Everything We Need

Brian decided the after our shower that we were going to have everything we needed for BP by the 1st of July, that way for the month of July we can just relax and wait for BP to come. Most of the things that we need, would like to have may be a better way to phrase that, we do have but there are always those last few things that are on your list. We planned a trip to Fargo today to get those last things. The trip was a success and I think beside the actual baby we are ready to go. The one big item on our list was a swing and we did get that today and Brian put it together tonight and it seems to work well. I can't believe how the nursery is filling up with stuff...pretty soon there won't be any room for BP. We have a few things left to wash before baby comes and a few things that we need to pack for me while I am in the hospital (BP's bag is all ready to go) and then we are set. Only 33 days to go!

35 Weeks

BP, now as hefty as a honeydew melon at over 5 1/4 pounds, doesn't have much more room to maneuver in the belly. BP's length is over 18 inches from head to heel.

Booths

We went back to the doctor today for another routine visit and all is still going well. I am not quite sure how the doctor can tell this because all I do is pee in a cup, he measures my belly and listens to the heart beat. I guess that fact that I am still pregnant and baby is active is all they need to know. I didn't even ask him today how big my belly was measuring because all he said was "well it is sure getting up there in size." After my appointment I went to Taco John's for a quick lunch before I went back to work (maybe that is part of the big belly problem...but one - I am pregnant and can eat whatever I want :) Two - my belly is growing out and not wide so I don't think to much food is what is causing it either - doesn't really matter at this stage in the game). Anyway I decided to just eat there instead of the break room at work and after I got my food I went to one of their booths to have a seat. Turns out I don't fit so well anymore - I do fit but my belly is right up against the table - I found that a little comical. Never in my life did I think my belly would be to big to sit in a booth at a restaurant.
Other than that so far I feel pretty good. I am starting to get a little uncomfortable and I am very thankful that we have air conditioning, otherwise the next few weeks would be a little miserable.

34 Weeks

BP has bulked up like an average canteloupe - about 4 3/4 pounds. BP's length is arround 18 inches.

Shower

This past weekend we had a baby shower in Jamestown for BP. The shower was a book theme so each guest was invited to bring their favorite children's book to help us start BP's library. It was really fun afterwards to look at all the books and stroll down memory lane to when I was little and mom would read them to us. There were also a few books that I had never read and I really enjoyed reading those and I know BP will love them all. I think we now have almost everything that we need or I should say would like to have when BP comes along. There are a few little things that I would still like to get but we should have some time to do that. After the shower we did get things put away and all the clothes that we have we washed and hung in the closet or put in the dresser. About all we have left to do it just relax and wait for little BP to make the big arrival.

48 days to go!

We had another successful trip to the doctor on Thursday. You may have noticed that I didn't post a picture as soon as I got home, as we normally do, and the reason is BP was not being very cooperative. BP is head down and has been for the past month or two but Thursday BP was face down as well so his/her back was against my stomach. Now that is wonderful when it comes time to delivery but for an ultrasound when you want to take pictures home of your little miracle it presents a big of a challenge. BP decided not to roll over throughout the whole ultrasound so all I was able to see was BP's back and she really had to look to even find a leg and arm to measure. BP is still growing but slowing down. The doctor had thought that BP would have been measuring a little larger than what s/he is (although the doctor said we are still right on track) so we will be returning to Fargo in a month to measure BP's growth again. BP weighs 4 pounds and 5 ounces and talking to the doctor he doesn't think BP will be 10 pounds at birth (that is what Brian has been saying for the past few months) his guess is closer to 7 or so, which is an average size for babies. Time will tell what little BP has in store for us!
Mom and Jenna are up this weekend for my shower in Jamestown. They have been very busy planting flowers and baking up a storm. It is always nice to have company and we appreciate all the help we have had from our families and friends preparing for BP's arrival. We can't believe that our due date is only 48 days away - time has gone very fast!

33 Weeks

BP is proportioned like a pineapple when it comes to weight - a little over 4 pounds. BP's length is about 17 inches from head to heel.

Happiest Baby on The Block

I have meant to post something for the past few evenings and it seems like time just gets away from us. We made a decision a few months ago that in June and July we were going to plan as little as possible so we could relax the last few weeks before baby...so far it isn't working real well.
Monday night we had another class at the hospital. This class was The Happiest Baby On the Block. Brian and I LOVED it!! We would recommend it to any parents who have not taken it, read the book or watched the DVD. Brian said he would recommend that dads do it as well. It was all about the 4th trimester, which is from birth to about 4 months of age. They talk about what baby is experiencing and how to care and comfort your child for the first few months. The focused a lot of swaddling your baby and we had dolls and blankets that we were able to practice with. The instructor recommended that you practice at home with a doll before baby come so you are familiar with what you are doing at 2:00am when you may need to do this. We don't have any dolls so when Mom comes up this weekend she is going to bring on with so we can practice (Brian's idea). We also learned that new babies do not necessarily like a quiet environment - when they are in the womb it is very loud, almost as loud as a vacuum cleaner, so when they are born they miss the noise. They told us you can not spoil a new born - we can hold BP as much as we would like and every time BP cries, for the first couple of months, we are suppose to tend to his/her needs so s/he learns that we are there to provide for him/her. Now we have a reason to sit around after BP arrives and just hold him/her all day - we are looking forward to that :)
The 5 classes we took gave us lots of great information and shortly we will see how well we are able to implement these things.
I also had a doctor appointment on Tuesday that went well. Nothing to exciting. Thursday I go to Fargo for our last appointment with the specialist and another ultrasound. I always look forward to the days when we get to see little BP. I am really curious how big s/he has gotten this past month.

32 Weeks

BP is taking up more and more space and weighs as much as a large jicama - close to 4 ounds. BP's length is almost 17 inches from head to heel.

Nesting

I have read that toward the end of your pregnancy you start to "nest" and get ready for baby's arrival. When I read this and heard it from other people I didn't think it would happen in our case. I was wrong. Nesting is in full swing at the Paulson house and I think I am the calmer of the 2 people. Brian has been staying up late (1am or so) doing things out in the garage that he wants done before BP's big arrival. We have been cleaning out cupboards, organizing things in the house that we haven't thought about for years, and Brian even was up Monday morning (we both had the day off for Memorial Day) at 7:00 working outside in my flower beds and the yard so we don't have to do it this fall. We have posted the hospital number and insurance company number on our fridge so we are ready to call them when labor sets in and Brian informed me tonight that he would like me to carry my cell phone with me a times just in case. We have made our call list for calling people to announce little BP and after this next weekend we will pack the diaper bag to bring to the hospital. In prenatal class they also gave us a check list of what to do and things to pack and Brian would like me to get that out so we can start working on all of those things as well. We only have 6-8 weeks left and the time is going fast. Before we know it our little bundle of joy will be here and then our lives will really be turned upside down... but I think we are ready.