38 Weeks

Yep, I'm still pregnant! And at this point, hopefully I stay this way until at least Monday. 

We ran out of room, but there is one more important vow that Louis V needs to make: to NOT make me resemble Shrek in my huge, green bridesmaid dress. That might be asking a bit much though. ;)

Baby Belby is excited to go his first wedding, fingers are crossed that his appearance remains in utero. ;) I head to the doctor this morning for a  "check", so we'll see if any progress has been made since Week 36. Assuming there are no signs of imminent labor, I take off tomorrow for Dubuque and the big Manternach-Boesen wedding! Louis V and I survived our first bachelorette party together, so I'm sure we'll manage our first wedding together just fine. Looking forward to celebrating a great couple! Let's hope we don't make this wedding any more memorable than it already will be...

I'm a little worried that my doctor is going to question my home life when she sees the raging scratches (understatement) on my thigh thanks to our oh-so-sweet (insert sarcasm here) Izzy and the lovely burn mark across the underside of my bump. Izzy tried to stick her landing on my leg just as I was heaving myself out of bed to let Berta in. The result? Blood and gouges resembling the Grand Canyon. Then, this morning as I was getting ready for work, I leaned over the counter like I've done a million times in my life with no issues...however, now that I have this ginormous overhang of a belly, it doesn't quite work the same and the bump ended up on top of my scorching hot straightening iron. I swear I was not trying to brand my unborn child! And I promise Ian is not abusing me. :) The joys of a 38 week baby bump!

Now onto a recap of our week--

It's been a week of celebrations for us:

We celebrated Mother's Day with our amazing moms!

 

I remained a mother-to-be, obviously. 

 

Because I love my mama so much, I have to include these:

I have THE best mother in the world and I hope I inherited some of her awesome mom genes to use on our little man!
 

Clarification - I did celebrate Mother's Day, furbabies count!

Speaking of furbabies, Berta enjoyed getting loved in the sunshine on one of the few warm days we had. I love that face!

And I enjoyed spying on her obsessively with our new camera!

I've discovered that she has several napping locations in the house and often shares a bed with Izzy. I am not one bit surprised that she spends the ENTIRE day sleeping. In fact, she went almost 4 hours straight hardly moving an inch!! She sure leads a tough life.

I'm not sure I'm going to want to move this camera into Louis V's room, watching Berta is very entertaining. :)

 

Then the birthday celebrations began! 

I was very spoiled by my great friends:

 Lunch, cookie cake, flowers...

...and cruelty-free makeup, they get me!

 Ian gets me, too. Candy and a gift certificate for my favorite sushi!

(And a sweet, new video camera to capture Berta, I mean Louis V...)

I received an extremely funny card:
(Carter and I share a birthday!)

And an extremely awesome card:

And another cookie cake!!

 Kip must not realize I don't like to share.

 

If you can't take a sequin bump selfie on your birthday, when can you?!

 A BIG thank you to everyone who called, texted, emailed, sent cards, etc., you sure know how to make a girl feel special as she turns 26! ;) 

 

Not sure if it will have been my last time, but I got a run in yet again!

I keep thinking (hoping) that the movement on the treadmill will lodge him into place and get him ready to go, but he's holding tight. I'm trying to be patient, but it's hard!!

And that's a wrap for this week. 14 days and counting, will he come early, late or on time!? It's anyone's guess!!

Q&A:

 How far along: 38 weeks

Baby is the size of a: Pumpkin. He could be over 20 inches long at this point and weigh anywhere from 6-9lbs (please be closer to 6!!!) 

Weight gain: Enough.

Maternity clothes: I have not had to purchase anything new, I've continued to utilize clothes already in my closet. Hard to believe I'm going to make it through this pregnancy with very few true maternity outfits! I just hope I didn't stretch out too many of my old clothes...although that would be a good reason to shop for new stuff. :)

Stretch marks: Still stretch mark free.  

Belly button in or out: I don't even know what it is anymore.
Sleep: Not great. Sore back and lots of bathroom visits. All to be expected!

Best moment this week: Celebrating all the wonderful moms in my life and celebrating the start of my life (aka my birthday)! I wish I could answer this question with "had my baby!!!!" but that will have to wait for another post, darn!

Worst moment this week: I did not feel well Sunday night through Monday, that was no fun. Equally not fun was playing the guessing game of "is it a bug of some sort or is it the start of labor?" Guess it was the former...feeling much better now though, whew.

Miss anything: Having cheekbones and collarbones.

Movement: No decreased fetal movement here, this guy likes to move it, move it.

