Making Progress: Dilation, Effacement, and Me

SO MUCH to blather at you about that restless bun that's been in my oven for 38 weeks!

Let's get the technical mumbo jumbo out of the way because it's EXCITING but not EXCITING. Spencer is still pretty much the size of a mini-watermelon but he's stretched from a swiss chard to the length of a leek...from a vegetable I'm not familiar with to a vegetable I'm not a fan of. "Can't wait to sneak a peak at my lil leek" - Todd. Regardless, I'm guessing I've got a lengthy little man in there because he's wedged up under my ribs while simultaneously using my bladder as a pillow. He's ALL OVER in there that I think he may be part octopus.

As for the specifics of being 38 weeks along, there's really not much to tell. The clock is winding down. He's still secreting that gunk that prevents his lungs from sticking together when he begins to breathe, he's layering on the fat, and his brain is continuing to develop it's Ivy League potential. And that's about it in that department! He's just prepping for his big debut!

As for moi, I could be leaking breast milk, but I'm not. I could have swollen feet and ankles, but I don't. No stretch marks, no itchy abdomen, no dark black tummy line, no sign of the mucous plug (ew). I AM really bouncing from hyper active to totally drained. Trying to use my spurts of energy to get last minute projects done. Contractions put a damper on that though. Yeeouch! I shed a few tear droplets the other day (haven't had many emotions while preggo) because I was in pain and frustrated but Todd rubbed the bump and made me feel a little better. It's good to have a partner in all this.

So here's my 38 week mug shot and shot of my mug, for posterity.

So I had my weekly doctor's appointment yesterday (but almost DIDN'T due to my doc ducking out to deliver a baby) and was totally ready to hear that I had made zero progress as certain people are convinced that I'm going to be late. My BP was still good (which I'm jazzed about because I've been having some headaches) and his heart beat was 142. Again, he gave the nurse a hard time and insisted on wriggling while she was using the Doppler. My little troublemaker. My weight remained the same and when she measured my fundal height, she said I was a little under but that it was alright. If she's not nervous, I'm not.

Like I said, I was honestly ready to hear that my cervix was like a steel trap and we'd just have to wait until next week for any developments. Shockingly, this was not the case! During my exam, she discovered I was 2 cm (1 and a wiggle, but she's counting it) and I'm 50% effaced. ROCK! Effacement is really what you want. Yes, they sort of go hand-in-hand (10 cm and 100% = baby) but you can only dilate SO FAR without being effaced. They can make you dilate but they can't thin you out! So I'm in a really good place and the doc said it truly can be any day.

The nurse said I might not even make it to my appointment next Wednesday!

The Godmother: Excellent. I think your body is ready to get him on outta there. I want to poke at him. Nicely of course. Rest up and efface!

Like always, I need to make notes of my contractions and call when I have them every 5 minutes for an hour. I was also told that if I am leaking any fluid to call right away, contractions or not. For the first time, I was spotting a little. I was told this could happen after a vaginal exam this late in the game but it was still scary to see. It didn't last long and now I'm back to feeling like me. All anxious and excited. It truly COULD be any time now. EEK! So tonight, we get the car seat and my bag in the car and stock the freezer and cupboard. This could possibly be the LAST WEEKLY UPDATE (if I get my way)!!!

My fortune cookie seems to think so!

So Close: Our Son's Arrival Is Right Around The Corner

Do NOT Google "mucous plus" unless you really want to see it. Nightmarish.

Oh, by the way, you DON'T want to see it. Even if you ARE pregnant.

So today I am 37 weeks along and my man is either the size of swiss chard or a really round watermelon, depend on who you ask. I'm guessing the comparison to swiss chard has to do with his length and the watermelon with his overall size ("Monster melon"). Either way, he's as tasty as ever.

