Joel, Noelle and Baker Vega

How time flies....

2008-05-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Baker will be 4 months old on Saturday. It's just crazy how much faster time is going by....Things are going pretty well, I feel like we're on a really good schedule now. I am planning on going back to work full time next month and I feel better about it now that we've got a schedule down.

He sleeps a minimum of 6 hours at night then wakes up to eat and sleeps another 4 hours. He's usually in bed by 9 (which is earlier than I like, but what can you do?) and sleeps til 3 or so. However, about the last week, hes sleeping until 4:30 or 5, which is nice because I dont normally go to bed until about 11. Then he sleeps until about 7:30. He starts to rustle around a bit so I just lay him next to me, nurse him and we both fall back asleep until 8:30 or 9. We get up, play with his gym and then I feed him again at 10. This usually lulls him to sleep and he naps until 12. I feed him again at 1, then he's ready for nap time again at 2. He sleeps until 4, eats again, plays, we read books, etc and then he's ready for his "cat nap" time around 5:30. He'll sleep off and on until 7 or so and then he's ready for bed by 9.

He still has to be swaddled in order to sleep well. If he's not, he moves his arms and hands around so much that he wakes him self up. I am looking forward to the time when he doesn't need to be swaddled in order to sleep. He also really isn't loving the binky. He only takes it if he's cranky and is tired, but as soon as he falls asleep, he spits it out. I guess that's ok though. Maybe that means he won't need it as much as he gets older.

Joel and I are so amazed by our sweet little boy. He talks and laughs all the time! He's very animated when he talks (much like his momma), he uses his hands and squeals, it's soo cute! I work with him on sitting up everyday. I sit him on my legs and he automatically brings himself to an upright sitting position. He'll stay sitting up for 10 seconds or so and then I hold on to his arms to help him. He hates being held like a baby unless he's tired. He always likes to be sitting facing out so he can see what's going on. We also started sitting him in the stroller without the carseat which he loves because he can see everything. He is also discovering his feet. He can't quite hold onto them yet, but he brings them up and touches his toes and is wondering what on earth to do with them. He HATES tummy time, but luckily he's really good at holding up his head, however, I still work with him on it everyday. Another thing that we've discovered is that he loves to be read too. It never fails. He can be totally cranky and whiny, but if we sit him on our laps and read to him, he immediately is in a better mood and starts cooing and talking as though he's reading with us. He kicks his feet and moves around and the minute we're done with the book, he'll stop and look at us like you're not done, are you? We are just so in love with this boy and he truly completes our lives for us. It even makes us think that maybe we'll have another one in the next year and a half or so instead of 5 years! Who knows though? We'll wait and see what God has in store for us.

Joel is still working 50+ hours a week, which is nice for the paycheck, but sucks for family time. It's nice when he gets home and can spend some one on one time with Baker and I can just chill out with a few moments to myself. Joel's birthday was this past Saturday, the 24th, so we celebrated with a big BBQ on Memorial Day. Joel's brother, Adrian's birthday is the 27th, so we had 2 cakes and luckily it was nice out and were able to enjoy time with our family and friends.

I will post new pics soon. Baker's 4 month check up is June 5th, so I'll post his update after that.
I want to post a few shout outs first though:

First, Congratulations to Emily, Kris and Torance Stewart who are getting ready to welcome their little boy into their family any day now! Then to Alison, Jeff and Ryan Boon who recently found out that they are expecting a BOY in late October and to Tracey, Tyler and Jaymin Kerlee who just found out that they are expecting a GIRL on my birthday! (November 6, for those who don't know) We're so excited for you all and wish you the best on your upcoming arrivals!

xoxo, Momma Noelle

3 months!

2008-05-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Me
I LOVE my gym!
Just Me!
3 months old! Don't I look dapper?
Laughing at Momma's silly jokes!

I can't believe it's been 3 months since Baker arrived! It's so true how quickly they grow. Baker is doing really well. Sleeping 5-7 hr stretches at night and lots of cat naps throughout the day. He usually gets one long nap throughout the day, however, he's like his Momma and is a light sleeper and wakes up very easily. He definitely needs to be swaddled in order to sleep longer. I bought one of the Swaddle Design blankets and it works wonders.

