesday. Let's hope to the Gods that we don't need it. Should I still be pregnant at that time, we will do a NST (non-stress test) to look at her fluids, do some monitoring of her heart rate/lungs, and make sure that she remains as happy as a clam. Also, if I'm still pregnant a week from now, Doc would like to schedule the induction. So long as she is healthy and happy, this is something I'd like to avoid - mostly because I just want her to come when she's ready.

The short version of this update - we're still waiting!

40 Weeks

We made it!

Today we start our 40th, and hopefully final, week of pregnancy. Tomorrow is our due date (not sure how the weekly updates and our due date are not synced up, but I don't have the energy to care much about it either!) and also our next weekly appointment. While we are certainly ready for her to arrive any time, we're trying our best to be patient. If we can avoid evicting her before she is ready (induction), we'd like to. So long as she and I remain healthy (and her daddy keeps what's left of his sanity/patience - he's currently tapping his foot louder than I am!) than we're prepared to wait her out. And wait. And wait.

Not a lot has changed for Lillian - other than she continues to grow and mature while she makes us all await her entrance. She's still moving around like a champ, but now with quite a bit more force and power than her smaller self. While I'm certain she doesn't have a lot of space, she does what she needs to be cozy, my organs and skin be damned. Stubborn and strong willed... I cannot image who she got that from (her dad, of course).

I have been able to accomplish a few things - picked up some last minute items from the store with my mom (breast pump shopping is intimidating!), hung a few more things and organized Lily's closet... small projects that are keeping me occupied. Jeremy continues with his projects as well and I'm helping as much as I can (or I should say - as much as he'll let me!). He's done more work to organize our garage, is still working on the back porch (sanding, etc), and countless other small to-do's he is able to check off around the house. Hopefully getting out of our way a few distractions, so that we're ready for nothing but quality bonding time once Lily arrives.

I'm still getting around pretty well. The extra rest I've had these last few days has made a world of difference for my stress levels and general mental health. I am still getting up 3-4 times a night, but being able to sleep longer and rest more throughout the day is invaluable. It's amazing what a full 8 hours of sleep does for a person. I really cannot complain. We are so grateful to have made it to the marathon's finish line. There is a healthy baby girl in this tummy and our biggest 'problem' is being patient until she gets motivated and working to stay comfortable. I'd say that's pretty much the most wonderful problem a person can have.

Here I am at 40 weeks:

And for good measure, I thought I would throw in a couple more comparisons, just for fun. Who knows, they may be our last!

 At 20 weeks, we'd just found out we were having a baby girl and the nursery preparations began. 

At 30 weeks, I remember feeling GIANT. Oh the chuckle that gives me today.

And now, at 40 weeks, I look like that I could topple over with a breeze from the right angle!

The changes my belly has seen in just the last 10 weeks is remarkable. I don't even think I realized how much she (and I!) have grown in the last handful of weeks.

Lily's Nursery

Over the past few months you've had an opportunity to see bits and pieces of Lily's nursery as we've worked to pull it all together. From the hours Jerry and Jeremy spent installing the board and batten, to the painting, sewing, and constant reorganization of that small space... it is all done.

We could not be happier with how it turned out. She certainly has the nicest room in our house! It is such a calm place and we love spending time in there. Now we just need Lily to join us.

Here it is!

From the bedroom door

She has a lot of little friends waiting to meet her:

And do not get me started on her closet or her superb collection of clothes:

Her diapers are washed and ready for use:

Our cozy corner is stocked and ready with all that we'll need to spend time with Lily. The iPod (loaded with some good tunes), a support pillow, clock, and of course a good selection of books (housed in a magazine rack/holder that Grandpa Jerry made when he was in school - how cool is that?!).

Folks, I think we're ready. In classic Sarah fashion, I may even be over-prepared. I suppose my Type-A, Virgo, personality could have produced a worse flaw than my need to plan and prepare. We are just too excited to sit still.