I'm definitely starting to loosen up, ligament-wise. I've got the waddle going on but I was told that it's cute. I'm not leaking any breast milk, my feet and ankles aren't swollen, I'm still painting my own toenails (they're Slate this week)...but I AM contracting at really odd intervals. Last night, they were 2 hours and 48 minutes, 3 hours 24 minutes, 1 hour and 26 minutes, and 18 minutes apart...followed by nothing because I fell asleep. The previous day, they were 1 hour 29 minutes, 5 minutes, 41 minutes, and 3 hours 11 minutes apart. So we're all over the map in the contraction department.

Oh! My man is awake! And he has the hiccups. He ALWAYS has the hiccups.

At this moment, he's shedding all that weird vernix and lanugo shtuff and swallowing amniotic fluid. My nephews recently inquired what a shot of amniotic fluid might taste like. That was enough to make me want to throw up in my mouth. Basically, he's good to go and could come out at any time but the longer he cooks, the better. The only thing still developing really is the lungs. They're maturing and something called "surfactant" is being secreted. I guess that keeps the lungs from sticking together when he begins to breathe. I find that fascinating.

I find the fact that the lungs COULD stick together horrific!

I have 8 work days left until maternity leave. I'd be lying if I said I'm not starting to get nervous. I am. Not about being a parent or being responsible for raising a human being. I've gotten over that. I'm nervous about the dogs. I'm nervous about the house not being as clean as I want it. I'm nervous about my maternity-leave replacement being properly trained. I'm nervous about money (although it is so nice to know a paycheck is coming every week while I'm off). I'm nervous about things going well during delivery. I'm nervous that he might not be healthy or there will be some other complication. And yeah, I'm nervous about the pain and my ability to remain tough.

I'm sure every mother has these worries but they're all hitting me like a ton of bricks and keeping me up at night...though my bladder and a baby that never seems to sleep help with that one. I'm taking everything day by day. Actually, I'm taking things hour by hour because I never know for certain how I'm going to feel. I'm doing the best I can. This much I know.

Coming Soon: Time Flies When You're Creating Life From Scratch

A MORNING CONVERSATION

Me: Your son is the size of a cashew melon. I’m not sure what that is. Probably something in that exotic melons of California bin at Giant Eagle.
Todd: We can put him there when he's born and see which one he looks like
Me: By then he’ll be one of those weird little watermelons. I'll miss getting my weekly fruit salad updates.
Todd: Crazy cashew
Me: Oops. It's a CRENSHAW melon.
Todd: Boy in the hood
Me: I don't know what that means.
Todd: Crenshaw Ave.
Me: Oh.
Todd: My little maniac melon

For your viewing pleasure, here is a CRENSHAW melon, the week 36 fruit.

And here is what I look like had I swallowed a Crenshaw melon.

So we've got 4 weeks or 28 days until we hit our due date, depending on how you want to slice it. I'll slice it whichever way sounds shorter. I guess, according to What To Expect, I'm considered full-term now so if Spencer were to appear, all would/should be well. I can officially go into labor at any time. My dad had the nerve to say I still had 4 to 6 weeks to go. No tacking on extra time, sir!!  We'll know more on Tuesday as the doc checks for dilation, effacement, and "cervical ripeness". Yeah, pregnancy is gross.

Spencer isn't gross though. He's rocking away in there, although it was a little less than usual yesterday. But when Todd got into bed, he gave the bump it's night time rub and Spencer started showing off for his daddy. Because I'm carrying a boy, I tend to eat more, or so "they" say. I can buy that. I've consumed more Lucky Charms during pregnancy than I did in my youth! And my eating is giving him energy to practice sucking, blinking, swallowing, pivoting...all the stuff he'll be doing when he enters this crazy bananas world.

His head at birth will be the same circumference as his hips, abs, and shoulders. Odd.

So there it is. The scoop, if you will. I can't WAIT for him to get here!!!

Getting Dirty: Slathered In Paint Spencer-Style

I haven't been feeling up to snuff or top notch lately so I tried to relax this weekend. I didn't push myself. Lots of sleeping. Lots of couching. Lots of cartoons. Probably one too many chocolate covered pretzels. But just to make sure the weekend wasn't a total wash (and it wasn't...there was lots of much needed down time with Todd), I decided to do some paintings for the Spencer Dome. And I don't mean to pat myself on the back but I sure accomplished a lot in a day or two.