I am still trying to nurse as much as possible, but it's pretty safe to say I'm not producing like I used too. Everytime I pump, I'm lucky to get 3 oz from both sides together. And I was never really producing alot to begin with. I hate that he has to be on formula more and more, but it works. However, we are realizing how expensive formula is! I can't imagine how much we would spend on it if he was strictly formula fed!

Baker is talking sooo much! It's the cutest thing. And he is smiling and giggling. We just love that. We think he's going to be an early crawler. Every time we put him on his tummy, he pulls himself up on his knees and tries to crawl. He always has to be moving!

Joel is working ALL the time. It's nice for the paycheck, but it sucks for family time. We are certainly looking forward to September when he'll be working transport and will have all the federal holidays as well as weekends off. I was working part time, but wasn't happy with that so I'm home for now. Still looking for full time work, but not really too concerned about it at this time. Still haven't sold the house, which sucks, but there is only so much you can do, right?

Ok, so Baker is ready for some Momma time, so I'm off!

RIP Papa Stacy 6.4.58 - 4.30.06---How I got my name

2008-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

2 years ago today, my Grandpa Stacy died. I never got to meet him, but my parents tell me that I was sent to them from him. (Apparently my mom got pregnant with me on his birthday.) Anyway, every year for Opening Day Fishing, my Papa and his friends went to Baker Lake and camped and fished. This is what he was doing when he died. It's very comforting for my mommy and my aunt and uncles to know that he died doing what he loved. He died from complications to Diabetes. My Papa always told his kids that he wanted his ashes to be spread at Baker Lake so that's what they did. Almost 30 people went up there that May day and camped and took their boats out in the middle of the lake to spread them. It was a perfect day.

For those of you who don't know, this is where my name came from. Everyone that knew my Grandpa says what a tribute to him this is....I couldn't agree more. :) We hope you like Heaven, Papa Stacy and we think about you and miss you everyday. We Love You!

Love, Baker T

Oh yeah and I am 3 months old today! (well, kinda, since there isn't a 31st of April, we're celebrating today!)

All the pictures!

2008-04-15T20:49:00.001-07:00

Sorry, they are a bit out of order but there were so many! And I'm too lazy to post all them in order! Enjoy!

Random Pictures (finally!)

2008-04-15T20:15:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty cute huh? My daddy's cousin, Dan, who is also a Cougar bought me this Cougar outfit. It's a tad big, but I had to represent since they made it to the Sweet 16!
This is today....my momma just got done feeding me and I was full and relaxed!
Isn't my hair cool? Ignore the baby acne...my momma hates it!

My momma and I on Easter!
Just hangin in my boppy... I really love this thing now!
This was on my 2 month birthday, March 31st
My Auntie Moni went to Disneyland on her Spring Break and brought me back my own pair of Mickey Ears! They even say my name on the back!
Both my momma and I were tired after a long day at Babies R Us...I was also upset because she dressed me in a matching outfit! That silly momma!

This is my older cousin, Wyatt and I with his momma and my Gama! He's the only other Vega grandbaby! I say we Vega boys are pretty good lookin'!
This is my Easter outfit...my momma waited too long to take this picture and I had had it!
Like my cute Easter outfit!
I love my Soothie!
Hi momma!

On my way to Gama's house!
My big cousin, Preston! He decided to come from Oregon to visit me!
He spent his whole Spring Break with me! He's in 1st Grade
This is my older cousin, Teagan Indira Rose, on Easter! She's exactly 1 month older! Born on New Years Eve!
This is me and my Great Grandpa, Jaime, on Easter! He's one happy Grandpa! He has 4 new Great Grandchildren! We were all born between November and February! How Cool!

My momma decided to play hat dress up with me one day.... I didn't like it!
especially this one!
this one wasn't so bad...
I even gave her a bit of a smile!
This one is a little small i think!

isnt my momma pretty?:)
This is my younger cousin Isaiah James, who was born only 15 days after me!
Look how much bigger I am!
I always have your back Isaiah!

my favorite place to sleep...

It's been a long time...

