The waiting is the hardest part...

So here we are, 3 days after the due date an still no Baby R. What's up with that little one? Perhaps you are all too comfortable in momma's belly? I get it, although I don't remember one day being in my mom's womb, it's all I knew and I was probably pretty comfortable in there too. Well, here's some words of encouragement to help "push" things around. You have an awesome mother and father ready to take care of and love you very much. You will have your own room, which your mom and dad spent countless hours of time planning every detail with your comfort in mind. You will indeed be the center of attention for a very long time and spoiled to no end. The way I see it little one, it's a win/win situation. So come on out baby R, the water's pretty nice out here too!

39 weeks and 4 days pregnant...and waiting

Maternity leave has entered its second week and Baby R is not here yet!   This week, Nana Isaacson came to stay with me keep me company on these long days of waiting.  All is ready including a clean house, freezer meals, bills paid in advance, and bags packed.   Baby R is still in the engaged position with about 2 cm dialated and 75% effaced.  My blood pressure is now in check and that makes me feel a lot better.   Dad came this weekend just in case but Baby R is not quite ready yet I guess.  It has been fun spending time with David's parents and my family this last two weeks.  They are as anxious as we are for this little one to arrive.  We spent time going to movies like Bridesmaids and a Will Ferrell movie.  We've spent time BBQing outside and having the Voyes over for dinner.  We've celebrated Grandpa Rothe's birthday and had lots of good times.  But I am getting VERY uncomfortable and so ready to meet this baby!  Lois, my midwife, seems to think I will not have to induced and this baby will come very soon.   I didn't realize how hard it is to have to wait.  You get your due date and think of that timeline, but not the waiting one.  The not knowing when is killing me!   This might be our last blog entry but hopefully Daddy Rothe will chime in with some comments next before the baby arrives...we'll see. 

Homeward Bound

Yea!  Maternity leave has officially begun!  Last Friday was my last day at Valley View and now I am getting all the things done that I need to before our bundle of joy arrives anytime now!  Dave and I now have the house cleaned, car cleaned, and car seat properly installed.  Each day I feel more and more at ease that we are ready for this baby.  Most people say we are over-ready but if you know me, I like things VERY ready.  Freezer meals have been made and scrapbooking ready to be done today!  So now we wait for our little boy or girl to come!  At my last appointment I was dilated to 1cm and 30% effaced.  Today I have an appointment at 3:40 and will update you as to where we are at now!  Hopefully my blood pressure has gone gone and my dilation/effacement has gone up!   I do have a terrible stuffy nose which I hope goes away before I go into labor.  Dave's mom and dad are now in town and it has been very nice to see them and spend some time with them!  They got to feel the baby move and that was really special!  It will be nice to have them here for the next two months!  My mom comes up on Thursday because she can't bear to not be here helping out!  So it looks like family time is headed my way!  It will be nice to have people to hang out with until Baby R decides to come!  David is getting a little nervous about the labor and when it will happen.  I am relatively calm relaxing and getting things taken care of around here.  I know that that too will pass and I may become anxious too as the days wear on.  My due date is less that two weeks away!!!

Mother's Day and last week of work

This weekend we celebrated Mother's Day by having my family up from Wisconsin.  I bought myself a fabulous purse like diaper bag that is so adorable!  A little pricey, but we made it my Mother's Day and birthday present!  My sister is moving back up to the cities so this was her moving back up weekend!  It is going to be nice to have her close to spend time with her new niece or nephew!  Dave and I spent the day on Saturday shopping for plants for our vegetable and fruit garden along with some perinnials for our flower garden.  It is looking beautiful, but boy was I tired after working in the garden all day!  So hot out and my ankles and calves ended up being huge!  Each day they seem to swell more.  Baby R is doesn't have much space in there anymore and the turns and twists are so sharp.  He or she is finally FULL term meaning that we can go anytime to the hospital.  I can't believe I have a little newborn size baby folded into my belly in a little ball..  I know it is normal, but I feel so bad for the little one being so crammed in there!   It is becoming more and more uncomfortable as I am sure it is for our little Baby R.  Mother's Day was very nice with
mom visiting.  Karissa, Mom, and I went and got pedicures on Sunday for mothers day and that was amazing!  It was nice to spend time with the family.  We had a mini birthday party for Papa David on Saturday night.  He got twins tickets to go with my dad and his sometime in June.  Daddy's birthday is in the same month as Baby R and hopefully they won't share a birthday!  I am not quite ready to have this little one yet with all the nesting and cleaning I still want to do!  In other news....I've reached the last week of work!  We had a work shower tonight where I got a convertible carseat for when Baby R is more than 22 pounds.  We are SO set with everything!  We've been blessed to have so many friends and family gift us so many wonderful things for our first baby!  I am very grateful!  Each day, we think about what our baby will look like and what they will be!  We are getting so close to finding out!  Took our breastfeeding class on monday night and learned alot.  Tonight we got to meet all the midwives in our group and we feel so much more relaxed about the delivery.  David is feeling much more calm about knowing where to go when we do come to the hospital.  Now all we do is wait!  We can't help but feel nervous and excited at the same time for our little one!  18 days and counting till the due date!

So much to do, so little time!

Baby R is losing more and more room in belly these days.  I feel lots of rolls, turns, and elbows moving across my belly!  It is still an amazing feeling and each day I keep thinking that soon I won't feel him or her moving inside me because our little one will be in our arms as an outside baby!  So surreal!  We've gotten a lot done by finding our pediatrician, finishing our registry shopping, and purchasing the travel system.  We have sold lots of things on craigslist and ebay to get rid of the clutter and make room for baby gear.  We still need to officially pack the hospital bag but we've got that started as well as our birth plan and birth labor music.  So much to do and so little time.  We bought the coming home outfits together last weekend.  So adorable! One for a girl and one for a boy!  Only Baby R knows which one we'll be bringing to the her or him home in!  So crazy that our baby knows and we don't!  We've got to clean the whole house and freeze some meals, but the major thing is signing with a daycare!  Yes, we are still searching and I might be having to stay home if we don't find a good one.  We can't just put baby r anywhere can we?  And the list of to do's goes on with the actual sub plans and maternity leave information.  I am 9 days out from taking my leave and yet, I am so concerned with all that needs to be done.  I know the minute I walk out of Valley View I will feel a sense of relief and look ahead to all that is coming our way!  I know my feet will thank me for it.   I am now going to the doctor once a week and recently found out I am Group Strep B positive so I will have to be on antibotics immediately when I get to the hospital for labor.  Don't want the baby to get sick so that means no laboring at home, just heading right into L & D.  My bladder is getting a work out as baby R has dropped and I feel huge!  Just when I've gone to the bathroom, I feel like I have to go again!  The amount that I complain doesn't even measure the amount of joy and excitement that I am feeling to meet our baby if you can believe that!  Being pregnant is a joy and also alot of work.  BUT I am so thankful to be pregnant and so overjoyed to be having a baby with my husband and best friend.  Each day I reflect and make time to really take in all the feelings that I am having about becoming a mom and holding our baby for first time.  I know it will be an overwhelming moment when David and I see our child for the first time.  A little person that shares a part of both of us and joins us together even closer as a family.  And to share that with our family will also be incredible emotional.   In just a week, David's parents will be here to take in the moment also and then my parents and Karissa will be up to share in the celebration.  I cannot wait to meet you Baby Rothe.  Only 25 days until your due date but who knows when you'll arrive!   It is definitely on your own time!  So much to do still and so little time!  We'll have to be ready though no matter what!