I love that I can do these things for my little man. I still have a pregnant ghost (I'm not sure it's supposed to be pregnant but the position it's in and the pooch that it has leads me to believe it's preggo) that my mom made in a ceramics class when she was pregnant with me. I love having it. Spencer may be pumped to have these mom-made things some day. Unless he doesn't like robots and monsters...in which case he is clearly NOT our child and I'll have to exchange him.

In non-painting news, I have my next doctor's appointment tomorrow which included the Group B Strep test. If you don't know what that is, look it up. Sounds like loads of fun. Of course I'll do anything to ensure the safest delivery for Spencer but there's nothing like getting the bulk of your nether regions swabbed to put a spring in your step! Appointments continue every week after this and the doc should start telling us if I'm dilating or effaced at all. 30 days from tomorrow. A-maz-ing. Truly.



Winding Down: Entering The Final Month of Preggoness

Welcome to the last month of my pregnancy! Only 5 weeks to go!

It's so hard for me to believe that this whole countdown started with 280 days and a baby the size of a pin-point. Now there are only 35 days until I give birth to a boy the size of a cantaloupe (as of now...once he hits 40 weeks, it's watermelon city).

He's still all soft. Skull, bones, cartilage. That's all well and good for squeezing him out of my junk but it still scares the bejesus out of me. My little marshmallow man. So fragile. And growth is allegedly experiencing a slow down at this point in time. I already knew he hit his birth length but I guess he'll be packing on the pounds a bit slower to save energy for his big journey. Such a short distance to travel...yet such a huge deal!

An interesting fact: while most of his systems are mature, his digestive system won't be fully operational for 1 to 2 years due to him depending on the umbilical cord in utero. Fascinating. To me. His mother. The penguin.

Yep, even though I'm not carrying much weight, I've got the pregnant penguin walk going on because all the weight I DO have, it front and center. Yep, I'm waddling a little but it's entertaining. And important, or so I hear. The waddle means my connective tissue is loosening which is important for the big day.

On a very awesome note, I have to believe that Spencer is "dropping", which sometimes doesn't happen until labor begins, because I can BREATHE! I can take actual, deep breaths without feeling like I'm going to keel over. I'll never take breathing for granted again. Breathlessness (and I have asthma so I know something about it) is horrific.

On a less awesome note, I haven't been feeling so hot the past few days. Horrible headache, dizziness, blurry vision. And of course there's the cramping/contractions and one fussy pain that I can't shake. And during all this "off" feeling, Spencer has been THEE most active he's ever been. I love it, but it makes it a bit difficult to get any solid rest. I had to take the day off work yesterday but everyone understands. We're in the home stretch. If he were born today, he'd have a 99% chance of surviving. That's a percentage I can live with.

Not sure how long I can live with this skull crushing business. But this helped.

Doc appointment on Tuesday. More blathering then...unless I burst before.

Taking a Tour: Welcome To The Spencer Dome

Off topic right off the bat, Todd just said, "What up baby bake oven". Ha!

He also referred to Spencer as "punky pineapple".

Besides a glider and gliding ottoman that should be arriving today (a Baptism gift from my parents) and a few robot and space monster paintings I want to do, the Spencer Dome was completed last night! It has officially replaced the art room as my favorite room in the house. No matter what's going on, I feel 100% better just by sneaking a peek in the nursery. It wasn't just put together by us...all of his family-n-friends had their paws in making his room awesome. And speaking of sneak peeking, here's a little tour for those of you who might not be able to make it to Castle Grayskull any time soon. Welcome to the Spencer Dome!

Entrance to the Spencer Dome, featuring the puzzle that was made for him at the baby shower. Lots of sweet messages and pure awesomeness.