2008-04-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

So, I know it's been a long time! We lost our cord to our camera so I haven't been able to post pics. I know that's not an excuse for not posting, but come on! I have a 2 month old! Cut me some slack:)

Yes, you heard me right. A 2 month old! Baker is now 2 months, 1 week and 4 days old. I can't believe it. He's outgrown all his 0-3 months and some of his 3-6 months are even getting a bit snug. He had been having problems spitting up, so we took him to the dr and he said he diagnosed acid reflux. So, we bought an incline sleep positioner for his crib, which is designed with babies with acid reflux in mine and he does sleep so much better. He is also on Zantac which he hates, but it is helping him. He gets it twice a day, about 30 mins before he eats. It reduces his spit up, but the best thing is, he's not in pain when he spits up. He used to tense up and then make a sour face right before he would spit up. Then immediately afterwards, start fussing. I hated it! This past Friday, he had been on his medicine for 2 weeks so we took him in for a check up. He now weighs 12.5 lbs!!! It seems like yesterday he was this tiny little loaf of bread and now he's all grown up:)

I'm doing better. My mom has been in Mazatlan since the 30th and doesn't come back until the 13th. My helper is gone! I realized just how much I depended on her help. It's good though because Baker and I have gotten into our routine. I take him on nights that Joel is working because he has to get up at 4, so he needs his sleep. Especially since he's dealing with stupid criminals all day. Then on his days off, he takes him at night, so I can sleep. It works out well. This past week was Spring Break, so I had the week off from work. I got to experience being a stay at home mom without any help during the day and let me just say I couldn't do it full time. I have soooo much respect for women who can because it is hard work. Rewarding, but hard. I am definitely looking forward to going back to work this week, even though I'm only part time.
All my pregnancy weight is gone, but I'm still not where I want to be. Most people know I was working on my weight when I got pregnant so I am still about 15lbs from where I want to be. I will be starting Weight Watchers this week though, so hopefully by summer, I'll be rockin! :)

Baker sleeps pretty well. Most nights he's in bed by 10 and sleeps until 2:30 or 3. He wakes up, we change him, feed him, and he's back down by 3:30, usually until 7. For those of you who don't know, Joel and I made the decision to feed him strictly by bottles at night. This ends up usually being only once or twice, but breastfeeding takes a long time, and I was so darn exhausted by this, that I would be miserable. I talked to numerous people and my doctor and made the decision that I need to do what is best for myself and my family, and this works out great. I still try to strictly breastfeed during the day, but we are still supplementing maybe 2-3 feedings a day with formula just because I am simply not producing enough milk. Even when I pump, I'm lucky to get 2 oz out of both breasts together. Luckily, Baker is a great feeder and we've never had to worry about nipple confusion. He is getting super strong as well and holds up his head great. We purchased a Bumbo chair today, and he sits pretty well in it, although we don't expect to use it for another month or 2. You can tell he likes feeling like a big boy though! :) Okay, it's about his bedtime, so I gotta jet, but I will post tons of pics here later tonight or tomorrow! And I promise to try to blog at least once a week from now on!

Love, Mommy Noelle

6 weeks!

2008-03-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

This is absolutely crazy. It has been 6 weeks and 1 day since I brought this amazing little human into this world. We're getting the hang of things, but I am still overwhelmed with the enormity of it all. Breastfeeding is getting better but since I am back at work, I'm pumping all the time... Baker had his 6 wk ck up yesterday and get this! He weighs 10 lbs 12 oz! That means he has gained over 4 lbs in 6 weeks! He's an eater for sure! I was a little concerned that he was gaining too much weight, but the doc says it's perfect and he's in the 50th percentile for his weight. He is now 20 3/4" long, which means he's grown 2" as well. She did say that he isn't the tallest kid on the block (her exact words!) cause he's only in the 25th percentile for his height, but we kinda saw that coming. Joel and I are both short as well as almost everyone in our families. Baker also got 3 shots and an oral vaccination. I think I cried more than he did when they poked him. He ended up having a fever last night, but we were able to give him some baby Tylenol which saved the day. He even slept for 5 hours straight at one point!
Joel has been on vacation since the 28th of Feb which has been sooo nice, but he has to go back Sunday and I am not looking forward to it. He's been wonderful! We have a good schedule going for night time feeds and when he has to start getting up at 4 am again, it's not going to work out! Good thing I have my mom to help me with my sanity. However, now that breastfeeding is going better, I'm doing better as well.

