??? days till baby

6 days till due date...
But Carter could be here tomorrow (depending on a few medial tests we'll be doing). I am sentenced to rest till then. We are 100% ready and SO SO excited!!



KADE did a GREAT job on the nursery :) I am so happy!

C'mon Carter....

They say... when you have the baby, you forget ALL the hell you went through to GET that baby here. I don't see how that is possible (yet). Right now I'm thinking "it's going to take an accident to get me to do THIS again". Haha...

But I can't forget to note the fun little things that I do WANT to remember :)

During the 7th and 8th months of pregnancy, Carter would get his little foot in my side and it would tickle SO bad! Haha! I would laugh out loud in the middle of ANYTHING I was doing! Its so weird feeling this little person moving inside you! I can easily feel where the feet are and where the elbows move. He's been in the same position most of the 3rd trimester.

A funny thing that I probably will not miss... is driving with this big belly :) I have an awesome sports car with really deep bucket seats, and of course it's a manual transmission. Well... sometimes I have to pull over and just WAIT because baby will hit a nerve in my pelvic area that makes my legs go numb - I literally cannot shift! Hah! It's crazy!

Sleeping of course, doesn't happen. But I do enjoy when Carter is way too active that late at night- Kade will put his hands on belly and baby will simmer down immediately! It's amazing- pure magic!

Kade and I have had a running joke about Carter approving of this or that... it started when I asked Carter to confirm "don't you agree? kick twice for YES". Since then everything he kicks twice, we know he agrees. Haha :) its fun!

I often feel like there is a rhinoceros in my belly!!!! Carter has his right foot in the middle of the top of my belly almost always. His left foot is regularly lodged into my right ribs. When he stretches, I get this BIG obvious bump right in the middle of my belly on top. Rhino! Sometimes is SO bad, I have to literally push him back down. Today, he's about 6.5 lbs... way too big for this little belly :)

Carter gets hiccups just as frequently as I do :) ... about four times a day, or more. But his last a while, poor guy. THAT movement is the only movement I really enjoy. Small, rhythmic pulses that let me know he's alive and well without KILLING ME. Most of the time I feel like Belle from Twilight, getting beaten and bruises all over! Haha...  I am happy to bear the pain for my sweet son. Back, hips, tail bone, sciatic nerve, restless legs, numb legs, tired legs, rib pain and bruising, and the poor pubis bone getting mashed ...    and at the end of the day, I'm so proud I made it another day. I do all I can to keep myself strong.

I've been asked by so many people what work out I do as a prego. It's really much of the same stuff I've always done in my classes. Some people would consider my routine a "boot camp" but for me.. its relaxing and more associated with Pilates (my favorite).  So- want my routine? Here it is...

10 kegals, 10 push ups, 10 dips
10 kegals, 10 squats, 10 back extensions
10 kegals, 10 glut extensions (donkey kick), 10 glut extensions (squish spider)
10 kegals , 10 squats, 10 cat/camel
10 ketals, 10 squats, 10 toe chop (pilates, google it) 
10 kegals, 10 squats, 10 calf raises
10 kegals, 10 push ups, 10 fire hydrant (side hip lift)


The list LOOKS long but only because I break it up into 10s. Honestly, it's a tiny workout and it goes by fast. I normally do that whole thing twice. Although fatigue is impossible to escape, I have still felt strong throughout pregnancy. I've had a lol of sickness, true... and pain and exhaustion... but still... I feel great to keep moving and make/keep a body that can handle labor (well enough). Right?!  :)

I am a firm believer in being prepared! If I get to deliver normally, I think I can do it well! If we have to have a c-section for any reason, my preparation won't be to waste. It will help me to recover quicker :)  I have recently learned about the ugly truths that I'll get to deal with AFTER baby comes (as if D-day isn't bad enough right?) At first... I was devastated. Kade came home and saw me BAWLING on the couch. I was just... ANGRY that we poor women have to pee our selves, and loose all our hair, and get fat feet, and hemorrhoids, and bleed for 6 weeks, and then the back/hip pain doesn't go away - all of that AFTER baby is delivered.
....and then I thought more about it.... and it really does make sense.... My body is going to do the COOLEST most amazing achievement ever ever, so OF COURSE it's going to need some time to heal. I truly am amazed at what we can do. What a person can DO! Go through labor, rip yourself in two, be recovering for 6+ weeks WHILE giving all your time and energy to this tiny new little human. I am so excited to see what I CAN DO! I am excited!

Yes the misery of the home stretch IS enough to make me WANT to rip myself in two, to get baby HERE already! :)  I am excited to see what will work out for us, and I hope to have the sanity to handle what may not work out for us (like how breastfeeding doesn't always work out for everyone, I understand).

I am so dang lucky to have Kade right here with me. He has REALLY taken care of me and has been 100% understanding of everything I go through. Kade has given me his attention, his time, his love and sympathy, and his whole capacity of patience.  :)  We have had some fun learning all the things about pregnancy and birth together. Although he is a little squeamish when it comes to blood, he has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to comprehending what is going on and what happens next.

The progression is coming along... we still have 16 days till due date, but doctor says we won't make it to due date. I'm up 34lbs. I'm already dilated to 2 centimeters and effaced 80%. Carter is in centered position. I have already sloughed off the mucous plug from the cervix. I have contractions hourly. Contractions you feel on the back side have started too (man those hurt). I will be checked again to see how the cervix is coming along, in 4 days. We are seriously ready. Bag is packed. Everything is IN the car, and I JUST finished preregistering at the hospital.

C'MON CARTER!!! :)  Kade has commented EVERYDAY for the past month about how excited he is to finally meet our little guy! I am just dying to SEE what he looks like! :)

OH - AND WE GOT HIS HALLOWEEN COSTUME!!!! :D Can't wait to show everyone :)
Anyone who wants to visit us, bring chocolate :) haha
love you all