Wall #1 - a closet full of clothes, a basket full of plush pals, a growth chart, and Dr. Nightmare attorney-at-law (checking out the competition).

Astronauts (or aliens) need to be big and strong.

Some new friends and some of my old friends.

Wall #2 - changing table, dresser, and pure awesomeness.

Besides all the diapers, receiving blankets, and toys, we have an awesome stack of blankets handmade for Spencer by his family (ROBOT BLANKET from Aunt Jen May!!!).

How cool is this? Monster, Outer Space AND Robot? It was DESTINY for him to have this in his room. All the crucial elements to being a cool little boy.

His dresser and his extra-special mementos that he won't appreciate until he's older.

From top left: shark beanie made by Aunt Natalie, baby shower invite, book from and skeleton family made by Grandma Honey, Birthday Book from Aunt Barracuda, picture of us with our moms and the penny my mom found the day I told her I was preggo, Spencer's first shark and a ceramic egg from Aunt Bizzle, framed favors from the shower and his Little Black Book from Uncle Richard, first newsboy hat, NCTM/NCC hoodie from Grandpa Rich, shark robe from Aunt Bizzle, Me and My Big Brother frame, piggy bank we bought the day we found out we were having a son, and shark Squishable from his cousin Megan.

Wall #3 - crib and clothes hamper.

Where my little monster will spend his nights. I would sleep in there if only I could fit. Though I haven't actually tried to fit yet...

Wall #4 - book case and space posters. Possibly future location of above mentioned glider.

Awesome space paintings. The far right was a gift from Aunt Sugar and Uncle Texas Pete.

The bookshelf was a gift from Aunt Barracuda and Aunt Wen-Dog. They (and their families) picked out books that they loved for Spencer, and there's more to come. I plan to jam-pack this shelf FULL and to read to him daily. I'm a book work and I think it's great bonding time. The shelf was an incredibly thoughtful and cool gift.

So there you have it. The Spencer Dome!!! Hope you enjoyed your visit!

Dreaming Is Free: Is Lots of Hair and Funny Ears In Store?

I dreamed of Spencer again last night. I was checking in on him in the middle of the night like a terrified mom even though Todd told me to relax. There he was, wide awake and chubby cheeked in his crib. He had tons of fluffy hair (like his dad) and over sized ears that he was gripping on to. After I woke up and realized I was dreaming, I couldn't fall back to sleep. I'm ready to hang out with my boy.

I'm 34 weeks today and he is the size of my most hated food, the pineapple. Blech.

The specs say he's probably between 19 - 22 inches long and a around 5.5 pounds, but that's all speculation and guesstimation. The rest of his growth with be pounds, not inches, and it could be anywhere from 1 measly pound to several. We'll just have to wait and see. As of my doctor's appointment yesterday, I have not gained any more weight, but that really means squat. It's at this time that my monster is becoming "squeezably soft", like he was in my dream. Swoon. And his squeezably soft brain is continuing to develop at warp speed.

Nothing much has changed about me since last week or my last appointment. I haven't gained any weight and I'm still getting up only once or twice during the night to empty my tank. No swollen feet/ankles or varicose veins either!And thank sweet zombie Jesus, I haven't had any moments of urgency or lack of bladder control when I laugh or sneeze. But there's still time for all that magic to happen. I'm feeling good (and my mom was told that I look good, healthy and happy, which is quite the compliment), just getting anxious to meet our son! Patience is not one of my virtues.

My doctor's appointment was pretty boring as well...and boring is good! No news is good news. His heart rate was 148, my blood pressure was excellent, his head is down, he's in position, and he's pretty much out of room in there (the punching I've been feeling behind my belly button is actually from a KNEE). And my fundal height was a little over 33cm so I'm no longer measuring ahead at all! Way to go, Spence! Since I'm still having constant dull back pain, I was told to keep an eye on the cramping for anything "measurable" and to call if there were any physical changes down below.

