Come on Jackson!

Week 40... can't believe it! The last 9 months have really flown by. I'm down to the last few days, well hopefully!

At our last appointment on May 27th the doctor said I was about 90% effaced and 1-2 cm dialated. Hopefully things keep progressing and I'm not this way for quite a while. I have another appointment in a few days so we shall see.

Sean and I have been trying out several ideas for jump starting labor including: 5 mile walks, running stairs, jumping jacks, lunges, driving in his truck on bumpy gravel/dirt roads, drinking raspberry tea, and eating spicy food. Bascially I'm going through boot camp to get this baby out.

My friends at work laugh that I'm getting more exercise while pregnant than ever before. Very true! For all the walking Sean and I do I wish I had some great legs to show off. Nope! Completely swollen and bloated with water. Oh well, keeping active will make recovery easier I guess.

Here's a picture I took of my swollen hands after an afternoon walk. They get so large it hurts to bend my fingers.

This week was also my last week of work. It was kind of bittersweet. I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping past 5 am and not having to iron dress clothes and wear heels every day, but I'll miss my friends!

Hopefully this is one of my last posts before Jackson arrives. If not I'll have more info after our next appointment!

- Kelly

Counting down the days

Well according to our calculations, I am now in my 39th week of the pregnancy. At this point, who cares how many weeks the doctor says I’ve got left… I am ready now!

Words cannot describe how exhausted I am these days. My daily cup of coffee doesn’t even make a dent in my sleepiness. I'm starting to get that really pregnant look too.... everything is swelling - feet, ankles, legs, arms, etc etc. Oh I can not wait to be done!

I’ve got about 5 more days of work before my maternity leave kicks in, so maybe I’ll get a day or two to sleep in and rest up before Jackson arrives. If he comes sooner I am totally fine with that too!!

Just like I was anticipating feeling the baby’s first kicks, I am patiently waiting for the first contractions to start. Unlike a lot of women I’ve talked to, I haven’t experienced any Braxton hicks contractions. Guess I’m just lucky?

At my last doctor appointment the doctor determined that I was about 75% effaced but not quite dialated yet. Heart beat and blood pressure are still doing good.

Jackson is starting to settle down and when he does move around it's slow stretching movements. People are telling me it looks like he's dropped down a little too. I don't feel a difference I just know I look giant.

Sean and I are still doing our nightly 2.5 mile walk and it’s getting harder each time. Sean is still being wonderful about keeping me motivated and upbeat. It's so easy to just complain all the time, but he helps me keep things in perspective!

On nights that I don't just plop into bed after our walk I’m also following up the regular routine with a few sets of jumping jacks, squats, and running up the stairs. Sounds painfull, but it actually isn't at all!

This week I celebrated my 24th birthday! My mom and Randy came into town and we had a great time celebrating! My mom treated me to a pedicure and it was so relaxing that I fell asleep in the chair, haha! It just felt great getting my fat feet massaged.

I also had one final baby shower at work. Since there are so many newborns and pregnant women in the office we had a group baby shower. I got one of the new “Johnny jump ups” and a highchair! We have nowhere to put anything at our house, so it's all stacked downstairs. Wherever we live next will need more closet space!

That's all the updates for now. I have my next appointment on May 27th so hopefully I'll have made some "progress" by then.

Here is the most recent belly picture:

Maternity Photos

Last weekend, Sean's younger brother took a few maternity photos for us. Thank you again Dustin!

week... ?

Sean and I went in for another doctor appointment last Monday (5/11). Baby and I are still doing great. I just keep telling myself that Jackson is doing all the weight gaining... not me!

The doctor told us that we were 36 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Somewhere along the way we managed to go backward a week or maybe we have been off on our counting, but nonetheless I'm about ready to pop so whenever Jackson decides to get here will be fine with me!

Here is the weekly belly photo:

Over the last several days I've had a lot of family in town. My mom, Randy, and Kristine came and visited on May 14th so we could celebrate my mom's birthday. My mom got to show off her new car and also delivered some essentials, ie. car seat, bath tub, diaper pail, and baby rocker. We had a nice dinner w/ family that night and although it was a short stay, I'll see them again next week for my birthday!

Sean's mom and Dustin also paid us a visit and also droped off more baby gear: crib, changing table, the other car seat, and our stroller. All our wonderful gifts we couldn't stuff into my car on the way home from the baby shower! It looks like Babies r Us unloaded a shipment at my house!

In more exciting news, Dawn and I went shopping over the weekend and picked up the last few things on my list, including the crib bedding. Check it out:














I also gave in and bought a few new maternity shirts to get me through the last few weeks and also a few nursing bras/shirts for when Jackson arrives!

Can't wait for him to get here! More updates early next week after my next appointment.

- Kelly

36 weeks

Although I'm late getting this posted and now closer to finishing week 37, here are the updates for week 36:

I went in to the doctor on Monday, May 3rd for a regular pre-natal check up. My uterus was measuring 36 cm and Jackson's heart beat was loud and clear! I told my doctor how I've been experiencing some really sharp pains in my pelvis, to the point where rolling over in bed and walking short distances brings tears to my eyes. The doctor did a check and found that I was about 50% effaced but not dialated and that I definitely have a head down baby. Great news, except his head is what's making me hurt so bad! From here on out I'll be seeing the doctor every week.

Also this week my hands and feet have swollen to the size of sausages and I can't get my rings on and off very well. I don't want to go without my wedding ring, but it's just getting too tight!

My belly is giant and gets heavier every day! Here is the picture from week 36:

In other exciting news, Lance & Jenny had their baby on May 8th at about 6:40am! Welcome Logan Alexander Rae!! Hopefully we'll get to meet him soon and have a cousin to bring along too!