Baby update

At 36.5 weeks along: Best news...baby is head down ready for birth!! I guess the hanging upside down and going to the chiropractor helped. When we did the ultrasound to check, he also mentioned that it is still a girl. :). Measure right on. Gained 4 lbs since last appointment. That makes a total of 16 lbs. feel lots of movement still. Was checked today and I'm about 50% effaced but have not started dilating yet. I think I can pretty much plan on a few more weeks. Still working on Hypnobirthing relaxation techniques for labor. Hope I can handle this. So excited for this little angel. So in love with her already.

Family Pictures

Disclaimer...I am usually the one taking the pictures.  I hate being the one in the picture.  Especially because I only notice what I dont like about the picture after I am home and ready to crop or edit.  Ah well.  We took these last night mostly with the tripod and timer.  The one of Nick and I Molly took.  Really-she did.  Nick taught her how to push the button while it was on the tripod.  Not too bad, but this is the only one that we got together that sort of worked out.  Pretty fun though.  Only 3.5 more weeks until our family of 3 becomes a family of 4!!!

Play Date

Yesterday Molly had her friend Kaycee over.  They have such a fun time together.  They seem to play best when I'm a room away and cant solve their problems.  They like to play dress-up most of the time.  Here they are eating a cookie and drinking from sippy cups.

Things Molly says that I don't want to forget:
* "Can I have some col col water?" (for cold water)
* Instead of saying I am she always says "I are."
* "Is this good soda or bad soda?"

On the 23rd we got out the swimming pool and filled it up.  Molly was not shy about getting in but didnt know if sitting down was a good idea.  Im so glad Nick is willing to do those things with her.  The water was freezing hose water, but felt great on my feet.

Update on baby:
Not much to update.  Not sure what position she is in...find out Monday.  More surges, (contractions) more often, but nothing that is putting me in labor.  Lots of pain around my pelvic bone.  

What's Going On

Update on Breech baby:  Not sure if she has moved or not....well, she has moved a lot, but not sure if she is still Breech.  Meet with doctor in a week.

Passing the Time:  It kind of feels like I'm just passing the time.  Not really, but I'm just so big that it is hard to do much.  Having Molly in the winter I never really got swollen and I didn't really have to do much because I didn't have other kids, so I remember doing a lot of crafts and stuff to pass the time.  A little different now.  It is hard to keep a 3 year old busy when all I want to do is keep my feet off the floor.  I'm a baby when it comes to pregnancy.  We have been busy though.  We have several tea parties or picnic a day, went swimming...and yes I even got in with my big belly, Molly's been fishing with her dad again, painting and today we did pretend cooking.  Molly used to be perfectly content pretending with ingredients, but lately she has needed a few ingredients to pretend cook.  Today it was water, sprinkles and a chocolate kiss.  From that she made us pancakes.  Oh how I love her imagination!!

I have been impressed lately at how independent she had become lately.  She pushes a chair up to get most of what she wants or needs.  Likes to brush her teeth by herself and let me just check.  She will do some chores now...although she doesn't like cleaning her toy room, she will do dishes and put the clean dishes away.  She is good at figuring things out.  We have caught her on several occasions, after we have put her to bed, reading either in her bed or in her reading nook with a blanket.  She knows when it is bedtime and doesn't come out, but will read until she is tired.  So sweet.  I love that.  With the independence comes a bitter sweet for me.  It couldn't have come at a better time with my lack of motivation and the baby coming, but it does remind me she isn't my baby anymore.  And she is going to keep growing.

 Cooking

 Pool Preperation

 TeaParty or Picnic

The nursery is about ready...the hospital bags are mostly packed...4 weeks to go!

Breech

About a week ago when I was babysitting I noticed something changed.  One morning when I woke up I was feeling kicks in places I wasn't feeling them before.  Yesterday I was convinced my baby was breech.  I called the doctor (who is leaving today for vacation for a week) and he had me to come in and check.  Sure enough, I was right, my baby turned.  UGG!!   Not something a woman who wants to do an unmedicated birth wants to hear.  My doctor is not an OB/GYN he is a family practice doctor.  I asked what would happen if she didn't move and was told c-section.  Not super excited about that.  I went to the chiropractor yesterday that is trained in the Webster technique.  She moved a ton during the session, but I'm not convinced she is in the head down position just yet.  To be honest, I feel scared.  I really don't want a c-section and I just want her to move.  Not to mention I feel very uncomfortable in whatever position she is in.  VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.  I might try the chiropractor again if the exercises I do don't seem to help.  I guess either way the most important thing is to have a healthy baby. I cant wait to see her and kiss her face and cuddle her in my arms.  I am 35 weeks along...she still has time to move.

Dress Ups

Very funny I know, but seriously 12 years ago, my parents gave me some hat boxes full of super cute dress-ups.  I was teaching preschool at the time and they thought I could use them for preschool.  I loved them so much...I didn't dare use them for preschool because I thought they would get ruined.  So 12 years later my little girl finally gets to use them.  She has REALLY been loving playing dress up.  Her favorite is still a princess outfit, but I love this ladybug one.

Babysitting and 34 weeks

On Friday my brother Joseph graduated from dental school. Since I was pregnant, I wasn't able to fly out to Iowa so instead I played babysitter so my sisters could go. I have had 6 kids the last 4 days ranging from age 11-3 years old. It actually has gone really well and I have loved spending time with my nieces and nephews. They each have such sweet spirits and are strong. Don't get me wrong, I've had to play "mom" instead of "aunt" sometimes but for the most part it has been great! I am however TIRED. My feet are sore. I've done more laundry and cooking than I wish to talk about. Molly has loved having her cousins here. Tomorrow they all head home and it will be nice to get things back to normal, but I will miss them. At 34 weeks I am feeling more heartburn than I ever remember feeling. I often wakes me up at night because my throat is burning. I have to get up for the bathroom every night. I feel super uncomfortable, especially at night. Every time I roll over it hurts. I'm kind of a baby, but really I feel like my hips are moving and it doesn't feel good. I am measuring right on still. Didn't gain any weight the last two weeks, which I was honestly happy about, (less weight to loose after the baby arrives) but I'm sure I'll make up for it by my next appointment. I am experiencing swollen feet for the first time. I had swollen feet for about a day with Molly, but nothing like this. It could have something to do with me being on the, so much with babysitting, but i dont like looking down and seeing them swollen. Im also getting BIG. Im thinking this was as big as i got with Molly when I delivered...maybe not quite, but close. My belly button is still sticking in but just a little. I went through my birth plan with my doctor and he agreed to everything on it. Let's hope things can actually go as planned. I feel nervous posting this in case things go totally different, but I have decided to do a natural birth with this baby. I have no desire to feel pain. I have no desire to have "bragging rights" or feel like I have accomplished a marathon. I just have a feeling that this is the way I should birth. To be honest, I am really still nervous about it. I have done a lot of reading and studying about it and asked a lot of friends and family member who have had natural births a lot of questions. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about Hypnobirthing and relaxation techniques. Only 5ish weeks left...I hope I will be prepared. After saying all that, I am excited to experience birth...really experience what my body was made to do. My sister Sherstin had 2 of her babies natural, so she has been doing some Skype meetings with nick and I to prepare on Sunday nights. That has been helpful. She will also be at the birth to help. Yesterday was a birthday party for Crystal, Nicks sister. Nick and Molly went up for the day and enjoyed spending time with the Sidwells. When he got back he took the kids fishing. He has been so helpful!!