Good news! I talked with my cousin's wife and they do have to stay in state and really wants us to come visit while they are there and spend as much time with the baby as we want and she loves pictures, so there'll be oodles of pictures.
Also I've got my muse for painting (use to paint all the time, but haven't in years) so I'm going to paint a little something for her nursery now that I know the theme is lavander and teal with butterflies. ^.^

Here's a stupid question...do I need to bring anything for the baby while we're in the hospital? Besides clothes to leave the hospital?

Sakai., I am an adoptive Mom, bio Mom did not bring anything, I brought everything to take my son home, PS Bio Mom was thrilled at the things I had provided.

Baby A has been moving a lot less recently. I'm still getting way past my kick count at "the most active time of day" (A good 25 kicks/rolls within an hour or two) but other than that, he must be taking long naps. It freaks me out a tad bit but doctor said it's completly normal for movement to begin slowing down around now because baby has less room. Did this happen to those of you who already have kids? He said as long as i'm getting my kick count and two movements an hour after, not to worry, BUT he also told me I could go to the hospital for monitoring if it ever feels "just not right."

The pain is getting ridiculousy worse now and NOTHING helps. For awhile, a heating pad would help a little but now I can't even get out of bed some mornings. Doctor was talking about bed rest if it gets worse- but i'm practically already constricted to my bed and couch and just want to cry half the time. He's still talking about possibly inducing around 37 weeks. He said it's my choice in the end- but I have no clue what to do. I want him here and to be out of pain but i've heard bad things/stories about inducing as well.

Sakai- Within the adoption agencies here that my friend was looking into awhile back, they said the adoptive parents provided everything- even the clothes to go home in. Whether provate or through an agency, Your best bet would be to have a talk with your cousin and his wife to see if they will be providing that outfit, let them know if you want to, or you guys could even pick together.

Sprkle- Did you hear anything on the house yet? So exciting!

Keller- I did ask My cousin and his wife and they said that the hospital would have everything and really they would bring things for the baby, or I could bring clothes for her to go home in if I wanted to.

I'm having a bit of a issue in that if we get let out of the hospital 2 days after birth, the papers are not signed until day 3. They wanted to know what we wanted to do about that? if we wanted them to take her home from the hospital.
I told them honestly, that DF and I would much rather take her home ourselves to have that one day with just the 3 of us outside of the hospital. but we also agreed that if we felt we would be too much unstable emotionally when that day came, we wanted them to take the baby home.

I don't know, I just really want to be her parent for just one day at least.

Keller- as they get bigger the movement changes so you get more wiggles and rolls as opposed to those big kicks and punches. The thing to keep an eye on is if the pattern changes like if his normal "busy" time is quite. My midwifes have always told me to be more aware of the pattern of movement like if baby is always busy in the evenings after dinner and one night he isn't moving much during his normal busy time to then drink some OJ and sit or lie quietly and give the belly a good jiggling around and if he doesn't start being busy in 20-30 mins to page her. Also instinct says a lot. Don't hesitate to go in to be monitored if you feel something isn't right. I read an article that said that Dr.s take mother's instinct about their babies very seriously as they are usually right.

Sakai- I am not sure in the states how it works but here they have really cut down on what they supply in the hospital. Like you need to bring diapers and wipes to the hospital. Anyway they should tell you what you will need to bring when you go for your tour and then you can talk to your cousin and his wife to ask them to supply it.

Oh also you may want to look into getting some breast pads and cold packs for your breasts for when your milk comes in if you are not going to pump for the baby. Have you thought about what you will do about your milk or discussed it with your cousin and his wife? If you can emotionally and if they are ok with it you may want to nurse the baby when she is born so she get the colostrum as it is really good for her. Also be prepared for the emotional trigger when your milk comes in even if you don't do any nursing. When I lost my DD at birth my milk came in 2 days later, it just started dripping out I was told to just leave it and not to express etc. but I got engorged and I started reading up about the best way to "dry up" my supply and decided for me the best thing was to pump until the engorgement went down and then to slowly decrease how much I pumped over the course of a couple of weeks. I also drank a herbal tea that was supposed to help decrease my supply. If you do pump you could also give the milk to your cousin and his wife to feed the baby with. I hope this doesn't upset you.

So I went to my midwife apt yesterday and all is good baby's HB was 160 and I was measuring about 26cm so within range and I also passed my GTT all the numbers were within the normal range! I am shocked but happy. Now I just have to not let myself get lax on my food intake as I still want this baby to not grow too big.

I had an embarrassing hormonal moment today. I started crying at supper because I wanted mozzarella sticks and I couldn't have them, lol. I'm past the cravings now but in hindsight it's funny.

It's March!!! The more months pass, the faster our babies are coming!!!


I'm soo exhausted this week! Blah! I just wanna sleep the month away already.

We move in two weeks- and I haven't even began to pack/clean out apt. Ugh! I need to get on that.

Racrane- I haven't cried about food yet...but I have cried about cute things. like a baby bunny I saw on tv, or the itsy bitsy winter gloves in the baby department. it's all good ^.^

butterflymama- I asked my cousin's wife about the breastfeeding. i told her I wanted to feed at least the first few days and would be willing to pump for her for the weeks they have to stay here.
lol she was all over that idea because her supply is alread starting to drop with her 4 month old. she said she'd bring a pump and and bottles for me to use. so Yay for that!