We are forever grateful to everyone who helped pull this together. Our parents played a huge part in pulling this off - from shopping, to building, to making sure it had elements of our own childhoods, the handmade blankets and art from family, the amazing books, and our friends and their never ending generosity. There are consignment sale finds, hand-me-downs, designer items, handmade features... The thing I love best about Lily's room is that there really is no theme - it is the eclectic assembly of her whole family - blood or otherwise. We couldn't be more ready for her to love this space, and the people that made it happen, as much as we do.

39 Weeks

Lily is approximately 7+ pounds and should be around 20 inches long. This week she's compared to the size of a mini watermelon (my fav!). Her outer layer of skin is sloughing off, along with the remaining vernix, and new fresh baby skin is replacing it.

We've had a few contractions the last couple days - nothing we need to be sounding alarms for, it could still be a few weeks before she's here - but it's a nice little start to say things are at least moving in the right direction. My belly continues to get bigger, something I wasn't sure was even possible. Did I mention here the story about the lady in the elevator at the doctors office? If not, basically a complete strangers eyes bugged out as she exclaimed about how huge I was. Even when a woman is obviously pregnant - a damn near at the end - when did it become okay (at any time?!) to comment on a woman's size? For those that don't know or forgot - the answer is never. Ever. Being told you're huge, for whatever the beautiful reason, no bueno. There, I'm glad we got that lesson out. Now go forth and spread the word like gospel.

Physically - this part is hard. I know I've said it a thousand times now, but pregnancy isn't for wusses. Or maybe I'm a bigger weenie than I thought. Overall I've been pretty fortunate, but even with just the 'typical' stuff, it certainly isn't easy! I'm fairly achy most days, my hips especially after sleeping, I've had some days of decent swelling with this hot weather, heartburn, fatigue, etc. Thankfully I've been able to soak in a cool bath and that seems to offer some good relief on these 90 degree days.

Mentally I'm in a pretty good place. I was worried that when I got here I would be pacing up and down the hall, impatience at it's peak, losing my mind because she hadn't arrived yet. Just in case you don't know me at all - I skipped the day they handed out patience, and I've managed not to collect any more of it over the years. But here, I do have to give myself a bit of credit... I'm doing pretty well. I'm certainly ready to be done with pregnancy and to meet our daughter, but I haven't turned into Captain Crazy Pants. Yet.

Jeremy is definitely ready for her to arrive. When we went to sleep last night he laid in bed, rubbed my belly, and was sweetly asking Lily to come out. "I love you, Lily. You can come out now." I love those moments. Almost every time I stretch or groan he gives me a hard time, "Is it time yet??" He's like a kid anticipating the best Christmas morning ever. I absolutely love his enthusiasm. People continue to give him a hard time with the, "Oh, you just wait!" but he really is just as cool as a cucumber. I think his calm and excitement is really what is helping to keep things together for me as well. He's going to be a great daddy.

Our weekly visit with the doc is on Wednesday of this week, so we will continue to keep you posted with any exciting updates!

Tick Tock - the countdown begins!

39 Weeks:

(Final complete nursery photos will be coming next week!)

38 Weeks

Another week closer to meeting our Lily!

At 38 Weeks Lily is just under 20 inches long and probably between 6 1/2 and 7 pounds. All of her organs have full matured and she is ready for the outside world. She's not the only one - we're ready too! While we are excited and know that she could arrive at any time - we are preparing for her to take her time. We've had no signs of labor what-so-ever.

Meanwhile we've been really focused on collecting the last few essentials we need before her arrival. I've also had a chance to finish a few projects for her nursery - including her ruffled crib skirt! (yes, FINALLY)

We found an amazing deal on a jogging stroller, ordered a few more diapers, and a number of other little items (crib mattress protector, cover for the changing pad, etc) to finish everything off. Otherwise my week has been filled with loads of baby laundry and organizing her room. With the exception of a few things we're still using, we are also all packed and ready for the hospital!

Here are a few of the items we hung in the nursery:

 A finished crib skirt!!

Our sweet new jogging stroller: (Yes, that second photo is Jeremy chasing our dog through the yard with the stroller. Meanwhile I'm laughing like a lunatic and snapping photos. Oh yeah folks, we're going to be parents. Go ahead and let that sink in...)

