18 days and counting!

37 weeks and counting! Jack cannot stay still for one second!! I think he knows what is about to happen! Technically, he is at FULL TERM and could come into this world any minute now! I keep having these "pep" talks with him to try and coax him into being born! I have a feeling that he might hang on as long as he can!!! Trust me, I am doing all that I can to get my body into delivery mode!!! Brian and I are so excited about his approaching due date! It's only 18 days away! I recently had a baby shower, which was wonderful, and was blessed with so many essential and practical things! I couldn't wait to get home and put everything where it needed to go! The crib and bassinet are ready, diapers are in their appropriate spot, wipes are set out and ready to use, bath essentials are waiting to be used, and the clothes and blankets are ready to serve their purpose!!! All that is missing now is baby Jack! The biggest thing that I can look forward to in the next two weeks in nesting! I will have some extra time on my hands, so you can believe that I will be cleaning each room from ceiling to bottom! (there are still some boxes that need to be unpacked!) If anything, it will help to take my mind off of the enormous person I have become and the anticipatory feelings of going into labor!! Oh, I just can't wait to hold him!!!

One Pair of Shoes...

My ankles are now engulfing my feet. Literally, my shoes are becoming lost in the vast amount of swelling!!! I only have one pair of flip flops that will fit my fat feet. I don't know what I am going to do when it's gets colder outside! I suppose I will just be cold! I tried on some of my winter shoes the other night and I must have been in a delusional state to think that they were going to fit me. And sure enough, not one single pair would slide onto these massive things I call my feet. I think a large reason for the sudden swelling is due to moving into the apartment. I probably lifted too much or stayed on my feet for too long. It could also be standing for long periods at work. Or it could be all just a part of pregnancy! This is the thing that I don't understand...the way to keep swelling down is to increase your water or fluid intake. For me, I can't get through a thirty minute time frame without using the bathroom at least twice! Increasing the amount of water I drink is like a life sentence on the toilet! (OK maybe just a six week sentence to frequent bathroom trips!) Despite this awful outcome, I have been drinking more water. (I'm not too sure I see the results in my ankles! I only feel it in my bladder!)

Well Jackson is growing minute by minute! It is becoming more clear to me that he is running out of room. I could show you, with my hand, how big his little feet are! I feel his feet A LOT! Also, he is becoming more responsive to my touches. I will touch my belly or what I like to think might be a shoulder, and he will follow this touch with movement. I love it! Before it seemed like he just didn't want to be knocked around, now I think he really responds to the touch. Also, Jackson's liver is now fully developed and capable of processing a certain amount of waste! From what I understand, pretty much all of Jackson's prenatal development is complete and essentially ready for the outside world! Jack is going to put on more weight during these next few weeks, which is incredible to me because I feel like I am already at FULL capacity! (sorry I don't have a picture, but you can easily use you imagination! think of a blimp) keep us in your prayers!



"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Eph. 4:2

We did it!!

Brian and I finally decided on a place to live! We have signed a lease and are moving this weekend! Our stuff will finally come out of storage!!! We are extremely excited about this move! With the help of my parents and close firends, we were able to find a car! This vehicle will be arriving sometime this week! We are moving and a shaking here folks! Get ready...Jackson will soon be on his way as well!!!

How much longer?

32 WEEKS!!!!! I am becoming so antsy about this baby. I can NOT stop thinking about his arrival. It has become all-consuming. I want so badly to enjoy this last month...and three weeks, but I am really finding it hard. I seriously am ready to not be pregnant anymore. And I know what you are thinking, "enjoy it while you can," "sleep while you can," and "you will miss being pregnant," and all of it is good advise...but it goes in one ear and out the other. I am, again, seriously ready for Jackson to be here. I find myself thinking of ways to help have a healthy, EARLY, delivery for this baby!!! I know this is impratical. I want him to be very healthy when he is born...but three weeks early wouldn't be that bad...would it??? I think another contributor for this anxiousness is that all powerful motherly instinct to want to nest. It has taken over me, but all I can do is dream about nesting and picture what I am moving and cleaning. Brian and I will hopefully move within this month. (Keep praying for us!!) I tell myself that once I have a place to set up a "home" I will feel a little less anxious about it all. I am excited about the upcoming events though. This is a really exciting time as I begin to grow and grow and grow!!! Jack will begin putting on a lot more weight as I come to the end of this pregnancy. He gains the majority of his weight during these last months! Hopefully all the weight will go to him so that I can manage to stay under a 40 pound weight gain. (The likely hood of this is slim) Brian and I also started our birthing classes. The class is once a week for TWO hours!! Can you believe it? Making pregnant women sit in a class for two hours during dinner hours is a sin! They do give us a break...but there are no deliveries for dinner!!!! Nonetheless, we are enjoying them!!! My 32nd week has just begun and hopefully it will prove to be very exciting!!!

Ready or Prepared?

