36 weeks 5 days

The end is nigh!!!

Ok, maybe not but a girl can always hope right???

As I near the magical 37 week mark (the point where the baby is considered full term) I can't help but wish this was finally over.

Not for any other reason than I WANT to know if there will be a healthy, (hopefully happy), crying (yes, I know oxymoron to happy), baby in our arms.

After all, this pregnancy has almost been TOO GOOD. Absolutely NO complications or problems and that in itself causes me more fear than if things were just a bit off kilter. Like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Part of me feels like I've figured out Karma's plan to get my guard down only to kick me when I'm down. But I ain't falling for it!!! ;)

...Ok, so its now 3 days later and I'm finally finishing this post. Oh, and I'm relieved to say that this pregnancy is not longer "perfect" - whew!!

Our last OB appointment I have been confirmed as Strep B positive. Yup, I have a bacteria (Group B Streptococcus to be exact). Though it can make delivery just a tad more complicated, I'm ironically very relieved to have it. It has created that 'bit off kilter' feel that I was looking for to allow me to think that this pregnancy isn't too good to be true. The good thing is I have the best possible strain of Strep B - if there is a 'good' strain.

So what does this mean. Not much. It simply means I'm put on antibiotics for delivery - an IV I think, so while I've been there done that before, it does minimize some of the freedom I would otherwise have if I didn't carry the bacteria (ie no cartwheels down the hospital halls to help speed up labour).

Mmm, not much else to update but here, finally!! is the lone maternity picture we have thus far.

35w 2d

Ha ha, I'm back, with my foot in my mouth. Only 2 days previously I was walking the walk as I didn't have any stretchmarks.

Yesterday we noticed our first stretch mark - right where my naval ring used to be.

Oh well, I think at 35 I'm too old for naval rings anyway - and really, I think the chances of getting a flat enough belly to wear one is no longer an option (as the last 8 years have proven).

Otherwise Dwayne and I did our maternity photos today. We went out to one of the local lakes for some scenic shots (since come on, we know that we're not that exciting to look at thus we need background and atmosphere). It was absolutely beautiful out today and from the few our photographer showed us, the background and area was amazing.

Of course, when we have a few to show we'll share.

35 weeks

There's not much to report at this time, I simply figured its been a while since we checked in so I should at least pop on here and let everyone know that we're still plugging along.

I'm happy to report that I'm huge (I even have the photos to prove it) and even more happy to say that so far no stretch marks. Not that getting stretch marks is a big deal but hey, if I can escape unscathed then great. If not, then I'll consider myself lucky that I made it far enough to have earned those badges of honour.

I can honestly say that this pregnancy has been pretty easy. Nothing major to complain about - though I still have 5 weeks to go so I may be counting my blessings a bit early here.

We recently took a trip out to Saskatchewan (last week) and until then I didn't suffer from any swelling. The plane ride took care of that and since then I've noticed that the swelling has stuck around usually rearing its head in the evenings after I've been up and about all day. Dwayne and I did invest in some athlete compression socks and though I'd probably be fine without them, the fashion guru in me loves wearing them (especially with shorts - and no you won't be seeing pics of them).

For now, I'll leave you with a wonderful belly shot from yesterday (34w6d). For the record, with over 5 weeks to go I'm bigger then two women I have recently met who were due imminently. The doc says I'm only measuring two weeks ahead but then that means both of them were measuring about 5 weeks behind :).

No worries though - I'm loving every stinking minute of it!!

31 weeks & 5 days

Drum roll please..........

Oh wait...


Nope...

There's nothing to announce....

Still no idea of gender.

"Why?" you ask??

We have been debating this topic over the last few days. Again, I pretty much remain on the fence while Dwayne wants to know (at least he keeps telling me he wants to know).

At one point I told him he could find out but I wanted to wait. Though its been a mildly discussed debate over the last few days, its certainly something I don't want to screw up. I mean, once we know we can't 'unknow' and if we decide later we want to know we have to cough up a bit more money to find out (recall, Dwayne thinks I'll cheat looking at the envelope even though I'm the one who's thinking I want to wait).

This time around with the 3D we tried to do a better job at preparing for it. We had a list of music and Dwayne spent the evening before downloading and editing the list I put together.

Once we arrived at the clinic we couldn't find the playlist that was put together - ah well, everyone's always in the mood for elevator music.

The debate from the last few days went right down to the wire. The last call was in Dwayne's court. Since I was on the fence I told Dwayne it was his decision.

I was shocked when he circled "No" regarding finding out the gender on the form.

So there we have it. Still no idea (and no idea why the topic - or lack of - has managed to take up so much space and time these last few days).

On another note, here are a few shots of the little guy/girl and Dwayne can't imagine this little face on a girl so he's convinced its a boy.

I can't get past the fact that the baby has some features that look nothing like either of us (nose, lips). So, I'm hoping the features in the 3D ultrasound are somewhat distorted. I know for a fact neither Dwayne nor I have lips that full or a nose that wide. Still, even it if isn't ours (which IS entirely possible) we're keeping it.

August 12 may indeed be an interesting day!!




Scrunched up Face.











Best Face Shot














Eyes open a crack.

30 weeks & 2 days

As we approach the big 3D day I've begun to second guess whether I want to know the gender anymore. I mean, we have made it this far and really, there SHOULD only be another 9 weeks or so to go before we know one way or the other, right?

Why not wait?

As I sit down and list the reasons for finding out the only pro I can think of is simple curiosity. I mean, I don't plan on buying anything. The 'room' we have set aside is painted a neutral colour (hiking trail brown) and anything else we've done or planning on doing is fine to do gender neutral (after all I have enough newborn stuff I can borrow from my sister and who cares if its a girl and she's dressed in blue for a week or two. I mean, it would be worse if it was a boy dressed in pink right??).

So, in a nut shell, I'm on the fence.

Dwayne on the other hand says he wants to know for a variety of reasons one being "if we're not finding out, why are we wasting our time doing a 3D ultrasound".

I pitched the idea of having the technician write it down for us but not tell us (in a sealed envelope) but Dwayne thinks I'll cheat. Humph - so much for a trusting marriage!!