I also had my 6 wk post partum this week. I have lost 25 of the 28 lbs I gained in pregnancy, but let me tell you, my body aint the same! My shape has definitely changed, so I'm trying to get used to that still too. She said I'm healing wonderfully, told me I can resume normal activities, then went into the lecture about not getting pregnant right away! I just laughed and said are you kidding? Talk to me in 5 years! She did say that since I had such a long, hard pregnancy though that she wasn't too concerned about me! I do miss being pregnant though...just the excitement of it all....but I could certainly have done without the constant sickness and preterm labor! I just don't see how I could possibly love another child this much, but I do also know we don't want Baker to be an only child either. But, at this point, I can't even see myself entertaining the idea for at least another 3 years.

Well, Baker is crying....it's been 4 hours since he last ate, so I better hop to it! Post more soon!

Selling Our House!

2008-03-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, folks! This is serious business. We need to sell our house within the next 30 days. Here is a picture of the front of the house. We will entertain any offer of $295k or higher!

Also here is the link:

http://www.skagitvalleyrealestate.com/LNdetails.cfm?&framed=no&formPTYP=RESI&formCOU=Skagit&formCIT=Sedro%20Woolley&formSD=NONE&formMinLP=300000&formMaxLP=325000&formLSF=NONE&formMinSFF=&formBR=3&formBTH=2.5&formVEW=NONE&formWFT=NONE&Return=go.cfm&sr=1&LN=28022534&dispCIT=Sedro%20Woolley

Family Pics!

2008-03-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few of the pics!

5.5 weeks!

2008-03-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, Baker turned 5 weeks on Thursday. I can' t believe it! He is growing so much and is such a chunker now! He's still eating about 2-3 hours, depends on if I nurse or if we give him a bottle. If I nurse, he goes 2 hours, bottle is 3. So, we're back to me nursing and then topping him off with an ounce or two in the bottle and he is usually good.

Have I mentioned that my mother is an absolute God send? I have noticed how much closer we have become since I've become a mother as well. It's just amazing that once you become a mother, how much more you can relate to other mothers as well. I imagine it's that way for fathers as well, but I just think there's a difference with moms because you carry them and grow them and you're solely resposible for them for 9 (ten) months while you're pregnant. I actually miss being pregnant. I sometimes think I want another one right away, but usually wake up from that nightmare right away! ha ha.

He is just so amazing. And to think that Joel and I created this human being. What a feeling. I mean Joel and I have been together for 9 years, married for almost 7, and I always knew we'd have children, but now that we have Baker, it's just crazy to think that he is actually part of us, you know? Ok, anyway....so Baker has been turning over since he was 3 weeks old. I know you don't believe me, but he does it all the time. I'm convinced we have a genius on our hands!:)

Yesterday, we went and got some family pictures taken. The same woman who did my maternity shots did them. She's amazing and I'll post them as well. Here is a link to her website: http://www.erincoxphotography.com/. Please check it out. She's phenomenol! So I just realized that I've used the word amazing way too much now! ha ha!

As for me, feeling pretty good. Baby weight is mostly gone, fitting back into my size 6's (pretty proud of that...it's breastfeeding, I swear!) However, my tummy is obviously "loose" still and I have some work to do at the gym. I have my six week post partum on Wednesday, so hopefully I'll get the ok to go and then I can find some time to go. That'll be the challenge!

Update on our house: Still on the market, we're going to be lowering the price here soon because we gotta get the heck out. It's just too much. It causes so much drama and stress for us. Please pray that we get a decent offer soon! Ok, Baker is starting to stir in his crib and my breasts are feeling the 3 hour mark, so it's off to feed! (TMI, I know, but if you're a nursing mom, you know what I'm talking about!)