And lastly, me, at 38 weeks:

We have a doctors appointment this evening, so we'll reporting anything exciting!

37 Weeks - FULL TERM

We've made it. As of today we are officially considered full term. Should she choose to arrive, no one would do a darn thing to stop her (least of all - ME). Granted, it could still be another month before she decides she's ready, we're just going to kick back and hope she's feels motivated sooner, rather than later.

This past week was full of awesomeness. I intended to keep you posted on the shenanigans as they took place, but we were just too busy!

This week my boss was in town (Hi KM!) and I love it when she's here. This time, she even threw me a baby shower. I have to start by saying, I could not work with a greater group of women. You would think a couple dozen women in a confined space would spell disaster - as it typically does - but no. They're smart, talented, strong, awesome people. And to have such an great group be so excited for our little family, just means all that much more to us. I would have felt over the moon and spoiled with cake and quality time, but no - they wouldn't stand for that. We got SPOILED.

I mean it - from adorable clothes, helpful mom-approved products, toys, diapers, etc. Also, you may or may not have heard me talk about THE curtains. They're from Anthropologie (one of my favorite stores ever) and were the perfect shade of coral - which I'm sure you can imagine is hard to find. Basically they were the curtains all other curtains were compared to - unfortunately just curtains that lived not in our budget! My lovely ladies pitched in and saw to it that Lily's room not be decked out in less:

How awesome is that?

Thursday was our 4th wedding anniversary. We played it pretty low-key that day, but had a great dinner with friends. Friday was the 11th anniversary of our first date! We also had a doctors appointment and an ultrasound to see Miss Lily. Doc had great things to say about her and I - both healthy! He took some measurements, checked her out, and estimates that right now she is about 6 1/3 pounds. Gaining approximately 1/3 of a pound each week from here on out - we're looking at about a 7 1/2 pound baby - give or take. Perfect! (I mean really, were we expecting any less??) 

Saturday brought another day of fun - my best girlfriends threw me a shower at the park. You would not believe the decor:

GORGEOUS! 
It was great to spend time with my girlfriends and see how much they already love our daughter. We couldn't possibly be any luckier. They too saw fit to spoil her - more diapers, great books, cute clothes, and delicious baby smelling bath products. Even some handmade items - a cozy blanket and this gorgeous matching set for Lily and I:

Hand painted by the talented Chelsi (Chelsi Lees Designs - FB - Etsy). I cannot be the only one that is crazy jealous of her artistic skills.

Saturday afternoon Jeremy and I left for Semiahmoo for the night. We had a great dinner, relaxed overlooking the water, and even spent time floating in the pool. Floating may be my new favorite past time - such relief! Sunday morning we really topped things off and got massages before heading home. It was an amazing little escape before Lily joins us. We couldn't have asked for better quality time together.

It may have been one of the greatest weeks of my life. So much fun, love, and quality time with some of my favorite people.

Folks, I think we're officially ready. C'mon baby girl!






37 Weeks:

35 Weeks

Today marks a fun day in our pregnancy timeline:

35 weeks down / 35 DAYS until our due date.

Doesn't sound like much, does it? Probably because it isn't very long at all. All of the books/phone apps/websites say that she's running out of space in there. No book needs to tell me she's feeling cooped up, I can vouch for that little gem of information personally. If I have sat for too long, or God forbid am getting up after laying down - we're in full waddle mode. I even received my first stranger comment (besides simple, albeit appreciated, congratulations) at the grocery store, "You've got to be almost there!" Yes, ma'am. I think we can officially call this the home stretch.

She's weighing in over 5 pounds (probably about 5 1/4) and is well over 18" long by now. Pick up a honeydew melon or a coconut - that's just about her size. She's got fully functioning kidneys and her liver is already processing some 'waste'. We just love to hear about these final touches coming together. Lily's just got to kick back (literally kicking most of the time) and put on some weight. Basically, she's living the good (even if a bit cramped) life.