Cravings: Obviously not cookie cake. ;)

Queasy or sick: Not since Sunday/Monday. Luckily it was pretty brief! 
Baby items of the week: The camera/monitor! Although, as you already noticed, it's more of a "Pet item of the week" at this point.

Looking forward to: Maggie and Brian's wedding!!! Fingers, toes and legs crossed that Baby Belby waits until we're home and settled to show his face! And, of course, my doctor's appointment this morning. I never get tired of hearing his little heartbeat!

 

37 Weeks

We've officially hit full-term!

 

That means I could be celebrating Mother's Day as a MOTHER this year should Louis V decide to join us early. As much as I would love to meet and hold him (and be able to sleep at night...ha, I know...without having to try and maneuver around this big bump), I'm hoping he holds on until after Maggie's wedding! 

I feel very fortunate in that it seems like a lot of women who reach this point in pregnancy are so over it and just ready to have the baby, but I'm still feeling pretty good! Don't get me wrong, I feel like I'm the size of Texas, but I'm not so uncomfortable that I am wishing for an imminent labor. I have to admit, I think I'll kind of miss being pregnant! I've thoroughly enjoyed wearing tops stretched tight across the bump...those won't look so cute anymore when they are back to covering a food baby instead of a real baby. ;)  
 
With that said, I cannot fully express the excitement I have knowing that at any given time on any given day I could be meeting my little boy.

(And I fully realize that this post could be very premature and I could be saying the same thing 3 weeks from now as he holds steady in his warm and cozy home as I'm desperately trying to get him to find the exit.) 

I had my first "check" at the doctor last week and it showed early signs of progression, so we took that as a sign to get the hospital bags packed and the car seat bases installed! Since then, the amount of contractions has ramped up. So much so that I actually put my timer app to use last night...just in case. ;)

Ian also took it as a sign to order a new handheld gaming system for his hospital bag. ;)
 
So weird seeing this in my backseat! And it will be even weirder (and totally awesome) to see it with our little guy in it.

As for what else is going on in our lives other than counting days until we become parents, we're continuing to make the move from our house to my parents'. It's pretty bare in our home these days, but luckily we still have these guys to provide entertainment:

Helping Ian paint over nail hole patches:

 Playing the worst game of hide and seek ever:

Izzy giving full approval of the box LV's new contraption came in:

We finally got some more spring-like weather, so Berta and I ventured outside for a much-needed walk. We didn't get far before her fan club arrived. (Not pictured are about 6 more kids who were fawning all over her and peppering me with questions..."Why'd you buy a dog?" "Why does she have fur?" "Are you having a baby? Will she like the baby?" Luckily, they didn't ask me where babies come from, WHEW.)

Seriously though, how cute is this!?

Berta's new nickname is Miss Popular!

She quickly learned how exhausting it is to be the most popular girl in the neighborhood. Or maybe she was just imitating me. ;)

Next up came summer-like weather, so we had to enjoy some time around the pool:

The cats were ticked they couldn't join...and let it be heard.

I got another week under my expanded belt for running on the treadmill. Thanks to Call Me Maybe and a good murder on Investigation Discovery, I knocked out two miles yet again. I'm still feeling great while running...in fact, it's harder work to put my socks and shoes on in preparation of the run than the actual run itself!

 And that's a wrap for the week, we're pretty tapped out!

(My view as I finish typing this post, rough life she lives!)

Q&A corner:

 How far along: 37 weeks

Baby is the size of a: Winter Melon. He's measuring up to 20+ inches and anywhere from 6-9+ lbs. He's practicing some crucial life skills like inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. And while his crucial functions are all now developed, it'd still be nice to keep him in there for another few weeks so he can keep getting healthier and stronger! They say "nesting' should be kicking in right about now, but I'm pretty well convinced that I was born without a cleaning gene, because I still have no desire to clean cupboards or scrub floors. Sorry, Ian. :)

Weight gain: I hit 39 lbs at my last appointment, sooooo I think I should just stop reporting this now. :/

Maternity clothes: I've been able to make use of several of my non-maternity spring dresses lately, love it! I might have to share the collection of bump selfies I've taken over the course of this growing belly as a showcase of my mix-and-match maternity style. So far this week, I've worn maternity pants once and the rest of my outfits have been "normal" clothes -- including today's bump photo dress from Target.

Stretch marks: None as of yet.  

Belly button in or out: No change, still weirdly an innie-outie.
Sleep: I think my nights of good sleep are over. The back is really sore and it's hard to get into a comfortable position, so lots of adjusting in hopes of finding that spot that hurts the least. And continuing to "plow through" toilet paper at night, as Ian says.