Mastitis

2008-03-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

So last Saturday, March 1st, I woke up with a terrible pain in my left breast. Assuming I was just overly engorged, I got out my pump and began pumping. It was the most excruiating pain next to giving birth. I instantly began feeling naseous and flu like. I hopped in the shower and had to hop out immediately because I was dry heaving. Joel was like, what the heck is going on here? We were supposed to go to his parents house that day because it was his mom's birthday, but I couldn't drag myself to get ready. So Joel bundled up Baker and they left. I took some ibuprofen and began to feel better so I headed over about 2 hours later.

When I got there, my breast was still in terrible pain so I asked Joel's mom about it. She asked if it was red and hot. I said yes and it feels like there is a lump. She right away told me to call the on call doctor. So I called and it happened to be the doctor who delivered Baker, so he knew what my situation was. He immediately said that I had mastitis and called in some antibiotics and pain killers. That night I ended up having a terrible migraine and a fever of 103. It was seriously the worst I have felt in a long time. I've been telling people that I would rather give birth 10 times in a row then feel that again! The worst part was that I had to keep nursing and pumping! Ughh! I finally felt better a couple of days ago, but boy! Try to avoid that if at all possible!

2008-02-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hanging out with momma...I finally got some feet pics! Why is that baby feet are quite possibly the cutest things ever?

Baker Hefner...

2008-02-26T20:12:00.000-08:00

I swear all he needs is a cigar and three hot blonde chicks to complete this pic!!!

Week 4

2008-02-25T20:34:00.000-08:00

We simply cant' believe that Baker will be 4 weeks old on Thursday. It makes us so sad! But my goodness, is he growing! He had a dr appt on Saturday, the 23rd, which was coincidentally my original due date. He weighed in at a whopping 8lbs 6 oz and is now 20". We think we're finally starting to get into a routine at night. I pump as much as possible but it seems my milk supply is a little low, so we still have to supplement with formula because he is such an eater! I can nurse him for as long as 40 minutes and then he'll still take anywhere between 2-4 oz of formula after that. We weren't too concerned about the formula thing because pediatrician says it was ok, especially since we are giving him as much breast milk as possible. My mother has been an absolute god send! On nights that Joel works, he has to get up @ 4am, so I'm up most of the time with him and then my mom will come grab him for a few hours so I can catch some zzz's. My grandma is also here from Alaska for 2 weeks so she'll take him sometimes during the day so I can catch up on chores around here or just so I can catch a shower! I'm definitely feeling alot more confident as time goes on. The first 2 weeks were definitely the roughest. I was crying all the time and doubting my abilities, but I feel stronger, I'm more healed from the delivery and we're starting to get some sort of routine.

He still eats every 2-3 hours and we are doing our best to keep him awake as much as possible during the day so he'll sleep more last night. It was great last night because he slept a solid 4 hours! I actually woke up at the 3 hr mark worried because he hadn't woken up yet! Typical mommy stuff I guess! I promise that I will post more pics asap. We lost our cable that connects our camera to our computer so we have to borrow my brothers. But check back in the next day or two and I will have them posted!

WELCOME BAKER TOWNSEND!!

2008-02-09T23:32:00.000-08:00

Baker Townsend joined us on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 11:34 am. He was at 36 wks, 5 days gestation so he will still considered a premie. He weighed in at a whopping 6lbs 110z though and was 19" long. Not bad for a bit premature! He is the most amazing and beautiful little boy that we have ever seen!

He is now 2 weeks old and changing everyday! We're head over heels in love!

The pic of his name are the letters that I painted while I was waiting to go to the hospital. Daddy is the one who made them all crooked!

36 weeks! Holy chit! :)

2008-01-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

Your pregnancy: 36 weeks

How your baby's growing:Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing: Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

