34 Weeks

GASP! If I were to go into labor tonight I wouldn't be leaving the hospital without a baby!!! This is surreal.
Mom told me the other night that she was in labor with me for 2 hours and my sister for 4! I've heard that the length of your labor tends to be similar to your mother's. So WOAH! I sure HOPE it happens that fast...but I'm not counting on it. I'm not counting on anything actually. Why set myself up for disappointment? Oh well, except the epidural. If for some reason I can't have that they are going to have to knock me the heck out and do a c-section.

I'm eating like a cow lately...I am just constantly hungry. And if I wake up in the middle of the night (as I am SURE to do at least twice) I am usually too hungry to fall back asleep and I have to go downstairs for a bite. Ugh. I'm going to be HUGE. Please come a little early OK monkey? Save mommy a couple of weeks of weight gain.
She's definitely dropped down. People are commenting on it. And I'm feeling lots more swingy leg movements up by my ribs. It's odd, but I'm actually feeling MORE out of breath now that she's lower. She much just be stretching her legs up into my lungs.

I had my last baby shower today. Some of the girls at work got together and threw me one. It was SO sweet. And I am just amazed at the generosity of my co-workers! I got SO MUCH stuff and lots of gift cards too! I'm especially impressed with all the single guys that brought me gifts! I couldn't feel more blessed and loved.
And I think between all my showers and my mom and dad I'll be able to get just about everything I need and want for the little monkey. Now I'm just waiting on those darn registry completion coupons. While I wait I'm compiling a list of everything I still need/want and figuring out the best way to spend my various gift cards and cash so I get the most bang for my buck. (I know...obsessive right? Does that count as nesting?).

It's overwhelming making all these lists and thinking about ALL of the things I need to get done before the baby comes. And so many of those things can't be done until all my sewing is done...which I am just totally unmotivated to do right now. I guess I'm just all sewed out. Although I am close to being done. I need to finish up the drapes, bedskirt, and changing pad cover. I know it doesn't SOUND like much. But it feels like it. My plan is to work the bedskirt first and then the changing pad cover. Then hopefully I won't feel so overwhelmed and can muster the courage to tackle the drapes. Normally I'm not so intimidated by straight stitching, but they are HUGE and I don't have a pattern for them. And winging it with my precious nursery fabrics is just plain scary. Then after I can put away all my sewing perephenalia I can get the living room and kitchen back in order and cleaned to a sparkle...or at least trust someone else to do it if I can't. But I don't want anyone else touching my sewing...and it's EVERYWHERE.

The hospital bag is on it's way to being packed. I've got a few more little things to buy for it and a list of items to be packed last minute. I also need to get a baby book and a take me home outfit for the munchkin...but nothing seems special enough...Although does it really matter what we bring her home in? I'm going home in PJs, she might as well too. LOL.

For some non-baby related news: I paid off 2 credit cards today!!!! Thank you Uncle Sam! You can't imagine what it feels like to have knocked 2 monthly bills off my budget!

33 Weeks!

Saw Dr. Fat Nazi today. But I only gained 4 lbs in the last 3 weeks so he had nothing to comment on. =P
He checked me and said I've not made any more progress since my trip to L&D. He's not concerned. He said that the fetal strip from L&D looked great and that the thinks we're both fine. And apparently I were to go into labor next week they would not try to stop it. MEEP! It's still just totally unreal to me that sometime in the next 7 weeks I'll be taking home a real live baby that no one can take away from me!!!
He also said that baby monkey is head down. I'm totally confused by this because I definitely feel a big round bulge on each side of my belly. But whatever. I'm just trusting God to give me the delivery that I will handle best.

Some of the girls at work told me today that they are planning a baby shower for me for next week! How sweet is that? I'm so touched.

Jamie and Erin are planning to finish painting the nursery tomorrow and Mom and Dad are bringing the changing table over on Sunday. (Well it's actually a 4 drawer dresser and it's the very same dresser they used as MY changing table, but sporting a new coat of paint and new hardware.) I am just THRILLED to have an end to the chaos of baby stuff strewn about the house in sight!

Baby Shower #1

First baby shower down. It was so much fun (even though the turn out wasn't so great). My girlfriends and I made so much good food (and there is TONS left over for me to snack on this week). Here are some pictures to get you started. Mom, Erin, and Jamie have the majority of the pics so I'll have to get theirs later.

The Spread

The cupcakes!
The Girls (still pals after all these years!)

Highlights:
**I got my Ju Ju Be diaper bag that I SO VERY MUCH wanted and didn't think I'd get! (Thanks Jamie and Erin!) Erin also knitted me some SUPER cute baby booties that everyone had to fawn over for 10 minutes.
**Justin's friend Trey got us this awesome mobile. It doesn't go at all with either of my planned nursery themes, but it is just ADORABLE and everyone there that had babies said they their kids have it and LOVE it. So if my monkey might love it so much I can't very well deprive "her" just because it doesn't fit my nursery theme. Monkey will probably spend most of the time downstairs with me anyway, so the PNP might very well be the best place for it. Over all I was super impressed with his choice. Here is a picture:
I got some other things I wanted/needed and some I didn't. But over all I'd say we made out!

Justin LOVED his monkey costume. He's been carrying it around with him everywhere since yesterday. It is just so cute. Only, we noticed today that the sent us the wrong size! I ordered 6-12 months and they sent 12-18! I'm totally bummed that we have to send it back and order the correct size from somewhere else (the 6-12 size is out of stock). Oh well.

We also went garage saleing on Saturday and lucked out with a a swing ($10); an ocean wonders bouncy ($3); a boppy tummy time mat, ocean wonders 3-in-1 activity mat, 2 onesies, and bathrobe (all for $15); and a hiking pack baby carrier ($3). What a flippin STEAL!