she's here!!!!!

Jameson Mae Nova

born October 19th at 6:37pm

7 pounds 1 ounce

20 inches

week 39

THE SWEEP!!! So today was my 39 week check up with Dr. Hauschka. I showed up expecting to get my sonogram, blood pressure, and exam (like I have done for the past 3 weeks)...but I got a bonus! The nurse asked if "she was going to swipe my membrane?" but I just stared at her because I thought she was talking about Jameson for some reason. I mumbled something and then she had me change and wait for Dr. H. I got a high-five for making it until 39 weeks and then Dr. H told me that she was on-call this weekend and it would "be cool if she could deliver Jameson". THEN, I got checked. One centimeter dilated...boring. And then after THAT I got the membrane sweep. She told me to tell her when "it" was too much. I still had no idea what I was having done...and then I felt "it". It was not comfortable. I think I gave up after 30 seconds. In those seconds I went from 1cm to 2cm dilated so that is fun! I read that getting a membrane sweep could help induce labor anywhere from within 24 hours to a week later. Luckily, I'm ready for Jameson to arrive any minute now otherwise that would be a kind of scary realization since I wasn't really given a choice. Anyway, I'll keep everyone posted but maybe she'll be here by this weekend! Crazy!

Hoping this might be the last
picture of me pregnant!
We shall seeeeeeeee!

I made him do it. It was sitting
on the porch and I couldn't
resist seeing as my shirt matched.

Total weight gain:  It's over 40lbs...I don't know what it is...but the number is higher than 40...ga-ross.

Maternity clothes? I have been dreaming of being able to fit in regular clothes for weeks now! Actually, I will even  settle for fitting in my maternity clothes and being chubby but not ginormous.

Stretch marks?  Duh, they aren't going away anytime soon.......or ever.

Sleep:  I cannot even begin to explain the level of exhaustion I feel after I get off work. I have all these "ideas" of what I'm going to do after work and then I just walk into the bedroom instead. I'm exhausted from sitting on the couch. All tv watching is done from the bed. This past weekend I napped a combined total of probably somewhere close to 6 hours...on top of my 8 hours of sleep I received. Also, someone please explain the physics of a 7lb baby ACTUALLY weighing 50lbs and crushing my insides. Turning over is insanely uncomfortable. Feeling the actual weight of the baby crushing me from inside is blowing my mind!!!!!!

Best moment this week: We went to what are friends dubbed: "The Last Supper". Our good friends Mark and Nicole went to Firebirds with us one last time before we say this every weekend...."sorry, our baby has sucked every last ounce of energy and money out of us so we can't". That is all said lovingly of course! I'm happy to have the reason to say that, but it was a very sobering moment to take in! Like, dang! we're going to be trading in Firebirds date nights for "Kids eat free nights" at McAlisters (I secretly can't wait!!!!!)

Miss Anything: I miss all my body parts being the right size. Hopefully I will go back and read this exact sentence when I'm a month postpartum and crying because I still can't fit in my jeans. Any size has to be better than size: house.

Movement:  Still movement but drastically different. Instead of feeling Jameson-cartwheels, I feel Jameson politely poking and asking if she can come out now. 

Food cravings: Y'all, I think I have an intolerance for potatoes and rice. I have been trying to diagnose my condition at least a year. Sometimes after I eat dinner I get a stuffy nose and it gets a little hard to swallow. I feel like I need to hack something up. Not barf, but congestion type stuff. I have narrowed it down to potato dishes (including fries) and rice. I don't know what they have in common, besides deliciousness, but it is the only explanation. I'm very sad about it. FYI this has nothing to do with pregnancy....I've always been this way but never had the patience to figure out what was making me stuffy. Ta-da! My patience gene has kicked in just in time for motherhood! 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  My kitties smell right now. I think they are testing me. Will changes the litter fairly often but they are on doody overload. It never ends. Luckily, they are cute and Will changes it every time I ask. Thanks Will!

Gender: Girrrrrrrl! Hurry up so we can triple check!

Symptoms:  Tired from walking, sitting, standing, thinking about walking, and even tired from sleeping. It's such an event to get situated...I almost prefer just sleeping while sitting up. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and worried! I just want to know when she's coming!!! Why can't they just tell us!??

week 38

"Congratulations! Your baby is the size of a leek!" or is it actually the size of a...I dont' know...a baby?!? This week Jameson should weigh 6lbs 11oz if she is growing on track with what the US tech weighed her at PLUS the half pound of weight gain per week! Why would this help me know what my baby is the size of???