I am now in the my 30th week and things are looking big. My feet have now begun to swell significantly and at different points in the day. I can no longer wear the same size shoe! Other than swelling, I am pretty sure my feet have gained weight too! This should really be of no surprise to me! (considering...) Jack is now gaining fat in the little folds of his skin! Stretched out he should be around 15 inches long and he should weigh around 3 pounds. His eyes are now sensitive to light changes and his pupils will even dilate. For the majority of the time, his eyes will stay closed. He has become a little more gentle with his kicks. It seems like all he does is roll around. I can feel him roll and stretch a leg or an arm. Last night, Brian and I tried to figure out what part was moving. My belly would lift up and we would guess a foot...or a hinny!
On a different note, the other day, the question of "being ready for baby" was asked to me. It took me no time to answer. Of course I am ready for Jack! In fact, I can not wait. Now, if this person would have asked me if I was PREPARED for baby, my answer would have been completely different. Let's face it, there are just some things that Brian and I do not have that we are going to need. We have basic essentials... and there is no doubt that the things we have will be fine for the first 24 hours, but after that we are going to need some serious stuff. So, I think what I will be doing for the remaining weeks of pregnancy is start purchasing some of this "important" stuff each time I make a run to the store! Now, our current concerns seem to focus on two major things. We are still looking for a place to live and a vehicle to purchase. Pretty serious. Again, am I ready for this kid??? YES!!! Am I as prepared as I would like to be???? NO!!!!

29 Weeks

Brian and I have finally decided on a name for this growing baby boy. We knew from the very beginning that we wanted him to be called Jack, but we were not too sure on the middle name. After much consideration, and a few names that should have never been mentioned (Jacks Elvis) we decided on Jackson Thomas Smalley. Brian's grandfather's name is Johnny Thomas, and we thought that it would be nice to use his middle name for our son. My brother's name and my grandfather's name is Thomas as well, so I think we are both trying to keep this name in the family. I love it. Hopefully Jack will love it too!

Brian and I were blessed with a wonderful gift this past weekend. It was something that I wanted, but did not think that I would get. A friend of the family bought us a beautiful moses basket and stand to use as a bassinet for Jack. I'm probably going to use this during the first few months when he will need some extra attention during the night. I know it is going to be perfect.

I also had a doctor's appointment this past Tuesday. I did not realize that the blood in my body is Rh negative until the nurse came into the room with a shot that looked like it could be used on a horse! I haven't had a shot in ages. I felt silly because I had no clue what it means to be Rh negative, nor did I understand that a shot of Rhogam would take care of everything! I didn't want to sound too naive, so I just went along with it and acted like I knew exactly why she was there with this killer shot. I was determined to do this with plenty of bravery. Obviously, I went home and did some research on having Rh- blood and the purpose of the Rhogam shot. It turns out that my own blood could have killed this little angel! Who knew! During pregnancy, an Rh-negative mother can make antibodies (part of her immune system's response to invaders) against Rh-positive blood cells, which the baby could have, cross the placenta and attack baby Jack!!! So, this painful shot stops this immune response! Thank goodness for modern day science and medicine. That was the extent of my appointment. I also asked if I was too big and if Jackson has enough room. The doctor assured me that he will make room if there is not enough, that I'm doing fine with weight gain, and I should be able to work up to the day I deliver. (I told the doc to keep that last little bit to himself.)

For the most part, Jack and I are doing great at 29 weeks. It is going by so quickly. There is so much of me that is completely ready for this little blessing to be here, and there is another entire side of me feels like we need 5 more months to prepare. I am fortunate to have family and friends who love and support me so much. It has helped me to feel excited about his arrival. I know he is going to bring so much more love into this world!

Baby Jack

I found out that I was pregnant in March, and boy was that a surprise!! At that point, I was already a good month or so pregnant. I was terrified at the thought of being pregnant! There were, however, tiny moments when extreme feelings of joy would take over. I felt so proud to be becoming a mother. I started picking names immediately. I just knew that I would be having a little girl! It wasn't until that blessed day, during my 22nd week, that I found out I was having a little boy! I think that is why my relationship with food has been so wonderful. Food and I have formed an unforgettable bond. I am well into a 30 pound weight gain...and I like to think reason for the surplus amount of pounds is due to the fact that the baby is a boy. He needs to be a lot bigger! Besides the huge amount of pounds I seem to be packing on, this pregnancy has been a dream. Well, my second trimester was a stroll through the park. That first trimester was an absolute nightmare! I would never wish those first three months on any woman...or man! I was a total wreck! I am surprised people still like me after that!
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant, the start of my third trimester. Jackson Smalley is figuring out how to open and close his eyelids, which are now adorned with, what has to be, the most beautiful eyelashes in the world. I like to think that I have fairly long eyelashes, and Brian's are pretty lengthy as well, so Jack is sure to be blessed with a set of gorgeous eyes. Just the other day, Jack had the hiccups for the first time. I believe he is practicing his breathing motions...hence the hiccups. I was so proud of him, I started to cry!!! Of course, a lot of things will make me tear up these days! He is also moving at speeds that I have never thought about moving. You would think he is preparing a floor routine for the 2012 Olympics. He has to be pretty proud of his sporadic kicks, because he will kick for a good 15 minutes before settling. These are sweet little nudges that I know I am going to miss once he is born. I am ready for my little man to get here.