So what is everone taking to keep them entertained during labor? I was thinking of taking my kindle for reading, maybe my MP3. I hear labor can get boring at some points, mostly when the pain is taken away and you're just sitting there.

I'm getting tired again! And STARVING. Hello 3rd trimester. My feet are also starting to swell just a little - guess that's an excuse to make the wifey rub them.

Started prenatal classes, took a breastfeeding class last night which was really interesting. This weekend, my whole family is going to a wine tasting weekend - can't have the wine, but all the wineries put out lots of food, so I got a designated driver ticket and will be snacking on cheese and crackers and all kinds of cooked goodies. It could be worse!

Sakai, my current plan is to go unmedicated, so I don't imagine I'm going to have a lot of "bored" time where I'm able to focus on much (although in the event I needed an induction of any kind, I'd be more worried). I am going to pop my kindle in my bag for after he's born, and we've made a playlist that I'll be keeping on hand with a little iPhone speaker.

Racrane, I haven't cried over food, but I have gotten ANGRY. Like genuinely, yell-at-the-wife angry when she takes something off my plate or if I think she has served herself more. Don't mess with mama's food supply!

It amuses me that pregnant women can be so emotional. I remember reading about it and then bam, I was that pregnant woman. I haven't been angry, but I can understand!

I feel kind of wimpy, but I don't think I could do a natural birth. Kudos to those who want to but I know it's not for me.

OMG I'm having trouble sleeping!! I've finally reached the point where I'm not comfy lying mostly on my stomach anymore, so I'm propping up with a pillow. Only I can't go to sleep on my right side - HAS to be my left. But my left hip, ever since I lost weight, has given me fits. It's like there's nerve damage or something in there, and if I lie on that hip I wake up a little later feeling like it's on FIRE and then it's too sensitive to lie on the rest of the night. So I slept like three hours last night. Boooo!

Other than that, not a lot of change. I'm feeling a little nauseated in the mornings again, but not too horribly bad and it passes.

I'm also going medicated, I'm thinking. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but it'll really just depend, I guess. I'll know as soon as that first real contraction hits me. If I do go with the drugs, I plan to try to sleep as much as possible, and otherwise just stay awake and enjoy the silence. Won't be much of that once things really get going...

Racrane- Getting an epidural doesn't mean that youre a wimp! It's all a matter of personal preference and pain tolerance.

I've decided to try to do it without pain medication BUT if I feel like I need it or can't, thats okay to. Keeping an open mind really is the key. My friend said the whole time she wanted an epidural- but labor hit her so fast she was too dilated to do so when she arrived at the hospital. Circumstances also matter.

Sakai- That's awesome about the breastfeeding!!!! As for labor and after, All I plan to take is my homework and my ipod- enough to focus when baby boy is sleeping or family is there. (Simply because I CAN'T get behind in classes or I will fail otherwise homework would be last choice)

Mindi- Sucks about your pain and I hope you get better sleep soon! Any luck on the crib being shipped out yet?

Manda- I had to laugh after reading your post. DF won't dish up the food anymore- and if he does, he knows to give me the plate that has just a tad bit more- then he eats whatever I leave after i'm done. LOL I just need the option! I remember you said you were doing a monkey themee for the nursery. Thats what we're doing as well so i was just wonderign what kind of stuff you guys bought? I'm trying not to "over-do" the monkey stuff and also focus on a light green/brown theme.

Looks like the third trimester blues have hit all of us who are there =/

MindiV- I've been having issues sleeping...but it's kinda weird. Like today, I woke up almost 5-6 times to get a drink of water... i was like dying of thirst. I normaly don't drink much when i wake up for water because I don't want to get up a hour later to use the bathroom, but even though I downed a whole bottle of water during the night, I didn't have to get up for the bathroom until my alarm went off.
And I'm still dying of thirst! @.@

Keller, the crib and all have arrived! Hopefully we'll get it all put together this weekend. That's the goal at least....if DH won't start helping I'll begin the project myself using HIS tools. That'll get him up and in gear...

Sakai I sorta found a solution last night. Ever since I was little I slept with a leg pulled up over a pillow, and the top of the pillow kinda hugged to my chest. Weird, yes, but effective and comfy I was still trying to do this, just with a bigger pillow, and it wasn't working. So last night I put a pillow under my head, a big one underneath my leg and got a small one to hug to me. Worked like a charm! I was able to get comfortable then even on my right side, and when I turned to the left I had enough belly room to kinda stretch out where I wasn't lying directly on that hip. Decent sleep!! Yay!!

Got a call last night from a lady who was setting up a garage sale, and had a TON of baby girl clothes! For 25 cents apiece I got a bunch of stuff, AND some maternity capris and a couple of shirts so I won't have to spend any more money on clothes, hopefully, until much later. I may go buy another t-shirt or a tank top or two, but those can be worn afterward as well. Kinda excited. Love garage sales!!!

MindiV- I'm glad you were able to find something that worked for you! nothing is better than a good nights sleep.

I think I have carpal tunnle.. my right hand is killing me. All my fingers and the back of hand hurts so bad. (My thumb feels fine though) It seems to fade away as the day goes by, but when I wake up in the morning i can hardly move it. Today I woke up because my hand started hurting me so much. Maybe it's the way i have my hand when i sleep.

In other news. DF and I joined the hopsital gym today. I'm mostly going to use the pool. Df will be in the gym (and I'm sure will soak in the hot tub a time or two hehe. He's got shoulder and back pain) Only bad thing is, I gotta get my pregnant butt in my old swimsuit. 0.o