Spencer totally pulled one over on the nurse. She was dead set he was in one position but couldn't find his heartbeat so she started poking around. The little sucker was laid out in a completely ridiculous position and the nurse was really shocked that he had tricked her. Silly baby.

So my next appointment is set for the 19th (we'll be married 1 year and 10 months that day) and after that, I'll go every week. How's THAT for a sign that it's all getting close?? Until then, I'm taking it as easy as I can. I know I keep saying that I'm anxious to get Spencer into my arms, but I know he needs every extra minute he can get in the oven to give him a good start. Dr. Nightmare is making sure he stays right where he belongs...for now!



Summer Fun: Another Way My Son Is Like His Mom

I have a check-up today to see how the Spence Monster is coming along. I have to see another doc because mine is on vacation but I guess I'm fine with that. There's always a chance my doctor won't be on-call when I go into labor so it's not a bad idea to get to know as many people in the practice as I can in the next 6 weeks.

Though my aunt (a nurse for 30 years) suspects he'll arrive in early August.

This weekend, I submerged the bump into not ONE but TWO swimming pools for the first time. Well, I was going to the rec but that was before I could even feel him move so I'm not counting it. Typically, when I move, he zonks out and when I'm resting, he's jamming out. Not so when it came to the swimming pool! The entire time I was splashing about, HE was splashing about! I thought the water would be even more calming and lulling but he was going BERZERK! I swam and he swam. NON-STOP!

Therefore, I must conclude he is part fish...like me.

I fall more and more in love with this boy every day. He's just so quirky. Maybe you don't think I can already know that with him still stuffed inside my guts but I know him better than ANYONE. He makes me laugh. He blows my mind. And his pool behavior was just another totally bizarre thing he did. The rec offers swimming lessons starting at 6 months so I think me and my little squid will be there.

And on a non-pool related rant, he kicked the other day and I was able to clearly hold/grab/rub a foot or a knee...or a fist if he's in some really jacked-up position. It was the first time this happened and it temporarily freaked me out! By being so cool, that is. Every day it's something new. Something awesome!

Back tomorrow with a doctor's appointment and 34 week update!!!

Honeydew: Bigger and Better Than Ever.

Starting tomorrow, I can say, "Spencer will be born next month!" HOT DOG!

Today, I am 33 weeks along and my man is the size of a honeydew. When I informed Todd (he likes to be part of the fruit salad fun), he said, "Honeydon't come too early".

Spencer should've already be at his birth length last week, somewhere around 20 inches, but he's still packing on the pounds. This week, he should be somewhere around 5 pounds. This makes me feel good because 5 pounds sounds less scary than 4 pounds. Keep porking up, baby. In fact, the infamous "they" say he could STILL double in weight! I'm not too worried about a 10 pounds package because he was running small/average back at our ultrasound. And if he does trun out to be a monster, so be it! I'll be bananas about him no matter what!

Last night, I made my son't bed for the first time! It was amazing.

Aunt Sugar said that his room is going to inspire him to be an astronaut, she just knows it. I'm thinking he might be inspired to be an alien. I wish I could post all the rad pictures of the Spencer Dome but I really want to wait until it's finished, which should be soon. We're waiting on 2 paintings, a growth chart and the glider for the nursery to be stamped as D-O-N-E. It's still my favorite room in Castle Grayskull. I wish it was my room. Todd and I both wanted to sleep in the crib. Insane, I know.

As for me at week 33, there's not much to say. Still working, still nesting, still coasting. My man was a maniac last night which makes me happy (yet makes me think I'm going to have an energetic monster on my hands). I've been a little more tired thatn usual since my bladder is my boss at night, and I'm still having dull back pains...but it's all manageable. I think I'm still rocking this pregnancy! I'm still shocked that PREGNANCY is the thing I'm good at, ha ha! The last items I needed for my hospital bag arrived yesterday so I'm all packed and ready to go. It's just up to him to say WHEN!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous...but it'll all be worth it in the end!

Baby Shower: The First Party In Spencer's Honor.

