39 weeks: Mini watermelon

Yes, that's right. We've reached the watermelon stage. Rain is hanging in there waiting until he's ready to come out, and it could be any day now. He's probably measuring about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 lbs. The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath, just like ours does out here.

Every night now, Kev and I take a walk around the neighborhood. Our 'hood is set up in five differently-sized circles, so we can go on very short walks or longer walks. I've been choosing the longest circle to keep things moving along. Although I noticed yesterday that I'm slowing down quite a bit. I can't quite walk as fast comfortably as I used to be able to (last week!). I'm continuing to have crampy contractions sometimes throughout the day, and my cankles that usually lessen at night are becoming more of a temporary permanence. That's not good.

Yesterday at work (crabby day...see last post), a few of the other teachers said I've noticeably dropped. Although technically I dropped before last Friday's appointment, it's now more apparent to others. What do you think? Here's belly pics:

Make sure you get your vote into the expectnet poll. After yesterday's "off" feeling and nesting-induced crabbiness, we might be reaching the end and you don't want to miss out on guessing!

A Crabby Day Vent

First off, I felt very...different this morning. I don't know if it was that longish walk we went on last night or what the deal was, but I didn't feel quite the same. That in and of itself was nerve-wracking.

Then along came my students. We're preparing for the 4th grade program which is this Friday. All of the 4th grade classes were practicing moving from the bells/chimes tables (they play a few tunes they've learned) to the stage. All my class has to do is "follow the leader" in order of their parts and walk up on the stage and sit on the second row of risers. They know the order. Do you think they can pay attention and tell their feet to move when it's their turn to get in line? No. Then they sit there, listen to a few other classes do their thing, sing a song or two, then it's our turn. All they have to do is "follow the leader," say their little part, "follow the leader" and sit back down on that second row of risers. Think they can do that? No.

So I told them that just our class would be practicing later in the afternoon to get the bugs out. They went off to social studies, and at 2:00, they came back in the room to fill out their agendas. I'd already told them that we're practicing even if it goes into recess. They know that recess is coming up at 2:15, but do you think they quietly sit down, fill out their agendas, and wait for instructions? No. They talk! Recess is their "currency" as Dr. Phil would say, yet here they are wasting time. Not my recess to worry about, but you know...I want them to go outside and they're not helping any.

Finally we got out to the stage, we go through the route once, as quick as I can possibly make it with the craptastic listening skills they're showing. When they're not paying attention to what's going on, I of course make them do it again. And then they get all huffy at me for taking time out of their recess. Eyes roll, "come on!" is said under breath, as if it's MY fault they have to do it again. I say, "You know, I might not be here tomorrow, and I don't want Ms. W. (sub) to have to figure this out. I want you to know it." And they look at me like, "why would Ms. W. be here tomorrow?" Ugh. Seriously. I know you're 10, but get a clue!

So we finished practicing at 2:30 when recess was over. The other classes were still outside, so I let them go out for 2 minutes, which was nice to just clear the air a little. Honestly, some kids and their attitudes. If they'd just pay attention and do it right the first time, they would've gotten a heckuva lot more recess. And I would've gotten more recess too.

Midwife Appointment Stats

My weight: Down 2 lbs, which I guess is normal at the end. Total weight: 26 lbs. But then Kev and I went to Culver's for dinner, and aside from my Butterburger with cheese, I also got a sundae, so now I'm probably back up those 2 lbs. ;)

BP: A bit high at first, but a few minutes later, nurse Alex re-checked it, and it was lower (whew! the evident cankles gave me a scare!)

Belly measurement: smaller than last time, which once again is normal at the end.

Baby's HB: 140. Midwife almost made me cry when she said, "remember the first time we heard it and it was in the 170s? Now it's a full-term baby in the 140s."

Baby's weight (a guesstimate): In the area of high 6 lb/low 7 lb

Baby's length (another guesstimate): Long

Cervix: 1+ cm dilated, Baby's head is at 0 station, which means definitely no more floating around! An illustration, if you're curious...

And then Midwife said how perfectly everything is going, and how my body build is perfect, and everything I'm doing is perfect, and we're going to have a perfect birth, and then I really did cry. I think she wanted to make me cry to make sure my hormones were working correctly. Yeah, they are.

Good Friday! Belly pics, to-do list

Here they are:

Today's To-Do List:

-Load iPod with music/visual imagery to listen to during labor

-Pack hospital bag

-Create email distribution list to spread the good word

-Get car seat checked at the fire station

-Make freezer meals

-Midwife appointment at 4:15

I've still been having those contractions I mentioned on Wednesday. Still relatively painless, still very irregular. I'm hoping they are doing their job and I'm more dilated today. I'm so sick of being at school, and it's not because of my kids anymore.

38 Weeks: Leeks and Eeks

Our little Raina is still in there plumping up. She weighs about 6.8 lbs, and each day she gains 1/2 oz of fat! Raina is over 19.5 inches long, about the size of a leek. She has a firm grasp, which soon we'll be able to feel ourselves when she squeezes our pinky fingers. Her matured organs are ready for life outside. The vernix is most likely disappearing, but might stick around until birth. Her skin is becoming thicker and paler.

