Week 39 - Happy Birthday

Megan Norene Rivera

7lbs 7oz

20.5 inches

Born March 10, 2009 at 9:16am.

Week 38

Well, we are almost there. Less than two weeks to go until my official "due date" which - for those who may not know, is March 17th - St. Patty's Day!

At our latest doctor's appointment, I was checked, and there is not much happening "down there". I'm only .5 cm dilated - which is nothing (and what I was about three weeks ago), and the cervix only about 50% effaced. This is okay, since I don't want her coming out too early! :)

I think that David and I are as prepared as we could be. I'm not sure you are ever truly prepared for the changes that are about to happen, but we have the nursery ready, the car seats installed, and a few diapers (I heard you need those). My bag is getting packed (slowly, but surely) - and yes - we will be sure to have gas in the cars.

I am still working, but this is my last week - and I'll probably only work 2 or 3 days. (I have to get in those last couple days of rest and quiet and doing nothing!)

Other than that, things are great. I feel great, and have really enjoyed being pregnant. (Can't wait until the next one!) I feel that I have been very fortunate with such a great pregnancy!!!

Love you all!!!

Week 36 and 37

Somehow I must have missed a weeks post! Time continues to fly!!! Today, I am exactly 37 weeks pregnant. This means that I'm "full term"!!! David and I are getting very excited about the arrival of our daughter - and I think that she is looking forward to coming out of my cramped belly. She moves around still quite a bit, and is daily getting the hiccups!!! I really think that she's looking for her way out. :)

I only have 21 more days until my due date - and only 17 day until I stop working. While work is a good distraction......it's getting harder to waddle around the office (especially when I have to go up stairs!) I can't believe some people actually exercise. I get winded just going from a sitting position to standing! Got to get credit to those moms who gain 40+ pounds and walk 2-3 miles a day.

My next appointment is this Thursday - so I'll give everyone an update over the weekend.

Love and miss everyone!

Week 35

Well, we are moving right along. At our last Doctor's appointment which was this past Friday, we were told everything is looking great, and Baby Rivera is in head down position.

While I'm looking forward to the next part of this wonderful journey - I'm also going to miss feeling her moving around inside - and her little hiccups she gets. It's been such an amazing time, and I feel like I've been able to take good care of her in there. I hope I'm as good once she gets outside!!!!

David and I have almost finished the nursery. We still need to hang up some wall decor and curtains, but other than that, it is ready for baby.

Other than that - not too much to report. I'm getting bigger (along with baby) and patiently awaiting the big day.

Lots of love! xoxoxo

Week 33-34 : Childbirth 101

David and I went to our child birthing class this weekend. I'm still amazed at how the baby gets out! I'm not really sure what God was thinking!!!!

There is a lot to remember, and I hope David took good notes! There are lots of labor positions (prior to epidural time) and different breathing techniques for the different stages of labor. I also hope that when he unswaddles our baby, that she doesn't end up on the floor like our fake baby did today. :)

As I keep getting bigger, the more uncomfortable I become....not a big surprise. My lower back bothers me the most - although having to get up at night to use the bathroom isn't doing much for my sleep. Some nights I do get away with only getting up once - which makes me very happy. On the nights that I'm up three times, I'm usually cranky and ready to go home around lunchtime. From stories I have heard from others - I don't think I'm as moody or irritable as some - but maybe that comes when I can no longer put on my shoes (which is getting harder each day). (oh...and David may have another opinion on that too.....but I don't think I've bitten of his head yet.) Baby also continues to move a great deal, but her movements are different now. She's getting stronger, so sometimes a change in position for her makes me grab my side (or front) in pain - but it's only for a second. I can feel parts of her at times when she sticks them out - like her knees and elbows, although contrary to what I have read - I can't tell the difference. I have to say it's pretty cool though. While I haven't seem a HUGE move from one side to the other - I do have smaller movements that I can see and she is just amazing. Sometimes too I can tell what side she is mostly on when one side of my stomach sticks out farther than the other. I look a little lopsided! And she still gets the hiccups quite often too.

We are also continuing to get the nursery ready. I'm working on getting the decorations up (and bought), but the bed is ready, and so is the changing table. I also want to get her name in letters to put over her crib, but we haven't named her - and for those who keep asking - we probably won't until she is born. We did confirm today with our child birthing class teacher that we can't leave the hospital until she has a name, so don't worry - she won't go home as Baby Anonymous.

We are in the home stretch now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxo

Week 32

Our Tuesday appointment was canceled due to snow falling in good ol' NC. The call for snow the day before it actually happened caused schools to be closed (with out even the first flake to fall). That's how they do things down here - it's definitely not like it was back home.

So, our rescheduled appointment was on Friday, and everything is looking great. My doctor said I was the "picture of maternal health". While I have gained close to 40 pounds - no one is concerned and Baby and I are happily enjoying Moe's.

I talked to the doctor about the baby maybe coming early and he said more times than not, first babies are late - averaging 40 weeks and 5 days. I mentioned the ultrasound measuring her ahead, and he said not too pay too much attention because the ultrasounds can't predict a due date. She'll just come when she's ready.

The nursery is coming along nicely, and David put the changing table together over the weekend, and we arranged the furniture 3 or 4 times until we have it now just how we want it. I'll post some updated nursery pics maybe next week.

In the meantime, here's an updated belly shot! Oh...and one more thing.....Baby Rivera get the hiccups A LOT!!!!

Miss everyone!xoxoxo

Week 31

I can't believe that there are only two months left! Yikes! Things are going well, and Baby Rivera continues to grow, move, and kick. I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable, and sleeping is sometimes challenging. I find myself also getting really moody (which I thought was only in the first trimester), and very tired towards the end of the day.

You probably can't tell by the picture, but the nursery is light green and still needs lots of work. David and I got the crib up this past weekend, and tomorrow we are getting the dresser and changing table. Slowly things are coming together. Our next Dr appt is next week - Tuesday I think, so we'll be sure to keep everyone updated on what the Doctor says. I'm still thinking she might be earlier than the 17th, but I think statistically most first babies are late, so who knows. Guess she'll just come when she's ready.

I miss everyone terribly, especially as time gets closer.

Week 28-30

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2009!

I'm going to become a mommy this year! How exciting! Things are really going well, and Baby is growing fast and ahead of schedule. She seems to be around one to two weeks ahead of my due date - March 17th - but everything is just a 'guesstimate'. Our latest pics show how big she has gotten, and at our ultrasound we had on December 18th, Baby Anonymous was estimated to be about 3.1 lbs....and we have a little less than three months to go! My appointments are now every two weeks, so that's a sign that we are getting close!

We had a great time home visiting with family over the holiday. The long drives weren't all that great, but still wasn't as bad as it could have been. Both David and I picked up a bug along the way - an unwanted Christmas present I suppose, so we have both been recovering from that since we have gotten home. I am also battling a belly rash which is guessed to be from my virus and a possible reaction to some belly cream. Between my coughing and scraching my belly (and lets not forget late night bathroom breaks) - Baby is not happy about being awake all the time and lets me know it with all her kicks and punches.

Thank you to my mother and sisters who hosted a fantastic baby shower for David and I while we were home visiting. Thank you for all of you who were able to make it and for all the great things we received for our new family. David and I are very blessed to have such wonderful and supportive families.

Lots of love!