6 WEEKS LEFT

I can't believe there are only 6 weeks left until we meet our precious baby boy. I had a great 33 week appt on Tuesday. I only gained 1 lb in 2 weeks (whoo hooo), blood pressure was great, heart rate was 138 bpm, and we talked about the upcoming c-section. I am battling a sinus infection so was given a script for a Z-pack to clear it up. While the nurse was searching for Brady's heartbeat he gave her a HUGE kick and we discovered he is head down again. Sweet little guy can't make up his mind and keeps flipping in mama's tummy. Oh well... I had a couple weeks reprieve from him lodging his feet in my ribs :) At 33 weeks I am feeling pretty good but really sore and uncomfortable much of the time. Sleep is really becoming difficult at night; I toss and turn trying to get comfortable and Brady really seems to be a night owl and likes to kick and kick and kick. I do love feeling him moving around inside my tummy. I have to say that lately his movements actually hurt at times. My Braxton hicks contractions have started to pick up in the last couple weeks which my Doctor also informed me is normal. 37 weeks gestation is considered full term. The lungs are the last thing to mature in babies. Brady is estimated to weigh about 4 1/2 lbs at this time. For some reason I think he is going to be smaller than Ava was (she was 8 lbs 8 oz). I don't know...just a gut feeling I have.

It's been a fun week in our household. A dear friend of mine from college came to visit with her 7 month old son Dylan. I have to say it was a great "warm up" for me to be able to hold and play with a baby boy and he really took to me... lots of smiles and cuddles It was a great visit and we had so much to catch up on. The girls (especially Ava) also just adored playing with Dylan. This was a good thing for the girls to experience...having a baby boy in the house and seeing what that will be like. I am happy to say they responded very positively and were like little mothers bringing the baby things and helping out. If anything, it made them even more excited for Brady to get here. This upcoming weekend the girls and I are going on a little trip to visit my friend Jen and her daugher Caiti who is Ava's age. We have some fun things planned such as taking the kiddos to the Children's museum and swimming at the Community Center. And for the adults? Why scrapbooking of course! That will be a fun project to do once the kids are in bed for the night. I haven't seen Jen since last year yet we talk on the phone every week. We'll be heading there on Sunday and returning Wednesday afternoon.

The following Saturday I am doing something I have never done before. I am having Maternity pictures taken. My mom's good friend Kathy is a photographer and she is going to take some shots of me, my belly, and of the girls and I. Hopefully Kevin can make it, too to take some family shots but we'll have to see due to his work schedule. It will be a nice keepsake to have to remember my pregnancy with Brady. Who know...maybe a couple of the shots will be so good we can frame them and hang them in our home. I have some great ideas in mind for some of the shots.

All in all a good week. We continue to work on the nursery to get it ready for Brady. Still putting baby clothes away. It's just a lot of little things that need to be done yet. Overall, we are ready for him. April 30 really is not that far away. We can't wait!!!!!