I think I'm making a bit of progress on Operation: Baby Evacuation. Every once in awhile, I feel a little crampage (on the pain scale, I'd give it a 2.5) and the infamous "lightening crotch," which gets more of a 6 on the pain scale, and luckily doesn't linger too long. I'm definitely getting more uncomfortable. Last night, after day one of "training" in my long-term sub at school, Kevin and I went to the grocery store. By the time we were done shopping, I was so miserable, tired, and crabby. When we got home, I laid on the couch and watched TV. Kevin did his duties to his pregnant wife and rubbed my back and did a load of laundry. Despite the fact that I'd really like to lounge on the couch all night, after tomorrow I'm making Kevin walk laps with me around the neighborhood until I'm equally as uncomfortable as I was last night. Oh, and I'm definitely at that point where I'm so very sick of wearing the same clothes over and over again. 

After seeing the pictures I took of the baby's room the other night, I decided I didn't like the arrangement, and we moved furniture around :) Nesting much? Naaahhh.

When today is over and my sub has gotten her 2 full days of observing, and if she still doesn't want to back down (she told me she wouldn't!), I'm both physically and mentally ready for Raina to make her big appearance. But that doesn't mean I'm letting my midwife strip any membranes at my appointment on Friday.

Stop back later today for a belly picture. I gotta eat some breakfast!

Shower and Nursery Update

On Saturday, I spent the afternoon with some of my family members at a shower. It was a small gathering, but that's the way I like 'em. My aunt, the hostess, put together a crossword puzzle that related to everything baby and this blog. Being the super sleuth I am and the author of this, I won. We had one of my favorite things to eat of all time, but unfortunately forget about and thus don't get it often--strawberry salad. Yum! We received the crib mattress, clothes, diaper bag, gift cards, blankets, knitted hats, crib sheets, toys, books, bath salts (for me!), etc. Once again, awesome stuff for the much-loved baby.

Kevin spent Saturday with my dad. He finished the trim around the windows and installed most of the clothes closet. There was a bit of a measuring snafu, and the drawers need to be tweaked a bit because the doorframe stops them from opening. So what you see here...where the basket is on the left...is where the drawers will go. The closet itself is still in the process of getting organized, but we're getting there! Oh...and we do have more clothes. The clothes shown are only the ones that came with hangers.

On Sunday, Kevin and I puttied and painted the nail holes in the trim, and then we went to Target and Babies R Us to purchase the things we need to have on hand when baby comes. We bought some pants so Raina doesn't have to come home half naked, itty bitty socks, plain white newborn short-sleeved onesies, a changing pad cover, a wastebasket for diapers, cheapie washcloths for butt wipes, hangers, thermal receiving blankets, a bathtub, and MY CHAIR! We went with the Dutailier. It's marvelous. The only thing I'm a *bit* disappointed in is that it looks so much greener under the flourescent lights at Babies R Us. In our house, it looks tan. Boo, but whatevs. The crib bumpers will be removed and possibly used as "curtains" to cover the closets. I just had to see what they looked like :)

Forgive the lack of wall decor. Once we know if we have a Rain or a Raina, we'll decorate the walls. I'm thinking of getting some paper lanterns to hang above the crib, for sure if it's a girl. If it's a boy, I'll have to do some more thinking. And I'll probably join the bandwagon and hang some letters that spell out his/her name. Or maybe some vinyl lettering/art. We'll see.

I did a bunch of baby laundry this weekend, which was SO FUN. I got the stuff I know we'll use washed, like the changing pad cover, the sheets, blankets, towels, washcloths, Boppy covers, and clothing essentials. I'm waiting to wash the rest of the newborn-sized clothes until I know Rain isn't a chub who won't skip them and go right to 3 month sizes.

I see only 10 of you have put your guess into the expectnet poll. 2 votes are from Kevin and me, and we don't count. What are you waiting for? Time is running short. My aunt thinks I'm having the baby this Sunday! There's no sign-up/registration or anything. Super simple. Takes 2 minutes. Dooooo it.

37 weeks: Swiss Chard

Cue the trumpet! ::Duh-da-da-duuuhh:: We're full term! Any time little Rain decides to come, there's no stopping him now.

Rain's as big as a stalk of swiss chard. He weighs about 6 1/3 lbs and measures a little over 19 inches. His lungs should be fully mature, hence the reason why he'd be a-okay out here if he decides to show early. And...that's all for development this week. It's just a waiting game now.

Here are the belly pics of the week:

And a full-frontal by request:

I had my midwife appointment this afternoon. Here are the stats:

My weight: Up a big, fat 0 lbs. Total: holding steady at 28. Hurray for slowing down the weight gain! And don't worry, I'm not starving myself. I have my fair share of healthy snacks throughout the day. Oh yeah...and chocolate. Tomorrow one of my students is bringing a BROWNIE CAKE in for his birthday. I'm already considering how I can save some "extra" for myself to pig out on, and then lie to him about someone coming in and taking it. I would definitely not get the teacher of the year award for that, so ::sigh:: I guess I'll take only my fair share. 

Belly measurement: on track, I think

Baby's HR: wasn't told, but probably in the 140-150 range. I used the doppler I'm borrowing from a co-worker on Sunday, and it was still right around there.

Baby's position: Head down still. Feet are usually on my right side. Better not flip now, Mr. Rain Man!

Cervix: 1 cm dilated! Eep!

GBS test results: Positive :( Boo!! This means that I have Group B Streptococcus in my body, and that baby could potentially get sick upon birth. BUT, if I get the proper doses of Penicillin through IV on delivery day before he's born, everything should be okay. It doesn't sound like much to worry about, but I also can't spend as much time as I want laboring at home. The Penicillin treatments have to be 3-4 hours apart from each other. If my birth (7 hrs) is anything like this birth is going to be, there will be a hustle to the hospital.

**Scroll down to the "March showers bring April babies" post. I added a picture!**