Best moment this week: Several of the women at work took me (and a co-worker who is due a week after me) to lunch to celebrate our bundles of joy, they spoiled me with a great meal and some great baby gifts! :) Also, my parents returned from Vegas, so I no longer have anxiety about having the baby without them in town!

Worst moment this week: Does finding out I gained 6lbs in 2 weeks count?? Yikes. Otherwise, I'd say it's been a pretty good week, so I can't complain.

Miss anything: Being able to get comfortable.

Movement: Still lots of movement, I feel constant heels and elbows! Also, the contractions are getting stronger, but still Braxton Hicks as they are not consistent.

Cravings: Another Chick-fil-A shake! I had my first one ever (I didn't realize they had them, fellow bump crew member, Amy, gave me the tip) and they are YUMMY!

Queasy or sick: No.  
Baby items of the week: Gifts from the Russell girls and a few more necessities from our registry--Ian got his Baby Bjorn for carrying his boy and we also got the 4moms Mamaroo, a vibrating/moving seat that tops many "must-have" lists. We put those Babies R Us gift cards we got from friends and family to good use this week!

Looking forward to: Another doctor's appointment tomorrow! And at this point, I think my best answer for this is that I'm looking forward to meeting little* Louis V and being a mom!!

(*As much as I'd love to say those 6lbs from the past two weeks ALL went to the baby, I think I'd rather have him be 6lbs total!!)

One last item that is not bump or baby-related, but important to me nonetheless -- On Cinco de Mayo, a fabulous organization called Beagle Freedom Project executed a rescue of a group of nine beagles from a laboratory in Las Vegas (something they do as often as they can); a photographer was on hand as these "freagles" stepped foot outside for the first time in their lives and this was one of the shots they captured:

 It is pictures like this (and just looking at my sweet Berta's face) that cause me to shop cruelty-free. This breed is targeted for animal testing because of their docile and forgiving nature and it breaks my heart. So, I encourage you to look for the "No Animal Testing" line when buying products for your everyday life, the beagles (and bunnies and everything else that is subjected to this awfulness) will thank you! 
(If you're interesting in buying cruelty-free but don't know where to start, The Leaping Bunny and My Beauty Bunny are great resources for identifying CF brands and companies. There are some great and inexpensive ones out there!) 

36 Weeks

I cannot believe it's May, the month Louis V is due to arrive in the world! I also cannot believe our countdown is at a very short 28 days. Whoa.

*Bump pic was taken last night because I had an early breakfast meeting this morning, I think three meals and snacks from the day make it look even bigger! Or maybe I just don't realize how big I am until I see myself in a photo. ;)

Baby Belby and I had a very eventful weekend/week, so we've got lots to report!

The weekend kicked off with a baby shower for two of his future best friends, the Geller twins, and their wonderful mama-to-be, Wendi.

The hostesses and the guest(s) of honor!

Bump crew photo:

All aboard the bump train!!

Stops for departure in May, June and August

(and probably July for the twins)

Stripes + Bumps.

What a fun party!!

Next up, it was time to switch gears from babies to brides! Saturday was a day filled with wedding festivities for the beautiful bride-to-be, Maggie.

Wedding shower fun for the woman in white. :)

Things got kicked up a notch as the shower turned into the bachelorette party. Louis V thoroughly enjoyed his first adventure on a party bus! :)

I love me a good sparkle theme, but unfortunately, they don't seem to make sequin dresses in my size these days...

I can't wait for the BIG day in a few short weeks! HOPEFULLY, the little man can wait and will stay put until my duties as a bridesmaid have been completed.

Congrats to Mrs. Boesen-to-be!

The weekend wasn't over yet though! On Sunday we headed to the Belbys' house to celebrate our nephew Carter's First Communion. I guess I was still half asleep from my WILD night out, because the only photos I have are of Ian and Jack playing baseball in the yard. They are really cute pics though!

I have a feeling there will be a lot of this in Ian's future. :)

We better keep an eye on this one, even in a shirt and tie he was throwing like a pro!

Monday I decided to go shopping for Ian's birthday present:

It didn't take me long to find the perfect gift...

He was already telling the baby how good of a big brother he would be...

And giving me kisses...

All smiles!

"Put a bow on me already and take me home!!!"

*Sadly, I had to walk away. Being homeless really puts a damper on getting a new pet. Such a bummer because this guy is AWESOME!!