So dumb. They should use something I can relate to...like kitten and puppy sizes. "Your baby is the size of a 2 month old goldendoodle!" That would make way more sense.

 This is my only photo for the week and it's not even a good one. Will snapped this when I took a 4 hour nap on Sunday...Rose is surely going to be disappointed when his spot is taken by a human baby...poor guy!!

Here's how best friends nap together!

Total weight gain:  38lbs...no weight gain this week. Dr. Hauschka said it was okay though since I seem to be gaining in clusters now.

Maternity clothes? I'm moving to dresses and leggings only....dresses are getting shorter and shorter the more my belly grows! I keep waiting for it to be cold enough for my boots but I fear that won't happen until after she comes!

Stretch marks?  Yes, I'm tempted to delete this section....

Sleep:  I had some sweet night terrors the other evening. I woke up and SWORE our room had smoke in it. I turned on all the lights and freaked out. Will slept right through it. He is already in-training to sleep through all baby noises and conveniently "not hear them". Just like he sometimes "can't smell" when the baby's diaper  kitty litter needs to be changed. I'm on to you, guy!

Best moment this week: I went to a vendor fair this week at work, which was outside (a 200 yard walk from my cube to the parking lot), and a lady congratulated me on "walking around" this far into pregnancy. I thought she was messing with me. But she gave my coworker and me free gifts for that great accomplishment! Haha! I'll take it! People are weird. Or maybe it is an accomplishment?!!? I didn't have to stop to pee on the way sooooooooooo....

Miss Anything: Yea, I miss that part of pregnancy where I'm not thinking every little thing is a sign of labor. I apologize in advance to all my postpartum friends that I text with questions alllll day!

Movement:  Yep, still lots of movement!

Food cravings: Nothing AND everything. Just depends on my day.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I say it every time but that dang reflux. I can't think of anything more disgusting than bending over to get my purse and then my mouth all the sudden filling with whatever the hell reflux is....stomach acid maybe???

Gender: Still a girl hopefully!

Symptoms:  Tired from walking, sitting, standing, thinking about walking, and even tired from sleeping. It's such an event to get situated...I almost prefer just sleeping while sitting up. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy with a side of sweet panic-attacks thinking about being in charge of someone/something for the rest of my life.  Luckily, Will is always there to make me feel better by saying things like, "if you're bad...I'm going to be worse". Somehow that makes me feel better...and worse! Haha! That's what google is for though!?

week 37

FULL TERM!! We made it! According to apps and doctors baby can come any day now without any serious complications from being under developed. The US tech showed her measuring at 36 weeks and 2 days when I went in on week 36 and 5 days. They said that is close enough to being right-on since the due date is an estimate anyway. According to a complicated math formula she is weighing in at 6lbs 3oz! She is supposed to gain a half pound per week so if she goes to 40 weeks she will be a little over 7.5lbs. I don't know if I trust that number since there is no way to really accurately determine her weight. I have heard tons of stories about that number being drastically off. I'm still thinking under 8lbs but I guess we will just have to wait and see!

36 weeks and 5 days (6lbs 3oz......maybe :))!!! I think that is a baby first to the mouth...or her best impression of my favorite phrase, "why I oughta!!!!!". Probably the latter.

In other news...my extremely cool doctor who doesn't ever get too worked up about anything...made me get a flu shot. It wasn't really a question...she just sent the nurse in and I got one. She told me to make Will get one...who ironically is sick (but won't go to the doctor). AND she said to tell anyone who wants to come visit the baby to get a shot first. Her words people!!! I haven't had a flu shot in 10+ years. I boycott them usually...but I really, really don't want a sick baby. You will be shunned from future visits if you bring disease into my home...yes, that means you Will!!!!

Anywho, on with the bumpdate!

This looks fake!! I feel like I look like I'm wearing a fake stomach except that my butt and thighs have morphed into one shape and I know THAT isn't fake. This is what happens when you haven't seen a picture of yourself in 2-3 weeks! Holy!!! p.s. the black and white photo is because Will asked me to "try and look tanner" because my face was too pale with the light in the room...the compliments never end!!!

Total weight gain:  38lbs

Maternity clothes? Yep. I'm terrified to wear anything but black pants to work from now on. I just know my water will break at work. Will just suggested I bring a towel for work while making a grossed-out face. Ohhhh Will!

Stretch marks?  I'm past stretch marks and dreading other postpartum gross body issues...