So yesterday was my 36 week check up. I gained back 2 of the 3.5 lbs I lost. Oh well...I'm still under my goal of 25 lbs. I haven't progressed much but doc did say that he his head has dropped much lower. This never ceases to crack me up when she points out the obvious. I mean I know she has to tell me this, but come on! I can totally feel that his head is dropped. The good news is that she did tell me that if I go into labor, she won't try to stop it. And, I can stop taking the meds for the contractions! Woo hoo! She said I can get up now and walk around, she wants to try to rest, which I am doing....ok, trying to do. When I told Joel's mom this the first words out of her mouth were, "So, did you go on a 4 mile hike?" ha ha... there's a thought. Doc also said she wouldn't even schedule my next appt because she doesn't think it's necessary....good sign. Many of you may be wondering why dr says it's ok to deliver before 37 weeks? Well, I've already had 2 steroid shots to speed up his lung development so technically his lung development is a-ok. So, we went to Target yesterday, got some more stuff and it felt good to be out and about. Dr also did say that from now on I don't even need to call her before I go in, just to go, which is nice. But I am so scared of continuing to be that girl that cries "labor". So keep your fingers crossed that Baker decides to make his appearance soon. That would make momma a very happy girl!!

Some fun info!

2008-01-22T13:25:00.003-08:00

Congratulations!
Your Due Date Is Saturday, February 23, 2008
Your conception date was most likely Saturday, June 02, 2007 You are in Week 36 of your pregnancy and your baby is 34 weeks old. Why is this? 248 days down, 32 to go!
Fun Birthday Facts
Your baby's birthstone will be Amethyst (Sincerity)
Your baby's Astrological Sign will be Pisces
Your baby's Flower is Violet or Primrose (Violet, Sky Blue or Yellow)
Your baby will be born in the Chinese Year of The Rat
This time next year your baby will be 48 Weeks Old!
Your baby will start kindergarten in 2013, be old enough to drive a car in 2024, finish high school in 2026, and will graduate from college with the class of 2030, give or take a year. Can you imagine?

Our new carseat/stroller combo!

2008-01-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I had my family shower this weekend at Carolina's house! I was shocked by the amount of people who showed up. At one point I counted 35! We are so thankful to everyone who brought us gifts and things that Baby Baker needs! My camera's batteries died during the middle of the shower so I am awaiting the pics from a friend and I can post them. Grandma Caro and Grandpa Froy bought us our carseat/stroller combo. We decided on the Chicco Cortina Discovery travel system. It was just rated #1 by Consumer Reports for Safety and ease of use! This made me happy since we registered for this one a while ago. Baker thanks Grandma and Grandpa for this great present. Now he'll be nice and safe! Joel set it all up and was pushing it around our house last night. It was soo cute! He is so excited to have Baker here, I just know he'll be a wreck when he's born, as will I! He then put the carseat in my car and it looks so weird to see a carseat in my car. People always teased me about my SAAB being such a family car, but now it really looks like a family car! We just have to get a car seat base for Joel's car and we'll be set!

I'm on my 19th day of bedrest....still going crazy, but I just have to keep him in until at least Feb 2, which will be 37 weeks. I hope I can do that. I was checked last night as was still about 2-3 cm dialated and now 85-90% effaced, so hopefully bedrest will shorten the progression. I see Dr on Friday morning so I promise to update asap! Thank you again for all your all your generosity and thoughts and prayers! We really need it!

Love, Mommy, Daddy and Baby Baker

35 weeks and another 2 weeks of bedrest ahead of me!

2008-01-18T17:05:00.001-08:00

Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life's changing:Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process

So went to doc today for 35 week check up. (I'm technically 35 weeks tomorrow). I was wishing and hoping and wishing and praying that she'd let me off bedrest. Not so much! She checked me and I am 2-3 cm and 80% effaced! She said his head is very low, right where it needs to be in fact....(to this I am thinking, no $&%#! I can feel him...it's like I just got off a horse!:) She did say that if he were to be born now, I could still have him at Skagit and he'd probably need to be there for a few extra days because he might have trouble eating, but it'd be ok. She just kept saying 2 more weeks and then I would expect you to be wanting to go into labor! (My thoughts exactly) I didn't have another appt until the 1st, but the way things are going, she decided to have me come back in next Friday. At this point, I guess the next week is the most critical. So, I'm stuck once again but hopefully Baker gets that he needs to "bake" for just a little while longer:) I do have conversations with him daily reminding him that no matter how much I complain and how much we want to see him, that he needs to stay in there a tad longer. He usually kicks right after that so I take that to mean, ok mom! I guess I'll stay in here a little longer. On a side note, I managed to lose 3.5 lbs! (I was secretly happy about this:)) I asked Dr if that was anything to be concerned about and she said no, that as long as I am eating, drinking and peeing it was fine. I laughed when she asked if I was eating! I was thinking oh my goodness, that's all I do! So I guess if eating all the time and staying in bed constantly helps to lose weight, I'm all for it!!!

