Work Prom!

Tom and I went to a promlike event that my work threw last night! It was a blast, here are the pics!

New Contact Info:

Tom and I got new cellphones with Maryland numbers.
My number is now: 301-586-7706
Tom's number is now: 301-586-7791

Although we've been moved for awhile now, our new address is:
1619 Farragut Ave.
Rockville, Md 20851

What am I? A teenage boy?

Being pregnant is definitely the most interesting time of my life. My body is completely new to me and I feel like a slave to its demands. In the last few weeks, I have been more hungry than in my entire life. I know I am eating 4000 calories some days. It's like I am a bottomless pit of hunger. The other thing is that I am also completely exhausted. I have been sleeping better - some times. ( I don't want to jinx myself again). I have a pillow kingdom where I snuggle my body into, a heating pad for my achy back and hip. I try not to toss and turn for comfort and instead try to deal with the pressure and pain of sleep as practice for labor. I also nap like crazy: all weekend long, and at work during my lunch break. I spend most of my time eating a sleeping. I honestly feel like a teenage boy.

I had my 36 week appt on Thursday night. There are 5 midwives in the practice: Alice, Marsha, Regina, Katie and Lisa. (Regina and Katie delivered Sophia, Andrea's daughter). Last night we had Alice. She is one of our favorites because she is so much fun and we play a lot at the appointments. They are all good, though. All great - actually. They have different strenghts that I think will come in handy depending on the type of labor I have. I know that God will take care of us and we will get whomever is best for us.

At the appointment I was tested for Group B Strep and I had some blood drawn for iron count. I also got an internal exam, my first of this whole pregnancy! I am dialated 1cm, 0% effaced, and the baby is head down in station -4 or "floating" I guess He hasn't dropped as much as I thought and my bladder is in for it when he gets down there! eek!

We meet our birth assistant (a medically trained doula) on Saturday for our home visit. I will update you after that if anything happens then!
Love, V

6 weeks or less

Me and Katie N. she is due two weeks after me!

Me and Andrea GG

Me and Katie again.
These were taken at Katie's baby shower which occured this weekend!

So that's it ladies and gentlemen. I am due in exactly 4 weeks. In exactly 6 weeks, I will be induced if I haven't had the baby yet.

I admit, I haven't been the happiest of pregnant ladies. But now that the end is in sight, I really love being pregnant. Right now, the pregnancy means I will have a baby within 6 weeks.

Last week I told Tom that I would be willing to do it again, and I think I would (in a few years!)

I'm really excited about being a mom, holding my baby, looking at my baby, cleaning my baby, singing to my baby, loving my baby. How old am I? Who am I? I am a woman who was made to be a mother, I've had other people's kids as practice - but now its my turn. =)

These past few weeks have been a time of grace for Tom and I. Knowing that our baby is near is making us fall deeper and deeper into love. As I need more rest, Tom can see it and he encourages me to get it. When I can do things, I do them as best I can. We are working as a team better than we ever have. We do our practice exercises for labor and talk about what works and what doesn't. We are making lists of food to have for labor and lists of other things to get ready. We've got lists of things to do soon and things to get before the baby comes. Our birth supplies are all collected, we just need an oxygen tank, we are picking it up on Thursday. Tomorrow we go to meet with a pediatrician. Then, we have "everything" we will need to have the baby.

We are really happy, excited, and sometimes a little bit nervous. We know it will work out, and trying not to worry too much. There are so many things that can happen in life and we are really enjoying being alive right now. We'll enjoy it even more when the life that is inside of me gets a new bed! =)

35 weeks down, <7 to go.

Thank you America for innaguration day. Today ends Tom's and my 4 day weekend, and I'm really glad we had it. We spent this weekend shopping, and doing other baby prep. We've been to Burlington Coat Factory's Baby Depot, 2 Targets, the Mall, and other furniture stores. We finally assembled the crib and we bought a mattress for it. We bought enough diapers for the first 3 weeks, baby wipes. ( We plan on using cloth diapers after the cord falls off). I've been organizing baby things: breast feeding supplies, bath supplies, medicines/thermometers. Tom and I have been shopping for a glider and a changing table. We registered for one of each online, but now we are going to stores to guarantee that we are getting the best ones, maybe find some that are already assembled, or that we don't have to get shipped.
In the past few days, I think the baby may have dropped. I don't really know how to tell, but when I sit down I've got to spread my legs out in order to be comfortable. The baby is still moving very aggressively. He is rubbing his bum on me. He is also jabbing his legs into me, I guess he's stretching. He does some punching in my netherregions around my hip bones and bladder.
One thing I am a bit worried about is a compound presentation in delivery, that his arm might be up by his head as he passes through. That would make delivery harder. Another thought I've had (just today) is that my son may have his father's shoulders. Tom has beautiful shoulders, they are huge and strong from all the swimming he's done since high school. I really, really hope Gumbo will develop those when he is a teen, and is not developing them now.
As of the 4th day of this weekend, I am really tired. This morning I thought I was going into labor. I felt a pain that was stronger than normal. So I did what the midwives recommend, I took a bath, ate some food and then I laid down. I slept for two hours or so. Now I'm awake again, and I feel tired, but am NOT in labor. Today I am 35 weeks. If I go into labor, then it needs to be after next Tuesday. After next Tuesday, I am allowed to have a home birth, and Gumbo will most likely be ready to be in the outside world with no hospital help.

This means I'm next.

Josh and Ashley got their baby yesterday. John Paul Joseph Brumfield came on January 15th, 4:40 am. 7lbs.
He is here.
I'm next.
Then Shanti and Katie.
Its really time ladies, we'd better get ready.

Baby Shower & Pics

Here are pictures that my Aunt Mary took at the baby shower. The only way to view them is via the Kodak website. Enjoy them!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=5qnfd5g.5mxyx7qs&x=0&h=1&y=-es7dph&localeid=en_US

The shower was amazing. Andrea (my sister in law) and Katie (who is due 2 weeks right after me) threw me an amazing shower. Many work friends came, my cousin Christy, my Aunt Mary, my BFF Liz and her bf Mikey were all there. There was lots of yummy food and a really cute cake. Everyone decorated bibs for Gumbo. We played games: baby scattegories and a memory game. Then we opened presents. Gumbo got lots of really cute clothes, bath supplies, toys, bedding, changing supplies, a stroller, and so much other fun stuff! His mommy got some lotions and things to help her with breastfeeding. After the presents, we all hung out for a few hours. I showed everyone the house and the baby room.

We are so excited to have this little baby. He is so darling. I know he is going to be super cuddly because he is always rubbing out on my belly (either that or he is running out of room!) I am 8 1/2 months this week! EEK! He could come in 2 weeks and not need any extra hospital care. So, we will have a baby between the next 2 weeks and 2 months.

I think the most cool parts were that Aunt Mary flew down from New Hampshire and came with my cousin Christy. The other really cool part was that Liz and Mikey rented a car and came up for the shower. They completely missed it, but thats ok because we had a ton of fun after the party was over. Liz, Mikey, Mary, Christy and I went out to eat and had a great time.

You might be wondering, "Where was Tom?" Well, Tom was there for the first part, he went to work for a little bit and then he hung out with Jake (Andrea's hubby) and Sophia (Andrea's baby) and watched football!

Right now he is in Nashville doing some work things. He is going to visit our friend Maria while he is there. In the meantime, I'm hanging at the house and washing baby clothes! yay!

Love, V