We had our 39 week check up today! Even though I am super uncomfortable and ready for her to come out, I'm so thankful to be able to say that I am full term. I am 2 centimeters dilated and almost fully effaced. My doctor would like to see Ellery's head drop a little bit lower into the birth canal before she induces (if she has to). I will go back for a sonogram on July 3 (my actual due date) to check on my fluids. If they are low, she wants to induce on July 4. If my fluids are ok we will induce on July 8. I REALLY want her to come on her own and chose her own birthday. But it is exciting to know that we will be a family of 4 (I will always include Norman in the count, people) by July 8 at the latest!

I took a few maternity pictures 2 weeks ago. I wasn't planning on taking them, but they came with Ellery's newborn picture session. Thankfully for everyone, I insisted on being fully clothed the entire time. I do have swollen face in a few, but I think they turned out ok! I got the black maxi dress last minute from Target. Black is definitely maternity friendly.

http://photobella.shootproof.com/event/221822/view#a_all-grid (this link expires July 3, 2013)

I went to Lexlee Kids today to make sure that we installed our car seat correctly. I had to make an appointment and fill out a form online prior to the appointment. These people do not mess around with safety. I played with a 7lb baby doll and got tips on how to put Ellery into the car seat and make sure she is secure. Geoff's car seat installation was approved with an A+!

The one tip that stood out was not to forget the baby in the back seat. Apparently this happens! They recommended the Baby Reminder phone app that tracks your driving and giggles and asks "Did you remember your baby?" 2 minutes after you reach your destination. I'm going to download it because you can never be too safe, but lets hope that I never have to use it (or admit to using it).

Running Out of Room and Clothes

39 weeks is no joke. If I sit on the ground, no way am I getting up unassisted. I wake up (if I ever actually fall asleep) with my hands swollen and numb and can barely bend my fingers. Ellery is running out of room in there and looks like an alien trying to escape her cocoon. My stomach has never itched more. I scratched it so much last week that I bruised it! I am down to about 3 solid comfortable outfits to wear. I started walking the neighborhood and bouncing on my exercise ball which supposedly expands your pelvis and encourages labor. I AM JUST SO READY to have this baby. If one more person asks me if I'm ready, I may scream. Yes, obviously I'm ready. And is there ANYTHING else besides my pregnancy to talk about around here? Oh, and my hormones are raging :)

Here are just a few "funny" things that I have heard in the last few days and weeks:

• "You still haven't had that baby yet?" - If I was on my game, I would respond with "I had her last week, why?"
• "Look at you!!"
• "Oh my gosh you don't even look pregnant from the back! But then you turn around..." - I never DIDN'T want to look pregnant from the back. Why is this THE thing to say?
• "Your face is fatter! That means you are ready!" - Good to know.
• "Girl! You just like that white girl with blonde hair who sells them shoes. She's been pregnant forever." - I later figured out she was talking about Jessica Simpson.
• "It's getting close!" - How would you know? Are you some expert or psychic?

Cravings:

• ice
• cake batter
• watermelon
• cantaloupe

38 Weeks

We had our 38 week check up today. We saw Dr. Charles Lawler because Dr. Gautreau is on vacation this week. I was hesitant about seeing a guy doctor. By now its nearly impossible to keep "down there" landscaped as it normally would be and for some reason that is all I could think about! I've tried using a mirror in the shower but it just fogs up and is no help. Once I met Dr. Lawler I completely forgot about all of that. He turned out to be SUCH a nice guy. He was gentle and talked to me the entire time. He predicted that I will deliver next weekend, which happens to be Geoff's birthday weekend! If that's the case, then Geoff will never really have a birthday again :( BUT it could be the best birthday gift he ever receives!

I am still 1 centimeter dilated and we didn't talk about effacement. Well, if we did I wasn't paying attention because he also told me that Ellery will weigh in the high 7's or low 8's (pounds). My heart skipped a beat. What happened to this "small" baby that my doctor was predicting a few weeks ago?! My mom had all 6 pound babies and I'm about her size so that is what I was expecting! But Geoff is pretty tall so I guess it makes sense. No matter what, I'm super nervous about something that size coming out of something NOT that size. But people do it all over the world and have been doing it from the beginning of time. So I will just have to man up.