We had a short, but sweet, visit with our doctor on Friday. Her heartbeat sounds excellent (about 140bpm) and we both got the stamp of approval. Doc got a good chuckle out of my yawning a half dozen times throughout our brief appointment (at 1:30 in the afternoon no less...) and reassured me that all of my aches and pains are completely normal. To get plenty of rest, try and relax, and to brace myself - cause they're probably not going to feel better until after she's arrived. It was a good pep talk - I'm ready!

In just a couple weeks we will have our final ultrasound, get an idea of her weight, do a final test or two... and then we'll be ready to have a baby! You know, when ever it is that she decides to grace us with her sure-to-be adorable presence. She will probably follow the old cliche 'Always late, but worth the wait.'

Friday evening we had a fun date night. It started with getting our maternity pictures taken! We found a great deal with a local photographer we hadn't used before. He and his wife were wonderful to work with. They made us feel so comfortable. I must say - I do like being behind the lens better. :) Once we get them back, I will be sure to share!

This weekend we also assembled a few more final touches in the nursery, finally installing the mirror and shelf. Just a couple more things to do!

Please, oh please, take pity on a girl with very little left of her higher brain function and just pretend I actually cleaned that mirror in the background before taking a photo of it. I promise my mom taught me better and appreciate you looking the other way on that one.

35 Weeks:

34 Weeks

Lily is probably weighing in around 4 3/4lbs this week, or about the size of a butternut squash. She is continuing to work on building up her tiny lungs and putting some more meat on her bones. Yesterday, while we relaxed at home, I commented that we will be having a baby NEXT MONTH. It's really fun to say - we're definitely ready to love, snuggle, and play with her on the outside. Instead of just poking back at her through my belly.

This weekend was a fun one. We spent a lot of time with friends and got in some much needed relaxation. Also, on Friday our car seat arrived! Armed each with a user manual - me with the CRV's and Jeremy with the car seat manual - we officially have a car seat in the CRV. Wow!

Doesn't he look so proud of himself?

Here I am at 34 weeks:

Now that we've gotten to this point I thought I would do another fun comparison - 14, 24, and 34 weeks. 14 weeks was the first photo that we took - look at how she's grown!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

33 Weeks

These days Lily is more than likely topping 4lbs. She's keeping her eyes open while she is awake and is even teaching herself to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. She is a very active baby. I can feel her getting stronger each week and have been at the receiving end of quite a few strong karate chops and roundhouse kicks. We've been able to watch her move around through my belly and I feel her move more and more throughout the day.

This week Jeremy and I attended a Newborn Care class. It was pretty basic new-baby maintenance kind of stuff, but we both took a few new things away from it. (Did you know you're not supposed to use baby powder anymore?) There were a lot of people in class and I think Jeremy felt very comforted by the fact that he seemed to have it together well more than most. Some of the other dad's were clearly in a bit of a panic. Jeremy can put on a diaper and swaddle a baby like a champ now!

Our appointment this week went very well. Healthy heart beat for her, good health for me, we're trucking right along with only the expected aches and tiredness.We'll take it!

Sunday was a very special day for me. My first baby shower! My amazing mom and sister threw me a shower for my family. Just a small group of the women in our family to celebrate Lily's upcoming arrival. For quite some time I wasn't ever certain that I would get to have this experience. It was an exceptional day and feels even more special now that it has had some time to sink in. I managed to only cry a couple of times, so I think it was a success!

The ladies in my family spoiled us rotten. Such sweet and thoughtful gifts as homemade blankets and cherished items from Jeremy's childhood, to fun toys, helpful and practical items, and even a few luxuries for me (Brea - that nightgown is AWESOME). Since I was in my early 20's, well before we decided to get married, let alone have babies, I have pined after Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags. I've been to quite a few baby showers over the years and have always admired the functional and gorgeous bag. Thinking it was always something I would indulge in myself. Well guess what? My baby sister is amazing and I am now the proud owner of a PPB bag! I'll admit, I gasped, maybe even swore, and then cried when I saw it. Wow! It's even a print I've never seen before - I wasn't sure that was possible. You did great, baby sister.