Sleep:  I don't know what is happening at night. I am either ACTUALLY getting all sorts of weird pains OR tricking myself into thinking I might be having contractions OR dreaming it all. Either way....I'm not sleeping much.

Best moment this week: Ultrasound Day!!! Whoooooo!!

Miss Anything: This one is really dumb and probably a little bratty....but I really miss wearing my wedding bands!

Movement:  Still tons of movement. I can't tell if she wants out or is partying....

Food cravings: Nothing really. Feeling so barfy at nights now.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Food smells at work. Someone burns their effing popcorn at least once a day in the breakroom. I don't understand why this is a difficult task. It should be banned. Needless to say it makes me nauseous.

Gender: Pretty pretty princess. (Remember that game??? I never had it but I was always jealous of the younger girls playing it. I think I was a little old when it actually came out.)

Symptoms:  Tired mostly. I feel full...not of food but of baby. Full of baby. I'm NOT to the point where people say they are just ready to give birth and get the baby out...yet. I feel like I have so much left to do! I don't think I actually do....but it still feels that way. I'm okay with going 40+ week as of today. Famous last words?

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy happy happy. I'm very nervous for Jameson to actually be here but I just want to know what she looks like! Until then I'm content working up until my due date (while I can still get paid :)) and letting her come when she's ready! Take your time Jameson!

week 36

I never got a picture for this week so I found this picture of something Will has likened me to MULTIPLE times these past few weeks....

Back story: When freaking out that my stomach wasn't "big enough" for 36 weeks Will mentioned, "yea but don't forget you've got that gorilla body...like me". He was dead serious. We have discussed this before about how we think we appear fatter than we actualy are due to our sway-backs and bulbous butts. However, not something you expect to hear from your loving husband at 36 weeks pregnant.

Total weight gain:  37lbs...getting larger by the minute!

Maternity clothes?  Yes, and precious Will treated me to a new dress on our anniversary so I didn't have to wear the same thing over and over for the next 4 weeks. Thanks Willis.

Stretch marks?  Yea...I'm anticipating secret ones after I give birth too...

Sleep:  I've been averaging getting up about twice a night. Sometimes once. Sometimes none and sometimes 3 times! I woke up with pains once that I thought were Braxton Hicks but just turned out to be a ridiculously full (and painful) bladder.

Best moment this week: Definitely our anniversary dinner date followed by a totally unnecessary stop by the mall for The Cheesecake Factory for, duh, cheesecake! I can't remember the last time we went on a nice date that wasn't on our sofa or with a group of people. I like sofa dates more than anything but it seriously felt like we were on a first date! (Except not at a cheap Mexican restaurant like our real first date). I almost forgot how to conduct myself in nice places! Jk.

Miss Anything: I miss planning to wear things without considering, "What if my water broke in this outfit? Would everyone be able to tell?". I'm in that stage where I'm terrified that it will happen in the middle of a meeting or group of people. If I had my choice I would be confined to my house for the last few weeks! What an irrational fear?!? My 3 friends, that all just had babies, never even had their water break! Well I think the doctor might have broken theirs' or it happened in the hospital. But still.

Movement:  Lots of movement this week. I haven't felt any of the somersaults but I'm hoping it's because she is too big for that. Side note: Dr. Hauschka says that this will not be a "huge" baby. I had previously expressed my fears of a 9-10lb-er. She is going to get a look next Tuesday to see for sure but she didn't seem to think Jameson was very big....yet. 

Food cravings: Nothing new...just my usual carbs and sweets.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Oh my gosh I knew there was a reason I wasn't overly interested in vegetables this pregnancy. I didn't have time to go out for lunch one day this week so I got something at work and, not surprisingly, only bagels and vegetables were left at the Bistro. I ate some broccoli (with ranch dip obvi) but almost had to go home early. Broccoli reflux is like constantly burping up a dumpster in your mouth. I tried eating a banana afterwards to get a better taste in my mouth but I just ended up having ranch-banana taste instead.

