34 weeks

34 weeks and I feel huge and quite a bit slower! Bending over is definitely an event. The swollen hands and feet have begun, and when I think I can't get any bigger, I do. We're still measuring 3 weeks early (so 37 weeks), but the plan is still to go with the flow. I go and listen to his heartbeat at the doctor once a week now. As he is in the 90th % for size, so is the amount of amniotic fluid, so the fetal heart monitor gives the doctor a better record of his heartbeat than the doppler thing (that looks like Maria's Sony play microphone from when she was little.)

Work

I made my last trip to Madison for work this past week. No more travel for me/us anymore! The flight attendant said to me, "You better not have that baby on this plane!" I had a doctor's note anyway if needed, but all was fine. He was pretty quiet on this flight as opposed to the one 2 weeks ago when we flew through thunderstorms where he was super active. And at landing the pilot had to abort and pull up again, circle, and re-land due to wind gusts, that got him riled up too (and the lady next to me). When people ask me my due date, and I tell them July 4th, they do a double take at my belly and look back up at me and say questionably, "Really?!" It's kind of funny.
So, no more travel, but I'm working up until the big day. My friend Dave at work is my emergency ride just in case "it's time" at work, and he got a flashing light off ebay for his car! It's like a siren thing without the siren, just the light. Move over! We're ready!

Right now...

Patrick is playing guitar and I absolutely love it....however he keeps asking me if everything is ok. He just said, "Did I play that chord wrong? Do you not like this song?" Apparently, I have a sighing problem. I think it sounds like I'm being super passive aggressive, but it really is just my smushed diaphram. They told us this in baby class too - that your stomach, diaphram, and bladder get really smushed and their capacity is nowhere near what is was pre-pregnancy. So just a note of warning, I'm sighing a lot lately, please don't take it personally!

We've been getting his room ready and putting his things away! It's been a lot of fun, and we are getting excited. I love this picture of Patrick and the little matching shirt my Mom and Maria found in Colorado (not knowing Patrick had one like it too!)

Patrick has been wonderful. As my activity continues to decrease, he has been so helpful and so understanding. I am so lucky. He's going to be a great dad, a fun one too. Just ask him about his recent rocket adventures with his friend Andy.

31.75 weeks - my 31st birthday!

May 7th

I was in Madison on Wednesday, May 7th, my birthday, for a meeting for work. The bonus: I got to drive home to Mom & Dad's and have dinner with them and Sara Rose! Mom made really yummy roasted vegetables with Grandpa & Uncle Marty's homeade Italian Sausage, and a wonderful virgin margarita pie for dessert (it had lots of fruit! yum!) It was so nice to be home and will probably be the last time before baby comes since no more travel is allowed in the last month. I have just one more trip to Madison for work on the 21st (if my doctor ok's it). It's hard to believe that we're getting so close to meeting our little guy. But it is believable as I am at the stage where I think I just can't get any bigger (but probably will). Patrick is hoping to take a few more short motorbike trips and take his mountain bike out on a few trails over the next couple weekends. Maggie is excited that it's spring and has been finding and chasing all of her tennis balls that were lost in the snow over the winter. She loves sunning herself on the deck. I'm looking forward to playing in the dirt (gardening) with our little one.

30.5 week ultrasound

We got to do an ultrasound today because baby is getting really big!

He weighs 4 lbs 13 oz & is above the 90th percentile.

My doctor said she has been getting a slew of big babies lately, and he is definitely one of them! This is a 3D ultrasound picture, and the black spot on his head is the ultrasound reader thing-y, and some of the other parts of the picture are out of focus, but it still gives a general picture of our little guy. Watching him up on the screen was so much fun! He was sucking his thumb, was pointing with his finger, and playing with his arms up near his face. It's so hard to believe he will be here soon! Lot's to do!

Milwaukee Baby Shower!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Thank you family & friends in Milwaukee for a wonderful baby shower!!!! It was so nice to see everyone and celebrate the coming of our little guy!

Sara at 15 weeks, Amy at 30 weeks

mom & amy

great auntie rita, great aunt liane, great auntie sue, grandma, amy

(they are all really great too :)

maggie came too

hi baby! aunts-to-be sara & maria

29 weeks ( = 7 months, 1 week)

Patrick is making me laugh here, as usual :)

29 weeks (7 months, 1 week).

So I definitely feel bigger now! Tying my shoes became a new challenge. Agility is not the name of the game at this stage, that's for sure. I absolutely love being pregnant though. He moves A LOT now, and that is really fun. Instead of just little kicks here and there, I think he pushes out with his head or butt (the doctor says you can't really tell the difference at this point from the outside). Things are still looking good at the doctor appointments, which are every 2 weeks now, and will go to every week closer to the end, which seems to be coming fast!

Baby Class

We took our baby class last weekend, and we both learned a lot. Our instructors were great - very knowledgeable, real, and fun. We asked lots of questions, and Patrick brought a new vocabulary to the class that the instructor said she'd like to incorporate for the next group. You'll have to ask him what he learned. We talked about things from how to change a diaper to what babies really look like after delivery (not like on tv), the labor process, how to get thru the labor process, what to do when you get home, and so on. It helped to answer a lot of questions, however, I think we'll learn the most when we just start being parents and give this new role a shot. They just remodeled the maternity floor at the hospital, so we got to check that out too. We'll be at Fairview Southdale in Edina, Minnesota. And there's a good chance my friend Courtney who is due within 4 days of me could be there too!

Life in general

Patrick has started riding his motorcycle to work and around on weekends since we've had a little nicer weather. He's been working hard at work and with his inspection business. He's playing guitar right now, and I love it. Baby loves it too as he is dancing. They say he'll be able to recognize our voices and even music. I've been busy with my project at work, a corporate campus in Verona (near Madison), Wisconsin. I'll be wrapping up my travel there by the end of the 8th month, but will work up until "it's time". I really like the firm that I work for, here is our new website: http://www.cuningham.com/. At our church, we're also sending off another group of travelers to visit our sister parishes in Ghana, Africa, so I've been busy working with that group as well as keeping the program running here at home. I'm also hoping to finish up a certification test in my industry before I really don't have time to study. But my favorite is just thinking about the baby and spending time with Patrick and Maggie. Every day is so precious and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and our amazing family and friends.

Sisters!

Sara is pregnant too! She's about 10 weeks here, due October 19, 2008. Congratulations Sara & Charlie, baby is excited to have a cousin! Yea!

Easter 2008