Sunday was Spencer's baby shower and we were surrounded by friends and family, truly awesome people who were cool enough to come out and celebrate our little man. We can't thank everyone enough for the effort they put in, especially my mom and my aunt who did a bulk of planning and preparing. It was a beautiful day out and the whole affair was quick and painless for all! And man, was this kid spoiled rotten! It gave me the warm-n-fuzzies to see the lengths to which people went for us. We're lucky ducks.

We spent the rest of Sunday and all day yesterday (I took a personal day so I didn't totally wreck myself) opening and organizing his loot and getting the Spencer Dome ready for his arrival. That's one major task off our To-Do list so my brain feels slightly lighter. If he shows up early, his room is ready and waiting for him...and it is officially my favorite room in the house. But more about the Dome another time! It's picture time, for posterity!

Aunt Little Jen made the delicious and beautiful cupcakes...strawberry, key lime, vanilla (with ROBOTS!) and hot cocoa. When I'm nervous, I can't really eat so I have one of each waiting for me at home.

I can't figure out why these are sideways. I've tried uploading them a gazillion times. Regardless, these are the favors that my sister made! Robot bookmarks with Spencer's name and chocolate-covered graham crackers that said "Lacey's Baby Shower" with the date and an adorable picture of Bender as a baby with Spencer's name on the bottle. LOVE THEM! I frames one of each of the Spencer Dome and put one of each in his save box.

Everyone was asked to write a message to Spencer (or me and Todd) and then a puzzle was put together. My favorite message would be from Aunt Alyse and it read, "When you can stand, we'll teach you to do The Robot!" There were definitely plenty of gems.

Aunt Becky and moi. I was asked where I was hiding the baby. I like being pregnant and I like my bump, even if I just looked like I add a little basketball. Maybe he'll be just the right size and spare my junk any major destruction!

Tessa is my oldest friend (we met in Kindergarten) and Spencer's godmother. He bought her a Pandora charm bracelet (expensive taste my boy has) and will add charms for special occasions in her life. To start, she got a T for Tessa for being his godmother and a ghost (as in "Holy Ghost") for the baptism. The black-n-white spacer was just to add a little flash. I look forward to them having this bond through jewelry. Though he better get a job ASAP!

My sisters loaded him up with books and an awesome bookshelf! Wendy (in the middle), her husband and her 2 kids each picked their favorite book and wrote a message to Spencer inside. My brother-in-law gave him a Little Black Book and wrote "I hope you get a lot of numbers" inside. Awesome!

I addition to a KICK-ASS hand-made robot blanket, Aunt Jen May made him this bib which reminds me both of the Chung Wah sign she helped me win at an auction AND the cooking class we took at Stir Crazy. She is so talented, I could just die.

Aunt April and Uncle DAB got him, among other awesomeness, his first pair of shoes. Guess my mom's dream for him to be a normal baby went out the window!

Probably my favorite gift, my mom hand-made my skeleton family: me, Spencer, Aiden and Todd. The veil I'm wearing was made out of my mom's 1968 wedding cake topper. When she told me that, I almost cried. ALMOST. We appreciated everything but the hand-made stuff was really chock full of love. I must be buried with these.

I told you he was spoiled rotten! My car was stuffed to the gills!

And this is just a FRACTION of the clothes he received...which included 3, count 'em, 3 Ramones shirts in various sizes so he never grows out. Aunt Phoebe is grooming him to be a proper hooligan, ADIDAS footies and all.

So those are the pictures I have for now. There may end up being a Baby Shower blog, part 2 as pictures people took filter in. I was just really touched and am super relieved that he has what he needs. Anything he doesn't have, we can surely live without for now. His baby monitor, sounds machine, glider, etc., are all on their way thanks to gift cards and such. I was really nervous because, believe it or not, I get shy, but it was great and my mind was blown. Spencer is the luckiest little boy on the planet, without a doubt.

A huge thanks to everyone who made his day so kick-ass. I love all y'all!!!

And so will Spencer!