Ellery's heartbeat was about 150 and she was moving all around to show off for the new doctor. She is still head down and continues to drop into the birth canal. I had predicted that she would come June 23 because not only is it a full moon, but its the Super Moon. We'll see! For now it is just a waiting game!

Ellery's Wreath

My friend Courtney Dyer made this BEAUTIFUL wreath for Ellery's hospital door! How cute is she?! And the wreath :) It even has a little teal bird to match Ellery's room!

37 Weeks: Doctor Visit

37 Weeks: 1 centimeter dilated and 70% effaced.

We had a pretty eventful doctor visit yesterday. Kelsey came along and was able to hear Ellery's heartbeat and got to watch Dr. Gautreau violate me. It was probably very effective birth control for her. Ellery's heartbeat was at 164 which is the highest it has ever been. But it was no surprise since she is so active in there! The doctor felt my stomach and was afraid that she had turned a 180. She felt around and said she thought her head was still down, but she ordered a sonogram just to be sure. It ended up being a special treat because we got to see her again for the 4th time! The sonogram techs said she has very chubby cheeks. She is so smooshed in there that I can't tell what I'm looking at, so I'll take their word for it. This made Kelsey excited because she likes her babies chubby. The sonogram techs were also very impressed with how far Ellery could stick her butt out, shaping my stomach into a triangle.

When Dr. Gautreau thought Ellery had flipped to breached position, we had a conversation about a possible c-section. She told me that if she is indeed breached, she has a few exercises I can do to encourage her to get back head down (similar to  these exercises) but that she could not reach in and flip her around herself. I told her that I want to avoid a c-section at all costs!

I asked if it would be ok for me to go to Lake Charles this weekend for Anna's dance recital and Father's Day, fully expecting her to say yes. However, she said that we are so close and she doesn't want me to be more than an hour away. If my water were to break in LC, she wouldn't let me drive back and I would have to deliver Ellery in LC. She then told me that I have to hold the baby in until June 24 because she is on VACATION next week. I had a slight panic attack and was reminded of Knocked Up. A few of my friends calmed me down by telling me that their actual doctor didn't deliver their babies because they weren't on call or were out of town. So apparently this is normal. Just to be safe I am halting all walking and extra activity to make sure she stays put for the next week and few days.

We also talked about the possibility of induction if she doesn't come by July 10 (since she won't let me go past a week late). I REALLY don't want to have to pick Ellery's birthday. Picking the perfect date would be a lot of pressure and consist of "this day in history in July" googling. Plus, I want her to come when she is ready.

Oh, and I'm anemic and have to take extra iron (not really a big deal). So yes, this visit was eventful! I think it was God just making sure that I'm still focused for these last few weeks.

My friends at work threw a surprise shower for Ellery and me on Friday! I had NO clue it was happening until about 2 hours before. I started crying when I figured it out and my co-worker Nick told me to save the tears for the party, which I thought was pretty funny. I got so many diapers and wipes that we should be set for at least 6 months! As you can see below, I clearly didn't know about the shower when I was getting ready in the morning. Otherwise I would have done my hair and worn something cuter! I actually wore the same shirt for the gender reveal party back in February. People's generosity always legitimately surprises me and reminds me to pay it forward.

I began feeling braxton hicks contractions this weekend, which I haven't felt before. It is an interesting feeling to say the least and hopefully I can tell them apart from real contractions when the time comes! I can no longer lean over to buckle my sandals or tie my shoes. I can barely roll over or sit up in bed and its hard to find a comfortable position while sitting. With 3 weeks left, I've never been more ready for her to be here!

Ellery's Room

Ellery's room is complete! I was waiting for the mobile to get in before I posted pictures. My original decorative idea was a birdy room. I didn't end up going with as many birds as I thought, but you can still see the bird inspiration in her bedding, her mobile and the adorable "Ellery" sign that my mom had made. I know eventually I will need a new side table and additional shelfing, but for now I'm very happy with the way it all came together!

Dresser/Changing Station

Books!

For more bedding pictures click here

LOVE her mobile!

Basket of blankets

Lovies

Grandma Polly's lamp

 Closet full of clothes

36 Weeks

36 Weeks! (blurry picture, but you get the idea)

Bitty Boo Ellery is about the size of a head of romaine lettuce.

She weighs about 6 pounds and is close to 18.5 inches long.

She is gaining an ounce a day!