Gender: Panther's baby princess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (In your face Will)

Symptoms:  I'm not as tired as I had been previously...I think I'm getting used to my work schedule now. I had some pains that made me stop in my tracks at Target. Seems like I should probably stop visiting Target since this happens every time I go there, but I can't....I also had a contraction while getting my sonogram at the doctor's office that I couldn't feel! Now that I know what I'm looking/feeling for I can tell that I have had more than a few of those but they don't really feel like anything yet. Just feels like your abs former abs tightening a little. I've had some other weird pains too but they are mostly just uncomfortable baby moving pains. Nothing a nap or a shower couldn't fix.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but definitely still emotional! Cried at my desk because someone I didn't expect to contribute to my work shower gift card did. That was fun. Sometimes I get sad when Will has to leave me for soccer or work if it's late at night or really early in the AM....so dumb. I'm trying to absorb all the Will and Michael time I can....I guess!!!

Happy Anniversary McWilliam!!

Early post for anniversary time!!! Happy 2nd anniversary to my favorite person in the entire world! We celebrated with a doctor's appointment, dinner, and dessert! WE ARE CRAZY...crazy old!!!! Just kidding. No gifts this year...since we got each other a baby and all...but we're cool with that! I think we're actually skipping all holidays for the rest of the year...except Halloween. No way I'm skipping that! Anyway I'll do a bumpdate later this week because today's post is dedicated to my main-man Willis!

who has 2-thumbs and is about to be a dad? THIS GUY!

I can honestly say I hope that Jameson grows up to be just-like-her-dad...JUST LIKE HIM! Except for the body hair...and the facial hair...and the cat allergies. But, seriously, other than that she can have everything else! LLD!

week 35...that means 35 days to go!

OMG I can't believe I have 5 weeks to go! I felt like October has sounded so far away for so long that I just had it in my mind that it is still far away. And it definitely is not.
So besides my 35 day countdown...I got pictures back from my shower. I just have to say THANK YOU!!!!!! to everyone that decorated, cooked, cleaned, and whatever else happened! I have a few pictures to share but I realize I was a bad guest-of-honor and didn't get my picture taken with everyone that came out....sorry guys and gals! Blame pregnancy brain! On with the pics!

The awesome spread! Lauren's bunting was the best!

More food!!!

The main event plus half of a baby Mila!

The worst present. Already packaged to be re-gifted to the nearest dumpster. Just kidding Richard....I'm sure these will make lovely butt-wiping rags!

The best gifts....ones with cats!!!!!! Will is thrilled.

Me and the grandmother's to be

The soccer gals!

My bear-faced Willis.He hates the beard but I LOVE it!

Total weight gain:  36lbs...looks like I'm gaining weight in spurts. Hope I can keep it under 40!!!!!

Maternity clothes?  I'm not even worrying about being creative with my outfits anymore. I rotate between a pair of khakis and black work pants. I tried a dress this Monday and had so much chub rub on my Family Dollar orientation tour that I may never wear one again.

Stretch marks?  Thought I found some more but they were just sleep marks...whew!

Sleep:  Really tired but I force myself to stay up until 10pm otherwise I will wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep. I usually get a second wind around 7:30pm so it works out.

Best moment this week: BABY SHOWER!! Lauren, Sarah, and Patsy did an awesome job. I can't thank them enough!

Miss Anything: I miss my close parking lot at my old job. I forgot how miserable the Family Dollar parking lot is in the summer. Luckily my boss gave me her really sweet spot once this week and I snuck in some visitor parking!!

Movement:  Jameson had a slow day on Tuesday that had me freaking out all day but I did my kick counter and it said she had enough movement so I tried not to think about it. Normally Jameson wakes up before me and starts doing small kicks as she's waking up. I usually start my day in bed saying, "good morning Jameson!"  and then I go back to sleep for another hour...but on Wednesday I wanted to make sure she was still okay so I woke up before her and offered some good morning-belly shaking! She responded with a slow nudge and then was going nuts by breakfast time. She had a big couple of days so I told Will she must have taken a "Michael day" on Tuesday......just napping the day away! She's probably part cat.

Food cravings: I've had a cupcake (or 2) every day since Saturday. I can't stop.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not really! I can eat pretty much anything but chicken wings still! I'm still getting reflux though but not nearly as bad as it has been.

Gender: Total baby diva!

Symptoms:  Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired! And my thunder-thigh chub rub....
Also I think she must have dropped a couple of weeks ago because I can breathe so much easier. I am also had much more pressure on my bladder too! Now I get why they call it lightening though...I really do feel less huge now that she is in a different position!

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Now that my shower has come and gone I am totally more relaxed! I had myself all worked up trying to get the house ready and now I'm ready to just sit and wait for baby to come! Not to mention I had a prenatal massage on Satruday (Thanks Patti!)....I have wanted one every day since then. I think I will do one next weekend....if not sooner!!!