I've been a bit overwhelmed with the generosity people have shown us. I am so eternally grateful for all of the tremendous people in our lives. I couldn't be more blessed - I know I've said it at least a dozen times on this blog alone. We are so lucky. It's only a matter of weeks now until this little baby girl comes home with us. We cannot wait. But, for now, I will have to be satisfied with reorganizing her gorgeous new gifts and doing another load of little baby laundry.

This is the good life.

33 Weeks:

32 Weeks

Over the next 8 weeks, Lily will gain roughly one-third to half of her body weight - probably about another 4 pounds! She's now sporting toe and finger nails, real hair, and she's even getting smoother skin as she plumps up. I continue to feel and realize the results of her getting bigger. I find myself getting short of breath and even heart burn is popping up more frequently. I've even felt the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction. Thankfully nothing too bad and I am just taking it in stride - it means she's growing!

At our last doctor visit he confirmed she was still head down and would probably (hopefully!!) remain that way until I deliver. The doc walked his hands over my tummy and pointed out the rest of Lily's position. A few times since then it has been really neat to associate her different movements with specific parts of her body. A couple of days ago, while we were relaxing on the couch, I watched her roll a bit and her little butt was sticking straight out of my stomach! We got a good laugh out of that. We both poked, grabbed, and pinched at her little tush.

Baby's got back! Sir Mix-a-Lot would be proud.

This last week I experience another first - my first prenatal massage! I've been having some trouble sleeping, my back aches, my rib was giving me trouble... and boy did I feel like a whole new person after getting that massage. I also got an adjustment with my lovely chiropractor - It did wonders! I was a whole new me. I'm hoping to repeat that process as I need and have my fingers crossed that it will continue to be as successful.

This weekend we had the opportunity to celebrate Jeremy's first Father's Day. While there is some debate as to whether or not expecting parents get to celebrate these days - they do in our house. It isn't huge fan-fair, but I am not going to miss an opportunity to tell Jeremy exactly what he means to us. Saturday was a fun day out and about. We took Jerry (Jeremy's dad) with us to see the King Tut exhibit at the Seattle Center. It was amazing to see such beautiful pieces and a bit bewildering to imagine how long they've been around. We enjoyed a tasty lunch with a round of beers (root beer for me!) at The Ram and then it was home for a little R&R before dinner.

Jerry came up and our good friend Ryan came over and we enjoyed chili and cornbread made in the dutch oven. It was the first time we'd done it this way and OH MAN was it delish! To top the evening off we enjoyed some tasty homemade peanut butter cookies made by yours truly. Sunday was a great day of relaxation. We only left the house to go grocery shopping and otherwise spent most of the day snuggled on the sofa while it rained cats and dogs outside. Thank you to Chris for coming up and helping us finish the leftovers!  

Jeremy, we sure do hope that you enjoyed your first Father's Day. I cannot wait to continue to celebrate them with you over the years to come. You take such amazing care of us. I could not be more grateful to have you in our lives. I'm continually in wonder at the amazing father you've already become and I am so anxious and excited for you to meet your baby girl. 

Here I am, sporting the 32 week belly:

31 Weeks

At 31 Weeks little miss Lily is measuring in at approximately a whopping 18 inches and weighing in at about 3 1/2 pounds.

We had our doctors visit on Friday and they will now be taking place every two weeks instead of monthly! Her heart sounded great and Dr. Nicolov said we were both looking great. Yay! He also wrote me a prescription for a prenatal massage to help with some of the aches and pains I've been having. Can't wait to get that on the calendar. My rib (remember when I displaced it a few months back?) has been giving me some trouble and - as it true for most women - my back is getting sore from the strain. Hopefully nothing a chiropractor trip and a massage won't help. All pretty standard stuff (minus the rib part...) so I'll take it!

On Wednesday of last week we also got a chance to tour the hospital. Thankfully I don't have to labor or deliver in a general hospital. Our local hospital has a whole separate complex - the Pavilion for Women and Children. It's a great facility and we are both very comfortable there. Our guide walked us through the check-in process, showed us a few different rooms and in general got us familiar with the process. It was short and sweet, but nice to see none the less. We've already gotten our registration paperwork taken care of and we also signed up to attend a couple classes.

This weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday was pretty relaxing, but with the help of Rachel, I did get started on the crib skirt! The fabric is all cut and starting to be sewn together. I plan to work on what I can throughout the week this week. I'm ready to see it in her room.

Sunday we got to do a bit of relaxing in the morning and then it was off to a wedding! One of my dear friends from high school, Haley, was married at Cama Beach state park on Camano Island. If you've not been there before, I highly recommend it. The park is new (opened in 2008 after the land - formerly a private resort - was donated to the state) and the setting was gorgeous for a wedding. It was great to spend time with our friends. The weather even decided to cooperate so that Haley and Miles could be married on the beach. I am thrilled to see my friend so in love and to a man that clearly adores her above all others. Haley and Miles met while she was serving in the Peace Corp in St. Lucia. Their story is adorable and I love that he's moved here to be with her. Congrats you two!

31 weeks:

 

30 Weeks

30 Weeks... Three-Zero... Wow!

Here I am:

This week Lily is about 3 pounds and 17 inches long. I am definitely noticing her weight and size. My tummy is getting bigger and by the end of the day I feel the strain in my lower back. Not to mention how funny it is for me to get in and out of bed or a low chair. Jeremy often gets a good chuckle while he lends me a hand in getting up. Speaking of getting up... I'm doing that a lot now as well, since Lily clearly finds it amusing to use my bladder as a soccer ball! Even as things become more cumbersome I wouldn't change a thing. I could not feel more blessed to have this experience. We've waited quite some time for this sweet little girl and she's worth each extra trip to the bathroom. Lol

Our weekend was hugely productive. Jeremy was very sweet and took me to Ikea on a Saturday. His intentions may have been more to provide me with a spending chaperone, but I'll take it! We picked up a floating shelf, rug, sheer curtains, mirror, frames and even an accent table. Quite a score! After a stop at Home Depot, the rest of our day was spent working in Lily's nursery.

Jeremy hung the shelf above the window (which will also hold the rods for the window treatments):

We also got our adorable prints matted, framed, and hung on the wall:

Aren't they adorable?? I love that our pups are in Lily's room.

We put together the end table and topped it with an adorable lamp we found (and an old alarm clock):

And lastly, we hung the floating shelf that will house some books and other treasures:

Our vision is taking shape and it is really starting to come together! It is such a calm space, filled with features we love, and we love spending time in there. The room will translate well for a future kiddo and even a big kid room. Beside the fact it is on the small size (closet too), there isn't a single thing in there I don't love. Okay, maybe the carpet isn't my favorite... but now I'm being picky.

 My happy place.

A couple photos of us just lounging around - but I promise we were working hard! So were our helpers. We have a few more decor pieces to hang and we have bedding, curtains, and a few other accents to add, but I'd call those final touches!

This week we have our appointment, which will now be taking place every two weeks instead of monthly, doing the hospital tour, and taking care of our pre-registration. I imagine that is going to make it feel even more real.

Tick - Tock! Only about 10 weeks left.

29 Weeks

This week Lily is about 2 1/2 pounds and about 15 inches long head to heel. She's still working to build up her lungs and her head is getting bigger (hopefully not too big!) to accommodate her growing brain. She is getting bigger and is quite an active little girl! We've been highly entertained watching my belly move while she does her water aerobics.

This weekend I picked up sewing materials to get started on her bedding. I'm hoping the project gets underway very soon. We've also assembled and started painting the shelf that will go above the window (and hold the curtain rods). One more coat of paint and we hope to have it hanging up tomorrow! I even scored a great deal on curtain rods at Ross this weekend. Now if I could just find curtains, or fabric to make them... the hunt continues!

Sleep can be tricky some nights, finding a comfortable position, getting up a couple times a night, and sometimes waking up a bit sore. I am starting to work in more stretching and even a regular date with my lovely heating pad. My good pal Rachel saved my life this week when she gave me a wedge for my belly. The support when I lay on my side makes a world of difference - thanks, Rach! I'm certain it will continue to come in handy as I get bigger.

Here I am at 29 Weeks:

And just for fun, a little comparison:

What a difference!