So close

Well, we're just 13 days away and ready as we'll ever be.  I've started my weekly doctor appointments and things are definitely moving forward.  My body is getting itself ready - false contractions, changing cervix....all that fun stuff.  The hard part will be knowing when things go from "getting ready" to "holy crap it's time to have a baby!" :)  Or maybe not, maybe it'll be crystal clear.  Sleeping isn't always easy, but luckily I feel pretty rested every morning. 
My energy level has been lower and my fingers/feet swell pretty easily.  Actually, my little fingers are generally always swollen these days.  My work has been great - they gave me a parking pass so that I can park right behind our building instead making the 10 minute trek from my regular parking spot. 
It's been a pretty tame couple of weeks- just lots of getting the house cleaned up.  Last weekend we had a foot of snow fall, so that gave us very good reason to stay inside and clean.  We're expecting more snow this weekend, so maybe that will mean that the house will be extra organized. 

36 weeks - almost there!

Well, here were are at 36 weeks - it's so hard to believe we are getting so close.  Next week we will be considered full term and the baby could come at any minute and be ready to live and breathe on his own.  I think we have everything ready - we have all the supplies we need, all furniture set up, work plans in place, and hospital bag all packed. It's all just a waiting game now.  Now, I don't think you are ever really prepared for what's going to happen in the hospital or how crazy life will be once he's here, but I can certainly say that all of the tangible things are ready to go.
My friends have planned a girls' night out for this weekend as a last hurrah  before my life changes forever.  They are so thoughtful and I can't wait for the fun time. 
I had my last shower yesterday - thrown by my boss and coworkers.  It was so so nice - they are so good to me and I'm so lucky to work with such generous people.  I got 3 homemade blankets, homemade burp cloths, and so much more. 
Friday I go to the doctor and then I have to go every week after that.  At this appointment, they will start checking my cervix to see if there is any dilation.  Say what!? That's nuts.

Starting to prepare

With two months left to go, we've been slowly starting to make sure that we and our house is all ready for baby.  Last weekend we had our birthing class - it was a 3 in 1 class condensing three different sessions into one 6 hour class.  There were about 7 other couples in the class and they were all really nice.  It was good to be around other couples going through what we were going through and had some of the same issues and questions that we did.    The teacher was super great and the class was fun and informative.  We learned a lot, but of course most of what will happen will really make us learn as we go.

I decided to organize all the baby clothes by size because before I just had all pants in one drawer, all onsies in another, and so on.  That took most of my Saturday night - pretty exciting life!  I've also started packing the hospital bag.  I'm hoping we won't need it for another month or more, that's for sure!

I'm feeling nice and big, although everyone keeps telling me that I look good and that I'm "all belly."  Supposedly this is a good thing.  I've got your typical third trimester stuff going on - the newest is the swollen fingers and numb limbs when I wake up.  Sleeping is getting worse - my back hurts most of the time.  One of my students asked me what I'm most looking forward to doing again once the baby arrives and I think it is SLEEPING.  I know I will be getting less of it, but being able to sleep on my back and stomach is something I'm really looking forward to again!

Catching Up

I guess we have a lot of catching up to do! I'll start a couple of weekends ago with my shower up in Minneapolis.  Mom and dad came up for a long weekend since it was also Sophia's first birthday.  Saturday afternoon was my shower and our friend Jessica's house was packed with my awesome friends and family.  Aunt Judy and cousin Andi were there from Wisconsin as well!  The shower was so nice - lots of yummy treats and loads of Peeps for me to take home.  As usual, everyone was very generous and my car was packed with gifts to take home.  Later that night we had a family dinner with cake at Jen's house afterwards to celebrate Sophia's birthday. 

Last week I actually experienced my first Braxton Hicks contraction - that was not fun.   I was walking to work from my car when it hit.  I was able to keep walking, but very slowly.  It lasted for a good minute or so and I hoped that I could make it to work.   I did, and went straight to the kitchen to get some water - that's what they recommend to try first.  I must have just been very dehydrated because as soon as I gulped down the water, I started to feel better. While it was not a fun experience, at least I got a little taste of what my early labor will be like!  Hopefully that won't be for a while though...

Iowa City baby shower

Last weekend I was able to head down to Iowa City for my very first baby shower.  At first, I wasn't going to go down because neither Jen nor Barry could drive down with me and I didn't feel that comfortable driving by myself at this point in the pregnancy. My totally awesome friend Amanda really wanted to help, so she flew in from Denver and drove down with me to Iowa.  It was so great of her to do and it gave us some nice quality time in the car together - we really hadn't been able to spend much time together since both of us had been married a couple of years back.
The shower was so great!  The theme was to help build a library for our little guy, so guests were encouraged to bring a book that we could include in our library.  They even used books to decorate around the room.  In the pictures, you'll see that the cupcakes were decorated with mini book covers and they made a mobile as well. 
I have such great friends!  This weekend I have another shower up here in the cities - time to see more awesome friends. :)

Classes for new job

So, I just finished my first week of my new job. It was not actually spent at my place of work, rather at a college out in Bloomington taking a week long class on all things insurance. It is necessary for me to take the class, pass an exam and get a license before working in the industry. The class itself was a 'cram' course. A lot of information crammed into a short period of time. It was occasionally overwhelming, but I did learn a lot. Now I have this weekend to study before taking my exam on Monday. Once I pass that, I head straight out to my new employer and take residence of my new cubicle! Monday to Friday 9-5 here I come!

Parents visit

For the first week in October we had the pleasure of having my parents visit. It was the first time we had all seen each other in person since last Christmas and New Year. Like their last visit they came to the US for two weeks and spent their first week seeing another part of the country. This time it was the East Coast for a bus tour seeing the colours change for Autumn (notice the correct spelling of 'coloUr' and the use of the word 'Autumn', not Fall :-) ). They had early rises every day during their tour, so we made sure to reduce the  pace while staying with us. Every morning was a long lie, for those who could sleep (not Dad) and copious amounts of tea consumption. We managed quite a full schedule of things to see and do. The Mall of America and the aquarium there, the Raptor Center (birds of prey, not dinosaurs), baby shopping and a boat ride on the Mississippi River. We also ate out at a variety of excellent restaurants, Travail being the biggest treat.
Luckily it isn't long before they are due to return. They will be back in February to meet their first Grandson!