Just in case anyone's wondering, my birthday is in two weeks and I would gladly accept this guy as my gift!! I'm sure I could figure out a living situation. Just sayin'...and I'm already working on this face:

Tuesday was Ian's birthday! In honor of that, and of the upcoming birth of Ian, Jr., I thought I'd share these photos:

Newborn Ian

Baby Ian

And now a little side-by-side comparison with photos of me:

(As Ian pointed out, even as a newborn I was trying really hard to smile! Smiling is my favorite!)

Conclusions:

1. Our baby probably won't have a ton of hair.

2. Our baby will probably be a chunky little monkey.

3. Our baby (once grown a little) probably DEFINITELY won't have a bowl/mushroom cut. :)

 It wouldn't be a birthday celebration without homemade carrot cake from Laura!

And while they couldn't celebrate together in person, we celebrated in spirit with Ian's birthday buddy, nephew Alden. Can't believe this little guy is 1 already! What a cutie. :)

Don't put away the candles just yet, Wednesday marked my big brother's birthday! It was another day of celebrating in spirit, although I'd much rather be in Vegas to celebrate in person instead of here in rainy, chilly Iowa. Happy birthday, Jason, best big brother ever!

So, as you can tell, it was a busy week for the Belbys and the bump! I still managed to bust out a few miles on the treadmill though...giving new meaning to the phrase "bump and run"!

The daily tip on Tuesday from my "What to Expect" app said that babies of pregnant exercisers tend to sleep through the night sooner, are less prone to colic and are better able to soothe themselves. Scientists attribute this to these babies being stimulated by their moms through changes in heart rate and oxygen levels, as well as the sounds and vibrations they experience in the womb during workouts. I've also heard numerous times that it should help with labor, so I'm hoping all of the above turn out to be true!!

I thought I had the blog ready to post until we saw this out the front window:

 Shelby and Wrigley must've wanted to say hi and wish us luck as we head into week 37 with Louis V. I hate the rain we've been having lately, but I love seeing rainbows and thinking of my buddies. They're always with us in spirit, I know it.

Thanks for sticking with me for this lengthy (but hopefully somewhat entertaining) post. Now I'll leave you with some Q&A to end the day:

 How far along: 36 weeks

Baby is the size of a: Honeydew. He's weighing in at almost 6 pounds...and gaining about an ounce a day. (Let's just hope he doesn't hit the 10 pound mark like his daddy did before birth, yikes!) He's now over 18.5 inches long (maybe more, after all, he does have some tall genes going for him) and he's shedding that body hair in anticipation of living outside the womb. Liver and kidneys are in working order now, too!

Weight gain: I'm going to guess 36lbs at this point, but my appointment to confirm isn't until tomorrow.

Maternity clothes: Still going back and forth. Two of the three dresses I wore for weekend festivities were non-maternity and work outfits vary.

Stretch marks: Nope, just scratch marks-- this belly is itchy!

Belly button in or out: No change, still weirdly an innie-outie.
Sleep: Getting more uncomfortable these days. When I lay on my side, I feel like everything is just getting smooshed, not a great feeling. Yesterday was really the first day I felt exhausted all day long. Even a yummy chai latte didn't do a ton to help me out! Guess I should go ahead and get used to this feeling, I don't see it getting better anytime soon! (Side note: Why does everyone say "Get your sleep while you can!" to someone in the home stretch of pregnancy? Between the lack of comfortable positions and the abundance of bathroom trips, it's definitely much easier said than done!!)

Best moment this week: Lots of great moments, it was a good week! Friends, family, birthdays, etc., lots to smile about. 

Worst moment this week: Still dealing with house/lot issues for building, so that sucks. And having to walk away from Dave the beagle at the shelter. :(

Miss anything: Breathing easily. Ian tells me I've been snoring lately, but between my smashed lungs and the dry air in the house (thanks to the heat STILL being on), I can't help it! I'm also not sure I believe him. ;)

Movement: He's a little party animal! My bump is always bouncing around from his antics.

Cravings: Not really, but I'm sure I'll crave Laura's carrot cake as soon as it's gone! It's heaven on a fork.

Queasy or sick: Nope!  
Baby items of the week: Ian got his most exciting birthday presents ever (insert sarcasm here) in the form of a baby backpack, diaper changing station, onesie and baby book about outer space, so I'll chalk those up as the items of the week. :) We also got a few more necessities at Babies R Us, so we're now pretty prepared for Louis V's debut!

Looking forward to: The big doctor's appointment tomorrow -- it's the first time they'll check to see if there are any signs of labor going on! Also, we're heading to Iowa City on Saturday to do some shopping for the new house, so that'll be fun. And my nephew Carson's birthday is tomorrow, I wish I could celebrate with him!