I also have my family shower this weekend at Carolina's house. Dr said this was fine as long I don't move around a whole lot. I told her trust me, I'm so uncomfortable that won't be an issue!

Ok, that's all for my novel of an update! I'm back to bed....yippee! Have a great weekend!

Oh BOY!!!

2008-01-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

After 10 straight days in bed, I called the doc and said ok, this isn't working! Am I the only woman ever to hate this stage of pregnancy? I feel like there is something seriously wrong with me! I'm cranky, anxious and soooo uncomfortable. I hope that I'm not punished for feeling this way.

Anyway, doc said it was ok to go for a car ride as long as I didn't walk around too much. So, I jumped at the chance to go with my mom to her hair appt yesterday. We drove to Bellingham and then I just sat there when we got to the salon. They treated me like a queen too. Making sure I had plenty of mags to read, somewhere to put my feet up, water, etc. It was soooo nice!

Then last night, Joel's grandparents dropped off Baker's crib bedding so we got that all set up! It's sooo cute! As soon as I can figure out why my camera stopped working, I will post a pic. (I told Joel that this is the best time ever to get a new camera...so we're researching). So instead, I'll post a pic from Babies R Us's website. It doesn't do it justice of course, but it'll do for now:)

After that excitement, my dear friend Sandra called and asked if I'd like some company, so her and her daughter Shay came over for a few hours to visit (and she brought me some of her US Weekly magazines too, which she knows I love!) Anyway, we all sat on my bed and gossiped and chatted with my mom and Joel. It was a little bed rest party! It is so nice to have friends like that! Thanks again Sand and Shay! It was great to visit with you! Ok, so I'm back to bed now. I am anxiously awaiting our w2's in the mail so we can file our taxes. We're hoping to get a nice little check before Baker comes:)

Only 2 more days until my next Dr Appt! YAY!!!

Cont....

2008-01-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

I get to L&D, they hook me up and check me. The first thing out of the nurse's mouth is... "Oh! There's his head!" I'm like, yeah, no kidding...I've been feeling like he was going to fall out of me for the past few days now! She continues to check and says I'm still 1.5-2 cm but am now 50% effaced. She could tell on the monitor how intense the contractions were and says ok, I need to call Dr. She comes back a little while later and informs me that they're going to put me on medication to stop the contractions, but warns me that I'm going to feel like I'm literally on drugs. She gives me the shot and within minutes, I she what she is talking about. My whole body is shaking uncontrollably, I feel like I'm having a major anxiety attack and more. Ughh! Well, the good news is the med worked, the contractions slowed down but then she says Dr wants to send you home with this and you have to take it every 4 hours. Great! So I get home and over the next 48 hours, proceed to sleep 6 hours. It was terrible. They put on a different medication because that just wasn't cutting it and now I just take it as I need it. The good news is I have my 35 week appt on Friday and hopefully my reg Dr will see fit to ease up on the bedrest....considering I have another shower on Sunday....hopefully I'll be able to go. My mom decided though that if I can't leave the house, we'll move it to our house!

Anyway, that's the latest and greatest. Joel set up the crib yesterday after the Seahawks devastating loss and it looks so cute. We were laying in bed last night and Joel and I both said it looks so weird to see a crib in the corner of our room and to think that in a few short weeks Baker T will be in there is astonishing....

Thank you for all the continued thoughts and prayers and for the offers to come over and visit me. I certainly appreciate it, and now that I'm not feeling sick with the flu anymore, next week would be great for visitors! I promise to keep everyone posted as much as possible, but I have to sit up in order to write this so I can only do it for so long! Hope everyone is well!

Here's an update on how Baker is doing:

How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

34 weeks, 1 day: Say what?

2008-01-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

Oh boy! What an eventful week we had!

