39 weeks

So I've been convinced that Bronwyn would come early, but at 39 weeks and 1 day, that feeling is receding rapidly and the fear of being endlessly pregnant has replaced it. I know everyone says that babies make their appearance when they are ready, but that is a small comfort when you are anxiously waiting their arrival.

On the bright side, I've been able to keep busy tying down loose ends from our move like changing addresses, hanging up pictures, and getting my fill of Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC (seriously those people are nuts!) I've also been exploring the Bothell/Woodinville area, and have successfully found the bank, best grocery store, and of course spent way too much money at Target.

Mike and I have also been taking full advantage of living so close to downtown Bothell where we have sampled almost every restaurant on Main Street. Chicken and I have been meandering our way down the Sammamish River Trail that we can hop on down the block. Chicken has very kindly adjusted her pace to mine, though I think the greater opportunities to eat grass and sniff everything in her path more than makes up for a less rigorous walk.

Last doctor's appointment was yesterday and the verdict is 2 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Which basically means that I can either go into labor this very second, or not for a couple of weeks. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted, though I'm voting for the latter.

38 weeks

This week was a little rough since Mike was out of town in Atlanta for a big Microsoft conference. I was convinced that I was going to go into labor and he would miss the birth of his first child. Luckily that didn't happen. Fortunately I have wonderful parents who allowed both me and Chicken to stay with them in their home in Kirkland. Chicken was not allowed to be on the hardwood floors, but luckily I had free reign of the house. My parents kept me well fed and entertained for the week and Mike arrived home safely on Saturday.

At my 38 week doctor's appointment we were all happy to confirm that Bronwyn has indeed stayed head down, despite what felt like pretty dramatic acrobatic maneuvers. Apparently being head down suits her, and she seems to be in no hurry to vacate her cozy home. I am still 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Onto the next week!

Here are two pictures, one of me looking very serious (sorry but it can be a challenge to take a picture of yourself with an iphone) and one of Chicken practicing her babysitting techniques.

37 weeks

Okay, I'm trying to get back on the blogging bandwagon again so here I am with this week's entry. Mike and I went in this morning for our breech inversion to try to flip the baby into a vertex or head-down position. I had major doubts that this would work and was anticipating it to be both painful and unsuccessful. Luckily everything went well and the little bugger turned fairly easily. The worst part of the whole procedure was try to get an I.V. line put in my hand. I was so dehydrated (no eating or drinking after midnight) that my veins kept collapsing. Not fun.

Overall, the experience was fine and now our hope is that baby B. stays in one place instead of flipping again. I also was fortunate enough to enjoy a nice pancake breakfast in bed (well hospital stretcher, but I'll take what I can get). My doctor also checked my progress and I'm 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced which means she is making good progress. I'm still hoping for another week or so to get ready, especially since Mike will be in Atlanta next week. But we all know that babies will come when they are good and ready so who knows when that will be.

Here is a picture of me at 37 weeks sporting a new head down baby, and some more nursery pictures. It is really hard to get a whole room shot and the lighting is poor so sorry about the quality. My mom made the beautiful letters for the baby's name.

36 weeks

Yikes! I can't believe it has been 6 weeks since I've posted. But in all fairness I did finish up the school year, move out of our home and classroom, go to the lake, and move into our new home in Bothell. We are very much enjoying being back in the northwest. As before mentioned we were able to spend sometime at Hayden Lake as well as spend a few days in Portland. We've been in our new house for a week and between Mike and our families help we are fairly settled.

I am in the home stretch of pregnancy now. Starting next week she will be considered full term if I gave birth. That is exciting. What isn't so exciting is that she is in a breech position. So I have a version (where they will try to manually turn her) scheduled for next week. If that doesn't work then they will schedule me for a c-section in 3 weeks. Not too crazy about the idea, however, the planner in me really likes knowing when she'll be coming. Other than that we are enjoying our new neighborhood and I've had plenty in which to invest my nesting energy. I just wish that energy would last for longer than 5 minutes at a time and that bending over was a little easier.

I've taken a couple of pictures of the nursery and myself. Please excuse the picture of me and just focus on the enormous belly. The beautiful mobile above the crib was custom made by her very talented grandfather Mike's dad Lewis. I'll post more pictures when the room is completely finished.