Friday, Jan 4

Joel takes me to the doc for my 33 week check up. We meet with another doctor in the clinic in case for some reason that our Dr is unavailable for delivery, they want us to meet another Dr. He was very nice, of course, he knows Joel's mom...as does everyone. He measures me, takes Baker's hr, etc. He then asks if we have any questions. WARNING: TMI ahead....I mention that I believe I lost my mp about a week before...he says ok, we better check you then. So he performs the check. He and the nurse tell Joel to get up by my head just to get used to it and to go ahead and just admit that everything is his fault right now. I thought this was funny. The nurse also mentions that during delivery, he should keep his face away from my arms/hands, in case I decided to punch him. Hey! It happens. Anywho~ Dr discovers that I am 1.5 cm dialated and 40% effaced. He says he does not like this as he figures I was like that for a few days and wouldn't even be 33 weeks until the next day. He then says ok, ready? And I'm like, uh, sure? He says you're on bedrest for at least the next 4 weeks. And he means business. Only up for showers and potty, he then informs me he needs to give me a steroid shot to speed up Baker's lungs in case he decides he wants to make an early appearance. I then mention to him, ok, but there's one little problem....my first baby shower is tomorrow. He says you can go, but I mean it when I say just sit there, don't do anything. So, I know those of you who don't know what bedrest is like are thinking bedrest? That's awesome. 4 weeks of doing nothing but watching Lifetime movies and reading gossip mags and people waiting on you hand and foot sounds great! And you're right, it does....for one day! I am unfortunately now in the nesting phase and can't do a damn thing about it! I have been on bedrest for 9 days now and it BLOWS!!! I'm bored out of my mind, I can't get comfortable and it's very hard to sleep.

Ok, so Saturday before my shower, I have to go back up to L&D to have another steroid shot. My dad's cousin, Shelley, is also a nurse up there and she is on duty. She informs me that Caro (Joel's mom) wanted her to remind me what bedrest meant...she knows how I get. So, I get the shot it my rear end, not comfy, then head to my shower which was great! Thanks to Christie, Bree and Terry (Christie's mom) and my sis for all their hard work! I get home around 430 and get back in bed. At about 6, I start noticing that I'm having more contractions than usual and they are painful. They started in my back and radiated through to my abdomen. Not fun. So, I keep track of them and by 930, they are getting more intense and are now 3-4 mins apart. I call Joel's mom and she says call your doc now! So I call the doc we saw the day before and he says, get to L&D now, I'll let them know you're coming....oh great~just what I need. So my mom takes me....Joel started a new schedule at work that next day and needed to sleep so I said go to bed and I'll call you if anything significant happens.

32 weeks, 5 days

2008-01-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

How your baby's growing:By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

New Blog!!

2008-01-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I figure as far as blogs are concerned, 3rd times a charm! As since I'm not working, I might as well be doing something while doing nothing. So, here's an update!

Today, I am 32 wks and 5 days pregnant. Dr still thinks it will be around mid-February, but isn't quite willing to change the due date. I have another check up tomorrow, then again on the 18th and then again on the 1st. After that, I'm down to once a week. I'm thinking if nothing is happening by 38 weeks, I may have to do something about it! Baker is weighing in at close to 4 lbs and about 16-18" long. My mom told me today she thinks he'll be about 8lbs. Please God, no! I have gained 22 lbs which is still within my goal of 25. We'll see at the appt tomorrow though because I swear all I do these days is eat!

Our house should officially be on the market early next week. I do love this house, but I am ready to get rid of it. I feel it has bad karma. Maybe that's just my pregnancy hormones talking, but I doubt it:) Joel informed me the other day that he is over me bring pregnant. I told him to join the club! I believe that I have come down with the flu over the last few days. I feel yucky and it takes alot just to crawl out of bed....that may also have something to do with the fact that I'm 8.5 months pregnant.

I am certainly getting more and more excited about little Baker joining us soon, but lately I can't help but feel extremely nervous about the labor process and then about actually having to take care of him after he's born! My pregnancy journal has this great quote: "The thing about having a baby is that afterwards, you still have it!" So true. I'll add some maternity pics that I had taken about 10 days before Christmas. Happy New Year everyone!